Why We Criticize Israel

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samuel welsh February 23, 2011 2:57 am (Pacific time)

get your facts right.

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zody February 14, 2011 1:48 pm (Pacific time)

you are a liar there was never a
Palestinian people.The Arab countries attacked Israel in 1948. The Arab liberation army was a terrorist organization!

Tim King: Nice level intelligent response.   "You are a liar" is par for the course.  Of course any moron can look at a history book and see that Palestine is the only legitimate name to apply to the area called Israel.  Israel is a terrorist organization.  

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love Uncle George January 28, 2011 6:24 am (Pacific time)

For the content of my previous comment my thanks go to Eric Arthur Blair. Blair was likely influenced by the Wellington House writers, an early organized propaganda effort of the British was aimed at influencing mass U.S. opinion; and (hopefully) attracting the U.S. into joining the British effort as an ally, or in the least keeping the U.S. neutral.

Blair’s ‘truisms’ ( I compiled and reorganized into a satirical order that makes some sense) are most oft (individually) attributed to Eric under his pen name, “George Orwell” .

Perhaps, Blair was a prophet of sorts. Controlling information flow to and from a nemesis, as the British did when they cut the submarine cables to Germany at the outset of the the war in 1914, creates a climate to take charge of what targeted groups hear and don’t hear, therefore assisting the masses in forming a band-wagon of ‘common belief’, not necessarily upon fact but instead often times upon unverifiable information.

Today, in the U.S. ( and the ‘Western world’) many of the major news media organizations quickly sing the same song (as if on cue), so it is of important interest to ask, “Why” does this happen? How is it that American elders (over 80 years of age), such as Helen Thomas and Richard Falk are attacked so quickly and so viciously by purportedly independent news media organizations for (Thomas or Falk) expressing their opinions?

It would seem such collectively-styled and collectively-timed timed attacks may best occur when the vastness of media corporate control (at the top) resides with one, a few, or several individuals of a common-mindset and agenda, which in this instance and essence is extremely opposed to Thomas’ or Falk’s opinions being heard, or worse, considered credible by the masses.

Mathematician/Philosopher Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) had some interesting takes on approaching the process of developing opinion. He commented, “It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious.” As it “cannot be true that contradictory notions can apply to the same fact. Thus reconcilement of these contrary concepts must be sought in a more searching analysis of the meaning of the terms in which they are phrased.”

Since, “The present is all that you have; and unless in this present you can find general principles which interpret the present as including a representation of the whole community of existents, you cannot move a step beyond your little patch of immediacy.”
In the end, “It is a curious delusion that the rock upon which our beliefs can be founded is an historical investigation. You can only interpret the past in terms of the present.”

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love Uncle George January 27, 2011 4:11 pm (Pacific time)

Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper. It seems all political thinking for years past has been vitiated in the same way. Has anyone noticed people can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome? Uncle George commented once, “The nationalist, the patriot tends to not only disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them.” It does seem to be true, I’m afraid. All the political language seems to be too often designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. It more and more appears that during times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. In our age there is certainly no such thing as 'keeping out of politics.' All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia. I’ve noticed, it is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it; consequently, the defenders of every kind of regime clamor to claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using the word if it were tied down to any one meaning; perhaps some of this is why every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac. It hasn’t missed my observations over the years either, that war against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it. The idea really came to me the day I got my new false teeth…The atom bombs are piling up in the factories, the police are prowling through the cities, the lies are streaming from the loudspeakers, but the earth is still going round the sun. I told my grandchildren the other day, “If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – forever”. The older I get, I am convinced mankind is not likely to salvage civilization unless he can evolve a system of good and evil which is independent of heaven and hell. When all is said and done, I suppose, it is as Uncle Orwell said, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” Many thanks to George and Orwell for what I learned in 1984,and they knew in 1948. Ziocons are on the loose.

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William K. Barth January 27, 2011 12:20 am (Pacific time)

Tim King has crafted an important article generating meaningful discussion.

We must never forget that it was only a generation ago that European-Jewry became an endangered human group , and that Jewry were nearly exterminated in one of history's most gruesome crimes, namely the Holocaust, or what Samantha Power described as the crime of crimes.

The world established a new crime, namely, genocide, just to identify this ghastly form of mass human extermination. Remember also that 6 million Jews, as well as hundreds of thousands of Roma, were consciously exterminated qua groups by the Nazis.

Prior to the incorporation of Israel, the Jews lived in a Diaspora as persecuted peoples. They required a national homeland for their mutual existence and survival. We must honor as much as respect Israel’s raison d’être.

However, the de-nationalization and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is itself a crime against humanity. This demonstrates that the international community lacks a human-rights based procedure to permit qualified peoples to establish their own state. There are thousands of ethnic, national, religious, and linguistic groups, but only a relative handful of sovereign states in which they must co-exist. This is a formula for conflict as groups struggle to perpetuate their very existence and identity.

Tim is correct to identify the conflict as a David and Goliath struggle which subjugates the Palestinians. Israelis as much as world Jewry must confront the idea that Jewish survival is inextricably bound together with the aspirations of the Palestinians.

My Jewish and Palestinian friends continue to damn me for being unrealistic but I believe that this requires applying both the philosophy of jurist Ronald Dworkin, as well as the prescription for ethnic harmony offered to us by the Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters, in an atmosphere of mutual concern and respect, or perish together as fools.

Peace.

Tim King: William, your words mean so much, thank you.

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Oregonian January 25, 2011 6:46 am (Pacific time)

Biased news site. Trying to push an agenda and not report news. You are so far over the top with your slants of "the truth" as you call it that no one really believes you, except radical viewed people like yourself. You all feed on each others rants(gang mentality). You are just another flavor of the Tea-Party on a different subject. Your rebuttals to other comments show no sign of tolerance of another point of view, which is required of "respected" journalists. Your awards were given when you were required to be a news reporter and before this site took off on it's rants as the favorite thing to write about. Used to come here frequently, now I think it is nothing but Middle east news site claiming to report on local news (read your own graphic). 80% of your stories have nothing to do with Salem, Oregon, or the PNW. Israel, Israel, Israel. Move over there and spare us. BTW, I don't care too much for Israel and their treatment of Palestinians at all but that has not come from reading here. I find your subject matter boring and usually with a serious racist slant.

Editor: First, most people who write to us really appreciate what we are doing.  Second, bias and truth get awfully close sometimes on this road of life.  I covered Oregon troop operations in Afghanistan and later Iraq and this is when my understanding of the problems in the Middle east came into focus.  I became closer to more writers spending time in this area and then began to get involved.  Then when people in the Mideast and all over the world figured out that we were the only group that actually had the guts to write about this subject openly, we became very popular with them.  As far as Salem goes, we still cover local news and some days the Oregon content is heavy.  We are unsupported for the most part, that is what truth brings.  Salem is scared to become involved with Salem-News.com because the truth scares the crap out of people,  We are some of the only journalists who take law enforcement to task and call them out for their mistakes.  So my advice for you is to get the statesman journal newspaper, it is based right here in Salem and all of that really amazing content is there for your taking.  We are highly dedicated people and frankly I just don't think you understand.  I am so thankful to our friends throughout this world who help tell this truth about the biggest story in history, that is Israel and Palestine. Sorry we disappoint you.  And also, I seriously suspect that you know you are really wrong and bad for claiming that I am a racist, you really should feel badly about that.  

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gp January 24, 2011 11:07 am (Pacific time)

Tim, Every time you stand up to be counted as a person opposed to racism, zionism, murder, genocide and apartheid, the racists and zionist and murders and prison guards take exception. They just can't stand it when you call BS. For the most part they are ignorant of reality (no hope for people who don't read and study before they open their mouths) and believe whatever kind of propaganda they are exposed to, the rest have had their souls destroyed by religion. It is impossible to defend illegal, immoral and racist ideology so they just use the cowardly and intellectually dishonest rebuttal of name calling. Keep up the brave work.

Tim King: Thanks GP!

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Bill Sharman January 23, 2011 9:13 pm (Pacific time)

One simple observation: Many more Palestinian Arabs (Christians and non-Christians) are suffering under unjust and corrupt PA policies than are suffering under unjust Israeli policies. When given a choice, Palestinian Arabs who are Israeli citizens would prefer to remain as such than become citizens under ANY Palestinian Arab authority.

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Sally Mendzela Providence, RI January 23, 2011 7:40 pm (Pacific time)

I thank you for your editorial, Why We Criticize Israel. A friend here in Rhode Island passed it on to me. I never see anything on Israel published with this level of compassion, analysis, intelligence and directness. It is amazing to me that that is the case. There are so many sources of information but it is as if the media publishes whatever it is fed which leads them to apologize for and defend Israel's actions on some level. That is not journalism.

It is sobering to think of the price that Israel will pay for their embrace of genocide and apartheid against Palestinians. I think they will destroy themselves on a moral level and eventually their entire infrastructure will collapse. But that is in the future. For now, the pain and horror that the people of Palestine continually must endure will go on in large part because the international community remains bewilderingly silent.


I thank you again for your humanity. And courage.

Sally Mendzela Providence, RI

Tim King: Thank you Sally!

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Etai January 23, 2011 6:23 pm (Pacific time)

Though some of the points you mention are true I think you totally miss the point. Israel did make a lot of mistakes and it is still doing many wrong things but the situation is more complex then what you are trying to portray. The main problem is extremism and it exists on both sides. Israeli right is not willing to give up land for the establishment of Palastine and Hamas and others do not accept the existence of Israel. Jews as well as palastinians have suffered enough and they all deserve life in Peace. Your choice of words and phrasing make you sound anti-semitic which I hope is not the case. Many countries in modern history have made terrible things and that includes the US and England. I believe it is in our interest to recognize the wrong and move forward for a better future for all of us. (english is not my mother tongue so please spare me from your language comments)

Tim King: So what point am I missing?  What is complex about following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?  I think Israel's leaders can read.  And don't you dare start that anti-Semitic BS or I will flush your following comments.  That is the weakest and lamest thing in the world to instantly label a writer who criticizes Israel's genocidal rule.  We fight racism constantly and we don't pick the color or religion of the oppressors or victims.  The notion of Israel's 'right to exist' has nothing to do with anything, and frankly I am coming to understand why people have always opposed this general idea.  Today I was contacted by the American Council for Judaism and in their view, the whole thing is an error: 

 From the earliest days of Zionism, the philosophy which proclaimed that Jews were a distinct nationality, not a religious community, and should return to their ancient “homeland” in Palestine, it represented a minority view among Jews.

Religious Jews objected because they believed that the creation of a political state was heresy, an intervention that usurped God’s own redemptive plan. Even those Jews who faced prejudice and discrimination in their native countries showed no desire to emigrate to Palestine. Of the 3.5 million Jews fleeing Russia between 1880 and 1922, only 85,000 went to Palestine.

In an article about the role of the American Council for Judaism in opposing Jewish nationalism and maintaining the view that Judaism is a religion of universal values, and that American Jews are Americans by nationality and Jews by religion, in precisely the same manner as other Americans are Baptists, Catholics or Muslims, New York Times (June 26, 2010) religion columnist Samuel Freedman declares that events in recent years have made the Council “look significant, even prophetic.”

 So it looks like I am far from alone in thinking that Murder is wrong and I'm curious, do Zionist settlers suffer as they drive down 'Jewish only' roads Etai?  How about when then sleep at night on land they stole?  Those are my questions.  I know right from wrong, but what about Israel?  You talk about extremism on both sides, by extremism do you mean the Friday protests by Palestinians and internationals at Bil'in?  Let's see, they carry flags and attempt to stand on Palestinian land, and the Israelis fire everything from tear gas canisters to live sniper rounds, killing and maiming without regard.  They are barbarians.  The only people doing God's will are the activists.  What is extreme about standing up for human rights?  You compare the 'extremism' of those peace protests to 'Operation Cast Lead' that left 1400+ Palestinians, mostly civilians, dead and smoldering from illegal Israeli weapons supplied by the US?  Sorry to rant but this isn't anything close to balanced or fair.  F-16's versus kids who throw rocks.  God save us all.   

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merachefet January 23, 2011 1:19 pm (Pacific time)

has your cartoon artist been hit by the floods?

Editor: No

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merachefet January 23, 2011 10:51 am (Pacific time)

a time will come when enemies of the jewish people and israel will be judged properly. i am just trying to figure out if you know you are stupid enough to think israel is actually as evil as you pretend or if you are knowingly misleading your audience.

Editor:  Don't you think people can read between the lines?  What exactly is 'stupid' about showing war crimes?  I really never thought of that as stupid, more like necessary.  Your question is what might honestly qualify as 'stupid' however, what is not evil about what Israel is doing?  Can you answer that?  God didn't grant this, you are crazy if you think God backs Israel's murders.

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Scott K. January 23, 2011 10:41 am (Pacific time)

No "Palestine" country has ever existed. Spoils of war; British won it from the Ottomans after WWI and they give the Palestine Mandate--all of current Israel including Judea/Samaria and Gaza--to the Jews. Transjordan for the Arabs. Don't the Arabs have enough land anyway, lands in which Jews are not allowed to live or practice their religion? Remember 1948?

Editor: Geez, did you even go to school or were you taught all of that at some whacky religious teaching?  Lawrence of Arabia promised autonomy to the Arabs in 1917 if they helped the British fight the Turks who then controlled Jerusalem.  The Turks were on the side of Germany.   As soon as the Palestinians helped boot the Turks from Jerusalem, the UK reneged on the deal and the Balfour Declaration forever changed the future of these people.  You Scott have no business trying to teach history on these pages or any others.  Israel is who doesn't allow people to practice religion freely.  Israel is who makes non-Jews drive on roads designated only for them.  To Hell with your racist ideology; it is immoral and highly mistaken.  

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Vic January 23, 2011 10:28 am (Pacific time)

“Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' But conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but because conscience tells one it is right.” MLK Jr. Keep up the good work, Tim !

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Totally Convinced January 23, 2011 8:47 am (Pacific time)

This is the sloppiest, most intellectually coarse attempt at an editorial that I've seen in a long time. Tim King would make the Israeli position look equally ridiculous, in general because he seems to lack the cognitive tools to present a coherent argument. A few scary pictures and a Youtube video pasted into a disorganized regurgitation of anti-Israeli tropes is a poor way to promote your cause.

Tim King: No, it isn't.  It is the latest dose in a long winding list of reports on Israel's illegal war crimes.  I am here to make sure that nobody forgets, the fact that you're all here bitching and moaning and lying in response really makes my day.  Button effectively pushed.  Yes, the video is powerful and one of so damned many.  We have shown Israeli soldiers exhibiting illegal human cruelty hundreds of times in video alone.   My cause is humanity, and in the words of our friend and comrade Ken O'Keefe, 'Truth, Justice and Peace'.   I guess I just have a problem with people who kill in the name of God.  There is a song called 'Killin' in the Name of' by RATM.  You should listen to it, the whole thing makes me consider Israel's racist genocidal politics that by any standard are totally unacceptable.  

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Josh January 23, 2011 6:30 am (Pacific time)

I continue to find it very strange that people continue to refer to Bibi and his government as extremists, author fails to recognize that all wars were performed by the leftist government that the US controlled, you can read up on Barak falling out with the US administration for failing have the ISraeli bend to its every whim, further more, the Bibi government had removed illegal settlements, eased economic restrictions that were in place during the leftist government, now WestBank has a 8%+ growth in its economy, is drafting proposals for 1000's of work permits for Palestinians, has conceded more security to the palestinians over the West Bank then the leftist government, and had imposed a 10 month freeze on settlements, and proposed to continue the freeze in exchange for recognition of Israel as a jewish state, during this time Palestinians have made no concessions or act towards more peaceful relations, and been undermining the Israeli government in the international arena, and still right now the current Israeli administration is drawing up plans for the Palestinians to have a provisional state, under resolution 242, Israel has a right to defensible borders, and the borders can only come about through negotiation, if Israel only see's 22% as debatable land then why should it continue to occupy the other 78%? yet this move was never done under the leftist government which Washington controlled.

regardless of the topic, your article is bias, and misinforms its readers. journalism at its worst

Tim King: Right, and you never learned how to construct a sentence in my language, but whatever.  Uncle Neti is two steps from Adolph Hitler, he is a militant murdering warmonger who puts the whole world at risk to serve the needs of his religion.  Everything has been stolen from the Palestinians and I hope you guys are prepared to give it back, because you are going to do so.  Palestinians can not be expected to behave in any rational manner and yet they do.  The people who have been so oppressed for so long have laid down their arms for the most part and all Israel does is capitalize on the lack of aggression.  Israel as we all know does not seek peace and therefore the non-violent resistance may indeed be little more than a BIG waste of time.  You see we recently profiled the American and British citizens who the Israeli occupational forces have murdered and gravely injured in recent years.  You can write what you want and talk smack all day but people know and they are increasingly learning and there will be no peace until Israel relinquishes its deadly policies and gets the Hell out of Palestine.    

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Raphael January 23, 2011 5:20 am (Pacific time)

Jews have a right to their own land. We have been exiled from this land 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Review your history please!

Editor: What is that, Jews have a right to steal anything they want because they have an entitlement issue ?  Is that what you said?  And for God's sake I never would have guess you were that old!  Most people don't live past 80 or so. 

I think you are asking me to review your history and that isn't history.   People in this world all have the same rights.  You are not allowed to kill in God's name.  Do you understand that or disagree?

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D3C0D3 January 23, 2011 1:46 am (Pacific time)

Good story Tim, Keep up the good work. It takes a strong person to tell the truth in times like these.

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walt kovacs January 23, 2011 1:05 am (Pacific time)

an email address is not a "news room"

stop pretending that you have anything to do with reporting real news, especially when it comes to israel.

and the map you reprinted has been debunked, hundreds of times.

Tim King: An email address, what are you trying to say?  Salem-News.com has almost 17,000 published articles online, we have nearly 80 writers in 15 countries.  Our ranking online and our six plus solid years of reporting defy your nonsensical accusations.  Anyone who has read your comments in this past knows that you are highly debasing and that you love the idea of hurting any efforts to raise awareness of the issues involving Palestine.  Anyone with an Internet connection can look at the map and compare it with any number of factual sources, is your point that Israel doesn't exist?  And Walt, you should go back to whatever you do and leave the critical thinking to those of us who have a connection to what is actually going on.  We have two staff members on the ground in Gaza as I write this and one in the West Bank.  Don't do this again or I will just flush your silly comment.  

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