I chose not to attend because I did not want to appear as endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu, who was to be giving a speech at the ceremony...I treasure my Israeli friends and family, Israeli food, books, art, cinema, and dance. Israel was created exactly 70 years ago as a haven for refugees from the Holocaust. But the mistreatment of those suffering from today's atrocities is simply not in line with my Jewish values. Because I care about Israel, I must stand up against violence, corruption, inequality, and abuse of power.The chief response of Israel's defenders has been silence.
My decision not to attend the Genesis Prize ceremony has been mischaracterized by others. Let me speak for myself. I chose not to attend because I did not want to appear as endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu, who was to be giving a speech at the ceremony. By the same token, I am not part of the BDS movement and do not endorse it. Like many Israelis and Jews around the world, I can be critical of the leadership in Israel without wanting to boycott the entire nation. I treasure my Israeli friends and family, Israeli food, books, art, cinema, and dance. Israel was created exactly 70 years ago as a haven for refugees from the Holocaust. But the mistreatment of those suffering from today's atrocities is simply not in line with my Jewish values. Because I care about Israel, I must stand up against violence, corruption, inequality, and abuse of power.Just as the Left is devouring itself, so is the identity-politics obsessed Zionist movement. One tiny deviation from the party line, and a previous (and current) supporter is thrown to the dogs. How pathological must a political "identity group" be to call someone "vile" who supports Israel, doesn't support BDS, yet simply criticizes the premeditated murder of protesting civilians (under military occupation and blockade). In fact, Portman didn't even specifically refer to the murders, just to "violence, corruption, inequality, and abuse of power". That is an accurate, objective description of the Israeli government. You can support a country and criticize their government at the same time, contrary to popular belief.
Please do not take any words that do not come directly from me as my own.
This experience has inspired me to support a number of charities in Israel. I will be announcing them soon, and I hope others will join me in supporting the great work they are doing.
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen."There will be many such weeks from now until 2025, with the end result an emergence of a multi-polar world that will permanently unseat the unipolar U.S. imperial paradigm.
Comment: Given all the witness accounts collected so far, the OPCW should find no evidence of chemical weapons in the Douma "attack". The Russians have secured the area, so barring pressure on the OPCW from the West (which has happened before), their findings will hopefully corroborate the statements by Douma locals.