TV Host Refuses to Back Down After Calling Israel a “Cancer”
October 28, 2012 16:55 by Simon PloskerOn Tuesday 23 October, Irish broadcaster Vincent Browne referred to Israel as a “cancer” during his live show on TV3 channel’s Tonight With Vincent Brown.
In a discussion on the recent televised US presidential foreign policy debate between Republican challenger Mitt Romney and Democrat President Barack Obama, Browne lamented that Israel had barely been mentioned, stating:
Israel is the cancer in foreign affairs. It polarizes the Islamic community of the world against the rest of the world.
Unless you deal with the problem of Israel and the Palestinians in that part of the world, there’s going to be conflict and disharmony. It’s a massive injustice — they stole the land from the Arabs.
According to the Irish Independent:
Mr Browne admitted that his choice of language could have been better but insisted that the criticism was justified.
“What I resent is the suggestion that because you’re critical of Israel, you’re automatically anti-Semitic. I don’t think that’s acceptable,” he said.
Mr Browne refused to apologise for his remarks, saying that Israel was founded in 1948 by taking land from the Arabs.
He said it was “blackmail” to try to brand everyone who was critical of Israel as anti-Semitic. “I don’t think I differ too much from Irish or European foreign policy,” he said.
That Browne’s first response was to deny that he is an anti-Semite speaks volumes. Browne’s defense is often employed by some of Israel’s harshest critics who attempt to claim that supporters of Israel are smearing them as anti-Semites in a backhanded effort to silence them.
For while his comments were described as anti-Semitic, Browne himself has not been accused of being an anti-Semite. Instead, Browne cannot even bring himself to apologize, preferring to dismiss criticism as illegitimate.
The Jewish Chronicle reports:
Defending his remarks, Mr Browne said that by calling Israel a cancer “I didn’t mean it should be eliminated. It was an infelicitous use of the word.
“The reality is the Israeli state was founded by confiscation of land previously occupied by Arabs. That injustice is at the centre of the conflict.”
Vincent Browne evidently does not understand the difference between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and his outrageous statements meant to demonize an entire country. It is doubtful that Browne would have referred to any other country as a “cancer” – a term used by anti-Semites aimed at Jews and Israel.
Indeed, Browne should have realized just how far beyond the pale he has gone when one considers that the most vocal proponent of such disgusting language is Iranian President Ahmadinejad who, in a diatribe last August, stated:
The Zionist regime and the Zionists are a cancerous tumour. Even if one cell of them is left in one inch of (Palestinian) land, in the future this story (of Israel’s existence) will repeat.
Israel’s deputy ambassador to Ireland Nurit Tinari-Modai said: “We today received phone calls and emails from outraged Irish people who intend to complain about Mr. Brown’s ongoing hateful comments towards the Jewish people and the Jewish state.”
According to the Irish Independent, however, a TV3 spokeswoman said she was not aware of any complaints being made about Mr Browne’s remarks.
Let’s see if we can change that. Send your considered comments to TV3 and demand an apology and the right of reply for a pro-Israel guest on Vincent Browne’s show - complaints@tv3.ie
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Ray
11:36 pm
Apr 08, 2013
Hi Brian,, My basic point was not so much the discussion on peace, fear or indeed violence, although I take your point. – The discussion is about the whole truth … I posed a question – How can one think of the media as telling the full story (Truth) on anything (After what we saw in the time of the troubles?) The media have a tendency to rachet up the possible inuendos to sell the rag… I say it again, the media is no substitute for quality Research. The only two things that can be relied on about news paapers is (a) The title (b) The Date. The rest is often pure conjector. Ray
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m
11:45 pm
Apr 08, 2013
“The only two things that can be relied on about news paapers is (a) The title (b) The Date. The rest is often pure conjector. ”
Ray, truer words were never written especially with respect to the way Israel and the IDF is lied about. It’s simply outrageous! Talk about victimizing the victims eh?
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Ray
5:46 pm
Apr 09, 2013
Hi M,
Thanks – Just a note..
A leading and prestigious writer for the New York times John Swinton.
I quote ‘ – The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth, lie outright, pervert, vilify, to fawn at the feet of Mammon. To sell his country for his daily bread (We are intellectual prostitutes) -’ …
Could not be said any plainer than that.
(The original quote takes up an A5 sheet of paper…) -Ray
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Ray
11:29 pm
Apr 11, 2013
Hi Brian,
Just a note; The marching season is upon us…- Tell me this is not about sectarianism and hatred and indeed an under current of the problems that still fester and destroy our emerald Isle Erin. (The day will come when Ireland will no longer be a province of England and you know it.)
It is a commonly known fact that this Mr Brown has an aggressive and vitriolic personality, I for one would call on him to apologise for his rhetoric, abusive behaviour and slander, and have the decency to resign from his post .
There are enough men like him in the world who hold the strings of power and the truth to ransom. -Ray
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Brian
10:45 am
Apr 12, 2013
Ah yes Ray! The famous marching season. You know that apart from a few flash points these marches are actually very peaceful. In faxct in my own area the Catholics like myself enjoy it as much as the participants. My own neighbour, a lovely guy and part of an Orange Lodge is a personal friend of mine. What you see on the news is a minority of people still living in the past but of course only the troublesome marches are of interest to TV channels, (they like to see some action!) but the 99% of peaceful marches do not get a look in. In Ireland we are talking about a small minority. Israel-Palestine is bigger issue today. Part 2 coming up!
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Ray
2:45 am
Apr 13, 2013
Hi Brian,
Thank you for the spelling lesson. I am happy for you that you are able to live in harmony with people. I too live in harmony with those that live around me. – It is those that are unable to make that decision and who are prevented from do so that I am concerned about. I am aware of much that goes on here in UK & in Ireland. It is incumbent on me to ask why you feel that people are not attempting to live together in Palestine? .. I here your protest and your replies are aimed some what away from expressing openly your own feelings and on a matter that is indeed important for all who are concerned. Tell me, why did you not respond to my statement the media lies? Ray
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Ray
2:59 am
Apr 13, 2013
HI Brian, Yes it is an issue of concern – Hence all the chat. As our country has been through something of the same ilk.. What do you think would help – a scene Two sides cannot agree, both sides feel that they are being taken advantage off. What’s the answer? -You could say that Ireland’s issues were over a long time 800 yr – This Palistine conflict to some extent has a linear marker that goes back thousands of years. There is a proposal that because the UK have been on the Falkland islands since some pirate took it for the UK a couple of hundred yr ago, that this makes it English. If we are to look at time.Whoops Israel/The Jews win that argument hands down -Ray
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Brian
11:22 am
Apr 12, 2013
By the way, as I said at the beginning both Palestinians and Israelis should accept each others existence and try to work things out. Vincent Brown who does not pull punches and is very outspoken on many issues has also exposed Irish politicians shenanigans! However he was wrong to call Israel a cancer. But should he resign? No. We must protect freedom of speech no matter how distasteful. To force a jounalist to resign over a comment is the thin end of a censorship wedge. Governments these days are only too happy to keep a lid on opinions. In a true emocracy you can say what you want and others are also free to criticise what you say.
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Brian
11:24 am
Apr 12, 2013
Sorry, “e” is missing at the end of Mr. Brownes name.
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m
4:43 pm
Apr 12, 2013
You naively wrote
“By the way, as I said at the beginning both Palestinians and Israelis should accept each others existence and try to work things out. Vincent Brown who does not pull punches”
Let me correct/enlighten you. The Jews have always wanted peace & have made concession after concession to attain it with muslim arabs that want nothing but to see the utter destruction of Israel (and have said so ad nauseum). The Jews have even given away a slice of their sovereign state in a naive attempt to garner peace with terrorists. The Jews provide free medical care, infrastructure & education to the very ppl that want them gone.
Have a wonderful day.
PS
Aptly named, “brown” is a POS.
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M.Sphardi
10:06 am
May 02, 2013
…and some apostrophes too. In our times, many cancers may be cured. Surely an Arab curriculum of math, critical reading and writing, and mental health might help. Too late: they’ve broken out in all kinds of revolutions that needn’t have happened had they begun therapy sooner. Ah well, I guess Mr. Browne’s cancer is spreading. He was so prescient! But all is not lost: almost every bit of Israeli land is on 49 year leases from the government which is much better than the previous legal quagmire of absentee landlords, nonpaying fellaheen tenants, despoiled sandy wastes, and malarial swamps. Come to think: it was more of a cancer BEFORE the State of Israel was reestablished.
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coach factory outlet
6:19 am
Apr 10, 2013
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Fitz
3:07 am
Apr 11, 2013
Criticizing Israel doesn’t make you anti-semitic, but when you say idiotic things without basis in the truth, it let’s everyone see how stupid you are. Mr. Browne, I don’t know if you are anti-semitic, but calling Israel a ‘cancer’ would make it seem so. Everything else you said, well, you’re an idiot. I mean this sincerely.
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M.Sphardi
8:31 am
Apr 11, 2013
If I may, as an “ultra right wing” Israeli be charitable for purposes of argument, observe that some Irish writers (Shaw, Wilde) thrive on saying the outrageous. The word cancer here is suggestive of an infection that will not heal and, in many cases, ravages the whole body. What he may be saying is that the wounds of the Arab-Israeli conflict only seem to ravage the issue with no hope of healing. But it is the media itself that has persisted in its failure to tell the whole story and instead convinced the Arabs and others that it is the wickedness of the Israelis at issue and not the devious stratagems of the Arab League. The media have only aggravated and prolonged the cancerous pain.
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Léon
2:26 pm
Apr 11, 2013
Let someone put this in good english:
J’habite près de Toulouse où un terrible attentat terroriste, à causé dans une école juive, la mort de 3 jeunes enfants (le plus jeune avait 3 ans) et du père de deux d’entre eux.
La semaine dernière, des imams israéliens ( oui, israéliens ) sont venus à Toulouse dans le cadre d’une visite aux communautés juives de France, et aussi des plus hautes autorités françaises (parlement, ministère des affaires étrangères..) pour délivrer un message de paix. Le plus fort de leur message s’adresse aux français musulmans de France, et il est le suivant : les arabes israéliens sont absolument libres d’exercer leur culte et de construire des lieux de cultes, constructions financées par l’état. Par ailleurs, l’état rémunère près de 300 imans dans le pays. Cette information fait par ces imams prend tout son sens en France où les mosquées sont financées exclusivement par l’argent des fidèles, et où de plus, les opinions publiques sont extrêmement réservées, sinon hostiles, à la construction de mosquées dans leur environnement. Une anecdote de leur viste à l’ambassadeur Yossi Gal à Paris: à l’heure de la prière, l’ambassadeur à mis son salon a la disposition des imans. Ces derniers ont donc utilisé la salle de bains de l’ambassadeur pour leurs ablutions, et son salon pour la prière. J’ai entendu ces témoignage en direct.
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Fitz
3:25 pm
Apr 11, 2013
Ok, Leon said: I live close to Toulouse, where a terrible terrorist attack at a Jewish school caused the death of three young children (the youngest was 3 years old) and father of two of them.
Last week, Israeli imams(yes, Israeli) came to Toulouse as part of a visit to the Jewish communities of France, and also the highest French authorities (Parliament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ..) to deliver a message peace.Their strong message is intended for Muslims in France, and it is as follows: Israeli Arabs are absolutely free to practice their religion and build places of worship, buildings financed by the state. In addition, the state pays about 300 imams in the country. (continued)
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Léon
6:17 pm
Apr 11, 2013
Tanks Fitz, good word . Léon.
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Fitz
3:31 pm
Apr 11, 2013
(Leon continued) This information for these imams makes sense in France where mosques are funded exclusively by the money of the faithful, and where more public opinion is extremely reserved, if not hostile, to the construction of mosques in their environment. A story of their visit to Ambassador Yossi Gal in Paris relates: during the hour of prayer, the ambassador put his residence at the disposal of the imams. The imams used the ambassador’s bathroom for their ablutions, and his living room for prayer. I heard the live testimony.
My French isn’t so good but I think I got it.
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SamtheShamus
10:04 pm
Apr 21, 2013
Vinny….You are no better than the “Future Radio-Active Scrap Pile” under present hatemonger- management presently known as the former Nation/Empire of Persia now named Iran. If Darius and the rest of the historical Caliphite dreamers had you as a thinker, the Medes would never have joined up to win battles. It does seem that all your type of rascal needs is a long hot weekend in Bangla Desh admiring the Bay of Bengal and looking for beachfront investment properties. Do spend some time there and compose your next anti-semitic babbling on behalf of your few remaining listeners. The call rate opposing your brain-map is astonishing.
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TrueJewRabbi
4:22 pm
Apr 24, 2013
A racist and imperialist movement based on lies and ever expanding accuses the other by stating ‘We always wanted peace and acceptance’ is a travesty of justice and historical truths.
Herzle wrote in his ‘The Jewish State’ that when we capture Palestine and turn it into Israel it will be the West’s vanguard against the barbarian Asians. Go back and have a look at the book again. Zionism was initiated by Russian Jews, funded by UK/French Jewish bankers, promised by the British government, an imperialist entity, and ever since its creation supported by the USA. I do not believe all Jews are Zionists but they are supported by neo-Christians of US who are. A tumor grows just as Israel has.
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Ray
10:46 pm
Apr 29, 2013
TJR. Um ! Another-Shout out what you think! Thats it scream it out.. No place for discussion here is there?| This might well be the penned words of Herzle – You you might well feel that the Christian West is getting in on the act.| I have no doubt that some are as many are not.| The discussion is about the issues right now.| The media drivel and lies the people who think that the Media are prophets of truth.| There are millions of people who would just like to see the Jews gone. There are fewer who wish for something clearly done to solve the whole issue.| An old Irish saying; You can cry till your eyes run dry, but it changes nothing.| If you have a way of bringing peace, we would like to hear it.| We do not need vitriol.. There is far to much of it to be of any use.War is a vicious tumor lets cut out – There are many Christian who support Israel and pray for the people and their land.. There are many Jews and Christians that have no care or are vindictive and destructive towards any trying tom find solution to the issues at hand.| if you wish to continue here and communication with those here on the board. I suggest you come back with intelligent, honest and open discussion – Thanks Ray
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ajavrik
8:14 am
May 02, 2013
WELL,TRUE REGGEY
THE BODIES YOU HAVE JUST MENTIONED ARE THE BEST PARTIES COULD BE.
THE HUMAN CIVILIZATION GREW ON THEM.AND KEEPS ON..
RUSSIAN JEWERY,FRENCH REPUBLIC,USA,NEW CHRISTIANS…
THE FACTS ARE RIGHT.THE ATTITUDE IS WRONG.
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Larry
6:56 pm
May 13, 2013
Vincent Browne is a bigoted Schmuck.
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