We are pleased to report that Seth Freedman’s latest article on CiF generated only 14 comments.
This follows a trend in the reduction in the comment count in Freedman threads since CiF Watch’s launch.

Oh dear.
November 22, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: Comment is Free, Guardian, Seth Freedman | by Hawkeye
We are pleased to report that Seth Freedman’s latest article on CiF generated only 14 comments.
This follows a trend in the reduction in the comment count in Freedman threads since CiF Watch’s launch.

Oh dear.
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28 comments
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November 22, 2009 at 9:02 pm
AKUS
Freedman wrote, on September 7th:
“While an indiscriminate boycott of all Israeli produce is both wrong-headed and counterproductive, that does not mean specific sanctions ought to be proscribed in cases where the companies involved are clearly making money from piling misery on the Palestinians”.
No doubt meant to write this:
While an indiscriminate boycott of all Israeli CiF contributors is both wrong-headed and counterproductive, that does not mean specific sanctions ought to be proscribed in cases where the CiF contributors involved are clearly making money from piling misery on the Israelis.
The biter bit, and the boycotter boycotted.
November 22, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Guardian Hates Jews
CiFWatch, well-done!!!
November 22, 2009 at 10:08 pm
sababa
Well, he’s been writing for Cif for some years (!!!) now, a few hundred pieces must have piled up, and even the dimmest of the dim must by now have realized that it’s the same recipe over and over and over again, and all of it on matters that don’t really matter much in the real world, except perhaps on the local level in Israel — and of course to his coterie of Jew haters and Israel bashers. The most interesting thing about this whole Freedman business is plainly how come that apparently nobody from Cif management ever bothered to think: wait a second, what are we getting ourselves into with this guy who has zero grasp of the bigger picture and is recycling basically the same theme 2-3 times per week for us, week after week, month after month, year after year? But then, maybe they thought about this, and were just fine with it.
November 22, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Armanitoarmy
From Armani to Army,from cokehead to dickdead,from the Guardian CiF hero to zero.
Seth wanted to join the ISM ,but was refused membership,because they only accept refusniks or draft dodgers.But he did get extensive logistical support and help from them in the West Bank.
The people at “Heathlander,The contrition of Seth Freedman” aren’t too enamored with him either.
November 23, 2009 at 12:15 am
AKUS
Armanitoarmy
Thanks for revealing that Freedman has not only supported ISM in his articles, but has received support from them and now they have turned on him – its always dangerous hunting with hyenas.
This may also explain his sudden change of heart regarding support for Bilin, and his less frequent trips int othe Heart of Darkness, aka the WB.
The following poster, an ISM member, posting on the Heathlander blog apparently objects strongly to Freedman for his temporary support of Cast Lead, as does Heathlander:
http://heathlander.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/the-contrition-of-seth-freedman/
Asa on February 2, 2009 said:
Excellent article, thanks a lot.
I haven’t paid that much attention to him recently, though I did see a very silly one he did a couple of weeks ago condemning those who advocate BDS against Israel.
This record, however, is much worse than that tactical question: active support for the massacres. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. We in ISM have actually given him some logistical support and help in the West Bank (although we refused his request to join the ISM, considering he was still a reservist at that time (Israelis have joined ISM but only refusniks or avoiders)).
After this, I’ve just sent an internal ISM email circulating your post and recommending we refuse him any future such help he requests.
November 23, 2009 at 12:24 am
Margie
Yes, Seth, boycott does work well. You were right.
November 23, 2009 at 4:33 am
Fairplay
Why give him more publicity? – enough already!
When he writes an article worth commenting on, we can discuss him – but only then. Good riddance to SF and good work, CW !
I also get the feeling that people are becoming fixated with Lerman.
Who needs him?
November 23, 2009 at 5:17 am
cityca
Good analysis Hawkeye.
Very instructive to read the posts on Heathlander (thanks AKUS). Seems like Freedman has just found out that you can’t run with the hare and the hounds.
Also interesting to read some of the comments there and to see that Tony Greenstein and D Wearing post there. Looks like the left’s new pin up boy is now Ben White. Hardly surprising, given his poisonous outpourings.
November 23, 2009 at 7:50 am
Yohoho
Fairplay, I disagree with you. Freedman is sly and like a cat – he will always land on his feet. He will also sweet talk others into believing that he really is what he puffs himself up to be.
It’d be akin to a public service to stop him once and for all, and I hope that AKUS’ and Armanitoarmy’s information will do exactly that.
November 23, 2009 at 7:55 am
HairShirt
sababa, very true.
No doubt that’s why Freedman’s been exiled to al-Grauniad’s equivalent of Siberia – CiF Belief.
And Fairplay, I agree with Yohoho. Seeking to undermine the deluded fixations of others by forcing the reality-resting of them does not constitute fixation! It’s akin to a public service.
November 23, 2009 at 8:03 am
sababa
As cityca already said, the comments on the blog post Armani and AKUS mention are indeed very revealing: so Sethele went under ISM protektia to Hebron, and then wrote up their propaganda in his pieces for Cif… who’d have thunk??? Also quite amusing that even his erstwhile fans realized that the boy doesn’t really have any principles or convictions — he’ll write whatever he thinks gets him the most attention.
November 23, 2009 at 8:13 am
sababa
Hairshirt, re. Cif belief, I’m not so sure that this is not what he wants. He may get ready to launch a new line: Freedman’s advice on how to live in eternal peace with the Muslims, or something like that. I’ve heard from somebody that some time ago, he (and some other Graun people) shared their pearls of wisdom at some sort of interfaith something in London. Probably he’s already working on the book… Chapter 1: Me and the God of Mammon; 2: Me, ME!!! and the God of Coke; 3: Me and the God of Soldiering; 4: ME, the FFFFamous Writer, and the God of Writing Rubbish; 5: Me, THE New Prophet of Peace!!!
Drums, Curtain, Trumpet.
November 23, 2009 at 8:53 am
Margie
Sababa. I see that you foretell a future of Seth plus Dispatches starring (guess who??) that’s right first guess. Should be a hit don’t you think?
In your list of chapter headings you left out the introduction, entitled, modestly, ME!
November 23, 2009 at 9:31 am
TomWonacott
There is no valid reason for Seth’s articles in the Guardian except they are used by the Guardian to whip up their left wing base into an anti Israel frenzy – week after week. Seth calls for a targeted boycott against his own country – something that seems unfathomable to me. How can you be so arrogant in your viewpoint that you (along with a handful of fellow left wing pseudo-intellectuals also from Israel) wish such pain on fellow citizens? His articles always attack Israel and, rarely, call for similar responsibility from the Palestinians.
The Guardian clearly sponsors writers like Seth to delegitimize Israel.
November 23, 2009 at 9:38 am
Cifwatchwatch
Hmmm…..not very strong on the trend analysis part, are you Hawkeye? You may have failed to consider the subject of Seth’s articles in more recent times havent exactly been as close to heart of many pro-palestinians. I dont think they care so much about whether jewish girls go out with arab boys and Israel’s teen drinking! Oh well. Guess you need to give yourself a slap on the ass cheeks to make yourself feel better.
November 23, 2009 at 10:05 am
JerusalemMite
sababa – Drums, Curtain, Trumpet.
You forgot.
The sound of a flushing toilet.
November 23, 2009 at 10:30 am
Fairplay
OK – Maybe Seth is still worth taking seriously if only for the pleasure of reading people who mock him.
Still, as I’ve said before, he’s very green and not even 30, so when sababa wrote: ” the boy doesn’t really have any principles or convictions” – I think the operative word is boy(chik)…
Anyway, I saw yesterday that video of Shlomo Sand and Avi Shlaim at ‘Frontline Club’, which makes Freedman look like the real amateur he is. What a nutcase that Shlomo Sandman is, with his broken English and all!
By the way, our Jonathan Hoffmann did a very good job in challenging him from the audience.
November 23, 2009 at 10:40 am
Yohoho
sababa, I am not sure that Seth is capable of taking the long view, or of the impulse control required for him to be able to deal with so few hits to his threads, but time will tell.
A propos him launching a new line, surely a “new offensive” might be a better description?
November 23, 2009 at 10:53 am
Fairplay
hmm – on second thoughts. It appears that Seth only thinks about himself and furthering his career and how to make a fast buck in Israel.
What about us? Are we as selfless as Mother Teresa, and no longer interested in a career? Is this virtual life all there is?
November 23, 2009 at 10:55 am
sababa
Margie, OK, but I add the conclusion: ME, and My Unshakable Belief in ME and MY Destiny: To Teach Those Israelites How To Please CiF.
JerusalemMightyMite: Are you not worried about clogging it all up???
Fairplay, I also watched this video. I don’t know how Jonathan managed to sit through all this. But in fairness to the Sandman, English is just one of several languages he speaks, so I won’t hold his English against him; in any case, his whole demeanor is clownish enough. I was a bit shocked about Shlaim; I thought he is generally considered a serious academic, so to see him shmooze like this with Rosy Rose and the Sandman was a bit surprising.
November 23, 2009 at 11:32 am
Snigger
Seth reminds me of Mr Toad in Wind in the Willows.
November 23, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Fairplay
Sababa habibi – I don’t hold his pathetic English against him; he should have spoken in French with an interpreter if necessary. He is certainly a clown and a pseudo-intellectual left-wing useful idiot to boot. He made Avi Shlaim sound moderate. As for that English woman, the least said the better.
November 23, 2009 at 6:09 pm
armanitoarmy
Seth is working on a new book, and it will be called “Can I bring my own Brain”
November 23, 2009 at 10:28 pm
AKUS
armanitoarmy – brilliant title for his next book. Of course, if he had a brain, he’d use your suggestion – no, wait …
November 23, 2009 at 10:37 pm
AKUS
Cifwatchwatch – you know, I think you have a point.
When Freedman writes an article that I find myself nodding wisely over, since it actually somewhat resembles reality, his “score” declines. When he writes one of his fantasy pieces, replete with a Nazi analogy or two to describe Israelis, frothing with hatred for Israel and Jews, his “score” increases.
Its interesting to see the correlation among those who read his pieces on CiF and how they love those types of articles and hate the ones that occasionally let slip that Israel, Israelis, and other Jews are not so bad after all.
Clearly, he should stick to what he does best and where he garners an appreciative audience – making up really nasty fantasies about Israel and Jews.
Otherwise, he may be made to stay in the limbo of the CiF belief section with Bunglerwhateverhisnameis till his contract with the Guardian runs out.
But I think even you must agree that the trend line does show a decline in readership for whatever reason – perhaps because he’s frothing less now that he knows that he’s being “watched” – and boycotted.
November 23, 2009 at 11:31 pm
effher
Seth is basically a bully,a bully who was shielded by the Guardian moderators,and cheered on by his cheer squad,now even his cheer squad has abandoned him,not even a single one of them,bothered to turn up to post on his tread.
Like all bullies Seth folded like a cheap suit,when confronted.
November 24, 2009 at 12:10 am
SickFrogman
Seth is basically a bully,a bully who was shielded by the Guardian moderators
And what a bully!
I remember one of SickFrogman’s articles about the antics of the Women in Green, in which he made much of Matar having said “Nile to Euphrates”. Frogman did no research at all about the degree WiG are or are not representative of Israel.
One poster asked the logical questions – how many MK’s do the WiG have, have they a formal proposal for conquest, how many Israelis agree (very very few), etc.
SickFrogman never answered the questions – but had the moderators delete the post.
November 24, 2009 at 12:45 am
kermit
Calling Seth a frogman is demeaning to us frogs,please cease and desist,or you will have Miss Piggy on your case……………….KermitDeFrog…………