One of the criticisms of the Feeling the Hate in Jerusalem video was that the people in it seemed to be from the US, and not "really" Israeli. We can only imagine what the video would have looked like if Max had talked with "real" Israelis. From the Ynet article "Minister utters ethnic slur":
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, who meant to praise an undercover police agent in Tel Aviv, referred to him as an "Arabush" (Hebrew equivalent of "sand nigger") Tuesday.
Later in the day, the minister's office said he did not intend to insult anyone by using the derogatory term.
The embarrassing incident took place while Aharonovitch was touring the vicinity of Tel Aviv's old central bus station, a notoriously crime-ridden neighborhood. The minister met with undercover police agents in the area, and when one of the, apologized for being "a little dirty," Aharonovitch responded: "Why dirty? You look like a real Arabush." . . .
Following criticism of the minister's remark, Aharonovitch's office issued the following statement: "During a tour the minister met with a police officer wearing dirty clothes, and in a moment of humor, while resorting to slang, he uttered a specific word with no intention to hurt anyone. If anyone was insulted, this certainly was not the intention."
Thanks to Seham for sending along the article.
RE: "If anyone was insulted, this certainly was not the intention." MY COMMENT: I was insulted. So-called apology NOT accepted!
This is not surprising and it's best to get all the racial problems out in the open otherwise they will never be addressed and will fester, spoiling chances for peace in the region. What I find most disturbing about this and the 'Feeling the Hate' incidents is the seeming indifference of the offenders to potential disapproval of those around them, their public audience. It seems to me that such a high level of comfort is only felt when offenders feel sure that everyone around them agrees, and this suggests a broader problem. The problem becomes even more disturbing when such words are spoken by someone acting in an official capacity, as was Minister Aharonovitch. The good news is that someone was offended, and had the moral courage to speak out. I hope they don't suffer for it.
Max Blumenthal comes under fire for presenting a REAL segment of American and Israeli Jewish thinking. He is labeled a sensationalist, a cherry picker, an opportunist, a self-hating Jew: all of usual epiteths. He is admonished and slammed for doing what is routine for the western MSM when presenting the Palestinian viewpoint. An example of this would be a picture that was picked up by the international news wires of a member of Islamic Jihad pointing a rifle at a TV screen which shows Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu making his speech. This picture appeared in the English language daily that I read here in Taiwan. The media in America has no compunction about presenting the Palestinians in this light again and again and again, but when Max Blumenthal, a marginalized blog videomeister with naught but growing momentum and widespread silent public opinion on his side shows the same ugly racist side of Jews, whether of the American or Israeli flavor, he is vilified. It's no wonder that so many of us view ALL emanations from the American MSM as bullshit with an agenda. PM
What? Because they all spoke English, they're not Israeli? One of those guys was Israeli, the one sitting at the end of the table with a skin-head hairdo. He pronounced Netanyahu in Hebrew.
wow. if you actually think that video was representative of anyone other than drunk teenagers taking a year off in in Israel with daddy's credit card you are deluded. I know the area and NOBODY likes them not Israelis and not Americans. And if your proof that all Israelis are racist is one Israeli, its safe to assume all palestinians are going to blow themselves up on a bus. right? try not to hurt yourself while shaving skinheads
Tell me, if Max interviewed a bunch of Palestinians and asked them what they thought about Jews and Israel, would it sound any different?
I guess the main difference is that you and your ilk STOLE AND CONTINUE TO STEAL THEIR LAND WHILE YOU STAND ON THEIR NECKS!!!!! PM
Somehow, I don't think that Palestinians would be saying "eff Obama" or making threats to come to the White House and "tea-bag his ass." The Max video now has almost half-a-million hits, so the truth s getting out despite the MSM.
NEWS FLASH – After nearly 450,000 hits, YouTube has taken down Max's video for unspecified "violations of terms of service."
Ummm, any facts to substantiate your FLAMING??? 3/4 of Palestine is on the other side of the Jordan river, occupied by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The entirety of the Gaza Strip has been given as a peace offering to the Gazan Arabs. There are NO Jews left in Gaza, it has been ethnically cleansed for the greater enjoyment of Allah and Mohammed. (1 exception: Gilad Shalit is being held captive their, having been kidnapped by Pal "freedom fighters") On the other hand, there are a coupla MILLION Arabs still living INSIDE ISRAEL. And THOSE Arabs are stealing land like crazy. You are so confused…