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Who is Norman Finkelstein?

August 31st, 2009Ali Dahmash (Jordan)

ngf2smNorman Finkelstein, a Jewish American scholar, Political analyst and author of very important books about the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. Norman parents are both survivors of the Holocaust. Norman was influenced by the writings of Noam Chomsky and did his doctoral thesis on Zionism. He is a Peace activist, a defender of Palestinian rights and a pro active speaker for the Palestinian cause. He takes action to the field; he has been touring American & European Universities giving an in depth of the conflict with a balanced perspective. In 2008 he was denied entry to Israel and was returned back on the same flight to Amsterdam. He is banned to enter Israel for 10 years. In 2009 a documentary is expected to be released on Norman, it is called “American Radical: the trials of Norman Finkelstein”. In January 1, 2010, Normal is planning a march to end the siege on Gaza.

“We will march the Long Mile across Erez checkpoint alongside the people of Gaza in a nonviolent demonstration that breaches the illegal blockade,” adding that “We conceive this march as the first step in a protracted nonviolent campaign … If we bring thousands to Gaza and millions more around the world watch the march on the internet, we can end the siege without a drop of blood being shed.”

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It is disappointing that he doesn’t get any attention from Arab media or officials. I would love to see him touring our Universities and addressing our youth but I won’t be surprised if he was harassed by Arab governments as well. Let’s wait for January 1st and see what Mubarak will do?

I haven’t read any of his books but I sure will check the following titles:

THE RISE AND FALL OF PALESTINE: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE INTIFADA YEARS

IMAGE AND REALITY OF THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT

BEYOND CHUTZPAH : ON THE MISUSE OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND THE ABUSE OF HISTORY

You can check his website by clicking here

3 Responses to “Who is Norman Finkelstein?”

  1. Norman parents are both survivors of the Holocaust.

    He, or someone introducing him to an audience in Gaza, probably wouldn’t be mentioning that. The regime there, Hamas, might think he’s a Zionist agent.

  2. Only a naive person would deny the Holocaust. If his parents died or survived this tragedy that doesn’t mean that a person agrees with Israel’s crime and persecution of innocent Palestinian civilians. Hamas is not the best Peace partner and they have committed alot of foolish mistakes but that doesnt make them stupid.

  3. Only a naive person would deny the Holocaust.

    [Hamas] have committed alot of foolish mistakes but that doesnt make them stupid.

    Hamas is naive and foolish, but not stupid?

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