Obama-Iran Today; Hoover-Mussolini Then

As I consider my readers to be well-read, deep-thinking and quick on the uptake, I don't think I have to write much about this excerpt I found:-

When Mussolini’s foreign minister, the charismatic ex-squadistra Dino Grandi, met Hoover in 1931, the president is said to have assured his Italian guest that the vocal minority of antifascists in America should be ignored: “They do not exist for us Americans, and neither should they exist for you.”...Hitler famously said that he had seen the statesmen of the West at Munich and they were “worms.” On this, at least, Churchill agreed with him. For Migone, the logic of appeasement was not a matter of moral weakness. It was systematic. The failure to impose sanctions on the fascists was the faded echo of a once-powerful strategy of financial hegemony. In view of the policies of the 1920s, America’s refusal to back even the minimal sanctions imposed by the League of Nations was entirely predictable. Instead, surging imports of American oil and motor vehicles propelled Italy’s murderous aggression against the only independent African member of the League of Nations. The State Department’s principal concern was not to punish this violation of international law, but the fear that if Mussolini were to be humiliated, his regime might collapse and Italy might fall victim to revolution.

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BDS at Harvard

I received this notice:

Justice for Palestine at Harvard Law School presents:
Boycotting the Israeli Occupation?


Friday, Feb 11, 2011, 5pm Austin North, HLS


Louis Michael Seidman, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Constitutional Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Roy Kreitner, Tel Aviv University Law School
Diana Buttu, Former legal advisor to Palestinian negotiators
Moderator and discussant: Duncan Kennedy, Carter Professor of General Jurisprudence, Harvard Law School


How does one respond to human rights violations? Is divestment a proper or a required reaction to Israel's actions and policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians? Is it counter-productive? What kinds of divestment are appropriate and effective? How will it impact Israeli society and politics? How will it impact US policies?


Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Program at HLS, International Legal Studies at HLS, the HLS Middle East Law Students Association, Unbound: Journal of the Legal Left, The National Lawyers Guild, HLS Chapter, and the Palestine Solidarity Committee at Harvard College.


Dinner will be served.
Please RSVP to jfp@mail.law.harvard.edu
Free and open to the public.

And then sent them this:

I have become aware of an interesting panel discussion.

As I will not be able to attend, could I suggest to the moderator to address the following issues in his opening remarks so as to clarify matters?

a. If the panel seems not to be balanced from a political outlook on the Middle East conflict between Arabs and the Jews, this is because................

b. If the only issues considered to be human rights issues are those in which Arabs are perceived to be the victims but not Jews, this is because.............

c. If the only groups sponsoring this event are either pro-Arab or anti-Zionist, this is because........................

Thanking you in advance and looking forward to receiving a report, if the event does take place.

If anyone attends, or tries to, let me know how it went? If it went.

^

A New Competition

In response to the various outlandish, irrational, illogical and downright evil projects by anti-Zionist forces, a faithful reader has made this proposal:

I think we should have a competition - run by your blog - for a really good spoof on

BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS

The object would be to formulate a run of words that people would think of instead of the above. For example, bloody dopey sh*t - although something far more clever.

It would not be politically correct but give all the activists something to do that is a bit more mind-bending.

What say you?

Submissions welcomed.


(Kippah tip: BPO)

And Where Does The Issue of Tax-Exemption Appear?

Reported:

US 'should link aid' to Israeli settlements: HRW

The United States should penalise Israel by withholding from its massive annual aid a sum equal to the amount Israel gives in subsidies to West Bank settlements, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Sunday.

In a 166-page report, the group called on the international community to penalise Israel for "discrimination" in the West Bank, comparing the services enjoyed by Jewish settlers with those of neighbouring Palestinian villages.  "Palestinians face systematic discrimination merely because of their race, ethnicity, and national origin, depriving them of electricity, water, schools, and access to roads, while nearby Jewish settlers enjoy all of these state-provided benefits," HRW representative Carroll Bogert said.

..."The United States, which provides 2.75 billion dollars in aid to Israel annually, should suspend financing to Israel in an amount equivalent to the costs of Israel's spending in support of settlements, which a 2003 study estimated at 1.4 billion dollars," the report said.

"Similarly, based on numerous reports that US tax-exempt organisations provide substantial contributions to support settlements, the report urges the US to verify that such tax-exemptions are consistent with US obligations to ensure respect for international law," it added.

Er, what "international law"?

This move, dear readers, is the BSD Movement in thinly veiled disguise: Boycott, Sanctions and Disinvestment.

NGO-Monitor responded:

...NGO Monitor [said] that the report "strips away the context of Arab terror and substitutes inflammatory rhetoric and baseless accusations, falsely turning a political conflict into one of racial hostility by using the "separate but unequal" language from the American civil rights movement."

"Of even greater concern," NGO Monitor continued in a statement, "HRW in this report endorses boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS)..."We also note that the timing of this report coincides with the Arab League campaign to undermine the peace process by exploiting UN framework," the statement added.

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NIF Will Gladly Tolerate Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions and Fund Them

Found:

What is NIF's position on boycott, divestment and sanctions?

NIF supports an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories as a central tenet of the strategic framework in which we operate. The tactics known as 'boycott, divestment and sanctions' (BDS) are designed to pressure Israel to end the occupation, but NIF believes these tactics to be unproductive, inflammatory and ineffective because of the difficulties in defining an approach that is not overly broad, does not delegitimize Israel and will achieve the long-term goal.
Although we will continue to communicate publicly and privately to our allies and grantees that NIF does not support BDS as a strategy or tactic, we will not reduce or eliminate our funding for grantees that differ with us on a tactical matter. NIF will not fund BDS activities nor support organizations for which BDS is a substantial element of their activities, but will support organizations that conform to our grant requirements if their support for BDS is incidental or subsidiary to their significant programs.

(Kippa tip: NP)


Just a little bit non-kosher?

^

They Never Get Tired

Press Release July 21, 2010

Peace activists sent protests to the office of artist Arkadi Duchin, calling upon him to cancel a performance tomorrow at a West Bank settlement.
Gush Shalom: performing at a settlement is not an artistic act but a political one

Tel Aviv area residents who contacted Gush Shalom said that they had sent messages of protest to the office of the well-known artist Arkadi Duchin, of whose music they are fond, and called upon him to cancel his scheduled appearance tomorrow at the Yellow Hill in the Gush Etzion settlements on the West Bank. Settlers there issued an invitation to "come and hear Arkadi Duchin in a refreshing summer concert."

The Gush Shalom movement says that the continuing phenomenon of artists performing in the settlements for monetary gain is a badge of infamy. "We have no problems with such artists as Ariel Zilber, who is an outspoken supporter of the extreme right and for whom settlements are his home grounds. Tel Avivians still deciding to go to Silber's performances or buy his CD know exactly with whom they are dealing. We have a serious contention with Arkady Duchin and several other artists, who display a moderate image to the general public, who do not express a clear political position but who do appear in the settlements in return for substantial payments.

It is important to emphasize that a performance at the settlements is not a neutral artistic event - a performance in a settlement means taking a political stand in the main political controversy which splits the Israeli society for more than forty years. It is an act of support and legitimacy to a phenomenon which the entire world regards as a phenomenon in blunt violation of International Law, and which many Israelis see as a threat to their future and the main obstacle to peace. It cannot be expected that an artist such Arkadi Duchin could go on appearing in the settlements without having to pay a price for it among peace seekers in Israel.

Contact:
Adam Keller, Gush Shalom Spokesperson 054-2340749

- - -

Right and Wrong

Bernard Avishai argues in The Nation against BDS.

Thanks there Bernard.

However, he has to still smash his enemies in Israel and writes there:

But what seems far more likely than a binational state, given the irredentist instincts of the Israeli right and the precedent of violent "steadfastness" of Palestinians (reinforced by the Islamist trend gripping many Palestinian young people), is a kind of Bosnian war. It could start tomorrow with, say, a riot among increasingly impoverished Jerusalem Arabs and spread like wildfire across the West Bank and Israeli Arab towns of the Triangle region. How will B and D do anything but make all Israelis feel demonized and prone to apocalyptic thinking and ethnic cleansing? Already, polls suggest that the Israeli center, which is skeptical of the settlers, feels "the West" does not appreciate what it is like to live with suicide bombers and missile attacks.

Er, this bit:

polls suggest that the Israeli center, which is skeptical of the settlers

is simply off-base.

Check my blog.

The Sanctions Against Iran - A Replay of Israel's Sea Closure

Funny, but it seems what Israel did last week with that flotilla guerrilla operation dovetails with the new sanctions adopted at the UN against Iran:-

14. Calls upon all States to inspect, in accordance with their national authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, in particular the law of the sea and relevant international civil aviation agreements, all cargo to and from Iran, in their territory, including seaports and airports, if the State concerned has information that provides reasonable grounds to believe the cargo contains items the supply, sale, transfer, or export of which is prohibited by paragraphs 3, 4 or 7 of resolution 1737 (2006), paragraph 5 of resolution 1747 (2007), paragraph 8 of resolution 1803 (2008) or paragraphs 8 or 9 of this resolution, for the purpose of ensuring strict implementation of those provisions;

15. Notes that States, consistent with international law, in particular the law of the sea, may request inspections of vessels on the high seas with the consent of the flag State, and calls upon all States to cooperate in such inspections if there is information that provides reasonable grounds to believe the vessel is carrying items the supply, sale, transfer, or export of which is prohibited by paragraphs 3, 4 or 7 of resolution 1737 (2006), paragraph 5 of resolution 1747 (2007), paragraph 8 of resolution 1803 (2008) or paragraphs 8 or 9 of this resolution, for the purpose of ensuring strict implementation of those provisions;...

19. Decides that the measures specified in paragraphs 12, 13, 14 and 15 of
resolution 1737 (2006) shall also apply to the entities of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) as specified in Annex III and to any person or entity acting on their behalf or at their direction, and to entities owned or controlled by them, including through illicit means, or determined by the Council or the Committee to have assisted them in evading the sanctions of, or in violating the provisions of,
resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) or this resolution;

A report.

Just Who Is The Clown?

Dan Ephron, Newsweek Bureau Chief, deals with the subject of Israel's discomfort and opposition to the Arabs of Judea and Samaria, aka the Palestine National Authority, boycotting goods made in the Jewish communities, their neighbors.

He claims this Arab policy can't wreck Israel's economy. Of course it can't, even if he suggests that

...Israelis fear that a successful boycott of settler goods would catch on elsewhere. While consumers in the Palestinian territories lack the economic muscle to inflict much pain on Israel, their counterparts in Europe—Israel's biggest market—have plenty of leverage.

Where has Dan been? He knows not of the global BDS movement? The UK outlandish activities? The EU regulations on produce identification of origin?

In his piece, Boycott Blues, he does note that many would consider a campaign like that as

...aimed at delegitimizing Israel generally and not just Israeli rule over Palestinians. Israelis worry that a targeted boycott of settlement-made goods—something considerably less radical—would have a better chance of gaining momentum, and they might be right.

Of course, anyone suggesting that the so-called "Palestinian Arabs", that "Palestinianism" and such is non-legitimate historically and legally and is just another instrument of the Arab Muslim world to eradicate Israel and Zionism would be castigated and branded beyond the pale. The opposite view always seems to be acceptable in polite society.

He also points out that

boycotts stir bad memories for Israelis...Israeli exports are still officially banned in most Arab countries...

And he concludes,

A return to the bad old days must be a bitter pill for most Israelis. Even when it's administered by a clown.

Well, what is a bitter pill is that Arabs seem to prefer, more than anything, more than peace and an end to killings and recriminations, to do as much harm to Jews, even if it means harming themselves in the process. Their hatred is overwhelming. Just when diplomatic steps are improving, they go ahead and start in with separation, distancing (what happened to "proximity"?) and anger.

Arabs who need money will suffer. And what happens if some Jews counter-boycott? Can the PNA economy survive something organized along the lines in which the Arabs operate?

Will they begin killing Arabs for selling land to Jews again?

Don't they have a perception of reality and fairness and peace?

Just who is the clown in this matter?

What's Good for the Goose Is Not Good for the Gander?

Amazing.

The BSD (Boycott, Sanctions and Disinvestment) Movement is stumped.

Someone is using their methodology:

Targeting Israeli businesses via the threat of boycotts is usually the preserve of radical forces from abroad, but the latest sanctions storm to hit the country is very much an internal affair. Tzomet Sefarim, one of the nation's largest booksellers, this week bowed to intense pressure from rightwing critics to stop selling The National Left, a political pamphlet which heavily criticises the settler movement.

According to a Tzomet Sefarim spokesman, the extraordinary decision to withdraw the book was taken despite the company being "a chain for all of the people of Israel [and having] no political affiliation". Instead, the company acted "because we received many complaints that the book hurts the feelings of some of our customers, [so] we decided to stop selling it".

Will Judith Butler Please Butt Out

Here she defends the BSD campaign againsat Israel and argues:

"Part of me wants to joke--where would international human rights be without the Jews! We helped to make those rights, at Nuremberg..."


Sure we helped.

6,000,000 were exterminated trying to help.




(Kippah tip: AH)

Good Point

"Kleinism" represents a simplistic, artificial view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has led many who consider themselves human-rights activists to focus their criticism nearly exclusively on Israel. It brands Israel as the new apartheid state, so it can do no right and its adversaries no wrong. It frames Israel as uninterested in peace or in ending the occupation. It ignores any structural obstacles to peace unrelated to Israel, the most obvious being the sharp divisions among the Palestinians.

Thus, "Kleinists" seem to have concluded that one-sided criticism of Israel is the best way to promote peace, and that pressurizing the state with all available means, including BDS, is both legitimate and effective.

As a result, Israel's branding as a violent, aggressive and discriminatory state is increasingly gaining traction...

The BDS Campaign - First Edition

You thought the BDS campaign was new?

Try this:-

THE STUDENTS' APPEAL TO THE SONS OF THE FATHERLAND

YOU ARAB, CUT OFF YOUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH THE JEWS!

If you are concerned in the life of your country and in your future, keep away from the Jew who has killed your innocent Arab brethren with weapons purchased with the money you paid in buying his goods and which he intends to utilize for the acquisition of the land remaining in your hands in order to drive you away from your Fatherland. Know that in buying from a Jew you will yourself work for the extermination of your life and your country with your own hands and will betray your Fatherland and religion. Therefore, you Arab, either Moslem or Christian, win the confidence of your people and boycott the Jews by buying nothing from him except land and by selling him everything except land. Remember always the words of the upright Caliph Omar Ben Khutab who said: "The foreigners shall overcome you in trade which is one third of domination…"

O Arab! Remember that the Jew is your strongest enemy and the enemy of your ancestors since olden times. Do not be misled by his tricks for it is he who tortured Christ, peace be upon him, and poisoned Mohammed, peace and worship be with him. It is he who now endeavours to slaughter you as he did yesterday. Be aware that the best way to save yourself and your Fatherland from the grasp of the foreign intruder and greedy Jew is to boycott him. Therefore boycott him and support the industry of your Fatherland and God.


THE JERUSALEM ARAB STUDENTS.

Source: Palestine Diary by Lt. Colonel F. H. Kisch, C.B.E, D.S.O. Victor Gollancz TLD, London 1938. p. 268.

The New Turn In Washington or, The Haunting of FDR

...the message [Obama] was delivering to his own State Department, to his own diplomats who will be carrying out his policies, was plain: The goal of American foreign policy in the Middle East is now the creation of a Palestinian state. Very little will be expected of the Palestinians in the creation of the Palestinians in the creation of that state; Hamas should renounce terror and recognize Israel, but a failure to do so will not kill the deal. Violence should be foresworn, but even that is of secondary importance to the state itself.

A great deal is, however, expected of Israel. Settlements are to be frozen, including their "natural growth." Israel must bolster the Palestinian economy, provide Palestinians with jobs, and make things better in Gaza. Israel is to give; the Palestinians are to receive. Israel's giving is to be accompanied by a promise of reduced violence. Palestinian receiving will be accompanied by Israel's surrender of more territory beyond the entirety of Gaza and the near-entirety of the West Bank already in Palestinian hands.

Israel, the president asserts, will be better off if all this happens. Trust him. He's Israel's friend. A better friend than anyone else, remember, because he's willing to be honest about Israel's need to sacrifice itself on the altar of nothing more than a promise, and maybe not even that.

And so the turn against Israel that so many predicted during the 2008 campaign is coming to pass-with a smile, and a nod, and an invocation of a word that actually means something very different from friendship. It might even mean its opposite.

John Podhoretz

text



Will Obama be our generation's FDR in Jewish matters and concerns?

Is my judgment too harsh?

Read on:

Report: U.S. to block Iran sanctions at G8 summit

The United States is opposed to enacting a new set of financial sanctions against Iran that are due to be discussed in the G8 summit next week, diplomatic officials in New York reported Friday.

...According to the Italian prime minister, "the general leaning [among G8 leaders] is toward sanctions."

However, diplomatic sources in New York reported that American officials are working behind the scenes to prevent new sanctions from being imposed against Iran.

U.S. officials claimed that a tough stance toward Iran could backfire, bringing about an opposite outcome to that desired by those who support such measures.