How I Inspired the NY Post to Embrace Israel's Destruction

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Ahead of my book event tonight at Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim, the New York Post named my book – What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried To Kill Your Wife? – as a “Must-Read.”
The book in question chronicles my reconciliation with the Palestinian family of the bomber who perpetrated the 2002 Hebrew University attack – an attack which injured my wife and killed the two friends with whom she was sitting.
Clearly, my book is a work aimed at promoting the destruction of Israel. Clearly, it’s an anti-Semitic manifesto with one goal: the downfall of the Jewish state. After all, what else could a book about peace and reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians be trying to do, other than promote anti-Semitism?
Which is why a writer for the Times of Israel, upon the NY Post naming my book a ‘must-read,’ asked the following question:

Is the New York Post Supporting the End of Israel?

It’s a good question. Is the New York Post promoting the end of Israel? The writer at TOI brought some compelling proof: a) people of ‘questionable character’ have praised my book on Amazon, b) I’ve criticized Israel in my political writings in the past, c) something about me being a self-hating Jew, which I didn’t quite understand, but obviously has legs given I humanize Palestinians, rather than view them as a caricature of evil.

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Clearly, such bombastic charges mirror a predictable trope used by those who, viewing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a zero-sum game, resort to the ‘anti-Semitism’ charge to shut down dialogue and debate.
It is a trope that appears all too often, for the anti-Semitism charge can be a powerful one. Unfortunately, it has become so diluted by those who use it as a political scare tactic that it has come to mean little more these days in political discourse as, I am scared by your politics.
That’s unfortunate, for anti-Semitism a very real danger which persists, and such usage dilutes its meaning. More importantly, though, such usage continues to be used as a way to leverage damaging accusations in the name of political ‘victory.’
It’s not so dissimilar from what the Tea Party did recently during the government shutdown: they were willing to damage the United States economy, as well as its scientific and social institutions, in order to promote their unsustainable and extremist political demands. In essence, it was a destructive tantrum.
So too, these days, are such charges of anti-Semitism: they are politically-motivated tantrums which are destructive. And in the end, like the Tea Party, they will be revealed for what they are: unpalatable perspectives that stand outside the mainstream.

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David Harris-Gershon is author of the memoir What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?, now out from Oneworld Publications.
Follow him on Twitter @David_EHG.

0 thoughts on “How I Inspired the NY Post to Embrace Israel's Destruction

  1. [Note from Admin: The comment in question was found in our system’s automated spam filter, which occasionally happens unintentionally and may go unnoticed. Longer responses and repeated attempts at submission are more likely to get marked. As our comment policy states: Our commenting system includes automated spam and reviews by our editorial staff and web team, but our lack of staff often means we are slow to notice comments that violate this policy, and we invite your feedback: if you feel you or your comment have been unfairly blocked, or if you feel a comment is inappropriate and ought to be removed, please contact us.
    In the future, alerting us to such issues via email may bring about a speedier response and solution. We have marked the comments which were blatant attacks and allow this dialogue to stand.]
    David,
    I hope that you will let me respond here to you in the name of what you call “respectful discourse”…
    As you are well aware I am the furthest thing from a Teahaddist out there and as you are well aware I was the co-founder of the “Jews for President Obama” Group at Daily Kos. So please if we could do away with the this comparison at the start that would be helpful.
    NOW, on to the article.
    David, I offered some points in the article that I think it would make sense for you to answer, and your response does not answer those questions.
    The compelling proof that you support the elimination of Israel is simply that you support the BDS Movement that (even in the words of Norman Finkelstein) represents the elimination of the State of Israel as it was formulated. NOW… you claim to support the Two State Solution, however BDS posits that even in a Two State Solution there is also recognition of the so-called “Palestinian Right of Return” (something I do not acknowledge exists) to pre-1967 Israel. IF that happens what do you think happens to Israel? You would have a State known as Palestine AND a State known as Israel with a Palestinian Majority. How does that square with a true Two State Solution? So given that do you support recognition of “Palestinian Right of Return”?
    Also, you misrepresent my comment regarding “questionable character”. In that instance, known anti-Semite and Holocaust denier Greta Berlin supported your book. YET in the responses to the review, you only chose to criticize the critical review of your work. You simply allowed the Berlin endorsement to stand. This is something that occurs throughout your work. When anti-Semites and other bigots support you, you do nothing to disavow that support. But when you are criticized (as here) you generally respond in non-specific ways to legitimate criticism. All I and others are asking is WHY won’t you stand up to the anti-Semitic and hateful comments that your articles and diaries seem to engender?
    Finally… I quoted you directly in my Times of Israel Piece. You have never responded to that. Just what did you mean when you made a comment that could be something straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion? So I will ask you here Do you really believe that the American Polity is riddled with congresspeople that are more loyal to Israel than to their own country?
    See.. there is nothing disrespectful here. My feeling is though that you won’t answer with specifics because A) That will either prove my point that you are calling for the elimination of the State of Israel as it was formulated (to be the National Homeland and State of the Jewish People) OR B) That in denouncing the goals of the BDS movement you will lose readership.
    David, ask yourself this question though… Do you really think Peace is going to come from the people who support maximalist demands that Israel cease to exist?
    See David, I lived in Israel also and went to Hebrew U. and I think there is nothing wrong at all with seeing the Palestinians as they are… People, just like you and I. There is nothing inherently evil there, no one ever said there was (at least I never said there was). So, please can we drop this sham.
    I am hoping you will dialogue and clear up these questions for all to see…
    Thanks… .
    Jon Segall

    • I, for one, certainly hope that Mr. Harris-Gershon has the integrity to directly respond to the very reasonable questions asked of him by none other than the man that he has built this entire blog post around.
      Mr. Harris-Gershon can strongly swing his keyboard at strawmen, but can he hold his own against the actual, real-life objects of his smears?
      The answer, so far, is clearly a resounding “no.”
      I am no friend of Mr. Segall, to say the least, but the only ‘tea’ either of youze have shown so far has come from Mr. Harris-Gershon. And the latter’s is very, very weak.

      • I agree with Jon and everyone here.
        Like Jon wrote in his article this Harris guy “consistently writes articles that could be written by Hamas’ Editorial Team.”
        Wasn’t his wife blown up by Hamas? This guy is a terrorist himself!.

        • He is not a terrorist. Let’s not cheapen that word.
          He is, however, an active enabler of antisemites, an anti-Israel fanatic, and a man who’d claim not to see antisemitism in the painting of swastikas on a synagogue if saying so could possibly help him sell a book or two.

          • Cheapen the word? Wha? You don’t agree w Jon that he’s Hamas? Jon said he basically writes for Hamas — they’re terrorists. I agree with Jon.
            He wants Israel gone, like you said Jay. He loves swasticas.

          • Ben, I never said that David was Hamas. Never. What I said was that David’s writing could be mistaken for writing coming from the Hamas Editorial Team. First of all, David is not Muslim so he could not be part of Hamas.
            Please do not speak for me Ben – I DO NOT see that David is Hamas. I said that his writing is LIKE SOMETHING that could come from Hamas. There is a very big difference in that.

          • Oh so you’re backing down? Come on Jon don’t play games you WROTE that David’s writing is like HAMAS and he wants to “eliminate” Israel. Your words! What’s different between him and HAMAS? Nothing as you wrote!
            Who’s pressuring you why you backing down? You don’t think he’s like Hamas? Man up dude an own your words!

          • Why look folks… it’s Celtic Merlin from Daily Kos come to grace this article AND try to distract from the legitimate questions regarding the work of Harris-Gershon.
            Just one question I have Merlin… well two… the first is WHY are you pretending to be a RWNJ and proposing the most preposterous things?
            Second, WHY are you continuously trying to distract from the question at hand? Why do you think it is so bad that DHG answer the question?
            But anyway, CM rather than lie about my words, let’s quote them exactly – here they are from the TOI:
            “Ok… well it is that, but, it is also the author who is strong supporter of the Eliminationist Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel, and who consistently writes articles that could be written by Hamas’ Editorial Team.”.
            Notice the term “articles that COULD be written by….” NOT “articles written by…..”
            Anyway, “Ben” (or shall we drop the pretense Merlin) – why are you trying to distract from the question here because, no one but no one except for you has claimed that DHG is Hamas.

          • Jesus H. Chirst I can’t believe you I came here to comment after loving your Israel Times article and for speaking truth to power on this Gershon asshole and now you turn into some weak ass whiny little schmuck who can’t stand up for writting of yours.
            Yeah I just read your quote and its ecactly what I been sayin that he’s just like Hamas and wants “elimination” of Israel. Now you quote it and pretend you don’t say it I can’t believe you your like a little boy who can’t be man enough to admit what you done.

          • LOL Uh-HUH… I just bet.
            Anyway Merlin – why are you trying to distract from Dave answering important questions? I own everything I said – I am not trying to hide. I said what I said and I stand by that. The fact that you can’t understand that is not my problem. ANYWAY, why do you feel the need to distract from the point of the article. DHG does stand for the elimination of Israel through his support for BDS. He constantly vilifies Israel in his writing, he panders to anti-Semites and he engages in the anti-Semitic canard of claiming “Dual Loyalty” of American Congresspeople.
            What I never said was that David was Hamas. NOW… “Ben”… if you can’t understand that and if you can’t understand what I am saying, that’s your problem at this point because honestly it’s been explained to you. Not my issue that you can’t figure it out.

          • As much as it pains me…;-) I have to agree with Jay here. David is NOT a Terrorist. He may sympathize with certain goals they have, and he may enable anti-Semitic rhetoric, BUT… there is no proof that David is a terrorist nor that he belongs to an organization that practices terror.
            Let’s be clear here.

          • I think he’s a terrorist because I agree with what you wrote!!!!!!!!!!!
            You wrote he’s like HAMAS and wants Israel gone! So he’s a terrorist too just like you wrote. Or a terrorist simpathizor!
            Own your words, man. Don’t be no push over.

          • Not being a “pushover” Ben… Just being honest.
            There is a difference between sympathizing with certain goals of terrorists, and enabling anti-Semitism AND being a terrorist themself and being a member of a Terror Organization. I am certain that David has not committed an act of terror nor is he a member of a terror organization. I am sorry that you cannot see the difference but in my mind there is a complete difference.
            My exact words were that David’s writing was like SOMETHING THAT COULD come from Hamas’ Editorial Board. And it is exactly that. However it is NOT something that DID come from Hamas’ Editorial Board (which as far as I know is just a snarky thing that I made up).
            Please don’t add hyperbole to what I am saying. If I wanted to be hyperbolic I would have been. Ben, IF you want to quote me, please quote me accurately. Thanks.
            Anyway… rather than discuss this, perhaps we should focus on the main point is that in David’s non-response to me he does not clarify a single one of his positions and I think that is telling.

          • Fine, whatever. You think David COULD BE a member of HAMAS and wants to “ELIMINATE” Israel as an “anti-Semite” and “Kapo” who loves Nazi simpathizors!!!!!!!!!!
            ALL YOUR WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
            So call him a terrorist or LIKE a HAMAS terrorist. Whatever. It’s all the same. But you don’t want to own it? So typicall.
            Oh and why the bloody hell would this Gershon guy bloody respond to you? You called him HAMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
            Forget him. Worry about why you can’t own your truth you write.

          • I’m curious Merlin… Why are you trying to distract from the question at hand? Are you afraid of what DHG will actually say?

          • Who the f*@ is Merlin you callin’ me a gay ass wizzard or something for challening you to be a man? Bloody effing hell you turned into a nothing in a hurry, .

    • Keep up the good fight Jon. Don’t back down! Like you said in your article Gershon-Harris “consistently writes articles that could be written by Hamas’ Editorial Team.”
      Nail on head, buddy. This guy wants to destroy Israel. I hope all see your truth.

      • Good call, Jon. I’d note that Celtic Merlin’s time would, of course, be better spent at Rense.com, and other such places, but then I remembered Michael Lerner’s Tikkun Daily actually fits right into that slot, at least as long as this place continues to link to the antisemitic hate site Mondoweiss, and continues to publish David Harris-Gershon, etc etc…

        • Jay…. Yeppers….
          Interesting my last comment was edited out… So I will repeat it.
          “Ben” is pretty obviously CM posing as an RWNJ because for some reason he thinks I will agree with him because to him I guess he thinks that all Jews and Zionists are alike and he doesn’t understand that there are different strains of Zionism. How do we know he is CM? Because his line of attack is exactly the same as it is on DKos… Of course CM is not the “brightest bulb on the tree” so….. there is that.
          What I can’t figure is just WHY he is trying to distract from Dave answering the basic questions like:
          1. Where does he stand on the issue of Palestinian RoR?
          2. Why does he engage in the anti-Semitic “Dual Loyalty” canard?
          3. Why does he enable anti-Semitic commentary and never confront the many anti-Semites that engage in his articles? Particularly when they defend him?
          4. Why does he call himself a supporter of BDS and why does he quote Judith Butler and then claim to be a supporter of Israel and the Two State solution?
          And now… Why is “Ben” errr CM trying to distract from him answering those questions?

    • Thank you for making my point. Please proceed. I have a sense that by the time you’re finished, your comments (and those of others) will serve as fantastic supports for the central premise of this piece.
      Cheers!

  2. David,
    I notice how you immediately delete the intelligent moderate comments that oppose you but leave the virulent ones. It is positively Macchiavellian.
    There was one very reasonable and well articulated comment here that you just deleted.
    Be advised that I have been saving screenshots of the comments you delete. I will send them to Terri Gross et al. if/when necessary. Your best bet is to stop trying to pretend that reasonable, moderate, liberal oppositon to you doesn’t exist, and instead to start engaging with it honestly.

    • A) Please – PLEASE – send such matter to Terry Gross. I know she’d be interested, and would love to be on with her.
      B) Any comment violating site rules can be deleted by the site’s editors or myself, and often are. It’s a tag-team effort. thanks for noticing.
      My guess is most comments deleted violate this clause:
      Wishing for respectful dialogue that invites participation in a collaborative, empathic community, we will delete any comments that are abusive, off-topic, or include personal attacks.

      • David…
        There were no personal attacks in the comment that I sent. I would be happy to reproduce it for all to see. Will you let that happen?

      • Also… out of curiousity…
        IF this: “Wishing for respectful dialogue that invites participation in a collaborative, empathic community, we will delete any comments that are abusive, off-topic, or include personal attacks.” is the case then WHY in the world would you allow Bill’s comment above?
        That is both “abusive” and contains “personal attacks”. Meanwhile my comment respectfully asked questions regarding an article that you were RESPONDING to both here and and Daily Kos.

  3. I agree SFC.. .I tried to post a very moderate response to David’s article but he doesn’t seem to want to let that post. I am not sure why. YET someone else posts a strident, hateful response and that one gets play.. It is almost like Tikkun Daily doesn’t want to let anyone see a moderate or truly liberal response to David. Interesting that.. wouldn’t you say?

  4. Oh Pul-lease David. NOW you’re removing comments that are in violation??? What about all of those borderline Himmlerian comments from Monir? You have never indicated an objection to those.

    • Only ‘borderline?’
      Monir actually does us all a favor by making very clear the types of people who are enabled by this gentleman’s writings, as opposed to the kinder, gentler, sneakier, watered-down antisemitism allowed, approved and encouraged in the comments of his diaries at places like Daily Kos.

    • This guy is a fraud! Jon is right that he is Hamas. Only a terrorist would want Israel dead and hide comments of those who want it live.
      We need more poeple to see what JON SEES that DAVID IS HAMAS, like he said in his Israel Times writing!

      • Ben please do not say that I am claiming that David is Hamas… I am not claiming that. I am claiming that David’s writing is similar to writing that would come from Hamas.
        There is a difference. Let’s be clear.

      • Hey there “Ben” aka Celtic Merlin. You are the only one talking this nonsense about Hamas. The rest of us are just pointing out that Gershon is lying when he simultaneously claims to support BDS and Judith Butler on one hand, and the two state solution on the other, as these are fundamentally incompatible. Also we point out that he cultivates the support of both hardcore Holocaust deniers like Greta Berlin and lefty peaceniks, and the contradictions are starting to catch up with him. Your efforts to try to deflect are not working.

  5. When one stands with the enemy, one is the enemy. Are people who want to see Israel as the only Jewish state destroyed? You betcha.

  6. David: While some of the comments here are totally off the rails and unworthy of response, Jon’s first comment is serious and deserving of a response. Your failure to do so warrants an inferences that he is correct.

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