by Gilad Atzmon

Gilad Atzmon (Hebrew: גלעד עצמון‎, born June 9, 1963) is a jazz musician, author and anti-Zionist activist who was born in Israel and currently lives in London.

"Anti-Semite is an empty signifier, no one actually can be an Anti-Semite and this includes me of course. In short, you are either a racist - which I am not - or have an ideological disagreement with Zionism... which I have."

He was born a secular Israeli Jew in Tel Aviv, and trained at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. His service in the Israeli military convinced him Israel had become a militarized state controlled by religious extremists. In 1994, Atzmon emigrated from Israel to London, where he studied philosophy. Atzmon is an anti-Zionist who critiques Jewish identity issues and supports the Palestinian Right of Return as well as the establishment of a single state in Israel/Palestine. He is a signatory to the "Palestinians are the Priority Petition" which states “full and unconditional support of the Palestinian people is a condition sine qua non for activists to adopt.

 

The American foreign policy is at cross-roads. For decades, Washington has advertised equality and human rights in international circles. But, at times, the U.S. has contradicted its own alleged values, philosophy and democratic approach.
 
Some argue that America's self-interest supersedes the spread of democracy worldwide. However, there are those who say Washington's approach serves neither the national interest of Americans, nor does it promote equality and democracy.
 
So, the question arises: who then benefits from current American policies?
 
Press TV's U.S. Desk discussed the issue with Gilad Atzmon who is a political activist, musician and author in London.
 
Atzmon argues that American policy is a 'total mess' because the American administration has gambled on authoritarian regimes who have been sympathetic and obedient to Washington.

All the while, this support contradicts Washington's claims of spreading democracy in the world.  Atzmon writes: "The American government is very confused at the moment.  They don't know whether to support Hosni Mubarak or the people. The same goes for Tunisia last week. America was also supporting the Shah. And there is a big question why America is getting it wrong all the time.”
 
In regards to American policy in the Middle East, Atzmon attributes U.S.' failed approach to a foreign policy that is shaped by Israeli interest and exploited by such Zionist lobbies as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
 
If Washington persists in this path, Atzmon says, "America is doomed to fail in its foreign policy."
 
In conclusion, Atzmon reiterates "There is a lot of love for Americans, but definitely very little respect for American expansionist imperialism that is driven by Zionist ideology."
 
FACTS & FIGURES
Israel has received more U.S. military assistance than any other country in the world.
 
Israel receives about $3 billion in direct foreign assistance each year, which is roughly one-fifth of America's foreign aid budget.
 
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved Obama's request for $3 billion in military aid to Israel in the 2011 budget.
 
In 2007, the U.S. increased its military aid to Israel by over 25% to an average of $3 billion per year for the following ten year period.

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