Nov 11 2013
Conversation with Max Blumenthal on his Controversial New Book Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel
The intrepid young reporter Max Blumenthal has used the term Goliath to name his latest book based on many months he spent in Israel soon after the Israeli operation on Gaza named Operation Cast Lead was over. The subject of Israel is often a touchy one and Blumenthal has indeed touched many nerves with this new book.
Max Blumenthal is best known for his earlier book Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered that Party which became a New York Times best-seller and opened many doors into the halls of mainstream press. He is an author, blogger, and print and video journalist. He formerly worked for Media Matters for America and wrote for the Huffington Post.
Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar interviewed Blumenthal in November 2013 about his newest book, Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel.
Watch a video of the interview here:
Bipasha Shom recorded this interview.
6 Responses to “Conversation with Max Blumenthal on his Controversial New Book Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel”
Excellent interview, he solidifies my opinion of Israel and the so-called democracy of the Middle East. The most honest criticisms of Israel have come from Jews that have witnessed the reality: Israel Shahak, Norman Finkelstein, Noam Chomsky, Norton Mezvinsky, and many others brave enough to face criticism. The article a few years ago in Haaretz that feathered Israeli archeologists that revealed that the Israelites had never been in Egypt, but it was the Egyptians that were in Canaan, blew a gaping hole in the Mose myth. This hits The creations of Judaism and Christianity so hard that it is not even discussed. I noticed that a couple of the above names not getting quick responses from Wikipedia. I guess that if I fly to Israel, I’ll get a six and be barred.
I loathe any kind of nationalism and injustice, including Jewish practices thereof in Israel. However, I wonder how much space M.B. has devoted in his book to the vulgar, rabid Arab/Palestinian nationalism and racism in their media, the latter of which is equal to or surpasses most Nazi and other antisemitic propaganda throughout history. I’m sure those kinds of attitudes go a long way towards forming an increasing hard-line in Israel. I challenge anyone to find similar instances of anti-Arab sentiment in mainstream Israeli or Jewish media. Here is an example of Streicher-like pronouncements in the Arab media:
http://vimeo.com/16779150
I also find it extremely objectionable that M.B. is a contributor to an Egyptian government-controlled rag, Al Akhbar, which regularly publishes columns of unspeakable antisemitic intensity and Holocaust denial. The following is an excerpt from an article by Fatma Abdallah Mahmoud, titled “Accursed Forever and Ever,”
“Thus, the Jews are accursed – the Jews of our time, those who preceded
them and those who will come after them, if any Jews come after them.”
“With regard to the fraud of the Holocaust… Many French studies have
proven that this is no more than a fabrication, a lie, and a fraud!!
That is, it is a ‘scenario’ the plot of which was carefully tailored,
using several faked photos completely unconnected to the truth. Yes, it
is a film, no more and no less. Hitler himself, whom they accuse of
Nazism, is in my eyes no more than a modest ‘pupil’ in the world of
murder and bloodshed. He is completely innocent of the charge of frying
them in the hell of his false Holocaust!!”
In the purpose of objectivity, M.B. should offer statements of Palestinian and other Arab liberal dissidents refusing to tow the hard antisemitic and anti-Israeli line of the hojja’s, mullah’s, and wily politicians, who are using this conflict to enrich themselves personally and secure life-time political sinecures at the expense of the uneducated Arab populace.
Fabulous interview, Sonali! Max Blumenthal has nailed the state of. Israel with his honest, fearless and informative journalism. Because he quotes actual words of the actors in each vignette of current Israeli reality he addresses, his work is beyond the criticism of liberals who may by way of guilt or the horror of the holocaust excuse barbaric crimes from 1947 to date against the indigenous Palestinians. His precision, honesty and journalistic skills left no place to hide, lie or maneuver. I appreciate that he used “indigenous”.
I have a poster on my wall depicting Palestine in 1946 mostly green for Palestine with a few Israeli settlements along the western part of the country near the Mediterranean and a few across the northern area. Same area 1947 and 51% of the country is now white for Israeli facilitated by Israeli firepower driving out 750,000 Palestinians. From 1947 to 1967 Israel has taken over The entire north of the area, over 1/2 of Gaza and a large swathe of the West Bank. Final depiction in 2000, most of the map is white with small disconnected Palestinian areas where the West Bank used to be, and a greatly diminished Gaza. Palestinians are locked in with high walls, unable to travel, without access to their orchards or farms.
His disembarkation at Ben Gurion airport description is simultaneously repulsive and as hilarious as a Daily Show skit.
It was news to me but fitting that Israelis developed drones in one of their wars on Lebanon for the purpose of continuing to kill while keeping their soldiers safe. Presidents Bush and Obama imported not only the technology but the psychology of killing with impunity while avoiding censure of people due to high American casualties.
Max Blumenthal is both brilliant and the bravest man in America. Indeed, Sonali, may his work be vindicated.
Max Blumenthal, a deranged, extreme-left bigot who takes anything negative he can find about any Israeli and uses it to demonize the entire country. Jew-haters and people who seek Israel’s destruction applaud his efforts. Actual normal, sane people, and real peace activists, ignore his hateful garbage.
The fact remains that not one incident reported in ‘Goliath’ has been disputed by objective authorities. It is all true and very sad. I would wager that not one of these Blumenthal haters has actually read his book. A nation based on exclusion and which continually torments its victims is doomed to failure- and possibly might bring the rest of the world down with it.
That’s what the nutcase Apocalypse far right “Christian” evangelists John Hagee are hoping for.
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Christianity/End-Times/On-The-Road-To-Armageddon.aspx?p=3
Read the comments of Israel apologists here. They have 2 excuses, neither of which provide any evidence, ever:
1) name-calling
Example:
Hah
“Max Blumenthal, a deranged, extreme-left bigot who takes anything negative he can find about any Israeli and uses it to demonize the entire country. Jew-haters and people who seek Israel’s destruction applaud his efforts. Actual normal, sane people, and real peace activists, ignore his hateful garbage.”
Hah gives no evidence, and can’t dispute ONE thing that Mr. Blumenthal says.
2) finger-pointing at the Arabs
Example:
Goran Satler
“I wonder how much space M.B. has devoted in his book to the vulgar, rabid Arab/Palestinian nationalism and racism in their media, the latter of which is equal to or surpasses most Nazi and other antisemitic propaganda throughout history.”
Israel apologists have 2 excuses:
name-calling
racism against Arabs
And no evidence to support either. It’s repulsive reading comments by Israel apologists.