This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Number 57 (talk | contribs) at 13:30, 19 October 2007 (fix violation of WP:NPOV#Undue weight, advocant is not a word). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 13:30, 19 October 2007 by Number 57 (talk | contribs) (fix violation of WP:NPOV#Undue weight, advocant is not a word)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Gideon Levy is an Israeli journalist and left wing commentator for the Haaretz newspaper, where he is also an editorial board member. He was also a former spokesman for Shimon Peres between 1978 and 1982.
Background
Levy was born in 1955 in Tel Aviv, the son of European immigrants. From 1978 to 1982 he served, together with Yossi Beilin as an aide to Shimon Peres. Since 1982 he has written for the Israeli daily Haaretz, in which, from 1986, he has written extensively on 'the occupation and Palestinian life under the occupation'. In 1996 he was awarded the Emil Grunzweig Human Rights Award by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
Political views
A recurring theme of his articles is what he calls the 'moral blindness' of Israeli society to the effects of its acts of war and occupation, an attitude which he attributes to a systematic dehumanization of Israel's neighbors. During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, he joined a distinct minority of Israeli commentators in rejecting the view that it was a 'just war' in which civilian casualties were inevitable and acceptable.
Criticism
In a widely circulated letter canceling her subscription to Haaretz, Israeli novelist Irit Linur cited Levy's articles as one of the reasons for her decision. She described him as heading the newspaper's 'Palestinian department,' and alleged that he blocked publication of negative reports on Palestinians. She took him to task for not knowing Arabic, suggesting that his reliance on interpreters indicated his amateurishness. Haaretz 's publisher expressed bemusement at the outburst. He described his newspaper as Zionist and Levy's reports as simply 'a description of the effect of the Israeli occupation on the lives of the Palestinians in the territories.' Levy has also been accused by the controversial polemicist Steven Plaut, of 'celebrating the victory of Hamas'. Former deputy Minister of Internal Security, Gideon Ezra, suggested that Levy be put under surveillance by the Shin Bet.
References
- The Israel Speakers Center: Gideon Levi's page
- Le Monde September 5, 2006Template:Fr icon
- News First Class (NFC) Template:He icon
- News First Class (NFC) Template:He icon
- Wooing the Hamas Steven Plaut
- Communication Events: March, April Israel Democracy Institute Template:He icon
External links
- Interview with Levy on PBS (2003)
- Selection of articles by Levy
- Article about Levy in the French daily Le Monde September 2006
- Gideon Levy's Official Lecturer Page