Dershowitz is correct (new video)

By Gilad Atzmon

Dershowitz is correct - CNN and The New York Times are not the problem. As Dershowitz says, “we (the Jews, I guess) can handle that.” The real problem, according to Dershowitz is Gilad Atzmon. Unlike the CNN and The NY Times, that can be easily pressured by the lobby, I am indeed fascinated by truth seeking, peace and justice. 

I guess that by the time ethnic cleansing advocate Dershowitz stops lying about my book and its content, he may grasp why leading humanists are siding with me rather than him. 

For the time being, we are left with Dershowitz’ acknowledgment that I am  Israel’s biggest Problem.  I believe that considering myself being a Jazz artist,  this is slightly over the top. However, I guess that this statement alone may sell a few more copies of The Wandering Who.

 The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics

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

“Israel’s Most Dangerous Enemies”

By Gilad Atzmon

For a while I have been worrying that my most devoted and enthusiastic American campaigner is ill or even just gave up on me. But it seems that Alan Dershowitz is alive and kicking. Yesterday he admitted that together with Ilan Pappe and Neve Gordon, I am amongst the most dangerous enemies of Israel.

Isracampus reported yesterday that notorious ethnic cleansing advocate Dershowitz suggested that “some of the worst enemies of Israel are themselves Israelis.” He referred to Neve Gordon, Ilan Pappe and Gilad Atzmon. “In spite of the fact that the last two have emigrated from Israel, Dershowitz says that these three, and people like them, are people who wrap themselves in the Israeli flag only for the purpose of burning it. The only time these people claim to be Israelis at all is when they wish to wave this as a certificate to legitimize their own malicious and unreasonable attacks against Israel."

Again Dershowitz is lying. I do not intend to talk on behalf of Pappe or Gordon but for myself, I have never wrapped myself with an Israeli flag. A long time ago I stripped myself of both Jewish and Israeli identities. Unlike book burner Dershowitz, I am not interested in setting fires but always enthusiastic for truth, justice and peace, I am certainly searching for light.  

Click to read more ...

Why I Won’t Be At The Protest Today

by Laura Stuart

Today there is a protest in London in support of the Palestinian Hunger Strikers, but I won’t be there. Not because I not totally against administrative detention and against the occupation, clearly administrative detention and occupation are morally wrong.

But I have come to the conclusion that such actions as protesting outside the Israeli embassy or Downing Street have zero value, of course it’s always nice to see my friends and fellow activists but I keep asking myself – what does this really achieve? I go home after such a protest happy to have seen my friends but

thinking so what really happened there? We waved a few banners and shouted a few chants but in reality nothing – absolutely nothing changed.  More than 60 years of protests and of petitions have not changed anything on the ground for the Palestinian people.

As a Muslim I am convinced that the situation in the Middle East will change only when the Muslims and particularly the Arabs decide they want to take action. When the Arabs and Muslims reach this point then as we have seen with the Arab Spring even the most vile and oppressive leaders and regimes can be toppled.

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Palestinian Christians Respond to Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren

Thomas L. Are: The Spear Head of Justice

The Spear Head of Justice

http://www.thomas-l-are.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/spear-head-of-justice.html

Gilad Atzmon writes:

The lack of capacity to reflect upon oneself from the futuristic perspective, explains the Israeli collective complicity in some of their horrendous war crimes. This should be enough to explain why the Israelis sliced up the Holy Land with separation walls and barbed wires. It explains why Israelis drop White Phosphorous on their next door neighbors as they seek shelter in a UN shelter. It also explains why Israeli Navy Seal commandos ended up executing peace activist on the Mavi Marmara on the high seas. It also explains why newly-born Israel was quick to expel the vast majority of the Palestinian indigenous population just three years after the liberation of Auschwitz… People who defy history never look in the mirror.[1]

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Shylock in Yiddish

Amidst the  controversy concerning Israeli Habima Theatre  participation in  Shakespeare's Festival at the  Globe, London, I found an old treatment of Shylock in Yiddish.  It is slightly 'antisemitic' and even tasteless  but also pretty funny....Maybe we do not need Habima after all..

A comment on BDS and Ashtar Theatre from Ramallah

By Gilad Atzmon

In recent weeks we have seen a massive BDS campaign against Israeli Habima Theatre’s participation in the Shakespeare's Festival at the Shakespeare's Globe, London.

For days British intellectuals and celebrities argued whether it is morally ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ to invite the Israeli national Theatre to Britain. The outcome was obvious and predictable.  Habima’s London shows sold out within hours. As it happens, the futile BDS  campaign, provided Habima with the necessary public attention. At the end of the day, every reasonable thinking being would be happy to spare a few pounds and watch how the Israelis and Jews deal with The Merchant of Venice.

However, I have also learned tonight that Ashtar Theatre from Ramallah is also participating in the same London festival. Ashtar will perform Richard II but, for some reason, no one really knows anything about it.  Pro- Palestinian BDS activists, so enthusiastic to ban the Israeli theatre company, did nothing to promote or support the Palestinian theatre. Consequently, Ashtar Theatre hardly sold any tickets for its London shows.

I guess that time is ripe to challenge BDS strategy. As much as I support BDS in principle, I am puzzled by the fact that a UK pro-Palestinian organization went out of its way to boycott an Israeli act -yet it did nothing to promote or help a Palestinian company visiting this country for the first time. 

As an artist I find it stupid. Painful and even perhaps, sinister.

To read more about the the Globe Theatre BDS Scandal visit http://www.deliberation.info

Richard II at the Globe

Palestinian Shakespeare at the Globe.

1. Friday afternoon  4th May (2pm)
2. Saturday night 5th May  (7pm)

Ticket and directions to the Globe Theatre London.

Ashtar Theatre from Ramallah @ The Shakespeare's Globe

Ashtar Theatre from Ramallah production of Shakespeare's political play Richard II about dictators, regime fall and love.  Rave reviews and sell out performances in Palestine - now coming to London for two performances at The Shakespeare's Globe  http://www.facebook.com/Richard2Ashtar

"the production probes the psyche of rulers doomed by the Arab Spring"

"Are you contented to resign the crown?" ..."Yes, no. No, yes," Richard stutters, igniting a roar of laughter from the audience too familiar with similar jibes aimed at Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Yemen's Ali Abdullah Saleh

Richard 2nd at the Shakespeare's Globe theatre

Friday afternoon  4th May (2pm) 

Saturday night 5th May  7pm

tickets & directions:   http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/your-visit/how-to-find-us

"We were amazed how deeply the play delves into the psychology of people and this moment in history," said actress and producer Iman Aoun.

"It's as if people and politicians don't learn. ...and it makes us realise how much the play resembles the present," she said.

The Shekel May Never Drop

By Gilad Atzmon

http://www.deliberation.info/

Ynet reported todaythat the European Jewish Congress fears that  Israel strike on Iranian nuclear facilities will lead to “dramatic increase of anti-Semitic, very violent attacks against Jews”

For a very short while I was cheered by what seemed to be a ‘Jewish institutional move’ in the right direction. I thought to myself, that at last, a Jewish leadership positions itself at the forefront of the battle for peace and reconciliation. Finally, we will see a Jewish political call against an Israeli preemptive attack against Iran. The shekel has dropped, I thought to myself. But I was obviously wrong, in fact totally wrong. The shekel may never drop. As it seems the European Jewish Congress is concerned with one thing i.e. Jewish ‘potential’ suffering and, of course, the ‘rise of antisemitism’.

Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said he feared a “minority of angry, extremist European Muslims who live in impoverished neighborhoods might use an Israeli attack as a pretext to hit local Jews, particularly in France and Great Britain.”

Seemingly Kantor wasn’t concerned at all with the possibility of losing millions of innocent lives in the region. He wasn’t even concerned with the possibility that an Israeli attack could easily escalate into a regional nuclear conflict that may radioactively contaminate the entire region and some large parts of Europe.

Moshe Kantor, the president of the European Jewish Congress, an umbrella organization that claims to represent some 2.5 million Jews in Europe, is concerned with Jews only.

“If Israel attacks Iran, it will be a dramatic increase of anti-Semitic, very violent attacks against Jews,” he said.

­

Seemingly, there is no limit to Judeo-centrism, yet, I believe that Jewish leaders would do themselves and their communities a big favour if they, at least, make an effort to disguise their apparent lack of universal empathic consciousness and total carelessness for the rest of humanity.

GIlAD AND ALL THAT JAZZ Won The Best Documentary Feature Award

A film featuring Tony Greenstein, David Aaronovitch and myself  won the best documentary feature award at the Logan Film Festival 2012.

http://www.loganfilmfestival.com/

Watch trailer:

GILAD AND ALL THAT JAZZ OFFICIAL TRAILER from David Alamouti on Vimeo.