Israel Project's 2009 Global Language Dictionary
The Israel Project’s 2009 Global Language Dictionary manipulates language to obscure truth, justify human rights abuses, and shape global opinion on Israel’s actions against Palestinians.
At the dictionary’s core feature is its manipulation of euphemisms, reframing Israel’s contentious policies and inhumane actions in ways that sound benign or even noble.
The Israel Project commissioned Republican strategist Frank Luntz, who ran polls and focus groups to determine the best language to use to promote Israeli settlements to the American public.
It's a chilling guide on how to frame the conversation around Israel's actions in a way that seeks to sanitise acts of oppression and delegitimise any resistance.
The study was marked, "Not for distribution or publication" and was leaked to Newsweek online.
Verbal Re-Framing
This delegitimisation tactic is not just about semantics—it’s about using language as a tool to delegitimise legitimate struggles for self-determination and justice, transforming them into threats against global security.
Settlements in the occupied West Bank are suggested to be called “neighbourhoods,” a term with an innocent suburban connotation, which completely sidesteps the political and humanitarian implications of displacing Palestinian communities.
It recommends being positive, framing the issue as being about peace and security not settlements, noting that religious, ownership and "scapegoat" arguments failed to sway listeners.
The study states that "public opinion is hostile to the settlements—even among supporters of Israel" so instead of dwelling on settlements one should always talk positively and focus on past peace achievement.
So, Arab housing being demolished in East Jerusalem is because it fails to meet the building code.
One of the boldest statements in the guide is "Israel is so rich and so strong that they fail to see why it is necessary for armoured tanks to shoot at unarmed kids" para (3) page 90.
Also, has advice such as "If you get a question about settlements, change the subject. If pressed, say stopping settlements is 'a kind of ethnic cleansing".
"Every one of the 112 pages in the booklet is marked "not for distribution or publication" and it is easy to see why. The Luntz report, officially entitled "The Israel project's 2009 Global Language Dictionary, was leaked almost immediately to Newsweek Online, but its true importance has seldom been appreciated.
It should be required reading for everybody, especially journalists, interested in any aspect of Israeli policy because of its "dos and don'ts" for Israeli spokesmen."
— Patrick Cockburn
Tags: Propaganda, Israel, Zionism,