417

 Plane of whores to leave today; Zionist lobby ecstatic.

The AP dispatch summed it up efficiently:

ALBANY, N.Y. – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and top state legislators are heading to Israel this week for a two-day visit as a “demonstration of solidarity” with that country in the conflict in Gaza, the Democratic governor announced Sunday.

Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate co-leaders Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein will travel to Israel on Tuesday. Cuomo said the delegation would meet with Israeli leaders and visit residents affected by the fighting.

“Friends stand together in times of crisis, and I am proud to lead this bipartisan delegation to Israael to reaffirm our friendship and support,” Cuomo said in a statement emailed to reporters.

Hmm.  Why is it that this little item fails to surprise me?

PATRICE GREANVILLE

[S]ocial activist “Mother” Mary Jones, borrowing from Finley Peter Dunne, was once quoted as saying “My business is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” A noble feeling. Sadly, and with disastrous consequences for all of humanity, for most American politicians, so accustomed to kissing the butt of the powerful, the opposite is true. Their pre-eminent mission, for which they carefully prepare (and are vetted) is to defend and apologize for the powerful, facilitating their extended rule and total impunity.

We are therefore scarcely shocked to hear that for Andrew Cuomo, the overpraised Democratic Guv’nor of New York, a man struggling to stand out as a possible contender for the White House in 2024, scion to yet another political “dynasty” in the making to compete with the awful Clintons and Bushes, the duty to scrape and bow to the Zionist lobby was a no brainer. Sartre reminded us that it is precisely at junctures like this that we see the true mettle of a public man; by that simple standard Andy Cuomo has failed the test miserably.

The world is in desperate need of principled and courageous leaders. Neither corporatist party offers any.

Yes, it would have taken some courage, of course, and some modicum of principle. To speak for truth and justice, such a rarity in the Orwellian atmosphere of American politics. But at a critical time when even courageous Israelis (including IDF soldiers), and non-Zionists Jews around the world are beginning to bravely denounce Israel’s genocidal attacks on Gaza and Tel Aviv’s obstinate war lust, Cuomo could have carved up a special place in politics, perhaps a strong place apart from the mob of opportunists and Zionists that define what passes for political discourse in the United States today. Maybe by 2024, after the likely Hillary disaster, a country finally tired of endless imperial wars, presidential hypocrisy and lawlessness, and of the endless lethal farce in the Middle East, a new generation would find a politico with some principle irresistible.

So Cuomo could have simply and quietly passed on the idea of leading a delegation of Zionists and pretend Zionists to the Middle East right in the middle of one of Israel’s most brutal assaults on its Apartheid population. In so doing he would have honored the better legacy in the history of Jews, especially their contribution in so many countries to social and political justice and progress, a contribution that has dried up substantially since Israel came into being, especially since that conflicted nation embarked openly on its rightwing expansionist course. It’s so much easier to count noses and votes, and to side with the backward herd.

Part of Cuomo’s opportunism obviously stems from the inevitable concomitant found in so many American politicians: appalling ignorance. It’s clear that Cuomo’s “pragmatism” is made all the more logical when we assume he never wasted a minute studying the history of Israel, nor the rising opposition —among Jews themselves—to its endless policies of calculated brutalization.

If he and his equally abject cohorts had any decency or education, they might have found out that none other than Albert Einstein, the undisputed genius of the 20th century, and a socialist (fact never mentioned in the media), strongly disapproved of the nascent Zionist entity. In a 1948 letter to the New York Times (see Appendix), Einstein and a group of fellow Jews set forth their reason for such opposition. It must be noted that in that document Einstein is particularly agitated about a planned visit by Menachem Begin, whom he clearly identifies as a fascist and a disgrace in Israeli politics. Perhaps this troop of fools might give such fact a thought as they embrace the direct descendant of Begin in the person of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Patrice Greanville is The Greanville Post’s founding editor. 

______________

APPENDIX

Letters to the Editor
New York Times
December 4, 1948

TO THE EDITORS OF THE NEW YORK TIMES:

Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the “Freedom Party” (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine.
.
The current visit of Menachem Begin, leader of this party, to the United States is obviously calculated to give the impression of American support for his party in the coming Israeli elections, and to cement political ties with conservative Zionist elements in the United States. Several Americans of national repute have lent their names to welcome his visit. It is inconceivable that those who oppose fascism throughoutthe world, if correctly informed as to Mr. Begin’s political record and perspectives, could add their names and support to the movement he represents.

.Before irreparable damage is done by way of financial contributions, public manifestations in Begin’s behalf, and the creation in Palestine of the impression that a large segment of America supports Fascist elements in Israel, the American public must be informed as to the record and objectives of Mr. Begin and his movement. The public avowals of Begin’s party are no guide whatever to its actual character. Today they speak of freedom, democracy and anti-imperialism, whereas until recently they openly preached the doctrine of the Fascist state. It is in its actions that the terrorist party betrays its real character; from its past actions we can judge what it may be expected to do in the future.

.Attack on Arab Village

A shocking example was their behavior in the Arab village of Deir Yassin. This village, off the main roads and surrounded by Jewish lands, had taken no part in the war, and had even fought off Arab bands who wanted to use the village as their base. On April 9 (THE NEW YORK TIMES), terrorist bands attacked this peaceful village, which was not a military objective in the fighting, killed most of its inhabitants ? 240men, women, and children – and kept a few of them alive to parade as captives through the streets of Jerusalem. Most of the Jewish community was horrified at the deed, and the Jewish Agency sent a telegram of apology to King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan. But the terrorists, far from being ashamed of their act, were proud of this massacre, publicized it widely, and invited all the foreign correspondents present in the country to view the heaped corpses and the general havoc at Deir Yassin. The Deir Yassin incident exemplifies the character and actions of the Freedom Party. 

.Within the Jewish community they have preached an admixture of ultranationalism, religious mysticism, and racial superiority. Like other Fascist parties they have been used to break strikes, and have themselves pressed for the destruction of free trade unions. In their stead they have proposed corporate unions on the Italian Fascist model. During the last years of sporadic anti-British violence, the IZL and Stern groups inaugurated a reign of terror in the Palestine Jewish community. Teachers were beaten up for speaking against them, adults were shot for not letting their children join them. By gangster methods, beatings, window-smashing, and wide-spread robberies, the terrorists intimidated the population and exacted a heavy tribute.

.The people of the Freedom Party have had no part in the constructive achievements in Palestine. They have reclaimed no land, built no settlements, and only detracted from the Jewish defense activity. Their much-publicized immigration endeavors were minute, and devoted mainly to bringing in Fascist compatriots.

.Discrepancies Seen

The discrepancies between the bold claims now being made by Begin and his party, and their record of past performance in Palestine bear the imprint of no ordinary political party. This is the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party for whom terrorism (against Jews, Arabs, and British alike), and misrepresentation are means, and a “Leader State” is the goal. 

.In the light of the foregoing considerations, it is imperative that the truth about Mr. Begin and his movement be made known in this country. It is all the more tragic that the top leadership of American Zionism has refused to campaign against Begin’s efforts, or even to expose to its own constituents the dangers to Israel from support to Begin.

.The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism.

ISIDORE ABRAMOWITZ
HANNAH ARENDT

ABRAHAM BRICK
RABBI JESSURUN CARDOZO
ALBERT EINSTEIN
HERMAN EISEN, M.D.
HAYIM FINEMAN
M. GALLEN, M.D.
H.H. HARRIS
ZELIG S. HARRIS
SIDNEY HOOK
FRED KARUSH
BRURIA KAUFMAN
IRMA L. LINDHEIM
NACHMAN MAISEL
SEYMOUR MELMAN
MYER D. MENDELSON, M.D.
HARRY M. OSLINSKY
SAMUEL PITLICK
FRITZ ROHRLICH
LOUIS P. ROCKER
RUTH SAGIS
ITZHAK SANKOWSKY
L,J. SHOENBERG
SAMUEL SHUMAN
M. SINGER
IRMA WOLFE
STEFAN WOLF

New York, Dec. 2, 1948
SOURCE: archive.org