Libdem MP's antisemitic message re Holocaust
 | By Jonathan Hoffman
January 25, 2013 | Share |
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/2567/british_member_of_parliament_...
http://blog.thecst.org.uk/?p=4068
David Ward MP (Bradford East, 24.3% of whose population is Muslim) gave the following message to the magazine "Asian Image" after signing the HET's Memorial Book in the House of Commons
http://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/10182527.MP_condemns_treatment_of_Pales...
I am saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza.
This is a disgusting antisemitic comment (the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism says it's antisemitic to "Draw comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis").
http://www.european-forum-on-antisemitism.org/working-definition-of-anti...
I have written to Nick Clegg asking for the Whip to be withdrawn from Ward and asking for a public denunciation of Ward's antisemitic and highly insensitive statement.
UPDATE: The Liberal Democrat party has denounced Ward's statements. They told the Guido Fawkes blog: “This is a matter we take extremely seriously. The Liberal Democrats deeply regret and condemn the statement issued by David Ward and his use of language which is unacceptable.”
UPDATE 2: David Ward has removed the offending statement from his website
UPDATE 3: It's back with a defiant message ... surely he will lose the Whip when he sees the Whips' office on Monday!
http://davidward.org.uk/en/article/2013/654457/bradford-mp-condemns-isra...
EMAIL NICK CLEGG NOW!
https://www.facebook.com/SupportDavidWardForStandingUpForPalestine
Nick Clegg is getting lots of emails of support for Ward. Please email Nick Clegg to reinforce the message: WARD MUST LOSE THE LIBDEM WHIP JUST LIKE JENNY TONGE
https://www.libdems.org.uk/contact.aspx
Contact Nick Clegg here - select 'Nick Clegg' from the dropdown menu
UPDATE 4:
LibDem Chief Whip's letter of apology to Karen Pollock of HET (HT Matthew Harris):
http://www.scribd.com/doc/122300465/ChiefWhipLetter
UPDATE 5:
Superb piece by Melanie Phillips on why Ward is only a symptom of the UK's sickness:
http://www.melaniephillips.com/britains-national-sickness
The full, monstrous obscenity of both Ward’s remarks and the widespread British attitude to which he has given voice is no less than this: accusing the people who were the victims of genocide entirely falsely of committing crimes against humanity -- simply because they are trying to defend themselves from being wiped out again by those for whom the Holocaust is unfinished business. Self-defence against extermination is now considered a crime against humanity.
UPDATE 6:
He has been 'censured' and the offensive comment is still on his website
This is totally inadequate. He must lose the Whip and the comment must be removed.
Nick Clegg - Prove that you have Zero Tolerance for antisemitism in your Party!
UPDATE 7:
Statement from Board of Deputies:
Jonathan Arkush, the Board of Deputies’ Vice President and Chairman of the Defence Division, said: “We note that David Ward MP has been censured by the Liberal Democrats. However, the Board regards this as wholly inadequate. The whip should have been withdrawn and he should have been warned that he risked being expelled from the party. The Board further notes that Mr Ward’s offensive statement remains on his website, which hardly inspires confidence in the sincerity of his apology.”
Quite!
COMMENTS
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 14:55 Rate this: -2 points | (the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism says it's antisemitic to "Draw comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis). No it doesn't you are lying again |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 15:44 Rate this: 1 point | I don't think this will help his cause http://order-order.com/2013/01/25/david-ward-mp-pictured-with-swastika-o...? utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+guidofawkes+%28Guy+Fawkes%27+blog+of+parliamentary+plots%2C+rumours+and+conspiracy%29 Not even the wretched Jenny Tonge was up to swastikas on her website . |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 15:46 Rate this: 0 points | Judging from that photo, David Ward looks like a stern, sourpuss. Doesn't he? What does he charge to haunt a house? |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 15:55 Rate this: 0 points | And all before they even got your letter Jonathan |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 16:01 Rate this: 0 points | Rather than accusing him of the EUMC definition of anti-semitism, he should be asked to substantiate his comments and cite his sources. That would more reveal his lack of judgement. |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 16:20 Rate this: 1 point | His judgement was fine . He's defending a 200 majority . He needs all the votes he can get and he's playing to his constituency . In fact much the same as Galloway did . |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 16:36 Rate this: -1 points | If that's his constituency, I sure wouldn't want to live amongst them. |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 16:56 Rate this: 0 points |
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Fri, 01/25/2013 - 17:11 Rate this: 0 points | Harvey, you are right on one thing; Bradford voters do deserve better, but as Gorgeous George will be hoofed out at the next election just like he was at Bow and Ward will disappear like so many other Lib Dem MPs, they will prove the old dictum: "All political careers end in failure". Yes, I know it's Enoch Powell, but the old bugger did have some bon mots |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 17:45 Rate this: 0 points | Mr/Ms Goldfish, I've had a look at the Ottawa protocol, another worthy statement not endorsed or adopted by any legislature, and it does say:
So again, it has those pesky qualifying "could includes" with the added bonus of "taking into account the overall context". In other words, another watering down of a document not accepted into law by anyone. |
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 18:09 Rate this: -1 points | "Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis" does occur, THAT occurs in the muddled American add ons. The word " is " doesn't occur anywhere. Hoff perfectly well knows this. He is therefore lying AGAIN. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 11:16 Rate this: 0 points | Dear Mr Clegg Did you not hear Mr Hoffman's command? I don't see you jumping yet. Please throw away the Bradford East seat IMMEDIATELY. Yours in anticipation Mary |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 13:09 Rate this: 0 points | I assume that in the light of the rampant racism in the stadiums, Jonathan will be calling for UEFA to relocate the under 21 finals. Also, I am so waiting for Jonathan's outrage at the Israeli Government/Ethiopian Jewish women contraception scandal. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 13:28 Rate this: 0 points | Speaking of antisemitic messages on Holocaust Memorial Day, here's Silvio Berlusconi, that great friend of Israel and the Jews (it must be so because Binyamin Netanyahu thanked him of our behalf), praising Mussolini on HMD Also here's some race hate on HMD, brought to you by courtesy of Betar Jerusalem fans who don't want Muslim players on the team (or Afro-Caribbeans for that matter). The banner reads: "Betar: pure for ever". They mean racially pure and are known for their monkey chants towards black players and "death to the Arabs" songs. Millwall, Leeds and West Ham of the 1970s come to mind.
Not very nice on Holocaust Memorial Day in a country that was set up because of the persecution of Jews. Just think what would happen if a Ukrainian team's supporters praised the Nazis or a Polish team put up banners praising Hamas. We would justifiably asking UEFA to act. Oh... Wait. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 13:42 Rate this: 0 points | Oh great. Millis joins goldfish. Now we have two of them playing silly buggers. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 14:17 Rate this: 1 point |
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but it is approved by an international anti-racist body, the interparliamentary coalition against antisemitism …
joe, why are you so concerned to reject an internationally accepted statement on antisemitism, and so eager to accept only what you know perfectly well would be a travesty of anti-racism?" |
joemillis1959: … it has those pesky qualifying "could includes" with the added bonus of "taking into account the overall context". In other words, another watering down …
| nobody's suggesting it's a law
the ottawa protocol lists categories of antisemitism … things that are antisemitic unless the context shows otherwise nazi comparisons are one such category obviously, every such comparison must be considered individually, within its own context neither jonathan nor i see anything remotely exonerating in the context in this case! joe, are you saying that the context of liberal democarat mp david ward's words … which you call a disgrace … somehow take it out of this category of antisemitism? |
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Mon, 01/28/2013 - 14:37 Rate this: 0 points | No you are lying. This is a disgusting antisemitic comment (the EUMC Definition of Antisemitism says it's antisemitic to "Draw comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis"). it's It is Geddit ? |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 14:38 Rate this: 0 points | Sorry about this every comment I make is appearing twice ......or was |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 14:44 Rate this: 0 points | Ms/Mr Goldfish. The EUMC working definition has no standing. Nor do the Ottawa protocols. They were never ratified by anyone, much less entered into legislation as part of a way to combat antisemitism. And I don't care about the UN, it's irrelevant for this matter, although its founding document was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was written mainly because of the Holcaust. While the main body of the EUMC working definition is fine up to a point, it still doesn't cover the ground that some national governments, our own included, have introduced with the likes of the Race Relation and Public Order Acts. These are far more comprehensive and protect Jews - and other minorities - much better that any declarative statement, however well intentioned. As for the "could include" add ons, they are just that - add ons which don't amount to a hill of beans and which are qualified up the wazoo. The Ottawa protocol as you rightly point out, states: We, Representatives of our respective Parliaments from across the world, convening in Ottawa for the second Conference and Summit of the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism, note and reaffirm the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism as a template document for the fight against antisemitism Very worthy. However, it confirms the London declaration as a "template document". And let's face it, it has as much standing as, say, the Tory chair of the Education Select Committee having a go at the Tory Education Secretary, Michael Gove. Great on paper, but meaningless in the great scheme of things.
Of course what he said was antisemitic. How can it not be? He may even be liable for prosecution under the aforementioned Acts. But neither you nor I need an unratified and meaningless document like the "working" definition - which is used as WD40-style panacea for some people - to work that one out. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 14:56 Rate this: -2 points | "will you only recognise antisemitism as approved by the general assembly of the united nations, which until recently resolved that "zionism is racism"? None of those. You can't legislate or decide for yourself the meaning of a word or expression (not even if you are the interparliamentary coalition against anti semitism),any more than you can legislate which way the wind should blow. To attempt to do so is an attempt at linguistic fascism. The only " approval " that counts is the implicit approval of the great mass of the speakers of the language as evidenced by their use of the word/expression, and as noted and recorded by the dictionary compilers. And if you stood on any random street and asked 100 random people what they understood by anti semitism I would bet Hull City's chances of winning the champions league that Israel wouldn't get a mention. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 15:21 Rate this: 1 point |
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Mon, 01/28/2013 - 15:36 Rate this: -1 points | "what other international body could possibly have standing (to use your word) on antisemitism?" The international body of speakers of languages in which the expression occurs.. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 15:52 Rate this: 0 points | No the EUMC and Ottawa papers do not have any standing. If they were entered into legislation they would have standing. But as it stands now, they are declarative.
International bodies are irrelevant. They have no standing. At best, they can issue guidelines. It's national parliaments that count when it comes to protecting their countries' citizens.
I don't know who you mean by friends, but I can speak only for myself. It isn't the world's primary anti-racist body. I don't know if the world has such a body. The "world" is amorphous anyway. There are organisations, such as Fifa, trades unions, national governments, that are meant to fight racism within their ranks and countries. But there's nothing world wide that can deal with racism. I "disparage" - your word - the working definition because if anything it doesn't go anywhere near far enough by not suggesting penalties for those who transgress. That is supplied by the aforementioned Acts of Parliament which emphatically do not take the definition into account. And it muddies the waters with qualified add ons, some of which are self-contradictory, such as the one that states:
. The problem is that Israel defines itself as either the Jewish state or the national home of the Jewish people. That being the case, it is itself asking the world to see Jews through the prism of itself and its policies, whether the Jews like it or not. On numerous occasions, Israeli leaders have thanked world leaders - the US Congress, Silvio Berlusconi etc - on behalf of the Jewish people. And with regard to British Jews, Israel has sold arms to Argentina during the Falklands war of 1982. That was hardly in this community's interests. And, to be honest, I'm much more concerned by Silvio Berlusconi, that great friend of Israel and the Jews, praising Mussolini on HMD. While Ward is an MP who will probably lose his seat at the next election, Mr Bunga-Bunga may well be Italy's next PM. And he controls Italy's media too. Betar Jerusalem concerns me more, too, because their fans don't want Muslim players on the team (or Afro-Caribbeans for that matter). They displayed a banner which read: "Betar: pure for ever". They mean racially pure and are known for their monkey chants towards black players and "death to the Arabs" songs. Millwall, Leeds and West Ham of the 1970s come to mind. Aren't you concerned by those last two points? I see the great anti-racism fighters here aren't. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 16:13 Rate this: 0 points | It makes no difference whether these muddled add ons are declaratory or legislative. Every government in the world could legislate that " morning " meant the time when the sun sinks below the horizon. That wouldn't make it mean that. The speakers of the language would still mean the time between sunrise and noon, and it would continue to mean that. The definition, meaning , of anti semitism is " hatred of Jews,and/or a desire to discriminate against Jews, and/or a wish to persecute Jews, or something close,and no amount of trying, on the part of wannabe lingo fascists is going to change that. The meanings of words can change over time but only slowly and organically. No person or body can effectively declare a change of meaning. And yes the so called anti racists whose company we are used to are remarkably quiet on certain highly topical issues. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 16:27 Rate this: 0 points |
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Mon, 01/28/2013 - 16:36 Rate this: 0 points | "i'm perfectly happy with "declarative" … i suspect jonathan is, too" Yes I am sure you both are. If you didn't hang on to this EUMC add ons nonsense you would be voluntarily giving up a nice little blunt instrument of intimidation and blackmail. Then you would have to either hush or do some thinking before you threw around casual accusations. I guess it was these muddled add ons you had in mind when you called Rabbi Goldstein a racist. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 16:46 Rate this: 0 points | And the view from the bottom of a goldfish bowl is rather bent, I mean curved. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 16:58 Rate this: 1 point |
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Mon, 01/28/2013 - 16:59 Rate this: 0 points | Mr/Ms Goldfish
Of that I have no doubt. But the declaration is still meaningless.
Are you now telling me what I think? That's a little presumptuous, n'est pas? Anyway, it goes nowhere near far enough. What sanction does it impose?
For you, no doubt it is. However, Israel was set up specifically by and for an ethnic/religious group who had suffered hundreds of years of persecution because of their religion. Now the supporters of one of the country's main football teams have been getting away with years of racism, culminating in the "pure" banner. Now that's what I call disgusting. Anyway, I used to have a goldfish, many years ago, and it - sorry to be impersonal but I'm not sure if goldfish are male, female or hermaphrodite - used to swim around its bowl in circles. That seems to be where we've got now, so rather than repeating the same arguments, let's agree to differ. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 17:14 Rate this: 2 points |
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Mon, 01/28/2013 - 17:30 Rate this: -2 points | "so now you're accusing the international mps of the interparliamentary coalition against antisemitism Nice try. Generally axes are manufactured for chopping wood and stuff. Once in a while someone uses an innocently manufactured axe to chop up PEOPLE. Pretty stupid to ask are you accusing the manufacturer of producing an implement for chopping up people ? Yawn "I didn't call him a racist" Yes that startled me when another blogger drew attention to it. But a close reading of what you said confirms that you did in fact do so. " very close to racism...." "...even closer..." Very close and then even closer is just about there isn't it ? You see you throw these wild accusations around so frequently and so casually, much of the time you are not even aware that you are doing it. "now you're just lying" No it is you that is lying when you deny it.… |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 17:42 Rate this: 1 point | Millis you really are a piece of work. There is a small non-representative group of hooligans who call themselves Betar fans who are racist their racism is neither tolerated by the club of which they are purportedly fans and nor by Israelis in general. Unfortunately nearly every football club in the world suffers from this phenomenon you mentioned West Ham and Millwall I would also mention the Turkish fans who beat up Tottenham supporters. But in order to try and prove your false claim you label all Betar fans of which I am one as racist that is a lie and you are consistent with your lying in this respect – it’s not the first time I can recall you making this claim. By extension you label every Israeli as racist because you hold us to a standard to which no other country is held. As my late sainted father would have said you are a Yiddisher unter-semit of the worst kind. Action has been and will be taken against these thugs who are not football fans but racists of the worst kind – they have already been heavily fined and banned from attending any further matches this season. Now get back to the topic of the blog the inheritors of Goebbels and Himmler who now infest the British House of Commons. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 18:19 Rate this: -1 points | Jose you were doing very well, I was buying. Until..... " . Now get back to the topic of the blog the inheritors of Goebbels and Himmler who now infest the British House of Commons." |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 18:27 Rate this: -1 points | "Infest the House of Commons", Norman? Let's not diminish the problem by getting carried away. How many MPs out of 650 have made antisemitic comments? Three? Four? Five? Ten? Is their xenophobia/hatred for people who aren't like them any different from Miri Regev? Ofer Akounis? Danny Danon? The two Kahanite fascists from the sadly departed Otzma Le'Yisrael? Anastasia Michaeli? Nissim Zeev, Eli Yishai? Because of these rotten apples, has the Knesset been infested with "inheritors of Goebbels and Himmler"? No, they are a depraved minority. So again, there's no need to get carried away because of David Ward. Chances are he'll lose his seat anyway next time around. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 18:51 Rate this: 2 points | Millis you just don't see it do you? I admit Xenophobia exists in this country - but this country is not in your neighbourhood where peace with England's neighbours has existed for generations including with the French who the British hate anyway. Unfortunately for us such is the make up of our neighbourhood that if we don't defend ourselves we will end up dead. The niceties which govern your particular part of the globe do not exist here but the honourable Members of the House of Commons talk about the Middle East but only when Israel is concerned as if it were part of Europe and accordingly insist that the same rules apply. One can see clearly that when Israel is not involved e.g. Syria they let them carry on regardless despite the fact that more people have been killed there in the past 15 months than have been killed throughout the 60+ years of conflict since Israel was founded as a modern state. That coupled with the persistent attempts by the Arabs to delegitimise our very existence may go some way to explaining but of course not excusing any xenophobia which may exist in the Knesset. What is the Brits excuse for following suit? And why except for the obvious reason that it is an easy target and keeps your Muslim constituents on board attack Israel at every opportunity even to the extent of outrageously claiming as he did that Jews commit attrocities against the Palestinians on a daily basis. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 18:51 Rate this: -2 points | Norman, there's no need to go on the offensive and attack. We aren't going to agree but let's try to be civil; there may be children watching. Now, both you and Goldfish, let me make this absolutely clear. I am not under any circumstances holding Betar fans or the Israeli FA to different or higher standards. I am holding them to exactly, but exactly, the same standard as I would hold the FA and any British/English team whose fans/players behaved in such a despicable manner. It's the same standard we hold Uefa to when the fans of teams in Europe display the same racist or antisemitic banners. That's why John Terry and Suarez were banned from matches. That's why those on whichever terraces who monkey chant or sing racist and/or antisemitic songs are ejected and face life-time bans as well as prosecution. That's why even Lazio fans who physically attacked Spurs fans in Rome are facing charges of alleged attempted murder. That's why Uefa, which has been pretty soft on racism up until now, has pulled its digit out and demanded heavier punishment for those FAs, such as Serbia, which have been repeat offenders. The problem with Betar is that they are the team of the ruling party, the Likud, and the Israeli FA is, let's face it, scared of their fans. So nothing has been done about that team for years. Not even when a group of them ran amok attacking Arabs in the malcha mall. |
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 18:57 Rate this: -2 points | Norman, I take it then that you are holding Israel to a different standard than Britain or any other democracy. And isn't what you write about circumstances and context a little like Johann Hari who said something to the effect of: "I can understand why some people are antisemitic - even if I don't agree with them"? And again, David Ward is a non-entity, a Lib Dem MP with a 200 majority who will lose his seat, if not his deposit, in the next election. |
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 11:24 Rate this: -1 points | "He has been 'censured' and the offensive comment is still on his website Never mind Wimp tomorrow is another day and as they say, another day, another abject failure. |
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 11:29 Rate this: 1 point |
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Tue, 01/29/2013 - 12:18 Rate this: 0 points | " ...........is very close to racism" "........even further than your previous accusation." " very close" and " even further " is just about there isn't it ? You don't need a link, you found it. |
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 13:15 Rate this: 2 points |
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happygoldfish:
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein: … a group of Deputies who I am sure do represent others within the Jewish Community, who are so obdurately sticking to the notion that one cannot work with anyone who speaks a word against actions of the Israeli Government.
hmm … even further than your previous accusation … Rabbi Aaron Goldstein: … in dealing with other Faiths, those bodies that represent the Jewish Community, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, respond to issues by shouting accusations.
aaron, these deputies do not draw the line at "anyone who speaks a word against actions of the Israeli Government"!
| … i am pointing out that goldstein has made untrue allegations against deputies twice, going "even further" the second time (than the first time)
that may be accusing him of lying, but certainly not of racism (and is unconnected with my "very close" accusation), as you well know please stop making these contrived and lying accusations against me |
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Tue, 01/29/2013 - 13:26 Rate this: -1 points | Rabbi Aaron Goldstein: Supporting a Zionism or nationalism that overrides the universal right of every human being to a meal Rabbi Aaron Goldstein: … a group of Deputies who I am sure do represent others within the Jewish Community, who are so obdurately sticking to the notion that one cannot work with anyone who speaks a word against actions of the Israeli Government. hmm … even further than your previous accusation … The first " accusation " you say is very close to racism and immediately say that the second accusation goes even further ( presumably along the road to racism.) Once you you are very close to racism there isn't much further to go, and if you go even further you are pretty much there aren't you ? |
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 13:45 Rate this: -1 points | But let's compromise and forget " even further" . You accussed the Rabbi of being very close to being a racist. That is odd, one would have thought someone either is or they aren't. But no matter. If you are being misrepresented it may because you allege racism at every possible opportunity, and what we have here is akin to Al Capone getting banged up for tax evasion. Maybe your addiction to American muddled add ons to alleged definitions adopted by self appointed agenda driven coalitions causes you to behave like this. Who can say for sure. |
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 14:25 Rate this: 1 point | In answer to you Millis: British Muslim doctor of Pakistani heritage, Qanta Ahmed This is a bastardization of humanity and morality. Who are we to judge the Israelis and their policies, when the wider Muslim world tolerates a total departure of the most basic Islamic values: living a meaningful life in this world, sanctity of life above all other rights, subscription to ideologies meaningfully exchanged through suicide bombing into spiritual and material currency, fundamentally abandoning the protection and nurturing of society's weakest: the child. Conveniently, for our collective moral Muslim superiority, our moral compass is off line when considering ourselves. We do not reflect. We lack introspection. Indeed our own, increasingly grotesque reflection is too awful for ourselves to behold, because within it we recognize our complicity in immorality.... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/qanta-ahmed/israel-and-the-flotilla-o_b_61... |
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 14:32 Rate this: -1 points | Sorry, Norman, but while I appreciate what you write, from my perspective it still seems as though you are holding israel to a different standard because of circumstance. Either countries, especially functioning democracies, are held to the same standard as Israel - the main message of the non-working definition - or they are not. Emotions and circumstances have no role to play as part of such a dispassionate and nebulous declaration |
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 14:56 Rate this: 1 point |
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joemillis1959
Fri, 01/25/2013 - 14:34
Rate this:
The LibDem MP's comments are a disgrace.
But what the working (that is unverified and unadopted in any legal system) definition says is:
There then follows a number of "could includes" - among them
It's also interesting to note the next "could include" -
That is problematic for two reasons.
1. Israel defines itself as either the Jewish state or the national home of the Jewish people. That being the case, it is itself asking the world to see Jews through the prism of its policies, whether the Jews like it or not. On numerous occasions, Israeli leaders have thanked world leaders - the US Congress, Silvio Berlusconi etc - on behalf of the Jewish people. And with regard to British Jews, Israel has sold arms to Argentina during the Falklands war of 1982. That was hardly in this community's interests.
2. There are those in this community - a vociferous few, granted - who would like us all to unite around Israel's policies, whether we like them or not. By doing that, they are themselves in effect showing the world that we should be held responsible for Israel's actions. Ironic, innit?
So, basically, while the actual working definition isn't bad in and off itself, the later-added "could includes" are ill-thought-out and self-defeating.