Gaza Blog Mom

5 Comments on Gaza Blog Mom

Liza on Wed, Feb 14th 2007 1:29 PM


I was actually rather dismayed to see Laila’s blog plugged in Haaretz. She may be trying to reach people in Israel, but she moderates her comments and doesn’t publish comments from Israeli bloggers or individuals who she perceives to be pro-Israel, no matter what their politics.

Sarah on Wed, Feb 14th 2007 4:08 PM


I was a fan of Laila’s for a while — she’s obviously very intelligent and a talented writer — until I noticed that never, ever, ever does she “throw Israel a bone” in ANY way. From her perspective, Israel has zero legitimate security concerns and zero legitimate claims to any part of the holy land, and the Jews have zero rights to their own state. She has the right to her opinion, and I have the right to think that she’s impossible to talk to. I’m willing to acknowledge Israel’s (many) mistakes and contributions to the crisis, but not to someone who won’t acknowledge the mistakes from her people’s side.

Liza- Are you sure that Laila moderates comments? If so, it explains something. I had noticed (until I stopped reading her blog a few months ago) that the only pro-Israel comments on her blog are over-the-top, racist (anti-Arab, that is), clearly illogical arguments for Israel. I have often wondered why no one was leaving intelligent, well-reasoned pro-Israel comments, and figured that reasonable people (such as myself, I hope) had gotten the message that what they have to say isn’t welcome at Laila’s blog and were no longer visiting. But if you are correct about her moderating, it means that she’s deliberately choosing to post only those comments that make pro-Israel people look ridiculous, and deleting those that actually make some sense and could start an intelligent, calm discussion.

tafka PP on Wed, Feb 14th 2007 4:31 PM


I submitted this before but it was “awaiting moderation”- so I’ll submit it again and answer Sarah.

Laila absolutely does moderate comments in the way Liza describes and I suspect you are right in guessing her intentions. I’ve personally started virtually every comment I’ve made to her of late saying “I know you won’t post this, but…” and I emailed her at one point asking why she doesn’t acknowledge the Israelis who are trying to end the conflict, etc, and she didn’t reply.

Therefore one still wonders, knowing her writing, whether she actually gives a crap that she’s featured so prolifically in the Newspaper of the Occupation…

Stephanie on Wed, Feb 14th 2007 7:47 PM


I have glimpsed her site in the past but not in-depth. From the little I read I gleaned what both of you point out. My counter-point, as it were, was to illustrate how despite her political bent, she’s still getting a “fair shake”…

Sarah on Thu, Feb 15th 2007 12:01 PM


Tafka-

I see your first comment in the moderation list. Since you repeated the point in the comment above, I assume you don’t want me to post both?

Sarah, who is heading Israelity temporarily

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