"If you want to know more about Israel, in all its complexity . . . "
I read Shavit's book many years ago -- the first edition, I think. It presents a bunch of good arguments for why Zionism is good for the Jews.
But, if you read it _through the eyes of a Palestinian_ (or in my case, imagine reading it through the eyes of a Palestinian), it raises the same question, over and over:
. . . What gives the world's Jews the right to take over Palestine and displace
. . . the people already living there?
I'm not sure what the appropriate t'shuvah is, for doing that.
Shavit's title -- "_My_ Promised Land" -- announces his blind spot.
Khalidi's "Hundred Years War on Palestine" is a good way to get started, looking at Zionism from the other side. It's not comfortable.
“Only a Jewish state in Palestine can save the lives of the millions who are about to die. In 1935, Zionist justice is an absolute universal justice that cannot be refuted.”
Perhaps a Jewish refuge, or a Jewish homeland, but not a Jewish state, because inherent in that goal was dominance over, killing, and the removal of the indigenous people.
If you accept that cost as the necessary and required price that innocent others had to pay for the sins of your fellow Europeans, you will never have me, nor tens of millions of others, forgive you.
Europe in the past has treated Jews HORRIBLY. But I think it’s safe to say that the western world today treats Jews as some kind of untouchable royalty, and are all too happy to join the Zionists of the world in treating others horribly.
Truth and reconciliation. But first truth, or truth and contrition. Then maybe we can get somewhere.
"If you want to know more about Israel, in all its complexity . . . "
I read Shavit's book many years ago -- the first edition, I think. It presents a bunch of good arguments for why Zionism is good for the Jews.
But, if you read it _through the eyes of a Palestinian_ (or in my case, imagine reading it through the eyes of a Palestinian), it raises the same question, over and over:
. . . What gives the world's Jews the right to take over Palestine and displace
. . . the people already living there?
I'm not sure what the appropriate t'shuvah is, for doing that.
Shavit's title -- "_My_ Promised Land" -- announces his blind spot.
Khalidi's "Hundred Years War on Palestine" is a good way to get started, looking at Zionism from the other side. It's not comfortable.
. Charles
That’s next on my list.
Titles are meant to sell books. The author and publisher know their audience.
“Only a Jewish state in Palestine can save the lives of the millions who are about to die. In 1935, Zionist justice is an absolute universal justice that cannot be refuted.”
Perhaps a Jewish refuge, or a Jewish homeland, but not a Jewish state, because inherent in that goal was dominance over, killing, and the removal of the indigenous people.
If you accept that cost as the necessary and required price that innocent others had to pay for the sins of your fellow Europeans, you will never have me, nor tens of millions of others, forgive you.
Europe in the past has treated Jews HORRIBLY. But I think it’s safe to say that the western world today treats Jews as some kind of untouchable royalty, and are all too happy to join the Zionists of the world in treating others horribly.
Truth and reconciliation. But first truth, or truth and contrition. Then maybe we can get somewhere.
I hear you. I'm not going to try to argue or defend but just let your comment sit, here on the screen and also in my heart.