Comments on: Spell it out, Saeb http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/ Commentary about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and the conflict in the Middle East Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:14:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5-RC1.1 By: Ben White http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1079 Ben White Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:29:05 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1079 A misunderstanding it seems. When you wrote, "you are clearly still smarting from Eamonn’s comments on your CiF piece" I presumed you meant comments left by Eamonn on CiF itself. As it turns out, you were referring to a post on this blog where I showed that Eamonn based his entire argument on (i) his own invented insertion, (ii) invisible evidence only he could see, and (iii) a prophesied future opinion of mine. Given that his only ultimate response to all that was a deafening silence, I hope you forgive me for not associating that thread with any 'analysis' I might be 'smarting' from. But, what a distraction! You seem to be derailing a thread on your own blog! A misunderstanding it seems. When you wrote, “you are clearly still smarting from Eamonn’s comments on your CiF piece” I presumed you meant comments left by Eamonn on CiF itself.

As it turns out, you were referring to a post on this blog where I showed that Eamonn based his entire argument on (i) his own invented insertion, (ii) invisible evidence only he could see, and (iii) a prophesied future opinion of mine.

Given that his only ultimate response to all that was a deafening silence, I hope you forgive me for not associating that thread with any ‘analysis’ I might be ’smarting’ from.

But, what a distraction! You seem to be derailing a thread on your own blog!

]]> By: Spell It Out Yourself http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1078 Spell It Out Yourself Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:27:13 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1078 In fact, Ben, my Spanish is pretty good, and I could translate the paragraph in question without any difficulty. I chose the Google language tools translation so as to avoid accusations of bias that might distract from the point I was trying to make: that the implication of anti-Semitism is unfounded, based on the evidence. But if the implication of anti-Semitism based purely on <i>speculation</i> is deemed reasonable in these parts, then I shall leave you to it. In fact, Ben, my Spanish is pretty good, and I could translate the paragraph in question without any difficulty.

I chose the Google language tools translation so as to avoid accusations of bias that might distract from the point I was trying to make: that the implication of anti-Semitism is unfounded, based on the evidence. But if the implication of anti-Semitism based purely on speculation is deemed reasonable in these parts, then I shall leave you to it.

]]> By: Ben http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1077 Ben Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:22:44 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1077 Ben W., perhaps you need saving from yourself. "Sadly, I missed the no doubt devastating riposte I’m ‘clearly still smarting from’, as I’ve no idea what you’re talking about," you say. Do check the previous comment you posted. You, er, linked to the exact riposte which you now claim to have missed. Ben W., perhaps you need saving from yourself.

“Sadly, I missed the no doubt devastating riposte I’m ‘clearly still smarting from’, as I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” you say.

Do check the previous comment you posted. You, er, linked to the exact riposte which you now claim to have missed.

]]> By: Ben White http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1076 Ben White Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:15:54 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1076 Sadly, I missed the no doubt devastating riposte I'm 'clearly still smarting from', as I've no idea what you're talking about. Nicely done though. You provide a complete distraction, and blame me for the distraction. Bit insulting to your readers to think they wouldn't spot that. Sadly, I missed the no doubt devastating riposte I’m ‘clearly still smarting from’, as I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

Nicely done though. You provide a complete distraction, and blame me for the distraction. Bit insulting to your readers to think they wouldn’t spot that.

]]> By: Ben http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1075 Ben Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:22:14 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1075 "Spell It Out," you have proved nothing, other than the fact that whereas Eamonn's Spanish is fluent, you have to rely on dodgy internet translation tools. The fact is Erekat's line is a pretty standard one: we negotiate in good faith, they don't, but they are able to portray us as the obstacle because of all the influence they enjoy over the media. Given the historic record of Arab oil money in promoting anti-Israel propaganda in the west, and the prevalence of antisemitism in the Arab media (have you watched Hamas's channel Al Quds TV lately?) it is entirely reasonable for Eamonn to speculate about what Erekat might have meant. Ben, you are clearly still smarting from Eamonn's comments on your CiF piece. But this thread is about remarks made by Erekat in a Spanish newspaper, not about what you wrote in an English one. “Spell It Out,” you have proved nothing, other than the fact that whereas Eamonn’s Spanish is fluent, you have to rely on dodgy internet translation tools. The fact is Erekat’s line is a pretty standard one: we negotiate in good faith, they don’t, but they are able to portray us as the obstacle because of all the influence they enjoy over the media.

Given the historic record of Arab oil money in promoting anti-Israel propaganda in the west, and the prevalence of antisemitism in the Arab media (have you watched Hamas’s channel Al Quds TV lately?) it is entirely reasonable for Eamonn to speculate about what Erekat might have meant.

Ben, you are clearly still smarting from Eamonn’s comments on your CiF piece. But this thread is about remarks made by Erekat in a Spanish newspaper, not about what you wrote in an English one.

]]> By: Ben White http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1073 Ben White Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:29:14 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1073 @ 'Spell It Out Yourself' I wouldn't hold your breath. Eamonn often enjoys divining what others mean (sometimes with the help of a creative addition of his own), or even what they might mean in the future. http://blog.z-word.com/2008/07/responsibilities/ @ ‘Spell It Out Yourself’

I wouldn’t hold your breath. Eamonn often enjoys divining what others mean (sometimes with the help of a creative addition of his own), or even what they might mean in the future.

http://blog.z-word.com/2008/07/responsibilities/

]]> By: Eamonn McDonagh http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1072 Eamonn McDonagh Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:47:03 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1072 I said that that that was one of the possibilities. "It is also possible that he is referring to media campaigns related to spin doctoring the peace negotiations." I said that that that was one of the possibilities.

“It is also possible that he is referring to media campaigns related to spin doctoring the peace negotiations.”

]]> By: Spell It Out Yourself http://blog.z-word.com/2008/08/spell-it-out-saeb/#comment-1070 Spell It Out Yourself Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:32:06 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=242#comment-1070 Actually, it's pretty clear, even from a patchy Google translation, that, contrary to your assertion that his remark is 'apropos of nothing', it is apropos of the preceding remarks in the paragraph from which you quote. <blockquote>'What I find is that the game has begun to blame the Palestinians for what happens with the negotiation publishing false information, the purest style of what happened at Camp David. Israel is trying to repeat what was then the tactic of Ehud Barak, saying the world that Arafat was making an offer that he could not refuse, and the Palestinians remained as the only ones who were stopping the peace process. On that occasion, Barak us' killed ', but we must remember that he also committed suicide, losing the elections ... The Israelis can do whatever they want, but I would ask that we not play with me. I have no money to pay for campaigns in the West, I just want to negotiate a fair agreement based on international law and UN resolutions.</blockquote> So, what Erekat is saying is that whereas Israel has the means to have a decisive influence on how the matter of negotiations is represented in Western media, the Palestinians do not. As you yourself appear to admit, this is not a controversial proposition. But no-one's accusing you of anti-Semitism. Actually, it’s pretty clear, even from a patchy Google translation, that, contrary to your assertion that his remark is ‘apropos of nothing’, it is apropos of the preceding remarks in the paragraph from which you quote.

‘What I find is that the game has begun to blame the Palestinians for what happens with the negotiation publishing false information, the purest style of what happened at Camp David. Israel is trying to repeat what was then the tactic of Ehud Barak, saying the world that Arafat was making an offer that he could not refuse, and the Palestinians remained as the only ones who were stopping the peace process. On that occasion, Barak us’ killed ‘, but we must remember that he also committed suicide, losing the elections … The Israelis can do whatever they want, but I would ask that we not play with me. I have no money to pay for campaigns in the West, I just want to negotiate a fair agreement based on international law and UN resolutions.

So, what Erekat is saying is that whereas Israel has the means to have a decisive influence on how the matter of negotiations is represented in Western media, the Palestinians do not. As you yourself appear to admit, this is not a controversial proposition. But no-one’s accusing you of anti-Semitism.

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