(The “beacon of democracy in the region” is at it again; this time detaining and deporting a Jewish American critic of Israels treatment of the Palestinians. Last month they refused to let Jimmy Carter anywhere near Gaza, and now this. Starting to sound a bit like China, aren’t they?)
by Eli Senyor, from YNET News, here.
Israel deported Jewish-American Professor Norman Finkelstein to the United States on Friday after questioning him at Ben Gurion airport. Finkelstein was denied entry due to “security concerns,” authorities said.
Finkelstein was detained immediately after landing in Israel late Thursday night and was questioned at the airport before being told he could not enter Israel.
“Finkelstein was boarded onto a plane back the United States before dawn. When he arrived we will decide whether to appeal this decision,” his attorney, Michael Sfard, told Ynet. Sfard said the entry ban could last 10 years.
“A country that starts to fear what its harshest critics write about it is a country that is already behaving in a manner reminiscent of the darkest days of the communist regime,” said Sfard.
Finkelstein, the son of a Holocaust survivor, has written extensively regarding Israel’s policies in the territories and accuses Israel of manipulating the memory of the Holocaust and present-day anti-Semitism to justify illegitimate policies.
His work has garnered considerable admiration in some circles and scathing criticism in others.
In a much-publicized mêlée, he was denied tenure at DePaul University in 2007, reportedly over the frequent criticism lobbed at him from numerous academic and public figures, most notably Harvard’s Alan Dershowitz.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) denounced Finkelstein’s deportation.
“The decision to prevent someone from voicing their opinions by arresting and deporting them is typical of a totalitarian regime. A democratic state, where freedom of expression is the highest principle, does not shut out criticism or ideasjust because they are uncomfortable for its authorities to hear, it confronts those ideas in public debate,” said ACRI Attorney Oded Peler.
Filed under: What Our Intersests in the Region Did This Week, palestinian rights | Tagged: gaza, norman finkelstein, palestinian rights, west bank
Deported from one and ‘listed’ on the other.Some tough shit going on.
I think that democracies has the right to defend themselves from a provocateur and an anti truth demagogue that came to meet with his terrorist operators. Israel is a democracy too. That’s the way a democracy acts when there is no need for a visa to enter Israel. I think that UK, US and more democracies act the same way against intruders. Correct me if I’m wrong.
The United States and the United Kingdom both have provisions in their respective admisions visa policies that allow them to deny entry to various people for various reasons.
One such person recently was Bishop Desmond Tutu, because of his affliliation with the African National Congress, which both the United States and israel both considered a “terrorist” organization, before word started getting out about what kind of government the South Africans had to deal with.
But something gives me a very clear picture of the point of view you are coming here with: your obvious selection of incidiary words describing this man and the Palestinian people.
“provocateur”, “anti truth demagogue”, “terrorist operators”, and most telling of all “intruders”.
Democracies should not fear the light of day or the spoken word of reasonable discourse. It is only the totalitarian state who fears it’s actions will not hold up to public scrutiny.
But don’t take my word for it; there are millions of Israelis who march and who take part in protesting the treatment of the Palestinians in their own land.
It must not be “the lie” that Israel is afraid of since lies about a place can be created whether or not you actually go there. Therefore they must be afraid of something else being exposed to the public; and that something else, most probably would be the thruth.
Bravo Willyloman, your reply to Abebird. Also Israel is not a demoracy, no more than we are anymore.
It seems Professor Finkelstein must be doing something right. Keep the light shining, Willy.
Hate Letters to Finkelstein, copied and pasted from Norm’s web page:
From: Albert Bront begemot18[at]sbcglobal.net
To: normangf[at]hotmail.com
Subject: Re. Tenure
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 18:29:52 -0700 (PDT)
Dear Finkelshithead, it is too bad that your nazi brethern did not roast your father in the owens of treblinka … you are a filthy cocksucker and you’ll soon be eating shit with your paleshitian brethern … (I cannot wait to see your shit-filled head lopped off by filthy arabs …)
From: meir riem amprush[at]hotmail.com
To: normangf[at]hotmail.com
Subject: Congratulations
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:35:25 -0500
Hey lowlife:
Congratulations on not becoming a tenure professor. Hurray to DePaul University!!! It’s so great to realize that once in a while justice prevails.
Well, “professor”, maybe you should consider your next step. How about applying for a job at Mishawaka Community College (Indiana). I’ve heard they’re taking now applications for janitorial positions. That would be the right place and the right field of activity for a wothless piece of shit like you. Or how about another good idea?… – get a thick rope and hang yourself. This way you’d relieve yourself from your misery.
Once again, congratulations!
From : sampson222@mac.com
Sent : Wednesday, June 13, 2007 9:00 AM
Subject : ABNORMAL
DEAR ABNORMAN
IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE FOR ME TO SEE PAYBACK. DENIAL OF YOUR TENURE AT DE PAUL U. IS THE BEST
THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO DE PAUL. AFTER ALL WHAT IN HELL IS A COCKSUCKER LIKE YOU DOING IN A PLACE OF LEARNING. RECENTLY I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF YOUR DEFENDERS AND I SUGGESTED WE GET TOGETHER AT A OF HIS CHOOSING SO THAT I COULD CRACK HIM OVER THE HEAD WITH A 2 X 4. WELL, ABNORMAN, I DON’T WANT YOU TO FEEL LEFT OUT. THE INVITATION EXTENDS TO YOU TOO.
SEE YOU SOON MOTHERFUCKER AND I MEAN THAT LITERALLY.
http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/content.php?pg=23
My, what lovely people.
someone from high power said, “Love thou neighbor” …… do unto others as you would have them do for you. Those hate mongrels have no respect for themselves, Greg. I liked your ending comment…..