I am amused to see that Phil considers the Rosenfeld report to be "radioactive". I read it when it came out and thought it was excellent. Two nights ago NPR's "To the Point" did a full hour on it, with contributions from Rosenfeld (the author), Alan Wolfe (attacking), Michael Lerner and others. It was, to put it mildly, a lively discussion. It seems that nerves have been struck, perhaps on both sides. As for the inclusion of Richard Cohen in the group of progressive Jews who give aid and comfort to anti-Semites, well, I read the Cohen column when it came out and was appalled. So I don't think there is any mistake there. Essentially, Cohen (in the midst of the '06 Lebanon War) looked at Israel's tactics and was so revolted that he decided the founding of the state itself was a 'well-meaning' mistake. That's a textbook example of jumping from a CRITICISM of Israeli policy directly to a delegitimization of Israel itself and basically pulling the plug on an entire people. Way to go, Richard. I might wish to revoke your "right to exist" but I'll magnanimously refrain.
I am amused to see that Phil considers the Rosenfeld report to be "radioactive". I read it when it came out and thought it was excellent. Two nights ago NPR's "To the Point" did a full hour on it, with contributions from Rosenfeld (the author), Alan Wolfe (attacking), Michael Lerner and others. It was, to put it mildly, a lively discussion. It seems that nerves have been struck, perhaps on both sides. As for the inclusion of Richard Cohen in the group of progressive Jews who give aid and comfort to anti-Semites, well, I read the Cohen column when it came out and was appalled. So I don't think there is any mistake there. Essentially, Cohen (in the midst of the '06 Lebanon War) looked at Israel's tactics and was so revolted that he decided the founding of the state itself was a 'well-meaning' mistake. That's a textbook example of jumping from a CRITICISM of Israeli policy directly to a delegitimization of Israel itself and basically pulling the plug on an entire people. Way to go, Richard. I might wish to revoke your "right to exist" but I'll magnanimously refrain.