Their playbook · documented tactic

The substitution dictionary

Luntz report's 'Words That Work' / 'Words That Don't Work' tables; standard official usage.

How it works

Systematic vocabulary replacement: 'disputed territories' for occupied territory, 'neighborhoods' and 'communities' for settlements, 'defensive operations' for invasions, 'passed away' constructions and passive voice for killings. The vocabulary pre-decides the argument before any facts are exchanged.

How to recognize it

Legal terms with fixed meanings never appear; soft synonyms always do. Killings happen in the passive voice — people 'die' in 'clashes'; no one kills them.

How to answer it

Don't argue the synonym — outrank it. 'The ICJ, the Security Council, and Israel's own Supreme Court all say occupied. I'll use the courts' word.' Then keep using it, unheated, every time.

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