Albert Einstein’s 1948 letter to the New York Times
If we want to understand the real history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, we can turn to a trustworthy Jewish source: Albert Einstein. Einstein was a humanitarian and peace activist, in addition to being one of the greatest scientists of all time. What did this extremely intelligent, wonderfully wise and warmly humane Jew have to say about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians? In a landmark open letter to the New York Times in 1948, Einstein clearly and candidly explained why Israel’s militant Zionist leaders were not to be trusted and did not deserve money or support from Americans. (You can find scanned images of the Einstein letter online, and because it appeared in a major American newspaper its authenticity is not in doubt.)
The letter was also signed by Hannah Arendt, Sidney Hook and more than 20 other Jewish intellectuals who wanted to alert Americans and the larger world to the dangers of emergent racism, fascism, terrorism and religious fanaticism in the newly-formed state of Israel. They also foresaw and predicted the disastrous results we see today in Israel/Palestine.
I have annotated the letter with [bracketed comments] to help readers better understand how the “Einstein Letter” relates to the present situation. Other prominent, world-esteemed Jews have strongly opposed the policies and methods of the militant Zionists, including Sigmund Freud, Franz Kafka, Isaac Asimov, Erich Fromm and Noam Chomsky. They have been joined by icons of peace like Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter.
Michael R. Burch, editor and publisher of Holocaust and Nakba poetry
https://www.globalresearch.ca/albert-einsteins-1948-letter-to-the-new-york-times-comparing-israeli-politicians-to-nazis/5653561
Nice to see that from the old man. It puts a different light on Einstein rejecting the presidency of Israel. His position always seemed ambivalent, but this was wonderful to read. Hannah Arendt too.
ReplyDeleteHerut, Menachem Begin's party, which is now part of Likud, does not recognise Palestine, the Palestinians or even many of its neighbours, notably Jordan. It claims Jordan and many other Arab lands as part of Israel. This is in their charter. The next time anyone bloviates about Hamas and their charter, remind them who is occupying whom, who is the aggressor and that Israel's most powerful political party's aim is not only to colonise and ethnically cleanse historic Palestine but also Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and parts of Arabia. To deny Israel this land is obviously anti-semitism.
Thanks for publishing this!
ReplyDeleteMichael R. Burch