Reuven Koret Responds To "Whither Jewcy?"
Reuven Koret, CEO of Koret Communications and interim editor-in-chief of Jewsweek magazine writes,
Dan, while you did a decent job summarizing my dispute with Jewcy, please look again at what you term the “editorial” and consider correcting that false claim. “An eye for an eye?” has a question mark! I do not take a position on a connection between Katrina and Katif, and I include plenty of dissenting points of view, including some that harshly ridicule the idea of a connection and those making it.
By the way, I do not claim such a link, but as an observer and writer I raise are some pretty striking parallels, as many many people (not just right wingers!) have observed and mused.
Thus it is NOT an editorial but a cover story introduction to the issue’s theme, which focuses on Jewish angles of the Katrina story, with diverse editorials and articles on this subject. I urge you to correct this mischaracterization.
I think you will agree that it is a provocative and interesting subject. Jewsweek has and will continue to tackle controversy, political and religious, not just celebrity tattooed Jewesses and hipster hiphop hebes. Although those too will be part of the mix.
As for Israel Insider, we regularly publish opinions from left-of-center folks (like M.J Rosenberg, David Dreilinger, Uri Avnery, David Grossman) even if in the last year — in response to Sharon’s turnabout and corruption — we have been more outspoken from a nationalist perspective, and at least in the last year the rightwingers definitely outnumber the lefties (partly because the rights have less access to mainstream mostly-left media).
Jewsweek has no plans to become a rightwing outlet, I assure you. And as you know, I welcome you and your readers to be regular contributors.
Reuven
Fair enough, if that’s how he wants to spin it. I’ll give him this space to defend himself, because if I were in the same boat, I would hope for the same courtesy.
Just curious, though: When Koret refers to “mainstream mostly-left media” — apart from Haaretz and some Hebrew dailies (which, despite being pro-disengagement, still railed against the mistreatment of anti-disengagement protesters), what the heck is he referring to? The Jerusalem Post? The Wall Street Journal? The National Review? The Weekly Standard? WorldNet Daily? Arutz Sheva? The Jewish Press? Little Green Footballs and the lizardoid blogosphere? Fox News (the #1 cable news network)?
There have been just as many right-wing media sources espousing anti-disengagement sentiments as there have been liberal-centrist and left-wing media sources espousing pro-disengagement sentiments. The liberal-centrist sources portrayed anti-disengagement sentiments symphatetically as well — particularly The New Republic. Thus I find the “liberal media” canard is so hackneyed it’s hardly worth engaging. The marginalized radical press aside, where was the liberal media to oppose the Iraq War? Where was the liberal media following 9/11 and the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act? They say that in Israel, the left-wing is America’s right-of-center. They should say the same about the Israeli and American press!
The thing that gets me about all this, really, is Koret’s language. He proclaims to have an “iconoclastic agenda […] equally willing to knock down sacred cows right and left,” and defends the imbalance of views on his sites because he feels the views he is promoting are underrepresented.
You know who he sounds like, right?
Me. And it reeks of recuperation.
With the JPost moving to the center, ynetnews in the left center and haaretz solidly in left, Israel Insider occupies a less-ideological and more balanced position somewhere shaded over in right centerfield: pro-Israel but critical as Israelis are of their government from time to time, and more critical of those who prefer we don’t exist.
Jewsweek doesn’t have a right-left agenda at all. Our only agenda is pro-Jewish, provocative and well-written content. The only contributors and unwelcome on all are Nazis and Messianic Jews. Non-proselytizing Christians, non-genocidal Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Atheists — bruchim habaim to all of the above to all of our sites. And my company produces on contract, agnostically, diverse sites such birthright israel, Jerusalem Report online, JPost French, Eretz Acheret, Caravan for Democracy, and many more.
We either let clients manage their own publications and content, or we supply for their review balanced content which they can change or reject or approve.
This is a business, but also a labor of love. We’re not perfect, but we are surviving, and we hope producing interesting content and community on a fairly prolific scale.
A “labor of love”? I’d like to see how you would react if someone even hinted about the presence of divine will as a motive force for palestinian terrorism against us here in Israel.
Here you have a massive humanitarian catastrophe in New Orleans leaving thousands devastated. I know that the anti-disengagement camp is smarting right now, but the disengagement is sad – it’s not a devastating tragedy that has robbed hundreds of their lives or loved ones, spread disease and poverty.
This isn’t about left or right or levels of representation of the viewpoints of either. This is about one guy whose stupendous lack of sensitivity and foolish musings have finally been called publicly exactly what they are.
If you don’t have the decency toward your fellow human being to acknowlege his suffering then it’s no wonder you’re so arrogant as to attribute god’s will to punish to hurricane Katrina. But at least find a way to stop your shocking gall before you claim it’s a “labor of love”.
I’ve read Jewsweek lots. This “editorial” is only the worst of many examples of opinion pieces on that site that read like a speech one might hear on Al Jazeera.
You are entitled to write whatever you want, but the fact of the matter is that Jewcy is embarrassed to be associated with you. Your silly “editorial” might be “musings” for some hysterical settlers, but for the Israelis I know (right AND left), it is the rantings of someone who needs his head examined. You are not a journalist and Jewcy finally noticed.
Israeli media in English shape news reportage far beyond our borders.
Most foreign journalists are relying heavily on Ha’aretz – which has the credibility and PC editorial line that make them feel at home – and on the Jerusalem Post. The better reporters also graze Ynet.
We all know that Palestinian stringers and “media centers” run rings around Israeli “hasbara” efforts.
So the net result is world-wide reporting that skews left.
Neither Israel Insider, nor Arutz 7 (now that the government shut them down – ain’t democracy wonderful?) have anything like that kind of influence or credibility. The only thing that comes close are the WSJ and Fox – but they both have more cachet than mass market penetration, and their local stringers are subject to the same left-leaning undertow as other reporters.
So a grand total of two major news sources in the entire world media firmament consistently make an effort to buck the trend.
The other center-right venues you mention are largely journals of opinion, not news.
Lulu, it appears you can’t read, or don’t understand what you read. Go to Jewsweek.com and try again. And if you think it sounds like Aljazeera then it means you’ve never read or heard Aljazeera.
This intro piece does not say that the Hurricane hit the Gulf because of Bush’s support for Gush Katif. It covers what people are thinking about, in Israel and in the US. Top Rabbis have said so. Top Christian preachers have said so. Dozens of people have written to me about it. I don’t happen to agree with it, but I do think it is an interesting. As a US native, I spent hours in the middle of the night following coverage of Katrina, on NOLA.com, WWLTV.com. I visited NOLA often, and worked on the rigs in Houma as a young man. Our publications have devoted tremendous attention to the Jewish, moral and political dimension of the Katrina catastrophe.
So get down off your high horse and recognize that other people see the world differently that you, and that the job of a publisher and editor is to get people to think and feel.
I would hardly be offended if someone says that Israel is suffering attacks because of God’s wrath. People are constantly saying that Jews are suffering because of something we did to one God or another wannabe God. Hey, if you are a bible reader, you would know that God says so himself.
As for the various personal attacks, you should know that the histrionics just brand you as a pigeonholed leftist or someone who has a vendetta, not as someone with whom one can have an intelligent conversation. So for those readers who are not so closed-minded, please do check out the seven Katrina-related articles in the current issue of Jewsweek and evaluate my assertion that there is diversity and compassion and intelligent writing, and that the cover story presents dissenting viewpoints on whether the Katrina and Katif events have any connection in the divine scheme of things.
Let’s just agree that to be made homeless, by a hurricane or government edict, is horrible, and let’s each do what we can to help the survivors and prevent recurrences.
Ben David commented and said it all. Arutz Sheva and Israel Insider are not influential in any way, even though I browse them. Gotta remember Israel Insider doesn’t have journalists, instead amateurs writing, reflected on their talkback, with fanatics raging on and on, bad language. At least Ynet, Jpost are clean and do not have death threats encouraged, I have seen on Israel Insider.
Ben David commented and said it all. Arutz Sheva and Israel Insider are not influential in any way, even though I browse them. Gotta remember Israel Insider doesn’t have journalists, instead amateurs writing, reflected on their talkback, with fanatics raging on and on, bad lingo and no tolerance of the other moderates. At least Ynet, Jpost are clean and do not have death threats encouraged, I have seen on Israel Insider.
Haaretz talkback has credibility lots. Ynet not too bad. Koret may be a businessman, he’s no good for Jewcy, no journalist either, who has he written for, nonone, too right wing, not there, the Israel Insider site is supported by adverts only anyway. I am sure. Gotta say, these sort of sites are no good for news. Golderein was like this, he got towed off eventually. JPost has journalists of calibre. I like the old Jewsweek. I say, gotta go for it. Give it backs Koret.
Reuven , don’t be a hypocrite. You said Nazi’s and Non Genocidal Moslams are not welcome on your webzine IsraelInsider. Like how! Or you wanna tell us you don’t check your talkback’s, what you’re so buzy man? Genocidal Jews are welcome, n we don’t wanna man like you associated with Jewsweek.
Jewsweek, wake up and smell the coffee. Man do the right thing and go, resign. Are you man enuff to do that? Shalom.
Reuven I meant to say, your talkback is all Genocidal Jews. A disgrace to the Jewish community. Every time I browse your talkback I am disgusted, now I never bother. May Hashem open your eyes. Shalom.
as a regular reader of Haaretz, I don’t consider to be a leftist publication. It is centrist at best and that center moves farther right all the time. It supports Sharon, and he is a right winger. Look at joel marcus. Jpost doesn’t get centrist creds for being to the left of Israeli Insider. I also don’t agree that Jewsweek was all that much better 4 months ago. It is a right wing publication. The percentage of lefties+centrists is always much smaller than those on the right, and the right wingers are way right, of most of its American Jewish target audience. I also don’t think the New Republic should be considered left.
I am not sure I worry about it either, since it pretty obvious jewsweek isn’t thriving by any means.
Steven he also allows alot of genocide advocacy from gentiles so long as it directed at muslims, but that didn’t just occure since he took over.
I read with interest all the kvetches and want to quickly add my own. I’m a consultant for investors, (investor myself ) some of whom express a desire to invest in Israel and then pull out at the last minute, due to the volatile politics of the region. Part of my work involves looking at what the media in Israel is portraying to us.
Jewsweek and Israel Insider are not serious enough to merit mainstream attention,[ the movers and shakers will not be reading them anyway. There are a handful of nutters like these ‘Wannabe news publishers’ and they only serve to give Jews a bad name. ] Reuven Koret won’t tell you this. I’m doing it for him, he thinks he can get away with saying he allows free speech by all. Reuven, how many Hindu’s , Atheist, Moslem’s, Catholics, contribute with all your sponsered hatemongers there?
To Reuven Koret I want to say this:
You are no asset to Israel.
Can’t really blame you, since they are donors to your site, i’d respect you more if you came out openly and said so, instead of pretending to me some magnamious broad mind.
If anyone needs proof of that, Steve above and Democrat I am in agreement about your “wanna be Moslem killers” on Koret’s site, not to mention “wannabe non fanatic Jews killers” , imbeciles and retards. Check Koret’s readers . They are all sponsor’s and probably pay him to release their fully fledged ugly views on the chatback. No company would take this site seriously.
The problem with these sort of so called news sites is that they take news from serious publications like Ynet, Haaretz, and copy and paste them, and hey presto! It’s called Israel Insider, or Jewsweek, more a hobby, or “labour of love” as Koret said.
They should be treated as such, it’s not even worth spending time criticising them. Except when they want to start contaminating the pop culture like Jewsweek.
Sincere wishes!
J Zimmerman
No right wing facist Jews. They do enough damage already. Leave Jewsweek alone.
We don’t want Jewish Nazi’s this ain’t Germany, and it ain’t the 1940’s.
Let’s start from the bottom: the accusation that Jewsweek is “contaminating the pop culture”! Roll that one around your brains for the half-minute or so it deserves. Heavy forbid that the pure pop culture of the JewSchool backside-slappers should be contaminated with dissent from someone who is pro-Israel and for traditional Judaism — or at least giving it a fair hearing. Israel Insider has published 6500 original articles and views in its 4.5 years of daily publications. We have 250 contributors, and as noted, they come from across the spectrum.
While we do our fair share of copying-and-pasting from other pubs, there are thousands of pieces of original writing, both from our own editorial staff, freelancers, and columnists.
OK, I admit that there are more pro-Israel than anti and, lately, more who are against the forced expulsion of Jews than for. If you guys think Haaretz is centrist, that says more about you than Haaretz!
We have spearheaded human rights campaigns, for the Pakistani publisher and PEN award winner Salah Choudury, for Jonathan Pollard, and for teenaged girls detained without charges for standing on Israeli sidewalks and talking back to cops during road-blockings.
Yeah we are tolerant–maybe too tolerant of extreme views. I am not big on censorship, and it can get messy, but I assure you there are plenty of left wing and Arab talkbackers who mix it up with rightwingers. It just seems you are looking to badmouth, and really don’t know what you’re talking about.
Jewsweek on the other hand is not primarily a political publication at all but a manifestation of contributory media. We are not afraid to touch politics, but the pub both under benyamin’s editorship and his successors (not me — I have never been the editor) is not about ideology and dogma, as any reader will know.
It is, and always has been, about pop culture, arts, performance, controversy, cultural debate, rabbinical musings and yes, we don’t hide it, the occasional beautiful, scantily-clad Jewess. It is a tabloid and I daresay that our pubs look and navigate a lot better than most pubs and blogs out there, no small feat for our small company.
It’s a lot easier for you critics, those of you who kvetch but don’t produce, or produce shoddily, or irregularly, to carp and sneer and condescend. But I am an American Jew who made aliya to Israel, have run a successful business, have sustained a couple of nice publications, produce on contract a dozen more, respecting their editorial stances left right and center.
I am not judging you all for kvetching, tho I am not big on personal attacks. But I do think that the critiques above are pretty superficial and uninformed and, you know, to quote a nice Israeli expression, the dogs bark and the caravan moves on.
My only hope is that more of you, from whatever perspective you start from, come to live and inhale Israel, because as twisted as we are, only here can you truly live a normal Jewish life, fight for the future of a Jewish country, and shape it character and content. Thanks for hearing me out. Enjoy your lives.
Hey R Koret
{But I do think that the critiques above are pretty superficial and uninformed and, you know, to quote a nice Israeli expression,}
I’m a regular browser , even participated in your talkback during the Jerusalam bombs, and anyone can see you have a bunch of guyz there whose sole purpose is to mouth off the same rubbish over and over.
Are they your donors? Just come clean and admit it, you’re fooling no-one.
{but I assure you there are plenty of left wing and Arab talkbackers who mix it up with rightwingers. It just seems you are looking to badmouth}
Same pattern. You think we are stupid? in that any Arab is going to be there, when you have your facists barking their shit? Stop lying. I’ve seen what happens to any Nice Jew, Catholic, Arab, Leftist, at your so called “newzine” .
I’m an American and I have businesses in New York, Israel, France, Switzerland, Bahamas, and Africa. I also do business with the Middle East Arab countries. It is imperitive we do all we can to end this enemity. You Koret, are a big disadvantage here.
We need people who can reach out to all, Jews who can reach out to our enemies and win them, not your type. Your type drives our potential friends away. You and those facist Hamas are the same. And you will end the same.
Here is where you speak the truth Reuven,and you still try to cover it
”””””””””Yeah we are tolerant–maybe too tolerant of extreme views. I am not big on censorship, and it can get messy””””””””” ”””’
You said it dude, THAT’S WHY YOU GOTTA REMAIN A SMALL BUSINESSMAN.
Stay away from Jewsweek, and don’t whatever you do, edit any more Jewish magazines. Start one called Jewish Nazi like the dude above said. You are a total disgrace, what makes it worse is that you defend yourself, and actually believe you are right. Disgusting!!
I love when you guys foam at the mouth. Same thing at my pubs. All find it amusing when people become unhinged because somebody says something that challenges their insular worldview. Uri, clearly for whatever dirty business you’re in you’ve gotta suck it in and make nice to all the Europeein and African and Middle East Arab trading partners and the way to do it is to trash Israel and hide your Jewishness or be the self-abasing Jew afraid to stand up for authentic Jewish values. You want to “end this enemity” (sic) Uri? Well, the enemity wants to end you, brother. Wouldn’t want to drive potential friends away by being a proud Jew! We’re just the same as facist Hamas, Uri? “And you will end the same.” What is this, a death wish? Is this representative of your world view, judenbube? Kol ha kvod!
As for “Heidi” — I tolerate extreme views … from all sides. I don’t think people should be afraid to hear calmly and cogently expressed opinions that contradict their own. Something that apparently terrifies you and like-minded bigots. Easy to call someone a “Jewish Nazi”! Do you feel self-righteous saying it? Are you a good Jew because you have “liberal” views! Golly, if you were so liberal, you wouldn’t have a problem reading the views and articles in Jewsweek (which I doubt you ever have done).
Where did all this start? Someone objected to an article about possible connections between Katif and Katrina. That produced this hurricane of hatred? Why do you people hate so much? How can you not tolerate compassion for the expelled Jews of Katif? Why can’t you contemplate the possible of a God who acts in history, that cares for His People Israel? This is THE message of Torah. This is the history of the Jewish People. Is this anathema to your existence? How can you, with this approach and hashkafat olam, even call yourself Jewish? Go learn.
‘Heavy forbid that the pure pop culture of the JewSchool backside-slappers should be contaminated with dissent from someone who is pro-Israel and for traditional Judaism ‘
Man you’re not getting it, pro-Israel are all who love and support (like myself) and traditional Judaism teaches love and respect not Nazism,hatred, bigotry and facism as espoused by you, and your supporters.
Tell me, do you even know ,What calibre are your supporters/readers? What social status do they have? What do they do for Israel? how much have they invested in Israel? Or do you only care that they support your rabid nonsense? like the Katrina story on Jewsweek? You are seriously misguided if you think any of your sort can help Israel in any way, forget about that, that’s not too bad, what is despicable is that you do actual damage to Jews worldwide, and not just Israel. How do you think a Moslem who happens to traipse to your site will think when they see the chatback? or a Ku Klux Klan member?
Don’t tell me about living in Israel. I know only too well. I own a building in Tel Aviv, and have a house in Jerusalem.
‘Jewsweek on the other hand is not primarily a political publication at all but a manifestation of contributory media. We are not afraid to touch politics, ‘
Yeah, and i’m saying like, stay away Reuven. Or we’ll buy you out, get it? We don’t need people like you, to make more enemies of Jews. You do not know what is out there. My advice to you, is get out, and see people. I bet all your friends are so called “traditional Jews” co-conspirators dreaming of genocide and murder, of all but right wing fanatics. Am I right ? You bet! I bet you have no Moslem friends, no Christian friends, no Left Wing friends!
Listen Reuven, those of us who actually deal with all these people, feel really emabarrased when we have to explain your sort . It’s like when they have to explain Al Qaeda or Hamas to us.
‘It’s a lot easier for you critics, those of you who kvetch but don’t produce, or produce shoddily, or irregularly, to carp and sneer and condescend. ‘
I have shares in computer software production company, which has contracts with publishers. I also own a small business publication ( print ) in the USA , which went online, i’m not totally ignorant about publishing.
In the end I’d say, don’t start swallowing magazines like Jewsweek, pretending to keep them unbiased, and then slowly introduce your ugly views into them. We are smart and we won’t let our hard work be wasted by your sort.
Otherwise tread carefully. I do my best to get companies to invest in Israel, tough enough already, without your type totally blowing it. I have a press guy who monitors all the American, European, Israeli and Middle East publications, and i’m aware of what they’re all doing, who are good, and who to avoid, and who is a total no no. You Reuven, I am afraid fall into the last category with your Israel Insider. At least Little Green Footballs and MEMRI do not pretend to be anything other than fanatics.
Do something good for Israel if you really care!
Sincere Wishes!
J Zimmerman
Reuven I just saw your message, as i submitted mine, and wanted to quickly reply to it,
‘That produced this hurricane of hatred? Why do you people hate so much? How can you not tolerate compassion for the expelled Jews of Katif? Why can’t you contemplate the possible of a God who acts in history, that cares for His People Israel? This is THE message of Torah. This is the history of the Jewish People. Is this anathema to your existence? How can you, with this approach and hashkafat olam, even call yourself Jewish? Go learn.’
No you and learn. How do you connect compassion for the Jews of Katif with your rubbish?
Man you’re losing it. I’m telling you get a grip on reality. The Jews who were expelled have our compassion, they have our support. What they do no not need is people who spin it for their own extremism (your sort)
Anyhoo Reuven, I was not just talking about your Jewsweek Katif coverage, I was criticising your publication in general, since you try to spin it as something that is broad spectrum, when your readership (indicated by your chatback) is really vile, and the lowest of the lowest Jews.
You don’t ever get any feedback from the general public? Maybe you are too entrenched in your little world, that’s fine, just don’t try to pretend you’re something you are not. You are not a God fearing Jew, who espouses the love and tolerance of the Torah. Hashem help you.
Heres one you may all like too
http://www.thejewishweek.com/
Hey, Zim, you talk a lot about what you OWN in Israel. What do you do here? Too busy traipsing around the world, rubbing elbows etc. with the high and mighty? You have “shares” in this company or that? You “have a press guy” who monitors …. Aren’t you the impressive and powerful man! Love of ISrael, love of Torah? get off it. What are you DOING for the Jewish People except lashon hara? (P.S. It doesn’t show so far.)
I didn’t “swallow” Jewsweek — I built it, with my own sweat and money and time. I recognized the potential in Benyamin Cohen, the multitalented editor who then had a small proto-blog and supported his efforts for years, improving the technology and design, attracting additional investors, and kept producing, with my team, issue after issue. I challenge you to find examples of “vile”chatback” on Jewsweek. All I hear from those who write, and the “general public,” and all who comment there, is that Jewsweek is a much-loved publication, and I have been its publisher since 2002.
You and your fellow-travelers who say — “hands off Jewsweek!” — like this is a college demo against the invasion of Grenada — reveal your ignorance and weakness, your baseless hatred for those who promote a Jewish Israel and, I would guess, jealousy about someone who actually DOES, not just BUYS. Guess your “press guy” is sleeping on the job, Zimmie…..
Hey Koret this is for you,
{Uri, clearly for whatever dirty business you’re in you’ve gotta suck it in and make nice to all the Europeein and African and Middle East Arab trading partners and the way to do it is to trash Israel and hide your Jewishness or be the self-abasing Jew afraid to stand up for authentic Jewish values. }
A petulant fit Koret? Nothing dirty about my business, your letter to me pissed me off real bad.
I deal in commodities and oil trading, unless you call hard work, and sweat dirty, started from scratch and became very successful. As a Jew, I feel it my duty to give and help Israel. A large part of my profits go to Israeli and Jewish causes.
Authentic Jewish values? This is a joke right? You are telling me I don’t have authentic Jewish values just because I don’t support genocide like you do? I’m practicing, and deeply religious though modern.
Weakening and defeating Israel’s enemy is important to me Koret, defeating Hizbollah/Hamas needs Moslam support on our side, not against us, as you advocate. We have such support as I have been given it often enough, and if you care for Israel you should help expand that support, not drive it away. Secondly, with Israel sitting right in the Middle of Arab’s it would make sense for Arab money to be invested in Israel. That is business Koret, do you get it? Most Arabs have nothing against Judaism or Jews, if they did I wouldn’t deal with them. This is what you don’t realise, and that is why you are dangerous to us.
I am insular Koret? I am about as cosmopolitan as you can get. Russian/European ancestry, USA citizen, and European national. PROUD Jew, never hide it, and self abasing? Are you crazy? What did I say that amounts to self abasing? Even though I hate Jewish fanatics like you for they blacken our name, I equally hate Hizbollah/Hamas fanatics out to kill us Jews. I don’t tolerate any kind of Anti-Semitism lightly from anyone. My point is that you rightwingers are the sort that encourage Anti-Semitism. You are Hizbollah/Hamas are the same. They want all Jews killed. You want all Moslams killed. You all need to have your heads seen to. You drive away those who could be persuaded to support us.
I lost some of my family in the Shoah, and i’ll be damned if during my lifetime I see people like you whip up another frenzy against Jews worldwide. Do you understand? The vast majority of people I do business with are decent people, face reality man, the Moslam’s are everywhere, and have the wealth, we need to win them over and we are. I know some who have given generously to Simon Wiesenthal’s projects.
{You want to “end this enemity” (sic) Uri? Well, the enemity wants to end you, brother. Wouldn’t want to drive potential friends away by being a proud Jew! We’re just the same as facist Hamas, Uri? “And you will end the same.” What is this, a death wish? Is this representative of your world view, judenbube? Kol ha kvod! }
Like how many. Tell me Koret, the numbers, and how you came to this conclusion. You sound like Hitler rallying people to his cause and then say you don’t sound like Hamas? You are off your rocks
You do not target the enemy you also target all our friends. I make a clear distinction between the two. You do not. If you have a media outlet, use it to help support Israel not her enemies. That’s all i’m saying to you.
You want to whip up hatred and fear for what purpose? I’d really like to learn what your goal is brother. What do you hope to accomplish?
I’ve stated my goals above, namely, Israel’s enemy will be defeated by her own (Moslam’s worldwide), we need to help them there. I get investors in invest in Israeli companies, and causes, Isael benefits from me. What about you? How does Israel benefit from you?
Koret, what is your goal for Israel? How successful have you been, and tell me do you think your method is better ? How many enemies have you won over? How cosmopolitan are you?
Oh, Mr. Zimmeman, what a surprise! You’re in commodity and oil-trading! Wouldn’t want to offend those trading partners, would we?
Your diatribe is so full of personal attacks, I wouldn’t know where to start. If you read (as oppose fantasize about) the ten thousand articles we have published in Israel Insider and Jewsweek, you’ll find NOT ONE that advocates genocide, or killing Arabs or anyone else except in self-defense. You will find among the articles for the most part thoughtful, interesting, provocative writing by bright and creative prople. (For the free-speech talkbacks I take less pride or credit, except perhaps for allowing an occasionally amusing experiment in relatively unbridled free speech. Only occasionally do I ban those who cross red lines, left and right.)
You blame me and “rightwinger” Jews for causing anti-Semitism? I’m just like Hamas and Hizbullah? I’m just like Hitler? How classic, albeit unimaginative! Don’t call names, man, look at the facts at http://www.israelinsider.com and http://www.jewsweek.com.
Lech lecha, Mr. Zimmerman — go to your petro-dollars, capitalist, reap your profits, and support Jewish and Israel causes while you diss uncowed Israeli nationalists and Jewish patriots to win your sycophantic brownie points. You think you’ve “won them over” because they, like you, launder THEIR petrodollars and consciences and history, shwartznegger-style, to the Wiesenthal center? Dream on, brother. At least my words, and those of the authors of my publications, reach a hundred thousand people each month directly, helping to counteract the poison and self-delusion you and other establishment “machers” spread around to and on each other like so much self-congratulatory fertilizer.
Yes, this is a labor of love, and I am proud of II and Jewsweek, with all of their faults and underfunded woes. I do use my modest media, not to make profits, but only to help Israel and the Jewish people, to the best of my ability.
From what I have seen in this discussion, you just try to tear down people who don’t think like you do, and admit to doing the same in your boardrooms and private clubs to ingratiate yourselves to the oil dealers and commodity traders and like-minded court Jews and Judenrat on the false hope that they really do respect you for leaning over backward and criticizing people like me.
Yes, I will wait patiently for the messiah you apparently expect –“Moslam’s worldwide” — to defeat Israel’s enemies, as you pathetically hope. More likely, I think, they will turn on you. You have a right to your opinion, and Jewschool may be a suitable forum for you. I am genuinely glad if you contribute to genuine Jewish and Israel causes, as opposed to those that milk suckers and support the enemies of my country and people.
Next year, Mr. Zimmerman, make an effort to respect your fellow Jew, even if he disagrees with you. In your last remarks, I sense an attempt at rapprochement. I don’t turn that away, and you have my address, and you are welcome to correpond privately if you wish. No Jew is beyond hope!
I will keep publishing, from Israel, and you can keep oil-trading, wherever. Deal?
I truly wish you well. shana tova, to you and other Jewschool readers. It’s been real.
As for “Heidi” — I tolerate extreme views … from all sides. I don’t think people should be afraid to hear calmly and cogently expressed opinions that contradict Reuven
”””””””their own. Something that apparently terrifies you and like-minded bigots. Easy to call someone a “Jewish Nazi”! Do you feel self-righteous saying it? Are you a good Jew because you have “liberal” views! Golly, if you were so liberal, you wouldn’t have a problem reading the views and articles in Jewsweek (which I doubt you ever have done). ”””””””””””
Nah dude, i’m kinda conservative, not liberal, and Jewsweek is a bit slow but cool enuff, YOU are not cool is what I meant. You wanna bring in your Jewish Nazi idea’s quietly. YOU stay at Israel Insider where ya belong with ya Nazi’s. I don’t like ya.
‘What are you DOING for the Jewish People except lashon hara? (P.S. It doesn’t show so far.) ‘
Lashon hara is for people like you Reuven. They say your biggest enemies are amongst your own. I see you as one, i’m a venture capitalist, I also
I encourage/finance training courses and give towards charities, not just in Israel, other Jewish places. Yes towards, the Gush Katif, and will be involved in the coming disengagement too.
‘I challenge you to find examples of “vile”chatback” on Jewsweek. ‘
Vile chatback, I did not mean on Jewsweek, I meant your other Israelinsider. I meant you will soon introduce it to the popular culture, and then some, and then some. Your free speech excuse is to cover your own ass. You want others to take the blame for your own evil beliefs, or you wouldn’t encourage it. You really think people are dumb as to buy your free speech bull?
‘ would guess, jealousy about someone who actually DOES, not just BUYS. Guess your “press guy” is sleeping on the job, Zimmie’
My press guy, is savvy or he’d get his ass kicked. At least your other publications is honest in that it admits it’s facism which shows in your chatback and the zoo of Jewish animals you keep there. I meant keep it honest. If Jewsweek isn’t political, don’t contaminate it, and don’t spread it to other Jewish blogs either.
Jealously? Here you show your delusion Reuven, in a magnificent way. I can BUYS you outright .
DOES? Let me make clear to you what you DOES. You DOES try to influence people in a bad way. You DOES have no inkling what is around you. You DOES live in cloudcuckooland.
You said above you’re underfunded, have you thought why you are underfunded? Why aren’t people rushing to support you? That is what you DOES.
Stick with Haaretz , I do. Jewsweek if fine for a light read. Nothing wrong with it at all, and it’s better than nothing. At least someone is making an effort. Don’t know if RKoret has ever written for any newspaper or magazine? still it’s better to do than not.
The best to do is for all publishers to monitor who they employ as editors. If you bring in a murderer readers will not be impressed. Nor will readers be impressed if a man who is known to have extremist views like Koret is, is brought in and then says he will keep it neutral. It didn’t take long for his poison to seep out did it?
If Jewcy hadn’t kicked him out, he would’ve tried it again and again until it became the accepted measure.