What exactly is Pinkwashing?
Pinkwashing is a PR technique used by various organizations and individuals, including the Israeli government-run campaign Brand Israel. It is one of numerous strategies used to re-create the image of Israel in the international arena from one associated with ongoing wars, repression of Palestinians, and occupation of Palestinian lands to one associated with scientific advances, technological breakthroughs, art, culture, and equality (primarily showcasing women and LGBT people).

Pinkwashing is the appropriation of queer voices from Israel and Palestine and the gay rights struggle to distract from and normalize the numerous human rights and international law violations and the colonial and apartheid policies that the Israeli State has established on the ground.

Pinkwashing is meant to cover up these violations with a facade of progressiveness and equality. In short, Israeli Pinkwashing aims to change the standard of a progressive, civilized nation from one that respects and protects human rights to on that respects and protects gay rights, while deliberately ignoring basic rights to a repressed and occupied population (rights to water, movement, speech, education).

What’s wrong with Israel promoting gay rights?
Pinkwashing is not about the promotion of gay rights, but rather about that appropriation of gay voices coming out of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah for the purpose of drawing attention away from Israel’s human rights violations and towards its relatively progressive attitude when it comes to gay rights. Israel is using the struggle for gay rights as well as the struggle for women’s rights to form a particular image of itself, that of a progressive democracy that supports minority rights, as opposed to that of an occupying power. In doing so, Israel also vilifies Arab societies in general, and Palestinian society in particular by constantly presenting itself and its alleged progressiveness in contrast with a society portrayed as backwards, intolerant and homophobic.

What does Pinkwashing ‘look’ like?
Pinkwashing takes many forms, and can come directly from the Israeli government, government sponsored organizations or from international organizations and individuals. A recent example is the widely circulated video about the supposedly gay American activist, Marc, who was allegedly denied a place on the most recent Gaza Flotilla due to his sexuality. This video was then exposed by Electronic Intifada as a hoax distributed through Israeli government offices. It was meant to vilify not only Palestinians, but those who support them. Another example is the Facebook page Queer Support for Israel which has numerous photos and videos promoting Israel as a haven for gay rights and demonizing Palestinian and Arab societies as barbaric and homophobic.

Pinkwashing can also take the form of speech, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent speech to the United States Congress where he said “ Israel has always embraced this path [of liberty] in a Middle East that has long rejected it. In a region where women are stoned, gays are hanged, Christians are persecuted, Israel stands out. It is different.” Isn’t Israel a progressive democracy, right? Doesn’t Israel provide more rights to gays and lesbians than all Arab countries?

Yes, Israel does have legal protections for LGBT Israelis. However, outside of socially progressive Tel Aviv there exists a great deal of homophobia, a fact that is ignored and glossed over by Israel’s attempts at Pinkwashing. Because of this, the problems facing Israeli LGBTs are often ignored by the Israeli government, and sometimes also by Israeli LGBT groups, because to highlight them would expose the ideas promoted by Pinkwashing campaigns as simply inaccurate. Israel’s relatively progressive laws on LGBT issues do not change the fact that many Palestinians are still living under occupation. Although Israel may protect its own gay community from discrimination and persecution, all Palestinians living under occupation, queer or otherwise, suffer from discrimination, persecution, restriction, and threat of violence from Israel and its illegal settlements.

What about homophobia in Palestinian society?
There is homophobia in Palestinian society, and the lives of LGBTQ Palestinians are affected by this. Many recent campaigns organized by Palestinian LGBTQ activists from groups such as alQaws and Aswat have led successful efforts to tackle homophobia and sexual intolerance in Palestinian communities in the occupied territory as well as inside Israel.

Homophobia in Palestine is not an isolated phenomenon present solely in Arab or Palestinian societies, but is universal. Tackling homophobia and speaking up about it in Palestinian society is the responsibility of queer Palestinians, not the responsibility of the Israeli government or ministry of education. Addressing homophobia and the issues of gender and sexuality in Palestinian society not only falls outside of the Israeli government’s responsibility but it is not its right to do so. To assume so denies queer Palestinians their agency.

Isn’t Israel helping queer Palestinians?
No. Although in many advertisements and publications Israel is presented as a safe haven for Palestinians fleeing violence in their own communities, very few cases exist. It is actually illegal for Palestinians from the West Bank, Gaza Strip or from refugee communities to enter Israel, because of the Israeli citizenship law which does not allow Palestinians from the West Bank, Gaza or the refugee camps to hold Israeli citizenship. This law makes it impossible for Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to seek asylum in Israel if they can even get there overcoming the enormous number of checkpoints and the illegal apartheid wall.

How can I learn more about Pinkwashing?
Take a tour of the new PinkwatchingIsrael.com website. Read/download PWI's "Pinkwatch Presentation". Write us to learn more. Interested in learning more about Palestinian Queer groups? Visit PQBDS.com. Learn more from numerous resources available here for learning about Pinkwashing.

How can I help in the fight against Pinkwashing?
Becoming more aware of Pinkwashing and being able to recognize it are the first steps towards being able to fight it. There are other existing efforts you can join as well, such as the BDS or Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. BDS is an effective, non-violent means of resistance to the Israeli occupation and apartheid policies. To learn more about BDS and queer activism, visit PQBDS.com or, and feel free to contact BNC and PACBI.

Want to get more involved? Pinkwatch with us! If you notice any events, such as film festivals or pride events on campus, in your community, city or country, that are inviting and/or hosting Israeli government-sponsored or funded groups, raise awareness on Pinkwashing and the BDS movement.