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Method and Madness
In the past five years, Israel has mounted three major assaults on the 1.8 million Palestinians trapped behind its blockade of the Gaza Strip. Taken together, Operation Cast Lead (2008-9), Operation Pillar of Defense (2012), and Operation Protective Edge (2014) have resulted in the deaths of some 3,700 Palestinians. Meanwhile a total of 90 Israelis were killed in the invasions. On the face of it, this succession of vastly disproportionate attacks has often seemed frenzied and pathological. Senior Israeli politicians have not discouraged such perceptions; indeed, they have actively encouraged them. After the 2008-9 assault, Israel's then-foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, boasted, "Israel demonstrated real hooliganism during the course of the recent operation, which I demanded." However, as Norman G. Finkelstein sets out in this concise, paradigm-shifting new book, a closer examination of Israel's motives reveals a state whose repeated recourse to savage war is far from irrational. Rather, Israel's attacks have been designed to sabotage the possibility of a peace compromise with the Palestinians, even on terms that are favorable to it. Looking also at machinations around the 2009 UN-sponsored Goldstone report and Turkey's forlorn attempt to seek redress in the UN for the killing of its citizens in the 2010 attack on the Gaza freedom flotilla, Finkelstein documents how Israel has repeatedly eluded accountability for what are now widely recognized as war crimes. Further, he shows that, though neither side can claim clear victory in these conflicts, the ensuing stalemate remains much more tolerable for Israelis than for the beleaguered citizens of Gaza. A strategy of mass nonviolent protest might, he contends, hold more promise for a Palestinian victory than military resistance, however brave.
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First published January 1, 2014
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About the author
Norman G. Finkelstein
26 books1,706 followersNorman Gary Finkelstein, is an American political scientist and activist. His primary fields of research are the politics of the Holocaust and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Son of a holocaust survivor, Finkelstein is a fierce critic of Israeli policy, especially toward Palestinians. He has had a tense rivalry with his pro-Israel counterpart, Alan Dershowitz. In 2007 DePaul University denied his tenure, a decision for which Dershowitz lobbied. For his views and suspected connections to anti-Zionist groups, Israel has denied Finkelstein entry and banned him from the country for a decade.
Son of a holocaust survivor, Finkelstein is a fierce critic of Israeli policy, especially toward Palestinians. He has had a tense rivalry with his pro-Israel counterpart, Alan Dershowitz. In 2007 DePaul University denied his tenure, a decision for which Dershowitz lobbied. For his views and suspected connections to anti-Zionist groups, Israel has denied Finkelstein entry and banned him from the country for a decade.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
May 4, 2015
This book put me in a state of deep and profound shame on many personal levels. First and foremost, I was ashamed to have realized that, just like Dr. Finkelstein's parents used to say that the world had forgotten about the European Jews during the Holocaust, I was among those in the world who forgot about the Gazans during the Israeli operations carried out in Gaza throughout the years 2009-2014, and before.
Then it was the shame of not knowing the basic facts, crucial events, numbers and reports behind and after the operations. It was also the shame, or rather shameful realization, of having drawing conclusions on the basis of propoganda, be it Israeli-driven or advanced by the American Jewish lobby.
One of the most revelationary things I've learned after reading the book is that Dr. Finkelstein is not the only one in the field to put himself in the way of the Israeli propoganda machine. He gives a list of references with several names worth looking into.
This book taught me some basic steps to undertake when something of this magnitude and importance is taking place, namely, learn the facts, refer to trustworthy organizations for information, analyze everything to the detail and do not allow propogandistic slogans to obscure the view.
Then it was the shame of not knowing the basic facts, crucial events, numbers and reports behind and after the operations. It was also the shame, or rather shameful realization, of having drawing conclusions on the basis of propoganda, be it Israeli-driven or advanced by the American Jewish lobby.
One of the most revelationary things I've learned after reading the book is that Dr. Finkelstein is not the only one in the field to put himself in the way of the Israeli propoganda machine. He gives a list of references with several names worth looking into.
This book taught me some basic steps to undertake when something of this magnitude and importance is taking place, namely, learn the facts, refer to trustworthy organizations for information, analyze everything to the detail and do not allow propogandistic slogans to obscure the view.
September 28, 2015
This son of Holocaust survivors pulls no punches with Israeli war crimes. Supporters of Israel hate Dr. Finkelstein for good reason, he shines a harsh light on what is naked aggression, clearly not defense.
November 11, 2023
God, the optimism of the conclusion's call for non-violent resistance in Gaza (knowing this was written pre-Great March of Return) had me tearing up. When will it end? Free Palestine til it's backwards!!!!! 🇵🇸
October 30, 2023
There were a lot of reasons that made me worried about picking up this book:
First of all, I am not a big non-fiction reader. I've always been very intimidated by it, I've found it difficult to focus on the few non-fiction books I've picked up in the past, and therefore I've pretty much exclusively read fiction novels throughout my life.
Second of all, the information I had on Palestine was quite limited. I had been keeping informed as much as possible on current events, but other than a few headlines here and there, and one basic 1h30 class on the Israeli-Palestine "conflict" in high school, I had been woefully uninformed about what preceded October 2023.
This tied into my third concern: this book focuses on the events of ~2002-2014, and only very quickly summarizes any earlier history to at least minimally contextualize the attacks addressed by Finkelstein. I was worried that I should start with the very beginning, but then worried about pinpointing the elusive "beginning" of this "conflict".
Finally, all of this was amplified by the fact that everyone has always told me, either through school or family or Canadian news and other international western media that this was an "incredibly complex" issue, seeming to imply that even the most informed, academic experts on the topic struggled to pick a side or understand the true depth of the situation.
I started reading this book expecting to set it down after a chapter or two, only to maybe pick it up again later once I did some more "basic" research. It ended up being an extremely straightforward, yet still deeply informative read.
I'm sure part of the reason is that Finkelstein is indeed a very talented author. His research is so extensive and his references/footnotes constitute in and of themselves a great source of further research. The way he presents his arguments is super clear and concise, the entire book was so well-organized which made it really easy to follow.
However, I think another reason this ended up being an easier read than I expected, is that the struggle of Palestinians and the violence they've had to face from Israel for decades now, is not nearly as complicated as the world has made it out to be. Just a couple of chapters into this book and I guarantee you will see that you cannot, as a person with humanity and logical critical-thinking, be anything other than pro-Palestine.
I strongly urge everyone to pick this up, even if it is the very first novel you ever read on the topic. It serves as a great starting point or as a complimentary read for people who have already been educating themselves on the issue for some time now. I'm excited to read some of Finkelstein's other books and I will absolutely be recommending this novel to everyone I know.
First of all, I am not a big non-fiction reader. I've always been very intimidated by it, I've found it difficult to focus on the few non-fiction books I've picked up in the past, and therefore I've pretty much exclusively read fiction novels throughout my life.
Second of all, the information I had on Palestine was quite limited. I had been keeping informed as much as possible on current events, but other than a few headlines here and there, and one basic 1h30 class on the Israeli-Palestine "conflict" in high school, I had been woefully uninformed about what preceded October 2023.
This tied into my third concern: this book focuses on the events of ~2002-2014, and only very quickly summarizes any earlier history to at least minimally contextualize the attacks addressed by Finkelstein. I was worried that I should start with the very beginning, but then worried about pinpointing the elusive "beginning" of this "conflict".
Finally, all of this was amplified by the fact that everyone has always told me, either through school or family or Canadian news and other international western media that this was an "incredibly complex" issue, seeming to imply that even the most informed, academic experts on the topic struggled to pick a side or understand the true depth of the situation.
I started reading this book expecting to set it down after a chapter or two, only to maybe pick it up again later once I did some more "basic" research. It ended up being an extremely straightforward, yet still deeply informative read.
I'm sure part of the reason is that Finkelstein is indeed a very talented author. His research is so extensive and his references/footnotes constitute in and of themselves a great source of further research. The way he presents his arguments is super clear and concise, the entire book was so well-organized which made it really easy to follow.
However, I think another reason this ended up being an easier read than I expected, is that the struggle of Palestinians and the violence they've had to face from Israel for decades now, is not nearly as complicated as the world has made it out to be. Just a couple of chapters into this book and I guarantee you will see that you cannot, as a person with humanity and logical critical-thinking, be anything other than pro-Palestine.
I strongly urge everyone to pick this up, even if it is the very first novel you ever read on the topic. It serves as a great starting point or as a complimentary read for people who have already been educating themselves on the issue for some time now. I'm excited to read some of Finkelstein's other books and I will absolutely be recommending this novel to everyone I know.
April 7, 2023
"Do Palestinians have the right to symbolically resist slow death punctuated by periodic massacres, or is it incumbent upon them to lie down and die?"
January 3, 2024
A look at the history of Israeli attacks on Gaza and their motives. This was very good, through but not too long. The only thing that I disliked was the slight repetitive nature. It is also very clear what the author thinks of Israel but I agree and honestly it is hard not to considering the facts.
January 17, 2024
Finkelstein’s optimism is important and necessary
July 18, 2020
Never disappointed by Mr Finkelstein, how you feel about this book, which focuses on Israel attack on Palestine during the last 5 years Operations Cast Lead (2008-9), Pillar of Defence (2012) and Protective Edge (2014) depends on your grasp on reality and your understanding of the the rule of law, if you believe that some land has been given to a group of people by G-d, then this is not the book for you!
May 8, 2016
This is an important read on Israel's motives behind the countless attacks on the Palestinian people by the Israeli's. This book reveals that Israel has a systematic policy designed to destruct and murder Palestinians, as well as to humiliate and dehumanise them. The Israeli's aren't in 'war' with the Palestinians. They are ethnically cleansing them.
May 14, 2024
This book discusses the three massacres committed by Israel on Gaza between 2008 and 2014: Operation Cast Lead (2008–9), Operation Pillar of Defense (2012), and Operation Protective Edge (2014).
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Norman Finkelstein thoroughly presents the information about these previously mentioned “operations”. He also gives his accurate opinion in a concise way and all the information is supported by several sources.
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I have no words anymore to describe what I feel and think about the atrocities Palestinians have faced throughout all these years.
.
I wholeheartedly hope the war ends now, that justice prevail, and that Palestinians can finally live the life they deserve.
.
🍉 Cease fire now! And Free Palestine! 🕊️
.
🔖 “Method and Madness: The Hidden Story of Israel's Assaults on Gaza" by Norman G. Finkelstein
.
Cover photograph: Israel’s bombing of Gaza with white phosphorus during Operation Cast Lead, January 2009 (Human Rights Watch).
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“The refrain that Israel has the right to self-defense is a red herring. The real question is, Does Israel have the right to use force to maintain an illegal occupation? The answer is no.”
.
Norman Finkelstein thoroughly presents the information about these previously mentioned “operations”. He also gives his accurate opinion in a concise way and all the information is supported by several sources.
.
I have no words anymore to describe what I feel and think about the atrocities Palestinians have faced throughout all these years.
.
I wholeheartedly hope the war ends now, that justice prevail, and that Palestinians can finally live the life they deserve.
.
🍉 Cease fire now! And Free Palestine! 🕊️
.
🔖 “Method and Madness: The Hidden Story of Israel's Assaults on Gaza" by Norman G. Finkelstein
.
Cover photograph: Israel’s bombing of Gaza with white phosphorus during Operation Cast Lead, January 2009 (Human Rights Watch).
.
“The refrain that Israel has the right to self-defense is a red herring. The real question is, Does Israel have the right to use force to maintain an illegal occupation? The answer is no.”
January 30, 2020
A short and straightforward read, Finkelstein goes about debunking the official Israeli arguments downplaying the destruction in three separate attacks carried out in Gaza. It lays out an unforgiving look at Israeli policy regarding Palestine, but doesn’t delve too deeply into an analysis of the problem. It is a pretty good review of the facts.
April 11, 2024
"El uso desproporcionado de la fuerza y la conversión de infraestructuras civiles en objetivos constituyen crímenes de guerra en el derecho internacional. Israel ha elegido a Gaza a menudo para convertirla en objetivo prioritario de su estrategia criminal."
Norman G. Finkelstein
Norman G. Finkelstein
April 24, 2024
"The scope of the massacre was so appalling that no amount of propaganda could disguise it."
May 16, 2021
Finkelstein is in my opinion extremely sharp and has an eye like a hawk for details. I especially found his treatment of the Goldstone report illuminating, how there was a huge back and forth and what was said at which point. Some of the bits felt very game-theoretic: the optimal information strategy to convey X at time T would have been S, yet since Israel opted for S' (the suboptimal strategy, sometimes vastly so) gives us retrospective insight into how honest an earlier statement was. Given that we are more or less surrounded by pro-Israel pundits and newspapers (particularly since the discourse is heavily US-dominated) it was certainly a fresh perspective on the conflict in the middle east. In most of the arguments, Finkelstein was able to convince me of how the Israel government and/or the IDF played some mischievous bully game, where they provoked an attack from underfunded Palestine only to retaliate 10-fold. The power asymmetry is hugely important as well as who initiated which piece talks.
Finkelstein himself really avoids and practically never plays the 'card' that he is the son of Holocaust survivors but I feel it gives his point credibility beyond of what any fanatic US-Bible belt commentators, who write pro-Israel books just because they think the rapture is going to happen in the Palestine area, can ever achieve.
Finkelstein himself really avoids and practically never plays the 'card' that he is the son of Holocaust survivors but I feel it gives his point credibility beyond of what any fanatic US-Bible belt commentators, who write pro-Israel books just because they think the rapture is going to happen in the Palestine area, can ever achieve.
February 17, 2021
Funny enough, Norm comes pretty close a few times to realizing Walter Benjamin’s vision of a historicism comprised entirely of quotations. intensely convincing characterization of Israel’s tendency to systematically target civilian structures / civilians themselves. Norm’s only downfall is his honourable but stubborn commitment to Gandhi’s tenets of nonviolent resistance.
October 29, 2023
imo one of the best books detaining the colonisation and genocide happening in palestine. i recommend this book to everyone and anyone, there is so much to learn about. education is one of the best tools to contest an apartheid and hold governments accountable
November 21, 2023
Thank god for Norman Finkelstein. We are so lucky to have a voice like his. This book provides the context one needs in order to understand why October 7th happened. Because this did not start on October 7th. It beats me how anyone can blame oppressed Palestinians for fighting back if they know this history of the occupation.
In Finkelstein’s recent TrueAnon interview he says he can not, in good faith, condemn Hamas. And that his parents, Auschwitz survivors, would not have condemned Hamas either. Today, the Auschwitz Memorial just posted a statement in support of Israel and its right to “self defense.” Bleak.
Do I agree with all of Hamas’ policies? No. Do I agree with their antisemitic views? Personally, no. But people of color are always expected to be the perfect victims. You can not slap a Star of David onto WAR CRIMES and expect the survivors to not be terrified and reactionary to Judaism.
But this is what Israel/Zionism wants. To carry out atrocities in the name of Judaism and to then be able to cry “anti-semitism” when they are resisted against and criticized. All this so that ultimately they can mobilize terrified, isolated Jews all over the world to defend their regime. “Look! We are alone, they will always hate us, they will always want to kill us! We HAVE to do this! We have to kill these terrorists! Or the Holocaust will happen AGAIN!!!” And it works like a charm.
Shame on Israel for exploiting the trauma of the Holocaust and using Jews as cannon fodder to carry out a genocide in the name of white supremacy and western imperialism.
So much of Jewish identity is built around the idea that Jews were uniquely persecuted. But this is the teaching that allows holocausts against people of color to slip through the annals of history, long forgotten. This is the teaching that allows genocide against people of color to persist quietly today. This is why Jews get the “THE Holocaust” title, because of the (predominantly) white European status of those killed in Nazi Germany. And you can not ignore these facts. Because this is the agenda that is trying to justify the violence against Palestinians right now. I pray more Zionist Jews realize they are defending an entity that does not give a shit about them. They are being manipulated, that they are on the same side as white supremacists. It’s ironic, in a devastating way.
“Your Jewish friends are scared!” Are you not ashamed? Of these tone-deaf statements in between pictures of you going out with friends, on vacation, doing shopping sprees? While Gazans dig through rubble for their loved ones’ body parts? And actually, my Jewish friends are enraged. They’re mobilizing with people of color. They’re not staying silent. They openly, loudly condemn Israel and Zionism and the genocide being done in their name. My friends aren’t cowards. You can’t use them for your agenda!
Anyway. This was an eye-opening book. A devastating read but I’m glad I know what I know. The more I learn the more clear it becomes to me that anyone defending Israel does not know its history, or does not care. In which case, they might actually be evil. Thank you god for making me brown and giving me a natural built-in doubt towards white people LOL.
Question everything, read Finkelstein, and Free Palestine.
In Finkelstein’s recent TrueAnon interview he says he can not, in good faith, condemn Hamas. And that his parents, Auschwitz survivors, would not have condemned Hamas either. Today, the Auschwitz Memorial just posted a statement in support of Israel and its right to “self defense.” Bleak.
Do I agree with all of Hamas’ policies? No. Do I agree with their antisemitic views? Personally, no. But people of color are always expected to be the perfect victims. You can not slap a Star of David onto WAR CRIMES and expect the survivors to not be terrified and reactionary to Judaism.
But this is what Israel/Zionism wants. To carry out atrocities in the name of Judaism and to then be able to cry “anti-semitism” when they are resisted against and criticized. All this so that ultimately they can mobilize terrified, isolated Jews all over the world to defend their regime. “Look! We are alone, they will always hate us, they will always want to kill us! We HAVE to do this! We have to kill these terrorists! Or the Holocaust will happen AGAIN!!!” And it works like a charm.
Shame on Israel for exploiting the trauma of the Holocaust and using Jews as cannon fodder to carry out a genocide in the name of white supremacy and western imperialism.
So much of Jewish identity is built around the idea that Jews were uniquely persecuted. But this is the teaching that allows holocausts against people of color to slip through the annals of history, long forgotten. This is the teaching that allows genocide against people of color to persist quietly today. This is why Jews get the “THE Holocaust” title, because of the (predominantly) white European status of those killed in Nazi Germany. And you can not ignore these facts. Because this is the agenda that is trying to justify the violence against Palestinians right now. I pray more Zionist Jews realize they are defending an entity that does not give a shit about them. They are being manipulated, that they are on the same side as white supremacists. It’s ironic, in a devastating way.
“Your Jewish friends are scared!” Are you not ashamed? Of these tone-deaf statements in between pictures of you going out with friends, on vacation, doing shopping sprees? While Gazans dig through rubble for their loved ones’ body parts? And actually, my Jewish friends are enraged. They’re mobilizing with people of color. They’re not staying silent. They openly, loudly condemn Israel and Zionism and the genocide being done in their name. My friends aren’t cowards. You can’t use them for your agenda!
Anyway. This was an eye-opening book. A devastating read but I’m glad I know what I know. The more I learn the more clear it becomes to me that anyone defending Israel does not know its history, or does not care. In which case, they might actually be evil. Thank you god for making me brown and giving me a natural built-in doubt towards white people LOL.
Question everything, read Finkelstein, and Free Palestine.
March 18, 2024
A must read in the context of the current situation in Gaza, showing nothing has changed for decades and the collusion of big western world powers in supporting Israel’s right wing Zionist’s continues to support Netanyahu who has demonstrated a capacity to continue committing war crimes, and what appears now to be a very intentional genocide.
September 2, 2015
Norman G. Finkelstein amazes you with his way of showing things so clearly than before. Counter logic against the official narrative of different organization and spokesperson of state of Israel is simply reveals his intellectual depth on the matter. His intellectual gravity depletes all the foggy nature of uncertainty and obfuscating seems impossible. He is so adept to put Israeli power elite's own words against them when they tried to switch their position in order to misled people.
November 10, 2023
The book documents the manner in which the Israelis have engaged in on-going collective punishment of the people of Gaza and intentionally provoked confrontation with Hamas time and time again, often as a direct response to peace initiatives by Hamas leaders. The book cuts through the myths of the main-stream media of a belligerent Hamas and an Israel that sincerely wants peace as a hot knife cuts through butter.
November 30, 2018
This is like a long persuasive essay - it only really discusses a few points: defence of the call, or clarification thereof, "Let us try Gandhian nonviolence against the crimes of Israel."
Well done, really. But, I have no idea how it impacts people that are not, basically, on the same page.
Well done, really. But, I have no idea how it impacts people that are not, basically, on the same page.
January 31, 2016
As usual with Norman Finkelstein's work — superlative scholarship compressed into a short, highly readable book. A must read to inform oneself about the horrific assaults on the Gaza Strip.
July 29, 2024
Sadly this should all be outdated, yet that it can be viewed as current events shows how unprogressive Israel really is - the idea that Tel Aviv represents the LGTBQ+ community and the West blindly sucking up to it, really shows how little value the white man - yes also the gay man and lady (I guess it was dark in the closet) - attaches to the Mussulman. I couldn’t care less about Islam or about being Gay, but why condemn people because of it? Why ever attack individuals? As if Palestinians are not an oppressed minority. It’s a disgrace. But ok, the Jews were obviously also oppressed before, it seems that can quickly be forgotten, or better yet, it can be conveniently used as the ultimate defense and justification for, whatever forever. Perhaps time will serve as to flip the story once again.
“It remains true that a higher value is attached to some lives - and deaths - than others.” Of course, Gays do not transcend morality, but the sheer lack of shame in the position taken pro Israel and anti Islam is quite unbridgeable, unless with an American bridge that is.
And people claiming it is delusional for Gays to support Palestine because of Islam shows how morally poor they are. Really? You are going to argue that the right to be gay is morally superior than the right for self-determination and the right to be alive? You don’t see an issue here? You don’t think it’s all rather related? Great, to change one closet for another…
It is shocking to me to see so many people (including Atheists and so called progressives - champagne leftist really) blindly viewing this as a fight between Religions as opposed to this being a fight between the Rich and the Poor. Fucking low standards, that’s what we have. Where are the environmentalists condemning the bombing campaigns? Where are the so called animal lovers when it comes to the Gaza?
“To deflect culpability for premeditated slaughter, Israel persistently alleged that Palestinian casualties resulted from Hamas's use of civilians as "human shields." Indeed, throughout its attack, Israel strove to manipulate perceptions by controlling press reports and otherwise tilting Western coverage in its favor - which the West blindly accepted as a truism in a climate of a culture of guilt, and islamophobia.
But the allegation that Hamas used civilians as human shields was not borne out by human rights investigations, while the gap between Israel's claim that it did everything possible to avoid “collateral damage” and the hundreds of bodies of women and children dug out of the rubble was too vast to bridge.
The attacks that caused the greatest number of fatalities and injuries, Amnesty International found in its inquiry, were carried out with long-range high-precision munitions fired from combat aircraft, helicopters and drones - often against preselected targets. Many were killed when their homes were bombed while they slept.”
But of course, that can’t be true,
surely at Amnesty International,
they’re a bunch of fascist too!
Also, can we really trust this guy, Norman G.
Finkelstein? What is his agenda?
You know, we have to be careful with these kids from Holocaust survivors! He’s a Jew among the thorns.
G. also wrote a book about the Holocaust business. Indeed, tears rarely flow cheaply. The American Jewish establishment keeps exploiting the memory of the Nazi Holocaust for political and financial gain, and to further Israeli interests. The Jewish lobby is strong indeed. (It’s actually so strong it’s going against American interests, but they are seemingly yet to discover this)
Nowadays, Finkelstein, child of Holocaust survivors, is banned from Israel: go cry somewhere else they said.
There’s no better way to bring back some Holocaust trauma than to bomb the shit out of another people.
There’s no business like Shao business so after all this violence the Holocaust trauma’s can be relived and a lot of new books can be sold so hooray for the dolla dolla bill ya - but, Oh, why do I live this-a-way? Hey, must be the money!
Vainglorious personalities accommodating to power while the lumpen are watching sports… things aren’t going to change soon.
“It remains true that a higher value is attached to some lives - and deaths - than others.” Of course, Gays do not transcend morality, but the sheer lack of shame in the position taken pro Israel and anti Islam is quite unbridgeable, unless with an American bridge that is.
And people claiming it is delusional for Gays to support Palestine because of Islam shows how morally poor they are. Really? You are going to argue that the right to be gay is morally superior than the right for self-determination and the right to be alive? You don’t see an issue here? You don’t think it’s all rather related? Great, to change one closet for another…
It is shocking to me to see so many people (including Atheists and so called progressives - champagne leftist really) blindly viewing this as a fight between Religions as opposed to this being a fight between the Rich and the Poor. Fucking low standards, that’s what we have. Where are the environmentalists condemning the bombing campaigns? Where are the so called animal lovers when it comes to the Gaza?
“To deflect culpability for premeditated slaughter, Israel persistently alleged that Palestinian casualties resulted from Hamas's use of civilians as "human shields." Indeed, throughout its attack, Israel strove to manipulate perceptions by controlling press reports and otherwise tilting Western coverage in its favor - which the West blindly accepted as a truism in a climate of a culture of guilt, and islamophobia.
But the allegation that Hamas used civilians as human shields was not borne out by human rights investigations, while the gap between Israel's claim that it did everything possible to avoid “collateral damage” and the hundreds of bodies of women and children dug out of the rubble was too vast to bridge.
The attacks that caused the greatest number of fatalities and injuries, Amnesty International found in its inquiry, were carried out with long-range high-precision munitions fired from combat aircraft, helicopters and drones - often against preselected targets. Many were killed when their homes were bombed while they slept.”
But of course, that can’t be true,
surely at Amnesty International,
they’re a bunch of fascist too!
Also, can we really trust this guy, Norman G.
Finkelstein? What is his agenda?
You know, we have to be careful with these kids from Holocaust survivors! He’s a Jew among the thorns.
G. also wrote a book about the Holocaust business. Indeed, tears rarely flow cheaply. The American Jewish establishment keeps exploiting the memory of the Nazi Holocaust for political and financial gain, and to further Israeli interests. The Jewish lobby is strong indeed. (It’s actually so strong it’s going against American interests, but they are seemingly yet to discover this)
Nowadays, Finkelstein, child of Holocaust survivors, is banned from Israel: go cry somewhere else they said.
There’s no better way to bring back some Holocaust trauma than to bomb the shit out of another people.
There’s no business like Shao business so after all this violence the Holocaust trauma’s can be relived and a lot of new books can be sold so hooray for the dolla dolla bill ya - but, Oh, why do I live this-a-way? Hey, must be the money!
Vainglorious personalities accommodating to power while the lumpen are watching sports… things aren’t going to change soon.
August 23, 2022
This book is a great overview of Israel's major military incursions into Gaza, from Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09 to Operation Protective Edge in 2014 - Israel's most devastating assault to date. Since this book's publication, there have been several more Israeli attacks on Gaza, varying in duration and intensity.
Finkelstein, as always, has a penetrating insight into the reasoning behind Israeli leaders' decision-making, and explains the context and political situations that gave rise to each major assault on Gaza. He explores how international law pertains to the situation, and also dedicates much time to the Goldstone Report, Israeli response to it, and its author's subsequent retraction of it.
One section towards the end of the book made me particularly sad. In discussing nonviolent resistance, Finkelstein ponders, "What if 1.8 million Gazans marched on the Israeli border crossings under the banner, STOP STRANGLING US! END THE ILLEGAL BLOCKADE OF GAZA... What if Palestinians found the inner wherewithal to stay nonviolent even as Israel fired murderously on the crowd?" (p. 93-94)
Unfortunately, we now have our answer to this question, as this exact situation occurred during the Great March of Return protests in 2018. Israeli snipers fired upon crowds of unarmed people, killing hundreds and wounding thousands. Even medics and journalists were killed. And Israel suffered no repercussions for these obvious crimes. Anyone interested in learning more about these protests should watch the documentary "Gaza Fights for Freedom."
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about Israel's war crimes in Gaza. I would also recommend Max Blumenthal's book "The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza" which is specifically about the 2014 assault.
Finkelstein, as always, has a penetrating insight into the reasoning behind Israeli leaders' decision-making, and explains the context and political situations that gave rise to each major assault on Gaza. He explores how international law pertains to the situation, and also dedicates much time to the Goldstone Report, Israeli response to it, and its author's subsequent retraction of it.
One section towards the end of the book made me particularly sad. In discussing nonviolent resistance, Finkelstein ponders, "What if 1.8 million Gazans marched on the Israeli border crossings under the banner, STOP STRANGLING US! END THE ILLEGAL BLOCKADE OF GAZA... What if Palestinians found the inner wherewithal to stay nonviolent even as Israel fired murderously on the crowd?" (p. 93-94)
Unfortunately, we now have our answer to this question, as this exact situation occurred during the Great March of Return protests in 2018. Israeli snipers fired upon crowds of unarmed people, killing hundreds and wounding thousands. Even medics and journalists were killed. And Israel suffered no repercussions for these obvious crimes. Anyone interested in learning more about these protests should watch the documentary "Gaza Fights for Freedom."
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about Israel's war crimes in Gaza. I would also recommend Max Blumenthal's book "The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza" which is specifically about the 2014 assault.
February 16, 2025
Interesting read from the pro-Palestianian side of the argument. Some interesting points that raise questions about "who started it" in various conflicts in the 2000s and 2010s that I didn't know enough about to weigh in on. The same goes for the sea blockade. I'd love to hear the Israeli take on some of these points. I'd also be keen to do more digging on these apparently blatant attacks on unarmed civilians with no connection to Hamas terrorism by the IDF that the author describes. Does Israel accept this has occurred? If so, what justifications are offered? These instances don't look good if they occurred as the author states. I'd also be keen to do more digging into the iron dome. This author reckons it's far less effective than some of the pro-Israeli stuff I've read. Would be keen to dig more into the specifics of this.
Towards the end the author engaged in trading casualties numbers, as though this has anything to do with the morality of either side. Pro-Israeli arguments do appeal to the iron dome to explain some of the asymmetrical figures, but it is far from the only factor (more investment in healthcare, better weapons, better infrastructure etc. etc.). I also thought the argument about the need for Israeli force to be lessened because Hamas attacks are actually less deadly than they look was unrealistic. Despite the author's musing about his reasons, Goldstone's recantation of his previous condemnation of Israel doesn't look good for the pro-Palestinian case. Further, some of the arguments in the book really don't seem plausible given October 7th 2023. Are we really to believe that Hamas is distancing itself from its charter?
Towards the end the author engaged in trading casualties numbers, as though this has anything to do with the morality of either side. Pro-Israeli arguments do appeal to the iron dome to explain some of the asymmetrical figures, but it is far from the only factor (more investment in healthcare, better weapons, better infrastructure etc. etc.). I also thought the argument about the need for Israeli force to be lessened because Hamas attacks are actually less deadly than they look was unrealistic. Despite the author's musing about his reasons, Goldstone's recantation of his previous condemnation of Israel doesn't look good for the pro-Palestinian case. Further, some of the arguments in the book really don't seem plausible given October 7th 2023. Are we really to believe that Hamas is distancing itself from its charter?
October 27, 2023
كثيراً ما يُلام الفلسطينيون على عدم تبني استراتيجية غاندي للمقاومة اللاعنفية.
في عام 2003، قال نائب وزير الدفاع الأمريكي آنذاك بول وولفويتز أمام جمهور في جامعة جورج تاون: "إذا تبنى الفلسطينيون أساليب غاندي، أعتقد أنهم قادرون في الواقع على إحداث تغيير هائل وبسرعة كبيرة جداً".
رغم هذا الرأي الجدلي ، لا يزال يتعين علينا أن نتذكر ما قاله غاندي بالفعل حول موضوع اللاعنف.
لقد صنف المقاومة العنيفة في مواجهة الاحتمالات المستحيلة - امرأة تصد مغتصبًا بالصفعات والخدوش، أو رجل أعزل يقاوم جسديًا التعذيب على يد عصابة، أو دفاع بولندي مسلح عن النفس في مواجهة العدوان النازي - على أنها "لاعنف تقريبًا" لأنها في الأساس مقلومة رمزية ومجرد حافز للروح للتغلب على الخوف والتمكن من الموت الكريم؛
لقد قال "رفض الانحناء أمام القوة الساحقة مع العلم الكامل أن ذلك يعني الموت المحقق". وفي مواجهة المذبحة الجهنمية التي ترتكبها إسرائيل في غزة، ومن الصعب ألا نرى هجمات حماس الصاروخية المتقطعة تقع ضمن هذه الفئة،من العنف الرمزي الذي كان غاندي لا يدينه.
وحتى لو سلمنا بأن هجمات حماس الصاروخية تشكل عنفاً كاملاً، فما زال من غير المؤكد أن غاندي كان سيرفضها. فقد نصح قائلاً: “حارب العنف باللاعنف إذا استطعت، وإذا لم تتمكن من فعل ذلك، فحارب العنف بأي وسيلة، حتى لو كان ذلك يعني انقراضك التام. ولكن لا ينبغي بأي حال من الأحوال أن تتركوا مواقدكم وبيوتكم للنهب والحرق"
طبعا هذا الكلام ٢٠١٤
في عام 2003، قال نائب وزير الدفاع الأمريكي آنذاك بول وولفويتز أمام جمهور في جامعة جورج تاون: "إذا تبنى الفلسطينيون أساليب غاندي، أعتقد أنهم قادرون في الواقع على إحداث تغيير هائل وبسرعة كبيرة جداً".
رغم هذا الرأي الجدلي ، لا يزال يتعين علينا أن نتذكر ما قاله غاندي بالفعل حول موضوع اللاعنف.
لقد صنف المقاومة العنيفة في مواجهة الاحتمالات المستحيلة - امرأة تصد مغتصبًا بالصفعات والخدوش، أو رجل أعزل يقاوم جسديًا التعذيب على يد عصابة، أو دفاع بولندي مسلح عن النفس في مواجهة العدوان النازي - على أنها "لاعنف تقريبًا" لأنها في الأساس مقلومة رمزية ومجرد حافز للروح للتغلب على الخوف والتمكن من الموت الكريم؛
لقد قال "رفض الانحناء أمام القوة الساحقة مع العلم الكامل أن ذلك يعني الموت المحقق". وفي مواجهة المذبحة الجهنمية التي ترتكبها إسرائيل في غزة، ومن الصعب ألا نرى هجمات حماس الصاروخية المتقطعة تقع ضمن هذه الفئة،من العنف الرمزي الذي كان غاندي لا يدينه.
وحتى لو سلمنا بأن هجمات حماس الصاروخية تشكل عنفاً كاملاً، فما زال من غير المؤكد أن غاندي كان سيرفضها. فقد نصح قائلاً: “حارب العنف باللاعنف إذا استطعت، وإذا لم تتمكن من فعل ذلك، فحارب العنف بأي وسيلة، حتى لو كان ذلك يعني انقراضك التام. ولكن لا ينبغي بأي حال من الأحوال أن تتركوا مواقدكم وبيوتكم للنهب والحرق"
طبعا هذا الكلام ٢٠١٤
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June 1, 2021This is a good book and a good resource for information on Israel’s almost century-long assault on Palestine. I can find little fault with it, and could find even less if the last two pages of the book where excluded from the final draft, in which Norm seems to say that Palestinians should come together to sacrifice their children en masse in the hopes that Israelis will wreak such havoc that the bloodbath can no longer be ignored and tolerated by the international community. That would seem, to me, to... not be the best way to go about things, though I understand his point on non-violence perfectly well.
May 1, 2024
Man it's hard to know what to think about this book. It will have well footnoted claims that are quite surprising and extreme. Now, they might be right, but it makes such claims so rapidly that it's very difficult to check the footnotes. Of the claims I checked, some turned out to be right, others wrong. For instance, Finkelstein seems to be right about Hamas cracking down on rocket fire from other groups like Islamic Jihad prior to operation cast lead. However, he misstated Derwhowitz's evidence for human shields that he presented in his criticism of the Goldstone report.
October 17, 2023
A concise and dense accounting of recent operations carried out by Israel on Gaza. Finkelstein's essays don't mince words or take detours. The footnotes are exhaustive. It's a high level legal argument.
You might expect someone so studied on the subject to be cynical, but his pleas for peaceful resistance are anything but. Gaza's Great March of Return were the exact kind of protest he called for. They yielded virtually nothing.
You might expect someone so studied on the subject to be cynical, but his pleas for peaceful resistance are anything but. Gaza's Great March of Return were the exact kind of protest he called for. They yielded virtually nothing.
January 9, 2025
I know Finkelstein is controversial, but this book, for example, quite uncontroversially simply lists all the atrocities that Israel visited on Palestine (esp. Gaza) in the 2000s and 2010s. There's plenty of moral condemnation in the latter part of the book, but this is mostly sad reading in 2025, when the impunity--and the human loss--has increased twenty-fold. And, no the international community is still not lifting a finger.
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