23 December 2006

holocaust denial

al-falasteenyia posted three articles written by Arab journalists, on Ahmadinejad's Holocaust deniers convention. Please take the time to go read the articles. The most interesting viewpoint expressed was that of a Palestinian former militant who, through the reading materials he had access to during his 18 years in an Israeli prison, changed his mind from disbelief to belief after reviewing documents and articles by Palestinian intellectuals. It is interesting to me that all of this Holocaust denial is purported to be for the sake of the Palestinians, yet it does NOTHING to help Palestinians and does everything to contribute to the feeling of persecution that is commonly used to justify the state of Israel.

The *other* most interesting thing was an analysis of the way this discourse seeks to equate Zionism with Nazism, while also revealing an identification with Nazis and a desire to "finish" what they started. What do you think we end up with when those who are oppressed seek to become the oppressor? This discourse turns the question of Palestinian human rights from one of social justice to something entirely different, something that creates ethno-religious hierarchies and puts one group on the bottom and one group on the top. This mentality is no different than the mentality that causes groups to feel entitled to land, resources, and women that are not theirs.

I am so tired of hearing Arab Americans speak about yahoodi this, yahoodi that. How exactly does it benefit us to advance a narrative that says that all Jews are Zionists? This narrative is already widely advanced by Zionists in an attempt to shut down conversation. I have noticed this topic discussed by several bloggers recently, here (you can read my comment at this one), here and here.

1 comment:

Nadia said...

JJ: thank you for your comments and your assessment. i agree with your words and i look forward to future dialog =)