Reader, the day is approaching when the Israel lobby will become fodder for American journalists and politicians, and this site will have tons of competition in its explorations. Why am I optimistic? Because Washington is fast becoming the only high ground left for the lobby. Per Haaretz, European mainstream politics has fully taken on the tragedy/danger of Palestinian statelessness, with talk of apartheid and BDS, and it’s only a matter of time before American politicians get a little courage:
Criticism of Israel has become the language of choice in European discourse.
The Haaretz piece is a report about the EU’s new foreign minister, an English baroness, Catherine Ashton who in her first speech as the European Union’s first high representative for foreign affairs and security policy "leveled scathing criticism at the ‘Israeli occupation.’"
Following her comments, a number of MEPs from the Liberal side of the house called for punitive measures against Israel, including the suspension of the EU’s Association Agreement. Irish centre-left member Proinsias De Rossa, who visited the West Bank last week, called Israel’s treatment of Palestinians a form of "apartheid."…
The British stateswoman, who has also served as the Commissioner for Trade in the European Commission, said that in the EU’s view, "East Jerusalem is occupied territory, together with the West Bank."
h/t Peter Voskamp.
Watch and see if by tomorrow she isn’t already groveling and backpeddling.
I think you are being too cynical about Europe — but I won’t deny that you have a point. Whether this gets retracted or not will be a clear sign as to whether this is Europe with a backbone, or merely wriggling briefly under Obama’s heel.
I have more cynicism that this will change things in the United States. Has Europe’s comparatively intelligent response to climate change impacted in any way the progress of the American debate on the issue? We still can’t get our politicians to admit that the world is round, metaphorically speaking.
They already considered from now on anti-Semite, the lobby will retaliate…
potsherd (shouldn’t that be potshard?), the UK is not the US. The British Parliament is not, happily, the US Congress which is composed almost entirely of lickspittles and, unlike the latter, a respectable segment is neither in debt nor in thrall to the British Zionist lobby. What Baroness (!) Ashton represents are those of her countrymen and women, who no doubt watched the Gaza assault on Al-Jazeera, many of whom have a personal memory of having resisted the Nazis. Keeping a stiff upper and all that.
This would be the same UK that is now scrambling to revise its laws so the poor Israeli ministers can come go huggyhuggy without having to worry about being arrested for their war crimes?
Potsherd? No offense, but do you have a link to a news story on this happening or something? Because I’m still convinced that it isn’t possible for the UK to “revise” its laws. That would require significant Parliamentary backing and I happen to know that the British Parliament has quite a number of anti-occupation politicians. Putting aside the fact that kowtowing to Israel is never going to be in the interests of the UK. Are you forgetting how fantastic relations were with the founders of Israel during the British Mandate?
link to guardian.co.uk
Then again, I hope this won’t make it through.
Here’s a link; a number of Brit leaders are trying to placate Israel; yet the
“universal jurisdiction” warrants are legal once issued, although they may
be annulled if the alleged war criminal is not physically in England:
link to haaretz.com
Brown promised Israel the legal system would be reformed:
link to presstv.ir
Looks like steps are already being taken to to require higher approval that the judge currently authorized to issue such a warrant–but some lawyers involved
in the change are “outraged:”
link to haaretz.com
Actually, Jeffry, it’s Mr. Potsherd to you! Be aware, the Potsherds are a venerable and ancient family, whom they brook no palterings with their surname!
The Potshards, on the other hand, are just, well, the less said, the better.
I would disagree. Did you by any chance watch the Channel 4 programme on the British Israel Lobby? I’d say it’s worse than its American counterpart seeing as very few people know how much influence it has.
The EU on the other hand is slightly less permeable to such influence, ironically because it’s less democratic – no money is needed to win elections.
Unseemly, Philip! Obama let you down so now a former Soviet agent is your MLK? Listening to Radio 4: EU ministers are already distancing themselves from Baroness Twat. But nice try.
Am Yisrael Chai! Never Again! Hitler, bagels, Nazi, antisemite, Islamoblahblah, Palestinians don’t exist, terrorism, Oy vey!
Wonderful to see the Midwestern redneck advocate weighing in this evening. Must not be happy hour yet.
whats her fault? Zionists must know that their colonial entreprise will fall down sooner or later, at least this is what the history taught us.
As Sharmine Narwani wrote on HuffPo in her tag line: “To the woman accusing pro-Palestinian protestors on TV of anti-Semitism, I too wearily say, frankly my dear, I just don’t give a damn.”
That’s the clarion call everywhere except the US; Haaretz gets that right. The world beyond the US has gone past outrage with Israel — everyone expects it to act like it does — it’s that everyone is fed up with it. The cry wolf of the Holocaust as a justification to harm others with impunity, and the supposed 2,000-year victimhood — or is it 3,000 years? — has gone on long enough. As Narwani correctly points out, the anti-semitism slag is used to characterize everything except bad meat.
If Israel were a person, it would be diagnosed as having a borderline personality disorder.
I think Jewish UK politician Sir Gerald Kaufman put it rather aptly:
link to youtube.com
Unlike in the United States, honest Jewish voices aren’t suppressed and disenfranchised in Europe.
Chaos wrote:
Wow, wow, wow, Chaos, not so fast!
The difference is rather a matter of degree, considerable degree perhaps but degree only.
Here we have the British Zionist Federation and their clowns trying to stifle, silence and disrupt any serious debate on I/P. But the difference is that the BZF and the rest of the Israel Lobby here in Old Bligthty are a bunch of incompetent hacks compared to the well-oiled machine of AIPAC, The Israel Project and the rest of the villains…
I don’t think the difference is one of competency but of sheer funding. I don’t know how things are in the UK, but in the United States, the only thing that determines political success, right now, is money.
RE: “If Israel were a person, it would be diagnosed as having a borderline personality disorder”. – MRW
MY COMMENT: I concur with your diagnosis, Doctor!
P.S. – I am not a doctor, but I sometimes play one on the internet.
Ten brand names associated with Israel to boycott this Christmas:
link to presstv.com
1. AHAVA cosmeceutical company
2. Galil textile industries
3. Dorot Garlic and Herbs seasoning products, all based in Israel.
4. Motorola telecommunications company
5. Intel Corporation
6. Estee Lauder cosmetics and skin care companies
7. Sabra companies
8. Sara Lee (!!)
9. L’Oreal
10. Victoria’s Secret
remember also Ali Abunimah’s mention of the cheaper, generic version of Prilosec (omeprazole), marketed by Israeli giant pharmaceutical company Teva,
in addition to Israeli drug company Taro,
Teva is one of the largest generic drug distributors in the world.
link to usacbi.wordpress.com
Israel believes that once it leaves the dead husk of the United States it will latch on to the EU, and summarily stick a finger in its eye. However, the EU is not a huddled and crippled figure like the USA is swiftly becoming, and it may not tolerate Israel’s activity without exacting a heavy price. All of this remains to be seen, but the opening salvo seems to indicate that this may be the general sentiment and direction.
“Europe’s road to a new Jerusalem”
By Lord Chris Patten
Financial Times: link to z.pe
I think too many average Europeans have been to Israel and experienced the Israeli treatment of foreigners to have the wool pulled over their eyes. They also have the example of the U.S. to see what organized Jewry willingly does to hosts and benefactors in the name of Israel or Jewish interests.
true, too many divorced Israel specially after the recent wars in Lebanon and Gaza.
That’s why Israel is having another anti-semitism conference: to counter the world’s complaints about them, and figure out how they can characterize everything except going to shul as anti-semitic.
Catherine Ashton is a Baroness, to be sure, but she was only made one 10 years ago, and it’s the lowest order of the peerage.. This is an overt method us Brits use to reward people with status, rather than money, although they make enough of that, too.
“On 19 November 2009, Ashton was appointed the EU’s first High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Her appointment was agreed by a summit of 27 European Union leaders in Brussels. After actively pushing for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to become President of the European Council, Gordon Brown eventually relented on the condition that the High Representative position was awarded to a Briton”
On the other hand, Rod Liddle,the associate editor of The Spectator, (our version of The New Republic, but vastly more intelligent, entertaining, and much longer established), said of her: “”Never elected by anyone, anywhere, totally unqualified for almost every job she has done, she has risen to her current position presumably through a combination of down-the-line Stalinist political correctness and the fact that she has the charisma of a caravan site on the Isle of Sheppey.”
(Translation – caravan site = trailer park; Isle of Sheppey = our version of a Houston slum.)
She won’t be a prima donna, and part of her job will be to convey Europe’s disgust about Israel’s behaviour.
I see OhioJoes has weighed in, saying “Unseemly, Philip! Obama let you down so now a former Soviet agent is your MLK? Listening to Radio 4: EU ministers are already distancing themselves from Baroness Twat. But nice try. ” in his usual charming manner.
But he could have used ‘cunt’ instead of ‘twat’ , and perhaps not tried to claim that supporters of CND link to en.wikipedia.org
were Soviet agents, and not normal people who were very apprehensive that Britain, as America’s major aircraft carrier, would catch the first wave of nuclear retaliation.
OhioJoes, whoever he is, or wherever he is, (We’ll find out Joe) should go back into his bedroom and wank.
(We’ll find out Joe)
Your time is your own to use as you see fit, but do you really want to waste it like that?
Yeah, really. Trust me, Mr. Parker — you’ve seen one trailer park, you’ve seen them all.
ot, or maybe not — maybe Israel is attempting to throw appeasement crumbs to EU; why else is Haaretz printing “news” of the Sept 2008 Map for Peace that Olmert presented to Abbas, that Abbas rejected, that Bibi will have none of — oh, and that Bush is supposed to have given verbal assurances that the US taxpayer would help finance?
, dated Dec 17 2009.
Why haul out TODAY a plan that went nowhere over a year ago? Why is Haaretz so excited to have this “exclusive” — are the hasbara factories on Hannukah break?
But it is interesting to note that US taxpayers would be on the hook to resettle illegal settlers!:
True, Europe is not the US, but I think all this hopefulness is rather premature. On the whole, whether the subject is climate change or neo-colonialism, Europe is just a somewhat kinder, more “enlightened” version of the US. To the extent that Europeans want to stand up to the US in matters of foreign policy, we lack the guts to go it on our own. Palestine is a case in point. The differences between the US are either rhetorical or marginal or both. In the end, the pro-Zionist line is towed. Furthermore, the Union’s German lynchpin will not touch the subject with a barge-pole (excuse the mixed metaphor). The UK (as Phil has reported) has its own lobby issues, as well as that “special relationship” headlock. France also has a strong Zionist lobby, rampant Islamophobia, and a real jerk of a president. Spain is sometimes well-intentioned, but doesn’t really care, and carries little real weight in the Union. Italy is a pro-Zionist joke at the moment, although the other leading candidate for EU foreign minister, Massimo D’Alema (centre-left), has a pretty good reputation on the ME, and is a far more experienced politician than Ashton (oh well).
Yes, Shmuel, I was going to write something similar in response to Phil’s statement:
“it’s only a matter of time before American politicians get a little courage”
1st– American politicians are seemingly immune to European rhetoric on climate change and neo-colonialism, as you state.
2nd–much of that European political rhetoric never goes beyond the rhetorical stage; when push comes to shove the EU mostly tows the US line. I would go beyond that a bit to say that in most cases it’s more precise to say that the EU views that “line” as ultimately representing its interests, interests as defined by their ruling elite–same as in the US.
There is obviously a wider range of acceptable political discourse–on a whole range of issues–in the EU than in the US, but thus far the EU elite seem to be able to ignore it.
Absolutely, pineywoodslim. And “moderate” (i.e. pro-Zionist) positions on I/P seem to be part and parcel of those interests – in Europe as in the US.
Yes, Shmuel, in many cases I think it’s clear that the European elite uses the US as a bogeyman–”hey, even though we disagree with the US, we have a special relationship, it’s an important ally, etc., etc.”–as domestic political cover for justifying what in fact are virtually identical interests.
On another note, about a month ago Obama told China he can’t stop an Israeli attack
on Iran much longer:
link to haaretz.com
Netanyahu is very confused about his identity. He can’t tell if he is primarily a proponent of Israeli anarcho-libertarian entrepreneurialist as Friedman admiring referred to Israel recently (Silicon Valley on steroids), or a Zionist proto-nationalist.
My sense is that his pride that Israel is an economic powerhouse (much moreso than its military status) is more important to him than xenophobic nationalism, but he is asked to dance those two extremes together.
Its similar to Silicon Valley in the 70/80′s in which California governance vacillated between Ronald Reagon and Jerry Brown.
I recently watched the TED selection of interviews, hoping for some insights by “bioneers” (visionaries). I liked many of the interviews, but they had too many techno-libertarian-anarchists-geeks, all out of the Stewart Brand mode of organic self-organization ideology.
Silicon Valley and Israelis were the prominent cultural heroes. Even the advocacy for sustainability was of the venture capitalist billionaire variety.
I’m not an advocate for the web as Teilhardian planetary intelligence mysticism that the techno-utopians advocate, either in brain science or in journalism.
For Israel though, aside from boycotts, more for the question of where they put their attention, Netanyahu’s distraction to the political expansionists, is that. Unnecessary, self-destructive.
He should get his eye back on the economic prize, even if that one is a gamble as well. There is turning back from that one.
Hitler could have used an advisor like you, one muses.
“Economic powerhouse?” Yeah, right. Germany is an economic powerhouse. Japan is an economic powerhouse. China is an economic powerhouse. Israel is an economic dwarf.
Among developed economies, it’s is an insignificant player in the league of Denmark, Belgium or Singapore. Still, due to constant propaganda, many Israelis probably would rate their country’s importance to world economy as greater than most of the trillion dollar club. (Just ask them if they think Israel has a larger economy than Australia or Canada has.)
Some think Israel is powerful, and in a sense it is – powerful smelling
That’s damning commentary, VR! ; .)
I am giving no quarter to this pariah Todd
In the spirit of your previous joke, I’ll say that you are giving more than a quarter–you’re giving dollars! :,)
If you google “israel economic powerhouse” you will see much evidence of this trend–and then wonder why we are still annually writing such BIG blank cashier checks to it (especially considering our economy is on the rocks) and lending it so much sans interest and always to be forgiven. Most of the articles do not dwell on
just how much this economic powerhouse has been subsidized by the full array
of direct and indirect foreign aid bennies involved with servicing our special relationship with Israel. Anyone can google “aid to Israel” and collect that information on a number of thorough web sites; as well, it’s been a subject detailed on this blog more than a few times in the last few years. Still, new aspects keep popping up, e.g., did you know that for the first few years of this century the USA
Treasury Department guaranteed Israel’s securities issues? Other than all the myriad ways the USA has been subsidizing Israel’s economy, a big boost was given
to Israel when the tidal wave of immigrants came in from Russia (many with university degrees and scientific and technical credentials paid for by the red government)
It’s like any other house-of-cards style financial scam — the papers go on and on about how good an opportunity it is — don’t miss it! — and then after the collapse they act utterly shocked. And then, in spite of all the people who were giving dire warnings about it all this time, people in power talk about how “no one could have seen this happening!”
Richard Witty always puts me in mind of Allan Sherman’s great little ditty about David Susskind: “Please, little David Susskind, Shut Up!”
Mooser, Richard Witty lacks any moral courage, particularly the courage of self-examination.
Do you recall the recent thread by the Jewish student in California, the young kid who had the courage to confront his previous embrace of Zionism?
That’s the sort of courage that Witty lacks.
The American colony:
link to counterpunch.org
Litmus test for US government official nominees: Do you love Israel?
link to walt.foreignpolicy.com
That’s interesting, Citizen. I just think it’s time to question if loyalty to Israel and Zionism is really the issue. Why not look at the roots of Zionism and loyalty to Israel? Where are the roots, and what other views that are harmful to America spring from the same roots?
And why is anti-Semitism something that potential U.S. government officials should be screened for? What is anti-Semitism, anyway? Are potential U.S. govenment officials screened for anti-WASP sentiment? I don’t feel much warmth coming my way from the Jewish community.
“I don’t feel much warmth coming my way from the Jewish community”
Aw, Todd, C’mon over here, turn around, and I’ll love you real good!
But, if that can’t be arranged, let me be the first to offer my apologies and reparations for the lack of affection you have experienced from “the Jewish community” I’m sure it’s hurt you deeply.
Go ahead and call me and anti-Semite, Mooser. It beats the lame jokes and tap dancing.
Reparations Now!
I demand a Christmas present. j/k
Losing patience with Israel?
link to theatlantic.com
Citizen, thanks for sharing the article.
So even hard core Zionists are losing faith and can see the writing on the wall, huh? I’ll take that as a positive sign to the extent that I can.
I don’t think that this story is as important as it may look. The official EU position seems to be and to have been for a while that Jerusalem should be the capital of two states. They don’t add ‘with two landing strips for different herds of flying pigs’.
Ashton’s remarks have made hardly any impression in the UK press. It does seem as if the Swedes tried to persuade the rest of the Euros to use more emphatically pro-Palestine wording but were vetoed by the Germans – you will recall Angela Merkel’s horrible contempt for the Palestinians when she visited the region – and the Dutch.
There has indeed been some flurry about changing our laws so that the Livnis of this world can visit us and it will be interesting how far this gets. One letter in the newspaper I mainly read, the Independent, asks if this is the first time that a country has considered changing its laws at the specific request of those suspected of war crimes by the UN, which is a good question. The Government, I think, will hope that the whole thing goes away over the Christmas festivities and that the issue doesn’t arise again before the election.
Here’s a brief history of “universal jurisdiction” to prosecute alleged war crimes, including by foreign former or current state leaders–note that Spain started implementing it first, but since going after such alleged persons from Israel, the USA, or
China, it apparently has curbed its initial zeal–note also the claims have been against, among others, Kissinger and Rumsfeld:
link to globalpolicy.org
If they want to visit the country they should be advised that we might want to “take them out for a midnight snack”…hehe
ZIONISM IS IMPERIALISM