Category Archives: American Jewish Community

Boston’s interfaith memorial deflection

Deconstructing the memorial service in Boston earlier this week. The cardinal had the good taste to speak Hebrew and not Arabic and forget that he had visited occupied Palestine when he visited Israel. The Muslim speaker had the good sense not to recall his arrest after 9/11. Why Palestine and Arabic is political, therefore divisive, and Israel and Hebrew is apolitical, therefore healing, has important ramifications for the cultural and political word we live in.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | Tagged | 25 Comments

Investigation of Brooklyn College BDS event conflates anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism

The City University of New York released a report quashing trumped-up accusations that Jewish and “pro-Israel” students were discriminated against at Brooklyn College’s BDS event in February. The report’s conclusions seem reasonable. But it also falls into the trap of collapsing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. The conflation of “Jewish” and “pro-Israel” needs to go.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, BDS, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | 2 Comments

Extremists & traitors

Noah Millman has an odd, and disturbing, post up on the American Conservative website titled “Extremists in the Family” which deals with the intra-Jewish conversation on Israel/Palestine.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine | 88 Comments

Exile and the Prophetic: Judith Butler’s Israel

Contemporary formations of Zionism cannot accomplish this task. Butler believes a Jew “cannot be a Zionist and struggle for a just end to colonial subjugation.” From here she is off and running. The question is to where?

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine, Israeli Government, Occupation | 8 Comments

Exile and the Prophetic: Judith Butler marks the end (and beginning) of the Jewish ethical tradition

Without exile and the prophetic there is no way to understand Judith Butler. She wouldn’t make sense without either, even to herself. Nonetheless, Butler’s vision of Jewishness without state violence is haunting. Once it was taken for granted. Today, it’s almost inconceivable.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine | 18 Comments

‘Constructive engagement’ didn’t work in South Africa, so why are liberal Zionists pushing it for Israel?

It is now commonly accepted that Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher’s “constructive engagement” police towards apartheid South Africa was wrong, both morally and strategically. Yet, these exact sentiments are now echoed in the liberal Zionist community with respect to even the most timid and selective application of BDS.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, BDS, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | 47 Comments

All that furor over Carter at Cardozo, and who shows up? Jews for Jimmy!

So much for Alan Dershowitz’s clout! The decision to honor former President Jimmy Carter by a law journal at Cardozo Law School set off a predictable furor. But in the end, the event with Carter went off without a hitch. There was no protest, and nobody blocked the door, as one graduate of the school threatened to do to prevent Carter from entering.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | 65 Comments

Who may resist (or, ‘Do you see any smokestacks?’)

For any active colonial enterprise, the answer is that no one may resist, not violently, not nonviolently—not in any way, because the business of a colonial power is to maintain itself as a colonial power. Israel is no different. Colonial powers do not acknowledge that there’s anything wrong with what they’re doing; indeed, they defend their actions as legal and just. Thus, it is the resistance that is the crime.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine, Occupation | 17 Comments

UC Riverside student government rescinds divestment measure aimed at Israeli occupation profiteers

The student government at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) rescinded a measure calling for divestment from companies linked to the Israeli military. Last night’s vote came nearly a month after the original pro-divestment measure overwhelmingly passed at UC Riverside. Opponents of divestment claimed they were kept in the dark and had little time to muster any opposition to the original bill.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, BDS, Israel Lobby, US Politics | 22 Comments

Kevin Coval’s ‘Schtick’ – A take-no-prisoners Jewish classic

Kevin Coval’s soon-to-be-released book, “Schtick” (Haymarket Books) is a collection of poems that takes aim and fires at the sensitive edge of every nerve ending in the American Jewish psyche. It’s a new take-no-prisoners Jewish classic.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | 7 Comments

NYC ‘Israeli Apartheid Week’ kicks off: Queer scholar Sarah Schulman advocates BDS at LGBT Center

For the first time in two years, a discussion focused on Israel took place at New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center. Last night, queer scholar and activist Sarah Schulman read from her recently released book, Israel/Palestine and the Queer International. Schulman spoke about her personal upbringing and relationship to Israel, her support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement and why Israeli “pinkwashing” to cover up human rights abuses was real.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, BDS, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | 5 Comments

Covering Hamas and Palestinian society: A response to Peter Beinart

A response to Peter Beinart’s Open Zion post “The Pro-Palestinian Left’s Hamas Blindspot.”

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, Israeli Government, Media, Occupation, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics | 206 Comments

Israeli drumbeat grows for Pollard’s release ahead of Obama visit

President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel later this month has led to a predictable torrent of calls to release the convicted spy Jonathan Pollard. The former intelligence analyst who renounced his U.S. citizenship has been imprisoned for 28 years with a life sentence for the crime of passing along information on Arab states, Pakistan and the Soviet Union to Israel. Figures ranging from Shimon Peres to Yair Lapid to Benjamin Netanyahu have vowed to press Obama on Pollard when the president comes to Israel. But the White House has not indicated any shift on Pollard’s case.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | 121 Comments

Chuck Hagel meets Ehud Barak (and wants to make sure the Israel lobby knows it)

Haaretz’s Barak Ravid reports on today’s meeting between Chuck Hagel and Ehud Barak. Looks like Israel doesn’t have to worry about the sequester.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics | 26 Comments

In pictures: Hundreds join ‘Expose AIPAC’ to protest AIPAC Policy Conference

Yesterday more than 200 people gathered to protest in front of the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington DC.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, BDS, Gaza, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, Israeli Government, Occupation, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics | 10 Comments

Advertising campaigns target AIPAC and US aid to Israel across Washington DC

VP-Bombs-Dioramacrop

Two separate advertising blitzes have welcomed the AIPAC conference to Washington, DC. One organized by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and Visualizing Palestine calls for end to U.S. aid to Israel while highlighting Israeli human rights abuses and the budget tradeoff for U.S. citizens. The second from Jewish Voice for Peace and Avaaz says AIPAC can’t claim to represent the American Jews and push a right-wing agenda not endorsed by the majority of the community.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, Occupation, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics | Tagged | 29 Comments

Israel lobby group gears up early to counter church divestment initiatives in 2014

A key Israel lobby group has already begun to organize against any potential divestment resolutions related to Israel that may come up at church assemblies, which won’t take place until 2014. From February 26-27, the Jewish Community Relations Council held an invitation-only anti-divestment conference in Burlingame, California. The JCRC event is an indication of how important countering the BDS movement is to Israel lobby groups. Above, Jewish & Christian advocates for divestment from the Israeli occupation at the Methodist General Conference, April, 2012.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, BDS, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | Tagged | 8 Comments

A Voice and Presence Passes: Remembering Stéphane Hessel (1917-2013)

Jeff Halper remembers Stéphane Hessel (1917-2013).

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine | 2 Comments

A pogrom in Qusra

Yesh Din, human rights organization, can document “ten separate and serious incidents in which Israeli civilians have attacked Palestinians” in occupied West Bank over last week

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, Israeli Government, Nakba, Neocons, Occupation, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics | Tagged | 73 Comments

‘We’ll take over the Likud, we’ll take over the country’: Far-right Israeli MK Moshe Feiglin honored in New York City

Moshe Feiglin was the star last night in Queens, New York. The far-right Israeli activist, West Bank settler and newly minted Member of Knesset spoke to about 100 of his most ardent supporters in Fresh Meadows’ Chateau Steakhouse to raise money for his Manhigut Yehudit movement. The dinner honored a politician who advocates for paying Palestinians to leave the occupied territories as well as establishing exclusive Jewish control over the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Above, Feiglin (center) speaks with a supporter at last night’s dinner.

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine, Settlers/Colonists, US Politics | Tagged | 68 Comments

Dov Hikind dons blackface for Purim party (Updated)

Notorious anti-Arab racist and Jewish Defense League alumnus Assemblyman Dov Hikind is now making headlines for attending his family Purim party in blackface.

Posted in American Jewish Community, US Politics | Tagged | 37 Comments

Gay porn mogul unveils pinkwashing documentary

Michael Lucas, gay porn mogul and anti-Muslim advocate crosses into the mainstream with Israel Undressed: Gay Men in the Promised Land, a pinkwashing documentary.

Posted in Activism, American Jewish Community, Israel/Palestine, Media, US Politics | 115 Comments

Why is Birthright organizing skateboarding and hip hopping-themed trips to Israel?

Birthright is venturing into new territory, launching skateboarding and hip hop-themed trips to Israel. What does this say about the values of the organized Jewish community and the way that it interprets the State of Israel?

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine | Tagged | 11 Comments

How the JCRC inspired New York officials to fight BDS

When New York public officials criticized Brooklyn College for hosting a BDS event with Judith Butler and Omar Barghouti, it wasn’t the first time local politicians had mobilized against pro-Palestinian activism. Under the guidance of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York elected officials have rallied against boycott, supported censoring speakers critical of Israel and even met with settler leaders. Although JCRC may not have led the fight at Brooklyn College, its influence in city politics is clear to see. Above, New York City Council members pose with JCRC-NY Vice President and CEO Michael Miller and Israeli Minister of Information and Diaspora (and settler) Yuli Edelstein.

Posted in American Jewish Community, BDS, Israel/Palestine, US Politics | Tagged | 18 Comments

Hagel vote set for today as opposition flounders

Carl Levin has scheduled a public discussion and vote on the Hagel nomination today at 2:30 pm. And Breitbart News, in desperation, claims that a Hagel company got funding from “Friends of Hamas.”

Posted in American Jewish Community, Israel Lobby, Israel/Palestine, Media, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics | 58 Comments