Monday, May 25, 2009
Update on David A. Wesley
This is a follow-up post to "David A. Wesley: Information or Obfuscation?" I went to hear Wesley when he was in Ann Arbor on March 20, 2009 and I took notes but never got around to writing about what he said. Now, through reliable intermediaries, come e-mail messages from Wesley's wife, Elana, and one "Jeanie Shaterian, Bay Area coordinator and host, 2009 Wesley book tour."
Ms. Shaterian's message was posted to a list but some of her comments were addressed directly to another list member named Steve, who posted to the same list a somewhat altered text of "David A. Wesley: Information or Obfuscation?." Shaterian calls the piece "a total misrepresentation" and chastises Steve for circulating "that old piece of inaccurate innuendo." But when it comes specific criticisms of the +3,000 word post, Shaterian's message is predictably lacking.
Specifically, on May 23, 2009, Shaterian writes:
Second, Shaterian asserts David Wesley's "deep attachment to his adopted homeland (he emigrated to Israel in 1955)... can be called Zionism ..." Elana Wesley does not dispute this.
Third, the substance of Elana Wesley's and Jeanie Shaterian's criticism is seemingly focused on the nature of his problematic relationship with the IATF. So, what did David Wesley say when questioned in Ann Arbor about the IATF? My notes of his response paint a slightly different picture than the one presented by his wife and Shaterian. David Wesley said the assistance of the IATF had been "very valuable" and that "one accepts one's allies" though he indicated that he was the one who initiated contact with the IATF. He acknowledged the IATF was promoting his tour and said he "welcomes that much sponsorship."
So, while there is no evidence I aware of that the IATF "organized" Wesley's book tour (and that has been corrected in the original post), he did seek and receive their "very valuable" assistance. The original error, if error it was (and that now seems to be the case), was based on the fact that the IATF had listed Wesley's book tour as an IATF event on their web site. I provided a link to the relevant page in the original post but that link no longer works.
It would be interesting to know the identity of the mysterious "Jewish philanthropist from Los Angeles" who, contra Shaterian, bankrolled the air fare for the entire trip (David Wesley said it was fifty speeches in three months) to the tune of at least several thousand dollars. What are the connections of the Wesleys' "benefactor" to the IATF, its constituent organizations, and the rest of the US Zionist terrorist infrastructure?
Fourth, and this is probably the most telling point, neither of the messages from Elana Wesley or Shaterian addresses the substance of my or Nimer Sultany's critiques of Wesley's book. After all, he is on a book tour and these critiques makes up the bulk of the post.
In closing, I will address a couple more issues from my notes of Wesley's talk. At one point Wesley addressed the issue of how one identifies the indigenous people of Israeli-occupied Palestine. Wesley said that "out of convenience, probably" he would refer to them as "Arabs" instead of Palestinians. This, of course, disregards the evident preference of Palestinian citizens of Israel to identify as Palestinians. But then why should an American-born Jewish Israeli social scientist concern himself with the preferences of Palestinians?
Wesley described the research behind his book as an "attempt to uncover" the source of pervasive anti-Palestinian discrimination in Israel. He found it "puzzling" that the price charged to Palestinians for land in Israel was three-and-one-half times more than the price charged to Jews. "How could that be?", he wondered. One imagines poor, befuddled Dr. Wesley stumbling around like Mr. Magoo until he suddenly "discovered [sic] the Zionist discourse in Israel." Oh, Wesley, you've done it again!
If only Wesley and his project were as benign as Magoo. As I indicated in my notes, Wesley is a living testament to pervasive anti-Palestinian racism in the so-called peace movement in that so many people (there were 50-60 in attendance when I heard him) would eagerly come to hear a lackluster Jewish scholar who voluntarily left the land of his birth to occupy Jaffa, an ethnically-cleansed city in Israel, talk about something that Palestinians have been complaining about for decades, as even Wesley acknowledges.
During the Q&A, an Arab woman suggested that Wesley was trying to put lipstick on the pig of Zionism and challenged Wesley's notion that foreign-born Jews like himself had an equal claim to the land of Palestine. In true Zionist fashion, Wesley responded that Palestinians only became Palestinians in the encounter with Zionist Jews. This is an idea debunked by Rashid Khalidi in Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness. As Khalidi writes, "it is a serious mistake to suggest that Palestinian identity emerged mainly as a response to Zionism" (p. 20). But then why should an American-born Jewish Israeli social scientist concern himself with the work of a Palestinian-American scholar?
Ms. Shaterian's message was posted to a list but some of her comments were addressed directly to another list member named Steve, who posted to the same list a somewhat altered text of "David A. Wesley: Information or Obfuscation?." Shaterian calls the piece "a total misrepresentation" and chastises Steve for circulating "that old piece of inaccurate innuendo." But when it comes specific criticisms of the +3,000 word post, Shaterian's message is predictably lacking.
Specifically, on May 23, 2009, Shaterian writes:
Dear Steve,The same day, responding to Shaterian, Elana Wesley takes up the cudgel against Henry Herskovitz of Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends:
Thanks for copying the article Nader sent out [link added by PM].
That article on David Wesley is a total misrepresentation. Although he has a deep attachment to his adopted homeland (he emigrated to Israel in 1955), and that deep attachment can be called Zionism, he sees his homeland's only viable future as a nation for all its citizens, a nation whose name will no longer be Israel. His book tour was sponsored by no organizations, least of all the IATF. He was, however keen to speak to people of all political persuasions, especially those outside of the usual bunch who come to Palestine solidarity events. How else do you open minds? David traveled with his wife Elana. They stayed with friends, many of them Palestinian Americans (no hotel bills for nasty organizations to foot), and their airfare came from honoraria at academic and community events. I'm sure he'd be glad to address any concerns you have. He did not come as part of an Israeli PR or hasbara campaign. I'm sure plenty of ISMers can vouch for his integrity.
I'm very sad that you're circulating that old piece of inaccurate innuendo.
Jeanie
Jeanie Shaterian, Bay Area coordinator and host, 2009 Wesley book tour
Dear Jeanie,There are several revealing things to note in these messages. First, Henry Herskovitz did not write most of the blog post in question. The only thing authored by Herskovitz is the 254-word letter, written on behalf of the Middle East Task Force, to David Wesley at the very end of the post. Elana Wesley did not bother to inquire about this, though, and Herskovitz informs me that the Wesleys have still not responded to the letter.
I can't locate the article in Newsweek that is mentioned here. Do you know what is being referred to here?
When Henry first decided that David's trip and talks were being sponsored by the IATF, he stated such an assumption as fact and promptly circulated that totally untrue assumption as fact. The only thing he did to try to clarify - let alone correct - after the fact of that distribution and treatment of his false assumption as fact - was to finally put his assumption as a question at the time of one of David's talks in Ann Arbor which he attended. David responded to his question on the spot, succinctly and unequivocally that the IATF had not sponsored or organized his trip or his talks, and that in his single meeting with Jessica Balaban [link added by PM], who heads that powerful US Jewish conglomeration of organizations, since they have national connections, his only request was that publicity be given to his impending talks, since her affiliated groups exist throughout the US. Jessica willingly agreed to that. David has no bone to pick with that group of organizations, but he does want it made clear that there was no discussion whatsoever of the IATF financing his trip, talks, research, or anything connected with him and his work. He was able to hand Ms. Balaban a copy of his entire US itinerary. Although the answer Henry received was totally clear, Henry never apologized for spreading that false and misleading word, never retracted his words, and never made it clear to his misled readers that he had been mistaken. Henry who envelops himself in a seemingly moral cloak is very quick to accuse and falsely attribute totally inaccurate suppositions as if they were facts, but he is obviously in no hurry to attempt to undo his own irresponsible actions. Based on this contact and experience with Henry and his 'reports' to his readers, I would not trust anything he writes in his 'reports' as if they were facts.
Our overseas airfare was offered to us by a Jewish philanthropist from Los Angeles. No conditions or limitations whatsoever were placed on David or me as to the length, content, geography, audiences, or any other aspect of that trip. We asked to borrow the internal costs of transportation between US cities, intending to use honoraria to return these costs to our benefactor when we arrived in LA. Our benefactor asked us what sum we would need, and when we told him, he immediately and unexpectedly undertook to fund the entire cost of the internal travel as well. The only sponsor of our trip was that lone philanthropist, and we will be eternally grateful to him and his family for their generosity and belief in us both.
No one except Henry on the occasion of one public talk in Ann Arbor has directly confronted David about sponsorship of his trip and his talks. I, as the person who did the overall planning of the trip from coast-to-coast, including insisting that we stay only in private homes and that all those helping us did so on a totally voluntary basis, am in a position to know exactly what happened and what the true situation was.
Since this vitriol and unjustified attempt to place David's work into total disrepute is still making the rounds, might it be necessary to bring Henry to court for libel? Why has he not long since neutralized the lie he disseminated and thus limited the damage he has done?
I would like to make use of the good offices of Anne to pass this notice on to Henry along with all the accompanying comments and articles (including Jeanie's clarification).... Anne, if you have comments of your own to add, please feel free to do so. I would like to also separately receive a copy of what goes to Henry.
David has not yet discussed this situation with me or anyone else, but I take the liberty of giving Henry this one possibility of a public retraction and apology.
My love and blessings to you both,
Elana
Second, Shaterian asserts David Wesley's "deep attachment to his adopted homeland (he emigrated to Israel in 1955)... can be called Zionism ..." Elana Wesley does not dispute this.
Third, the substance of Elana Wesley's and Jeanie Shaterian's criticism is seemingly focused on the nature of his problematic relationship with the IATF. So, what did David Wesley say when questioned in Ann Arbor about the IATF? My notes of his response paint a slightly different picture than the one presented by his wife and Shaterian. David Wesley said the assistance of the IATF had been "very valuable" and that "one accepts one's allies" though he indicated that he was the one who initiated contact with the IATF. He acknowledged the IATF was promoting his tour and said he "welcomes that much sponsorship."
So, while there is no evidence I aware of that the IATF "organized" Wesley's book tour (and that has been corrected in the original post), he did seek and receive their "very valuable" assistance. The original error, if error it was (and that now seems to be the case), was based on the fact that the IATF had listed Wesley's book tour as an IATF event on their web site. I provided a link to the relevant page in the original post but that link no longer works.
It would be interesting to know the identity of the mysterious "Jewish philanthropist from Los Angeles" who, contra Shaterian, bankrolled the air fare for the entire trip (David Wesley said it was fifty speeches in three months) to the tune of at least several thousand dollars. What are the connections of the Wesleys' "benefactor" to the IATF, its constituent organizations, and the rest of the US Zionist terrorist infrastructure?
Fourth, and this is probably the most telling point, neither of the messages from Elana Wesley or Shaterian addresses the substance of my or Nimer Sultany's critiques of Wesley's book. After all, he is on a book tour and these critiques makes up the bulk of the post.
In closing, I will address a couple more issues from my notes of Wesley's talk. At one point Wesley addressed the issue of how one identifies the indigenous people of Israeli-occupied Palestine. Wesley said that "out of convenience, probably" he would refer to them as "Arabs" instead of Palestinians. This, of course, disregards the evident preference of Palestinian citizens of Israel to identify as Palestinians. But then why should an American-born Jewish Israeli social scientist concern himself with the preferences of Palestinians?
- "A 1984 survey found that an overwhelming 75 per cent of Israeli Arabs identified themselves as 'Palestinian Arab', 'Palestinian', or 'Arab' and only 24 per cent as 'Israeli Arab' or 'Israeli Palestinian'." Source: Peacemaking in a divided society by Sasson Sofer, p. 124.
- "Israeli Arabs are beginning to see themselves more as Palestinians ... Forty-six percent described themselves as Palestinians or Arab-Palestinians in Israel, while 21 percent opted for the description of Palestinian Arabs, 9 percent as Arabs and just over 3 percent as Palestinians." Source: "Poll shows Israeli Arabs feel more like Palestinians" Jweekly.com.
- "The intifada had inevitably served to strengthen people's Palestinian identity. The outcome was that today the majority of Israeli Arabs identify themselves as Palestinians by nationality and Israeli by citizenship." Source: "Israeli Arabs: 'Unequal citizens' " by Jonathan Marcus.
- "Virtually all political parties, movements and non-governmental organisations from within the Arab community use the word 'Palestinian' somewhere in their description – at times failing to make any reference to Israel." Source: "Identity Crisis: Israel and its Arab Citizens" by the International Crisis Group.
Wesley described the research behind his book as an "attempt to uncover" the source of pervasive anti-Palestinian discrimination in Israel. He found it "puzzling" that the price charged to Palestinians for land in Israel was three-and-one-half times more than the price charged to Jews. "How could that be?", he wondered. One imagines poor, befuddled Dr. Wesley stumbling around like Mr. Magoo until he suddenly "discovered [sic] the Zionist discourse in Israel." Oh, Wesley, you've done it again!
If only Wesley and his project were as benign as Magoo. As I indicated in my notes, Wesley is a living testament to pervasive anti-Palestinian racism in the so-called peace movement in that so many people (there were 50-60 in attendance when I heard him) would eagerly come to hear a lackluster Jewish scholar who voluntarily left the land of his birth to occupy Jaffa, an ethnically-cleansed city in Israel, talk about something that Palestinians have been complaining about for decades, as even Wesley acknowledges.
During the Q&A, an Arab woman suggested that Wesley was trying to put lipstick on the pig of Zionism and challenged Wesley's notion that foreign-born Jews like himself had an equal claim to the land of Palestine. In true Zionist fashion, Wesley responded that Palestinians only became Palestinians in the encounter with Zionist Jews. This is an idea debunked by Rashid Khalidi in Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness. As Khalidi writes, "it is a serious mistake to suggest that Palestinian identity emerged mainly as a response to Zionism" (p. 20). But then why should an American-born Jewish Israeli social scientist concern himself with the work of a Palestinian-American scholar?
Labels: critical thinking, David A. Wesley, Henry Herskovitz, Israel, Palestine, Zionism
