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Israeli Connection
An Israeli professor discusses the way his nation has struggled to survive, and in doing so, has aligned itself with reactionary and brutal regimes
289 pages, Hardcover
Published June 12, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 18, 2022
a very informative book for any one who is interested in the Middle Eastern issues, although I have got this book now almost 35 years after it first published but even then it a very valuable read.
This book deals with the Israeli relationship with those countries which do not recognize Israel or ideologically at odds with her. this work shows us the psychological approach of Zionist state , it discusses the basic philosophy of Israelis ruling elite which always supported the colonial settlement in Latin America or South Africa.
I consider its last two chapters as a must read to know how Israel works
This book deals with the Israeli relationship with those countries which do not recognize Israel or ideologically at odds with her. this work shows us the psychological approach of Zionist state , it discusses the basic philosophy of Israelis ruling elite which always supported the colonial settlement in Latin America or South Africa.
I consider its last two chapters as a must read to know how Israel works
April 14, 2020
The first half of the book is similar to Legacy of Ashes by Tim Weiner, in that it catalogs the many right-wing, authoritarian regimes & opposition forces Israel has supported over the years. The second half of the book focuses on explaining why Israel supports many groups that on first glance seem far removed from being of any concern of Israel, or even in conflicted with the interest of the nation. Strong conclusion demonstrating that support for these groups is far from an aberration of some earlier form of Zionism, but a direct result of an ideology that justifies a colonial project as international colonialism collapses.
January 6, 2024
Published in 1987, on the cusp of the 1st Intifada , the beginning of the end of apartheid South Africa, Israel’s closest ally besides the USA, Taiwan , Chile, Nicaragua. This book discussed the relationship between Israel & these countries & the “alliance “ with South Africa.
What a coincidence to be reading about this 30+ year alliance in 2023, as South Africa’s 85 page International Court indictment , charging Israel with crimes against humanity & the crime of genocide of the Palestinians was released! Whoa 🤯!
Beit-Hallahmi wrote in the beginning paragraphs of Ch.5, An Alliance of Desperation, about Israel & South Africa, how that was the most important part of the book. South Africa supplied Israel with uranium for nuclear weapons, Israel supplied South Africa with the expertise and technology to build nuclear weapons.
The 1st paragraph of the book described the Prime Minister of South Africa visiting the Holocaust Memorial & asked how was that possible; Afrikaners being antisemitic, collaborated with Nazis, & now getting the red carpet treatment in a Jewish state.
Israeli’s vacationed in apartheid South Africa, even during the uprising; South Africans vacationed in Israel. For the Israeli’s, South Africa’s Bantustans reminded them of Gaza, & South African’s seeing Gaza reminded them of the Bantustans .
Beit-Hallahmi quoted a South African description of how they could be antisemitic, while collaborating with Zionist Israelis at the same time. As the rest of the world was protesting against South Africa & boycotting them, Israel was taking up the slack.
Beit-Hallahmi explained how the USA used Israel as a proxy to go places & do things the USA couldn’t be seen & wouldn’t do. Examples; training & aiding S.Africa against Namibia & Angola, Argentina during the Falkland’s war, the Contras against Samoza in Nicaragua, Pinochet in Chile, . Beit-Hallahmi dubbed these, “ pariah states” . Israel was part of this club.
He described the Cold War rhetoric of the 80s, these countries were the bulwarks of Colonialism against the liberation & radicalism of the natives nationalism, which was equated with the spread of Communism , backed by the Soviet Union. The First World was the Colonial Empires , the Second World was the USSR, & the Third world was the developing countries, former colonies of the empire, who were gaining strength.
Israel’s survival depended/s on the Empire, & fighting against decolonization. Israel aligned with Right Wing tyranny around the world against 3rd world “guerrilla” forces. Israel exported not only weapons, technology & training & techniques to these countries, but also their ethos, fighting the other to survive. Whoever the other was.
Writing in 1987, 36 yrs ago, Beit-Hallahmi professed his ideas about the root of the problem being Zionism itself, was a radical idea that needed to be addressed further, as more records were released, and more research was needed.
He also reiterated the effectiveness of the Zionist PR propaganda campaign , as part of the reason the pariah states envy Israel & seek its assistance in fostering favorable relations with USA as Israel has. Especially after the 6 Day War in 1967. But after 1973, Yom Kippur War, many 3rd World countries cut off diplomatic relations with Israel. Those that remained loyal were the Pariah states.
Not mentioned by the author, but instructive to understanding the Milieu of the 80’s regarding the PR was the institutionalization ( Holocaustianity) of “The” Holocaust in 1982 when Israel hosted an international Conference, the “Nazi Hunter “ Simon Wiesenthal became popular, a movie was made about him, followed by the Oscar winning,” Schindler‘s List”.
The year before, 1981, 20 regional fund raising Headquarters for the IDF, FIDF, friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, opened inside the borders of the USA!😳
Even though the USA had always recognized the state of Israel, it had never formally signed any formal diplomatic treaties. The closest thing to a treaty was the Memorandum of Understanding in 1984 . The USA was reluctant to ruffle Arab keffiyehs any further than they already were., preferring instead to play one off on the other, while keeping the USSR at bay.
What a coincidence to be reading about this 30+ year alliance in 2023, as South Africa’s 85 page International Court indictment , charging Israel with crimes against humanity & the crime of genocide of the Palestinians was released! Whoa 🤯!
Beit-Hallahmi wrote in the beginning paragraphs of Ch.5, An Alliance of Desperation, about Israel & South Africa, how that was the most important part of the book. South Africa supplied Israel with uranium for nuclear weapons, Israel supplied South Africa with the expertise and technology to build nuclear weapons.
The 1st paragraph of the book described the Prime Minister of South Africa visiting the Holocaust Memorial & asked how was that possible; Afrikaners being antisemitic, collaborated with Nazis, & now getting the red carpet treatment in a Jewish state.
Israeli’s vacationed in apartheid South Africa, even during the uprising; South Africans vacationed in Israel. For the Israeli’s, South Africa’s Bantustans reminded them of Gaza, & South African’s seeing Gaza reminded them of the Bantustans .
Beit-Hallahmi quoted a South African description of how they could be antisemitic, while collaborating with Zionist Israelis at the same time. As the rest of the world was protesting against South Africa & boycotting them, Israel was taking up the slack.
Beit-Hallahmi explained how the USA used Israel as a proxy to go places & do things the USA couldn’t be seen & wouldn’t do. Examples; training & aiding S.Africa against Namibia & Angola, Argentina during the Falkland’s war, the Contras against Samoza in Nicaragua, Pinochet in Chile, . Beit-Hallahmi dubbed these, “ pariah states” . Israel was part of this club.
He described the Cold War rhetoric of the 80s, these countries were the bulwarks of Colonialism against the liberation & radicalism of the natives nationalism, which was equated with the spread of Communism , backed by the Soviet Union. The First World was the Colonial Empires , the Second World was the USSR, & the Third world was the developing countries, former colonies of the empire, who were gaining strength.
Israel’s survival depended/s on the Empire, & fighting against decolonization. Israel aligned with Right Wing tyranny around the world against 3rd world “guerrilla” forces. Israel exported not only weapons, technology & training & techniques to these countries, but also their ethos, fighting the other to survive. Whoever the other was.
Writing in 1987, 36 yrs ago, Beit-Hallahmi professed his ideas about the root of the problem being Zionism itself, was a radical idea that needed to be addressed further, as more records were released, and more research was needed.
He also reiterated the effectiveness of the Zionist PR propaganda campaign , as part of the reason the pariah states envy Israel & seek its assistance in fostering favorable relations with USA as Israel has. Especially after the 6 Day War in 1967. But after 1973, Yom Kippur War, many 3rd World countries cut off diplomatic relations with Israel. Those that remained loyal were the Pariah states.
Not mentioned by the author, but instructive to understanding the Milieu of the 80’s regarding the PR was the institutionalization ( Holocaustianity) of “The” Holocaust in 1982 when Israel hosted an international Conference, the “Nazi Hunter “ Simon Wiesenthal became popular, a movie was made about him, followed by the Oscar winning,” Schindler‘s List”.
The year before, 1981, 20 regional fund raising Headquarters for the IDF, FIDF, friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, opened inside the borders of the USA!😳
Even though the USA had always recognized the state of Israel, it had never formally signed any formal diplomatic treaties. The closest thing to a treaty was the Memorandum of Understanding in 1984 . The USA was reluctant to ruffle Arab keffiyehs any further than they already were., preferring instead to play one off on the other, while keeping the USSR at bay.
August 16, 2008
disturbing look at Israeli foreign policy..
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews