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Monday, August 29, 2011
Justice
I just got an email from my friend Jameel telling me that Larry Derfner was fired today from the Jerusalem Post over that essay I've been so critical of.
In his blog post today Derfner makes his firing out to be a big right wing conspiracy and bemoans the fact that people ignored his tepid apology.
As I said yesterday, when you spend your career river-dancing near the graves of your countrymen... it is inevitable that you will eventually find yourself dancing on their graves. And while Israelis will tolerate an incredible diversity of opinions in the public discourse... we pretty much all draw the line at saying it is okay to murder us.
It doesn't happen nearly often enough, but I'll take justice whenever and wherever I find it.
Posted by David Bogner on August 29, 2011 | Permalink
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You don't have to be right-wing to find Derfner's essay repugnant and shockingly naive.
If you are THAT far to the left, then EVERYONE looks right-wing to you!
Posted by: Sarah B. | Aug 29, 2011 7:45:11 PM
Just yesterday I thought how much longer until he'll get a good kick rearwards. Thanks, Jerusalem Post, your publication is now back in my newsreader.
Sarah B., absolutely agree. Good point.
Posted by: a. | Aug 29, 2011 7:58:35 PM
It seems to me that Derfner's original blog posting was based on three core fallacies:
1. The wrongheaded notion that those in favor of continued settlement in disputed territory are occupiers. This, of course, forces the hand of the right in the same prejudicial way that asking someone “when did you stop beating your wife” does. One can be 100% in favor of settlement in disputed territory, and 100% opposed to occupation. This wasn't a situation of one sovereign nation invading and occupying another. Israel has no less justification to build in Judea and Samaria than Arabs do. It's not a matter semantics.
2. That the Israeli settlements in the Yesha are hurting the Palestians. What’s hurting the Palestinians is world’s insistence that they are the continued victim of both the War of Independence and the Six-day War, neither of which were initiated by Israel as aggressor. This notion is, of course, perpetuated by the UN through UNRWA and the preservation of “refugee camps” throughout the region.
3. That somehow, the continued Israeli presence in the territories is meted out as justice for Arab terrorism. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our continued presence in the territories is legally justifiable. Arab terrorism is criminal. It was before there were any territories over which there was dispute, and it continues to be so.
Posted by: Bruce | Aug 29, 2011 9:29:59 PM
The Jerusalem Post is now marginally more readable.
Posted by: At The Back of the Hill | Aug 29, 2011 11:40:07 PM
I agree with Sarah B. It's not a right or left issue in this case. That was just wacko.
Unfortunately, every time a new radical view enters the debate, it can push it even further from the center, where people can often meet.
Larry
Posted by: Larry | Aug 30, 2011 4:13:54 PM
It's getting harder and harder to stigmatize goyim as anti-semites when our own brothers are writing essays that would elicit an approving nod from Goebbels.
Posted by: Barzilai | Aug 30, 2011 6:28:14 PM
And while Israelis will tolerate an incredible diversity of opinions in the public discourse... we pretty much all draw the line at saying it is okay to murder us.
Many regular writers at Haaretz have long ago crossed that line. The English-speaking Olim who compose most of the JPost readership may "draw the line" as you say, but sadly many Israelis don't.
Posted by: avi | Aug 30, 2011 6:57:35 PM
Derfner will, no doubt, find employment with the Hamas Ministry of Propaganda—or Haaretz.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech | Aug 30, 2011 9:05:16 PM
Thanks for helping with the good fight!
Posted by: Jameel | Aug 31, 2011 5:57:00 PM
This is the pros and cons on the JPost site today.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Letters/Article.aspx?id=236057
BTW; I'm sure Derfner will get a job soon at Haaretz or at Al-Jazeera.
Posted by: Jameel | Aug 31, 2011 6:08:17 PM
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