Breaking What Silence? A Critical Reading of Allegations from "Breaking the Silence"

NGO Monitor
02 February '11

On December 12, 2010, the NGO known as Breaking the Silence (BtS) published a 431-page compilation entitled Occupation of the Territories - Israeli Soldier testimonies 2000-2010. BtS claims to counter the "official Israeli position" that IDF actions are defensive in nature: "The soldiers' testimonies describe an offensive policy that includes annexation of territory, terrorizing and tightening the control over the civilian population."

These highly tendentious and unsubstantiated allegations were copied uncritically by media sources such as the New York Review of Books, Ha'aretz, The Independent (UK), leading Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende.

NGO Monitor's analysis of the Breaking the Silence publication shows:

- BtS makes sweeping accusations based on anecdotal, anonymous, and unverifiable accounts of low-level soldiers.

- Only 30 of 183 testimonies could potentially be independently verified based on the details provided. (According to BtS, 101 individuals testified. It is unclear how many of them are responsible for multiple entries.)

- Responses to terror and legitimate security concerns are dismissed as pretenses to "punish, deter, or tighten control over the Palestinian population" and the "intimidation, instilling of fear, and indiscriminate punishment of the Palestinian population."

- The incidents do not relate to decision-making in the army's higher echelons, but rather refer entirely to allegations of low-level infractions. Many explicitly note that misconduct was opposed and punished by officers: "I have to point out that the officers were opposed to it, and they tried anyone who was involved in these things. There was a strong opposition."

- Some of the testimonies suggest radical anti-Israel political motivations. One former soldier explained that he participates in "anti-Wall" demonstrations, and another referred to settlers as "the biggest Judeo-Nazis that I have met in my life."

- The publishing of the compilation in English indicates that the intended audience for BtS' distorted view is outside Israel. In the words of BtS' Michael Manekin, "Really, the political significance is the only reason for doing it."

Contrary to Breaking the Silence's image as a beleaguered and oppressed group of Israeli dissidents, the NGO is free to publish its allegations without consequence or punishment. Journalists in Ha'aretz and from international papers frequently provide BtS with a platform. The Italian newspaper Il Foglio wrote that members of Breaking the Silence "risk at the most coming late to their Tel Aviv café."

This NGO also receives extensive funding from European governments, enabling officials to artificially amplify their impact within Israel and speak and promote their ideology to international audiences.

(Click here for the full analysis)

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