Continuing his intrusive intervention into the local and regional political environment, Israel’s Pacific NW consul general, Akiva Tor, strongly urged St. Mark’s Cathedral to allow him to speak at an event featuring Israeli new historian, Ilan Pappe and American Friends of Peace Now founder, Mark Rosenblum. They will speak on at Town Hall’s Great Hall in Seattle on Monday, September 19th at 7PM. Those of you following this blog know that Tor and Stand With Us were instrumental in ginning up a lawsuit against the Olympia food coop after it endorsed a boycott of Israeli food products. It seems Tor is continuing in his ways with this chutzpadik attempt to force his way into the St. Mark’s program.
In the e-mail below, which Tor and American Jewish Committee chair Wendy Rosen sent to a Church official, note how he describes Rosenblum’s political beliefs:
I wanted to request the opportunity to take part in the panel you are organizing on “Israel and Palestine’s Future: Why is Navigating a Two State Solution So Difficult?” The reasons I ask to take part are the following.
Firstly, the topic is an excellent one. It is indeed perplexing that 18 years after the Oslo Accords, an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty had not been concluded even though it is in the strong self-interest of both peoples. This is a topic that needs to be unpacked and analyzed by any group of people that wants to help and achieve peace between the two peoples.
Second, I think it is really necessary in such a conversation to hear the perspective of the Israeli mainstream. Professor Pappe is an important academic but represents a non-Zionist view on the far left of Israeli politics. Professor Rosenblum is an important proponent of the Zionist Israeli peace camp which is a valued viewpoint, but not presently at the helm of Israeli politics today, where the general position is more cautious and frankly, somewhat depressed, about the prospects for peace in the immediate future. Ideally, the panel would include a Palestinian Authority perspective as well, although Professor Pappe may approximate this position.
In any case, I just think it is very important that you hear and better understand the thinking from the main body of the Israeli body politic. I would present the positions of the Israeli government, but would also try to present to the best of my understanding the thinking of the majority of the Israeli public today. I know the Bishop’s Committee holds strong positions on the conflict, and wants to play a helpful role in its resolution – and I think hearing where Israel stands and how it understand the meaning of the Arab Spring and the current state of Israel-Palestinian relations would be helpful in your endeavor.
Thirdly, I happen to be in Seattle on September 19th and therefore hasten to embrace the chance to engage with you.
Now, can you imagine the U.S. ambassador to Israel going to an Israeli sponsor of a conference about American politics and demanding the right to be added to a panel which includes two Israelis discussing the issue? Why would he do this? Why wouldn’t he simply allow Israelis to discuss American politics and let it go at that? Note as well, how Tor distinguishes between the views of Rosenblum, a quite distinguished liberal Zionist supporter of Israel and his own views, supposedly representing the “majority of the Israeli public.”
Tor neglects to mention that on September 18th, the day before, and in the same venue, former Jerusalem Post military affairs correspondent, Hirsh Goodman will be speaking. If Goodman doesn’t represent a mainstream Israeli point of view then no one does. So, in essence Israel’s consul general is saying that it’s not enough to balance a program critical of Israel with one supportive of Israel on successive days, U.S. churches must actually balance every program they host with the voice of Israel’s hardline rightist government.
Not to mention that we’re supposed to accept the specious view that Israel’s current government represents the thinking of the majority of the Israeli public. That would be akin to claiming that George Bush’s policies represented the majority of Americans during his presidency. What is true is that Bibi Netanyahu managed to pull together a coalition in Knesset allowing him to form a government. It didn’t mean that the majority of Israelis support his pro-Occupation, anti-Palestinian policies (though certainly many do).
Surely, one of Tor’s most important purposes is combatting the (in his view) noxious propaganda offered by an anti-Zionist like Pappe (who he actually calls “an important academic” while biting his tongue), who was hounded from his academic appointment at the University of Haifa by right-wing campus inquisitors. The current Holy Grail concept for the Israeli far-right is “delegitimization,” and Pappe is a king of them all. They likely want to bird-dog him around the world at every speaking engagement he has, just as they bird-dogged Reps. Keith Ellison and Brian Baird before the traveled to Gaza in 2009.
I find Tor’s behavior in Seattle simply beyond chutzpah (sorry, Alan). By what right does an official of a foreign government get the right to say he should be heard whenever Israel fears the contents of a program sponsored in this country?
Thankfully, the local church committee organizing the event politely declined the consul’s offer of participation, but said it was willing to continue a dialogue with him on these issues.
In his response, Tor made clear that he was eager to inveigle his way into the local discourse on Israel-Palestine within the St. Mark’s church community:
I’m disappointed, as we view the Palestinian diplomatic effort at the United Nations as deeply counterproductive to a negotiated peace and it would probably be important for such a viewpoint to at least be presented at an open and meaningful discussion on the topic.
In any case, I would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Bishop’s Committee or with an audience constituted by you at a future, hopefully not too distant, time. Please let me know at your convenience when might be a good occasion and venue.
You do have to hand it to Tor. He’s a nervy sorta guy. It takes guts to want to butt your way into the Seattle progressive church community when hardly anyone in it has a good word to say about Israel’s current policies. But once a flack, always a flack. I have a feeling that Israeli diplomats earn points for the most unlikely venues to have done hasbara. Speaking from the altar of one of Seattle’s premier progressive churches would earn Tor big points back home at Hasbara Central (aka the Israeli foreign ministry).
Professor Pappe has come out very clearly in favor of the one-state solution, so I would imagine Tor will be very agitated at the very idea of having to accept all those pesky Palestinians as fellow citizens, and the inevitable end to the Jewish state.
What I still don’t understand is where are the current Foreign Ministry officials who see the train wreck Lieberman is leading to and yet remain largely silent. Just last week there was a story in Haaretz about how Lieberman had warped the Ministry recommendations for reducing tensions with Turkey into recommendations for supporting the PKK and recognition of the Armenian genocide. His version, unfortunately, made it into the papers. Is there not even one person willing to sacrifice his job and resign in protest? The Israeli public, most of which do not read Haaretz, are largely unaware of the depravity of Lieberman’s political shenanigans.
Ilan Baruch resigned a few months ago & fired off a flamethrower of a resignation ltr to Yvet & Bibi.
Is the letter you reference available?
These were e email messages to & from the diocese from Tor
Richard says:
“Now, can you imagine the U.S. ambassador to Israel going to an Israeli sponsor of a conference about American politics and demanding the right to be added to a panel which includes two Israelis discussing the issue? Why would he do this?”
And I think that that is key to understanding the organised Israeli response to criticism of Israel.
Israel is the only ‘democracy’ whose officials behave in this way. I would be appalled if British diplomatic staff engaged in this type of activity since it is the behaviour of a guilty party and would suggest to me that there is something deeply wrong with my country.
Only in Israel though, is the octogenarian scholar Noam Chomsky denied entry as a security threat. Only there is Norman Finkelstein regarded as the same.
There’s much talk in Israel about the failings of its Hasbara. I would suggest that the Hasbara effort is itself a problem.
Oh, the dastardly behavior of a pro Israeli asking to be heard before a church group; heaven forbid the congregants be exposed to anything other than vile anti Semitic bilge of Pappe – why, they might learn there is another side to the Jew hatred of their Church. Can’t have that, can we, liberals!
I don’t know which is worse Pappe’s alleged bilge–or your own.
This is a silly comment George Anonymous.
I emailed Akiva Tor if he’d be ok with Ilan Pappe speaking at the Stand with Us meeting on the 18th, you know, that fair is fair. The reply was that he’d be perfectly willing to have a serious discussion if I would only identify myself. Anybody have any thoughts on this? Is his office serious or do they just want a name to put on their list?
I can’t advise you on whether to identify yrself. But the idea that he would have a serious discussion with you I find unlikely. Besides, I’m not sure why you should have to identify yrself to have a serious discussion.
Perfect speaker, if this is, as it appears, an Episcopal cathedral: Rev. Naim Stifan Ateek, Canon at the Anglican St. George’s cathedral in Jerusalem, founder of SABEEL, author of “Justice and Only Justice: A Palestinian Theology of Liberation”, Orbis, 1989, and of “A Palestinian Cry for Reconciliation”, Orbis, 2008.
It is an insult — to our intelligence — to suggest that Ilan Pappe can speak for Palestinians. He can speak for humane, ethical, brave Israelis, certainly. So could, and should, a member of Breaking the Silence. Neither Pappe nor members of BTS claim to be Palestinians, as far as I know.
Canon Ateek has spoken at St. Mark’s many times & has an annual conference there & there is a Pacific NW SABEEL chapter as well.
Jerusalem Post has today an article Ayalon airs ‘hasbara’ YouTube video on peace process. I assume that the video presented by a serving vice minister is made with the state money. The only view presented in that video is Ayalon’s, a view which nobody can say being neutral historic truth.
If Israeli diplomats force themselves in discussions happening in foreign countries using the need of a balanced view as the reason for that intrusion, it would be acceptable if Israeli government would give to “the other side” an opportunity to present their view in Israeli propaganda and discussion events. But that is not happening.
A proper reply to Tor might have listed many instances in which Israel has sought to stifle dissent in public forums and through legislation. I am reminded that just yesterday the Jewish pro-Israel East Bay community managed to intimidate the Oakland Children’s Museum Board to cancel the exhibition of Gazan childrens impressions of Cast Lead. Where is the fair, other side, thinking in this?
Richard
Your headline is misleading, the quote you bring says clearly that the Consul “requests” to speak, yet you change in in your headline to “demands” – a major difference!
May I respectfully suggest a correction or update?
I have to agree with the above poster with respect to the use of the word “demand” in your headline.
Nowhere in the article is any “demand” made. It is clear from the excerpts that you provided that it was a simply a request.
A request that, as you point out, was turned down.
I’m not seeing any kind of demand in anything you’ve posted here.
Why the use of that word in your headline?
Tor was at all times respectful – firm but deferential. Your headline and tone do not do justice to Tor’s behavior and demeanor.
There was a private meeting between Tor and the bishop which I’m reasonably certain had a different tone. The MFA can be quite forceful when it thinks the world isn’t listening.
Tor states the following is his letter, feigning perplexity:
“Firstly, the topic is an excellent one. It is indeed perplexing that 18 years after the Oslo Accords, an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty had not been concluded even though it is in the strong self-interest of both peoples. This is a topic that needs to be unpacked and analyzed by any group of people that wants to help and achieve peace between the two peoples…”
For two decades the so-called Peace Talks have been rendered fruitless on purpose by Israel., as Israel has used them as a stalling tactic while it has continued ethnically cleansing Israel and while it has continued moving hundreds of thousands of immigrant Jews onto what was to have been a Palestinian State. Continuing colonizing of the West Bank has made a Palestinian State a non-contiguous chopped up land resembling swiss cheese, that would be totally controlled by Israelis. Palestinian Islets set among and bifrucated by Jewish colony connecting roads:
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/mapstellstory.html
For an understanding of the so-called generous offers that Israel has mad in the past, and for the reason that these proposals were rightfully rejected by the PLO, please read this brief article:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1113
Considering that an American called Sheldon-Elison (if you know him), is distributing a free newspaper in Israel and has just been able to decapitate Israel channel 10, which is one of the only 2 free TV channels in Israel, The Israeli intevention in internal American poilitcs is trivial.
Trivial> Ongoing US wars at the behest of Israel are trivial? 4 billion in US taxes sent to Israel this year and more than 3 billion every other year is trivial? The condemnation of the US by the rest of our world for US veto of the world’s UN Resolutions (more than 100 GA resolutions, and more than 40 SC Resolutions) agains Israel’s illegal and murderous policies, including massive war crimes is trivial? Congress overlooking numerous violations by Israel of US laws, including The arms Export Control Act and other US laws that forbid trading arms with nations that use those arms in an illegal manner (such as white phosphorous and cluster bombs used on civilian populations in Gaza ands Lebanon) is trivial?
I think not.
What are the “ongoing US wars at the behest of Israel” ?
Yeah, what does this mean? Iraq, Afghanistan?
Contrary to the lies of US leaders who are kept in power by Israel’s Lobby: http://america-hijacked.com/2009/09/04/the-best-congress-aipac-can-buy-alan-hart/
Israel is no friend of the United States. Israel attacked and attempted to sink the USS Liberty, killing 53 and wounding 171 US sailors and marines., but Congress failed to investigate. Israel’s security, as it continues to attack its neighbors (4 of 5 wars since 1948 were started by Israel. the 1973 war was begun by Israel’s neighbors in an attempt to re-acquire land stolen by Israel in the 1967 war) and illegally expand its undeclared borders, is dependent on US taxes (4 billion this year) and military hardware and support. It also relies on US-imposed regime changes that keep its neighboring countries at bay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHt5PXyXBIs
Also, consider this about Israel and US wars:
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/fiveisraelis.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PZ_56vMKBI&feature=related
Richard,
You know the real reason that Tor is in town on the 19th? It’s because he’s speaking at the Stand With Us fundraiser the afternoon before. They’re having a big event to celebrate Israel at the McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. I received an invite and it starts at 3:00 on Sunday afternoon on the 18th.
Don’t you think someone should make sure that the people who show up at this thing know how bad Stand With Us is? Someone should let the people who are coming know what is really happening in Palestine.
Perhaps Tor should be invited to Town’s Hall and Ilan Pappe to Stand With Us?
I suggested this directly. See my comment somewhere on this topic.
It’s Sheldon Adelson. It makes sense that Bibi would find support in the gaming industry in America, the sleaziest legitimate business.
BTW — the picture of the two of them, Bibi and Sheldon in Haaretz.com is priceless.
Israel’s Consul General’s demand to speak at this event ostensibly to interject “balance” is ludicrous, as Israel’s distorted views and its propaganda and lies are forever parroted by US media. Seldom do Palestinians get their say.
For a look at how this has effectively kept US citizens in the dark about what this conflict is really about, please see this video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2165626245072381061#
Also, for a myriad of facts on this conflict presented by Americans who were appalled at their own ignorance due to biased media:
http://www.al-nakba-history.com/
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/
At least the consul is only requesting participation. Thirty years ago I hosted a Palestinian Christian in a small gathering and was visited by persons claiming to be sent by the consul (whoever that was) with serious retaliation. Things are getting better.