A lot of us are cynical/weary about grassroots, direct action, community organizing, picketing, protests, the like. Now stop and acknowledge that Adalah-NY has had an incredible effect on Lev Leviev, the diamond merchant who has global ambitions but supports colonization of the West Bank. Adalah, which includes Jews, non-Jews, black white purple green, has made Leviev's life hell. They've shut him down in the UAE. They've turned people away from his Madison Ave. store. Now Unicef is having nothing to do with him, at Adalah's impetus. Here is the letter of yesterday from Unicef. No partnerships with him, no money from him. Hat's off to Adalah! (And thanks to Saif Ammous for his thinking here).
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Why would you seek to censor him?
Richard, why would you not?
just read "why are we at war" by norman mailer and want someplace to post this piece of "genius":
“I do think that the end of the holocaust gave us one grand example of how inhuman the sheiks and leaders at the top of many an arab nation were then. They could’ve said, “let these jews have that land. It’s not going to hurt us. They chose to see these holocaust survivors as the enemy. They used Israel to divert hatred away from their own regimes.” P- 94
elsewhere in same book, mailer praises US democracy because it allowed him to become independent at 25 freeing his mind to think.
try harder, norman.
while here. got passed by a desert buggy with a blaring cd by toby keith.
i realized that much current country music and the jewcons are made for each other.
both fight the current wars from behind mics and cameras. tough sounding words/lyrics from a studio. neither inclined to the uniform.
give me the DIXIE CHICKS.
mr weiss, introduce mr mailer to mr naeim giladi.
If Mailer had been an Arab on the disputed land in 1947-'48, he would have made a macho stand against the invading foreigners.
His thoughts are so weak it's hard to comprehend, given his character as he has defined it for so long…. his most recent novel regarding Hitler is equally weak and sophmoric… Gee, what ever happened to the Armies Of The Night? The old tried and true GI? Instead we get an addled Nanny…
RW wrote: "Why would you seek to censor him?"
We are not censoring him. We wish to reduce his bank account so he doesn't cause any more damage with his financial terrorism. You know how it works. Arab charities in this country are being prosecuted since some of their funds may be going to someone who is or supports the use of violence to resist Israeli occupation. This is a small way of hitting back at the settler terrorists.
Oh happy day. Very good news indeed. Congrats to Adalah, and tough shit Lev.
Yeah it must break Lev's heart that those Unicef people won't take his money! Last I checked, UNICEF wad busy supporting rape casmps in Zaire. What a bunch of shit the UN makes out of everything it touches!
You don't find it a tad hypocritical to complain about AIPAC's "censorship" and a boycott of a single individual oriented to changing the manner in which he conducts his own personal donations?
It is odd that the excesses of the left would compel me to side with a supporter of settlers on a particular issue.
Why don't you suggest the boycott of Palestinian construction firms that actually build the settlements, as well?
Do you think that boycotting Leviev speeds or delays the prospect of a viable and healthy Palestinian state?
Yeah Wits I mean it's so ODD that a zionist (you) sides with another zionist over these crazy leftists saying that a human being is a human being…
I mean don't these leftists know about the zionist exemption to the Universal* Declaration of Human Rights?
Of COURSE more Palestinian land has to be confiscated–but it's only to provide Palestinian contractors with jobs!
Yes the West Bank aquifer is being monopolized by Jewish settlers, but prefab subdivisions and swimming pools are about as American as apple pie.
Yeah billionaires have lined up behind zionism since its start. I mean, where's the money in goat-herding and olive orchards?
Lev Leviev, victim, or uber-victim?
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Its getting clearer every day that Obama v McCain is just like Clinton v Bush I; a phoney choice. Obama is in the pocket of the same crowd (whoever they are) that runs McCain. And we now know that they control the European Union as well.
This is from Rosners current blog in Haaretz
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Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WI) has just published the final version of a report by the Task Force on the Future of U.S.-Israel relations. The title is appealing: How to Deepen U.S.-Israel Cooperation on the Iranian Nuclear Challenge. But no less appealing is the list of people endorsing this report: Tony Lake and Susan Rice of the Obama campaign, Vin Weber, James Woolsey of the McCain camp.
Dennis Ross, former Mideast peace envoy, and Rob Satloff, of the WI, were the two who made this happen, but the list of endorsers also includes other important people, some of whom close to the presidential campaigns. Among them, former counter-terrorism advisor Richard Clarke, Bob Blackwill of the Council on Foreign Relations, former Senator Bob Kerry and others.
These people raise some concerns regarding the depth and content of U.S.-Israel strategic dialogue. They think this dialogue should be enhanced, especially so because of the challenge Iran poses to both countries. If you want it in a journalistic headline format, here is one way to do it: Obama, McCain advisors agree: US-Israel should discuss preventive military action against Iran.
But this is, of course, the simplistic way of describing this document which merits a more nuanced reading. Here's a couple other things all signatories agreed upon:
Achieving peace between Israelis and Arabs while Iran is going nuclear will be difficult: "Moreover, our collective ability to wage peace or prevent conflict will, in many ways, be shaped by the success of Iran's nuclear ambitions."
The NIE report of Iran was as bad as people like me thought it was: "Regrettably, however, the NIE's crediting past efforts to pressure Iran with partial success had the unintended consequence of reducing the sense of urgency for additional pressure. The result is that the prospects for significant strengthening of international resolve to raise the cost to Iran of continuing to pursue objectionable policies in the nuclear field are less hopeful today than they were prior to the publication of the NIE."
Israel is understandably nervous, and the U.S. should take it into account: "Israelis across the political spectrum see nuclear weapons in the hands of the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran as constituting a threat to the state of Israel of unprecedented scope and seriousness. They will, as a result, always err on the side of "worstcase scenarios" in assessing timeframes for progress in the Iranian nuclear program and will consider all steps, including their own preventive military action, in order to stop or slow Iran from attaining this capability. Our leaders will have to take these factors into account".
And here is an important reminder: "Americans should recognize that deterrence is, in Israeli eyes, an unattractive alternative to prevention, because, if deterrence fails, Israel would suffer terribly. The consequence is that any suggestion that a policy of deterrence is America's preferred option only reinforces the idea among many Israelis that, in the end, they may be left alone to bear the brunt of the Iranian nuclear threat."
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Electoral politics is finished. But thats not bad since it is by now quite odious to most voters in any case.
The only consequential action is in the streets. Get your asses out there.
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No kidding, kiddies. Why all this blather about electoral politics when it is obvious that only crooks can get to run? Why be suckered into respect for the long defunct US Constitution? The Empra has no clothes and you will be the last to see it. The System is crumbling before your eyes and no one can stop it. If you want to be a winner, if you want to help the universe, you need to get with it. That means Help it Fall or prepare for after. Trying to reform it means denying the Will of God.
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RIGHT ON!
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'It is odd that the excesses of the left would compel me to side with a supporter of settlers on a particular issue.'
Nothing odd about that at all. You might be surprised by the extent to which your capacity for ethno-religious solidarity outweighs your membership of the human race, but I'm not.
'Why don't you suggest the boycott of Palestinian construction firms that actually build the settlements, as well?'
I guess that would provide 'balance' would it? Maybe we ought to get the Palestinians to shit in Israel's water supply for a few months, just to even up the lavatory ledger, eh? Perhaps a few targeted assassinations with ten ton bombs on blocks of flats in Tel Aviv is the go.. it's only fair.
'Do you think that boycotting Leviev speeds or delays the prospect of a viable and healthy Palestinian state?'
Well, it's a start. Baby steps Richard, that will one day be huge strides.
I trust people that accomplish things. They may be convinced (by reasoning) to put their efforts into better uses.
I distrust people whose only "accomplishment" is what they stop from happening. They are generally incapable of doing anything, good or bad.
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YES THIS R WITTY IS A CLEVER MONKEY. YAHWEH THINK HE DESERVE A REWARD. O WOTTY HOW ABOUT SOME *MEAT*?!
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ho
RE Witty: "I distrust people whose only "accomplishment" is what they stop from happening. They are generally incapable of doing anything, good or bad."
Is this an odd inside joke? Does anybody get it? Where's the moral compass here? Some Transformers universe, huh?
Its the distinction between politics of goal and acceptance, and the politics of reaction and resentment.
The Palestinians need improvement in their condition. But, that does NOT equate to "Israel must be punished", or that "Zionism is racism".
It is a truth that the Jews desire a small area to self-govern, and that in the crowded modern world, to do anything at all requires displacing another.
So, do we conclude that nothing should be done, or do we urge that what is done be done considerately?
J Street is considerate Zionism. A-Zionism or anti-Zionism is instead a suppression.
Zionism was an accomplishment for example. A truly vibrant nation formed from the efforts of refugees.
An accomplishment, resulting from work.
The effort to dissolve Israel is a reaction, a resentment, a dismissal of an effort, a dismissal of critically important sentiment.
The game is a zero-sum game currently. Worse than that a negative-sum game.
A zero-sum game is a relationship in which for one to succeed another must suffer. A negative-sum game is reactionary, in that revenge itself, harm itself, is the goal, with no even attempt to create.
There are Palestinians, Arabs, dissenters, that truly want to create something different, something specific, and have described their goal and means to the goal in detail.
The one-state approach dabbles in idealism, in articulating something good and new. But, it also dabbles in reactionism, in the dismissal of what is critically important to the current majority of the region.
So, Zionism was never a reaction, even in its origins? Could have fooled me. And Zionism was\is an accomplishment? And, apparently alone among accomplishments, fully trustworthy by all humans? Again, could have fooled me. J-Street advocates freezing settlements. Why not abolish all the settlements? Wouldn't that be more equitable and more legal under international law? Or can we dilute Palestinian rights at will, for the sake of negotiating leverage? Same re Arab right of return.
J-Street also advocates continued military assistance to Israel by Uncle Sam, so that Israel always is top dog. And it advocates Uncle Sam pour more money and effort to facilitate a Palestinian state. What does the average American taxpayor get out of these policies? They can't pay their bills now, or haven't you heard? Why expect so much from debt-ridden average Americans? What do they get out of any of this except some get to have their sons and daughters die or be maimed for life? On the other foot, continuing the present policy is–and will be much worse… worse…. Lev Leviev is very much a part of that present ugly picture, one of many private supplements to our rubber-stamp support of the obnoxious settlers who have not value one recognizable as American also (unless you want to go back in history a couple hundred years).
on this sabbath saturday before i head back to xymphora for a look and then into the desert to be near god, big god(no,not jewry the god of jews) not the small god of the nits of zion, i must say: to hell with the shitty one called israel. this cancer of a parasite has no right to exist. its supporters should be gathered by their necks below guillotine blades.
chu
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CHU CHU CHU & KILL ALL JEW
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hee hee
I support the J Street advocacy that you mentioned.
US military support and comprehensive civil relations with Israel
AND
US civil support of Palestine
Lev Leviev is a man, who donates to multiple causes, some that resemble your attribution of him, and some that don't.
Picking him to boycott is arbitrary, self-gratifying, though utterly ineffective except at expressing anger.
Anger is NOT accomplishment, it is just steam. If anger appears to motivate, it is false attribution. Some other desire that might be in the mix is the motivator. Anger is just a maize, that usually creates a bigger maize.
i think the pressure on obama must be really intense. i mean the pro-israel pressure. does anyone know or understand what it consists of? i don't believe he is merely a corrupt lying politician. we know the congress is pressured by money. no money no job. but is obama so dependant on jewish money? or are jews so powerful in the media that he has to pander so utterly? where is this overarching power coming from? martillo? is there really any hope at all?
i picked up the local jewish rag in my upscale west coast community. i apologize to phil and other jews , but it is so toxic i can't really examine it. among the weddings and news of the new jewish museum etc. , there were 3 or 4 articles on israel/palestine. the views entirely predictable. where is this vaunted jewish complexity? where are all the "young jews" who aren't buying in? where are the 60% (or whatever the latest propaganda figure) who don't support agressive us foreign policy?
one thing is perfectly clear, "they" keep the propaganda flowing constantly without a break.
how can anyone not believe that the use of fear of anti-semitism is a cynical manipulation ?
Its not cynical because it is honestly felt.
Israel means a lot to Jews, of all generations, and of nearly 100% that continue to self-identify as Jews, rather than as residual or primarily assimilated.
For Obama to win, it takes liberal Zionists to appeal to the Jewish community. The leftish anti-Zionist or A-Zionist approaches WILL push the Jewish community into a more defensive mode, and result in a vote for McCain, even as the vast majority differ with him on fundamental issues (taxation, energy, Iraq, etc.)
To the extent that the left insults liberal Jews, they functionally INVITE McCain to be supported.
I think Witty's take here is astute re practical politics; however, if
the use of fear of anti-semitism is not a cynical manipulation because it is honestly felt, was the Weimar Germans' fear of communist takeover also not ever a cynical manipulation when it was honestly felt? Certainly there was plenty of evidence the reds were trying hard, no? Further, Is there some natural separation between honest feeling and cynical manipulations? Everyone knows the effective salesman sells the self first.
Why not give the Palestinians what was once known as Uganda as a consolation prize? A land without people for a people without land!