tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20813989.post114286100468620522..comments2023-10-25T14:26:50.521+00:00Comments on Working Group on the Middle East Peace Process: Hamas and Antisemitismnextcenturyfoundationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01644848836042696917noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20813989.post-1142939025569415902006-03-21T11:03:00.000+00:002006-03-21T11:03:00.000+00:00Thanks for the comments. Let me address your conce...Thanks for the comments. Let me address your concerns in rough order: <BR/><BR/>The title Sheikh is not to do with a 'backhanded source’. That’s what Nayef called himself - not for the first time - in this article. <BR/><BR/>Your comment is another opportunity for some entirely unfounded MEMRI bashing. Why MEMRI? I know you hold this view about them, but it is founded on very shaky grounds. I have yet to catch them ‘editorialise’. Despite all the attempts out there to slander anything that smells of Israeli connections, MEMRI is deemed to be accurate and respected, quoted by the BBC and all major news outlets. I do not know if cutting programmes from their original length into handy clips counts as editorialising, so long as the message remains clear? In any case, the author travelled to Rajoub’s house. He describes it – and his entire trip / interview – at length. <BR/><BR/>Nayef is Hamas not reform. <BR/><BR/>As regards the Kahane objection. Totally unacceptable this, William. I have mentioned it in the preamble, this is no excuse and irrelevant. We can deal with Kahane’s followers separately. They are a tiny extremist fringe. Hamas is in Power. This smacks of de-legitimising attempts by people I know to be far less broad minded than you.<BR/><BR/>As regards what you call 'true' incitement on settler radio. It is NOT state sanctioned incitement, and at times prosecuted. I will not be drawn into this, but will say: ‘true incitement’, as opposed to what? Hamas suicide summer camp?. <BR/><BR/>The insinuation of a danger of anti-Arab content I RESENT VERY VERY MUCH. You spend time attempting to explain away Rajoub’s anti-semitism and then somehow manage to be concerned that this might turn into an anti-Arab (extremely strong words) blog. Why? My post is utterly legitimate. <BR/><BR/>I am painfully aware of the unacceptable behaviour of the settlers in Hebron. I do not know what you mean by ‘taking over the tomb of prophets. The sites that Israel controls in Hebron are part of the cradle of Judaism. It is a vexed place, but holy for Judaism. This does not excuse the settlers, and believe me I am concerned at their actions. However, response is somewhat biased and out of place in this discussion.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your comment though, it is greatly appreciatedDavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823148584136806676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20813989.post-1142893732104612912006-03-20T22:28:00.000+00:002006-03-20T22:28:00.000+00:00Greetings Davis,There are dangers here. For a star...Greetings Davis,<BR/>There are dangers here. For a start it is a bit ridiculous to give Jabril Rajoub's brother the honorific title "Sheikh" but it is presumably done as a backhanded way to demean him by your source. Second, we have a policy in the new media code from the International Media Council which runs "a story without a source is a source of trouble" and what we don't know from your edited highlights is whether David Remnick is interviewing Rajoub's brother himself or quoting Memri (a source which is sometimes not above a little editorialising of its own) or what. Third, is Jabril's brother actually Hamas or is he one of the "Reform Party" list that includes Hamas and a lot of other non-Hamas people that jumped onto that bandwagon. Fourth, how representative is he? I mean do the views of men like the late Meir Kahana represent the views of all Jews. I doubt it. Racists like Kahane are extremists. Fifth, this guy Gabril Rajoub's brother, is from Hebron. Do you know how rough it is for the Arabs of Hebron? How they are treated with that small handful of settlers occupying the entire town centre and taking over the tomb of the prophets and generally making their lives a misery. Do you expect objectivity from someone from Hebron? Yes, you do, and you ahve every right to. But then how much of the vote given to Jabril's brother (a relative nonentity) was an anti-Jabril vote (Mr Rajoub was the West Bank Security boss after all - and if Israel has any say in the matter he will be again). And finally, if you are going to make an issue of anti-semitism in Palestine on the MEPP blogsite, perhaps you should keep to the MEPP relevant stuff as media information belongs on the media blog. And as a postscript. I know this particular item isn't a media item . . . but am not sure where you are going with this. And last of all, watch this doesn't become an anti-Arab blog if it becomes overloaded one way. After all, there is plenty of Jewish racism about Palestinians - like the famous "Kill the Arabs" broadcasts on settler radio. Now that is true incitement. Having said all of which. Rajoub's brother is undoubtedly a pretty nasty piece of work by all accounts. The last thing I for one would want to do is defend him. Just wanted to sound a note of cautionWilliamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17920781015928577474noreply@blogger.com