Gross: . . . we were talking about how he lived in Israel in kibbutzim and was Zionist when he was a young man. But he later rethought many of his views about Israel.
In the past few years [technical difficulty] think that Israel should actually be one state with the Palestinian territories and that in one state everybody should have an equal vote which really outraged a lot of your readers...
Mr. Judt: Right.
Gross: ...because it would mean Israel would cease to be a Jewish state and the majority voting population would be Palestinian. So what was it like for you to alienate so many of your readers to outrage? So many of your readers.
Mr. Judt: Well, my wife, who is not Jewish, was amazed. She said that why can't people see how reasonable your essay was? I said look, what I did was break outside of a very big circle - the circle of Jews who believe in Israel and speaking as a Jew, stood outside it and said the emperor has no clothes. And that is not calculated to please people. But I would say, by the way, that although I made a lot of enemies, some of whom probably still see themselves as my enemy, they were nearly all in the United States.
My essay was republished all over the world. The essay on what was called "The Alternative to the Present Situation," in Israel it aroused a lot of political commentary but also a lot of approving commentary. . . .
March 29, 2010
Tony Judt on NPR's "Fresh Air"
Interviewed by Terry Gross, March 29, 2010:
March 25, 2010
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi on WHYY
Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane, March 25, 2010: "Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, on the prospects for Palestinian-Israeli peace: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has entered a new phase of angry accusations, stalled negotiations and bitter disputes over Israeli settlements in parts of past and perhaps future Palestinian lands. Which is to say that nothing much is new at all. Still, the world hopes for a restart of peace negotiations. Here to discuss the past, present and possible future of those talks is Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, also known as the PLO. Dr. Ashrawi was the official spokeswoman for the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace process during the 1991 Madrid peace conference, and has won several major peace-making awards. She's in town giving a lecture at LaSalle University later today as part of its Diplomat in Residence program, and she’s our guest on today's Radio Times."
March 23, 2010
March 17, 2010
March 15, 2010
"U.S.-Israel rift undermining some long-standing taboos"
By Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com, March 15, 2010: "The rather extraordinary dust-up between the U.S. and Israel has, among other benefits, shined a light on two of the most taboo yet self-evidently true propositions: (1) our joined-at-the-hip relationship with Israel is a significant cause of anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world, fuels attacks on Americans, and entails a very high price for the U.S. on multiple levels; and (2) many American neoconservatives have their political beliefs shaped by allegiance to Israel. . . ." (continued)
March 11, 2010
Palestinian and Israeli women visit Yardley, March 11, 2010
Three young women from Israel and the West Bank will be coming to Yardley on Thursday, March 11. They tell an amazing story. The women are peacemakers, and have been participants since 2005 with the nonprofit Creativity for Peace.
Inspired Palestinian and Israeli women bring teenagers--Muslims, Jews, Christians, and others--from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank to summer camp in New Mexico. They train the girls in group dialogue and healing of trauma and the girls express themselves in art. After their return home, they meet regularly to continue building their relationships.
“Our group of religious leaders met with Creativity’s Israeli director and a couple of girls who had recently completed the program when we visited the Holy Land,” relates the Rev. Al Krass of Levittown. He was one of the members of the Interfaith Community for Middle East Peace (ICMEP)—local Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders who went to the Holy Land in 2008 to do Compassionate Listening.
“We were deeply moved by their testimonies, by their commitment. When we learned that three of their young adult leaders were coming to the area, we booked them right away. They have a story that will touch the hearts of people here and awaken new hope for peace.”
March 11, 7:00 PM, Yardley United Methodist Church, 300 Yardley-Newtown Rd., Yardley, PA. More info: 215.547.2656, or Yardley United Methodist Church, 215.493.3345.
Inspired Palestinian and Israeli women bring teenagers--Muslims, Jews, Christians, and others--from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank to summer camp in New Mexico. They train the girls in group dialogue and healing of trauma and the girls express themselves in art. After their return home, they meet regularly to continue building their relationships.
“Our group of religious leaders met with Creativity’s Israeli director and a couple of girls who had recently completed the program when we visited the Holy Land,” relates the Rev. Al Krass of Levittown. He was one of the members of the Interfaith Community for Middle East Peace (ICMEP)—local Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders who went to the Holy Land in 2008 to do Compassionate Listening.
“We were deeply moved by their testimonies, by their commitment. When we learned that three of their young adult leaders were coming to the area, we booked them right away. They have a story that will touch the hearts of people here and awaken new hope for peace.”
March 11, 7:00 PM, Yardley United Methodist Church, 300 Yardley-Newtown Rd., Yardley, PA. More info: 215.547.2656, or Yardley United Methodist Church, 215.493.3345.
"Israel and apartheid: A fair comparison?"
By Edward C. Corrigan, opednews.com, March 7, 2010: "There is a controversy raging in North America over Israeli Apartheid Week. . . ." (continued)
The Shalom Center's trove of articles
Philadelphia's Shalom Center website has articles on the "Israeli-Palestinian collision" dating back to 2001.
Mamilla Cemetery campaign
The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and other groups have filed a petition on behalf of the Palestinian descendants of those buried in an ancient Muslim cemetery, the Mamilla Cemetery, in Jerusalem. The petition, which was filed with several international bodies, urges Israel to: halt construction of the museum; investigate human rights violations; rebury human remains; and declare the Mamilla Cemetery a protected antiquities site.
For additional information, please visit the Mamilla Campaign website at www.mamillacampaign.org.
Democracy Now! February 10, 2010: "Palestinian Families Appeal to UN over Israeli Construction of 'Museum of Tolerance' on Jerusalem’s Historic Mamilla Cemetery."
March 10, 2010
John Pilger re BDS
"For Israel, a reckoning," JohnPilger.com, January 14, 2010:
In his latest column for the New Statesman, John Pilger describes the growing boycott, disinvestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine. Based on the anti-apartheid campaign that helped bring down the racist regime in South Africa, BDS is becoming a catch-cry for freedom in countries whose governments continue to ignore the Palestinians' struggle against another form of apartheid and which Nelson Mandela has described as "the greatest moral issue of our time." . . . (continued)
March 9, 2010
"Israel's 10 worst errors of the decade"
By Bradley Burston, Haaretz, January 1, 2010:
1 through 10 = the siege of Gaza
1 through 10 = the siege of Gaza
Bill Moyers, one year earlier
January 9, 2009, transcript of Moyers' essay re the Gaza assault, in which he references Aaron David Miller's Newsweek piece "If Obama is serious: He should get tough with Israel" and recommends his book The Much Too Promised Land.
"A Second Look at the Timing and Motivation of the Detroit al Qaeda Attack"
By Casual Observer, Firedoglake, December 30, 2009: ". . . The bomber was not radicalized, or recruited, by attacks in Yemen that had not yet occurred. Based on the information currently available, he was motivated by what he perceived to be Palestinian suffering and injustice. This is an obvious fact that US leadership seems unable to grasp, to the world’s detriment."
March 7, 2010
"Gaza One Year Later"
By Stephen Lendman, opednews.com, December 29, 2009:
A December 2009 report prepared by Oxfam International, Amnesty International UK, United Civilians for Peace, Christian Aid, and a dozen other international NGOs (called NGOs below) titled, "Failing Gaza: No rebuilding, no recovery, no more excuses" is hard-hitting and to the point.
It says a year after Operation Cast Lead, extensive damage hasn't been repaired and thousands "are being prevented from rebuilding their shattered society." It's not from a lack of commitment or enough resources with over $4 billion in pledged aid. It's because Israel blocks goods and equipment from entering Gaza. The world community and Arab world do nothing to stop them, so much of the Strip still lies in ruins. . . . (continued)
Gathering for Gaza in Doylestown, Dec. 27, 2009
Isaac Luria of JStreet.org, a mainstream pro-Israel lobby, writes:
Gaza is in crisis, and without addressing the urgent humanitarian needs there, the prospects for long-term peace and real security for Israel will grow dimmer. We must act.
A year following Israel's military action in Gaza, rockets and mortars continue to land in southern Israel and residents still do not yet have true security. Israel's international standing continues to sink as a result of fallout from the war. Hamas's grip on the Strip remains strong.
A blockade on Gaza meant to weaken Hamas continues to deepen civilian suffering and anger there by preventing basic necessities and building materials from reaching the population. . . .
Tell Your Rep: Improve the Desperate Situation in Gaza
We must address the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza to enhance the prospects for real peace and security in the region. . . .
[Suggested message:]
Subject: Please sign the McDermott-Ellison and Moran-Inglis Gaza letters
Your Letter: I believe it is in the interests of the United States, Israel and the Palestinian people for the U.S. to take action to improve the lives of the people of Gaza.
Please sign two letters – first, the McDermott-Ellison letter to President Obama urging him to press for immediate relief for the citizens of Gaza and, second, the Moran-Inglis letter to Secretary of State Clinton, urging her to press the Israeli government to end the ban on student travel from Gaza to the West Bank.
Bucks County peace activist/Vietnam vet Bill Perry traveled to Egypt to join the Gaza Freedom March and had this to say about it. Here are Bill's photos from Egypt.
Locally, we . . .
December 27, 2009, 3-4 p.m.
Bucks County Courthouse
55 E. Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Support freedom and justice for Gaza
Commemorate the anniversary of the invasion and bombardment
inflicted on Gaza from December 27, 2008, to January 17, 2009
Support the Gaza Freedom March
Signs: Be positive, e.g., Freedom for Gaza!
Palestinian flags welcome!
Parking: Lot/garage directly across No. Main St. from Courthouse
Information: seeing.for.myself@gmail.com or 215-340-9747
Bucks County Courthouse
55 E. Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Support freedom and justice for Gaza
Commemorate the anniversary of the invasion and bombardment
inflicted on Gaza from December 27, 2008, to January 17, 2009
Support the Gaza Freedom March
Signs: Be positive, e.g., Freedom for Gaza!
Palestinian flags welcome!
Parking: Lot/garage directly across No. Main St. from Courthouse
Information: seeing.for.myself@gmail.com or 215-340-9747
The gathering's organizer, longtime Doylestown resident Susan Johnson, visited Gaza in May 2009. Her blog, "Palestine: Seeing for Myself," chronicles her trip. She has also given public presentations, as reported in the Intelligencer.
March 6, 2010
March 5, 2010
Gaza Freedom March
Visit http://www.gazafreedommarch.org/.
Local peace activist/Vietnam vet Bill Perry traveled to Egypt to join the march and had this to say about it. Here are Bill's photos from Egypt.
Local peace activist/Vietnam vet Bill Perry traveled to Egypt to join the march and had this to say about it. Here are Bill's photos from Egypt.
"Christmas in Cairo: The Grassroots Comes to Gaza's Aid"
By Medea Benjamin, opednews.com, December 26, 2009:
One year ago, the brutal Israeli 22-day invasion of the Gaza Strip shocked the world, leaving some 1,400 people dead, thousands more wounded, as well as hospitals, schools, prisons, UN facilities, factories, agricultural processing plants and some 20,000 homes damaged or destroyed.
As we mark the one-year anniversary of the invasion, the plight of the people of Gaza continues unabated. . . ." (continued)
March 3, 2010
"Jews Against Zionism"
By Stephen Lendman, opednews.com, December 7, 2009: "They're numerous, outspoken, and range from secular to orthodox to . . . ." (continued)
"Israel under Widespread International Criticism for Settlement Expansion Plan"
November 20, 2009: Full story, transcript.
Related Democracy Now! story: "As Israelis Celebrate Independence and Palestinians Mark the 'Nakba,' a Debate with Benny Morris, Saree Makdisi and Norman Finkelstein," May 16, 2008.
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