Comrade:Cassette/notes

Elementry principles of philosophy (Georges Politzer)

Imperialism

Communist Party of Canada

Editor Sandbox

Jeffery Goldberg

Jeffrey Mark Goldberg (born September 22, 1965) is a prominent American journalist. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine. Goldberg's writing primarily focuses on foreign affairs, with a notable emphasis on the Middle East and Africa. His work often reflects a Zionist perspective.

Early Life and IDF Service

Goldberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents. After attending the University of Pennsylvania, he made the decision to relocate to Israel. During the First Intifada, Goldberg served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). His role as a prison guard at Ktzi'ot Prison, a facility that has been the subject of significant controversy due to allegations of inhumane treatment and abuse of Palestinian detainees, has been a source of significant controversy (https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/25/middleeast/former-palestinian-detainee-sexually-abused-in-israeli-prison-mime-intl/index.html). Critics argue that his participation in the detention of individuals resisting the Israeli occupation raises serious concerns about his commitment to human rights.

Goldberg has attempted to address this controversy in his book, Prisoners: A Muslim and a Jew Across the Middle East Divide. (source)The book chronicles his experiences as a prison guard and his relationship with a Palestinian detainee. (source)However, many remain critical of his decision to serve in the IDF during a period marked by widespread human rights abuses.(source)

Career

Goldberg's career in journalism began at The Washington Post, where he covered crime. (source) He later became a columnist for The Jerusalem Post, a right-wing Israeli newspaper. Upon returning to the United States, he held positions at The Forward, a Jewish publication, New York magazine, The New York Times Magazine, and The New Yorker. In 2007, he joined The Atlantic and ascended to the position of editor-in-chief in 2016.

His career has been characterized by a consistent and unwavering support for Israel, a stance that has earned him both praise and condemnation. His supporters view him as a leading voice in advocating for Israel's interests in the American media landscape. However, his critics accuse him of bias, arguing that his close ties to Israel compromise his ability to report objectively on the Middle East. Goldberg's Pro-Israel Stance: Beyond Two-State Solutions Goldberg openly identifies as a Zionist.(source) while he has stated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his critics contend that his actions and writings contradict this claim. They point to his consistent defense of Israeli government policies that have effectively undermined the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. His defense of the 2014 IDF offensive on Gaza, a military operation that resulted in widespread civilian casualties, has been particularly controversial.

Goldberg has consistently sought to downplay the severity of Israel's settlement project, arguing that it is not a significant obstacle to peace. However, this position ignores the well-documented impact of settlements on Palestinian land rights and their ability to establish a contiguous and sovereign state. His tendency to dismiss criticism of the U.S.-Israel relationship as anti-Semitic has further alienated many within the pro-Palestinian movement.

Goldberg and the Iraq War

Goldberg's role in promoting the 2003 invasion of Iraq is a particularly dark stain on his career. In 2002, he authored an article for The New Yorker titled "The Great Terror" (source) that attempted to establish a link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda. This article, widely criticized for its lack of factual basis, was part of a broader media campaign to build public support for the war.

His continued insistence that the invasion of Iraq, despite its catastrophic consequences, will ultimately be viewed as a moral act has drawn sharp criticism from those who view the war as a crime of aggression. Goldberg's belated admission that he was wrong about the war has done little to assuage his critics, who hold him accountable for his role in promoting a conflict that destabilized the region and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.

Ktzi'ot Prison

Ktzi'ot Prison, a detention facility located in the Negev desert and run by the Israel Prison Service (IPS), has been the subject of significant controversy due to allegations of inhumane treatment and abuse of Palestinian detainees. The prison gained notoriety during the First Intifada, serving as a primary site for the detention of Palestinians arrested for their participation in the uprising. It continues to hold a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners, including those detained without charge.

Controversy

Numerous accounts from former detainees, human rights groups, and media investigations have highlighted disturbing patterns of abuse and torture within Ktzi'ot. (source) Detainees have reported being subjected to various forms of torture, including beatings, verbal abuse, and the use of hot water as a means of inflicting pain.

One former detainee, Salem, alleged that he was sexually abused during his time at Ktzi'ot. (source) He was initially held at a separate facility, believed to be Sde Teiman, before being transferred to Ktzi'ot. Salem recounted experiencing a climate of fear and intimidation, marked by the sounds of screams and gunshots.

Systemic Abuse and Lack of Accountability

The allegations of abuse at Ktzi'ot, and other Israeli prisons, point to a larger issue of systemic mistreatment and a lack of accountability within the Israeli prison system.(source)The use of Israel's Unlawful Combatants Law, which allows for indefinite detention without charge, has been criticized by human rights organizations for stripping Palestinian detainees of basic legal protections.

The release of leaked surveillance footage showing alleged abuse of a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman further supports claims of widespread and systematic torture within Israeli detention facilities. (source)While the IDF has denied these allegations, human rights groups have called for an independent and impartial investigation into the treatment of Palestinian detainees.