Gilad Atzmon is a jazz & world music artist, a novelist and an author focusing on ID politics.
Welcome to Gilad Atzmon's webpage. This site provides information about Gilad's musical and intellectual activity.
A Short film by Porter Speakman, Jr. (@porterspeakman) for the "Christ at the Checkpoint Conference 2012". "The Checkpoint" looks at the system of Israeli checkpoints in the West Banks and the daily routine Palestinians must face going through the Bethlehem Checkpoint.
The Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad stated today that extremists must stop pretending to stand up for Palestinian children's rights.
"It is time for these criminals to stop marketing their terrorist acts in the name of Palestine and to stop pretending to stand up for the rights of Palestinian children who only ask for a decent life," the Palestinian premier said in a statement.
Yet I wonder, isn’t the time ripe for the Israeli prime minister to produce a similar statement- something like:
"It is time for our Jewish State to stop marketing our State- terrorist acts in the name of Jewish people, Jewish suffering and the Shoa. We better stop pretending to stand up for the rights of Jews and their children who, like Palestinians, only ask for a decent life."
By Gilad AtzmonThe European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy was criticised yesterday for comparing the killing of three children and a rabbi in a shooting attack in France to the situation in Gaza.
At the “Palestine refugees in the changing Middle East” conference in Brussels, Baroness Ashton, described the murders in Toulouse as a “terrible tragedy”, but she then added: “When we see what is happening in Gaza and in different parts of the world – we remember young people and children who lose their lives.”
Seemingly some prominent Jewish and Israeli leaders couldn’t agree less. For them Jewish suffering exceeds all other suffering and Palestinian’s in particular.
The London Jewish Chronicle quoted some of the outraged critics. “Even when read in context, Ashton’s words are beyond unacceptable,” said Oliver Worth, the British chairman of the World Union of Jewish Students. He said they were “truly outrageous and revolting” and called for her to resign because she had “lost all credibility”. And yet, Mr Worth fails to explain why is it “outrageous and revolting” to equate Jewish suffering with Palestinian one.
“For me to be Jewish is, above all, to be preoccupied with overcoming injustice and thirsting for justice in the world, and that means being respectful toward other peoples regardless of their nationality or religion, and empathetic in the face of human suffering whoever and wherever victimization is encountered” (Gilad Atzmon, “On Jewish Identity,” 1/15/2011).
Strange that the US Palestinian Community Network, in an article titled “Granting No Quarter: a Call for the Disavowal of the Racism and Anti-Semitism of Gilad Atzmon,” by Ali Abunimah, would seek to silence the voice of a man who, as the quote that opens this article attests, publically proclaims, to all the world in his new book The Wandering Who, that he stands for “justice, human dignity, equality and social and economic rights,” the very principles that the US PCN proclaims in that very article: “…we stand with all and any movements that call for justice, human dignity, equality, and social, economic, cultural and political rights.”
Perhaps Mr. Abunimah failed to read Mr. Atzmon’s book. Perhaps he failed to see the contradiction he penned. Perhaps he felt forced to respond to outside pressures that necessitated he “reject the reality of the perception” expressed by Mr. Atzmon and propose “disavowal,” an action that Nahida suggests might be related “to the Talmudic concept of excommunication in which “the Talmud forbids coming within six feet of a person who has been excommunicated“? (from “Disavow with no mercy,” Nahida exiled).
Cynthia McKinney: I had the great fortune to meet Gilad Atzmon IN PERSON in Atlanta! He came, he spoke, he played. It was marvelous.
I actually interviewed him for Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox radio program that will air some time in the coming few days. Be on the lookout for it.
The interview was a good follow-up to his remarks in Atlanta. I touched him. He's human. He's just a person. And he's a thinker. He has deep philosophical underpinnings for his positions. He is actually engaging in a conversation with himself, but is allowing the world to hear his musings. His conversation is no different than the one some Black people are having now around the meaning of the Presidency of Barack Obama since his policies are the exact opposite of what was once the Black Political Consensus that was admired around the world as a result of the struggle for civil rights in this country. What are we to do when that consensus is betrayed by one of our own? If you read Glen Ford at BlackAgendaReport.com, you will see what I mean. When values that have been held for generations are suddenly betrayed, introspection for meaning is always appropriate.
I felt the same way with Madeleine Albright; it only intensified with Condoleeza Rice and Susan Rice. As I said at a town hall meeting last night, that Rice plantation must have been one messed-up place! But certainly women must have the same pangs of conscience when we see women personalize policies that result in mass murder.
At any rate, in the flesh, Gilad is charming and thought-provoking. He said nothing that was offensive to me and nothing that I heard him say resembles what I read about him.
Finally, I know what it is like to be maligned. For serious values to be twisted and chewed and mangled into distortions beyond recognition. And although he would never admit it, I'm sure these attacks hurt him immensely. I wish there were something I could do about that, but we all are so hurt. Don't retreat. Hold my hand and we will walk with Gilad through this difficult time for us all.
Gilad Atzmon’s New Book: The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
While people are suffering in Israeli prisons and being killed in Gaza, it is sad to see time and energy expended in a campaign against Israeli author and saxaphonist Gilad Atzmon. I respect and like people on both sides of this controversy and am troubled over this distracting and destructive (but, I hope, temporary) split.
I, of course, come down on the side of open discussion, even when the subject matter is difficult or troubling – in fact, that's probably when it's most needed. I believe in such old fashioned but critical concepts as the free marketplace of ideas, and I oppose censorship and would-be "thought police" telling others what they may or may not do, even when those attempting to do this have created valuable work that I admire.
The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, which sponsored a discussion with Atzmon, has posted the most recent letter against Atzmon, followed by Atzmon's response here.
Mark Glenn: Tonight’s program–Gilad Atzmon discussing the latest attacks against his work by ‘pro-Palestinian’ activists as being ‘racist’ and SURPRISE, SURPRISE–’anti-semitic’.
We spoke about Zionism, Israel, Abunimah & Co, poverty in America.. a very interesting interview..
Source: http://theuglytruth.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/tut-podcast-march-17-2012/
Gilad Atzmon’s New Book: The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
Dear Gilad,
I am one Palestinian of many that DO NOT accept or endorse what Ali Abunimah has put forth. Although I have great respect for Ali and his devotion for Palestinians and Palestine, I believe that he has stepped over the boundaries of Peace Activism and Freedom Of Speech. You my brother have every right to state how you feel about Zionism/Jewishness etc. that is you feelings and opinion period, and for Ali to join in and get on the Zionist band wagon trying to destroy you is completely unacceptable to me as a free and peaceful human being. I believe that Palestinians such as Ali Abunimah are better served by concentrating on Educating the uninformed masses out there, seeking the real truth that is undermined by Israel's apologists and AIPAC/Zionists every step of the way. Ali Abunimah perhaps forgot the Arab saying "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" to say the least.
As for me as a Palestinian refugee/Peace Activist and a free thinker, I say to you, thank you for all you do on Palestinians behalf and Peace/Music...May the wind be at you back.
Kamal Hassan
Palestinian Refugee/Peace Activist.
http://www.tlaxcala-int.org/article.asp?reference=7021 (French)
http://www.tlaxcala-int.org/article.asp?reference=7018 (Spanish)
Gilad Azmon
Le fait qu’Ali Abunimah & Co. Se présentent comme des défenseurs d’un “seul État démocratique en Palestine” me laisse perplexe : quel genre de démocratie ont-ils exactement en tête ? Car en appelant à me “désavouer”, ils démontrent sans ambigüités qu’ils ne peuvent pas même tolérer la plus élémentaire critique culturelle, une critique qui est endossée et appréciée par quelques-uns des penseurs les plus respectés dans notre mouvement et au-delà.
De fait, je suis plutôt ravi des réactions indignées que suscitent mes idées. Je suppose que cela nous permet de cartographier le discours et ses frontières et signifie que ces frontières sont maintenant officielles. Mon dernier livre , The Wandering Who? Le…quoi? errant) ne fait pas seulement des vagues, il a aussi réussi à mettre d’accord Alan Dershowitz et Abe Foxman avec Ali Abunimah et Max Blumenthal. C’est plutôt encourageant : la paix est donc possible.
Mais j’ai une mauvaise nouvelle pour ceux qui voudraient me réduire au silence, qu’ils soient palestiniens ou juifs. Je n’ai aucune intention de baisser la garde ou de changer de cap. Je suis un musicien de jazz et quelqu’un qui pense en toute indépendance. Je suis fondamentalement un électron libre : je dis ce que je pense et je pense ce que je dis. La popularité de mes écrits parmi les Palestiniens, les militants de la solidarité et ceux qui cherchent la vérité est le résultat direct de mon approche sincère de cette thématique.
Que mes détracteurs le veuillent ou non, la force de mes arguments est fondée sur la transparence et la véracité de mes prémisses. Jusqu’à présent, aucun de mes adversaires n’a été en mesure de pointer la moindre contradiction dans mon argumentation ou dans les faits que j’expose. J’affirme par exemple que puisque Israël se définit lui-même comme l’État juif – avec ses tanks et ses avions ornés de symboles juifs -, il est de notre devoir de poser la question : qui sont les Juifs ? Qu’est-ce que le judaïsme ? Et qu’entend-on par judéité ?
Le fait que certains militants craignent et évitent de poser ces questions ne veut pas dire que tous les autres devraient adopter la même attitude lâche.
http://dissidentvoice.org/2012/03/a-call-for-the-disavowal-of-splittism/
When someone within the broad framework of social justice espouses views that are repugnant to others within a social justice movement, disavowal of such views is fair.1 Attacking the holder of the repugnant views would be overstepping the lines of decency. Nevertheless, it is bizarre that mass murderers and war criminals are accorded much more respect than racists, homophobes, or misogynists. How else to explain why no social justice group has formally called for a disavowal of Barack Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize winner complicit in the killing of so many Afghanis, Iraqis, Iranians, Bahrainis, Egyptians, Yemenis, Syrians, Libyans, Palestinians, etc.? Yet when “a musician born in Israel” speaks out against occupation, oppression, and killing and denounces the groups behind the occupation, oppression, and killing, he is excoriated allegedly because of racism against the occupier-oppressor group.
A group led by a pro-Palestinian rights campaigner, Ali Abunimah put out a call for a disavowal of Gilad Atzmon, “a musician born in Israel and currently living in the United Kingdom, [who] has taken on the self-appointed task of defining for the Palestinian movement the nature of our struggle, and the philosophy underpinning it.”2 [italics added]
Self-appointed? Please. Do humans need an appointment to oppose social injustices?
The anti-Atzmon signatories state they know best how to define the Palestinian movement the nature of the Palestinian struggle; that may very well be so, and that is something that is rightfully promoted by Palestinians in the struggle.
I have not read every word or heard every speech by Atzmon, but I never came to a conclusion that he was defining anything for Palestinians. Atzmon has been focused on the occupiers, a group he stems from, and what makes them occupier-oppressors, and as a member of the group (he has since renounced allegiance with), and as a human being he has every right (indeed, it should be a duty of every human) to criticize the war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity perpetrated by another group.
By Richard Edmondson
A group of prominent Palestinians who recently launched an attack on Gilad Atzmon seem to have made their required obeisance to Jewish sensibilities. Bravo for them. I must confess something, however: what good this will do for Palestine, or how it will ultimately help end the occupation, is totally beyond me. On the other hand, it does seem like an awfully nice gift for Israel, coming especially on the heels of the latest murderous rampage against Gaza. In this most recent paroxysm of Israeli violence, some 25 people died, including children. Why publish an attack against Atzmon at this particular time? Could it not have waited?
Atzmon is not only a longtime defender of Palestine, he has also emerged as one of the most powerful voices in anti-Zionist discourse. Why attack him at all, of course, but why especially now? As the most recent images of Gazans mourning their dead were flashing across the Internet, people throughout the world were getting worked up into a state of righteous anger. Even the mainstream media were forced to admit—something they rarely do—that the Israeli assault was not in “retaliation” for the firing of any missile or anything else any Palestinian had done. But then wham! Suddenly we get our “disavowal” manifesto. For this particular group of people to attempt to soil Atzmon with the “anti-Semite” label at this particular moment—well, let’s put it this way: Israel could hardly have asked for more.
Introduction by Gilad Atzmon: I the following piece the Great Nahida Izzat explores the true meaning of the Judification of the Palestinian secular political discourse.
http://uprootedpalestinians.blogspot.com/2012/03/disavow-with-no-mercy-not-in-my-name.html
Finally, it appears that years of work, persuasion, temptation, pressure and coercion have yielded its fruits, with the publishing (made it into hyper Zionist hate-site Harry's Place) of the joined statement by Mr Ali Abunimah and a few others, in which they brazenly called upon Palestinians and their supporters to disavow Gilad Atzmon because of his alleged "anti-semitism".
Here, I cannot help but wonder, what does Ali Abunimah mean exactly when he invites people to disavow Atzmon?
Can this "disavowal" be understood as a modern secular-leftist substituted for the "good old" Judaic concept of Herem?
Are we not entitled to ask then, if that concept of "disavowal" is by any chance related to the Talmudic concept of excommunication, in which "the Talmud forbids coming within six feet of a person who has been excommunicated"?
Ali Abunimah opens his statement with the declaration: "Granting No Quarter", calling to deprive the accused of any mercy or forgiveness. Such daring harsh words which mean "not to allow someone any mercy" eerily resemble the sinister Kabbalistic invocation of Pulsa diNura, a "ceremony in which the angels of destruction are invoked to block heavenly forgiveness of the subject’s sins",
It appears, yet again, that some people are determined to thrust us back into the Dark-Ages. Not only do they exhibit severe intolerance towards those whom they disagree with, but also instead of defending their position and "refuting" such disagreeable ideas with logic, factual information and reason, they resort to fight them with unsubstantiated accusations.
Furthermore, they actively and shamelessly participate in barbaric rabbinic medieval type of behaviour, in which they call for the "disavowal" (modern-secular for excommunication) of those whom they perceive as "heretics" for daring to think outside the box or for being crazy enough to talk about taboos and cross the boundaries of "permissible" debate. Amazingly, even those who refuse to abide by such "rabbinical-style" orders are also sentenced for being guilty by association, so they get the excommunication treatment too!
I would like to remind Mr Ali Abunimah and the few individuals who signed his statement, that in our Islamic heritage, Arabic tradition and Palestinian culture that they claims to defend and protect, such concept of excommunication , Herem, Pulsa diNura, and exclusion from mercy and forgiveness, are non-existent.
I would like to remind them also that such foreign concept they are trying forcibly to shove down our throats and introduce to our culture under the pretext of "fighting racism", does not only stand in stark contradiction with the very core ethos of the culture they claim to be defending, but it reflects severe reasoning impotence as well as intellectual incompetence.
Indeed, our culture has suffered heavy blows under the repeated attacks of the past centuries, which caused some disorientation in its vision and practice in our era, however, facts remain;
In our inherited culture, we do not disavow, ostracize or excommunicate, we invite for debate
In our inherited culture, we do not burn books we disagree with, we refute with reason and facts.
In our culture, we do not forbid independent thinking, we encourage إجتهاد Ijtihad.
In our culture, we do not forbid deep critical thinking or unfamiliar creative ideas, we call it تفكر (thinking), تدبر (reflecting), تعقل (using the brain), تأمل (meditation).
In our culture, we do not say "grant no quarters", we say "ارحموا من في الارض يرحمكم من في السماء", have mercy on those on earth, the One in Heaven will have mercy on you.
In our culture we oppose double standard, we call it hypocrisy; one cannot pretend to oppose one type of racism (anti-Jewish racism) yet sneakingly participate in the concealment of Jewish anti-gentile racism by blocking information, aborting any debate about it and by silencing and shunning those who attempt to expose it.
To read more:
http://uprootedpalestinians.blogspot.com/2012/03/disavow-with-no-mercy-not-in-my-name.html
Gilad Atzmon’s New Book: The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
Introduction by Gilad Atzmon: The Abunimah & Co's declaration also sparked a big debate within the One Democratic State (ODS) movement. It seems as if prominent Palestinians and intellectuals grasp that the declaration is inherently undemocratic, based on empty accusations and divisive. Noel Ignatiev published some of the comments.
http://www.pmpress.org/content/article.php/20120316030526668
Engaging Gilad Atzmon
Israeli-born Gilad Atzmon, one of Europe’s finest jazz musicians, was in Washington, DC for the first time at the end of a multi-city North American grassroots tour to discuss his recently published and highly controversial book, The Wandering Who? A Study of Jewish Identity Politics.
On March 14, Atzmon was interviewed by Prof. Norton Mezvinsky, Connecticut State University Professor of History Emeritus, at Washington’s Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.
During the question-and-answer period following Professor Mezvinsky’s interview, noted Palestinian journalist Fouzi El-Asmar stood up to state his opposition to a letter circulated the previous day by Palestinian activists calling for “the disavowal of the racism and antisemitism of Gilad Atzmon.” El-Asmar, author of To Be an Arab in Israel, recalled that both he and his mother had been imprisoned in Israel for speaking out, and warned against treading down that same path.
The Washington Report believes that no writer or thinker should be shunned in the United States—or anywhere—and we stand by our decision to host his DC events.
The video of the entire event will be posted on the Washington Report’s Web site, www.wrmea.org, in the coming week.
Palestinian "academists / activists" stand on the side of Israel and AIPAC. Willingly or unwillingly, they distort Gilad Atzmon work and thought. They don't seem to have ever listened to his lectures or read his book, "The Wandering Who?" Their vicious attack will not silence or convince this wonderful man to abandon his staunch and effective support of the Palestinian cause. The great musician, a former Israeli Jew, is a humanist and a Palestinian at heart. I am ashamed as a Palestinian. I am greatly honored to have him as a friend.
Ali Baghdadi
(Arab Journal, Chicago)
Antisemitic who ?
Who or what could have prompted Ali-Abuminah to write such a counter-productive diatribe against the beneficial works of Atzmon ?
Palestinians boycotting and in effect censoring a hard-hitting, courageous fellow traveler is a disgraceful act and poor strategy. It has come as a rude shock to many of us genuine campaigners for Palestine.
I’m pretty sure Mr. Abunimah didn't read Atzmon’s book.
Does he not know that Atzmon's book has been clearly blessed, endorsed and reviewed by illustrious authors and researchers, and alternative media stalwarts, long time ‘Friends of Palestine’ the likes of Messrs. John Mearsheimer, James Petras, William A Cook, Jeff Gates, Paul Balles, Alan Hart, Kim Petersen , Richard Falk, and scores of others as no other book ?
In-fighting is characteristic of progressive movements. On the right things are much easier. They want a “survival-of-the-fittest” society, small government, low taxes, no safety- net, no brown-skinned people crossing our borders, the right to unlimited profits un-hampered by any oversight or regulations, the right to claim foreign natural resources and to take advantage of cheap foreign labor, and when foreign leaders are not easily subjugated, the right to wage war in the name of “freedom” and “liberty” and “democracy” while waving the flag. The program is quite simple and so agreement is easily found.
Problems occur when someone like Sarah Palin is put in a position of high visibility, and has to be coached on information she should have learned in high school, or when they have to decide whether Mormon candidate Mitt Romney qualifies as Christian. But issues like these are relatively manageable, and all they need is a common adversary to embrace unity over their minute differences. For example it’s easy for them to agree that Obama is a Socialist, even though he more closely resembles a Reagan Republican, because he’s a member of the Democratic Party and they want to beat him.
On the left, however, where activists become active because they actually care about humanity and the planet; care about universal values of peace, justice, human rights, environmental sustainability, and the like, all hell breaks loose on a regular basis. This is because there are many varied perceptions as to what qualifies as fair, just, and balanced, and many varied opinions as to how to achieve these things. It often seems that shades of meaning have monumental ramifications, and degrees to the left, in increments, often translate to irreconcilable differences.
I played a concert with saxophonist/author Gilad Atzmon in Geneva, New York last night, a benefit for the Deir Yassin Remembered scholarship fund. (Put into perspective, two Jews playing a concert, unpaid, to raised money to send Palestinian kids to college.) This morning we happened to meet before breakfast in the hallway of our motel. He said, “I have to show you something. You won’t believe this.” We entered his room, he opened his lap-top, and set his browser on a link to a sort of a treatise, a declaration, prepared by Ali Abunimah and signed by various activists, entitled “Palestinian Writers, Activists, Disavow Racism and Anti-Semitism of Gilad Atzmon”. What has Gilad Atzmon done to inspire this very extreme action? He has examined, and written about, the issue of “Jewishness”, about HIS “Jewishness”, and about mine.
http://www.wrmea.com/action-alert-archives/11130-to-disavow-or-debate-gilad-atzmon.html
Last night Ali Abunimah and other respected Palestinian writers and activists signed a statement calling for “The Disavowal of the Racism and Antisemitism of Gilad Atzmon,” who is winding up his U.S. tour with events in Washington, DC today and tomorrow. The Washington Report is convinced that Atzmon’s interview tonight by Prof. Norton Mezvinsky couldn’t come at a better time. Please read Abunimah’s statement and Atzmon’s response below. Then come to tonight’s discussion and decide for yourself whether to shun Atzmon or engage him in debate. For those who want to further explore the renowned jazz musician’s ideas and music, copies of Atzmon’s latest book, The Wandering Who?, as well as his three CDs, will be available for purchase.
Wednesday, March 14, 6:30-8:30 PM Gilad Atzmon is interviewed by Prof. Norton Mezvinsky, (Connecticut State University Professor of History Emeritus) at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001 (free, open to public, light dinner)
Thursday, March 15, 5-6:30 PM DC Peace House, 1233 12th St. NW, Washington DC 20005
by Gilad Atzmon
Ali Abunimah & Co tend to present themselves as advocates of “One Democratic State in Palestine.” This leaves me puzzled: what kind of democracy do they have in mind, exactly? For by calling for my “disavowal,” they prove beyond a doubt that they cannot tolerate even some elementary cultural criticism—criticism that is endorsed and praised by some of the most respected thinkers within our movement and beyond.
In fact, I am pretty delighted with the outraged reactions to my thoughts. I guess it enables us to map the discourse and its boundaries—and means that those boundaries are now official. Not only has my latest book, The Wandering Who?, rocked the boat, but it also has managed to unite Alan Dershowitz and Abe Foxman with Ali Abunimah and Max Blumenthal. That is pretty encouraging: it means that peace may prevail after all.
Introduction by Gilad Atzmon: The following is a deconstruction by Kevin Barrett. Barrett takes the time and the effort and dismantles each of the arguments against myself and my work. Barrett exposes the intellectual lameness at the core of my detractor's argument . Once again, it seems as if my critics actually project their own symptoms onto me. I would like to thank Kevin for his time and effort.
Last Thursday’s essay “Why Hate Gilad Atzmon?” has been bouncing around the internet. (The title currently gets 780,000 Google hits).
In that piece I suggested that the anti-Atzmon brigade is defending sacred boundaries against Atzmon’s fearless questioning. The two taboo questions are: Is the whole notion of a Jewish state in Palestine (i.e., Zionism) legitimate and/or feasible? (The obvious answer, of course, is NO.) Second question: To what extent has Jewish identity politics contributed to the disaster of Zionism? (The obvious answer, of course, is “to a considerable extent.”)
“Don’t even go there!” they scream. Atzmon goes there. So they lynch him.
The truth hurts.
That’s my take, anyway. But not everyone agrees with me. I have received quite a few anti-Atzmon emails. They all make the same argument: Atzmon is wrong about X, Y, or Z, and therefore he is dangerous, a racist, a dangerous racist, and so on.
First, I would like to point out to these people that Atzmon has a right to be wrong. Since nobody is arguing that Atzmon is offering wrong facts – just wrong opinions, interpretations and orientations on very complex issues – his critics ought to be working harder to explain why he is wrong, rather than calling him names and organizing boycotts and smear campaigns on the basis of perfectly innocent quotes violently and misleadingly ripped from their contexts.
I spoke with Kevin about Chosen-ness, Jewish exceptionalism and supremacy, the Book of Esther & AIPAC, AZZ and beyond..a very interesting interview...
Gilad Atzmon’s New Book: The Wandering Who? A Study Of Jewish Identity Politics Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.