Image Problem

I have blogged on the statement of former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright admitting that the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria are actually legal.  Any question regarding their status is political.

She has now made a new statement.

Referring to talks and cease fires, she said 

no progress will be made until both Israelis and Palestinians want to end the attacks and begin to negotiate.  “What are the preconditions for even getting to discussing the conditions?” she said. “So it’s a tough sell for everybody.”

And continued:

While Israel has a right to defend itself, many are criticizing the country for killing so many Palestinian civilians. Israel, however, says it’s Hamas’ fault for using civilians to shield its weapons. Ms. Albright said that could harm the world’s view of Israel’s image.  “I am a great believer,” she said, “In the moral authority of the Israelis, but I am very worried about their image.”

Image?

Does our Prime Minister have an opinion?

Yes:

Netanyahu: Israel must not cede security for sake of good PR

Philip Elliott, The Associated Press, Published Sunday, July 27, 2014 

WASHINGTON -- Every Palestinian civilian's death costs Israel in its fight for world opinion but the Jewish state must not cede its security for the sake of public relations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said..."We're telling the civilians to leave, Hamas is telling them to stay," Netanyahu..."Why is it telling them to stay? Because it wants to pile up their own dead bodies." He said: "They not only want to kill our people, they want to sacrifice their own people."

Image, in essence, is ephemeral.  Life and death is real.  We prefer survival and we'll deal the best we can with our image.

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