hi there! Nice topic. Welcome to hallowen!

I'm actually a fan of Mamet's philosophical writings, and to a lesser extent his fictional writing. I didn't know untill now--although I had some suspicion--that he was a flaming apologist for Israel. He does come off as reticent on politcal matters in his writings that I've read. Paradoxically, many of the philosophical principles he advocates (re: dramatic writing and acting) are, if generalized from, more or less consistant with anarchism, as I understand the term.

I do not agree

An excerpt from an amazon.com review of Susan Nathan's 'The Other Side of Israel: My Journey Across the Jewish/Arab Divide':

The most enlightened part of this book is how the author describes the left side of politics within Israel. The lack of freedom of interaction between Jewish-Israelis and Arab-Israelis, even within organizations that were created to foster open interactions, where the Arab-Israelis do not feel that they can truly let their experiences be known because the Jewish-Israelis will not stay and listen and the ever present threat of reprisals. While there are many political movements and human rights groups within Israel, the majority stop just shy of actually doing anything that would make a difference in the treatment and/or status of non-Jewish Israelis.

Susan explained the evolution of her thinking in this BBC audio interview .

JoJo— With the caveat that I'm for a two-state Palestine/Israel solution for the foreseeable future (pre-1967 borders, with Palestinians remunerated for Israel's secured water access, etc.)—I think your connecting the questioning of Israel's legitimacy to anti-Semitism is a bit dubious. I hope no one who wants a “Final Solution” to the “Jewish Question” is taken seriously—I think the “question,” partly about identity and “essence” should always be open ended, towards a future of change, while being grounded in a rich history. Part of the Jewish heritage includes being excluded from owning land in Europe in the past—forcing many into various professions (as well as ghettos). But just because some Jews (as well as many others) became bourgeois professionals and “owners of the means of production”—does not mean that wanting that ownership equitably distributed (or professional job-complexes more equitably divided) is anti-Semitic. Is there any logic to your connection between anti-Semitism and “the left” beyond anti-Semitic remarks made by those on the left? I think Sartre's existentialism was important in questioning the notion of a human essence—for anyone—but history is not something that can be shed (or that I personally would want to shed) in a revolutionary day. I have not read Sartre's work, “Anti-Semite and Jew”—but I understand that it discusses the problem of identifying the Jewish as the “other,” and ALSO advocates socialism. Surely, JoJo, you can see that anti-Semitism and prejudice has shifted its aim to other's in the middle east region—no doubt, many “Westerners” view the non-Jewish Middle East as that which is “other,” “foreign,” “exotic,” “dangerous,” etc. This sort of xenophobia can be seen on both the left and right (consider the debacle over Arab ownership of ports). Yes there is a great prejudice against the Jewish spread throughout the middle-east—but are not deep seated western prejudices against middle easterners in general a huge problem too? BTW—what do you mean by “Jewish autonomy?” Would such be homogenous? Is there room for differences on this matter? I think the Jewish residents of Israel need a space in which to live in peace—but if this space is respected, could you imagine a future, where it would be shared?

Jo, israel is not a country but merely an occupation army, the very way it is treating palestinians empeach them to be a country.. the idea behind its current existence should be revised voire abandoned.

it's amazing that you seem to be giving voice to the "Israel doesn't have a right to exist" argument. 

I often wonder if the reason "the left" is so hostile to Jewish autonomy is because of Marx's spewing antisemitism in his essay, On the Jewish Question which equates "Jewry with the spirit of money-making, the merchant-huckster, preoccupation with self-interest and egoism-that is, with the commercialism of the new bourgeois order."

     I saw David Mamet discussing such issues on Charlie Rose awhile back.  He seemed somewhat reticent to proclaim himself politically wise—but remained quite hostilely Stubborn on the issue of Israel— a sort of toe the line attitude that doesn't give alternative views the basic respect of understanding.

     I'm not sure how his conservative Israel views connect with his art (is there any sort of Leni Riefenstahl – Nazi propaganda- going on here?)—but I think the issue of having a large public megaphone, as some artists do, may or may not give voice to the same sort of politically “not knowing their asses from their elbows” views that are broadly shared.  I don't know how many people take their political cues from David Mamet, but what he has to say might be typical of some.  Luckily, most seem to be expert or insightful on something, and offer the opportunity for individuals to cherry pick wisdom from the crowd.