Ian McEwen attacks 'great injustice' in Israel

[LeftishBrit]

Addressing his remarks at the opening ceremony of Jerusalem's international book fair to "Israeli and Palestinian citizens of this beautiful city", the novelist said: "Hamas has embraced the nihilism of the suicide bomber, of rockets fired blindly into towns, and the nihilism of the extinctionist policy towards Israel."

But it was also nihilism that fired a rocket at the home of the Gazan doctor, Izzeldin Abuelaish, killing three of his daughters and a niece during the Gazan war. "And it is nihilism to make a long-term prison camp of the Gaza Strip. Nihilism has unleashed a tsunami of concrete across the occupied territories."...

He singled out three celebrated Israeli authors – Amos Oz, AB Yehoshua and David Grossman – as "writers who love their country, and made sacrifices for it and have been troubled by the directions it has taken"....


The author said he was donating his $10,000 (£6,155) prize to Combatants for Peace, an organisation of former Israeli soldiers and former Palestinian fighters.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/feb/20/ian-mcewan-great-injustice-israel

[LeftishBrit]

1. Am posting this partly because it shows an example of a far more effective and constructive approach

than a boycott. And partly because it's an opportunity to mention 'Combatants for Peace' a great organization.

http://cfpeace.org/

[aranthus]

2. Indeed.

An interesting organization. I notice that their mission statement seeks only a Palestinian state (with a Capital in East Jerusalem). In other words, they don't take a position on the refugee issue. Do you think that the creation of a Palestinian State is a necessary step before a final peace can be achieved? Or do you think that a state must wait until all issues are fully decided? I have come to embrace the former, but I suspect there is intelligent opinion on either side.

[shaayecanaan]

3. Indeed, I can just imagine Netanyahu's furrowed brow as he hurries into a cabinet meeting...

"comrades, it is all over for us now. Ian McEwan has issued some polite criticisms of us in his acceptance speech for an obscure literary prize. Ive rung Abbas and told him to swing by my offices this afternoon to pick up the keys to Har Homa."

"who?"

"you know, Ian McEwan - he wrote 'Enduring Love'"...

Perhaps the Palestinians should try and channel Richard Gere as well, given his impeccable track record to date in freeing Tibet from the Han Chinese. And as Tibetans well know, as long as Western celebrities are on your side, nothing can stand in your way. That Nelson Mandela guy had it all wrong.

[oberliner]

4. That is probably what happened when Elvis Costello cancelled his concert in Tel Aviv

"Comrades, it's all over for us now. Elvis Costello has issued some polite criticism of us in his statement calling off his concert performance. I've rung Abbas and told him to swing by my offices this afternoon to pick up the keys to Har Homa."

"Who?"

"You know, Elvis Costello - he wrote 'Watching the Detectives'"...

All that hard work from those "pro-Palestinian" BDS organizations convincing Western celebrities to join up with the cause...I wonder if they haven't already been in touch with Mr. Gere...

[shaayecanaan]

6. I'm not criticising Ian McEwan...

he seems to have made the best of his opportunity. I am criticising the notion, expressed in the OP, that this kind of thing is more constructive than boycotts.

Moving forward will take lots of boycotts. In particular it will take boycotts by Palestinians both in the West Bank and Israel. Just as in South Africa, it will take long, rolling labour strikes, sit ins, civil disobedience, barricades and marches.

The Palestinians can hardly expect the rest of the world to boycott Israel unless they resolve to do so themselves.

[henank]

7. The only person the Palestinians are boycotting

is Ian McEwan himself. He's not anti-Israel enough for them. Own goal.

[Violet_Crumble]

9. Rubbish. I'm sure Palestinians boycott other people...

I'm curious as to what you think of Mr McEwan's comments about Israel. Do you agree with him or think he's being very 'anti-Israel'?

[henank]

10. I think

he's being a politically correct idiot, jumping on the bandwagon of the cause du jour. Same as all celebrities who have not much clue about the workings of the Middle East.

[shaayecanaan]

11. And I think that's the reaction of the average Israeli person...

The Israelis tend to be fairly masochistic when it comes to foreign criticism, particularly when its not backed up with anything in the event that criticism is ignored (which is frequent enough).

[Violet_Crumble]

8. Exactly what effect has it had? Absolutely none at all that I can see....

And you make it sound as though there's only room for one approach, which of course there's not. From what I can see, both boycotting and his approach aren't particularly effective. What will end up being effective is when the international community steps up and imposes sanctions on Israel...

[azurnoir]

5. what a thoughtful gesture unfortunately thoughtful gestures will not change a thing

same for celebrities, a boycott of settlement goods may have some impact there but little on the Israeli government nor will much for the foreseeable future Israel can count on the US for protection no matter what it does or does not do