Sydney Punctuation Festival

Antony Loewenstein is speaking not once, but three times at the (taxpayer funded) Sydney "Writers" Festival.

Loewenstein's latest blog post promoting this is headlined "On the importance of Twitter as an author and journalist"

Twitter isn't an author or a journalist. Those are both careers which require a basic understanding of punctuation that Loewenstein lacks. When asked by the Sydney Morning Herald, Loewestein wrote, of Twitter:

It allows me to connect with people around the world who I wouldn’t normally speak to – journalists, activists, writers, dissidents, and because I write about issues in the Middle East or issues of immigration detention in Australia, I find invaluable information from writers to refugees to activists who don’t normally have a voice in mainstream media.

That's a single sentence.

Loewenstein adds:

I tweet a lot. But I do have a rule that I don't talk about my personal life, partner, family or where I'm going.

Probably because his own family regard Loewenstein as an embarrassment and nobody is interested in visits to Centrelink and Newtown coffee shops.

I wonder if Loewy's presentation three presentations to the Writers Festival will pack the room as hard as he did in his address to the "Australian Society of Authors" which even managed to clear the stage.

That shopping bag didn't buy a ticket.

Found in Translation

Antony Loewenstein is delighted that his (ahem) best-seller is available in the Arab World.

I’m told the book is available in most Arab countries.

Nearly one in every three Arabs is illiterate. It's a perfect fit!

Antony, famous for silencing any dissent on his blog boasts:

I’m happy that this title continues to generate debate in the Arab world where a dissident Jewish, atheist voice isn’t too often heard.

In some Arab countries, Jews are forbidden from entering the country. In others, they are simply massacred. No wonder they aren't heard from. There's not many atheists elsewhere who would simultaneously describe themselves as Jewish either.

As for the "debate" being generated by his book?

In 2013 my first book My Israel Question was translated and published in Arabic by the Lebanese-based publisher All Prints. The name was changed to Cases Against Israel.

The Arabs have answered his Israel Question well and truly. HIs original publishers Melbourne University Press apparently couldn't. 

Ant's Pants

Eight years ago, serial Israel-hater Antony Loewenstein was quoted in the SMH saying "I don’t want to be defined as the guy who criticises Israel; I didn’t ask for this.”

Eight years later, let's see how that's going. The Sydney Morning Herald's Executive Style section interviewed him, describing him thus:

Antony Loewenstein is an Australian-Jewish opponent of Israel. Having spent time in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza and written two books on the subject,

Actually it's one book (if you can call it 'writing') and his time spent in Israel is considerably less than a typical Jewish teenager on study tour.

Topics covered include his species:

He says it’s his “responsibility as a human first, and a Jew second, to speak out when injustice occurs committed by my people’’.

His people? Who are they? Also discussed, Antony's eating:

He says while growing up in Melbourne, he attended Sabbath meals with his family.

‘‘I recall discussions about Israel and Palestine and the casual racism expressed towards Arabs. I didn’t have the knowledge then or language to forcefully respond but it made me distinctly uncomfortable.”

Antony is not very good at recalling Sabbath dinner conversations. His own family think he's a liar.  

And as always:

I continue to receive hate mail and occasional death threats for daring to support the Palestinians.”

He's just like Salman Rushdie, only without the sales figures. As Tim Blair once noted, the only people likely to be sending Antony death threats are English teachers.

How an unemployed author qualifies as 'executive' is anyone's guess but if they're going to talk fashion, how could they miss Antony's indoor hat-wearing past attempts?

It looked like he was wearing some sort of tracksuit cargo pants, purple sneakers, a man-bag and a khaki locomotive driver’s hat (worn for the duration).

Chic!

Boycott Australian Authors!

Antony Loewenstein has gone from being a self-hating Jew, to a self-hating Australian, calling for UN sanctions against Australia. 

Seriously.

Talk is no longer enough. The UN has had more than 20 years to convince Australia to abandon mandatory detention and its associated ills. Frankly, it hasn’t tried hard enough. Absent of a complete overhaul of the UN system, something that is long overdue, let legitimate legal sanctions be threatened and used. 

It’s a price every Australian, myself included, should feel.

Unlike Antony, not every Australian has rushed off to apply for a German passport, just in case.

The UN is of course morally bankrupt, especially in its hypocritical dealings with Israel. No wonder Loewy sees them as the arbiter of all that is good and just.

Interestingly, to see how the serial resume puffer now refers to his blog postings at the Guardian's "Comment is Free" blog:

My weekly Guardian column is published today:

Generally, correspondents who have a "column" of theirs "published" will see ink on paper.

According to the Comment is Free guidelines (ahem, published here):

1) Send us your ideasE-mail cif.editors@theguardian.com and tell us a bit about yourself and your idea for a blog entry. If you are a reader or a Comment is free commenter/user (ie not a journalist or someone writing in a professional capacity) and would like to contribute or suggest ideas, please include your commenting name or join our daily ideas threads.

Not a journalist or someone writing in a professional capacity? Check!

Unemployed Author Grateful

A New Year's message from Antony Loewenstein:

Thanks for all the support and long may it continue

To all my read­ers, sup­port­ers, friends and in­ter­locu­tors, thanks for all your on­go­ing sup­port of my work and I look for­ward to con­tin­u­ing the re­la­tion­ship in 2014 and be­yond. 

Many plans and pro­jects on the way.

He has plans on the way!

The best wishes, support and feedback from his many "interlocutors" in the two weeks since he wrote it:

0 Comments 

Such a relationship. Speaking of which, The Guardian who let him blog there might want to allocate a full-time corrections editor to the Ant. He's forced them to issue two corrections in a single month.

I wonder if Antony has yet worked out that deceased Israeli Prime Minister Sharon is not a woman. He's made that mistake before...

Primary School Source

Tim Blair has noticed the exceptionally low interest in Antony Loewenstein's SBS interview. 70 odd views in the last week at last count.

I have to confess I was responsible for at least 3 or 4 of those views. Not to hear what Antony had to say of course (entirely predictable and likely to alienate neighbourhood canines). But to see what he had on his bookshelf.

Antony who had written most of his Israel book having never set foot in the place, seems to also keep a copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Israel. Most visitors to the country would simply ask friends and family. Antony's family in Israel are not his friends and think he's a liar and a fool...

Still, he's good enough for Our ABC (and SBS).

Here Comes Another Bestseller...

Antony Loewenstein exaggerates again.

I launched my book Profits of Doom at Curtin University in Perth on 29 November to a packed house (more details and photos here and audio is here).

Packed house? I've had more people around to dinner. The promise of free booze will usually draw a crowd at any university. Antony didn't even pull enough crowd to fill a small lecture theatre. Count the empty seats rows. Packed house...

Standby for more exaggeration about stunning book sales, from this "documentarian" still taken seriously by the ABC.

Update: His Time Travel Question. Tim Blair notes Antony got the month wrong as well. He's seen the future!

Full Reichtard

Antony Loewenstein, in the Guardian's blog talks about getting his German passport:

As a Jew born in Australia in 1974, I never imagined that Germany’s long shadow would envelop my adult life. In 2011, I became a German citizen while maintaining my Australian passport, due to a 1954 German law that allowed Jews to re-instate citizenship removed by the Nazis during their reign. I wanted citizenship for a few reasons, not least to honour my family that Germany once rejected, and to have the option of working freely across the European Union.

In case he runs out of options in Australia, no doubt... Okay, so Antony wants an EU passport for work reasons.

The process of acquiring German citizenship has been a long journey that reveals the often tortuous relationships that continue to define Jewish identity in the 21st century.

Or you could just fill out some paperwork at the German consulate.

On 14 January 2011, I arrived at the German consulate in Sydney and waited until a senior official appeared. He congratulated me on becoming a German citizen and asked how I felt. I had tears in my eyes, unsure what to say, but I mumbled something about never imagining that Germany was again so keen to welcome me, as a Jew and atheist, into its heart. I also felt, but didn’t verbalise, that it was a personal victory against Nazism.

Antony Loewenstein. Nazi-hunter and visa rorter. Can't wait until he completes the arrival card:

My identity is a conflicted and messy mix that incorporates Judaism, atheism, anti-Zionism, Germanic traditions and Anglo-Saxon-Australian beliefs. And yet I both routinely reject and embrace them all.

Antony's next book review should be the DSM-IV.

The Green one and the Red one.

Antony Loewenstein speaks to the Voice of Russia about Australia's political system.

We have the situation in Australia where there are 2 parts of the Parliament – the upper half and the lower half and because of the way the Parliament works quite similarly to Britain in some ways, it is unclear whether the new government will be able to put this through the Parliament.

Looking forward to his new bestseller, My Parliamentary Question.

Capitalism Disaster

A plea for funds from Antony Loewenstein:

Today I’m proud to announce the launch of a Kickstarter campaign with New York-based film-maker Thor Neureiter. We need to raise US$20,000 in one month to continue shooting footage in Haiti, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan. Please tell your friends, family, lovers, enemies and everybody else about this independently supported project. It continues the journey, in film form, of my new book, Profits of Doom.

Traditionally film producers would negotiate film rights to a good book. I guess that wouldn't be "independent" enough for budding Oscar Winner Loewenstein. Here's what your donation gets you. For $25:

We'll send you digitally a striking postcard image from the Disaster Capitalism film.

In other words, they'll email you a picture. Digitally! For $50:

We'll send you a signed copy of Antony's book, Profits of Doom, endorsed by Noam Chomsky, Jeremy Scahill, John Pilger and others plus a link to the completed film.

Those links are expensive you know. For people who donate $100 they are more generous and will not send you his book. Instead:

We'll send you one original photograph shot by Antony and Thor in Haiti, Afghanistan or Papua New Guinea and online access to deleted scenes. Plus a link to the completed film and a DVD.

Seeing what Antony has published in the past, I can't imagine the horrors that were deleted during the editing process. Pony up $250 and:

We'll give you a copy of the hot (yet to be written) soundtrack by New York based DJ/rupture, a copy of Antony's Profits of Doom book, one original photograph shot by Thor and Antony, thanks in the credits, exclusive access online to deleted scenes and a link to the completed film.

Hasn't even been written but the soundtrack is "hot"! The biggest music stars in the business could only hope to receive such reviews in-advance. The "Exclusive" online access to deleted scenes isn't that exclusive anyway. Those tightarses who donated $100 get it too. $500:

We'll arrange an exclusive VIP screening of the film when completed (in New York, transport/accommodation not provided), digital access to the completed film, meeting with Thor in New York and Antony (via Skype, he travels a lot!), thanks in the credits and exclusive access online to deleted scenes.

I wonder who pays for all this travel? The score so far: $2,065 pledged of $20,000 goal. You'd assume the filmmaker has a few friends and family. The Kickstarter page notes: this project will only be funded if at least $20,000 is pledged by Thursday Sep 19, 7:46pm EDT. Antony faces some stiff competition for those bucks. Update: He made it. Just. His partner Thor Neureiter is "an Emmy award winning, New York based filmmaker". Antony is already describing himself as a film-maker. Fake it until you make it Ant...

Mind lost

Antony Loewenstein presents another stunning series of facts in The Guardian online:

Australians love consuming illicit drugs. We enjoy smoking, inhaling and losing our minds.

...And drafting our next column.

Do the maths. The state is spending billions of dollars every year imprisoning drug pushers and users,

No it isn't.

Australia spends around $3 billion to keep people in prisons each year. All of them. This includes rapists, murderers, thieves, thugs, terrorists, arsonists, kidnappers. Oh, and drug pushers and users.

Sadly it doesn't include Grauniad fact-checkers.

with private prison owners reaping the benefits.

There are only three privately run prisons in the entire country. Fulham Correctional Centre, Mount Gambier Prison and Port Phillip Correctional Centre. Reapers!

Antony 'Do the Maths' Loewenstein doesn't know how to put down the bong and do Google. Nor apparently do his publishers at The Guardian. Perhaps they were high. You see, according to Antony:

Governments and their media courtiers talk about being “tough on crime” and bravely fighting a battle against the drug scourge. They should look in the mirror and question how frequently politicians and journalists snort a line of coke on a Friday night. Hint: pretty damn often.

Antony knows this how? He doesn't spend much time around politicians or employed journalists. Hint: He's talking out of his arse. Surprising considering how easy it would have been to find some facts or simply quote someone else's more thoughtful piece. Op-eds about legalising drugs are the journalistic equivalent of comedians doing a bit on airline food. Even then, he blew it.

The Guardian is onto a real winner.

Six Degrees of Loewy

If someone invented a game in which you had to take any topic howsoever irrelevant and link it back to Israel-hating, Antony Loewenstein would be the world champion. Here he is on The Guardian's blog talking about Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Australia treats its neighbours with contempt. As soon as the latest contortions of refugee policy were announced last week, I tweeted that Australia could possibly expect international sanctions, not unlike against Israel due to its human rights abuses of Palestinians.

Israel suffers international sanctions?

Loewy's resume puffery continues. Not only is he a 'best selling author' he is now a publisher as well.

Last week I published a piece in the Guardian on the necessity of journalists being far more transparent in their dealings and allegiances, including a call for them to declare for whom they vote. It caused a stir.

How much of a stir?

To the point where I was interviewed on South Korea’s Busan English Broadcasting.

International broadcaster!

Loving the Conversation

Antony Loewenstein:

The Guardian’s media writer Roy Greenslade has responded to my column and challenged its logic. I love this conversation

I loved it too. Greenslade suggested he was a simpleton.

Loewenstein's opening paragraph:

Are mainstream journalists dedicated to journalism? This may seem like a strange question, especially since I’m a journalist myself, though independent and not tied to a corporate news organisation.

Read: Unemployed and unable to construct a basic sentence.

Caption Inaccurate

Antony Loewenstein's latest appearance on TV:

Today all us writers of the For God’s Sake book appeared on Channel 7′s Weekend Sunrise program.

It's unclear what sort of "writer" would produce a sentence like that. Loewy and the panel were trying to promote their new book. At least this time Antony couldn't claim full-credit for it.

A recent review in The Australian noted:

Of the atheists, Loewenstein has his own tic. No matter what the topic, he manages to introduce his conviction about the infamy of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. He is the most openly perplexed of the panel,

 True to form Antony leapt out of the gate talking about.... The Usual. In his own (mangled) words:

It was strange watching this segment back and noticing that under my name on the screen it read, “Jew”.

Not an adjective many others in the Jewish community would use to describe him...

It was a unique opportunity to explain that Judaism and Zionism aren’t the same thing and increasing numbers of Jews worldwide oppose Israeli apartheid against Palestinians

There was nothing unique at all. Whilst most of the panel were charming, when it came to Loewenstein it was the same tired argument and even his colleagues were visibly wincing as he prattled on (watch from 2m30s). Host Andrew O'Keefe kept turning to the others in an attempt to stop viewers switching away. Loewenstein is as painful to listen to as he is to read. Just try it.



My favourite line: "There's no doubt in the last ten years since 9/11 there's been Christian Fundamentalism, Muslim Fundamentalism and I'd say Jewish."

Idiot.

Guardian of the Clueless

Antony Loewenstein inflates his resume once again:

My following article appears today in the Guardian:

Well, not exactly. It appeared on their 'Comment is Free' blog. As in - nobody would pay for it.

When I met Abbott in Sydney in 2010 and challenged him to learn more about Israel’s flouting of international law, he reverted to familiar, right-wing Zionist talking points.

And Loewenstein reverted to complete fabrication.

I approached Abbott again and we talked for a few minutes about the conflict. He said he had visited Israel as a guest of the government and only been taken to where they wanted to show him. When I said that there were Jewish-only roads in the West Bank, he said that was “bad” and looked uncomfortable.

Probably because it is a complete lie and Loewenstein knows it. He has been called on it before.

Loewenstein has never said anything about "Muslim Only" roads, which actually do exist in Saudi Arabia.

Abbott told me that he “admired” Israel because of its supposedly thriving democracy, free and open debate and ability of Arabs to vote and participate in the democratic process.

Real journalists know how to quote someone and inserting their own sneering opinions isn't it.

I sensed he didn’t know too much about it all – at a few points he stated that he wasn’t an “expert”.

As opposed to say, Loewenstein who genuinely believes he knows what he is talking about.

Standby for Loewy's keen insight into the political change in Egypt. Just as soon as someone else writes something he can copy and paste.

Reviews In

Antony Loewenstein has a very long history of puffing up his virtually blank resume. Most recently this included taking full credit for a book co-written with three others.

Following this week’s release of my new book, one of Australia’s leading independent book chains, Readings, publishes a wonderful review:

Antony still uses his favourite word "leading" too often. Even Readings own website doesn't make such a claim.

A far more sober review appears in The Australian:

The arguments, which are all pretty well timeworn, rise and fall, and no major new philosopher or theologian is unearthed. One phenomenon stands out above all, however. The intellectual standard of today’s religious thought seems to me to be low. Smart and Woodlock are both believers and also pro-fessionally involved in the teaching of their respective creeds. Caro and Loewenstein follow careers that have nothing to do with their atheism.

Loewenstein has a career?

Of the atheists, Loewenstein has his own tic. No matter what the topic, he manages to introduce his conviction about the infamy of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. He is the most openly perplexed of the panel, and this is winning, but there seems something curiously restricted in his sympathies and world view. Quite blithely, for example, he appears to equate love with sexual love. More than the others he betrays a personal context that must play into his thinking, but is unexplored – not least a longstanding alienation from his father.

Loewenstein's response:

For the record, the writer’s description of my relationship with my father is false and not reflected in the text of the book. I am extremely close to my dad, though years ago this was very different, something I explicitly explain in the book:

Apparently it wasn't such a good explanation after all.

Making History

Antony Loewenstein's latest sellout appearance has me weeping for the future of our students.

I spent the weekend in Brisbane, Queensland giving the keynote address at the annual Queensland History Teacher’s Association conference.

Fortunately it wasn't an English Teacher's [sic] conference.

Over 220 teachers came from across Queensland, young and old, males but mostly females. 

Males that are mostly female?

I admit to being pleasantly surprised by the frank honesty expressed by countless teachers

Antony is surprised they weren't all liars? As for them being "countless" he also said there were no more than 220 teachers present. Once again, Loewy can't count. Probably a good thing it wasn't a Maths Teachers' Conference

(though I think I upset the conservative politician who opened the event) 

Who was probably also wondering who funds the Association if this is the calibre of "expert" they invite to speak to educators. 

I’ve been writing about the Middle East for over 10 years. I’ve visited Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Palestine and Iran.

Palestine is not a country. Geography Teachers should book him for their conference now.

Every country presented its own challenges. Language, culture, political persuasion, gender and religion. 

Countries have a gender? I always did think Belgium was a bit girly.

To be sure, I’ve faced threats and challenges but mostly I’ve found warmth.

Well, yes. There was that one time Antony got stoned. And let's never forget the (ahem) countless "death threats" he claims to have received. Antony makes Salman Rushdie look like a big chicken.

This is not to ignore or romanticise the hatred, racism and violence that’s become endemic across the region, especially since 9/11.

You would think at this point just one of the history teachers present might express some frank honesty. Such as: "You don't know what the hell you are talking about".

Much of this instability is fueled by Western meddling, arming the worst brutes and enabling the Mubarak’s, Qaddafi’s and Saddam’s.

How can someone write for ten years and still not understand how apostrophes work? Apropos Western Meddling, the absolute, undeniable largest source of conflict is Arab-on-Arab violence. It is nothing to do with Jews or the West. However, as Dan Gillerman once noted "we live in a world where if Christians kill Muslims, it’s a crusade. If Jews kill Muslims, it’s a massacre. And when Muslims kill Muslims, it’s the Weather Channel. Nobody cares."

We ignore our own complicity through willful ignorance.

Ignoramus.

Israel, the highest recipient of US aid annually, ironic for a nation that claims to be independent,

Doesn't....understand.....word.....ironic...

uses these weapons to occupy, imprison and torture millions of Palestinians.

Israel imprisons and tortures "millions" of Palestinians? Where do they find the time...

merely a few years after the greatest tragedy to befall the Jewish people, the Holocaust, an event that affected virtually every Jew on the planet including my family, most of whom were unable to leave Germany and were murdered in the death camps at Auschwitz.

Hmmm... After all these years I don't remember Antony ever mentioning family at Auschwitz. I do however remember Tim Blair's observation that "Antony visits Auschwitz and emerges questioning ... Jews." Truly a first.

Having rushed to get an EU friendly passport:

It’s a quirk of history that I recently became a German citizen.

He'll be getting fitted for the Marschstiefel jackboots shortly.

I wonder how my now deceased family members would feel about this, perhaps uncomfortable that anybody could forgive but not forget the past.

Curiously Antony doesn't care what his living family members think of him. Not very much.

None of this should distract us from the vital task of teaching Israel/Palestine and the Middle East to a new generation that is more connected and informed than any before it.

A guy who doesn't know the difference between Haifa and Lebanon probably shouldn't be involved in teaching anyone anything.

Antony complains about media bias:

“There is a preponderance of official ‘Israeli perspectives’, particularly on BBC 1, where Israelis were interviewed or reported over twice as much as Palestinians.

It's a conspiracy! Or.... It's because Israelis are better educated and more likely to speak English for the benefit of BBC viewers. Not as many Israelis interviewed on Al-Jazeera. It may also be because Israelis are statistically less likely to hack journalists' heads off.

Antony explains "occupation":

Without explanations being given on the news, there was great confusion amongst viewers even about who was ‘occupying’ the occupied territories. Some understood ‘occupied’ to mean that someone was on the land (as in a bathroom being occupied)

Are they teaching history in kindergarten now?

Back to Antony's resume:

Having been a professional journalist for over ten years, I regularly hear about fellow reporters and editors, in most media organisations,

A professional journalist? Antony failed to hold down a simple cadetship. He has euphemistically called himself "Freelance" ever since as it sounds better than "unemployable".

As for fellow editors, well... Joe Hildebrand said it best:

@antloewenstein Don't hate the media just because you can't get a job in it Antony.

The rest of his speech descends into the usual wild conspiracy theories and (of course) advocating for a boycott of the Jewish state.

You have to seriously wonder what other ideas Queensland history teachers could be feeding students.

Private Informant

Our ABC was once again short of a guest and knew Antony would be available. Looks like he has a new job title also.

Information activist and writer Antony Loewenstein says, even if the motion does pass, any statement is unlikely to provide much information. ANTONY LOEWENSTEIN: Regardless of who’s in power in Canberra there’s a sense somehow that although the US prosecutes intelligence security around the world, Australia wants to be seen under that umbrella and rarely asks questions privately or publicly.

Apparently all-seeing Antony knows what's being asked privately. He's reading your thoughts people!

Live from the Living Room

Antony Loewenstein:

The great Al Jazeera media program The Listening Post this week tackles Edward Snowden, Bradley Manning and Wikileaks. They asked me to comment on the ways in which the Snowden story unfolded in the press.

No they didn't and Antony knows it. They asked anybody to send in webcam clips.

From the program's website:

Don’t forget to send us your video blogs for Global Village Voices – Listening Post is your show. Send us your videos.

They're not fussy either.

We’re also looking for new voices and we’re willing to give anyone a try.

No kidding!

This isn't the first time Antony has inflated his appearance on the program (itself insignificant). Perhaps tomorrow morning Antony can ring talkback and boast he was interviewed live.

And ten out of ten homeless people also choose fresh air...

Antony Loewenstein is unaligned:

I’ve spent most of the last decade unaligned with a major news organisation, wanting to remain independent.

For 'unaligned', read 'unemployed'. Antony has previously been called out for inflating his resume.

I’ve published in countless publications

Antony can't count. He also doesn't know the difference between a writer and a publisher.

around the world, indy and mainstream

I'm being 'published' on Blogger, owned in America. I guess I'm an internationally published writer as well.

but a key issue for me is the choice to speak my mind without corporate interference.

Yeah. Those damned corporationey types just hate it when you call for Six Million Jews to be killed. And they hate writers with a long history of embarrassingly basic errors. Not to mention the increasing costs of stress-leave for Antony's editors. Antony continues to moan:

It’s often financially challenging but my ongoing work, including upcoming releases, proves that it’s possible.

There's always Centrelink.

In the coming months I’ll likely be asking readers and supporters for financial support on a major project.

Perhaps Hamas or the Iranian Government will thrown in a few bucks. Why do I get the feeling Antony's parents have stopped giving him pocket money?