“I regard Zionism as being the antithesis of everything that is decent, humane and just”: William Hanna
By Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the
following my interview with the author William Hanna about his new novel
entitled Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophecy. Set
against a backdrop of hatred and violence in the Middle East, the novel delves into the issue of Israel’s ethnic
cleansing and addresses racism in the Middle East.
following my interview with the author William Hanna about his new novel
entitled Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophecy. Set
against a backdrop of hatred and violence in the Middle East, the novel delves into the issue of Israel’s ethnic
cleansing and addresses racism in the Middle East.
This
novel follows journalist Conrad Banner who is intent on filming a documentary
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Inspired by his father — an author and
foreign correspondent with numerous journalism awards for his coverage in the
Middle East — Banner’s documentary presents a factually impartial account of
the conflict.
novel follows journalist Conrad Banner who is intent on filming a documentary
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Inspired by his father — an author and
foreign correspondent with numerous journalism awards for his coverage in the
Middle East — Banner’s documentary presents a factually impartial account of
the conflict.
Hatred
and violence was also being continually provoked by Israel’s ethnic cleansing
of the indigenous population which was whitewashed by a form of propaganda
known as hasbara, or ‘explanation’. Such propaganda was aimed at an
international audience to portray Israeli action and policies — past and
present — in a positive light while providing a negative portrayal of Arabs in
general, and Palestinians in particular.
and violence was also being continually provoked by Israel’s ethnic cleansing
of the indigenous population which was whitewashed by a form of propaganda
known as hasbara, or ‘explanation’. Such propaganda was aimed at an
international audience to portray Israeli action and policies — past and
present — in a positive light while providing a negative portrayal of Arabs in
general, and Palestinians in particular.
Along
with Jewish activist Adam Peltz and Palestinian guide Sami Hadawi, Banner finds
himself unwelcome, resulting in some hazardous and ultimately fatal
consequences.
with Jewish activist Adam Peltz and Palestinian guide Sami Hadawi, Banner finds
himself unwelcome, resulting in some hazardous and ultimately fatal
consequences.
Hiramic
Brotherhood is motivated by the blatant denial of human
rights to millions of people, and in particular children, by the double
standard of Western democracies. Exploring the themes, of culture, racism,
religion, and violence, Hanna brings to the fore a compelling story of struggle
and divide.
Brotherhood is motivated by the blatant denial of human
rights to millions of people, and in particular children, by the double
standard of Western democracies. Exploring the themes, of culture, racism,
religion, and violence, Hanna brings to the fore a compelling story of struggle
and divide.
Milena Rampoldi: What is the main
reason why you have been engaged for Palestine for years now?
reason why you have been engaged for Palestine for years now?
William Hanna: Having grown up as
member of a colonial family in Kenya, I recognised — despite being relatively
young — the appalling injustice of a system wherein the indigenous population
was economically marginalised, maligned, maltreated, and even massacred while
white settlers gobbled up more of their land holdings. It was a situation that
led to the Mau Mau uprising so that by October 1952 the British declared a
state of emergency and sent army reinforcements to Kenya to fight an aggressive counter-insurgency against the rebels.
member of a colonial family in Kenya, I recognised — despite being relatively
young — the appalling injustice of a system wherein the indigenous population
was economically marginalised, maligned, maltreated, and even massacred while
white settlers gobbled up more of their land holdings. It was a situation that
led to the Mau Mau uprising so that by October 1952 the British declared a
state of emergency and sent army reinforcements to Kenya to fight an aggressive counter-insurgency against the rebels.
After leaving school, and during what was
then compulsory military training with the Kenya Regiment, I witnessed a more
pronounced form of White settler racism towards the Black population — from
the sons of White farmers including some Afrikaners — who were determined at
any cost to hold onto their farms.
then compulsory military training with the Kenya Regiment, I witnessed a more
pronounced form of White settler racism towards the Black population — from
the sons of White farmers including some Afrikaners — who were determined at
any cost to hold onto their farms.
Subsequent to my leaving Kenya, I followed
current events including the international community’s boycott of Apartheid in Afrikaner South Africa which
eventually caused its demise. That same international community
of “humanitarians” — ridden with guilt and hypocrisy over the Holocaust — were
being easily blackmailed, bribed, and bullied into ignoring the crimes of
Apartheid Israel including its barbaric oppression and ethnic cleansing of the
Palestinian People.
current events including the international community’s boycott of Apartheid in Afrikaner South Africa which
eventually caused its demise. That same international community
of “humanitarians” — ridden with guilt and hypocrisy over the Holocaust — were
being easily blackmailed, bribed, and bullied into ignoring the crimes of
Apartheid Israel including its barbaric oppression and ethnic cleansing of the
Palestinian People.
With time it also became apparent — as noted in my latest book — that
while indigenous African people’s were between the 1870s and 1900 subject to
European imperialist aggression, diplomatic pressures, military invasions,
conquest, colonisation, and the exploitation of their natural resources, they
were nonetheless eventually given their independence by the European
colonisers. Jewish settlers in Palestine, on the other hand, have no such
intention and their sole purpose is to ethnically cleanse and displace the
Palestinian people whose land they are gradually but surely stealing. This
policy of achieving a state for Jews only through barbaric oppression of the
Palestinian people is what motivated me to take up the Palestinian cause.
while indigenous African people’s were between the 1870s and 1900 subject to
European imperialist aggression, diplomatic pressures, military invasions,
conquest, colonisation, and the exploitation of their natural resources, they
were nonetheless eventually given their independence by the European
colonisers. Jewish settlers in Palestine, on the other hand, have no such
intention and their sole purpose is to ethnically cleanse and displace the
Palestinian people whose land they are gradually but surely stealing. This
policy of achieving a state for Jews only through barbaric oppression of the
Palestinian people is what motivated me to take up the Palestinian cause.
What happened between your first
novel and this one? What changed in Palestine?
novel and this one? What changed in Palestine?
The only thing that has happened
since my first novel is that I am a few years older and still none the wiser.
As for Palestine, the status quo of an illegal Jewish settler land grabbing
occupation remains unchanged with a regrettable and incessant escalation in the
barbaric oppression and denial of all basic human rights to the Palestinian
people by ruthless Jewish occupiers who insist they were “chosen by God” to
live in the “Promised land.”
since my first novel is that I am a few years older and still none the wiser.
As for Palestine, the status quo of an illegal Jewish settler land grabbing
occupation remains unchanged with a regrettable and incessant escalation in the
barbaric oppression and denial of all basic human rights to the Palestinian
people by ruthless Jewish occupiers who insist they were “chosen by God” to
live in the “Promised land.”
The most harmful changes affecting the
hapless Palestinian people are therefore not those occurring in Palestine, but
in those taking place in the so-called Western democracies who in the past had
staunchly opposed the heinous concept of Apartheid in South Africa. Such
changes which have been selfishly instigated by Israel and its supporters
include increased coercion — by means of blackmail, bribery, and bullying — of Western leaders and
politicians into supporting Israel while ignoring its blatant violations of
international law; the intensification of hateful traducement of any individual
or organisation critical of Israeli crimes; the escalation of efforts by Israel
and its supporters to suppress the right to freedom of expression; the
heightening of hysterical accusations of “anti-Semitism” coupled with a
dishonest Jewish failure to recognise that “in the struggle against
anti-Semitism, the frontline begins in Israel”; the surge in Western legislation
that criminalises both the criticism and boycotting of Israel; the recent
disgraceful withdrawal of a UN report that justifiably accused Israel of
establishing an “apartheid regime”; and the recent U.S. opposition with unprecedented UK criticism of
the adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council of five resolutions
critical of Israel. Such changes imposed by Israel and its supporters within
the very core of Western “democracies” not only entrenches Israel’s ethnic
cleansing in Palestine, but also undermines the universally declared and
inalienable rights for all humanity.
hapless Palestinian people are therefore not those occurring in Palestine, but
in those taking place in the so-called Western democracies who in the past had
staunchly opposed the heinous concept of Apartheid in South Africa. Such
changes which have been selfishly instigated by Israel and its supporters
include increased coercion — by means of blackmail, bribery, and bullying — of Western leaders and
politicians into supporting Israel while ignoring its blatant violations of
international law; the intensification of hateful traducement of any individual
or organisation critical of Israeli crimes; the escalation of efforts by Israel
and its supporters to suppress the right to freedom of expression; the
heightening of hysterical accusations of “anti-Semitism” coupled with a
dishonest Jewish failure to recognise that “in the struggle against
anti-Semitism, the frontline begins in Israel”; the surge in Western legislation
that criminalises both the criticism and boycotting of Israel; the recent
disgraceful withdrawal of a UN report that justifiably accused Israel of
establishing an “apartheid regime”; and the recent U.S. opposition with unprecedented UK criticism of
the adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council of five resolutions
critical of Israel. Such changes imposed by Israel and its supporters within
the very core of Western “democracies” not only entrenches Israel’s ethnic
cleansing in Palestine, but also undermines the universally declared and
inalienable rights for all humanity.
Give us a summary of the content of
this new novel.
this new novel.
This question is perhaps best
answered by the publisher’s intended Advance Information:
answered by the publisher’s intended Advance Information:
Set against a backdrop of hatred and
violence in the Middle East, Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophesy delves into the issue of Israel’s ethnic cleansing and addresses
racism in the Middle East.
violence in the Middle East, Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophesy delves into the issue of Israel’s ethnic cleansing and addresses
racism in the Middle East.
This novel follows journalist Conrad
Banner who is intent on filming a documentary in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. Inspired by his father — an author and foreign correspondent with
numerous journalism awards for his coverage in the Middle East — Banner’s documentary presents a factually impartial account of the conflict.
Banner who is intent on filming a documentary in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. Inspired by his father — an author and foreign correspondent with
numerous journalism awards for his coverage in the Middle East — Banner’s documentary presents a factually impartial account of the conflict.
Hatred and violence was also being
continually provoked by Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the indigenous
population which was whitewashed by a form of propaganda known as hasbara, or ‘explanation’. Such propaganda was aimed at an international
audience to portray Israeli action and policies — past and present — in a
positive light while providing a negative portrayal of Arabs in general, and
Palestinians in particular.
continually provoked by Israel’s ethnic cleansing of the indigenous
population which was whitewashed by a form of propaganda known as hasbara, or ‘explanation’. Such propaganda was aimed at an international
audience to portray Israeli action and policies — past and present — in a
positive light while providing a negative portrayal of Arabs in general, and
Palestinians in particular.
Along with Jewish activist Adam Peltz
and Palestinian guide Sami Hadawi, Banner finds himself unwelcome, resulting in
some hazardous and ultimately fatal consequences.
and Palestinian guide Sami Hadawi, Banner finds himself unwelcome, resulting in
some hazardous and ultimately fatal consequences.
Hiramic Brotherhood; Ezekiel’s Temple
Prophesy is motivated by the blatant denial of
human rights to millions of people, and in particular children, by the double
standard of Western democracies. Exploring the themes, of culture, racism, religion,
and violence, Hanna brings to the fore a compelling story of struggle and
divide.
Prophesy is motivated by the blatant denial of
human rights to millions of people, and in particular children, by the double
standard of Western democracies. Exploring the themes, of culture, racism, religion,
and violence, Hanna brings to the fore a compelling story of struggle and
divide.
Which is the main objective you
pursue with this new book?
pursue with this new book?
The main objective is hopefully to
help people — particularly those in the West — realise the catastrophic
consequences of continually doing nothing and allowing their political and
religious leaders to be corrupted and influenced by the well financed and
globally organised pro-Israel lobby.
help people — particularly those in the West — realise the catastrophic
consequences of continually doing nothing and allowing their political and
religious leaders to be corrupted and influenced by the well financed and
globally organised pro-Israel lobby.
In 2013, the
professor of international law Francis Boyle testified that “the
Palestinians have been the victims of genocide as defined by the 1948
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide . . . For
over the past six and one-half decades, the Israeli government and its predecessors
in law — the Zionist
agencies, forces, and terrorist gangs — have ruthlessly implemented a
systematic and comprehensive military, political, religious, economic, and
cultural campaign with the intent to destroy in substantial part the national,
ethnical, racial, and different religious group (Jews versus Muslims and
Christians) constituting the Palestinian people.”
professor of international law Francis Boyle testified that “the
Palestinians have been the victims of genocide as defined by the 1948
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide . . . For
over the past six and one-half decades, the Israeli government and its predecessors
in law — the Zionist
agencies, forces, and terrorist gangs — have ruthlessly implemented a
systematic and comprehensive military, political, religious, economic, and
cultural campaign with the intent to destroy in substantial part the national,
ethnical, racial, and different religious group (Jews versus Muslims and
Christians) constituting the Palestinian people.”
How can this book contribute to the
discussion around human rights in Palestine?
discussion around human rights in Palestine?
By making as many people as possible
understand that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cannot be
discriminatory or selective, but must be applicable to everyone without
exception; to make them understand that Israel’s denial of human rights to the
Palestinian people is not just a crime against Palestinians, but also a
transgression against all humanity; to make them understand that their failure
to act against Israel’s subversion of humanity’s moral values will ultimately
result in the destruction of everything they hold dear including their own
inalienable rights such as the right to freedom of expression; and to make them
understand being pro-Palestinian is not anti-Semitic, but pro-human rights: the
same human rights that hypocritical Jews demand for themselves. It is for that
reason that I hope that the Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophesy will
be translated into other languages because upholding human rights is the
responsibility of all peoples.
understand that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cannot be
discriminatory or selective, but must be applicable to everyone without
exception; to make them understand that Israel’s denial of human rights to the
Palestinian people is not just a crime against Palestinians, but also a
transgression against all humanity; to make them understand that their failure
to act against Israel’s subversion of humanity’s moral values will ultimately
result in the destruction of everything they hold dear including their own
inalienable rights such as the right to freedom of expression; and to make them
understand being pro-Palestinian is not anti-Semitic, but pro-human rights: the
same human rights that hypocritical Jews demand for themselves. It is for that
reason that I hope that the Hiramic Brotherhood: Ezekiel’s Temple Prophesy will
be translated into other languages because upholding human rights is the
responsibility of all peoples.
What does Zionism and Anti-Zionism
mean to you personally?
mean to you personally?
I regard Zionism as being the
antithesis of everything that is decent, humane and just. As for anti-Zionism,
to me, it has no special meaning because I am opposed any individual or
organisation — irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political ideology — that
in any way violates the rights of others.
antithesis of everything that is decent, humane and just. As for anti-Zionism,
to me, it has no special meaning because I am opposed any individual or
organisation — irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or political ideology — that
in any way violates the rights of others.
