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My Israel Question
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By Antony Loewenstein
Activist calendar Melbourne University Press, 2006
Contact GLW 340 pages, $32.95
Back issues REVIEW BY KIM BULLIMORE
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Australian Jewish writer and journalist Antony
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Loewenstein has set the cat among the pigeons with his
Australian news first book, My Israel Question. Loewenstein has been
Comment & analysis variously accused of being “a self-hating Jew”, who is
International news part of “the pro-Hezbollah cheerleading squad”, an ally
A woman's place is in of deceased Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab al
the struggle Zarqawi and a part of a cluster of “dumb leftist Jews
GLW editorial who vilify Israel”, while suffering from a
Cultural Dissent “Demidenko-Darville” disorder. His work, according to
Letters to GLW Zionist detractors, is an “ill-informed rant”, a work of
Loose cannons “vanity” that should “lie in the tip alongside such other
Cartoons
works as Mein Kampf and the Protocols of Zion”.
Photos Loewenstein’s book was always destined for controversy. In
August 2005, federal ALP MP for Melbourne Ports Michael
Click here to join the
GLW discussion list Danby called in the Australian Jewish News for Melbourne
University Press to “dump the whole disgusting project”.
Danby exhorted AJN readers, “If, God forbid, it is
published, don’t give them a dollar. Don’t buy the book.”
Unfortunately for Danby and others, My Israel Question is a
Search
hot item, selling out of its first print run within a week.
The book is as much a personal journey as it is an Go
examination of the relationship between diaspora Jews and Search web
Israel, and the influence of the pro-Israel/Zionist lobby. Search Green Left
Loewenstein was originally inspired to write the book as a
result of the Israeli lobby campaign to strip Palestinian Current Issue
politician Hanan Ashrawi of the 2003 Sydney Peace Prize.
When Ashrawi was announced as the winner of the prize, International News
Cuba and Venezuela:
the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) Building an 'axis of hope'
went into hyperdrive in an attempt to discredit Ashrawi and Venezuelan leader: 'The
to get the award revoked. enemy is imperialism'
BOLIVIA: Pro-business
According to Loewenstein, “within weeks virtually every 'strike' targets Morales
mainstream Jewish organisation was expressing its VENEZUELA: Guns, drugs
and thugs
opposition to the award”. Loewenstein notes that the AIJAC
VENEZUELA: Chavez calls
campaign against Ashrawi backfired, spotlighting the for new revolutionary party
arrogant, aggressive antics of the pro-Israel lobby. For VENEZUELA: 1200
Loewenstein, the Ashrawi affair was an awakening, leading buildings face expropriation
him to question the ability of the Australian Jewish VENEZUELA: Golf-course
controversy
community to rationally debate the Israel-Palestine Venezuela 9/11
anti-imperialist march
question.
VENEZUELA: Chavez
In the wake of the Ashrawi affair, Loewenstein travelled to pushes Zulia recall
referendum
Israel to experience for himself the occupation of Palestine.
CANADA: War resister
In the first section of My Israel Question, Loewenstein seeks refuge
reveals many of the dissenting voices in Israel: Uri Avnery, INDONESIA: Protests and
Amira Hass and Gideon Levy. While these voices are a number of poor on the rise
BRITAIN: A bad week for
welcome inclusion, Loewenstein unfortunately gives little a horrible man
space to a critique of the contradictory nature of “left IRAN: Bush's sanctions
Zionism” in either Israel or Australia. drive stalls (again)
NEW ZEALAND:
Loewenstein’s heartfelt account of his journey into the Woolworths tries to smash
Occupied Palestinian Territories reveals the shock that union
PALESTINE: Hamas, Fatah
many have experienced, including myself, when you first to form coalition government
travel into the region. Nothing can prepare you for the way AFGHANISTAN: Who are
Palestinians are treated at the hands of the Israeli military. Canadian troops defending?
Nothing prepares you for the vicious racism of many, but IRAQ: US loses control of
Anbar province
not all, Israeli soldiers and settlers and other Israelis against
UNITED STATES: Old
the Palestinian people. refrain recycled on 9/11
In Brief
It is, however, the second half of Loewenstein’s book that is
LEBANON: Scale of Israeli
the most valuable, as it examines in depth the pro-Israel artillery bombardment
lobby in the USA and Australia. Loewenstein notes that the revealed
reason why lobby groups like the American Israel Public SOUTH AFRICA: Township
residents protest for basic
Affairs Committee(AIPAC) have a strong influence on services
government policy in the US is because their “aims tend to INDONESIA: Protest calls
coincide with the superpower’s own perceived strategic for standard wage,
nationalisations
interests in the Middle East”. He notes that other factors PAKISTAN: Protest against
also shape the US support for Israel, including “the politics Balochistan killing
of oil; the arms industry and its influence in Congress; the UNITED STATES: Judge
frees terrorist on 9/11
sentimental attachment of US liberals to Israel’s internal
democratic institutions; the Christian right’s messianic Comment and analysis
beliefs; racist attitudes to Arabs and Muslims; and the Carbon trading scheme a
failure of progressive movements to challenge US policy on sop to King Coal
Israel successfully”. World economy -- heading
towards a crash?
While these factors no doubt have some influence on US Green Left Weekly's
policy, Loewenstein fails to identify the root cause of US $250,000 Fighting Fund: $50
billion more for US killing
support for Israel. What is missing is a solid analysis of the machine
role of US imperialism in the Middle East and the strategic EDITORIAL: Canberra
role that Israel plays. Israel is US imperialism’s chief ally in bullies Solomons again
2007: a year of protest
the region, with the US-Israel alliance based on shared
Mercosur versus ALBA?
political interests — opposition to any form of Arab Our Common Cause:
radicalism that would threaten Western economic Decriminalising abortion
domination of the region. Qld election: a complacent
Labor win
In his examination of the Israel lobby in Australia, Student conference calls
Loewenstein particularly focuses on the shock troops at the for Palestine actions
forefront of the public relations war waged in Australia by Uni fees second only to
the US
Zionists, the AIJAC. Loewenstein’s exploration of how the Sniffer dogs do not catch
AIJAC works, especially in relation to the Australian media, dealers
is essential reading.
Australian News
Loewenstein notes that despite anti-Palestinian bias being Latin America solidarity
prevalent in the Australian media, AIJAC constantly lays conference planned
charges of anti-Israel bias. According to Loewenstein, “In 8000 say 'no' to pulp mill
TCC 40: it could happen to
AIJAC’s opinion, any news story that portrays Israel in a anyone
critical light is biased, irresponsible” and a sign of Support grows for the
anti-Semitism. Leighton 107
 ABC staff to stop work
Unable to prove any real systemic anti-Israel bias in the
Workers' and civil rights
media, AIJAC resorts to filing complaints that are “narrow, coalition formed
nitpicking” and focuses “on the use of single words in Job delegate needs
coverage”, Lowenstein argues. He notes this is a key solidarity
characteristic of the pro-Israel lobby in the US and Australia 200 attend Habib forum
Taxi drivers meet
— the relentless challenging of matters of fact such as the
Commission criticises
use of the words “occupation”, “settlement” or “Occupied sedition laws
Palestinian Territories”. The use of such words, which are Close Guantanamo Bay!
descriptions of fact, are regarded as a sign of bias. West Papua exiles oppose
security treaty
In trying to discredit My Israel Question, the AIJAC and its University rewarded for
fellow travellers have sought to utilise the same tactics AWA push
against Loewenstein as revealed in the book. Ted Lapkin Radio Rentals workers
locked out
(AIJAC), Andrew Bolt (the Herald Sun) and Jeremy Jones Murris protest axing of
(AIJAC) focus on a number of small errors in the book Indigenous ministry
rather than actually engaging with the arguments put Yallourn workers face
three-month lockout
forward by Loewenstein.
ALP right imposes
In My Israel Question, Loewenstein achieves what he sets business candidate
Heinemann workers
out to do. Whether you agree with all his arguments or not, demand their wages
it does act as a catalyst for debate. It brings into public view Solidarity with Korean
dissident Jewish voices that are often crowded out and construction workers
shouted down by the Zionist lobby. Checkpoint for weapons of
mass distraction
And while Jeremy Jones’ review of the book in AJN urges
readers “not to waste your money buying it or your time Regular features
Loose Cannons
reading it”, I would encourage readers of Green Left Weekly
Write On: Letters to the
to do both. It will be a valuable addition to your bookshelf. Editor
[Kim Bullimore is a member of the Melbourne Palestine
Cultural Dissent
Solidarity Network and the Socialist Alliance. In 2004, she The winds of change still
lived in the West Bank, where she worked with the blow
International Women’s Peace Service.] On the box
Jewish writer's answer to
From Green Left Weekly, September 20, 2006. Israel's question
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