George Bush's gentle criticism of the Israelis over the settlements today brings closer the moment when a national news show does a report on the Israel lobby and interviews John Mearsheimer and Dan Fleshler and Michael Lerner about what effect American Jews have had on the brutal conditions experienced by the Palestinians... It's coming, baby. Don't know when.
Meantime, why doesn't Bush do something about all the money flowing from this country to support the settlements? Why can't we stop this now? Where is Congressman Elliot (Syria Accountability Act) Engel now that we need him? These suckers aren't hiding. Last month the illegal and vicious Hebron settlers held a fundraiser at the Grand Hyatt in New York of all places. 42d Street! Matt Duss did a fine report on it in the American Prospect. Further evidence that the media are beginning to soften.
One elderly woman told me she was at the fundraiser because she believed that Jews should be free to live anywhere in the land of Israel.
Such blithe assertions of entitlement ignore the massive human cost incurred by the Hebron settlement. Hundreds of thousands of dollars flow annually into this community from private donors in the United States like the Hebron Fund, causing thousands of Hebron's Palestinians to live a nightmare [emphasis mine] so a few hundred Israeli religious extremists can live out their biblical historical fantasies.
Biblical fantasies. Well put. Shut down the money now, Mr. President...
There was another time when Bush spoke encouragingly to the Palestinians. It was the summer of 2002 and he bragged how he was the first president to support the creation of a Palestinian state (although he warned them that it was only to come after they chose acceptable leaders). The context then was Bush's attempt to consoldiate international support for the coming attack on Iraq, and we all know what became of the promises.
Now suddenly we're hearing encouraging words from him again. It's possible this time it has more to do with plans against Iran than with any concern for Palestinians. He's scheduled to meet with all the area heads of state on this trip and will undoubtedly be peddling the Shia-vs-Sunni narrative. Is it a coincidence that on the very first day we get the sexed-up story of the patrol boats and talk of Iran's eternal threat to the world? Maybe the NIE ruled out direct U.S. involvement, but Israel's still eager to carry out the bombing.
Phil, don't forget Ira Chernus also:
“>link to zope.gush-shalom.org
and Amira Hass of Ha'aretz:
Well how to explain American policy towards Israel in simple terms hmmmmmm…
OK here goes:
Mom: Here is your new computer game, but remember, you must get at least a C on that test to get another one in a week…
A week later, after an 'F':
Mom: Here is your new computer game, but remember, you must get at least a C on that test to get another one in a week…
A week later, after an 'F':
Mom: Here is your new computer game, but remember, you must get at least a C on that test to get another one in a week…
A week later, after an 'F':
Mom: Here is your new computer game, but remember, you must get at least a C on that test to get another one in a week…
A week later, after an 'F':
Mom: Here is your new computer game, but remember, you must get at least a C on that test to get another one in a week…
"Jews are free to live anywhere in the land of Israel"
——
The German-Jewish/Zionist philosopher Martin Buber said in 1944 that unlike all other peoples/nations who, in the course of history, conquered their lands and were robbers, Jews can never be called "robbers" in the biblical Land of Israel.
To Buber's credit I have to ad that he said later, when he realized what the Zionists were doing in the biblical land: 'they are doing something like Hitler's work under the Jewish flag.'
Klaus, you fucking liar. Buber never said that. Gimme the citation, you piece of shit!
I assume Matt Duss is Jewish. It's a good article, but what we really need is a media in which gentile reporters don't feel intimidated about covering stories like that. That would truly be a "seismic shift" in our media.
Martin Buber: 'Hitler's deeds under the Jewish flag'?
———————————————–
My source is an article in the very Israel favoring German paper Die Welt-online, Oct.23, 2007.
The article is about a conference held in New York by CAMERA on Oct.21, 2007 about the left-liberal Jews that were attacking Israel. Alvin Rosenfeld was at the conference and Cynthia Ozick.
The acticle writes that the Harvard psychiatrist Kenneth Levin said at that conference that the respected German-Jewish philosopher Martin Buber …
"supported in the 1930s the British policy to restrict immigration to Palestine and seriously accused Zionism to commit Hitler's deeds under the Jewish flag."
———-
So, Buber obviously said that in the 1930s, not 40s. I beg your pardon.
Gosh Klaus, doesn't that change the meaning entirely?
In 1991, President Bush I declined to support $10 billion in loan guarantees to Israel unless Israel halted settlements in its occupied territories. For this, he was savaged in the Israeli business daily, the Wall Street Journal, and was obliged to issue a humbling 'Dear Shoshana' letter to the chairwoman of the Council of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. Link to text of letter (at NY Times website):
http://tinyurl.com/2388ex
The lesson Israel learned is that it can undermine and defy U.S. policy, with no consequences to the cash flow of tribute. Thus, Bush II's surprising demand for a 'contiguous' Palestinian state — which, inter alia, would cut off the Dimona nuclear plant from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv — probably doesn't concern the Israelis. The Lobby, as always, will triumph.
Buber cont.
Isn't it bad enough to have compared Zionism to Hitler short of his 'final solution'?
The German article which has also some historical perspective on German Jews and is titeled "Jews as Crown Witnesses against Judaism", doesn't say where Harvard's Kenneth Levin found his Buber quote, it just says "he unearthed some unpleasant facts on Martin Buber …". Well, whether and to whom this is "unpleasant" is in the eye of the beholder.
If Bush was serious about the settlements he would not have the criminal treason monkey Eliot Abrams working in his administration. Why Won't Hugo Chavez Let Us Assassinate Him?
Here's more on the CAMERA conference Klaus was referring to, on the subject of self-hating Jews–
Haygood – Land contiguity does not require splitting Israel in half. An evelated highway or underground tunnel can connect the West Bank and Gaza or the North and South parts of Israel. Either way each group can have "contiguity".
Klaus:
Buber was talking about Jews being forced out of Germany and Zionists accepting this. He wasn't talking about them harming Arabs. He, like I, didn't give a flying fuck about what happened to Arabs.
"He, like I, didn't give a flying fuck about what happened to Arabs."
That you, Bill?
I've read this blog for a while and I have seen Bill on other blogs. Doesn't seem like his style. More likely a troubled 14-year old loner.
I'm Jewish and I care a lot about the Arabs and the Jews that live in the region. I would bet that Buber did as well.
Hatred of the other will condemn both people to the gallows. Respect and concern for the other is the only path to security and survival for both Arabs and Jews.
Isn't it time we all grew up and started acting like adults?
For liberals motivated by guilt, a big adult shift is to self-advocacy (as Jews realized in the sentiment "Never Again").
For conservatives and fascists (including both expansionist Zionists, and the politically correct far left), the big shift is to acceptance of the other and a relaxation of their propaganda.
Dear 'Bumlicker' whoever you may be.
Let me tell you on a personal note: next time you dislike, doubt what I write, mind your language ("fucking liar, piece of shit") – will you?
That goes for me too, Bumlicker. Clean up your act. There is plenty to disagree with Mr. Bloemker's arguments without resorting to juvenille name calling.
"First they came for the Palestinians, but I wasn't a Palestinian, or even any redneck American voter, …", by Marty Niemoeller.
Bumlicker is the David impersonator. Reader is right, Pearlman would have used his own name, especially when swearing.
About the only one around here more vile in his rhetoric is arguably you Anonymous. You are just more polished.
Here is a promising sign from today's news: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday declared it a "disgrace" that dozens of unauthorized West Bank settlements were standing four years after Israel promised to dismantle them, following pointed criticism from President Bush.
In a meeting with political allies, Olmert used the harsh word "disgrace" to show his determination to implement his obligations under the "road map," the 2003 plan that serves as the basis for renewed peace negotiations, according to a participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.
The "road map" plan calls for Israel to halt settlement construction and take down unauthorized outposts built after March 2001, and for the Palestinians to dismantle violent groups.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday negotiating teams would begin tackling the "core issues," including borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees, at their meeting on Monday. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev confirmed that teams would begin discussing those issues.
"If we reach an agreement on all these issues, then we can say that we have reached a final agreement," Abbas said in a speech in the West Bank city of Ramallah, adding that a peace treaty must resolve disputes over all the issues.
Israeli settlements are high on the Palestinian agenda. They consider all the settlements, not just the unauthorized outposts, to be illegal encroachment on their land.
In February 2006, just weeks after taking office, Olmert sent police to tear down nine unauthorized homes in the Amona outpost, sparking violent clashes with settlers. In the two years since, he has taken no serious action against outposts.
At a news conference last week in Jerusalem with Olmert, Bush said, "Look, I mean, we've been talking about it for four years. The agreement was, `Get rid of outposts, illegal outposts,' and they ought to go.'"
The Settlers Council issued a statement warning Olmert not to forcefully evict them again.
"In Amona, Olmert thought it was not right to solve the problem in negotiations and he led to an unnecessary conflict and rift in Israeli society. That way failed and brought severe consequences and the prime minister should not attempt it again," the statement read.
In his speech Sunday, Abbas said, "We told President Bush that we can't move ahead in negotiations while settlement activities are going on. We can't have negotiations while they are building houses all over."
Abbas criticized the Hamas-led Gaza regime for allowing rockets to be fired into Israel but said the rocket fire hurts the Palestinians more than they Israelis, who keep demanding that Abbas take action to stop it.
So the road to Palestine passes through Tehran after all. And then Damascus and then… oh, can you spot the vile monkey pointing the other way, trying to escape, hiding his vilany behind american falling bombs?
Shock and Awe! Watch the monkey get hurt, monkey!
You can fox the Fox News,
Make the monkey blind
Throw your pearls before the swine, but
Don't you monkey with the monkey, hey hey,
Shock and awe the monkey to life!