Zionist bullying distorts politics, media and education - Pearls and Irritations - Guest Post

Zionist bullying distorts politics, media and education - Pearls and Irritations Zionist bullying distorts politics, media and education By Stuart Rees and Greg Barns Aug 10, 2024 http://www.sabinabecker.com/media/no-criticism-allowed.jpg (Graphic inserted) In addition to physical or psychological abuse, bullies use power in relationships to pressure others to adopt their world views. The bullying may appear in letters, lobbying, radio and television interviews, secret meetings with politicians and business leaders and even in legal action against those who criticise the bullies’ points of view. As we write, news that Cori Bush, a Democratic Congresswoman from Missouri lost a primary to a pro Israel candidate is making headlines. As NBC News reported on August 8th, Bush ‘has lost her primary, handing a pro-Israel group another victory against a member of the progressive “squad” of lawmakers.’ Her ‘sin’? To be “a vocal critic of the Israeli government and the country’s response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Oct. 7.” Across Europe, North America and Australia, a Zionist lobby, totally distinct from Jewish identity and the tenets of Judaism, has been justifying the maintenance of a Jewish only state that is stealing and destroying the lands, lives and livelihoods of Palestinians. Oppression, colonisation, apartheid and genocide are Zionist achievements which have reached a climax in the last nine months of slaughter in Gaza and on the West Bank. An Australian historian and one of the founders of the progressive Jewish Council of Australia Dr Max Kaiser said recently in an interview with Jacobin (1) ‘The aim of Zionism — as with other versions of settler colonialism in countries like Australia — is to replace the indigenous people on their land with settlers. A lot of early Zionist ideologues were very open about this fact; the point was to conquer the land.’ And it is that mindset which drives too many in Australia who support Israel’s policies towards the Palestinian people uncritically, and who attack critics as antisemitic. Less visible bullying has persisted for years via Zionist leaders’ assumptions that their dogma must prevail and woe betide anyone who gets in the way. That bullying presupposes that criticism of Israeli policies should be stifled, that UN resolutions and judgements in international law be ridiculed and ignored. Our critique concentrates on bullying by the Zionist lobby in Australia, but Zionist influence in this country is imitating the destructive influence of Zionists overseas, as we note above in the current case of Ms Bush. In his 1985 book ‘They Dare to Speak Out’, Paul Findlay a Republican Congressman from Illinois concluded that the Zionism inherent in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) had ‘gained control of virtually all of Capitol Hill and Middle East Policy.’ In their 2007 work, ‘The Israeli lobby and US Foreign Policy’ John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt showed that ‘Pro Israel groups placed great importance on controlling debate in American academia.’ In his 2024 book ‘Lobbying for Zionism on both sides of the Atlantic’, Ilan Pappe documents how pro Israel lobbies convinced British and American policy makers to condone Israel’s flagrant breaches of international law. He shows how anyone who questioned unconditional support for Israel, even in the mildest terms, became the target of relentless smear campaigns. Zionist bullying in Australian politics is apparent in accusations of anti Semitism against those who might dare to criticise Israel’s death and destruction in Palestine, who advocate recognition of the State of Palestine or who support the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement to promote Palestinians’ rights to self determination. The pressure on an Australian government to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism is a case in point (2). Let us make it clear that when anti-Semitism or, for that matter anti-muslim or more broadly anti-Arab statements and attitudes are evident, they must be condemned. But the definition used by the IHRA says that anti-Semitism includes ‘a certain perception of Jews which could be expressed as hatred or could include the targeting of the State of Israel conceived as a Jewish collectivity.’ The President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Jillian Segal, recently appointed as Prime Minister Albanese’s envoy on anti-Semitism, had welcomed the announcement by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison that his government embraced the definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the IHRA. In response, as though speaking for all Australians, Peter Wertheim, President of ECAJ said that support for the IHRA definition was ‘a profound expression from the heart of our most abiding national values’ (3). Critics of the definition include Anglo-Australian barrister Geoffrey Robertson who judged it ‘imprecise, confusing, open to misinterpretation, and even manipulation’ (4). US scholar Dr. Norman Finkelstein wrote that this IHRA document is ‘an impoverished, ignorant, slovenly substitute for rational dialectic’ (5). Two respected former members of the UK Court of Appeal Sir Stephen Sedley and Sir Anthony Hooper and other prominent lawyers, in a letter to the Guardian on 7 January 2021 argued that ‘the legally entrenched right to free expression is being undermined by [the IHRA definition]. Its promotion by public bodies is leading to the curtailment of debate’ (6). Nevertheless, an Australian government accepted it and Ms Segal argued, “It will need to be adopted by the public and private sectors , the university sector, civil society, school education systems and sporting organisations’ (7). Following her advice and presumably to show that Zionist views were also theirs, Federal politicians, Liberal’s Julian Leeser and Labor’s Josh Burns, said ‘it beggars belief that only a handful of universities have incorporated the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism into their policies’ (8). The Zionist influence on Australian universities was vividly illustrated in 2003 when the Sydney Peace Prize jury chose the Palestinian educator and politician Dr. Hanan Ashrawi as the prize recipient for that year. Zionist representatives immediately demanded that this Palestinian should not be allowed to come to Australia, let alone receive an international award for peace. Derision of Ashrawi appeared in letters to newspapers, in pressure on corporate sponsors of the prize, on the university’s Chancellor and Vice Chancellor and on me (Stuart Rees) as Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation. Bullying appeared successful. The university caved in and ruled that this significant Palestinian was not welcome in Sydney’s Great Hall where the award ceremony was to have been held. At that point, NSW Premier Bob Carr agreed to honour Dr. Ashrawi and make the award in the Strangers Gallery of the NSW parliament. The bullying was not successful. Failure to cancel the award of a Peace Prize to a Palestinian did not deter the Zionist lobby from attempting to influence teaching in schools and on university campuses. Then and now that influence looks like intimidation (9). In September 2015, students from the Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies at Sydney University broke up a meeting called to discuss the BDS movement in support of Palestinians’ rights. Together with their supervisor, their aggressive behaviour implied that such meetings not be allowed, but stereotypes views of Israel the victim and Palestinians as terrorists should be maintained. Writing in ‘The Conversation’ on Nov 24, 2023, Dr. Susan Rutland, head of Jewish Studies at Sydney wrote that criticism of Zionism and of Israel is an attack on Jewry and thus heralds anti-Semitism.’ Her lobbying playbook says defence of Israel, of Zionism, of Jews in general includes accusations of anti-Semitism. Since October 2023 and in the subsequent Gaza war, universities and even high schools have been pressured not to criticise Israel’s barbarities. In December 2023 at the Moria Foundation Alex Ryvchin, CEO of the ECAJ, urged Zionist movements to pressure teachers who expressed support for Palestine and who called for a ceasefire(10). Criticism aimed at universities which allowed student encampments in support of Palestinians, claimed the scalp of Beatrice Tucker who was expelled from the ANU for saying on ABC radio that Hamas deserved ‘unconditional support,… that nothing can justify what has been happening to the Palestinian people for 75 years’ (11). Zionist scapegoating of Hamas to deflect attention from Israeli illegalities was having a desired effect. Jewish students were allegedly the only ones at risk of prejudice and no students should ever be expelled for advocating the Israeli cause. Two citizens, Colin Rubinstein and Mark Leibler, self proclaimed leaders of Zionism, were proud of their ability to intimidate journalists and to show others how to do so. Rubenstein, Australian Israel Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) Director would pressure mainstream media to never be critical of Israel let alone write positively about Palestine. Chris Mitchell, former editor of The Australian told Middle East correspondent John Lyons, ‘I think of Colin as a bully’(12). In his revealing book ‘Balcony over Jerusalem’, Lyons says, ‘The head of AIJAC had the sort of access to The Australian that I could only dream of.’ Lyons records an Israeli officer telling him, ‘The Israeli lobby in Australia is the most powerful lobby in the world in terms of the impact it has within its own country’ (13). Mark Leibler boasted of his influence in public life, such as his alliance with the Israeli Ambassador, and published an account of how to lobby in support of Israel. With that goal in mind he advised the ABC that their Middle East correspondent Sophie McNeill ‘should never have been given this posting’ (14). McNeil documented the regular harassment and intimidation from Israeli authorities and was accused of anti-Israel bias by former federal Labor MP Michael Danby(15). To foster his attacks on McNeill, this rabid, Zionism supporting MP took out an advertisement in the Australian Jewish News, a newspaper never averse to confronting governments which might dare to be critical of Israel. A recent edition of Australian Jewish News insists, ‘The Albanese Government is more hostile to Jews and Israel than any government in Australian history’ (16). Against this background, the CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Alon Cassuto has launched proceedings before the Human Rights Commission against journalist, former SBS newsreader Mary Kostakidis for sharing alleged ‘extreme propaganda and hateful material.’ While the merits of the case, or otherwise, must be left to the courts, what this litigation does point to is the broader issue of freedom of speech which must include the right to criticise, and robustly so, the Zionist project. This account of Zionist bullying gives a few examples but there are a multitude more. A main thesis concerns the limitless nature of Zionist assumptions and goals. Though manifestly untrue, they speak as though representing all Jewish citizens of Australia. On behalf of Israel and in opposition to all Palestinians, they presume a right to attack politicians who might be judged insufficiently Zionist. Perceiving control of media as the best means to promote their message, they deride those few journalists principled and brave enough to reject Zionist perspectives. Bullying has characterised Zionist activities. In its influence on thinking and action in public life, Zionism has been poisonous and in that form should no longer be tolerated. References: (1) Kaiser, ‘Jewish Australians are Rejecting the Zionist Establishment, Jacobin of April 27, 2024 (2) Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) Australia pledges to embrace the IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism October 14, 2021 (3) Peter Wertheim Oct. 2024 ECAJ statement in response to Morrison government ‘embracing’ the IHRA definition (4) Robertson, from Doughty Chambers, London, ‘IHRA definition of anti-Semitism is not fit for purpose.’ Aug. 31, 2018 (5) Finkelstein, in Jonathan Cook post of Aug. 2018, ‘The anti-Semitism Industry does not speak for Jews.’ and in Fathom ‘Denial’: Norman Finkelstein and the New Anti-Semitism. (6) Letters to The Guardian, Jan 8, 2021 ‘Anti-Semitism definition is undermining free speech’. ‘Williamson wrong to force universities to abide by anti-Semitism time definition’, say lawyers. (7) Segal quoted from ECAJ statement on IHRA definition of anti-Semitism Oct. 2021 (8) Leeser and Burns, reported in The Australian June 12, 2024 in elaboration of earlier, Caitlin C in The Guardian, ‘Australian universities split on decision to adopt controversial definition of anti-Semitism’, Feb 6 2023 (9) Tonkin T, ‘The dangers of Zionism behind closed doors’, Independent Australia Feb 10, 2024 (10) Ryvchin of ECAJ @ Moriah Foundation, Dec. 2023 Zionist movements should ‘ensure that maximum pressure is brought to bear on teachers who express support for Palestine or call for a ceasefire.’ (11) ANU student expelled after saying ‘Hamas deserved ‘unconditional support during radio interview.’ The Guardian, June 6 2024 (12) in Lyons J ‘Balcony over Jerusalem’, Sydney, Harper Collins 2017, p.254 (13) in Lyons J ‘Balcony over Jerusalem’, p. 261 (14)Document on lobbying & reference to ABC correspondent McNeil listed in Michael West Media of Nov 15 2023, ‘Israel, Gaza and Australian politics: master lobbyist Mark Leibler reveals how power really works.’ (15) ABC’s Sophie McNeil accused of anti-Semitism bias in ad by Labor MP, The Guardian Oct. 4 2017 (16) Australian Jewish News, July 2024