Screenshot of the Jewish Federations site advertising the Pamela Geller event. The page has apparently been scrubbed.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has canceled an event this afternoon that was set to feature anti-Muslim activist and blogger Pamela Geller.
The event attracted attention last night when an interfaith coalition of activists sent out a press release denouncing the decision by “a mainstream Jewish organization” to host “one of the nation’s leading Islamophobes.” The LA branch is part of the Jewish Federations of North America, an establishment Jewish organization that has 155 branches across the country.
Geller promptly took to her blog to denounce the “craven capitulation of the Jewish Federation to Islamic supremacist Jew-haters.”
Geller posted what the Zionist Organization of America, which organized the event, announced to supporters this afternoon:
Unfortunately, with just a few hours notice, the Jewish Federation has backed down on its agreement to let us host Ms. Geller in their conference room. The topic: “Islamic Jew Hatred as the Root Cause of Failure to Achieve Peace.” As tenants of the Jewish Federation, the ZOA has the privilege of using the conference room with advanced notice, which the ZOA has with secured with the management weeks in advance.
While the Jewish Federation has expressed security concerns (which in and of itself bespeaks the intimidation tactics of Muslim groups), we believe that the Jewish Federation has succumbed to political pressure by Muslim and Left-wing Jewish groups not to let a rational voice of criticism of Islam and its war against Israel be heard on its premises. These Muslim and Jewish groups have blown up the blogosphere with lies about Ms. Geller and harsh criticism of the ZOA for hosting her at the Jewish Federation.
Geller and the ZOA are now encouraging people to protest outside the Federation building.
It would have been the second time a Jewish Federations branch has hosted Geller. In March of this year, Geller spoke in Philadelphia at the Jewish Community Services Building. The building is owned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, according to the Jewish Exponent, which reported that Geller was ”shocked Federation was allowing her to speak in this space and that she is usually shunned by Jewish groups.”
As the Electronic Intifada‘s Ali Abunimah notes, the events are an “example of the marriage between pro-Israel advocacy and open incitement against Muslims.”
Geller’s event was on “Islamic Jew-Hatred: The Root Cause of the Failure to Achieve Peace.” Mondoweiss last reported on Geller when she helped scuttle the naming of a day to celebrate Palestine in Oakland’s Alameda County.
Her group Stop Islamization of America has been labeled a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and she was a main force behind the anti-Muslim fervor over Park 51, the planned Islamic community center in lower Manhattan. As the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) noted in a press release, Geller
once bragged that she uses a Quran, Islam’s holy text, as a doorstop. She also called for the demolition of a mosque in Florida, and she will be speaking along with the violent racist group English Defence League’s Tommy Robinson at an international event later this summer.
Geller is also an ardent right-wing Zionist. She told the New York Times that the “prism of Israel” is a “very good guide…because, like I said, in the war between the civilized man and the savage, you side with the civilized man.”
Here’s the statement from the coalition denouncing the Geller event. The groups include Jewish Voice for Peace, CAIR, American Muslims for Palestine and more:
We are extremely shocked and alarmed to see a mainstream Jewish organization associating itself with one of the nation’s leading Islamophobes who doesn’t hesitate to share the podium with European racists and whose admirers apparently include Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik. Religious leaders and institutions have an increased and urgent responsibility to promote tolerance and mutual understanding among all Americans, instead of giving aid and comfort to fear-mongers like Geller. Imagine how hurt Jewish community members would be, and rightly so, if they discovered American Muslims hosting an anti-Semitic speaker.
I hope more jews in the US are becoming aware of how much people like Geller are harming them by conflating Judaism with Zionism. I hope that they are also becoming aware that associating with the likes of these Islamophobes can only come to a tragic consequence for muslims and jews alike.
There is a silent majority in this country who may not remain silent for long. There are many here who frown on these overt racists, but say nothing because it does not directly affect them – yet.
Beware when the sleeping giant awakens.
Good.
“One requirement of BDS is full right of return. That would mean a demographic shift, coupled with one person one vote, Israel would be voted out of existence.”
Tokyobk, from the first page of his comment archive. Sure sounds like Geller to me. But thanks for admitting that nothing scares Zionists (whatever they obfuscatingly call themselves) like human rights and democracy.
We get so much of that here. Why do some Zionists think that if they make a fashionable condemnation of some more extreme character, or (and this is more efficacious than ipecac) say that they, personally don’t approve of this Israeli atrocity or crime, as if that makes it all better, and the subject is closed?
What is so funny about it is how completely unaware they are of the basic racism and excuse for thievery and murder Zionism represents, that they think one or two liberal condescensions makes all the difference.
I believe that zionism and other nationalisms rely on racialism and that Israel was born in blood and conquest of indigenous Palestinians.
I can’t speak for the zionists who drive by the comment section on mondoweiss or live in your head.
Here is my full quote. I am curious how your mind works. So, how at all does this make me either a bigot or for that matter even a zionist?
“One requirement of BDS is full right of return. That would mean a demographic shift, coupled with one person one vote, Israel would be voted out of existence. There would be a Palestrine next to Palestine and after a reunification of one Palestinian state. Supporters of this say if such justice means the end of Israel so be it. Those opposed say no state would allow such change of population and there is a right for a Jewish state. Norman moreover says that everybody supporting BDS knows this would be the logical outcome and in fact quietly supports it.”
Actually, I support it rather openly. It all strikes me as entirely just.
It’s actually a kind of ultimate democracy coupled with a pleasingly communist rejection of the right to property. Those who actually want Palestine will go there.
Those who want it most will be there in the greatest numbers. What could be fairer?
If the Jews lose, it will be because not enough of them actually WANT to be in Palestine. Sounds pretty equitable to me.
What adds to the attraction of this scheme is that there are even approximately equal numbers of Jews and Palestinians world wide.
Of course, there is the argument that the Palestinians are actually from Palestine, while it’s unlikely that’s the primary origin of most of today’s Jews — but hey. Let’s make it sporting.
All the Palestinians who want to go to Palestine go there. All the Jews who want to go to Palestine go there. Whoever wants to just leave, leaves. Then we hold elections — and no, the IDF is not allowed to arrest the winners. The UN can provide bottled water, trail mix, and porta-potties for all.
I don’t see the problem ethically. It should even finally solve the problem — and solve it peacefully!
“nothing scares Zionists”
Hizbollah scares them. Just ask their bladders.
Ditto- Good.
She was ‘shunned”…lol.
Why do some Jews feel they are qualified to teach whites how to be racist?
“Why do some Jews feel they are qualified to teach whites how to be racist?”
Ask “tokyobk”. He’s got a much more sophisticated syllabus for that subject than the crude Geller method. Why it’s like comparing Prof. Hill’s “think” system to a four-year course at Julliard!
Mooser, how does my quote which I pasted fully show anything remotely racist, as you claimed, for that matter particularly zionist?
Anither thing you can ask me is how I got the star next to my name. Hint: I contribute something besides snark to MW, but perhaps that’s just a zionist trick.
Well then, I misconstrued, and was overly touchy, and read into it what I wanted to see. I’m sorry, and I won’t do it again. I hope you’ll be kind enough to fogive me.
If the ZOA considers Geller’s bigotry a “rational voice”, how far would an Islamophobe have to go for the ZOA to consider them irrational??
That’s an interesting question. Would open calls for genocide be out? Certainly demands that Muslims essentially abandon their religion are legitimate.
That parks us somewhere between the Spain of Ferdinand and Isabella and the Third Reich.
RE: “The LA branch is part of the Jewish Federations of North America, an establishment Jewish organization that has 155 branches across the country.” ~ Alex Kane
SPEAKING OF THE “JEWISH FEDERATIONS”, SEE: “Houston Jewish Federation, Jewish Agency Fund Im Tirzu’s Assault on Israeli Universities” ~ by Richard Silverstein, Tikun Olam, 3/17/10
ENTIRE ARTICLE – link to richardsilverstein.com
ALSO SEE: Pastor Hagee: The Antichrist Is Gay, “Partially Jewish, As Was Adolph Hitler”, by Max Blumenthal, Huffington Post, 6/02/08
LINK – link to huffingtonpost.com
P.S. ANOTHER EXCERPT FROM “Houston Jewish Federation, Jewish Agency Fund Im Tirzu’s Assault on Israeli Universities”:
SOURCE – link to richardsilverstein.com
P.P.S. Zionism is a major existential threat to the “Age of Enlightenment” ! ! !
She is preparing for Nov election.she will be in huge demand. 2010 election brought the shining knives out for Arab/muslim blood using Park 51 issue. and the election went the way Geller’s group wanted.Who knows what she is plotting with her financier and book dealer this time? Romney will not shy away from alluding to the concerns generated by Geller and Co. It will not hurt the campaign.
I disagree. I think Geller’s shelf life is past. Some enterprising young male journalist might consider ramping up pressure against the axis of hatred she is a central part of as summer waxes.
I’ve written about her several times, mostly concerning her role in the boilerplate “Sharia Law” bills cooked up by Yarushalmi and backed by Geller and others, and on her tangential relationship to the hate networks that erupted so awfully with Anders Breivik’s rampage.
She’s sort of like Sarah Palin in that she has overtly taken advantage of her physical appearance to gain more notice than she deserved. She’s about twice as smart as Palin, but that isn’t saying much. Like Palin, her ability to use her face and body to attract attention diminishes every day. Unlike Palin, she sometimes mouths off when she is not sober. Someone might want to get her into a video interview after she has partied hard with some of the other crazies she hangs out with.
Mooser,
I believe I was explaining the logic- which Finkelstein shares, behind the thought that BDS means in effect being a one stater.
Though I actually don’t see why believing that makes one a Geller style bigot. Is norman Finkelstein a Geller?
And for the record, even as a child sent to a Zionist youth group I have never been a political Zionist.
I believe that Jews have long association with that land and desreve to live there as equals nothing more nothing less. I have also thought at times that two states could be a good start. If that makd me a cultural zionist, I guess perhaps but I accept all nationalisms at that level as well.
So, you are thinking. of someone else or you are extrapolating unfairly.
‘I believe that Jews have long association with that land and desreve to live there as equals nothing more nothing less. I have also thought at times that two states could be a good start. If that makd me a cultural zionist, I guess perhaps but I accept all nationalisms at that level as well.’
So any ethnic group can cook up a story that some piece of the world ‘belongs to them,’ go there, expel the current inhabitants, and make it theirs?
…since you accept all nationalisms at that level. Do you own any real estate? I’m about to decide it’s ‘mine.’
Colin Wright
What is so hard about understanding that I don’t see the Jewish story as entirely invented and obviously from everything I have written nor do I see that as a pretext for kicking out Palestinians.
“So, you are thinking. of someone else or you are extrapolating unfairly.”
You are right, I was probably guilty of both. The defense of circumcision makes us all equals!
And your feeling that “Jews” can live in “there” (“in that land”) “as equals” does you credit. Why, enough credit to make everything all-right!
Go tell it to ther Israelis.
The ZOA isn’t really a mainstream organization anymore. At one time they were, but now they are considered the far-right in the Jewish community.
Alex will, of course, be able to list several examples of Muslim organizations that cancelled Judaophobic speakers.
“…Islamic supremacist Jew-haters…”
That cracked me up. It’s depressing that so many take such garbage perfectly seriously, though.
lol, late on this. i opened the first link (“canceled”)and saw this. love it! can’t stop laughing..okay..back to the story…
Conversely let us consider a lecture tour that has just been held in Australia under the proud auspices of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV).
We have been visited by the virulently anti-Semitic and anti-Western Tareq Al Suwaidan, his trip sponsored by the allegedly mainstream ICV.
The ICV has promoted Suwaiden, who trains future Muslim leaders, and passionately asserts that “the most dangerous thing facing the Muslims is not the dictatorships. The absolutely most dangerous thing is the Jews. They are the most dangerous. They are the greatest enemy”.
I can appreciate that a Jewish roof body in LA wants to “build bridges” and all that warm and fuzzy interfaith stuff.
But what is the point when the other side doesn’t reciprocate?
“I can appreciate that a Jewish roof body in LA wants to “build bridges” and all that warm and fuzzy interfaith stuff.
But what is the point when the other side doesn’t reciprocate?”
So the answer is to support Geller? Just because the ICV puts trash up on a podium to speak doesn’t mean we need to put trash up as well. Unless you don’t want to help solve anything. By all means then, put Geller, Horowitz, etc. up there.
Pamela Geller does not have Establishment support or mainstream support. Most everybody I know the Jewish community considers her a hate figure. The ZOA has for a decade or so been far to the right of where the Establishment is, and there is no doubt in my mind that once the Federation found out who Geller was and what their building was being used for, they cancelled the event.
mayhem, Tareq Al Suwaidan’s wiki page doesn’t mention those things you said about him. do you have any supporting links?
link to en.wikipedia.org
@Annie, happy to oblige.
See link to jewishnews.net.au
Those who shout the loudest are usually those who have the weakest case.
And so it goes when pro-Israeli speakers at universities try to explain the other side. They continually disrupt such events. Why are they so terrified? It’s because they lose support from some of their indoctrinated followers who start to realize there is another side to the story and all is not what they have been fed.
Pamela Geller-Breivik.
“The ZOA isn’t really a mainstream organization anymore. At one time they were, but now they are considered the far-right in the Jewish community.”
ZOA agitation triggered a request that they register as a foreign agent a half century ago. Like the AZC/AIPAC, they staged a corporate reorganization that allowed the ever-credulous Justice Department to ignore their dangerous activities.
see: link to irmep.org
“their dangerous activities.”
ROTFLMAO. Your ridiculous graphic shows who is dangerous here.
Perhaps you should register as a foreign agent, since you apparently do not believe people have a right to lobby their government unless they support policies you agree with.
I agree with you that some of the other organizations on that graphic (such as AIPAC for espionage, or the Jewish Agency for FARA violations) are also dangerous because they routinely break important US laws with utter impunity.
The ZOA was at the periphery of Arms Export Control violations over conventional smuggling in the 1940s, and was by the 1960′s supplying board members to NUMEC.
The DOJ should have compelled ZOA’s registration as a foreign agent in the 1940′s when it became clear they were operating on behalf of the WZO.
here is a video of gellar at the protest outside the federation. she’s off the rails
link to youtube.com!
I am sometimes puzzled what prompts women, usually in their middle age but sometimes quite grandmotherly, to drop their reserved demeanor and raise the most blood-curdling shouts in the history of soprano singing (check Hojotoho heiaha, e.g. link to youtube.com ). Geller is one of the Zionists Brunhilda-wannabes.
I am not sure if Geller is conflating Judaism with anything, she rather conflates Zionism with fascism. My impression is that to Geller, Glick, or (Bad) Rachel Elliot religion is quite irrelevant, what is important is to identify enemies and make War. Hojotoho heiaha!