• RamrodBaguette [comrade/them, he/him]@hexbear.net
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      11 months ago

      The thing I found more than a bit comical/disturbing is that even with the faux-cutesy corporate art style, they couldn’t resist being racist to the point the cartoon even harms its own message to people it may have been marketed to. The Palestinian wife depicted here is heavyset, covered in all-black from head-to-toe (which is an actual muslim dress but meant to denigrate her in the “artist’s” eyes) excluding the face with bulging cheeks, eyes and lips, whereas the Israeli Jewish wife is cute, skinny and, of course, white. She’s also wearing some cultural/religious clothing but it highlights her femininity and traditional charm, unlike the Palestinian woman’s which is meant to paint her as docile and superstitious. The Palestinian baby is something else entirely because of course it has to be in a suicide vest and not even used as a “human shield” like the wife is.

      They could easily have chosen to portray the Palestinian wife just like the Israeli one, while she clutches her baby in fear while her evil, “Jihadi” husband uses them as cover, painting the IDF soldier as the hero trying to save everyone from him. But they couldn’t help but betray how they really feel about the “human shields” and “collateral damage” they try to assure you they actually care to preserve, subliminally messaging that they’re ultimately obstacles rather than considerations, at best.

      I’m sure entire essays could be written about the glaring contradictions and messages of Israeli propaganda but this in particular was striking to me.