h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"Freud? Einstein? But Israel? Who could support Israel at times like these?

Jab"

Hi all, and excuse me entering here without being invited (again)

Einstein and a few more Jews signed a letter to the NY Times on 4th December, 1948, to warn and protest about the visit of Menachen Begin, leader of the Freedom Party (Tnuat Haherut, from which derive the current right and extreme right parties of Israel)

Bellow is the letter, not too long, and an excerpt of it.

Allow me a few words, please.

It´s a pity that we all ignore so much about recent History. Ignorance is the soil where manipulation and hate grow; and indiference. That´s dangerous for all of us.
These actions of terrorism from the Israelian goverment, (I don´t find a more suitable word to define what they have been doing since 1948 so far)are feeding the hatred towards the whole western countries. Unfair, of course. But... where are the economical, diplomatic actions against Israel? They deserve them.

I´m suffering a lot for Palestinians, it´s hell for them.

I´ve got a deep feeling of misanthropy. But I´m trying to heal it thinking that filanthropy, empathy... can work too. The revolutionary power of love has showed its face many times changing deplorable situations into satisfactory ones. It can´t be too late.

:::


http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm/study_res/einstein/nyt_letter.html

"Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin?s behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement.

The public avowals of Begin?s party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future."

Probably not my place to do so, Mar, but you are very welcome! Your wisdom and carefully considered words are always welcome so do not fear to join in.

Civilization is a thin veneer, and it is easily scraped off. However, where the memory of it is still strong, there can be hope of reviving it. If the desire is there, that is.

Three points.

1.Mar, that was the contrast I was making. I was praising Jewish people in the West and contrasting them with Israel. Thanks for the evidence.

2. The ceasefire is a one off, not planned to be daily. So far 700 Palestinians have been killed, including from the attack on the school. They were given time today to bury them. 7 Israeli soldiers have been injured, whether badly or not is not known. (Source: AFP - a universally-used news agency). This is breaking International Law. But thereagain, Israel is in contravention of UN resolutions to a greater degree than Iraq under Saddam Hussein ever was.To go back to its 1967 borders, for instance.

3. Israel has few natural resources. It is heavily bank-rolled, its advanced heavy weaponry is ultimately paid for, by the United States.



07/01/2009 16:00 GAZA CITY, Jan 7 (AFP)
Gaza Palestinians rush for food during bombing lull
Gaza residents took advantage of a three-hour lull in Israeli bombing on Wednesday to hurriedly stock up on supplies after 12 days of combat and shelling in the impoverished enclave.

Cars and pedestrians returned to the roads of Gaza City after Israel halted its shelling to allow humanitarian supplies into the beleaguered territory.

Queues formed outside bakeries and grocery shops reopened for the first time since Israel sent ground troops into Gaza late on Saturday after a week of aerial and naval attacks.

Others rushed to hospitals to visit injured relatives or search for loved ones.

But 30 minutes after the expiry of the lull, an Israeli strike in the Zeitun neighbourhood killed two people, witnesses said.

"As soon as the three-hour truce was announced, people took advantage of the calm to go out in the street to buy food," said one woman, who asked not to be named. "But the stores are empty," she added.

The Israeli military said it would observe a three-hour bombing suspension each day between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm around Gaza City.

Gazans have withstood intense Israeli aerial and naval attacks that have killed nearly 700 people since the offensive on the crowded territory was launched on December 27 in response to Hamas rocket fire.

http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=090107160025.qaxnd4d9.php


Jabs.

Sorry - the ceasefire IS meant to be daily.

Jabs.

It's so ironic that Jewish people, or people of Jewish extraction, have been such leaders and spokespeople for justice and human rights in so many situations outside Israel. Only last week we mourned the death of Dr.Helen Suzman of South Africa, and of Harold Pinter in this country. Neither would ever have been Zionists (Jewish supporters of Israel). Then there's Lenny Bruce, Abbi Hoffman, Dr. Jonathan Miller, the philosophers A.J. Ayer, Spinoza, Derrida and Wittgenstein, and Freud and Einstein and so many more. In so many ways such an admirable and talented people. As I said before, I am not Jewish myself, but I have great admiration for their qualities.

This thing is so upsetting me so much that I'd better stop.

Jabs.

I'm glad that at least the Palestinian people in Gaza have taken advantage of the slim oportunity afforded by the 3-hour cease-fire. A spokesman had previously expressed the opinion that they would be too distrustful and fearful to do so.

Also, I agree with what you say Jabs.

Thanks el D. It's made me feel a bit better that someone's actually stepped forward and given me some support.

Jabs

I have met some of the people who carry out support work in Palestine and heard some of the stories that do not reach the international media. The following is a link to one story out of the West Bank.

http://www.eappi.org/en/news-events/ea-reports/r/article/4837/the-effects-of-the-war-on.html

for Jabs and Mar.

Here's something else you might like to read, from yesterday's Independent (UK daily paper).

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-do-they-hate-the-west-so-much-we-will-ask-1230046.html

Produced by the World Council of Churches, no less.

Thanks el D. I hope many people read it. And I hope the quietness on this thread is born of shock rather than apathy.

Jabs

Thanks Infie, too

Jabs

I should have included the other contributors to the thread as well, Jabs. But the Einstein quote is exactly what I was looking for.

By the way (and I have nothing but the memory of something I saw on TV years ago for verification) there's a story that the British politician who gave the go-ahead for the formation of the state of Israel didn't realise there were people already living there.

Yes, the zionist groups led by Begin were terrorists all right. They murdered many British troops who were acting as peacekeepers, as well as murdering many arabs.

That quote is brilliant. On the point of Fascism, now South Africa has gone, Israel is the only racist state left in the world.

I once interviewed a not-very-bright girl who had just come back from Israel, and she parroted Israeli views on arabs that were very racist indeed. Not so bad as Nazis on jews, but resembling them more than a little. More like standard anti-semitic views normally aimed at jews, actually.


Jabs.

Not to discount the religious (I suppose almost racist) fascist arab states all around her.


Jabs

Israel the only racist state in the world??
Generalisations are onerous. You would have to question each Israeli individually, and with a surefire method of knowing the truth or otherwise of their answers.
It seems to be human nature to seek in others, something to which we may feel superior. I am always short on specifics, but I believe a teacher once caused a stir when she had students divided into blue eyes and brown eyes and had them at odds with each other.
Here in Australia we kid ourselves we are egalitarian and tolerant, (I know I am. Hmmm.) but already, with the one side only news reports with which we are being inundated, we have the hoons, the morons, the usual suspects harrassing Jews on the street. Probably only a matter of time before blood is shed.
I am not defending the actions of Israel. I do know that you cannot trust journalistic integrity. You would need to live on both sides of the situation to have the smallest chance of understanding.
I am often despairing of the human condition. We do not deserve this wonderful planet on which we live. I am sometimes glad (on an intellectual level only) that I will not be here much longer. On the other hand (the fantasy one) I hope to live long enough to see Dec. 2012, to see if there is a quantum leap in store.
That would be good!

I referred to a Racist STATE, Lew, not racist people. In other words, Israel is founded and operates on principles which favour one race against all others.

Here's a slightly clarified quotation about it from Wikipedia:

ISRAEL'S NATIONALITY LAW defines the terms through which one can be granted citizenship, nationality and full rights of the state of Israel. Israel is, by its own definition, the state of the Jewish nation, and one of its primary objectives is keeping a Jewish majority in Israel.

Thus, Israeli nationality law is created in favour of those with Jewish heritage. Israeli law also follows "jus sanguinis" (it's on racist principles) as the primary mechanism through which one may obtain citizenship, rather than "jus soli" (see below).

Thus the state itself is founded on racist lines.

JUS SANGUINIS means that only people of a certain blood, or race, can have full citizenship, as in Israel, (with a historical proviso from international pressure that a very few, particular Israeli arabs were granted it when the state was formed). Previously, Nazi Germany and South Africa were racist states too.

Whereas JUS SOLI means anyone born in that country, or is nationalised, of whatever race, is a citizen and has can have full nationality. As in Britain, Australia or any country except Israel.

The original is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_nationality_law

Jab

Israel broke the cease-fire first. In addition to the atrocities, they lied about this.

See both videos if you can: Ron Paul, one of the few sane men in Washington. And CNN on who started this current one-sided war.

http://politicalinquirer.com/2009/01/07/more-on-closet-racists-ron-paul-and-israels-war-on-gaza/

Jab.