CrossTalk: Farewell Israel? (ft. Norman Finkelstein)
by Jonathon Blakeley
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
Norman Finkelstein’s new book on the American Jewish community has been both widely praised and criticized by influential writers. So is the American-Jewish romance with Israel coming to an end? Are the American Jews known for their liberal views distancing themselves from Israel? Or is it simply an overstatement? Do they support the current Israeli policies? Does the Israeli lobby represent their views? And do they have a strong connection to the Holy Land? CT-ing with Norman Finkelstein, Daniel Pollak and Mouin Rabbani.
Published on May 16, 2012 by RussiaToday
CrossTalk’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/crosstalkrulez
Follow Peter Lavelle on Twitter http://twitter.com/PLCROSSTALK
Posted by Jonathon Blakeley
on May 16, 2012. Filed under Jewish Matters,Politics,Video.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
8 Responses to CrossTalk: Farewell Israel? (ft. Norman Finkelstein)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login
Deadbeat
May 16, 2012 at 11:33 pm
I guess I would have to read Finkelstein’s book in order to accurately judge whether the polling truly indicates a trend of waning support for Israel.
However this article in Harretz would seem to support Pollack that support for Israel remain strong and that American Jews are putting their money where their hearts are … U.S. Jews’ donations to Israel double in past 20 years, study shows
Jay Knott
May 17, 2012 at 2:09 am
Jewish support for Israel seemed to be declining in the sixties – then came the six-day war of 1967, and a massive upsurge of ethnic solidarity. Jewish identity is self-perpetuating – if it declines, it only takes a conflict, and a combination of solidarity, fake victimhood, and guilt, brings the community back behind Israel.
Ariadna Theokopoulos
May 17, 2012 at 3:11 am
I agree with you, Jay. For once :-0
Jewish support for Israel is self-perpetuating and cyclical and the hasbara creators know how important it is to maintain awareness of the “existential threat.” Furthermore, young people always go through a phase of rebellion against their parents’ ideology, music and taste in patio furniture but they get over it.
As for the debate between NF and DP (Rabani doesn’t count here), it is not much of a debate. It’s two zionists (in the general acceptance of the term, not Gilad’s nuanced one) looking at a glass of precious water both value highly.
One (DP) has an optimist message to reassure his cohorts and discourage the enemies, the other (NF) is the worry wort with the warning that if Israel does not mend its ways and behave nicely it will lose the support of American Jews.
who_me
May 17, 2012 at 4:58 am
the tribe may disagree over tactics, but they stick together when an outsider threatens. to get american jews over their infatuation with zionism and israel, it will take the complete dismantling of the israeli state into an entity which is not judeo-centric. a good idea all round. not so good for the tribals, as that would just leave them with monopolies over business, government, media and guilt trips.
Gilad Atzmon
May 18, 2012 at 1:21 pm
It is pretty pathetic,,, no one can really produce a reliable poll of Jewish opinion on Israel.. the differences are varied between 90% to 20% Jews in favor of Israel.. which really means that Jews, as a collective, cannot be a subject to a serious scientific political research. I can think of 2 reasons:
1. the political scientists involved are impervious to scientific thinking.
2. the subject matter is far from being lucid and coherent. the first question that must be asked is who are the Jews, how do they define themselves etc’
As it seems, we are left with a meaningless debate between spin doctors. Each of them keep different polls and a set of ‘facts’…in order to engage is a scientific debate, people should at least agree on the facts…
My solution is obvious. A deep study of Jewish culture and politics is the only way forward. judging by the Jewish collective panic around my book, i am on the right track..
searching
May 18, 2012 at 2:34 pm
“judging by the Jewish collective panic around my book, i am on the right track..”
).
yes , you are
Would you consider this “jewish collective panic” a post- TSD or pre-TSD??? Maybe both??
“Post” because the book is already published, popular and talked about . “Pre” because it will probalby inspire more analysis of that publically “forbidden ” subject of the influence of Jewish identity , culture, religion in the goyim and non-goyim world.
Gilad Atzmon
May 19, 2012 at 12:27 am
“Would you consider this “jewish collective panic” a post- TSD or pre-TSD??? Maybe both??”
good Q, and your analysis is correct ,, both pre and post…
Sheldon Richman
May 19, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Social science isn’t science.