From my long experience in German and Czech politics, I have observed that what frightens politicians in “democratic” countries the most is not opposition within their party or the voters who placed them in office, but the media—commonly referred to as the fourth estate.

For this reason, politicians in these “democracies” often ask themselves: What is the similarity between a politician and a fly? And they answer: Both can be killed with a newspaper! This illustrates the existence of clear red lines that must not be crossed. These boundaries are summarized in what I call the “Twelve Commandments,” which every politician must observe during their term. Violating them risks political and social elimination within weeks, as happened to the renowned German politician and friend of the Arabs, the late Jürgen Moltmann, who mysteriously died after German media defamed and tarnished his reputation for his courageous support of just Arab causes. According to experts, his transgression of these red lines angered Israel and its lobby worldwide, prompting a media campaign designed to teach him a lesson and serve as a warning to others.

Journalists face similar constraints: ignoring the “Twelve Commandments” and daring to criticize Israel can label them as extremists or antisemitic, resulting in immediate dismissal or professional ostracism. For example, on January 21, 2009, a German TV debate on ARD—the country’s largest channel—titled “Where Are the Limits of Our Solidarity with Israel?” addressed Israeli massacres in Gaza. Five experts participated, including fiercely pro-Israel voices like former Deputy Chair of Germany’s Central Jewish Council, Michel Friedman, who played a major role in the campaign against Moltmann. When Friedman ran out of factual arguments, he wielded his ultimate weapon: the accusation of antisemitism. This tactic effectively silenced dissenters, leaving them with two choices: speak truthfully and risk their careers, or remain silent to preserve their reputation. Consequently, pro-Palestinian voices became cautious and deferential, while arrogance and falsehood dominated discourse—an everyday reality in Germany, leading to clear double standards.

Here are the unspoken Twelve Commandments, considered by German insiders even more important than the Ten Commandments of Christianity. I obtained them from a German journalist, dictated to him by his editor to define his limits:

1. Arabs are always the aggressors; Israel only defends itself. Always remind audiences that Israel has the right to self-defense.
2. Never acknowledge that Arabs have the right to defend themselves; always portray them as initiators of aggression, with Israel responding appropriately.
3. Based on the inherent qualities of Jewish (Israeli) genes, they are fundamentally good and incapable of wrongdoing; if contrary acts occur, never describe Israelis as aggressors.
4. If Arabs kill any Israeli, even a combatant, it is terrorism. If Israel kills Arab civilians, it is Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense.
5. Whenever Hezbollah or Hamas is mentioned, they must be labeled as “radical Islamic terrorist organizations,” funded and supported by Syria and Iran.
6. When discussing Israel, never mention: Israel occupies Arab lands; Israel violates international law; Israel violates human rights; Israel ignores Geneva Conventions; Israel enforces racist laws; Israel commits crimes against humanity.
7. If an Israeli is killed by Arabs, it must be described as murder. If an Arab is killed, the Arab victim is personally responsible.
8. If there are Arab civilian casualties, Arabs must be portrayed as cowardly, hiding behind human shields.
9. In all debates, articles, or reports, affirm Israel’s right to exist, while avoiding mention of Palestinian rights to an independent state.
10. Always stress that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East; Arab states are retrograde, dictatorial, Islamic, fanatical, and violate women’s rights.
11. Israelis are peaceful and tolerant; Arabs are inherently dangerous, filled with hatred and extremism.
12. Since Israelis are always truthful, their words must be trusted; Arabs cannot be trusted, often lie, and their opinions can be ignored.

This is the reality in so-called “democratic” countries, where media is allegedly free, transparent, and objective. These Twelve Commandments prevent any official from supporting just Arab causes, forming a significant barrier to conveying the truth to the public.

To overcome Israel’s monopoly over modern media, Arabs must invest in media infrastructure in these countries, speaking directly to local populations in their own language, thereby reaching minds, hearts, and consciences. Otherwise, Arabs will continue to be depicted as killers, terrorists, and extremists, while Israel enjoys the perpetual image of the victim, regardless of its actions.

Engineer Hisham Dalati
2009-10-10