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Diaspora Jews and moral schizophrenia
It surely is paradoxical – ‘Paradox’ a person, thing, or situation that has two opposite features and therefore seems strange – that Jews in the UK live, prosper, and have the same civil, religious, and political rights as any other UK citizen. Yet, so many UK Jews support, often vehemently, a state – Israel – Continue reading
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Palestine and the strategic indifference of the West
We are witnessing a process of strategic indifference to the fate of the Palestinians, in Gaza, of course, but also not to be forgotten in the escalation of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. By strategic indifference, I mean that the USA, the UK and the West in general, have demonstrated, only Continue reading
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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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The no solution, two-state solution
It is not a requirement of belief, that prayers are answered. People pray anyway, often in situations when more materially substantial actions are not available, either to salve a hurt, or correct a wrong. So it is with the optimistically titled two-state solution. It had all but expired as a meaningful, let alone just, approach 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
About Me
This is Bernard Spiegal’s blog.
I write mainly about Palestine/Israel and related issues; sometimes other stuff too
Bernard Spiegal 