Kamal Hassan on Freedom

Dear Gilad,
 
I am one Palestinian of many that DO NOT accept or endorse what Ali Abunimah has put forth. Although I have great respect for Ali and his devotion for Palestinians and Palestine, I believe that he has stepped over the boundaries of Peace Activism and Freedom Of Speech. You my brother have every right to state how you feel about Zionism/Jewishness etc. that is you feelings and opinion period, and for Ali to join in and get on the Zionist band wagon trying to destroy you is completely unacceptable to me as a free and peaceful human being. I believe that Palestinians such as Ali Abunimah are better served by concentrating on Educating the uninformed masses out there, seeking the real truth that is undermined by Israel's apologists and AIPAC/Zionists every step of the way. Ali Abunimah perhaps forgot the Arab saying "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" to say the least.
 
As for me as a Palestinian refugee/Peace Activist and a free thinker, I say to you, thank you for all you do on Palestinians behalf and Peace/Music...May the wind be at you back.
 
Kamal Hassan
Palestinian Refugee/Peace Activist.

Gilad Atzmon: Réponse à Ali Abunimah & Co. (French & Spanish)

http://www.tlaxcala-int.org/article.asp?reference=7021 (French)

http://www.tlaxcala-int.org/article.asp?reference=7018 (Spanish)

Gilad Azmon

Le fait qu’Ali Abunimah & Co. Se présentent comme des défenseurs d’un “seul État démocratique en Palestine” me laisse perplexe : quel genre de démocratie ont-ils exactement en tête ? Car en appelant à me “désavouer”, ils démontrent sans ambigüités qu’ils ne peuvent pas même tolérer la plus élémentaire critique culturelle, une critique qui est endossée et appréciée par quelques-uns des penseurs les plus respectés dans notre mouvement et au-delà.
 
De fait, je suis plutôt ravi des réactions indignées que suscitent mes idées. Je suppose que cela nous permet de cartographier le discours et ses frontières et signifie que ces frontières sont maintenant officielles. Mon dernier livre , The Wandering Who? Le…quoi? errant) ne fait pas seulement des vagues, il a aussi réussi à mettre d’accord Alan Dershowitz et Abe Foxman avec Ali Abunimah et Max Blumenthal. C’est plutôt encourageant : la paix est donc possible.
 
Mais j’ai une mauvaise nouvelle pour ceux qui voudraient me réduire au silence, qu’ils soient palestiniens ou juifs. Je n’ai aucune intention de baisser la garde ou de changer de cap. Je suis un musicien de jazz et quelqu’un qui pense en toute indépendance. Je suis fondamentalement un électron libre : je dis ce que je pense et je pense ce que je dis. La popularité de mes écrits parmi les Palestiniens, les militants de la solidarité et ceux qui cherchent la vérité est le résultat direct de mon approche sincère de cette thématique.
 
Que mes détracteurs le veuillent ou non, la force de mes arguments est fondée sur la transparence et la véracité de mes prémisses. Jusqu’à présent, aucun de mes adversaires n’a été en mesure de pointer la moindre contradiction dans mon argumentation ou dans les faits que j’expose. J’affirme par exemple que puisque Israël se définit lui-même comme l’État juif – avec ses tanks et ses avions ornés de symboles juifs -, il est de notre devoir de poser la question : qui sont les Juifs ? Qu’est-ce que le judaïsme ? Et qu’entend-on par judéité ?
 
Le fait que certains militants craignent et évitent de poser ces questions ne veut pas dire que tous les autres devraient adopter la même attitude lâche.

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Dissident Voice: A Call for the Disavowal of Splittism

http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/03/a-call-for-the-disavowal-of-splittism/

by Kim Petersen

When someone within the broad framework of social justice espouses views that are repugnant to others within a social justice movement, disavowal of such views is fair.¹ Attacking the holder of the repugnant views would be overstepping the lines of decency. Nevertheless, it is bizarre that mass murderers and war criminals are accorded much more respect than racists, homophobes, or misogynists. How else to explain why no social justice group has formally called for a disavowal of Barack Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize winner complicit in the killing of so many Afghanis, Iraqis, Iranians, Bahrainis, Egyptians, Yemenis, Syrians, Libyans, Palestinians, etc.? Yet when “a musician born in Israel” speaks out against occupation, oppression, and killing and denounces the groups behind the occupation, oppression, and killing, he is excoriated allegedly because of racism against the occupier-oppressor group.

A group led by a pro-Palestinian rights campaigner, Ali Abunimah put out a call for a disavowal of Gilad Atzmon, “a musician born in Israel and currently living in the United Kingdom, [who] has taken on the self-appointed task of defining for the Palestinian movement the nature of our struggle, and the philosophy underpinning it.”² [italics added]

Self-appointed? Please. Do humans need an appointment to oppose social injustices?

The anti-Atzmon signatories state they know best how to define the Palestinian movement the nature of the Palestinian struggle; that may very well be so, and that is something that is rightfully promoted by Palestinians in the struggle.

I have not read every word or heard every speech by Atzmon, but I never came to a conclusion that he was defining anything for Palestinians. Atzmon has been focused on the occupiers, a group he stems from, and what makes them occupier-oppressors, and as a member of the group (he has since renounced allegiance with), and as a human being he has every right (indeed, it should be a duty of every human) to criticize the war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity perpetrated by another group.

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Faint Heartedness, Political Correctness, and Peculiar Timing: The Attacks on Gilad Atzmon

http://leftwing-christian.net

By Richard Edmondson

A group of prominent Palestinians who recently launched an attack on Gilad Atzmon seem to have made their required obeisance to Jewish sensibilities. Bravo for them. I must confess something, however: what good this will do for Palestine, or how it will ultimately help end the occupation, is totally beyond me. On the other hand, it does seem like an awfully nice gift for Israel, coming especially on the heels of the latest murderous rampage against Gaza. In this most recent paroxysm of Israeli violence, some 25 people died, including children. Why publish an attack against Atzmon at this particular time? Could it not have waited?

Atzmon is not only a longtime defender of Palestine, he has also emerged as one of the most powerful voices in anti-Zionist discourse. Why attack him at all, of course, but why especially now? As the most recent images of Gazans mourning their dead were flashing across the Internet, people throughout the world were getting worked up into a state of righteous anger. Even the mainstream media were forced to admit—something they rarely do—that the Israeli assault was not in “retaliation” for the firing of any missile or anything else any Palestinian had done. But then wham! Suddenly we get our “disavowal” manifesto. For this particular group of people to attempt to soil Atzmon with the “anti-Semite” label at this particular moment—well, let’s put it this way: Israel could hardly have asked for more.

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Nahida Izzat: Disavow with no mercy? Not in my name!

Introduction by Gilad Atzmon: I the following piece the Great Nahida Izzat explores the true meaning of the Judification of the Palestinian secular political discourse.

http://uprootedpalestinians.blogspot.com/2012/03/disavow-with-no-mercy-not-in-my-name.html

Finally, it appears that years of work, persuasion, temptation, pressure and coercion have yielded its fruits, with the publishing (made it into hyper Zionist hate-site Harry's Place) of the joined statement by Mr Ali Abunimah and a few others, in which they brazenly called upon Palestinians and their supporters to disavow Gilad Atzmon because of his alleged "anti-semitism".

Here, I cannot help but wonder, what does Ali Abunimah mean exactly when he invites people to disavow Atzmon?

Can this "disavowal" be understood as a modern secular-leftist substituted for the "good old" Judaic concept of Herem?

Are we not entitled to ask then, if that concept of "disavowal" is by any chance related to the Talmudic concept of excommunication, in which "the Talmud forbids coming within six feet of a person who has been excommunicated"?

Ali Abunimah opens his statement with the declaration: "Granting No Quarter", calling to deprive the accused of any mercy or forgiveness. Such daring harsh words which mean "not to allow someone any mercy" eerily resemble the sinister Kabbalistic invocation of Pulsa diNura, a "ceremony in which the angels of destruction are invoked to block heavenly forgiveness of the subject’s sins",

It appears, yet again, that some people are determined to thrust us back into the Dark-Ages. Not only do they exhibit severe intolerance towards those whom they disagree with, but also instead of defending their position and "refuting" such disagreeable ideas with logic, factual information and reason, they resort to fight them with unsubstantiated accusations.

Furthermore, they actively and shamelessly participate in barbaric rabbinic medieval type of behaviour, in which they call for the "disavowal" (modern-secular for excommunication) of those whom they perceive as "heretics" for daring to think outside the box or for being crazy enough to talk about taboos and cross the boundaries of "permissible" debate. Amazingly, even those who refuse to abide by such "rabbinical-style" orders are also sentenced for being guilty by association, so they get the excommunication treatment too!

I would like to remind Mr Ali Abunimah and the few individuals who signed his statement, that in our Islamic heritage, Arabic tradition and Palestinian culture that they claims to defend and protect, such concept of excommunication , Herem, Pulsa diNura, and exclusion from mercy and forgiveness, are non-existent.

I would like to remind them also that such foreign concept they are trying forcibly to shove down our throats and introduce to our culture under the pretext of "fighting racism", does not only stand in stark contradiction with the very core ethos of the culture they claim to be defending, but it reflects severe reasoning impotence as well as intellectual incompetence.

Indeed, our culture has suffered heavy blows under the repeated attacks of the past centuries, which caused some disorientation in its vision and practice in our era, however, facts remain;

In our inherited culture, we do not disavow, ostracize or excommunicate, we invite for debate

In our inherited culture, we do not burn books we disagree with, we refute with reason and facts.

In our culture, we do not forbid independent thinking, we encourage إجتهاد Ijtihad.

In our culture, we do not forbid deep critical thinking or unfamiliar creative ideas, we call it تفكر (thinking), تدبر (reflecting), تعقل (using the brain), تأمل (meditation).

In our culture, we do not say "grant no quarters", we say "ارحموا من في الارض يرحمكم من في السماء", have mercy on those on earth, the One in Heaven will have mercy on you.

In our culture we oppose double standard, we call it hypocrisy; one cannot pretend to oppose one type of racism (anti-Jewish racism) yet sneakingly participate in the concealment of Jewish anti-gentile racism by blocking information, aborting any debate about it and by silencing and shunning those who attempt to expose it.

To read more:

http://uprootedpalestinians.blogspot.com/2012/03/disavow-with-no-mercy-not-in-my-name.html

Gilad Atzmon’s New Book: The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

Noel Ignatiev: More on the Atzmon Controversy

Introduction by Gilad Atzmon: The Abunimah & Co's declaration also  sparked a big debate within the One Democratic State (ODS) movement. It seems as if  prominent Palestinians and intellectuals grasp that the declaration is inherently undemocratic, based on empty  accusations and divisive.  Noel Ignatiev published some of the comments.

 http://www.pmpress.org/content/article.php/20120316030526668

More on the Atzmon Controversy

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Washington Report - Engaging Gilad Atzmon

 
Engaging Gilad Atzmon

Israeli-born Gilad Atzmon, one of Europe’s finest jazz musicians, was in Washington, DC for the first time at the end of a multi-city North American grassroots tour to discuss his recently published and highly controversial book, The Wandering Who? A Study of Jewish Identity Politics.
On March 14, Atzmon was interviewed by Prof. Norton Mezvinsky, Connecticut State University Professor of History Emeritus, at Washington’s Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.
During the question-and-answer period following Professor Mezvinsky’s interview, noted Palestinian journalist Fouzi El-Asmar stood up to state his opposition to a letter circulated the previous day by Palestinian activists calling for “the disavowal of the racism and antisemitism of Gilad Atzmon.” El-Asmar, author of To Be an Arab in Israel, recalled that both he and his mother had been imprisoned in Israel for speaking out, and warned against treading down that same path.
The Washington Report believes that no writer or thinker should be shunned in the United States—or anywhere—and we stand by our decision to host his DC events.

The video of the entire event will be posted on the Washington Report’s Web site, www.wrmea.org, in the coming week.

Ali Baghdadi's (Arab Journal, Chicago) responds to Abunimah & Co

Palestinian "academists / activists" stand on the side of Israel and AIPAC. Willingly or unwillingly, they distort Gilad Atzmon work and thought. They don't seem to have ever listened to his lectures or read his book, "The Wandering Who?" Their vicious attack will not silence or convince this wonderful man to abandon his staunch and effective support of the Palestinian cause. The great musician, a former Israeli Jew, is a humanist and a Palestinian at heart. I am ashamed as a Palestinian. I am greatly honored to have him as a friend.
Ali Baghdadi
(Arab Journal, Chicago)

Debbie Menon: Abunimah Boycotting and Censoring Gilad Atzmon ?

Antisemitic who ?

Who or what could have prompted Ali-Abuminah to write such a counter-productive diatribe against the beneficial works of Atzmon ?

Palestinians boycotting and in effect censoring a hard-hitting, courageous fellow traveler is a disgraceful act and poor strategy. It has come as a rude shock to many of us genuine campaigners for Palestine.

I’m pretty sure Mr. Abunimah didn't read Atzmon’s book.

Does he not know that Atzmon's book has been clearly blessed, endorsed and reviewed by illustrious authors and researchers, and alternative media stalwarts, long time ‘Friends of Palestine’ the likes of  Messrs. John Mearsheimer, James Petras, William A Cook, Jeff Gates, Paul Balles, Alan Hart, Kim Petersen , Richard Falk, and scores of others as no other book ?

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Rich Siegel : Permission to examine “Jewishness”

http://www.deliberation.info/

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In-fighting is characteristic of progressive movements.  On the right things are much easier.  They want a “survival-of-the-fittest” society, small government, low taxes, no safety- net, no brown-skinned people crossing our borders,  the right to unlimited profits un-hampered by any oversight or regulations, the right to claim foreign natural resources and to take advantage of cheap foreign labor, and when foreign leaders are not easily subjugated, the right to wage war in the name of “freedom” and “liberty” and “democracy” while waving the flag.   The program is quite simple and so agreement is easily found.

Problems occur when someone like Sarah Palin is put in a position of high visibility, and has to be coached on information she should have learned in high school, or when they have to decide whether Mormon candidate Mitt Romney qualifies as Christian.  But issues like these are relatively manageable, and all they need is a common adversary to embrace unity over their minute differences.   For example it’s easy for them to agree that Obama is a Socialist, even though he more closely resembles a Reagan Republican, because he’s a member of the Democratic Party and they want to beat him.

On the left, however, where activists become active because they actually care about humanity and the planet; care about universal values of peace, justice, human rights, environmental sustainability, and the like, all hell breaks loose on a regular basis.  This is because there are many varied perceptions as to what qualifies as fair, just, and balanced, and many varied opinions as to  how to achieve these things.  It often seems that shades of meaning have monumental ramifications, and degrees to the left, in increments, often translate to irreconcilable differences.

I played a concert with saxophonist/author Gilad Atzmon in Geneva, New York last night, a benefit for the Deir Yassin Remembered scholarship fund.  (Put into perspective, two Jews playing a concert, unpaid, to raised money to send Palestinian kids to college.)   This morning we happened to meet before breakfast in the hallway of our motel.  He said,  “I have to show you something.  You won’t believe this.”  We entered his room, he opened his lap-top, and set his browser on a link to a sort of a treatise, a declaration, prepared by Ali Abunimah and signed by various activists, entitled “Palestinian Writers, Activists, Disavow Racism and Anti-Semitism of Gilad Atzmon”.   What has Gilad Atzmon done to inspire this very extreme action?  He has examined, and written about, the issue of “Jewishness”, about HIS “Jewishness”, and about mine.

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