This whole area has been dominating my reading and thinking since Oct. 7. I watched "Tantura" as part of all that.
I need to push back on the notion that the label "settler-colonialism" is dated and beside the point. We need a historical perspective, to recognize what exactly we're looking at right now, and to understand how it works. The colonized must always be stigmatized as inferior. So when Eytan Weinstein of "Nice Jewish Boys" rationalizes his calls for genocide by exclaiming three times, "We're better!" he is not just attempting to erase the entire history of his country's treatment of its indigenous population, but he is also invoking a classic settler-colonial justification for his fantasy of eliminating an entire people. We, or at least I, need the history to be able to get to the "aha" -- THAT's what he's doing.
As for the current presidential campaign: I've been going out every Sunday to stand on a street corner in NJ with a dozen other folks, and yell about genocide. (It may not be much, but at least it shows us that the call for "ceasefire now" has massive support.) The organizers are Green Party types and are pledged to Jill Stein. It's all there is, in my area, as far as I've found anything. I haven't gotten into it with them, but I'm sure that this is a bullheaded and futile approach to a really rotten electoral situation. My attitude is, tactical alliance to stop a frickin' genocide, fine, if that's what it takes. When they start with the chant of "Kamala Harris, you can't hide, we won't vote for genocide," I just wait for the next one to come around. It's far from ideal but it's something.
So anyway, Tantura. It's a shattering film. I knew the accusers were right, there had been a massacre. Thank you for explaining why there's no doubt about that.
I don't mean to lecture, but my point is that the problem does not currently stem from any crazy podcasters or the Balfour Declaration, but from deep, post-WWII U.S. foreign policy.
I will have to see “Tantura”. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I want to take note of one sentence of yours.
“Now the ongoing, real-time disaster of Gaza (and less nakedly, the West Bank) trumps the Holocaust.”
Drilling down even further, it’s the parenthetical expression (and less nakedly, the West Bank). I’m glad you mentioned it. For a few months I’ve wished the pro-Palestine movement would focus a bit more on the West Bank proportionally to the emphasis on Gaza. Obviously, more are dying in Gaza and that makes it the more horrible, but I think the case for relatively more emphasis on the West Bank is strong.
Focusing on Gaza has a downside: there’s always the claim that “Hamas started it” that muddies the waters. You have to dig into history to argue against it.
On the other hand, what Israel is doing in the West Bank is a clear case of ethnic cleansing without muddied waters and it doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
When Harris wins, I’d like her to start with a vote in the UN FOR full recognition of Palestine. That would be a game-changer. A guy can dream, no?
Big typo in the original version of this post. Of course there are massive Israeli-Jewish protests in support of the hostages held by Hamas.
Hey Max,
This whole area has been dominating my reading and thinking since Oct. 7. I watched "Tantura" as part of all that.
I need to push back on the notion that the label "settler-colonialism" is dated and beside the point. We need a historical perspective, to recognize what exactly we're looking at right now, and to understand how it works. The colonized must always be stigmatized as inferior. So when Eytan Weinstein of "Nice Jewish Boys" rationalizes his calls for genocide by exclaiming three times, "We're better!" he is not just attempting to erase the entire history of his country's treatment of its indigenous population, but he is also invoking a classic settler-colonial justification for his fantasy of eliminating an entire people. We, or at least I, need the history to be able to get to the "aha" -- THAT's what he's doing.
As for the current presidential campaign: I've been going out every Sunday to stand on a street corner in NJ with a dozen other folks, and yell about genocide. (It may not be much, but at least it shows us that the call for "ceasefire now" has massive support.) The organizers are Green Party types and are pledged to Jill Stein. It's all there is, in my area, as far as I've found anything. I haven't gotten into it with them, but I'm sure that this is a bullheaded and futile approach to a really rotten electoral situation. My attitude is, tactical alliance to stop a frickin' genocide, fine, if that's what it takes. When they start with the chant of "Kamala Harris, you can't hide, we won't vote for genocide," I just wait for the next one to come around. It's far from ideal but it's something.
So anyway, Tantura. It's a shattering film. I knew the accusers were right, there had been a massacre. Thank you for explaining why there's no doubt about that.
I don't mean to lecture, but my point is that the problem does not currently stem from any crazy podcasters or the Balfour Declaration, but from deep, post-WWII U.S. foreign policy.
Honest Hasid? In matters Israel? Surely you jest.
There are quite a few, actually. I've met some.
I will have to see “Tantura”. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I want to take note of one sentence of yours.
“Now the ongoing, real-time disaster of Gaza (and less nakedly, the West Bank) trumps the Holocaust.”
Drilling down even further, it’s the parenthetical expression (and less nakedly, the West Bank). I’m glad you mentioned it. For a few months I’ve wished the pro-Palestine movement would focus a bit more on the West Bank proportionally to the emphasis on Gaza. Obviously, more are dying in Gaza and that makes it the more horrible, but I think the case for relatively more emphasis on the West Bank is strong.
Focusing on Gaza has a downside: there’s always the claim that “Hamas started it” that muddies the waters. You have to dig into history to argue against it.
On the other hand, what Israel is doing in the West Bank is a clear case of ethnic cleansing without muddied waters and it doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
When Harris wins, I’d like her to start with a vote in the UN FOR full recognition of Palestine. That would be a game-changer. A guy can dream, no?
God yes
Israel is an uncle Sam asset
And
Has been since at least the 67 war aftermath
Long way from the suez crisis of 1956
To todays Gaza massacre
Uncle sponsors all this
Because all this rides shotgun
On uncles mideast policy coach
Frankly i see israelis as victims
of uncles great gaming
even the worst of the settlers
Of course we" northerners"
dont have to hold our federal government responsible
for 100 years of jim crow either
That was a southern white evil