This is a guest post by David Adler, jazz critic and political commentator.
More from David on this story here.
The bloggers of Mondoweiss have worked very hard to convince the public that antisemitism does not exist among the Palestine solidarity movement - indeed, that all such charges of antisemitism are mere subterfuge concocted by “Zionists” to tar critics of Israel, who are by definition pure of heart.
So it’s important to note that Mondoweiss is now voicing support for the Israeli-born, UK-based jazz musician and virulent antisemite Gilad Atzmon.
Atzmon, who has declared, “One of the things that happened to us was that stupidly we interpreted the Nazi defeat as a vindication of the Jewish ideology and the Jewish people,” is scheduled to play two concerts in upstate New York with Rich Siegel, a pianist, vocalist and bandleader from New Jersey. Siegel is author of the Mondoweiss posts, here and here, alleging that the Rochester concert was nearly canceled thanks to what he calls “Zio-pressure.”
The Mondoweiss posts paint Atzmon in benign colors as an “anti-Zionist.” They cite Atzmon’s defense that he is “often quoted with ‘cherry-picked’ quotes taken out of context,” which is amusing, since the entire context of Atzmon’s political writing is coterminous with Israel and the Jews - and in any case, I’m not sure what “context” would render the above-mentioned verbatim quote morally acceptable. Or for that matter, this quote:
American Jewry makes any debate on whether the ‘Protocols of the elder of Zion’ [sic] are an authentic document or rather a forgery irrelevant. American Jews do try to control the world, by proxy.
A nearly identical argument about the Protocols appears in Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.
Or this quote from Atzmon, also verbatim:
Carpet bombing and total erasure of populated areas that is so trendy amongst Israeli military and politicians (as well as Anglo-Americans) has never been a Nazi tactic or strategy.
It’s ironic that Rich Siegel, speaking about the Rochester venue’s decision to ignore complaints from a local rabbi, writes: “It seems that they came to a realization … that the rabbi was part of an agenda that they don’t want to support.” But apparently Siegel is comfortable supporting Atzmon’s agenda.
I am not familiar with Siegel’s work, but his website lists appearances with highly respected and important jazz musicians such as Art Baron, Cameron Brown, Eliot Zigmund and Bob Kindred. I’d like to believe that Siegel’s been taken in by Atzmon’s self-whitewash on the matter of antisemitism. Or it could be that Siegel has read Atzmon’s racist, lunatic writings and is in full agreement with them. I’ve emailed Siegel to get some clarity on that question. Meanwhile, we cannot sit by and allow Atzmon to hoodwink others in the American jazz community.
I have some familiarity with Rich Siegel’s work (assuming it is the same person). He has said “I personally don’t have any problem with David Irving and others like him challenging accepted views on the holocaust.” Given the views of some of the people Atzmon hangs around with, Siegel would be a natural addition.
Do you know where he’ll be playing in upstate New York, and when? (I live in Ithaca and hope he doesn’t show up there).
He’s in Rochester and Geneva, I believe - follow the links and you should be able to find the information…
Why not a great number of Jews will gather and attend politely the two concerts while dressing blue @ white shirts with big Magen David @ Menora symbols and to raise some pro-Zionist slogans now and then?
Respectfully, AbeBird, the notion that only Jews and/or Zionists should be offended by Atzmon’s poison is exactly part of the problem. Any person of any background, with any shred of decency, should be able to recognize and denounce anti-Jewish and pro-Nazi sentiments. And they should speak out, rather than leaving Jews to do it by themselves.
Atzmon’s Geneva appearance is a $100 per ticket fundraiser for Deir Yassin Remembered’s scholarship fund to send American students to study in Palestine. I think that it would be counterproductive to spend the money and go to the event to protest (and probably get thrown out immediately), because you’d still be giving Atzmon and the Holocaust deniers of DYR a $100.
Would any of those who replied care to define what Holocaust denial is and then explain how Atzmon fits the definition?
His appearances in Rochester and Geneva were both successful in raising money for DYR Scholarships and many Jews attended and gave generously. They were especially outraged by the attempt of a Rochester rabbi to prevent Atzmon and Siegel from speaking.
A very natural addition indeed. As one who is for peace, justice, equal rights, and against racism, apartheid, colonialism, occupation, and in particular against Israel’s occupations- both the 43 year and 62 year occupations, and as one who supports freedom of scholarly inquiry into any aspect of history without restrictions imposed by ideological bullying, it is indeed a pleasure and an honor for me to appear on a bandstand with a kindred spirit who is also an amazing musician!
You’re against racism, Mr. Siegel?
Atzmon has written that the Nazis never engaged in carpet bombing or “total erasure of populated areas.” This is not only Holocaust denial, but a falsification of WWII history more generally. He has also written that Hitler started his campaign against the Jews in 1933 because the Jews had declared war on him. And it’s your “pleasure and honor” to share the stage with this Nazi sympathizer.
These quotes are not “cherry-picked” or “out of context” - that is Atzmon’s standard defense, but the statements are entirely representative of his political output. He has never disavowed the quotes in question.
But then, you yourself have written that it’s an open question whether Holocaust denier and fringe-rightist David Irving is right about the Holocaust. You’ve made very clear what you’re for, Mr. Siegel, and it’s not “peace” or any of the other things you list above. The greater outrage, however, is that a “Social Justice Council” in Rochester would lend support to your hatemongering and stupidity.
AS an American I am thankful that America does not have laws criminalizing Holocaust denial. This is different from thinking that Holocaust denial is a good thing, which seems to be Rich Siegel’s opinion.
Gilad Atzmon has described himself as an ex Jew and as a proud self hating Jew. He uses terms like Christ killer and Judas to describe Jews whom he detests. He is despicable and arrogant and deserves all nonviolent protests that any thinking human being is capable of. He does not promote peace, he promotes hatred.
As an Israeli who is more or less in the age of Gilad and is involved in the music industry, I never understood what is he using more, his EX Israeli Jewish belonging to push his average Music skills or uses both to get some publicity and gigs he would never achieve.
It always mentions he was a soldier….. and had an awakening regarding the Israeli policy, well he played sax in the Airforce orchestra………..
He never made it in Israel and played as a Klezmer in weddings and Hasidic performances but was never in the Jazz leading musicians.
So…… best way to push a career is make a public issue from himself.
Have you ever heard of a Jazz musician who says: I HATE MY PEOPLE, I HATE MY COUNTRY now go and buy my music in my web site.
Why talk about an average sax player, with nothing special, as a musician he is Zero nothing more then an average sax player.
You want him as a scholar……. well he is nothing
BTW in Israel he is rarely known and no one cares about his comments, as he is one of about 20-30 anti Israeli Anti Jews Israelies, who say the same thing and I guess compete to be the number one anti Zionist Israeli .
SO WHY BOTHER ?
Why bother - because Atzmon has gained a sympathetic hearing and was just presented by a “Social Justice Council” in the U.S. as a legitimate voice. Otherwise, no, of course, I wouldn’t bother. There’s a larger issue here beyond Atzmon - the acceptance in some (not all) leftist circles of explicitly antisemitic rhetoric. That is the story.
David
I get your point, so the question that comes up, what makes Gilad appealing.
Music…….. well you and me know he is LOW.
Antisemitic…… well he is a jewel to all Antisemites, and its a 2 coin use, they use him as a great bull story (Musician, Israeli Soldier…..) and he uses them (Get publicity and gigs so he can get a buck).
Question is how do u lower this combination, as I mentioned there are few Ex… (Israelies, Jews u name it) that are pushing thier hate for a long time in the UK and in the US, but I guess no one made a career and a living out of it.
As long as he gets more and more arrogant and extreme in his critics and hate spew and since he must get a momentum and not bore the public he has too, people who are not basicly Antisemites will get his point and will recognize his game.
But as Antisemites rises (when didn’t is rise) they will go for it, as they used all kind of issues and persons like Gilad for 2000 years.
So much for the bogus claims of Mondoweiss to be “merely” anti-Zionist and not anti-Semitic! This Jewish feminist lover of jazz is appalled by Gilad Atzmon and by anyone who would act as an apologist for him!