Zionist Thaw, etc.

I am linking DeAnander's excellent piece on The Zionist Thaw as well as Bob Jensen's recent post on the execrable treatment of Professor Norman Finkelstein, with the following challenge:

TO ANY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE:

I hereby dare any of you to engage in a real and formal debate on the occupation of Palestine with Professor Norman Finkelstein. Obviously, I am not talking about the crap that passes for televised debate now (serial phrase-mongering hosted by the softball-pitching media).

And now I'll tell you why none of them will accept this challenge.

When the facts are presented and not shouted down, and when "information" is not solicited with sly premises that already contain smuggled conclusions, Finkelstein is right, and he is so clearly and overwhelmingly right that the Democratic Party (AIPAC) line will not survive the critical rigor of a formal debate.

There's that... the challenge they won't pick up.

Prisons and Palestine are embarrassments to the Democratic Party, because these issues expose that institution's perfidy and true allegiances. Anyone notice how they've been tip-toeing around the systemic issues on the topic of Jena?

The prison population boomed when the criminal justice system (an apt name if there ever was one) was made even more draconian under the stewardship of President Bill Clinton, killer of the mentally retarded.

And the Zionism to which they pledge their undying allegiance is a secular political movement that is self-defined as both expansionist and racist.

These are not issues that get subsumed -- not in my mind -- by the quicksand logic of lesser-evil politics. They are right up there with the new DLC-approved dodge on Iraq... that the Democrats will "change course in Iraq." This is a way to sound like they are against the war, without explaining why they won't cut the funds for it. Every time any of them utters the phrase "change course" someone needs to shout from the crowd, "Bullshit!" Because on the war, on Palestine, and on the racist US criminal justice system, they are trying to pump sunshine up our collective ass.

Comments

[bean22]

The Israeli Palestinian conflict and the Israeli Arab conflict is one of the most complicated, frustrating situations the world has ever encountered. Those that criticize Israel, whether they be reasonable or racist make a strong argument for opposing the actions Israel has taken since it was created. Even Israelis themselves have had internal strife over these arguments.

The U.S. supports Israel for many reasons. And much of what the U.S. does in the Mideast is a result of that support. Jews in the U.S. pour a great deal of money into Israel and to American politicians who show strong support for Israel. Another reason is the incredible advances in military technology that are being developed in
Israel. And multi-national American companies like Microsoft, IBM and Cisco are investing heavily in Israel to take advantage of the brain trust that Israel offers.

The major problem that the Palestinians and Israel's Arab neighbors have is their continuing desire to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth. As long as they are seen as wanting to destroy this tiny little dynamo of a country, the U.S. and its allies, must continue to support and protect Israel, overlook its aggressions and shortcomings and provide Israel with the means to keep it from being destroyed. If the U.S. thought Israel was completely safe from its enemies, that might change how it, and even many Jewish benefactors, would act toward this little country.

[Plowboy]

You know, Stan. That Israel Lobby can close down now. It is evident that none of our politicians is influenced a bit by it. They can just give up.
Our Senate just by chance liked that old plan to break Iraq up, and it is because of Ahmedinejad's comment about homosexuality that we are going to war with Iran.
The Israel Lobby is quite dead. Ineffective and dead.

[FlowerGirl]

Want more proof that Israel owns us? The Senate has approved that old Israeli plan (for us) to break Iraq into three pieces (for them).
Mahzaltov!!

[FlowerGirl]

As to Zionist domination of the American government, I suppose you have seen the results of the voting on the Kyl-Lieberman equivalent to a war declaration on Iran. It is time to revolt! America as an indepenndent nation is now officially dead.

[Poboy]

The UN made a mistake in creating the state of Israel out of Palestinian lands.

The UN MUST correct that mistake!

[FlowerGirl]

Norm Finkelstein is a very honest and admirable person. Both of his parents were Holocaust survivors. They must have been much like him. They obviously brought him up to respect truth and justice. I read a fine quote from his Mother once, condemning the treatment of Palestinians, but I cannot recall it. His writings are factual, and well reasoned. Unfortunately, those who disagree with him are not always so scrupulous. I regret the unfair treatment he has received from academia, but am pleased that Noam Chomsky, one of the best informed men in our country, and certainly a respected professor, has supported him.
I know that no politician will debate him. They would have everything to losde and nothing to gain. He is discredited (unfairly, but what has that to do weith politics?) No academic figure will debate him for the same reason.
That is sad, because this is a debate we need badly.
I do not expect any change when the Democrats take over. The Neocons realize that the Republicans are now used up and are switching parties. And you have picked on a telling point; although they "oppose" the war, they do nothing to stop it and even cooperate to keep it going.
But I do not see a thaw. I hope there is one. At the rate we are going, we are going to destroy our country. And unless Israel can change and make a fair, peaceful settlement, the future for that nation is dark. Even nuclear weapons cannot change that.

[altohone]

Stan my man!

Thanks for the links.

I truly hope we are moving in the direction of a Zionist thaw.

It pains me to see truly anti-semetic individuals jump into and skew the conversations whenever the topic is raised though... I suspect some are plants to steer the conversation into the offensive realm in order to foster the either/or mentality that keeps fence-sitters from accepting reality and responsibility... but not all can be written off in that manner. Academia seems to be the logical place to avoid this... perhaps that is why Finkelstein was attacked so strongly.

The shocking thing we see currently is that despite the neocon/AIPAC swill having been exposed on Iraq, it all seems to have been forgotten now that Iran is the topic.

The measure passed in Congress seems based on the assertions, not facts, made by the very same people that lied us into war in Iraq. Even otherwise reasonable Senators toe the line.

Harry Reid votes for the measure born of ideological propaganda, and then "hopes it won't be used to justify going to war". Operating within their framing and then pretending like it isn't linked to and won't aid their objective is pure ignorance.

I didn't receive a single reply from my letter of protest to DePaul administrators... not having known about the settlement until your post, I now know their lawyers likely advised against it.

The thaw can't come too soon.

I hope a prospective candidate takes your challenge... even if the intention is to lose the debate just to breach the taboo. The dirt piling up has made our rug quite lumpy. It's time to put the broom away.

[SamThornton]

Great post, Stan. More Americans need to know that Israel is a democracy in name only, that it is officially an ethnocracy with laws that discriminate against Israeli citizens of Arab descent as well as Christians more viciously than any Jim Crow-era laws.

To call Israel an apartheid state, as Jimmy Carter was excoriated for doing, is in fact the kindest description that could be given for Israel's oppressive treatment of its own citizens.

Bravo!

[Plowboy]

This is probably the most important blog around now. Wonder why so few are commenting?
It cannot be due to any lack of interest.
Could it be that people are afraid of it?

[FlowerGirl]

Yes, where's the thaw?

[oldpotsmuggler]

When I was smuggling, it was pretty common to be in the minority because I was in other countries.

When I got to prison, I was instantly a minority, and didn't have to leave the country. It was so in every jail and prison I was in across an eight year period. I was in both majority hispanic, and majority black joints, but never even close to a majority white one. In fact, it was kind of humorous to watch the tax protestors buddy up to the Aryans when the only thing they had in common was european ancestory.

But the races would even out dramatically if we legalized and granted amnesty. Not to mention the fact that we would empty out 75% of our prison beds.

(Not that there's anything racist about The War on Drugs, of course.)

[Henry]

I have thought that no przntial debated should occur that does not include the "solution" to the Palestine problem. What is it with illegal occupiers who spend all this time and money portraying themselves as victims? How...as a conservative would say, is it America's problem? (of course the answer AIPAC)
I listened to Shimon Peres (on the news one day) state that we needed to get rid of the Ayatollahs. Imagine that! Get rid of them...as in wipe them off the map. And the reason was for globalism, it's nothing personal, it's about progress.

[WOLFWARRIOR]

What is hidden with-in the night - will always - soon face the light of day ...

[BillZBubb]

This piece will stir up a hornet's nest! I agree it would be great if this country could have an open and honest discussion about Zionism and Likudism. But, it will never happen.