Israel: From Dugard’s Apartheid state to Falk’s Third Reich

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) stooped to an all time anti-Israel low with the appointment of Richard Falk as investigator on Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories. Not only has he likened Israel’s actions to those of the Nazis and accused the Jewish state of genocidal tendencies but he has the added advantage of also being Jewish. In addition he is a professor of international law at Princeton University.

Falk is set to replace South African anti-Apartheid lawyer John Dugard, who has held the job for the past 7 years. Dugard was notorious for his assertion that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza resembles Apartheid. More recently he defended Palestinian use of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians as a legitimate form of resistance. How one wonders could the UNHRC have ever have found a worse candidate. But with Falk they have outdone themselves. The only more hurtful analogy for Israel than Apartheid is comparing it to Nazi Germany and Falk is a champion of this libel.

Last year in an article, Slouching Toward a Palestinian Holocaust, written at the request of the Turkish daily newspaper ZAMAN, Falk clearly articulates his extreme anti-Israel views. He begins by explaining why the Nazi Holocaust was as close to unconditional evil as has been revealed throughout the entire bloody history of the human species and then goes on to ask whether, given this, it is an irresponsible overstatement to associate the treatment of Palestinians with this criminalized Nazi record of collective atrocity? His answer is an emphatic no. He writes

‘the recent developments in Gaza are especially disturbing because they express so vividly a deliberate intention on the part of Israel and its allies to subject an entire human community to life-endangering conditions of utmost cruelty... The suggestion that this pattern of conduct is a holocaust-in-the-making represents a rather desperate appeal to the governments of the world and to international public opinion to act urgently to prevent these current genocidal tendencies from culminating in a collective tragedy.’

He also likens the support of the leading democracies for Israel to the way the European democracies paid homage to Hitler at the 1936 Olympic Games. It is this international support, he argues, that makes Israel’s actions far more serious than any of the genocides from Rwanda to Bosnia that have been committed since the Nazi Holocaust. He states

‘But Gaza is morally far worse, although mass death has not yet resulted. It is far worse because the international community is watching the ugly spectacle unfold while some of its most influential members actively encourage and assist Israel in its approach to Gaza.’

Personally I just don’t get how if mass death has not resulted it can be genocide let alone worse than Rwanda or Bosnia.

Not surprisingly Falk is also an apologist for Hamas. He claims that their leadership has revealed a willingness to move toward an acceptance of Israel’s existence if Israel would in turn agree to move back to its 1967 borders, implementing finally unanimous Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. And more importantly they have sought a ten-year truce with Israel, which is in Israel’s best security interests even more so than a peace agreement. I just don’t know what planet this guy lives on.

But worst of all Falk voices his strident opposition to Israeli actions as a Jew. As he puts it ‘it is especially painful for me, as an American Jew, to feel compelled to portray the ongoing and intensifying abuse of the Palestinian people by Israel through a reliance on such an inflammatory metaphor as ‘holocaust.’’ And it is that pain that will be used to immediately clear him of any charge of anti-Semitism.

And so the UNHRC has found their perfect upgrade for John Dugard. Boy, is it going to be a long 7 years. I guess the only hope is that the extremely radical nature of Falk’s message serves to effectively discredit what is otherwise on paper a very credible messenger.

Comments

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

A cynical appointment as a Jew can always be openly more antisemitic than a gentile. A Jew can get away with it. It is the reason why Jews like Zapiro and Ronno Einstein are courted by the Islamic fundamentalists.

Wikipedia:
After Falk's appointment by the UNHRC was announced, Yitzhak Levanon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, criticised it in an address to the council: "In a recent article, [Falk] stated that he did not think it to be 'an irresponsible overstatement to associate the treatment of Palestinians with the criminalized Nazi record of collective atrocity,'" Levanon stated. "He has taken part in a UN fact-finding mission which determined that suicide bombings were a valid method of 'struggle'. He has disturbingly charged Israel with 'genocidal tendencies', and accused it of trying to achieve security through 'state terrorism'. Someone who has publicly and repeatedly stated such views cannot possibly be considered independent, impartial or objective," Levanon alleged.

[TC]

The linked article says that "little pretext is made in Tel Aviv of acknowledging the innocence of this long victimized civilian society".

Tel Aviv is not and has never been the capital of Israel. The capital is Jerusalem, Judaism holy city. Jerusalem has always been the capital and, by the grace of God, will forever be.

The big questions are: Does Gaza acknowledge the innocence of the civilian population in Israel? Does Hamas still promise the destruction of Israel and its population?

And why should a future Palestine be Judenrein?

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

I would imagine that Falk is highly intelligent. As professor of international law at Princeton University, it is likely that his IQ is well above average. However, this does not preclude him from being extremely stupid. Intelligent people can, and often do, function without common sense

[Gary]

It's called evil. These people are intelligent indeed, but they are pure evil.
That is what this jihad from the left against Israel is all about- it is as evil as Nazism if not more.

[Gary]

It's called evil. These people are intelligent indeed, but they are pure evil.
That is what this jihad from the left against Israel is all about- it is as evil as Nazism if not more.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Gary,
Hannah Arendt wrote re Eichmann about "the banality of evil" which suggests that it is commonplace.
What amazes me is not that Falk has got a job with The UNHRC but that he is actually Professor of International Law at Princeton. When you reflect on that, it is evident that American academia is, to quite a significant extent, now allied to the Islamic fundamentalists.
Of course Hitler also gained the support of many German academics.
Heidegger was one of the more famous names and his philosophy is still respected today. I attach the following extract because it reveals that highly intelligent academics often have extremely evil political allegiances...
Philosophical historian Hans Sluga places Heidegger's embrace of National Socialism during this period within the context of a similar and often even more enthusiastic acceptance of Nazism from many other German philosophers. He characterises Heidegger's stance while Rector in the following way:
"Though as rector he prevented students from displaying an anti-Semitic poster at the entrance to the university and from holding a book burning, he kept in close contact with the Nazi student leaders and clearly signaled to them his sympathy with their activism."

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Subject: "THE BANALITY OF EVIL"
Date: 31 March 2008 4:06:49 PM
To: rfalk@princeton.edu

Dear Prof Falk,
Mazaltov re your UNCHR appointment.
I alert you to the following ...
http://supernatural.blogs.com/weblog/2008/03/israel-from-dug.html?cid=108866752#comment-108866752

Perhaps you would like to comment on the discussion with regard to "the banality of evil" ?

kind regards

THE BLACKLISTED DICTATOR.

[Gary]

I have wonder about the reason why extreme left academics support all evil under the sun and hate all good.
I wonder if it is actually metaphysical.
A spiritual attraction to the dark side?
If anyone disputes this then they must explain what they belive the reason is for the evil political allegiances of leftwing academics.

[greenmamba]

I would ask Falk to answer the question: "What would you elect if forced to choose between being a Jew in a Nazi concentration camp or a Palestinian in Gaza or Ramallah?"

There is only one answer possible, unless one has decided to be a martyr and it highlights the abuse of the events of history engendered by Falk's analogy.

It is the same principle used by the Nazis to demonise Jews. This was done deliberately, as is Falk's demonisation of Israel. To whatever extent Israel's actions are similar to anything the Nazis did, they are initiated by hostile actions from the Palestinian and broader Arab/Muslim world. Falk is closer to being a Nazi than is Israel.

There are too many Jews who suffer from this malady. Falk is fortunate his co-religionists seem willing to respond only by argument.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Gary,
In the States, I think that academics often think that they are so clever tha they should be running the country. They resent the fact that George Bush, who they perceive as being less clever than themselves, has a lot more power. Chomsky is a prime example. Of course Chomsky would get very few votes if he actually ran for office.

Academics like Obama because they think that he is educated and they love the fact that he makes "nuanced" speeches about racism. Of course,they have no problem with the fact that Obama has been listening to Jermiah Wright's clap-trap for the last 20 years!

[Gary]

I think , Anthony, that they also passionately hate Judeo-Christian civilization and want it destroyed at any and all costs.
Therefore they will support any totalitarian or terrorist regime that is anti-Western, regardless how brutal.
They will basically go against all they were brought up to belive and support all they were brought up to believe were evil.
They hate Israel because it is the quintessential symbol of Judeo-Christian beliefs and civilization.
Just like Satanists deliberately do all that the bible tells them not to do, so Leftists do all that is dimaetrically opposed to Judeo-Christian value systems.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

The reaction to "Fitna" in South Africa seems to be quite muted. I doubt whether it will be broadcasted on The SABC.
Jane Duncan is a prime example of a lefty who makes her living pandering to Na'eem Jeenah, an Islamic activist. They are both anti-Bush, anti-zionist and never say a word against Ahmadinejad's appalling dictatorship. Standard Prof Falk groupies.

Dear Jane Duncan and Na'eem Jeenah,
It is a pity that "The Freedom of Expression Institute/ Palestine Solidarity Committee" has chosen to remain silent about "Fitna". I have to conclude that it must raise some tricky issues for a couple of "libertarians" like yourselves!

But don't be frightened to have an opinion about the film... there's no point keeping shtumm ... what do you reckon about the following?....

Omar Bakri, the Libyan-based radical Muslim cleric who is barred from Britain, did not think the film was very offensive. ‘On the contrary, if we leave out the first images and the sound of the page being torn, it could be a film by the [Islamist] Mujahideen,’ he said.

Or perhaps The Freedom of Expression Institute feels more at ease with.....

‘The correct Sharia (Islamic law) response is to cut (off) his head and let him follow his predecessor, van Gogh, to hell,’ a member of Al-Ekhlaas wrote on the al-Qaeda affiliated forum, according to the SITE Institute, a US-based terrorism monitoring service.

http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/583026/fitna.thtml

VIVA
BLACKLISTED

PS: Perhaps Na'eem should write about "Fitna" on his M&G "THOUGHT LEADER" blog?

[Joel Pollak]

Also, Falk has backed a campaign of divestment from Israel. Hardly an impartial observer!

[Joel Pollak]

Martin Peretz described Falk in 2002 as "once an enthusiast for the Ayatollah Khomeini and a defender of the Khmer Rouge."

http://www.unitedjerusalem.org/index2.asp?id=102768&Date=5/22/2002

[Joel Pollak]

Check this out:

http://guidetotheperplexed.blogspot.com/2008/03/31-march-2008-richard-falk-anti-israel.html

He's also a 9/11 conspiracy theorist.

Wow.

[Steve]

Unbelievable. You would think that the UN were blatantly anti-Israel to appoint a nut like this to such an important position.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Mike,
What was the voting procedure re Falk's appointment ? Do you know who voted for and against?

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Gary,
These extracts from Joel's blog reveal Falk's unwavering support for Islamic fundamentalism. I particularly love the bit about how the rights of women and jews are protected by Khomeni's constitution.

Falk writes:
“[The Iranian Revolution] is amazingly non-violent in its tactics and orientation, despite extraordinary levels of provocation and incitement designed to induce violence. . . . One of the stereotypes that has been definitely fostered by the US government to create confusion and resistance to the movement is that anything Islamic is necessarily reactionary. It is very important to clarify its real identity, which I think is progressive.” – One of the Great Watersheds of Modern History, MERIP Reports, No. 75/76, Iran in Revolution. (Mar. - Apr., 1979), pp. 9, 12.

“The entourage around Khomeini, in fact, has had considerable involvement in human rights activities and is committed to a struggle against all forms of oppression. The constitution he proposes has been drafted by political moderates with a strong belief in minority rights. Contrary to the superficial reports in the American press about his attitude toward Jews, women, and others, Khomeini's Islamic republic can be expected to have a doctrine of social justice at its core; from all indications, it will be flexible in interpreting the Koran, keeping the 'book of research' open to amendment and adaptation based on contemporary needs and aspirations.” – Khomeini’s Promise, Foreign Policy, No. 34. (Spring, 1979), p. 32

[Gary]

Obviously he doesn't mention the total persecution of the Bahais in Iran.
http://www.amazon.com/Olyas-Story-Olya-Roohizadegan/dp/185168073X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207034976&sr=1-1

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

With regard to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Falk has written that it is "inescapable that an objective observer would reach the conclusion that this Iraq war is a war of aggression, and as such, that it amounts to a Crime against Peace of the sort for which surviving German leaders were indicted, prosecuted and punished at the Nuremberg trials conducted shortly after the Second World War."

No mention of course that a grotesque dictator, Saddam Hussein was removed from power and a serious attempt was made by the US to institute democracy!

[Gary]

We can discuss from an academic angle this phenomenan all day and all night but nthe fact is that people like Falk, Chomsky and Kasrils support evil purely for the sake of evil.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

It is still astounding that Falk can write that crap about Khomeini in 1979 and yet still be appointed as Professor of International Law at Princeton.
It is interesting to consider why/how American academia has been subverted by charlatans. It would certainly make a good Phd thesis. Perhaps Joel Pollak can let us know if anyone has been allowed to write one?

[Gary]

And what about the UN? 30n years ago you'd have never got a pro-terror ultra-left crank 'academic'being apointed United Nations Human Rights Council investigator.
The totalitarian left and the Islamo-Nazi allies are definitely taken more and more control.

[BLACKLISTED DICTATOR]

Gary,
Yes, it is difficult to actually believe what is going on.
I am not sure how many Jews take cognizance of the forces that are posed to destroy them. A similar situation to the 1930's when American Jewry did not foresee that an extermination was about to take place in Europe. There are so many parallels to 70 years ago. Quite frightening.

[Gary]

The saddest thing of all is that a lot, if not most, Jews in the diaspora think that the problem is only that of Jews of Israel, and are quite happy to throw the Israeli Jews to the wolves.
They do not realize that without Israel, there position too will be in great danger.

It is a well know principle that G-D interacts MIDA KENEGED MIDA. As a person acts towards his fellow man, so to speak, G-D acts towards him. If the Jews in the Galut act with such indifference or, even worse, with hostility towards the dangers faced by Jews in Israel, how do they expect G-D to treat them when they will be endangered?

These diaspora Jews who say they do not care if Israel is destroyed should not be rescued by Israel if there are ever attacks on Jews in the USA or elsewhere.
The Jews who are voting for Obama fit perfectly into this categoree.