Comments on: Finkelstein to Invoke Law of Return if Israel Refuses Entry

By: LanceThruster

LanceThruster — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:24:04 +0000

I find it delisciously ironic that the forces who sought to silence Dr. Finkelstein by helping to make sure he did not receive tenure have apparently provided him with greater visibility.

Though frequently couched in these terms, Dr. Finkelstein is no more a “failed academic” than Alan Dershowitz is a “respected academic.”

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:46:33 +0000

@paul:

Aw, c’mon. A “danger to the State?” You’ve got to be kidding. The gov’t would be laughed out of the box if they tried that. I’d like to see them invoke that as a pretext.

By: mia

mia — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:09:37 +0000

Richard, all I said was that if Finkelstein entered areas administered by the PA as an Israeli citizen (regardless of where his residence is) he would be subject to arrest and the imposition of fines. Every entrance to these areas has a sign that states that Israelis are not allowed to enter. There are exceptions, like Israeli accredited journalists. Non-Israelis are free to come and go as they please. There are nonetheless many Israelis who venture into these areas illegally. They can do so if they have foreign passports and were not born in Israel, or in the case of Ramallah for instance, enter through Kallandiyah where no one checks you going in and exit via the settler road where you can pretend you were visiting a settlement.

Notice, I said SUBJECT. I didn’t say it would necessarily happen. The point is that if Finkelstein wants to visit the West Bank areas administered by the PA, claiming the right of return would still not be the way to go.

By: paul

paul — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:59:01 +0000

The Law of Return does not grant an absolute right to immigrate, and the following paragraph 2 (b) could be invoked against Finkelstein were he to apply under the Law of Return.

Law of Return 5710-1950

Right of aliyah** 1. Every Jew has the right to come to this country as an oleh**.

Oleh’s visa 2. (a) Aliyah shall be by oleh’s visa.

(b) An oleh’s visa shall be granted to every Jew who has expressed his desire to settle in Israel, unless the Minister of Immigration is satisfied that the applicant

(1) is engaged in an activity directed against the Jewish people; or

(2) is likely to endanger public health or the security of the State.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:12:14 +0000

@mia:

I think it would be delightful to have Israel arrest Finkelstein for visiting his friend in the West Bank. Also, you seem to be forgetting the fact that Finkelstein would not live in Israel and so it could not prevent him from visiting any country he wished. And if it arrested him for visiting “forbidden” countries when he DID return to Israel, that would also make a great human rights case.

Many Israeli citizens visit the forbidden countries (Israeli Arabs & Jewish journalists). None have been arrested that I know of. Are you saying that Finkelstein should be treated differently than them?

By: Pat

Pat — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:35:33 +0000

Finkelstein’s mom was called as a chief witness in the US and Germany against Nazi guards in a few trials. But Bill will probably come up with something stupid to say about that too.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:13:11 +0000

Nice piece.

Compare Ain’s article to Ben Harris’ earlier hatchet job of Finkelstein in New York magazine. Enough similarities in style (I use the word…roughly) and content (also roughly) to make you realize Ain is not just contemptuous and partisan, but lazy, too.

By: mia

mia — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:04:33 +0000

As an Israeli citizen, Finkelstein would be violating Israeli law by entering areas administered by the Palestine Authority. Depending on where exactly Musa Abu Hashhash, Finkelstein would risk arrest if he were to go visit him. Finkelstein would also definitely be barred from traveling to Lebanon or Syria or Gaza for that matter. It was a nice idea, good for publicity purposes, but it wouldn’t work.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 01:12:22 +0000

@Bill Pearlman:

how do you know that his mother was a holocaust survivor. Because he said so. What’s the evidence.

I suppose if morons like you didn’t exist in the world, God would have to invent them. As for proof of his mother being a survivor…oh, I don’t know…perhaps it’s the tatoo on her arm. But that’s just a guess. Unless you wish to claim that it was fake…& his dad’s too.

I invite you to prove his mother a liar. That would be a splendid thing.

By: Bill Pearlman

Bill Pearlman — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:41:07 +0000

I honestly didn’t know that you were such a big fan of the “Fink”.
And how do you know that his mother was a holocaust survivor. Because he said so. What’s the evidence. And even if she was she gave birth to a guy who cheers for Hezbollah and gets the warm fuzies when Jews get knocked off. And again, please give me a one column of yours that blames the Arabs for anything. Anything at all.