Op-ed: His father praised Hitler, but Kasim Hafeez writes about love for Israel, Jewish people
Kasim Hafeez, YNET
I am a Zionist, a proud Muslim Zionist, and I love Israel, but this was not always the case. In fact, for many years I was quite the extreme opposite. I experienced the high levels of anti-Semitismand anti-Israel activity taking place on British university campuses, because I was the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel activist.
Growing up in the Muslim community in the UK I was exposed to materials and opinions at best condemning Israel, painting Jews as usurpers and murderers, and at worse calling for the wholesale destruction of the “Zionist Entity” and all Jews. In short, there was no accommodating a Jewish State in the Middle East.
To grow up around this constant barrage of hatred directed at Israel has a massive effect on an individual’s own opinions. More disturbingly, many of these people weren’t radical or extreme, but when it was about Israel the most vicious of rhetoric poured out, coupled with the casual anti-Semitism that seemed too prevalent, when the phrase “stop being a Jew” used as an insult.
My father, however, was much more brazen in his hatred, boasting of how Adolf Hitler was a hero, his only failing being that he didn’t kill enough Jews.
By the time I had reached 18 I was completely indoctrinated to the fold of radical Islamism. My hate for Israel and for the Jews was fuelled by images of death and destruction, set to the backdrop of Arabic melodies about Jihad and speeches ofHezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah or Osama Bin Laden.
These views were reinforced when I attended Nakba Day rallies, where speakers predicted Israel’s demise as Hezbollah flags were waved proudly in the centre of London.
The Case for Israel
Was there a case for Israel? In my mind, of course not, there was no shadow of doubt. Even the most moderate clerics I came across refused to condemn terrorism against Israel as unjustified; the Jews must obviously deserve it, I believed.
So what changed? How could I go from all this hatred to the great love for and affinity with Israel and the Jewish people? I found myself in the Israel and Palestine section of a local bookstore and picked up a copy of Alan Dershowitz’s The Case for Israel. Given my worldview, the Jews and Americans controlled the media, so after brief look at the back, I scoffed thinking “vile Zionist propaganda.”
I did, however, decide to buy it, content that I would shortly be deconstructing this propaganda piece, showing that Israel had no case and claiming my findings as a personal victory for the Palestinian cause.
As I read Dershowitz’s arguments and deconstruction of many lies I saw as unquestionable truths, I searched despairingly for counter arguments, but found more hollow rhetoric that I’d believed for many years. I felt a real crisis of conscience, and thus began a period of unbiased research. Up until that point I had not been exposed to anything remotely positive about Israel.
Now, I didn’t know what to believe. I’d blindly followed others for so long, yet here I was questioning whether I had been wrong. I reached a point where I felt I had no other choice but to see Israel for myself; only that way I’d really know the truth. At the risk of sounding cliché, it was a life-changing visit.
No apartheid state
I did not encounter an apartheid racist state, but rather, quite the opposite. I was confronted by synagogues, mosques and churches, by Jews and Arabs living together, by minorities playing huge parts in all areas of Israeli life, from the military to the judiciary. It was shocking and eye-opening. This wasn’t the evil Zionist Israel that I had been told about.
After much soul searching, I knew what I had once believed was wrong. I had been confronted with the truth and had to accept it. But I had a bigger question to confront, what now? I’d for years campaigned against Israel, but now I knew the truth.
The choice was obvious: I had to stand with Israel, with this tiny nation, free, democratic, making huge strides in medicine, research and development, yet the victim of the same lies and hatred that nearly consumed me.
Doing this is not easy and that’s something that has become very obvious. I have faced hostility from my own community and even some within the Jewish community in the UK, but that’s the reality of standing up for Israel in Europe today. It is not easy, and that’s what makes it so necessary.
This isn’t about religion and politics; it’s about the truth.
When it comes to Israel, the truth is not being heard, the ranks of those filed with blind hatred continue to swell, yet many have not been exposed to the reality, away from the empty rhetoric and politically charged slogans they are so fond of.
We can change this situation but we need to be strong and united. Israel is not just a Jewish issue – it’s about freedom, human rights and democracy, all the values that Western nations cherish. It’s also about trying to be a light among nations.
Israel’s international humanitarian aid work speaks for itself, but if we don’t get the message out there, no one will. We don’t have to be head-bowed apologists leading with :Israel’s not perfect…” – we should never be afraid to say: I am a Zionist and I’m proud. I stand with Israel. Now I ask, will you do that?
Kasim Hafeez is a British Muslim and former Islamist who is now a proud Zionist and stands with Israel. He runswww.theisraelcampaign.org and has a blog on this site. He is also on the advisory board of StandWithUs in the UK and recently completed a university speaking tour
I can accept this explanation.
My disagreement was with your wording, which NO Arab would have used.
I am sure some wise Arabs are telling Israel to crack down hard; but I doubt they deny the suffering of Arab children.
In any event, I can accept your explanation once you have divorced it from the awkward wording.
THANKS!
@YAMIT82 @CURIOUS AMERICAN You wanted an example and I cited that you should read widely in the Arab media such as the Arab news. This article which just appeared was written by the former commanding officer of the Saudi Arabian Navy. I knew him in Pensacola when he was undergoing advanced flight training for naval operations. His article follows:
Is visiting Jerusalem recognition of Israel?
By ABDULATEEF AL-MULHIM
Published: Apr 28, 2012 02:36 Updated: Apr 28, 2012 02:36
Since 1948 till today, the Arab states have been in a state of war with Israel. There were four major wars (1948-56-67-73) and many more military conflicts. And till 1979, there were no formal relations between any Arab country and Israel.
The first breakthrough came in 1979 after the signing of the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. With this agreement, Egypt achieved what they couldn’t achieve by war. They got back the Sinai Peninsula. And in later years, we saw diplomatic relations between Israel and another four Arab countries (Jordan, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia). The relations were strained during the Palestinians’ Intifada (uprising). Later on, two Gulf states had the first contact between any of the Gulf states and Israel since 1948 with the opening of trade representation offices in Qatar and Oman. Jerusalem is important to all Abrahamic religions (Islam, Judaism and Christianity), so, why Jerusalem is dividing people of different faiths rather than bringing them together?
Why a city, which represent the three main religions had been destroyed, besieged, attacked and captured and recaptured many times by people who claim their respect to the holy shrines in it. And why is it, that when an Arab or Islamic figure decides to visit Jerusalem, it is the Muslims and Arabs who oppose the visit and you would hear religious Fatwa (ruling) and negative political speeches from Arabs and Muslims about the visit, even if the visit is for sightseeing or studying history? There are many Muslims who can’t differentiate between the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
So, is it against the religion for a Muslim to visit Jerusalem? If the answer is no, it is not against the religion, then why Arabs and Muslims don’t visit Jerusalem on a religious or sightseeing trips? And if the answer is yes, it is against the religion to visit Jerusalem, then, on what did the religious clerics base their Fatwa and forbid visiting Jerusalem? And is visiting Jerusalem by any Arab or Muslim a recognition of the state of Israel?
Jerusalem came under Muslim rule around 620 A.D. It is the third holiest shrine in Islam. And at that time Muslims used to pray facing Jerusalem. But, later on the direction of prayer was changed toward Makkah (Almukarammah).
And in the year 638 the Islamic domain was extended to Jerusalem. When Caliph Omar bin Al-Khatab was in Jerusalem, he understood the sensitivity of the city for different religions and had an agreement that other religious sites will not be transformed into Islamic shrines and all non-Muslims will be protected under Muslim rule. Caliph Omar went as far as praying outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and not inside it. This way, he told the Muslims not to interfere with other faiths.
There had been times when Jerusalem enjoyed years of peace. People from all different religions lived side by side. The irony of this city is that all major wars took place because of an area less than a square mile in this city. This small area has the Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Temple Mount, Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. And no matter who writes about Jerusalem, he or she will have opposing and disagreeing opinions (including my article). It is very difficult to talk about Jerusalem. It is like going through a mine field.
These days, the Fatwa in regard to the visit to Jerusalem is still coming from many clerics in the Muslim world. And they consider any Arab or Muslim visiting Jerusalem an enemy of the Palestinian cause and a traitor. The most recent test of the sensitivity of the issue was on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. Ali Juma’ah, the grand mufti of Egypt visited Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. And even though the grand mufti of Egypt is representing one of the largest Arab and Muslim countries, he came under intense criticism from all corners of the Arab and Muslim world. So, if the grand mufti of Egypt is not an authority on religious Fatwa regarding visiting Jerusalem, then who is? The visit was opposed by another high profile Egyptian cleric, Qatari-based Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi who said Muslim shouldn’t visit Jerusalem. So, are the two different Fatwas regarding visiting Jerusalem coming from two prominent Muslim clerics a religious or political Fatwa? And why many Jordanian and Palestinian Islamists opposed such a visit?
Now, the Egyptian Parliament is asking for the resignation of Egypt’s grand mufti and an apology from him. This means that, the visit by Egypt’s grand mufti turned to a political debate and religious Fatwa contradiction. And now, we hear many talks about very sensitive issues, such as the Egyptian gas export to Israel, Camp David agreement and possible diplomatic conflict. Something Egypt doesn’t need at this time.
The Arab Spring in Egypt is still in full swing and no end seems to be in sight. Egypt has been without a leader for a long time. The Egyptians now are divided on the visit to Jerusalem, the same way they were divided after President Anwar Al-Sadat’s visit to Israel. I think the visit by Egypt’s grand mufti should be a good gesture toward solving many misunderstandings between people in the area. A visit to Jerusalem by a prominent figure such as the grand mufti of Egypt is an important step toward finding solutions to the Middle East conflict. This conflict has cost the Arabs dearly. The Arab train of development stopped in 1948. And when Israel was building state of the art education system and research centers, the Arab masses were listening to hollow speeches by some dictators. And the Arab masses are not in the mood for cheap talks.
They heard it in the past from Egypt’s Jamal Abdul Nasser, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi, Syria’s Bashar Assad and Iran’s Ahmadinejad. The Arabs should have recognized the state of Israel in 1948 and kept themselves busy with modernizing their countries instead of wasting the Arab assets in wars.
The remarks I cited were made in the context of deploring Israel rather than defending Israel’s interests. They believe Israel has lost the international public relations war and that Israel is doomed over the long run. Possibly my use of the word “wrong” was misleading. better translation might have been” incongruous”. They certainly did not want to imply, nor did they imply any moral wrong. Their point was not to state that Palestinian children are not suffering but rather that Israel can’t claim a victory when they’re hunkered down in shelters .
I am sure that if an Israeli had made the remark then they would have responded that Palestinian children are suffering too and this sounds like settler propaganda.I am willing to share parts of the transcript with Ted Belman.
From some of the give-and-take on this site I would fear that they are right in terms of Israel being indecisive with divisions that make it self-destructive.
If you want a citation one has to just look at the public remarks of Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah, Secretary-General of Hezbollah: In a TV interview aired on Lebanon’s New TV station, Sunday, 27 August, 2006, Nasrallah said that he would not have ordered the capture of two Israeli soldiers if he had known it would lead to such a war: “We do not think, even one percent, that the capture led to a war at this time and of this magnitude. I’m convinced and sure that this war was planned and that the capture of these hostages was just their excuse to start their pre-planned war, BUT IF I HAD KNOWN ON JULY 11 … THAT THE OPERATION WOULD LEAD TO SUCH A WAR, WOULD I DO IT? I SAY NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.”
The Palestinians are universally hated as troublemakers and whiners. They are not allowed to obtain citizenship or employment in Syria or Lebanon. They were summarily expelled from Kuwait. Egypt maintained a tighter blockade then Israel. Nasrallah is on public record of endorsing the unwillingness of Lebanon to integrate the Palestinian “refugees”.
That quote about the schools and the malls were cited as proof that Israel did not win in Gaza. I suggest those who doubt that the officers are not realists should follow discussions in Arab news.com; the Lebanese broadcasting Corporation; etc.
By the way I did not attribute any comments to any Syrian officer since I’ve not had contact with the Syrian military for many years and I opposed the public contacts made by John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi.
21`1q@ CuriousAmerican:
What does my Mexican gardener have to do with any of this?
Apples and Oranges?
Both are FRUITS
I doubt COL HOWARD.
Let’s see what he wrote:
That reads like a public release from the Yesha Council.
I might believe that, in confidence, an occasional Arab might recommend a more determined Israeli reaction. But there is NO way an Arab would say: “it is inherently wrong for Jewish children to be missing school and to be huddled in shelters while the children of Gaza attend school regularly and shop in the malls,” as if to say ONLY JEWISH KIDS ARE SUFFERING!
That viewpoint is an Israeli viewpoint; an Israeli settler viewpoint; which maximizes Jewish suffering while ignoring or denying Arab suffering. (I am not commenting on who caused it at this point, just noting that Arab kids do suffer.)
But no Arab is going to deny the suffering of Arab kids, while bemoaning the suffering of Jewish kids. That is just human nature.
The fact is: While there are a few rich Arabs in Gaza, THE VAST MAJORITY ARE NOT RICH! MOST DO NOT PLAY IN MALLS. Some of them are throwing rocks … which, by definition, would preclude mall attendance.
Arab schools are and have been shut down.
Many Arab kids suffer. In the 1980s, Israel made it a crime to hold classes in the West Bank. (I understand why; Hamas was doing the teaching); but do not write a statement that Arab kids are having halcyon days at school and the mall, as if this were the norm.
Israel blew up the Islamic University in Gaza in 2006 (I understand why); but do not tell me that Jewish kids are the only ones missing class. Not all those students in Gaza were Salafists.
Berlanty Azzam, a Christian Palestinian Gazan, who – according to Oslo (I know you hate Oslo) – should have been allowed to study in the West Bank, and yet was denied the right by Israel.
Deportation could leave Gaza student without degree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ISEmv59avk
She is Christian and NOT a mujahadeen.
I know, I know. Israel has security concerns. But this was heavy handed. A Christian student from Gaza is NO THREAT TO ISRAEL. As for the “she is breaking the law” argument; well that law is arbitrarily applied; and when it is applied against Settlers/Pioneers in the West Bank, you are the first to howl.
Yes, I have noticed that some Arabs in Gaza are not AS POOR as claimed. I am suprised by how many seem to have internet access in the homes in TV reporting from the slums of Rafah. But still, computers are cheap. The house with the computer is often pockmarked with bullets. Houses are not cheap.
LT COL HOWARD’s post strikes me as written by a Yesha settler who is putting spin on a comment he heard. His comment strikes me as wishful thinking.
Jewish kids should not be suffering; but Jewish kids are NOT the only ones who are suffering.
Col Howard’s statement smacks of a myopia that is breathtaking.
PS: Berlanty Azzam finished her degree via Skype.
But the point remains: She should have been allowed to finish it in Judea and Samaria. When she “broke the law” she was deported. When Jewish settlers “broke the law” in Migron, it was years before any action occurred.
Personally, I think both should have been cut slack. Azzam and Migron.
But I am more even handed than you.
I agree with a lot of what you say; but criticism of Israel is NOT, by definition, invalid.
Such a blanket statement would convict even you.
Apples and Oranges. The Muslim seeks the obliteration of Israel, Jews, and Judaism.
The Christian does NOT seek the destruction of Israel.
Nor does he seek the destruction of Jews.
He does NOT even seek the destruction of Biblical Judaism, though he does seek that Jews would ingore the Rabbinic
(mis)interpretation of Judaism which denies Jesus.
You have narrowly defined Judaism as to exclude Jesus.
Most Christians are quite comfortable with Jews for Jesus who keep the holidays, and some keep kosher.
Even the Israeli Supreme Court (whom you detest) is now starting – just beginning – to accept Messianic Jews as Jews. The bigotry is no longer on the Christian end.
I understand you would see this as a disaster, since you view Judaism in a Talmudic vein. And this is probably another reason for you to hate the Israeli Supreme Court; though I see this as one of their rare wise decisions.
But you are mixing apples and oranges.
There is no comparison with Islam.
@ CuriousAmerican:
babs and I go way back. Anyway let’s see: If a Black American calls another Black American Nigga… is he racist? Will the Black American beigng called Nigga be offended and cosider the one calling him nigga a Racist? Don’t think so. It’s much the same between Jews. In our Jewish family we criticize each other constantly and we fight like cats and dogs but it’s really because we care about each other and most of the time we don’t take offense at least in the same way we would if you said to us much of we say to each other. I am a citizen of the State of Israel and it is my right, duty and obligation to criticize that which I view should be criticized politically or socially. For what happens here effects me personally. I am not an outside observer. I served with distinction in the IDF, pay a hell of a lot of taxes and consider it my right to support my nation , my leaders and institutions but reserve the right to criticize them when I consider them in the wrong, which is usually the case. Isn’t democracy COOL?
When the media prints every allegation against Israel, no matter how outrageous or unfounded, it is anti-Semitic! Those unfounded allegations, even if eventually corrected, have a cumulative effect of depicting Israel unfairly. It is the duty of the media to verify their stories and not to print unfounded allegations. In the case of Israel, the media often has not done so. Not only is the breach of their journalistic duty anti-Semitic for treating the Jewish state differently than other states, but the printed lies cause anti-Semitism. When several states do the same thing, but only the Jewish state is blamed, it is anti-Semitic.
When people who fight racism fail to denounce anti-Semitism, it is anti-Semitic. When pro-Israel speakers are not allowed to speak, it is anti-Semitic. . When people repeat lies about Israel in the face of contrary facts, it is anti-Semitic. When Jews are dehumanized, it is anti-Semitic. In Arab countries today, and unfortunately in many other countries, Jews are dehumanized to an extent reminiscent of Nazi propaganda of the 1930s. In Egypt recently, a TV series based on the lies of the 19th century Protocols of the Elders of Zion was aired weekly. Palestinian textbooks paid for by Canadians and Europeans show Jews as bloodthirsty, evil sub-humans. The lack of response from all quarters is deafening.
When Jews are blamed for what others do, it is anti-Semitic. When Jews who support Israel’s right to exist are not equal to those who support its destruction, it is anti-Semitic.
@ CuriousAmerican:
I have no reason to doubt Lt Col Howard. I have many Arab friends and on a personal level they are fine people. They will say in private things they would not dare say in public. The converse is also credible where supporters of Israel will say things favorable to or about Israel but in private show their real attitudes of wishing we were gone and planning for their rapture.
I have trolled many Christian sites and on those forums they generally speak openly of what they really think and it ain’t no love for Jews. They view we Jews as the thing holding up the show and their grand finale.
Every Muslim who pays the zakat and ‘ushr, Tax (obligatory) are funding Jihad and radical militant Muslim groups, at least 10%.
Every Christian Evangelical who donates 2 dollars for Israel related projects donates $5 for missionary activities to the Jews. The Amt allocated by these groups just for the Jews in America is estimated to be over $300 million a Year. How much is spent in Israel to subvert our Jewish society and beliefs and proselytize to Jews here in Israel is almost as substantial as funds allocated for the same purposes in America.
Both groups Muslims and Christians have an agenda with similar aims as opposed to methods but they do share at least one thing in common. They will most likely on a personal and at times even in public tell the stupid Jews what they want to hear. Jews tend to believe anything but the truth when it is said to or about them by those who wish to destroy them.
What amazingly enlightened leadership the Arabs have? With such leadership, I wonder what all the problem is.
After all, these Arab leaders are so worried that Jewish kids miss school, while Gazan kids party at the mall … driven there in Mercedes Benzs by butlers, no doubt … on those brand new Gazan superhighways in ergonomically and environentally safe hybrid cars.
Makes you kind of wonder who the troublemakers are.
I mean, to think that Arab leaders worry so much about Jewish kids. Simply breathtaking. Awe inspiring.
Please hold back the names of these Arab leaders no longer. Such men deserve to be on the editorial board of the New York Times.
Give us the names of these forward looking officers, their ranks, their office/position.
Where do we find such men?!
Y’see Yamit, it is like I told you.
Lt. Col Howard is right. The Arabs love you. So stop complaining.
Can you cite this?!
It is a marvellous quote; but it looks suspiciously self-serving.
I would so appreciate a citation … giving the name, the rank, and the office of the Egyptian, Jordaniian, Saudi Arabian, and/or Syrian officer who uttered such very Zionist opinions.
It would be wonderful if they did say this … so cite the name, ranks, and office of these Arab officers who said these marvellous things.
After all, such men deserve a promotion – SERIOUSLY – and I am sure their armies will be quick to promote them, once their reputation has become common knowledge to all.
Maybe a petition can be set up on this very site to have these men promoted.
Well, I am not babs.
But you criticize Israel all the time for being too easy on the Arabs.
Are you now an anti-semite, yammie?!
The statement that ALL criticism of Israel is anti-semitism is INVALID, by defintion.
@ babara:
Give some examples of criticism of Israel that is not antisemitic, babs.
@ CuriousAmerican:
Let’s put it to the test.
Start listing all your your criticisms of Israel and Jews/Judaism since you began posting here and we will test Norman F’s theorem on you.
That is insane. What arrogance!
NO ONE IS ABOVE CRITICISM.
It may be that the present criticism of Israel is anti-semitic; but to declare all
criticism of Israel anti-semitic, by definition, is hubris and arrogance.
The more I read byTed Belman , the more impressed I am. While I have an extensive flow of information (ranging from very highly classified to the public media) I spend my personal time reading the articles posted on Israpundit.
It may surprise some readers but the military men of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia all urge much tougher action by Israel as a way of promoting peace. For example on building they advocate a steady pace of building until the Palestinians negotiate in good faith and until a final deal struck. They advocate a more determined and immediate response to rockets and missiles coming from Gaza. They point out that it is inherently wrong for Jewish children to be missing school and to be huddled in shelters while the children of Gaza attend school regularly and shop in the malls. The secretary general of Hezbollah publicly stated that had he known the intensity of the Israeli response he never would’ve started in the 1st place. Unfortunately, too many Jewish liberals and government officials both in the United States and Israel missed his message. A firm and determined response deters.
@ j.barzilay:
Wrong. The settlement activity in Judea and Samaria is limited to Area C. We have the right to build there no matter what our detractors say. Aside from settling the land, it puts pressure on the Pals to make a deal. Time becomes on our side. If we followed your advice and stopped building in Area C it would be tantamount to conceding the land to the Pals. Either we claim the right or we don’t. And meanwhile the Arabs would keep building.
No matter who Mr.Krugman is today ,or what was he yesterday,the looming danger of one state “solution”is a deadly jeopardy that should be underlined and by all means avoided.This could be the next demand .Therefor the supreme goal of Isreali policy is to expose the unrelenting,hatred based stances of Pals and Arabs in general,so as Isreal would not bear the onus of the failure to even resume the negociations.My very humble openion is that a polcy of almost unrestricted settlement all over the west west bank is not exactly helpfull to say the least.
Charles Martel says:
July 10, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Krugman is a clever albeit failed Keynesian economist who has no greater insight into geopolitics than pop stars who are given the opportunity to mouth off about Israel by leftie newspapers and chat shows.
David Frost used to host a not-to-be-missed Sunday morning interview program in London and I remember the day George Michael dropped by to discuss… his latest record? his concert tour? his drug bust? No, something he had real expertise in: Ariel Sharon’s policies in the territories.
Everyone has their 15 minutes of fame and 14 of them are spent condemning Israel.
Shebrew Warrior says:
July 10, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Krugman hates America, so of course he hates Israel. It’s called being liberal.
Birdalone says:
July 11, 2010 at 12:17 am
Why does anyone in Israel consider Paul Krugman to still be an economist worth paying attention to? His Nobel Prize was for work done years ago when he WAS an economist. The past few years, he has deliberately, and publicly, turned himself into an opinionated liberal. No one in America has taken him seriously about economics since March 2008 when he wrote an series of opinions about the worthlessness of candidate Obama’s health care reform proposals.
It’s not fear that drives these liberals. there IS an arrogant condescension that they know what is best for everyone else, who are apparently too stupid to know better. not just Israel, but EVERYBODY.
Hi Ted
Teds spam filter got my comment? Can’t figure why.
\@ babara:
Shebrew Warrior says:
July 10, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Krugman hates America, so of course he hates Israel. It’s called being liberal.
Charles Martel says:
July 10, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Krugman is a clever albeit failed Keynesian economist who has no greater insight into geopolitics than pop stars who are given the opportunity to mouth off about Israel by leftie newspapers and chat shows.
David Frost used to host a not-to-be-missed Sunday morning interview program in London and I remember the day George Michael dropped by to discuss… his latest record? his concert tour? his drug bust? No, something he had real expertise in: Ariel Sharon’s policies in the territories.
Everyone has their 15 minutes of fame and 14 of them are spent condemning Israel.
\@ babara:
He never explains why? What a putz!!
Shebrew Warrior says:
July 10, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Krugman hates America, so of course he hates Israel. It’s called being liberal.
Charles Martel says:
July 10, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Krugman is a clever albeit failed Keynesian economist who has no greater insight into geopolitics than pop stars who are given the opportunity to mouth off about Israel by leftie newspapers and chat shows.
David Frost used to host a not-to-be-missed Sunday morning interview program in London and I remember the day George Michael dropped by to discuss… his latest record? his concert tour? his drug bust? No, something he had real expertise in: Ariel Sharon’s policies in the territories.
Everyone has their 15 minutes of fame and 14 of them are spent condemning Israel.
@ Bert:
@ NormanF:
you say all criticism of Isreal is antisemitic and I say surely you jest. No nation or people is above criticism.
@ Paul:
I agree with Benjamin Kerstein that ALL criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic by definition.
It is criticism solely directed at the Jews and Israel.
It fails every test of proportion, fairness, justice and equity.
The burden falls on Israel’s critics to prove that what they say and write is not born out of hate for the Jewish people and Israel.
That cannot be done so this theorem is in fact a scientific law about human relations in the world and will always be one.
How to differentiate between criticism, harsh or fair, and antisimtism overt ,or masked.If one says that Isreal exaggerates the issue of nuclear development in Iran in such a way as to endanger the stability of the region,if one says that there is no defenite prove that Iran has decided to develop an a-bomb,if one says that Isreal should not attack atom installation in Iran and risk an allout war in the M-east ,it is a criticism.Fair or unfair everyone should decide.If one turns things up dowen and says that Isreal wishes/plans to annihilate the Iranian people,while it is recorded and undisputable that Iran is the side that threatens to annihilate Isreal,he is either insane or antisemite.Since no body says that Grass has lost his sanity ,there is no escape from a certain conclusion.
Man bites dog. Big deal.
The fact that neither Jews nor Israel discriminate against other religions is hardly even news. Everyone can see that other religions have nothing to fear from Jews or Judaism. It is just as easy to see that Muslims who happen to support Zionism are of no consequence whatsoever. For most of the world the problem is not that they can’t see the truth, it is because they don’t care about the truth. Even worse, their lying has a sadistic appeal for them greater than the passions that the rest have for the truth.
Kasim Hafeez was able to free himself from anti-Israel indoctrination by investigating for himself. He is far ahead of the Jewish leftists who can also visit Israel and still retain their blind hatred for Israel.