Zionist Ideology and Propaganda: In Israel, America, and Germany

When we see how Zionist ideology is used and the purposes it serves in Israel, America and Germany, we can obtain a better understanding of the deplorable situation in each case and perhaps some improvements.

Theodor Herzl, the leading ideologist and organizer of the Zionist movement, wrote in his book Der Judenstaat which was published in 1895: “No nation in history has had to endure such struggles and suffering as ours … because of old prejudices lying deep down in the soul/minds (Gemüt) of all other nations … And the longer it takes before they appear the more ferocious they break out. Our only hope for escaping the persecutors is a state for a Jewish nation.”Theodor Herzl, Der Judenstaat (1895), quoted in Julius Schoeps, Zionism (Wiesbaden 1983, p. 87. Schoeps gives a portrayal of the Zionist movement and its historical background. For a very different version see Allan Taylor, The Zionist Mind (Beirut 1974).

Herzl’s assertion about the unique suffering of Jews and the prejudices of all other nations cannot be empirically confirmed, but that was not his concern. His interpretation of Jewish history was likely to convince many Jews and encourage them to take part in the struggle for a state. Many others would pay lip service to the ideology because they shared Herzl´s goal. The first task for the movement was to convince Jews that they were a nation and hinder the assimilation that was underway. The leaders of the movement came out strongly for the colonization of Palestine, a beautiful country where the inhabitants were to a considerable extent well-off and could rest their claim to the land on the fact that it had been inhabited by Arabs for more than 1000 years. Herzl and the later leaders of the movement asserted that all or almost all of the indigenous people would have to leave their country.

The likely outlook on life of the Jews who became convinced of this ideology was mistrust, insecurity and fear of non-Jews. Other Jews would just pretend. The foreseeable consequences of this outlook were bleak: Ruthlessness and a stubborn refusal to admit that they had wronged anybody.

The British newspaper The Economist printed a carricature a few years ago which a former mayor of Hamburg, Klaus von Dohnanyi, described as follows: “It shows us Germans ducked down fearfully in a corner in which a strong arm with the star of David is pointing. The reproach for antisemitism shocks, freightens and does not strengthen the democratic self-confidence of the Germans. One should use the word antisemitism with circumspection and good reasons.”Klaus von Dohnanyi, Zivilcourage contra Political Correctness (Munich 2003) pp. 12, 32/33.

Zionism in Israel

Israeli leaders have declared themselves for the Zionist ideology and applied it in matters of great importance.

The Eichmann trial: During the trial which was held in Israel in 1961 the prosecutor asserted many times that this case confirmed the eternal hatred of Jews. This interpretation of Eichmann has acquired enormous significance. Previously the political circles and the media in America explained the mass murder in the Third Reich as well as in communist countries as consequences of totalitarianism. In other words: Hostility toward ethnic groups and classes would not have resulted in such cruelty, or would have been extremely unlikely, in an open society. The philosopher Hanna Arendt expressed herself in this way when she wrote: “He was not antisemitic, not even an ideologist, he was a superficial, ambitious henchman of totalitarianism.”Hannah Arendt, Report on the Banality of Evil, quoted in Peter Novick, The Holocaust in American Life (Boston, New York 1999) p. 134. If the political circles and media had stayed with this interpretation the importance of the holocaust in America and perhaps in Germany would have been quite different from what it has become.

The Yad Vashen museum: According to the council of this museum, it was erected to proclaim that the lives of Jews outside of Israel are built on shifting sand. With this explanation the council ignored the fact that the mass murder which the museum calls to mind occurred under entirely different circumstances. Unfortunately some people were likely to be misled. “You can fool some people all of the time.” (Abraham Lincoln)

Nuclear weapons for Israel: The CIA informed President Kennedy in 1961 that a nuclear power plant was being built in Israel which probably would be suitable for the production of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Israel was already militarily much stronger than the Arab states and once in possession of such weapons would be even tougher toward its neighbors than it had been. The Arabs would probably turn to the Soviet Union. Kennedy spoke with Ben Gurion and asked for insurance that no atomic weapons would be produced. He should also allow the Atomic Energy Commission to inspect the plant. In an emergency, America would intervene on behalf of Israel. Besides that, he should allow some of the Palestinian refugees to return. One could ascertain how many would avail themselves of this opportunity. Ben Gurion promised that the plant would only be used for research. He then asserted that Nasser’s goal was to destroy Israel and do to the Israelis what Hitler did to the 6 million Jews in Europe. “And if the refugees came back our situation would be critical. We are surrounded, they want to kill us.” Later the fact that Israel had acquired the bomb became an open secret. Israel’s atomic energy plant has never been inspected by the Atomic Energy Commission.Avi Slaim, The Iron Wall (London 2000) pp. 208-216.

The Six Day War (June 1967): It began with the bombing and destruction of the entire Egyptian air force while it was still on the ground. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations justified the attack saying that it was a matter of life or death. The “final solution” confronted us. Before the attack Israel and Egypt had been disputing about the passage of Israeli and other ships through the straits of Tiran. The US and England were mediating when the attack occurred. The Israeli forces occupied East Jerusalem, West Jordan, the Golan heights and the Sinai peninsula. 250,000 Palestinians and 100,000 Syrians were driven out from their homes and lands. Later four members of the Israeli general staff admitted that they knew that Nasser had no intention to attack Israel. Readers of serious newspapers who read the accounts of journalists in the Middle East and not just the commentaries would in all likelihood have come to the same conclusion.See eg., Kenneth Lewan, Der Nahostkrieg in der westdeutschen Presse (Cologne 1970).

The war in Lebanon in 1982: Israel´s prime minister Begin wrote President Reagan that he was marching to Beirut “to liquidate Hitler”, i.e. Arafat. Israel began the war. Its ambassador to the U.N. asserted that the PLO, which at that time was in exile in Lebanon, had repeatedly violated the cease-fire which had been agreed upon eleven months earlier. The U.N. observers reported, however, that the PLO had exercised restraint while Israel violated the truce hundreds of times from the air and the sea. The Palestinian refugee camps, Beirut and other Lebanese cities were extensively bombed. According to hospital reports the bombing resulted in at least 18,000 deaths, 90% of them civilians. About 30,000 were wounded.Noam Chomsky, The Fateful Triangle (London 1999) p. 227.

The comparisons between between Hitler on the one hand and Nasser and Arafat on the other were ridiculous and base. The accusers gave the impression that the Arab leaders had no legitimate reason for opposing Israel, that they were motivated by prejudices against the Jews and hoped to kill vast numbers of them and even had the power to do so. In this way they attempted to justify wars of aggression, conquest and the expulsion of their victims.

Supplements to the ideology: Successors of Herzl have employed supplements to his ideology. They are in some respects similar to the antisemitism reproach and serve the same ends. One of them is the assertion that Israel´s foes have bad characteristics. Chaim Weizman who led the movement at the beginning of the colonization said at a meeting of Zionist leaders in 1920: “They (the Palestinians, KL) are a corrupt race with which one cannot possibly negotiate. The Arabs are treasonable and fickle, they lack moral values, one cannot expect that they will stick to principles.”Simha Flapan, Zionism and the Palestinians (New York 1979) p. 82. In the 1930s, writers of Hebrew novels and children’s books explained the Palestinian resistance to the colonization of their land in the same way. In line with this explanation the violence of the Jewish colonists was always characterized as reprisals.Lewan, Ist Israel Südafrika? (Tossens 1993) p.71. After the Camp David talks, Barak was criticized for having given a false impression of the talks. He replied: “The Palestinians come out of a culture in which lying does not result in much disapproval. In contrast to Christians and Jews they are not burdened with a bad conscience.”New York Review of Books (2005). Like the accusation of antisemitism this is an ad hominem argument and not a factual one about the issue at stake. It is a prejudice against a whole ethnic group, like antisemitism. It is used to explain the behavior of the other group and to exonerate the Israeli side from guilt. This is also one of several Zionist dogmas/political doctrines that detract from the actual circumstances in specific cases.

The assertion that Israel’s existence is at stake is another Zionist supplement to Herzl’s ideology. It too is calculated to cause fear among Israeli citizens and to elicit sympathy from outsiders. It provides an excuse for atrocities committed by the Israel army. It is used where an unbiased person would not agree with the claim. This assertion is also ambiguous: It may refer to a specific conflict between Israelis and Palestinians or to the conflict as a whole. The Zionists have had much success in winning over American and German leaders to the characterization of the whole conflict as a struggle for Israel’s security rather Palestinian resistance to an illegal and unjustifiable occupation.

The last Palestinian uprising: It began in September 2000 after Sharon, accompanied by 1000 soldiers on the Temple Mount, asserted in his speech that all of Jerusalem belonged to Israel. That was an obvious blow below the belt of the Palestinians. The demonstration that followed was to be expected. Seven Palestinians were killed. During the spiral of violence that followed, the Israeli strikes with tanks and bombers were out of all proportion to those of the Palestinian fighters. That holds for attacks on civilians, i.e., terror from both sides. Yet Sharon asserted that he used force only in retaliation, Israel had no choice, it was fighting for its survival. Arafat had called on Sharon to join him in an appeal for a cease fire. He was ignored. Sharon said that he was willing to make a generous settlement but had no partner for negotiations as long as Arafat failed to disarm the terrorists. But the truth is that he did not want any negotiations. It is not unusual that negotiations take place while fighting goes on. It was unlikely that Fatah would defeat Hamas and would dare to try. Hamas’ fighters were well trained and Arafat had lost the confidence of most of the Palestinians and they would have supported Hamas. Sharon’s troops themselves were not able to silence them. Furthermore, Sharon weakened Arafat by means of attacks on his headquarters and his security forces. Arafat requested the Security Council of the U.N. to send troops to stop the fighting. Sharon was opposed. A draft resolution for the sending of troops was vetoed by Bush. In the meantime the colonization of the occupied territories continued.Lewan, Die Zweite Intifada – Zwiespalt in der Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Frankfurt November 2002) pp. 23-43.

Lebanon 2006:The justification for the tremendous destruction in Lebanon and the killing of more than 1000 of its civilians by Israel’s armed forces in response to the capture of two of its soldiers was the same: Shimon Peres, who at that time was Israel’s vice-premier said: “It was a matter of life or death.”Süddeutsche Zeitung, July 26, 2006. The Israelis met with stiff resistance from the Hisbullah fighters, but they had a free hand to bomb and destroy.

In view of the fact that Israel attacks when and where it wishes with reckless disregard for lives and property and has never had to compensate its victims, it is no wonder that other states in the region attempt to acquire nuclear weapons as the best possible defense.

The Palestinian election (January 2006): The Olmert government responded to the election of Hamas by the majority of Palestinians in January 2006 by refusing to recognize and deal with Hamas as their representative. Besides that millions of dollars from taxes and duties which belonged to the already impoverished Palestinians were withheld — a punishment for not having chosen Israel’s favorite, Abbas and Al Fatah. This reaction was justified on the ground that Hamas had not recognized Israel’s right to exist and had not renounced violence. In this connection, let us recall that Israel’s leaders and supporters had characterized Hamas as a terrorist organization and emphasized the fact that Hamas’ Charter in 1988 called for the destruction of the state of Israel. In other words: the dogma (political doctrine) that Israel’s existence is endangered served here, too, as justification for refusing to negotiate.

It is remarkable that Israel was able to determine the terms for negotiations concerning the occupied territories and indeed with the approval and support of the United States and the European Union: 1. Israel occupies the territories in violation of international law. 2. Israel has never recognized the right of Palestinians to any part of their homeland. 3. Israel’s violence, including attacks on civilians (terror) has been out of all proportion to that of the Palestinians. 4. The election of Hamas was entirely free. That should have warmed the hearts of our leaders who send young men to fight in foreign countries so that other nations can enjoy the fruits of democracy.

Let us suppose that our leaders in America and Western Europe had successfully urged the Israeli government to recognize the right of the Palestinians to the parts of Palestine which Israel conquered during the Six Day War and to withdraw its troops and settlers. Would Hamas have reaffirmed its Charter? The portrayal of Hamas by Olmert and his supporters surely gives that impression, but it is false and Israel’s secret service and its political leaders know that.

The characterization of Hamas by Israel and the EU as a terror organization is unjustified. Hamas was responsible for many suicide attacks on civilians between 1994 and 1997 and 2003 and 2004. But during the first seven years after it was founded it fought Israel’s military forces. The first series of its suicide attacks was in response to the massacre of Muslims who were praying in a mosque by a Jewish settler. The second series began during the intifada after the Israeli forces killed numerous Palestinian civilians. It is also noteworthy here that Hamas observed a cease-fire for 18 months between January 2005 and mid-2006. The Israeli side ignored that, although a fundamental change in Hamas’ goals was underway. It was expressed in the campaign speeches of Haniya and other leaders of the party and in their program for the election. Hamas sought a political solution and was willing to recognise Israel, but in contrast to the PLO under Arafat, who recognized Israel without getting anything of significance in return,The Oslo negotiations dealt with increases in the autonomy of cities in the occupied territories but not with the withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the territories. This matter is explained in detail in Ludwig Watzal, Feinde des Friedens (Berlin 2001), p. 75 ff. Robert Malley, a close advisor of President Clinton at Camp David, remarked later that Barak had carefully avoided making any offer. New York Review of Books, 2006. There was no written record of the proceedings. A former member of the German Foreign Office, Joachim Koch, has informed me that during the 25 years in which he engaged in international negotiations serious offers were always made in writing. Hamas demanded an advance concession: Israel must withdraw completely from the occupied territories and allow the Palestinians to build a state there. The Palestinian state and Israel would then recognize one another. For the time in between Hamas suggested a truce.For detailed accounts of Hamas’ development see Helga Baumgarten, “Hamas,” Materialien der Gesellschaft für österreichisch – arabische Beziehungen, January 2007, pp. 5-15 and Khalid Hroub, “A ‘New Hamas’ Through its Documents,” Journal of Palestine Studies, Summer 2006, pp. 6-27.

Israel’s leaders have always managed to avoid negotiations that might have led to a withdrawal from the territories and the establishment of a Palestinian state. They put the blame on the Palestinians for the lack of a solution or claimed that more time was needed. At the present time (October 2007) it seems that the much heralded peace conference in November will turn out to be another futile gathering. According to the latest reports the disputed issues — borders, Jerusalem and refugees — will not be discussed for the purpose of reaching a solution. This is the Israeli view and Foreign Minister Rice apparently agrees. Putting off such decisions enables Israel to confiscate more land and bring in more settlers. Furthermore, there is no indication that Hamas will be invited or that the people in Gaza will, be represented.

A map of the UN shows the present extent of the Zionist colonization. 40 % of West Jordan is exclusively for Israeli citizens and military. The rest is divided into cantons/bantustans. Movement between them is severely restricted by road blocks and check points. Jews are now settling in Hebron and Palestinians are leaving. The Jordan valley is also becoming Jewish. A leading member of Sharon´s cabinet has admitted that the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza was not intended to be the first step in a significant withdrawal from the territories. It was done to get Bush’s consent to Israel keeping the large Jewish settlements in West Jordan. Bush generously agreed.Henry Siegman, “The Great Middle East Peace Process Scam,” London Review of Books, August 16, 2007. It seems likely that Gaza will become another bantustan. In view of the miserable living conditions for the Palestinians considerable emigration is to be expected. The Zionist dream may soon come true.

Zionism in America and Germany

Three topics will be dealt with in this section: 1. The so-called wave of antisemitism during the recent Palestine uprising. 2. The obsession with the mass murder of Jews during the Third Reich and the question whether it was unique. 3. The Zionist goals in America and Germany.

1. The “wave of antisemitism”

The assertion that antisemitism was widespread began in April 2002 when the bombing of Palestine cities and refugee camps reached its peak and was followed by severe criticism in Europe and elsewhere. Thus 59% of the Europeans expressed the opinion in a poll that the greatest danger to world peace came from the state of Israel. What do these findings have to do with antisemitism? In ordinary and scholarly usage it is a prejudice against the Jews as a whole. A prejudice is an attitude which is not factually based. A negative statement about Israel or its leaders, even if it is a prejudice against them, is not about “the Jews.”

The reproach of antisemitism during the intifada was propagated by the large Jewish organizations in America, by the Council of Jews in Germany and some Jewish journalists and academicians. Because of their close affiliation with Israel it is appropriate to refer to them as Zionists. Here are some examples: The editor of the Commentary, one of the leading Jewish journals in America, wrote: “We are past the Kristallnacht in America and well on the way to the final solution … Jews in the United States are being targeted for murder.” The leader of the Anti Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, asserted that “the survival of the Jewish people might once again be at risk.” Elie Wiesel, a prominent stimulator for high-lighting the holocaust, spoke at a conference on antisemitism in Berlin and at the United Nations. In Berlin he said: “There are too many cities in the world plagued by vocal and violent hatred toward the Jewish people … extreme left-wing banners unashamedly slandering Israel…mass incitement to hysterical violence disguised as anti-Israel propaganda.” In New York: “Sixty years after the worst tragedy in human history Jew — hatred is once again in the rise.”Norman Finkelstein, Beyond Chutzpah (Berkeley 2005) pp. 39, 33 and 81.

The response of Jewish leaders in Germany to the criticism of Israel was the same. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung printed an article by Salomon Korn, a member of the Council of Jews in Germany, in which he wrote: “All Jews are held responsible for every offense of Israel against the Palestinians. The debate about the Middle East conflict exposes the prevailing antisemitism. That old question hangs over the heads of the Jews like the sword of Damocles: ‘Was it right to stay in Germany?'” It is noteworthy that the German foreign minister Josef Fischer, endorsed Salomon’s assertion shortly thereafter in the FAZ: “Why is Israel being so sharply criticized? Why this one-sidedness? In these months many German Jews feel themselves abandoned.” Michel Friedman, a former member of the Council, said in a television interview while soliciting donations for Israel: “Antisemitism is the greatest problem of the Western World. It is quite acceptable in all circles to run down the Jews.” In answer to the question whether philosemitism existed in Germany he said: “The philosemites are worse than the antisemites. They always expect thanks from us.”“Israel ist unser Rückgrat,” Interview with Michel Friedman on SAT 1, quoted in Tacheles, January 4, 2005. The Israeli ambassador to Germany, Shimon Stein: “Antisemitism in Germany is obviously a chronic illness. Now it is concentrated on Israel as the collective Jew.”Tribüne, March 5, 2005.

This accusation was also made against individuals. The chairman of the Council of Jews in Germany, Paul Spiegel, spoke in June 2002 at a meeting of the Christian Democratic Party. He warned the party against participating in a coalition government with the Free Democrats. He said that “a leader of the FDP” — he meant Jürgen Möllemann — had made antisemitic remarks. “Antisemitism would probably be part of official politics again.” None of the politicians who were present asked which remarks were meant or what Spiegel considered antisemitic. Möllemann, a former minister of education and president of the German — Arab society had accused the Israeli government of committing state terrorism. The word terror in our cultural area means attacks on unarmed civilians. That certainly includes attacks with helicopters on individuals who have not been tried by a court and found guilty, whereby other persons too are hit. This happened more than 100 times during the intifada. Möllemann also said: “the aggressive — arrogant treatment of Sharon’s critics by Michel Friedman is unfortunately likely to lead to anti-Israeli and antisemitic responses.” None of these statements is a derogatory statement about “the Jews.” Another former minister, Norbert Blüm, got similar treatment after he said the charge of antisemitism “was being used as a club to sweep criticism of Israel’s disregard for human rights under the carpet.”Spiegel responded with the remark that Blüm’s statement was ”racism.”Lewan, Die zweite Intifada, pp. 126-134.

The comments of leaders of the most important parties in the German parliament are remarkable. Chancellor Schröder, the leader of the Social Democratic party, accused Möllemann’s party of “playing with antisemitism.” His vice chairman said: The FDP wants to win over “antisemitic currents” in Germany for their purposes. A speaker for the Green Party which was in the coalition government, said that Möllemann was a “mean antisemite.” Another speaker for the Greens said: “Anyone who holds the Jews responsible for antisemitism legitimizes antisemitism.” The chairman of the Christian Social Party (CSU) added: “The FDP provoked leading Jewish representatives to win votes from the die-hard reactionaries.” A speaker for the Christian Democratic Party: “Blüm’s remark is ‘useful for the die–hard reactionaries.'”Ibid., p. 130. None of these parlamentarians breached the question what was meant by the word “antisemitism.” In this respect too, they resembled the Zionist spokesmen.

So the Zionist leaders have performed a stunt across the stages in America and Germany which reached a peak in the antisemitism conferences in New York and Berlin: Criticism of Israel or, as some of them say, sharp critique, is symptomatic of antisemitism. This is another political dogma which the chorus of leaders preach one after the other without offering evidence. One ardent promoter of this dogma, Alan Dershowitz, professor of criminal law at Harvard, wrote in 1991. “It is impossible to understand why Israel receives the attention — most particularly the criticism — it does receive without recognizing that Israel is ‘the Jew’ among nations.”Finkelstein, Beyond Chutzpah, p. 33. There are, however, other possible explanations. Since the beginning of the colonization of Palestine in 1920, it has been the center of an earthquake area, and that concerns all of us. Furthermore, millions of people are appalled by the deplorable way Israel has behaved toward the Palestinians and other neighbors. Perhaps many critics of Israel have developed hostile attitudes toward Jews generally while observing Israel and its unconditional support by Jewish leaders in America, Germany and elsewhere who purport to represent Jews. That would be unjust, but it is unfortunately a fact that wrongs done by some individuals in a nation often result in prejudices against the whole nation. But here another Zionist dogma turns up: Jews can never be responsible for anti-Semitism.Finkelstein, Ibid., p. 78-81.

2. The obsession with the holocaust

Americans and Germans look back repeatedly on one great atrocity while the other ones remain in the shadow. In America the obsession with the Jewish tragedy is the work of large Jewish organizations and Jews (by no means all Jews) in key positions in newspapers, journals, television, book publishing, in Hollywood and in the academic world.Novick, The Holocaust in American Life, pp. 208-210. Here is a brief sampling of what they have accomplished: There are holocaust museums not only at a prominent place in Washington but also in every big city. In some of them other victims of the Third Reich are remembered but only marginally. At the place in New England which is dedicated to the heroes of the American Revolution there is also a monument for the Jewish victims of the Third Reich. In many American states, teachers are obliged to instruct students about the holocaust. For this topic, there are professorial chairs at colleges. The nine hour film Holocaust was viewed entirely or for the greater part by 110 million viewers. Jewish organizations published Schindler’s List with 110 million copies of a 16-page brochure and worked over the most important newspapers to persuade them to print the book in series. The National Council of Churches named the first day of the showing Holocaust Sunday. Yellow stars of David were distributed. Between the years 1996 and 2000 the New York Times printed 3,500 articles with references to the holocaust. Politicians find it useful to have themselves photographed in Yad Vashem.Novick, Ibid., pp. 207, 208; Juncker, “Die Amerikanisierung des Holocausts,” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, September 9, 2000.

The holocaust was not brought into prominence in America until the 1960s. After World War II, the cold war was under way, it lasted until the end of the 1950s. Political circles and media were fighting communism, comparisons between the crimes under communism and the National Socialists were commonplace and not frowned upon. But with the end of the cold war the interest in emphasizing communist crimes died out. The explanation of the Eichmann case by the prosecutor gave a powerful stimulus for the change. When the trial began many Jewish leaders doubted whether it was good for Jews. Objections were made to it in some of the media, because Jews were both prosecutors and judges and because it was a show trial. The leaders of two of the most important Jewish organizations explained the Eichmann case as a consequence of totalitarianism. But during the trial which lasted for four months the viewers saw terrible pictures and heard horrid stories and the criticism died out. The path for the holocaust as a long-standing success was levelled.Novick, Ibid., pp. 85-102, 127-125.

In Germany, the struggle against communism did not interfere with the emphasis on the Jewish victims of National Socialism. Already in the early 1950s the government, the parliament, media and educators made considerable efforts to throw light on the Third Reich. Prominent persons often urged the public not to forget what had happened, especially the suffering of Jews. This development was furthered by the trial of persons accused of war crimes, the stage adaption of The diary of Anne Frank (there were 1420 performances) and the sale in 1957 of 700,000 copies of the pocket book edition. In 1959 some young men devastated a synagogue in Cologne. There were numerous expressions of sympathy for the congregation and the culprits were punished. But the media in Germany played up the event and Jewish organizations in America and England claimed that the crimes during the Third Reich were being played down, Hitler’s ideas were still lurking in German minds. Public opinion polls and sundry investigations resulted in an entirely different portrayal. Nevertheless, this event and the Eichmann trial, which was treated for two years in German media, were the immediate causes of the obsession with the holocaust in Germany.Manfred Kittel, Die Legende von der Zweiten Schuld (Berlin 1999) passim. The “remembrance” is kept fresh in the public mind with memorials, commemorative speeches, often by Israelis, reviews of books by or about Jewish victims, American and German films and so forth. Characteristic of the attitude of the Council of Jews in Germany is the statement of the recently elected chairwoman, Charlotte Knobloch, that one of her main tasks was to ensure that the “remembrance” continues. Certain political parties have frequently accussed other parties of suppressing the history of the Third Reich, especially the persecution of Jews.

In this connection, two recent events concerning the Yad Vashem museum in Jerusalem are noteworthy. First: Germany has contributed more than two million euro for the identification and copying of a documentation of the museum about the persecution of Jews. The German minister of justice, Brigitte Zypries, gave the director a check in 2005 and said: “Our duty as Germans is to keep the remembrance of the crimes of the Nazi regime alive because this is necessary to prevent such crimes ever occurring again.Press Release of the German Ministry of Justice, May 23, 2005. The minister simply parroted a reason which many Jewish leaders have used over and over again in spite of the many mass murders that have occurred meanwhile. The minister might well have mentioned one of the purposes for which the remembrance actually is used. Second: The museum offers seminars on “Education after the holocaust” for teachers. German teachers take part with support from German provinces. In 2006 the German ambassador to Israel, Rudolf Dressler, invited the German teaches who participated to a reception. He said in his speech: Sixty years after Auschwitz there can never be enough teaching about the holocaust. Even after forty years of diplomatic relations there cannot be normal relations between Germany and Israel.”Newsletter of the Israeli embassy in Berlin, in www.Jüdische, August 31, 2005.

Was the holocaust unique? When the “remembrance” is insisted upon, it is often said that it was “unique.” The statement that an event is unique is, of course, ambiguous. It can mean that it has characteristics that cannot be found with other events, which is true of all events. But those who advocate the uniqueness of the holocaust aim to convince others that it was the worst crime in human history. This intention becomes clear where comparisons with other major crimes are said to be playing down the holocaust. The statement that some crime was the worst in history is not empirically verifiable, it is neither true nor false, it is a matter of opinion. To clarify this point it is worthwhile to examine the most frequent reasons that have been given for the uniqueness of the holocaust.

First: The killing was done by organized factory-like gassing. But killing by other means, e.g., by torture or burning, could be regarded as just as bad or worse. Furthermore, the Roma and others in extermination camps were killed in the same way as Jews were.Guenter Lewy, Rückkehr nicht erwünscht (Berlin 2001) pp. 372-378).

Second: It is often asserted that Hitler intended to kill all the Jews and, indeed, for ideological reasons. The evidence for that is lacking. According to his ideology, the Aryans, above all others, had the mission to develop their capacities in matters of culture and statecraft. For that purpose, opposing forces were necessary to resist and stimulate the Aryans. (This is in line with social Darwinism). The Jews were, he claimed, the opposing party, they were destructive and must be resisted.Frank Kroll, Utopie als Ideologie (Paderborn 1988) pp. 44-46. In light of his further statement that “something bad must exist to stimulate what is good,” one may conclude that the interaction with Jews would always be necessary for the self-realization of the Aryans. In January 1939, he said in a speech: “If the Jews in international financial circles again succeed in plunging the nations of the world in a world war, the result will be the destruction of the Jewish race in Europe.” In January 1941, he said: “If America is forced into a general war by the Jews, all of the Jews in Europe will have played out their role in Europe.” These were sharp and unjustifiable warnings but not an unconditional statement of intent and did not refer to all Jews. The agreement between the Hitler government and the Zionist leadership which lasted from 1933 until 1938 “to further the emigration of German Jews to Palestine” is evidence that the intention was to force Jews to leave Germany. According to Ludwig Pinner, whose study was published by the Leo Baeck Institute in Berlin, the implementation of the agreement brought about the rapid advance of the Jewish economy in Palestine to an industrial economy.Ludwig Pinner, “Die Bedeutung der Einwanderung aus Deutschland” in: Werner Feilchenfeld, Dolf Michaeli and Ludwig Pinner, Havara-Transfer nach Palästina (Tübingen 1972) pp. 89-106.

But even if the killing of all Jews was intended, the claim of uniqueness does not hold water. The wiping out of whole peoples has been intended and the intention has been carried out.Immanuel Geis, Geschichte griffbereit (Gütersloh 2002) vol. 4, p. 1009. Whether such cases are the worst of all is also a matter of opinion. Finally, it can be argued that the number of innocent persons actually killed is decisive. That would presumably mean that the worst crime was committed in communist China.Stéphane Courtois and others, Communist Crimes, Terror and Repression (Paris 1997) p. 16. The publication of this book in Germany led to several reviews in newspapers, whereby stands were taken on the question whether the crimes in the Soviet Union were comparable to the holocaust. These reviews along with articles by French authors were published in Der Rote Holocaust, edited by Horst Möller, the director of the Institut für Zeitgeschichte in Munich. But this matter has not been debated by the parties in the parliament. In the mean time the last two chancellors have said what is politically wise in Germany namely that the holocaust was unique. But here, too, the standard of ascertaining the worst — or second worst — is a matter of opinion. Nota bene: Whether the holocaust was the worst of all crimes is a matter of opinion. But this finding is not meant to belittle its enormity.

3. Zionist goals in America and Germany

First: Like Herzl, their primary goal is to convince Jews that they belong to the Jewish nation and that Israel is their “mother country.” Katzav said in a speech in the German parliament that he spoke in the name of the Jewish nation. This remark may have led some people to believe all Jews or Jews in general profess loyalty to Israel. That is not so, even in America where Zionism has its strongest base outside of Israel. Numerous Jews reject Israel’s claim and oppose it vigorously. No doubt Katzav’s intimation holds with rare exceptions for the leaders of the major Jewish organizations in America and the Council of Jews in Germany. Their attitude may well have been expressed in Michel Friedman’s remark “Israel gives us our identity and our self-image.”

Like Herzl his successors strive to keep Jews together and separate from others by spreading fear and mistrust among them. Alarms have been sounded in America like these: “If you know history at all, you have to presume not that it could happen again, but that it will. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.” “A holocaust-consciousness is necessary, so that the Jews are ready to leave America.” But these assertions were deliberate deceptions. Peter Novick, professor of history at the university of Chicago has shown that the panic-mongers were trying to stop mixed-marriages and assimilation. In the 1960s, 40% of the Jewish men and 30% of the Jewish women married non-Jews. That led to these counter measures. There was talk about a “bloodless holocaust.” But anti-Semitism was of no significance in America, and Jews held influential positions in the media, in politics and on universities. A distinguishing feature of Jews as a group was their extraordinary wealth.Novick, The Holocaust in American Life, pp. 170-188.

In this connection, the account of a German diplomat who over many years in Washington and New York tried to improve Germany’s image and the German-Jewish relations is of considerable importance. Dr. Wolf Calebow, having come to the conviction that the portrayal of the holocaust in America was conveying the impression that Germany today was dangerous for Jews held numerous conversations with the largest Jewish organizations, editors of Jewish newspapers and others, whereby he asked them to supplement their depiction of the holocaust with information about the German resistance, the compensation paid to the victims and their families, support for Israel and an accurate portrayal of Germany as it is today. His requests were turned down in almost every instance. The Council of the holocaust memorial in Washington even refused to discuss the topic.His efforts were not entirely in vain, however. Together with the Amonk Institute, which also was dedicated to improving German-Jewish relations, he brought about some changes in the teaching of the holocaust in some of the states where it is obligatory. Calebow’s conclusion was that the frightful impression of Germany which the holocaust portrayals gave was not accidental, it was intended. It was aimed at strengthening Jewish consciousness and ties to Israel. This in turn facilitated efforts to keep the holocaust in the limelight. He underlined his opinion with numerous details. For example: The Journal of the Anti Defamation League referred to a study “by a German partner” as follows: “New anti-Semitism: Alarming report from Germany.”Wolf Calebow, Auf dem Wege zur Normalisierung (Berlin 1999). The ADL gave no information about the partner. It was very likely the institute at the Technical University of Berlin which specializes in research on anti-Semitism. Like the Zionists it ignores the ordinary definition of anti-Semitism and purports to find an abundance of it.The director of the institute has asserted that the distinguishing feature of anti-Semitism is different from the definition of other prejudices against ethnic groups. He did not explain why that is the case or wherein the distinction lies. See Newsletter, Zentrum für Antisemitismusforschung, March 2005. During the intifada a study of this institute about anti-Semitism in Europe was commissioned by the European Monitoring Commission on Racism and Xenophobia. It was rejected, however, on the ground that it was “biased” and “lacking in empirical evidence”. For further details see Finkelstein, Beyond Chutzpah, pp. 35-38.
In my treatment of the so-called wave of anti-Semitism I have shown that Zionist leaders in Germany, too, sounded fearful alarms for Jews which were unfounded. If the Council really believed that the Germans constituted a threat to Jews, it certainly would not have lobbied for the immigration of 200,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union. The frightening sounds they make are not intended to cause a flight to Israel, but to strengthen Jewish national consciousness and ties to Israel. This task gives the leaders a purpose in life and material rewards, too. More about that below.

It is remarkable that this Zionist goal is supported financially by the German state. A so-called “international treaty” between the German government and the Council has recently become a law. The government promises to pay the Council three million euro yearly. These payments are apart from the financial support which Jewish religious communities receive. The preamble to the “treaty” contains this statement: “The German nation has a historical responsibility for Jewish life in Germany.” The money is to be used for “common interests of the Federal Republic and the Council”, namely for the development of the Jewish community and the “integration tasks” of the Council. Besides that it is to be used for tasks “which go beyond the region” and for administration costs. The Ministry of the Interior refers to the Jews from the former Soviet Union as “contingent refugees.” But in one passage, it states: The admission of an applicant depends upon his being of Jewish descent. “Persecution or discrimination are not criteria for the admission.” This agreement is only ostensibly a contract, it is in fact a gift. No quid pro quo is required. The flabby description of the tasks of the Council means in plain English that the Council should use the funds for purposes it wishes to pursue. The “integration” task is not understood by the Council to mean that Jewish immigrants should be assimilated in the German nation. Friedman has said that he plans a Jewish lobby in Europe like the one in America. The great majority of the German population wants the various ethnic and religious groups to strive primarily for common ends and not for what keeps them apart. During the last Ramadan the German president expressed the wish that the Muslims regard Germany as their homeland. Should this be addressed only to Muslims?

A second goal: Support for Israel. Its image and financial, diplomatic and backing from outside are enormously important for its success. The Zionist leaders in America and Germany occupy wide fields in the public eye where they can make their view about Middle East affairs known and exert considerable influence. They assert obstinately that Israel is only defending itself and fighting for its existence. Dershowitz, for example: “The great moral issue facing the world at the dawn of the millennium is whether Israel’s attempt to protect itself against terrorism will result in a massive increase of world-wide antisemitism.”Finkelstein, Ibid., p. 46. Paul Spiegel expressed himself along the same line after a helicopter attack on Hamas’ headquarters, where eight civilians, including some children, were killed: “They are declaredly terrorists … self-defense — a matter of life or death.”Lewan, Die zweite Intifada, p. 132. Criticism of Israeli actions by Zionist leaders is a rarity. When a member of the Council of Jews in Germany, Professor Paul Verleger, criticized Israel’s practice of assassinations without any judicial hearing and the ruthless destruction of large parts of Lebanese cities, the Council leadership accused him of using anti-Israeli “clichés” and expelled him from the Council.

Besides protestations of innocence Israel’s image is varnished in America and Germany by unfounded accusations of anti-Semitism against its critics and by repeatedly calling the holocaust to mind. During the recent intifada the wave of anti-Semitism accusations, including the conferences in New York and Berlin, served to divert the public from the deaths and destruction the Israeli army was causing. The reproaches against individuals were clearly aimed at disparaging them and their critique and deterring others, especially public figures, from speaking frankly about Israel´s atrocities. That holds also for the attacks on the German minister for development aid Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul after she referred to the danger from the numerous blind shells that still lay around in Lebanon after the war. Knobloch reproached her for having spoken “one-sidedly to the detriment of Israel and thereby supported antisemitic attitudes.” Apparently no other political leader who was a member of the government during the intifada or the recent war in Lebanon risked criticizing Israel. More recently several Catholic bishops visited the occupied territories and made frank statements about what they experienced. One bishop apparently spoke of a “Ghetto in Ramallah.” Mrs. Knobloch said that this was a comparison with the ghettos during the Third Reich and accused him of “moving close to the border of antisemitism.”Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, March 10, 2007. But a ghetto in ordinary usage is a quarter in which Jews are compelled to live and from which they are not allowed to go out at night. Furthermore, instead of getting to the factual issue — comparisons can throw light on events — she resorted to an ad hominem argument. The accusation of being on the verge of anti-Semitism may not ruin ones reputation in Germany and America, but it throws a shadow on the person attacked. If the presidents or some other prominent persons in America and Germany had clarified what is meant by prejudices against ethnic groups, including anti-Semitism, they would have done a good deed for their countries.

The constant calling to mind of the holocaust in connection with Israel is likely to give the impression that, in spite of all appearances, Israel is the victim or at least that critics should allow for extenuating circumstances. After the Israeli army conquered the rest of Palestine in the Six Day War and then “for reasons of security” began settling Jews there, Israel’s image became tarnished world-wide. The idea then turned up among Israel supporters in America that this was due to a lack of holocaust-consciousness. Various remedies were used. Holocaust novels were sent to all members of Congress. In films and novels Palestinians and the Nazis planned the destruction of Israel. The director of the ADL wrote: “The Palestinians, or many of them, were Hitler’s little helpers.”Novick, The Holocaust in American Life, p.156ff. During the last intifada the president of the Council of Jews in Germany, Paul Spiegel, and Israel’s ambassador, Shimon Stein, demanded better holocaust-instruction in the schools ostensibly for the purpose of fighting anti-Semitism. Spiegel also recommended that the ministers of culture in the German states turn to Yad Vashem for advice on holocaust-instruction.

The Zionist leaders justify the claims they make against America and Germany in favor of Israel in quite different ways. Support from America is said to be in America’s interest, whereas support from Germany is characterized as part performance of a moral obligation of the German people. For an elaboration of the US-Israel relation I confine myself here to recommending the recent study by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt about the Israel lobby and some critical and affirmative reviews of the book.John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, The Israel Lobby (New York 2007). Short versions of the book have appeared in London Review of Books, March 10, 2006, and Journal of Palestine Studies, Spring 2006. The JPS added several reviews.

Zionist and German political leaders assert again and again that the Germans are morally obliged to secure Israel´s existence and that the state must fulfill this obligation. Thus, Israel’s president Katzov said last year in a speech before the German parliament: “There can never be forgiveness or pardon for the shoa.” This hard remark was clearly meant to burden the consciences of all Germans, even the unborn, although in our cultural area and not only here only those who have done wrong have need for forgiveness. Michel Friedman said: “The heirs of the Jew-killing state have no choice but to accept this historical obligation.” At the beginning of the recent intifada Israel’s prime minister Barak said to Chancellor Schmidt who was visiting Israel: “Because of the shadows of the past, Germany has a special obligation to Israel.” While the Israeli army was employing force out of all proportion to that of the Palestinian fighters, Germany’s foreign minister, Josef Fischer, declared that the Islamic terrorists wanted to destroy Israel. Israel had a right to exist. “We are obliged to use all means available to prevent the destruction of Israel.”The remarks of Barak, Friedman and Fischer are quoted in Lewan, Die zweite Intifada, pp. 112-120. The employment of the German marine to patrol the Lebanese coast during and after the Lebanese war was explained by the speaker of the government as follows: “First, there is the historical obligation to secure the existence of the state of Israel and second the interest in stability in the Middle East.” In this connection Angela Merkel declared: “Our reason of state is above all to secure Israel’s existence.”Süddeutsche Zeitung, September 7, 2006.

These statements are objectionable for at least three reasons. 1. If one has swallowed enough of Zionist ideology, one can talk without any compunctions as if Israel’s existence and not that of the Palestinians and the Lebanese state was at stake. 2. Let’s turn the tables: If all Jews were held to be morally responsible for the past wrongs of some Jews, we would rightly call this a prejudice against the Jews, anti-Semitism and a defamation. It is noteworthy that leading German politicians persist in defaming their own nation. 3. When the head of a state declares that “our reason of state” is to defend some other country and no public figure objects, it is high time to think about emigrating.

Even if we assume that all of the Germans are responsible for wrongs done to individual victims by some of the Germans during the Third Reich, the question would still remain whether the obligation would extend to the state of Israel. A former German ambassador to Israel, Klaus Schütz, has argued that the Germans are responsible to secure Israel’s existence because the holocaust was the spark for the establishment of Israel. He did not clarify what was meant by “spark” or why it should be decisive. His assumption, however, that the obligation must be grounded in a causal relationship is worth examining. The all-important cause for the establishment of Israel was doubtless the alliance between the government of England and the Zionist leaders and what they did in Palestine. England held the key to Palestine. Beginning in 1920, the government supported the Zionist colonization for 17 years. The British army suppressed the first Palestinian Uprising (1936-1939). It is has been estimated that about 3000 rebels were killed, 100 were hanged and the leaders were exiled. The Zionists were allowed to build an army which with Jewish terror organizations expelled 750,000 Palestinians. (Half of the Arab population of mandatory Palestine became refugees). The expulsions began while Britain was still responsible for law and order. The only (relatively small) causal connection between Germany and the establishment of Israel was the fulfillment of the agreement which the Hitler government made with the Zionist leaders. Were the British people obliged to secure Israel’s existence? The answer is obviously “No,” and there are two reasons for that. First, only individuals are guilty and responsible for wrongs committed. Second, England did not harm Israel, it enabled the Zionists to get what they wanted. The Palestinians were harmed. The members of the English government, the Zionist leaders and their supporters were guilty and responsible for the harm they caused the Palestinians.

Israel’s only possible claim against Germany was for compensation for the costs it might have incurred by integrating Jewish victims. But a very substantial part of these costs were covered by the Palestinians whose lands and homes were given to Jewish settlers. These consequences were pointed out by Arab embassies but Chancellor Adenauer said he had no right to take a stand on the relation between Jews and Arabs. This statement contradicted the almost unanimous opinion among philosophers of ethics — and our common sense — that the probable consequences must be taken into consideration in judging whether an agreement is morally good. Israel claimed compensation for integrating 500,000 Jews and the German government paid it.

Since then the German governments along with other Western governments have aided and abetted the Israeli wars of aggression, expulsion and exploitation. Some of the deliveries of weapons have been kept secret, some were paid entirely or in part by Germany, i.e. by the taxpayers. Thus, Germany paid 80% of the costs of three submarines which could be equipped with nuclear weapons.Christopher Steinmetz, German-Israeli Armaments–Cooperation, Berlin Information Center for Security, November/December 2002. It is noteworthy that the last delivery was made soon after the brutal suppression of the last Palestinian uprising. The fact that there is a causal relation between Germany’s support for Israel and the hard fate of the Palestinians and other Arabs is never mentioned. This reality — and the guilt and moral responsibility of the countries’ leaders — is glossed over with the dogma that the Germans are obliged to secure Israel’s existence.

The dire consequences of what Israel has done in the Middle East with the support of western governments goes against the grain of the majority of the European people. I have already referred to the results of the public opinion poll that was taken during the intifada. During the war in Lebanon, two questions were asked in a poll in Germany. The first: “Israel is attempting to stop attacks by the radical Islamic Hisbullah. Do you regard the Israeli attacks on Lebanon as justified as a defense measure, or does Israel have no right to do that? 22% answered with “Yes,” 63% with “No,” and 15% had no opinion. The second question: “Should Israel forgo attacks on big cities to avoid causing civilian victims, even when Hisbullah also attacks cities in Israel with missiles?” 72% answered with “Yes,” 18% with “No,” and 10% had no opinion.TNS Infratest for the magazine Spiegel, July 18-20, 2006. The majority of the population called a spade a spade and showed its sympathy for the victims.

It is hard to believe that the German leaders themselves are convinced that their nation is morally responsible to secure Israel’s existence. Suppose the Zionists had not conquered a part of Arabia which was unable to defend itself but some part of America and driven out its inhabitants. Would they have supported the Zionists or the Americans? It is also noteworthy that one rarely hears about the murder of non-Jews, Roma, and others in the concentration camps, and the assertion of an obligation to them is hard to find. The most recent example of the indifference to non-Jewish victims is the new memorial at a prominent place in Berlin which is dedicated only to the Jewish victims. Finally, the treaty between Adenauer and Ben Gurion, whereby Germany was to provide Israel with goods and services in the value of 3 billion German marks during the following 12 years, had been made after America, England, and France suggested that Germany give Israel economic support. At that time, Germany was eager to join the western alliance, have its debts limited and obtain support in its dispute with East Germany over Berlin. Adenauer wrote in his memoirs that his success at the London Claims Conference depended upon his satisfying Jewish banking circles in regard to the terms of his treaty with Ben Gurion.

3. The third goal of Zionists in America and Germany is to maintain a privileged position for the remembrance of the Jewish tragedy. There are other ethnic groups who want the past sufferings of their groups to be recognized. A draft resolution in Congress for the erection of a museum in remembrance of what black slaves had to endure from Americans was rejected. Blacks have never received compensation. Just recently, however, the state of Virginia did express its regrets. A draft resolution in Congress in remembrance of the extermination of a large part of the Indian population fell through.

A draft resolution for the recognition of the Armenian tragedy was fought successfully by Israel and Jewish organizations.Novick, The Holocaust in American Life, pp. 178, 179. They argued that the Jewish tragedy was unique because there was no rational reason for it. This statement is ambiguous. It can mean that there was no just reason for the murder of the Jews, but that holds for the killing of the Armenians, too. It can mean that the act was done for no reason at all which in the case of Hitler is unproved. He might have been moved by the belief that “Jews in international financial circles” plunged America into the war, as he said in 1939. Whether his reason was right or wrong is not the issue here.

The holocaust memorial in Washington was originally intended to be built in remembrance of all the victims of the Third Reich. At that time, President Carter’s party feared that his sympathy for the Palestinians would cause the loss of Jewish campaign funds and some important electoral districts. Elie Wiesel, who spoke for interested Jewish groups, objected to Carter’s plan. He insisted that only Jewish victims should be remembered, because their suffering was unique. If it were dedicated to other groups, too, the Jews would not support it. Carter gave in.Novick, Ibid., 16-22. The Council of the holocaust museum in Washington explained its purpose as follows: “The memorial belongs at the center of American life, because America, as a democratic civilization, is the enemy of racism and the most radical form of genocide”. The Nazis have violated the deepest belief of the American people in word and deed. There are some ethnic groups in America who surely are not convinced of this interpretation of American history. The privileged position of Jews in America has led to much tension between them and weaker minorities, especially the blacks.

The huge monument in Berlin which is dedicated only to the Jewish victims of the Third Reich was advocated in public by two Germans who were not Jewish, but Paul Spiegel spoke at the dedication ceremony. The fact that other victims were overlooked was justified by the two advocates with the following assertions:

1. The mass murder of the Jews was unique.
2. “According to some sources,” the number of Roma killed was much smaller than what the Roma have claimed. But the number of Jews who were killed has also been disputed.
3. The Roma were killed in different ways and for different reasons. But Roma were also gassed in the concentration camps, and why should the killing of innocent people for one reason be less deplorable than the killing for some other reason.
4. A fourth goal: It is in the very own interest of thousands of people to spread the Zionist ideology and dogmas. They can be awarded with money, prestige and influence. Among them are the largest Jewish organizations in America, the Council of Jews in Germany, the Jewish Claims Commission against Germany, Councils and employees of holocaust museums, film producers, publishers of Jewish newspapers and journals, journalists, writers, lawyers and others.Finkelstein gives numerous examples of the use of the holocaust-remembrance for profit in The Holocaust Industry (London, New York 2000).

Conclusion

The distinguishing feature of Zionist ideology and its dogmas is fear and insecurity. They give distorted pictures of reality. Like some other ideologies its employment has brought the promoters a great deal of success but also tragedy for the Palestinians and other Arabs and suffering for many Jews, too. The dogmas are:

   1. Jews can only be secure when they live in a Jewish state, because anti-Semitism is anchored in the minds/souls of all other nations and will never end.
   2. Dishonesty, fickleness and dangerousness are characteristics of the Arabs.
   3. Israel merely defends itself, it is fighting for its existence. Israel´s security is the crucial issue in the Middle East conflict.
   4. Criticism of Israel is proof of anti-Semitism. For some Zionists this is only true when the criticism is sharp.
   5. Jews are never responsible for anti-Semitism.
   6. The holocaust was purely and simply a consequence of anti-Semitism, totalitarianism could not have been a necessary condition. In this connection, two more dogmas: The holocaust was the worst crime in human history. And all Germans, even the unborn, are morally obliged to do what is necessary to secure Israel’s existence.

All of this speaks for the abolition of the lurid and narrow–minded Zionist ideology and its dogmas. It would be good for all concerned if it were replaced with a guideline which is closer to reality and open to the spirit of respect and reconciliation. My wife recommends the words of Zarastro in The Magic Flute: “Life begins where fear ceases.” This can also be said about pretenses of fear and insecurity. Such a change will not be easy, but “The world is not a stinking pond. It is a river. What isn’t now, may well still be.” (Ole Bienkopp, Erwin Strittmatter).

Prof. Kenneth Lewan was an infantry soldier in WWII, wounded in Germany. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, PhD at the University of Munich. He has taught law and politics in America and Germany and written numerous articles and several books on legal and political issues. He can be reached at: hannah_lewan@web.de. Read other articles by Kenneth, or visit Kenneth's website.

21 comments on this article so far ...

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  1. Marcus said on May 15th, 2008 at 5:35am #

    This well researched and written article! Thank You!

    Unfortunately, It seems Israel and Zionism have no understanding for the suffering of other nations.

    one another interesting article ..
    “The Enemy of My Friend is My Enemy?”
    http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/30795.html

  2. mindless buddha said on May 15th, 2008 at 6:19am #

    Excellent! This unbiased and well informed perspective desperately needs to become more readily available in the general media. Life is very much like a river; and this clear perspective that is now considered a ‘dissident voice’ traveling up a muddy stream will one day become the perspective of the vast and clear sea.

  3. bozhidar balkas said on May 15th, 2008 at 7:32am #

    i’m glad that kenneth lewan calls zionism an “ideology”. i may add, an odious one.
    it cannot prevail. it is even now rejected by at least 5bn people. and zionists, by calling people “antisemitic” for merely being factual, can and will, i expect, exacerbate situation for the zionists and the judaists.
    our work, our elucidation, our enumeration of facts will come to fruition.
    each time i’m called an antisemite, i’m stenghtened. for i know, zionists can handle lies better than the truth. thank u

  4. hp said on May 15th, 2008 at 9:20am #

    The only question is what ‘ism’ will these demonic miscreants morph into next.
    After all, just like the rich and the poor, Mr. Hyde will always be with us..

  5. DRL said on May 15th, 2008 at 12:12pm #

    Superb article. Well argued and documented. Greatly appreciated.

    Minor quibble with the author’s assertion that Europe doesn’t have an equivalent of ‘AIPAC’. Well, in fact it does. The lobbying group known as ‘European Friends of Israel’ [EFI] was inaugurated in September 2006, the objective of which, according to Dimitri Dobret:

    “We came to the conclusion that there are various Israel friendship groups in Europe coordinated at national level. There are also many members of the European Parliament sympathetic to Israel . But there is a lack of a European umbrella structure aimed at federating all these pro-Israel supports in Europe. EFI will give an added value to all these parliamentarians, both on EU and national level, to help and accompany them in their daily work, providing information and organising parliamentary missions in Israel”

    AIPAC and EFI are two peas of the same pod, and there’s no lack of funds flowing to either of them …

    More about EFI:

    Ynetnews: Gala launches ‘European Friends of Israel’

    European Jewish Press [interview of Dimitri Dobret]: A structure for EU parliamentarians friends of Israel

    I don’t have any suggestions as to what the populations of the US and EU might do to diminish the influence these groups have on political discourse and policy but, clearly, awareness-building is a first step.
    . . .

    Also, highly recommended reading, on the topic of European/German–Israel relations and how deep they run, a troubling series of articles, from 2006, written by a German defense analyst and former intelligence officer [patience; they’re dense and lengthy, but the effort is well rewarded]:

    Germany, The Re-Engineered Ally – By Axel Brot
    Part 1: Readiness for endless war
    Part 2: Everything is broken
    Part 3: Hail to the chief, or else

  6. dan e said on May 15th, 2008 at 2:04pm #

    This article provides an excellent overview of Zionist ideology and how it is used to further Zionist aims. Let me hasten to congratulate the author, and thank him for the considerable labor it took to produce this well-documented analysis.

    However, Zionism is much more than an ideology. I’ll explain in a minute but first, I do feel compelled to mention a cpl points which leave me mystified; likely they are to be explained by language difference between Deutsch and English? One is the use of the term “West Jordan” to denote the portions of Palestine conquered in 1967, often called “The West Bank and Gaza”. or “the Occupied Territories”. Why the writer wants to bring in the British Empire-created Hashemite Kingdom is beyond me.

    A second point is his backhanded assertion that “other states in the region” are attempting to acquire nuclear weapons, which to me reads like an echo of the current Zionist propaganda offensive to justify an attack on Iran.

    Those two “quirks” (?) aside, let me offer the author a resounding round of applause for a job well done! He has gone right to the root of the Zionist Mythology which holds so many otherwise well-intended people in its criminal grip, quickly and efficiently dispatching the shopworn arguments with whch these Zionist criminals continue to try to defend the indefensible.

    But Zionism is more than an Ideology, more than a set of ideas, arguments, images. Zionism is also a set of Institutions and material Practices. Zionism is embodied in a State Configuration, which includes but is not confined to the so-called “State of Israel”.

    This Zionist Power Configuration includes a “State Ideological Apparatus”, which operates internationally from bases in every country of significance; the ZPC also includes a set or network of Political Organizations, including military and “security” organizations; plus the ZPC Economic State Apparatus, which includes a number of highly profitable business enterprises as well as a strategically placed network of organizations and Operatives in the world of high finance.

    Sorry I don’t have time to provide scholarly documentation of the above facts. I certainly would have liked to follow Dr. Lewan’s example but alas I have to go do some very unscholarly things having to do with my individual economic survival. So best I can do is hope somebody takes my remarks “heuristically”, as a starting pt to construct their own hypothesis about Zionist Power in America and the World.

    I would suggest to anyone moved in that direction to first check out the late Louis Althusser’s insights into the Capitalist State, while keeping powder dry re other of his views; and next to read James Petras’ two recent books dealing with the Zionist Power Configuration, the ZPC-inspired “War For Oil” snowjob, and related matters.

    Sorry, I’d better stop right here; I could go on all day but I don’t HAVE all day today, so I’m
    AOT,
    dan:)

  7. Dave Silver said on May 15th, 2008 at 2:59pm #

    Ken makes some very valid points as to the praxis and some of the
    politica/ideological features of Zionism. But there is an extremely important ommission when he fails to mention the centrality
    of racism that underpins the Zionist political perspective, which is powerfully embodied in the Zionist slogan “a land without people
    (the Palestinians and Arabs) for a people (the Jews) without land.”

  8. Gee said on May 15th, 2008 at 8:37pm #

    A good artcile by the Palestinian Ghali Hassan is posted around by http://www.axisoflogic.com worth reading.

  9. Mike McNiven said on May 15th, 2008 at 11:20pm #

    Thank you for the good work Mr. Lewan!

    I would like to share with you that the German secret services, for a long time, have been the facilitators for the dirty works of the Israeli intelligencr services in many countries. The case of Guatemala is a very significant example to study: the joint German/Israeli operations which led to the creation of the death squads and the massacre of tens of thousands of peasants. ( it is still going on, would you please expose it futrher! )

    One other major case: the destruction of Yugoslavia. It started by the Germans and got continued by the Israelis, Americans, the British and the al-Qaeda! (what a deadly cocktail)

  10. zhann said on May 16th, 2008 at 3:30am #

    Let me start by saying that I am not trying to defend the Jews at every step, and every action. I do not feel that the Jewish people always make the right decision, and are immune to criticism. There are numerous incidents that Jews have crossed the line, and they continue to cross the line to this day. With that said, this article is so biased to the facts and what really happened that it blows the mind. How previous comments can make claims like “Excellent! This unbiased and well informed perspective … ” is beyond me. This article is about as unbiased as Michael Moore’s films. At least Michael Moore is entertaining in his bias, this article flat out misleads the readers at every corner.

    It is also important to understand Jews as a whole. It is difficult to understand how a nationality can exist without a homeland for millennia. This is a nation that has lived in almost every country around the world, long before any other nationality would dare to do so. Even the English, a conquering nation, couldn’t achieve the level of dispersion at the peak of their conquests that the Jews achieved. Imagine the mindset that was instilled in Jews thousands of years ago. Jews were taught even at the time of Christ to take care of other Jews, and that Jews are the chosen people. I think the ‘Chosen People’ doctrine was a way to keep the Jews together as a people, regardless of where they were. For thousands of years, Jews were chased out of one nation after another. Much of this had to do with Jealousy. It is common knowledge that Jews are a successful race when it comes to business, and this is directly related to Jewish national unity, the fact that Jews will always help other Jews regardless of where they are located. No other nationality has ever felt what Jews have felt. No other nationality has been kicked out of home after home. No other nation has suffered what the Jews suffered during the holocaust. It is easy to criticize the Jews when they make a mistake politically, or when they do something that isn’t deemed ‘Politically Correct’, but it is important to understand where the Jews are coming from, and why they are fighting so hard.

    Before I begin my criticism of Kenneth’s article, I would like to be clear on my view of Anti-Semitism. I think that this is a phrase that is thrown around far too often over items that are much closer to criticism rather than Anti-Semitism. I don’t want to call the author Anti-Semitic, but it is important for people to understand why Jews are so sensitive to this. As I already mentioned, Jews have been kicked out of home after home for millennia. Over time, Jews began to understand that this is primarily because of the stigma that is associated with Jews. Once this stigma comes into play, Jews have little to defend themselves. It is hard to fight stereotypes, and it is even harder when you are outnumbered 100 to 1 and you are being kicked out of home after home. Anti-Semitism as a concept has been around for a long time, but only come into prominence just over a century ago. This is a very painful subject to the Jews, as it is to most races when people are attacked because of race alone. Let us look at African Americans, or any other race that is singled out. Again, Anti-Semitism is cited far too often these days, but it is still far too common to be ignored. There is a degree of Anti-Semitism that runs deep within the psyche of many nations, and ignoring this will not do anyone any good. What would be nice is if people would try to understand the Jews a little more before openly criticizing them, and even better if they would point out both sides of the story, rather than the side that is openly against the Jewish Mentality (of course, the same can be said for Jewish news as well). This is an unfortunate side effect of ‘Freedom of the Press’, biased news. When news outlets begin to show both the Israeli side, and the Palestinian side … side by side … I think that this conflict will have a better chance of ending.

    Now, my criticism of the article in question …

    … Herzl’s assertion about the unique suffering of Jews and the prejudices of all other nations cannot be empirically confirmed
    – It can’t be confirmed? Are you sure? I think it can easily be confirmed … name one other nation that was dispersed for over two millennia, without a homeland but with a nationality. A nation that was kicked out from one country after another, possibly for good reason but that is irrelevant. Jews have been pushed out of country after country, in part because of jealousy, but also in part because of their attitude towards Gentiles.

    … The foreseeable consequences of this outlook were bleak: Ruthlessness and a stubborn refusal to admit that they had wronged anybody.
    – Is it just me, or does this statement makes it look like the Jews are the only ones in the wrong? It seems like the author has an agenda.

    … The Yad Vashen museum
    – How are people misled? I am not following the point you are trying to make. The fact that Jews outside of Israel are built on shifting sands is simply a metaphor to encourage Jews to come to Israel. The Museums blatant reference for the holocaust is obvious, and doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand.

    … Nuclear weapons for Israel
    – Do you really think that the USA had no part in this? It is hard to tell by your tone. The USA obviously helped not only develop the nuclear weapons, but also assisted in hiding them. It is important to note that the USA (and much of Europe) still sees Israel as the only sound base of operation in case of an Arab war. A better question, when has Israel ever launched an unsolicited attack on an Arab country (aside from targeted strikes at known military/nuclear sites)? It is difficult to understand how one can view Israel as an aggressor. Of course they use aggressive measures, but name an instance when it was used in a non-defensive manner?

    … The Six Day War (June 1967)
    – No, this isn’t biased, of course not. We will ignore the countless facts that led people to believe that Egypt was about to attack. We will also ignore the claims that Syria and Jordan were also on the verge of attack. Let’s ignore the troop buildup on the border, let’s ignore the fact that the troops were decimated on the border. Let’s simply cite a claim, somewhere, by some guy, that the facts are wrong. No, not biased at all.

    … The war in Lebanon in 1982
    – Ok, the comparison of Arafat to Hitler is a bit off base. However, you are completely ignoring the causes of this war. There is mention that “the Palestinians exercised restraint”, but fail to point out how many Israeli’s were killed, how many were injured, or even the fact that this war was started because Palestinians mined southern Lebanon, killing an Israeli officer, officially starting the war.

    … Supplements to the ideology
    – “The Palestinians come out of a culture in which lying does not result in much disapproval” … I hate to attack the authors knowledge of Muslims, but the fact is that this statement is 100% true. Muslims practice ‘Taqiyah’, which states that Muslims can openly lie to the enemy. Please do a quick Google search on the word for more information, but a quick ‘Quran’ verse is:

    Mohamed said: “Lying is wrong, except in three things: the lie of a man to his wife to make her content with him; a lie to an enemy, for war is deception; or a lie to settle trouble between people” (Ahmad, 6.459. H).

    Since all Non-Muslims are openly considered ‘enemies’, it is allowed for Muslims to lie with a clean conscious. This is hard to believe for the Western world, but it is very true.

    … The last Palestinian uprising
    – In my opinion, the Jews were wrong here, but again this is my opinion. I think that this was an obvious attempt by Sharon to antagonize the Palestinians. It worked. His logic behind this is unclear (maybe political power?), but I feel that this was crossing the line.

    … Lebanon 2006
    – Israel may have over reacted, but I think the media over reacted far more. All Lebanon had to do was return two people … that’s it. The violence would have ended. Instead, they knew what was coming, and refused. What would America do? We all remember Afghanistan. What would any other nation do if two soldiers were captured? This was an act of war by Lebanon, and the response was well justified. It may have been extreme, but no where near as extreme as the media’s coverage of the event.

    … The Palestinian election (January 2006)
    – I am a bit confused here, it seems like the Author is implying that Israel should recognize the Hamas government. Is this so? How can Israel recognize a government that openly … Openly … states that they will kill all the Jews in Israel, they will never recognize the nation of Israel, and regularly kill Israelis before and after the elections? What sane person would ever recognize a regime like that? Hamas isn’t just ‘a’ terrorist organization, aside from Al Qaida, it is THE terrorist organization. They have killed more Israelis than anyone else, and continue to do so without the condemnation of their own people. You are kidding, right?

    As for the statement “millions of dollars from taxes and duties which belonged to the already impoverished Palestinians were withheld”, you forgot to mention who paid those taxes. The vast majority of these taxes were paid by American’s and Israelis, not Palestinians or Arabs. This is money that is donated to the Palestinians. Contrary to what many believe, Israel still donates more money to the Palestinians than Hamas.

    As for the rest, the author did a great job at pointing out all the highlights of Hamas rule. How peaceful they are, and how evil the Jews are. He even went so far as to claim that Israel pulled out of Gaza to gain territory elsewhere. Fine, I can’t argue every point. But, let me point out a very simple fact, Hamas has never condemned an attack. Maybe they didn’t openly admit to attacks during the ceasefire, but they didn’t even denounce a single attack made by other factions. More importantly, after Israel left Gaza, rockets have been reigning on Israel Daily! When Israel rides back into Gaza, and takes control of it again in order to stop these rockets, Israel will once again be the aggressor, right?

    … The “wave of antisemitism”
    – I don’t want to criticize this line by line, so I will make a blanket statement. Rather than point out every incident Jews use Anti-Semitism to their advantage, and emphasize each instance as an act of deceit, it may be better to point out why some of these instances occurred. It would also be good to see the author’s definition of Anti-Semitism, with examples of where they were called correctly.

    … The obsession with the holocaust
    – Honestly, I read this piece and was in shock over and over again. The author has no sense of tact when writing, especially about a subject as sensitive as the holocaust. How this event will be viewed in 100 years is one thing, but right now many survivors are still alive to this day. Members of my family were in the concentration camps, and several of them died there. The fact that Jews were openly targeted is so well documented, that after reading this section I felt as if the author intentionally ignored many facts to make his article more effective. Jews were targeted … everywhere … throughout Europe. The camps were primarily for Jews. Jews were forced to be tattooed at times, and always forced to wear bandanas identifying themselves as Jews. Other nationalities were killed too, of course, such as Gypsies, and some that openly apposed the Nazi’s, but the primary purpose of these camps was for Jews. This may not be the worst crime in history, but it is by far the worst crime in recent history. Again, rather than just attack the Jews, why not provide clear evidence of something worse?

    … Zionist goals in America and Germany
    – Criticizing Germany’s yearly donation of millions of Euros to Jews is a bit harsh. I know that people don’t trust the Jews, but what is important to note is that the Jews always look out for the Jews. The Germans were ‘The’ cause of the holocaust, and these millions of Euros are distributed amongst holocaust survivors. If leftover money is spent on Jewish programs, what is wrong with that? What are a few million Euros to the German government? Is the author trying to imply that this is hurting the German economy in some way?

    Also, German and US support for Jews is strictly a financial benefit for both countries. Both countries acknowledge the fact that a large portion of extremely rich Jews is good for the economy. To further my point above, the Jews in Germany pay far more than a few million Euros in taxes. Upsetting the Jewish population may cause an exodus of Jews, extremely hurting Germany. Jews are masters in business. Many are taught how to make money, and how to help other Jews make money, from a very young age. This simple fact is the root cause for much of the hostility towards the Jews. America and Germany both understand this, and both welcome Jews knowing that their hard earned money means huge tax revenue. Likewise, more Jewish immigration means more hard working Jews, means even more tax revenue. Very few nationalities as a whole are so involved in the financial markets like the Jews are.

    As for Israel’s claim of ‘being the victim’, why not point out some of the reasons Israel makes this claim, rather than point out reasons why this claim is false? The latter wouldn’t be so bad if the arguments made were factual. The fact that Israel is constantly under attack by Palestinian extremists, and previously by all surrounding Arab nations, is completely ignored. Peace would have come Long ago to the Middle East if terrorism against Israel wasn’t so welcomed by some of the liberal media. Today, Israel is attacking Gaza regularly. It is easy to point out these attacks, count the number of dead bodies, point out how violent Israel is. However, it would be more productive to cite that the reason the attacks were made is because over the past week over 5000 missiles were launched, and the reason so many innocents were killed is because Hamas openly uses civilians as human shields. Imagine this; you live in a 20 story high rise. In this building, hundreds of women, children and innocent men live. Then, a small group of terrorists buy an apartment and start attacking Israel from the apartment. Normal people would quickly call the police, and get the terrorists out. Palestinians welcome the terrorists, and when Israel bombs the building, they cry “Look at all the innocent people you killed”.

    My conclusion, it is important for people to always post both sides of an event. Simply criticizing the Jews and Zionists, and ignoring all the apposing facts for why they took a particular action is wrong. Again, I don’t want to imply that the Jews were justified in all their actions, Jews often make mistakes and often cross the line. However, simply pointing out every war, every action, every thought … and criticizing it without giving a Jewish perspective is biased and makes for a poor argument. For a proper analysis, the article should represent both sides. Of course, the author’s opinion on the matter would still show if the author is inexperienced in the matter, but it is still better than what is written here. I would recommend rewriting this article like so:

    Event –
    … Palestinian Side (copy this article’s points here)
    … Jewish Side (a little more research)

    At least this way the article wouldn’t be so single sided. Sorry for the long winded response, but I didn’t want to short change the author. I acknowledge the fact that much research, time and effort was put into the article.

  11. bozhidar balkas said on May 16th, 2008 at 6:06am #

    dan e,
    in 19th century, zionism was an ideology. tho w.o.content. it had plans. the plan was destruction of a people with help from christian and later communist lands.
    before one does anything, one plans. zionist plan has been only partially carried out. zionist plan of today may not differ even slightly from the plan put together at first zionist cangress at basle.
    one can’t carry out such an atrocity w.o an intent.
    thus, intent may be as or more important than the act.

    zhann,
    ashkenazim may be only partly semitic. this ethnos is an admixture of euro-asian peoples that latched onto judaism.
    since judaism is rejectionist, supremacistic, mythological, goddist, no one in his right mind can accept such misteachings.
    so, judaists are rejected to this day and now by ab. 6.5 bn people.
    if one rejects others, one will be rejected.
    mizrahim are much diferent from ashkenazim. they are or may be pure semites and possibly pure jews.
    of the three ethnoses with judaism, the master ethnos is ashkenazic. mizrahim and sephardim being used as cannon fodder for ashkenazic dream and our and mizrahic nightmare.
    be it as it may, zionism will bit the dust. it’s one of the sickest ideologies we humans had to endure to date. thanx

  12. bozhidar balkas said on May 16th, 2008 at 6:34am #

    zhann,
    some of your statements are overgeneralized; thus, one can’t evaluate them.
    if u think that germans, danes, russians weren’t nations and ashekenazim have been, i don’t think one can elucidate u.
    one of the reasons that ashkenazim (how ab. mizrahim?) make lotsof money may be because torah commands jews (ashkenazim accepting this) to have servants and not to be servants; to be lenders and not borrowers; to lead and not to be led.
    thus, they strive harder that the rest of us. or, indeed, they may be a super race. and, if this be true, it explains their sepatratism/rejectionism. who’d want to cooperate with the untermeschen? i would’n either.
    u also omit that sephardim and mizrahim have not been expelled from african, asian, and ottoman lands.
    actually, sephardim have been allowed to settle in ottoman lands. ashkenazim were even permited to buy land in palestine.
    russians, poles, czechs, s lovaks haven’t ever expelled ashkenazim. it seems only spain and england have ousted sephardim or ashkenazim. there may be other lands who expelled ashkenazim but i don’t know.
    as for crimes commited by ashkenazim, mizrahim, and sephardim, we do not know of which u approve of? why not tell us?

  13. zhann said on May 16th, 2008 at 7:48am #

    Bozhidar, I am sorry but I don’t exactly follow you. I am not sure which points you are arguing against. Regarding my generalizations, if I was to be extremely specific at every point I would be writing my response for another week. I was simply trying to show that it is unfair to write one side of a story and completely ignore the other. I did my best at quickly portraying the other side of the coin, trying intentionally to drift as far to the Israeli side as the Keneth drifted towards the Palestinian.

    Regarding war crimes, I know that we wouldn’t agree. I, for one, think War in general is a crime, so drawing a line and saying if you cross it you are committing a war crime … well, lets just say I find this term over used these days. Why not say killing is a War Crime and abolish war? That would be the logical conclusion, and the end all argument. War would be much more interesting if it were fought by our leaders, rather than our poor. You now know my view, what is yours? I would honestly like to hear where you think I am wrong in my response.

  14. Johnz said on May 16th, 2008 at 10:09am #

    Excellent article. There was one critical ommission, the libel trial of Rudolf Kasztner in Israel in the early 60’s. Kasztner was a Hungarian Zionist accussed by a Hungarian Jew that he had collaborated with Eichmann to allow 1,00 promenient Zionists leave with their possession in exchange for helping round up 500,000 Hungarian Jews. This was in 1944 and Eichmann needed local help to accomplish this as he had barely 1,200 German soldiers in Hungary at the time. The subsequent trial bore out the fact that Kasztner did indeed cooperate with the Nazis. Kasztner was a minister in Ben-Gurion’s government. the outcome of the trial threatened to bring down that government. A Lehi terrorist was dispatched and assasinated Kasztner. Case closed. The Zionists used the events of WWII in any number of ways to further their cause, even rejecting Churchill’s plan to evacuate children out of Europe.

    The partioning of Palestine is one of the greatest acts of hubris in the 20th century. God is not a real estate agent and to use the bible as arguement of ownership of real estate 2,000 years down the line defies all rational and logical thought. The events of WWII only lasted 6 years. The Zionists have been ethnically cleansing Palestine for over 60 years.

    Native Americans, Chinese, Irish, Cambodians, Armenians, Africans have all experienced their own HOLOCAUSTS. For Jews to demand that the world set their experiences above all others is nothing short of racism on the grandest scale. This is eveidenced in the book they choose to use as arguement for Israel. It claims they are the “chosen people.” Zionism predates Fascism, Communisim and the National Socialist Party. It is obvious where those political thoughts got their ideas from when one explores the tenents of Zionism.

  15. hp said on May 16th, 2008 at 11:35am #

    It’s not rocket science, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding.
    And the pudding is, at this particular moment (decades) in time, Palestine, but could also include Lebanon, Syria and Iran and anyone else who dares say a single derogatory word about the phony baloney parasite state and its vast majority of pseudo-semitic inhabitants who never had an ancestor ever step foot in the ‘Holy land.’ Unless of course the ‘Holy land’ is Russia, Poland or Brooklyn New York.

    There’s another article further down which explores root causes, issues which may explain this not so phenomenal phenomenon and the reason(s) it just never seems to end.
    The article is called “Beware the Psycopath, My Son.”
    There is a reason that despite all the overwhelming day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year propaganda spewed from TV, movies, newspapers, magazines, radio and subliminal suggestions that “Israel is good,” the fact remains that the majority of people in this world believe Israel is bad. Very bad indeed.

  16. Shabnam said on May 18th, 2008 at 12:24am #

    Mr. Lewan:
    Congratulation for this excellent paper which exposes, in my view, the Zionist’s use of a historical event as UNIQUE to influence minds and hearts for its expansionist policy to justify its own crimes against humanity. Israel using Jewish communities’ economic and political influence in western countries including US, Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Germany to expand its power in the region and beyond, keeping western population as hostage accusing them of committing crimes against Jews which will never be FORGIVEN or FORGOTEN to achieve its goal, “greater Israel” where goes from Mauritania to Afghanistan .
    To do so, Zionists have used their propaganda tool, the media, think tanks and other educational institutions to hold conferences to demonize its “enemies” with waging campaign of lies and deception to manipulate minds and capture hearts based on FEAR to implement its goals. In a recent Conference organized by “Stop the Bomb” coalition including GREEN PARTY from the US held in Vienna and Berlin the http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/916777.html

    Zionists focused on European population to sell another Zionist war for the interest of Israel with full cooperation of the western countries including “left” political party, Green Party. They announced:
    “The conference is organized by STOP THE BOMB – Coalition against the Iranian Extermination Program in cooperation with Vienna’s Jewish Community (IKG Wien), Scholars for Peace in the Middle East and the magazine Illustrierte Neue Welt. Its main purpose is to protest against the indifference wide parts of the Austrian and European public show when confronted with the Mullahs’ terror against Iran’s own population or with the extermination threats against Israel.”

    http://www.spme.net/cgi-bin/articles.cgi?ID=3820
    Benny Morris using “extermination threats” to spread FEARs among the ignorant population based on lies and deception. He writes:
    “The build-up to the second Holocaust (which, incidentally, in the end, will probably claim roughly the same number of lives as did the first) has seen an international community fragmented and driven by separate, selfish appetites – Russia and China obsessed with Muslim markets; France, with Arab oil – and the United States driven by the debacle in Iraq into a deep isolationism. Iran has been left free to pursue its nuclear destiny and Israel and Iran, to face off alone…”

    Benny Morris a propagandist, pose as historian, is exposed as a LIAR when one listens to other Israeli officials who are saying even a nuclear Iran is NOT a THREAT to Israel. I should emphasize that Israel has already couple of hundred nuclear bombs and Iran has NONE. As Foreign minister of Israel said:
    “Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said ….[I]n her opinion that Iranian nuclear weapons do not pose an existential threat to Israel,..”

    Livni also criticized the EXAGGERATED use that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is making of the issue of the Iranian bomb, claiming that he is attempting to rally the public around him by playing on its most basic FEARS. Earlier, former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy said similar things about Iran.”
    http://www.wakeupfromyourslumber.com/node/4239
    Israel is using a propagandist poses as “scholar” to spread FEARS among international community to deceive the population for its own benefits. These criminal activities have been used for more than 60 years by Zionists to hold on to their stolen land of Palestine with the support of western countries political elite directed by Jewish lobby in these countries presenting Israel as an “asset” through pro Israel politician who are helped to be elected by Jewish finacial support and vote into the political office to help their agendas.
    After destruction of Palestine, Israel is seeking annihilation of Iran, a big country, where has no bomb, no modern military arsenal match with this expantionist apartheid state, no political support from pro Zionist leaders including, Sarkozy , Kuchner, Milliband, Kirchner, Merkel, Happer, Kevin Rudd, Putin, Bush, in Western capitals and their associates. Since 1990s Iran is under containment where was designed by Martin Indyke former director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, an Israeli Think Tank which has caused economic loss and therefore have increased unemployment and brought destitute to Iranian population.
    This apartheid state at 60 still does not feel “safe” with all these advantageous. If this has not given Israel a sense of security, then it is time for Israel to look at it’s own actions and vicious plan to change the course to bring “security”, otherwise people of the world are FED UP with Zionists’ crimes against humanity and say enough is enough.
    Israel has built its propaganda machine around “uniqueness” of holocaust in WWII and a fuzzy number of “6 million” to manipulate FOOLS to launch strike on Iran by the military of a corrupt empire. Those who dare to raise questions about a historical event like any other event surrounding WWII are labeled as HITLER and Anti-Semite.
    The reason behind the Zionist use of “threat” based on “holocaust” is that holocaust industry not only have brought billions of dollars to the state of Israel to be used in building more JEWISH SETTLEMENTs but also has been used to silent its critics by manipulating US foreign policy and launching campaign of lies and deception to buy sympathy and cooperation from the targeted population of the west who have been brain washed from early ages through educational institutions and think tanks to accept holocaust as UNIQUE which is not the case.
    Mr. Lewan as you have mentioned Kennedy asked Ben Gurion to allow the Atomic Energy Commission to inspect Israel plant since he wanted to make sure Israeli’s plan is for “peaceful” purposes. Ben Gurion obviously deceived Kennedy and Vanunu has publicly accused Israel of its involvement in Kennedy assassination yet no one has looked into it yet, but baseless accusations on “enemies” are circulated by the media to deceive the international community to wage another Zionist war.
    Zionists claim “Israel is not safe at 60.” The holocaust is their tool of manipulation. But we know that many human communities had or having their own holocaust, some at the hand of Zionists and Americans who “want to do good in the world.” In WWI, large number of Iranian population, about 8-10 millions, were perished due to British occupation war policy where British diverted Iranian crops to feed British military force and let Iranian die out of hunger. Large portion of the Iranian population was wiped off the map due to this policy but you hardly hear anything about this genocide where Mohammad Gholi Majd, the author of “the great famine and genocide in Persia, 1917 – 1919 “, called it “the worse holocaust in the 20th century.” In WWII, 63 million were perished, of whom 23 million were Russians. The Rwanda massacre where almost 1 million people were literally cut into pieces and were burned in only 90 days, which is UNIQUE, under Clinton administration where had many Zionist advisors including Martin Indyke, who designed and implemented the dual containment policy in Iraq where caused more than 650,000 deaths, to weaken Iraq for further action viewed by the Zionist secretary of State, Mad Albright, as “worth it.” The Armenian holocaust that Bernard Lewis, Zionist pro Israel, refused to call it genocide to please Turkey, Israel’s ally, in court, to eliminate competition against the holocaust industry in favor of Israel. Roma holocaust where more thank 400,000 of them were perished in WWII who are not allowed to have a memorial museum because of potential competition against the “holocaust of the chosen people”, the European massacre of Indian, African, Asian, and ……. And American massacre of the indigenous population of Americas, the British massacre of the indigenous people of Australia, Canada and……. French massacre of the Arab North Africa, Asia, African continent, genocide committed by Japanese against Chinese people, genocide in Iraq and Palestine yet the Zionists, the former colonists and the imperialists are threatening Iran with a nuclear holocaust to wipe PEOPLE OF IRAN AND her CIVILISATION of more than 5000 YEARS OFF the map and no media objects or criticizes these treasonous acts to warn their citizens on crime against humanity and in fact media where employs so many pro Israelis as “reporters” and “analysts” is an effective tool to sell the Zionist war plan through propaganda to help Israel by spreading LIES like “Iran is a real threat”. We never forget the Zionist “journalist” Judith Miller, a liar, who appeared on TV screen with a bag of sugar night after night to scare people and demonize people of Iraq to sell the Zionist war before the invasion. To demonize a country and its people, Zionists bring false accusations against leader of that country to create another “Hitler” and try to charge him/her with “inciting genocide”, to construct “crisis” to destabilize the country for further action.
    Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd found Ahmadinejad’s statement Of “Zionist regime to be disappeared from the page of time” as “anti-Semitic” statement which is laughable and presents him nothing but a CLAWN when he wants to take Ahmadinejad to court.
    The reason behind support for an apartheid state by western “leaders” is:
    Both Howard and Rudd declared that this support was based on the “shared values” of Australia and Israel including “market economies, the rule of law and democracy” (Howard) and “human rights, democracy and the rule of law” (Rudd). Neither mentioned the other “shared value” of the two countries — colonial settlement, killing the population, brutal dispossession of, and racist discrimination against, their indigenous inhabitants.
    Middle East and the world have seen nothing but war and destruction since the creation of Israel based on Balfour declaration given to European settlers to thank Rothschild who funded, with interest to be made, Britain expansionist policy in the world. Balfour wrote to Rothschild:
    Dear Lord Rothschild:
    “His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”
    http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/mideast/balfour.htm

    The Zionist did not honored what they have promised to imperialist Britain as the above statement shows.
    American and European population must understand that if they wage any assault on Iran, they will be the first to go down the tube; therefore, the citizens must get involve to stop threatening other communities and stop an attack on humanity. The Zionists must understand that they have been exposed in many communities and their tricks using “holocaust” and holding conferences with propagandists such as Benny Morris and Elie Wiezel is not going to protect you from your own criminal actions, and soon or later the justice will prevail. Once again thank you for your contribution.

  17. twickens said on May 18th, 2008 at 6:37am #

    There are some points that are continually overlooked in any discussion of Israel these days. While Israel and the U.S. continually rail against terrorism it should be pointed out that the American colonial militia engaged in activities which may have been considered terrorist attacks against British interests ( Boston Tea party etc) and the proto-Isrealis were definitely considered terrorists for using terrorist tactics. The Irgun in particular was considered, by the British as a terrorist group. There is also some debate as to why the Israelis attacked a U.S. ship back in the 1970s. The next statement will probably infuriate some people. Hitler may have been wrong in his theories of Jewish domination etc. however. in the decades since the Isreali War of Independence, Isreal has become a state mirroring, in smaller scale, the horror that led to it’s creation. Until the world, especially the U.S., can get over it’s guilt concerning the Holocaust and get over it’s use of all Middle Eastern states as profit makers and oil producers there can be no true peace in the Middle East. Until the U.S. can recognize that Israel is not perfect and can condemn them for human rights violations (somebody please condemn the U.S. as well!) and treat each middle eastern country equally there can be no peace.

  18. zhann said on May 19th, 2008 at 2:03am #

    Twickens, you are 100% correct in the fact that the USA and Israel were both terrorists in their time. The difference between Terrorists and Freedom Fighters is simply a matter of opinion.

    There is, of course, another difference between Muslim terrorists and US/Jewish terrorists. I hate to bunch all Muslims into a single group, but when it comes to Muslim Terrorists, you must admit that their methods are remarkably similar, and aside from Muslims, most Freedom Fighters shy away from such viciousness.

    The Jewish sentiment of the majority of Dissident Voice’s readers is anti-Israel. Much selective history is cited, and even more selective current events are cited. One thing that doesn’t seem to be cited a great deal is the methods used by Palestinian Freedom Fighters. In my honest opinion, I feel that Palestinians, and Arabs in General (reading Shabnam, one could easily include Persians as well) don’t care about the returning of land to Palestinians, but instead simply want the destruction of all Jews.

    I have said this before, and I am sure this isn’t the last time I am saying this, but we must not forget how rich Arab Nations are. If the Arab Nations truly cared for the Palestinians, they could have resolved this conflict Long ago. Israel is a capitalist society, Arabs could simply buy out half of Israel, and house all the refugees. It would be far cheaper than fighting Israel, and within 50 years the Palestinians will outnumber the Jews 10 to 1. The Arabs are well aware of this, but will never take such action. Why? Because killing the Jews is their intent, not helping the Palestinians. It seems that the Arabs hate the Palestinians even more than the Jews because they allow them to live in such squabble.

  19. Shabnam said on May 20th, 2008 at 8:02am #

    “If the Arab Nations truly cared for the Palestinians, they could have resolved this conflict Long ago. Israel is a capitalist society, Arabs could simply [BUY] out half of Israel, and house all the refugees.”

    LAND and INFRASTRUCTURE
    93.5% of the land inside the Green Line is not held by private owners. 79.5% of the land is owned by the Israeli Government through the Israel Land Administration, and 14% is privately owned by the Jewish National Fund. Under the 1952 World Zionist Organisation – Jewish Agency Status Law, and the 1954 Covenant between the state of Israel and the Jewish Agency, administration of state lands was handed to the JNF, which states explicitly on its website that “Jewish National Fund is the caretaker of the land of Israel, on behalf of its owners – Jewish people everywhere.”[44] In 1960, the Knesset adopted the Basic Law — Israel Lands, which formalised this. In proposing the law in the Knesset, religious affairs minister Zerah Warhaftig explained how the law enabled structural discrimination against non-Jews, without writing this in explicit terms:
    “Concerning the name, we gave this law the name Basic Law: Israel Lands. There were a number of proposals about the name. MK Harari proposed to name it “The People’s Lands”. On the face of it, I do not see any great difference between the two names. I admit that neither name hits the target. What is it that we want? What we want is difficult to define. We want to make it clear that the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel. The “people of Israel” is a concept that is broader than that of the “people resident in Zion”, because the people of Israel live throughout the world. On the other hand, every law that is passed is for the benefit of all the residents of the state, and all the residents of the state include also people who do not belong to the people of Israel, the worldwide people of Israel”.
    Journalist Chris McGreal reported that as a result of the government controlling most of the land, the vast majority of land in Israel is not available to non-Jews.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegations_of_Israeli_apartheid#Land_and_infrastructure

  20. Val Barnave said on September 5th, 2008 at 11:54pm #

    I am a Rabbi with a degree in psychology from a Jewish institution of higher learning. I am African American and poor. The Jewish community with their blind hatred of darker complexions chose to embargo me .I later learned that this was done to them in the holocaust. Fanaticism destroyed the World Trade center and caused the
    war in Iraq. In history when the Jewish community deviated from the teachings which gave them divine protection, Gd allowed them to be taken by their enemies. The unclean hatred of darker complexions is not a teaching of the Torah. Without that divine protection, one of their own will arise and find an excuse to rob them and put them into captivity. Gd doesn’t like ugly!

  21. sastry.m said on April 1st, 2009 at 6:06am #

    Thanks first to Prof.Kenneth Lewan for his article describing the undercurrents of life in the western world and the last comment from Rabbi Val Barnave. When young Kenneth was wounded and bled during ww2 probably he bore the pain with the valor of a fighting soldier and hoped for life with the Grace of God. Having recovered from pain and wounds it appears that he held no hatred against the enemy who caused so much distress and sustained no animosity and disdain as a victor towards the vanquished. Blessed with Grace he built himself up as a responsible citizen graduating from famous institutions back at home and acquiring a PhD from the erstwhile enemy! Yes, there maybe some factors of personal opinions to the negative but which are insignificant compared to the Ocean of Grace & Compassion of God in whom a mortal ever reposed his faith as Prof.Kenneth’s success proves. My comments may appear as childish flattery irrelevant to the subject under discussion but are meant to closely observe and differentiate the subtle nature between fellow human beings, one as a Gentile and the other as a Jew. Although bitter wars were fought among Gentile nations the scars were sooner forgotten and recovery from ravages faster achieved, ironically the Germans who suffered maximum physical destruction. If faith is invested in God sky is the limit for potential of wealth and contentment is the bliss of sharing its riches. That is the natural genius of the Jew the lack of which is deplored by Rabbi Barnave. Hate is the accomplishment of human personality egoistically lured to self created & defined wealth of mundane riches greatly abridging the potential of fertile minds in seeking ways and means of protecting and acquiring them dissipating in the process the very personalities which created them ultimately to the glory of grave yards. To err is human and to forgive is divine but what virtue it should mean to sustain and remember hatred and animosity, blame and shame and spend vast sums of money in building huge memorials and maintain as a nourishing fodder for the minds of innocent progeny? Hunger is Death to sustain life by natural sacrifice whether a pumpkin is sliced or a goat is slain for preparing food but homicide or genocide cannot substantiate human rationality and reason by threat and intimidation to enjoy the riches of man made wealth.