Customer Reviews

Intifada

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

All the usual suspects write for the book above, that is all the usual far left extremist anti Israel nutjobs that currently populate our institutions of so-called higher learning.

Beinin has a storied reputation for inaccuracy and bias in virtually everything he has ever written. Among his whoppers are accusations that pro Israel writers in the US are directed by the Israeli Likud Party; that Israel had a secret plan a few years ago to expel all of the Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories; and that the Egyptian Jews in prison camps did not suffer persecutions.

The present volume does not disappoint expectation, as it evokes retching even in the very introduction by Edward Said. Edward Said, the late hero of the (FLEAs) Far Left Extremist Anti-Israelis (so- called by me) alleges that Menachem Begin "changed the name" of the West Bank in the 1970's to Judea and Samaria. That is "OK" because the book is narrative and not history.

In his discussion of Palestinian politics in the 1970's, Said alleges that Israel ignored election of pro PLO mayors and appointed "collaborators" such as the "Village Leagues" which were ignored. It would have been more honest if Said had detailed the life of Elias Freij, a former mayor of Bethlehem (Christian) who was intimidated by Muslims and eventually driven from office and from previously held moderate beliefs-- from FEAR. Later, Bethlehem became a mostly Muslim city. How and why did THAT happen? Honesty would dictate a discussion that persecution by Muslim Arabs of Christian Arabs have changed the political map. Look elsewhere for this discussion, probably in so-called "far right" or discouraged readings in the FLEA school.

The usual culprits discuss the 1967 Arab debacle as usual, as though it were the beginning of the conflict, whereas before 1967, when Arab states held these "occupied" lands, the same (secular) states threatened Israel with destruction in order to claim other previously "occupied lands." Heads they win, tails you lose. Was the destruction of Israel "in stages" as described by the PLO charter actually an attempt at moderation in 1970's? How was Israel supposed to know? What was the tipoff? Almost forgot-- where is the discussion of Kharthoum conference, with the famous three Arab "no's" (to recognition of, negotiation with or peace with Israel). This conference, AFTER the 1967 war, occurred when Israel offered to give back the whole of the conquered land for peace. It was rejected, but Israel is then held responsible for not keeping these areas Judenrein and spotless until they could be returned to their Muslim claimants. Hellooo!

In short, the right to tenure does not mean the ability to be dispassionate. This book, as virtually all FLEA publications are these days, is a polemic. Non polemicists can't get promoted. The truth be damned, full torpedos ahead. Go FLEAs.