Gaza war – ZERO ANTHROPOLOGY

When it comes to Israel, there can be no academic freedom or dissent? The case of William I. Robinson and UC-Santa Barbara

Another allegation of “anti-Semitism”? Another tale of a “racist” professor? Another professor who “violates students’ rights”? Another university administration “investigates” a professor? One would have thought that, in a post-Churchill context, university administrations would have been more circumspect, less willing to rush in and stifle free speech, as if only certain opinions were authorized and […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Reflecting Genocide: Side by Side, Yesterday and Today

High quality version available here. Thanks to the following sites: Karmalised Aporrea.org Axis of Logic _______

by Maximilian C. Forte

Canadian Academic Boycott of Israel: Why We Need to Take Action

[This post does not necessarily reflect the opinions of anyone in any boycott movement, apart from those of the writer. This post should not be read as an indication of the content of any private discussions, nor is it intended to tell or instruct others on what they should be doing to boycott Israel. Posts […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

An Unfolding Pattern of Genocide: Notes from Gaza

After a Palestinian rocket attack, Israel’s Interior Minister urged in late September 2008, “the IDF should…decide on a neighborhood in Gaza and level it.” — Dr. Norman Finkelstein, “Behind the Bloodbath in Gaza: Foiling Another Palestinian ‘Peace Offensive’.” Counterpunch, 28 January, 2009 Norman Finkelstein argues in his latest article that we are wrong to assume […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Israel: What is being defended? Who is the victim?

David Ben-Gurion (1886-1973), Israel’s first Prime Minister, said: If I knew that it was possible to save all the children of Germany by transporting them to England, and only half by transferring them to the Land of Israel, I would choose the latter, for before us lies not only the numbers of these children but […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Message to Obama: From an Undefeated Hamas

Mousa Abu Marzook, deputy chief of the Hamas political bureau, 22 January 2009: …to President Obama we say: the wave of hope that met your election was heavily dampened by your silence on the Gaza massacre. This was compounded by your pre-election statement siding with the Israeli settlers of Sderot. You would do well to […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Boycott Israel: Montreal Professors and Academic Employees

*Note: I do not know how the call for signatures was circulated, but I believe the list above would have been very much longer if they had used the Web more effectively. I did not see this until today. Leaving that aside, I very happily add my name to that list, and encourage others to […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Noam Chomsky: Obama’s position on Gaza is “approximately the Bush position”

Interviewed on Democracy Now! today, January 23, 2009, Noam Chomsky observed that Obama’s statement on Gaza at the State Department on January 22 was “approximately the Bush position.” I find the use of the word, “approximately” to be a generous. In fact, Chomsky’s appraisal was plain and direct, without mincing words nor paying servile tribute […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

On which planet does the Associated Press live?

Among the many American “news” sources that offer barely veiled propaganda, the Associated Press is one of the most outstanding for its unfaltering repetition of the official line from Washington, and its careful nurturing of Islamophobia. With partners like Yahoo!, which almost exclusively favours AP in its listing of top news on its default front […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

News from the War of Choice: Gaza Links for 18 January 2009

This is just a quick listing of some items I have been reading that I think are worth passing on. Via Global Voices Online, 12 Jan. 2009: “From Italy to Palestine: Vittorio Arrigoni writes from Gaza“: “Vittorio Arrigoni is an Italian human rights activist who is currently in Gaza, one of a number of activists […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Obama as Intermission for Gaza: Mass Murder Hits the Pause Button

Israel appears keen to halt the Gaza offensive before Barack Obama is sworn in as U.S. president on Tuesday, to avoid clouding a historic day for its main ally. Israelis mostly back the war, but much of the world wants the bloodshed to stop. –Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters, Saturday, 17 January, 2009: “Israel plans ceasefire, Hamas […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

America’s New Counterinsurgency Doll: On Store Shelves this January 20

In a whirlwind of war, economic crisis, deepening pain that nurtures deepening suspicions and hatreds, some managers of crisis looked for a new means of pacification. George W. Bush was far too provocative (“Bring ’em on!” — and on they came), too confrontational, too much like the stereotype of the cowboy, destined to be reviled […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Get Ready Montreal for Sunday, January 25: Next Demonstration Against the War in Gaza

Why we resist… Of related interest, a very poignant presentation on Guanaguanare: click on… My Country, Right or Wrong ••••••• ••••••• ••••••• From TADAMON! Demonstration: End the siege on Gaza! SUNDAY JANUARY 25th 13h00 carré Cabot corner St. Catherine | Atwater (metro Atwater) Montreal, Quebec Around the world, major demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine are […]

by Maximilian C. Forte

Gaza is Dying: Global Movement to End the War

As today we receive news that the Israeli military has bombed the headquarters of the United Nations’ Works and Relief Agency in Gaza, as well as part of a hospital, and the offices of two foreign news agencies, we are reminded of the need for urgent action from global civil society to pressure our governments […]