name: Yuram Abdullah Weiler
Comments and thoughts of an American Muslim on US Foreign policy in the Middle East and the so-called War on Terror,examining the contradictions from a perspective of justice, fairness and human rights.
The Final Solution
30 May, 2007
I was really surprised and somewhat honored to have been listed on the Masada 2000 website along with Melodye Feldman, Norman Finklstein, Noam Chomsky and other critics of the policies of the Israeli Government who are striving for peace and justice in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. To suggest that a man of my age (59) and very limited financial resources could be considered a threat to Israel is beyond absurd, yet someone out there considered my participation in protests last summer against Israel’s invasion of Lebanon to be threatening enough to take my picture and post contact information about me.
I am also surprised that Masada 2000 website has been shut down. As a strong defender of the right of free speech, I believe that censorship of the Internet in any form must be weighed very carefully. In general, I would oppose any attempt to censor a website simply because some found the material posted there to be offensive. The creators of this website have the right to express their ideas and opinions as do I or anyone else, which is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
At the same time, I consider their methodology abusive, irresponsible and ultimately counter-productive to their objective, which I assume is to see a safe and secure Israel, and that cannot happen outside the context of a broader Middle East peace. Many of the individuals listed on the website who are strong critics of the policies of the Israeli government in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, no doubt have the same objective in mind but a different perspective on how to accomplish it. Will the creators of Masada 2000 hasten a secure Israel by using personal attacks and smear tactics?
The website seemed to be a proponent of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, an American who emigrated to Israel in 1971 and founded “Kach,” which was declared a terrorist organization in 1994 by the Israeli government because of its extremist ideologies and its use of violence against Palestinians. Rabbi Kahane was killed in New York in 1990 by another extremist, El Sayyid Nosair.[1] Dr. Baruch Goldstein, another American and a member of Kach, killed 29 worshippers in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron on 25 February 1994 before killing himself.[2] Will the creators of Masada 2000 hasten a secure Israel by embracing extremist ideologies that promote hatred, violence and killing?[3]
The Nazis embraced extremist ideologies that promoted hatred, violence and killing. When they gained power in Germany, they formulated “The Final Solution,” targeting all European Jews for extermination.[4] There is no doubt in my mind that the Holocaust happened as I have personally known two survivors and another who participated in the liberation of the Nazi death camps. As no rational and caring human being regardless of religion would want to see anything like it happen again, the question becomes what can we do to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy. Will the creators of Masada 2000 prevent another holocaust by embracing extremist ideologies that promote hatred, violence and killing?
Suicide bombers have also embraced an extremist ideology. Those who commit these attacks are motivated out of a sense of desperation and injustice. Erroneously, they conclude that the only way to draw attention to their plight is to blow themselves up in the midst of those whom they perceive as their oppressors. They are influenced and manipulated to this conclusion by extremists in the guise of religion just as Baruch Goldstein was influenced and manipulated by Rabbi Kahane. And remember, there were no suicide bombings in Israel before Baruch Goldstein committed his atrocious acts in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.[5]
The best approach to build a safe and secure Israel and to prevent another holocaust is for the principals in the conflict to talk directly to one another. While it is very difficult to talk directly to those who are perceived as the enemy, there is no better way to build mutual trust and understanding. Also, direct communication helps to remove the excuses for embracing extremist ideologies and for using military force, both of which consistently have failed to produce favorable results. Therefore, I see no chance for peace, as long as the leaders of Israel continue to refuse to talk directly to the leaders of the Palestinian people and that must include Hamas. Refusal to talk directly to one another will ultimately lead to more hatred, violence and killing.
And for those who insist that use of military force is the solution, let us compare the recent successes of US military actions in Iraq to what Israel is achieving in the Palestinian Territories.
In Iraq, there is an indigenous resistance movement that opposes the presence of US troops. In the Palestinian Territories, there is an indigenous resistance movement that opposes the presence of Israeli troops.
The US is pouring billions of dollars and thousands of troops into Iraq in an attempt to improve security. Israel is likewise pouring lots of money and troops into the West Bank and Gaza in an attempt to improve security.
The US is trying to wipe out “terrorists” in Iraq, Israel is trying to do the same in the West Bank and Gaza.
The US continues to kill ever-increasing numbers of Iraqis, Israel continues to kill ever-increasing numbers of Palestinians.
The US blamed the resistance on Saddam Hussein, Israel blamed the resistance on Yasser Arafat. Both Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat are dead and yet the terrorists or insurgents or resistance fighters or whatever you want to call them remain. Moreover, a peaceful solution to the conflict remains elusive.
Do creators of Masada 2000 propose to kill every Palestinian and those associated with them in an attempt to achieve a secure Israel? Would that be the “final solution?” What other options are left? Israel has already tried to drive out the PLO and has only succeeded in creating more radical resistance movements such as Hamas and Hezbollah. The repeated Israeli attacks in Gaza and the West Bank have raised the popularity of Hamas to the point that they are now elected officials in the Palestinian government. The numerous Israeli invasions of Lebanon have only served to raise the popularity of Hezbollah and to give it more seats in the Lebanese government.
And for those who think that killing all the Palestinians will solve Israel’s security problems, expect that others will draw parallels between Israel and Nazi Germany. Don’t blame me for the conclusions of others, I’m only protesting in an effort to stop the hatred, violence and killing. And that goes for all sides of the conflict.
By the way, if you do find someone to host your website, here is some current information. The email contact of yehoram@sahafa.com is valid but yweiler@pellsinsurance.com is not, as I have not worked for Pells Insurance since June of 2006. I now work for XP Companies as an accounting clerk, and can be reached at yweiler@xpcompanies.com. Also, while I have attended services at the Colorado Muslim Society, I am not member there. I belong to Al-Mahdi Islamic Center. While my legal name is still Yehoram, I have adopted the name Yuram Abdullah as suggested by the Imam of the Center. And Almanfi (Arabic for the exile) is a nickname, since I feel like an exile in my own country.
Yuram Abdullah Weiler2007-05-30
[1] Jewish Extremists: A Growing Threat to Israel’s Security, Stratfor Website, 17 May 2005 (Accessed 14 April 2007) http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=248549
[2] Terrorism 101 Website (Accessed 14 April 2007) http://www.terrorism101.org/organizations/Kach_Kahane_Chai.html
[3] Steve Niva, Israel’s Assassination Policy, The Trigger for the Latest Suicide Bombings? Counterpunch, 27 August 2003 (Accessed 28 April 2007) http://www.counterpunch.org/niva08272003.html
[4] The Final Solution (Accessed 28 April 2007) http://www.mtsu.edu/~baustin/finlsol.html
[5] Israel’s Assassination Policy, Op. Cit. The first suicide bombing was 6 April 1994.
Comments
To suggest that a man of my age (59) and very limited financial resources could be considered a threat to Israel is beyond absurd, yet someone out there considered my participation in protests last summer against Israel’s invasion of Lebanon to be threatening enough to take my picture and post contact information about me.
Well lets see...Hitler was a failed artist, an ex corporal in the German army and was poor, regarded as a crackpot...Mussolini was a yellow journalist, little money and there are more examples both good and bad. Age has nothing to do with anything, nor does means...written and or spoken talent...the power of presuasion can sway minds. Yuram writes a good deal and it is spreading and he yet he contends he has little influence and or could be a threat?! This is the height of absurdity. Also, the picture on the Masada 2000 site was not taken by agents seeking out Yuram and others of his ilk. Go to the Colorado/Palestine solidarity site and if you dig you can find that picture. BTW, what about the other pic on this blog...was that taken by anti Yuram agents as well? Lastly, Yuram cries and rants about the same thing. I seen the Masada site and while extreme I do not see them advocating genocide, etc on the Arabs in Israel. Maybe it is me...or it could be Yuram's paranoid imagination.
Joe | 03/07/2007, 08:43
It is interesting to note that Yuram thinks that since he is 59 years old and limited means...he has little or no influence or is not a threat. If so...why does he write? Is is just a form of mental mastrubation? Hitler in his book "Mein Kampf writes: "The broad masses of the people can be moved only by the power of speech. All great movements...volcanic eruptions of human passions and emotional sentiments, stirred...by the fire brand of word hurled among the masses(chapter 3). Hitler also writes "the great masses of the people...will easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one". Your words, in speech, printed, electronic, etc have an effect. For you to hide behind age and limited means and say "who me?"...is bullshit.
Caotain Spaulding | 07/11/2007, 10:14
Zionazi is an accurate term.
These people behave and pattern themselves like nazis, but dress themselves in the robes of Judaism.
As a result, all of Judaism is tainted by the few.
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xexon | 31/05/2007, 18:08 [ Reply ]