Gilad Atzmon: The Herem Law in the context of Jewish Past and Present

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The European Union appear concerned about the new Israeli herem law. The law suggests that a person or an organisation calling for the boycott of Israel , including the settlements, can be sued by the boycotts' targets, without having to prove that they sustained any damage.

“We are concerned about the effect that this legislation may have on the freedom of Israeli citizens and organisations to express non-violent political opinions" said spokesperson for foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.

More and more people and institutions now understand that Israel is not a ‘civilised society’: it is impervious to notions of human and civil rights, and it also does not share the common and fundamental foundations of a Western value system.  Israel is not a democracy and it has never been one. At the most, Israel has managed to mimic some of the appearances of a Western civilisation, but it has clearly failed to internalise the meaning of tolerance and freedom.

 

This should not take us by surprise: Israel defines itself as a Jewish state, and Jewishness is, sadly enough, inherently intolerant; indeed, it may be argued that Jewish intolerance is as old as the Jews themselves.

Regarding legislation then, how are we to understand the implications of the word ‘herem’? The Hebrew word herem in its contemporary usage refers to a ban,  boycott and sanction. However, within the biblical context, the word suggests the total destruction of the enemy and his goods at the conclusion of a campaign.

The emergence of Christianity then, can be viewed as an attempt to rectify such a situation of stark intolerance -- it can be understood as an attempt to drift away from The Old Testament’s dark ideology. Christianity introduced ideas of harmony and love. And it is no wonder that the man who dared suggest to his Judean contemporaries to ‘love their neighbours’ ended up nailed to wood. He himself ended up being subject to a vile homicidal  herem campaign. 

Uriel Da Costa

The spirit of herem is intrinsic to the Judaic teaching and spirit. Many people are aware of Spinoza being subject to a Rabbinical herem. Yet, not many are familiar with the story of Uriel Da Costa.

 

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Gilad Atzmon: Israeli Contamination at the Heart of America

Ynet reported this morning about the arrest of an Israeli man on suspicion of blackmailing some 100 US girls. 

The Israeli man was detained on suspicion of hacking the computers of the girls and threatening to circulate their intimate photos, unless they perform indecent acts on their webcam.

Almost 100 girls aged 12 to 17 were among the victims. . The Israel man  is believed to have hacked their computers, seeking embarrassing photographs and later approaching them on online social networks and threatening them.

The man allegedly told the girls that should they fail to comply with his requests, he would circulate the photos among their acquaintances and relatives, and at their schools.

The girls, who were alarmed by the threats, complied with the suspect's demands.

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Culture is Resistance

From July 5-9, the Alternative Information Center held its first ever Culture is Resistance! Week, which explored the interconnections between culture, resistance and oppression. Held under the auspices of the Beit Sahour Municipality and the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, Culture is Resistance! featured interactive panel discussions and art performances in the fields of theatre, poetry, music, art and film. For more information, visit http://alternativenews.org

 

Arab Jews In Israel Start to Understand It All

 

Here is a piece I posted back in April about the subject:

Young Arab Jews open letter to Arab peers


Introduction by Gilad Atzmon:

In spite of being the majority amongst the Israeli Jewish population, Arab Jews are heavily discriminated in Israel, both culturally and economically. Due to Zio-centric pressure and Euro-centric culture, Arab Jews have been reluctant to openly explore their heritage. Needless to mention that Arab military defeats didn’t help either, for decades Arab Jews in Israel have tended to hide their Arabic past.  For the obvious reasons Arab Jews in Israel have been found at the forefront of every possible political form of negation towards Palestinians and Arabs in general. They clearly wanted to disassociate themselves from their Arab past through blind identification with Zionist ideology and Israeli militancy.

Things, however, may change these days. Following the regional Intifada and the rise of Arab masses, young Arab Jews in Israel are becoming aware of their true origin and their culture. The following is an open letter to Arab peers written by Young Israeli Arab Jews- young people who come to realise who they are, where they come from and what they stand for.

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Gilad Atzmon on Red Ice Radio

http://www.redicecreations.com/radio/2011/07/RIR-110709.php

Gilad Atzmon - Zionism & Multiculturalism
 July 9, 2011
 Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel, now living in the UK. He is a successful jazz musician as well as a prolific writer. Atzmon writes on political matters, social issues, Jewish identity and culture. He specializes in writing about Jewish identity politics and how it fits into Jewish ideology. His papers are published in many press outlets around the world. His novels 'Guide to the perplexed' and 'My One And Only Love' have been translated into 24 languages. Gilad joins us as the third guest in our series to discuss Zionism and multiculturalism. He'll begin discussing the three different types of Jewish ideology: the Jewish people, the Jewish religion and Jewishness. Then, he'll point out different Jewish manifestations in politics, left vs. right and talk about the oxymoron of Jewish left. Gilad will also talk about the Abrahamic Jews, Jewish migration and why the Middle East is so important, especially for the Zionists. We'll discuss why so much money goes to Israel, the America/Israel connection, the Rothschilds and why Britain joined forces with Israel. Gilad tells us about Jewish anti-Zionists and the difference between being Jewish verses operating politically as Jews. He'll also talk about anti-Semitic sensitivity and where he thinks it comes from. Gilad ends the interview using music as a metaphor to share his thoughts on multiculturalism and struggle. Topics discussed: Zionism, the Jewish left, "The Invention of the Jewish People" by Shlomo Sand, "the chosen ones", Jewish Marxists, the Jewish lobby, colonial paradigm, the Balfourd decleration, "Jewishness", Uriel da Costa, racism, metaphysics, Israel, multiculturalism and more.

Gilad Atzmon: Flotilla, Flytilla and the prospect of ‘Civil Society Action’

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It might be argued that the passing week was not very easy on the Palestinian solidarity movement:  firstly, an international peaceful flotilla aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza did not manage to leave Greek ports. The Greek government had surrendered submissively to Israeli pressure and American Jewish organisations, and blocked the naval enterprise. 

Secondly, an international attempt to fly hundreds of activists from all over the world to the West Bank also partially failed, as the Israeli Government had managed to mount just enough pressure to make sure that the project fell apart before it became airborne.[1]

Though it may seem as if the Palestinian solidarity movement suffered a blow, it is actually Israel that was harshly beaten here, for Israel has managed to expose its level of hysteria: it seems that eight old yachts and a few hundred Easyjet passengers have managed to shake the entire Israeli society.  Now try to imagine the potential impact of hundred of thousands of  Palestinian refugees marching to their  homes  in Jaffa , Acre Lod , Ramle, Haifa, Beer Shiva and  Al Quds.

I guess that the picture is clearer than ever-- Israel doesn’t stand a chance. Its fate is doomed. It is just a question of time. It is not a matter of ‘if’ but a question of ‘when’.

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Regevelations By Red Rej

I’ve just come down from the mountain,

where I went to commune on my own.

What I learnt when I climbed to the summit

is here on these tablets of stone.

 

You know of the old ten commandments,

the rules on how not to sin,

well forget whatever they told you,

stick the old rules straight in the bin.

 

Start with the fact that you’re chosen.

No one else got the slightest look in,

so logic dictates, when deciding their fates,

it is always you who should win.

 

Ignore all the guff on false witness,

the truth is not worth one fig.

Goebbels hit on the right idea -

if you’re going to lie - lie big.

 

And once you start lying, keep lying.

Convince the whole world you are right.

You’ll soon have them all believing

it’s day when it’s actually night.

 

It’s not wrong to covet your neighbour’s ass,

nor the ass of your neighbour’s young wife.

Take what you want, whenever you want,

if need be, at the point of a knife.

 

Take his home. Take his land. Take his water.

There’s nothing to stop you I say.

According to this proclamation,

what’s his is yours anyway.

 

Once you’re armed to the teeth, you’re almighty.

There’s no one can resist your plan.

Just remember to pose as a victim.

Try hard to look humble, if you can.

 

The question of killing is simple.

It’s fine in multiples of ten.

Then, should they choose to resist you,

then decimate again and again.

 

The laws made by all other nations

Are hereby declared null and void.

Lessons learnt over thousands of years

Consumed in the flames and destroyed.

 

I am the archest of all angels.

I speak with the voice of a god.

Let the world’s press bow down before me.

Now, write what I say when I nod.

 

Amen.

source:

http://www.fistfulofpoetry.com/

Gilad Atzmon & OHE: The Burning Bush

Dedicated to the most stupid world-leader in modern time...

Gilad Atzmon & Orient House Ensemble live at CAVE 61, Heilbronn, Germany; 19-03-11

Next Week:

The Music Of Charlie Parker Brought To You By Gilad With Strings

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club

12th July - Wednesday 13th July



http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/

Ronnie Scott’s is privileged to welcome  Gilad Atzmon performing the music of arguably the greatest alto sax player in jazz history, Charlie Parker. On the night, Gilad will be accompanied by a full string section adding depth to bird's classic compositions. This is a must-see show that has been earning rave reviews around the country!

for more info:

http://www.gilad.co.uk/live/

Ibrahim Hewitt: Israel's fifth columnists silence Sheikh Raed Salah

Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, has reportedly been arrested in LondonThousands of words have been written about the scandalous arrest of Sheikh Raed Salah by the British government in what is being seen as an attempt to silence him at the insistence of the pro-Israel Lobby. Supporters of the Sheikh from all sides of the political and religious divide in Palestine and beyond have stepped forward to condemn Britain's action; Home Secretary Theresa May should hang her head in shame that she has been prepared to sacrifice goodwill for Britain across the Middle East to please the right-wing media and lobbyists for Israel.

 As the phrase "pro-Israel Lobby" implies, this group of individuals and organisations carry out their nefarious work to promote Israel and its interests by influencing Western politicians and anyone else who will listen; the media is a favoured tool in this work and all too many journalists are happy to take the Zionist shilling and abandon their integrity in order to oblige. The Israel Lobby in the United States is, of course, well-documented and more or less controls Congress; witness the absurd spectacle of numerous standing ovations for Benjamin Netanyahu while addressing a joint session in Congress recently, and America's slavish devotion to and support for Israel, right or wrong. Theresa May's transparent-obsequiousness in pandering to the Lobby's whims a week ago by arresting Sheikh Salah suggests that Israel has decided that it is time to come out and flex its political muscles openly on this side of the Atlantic.

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Flying for Palestinian Freedom

Press Release:

On July 8th we are flying for Palestinian freedom -- and for our own

Hundreds of internationals on their way to visit Palestinians in Gaza have been prevented from departing from the ports in Greece. However, we hope that on July 8th, 2011, hundreds of others of us from many countries will succeed in reaching Palestine by flying to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. We have been invited by some forty Palestinian organizations to "Welcome to Palestine," a week of activities in  Palestine. It should be a wonderful visit, but most of us are frankly a bit scared. This is because of one decision we've all made: to tell the truth that our plan is to visit Palestine. It should be so simple, shouldn't it?  But it is not, because Israel controls all access to Palestine -- by air, and by land, as well as by sea.

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Gilad Atzmon: Hasbara Psychosis

I cannot make up my mind whether this Hasbara clip is funny or stupid. 

What is absolutely clear is that, once again, the abuser and the murderer considers itself (herself) to be the 'victim'.

Do they now admit being a psychotic collective?

And who is the shrink?

Is he the rest of us?

Is he the gaze of the world?

She, the 'victim', insists to celebrate her symptoms (sexy and neurotic), yet, she somehow refuses to be properly treated. She clearly leaves before the end of the session.

This may be the problem. They are aware of themselves being collectively sick, but they do not know how to take it further. They always leave before the end of the session.

In case you ask yourself what kind of 'pro-Israeli' message could the clip convey, an Israeli friend of mine came up with an answer:

The clip aims at British and American students with a juvenile mind.

The message is: Israel is young, innocent and sexy. the Rest of the world is too old to grasp it all.

I guess that this interpretation is spot on. I am certainly too old for this deceitful neurotic victim spiel.

The clip is slightly pathetic yet it is very revealing...

Gilad Atzmon: Jewish Self-Reflection is Overdue

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In an audio interview , Harvard University Yiddish Professor Ruth Wisse has condemned ongoing attempts by international activists to set sail for Gaza, on what she calls a “kill-the-Jews flotilla.” 

“The purpose of the flotilla is to discredit the Israeli attempt to protect itself and to give Hamas a free hand amassing weapons to use against Israeli civilians.”  Wisse also forms a new type of ‘Jewish solipsism,’ saying “It should be called for what it is: a 'kill-the-Jews flotilla. If it is called by its proper name, then it will be recognized for what it is.” 

Here is the Yiddish logic: label first, then grasp accordingly. However, I would like to remind Wisse that as things stand in the Middle East, it is not the Flotilla peace activists  or the democratically elected Hamas who kill. It is actually the Jewish State that is doing the killing, en masse, and  in the name of the Jewish people. 

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