What conversations we yet need. Yesterday morning during a rain delay the Tennis Channel turned into the Israel lobby. Anchor Ted Robinson praised "Shahar Peer's reputation for standing up versus the forces of injustice," segueing to a nine-minute video glorifying the Israeli tennis player and Israel while condemning Arabs and Muslims. The film equated the latter with Nazis in their inexplicable hostility to innocent, "modern" "normal" Israelis and Jews. Roll tape:
Beautiful footage of Peer and her lovely family cooking gorgeous dinner, celebrating Shabbat, family, Jewish and Israeli traditions. Father Dovic Peer says to camera: Shahar went through a "normal life, school, her army service"; juxtaposed with baby photo, school picture of Shahar in row of girls in formal dresses, Peer offering military salute. "We're a close family," she tells us, "it's a very cultural thing, because in Israel families are really close." Slow motion shots of delectable food, the handsome family hugging and kissing, pictures of mother Aliza Peer embracing all kids together.
Ring ominous music: Shots of 2009 NYT headline, "ISRAELI TENNIS PLAYER IS REFUSED VISA TO PLAY IN DUBAI EVENT"; masked Arab demonstrations depicted as violent; fire; tire flung into air; frowning old woman in keffiyeh holding up rifle. Shahar Peer asks: "...I don't see why a player cannot go [to Dubai] because she's or he's Israeli or Jewish or Muslim or Christian, and for me not to get a visa to Dubai was for me a really hard thing."
No mention of all the visas Israel denies, the pain of Palestinians and others refused travel to, from, or throughout illegally occupied Palestine and Israel.
Dovic Peer: "Shahar standing up to her right and making it clear that this cannot happen, she opened the door for other players that have any problem...that sports will not mix with politics whatsoever."
Silence about Palestinians imprisoned in Gaza and the West Bank, not allowed abroad even to study--let alone to make millions playing professional sports. Nothing about the three Palestinian national footballers killed in the Israeli 2008-9 bombardment of Gaza.
Cut to photo of police dragging protester. Peer: "After having all these demonstrations against me..." Shot of homemade sign: "Boycott Israel/end Israeli apar--" (the rest of the word cut off). "...And I find the good moments of my career playing in these situations." In Dubai, Peer reached the semi-finals for the first time.
Switch to Shahar Peer boarding propellor plane for pilgrimage to Auschwitz with her mother and darling grandmother Yuliana Eckstein.
Eckstein announces melodiously through translation, "I'm very happy and that's why I'm doing this....; I had said that I'd never travel to Auschwitz...I'm doing it for Shahar....and maybe for the coming generation." Peer affirms, "It was very exciting for me and especially seeing my grandma next to me and telling me all the stories when we were passing by the places...where she was for half a year....you cannot get what they were going through, and she was telling me, like, terrible stories." Footage of Peer and her grandmother walking in a blissfully sad yet triumphant "March of the Living," whose banner and many Israeli flags are carried by demonstrators depicted as peacefully heroic--in contrast to the alien, menacing Arab protesters.
Cut to Eckstein's memories of Auschwitz: her terrible meeting with Joseph Mengele, the doctor of atrocities; lightning montage with lights flashing, Nazi symbols, barbed wire, archived pictures and footage, ghastly music. Peer's grandmother tells us about horror and loss: the murder of her beloved family. Segue to Shahar Peer helping to light a "torch in honor of the second and third generation of the Jewish people [not those who died]", then to Shahar leaning against a red Nazi boxcar, lastly to a frame of Peer with her grandmother and mother all holding an Israeli flag, as the antidote to the past.
Snap back to happy music. Peer: "[T]here is, like, so much to see in Israel." Film of modern blue train--in contrast to red cattle cars at Auschwitz. Skyscrapers, people on pristine beach. Dovic Peer assures us, "It's a normal, Western country."
Switch to Shahar Peer playing tennis in fast motion; cheerful tunes. Slow motion shots of Peer's feet in tennis shoes with gold Reebok logo. Peer confides her dream of winning a grand slam, " I dream about it at night...dreams might come true."
What a glorious piece of propaganda! Israel über alles! Remember the Holocaust!
Disgusting… :-/
unreal, they stop at nothing. is this the same tennis player who was accompanied into dubai w/26 mossad ‘bodyguards’ who assassinated the hamas person w/illegal british and australian passports?
how refreshing.
oh the conspiracies,
Yonira, for a sovereign state, they’re called “policies”.
Last count there was 75 assassins and they were suspicious of 80 others.
When two of Israel’s allies take the step of expelling Israeli diplomats because of the affair, you can be rest assured that it isn’t a conspiracy, but a reality.
Shafiq,
and they came in with Shahar Peer?
The UK expelled the Israeli station chief in London. That’s enough of a confirmation. The Interpol was also assisting Dubai in the investigation, so your worn out “Arabs lie” vile ain’t gonna work. And put a leash on your sidekick, yonira.
Hillarious! To think the holocaust can improve your tennis game, yeah right miss sour-grapes asshole Shahar.
What a fucking pioneer in sportsmanship, humanitarianism and nobility you represent – NOT!
She should just accept she fucking lost, would have lost even if she were allowed entry to Abu Dhabi.
She simply ain’t the best, she’s deluded to think she is – and just like vile israel and many of it’s vile citizens, Shahar and her vile family still actually live in a 1938 time warp.
Some charitable psychiatric institution should step forth and save them from themselves, the sorry-assed racist bastards!
Wanna bet a Palestinian tennis player would be given a similar ecomium?
And you won’t believe how distressed the tennis fans were at this terrible, terrible violation of civil rights. Andy Roddick actually opted not to defend his title to protest this monumental injustice. These overpaid athletes really believe that ‘sports should be above politics’. Dubai should have stuck to its guns and refused her entry.
Roddick never wins regardless of feigning protest.
The fuckers tell us they object to the politicization of sports yet the other side of their mouths can’t help twitch a political statement or two.
The zio morons should stop thinking they’re smarter than everyone else – oh and ‘musclier’… because god personally chose their muscles, whereas our inferior goy muscles were cultivated in some foresaken, unnamable abyss.
“whereas our inferior goy muscles”
Now, come on, Taxi, you’ve been here a while. Which do you think they hate more, the Gentiles, or traitor Jews? And why wouldn’t they give their best to their fellow-Jews. After all, it’s a “we” thing!
(Ah, the memories of my Scottish girlfriend of long ago. She used to tell me that, too!)
Sounds like unadulterated Kitsch.
Did they show any pictures of the Dubai Mossad murderers dressed in tennis gear and carrying tennis rackets?
The anti Zionist mood in the air is ratcheting up nicely. I can only imagine what it will be like in 5 years’ time. In Ha’aretz they say Israel’s next war is very near. That’ll just turn off another wave of Americans. Maybe we can start thinking in terms of aliyehs. Phil Weiss could have been part of the the first wave of aliyeh above Zionism. then Cast Lead brought about the second wave of aliyeh. And so on
In 5 years time life will still be very good in Israel. The economy will grow exponentially. The Arab world will still be a repressive nightmare. There still won’t be a single Arab democracy. Phil will still make a living being an anti Zionist. The people who comment here will still comment here. Unfortunately the Palestinians will reject every peace offer and not have a state.
It’ll be 5 years closer to the end. Sanctions will be 5 years closer. The Dersh will be in a nursing home and his generation of Israel blowhards will be slowly bowing out and the new breed will be far more critical of Israel .
Short Israel. Who is going to buy it long? The Orthodox and the settlers have no money.
Still looking for those WMDs in Iraq?
“In 5 years time life will still be very good in Israel.”
But the question is, will it be good for Julian and Witty to migrate there?
“The economy will grow exponentially.”
That depends on whether the US can afford to keep sending 3 billion a year and providing loan guarantees.
I wonder if things will be so good that Israel can start paying for it’s own weapons?
I wonder if Israel will be officially recognized as an apartheid state?
I wonder how much worse Israel’s image will be in the world?
I wonder how many thousands of civilians Israel will have slaughtered?
I wonder if Israel will have convinced the US to go to war with Iran?
I wonder if Israel will be defeated a 3rd time by Hezbollah?
I wonder if things will be so good that Israel can start paying for it’s own weapons?
I wonder if Israel will be officially recognized as an apartheid state?
I wonder how much worse Israel’s image will be in the world?
the majority of the 3 billion/year is re-invested into America, assuring jobs for AMERICANS.
I wonder how many thousands of civilians Israel will have slaughtered?
Right now, if the Gazans only send one or two explosive laden camels and 2 or 3 mortars and Kassams towards Israel, probably not that many. If Hamas decides to go on a bottlerocket firing bonanza, Israel has a right to defend itself.
I wonder if Israel will have convinced the US to go to war with Iran?
Unlikely, any military action will be solely and American adventure.
I wonder if Israel will be defeated a 3rd time by Hezbollah?
I guess if Hezbollah wants to sacrifice the lives of thousands of Lebanese and billions of dollars like they did in 2006, that is their prerogative. I highly doubt Nasrallah is that stupid though.
btw what was #1 and #2?
It’s like you’re wearing a white sheet with a pointy hood. And ironically, there’s a blue Star of David emblazoned on it.
“the majority of the 3 billion/year is re-invested into America, assuring jobs for AMERICANS.”
I noticed that you ignored the loan guarantee (ie. loans that Israel doesn’t repay). American taxpayers dollars given buy US military equipment for Israel is not necessarily money well spent in the middle of a financial crisis. Washington’s unlimited support for Tel Aviv is precisely the reason why the United States is in trouble around the world.
“Right now, if the Gazans only send one or two explosive laden camels and 2 or 3 mortars and Kassams towards Israel, probably not that many. If Hamas decides to go on a bottlerocket firing bonanza, Israel has a right to defend itself.”
Except that as we saw in 2008, Israel bombs Gaza regardless of whether there is a need to defend itself.
“Unlikely, any military action will be solely and American adventure.”
It certainly won’t be solely an Israeli one, but it will be solely done for Israel’s benefit.
“I guess if Hezbollah wants to sacrifice the lives of thousands of Lebanese and billions of dollars like they did in 2006, that is their prerogative.”
Are you suggesting that Olmert, who initiated the war, works for Hezbollah? Then again, I guess that’s his prerogative right?
“I highly doubt Nasrallah is that stupid though.”
But smart enough to whoop Israel’s ass with a tiny fraction of the military might.
“btw what was #1 and #2?”
#1 was 1982 -2000
#2 was 2006.
Just sent an email to Robinson including a copy of Professor Michael Neumann’s still excellent “What’s So Bad About Israel?” (2002)
fyi for those who may wonder who owns The Tennis Channel:
link to tennischannel.com
Investors
Apollo Partners
Kenneth F. Gorman
* Principal and Co-Owner of Apollo Tennis Ventures,
* Former Executive Vice President and board member of Viacom
Bain Capital Ventures
Mike Goss
* CFO and Managing Director of Bain Capital Ventures
Battery Ventures
Scott Tobin
* General Partner
CCMP Capital Advisors
Greg Brenneman
* Chairman
Columbia Capital
Jeff Patterson
* Partner
Jim B. Fleming Jr.
* Partner
DND Capital Partners LLC
Philippe Dauman
* Co-Chairman and CEO of DND Capital Partners
* Former Deputy Chairman and Executive Vice President/current board member of Viacom
* Board member of National Amusements
* Board member of CBS Corporation
Tom Dooley
* Co-Chairman and CEO of DND Capital Partners
* Former Deputy Chairman and Executive Vice President/current board member of Viacom
EdsLink LLC
Edward D. Horowitz
* Chairman of EdsLink LLC
* Founder US Space LLC
* Former President & CEO, SES-American
* Former Executive Vice President, Advanced Development, Citigroup
* Former Senior Vice President Viacom
Deborah Chapin-Horowitz
* Vice-Chairman, EdsLink LLC
* Former Associate General Counsel, Viacom
WaterView Advisors
Frank J. Biondi, Jr.
* Senior Managing Director of WaterView Advisors
* Former CEO of Universal Studios / board member of Seagrams
* Former CEO / board member of Viacom
* Former CEO / board member of HBO
Additional Investors
Andre Agassi
* Tennis Professional – One of only six players to win all 4 Grand Slams
IMG
* Leading global sports marketing firm – Initial investor in The Golf Channel
Pete Sampras
* Tennis Professional- Second on the All Time list of Grand Slam Wins.
United States Tennis Association(USTA)
* The national governing body for the sport of tennis and the recognized leader in promoting and developing the sport’s growth on every level in the United States, from local communities to the crown jewel of the professional game, the US Open.
Had to read this twice to make sure the writer was for real.
Some people are just filled with hate. Shahar Peer has played doubles with Muslim players and spoken often about the need of Jews and Muslims to get along. I guess some Westerners would rather they not get along because that might result in a hated Israeli being cast in a positive light.
Maybe when Israelis demonstrate they can “get along” without electrocuting and smothering people to death in hotel rooms while holding stolen passports?
You seem to have missed the point of the post for some reason–it was about how the station essentially gave its viewers a pro-Israel propaganda message and never mentions, for example–
“Silence about Palestinians imprisoned in Gaza and the West Bank, not allowed abroad even to study–let alone to make millions playing professional sports. Nothing about the three Palestinian national footballers killed in the Israeli 2008-9 bombardment of Gaza.”
And some are filled with cheap sentiment. Imagining yourself as lovable doesn’t necessarily make it true.
Hey hophmi, before you begin citing some ZioTrash former IDF goon saying ‘muslims and jews need to get along’ why don’t you take a look at the fucking occupation going on for 40+ years. The constant land-grabbing and human rights violations and inequality for Jews and Israeli Arabs in Israel.
Do you think people here will fall for pretentious, superficial hasbara like “the need of Jews and Muslims to get along”?
Fuck you. Oh and, before you talk about HATE – look at your racist, apartheid State incinerating children and demolishing homes, purposefully destroying civilian infrastructure, and then LYING to the world about the various death tolls of Operation Butcher Palestine (on-going) by blaming it on human shields.
Yea, hate hate hate – we’re hateful – but you support ethnic cleansing, colonialism, imperialism and ethno-nationalism. You support a Jewish State which means democracy for Jews and second-class citizenship for non-Jews. You support the continued theft of Palestinian land, the continuing inhuman blockade of Gaza.
Fuck you. Take your pretentious accusations of ‘hatred’ elsewhere you sanctimonious douchebag. Who the hell do you think you are? You HAPPEN to be a Jew. I don’t give a shit what hat you were, scum is scum.
This is a prime example of a Westerner trying to be more Palestinian than the Palestinians just as some Western Zionists on the far-right try to be more Israeli than the Israelis. It smacks of nothing so much as Western conflict fetish.
I’ll let the honest people who read this site judge which of us is more hateful, someone who whines about how a story about an Israeli player who is a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, has tried to reach out to Muslims on the tour, and who nevertheless has been banned from participating in events in Arab countries for purely political reasons based on discrimination (Dubai does plenty of business with Israel, so save me the BS about how it’s a principled position) did not include a section about how Palestinians are discriminated against, or the person who points out that this is a pretty hateful way of looking at things and that it’s very silly, if typical of Western activists ON BOTH SIDES.
Perhaps when the Tennis Channel interviews a Muslim tennis player or a Palestinian tennis player, they will tell his or her story from that player’s point of view. This story was about Shahar Peer. The tennis channel does not have an obligation to become part of the BDS movement in order to report a story on an Israeli.
There’s enough hasbara from Israel, and your
living in Brooklyn.
“I’ll let the honest people who read this site judge which of us is more hateful, someone who whines about how a story about an Israeli player who is a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, has tried to reach out to Muslims on the tour, and who nevertheless has been banned from participating in events in Arab countries for purely political reasons based on discrimination…
Cry to people who can coddle you.
“I guess some Westerners would rather they not get along because that might result in a hated Israeli being cast in a positive light.”
Again, your crying.
“Cry to people who can coddle you.”
You mean I should find a website where everyone is an echo chamber for everyone else and there is about as much intellectual diversity as Kremlin meeting circa 1935?
It’s no fun to be in a place where everyone agrees. The hard part is speaking with people with whom you don’t agree. Really, abusing me is not going to get me to go away.
I’m not crying to anyone. You people are the ones getting emotional.
“You mean I should find a website where everyone is an echo chamber for everyone else and there is about as much intellectual diversity as Kremlin meeting circa 1935?”
No just don’t expect the rest of us to be patting you on the back while you’re crying while shooting.
Shahar Peer serves for Israel:
link to australiansforpalestine.com