19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An engaging introduction and a penetrating analysis, May 15, 2007
This review is from: An Issue of Justice: Origins of the Israel/Palestine Conflict (AK Press Audio) (Audio CD)
NORMAN Finkelstein (another reviewer dubbed him "Howard') displays what makes him far and away the foremost scholar actually engaging in a critical analysis of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Dr. Finkelstein has meticulously researched the conflict, and it shows in the detail that he goes into during his speech - but "expose'" (sorry, an accent is needed on the final "e") may better describe it: as Dr. Finkelstein himself notes, very simple, self-evident truths are distorted and made nebulous by the thick ideological fog that shrouds the entire conflict (presented, of course, through the filter of the media). Even on Amazon.com, when Jimmy Carter's book came out, it was prominantly paraded as being lambasted by critics even though it received many very favorable reviews. Dr. Finkelstein also does something that his detractors (Alan Dershowitz) find extremely irritating - he laboriously backs up every observation or comment with documented facts. But these facts, combined with a razor sharp eye for detail, only provide "what was" and "what it"; it is his moral position (that even allows him to lament the apparent lack of moral consistancy in THE leading moral philosopher of the first half of the 20th century - Bertrand Russell) that forces the listener to cast off the excuses and rationalizations that are forced down our throats by the morally-bankrupt apologists and pundits on CNN, Fox News etc. He forces us, by sheer force of argument and morality, to reconsider what we have been told, and to question why, if this information is available, it is NOT in the media, and NOT present to an overwhelming degree in academic circles. An answer to this is postulated near the end of the cd.
The speech itself is very clear, and provides not only a good introduction to the issue, but delves into it sufficiently to explain why things are as they are. What I especially appreciated was the emphasis on cause and effect: Dr. Finkelstein doesn't just state facts, but provides history and context, so as to paint a much clearer picture of why - for instance - Israel was forced to change tactics when confronted with the PLO's "peace offensive". So, if you are reading this, you probably have an interest in the topic, and if so, I urge you to purchase this CD, of at least check out [..] and inform yourself. Please.
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12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Devastating, June 26, 2006
This review is from: An Issue of Justice: Origins of the Israel/Palestine Conflict (AK Press Audio) (Audio CD)
Finkelstein is a powerfully clear speaker whose arguments must be dealt with by all supporters of Isreali policy.
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