comment #1

Arash says ...

Wasn't it the "jews" IN Hollywood who greenlight all his films that made Mel the man he is today? Im to tired to list all the "evil war starting jews" right now, but this man is sick, we always knew he was sick. Jewish Joel Silver secures you 25 million for LEATHAL WEAPON 4, the jewish people were nothing but kind to you Mel, they made you and this is what you have to say! Off to the nuthouse he goes with his Mayan dilect.

comment #2

Lethal Weepin' says ...

Mel shouldn't act so surprised. His arrest was predicted by the Mayan calendar. Apocalypto, indeed.

comment #3

Marc Edward Heuck says ...

Ngggh...somehow, I don't buy it. It's just a little too convenient that Gibson would blame a drunk driving arrest on the ZOG. Smells like an opportunistic cop trying to create a scandal for attention and tabloid money.

comment #4

sprofessor says ...

sounds like rubbish to me.

comment #5

gilly says ...

Yeah, this is bullshit. Gibson may march to the beat of his own drummer (bully for him!) but he's certainly not an idiot. This is a story designed to bring out the flies -- and, from the looks of it, it most certainly has.

Shame on you Wells (and your brother in industry bullshit David Poland) for entertaining this garbage.

comment #6

Stephe96 says ...

He should blame the Ambien.

comment #7

bachelorcool says ...

Can we now look forward to Lethal Rabbi IV?

comment #8

travis b. says ...

"Gibson may march to the beat of his own drummer (bully for him!) but he's certainly not an idiot."

yes. that's why he was caught drinking and driving. a sign of far superior intelligence then all of us mere mortals.

but, it is weird that the jews would even be brought up. unless there's audio, or even an official statement shown, i question this.

still, everyone needs to stop giving gibson a pass on the drunk driving. when it's a b-list celeb or someone on the outs and this occurs, there is a mob mentality. but mel gibson? oh, that's okay.

please.

comment #9

Sheila H. says ...

Although this could be a plant to discredit Gibson, I've heard that he's always carried the baggage of being "crazy Mel" in his native Australia. I remember reading an interview by another semi-famous Australian actor, who went to school with him, who found it a bit of a surprise that Gibson had managed to become such a success based on his knowledge of the guy. But given Gibson's oddball dad, who apparently thinks the Holocaust is a "crock", and upbringing, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that he's got it in for "jews".

comment #10

lesterg says ...

Allegedly, there's videotape of the entire incident. We'll know soon enough if this is true.

If true...hooo boy.

comment #11

Dave at Garfield Ridge says ...

Personally, I'm laughing at the words "sugar tits." I'm not that creative *sober*.

As for whether it's real or not, I'm with lesterg. That said, my initial feeling is that there's something not quite right. I mean, if the cop had to rewrite the report, but still felt strongly enough about it TO LEAK IT TO THE BLOGOSPHERE. . . huh? Is L.A. that screwy now that even cops leak to blogs?

Plus, I've seen enough police reports in my day: cops don't write four pages for *murders*, let alone middle-of-the-night DUIs.

Still, I don't know Gibson-- and neither does anyone else here-- so no vouching for what he's "really" like. He has a public persona, and private rumors, and that's all we know. So we'll see what comes out.

Cheers,
Dave at Garfield Ridge

comment #12

Jack Webb says ...

The report is quite detailed in terms of case numbers and badge numbers, etc. These things should be easy for enterprising crime beat reporters to check. Then it's just a question of Mel's word against Mee's. The tape won't be a benefit here, as Mel alleged anti-semetic rant took place in transit.

comment #13

EO says ...

I don't see what all the fuss is about. A guy gets a little carried away while celebrating the impending Rapture, decides to go for a drive, gets pulled over, starts raving about the Jews. I mean, who hasn't done that at least once?

comment #14

Emily Post says ...

"He was going 87 miles per hour in a 45-miles-per-hour zone.''

To drive drunk at nearly 90 miles per hour on the Pacific Coast Highway is a tad reckless.

comment #15

Easy Yeah says ...

"When, in late 1986, Gibson finally returned to Hollywood to make Lethal Weapon, he was ready to give up alcohol once and for all. He says now that his drinking was 'pretty lightweight, actually. I've seen people really put it away and handle it well. I'm just not like that.' So how did he know he was overdoing it? 'You know you are overdoing it when you fall over. But it was easy to stop. No sweat. Just a desire not to bump my head anymore, I guess.'" --Vanity Fair, 1989

comment #16

Anonymous says ...

Wheres Danny Glover when you need him?

comment #17

Matt Jordan says ...

I think TMZ is at least acting on what it believes is credible information. This is a company tied to AOL. And not only that, but you probably don't want to put up with a libel case against a guy who owns his own island.

I think one thing is a definitie: there is a video out there of Mel Gibson calling a female Police Officer/Deputy "sugar tits." I cannot wait till it's leaked.

Anti-Semitism aside, was I the only one thinking of "The Big Lebowski?" It must be that giant goatee Gibson has down the page.

comment #18

Mathew says ...

Come on Wells, this is People magazine reporting (or should I say blogging). You're starting to revolve your site over these gossipy news clips. Maybe if we, your readers, boycott them you'll start leaving them off your site.

comment #19

Ginny Wonders says ...

Why are people defending Mel? It's a known fact that he's anti-semitic and sexist.So it's no wonder he would say such things.his father is a holocaust denier.he belongs to a religious sect in Australia called the legionnaires founded by a known pedophile called Maciel,that rejects the changes the church did in the 60s including its attitude towards the jewish faith.Yet,people are surprised that he said those things like it was something new.Newsflash:If "The Passion of the Christ" did'nt make you see the light to Mel's munbo jumbo and sheer craziness,then most of you are living in la la land.Yes,Tom Cruise has the scientology thing but to tell you the truth,Cruise's antics are harmless.

Personally,I tend to avoid his work,not because of his beliefs but because most of his work as a director has a certain one sided view based on his beliefs.In all the movies he directed there's always a rabid homophobia present,a condescending attitude towards women and a black and white view.

comment #20

Anonymous says ...

Mathew, why do I have a feeling that if this was Michael Moore - you wouldn't be complaining?

comment #21

Nicol D says ...

I have no idea whetheror not this 'rumour' is true. I know a few things...

Gibson has had issues with 'the devil's water' in the past. Like Russel Crowe, he could do dumb things when under the influence.

Many leftists hate Mel Gibson for reasons of his faith. A high concentration of those people are in Hollywood and the surrounding area. They will make him pay regardless.

A four page police report for a DUI seems odd.

A four page police report for a DUI that gets leaked to a gossip site within 24 hours seems...odder.

Apocalypto can be the most genius piece of work ever created, it will not get one single Oscar nomination.

'Sugar tits' is really funny.

comment #22

Sheila H. says ...

Hey, if Nick Nolte can have his face plastered all over the newsmedia for a little drug sodden escapade, why not Mel? It's middle age time folks! And when you're one of the biggest movie stars in the world and you hit middle age (and look every bit of it) why wouldn't you feel the need to numb the pain a bit? Somehow, this whole story rings pretty true to me, especially "sugar tits".

comment #23

Anonymous says ...

Can anyone transcribe that report? All I could make out was "3/4 full bottle of tequlia".

comment #24

Mathew says ...

"Mathew, why do I have a feeling that if this was Michael Moore - you wouldn't be complaining?"

See that's the thing: Wells and you want to turn this into a 'left vs. right' debate. More fascinating is that while liberals decry Israel's current conflict with Lebanon they also attack Mel Gibson. Mel if he did indeed say that "Jews are responsible for all of the wars in the world." would be at least in partial agreement (concerning the current conflict) with the liberal community. Mel himself seems to be more of a pacifist as he is against the Iraq war and probably the current Israel conflict.

The Jewish faith is a complicated one and I'm fascinated by the paradox of the conservative Israel state and the liberal, American Jewish community.

comment #25

Anonymous says ...

"I own Malibu."

"What are you looking at Sugar Tits?'

Did he think he was Ben Gazara in Road House?

comment #26

Chris W says ...

It comes down to this. The people who want to believe this bullshit story will believe it. It is not a known fact that Mel is anti-Semitic. It is a known fact that people want him to be Anti-Semitic, so they can justify their bashing of Passion. Let's face it, people are still pissed off that it made over 300 million and that it was such a big hit with Christian fundies. He based the Passion on the Gospels and was not trying to further some Anti Semitic agenda. Does that mean he's perfect? No and he deserves every bit of bashing he gets for driving under the influence.

I've seen so much Anti-Israel sentiment from the left the past few weeks, but where is the outrage from that?

Oh and one more thing. I really hate it when people are anti-spacebar.

comment #27

brouhaha says ...

chris w,

anti israel sentiment because they are bombing the shit out of lebanon killing children by the hundreds thats why ....but your emdia doesnt show footage of dead children does it - go to the internet and youll find loads unfortunately. f Israel has a problem with Hizbollah it can send mossad or agents to take out the terrorists it doesn need to bomb lebanons infrastructure, aid convoys, civilian areas etc etc

cant people condemn israels brutality in waging war and persecuting palestinians and lebanese without being referred to as 'anti semite' ?

comment #28

Paulina Parker says ...

if this was michael moore,every right wing here defending mad mel would be bashing mel.but because mel gibson is the only proud conservative that brent bozzell would be proud to praise,then he's oh so innocent.

I don't care if he was left or right wing.I just don't like the guy.

comment #29

MURTAUGH says ...

I like Mel, but how can anyone defend him here? He was driving drunk, going eighty plus on the PCH and then he resists arrests and acts like a total prick to all the cops involved.

Again, how can anyone defend him?

comment #30

Dave at Garfield Ridge says ...

Murtaugh, you defended him in four movies. How did YOU defend him?

comment #31

BL says ...

Holy cow- put up your tin foil hats all you rabid Gibson supporters - that this report would be some kind of 'conspiracy' is pure looniness.

He has a known drinking problem, he has known 'issues' with Jews - it is totally in line with past history that this report is true.

As for myself - I think Gibson is an extremely talented person with questionable emotional stability

I would have to guess he suffers from depression but has one of those hangups about seeking pyschiatric helpl so either tries to get by without anything or sometimes falls into self-medicating with alcohol.

Good luck to him in getting straightened out - and good luck to his rabid fans in getting a grip on reality.

comment #32

Arch Stanton says ...

Hey do you think those tin foil hats are shaped like the pope's hat?

comment #33

cadavra says ...

If Michael Moore were stupid enough to get completely hammered, drive 87 in a 45 zone, then verbally attack and harass police officers while hurling epithets at a religious minority--then hell, yes, I would criticize him. However, Michael Moore hasn't done that...and Mel Gibson has. This isn't about politics. It's about acting like a grown-up.

comment #34

NYCBusybody says ...

I think "Sugar Tits" is hilarious, but man, oh man, is he a racist!

But I do think it serves to show that there's more truth to the idea that anti-Israel sentiments are usually driven by pure anti-Semitism.

And if not, who cares. The left has gotten away for years with issuing blanket condemnations of "racist" on people who disagree with them on issues such as affirmative action, whether the person is racist or not. What goes around comes around. Assuming someone who is anti-Israeli is anti-Semitic may not always be true, but one suspects it usually is.

comment #35

NYCBusybody says ...

The far-left, I should say. In fairness.

comment #36

Thompson says ...

Israel is a state. Judaism is a religion. Just because I disapprove of the actions of the state does not make me hate the religion, just like disapproving of Iran doesnt make me hate muslims.

comment #37

Scott Mendelson says ...

But it's not. It's perfectly reasonable for someone to be non-anti-semitic but have serious issues with Israel's actions and governmental policies. It's reasonable for someone to have issues with the intentional targeting of civilians of a nation in order to snuff out a terrorist faction that doesn't work with civilians (Salon.com has a nice rundown about the whole 'hidden among civilians' bs).

It's perfectly reasonable to criticize a government that, among other things, disavows mixed religion marriages (at least they did a few years ago, not sure if the policy is still in place). Honest mid-East debates cannot and will not occur until we dispell the myth that to criticize the Israeli government is to criticize Jews in general.

Sorry for the slight digression, but it bothers me to no end how certain factions use the charge of anti-semitism to stifle honest debate about the actions of a government that happens to be made up of fellow Jews. It's funny how we in America always talk about how patriotic it is to criticize America when it screws up (which it is... patriotism is different than nationalism), yet so few of us Jews in America are willing to speak up when Israel commits countless atrocities, despite the fact that Israeli citizens are just as divided about it over there as we are here.

As for the left/right debate, the only reason the right unquestioningly supports Israel is that they want to make sure that when (according to Revelations) Israel takes over the middle east, there are still 100,000 of them left to convert to Christianity, leaving the rest to slaughter. With friends like these...

Scott Mendelson

comment #38

Deputy Fife says ...

"A four page police report for a DUI seems odd."

It's not just any DUI. Officer Mee is hauling in a famous and powerful celebrity who (if the report is to be believed) is threatening to destroy Mee's life. So--to carefully cover his ass--Mee dutifully, and in triplicate, WRITES IT ALL DOWN.

That's exactly what I would do, too.

comment #39

Deputy Fife says ...

I should add something: The report cites more than just grounds for DUI; Mee says Gibson "tried to escape arrest." Another good reason for documenting this event in such detail.

comment #40

Josh Mooney says ...

Geez, there's hardly anything NEW about stars, bad publicity, criminal behavior and the L.A.P.D. Ellroy's "L.A. Confidential," while fiction, is reality-based in its depiction of the dirt-dealing that went on 50 years ago between the cops and the scandal rags.

As far as Gibson's doing/saying everything "someone's" claiming? Uh, yeah. I can see it. No problem. And if it's bullshit, I assume we'll know soon enough.

comment #41

Chris W says ...

Like NYC Busybody said, the left wants it both ways.
And could I please see a link that proves that Mel has known issues with Jews without naming his father.

comment #42

StevieT. says ...

"Sugar tits" - yeah, hilarious. What are you, in junior high?

comment #43

NYCBusybody says ...

UN Resolution 1559 stated that Israel was to pull out of settlements in the West Bank, withdrawing its military from those places, and that Hezbollah was to disarm and placate Lebanese politics.]

Israel did pull out last year, and no one denies this. Hezbollah not only did not disarm, but kidnapped Israeli soldiers. The UN was not enforcing their resolution on Hezbollah, and the world knew it and didn't care. Someone has to protect Israel, and it looks like they have to do it themselves.

If they have to commit "atrocities" because the majority of the world are made up of anti-Semites who know no history and are blinded by Arab/Islamic propaganda that the racist United Nations eats up, then atrocities must be done. The oppressed can suffer no longer. Viva Israel, and viva the Jews. Glad to see they're fighting back for once in history.

comment #44

Lars N. says ...

I understand the lengthy report; this is the Sheriff's Dept, not the Highway Patrol. Deputies are not usually traffic cops. The NY Daily News has more on the cover-up:
----
The sheriff's department has previously released mug shots of other stars arrested for drunken driving, including actress Kim Delaney in 2002, but Gibson's booking photo "was not available," according to department spokesman Steve Whitmore.

Sheriff Lee Baca personally ordered Gibson's mug kept under wraps, a deputy told the Daily News.

The California Highway Patrol, which has busted stars including Nick Nolte and former "Growing Pains" cutie Tracey Gold for DUI, routinely releases stars' mug shots, no matter how unflattering.
------

comment #45

Cakewalk says ...

"The UN was not enforcing their resolution on Hezbollah..."

You expected the UN to disarm Hezbollah? That's funny.

When they have the next election in Lebanon, now Hezbollah will win all the seats of government, not just a couple. Then the government won't have to disarm them because they'll be the government!

comment #46

Mr Big says ...

Last night The Vatican dispatched an emissary to Malibu (looked like an albino in a cassock). The mugshot must be destroyed. The fate of the world depends on it.

Mel Gibson's real height must never be revealed!

comment #47

nemo says ...

Well, this illustrates perfectly NYCBusyBody's pet thesis, which he drags into every thread, no matter how irrelevant: the "far left" (which we know means everyone to the left of John McCain) is a hot bed of anti-Semitism. After all, doesn't everybody know that Mel Gibson is even more far left than Michael Moore?

As Thompson and numerous other posters have pointed out, Israel is a nation-state, and is not identical to the Jewish religion. Criticizing the actions of the top leadership of a nation-state is not the same as hating the members of a religious or ethnic group.

comment #48

nemo says ...

Here's hoping that 'sugar tits" gave old Mel a billy club to the ribs on his way down to the drunk tank.

That whole business about the the sheriff whitewashing the report and withholding Mel's mug shot. It sounds as if that sheriff did his training at the same police academy as the sheriff in south Texas who meekly agreed to wait a day to let Dick Cheney sober up and get his story straight before they interviewed him about shooting a man in the face. We sure wouldn't want to embarrass a rich, powerful celebrity. That could be a career-limiting move.

comment #49

Stella's Boy says ...

It is clearly a vast left-wing conspiracy to trash Gibson's career. Nicol, who are all these lefties that hate Gibson merely for his faith? You wouldn't be making another one of your famous blanket statements, would you? If this turns out to be true, will you continue to defend your hero Mel?

comment #50

Stella's Boy says ...

Gibson's statement:

BREAKING NEWS: Mel Gibson Makes Statement
Statement from Mel Gibson re DUI arrest July 29, 2006
“After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the LA County Sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said. Also, I take this opportunity to apologize to the deputies involved for my belligerent behavior. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself. I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health.”

comment #51

Anonymous says ...

He added, "Nevertheless, Jews are still responsible for all the wars in the world."

comment #52

Compukiller says ...

At least he had nothing bad to say about us black folks, lol!

Seriously though, it sounds like one had just flown over the cukoo's nest.

comment #53

Chris says ...

So is there a link to Mel's statement?

Who knows if this is true, but if this occurred as the report states, this is a man consumed with hatred for Jews. It must permeate every part of his psyche, his unconcious and concious thoughts. It would also reveal enourmous narcissm and megalomania.

If the posted account is true, I think it's the end of his career - beyond that, this man desperately needs help - for his drinking, for his anger, for his hate. It's obviously debilitating him.

comment #54

His Gal Friday says ...

Yes, that is Mel's statement. This all but confirms his alleged anti-Jewish tirade. When the tape of it is released, perhaps they can add it to the commentary track of "The Passion of the Christ," in the blu-ray bonkers edition.

Mel's Statement

comment #55

Josh Mooney says ...

Gee, looks like Gibson has confessed. What a SHOCK. Now, where were we on the subject of the "obvious" conspiracy designed to destroy Mel due to his... what was it? His religious beliefs? Right. Tell again about the sheriff's deputy making $40,000/year who CLEARLY cooked up the whole thing (along with the evil Mel haters) because he wanted the "publicity"? Terrible, really. Such a shame-- and the kind of thing we see SO much more frequently than we see unbalanced, monstrous ego-fueled behavior by stars. Yep, it all makes total sense. Not at all the ravings of the clueless.

comment #56

Susie Davidson says ...

The Neighborhood Bully
Bob Dylan

Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man,
His enemies say he's on their land.
They got him outnumbered about a million to one,
He got no place to escape to, no place to run.
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully just lives to survive,
He's criticized and condemned for being alive.
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin,
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in.
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land,
He's wandered the earth an exiled man.
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn,
He's always on trial for just being born.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized,
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize.
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad.
The bombs were meant for him.
He was supposed to feel bad.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, the chances are against it and the odds are slim
That he'll live by the rules that the world makes for him,
'Cause there's a noose at his neck and a gun at his back
And a license to kill him is given out to every maniac.
He's the neighborhood bully.

He got no allies to really speak of.
What he gets he must pay for, he don't get it out of love.
He buys obsolete weapons and he won't be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood to fight by his side.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he's surrounded by pacifists who all want peace,
They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed must cease.
Now, they wouldn't hurt a fly.
To hurt one they would weep.
They lay and they wait for this bully to fall asleep.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Every empire that's enslaved him is gone,
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon.
He's made a garden of paradise in the desert sand,
In bed with nobody, under no one's command.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Now his holiest books have been trampled upon,
No contract he signed was worth what it was written on.
He took the crumbs of the world and he turned it into wealth,
Took sickness and disease and he turned it into health.
He's the neighborhood bully.

What's anybody indebted to him for?
Nothin', they say.
He just likes to cause war.
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed,
They wait for this bully like a dog waits to feed.
He's the neighborhood bully.

What has he done to wear so many scars?
Does he change the course of rivers?
Does he pollute the moon and stars?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill,
Running out the clock, time standing still,
Neighborhood bully.

Copyright © 1983 Special Rider Music

comment #57

Susie Davidson says ...

I don't like that Israel is at war now in Lebanon, but I don't see what options it has but to dismantle Hezbollah.

a.) Hezbollah has shown a willingness to continully launch attacks without provocation over a border that nearly the entire international community accepts as legitimate (the only countries that don't are
ones that don't accept Israel's right to exist.)

b.) Lebanon refuses to enforce the UN resolution to disarm Hezbollah and to take control of their own territory-- or even condemn Hezbollah for initiating the conflict-- which is tacit support.

c.) Iran, and Syria are still arming and assisting Hezbollah.

I would prefer that a well equiped multinational force enter South Lebanon, and displace Hezbollah -- but the UN hasn't gotten its act together yet.

IDF is targeting Hezbollah directly -- however, Hezbola controls approximately a third of Lebanese territory and thus have a network of
resouces extending all through that territory, to the extent that Hezbollah is the de facto government in that part of Lebanon. Destroying
Hezbollah's weapons cachés, rocket launchers, communications, abilities to resupply their weapons call upon reinforcements, coordinate with
their leadership in Syria, or allies in Iran, or move prisoners outside of Lebenon requires blowing up more than one building -- and may require attacking roads, bridges, seaports, landing strips, and putting pressure on the Lebanese government to enforce UN Security Council Resolutions that Hezbollah be disarmed.

But maybe the just thing is to do nothing and allow Hezbollah to fire rockets at civilians across an internationally accepted border.

As for antisemitism: Antisemitism is not an isolated event, it is a cultural norm of the
west. Traditional histories of western civilization only mention Jews at two points: as creators of scriptural monotheism in ancient times, and as victims of the Holocaust in the twentieth century, yet over the intervening centuries, Christendom (and to a lesser extent, Islam) perpetrated continual pograms, ethnic cleansings, forced conversions, legally and theologically mandated humilations, ghettoization, torture, theft of land and property, abductions, etc.

Western civilization did not suddenly wake up in 1946 and decide that it had murdered enough Jews and would not be antisemitic anymore, no
more than LBJ siging the Civil Rights Act into law eliminated racism in the United States. The Holocaust does not justify atrocious behavior, but it does justify the necessity of a Jewish nation-state with secure borders capable of defending itself from armed threats.

Unfortunately, in both the West and in the Arab and Muslim worlds, the common perception is still that the only good Jew is one who can be
humiliated or murdered without protest. Even if one is saddened by the humilation and murder and took no part in either, one is still an
antisemite if one does not accept that the Jew who protests or engages in self-defense or defense of fellow Jews can also be a good Jew.

Jews could not even walk on sidewalks until the Enlightenment. For centuries, they could not attend university, own land, live outside of a walled-in area or hold a job except those no one wanted like money lending and tax collecting. This went on from the Roman conquest until the Englightenment. But soon afterwards, the pograms began, and not long after that, the Holocaust, and now, the current situation.

This is nearly all outside of the Holocaust and does not take into account Neo-Nazis, skinheads, the Klan and just plain old folks who don't like Jews. I wish it weren't so. (I denied it myself for years, as I grew up in a mixed area where everyone got along fine.)

A local anecdote: In Charlestown, Mass., residents opposed the naming of a new, cable-suspended, nearby bridge in Boston after Lenny Zakim (Zakim was the head of the Boston ADL, worked tirelessly for and instituted many programs to promote racial harmony, and died at age 46 of cancer). Charlestown residents wanted the bridge to be named "The Bunker Hill Bridge". One resident was quoted in the Boston Globe as saying that no Jews fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and added, "Let's face it, most people here just don't like Jews" (he was serious). They had to compromise and name the bridge the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge.

I attended the 2002 dedication of the bridge, and there were purveyors spitefully selling T shirts that simply called the bridge "The Bunker Hill Bridge." I saw these shirts being sold elsewhere on a subsequent holiday.

Ironically enough, it turned out that not only had a Jewish soldier, Abraham Solomon, fought in the battle (many Jews fought for the American Revolution as well) but also, the monument was partially funded by Judah Touro, a Jew. It had lain uncompleted for 14 years until Boston industrialist Amos Lawrence offered $10,000, if the remaining funds could be raised. It was a Jewish philanthropist from New Orleans, Judah Touro, who contributed the remaining $10,000. The inscription at the base of the monument states: "Christian and Jew, they carry out one plan / For though of different faith, each is in heart, a Man." (taken from a poem composed by Oliver Wendell Holmes for the dedication).

http://www.leonardpzakimbunkerhillbridge.org/

http://www.kulanu.org/usa/revolutionary.html

http://www.frsuu.org/serm31.htm

As for charges of Israel's human rights violations, this is compared to whom? Hezbollah? Hamas? Al Quaeda? The United States? Egypt? The various armed factions in Iraq? Syria? Sorry, but in the Middle East, you are going to find few governments or armed factions with as much respect for the rules of war, or for rights of prisoners than Israel.

Leafleting populated areas in advance of airstrikes is perhaps the only way to minimize collatoral damage in wartime -- and it is more
than the countries that harshly judge Israel generally do (including Western powers.) It is certainly more than the "good guys" did in World War II.

Leafletting is a lot more than students at a university or eating pizza at Sbarro got. Unfortunately, Hezbollah is internal. They are all over Lebanon. Israel does not wildly drop bombs on civilians. They target Hezbollah's infrastructure, and warn civilians. Nor does Israel jail indiscrimately. You may view Israel as fascist as you would like, but Israel is the most rational and democratic state in the region. And Israel contributes greatly to the world with technological, health, solar energy and other achievements. It is the only place in the Middle East where women can vote, Arabs and other minorities hold governmental positions, and gays can marry and march proudly under police protection.

Instead of building up a viable nation with education, health care, roads and economic framework, there is only an increase in weaponry among Palestinians, and the same old rhetoric.

WHEN A government cannot control what happens within its borders, it has failed as a state. Since the Lebanese government cannot control Hezbollah or prevent it from launching missiles into Israeli cities, it has for all purposes ceased to exist in the southern border area. Regardless of whether that failed government is a democracy or dictatorship, pro-West or against, if it cannot enforce its will or protect its people, it is no friend to anyone and is a threat by default.
Seen in that light, we should not be chastising Israel for its actions but congratulating it for getting rid of a rival state within Lebanon and aiding the survival of that fragile democracy.
If anti-American militants set up a permanent base in New Brunswick, began launching missiles on Andover, Wareham, and Boston, and the Canadian army could not drive them out, how long would we wait before telling the president to act?
CHRISTOPHER DUNLEA, North Easton
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

As for those who accuse Israel of "genocide":

Article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) defines "genocide" as "any of the following
acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a
national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members
of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the
group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life
calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in
part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."

(quotation from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide )

Genocide is defined by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) Article 2 as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: Killing members of the group; Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."

Since Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza and the resulting hardships faced by the Palestinians are:

1.) a consequence of a.) the Palestinian Authority either supporting
or refusing to reign in attacks on Israeli civilians -- and otherwise
being in violation of the Oslo Accords, and b.) The Palestinian
Authority having not yet renounced territorial claims to all of
Israel; and:

2.) do not involve a coordinated plan to destroy the Palestinian
people (only armed factions that have attacked Israel) or even an
unexpected, unintentional destruction of the Palestinian people; and:

3.) can be easily ended with a peace treaty; then:

however unpleasant the situation may be for some, there is no genocide
against the Palestinians-- unless you are simply redefining the word
to mean whatever you want it to mean and taking rhetorical advantage
of the shock value.

This is not to say that some IDF soldiers have not committed crimes,
only that "genocide" is a very specific crime under international law.

It's especially ironic considering Hamas' stated objective is genocide against the Jews.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is over
an area about the size of New Jersey and has so far involved Israel
willingly withdrawing from Gaza and begining a pullout from the West
Bank before Hamas escalated the conflict.

The problem is, these detractors must learn to hold other countries to the same standards that they hold Israel to. However, they can't. They are too blinded by their rose-colored glasses when it concerns Israel's neighbors.
I'd like to see a gay or a minority person or a woman fight for rights in Palestine or the other Middle Eastern countries they uphold and glorify. Yet, this is conveniently ignored. Gays can marry in Israel, but this is also ignored.

Debating Israel needs context

Many people raise the delicate question of whether anyone can dare criticize Israel without being labeled anti-Semitic. The answer is that it depends on the type of criticism and on the context. If Israel is criticized for any acts which other countries are not criticized for, then that is surely a sign of anti-Semitism. If Israel is denied the right to exist as a primarily Jewish state, that is a sign of anti-Semitism. If criticism of Israel does not take into account that the Arab/Muslim world wants to destroy it, then that, too, is a sign of anti-Semitism. Any deliberate distortion of history designed to demonize Israel, such as one writer's outrageous assertion that Israel invaded Palestine in 1948, is also anti-Semitic.
Criticism of particular Israeli policies is not anti-Semitic per se. It all depends on the facts and the context.
Carl Goldberg
Tempe, Arizona

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/07/17/new_conflicts_in_an_old_war/

JAMES CARROLL
New conflicts in an old war
By James Carroll | July 17, 2006

AT ONE dinner party with dear friends, I find that no criticism of Israel is allowed. At another, with equally dear friends, only remarks supportive of Palestinians are countenanced. As talk -- and silence -- at dinner tables shows, no question is more polarized than this one. Indeed, the polarization can occur within an individual, leading to a kind of paralyzing ambivalence. Yet as the Middle East crisis has worsened in recent days, this polarization itself seems somehow obsolete, and at a certain point ambivalence can be irresponsible.

Questions: Has the local conflict between Israel and the Palestinians opened into a regional war between Israel on one side and Lebanon, Syria, and Iran on the other? Are these local and regional contests mere instances of a global war against Islam? How does the ancient impulse to scapegoat Jews play into perceptions of Israel, especially as it finds itself the growing bull's eye of a shrinking target? Is war the best way to respond to extremist acts that clearly aim to provoke warlike responses that empower extremists?

Has Israel overreacted? Having withdrawn from Lebanon six years ago, what did Israel get besides batteries of rockets on its northern border? Having withdrawn from Gaza a year ago, what did Israel get besides rockets fired at Israeli towns? As one who rejects war, and who asks of Israel, therefore, only what I ask of my own country, I regret Israel's heavy bombing of Lebanon last week, as I deplored Israeli attacks in population centers and on infrastructure in Gaza. Authentic concern for the seized Israeli soldiers, as much as for the welfare of innocent civilians, can prompt criticism of the Olmert government's actions.

Yet, given the rejectionism of both Hamas and Hezbollah, the only relevant powers, is the path of negotiations actually open to Israel? As this conflict becomes redefined in larger terms, it seems urgent to move away from the internal polarization of ambivalence by reaffirming foundational support for Israel. There is no moral equivalence between enemies here, and those who sympathize exclusively with the suffering of Palestinians make a terrible mistake in thinking otherwise. Nothing makes this clearer than the Hamas elevation of suicide-bombing to the effective status of religious cult. This perversion, in which cowardly older men exploit the anguished gullibility of the young precisely to target innocents, reveals the depth of the life-hating cynicism with which Israel is confronted. Now Hamas turns the entire Palestinian population into a suicide-bomber writ large. To destroy Israel, the mantra becomes, we will bring destruction down on ourselves.

Much of this is new, but the apocalyptic energy of this hatred, running from Gaza City to Tehran, draws on currents that run deep in history. The fury of anti-Israel rage among Arabs and Muslims is accounted for only partially by the present conflict. It resuscitates -- and then draws breath from -- the long European habit of scapegoating Jews. The fantasy that Arab and Muslim problems will be solved by the elimination of Israel partakes of the old European illusion that climaxed in the 20th century. No one should think that embedded contempt for Jews -- anti-Semitism -- is not part of the current crisis. Nor should anyone think that fresh consequences of that contempt are limited to the Middle East.

If the United States has been made so warlike by the one attack of Sept. 11, 2001, who should be surprised at the reactions of an Israel under constant siege? Indeed, the responses of Israel and America are related. Even though the futility of vengeful belligerence is on full display in Iraq, the United States does nothing to promote alternative strategies in resolving the Palestinian question. The Bush administration has not only squandered its considerable Middle East leverage, but has done more than anything to empower Islamic extremists, beginning with Iran. Thus, a threshold of dangerous escalation has been reached. It is easy to say that Israel must step back, but such a move requires a transformation of the larger context. The United States must pursue a radically different strategy in the entire region. Here is the urgency of quickly ending the war in Iraq, while nurturing new structures of international cooperation to resolve related conflicts.

As for the dinner party, it is not polarization to demand policies shaped with the aim of empowering moderates, and undercutting extremists. Nor is it ambivalence to declare, again, that the humanitarian rescue of the Palestinian people from all that prompts suicide defines Israel's only true security. But that security remains paramount.

James Carroll's column appears regularly in the Globe.
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/07/17/a_question_for_the_world_community/

MEIR SHLOMO
A question for the world community
By Meir Shlomo | July 17, 2006
FOR THE PAST few decades, the international community has been misled to believe that the root of the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors stems from the occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This week, with the assistance of Hamas and Hezbollah, this canard finally has been laid to rest.

Flashback: June 16, 2000
Israel, on its own initiative, withdrew its presence from every square inch of Lebanon. This withdrawal was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolutions 425 and 1559 and led to international recognition of the established border between Israel and Lebanon. Despite the fact that Israel no longer occupies Lebanese territory, conflict and violence persist. Last week, members of Hezbollah infiltrated Israeli sovereign territory, killing eight soldiers and kidnapping two. Although the United Nations has ratified resolutions calling on the Lebanese to dismantle Hezbollah, Lebanon has failed to implement or enforce these resolutions. In fact, Hezbollah members even serve as ministers in the Lebanese government.

Flashback: Aug. 15, 2005
Israel, on its own initiative, withdrew its presence from every square inch of the Gaza Strip. Despite Israel's evacuation, Hamas recently infiltrated Israeli sovereign territory from Gaza, killing two soldiers and kidnapping one. This unprovoked attack reminds us that the conflict does not stem from Israel's occupation.

Hamas and Hezbollah mirror the virulent hatred of Israel that runs through Syria, Iran, and other parts of the Middle East. These groups represent a refusal to recognize the state of Israel, regardless of its borders. To make matters worse, rogue states such as Syria and Iran openly support these terrorist groups, aiding them financially, militarily, and politically. For example, Syria recently hosted a press conference for Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to announce the kidnapping of 19-year-old Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit. The airport in Damascus serves as a de facto duty-free artillery market, providing Hezbollah with rockets used to bombard the Israeli cities of Tsfat, Nahariya, and Haifa. Similarly, Iran repeatedly calls for the annihilation of Israel, vociferously looking forward to the day when Israel will be ``wiped off the map."

On the other hand, in more rational parts of the Arab world, many people recognize that terrorism is not the path of Islam and grasp the fact that the existence of Israel is irreversible and irrefutable. In these countries, leaders such as President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan understand that recognizing Israel's right to exist will be beneficial to the Arab people, to the Israeli people, and to the higher objective of attaining regional peace and security.

Between the radical and rational camps in the Middle East lies the only viable liberal democracy in the region: Israel. In reality, it is not the occupation that is the essence of the conflict in the region; to paraphrase the saying, ``It's the intolerance, stupid."
The international community must decide to support either a repressive, despotic Middle East modeled after Iran and Syria, or a democratic, pluralistic Middle East modeled after Israel. This is the core of the conflict erupting in the region.
Surely, Israel may take missteps in defending itself against Hamas and Hezbollah. No country is immune to mistakes.

However, in the midst of this crisis, the international community and enlightened society must rally around Israel and the moderate factions in the Arab world, because the alternative is a Middle East modeled after Syria and Iran, governed by repression, terror, and violence.

Meir Shlomo is consul general of Israel to New England.
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

SWC BREAKING NEWS:
AT UN HEADQUARTERS, WIESENTHAL CENTER REJECTS UN "DISPROPORTIONATE USE OF FORCE” CRITICISM OF ISRAEL

A delegation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, including a survivor of a suicide bombing, met with senior UN officials at the offices of the Secretariat in New York to discuss international terrorism and events in the Middle East.

During the meeting with Assistant Secretary General Robert Orr, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Wiesenthal Center founder and dean, rejected Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s assertion today that Israel was guilty of using “disproportionate use of force and collective punishment of the Lebanese people” in its struggle to defeat Hezbollah. “While we acknowledge that the Secretary General explicitly blamed Hezbollah for starting this crisis, we reject the implied moral equivalency.

Further, Mr. Annan’s failure to assign any responsibility at the doorstep of the Lebanese government which for 6 years failed to disarm Hezbollah as it stockpiled thousands of rockets and took total control of the border region with Israel in contravention of UN Resolution 1559, will imperil any future diplomatic solution,” Hier said. (click here to read Secretary-General Annan's July 20, 2006 remarks delivered to the UN Security Council).

Photo: L-R, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, SWC associate dean; Rabbi Hier; Tuly Wultz; Mark Weitzman, SWC Chief UN Liaison in New York; Edward Mortimer, UN Secretary General’s Director of Communications; Robert Orr, Assistant UN Secretary General; and unidentified UN aide. Not pictured: Sheryl and Amanda Wultz.

Secretary Orr reaffirmed the UN Secretary General’s efforts that all member states must accept “the unacceptability of terrorism in any form without qualification.”

Also at the meeting from South Florida was the family of a 16-year old American, Daniel Wultz, who died seven weeks ago from injuries sustained in a suicide attack in Tel Aviv. In an emotional plea, Tuly Wultz, Daniel’s father who was also seriously wounded in the attack, pleaded with UN officials to teach children the world over to reject the “culture of death and embrace the value of human life as the ultimate human right."

"On the day my son died, the saddest day of our lives, the mother of his murderer went on Al Jazeera television and stated that she can’t wait for her two daughters to join their ‘martyred brother’ as suicide bombers,” Mr. Wultz said.

The Battle of Jenin:

Wikipedia has a particularly good article on the topic (it is most free of bias,) note the subsection "Allegations of a Massacre" However, I suggest one reads it carefuly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jenin_2002

A slightly polemical and very critical overview of the British press in general and BBC in particular, on their refusal to do simple fact checking on Palestinian claims of a massacre.

http://www.honestreporting.com/articles/45884734/reports/Jeningrad_What_the_British_Media_Said.asp

One of the first articles in which the BBC backed away from their
previous claims of a massacre in Jenin, involving an interview with a
military expert:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1957862.stm

By May 3, 2002, BBC was quoting a report by Human Rights Watch that determined that no massacre had occured in Jenin-- though in typical BBC style, it avoids placing any blame on the Palestinian terrorists whom the IDF were engaging-- sticking to BBC's anti-Israeli bias even as it backs away from the the worst claims:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1965471.stm

An article on a Canadian journalist who made a documentary film on how the "Jenin Massacre"came to be falsely reported:

http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/mediaobjectivity/Jenin_Massacring_Truth.asp

comment #58

Arch Stanton says ...

'Mathew, why do I have a feeling that if this was Michael Moore - you wouldn't be complaining?'

Typical response from someone who has no arguement and no facts on his side...change the subject.

'The left has gotten away for years with issuing blanket condemnations of "racist" on people who disagree with them on issues such as affirmative action, whether the person is racist or not. What goes around comes around. Assuming someone who is anti-Israeli is anti-Semitic may not always be true, but one suspects it usually is.'

Though I agree in principle w/ what your saying about liberals in the PC era 90s, that kind of hyper-sensitivity about perceived anti-semitism was happening concurrently w/ the PCism of the 90's.

'The oppressed can suffer no longer. Viva Israel, and viva the Jews. Glad to see they're fighting back for once in history.'

Well, then these are bad days for you since it appears that Hezbollah has the upper hand in the current conflict. You're black and white world view has taking serious beating the last 4 years or so.

comment #59

Darkblue says ...

Man. Left Right flame wars. I'm gettin too old for this shit.

comment #60

Anonymous says ...

In wine there is truth! Gibson for once was truthful about his beliefs

comment #61

Paul Lauski says ...

No one has answered Mel's question to James Mee: Are you a jew?
The answer is yes. There are other famous jews, such as Bob Mee from Brooklyn... etc.
Mee is short for Isamel. James is anglicized for Jacob.
Mel is a racist. No doubt.

comment #62

Achiever says ...

I, too, am reminded of the Lebowski. Someone should take the clip from the movie with the "reactionary" Malibu Police Chief and cut in Gibson in place of the Dude. "Stay out of Malibu, dead beat."