Occupied Palestinian Territory
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Israel does not have a right to exist – nor does any other state
People have the right to exist – not states. States are political formations, born out of the interaction of any number of factors – economic, ethnic, topographical, military, form of governance, and so forth. They are not sentient beings in any meaningful way. It is, therefore, simply a category mistake to assimilate the concept of Continue reading
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Palestinian citizens of Israel and the politics of fragmentation
Little attention has been given to the position – the plight – of Palestinian citizens of Israel. This was always generally true. Since the 7th October, however, their position, always precarious and constrained, has worsened considerably. The Palestinian citizens of Israel, as those in the OPT, are also the victims of an Apartheid regime. In an Continue reading
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Besottedness with Israel: It’s over
It’s over. The besottedness with Israel is drawing to a close. Among the general UK population, but particularly among younger generations, sympathy and support for Israel is plummeting, and the trajectory of disdain is heading ever downward. Thus, a poll conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Action For Humanity International reported on the 4 April Continue reading
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Before 7th October
Zone of Interest is a depressing, fascinating British film, performed entirely in German. It charts the life of Rudolf Höss, Auschwitz’s Nazi commandant who, along with his family – wife, five children – lived in the family home. That home, along with its extensive, walled and well-tended garden, abutted Auschwitz concentration camp such that it Continue reading
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Israel and the West: A joint enterprise in genocide/ethnic cleansing
Do they, Biden and Sunak, turn away their faces, avert their eyes, block-up their ears, against the images and sounds of Gaza so desperately pleading for their attention? Paying the cries no heed, committed only to perverse, bloodless political calculation, the USA, the UK, the West in general, now are Israel’s collaborators in an Continue reading
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Israel and its uncritical proponents: a danger to Jews
Jews genuinely concerned about antisemitism are ill-served by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) for its actions and approach are more likely to engender antisemitism than to counter it. This is because its main function is to protect and promote the foremost generator of antisemitism, the State of Israel. It is joined in this enterprise by Continue reading
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Israel: A state of contradiction
The Israeli state sustains itself despite the contradictions that underpin it. Viewed this way, it’s an inherently unstable structure, its disparate parts coalescing in various formations to produce fragile, temporary, governmental coalitions of ill-grace. The state’s foundations rest, in part, on sustained acts of legerdemain. On ethical, conceptual and theological trickery. This, in part, contributes Continue reading
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Chief Rabbi Mirvis and the distorting mirrors
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, in his Sunday Telegraph article, sought to give the impression that he was taking a dispassionate look as to the merits of the charge of genocide against the state of Israel, brought before the International Court of Justice by the South African government. In so doing, he pointed to the definition Continue reading
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Israel’s strategic intent remains constant
The focus has been on Gaza, understandably so. But this has perhaps been at the expense of ignoring, or at least marginalising, what is simultaneously happening in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in particular since the 7th October. In order to understand Israel’s strategic intentions towards Palestinians, its important to keep in view events Continue reading
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Beware London! An intifada is coming to your streets.
Readers will be much relieved that the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has girded its loins to stand firm against the possibility that an Intifada could occur here in London. It proposes to hold a march in the capital on the 26 November, to help ward off the possibility. So, if you’re concerned about the imminence Continue reading
About Me
This is Bernard Spiegal’s blog.
I write mainly about Palestine/Israel and related issues; sometimes other stuff too
Bernard Spiegal 