Early on Friday morning, Israel launched unprovoked air strikes deep inside Iranian territory, targeting sites near Isfahan and Tehran. Among those reportedly killed were scientists, senior government officials and civilians, including women and children.
Yet, within hours, western leaders and media outlets cast Israel’s aggression as “preemptive” self-defence. US officials claimed that Israel acted to thwart an “imminent” Iranian threat, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune insisted the strikes were necessary to counter “Iranian aggression” and protect Americans.
Despite its ongoing belligerence across the region, the depiction of violent, predatory Israel as a victim of its victims has prevailed in the West since before the establishment of the settler-colonial state in 1948.
The more lands and people Israel conquers and oppresses, the more insistently the West portrays it as the victim.
This framing was no accident. ….more
