Hi!
I am doing research on the ideological power of
"neoliberalism." More presicely how neoliberal discourse is used to force Third
World countries to liberalize and to depoliticize their
economies.
I have already read a lot from Stephen Gill and
Robert Cox. Could you recommend me other significant authors and books/articles
on this subject?
Thanks in advance....
Mtra. Yonca Ozdemir
Depto. Relaciones
Internacionales
ITESM
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 1:25
PM
> Hello WSN,
>
> As a recent student of the world, I have
only recently begun to learn about
> the "Israeli/Palestinian
Conflict." Much of the information I have received
> (appreciably)
from WSN has been critical of Israeli policy, and rather
> recently
(earlier in the week) a woman from Cincinnati (a former Lt. Colonel
> in
the Israeli Defense Force) came to our campus in order to speak to some
>
of these issues. Accordingly, I went to hear the talk. There were
many
> critical audience members attending. A group of students were
handing out
> fliers at the door, which they had printed out from Global
Exchange
> (http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/palestine/palestineTopTen.pdf)
> entitled the "Top Ten Reasons to Oppose U.S. Aid to
Israel". The speaker
> claimed that the information contained in the
flier was full of "Palestinian
> propaganda." The flier claims, for
example, that Israel is the "largest
> recipient of US foreign aid in the
world." The speaker claimed this was
> false, that in fact it was
Egypt that was the largest recipient of US aid.
> Could this be a
methodological or definitional discrepancy between the two
> claims?
Another example: in response to an audience member's question, she
>
stated that the claim that Palestinian's are treated as
"second/third-class
> citizens" in Israel is unfounded.
>
>
Unfortunately, I realize that I am approaching these issues with a very
>
limited and relatively ahistorical perspective. The reason, then, why I
am
> writing WSN is so that I might gain some valuable insight from any
concerned
> members of the list: first, regarding the accuracy of the
information
> contained in the Global Exchange flier, second, regarding
the information
> contained in a reaction/response the speaker recently
emailed to a friend of
> mine (pasted below). I look forward to any
responses, suggested readings,
> etc.
>
> Thank you kindly
for your concern,
> Jonathan DeVore
>
>
>
**************************************
>
> Hi Nick,
> I still
didn't get the chance to find all the figures and info that I
> promised
to send to you, but I'll do it within the next few days.
> Here are some
points that I thought you may be interested to consider while
> speaking
up for one side of the conflict:
>
> 1. Palestinian Violence and
the Israeli Response
>
>
a. Today, the 'Tanzim' is the
faction responsible for most
>
acts of terrorism and violence.
This faction is an organ of
>
the 'Fatah', which, in turn, is
associated with the
>
Palestinian Authority. Regrettably, the PA, which is
>
obligated to prevent and
confront terrorism, has instead
>
become an objective of Israeli
counter-terrorist operations.
>
Beyond interdicting terrorist
attacks, and destroying the
>
terrorist infrastructure,
Israeli's counter-terrorist
>
operations are also meant to
send a clear message to those
>
that are responsible for
preventing Palestinian terrorism -
>
that they must fulfill their
obligations without delay.
>
>
b. The activities of the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF) are
>
neither revenge nor
retaliation. Rather, they are ongoing
>
and continuous operations,
which are now carried out with
>
greater intensity in order to
prevent terrorism and uproot
>
its infrastructure. It must be
stressed, that these
>
operations are directed against terrorism, and not against
>
the Palestinian people. Israel
has no intention of
>
'punishing' the civilian population, and certainly no desire
>
of 'retaking' territories that
has already been transferred
>
to PA responsibility. The IDF
is simply carrying out its
>
mission to combat terrorism.
While this occasionally
>
requires Israeli entry into 'Area A', upon the completion of
>
the mission, IDF units return
to their bases.
>
>
c. As far as Israel is
concerned, the PA's capacity to fully
>
control its territories is not
the issue. Even if the PA's
>
control is less than complete,
the achievement of a
>
cessation of terrorism is a direct function of the PA's
>
resolve to confront it. This
resolve is clearly lacking on
>
the part of the PA. Should the
Palestinians prove, in word
>
and deed, that they are
genuinely fighting terrorism, Israel
>
believes that they will indeed
succeed in eradicating the
>
terrorists and their
infrastructure. At such a stage, the
>
parties will then be able to
resume their process of
>
dialogue under peaceful conditions, and return to the
>
negotiating table. This then
constitutes the answer for
>
those who seek a political
horizon in the present situation
>
-- today, the political horizon
consists of a cessation of
>
terrorism, a restoration of
calm and a return to the
>
negotiating process.
>
> d. IDF Restraint - The
Israel Defense Forces have taken upon
>
themselves to limit their use
of military force in the
>
campaign against terrorism.
This self-restraint is due
>
to legal and moral
considerations, as well as a desire to
>
prevent harm to the Palestinian
civilian population
>
uninvolved in terrorism. As a result of this restraint,
>
Israeli soldiers and policemen
are exposing themselves to
>
greater personal danger, and
the State of Israel is taking
>
upon itself a greater national
risk. It would be hard to
>
find any other army or nation
in the world which would act
>
as Israel does in the war
against terrorism. Israel has
>
shown restraint in the face of
rocket attacks on its cities
>
(ie Sderot), gunfire on the
neighborhoods of its capital
>
(ie. Gilo), and the intentional
targeting of innocent
>
mothers and their children on street corners, of youths at
>
discotheques and malls and of
guests at Bat Mitzvah
>
celebrations and bridal receptions. Only an army which
>
adopts moral restraints, and
which operates out of a
>
democratic mandate, can act in such as way -- even when
>
fighting against
indiscriminating terrorists and suicide
>
bombers for which any and all
targets are legitimate.
>
>
> 2. The Saudi
Initiative
>
> It is encouraging that Saudi Arabia has come out
with a plan that in
> effect represents a group of ideas predicated upon
the conclusion of
> a peace agreement and the implementation of
normalization with
> Israel. This in itself is a positive and encouraging
development.
> Naturally, the details of such an agreement must be
determined in the
> framework of the permanent status accords negotiated
between Israel
> and her neighbors.
>
> 3. The Israeli
Internal Debate
>
> There are those who present the internal debate
now taking place
> within Israel as a domestic weakness. However, quite
the opposite is
> true. The internal debate, and the diversity of views
expressed, are
> phenomena that demonstrate the open democratic nature of
Israeli
> society and bear witness to its inner strength. It is
unfortunate
> that no such openness is similarly visible on the other
side. Indeed,
> such candidness could be helpful in promoting
understanding between
> the two peoples.
>
>
Noga
> Noga Maliniak
> Community Shlicha
>
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
> 4380 Malsbary Rd. Suite 200
>
Cincinnati, OH 45242
> Phone 513-985-1520
> Fax 513-985-1503
>
> For 2000 years Jews yearned to go to Israel, how about this
summer?
> The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati offers grants of $3,000 -
$4,000 for
> students to travel to Israel. Ask me for details!
>
www.jewishcincinnati.org
>