Controversial Swedish Article Spurs Palestinians To Seek Organ Theft Probe

Several Palestinians in the West Bank have called for an international inquiry into a Swedish newspaper report that suggests members of the Israeli army stole body organs from Palestinians.

The report, published last week in Aftonbladet, Sweden's leading tabloid, accused Israeli forces of stealing the organs from Palestinian men after killing them, a charge Israel has denied.

But Jalal Ghanem, a resident of the West Bank village of Immatain, told Al Jazeera this week that his brother, Bilal, was one of the victims of the alleged theft following his death by Israeli fire in 1992.

Read the whole story: Al Jazeera.

Comments

[califlefty]

This is how it starts: http://www.demotix.com/news/downing-st-protest-chants-netanyahu-war-criminal#

[ibsteve2u]

Egads....I truly hope that there is not the slightest whiff of truth to such a vicious story.

But if there is, I truly hope that we Americans look among ourselves and consider the attitude of those whom I lovingly call "righties" - their barbaric treatment of those less fortunate than themselves, in particular - and ask ourselves whether such people would commit such crimes in our own nation.

And, if they did, whether all Americans - you and me - should bear responsibility for their actions.

If these actions did indeed occur, then it would be equally heinous to paint the people of Israel as responsible for the actions of the deviants among their right.

[lainey]

Great story. Let's keep hate alive, regardless of facts. Come on HP, we, as liberals, should be supporters of peace and look for facts before posting articles. This is just causing those that hate either side to perpetuate that help. Be different. Be unique. Set a higher bar and gather facts first.

[SFA]

Ok,
these are serious allegations, should be dealt seriously.­And truth one way or the other should come out.

Here some people r using the term Blood Libel Term, I am not jew but i understand what it means .

blood libel :- when people were blamed for using blood in making certain foods.

how much disgusting term this may be, but the article does not in any way imply blood libel.

there is a diff. between Organ Trafficing & Blood Libel.

[califlefty]

Do you also differentiate murder with a gun and murder with a knife as merely severe slashing?

[lightningbolt]

If the Palestinians want to investigate a tabloid article, let them pay for it. If they feel that is more important than feeding their starving people, then its their problem.

[lightningbolt]

I don't think the Swedish article is true, it is just tabloid trash with no scientific evidence. I don't think Israel should investigate all the tabloid trash that is printed around the world. I don't think Sweden should condemn something written by a tabloid because it is free speech and they have better things to do.

[shotei]

Let me see if I get this straight. A bad journalist (to say the least) publishes an unfounded and unverified article with serious accusations. Even those who were allegedly the victims are unaware of the story.
So, now, it makes perfect sense to look into it, because an unfounded and unbased published rumor deserves attention and a thorough investigation. After all, it is a new and creative version of blood libel.
Ok, now I think I got it.

[arvay]

A recent NPR interview gives additional substance to the charges and indicates an investigation is warranted.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111379908

From the interview:

"There's many different routes into buying and selling kidneys. Some are organized by international brokers, as in the case of Izhak Rosenbaum. He was linked to a very, very large and extensive trafficking network that originates in Israel but is in about 12 countries . . . "

Scheper-Hughes is not a nut, she's done extensive research on the subject. And th fact that one of these guys is involved in corruption in New Jersey means the US has a stake in finding the facts.

The fact that there's an organ smuggling ring centered in israel doesn't prove the charges, but it means there's good reason to have some responsible party look into this matter.

Israel's over-the-top reaction -- creating a diplomatic crisis -- also arouses suspicion.­Of course, they've guaranteed global publicity by doing so.

[Macready]

agree with you arvy . . there has to be a full independent investigation on this . . . .

[courtb]

Arvay, could you be any more misleading? I read that entire interview and there is nothing in it to suggest that Israelis are harvesting organs from dead Palestinia­ns...none whatsoever. In fact, Scheper-Hughes kept talking about how Israel is the most extensively organized. Is it shady and illegal? Absolutely and it's terrible to hear how many countries are involved in organ trafficking, esp as I suspect the situation in Moldova is an example of where the majority of the organs come from.

But the npr interview only states that the program in Israel has a huge screening process where the buyer of the organ gives blood samples and care is set up for the person who sells their organ. It actually implies that it's a difficult process.

Just because Jews eat matza doesn't mean that the charge that we put blood in it should be investigated, does it? It's the same thing...

[arvay]

I didn't say that.

The fact that israel has an important position in the global organ-trading "business" and the fact that this article has raised some important questions is sufficient for an investigation.

Every new screech from israel will help convince the world that there's some substance there.

Are you saying that such a thing can't possibly happen in israel? The Chinese have earned themselves global opprobrium for harvesting organs from executed people, and are starting to change their policy.

Are you asking the world to believe that Israelis are inherently, morally superior to the Chinese?

So why not have an investigation?

[courtb]

Should Obama open an investigation into his birth and religion just because there's a cacophony of voices saying he's a Muslim African plant who was never born in the US? Every new screech from the left will help convince the country that there's some substance there.

This article (which I have read, by the way) does not raise good points. It raises the fact that there have been rumors for decades without any proof coming to the surface whatsoever. The same style of rumors that used to say that Jews will kill your children and sacrifice them in the name of their god. They'll use good Christian/Muslim blood in their weird rituals and cook it in their food on their holidays.

I never said that this couldn't happen in Israel. Medically, it's highly unlikely as many have already pointed out. But show me the proof. And I like how you point out Israel's moral superiority to China (random). The only people who use that whole "chosen people" or "better than non Jews" nonsense are religious fanatics and people like you.

Look, this article was irresponsible. It played on the worst fears of a society without even consent or knowledge or even information from the family of the alleged victim! And when that happens, it usually leads to violence.

[courtb]

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/why-the-israeli-organ-harvesting-story-is-probably-false/?scp=3&sq=israel&st=cse

[DC]

The article might be tabloid trash.

But the crux of it asked for an investigation of the allegations. All considered (especially doing autopsys on young men that have been killed?)

If innocent, and when accused of something that may be absurd, make an investigation. This will insure that the assures fall onto their own sword. This is how a confident and innocent object of false accusation handles things.

The calls to boycott Ikea and boycott Sweden and the Swedish citizens may be an intended distraction to the real point of the tabloid piece --- investigate. That is all.

But that will never happen.

[califlefty]

As it happens Sweden has law against racism that states in part: " a publication may be considered illegal if it is threatening or expresses contempt towards a person or group of people based on their race, ethnicity, or nationality. .." If saying that Jews steal organs doesn't meet this test what does? I'm sure the Swedes see things differently, claiming that Jews are murderers is OK by them.

Freedom of speech is a really grand thing, except when a Danish newspaper publishes cartoons of the prophet Muhammad then anyone who was for freedom of speech was accused automatically of being a right wing neocon Zionist. Now anyone who is for freedom of speech in Sweden is obviously a friend of the progressive movement, while those who are against this racist crap are accused of being hysterical right wing neocon Zionists. It simple really, freedom of speech that is given to the Scandinavian people was not vouchsafed to one particular people, Jews, of course.

When an Israeli television comedian joked about the virginity of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and about the ability of her son to walk on water, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert found it necessary to apologize to the Swedes, since freedom of the press are reserved for the superior Nordic race. Restrictions on freedom of speech are put in place only for important violations, not for the Blood Libel.

[MarcusT]

OK, ok. But do you have any contacts for kidneys?

[SFA]

this is what the article says,

(1)There have been some pesisitent allegations that IDF or Israeli Gov. is involved or some rouge elements are doing it. The article in no way says that it's been done by jews.If you consider blaming IDF or Israeli Gov. as blaming Jews, then i can not help you.

(2)The author clearley says he does not have proof, but wants an independent investigation to prove or disprove the allegations.

These allegations are serious, & never to be taken or alleged lightly. But request you not to misrepresent the facts.You certainly have a right to be angry but don't represent facts.

[califlefty]

There have been some pesisitent allegations that IDF or Israeli Gov. is involved or some rouge elements are doing it. The article in no way says that it's been done by jews.If you consider blaming IDF or Israeli Gov. as blaming Jews, then i can not help you.

Apparently you're the one who needs help if you can't seem to make the connection.

[Freenation]

this question for people who are against this story:

what evidence do they have to prove this did not happen? if none then just don't beat the drums of denial without any solid proof?

[courtb]

What evidence do you have that aliens did not land on the moon? Are we really playing this game right now?

[louisamast]

It doesn't really matter if aliens landed on the moon or not. It does matter if Is_rae;is are hunting Palestinians for their organs. You comparing these two issues sadly says much about your state of mind!

[louisamast]

This article has nothing to do with any particular religion. It is a news about some criminals acts. I do not know why some people label it antisemitic. Perhaps by doing it, they want to make Jews look bad.

[jordanispalestine]

These Arabs now known as Palestinians would spend their time more wisely by trying to find out where 10's of millions of dollars MISSING ( read: stolen) went while Arafat and Abbas ran the PLO-which Fatah is a part of!

[Freenation]

he was investing with mad.off?

[lightningbolt]

Arafat's money disappeared before the Maddoff scandal.

[rudyinbama]

Yep, combat zones are a great source of cheap human organs for transplant.
Stress, shrapnel, no access to the donor's medical history - I'm surprised Betsy McCaughy and the Lewin Group didn't come up with this first!

[v eyepete]

I know that there are many Jewish people who would never even think to do a thing like this, but they have to realize there are bad people everywhere. It can happen to any people. There has to be some discriminating thinking going on and people investigating who want to know the truth. If this is true the world certainly needs to be made aware of it. How low and how cold can you be to indulge in this sort of thing?