Gilad Atzmon Interviewed by Shabana Syed

"With a strong presence on and off stage and a disarming smile, Atzmon has a huge following not only for his music but for being a unique thinker and philosopher."

(LONDON) - Israeli-born Jazz musician, Gilad Atzmon, "The ideology that carried out execution-style killings on the Gaza aid flotilla the 'Mavi Marmara' is the same ideology that carried out the massacres at Deir Yassin, Qibya, Sabra and Shatilla, Qana, Gaza, Jenin and the murder of Rachel Corrie — more than that it is the same ideology that killed Christ."

He continues: "there is no biological, racial or ethnic continuum between the ancient Israelites and the contemporary Israelis. The attack on the aid convoy is a continuum of the same ideology that killed Christ. Christ's killing is a symbol of a brutal assault against goodness, in the same way the attack on the aid convoy was against humanity and compassion." Speaking to Arab News after the deadly attack on the aid Flotilla where 9 peace activists were shot dead and around 50 injured Atzmon was scathing against Israel's actions and demanded that it should be stripped of its UN membership.

Atzmon is a former Israeli soldier who now lives in London. He is not only a renowned author and writer but also a famous award-winning jazz musician. Described as a musical genius he has recorded with the likes of Robbie Williams, Sinead O Connor, Robert Wyatt Paul McCartney, Tunisian singer Dhaffer Youssef and countless others.

With a strong presence on and off stage and a disarming smile, Atzmon has a huge following not only for his music but for being a unique thinker and philosopher.

Admired for his fearless stance against oppression, he is also at the forefront of a taboo discourse that many will not venture into out of fear of being branded anti-Semite; and that is the discourse on the Jewish identity, Zionism and Israel.

Because of this stance, he has been branded a "Jew self-hater." Atzmon smiles: "in fact I correct them 'I am not only a self-hater but a proud self- hater.'" The accusations do not deter him as he is quite vocal about the self-hatred he feels for the Israeli part of him. He argues: "We are dealing here with a morbid collective that sets itself against humanity.” He believes the reason why he is at the forefront of this discourse is because he is more able than others to understand Israeli mentality because, "I come from them, and I know how they think." He himself has studied for many years the issue of the Jewish identity, and in his talks is often found quoting philosophers like the Austrian Otto Weininger, Kant, Heidegger, Nietzsche, Lacan, Marx as well as Eastern philosophers.

He explains: "Israel has violated all international laws, it has never been held accountable for the countless massacres." However, he argues the latest massacre of peace activists on the aid flotilla with the emerging forensic reports which suggest Israeli execution-style killings of the 9 peace activists has resulted in shock horror around the world.

"The remarkable fact is they don't understand why the world is beginning to stand against them in the same way they didn't understand why the Europeans stood against them in the 1930s. Instead of asking why we are hated they continue to toss accusations on others." In his latest article titled "Jewish Ideology and World Peace," he argues: "Within the discourse of Jewish politics and history there is no room for causality... Within the Jewish tribal discourse every narrative starts to evolve when Jewish pain establishes itself. ...It also explains why for most Jews the history of the holocaust starts in the gas chambers or with the rise of the Nazis. I have hardly seen any Israelis or Jews attempt to understand the circumstances that led to the clear resentment of Europeans toward their Jewish neighbors in the 1920s-40s.”

Born and brought up as a Zionist in Israel, Atzmon believes it was his love of music that first opened his eyes to the world. "I was brought up to believe that Jews were the chosen people and no one was better than us. Then I discovered jazz and found out that many of the great jazz musicians were black Afro-Americans. That was the first dent in the theory of our greatness and as I picked up the stones more truths began to come out." At 19, Atzmon was stationed as a soldier to Lebanon where he saw for the first time thousands of Palestinians living as refugees. "We were told that the Palestinians had left and gone to other Arab countries, so when I saw thousands of refugees living without the basics I realized that we had stolen their land." Atzmon also witnessed the atrocities the Israeli Army was committing against the Palestinians; so as soon as he could, he left the army and left the country for good.

"My studies have shown me that the Jewish identity is foreign to humanism, it is tribal and has evolved as an outcome of an exilic culture." He argues that we can learn a lot about Jewish collective ideology by looking closely to the biblical "Story of Esther" which he argues teaches Jews the art of infiltration into politics and governments.

He continues: "This form of infiltration is clearly evident in America today where the Jewish lobby (AIPAC) dominates the political discourse. Also in Britain we have the British Jewish lobby, and the 'Friends of Israel', we also have people like David Aaronovitch, The Times columnist and Nick Cohen of The Observer, who advocated for war with Iraq. Both write for the Jewish papers, are known sympathizers of Israel and have contributed extensively to the growing Islamophobia in Britain. Lord Levy, a rabid Zionist was funding the Labour Party when it went into an illegal war with Iraq which led to over a million Iraqi fatalities.”

He continues: "We have the likes of David Miliband the Labour MP; I wonder how many people know that he is listed on the Israeli propaganda site as an Israeli propagandist author. Did you know that under the last government, when everyone was talking about Israel's killing of a Hamas leader in Dubai by using forged British passports, David Miliband was busy attempting to amend the laws of universal jurisdiction so Israeli war criminals could enter Britain.”

In his latest article Atzmon writes: "Enough is enough; it is time to name and shame every Israeli and Zionist infiltrator within political circles, media and academia." Maybe it is the soldier in him but there are not many subjects that Atzmon is not afraid to confront. The biggest taboo subject today is to question the holocaust. In many European countries one can be jailed for questioning the numbers killed or to what extent gas chambers were used? Atzmon however has no fear when he says: "I do not deny that Jewish suffering took place, I also lost family in it. However if the established holocaust narrative is true why do we need laws to protect it?" He continues: "We want a coherent narrative open to scrutiny. We owe it to ourselves, to history to find out the truth and I don't mean the truth through emotionally charged Hollywood films. Also I reiterate that those involved in an academic and historic inquiry should not be threatened with law suits and abuse.”

To stop further world conflicts, Atzmon believes that governments should confront Israel. He argues that unlike the last Labour government that indulged Israel to continue its brutal assaults, while its leaders Blair and Brown were honorary patrons of the Jewish National Fund UK, the new government has to take a stronger stand. "In order to end one of the most brutal occupations of Gaza we need to ban Israeli aircraft from British airspace, impose EU trade sanctions against Israel and strip Israel of its UN membership." For Atzmon the tide is turning and humanity which is bound together by human ethics and morals need to stand together against Israel before it takes us to war with Iran which according to him "is its next step.”

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Ehud Goldman/JDL June 17, 2010 12:14 pm (Pacific time)

President a friend of Israel, reflects Jewish values President Barack Obama is “good for the Jews” not only because he counts individual Jews among his closest advisers (including David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel), but also because he is an unprecedented standard-bearer for values that we hold most dear. President Obama’s Supreme Court nominations lead us further toward the ideal of an open, mobile, and inclusive society. For the current opening, he could have calculated that having two Jewish members of the Court (Clinton appointees Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer) is more than enough or that two women (Ginsburg and Obama appointee Sonia Sotomayor) are plenty. Instead, he selected Elena Kagan, an eminently qualified, pragmatically progressive consensus builder. Moreover, his domestic priorities give voice to Jewish values. This president has been intensely supportive of scientific integrity and research. His efforts will extend healthcare to millions. We support women’s equality, and the first bill he signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act....

gp June 17, 2010 5:51 am (Pacific time)

I can't do much for the Palestinians but would if I could. How helpless I feel in the face of Israel's crimes. Many years ago I heard a speech that changed my way of thinking about Israel.( This was at a time when we all supported the brave Israeli social experiments with the now defunct kibbutz system.) Since then I have known people who have gone to Palestine to work, ISM volunteers who were shot at and one who later killed himself after spending a year and a half there. One man, the Spokane, Washington United Methodist minister who was abused, shot at, beaten and jailed by the IDF in 2003 responded to an email on Thanksgiving Day with a telephone call and I arranged a speaking tour of numerous Washington and Oregon cities in less than two weeks. It was my honor. After the idiotic Catholic Seminary which my husband taught at was duped into letting Randy speak there, my husband was reprimanded and the monks boycotted the lecture. The good news is that due to Randy (the minister's name) two of my husband's students went to Palestine with ISM during their summer break. I sometimes fly the Palestinian flag that they gave us as a gift of esteem. Of course my leftist neighbor warned me that there are many Jews in our barrio. Do I care? The rest of the story on the two seminarians is that they both left the seminary and chose other lives. Christianity and particularly Catholicism dosn't brook any kindness towards Israel's hated enemies the Palestinians. Nor women for that matter. As my childhood friend says, "They are men who wear dresses and hate women". Anyone can arrange to speak at a church or arrange a speaker through some club or organization, I feel like speakers to small groups do much to elevate consciousness. I was happy to see that Gilead had the nerve to equate the flotilla victims with Christ, some idiot "christians" can't connect the dots.

gp June 16, 2010 5:18 pm (Pacific time)

Since Israel's so called war of independence, it has been the focus of at least 114 UNSC resolutions. They include;

Resolution 42: The Palestine Question (5 March 1948) Requests recommendations for the Palestine Commission, Resolution 43: The Palestine Question (1 Apr 1948) Recognizes "increasing violence and disorder in Palestine" and requests that representatives of "the Jewish Agency for Palestine and the Arab Higher Committee" arrange, with the Security Council, "a truce between the Arab and Jewish Communities of Palestine... Calls upon Arab and Jewish armed groups in Palestine to cease acts of violence immediately."Resolution 44: The Palestine Question (1 Apr 1948) Requests convocation of special session of the General Assembly, Resolution 46: The Palestine Question (17 Apr 1948) As the United Kingdom is the Mandatory Power, "it is responsible for the maintenance of peace and order in Palestine." The Resolutions also "Calls upon all persons and organizations in Palestine" to stop importing "armed bands and fighting personnel... whatever their origin;...weapons and war materials;.. .Refrain, pending the future government of Palestine... from any political activity which might prejudice the rights, claims, or position of either community;.. .refrain from any action which will endanger the safety of the Holy Places in Palestine." Resolution 106: The Palestine Question (29 Mar 1955) 'condemns' Israel for Gaza raid. Resolution 111: The Palestine Question (January 19, 1956) " ... 'condemns' Israel for raid on Syria that killed fifty-six people".Resolution 138: (June 23, 1960) Question relating to the case of Adolf Eichmann, concerning Argentine complaint that Israel breached its sovereignty. Resolution 162: The Palestine Question (April 11, 1961) " ... 'urges' Israel to comply with UN decisions". Resolution 171: The Palestine Question (April 9, 1962) " ... determines flagrant violations' by Israel in its attack on Syria".
Resolution 228: The Palestine Question (November 25, 1966) " ... 'censures' Israel for its attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control".
Resolution 237: Six Day War June 14, 1967) " ... 'urges' Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees". Resolution 240 (October 25, 1967): concerning violations of the cease-fire. Resolution 248: (March 24, 1968) " ... 'condemns' Israel for its massive attack on Karameh in Jordan".
Resolution 252: (May 21) " ... 'declares invalid' Israel's acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital".Resolution 256: (August 16) " ... 'condemns' Israeli raids on Jordan as 'flagrant violation". Resolution 259: (September 27) " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to accept UN mission to probe occupation".
Resolution 262: (December 31) " ... 'condemns' Israel for attack on Beirut airport".Resolution 265: (April 1, 1969) " ... 'condemns' Israel for air attacks on Salt, Jordan".Resolution 267: (July 3) " ... 'censures' Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem".Resolution 270: (August 26) " ... 'condemns' Israel for air attacks on villages in southern Lebanon".Resolution 271: (September 15) " ... 'condemns' Israel's failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem".Resolution 279: (May 12, 1970) "Demands the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli armed forces from Lebanese territory."(full text)Resolution 280: (May 19) " ... 'condemns' Israeli's attacks against Lebanon".Resolution 285: (September 5) " ... 'demands' immediate Israeli withdrawal form Lebanon".Resolution 298: (September 25, 1971) " ... 'deplores' Israel's changing of the status of Jerusalem".Resolution 313: (February 28, 1972) " ... 'demands' that Israel stop attacks against Lebanon".Resolution 316: (June 26) " ... 'condemns' Israel for repeated attacks on Lebanon".
Resolution 317: (July 21) " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to release Arabs abducted in Lebanon".Resolution 331: (April 20, 1973)
Resolution 332: (April 21) " ... 'condemns' Israel's repeated attacks against Lebanon".Resolution 337: (August 15) " ... 'condemns' Israel for violating Lebanon's sovereignty".Resolution 338 (22 October 1973): cease fire in Yom Kippur War. Resolution 339 (23 October 1973): Confirms Res. 338, dispatch UN observers. Resolution 347: " ... 'condemns' Israeli attacks on Lebanon".Resolution 350 (31 May 1974) established the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the wake of the Yom Kippur War.Resolution 425 (1978): " ... 'calls' on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon". Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon was completed by 16 June 2000. Resolution 427: " ... 'calls' on Israel to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon". Resolution 444: " ... 'deplores' Israel's lack of cooperation with UN peacekeeping forces".Resolution 446 (1979): 'determines' that Israeli settlements are a 'serious obstruction' to peace and calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention".Resolution 450: " ... 'calls' on Israel to stop attacking Lebanon". Resolution 452: " ... 'calls' on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories". Resolution 465: " ... 'deplores' Israel's settlements and asks all member states not to assist Israel's settlements program".Resolution 467: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's military intervention in Lebanon". Resolution 468: " ... 'calls' on Israel to rescind illegal expulsions of two Palestinian mayors and a judge and to facilitate their return".Resolution 469: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's failure to observe the council's order not to deport Palestinians".Resolution 471: " ... 'expresses deep concern' at Israel's failure to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention". Resolution 476: " ... 'reiterates' that Israel's claim to Jerusalem are 'null and void'".Resolution 478 (20 August 1980): 'censures (Israel) in the strongest terms' for its claim to Jerusalem in its 'Basic Law'. Resolution 485Resolution 487: " ... 'strongly condemns' Israel for its attack on Iraq's nuclear facility".Resolution 497 (17 December 1981) decides that Israel's annexation of Syria's Golan Heights is 'null and void' and demands that Israel rescinds its decision forthwith. Resolution 498: " ... 'calls' on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon". Resolution 501: " ... 'calls' on Israel to stop attacks against Lebanon and withdraw its troops". Resolution 509: " ... 'demands' that Israel withdraw its forces forthwith and unconditionally from Lebanon". Resolution 515: " ... 'demands' that Israel lift its siege of Beirut and allow food supplies to be brought in". Resolution 517: " ... 'censures' Israel for failing to obey UN resolutions and demands that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanon". Resolution 518: " ... 'demands' that Israel cooperate fully with UN forces in Lebanon". ... 'condemns' Israel's attack into West Beirut".Resolution 573: " ... 'condemns' Israel 'vigorously' for bombing Tunisia in attack on PLO headquarters. Resolution 587 " ... 'takes note' of previous calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and urges all parties to withdraw".Resolution 592: " ... 'strongly deplores' the killing of Palestinian students at Bir Zeit University by Israeli troops". Resolution 605: " ... 'strongly deplores' Israel's policies and practices denying the human rights of Palestinians. Resolution 607: " ... 'calls' on Israel not to deport Palestinians and strongly requests it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention. Resolution 608: " ... 'deeply regrets' that Israel has defied the United Nations and deported Palestinian civilians". Resolution 636: " ... 'deeply regrets' Israeli deportation of Palestinian civilians. Resolution 639 (31 Jul 1989),Resolution 641 (30 Aug 1989): " ... 'deplores' Israel's continuing deportation of Palestinians. Resolution 648 (31 Jan 1990)[1] The Security Council extends the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon until July 31, 1990.Resolution 672 (12 Oct 1990): " ... 'condemns' Israel for "violence against Palestinians" at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.Resolution 673 (24 Oct 1990): " ... 'deplores' Israel's refusal to cooperate with the United Nations. Resolution 681 (20 Dec 1990): " ... 'deplores' Israel's resumption of the deportation of Palestinians. Resolution 694 (24 May 1991): " ... 'deplores' Israel's deportation of Palestinians and calls on it to ensure their safe and immediate return. Resolution 726 (06 Jan 1992): " ... 'strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of Palestinians. Resolution 799 (18 Dec 1992): ". . . 'strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of 413 Palestinians and calls for their immediate return. Resolution 904 (18 Mar 1994): Cave of the Patriarchs massacre.Resolution 938 (28 Jul 1994): extends mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon until January 31, 1995. Resolution 1351 (30 May 2001)Resolution 1559 (2 September 2004) called upon Lebanon to establish its sovereignty over all of its land and called upon Syria to end their military presence in Lebanon by withdrawing its forces and to cease intervening in internal Lebanese politics. The resolution also called on all Lebanese militias to disband.Resolution 1583 (28 January 2005) calls on Lebanon to assert full control over its border with Israel. It also states that "the Council has recognized the Blue Line as valid for the purpose of confirming Israel's withdrawal pursuant to resolution 425.Resolution 1648 (21 December 2005) renewed the mandate of United Nations Disengagement Observer Force until 30 June 2006. Resolution 1701 (11 August 2006) called for the full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.Resolutio n 1860 (9 January 2009) called for the full cessation of war between Israel and Hamas.

This list of resolutions, few of which have ever been abided by, demonstrates to what extent Israel has become a rouge nation. What they don't explain is why the civilized world has ignored Israel's lawlessness and violence for more than 60 years. Why have we allowed genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and all of Palestine?

Anonymous June 16, 2010 4:58 pm (Pacific time)

the video I sent must have made an impression. It sure did on me. After researching this guy a couple of days ago, I was very impressed. He reminds me of a israeli george carlin.

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