Thursday, May 28, 2015

Pass the Popcorn. Jewish Voice for Peace: Simply Hypocrisy

Its almost comical.

Jewish Voice for Peace has routinely stood shoulder to shoulder with the worse anti-Semites and conspiracy theorists out there, silent to the Jew-hate  that surrounded them. They've routinely marched along with groups  supporting terror. They've protested Jewish cultural events. They interrupted a commemoration on the liberation of Auschwitz.  They've sponsored and promoted anti-Semitic speakers.   They have lobbied against resolutions that would protect Jewish students on campus. 

And if we are to believe Gilad Atzmon, they coached a repulsive anti-Semite on how to be more politically correct and socially acceptable.

Gilad Atzmon refused and now finds himself in their cross-hairs – particularly ironic since they recently promoted his Los Angeles appearance.

Is JVP anti-Semitic? 

Its hard to know, but they have certainly aided and abetted anti-Semites, and offered them cover.  

What do we do when haters fight? I see no alternative than to sit back  and watch from a distance.

Gilad Atzmon has published a letter  that he claims is from  Rebecca Vilkomerson, JVP's Executive Director, disavowing itself from Alison Weir. He calls it  "The Protocols Of The Elders of ‘Anti' Zion".

It’s a classic pot calling the kettle black moment.

Pass the popcorn.

May 5, 2015

Dear Ms. Weir,

Jewish Voice for Peace has chosen not to work with you because our central tenet is opposition to racism in all its forms, and you have chosen repeatedly to associate yourself with people who advocate for racism.

You have been a repeat guest of white supremacist Clay Douglas on his hate radio show, the Free American. Clay Douglas is concerned primarily with the survival of the White race and sees malign Jewish influence everywhere. His racist, anti-Jewish, and anti-gay rhetoric can be found across the front pages of his multiple websites.

In the course of your appearance with Clay Douglas on August 25, 2010, for example, you were silent when Douglas invoked the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and engaged in a racist diatribe against Jews. Your repeated appearance on this show (April 23 and August 25, 2010; February 9 and May 18, 2011) show that you knew his extremist views and chose to continue the association.

Your troubling associations and choices further include giving interviews to a range of far-right outlets including The American Free Press, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group, and the anti-gay, anti-Jewish pastor Mark Dankof. One of your articles appeared in an anthology that was promoted by the infamous Holocaust-denial organization, the Institute for Historical Review. We see no evidence that you have disavowed any of these outlets or institutions. Our movement must be built on a foundation of love, justice and equality for all people. It should not and cannot win by fueling or endorsing any form of hate, whether against People of Color, gays, Jews, Muslims or anyone else.

At Jewish Voice for Peace, we are particularly sensitive to the long history of anti-Jewish oppression as well as the ways that Palestinian liberation work is frequently tarred with false charges of anti-Semitism. Just as we call out the hateful associations of those who seek to perpetuate injustice against Palestinians, as a movement we must also hold the line against those who promote the false notion that Palestinian liberation can be won at the expense of others.

The alleged letter drips with unctuous self righteousness and irony.  JVP’s long history of questionable partnerships and regular protests of Jewish community events have shown  how particularly insensitive and willingly blind the group has been to the long history of anti-Jewish oppression.

It was just this March, when they collaborated with Alison Weir on an anti-AIPAC campaign.

To disavow Alison Weir, but to continue an association with Code Pink, who have happily vacationed with the mullahs of Iran (who have denied one Holocaust while planning another) is simply hypocrisy

To disavow Alison Weir, but to continue an association with American Muslims for Palestine, Sabeel and CAIR is simply hypocrisy.

To disavow Alison Weir but to continue an association with any group that deny the Jewish people the right to self determination is simply hypocrisy.

To disavow Alison Weir but to continue an association with  any group that seeks to restrict the rights of the Jewish people is simply hypocrisy.

This letter does not represent a policy shift for Jewish Voice for Peace. Its posturing- a desperate grasp at adding a veneer of respectability to an organization that's repeatedly been exposed for its intolerance and bigotry.

To learn more about Jewish Voice for Peace
Driving a wedge: JVP’s strategy to weaken U.S. Support for Israel by Dividing the Jewish Community

Jews Helping Hamas Are No Voice for Peace

Jewish Voice for Peace whitewashes anti-Semitism in the anti-Israel movement

For more information on the family feud:

When Israel-haters attack - each other

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where is Muslim Voice for Peace or would that be islamophobic/counter revolutionary/anti-imperialiast/anti-islamofascist?

Gary Fouse said...

I asked Weir about that Clay Douglas item when she spoke at UC Irvine in May 2011 during anti-Israel week.

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/day-two-at-uc-irvine-anti-israel-week.html

Ted Sternberg said...

JVP's beef with Allison Weir doesn't seem to be about Israel or antisemitism (notwithstanding a couple hat-tips in that direction). What bothers JVP is her association with groups that offend its other "progressive" politics. And in this respect JVP is at a disadvantage. Though Israel is its main interest, that seems to be more a symptom of its underlying leftist nuttiness than a prime, singular, obsession. Not so Ms. Weir; for her, battling Israel and pro-Israel Jews is everything, which means she can be perfectly comfortable around neo-Nazis.