Articles for October 2015

Defamation

The Middle East
Published on

Created on Thursday, 25 July 2013 11:19

What is antisemitism today, two generations after the Holocaust? In his continuing exploration of modern Israeli life, director Yoav Shamir (Checkpoints, Flipping Out) travels the world in search of the most modern manifestations of "the oldest hatred" and comes up with some startling answers. In his irreverent quest he follows American Jewish leaders to the capitals of Europe, as they warn government officials of the growing threat of antisemitism. He also joins a class of Israeli high school students on a pilgrimage to Auschwitz.

Opinions often differ and tempers sometimes flare but in Defamation we find that one thing is certain: only by understanding their response to antisemitism can we really understand how Jews today, and especially modern Israelis, respond to the world around them.

Related:

Israel Shahak – Jewish History, Jewish Religion

Ilan Pappe: History of Israel – Stolen Land Of Palestine

The General’s Son – A Lecture by Miko Peled

Occupation 101

The Middle East
Published on

Created on Thursday, 25 July 2013 10:13

Occupation 101 is a thought-provoking and powerful documentary film about the current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unlike any other film ever produced about the conflict, Occupation 101 presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths surrounding the never-ending controversy and dispels many of its long-perceived myths and misconceptions.

The film also details life under Israeli military rule, the role of the United States in the conflict, and the major obstacles that stand in the way of a lasting and viable peace. The roots of the conflict are explained through first-hand on-the-ground experiences from leading Middle East scholars, peace activists, journalists, religious leaders, and humanitarian workers whose voices have too often been suppressed in American and other media outlets.

The film covers a wide range of topics which include the first wave of Jewish immigration from Europe in the 1880s, the 1920 tensions, the 1948 war, the 1967 war, the first Intifada of 1987, the Oslo Peace Process, Settlement expansion, the role of the United States Government, the second Intifada of 2000, the separation barrier and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as many heart-wrenching testimonials from victims of this tragedy.

Islam: What The West Needs To Know

The Middle East
Published on

Created on Thursday, 25 July 2013 11:08

Islam: What The West Needs To Know discusses the definition and use of violence in the Koran. One of the fundamentals within Islam is called; Nasikh or al-Nasikh wal-Mansoukh. "al-Nasikh wal-Mansoukh" (the Abrogator and the Abrogated) means that in situations where verses contradict one another, the early verses are overridden by the later verses. The chronological timing in which a verse was written determines its authority to establish policies within Islam.

It is purported that the Quranic verses that promote equality, peace and justice are more often than not overridden/nullified by later verses that validate such things as murder, terrorism and legalistic restrictions on routine human and women's rights.

This movie explains much of the existing doctrines.

 

The Fundamentalists

The Middle East
Published on

Created on Thursday, 25 July 2013 11:12

To most people, the word "fundamentalism" conjures up images of terrorism. This documentary explains how this phenomenon with its complex history is rife in many of the world's religions and how its intention is to impose a single truth on a plural world.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3