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Friday, June 24, 2011
Tom Friedman skewered by Israeli News Spoof
New York Times pundit Tom Friedman is skewered in the video above. The Friedman clip runs from 1:39 thru 7:11...enjoy, Bruce
I understand some of the criticism leveled at Friedman and some of the comments he has made. Mostly though he seems to demand that Israel keep proving things that allow the Palestinians to prove they may not be as genuine as Israel I am not sure this was either all that funny or all that accurate. While I think some of this is pointless and some should not be necessary, I would like your well educated and reasoned thoughts as to what is wrong and anti-Israel in the following by Friedman: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/opinion/20friedman.html
I have no respect for Mr. Friedman's Israel commentary. In the piece you highlight "Just Knock It Off" Friedman begins by saying that critiques of Israel that it "behaves like America’s spoiled child" is merely "excessive." He should have said that the critque was unfair or wrong.
Then, in the very next sentence, he goes right into his own unfair critique, referring to "Israel’s obstinacy."
He couldn't wait a few sentences?
Ah, but he real agenda is to skewer Israel, so he lands at: "today Irael really is behaving like a spoiled child." Thanks Tom.
His assertion that: "Israel can’t remain a Jewish democracy in the long run if it continues to control 2.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank" is totally wrong. Both Tom and President Obama are wrong when the assert that the current situation is unsustainable. The Palestinian Arabs are not, not, not citizens of Israel. Only Arab Israelis have that privilage. Thus, no threat to democracy as long as the territories remain disputed.
Tom then goes on the settlement track, claiming that Israel should take away the Palestinian excuse not to talk. Hmm. Wasn't the same argument made about giving Gaza to the PA? How did that one turn out Tom?
In fact, the settlements are a non-issue. So is Netanyahu. You could have Mother Theresa leading Israel and the Palestinians would still not make peace. As far as Mr. Netanyahu's cabinet of "far right-wingers," that is only partially true. Please remmeber that this coalition is a "left-center-right" coalition, with strong representation from Labor in the form of the Defense Minister.
The Tom ends with the kicker: "the team of Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad have built a government that is the best the Palestinians have ever had." This article was written in October. Looks like Tom's wishful thinking went nowhere. We now have a Palestian "unity" government with Hamas, made especially to impress the UN.
Ok. That seems well reasoned. I would not dispute much though I do believe the 2.5 million Palestinians remain a problem. I don;t think he meant that if the counted as citizens they would vote out the Israeli government. I think he feels that the situation is to reminiscent of Apartheid. I have never seen that analogy but I see his point that prolonging the situation can create that impression and reality. I just don't think he, or the US government, or anyone has yet demonstrated a way out---probably because the Palestinians don't seem to be looking for a solution that includes Israel.
Here's the latest in Tom's skewed view of Israel...he compares Netanyahu to Mubarak...oy. See: http://pajamasmedia.com/barryrubin/2011/07/02/thomas-friedman-calls-for-revolution-in-israel/
5 comments:
I understand some of the criticism leveled at Friedman and some of the comments he has made. Mostly though he seems to demand that Israel keep proving things that allow the Palestinians to prove they may not be as genuine as Israel I am not sure this was either all that funny or all that accurate. While I think some of this is pointless and some should not be necessary, I would like your well educated and reasoned thoughts as to what is wrong and anti-Israel in the following by Friedman: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/opinion/20friedman.html
I have no respect for Mr. Friedman's Israel commentary. In the piece you highlight "Just Knock It Off" Friedman begins by saying that critiques of Israel that it "behaves like America’s spoiled child" is merely "excessive." He should have said that the critque was unfair or wrong.
Then, in the very next sentence, he goes right into his own unfair critique, referring to "Israel’s obstinacy."
He couldn't wait a few sentences?
Ah, but he real agenda is to skewer Israel, so he lands at:
"today Irael really is behaving like a spoiled child." Thanks Tom.
His assertion that: "Israel can’t remain a Jewish democracy in the long run if it continues to control 2.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank" is totally wrong. Both Tom and President Obama are wrong when the assert that the current situation is unsustainable. The Palestinian Arabs are not, not, not citizens of Israel. Only Arab Israelis have that privilage. Thus, no threat to democracy as long as the territories remain disputed.
Tom then goes on the settlement track, claiming that Israel should take away the Palestinian excuse not to talk. Hmm. Wasn't the same argument made about giving Gaza to the PA? How did that one turn out Tom?
In fact, the settlements are a non-issue. So is Netanyahu. You could have Mother Theresa leading Israel and the Palestinians would still not make peace. As far as Mr. Netanyahu's cabinet of "far right-wingers," that is only partially true. Please remmeber that this coalition is a "left-center-right" coalition, with strong representation from Labor in the form of the Defense Minister.
The Tom ends with the kicker: "the team of Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad have built a government that is the best the Palestinians have ever had." This article was written in October. Looks like Tom's wishful thinking went nowhere. We now have a Palestian "unity" government with Hamas, made especially to impress the UN.
Sorry Tom...you remain no friend of Israel.
Ok. That seems well reasoned. I would not dispute much though I do believe the 2.5 million Palestinians remain a problem. I don;t think he meant that if the counted as citizens they would vote out the Israeli government. I think he feels that the situation is to reminiscent of Apartheid. I have never seen that analogy but I see his point that prolonging the situation can create that impression and reality. I just don't think he, or the US government, or anyone has yet demonstrated a way out---probably because the Palestinians don't seem to be looking for a solution that includes Israel.
Yes, his implication is that Israel is an Apartheid state...that has indeed been a common accusation from the ultra-left.
In my view it is only Palestinian rejectionism that is prolonging the situation.
Here's the latest in Tom's skewed view of Israel...he compares Netanyahu to Mubarak...oy. See:
http://pajamasmedia.com/barryrubin/2011/07/02/thomas-friedman-calls-for-revolution-in-israel/
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