The latest essay on Z Word tackles the vexed relationship between Europe and Israel. Indeed, as its author, Robin Shepherd of the prestigious UK think tank Chatham House, argues, to talk of a “relationship” in the singular is overly simplistic. As he concludes:
“Europe is a work in progress. It remains to be seen how Israel will fare when one or other of the continent’s various potential futures finally comes out on top.”
The European Forum on Antisemitism has just launched an impressive new website, sure to be an invaluable resource for those of us working on or just arguing about this issue.
Many thanks to the estimable Normblog for allowing us to republish this report by Eve Garrard.
Yesterday I attended the University and College Union’s annual congress, where a motion encouraging a boycott of Israel was debated.
When we launched Z Word at the end of January 2008, the first crop of essays included a brilliant dissection of the boycott by Eve Garrard, entitled “Excluding Israelis.”
Continue reading ‘The UCU’s Boycott of Israel and How to Fight It’
Can you talk honestly about the Middle East in America? Can you describe what happens in the region, day by day? Can you freely express an opinion, without fear that someone will muzzle you?
Details are still emerging of a disturbing episode in Cairo. Last week, 45 elderly Israeli Jews of Egyptian origin were due to arrive for a four-day trip to the old country. But reports spread through the local media that the group were going to try and reclaim their ancestor’s property - and so the Egyptian authorities, apparently with the “support” of the local Jewish community, cancelled the trip.
As racist violence rages across the streets of Johannesburg and Cape Town, it’s enlightening to learn about some of the other policy priorities of the ruling African National Congress.
UPDATE, MAY 24: GRANT SACKED AS MANAGER OF CHELSEA
To the readers of this blog who are not soccer fans, bear with me. My hope is that you will get as much out of this post as those who are. Because on one level this is about soccer (henceforth, if you’ll indulge me one more time, called football). On another, it’s about the prejudice and bigotry among the crowds which has blighted football for decades and continues to do so today.
Joel Pollak has a review in the latest edition of the Palestine-Israel Journal of a new book by Yosef Gorny looking at federal concepts in Zionist political thought.
Philip Mendes has written a thought-provoking analysis of the overlaps and distinctions between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.
Brett has dug up an interesting article on the World Socialist website.
It’s about Palestinians who are banned from working in certain jobs, are discriminated against in wages and salaries, banned from joining trade unions and - perhaps most significantly of all - denied the right to own land or property.
Oh yes, one small detail: this is the situation in Lebanon.
Solomonia has a comprehensive collection of links about the recent spat at Wikipedia, which resulted in several members of media watchdog CAMERA being banned from editing the online, collaborative encyclopedia.
Bertolt Brecht, Thomas Mann, John Dos Passos, Andre Malraux…books by these and other writers were chucked onto the bonfires started by Nazi arsonists 75 years ago.
Today’s LA Times marks the sixtieth anniversary of Israel’s independence with a report extolling the virtues of the so-called “one-state solution.”
Jimmy Carter thinks Hamas is a reasonable organization and that it’s Israel that’s being unreasonable.
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