Comments on: Max Hastings Falls Out of Love http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/ Commentary about Zionism, anti-Zionism, antisemitism and the conflict in the Middle East Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:28:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5-RC1.1 By: Michael Swift http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5161 Michael Swift Sat, 23 May 2009 12:24:12 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5161 Eamonn McDonagh, you need to read the response to Max Hastings in the Jerusalem Post "How Israel Lost a Friend" by Edwin Bennatan, here: http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/point/entry/how_israel_lost_a_friend Eamonn McDonagh, you need to read the response to Max Hastings in the Jerusalem Post “How Israel Lost a Friend” by Edwin Bennatan, here: http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/point/entry/how_israel_lost_a_friend

]]> By: democritic http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5026 democritic Mon, 11 May 2009 18:42:37 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5026 Couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that he found out his sweet love had matured into an evil bitch, could it, because that's happened to all of us at some time! Couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact that he found out his sweet love had matured into an evil bitch, could it, because that’s happened to all of us at some time!

]]> By: Peter http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5020 Peter Sun, 10 May 2009 21:01:59 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5020 Brilliant! Brilliant!

]]> By: Max Hastings No Longer Loves Israel « El Nuevo Pantano http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5016 Max Hastings No Longer Loves Israel « El Nuevo Pantano Sun, 10 May 2009 17:53:22 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5016 [...] Max Hastings No Longer Loves Israel here [...] […] Max Hastings No Longer Loves Israel here […]

]]> By: Jacob http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5015 Jacob Sun, 10 May 2009 17:09:37 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5015 I should add that the presence of 20 million Muslims in Europe today, most of them militantly anti-Israel if not antisemitic, has probably also played a part in Hastings falling “out of love” with Israel. I should add that the presence of 20 million Muslims in Europe today, most of them militantly anti-Israel if not antisemitic, has probably also played a part in Hastings falling “out of love” with Israel.

]]> By: Jacob http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5014 Jacob Sun, 10 May 2009 17:06:44 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5014 Eamonn McDonagh offers a plausible account for Hastings falling out of love with Israel when he says: “It’s said that true love knows no reason and the evolution of Max’s feelings towards Israel tends to confirm this. He loved it when it had the Palestinians too scared to let loose a squeak of protest, when it was winning bloody victories in conventional conflicts and when all of its neighbors were struggling to destroy it. Now that not all of them are and it’s locked in a cruel and untelegenic struggle with Iran and its proxies, his feelings have turned to bitterness and contempt.” Yes, few love the weak. This is a lesson that Israelis (and Jews) know well. Hastings is indeed a fair-weather friend (or lover). I would suggest though another plausible reason for Hastings change of heart: social pressure: In 1973 it was easy to be on the side of Israel since the intellectuals in the Western World for the most part supported the Jewish State. I don’t believe that critics then an now where correct in their attacks on Israel, but in those days it took some resolve to be critical of Israel. Today the opposite is true. It takes resolve and guts to support Israel while opposing it is as easy as typing on a computer keyboard. Hastings is not the first nor will he be the last to follow intellectual public opinion. Eamonn McDonagh offers a plausible account for Hastings falling out of love with Israel when he says:

“It’s said that true love knows no reason and the evolution of Max’s feelings towards Israel tends to confirm this. He loved it when it had the Palestinians too scared to let loose a squeak of protest, when it was winning bloody victories in conventional conflicts and when all of its neighbors were struggling to destroy it. Now that not all of them are and it’s locked in a cruel and untelegenic struggle with Iran and its proxies, his feelings have turned to bitterness and contempt.”

Yes, few love the weak. This is a lesson that Israelis (and Jews) know well. Hastings is indeed a fair-weather friend (or lover).

I would suggest though another plausible reason for Hastings change of heart: social pressure:

In 1973 it was easy to be on the side of Israel since the intellectuals in the Western World for the most part supported the Jewish State. I don’t believe that critics then an now where correct in their attacks on Israel, but in those days it took some resolve to be critical of Israel. Today the opposite is true. It takes resolve and guts to support Israel while opposing it is as easy as typing on a computer keyboard.

Hastings is not the first nor will he be the last to follow intellectual public opinion.

]]> By: Eamonn McDonagh http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5010 Eamonn McDonagh Sun, 10 May 2009 01:30:25 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5010 Thanks Thanks

]]> By: Petra http://blog.z-word.com/2009/05/max-hastings-falls-out-of-love/#comment-5007 Petra Sat, 09 May 2009 21:37:33 +0000 http://blog.z-word.com/?p=1261#comment-5007 It's one of those pieces where all I can say is: spot on! It’s one of those pieces where all I can say is: spot on!

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