In the third and final installment of "Diary of an Israel Junketeer," reason's Michael C. Moynihan tours the West Bank, Sderot, and northern Israel before heading back home, where "it is quite nice to have a coffee without being searched, to walk into The Gap without being profiled, to not read tea leaves in order to determine the likelihood of a third intifada."
New at Reason
Comments to "New at Reason":
Alan Vanneman | March 18, 2008, 3:50pm | #
So, is this part of an AIPAC plot to bore Americans to death? Very clever! A dozen more of these and I won't care what happens in the Middle East as long as I don't have to read about it. Let Michael Young run things for a while. He's smart!No not at all. I think Michael's Mideast reporting is the best Reason has ever run (well since 2001 when I started reading it). It may not be as deeply informed, but neither does it stink of "everything my side does is totally justified by the atrocities the other side commits", which pretty much applies to just about all Mideast discussion.
Rhywun | March 18, 2008, 4:49pm | #
Actually, it was kind of interesting. I've never read a complete piece of his before. Though I have to admit I only read it to get to the punchline. Which brings us to:it is quite nice to have a coffee without being searched, to walk into The Gap without being profiled
His home must not be the US, because by the time he gets back those niceties will be gone.
One slight correction is in order... Israeli non-Druze Arabs are not banned from serving in the IDF, but instead are exempt from conscription.
DannyK | March 18, 2008, 9:53pm | #
Wow, too bad you never got a chance to talk about the total economic strangulation of Gaza. That would be an interesting thing to approach from a libertarian standpoint, not to mention being a total humanitarian disaster.Also, you know, the mayor of Sderot is for negotiation with Hamas, as are 64% of Israelis in a recent poll reported in Ha'aretz. But you didn't get to talk to any of those guys. Man, AIPAC is good! Or you're lazy.
alan | March 18, 2008, 10:43pm | #
Pretty good report.Also, you know, the mayor of Sderot is for negotiation with Hamas, as are 64% of Israelis in a recent poll reported in Ha'aretz.
I'm not certain what good negotiations with Hamas would do. If there is a clear and reasonable answer to the question, 'what will it take to get you to stop firing rockets indiscriminately into civilian areas', it may be worth a shot, otherwise answers to the problem is else where.
alan | March 18, 2008, 10:43pm | #
it may be worth a shot, otherwise answers to the problem is else where.it may be worth a shot, otherwise the answer to the problem is else where.
Tacos mmm... | March 18, 2008, 11:30pm | #
No not at all. I think Michael's Mideast reporting is the best Reason has ever run (well since 2001 when I started reading it). It may not be as deeply informed, but neither does it stink of "everything my side does is totally justified by the atrocities the other side commits", which pretty much applies to just about all Mideast discussion.Really? Try this from part one:
When I ask the official about the massive and well-documented thievery of Yasser Arafat, his eyes narrow. "Arafat never stole money," he hisses. "The people around him did, but not Arafat."
Hissed? HISSED?
"Pretty blonde daughter you have," the Jew hissed, fingering his money bags.
You think that doesn't sound a little biased?
Fuck you, Moynihan, and all other bigots who keep trying to drag the U.S. into conflicts that have nothing to do with our own interests.
Toast > Tacos | March 19, 2008, 1:51am | #
Hilarious. Encore! Do you do weddings, or just NYTimes cocktail parties?Stupid comparison, tacos. "Hisses". Wow, there's a loaded racist verb for you. Moynihan should have said "vituperates", then you would have been cool with it.
Dave W. | March 19, 2008, 9:48am | #
I wish he would ask them how they know who is doing the rocket attacks. I mean sometimes there is supposedly a credible claim of responsibility. However, when there is not, then how do they know who shot the rocket?I don't really see him putting a hard question like that on his junket, tho.
J sub D | March 19, 2008, 12:54pm | #
then how do they know who shot the rocket?They ruled out the Swiss and the Canadians. Duh! Are they supposed to do an ID check? Do you have any suspicions of other than Hamas and Islamic Jihad?
Dave W. | March 19, 2008, 2:55pm | #
Do you have any suspicions of other than Hamas and Islamic Jihad?Oh, yes. People who strongly dislike Hamas and Islamic jihad.
DannyK | March 19, 2008, 5:18pm | #
I'm not certain what good negotiations with Hamas would do.Alan, I don't either; in fact, I think the situation is totally FUBAR. But I think Michael Moynihan could stand to do a little more actual reporting.
I don't need to read a word of this story to know that it's bullshit. Real journalists don't take trips paid for by outside groups. Instead of trying to see beyond the views of AIPAC, why don't you just pay for your own damn trips and do your own reporting? Is Reason really so poor and desperate for copy that it thinks this is a good idea?