In recent days, I've been called an anti-Semite repeatedly because I despise the things Israel has done to the Palestinians. If you have seen the various videos posted to this blog, you've already met a few more "anti-Semites" who feel as I do -- raging, hate-filled monsters like Norman Finkelstein and Max Blumenthal.
As Jewish survivors and descendants of survivors and victims of the Nazi genocide we unequivocally condemn the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza and the ongoing occupation and colonization of historic Palestine. We further condemn the United States for providing Israel with the funding to carry out the attack, and Western states more generally for using their diplomatic muscle to protect Israel from condemnation. Genocide begins with the silence of the world.Norman Finkelstein also lost family members in the Holocaust. You should hear what he has to say about Israel's most recent attempt to "mow the lawn" (to use the Israeli expression) in Gaza. (A fuller version of the above speech may be found here.)
We are alarmed by the extreme, racist dehumanization of Palestinians in Israeli society, which has reached a fever-pitch. In Israel, politicians and pundits in The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post have called openly for genocide of Palestinians and right-wing Israelis are adopting Neo-Nazi insignia.
Furthermore, we are disgusted and outraged by Elie Wiesel’s abuse of our history in these pages to justify the unjustifiable: Israel’s wholesale effort to destroy Gaza and the murder of more than 2,000 Palestinians, including many hundreds of children. Nothing can justify bombing UN shelters, homes, hospitals and universities. Nothing can justify depriving people of electricity and water.
We must raise our collective voices and use our collective power to bring about an end to all forms of racism, including the ongoing genocide of Palestinian people. We call for an immediate end to the siege against and blockade of Gaza. We call for the full economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel. “Never again” must mean NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE!
Oh...and you know those "rockets" we kept hearing about? Norman Finkelstein tells the truth about those in the video below. (He was speaking at a left-wing bookstore here in Baltimore. Wish I had been there. The synchronization may be a bit off in this video; if you want to see and hear the full version of his speech -- with better sync -- go here.)
You gotta hear Finkelstein lay into Obama at the end! "The truth of the matter is, Ronald Reagan showed more heart..."
6 comments:
You are not an anti-Semite because you despise what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. You are an anti-Semite because you so easily toss around terms like "Nazis" and "Jew-haters." Honest political discussion is one thing. Your facile name-calling in the most reprehensible fashion is quite another. Rolls a little too easily off the tongue. Then you say you're proud of the appellation. If the jackboot fits...
The only reason I printed this comment is that it is so insane and incomprehensible, it made me guffaw. Thanks for the laugh, nutball!
Spoken like an arrogant, dismissive, bitter man. There was a time when writing was vetted by editors and publishers before it was put into print. You have no idea what you're even saying. Look at the hate in your comment, alone. Incomprehensible? No one is so blind as a person who doesn't want to see. I would be chortling, too if I thought arrogance, hate, and virulent anti-Semitism were funny. Instead, I am responding because your brand of puny discourse cannot be left unchecked.
That comment is like exhibit A from the Hasbara manual. Accuse anyone who criticizes the insane right-wing government and vile racist policies of Israel of being an anti-Semite. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Anon, even though you've broken two of the rules for comment, I've let your inanity go through for a couple of reasons. First, you've managed to be more comprehensible this time, which shows that you are finally putting some thought into your work instead of spewing out a weird word salad. Thoughtfulness deserves a reward.
Second, I still think it is hilarious for you to take the moral high ground when you are defending land theft and genocide. YOU are the one who is evil, and all the more evil because you are convinced of your own rectitude.
Third, and this is my main reason for talking to you (even though no-one is likely to read these comments at this late stage) -- I don't think you understand yet how it works around here. So let me explain the situation again.
Years ago, when this blog was targeted by Hasbara trolls, I announced my policy: Whenever they accused me of anti-Semitism, I would spend the next WEEK publishing hard-hitting material documenting Israeli racism.
And I did.
You see, the truth is, my interests are wide-ranging, and I would really rather talk about more pleasant matters. Honest. I really mean that.
But thanks to you -- THANKS ENTIRELY TO YOU -- this humble blog will be publishing a whole bunch of transcripts of Max Blumenthal's speeches.
Do you finally, FINALLY see how it works, idiot?
Okay, that's all of the "rules for comment" violations I'm going to tolerate from our Anonymous Coward. I see no reason to allow a Zionist a voice on these pages, any more than I would allow a Nazi or a KKK-er to have a voice here.
Coming up: A full week on the topic of Israeli racism! With NO backtalk allowed from the racists among us! And if Mr. Anonymous Coward cares to pipe again, we can make it TWO weeks.
I really did want to talk about something else, but rules are rules.
Post a Comment