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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martin
7:02 pm
Nov 02, 2012
m, I am 100% Jewish, but no yiddush. My paternal grandfather ‘s family were from the Pale, that is all I know, he married my frandmother whose ancestors came over from Holland upon Oliver Cromwell’s invitation to enrich England with their skills. kowledge etc. Of course at the time, protestant England and Holland were allied against the might of ~Catholic Spain.
My maternal great grandparents also came from Holland. After the war, there were exactly 3 survivors, each had been sterilised. So the family link with the Netherlands will have broken once the 3 die out. Still, the Dutch like the Muslims. One lot are killed off (the Jews) and in place another lot will come in (the Muslims)
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martin
7:09 pm
Nov 02, 2012
Both parents family names Cohen.
I lived in Canada between 1966-1969, in Toronto first and then spread my wings working in Winnipeg, another town west of there (forget the name), and also in Cobalt, north Ont and on the Hudson Bay in mid winter. -55*f. Bloody cold,
I have been to Victoria BC, all the way across to Quebec. Beautiful country. What a pity Moses never had navigational skills to cross the Atlantic. lol. I am “soul” brother to Native chief and his brother who live on a reservation in Quebec, and lived among the Chippewa tribe and the Inuits. Unable to obtain Kosher food though, can you believe thta? lol again.
Good to see Canada Israe’ls best national friend, bar none!
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m
7:35 pm
Nov 02, 2012
We live in Alberta.
You lived in Winnipeg! That is the armpit of Canada …. lol.
I have family all over this country from the west coast to Quebec. My father’s ancestors first settled in New Brunswick though, and that is where my dad was born. I still have an end piece of a beam from my great grandfather’s barn before it was torn down
. Just a hand hewn peg and hole!
And yes, Canada is a true friend of Israel and Harper is very sincere (and vocal) about that
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m
7:37 pm
Nov 02, 2012
Martin:
PS
A geshenk far der Irisher Yid (a gift for you).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e8Y_mNIvLk
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martin
5:27 pm
Nov 03, 2012
m; Thanks it was very good and I then noticed and played the Celtc Irish klezmer swing trio, this too, was really good.
I have been to Alberta, Calgary is really nice. Made a nice change from flat Manitoba. I drove my sister and father north of the Great Lakes from Toronto to Vancuver and stopping off at Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw was really something else. We were truly wlecomed wherever we went out west.. I worked for the compensation Board of Ontario and tried to work for the BC or Alb offices but no jobs were available.
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martin
5:33 pm
Nov 03, 2012
m, I visit France quite often, and enjoy being with friends there. One couple, she is Catholic French and he is Protestant Irish (from the north) I am very close with. He is very interested in the bible and learned abour biblical figures at sunday school etc. I then discovered that in France, the “new” testament is taught, but no mention of scriptures, biblical figures such as Abraham, Moses, Samson David and Solomomn etc. I was absolutely flabbergasted.
Oh yes, I tried to get work in the oil shale field north of Edmonton, but was out of luck. I worked on the Nelson River where the tree line finishes. The treees there only grew to about 15 feet. An Inuit lad was eaten quite nearby!
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martin
5:35 pm
Nov 03, 2012
forgot to add by a polar bear. We were 1/2way between the brown and whites. Unsure which is the most dangerous, but scary it was
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m
11:58 pm
Nov 03, 2012
Not sure if there are polar bears around there. Probably a griz.
Polar bears are more dangerous as they will stalk humans as prey. They are mainly meat eaters. But grizzly bears can and do attack ppl from time to time. Not always fatal but often are
In actual fact, the polar bear is related to the grizzly (brown bears) but as evolved to live in arctic conditions, does not hibernate and as I said is basically a carnivore while other bears are more omnivorous.
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Arthur Whitaker
11:33 pm
Nov 03, 2012
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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emes
9:47 pm
Nov 04, 2012
Arthur Whitaker – it is also known that the film regarding 9/ll just must have been produced by Walt ~Disney, one of the biggest anti-semites in Hollywood – biggotted, a bit like yourself really and the missing links? again, possibly yourself with your knuckles scraping the sidewalk and you seem to give Israel so much credence in even conceiving a war on Iraq – hmm you are so incredibly knowledgeable on so many matters of importance, I feel you should run for President!
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martin
7:21 pm
Nov 04, 2012
actually, m, it was apolar bear, being close to Churchill. I never saw one thouig, in northern Onraio, I saw some big bear anbd didn’y bother to wait around ans ask if they humans.
-
I just wonder it is Arthur Whitaker who has been a usual sole disagree signature on most statements? To read his questions is quite sad to see. I wonder if he is aware or knows how fanciful his hateful statements are, or whether he truly believes his rubbish?
My advice to him would be to read some real facts and ignore the revisionist crap, or at least to question it and ask for proof. It is always easy to accuse. He obviously wants to believe this rubbish only because he hates Jew. What a sad lifer!
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Ed Frias
10:08 pm
Nov 04, 2012
Arthur Whitaker also believes 4000 Jews didn’t show up at the World Trade Center on 9/11
Whitaker believes that Mossad sharks are killing tourists off the Sinai.
Whitaker believes Mossad vultures are spying on Saudi Arabia and that Bugs Bunny is a conspiracy against the Arabs.
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martin
1:07 pm
Nov 05, 2012
Hey Mohamed Whitaker, I have a question for you, being quite serious now. You and others like you call Jews as descended from pigs and monkeys, right?
Okay, Jewish people are direct descendents of our father Avraham, who is also the father of Ishmael, but not Mohammed. After all Avraham left what is now Iraq and journeyed ot Canaan, present day Israel. Do we assume then that all descendents from Ishmael are also from pigs and monkeys? Or do you include Mohammed as well?
Are you then claiming that Avraham was also a pig or monkey, or just descended from them? Or is it just his descendents? Only Jewish descendents and not Ishmaelites? Please explain, clever words of wisdom. Thank you,
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Sydney
8:33 pm
Nov 05, 2012
Why be concerned????? It is like the failed student calling the top honor student a nitwit!
or classically the pot calling the kettle black.
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TV Host Refuses to Back Down After Calling Israel a “Cancer” « Olive Press
6:46 am
Nov 08, 2012
[...] http://honestreporting.com/tv-host-refuses-to-back-down-after-calling-israel-a-cancer/ Share this:ShareLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...]
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Kate HA
11:26 pm
Nov 12, 2012
“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.”
Correct! The bankrupt Rep of Ireland, in which I am presently trapped, is casually and ignorantly anti-Semitic. I have lived and taught in Northern Ireland (UK), Scotland and India. This Catholic Nationalist state in which I am unhappily domicilled is distinguished by its shocking general ignorance – of political evolution and/or world history e.g. WWII (De Valera facilitated a German embassy throughout that war and was the only Western politician to offer Germany “condolences on the death of Hitler). Browne is a ‘big fish’ in a small, stagnant pond.
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martin
11:42 am
Nov 14, 2012
please note, as usual, those who carp at israel and make jew/israel hating slander/libel allegations are always unable to offer a rudimentary answer to any questions put to thewm. they mark Disagree, but make no effort to explain why
What moronic losers these people are. thankfully, we have a strong minority of very decent people who back israel with their love for mankind. unlike those who can only hate. what a waste of a life.
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Ray
2:00 pm
Nov 14, 2012
Hi Kay-I read your message and felt disturbed by it, having said that there is a couple of things I would like to offer into the mix, if I may.
I would disagree that the anti-Semitism is casual or indeed ignorant.. I as an ex- Catholic was taught as child to hate Jews and to find every reason to destroy, denigrate or indeed to pass on this hatred to my family and friends.
This I would not and did not do… I am a Christian and have married a Jew and have a dept of affection and love for the people of the Book.
I do agree with the idea that their (Irelands) history is a mess and much of this can be afforded to England politically, militarily and its churches general approach, influence and interference over the centuries.
Hence my previous post.. Ireland of all countries should have a greater understanding of the oppression and abuse that is taking place in this very issue.
Needless to say, this gives no excuse to people like Browne and his ilk to be anti-Semitic or indeed seemingly ignorant in their approach to this affair.
I have to say that they/we are not the only people group who have a serious anti-Semitic streak. Please do not loose sight of the many religious groups, and I include some Christian denominations in this sad and deluded package.
Browne, if he had enough guts would have openly said that England was a cancer.. But then he is gutless as proven by his statement..
It is time we moved on and (We, being members of this board) became a real formidable, educated and informative group against anti-Semitism and used our influence, education and knowledge to speak out clearly and effectively against these issues, here on this board and others like it. To share the truth about what is happening with the people around us at work and in the socialising that we are involved in.. It is ground floor work.. Mouth by mouth that stops this disease of anti-Semitism growing in our local place, town and country.
By using abusive and abrasive language we lower ourselves to the standards set by people like Browne.
Rude, ignorant, abusive behaviour does and will continue to stop people that would wish to join us against this anti-Semitism – To them we come across as no better that the very people we speak out against. – - – - Just a thought !!
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martin
1:08 pm
Nov 15, 2012
Very well put Ray. I understand that in France, only the new testament is taught, the bible is like the Talmud, not mentioned at all and no reference made to either.
As a joke with my Irish friend Paddy, I would join hinm in singing “we’re of to Dublin in the green.” Unfortunately most of Christendom is basedon unreasonable hate of the Jews.
As a youngster, I was asked how do I hide my horns, because “they are normally hidden under the hats.” I was “felt” in a non sexual manner as to where my tail was hidden.
TV programme in the UK “The longest hate” showed a Catholic churchgoer in Austria being questionned about Jews using blood from Christian children in preparation for baking matzot…
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martin
1:13 pm
Nov 15, 2012
… the man was quite shocked by the question and replied “Yes, of course it’s true. Not the usual Jews, but the ones with their sidelocks and who wear hats etc.
My father in the East End of London, as a youngsterm, carried adustbin lid with an axe ready to defend himself. He was courtmartialled for knocking his corporal out flattend, and was sentenced to 2 weeks in the military jail. This was during WWII, the corporal suggested that the UK was fighting to defend the Jews and that Hitler had the right idea.
The Copts in Egypt are having a very bad time at present. however, perhaps they should have shown some empathy with their Jewish neighbours before the latter was ethnically cleansed.
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Ray
1:51 pm
Nov 15, 2012
Hi Martin,
I too have heard of this issue of blood and am surprised that there are still many who talk of this issue at all. – It is a known fact that this is a lie and has brought denigration on those who wrote this strange and weird rubbish.
As for the scripture Old & New. I have been taught and teach that they compliment one another – after all 66 books of History, Poetry, G-d (Yahweh) – never understand why people find it hard to say His name – in all His glory – Salvation etc. -
The French are a fun people and they too have suffered under Catholicism and all that that entails over history.
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Isabella, Tampa FL
5:05 pm
Nov 18, 2012
Well, I have nothing against the Irish however I despise leftist anti-Semites that hate Israel regardless of their nationality. Both the Irish and English seem to pride themselves in being the most inciteful asses in the media, (MSNBC is a close competitor in the US). If this is a measure of how the citizenry of those countries view the Jewish homeland and all Jews, I suggest that they go back to reading the teachings of Yeshua, but then…they probably hate Him also.
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elsa peña alatriste
8:23 pm
Nov 18, 2012
bastante gente sabe que los que odian a los judíos, es porque han de tener en su sangre de la simiente de esaú, caín o del diablo.
Dios bendiga y guarde a Israel de todos sus infames detractores.
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odile
3:52 pm
Nov 19, 2012
Mr. Brown should take a history course on the middle east to
realize that the jews have lived in Israel since the beginning of time. It is our land and nobody else can claim it as theirs. Besides, what about the 800,000 jewish people who were evicted from arab lands, leaving with just the clothes they wore? I am one of them, and I resent the fact that history seems
to forget them. But again, anti-semitism under any guise works.
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m
5:32 pm
Nov 19, 2012
Odile, it is high time the eastern Jewish brothers receive reparation from the Nazi arabs. So few ppl even know about how the Dhimmis (Christians and Jews) were treated when living in islamic shit holes. The Holocaust was not just a European phenomenon….
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