Finkelstein on BDS: A Cult of Dishonesty
February 22, 2012 6:20 by Simon PloskerProfessor Norman Finkelstein is an odious character, infamous for his anti-Israel activities and his book on the “Holocaust Industry”. Finkelstein is also a supporter of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. Which is why a video of Finkelstein calling out the BDS movement as dishonest is causing such a stir.
It’s the video that the BDS movement didn’t want you to see as Finkelstein leaves his BDS supporting interviewer speechless. Here’s some of the highlights:
The video pretty much speaks for itself as one of the heroes of the BDS movement trashes it. That the person calling out BDS for what it really is happens to be Norman Finkelstein says it all about BDS’s moral bankruptcy.
Here’s just some of the highlights:
Norman Finkelstein on BDS
I’ve earned my right to speak my mind, and I’m not going to tolerate what I think is silliness, childishness, and a lot of leftist posturing.
I mean we have to be honest, and I loathe the disingenuous. They don’t want Israel. They think they are being very clever; they call it their three-tier. We want the end of the occupation, the right of return, and we want equal rights for Arabs in Israel. And they think they are very clever because they know the result of implementing all three is what, what is the result?
You know and I know what the result is. There’s no Israel!
. . .
It’s not an accidental and unwitting omission that BDS does not mention Israel. You know that and I know that. It’s not like they’re “oh we forgot to mention it.” They won’t mention it because they know it will split the movement. ‘Cause there’s a large segment of the movement that wants to eliminate Israel.
. . .
Are you going to reach a broad public which is going to hear the Israeli side ‘they want to destroy us?’ No you’re not. And frankly you know what you shouldn’t. You shouldn’t reach a broad public because you’re dishonest. And I wouldn’t trust those people if I had to live in this state. I wouldn’t. It’s dishonesty.
Click here to see a short slide show based on the interview.
Click here to view the full unedited video.
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stugee1
6:01 am
Feb 21, 2012
Oh come on all. The BDS movement will continue to be an illegitimate one as long as Israel is singled out for action among all the nations of the world. The BDS movement is just another UN-type group where resolution after resolution is passed against Israel while ignoring the true tyrannies of the world.
I was a medical center supervisor for a large hospital in the northern part of Israel. My chief of security was a Druse, the head of the ER was a Christian Arab, our lab director a Muslim Arab. We worked together in harmony for the good of our patients. Find me a single Arab nation where anything like that can occur.
The BDS movement, whatever intellectual trappings it seeks, is just another group of antisemitic thugs. Come live in my country and see the truth.
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Mordecai Ben Natan
2:15 pm
Jun 26, 2012
You forgot to mention Arab judges, Arab Members of the Knesset who are treasonous and would have been executed in any Arab country.
The delivery of hundreds of tons of food, water, medicines to Hamas every week, even though Hamas has an agenda to kill all Jews.
The so called “occupied ” land is not occupied. It was given to the Jews by the League of Nations. This has never been abrogated. It is still International Law.’
The UN is illegal.
They have ignored the international laws because the majority of the UN member states are Arab, and non Arab states will support the illegal Palestinians as an Newt Gingrich said, “they are an invented people.
OIL IS THE DIRTY WORD.
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Dorothy
6:32 am
Feb 21, 2012
Steve, as I wrote I don’t agree with many of his positions regarding Israel. As I said, he expected perfection out of Israel that he didn’t expect out of others. It’s a standard position. We expect more out of the communities we identify with than we do with opponents who we consider intellectual weaker. Think Jews support of the immigrant and black community. He was right regarding Dershowitz and he was right regarding the Holocaust Industry. There are people who are making money off the reparations which aren’t going to the survivors.
If the Israeli government isn’t going by international law, why are they attacking the settlements? The whole get out of Gaza thing was a bow to the international community. Maybe I’ve read too many of the Barry Chamish (I know a bad name to the establishment) information books. I also knew a family that suffered after the after the 1948 war because they were opposed to the Labor government. Where is the community that deals with this?
Yes, Israel provides a better community to live in than any of the Arab communities. But where are the Arabs who are standing up for Israel. They are too much like people everywhere who say let’s leave the battle to others while we just accept and take advantage of what is now. It’s all up to any activists on any side.
Let me stick my personal view in here. There is a larger picture called the New Age movement which works toward one world government and a one world culture. Israel is targeted because it is one of the communities that has been very stubborn in going along with the one world religion and government theme. Stubborn people that they are. There are many New Age Jews, but the Orthodox community doesn’t go along with those views. Hence Israel with its Orthodox Jews are being targeted for either extinction or merge.
Finkelstein, like most Jews, only looks at the immediate situation, not at the longer picture. So, while others differ with Finkelstein, I differ with him because he doesn’t understand what is going on.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Steve
7:43 am
Feb 21, 2012
Sorry, Dorothy…this is where we part company.
The Biblical story of the Tower of Babel is that period’s attempt to explain why there is not a ‘one world’ culture – as culture is transmitted by language.
Let’s be practical here and agree with the poster above who described the cooperation between various cultures inside Israel – and there are many, many more examples of what he described that could be added. Let’s get down to doing the good and being good neigbours.
Practically, Israel, as the only Jewish State in a Middle East of Islamic states, allows freedom of religious expression which most surrounding states do not (viz Egypt’s attacking of Coptic Christians).
A ‘one world culture’ is neither necessary – nor expedient.
Yes, I agree with anti-nationalists such as Carl Sagan, Bertrand Russell and others but I have to acknowledge – what Marx missed – that nationalism trumps in the end. Whether it will always do so remains to be seen.
Perhaps the writers of “Star Trek” can envisage a “United Federation of Planets” but that’s science fiction, not fact.
Now, if the nations of the world (and by that I mean the bureaucrats and their political bosses) were to accept as valid the World Government Passports as issued by Garry Davis, we might get somewhere. But the fact is only a handful of very insignificant countries do so.
So till then, we are bound by our national entities. And I can’t see Iran giving up that idea – or China for that matter (where I now live).
The issue from the beginning is clear. The Muslim states of the Middle East resent the intrusion of a Jewish democratic state on what they (the Muslim states) see as their turf. It’s as simple as that. No amount or legal wrangling can make one position stronger or weaker – the Jews are not welcome there. Or anywhere?!
I will not attempt to rewrite history. But perhaps this little anecdote might shed a glimmer of light and hope.. In 1966 while touring Jerusalem, I remarked to our archaeologist guide what was the significance of the black line I could see painted on the remains.
He replied, “That’s the line we don’t dig down further on – because to do so would offend the sensibilities of the Muslim Arabs – as we know that the further down we dig (ie the further back in time we go) the more evidence we find of ancient Jewish settlement here.”
Isn’t it all so simple? Now, go listen to the PA who claim that the second Jewish Temple never existed under the Dome of the Rock!
Sorry; a one world culture is still way too far off.
Maybe when Gene Roddenberry gets reincarnated! (And in any case, even if it did happen, I’d be with Picard’s group – not Kirk’s!)
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Steve
8:21 am
Feb 21, 2012
Replying to my own post is somewhat ‘infra-dig’, but anyway…
For the information of some who might just be interested, I have been reading the seven separate opinions published by the ICJ on the Separation Wall.
What faith can we possibly have in these (generally against Israel) opinions when, for example, SEPARATE OPINION OF JUDGE ELARABY, quotes UN resolution 242 as stating that Israel must withdraw from THE territories!
The resolution said no such thing.
It said ‘territories’ clearly meaning as was explained at the time that some consideration would be given to withdrawing from some areas but by no means ALL.
Judge Elaraby assumes in his opinion that the inclusion of the word ‘the’ is justified!
Rubbish!! It’s not in the UN resolution 242.
When the Palestinian Authority (created by the defunct Oslo accords) wants peace, it will send a telegram!
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Thomas
12:46 am
Feb 22, 2012
I too saw something like that in Jerusalem. While touring the dome of the rock, I saw an elderly Jew walking the grounds flanked by 2 Israeli soldiers. When I was about to ask our guide why this was, the old man dropped to his knees, and was immediately scooped up back onto his feet by the soldiers. The soldiers were preventing one of their own from praying at the holiest sight in the world to Jews, the holy of holys. All this to prevent angering the Arabs.
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Gary Katz
8:32 am
Feb 22, 2012
When I toured the Underground area of the Western Wall, the guide mentioned that excavations have to be extremely limited, because anything even remotely in the vicinity of the mosque can start a riot. The imams really stir up the ignoramuses.
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Mordecai Ben Natan
2:32 pm
Jun 26, 2012
THE WHOLE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE bRITISH STABBING THE JEWS IN THE BACK.THIS IS TYPICAL OF BRITAIN.
iF A JEW WAS CAUGHT BLOWING THE SHOFAR (RAMS HORN) AT THE WESTERN WALL (KOTEL) HE WAS ARRESTED FOR “UPSETTING TE MUSLIMS” YET, THE MUSLIMS WERE ALLOWED TO CALL TO PRAYER WITH LOUDSPEAERS.
BRITAIN IGNORED THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS CALLING FOR THE ENTIRE LAND TO BE GIVEN TO THE JEWS, AND FOR OIL, DIVIDED THE LAND DURING THEIR MANDATE, GIVING THE MUSLIMS A BIGGER AREA THEN THE JEWS GOT.
THE JEWS WERE HAPPY TO ACCEPT THIS, BUT THE ARABS (7 ARAB ARMIES) ATTACKED THE RE BORN JEWISH STAE ON DAY ONE. THEY WERE DRIVEN OFF.
I BLAME BRITAIN AS THE CAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
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robert richmond
9:56 am
Feb 21, 2012
great catch,honest reporting.
you should send this too the glen beck show.
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Daniel Teeboom
11:10 am
Feb 21, 2012
Steve, 242 doesn’t just say that Israel must withdraw from territories, but also that there must be peace and Israel must have safe borders. Your case is 2 times stronger ; )
Israel has always been about replacing idealism with reality. We all grew up with the romantic notion of Israel, and as any ideal Israel fails to live up to the fantasy. People who are upset about that do not understand that the reality is much more important to the Jewish people then any ideal. So there are failures, the main thing is that there is a place in the world where Jewish culture can fully flourish and Jews can persue happiness.
If Finkelstein thinks it is only the occupation that is the problem and that a pre 1967 Israel has every right to exist he should seek other friends.
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Steve
12:52 pm
Feb 21, 2012
Couldn’t agree more Daniel! In a way I feel sorry for poor old Norm!! (But not for long!!)
Am Yisrael Chai!!
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Margaret Sadoc
12:51 am
Feb 29, 2012
Finklestein needs to see a shrink, his distorted view of reality is appaling!
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josephd
3:42 pm
Feb 21, 2012
Finkelstein, people like you, that ´earned the right to speak` – I thought that was a universal right, should be more careful when choosing which movements to support ! Your ´mea culpa´ doesn´t
serve YOUR purpose of recuperating credibility, you lost it !!!
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Gina
3:43 pm
Feb 21, 2012
Following is a reprint of a letter from one of Finklestein’s students:
Dear Prof. Finklestein,
Wow! Who would have guess that the BDS was in reality anti-Israel? What a shocker! Thanks for the enlightening press conference. You certainly explained it well. Too bad I already donated $15 to the cause when you talked about the BDS at school last year. Do you think you could next address the Muslim Brotherhood. Is it true that they are not really brothers?
Oh, and thanks for the “A” you gave me on my research paper, “Israel: Apartheid and Rascist.”
Your Devoted Student,
Byrd Brayne
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Dorothy
7:39 pm
Feb 21, 2012
I guess I wasn’t very clear Steve. I’ve spent the last 30+ years following the New Age movement, it’s political, “spiritual” and cultural aspects. It began by combining the occult with a political side over 100 years ago. Look up the Fabian movement, Lucis Trust, the Theosophical movement for a start. It is a very antisemitic movement which is why I have worked to expose it. It is large and international in scope. It was first tried by the Nazi movement. Checking it out at this point is difficult because there is so much disinformation out there to throw others off the track. It is behind everything being thrown against Jews and Israel now. Lucis Trust is closely tied to the UN. One of the books, Externalization of the Hierarchy, states that doing away in any way possible with Orthodox Judaism is a goal. A Jewish woman who lives in Ariel wrote the Rainbow Swastika. Look it up on the internet.
Finkelstein is like so many other Jews. He is looking at the immediate and taking his stand rather than looking at the larger picture. Even if things could be settled around Israel, how will that change what is happening in Europe or what is starting to happen in the US?
Instead of looking at the immediate enemy, which in this case appears to be Finkelstein, why not start looking at what the larger picture? Why waste so much energy on something that has only a little impact?
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Louisa
11:04 am
Feb 24, 2012
1922-2012 90 Years to first Arab racist anti-Jewish boycott
The current {1}bigoted anti-Israel boycotts, are NOT related to any “policies.” It began many years before Israel was re-established, in 1922. It was pushed mainly by the infamous Mufti Haj amin al-Husseini, who allied himself with Hitler{2} later on.
From Terence Prittie, Walter Henry Nelson, Terence Prittie, The economic war against the Jews (Secker & Warburg, 1978, 269 pp.) p. 9:
‘A call went out in 1922 from the Fifth Arab Congress, meeting in Nablus, for all Arabs to boycott Jewish businesses; seven years later, the First Palestine Arab Women’s Congress asked “every Arab to buy nothing from the Jews but land, and to sell them everything but land.”
Other, similar calls went out in 1931 and 1933, and in 1936 a boycott of all Jewish products was proclaimed by Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti and spiritual leader of all Moslems. This was the forerunner of today’s Arab Trade Boycott.’{3}
In {4} March and April 1933, The Mufti, praised Nazi Germany’s anti-Jewish treatment, especially the boycotts.{5}
Current organizers of anti-Israel boycotts (like “BDS, Anti-Semitism’s New Face,” movement’s action to “isolate Israel as part of their program to destroy Israel.”{6} and as US official stated, ‘Yes, the boycott is anti-Semitic’{7} and as celebrated Italian writer says the boycott is “a form of racism.”‘{8} Demonizing unfairly, blatantly maliciously lying{9} obessively about the 100% democratic{10} victim-Israel fighting off a constant existential threat{11} since the 1920s{12} and beyond{13}, is bigotry, not “legitimate criticism.”) ‘market’ their racism with the false cover of “anti-racism,” and using the outrageous “apartheid slur,”{14} which was invented{15} in 1961 by the Mufti’s henchman{16} Ahmad Ahukairy, who allied hismelf with Nazi groups{17} in 1962 and is known for coining the genocide phrase{18} ‘throw the Jews into the sea,’ in 1967, called the Shukairy’s slogan.{19}
–
Notes:
{1}
http://www.jfedsrq.org/blog_archive.aspx?id=244&year=2010&month=5
{2}
http://books.google.com/books?id=FDviDrXzkjsC&pg=PT58
{3}
http://books.google.com/books?id=PRNZAAAAYAAJ&q=%22but+land%22
{4}
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2501/is_n2_v19/ai_20046831/pg_2/
{5}
http://www.paulbogdanor.com/holocaust/mideast.pdf
{6}
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/9913
{7}
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/04/07/boycott-of-israel-is-antisemitic
{8}
http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/24-hour-entertainment-news/article349337.ece
{9}
http://www.wiesenthal.com/toptenlies
{10}
http://bicom.org.uk/analysis/spotlight/israels-democratic-futures/
{11}
http://books.google.com/books?id=QMts5Z36kjAC&pg=PA107
{12}
http://www.hirhome.com/israel/pal_mov4.htm
{13}
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/article.php3?id=1248
{14}
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/opinion/israel-and-the-apartheid-slander.html?_r=2&hp
{15}
http://books.google.com/books?id=vzZ71Eh5QvMC&pg=PA188
{16}
http://books.google.com/books?id=8HEuAAAAIAAJ&dq=henchman
{17}
http://books.google.com/books?id=vLZHUlI6GmoC&pg=PA158
{18}
http://books.google.com/books?id=VK0llzUqQ2YC&pg=PA157
{19}
http://books.google.com/books?id=DSe7AAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Shukairy%27s+slogan%22
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