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This is a cross-post from the blog, Brothers of Judea, a site which combats anti-Semitism and anti-Israel hate speech at The Huffington Post.
I made some comments on Mr. Krinsky’s recent article that I thought might be worth sharing in this medium. If you haven’t already read the article, use the link above to get the gist of it.:
Mr. Krinsky, there’s ONE simple reason why leftists are anti-Israel: They have swallowed the Palestinian narrative whole.
Around the time of the 1980s, a shift occurred in Arab-Israeli relations. The Arabs changed their rhetoric from “rah, rah, rah, we’re going to destroy the Zionist entity” to “Oh, the mean old Zionist entity is attacking us for no reason.” They began to shift their role in the conflict from attacker and victimizer to victim. And no group did this more effectively than the Palestinians.
The left bought this line hook, line and sinker. They completely believe the idea that the Palestinians are innocent victims and Israel is the cruel aggressor. They are so invested in this worldview that any evidence that deviates from this narrative, such as historical facts like the Hebron Massacre and the Palestinian rejection of the 1948 plan or modern events like rejections of negotiations and suicide bombings, are either Zionist propaganda which couldn’t possibly be true or completely justified because of Israel’s behavior. You would think the left would have an open mind to all sources of information, but in this case they are willing to make an exception.
The entire system of leftist morality is built upon victim and victimizer. If you’re on the left, you root for the victim, no questions asked. In the I/P conflict, there’s no question who’s the victim and who’s the victimizer, the Palestinians are brown, poor, and less armed, the Israelis are strong and white. Done.
FAQs
Q: I’m a new immigrant to Israel from an English-speaking country, with no transferable skills. What’s the best way for me to get ahead?
A: Welcome to Israel! The traditional way to make a new life in Israel is to first attend Ulpan for at least six months and learn the language. Then, as time goes by and your command of the language improves, it is possible to take the courses and exams necessary to convert foreign qualifications into those recognised in Israel, or alternatively to learn a new profession.
However, pioneers in the field have recently shown that there is actually no need to waste one’s time on such a lengthy and antiquated process: if you are capable of stringing a few words together in your native language, the world is your oyster. Unprecedented opportunities exist in the field of journalism and no previous experience is required. Inspiring examples such as Seth Freedman, Rachel Shabi and Mya Guarneiri have proved that it’s not how well you write, but the political narrative you advance, that really matters.
Q: Don’t I need to have some sort of qualifications or experience in order to become a journalist and isn’t there a lot of competition?
A: Absolutely not. If you take care to stick to the correct subject material, the market is virtually unlimited and constantly expanding. Outlets such as the Guardian, the Huffington Post, Electronic Intifada, Mondoweiss and Richard Silverstein will be only too happy to print anything you can come up with, as long as it meets the basic condition of painting Israel in the worse possible light.
Of course if you happen to have studied creative writing at some non-exclusive academic establishment this can only help, as you will sometimes find it necessary to rely more upon fiction than the available hard facts. The key words to get into every article are ‘racist’, ‘apartheid’, ‘far-right settlers’ and ‘so-called democracy’. There is little to fear as far as a drying-up of the market is concerned; great care is being taken by a number of elements in the region, in collaboration with respected international bodies, to make sure that the present commercial climate is perpetuated for as long as possible.
This is a cross post by Zach of the Brothers of Judea (h/t Solomonia)
Dear Huffington Post Staff,
I am writing in response to your request for more information in combating the problem of anti-Semitism on the Huffington Post. I would like to draw your attention to a blogger named MJ Rosenberg whose actions in many ways encapsulate this problem; he does not say anything anti-Semitic himself but enables and legitimizes those who do. If I could spare a moment of your time I will explain why I make this accusation. It was not made lightly.
I will begin by informing you about an anti-Semitic staple that has appeared in various forms for centuries: The myth of the Zionist occupied government. In short this myth claims that a secret group of Jews control not only the government of many countries but in fact seek to control the entire world (if they do not do so already). The most prominent example of this is the famous forgery “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” which made exactly that claim. Since then it has appeared in the writings and political cartoons of many anti-Semites, including the Nazis and quite a few Muslim nations. It is one of the few myths about Jews that have persisted into the modern era, even when many religiously-based slanders (such as deicide) have all but disappeared.
So you might be asking at this point: What does this have to do with MJ Rosenberg? Well I will tell you: Mr. Rosenberg writes almost exclusively about what he likes to call “The Lobby” aka “the pro-Israel lobby” aka AIPAC. In fact it appears that Mr. Rosenberg is on a quest to tear down AIPAC and replace it with other pro-Israel groups that he likes, most notably J Street. For every one post about any other topic, there is one attacking AIPAC or people who support it. This isn’t all that unusual, there is much to criticize about the way that AIPAC operates. If criticizing AIPAC was all that Mr. Rosenberg did, I would not be writing to you.
The problem is that Mr. Rosenberg discusses this issue in a matter that, quite frankly, inflames anti-Semitic sensibilities, though he is clearly not an anti-Semite himself. In fact he encourages people who believe the “Zionist Occupied Government” anti-Semitic myth mentioned above, and in some cases (intentionally or otherwise) appears to push it himself. Let me give you one of many examples. In his second most recent article published on the Huffington Post, Rosenberg wrote the following (emphasis mine):
“Take a look at this AIPAC-drafted Senate letter, designed to show that, flotilla or no flotilla, AIPAC owns the Senate including your favorite liberals”
I am reproducing below an open letter written by Zach over at The Brothers of Judea sent to The Huffington Post. As you will see many of the problems Zach describes should resonate strongly with anyone that follows “Comment is Free”.
Dear Mr. ___________,
I am a Huffington Post reader who wrote you two days ago to express my gratitude toward the new comment policy. I would like to thank you and the other Huffington Post staff for your hard work in keeping our community a civil one, and I know that this new comment policy is a reflection of that dedication. I would particularly like to thank you for mentioning “anti-Semitism” specifically as a form of hate speech that is not to be tolerated. I have been reading the Huffington Post for almost a year now and in that time I have found anti-Semitism among the readership to be a huge problem, and I hope that these changes mean you do as well.
However, it is on the topic of anti-Semitism that I feel like I should write to you and communicate what I have been feeling. I would appreciate it greatly if you would spare some of your time to listen to what I have to say. I have always found the Huffington Post staff to be an open one that are receptive to the opinions of its readership. I write because I truly want this community to be an open one, so I hope you do not mind if I offer some suggestions.
Mr. you have told us that anti-Semitic comments will no longer be allowed on the Huffington Post, and that moderation will be used to end them. I think this is a great step in the right direction, but in my experience watching the HP I have found that anti-Semitism has never been tolerated, and yet many threads are still plagued with it. The moderators work hard, and stop anti-Semitism where they see it, but they cannot be everywhere at once, even with the “flagging” system. It is therefore that I must tell you that part of the problem is with the nature of the Huffington Post itself. And if you want to stop anti-Semitism on your site, some changes will be required for there to be a lasting effect.
Before I continue I wanted to be clear: I’m not telling you how to do your job, nor would I be so bold as to tell you how to run a newspaper. All I can tell you is what I have seen and what my experiences have been while reading and commenting on the Huffington Post. What I have found is that there are certain aspects of the Huffington Post as an internet newspaper that allows anti-Semitism to be welcomed and to flourish. If you don’t mind, I will provide some examples. As I am sure I don’t need to tell you, most examples of anti-Semitism today takes the form of criticism of Israel. There is a place at which criticism of Israel and its policies become anti-Semitism the same way there is a place at which criticism of President Obama becomes racism. Whether intentionally or not, the Huffington Post sometimes contributes to a negative image of Israel, which in turn leads to anti-Semitism in the talkback sections.
This is a cross-post by Zach of The Brothers of Judea, a blog that tracks antisemitism at the Huffington Post
Richard Greener is a Huffington Post blogger who is relatively new to the Israeli/Palestinian situation. He has recently arrived in the “World” section with an essay entitled, “Israeli Settlements: What Are They Really?” As you might expect from the Huffington Post, he has a negative view of the settlements, and there is nothing redeemable about them. Some of Greener’s facts, however, seem to be a bit off. I thought I’d take a minute to take a look at his work.
What immediately jumps to mind is Greener’s now expected use of the legal argument to declare all the settlements illegitimate. Here is the critical quote:
“Article 49 is simple, clear and is not a subject of controversy. It forbids an occupying power from moving its own civilian population onto occupied lands as permanent residents. Despite this prohibition Israel has constructed settlements outside and beyond its borders for more than 40 years.”
“Moving” the civilian population? No, Mr. Greener, the Geneva Convention doesn’t say that. What it actually says is the following:
“Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive.”
The key word there is “forcible.” Israel is not forcing the settlers to move to the West Bank by any stretch of the imagination. They are choosing to move of their own free will. This might be illegal or prohibited anyway, I do not know the Geneva Conventions well enough. But the fact that Greener intentionally misrepresented what the Geneva Conventions said is very telling. I find it difficult to believe that he simply got it wrong. Why did he not begin his article with the truth? Could it be because doing so would mean acknowledging that the settlements are not in fact illegal?
Mr. Greener continues with pointing out that the Israeli settlers are considered to be citizens of Israel and gain all the benefits thereof, even though they do not live in Israel. This is true, but more importantly is that he continues to write that the settlements “are not part of Israel.” He implies in his first paragraph, if you care to read it, that the settlements are on land that belongs to the Palestinians, though he does not come right out and say it.
This is a cross-post by Matt of The Brothers of Judea, a blog that tracks antisemitism on the Huffington Post.
One of our favorite bloggers, MJ Rosenberg, has come out with another exemplary work. His latest blog post on the HP, AIPAC Conference: Who Are These People?, is a paragon of the kind of self-assured, self-promotional writing we’ve come to expect. Mr. Rosenberg, who is Jewish, has taken it upon himself to inform all of us what American Jews are really like (hint: they are nothing like the people at AIPAC).
Mr. Rosenberg attended the AIPAC conference in Washington D.C., and I did not. However, I believe I can still challenge some of his experiences there, or at least point out the fact he did not provide adequate evidence to support his sweeping statements. Let’s examine one:
“AIPAC can be summed up in the words of an American college student on their promotional video. And the sentiment is repeated over and over again…”I love Israel, and I love the US-Israel” relationship.” Get it. American kids, born and bred in America — whose grandparents and grandchildren are or will be Americans — love America because America is Israel’s friend…Who are these people? Have you ever met a Jewish college kid like that?” (emphasis added)
This is a guest post by Matt of TheBrothersofJudea, a blog that tracks antisemitism at the Huffington Post
Johann Hari, a Huffington Post blogger who writes about a plethora of topics, makes his debut into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with his latest blog post “Enough, the Palestinians Should Now Declare Independence“. Hari has an obvious solution to this conflict that everybody else looking at and writing about the conflict has missed, a unilateral declaration of Palestinian independence. But before he gets to that, he has to revise some history to make the Palestinians look as good as possible and to make the Huff Post commentators feel secure in supporting them. He starts with the origin of the conflict:
“Their story is so rarely explained without disinformation that it still seems startling when it is stated plainly. Until 1948, the Palestinians were living in their own homes, on their own land — until they were suddenly driven out in a war to make way for a new state for people fleeing a monstrous European genocide. They lived huddled and dazed in the 20 percent of their land they were allowed to keep. They hardly fought back: they wept and dreamed of return. Then in the 1967 war, even these small strips were conquered with tanks and platoons.”
The irony is that Hari claims the Palestinian story isn’t ever explained without “disinformation” and then proceeds to leave out vital facts and context in his “Palestinians as victims” history. The Arabs were living, in 1947, on land owned by Turkish landlords when they felt threatened by Jewish nationalism (a.k.a. Zionism) and launched a war of aggression on the Jews. The Jews and Arabs had been fighting in the region pretty much constantly since before World War II, and incidents like the Hebron Massacre, the Hadassah medical convoy attack, and the massacre at Kfar Etzion were all forgotten or intentionally left out by Mr. Hari. We can only assume they are not included because they violate the narrative he is presenting of innocent Palestinians driven off their land by Europeans. The fact that the Gaza Strip and West Bank, land roughly equivalent in terms of size to the arable land of Israel (not counting the Negev desert) is described in the post as “small strips” goes beyond rhetoric and into the realm of falsehood.
The Huffington Post is the major competitor of “Comment if Free” in the blogosphere. Interestingly the Huffington Post seems to be afflicted with the same malaise of its sister blog across the Atlantic. This is a guest post by Zach of TheBrothersofJudea, a blog that tracks antisemitism at the Huffington Post.
The internet newspaper the Huffington Post has long had the reputation of a breeding ground for anti-Semitic attitudes. Though I have only been “watching” it for a few months now, I have already seen a lifetime’s worth of anti-Semitic hatred and anti-Israel slander on the talkback threads. Although the multiple bloggers who write for the Huffington Post are almost all critical of Israel, few have crossed the line into unvarnished anti-Semitism. That is, until December of last year.
Michael Carmichael is a Huffington Post blogger, who according to his bio is a “senior political consultant, historian, author and broadcaster” based in Oxford, England. He normally writes about such topics as American politics, business, Karl Rove, and Avatar. Which only made his column on December 16, 2009 even more shocking.
Carmichael wrote a story about healthcare reform with the inflammatory title, “Kill the Bill.” To those who follow the healthcare reform debate, Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn) is not in favor of healthcare reform as it currently stands. He doesn’t want a public option and said that he will help to filibuster any bill that included it. This has led to one of the most prominent Jewish senators losing even more popularity from the Democrats, and from the American people in general. All this is background, though, because Carmichael’s article isn’t really about healthcare reform, it’s about Israel, and how Israel controls America.
An interesting phenomenon took place a couple of weeks ago at the Huffington Post. David Harris, Executive Director of the AJC, wrote an article specifically responding to the below the line commentariat of a piece on Israeli airport security that he wrote a few days earlier.
Here, in the wake of the Christmas-day terrorist attempt, I thought I was writing about enhancing our flight security by seeing what we might learn from Israel, a country with its own share of experience in this area.
It turns out, instead, that for some readers my last piece, posted December 31, provided a handy excuse to unleash their unbridled hostility toward Israel.
What Harris describes is an all too familiar scenario at “Comment is Free” whenever a pro-Israel contributor challenges the conventional wisdom of the Guardian World View. One of the worst examples of this was witnessed last year when Sir Harold Evans wrote an article critical of the Goldstone Report resulting in the unleashing of a vitriolic attack that would put your typical Stormfront thread to shame.
To their credit the HuffPo afforded Harris a right of reply “above the line” to address the barrage of anti-Israel bigotted commentary.
Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Matt Seaton affording a similar right of reply to David Hirsch to address the below the line bigotry that was generated in response to Hirsch’s measured critique last week of Yoav Shamir’s documentary, Defamation.
Somehow though I don’t see this happening. It would for one thing constitute an acknowledgment that there is a problem with antisemitic commentary below the line, something which Guardian management has difficulty in admitting.
Anyway, to see how how Harris responded to his “chorus of critics”, click here.
(h/t Backspin)
Front Page Magazine ran a piece yesterday about a topic and phenomenon we know all too well at CiF Watch: antisemitism leaking into leftist discourse through a site which publishes articles inviting the vilest of haters in its comment section.
The site is popular, in fact influential and is home to commentators and public figures revered in society and the corridors of power. This is the first on line publication to get a White House Press pass and is the most funded (and rumored to be losing money) e-magazine attracting the biggest advertisers in America. In other words, this is supposed to be the CiF of America.
It is the Huffington Post. Founded by former conservative millionaire trophy (and pretender) wife turned extreme leftist, Ariana Huffington. Ariana is a celebrity in the USA. She is a frequent guest on Larry King and other prime time shows and has won an Emmy. She is number 42 in the Guardian’s Top 100 in Media List.
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Who reads “Comment is Free”?
April 2, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: Antisemitism, Antony Lerman, Comment is Free, Guardian, Huffington Post, Seth Freedman, Stormfront | by Hawkeye | 45 comments
I was just over at TheBrothersofJudea website which tracks antisemitism in the Huffington Post and caught this:
Now I haven’t actually ever seen a reader link to Stormfront on “Comment is Free” (though I have seen links to a variety of far-right websites) and it got me thinking about whether Stormfront types are attracted to “Comment is Free”, a blog that is supposed to be the ideological opposite of the far-right.
It seems though that “Comment is Free” has developed somewhat of a following among the far-right.
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