Further evidence in the shift in Israel’s image in the States, and of the desperate measures to which its advocates have been reduced.
Tonight in New York, Artists4Israel (an artists’ group that supports the Israeli occupation) is holding a fundraiser in a tattoo parlor at which it will paint the nude bodies of volunteers to the accompaniment of live music and barbecue– all so the artists group can visit Jewish settlements in the occupied Golan Heights and do art there.
Here’s the promo from an American nudists’ org for the event: “Nudies Wanted For Live Body Art at Artists 4 Israel Fundraiser.” Artists4Israel promotes its event thus:
We would love to add the beauty of the human form to this event and, just as A4I does in Israel, strip naked the taboos which hold us back and put art and freedom above all.
The group Young Naturists America has come under fire for supporting the event. A member of the nudist group, Jordan Blum, who has lived in Israel himself, seems defensive about the collaboration. He writes:
Here are some of the comments we received:
- The Golan Heights isn’t on the border with Syria, it’s Syrian territory illegally annexed by Israel.
- This group is trying to use art and partying to distract from Israel’s oppressive practices.
- A terrible idea that supports illegal settlement and Apartheid!
There were also far more upsetting comments on Facebook. Some made remarks that insinuated that Israel as a state (and the Jewish population that lives there) do not have a right to exist.
The Times of Israel, from which I picked up the story, is quoting some of the comments:
“This is really disturbing… I mean seriously. Fundraising for an Artists4Israel trip to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights? For an organization that supports the Israeli equivalent of white supremacy?” wrote one commenter.
“Despite the edgy, progressive feeling of this event, the group sponsoring it, Artists4Israel, is a right-wing, nationalist, pro-settler group whose support [sic] racist policies of colonization in the West Bank,” charged another.
Artists4Israel have used nudity before. It’s a wonder the Afrikaaners or the French colons didn’t get hip to this sooner…
So, you’re against nudity now?
Israel’s a progressive place. A lot closer to your political and social values than Palestine is.
So I’d drafted the following and decided it was too speculative to post, and then Hoppy shows up with the perfect prior confirmation.
—
Speculation: perhaps the hasbara playbook still includes a section on the 1960s-1970s attraction to Israel observed among many Leftist (capital intentional) Americans, on the separate bases of identifying Israel as a socialist nation, of heightened general Holocaust awareness at that time, and of solidarity with Jewish American civil rights activists. These associations are probably obsolete except among a certain age group and much reduced in number in among them. Appealing to mainstream liberals in the pro-naked terms of that particular Left is bound to draw more embarrassed, puzzled grunts than anything else. Perhaps the hasbarists don’t realize this because a few hot-button issues superficially resemble the issues of that time, such as gay rights activism and its current dispensation to be outrageous. Pinkwashing gets a little (some little) traction so they might figure naked-stuff must still work. As I say, speculation, but I’m always interested in why post-1967 Israel was so popular among the New Left, or a fair sector within it.
—
Newsflash: “progressive” does not include restriction of movement for populations, massacring children and calling it “the objective,” point-blank murder of activists, and … sigh … and so on.
Different topic: I just saw the trailer for the German film “Jesus liebt mich” (Jesus loves me) on TV. Jesus returns to earth and meets Marie. Here’s the dialogue:
Marie: “Where are you from?”
Jesus: “From Galilee.”
Marie: “Galilee. Galilee?”
Jesus: “In Palestine.”
Marie: “Oh! Nice, nice.”
Then, she says to herself: “Oh my God! A terrorist!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYHbstmCyQ (at 0:26)
RE: “Artists4Israel have used nudity before. It’s a wonder the Afrikaaners or the French colons didn’t get hip to this sooner…” ~ Weiss
MY COMMENT: Well, they do have Charlize Theron! ! !
P.S. I’m beginning the second installment of my fantastic new game called “name that doofus” . Can you name the doofus currently pictured as my avatar? He’s a real toughie!
Good luck!
P.P.S. Here are some Afrikaaners looking quite spiffy in a fascist sort of way.
Prudish Philip?
Baring your irrational animosity?
This is too too ridiculous.