Norman Finkelstein - Political scientist - BBC HARDtalk, May 2012

Introduction by Gilad Atzmon:

According to Norman Finkelstein, American Jews fall out of love with Israel? In this BBC Hardtalk exchange he argues that they are now so unhappy with what Israel is doing that they want to distance them from the country.

But is Finkelstein telling the truth here? I think that he is dead wrong! Diaspora Jews are actually more attached to their tribal identity than ever.   For the time being, Israel is the one and only Jewish secular symbolic identifier (culturally, spiritually and nationally). Even the so-called Jewish ‘anti’ Zionists  identify collectively with Israel by the means of negation. Israel is at the heart of the Jewish collective universe. Most Jews feel strong affinity towards the 'Jewish State'  and just a very few claim to oppose it. 

I would argue that for Jews to move away from Israel or Zionism a new Jerusalem is needed, I don’t see it happening voluntarily.  

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics

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

Lauren Booth Reports from Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal

http://www.deliberation.info/

Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal Day 1

When authority entrusted to further truth and justice betrays that trust, two options remain: one is to throw up your hands in despair and resignation; the other is to reclaim that power and to hold authority accountable.

This is the statement of intent from the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War on the first day of its proceedings against former US President George Bush and 11 members of his regime. Over the next five days, the Tribunal will hear from victims of US torture in both Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.

On ‘trial’ in their absence are former U.S. President George W. Bush and his associates. Namely Richard (Dick) Cheney, former U.S. Vice President, Donald Rumsfeld, former Defence Secretary, Alberto Gonzales, then Counsel to President Bush, David Addington, then General Counsel to the Vice-President, William Haynes II, then General Counsel to Secretary of Defense, Jay Bybee, then Assistant Attorney General, and John Choon Yoo, former Deputy Assistant Attorney-General. The charge reads as follows:

The Accused persons had committed the Crime of Torture and War Crimes, in that: The Accused persons had wilfully participated in the formulation of executive orders and directives to exclude the applicability of all international conventions and laws, namely the Convention against Torture 1984, Geneva Convention III 1949, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter in relation to the war launched by the U.S. and others in Afghanistan (in 2001) and in Iraq (in March 2003); Additionally, and/or on the basis and in furtherance thereof, the Accused persons authorised, or connived in, the commission of acts of torture and cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment against victims in violation of international law, treaties and conventions including the Convention against Torture 1984 and the Geneva Conventions, including Geneva Convention III 1949.

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King and Cohen, are they funny?

Once again, Sacha  Baron Cohen attempts to give anti Semitism a 'bad name'.

I didn't see the film yet, but the trailers are, as always, very  promising. For some reason Cohen’s films somehow always fall far behind expectations. 

However, this short video is probably more revealing. I think that we better expect another vulgar Judeo centric racist cinematic exercise. But we better keep our mind open.  

Omar Barghouti – on “White People”

http://www.deliberation.info/omar-barghouti-on-white-people/

Short Introduction by Gilad Atzmon: As it seems Arab and Palestinian activists are not free of mistakes. In this short video Omar Barghouti, leader of the BDS movement, appears  to adhere to  some biological determinist generalisations. I believe that Barghouti didn't think it through and if he did, he better justify his position. I plan to write a paper about the Arab Left and ‘post colonial’ terminology.

Omar Barghouti – on “White People”

For some peculiar reason Omar Barghouti, BDS’s leading activist makes some biologically determinist remarks. He for instance declares that he won’t take a lecture from a “white person”. But Barghouti doesn’t stop there, he clearly makes a connection between ‘skin colour’, political stand and violence. It seems as if Barghouti is also aware of himself making a racist statement when he suggests that “the white race is the most violent in history of mankind.”

Barghouti’s embarrassing comment must raise a few questions. Is there a a new emerging conflict between Palestinians and White People or the ‘White race’? Why does Mr. Barghouti chose to employ racist, and biological determinist terminology? Clearly he could express the same idea by referring to Westerners culture, history or even Western expansionism...

to read more - http://www.deliberation.info/

Sarkozy won in Israel

Nicolas Sarkozy lost French presidential election runoff to socialist candidate François Hollande who won 51.9% of votes. In Israel however,  Sarkozy is a real winner. According to Ynet, 92.8% of French Jewish citizens living in Israel voted for Sarkozy. The man with the yarmulka (in the left) won the Jews' hearts but lost his own people.

Sarkozy may want to spend the next 2-3 days reading La Parabole d'Esther. Anatomie du Peuple Élu,  so he understands this discrepancy..

 

Video of Gilad Atzmon's 4tet @ Hideaway, London

it was an incredible gig in an incredible venue!!

Gilad Atzmon - alto sax

Frank Harrison -piano

Chris Hill - bass

Asaf Sirkis - dr

Video by Underyourskindvd

America's unrequited love for Israel Benzion Netanyahu’s Role in Crafting the “Strategic Asset” Myth

By Maidhc Ó Cathail

http://thepassionateattachment.com/

From the Cold War to the War on Terror, Israel and its partisans have stressed the Jewish state’s role as a strategic asset to the United States in the Middle East. A recent Haaretz article, however, provides further evidence that this claim is little more than a self-serving myth.

In the article titled “David Ben-Gurion’s diary invites a rethink of Benzion Netanyahu’s extreme Zionist image,” Israeli historian and journalist Tom Segev reveals that the current Israeli Prime Minister’s late father offered his propaganda services to Ben-Gurion’s government on at least two occasions. Writes Segev:

In 1956, Netanyahu proposed that Ben-Gurion employ him as a public diplomacy (hasbara) functionary, in the guise of a history professor, at one of the universities in America. He sought to work under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office, and tailor his activity to its policy.

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Israelis Are Running for Their Life (video)

They are tired of living in a war zone, they are exhausted of maintaining a tribal communal bunker, yet,  not even being able to find an affordable one bedroom flat in Tel Aviv. 

More about Jewish Identity politics...

The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics

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

The Dirty Truth About Israel (video)

Jacob Cohen: On The Wandering Who

"There are books that mark a break from traditional ideology….We can say (about Atzmon’s book) that there will be a 'before' and 'after', as the author analysis is innovative and striking.” Jacob Cohen

 The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics

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