Gilad Atzmon - Aaronovitch's Tantrum and the Demolition of Jewish Power

Atzmon describes himself as a political artist. He also has called himself "a Hebrew-speaking Palestinian" who plays music for the Palestinian cause. After the prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoðan had cited Atzmon during a debate with Israeli president Shimon Peres, music critic John Lewis wrote in The Guardian: "It is Atzmon's blunt anti-Zionism rather than his music that has given him an international profile, particularly in the Arab world, where his essays are widely read."

Atzmon is opposed to Zionism and critiques what he describes as the “supremacist nature inherent in an ideology like Zionism.” He supports the Palestinian Right of Return as well as the establishment of a single state in Israel/Palestine. Some of his comments have led to accusations of antisemitism and holocaust denial, which he denies, labeling the term “antisemitism” as an empty signifier, holding that “criticism of Jewish nationalism, Jewish lobbying and Jewish power can only be realised as a legitimate critique of ideology and practice.”

Atzmon has disseminated his political views through his performances, speaking engagements and publications. He has been published in CounterPunch, Al Jazeera, Uruknet, Middle East On Line, Dissident Voice, and Atlantic Free Press[4]. Many of his published papers are available on his personal website. He is a co-founder of and contributor to the web site Palestine Think Tank.

Atzmon has engaged in “furious attacks on Israel.”[4] His military service led him to believe that Israel was a “racist, militarised state that was a danger to world peace” and that Israel’s actions “sow hatred throughout the world.” He compares the Israeli brutality to the Palestinians to that of the Nazis, saying that the rockets launched at Israel did not justify the Israeli military killing 1000 Palestinians in Gaza in late 2008, early 2009. He believes that Israel’s attacks “grow progressively more brutal.”

Atzmon extends his criticism of Israel to Zionism and Judaism, including through philosophical texts on Jewish identity discussed by the likes of Noam Chomsky. Atzmon says the military experience of “my people destroying other people left a big scar” and led to his condemnation of “Jewishness” as "very much a supremacist, racist tendency". Atzmon has asked “How is it that people who have suffered so much and for so long can inflict so much pain on the other?” and questions ‘How can Zionists, who are motivated by a genuine desire to return, be so blind when it comes to the very similar Palestinian desire?”

To listen to Gilad Atzmon deconstructing antisemitism
http://ia331409.us.archive.org/1/items/AaronovitchAndCohenVsAtzmon/GiladsIntervention.mp3

To listen to David Aaronovitch reading Gilad Atzmon
http://ia331409.us.archive.org/1/items/AaronovitchAndCohenVsAtzmon/AaronovitchReadinAtzmon.mp3

To listen to David Aaronovitch’s tantrum
http://ia331409.us.archive.org/1/items/AaronovitchAndCohenVsAtzmon/AaronoTantrum.mp3

To listen to Atzmon confronted with an outraged Jewish member of the audience
http://ia331435.us.archive.org/3/items/AaronovitchAndCohenVsAtzmon_521/AsAJewInOxford.mp3

To listen to Aaronovitch confronted with a Jewish member of the audience
http://ia331409.us.archive.org/1/items/AaronovitchAndCohenVsAtzmon/AJewResentsAaronovitch.mp3

To listen to Aaronovitch’s closing remarks
http://ia331409.us.archive.org/1/items/AaronovitchAndCohenVsAtzmon/AaronoFinalWords.mp3

To listen to Atzmon’s closing remarks
http://ia331409.us.archive.org/1/items/AaronovitchAndCohenVsAtzmon/AtzmonFinalWordsInterfer.mp3