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• From 'Save Darfur' to expel Darfur: a Zionist flip-flop on Sudanese refugees
  • Michael550 June 21, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    How courageous. They condemned highly violent riots, probably after loads of media inquiries. Many in the Israeli Government did the same, just before announcing that they would begin arrests and deportations. Again, most of these condemnations have amounted to nothing more than PR releases. ADL only condemned the violent riots, and then reaffirmed Israel's need to deal with the situation. AJC only condemned those who "take matters into their own hands and use intimidation and violence" and then actually praised Natanyahu, even after he announced that he would begin deportations. At least the JCPA made mention of dealing properly with refugees who cannot return, but made no condemnation of harsh government policies.

    As an example, it really doesn't amount to much for Americans to condemn violent attacks on Mexican immigrants - it would be expected. But to then condemn deportations and government policies actually means something. I think Jewish organizations should push for some sort of solution that would allow African migrants and refugees to gain citizenship and settle down, just as they would do if these migrants were Jewish.

    But, oh wait... yeah, then we come to that conflict again between humanitarianism and Zionism.

  • Michael550 June 21, 2012 at 3:27 pm with 2 replies

    Well, I certainly was not attempting to make a generalization of every single Jewish organization in America. It shouldn't come with amazement that an organization like HIAS would condemn the anti-immigrant fervor. It should be expected, given that they're an organization founded to aid immigrants & refugees. Thank God there are some Zionists out there that put their care for humanity above their dogmatism for Israel.

    But by and large, the Jewish voices genuinely shouting in opposition to the rise in xenophobia are a small fringe - primarily leftist Zionist organizations and immigrant rights organizations. The majority of others who have responded have done little more than offer a few nice sounding sound-bites in what rings more like a press release than a true heart-felt condemnation.

    I do not think that you can deny the fact that it is a non-issue in most Jewish communities right now. It should be a major issue - just as Darfur was. I sure did hear the fact that Israel takes in Darfurian refugees paraded around as an espousal of Israeli tolerance a few years ago... and then most of those voices have fallen silent about Israeli intolerance striking back.

    But I'm glad that I'm not the only one making the connection. While I recognize that there are many passive opponents to the xenophobia, I stand by my argument. There is no actual pressure coming from most mainstream Jewish organizations, and certainly not the wider Jewish community. There is not even an attempt at it- as there was against Sudan and China in 2007.

  • Michael550 June 21, 2012 at 9:58 am

    This presumption, which might be true, relies on conflating regular Jews & mainstream Jewish organizations with those high up at the institutional level who might exploit their good-intentions. In no way are the vast majority of those wanting to help Darfur in the Jewish community even making the connection between Sudan and their relationship to Israel. Unfortunately, this is the problem with lacking an understanding of politics and yet attempting at humanitarianism.

  • Michael550 June 19, 2012 at 8:19 pm with 1 replies

    I think it is worth being highly suspicious of the Save Darfur Coalition and their agenda. Having said that, the vast majority of those involved in the cause within the Jewish community are well-intended. I believe that my article stands true regardless of whether you trust the organization or not, because most of the Jewish community was driven by a want to halt what is believed to be a genocide.

    Darfur is not as simple of a conflict as many have painted it. Some allege that the US has an incentive to pressure Sudan & China (for allegedly supporting Sudan in the genocide) because China has supposedly bought much of Darfur's oil. Thus, many have encouraged a campaign to call upon China to step out of Darfur in order to pressure Sudan against genocide. Clearly their may be ulterior motives there. Other theories have been put forward as well.

    That being said, I do not think it negates from the fact that people are suffering in Darfur, hundreds of thousands have died, and millions have been made refugees. Yes, the situation is extremely complex and not so easy as to just label it genocide and not explore deeper than that; passing it off as Arabs killing Africans due to racism - as many have - is simply untrue. But it does not negate from the fact that, in my opinion, the Sudanese Government is highly oppressive. I certainly do not believe in intervention though.

    This article, however, is about Zionism and not about Darfur. I was using this case merely because it shows the clear hypocrisy of those who uncritically support Israel - that they support Darfurians when it seems to be against Khartoum, and not when it might go against their dogmatism.

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