Forced to Leave, Freeman Speaks Ominously of Israel Lobby

 Forced into withdrawing his candidature for NIC chairman,  Freeman spoke ominous words about the brutal smear tactics of the Israel Lobby.  Will President Obama be unable to enact badly needed Change in the Middle East?  James G. Abourezk wrote  during the primary campaign season of the dangers of  then Senator Obama "groveling"  before the Israel Lobby, saying that continued "unquestioning support of Israel's criminal objectives is a real threat to world peace.".  

Charles Freeman's Victory - by Justin Raimondo

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Israel and its Violent Subconscious ; Musings after reading Jason Horsley

The Inexplicable Violence within Israel's Psyche :  Musings on Israel's Inner Conflict and the writings of Jason  Horsley    In reading author Jake Horsley's beautiful work,  in which contents of the collective psyche are examined in their intertwining with repression of violence,  and the release from that repression  -  in itself,  violent  -  and happened to think of the odd dialectic which comprises Israel's stance toward itself  as a state,     and the Palestinians who shadow it. 

Horsley's  texts  ( excerpts and reviews are contained within this months's posts )  contain one of the most profound and thorough analyses of the human psyche and its struggle to deal with violent undercurrents,  which I have ever encountered.   This attempt at resolution is cultural and social:   In America,  it takes the form of "entertainment",  but is enfolded within military policy and the "war on terror"  as well.  Our connection with Israel precludes a complete understanding of their own dynamic and failure to deal with the history of their own oppression at the hands of tyrants,  whose behavior they now mimic.  All of this is grist for the mill,  which considering the problems we are facing nationally and globally,  is timely and important enough to comprise a solid thesis which may be not only cathartic,  but informing as to solutions.  "Chaos by Design"  is what Horsley has called some of this dialectic of the human psyche with its violent tendencies  -  and this interplay consists inherently of the human soul  in dialogue with itself,  a soliloquy of sorts   -   and this subtitle carries meaning which would seem to span out in all directions,  and speak to many national and global conflicts.

Israel has been a private obsession of mine since my youth:  I am not Jewish,  but had an Uncle who was  a reformed Jew,  and then turned toward an orthodox stance later in life.  I spent much of my 20s in company with a famous author/Rabbi and attended meetings of Hassidicism in Pittsburgh,  PA.  I have viewed Israel as a kind of archetype of human struggle,  and have often felt almost brutally conflicted regarding their ongoing strife  with the Palestinians.  It is a surprize  to me,  but a delightful one,    that this author,  Horsely,  is making clearer so much of what I have viewed dimly,  as if  through Israel's own smokescreen.   Addendum:  What has impressed me chiefly regarding Horsley's work,  is that his writings would appear to contain and comprise a coherent and cohesive philosophy;  a phenomenology of human violence,   as it were,  which is to me extremely philosophical,  and carries him far beyond the film genre.  I am disturbed that he has not,  to my knowledge,  been recognized for having achieved this task,  one with importance in many social/cultural domains.  He was born in 1971,  which places him firmly within Howe and Strauss'  infamous Thirteenth Generation ( aka Generation X)  but his style and analysis is that of a Boomer ( born in the 1940s and '50s).  His comprehension of the importance of a shift from the American heartland into the corruption of the enclosed urban landscape is important and sociologically speaking is the crux of much about American violence.  I wager this applies to the Israeli predicament as well:  overcrowding and urbanization stir something within the recesses of the mind,  and may explain Israel's  increasingly "make my day"  attitude toward Palestine and Hamas,  and its "revenge fantasy"  tactics.    Fatah may just be the ones to throw  this back on  Israel.  We shall see. . .

Israel Stands Undaunted in face of mounting accusations of war crimes

Israel undaunted by mounting war  crimes accusations
Huffington Post's Rebecca Shapiro has authored a piece which includes a graphic slide show of Gaza victims amidst the ruins.  Rumors of Amnesty International finding the useage of white phosphorous by the Israeli's,  along with other charges of unprecedented cornering of civilians,  torture,  shooting of a father in front of his children,  etc.  are as always  to be taken with sober and cautious examination of all facts.  Hamas has not been accused of war crimes by the UN, and there needs to be a balanced view,  although suspicions of Israel lurk within my own mind.  

". . . for the world has changed,  and we must change with it." ~President Barack Hussein Obama   The picture at left is the moment of President Barack Obama signing executive orders to close Guantanomo,  and to suspend trials of suspected terrorist,  many of whom have been detained for years now.  As Obama returns to a principled and gentle approach,  breaking with Bush-Cheney's "war on terror',  despite howls from the right,  there does seem to be clearer air around the White House. Literary,  poetic,  charming,  handsome: Obama at times seems an enchanted figure;  how can America have elected him?  I hope it is not naive optimism to think that he will have an effect on the Middle East,  as well as in all areas.  It is nice to feel optimism:  and the dawn of a new era experienced as a reality,  rather than an impossible dream,  is a welcome change indeed. 

From Prison Planet

                                             US Support of Israeli War Against Gaza May Trigger Depression here

Whither Is Israel Tending?

Hear Ye,  O Israel;  HaShem the Lord;  HaShem is One  
Whither Are You Tending, Israel?  :  An Attempt at a Critique of Israel's Present Self-Contradiction                                                                     

  It has been said that as goes Israel,  will go the world.  And whither is Israel tending is a question on anyone's mind,  who takes seriously the place of the middle east in our collective global future.  The weakening of its stance toward  Hizballah marked the beginning of a radical decline.  To view the Palestinians as their potential partners and neighbors was a watering down of the Zionist ideology.  To be sure,  from one standpoint,  this weakening was the superior mode.  It marked a democratic resolve which is in alignment with global tendencies to diplomacy.  But this argument is weak from the perspective of Zionist ideology;  it denies its supremacey, and in so doing,  negates its reason for existence as a separate state.  There can be no compromise:  Either Zionism is viable,  or it is an outmoded ideology;  perhaps ill-conceived from its outset.   If the former,  Palestine constitues an  enemy and antipodean entity.  If the latter,  then why a state of Israel at all?  I see today that Leiter is posting "The Case for  a Divestment and Boycott Campaign Against Israel".  (commondreams.org:  Israel:  Boycott,  Divest,  Sanction).  The very softening toward Hizballah which it thought would stand it in good stead,  has caused a backlash and an eruption from the recesses of the collective Israeli psyche,  which provoked into conflict,  now adopts the very stance which was once aimed at itself,  from its most formidable oppressor.  

The current outbreak of violence against Gaza and Hamas is merely symptom,  consequence,  incident of all which has come before:  A self-contradiction ,  a rift between ideology and theory on the one hand,  and practice and evolution on the other,  has reached a state of unbearable presssure.  This inward conflict has created a furious downward spiral :  with each attempt at living up to its highest Democratic and postmodern idealism,  there comes a weakening toward Hezballah and Hamas,  who are all too ready to be uncooperative.  On the heels of this comes a furious backlash and escalation of the Zionist militarism.  And so it goes:   And "Israel:  Divest,  Boycott,  Sanction"  may be the banner increasingly flown in Europe and America.  

Israeli children sign missiles,  "with love from Israel"

A Dissident Voice

A Dissident Voice:  Mohamed Khadr of South Lebanon:  ". . . In a just world,  Israel's massive air strikes against the jailed,  impoverished and besieged population of Gaza would be considered " a crime against humanity".  But this is Israel that exists in a parallel universe where UN resolutions,  International law,  the Fourth  Geneva convention ,  and internationally recognized human rights are meaningless.  No other nation on earth has [Israel's] protection and impunity. . ."  " Gaza's Blood and Israel's Lies"  :   to read more of this piece:  http://jhoubiyeh.blogspot.com/2008/12/gazas-blood-and-israels-lies.html

Israel Begins Ground Offensive as Obama Prepares for Inauguration

As Obama prepares for Inaugural Day,  Israel ups the ante with ground offensive.  Israel allows Palestinians to flee,  as UN calls for ceasefire.  Protests in US and Europe, as expected,    but what will Obama do?  That for us remains  the burning question.   Some thoughts:   I am watching the American blogosphere closely,  and I always read both the conservative and liberal POV,  and do feel my perspective is becoming more balanced as I do so.  I have the antiZionist ( not antiSemetic) stance,  but this is a knee-jerk reaction left over from identifying with certain mentors and authors who believed Zionism was an incoherent and failed ideology.  The Israelis  have attempted to build their tourism industry even as Hamas has stockpiled weapons and thrown rockets toward them.  I understand their frustration,  and yet feel that the Palestinians have their own grievances,  and war is always repulsive to the sensitive,  although it is a necessary part of life ( and as a Nietzschean I know this, and am not too keen on total pacifism) .  What is my major concern at this juncture  -  as I actually sympathize with both sides increasingly   -  is whether Obama will be able to make a difference.  Perhaps I am expecting too much in the way of singular,  brilliant,  innovative action from him.  For instance,  does he have the power of moral suasion to call for a divided Jerusalem,  with a Palestinian state within?   As expectations   -  about new  US policies regarding the Middle East springing forth under an Obama Administration   -  continue to rise,  what is he thinking and feeling?    In any case,  he will have his hands full after he is sworn in,  and I do not envy his position.  Below,  a child of Gaza: 

ISRAEL IGNORES CALL FOR CEASEFIRE, CONTINUES ATTACKS ON HAMAS IN GAZA STRIP

Obama's silence troubles Palestinians and Israelis equally

 Tens of thousands of Israeli troops sent into Gaza under cover of the night. While some see Zionism as a failed ideology and Israel a global burden and menace,  whose actions can be questioned on both legal and moral grounds,  others feel with equal zeal that  Israel's self defense against Hamas is entirely appropriate. 

  US calls for cease fire,  but does not condemn Israeli actions.  One wonders what Obama's true stance will be,  once he no longer feels compelled to defer to Bush.  Will he be brave enough to stand alone in  adopting an innovative stance,  and one not necessarily  automatically aligned with Israel's intents and purposes?  It will be a telling test of fire for him, and whether he will undergo the baptism of this fire,  and emerge from such a trial nobly and heroically remains to be seen.  He may be just more business as usual.  I fear that,  as do many others.  No one wants to think he will fizzle. 

 

To read:  Israel,  Gaza,  and the US:  What Will Obama Dare to Do?  :  http://www.thefirstspot.co.uk/46207,opinion,israel-gaza-and-the-us-what-will-obama-dare-to-do

 Israel's Righteous Fury and Its Vicitms,  is an essay appearing on the blogosphere tonight by a self-professed,  "eco-socialist"  :
http://jamescaspell.blogspot.com/2009/01/israels-righteous-fury-and-its-victims.html 

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand;  and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many. ~  Daniel 8:25

 

"Why pick on Israel? Because its actions are wrong."

In 2007,  Steven Rose of the Independent Commentators asked,  "Why pick on Israel?"  and then answered rhetorically,  "because its actions are wrong".  This holds true once more.  As Rose said,  all are aghast "when any serious attempt is made to censure Israel.".  Another blogger on why Israel is in the wrong:http://fallenmonk.blogspot.com/2008/12/israel-is-wrong.html

and also to take note of,  in the Dec 31, 2008 edition of The Nation,  there is a fine piece with a telling title:  "Israel's actions are irrational,  no matter how US politicians try to cast them as normal."   

It would appear that Kapner may have been correct when he said that Israel "has caused chaos from its inception"  and charge it with racism,  war crimes, and corruption.  That it does not in any way fulfill Biblical prophesy;  that its inception was a misunderstanding which has grown more dangerous and more convoluted with each step:  also becoming clear.  Can we even afford this support of Israel anymore,  whether in terms of money or morality?  Another old article,  from 2006 by Jonathon Cook,  but also still timely in its statements,  especially in the interesting observation made that journalists will begin a statement with the word ,  "apparently" in an attempt to distance themselves from the truth they purport to stand for:  "The Lies Israel Tells Itself,  and that we tell on its behalf  :  http://www.antiwar.com/orig/cook.php?articleid=9436

On the other hand,  Charles Krauthhammer's piece in the Washington Post

here 

is not without its own merits.  (Aren't I getting a bit old to be so confused on the issues?)    

 

WILL ISRAELI ATTACKS ON GAZA BACKFIRE? Read John Bruhns

Read  Huffington Post's John Bruhns on why Israeli attacks on Gaza are likely to Backfire:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sgt-john-bruhns-/israel-attacks-on-gaza-wi_b_154644.html 

Obama Silent on Gaza Crisis

While Israel rejects the call to truce,  Obama's continued silence on the Gaza crisis is making many Arabs feel pessimistic about his message of global change.  He has conceded that Israel has the right to self-defense;  that Palestinians may feel likewise is an idea that Obama keeps shrouded in his silence. 
 
Obama's youthful and virile presentation ,  coupled with his compassion and his eclectic heritage and background,  seemed an almost magical recipe for a new start in the middle east. 

His hesitation bespeaks a timidity which might be construed as bordering on cowardice.  He will inherit the Gaza-Israel conflict,  but it remains unclear whether he will have the strength to address it in a way which departs from US business as usual in foreign policy  ( unquestioned support of Israel and its agenda)

. "It is difficult to sympathize with a group [Hamas]  that does not identify itself as a Nation-State."  Barack Obama , December 2008


As a philosophical exersize,  I did consult the I Ching with this question:  What is Obama actually feeling and thinking right now with the Gaza conflict.?  Using the James Legge translation,  I received hexagram 50, The Cauldron,   with lines 3,4, and 6 changing to hexagram7,  The Army.    Some lines:

His progress is stopped. . . but soon the genial rains will come,  and his action will be in every way advantageous. . . The Cauldron designed for the ruler's use, has it's feet broken and its contents overturened.  The subject will be made to blush with shame. There will be evil. . . The transformational work is done, and action will bring good fortune. . . [leading to The Army]. . . My translation/interpretation:  Obama is in fact concealing his true ideas and feelings,  and is experiencing considerable shame regarding this.  In the future,  a cleansing situation will give him the opportunity for fresh action,  which will cross ideological lines,  and be innovative and successful.  

Elder of Ziyon: Why would Israel bomb a university? Here's why!

Elder of Ziyon: Why would Israel bomb a university? Here's why!

Elder of Zion's piece is most enlightening.  On the other side,  here is Brian McLaren,  author, speaker,  activist:
http://www.brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/israel-gaza-truth.html

and from the Pacific Free Press:  http://www.pacofocfreepress.com/news/1/3521-plan-of-attack-seeing-gaza.html 

MORE ON THE GAZA CRISIS

A perspective not heard openly,  but echoes what many I know are thinking, and speaking privately :http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/38556


". . . in fact,  these attacks were the pretext, and not the cause of Israel's aggression . . . Israel is a serial aggressor. . . most of those killed were civilians:  women and children. . . the world community sits in silence as Israel continues its viloations and war crimes. . . "