ABSTRACT

This article examines the effects the peace-making efforts of Israeli aviator, restaurateur and peace activist Abie Nathan to promote peace in the Middle East between the 1960s and 1990s had on the Israeli public. Among other initiatives, Nathan flew illegally from Israel to Egypt to start diplomatic negotiations in 1966 and established the offshore radio station “Voice of Peace” (1973–93) which broadcast in English from international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean. His globe-trotting peace activism and humanitarian efforts turned him into an international figure of fascination in Israel and abroad. Departing from treatments that dismiss Nathan’s political relevance, this article uses the concept of “nation branding” to argue that Nathan’s choices as an activist both defined and defied the limits of Israeli peace activism: on the one hand, Nathan’s activism of spectacle helped Israelis imagine themselves as a peace-pursuing people, without actually mobilizing them to political action. On the other hand, Nathan repeatedly tried to push his compatriots to recognize the legitimate claims of the Palestinian people, putting him at odds with Israeli authorities.

摘要

本文探讨了 1960 年代至 1990 年代期间以色列飞行员、餐馆老板和和平活动家 Abie Nathan 为促进中东和平所做的和平努力对以色列公众的影响。在其他举措中，内森于 1966 年从以色列非法飞往埃及开始外交谈判，并建立了海上广播电台“和平之声”（1973-93 年），该电台在东地中海的国际水域以英语广播。他的环球和平行动和人道主义努力使他成为以色列和国外的国际人物。与否定内森的政治相关性的处理不同，本文使用“国家品牌”的概念来论证内森作为活动家的选择既定义了又挑战了以色列和平行动主义的局限性：一方面，内森的奇观活动帮助以色列人把自己想象成一个追求和平的民族，而没有真正动员他们采取政治行动。另一方面，内森一再试图推动他的同胞承认巴勒斯坦人民的合法主张，使他与以色列当局产生了分歧。