We have a chapter in the new book Midnight on the Mavi Marmara: The Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and How It Changed the Course of the Israel/Palestine Conflict. Alternet is running an excerpt of our piece today:
The Freedom Flotilla was not able to deliver its 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, but it accomplished something more important -- it finally broke the blockade on the world's understanding of the Gaza crisis. The Israeli attack on the flotilla must be seen alongside the Israeli attack on Gaza in the winter of 2008-2009 as marking the period in which the world's understanding of the Israeli occupation irrevocably shifted. In this opening, the brutality of the Israeli occupation came into full view and the issue of Palestinian persecution was placed on op-ed pages and even legal briefs. In the end, these events may mark when the age of Israeli impunity came to an end.
In a generational sense, Operation Cast Lead and the flotilla attack can be understood as the anti-1967 war. It was the 1967 war that helped solidify Israel's image in the eyes of the world, and in particular of American Jewry, as the scrappy underdog beating the odds. That image has now changed forever, and the ongoing siege of Gaza has caused many to consider what Zionism has built in the Middle East. The Goldstone report stands as the defining indictment of this era.
You can read the rest here, and order the book directly from Or Books.
Unfortunately, a lot of the world and particularly the US part of the world has willingly swallowed the Israeli line that it is “easing” the blockade, as this solved all the problems and now nothing is wrong.
By the time Israel’s pertinent internal documents are declassified, we will have reaped the results of this ongoing Hasbara leitmotiff always honored by Uncle Sam. Future generations, likely post-Iran War generations, will get the real skinny on these contemporary times.
Israel embarked on a campaign of unjustified and gratuitously violent retaliatory raids, culminating in the 1956 war, when Israel conspired with the (fast fading colonial) imperialist powers, Britain and France, in an unprovoked tri-party colonial attack against Egypt.
Since the 1980′s, the Israeli revisionist historians’ radical interpretations have largely supplanted traditional Zionist histories. This success would not have been possible without the diplomatic documents made available at various government archives under the thirty-year declassification rule allowing access to previously classified material, a rule observed by most Western democracies. Papers released by Britain’s Public Record Office and the United States National Archives have provided fresh insights into the diplomacy of the 1940s and 1950s, particularly in relation to the Arab countries, whose archives remain closed indefinitely. Further, when it comes to Arab-Israeli history, no collection can rival the Israel State Archives which, in addition to the wealth of firsthand accounts it contains, is particularly liberal in its declassification policy. These documents, tendentiously read and selectively cited, have been marshaled to substantiate the revisionist theories about the 1948 War of Independence and the 1956 Sinai Campaign.
Declassification has started revealing the true nature of the 6-Day War– in 1967 the army was still commanded by former members of the Palmah [the elite fighting unit of the Israeli War of Independence] who were burning to exploit the Six Day War to complete what was denied them in 1948: To take over the Palestinians’ remaining territories and, through the power of conquest, realize the true Greater Israel.
The massing of Egyptian troops in the Sinai, the expulsion of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) and the closing of the Straits of Tiran, the Arab defense pacts and public commitments to eradicate Zionism—all were either provoked and/or blown out of proportion by Israel for its own purposes of internal cohesion, territorial expansion or other ulterior motives. However now, the continued nasty Israeli blockade of Gaza and pirating of the Mavi Marmara can no longer quite rely on the 30 year official documentation muzzle–Wikileaks or a new competitor may be less selective regarding Israel. OTH, we have no IKE.
“closing of the Straits of Tiran”
++++ Never happened any closing any strait, 1967. Proof. US State department pages. Shock and awe. Read yourself.
link to history.state.gov
mig- the document you linked to is large. please tell us which date you are referring to.
Can I get a clarification, WJ? Are you insisting that Egypt did completely close the Straits of Tiran to commercial traffic?
I’m not insisting on anything. As far as I know/knew/thought I knew the closing of the straits was purely an announcement of intention rather than any actual interception of ships of any sort.
As I said, some things were blown out of proportion. The US did consider what it might do about subject closing, e.g., link to history.state.gov
“no collection can rival the Israel State Archives which, in addition to the wealth of firsthand accounts it contains, is particularly liberal in its declassification policy.”
Netanyahu pushed for declassification of UN archives on German war crimes during his tenure as UN ambassador. His interest in declassification does not extent to his current tenure as PM:
link to haaretz.com
Alan Hart’s speech in June 2010 before the surviving Liberty crew is another wonderful source, given that he anticipated the ’67 War, got his London Bureau chief to let him cover the story before any other western reporter on the scene, and was physically there when it happened.
link to veteranstoday.com
Yes how is the blockade at the moment? Is it in the stages of ‘planning to ease but there’s a lot of coordination involved’?
The blockade is healthy and thriving. It just kept a shipment of lethal surfboards from entering Gaza. It seems that Israel lied when it said that everything could enter except things on the prohibited list. There is also a secret prohibited list, with things on it like surfboards.
Tell me when Israel has not lied. The flotilla goods are still in dock.
InAntalya on DKos has a new diary on the Mavi Marmara: Mavi Marmara – What’s Happened This Week.
First the Goldstone Report, now the details of the Mavi Marmara. Next the Viva Palestina 5 Convoy with participation from IHH and others to start September 18 and enter Gaza via Rafah crossing on or about October 10. This convoy will travel by boat from Latakia (Syria) to Al Arish (Egypt then to Gaza. Note: I am predicting that Judge Richard Goldstone will receive this year’s Nobel Peace Prize which will be announced on October 8–Perfect Timing!!!
Israel can’t hide anymore.
Goldstone is not on this speculative list of nominees! Barghouthi and Vanunu are, though:
link to prio.no
Mustapha Barghouti that is – and nominated by no less than Mairead Maguire (Irish Nobel Peace Prize winner 1976 , IDF target practice 2007, kidnapped by Israel on a Free Gaza boat in 2009, and again from the MV Rachel Corrie in 2010) no less.
I love Mairead’s passionate statement after she’s been shot in the West Bank:
‘Nobel Peace Prize Winner shot by Israeli army in Palestine’
link to youtube.com
I thought it would be Omar Barghouti actually. They’re both great.
Well written and apparently true as to the shift in perception internationally and nationally as to the innocence to less than innocent picture of Israel.
My criticism of much of the postings on the blog and many comments are that rather portray Israel as less than innocent, flawed, in need of reform, there is a different standard, to the level of demonization that frankly diminishes or even prohibits reform (and thereby compels a situation of either revolution or suppression).
Just so we’re crystal clear, then, Witty, your position is that Israel is absolutely guiltless of any crime?
“My criticism of much of the postings on the blog and many comments are that rather portray Israel as less than innocent, flawed, in need of reform, there is a different standar”
Would reform have solved the racism in South Africa of the genocides in Nazi Gemrany Witty?
Your joking again Shingo. Israel parallel to nazi Germany?
If you are pursuing revolution in Israel, name it.
If you desire change in the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, that is reform.
I am for reform, NOT for status quo, NOT for revolution.
One notes that you seem to be perfectly comfortable with the parallel of Israel to apartheid South Africa, Witty.
I guess that’s a start.
Richard Witty ~ stop blaming us for the inhumanity of Israeli policy and/or your own unwillingness/inability to even imagine let alone act in a meaningful way to bring about change in Israel.
You confuse blame with observation.
I observe that the effort to demonize Israel and those human beings that support Israel’s existence and health, is a vain (impossible) approach.
And, I feel personally threatened by the willingness of some dissenters (more than a few), to use aggressive approaches in the name of opposing aggression.
Since when do war crimes investigations constitute “demonization?” What about this? That’s actual demonization, Witty. Why do you never have anything to say about that?
As, for example, Israel’s slaughter of thousands of civilians in the name of “defending itself.” That threatens you, right?
Or is it only aggression against Jews that you consider a threat?
link to youtube.com
The long-prevailing double standard highlights Israel as Uncle Sam’s most very special friend, the sole defender of the American-Western Way in the Middle East, and so everything Israel does is done under this unique and “special” standard not applicable to any other nation, a standard that allows Israel to do what every other country in the world
is forbidden to do by international consensus developed from the values taught at the Nuremberg Trials (which were American values, the regressive values of the other Allies having been rejected there and then).
The recent action of the Zionist-controlled Congress in halting military aid to Lebanon, lest Lebanon be able to defend itself against Israeli aggression, is one of the most egregious examples.
Witty,
The complaints on this board against Zionism are about the lack of justice. The complaints on this board about the ill treatment of Goldstone are about the lack of justice. The complaints on this board about Israel are about the lack of justice.
You criticize blog participants who adopt and hew to that standard, however vociferously or however full of moral indignation they might be. But that is the only standard to apply to a nation, and the only one in which non-nationals can properly engage. I doubt most participants here have the energy to reform Israel; they don’t have the interest, you obviously do, so why don’t you do it. The participants here want justice in the region. That will suffice.
And I want to add that were Phil’s blog about US Foreign Policy, in general, that we would all be equally critical of US actions around the world lacking the force of justice and the moral intent of law. We would be actively ‘delegitimizing’ the US, as you define the need to shine a light on immoral activity. We certainly wouldn’t be wasting our time trying to ‘reform’ the US, or waste inches calling for it. The call to justice is greater, and cannot be ignored because it affects the lives of so many, and especially the lives of those who are downtrodden or who cannot speak or fight for themselves.
The complaints on this board are about the application of Zionism, not Zionism itself. (Obviously some regard Zionism as inherently racist, but of course without inquiring into whether any nationalism is.)
To change an application, IS reform.
To urge that something change is the historical perview of dissent, identifying wrong, but NOT suggesting remedy.
No, the complaints on this board are almost entirely about Zionism itself, as a racist ideology.
The complaints on this board are about injustice in the Middle East, its consequences, and who is doing it. In fact, it is the main thrust of Phil and Adam’s blog.
You have your solipsistic interpretation of them, but they are not factual; hence, the vehemence you encounter.
To repeat, the complaints here are not about reforming the application of Zionism, as you state above. No one would be that ridick, nor that presumptuous.
Neither are the majority of us here interested in remedy-less “dissent,” which is the intellectual equivalent of playing with your short-hairs while reading a book. We are interested in justice.
The distinction between an application (that can be chosen to change) and an identity (that cannot change) is night and day.
And, what do you actually mean by “justice”?
What is an “identity”, and why can’t it change?
Everyone who is a part of this site should immediately buy this book. It’s an astounding collection of cutting-edge essays on the topic by the best minds at the forefront of the I/P situation.
It also has a classy ad. I’m a sucker for great typeface choices.
Does it reveal how the swarthy, unshaven etc. Turkish terrorists plotted to destroy Israel with crayons of mass destruction?
This might be more appropriate here
This interview with Jane Hamsher (Firedoglake) on Washington Journal is fascinating. Jane was on discussing the stance of the Obama administration on many issues and how the left feels about those stances.
While I appreciate Jane’s willingness to touch upon many issues and call the Obama administration out. Jane and other Pep’s (progressives except for Palestine) completely avoided even mentioning the Israeli Palestinian conflict. Jane and other so called progressive bloggers completely avoid this humanitarian crisis. At one point on her blog she called my efforts to bring up this issue over at Firedoglake a “pet issue” She called this effort over at her blog “MY PET ISSUE’
The most critical issue in the middle east. The issue that the 9/11 commission even mentioned. The decades old conflict that many leaders in that part of the world reference as the most critical issue to resolve. The issue that former head of the CIA Bin Laden unit Micheal Scheuer, Former Cia analyst Ray McGovern and many many others state is the most critical issue to resolve. Jane and others will not touch it. She even criticizes others who do make an effort to shed light on this conflict.
She had a prime opportunity to shed some light on this issue during her 45 minutes on WAshington Journal. But she did not. Chicken shit
Now remember Jane takes pride in calling others out on the mat. But is incapable of taking the same kind of criticism from others
Check it out. Jane Hamsher
link to cspan.org
Are we allowed to criticize the so called left on issues they will not touch? No different than the MSM? Several of the Reps Jane Hamsher said she admired completely support Israel no matter what they do and also support more aggressive actions towards Iran. This is progressive?
Kathleen,
I hope you take Phil up on his offer. The so-called progressives who can’t walk their talk need a big fat flashlight shone in their faces…and that would be a great image to accompany your article. PEPs, like deer caught in the headlights.
I will not read their blogs for that reason. They have no guts. They marginalize their message. When you realize they wouldn’t cross the street to help a Palestinian kid crouched in terror — which is the net effect of their avoidance — you realize how cruel they are au fond. (Sorry, don’t know the English word for it.)
Thank you Kathleen, this is a tremendous contribution to the comments section. If you want to write about it in a post, please get in touch with me. This deserves being put up in lights.
Hope you received my response. So appreciate what you folks do. I am obviously not a writer. A bit of a numbskull when it comes to putting a post together. Do as you please with what I have said. Trust your decisions and perspectives
kathleen i sent you an email at the address you registered with. why dont you email me at weissphilip@yahoo.com? thanks, phil
Phil, an excellent offer. I hope Kathleen accepts. I look foreward to reading her posts.
Here is the post I had put up about progressive blog clogs awhile back where Jane jumped on and slammed me. Told me this issue was my “pet issue” Got very defensive . I had not even called her out. Basically got jumped by a bunch of her devotees too. Again my focus on this blog was not Hamsher but the blog clogs. Jane makes claims about Firedoglakes supposed aggressive coverage on this issue. Which is just hooey. Her avoidance of this issue on WAshington Journal would certainly contradict that claims
” View this users Facebook profile Jane Hamsher June 11th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
50
In response to Rayne @ 19 (show text)
You are absolutely right, Rayne.
We all cover different things. That’s generally what reporters do, focus on specific issue, and then our readers benefit from the depth of reporting in different sectors.
Sometimes we step outside of those subjects. But if someone is consistently complaining because we don’t focus enough on their pet issue, and thus conclude we are morally flawed, timid and weak-spirited, it’s like kryptonite. You think “if I write about this now, it’s only going to encourage more whining because they’ll think it was a successful tactic.”
And so you don’t.
We’ve provided a home for some of the most aggressive coverage in the blogosphere of the Israeli/Palestinian situation for years. And taken rashers of shit for it, far more than any of the complainers have had to shoulder themselves. So, I’ll leave the issue to those who know more about it than I do. If people think that’s a sign of cowardice, so be it.
link to seminal.firedoglake.com
Go check out Jane’s response to my challenge
The moderator is making rediculous claims and warning me
Reply
Jane Hamsher August 14th, 2010 at 12:59 pm 9I didn’t mention it because THEY DIDN’T ASK ME ABOUT IT.
I didn’t mention marijuana legalization either, because they didn’t ask me about it. I didn’t mention Social Security privatization, because they didn’t ask me about it. Both of these are issues I’ve been writing about extensively.
If I was going to inject anything into the conversation, it would have been the subjects I’ve been writing about and have some knowledge of. I didn’t. I followed the format and responded to the interviewer’s questions, as most civil guests do.
Reply
seaglass August 14th, 2010 at 2:14 pm 10It seems that Leen and many others here have drawn a clear line in the sand on who they consider Progressives and if you in any way support Israel’s existence these days here your treated with contempt and I’ve found @ times sneering hatred. Who are these people to judge those of us who differ with them on this issue? Why does it make us any less Progressive then they are? They can support obviously radical Islamists like Hamas or Hezbollah and support the odious theocracy in Iran ( that abuses and treats it’s women as animals , and they seem to think that these aren’t directly in conflict with progressive principles for some unknown reason? The hatred of Israel and Jews here is very off putting to some of us who have been Progressives long before the title was even bandied about. The Israeli , Palestinian struggle /war clearly splits our ranks, but it saddens me that it cause such rancor and ill will. Don’t we get enough of that from the Right and it’s Blue Dog Demo. allies?
Reply
Rayne August 14th, 2010 at 2:55 pm 11Leen, make a more constructive case for promoting your research and content further. As it stands right now:
– Siun has covered the Gaza flotilla at FDL and that wasn’t enough*;
– You’ve had a platform to use to cover I/P and the Gaza blockade, and that’s not enough;
– You’ve demanded the site’s owner/operator speak as you demand, without making reasonable requests in advance and without real concern for the site’s owner/operator’s projects and initiatives;
– In spite of repeated efforts on the part of the community to teach you how to use this platform more effectively, you pointedly ignore learning how to do so.
This is hardly a pattern of cooperation and collaboration which might earn more attention.
I think the community has been more than fair with your persistent biting-the-hand-which-hosts-you; it’s time for you to assume full responsibility for the topics you want to cover and do so in a reasonable fashion.
—–
* I’ll be real specific here:
– At least 188 posts have appeared at Firedoglake.com’s main page tagged “Israel”. This may not include posts which were filed under the category “Israel” but not tagged with the same label, or posts at the affiliate sites including yours;
– At least 22 posts appeared on Firedoglake.com which were tagged with “Gaza flotilla.” This may not include posts on the topic which were not tagged properly, or which appeared at affiliate sites.
Reply
doremus35 August 14th, 2010 at 4:12 pm 12In response to Rayne @ 11 (show text)
Excuse my ignorance, but exactly who are you and how do you fit into the scheme of things here at FDL? I find your comments to be startling, remarkable, and quite refreshing. Thanks.
Reply
Rayne August 14th, 2010 at 4:16 pm 13In response to doremus35 @ 12 (show text)
I’m the new editor, taking over for Jason Rosenbaum. Jason is on hiatus, now working for a progressive organization — he’s a living example of engaged citizenry to the max.
Reply
doremus35 August 14th, 2010 at 4:20 pm 14In response to Rayne @ 13 (show text)
Welcome.
Reply
Leen August 14th, 2010 at 4:33 pm 15In response to Rayne @ 11 (show text)
Bull. All I asked is why not mention it.
Reply
Rayne August 14th, 2010 at 4:36 pm 16In response to Leen @ 15 (show text)
Again with the biting-the-hand. You may consider yourself warned.
Reply
Leen August 14th, 2010 at 4:36 pm 17In response to Jane Hamsher @ 9 (show text)
I have heard you flip the script and head in the direction as skillfully as anyone when you have been asked a question on one of the MSM outlets. So please do not say you have not.
I know this is not your topic. But the topic of your interview was what the left was not happy about with the Obama administration. There was plenty of room to whisper about that conflict and the way the Obama administration has been rolling over. A whisper
Reply
newtonusr August 14th, 2010 at 4:38 pm 18In response to Leen @ 17 (show text)
That’s right.
Fuck with the hosts.
That’s always good.
Reply
Kelly Canfield August 14th, 2010 at 4:40 pm 19In response to Rayne @ 13 (show text)
O wow – I hadn’t really realized that. Good for you! Good for Jason!
And I’ll just drop another word in here about “niche” blogging. Let’s just put the shoe on the other foot.
Leen – you never blog about Colorado Politics. You never blog about the intersection of Classical Music and current politics. Why?
And isn’t the answer silly? Because the answer is those are the things that interest me that others don’t cover. I would never expect Leen to cover those issues, and would never issue a demand for her to do so.
A lot about blogging is finding your “voice.” That’s really different than commenting. A person can have an opinion and comment about anything, but actual posting is a different story, and no one can master all subjects. Maybe one or two. But that’s it.
So there’s really a certain genius at work here at FDL – with all the beats covered. Siun on MidEast, Spencer on AfPak, DDay on general news, Jane on specific political issues, Marcy on civil liberties/legal politics, Lisa on Pop Culture, Seminal on ANYTHING.
Work/defend where you must, play where you will – that’s blogging/commenting these days and seems quite appropriate to me.
Reply
Leen August 14th, 2010 at 4:42 pm 20In response to Rayne @ 16 (show text)
So are you saying I am not allowed to respond to your claims? Is this what FDL does when someone challenges Jane? Look I have said I respect much of what Jane does. But is the response because I have challenged? What kind of example is this?
Over at Mondoweiss a response from Phillip Weiss
The Mavi Marmara and the end of Israeli impunity
“Kathleen August 14, 2010 at 9:58 am
Are we allowed to criticize the so called left on issues they will not touch? No different than the MSM? Several of the Reps Jane Hamsher said she admired completely support Israel no matter what they do and also support more aggressive actions towards Iran. This is progressive?
Log in to Reply
35 MRW August 14, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Kathleen,
I hope you take Phil up on his offer. The so-called progressives who can’t walk their talk need a big fat flashlight shone in their faces…and that would be a great image to accompany your article. PEPs, like deer caught in the headlights.
I will not read their blogs for that reason. They have no guts. They marginalize their message. When you realize they wouldn’t cross the street to help a Palestinian kid crouched in terror — which is the net effect of their avoidance — you realize how cruel they are au fond. (Sorry, don’t know the English word for it.)
Log in to Reply
36 Philip Weiss August 14, 2010 at 9:59 am
Thank you Kathleen, this is a tremendous contribution to the comments section. If you want to write about it in a post, please get in touch with me. This deserves being put up in lights.
Log in to Reply
37 Kathleen August 14, 2010 at 11:10 am
Hope you received my response. So appreciate what you folks do. I am obviously not a writer. A bit of a numbskull when it comes to putting a post together. Do as you please with what I have said. Trust your decisions and perspectives
Log in to Reply
Edit Reply
Leen August 14th, 2010 at 4:43 pm 21In response to newtonusr @ 18 (show text)
Not fucking…challenging
so opened minded around here
Later
Edit Reply
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The lesson of Israel is that colonialism can make racists of almost anyone, even those of us whose history suggests they should have known better. And, alas, once in the clutches of colonialism, its practioners come to believe that they deserve everything they’ve got, such that, when told that they’re nothing but thieves and racists, they go ballistic. Oh how the truth hurts.