Total number of comments: 130 (since 2011-11-07 19:34:38)
AlGhorear
Mondoweiss.net supporterI'm a lawyer interested in human rights for all and justice for the Palestinians. I traveled to the West Bank in 2003 to volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement and participated in protest actions in Jenin, Qalquilya and Al Khalil (Hebron). In the past I've also been active with Al Awda, but lately I've cut back on my public activism for fear of putting my job at risk. Cowardly, I know, but I do need to make a living.
Showing comments 130 - 101
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Showing comments 130 - 101
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Ramzi, I long for the day when current leaders have the courage to say what must be said about zionist criminal acts and then actually do something about it. #BDS
Hophmi just doesn't know when to quit and if he didn't exist, we'd have to invent him. He sets himself up perfectly for Hostage (and others) to shred his arguments to pieces. The exchange about the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, that would allow the use of force to free Israeli or any other allied civilian officials awaiting trial in the Hague, is priceless.
Wow! That"s a powerful video. Watching the images of these incredibly brave women and girls gave me goosebumps after goosebumps, and goosebumps on top of goosebumps. Watched it a second time and the same thing happened. I could feel my hair standing on end. The girl who keeps getting in front of the soldier who's crouching and getting ready to fire his rifle at 1:22 is amazing. Talk about being on fire! And that's a perfect song for the video and a perfect video for the song.
I hope they submitted this video essay to the "Strike a Match" story contest that Alicia Keys has on her website and facebook page. If that doesn't move her, nothing will.
Ugh! It's tough to read such horrible racist comments, so to lighten the mood, here's a short video Graffiti bombe Vs Polizei Roboter
Thanks so much, Shmuel, for your concise answer to my question and for all you contribute on this site. I started reading some of the mishnas and there were lots of words I didn't understand, even with an English translation.
I messed up that link. It should be Soncino Talmud
Oh wow, the soncino Talmud comes in a 26 volume set and for a hefty price of $657.00. Fortunately, it's also available online for free download here Online Soncino English Babylonian Talmud. Could someone provide the short version of the Talmud vs. the Torah?
There's an interesting and almost fair CNN article about Mohammad Sarsak, the Palestinian football/soccer player who was detained without charges for 3 years and finally released after a 3 month long hunger strike. He travelled to London to protest UEFA awarding the tournament to Israel. Link to Should soccer boycott Israel's European Championship?
I didn't know the history of his detention until I read the article. He had been offered a with a professional team in the West Bank, but when he tried to travel from Gaza to the WB to realize his dream, he was arrested at the Erez crossing and locked up for 3 years. From dream to nightmare. He describes how he was tortured and the horrible conditions of the prison. I just can't imagine living under Israeli occupation and oppression. Saddest part is that it apparently ended his football/soccer career.
If it's any comfort, Moe, it's not just Palestinian Americans that are mistreated at Israel's borders. I suffered a 6.5 hour interrogation at the border crossing between Taba, Egypt and Eilat. I'll never forget the blonde woman with her sky-blue eye shadow screaming at me "Where are you goingk?" "Who told you to come here?!" My luggage was searched with everything examined and each scrap of paper read and scrutinized. Then the only person with a name tag, Tal Moran, had me turn on my laptop and log on so he could scour my laptop.
The border crossing is in such an idyllic location on the Red Sea, but the day was spoiled by the demeaning and humiliating behavior of the border officials. At least I was able to finally make my way to Jerusalem and join the International Solidarity Movement for protest actions in the West Bank. It was the experience of a lifetime.
Moe, as Citizen suggested, I hope you send your story to Senator Boxer and I want to thank you for sharing it here.
I checked Boxer's timeline and don't see any tweets to her on it. Apparently, her account is set up so only her tweets and retweets appear. What is your twitter handle, Citizen? I'd like to follow you :) and others who post here.
I'm @alghorear. Surprise surprise.
Interesting perspective and concepts. I can only hope Mark Braverman is correct when he says the Churches are becoming more and more active with Palestinian human rights issues. His comments about the peace process being a sham and providing cover for Israel to continue to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from the land are spot on. Thank you Ira and Phil for your interview of this remarkable man.
That's just depressing to see. It's like watching a KKK march. I don't know much about the New Israel Fund, but apparently they're a 501C3 (think tax deduction) with an objective of social justice and equality for all Israelis. But who is an Israeli? Does that include Palestinians in the WB & Gaza? Palestinians in the diaspora?
I also want to know about those anti-Zionist Neturei Karta folks and their cars with the signs mounted on top that we saw in Phil's earlier post. Were they just parked somewhere along or near the parade route? Or did they actually participate in the parade? If the latter, now that would be something.
Just what I needed, a distraction to look into the Kennedy assassination which I've never really researched before but now it kept me busy reading for the last 8 hours and surely could keep me busy for much longer. Lots of questions & so many theories. Powerful people are capable of such terrible things. Reminds me of Bill Blum's article "If I were president". It's priceless. Link to William Blum I have so much respect for this man.
"If I were the president, I could stop terrorist attacks against the United States in a few days. Permanently. I would first apologize to all the widows and orphans, the tortured and impoverished, and all the many millions of other victims of American imperialism. Then I would announce, in all sincerity, to every corner of the world, that America's global interventions have come to an end, and inform Israel that it is no longer the 51st state of the USA but now -- oddly enough -- a foreign country. I would then reduce the military budget by at least 90% and use the savings to pay reparations to the victims. There would be more than enough money. One year's military budget of 330 billion dollars is equal to more than $18,000 an hour for every hour since Jesus Christ was born. That's what I'd do on my first three days in the White House. On the fourth day, I'd be assassinated."
Most of the wooden guns are without er... barrels.
@Denis I guess we have our answer now about why Senator Lautenberg didn't vote for HR 95. It wasn't an act of conscience--he was on his death bed. He died this morning, Monday June 3rd . From CBS news:
"Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., the last World War II veteran serving in the Senate, died due to complications from viral pneumonia at 4:02 a.m. Monday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell, his office announced. He was 89 years old.
The Democrat had health problems in recent years and had missed several Senate votes in the first months of the year. He had the flu and missed the Senate's Jan. 1 vote to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff of rising taxes and falling government spending, then missed several votes two months later because of leg pain.
A chest cold kept him from attending a May 29 tribute in New York honoring him for his contributions to the Jewish community and Israel."
Link to Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., dies at age 89
Alicia Keys has a writing contest on her website and referred to on her Facebook page where she writes "I wanna hear YOUR stories that strike a match...just upload and tell me your story here for a chance to win some exclusive AK prizing ;-) ." I would love to see a flood of Palestinian narratives offered up for the contest.
Annie, I love the tape of MLK talking about his daughter and how she couldn't go to Funtown. It's an apt analogy and touching story. Amazing how he was able to keep his humanity in the face of all of the racism and hatred.
Kristen-Marie: "These are the very same students I will be teaching this summer."
Annie: "hopefully anyway. after a letter like this israel could very well consider you a threat to its national security."
That's so true, Annie. Israel doesn't just block Palestian and Arab Americans from other countries from gaining access to Palestine, but also detains and deports people who care about Palestinians. In Israel's view, peaceful Palestinian people = a threat to Israel's security. People who care about Palestinian rights = a threat to Israel's security.
Shame on our treasonous Senators Boxer, Schatz and the rest of those who think it's ok to grant Israelis more rights here than Americans have in Israel.
Good luck to Kristen-Marie, but I hope she has alternative summer plans lined up and that the school has a back-up summer teacher.
I knew that name was familiar and the reason is that Obey was a Wisconsin Congressman, not Michigan. He took on AIPAC during the presidency of George Bush Sr.
Link to JTA article
Well said, Ramzi.
And thank you for the insightful article, Sam.
Wow. Just wow. As Pamela says, very powerful and (I'll add) heartbreaking words.
The baby's got the right idea. Take that mic away from Blitzer and never give it back.
"The photo begs a caption contest."
Too funny, Adam! I didn't even notice the photo until you said that.
Netanyahu is demonstrating to Kerry the size (literally) of the Palestinian State he envisions-- about one square foot.
@W.Jones "It looks like Palestinians themselves are relatively suppressed on this issue in America."
That's true in my experience, W. Jones. My son is married to a Palestinian woman who always says her family came to the U.S. from Israel. She doesn't self-identify as Palestinian at all and none of her rather large extended family is politically involved with the issues here in the U.S. Because of their apparent apathy, I never said much about my involvement with the ISM and Al-Awda. Then at their rehearsal dinner, I wore my necklace that says Palestine in Arabic. Her father surprised me by telling me he wanted me to meet someone. He took me over to where an older woman was sitting and said "Meet my mother, she's pro-Palestinian too." She still lives in the Old City in Jerusalem and invited me to come visit. (I would love to return to Palestine, but I don't want to risk paying for the ticket and then being detained and deported due to my participation in activities with the ISM the last time I was there.)
I was then taken around the room and introduced to what seemed like at least 100 people and asked each time to show everyone my necklace. So certainly, the concern is there under the surface, especially with the older generations, but it's non-existent with my DIL . I think she and my son think my thinking is a little "out there". When my son returned from a trip to WI, he said he went to the Farmer's Market around the capitol building in Madison and saw signs that read "Free Palestine" and "Stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestine". He said "now I know where your crazy ideas come from. "I replied "what would you call it?" That made him stop and think for a moment.
I don't really talk about the issues with my DIL, but I did suggest she wear Jamal Taslaq's Palestine flag wedding dress that he showed during a fashion show in Ramallah in 2011. Link to Maan article and photo of dress She just laughed.
I think her family is afraid to "come out" and I understand that. With my current job, I no longer take the risk of participating in Palestine solidarity events the way I once did.
Professor Ellis, I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I'm sure your Dad was very proud of you. How could he not be? :)
As Phil previously wrote about on this site, JFK spent time in Palestine in 1939 when he was just 22 years old and I'm sure it left a huge impression upon him. Who knows whether his views would conveniently change in time as did his son Ted's, but at least at the time he was willing to push for justice and human rights for the Palestinians.
There have been very few elected American officials since who have been even remotely supportive of justice for the Palestinians. In fact, there are probably more, but I can only think of three: Dennis Kucinich, Paul Findley and Cynthia McKinney. And we all know what happened to them. The lobby found candidates similar to each of them on every issue but Israel and then pumped money into their campaigns. That's the way the lobby works. It's not about the dollars most candidates receive to support their campaigns, it's a drop in the bucket compared to all the money from other sources. But these same candidates know what happens to politicians who don't support the AIPAC line. They have very short careers.
"Also how come the Sephardim don’t have the Ashkenazi breast cancer gene?"
Or Tay-Sachs disease?
I've seen some comments by Mooser42001 and I don't think they sound like our Mooser. I miss him and hope he hasn't been banned.
Hophmi, as you've already been shown on other threads, this visa-free privilege is enjoyed by 37 others countries, ALL of whom reciprocate. If Boxer's bill passes, Israel will be the only country with this privilege that doesn't reciprocate and allow Americans the same privilege.
BTW, where is Mooser?!
Good article, Alex, but I flinch every time you or anyone else uses the word "terrorist". It's such a loaded word, and once something or someone is labeled with the "T" word, all notions of justice and law fly out the window. Why not just call it the crime that it is?
So Mike_Konrad, you like Israel or you really really like Israel but not the big brother snooping. Does that mean you support occupation, ethnic cleansing, racial/ethnic supremacy, apartheid laws, torture, imprisonment without trial, land theft etc.etc., but that snooping thing is a big no-no?
Publicizing their plan and names may be the mistake that ensures they'll never make it past the airport. The last thing Israel wants is a peaceful delegation that plans on visiting Palestinians in the West Bank.
When I visited the West Bank in 2002, the ISM suggested we tell border/airport officials that we're going to a Jewish friend's wedding in Tel Aviv, or something similar. I chose to say I wanted to visit Christian sites.
During my 6 1/2 hours of questioning by Israel "security" officials in Eilat , I was interrogated first by a blonde with blue eye shadow who screamed questions at me, asking over and over again "Who told you to come here?" and "Where are you goingk?" in a Russian accent that sounded like Natasha in Bullwinkle.
Next it was Tal Moran, the only official I met who had a name tag in English. He examined everything in my possession and searched my laptop. He was much softer in his approach but also the most intrusive.
Finally, it was the cordial "good cop" who took me back to his office for coffee and small talk about Palestinians who "killed a settler family in the West Bank just because they were Jewish." Then he said "What is to be done with such a people?" He offered me coffee that was brought in by a woman who was an Ethiopian Jew. He made a derogatory comment about her limitations, too, but made sure to tell me how much better she was than Palestinians.
I didn't know if he believed these things or was just trying to provoke a response from me, but I held my tongue until he asked: "How do I know you're not here to help the Palestinians?" I answered truthfully "How can I help the Palestinians?" He looked a bit surprised but then just shrugged and nodded.
After that I sat in the waiting area for hours and finally I got a 10 day visa. As he handed me my passport back, he said "Visit Masada. That's the only way you'll understand us."
I had no idea what Masada was at the time, but now when that subject comes up here on Mondoweiss, I think back to his comment. I don't know if even he thought another Masada was likely, but I'm convinced he wanted me to believe it was.
"The Jews in the Warsaw ghetto were facing extermination.
The Palestinians in Gaza are facing the task of building a State of their own.
Slight difference, wouldn’t you say?"
Not much difference at all. Jews in the Warsaw ghetto were facing extermination and Palestinians in the West Bank are facing colonization and ethnic cleansing. Their very existence is threatened on a daily basis. Israel exercises control over the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip, including entry and exit, the road system, the tax money, flow of goods and on and on. Hard to build a state when your every move is dictated by a foreign entity bent on taking the land where your state is to be built.
Saying Palestinians should get on with building their state is like saying that's what the Jews in the Warsaw ghetto should have done, when in fact they were fighting for their very existence.
Oops that was in 2002.
When I read the tweets by Erik Rush, I thought he was being sarcastic. Just imagine if he said the same thing about Christianity or Judaism.
I didn't hear about the bombings across Iraq, but I did hear about the U.S. bomb that hit a wedding party yesterday, killing 30 and wounding many more.
Link to Daily Mail
RAWA 120 People Killed or Wounded in US Bomb Attack on Afghan Wedding
"NO DOUBT in my mind a whole lot of y’all asked for it, ’cause you either voted Obama, Boxer or both."
Not me. I could not vote for the drone strikes, war monger, Israel-firster Obama, who has also launched a huge assault on our liberties and freedom, persecuting Bradley Manning and seeking extradition of Julian Assange, all for letting us know what our government was really doing, while telling us they were doing something else. I wrote in Jill Stein for president.
Boxer wasn't up for re-election this year, only Feinstein. I didn't vote for her either, but can't remember if I wrote in my mother's name or my own :).
Phil, perhaps you and Alex should bring the discussion about Palestinian human rights to the JCC party. I'd love to hear the report back on that one.
"Protesters do not throw Molotov cocktails." - Dimadok
Protesters do throw Molotov cocktails. Just look back at the austerity protests in Greece in 2011. Tens of thousands protested and some threw firebombs, but there was not one shooting and not one death. The same situation happens with frequency around the world, without police having to use lethal violence, yet Israel kills protesters on a regular basis. Is there not one Israeli injustice or crime that you won't excuse or blame on the victim, Dimadok?
"Neither occupation nor expulsion is the answer. Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land.
I am struck by this comment. Israelis did not build a state in THEIR homeland, they built a state in Palestine, in someone else s’ homeland. Surely Obama must know that."
Spot-on brown-eyed girl. Glad to see you join this wonderful group of commentators here on Mondoweiss.
No harm intended, Toivo. Apparently you didn't grow up in the kind of Finnish immigrant culture I did.
I don't see Hagel changing. Just look at Obama. Early in his career he had ties to Edward Said and Jeremiah Wright, he gave his hopeful speech in Cairo after being inaugurated, and now he's abandoned the Palestinian cause. Why no attempt to use any of his considerable power as president to end or at least limit military, diplomatic and financial support to Israel? He's already re-elected, what's stopping him? Instead, he walks and talks the Zionist cause. Hagel will be no different.
ToivoS: "There was also a similar kind of enforced group-think in the Soviet Union. I think one reason the Soviet Union collapsed so suddenly is that thousands of state bureaucrats who had been submitted to those humiliating rituals, sat back and just watched when they realized the high level party officials had lost their control over the police. It is so difficult to predict end games like this, but one day we might see a similar process happen in our Congress, one day they are in total fear of the lobby and the next that fear is gone."
We can only hope there will come a tipping point. When I watched the old establishment guard gang up on Hagel this morning, it reminded me of the scenes from Egypt earlier in the morning where the old guys in the halls of power there were looking a little worried and unsure, while the youth raged and demanded change out on the streets. Hopefully, we'll take back our country sometime during my lifetime.
By the way, Toivo, I'm a Finnlander who grew up in Northern WI. There all the jokes we told were about ourselves. Do you know a guy named Oivo?
I can't even imagine how terrifying it must be to live under the drones. When Obama was talking about the children of Newtown, I kept thinking of the children killed by his murderous drone strikes in Gaza, Yemen, and Pakistan. When will he cry for them?
Not just Graham, but the entire CNN segment has been an assault on the Hagel nomination, starting with Candy Crowley who highlights Hagel's "Jewish Lobby" comment and his unfriendliness to Israel in her lead-up to Graham's comments. She lets what he says go unchallenged, merely asks if the Senate will try to filibuster the nomination. I didn't see the whole program. Did she put anyone on who supports Hagel?
And about Graham, who can listen to this guy and not feel their breakfast working it's way back up their esophagus?
Noble effort, Adam. Kudos to you and all of your co-signers. I hope to see Mooser's name added soon--of course it could already be there. Who knows? :)
It brings to mind the debate that occurred around ten years ago(?) when Dr. Salman Abu Sitta posited that not only was full ROR possible but could be accomplished with very little displacement of the current population. His article can be found on the Palestine Remembered Website. Link to Palestine Right Of Return, Sacred, Legal, and Possible
Cliff's video brings back memories of of Al Khalil (the Arabic name for Hebron), which was the most heart breaking place of all I visited. There's so much hatred there. Small children would smile in our faces as we walked along the sidewalk next to the shops and then throw pebbles at our backs. From there we entered the Old City and visited a little boy about 6 years old who had been badly burned and scarred by settlers.` All the shops there were closed and barricaded by huge iron gates. The corridor the Arab inhabitants used was surrounded by chicken wire on the sides and the top to protect them from stones, bottles and larger objects, but the settlers still threw eggs, feces and urine on them from the windows of the 4 story building above the walkway.
I went to Al Khalil with fellow ISMers to meet up with a couple of people from the Christian Peacemakers Team who have had a steady presence in Gaza. We were there to visit the technical institute that had been ransacked and closed by the IDF. The students planned to re-open the school and we were going to stay overnight and act as human shields, but the students decided it was too dangerous and everyone left the school. It didn't seem dangerous at all because we were far from the Old City and there were no settlers or army anywhere near us. We ending up staying with a family that fed us the best maklouba ever. During the night, the IDF raided the home of another student and killed him. Just like that.
This is Zionism. Unspeakable cruelty and senseless killing.
Yes, Hophmi, I'd like to see the destruction of Israel as a Jewish State apartheid laws and replaced with a State for all its citizens, Jews, Christians and Muslims, with equal rights for all. Just like we have here in the US.
Les: "The Israel Lobby strikes again. Time-Warner is rushing to drop Current TV before it becomes Al Jazeera America."
That was the last straw for me with Time Warner Cable. Satellite here I come, at least for TV, but I'll have to figure out what to do about internet and phone too. Grrrrrrrr
Thanks Annie! I googled the real name instead of the nickname.
Thank you for sharing your cousin's story, Abrar. It's chilling to learn how he and his friend were hunted by that drone and the poor 10 year old boy was injured too. I can't imagine it. What was their crime? Being the wrong race/religion? I'm glad your cousin's faith is strong, and hope his outlook remains positive.
I noticed you said you tweeted about your cousin but I couldn't locate you through a twitter name search. I hope you'll share your twitter handle.
And that goes for everyone else here, too. I hope you'll share your twitter names so I can follow you there. Mine is "AlGhorear". Surprise surprise.
I agree it's a good story, but still the editor felt the need to say:
This ignores the ongoing Israeli killing and incursions into Gaza and implies that the latest "conflict" was in response to Hamas stepping up rocket fire into Gaza.
@Hostage Some people either can't or won't make the distinction between laws and behavior that flaunts them. Others are oblivious to facts. While it's great entertainment to watch you spell it out forwards and backwards and every which way, you're never going to make any headway with some of the commentators here who have a real problem with reading comprehension or else are being intentionally misleading. At least it's a great education for the rest of us.
Hostage, I marvel at your debating skills. Time and time again, you combine historical fact and applicable law with concise and clear writing to absolutely demolish the hasbarists' false assertions and misleading nonsense. When someone challenges you, it's like watching a mosquito buzzing around you and I know the splat is coming. I don't know if GilGamesh thinks he's fooling others or only fooling himself with the "gotcha" comments he makes that you subsequently destroy. It's fascinating to read.
I think I (or better yet you!) could put together a great book just by copying and pasting your comments.
After opening the link to the website you posted, I'd put you more along the lines of Anders Brevick, Geert Wilders and the EDL, or its Greek version. Very creepy and not worth responding to. I wish I hadn't looked.
By the way, anyone can conceal their true identity with a gmail account. Perhaps you're not Jewish and you don't live in Beit Shemesh, but you win today's prize for Islamophobia.
Hostage, you are a treasure!
And Obsidian should change his name to Obtuse.
Thanks, Keith. Those are my complaints about Obama and the direction this country is headed in in a nutshell.
To their credit, Phil and Adam responded to my inquiries about the books I was promised and the problem was resolved satisfactorily. Thank you, Phil and Adam. My donation is likely being processed as I type. :)
So Adam, you say "Sorry David" but not sorry to me? After I read your response, I sent an email to you yesterday at Adam@Mondoweiss.net but haven't yet received a response. In fact I forwarded you the receipt for the donation and correspondence I had with Phil afterwards when I didn't receive the books. If I never get them, that's ok, but it would be nice to at least receive an acknowledgement I didn't receive them. Then I can deduct the entire amount, instead of the donation minus the books. Grrrrrrrr
I'd be more inclined to donate again if I'd received the two books I was supposed to get the last time I sent my check :).
Patrick, if you haven't found it yet, I posted a link up thread.
Piotr "I will need to check the votes from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu to make full assessment."
Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga abstained.
Kiribati was absent.
Tuvalu voted in favor :)
Full Voting record is at this link
It's interesting to see how the different countries voted and sad to see that Canada is getting as bad as the US.
The award to the tireless and inspirational Medea Benjamin (as well as her fellow Codepink activists!) is certainly well-deserved and I'm glad to see her honored with this award. Just compare Medea's work with our war monger and drone strike president Barack Obama and the irony is stinging.
Annie, thanks so much for sharing your personal story with Medea and Codepink. You have certainly lived up to the commitment you made following your Gaza trip.
There are just no words to describe this kind of policy. When will Americans wake up and stop supporting politicians (almost all of them) who are in lockstep with the GOI?
I lived in Haret Hreik which is in the Dahiya in 2003 and was shocked to see how that entire area was destroyed in 2006. Many of my friends lived there and as I looked at the satellite map, I could see that all of their buildings had been leveled. Those were people's homes and not a military target. Just like in Gaza, Israel bombed Lebanese infrastructure including power plants. The purpose was collective punishment of all Lebanese, especially the Shia population. Denying adequate food is collective punishment of the Palestinians in Gaza and a crime against humanity.
So here we go again. The only problem I have is that the change in policy is based on the reaction to Greta Berlin's "anti-Semitic tweets", which requires the conclusion that the material she posted was something she endorsed (which she has consistently denied) and ignoring the voices of those who have known her for years and say she is NOT anti-Semitic. I have no problem with the comments policy changing, but I do disagree with the characterization of Greta's comments as anti-Semitic. In any event, it's the prerogative of the administrators to decide what they'll allow on the site and any of us who disagree can find somewhere else to post their opinions (but if you do, please let me know where are. Ha!)
In regards to Phil and Adam's decision to curtail comments about Jewish culture and religion, I agree that should be avoided. I don't think it's necessary or valuable to try to link someone's religion and culture to the oppressive policies of a State actor like Israel. Those policies speak for themselves and should be able to stand alone. It's no different than the American colonialists' treatment of the indigenous Native American population or the current US government's dehumanization of the inhabitants of countries we are at war with (e.g. referring to the victims of drone strikes as "bug splat"). Throughout time, whole populations have been convinced to follow and support racist ideologies for a variety of reasons, but that doesn't mean there is some defect in the religion or culture. To know this is true, I only have to look at people like Miriam Reik, Rhoda Shapiro, Phil, Adam, and the countless others who are in this fight as humans first and Jews second. Otherwise, why would they subject themselves to what I can only imagine is terrible attacks from members of their community.
That doesn't mean I don't appreciate comments like those from Hostage who provides historical perspective and legal analysis like no one else.
And of course the same is true for Mooser who may not provide historical context but he himself is like no one else :).
And of course there's Danaa, whose insight and passion keep me coming back to this site.
Whatever happens, I'm sure Mondoweiss will continue to grow and thrive.
If I'm among the purged and banned, it's been nice knowing you all :).
Dan Crowther: "Mitt’s gonna win Phil."
I have mixed feelings about this election. I, for one, will not vote for Obama again. He's the drone strikes president who prosecutes whistle blowers like Manning and Assange, but lets the criminal Wall Street Bankers off the hook. He threw Reverand Wright under the bus and didn't have the courage to do anything about resolving the Palestinian crisis. If he wasn't worried about his own power and being elected to a second term, he could have supported the Palestinian UN bid. One term with a legacy to be proud of is better than two terms, in my opinion.
If he was to change course, well that would be a welcome development, but I seriously doubt it will EVER happen and certainly not before the upcoming election.
As far as voting is concerned, I think we're headed in the same direction as we were during Ralph Nader's candidacy when independent voters like me voted for Nader, which helped Bush win (steal?) the 2000 election from Al Gore. I was fooled by Obama in 2008, but will not vote for him again just to ensure the lesser of two evils is elected. If everyone voted their conscience, maybe we wouldn't be in the predicament we're in.
"Do you think smearing someone with racist statements is worse or less worse than smearing their windows with peanut butter?"
It depends on whether someone in the house had a peanut allergy
@more progressive says "sad that the government of Gaza manages to “import” so many things …but not the needed medications. sounds almost like one of those stories that point out the adverse consequences and evils of war."
No, it sounds like the unending cruelty of the Israeli government that practices collective punishment against the population of Gaza. The Gaza government doesn't control any of its borders and is completely at the mercy of the government of Israel who is blocking these life saving cancer drugs, diagnostic equipment and pain medications from entering Gaza, in violation of its duties as an occupying power. Just count it among the growing number of Israel's crimes against humanity.
Thanks, Annie. I posted my comment about it being too long before I saw what you wrote.
Sorry, I didn't realize that article was so long. Should have just posted an excerpt.
While reading about the Estelle yesterday, I came across this tragic story about a young Gaza mother who is dying of breast cancer because the cancer medication she needs is on the banned list.
Link to The human consequence of the blockade. A true story by the pediatrician Henry Ascher
It's criminal for Israel to deny her the cancer drugs that could have saved her life and the pain medications that could have eased her suffering.
There may be crayons and coriander, but not cancer drugs or pain medications for this young Gaza Woman from the kind of breast cancer that has an 80% cure rate with proper treatment.
@Today in Palestine
Tell that to the families of Tom Hurndall, Furquan Durgan and Rachel Corrie, who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Fortunately, your attitude isn't shared by the Palestinian activists I met in the West Bank, who expressed nothing but gratitude to have the support of the internationals and welcomed us into their communities and homes. Those are the people I'll remember as I continue to engage in Palestine solidarity work.
In the statement, the signatories reject racism and for that I absolutely applaud them and agree. It reads:
But that's only step one. The next is proving that Greta is a racist and I have not seen sufficient evidence of that yet. She has posted and linked to offensive material that she says was for purposes of discussion. I believe her and have no problem with that. But if others want to distance themselves from her because she communicates with racists and explores taboo subjects, that's their prerogative and I can respect their decision. There may be something to what others have said about how leaders of a movement aren't afforded the same level of intellectual freedom that us peons enjoy. But what I object to is being attacked and belittled for expressing my opinion that Greta is not a racist, based on her explanations, my personal experience with her and the opinions of many respected people who have known Greta for decades and insist she is not a racist.
Despite what AA and TIP say here, the Palestinian community is not monolithic and other Palestinians have defended Greta, including Ramzy Baroud and Mazin Qumsiyeh. I'm sure others would have too if not for the stinging criticism leveled at anyone who dared question the wisdom of destroying a dedicated activist and taking down the whole Free Gaza Movement in the process. And I have to say I'm glad neither Seham or Ali was there when I was involved in non-violent direct action with the ISM in Qalquilya and Jenin, because they would probably have said I can join in the protests, but I better not open my mouth because I'm not Palestinian.
I get what you're saying Rachel_Roberts. I looked up thread for someone named TBH before realizing that Seafoid meant "to be honest" :).
There's an interesting comment from Phil at the link N-49posted:
Isn't "open discussion" what Greta was allowing as an administrator of the "Our Land" FB group?
Also, I'm curious to know whether Phil reversed his position since that 2007 comment.
I think the reason why this whole thing resonates with so many of us here is that by the standards used to vilify Greta Berlin, most of us could easily be found guilty of antisemitism by these same accusers and many amongst our ranks already have been, including Ali Abunimah who ironically led the charge against Greta and now appears equally intent on destroying those who defend her. And the worst thing is that's it's being used to silence or limit those who are on the front lines of this fight and have been very effective in exposing Israeli crimes and injustice against the Palestinians, like Greta Berlin and Ann Wright. That's why they are such important targets for the Zionists. And one thing I hope Palestinians like Ali Abunimah will realize is that like it or not, sometimes the voices of people who are not Palestinian, including those of Jewish Americans and Jewish Israelis who oppose Israeli policies, carry more weight in some important political circles in the US is because when condemnation comes from someone who is not Palestinian and they criticize Israel, it takes away the self-interest and when someone is Jewish, it negates the antisemitism charge, which is the kiss of death in Palestinian solidarity work. That's why I think it's so important in our movement that no one is ever tainted with that label absent a whole lot more than what was used to throw Greta Berlin under the bus. I keep thinking back to the comment from ToivoS to the effect that if it "appears" Greta was antisemitic, then get rid of her. "Appears" is just not enough. I agree with Paul Larudee that Greta shouldn't have to prove she's innocent, her accusers have to prove she's guilty and they should have done so before smearing her. And despite being asked by many commenting on this blog (including the ever reasonable Donald), the reasoning from has not yet been forthcoming. Again, it's because I truly despair at seeing effective people like Greta Berlin and Ann Wright silenced over what I see as undeserved criticism that I feel compelled to respond.
There have been many reports about drones being susceptible to hackers. If Hezbollah was able to hack into and control the drone, that could be why there was no evidence of a crash. Hmmm
While the "Jihadi Salafists" are actively fighting in Syria, the US is worrying about Hezbollah?
The Salafists are linked to AlQaida, the group that the US says is responsible for 911 while the latter is a Lebanese resistance group that successfully fought to end the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, continues to defend Lebanon and has never attacked the US. Despite US govt claims to the contrary, Hezbollah denied at the time and continues to deny any involvement in the suicide bombing of the marine barracks in 1982. The difference is that Hezbollah is an obstacle to complete Israeli domination of its neighbors. It has nothing to do with US interests.
From The Angry Arab Blogspot
I want to say it's amazing that the MSM doesn't question the official US govt line, but it's so common place that it's not amazing or surprising any more, it's just disgusting.
Ann Wright was dis-invited but look whois on the Estelle
Another member of the Peled family. It's a little ironic that his short bio highlights his military service when Ann Wright's military service was one of the reasons given for her exclusion.
Militants or expendables both sound better than what the US military calls them: "bug splat". From this Aljazeera article by Muhammad Idrees Ahmad:
With that kind of dehumanization, is it any wonder we end up with horrible things like Abu Ghraib and US soldiers videotaping themselves urinating on Afghan corpses?
Phil and Adam,
As Donald and others have asked, could you please provide some clarification about what exactly you believe is evidence of Greta's anti-Semitism?
You cited “Berlin's anti-Semitic tweets” and wrote "Whatever your line is for what's acceptable speech about Jews, Berlin's statements and attitude were over the line."
Which tweets were anti-Semitic and why "tweets" plural? There was ONE tweet where she linked to a video and copied its title verbatim: "Zionists Ran the Holocaust and the Concentration Camps." It would be different if the title of the video was "Concentration Camps in Germany" and she wrote "Zionists Ran the Holocaust and the Concentration Camps", but that's not what happened. It's common practice for people to include the title of an article or video when they post a link to it. It doesn't mean they agree with the content. She did the same thing when she linked to the article about Mossad being behind the anti-Islam video.
It’s true that she posted the video without context or comment, but she says she intended to post it to a small (37 members) secret Facebook group where racism is one of the topics of discussion. Sixteen members of the secret Facebook group issued a statement confirming the group’s existence and supporting Greta’s version of what happened. The statement was appended to the second Derfner article.
This is the group Benjamin Doherty tried to discredit as being sock puppets, but among the signers was Mazin Qumsiyeh, a well-known and respected Palestinian activist and former professor at Yale. I’ve known Mazin since we were both on the national coordinating committee for Al Awda. If we have Mazin’s word and Greta’s word, why isn’t that enough? Why should she be required to release content from a secret Facebook group? Aren't those members entitled to their privacy?
You referred to Greta’s statements as crossing the anti-Semitism line. Other than her apologies, explanations and condemnation of the offensive video, what other statements did she make? Could you list her anti-Semitic statements?
Are you referring to her emails that Ali Abunimah says were inconsistent because she wrote “I was on a train to Toronto” in one email and “in a hurry to get on a plane to Canada” in another. By that we know she must be lying because you can’t take a train and a plane on the same day and Toronto isn’t in Canada.
If it’s something that was said in your email correspondence with her this week that leads you to say she’s anti-Semitic, then please post what you wrote and with Greta’s permission, her responses.
Another complaint about Greta was that there was anti-Jewish material posted on a private Facebook page that has 1000 members and she's one of the administrators. If that's the test, then Phil and Adam, you would also be suspect since there is racist material and commentary on this site that goes unchallenged by you.
Or was it her endorsement of Atzmon’s book?
I feel like I’m really grasping at straws here trying to figure out why you came down with such a strong condemnation of Greta and those of us who support her. From the comments by others, I don’t think I’m alone. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this site and hope you will provide the answers to the questions many of us have.
"Nevertheless Alex Kane also made the the same accusation in the final paragraph of his original Greta Berlin post. An odd coincidence or were some “talking points” circulated?" - Libra
After the tweet was posted, it didn't take long for Greta's detractors to jump in and cite past "offenses" including her endorsement of Atzmon's book and the tweet about Mossad being involved in the anti-Islam film. There were dozens of tweets, blog posts and articles that referenced these two items as being further evidence that she's antisemitic, so that's why you're seeing it in the comments section at the JPost, in Alex's article and elsewhere.
Greta didn't SAY "Zionists operated the concentration camps and helped murder millions of innocent Jews." That's the title of the video she linked to in her post. She did the same thing when she posted the link to an article claiming Mossad was behind the Innocence of Muslims video. A lot of people do that when they post links. It doesn't mean they agree with the content of the article or video.
I find this comment by one of the Free Gaza board members particularly telling:
"And these hobbled warriors, instead of providing the stamina and support palestinians out there on the killing fields need, are teaching them the art of wobbly knee dance on egg shells."
Thank you Danaa, for continually reminding us of the real situation we're working to change and for throwing the allegations of racism back in the face of those who tolerate it here on Mondoweiss when it's aimed at Palestinians who are being oppressed, ethnically cleansed and killed, but are willing to throw a dedicated activist like Greta Berlin under the bus and destroy a movement based on alleged racism that I can't even find with a microscope--such are the sensitivities at stake here. Greta mistakenly posted a video on the FreeGaza FB account, which she meant to post for discussion on a private FB account. It was automatically tweeted without context (with a 140 character limit, tweets are like that), she acknowledged the mistake, denounced the video and apologized for posting it. Is that racist? Is it antisemitic?
I agree wholeheartedly that there's "No room for racism in a movement working for equality and freedom", but Phil and Adam, I think you owe the rest of us an explanation of exactly what you think Greta did that was antisemitic. Show us those tweets and statements and explain to us how her "attitude" was racist since apparently you have information that wasn't privy to the rest of us.
Otherwise, Mooser is right. It will be goodbye Hostage, goodbye Danaa, goodbye many others and even goodbye Mooser.
"The whole episode, and people jumping like fleas when subject of Zionist interaction with Nazis is touched, not to mention hysterical scramble with as much as a whiff of supposed Anti-Semitism is coming to light is a grave warning to pro-Palestinian activists." - Eva
"Eva, my feelings exactly. This public excoriation of Greta is obscene." -Danaa
I fully agree. Obscene is the best word to describe the twitter slugfest yesterday with Ali, Benjamin, Max and Alex all ganging up on Greta and her supporters. The hasbarists must be enjoying watching our activist community destroy not just one of their own but possibly the whole Free Gaza movement. See e.g. Jeffrey Goldberg's Bloomberg piece:// where he writes:
Such a shame.
The caption for Phil's post is unwarranted and assumes facts not in evidence. Is there no end to the libel of this 71 year activist dedicated to human rights and especially justice for Palestinians?
I've "known" Greta for at least 6 years in the same sense that I know people (posters? imposters? ) here at Mondoweiss. Sure I could miss something, but in that time, I have never seen her post anything even remotely anti-Semitic. Linking to something racist for purposes of discussion just doesn't count.
I still can't figure out whether Alex, Phil and others believe what they're saying or just trying to be on what they think is the right side of the controversy. Remember guys, it's not about who you are, it's what you do. Period.
"Newclench, as you should know, better than anyone, the whole world sucks!"- Mooser
Ha! Love it! By the way there's a discussion about you in the comments section there. Did you really used to blog from Moose Hall?
"Wow, that’s quite some investigative effort there." - Danaa
Danaa, did you read all the way down to and through the comments section? It's a tangled web (literally and figuratively).
Below is a choice quote from one of the people Benjamin said he was not able to verify:
I have always respected Ali and think he's one of the most articulate speakers I've heard. I don't know what he was thinking when he went after Greta the way he did And today he took a dig at the people on the Free Gaza board who spoke out to defend her, tweeting "The Greta Berlin Solidarity Movement wants you to know how disappointed it is in Palestinians and expects better" linking to the board's statement.
Thankfully, the new Gaza board has come to Greta's defense:
Woohoo! Thanks Eljay!
Thanks Eljay. I did try that on my last post, but the material I wanted to indent disappeared altogether and the last paragraph that I didn't want to indent, was indented. Guess I just need practice...
Danaa, I understand and appreciate your passion, insight and wisdom, so please keep posting no matter the length, in fact more is better when it comes to you.
I swear some of the language I type disappears and then reappears as soon as I post it, so I say the same thing 3 times in a row in the beginning 3 paragraphs. My apologies.
And can someone please tell me how I indent text that I'm quoting?
And those "friends" continue to pile on. Now there's a new post up on Electronic Intifada from former board members of the Free Gaza movement, essentially throwing Greta under the bus.
Statement from former board members of Free Gaza movement
Submitted by Ali Abunimah on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 21:33
I received the following statement from the undersigned former board members of the Free Gaza movement:
"As former board members of the Free Gaza movement (our terms ended in August, as outlined in a 22 September statement released by Free Gaza, though this was not immediately reflected in parts of the Free Gaza website), we are disappointed and frustrated by the message and video posted on the Free Gaza Twitter account entitled: "Zionists Ran the Holocaust and the Concentration Camps” and by the subsequent messaging posted by Greta Berlin on behalf of the new board of Free Gaza II. Although the tweet was deleted and Free Gaza II clarified that the posting was a mistake and pertinent context overlooked, we believe that the responses posted by Greta on behalf of Free Gaza II have been inadequate. Consultations and efforts made by some of the former members of the board with the current board members were either rejected or set aside, which has added to our disappointment. We had hoped that Greta would provide evidence of the context in which she says she posted the video, but her failure to do so has led us to now publicly voice our deep concern.
We unequivocally reject and distance ourselves from the tweeted video. Such anti-Semitism was never tolerated by Free Gaza or any of the people or groups with which we have worked. We condemn all forms of racism and prejudice, including anti-Semitism.
We continue to support initiatives to end Israel’s illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip and its occupation and colonial apartheid practices in Palestine as a whole. It is imperative to be vigilant against racism in all its forms. It is also vital to work for the freedom of all people, and in our efforts to support Palestinians, it is the universal struggle for freedom that has motivated, sustained and guided the efforts of Free Gaza.
Huwaida Arraf
Eliza Enshire
Alex Harrison
Fathi Jaouadi
Ewa Jasiewicz
Niamh Moloughney
Adam Shapiro"
Her apologies were not "adequate"? And "deep concern" that she won't provide the context, i.e. disclose private information.
No one wants to even be associated with anyone accused of being anti-Semitic, no matter how weak the proof. Just think how powerful that label is. You can't throw it off hard enough.
It's a shame that good people like Ali Abunimah, Adam Shapiro and Huwaida Arraf feel compelled smear the reputation of another good person like Greta Berlin just to prove how NOT anti-Semitic they are.
With all due respect, Alex, Greta's been smeared.
Why is it so hard to believe that Greta meant to post to a private Facebook group as part of an ongoing discussion about racism? Do you not believe her? Then how about the other group members who have risen to defend her (e.g. @engelo, @samcdkey and @obethlehem)? Are they all lying too?
Do you not believe her because she's refused to provide the context as Ali Abunimah has demanded? There may be people in the group whose jobs would be threatened or they would be denied entry into Israel just by being associated with the private Facebook group, so refusing to provide their private information would not only be justified but also commendable. How many of us here use our real names or would like the private information (true names) we've shared with Phil and Adam exposed?
As much as I respect Ali Abunimah, he concluded Greta was lying based on what he believed was access to Greta's private FB Group where he said there was no ongoing discussion about racism. But another member of the group at issue, Ofer Engel, tweeted that Ali was in a different FB group.
And even though your post here on Mondoweiss appears more neutral, you tweeted that you thought Larry Derfner's @972mag piece defending Greta was totally wrong.
It's sad to see a lot of people I respect attacking Greta Berlin, an activist I've admired and respected since first meeting her (virtually) on an Al Awda list serve years ago. Who needs the hasbarists when our fellow activists are willing to turn on one of their own?
"When Musulmans are outraged by the Islam-insulting video we denigrate them for their inability to accept that pinnacle of civilisation – freedom of speech. When someone says something insulting (or unflatteringly true) about Jews, that sacred freedom of speech gets tossed out of the window.
Go figure."
Eva, you are also on a roll these days.
And they'll probably use those subs to prevent Lebanon from access to its own gas reserves:
Lebanon ready to drill for offshore gas: minister
(AFP) – Sep 24, 2012
BEIRUT — Lebanon is technically ready to start drilling for offshore natural gas reserves, its energy minister said on Monday, after exploration in around half the country's exclusive economic zone was completed.
"Lebanon has now reached the stage where it can start drilling for gas," Gebran Bassil told journalists on a tour to an area in the south of the country where reserves are disputed with Israel and Cyprus.
The country "is technically ready to start issuing permits to enable extraction," he said.
Two companies working with the Lebanese authorities that specialise in three-dimensional exploration have already surveyed around half the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), said Bassil.
They found a large number of gas reservoirs all along the coast.
The area off the southern coast alone contains 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which if extracted "could be enough to cover Lebanon's electricity production needs for 99 years," the minister said.
The country suffers systematic power cuts, because of corruption and damage to old plants caused by the 1975-1990 civil war.
Gas and oil could also help pay off some of its accumulated debt.
In August 2011, parliament passed a law setting the country's maritime boundary and EEZ, in which it has special rights to explore and exploit natural resources.
Lebanon has been slow to exploit its maritime resources compared with other eastern Mediterranean countries. Israel, Cyprus and Turkey are all much more advanced in drilling for oil and gas.
The country has submitted to the United Nations a maritime map that conflicts significantly with one proposed by Israel.
The disputed zone consists of about 854 square kilometres (330 square miles), and suspected energy reserves there could generate billions of dollars.
Asked whether Israel, which has started exploring an area near the Lebanese border, might try and hinder any exploration by Lebanon, Bassil said it was unlikely.
"Our presence here today proves that there is no threat to our investments or our right to these resources," he said.
There are offshore gas reserves all along the coast, not only in the south, he said, noting drilling could start anywhere once demarcation issues with Cyprus are solved.
Meanwhile, the key obstacle before Lebanon starts issuing licences is internal. An administrative committee tasked by the government to develop oil and gas policy has yet to be set up, because of disputes over sectarian quotas.
My thoughts exactly. Put it up in the red states and the religious nuts will have to decide whether their messianic view of Israel out trumps their homophobia.
From the Onion
Netanyahu Feeling Like Trip To US To Start World War III Went Pretty Well
NEW YORK—Following his speech to the United Nations General Assembly this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that he is “pretty satisfied” with his trip to the U.S. to instigate World War III. “All in all, I think I accomplished my goal of pushing humanity toward the brink of complete and utter annihilation,” said Netanyahu, adding that his implicit calls for international military action against Iran, which would ultimately escalate the conflict to an Armageddon-level of death and destruction, went “fairly well.” “I think I did a good job laying the groundwork for a nuclear holocaust that will kill billions of people and eventually end the world as we know it. Sounded like everyone really liked it, too.” When reached for comment, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told reporters that he was “equally happy” with his own efforts to nudge the world slightly closer to a full-blown apocalypse.
Tough to compete with Ozzy's cartoon, but I like this one too:
Latuff
Wow, Ellen. What a beautiful response by Marcia Kannry and thank you for the link to the Dialogue Project.
While there is much I admire and respect about MJ Rosenbergy, he is still a Zionist and two-stater. From his article in Al Jazeera "Can Israel Survive?":
"There is nothing wrong about a Jewish city, just as there is nothing wrong (and plenty right) about a Jewish country (which the 20th century taught us is essential to Jewish life).
But that equation does not apply beyond the 1967 borders. The settlements and outposts in the West Bank - "legal" and "illegal" - are essential only to prevent Palestinians from having their own state and to make their lives as difficult as possible. The hundreds of checkpoints that divide one Arab town from another and not from Israel proper exist primarily to punish Palestinians. That is the prime purpose of the settlement enterprise. As for Jerusalem, which is now divided by walls of hate, it will only become one city when it is shared with the Palestinians.
That is why the two-state solution is critical."
There's also this from his September 12 blog post :
"Binyamin Netanyahu poses an existential threat to the Jewish state. Those who claim to care about Israel need to speak out. Will we really allow this rightist egomaniac to destroy a 2000 year old dream?"
For those of us who see Zionism as a colonial enterprise and form of nationalism based on religious and ethnic supremacy, both in concept and in practice, that 2000 year old "dream" is a nightmare. Ending the occupation and establishing the 67 line as Israel's border isn't going to change any of that. The only thing that will is establishing a State with equal rights for all its citizens, allowing the full right of return for all Palestinian refugees and reparations for those who choose not to return (basically implementing international law including the UN resolutions that have been on the books for 60+ years. )
The only two state solution I would support is if the West side of the green line becomes a binational State with equal rights for all and the East side of the line can become a Palestinian State for all those who are there lawfully under international law, refugees who wish to return and any of those who are there unlawfully that the Palestinian people decide may remain.
That's my "dream."
Hahaha Ah hud a lot ay fin wi' it tay. A body ay mah grandparents was scotch-irish, thocht ah dunnae kinn quite whit 'at means.
Congratulations tae earlham fur bds victory.
Mooser: "Oh, sorry, tokyobk, forgot the subject of your post. Yup, you are right, Judaism is just a little better than Christianity, but it’s a whole lot better than Islam, and we ought not to forget it!"
Mooser, you are a gem :).
I thought maybe Mondoweiss was paying Fredblogs to post. You couldn't ask for a more perfect set-up for the commentators here.
I say have him keep his IDF uniform on and send him across the border into South Lebanon. See how he does there ;)
"So what’s the point of being a Jew, then?
You struggle through Hebrew school, wash two sets of pots and pans, wear the funny hats, and then when you get to the next life, you find me there."
Roha, this is a priceless response to our Schmuel , whose patience appears to have no bounds. Thanks for the chuckle.
"The US does not have a unifying mythos; that is its tragic flaw."
So that's why I don't get all of Phil's angst related to being a member of the tribe. I'm mythos-less and don't have a tribe! I can only identify as being a human being. Hmmm. Allenbee, you might think that's a tragic flaw. I consider it a blessing.
@Avi_G Not everyone who reads and posts here shares Phil's beliefs and opinions. In fact, if we all had the exact same thoughts and beliefs, there'd be no need for anyone to ever write anything. You have a unique perspective and clear sense of morality that I appreciate and respect. I always look forward to reading your comments and find them very persuasive. I hope we continue to hear from you!
@proudzionist777
I've been on a time-wasting wild goose chase trying to track down Refaat Alareer's article on the death of Vittorio Arrigoni that you allege was "classic anti-Semitic blood libel". Needless to say my search ended up fruitless. I did find this: Gaza Mourns Vittorio Arrigoni , but I challenge you to point out even a hint of anti-Semitism in it. Go on, I'm waiting. Quotes please.
Or do you find it much easier to just drop by and make wild, unfounded, libelous accusations?
The email address for him at his radio show is show@SharptonTalk.net.
Actually, it's the M'naghten rule. My criminal law professor had a question on our final where the answer was the M'naghten rule and if spelled incorrectly you got it wrong :).
As always, fascinating conversation here today.
That claim about there being no Palestine has been refuted by maps and references to Palestine and Palestinians in ancient writings. See Maps TelltheTrue Story. The following is an excerpt of information provided by Nima Shirhazi:
Specific references to "Palestine" date back nearly five hundred years before "the time of Jesus." In the 5th Century BCE, Herodotus, the first historian in Western civilization, referenced "Palestine" numerous times in chronicle of the ancient world, The Histories, including the following passage describing "Syrians of Palestine":
"...they live in the coastal parts of Syria; and that region of Syria and all that lies between it and Egypt is called Palestine." (VII.89) The above translation by Harry Carter is featured in the 1958 Heritage Press edition of Herodotus' famous work. Both older and newer versions corroborate the accuracy of the reference. A. D. Godley's 1920 translation of the crucial line states, "This part of Syria as far as Egypt is all called Palestine", while Robin Waterfield's 1998 updated Oxford translationrenders the passage this way: "This part of Syria, all the way to the border with Egypt, is known as Palestine."
A hundred years later, in the mid-4th Century BCE, Aristotle made reference to the Dead Sea in his Meteorology. "Again if, as is fabled, there is a lake in Palestine, such that if you bind a man or beast and throw it in it floats and does not sink, this would bear out what we have said," he wrote. "They say that this lake is so bitter and salt that no fish live in it and that if you soak clothes in it and shake them it cleans them." (II.3)
Two hundred years later, in the mid-2nd Century BCE, ancient geographer Polemon wroteof a place "not far from Arabia in the part of Syria called Palestine," while Greek travel writer Pausanias wrote in his Description of Greece, "In front of the sanctuary grow palm-trees, the fruit of which, though not wholly edible like the dates of Palestine, yet are riper than those of Ionia." (9.19.8)
Despite the Zionists’ claim "the Romans didn't rename Judea as 'Palestina' until a hundred years after the death of Jesus," contemporaries of Jesus also routinely referred to Palestine as, well, Palestine. For instance, in the first decade of the 1st Century, the Roman poet Ovid mentioned Palestine in both his famed mythological poem Metamorphoses and his erotic elegy The Art of Love. He also wroteof "the waters of Palestine" in his calendrical poem Fasti. Around the same time, another Latin poet Tibullus wroteof "the crowded cities of Palestine" in a section "Messalla’s Triumph" in his poem Delia.
The noted Alexandrian Jewish philosopher Philo, writing around the 1stCentury CE, opined, "Also Syria in Palestine, which is occupied by no small part of the very populous nation of the Jews, is not unproductive of honourable virtue." (XII.75)
The Jewish historian Josephus (c.37-100 CE) was born and raised in Jerusalem, a military commander in Galilee during the First Jewish Revolt against the occupying Roman authority, acted as negotiator during the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE and later penned vital volumes of Levantine Jewish history. His The Jewish War, Antiquities of the Jews, and Against Apion all contain copious references to Palestine and Palestinians. Towards the end of Antiquities, Josephus writes, "I shall now, therefore, make an end here of my Antiquities; after the conclusion of which events, I began to write that account of the war; and these Antiquities contain what hath been delivered down to us from the original creation of man, until the twelfth year of the reign of Nero, as to what hath befallen the Jews, as well in Egypt as in Syria and in Palestine, and what we have suffered from the Assyrians and Babylonians, and what afflictions the Persians and Macedonians, and after them the Romans, have brought upon us; for I think I may say that I have composed this history with sufficient accuracy in all things." (XX.11.2)
I would characterize UFPJ as liberal Zionist, but that was never my experience with ANSWER.
The following is from Wikipedia's ANSWER page link
Alleged antisemitism and anti-Zionism
The Anti-Defamation League has accused ANSWER of supporting terrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah and Hamas.[16] According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency "Several anti-war protests in San Francisco organized by the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) featured imagery and slogans some considered anti-Semitic, including the burning of the Israeli flag, chants of support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Nazi-like arm salutes."[17] Similarly, the Stephen Roth Institute has noted "Anti-Israel and antisemitic content has marked some ANSWER events."[18]
According to ANSWER, "We strongly abhor all forms of racism and bigotry, including anti-Semitism. At the same time, we don't believe that criticism of Israeli government policies should be labeled as anti-Semitism any more than criticism of U.S. government policy should be labeled as anti-American."[19]
The May-June 2003 issue of Tikkun magazine, a progressive magazine of Jewish interests, contained a special section entitled Authoritarianism and Anti-Semitism in the Anti-War Movement? According to Tikkun, "many Jews report that they were encountering what they perceived to be anti-Semitism at anti-war demonstrations organized by International A.N.S.W.E.R." Tikkun described the perceptions of anti-Semitism as based on Israel being singled out for criticism and ANSWER's failure to "acknowledge or support the right of the Jewish people to national self-determination."[20]
Fredblogs: "It wouldn’t be the first time Palestinian terrorists fired from right next to a school in hopes that the school would be damaged by return fire."
That's such crap that I don't even know where to begin. Why do the moderators allow this? Is this Mondoweiss or Pamela's Geller's blog?
I agree with Avi and wonder why the moderators even allow such b.s. to be posted. Whenever someone writes something like this, there should be an auto-reply function to redirect that person to the numerous FACTS that belie the claim.
Stating the obvious, both Naomi Klein and Phil are Jewish. Though not always a guarantee of entry, it goes a long way.
I did travel to Palestine in 2002 to work with the ISM. What's the crime in that, Fredblogs? We participated in a number of protests, including one that involved the art of painting flags on the apartheid wall in Qalqilya. What amazed me was how the Israelis could feel threatened by a small group of people completely contained within the 30 foot concrete wall that surrounds the entire village, armed with nothing more than a paint can and brush. Still we had guns pointed at us from the towers, tear gas and sound bombs shot at us and soldiers with automatic weapons darting among the trees next to the open space where we were gathered. That's the insanity of it all. An entirely peaceful endeavor is met with potentially lethal violence for no other reason than to terrorize the local population.
As far as the Israeli government denying that there's no official policy of denying ISM activists from entering Israel, that's not the way it works in practice and the Israeli government is not exactly known for its veracity. I've never tried to go back because one of the women who was there at the same time I was went back the following year. She ended up spending 3 weeks in detention fighting deportation, but then was sent back home.
As far an entering Israel, it's a nightmare if you try to enter at land borders as well. I entered Israel at the Taba/Eilat crossing and never would have gone at all if I'd known about the 7 hour grilling I would get. You would think a middle aged woman traveling alone to visit Christian holy sites is exactly the kind of tourist Israel would welcome but apparently not. I arrived in Taba at sunrise to an idyllic setting with the backdrop of the mountains rising above the Red Sea. I was so excited to be there. I entered the building, put my laptop and bag through the scanner and was immediately escorted to a small room by a young woman who told me to wait there. I remember telling her "It's so beautiful here." Then my nightmare began. I can still see the bleached blonde woman with powder blue eye shadow as she virtually screamed at me asking over and over again "Who told you to come here?!" "Where are you goink?" (not a typo). I kept repeating that I was going to Jerusalem and gave her the name of the hostel in the Old City where I would be staying but it didn't help. I was so frightened that my hands were shaking so "Why are you so nervous?" was added to her repertoire of questions. Maybe because she was screaming at me and apparently suggesting that I had been sent on some mission to do terrible things.
Then it was "Tal Moran" (the only person with a name tag in English), who took over the questioning and the "search". He gave me my laptop and told me to sign in. I'm a lawyer and had no idea what rights I had so I logged on. After searching through my laptop, he read every scrap of paper I had in my possession and unpacked and examined EVERYTHING in my suitcase.
Finally, it was the older and gentler "good cop" guy who questioned me in a more friendly tone but made some very racist comments along the way. He talked about settlers who had been killed by Palestinians "just because they were Jewish" and said "how are we supposed to live with such a people". I wanted to say, don't live with them. Go back to where you came from, but I sat there silently. He then made another racist comment about the Ethiopian Jew who worked as his assistant, inferring that she was inferior but better than having to work with the terrorist Palestinians. Even though the last guy was friendly, he's the one who really left a bad taste in my mouth. I had never before experienced such unapologetic racism.
I suppressed my urge to respond until finally after hours of asking me every detail about my life including parents, marriages, schooling, occupation, friends, children, travel habits etc. he asked me, "how do I know you're not here to help the Palestinians?" By that time I was exhausted and just wanted my passport back so I could return to Cairo. I looked at him and said "How can I help the Palestinians?"
As he walked me back to the little waiting area where I would sit for another 3 hours, I'd had enough and didn't care whether I was let into the country or not, I turned to him and asked "Is this what my tax dollars pay for?" Instead of getting angry he started making excuses about how it was all for Israel's security and said it wasn't really aid anyway because they had to use the money to buy weapons from American companies. Sure.
That was almost 10 years ago now but reading about Najwa's and Sasha's treatment brought back that awful ordeal. At least I did get a 10 day visitor's visa and had a wonderful time in Palestine.
Schmuel, you give me faith in humanity. Thank you.
Clinton destroyed a pharmaceutical company with a cruise missile in Sudan in 1998. Wiki article and also bombed Iraq in 1998. Operation Desert Fox
Disappointing to see MJ stumble. Perhaps his (forced ?) resignation from Media Matters has cowed him into towing the line.
Ha! The perfect response to the narcissim accusation (assuming the Chinese board game you were thinking of is "Go").
Thanks, Dickerson. I got a good laugh out of the link to Phil and Lady Weiss during the early years.
P.S. Typically, I find it difficult to read your posts with all the highlighting, bolding, capitalizing etc, but I'm glad I read this one all the way through to the P.S.
As much as I admire and respect Phil, this whole encounter just gives me the creeps. It's cult-like as Annie pointed out and I think after the second or (how good was the wine?) fifth or so drink was poured, I would have bolted out of there screaming you guys are insane! I don't understand how someone's identity becomes so completely shaped by ethnicity or religion (or maybe I should say religious leaders) or can be so influenced by peer pressure. I don't want to be part of any group that would shun me for advocating justice and human rights for all. That's why I come back to Mondoweiss nearly each and every day. The thoughtful people who post here represent the best of humanity.
As is typical, hasbarists are doing their best to discount and discredit Rick Steves' post in the comments sections of his blog. I hope he's not cowed into recanting.
Wow, that video packs punch. It was especially powerful when it juxtaposed Israel's murderous rampages with the US Congress standing ovations and cheering on Netanyahu.
Scott, I doubt you'll find much support for the two state solution here on Mondoweiss because even if there was a Palestinian State next to Israel, that doesn't resolve the problems of ethno-religious racism and discriminatory laws that affect non-Jews living in Israel.
I would go along with two states but only if it includes equal rights for all regardless of race, religion or gender and full right of return for all Palestinian refugees who choose to exercise that right and return to their homes and lands in Israel and the new Palestinian State.
The wonderful writers on this site make it nearly impossible for me to get my work done. Could you all just quit being so articulate, insightful and reasonable?
When I traveled through the West Bank in 2003, never was the racism as blatant and cruel as in Al Khalil (Hebron). I drank tea in the home of a man whose young child who had been scalded with something that left huge scars on his arms and legs. I couldn't believe that the violent settlers were allowed, no enabled, by Israeli soldiers to plant themselves smack dab in the middle of the Old City and essentially close it down.
I was with the ISM then and we met with the CPT at the technical uni that had been raided and looted by the IDF. The students had only recently returned to the school's grounds and our "job" was to act as human shields for the Palestinian student activists if the IDF returned. At the end of the day, the students decided it was too dangerous to stay on university grounds so we took our tour with them of the Old City. Small children were following us and would smile as we walked by and then throw pebbles at our backs. We walked along the pathway next to the settlement that had been covered with something like chicken coop wire to keep Palestinians walking below from being pelted with stones. That didn't stop the settlers from throwing things like urine, feces, and rotten food that could seep through the wire on the pathway. It was truly disgusting and if I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it. During the night, the IDF stormed a home and murdered one of the students.
The idea that now the settlers are being allowed (enabled!) to take over another Palestinian home to "settle" in is truly horrific. The trampling on human rights and genocide of the Palestinian people continues with the full support of Barack Obama and the US government.
Thanks, Annie. You can see I'm still on Twitter mode. 140 characters or less...
Ynet called this a riot and said students stormed the podium.
article
This is a riot?
video
First time posting so I don't know if I did the links right.