I think it's over. The Israel lobby as a monolithic conspiracy dominating the discourse–over. The issue is now captivating the imagination of the left, including Jews; and looking more and more like South Africa redux.
Look at these protesters outside an AIPAC event at a Hilton hotel in LA, apparently yesterday from a Fox report on LA television. They've put on army uniforms and are holding guns to the heads of "Palestinians" at checkpoints and crying "Jewish only road!"
One of the protesters is Lisa Adler, maybe this Lisa Adler, a Jew who chained herself to the Israeli consulate fence two months ago. Lisa Adler is pushing 30, per that link. Do you think she's going to be engaged on this issue for a long time? Maybe longer than Alan Dershowitz, 70. It's over.
The local Fox correspondent, Christina Gonzalez, says she's surprised that AIPAC doesn't even respond with an official comment on the protests, it usually does.
So: What is the AIPAC policy conference in Washington going to look like this May? And what will the street theater look like? And how will AIPAC respond? I challenged AIPAC to invite Walt and Mearsheimer to debate a few weeks back. Yes, I was smoking something. But AIPAC's smart; and if you think AIPAC is going to be offering that good ole time religion–well, I wonder. It can't spend all of '09 on its heels or J Street is gonna eat its breakfast. (Phil Weiss)
See also:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Reading-The-Videos-Israel-by-Linda-Milazzo-090309-880.html
Great great great protest. Very creative, insisting, but good-mannered and hopefully effectice.
Off topic: The UK aid convoy has gotten through to Gaza. Here's the first video of Galloway speaking to the Gazans.
First Speech From Inside Gaza
(Quality isn't good; there will probably be more posted soon.)
Great job on locating this, Adam. When I did a search on the MyFoxLA site this morning, nothing came up.
The only coverage I did find of it online was this site mocking it:
Stop AIPAC protests at Universal Studios –
This is absolutely incredible: a FOX News television reporter in Los Angeles reporting about a demonstration against the Israeli occupation at an AIPAC event. And AIPAC has no public comment? Are you kidding me?
When you consider the unprecedented fierce defense of Chas Freeman, first by web journalists then spreading to MSM journalists like Roger Cohen, Andrew Sullivan and Joe Klein; demonstrations against the Israeli massacre in Gaza across college campuses … are we witnessing the Israel Lobby equivalent of the Berlin Wall being pounded by journalistic sledgehammers? I pray to God we are.
There were quite a few younger self-affirming Jews at the pro-Israel/pro-peace demonstration that I went to yesterday in Amherst.
It would be good if they were liberal and considerate, which is the feeling I got from most, much moreso than from the counter-demonstration which was assertively anti-Israel.
You think it's OVER for the lobby because they refused to comment on this one event (which looked like it was attended by 15 people)?.
ooookaaaay….whatever makes you feel better. lol!
"I challenged AIPAC to invite Walt and Mearsheimer to debate a few weeks back.'
When are Walt and Mearsheimer going to debate Dershowitz? After that scathing rebuke to their paper they have shown themselves to be gutless.
Funny how 15 people can make a difference. Thanks to FOX News, many more people saw what was taking place, and thanks to Mondoweiss, it now reverberates even more.
I liked how the one commenter said, "It's a good place to make your point." Also the little girl who acknowledged it was a 'little bit scary' to be treated that way.
I don't think the Lobby's over Philip… maybe there a blip, but they're too vicious to just give up… Especially when it looks like some blogs are either being censored or people are going to start getting banned… nasty real nasty…
BTW, it's too bad that the FOX News LA viewers couldn't have the opportunity to see the antics of our very own Hasbara-lite (Suzi-foo, berel-boy, et al.)
"When are Walt and Mearsheimer going to debate Dershowitz? After that scathing rebuke to their paper they have shown themselves to be gutless.
Then you are stating for the record that anyone replying to your post is wasting their time? Interesting confession.
"Dershowitz, who publicly challenged Walt and Mearsheimer to a debate last week, said that Mearsheimer had been scheduled to debate him on the BBC at 10:30 p.m Eastern time Thursday. But Dershowitz said that he received a call at 10:35 p.m. saying that Mearsheimer had cancelled the debate."
Julian: "When are Walt and Mearsheimer going to debate Dershowitz? After that scathing rebuke to their paper they have shown themselves to be gutless."
Either that or they know better than most that you can't win a pissing match with a skunk.
Richard Witty described his weekend activity as a "pro-peace/pro-Israel" demonstration. Here's how the organizers described it–
"In response to the growing anti-Israel sentiment in the Pioneer Valley, the Student Alliance for Israel is conducting a Rally for Peace. This is to show solidarity with Israel, that Zionists and Israel supporters are pro-peace, but that we believe that peace can only be achieved once Israel's right to exist is accepted. Come and show your support for Israel!"
(Well, at least it got him out of the house.)
'I challenged AIPAC to invite Walt and Mearsheimer to debate a few weeks back. Yes, I was smoking something.'
'Skunk,' probably. It's good for ye. Please share some with Witty. Although if he posted stoned, it prolly wouldn't make no sense. Not that it does anyway.
Who are you kidding Witty? Do you say that stuff to make yourself feel better?
So what are the guidelines for protest, Witty? According to the Zionist School of Etiquette?
You get more and more repugnant by the day.
And Julian, shut the hell up.
Just because someone does not accept a challenge does not mean he or she is 'afraid' of losing.
It's not about pure brawn/brain vs. brawn/brain. It's about choosing your battles wisely.
Dershowitz relies on theatrics and hysterics. Debating him would be a side-show. It would not be serious. Moreover, WHY Dershowitz? Isn't there any other commentator who can at least refrain from continually interrupting the other speak and flinging mud? That's all Dershowitz does.
You're creating drama where there IS NONE. Moreover, let's just pick one of the debates Dershowitz has done already.
Chomsky vs. Dershowitz. Go. Watch it. Find the points you agree with or not and lets talk about that. The ideas. Then lets talk about the style of the two debaters. Who followed the rules? Who didn't? Who was civil? Who wasn't?
Same thing for Norman Finkelstein vs. Dershowitz. And we can go even further. Let's analyze 'Beyond Chutzpah' and 'A Case for Israel' – which is a fraud? Let's examine the claims made by Norman against Dershowitz.
Let's talk about the IDEAS. Instead of this CONTRIVED drama.
But what's the point? You have illustrated time and time again you're intellectual capacity, Julian. This is the second time you bring up this debate thing as if it means anything.
Keep grasping for straws. You really are pathetic.
Great job on locating this, Adam.
I concur. Ever since discovering this site, I've realized that things continue to move forward. The mass media doesn't report it, but that doesn't mean it's not happening. I'm tired of being lied to, and having what I'm allowed to know hand picked for me. The keyboard is mightier than the sword.
Good Question. What will the AIPAC Policy Conference Protest look like? Will there be any at all? This needs to be planned and promoted NOW. Let's hope it is like this protest, that involved dozens, and the one in January in New York (that involved hundreds of people)
What the pro-war AIPAC extremists deserve is a welcome like that given the WTO in Seattle in '99. Because just as the WTO is the perfect example of an unjust economic system being foisted on the poor and working people of this planet, AIPAC is the symbol of the elites support for never-ending war in support of the dispossession of the Palestinian people of their homes and farms. It is supporting the continued occupation of Iraq and another war in Iran. This is a threat to the planet and should be treated as such.