Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

An interview with Norman Finkelstein

By John Passant and Emanuel Stoakes - posted Thursday, 14 April 2011


In this uncertain, dramatic hour for the Arab people it is perhaps easy to forget the Palestinians, a people whose cause is so much at the heart of middle-eastern unrest, as the attention of the world falls on brutal regimes elsewhere in the region.

With this in mind, after interviewing Professor Ilan Pappe on the prospects of peace in the holy land, Emanuel Stoakes emailed a link to the interview to the highly controversial American scholar Norman Finkelstein; a man known for his strong views on the Israel /Palestine conflict.

Finkelstein replied and Stoakes interviewed him through email exchange; asking questions about Palestine, the Palestinians and Finkelstein himself.

Advertisement

Finkelstein is chiefly famous amongst Palestinian sympathizers for his celebrated demolition acts when it comes to established narratives in the Israel-Palestine conflict: by the stroke of his pen, the bestselling book "From Time Immemorial" by Joan Peters was exposed as a work of popular fiction. Major scholars agreed with his verdict: Oxford Professor Avi Shlaim described Peters' publication (and its artful narrative that suggests there really is 'no such thing as Palestinians'), accurately, as 'preposterous and worthless'.

Finkelstein's more recent books have been both praised and fiercely attacked. A notable example is "The Holocaust Industry" an 'international bestseller' that documented, amongst other matters, how ostensible Jewish "charities" and other bodies have made money in Holocaust claims from Europe that have never helped actual survivors, and have instead helped the organizations themselves get rich.

Finkelstein's later title "Beyond Chutzpah: On the misuse of anti-semitism and the abuses of history" was concerned with Israel's record of human rights abuses and the "deceit" of popular apologists for Israel who cite anti-semitism as the defining source of criticism for the actions of the Israeli government. The book laid out in forensic detail a persuasive account of the documented human rights record regarding Palestinian mistreatment.

One of the 'apologists' attacked was Alan M Dershowitz, the Felix Frankfurter professor of Law at Harvard University, by way of a furious critique of his book "The Case for Israel".

Finkelstein has been described as 'strident', 'arrogant' and 'obsessively anti-Israel', by commentators from the left and right. He remains a demonized figure: his support for Hezbollah and other groups have made him a figure of ambivalence to natural allies, and has been cited as "evidence" of pro- terrorist leanings by his detractors.

In the interview Stoakes tried not to shy away from asking direct questions concerning Finkelstein's position on many of his most controversial statements.

Advertisement

In true Finkelstein fashion, the responses were often terse, frank and poignant.

ES: Mr Finkelstein, looking at the present situation in Gaza and the occupied territories, what hope do you have for a realistic and 'just' peace settlement- even in the next thirty years?

NF: It all depends on whether the people in the Occupied Territories find the inner strength and courage to duplicate what's been done in neighboring Arab-Muslim states. So far Palestinians are just watching, but from conversations I've had they appear to be hopeful.

  1. Pages:
  2. Page 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. All

This interview first appeared in En Passant with John Passant



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

10 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Authors

John Passant is a Canberra writer (www.enpassant.com.au) and member of Socialist Alternative.

Emanuel Stoakes writing has concentrated on issues to do with the middle east.

Other articles by these Authors

All articles by John Passant
All articles by Emanuel Stoakes
Related Links
Norman Finkelstein

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 10 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy