Introducing this Blog – Idea, Goal & Rules

I. The Idea

This blog is an extension of the Online One State Bibliography Project - http://www.onestate.org - that actively seeks to provide a wealth of information about the ever increasing one state / two state debate in Israel/Palestine. True to its name, the project is primarily concerned with compiling articles, papers, and other documents related to the one state / two state discussions from all relevant perspectives for both ideas. However, as is readily apparent by the header image, the project is run by a one state advocate arguing for one democratic secular state in Israel/Palestine.

The author and administrator – John Sigler – is a Jewish-American activist that has been engaged in the struggle to achieve justice for the Palestinian people for many years. Beginning from a strong two-state position and, like many, falling for disingenuous “peace process” that began in Madrid; over the years his position has evolved and today he is an unapologetic anti-Zionist one state supporter, believing that the ethnocentric and exclusive ideology of Zionism is the root of the problem.

The creation of this blog was stimulated by two recent events, specifically locating new articles for the bibliography and a recent series of exchanges on the issue at another website.

The process of updating and maintaining the bibliography involves a near constant search for, and at least cursory review of, new articles on the topic. The process is itself quite educational in that it gives the person undertaking it insight into the newest arguments and/or spin being added to the debate by extremely diverse writers and commentators. At the same time one is constantly coming across the same old arguments and rhetorical straw-man constructs, so assuming the person compiling the information already has given opinions and counter-arguments, there is definite desire to comment on much of these.

The second event was a recent series of exchanges and discussions exploring the issue in some detail on Dan Fleshler’s “Realistic Dove” website. The exchanges were conducted on the comment threads and remained civil though, like this blog, the administration was already strongly opinionated (in that case, in favor of a two state solution; whereas this blog is clearly supportive of the one state idea). Giving full credit where it is due, the administration did allow alternative perspectives and even opposing points of view; however, due to the bias of the administration, the posted topics kept the discussion within a Zionist Left framework that essentially confined alternative perspectives to the role of reactionary polemics.

These two events combined has resulted in this blog. One of the interesting things about the reactionary polemics at Realistic Dove is that because of the framework, the articulation of the one state case had to be analytical, deconstructing the opposing arguments point by point, in some cases almost line by line. This is the same methodology that Norman Finkelstein (a two state supporter) used to such telling effect in Appendix III of his Beyond Chutzpah in countering much of Dershowitz’s fanciful hasbara work. Such a methodology removes rhetorical flourish and turn of phrase from the discussion replacing it with a detailed analytical response to the contentions being challenged. As part and parcel of maintaining the bibliography project, there are many new articles being presented that deserve this analytical treatment and this is what this blog intends to do.

II. The Goal

The overall goal of the Online One State Bibliography Project is to provide a resource for those interested in the topic and presents information from most viewpoints. Despite the tone and context of the site, the actual material is essentially impartial and has hopefully been of some use.

This blog, on the other hand, makes no pretense to being impartial. The purpose is to deconstruct and carefully counter selected articles that either support a two state solution or actively oppose the one state idea, with an emphasis on the latter. The goal is to stimulate debate and discussion of the topic.

III. The Rules

The actual postings – the blogs – are open and free to public as long as the source is properly given, which is more or less a standard online convention. As long as credit is properly attributed, anyone is welcome to reproduce, in full or in part, the actual postings.

The administration reserves the right to edit actual postings UNTIL there is either a comment or a link back to the posting in question affirming that someone has actually read the material. The primary concern is correcting typos or poor phrasing, nevertheless, once there is proof – a comment or link back - that someone has read the material no further editing will take place. The exception to this rule is this initial posting which is subject to revision at any time or for any reason.

The blog is beginning with open comments, i.e. anyone is allowed to comment at their leisure. However, the administration does reserve the right to delete comments, especially those that:

a) Are completely off topic or spam;

b) Are racist – including anti-Semitic (not to be confused with anti-Zionist) and Islamaphobic – in nature;

c) Are extremely crude or graphic ad hominem attacks on other individuals.

If, in the future if the open comment feature turns into a mess, moderation may be implemented.

The administration of this blog can be contacted by CLICKING HERE