To post or not to post? That is the question

On October 7th last year, I wrote about a controversial group of young Israelis who call themselves the Shministim (12th Graders) or in English, 'Conscientious Objectors.'

The story “Cape Town: 'Conscientious objectors' visit may spur anti-Semitism' Is part of a raging debate among Israelis and also among Jewish communities worldwide as to how the Jewish country should be portrayed abroad. It is important to note that part of the controversy is that this group is a very marginal one, with only about 100 members in Israel. Its message, however, is far reaching and has garnered a lot of attention.

My original story was published in the daily print edition and later posted online. If I had been writing it for the internet then I would have had the freedom to include more about the emotional debate surrounding these young people.

Debate comes to lifeProbably the most powerful link to include here would be the Shministim’s promotional video of the Shministim, which appears on YouTube and on the group’s site



Using that as the core, I would have highlighted some of the debate over the group’s message. In the international media they have been written about and commented on exhaustively. Check out the commentary from the Huffington Post and 'Conscription in Israel is necessitated,' the article that appeared in the Cape Times and relates specifically to the group’s visit to South Africa that I also wrote about.

On the other side, I also have linked to some of the group’s criticism in order to highlight why they are so controversial. One such commentary is 'How South African Jews ‘protected’ their youth from the Shministim'

A debate that incites hatred?
Of course, the debate around the Shiministim is not quite as shocking as imagery of dead bodies, however it is extremely sensitive for Israelis, many of whom have lost loved ones in the army (which of course is compulsory) or have been injured themselves, and for Jews around the world who fear that negative presentations about Israel, especially from Israeli Jews, will incite anti-Semitism in their communities.

Balancing act
The question that any on-line media publishing this, or any similar story, needs to ask is whether it is inciting hatred towards one group. Is publishing such a video or writing about such a group actually promoting that group’s agenda? Is it taking sides with that group’s philosophy? How can you keep such controversial subjects balanced and present both sides of the argument? And, bearing in mind, how compelling a visual presentation can be, should that visual be included too?