Zion or Bust! הר ציון صهيون

Because of increasing continual Israeli settler violence in Palestine-Israel and recent war & massacres in Gaza of more than 400 children and 600+women and men Ignoring occupation was born. It is an offshoot website of Pitcher (Pundits ignoring human, civil and essential rights) Ignoring Occupation has created a list of the pundits, organizations, politicos, video games and individuals who continue to ignore the 41-year-old occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem which began during the Six Day war in 1967 when Israel captured and conquered the now occupied Palestinian territories from Jordan and Egypt, Golan Heights from Syria and Sheba Farms from Lebanon. The Sinai was also conquered by Israel and illegal settlements were built across the peninsula as rightwing Zionist and religious groups within Israel placed pressure on governments to promote the growing Israeli Settlement Movement in the early 1970s spearheaded by the hardline Gush Emunimum in 1972. Ignoring Occupation looks at the Israeli occupation, Palestinian culture, pundits support for rightwing policies and its consequences on the lives of Palestinians as a peace deal seems unreachable this year. From campus organizations to news pundits dehumanization of the Muslims world and countries are ignored while stereotypes about Arabs and Africans persist. Dehumanization of Palestinians and Iraqis justify Israel and America's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, occupied Iraq or support illegal settlements (International Law states no occupying power shall move its own citizens to occupied territory) and increasing settler violence against Palestinians, their olive orchards & farmlands and peace organizations.
It also leads to retaliation by terrorists groups (or militant groups depending on one's view) through rocket fire targeting Israeli cities i.e. Sredrot bordering Gaza Strip suffocating and dying under Israel's and U.S. backed siege after Palestinins elected Hamas to the Palestinin government in 2006 presidential elections across occupied Palestine. The reason for electing Hamas was cited by ordinary Palestinians time and time again but ignored by the pundits and mainstream media, corruption within the long ruling Fatah government and party. Despite Democracy, ordinary Palestinians have bore the brunt of Hamas' election alongside Israelis bearing the brunt of rocket fire from Gaza. Ignoring Occupation commends the rocketfire on Israel but also condemns the Israeli-U.S. supported Siege against innoncent Gazans men, women and children. Right to Education for Palestinian children who are denied freedom of movement and basic access to their schools and universities because of the 600+ roadblocks and checkpoints. This is an ongoing project and hopefully its not censored...

Zion of the Times

Zionism originally began as a national movement under Austrian journalist Theodore Herzl in the late 19th century to promote a "national homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine." The idea of a homeland for the Jewish people began out of the long and unabetting history of antisemitism across Europe from Russia to England and Ireland from the time of Christ to now. From Ancient Rome until Herzl's day, Europe's large Jewish community had experienced negative stereotypes, pogroms, massacres, confrontation between its gentile neighbors and dehumanization of Jews in European society, daily life and culture. Negative and derogatory stereotypes from Europe's Medieval Era portraying Jews as money launders, Christ killers and controlling the world fueled paranoia, hatred led to irrational violence against them by their Christian and pagan neighbors with occurring consequences today. The Crusades (1066-1245 AD) exacerbated antisemitism promoting paranoia among ordinary people of society often encouraged by their kings, queens and dukes, etc who considered Jews enemies within Europe since Jews outside the continent lived across the Islamic world in Egypt, Byzantium (Turkey), Uzbekistan, Iraq (Mesopotamia until 1917), Ethiopia, etc. While Jews experienced antisemitism in Christian Europe prior to the Enlightenment (which didn't halt antisemitism or stereotypes but guaranteed Jews rights)in Spain where they contributed to intellectual life, culture and philosophy during the Dark Ages. who blamed Jews for everything from societal ills to financial troubles. This stereotype, "The Jews are responsible for all our ills" promoted by German historian Heinrich von Treitschke would be used again throughout Western history (including the U.S.) by religious leaders such as Martin Luther notorious for promoting antisemitism in many sermons to political leaders the Romanov Dynasty. The most horrific antisemitism, violence and massacres against Jews occurred in Tzarist Russia and Eastern Europe specifically Poland where these ancient reoccurring stereotypes and hatred helped to promote the fear and view that Jews were outsiders in Europe. Despite living across the continent, diversity and promoting culture wider European society for centuries. While Zionism was a response to the Dreyfus Affair. The word Zionism was first coined by Nathan Birnbaum

Nathan Birnbaum

Nathan Birnbaum's Confessions on Zionism and nationalism's linkage to Judaism

Who is a Jew?

Myth of Palestine as a "Land without a people"

Lord Shaftesbury
The man who some historians regard the inventor of the Zionism's mantra, "Land without a people for a people without a land."

Israel Zangwill
Consideredas man who gave a push to Shaftesbury's phrase within the Zionist movement.

Differences between Judaism and Zionism

The Zionist Story: History of Zionism its relations to Palestine-Israel

The Promised Land? Part 1

From Al Jazeera English. A special series examining the origins, violent creation, and modern-day reality of the state of Israel through the stories of individual Israelis. Episode two, Conflict, looks at how the still small Jewish population succeeded in defeating a far larger Palestinian population and asks if a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing was employed.

The Promised Land? Part 2

The Promised Land? Part 3

Zionism's origins in Israel-Palestine Conflict

*A balanced film however...The film refers to Palestinians as Arabs prior to 1948 which was common in many Western countries and official colonial rule. Earlier Palestinian history before 19th century is also overlooked, its a general textbook history of Palestine with emphasize to European and Jewish concerns. It also suggests that Palestinians immigrated to the land in 19th century which was not true...Palestinians (Muslims, Christians and Jews, Armenians, Druze) lived in Palestine for centuries prior to 1900s.

Israel-Palestine Conflict part 1: Antisemitism & Zionism

Israel-Palestine Conflict part 2: Ottomans and Palestine:
Looks at the colonization of Palestine by Ottomans and British when the country was modernized and industralized by Britain during 19th century leading to Jewish immigration in late 1890s and early 1900s.

Israel-Palestine Conflict part 3:Great War and end of Ottomans:
Leads into WWI, Balfour Declaration and Mandate of Palestine

Israel-Palestine Conflict part 4: Britain and MandateThe origins of Palestinian mandate and Haganah are explored

Shlomo Sand: Zionist myth of a Jewish nation

Shlomo Sands, an Israeli historian professor at Tel Aviv University has written a surprisingly best seller that has caused controversy outside of Israel. Inside of Israel ironically it has recieved numerous mentions in press and remained as one of the best sellers throughout the country. His book, "When and how the Jewish people were invented" similar to Ghada Karmi's "Married to another man," seeks to shatter what he considers Zionist myth of a Jewish race, an idea that was born during the rise of Zionism in 19th century at a time when European nationalism was reaching new heights via colonialism and racism. Sands, a historian of 20th century European history and politics, not the Middle East or ancient Jewish history, argues in his book that Jews are not a race or an ethnic group nor have remained a united people for 3000 years. He also states that Judaism is like every religion that grew through converting followers to Judaism and not from a unique, unchanging ethnicity. He also states today's Israelis are not related to the ancient tribes of Judea and Samaria but were converted from Eastern Europeans living in the Jewish Pale(Lithuania, Poland, Russia, etc), North Africa, Spain, etc. Sands also challenges many historical myths found in the bible about Ancient Israel and its relations to Palestine such as the Exodus, Genesis, Roman enforced exile from Jerusalem 70AD (Sands suggests that only the elites were exiled to Babylon instead of all Israelites), Kingdom of David and Solomon, ( which were two small kingdoms Israel & Judah), and creation of a Khazar Kingdom in Kurdistan. The controversial, ironic Israeli best seller book is only available in Hebrew and French. English edition is due to come out in October 2009 on Amazon.

Shlomo Sands: Shattering a national mythology

Vanishing the Palestinians, Ghada Karmi

The Spartan Jew & Never Again

Scurrying towards Bethlehem

A nation? What Nation?

Ashkenazi: Israel's European or white identity in Israel

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Ashkenazim � Jews of European origin � are Israel�s �white folks.� Like most white folks in a multicultural society, they don�t think of themselves in racial or ethnic terms because by now, �aren�t we all Israeli?� Yiddish has been replaced with Hebrew, religion with secularism, tradition with modernity, exile with sovereignty, landlessness with occupation, the shtetl with the settlement, irony with cynicism, and pale girls with dark curls by bleached blonds with a tan. But the paradox of whiteness in Israel is that Ashkenazim aren�t exactly �white folks� historically. A story that begins in the Rhineland and ends in the holy land (or is it the other way around?), "Ashkenaz" looks at whiteness in Israel and wonders: how did the �others� of Europe become the �Europe� of the others?

Israel's renowned left leaning journalist for Ha'aretz Newspaper, Uri Avnery on Israel's eternal and inner struggle to define its Israeli national identity, cling so ever stubbornly to the Zionist myths and redefine itself as a secular nation for the Israeli people and not the Jewish state or a Nation of Jewish people. Arvnery views Israel's mantra and moto as a Jewish state for the all world's Jews ignores and denies an Israeli national identity and leaves Israelis without a state not define by Zionism or a safe refuge for Jewish people.

Israel's bigger battle ahead: It's National identity

Fate of Israeli Nation
An official history of Palestine-Israel conflict without Zionism and Israel first mantra. A fascinating look at how colonialism gave birth to the West vs. East definition during colonial rule in the Arab world and how that defines Israel's placement in a displaced geography.

From Israeli nation to Jewish state

Israel: Changing the Rules of War & International Law

Special: It was never about Democracy in Iraq

Challenges of Post-Zionism and Mizrahi Jews

Unspoken bible: How the Jews stole Palestine

20 Zionist Myths, from the book Arab and Jew in Canaan Land

Who's Afraid of the One State solution?

Israel, her allies and Zionists have long feared the idea and possibly of one state covering all of historical Palestine or Israel-Palestine. For the Palestinians justice for return of refugees will be granted and protected with international consensus if a Democratic state for all citizens both Israeli and Palestinians were to be announced and made official solution to the conflict and wars. It would also be righting an unjust wrong as seen by many Arab countries. For many advoacates of a One State solution the continual growth of illegal Israeli settlements surrounding occupied East Jerusalem and West Bank would make a lot of sense since Israel stubbornly and bluntly refuses to abide by International law and UN resolutions and has all but failed to return back to its pre-1967 borders to allow for a Palestinian state to grow. For Israelis and its supporters as sensible and viable as a one state would be, most Zionists and Israel first supporters see it as yet another existential threat to Israel particulary its national identity as a "Jewish state."
Supporting one nation to harm another
Netanyhu and One State Solution

Falafel & Israeli Culture

Denying Palestinians' identity, music and cultural heritage. Ignoring the importance of identity to Palestinians, their neighbors Lebanese, Iraqis, Syrians, etc. Overlooking cultural and historical diversity & differences between all 22 Arab countries.
Israel, its friends and allies promote Israeli culture as authentically Middle Eastern and European, "a blend of both worlds." Israel borrows and takes music, fashion, cuisine, coffee and Arabic, from Palestinians, Druze, Turkish, Iraqi & Yemeni Jews, Lebanese, etc. While stating the Palestinians have no culture of their own.

Jerusalem the heart, soul & home of Palestine

Israel, Ethnic Cleansing as State Policy

Jewish groups offer aid for Palestinians to leave Jerusalem

Against Zionism not Jews

Israeli discussion groups common pitfalls

In many tourist magazines, books and cultural festivals on the Middle East, Asia and Europe in general Israel is presented as ordinary, European and Western country with Middle Eastern roots. An extraordinary country full of breathtaking sights, beauty, diverse cultures, traditions, religion and music! The ads jump out at the curious, cultural, religious/non religious and historical readers. But the attention grabber is always saved for last. Don't forget its the Holy Land and "bible country," homeland of Jesus, King David, Solomon Herod and Land of Milk and Honey for our grandparents and Temple Mount, Wailing (Western) Wall, peace maker and has a strong history of heroic self defense for us. There's no mention of Palestine's historical importance, existence or even references to Palestinians throughout history as though the myth of "a land for a people for a people without a land" were true. Palestine was never an empty land nor did the Palestinians appear recently out of nowhere. The country and people have also been connected to the rest of the world even before Christian Zionism's birth. On a political note, it is the "Middle East's only democracy in a hostile region surrounded by undemocratic countries." Sabras celebrate the "global village & melting pot" and touristic Potemkin Israel but ignore discrimination & racism toward Ethiopian, African, Darice, Sephardi and Palestinian-Israelis (Israeli Arabs) by right wing former settlers, government officials and policies across the country and in some major cities.
Israeli and American cultures praises the triumph of the Jewish people and Israel against the odds through music, film, art and the long Judeo-Christian history, tradition and values. Islam though the third Abrahamic religion is left out of discussion except when terrorism is concerned. Israel is our friend from the dawn of its birth til the end of days as many rapture ready Christians and Zionist Christians repeat to media figures, pundits and talk show hosts interested in the Middle East and Israel's role in the region specifically. This continues to promote the mythos of Israel as indeed chosen by God and might makes right. The Israeli occupation of West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem is never portrayed as illegal and violating international law but as a fulfillment of biblical prophecy, "Jewish people returning to their land" and Zionist dream of a "Greater Israel in Judea and Samaria" occupied Palestinian West Bank and East Jerusalem. American culture emphasizes the religious view of Israel as biblical land under threat from its biblical enemies Philistines sometimes an indirect references to Palestinians and their neighbors Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, etc. Despite this salute to Israeli culture antisemitism exists in U.S., Britain, EU and elsewhere.
Often overlooked but is now being discussed by Israeli and Palestinian media critics, commentators, analysists, etc is Israeli government's emphasize on Israel being define as a "Jewish state" or a "nation of Jewish people" regardless of origins and not the nation of Israeli people. From Uri Avnery, Gideon Levy both renown Ha'aretz journalists and renowned Palestinian-Israeli former Member of Knesset Azmi Bishara have said such recognation will ignore the 61 year old suffering of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli military in occupied Palestinian territories, will continue to deny civil and legal rights to Arab and other non-Jewish citizens and excuses Israel from being held responsible from comitting the Nakba in 1948 and later refusing to compensate Palestinian refugees who are unable to return to their original homes within Israel proper because of the state's absentee laws which state that if a property has not been in use for three years it automatically becomes state land regardless if Palestinians have the original land deeds to lands which many refugees do. The definition of Israel as Jewish also ignores the eternal struggle within Israeli society to define itself outside the box of Zionism or have a secular identity and be at peace with its own national identity not define under Judiasm.

Palestinians: To exist or not that's the Question

Middle East history in the humble Chick pea

Labanon "protecting hummus and falafel from Israel"

Hummus and falafel are already "Israeli." Now they�re coming for Palestine�s olive oil too

Al Juthoor
Arabic for "Roots." San Francisco based Palestinian dance group preserving traditional Palestinian dance, culture and non violent resistance through debkah the most famous traditional dance across the Arab World and Africa.

Stealing Palestine's culture, identity

Stealing Palestinian history

Using bible to deny Palestinian rights

Israel for kids
Holy Land, Zionist edition

Appropriating Palestinian culture

Palestinian Hertiage

Palestinian culture Facebook

Israel at 60
A celebration of Israel since 1948 ignores the politics between Israel and Palestine. It focuses instead on Israeli culture, literature, Israeli community in San Francisco Bay Area, etc.

Britain & Israel: Christian Zionism & Victorian culture

Fire Bird Dance
Israeli dance troupe from San Francisco promoting Israeli culture and traditions

Cultural Racism & Cultural Misappropriation

Jerusalem Affairs: Marketing the Holy Land

American-Israel Cultural Foundation

Anti-Semitism embedded in British culture

Give Israel Your United Support
Israel government run

Gamla

Denying Palestinian claims to Jerusalem: Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel, forever & ever amen

CNN God's Warriors

CNN's eye opening exmaination and observation of how the right wing politicians & the (mis)interpretation of Bible, Torah and Quran has led to the current so called "class of civilizations" as an envisioned by Samuel P. Huntington. Senior CNN Correspondent and foreign reporter Christian Amanpour travels the globe literally from Occupied East Jerusalem, Tehran, U.S. & England to look at how religionst extremists of Judiasm, Christianity and Islam have declared wars on so called infidels and enemies of society, how extremism is excertebrated by the War on Terrorism for all three Abrahamic Faiths. How religion plays a surprising role in daily life including education, home life, school and literature. The documentary was also slammed by the Israeli lobby for challenging the thoughts and actions of Zionism & Christian Zionism.

God's Jewish Warriors

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 1

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 2

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 3

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 4

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 5

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 6

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 7

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 8

God's Jewish Warriors: part 9

God's Jewish Warriors: Part 10

God's Jewish Warriors: part 11

God's Christian Warriors

Known unknows: Hate in Israel

Feeling hate in Jerusalem

Drunken American Jews on a birthright tour to Israel express their views of Obama and Middle East while exposing the racism and political ignorance of Americans from outside the Bible Belt South.

Feeling the Hate in Tel Aviv

Sequel to the expose film "Feeling hate in Jerusalem" on Israeli racism against Palestinians and Obama.

Christian Zionism

Too many people make the mistake of thinking that the terms Jews and Zionists (supporters of Israeli policy) are synonymous. This is not at all correct. Not all Jews are Zionists (to learn about Jews who have chosen to speak up against Israel, see Jews in Support of Palestine and Anti-Zionist Jews; also some Jews have even converted to Islam). And not all Zionists are Jews. In fact, some of the most ardent - and most powerful - Zionists are Christian fundamentalists. They often ignore Israeli peacemakers and activists, offering literal interpretation of revalation to explain Palestine-Israel, via Pat Robertson & John Hagee, two renown conservative pastors whose sermons have been broadcast on American TV for over 40 years. Robertson's 700 club has been on air since 1966.

Israel you are not alone, a favorite quote of the infamous Christian Zionist Pastor John Hagee

Biblical Zion and Israel right or wrong

Biblical Zionist Fresno Zionism

Kahanist Movement
Racist, terrorist, right wing pro-settler organization and movement banned by Israel for its right wing extremist violence and terrorism against Palestinians across the occupied West Bank. Kahanists are responsible for attempting to blow up the Al Aqsa Compound in 1984 that was foiled by Israeli security. Some extremist settlers in occupied Hebron and other illegal settlements are part of Kahanist movement or follow its teachings and endores violence against Palestinians for revenege against Israeli deaths and being removed from occupied territories.

Christians Standing with Israel

Israel My Beloved Supports revalations, belives the children of Israel are God's "Chosen people" & only visible people of Holy Land

Gateway Pundit Zionism on Web

Eye on the Post Monitors Washington Post's Middle East report for pro-Palestinian slant

Front Page Magazine

ChristianZionism *Defending Zionism Blog

Peace with realism Calls occupation and Palestinian demands for human rights as "misinformation." Considers all Arabs not only Palestinians as catch all 22 irrationally evil and terrorists

American Messianic Fellowship (AMF) African Development Corporation-Pat Robertson

National Review Magazine-U.S.

Africom-U.S. African Command Center

Middle East Facts

Think Israel Jewish Task Force Kahanist site also carries the name "Jews against Obama"

Jerualem Summit Israel Activism

Pundits

Organizations & persons below belief an aggressive U.S. Foreign Policy is necessary for the security of the U.S., Europe, Israel and other Western allies often ignoring the consequences of wars, military occupation and their actions. They also push for American leaning Iraqi Democracy at all costs. Often ignored by these pundits and organizations are Israeli peace activists, organizations and makers. Belief in a literal interpretation of revelations and the Bible, support right wing media pundits, Businessmen, Petroleum conglomerates and corporations, Congressmen, Zionists, Christian Zionists, and aid illegal Israeli settlements built in occupied East Jerusalem & West Bank. Often shun and ignore human rights for Palestinians, Iraqis, Lebanese, etc protected and guaranteed by International Law. Without challenges from the mainstream media, the pundits continue to spin the news, uninform ordinary Americans and lull the rest of the citizens to sleep helping Congress to sustain the 5 year occupation of Iraq by the U.S. and Israel's 41 year occupation of Palestine, Sheba Farms & Golan and dehumanization of the Middle East and Africa.

PUNDITS

Right wing in U.S. & Neoconservatives

Pundits in mainstream media:

American Enterprise Institute

Jewish Task Force-Kahanist site

Massada 2000Crude website equates Palestinians with animals and grotesque violence

American Friends of Likud

Israel's Likud Party

Front Page Magazine

Christians United For Israel

Africom-U.S. African Command Center

Fox News