Gilad Atzmon says you CAN mess with the Zohan

[mary <humdrum2 at libero.it>]

Gilad Atzmon's latest article examines the themes of a racist 
"comedy" film that works like a bit of  brainless propaganda, yet 
while scratching through the surface, he finds a series of subtexts 
on Jewish Identity. The film does more than present a cartoon image 
of the Macho Israeli Mossad Man who remains the centre of all 
attention and the apex of the existence of two conflicting groups, it 
is an examination of the Diaspora Jew's identity relationship with 
the "Sabra" and with Arabs. As the struggle between the Israelis and 
the Palestinians gets shifted from Tel Aviv to NYC, the dynamics 
shift and we see the articulation of the various kinds of Jews one 
can aspire to being, since the Jew can actually create his future, 
while the Palestinians remain depicted as illiterate fools and 
terrorists, but are painted as wise enough to know how to strike a 
bargain with their enemy against -- real estate development. Sounds 
quite surreal, doesn't it? You can see some clips in the article.

http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/09/18/gilad-atzmon-messing-with-the-zohan/