http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-EdContributors/Article.aspx?id=268141
“What people of conscience need to know about Norway” reads the heading of an article by Michael Sharnoff in the Jerusalem Post. And as I read his informed testimony, I couldn’t believe my eyes…let us begin shall we?
“Casual observers of the Middle East are no doubt aware of the deeply anti-Semitic and anti- Zionist attitudes in the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. These groups make little attempt to conceal their desire for a world without Israel”
The usual “Israel is small and constantly threatened by its big Arab neighbours” argument. Take the time to look at these for a minute:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/world/middleeast/06palestinians.html
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2012/04/2012413151613293582.html
“However, many in its government, and some large businesses, have recently displayed a pattern of strong anti-Israel and often anti-Semitic attitudes which would make Islamist radicals very proud.”
There it is, there is the first of it, but please, let us carry on.
“Why would a very tolerant, progressive and democratic government espouse such prejudicial views?”
Sorry mister Sharnoff, but a view is only prejudicial if it is purely assumed with no evidence to back it up. Evidence such as the military occupation of the West Bank, the building of Settlements which house extremists, the checkpoints, the Wall, the eviction of Palestinians from East Jerusalem and its occupation also. The fact that military court law is used in the West Bank while civil court law is used in Israel…culminating in the impossibility of building a Palestinian state in the first place.
“They [the Norwegian leaders] typically avoid specifically targeting Jews, for fear of being labeled anti-Semitic, but their actions nonetheless exhibit traits of “genteel anti-Semitism.”
Genteel anti-Semitism you say? The anti-Semitic card is evolving. So despite the fact that they don’t target Jews and they say it, you still claim that they are in a “secret” or “genteel” way. No offence, but this sounds like some neurotic paranoia here…but let us give this journalist some rope.
“Oslo may have distanced itself from Halvorsen’s controversial remarks, but it has refused to follow the United States and European Union’s classification of Hamas as a designated terrorist organization.
“We condemn organizations that are involved in terrorism,””
Excuse me, but how does that make it anti-Semitic again? It is not denying the fact that Hamas carries our terrorist activities and it condemns those activities. Just because it doesn’t do as the E.U and the U.S.A does, that is shutting its ears and saying “lalalalala” like an insolent child, doesn’t make it wrong. It makes it pragmatic.
“Støre has also insisted that Israel dismantle its security wall built in response to the wave of suicide bombings from the West Bank.”
Yes, you are absolutely right. Norwegian leaders have a secret agenda to send out radical suicide bombers into Israel, that sounds rational, and I am sure you know what rational means because you have used it in the article many times. No, I’m just joking. I just wonder why you didn’t say where the wall was built, well that is because it is in Palestinian territory, snaking this way and that, choking Bethlehem and cutting off farmland from its farmers. Also, read this article.
“A 2010 report from NGO Monitor which provides information on organizations claiming to advance human rights revealed that Oslo provides tens of millions of kroner annually to West Bank and Gaza NGOs. Some of these organizations are blatantly anti-Israel and promote anti- Israel boycotts.”
Name some of these organizations for me. And what is wrong with boycotting Israeli goods in protest of their policies? You know, the policies that I mentioned earlier in case you forgot.
“The Norwegian People’s Aid, funded by the Foreign Ministry, described Israel as “apartheid” and accused it of “war crimes.”
If you think that Norwegian organizations are the only ones saying this you are in for a nasty surprise.
“The most recent example of Norway’s genteel anti- Semitism was exemplified by Roar Arnstad, CEO of a Norwegian pharmaceutical chain called VITA, with his decision to boycott Ahava cosmetics manufactured in West Bank settlements.”
“Genteel”, there it is again. Tell me what is wrong with boycotting enclaves full of nationalist religious zealots who torch farms, form their own road blocks, drive people from water springs and so on and so forth…
“Arnstad denies holding anti-Semitic beliefs and claims his policy is only against the Israeli occupation, but if this was indeed sincere, he would apply the same boycott to other occupying nations.”
Can you give me examples of other occupying nations that they deal with. I love how Mr. Sharnoff doesn’t actually deny that Israel is an occupying nation. Because I guess the best thing you can do after your crimes are staring you in the face, is point to other nations and say “they are worse than us!”.
“Singling out Israel is anti-Semitism and this demonstrable fact cannot absolve the Norwegian government of its own bigotry.”
The bright and informed journalist seems to think every Jew in the world is Israeli or in an Israeli university. You know what anti-Semitism is? It is a policy aimed at all the Jews around the world. Israeli Jews are not the only Jews in the world, Mr. Sharnoff.
“So tell us, do you boycott cultural and academic events in Britain (occupier of the Falkland Islands), China (occupier of Tibet), Russia (occupier of the Kuril Islands), Iran (occupier of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa Islands), Morocco (occupier of Western Sahara), Armenia (occupier of Nagorno-Karabakh) and Turkey (occupier of Northern Cyprus)? Do you ban imports from these countries? Moreover, do you criticize suicide bombings and rocket attacks against civilians with the same fervor with which you criticize Israeli policies? For many, regarding Norwegian policies – enough is enough. If Vidkun Quisling was alive today and read the anti-Israel an anti-Semitic statements that were coming out of Norway, a big smile would appear on his face.”
I love how he now expresses sudden concerns for all of these mentioned territories. Maybe if they got more media attention and pressure by activists then these will change. You know, like the activists who are in Palestinian villages getting beaten, arrested and sent to prison without trial. Maybe we should make these other issues mainstream if we can. Also, yet again you didn’t deny Israel was an occupying force itself. All that is left, after your moral collapse, is to point fingers. Meanwhile you can talk about the close friendship Israel had with Apartheid South Africa too, that was a concerning historical friendship.
“The writer completed a PhD in Middle East Studies from King’s College, London.” – This translates to “he sounds nuts, but believe him anyway”.
