Norman Finkelstein calls professor Alan Dershowitz's new book on Israel a "hoax"

The Electronic Intifada ^ | 25 September 2003 | Transcript, Democracy Now!

[zacyak]

You obviously came here recently just to cause trouble, so I will do you the favor of ignoring you from here on out.

What makes you think that I came here to cause trouble? You certainly have some odd ideas and I may decide to challenge some of them, but don't submit to some irrational paranoia about it.

[JohnSmithee]

"Say what you will otherwise, but Alan Dershowitz is one wicked smart, cool customer. He has quite a brain."

Not sure I can wrap my mind around that one...

[montag813]

Say what you will otherwise, but Alan Dershowitz is one wicked smart, cool customer. He has quite a brain.

And you call yourself a conservative? Maybe democratic underground is more your speed;

What the hell are you talking about? I never said I agree with his politics. I was referring to his inteligence. He absolutely shredded Finklestain in the Scarborough "debate".

[Alouette]

I hope you allow me to earmark it for Jenin

So does this mean Stinkelstein really believe that a "massacre" occurred there?

[zacyak]

He absolutely shredded Finklestain

Get real Finklestein took that silly punk out big time. Say what you want about Finklestein, but that guy is one bright son of a gun, and he ripped Dershshbag a new one, if you know what I mean.

[rmlew]

That honor goes to Israel Shamir and that Shahak capo.

[rmlew]

Obviously Ms. Peters is a partisan. Taht does not discredit her work. (Especialy since you are citing the open and now burning in hell liar, Edward Said)

[rmlew]

Dershowitz is an SOB. However, Finklestein is worse.
Norman is a communist one-worlder who openly supports the eradication of the white race as it is an opressor. Yet some paleos forgive all this, just because he is anti-Israel.
Paleos are beginning to look like crude anti-Zionist (at best) reflections of neocons as they continue their affair with the left.

[Steve Eisenberg]

I haven't come across Finkelstein's leftist writings. Could you cite an example?

Well, he has published three articles in a consciously pro-leftist magazine called the "New Left Review." I think that when you submit your articles there, you are saying something about your political stance, and when they accept your articles, they are saying that you are correct.

[thegreatbeast]

Nuts! Dershowitz has his causes and some of them might not be the opposite of mine but I know Alan Dershowitz far too well to think that he's going to change at this stage. Wasn't one of his last books Sexual McCartyism, a strident defense of WJC?

[St.Chuck]

Thanks for the link to Finkelstein's website. He is certainly a contoversial and combative academic. I can't say I am unpleased by his taking on Dershowitz and Hitchens, but I would agree that he does seem to have leftist leanings or at least used to have Marxist tendencies as alluded to in the excerpt from his memoir regarding Hitchens.

I have never equated a pro-Israeli stance with conservatism, or a pro-Palestinian stance with liberalism, so I am skeptical of the labeling when the ad hominems come flying out in these discussions. It really only surfaces over the issues when one is dismissed out of hand as a leftist.

One thing that can be said in Dr. Finkelstein's defense, is that he has a history of questioning the prevailing paradigm regarding Zionism, the holocaust, and Palestine. Either he is pursuing truth for it's own sake or has an agenda by debunking the universally accepted thesises of the Peter's and Goldhagen's. Only if you're completely convinced of the Zionist point of view would one condemn Finkelstein outright. Those of us with no preconceptions would see Finkelstein as providing an invaluable service.

[St.Chuck]

I have only One Reason for supporting Israel (and it ain't because of Churban 'Europa' or any secular notion of "justice").

I'd like to hear more about your one reason. What is it?

[zacyak]

Norman is a communist one-worlder who openly supports the eradication of the white race as it is an opressor.

Do you have a link to back up that allegation? I'm hardly an expert on Norman Finklestein, but from what I've seen of his work, he doesn't appear to be some radical leftist. He has always struck me as being more of an iconoclast than anything else.

[Zionist Conspirator]

I have only One Reason for supporting Israel (and it ain't because of Churban 'Europa' or any secular notion of "justice").

I'd like to hear more about your one reason. What is it?

It's called "G-d." Ever hear of the concept?

That's also the one and only reason for everything else. Blows you away, huh?

[rmlew]

Norman admits being a communist.
http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/id138.htm

As for the rest, I do not have time to sift through every one of his articles. However, look at the places he chooses to write for. "His writings have appeared in prestigous journals such as the London Review of Books, Index on Censorship, Journal of Palestine Studies, New Left Review, Middle East Report, Christian Science Monitor and Al Ahram Weekly."

[St.Chuck]

It's called "G-d." Ever hear of the concept?

I'm happy to inform you that God is more than a mere concept.

But your answer is somewhat obtuse. I'm forced to rephrase my question to you. How is God involved in your decision to support Israel?

[Zionist Conspirator]

But your answer is somewhat obtuse. I'm forced to rephrase my question to you. How is God involved in your decision to support Israel?

What the sam hill kind of question is THAT? Have you ever read the Bible?

[St.Chuck]

Have you ever read the Bible?

Look, I was sincerely interested in your statement about one reason to support Israel. If you don't care to elaborate....fine, but I don't recall the bible mentioning God's desire for American's to support the modern state of Israel. Aren't you able to articulate your beliefs any better than this?