Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July 2009, pages 5-6

Letters to the Editor

A Reeling Ex-Pat

My mind is reeling after reading the reports on the U.S. aid to Israel.

I am an ex-pat U.S. citizen, now nationalized Netherlander. I chose The Netherlands because this country is small and is able to do little damage to the rest of the world. I have recommended your Web site to several of my friends. By-the-way, it is good to see that at least a few people are working at journalism.

Roger T. Thomes, via e-mail

We like the idea of an expatriate American reading a magazine published in a city where the license plates read, “Taxation Without Representation.”

Online Availability

Have you considered making the current edition available online to subscribers to the print edition?

I have been a subscriber for well over a decade and frequently want to send articles to friends, listserves for groups I am a member of (e.g., Palestine Solidarity Committee in Seattle), etc.

Timeliness is important, and a month later I don’t always remember to send it out.

Robert Beckmann, via e-mail

Your request is a timely one, as we are currently working on updating our Web site and are considering a variety of options and scenarios. We’ll definitely add yours to the hopper, and thank you for the suggestion.

Moving On Up

Last year I bought a Washington Report subscription for the library near my house, and every now and then I’d go by and make sure it was out on the shelf. Well, I got the renewal notice last week so I went back to the library yesterday and found that they have moved it to a more prominent shelf alongside Time and Newsweek, and it’s in a clear plastic protective cover as well. I asked to speak with the periodicals librarian and she thanked me for the subscription and said that indeed the magazine is being used well. It was so gratifying to hear that—I thought you’d like to know that your hard work is appreciated by so many of us!

Vicki Tamoush, Tustin, CA

We thank you for your generous support and encouragement over the years, and are indeed gratified by the fruits of your labors!

Renewal Requested

I’ve been a subscriber for a year now. In fact, I received my last issue: Gaza, Silence is Not An Option (Jan./Feb. 2009).

I am a deep lover of the Washington Report, because it covers the issues dear to my heart and interest: Palestine-Israel conflict, Jewish lobby activities, and the Middle East crisis. The Washington Report, unlike mainstream media, doesn’t censor or slant the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to benefit Israel, but instead is committed to highlighting the repulsive and inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people, via gross apartheid practices.

Every month when I receive the Washington Report, I always share it with my Palestinian friend, Abdel Jabbar. He, too, loves the publication for its extensive coverage on the Palestine/Israel conflict. His mother and family are living in the West Bank—they are building a school in the name and memory of his brother. He loves the well-covered stories because it’s an emotional connection which informs him of his family and other Palestinians’ living conditions.

Therefore, as a prisoner, with no money, I am once again asking for the renewal of my subscription. As stated above, I have no money, but I have a deep interest and passion to teach and change people’s perception and understanding about the truth of the Palestine and Israel conflict and how Americans, unknowingly, send an annual $3 billion of their tax dollars to Israel, along with missiles, tanks, bombs, guns, and combat planes.

Thank you so much,

Briscoe A. John Jr., Jonesville, VA

We have renewed your subscription as requested, and wish you and Mr. Jabbar the best. Thank you for spreading the word!

A Reluctant Renewer?

Hello. I’m happy to renew my subscription, I guess. If you don’t mind, I’d like to make but a few comments on the publication.

On the plus side, I see inklings of progress:

• some grudging coverage of ANSWER’s efforts (after all, in short time they have done more for the Palestinian cause than the ‘behind the scenes’ efforts—synonymous with doing nothing—of the historic Arab-American organizations in Washington),
• starting to discuss the one-state solution, and
• including critical Middle East regional players like Turkey and Iran in your coverage...fully warranted given that the majority of Arab states have either done nothing regarding Palestine or blocked others’ actions.

On the other hand, there is entirely too much precious space wasted on covering a few isolated “Jewish friends,” as though they should be put on a pedestal and revered. In fact that space would be better dedicated to highlighting non-Muslim/non-Arab positive efforts, a grossly underplayed story in the U.S.

If the “friends” want to do a great service, let them carve their “equal space” from their own media. And please spare us their on-and-on obits—the real news is not how few these people are, but how many are those on the other side, both actively supporting Zionism or complicit by their silence...

I’m hoping the “Other Voices” supplement will add measurably to the portrait of Middle East activism and events. Not having seen this section yet, I can wonder in advance whether the “Other Voices” really should be in the main magazine and the Zogbys and other relegated to the supplement...

David Lipfert, New York, NY

We regularly cover anti-war and anti-occupation demonstrations sponsored by ANSWER and other organizations—although our coverage is primarily visual. For a fuller analysis, we refer you to Sara Powell’s article, “Bridging Another Barrier for Palestine—This One in the U.S. Peace Movement” (April 2004 Washington Report, p. 32). With regard to articles by and about Jews, we believe that, in this country at least, Jews voicing criticism of Israeli policy makes it easier for non-Jews to express the same views without the fear of being labeled anti-Semites. Ultimately, we hope, the combined voices and votes of informed Americans will force our elected representatives to act in the interest of our own country.

More on “Other Voices”

Congratulations on the “Other Voices” supplement to the Washington Report, for it adds something (a lot) to the publication. To me it’s rather like a satisfying intellectual dessert after the main course.

However, it’s noted that in the May/June issue of “Other Voices” 9 or perhaps 10 of the 15 articles seemed penned by Hebrews, and in accordance with their left-hemisphere proclivity were well articulated, indeed. But aren’t there more Gentile writers who could be utilized to present a better balance or choice of ethnic contributors?

Paul Richards, Salem, OR

At the risk of sounding naïve, we didn’t even notice the ethnicity of the “Other Voices” contributors, whose articles are chosen solely on the basis of content. Meanwhile, “Other Voices” compiler Janet McMahon, fearing she might be accused of nepotism, asks us to assure you she has never met Sean McMahon, whose article “Globalizing Politicide” appears in this issue’s “Other Voices.”

“Other Voices” Candidate

This is one of the best and most comprehensive articles on Israel I have ever read. I highly recommend it for “Other Voices.”

Regards,

Gary D. Keenan, via e-mail

Alas, Jeremy Salt’s article “The Kingdom of Lies” in the April 29 edition of the Palestine Chronicle (<www.palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=15062>) is too long even for “Other Voices.” Among his points in the final paragraph: “Racism in Israel is not like racism in other states, which is usually a matter of changing laws and slowly working on public opinion. In Israel racism is so deeply embedded in Zionist ideology and the structure of the state that without racism Israel cannot remain the state that it has become. Yet there are no signs that the Israeli people or the politicians they are electing as their leaders have any intention of changing direction.…”

“Guantanamo at Home”

I am a subscriber to the Washington Report. You may have already noticed, but I would like to call your attention to an article entitled “Guantanamo at Home,” which appeared in the April 20, 2009 issue of The Nation magazine.

I was very surprised to learn that the Muslim prisoner abuses have occurred not only at Guantanamo but also right inside the U.S. I feel that the article deserves to be included in “Other Voices.”

Dr. Hyong Won Cho, Morris, IL

You will indeed find the article in this issue’s “Other Voices” supplement, and might also be interested in Project SALAM—Support and Legal Advocacy for Muslims—which documents the Justice Department’s post-9/11 targeting and prosecution of innocent Muslims. For more information see the Jan./Feb. 2009 Washington Report, p. 17, and visit <www.projectsalam.org>. News editor Delinda Hanley’s article on agents provocateurs and “fusion centers” (see p. 14) is a wake-up call to all Americans.

Is Justice Truly Blind?

I would ask if Justice is blind, would the same events against Dr. Sami Al-Arian have taken place had he been a Christian or a Jew?

Thank you for your coverage.

M. Tarsha, via e-mail

We had hoped to report in this issue that Dr. Al-Arian’s long ordeal finally was over. However, as we go to press federal Judge Leonie Brinkema has yet to release her written decision on whether to dismiss criminal contempt of court charges against the former computer science professor who was not convicted of a single charge brought against him by the federal government. For the latest news on Dr. Al-Arian’s case, sign up on our Web site, <www.wrmea.com>, to join our e-mail list and get updates and announcements as soon as they become available.

Next >