A one-sided documentary

Linda Greene’s response (“Critique isn’t anti-Semitic,” June 1) claiming that “Imprisoning a Generation” supports the “truth” that the Israeli military abuses children by policy is a distortion. I’ve seen the film. It is an anti-Israel propaganda film clothed as a documentary. It cobbles together selected clips and images to justify the narrative, makes no attempt whatsoever to balance the discussion or obtain an Israeli perspective, and the narrator assumes as fact that this is all Israeli policy. This film is not criticism of the Israeli government, it is criticism of the “Zionist Jews” and that is why it is anti-Semitic.

The UN Partition Plan of 1947 established an Arab and Jewish state side by side. Immediately, the surrounding Arab countries (don’t forget present-day Hamas and Hezbollah) called for the destruction of the Jews and the state of Israel. Instead of accepting the territorial compromise under the partition plan, Palestinian and Arab leaders elected war. A swift victory was promised by the Arab armies, which never came to pass. “Zionist Jews” didn’t force Palestinians from their homeland. If Arab armies had not invaded Israel, not one Arab refugee would have been created.

Israel is not perfect, but it is by no means an apartheid state. Look around the Middle East. Identify a more pluralistic society with equal rights for women, LGBTQ and Arab Israelis. And yes, Arab Israelis are excluded from military service which is mandatory for all other Israelis. Tough to find a partner for peace when they won’t recognize your right to exist.

Larry J. Kuznetz

Spokane