Comments on: Don’t let any lobby shut down debate

By: Stepping out of the ghetto at Antony Loewenstein

Stepping out of the ghetto at Antony Loewenstein — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:41:15 +0000

[...] This certainly rings true. Any voice of dissent must be challenged and silenced. Failing that, send in the character assassination team. Thankfully, such a ghetto-mindset is no longer as effective as before (witness the success of the Jimmy Carter book, Mearsheimer/Walt paper and my own book.) What the lobby wants to avoid at all costs is an honest discussion about the Jewish state’s immorality. [...]

By: Israel lobby row continues » | Antony Loewenstein

Israel lobby row continues » | Antony Loewenstein — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 03:07:43 +0000

[...] Following my recent article in the Australian newspaper about the role of the Israel lobby, and the response by Zionist lobbyist Colin Rubenstein, the Australian Jewish News (AJN) last week featured a round-up of the debate (not available online.) This week, the AJN publishes a number of letters criticising my work: [...]

By: The lobby challenged » | Antony Loewenstein

The lobby challenged » | Antony Loewenstein — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 22:31:11 +0000

[...] Following my article in this week’s Australian about the Israel lobby, and the response by AIJAC executive director Colin Rubenstein, the newspaper publishes only one letter today about the controversy: [...]

By: A lobby, not a conspiracy » | Antony Loewenstein

A lobby, not a conspiracy » | Antony Loewenstein — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 13:31:51 +0000

[...] Following local debate over the influence of the Israel lobby, leading US thinker Tony Judt poses the ultimate question in the New York Times: [...]

By: Free speech demands open debate on ‘Israel lobby’ » | Antony Loewenstein

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 23:17:35 +0000

[...] Following my article in yesterday’s Australian newspaper discussing the negative influence of the Israel lobby on US and Australian foreign policy, letter writers have responded today: [...]

By: chicago dyke

chicago dyke — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:27:13 +0000

nicely done, i’ll put some of that up at Corrente. this is a discussion that americans in particular (as those most likely to invade iran) need to be having right about now.

By: Glenn Condell

Glenn Condell — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 07:16:51 +0000

Well said Ant, good on you.

By: Addamo

Addamo — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 04:48:09 +0000

Excellent article Ant.

It’s amzing how some of Mearsheimer and Walt’s critics have gone so far as to even deny te exustence of an Israeli lobby. I mean, for heaven’s sake, there are all kinds of lobby’s in Washington. Does anyone with their head screwed on relaly believe there is no such thing as an Israeli lobby?

Colin Rubenstein’s suggestion that there is an “affinity between Australia and Israel, almost an overlapping destiny”. is very much in the vain of the way APIPAC has tried to frame the US/Israeli relationship - as being one and the same. While a healthy relationship between Australia and Israel should be valued, it is naive to suggest that what the interests of any two countries are not sometimes in conflict.

By: Antony Loewenstein

Antony Loewenstein — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:57:35 +0000

Thanks. This is the first time we’ve released the title of the book in public.
As for Rubenstein’s “overlapping destiny”, perhaps he means two colonial cultures unable to deal with their pasts?

By: edward squire

edward squire — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 00:40:03 +0000

A.L.:

Good article. Well written. More than enough to get people arguing on a number of fronts. Debate is what is important.

Aside:

Colin Rubenstein explained in 2003 that there is an “affinity between Australia and Israel, almost an overlapping destiny”.

Overlapping WHAT?!