They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby [Paperback]

Paul Findley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1989

Exposes the degree to which pro-Israeli groups are able to supress free debate, compromise national secrets, and shape American foreign policy. Findley focuses on individuals who have stood up to the pro-Israeli forces and brings out their statements and observations on the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy toward Israel.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Straightforward and valid." -- The Washington Post --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Paul Findley was a congressman from 1961-1983, representing the state of Illinois. He is the author of the bestselling "They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby".

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: A Cappella Books; 2nd Revise edition (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556520735
• ISBN-13: 978-1556520730
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,878,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

372 of 404 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Findley Speaks Out, March 21, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Leach (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby (Paperback)

The author of this book, Paul Findley, was a Congressman from Illinois for some 22 years. This puts him in the unique position to criticize his target. That target is the pro-Israel lobby, specifically AIPAC (The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee). Findley believes that many politicians have lost elections due to the influence of this group. Findley himself thinks they played a role in his own defeat in the early 1980's. Why would AIPAC use lobbying clout to defeat politicians? Because some of these figures dared to question the intimate relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

The book is extremely well written and organized, although there are no numbers in the text to match the endnotes at the back of the book. At first, I snickered at some of the accusations Findley makes. After all, shouldn't a criticism of AIPAC be extended to ALL political action groups? Wouldn't it be just as easy to point out that this is a symptom of a larger problem, that of outside influence in politics? What quickly becomes apparent is that AIPAC uses threats and intimidation to cow any voices that speak out against what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. Those who can't be dealt with immediately are publicly branded as anti-Semites or Jew haters. Some are even compared to Nazi war criminals. The people Findley discusses are hardly goose-stepping thugs. They are people who are concerned that Israel is using American weapons to kill innocent civilians. Some oppose the Israeli theft of Palestinian land, or Israeli spying within U.S. institutions. Almost all of these people begin to receive letters, threatening phone calls and other heavy-handed tactics designed to shut them up.

Findley shows how the pro-Israel lobby intimidates government officials, educators, restaurant owners and journalists into toeing the Israel line while denying the Arab position on any matter. Even presidents have felt the pressure from Israel's lobby. Reagan renewed the shipment of cluster bombs to the Israelis even after it was known that Israel used them on Palestinians in the past and would probably do so again in the future. Although not mentioned in the book, even Clinton felt the pressure. He came close to pardoning Jonathan Pollard, the Israeli spy, until the heads of the FBI and CIA threatened to resign if he did so. Findley talks about Pollard in the book, and the tale is staggering to behold. Pollard continues to receive pay from the Israelis, even though he is in prison. Documents stolen by Pollard were never returned by Israel, and many of these papers ended up in the hands of the Soviet Union, endangering U.S. lives and security. Israel also refused to hand over Pollard's handlers. These Israeli agents ended up with lucrative positions back in Israel.

Probably the most disturbing account in this book is that of the USS Liberty. The Liberty was a U.S. warship that was viciously attacked by Israeli planes and gunboats in 1967. Despite flying a U.S. flag in a stiff breeze and clearly marked numbers and names on the hull, the Liberty was strafed, torpedoed and napalmed by Israel. The toll was staggering: 34 dead and 171 injured. The U.S. government not only delayed sending a rescue mission to the imperiled ship until well after the attack, they covered up the entire incident. Documents were destroyed or hidden and letters to the families of the dead failed to take into account what really happened to their loved ones. A book written about the attack by James Ennes was blackballed. Even if this attack was a mistake, and Findley presents plenty of evidence to the contrary, covering it up is a crime tantamount to treason.

There is plenty of evidence in this book to make any thinking person stand up and take note. To criticize Israeli policy is not anti-Semitism. Not one of the people in this book ever tried to deny Israel the right to exist as a state. They merely wanted Israel held accountable for its behavior towards the Palestinians. As can be expected, Findley has suffered insults and slurs for his beliefs. Read this book.

182 of 204 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I found this book to be highly informative and objective., December 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby (Paperback)

I feel that this book is a must read for all Americans interested in U.S. - Middle East relations and the challenges to formulating a more balanced and just policies. Paul Findley, an Illinois Congressman for 22 years, examines the role of pro-Israel special interest groups in heavily influencing public officials and policy makers into making biased and counterproductive decisions impacting our relationship with the countries of an important region of the world. Findley has carefully researched and examined the extent of pro-Israel lobbying in this nation. While he defends the rights of American citizens to support causes they feel a moral obligation to, he argues eloquently that the interests of another country should never be placed above the interests of the United States.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the importance of having balanced foreign policies, particularly at a time when the United States is trying to serve as an honest broker to resolving conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere. It was educational and a real eye opener to me, a seeker of truth and objectivity.

86 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Congressman Tells the Truth, January 20, 2007

By 

Andrew Burroughs "andrew" (new jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: They Dare to Speak Out: People and Institutions Confront Israel's Lobby (Paperback)

I read this book many years ago when I was a student of Middle East Politics at UC Berkeley. I recently took it down to compare it with other recent works on the subject. I now appreciate that former Congressman Findley's book was truly a trail blazer in exposing the systematic attempt by Israeli supporters to stifle all dissent. What Findley documents are individual examples of blatant intimidation to publicly humiliate and demean anyone in this country that has the audacity to question the United States' blind policy in supporting Israel. This book should be read by every American who is concerned about the "closing of the American mind" on debate about Israel and US policies in the MIddle East. Given the perilous times that we now live in, it is vital that this country engage in a vigorous national debate. In addition to Findley's book, I would also recommend everyone read James Petras' "The Power of Israel in the United States" and President Jimmy Carter's recent book.