Saturday, June 29, 2019

Dr. Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Siddiqi Spreads Hate in San Francisco

Its the "Summer of Hate" in San Francisco.

Dr. Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Siddiqi regularly delivers the Friday night sermon to the faithful at the Darussalam Mosque, downtown San Francisco's largest mosque and home to the Islamic Society of San Francisco.

On Friday, June 21, Siddiqi's sermon accused "Zionist agents" , working for Satan of murdering former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. According to Dr. Siddiqi,  Morsi "was only trying to help humanity by bringing the truth of Islam... the forces of evil... will continue not to allow [this] unless we Muslims allow ourselves to connect with each other and establish the kind of unity that is required."

In a city prized for its diversity and inclusivity, Siddiqi ploarizing lies are nothing less than hate speech.

From his webpage:

Dr. Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Siddiqi has been serving international communities in the Bay Area and over the United States since 1983. He designs and teaches courses on all Islamic studies subjects including but not limited to: Interpretation (Tafseer) of Quran, Hadith and Sunnah (Prophetic Traditions), Seerah: Biography of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Islamic Civilization, Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh), Islamic Legal and Political System, and the Status of Women in Islam.

Dr. Siddiqi is a lecturer of Islamic Studies and Arabic at the Graduate Theological Union's Center for Islamic Studies, Chabot College, Mission College and Ohlone College. He is the Director of the Islamic Education and Information Center, founder of the Islamic Law (Shari'a) Council and continues to serve as Secretary for the Council. Dr. Siddiqi earned his Ph.D. in Quranic Studies from the University of London and M.A. in Exegesis of the Holy Qur’an (Takhassus), from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.


Yes, this vile hate monger has taught at Ohlone, Mission and Chabot Colleges, public, tax-payer funded community colleges.





Will our community colleges allow this man to continue teaching our students?

Read more at MEMRI:

San Francisco Friday Sermon By Dr. Khalid Siddiqi: Morsi Was Murdered By Zionist Agents Who Are Working For Satan

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Palestinians: Never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity


Leaders from several Arab nations will gather in Bahrain this week  to discuss a 50 billion dollar relief plan and a possible path to peace between Palestinians and Israelis.  The economic incentive program for building a future Palestinian state  will be discussed at the “Peace to Prosperity”  conference, co-hosted by the U.S. government and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are participating. The Palestinians are boycotting the conference- Israeli government officials were not invited, but a business delegation from Israel will attend.

Under the plan, donor nations and investors would contribute about $50 billion over 10 years, with $28 billion going to the Palestinian territories. States that have absorbed Palestinian refugees int he past will also receive a significant amount of funding. $7.5 billion will be earmarked to Jordan,  with $9 billion going to Egypt and $6 billion going  to Lebanon.

Among 179 proposed infrastructure and business projects is a $5 billion transport corridor to connect the West Bank and Gaza.   The proposed  plan will facilitate billions of dollars of investment in Palestinian electricity, water, and telecommunications  in an effort to create efficient transmission and distribution networks. Tourism,  health care  and cultural institutions will also be funded.

The Palestinian Authority is boycotting the conference, although 15 private Palestinian business leaders were expected to attend. President Mahmoud Abbas said focusing on economic issues “is unacceptable before the political situation is discussed.”

Comprehensive peace proposals have been  presented to Palestinian leadership many times in the past, and have all been rejected.

The primary obstacle to peace remains the Palestinians refusal to accept the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, within any borders.

The roll out of the peace plan's economic portion is only beginning, but the participation of some Arab states in the process is an important development. Both Palestinian and Israeli leadership should embrace this opportunity to create a lasting, stable peace.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would consider the U.S. plan: “We’ll hear the American proposition, hear it fairly and with openness.”

In response to the peace initiative,  several senior officials in the PA have called for violence against Israel.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Manny's in the Mission: Small Business of the year.

It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.


From Scott Weiner:

Today I honored Manny's as our Senate District 11 Small Business of the Yeasr.  Manny's is an amazing, unique, & progressive small business in tje Mission- a civic gathering place, a cafe, restaurant & bookstore.  Thank for Manny Yekutiel , for all that you do.

Manny's cafe, on the corner of 16th and Valencia, has been the target of anti-Semitic attacks and vandalism since its opening.  Yet the visionary  business has become a destination for progressive activists across the Bay area.  Its become a mainstay on the Democratic presidential campaign trial, with the  Buttigieg campaign,  former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Seth Moulton, Beto O'Rouke, Eric Swallwell and Cory Booker all making appearances

Business is thriving.

Manny's and Manny Yekutiel: May you continue to go from strength to strength.
Jewish café owner in S.F. faces protests for being a ‘Zionist gentrifier’

If Gaza is an "open air prison", then Hamas is the Jailer

If Gaza is an "open air prison", then Hamas is the jailer. 

According to international aid organizations,  in 2018 there were 60,907 departures from the Gaza Strip to Egypt via the Rafah crossing, with only 37,075 returning. 

The favorite destinations of those leaving Gaza are Turkey, Germany and Sweden.   Those leaving Gaza were mostly young, affluent and with university degrees.  The cost of traveling from Gaza to Turkey has been estimated at $4.000.  It is estimated that 150 medical doctors left the strip.  The Hamas government now forbids doctors to leave the Gaza Strip.



Friday, June 21, 2019

Israel. Small Country. Big Ideas

The 2019 Nature Index Annual Tables are out, highlighting  the worldwide institutions that produce cutting edge scientific research. The Nature parameters are based on the share of articles published in 82 prestigious scientific journals, tracked by the Nature Index database.

In the Middle east and North Africa one tiny country stands ahead of the others in scientific output in chemistry, environmental science, life sciences and the physical sciences.


Israel.  Small Country.  Big Ideas

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Concord Man arrested after threatening massacre of Jews

Concord police have arrested Ross Farca, 23 after his threats to commit a mass shooting at a synagogue were leaked.  Earlier this month, the FBI had forwarded a cyber-tip to Concord  police regarding Farca's threatening comments made in the "Steam" online chat room .  Farca's screen name was Adolf Hitler (((6 Million)))).

Farca lived with his mother on the 2100 block of Calgary Lane in Concord, and was taken into custody without incident.

Farca was found in possession of a AR-15 semi-automatic rifle,  several high capacity magazines, Nazi memorabilia and camoflauge clothing.   The gun frame had been purchased legally,  earlier this year.


“I would probably get a body count of like 30 (Jews) and then like five police officers because I would also decide to fight to the death,” Farca said in one post, using a derogatory term to refer to Jewish people, according to court records. In other posts, he allegedly discussed picking a “better target than some random synagogue,” and referred to Jews as “subhumans.”

Farca remains in custody at the Contra Costa County Jail.  If anyone has information about this case, contact Detective Greg Mahan at (925) 603-5817. Anonymous tips can be left on the tip line at (925) 603-5836.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Fighting back against Hate in El Sobrante

El Sobrante,  a sleepy Contra Costa town of 13,000 has found itself in the national spotlight when one of its residents, Steve Johnson, built a giant swastika in his front yard.  The 10 foot by 10 foot swastika has created a huge uproar on Lindell Drive, a once quiet street of modest and well-tended homes.

Photo from ABC News

In interviews with the local media Johnson, a 65 year old retired welder has claimed the swastika is a symbol of “peace tranquility and harmony. ” He has claimed  "It's a Tibetan sign that's way back before swastikas were invented" Asked whether he is Tibetan, he replied: "I could be.” He has also stated  "I like swastikas…I think they look cool. I didn't do it to get attention. I'm not a worshiper of Nazis. I just thought it'd be a cool thing to put in there."  Eventually, Johnson declared "I own this house I'll put what I want. It ain't none of your guys' business" .

Johnson’s proclamation of innocence  regarding this symbol of Nazi Germany, associated with the deaths of 17 million people, including 6 million Jews flies in the face of this post on his Facebook page


An online petition  was started, urging Johnson to remove the concrete symbol, which he claims cost $800 dollars to install. Thousands have signed.

From the petition:

We live in El Sobrante and are grateful to live in a small community with such diversity of race, religion, and ethnicity.

Then we heard that in June, 2019 a member of our community erected a 10 foot by 10 foot swastika in his front yard. A swastika, which once was a religious symbol, is now widely recognized as an international symbol of hate. In the last 100 years, under the banner of the swastika millions of Jewish, Roma, gay, and other people were brutally slaughtered.


The presence of a swastika in our community makes many people feel unsafe to live in a community that tolerates visible expressions of hate and bigotry. Therefore, we are calling on this person to remove the swastika.


We came together and took a stand in our community when hate reared its head in the past. Many businesses and homes have a Not In Our Town: El Sobrante sign posted. We are speaking out now to show our neighbors that we want to keep El Sobrante as a welcoming community, free of intolerance and hate.

Please add your name and circulate to your neighbors.


Steve Johnson seems surprised and unprepared for the backlash. He claims his car and two pickup trucks have been egged, and his answering machine has been filled with messages from unhappy neighbors.   Johnson has recently covered the swastika with blankets 

What can to do to fight back against open displays of hate and intolerance  in our community? 

Please sign the petition, and show up on June 20, for a community wide rally sponsored by El Sobrante Indivisible,  between 4-6 pm at the corner of San Pablo Dam Road and Appian Way 
(Near 4071 San Pablo Dam Road)


Sunday, June 9, 2019

Zionists keeping Fairfax Funky at the local Festival

Local Marin Zionists are keeping Fairfax funky at the local Festival.


For years, an anti-Israel group has commandeered the walkways at the annual Fairfax Art Festival, spreading their nastiness under a banner reading "History Exhibit"

Yes, Really.


The myth of  Disappearing Palestine


Perhaps you've seen previous 14 Friends of Palestine displays, complete with Rachel Corrie diorama?


This year, the local community decided to fight back.  Local pro-Israel activists set up a table





The historical displays on the footbridge were met with considerable interest.




The table was reported to be a resounding success.  The best practices antidote to  "narrative" is history,  and  always remember- when we fight back, we win.




Wednesday, June 5, 2019

The take - home lesson from the California Democratic convention


The recent controversies at the California Democratic convention underscore how few people understand the current system, and  how few are actually involved.
Every two years,  California Democrats elect 7 self-identified females and 7 other than self-identified females from each Assembly District  as delegates to the California Democratic party.  Only a tiny proportion of registered voters participate in these elections.  There are almost 8 million registered Democrats in California.  Of those, less than 400,000 voters participated in the last  elections, held in January of this year. That’s one half of 1 percent.  In my Assembly district, the elections were held on Shabbat, effectively disenfranchising  traditionally observant Jewish voters.  This is in violation of the parties own guidelines.

There is little transparency and little accountability in these elections.  Assembly District Delegate Elections are not regulated by the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

Those who are elected  can vote for Party officers, endorse candidates for statewide, legislative and congressional office, attend the annual convention, and to introduce, endorse and vote on resolutions and ballot measures.
This is how extremists like David Mandel  in Assembly District 7 , Ronald “Chris” Yatooma in Assembly District 6 and Yassar Dahbour in Assembly District 9 are elected.   This is how bigoted and one sided resolutions are introduced into Democratic party policies.  And we can expect this to continue until moderate members of the Democratic get more involved.

Sunday, June 2, 2019

California Democrats reject anti-Israel language at State Convention

Six highly controversial anti-Israel resolutions introduced at the California Democratic Conference have been rejected. The  resolutions were effectively emasculated  in Committee, and  were ultimately disowned by the original authors.

Press release from the Progressive Zionists of California
PZC COMMENDS CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR REJECTING DISCRIMINATORY ANTI ISRAEL RESOLUTIONS AND LEGISLATION
(Sunday, June 2, 2019, San Francisco, California) --

Progressive Zionists of California (PZC) commends the California Democratic Party for rejecting numerous anti-Israel resolutions this weekend. In particular, we are pleased with the numerous rewrites of particularly troubling resolutions in the Resolutions Committee. The resolutions as amended were so odious to their authors that they withdrew their names as authors. We commend the Resolutions Committee in particular for their thoughtful discussion, and commitment to dialogue.
Additionally, PZC co-founder Paul Kujawsky was crucial in defeating five requests to support anti-Israel bills or oppose pro-Israel bills in the Legislative Committee. He argued effectively for this committee in particular to adopt "no position" for four of five bills, saying of the weekend, "This is a total defeat for anti-Israel activists this weekend. I could not be prouder of our efforts to combat extremism in the party."
Andrea Beth Damsky, founding member of PZC, echoed that sentiment, "I am so pleased with this powerful repudiation of anti-Zionist activity in the California Democratic Party. The conversation about the conflict takes up far too much time and energy, and we look forward to refocusing our resources into issues of concern for all Democrats -- reproductive freedom, climate change, housing, and even perhaps adopting the Equal Rights Amendment!"
PZC is grateful to our partners: the Jewish Legislative Caucus, Zioness MovementDemocrats for Israel Los AngelesDemocratic Majority for IsraelAmerican Jewish CommitteeADL - Anti-Defamation Leagueand numerous grassroots partners for their cooperation, support, and guidance. We look forward to working together in the future to keep our political discourse free from anti-Semitism so we can focus on making our communities better for everyone. When we organize together, we win.
ABOUT PZC:
PZC is a grassroots coalition of Democrats that supports the self-determination of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, addresses antisemitism wherever it arises, supports progressive policies in the CDP, and stands against the undemocratic policies of right-wing Israeli leadership.