Yup... in case anyone is wondering why Netanyahu would want to promote more violence and extremism.
Freedom of speech and the left
Sun, 2024-02-25 14:04
#402
Sun, 2024-02-25 17:45
#403
kropotkin1951 wrote:
This survey and analysis was prior to the Hamas attack and shows that the road to peace is going to be a long one. I note that, "less than a quarter of each side supports one democratic state." Both sides see themselves as the victim.
End quote.
————
This is why most experts and diplomats around the world be it in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, the U.S., China, France, Russia, the UK, the Arab League, the EU, and the UN see the two state solution as the only viable solution to the conflict as an alternative to the status quo. The only other possibly viable solution to the conflict seems to be simply returning Gaza to Egypt and returning the West Bank to Jordan.
Sun, 2024-02-25 19:40
#404
see the two state solution as the only viable solution
..i don't think so. those nations you mention had abandoned the palestinians. they were all making deals with each other sorting out the new global power arrangement. none of the nations wanted the palestinian issue raised. in fact a number of those countries mentioned were aiding israel to crush the palestinians. it was their populations who forced this issue to the forefront.
..the two state, as has been stated for a while, years in fact...was and is dead. to argue for it was always expediency. something to say for public consumption and political jockeying. but never something to be followed through on.
Sun, 2024-02-25 20:50
#405
..the reason it is so important to blame hamas as the saboteur of negotiations is cover for israel who never wanted 2 states. hamas/palestinians are the only ones who could benefit from such an entity. israel could only lose from it.
Mon, 2024-02-26 17:37
#406
JKR the two state solution is dead because there are over 500,000 heavily armed Jewish racists living in the West Bank. Those racists are there because the Israeli government facilitated the building of infrastructure to make it happen. Those settlements are all on the high ground through out the West Bank. The IDF patrols those areas and intervenes on behalf of settlers on a daily basis.
The idea of a two state solution is very old and tired and impossible because of the Israeli settlements that have been built by the government since the Oslo Accords were signed.
Mon, 2024-02-26 22:27
#407
Settlements have been removed before to accommodate a peace agreement and they can be removed again to accommodate another peace agreement. The only way to solve the Israeli - Palestinian conflict peacefully is through good faith negotiations by both sides that aim at establishing a final peace agreement for a permanent peace between Palestinians and Israelis. It is possible that Palestinians and Israelis could agree to a solution other than a two state solution but it is very difficult to see what alternative both Palestinians and Israelis would mutually agree to. There are only two ways this conflict will be resolved, through peaceful negotiations or through non peaceful means. Obviously the former is much better than the latter.
Mon, 2024-02-26 22:53
#408
JKR the two state solution is dead because there are over 500,000 heavily armed Jewish racists living in the West Bank.
Do you think Hamas would ever support a 2-state solution?
Tue, 2024-02-27 05:13
#409
Do you think most of the parties comprising the current Israeli government would ever support a genuine two-state solution?
Tue, 2024-02-27 08:38
#410
Germany. Where political correctness runs amuck.
Germany’s minister of state for culture has insisted she was only clapping the Israeli but not the Palestinian half of a film-making duo that won one of the major awards at the politically charged closing ceremony for the Berlin film festival.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/27/german-minister-says-she-w...
Tue, 2024-02-27 12:25
#411
Do you think most of the parties comprising the current Israeli government would ever support a genuine two-state solution?
No.
Do you think Hamas will ever support a two-state solution?
Tue, 2024-02-27 13:56
#412
Gee, we have a broken record (that doesn't seem to know how to use a search engine).
They did say this a couple of years ago.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/5/2/hamas-accepts-palestinian-state-...
Might not seem on the face of it like an end to the violence, but technically it is a two-state solution. And if Israel really did honour those boundaries what do people here think would happen to the support for Hamas?
Of course the background is that they can't recognize Israel on dogmatic grounds. Practically though there are a number of similar political doublethink situations (Taiwan being the biggest one) that in the interests of realpolitik are stable.
Tue, 2024-02-27 16:06
#413
Gee, we have a broken record (that doesn't seem to know how to use a search engine).
They did say this a couple of years ago.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/5/2/hamas-accepts-palestinian-state-...
Might not seem on the face of it
Might not seem on the face of it? That's an understatement lol
Khaled Meshaal presents a new document in which Hamas accepts 1967 borders without recognising state of Israel.
“We shall not waive an inch of the Palestinian home soil, no matter what the recent pressures are and no matter how long the occupation,”
“Hamas rejects any idea except liberating the home soil entirely and completely
But it does not go as far as to fully recognise Israel and says Hamas does not relinquish its goal of “liberating all of Palestine”.
You used your search engine skills to find an example of Hamas accepting a two-state solution except that 2nd state doesn't, and will never, include Israel. Great job lol
Tue, 2024-02-27 17:05
#414
Thanks. You looked like you wanted some help.
As for what would happen if Israel was to accept such an offer, do you really think what Hamas recognizes and doesn't will suddenly make Israel and all its people disappear? You know that it is not going anywhere. That means a Palestinian and an Israeli state, despite Hamas being mealymouthed about it so they can pretend they haven't betrayed their principles.
Bottom line is, they have accepted it. At least they did then.
As I said, if there was to be a settled border what would that do to Hamas support? Would they even be in power?
We already have the example of the PRC and ROC which do not recognize each other. But for some strange reason they both continue to exist. Same goes for North and South Korea.
Tue, 2024-02-27 17:32
#415
Here's someone else who doesn't, except they almost did, when the deal was looking good.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/21/whats-happening-with-normalisin...
And these states:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_recognition_of_Israel
Yet by some miracle Israel still exists.
But Hamas can make them disappear just by pretending they won't accept Isreal's existence when in fact that is exactly what they would be doing? Accepting a border is de facto acceptance that there is something on the other side of it.
Tue, 2024-02-27 17:37
#416
Thanks. You looked like you wanted some help.
That's what you gathered from me asking Josh his opinion?
Why do you think an article from 2017 where Hamas states repeatedly they will never recognize Israel as a state supports the belief that Hamas will accept a two state solution with Israel?
Tue, 2024-02-27 17:55
#417
Well it is kind of funny when you get your needle stuck repeating the same question. And, well, you can't be bothered looking it up.
How about an article from last month?
Speaking of repetition, here they are falling all over themselves saying they won't accept two states. Several times, just for effect. Except that is exactly what they would be doing if they settle on the 1967 borders.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240118-meshaal-hamas-rejects-two-sta...
I mean gee, they'd have to change their logo with that picture that shows the river to the sea. It would be kind of embarrassing.
Tue, 2024-02-27 18:17
#418
Well it is kind of funny when you get your needle stuck repeating the same question. And, well, you can't be bothered looking it up.
I didn't ask you if it was funny. I believe this is the first I've directly asked anyone if they think Hamas will accept a two-state solution. Show me I'm wrong and I've asked it repeatedly in the past.
How about an article from last month?
How about we deal with this article first and you answer my question.
Why do you think an article from 2017 where Hamas states repeatedly they will never recognize Israel as a state supports the belief that Hamas will accept a two state solution with Israel?
Did you not think I was talking about Israel when I said a two-state solution? Maybe I was talking about the State of East Palestine and West Palestine?
Tue, 2024-02-27 18:31
#419
You just asked it twice in two consecutive posts to k and josh. And I already answered it.
You want to repeat it to me again because you don't like the answer?
I made my point quite clearly, and there is no need for me to repeat it just to indulge you in a walk down the garden path.
Tue, 2024-02-27 19:04
#420
Gee, we have a broken record (that doesn't seem to know how to use a search engine).
They did say this a couple of years ago.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/5/2/hamas-accepts-palestinian-state-...
Might not seem on the face of it
Might not seem on the face of it? That's an understatement lol
Khaled Meshaal presents a new document in which Hamas accepts 1967 borders without recognising state of Israel.
“We shall not waive an inch of the Palestinian home soil, no matter what the recent pressures are and no matter how long the occupation,”
“Hamas rejects any idea except liberating the home soil entirely and completely
But it does not go as far as to fully recognise Israel and says Hamas does not relinquish its goal of “liberating all of Palestine”.You used your search engine skills to find an example of Hamas accepting a two-state solution except that 2nd state doesn't, and will never, include Israel. Great job lol
Your Hamas obsession on this issue is pretty funny since you acknowledge, but spend no time on, the fact that the voters in Israel keep electing governments that swear never to recognize a Palestinian state.
Tue, 2024-02-27 20:33
#421
You just asked it twice in two consecutive posts to k and josh. And I already answered it.
That's it? Because I asked Kropotkin a question, Josh responded without answering but asking a question of his own based off the question I asked Kroptokin, I answered his question then asked him the same question I asked Kropotkin? That's getting the needle stuck lol
You want to repeat it to me again because you don't like the answer?
I wanted you to have some integrity and answer the actual question I asked you.
I made my point quite clearly
By posting an article where Hamas says they will never accept Israel as a state.
Well I suppose if that's your convoluted way of saying Hamas will never accept a two-state solution with Israel then I guess you made that point. In that case I agree with you, Hamas won't.
Tue, 2024-02-27 20:43
#422
Your Hamas obsession on this issue is pretty funny since you acknowledge, but spend no time on, the fact that the voters in Israel keep electing governments that swear never to recognize a Palestinian state.
Oh Josh. You really need to learn about confirmation bias.
You responded to a question I posed to Kroptokin. I answered you then asked you the same question I asked him. Naturally, you don't answer. Because you just want to fire off questions and accusations, not have a discussion.
You say I spend no time on Israel not accepting Palestine as a state etc.. etc..
I gave a very straight forward answer to your question. I said no. How exactly do you think I should have drawn that out?
Here is what you asked.
"Do you think most of the parties comprising the current Israeli government would ever support a genuine two-state solution?"
Would something like this better?
The composition of the Israeli government and its stance on a genuine two-state solution has long been a subject of debate, analysis, and contention within both domestic and international arenas. At the heart of this issue lie complex historical, political, and ideological factors that shape the perspectives of the parties involved. However, it is evident that the current Israeli government, comprising various political factions, has consistently failed to wholeheartedly support a genuine two-state solution.
One of the key impediments to the realization of a viable two-state solution is the divergent positions held by the parties within the Israeli government. While there have been intermittent expressions of commitment to the concept of two states for two peoples, the actions and policies of successive Israeli governments have often contradicted such rhetoric. The presence of right-wing and conservative factions within the coalition has significantly influenced the government's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often prioritizing security concerns and territorial expansion over the pursuit of a just and equitable resolution.
The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories stands as a glaring example of the government's failure to uphold the principles of a two-state solution. Despite widespread international condemnation and calls for a cessation of settlement activities, successive Israeli administrations have continued to support and facilitate the growth of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These settlements not only violate international law but also undermine the territorial contiguity and viability of a future Palestinian state, making the prospect of a two-state solution increasingly unattainable.
Furthermore, the Israeli government's policies towards the Gaza Strip, including the imposition of a blockade and military incursions, have exacerbated tensions and deepened the humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave. The absence of a concerted effort to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza and address the underlying socio-economic grievances perpetuates a cycle of violence and instability, further complicating prospects for peace and reconciliation.
The reluctance of the Israeli government to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Palestinian leadership and address core issues such as borders, refugees, and the status of Jerusalem further underscores its lack of genuine commitment to a two-state solution. While sporadic attempts at peace talks have been made in the past, they have often been marred by preconditions, unilateral actions, and a lack of mutual trust, resulting in a perpetual stalemate that serves neither the interests of Israelis nor Palestinians.
While the concept of a two-state solution remains a central pillar of international efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the current composition of the Israeli government and its policies continue to undermine the prospects for its realization. Without a genuine commitment to ending the occupation, dismantling settlements, and addressing the legitimate aspirations of both peoples, the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security will remain elusive. It is incumbent upon all parties involved to demonstrate the political will and leadership necessary to achieve a just and lasting resolution to one of the most protracted conflicts of our time.
Now then, are you able to answer my question? You can answer yes or no, it's really that easy.
Tue, 2024-02-27 20:51
#423
Now then, are you able to answer my question? You can answer yes or no, it's really that easy.
*snicker*
Wed, 2024-02-28 02:11
#424
josh wrote:
Do you think most of the parties comprising the current Israeli government would ever support a genuine two-state solution?
End quote.
————
Israeli governments have supported a two-state solution and will again. A large segment of the Israeli population believes that Palestinians in general have no interest in establishing peace with Israel and they tend to vote for political parties that feel a two state solution is a fantasy that has no chance of happening. Another large segment of the Israeli population supports a two state solution. This is why some Israelis governments have supported a two state solution while other haven’t.
Wed, 2024-02-28 05:21
#425
And there are the same varying views among the Palestinians. Who are the ones under occupation.
Wed, 2024-02-28 08:35
#426
And there are the same varying views among the Palestinians. Who are the ones under occupation.
Josh we seem to be in agreement we both believe Israel will not accept a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Do you think Hamas likewise will not accept a two-state solution?
You also didn't comment on my post. Would you consider short essay-style posts like that be "enough time" spent responding to questions? It sort of seems passive-aggressive to suggest a response isn't long enough, then completely ignore the longer response.
Wed, 2024-02-28 09:36
#427
Yeah Josh, stop being so passive aggressive. It's not like Paladin is stuck trying to force you to give a yes-no answer to his question. So he can argue, I guess, because he seems to know the answer he wants.
Though I am not sure why he is asking us all what we think, because that means nothing. What matters is what Hamas has said they will and will not recognize.
I'd say the real questions are:
Why are they taking that position and are they bluffing? What message does it send to those who do and do not support the two-state solution? And what would happen if Israel took them up on the offer and there really was a settled border that rolled back their occupation? What would happen to their support if there was no conflict? So back to the first question - why are they taking this position?
Wed, 2024-02-28 17:58
#428
Josh just because I asked you the near identical question you asked me, which I prompotly and candidly answered, don't feel pressured to answer.
Wed, 2024-02-28 19:03
#429
And there are the same varying views among the Palestinians.
This is why the chances of having mutually beneficial negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis are viable.
Wed, 2024-02-28 19:11
#430
..yes we can see israel softening the palestinians up with a good famine and slaughter. they will be ready to negotiate self determination real soon.
Wed, 2024-02-28 19:21
#431
..yes we can see israel softening the palestinians up with a good famine and slaughter. they will be ready to negotiate self determination real soon.
It won't be difficult to pick Hamas out of the crowd.
Wed, 2024-02-28 19:37
#432
..look how you discount my post when even you know it's true.
Thu, 2024-02-29 08:31
#433
..look how you discount my post when even you know it's true.
Epaulo you seem to often get defensive and think people are discounting your posts.
I did not discount your post at all. I don't know if Israel is trying to starve Palestinians out on purpose; it certainly looks like that is their intent. I've spoken to it before, they probably reached a point where they just don't. Palestinians have supported Hamas for 16 years so now Israel doesn't give a shit in their quest to dig them out.
The point of my comment is that you will be able to see who Hamas is because they're the ones still eating and not starving. Because they stock piled food, and control the food coming in. Most people on this forum seem to want to ignore Hamas's involvement all together.
Israel is responsible for ther response to Hamas. Hamas is responsible for instigating Israel to this extent on October 7th.
Thu, 2024-02-29 09:00
#434
..you quote me to make your attack on hamas then call me defensive if i respond. you don't know if israel is starving people on purpose but you know that hamas members are eating. sounds like bullshit to me.
..and it was israel who created the conditions for an oct 7th to happen.
Thu, 2024-02-29 16:02
#435
..you quote me to make your attack on hamas then call me defensive if i respond. you don't know if israel is starving people on purpose but you know that hamas members are eating. sounds like bullshit to me.
That's a good point, you're right. I don't know Hamas is eating for sure. Lots of indicators they are, the same there are lots of indicators Israel is starving Palestinians.
..and it was israel who created the conditions for an oct 7th to happen.
Some people argue Jews created the conditions for November 9th, 1938.
I wonder if Palestinians think October 7th was worth the result.
Thu, 2024-02-29 16:24
#436
..you should give a listen to the barghouti audio i posted in the free palestine thread. about half way though he begins to talk about the oct 7th attack after being asked a similar question. not that i expect it will change your politics but it does provide an authoritative context.
Thu, 2024-02-29 16:47
#437
..around the 28 min mark to be exact
Thu, 2024-02-29 19:16
#438
Some people argue Jews created the conditions for November 9th, 1938.
The same type of people argue that the Greenwood massacre was not racially motivated.
Thu, 2024-02-29 20:36
#439
At least six doctors and healthcare workers were suspended at Toronto’s SickKids hospital for social media posts supporting Palestinians while doctors at St. Michael’s around the corner were allowed to share an hour-long lecture about Israel to staff and students.
Another half dozen physicians were removed from their roles assessing medical students’ residency applications at Queen’s University because they signed a petition calling for a ceasefire.
https://breachmedia.ca/abuse-of-power-hospitals-med-schools-crack-down-o...
Fri, 2024-03-01 01:00
#440
Perhaps those Canadians exorcised about Israel's genocide in Palestine should devote a bit of time to correcting the situation inside Canada by which official Canadian support for this genocide, including the intimidation and suppression of peace protesters, is being promoted and exercised. If not you, who, if not now, when? Do whatever you can, but please do something. Virtue signalling without action does nothing.
Sat, 2024-03-02 10:13
#441
..you should give a listen to the barghouti audio i posted in the free palestine thread. about half way though he begins to talk about the oct 7th attack after being asked a similar question. not that i expect it will change your politics but it does provide an authoritative context.
I started listening to it.
Sat, 2024-03-02 11:16
#442
..you should give a listen to the barghouti audio i posted in the free palestine thread. about half way though he begins to talk about the oct 7th attack after being asked a similar question. not that i expect it will change your politics but it does provide an authoritative context.
I started listening to it.
LOL
Tue, 2024-03-05 12:01
#443
John Woodcock is a former right wing Labour MP who hates the left so much that he campaigned for Boris Johnson in 2019, and was rewarded after the election with a peerage. He is now Lord Walney, which gives him a vote for life in the House of Lords, as well as many other perks. Johnson also tasked Lord Walney with advising the Tory government on political violence and disruption.
He has just come out with his report, which seems to be mostly about banning pro-Palestine demonstrations. Novara Media reports and analyzes.
Tue, 2024-03-05 12:35
#444
The quickest way to a peerage is to stab the Labour Party in the back from the right.
Thu, 2024-03-07 12:16
#445
THE TEENAGERS GATHERED outside Teaneck High School on a chilly Friday afternoon in February, watched by a heavy police escort and an NBC news crew. They unfurled a banner bearing the Palestinian flag and marched around the streets of suburban Teaneck, New Jersey. The protest was part of a statewide “day of action” for Palestine.
quote:
The girls organized a teach-in and walkout at their high school in November. It led to an unexpected flood of backlash from the town’s adults, including elected officials; a deluge of violent threats; a campaign organized by a new pro-Israel, Jewish lobbying group; and intervention by the federal government.
quote:
Gottheimer has become fixated with Teaneck’s high schoolers. At his urging, the U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights probe into discrimination at Teaneck High. After the school district announced that it would partner with two Jewish and Muslim civil rights organizations — the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American Islamic Relations, respectively — Gottheimer publicly accused the Muslim organization of glorifying terrorism and demanded Teaneck cut ties with it. CAIR’s New Jersey chapter denounced Gottheimer’s “defamatory attacks” in a written statement.....
Thu, 2024-03-07 12:20
#446
..more.
quote:
“Support From Outsiders”
All politics are local, and local politics are weird. Over the last few months in Teaneck, government meetings about the high school controversy have devolved into chaos. Local officials have thrown around insults like “Jihadi Jane” and “pencil dick,” while betraying deep anxieties about Jews’ and Muslims’ place in a rapidly changing community.
Teaneck officials have repeatedly blamed outside agitators for pro-Palestinian activism in the town, focusing specifically on people from Paterson, a working-class city with a large Palestinian American community 15 minutes away.
At a November town council meeting, Bergen County Jewish Action Committee executive council member Yigal Gross accused local Muslims of repaying the hospitality of their Jewish neighbors by “bussing in dozens of protesters from Paterson who would shatter that harmony.”
Protesters from Paterson eventually did come to Teaneck en masse, during a statewide car rally for Palestine on December 31. Mayor Michael Pagan quickly tried to cast the protest as the work of outside agitators. “Most of those participating in Teaneck are not Teaneck residents,” Pagan said in a statement. “I am appalled by the attempts to harass and intimidate our residents over the policies of the Israeli government.”
Supporters of Palestinian rights balked at the mayor’s remarks. “Have you considered that the Muslim community feels so isolated in this town that they may seek comfort and support from outsiders?” said Teaneck resident Shorook Awadallah during a January 23 town council meeting....
Thu, 2024-03-07 12:22
#447
..last on the above.
quote:
While American and Israeli press portrayed the protest as a campaign targeting a Jewish town — the work of “militia-like pro-Palestinian gangs,” in the words of the Jerusalem Post — it was a small, low-profile affair. Several dozen people, some of them parents pushing strollers, gathered outside town hall to hear mournful speeches about the war. Siegel, the musician, was one of the organizers.
A few weeks later, Teaneck hosted the Bergen County Unite for Israel Parade. Allie Orgen, daughter of council member Karen Orgen, told the Jewish Standard that she had been inspired to organize it after attending the Jerusalem Day flag march, an annual Israeli nationalist rally in Jerusalem that has often descended into nationalist hooliganism and anti-Palestinian violence. “I want to move the [Jerusalem Day] parade to Teaneck,” she said.
An estimated 2,000 people from around New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut marched down Teaneck’s streets with Israeli flags. The Standard described the event as a “protest,”“parade,” and “party” all in one. Musicians performed pro-Israel songs at a local park. Gottheimer addressed the crowd, saying that “anyone who says Israel is a terrorist state, or an apartheid state, that’s antisemitism.”.....
Thu, 2024-03-07 12:55
#448
Gottheimer's a dick.
Did the mayor complain about "outside agitators" at the pro-Israel parade?
Fri, 2024-03-08 10:16
#449
‘Abuse of power’: Hospitals, med schools crack down on Palestine advocacy
At least six doctors and healthcare workers were suspended at Toronto’s SickKids hospital for social media posts supporting Palestinians while doctors at St. Michael’s around the corner were allowed to share an hour-long lecture about Israel to staff and students.
Another half dozen physicians were removed from their roles assessing medical students’ residency applications at Queen’s University because they signed a petition calling for a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, medical schools are silent when it comes to doctors and a program director disseminating a list of students who signed the same petition with the intention of influencing their medical residency applications.
These are just some examples of what doctors describe as a recurring “double standard” in Canadian medical schools and hospitals where students and doctors say pro-Palestine advocacy is being silenced, even when similar actions for other causes—including support for the Israeli government—are allowed.
According to an investigation by The Breach based on interviews with more than a dozen doctors and students, individuals have faced temporary suspensions, removal from tasks they’ve performed for years, or admonishment for being “unprofessional” without being told who they harmed or how. This is happening in Canada even as the Israeli military continues its ongoing destruction of Gaza’s health-care system.
Two weeks after unfounded claims of antisemitism by right-wing activists about a Toronto protest that marched past Mount Sinai hospital led to national headlines and a denunciation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, The Breach’s investigation reveals what’s happening inside some Canadian hospitals: pervasive retaliation against expressions of Palestinian solidarity.
“Our advocacy for Palestine was treated differently than every other advocacy that many of us have engaged in,” said one Ontario doctor who shared their experience with The Breach.
“It’s [an] abuse of power and disproportionate response,” said another.
Physicians and students who recounted their experiences asked for their names to be kept confidential in order to share their stories without fear of further repercussions from their hospitals or university administrations. The Breach has corroborated their accounts by obtaining photos, emails, responses from administrations, an audio recording, and other forms of evidence where possible......
Mon, 2024-03-11 14:11
#450
COLUMBIA’S NEW “ANTISEMITISM TASK FORCE” WON’T SAY WHAT IT THINKS ANTISEMITISM IS
A RECENT LISTENING session hosted by Columbia University’s new Task Force on Antisemitism devolved into chaos, with a task force leader yelling at students who questioned the group’s refusal to define “antisemitism,” according to sources at the university. Meanwhile, the school is preparing to spend up to $135,000 to hire someone to support the task force, which was propped up just weeks after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.....
Wed, 2024-03-13 15:10
#451
Instead of ‘Civil Discourse’ We Have Civil Terror
Last week, the CBC ran an interview on its flagship program, The Current, with Randy Boyagoda, a professor at the University of Toronto (U of T). Dr Boyagoda is neither Jewish nor Palestinian. He is an English scholar with several novels and critical essays under his belt. Recently, the University of Toronto appointed him to the position of Provostial Advisor on Civil Discourse. He was appointed to help promote and safeguard “civil discourse” on the U of T campus regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict. On radio, Boyagoda mentioned Palestine and Israel only to admonish “people with intensely held views” on both sides to find some common ground for “civil discourse.”
Civil discourse is shorthand for – at best – ignoring, and at worst, banning, free speech about Palestine. Inevitably, free speech on Palestine challenges the Jewish establishment’s need to silence and gate-keep people who criticize Israel.
Several incidents at U of T over the last three years illustrate the university imposing limits on free speech and ‘civil discourse’. The university ignored civil discourse in order to allow bullying behind closed doors. Decisions that affected people’s careers, their futures, their opportunities, were made by high-ranking university officials, judges, and others, without a shred of openness or honesty. These decisions have affected academics and doctors who dared to stand up for Palestinians’ human rights....