Here is the latest message in our series, “What Mondoweiss Means To Me.” We are honored that leaders in the movement for justice in Israel/Palestine respect the site enough to offer these statements in order to help us raise $60,000 by December 31. Please read Omar Barghouti’s comments, and if you agree that quality news and analysis are essential, join him in giving. And please be sure to check out the messages from Steven Salaita, Rebecca Vilkomerson and Phil Weiss as well!
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Dear fellow Mondoweiss readers:
Every year, I contribute to Mondoweiss, and I’m writing now to urge you to do the same.
Here’s why.
Mondoweiss is a rare beacon of free speech and insightful analysis. But more than that, the site is a vital tool for raising awareness in the US about the struggle for Palestinian rights. And given the central role that the US establishment plays in enabling Israel’s regime of oppression against the Palestinian people, shifting US public opinion towards freedom, justice and equal rights for Palestinians, as well as for all oppressed communities around the world, becomes absolutely necessary.
Thanks to Mondoweiss and a few other media outlets that have presented viable alternatives to the mainstream media cover up of Israel’s occupation, colonization and apartheid, this shift in public opinion is happening faster and in a more sustainable way.
In every battle for human rights, one of the oppressor’s most powerful weapons is the ability to silence. To mute cries for justice; to blot out fair-minded analysis and even to cover over simple facts and information.
Few other oppressive regimes have mastered the propaganda machinery to the level that Israel has. It spends fortunes on hasbara—whitewashing its egregious violations of international law and Palestinian rights through a hegemonic cocktail of lies, fabrications and ample bullying and intimidation. But make no mistake, Israel, its lobby and its well-oiled spin machine know that every report, opinion and analysis published in Mondoweiss strikes a blow at their still-solid supremacy in the mainstream media.
This year, as always, I’m giving to Mondoweiss. Helping these professional, intelligent and committed journalists shed light on what South African international law expert John Dugard has called, the “litmus test for human rights” in today’s world—Palestine.
Please join me today in contributing to Mondoweiss—it’s well worth it.
Yours truly,
Omar Barghouti
Palestinian human rights activist and co-founder of the BDS movement for Palestinian rights
Few other oppressive regimes have mastered the propaganda machinery to the level that Israel has. –
Zionism is in large part bullshit.
All the way down to Israeli dance culture
http://tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/180342/seven-days-five-years
“The history of Israeli folk dancing is a reflection of how Israelis see themselves. It has its roots in the German Wandervogel, a pre-World War I youth group devoted to a back-to-nature philosophy. Gurit Kadman, born Gertrude Lowenstein, was an active member before joining the Blau Weiss, one of the earliest Zionist youth groups. In 1922, she moved to Palestine, and by the time of mass immigration in the 1940s she was creating what she deemed indigenous Israeli dance. The Jewish Women’s Encyclopedia notes that “all the while, Kadman invested much time and energy in the preservation and fostering of the dance traditions and festivities of the diverse ethnic groups in Israel, including the Arab sector and other minority groups.” It’s the Israel mono-myth brought to the movement of the body.”
Ancestral homeland my ass.
thank you for everything Omar, your leadership especially. you are a true inspiration. together we can free palestine.
“Few other oppressive regimes have mastered the propaganda machinery to the level that Israel has. ”
LOL. Classic Pallywood: building monsters that do not exist. Don’t sell yourself short, Omar. You’re quite good at propaganda; your movement has worked long and hard at it.
“a propagandistic one to cast Israel as the big Goliath and the Palestinians as the David”
Palestinians – Stateless and under military occupation for over 50 years
Israel – 4th largest military in the world, nuclear armed, supported unconditionally by the US
Can you honestly not see how ridiculous this makes you sound (and also annoying – you sound like a spoilt brat)
Omar “Few other oppressive regimes have mastered the propaganda machinery to the level that Israel has. It spends fortunes on hasbara—whitewashing its egregious violations of international law and Palestinian rights through a hegemonic cocktail of lies, fabrications and ample bullying and intimidation -”
Only recently have we witnessed more accurate reporting on main stream outlets about Israel’s crimes against Palestinians. In fact only this past summer. did we watch decades long silence or inaccurate coverage of this issue. Mondoweiss has been part of putting a crack in that wall of silence.