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By Laura Dawn Lewis
Updated October 2, 2004

This article is written for people who want to know what is going on and prefer to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

If you've been trying to figure out what is going on, no doubt you've been feeling the latent effects of cognitive dissonance, that hangover of confusion when reality and your gut tell you something is wrong but you cannot quite put your finger on it.  The confusing messages, contradictory statements and curious tangents, they're  called propaganda.  At stake, billions of your tax dollars per year, the War on Terror, millions of lives, world peace, American credibility and the American soul as defined by the values set forth in our Constitution. You know, minor issues. Nothing serious like paying that cable bill, what you should have for dinner or getting into the local golf club. 

That confusion you feel, is on purpose, by design and a signal you're being sold on something you probably wouldn't support if you knew all the facts.  It's your intuition telling you something is decomposing, rotten to the core.

Within this article you will be introduced to several sources designed to penetrate this confusion.  As my team discovers more, I'll add them. Hopefully these sources will fill in the blanks and access the other half of the story you've been missing.  You'll need to make the effort, ask the questions and suffer a few humiliating experiences on this journey. The learning curve is steep, daunting and at times terrifying. I've included explanations of the struggles, challenges and key issues you'll want to research and our recommendations and findings.  I'll also tell you where some of the dangers lie in researching this so you don't fall victim to "the dark side" a.k.a. anger and hate. Please take the time to question what is said, research it rather than simply take my word for it.  This is an issue that inflames by taking reason and turning it into accusations of hate, bigotry and slander. You really need to explore each idea for yourself in order to be satisfied. And don't expect enlightenment overnight.  I'll introduce you to ideas.  Over the next several months, you'll start to notice things you hadn't before.  That's the way it works.

Ask yourself what the source gains or loses by giving you information and follow the money.  Who benefits?  Who profits?  Who gains?  What do people risk by coming out against something that is accepted? You'll also find out what people risk writing articles or speaking out against Zionism, our policies in the Middle East and our policies at home.  The price of coming out will tell you a lot about who to believe and who not to believe. It's also a very useful tool in undoing propaganda.   

With that said, welcome to the craziest mental journey you'll ever take, and ultimately one quite fulfilling. Let's start with some basics.

Why do people Hate?

Conflict and hatred occur because one side decides it is entitled to or wants something the other side has and rather than come to a mutually beneficial agreement, they decide to take it.  This produces hate motivated by elitism, greed, selfishness and entitlement directed at those who have what is wanted.  They are in the way of the entitlement and preventing satisfaction.  This hate manifests and ferments in greed and feelings of superiority. The majority of people on this planet will consider this motivation, that of greed and entitlement, to be immoral.

The other side of hate is based upon Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Prevent someone or a group of people from accessing the basic human needs of shelter, water, clothing, companionship and  food. Or, threaten their security--safety of property, family or self. Or prevent freedom of movement, thought or self-determination and violá! The resulting emotion, to no surprise, hate directed at those preventing these fundamental needs from being met, leading to conflict instigated by infringement.  This rule applies, that of natural instinct, whether we're talking about a mouse, a roach, a bear or a human. The more of these basic needs that are prevented, the more intense the conflict.  This hate percolates within the confines of instinct, forcing those targeted into a corner. The majority of people on this planet consider this motivation, that of self-preservation to be moral.

These principles, the two sides of hate and conflict are in place regardless of whether you speak of two neighbors arguing over a fence and loud music or two nations in a territorial, resource or cultural dispute. They are the foundation of justice.

Common law, provides defense and legitimization for conflict and actions based upon self-preservation.  All persons and nations have the right to defend themselves when their person, property or community is threatened. World courts deal with the practitioners of conflicts and actions motivated by greed.  Deciding which side an individual or country  supports comes down to the issue of motivation: moral or  immoral.  For each of us, nation or individual, this is a personal decision based upon the values we espouse.

The Personal Struggle of Enlightenment

Researching and reporting on the Middle East for the past three years, the facts point to the genesis of our war on terror and international policy problems originating from a war of entitlement (Israel) imposed on a population defending self-preservation (Palestine and the Arab populations).  Everything leads back to this from bin Laden and some of our economic and political problems to The Passion of the Christ controversy. It's the elephant in the middle of the room nobody talks about even when it is financially, morally and spiritually crushing us to death. 

Delving into this issue will rock your world straight to the core. You will wish on occasion you didn't know because ignorance is bliss.  Floating down the river of consensus is much easier than swimming upstream.  But downstream there is a waterfall, that's the part they forget to tell you.  The closer you get to it, the stronger the current and the harder it is to get away.  Your lifesaver is knowledge, and unlike lies that sink to the bottom, the truth lifts you above the rapids, allowing you to breath. 

With stakes this high, those who do not want change are vicious, cruel and at times deadly.  The tools of intimidation range from pushing through legislation in the US to curb discussion, to defamation of character and public humiliation to bombs and death threats often carried out.  Nobody is safe from the wrath of those who do not want the monetary, weapon and policy transfusions to end.  It's a scary situation. But the truth remains the power of those who fight and that is why these intimidation tactics are used.  The truth empowers, liberating you from manipulation. The confusion and fear disappear, replacing anxiety with the peace that comes from doing the right thing. This is another instinct, a simple truth.  People, all people unless they are sociopaths, and very few are, want to be good, want to do good and want peace...the freedom to live unencumbered, to raise their families and live their lives. Strife doesn't occur until someone decides they are more deserving or entitled than another group and presses their will upon that group.

Writer Perspective

Every writer has his or her own bias, body of knowledge, unique life experiences and perspective, this is another reason why multiple sources are important. For example, I am an American.  I am also a non-Zionist Conservative Christian.  My writing and coverage of this issue focuses on what I can affect: The US Government, our policies and how those policies hurt or help the world, the influences I see harmful to the foundations of this country set forth more than two centuries ago, our responsibility to the rest of the world as the most powerful nation and the influences destroying my faith, Christianity. I also believe that each nation is responsible to itself and must look within for answers, meaning I'm not a fan of the Bush Doctrine.  Based upon past historical events, it is creating terrorism rather than fighting it. Because Israel receives 40% of the US foreign aid every year,  each time it violates its agreement with us, and it has done this daily for over twenty-years now, as a taxpayer its activities become my business. I approach issues from "What is best for the United States and how is this relationship affecting our Constitution, values and principles?"

Writers including Israel Shamir and Uri Avnery live in Israel, are both Israeli citizens, well respected intellectuals and writers. Shamir grew up in Russia, is the grandson of a Rabbi and later converted to Christianity.  Shamir takes a no-holds bar approach to Judaism and Christianity and has no problem exposing the dangers of Talmudic thought and Zionism both on the Jewish populations and the Gentile populations of the area.  His writing focuses on the why, origin and history and he mixes in philosophy and global depth you will not see elsewhere though his writing can be shocking to Americans who are used to the myth rather than facts.  Avnery's main concern is human rights and the destruction of his faith and his country by Zionism.  His non-profit, Gush Shalom reports violations to International Law, the ongoing apartheid and genocide. Both men approach issues from "What is best for Israel" and how involvement from foreign nations, especially the US are counter-productive. 

Author Victor Ostrvosky, as a former Mossad agent shows how the Israeli version of the CIA often creates situations including the Achille Lauro to further its agenda and dresses it up to look like an Arab run operation.  His perspective is from inside Israeli intelligence.  Elias Davidson, born in Israel and now living in Iceland as a former Zionist approaches the issue from one who has lived it first hand and seen how it manipulates.  His writing focuses on dispelling the myths, deconstructing propaganda used to euphemize the issue from a Jewish perspective or is often presented as fact targeting those trying to affect change.

Journalist Robert Fisk out of England and Australian John Pilger take on the issue from its effect on Britain, Australia and the global community, specifically human rights and the negation of common law.  Former diplomats including Dr. Sam Hamod approach the issue from a political perspective and its influence on the US here and abroad.  Former Congressman Paul Findley, author James Bamford, Karen Kwiatkowski, Captain Ward Boston and the late Admiral Thomas Moore approach the issue from a government and military perspective. Chuck Carlson, Douglas F Newman and Mark Glenn explain and illustrate how Zionism has hijacked the Christian faith, its myths and the deadly consequences of its power by the Christian Right.  Jeff Blankfort covers the influence of Zionism on American news coverage, the political and historical consequences of it on the US Government and the twisting of his faith, Judaism and how it is used to create the ends.

This issue is multifaceted and quite complex. The dynamics of it, the fact it is always moving, growing and propagating.  Each of these writers and many more listed below provide insight into this issue on many of the level it is present.  

Resources you can Trust

Below I've included many of the sources I've read, seen or consulted that have proven reliable in getting to the truth.  It takes awhile, many months to overcome the propaganda and misconceptions and it's not easy.  This will be the toughest fight you've ever fought. People will consistently misdirect you, shame you and tease you.  They will try to cause doubts or accuse you of bigotry.  When this happens it is helpful to remember that if this was any other country or any other faith on this planet, bigotry would not be an issue.  This accusation is how they intimidate people and that is all it is.  A false flag to shut you up.  These sources will help you uncover that truth, and with that truth we can begin dealing with the cause of our problems diplomatically, rationally and humanely, rather than the result of them as we do today.

Films on the Israeli-Palestinian issue

People & the Land, (DVD, VHS) by Tom Hayes for PBS (watch it online now for free.  It is 57 minutes long and it is worth your time)

Jenin (VHS)

Salt of the Earth, (Currently playing) is a film in nine chapters documenting the trials and tribulations of Christian families living in modern day Palestine, a "Labor of love " by husband and wife team Marthame and Elizabeth Sanders

Gaza Strip This film is brutal in its reality and not recommend for children under the age of 17 without an adult present.  It captures the outbreak of the 2nd intifada.

Palestine is Still the Issue  (DVD), John Pilger,

Tragedy in the Holy Land, (DVD)

Peace, Propaganda & the Middle East, (DVD)

Control Room, (DVD)

USS Liberty: Dead in the Water (VHS/DVD), by Ron Thompson,

Truth: Exposing Israeli Apartheid, by Wendy Campbell. 

Additional videos

Books

The Gun & the Olive Branch, The Roots of Violence in the Middle East  by David Hirst, is the best book to start with. Well researched , it will provide you the history and background necessary to fill in all the blanks while counteracting the propaganda Americans are fed on this issue.

Israel, an Apartheid State, by Dr. Uri Davis (Zed Books, London). It details Israeli racialist legislation and the nature of Zionism.

The Jewish State, by Theodor Herzl:  Herzl is the man who crated Zionism and this is his essays and thoughts on what he envisioned.

Israel Shahak's Jewish History, Jewish Religion, is also a must read because the current laws in Israel are based upon the Talmud and most of the attitudes causing the conflict come from two ideas: elitism in the form of being the "chosen people" coupled with  entitlement, and the ideas and implementation  of perpetual victimization.  This book shows you how and why these ideas exist and will help you understand how they are used to manipulate others.  This book focuses on Talmudic influence in Judaism created after the birth of Christ and you need a solid background in the faith and policies in the Middle East in order to read it objectively.  It is not an easy read, especially for Christians, but it will answer a lot of whys.

Ilan Pappe, an Israeli-born professor at Haifa University's latest is A History of Modern Palestine : One Land, Two Peoples. This book documents the expulsion of Palestinians as an orchestrated crime of ethnic cleansing that tore apart Jews and Arabs coexisting peacefully. . Along with the late Edward Said, (pronounced Sye-eed), Ilan Pappe is considered one of the most eloquent and scholarly writers of Palestinian history.

Reporting from Ramallah : An Israeli Journalist in an Occupied Land by Amira Haas gives you a first hand look of what is really happening day-to-day.  This also will help you realize, this is not a "Jewish" issue and objecting is not "anit-Semitic".  This is a humanitarian issue where one group of people are oppressing another and it is equally disgusting to Israelis with conscience, (or knowledgeable on the issue.  Like the Germans in WWII, many Israelis don't realize what is really going on) as it is to the rest of the world.

Body of Secrets by James Bamford goes into the US National Security Agencies including the strange relationship we have with Israel. This book will also shine light on our current "War on Terror".

To understand the pressure these writers endure, (and why our politicians many times forgo American interests), read They Dare To Speak Out by former congressman Paul Findley.

By Way of Deception by Victor Ostrovsky, inside the Mossad, Israeli intelligence

The Flowers of Galilee by Israel Shamir contains essays on the politics and policies of oppression in the Occupied Territories from someone who lives it day-to-day.

Wafa's Diary: Three Weeks to Freedom: One family's story of survival under siege.  Free and you can download this now.
 

A note about shopping on
Amazon and the reviews: 

The Zionists groups regularly stake out the books they don't want people to read and flood the reviews with heinous diatribe designed to prevent the uneducated reader from buying the book.  Realize this and then read the one-star ratings. They are hilarious in the fact that these people are so desperate to prevent the truth from getting out, they stoop this low. Remember these people do not have truth on their side so they resort to characterization and defamation wherever the can.  They must discredit the message and the messenger to maintain control of the lie. This desperation is how you can tell it's the misinformation squad at work. The more of these you see attached to any book on Palestine, in most cases, the better it is.  In most cases, you can tell they've never even read the book!

Other writers with columns or books out who are knowledgeable on this issue and buck Israeli pressure include: Noam Chomsky, Norman G. Finkelstein, Edward W. Said, Gore Vidal, Dr. Tanya Reinhart, Dr. Sam Hamoud, Uri Avnery, Mark Glenn, Former CIA agents, The Christisons (Bill and Kathleen), Patrick J. Buchanan , Pastor Charles Carlson, Charlie Reese, Joseph Sobran, Jeff Blankfort, (radio) James M. Ennes Jr. Scott Ritter, Robert Fisk, Karen Kwiatkowski, Col. David Hackworth, Starhawk, Elias Davidson, Mohammed of Rafah, (college student and photo journalist) Ran HaCohen, Ali Abunimah, Naseer Aruri, Dennis Bernstein, Jerri Bird, Lenni Brenner, Alexander Cockburn, Delinda Hanley, Rashid Khalidi, Janet McMahon,  Rachelle Marshall, Nur Masalha, Nigel Parry, Jason Vest, Ahmed Yousef, Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh

Additional sources include: The Talmud, The Qu'ran, The Bible, Media Monitor, Counter Punch, Ha'aretz Daily, Jews Against Zionism, If Americans Knew, We Hold These Truths, What Really Happened, (News Service for all Political issues) Lew Rockwell, The BBC International, The London Guardian, The London Mirror, Amnesty International, Al-jazeera. Asia Times AlterNet, Common Dreams, Scotsman, Indy Media, The Nation, The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, FAIR, The Red Crescent Society, (Islamic branch of the Red Cross), Palestine Chronicle (Palestinian). Electronic Intifada (Palestinian) Arab News, International Solidarity Movement, and Americans for Middle East Understanding, International Middle East Media Center, (Journalists from Israel and Palestine covering the issues outside of the censors) War Without End, (Board), Rense (Jeff Rense), Gush Shalom, (Israel),  Public Committee Against Torture in Israel and Snopes.com: will help you track Urban Legends.

The Jewish Tribal Review is the most comprehensive resource and identifies the the top propaganda distributors run by Zionist enterprises for the sole purpose of forwarding that agenda and keeping the billions of dollars flowing in maintaining US support for Israel.  It also includes multiple sources that are trusted from around the world.  This is your best opportunity to get a complete picture of the scope and depth of the propaganda, manipulation and machinery in place.  It's pervasive and it is everywhere.  He's also done an incredible job with the e-book "When Victims Rule" that explains what happens when a society based upon victimization uses that guilt to control, victimize and avoid scrutiny and how good people on both sides fall for it and promote it.

C-Span and Worldlink continue to be the only television stations that cross the lines and present both sides in the United States.

Personal interviews I have conducted  with IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) soldiers, Israeli and Palestinian nationals,  academia, politicians and human rights organizations have shown the above sources consistent and credible. No publication is perfect. They all have their bias so cross-reference multiple countries and publications to get the whole story.  We've found Israel's Ha'aretz and Arab Al-Jazeera to be pretty consistent in reporting the same stories with just slight variations. Al-Jazeera gets a bad wrap from US media, but these are the same people who consider the New Testament and The Passion of the Christ anti-Semitic so consider the source. They've actually been doing a much better job then most publications because they are scrutinized constantly. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same about the US media, that is that it is doing a good job on this issue.

The Misinformation Squad

Below are those we've found lacking in objectivity and credibility on issues dealing with the Middle East, Israel or Palestine.  This is not meant to imply all of their reporting is such.  On most other issues, they tend to be credible and as US opinion shifts, so will their reporting to a more fair and balanced treatment of this issue. As someone seeking the truth, you'll need to keep up on their slant and check their facts because this is what people will throw at you.  In fact reading and learning both sides is paramount.

For the Israeli government approved version of events, the following sources focus on their objectives: AIPAC, ADL, The World Jewish Congress and The Jerusalem Post, (Nicknamed The Hate Sheet for its racist anti-Christian and anti-Muslim ranting).

The US News Networks:

FOX continues to be the most one-sided with multiple misquotes and errant statistics...such as last week's repeated comment that this battle has been going on for 2,000 years.  A little difficult when you consider Islam didn't even arrive on the scene until the 8th Century and Christians didn't become organized until the 4th century under Constantine.  This battle, the actual violence has been going on since 1946 and it started with the bombing of the King David Hotel by Jewish immigrants dressed as Arabs.  The catalyst was the Balfour Declaration of 1916. FOX also has a habit of bringing on pundits with the same opinions and presenting them as opposing.  Simply run the names on Google while watching and you'll catch this nifty little trick. If a real opposite opinion comes on, it is amazing how often they "run out of time" or a breaking story comes in.

ABC, NBC,  CBS, MSNBC,  CNN (US) are not as blatant as FOX, which makes it a little hard to detect.  The devil, literally, is in the details.  They cover nearly every suicide bombing against Israelis, but forget to mention the majority are military targets and military deaths allowing people to assume the targets are civilians.  Little details, relevant details like the Israeli government uses public buses as troop transports never make it into the reports.  Almost daily attacks on civilians, especially children happen in the occupied territories you never hear about and the death ratio which  is as high as eleven Palestinians to each Israeli and as low as four Palestinians to each Israeli, depending upon the time frame used. The irony is, many times you will find out more about what is going on in the US by reading Ha'aretz Daily out of Israel than any of our mainstream media! 

Most major newspapers, (The New York Times is the most one-sided on Israel, but the bias is legion across the board with all major media, even my former employer the Washington Post I'm disappointed to say).  It didn't used to be this bad.  1988 seems to be when they stopped reporting the whole story.  Omission and euphemisms are the most common illustrations of bias. NEXT