Comments on: A.B. Yehoshua Calls for Removing U.S. Ambassador, Attacks Israel Lobby http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/ Essays on politics, culture and ideas about Israeli-Arab peace and world music Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:02:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70277 Richard Silverstein Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:47:54 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70277 <blockquote>I always wondered why the ongoing fratricidal slaughter in countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia never mobilized large demonstrations in the Muslim world</blockquote> I'm really touched by how concerned you are at the slaughter of Muslims. It couldn't be perhaps that you have a hidden agenda which is to focus obsessively on issues like this to point out how murderous Muslims are? Not to mention that violence in countries you mention isn't only due to religious differences. There are also the kind of political differences that produce violence in many non-Muslim countries as well. There are hundreds of millions of Muslims in the world. Contrary to what you might think Muslims in Indonesia do have a lot of other concerns than whether Syrians are murdering Lebanese. Besides I don't think large demonstrations are the only measure of expressing concern for such violence & many Muslims DO express their concern for their brethren in distress. If there were hundreds of millions of Jews living in as many countries as Muslims now live in, & some of those countries had Jewish majorities as Muslims do in many countries, I have no doubt that focus & concern for Jews in trouble around the world would be more diffuse than it is now.

I always wondered why the ongoing fratricidal slaughter in countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia never mobilized large demonstrations in the Muslim world

I’m really touched by how concerned you are at the slaughter of Muslims. It couldn’t be perhaps that you have a hidden agenda which is to focus obsessively on issues like this to point out how murderous Muslims are? Not to mention that violence in countries you mention isn’t only due to religious differences. There are also the kind of political differences that produce violence in many non-Muslim countries as well.

There are hundreds of millions of Muslims in the world. Contrary to what you might think Muslims in Indonesia do have a lot of other concerns than whether Syrians are murdering Lebanese. Besides I don’t think large demonstrations are the only measure of expressing concern for such violence & many Muslims DO express their concern for their brethren in distress.

If there were hundreds of millions of Jews living in as many countries as Muslims now live in, & some of those countries had Jewish majorities as Muslims do in many countries, I have no doubt that focus & concern for Jews in trouble around the world would be more diffuse than it is now.

]]> By: ellen http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70160 ellen Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:37:57 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70160 In partial answer to my question, and also to bar_kochba132's: I was told that in many Arab countries, eg Jordan, demonstrations against US/Israel are forbidden, but demos against the cartoon were encouraged. Also, that there have been demos ag. the Gaza blockade in some Arab countries, seen on Aljazeera TV. I don't know which countries. ellen In partial answer to my question, and also to bar_kochba132’s:

I was told that in many Arab countries, eg Jordan, demonstrations against US/Israel are forbidden, but demos against the cartoon were encouraged.

Also, that there have been demos ag. the Gaza blockade in some Arab countries, seen on Aljazeera TV. I don’t know which countries.

ellen

]]> By: bar_kochba132 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70138 bar_kochba132 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:36:40 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70138 Ellen said: ---------------------------- But in terms of making a protest, it is hard for me to understand why hundreds of thousands of Muslims took to the streets to protest a cartoon, but Muslim people dying from a blockade does not even merit a little yell. ---------------------------- Very interesting point. I always wondered why the ongoing fratricidal slaughter in countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia never mobilized large demonstrations in the Muslim world or in areas in Europe or the US with large Muslim minorities. If they didn't want to be seen to be supporting the US presence in Iraq, they could have signs and chants that said "Americans out, Terrorists out of Iraq", but I haven't seen it. Why the indifference? Ellen said:
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But in terms of making a protest, it is hard for me to understand why hundreds of thousands of Muslims took to the streets to protest a cartoon, but Muslim people dying from a blockade does not even merit a little yell.
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Very interesting point. I always wondered why the ongoing fratricidal slaughter in countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Algeria, Pakistan and Somalia never mobilized large demonstrations in the Muslim world or in areas in Europe or the US with large Muslim minorities. If they didn’t want to be seen to be supporting the US presence in Iraq, they could have signs and chants that said “Americans out, Terrorists out of Iraq”, but I haven’t seen it. Why the indifference?

]]> By: Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70119 Richard Silverstein Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:49:36 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70119 Ellen: Yehoshua's approach isn't always to my liking. Like many Israelis he prob. has essentially given up on Hamas as a serious interlocutor & Gaza along with it. I don't defend this attitude--just describe it. Most Israelis see the West Bank as the key bone of contention & think if the problems there can be worked out then Gaza will somehow fall into place. Again, it's a strange attitude but there it is... Ellen: Yehoshua’s approach isn’t always to my liking. Like many Israelis he prob. has essentially given up on Hamas as a serious interlocutor & Gaza along with it. I don’t defend this attitude–just describe it. Most Israelis see the West Bank as the key bone of contention & think if the problems there can be worked out then Gaza will somehow fall into place. Again, it’s a strange attitude but there it is…

]]> By: Dan Fleshler http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70051 Dan Fleshler Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:26:41 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70051 Richard, Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the blogosphere. I applaud Yehoshua, but think you are exaggerating the novelty of his public positions. My latest post is all about your take on this issue: http://www.realisticdove.org/archives/185 Richard,

Thanks for bringing this to the attention of the blogosphere. I applaud Yehoshua, but think you are exaggerating the novelty of his public positions. My latest post is all about your take on this issue:

http://www.realisticdove.org/archives/185

]]> By: ellen http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70029 ellen Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:16:13 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70029 Solution seeker, I think you are right. But in terms of making a protest, it is hard for me to understand why hundreds of thousands of Muslims took to the streets to protest a cartoon, but Muslim people dying from a blockade does not even merit a little yell. ellen Solution seeker,
I think you are right.
But in terms of making a protest, it is hard for me to understand why hundreds of thousands of Muslims took to the streets to protest a cartoon, but Muslim people dying from a blockade does not even merit a little yell.

ellen

]]> By: solution seeker http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70021 solution seeker Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:38:16 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70021 The Israelis and Palestinians should both know by now that NO ONE is going to come to their respected defenses. I don't think any negotiated agreement can be based on the belief that another party will intervene to save the them if necessary. Both groups have learned that this does not map to reality. At least so far. That still shouldn't rule out a 2-state solution. Just make sure to work out contingencies and arrangements to ensure that both parties are protected. The Israelis and Palestinians should both know by now that NO ONE is going to come to their respected defenses. I don’t think any negotiated agreement can be based on the belief that another party will intervene to save the them if necessary. Both groups have learned that this does not map to reality. At least so far.

That still shouldn’t rule out a 2-state solution. Just make sure to work out contingencies and arrangements to ensure that both parties are protected.

]]> By: ellen http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/comment-page-1/#comment-70007 ellen Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:01:36 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2008/01/21/ab-yehoshua-calls-for-removing-us-ambassador-attacks-israel-lobby/#comment-70007 "Do you really think Europeans, Americans and other Arab countries will send troops to defend Israel against Palestinian terrorists." very funny. Who is defending the Palestinian people against the Israelis? “Do you really think Europeans, Americans and other Arab countries will send troops to defend Israel against Palestinian terrorists.”

very funny. Who is defending the Palestinian people against the Israelis?

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