Saturday, March 30, 2013

AJDS For The High Jump


geoffff

American and other readers outside Australia who think they have problems with Beinart and "progressive Zionists" and worse  may be interested in this sideshow melodrama currently unfolding in Australia. 


Small Hurricane Hits Melbourne -- No One Hurt. Not Many Homeless.


The cover art of the now defunct and formerly venerable Bulletin magazine  in the 1986 issue that somewhat gleefully announced the imminent expulsion of Bill Hartley from the ALP had the headline "Hartley For The High Jump".  Hartley was an odious old antisemite enabler and channeller of the worst kind from the old hardline Stalinist school and thorough dead beat as this glowing eulogy from GreenLeft verifies. Hartley was the man who corrupted the federal ALP from within by arranging for a secret party donation from the Iraqi regime that was then stolen by a very clever thief. I have never understood why this appalling incident has not got the prominence it deserves and has not destroyed the reputations of those it should have. 

I once heard Hartley, once an ALP Senate candidate for Victoria, complain on national radio that there were too many Jews in the ALP Victorian branches. He thought this inappropriate, even suspicious, given  "their  middle class backgrounds" and "this is the Labor party" which was supposed to be the party of the worker and the disadvantaged.

Sure. That must be it.

Hartley himself was always coy about his background. Given that he was a Young Liberal at university at a time when only people with money could even think about going to university there has to be more than a suspicion Hartley knew what he was talking about. The "Jews" may or may not have had a "middle class" background. But Hartley sure did.

I mention Hartley because it shows how easy it is for an extremist group to get itself assimilated into trade union politics and into a mainstream political party and from that platform preach their religion to the wider community. Make no mistake Hartley and his colleagues were extremists. They advocated the overthrow of Western values such as liberalism, individualism and the trade economic system and their understanding of "democracy" was something very different to what you might have in mind. Not that leftist extremists had that game to themselves. Right wing extremists have also been a problem. At one time during this era the League of Rights nearly took over the (then) Country Party in Queensland at grass roots by deploying very similar tactics. 

Nor were the leftist cults in the ALP shy about the need to crack a few eggs to make an omelette when they were behind closed doors and they most certainly approved of those who did smash eggs and heads. Indeed they had an obsession with foreign policy. It was probably their main interest. They were violently anti-American of course which was fashionable in those Vietnam War days. Then as now. That never goes out of fashion with this lot come to think of it.  They were also violently anti-Israel naturally. Always a favourite evergreen. They were "anti-Zionists", you see and you could tell by just looking at them they had never heard of the word a year before. "Zionism" is "Racism". The Bible tells them so. This is a religion do not forget.

This and reflexively supporting every armed revolutionary leftist  group from the Sandinistas and the Provisional IRA to the PFLP was pretty well the extent of their foreign policy interest really but they spent a lot of time on it.

They were specialists you see. 

Nor am I the first to notice the close resemblance between the old Hartley style extremists of the pre intervention Victorian ALP branch, who were never properly cleansed from the party nationally, and the modern Greens and especially the dominate faction in its NSW branch. It's uncanny really. Sometimes they are even the same people.  

It is a sad fact of modern politics that a threshold entrance qualification to the ideological left all over the West is hostility to Israel and the Zionist enterprise. National liberation and self determination for the Jews is anathema to the hard left. To be pro-Israel is an intolerable heresy for this religion. It is perhaps the one thing that is never tolerated in these circles.   

Which brings us to the AJDS now vigorously campaigning for the boycott of "settlement produce" beyond the Green Line. Why? Surely this campaign begs some questions. 

The starting point is their own BDS-lite campaign web site.  Here are their ten reasons for boycotting Jews who are living and earning a living where they say Jews should not.

The first is that it is illegal for Jews to live over a line that no one recognises as an international border, least of all the "Palestinians" but is a no-Jew zone notwithstanding. Even in Jerusalem it seems there is a line beyond which Jews should not be. They must be confined to a certain part of town. That is the law according to the AJDS. "International law" no less.  It is a law that applies only to Jews. It does not apply to Arab Muslims no matter what they do even if they have the temporary misfortune of being Israeli citizens. Does this law have a familiar ring?

They cite the Geneva conventions as the source of this law in what would have to be the most cynical and spit in your face dishonest misconstruction  of an international treaty of the last century. Other than what is illegal under Israeli law the settlements  are not illegal, even if Bob Carr, the ALP and the British foreign office  declare them so. That the Israel bashers have the audacity to claim application of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention says everything you need to know about the Israel bashers and the state of international law. This again is a law that applies only to Jews except in the event that the AJDS and its international allies are successful in the campaign to remove the Jewish population of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.  The ethnic cleansing of Jews, and only Jews,  as proposed by the AJDS and its allies is not a breach of article 49. That is not illegal.

None of this is to contend that a two state solution based on ceding large tracts of Judea and Samaria and combined with a contiguous Gaza is off the table. On the contrary it is the "Palestinians" and their urgers in the Middle East and the West who are shoving this solution where it can't be seen.

And then we have reasons 2-10. Nothing here is original. Nothing here is the truth. It is a mistake to engage on the detail of this because the moment you have they have won. This is war propaganda the AJDS is retailing designed especially for a Jewish market. They themselves do not believe in a Jewish national home and State and as individuals they say so.  They are not antizionists of course even if most of the sites they link are and sometimes violently so. They are "post-Zionists" you understand.  Post-Modernists more likely where truth is another planet and perception and deception rule reality. They sure look like antizionists to me.

Like all anti-Israel activists they mine Israel's vigorous liberal democracy and traditions of free expression for ammunition to attack the foundations of the state. Far leftists do that and they are completely unconscious of the iron paradox of this. Like all free people Israelis as individuals say all sorts of things in all sorts of contexts. This is because they are allowed.     

They arch at any suggestion that their policies utilise antisemitic tropes, (don't they all?), despite the antizionism and the narratives sourced fresh from the "Palestinian" and radical leftist  propaganda mills. Here is a couple of limbs of what antisemitism means for a start that some within the AJDS must have some difficulty with despite the outraged denials. 
  • Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.
  • Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

The AJDS job is to deceive the idealistic and naive longing for peace that if Israel was to abandon the settlements presumably by force and unilaterally withdraw to what Abba Eban called the Auschwitz borders that would be a step to peace. They don't even believe that themselves. That's why the Arab Muslim right of return is always part of the recipe. An extraordinary and glib notion that they must know Israel and any other self respecting sovereign nation would never accept. They are "Zionist" or "pro-Israel" only on condition that  the Jewish state commits national suicide. 

That is not going to happen without a fight to the death. That is what free people do. Wouldn't you, rather than acquiesce to  what much of the Arab and Muslim world makes very clear it has in mind for the Jews?  That is why AJDS and its global allies are pro-war. There is no two ways about it. 

This is a free society, unlike what AJDS and its allies would fit up Israel with, and the AJDS is entitled to say what it likes just as Bill Hartley was. Communal bodies and political parties are also well within their rights to ensure they do so without affiliation with them when their views and campaigns are repugnant. That is how a liberal democracy works.  

cross posted Geoffff's Joint

16 comments:

  1. I wish to G-d that Israel would simply declare its final borders and be done with it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "The first is that it is illegal for Jews to live over a line that no one recognises as an international border, least of all the "Palestinians" but is a no-Jew zone notwithstanding. Even in Jerusalem it seems there is a line beyond which Jews should not be, They must be confined to a certain part of town. That is the law according to the AJDS. "International law" no less. It is a law that applies only to Jews. It does not apply to Arab Muslims no matter what they do even if they have the temporary misfortune of being Israeli citizens. Does this law have a familiar ring?"

    Yes it does. But this time, it's racism in the service of 'social justice.' See, nice and clean now!

    But yeah, what Mike said. That would be my call, if it were up to me. Of course it isn't, and so I'll just continue to support Israel and believe they'll do what's best. Hopefully sooner rather than later (at least, if that's what's best!).

    Thanks as always for the view around your way, Geoffff...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Heh, Hartley seemed like quite a character...

    "Uzunov has discovered that Hartley was all over one unimpressed Iraqi diplomat Al-Azzawi like a rash in the 1970s, presmumably hitting him up for loot and benefits. Al-Azzawi was aloof from Hartley according to Uzunov’s investigations but had a wide circle of friends, including Carlos the Jackal, the infamous terrorist. That he was on good terms with Carlos the Jackal but drew the line at Bill Hartley does sum up the plight of the Victorian ALP back in those dark days."

    Lol...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Just perused AJDS' links. Yup, all the usual suspects. I do have to wonder, though, if David Harris-Gershon is trembling with tears and rage right now that he's been left out of the party. Wonder if he's writing for 972 yet?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Replies
    1. Can't exactly agree with this, but I get what you're doing.

      And I certainly admire your focus. Heh.

      I suppose the question is, as long as folks will never agree to civilly disagree, and while demonization clearly continues to pay more often than it costs, where do we draw the line?

      And if others continue to deploy this tactic, then why shouldn't we? I've never been one for unilateral disarmament. As much as the environment as it is saddens me, I must also admit there isn't much use in tying one's arms behind one's back and dooming oneself to failure, either...

      Geoffff and Shirl's (amongst a few others) comments here were great. I read through the entire thread, and I'd advise others to do so as well. Definitely worth an hour or so, if you've got the time to spare...

      Delete
    2. And for the record, this comment, in particular, had me in stitches.

      I know of all too many Larry Stillmans, unfortunately...

      Delete
    3. I had the same reaction to that comment Jay. It's a gem.

      Delete
  6. I've polished this piece up a little and trying to get it "out there" on this debate. The forum for this issue is at a site I've never been to before Shirlee emailed a link to me.

    Galus Australis is where all the action is and Jay has already linked the thread. Now that Henry has put a pay
    wall on the debate at J-Wire it is the only show in town.

    I think it's time to take on the "Progressive Zionists" and call them on what exactly they stand for. I've had a close look at the Australian version's two sites including the campaign site( you will have observed how closely they ape the American version from Breinart to Siverstein and ultimately to Phillip Weiss)and the BDS-lite "post-Zionist" ideology that is at the core surrounded by dreamy useful idiots who need to be snapped out of their delusions. This is not about wishful thinking.

    Our fight is your fight. There are two or three of them in AJDS and they regard themselves as part of the American movement which indeed they are. Like all extremist movements it has a "left" and a "right". In this case determined "post -Zionists" on the "left" and a bunch of woolly wishful thinkers on the "right" who haven't thought it through and may actually lack the aptitude to do so on their own.

    This is the first Jewish communal political matter that I've ever got involved. Usually I would rule myself out but this is an issue that I am convinced we all have a right to buy into.

    The issue is clear cut. Should AJDS be expelled from JCCV (which is the Victorian equivalent of the NSW Board of Deputies on which our Shirlee is a deputy). It's on the agenda. Want to send a clear message to the American colleagues of AJDS ?

    Be our guests.

    Keep it nice.

    http://galusaustralis.com/2013/03/6948/jccv-to-disaffiliate-ajds/#comment-54599

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Incidentally this is called "wedging". A perfectly legitimate political tactic that can be deployed against an extremist group to isolate and split it and should be taken at every opportunity. All the better to destroy it or weaken its influence. I am quite open about this. What's more it works.

      There is no question that the Australian Greens have been weakened by a wedging campaign of its hard left on the subject of Israel. That campaign will continue. For that they have only themselves to blame. It wasn't us who raised the subject. Did they really think they would have the forum to themselves?

      We're not there yet whatever the dreams they seem to have.

      Delete
    2. Peter Beinart probably means well, but is wildly misguided. And he, sadly, tolerates too many who obviously don't mean well.

      Aussie Dave covers Dickie Silverstein well enough, and I've always gotten a kick out of that.

      Mondoweiss (Philip Weiss) is essentially Stormfront without swastikas, and even a Daily Kos moderator (of all people!) has acknowledged as much.

      Glad you got into this, Geoffff.

      And of course, Shirlee. ;)

      ~~~

      Yes, AJDS should be expelled. A healthy debate about where the line should be drawn is always welcome, but boycotting Jews, no matter where we may live, work or set up a business, should always be way far out of bounds and well over it.

      I see nothing controversial about that.

      Delete
  7. I started writing here earlier and will do it later now.

    Jeremy just phoned and we spoke about funding a web site for me. He's away for a few days with his family, when he gets back next week, he will look into it for me.

    My own sugar daddy, except it's the wrong way around. Just kidding. This will be a replacement for J Wire but much better.

    I envisage a section with articles where people can comment, also news items and items of interest Israel/Jewish wise. A section with some kind of Forum for people to be able to discuss things . Another with educational type videos and advocacy items.

    I need a good name. Shame I can't pinch this one. Just joking

    I thought about "JEWS DOWN UNDER" Corny?
    Underneath that "News and views from the antipodes"

    Thoughts guys.? I don't really like the name though.

    We were speaking about Henry, J Wire and Jeremy said something about Henry getting older and making an excuse for him. I said for him to watch it, Henry is only a year older than I am. He said it might be what it says on paper but as far as energy, enthusiasm for everything and looks I am 20 years behind Henry.

    Isn't that sweet.?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very sweet. A quick save. I bet that man once played football.

      Now for the name.

      How about "News And Views From The Jews In The Far Pews"?

      Or "Freylekhe Downunda"

      Or "Alter Cockers by The Sea"?

      No?

      Delete
  8. Good to see you comment on Galus Australis Jay, where sometimes things get pretty touchy. A couple of weeks ago there was WW3 on one topic. There were some pretty vile comments directed at me. Me, being me, and being on good terms with one of the admins, asked him to remove them and he did, plus plenty more. It got to the stage where they actually had to moderate comments.

    Geoff I don't understand why you have issues about getting involved because you aren't an 'official' part of the Community. Most people aren't. There are 43,000 Jews in NSW just around 1,200 are members of the B of Deps.

    Geoff, plus a few others have been bcc-d into my group emails with our so-called Leaders. So he knows all that has been going on. Three others have been doing likewise, two of whom have been posting on the topic.
    I've been doing some thinking and I think this plus, a couple of other issues, the latest being the BDS, is what has led to the current situation in Victoria with the AJDS and the JCCV. Let us hope they get kicked out

    http://www.ajds.org.au/ajds-anti-semitism-and-the-jewish-community-council-of-victoria-jccv/

    http://www.ajds.org.au/accusations-against-ajds-a-blog/

    http://www.ajds.org.au/correspondence-with-bob-carr-and-the-jccv/

    and this which, which was their reasoning behind protesting on Green Sunday (guest post on the DA blog)
    http://www.ajds.org.au/the-letter-that-the-australian-jewish-news-would-not-run/
    I am on the mailing list of the AJDS and it was me who alerted everyone to this latest fiasco, the same as I did with their shenanigans on Green Sunday and then Bob Carr, our Foreign Minister ( the traitor)
    http://www.ajds.org.au/the-letter-that-the-australian-jewish-news-would-not-run/
    This led to their vile demonstrations outside of the JNF offices

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I try to be nice, always, but when I have to I'm more than capable of taking the gloves off.

      I'm inner city stock, after all, from Passaic NJ to North Philadelphia; and we wouldn't expect someone of Jewish and Irish heritage to be bashful now, would we? ;)

      Thanks for calling attention to AJDS, Shirl. And do be sure to let us know when your site goes up!

      Delete
    2. Will do. It won't be for a while I'm sure.

      Delete