I used the words intellectual leadership in a post today. That leadership has to be American, to defeat the lobby. Here's Ilene Cohen's latest inspiring email:
The three articles following, by Gideon Levy, Uri Avnery,
and Tony Karon, offer superb presentations of the meaning of what
we've been hearing, about the Gaza war and the "talking soldiers"–that
it's been going on for years, as government policy, within the IDF, and
within the population more broadly. The "it" are the
occupation/apartheid/wars and the dehumanization of the Palestinian
population in order to keep the colonial project alive.
and Tony Karon, offer superb presentations of the meaning of what
we've been hearing, about the Gaza war and the "talking soldiers"–that
it's been going on for years, as government policy, within the IDF, and
within the population more broadly. The "it" are the
occupation/apartheid/wars and the dehumanization of the Palestinian
population in order to keep the colonial project alive.
Gideon Levy: "Change will not come without a major change in mindset.
Until we recognize the Palestinians as human beings, just as we are,
nothing will change. But then, the occupation would collapse, God
forbid. In the meantime, prepare for the next war and the horrific
testimonies about the most moral army in the world."
Until we recognize the Palestinians as human beings, just as we are,
nothing will change. But then, the occupation would collapse, God
forbid. In the meantime, prepare for the next war and the horrific
testimonies about the most moral army in the world."
Uri Avnery: "[F]rom time to time an unexpected flash of light shows what is really going on.That
happened this week, when one of the pre-military preparatory schools,
set up to educate future officers, convened a meeting of alumni, most
of them on active service or in the reserves, and encouraged them to
speak freely about their experiences. . . . [Avnery concludes:] This
war must be ended. The river must be channeled into a different bed, so
that its waters will make the earth fertile – before we become
irreversibly bestialized in our own eyes, and in the eyes of the world."
happened this week, when one of the pre-military preparatory schools,
set up to educate future officers, convened a meeting of alumni, most
of them on active service or in the reserves, and encouraged them to
speak freely about their experiences. . . . [Avnery concludes:] This
war must be ended. The river must be channeled into a different bed, so
that its waters will make the earth fertile – before we become
irreversibly bestialized in our own eyes, and in the eyes of the world."
Tony Karon: " . . . Israeli officials admitted last week that they were
hoping to 'rebrand' Israel’s image abroad, . . . There is only so much
that 'rebranding' can achieve when it is the product, rather than its
packaging, that is at the root of the problem. . . . What Mr Olmert and
others are really saying [about a future of South African-style
apartheid for Israel], without realising it, is that Israel is already
in an apartheid situation – and that if it doesn’t end that situation
soon, the world will notice and begin to respond accordingly."
hoping to 'rebrand' Israel’s image abroad, . . . There is only so much
that 'rebranding' can achieve when it is the product, rather than its
packaging, that is at the root of the problem. . . . What Mr Olmert and
others are really saying [about a future of South African-style
apartheid for Israel], without realising it, is that Israel is already
in an apartheid situation – and that if it doesn’t end that situation
soon, the world will notice and begin to respond accordingly."
That's the reality, occupation, settlement building in Palestine,
including East Jerusalem, apartheid laws, apartheid roads, incursions,
wars of aggression not of defense, and so on.
including East Jerusalem, apartheid laws, apartheid roads, incursions,
wars of aggression not of defense, and so on.
There are mountains of report, article, books–facts–to back it up. On the other side, we have the talking-point defense of Israel,
based on nothing but the notion that the Israelis are always in the
right, facts be damned.
based on nothing but the notion that the Israelis are always in the
right, facts be damned.
