More BDS BS - for a Lebanese writer

[leftynyc]

who DARED give an interview with an Israeli station.

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/205968/bds-targets-lebanese-born-writer

Maalouf now finds himself in the cross-hairs of the BDS movement in Lebanon. His crime? Giving an interview to an Israeli television channel, i24. There, Maalouf speaks of culture as a means of normalizing relations between Israel and the Arab world. A no-brainer, one might have thought. Culture is, after all, normal and liquid. The liquid is always in transit. The life of culture is insulted by borders. It acknowledges them only to overflow them.

But in BDS’s jaundiced eyes “anti-normalization” is mandatory. In their official statement of purpose, “anti-normalization” includes:

opposition to … events, projects, publications, films, or exhibitions that are designed to bring together Palestinians/Arabs and Israelis so they can present their respective narratives or perspectives, or to work toward reconciliation, “overcoming barriers,” etc., without addressing the root causes of injustice and the requirements of justice.

On some American campuses, “anti-normalization” is the reason anti-Zionist groups give for refusing to debate people with whom they disagree.



The bds people are vile and nothing but Jew haters. Now they spread their hatred to anyone who doesn't hate Jews and actually wants to find a solution to the I/P issue.

[MariaThinks]

1. i'm tired of those who discriminate against Jews.

[Uponthegears]

2. Is this Amin Maalouf?

If, so . . . opposition to his interview might be more centered on the fact that he holds himself out as a Middle Eastern "moderate" (and is held out as such by those who deny Palestinian legitimacy) based on the place of his birth (Lebanon). He, and his supporters, (as did the OP) repeatedly fail to mention that he is not Muslim (his upbringing was Christian).

This tends to make people feel he is attempting to lend credibility to his decidedly anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian views (which attack even moderate Muslims) by deceptively allowing the uninformed to believe they are coming from a Muslim.

In other words, this is not a situation where a Muslim is being criticized by BDS for daring to speak to a Jewish publication (an obviously intolerant position), but rather where he is being criticized for acting like he is speaking for Muslims when he is not.

[Fozzledick]

3. So he's being criticized by BDS for being a Christian

and for daring to speak in favor of peace and cultural understanding as a Lebanese Arab.

I see.

[Uponthegears]

4. Perhaps a more nuanced analysis is in order?

https://themuslimtimes.info/2016/06/16/is-the-backlash-faced-by-french-lebanese-author-for-speaking-to-israeli-media-justified/

snip

So far, so good. Then came his latest appearance on the Israeli i24 channel, owned by the Franco-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi. As a Frenchman, of course, Maalouf broke no French law by talking to Israeli television. But of course, by chatting away about Western culture while making absolutely no reference to Israel’s cruelty towards his country of birth, Maalouf did – at the least – miss the chance of putting across the reality of Lebanon’s past suffering to thousands of Israeli television viewers. The Lebanese French-language and very Christian newspaper L’Orient Le Jour naturally defended its favourite author, but even its own writers were upset.

snip

True, but only months after Israel’s bloody 1982 invasion of Lebanon, Maalouf became part of an official Lebanese-Israeli delegation set up to create what would have been a totally unequal and one-sided peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon; as much of his country lay in rubble, Maalouf sympathetically visited the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona to examine some shell-holes in a building. He later chose, wisely, to remain silent on these activities.

snip

Don’t bet on it. Maalouf left Lebanon at the start of the civil war in 1975. And exiles, however brilliant, have a remarkable habit of recalling their original homes and social history with devastating accuracy – look at James Joyce – but losing all touch with the political reality and suffering of the countries they have left behind. Here, the name of Auden comes to mind. But no, Maalouf is unique. That’s why he is as untouchable as he is immortal. But given the frightening political leadership in Jerusalem, Israeli television might not be the best way to bridge any cultural gaps just at the moment.

[Fozzledick]

5. Ah yes, that certainly clarifies the matter.

He's not being criticized by BDS merely for being a Christian Lebanese Arab who dares to speak in favor of peace and cultural understanding, but rather for being a Christian Lebanese Arab who has committed the unforgivable crime of not hating Israel.

I think that's more than enough nuance.

[Uponthegears]

7. That must be it

Everyone who opposes Netanyahu's genocide "hates Israel" or is it that they hate wanton violations of human rights?

Hmmmm

[Fozzledick]

8. Absolutely!

Anyone so biased and fanatic as to falsely accuse Israel of genocide is clearly acting on a hateful extremist agenda.

Not nuanced at all.

[Uponthegears]

10. Let's count

Between 8 July and 27 August, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, along with 66 Israeli soldiers and seven civilians in Israel.
The UN says the vast majority of the deaths were civilian.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28439404

[Fozzledick]

11. And Hamas was responsible for all of them.

Do you really want to defend them? Keep digging...

[Uponthegears]

12. Responsible for revenge killing?

[Fozzledick]

13. Responsible for aggressive war, attempted genocide, terrorism against civilians,

use of child soldiers, using civilians as human shields and deliberately drawing defensive fire on them for propaganda purposes.

But I'm guessing you already know all that and have no objection.

Thanks for proving my point: I was right the first time. http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1134&pid=130203

[oberliner]

6. Robert Fisk, white British man, explains how people from Lebanon are supposed to behave

Rule 1: You must always say negative things about Israel.

Robert Fisk:
?w=199&h=300

[Fozzledick]

9. Is this allowed under the new rules?

I thought there was a requirement for a "graphic content warning".