New Palestine 'Think Tank'

Posted by John Wilmerding on May 13, 2008 at 8:33pm in Israel and Palestine

I'm posting this for analysis and comment. I would like to preface it by saying I believe in a humanistic form of Zionism, a non-state-driven phenomenon and discipline known as Zionism, a Zionism that does not demand another people be displaced and usurped. So I disagree with this article, but I wanted you to see it and for us mepeace folks to discuss it.

For me, it is an example of why political Zionism must be differentiated from humanistic Zionism.

-- John Wilmerding

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Haitham Sabbah, Mary Rizzo and Gilad Atzmon are very pleased to announce their new site, Palestine Think Tank. It is a site containing news, analysis, art and more to further the cause of justice for Palestinians. It concentrates on many aspects of the resistance, but also focuses on the issues affecting the entire Middle East. Please visit us at:

http://www.palestinethinktank.com

... share this news with those who might be interested, and if you have a blog or site, consider linking to us. We also have a forum for those interested in interactive communication.

Together with us are some of the most insightful and talented writers, activists and artists around. Contributors include Khalid Amayreh, Ramzy Baroud, Adib Kawar, Ernesto Paramo, Wael Al Saad, Nadia Hasan, Iqbal Tamimi, Richard Jones, Nahida Izzat, Razan Al Ghazzawi, Khaled Islaih, Steve Amsel, Ben Heine and many more.

http://www.palestinethinktank.com

It contains both original material and material from other sources that we believe deserves to be considered.

We are people from different backgrounds who live in different countries. We speak different languages and believe in different religions, or even believe in no religion at all.

These differences are not a problem to any of us.

Differences are what makes the world a wonderful place, because everyone is unique. It allows us the possibility to learn more about the world and gain insights we would never have access to otherwise.

Celebrating our differences, we understand that there is a belief that unites us and unites all the people involved in creating this web site. It is the belief that Zionism is wrong.

Zionism is racism. For Zionism to happen, it means the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous people of the land of Palestine. We accept nothing about Zionism as being positive, yet we believe there are some people who don't know exactly what Zionism is, and therefore assume it is something different than an ideology, and therefore, is beyond criticism.

We wish to educate those who don't know what Zionism is, so that they are able to see how damaging it is and how it is a just cause to stop it. We hope that

http://www.palestinethinktank.com

... will be a space for free discussion and wide-ranging analysis.

We believe that the just struggle of the Palestinian people is the greatest liberation struggle of our times, and we aim to render service to their cause through presenting as many aspects of their history, culture and struggle as we can. We intend to give space to many Arab voices as well, since the full realization of the potential of people in the entire Arab world has been hindered for far too long by the "International Community". It is far easier to promote an idea of 'the Arab' that cleanses Israel and the West from all responsibility for the instability and lack of progress that in some cases is evident, than to listen to the complex arguments and reasoning that people from these countries and who understand the history of the Arab World are able to present.

We hope to be able to provide a site full of valid content that is at the service of the Palestinian people especially. Their steadfastness is an inspiration to all mankind, and to those of us in particular who feel close to their cause or are Palestinian, it is a message of love, hope and humanity that we hope we are worthy of.

Content of:

http://www.palestinethinktank.com

... is the intellectual property of the authors. All material that does not appear in this site as the original source will always be credited for authors and source.

The material here may be reproduced elsewhere, but we request that you kindly cite our source, and post a link to the page on:

http://www.palestinethinktank.com

... from where it was taken. We will also build up our links and community as time develops, so that we can all work towards our goal with the energy and imagination required.

http://www.palestinethinktank.com

... contains a forum, which is a space to discuss arguments related to the Middle East. We hope that it will allow all of us to broaden our horizons, engage in constructive debate and present a social network that will be useful to all of us.

http://www.palestinethinktank.com

... will be in two languages, in English predominantly, and Arabic.

We accept original articles as well as suggestions for material published elsewhere.

Palestine Think Tank

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul RETI on May 14, 2008 at 5:15pm: Mary,

Of course I am biased. Are you not also biased? :-)

For now, I'll leave comments to others. :-)

Regarding genes, search the web. There are genetic links not just neurotic (cultural). Some non-Jewish Arabs probably have some of the same DNA markers, so ... :-)

I agree that we have to talk "about ways to work through the struggle in Palestine/Israel...", which I whimsically call Hollyland.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by mary rizzo on May 14, 2008 at 5:20pm: Yes, I am biased. I do try to understand how thing work rather than embrace a bias without being able to explain it. I would really like you to respond to the comments in my post to yours, if you have time and don't mind.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul RETI on May 15, 2008 at 3:09am: Briefly Mary,

1) Do you agree with the definition of Zionism I offer? If not why not? We need to agree a defintion if we discuss what it is and its effects.

2) I am unashamedly biased towards my people. You are biased towards yours. I try to not make false claims on behalf of my people. Nor do I slander others. I do not claim more rights for my people than I do for others.

3) I think that I understand and know and publicly acknowledge most of the imperfections of my people, and understand the effect of Zionism on many non-Jewish Arabs who lived in the British Mandate of Palestine. One result of that was the creation of TransJordan which now is Jordan. By that I do not claim that "Jordan is Palestine".

4) You claim that Zionism is racist. The onus of proof is on those who make the claim! Also do you make any such claims about any other form of nationalism?

5) The Apartheid analogy is basically flawed. The motivations and reasons for apartheid were ideological and had nothing to do with security . Security is the prime motivator of the main reason for the current attempts to separate Israelis (including non-Jewish Arabs) from the would be Palestine.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Khaled Islaih on May 15, 2008 at 4:18am: The security reasoning used by Israeli brain to justify its oppression and injustice against is not going to serve Israeli security or sustainability anymore. It clear that the acceleration of Israeli oppression over the recent years has exposed Israel's fragility and systematic inability to survive.

In the new world of open knowledge, Palestinian have the freedom of knowing (create their own knowledge). They don't have to get authorizations from anyone to know and co-create. Palestinians now have their independent reasoning and logic. More importantly, Palestinian logic might sound irrational for others; This contradiction is acceptable because we are already living in irrational and chaotic world according to new social sciences)).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul RETI on May 15, 2008 at 4:36am: Hi Khaled,

Palestinians (like all other people) have always been free to know and to think. I do not understand why you claim otherwise.

Also could you please explain what "Palestinian logic" is. I though that "logic" was universally common to all mature and adult human beings. It is true though that petulant children have their own logic. Most petulant children do grow up, mature, and learn and join the real world.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Khaled Islaih on May 15, 2008 at 6:18am: In the world of closed systems (industrial era), third world countries including Palestinian people were consurmers of knowledge. They used to import values and worldviews from the West (producers of knowledge) through media, movies education system..etc. they also needed recommendations from world bank IMF UN to implement intiatives through centralized / formal bodies. The situation now is different . It takes few people to start a process of social change in any society. I amazed by the influence of bloggers in the Arab world. They are the thought leaders (knowledge creators) in arab world now. I don't have to go to CNN any more to access information.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Neri Bar-On on May 15, 2008 at 6:48am: ”Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ” ~Margaret Meed

Permalink Reply by Paul RETI on May 15, 2008 at 11:53am: Hi Khaled,

Improved technology and communication and education have benefited most people, not just Palestinians. Yes, Palestinian advocates are using today's technology brilliantly to spread "the message",

Bloggers can be and are influential. They can be and are agents for change. They all have great responsibility to work ethically. Misinformation though is too easy to manufacture. We all must learn to discriminate better.

Most news organisations have some bias and/or not so obvious agenda. With most bloggers the bias is often (more) obvious, and so is easier to "filter".

I am still interested to learn what "Palestinian logic" is. :-)

Permalink Reply by Neri Bar-On on May 15, 2008 at 5:06am: Dear Khaled,

Please notice the complexity of communal Brain, as the Palestinian people are not monolith and even if you support the Katyusha rocket over Ashkelon not all Palestinians recognize it as good action.

Same in Zionist Brain, this metaphor is of a complex phenomena within a group and it contain many views.

This Israeli typical mistake if to think of the Palestinian as monolith community, "all Palestinian understand only power and force" is a well recognized way of expression of that tendency to avoid the understanding that our conflict will not resolve itself in simple solution. some of this kind of thinking are going to be embed in the reaction in Gaza, and I think sadly that this dance of "all Zionists are ..." and "Alll Palestinian are..." is core excuse to use violence,

The value I see in the Brain Metaphor is that it give us the opportunity to think in dynamic evolutionary way instead of revolutionary, as we do not want to kill 7 million people to get peace and it does not matter which side of the fence they live.

I do not think we need to trick the notion of logic and make it subjective (as some post-modern like for their freedom to conclude) Logic is part of the way all human think. There is a notion of Post-Logic that I like, but this is not the same as no-logic. Post logic can recognize the culture effect and the partiality of logic in our Human mind but it should not reject Logic or confuse it with other properties of thinking.

Can you see that when you say about Palestinian "They don't have to get authorizations from anyone to know and co-create" is a core in Zionist thinking. I do not think I am weaken your point if I say that the emerging Palestine has a lot of mirroring of Zionist way of thinking. I see it as natural evolution of the Palestine Brain to manifest itself as who/what it is.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Khaled Islaih on May 15, 2008 at 6:59am: I am referring to conceptual revolutions including green , social, networks, human emergence, global demographic shifts, human economy, globalization...etc. All these forces are undermining the survivability of closed systems (such as traditional states).In other words, transnational forces are now influencing realities and developments in any country. Therefore, national sovereignty is now melting down. Accelerated transformation and changes led by these global forces (beyond the control of any individual country) will determine the future of many countries (including Israel /Palestine)

As for logic, I think that we need an open logic neither closed nor linear. More precisely, what might sound rational for me might sound irrational for you. Diversity of consciousness is needed to gain better understanding of the reality. I don't think the structured logic (of the industrial era) is relevant for our networked brain.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Neri Bar-On on May 15, 2008 at 9:17am: I totally see what you are saying, it will take me some time to adjust (as some of your statements read "closed system" to me).

I think that the "post logic" (what Ken Wilber calls vision-logic) is a stage in development process

while the modern, post modern patterns of thinking were stages in the development of our capacity to know oursleves and our world. the vision-logic - post rational, post logical pattern is just emerging and we need to learn and embody it.

some of the thing you say sound as replacing one box (logic/modern) with another box (post-modern) while other things are clearly reflect that to replace the "box thinking" of our time we need to acquire the knowladge of complexity and emergence as we live in an emergent Kosmos.

hope I make sense to you about this.