Norman Finkelstein addresses the crowd at the annual dinner of the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Arab Student Union (ASU). PHOTO: Khalil AlHajal/TAAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEARBORN — Political science scholar Norman Finkelstein pulled no punches in a speech at the annual dinner of the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Arab Student Union (ASU) on March 20, referring to George W. Bush as an imbecile, Hosni Mubarak as a laughing cow, and saying he was proud to speak at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center because it has at times been referred to derogatorily as “Hizbullah hall.”

Finkelstein spoke on the December-January Israeli attacks on Gaza, as proceeds from the fourth annual event were to go to Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital through the charity Islamic Relief.

“There was no war,” Finkelstein said slowly, in his strong Brooklyn accent. “It wasn’t even a disproportionate war… What happened in Gaza was plainly and uncontroversially a massacre. It was a remarkably cowardly massacre.”

He said the 22-day onslaught — in which the ratio of Palestinians to Israelis killed was about 100 to one, with 10 of the 13 Israelis killed by friendly fire and civilians making up more than 80 percent of the Palestinians killed — did not constitute a war, but a massacre meant to re-instill fear into the Arabs.

“What happened in Gaza was a direct outcome of what happened in Lebanon in 2006,” when Israel, Finkelstein said, suffered “ignominious defeat” by village militias.

“It was to restore what Israel calls its ‘deterrence capacity,'” he said.

Quoting historic Israeli military figures, Finkelstein said ‘deterrence capacity’ has always been referred to as a main weapon — keeping the natives afraid and aware of who is in charge.

“They had to find some defenseless target to annihilate. Gaza has always been their favorite shooting gallery.”

He said the goal of the operation was to either destroy or radicalize Hamas.

“The Palestinians, in particular Hamas, were getting too moderate, too reasonable, too pragmatic and it was afraid it would have to negotiate a diplomatic settlement, which it doesn’t want,” he said.

The Israel-Palestinian conflict, Finkelstein said, “is probably the least complicated conflict in the world today.”

He said the Qassam rockets fired into southern Israel by Gaza militants, which he compared to firecrackers, are used as an excuse not to work toward a settlement.

Since 2001, 23 total people have been killed by rocket and mortar fire from Gaza, according to pro-Israel group The Israel Project.

Finkelstein said nearly the entire international community agrees on terms of a resolution to the conflict. The U.N. each year holds a “Vote on Peaceful Settlement of Palestine Question.” The last vote, in November 2008, was 164 to 7, similar to the annual vote count, in favor of a two state settlement on the 1967 borders, East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State and a just resolution to the refugee problem. The U.S., Israel, Australia and four South Pacific island nations were the only ones to vote against the resolution.

“Israel does not want to withdraw from the West Bank and is trying to find an excuse,” Finkelstein said.

Finkelstein was denied tenure at DePaul University in June 2007 and placed on administrative leave as a result of his outspoken criticism of Israel. He resigned in September, 2007 after raising a lawsuit and reaching a settlement with the University. As part of the settlement, DePaul issued a statement that described Finkelstein as a “prolific scholar and an outstanding teacher.”

About 750 people attended the banquet, according to ASU President Rashid Baydoun. He said the student group has more active members then ever, and has been expanding its political activity and influence.