Word Choice Means a Lot

Israel is always fighting a public relations battle. News sources are usually quick to compare Israel and the Palestinians to David and Goliath, Israel is surprisingly not the Jewish King David in the metaphor for the struggle.

As made up words like “insurgent” are thrown around, I think it is worthwhile to look at a couple of these made up words that demonize Israel in the media.

Insurgent (Miriam Webster Dictionary)
Main Entry: 1in·sur·gent; Pronunciation: -j?nt ; Function: noun
Etymology: Latin insurgent-, insurgens, present participle of insurgere to rise up, from in- + surgere to rise — more at surge; Date: 1765
1: a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government ; especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent
2: one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one’s own political party

According to CNN, Fox, and the like, insurgents are blowing up people in Iraq and are running the show in the Gaza Strip. When did these people stop being terrorists?

Militant – Dictionary.com
mil-i-tant;?/?m?l?t?nt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [mil-i-tuhnt]
–adjective
1. vigorously active and aggressive, esp. in support of a cause: militant reformers.
2. engaged in warfare; fighting.
–noun
3. a militant person.
4. a person engaged in warfare or combat.

A NATO soldier in Afghanistan is an militant by this definition. I guess the Taliban are militants too. However, the media should call the Taliban and Hamas what they are: extremist Muslim terrorists.

Occupied – (Wikipedia) Occupied territories is a term of art in international law. In accordance with Article 42 of the Laws and Customs of War on Land (Fourth Hague Convention); October 18, 1907,[1] Territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army. The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised.

The Golan Heights and all of Jerusalem are not under the control of a hostile army, they are under the control of the people who live there. If I were a militia member in Texas I could call the United States an occupying army, but that doesn’t mean it is correct. I am always nauseated by the Wikipedia article Israeli-Occupied Territories. The term disputed territories is accurate. Please sign on to Wikipedia and fight for that article to be moved to the appropriately named Israel Disputed Territories, Israeli Disputed Territories, or Israel Related Disupted Territories. Anything is better than what it is now.

Israel has been around for 61 years now, you think people would grow up and get over it. Be sure to educate your friends and family about these terms. Only through the truth will Israel be justly portrayed around the world.