We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Zionism’s roots help us interpret Israel today

Click here to access article by Jonathan Cook from his blog. 

This free-lance British journalist who has been based in Nazareth, Israel since 2001, offers an historical background on Zionism which led to the establishment of Israel in the heart of Palestinian territory. He explains how racism, which was a very popular way of dividing up humans until WWII especially among Europe's ruling classes, was the impetus behind the Zionist motivation to establish their own nation. Zionists joined racists all over Europe, including the Nazis, in the effort to establish what became essentially a European colony in the heart of Arab territory. 

I don't think that this was the only motivation for the creation of Israel. Israel has also provided Western nations with a reliable ally to defend their interests in the oil-rich Middle East. Today's government in Israel is clearly supporting the Empire's agenda in the Middle East even against the interests of its peace-loving citizens as argued in today's article by Tony Cartalucci entitled "Who is Israel's Biggest Enemy?".