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MANY TIMES people ask me: "Are you a Zionist?" My stock answer is: "Depends on what you mean by Zionism."
This is quite sincere. The term Zionism can mean many different things. Like the term socialism, for example. Francois Hollande is a socialist. So was Joe Stalin. Any resemblance?
EVERYBODY KNOWS what the Israeli elections are about.
The choice is stark: on the one side, the dream of a Greater Israel "from the sea to the river", which would in practice be an apartheid state; on the other side, an end to the occupation and peace.
Some would add a social choice: on the one side, the existing neoliberal state with the widest inequality in the industrialized world; on the other side, a social-democratic state of social solidarity.
The real ruler of Israel is one Sheldon Adelson, 81, American Jew, Casino king, who was rated as the world's tenth richest person, worth 37.2 billion dollars at the latest count. But who is counting?
Besides his casinos in Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Macao and Singapore, he owns the US Republican party and, lately, both Houses of the US Congress.
ANTI-SEMITISM is on the rise. All over Europe it is raising its ugly head. Jews are in danger everywhere. They must make haste and come home to Israel before it is too late.
True? Untrue?
Nonsense.
PRACTICALLY ALL the alarming incidents which have taken place in Europe recently – especially in Paris and Copenhagen – in which Jews were killed or attacked – had nothing to do with anti-Semitism.
All these outrages were conducted by young Muslims, mostly of Arab descent. They were part of the ongoing war between Israelis and Arabs that has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. They are not descended from the pogrom in Kishinev and not related to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
WINSTON CHURCHILL famously said that democracy is the worst political system, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.
Anyone involved with political life knows that that is British understatement.
Churchill also said that the best argument against democracy is a five minute talk with an average voter. How true.
I have witnessed 20 election campaigns for the Knesset. In five of them I was a candidate, in three of them I was elected.
As a child I also witnessed three election campaigns in the dying days of the Weimar republic, and one (the last more or less democratic one) after the Nazi ascent to power
I was watching The Speech by Binyamin Netanyahu before the Congress of the United States. Row upon row of men in suits (and the occasional woman), jumping up and down, up and down, applauding wildly, shouting approval.
It was the shouting that did it. Where had I heard that before?
And then it came back to me. It was another parliament in the mid-1930s. The Leader was speaking. Rows upon rows of Reichstag members were listening raptly. Every few minutes they jumped up and shouted their approval.
We are willing to defend Israel, not to continue occupation and repression’
Zionists All
MANY TIMES people ask me: "Are you a Zionist?"
My stock answer is: "Depends on what you mean by Zionism."
This is quite sincere. The term Zionism can mean many different things. Like the term socialism, for example. Francois Hollande is a socialist. So was Joe Stalin. Any resemblance?
‘Israel doesn’t care about me’: IDF denies medical insurance for Arab soldier
Over Bottled
EVERYBODY KNOWS what the Israeli elections are about.
The choice is stark: on the one side, the dream of a Greater Israel "from the sea to the river", which would in practice be an apartheid state; on the other side, an end to the occupation and peace.
Some would add a social choice: on the one side, the existing neoliberal state with the widest inequality in the industrialized world; on the other side, a social-democratic state of social solidarity.
'Stop demolishing Palestinian homes!' - Over 500 rabbis urge Netanyahu
Palestinian couple separated by occupation
The Casino Republic
WHO IS the ruler of Israel?
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, of course.
WRONG.
The real ruler of Israel is one Sheldon Adelson, 81, American Jew, Casino king, who was rated as the world's tenth richest person, worth 37.2 billion dollars at the latest count. But who is counting?
Besides his casinos in Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Macao and Singapore, he owns the US Republican party and, lately, both Houses of the US Congress.
He also owns Binyamin Netanyahu
An interview with Jeff Halper
Jeff Halper: Transforming Israel-Palestine into a Binational Democratic State
Anti-What?
ANTI-SEMITISM is on the rise. All over Europe it is raising its ugly head. Jews are in danger everywhere. They must make haste and come home to Israel before it is too late.
True? Untrue?
Nonsense.
PRACTICALLY ALL the alarming incidents which have taken place in Europe recently – especially in Paris and Copenhagen – in which Jews were killed or attacked – had nothing to do with anti-Semitism.
All these outrages were conducted by young Muslims, mostly of Arab descent. They were part of the ongoing war between Israelis and Arabs that has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. They are not descended from the pogrom in Kishinev and not related to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
WINSTON CHURCHILL famously said that democracy is the worst political system, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.
Anyone involved with political life knows that that is British understatement.
Churchill also said that the best argument against democracy is a five minute talk with an average voter. How true.
I have witnessed 20 election campaigns for the Knesset. In five of them I was a candidate, in three of them I was elected.
As a child I also witnessed three election campaigns in the dying days of the Weimar republic, and one (the last more or less democratic one) after the Nazi ascent to power
An Expensive Speech
Is Bibi damaging Israeli ties with US?
Israeli soldiers set dogs on Palestinian youth
The Listening Post - Israel elections: The media battle
The Speech
SUDDENLY IT reminded me of something.
I was watching The Speech by Binyamin Netanyahu before the Congress of the United States. Row upon row of men in suits (and the occasional woman), jumping up and down, up and down, applauding wildly, shouting approval.
It was the shouting that did it. Where had I heard that before?
And then it came back to me. It was another parliament in the mid-1930s. The Leader was speaking. Rows upon rows of Reichstag members were listening raptly. Every few minutes they jumped up and shouted their approval.
Women Day 2015 - What is your dream?
Int'l Women’s Day 2015 - tell us about a woman you admire
Miscegenation in Mandatory Palestine
Within Israel: Incite To Hate
Within Israel: Black-washing & Sex-washing
Israel's War on Africans
Which Israeli parties can we partner with for peace?
Bundestag testimony: What about the Israeli Left?
Might condemning Israeli racism just make it increase?
Israel election: A time for change?
Jeff Halper: No Home, No Homeland: Israel’s Policy of Demolishing Palestinian Homes
Bundestag testimony: Israeli attacks on African refugees
David Sheen - Russell Tribunal 2014 - 24/09
Israel's True Colors
Palestinians have Jewish ancestry - Part 1