Exposing pro-Israel bias, propaganda, disinformation and spin in Australia's mainstream media. Monitoring pro-Israel influence in Australia's public and political arena.
Friday, February 9, 2018
You Must Read These Books!
Here's a review by novelist, Selma Dabbagh, at Electronic Intifada, of two books that should be read by every serious student of Palestinian history:
This is off-topic, MERC. Well I'll start by being on topic, I've added the books to my already long reading list on P/I matters - largely recommended by you.
Back to Off/T. I have read several sites about the latest IAF attack on Syria and the resulting loss of aircraft (1 definitely lost and perhaps as many as 3 others damaged). One of the issues that no poster at any of the learned websites I have looked at has mentioned the elephant in the room. The big issue for Israel is making its population feel secure, which it does by, in the words of a certain Zionist Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, being the "neighborhood bully". Or in the words of Moshe Dayan being "like a mad dog".
Israel is not like other countries - well perhaps it is akin to Australia or NZ. Syrians know they belong to Syria. OK if war comes along they leave as refugees but ultimately Syria is their home and many come back. Similarly for Iraqis, Iranians, Turks, British, French, etc. Of course, some will always want to leave but the vast majority don't. Despite propaganda about "Jewish homeland" a very large proportion of Israelis either have or seek dual passports. They or their parents went to Israel as migrants seeking a better life, and their Jewishness made it possible. But if there is an even better and more secure life elsewhere many will leave. Moreover these are typically the ones Israel really wants to keep - the non-Ultra Orthodox/non-Mizrahi/non-Palestinians.
This from 2016 makes the point: https://www.timesofisrael.com/most-israelis-want-foreign-citizenship-passport-to-prosperity/
More than 50% of Israelis want or have a foreign passport. Many European countries are opening their doors to Jews of Ashkenazi or Sephardic ancestry. Recall after the Charlie Hebdo event, Netanyahu suggested that French Jews should emigrate to Israel - for their security. The Israeli government must be well aware that rockets do not need to come raining down, but just the threat of them, to cause many in the population to get itchy feet. As Tevye says in Fiddler on the Roof: "That why we always wear our hats."
The arsenal of rockets that Hezbollah has is already causing problems for Israel's relatively hi-tech economy. Factories using hazardous chemicals are being relocated to other countries and ammonia tanks in Haifa are being drained.
Of course, Israel could change its modus operandi and decide to live at peace with its neighours (including occupied Palestine) and its minority population but that would require pressing the reset button and there appears to be no politician in Israel who is willing to do that.
2 comments:
This is off-topic, MERC. Well I'll start by being on topic, I've added the books to my already long reading list on P/I matters - largely recommended by you.
Back to Off/T. I have read several sites about the latest IAF attack on Syria and the resulting loss of aircraft (1 definitely lost and perhaps as many as 3 others damaged). One of the issues that no poster at any of the learned websites I have looked at has mentioned the elephant in the room. The big issue for Israel is making its population feel secure, which it does by, in the words of a certain Zionist Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, being the "neighborhood bully". Or in the words of Moshe Dayan being "like a mad dog".
Israel is not like other countries - well perhaps it is akin to Australia or NZ. Syrians know they belong to Syria. OK if war comes along they leave as refugees but ultimately Syria is their home and many come back. Similarly for Iraqis, Iranians, Turks, British, French, etc. Of course, some will always want to leave but the vast majority don't. Despite propaganda about "Jewish homeland" a very large proportion of Israelis either have or seek dual passports. They or their parents went to Israel as migrants seeking a better life, and their Jewishness made it possible. But if there is an even better and more secure life elsewhere many will leave. Moreover these are typically the ones Israel really wants to keep - the non-Ultra Orthodox/non-Mizrahi/non-Palestinians.
This from 2016 makes the point:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/most-israelis-want-foreign-citizenship-passport-to-prosperity/
More than 50% of Israelis want or have a foreign passport. Many European countries are opening their doors to Jews of Ashkenazi or Sephardic ancestry. Recall after the Charlie Hebdo event, Netanyahu suggested that French Jews should emigrate to Israel - for their security. The Israeli government must be well aware that rockets do not need to come raining down, but just the threat of them, to cause many in the population to get itchy feet. As Tevye says in Fiddler on the Roof: "That why we always wear our hats."
The arsenal of rockets that Hezbollah has is already causing problems for Israel's relatively hi-tech economy. Factories using hazardous chemicals are being relocated to other countries and ammonia tanks in Haifa are being drained.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Report-Haifa-ammonia-could-kill-thousands-480186
Of course, Israel could change its modus operandi and decide to live at peace with its neighours (including occupied Palestine) and its minority population but that would require pressing the reset button and there appears to be no politician in Israel who is willing to do that.
You won't regret it, G.
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