In response to Bernard-Henri Levy
Demonization? Perhaps, but the way to fight that is by imposing a siege on its arsenal. Were it not for the blockade on Gaza, were it not for the occupation, there would be no cause for demonization. Was it too much to expect of you, once the voice of conscience, to understand that?
By Gideon Levy Tags: Israel news Gaza flotillaDear Bernard-Henri Levy, unfortunately we don't know each other. We met for a moment in Gori's smoking rubble in the midst of the war in Georgia. You came on a brief visit and as usual attracted attention, as you did in other conflict zones you visited.
I deeply admire prominent intellectuals like yourself, who make a point of visiting the killing fields and speaking out. Your attempt to protect Israel, as demonstrated by your article in Haaretz on Tuesday ("It's time to stop demonizing Israel"), pleased many Israelis, who were yearning for a good word about their country, a very rare commodity these days.
I won't spoil their pleasure. But in the name of your call to end the disinformation, I wish to draw your attention to information that may have slipped your memory.
One may hazard a guess that in your younger days you would have joined the flotilla. A blockade of more than four years on 1.5 million people in those days would have awakened a moral urge driving you to join the protest. But today, as far as you and most Israelis are concerned, there is no blockade on Gaza.
Talking about it in your view is "disinformation."
By the way, since you were here already, why didn't you pop into Gaza, as your friend Mario Vargas Llosa did, to see with your own eyes whether there's a blockade? The doctors in Shifa Hospital, for example, would have told you about their dead due to the non-blockade.
True, nobody is dying of hunger. Yet the Gisha organization for freedom of movement released a report this week saying Israel today allows 97 items to be brought into Gaza, compared to 4,000 before the siege. Is that not a blockade?
A large Israeli supermarket holds 10,000-15,000 items; in Paris there are surely more. Yet Gaza is allowed 97. One would expect greater understanding for gastronomic needs from a refined bon vivant such as yourself, of all people.
You mention, as though you were the IDF spokesman, that Israel permits 100-125 trucks into Gaza a day. A hundred trucks for 1.5 million people ¬ is that not a "merciless siege" as the Liberation newspaper you castigated called it?
Eighty percent of Gaza's residents subsist on aid; 90 percent of its factories are shut down or runing below capacity. Really, Bernard-Henri, isn't that a blockade? Shouldn't a great intellectual like you, of all people, be expected to know that people, including Gazans, need more than bread and water?
Let's leave statistics alone, after all, philosophers don't deal with numbers.
You write that Israel has been named as responsible for the blockade "ad
nauseum" and that this is a blockade - suddenly even you call it a blockade imposed by both Israel and Egypt.
Correct. Egypt's participation is indeed outrageous and inexplicable, but
Egypt and Israel should not be judged in the same way. The occupation in Gaza is not over, it has merely moved, to the occupier's convenience, but Israel is still responsible.
The legal currency in Gaza is the shekel, the population registration is carried out by Israel, which also monitors anyone entering the strip. Decades
of occupation have made Gaza dependent on Israel and Israel cannot shake it off merely by "disengaging."
But let's put the blockade aside, whether you deny or justify it. How can you ignore the context? There have been 43 years of occupation and despair for millions of people, some of whom may wish to become Bernard-Henri Levy, and not just pass their lives in a battle for survival.
What are the chances a young Palestinian will achieve something in his life?
Look at the pictures of the Gazans crowding the Rafah border pass yesterday and see their expressions.
Surely you've heard of freedom. You cannot blame the occupation on anyone but us, the Israelis. There are many excuses for it, but they don't change the ultimate fact ¬ Israel is an occupier. This is the root of all evil and this is what you have concealed. Not a word about it.
Israel may have the right to prevent arms supplies from entering Gaza, but you don't have the right to ignore what has turned Gaza into a desperate refugee region.
True, Bernard-Henri, the world demands more of Israel than of dictatorships. This is not the "confusion of an era," as you put it, but a new (and just) era, in which the world demands Israel pay a price for its conduct as a democracy.
Demonization? Perhaps, but the way to fight that is by imposing a siege on its arsenal. Were it not for the blockade on Gaza, were it not for the occupation, there would be no cause for demonization. Was it too much to expect of you, once the voice of conscience, to understand that?
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Gideon Levy is a great humanist - gentle and empathetic.
"You cannot blame the occupation on anyone but us, the Israelis?" No problem. Let's just shut down the IDF and tell all the soldiers to go home and sing kumbaya.
"You cannot blame the occupation on anyone but us, the Israelis?" No problem. Let's just shut down the IDF and tell all the soldiers to go home and sing kumbaya.
A philospher could be very intellectual, capable and renowned but when it comes to his/her sentiments, he/she could be incapable of expressing it. Bernard_Henri is a human being like us. He wrote sentimentally but without any deep logic, analysis or philosopphy.
Thank you so much Gideon Levy.
Bernard-Henri Levy is way above the propagandist Gideon Levy who should understand when he is outsmarted and made to look like a pro-Hamas apologist with every word he writes. Bernard-Henri Levy is so far above Gideon that it's a joke to even put the two in the same sentence.
Is it going to be a western democracy or not. If so, as it holds itself up to be, it needs to fight its oppression of Arabs, stop punishing them and focus on security and human rights. Security does not require denying building permits for Arabs, settling the West Bank and certainly not allowing "price tag" without any justice.
This article is forged out of real intellectual courage. It is beautifully written and its implicit call for a higher conscience is absolutely moving. It is only by recognizing the truth of your misdeeds that you can correct them. Israel is lucky to have voices like this. Gideon is a man that loves his country and is desperately trying to save its good potential and its legitimate survival. I applaud your courage. An Arab Psychoanalyst!
Well Gideon has a fan : an Arab psycho . I wish this Arab psycho would tell us what he thinks of the other courageous folks such as Ahmadinedjad, Nasralah, Haniyeh, Assad..... Probably the same compliments attributed to Gideon Levy.
Bravo, Gideon, Bravo. israel needs more like you!!!!!
In your answer to Mr B.H/L,you write twice,that if there would be no occupation,there would be no Demonazion of Israel. You are totally wrong!!!!! As a typical Sabra,u have no idea to look trough the Europeans.You have no idea what Antisemitism is among your leftist friends in Europe. I am also against the occupation and blockade,but pls,dont shut your eyes Gideon......
Henri-Levy is now like Elie Wiesel. Wants attention and gets attention by being shrill about Israel/Jews being victims etc. etc. Sorry, facts are against Henri-Levy and Wiesel. Unfortunately since Jewish influence in media is big, they get heard for whatever garbage they spew out. Their audience however is getting smaller and smaller.
You are wrong Dennis Loh. Bernard Henri Levy is very popular among the French intellectuals as well as non-intellectuals, Jews and non-Jews. Unlike Gideon Levy who is popular only with a handful of Israeli loony-lefties and a lot of Arab ennemies, and Persians and Pakistanis, and Indonesians, and of course European and other naive lefties.
it's clear for many ,especially those who've suffered him in his native language,that BHL has long ceased to be a philosopher.What remains is a tribalistic narcissist. But,how can one not be outraged by his attempt to castrate the waking up of the world to the atrocities of the occupation.It is him,and other egotists who treat Israel as an immature fellow who can't handle the truth.It is his kind who make the horrendous situation sustainable. we needed outrage from you Gideon.only Israelis can shame those abroad who by "defending" Israel actually hurt her.
Gideon Levy, you have truly lost it (and not for the first time!). "Were it not for the blockade on Gaza, were it not for the occupation...", you say? Do you understand the meaning of the phrase "chicken and egg"? If you do, then simply accept that were it not for the thousands of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza, there would have been no blockade!
Chicken and egg? I respectfully suggest you look up the meaning of that phrase in an idiomatic dictionary. Your misunderstanding of what the phrase means only underscores Mr. Gideon Levy's point, and is rather gently, if unintentionally, comical.
Even a prominent intellectual should be able to prioritize this properly. Blockade of Gaza is a horrible thing, and I will support it's end wholeheartedly, as soon as you show me how else to insure rockets will not start falling on Israeli cities again.
Could not have said it better. Who is the philosopher now!
I am very impressed by your opinion and feel admiration for you. It is paramount importance of human right and etic attitudes. All human beings have right to live in peace and dignity. The politics should be humanist in place of religious or racist or nationalis those are in war with humankind.
I am very impressed by your opinion and feel admiration for you. It is paramount importance of human right and etic attitudes. All human beings have right to live in peace and dignity. The politics should be humanist in place of religious or racist or nationalis those are in war with humankind.
Now really Gideon, your ramblings and personal attacks on your namesake don't change facts. But, they do indeed reveal you and your ignorance and hatred for the Jewish state. Shame on you for your inability to utter even one honest word.
The so-called demonization of Israel isn't something that's happening for the sake of itself, nor is it a manifestation of anti-Semitism(although for some it undoubtedly is); instead, it's in direct response to Israel's occupations, its settlements, and its oppression and injustice towards the Palestinian 'people'. The Gaza situation is just one part of it - and not even a particularly large one if you consider all aspects collectively. And because of the internet and digital technology, the world becomes smaller every day, and its people(more educated and openminded than ever before in history), are becoming increasingly aware of what transpires well beyond the borders of their own countries - and actually giving a shit! The bottom line is that the 43 years you mention has been catching up with Israel at an accelerating pace over the last few years, and Netanyahu's fascist leaning coalition is accelerating it even further. What Bernard-Henri fails to understand is that no amount of 'talk' is going to stop the "demonization" until Israel stops the things that fuel it. That's its message to Israel: "it's time to stop".
Very simply, Egypt recognizes that Israel is the legal "occupying power" of the Gaza strip. (According to the UN and most nations, except Israel, Israel's occupation continues since it exercises "effective control" over Gaza.) Egypt follows the Israeli demands. Even when it "violates" whatever stricture Israel imposes, it is done for Humanitarian needs where there is some legal cover for such an action.
... is for Egypt to take over either the Gazans & Gaza, or preferably Hamas minus the real estate... ... but Eqyptians don't like being freiers...
Kind of interesting to see that many people that disagree with Gideon Levy point of view respond by throwing in insults (stupid, Jew-hater, etc.) instead of rational arguments. While truth can hurt, Mr. Levy positions is unassailable as it's based on core human values; respect, equality and insight.
Brilliant!
God you are good!
said on T.V., that 75 items are allowed into Gaza. So I guess they've gone up 25%, Could it be that maybe one of you doesn't know what he is talking about? (I would imagine you are buddies- why not ask him?)
Part of the strategy of Israel, you see, Hannah, is to change the numbers of allowed and not allowed goods by the week even the day. Go vist Hannah, go visit.
whether 75 or 97 items are "allowed" into Gaza. Israel suffers from the same illness the US does -- they think they control everything
the palestinians target innocent civilians every chance they get,. The fact is the IDF is instructed to avoid civillian casualties even if they put their own lives at risk. The fact is the Muslims DO NOT want a Jewish land in their midst. The fact is the muslims kill hundreds of innocent civillians worldwide on a weekly basis, yet no one (I'm sure including you) cares. It is only when Israel tries to protect herself that you get outraged. The fact is YOU don't want Israel to exist.
I'm sure Israel has much better things to do with her time (like invent life-saving medicine and stuff). than to police Gaza. Unfortunately after She uprooted over 8,500 Jews and turned it over to the palestinians they predictably turned it into a rocket firing ground and proceeded to attack Israel. Not really good neighbors. But, I'm sure you know all that.
I am sick and tired of these war criminals dictating what is and what is not a Jew - Jews have a conscience - these people running Israel today are lost souls.
Gideon has to know that Levy is famous in France not for his philosophy; but for his t-Shirts & hair style !
Gideon can never wrap his head around the real world, as opposed to the idealistic or even academic one. The one in which your neigbors hate you and in which, the world is not a perfect place. Indeed, someone once wrote a letter to Gideon which hits the nail on the head. Maybe he should read it again: http://bit.ly/cHNtGT
Again, we hear the all pervasive, the necessary, as far as Israel is concerned, First, the allegation that "your neighbours hate you". Which neighbours is that, James? Jordan? Egypt? Those two neighbours that are chomping at the bit to destroy Israel but have been at peace for Israel for years? You mean those neighbours. James? Or do you need to continue perpetrating the myth that these neighbours want to throw Israel into the sea. Palestinians, James? Is that who you mean? But they have accepted a 2 state solution which Israel is clearly workng against by its settlement policy. Do you think it might have someting to do with Israel's conduct, her behaviour and the almost hald century occupation which it shows no evidence of ending. Might that be it, James?
Why Levy has a job, I'll never know. Isn't his welfare check enough?
Do you understand its implications?
thank you! a voice of reason! we need more!!!
Dear Mr. Gideon Levy, the author Graham Greene would describe you as a "...burnt out case". Your mental and intellectual fatigue is noticeable and quite understandable, I do not wish to give you the attention you so desperately seek, but you really do need to take a break from your trivial hacking, confabulations and rehashing. What you call a response to Bernard-Henri Levy comes across as the ramblings of a very, very tired, person. A change of subject may help you to re-focus on the overall situation. Thank you for your concern and hopefully, one day, "the world will (indeed) enter a new and just era." Your suffering and emotions have not gone unnoticed. Could I offer you a whisky sometime?
Thanks Gideon for exposing the mouthpieces of the Israeli propaganda machine.
I could not put better myself keep it UP
Bernard Henri, Eli Weizel and many Jewish paranoia stricken Zionists around the world would say, do and behave anything to spin and justify such epidemic amongst Zionist Jews " the Masada mentality" + "the holocaust mentality" i.e anything and every thing is kosher as long as it is for the benfit (actuially lack of) of the "Jewish people". to these people, Like Bernard-Henri, history and human activities & civility had stopped, in time, at Auschwitz and Masada (and all Jewish people's tragedy in between) omitting in that all what humanity and its civilization had achieved, including the Jews themselves, in the past 66 years, bearing in mind that the Arab Palestinians has absolutely nothing to do with any European Jewish history, rather on the contrary, they had been paying the bills for the Europeans for the past few hundred years, and that is a shame
It is well past time, Mr. Levy, that you stopped referring to "US" when discussing yourself and Israelis. You have long ago forfeitted your rite to consider yourself as a part of Israel. Your anti Israel rhetoric has moved your association from one of an "Israeli", even a left wing "Israeli", to one of an Agent Provacateur! or at best an undesirable and biased peddler of inaccuracies who happens to hold an Israel passport.
So anyone disagreeing with you should be treated as a a foe or an ennemy... I understand better now what "democracy" means for some Israelis and I find it very scarry!
- the warm one, upright and fighting for justice and truth; - the half-cooked, irresolute, blown by the wind like a boat without any helm and sinking at the first storm, he would like to be on the right side, but his thoughts are not pur enough. - the cold one, absolute materialist, completely blind to the suffering of others and to the harm his behaviour causes to the earth, his only aim is his own immediat profit, no matter if, in the long term, he is the great loser, spreading on himself and his own children the seeds of unhappiness and shame. Each one could be able to recognize him/herself in one of those three personalities which are very well depicted in the Holy Bible. I wish you could see for a while at least.
What a fool
what was it?
He simply is not able to respond to since the facts are against him, so they come out with the usual ad hominem attacks.
Gideon Levy has created a whole new exercise in journalism and it can be called political masturbation. It occurs when a journalist succeeds in only satisfying their own childlike neurotic needs and ignore reason, truth and journalistic integrity. Gideon is not fit to shine Bernard-Henri's shoes...well on second thought maybe he is because he isnt fit to write for Ha'aretz !!
Thank you so much for this answer !!! According to me BHL, as we say in France, is not a great intellectual. He just like people talking about him, even if, in this goal, he must not be a good friend of truth.
There is one tiny point, that Mr. Levy carefully omits: gaza is ruled by an organization openly proclaiming destruction of Israel as its overwhelming goal, and actually bombarding Israeli civilian population with missiles. Foreign powers are itching to provide them with even more weaponry. And this is a purpose of blocade: to prevent them from doing so. Had they NOT kidnapped Israeli citizens, NOT sent suicide bombers, and NOT fired missiles at Sderot and Ashqelon, there would be no blockade, and they would have had croissants for breakfast. With unlimited variety of marmalades. Mr.Levy, you are not dumb, you have unlimited access to information; why do you hate your country so much?
What do croissants and marmalade have to do with weapons? Israel could let this stuff through, and still uphold an arms embargo. This not an either/or kind of problem!
of the issues. Any other country would have clamped a more secure blockade on a enemy nation, but unfortunately Israel is being too humanitarian with its enemies. you don't win battles by flirting with the enemies. As it is, tons of goods go through Israel's doors which takes care of the population and prevents armaments from ultimately hurting Israel. You make one great jewhater gray-
I have come to the conclusion that the only explenation to that phenomena called Gideon Levi is that he is a big dumb. Can not be the other way.
Let's cut the zionist bullshit. What happened in Northern Ireland? For decades the IRA was viewed and some would say acted like a terrorist organisation. No repectable party was to talk to them since they were terrorists who did not accept British rule in Ireland. Now they are part of the government and the conflict has ended, or at least been diffused. The same could have happened with Hamas when they offered a long term, of 10 yrs I believe hudna to Israel. Ideal? No. Did it change their charter? No. But it would have brought about a state of non-belligerency which is better than bombing Gaza apartment complexes or lobbing off katyusha. Israel has done all in its power to radicalise Gaza and strengthen Hamas and divide Gaza from WB. Thats the reality.
Or do you really want to state that the soldiers checking the sparse food that is let through the blockade are doing a lousy job? Just like Ariel, you're not making much sense, either. Btw, I'm not a Jewhater, but a Likudhater. Big difference!
He really is the Israel version of Glenn Beck shooting his mouth off constantly in the most extreme way - he is just desperate for attention, he really will say anything to be controversial - just as long as he is acknowledged.... I find him amusing and I doubt even he really takes his views seriously
and Levy makes friends of Israel's enemies. Beck's more entertaining. Who reads Levy? Muslim fan clubs.
Quote: "Israel is an occupier. This is the root of all evil " and "Were it not for the blockade on Gaza, were it not for the occupation, there would be no cause for demonization." Unfortunately, history teaches us that the Jewish people were always demonized, delegitimized, persecuted and murdered WITHOUT any causes and reasons. Gideon Levy should know this the best. If he his such a freedom fighter (mainly for the Palestinians) and obviously ashamed of his own people why he didn't take part himself in the flotilla sailing ? I wonder what he would have done in a life threatening moment when a kitchen knife is put on his chest.
or one hell of an actor in prose who would have a hard time finding some other honest work!
I'm impressed by your reply.
BHL should travel to Gaza and write an article from there.
come from their landlords hamas who control every phase of the pals lives. poorduped pals who keep letting criminals lead them further into misery in an effort to destroy Israel. suckers at best!
thank you
If it were not for the settlements Israel would be in the same position, only the conflict would be about Ramat Aviv and Jaffa. Thank God there are Jews who have been willing to sacrifice and do the hard work in building this country. It's so much easier to break things down hey Gideon? Your faith in Arabs is based on what exactly?
The IDF bragged that 48,000 tons of food reached Gaza in the first quarter of 2010. This is almost 200,000 tons a year. However, a population of 1.3 million needs about 1 millon tons a year (US Dept of Agriculture figures) If IDF numbers are right, only about 20% of Gaza's food is imported legally. The rest has to be smuggled in. Indeed, the World Bank claims that 80% of goods in Gaza have to be smuggled through the Hamas-controlled tunnels (with Hamas taking a cut). Gideon Levy is very correct to call attention to the disinformation contained in the 'hundreds of truck' claim. This is a lie, sitting out in the open.
A word is missing in this article: Hamas. Gideon Levy succeeded to describe the situation in Gaza without mentioning Hamas a single time. The context of BHL article is also important. It is an answer to French medias lying about the situation in Gaza. It should have been mentioned by Gideon Levy.
I can't force myself to read him any more. Why can't this publication find a real Jew to write of Israel? Levy's type can be found en masse in Gaza.
Almost every statement in this article only makes sense to those who are already part of the extreme Left. When Israel returned Sinai to Egypt, Israel also tried to return Gaza to Egypt, who refused to take it back. Under forced Israeli occupation, Gaza saw improvements in water, electricity, education and health. Israel offered several times to give Gaza to the PA as part of a settlement, but it fell through. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, and only went back in after Hamas pushed out the PA President Abbas and his Fatah Party. If you look at your normal diet you probably eat no more than 97 different items. The 10,000 in a supermarket are many different brands of the same basic staples. My local Tesco has at least 100 varieties of coffee and tea, of which I use about three. President Abbas himself said the PA makes sure there is no food shortage and denied any suggestion of a humanitarian crisis. You suggest that if he were younger -- and by definition less experienced in the real world -- he would have joined the flotilla. That's the whole point -- he's no longer so young, naive, stupid and inexperienced as to be taken in by terrorist propaganda.
Gideon Levy reports that 80 percent of Gaza's residents subsist on aid. What percentage of Gaza's residents subsisted on aid *before* the blockade?
Do all Gaza supporters happen to remember that there were joint Israeli-Paletian industrial zones to provide jobs for palestinians in Gaza so that fewer of them would depend on international aid? Do you have any idea they were closed? You can make guess.
So Gazan's lack of bacon with their eggs makes them shoot rockets? Do Gazans bitterly suffer from lack of tomatoes, herbs, flowers? Why did they destroy the Israeli greenhouses they were served?
Are you serious?
It was an insult on purpose.
You are accusing Hamaz of destructing farms and greenhouse in Gaza? Ridiculous, Wasn't IDF who were bombing everyting who moves into the strip? Time is going to show the true face of Israel..
that were given in full operational state to the Gazans after the Israeli disengagement.
Before making any comments on the "true face of Israel", you'd better learn some facts: Israel was ready to leave all farms and greenhouses fully operational. However, Pals demanded that all buildings be destroyed. You can only feel very sorry for those mentally sick people.
took the arab fantasies hook., line and stinker! yes, documented history shows the pals destroying much of the established facilities during their constructive fits of rage. dumb, dumb dupes.
http://wp.me/PDB7k-Y#Gaza-greenhouses
betcha that could buy enough pig farms for all the bacon these 'starved' pals could ever want. And more profits for viagra and cigarettes. After all, wouldn't want these welfare cases to be hungry and not be able to find the strength to keep firing those expensive rockets.
... Israel left scorched earth behind it when they exited Gaza...
... Israel did not leave anything useful or beautifu intact... purposely all was left in ruins, probably to prevent the evacuated settlers from coming back, or simply to spare the settlers the angst of seeing Gazans enjoying the very homes & gardens (that the Pals had in any case built for settlers for a pittance)
Well, if you ask me, he has never been one, but anyway, certainly he is not now. He became too nationalistic about Israel despite not being an Israeli. He definitely has double standards is criticizing human suffering, for me he is just a lost case.
Who are you to judge if Bernard-Henri Levy is an intellectual or not? Do you at least understand the meaning of the word "intellectual"?
Thank you.
Yes, Israel must stop providing the Arabs with propaganda gold where possible, and the main vein is the settlers: remove them but keep the occupation and Israel's whole case changes: 'We are here not to grab land but because Arabs reject sincere peace.' But it is not always possible to avoid providing such gold. Could Israel really have avoided injuring civilians when Hamas left it no choice but to attack Gaza? Must Israel really continue supplying Gaza with all its normal supplies when it elects terrorists and then sets about firing missiles into and kidnapping Israelis from Israeli territory at will? Levy says yes, thus demonstrating either his malice towards Israel or his great stupidity.
No doubt Levy is a sincere patriot and a just man. If you don't share his opinions it's because a matter of shortness of vision.
It is as simple as that: had Hamas recognized Israel and renounced violence, there would be no siege and no battle for survival for Gazans. But, surely, it is too much to expect of Gideon Levy to understand that (maybe because he would lose his job since the only thing he is capable of doing is to write about Israeli cruelty in "occupied" areas.)
If I were a Hamas-nik I would look at Israel's treatment of Fatah and conclude that recognition of Israel and the renunciation of violence don't get you anything. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem land-grab and settlement building continue apace (and don't be fooled by the apparent 'freeze'). At the same time, the efforts to impose measures that constrain the movement of Palestinians and of foreigners into the West Bank also proceed apace. The truth is that the Israeli policy is fundamentally oriented towards the achievement of Greater Israel built on as much of the territory between the Med and the River Jordan as can be grabbed. If I were a Hamas-nik, I would understand that fully and would doubt the wisdom of following the example of Mahmoud Abbas. Israel is not interested in peace except on its terms which basically means ethnic cleansing. Withdrawal from Gaza was a pragmatic not a principled step.
You think that strongarming a whole population, because they elected the "wrong" government, is ok? Well, everybody is entitled to his own ethics, regardless how questionable. Alas, the world doesn't support your hateful morals. It is a well established international law that collective punishment is illegal. And every nation that violates this rule will become increasingly isolated. So, Israel is on a confrontation course that will have serious consequences. Gideon Levy understands that, and ias a real patriot, tries to keep his nation from making a dire mistake. Israel needs more of these warning voices, and less stupid machos!
But Israel only knows the stick nowadays. Where is the incentive for PLO moderates like Abbas to continue preventing their people from engaging in terrorism? They get close to nothing in return, but instead even more settlers on their lands! Of course, the obvious futility of peaceful solutions and negotiations fuels extremists like Hamas. This has to be obvious to the Israeli government, too. And that it still doesn't reward the peacekeeping attempts of Abbas can only be interpreted as a deliberate policy to prevent the two state solution. The increasingly ridiculous excuses by Netanyahu NOT to move ahead on the road map can hardly be seen in any other light!
The UN offered a partition plan, which the Arabs rejected. P M Ehud Barak offered Arafat about 98% of everythiong he could possibly want -- Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem -- and Arafat replied by declaring an intifada. Ariel Sharon pulled all Israelis out of Gaza, and Hamas threw out the PA and took over. Israel made lasting peace with Egypt and Jordan, because they were committed to peace. Hamas is committed to terrorism.
You are quite right, everybody is entilted to his owb ethics, but if this "Ethics" calls for the annihilation of another state, what do we do with it? Whose morals are hateful then, yours in supporting a terror regime or ours, when we are defending our citizens?
difference is that in Gaza there are no settles no israeli soldiers no check points.....
Be a free minded person. Don't you what's happening to the arabs in the west bank and even wthin Israel ? Hamas is not interested in follwing such exemple.
Please try to get this simple fact into your head: The blockade, as it is now, prevents 80% of civilian goods from being delivered to the people! The "diet" that has been enforced by Israel has provably lead to malnutrition and deseases. If the whole issue would only be the blockade of arms and explosives, most of the world wouldn't disagree with that. Almost nobody wants terrorists to get such stuff. But this blockade is a collective punishment of the Gaza people instead, and that is wrong. Period.
in June 06 Haniyeh said hamas agreed in principle to signing a document from all Palestinians doing just that - recognising Israel. But this is just another distraction from the real issues to delay peace. how was that olive branch taken? It was ignored by the international community, the exact people demanding this Orwellian non sense. Why dont you get real and demand to know why your government backed Hamas against Arafat and Fatah in the first place? (ANSWER: to undermine the chance of peace)
with reality. any other country would have pounded the dickens out of gaza and hamas and the people by now would be thriving under a leadership which could focus on building and not destroying. gray, you love to bray!
You have swallowed the full dose of propaganda haven't you? Clearly, you have not bothered to look past that and discern the deeper logic of political Zionism. You don't need to go far - check out the actual words of C.Weizmann, D. Ben-Gurion etc to discover the real game plan. As for the Barak's big offer - try Walt & Mearsheimer for a good summary on that one.
A worthy response. Let's not forget that Gaza had been a hostage of colonial and post-colonial politics, a card to be played, for much longer in history than the 43 years since the 6-day war. Its people have responsibility too.
Thanks Mr Levy ( Gideon), for writing this open letter to Bernard Henri. I felt outraged yesterday by his article on "demonization". He didn't even bather to go to Gaza, or to contact the Israeli Human Rights organisations. The "philosopher" is getting bit old and tired probably. But not enough to stop wanting attention !
of listening to non-jews and self-hating jews bash israel and not pay any attention to the official, published, played out role hamas and the pals have in seeking Israel's destruction. these pals are the biggest sucker pawns in the world not endangered by Israel, but by their own distant relatives who do more to hurt and rob them day after day. dopes and dupes, are you one of them?
We are all potential terrorists. It just depends on our own capacity, to know up to which degree we accept or not the inacceptable. If it is in Germany in 1938 or today in Gaza.
In the 1980's and 1990's, Israel wasn't delegitimized as it is now. It wasn't threatened with destruction and annihilation. Nor were its citizens butchered in the streets with suicide bombings. And the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and southern Lebanon was in full force. Israel retreated from Gaza and south Lebanon, and parts of the West Bank, to be rewarded with delegitimization and only to see Lebanon and Gaza become launching pads of jihadist terrorism, combined with a resurge of worldwide anti-Semitism whose animus has shifted from "the Jew" to "the Jewish state". Racial anti-Semitism isn't politically correct. Political anti-Semitism is. But no matter what the snake wears, it remains an ugly, miserable, poisonous snake. And no matter what, the Jewish people always survives it. I think Gideon Levy should spend some time in London or Marseille, In Madrid or Malmö, wearing a kipa and strolling around. And see how it feels.
Israel's legitimacy is put in doubt worldwide because the occupation of territory and non compliance to all UN resolutions and security council's. Do not forget that israel was recongnised thank to a UN resolution. Non compliance to its resolution may streap Israel from any legitimacy. Israel hasn't even recognised its international boudaries yet! What legitimacy are we talking about? About London and Marseille, the same mood is within the right extremist jews against arabs whether they are christians or muslims!
In the 1948 independence declaration, the state of Israel was formed within the boundaries defined by UNGA res 181, the remainder of the mandate territory is called Palestine and is currently occupied territory which is being illegally colonised by Israel. Disputed territory, sorry but it isn't. Take it to the The Hague is you want to contest International law. Just using dis-proportionate force and manipulating civil/military law to your own advantage is just plain wrong. It looks to many people as if you don't want peace, until you have gobbled up palestine. Well, I am afaid that your rabidness and brutality have now outraged a critical mass of public opinion. The genie is not going back in the bottle. Citizens of the world at large are becoming increasingly fed up with Israel acting as if only jews deserve equality under the law. The biased & inhumane treatment of the palestinians is no longer going to be ignored. Each new incident will fuel the outrage and quicken the use of sanctions. Even, our cowardly western politicians will follow their citizen's lead in due course. Most people can admire Israeli industrious nature, why not apply your talents to build long term security through commerce with your neighbours. The iron fist isn't the only strategy. Peace requires respect for your neighbour & freedom for the palestinians. Peace begins with talking to the PA & Hamas. Stop wasting time and get on with it. There are better deals on the table now, than there will be in the future. Bear in mind that they think you are a bigger terrorist than they have ever been. And many would agree. I for one would like to see a strong and morale Israel. I used to think there was one, but you let me down.
In the '80s and 90's no one really new what was going on and how the Palestinians have been treated. In (anti-semitic Londistan) UK barely ten years ago NOTHING critical of Israel ever appeared. Now we have info tech age and people know. What Pelestinians told me twenty years ago is now, to the eternal credit of the Israeli peoples, being admitted in many cases actually written about. Everything we were taught and told about in UK (world's "fairest" empire, most moral soldiers in world) has largely turned out to be rubbish. I have relatives in Israel and Arab countries. I never used to get anyone saying anti Israeli things but the racist, hatefilled remarks I have heard about Arabs over the years has been astounding and saddening given the fact they are such a warm friendly people.
territories since may 14th 1948. Might have something to do with it. Has NOTHING to do with Antisemitism BTW
talk to the pals and hamas? where is your reality son. you get an F for futility. rewrite your script and include a few issues like- Hamas and pals have only one intention- to destroy Israel. Its in print! Its in actions! Its in brainwashing children! Now, who are we to talk to? dream on mr. Idealist. better yet wake up before your own country is overrun by such peace loving groups. We aint dreamin- the leftists were and almost destroyed Israel. We’re wide awake and finally beginning to brace ourselves for war against our sworn enemies. Unless the pals wake up and realize no longer allow themselves to be used as muslim pawns.
The lands never belonged exclusively to the Palestinians, dumdum.
... anyone's characterization of my opinion as demonization. I reserve the right, as a citizen of humanity, to criticize any government or nation that I feel misbehaves (including my own). By punishing the average Gazan, rather than Hamas, I strongly feel Israel is doing the wrong thing, both morally and from a practical standpoint. If Levy wants to believe I am demonizing his country by saying so, he has a right to his opinion - but it does not make it true. This Fortress Israel mentality that seems to pervade the Israeli right seems to be approaching open paranoia. It is a sad spectacle.
Gideon always wonderful. Really I don't read your articles for political insight only, but also to reflect upon how God has given a man a mind that stronger than storms in advocating the rights of oppressed and vulnerables everywhere in the world, God bless you!
The government of Israel deserves criticism for wrong action. But when context is left out, when the criticism is monolithic, it is unjust. There are reasons that the Israeli government behaves the way it does, and those reasons are not ALL owing to mean-spiritedness. Level your worst criticisms, but don't fail to also level criticisms at those who are not interested in peace with Israel. To hear the world belly-ache, Israel is an evil step mother, and the Palestinians are nice friendly Cinderillas. I am sick and tired of the demonization of Israel.
Hypocrisy cannot live in the sun. Gideon Levy has shined the light on the great hypocrite bernard henri levy