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Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History
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| Part No: | 0520249895 |
| Manufacturer: | University of California Press |
| MFG Part: | |
| Customer Rating: | 4.0 / 5.0 |
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Meticulously researched and tightly argued, Beyond Chutzpah points to a consensus among historians and human rights organizations on the factual record of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Norman G. Finkelstein exposes the corruption of scholarship and the contrivance of controversy shrouding human rights abuses, and interrogates the new anti-Semitism. This paperback edition adds a preface analyzing recent developments in the conflict, and a new afterword on Israel's construction of a wall in the West Bank.
| A Scholar Speaks | 2009-12-30 | 5 / 5 |
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Finklestein, Norman G. "Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History", University of California Press, 2008.
A Scholar Speaks
Amos Lassen
After seeing Yoav Shamir's fantastic yet controversial new film on anti-Semitism, I realized that I had never read Norman Finklestein and really knew nothing about him so I immediately ordered his book. I must say that it is researched excellently and his arguments are strong and the book is solid and informative but as controversial as can be. It is strong, rational and does not let emotion play into it and above all else, it is a truthful look at how and why the defenders of Israel who argue in favor of the occupation of the territories bring a great deal of damage and hardship to their cause. Finklestein tells us and shows us that many American Jews will do whatever they can to show Israel in a favorable light. Whether one agrees with Finklestein or not, we must admit that his scholarship is excellent and he covers every aspect of the issue. He is a brave man for having written this book.
Finklestein maintains that American Jews have used the terrible happenings to the Jewish people throughout history as a way to discourage criticism of Israel's governmental policies. Does this make Finklestein an anti-Semite or a self-hating Jew? That is for the reader to decide what he is, for sure, is a scholar and he must be admired for that. It is sad that the hoopla over the book has come to be because of an argument between Harvard professor, Alan Dershowitz and Finklestein because there is so much valuable information here. It seems to me that if a person really cares about the situation in Israel with the Palestinians, he should read this book. We get the core problems. Dershowitz tried to suppress the publication of the book because it discredits him and indeed it does. His book "The Case for Israel" is a monumental study that Finklestein takes to task and proves Dershowitz wrong.
Finklestein states that charges of anti-Semitism have come in order to allow Jews to get what they feel to be the correct policies for the Jewish nation. These charges suggest that the Jew is above wrong doing and we know that is not true (look at Madoff, for example). Finklestein may be pedantic and egotistic but he is a strong scholar. He goes straight for the truth and Dershowitz's image is diminished by this book. I am not saying that I agree with Finklestein but I do stand in awe of the man who not only says what he feels but documents it as well. |
| An unbiased reader's response | 2009-12-30 | 1 / 5 |
| I recommend this book to anyone who wants to dig up dirt on Israel's most prominent supporters, but not to individuals who are simply interested in addressing the issues. Norman Finkelstein accuses prominent scholars such as Alan Dershowitz, Joan Peters, and Benny Morris of being everything from liars, frauds, to moral thugs. He even calls in the race card. For example, on page xlvii of the preface he writes, "Benny Morris, who came out as a raving anti-Arab-racist after the second intifada began."
Interestingly enough, during an interview which can now be easily accessed on the internet Norman Finkelstein states "...if you read the historians like Benny Morris, he's a thug morally, but as a historian he's reasonably accurate..."
This clearly illustrates a very clear point. Norman Finkelstein is not attacking Morris (or Dershowitz for that matter,) to expose fraud. He is writing to silence his opposition. He argues that Morris is a "reasonably accurate historian," but slips in personal attacks irrelevant to the issue to demonize him and devalue his opinion.
Beyond Chutzpah is not a scholarly book, it is not an unbiased or academic report, and it is certainly not the sort of document that I would cite on a college paper. It is, however, a well researched bit of political activism that is as respectable as Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine."
At times Norman neglects facts that don't favor his argument. To provide an example again from the preface (it does not require much searching to find more,) we need only turn to page xviii.
On this page he takes time to pause and explain that Israel committed a war crime by bombing a power plant in Gaza. The same page mentions the abduction (while tactfully avoiding the use of specific names or dates,) of Gilad Shalit. The names and dates are neglected because this kidnapping was also an illegal operation. This page also briefly touches upon the rockets that are apparently being fired into Israel regularly, but again neglects to mention that these attacks are war crimes. In his discussion of Operation Summer Rains (again on the same page,) he takes time to note that the explosions "cause widespread terror among the population, particularly the children..." while neglecting to mention that studies show that in Israeli cities frequently struck by the missiles (which he brings up on the page,) such as Sderot as much as 94% of children show symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.
(The above mentioned interview can be seen on the internet thanks to Norman Finkelstein, I've included the URL to a you-tube video of the interview [...])
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| Horrendous | 2009-09-30 | 1 / 5 |
| | This man should be ostracized academically. He has the right to say what he wants, but it should be void of any academic legitimacy. |
| | "Beyond Chutzpah" is remarkable in its unflinching critique of Israel and her apologists. American foreign policy is incredibly complicated by this blind support of Israel yet very few prominent personalities have the guts to address it. Mr. Finkelstein has paid a steep price for his courageous and scholarly expressions. Keep up the good work. |
| Long live the Islamists! | 2009-08-05 | 1 / 5 |
| This is certainly the type of book one would expect from Finkelstein or one of his cohorts - including Jimmy "the Dhimmy" Carter (the most courageous "fighting president" in the history of the United States). If anyone is into demonizing Israel and looking upon the Arab Muslims living in Cis-Jordan as perennially impotent victims of the Jews (always depending on European handouts to survive), this is the book to pick up. It justifies the "bomber-boys" and everything Islam stands for, and accuses Israel of the worst possible crimes, knowing fully well that such allegations are totally false.
After the circus the U.N. Human Rights commission (council, conclave or whatever) put up over the years, to the point where nobody believes any of their allegations, there is very little the likes of Finkelstein can add to the picture. He hopes, against all hope, that repeating the same falsehood time and time again (like Goebbels used to do, with so much more talent), anyone that inadvertently buys the book will end up believing his theories.
We must all accept that even Finkelstein has the right to make a living any way he can. And apparently he can only do that by "specializing" in Jewish affairs - like attacking Israel and Judaism without respite. He built up an "assembly line" in books, interviews, debates, etc. that functions 24/7 - without respite. In fact, Finkelstein does not rest at all, not even on Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah when he should go to a synagogue to pray for his tormented soul.
Some people are induced to believe that Finkelstein's "Jewishness" makes him bias-proof. As a melancholic figure trying hard to be relevant, he fails all around except where anti-Semites are present and applauding. After all, they are Finkelstein's constituents. If he would ever dare to defend Israel (and the Jews) or blame the Jihadists for the endless problems the so-called "Palestinians" are bringing upon the civilized world, he would be out of business. Out of the Jews-hating business or the self-hating alternative, to be more precise. How will he ever make a living again if he ever changes the tune? Begging Iran or Syria or Saudi Arabia for 'donations' to help him support his family? Well, maybe.
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