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.
Sen. Joe Zelig Biden on Shalom TV-I Am A Zionist
It is an old video but a good reminder of the treacherous tendencies of our so-called elected politicians...
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.
Uri Avnery Elaborates on Israeli Psychosis
He referes to the Israeli ignorance, arrogance and collective neurosis.
"Israelis are not afraid of war, they are afraid of peace"
I don't always agree with Avnery but I have a lot of respect to this brave man.
Gilad Atzmon: Flotilla, Flytilla and the prospect of ‘Civil Society Action’
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’.
Tzipi & The Emir of Qatar
At the time the Jewish state keeps millions of Palestinians in open air prisons.
L'Emir du Qatar en visite discrète en Israël by centre-zahra-france
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:
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
12th July - Wednesday 13th July
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:
Ibrahim Hewitt: Israel's fifth columnists silence Sheikh Raed Salah
Thousands 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.
Flying for Palestinian Freedom
Press Release:
O
n 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.
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
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.
Hero Activist David Halpin talks to RT
British anti-war activist Dr. David Halpin in an interview with RT said he hopes that British, American and Israeli politicians responsible for war crimes will be held accountable in his lifetime. Dr. Halpin became prominent when he joined a group of doctors who questioned the official position on the death of the British Defense Ministry weapons scientist David Kelly. Kelly told a journalist he doubted Iraq had any biological weapons of mass destruction and was later found with his wrists slit.
Flotilla update: Silvia Cattori interviews Dimitri Plionis (Greek Boat)
Under pressure from Israel and the United States, the Greek government has prohibited the Freedom Flotilla from sailing to Gaza from its ports. But to its organizers, the fight has just begun and Israel will remain under pressure from the civil society who will continue to denounce the illegality of the blockade, and to fight to go to Gaza. Dimitri Plionis, one of the Greek spokesmen for the flotilla, responds here to the questions of Silvia Cattori.
The Canadian boat, called ’Tahrir’ with 22 Canadians on board, as well as contingents from Australia, Belgium, Denmark and Turkey, was boarded by local port police in Agios Nicolaos, Crete.
Silvia Cattori: The flotilla is not free to sail. Is the reason for that situation the fact that Greece is now in a terrible financial turmoil and totally dependent?
Dimitri Plionis [1]: We knew that our project would confront obstacles but having almost all major governments against us, as also the UN and the Quartet? No, we did not expect our project to have such a honour, we must have stepped on a really big toe. Of course we realize that it is a bad coincidence that we are in this situation; but still we believe that the project of the Freedom flotilla exercises a pressure. Listen: we are not strong; we are not States; we are not governments. But of course, we have now, with Greece, three governments against us. And, among them, two of the strongest governments in the world: the United States and Israel. And what are we? We are activists, civil society people. We are not even parties; we are not even political organizations, you know. And we have achieved such a big thing. We have put Gaza at the forefront. We have already achieved that. You know that Israel, a few days ago, has increased the amount of humanitarian help, and also of materials that they allow to go to Gaza. This is thanks to our pressure.