Normalization of Israel in American Media

Let me show you how your favorite shows normalize Israel

Israeli champagne.

You know what? This calls for a bottle of Israel's

finest.

What was that?

It's Krav Maga, the official self-defense system of the

Israeli army.

Mrs. Solis, let me tell you what I learned in the

Israeli army.

A group without commitment is a group that will fail.

Oh, and Connie's dad moved her entire family

back to Israel.

Israel is made up of over six million individuals,

each with a unique view on the

situation.

I've never met anyone like her. She's had the most amazing life.

She was in the Israeli army.

Your teacher assign you a country yet?

Saudi Arabia.

No, that's Israel.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Well, these are just throwaway lines.

It's not that deep. It's just, you know, small scenes here and there.

It's not that big. Yeah, I know. That's the problem.

First of all, the very fact that they are using the word Israel and not

Palestine, which is the rightful name, legitimizes Israel

as a state. But the problem is much deeper than that.

When Israel is mentioned in literally almost every sitcom, then it's

not just about legitimizing Israel as a state, but actually embedding it

into American culture. This is normalization through

familiarity. They make Israel seem like something

that is familiar,

whether it's one throwaway line, a positive reference, or even

portraying Israelis as allies or normal people.

For example, in Friends, when he has a relationship with a

IDF soldier. Look how they portrayed the IDF soldier

as a normal, innocent human being that you can just have any relationship

with,

despite the fact that they are sadistic psychopaths who have no

regard

whatsoever for human life.

Are you in the IDF?

Yes.

Do you plan on killing kids in the future, Palestinian kids?

I want to bomb Gaza. I don't care about the kids.

I don't care about the civilians.

I don't care about them.

But of course, the American population doesn't know

that because all they know is

of how great Krav Maga is or Israel's finest wine.

And that is exactly why it could be one teeny-tiny, small reference or

throwaway line. But when it compounds and when we hear it 100 times in every

other sitcom, it becomes a part of the American

culture, and it has. It's the same reason why they have

American actors

in their advertisements, you know, advertising their hotels

and resorts in their

country. It's the same reason why politicians

are always visiting there.

It's the same reason why all these celebrities go on these trips to Israel,

and that's exactly what Israel wants.

It wants the American population to accept it as normal, to accept it as part of

the American culture, so that when they are attacked by the rest of the

world

for their inhumane acts against humanity, uh, who

supports them? Who defends them? The Americans.