Een tijdje terug verscheen een schokkende video over racisme in Israel op diverse sites, waaronder Joop. De video bleek van Max Blumenthal, die als een gerenommeerde mainstream journalist werd geïntroduceerd. In werkelijkheid is dit een extreme anti-zionist, die door o.a. Elder of Ziyon vaker is betrapt op het verkondigen van leugens, maar ook in linkse kringen wordt bekritiseerd. Hij heeft onlangs een nieuw boek geschreven, dat bol staat van de nazi-vergelijkingen.
It is for these reasons and more that Blumenthal’s book has been embraced by racists such as former Ku Klux Clan Grand Wizard, David Duke, but criticized by even outspoken critics of Israel for its egregiousness and un-seriousness. For example, writing for the left wing journal The Nation, columnist Eric Alterman dubbed Blumenthal’s book the “‘I Hate Israel’ Handbook.” Alterman remarked that the book is “deliberately deceptive” and “could have been published by the Hamas Book-of-the-Month Club (if it existed)”.
RP
------------
What La Presse Didn’t Tell you About Anti-Israel Activist Max Blumenthal
Max Blumenthal is an American provocateur, radical activist and author of a new book whose extremist views appeal primarily to far left and fringe elements. Along with a tendency for being caught inventing facts, Blumenthal asserts Israel must choose between forced exodus and forced assimilation in a greater Arab society. Yet, despite Blumenthal’s outrageous views, he was introduced toLa Presse readers as a mainstream journalist and respected author, in an interview by Nicholas Berubé. His radical pedigree was an important piece of information that was entirely ignored.
In his new book, with chilling chapter titles such as ‘Exodus Party,” “The Concentration Camp,” “The Night of Broken Glass, and “How to Kill Goyim (non-Jews) and Influence People”, Blumenthal purposefully and egregiously evokes comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany, an analogy which has been deemed anti-Semitic by the European Union, the London Declaration and the Ottawa Protocols.
In an effort to demonize Israel, Blumenthal refrains from introducing context (such as the threats emanating from Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran..). Blumenthal offends even important figures on the left such as author and peace activist David Grossman who, as he recounts in his book, tells Blumenthal to tear up his phone number when told of Blumenthal’s view of dismantling Israel.
It is for these reasons and more that Blumenthal’s book has been embraced by racists such as former Ku Klux Clan Grand Wizard, David Duke, but criticized by even outspoken critics of Israel for its egregiousness and un-seriousness. For example, writing for the left wing journal The Nation, columnist Eric Alterman dubbed Blumenthal’s book the “‘I Hate Israel’ Handbook.” Alterman remarked that the book is “deliberately deceptive” and “could have been published by the Hamas Book-of-the-Month Club (if it existed)”.
Blumenthal’s hatred for Israel is accompanied by a record of inventing facts and misquoting sources, only to refuse to set the record straight.
In the La Presse article, Blumenthal continues his penchant for dishonesty with his claim that since 2000 no Israeli soldier has been indicted for murder. This is false. During Cast Lead alone, dozens of investigations led to a number of indictments. Blumenthal also falsely claims that Israeli soldiers have immunity from prosecution. This is also untrue. Complaints about IDF soldiers are evaluated in accordance with a policy set by the military advocate-general, and approved by a specific ruling of the Supreme Court. Furthermore, every decision made by the military authorities can be challenged in the High Court of Justice.
Not satisfied with falsely misrepresenting the IDF, Blumenthal ignorantly tars Israeli society across all political and social spectrums with a lust for violence and a lack of social conscience. Once again, this claim is false and unsupported by any evidence. Unlike Palestinian society, Israelis overwhelmingly reject terrorism, support a two state solution and peaceful coexistence with Palestinians. Israel boasts a vibrant free and highly critical press and is home to a disproportionate number of Israeli human rights NGOs. Tens of thousands of political and social groups across the political spectrum attest to a keen Israeli activism and social conscience. Individuals or politicians who exhibit intolerance are vigorously condemned across the political spectrum, rather than applauded, as Blumenthal disingenuously claims.
Blumenthal announces the failure of Zionism, though the success of the Zionist dream of Jewish self-determination on its indigenous land is rather hard to miss. It’s called the State of Israel and it is crowned by a thriving democracy. Israelis—rather than emigrating in droves as Blumenthal claims—are ranked among the happiest citizens in the world.
Blumenthal wishes to demonize Israel by defining it by its fringe minority. Like all other societies, Israel is not defined by its fringe elements but by its mainstream. Given his radical pedigree, it is Blumenthal who is defined by his own fringe and radical views, which he disingenuously uses as a canvas to tar Israel.
Max Blumenthal’s extremism and intolerance would have been the appropriate subject for a La Presse article. At the very least, his radical views should have been made known to La Presse readers, in the interests of fairness and accuracy.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten