Sunday Open Thread – 01/31/10 – Remembering Gaza | Calling out Israel

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Alhamdulilah this past week Amir “MR” posted his inaugural contribution to MuslimMatters, staying true to the style of his previous blog in the process.  In a humble reminder of the Gaza massacre one year ago, the clip he linked to was from an upcoming documentary on Norman Finkelstein, one of the most outspoken critics of Israeli brutality and tyranny.

Dr. Finkelstein’s scholarship and flair for oration spotlight a growing trend among intellectuals, practitioners of law and non-profits.  Last year’s Gaza assault seems to have been a real watershed moment in the way Israel is perceived around the globe.  To this end, check out Judge Goldstone’s continuing defense of his report and an Israeli NGO’s confirmation of one of the report’s main assertions.

What’s more, there seems to be a growing movement among corporations willing to divest from Israel in actions reminiscent of those taken against apartheid South Africa:

Africa Israel Investments and Elbit Systems have been added to Danske Bank’s list of companies that fail to adhere to its Socially Responsible Investment policy…The two companies have been added to the list, which contains 24 companies, based on their activities in the settlement areas of the Palestinian territories.

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Sadly, it’s still business as usual for the American government as evidenced by their non-binding resolution back in November against the Goldstone Report and Obama’s more recent fumbling over a question about Israeli human rights abuses:

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So if you’re in New York, show your support for Dr. Finkelstein and his efforts by checking out the US theatrical release of his film at Anthology Film Archives beginning February 11.

Finally, and this can’t be said enough no matter how many times it’s said, please support your brothers and sisters in Gaza through donating to Islamic Relief, but also certainly (and more importantly) through remembering them in your duas.

About author

Youssef Chouhoud

Youssef is from Brooklyn, New York by way of Alexandria, Egypt. An aspiring academic, he recently finished up his MA in political science and is currently in the middle of an extended stay in Masr. His little Dahlia’s smile reminds him each day to be thankful. His little Dahlia’s diaper reminds him each day to be patient. A student of Islam, history, and politics, his time in Cairo (as he predicted) placed him squarely in the nexus of these disciplines. Follow him on Twitter (@TheAlexandrian) as he tries to glean some valuable [hopefully, publishable :) ] insights from his adventures abroad, inshAllah.

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  • Abu Abdullah

    The youtube link for Barak Obama is not working. Would anyone be kind enough to post the link?

    Jazakumullahu khayrun.

    • http://youssefchouhoud.com TheAlexandrian

      Hmmm, not sure what the issue is but it seems to be working fine for me in Chrome and IE. Maybe try clearing your cache?

      • http://sibgat.wordpress.com/ Joyhamza

        SubhanAllah how hopeless this man Obama is! What was he asked and what did he respond? La Hawla! Think about the first sentence he said: “The issue of Middle East is an issue that has plagued the region for centuries.” Can anyone explain what these words add up to mean? How hopeless, cruel and satanic is this! And I am not exaggerating at all when I am saying this satanic because it would have been fun if it was a comedy show and all. This is questions regarding lives and deaths. Yet these people are getting away with their rhetorics! how insanely frustrating! As Dr. Finkelstein himself rightly remarked about Obama: “He somehow got it into his head that he has done something. He has done nothing! He is just another clever politician.”

        • Sayf

          You know, I still can’t believe during his campaign so many muslims were boosting him and even praising him in the friday khutbas, subhanAllah. I released a short essay after his inauguration titled “Obama’s Fraud: Why Hope and Fear Serve the Same Sinister Purpose” to try to get some people off the media’s bandwagon. I got my fair share of criticism and praise, but a year later the ideas are really starting to sink in.

          • Abdus Sabur

            I was hopeful for a minute. It’s just the same game with another name.

        • http://muslimmatters.org/about/mm-associates/ Associates

          “The issue of Middle East is an issue that has plagued the region for centuries.”

          Haha, yeah that kinda stood out, huh? For someone as eloquent as Obama to be so hapless when answering this straight forward question means either 1) he was refraining from saying what he really felt due to Israeli pressure, or 2) he really doesn’t know much about the situation to intelligently comment on it. Either scenario doesn’t bode well for Barack, America, or the issue of the region of the Middle East regional issue :P

  • Guy

    Wow, that was a *great* answer…

  • Umm Bilqis
  • Umm Bilqis

    Ignoring the one sided prejudicial U.S foreign policy in the Middle East region has made many Non Muslims arrogant, close minded and intellectually stagnant!

  • Umm Bilqis

    Palestinians tear segregation wall. Link to Real News YT channel:

    http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealNews#p/u/4/-j-5_HLTu3U