re:Cry, the beloved two-state solution: Israeli Jew challenges legitimacy of Israel

["M. Junaid Alam" <junaidalam@xxxxxxxxxx>]

"In that sense, I think it is correct to strive to keep, for example,
Tikkun and Michael Lerner in the coalition despite the fact that
Michael Lerner  (who should be viewed as a politician first and a
rabbi second in my opinion) may be preparing the way for a dramatic
break with the "anti-Semite" antiwar activists as he has done in the
past. I firmly disagree with Lenni Brenner's thoroughly sectarian
advice that we don't need "ranting rabbis" in the antiwar and
Palestinian struggles. In the end, this kind of reaching out will
redound to the benefit of the antiwar struggle and the Palestinian
struggle.
Fred Feldman"
==
Fred, what is the connection between Israeli Jews "rethinking" the
nature of their state and the reactionary outpourings of Rabbi Lerner?
Must be some pretty amazing rethinking going on there, with Ariel Sharon
and the Likudniks in power, and signs, slogans, and bumper stickers
advocating the total expulsion of all Arabs much in parlance in Israeli
streets, along with 50% support for ethnically cleansing them
nationwide. It seems you would ascribe to this to what you call
"inevitable and organic conservatism of human thought." Right. How
about: racist and colonialist attitudes deeply embedded in the population?

You say Brenner's approach is "sectarianism". Why? You pass comment on
Lerner's "preparing the way for a dramatic break with the 'anti-Semite'
war activists" without seeming to mention this is a pile of crap. Do you
actually think they are anti-Semites? They are no more anti-Semites then
blacks struggling for civil rights were anti-white, the term is really
opportunistic because a. the Palestinians ARE Semites and b. it invokes
inherently the image of European anti-Jewish actions.

Anyway, if Lerner is "preparing the way" to rip apart and discredit the
radical part of the movement (what is it this time-more WSJ or David
Horowitz writing space?), then it is ridiculous to pretend it is
"reaching out" of anything to keep him involved. Only with the
ass-backwards consciousness we have in the US can a guy like Lerner be
considered progressive. This is the same guy who, on the day of those
mass marches against the war, could find nothing better to do than run
to the most reactionary newspapers and blast the anti-war movement with
charges of anti-Semitism. I say Lerner is guilty of ultra-Semitism.

If Palestine is a house on fire, and it really almost literally is, you
get a bunch of people carrying water to pool up and put it out. You
don't bring in some cats who have mixed up their H20 with some kerosene
and want to keep the house burning. Lerner's concept of supporting
Palestinian rights isn't even about Palestinians; he is the kind of
person who would "oppose" say, if he were an American in the 1800's,
raping slaves, because it constitutes bestiality.

I think if you want to look at real anti-Zionist Jews, or Jews who
really understand the ground reality facing the Palestinians without
even being totally anti-Zionist, you have to look towards guys like
Gilad Atzmon or Uri Avnery. I have profound respect for those people.

So my question to you Fred, is what usefulness does a guy like Lerner
have for the ordinary Palestinian? Because that is what a
pro-Palestinian movement is supposed to be about, Palestinians, not
people jumping up and down announcing what limits they put on supporting
basic Palestinian rights.


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