American rapper, Macklemore, is the definition of a modern-day activist idiot. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but it’s true.
The performer is the latest re-animated poster child of the ‘free Palestine’ movement, becoming another symbol of the utter ignorance of white, privileged liberals when it comes to the reality of Palestine.
There are two simple questions that separate the ignorant from the even slightly well-read when it comes to the heinously complicated situation in Palestine. ‘Do you stand with the people of Palestine?’ and if the answer is ‘yes’, the next question is ‘Which ones?’
Nine times out of ten, you’ll be met with a blank stare.
That’s because very few Western liberals take the time to understand the political and social reality that exists in Gaza. When it comes to ‘supporting the people of Palestine’ there are large segments of the population of Gaza that don’t want you to support other large segments of the population of Gaza.
According to Mosab Hassan, author of the best-selling book Son of Hamas and son of Hassan Yousef, co-founder of Hamas, the ‘Palestine’ that most Western liberals like Macklemore think they are standing up for is pure fantasy. It simply doesn’t exist.
In an interview on a US talk show, Mosab stated, ‘There are actually no so-called Palestinians, there are tribes.’ Mosab went on to say, ‘There are no Palestinians … if they did not have Israel as the common enemy they would kill each other.’
Not long after the October 7 Massacre and outbreak of war, Mosab launched a blistering takedown of Western liberals claiming to support ‘Palestine’ (a video monologue which is no longer accessible): ‘What Palestine do you want?’ Mosab goaded, going on to ask if they wanted the corruption of Mahmoud Abbas, Yasir Arafat, or George Habash… Perhaps the Islamist fundamentalism and barbarism of Hamas?
The splintered nature of Palestine became tragically apparent when Italian pro-Palestinian activist Vittorio Arrigoni was kidnapped by Salafist radicals, who, according to the BBC, is an Islamist movement that considers Hamas ‘too moderate’.
Vittorio Arrigoni moved to Gaza support ‘Palestinians’. He was kidnapped by one of the Palestinian groups at war with Hamas and executed.
This tragic example represents the ultimate outworking of Western liberal ignorance. Activist-celebrities like Macklemore want to show support for ‘oppressed peoples’ by habitually distilling conflicts down to the Disney archetype of ‘goodies vs baddies’ in order to make it easier for them to digest.
It’s just not reality.
The conflict in Gaza is extremely complicated, awash with fundamentalism that cannot be unwound with a protest in Hyde Park or a screeching speech from the balcony of Sydney Town Hall.
Of course, Australia’s political ignorance was typified by the response of our government to the October 7 murderous rampage by Hamas – recognising the ‘State of Palestine’.
A year has passed since Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong announced Australia’s recognition of Palestine as a sop to the Labor Left, under the guise of ‘build[ing] new momentum for a two-state solution’.
Unfortunately for Albanese, his political dalliance into the situation in Gaza has not made a jot of difference in bringing the region ‘closer to lasting peace and security’.
None of this absolves Israel and its military supporters of actions that have seen innocent lives lost in the fog of war. Nor does it discount the need for free-flowing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, ideally secured by a peacekeeping force, whether it be organised by the flaccid United Nations or a coalition of forces from surrounding nations.
However, the ignorant flag waving of celebrities like Macklemore and the rote anti-Israel rhetoric of Western liberals, only serves to embolden the extremists that still have a stranglehold over Gaza. It makes a lasting peace that includes the disarmament of terrorists all that much harder to achieve.
Brad Emery is a writer and former staffer under the Howard Government
