Changing Adversaries: Holocaust Perpetrators in Israeli Public Discourse during the 2023 Democratic Protests and following the October 7 Hamas Massacre

• In Event: Gush Katif, 2005, Gaza, and the October 7 Massacres

Abstract

The paper discusses the complex relationship between the Holocaust, Israeli identity, and public discourse. It sheds light on how historical trauma intersects with current events, influencing political discourse and perceptions of external and internal adversaries. The Holocaust is both a central element in shaping the Israeli identity and an important part in its public discourse. Holocaust related-terms have been used during the nine months of the mass democratic protests against the government and as a reaction to the October 7 Hamas massacre. The paper explores the change in the utilization and manipulation of the terms related to the perpetrators of the Holocaust in Israeli public discourse in relation to these two events. By studying the terms: 'Nazis'; 'S.S'; 'Gestapo' and 'Einsatzgruppen' in political speeches, newspaper articles and social media posts, the paper aims to discuss the role of memory in influencing the political landscape. In that vein, it sheds light on the ways different actors such as politicians, journalists and the public use and abuse the Holocaust memory. In addition, it gives insights into the ways historical trauma is intersected with a current trauma through the usage of both commemorative and noncommemorative memory. Finally, it provides a new perspective to the transformation of adversary-enemy perception by demonstrating how the trauma of October 7 redefined the boundaries of the polity. While the national boundaries became firmer, internal political boundaries became blurred but not completely disappeared. Furthermore, the terminology, which is used for external enemies, is not identical to that of the internal adversaries.

Author

• Idit Gil, The Open University