Right-wing Listserv Coordinates Smears of Anti-Semitism Against Israel’s Critics in the Blogosphere

[marmar]

from AlterNet:



Right-wing Listserv Coordinates Smears of Anti-Semitism Against Israel’s Critics in the Blogosphere


Salon’s Justin Eliot has uncovered a right-wing listserv called “The Freedom Community” that targets bloggers and journalists who are critical of Israel. According to Elliot, the private listserv is made up many neoconservative journalists and at least one former Spokesman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Josh Block. Elliot got his hands on an email Block recently sent to the Freedom Community where he charges liberal bloggers with anti-semitism and urges his fellow Freedom Community members to “echo” and “amplify” his smear and “use the below to attack the bad guys.” Elliot gives and detailed and telling description of the email:

Block sent out his email following publication of an article by Politico’s Ben Smith Wednesday about writers at the Democratic-affiliated Center for American Progress and Media Matters who enunciate a more progressive take on the Israel-Palestine conflict than is usually found in Washington. Block was quoted in the story accusing CAP columnist Eric Alterman of writing “borderline anti-Semitic stuff,” a charge Alterman (who is himself Jewish) dismissed as “ludicrous.”

Block’s email to the Freedom Community list arrived under the subject line “Important piece to echo and the research to do it….” – a reference to the Politico story. He wasted no time throwing around more accusations of anti-Semitism.

“This kind of anti-Israel sentiment is so fringe it’s support by CAP is outrageous, but at least it is out in the open now — as is their goal – clearly applauded by revolting allies like the pro-HAMAS and anti-Zionist/One State Solution advocate Ali Abunumiah and those who accuse pro-Israel Americans of having ‘dual loyalties’ or being ‘Israel-Firsters’ – to shape the minds of future generations of Democrats,” Block writes. “These are the words of anti-Semites, not Democratic political players.” ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/745673/right-wing_listserv_coordinates_smears_of_anti-semitism_against_israel%E2%80%99s_critics_in_the_blogosphere/

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1. I'm surprised no one found anything of interest to comment on in this nt