Henry Herskovitz: Max Blumenthal Shows His Stripes

 

Five members of Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends attended a panel presentation which showcased Ben White and Max Blumenthal, both signatories to an on-line document which attempts to marginalize and silence Gilad Atzmon. This document is entitled "Not Quite 'Ordinary Human Beings'—Anti-imperialism and the anti-humanist rhetoric of Gilad Atzmon", and prompted this writer to contact Gilad to ask him for a few questions of these gentlemen.
 
The student organization who hosted this event, SAFE (no acronym really necessary, because that's how they want to play this game), threw the usual curveball: no live questions from the audience, just write your questions on a card and we will screen them. So that meant my question -- Why will neither Mr. Blumenthal or Mr. White debate Gilad Atzmon? -- was given the deep six and never saw light of day.
 
Now, running concurrent with this event was the Michigan v. Kansas NCAA basketball game, shown one flight down from the SAFE event. After the final seconds of the game ticked away, Max came down and was interested in its outcome. I invited him to our weekly vigil at Beth Israel, a mere twelve hours away and was told he had an early morning flight. Asking what time the flight departed got no response. Then
 
Me: I was wondering why you signed that document against Gilad Atzmon
Max: Are you a supporter of Gilad Atzmon?
Me: Yes, I'm his friend
Max: Then I have nothing to say to you

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The Guardian: Songs of the Metropolis – review

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/mar/28/gilad-atzmon-songs-metropolis-review

(World Village)

By John Fordham

You might be fooled, by the playful waltz that opens this set's portrayal of Vienna, or by the solemnly marching chords introducing Moscow, into thinking that volatile reeds virtuoso Gilad Atzmon has grown tired of fighting battles and finally opted for the expected. But it's Atzmon, and he doesn't do expected – tensions, surprises, shocks and ambiguities are a lot more interesting. Concentrating on clarinet and soprano sax, and inviting equal participation from his three Orient House Ensemble partners, Atzmon draws the Paris romance toward more dangerous emotions in a tumult of rising glissandos against Eddie Hick's fierce drumming, and takes the initially vivacious dance of Tel Aviv into mysterious spaces more reminiscent of Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter's In a Silent Way. Buenos Aires expresses a pulsating heat in which motifs wander as if in a haze, Scarborough Fair arrives late in the song devoted to the town, before the track unexpectedly turns into a Coltrane-quartet modal storm for the excellent Frank Harrison's McCoy Tyner-inspired piano. The playing is generally stronger than the writing – but since it's such high-class playing, that hardly matters.

Tribunal slams academic for bringing anti-Semitism case

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/tribunal-slams-academic-for-bringing-anti-semitism-case/2002841.article


TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION -- 27 MARCH 2013 | BY JACK GROVE

A Jewish academic who claimed the University and College Union’s policy on Palestine constituted harassment has been rebuked by an employment tribunal for misusing the legal process.

Ronnie Fraser, a further education lecturer and founding director of Academic Friends of Israel, argued that the UCU was institutionally anti-Semitic owing to motions passed in favour of a boycott of Israel.
Despite enlisting the services of Anthony Julius, best known as Diana, Princess of Wales’ divorce lawyer and a partner at Mishcon de Reya, all of his 10 claims of harassment have been “dismissed in their totality”.
During the 20-day hearing in December, Mr Fraser called several witnesses to give evidence, including Howard Jacobson, the Booker Prize winning novelist, John Mann MP, the former MP Denis MacShane and numerous leading Jewish academics.

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Lucid Culture: More Brilliant Cosmopolitan Tunesmithing From Gilad Atzmon

http://lucidculture.wordpress.com/tag/gilad-atzmon-orient-house-ensemble-review/

Israeli-British saxophonist/tunesmith/polymath Gilad Atzmon and his combo the Orient House Ensemble have an intriguing new album out, Songs of the Metropolis, a tribute to great cities around the world. Most of it is streaming at Atzmon’s album page. The band here is the same as on Atzmon’s excellent previous album: the bandleader on alto and soprano saxophones and accordion, along with Frank Harrison on piano, Yaron Stavi on bass and Eddie Hick on drums. As one would expect from an intellect as formidable as Atzmon, it’s no “look ma, I’m playing a tango now” type of genre-hopping; rather, it’s a series of impressions.

Paris, interestingly enough, gets a a staggered latin beat with quivery, bracingly microtonal soprano sax – and then Atzmon switches to accordion and lets the tune relax. Tel Aviv seems to have a split personality, a bounding, energetic groove and also an uneasy undercurrent that shifts from a Zorn/Sexmob cantorial theme to an unexpectedly neat, polyrhythmic reggae b-section. Don’t laugh: reggae is big in Tel Aviv!

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Arrest of Palestinian children in Hebron

Corbett Report: The Art of Resistance (Osaka, Japan)

An Evening With Gilad Atzmon, a short video by James Corbett
We spoke about Jewish power, Zionism, Palestine, the Lobby. Controlled opposition, history & concealment,  Being & Time and more. James was very sharp and presented me with some serious questions.  I hope to meet his again soon. The band was incredible: Eric Wiegmann on drums and Koichi  Hara on bass.

http://youtu.be/RYHMc94qZTs

I'm an Israeli Soldier (must watch)

Israel popular culture provides us with a perfect  insight  into Israeli collective morbidity. This is what Israeli consume culturally, this is how they interpret the meaning of their Jewish identity. This is the true reality of the Jewish state..

Songs of the Metropolis is out in Japan

http://tower.jp/item/

Occupation is Ugly

Deir Yassin Day 2013 commemoration

Deir Yassin Remembered

& the Palestinian Mission UK

invite you to join members of the Palestinian community and others for the

Deir Yassin Day 2013 commemoration

Directed by Justin Butcher and Ahmed Masoud

(Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea - London & Edinburgh 2009 & Escape from Gaza - BBC Radio 4 2011)

and in the presence of Mr Abdallah Eid

Deir Yassin resident, April 9th, 1948

At St John’s Wood Church, Lord’s Roundabout NW8 7NE 

On Tuesday April 9th (Deir Yassin Day)

Reception: 7-8 p.m. Commemoration: 8-9 p.m.  

 

RSVP:

deiryassinremembered@hotmail.co.uk

www.deiryassinremembered.org

 بارك الله في الشعب الفلسطيني