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Zionism and Israel on the Web

A Zionist commentary, articles, essays and opinion on Israel, Zionism, Palestine and the wider middle east

A Zionist commentary

Articles, essays and opinion on Israel, Zionism, Palestine and the Middle East

Articles on Zionism

This is a general collection of articles related to Zionism. You may also wish to browse our more specific collections:

The collection

Under attack in a virtual world   Andre Oboler, PresenTense Magazine, Febuary 2010.
In a world with no absolute truth or commonly accepted values, racism and intolerance are becoming widely accepted in society. There is a potential reversal of all the progress that has been made in the name of civil rights.

Facebook, Holocaust Denial, and Anti-Semitism 2.0   Andre Oboler, The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 15 September 2009
This is the detailed report (published online in August 2009) into Facebook and Holocaust denial. It includes background, Facebook's changes to their terms of service, and why Holocaust denial is such a problem.

'Facebook doesn't bar hateful content against Jews'   Elan Miller, Jerusalem Post, 27 August 2009
An article in Jerusalem post based on the report, the Z-Word piece and an interview with Dr Andre Oboler.

Holocaust Denial: Yes Facebook, it is Hate Speech   Andre Oboler, Z-Word Blog, 27 August 2009
This is a short summary of some of the key issues of the report.

Tweet Gilad Shalit   Andre Oboler, Zionism On The Web Special Report, 26 August 2009
Gilad Shalit's name was placed back in the public eye as a top trending twitter topic as a result of a campaign in which Zionism On The Web participated.

Facebook gives hatred a hand   Andre Oboler, Comment is Free at the Guardian, 13 July 2009
Refusal by Facebook to remove all Holocaust denial content, despite provisions in their terms of service to remove hateful content, suggests reliance on the good will of companies to prevent racism may not be enough. Facebook's action promote hate and may need to be stopped by the state.

When an MK's Palestinian narrative drops for a moment   Andre Oboler, Jerusalem Post, 2 June 2009
After the regular opening (genocide, colonialism and apartheid charges), this Arab Israeli MK dropped the Palestinian narrative and focused on the confusion of Arab Israeli identity.

Israel is a victim not an aggressor in the Middle East   Jonathan Hoffman, speech at the Durham University Union, 14 May 2009
A speech by the Co-Vice Chair of the UK's Zionist Federation for a debate on "Israel is a victim not an aggressor in the Middle East".

Bunkum as History: The Revisionist Quest for Lost Innocence   Joel Fishman, Jewish Political Science Review, Spring 2009, pp. 153-161.
A review of two books, Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War by Patrick J. Buchanan and Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization by Nicholson Baker.

Facebook refuses to ban all Holocaust-denial groups   Chantal Abitbol, The Australian Jewish News, 15 May 2009, pg 8.
Facebook angers the Jewish community by refusing to remove Holocaust denial groups, despite its own terms of service which prohibit offensive content. Zionism On The Web's Dr Andre Oboler is cited with other experts.

Israel's cyber warriors   Lucy Tobin, The Jewish Chronicle, Feb 12, 2009.
Discussion on online responses to antisemitim and Israel bashing. Zionism On The Web is cited as one of the best websites in the area. Includes a Zionism On The Web commentary.

Antisemitism and the rise of a new world order? Obama’s inauguration   Dr. Clemens Heni, YALE University, ZOTW Special, 7 February 2009
From day one, the new administration does not seem to be taking antisemitism and links with those promoting antisemitism seriously.

Iran, Holocaust denial and PressTV   Andre Oboler, Zionism On The Web Special Report, December 5 2008
A set of communication between Zionism On The Web's Dr Andre Oboler and the Iranian PressTV.

10 Questions for Dr Andre Oboler: Expert on online anti-Semitism   The Australian Jewish News, October 31 2008, Life pg 16
An extended interview with Zionism On The Web's CEO Dr Andre Oboler.

Expert Warns on Internet Antisemitism   By Sharon Berger, The Australian Jewish News, October 31 2008, pg 4
An article on Zionism On The Web's CEO Dr Andre Oboler, and the future problems we face online.

Facebook and Google Earth: Anti-Semitism in Web 2.0   By Christoph Gunkel and translated into English by Ricarda Krenn. Originaly Published in German as Christoph Gunkel, Facebook und Google Earth: Antisemitismus im Web 2.0, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Germany, 14 October 2008.
An article from leading German newspaper on Antisemitism in Web 2.0

Goldsmiths', Gaza and the Warsaw Ghetto   By Jonathan Hoffman, Open Letter, Nov 13rd 2008
A letter to the students' union of Goldsmiths' College (University of London) in response to an event they ran which promoted Holocaust relativism, antisemitism and outright lies.

"But I am a Zionist!"   By Dr Clemens Heni, Zionism On The Web Special, Nov 3rd 2008
An extended article discussing Germany, antisemitism, Israel, Iran, and the new American Presidency.

Good news in the fight against online hate   By Dr Andre Oboler, Agencia Judia Noticias (Jewish News Agency - Argentina), Sept 4 2008
An English and Spanish op-ed highlighting two highly symbolic victories against Antisemitism 2.0.

Facebook: JIDF takeover hate groups   By Dr Andre Oboler, ZOTW, August 2nd 2008
A brief introduction to the JIDF's campaign on Facebook.

Google Earth highlights the 'Nakba'   By Stephanie Rubenstein, Jerusalem Post, July 1st 2008
Following the report in the JCPA, the Jerusalem post examined Google Earth. The article includes an interview with Zionism On The Web's CEO.

Google Earth: A New Platform for Anti-Israel Propaganda and Replacement Geography   By Andre Oboler, Jerusalem Issue Briefs, Vol. 8, No. 5, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 26 June 2008
Dr Andre Oboler's report into Google Earth. This research highlighted the use of Google Earth for an anti-Israel propoganda campaign and along with pressure from the ZOA led to Google altering their product to correct the problem.

http://Web of Hatred   By Ziv Hellman, Cover story in Issue 6, Jerusalem Report, July 7 2008
The issue of internet hate was picked up in the cover story for the Jerusalem Report, July 7th 2008. Zionism On The Web's Dr Andre Oboler is quoted extensively. Natan Sharansky comes out in support of efforts (such as this site) to counter online antisemitism, "We need to have our own sites answering all their claims, and to get a lot of people involved. This is too important to ignore."

Latest Front In Mideast Wars: Wikipedia   By Tamar Snyder, The Jewish Week, May 14 2008
The story on Wikipedia warfare was covered by the Jewish Week. Tamar Snyder gives additional background, citing the Honest Reporting special report and interviewing key commentators including Zionism On The Web's Dr Andre Oboler

Exposed - Anti-Israeli Subversion on Wikipedia   By Andre Oboler and Honest Reporting Staff, Honest Reporting special report, May 14 2008
HonestReporting exposes anti-Israel activists manipulating the online encyclopedia.

Wiki-Warfare: Battle for the on-line encyclopedia   By Andre Oboler, Jerusalem Post, May 13 2008
Zionism On The Web's Dr Andre Oboler exposes Electronic Intifada's involvement in a Wikipedia scandal

Israel, Facebook and National Security   By Dr Andre Oboler, Jerusalem Post, April 24th 2008
Zionism On The Web's CEO, Dr Andre Oboler, explains the security risk from IDF soldiers photos on Facebook and how Israel should approach the problem.

What To Do About Gaza: The Realistic Scenario   By Prof Barry Rubin, GLORIA Center, March 17, 2008
Prof Rubin examines Israel's options in response to the rockets from Gaza

Israel, Gaza and International Law   By Dr Abraham Bell, The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 28 February 2008
Dr Bell examines Israel's obligation to Gaza in the context of international law. While claims of "collective punishment" and violations of International Law are proclaimed by NGOs, Dr Bell shows there is no legal basis for this.

The Latest Damage to Antiquities on the Temple Mount   By Nadav Shragai, The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 27 February 2008
An update on damage done to the Temple Mount, Judaisms most holy site.

International Law and Gaza: The Assault on Israel's Right to Self-Defense   By Dr Abraham Bell, The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, 28 January 2008
Dr Bell examines Israel's obligation to defend her citizens, the principle of proportionate response and the use of non military approaches such as the restictions on Gaza.

Online Antisemitism 2.0, Social Antisemitism on the Social Web   By Dr Andre Oboler, The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, March / April 2008
This report introduces and defines Antisemitism 2.0, where web 2.0 is used to spread the social acceptability of antisemitism. The report focuses on Facebook and Google Earth.

Antisemitism 2.0 going largely unchallenged   By Tamar Snyder, The New York Jewish Week, Febuary 20 2008
Based on interviews with Andre Oboler, the Antisemitism 2.0 draft report and original research, Tamar Snyder examined antisemitism on the web and how the Jewish community is responding.

A false prospectus on campus   By Dr Andre Oboler, The Guardian, Comment is Free, February 15 2008
'Anti-apartheid week' is a crass misappropriation of an honourable anti-racist campaign of the past for the sinister purpose of demonising Israel.

Online Antisemitism: Facing up to the 'Facebook' dilemma   By Andre Oboler, Jerusalem Post, 6 February 2008
Israel politicians have been pushing for 'young people' to use technology to combat antisemitism. The young people must be provided with professional support, funding, resources and research. Left unsupported young people will find it hard to engage and online antisemitism will grow.

NGOs another moral compass   By Andre Oboler, Wall Street Journal, 7 February 2008
Judea Pearl's suggestion of the Daniel Pearl standard should be considered by NGOs, they too act as a moral compass, and they too sometimes lose their way.

The Daniel Pearl Standard   By Judea Pearl, Wall Street Journal, 30 January 2008
On the 6th anniversary of the murder of his son by terrorists, Judea Pearl proposes a simple test, the "Daniel Pearl standard of responsible journalism" and hopes other journalists like his son will consider adopting it to ensure fair reporting and moral clarity.

Palestinian Aid and Gaza's Closure   By Andre Oboler, The Times (UK), 20 December 2007
A December 17 article "Israeli sanctions 'will ruin plans to rebuild Palestinian economy'" in the Times (UK) caused concern for many who care about fair reporting, human rights and effective assistance to the Palestinians. This article highlights what the Times missed in their reporting.

Commemorating November 29   By Benjamin Netanyahu, 29 November 2007
Commemorating November 29, 1947 and the UN vote recognising Israel and the dream of Zionism and the Jewish people

Jerusalem is a Jewish Issue   By Ted Belman, 28 November 2007
Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish State of Israel, and the eternal capital of the Jewish people, is a matter for the Jewish people, not just the State of Israel.

Media Bias: Watching the Watchdog   By Nir Boms and Elliot Chodoff, 25 October 2007
The media’s role is to be the watchdog of democracy. But what happens when the watchdog falls into an unexpected trap? What happens when it is betrayed from within and maliciously manipulated in order to create a skewed picture of reality?

The Attitudinal Prism of Condoleezza Rice   By Joel Fishman, in Makor Rishon, October 2007
The article discusses Dr Rice's world view which compares the Palestinians with Afro-Americans and the peaceful civil rights movement - flawed analogy as Joel explains.

A Return to Defensible Borders   Dan Diker, Azure, Summer 2005, No. 21
Dan Diker explains how Israel needs defensible borders, particularly in the West Bank, to guarantee a political settlement that will not be undermined by the combination of Israeli vulnerabilities and the hostile intent that is still expressed by several of Israel’s neighbors, including the Palestinians.

Review of "Hot House"  By David Brumer, in Congress Monthly, Jan /Feb 2007
Clarifying the myths and facts of UN Resolution 194, the rights of Palestinian Refugees and their treatment in various places.

Palestinian Refugees and the Right of Return  By Maurice Ostroff
Clarifying the myths and facts of UN Resolution 194, the rights of Palestinian Refugees and their treatment in various places.

Where Europe fails  By Prof Gerald Steinberg, Jerusalem Post, 9/5/07
As Europe battles between multiculturalism and preserving nationla identity, Israel is again, as through hstory, used as a scape goat.

Crisis 2007 - Google  By Andre Oboler, Zionism On The Web Special, Jan. 15th, 2006
This article updates readers on the growing problem of racist sites ranking highly in Google, misleading students and the public and spreading racism.

A Mandate for Israel  By Douglas J. Feith, originally published in The National Interest, Fall, 1993
This article discusses Israel's position and that of the Occupied Territories with in International Law. Note that while Occupied Territories is correct, Palestinian Territories or even Occupied Palestinian Territories is legally not correct.

Archbishop Tutu, please be fair  By MAURICE OSTROFF in The Jerusalem Post, Dec. 5, 2006
In view of his record as chairman of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Committee, Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu's appointment as head of the UN fact-finding mission into the deaths of Palestinians at Beit Hanun is a logical choice, but can he overcome his long held anti-Israel bias? Maurice Ostroff a South African commentator living in Israel explores the historic links between Tutu's ANC and the PLO and the critical differences he should consider that make the South African and Palestinian situations incomparable.

Zizek and the Zionist-Nazi "alliance"  By Sever Plocker, Ynet News, opinion, Dec. 9, 2006
Leading intellectual's baseless theories enjoy broad international attention, what to Israeli ears sounds like a combination of absurd, false curses, resonates can't be ignored.

New Website Incites Electronic Jihad  Jamestown's Terrorism Focus Volume 3, Issue 38 (October 3, 2006)
New website seeks to coordinate hacking attacks for Islam

Fifth Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days  Jazz and Blues News, September 21, 2006
An event to promote unity and tolerance through the universal language of music

The Syrian backed terrorist group Hizbollah's war on Israel  Zionism On The Web Special, July 2006
Our front page article on the war in Labanon following Hizbollah's attacks on Israel

Israel and Gaza beach - when politics trumps human rights  Gerald Steinberg, ON LINE opinion, 23 June 2006
Gaza beach and how NGOs and the media jumped to the wrong conclusions and then pushed them without evidence

Report on "Holocaust in the Holyland Week" Allyson Rowen Taylor, Zionism On The Web, May 22, 2006
A report on three days at UC Irvine as a witness to hate speech and gross misrepresentations of Jews, Israeli's Americans and Zionists

Anti-Israel hard left of Israeli Academia and it's attacks on Israeli Heros Steven Plaut, The Jewish Press, March 16, 2006
The left in Europe like to quote Jews or even better Israelis to show they are being "fair". Israeli like any other country has those with extreme views. This article shows what some of them have been up to since the failed boycott attempts.

Israel, Campus Unreality and Democratic Reality Joseph Tartakovsky, The Proposition, December 2004
The context of the attack on Israel that is taking place on campus, Israel's relationship with America and a glimpse at the social background the state sits upon

A safer campus Andre Oboler et al, ZOTW, December, 2005
A resource document to inform a Student Union Council before a vote to ban to the British National Party from Campus, contains a bunch of useful documents and information

SOAS and LSE Swings and Roundabouts  Gavin Gross, ZOTW, November 22, 2005
A report on the situation in the streets of London for Jewish students and the prospects for understanding.

British Media Bias fuels hate, not peace Andre Oboler, ZOTW, November 7, 2005

Shoah Denier Squares Off With Jewish Agency Aide Nathaniel Popper, at The Forward, October 28, 2005

Rachel Corrie, Rachel Thaler and many other Rachels besides 

Comparison of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict with Apartheid South Africa Shimon Zachary Klein
These days it is becoming very popular to compare the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict with apartheid South Africa prior to 1994. This article explains both situations and perverseness of such a comparison.

The myth of international law Gerald M Steinberg The Jerusalem Post, Oct. 15, 2005
Has international law has become another weapon in political warfare, without any moral authority?

Muslim antisemitism and anti-Zionism explained Denis MacEoin provides a history of Muslim attitudes to Jews and the background to Islamic antisemitism and anti-Zionism, a ZOTW feature

Irene Lancaster is alarmed by the anti-Semitism that she finds in the Church of England Irene Lancaster, the Church Times, August 19th,2005

Academic Freedom and the AUT Boycott Campaign: Examining the Lessons Prof Gerald Steinberg, National Postgraduate Committee (UK) Annual Conference, August 12 2005

Letter to Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London   the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Shortly after the BOD joined the Mayor of London in mourning for the dead of the London blasts, the Mayor went on public record stating that terrorist attacks in Israel were acceptable and completly different from attacks in London. This is the BODs reply to the mayor's comments.

Why I am A Zionist Gil Troy The Montreal Gazette, 26 April 2001

Anti-Zionism is Racism Judea Pearl, The New York Jewish Week,  2005

Israel Zionism and the Church Prof Paul C Merkely , the campaign of the Churches is against Israel's very right to exist

On Google, Jews, Zionism and the problem Andre Oboler, for ZionismOnTheWeb

Zionism is not a 'settler-colonial undertaking' David Hoffman , Mail & Guardian (South Africa), 28 June 2005

A forum explanation of Zionism Transc3ndent , an Israeli corrects the misconceptions in a forum

Zionism and Race Fred Foldvary, The Progress Report,  2001
 
Do not treat Israel like apartheid South Africa Ian Buruma, The Guardian, July 23, 2002

Needed: Real Zionist Education, Not Hasbara Gil Troy Jewish Education Winter 2002-2003

Reclaiming Zionism's Good Name and Proud History: A Challenge for the Jewish Intelligencia  Gil Troy Scholars for Peace in the Middle East Online Digest - 11.2.03

Self-critical without self-loathing  Gil Troy The Canadian Jewish News Internet Edition - August 27, 2003

Language as a tool against Jews and Israel  Manfred Gerstenfeld, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, February 1, 2004

Why I am against the AUT Israel Boycott of Israeli Universities John Strawson, Engage, May 4, 2005

Urban Kibbutz - Socialist-Zionist Pioneering in Israeli Cities Spring 2005

Reinventing the Israeli Cooperative Eetta Prince-Gibson, Na'amat, Spring 2005

Growing up Palestinian in the Israeli "Occupation" - Sarah El-Shazly Arabs for Israel, December 18, 2004

The Twilight Zone - Sarah El-Shazly Arabs for Israel, January 8, 2005

The Jews started the war  - Again - Ami Isseroff, Zionism on the Web - June 27, 2005

A family at the beach in Israel, note the helicopters in the sky... they're need to pretect ordinary people's safty as they do ordinary things like take a day out at the Tel-Aviv beach

A day at the beach

Note the Helicopters in the background at this family's day out at the beach. Welcome to Israel where nothing can be taken forgranted, not even on a sunny day at the sand and sea