Norman Finkelstein's latest book, titled "'This Time We Went Too Far': Truth and Consequences of the Gaza Invasion," was released recently, and has been garnering a lot of praise in publications that reviewed the book. Below is an excerpt from a review of the book I wrote in the Indypendent, a New York-based free newspaper. You can read the whole review here.
In his prolific and rigorous writings, Finkelstein has waged incisive academic assaults against Israel’s defenders, most notably Alan Dershowitz, a lawyer and Harvard professor. Finkelstein’s latest, ‘This Time We Went Too Far’: Truth and Consequences of the Gaza Invasion, is no exception. The book takes aim at (among others) Anthony Cordesman, a national security analyst for ABC News and the author of a number of books on the Middle East, for absolving Israel of war crimes in a “strategic analysis” of Operation Cast Lead he published with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Cordesman’s analysis, Finkelstein writes, “synthesizes Israel’s makeshift rebuttals to criticism of the invasion.”
The hot core of the polemic against Cordesman — and the defense of Israeli conduct he represents — is Finkelstein’s masterful command of international human rights law and a sharp exegesis of the United Nations report on the Israeli assault. Much more accessible than Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict (1995) or The Holocaust Industry (2000), 'This Time We Went Too Far' spares readers the usual thicket of research from the annals of war documentation. Finkelstein’s work is clear, concise, well documented and burning with righteous anger, and he still devotes enough pages to developing a solid framework of historical context and critical analysis to give newcomers to this complex subject a working knowledge of the conflict’s dimensions.
When it comes to Israel, the political is always personal for Finkelstein, and facts and figures that anchor his research are humanized by accounts of his experience on the ground. In a moving passage, he describes visiting Gaza as part of a CODEPINK delegation in the aftermath of the Israeli assault, recalling an 11-year-old Palestinian girl lingering beside the demolished American International School. I visited Gaza and observed that very spot; the American International School remained in ruin, with only rubble left over.
‘This Time We Went Too Far’ is hardly light fare, though. Finkelstein saves an important commentary on the much-maligned Goldstone Report for the epilogue. Richard Goldstone, a highly respected South African jurist, has been demonized by the Israel lobby for his charge that Israel committed “war crimes,” in a report on the Gaza invasion commissioned by the U.N. His devastating indictment has earned him opponents across the political spectrum. (Alan Dershowitz, once a friend, made headlines when he called Goldstone an “evil, evil man” for his “despicable” report and he was a “traitor” to the Jewish people.)
Finkelstein argues that the publication of the report marks the “end of an apologetic Jewish liberalism that denies or extenuates Israel’s crimes” and “the emergence of a new era in which the human rights dimension of the Israel-Palestine conflict move[s] center-stage.” This point reflects one of the book’s central messages: “This book … sets forth grounds for hope. The bloodletting in Gaza has roused the world’s conscience. The prospects have never been more propitious for galvanizing the public not just to mourn but also to act.”
What’s missing from 'This Time' is the voice of the Palestinian people. Finkelstein’s arguments would have benefitted from the powerful testimony Palestinians gave before the Goldstone mission. Also absent in is an adequate discussion of the growing “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” (BDS) movement against Israeli policy, a perfect example of the shift in discourse surrounding Israel/Palestine. Post-Gaza, the BDS movement has grown and received more international attention than ever before — an affirmation of Finkelstein’s view that the world’s perception of the Israel/Palestine conflict is undergoing a sea change.
[“This book … sets forth grounds for hope. The bloodletting in Gaza has roused the world’s conscience. The prospects have never been more propitious for galvanizing the public not just to mourn but also to act.”]
Yes, but putting the world into the shoes of the Jews during the Gaza conflict, there could still be tragic bloodletting…there was even bloodletting in Iraq, and Russia over political disputes, much much when rockets flew over one’s head…
“Yes, but putting the world into the shoes of the Jews during the Gaza conflict, there could still be tragic bloodletting…there was even bloodletting in Iraq, and Russia over political disputes, much much when rockets flew over one’s head”
The Jews Zamaaz? You cynical slime balls always love to hide behind Judaism when the matter is about the state of Israel and it’s crimes. It so happens that many Jews were at the forefront of condemning Israel. And please, spare us the sermons as to who are real jews and who are not.
Israel weren’t giving a crap about what was taking place in Iraq and Russia. In fact, Israel chose eh US presidential election to give them political cover over the massacre they unleashed.
There are two kinds of Jews. If we learn from the lessons of Jewish history; the spiritual Jews, and the natural Jews. The spiritual Jew are those who fear God; in the class of Abraham, Moses, Isaac, David, the Prophets, Ruth, Esther, Joshua, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezra, so on. Paradoxically, in most of crucial events in history there were only few of them.
The natural Jews are ‘born’ mockers. They mock their leaders, they mock their government, and worst they mock God – and they even mock their selves! These are the people that led many times the nation of Israel into destruction:
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (Jeremiah 9:3-9)
Now they are even trying to destroy the last chance at best for rebuilding Israel. Ironically, among themselves, a Jew that most of the Jews hate could truly be a great man.
But shall we hate the Jews because of that? No! In fact the world must be grateful for them being the perfect microcosm – the forefront of humanity!
Now, with this historical basis, you accused me of giving sermon? As a human person I too is a sinner! I just wanted to show us the dark side of humanity which we all (including me) have…what’s wrong with looking upon ourselves straight and honest?…I could be personally wrong, but these books (which you said fictional) are historical as the Jewish diaspora…
“There are two kinds of Jews.”
As the non Jew is back to explaining what makes a Jew a Jew. You know, Hitler also was fond of defining and explaining who were Jews and who were not. You and he have a lot in common. After all, your hero John Hagee regarded Hitler as an agent of God.
“Now they are even trying to destroy the last chance at best for rebuilding Israel”
You can’t rebuild what never existed.
“But shall we hate the Jews because of that? ”
I realize why you persist with calling Israel “the Jews”. Apart from you biblical derangement, it also reveals that you see consider Jews one big entity that you hope to sacrifice in the name of your God. You pretend to caer about jews, but in reality, you only want to keep them alive for long enough until God destroys them. In essence, you are the worst. most macabre and most vile kind of anti Semite.
“Now, with this historical basis, you accused me of giving sermon?”
Yes, that’s what usually happens when you confuse history with the Bible.
“…what’s wrong with looking upon ourselves straight and honest?”
Admitting that you’re s sinner is not the same thing as admitting you’re an ignorant, delusional, and poorly educated religious nut who is impervious to facts or reason.
No, in fact God promised to preserve the elect Jews even to eternity…
‘Carnard’, ‘slime balls’, ‘feeding the troll’, ‘delusional’ etc…these responses are not reasons, these are personal perceptions and descriptions cannot be basis of judgment on the issue..But anyway, if you are comfortable with that style of arguing, go on…
And besides, If I am confused, show me your clearcut arguments that prove I am confused! Not merely personal descriptions, nor name calling…
I suggest you get reported and banned. You’re downgrading the comments section with trash. Sensible, informed, articulate commentators tend to steer clear of the stench you’re emanating. I already reported you for your despicable comment yesterday accusing every Muslim of being a Jew hater. You’re propagating hate speech and you should be excreted. In the name of the father etc..get buggered zamass..
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“is Finkelstein’s masterful command of international human rights law ”
In this, you present yourself as gullible. For years, Finkelstein presented the ICJ as a body that adjudicates on international law, when in fact it is an organization that merely recommends referral to other bodies.
Further, he constantly elevates his opinions to the level of authority, when they are in fact only opinions. “x is in violation of international human rights law.” It may be, or it may not be. It may be in violation of certain conventions, and in conformity with bi-lateral or other multi-lateral agreements, requiring court adjudication to sift through the conflicting statutes, treaties and contracts.
Its just not that simple.
Intentionally incinerating children with USA taxpayer funded white phosphorus is a war crime, full stop. If Israel is so confident it committed no war crimes, then it should submit to the jurisdiction of a competent court and plead its case.
He has good honest points. To name that “masterful knowledge of international law” conflicts with that. It then paints him as either not as masterful as asserted or intentionally misrepresenting.
To imply that your position is “masterful knowledge of international law” is an absolute farce.
We’ll take Finkelstein’s expertise over yours, I think.
“Further, he constantly elevates his opinions to the level of authority, when they are in fact only opinions.”
False. Fink always makes a clear distinction between opinion and facts. One of the reasons Zionists loathe him is his meticulous grasp of detail and adherence to facts. He runs rings around his oponents.
“Its just not that simple.”
As always, the predictable Zionist carnard that the issue is too complicated. It’s not. It very simple.
He does sometimes. He has LOTS of published filmed lectures. You can determine for yourself if he “always” distinguishes opinion from facts.
Zionists don’t like that he calls humane people “nazis”.
Humane people don’t endorse the use of incendiary weapons on children.
“Zionists don’t like that he calls humane people “nazis”.”
Yes, feeding the troll, but who Richard, who? Who are these humane people that he called “Nazis”? I’m not terribly fond of the use of Nazis as an all purpose comparison/insult, but I’m gonna guess he called some jerk who was whitewashing Israeli crimes a “nazi”. Bad, Norman, bad, bad. You should content yourself with calling them jerks.
I saw him go after a liberal professor at Mt Holyoke College last year for not adopting his maximalist critique.
She dealt with it well, but it obviously unnerved her.
Not specific enough, Richard. You call yourself a liberal, so I can’t tell from that whether Norman was unfair or not. And “maximalist critique” is merely your phrase of the week–it means any critique harsher than you or Wiesel would make.
Richard, I am really amazed this idea of ‘Nazis’ and ‘Jews’ has been recycling endlessly. Have not these people realized the Nazis massacred the Jews by millions, without a single territorial issue? That the Jews never claimed Germany their land?
Is this how far the minds of these anti-Israel people can reach – Nazis and Jews? Without even grasping the historical context of the Holocaust?
There’s nothing amazing about the the ‘Nazi’ label being recycling endlessly. Israeli propagandist lie you reach for it at every turn to justify Israel’s criminality and war crimes.
“Have not these people realized the Nazis massacred the Jews by millions, without a single territorial issue?”
The Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto were regarded as terrorists, much like the Palestinians in Gaza. The uprising was also considered an act of war and terrorism by the Jews.
The parallels between Israel and Nazi Germany and unavoidable.
Uprising? Even the Palestinians uprising (antifada) arise on the matters they believed they are isolated (apartheid in your vocabulary?)… how about the Jews forcedly confined in ghetto? If you approve the Palestinian uprising, why not consider the Jews during Nazis era?
Indeed those tragic responses of the Jews were after the fact they are being annihilated without any war nor national conflict declared by the Jews against the Germans!
Will your anger against the Jews because they were wealthy, and you suffered misery before them when you were a child makes them subject to genocide?
It is not the present Jews who where becoming the Nazis; It is you! who that condemns the Jews out of personal biases and prejudice like Fuhrer Adolf Hitler…I thought your are for justice, human rights, fairness, kindness, etc?
You know, I started to notice, this debate is dangerous for me personally as a matter of character building…because I am starting to relish it! I am learning to laugh at your predicament in this debate…It is not good for a man to enjoy someone’s pain…I should know that…
“If you approve the Palestinian uprising, why not consider the Jews during Nazis era?”
While I take off my hat to the Jews during Nazis era, that is history, while the Palestinians are suffering today under the same conditions.
“Indeed those tragic responses of the Jews were after the fact they are being annihilated without any war nor national conflict declared by the Jews against the Germans!”
False. The Jews actually declared war on Gerrnay.
“Will your anger against the Jews because they were wealthy, and you suffered misery before them when you were a child makes them subject to genocide?”
The Jews are wealthy are they Zamaaz? If there no limit to your bigotry, ignorance and stereotyping? Dod you npt know that some Jews are not wealthy at all,or are those not real Jews you sick individual?
is that why you refuse to distinguish between Israel and Jewish people? They’re all one mindless collective and expendable asset that youi can exploit to hasten the return of your God? Your more sick and derranged than I thought.
You are a fascist,. and dare I say it, a demonic drone who has been mind controlled. You need professional help.
Ohh!.. this vain foolishness is subtlety contagious…
“It is not good for a man to enjoy someone’s pain…I should know that…”
Don’t confuse pain with disgust. You are a pathetic figure who sickens me. You’re an example of the disease that has afflicted the lunatic evangelists, who appluad igorance and reject education.
I have no more tome to waste on you. You’re beyond help. Take it as a victory if you like, but you might find that no one will be bothered to waste their time addressing your delusional and derranged rants.
May God have mercy on your cretinous sole.
[False. The Jews actually declared war on Gerrnay.]
I have been reading documentaries about the world war 2 and the rise of the Third Reich, I never had read nor heard any report that the Jews in Germany or even in whole Europe formally declared war against Germany…
Where did you get that fact?
Have you not heard the impression of Hitler against the Jews? they are accused of being parasites? How can he generalize that if they were living in similar modesty in his childhood years?
Or perhaps he has that because the Jews could have been aloft socially? Then that is blatantly ignorance! In fact that even proves he was the emotional or social parasite! Because he was suffocated by not having the Jews minded his life…Yet he was able to sway the whole German nation?
By the way, on the other hand, could this be not the same condition many people including you, hate the Jews?
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I bought the book and read it. It’s an excellent book. Finkelstein makes the point (pages 113-114) that Israel’s apologists attribute opposition to the Gaza massacre to anti-Semitism.
Finkelstein writes
“as a general rule the lower the depths to which Israel’s criminal conduct sinks the higher the decibel level of the shrieks of anti-Semitism”.
Finkelstein goes on to say,
“…it is most probably true that the execution by a self-proclaimed Jewish state of consecutive murderous rampages in Lebanon and Gaza, and the vocal support lent these rampages by official Jewish organizations around the world, caused a regrettable – if entirely predictable – ‘spillover’ whereby Jews generally were in some quarters held culpable.”
“If, as the Israeli Coordination Forum for Countering Anti-Semitism asserted, there was ‘a sharp rise in the number of intensity of anti-Semitic incidents’ during the Gaza massacre; and if ‘with the ceasefire there has…been a marked decline in the number and intensity of anti-Semitic incidents’; and if ‘another flare-up in the region, similar to the Gaza operation, will probably lead to an even more severe outbreak of anti-Semitic activity against [Jewish] communities worldwide’, then an efficacious method to fight anti-Semitism would appear to be for Israel to stop committing massacres.”
Needless to say, neither Israel nor the official Jewish organizations are likely to embrace Finkelstein’s friendly advice.
Capitol Hill is, of course, Israeli-occupied territory, reflecting the enormous clout of the Israel Lobby. The Bush administration and the mainstream media strongly supported Israel during the Gaza massacre.
There is a growing gap between Israel’s vocal defenders in the US (Alan Dershowitz, Michael Walzer, Martin Peretz), who are now in their 70′s, and the bulk of American Jews, especially younger Jews.
The bottom line: get the Finkelstein book. Read it. It’s great!
[“Finkelstein’s masterful command of international human rights law ”]
Yes, he could have masterful command, but that is never a guarantee of wisdom; for simple reasons intelligence and wisdom are entirely different matters:
[For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. (1Corinthians 3:19)]
Always in history of civilizations, it is prudence and wisdom that runs and turns history, not authority nor intelligence…
Talking of Gaza crisis, that was war… a real bloody war… not baseball that every protagonist is given a chance to bat!
That would be “anti-semitic” incidents
A closer look at these incidents reveals that they are mostly protests against Israeli crimes.
“Also absent in is an adequate discussion of the growing “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” (BDS) movement against Israeli policy,’
Hussein Ibish really does a beautiful job describing the failure of BDS in the US. It’s not surprising you ignored it.
link to ibishblog.com
“The bottom line is this: if you can’t get divestment through UC Berkeley, you’re done. UC Berkeley is the epicenter of not only liberalism, but even radicalism, in American academia and indeed American social life in general. Frankly, I’m surprised it’s proving so difficult.”
I just wonder, how this title was ever made true and correct?
[end of Jewish liberalism’s apologetics for Israel’s crimes]
It seems this mentality is as equal to Finkelstein’s…
Hussein Ibish. ROTFL!!