Clearly we need to redefine the notion of ‘humiliation’ if it is to be believed that the following images are merely ordinary:

According to the poseur, Eden Aberjil, she is surprised at the backlash, given that:

There’s no violence or intention to humiliate anyone in the pictures. I know I didn’t do anything wrong. [...]

I don’t understand why it’s any of your business to go prying through people’s Facebooks and always find the bad. [Go] deal with more important matters. [Source]

If Aberjil’s response does not curdle enough, then the ensuing Facebook banter does:

“You’re super sexy here”

“Yeah I know, ha ha, what a day that was, see how he completes my picture, I wonder if he’s on Facebook! I have to tag him in the photo! Ha ha.” [Source]

For once, the blogosphere has accorded the issue the attention it deserves; to continue along the track of condemnation would be to reinvent the wheel.

The focus must be removed from the one – Aberjil – and shifted to the many.

The pictures are but a reflection of the reality: the perceptions of the Palestinians is degrading faster – once seen as a resistance and challenge, the pictures depict a weakened entity, barely human to be mocked.

The elderly men used as props in a young soldier’s tableau do not represent Israeli might however; rather, how low they will stoop in which to massage their military egos.

Certainly, the IDF do not wish to promote such images, but the fact that the psyche of IDF soldiers condones such actions demonstrates the outlook of the new generation.

Let us not forget the celebratory article in the British press during the conflict with Lebanon: rather than deride the young Briton’s actions as churlish and in bad taste, it prompted readers to revel in her frivolity.

Conflict is not about frivolity and these images are an ominous reminder that a deeper malaise grows in Israeli society vis-a-vis the Palestinians.

And from there, what chance peace?