Letters (September 11, 2009)

A selection of letters published in the AJN print edition of September 11, 2009

Langsam simplistic

DAVID Langsam’s fawning admiration for John Pilger emphasises how off the beam both of them are when it comes to Israel (AJN 04/09).

On face value, the Sydney Peace Prize sounds as if it might have a ring of decency about it, but over the years, the winners’ list has conspicuously included several virulent and biased critics of Israel.

Langsam’s simplistic acceptance of Israel as an “occupier” fits in nicely with Pilger’s view of Israel.

It is patently clear that Langsam’s sympathies lie with the Palestinian narrative. Aligning himself with the likes of John Pilger only further dilutes the value of any contribution he may make.

ALAN FREEDMAN
St Kilda East, Vic

Don’t write off blogging

I TAKE real issue with Dr Dvir Abramovich’s article “What sensible Jew?” (AJN 04/09). Blogs and the internet are at last an opportunity for those outside the inner circles of power to have their voices heard. Stating that bloggers can censor their posts and writing blogging off as anything but an open platform, unfairly implies that Alex Fein does not allow views on her blog in opposition to her own. That is patently untrue. She cannot, however, be blamed for not wanting or allowing her blog to be sabotaged.

Yes, the young “are unafraid to air their views”, as long as those views are not in criticism of local community leaders or of aspects of Israeli policy. “Shouting from the margins” is a very interesting choice of phrase in Dr Abramovich’s article, precisely because those who have the courage to raise their voices in criticism of local community institutions are indeed marginalised as they lay themselves open to the all-too-easy charge of being anti-Semitic!

VIVIENNE AWFORD
Tamarama, NSW

Sweeping allegations

IT is a pity that Dvir Abramovich’s article (AJN 04/09) could not be accompanied by Alex Fein’s response. Dr Abramovich’s article contained numerous sweeping allegations, each of which was rebutted by Fein, and read very much like an attempt at retribution.

MORRY FRENKEL
Caulfield South, Vic

Who is a Zionist?

I AM one in the 80 per cent who considers himself a supporter of Israel, Michael Burd, but that does not mean I subscribe to your definition of who is a Zionist. If anything, according to your criteria, I am most likely an anti-Zionist because, just like the good folk at the Sensible Jew blog, (AJN 04/09), I do not agree with your definition.

Therefore, in all fairness, Mr Burd, you can’t use that 80 per cent figure to boost your argument against Antony Loewenstein and his friends, who are clearly, and proudly, anti-Israel.

HENRY HERZOG
St Kilda East, Vic

Honouring Arthur Rose

HISTORY makes an enormous and incredible contribution to any successful institution. Further to the excellent research and article by Yossi Aron, “Remembering the Past and Looking to the Future” (AJN 04/09), I need to rectify a reference that Simon Roth was the first president of Caulfield Hebrew Congregation (CHC).

It’s true of course, that my late father founded CHC and served as president for a record 16 years. However, the fact is that the late Arthur Rose was the first president of CHC.

Arthur Rose was honoured with this koved based on his great love and support of Judaism, and his financial generosity in providing the funds to obtain the first block of land on which CHC stands today.

Together with Arthur Rose, my father created the foundations upon which Jewish life in Caulfield truly commenced. Both religiously and communally, their vision, commitment and motivation has stood the test of time. Sadly today, much of this is forgotten.

RUDI ROTH
Toorak, Vic

House feature drew Israel’s enemies

JAMIE Hyams (AJN 04/09) unearthed crucially important information related to the August 22-23 Weekend Australian Magazine story by John Lyons; data that vindicates Israeli police and courts accused of connivance with so-called “settlers” illegally occupying Nasser Jaber’s house.

Sadly, as expected, the story attracted some virulent anti-Israel letters in the September 05-06 Weekend Australian Magazine.

DR RACHEL BIRATI
Balwyn North, Vic

Sheikh rewrites history

IN response to the article in last week’s AJN (04/09), “PA Judge Denies Jewish Jerusalem History” -— this is just another example of what is coming from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Sheikh Tayseer Rajab Tamimi (not some lowly official, but the PA’s Chief Judge and highest religious authority) said there is no evidence to back up claims that Jews ever lived in Jerusalem or that the Temple ever existed.

Jerusalem, he said, was never inhabited by Jews. According to him, it has always been an Islamic city and will always be so.

Really!

How many adherents of Islam lived in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus? His answer would have to be none, given that Islam did not exist until more that 600 years after the time of Jesus. But, according to him, it has always been an Islamic city and will always be so. According to him, all you have to do is say “poof” and all of the Christian history of that city simply disappears! And who was there prior to the Christians?

And Israel is expected to negotiate with the Palestinians.

MICHAEL SHAW
St Kilda East, Vic

Negotiations and normalisation

ISRAEL wants to normalise relationships with Arab states — a laudable and highly desirable goal for Israelis and citizens of Arab states. Israel asserts that normalisation must include Arab states ending their ban on travellers with Israeli stamps in their passports.

Does this mean that Israel would end its unmitigated harassment of travellers with stamps of Arab states in their passports? I’m a Jewish-Australian-American with a stamp from Jordan in my passport.

This entitled me to 4-and-a-half hours of interrogation by Israeli airport security. They accosted me verbally; they challenged repeatedly my credibility and integrity over how I could possibly afford my flight to Jordan while I was being treated for cancer. I showed them my doctors’ notes attesting to my medical condition, which merely increased the intensity of their probing.

What Israel desires is laudable, just, and fair -— something that Arab nations must provide if there is to be peace in the Middle East. And long overdue, certainly.

And Israel must reciprocate as well: respect, trust, and normalised relationships are two-way streets, after all.

JUDY BAMBERGER
O’Connor ACT

Supporting Israel irresponsible

I SERIOUSLY recommend Yoar Shamir’s film, Defamation, and especially to people such as Terry Davis (AJN 21/8). The film shows exploitation of the Holocaust to encourage a mindset that makes further killing and dispossession of Palestinian people very likely.

I am sorry that Terry Davis did not hear Professor Jeff Halper when he was in Sydney. He would have learned about the demolition of Palestinian houses where families live; part of Israel’s land-apartheid.

Supporting Israel as Mr Davis does, seems to me like putting the car keys in the hand of a drunken teenager, a drunken nuclear-armed teenager.

Best, I think, to withhold support until it stops starving the people of Gaza, until it stops stealing land in the West Bank.

In fact, Israel is defaming Jews everywhere, by claiming to be acting for them, in a cruel and unjustified way. It is because my father was Jewish that, like many others, I feel I should speak out.

STEPHEN LANGORD
Paddington, NSW

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