Editor’s note: Reader letters & Magen’s letter to Finkelstein below.

By Amichai Magen

The Coalition for Justice in the Middle East (CJME) and its splinter group, Students Confronting Apartheid in Israel (SCAI), are at it again; pulling no punches in their relentless campaign to demonize the Jewish People and delegitimize Israel. Tonight, the two student groups are stooping to new lows and aligning themselves with the most radical elements in the Middle East by hosting Norman Finkelstein on this campus. Finkelstein is an academic joke, and a bad one at that. The 54-year-old Assistant Professor at DePaul University, Illinois, has been hired and let go by several middling schools, before gaining his current (untenured) position in 2003. The New York Times Book Review has described his work as “juvenile,” “arrogant” and “stupid.”

He is an American-born son of two Holocaust survivors who began his career as an anti-Israel political agitator — circumstances which on their own make his claims to objective historical scholarship on the Holocaust highly suspect. Finkelstein can neither read nor write German. Being unable to access many of the sources that are the foundation of sound research in this highly complex and sensitive field has not prevented Finkelstein from passing sweeping, tendentious and twisted judgments on one of the saddest, and most important, episodes in human history.

In essence, Finkelstein’s argument is as follows: The Jews, in a fiendish conspiracy, have fabricated a “Holocaust Industry” in order to portray themselves as victims, cynically exploit their suffering and consolidate Israel as a power set on regional domination. If the Holocaust had never happened, the Jews would have invented it themselves, since the Holocaust served their diabolical quest for money and global imperialism.

This thesis is a hodge-podge of pathological paranoia, ignorance, malice and brutal disrespect to the memory of the millions of human beings systematically murdered by the Nazis (Christians, Jews and Muslims). If we applied Finkelstein’s warped logic, we would conclude that Blacks “exploit” the history of slavery to obtain civil rights gains or that in the 20th-century, women have created a “Feminism Industry” in a cruel attempt to gain power and subjugate men. How many Einsteins, how many Kafkas, how many Menuhins, how many lives (born and yet to be born) were lost forever in the furnaces of Auschwitz? The world will never know. But to suggest that the Jewish People, or anyone else on this planet, has “profited” from the extinguishing of so many souls — each of infinite value in its own right — is monstrous beyond belief.

Finkelstein’s brand of Holocaust denial is all the more pernicious for its relative subtlety. Unlike David Irving — who claims the gas chambers never existed and that Hitler was the Jews’ greatest friend — Finkelstein (who calls Irving “a good historian”) admits that it did happen, and then proceeds to turn the Holocaust into a tool with which to attack its primary victim. In the Finkelstenian mind, the Jews, and the Jews alone, are prohibited from collective mourning. Jewish insistence that the Holocaust be remembered becomes an act of unforgivable Jewish aggression, for which Israel must be “censured,” to use one of his favorite expressions of attack. This Holocaust erosion is at once more subversive and more dangerous than the outright factual denial practiced by the likes of Irving or Iran’s President, Ahmedinejad. It insidiously assaults our moral imperative to remember the Holocaust and eats away at its chief lesson to humanity: Never again!

Not surprisingly, Finkelstein has become the house favorite of neo-fascists in America, Europe and the Middle East; the dream-Jew of the post-Holocaust anti-Semites. David Duke — the white supremacist and former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klax Klan — endorses him warmly on his Web site (www.davidduke.com). German neo-Nazi queen, Ingrid Rimland, has intimated that Finkelstein’s writing makes her feel “like a kid in a candy store.” And Finkelstein’s own enthusiasm for Osama bin Laden and Hezbollah have made him a welcome guest on the radical Shiite militia’s official satellite TV station, Al-Manar.

Finkelstein is an American citizen and thus at liberty to express his odious views. But free speech is not at issue here. The real question is should this academic fraudster be entertained at Stanford University? Does Finkelstein’s message of hate enhance or diminish our academic standards and community? And is it legitimate for CJME, a Stanford funded student organization, to offer its uncritical, enthusiastic endorsement to a man who defames an entire people and its six million murdered innocents purely for the purpose of making Israel look bad?

Amichai Magen is a Stanford Law School Fellow and Lecturer in Law and JSD candidate. He can be reached at merav@stanford.edu.



Holocaust Denial Does NOT Come to Stanford

01.26.2007 | The Stanford Daily
By Tala Al-Ramahi

I am going to spare you the fruitless argument of what came first: the chicken or the egg (or in this case, the Palestinians or the Israelis). I have moved past that unproductive logic, and I am more interested in what is happening now, today and at this very minute in the occupied Palestinian territories. I want you to know that innocent Palestinians are today struggling helplessly to live as a result of a harsh and unforgiving Israeli occupation. Why do I need to defend myself against hurtful slurs of racism just because I choose not to censor myself of criticism directed toward Israel?

Of course, let us not forget the abominable persecution of the six million Jews in the Holocaust, but let us not silence the calls to stop crimes against humanity happening now either. Jews, and every person with a fiber of humanity for that matter, should and must be allowed to mourn the genocide that ultimately forced the Jewish population to try to seek a safe place, free from anti-Semitism. That is not the issue here. The issue at hand, however, is the misuse of the haunting memory of the Holocaust to deligitimize the plea of the Palestinian people and those who call on the international community to respect their human rights (myself included).

The issue at hand here is how easily many people throw around the word “anti-Semitic” in order to silence and ostracize any reasonable argument against corrupt and violent Israeli policies and practices.

As a humanist, I am against any form of injustice; Israeli government policies and Israel’s army just happen to be part of those injustices. And in this particular case, the perpetrators of an unjust occupation just happen to be Jewish. They could’ve been Christians, Atheists or Muslims, and it would still be as wrong, as unjust, and just as appalling.

What Norman Finkelstein came to address is exactly what Amichai Magen’s Op-ed (January 25, 3007) tried to do: invoking sensationalist rhetoric in order to intimidate anyone who thought of listening to an academic and legitimate argument of how too many people misuse the memory of the Holocaust and exploit Jewish suffering in order to silence the voices that are critical of Israeli policies toward the native Palestinian people.

Finkelstein did not come to deny the Holocaust. The Holocaust did happen, and it is unfortunately one of the greatest tragedies in human history. He was not here to deny that anti-Semitism exists. Unfortunately, it still does. He came here to tell those like Amichai Magen that it is perversely wrong and immoral to accuse people and organizations of anti-Semitism (just as has been done in yesterday’s Op-ed) in order to silence and deligitimize their cause of securing justice and freedom for the Palestinian people.

Innocent Palestinians are dying today. Millions are struggling to live under an unrelenting occupation that has lasted for over forty years. Innocent Israelis are dying as well. As a matter of fact, human beings are dying every single day from oppressive regimes and armies. It should not matter who perpetrates the violence; being Jewish or Muslim or Christian should never excuse that. The plea and struggle for seeking justice is color-blind, race-blind, religion-blind. I know the Coalition for Justice in the Middle East’s plea is. After all, you don’t see me calling you a racist anti-Arab every time you condemn (and rightly so) ruthless Palestinian suicide bombers or when you criticize oppressive Arab regimes, do you?

Tala Al-Ramahi is a senior majoring in Economics. She is President of the Coalition for Justice in the Middle East (CJME).



Reader letters

To: merav[at]stanford.edu
CC: normangf[at]hotmail.com
Subject: divide and rule
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2007 03:59:12 +0100

Mr. Magen, In your absurd accusations against Norman Finkelstein about he becoming “an agent of an ideology that generates its seductive energy from evil’ not goodness’ anger’not love’ destruction’ not creation,” you use the fighting between Fatah and Hamas as an example. I agree that this fighting is disturbing, but there is something you should know before you judge it the way you do: Truckloads of arms have been driven from Egypt into Gaza with the blessing of Israel and the US. Israel has released millions of PALESTINIAN tax money on the condition that most of it goes to strengthen the Presidential Guard, which means Fatah. The CIA has trained Fatah in Jericho, and Ze’ev Boim, a cabinet minister and the former deputy minister of defense, has said: “If Hamas will get the upper hand in Gaza, it will be a clear sign that Israel has to act.” (International Herald Tribune January 28) You don’t have to like Hamas more than I like your mass murderer of a president, but they were more legally and democratic elected. Many leaders disapprove of Washington’s politics, but it’s them they to talk to.

But Immediately after their victory Hamas were declared leprous and isolated by the West, and the whole Palestinian population were sentenced to starvation by a Western embargo. (”diet” as Israel called it). Hamas had maintained a truce since 2004 in spite of that Israel all the time had been killing Palestinian civilians, destroying their homes, stealing their land and ruining the possibilties of a viable Palestinian state. Hamas was given no chance to show what they could achieve being in charge. Even having given several promising signals which could have initiated constructive dialogues - for example their agreement to the prisoners document, the West continued to undermine the legal elected government and reinforced a human catastrophe in the territories.

Now when the West is building up and arming Fatah - who also were lepers in the eyes of Israel when they were in office - and the legal position of Hamas is being destroyed, an armed coup d’état is likely. Than we blame the Arab world for being so undemocratic, and Israel can shout louder that they have no negotiation partner and continue their unilateralism. The old colonial “divide and rule” tactic works as good as ever, also because people like you swallow the bait.

From overseas

* * * * *

Editor’s Note: From the Stanford student who accused Finkelstein of being a Holocaust denier in the school paper.

From: “Amichai A. Magen” merav[at]stanford.edu
CC: normangf[at]hotmail.com
Subject: Re: In defense of NGF
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:53:10 -0800

‘I truly want to understand what happened to you? What could possibly have made you into such a hate-filled’ angry’ bitter person’ bent on so much destruction? You cry against aggression’ yet you seek to destroy anyone who disagrees with you. You are offended by charges that your viewpoint is deeply flawed’ yet you whimsically attack others’ projecting what you claim is done to you unto others. What is the “rose bud” that you have lost and which you are chasing your entire life? I understand that growing up with Holocaust survivors for parents means that you are contending with terrible demons. But can’t you see’ you have let those demons torment you into spiritual self-destruction.

You think that by bringing down Israel you will find rest? You don’t see some great truth which others don’t’ Norman. You have become an agent of an ideology that generates its seductive energy from evil’ not goodness’ anger’not love’ destruction’ not creation (look’ for instance’ at what Fatah and Hamas are doing to each other in Gaza at this very moment). In reality’Norman’ many of those who you think idolize you’ despise you. For them you are a Kapo and a Kuffar - a useful fool who has betrayed his people and so has no honor. You wouldn’t be the first one’ nor the last. The fascist brand of Islam you are an instrument of will be defeated (as European Fascism and totalitarian Communism were before it) and’ unless you take urgent action to turn your life around’ your memory will sink into a faintly unpleasant obscurity with it.

In the meantime’ do not think for a moment you can intimidate me with your sinister cartoons’ sarcasm and insults. That you spent so much time and effort ridiculing me on your website suggests that you fear my message’ which means that it resonated with you at some deep level’ and that you are deeply insecure in the views you currently present to the world.

All your money (made from what industry exactly Norman?) and your infamy (achieved at what cost to others Norman?) will not intimidate me’ nor cover up for your basic emptiness. You are a bad historian’ Norman’ you are no scholar’ but an activist - a lost man of energy seeking meaning in this world.

Seek help. Go sit by the Sea of Galilee for a week and hopefully you will hear it: your soul. Faint’ submerged by mountains of anger and bitterness’ but still there. Listen to it’ and with the help of G-D’ it will guide you away from your current state of inner turmoil’ to a healthier place. However lost’ however tormented’ you Norman’ are a member of the Jewish People’ and so you are a part of “Knesset Israel” - that community which is neither a race’ nor a nation’ nor a religion per se - but which has shaped this world in profoundly important’ moral ways’ and which has began a new chapter of rejuvenation with the birth of the modern State of Israel in 1948. We are bound to each other by this’ the deepest of bonds’ and the fact that we are fellow Jews’ gives me hope that you are not entirely beyond help.

To: merav[at]stanford.edu
Subject: Re: In defense of NGF
CC: normangf[at]hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:55:40 -0800 (PST)

Dear Amichai A. Magen,

I normally don’t respond to the letters which are posted on Professor Finkelstein’s site because I think Prof. Finkelstein is more than capable of defending himself, his work and his own views.

I have to take exception with what you wrote because till now, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a piece of writing which is so completely disingenuous in its pseudo-compassion, a piece of writing by an individual who is so thoroughly convinced in the righteousness, the entitlement and infallibility of his/her community/religion/ethnicity that they are completely blinded by the actual and tragic human suffering which is unfolding daily in the Middle East. I do not say this to you to defend Finkelstein, I’m saying this to you so you can finally wake up out of your stupor should you be so inclined and direct your compassion to those who really need it (i.e. the victims of aggression, whether that be Israeli, Palestinian or American aggression).

Do the words “true believer” mean anything to you? Look it up, it’s not a good thing.

You wrote, “I truly want to understand what happened to you? What could possibly have made you into such a hate-filled’ angry’ bitter person’ bent on so much destruction? You cry against aggression’ yet you seek to destroy anyone who disagrees with you. You are offended by charges that your viewpoint is deeply flawed’ yet you whimsically attack others’ projecting what you claim is done to you unto others. What is the “rose bud” that you have lost and which you are chasing your entire life? I understand that growing up with Holocaust survivors for parents means that you are contending with terrible demons. But can’t you see’ you have let those demons torment you into spiritual self-destruction.”

I beg to differ, I don’t think Prof. Finkelstein has lost any sort of “rose bud” or is as deeply damaged as you imply he is. In fact, something his mother once said (which is posted on his website incidentally) that “you have to open your heart to the suffering of others” seems to be one of the adages which guides his work and his actions. Nothing is for free and everything has a cost, you probably don’t see it, want to see it or even admit it but a large degree of Israeli/Jewish American comfort and advantage comes at the expense of the suffering of others, whether that be Palestinian, Arab, Muslim or even the authentic Holocaust survivors who got ripped off and their suffering was used to fuel a racist ideology and line a few pockets along the way. If you’re truly concerned about suffering, fight for those who are at the wrong end of the barrel of the gun or who barely have enough to pay their rent in their old age. As for the demons Finkelstein has to battle or not battle, that is, quite frankly, nobody’s business but his. However from what I can see, he’s one of the most clear-sighted and brutally honest intellectuals out there and “gets it” to a degree that makes most members of the American and Jewish intelligentsia squirm in their seats precisely because he calls a spade a spade and nothing else.

“You think that by bringing down Israel you will find rest? You don’t see some great truth which others don’t’ Norman. You have become an agent of an ideology that generates its seductive energy from evil, not goodness, anger , not love, destruction, not creation (look’ for instance’ at what Fatah and Hamas are doing to each other in Gaza at this very moment).”

Have you ever sat down and REALLY read his stuff? Try it sometime instead of going on pure heresy or gossip. Hell, why don’t you pull a “Finkelstein”? Just like he deconstructed and exposed Joan Peter’s book and Dershowitz’s books, footnote by footnote, source by source, why don’t you do the same to his work and see where that takes you? Finkelstein has never espoused the destruction of Israel, rather, he’s always agreed with the international consensus, that there be a two state solution and the borders of Israel follow the pre-1967 outline. I hardly think Finkelstein is “an agent” for Islamic terrorists and the like. Had he been, the CIA, Mossad and every other covert organization with resources you and I can only imagine about, would have been on his case years ago. That hasn’t happened, has it? The ones who really have ties and are real and legitimate threats are taken out very early, look at Dr. Gerald Bull as a case in point.

Kid, you’ve got to relax, I understand vipassana meditation works wonders.

In the meantime’ do not think for a moment you can intimidate me with your sinister cartoons’ sarcasm and insults. That you spent so much time and effort ridiculing me on your website suggests that you fear my message’ which means that it resonated with you at some deep level’ and that you are deeply insecure in the views you currently present to the world.

I can’t speak for him but it would seem I think he was illustrating at how desperate and pathetic your attempts at vilifying were. And how comedic. Please note I did not say YOU were desperate, pathetic and comedic, I said your editorial was.

All your money (made from what industry exactly Norman?) and your infamy (achieved at what cost to others Norman?) will not intimidate me’ nor cover up for your basic emptiness. You are a bad historian’ Norman’ you are no scholar’ but an activist - a lost man of energy seeking meaning in this world.

Then I guess that would mean Raul Hilberg and Noam Chomsky are also erroneous in their judgments of his work and the both of them are also equally blinded and just as dumb?

Seek help. Go sit by the Sea of Galilee for a week and hopefully you will hear it: your soul. Faint “submerged by mountains of anger and bitterness” but still there. Listen to it’ and with the help of G-D’ it will guide you away from your current state of inner turmoil’ to a healthier place.
However lost, however tormented, you Norman, are a member of the Jewish People, and so you are a part of “Knesset Israel” - that community which is neither a race, nor a nation, nor a religion per se - but which has shaped this world in profoundly important, moral ways, and which has began a new chapter of rejuvenation with the birth of the modern State of Israel in 1948. We are bound to each other by this, the deepest of bonds, and the fact that we are fellow Jews’ gives me hope that you are not entirely beyond help.

I’m not Jewish and I don’t know very much about the religion but based on what little I know of it, much of Judaism as I understand it is based on the idea of “faith in action” and the Jewish concept of peace, or shalom is not a passive ideal, but can only be achieved actively through truth, justice, and mercy, not because it’s the Jewish thing to do or the American thing to do but because it is the HUMAN and MORAL thing to do. It looks to me that Finkelstein is doing exactly that with his work even if he proclaims himself an atheist. He may not be out there chaining himself to bulldozers as they are about to demolish Palestinian villages but he’s doing what he can with his intellectual abilities, through his books, speeches and articles. Finding faith and truth has nothing to do with meditating on remote mountain tops but with what you do when you are dedicated to truth, justice and mercy in order to improve the human condition, bring the civilization forward and alleviate the suffering of others IRRESPECTIVE of color, nationality, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation etc. The funny thing is, the more immersed you are in helping others, the deeper you become within your own faith, whatever that may be. I don’t think you see it and t*h*a*t in my mind is the real tragedy - do you realize how bigoted your last paragraph was?

You’re only willing to help someone out in a spirit of compassion and brotherhood JUST because they’re Jewish but you’re not willing to extend the same compassion to someone who is not Jewish, right?

Has it ever occurred to you that it is precisely this way of thinking, of one group elevating themselves over everyone else and thinking they are better than everyone else and therefore entitled to take whatever they want which is the cause of just about every problem we have on this planet?

Every “ism” which causes an “us vs. them” scenario, nationalism, ageism, sexism, fundamentalism, racism, tribalism, etc. etc. etc. is the source of it when in reality; these are all human-made constructs. At the end of the day, if you physically split open any two human beings, gender aside, they’re all identical.

I suggest you seriously think about what your own biases are, how they were formed, why they were formed, who gains from them, who loses and how useful they really are in getting along with other people.

Good Luck,

BA

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