Norman Finkelstein

Norman G. Finkelstein (born 1953) is the author of The Holocaust Industry.

An American political scientist, Professor Finkelstein received his doctorate from the Department of Politics, Princeton University, for a thesis on the theory of Zionism. Finkelstein first came to attention by accusing Joan Peters's book From Time Immemorial of being a "monumental hoax".

In his book The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering, Finkelstein argues that attempts by representatives of Holocaust victims to gain reparations for crimes committed against them and for property unjustifiably confiscated have turned into what he refers to as a "Holocaust industry." In the same book, he makes a case that agencies claiming to represent Holocaust survivors in reparations suits have kept the money from the survivors, including his own mother. He also argues that the memory of the Holocaust has been exploited to further Jewish and Israeli interests.

The Anti-Defamation League, naming parts of The Holocaust Industry and Finkelstein's public alleged support for Hezbollah as its reasons, has accused Finkelstein of Holocaust denial and has complained that he incites "hatred" of, and praised violence against, Israel. Finkelstein has said in response. "I am Jewish and my parents are Holocaust survivors. With others you could say, 'you're an anti-Semite' or 'you're a Holocaust denier,' [but] you can't do that with me," he said. "You have to argue the facts."

In addition to his denunciation of Peters, Finkelstein has accused Alan Dershowitz of plagiarism, claiming that parts of the latter's book The Case for Israel were lifted from Joan Peters' controversial From Time Immemorial without proper attribution. Dershowitz denies these allegations. (See Dershowitz-Finkelstein affair.)

Bibliography

• Rise and Fall of Palestine: A Personal Account of the Intifada Years: University of Minnesota, 1996 (ISBN 0816628599)
• (with Ruth Bettina Birn) A Nation on Trial: The Goldhagen Thesis and Historical Truth: Henry Holt and Co., 1998 (ISBN 0805058729)
• Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Norton, 2001 (ISBN 1859843395)
• The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering: Verso, 2003 (ISBN 185984488X)

External links

• Norman Finkelstein's homepage. Includes biographical details.
• Daniel Goldhagen's response to comments by Finkelstein
• Goldhagen's Response to attacks on him by Finkelstein
• Blogger's description of a lecture by Finkelstein
• Finkelstein's response to charges of Holocaust Denial
• Article on Finkelstein in The Observer
• Letter on Finkelstein by ADL