On Democracy Now! today I debated J.J. Goldberg, editor-at-large and columnist at the newspaper The Jewish Daily Forward.

The discussion was ostensibly focused on US media coverage of Gaza, but I think Goldberg’s performance more accurately displayed the ways that “liberal” Zionists use euphemisms to obscure from view – their own and others’ – the full horror of Israel’s ongoing pogrom in Gaza and its decades of relentless violence and massacres against Palestinians.

Goldberg, while appearing critical of Israel, was actually advancing its most pernicious talking points, the goal of which is to blame Palestinian victims for their own deaths and to falsely portray Israel as the victim.

It was not easy to maintain my composure in the face of this. Just before the show, I had been looking at tweets from my friend Refaat Alareer, the editor of the book Gaza Writes Back.

Refaat is from the Shujaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, but he is currently out of Palestine, far from his family. His neighborhood has been destroyed and dozens of its people killed in an ongoing Israeli massacre.

My wife texted me that her brother(my best friend) Osama, grandfather and cousin were bombed dead in their house. 8 family members she lost — Great Return March (@ThisIsGaZa) July 23, 2014

I am told American F16's have been dropping 1-ton bombs on houses in Gaza in Shijaia. Our house and hundreds others are destroyed or damaged — Great Return March (@ThisIsGaZa) July 23, 2014

an average house in Gaza has 4 flats... thousands of houses have been destroyed so far... #GazaUnderAttack — Great Return March (@ThisIsGaZa) July 23, 2014

Yesterday my family had for 15 hours to endure the horrible news that 1 of my brothers was killed; he turned to be injured #GazaUnderAttack — Great Return March (@ThisIsGaZa) July 23, 2014

I haven't seen a more patient person than my wife who so far lost 8 family members in 5 days. She's stronger than me... may Allah bless her — Great Return March (@ThisIsGaZa) July 23, 2014

It is a small thing, but I offer this appearance on Democracy Now! as a gift to my friend Refaat.