Italy

How can we have a real discussion about Mideast peace if speaking honestly about "Israel" is out of bounds?




Ever wonder what it's like to be a pariah?
Publish something sharply critical of "Israeli" government policies and you'll find out. If you're lucky, you'll merely discover that you've been uninvited to some dinner parties. If you're less lucky, you'll be the subject of an all-out attack by neoconservative pundits and accused of rabid anti-Semitism.

This, at least, is what happened to Ken Roth. Roth - whose father fled Nazi Germany - is executive director of Human Rights Watch, America's largest and most respected human rights organization. (Disclosure: I have worked in the past as a paid consultant for the group.) In July, after the "Israeli" offensive in Lebanon began, Human Rights Watch did the same thing it has done in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia, East Timor, Sierra Leone, Congo, Uganda and countless other conflict zones around the globe: It sent researchers to monitor the conflict and report on any abuses committed by either side.

It found plenty. On July 18, Human Rights Watch condemned Hizbullah rocket strikes on "Israel", calling the strikes "serious violations of international humanitarian law and probable war crimes." So far, so good. You can't lose when you criticize a (so-called) 'terrorist' organization.
But Roth and Human Rights Watch didn't stop there. As the conflict's death toll spiraled - with most of the casualties Lebanese civilians - Human Rights Watch also criticized "Israel" for indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Roth noted that the "Israeli" military appeared to be "treating southern Lebanon as a free-fire zone," and he observed that the failure to take appropriate measures to distinguish between civilians and combatants constitutes a war crime.

The backlash was prompt. Roth and Human Rights Watch soon found themselves accused of unethical behavior, giving aid and comfort to (so-called) 'terrorists' and anti-Semitism. The conservative New York Sun attacked Roth (who is Jewish) for having a "clear pro-Hizbullah and anti-'Israel' bias" and accused him of engaging in "the de-legitimization of Judaism, the basis of much anti-Semitism." Neocon commentator David Horowitz called Roth a "reflexive 'Israel'-basher ... who, in his zest to pillory 'Israel' at every turn, is little more than an ally of the barbarians." The New Republic piled on, as did Alan Dershowitz, who claimed Human Rights Watch "cooks the books" to make "Israel" look bad. And writing in the Jewish Exponent, Jonathan Rosenblum accused Roth of resorting to a "slur about primitive Jewish bloodlust."

Anyone familiar with Human Rights Watch - or with Roth - knows this to be lunacy. Human Rights Watch is nonpartisan - it doesn't "take sides" in conflicts. And the notion that Roth is anti-Semitic verges on the insane.
But what's most troubling about the vitriol directed at Roth and his organization isn't that it's savage, unfounded and fantastical. What's most troubling is that it's typical. Typical, that is, of what anyone rash enough to criticize "Israel" can expect to encounter. In the United States today, it just isn't possible to have a civil debate about "Israel", because any serious criticism of its policies is instantly countered with charges of anti-Semitism.

Think "Israel's" tactics against Hizbullah were too heavy-handed, or that "Israel" hasn't always been wholly fair to the Palestinians, or that the United States should reconsider its unquestioning financial and military support for "Israel"? Shhh: Don't voice those sentiments unless you want to be called an anti-Semite - and probably a terrorist sympathizer to boot.
How did adopting a reflexively pro-"Israel" stance come to be a mandatory aspect of American Jewish identity? Skepticism - a willingness to ask tough questions, a refusal to embrace dogma - has always been central to the Jewish intellectual tradition. Ironically, this tradition remains alive in "Israel", where respected public figures routinely criticize the government in far harsher terms than those used by Human Rights Watch.

In a climate in which good-faith criticism of "Israel" is automatically denounced as anti-Semitic, everyone loses. "Israeli" policies are a major source of discord in the Islamic world, and anger at "Israel" usually spills over into anger at the U.S., "Israel's" biggest backer.
With resentment of "Israeli" policies fueling terrorism and instability both in the Middle East and around the globe, it's past time for Americans to have a serious national debate about how to bring a just peace to the Middle East. But if criticism of "Israel" is out of bounds, that debate can't occur - and we'll all pay the price.


Back to Human Rights Watch's critics. Why waste time denouncing imaginary anti-Semitism when there's no shortage of the real thing? From politically motivated arrests of Jews in Iran to assaults on Jewish children in Ukraine, there's plenty of genuine anti-Semitism out there - and Human Rights Watch is usually taking the lead in condemning it. So if you're bothered by anti-Semitism - if you're bothered by ideologies that insist that some human lives have less value than others - you could do a whole lot worse than send a check to Human Rights Watch.

2006-12-25 09:30:26 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Bologna

2006-12-25 05:20:21 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Milan

I would jut like to know what this may say. Any help would be great!

2006-12-25 01:53:06 · 4 answers · asked by Sara N 1 in Other - Italy

range of shoes called Phillip Jess by Campanelli

2006-12-24 06:24:53 · 4 answers · asked by NEAL D 1 in Other - Italy

2006-12-24 02:28:01 · 14 answers · asked by Federica 2 in Other - Italy

I don't know much about Italy. However, everytime that I see photographs of Italy, I see the shopping districts surrounded by water-filled streets, that people have to always use boats to get around in. How much of Italy is surrounded by water like that? Are only the shopping areas surrounded by water, and are there many more areas of Italy that are not surrounded by those types of streets that are always full of water? If I am not mistaken, Italy might be the only country on Earth that has a shopping district/area that has streets that are always full of water. If I am wrong, what other places are like that? Furthermore, were those water-filled streets of Italy ever dry for a very long time? If yes, what caused those streets to become constantly flooded like that? Furthermore, do those streets ever become dry during any times of the year, or are they always filled with water, all year round of every year? Hopefully, some of you who live in Italy will answer these questions.

2006-12-23 09:44:54 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Italy

Hi I' m italian,i live in Rome.I want to know what do you thing about Rome!Can you use a simple language?thank you very much!

2006-12-23 05:42:14 · 25 answers · asked by Andrea! 2 in Rome

SArdinia is in Italy

2006-12-23 04:49:39 · 2 answers · asked by mihaela_bizau 1 in Other - Italy

2006-12-22 14:27:58 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Italy

We would love to go to Italy for our honeymoon in December. Is it just entirely too cold to enjoy everything that Italy has to offer?

2006-12-22 06:09:41 · 9 answers · asked by Cindy 1 in Other - Italy

Ok, so looking to take my bf to italy over this weekend for my birthday and an early valentines present, but the flights seem abnormally high. Is there something special going on this weekend? I googled and nothing came back... Prices arent always this high to Rome / Venice just this weekend seems strange? Ta.

2006-12-22 04:35:00 · 5 answers · asked by bde_london 2 in Other - Italy

2006-12-22 01:49:30 · 4 answers · asked by linda a 1 in Other - Italy

2006-12-21 00:37:49 · 9 answers · asked by B. J. 4 in Other - Italy

nice and serouis,just wanna improve my english.I live with my parent,but i can give hosp. write me at : tretretre17@yahoo.it thanks!

2006-12-20 22:18:06 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Italy

what r some gud italian names for both boys and girls?

2006-12-20 20:12:30 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Italy

2006-12-20 13:25:03 · 11 answers · asked by lampie 3 in Other - Italy

2006-12-20 12:40:13 · 4 answers · asked by luneek 1 in Other - Italy

i was planning on spending a day or two in each of the following Milan, Rome, Florence, and Venice... I've never been any suggestions regarding cities and specific places to go in each and things that happen that time of year? Thanks.

2006-12-20 11:28:55 · 7 answers · asked by ahtn 2 in Other - Italy

2006-12-20 07:00:14 · 19 answers · asked by _ 2 in Other - Italy

2006-12-19 13:21:35 · 3 answers · asked by {[The Wind]} 1 in Other - Italy

Tell me what do you think about this island?

2006-12-19 12:05:08 · 8 answers · asked by 겛匈犧 1 in Other - Italy

I am going to Rome with a 45 year old and a 17 year old. We will be going in the spring sometime. Any suggestions on where to go, where to eat..etc.?? Thanks!

2006-12-19 11:36:06 · 5 answers · asked by Lo 2 in Rome

2006-12-19 11:25:37 · 2 answers · asked by Karen B 1 in Other - Italy

Anyone has been to Italy and know of a good place to stay and things to visit?

2006-12-19 09:09:02 · 18 answers · asked by Lorelei's Mommy ( & prego) 5 in Other - Italy

Can a person buy designer clothing such as Armani, Gucci and others a lot cheaper than what they sell for in the U.S.?

2006-12-18 13:27:28 · 11 answers · asked by Dr. J 1 in Other - Italy

I am not catholic, i am jewish so not interested in seing churches. 4 days in italy...where should i go?

2006-12-18 13:18:13 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Italy

.....and by everything I mean EVERYTHING. I'm only 16 and have never done anything like this before. His secretary is going to help me, but still yet. So....any general advice is appreciated. It'll be a 3 week trip in March....he said we could visit several cities.

Thanks!

2006-12-18 09:50:50 · 12 answers · asked by Bridget 1 in Other - Italy

I'm sorry for my bad English, but i'm still learning it..^_^

I'm from rome, and I really love Uk, especially London, I've been there 2 times, and I hope to come back there soon!

I would know which is your opinion about the city of Rome, please, tell me your opinions in a simple way, because I'm not so good in your language!!

Thanks^_*

2006-12-18 08:23:56 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Italy

2006-12-18 07:19:35 · 2 answers · asked by Laura 1 in Milan

2006-12-18 03:33:35 · 19 answers · asked by Dimitrius L 2 in Other - Italy