alleged left anti-Semitism

["James Daly" <james.irldaly@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following article is from the June 7, 2003, issue of the email
Mid-Hudson Activist Newsletter, published in New Paltz, NY, by the
Mid-Hudson National People's Campaign/IAC and distributed by
jacdon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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THE DEBATE OVER ALLEGED 'LEFT ANTI-SEMITISM'

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Earlier this year, Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of the progressive
U.S. Jewish magazine "Tikkun," specifically accused ANSWER of
"anti-Semitism" in an article he wrote for the Wall St. Journal. The
right wing immediately added Lerner's allegation to its red-baiting
attacks on the left section of the antiwar movement.

Within the last month, two important articles have been published in
opposition to Lerner's attack, in The Nation magazine and in Tikkun
itself.

The Nation article was titled "Anti-Semitism, Israel and the Left,"
and subtitled, "Who's really behind the crude equation between Israel
and the Jews?" It was written by Philip Green, a member of the liberal
magazine's editorial board and author of several books, including
"Equality & Democracy." (Publication of this article in The Nation is
particularly interesting because some months ago a few of the
magazine's writers joined in the red-baiting of ANSWER and circulated
a petition in support of Lerner.)

Snip

The Tikkun article, "On Left Anti-Semitism and the Special Status of
Israel," was written by Bard College Professor Joel Kovel, a
well-known Mid-Hudson peace activist and left intellectual who has
authored a number of books including his most recent, "The Enemy of
Nature."

Kovel's article appears in the May-June Tikkun. In order to
demonstrate that the allegation about "left anti-Semitism" is false,
he offers a lengthy, nuanced and trenchant excursion into the nature
of the Israeli state, Zionism, and the plight of the Palestinian
people. This piece, too, is not available on the magazine's website
but may be obtained online at www.joelkovel.org. It is well worth a
careful reading.

Snip