Debating The Lobby
October 9, 2006, 9:04 am
Posted by Margaret O'Brien Steinfels
A debate with Shlomo Ben-Ami, Martin Indyk, Dennis Ross, Rashid Khalidi, Tony Judt, and John Mersheimer took place at Cooper Union in NYC on September 28. I attended and found it interesting and refreshing. No mention of it appeared in any newspaper I read. Here is a video of the event for those who might be interested.
It’s long past time that Americans discuss carefully and honestly our government’s policy toward Israel. Defense groups in the U.S. who repress such efforts are making the same mistake the Catholic Church made before Vatican II: if you don’t talk about it, the issue will go away. No, it doesn’t. It festers.
Here are two accounts of the debate, from different perspectives:
1) The New York Sun
http://www.nysun.com/article/40629
and 2) The New York Observer:
http://mondoweiss.observer.com/2006/09/the-great-debate-at-cooper-union-last-night.html
Thanks to Peggy for calling attention to the event.
And to Patrick Molloy for the helpful links.
After reading Tony Judt’s quoted comment, it’s no wonder the New York Times failed to report it.
It’s the kind of news that just doesn’t fit.
This conference was historic not just extraordinary. Very sad that no real conversation on Israel is really allowed in this country. Stunning that a discussion of such importance received scant media attention.
Perhaps this is why certain groups counter with denying the holocaust since certain Jewish readers call any questions on Israel antisemitic.
When Robert Kennedy campaigned for Senator in New York I was surprised to see him frequently express his support for Israel. He was killed by Sirhan Sirhan who stated in an outburst at his trial: “I killed Robert Kennedy, willfully, premeditatedly, and with 20 years of malice aforethought.” (Twenty years referred to Israel’s declaration of statehood in 1948.”
John Mersheimer, who wrote the article being discussed noted that the final report of the 9-11 commission was an eye opener. It stated that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the man who conceived and directed the 9-11 terrorist attacks, was motivated by his strong opposition to America’s support for Israel. Mohammed conceived the initial outline of the attack six years before its execution and brought the plan to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, because he knew he did not have the resources to carry it out on his own.
Discussion of the influence of the Jewish lobby is so verboten that when I criticize Israel on Catholic discussion groups there is an uncomfortable reticence in discussing it.
It is also a shame that too many have such little sympathy for the Arabs in the region.
America is certainly too easy on Israel. We have to start by discussing this more. The fact is that the few thoughts put down on this post would be considered antisemitic by most Jewish groups.
I’m tired of folks appropriating the title orthodox to themselves as if they are the arbiter of truth. If they want to be by the book, that’s OK by me, but I suspect their idea of being iorthodox is circular,
I”m also tired of folks who attack others as destroying the Church and saying some on this blog are inspired by Satan and thenm acting offended when they’re criticized.
That’s the problem with childish (only my way) Catholicism.
Sorry – this post , hit twice, obviously wound up in the wrong thread!
My apologies