Edward Said does not miss a beat as Tim Sebastian from BBC Hardtalk grills him unrelentingly on Palestinian “violence”, Palestinian “recalcitrance”, Palestinian “incompetence”, the superciliousness of the interviewer all too apparent as he tries to denigrate every answer Edward Said gives, often without even letting him finish.  Everything that Edward Said said then is doubly more potent now almost 10 years on, and what is more, blatantly obvious to even the most obtuse observer.  It still raises the hackles to think that Israel, the US, Great Britain and other Western Powers have the gall to deny the Palestinians their right to resist Israel’s brutal military occupation  (something none of those countries would tolerate) when that right is unequivocally enshrined in international law.  Edward Said does not mince his words: “Occupation and Apartheid have to be resisted by whatever means”.   There is no doubt that the fearless, intellectual prowess of this much-missed Palestinian advocate is still able to inspire a new generation to talk truth to power.  Watch this interview and you won’t be disappointed. 

– Sonja Karkar (Australians for Palestine)

The late Edward Said on BBC Hardtalk in 2002

Part 1

Part 2:

“In search of Palestine” with the late Edward Said

Excerpted from Ali Abunimah's article titled: How Barack Obama learned to love Israel.

"The last time I spoke to Obama was in the winter of 2004 at a gathering in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. He was in the midst of a primary campaign to secure the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat he now occupies. But at that time polls showed him trailing.

"As he came in from the cold and took off his coat, I went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, “Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.” He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy, “Keep up the good work!”

Read the full article here

From left to right, Michelle Obama, then Illinois state senator Barack Obama, Columbia University Professor Edward Said and Mariam Said at a May 1998 Arab community event in Chicago at which Edward Said gave the keynote speech. (Image from archives of Ali Abunimah)

It should  come as no surprise that Edward Said a close observer of American politics remarked during his time:

"I have tried to impress on the PLO leadership, and every Palestinian or Arab I have met, that the quest for a protector in the White House is a complete chimera, since all recent presidents have been devoted to Zionist aims, and that the only way to change US policy is through a mass campaign on behalf of Palestinian human rights, out-flanking the Zionist establishment and going straight to the American people. Uninformed and yet open to appeals for justice as they are, Americans are capable of reacting as they did to the ANC campaign against apartheid, which finally changed the balance of forces inside South Africa." – Edward Said, 2002 (See: America's Last Taboo)

It is true, no real change can occur in the undeniable reality of the ruthless tyranny practiced on all Palestinians by Zionist Israel without US support, we think though, that the international community has the ability to pressure the United States. If Europe, Australia and Canada were to recognize Palestine and voice support for Palestinian human rights this would exert considerable pressure on the US to shift its position by first and foremost withdrawing its massive financial support for Zionist Israel.

So,how do we change the subservient attitudes of 70% compromised American Congress?

The best way to combat the absurd attitudes of these elected American representatives, as Edward Said adviced —  to take the case directly to the American public by relentlessly educating the public about the massively aggressive behaviour of Israel, the powerful influence of its Lobby (AIPAC) and the costs to the American interests for supporting Israeli aggression.

It is my contention that the situation described in most of what we see today describes the nature of the cancer which corrupts and is killing peace in the Middle East.  Walls, Wars, Political Parties, Treaties, Road Maps, Plans, petty wars, and pretences of War, Assassinations, bombings and kidnappings, Military actions, and "historical" arguments are all merely manifestations of the symptoms of the cancer, the bursting boils and pustules, if you like!  And that, until the source of the illness is recognized, diagnosed, and treated, that all the Band-Aids, punditry, bullshit, conferences, hearings, Summits and Tours of Heads of State and other important trollops,liars and deceivers, Band-Aids, are not going to cure a damned thing.

 Every written analyses, description, plaint, complaint, plan, solution, or pitiful lament, must come to grips with this major issue, open the wound for inspection, show it to the public for what it is, and demand action which bears directly on the problem, not on its peripheral fallout. Treat the disease, not the dandruff!

 Otherwise, we will go around and around, in ever tightening circles, much as Zionist Israel has intended, and led, us to do these past decades and centuries.

 MCS contributors are a select group of Living Legends, passionate activist writers and activists with their finger on the pulse. Some known, some unknown, some command huge readership and attract hundreds of tweets and comments on their respective blogs and websites also listed in My Catbird Seat. For eg:  The Council for the National Interest a recently launched well designated website and resource now available to activists for Palestine and those activists and activist writers and editors that seek to encourage and promote a U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East that contributes to a just solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Australia and Canada are also experiencing undue influence of the Israel Lobby right now, the recent vote against Palestine’s membership at the UN is a glaring example.

The Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is playing a major part in spreading awareness and exerting public pressure on Israel and activists respective governments

Ali Abunimah is a Palestinian author and co-founder of the Electronic Intifada. He is a frequent speaker and commentator on the Middle East, contributing regularly to the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times among other publications. His recent book is titled One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. In his speech below he articulates meaningfully the importance of the BDS Campaign strategy :

• Ali Abunimah Interviewed by Democracy Now! on Obama and the Future of US Foreign Policy 

• Ali Abunimah – BDS Campaign – Freedom, Equality & Return

• Part 5: Ali Abunimah: Campus BDS Conference keynote speaker

Also read: How did Americans get so utterly clueless about world events? (Hint: It was no accident.)