An open letter to Ali Abunimah & Co

In the spirit of the ‘Jews only’ tradition inherent to Zionism, Israel and even the Jewish left, a bunch of Palestinian prominent activists last night signed a ‘Palestinian only’ declaration of both the necessary and the obvious.

An open letter to Ali Abunimah & Co

Your recent Palestinian declaration stands firmly against racism and bigotry – well done!

Considering my relentless efforts against Jewish racism, and bearing in mind the fact that both my parents hold British Mandate Palestinian birth certificates and that I define myself as a ‘Hebrew-Speaking Palestinian’, I ask that you add me to your ‘Palestinian-only’ list.

Such a move can only serve to demonstrate that, unlike ‘Jews Only’ organisations, you really are pluralist, diverse, inclusive and genuine in your anti-racist call.

Sincerely Yours

Gilad Atzmon

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics, Jewish political interest and Jewish hegemony within the Palestinian Solidarity Movement...

The book can be  ordered  on Amazon.com  or Amazon.co.uk

Gilad Atzmon @ BBC World Services' Weekend Radio Show Earlier Today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4eSH2tq67w

To listen to the entire program: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00yxrs8

Screening of  Gilad & All That Jazz + Q&A tomorrow at the Frontline Club, London

http://www.frontlineclub.com/

Watch Trailer:https://vimeo.com/24659402

Gilad and all that Jazz [TRAILER] from David Alamouti on Vimeo.

 

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics and  Jewish political interests..

The book can be  ordered  on Amazon.com  or Amazon.co.uk

Hezbollah says it sent drone over Israel

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah claimed responsibility Thursday for launching an Iranian-made drone aircraft into Israeli airspace earlier this week.

Sheik Nasrallah warned that it would not be the last such operation by his Lebanese militant group.

Israeli warplanes shot down the unmanned plane, but the infiltration marked a rare breach of Israel's tightly guarded airspace.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a brutal month long war in mid-2006. Hundreds of people were killed, and Hezbollah fired several thousand rockets and missiles into Israel before the conflict ended in a stalemate.

Israel routinely sends F-16 fighter planes over Lebanon, in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 war. The Israeli planes have often broken the sound barrier over Beirut and other places as a show of strength, most recently after the drone incident.

"This statement today is a claim of responsibility by the Islamic resistance for this qualitative operation" of dispatching the drone, Nasrallah said in a televised address late Thursday.

Click to read more ...

Wagner and Me

Yesterday I came across this hilarious JC's "news item"

http://www.thejc.com

Rogue note at Klezmer bash

September 21, 2012

Regent’s Park annual klezmer celebration had the crowds rocking to the sounds of the shtetl.

But one visitor could not believe his ears when he heard a presenter announce a piece of music this year by Gilad Atzmon. The notorious Israeli jazz musician and self-styled “self-hating” Jew did not actually perform at Klezmer in the Park: one of his tracks was broadcast between live acts.

After a complaint, a spokesman for the event’s organisers, the Jewish Music Institute, said they had not been aware of Atzmon’s views but “I’m sure we would not have played it if we had.”

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics, Jewish political interest,  the Jewish  and the fear of music...

The book can be  ordered  on Amazon.com  or Amazon.co.uk

Free Gaza's New Board - We support justice in Palestine not demonizing each other

http://www.freegaza.org/

In the past few days, Free Gaza and Greta Berlin have been viciously attacked for a mistake that Greta made when she posted a video to her Facebook page instead of sending it to her small group for discussion. During that time, dozens of people have come to the defense of Greta and Free Gaza.

We, the new board of Free Gaza II would like to add our comments and support for Greta’s work and for the ongoing work we need to do to keep the illegal blockade of Gaza front and center. For, after all, our work has always been about freedom and justice for the Palestinians

It’s time we got back to work and stopped battering one of the leaders of the non-violent direct action Palestinian solidarity movement.

Statements from the new board of Free Gaza II

I have known Greta Berlin  and have worked with Free Gaza for several years.  In neither word or action have either Greta or members of the Free Gaza movement been anti-semitic.  They challenge Israeli policies, but that is not anti-semitic.

Col Ann Wright, Board Member

Lately our friend and colleague, Greta Berlin, has been attacked for mistakingly posting an anti-Semitic video to the FG twitter feed. Greta apologized for this mistake, and said that she doesn't agree with the material that was posted. In the meantime, many groups and individuals have continued their attack on her without considering her apology.

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Gangnam Style Hitler Ver.1

GANGNAM STYLE (강남스타일) - Jewish style

Ramzy Baroud's message on Facebook re Greta Berlin

GA: Bless Ramzy for standing for truth and justice.

Greta Berlin, our support and total solidarity with your noble efforts will not cease, but double. Thank you for all you have done for justice in Palestine. For the numerous hours you spent brainstorming ways to break the siege on Gaza, to dodge the Israeli navy, to act upon your beliefs in ways that some of us can only tweet about. You are an indefatigable warrior. I am sorry about the misguided attacks on you and your integrity. Please don't stop. Your courage will continue to inspire us. Much Love. Ramzy Baroud

Jeffrey Blankfort to Ali Abunimah (must read)

I know you have great ambitions, Ali, but Abe Foxman does not plan to retire yet although you do give a very good imitation of him as grand inquisitor. Perhaps, he will hire you as the ADL's expert on "anti-Semitism" in the solidarity movement since at the moment you seem to be doing the job for free. After reading what you have written about Greta Berlin, one of the leading activists in the struggle for justice in Palestine and the Free Gaza Movement, in particular, you obviously did not learn any lesson from your earlier scurrilous denunciation of Gilad Atzmon.

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Gaza’s Ark Statement regarding Greta Berlin and the Free Gaza Tweet

http://www.gazaark.org/2012/10/05/gazas-ark-statement-regarding-the-free-gaza-tweet/

______________________________________________________________________________

An unfortunate mistake resulted in a message – perceived as antisemitic rhetoric – being sent on Free Gaza’s official Twitter feed.  The sender of the message was Greta Berlin, co-founder and board member of Free Gaza.

It was later revealed that the message being tweeted was taken out of context.  It was a personal Facebook message intended for a private discussion among a group of people exchanging about propaganda and racism.  Greta’s Facebook account was linked to the Free Gaza Twitter feed which resulted in the message being tweeted unintentionally and, more importantly, out of context.

Gaza’s Ark is disturbed by this mistake that should not have happened and believes that measures should be taken so such a mistake would never be repeated.

This said, we are satisfied by Greta’s apology and explanation.  We have known Greta for many years, we have never witnessed any sign of racism or antisemitism in her work and we appreciate her many contributions in the struggle for justice and human rights. These contributions and years of work cannot be wiped out because of such an incident.

Meanwhile we are dismayed by the way some media took the issue out of context, ignored Greta’s explanation and tried to smear her and any group she is or was affiliated with, unjustly.

We assert that we denounce in the strongest terms all forms of antisemitism, racism and/or hate mongering. It is our raison d’être as a movement to stand firmly against such ills that are the root cause behind most suffering on earth.

We urge all people of conscience to focus on the real issue at hand: ending the suffering and misery for all peoples and making the world a better, safer and more just place.

Gaza’s Ark Steering Committee

Relevant information:

Greta’s statement: http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/56-news/1369-statement-from-greta-berlin

Free Gaza’s statement: http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/56-news/1367-apology-regarding-tweet