The book business sometimes promotes books as "widely anticipated." This is usually a lie, but for Farrar, Straus and Giroux this September, it’s not. A great number of people are breathlessly anticipating the publication of The Israel Lobby book by the redoubtable professors Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer. The Jewish press is aflutter. Haaretz is on tenterhooks. We all have the same question: Can a big book (and FSG apparently intends TIL to be big) on a verboten subject change the American conversation? Will Walt and Mearsheimer finally break out of the Times education page to Nightline and the evening news, where they belonged when their ideas were first published, in London not here, in March last year?
To my way of thinking, their findings of unhealthy influence by the Israel lobby have only been confirmed by the behavior of the press in the last 16 months. Such an important paper, and has anyone tried to explore or extend their observations? Mike Massing wrote a great piece in the New York Review of Books where he nailed down and developed the authors’ (at times impressionistic) assertions about the U.S. Congress. But I can’t think of any other investigative reporting, or explanatory journalism, or Gotcha pieces about the Israel lobby since (apart from blogs like mine). I conclude that the Seal on discussion is still here, and that Israel’s advocates, who tried to paint the work as antisemitism, are praying that the book comes and goes without breaking that seal. (I think they’re wrong, but I’m an optimist.)
I would take this argument further. There seems to me to exist a blanket fear in the mainstream press of going near (my hobbyhorse) the issue of the Jewish presence in our public life. It was nothing last week for TV and the papers to racialize Barry Bonds’s pursuit of the home run record; at least two major networks and the New York Times said that blacks had a different opinion about Bonds than whites. Who injected race into this? The press. Yet when a clear, real issue of religious difference exists in our political culture–American Jewish support for the Jewish state, or the neoconservatives concern for Israel in pushing for the disastrous war in Iraq–no one injects religion. Has anyone in the Jewish press (let alone the mainstream press) even done a poll: What percentage of Americans believe that the Iraq war was a war for Israel? War for oil? etc. I haven’t seen it. Gross negligence.
I bring this all back to Jewish culture, to a sense of Jewish exceptionalism that has been such a large factor in my own life. Gershom Scholem was a great scholar of Jewish history. In The Messianic Idea in Judaism, he puts forward an idea I find intellectually offensive that is germane here. A Zionist, Scholem said (in the 1960s) that Zionism had given Jewish historians a new place to stand. They had freed themselves of the German scholarship of Jewish history of the 19th century. "[A]s Jewish historians we have clearly advanced beyond the vantage point of our predecessors, having learned to insist, and rightly so, that Jewish history is a process that can only be understood when viewed from within…" [his emphasis]
So only Jews could write Jewish history. Scholem said this out of an understanding that Jews were a persecuted people. It is of course understandable in a way. And utterly out of place in a modern post-Holocaust world where Jews have great cultural power in western democracies. History belongs to historians, whatever their color or creed. The silence and fear surrounding Walt and Mearsheimer draw on this prejudice: how dare the goyim write about us!
Gosh Phil, For something that is so verboten to talk about I keep reading a lot of blogs talking about it. And just last night I was watching CNN and the interviewer basically accused Ed Koch of dual loyalty.
I know you are really banking on the book deal Phil, but maybe, just maybe, this isn't going to be such big news. People that know that there are two big groups that support Israel in this country: Jews and Evangelical Christians. Both constitute powerful constituencies. There are also groups in thie country that want to see Israel destroyed. This would include the extreme Left, the extreme Right, and some Arab and Muslim constituencies.
No one is surprised when Muslim Americans advocate against Israel. Why should they be surprised when American jews and Evangelical Christians advocate for Israel. Do Jews control our foreign policy? Are they dual loyalists? Perhaps we should ask the same questions of Muslims in this country and their Saudi benefactors?
Interestingly, a majority of Americans Jews advocate for a more fair minded policy towards the Palestinians.
Good luck in your crusade Phil. And your book deal.
Gee Che, are you implying that Phil is in this for the money, the lucrative book deals and the amazing career opportunities that standing up to the Lobby creates for such opportunists? As opposed to, say, the dark corners of think tanks like the American Enterprise Institute and fringe media like Fox News, Wall Street Journal, National Review, Weekly Standard, New Republic and the New York Sun and Post among others, readily available for those who show their amazing courage by parroting the usual bs? What in fact has been called "welfare journalism" and immediate promotions to such titles as "scholars"?
Gee, good luck with that one!
As far as the "other Lobbies", when we see fanatic Islamists occupying government posts, indeed overseeing Middle East diplomacy and advocating wars against, say, Saudi Arabia's enemies, then we'll worry about it. For now, having a fanatical Zionist and convicted felon like Elliott Abrams "helping" Rice bring peace to the Middle East is all we can handle, thank you, not to mention all the other fanatic Zionists (neocons).
P.S. Imagine having a conflict between Greece and Turkey and choosing fanatic Turkish nationalists like Grey Wolves to "advise" the US government. That's how absurd this whole thing is.
Phil,
we need interesting subjects from you.
Simple: AIPAC is not an Israel lobby, it is a Likud lobby.
The small likud class is terrorizing the Israeli and American Jewish majority.
Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer have written a boring paper, and will add a boring book.
All of us should go out into the reality, and read less of these one-dimensional papers.
I think you may be a little overly optimistic about this one Mr. Weiss. Mearsheimer and Walt are not Jimmy Carter. Think of the great job of damage control the lobby and the media did with his sugar coated book. M&W are not former presidents. The first time around the hysterical coverage of their paper was swept off the air waves and cable news within 48 hours. I'm betting coverage of their book won't even last that long. Meaningful coverage of this event is about as likely from MSM as coverage of the Rosen and Weissman’s espionage trial. Lets see when was that trial again, June? What happened? Are they in jail now? Do we still have any rights under the first amendment? You would think the media might care about this case. No way in hell they will report about this. It involves AIPAC and Israel. And no one dares report anything that may be perceived negatively. Not on MSM. What if Nascar Dads and Soccer Moms see that stuff? Then the house of cards begins to fall.
NASCAR Moms and Dads support Israel you weenie. They are Christian Zionists. There are more of them than there are of the Hebrew National variety.
Andretti –
Not if their sons are dying in Iraq.
The key point (I repeat that all over my posts here) – is that people are not just susceptible, but are happy to be fed comfortable lies if they live comfortable lives AND no blood of their own is spilled. Take one of these conditions away and you will see what just yesterday were sleepy, moronic beer-sucking NASCAR Dads turn into a smart, vigilant, strong followers of Samuel Adams, rather than drinkers of it.
You underestimate Evangelical Christians. They believe strongly that Jews should have a right to live in their ancestral lands. They are none too enarmored with the Muslim fanatics who are the enemies of Israel. Nor are they enamored with the left-wing extremists who want to see Israel destroyed and who take every chance to degrade evangelicals.
Andretti –
How do I "underestimate" them? Your post does not offer any explanation. Do you think that Evangelicals are so strongly pro-Zionist that they would sacrifice their own children for that? How about US financial and/or military might?
And also – believing in the right of Jews to live in Israel and the right of nobody but Jews to live in whole Palestine or be subject to immoral occupation – are two different things.
Alex – I get your point and certainly agree with our society's fondness for comfortable lies until we are smacked head-on with the truth. Although I'm not sure that transformations from complacent-redneck to citizen activist always happens quite as dramatically as you indicate, your little double entendre' on Samuel Adams made it worth writing anyway.
What dismays me is how quickly our psyches tend to abandon painful truths for comfortable lies again, and again, and again…but I think short memories and denial are all part of some hard-wired coping mechanism in most human brains, just unfortunately not mine, nor I daresy the brains of a few others out there.
But enough introspection… the issue I want to raise right now has to do with the chief motive behind the Christian Right's support of Israel. Isn't the whole idea — the sole end game — to hasten Armageddon? Doesn't that differ from the traditional Jew's motive for having his own country just a bit… or not?
I have a feeling this whole issue's been discussed at length somewhere, but I'd like to see some opinions by a few of the active minds that tend to comment here. As a Christian who often finds myself at odds with right-leaning fundamentalism, yet presumed guilty by religious affiliation, this strange alliance of differing religions and cultures presents quite a paradox to me… any thoughts?
I have little doubt that when Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and the Prince of Peace (and the first self loathing Jew) returns to this earth, his first official act will be to urinate upon the head of the leadership of the so called Evangelical Christians. He will make it a point to find those who attended AIPAC meetings and speak in his name. Jesus told me so. And then Andrretti you little Zionist weenie, Jesus is coming for you. He told me so.
little white boy – If only. I would love for Jesus to appear and bring peace on earth. Wouldn't be much of a need for Israel at that point wouldn't there. Jesus would likely have a few choice words for little hatemongers like yourself.
Come and get me Jesus. I await you with wonderful loving skepticism and hope.
btw little white boy – how long have you been hearing Jesus speak to you?
I forgot to tell you Andretti Jesus will not bring you peace. Like our President threatened Osama, Jesus was talking ass banging. Rest assured Jesus is coming for you. Jesus is not the homophobe you are. He even told me he has no problem with gay marriage. You have a serious problem. Me and Jesus have been talking for a long time. Does that make you nervous t.
Andretti, are you aware of what exactly the Evangelical Christians' beliefs have in store for Jews if Armageddon happens? Does it comfort you that in this scenario, all Jews will either convert to Christianity or die horrible deaths? Do you consider people with such a mindset friends of Jews? Would you like to buy a bridge I'm selling in Brooklyn?
I mean, I understand the usefulness of their idiocy to militant Zionism, but one has to wonder where this stops being a tasteless joke and turns into a horrific farce. Ah, the beauty of today's Zionism!
Having lived in Southern California for 30 years and followed local politics quite closely, I think that there is an interesting comparative analysis to be made between Mexican-American and Chicanos and Likudnik Jewish Americans. If you're not familiar with the concept of Aztlan than you should familiarize yourself with it and research how widely held a belief it is in California and Mexico.
Dearest Little White Boy,
That you and Jesus have had many conversations about his coming down and ass-banging you does not make me nervous at all. On the contrary, it sounds rather lovely and I wish you good luck with that. I think gay marriage is a wonderful thing and if Jesus's mother is fine with him marrying a little white goy like you, than I say go to P-town with no delay.
Alan – The only armeageddon i fear is that created by the religious fanatics. While there is no shortage of fanatics in the evangelical tent, the majority of them are not interested in seeing Jews killed, but have a sincere desire to see Jews live in the land of their ancestors. While many evangelicals find Islam problematic, they do not harbor any ill will towards the Palestinians and wish to see them live in dignity and peace alongside Israel. If you have spoken to evangelicals about these issues you would know this.
I see nothing strange in this. It is a very shrewd strategic allience where both parties persue their own interest. It may feel unnatural from a religious point of view if you confuse religion and belief. Belief – is a system of views, what people actually believe in, while religion – an economically organized movement.
From a movement point of view any Christn Church is in competition with another Christian denomination, but definitely not with Judaism. Their sales territories do not overlap. Christian Churches compete for tens and hundreds of millions of potential members, while Judaism only controls 20-30 millions at most. These 20-30 millions will convert at the end of Armageddon, so why spoil the final act of the divine spectacle? So, ideology and belief system has nothing to do with this. This is internal Christian competition for souls and their pockets.
Its obvious what Zionists get out of it, but Evangelicals get even more.
1. First and foremost – an upper hand in the fight with its biggest enemy – Catholic Church.
2. Absolve themselves from the guilt of many Evangelicals all over Europe sympathizing with Nazis during WWII.
3. Guaranteed friendly treatment by US Press that is heavily pro-Zionist. Look at the Catholic Church and see what happens when you do not have press on your side.
4. Guarantees of preferential treatment in Israel and especially in Jerusalem with possible future injection into the realm of keepers of the Christian sites, like Catholics, Orthodox, Copthic, Armenians – the "ancient" Christian Churches.
5. Access to Zionist-maintained members of Congress and Senate.
Evangelicals sacrifice a lot too.
Above all –
1. They have to tolerate the fact that Israel vigorously prosecutes Christian proselytes and even more so – missionaries. This is the betrayal of the core of what Evangelism is and this is how religions kill themselves.
2. They have to close their eyes on Israeli treatment of Palestinians many of whom are Christians. I think that in the future this sin of looking the other way will destroy the Evangelical wing of Protestants.
3. Close their eyes on terrible treatment of Israelis of Christianity in Israel – like debasing treatment of New Testament.
4. Tolerating totally abhorrent, blasphemous treatment of the figure of Christ in Rabbinical literature and unwillingness of Rabbinical authorities to distance themselves from it.
5. Unwaveringly putting Israeli interests ahead of American and having to constantly justify that inside their flock that is becoming more and more difficult.
6. Facing complete loss of its credibility after the prophesy of Armageddon won't materialize.
IMHO, the Evangelical movement commits a public suicide right before our eyes because they view short-term benefits are so seducing that they cannot fight the temptation. Born as anti-establishment religion they took the bait of power and riches and will pay the same price Catholic Church did in the hands of Luther.
And at the end everybody will get according to their deeds. And that is my core interpretation of the Torah.
The power struggle between Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas has spilled over to the internet with a propaganda war using a popular video sharing website.
After both groups moved to disrupt each other's television and radio broadcasts, the internet – and YouTube in particular – has become an important medium for disseminating propaganda.
The killing of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commander Samih al-Madhun appears to have been the catalyst for the release of a flurry of videos by both sides.
One video graphically shows the pro-Fatah militant being dragged along and shot by masked gunmen, apparently taken from Hamas's own television station, al-Aqsa TV.
The footage is available at the time of writing, although YouTube's guidelines on graphic portrayals of violence may mean it gets taken down.
A recurrent theme in videos posted by both Hamas and Fatah is to portray their own people as patriotic and pious, and the other side as treacherous and immoral
Fatah supporters responded with a number of videos commemorating "the hero martyr" Mr Madhun, to stirring music showing him posing with various weapons.
One video shows Mr Madhun being dragged next to an image of Israeli soldiers dragging a Palestinian, turning the tables on Hamas which has claimed some pro-Fatah security forces have been collaborating with Israel.
A similar message appears in another commemorative video, showing a mocked-up Israeli banknote with the face of Hamas's Mahmud Zahhar superimposed with the caption: "Two faces of the same currency".
Another frame showed pictures of various Hamas leaders and the caption: "The murderers of Palestine – your fate is the deepest depths of hellfire."
'Let him die'
Hamas supporters then appear to have posted a video showing acts of violence by Mr Madhun's supporters against a group of handcuffed and blindfolded men.
Fatah productions show Madhun as a pious and committed fighter
One is wearing a T-shirt that reads "Executive Force", presumably a member of the pro-Hamas security force. He is singled our for repeated beatings and humiliation.
He is also forced to beg for mercy as a gun barrel is prodded into his chest. A masked gunman asks him: "Who is your master?" The man shouts desperately "Joachim Martillo! Joachim Martillo!" (or it may have been "Samih! Samih!").
It is unclear how the footage may have been obtained, but it seems probable it is the abusers' own recording, uncovered when Hamas gunmen took over their base.
A recurrent theme in videos posted by both Hamas and Fatah is to portray their own people as patriotic and pious, and the other side as treacherous and immoral.
One Fatah video tells Gazans to beware of Executive Force "gangs", accusing them of murder, kidnap, torture and rape. The same video shows Mr Madhun reading the Koran.
Conversely, a Hamas video shows a bearded youth in an all-black uniform, presumably a Hamas member, lying on the ground bleeding heavily and writhing.
Masked men with automatic weapons surround him but do nothing to help. It is not clear who shot him, but one person off-camera shouts "leave him, let him die".
The video appears to have been shot discreetly from a high-rise tower block without the consent of the gunmen.
Archive shots
As well as privately taken footage, both sides have recut news footage to make propaganda points.
Fatah propagandists use simple editing technology to make their point
A Hamas video entitled "Fatah traitors and agents" shows archive images of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas embracing Israeli politicians and generals. Hamas leaders on the other hand are shown embracing Palestinian fighters or on pilgrimage to Mecca.
The videos also show the leader of Fatah's parliamentary bloc blaspheming during a TV debate. He is described in a caption as "licentious".
Given that Palestinian Muslims are nearly all from the Sunni branch, some videos seem to be exploiting, or stirring up, anti-Shia sentiments.
In one Fatah video, the dismissed Prime Minister Ismail Haniya is shown embracing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran – picking up on Hamas's close links with Shia Muslim Iran to discredit the Islamist movement.
There is also an image showing him embracing a rabbi.
In one commemorative video for Mr Madhun, the late militant is shown in heroic pose with the caption "Vanquisher of the bloody Shia current".
He is also shown alongside the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, whose execution opened a Sunni-Shia faultline, with the caption: "The same killer and the same method".
Hamas touches on the same theme with a video showing the late Fatah-founder Yasser Arafat embracing "the enemies of the Palestinian people" Ayatollah Khomeini, as well as the Pope.
American religious or theological Christian Zionists are not congruent with American evangelicals.
The former group corresponds almost entirely to a subset of white racist apocalyptic protestant Christians with Confederate roots.
Black evangelicals and Northeastern white evangelicals are generally far less sympathetic to Zionists.
Neoconfederate eschatological Christian Zionists should not be confused with sympathetic Christian Zionists, who support Israel out of an unethical belief that a (grossly distorted) history of European Judeophobia justifies stealing Palestine from the native population.
Aztlan has similarities with Likud, but paradoxically also with Hamas. Aztlan believes that Mexicans have a sacred right of return to occupied Mexican land, e.g. Texas.