Comments on Bernard Avishai Dot Com: Coda: A Single Star

"...it is the "Israelis" (I am using the term the ...

2009-08-13T14:58:16.229-04:00

"...it is the "Israelis" (I am using the term the way Dr Avishai does, not the normal usage of the word) who are always wanting to ban things. They worked for years to close down the Judean's main national radio station, Arutz 7, finally succeeding in the end. They are also working assiduously to get the Judeas kicked out of their homes in Judea/Samaria."

Welcome to another episode of; "AS THE SHTETL TURNS" featuring the melo-dramatic stylings of Y Ben David. Todays show will explore the less than analgous comparison between the legitamate regulation of the airwaves for the common good
and the infliction of religous and ideological claptrap on a less than enthusiastic citizenry.

Y. Ben-David, As I see it, there's pretty wide sco...

2009-08-13T14:40:25.743-04:00

Y. Ben-David,
As I see it, there's pretty wide scope for expression of Right-wing views in Israel even without Arutz 7 having a license to broadcast. (I imagine you think it's because of the views it expresses that it's denied a license. I don't want to go on at length re. why I disagree, but I refer you not only to the Supreme Court's overturning the Netanyahu government's attempt to legalize pirate radio stations years ago, but to his then attorney general's advice that that attempt was of "dubious legality." I mention the attorney general in a Likud government so that you won't just say "Well, the Supreme Court Justice are just a bunch of Leftists anyway.")
Kicking people out of their homes is a heartbreaking thing to have to do. But a) there's a problem, so far as international law goes, with some of those homes being where they are in the first place, and b) if Israel holds on to the territories, it won't be able to be both Jewish and democratic for much longer. How much longer will it be able to deny Palestinians voting rights? If it gives them voting rights, how much longer will there be a Jewish majority among voters? (Even with things as they now stand, the Right often seeks to undermine the legitimacy of certain legislation with the claim that "there wasn't a Jewish majority for it." I won't get into the moral problem with that sort of undermining of legitimacy by the Right. I'll just ask you: do you think there'd be fewer such problems if the size and number of Arab political parties grew as a result of giving Palestinians the right to vote in Israel, as we'd have to do if we stayed in the W. Bank forever?) My Zionism's concerned w/preserving Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. I have quibbles here and there with what Dr. Avishai says re. its Jewish character. But they seem small to me when you bring up the issue of the rule of law by mentioning Arutz 7.

Anonymous- You are wrong, it is the "Israelis" (I ...

2009-08-13T01:52:28.626-04:00

Anonymous-
You are wrong, it is the "Israelis" (I am using the term the way Dr Avishai does, not the normal usage of the word) who are always wanting to ban things. They worked for years to close down the Judean's main national radio station, Arutz 7, finally succeeding in the end. They are also working assiduously to get the Judeas kicked out of their homes in Judea/Samaria.

Well, I'm in the Israeli camp myself if I have to ...

2009-08-11T20:16:10.952-04:00

Well, I'm in the Israeli camp myself if I have to choose, and Judeans are more often the ones wanting to ban things, and Avishai, specifically, hasn't said he wants to ban any kind of cultural expressions. Still, I hope the Judea vs. Israel choice *won't* ultimately be necessary. I, for one, was moved when I watched/listened to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-BQeyb9uho

Bad move, Anonymous, that is Judean music, not Is...

2009-08-11T15:30:46.402-04:00

Bad move, Anonymous, that is
Judean music, not Israeli. Israelis are waiting for Obama to issue orders to Israelis to ban Judean music. Then there will be peace between Jews and Arabs.

..About some more recent music than Caspi's that's...

2009-08-11T12:13:39.240-04:00

..About some more recent music than Caspi's that's moving educated young Israelis:

http://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/12925/holy-rollers/

Oops!

Hi, I thought you might be interested in all the ...

2009-08-11T05:44:38.542-04:00

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