Dershowitz: Speak up about Israel's positive points, too

Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz said Sunday that Israeli public figures should always make sure to mention the 80 or 90 percent of fundamental principles that they agree on regarding Israel and not only the 10 to 20 percent they disagree about.

Speaking to the staff of The Jerusalem Post, Dershowitz warned that Israel's enemies pounce on the criticism that Israeli figures level against their own country and use it as ammunition in their attacks. "My message is to please always restate the consensus points of agreement," he said.

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Regarding Israel's standing in the world, Dershowitz warned that international law is now being used against the US and Israel and called on the US to lead the fight to revise "archaic" international laws and conventions. "Terrorists are cynically manipulating them," he warned. "These laws and conventions deal mainly with armies in uniform and sharp differences between combatants and civilians. Today, they are used tremendously to the advantage of the terrorists."

He said that Israel could win the battle for public opinion in the United States, because there was no real anti-Semitism in America. The problem, there, he said, was mainly one of ignorance. Most Americans don't know anything about the country but are open to learning, assuming that Israel knows how to get its message across. Unlike in Europe, where there is anti-Semitism, "we can win big in the US."

Dershowitz said that he has no trouble defending most of Israel's positions, even though he does not always agree ....
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http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1071979693517

hey mr Dershowitz? Well sorry for not going along with this kind of mentality. Some of us know better.

Certainly the message should not be construed as such. What positive things do you know about Israel?

Liberal laws, friendly people (personal experience), admire people like writer Avnery, sympathize with Gush Shalom. Because I don't agree with Sharon and his policies it doesn't mean I don't see the "other" Israel and it's people.

Absorption of some 700,000 Ethiopian immigrants, some who were facing starvation and discrimination in their homeland, over a million immigrants from the former Soviet Union, who likewise were under distress and discrimination of a religious nature. Even helping to open up the FSU to democracy.

I am not ignorant about that Gimel. I have no problems giving Israel credit where it deserves...

"The problem, there, he said, was mainly one of ignorance. Most Americans don't know anything about the country but are open to learning, assuming that Israel knows how to get its message across."

It's difficult to understand why Dershowitz is complaining insofar as Alan is doing his level best to keep Americans ignorant about the Middle East by lying, plagerizing and deceiving in order that we continue to hand over $6 billion per year to Israel.

http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/id143.htm

Indeed, making false claims like this $6 billion per year to Israel{/i] is one of the problems.

Source: http://www.wrmea.com/html/us_aid_to_israel.htm

I have heard and read various figures (last night on 60 minutes, the figure of 6.2 billion was provided, and I'm sure there are various ways to interpret what is given to Israel --- it is a very big number), but none of that adds to Derschowitz's credibility which is nil.

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although that cartoon could have included a lot of other statesmen from the west as well with large amounts of WMD. But I guess we shouldn't fear them, right?

democratic countries with nukes scares me a whole lot
less that reactionary oppressive regimes with nukes.

Call me crazy...

:beer:

:boring: