The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs recently published an article by an Israeli political psychologist, Dr. Irwin Mansdorf. That article, “‘Both Sides’ and “Innocent Civilians’: The Psychological Effect of Language in the Gaza War,” can be found here.
Daled Amos (the pen name of Bennett Ruda) asked Dr. Mansdorf about his article, and his response, on the war of the words between Israel and Hamas, can be found here: “Exclusive Interview With Dr. Irwin J. Mansdorf On The Psychological Effects Of Language In The Gaza War,” by Daled Amos, Elder of Ziyon, May 24, 2024:
Generally, when people talk about Israel and the Arabs, they talk about “the cycle of violence,” indicating that both sides are equally responsible and no one side should be blamed. You write about how “the both sides argument” is used when discussing the Gaza War. How is that different? Why do people use “the both sides argument”?
The expression “cycle of violence” is a perfect example of a “both sides” mentality. Instead of assigning responsibility for “violence,” it perpetuates a myth of “action-reaction-action-reaction.” It is similar to the chicken and egg analogy. Since we are never told what came first, who started, who is persisting, and who refuses to end, it appears “both sides” are to blame.
You write that this argument is “a cognitively inconsistent mantra.” How so?
Saying “both sides” are responsible is fine if it is true. Otherwise, it is illogical to contend that the victim is the same as the aggressor. In Palestinian circles, there is no “both sides.” Palestinian culture and its Western supporters clearly place responsibility and guilt upon the Israeli side, whom they accuse of being colonialists and hence, automatically in the wrong. When some Westerners use “both sides,” they are adopting a philosophy that holds that blame is never black and white. Since that is patently false, and sometimes there is right and wrong, the automatic assumption of a “what seems fair” argument splitting blame does not meet the test of logical consistency.
Another commonly used phrase is “innocent civilians.” How is that phrase used and what are the underlying assumptions?
A “civilian” may or may not be “innocent.” The tendency in much of the media is to again automatically assign “innocence” to all civilians, regardless of whether or not they actually are innocent. A civilian who harbors terrorists, feeds them, covers for them, and believes in their mission carries responsibility for their actions….
You write “Legal requirements should not be confused with moral standards.” Can you elaborate on that?
Despite the questionable “innocence” of many Palestinian civilians, and their clearly immoral behavior, Israel carries a legal responsibility to protect them if they act as noncombatants. Israel’s moral code would similarly be consistent with this and at times go further than required under the law to protect civilians (e.g., providing advanced warning of attacks, actively moving civilians out of danger zones, providing more humanitarian aid than required, etc.)
How many of those “innocent civilians” in Gaza, do you think, are truly “innocent” civilians? How many joined Hamas in smashing into Israel to rape, torture, and murder on October 7? How many “innocent civilians” were delirious with joy when Hamas came back to Gaza with 260 terrified and bloody hostages, continuing to pummel both the living and the dead as they passed through the streets of Gaza? How many of those we call “innocent civilians,” while they did not manage to take part in cheering the passing parade of corpses and wounded and terrified hostages lying in the back of pickup trucks, are nonetheless delighted with what Hamas did that day?
somehistory says
Most of us have seen something similar: Two students in the school yard; one is a bully and hits the other, injures or threatens the other. When the victim engages in self-defense, the teacher blames the victim with the same stern voice and punishment as (s)he does the perpetrator.
If we haven’t seen it for real, certainly it has been in a multitude of fictional programming.
mozlums are bullies and in the case of hamas, hezbollah, iran, houthis, the violence is administered with deadly force.
The haters claim they are equivalent to the victim….no difference in culpability.
The stupid chime in because they are not looking at the facts.
And the perps keep repeating the *words* that seems to absolve them of the horrific guilt and lessens the punishment they deserve.
rubiconcrest says
Thank you for this profound article that gets to the heart of how to spin the aggressor – victim narrative. I recommend the original article with 37 references. It mentions how US after WWII advanced many steps to ‘denazify’ the German population and similarly required educational reform in Japan to
‘ … rebuild the country of Japan through education, to produce knowledgeable citizens with working skills
so that they could live well; because social responsibility and nationalism can grow properly
if the people live prosperously.’ journal of global studies article, July 2020
Post-World War II Education Reform in Japan.
Sadly, our education in the US today seems designed to do just the opposite.
merav azar says
NON innocent civilians in Gaza whatsoever . they all supported Hamas regime since 2016′ they all participated in the planning and executing of mass murder on October 7th, they gave Hamas the maps of Israelis settlements, the location of houses and shelters so no Israeli victim will have chance to survive.
thousands of them invaded israel alongside hamas terrorists and slaughtered Israelis innocents civilians while cheering and screaming Alla hu Akbar.
thousands of them welcomed the terrorists and the hostages blessing and throwing sweets and blessing
they never exposed any Hamas terrorist even though they can, neither provided information regarding the hostages they keep under Hamas orders.
they are all bloodthirsty killers whom never expressed anything but barbaric hate and fanatic commitment to gihad.
maria says
Yes there are no innocent #civilians” in Gaza.
They are all muslim terrorists and they must be executed. Remember what they did in October 7
Scotsman48 says
If the people of Gaza had decent people governing them then that area would be a lovely place and everybody would have a decent life.
Beautiful Beaches with cafes and Restaurants however the money they received from various sources went to building Tunnels rather than Schools and Hospitals and these people hated the Jews since centuries ago merely because they didn’t want to convert to the Fascist Religious Cult created out of the mind of a War Lord, may piss be upon him, who met a Fallen Angel in a Cave but the Jewish people said go ahead and do your own thing but leaves us out of it but what they really hate is the fact that wee tiny Israel is a successful well educated powerhouse in the World today while Gaza is a third world shit hole.
Saudi Arabia,Kuwait, Bahrain etc would all be shit hole countries if it was not for Western Technology as they found all that Black Gold under all that sand otherwise they would still be riding camels and shagging Goats as now they are all driving fancy European Cars and still…Fill in the blank…
Rick Olsha says
AM ISRAEL CHAI !!!!!!!
Kristen says
There is a 0% chance that there any “innocent civilians” in Gaza. Rather, there is a 99.99% chance that they are just as culpable as the Jihadis themselves. Just watch two minutes of #Farfour. Gazans? #ZFG. Let them perish.
James Lincoln says
Innocent civilians?
“Poll: Over 70% Palestinians still maintain Hamas ‘correct’ to commit Oct. 7 atrocities”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/poll-over-70-palestinians-still-maintain-hamas-correct-to-commit-oct-7-atrocities/