Read, if you can stomach it, Alistair George and Ben Lorber's (International Solidarity movement) version of the gathering of Jewish Pilgrims in Hebron, for the annual reading of Chaya Sara. Having the Jewish people worship in their second holiest city is regarded as an unwelcome intrusion. Like all of the ISM and their International handlers, they deny the Jewish people's 3,500 year connection to our holy land :
From their Nov. 20 article
"Over 1000 American and International Zionists joined 700 extremist settlers in Hebron this weekend to celebrate the reading of the Torah portion detailing Abraham’s biblical purchase of Hebron land, and to assert sovereignty over the Palestinian residents of Hebron.
On Friday, many Zionist visitors camped in tents on Israeli-controlled Shuhada Street. Inebriated from the Shabbat festivities, the visitors harassed local Palestinians throughout the night."
For what really goes on , read David Wilders account
"All hours of the day and night the streets are full of people walking to and from the various neighborhoods in Hebron. Saturday afternoon, multitudes tour the city, visiting the Hebron Heritage Museum at Beit Hadassah, the tomb of Jesse and Ruth in Tel Rumeida, and the Avraham Avinu synagogue in the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. Special Casba tours are also included in the day’s agenda.
The heart of the day’s events takes place at Me’arat Hamachpela. On Friday night, literally thousands of people gather at this holy site, inside and out, to offer joyous Sabbath prayers. Singing and dancing during a huge “Carlebach minyan,” conducted in the Machpela courtyard, is unbelievably uplifting.
But the pinnacle and actual raison d’être for the ingathering begins early Saturday morning.
By 5:15 a.m., thousands make their way to early morning prayers at the Machpela. The entire building is open to Jewish worshipers, including “Ohel Yitzhak,” the Isaac Hall, available to Jews only ten days during the year. The first vatikin service, with the sunrise, is a spiritually inspirational way to start the day.
However, the peak takes place about an hour into the service. A Torah scroll is removed from the Holy Ark and opened. The first person, usually a cohen, or priest, is called up to the Torah. Following recitation of a blessing, the reader begins:
“And the life of Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kiryat Arba –the same is Hebron – in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her… and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver…four hundred shekels of silver… And Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre – the same is Hebron – in the land of Canaan…” (Gen: 23, 1-20)."
The ISM tirade doesnt notice or care about the joyful worship. To Ben and Alistair, its all about the eternal victimization of the Palestinian people:
"On Saturday, soldiers stationed themselves through the streets of Hebron’s Old City, forcing the shutdown of Palestinian shops, while swarms of visitors were treated to an extensive settler-guided tour championing the Jewish roots of Old Hebron. In what was advertised by the Hebron Committee as “the most unforgettable Jewish experience of a lifetime”, throngs of young, mostly American males clapped and chanted ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ (‘life to the people of Israel’) and other nationalistic chants, while Palestinian residents were forced to the sidelines of their own streets and kept there by soldiers."
These are some of those "extremist settlers" that Alistair and Ben complain about, courtesy of Elder of Ziyon:
If only I could say that I was surprised by the language of dehumanization, the denial of Jewish heritage and the venomous hate from the ISM article. Sadly, its all too typical.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
UN GA: Debate on "The Question of Palestine"
"If you ever hear a Palestinian leader say “two states for two peoples”, please phone me immediately. My office has set up the equivalent of a 9/11 number in the event of such an unprecedented occurrence."
Statement by Ambassador Ron Prosor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, Nov 29, 2011
Mr. President,
A great Jewish sage once wrote, “The truth can hurt like a thorn, at first; but in the end it blossoms like a rose.”
His words came to my mind today. His insight could really benefit many in this hall.
It takes a well of truth to water the seeds of peace. Yet, we continue to witness a drought of candor in this body’s discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. On this historic day, real facts in the General Assembly remain few and far between.
For any who have been here on November 29th before, today is déjà vu. Some of you may have noticed that some minor changes have been taking place in the Middle East lately, but any changes in this body’s resolutions condemning Israel are very, very rare.
Indeed, it didn’t take a creative writer to craft the language in these resolutions. The exact same text is copied and pasted, year after year – much of it dating back five decades.
The account we heard today is one-sided. It is unilateral. It is unjust. And it is unhelpful. It presents a distorted and impartial version of history. It transforms the cause of Palestinian self-determination into a deliberate attempt to denigrate, defame, and delegitimize the State of Israel.
The political dynamics in this body are sadly predictable. Every November, the leaves change color in New York, but the automatic anti-Israel majority never changes its votes.
Each and every responsible member of the international community that affixes its seal of approval on this exact same set of resolutions – which are irrelevant at best, and damaging at worst— should do a little soul searching. Is this the message that you want the General Assembly to send to the world?
Mr. President,
Let me take a moment to remind this Assembly about what actually occurred on this day 64 years ago – and in the days that followed.
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted to partition then British-Mandate Palestine into two states: one Jewish, one Arab. Two states for two peoples.
The Jewish population accepted that plan and declared a new state in its ancient homeland. It reflected the Zionist conviction that it was both necessary and possible to live in peace with our neighbors in the land of our forefathers.
The Arab inhabitants rejected the plan and launched a war of annihilation against the new Jewish state, joined by the armies of five Arab members of the United Nations.
One percent of Israel’s population died during this assault by five armies. Think about that price. It would be the equivalent of 650,000 dying in France today, or 3 million dying in the United States, or 13 million dying in China.
As a result of the war, there were Arabs who became refugees. A similar number of Jews, who lived in Arab countries, were forced to flee their homes as well. They, too, became refugees.
The difference between these two distinct populations was – and still is – that Israel absorbed the refugees into our society. Our neighbors did not.
Refugee camps in Israel gave birth to thriving towns and cities. Refugee camps in Arab Countries gave birth to more Palestinian refugees.
We unlocked our new immigrants’ vast potential. The Arab World knowingly and intentionally kept their Palestinian populations in the second class status of permanent refugees.
In Lebanon for many years and still today, the law prohibits Palestinians from owning land – and from working in the public sector or as doctors and lawyers. Palestinians are banned from these professions.
In Kuwait, the once significant Palestinian population was forcibly expelled from the country in 1991. Few remain.
In Syria, thousands of Palestinians had to flee refugee camps in Latakia last August when President Assad shelled their homes with naval gunboats.
In the vast majority of Arab Countries, Palestinians have no rights of citizenship. It is no coincidence that the Arab World’s responsibilities for the “inalienable rights” of these Palestinians never appear in the resolutions before you.
Mr. President,
The basic question underlying our conflict for 64 years has not changed. That question is: has the Arab World – and particularly the Palestinians – internalized that Israel is here to stay and will remain the Nation-state of the Jewish People?
It is still unclear whether they are inspired by the promise of building a new state, or the goal of destroying an existing one.
Two months ago, President Abbas stood at the podium in this very hall and tried to erase the unbroken and unbreakable connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
He said the following:
“I come before you today from the Holy Land, the land of Palestine, the land of divine messages, ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the birthplace of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).”
This was not an oversight. It was not a slip of the tongue. It was yet another deliberate attempt to deny and erase more than 3,000 years of Jewish history. The Arab leaders from those two nations that sought peace have offered a different message.
For example, in 1995, King Hussein came to the United States and said (quote): “For our part, we shall continue to work for the new dawn when all the Children of Abraham and their descendants are living together in the birthplace of their three great monotheistic religions.”
In 1977, President Sadat came to Israel’s Knesset and quoted this verse from the Koran: “We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes and in the books given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their lord.”
President Sadat and King Hussein spoke of THREE monotheistic religions, not ONE or TWO.
Mr. President,
The resolution that gives the 29th of November significance – General Assembly resolution 181 – speaks of the creation of a “Jewish State” no less than 25 times. We still do not hear Palestinian leaders utter the term.
The Palestinian leadership refuses to acknowledge Israel’s character as a Jewish state. You will never hear them say “two states for two peoples”. If you ever hear a Palestinian leader say “two states for two peoples”, please phone me immediately. My office has set up the equivalent of a 9/11 number in the event of such an unprecedented occurrence.
Palestinian leaders call for an independent Palestinian state, but insist that the Palestinian people return to the Jewish state. This is a proposition that no one who believes in the right of Israel to exist could ever accept.
The idea that Israel will be flooded with millions of Palestinians is a non-starter. The international community knows it. The Palestinian leadership knows it. But the Palestinian people aren’t hearing it. At this very moment, the gap between their perception and reality remains the major obstacle to peace.
Let me repeat that: the so-called right of return is and will remain the major obstacle to peace. It is not settlements. It is not the laundry list of baseless accusations launched against Israel in today’s resolutions.
I’ll repeat it again: the so-called right of return is the major obstacle to peace. Everyone knows it.
Yet, all of those who were so vocal today in telling Israel what is has to do for peace – mumbled, stuttered and conveniently lost their voices when it came to telling the Palestinians that the so-called right of return is a non-starter.
For decades, this body has rubberstamped nearly every Palestinian whim, no matter how counter-factual or counter-productive. What has this accomplished? The lip service of this body has only done a disservice for peace.
Mr. President,
True friends of the Palestinians have a responsibility to tell them the truth.
They will stop promoting the distorted version of history that characterizes this day, and start delivering the real lessons of history that the Palestinian leadership now refuses to heed.
These lessons are clear: bilateral negotiations are the only route to two states, for two peoples – living side-by-side in peace and security; negotiations that resolve the outstanding concerns of both sides.
While bypass maneuvers may work for heart surgery and highway construction, they will not bring peace or security to our region.
Direct negotiations were the way of President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin, the way of Prime Minister Rabin and King Hussein. It has been the framework for advancing peace between Israel and the Palestinians for the past two decades.
Time and again, we have extended our hand in peace to the Palestinians. Prime Minister Netanyahu stood in this very hall last September and declared his commitment to the cause of Palestinian self-determination – and his vision for establishing a Palestinian state, alongside the Jewish State of Israel – two states for two peoples.
Yet, today we wait for the Palestinians to give up the false idol of unilateralism – and get back to the real hard work of direct negotiations. And – as they continue to run away from the negotiating table, the Palestinian leadership continues to move closer into their embrace of Hamas – an internationally recognized terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
This development brings to my mind Groucho Marx’s famous line: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them … well, I have others." The Quartet has long applied three principles that Hamas must adopt. It must renounce violence, recognize Israel and abide by prior agreements. At no point has Hamas satisfied these conditions – or indicated any intention to do so.
Those who advocate recognizing a Government that includes Hamas are urging a Groucho-Marxist policy in a complex, unstable region. If Hamas is too extreme to accept these principles, they argue, we must tailor our principles to match Hamas's extremism.
The bar has been set very low. On these basic requirements for peace, there can be no adjustments. There can be no bargaining. There can be no Holiday Season discounts – in this hall or anywhere else.
Mr. President,
Even more than the words spoken in the speeches here today – or the words in the resolutions before you— it is the words not spoken that speak volumes. This Assembly has made clear that it does not stand in solidarity with many people in our region today.
In this hall, I hear no solidarity with the one million Israeli men, women and children who live under the constant rain rockets, mortars and missiles from the Gaza Strip.
I hear no solidarity with the 16-year old boy who was killed last April when a Hamas anti-Tank Missile struck his school bus. Or the thousands of other Israeli civilians who have been killed and injured.
I hear no solidarity with the Israeli children who learn the alphabet at the same time that they learn the names Kassam, Grad, and Katyusha – the rockets that keep them out of school for weeks at a time.
I hear no solidarity with the Palestinians who are victims of brutal Hamas rule – with the political opponents who are tortured, the women who are subjugated, or the children who are used as suicide bombers and human shields.
And – Mr. President, today I hear no solidarity with the many people in the Middle East who are being repressed and slaughtered every single day for demanding their freedom. From Syria to Iran to Yemen, these people are no longer content with their leader’s explanations that Israel is to blame for all the problems of the Middle East – a fiction that is advanced through resolutions like those before us today.
Today the People of the Middle East demand real answers for their plight.
I also heard no discussion today about the incitement that continues to fill the West Bank and Gaza, where the next generation of Palestinian children is being taught that suicide bombers are heroes, that Jews have no connection to the Holy Land, and that they must seek to annihilate the State of Israel.
From cradles to kindergarten classrooms; from the grounds of summer camps to the stands of football stadiums; from the names of public squares to the public pronouncements of Palestinian leaders, these messages are everywhere.
Just last month, President Abbas declared that the Palestinian Authority would provide a grant of up to $5,000 to every terrorist released in exchange for Gilad Shalit, Israel’s kidnapped soldier.
These are people like Ibrahim Shammasina, who helped to murder four Israelis, including two teenagers. People like Walid Anajas, who planned bombings in the heart of Jerusalem and Rishon Lezion, which killed 32.
People like Wafa-al Bis, who unsuccessfully tried to blow herself up in an Israeli hospital.
Washed in the blood of innocents, these terrorists are being held up as role models for the next generation of Palestinian children.
Palestinian Authority television broadcast President Abbas’ remarks to these released terrorists last October. He said, “You are people of struggle and Jihad fighters for Allah and the homeland... Your sacrifice and your effort and your actions were not in vain.”
Mr. President,
Sustainable peace must take root in homes, schools, and media that teach tolerance and understanding so that it can grow in hearts and minds.
It must come from a Palestinian leadership willing to tell its people about the difficult compromises that they will have to make for statehood.
It will come through the hard work of state-building, not the old habit of state-bashing.
Today none of these truths have been spoken.
Today I hear no solidarity with the principles of peace.
I know that the truth can be a burden. I know that old habits die-hard. I know that the convenience of the moment sometimes weighs heavy on the interests of the future.
Yet, only the truth will set us free. After years of darkness, I call on this Assembly to bring new light to this debate.
I call on each and every delegate in this hall to embrace pragmatic solutions, not automatic resolutions; to speak with candor, and not slander; to grapple for a new vision, and not old divisions.
I call on this Assembly to finally glean truth from this historic day, nourishing the seeds of peace in our region that can blossom into a brighter future.
Thank you, Mr. President
Statement by Ambassador Ron Prosor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, Nov 29, 2011
Mr. President,
A great Jewish sage once wrote, “The truth can hurt like a thorn, at first; but in the end it blossoms like a rose.”
His words came to my mind today. His insight could really benefit many in this hall.
It takes a well of truth to water the seeds of peace. Yet, we continue to witness a drought of candor in this body’s discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. On this historic day, real facts in the General Assembly remain few and far between.
For any who have been here on November 29th before, today is déjà vu. Some of you may have noticed that some minor changes have been taking place in the Middle East lately, but any changes in this body’s resolutions condemning Israel are very, very rare.
Indeed, it didn’t take a creative writer to craft the language in these resolutions. The exact same text is copied and pasted, year after year – much of it dating back five decades.
The account we heard today is one-sided. It is unilateral. It is unjust. And it is unhelpful. It presents a distorted and impartial version of history. It transforms the cause of Palestinian self-determination into a deliberate attempt to denigrate, defame, and delegitimize the State of Israel.
The political dynamics in this body are sadly predictable. Every November, the leaves change color in New York, but the automatic anti-Israel majority never changes its votes.
Each and every responsible member of the international community that affixes its seal of approval on this exact same set of resolutions – which are irrelevant at best, and damaging at worst— should do a little soul searching. Is this the message that you want the General Assembly to send to the world?
Mr. President,
Let me take a moment to remind this Assembly about what actually occurred on this day 64 years ago – and in the days that followed.
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted to partition then British-Mandate Palestine into two states: one Jewish, one Arab. Two states for two peoples.
The Jewish population accepted that plan and declared a new state in its ancient homeland. It reflected the Zionist conviction that it was both necessary and possible to live in peace with our neighbors in the land of our forefathers.
The Arab inhabitants rejected the plan and launched a war of annihilation against the new Jewish state, joined by the armies of five Arab members of the United Nations.
One percent of Israel’s population died during this assault by five armies. Think about that price. It would be the equivalent of 650,000 dying in France today, or 3 million dying in the United States, or 13 million dying in China.
As a result of the war, there were Arabs who became refugees. A similar number of Jews, who lived in Arab countries, were forced to flee their homes as well. They, too, became refugees.
The difference between these two distinct populations was – and still is – that Israel absorbed the refugees into our society. Our neighbors did not.
Refugee camps in Israel gave birth to thriving towns and cities. Refugee camps in Arab Countries gave birth to more Palestinian refugees.
We unlocked our new immigrants’ vast potential. The Arab World knowingly and intentionally kept their Palestinian populations in the second class status of permanent refugees.
In Lebanon for many years and still today, the law prohibits Palestinians from owning land – and from working in the public sector or as doctors and lawyers. Palestinians are banned from these professions.
In Kuwait, the once significant Palestinian population was forcibly expelled from the country in 1991. Few remain.
In Syria, thousands of Palestinians had to flee refugee camps in Latakia last August when President Assad shelled their homes with naval gunboats.
In the vast majority of Arab Countries, Palestinians have no rights of citizenship. It is no coincidence that the Arab World’s responsibilities for the “inalienable rights” of these Palestinians never appear in the resolutions before you.
Mr. President,
The basic question underlying our conflict for 64 years has not changed. That question is: has the Arab World – and particularly the Palestinians – internalized that Israel is here to stay and will remain the Nation-state of the Jewish People?
It is still unclear whether they are inspired by the promise of building a new state, or the goal of destroying an existing one.
Two months ago, President Abbas stood at the podium in this very hall and tried to erase the unbroken and unbreakable connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
He said the following:
“I come before you today from the Holy Land, the land of Palestine, the land of divine messages, ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the birthplace of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).”
This was not an oversight. It was not a slip of the tongue. It was yet another deliberate attempt to deny and erase more than 3,000 years of Jewish history. The Arab leaders from those two nations that sought peace have offered a different message.
For example, in 1995, King Hussein came to the United States and said (quote): “For our part, we shall continue to work for the new dawn when all the Children of Abraham and their descendants are living together in the birthplace of their three great monotheistic religions.”
In 1977, President Sadat came to Israel’s Knesset and quoted this verse from the Koran: “We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes and in the books given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their lord.”
President Sadat and King Hussein spoke of THREE monotheistic religions, not ONE or TWO.
Mr. President,
The resolution that gives the 29th of November significance – General Assembly resolution 181 – speaks of the creation of a “Jewish State” no less than 25 times. We still do not hear Palestinian leaders utter the term.
The Palestinian leadership refuses to acknowledge Israel’s character as a Jewish state. You will never hear them say “two states for two peoples”. If you ever hear a Palestinian leader say “two states for two peoples”, please phone me immediately. My office has set up the equivalent of a 9/11 number in the event of such an unprecedented occurrence.
Palestinian leaders call for an independent Palestinian state, but insist that the Palestinian people return to the Jewish state. This is a proposition that no one who believes in the right of Israel to exist could ever accept.
The idea that Israel will be flooded with millions of Palestinians is a non-starter. The international community knows it. The Palestinian leadership knows it. But the Palestinian people aren’t hearing it. At this very moment, the gap between their perception and reality remains the major obstacle to peace.
Let me repeat that: the so-called right of return is and will remain the major obstacle to peace. It is not settlements. It is not the laundry list of baseless accusations launched against Israel in today’s resolutions.
I’ll repeat it again: the so-called right of return is the major obstacle to peace. Everyone knows it.
Yet, all of those who were so vocal today in telling Israel what is has to do for peace – mumbled, stuttered and conveniently lost their voices when it came to telling the Palestinians that the so-called right of return is a non-starter.
For decades, this body has rubberstamped nearly every Palestinian whim, no matter how counter-factual or counter-productive. What has this accomplished? The lip service of this body has only done a disservice for peace.
Mr. President,
True friends of the Palestinians have a responsibility to tell them the truth.
They will stop promoting the distorted version of history that characterizes this day, and start delivering the real lessons of history that the Palestinian leadership now refuses to heed.
These lessons are clear: bilateral negotiations are the only route to two states, for two peoples – living side-by-side in peace and security; negotiations that resolve the outstanding concerns of both sides.
While bypass maneuvers may work for heart surgery and highway construction, they will not bring peace or security to our region.
Direct negotiations were the way of President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin, the way of Prime Minister Rabin and King Hussein. It has been the framework for advancing peace between Israel and the Palestinians for the past two decades.
Time and again, we have extended our hand in peace to the Palestinians. Prime Minister Netanyahu stood in this very hall last September and declared his commitment to the cause of Palestinian self-determination – and his vision for establishing a Palestinian state, alongside the Jewish State of Israel – two states for two peoples.
Yet, today we wait for the Palestinians to give up the false idol of unilateralism – and get back to the real hard work of direct negotiations. And – as they continue to run away from the negotiating table, the Palestinian leadership continues to move closer into their embrace of Hamas – an internationally recognized terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
This development brings to my mind Groucho Marx’s famous line: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them … well, I have others." The Quartet has long applied three principles that Hamas must adopt. It must renounce violence, recognize Israel and abide by prior agreements. At no point has Hamas satisfied these conditions – or indicated any intention to do so.
Those who advocate recognizing a Government that includes Hamas are urging a Groucho-Marxist policy in a complex, unstable region. If Hamas is too extreme to accept these principles, they argue, we must tailor our principles to match Hamas's extremism.
The bar has been set very low. On these basic requirements for peace, there can be no adjustments. There can be no bargaining. There can be no Holiday Season discounts – in this hall or anywhere else.
Mr. President,
Even more than the words spoken in the speeches here today – or the words in the resolutions before you— it is the words not spoken that speak volumes. This Assembly has made clear that it does not stand in solidarity with many people in our region today.
In this hall, I hear no solidarity with the one million Israeli men, women and children who live under the constant rain rockets, mortars and missiles from the Gaza Strip.
I hear no solidarity with the 16-year old boy who was killed last April when a Hamas anti-Tank Missile struck his school bus. Or the thousands of other Israeli civilians who have been killed and injured.
I hear no solidarity with the Israeli children who learn the alphabet at the same time that they learn the names Kassam, Grad, and Katyusha – the rockets that keep them out of school for weeks at a time.
I hear no solidarity with the Palestinians who are victims of brutal Hamas rule – with the political opponents who are tortured, the women who are subjugated, or the children who are used as suicide bombers and human shields.
And – Mr. President, today I hear no solidarity with the many people in the Middle East who are being repressed and slaughtered every single day for demanding their freedom. From Syria to Iran to Yemen, these people are no longer content with their leader’s explanations that Israel is to blame for all the problems of the Middle East – a fiction that is advanced through resolutions like those before us today.
Today the People of the Middle East demand real answers for their plight.
I also heard no discussion today about the incitement that continues to fill the West Bank and Gaza, where the next generation of Palestinian children is being taught that suicide bombers are heroes, that Jews have no connection to the Holy Land, and that they must seek to annihilate the State of Israel.
From cradles to kindergarten classrooms; from the grounds of summer camps to the stands of football stadiums; from the names of public squares to the public pronouncements of Palestinian leaders, these messages are everywhere.
Just last month, President Abbas declared that the Palestinian Authority would provide a grant of up to $5,000 to every terrorist released in exchange for Gilad Shalit, Israel’s kidnapped soldier.
These are people like Ibrahim Shammasina, who helped to murder four Israelis, including two teenagers. People like Walid Anajas, who planned bombings in the heart of Jerusalem and Rishon Lezion, which killed 32.
People like Wafa-al Bis, who unsuccessfully tried to blow herself up in an Israeli hospital.
Washed in the blood of innocents, these terrorists are being held up as role models for the next generation of Palestinian children.
Palestinian Authority television broadcast President Abbas’ remarks to these released terrorists last October. He said, “You are people of struggle and Jihad fighters for Allah and the homeland... Your sacrifice and your effort and your actions were not in vain.”
Mr. President,
Sustainable peace must take root in homes, schools, and media that teach tolerance and understanding so that it can grow in hearts and minds.
It must come from a Palestinian leadership willing to tell its people about the difficult compromises that they will have to make for statehood.
It will come through the hard work of state-building, not the old habit of state-bashing.
Today none of these truths have been spoken.
Today I hear no solidarity with the principles of peace.
I know that the truth can be a burden. I know that old habits die-hard. I know that the convenience of the moment sometimes weighs heavy on the interests of the future.
Yet, only the truth will set us free. After years of darkness, I call on this Assembly to bring new light to this debate.
I call on each and every delegate in this hall to embrace pragmatic solutions, not automatic resolutions; to speak with candor, and not slander; to grapple for a new vision, and not old divisions.
I call on this Assembly to finally glean truth from this historic day, nourishing the seeds of peace in our region that can blossom into a brighter future.
Thank you, Mr. President
The Ethnic Cleansing of Jerusalem
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet.
Jerusalem has has played a central role in Jewish existence for over 3,000 years. Now our holy city is under attack, by those who deny our history and our heritage.
In May 1948, Jordan invaded and occupied east Jerusalem. For 19 years, the city was divided, with Israel establishing its capital in western Jerusalem and Jordan occupying the eastern section, which included the Old City and many holy sites. Thousands of Jews and Christians were ethnically cleansed from Jerusalem during this period.
During Jordanian occupation, the population of Christians in Jerusalem dwindled from 25,000 in 1949 to less than 13,000 in June 1967. Strict government controls were instituted on Christian schools, with restrictions on the opening of new schools. There were governmental controls over the hiring of teachers and school finances. Koran study was mandatory. Christian religious and charitable institutions were banned from purchasing land in Jerusalem. There were limits on the number of Christians allowed to visit the Old City and Bethlehem at Christmas and Easter
Jews were denied access to the Kotel, and to the cemetery on the Mount of Olives, where they had been burying their dead for 2,500 years. The Jordanians built a road through the cemetery, destroying hundreds of graves. The tombstones were used as paving stones. The ancient Jewish quarter of the Old City was ravaged. 58 synagogues- some centuries old- were ruined.
Before the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem
After the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem
Photos from Time Life
There is a new assault on our Holy city scheduled for March of 2012. The promotional brochure of the Global march on Jerusalem is now being distributed.
The Global March on Jerusalem represents a denial of Israeli sovereignty, and a denial of the Jewish bond to our holy city. The organizers, including Paul Larudee and Deppen Webber, both from California, and Feroze Mithiborwala of India represent an extremist fringe element closely associated with Iran and the Iranian client state of Gaza
I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about.
There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,
As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
“May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.”
For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,
“Peace be with you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord, our G-d,
I pray for your good.
Psalm 122
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem has has played a central role in Jewish existence for over 3,000 years. Now our holy city is under attack, by those who deny our history and our heritage.
In May 1948, Jordan invaded and occupied east Jerusalem. For 19 years, the city was divided, with Israel establishing its capital in western Jerusalem and Jordan occupying the eastern section, which included the Old City and many holy sites. Thousands of Jews and Christians were ethnically cleansed from Jerusalem during this period.
During Jordanian occupation, the population of Christians in Jerusalem dwindled from 25,000 in 1949 to less than 13,000 in June 1967. Strict government controls were instituted on Christian schools, with restrictions on the opening of new schools. There were governmental controls over the hiring of teachers and school finances. Koran study was mandatory. Christian religious and charitable institutions were banned from purchasing land in Jerusalem. There were limits on the number of Christians allowed to visit the Old City and Bethlehem at Christmas and Easter
Jews were denied access to the Kotel, and to the cemetery on the Mount of Olives, where they had been burying their dead for 2,500 years. The Jordanians built a road through the cemetery, destroying hundreds of graves. The tombstones were used as paving stones. The ancient Jewish quarter of the Old City was ravaged. 58 synagogues- some centuries old- were ruined.
Before the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem
After the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem
Photos from Time Life
There is a new assault on our Holy city scheduled for March of 2012. The promotional brochure of the Global march on Jerusalem is now being distributed.
The Global March on Jerusalem represents a denial of Israeli sovereignty, and a denial of the Jewish bond to our holy city. The organizers, including Paul Larudee and Deppen Webber, both from California, and Feroze Mithiborwala of India represent an extremist fringe element closely associated with Iran and the Iranian client state of Gaza
I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about.
There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,
As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
“May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.”
For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,
“Peace be with you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord, our G-d,
I pray for your good.
Psalm 122
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo "Tel Aviv, judgment day has come"
5,000 people joined a Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo on Friday called to promote the "battle against Jerusalem's Judaization." Activists vowing to "one day kill all Jews" attended the rally, held in Cairo's most prominent mosque.
Speakers were quick to scapegoat and condemn Israel with calls for Jihad and for liberation the whole of Palestine. Ahmed al-Tayeb claimed that Jews everywhere in the world are seeking to prevent Islamic and Egyptian unity. "In order to build Egypt, we must be one. Politics is insufficient. Faith in Allah is the basis for everything," he said. "The al-Aqsa Mosque is currently under an offensive by the Jews… we shall not allow the Zionists to Judaize al-Quds (Jerusalem.)
Upon leaving the rally, participants were given flags, with Egypt's flag on one side and the Palestinian flag on the other, as well as maps of Jerusalem's Old City detailing where "Zionists are aiming to change Jerusalem's Muslim character."
Today begins a preliminary "March to Jerusalem", a precursor to the much larger march to be held in 2012. The March 30 crusade, organized by Paul Larudee, Deppen Webber, Feroze Mithiborwala and others aims to amass thousands on all Israel's borders.
To Paul, Deppen, Feroze, Ahmed and all those who deny the Jewish people's eternal bond with our holy city Jerusalem, I present to you Psalm 137
By the rivers of Babylon,there we sat and we wept,
when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Sing us a song of Zion, our captors urged
How shall we sing of Zion in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget her cunning.
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;
if I do not remember Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Not into ancient liturgy? Check out this modern ode to our city of light, of peace and of gold
Speakers were quick to scapegoat and condemn Israel with calls for Jihad and for liberation the whole of Palestine. Ahmed al-Tayeb claimed that Jews everywhere in the world are seeking to prevent Islamic and Egyptian unity. "In order to build Egypt, we must be one. Politics is insufficient. Faith in Allah is the basis for everything," he said. "The al-Aqsa Mosque is currently under an offensive by the Jews… we shall not allow the Zionists to Judaize al-Quds (Jerusalem.)
Upon leaving the rally, participants were given flags, with Egypt's flag on one side and the Palestinian flag on the other, as well as maps of Jerusalem's Old City detailing where "Zionists are aiming to change Jerusalem's Muslim character."
Today begins a preliminary "March to Jerusalem", a precursor to the much larger march to be held in 2012. The March 30 crusade, organized by Paul Larudee, Deppen Webber, Feroze Mithiborwala and others aims to amass thousands on all Israel's borders.
To Paul, Deppen, Feroze, Ahmed and all those who deny the Jewish people's eternal bond with our holy city Jerusalem, I present to you Psalm 137
By the rivers of Babylon,there we sat and we wept,
when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Sing us a song of Zion, our captors urged
How shall we sing of Zion in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget her cunning.
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;
if I do not remember Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Not into ancient liturgy? Check out this modern ode to our city of light, of peace and of gold
Thursday, November 24, 2011
From the Israel Project: Ten Facts about the Palestinian Terror Group Hamas
"But, but, Hamas was democratically elected"
Ten Facts about the Palestinian Terror Group Hamas from the Israel project
1. Hamas Leadership
Hamas is a radical Islamic terror group operating out of the Gaza Strip. Hamas, which means “enthusiasm” or “bravery” in Arabic, is the acronym for its full title, the Islamic Resistance Movement. Its military wing is called Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, named after the early 20th century militant leader. Hamas also has a paramilitary police force, known as the Executive Force. The group has some 20,000 fighters among its ranks...
2. Hamas Founders
Founded in 1987, Hamas was created by former Muslim Brotherhood members Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Mahmoud al-Zahar. Abdullah Azzam, an Arab Islamist from the West Bank city of Jenin, was another pivotal figure in the founding of Hamas. He studied with Muslim Brotherhood members at Cairo’s al-Azhar University and became al-Qaeda arch terrorist Osama bin Laden’s mentor in Pakistan.
3. Hamas Terror Tactics
Hamas carries out civilian attacks and suicide bombings and purposefully fires rockets at Israeli towns and cities. Human rights group Amnesty International called on Hamas to "publicly renounce its policy of unlawful attacks against civilian population centers in Israel." The group’s hardline ethos advocates fighting Jews in order to create an Islamic Palestinian state in place of what is currently Israel.
4. Hamas, an Iranian Proxy
Like the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, Gaza-based Hamas is funded, armed and trained by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran provides hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to Hamas and other proxy groups.In fact, Hamas militants are trained in Iran and weapons provided by Iran are routinely smuggled into Gaza.
5. Hamas’ Bloody Gaza Takeover
Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, when it violently ousted Fatah, the political party of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. During the year that culminated with the bloody coup, more than 600 Palestinians were killed and at over 1000 were wounded
6. Hamas: Bin Laden a Holy Warrior
United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) states: “Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization that calls bin Laden a ‘holy warrior,’ remains determined to destroy Israel, and is responsible for the deaths of Israelis and Americans.”
7. A Hamas-Fatah Government
Referring to the impending Hamas-Fatah move towards a new Palestinian government, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen added in a statement: “Now, Hamas will be a part of the PA, without having to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, or accept previous agreements.” World leaders have called the move towards Hamas-Fatah unity a blow to peace because of Hamas’ hardline and violent rhetoric.
8. Palestinian Violence
In April 2011, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said: "The United States supports Palestinian reconciliation on terms which promote the cause of peace…Hamas, however, is a terrorist organization which targets civilians. To play a constructive role in achieving peace, any Palestinian government must... renounce violence, abide by past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist."
9. Hamas and al-Qaeda
Although Hamas denies its ties to al-Qaeda, operational links – as well as ideological similarities - between the two terror groups have been confirmed. Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, confirms that the two groups trained together in the 1990s in Sudan
10. Hamas’ Capture of Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit, an Israeli-French national, was kidnapped by Iran-backed Hamas on June 25, 2006 during a cross-border raid from Gaza into Israel. Shalit was a 19-year old soldier at the time. He was released more than five years later in October 2011. Hamas violated Shalit’s most basic human rights as a captive, barring any visits from humanitarian organizations as demanded by international law.
Read it all at the Israel Project
Ten Facts about the Palestinian Terror Group Hamas from the Israel project
1. Hamas Leadership
Hamas is a radical Islamic terror group operating out of the Gaza Strip. Hamas, which means “enthusiasm” or “bravery” in Arabic, is the acronym for its full title, the Islamic Resistance Movement. Its military wing is called Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, named after the early 20th century militant leader. Hamas also has a paramilitary police force, known as the Executive Force. The group has some 20,000 fighters among its ranks...
2. Hamas Founders
Founded in 1987, Hamas was created by former Muslim Brotherhood members Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Mahmoud al-Zahar. Abdullah Azzam, an Arab Islamist from the West Bank city of Jenin, was another pivotal figure in the founding of Hamas. He studied with Muslim Brotherhood members at Cairo’s al-Azhar University and became al-Qaeda arch terrorist Osama bin Laden’s mentor in Pakistan.
3. Hamas Terror Tactics
Hamas carries out civilian attacks and suicide bombings and purposefully fires rockets at Israeli towns and cities. Human rights group Amnesty International called on Hamas to "publicly renounce its policy of unlawful attacks against civilian population centers in Israel." The group’s hardline ethos advocates fighting Jews in order to create an Islamic Palestinian state in place of what is currently Israel.
4. Hamas, an Iranian Proxy
Like the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, Gaza-based Hamas is funded, armed and trained by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran provides hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to Hamas and other proxy groups.In fact, Hamas militants are trained in Iran and weapons provided by Iran are routinely smuggled into Gaza.
5. Hamas’ Bloody Gaza Takeover
Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, when it violently ousted Fatah, the political party of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. During the year that culminated with the bloody coup, more than 600 Palestinians were killed and at over 1000 were wounded
6. Hamas: Bin Laden a Holy Warrior
United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) states: “Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization that calls bin Laden a ‘holy warrior,’ remains determined to destroy Israel, and is responsible for the deaths of Israelis and Americans.”
7. A Hamas-Fatah Government
Referring to the impending Hamas-Fatah move towards a new Palestinian government, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen added in a statement: “Now, Hamas will be a part of the PA, without having to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, or accept previous agreements.” World leaders have called the move towards Hamas-Fatah unity a blow to peace because of Hamas’ hardline and violent rhetoric.
8. Palestinian Violence
In April 2011, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said: "The United States supports Palestinian reconciliation on terms which promote the cause of peace…Hamas, however, is a terrorist organization which targets civilians. To play a constructive role in achieving peace, any Palestinian government must... renounce violence, abide by past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist."
9. Hamas and al-Qaeda
Although Hamas denies its ties to al-Qaeda, operational links – as well as ideological similarities - between the two terror groups have been confirmed. Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, confirms that the two groups trained together in the 1990s in Sudan
10. Hamas’ Capture of Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit, an Israeli-French national, was kidnapped by Iran-backed Hamas on June 25, 2006 during a cross-border raid from Gaza into Israel. Shalit was a 19-year old soldier at the time. He was released more than five years later in October 2011. Hamas violated Shalit’s most basic human rights as a captive, barring any visits from humanitarian organizations as demanded by international law.
Read it all at the Israel Project
The Rise and free-fall of STOP AIPAC
"And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust"
The demise of yet another anti-Israel organization:
From Jim Harris of Stop AIPAC
When the website StopAIPAC.org started over 5 years ago, we had hopes to inspire people to unite in protest against AIPAC, a lobby for occupation and war. Since that time, there have dozens of protests around the country, in city after city, as aipac kept selling its product , an apartheid system that could only be promoted with fear and and the spread of hatred (in the form of Islamophobia), and protected by massive military expenditures. We witnessed the emergence of Move Over Aipac and its protest of aipac at its annual Policy Conference in DC. That was a modest success, and it remains to be seen if the next Policy Conference in March will be confronted by something bigger, our fondest hope.
What is certain is that due to many personal reasons i no longer wish to be doing this newsletter, or updating the website. This is the last newsletter you will be receiving, and the website will fade away soon also. I hope many others continue to fight aipac and work for justice and peace in the Middle East, and fight the threat of a US and/or Israeli war against Iran, which could easily turn into the greatest catastrophe of our era.
I am personally thankful for those who sent words and even donations of support. We hope you find other organizations to support (like Move Over Aipac or The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation ) We hope that the protests continue to grow and that people will continue to express their outrage at politicians that pander to plotters of war and oppression. We can make a better world.
--- jim harris for Stop AIPAC
Jim Harris who blogs as "Tom Joad" is a staple at anti-Israel events locally. The diminutive activist (Does he really walk dogs for a living?)reportedly was upset that his organization was not chosen to organize AIPAC disruptions in Washington and was growing progressively more disgusted at the hypocrisy of his colleagues' refusal to condemn anti-democratic homophobic, misogynist regimes in the Middle east
We've seen this over and over again in the Bay area. Hatred of the state of the Jewish people isn't enough to keep these groups unified. They break and fragment over being too Marxist. Not Marxist enough. Recently we've seen much imploding and divisiveness regarding the Arab Spring, with some groups rallying behind dictators and autocrats. Anti-Israel groups begin, break up and re-form with surprising regularity.
Does this mean AIPAC protests in the Bay Area for December 2011 are cancelled?
No.
Central Valley Hate groups are already coordinating a protest at the AIPAC lunch in Sacranmento, Sunday December 04 from 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM.
They show up every year. Who could ever forget Stephen Pearcy aand Virginia Johnson Pearcy with their Hamas and Hezbollah flags, Zionist baby killer effigy and and sign glorifying Nasrallah?
In the absence of StopAIPAC, protests on Oakland December 5 and San Francisco December 6 will likely be organized by a consortium of haters, from the AFSC, to JVP and the AROC. And if the past is any indication, while several dozen are gathering out side in protest, over a thousand people will be inside celebrating the special relation between the American and Israeli people.
Another one bites the dust"
The demise of yet another anti-Israel organization:
From Jim Harris of Stop AIPAC
When the website StopAIPAC.org started over 5 years ago, we had hopes to inspire people to unite in protest against AIPAC, a lobby for occupation and war. Since that time, there have dozens of protests around the country, in city after city, as aipac kept selling its product , an apartheid system that could only be promoted with fear and and the spread of hatred (in the form of Islamophobia), and protected by massive military expenditures. We witnessed the emergence of Move Over Aipac and its protest of aipac at its annual Policy Conference in DC. That was a modest success, and it remains to be seen if the next Policy Conference in March will be confronted by something bigger, our fondest hope.
What is certain is that due to many personal reasons i no longer wish to be doing this newsletter, or updating the website. This is the last newsletter you will be receiving, and the website will fade away soon also. I hope many others continue to fight aipac and work for justice and peace in the Middle East, and fight the threat of a US and/or Israeli war against Iran, which could easily turn into the greatest catastrophe of our era.
I am personally thankful for those who sent words and even donations of support. We hope you find other organizations to support (like Move Over Aipac or The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation ) We hope that the protests continue to grow and that people will continue to express their outrage at politicians that pander to plotters of war and oppression. We can make a better world.
--- jim harris for Stop AIPAC
Jim Harris who blogs as "Tom Joad" is a staple at anti-Israel events locally. The diminutive activist (Does he really walk dogs for a living?)reportedly was upset that his organization was not chosen to organize AIPAC disruptions in Washington and was growing progressively more disgusted at the hypocrisy of his colleagues' refusal to condemn anti-democratic homophobic, misogynist regimes in the Middle east
We've seen this over and over again in the Bay area. Hatred of the state of the Jewish people isn't enough to keep these groups unified. They break and fragment over being too Marxist. Not Marxist enough. Recently we've seen much imploding and divisiveness regarding the Arab Spring, with some groups rallying behind dictators and autocrats. Anti-Israel groups begin, break up and re-form with surprising regularity.
Does this mean AIPAC protests in the Bay Area for December 2011 are cancelled?
No.
Central Valley Hate groups are already coordinating a protest at the AIPAC lunch in Sacranmento, Sunday December 04 from 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM.
They show up every year. Who could ever forget Stephen Pearcy aand Virginia Johnson Pearcy with their Hamas and Hezbollah flags, Zionist baby killer effigy and and sign glorifying Nasrallah?
In the absence of StopAIPAC, protests on Oakland December 5 and San Francisco December 6 will likely be organized by a consortium of haters, from the AFSC, to JVP and the AROC. And if the past is any indication, while several dozen are gathering out side in protest, over a thousand people will be inside celebrating the special relation between the American and Israeli people.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Extinct Frog re-discovered in Israel
We thought it had croaked.
The Hula Painted Frog, once believed to be extinct was seen for the first time in 50years this week. Omri Gal of Israel's Nature and Parks Authority said, "It's an amazing find, now we have a second chance to preserve the species."
The frog is native to the Hula Valley, a swamp drained in the 1950s to stop malaria.
It is believed that rehydration of the area is responsible for the frog sighting and it is possible that more frogs live in the reserve. However, this is only the sixth specimen ever collected of the Hula painted frog, and the species remains highly endangered.
The Hebrew name for the frog is "agulashon shehor-gahon," which refers to its black belly and round tongue
Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and diease threaten amphibians worldwide. Over 40 percent of the world's amphibians are threatened with extinction, and over a hundred species have vanished in the last three decades alone.
The Hula Painted Frog, once believed to be extinct was seen for the first time in 50years this week. Omri Gal of Israel's Nature and Parks Authority said, "It's an amazing find, now we have a second chance to preserve the species."
The frog is native to the Hula Valley, a swamp drained in the 1950s to stop malaria.
It is believed that rehydration of the area is responsible for the frog sighting and it is possible that more frogs live in the reserve. However, this is only the sixth specimen ever collected of the Hula painted frog, and the species remains highly endangered.
The Hebrew name for the frog is "agulashon shehor-gahon," which refers to its black belly and round tongue
Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and diease threaten amphibians worldwide. Over 40 percent of the world's amphibians are threatened with extinction, and over a hundred species have vanished in the last three decades alone.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Palestinians invest in Israel. BDS Epic fail!
From Amira Haas in Haaretz (so you know its true!)
"Private Palestinian investment in Israel, as of 2010, amounted to $2.5 billion in a conservative estimate, and according to a more optimistic estimate this investment possibly even amounts to $5.8 billion. For purposes of comparison, private Palestinian investment within the West Bank, as of 2011, was only $1.5 billion.
This is the surprising conclusion reached by Issa Smeirat who for his master’s thesis in economics has done the first research of its kind into this phenomenon, its extent and its implications - issues that until now have not been discussed in the professional literature.
Had the $2.5 billion been invested in the territories of the Palestinian Authority, he estimates, the money could have created 213,000 jobs for Palestinians."
So, what was this I've read about "Palestinian civil society" supporting Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions?
"Private Palestinian investment in Israel, as of 2010, amounted to $2.5 billion in a conservative estimate, and according to a more optimistic estimate this investment possibly even amounts to $5.8 billion. For purposes of comparison, private Palestinian investment within the West Bank, as of 2011, was only $1.5 billion.
This is the surprising conclusion reached by Issa Smeirat who for his master’s thesis in economics has done the first research of its kind into this phenomenon, its extent and its implications - issues that until now have not been discussed in the professional literature.
Had the $2.5 billion been invested in the territories of the Palestinian Authority, he estimates, the money could have created 213,000 jobs for Palestinians."
So, what was this I've read about "Palestinian civil society" supporting Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions?
Bell Pottinger to manage Congressional relations, social and mass media for the Palestinians
What does $30,000 dollars plus expenses buy you?
Maen Rashid Areikat of the General Delegation of the PLO has contracted with the Washington DC Public Relations firm of Bell Pottinger USA to make the Palestinians more palatable to the American Public. Bell Pottinger has since registered as a foreign agent with the Department of Justice
From their website:
"Bell Pottinger USA is a full-service, multi-disciplinary public relations, government affairs and marketing services agency. We specialize in the protection and management of reputations for blue chip companies, trade bodies, governments and influential people across the globe, giving them the influence and solutions they need to achieve their political objectives, and help them engage with stakeholders and the media, particularly in times of crisis"
For a monthly fee of $30,000 and reimbursement of pre-approved expenses, Bell Pottinger will manage all aspects of social and mass Media, and Congressional and political relations for the Palestinians.
Bell Pottingers responsibilities, from their contract:
• Strategic Communications Advice: constructing a clear and well-defined communications strategy, advising how and when to best communicate with key stakeholders, and ensuring that all PR activities we undertake, work towards achieving your communications objectives.
• Message Development: drafting and continually refining messages that tell the story of Palestine, your challenges and your objectives in a way that is concise, compelling, and effective.
• Congressional Affairs: helping you to communicate with key political stakeholders.
• Media Relations: helping you to communicate with influential journalists.
• Social Media: conveying Palestine's image through the Internet and actively managing your online presence to ensure that key stakeholders receive your messages and information.
• Grassroots Mobilization: leveraging the influence of Palestinian families and organizations that have been affected by conflict and desire a resolution.
The Palestinians are seeking to re-brand themselves, to market and sell themselves to the American public. After all they're not just suicide bombers anymore. There is a rich and varied Palestinian culture that involves, hmmm, um, well, I'm sure Bell Pottinger will tell us, eventually.
Its an interesting use of billions of dollars in humanitarian aid funding sent to the Palestinian territories.
What can we expect for $30,000 a month? More youtubes portraying the victimhood of the Palestinian people? Paid tweeters attempting to get Palestine on the all important trending list? Tour Palestine commercials during the Super Bowl?
We'll find out soon enough
Maen Rashid Areikat of the General Delegation of the PLO has contracted with the Washington DC Public Relations firm of Bell Pottinger USA to make the Palestinians more palatable to the American Public. Bell Pottinger has since registered as a foreign agent with the Department of Justice
From their website:
"Bell Pottinger USA is a full-service, multi-disciplinary public relations, government affairs and marketing services agency. We specialize in the protection and management of reputations for blue chip companies, trade bodies, governments and influential people across the globe, giving them the influence and solutions they need to achieve their political objectives, and help them engage with stakeholders and the media, particularly in times of crisis"
For a monthly fee of $30,000 and reimbursement of pre-approved expenses, Bell Pottinger will manage all aspects of social and mass Media, and Congressional and political relations for the Palestinians.
Bell Pottingers responsibilities, from their contract:
• Strategic Communications Advice: constructing a clear and well-defined communications strategy, advising how and when to best communicate with key stakeholders, and ensuring that all PR activities we undertake, work towards achieving your communications objectives.
• Message Development: drafting and continually refining messages that tell the story of Palestine, your challenges and your objectives in a way that is concise, compelling, and effective.
• Congressional Affairs: helping you to communicate with key political stakeholders.
• Media Relations: helping you to communicate with influential journalists.
• Social Media: conveying Palestine's image through the Internet and actively managing your online presence to ensure that key stakeholders receive your messages and information.
• Grassroots Mobilization: leveraging the influence of Palestinian families and organizations that have been affected by conflict and desire a resolution.
The Palestinians are seeking to re-brand themselves, to market and sell themselves to the American public. After all they're not just suicide bombers anymore. There is a rich and varied Palestinian culture that involves, hmmm, um, well, I'm sure Bell Pottinger will tell us, eventually.
Its an interesting use of billions of dollars in humanitarian aid funding sent to the Palestinian territories.
What can we expect for $30,000 a month? More youtubes portraying the victimhood of the Palestinian people? Paid tweeters attempting to get Palestine on the all important trending list? Tour Palestine commercials during the Super Bowl?
We'll find out soon enough
Friday, November 18, 2011
Global March to Jerusalem, meet Mordechai Kedar
To the Organizers of the Global march to Jerusalem, who claim in Al Manar news:
"Since the Zionist occupation of 78% of Palestine in 1948, and the subsequent occupation of Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine in 1967, we have witnessed growing efforts to Judaize Jerusalem and colonize Palestine. These crimes against humanity are done under the political protection and full support of successive American administrations and enforced by its veto at the United Nations.
The goal of the Zionists is to force Palestinian residents out of Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine through acts of state terrorism, economic pressures, legal restrictions, and outright expulsions. The Holy city of Jerusalem is falsely called “the eternal capital of Israel” by Netanyahu and other Zionist leaders who clearly state that Jerusalem is non-negotiable. Such statements and related actions by the Zionists are absolutely inconsistent with all of the relevant United Nations resolutions on Jerusalem and contrary to the principles of international law."
May I present to you, Dr. Morcdechai Kedar?
"We were here when your forefathers were drinking wine, burying their daughters alive and worshipping idols"
Kedar "... in the Islamic view, Islam came into the world to replace Judaism and Christianity, not to live side by side with them. And here, all of a sudden, the Jews are coming from exile and building their state again and G-d forbid they also regained Jerusalem." Judaism is thus regaining its meaning, and Islam is challenged by this, the Bar-Ilan professor explained. "The mere existence of the State of Israel and the fact that we are in Jerusalem is some kind of challenge to the legitimacy of Islam in their eyes."
And this, my friends is the very reason the Global assault on Jerusalem is being staged.
There will be a trial run later this month, which hopes to arrive in Jerusalem on Nov 29. The major assault is scheduled for March of 2012
"Since the Zionist occupation of 78% of Palestine in 1948, and the subsequent occupation of Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine in 1967, we have witnessed growing efforts to Judaize Jerusalem and colonize Palestine. These crimes against humanity are done under the political protection and full support of successive American administrations and enforced by its veto at the United Nations.
The goal of the Zionists is to force Palestinian residents out of Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine through acts of state terrorism, economic pressures, legal restrictions, and outright expulsions. The Holy city of Jerusalem is falsely called “the eternal capital of Israel” by Netanyahu and other Zionist leaders who clearly state that Jerusalem is non-negotiable. Such statements and related actions by the Zionists are absolutely inconsistent with all of the relevant United Nations resolutions on Jerusalem and contrary to the principles of international law."
May I present to you, Dr. Morcdechai Kedar?
"We were here when your forefathers were drinking wine, burying their daughters alive and worshipping idols"
Kedar "... in the Islamic view, Islam came into the world to replace Judaism and Christianity, not to live side by side with them. And here, all of a sudden, the Jews are coming from exile and building their state again and G-d forbid they also regained Jerusalem." Judaism is thus regaining its meaning, and Islam is challenged by this, the Bar-Ilan professor explained. "The mere existence of the State of Israel and the fact that we are in Jerusalem is some kind of challenge to the legitimacy of Islam in their eyes."
And this, my friends is the very reason the Global assault on Jerusalem is being staged.
There will be a trial run later this month, which hopes to arrive in Jerusalem on Nov 29. The major assault is scheduled for March of 2012
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Buy Israel Week Nov. 28-Dec 4
Kairos Palestine just issued a formal statement condemning Buy Israel week.
Guess what? They don’t like it.
Are we surprised?
Oh, how they hate it when the Jews fight back
Kairos is clearly threatened by the initiative, an integrated print and online marketing campaign organized by jdeal.com, The Jewish Week Media Group of NY, Washington Jewish Week, Florida Jewish Journal, Tribe Media Corporation, the Jewish Standard of New Jersey, the Chicago Jewish News, Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association of Israel, Israel Export and Cooperation Institute and Stand With Us.
Using language like "Frantic". "Anything but subtle". "Desperate" . "A sense of hysteria" , Kairos has attacked Buy Israel Week, to be held from November 28 to December 4
Why are they feeling so threatened?
Buy Israel Week features a marketing package that includes exposure to up to 1 million people in targeted markets across the US, as well as comprehensive social media outreach through Facebook and Twitter, blog features, YouTube videos and “Seriously Surprising Israel Deals” featuring Israeli products and giveaways
How can you participate?
Check out the Buy Israel Week blog.
"Like" their facebook page. Follow them on Twitter
Sign up for updates
If you are a local business that sells Israeli good, offer a deal
And buy, buy , buy Israeli products.
Word of the campaign is spreading throughout the Jewish community. "It is a matter of pride for me to want to buy products that are made in Israel, Esther Adler, 86, of Boynton Beach said. "When I shop for food and see something that is imported from Israel, it is always my first choice."
Guess what? They don’t like it.
Are we surprised?
Oh, how they hate it when the Jews fight back
Kairos is clearly threatened by the initiative, an integrated print and online marketing campaign organized by jdeal.com, The Jewish Week Media Group of NY, Washington Jewish Week, Florida Jewish Journal, Tribe Media Corporation, the Jewish Standard of New Jersey, the Chicago Jewish News, Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association of Israel, Israel Export and Cooperation Institute and Stand With Us.
Using language like "Frantic". "Anything but subtle". "Desperate" . "A sense of hysteria" , Kairos has attacked Buy Israel Week, to be held from November 28 to December 4
Why are they feeling so threatened?
Buy Israel Week features a marketing package that includes exposure to up to 1 million people in targeted markets across the US, as well as comprehensive social media outreach through Facebook and Twitter, blog features, YouTube videos and “Seriously Surprising Israel Deals” featuring Israeli products and giveaways
How can you participate?
Check out the Buy Israel Week blog.
"Like" their facebook page. Follow them on Twitter
Sign up for updates
If you are a local business that sells Israeli good, offer a deal
And buy, buy , buy Israeli products.
Word of the campaign is spreading throughout the Jewish community. "It is a matter of pride for me to want to buy products that are made in Israel, Esther Adler, 86, of Boynton Beach said. "When I shop for food and see something that is imported from Israel, it is always my first choice."
Iran training Gaza terror squads
From the Jerusalem post- an article by Yaakov Katz
"Palestinian terrorists from Gaza have undergone extensive military training recently in Iran to operate sophisticated anti-tank missiles.
The IDF believes that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have obtained several hundred advanced Russian-made anti-tank missiles - such as the Kornet and the Fagot - which have a range of more than 4 km. and are capable of penetrating armored personnel carriers and some IDF tanks.
Terrorist groups in Gaza had only a small number of these missiles at the time of Israel's offensive against Hamas in 2009. "They were not trained well then, and as a result, the missiles were not effective," a senior IDF officer explained this week.
"Since then, the groups have significantly increased the stockpile and have also sent specific terrorists to Iran for extensive training where they became anti-tank missile experts."
The level of expertise was demonstrated earlier this year when Hamas fired a Kornet anti-tank missile from a distance of 3 km. at a school bus near Nahal Oz, which killed 16-year-old Daniel Viflic.
"Gaza is completely different today than what it was almost three years ago," a senior defense official said. "The amounts of weaponry are significantly higher as well as the type of weaponry and its sophistication."
"Palestinian terrorists from Gaza have undergone extensive military training recently in Iran to operate sophisticated anti-tank missiles.
The IDF believes that Hamas and Islamic Jihad have obtained several hundred advanced Russian-made anti-tank missiles - such as the Kornet and the Fagot - which have a range of more than 4 km. and are capable of penetrating armored personnel carriers and some IDF tanks.
Terrorist groups in Gaza had only a small number of these missiles at the time of Israel's offensive against Hamas in 2009. "They were not trained well then, and as a result, the missiles were not effective," a senior IDF officer explained this week.
"Since then, the groups have significantly increased the stockpile and have also sent specific terrorists to Iran for extensive training where they became anti-tank missile experts."
The level of expertise was demonstrated earlier this year when Hamas fired a Kornet anti-tank missile from a distance of 3 km. at a school bus near Nahal Oz, which killed 16-year-old Daniel Viflic.
"Gaza is completely different today than what it was almost three years ago," a senior defense official said. "The amounts of weaponry are significantly higher as well as the type of weaponry and its sophistication."
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Buses a Target for Terror: Understanding Israeli Security Precautions
Great article from our friends up north
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is a non-partisan organization creating and implementing strategies to improve the quality of Jewish life in Canada and abroad, increase support for Israel, and strengthen the Canada-Israel relationship.
In 2000 at Camp David, Israel offered a proposal for peace including full Palestinian statehood, as well as shared sovereignty of Jerusalem, to Yasir Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. Arafat rejected the proposal and refused to put forward a counter-offer, following which President Clinton explicitly blamed Arafat for the collapse of peace and Palestinian statehood.
· Immediately after Camp David, Arafat incited Palestinian terror groups to launch a campaign of suicide bombings and attacks that claimed the lives of 1,218 Israelis – the vast majority being civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
· Israeli civilian buses were a regular target for suicide bombers. Since 2000, 212 Israelis were murdered and 1,051 maimed in bus bombings. Dozens more were killed in bombings at bus stops and in roadside shooting attacks on buses.
· Residents of Israel and the West Bank require no permit to ride buses. This includes Jewish, Christian, and Muslim residents. However, Palestinians (who are not Israeli citizens) cannot enter Israel proper from the West Bank without a permit – whether on a bus or by foot. In contrast, Arab citizens of Israel (numbering over 1 million) need no permit to enter Israel other than their passport (as also required of Israeli Jewish citizens).
· Every sovereign government has the right to screen those attempting to enter their country, in an effort to prevent the entry of contraband, criminals, and security threats. For example, American citizens attempting to enter Canada on Greyhound buses must first receive permission from Canadian border guards before crossing – and Canadian officials have the authority to deny entry on the basis of security concerns.
· In the same way, Israel has a duty to ensure that Palestinians entering Israel (including those on buses) do not pose a danger to civilians. This is best achieved through a permit system that enables Palestinians to travel into and work in Israel after first undergoing a routine background check. In fact, tens of thousands of Palestinians enter Israel in this manner on a daily basis (in 2009, the daily average number of working permits was more than 26,000).
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is a non-partisan organization creating and implementing strategies to improve the quality of Jewish life in Canada and abroad, increase support for Israel, and strengthen the Canada-Israel relationship.
In 2000 at Camp David, Israel offered a proposal for peace including full Palestinian statehood, as well as shared sovereignty of Jerusalem, to Yasir Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. Arafat rejected the proposal and refused to put forward a counter-offer, following which President Clinton explicitly blamed Arafat for the collapse of peace and Palestinian statehood.
· Immediately after Camp David, Arafat incited Palestinian terror groups to launch a campaign of suicide bombings and attacks that claimed the lives of 1,218 Israelis – the vast majority being civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
· Israeli civilian buses were a regular target for suicide bombers. Since 2000, 212 Israelis were murdered and 1,051 maimed in bus bombings. Dozens more were killed in bombings at bus stops and in roadside shooting attacks on buses.
· Residents of Israel and the West Bank require no permit to ride buses. This includes Jewish, Christian, and Muslim residents. However, Palestinians (who are not Israeli citizens) cannot enter Israel proper from the West Bank without a permit – whether on a bus or by foot. In contrast, Arab citizens of Israel (numbering over 1 million) need no permit to enter Israel other than their passport (as also required of Israeli Jewish citizens).
· Every sovereign government has the right to screen those attempting to enter their country, in an effort to prevent the entry of contraband, criminals, and security threats. For example, American citizens attempting to enter Canada on Greyhound buses must first receive permission from Canadian border guards before crossing – and Canadian officials have the authority to deny entry on the basis of security concerns.
· In the same way, Israel has a duty to ensure that Palestinians entering Israel (including those on buses) do not pose a danger to civilians. This is best achieved through a permit system that enables Palestinians to travel into and work in Israel after first undergoing a routine background check. In fact, tens of thousands of Palestinians enter Israel in this manner on a daily basis (in 2009, the daily average number of working permits was more than 26,000).
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Write on for Israel
Each year, nearly 80,000 Jewish high school graduates enter college and are often unprepared to deal with the all too pervasive anti-Israel sentiment on campus.
Our friends at BLUESTAR aim to change that with their amazing "Write on for Israel" program, which helps teens improve their writing, critical thinking and speaking skills, and gives them the background and context to advocate for Israel on campus.
After a year of study, the Write on for Israel program culminates in a trip to Israel. Students write and produce a documentary film on a topic of their choosing, which is shown in a local film festival.
Here's a few of their films:
Flight to Freedom - The Ethiopian Jews journey to Israel
Beyond Falafel - Food Culture in Israel
Overrepresented Few - Voices for Peace in the Middle East
Time is Not on Our Side
The Ripple Effect
BlueStar's 3rd Annual "For Israel Film Festival" will be held Sunday, December 11, 2011 from 12:45 PM to 3 PM at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, CA. Come watch the five short Israel-boosting documentary films and meet the 25 local teenage filmmakers who produced them as part of the 2010-2011 Write On For Israel program.
And let your local teens know about this wonderful program.
Our friends at BLUESTAR aim to change that with their amazing "Write on for Israel" program, which helps teens improve their writing, critical thinking and speaking skills, and gives them the background and context to advocate for Israel on campus.
After a year of study, the Write on for Israel program culminates in a trip to Israel. Students write and produce a documentary film on a topic of their choosing, which is shown in a local film festival.
Here's a few of their films:
Flight to Freedom - The Ethiopian Jews journey to Israel
Beyond Falafel - Food Culture in Israel
Overrepresented Few - Voices for Peace in the Middle East
Time is Not on Our Side
The Ripple Effect
BlueStar's 3rd Annual "For Israel Film Festival" will be held Sunday, December 11, 2011 from 12:45 PM to 3 PM at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, CA. Come watch the five short Israel-boosting documentary films and meet the 25 local teenage filmmakers who produced them as part of the 2010-2011 Write On For Israel program.
And let your local teens know about this wonderful program.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Enemies converging on Israel
G-d, do not remain quiet;
Do not be silent and, O G-d, do not be still.
For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones.
They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,
That the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant:
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites;
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Assyria also has joined with them;
They have become a help to the children of Lot...
Psalm 83
Yep, its getting like that. The enemies of democracy , the enemies of Israel are converging. The red/green alliance has foul things in store, all representing an assault on Israel's borders and on her sovereignty.
From The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
1) An Islamic display called the "Million Man Worldwide Caravan" to be held near the Israeli-Jordanian border is planned for November 25, 2011:
The participants will gather in the Jordanian valley north of the Dead Sea. They are liable to try to march to the Israeli border, even though in such a case they may be halted by the Jordanian security forces. Their main stated goal is to emphasize the Islamic nature of Jerusalem. In addition, towards the end of November, close to the 29th (the day the UN voted in favor of the Partition Plan), there may be rallies, demonstrations and other events in various locations in the Middle East and around the globe.
2) Sending isolated vessels to the Gaza Strip (no specific date known as yet): Applying the lessons learned from the failure of the July
2011 flotilla to reach the Gaza Strip, the flotilla organizers have announced that they plan to use a new strategy of sending isolated vessels from various ports instead of large flotillas with extensive media coverage, like the two vessels which set sail on November 2 and approached the Gaza
Strip on November 4. Their objective is to exhaust Israel and exert continuous media and operative pressure. In addition, convoys routinely
enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing after coordinating with the Egyptian authorities.
3) In April 2012 protest fly-in of pro-Palestinian activists is scheduled to arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport, who will proceed to the
Palestinian Authority territories: The objective of the fly-in, according to its website, is to "again challenge the Israeli policy of isolating the West Bank." The activists will reenact their (unsuccessful) July 2011 arrival by air. It can be assumed that this time the organizers will attempt to bring a
larger number of activists and will apply the lessons learned from the previous fly-in in an attempt to overcome the preventive steps taken by
Israel, other countries and international airlines.
4) Plans made by various anti-Israeli networks around the globe whose objective is to breach the borders of the State of Israel in March
2012 to reach Jerusalem: Anti-Israeli activists plan to arrive in the Arab states bordering on Israel in convoys from countries in Asia, North Africa and Europe. Such events can take place only if the governments of the relevant Arab countries agree, which at this stage is not entirely certain.
Do not be silent and, O G-d, do not be still.
For behold, Your enemies make an uproar,
And those who hate You have exalted themselves.
They make shrewd plans against Your people,
And conspire together against Your treasured ones.
They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,
That the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant:
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites;
Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Assyria also has joined with them;
They have become a help to the children of Lot...
Psalm 83
Yep, its getting like that. The enemies of democracy , the enemies of Israel are converging. The red/green alliance has foul things in store, all representing an assault on Israel's borders and on her sovereignty.
From The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
1) An Islamic display called the "Million Man Worldwide Caravan" to be held near the Israeli-Jordanian border is planned for November 25, 2011:
The participants will gather in the Jordanian valley north of the Dead Sea. They are liable to try to march to the Israeli border, even though in such a case they may be halted by the Jordanian security forces. Their main stated goal is to emphasize the Islamic nature of Jerusalem. In addition, towards the end of November, close to the 29th (the day the UN voted in favor of the Partition Plan), there may be rallies, demonstrations and other events in various locations in the Middle East and around the globe.
2) Sending isolated vessels to the Gaza Strip (no specific date known as yet): Applying the lessons learned from the failure of the July
2011 flotilla to reach the Gaza Strip, the flotilla organizers have announced that they plan to use a new strategy of sending isolated vessels from various ports instead of large flotillas with extensive media coverage, like the two vessels which set sail on November 2 and approached the Gaza
Strip on November 4. Their objective is to exhaust Israel and exert continuous media and operative pressure. In addition, convoys routinely
enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing after coordinating with the Egyptian authorities.
3) In April 2012 protest fly-in of pro-Palestinian activists is scheduled to arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport, who will proceed to the
Palestinian Authority territories: The objective of the fly-in, according to its website, is to "again challenge the Israeli policy of isolating the West Bank." The activists will reenact their (unsuccessful) July 2011 arrival by air. It can be assumed that this time the organizers will attempt to bring a
larger number of activists and will apply the lessons learned from the previous fly-in in an attempt to overcome the preventive steps taken by
Israel, other countries and international airlines.
4) Plans made by various anti-Israeli networks around the globe whose objective is to breach the borders of the State of Israel in March
2012 to reach Jerusalem: Anti-Israeli activists plan to arrive in the Arab states bordering on Israel in convoys from countries in Asia, North Africa and Europe. Such events can take place only if the governments of the relevant Arab countries agree, which at this stage is not entirely certain.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Freedomriders
On Tuesday, Nov. 15 at noon the latest attempt to push the Israel: apartheid analogy will take place in downtown Oakland.
A "solidarity rally" will be help for the West bank "freedomriders" will be held, orchestrated by the haters at Jewish Voice for peace:.
From their "Toolkit"
Their messages: (My coments in BOLD)
Buses in Palestine/Israel are just like buses in the US South in the 60s –
separate and unequal.
No. There is no segregation on Israeli buses and Arabs, Jews and Christians all ride together. Is it precisely this level of integration that made this possible:
or this
or this:
• All the Freedom Riders did was to take a bus from one place in the
Occupied Territory to another, using public transportation. While Israelis
are allowed to come and go as they wish in the Occupied Territory - even
to settle in it in contradiction to international law- Palestinians' movement in
it is severely restricted.
• The PA has spent the past twenty years negotiating with Israel, and
achieved virtually nothing. Settlements have more than doubled, the Wall
was built and it is now harder than ever to move around from one place to
another. What needed now isn't talking to the Occupation, but disrupting it
using civil resistance.
The Palestinians have turned down every opportunity for statehood and compromise that has been offered to them, saying no to peace and statehood over and over.
With this "toolkit" Jewish Voice for Peace has now officially rejected diplomacy and negotiations in name of "resistance"•
The Palestinian struggle for freedom must be understood as part of the
continuum of people fighting against unjust oppression, just as African-
Americans struggled against segregation and inequality and as South
Africans battled Apartheid. All the Freedom Riders are asking for is the
realization of their rights.
The Jewish people's struggle for Freedom must also be understood as part of the continumum of people fighting against oppression. As human beings, the Jewish people are entitled to human rights. Jewish Voice for Peace has consistently ignored the fundemental rights of the Jewish people to security and to self determination in their ancient homeland
UPDATE
6 arrested. Fadi Quran, Nadeem Al-Sharbate, Badee Dwak, Huwaida Arraf, Basel Al-Araj and Mazin Qumsiyeh. More journalists than participants. You'd think with the sheer level of noise they produced, there were hundreds involved.
A "solidarity rally" will be help for the West bank "freedomriders" will be held, orchestrated by the haters at Jewish Voice for peace:.
From their "Toolkit"
Their messages: (My coments in BOLD)
Buses in Palestine/Israel are just like buses in the US South in the 60s –
separate and unequal.
No. There is no segregation on Israeli buses and Arabs, Jews and Christians all ride together. Is it precisely this level of integration that made this possible:
or this
or this:
• All the Freedom Riders did was to take a bus from one place in the
Occupied Territory to another, using public transportation. While Israelis
are allowed to come and go as they wish in the Occupied Territory - even
to settle in it in contradiction to international law- Palestinians' movement in
it is severely restricted.
• The PA has spent the past twenty years negotiating with Israel, and
achieved virtually nothing. Settlements have more than doubled, the Wall
was built and it is now harder than ever to move around from one place to
another. What needed now isn't talking to the Occupation, but disrupting it
using civil resistance.
The Palestinians have turned down every opportunity for statehood and compromise that has been offered to them, saying no to peace and statehood over and over.
With this "toolkit" Jewish Voice for Peace has now officially rejected diplomacy and negotiations in name of "resistance"•
The Palestinian struggle for freedom must be understood as part of the
continuum of people fighting against unjust oppression, just as African-
Americans struggled against segregation and inequality and as South
Africans battled Apartheid. All the Freedom Riders are asking for is the
realization of their rights.
The Jewish people's struggle for Freedom must also be understood as part of the continumum of people fighting against oppression. As human beings, the Jewish people are entitled to human rights. Jewish Voice for Peace has consistently ignored the fundemental rights of the Jewish people to security and to self determination in their ancient homeland
UPDATE
6 arrested. Fadi Quran, Nadeem Al-Sharbate, Badee Dwak, Huwaida Arraf, Basel Al-Araj and Mazin Qumsiyeh. More journalists than participants. You'd think with the sheer level of noise they produced, there were hundreds involved.
Exports from Gaza
Juan Cole recently wrote a column on Israel’s "Strangulation of Gaza by the Numbers". Forgive me if I don't link to it.
Its filled with lies and misrepresentations, including this egregious lie:
Juan asserts that "Exports from Gaza to the rest of the world allowed by Israel:0"
And Juan would be wrong.
from Agricultural Export Season From Gaza To Begin
"During the past year, Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have exported more than 399 tons of strawberries, 10 million carnations, 6.5 tons of cherry tomatos and 6 tons of red, green and yellow bell peppers to European markets. In the coming year, Palestinians are expected to export 1,000 tons of strawberries, 20 million carnations and 150 tons of red, green and yellow bell peppers."
Furthermore, representatives of the Coordinator of the Government Activates in the Territories (COGAT) have announced that starting next month, an initial pilot program of furniture export from Gaza to Europe will commence.
No, we can't even inform Juan of his error. He doesn't allow such comments on his blog. its still a truth optional world for anti-Zionists out there.
Juan, if the people of Gaza are really "food insecure", why do they grow flowers and food for export?
Its filled with lies and misrepresentations, including this egregious lie:
Juan asserts that "Exports from Gaza to the rest of the world allowed by Israel:0"
And Juan would be wrong.
from Agricultural Export Season From Gaza To Begin
"During the past year, Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have exported more than 399 tons of strawberries, 10 million carnations, 6.5 tons of cherry tomatos and 6 tons of red, green and yellow bell peppers to European markets. In the coming year, Palestinians are expected to export 1,000 tons of strawberries, 20 million carnations and 150 tons of red, green and yellow bell peppers."
Furthermore, representatives of the Coordinator of the Government Activates in the Territories (COGAT) have announced that starting next month, an initial pilot program of furniture export from Gaza to Europe will commence.
No, we can't even inform Juan of his error. He doesn't allow such comments on his blog. its still a truth optional world for anti-Zionists out there.
Juan, if the people of Gaza are really "food insecure", why do they grow flowers and food for export?
Israel Wants Peace. Do the Palestinians?
PM Netanyahu's address to Congress May 24, 2011
Two years ago, I publicly committed to a solution of two states for two peoples: a Palestinian state alongside a Jewish state.
I’m willing to make painful compromises to achieve this historic peace. As the leader of Israel it’s my responsibility to lead my people to peace.
Now, this is not easy for me. It’s not easy...
... because I recognize that in a genuine peace, we’ll be required to give up parts of the ancestral Jewish homeland. And you have to understand this: In Judea and Samaria, the Jewish people are not foreign occupiers.
We’re not the British in India. We’re not the Belgians in the Congo. This is the land of our forefathers, the land of Israel, to which Abraham brought the idea of one God, where David set out to confront Goliath, and where Isaiah saw a vision of eternal peace.
No distortion of history -- and boy, am I reading a lot of distortions of history lately, old and new -- no distortion of history could deny the 4,000-year-old bond between the Jewish people and the Jewish land.
But there is another truth: The Palestinians share this small land with us. We seek a peace...
... in which they’ll be neither Israel’s subjects nor its citizens. They should enjoy a national life of dignity as a free, viable and independent people living in their own state.
They should enjoy a prosperous economy where their creativity and initiative can flourish.
Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Dream2 TV on October 23, 2011:
"I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I will never recognize the Jewishness of the state, or a ‘Jewish state.’”
Who is the obstacle to peace?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
CSU to reinstate Israel study Abroad Program ?
Not if David Klein can help it.
He's been passing around this open letter to CSU Chancellor instead. David hates Israel so much, he devotes part of his CSU Northridge Website to Israel bashing. From David's website, hosted on the CSU server: "Israel is the most racist state in the world at this time". Yes, David's website includes the gratutious dead baby photos, along with BDS resources. Nice. Really nice
He teaches math, incidentally
MY comments are BOLD
An Open Letter to CSU Chancellor Charles Reed Regarding the CSU-Israel Study Abroad Program
Dear Chancellor Reed;
The CSU system has recently taken steps to reinstate the Israel Study Abroad Program. It was suspended in 2002 because of costs and because of the U.S. State Department travel warning on travel to Israel.
The second intifada led to thousands of casualties from acts of Palestinian terror. In 2002 alone, 2,348 Israelis were wounded in terror attacks, with 220 dead from suicide bombings alone. These numbers have greatly decreased, due in part to the security barrier, which according to some reports, has reduced casualties by 90%
We strongly urge you not to reinstate the CSU Israel Study Abroad Program.
The signers of this letter, CSU faculty, staff, students, and administrators, represent a wide range of views and political perspectives, but each one of us shares that conclusion along with some or all of the following concerns:
As of Nov 12, all SIX of them
1) The original reasons, from 2002, for suspending the program remain valid, and may, in some respects, be even more compelling. The CSU is facing unprecedented funding cuts, and programs serving greater numbers of students than this program may be more deserving of the limited available funds. The State Department travel warning also remains in effect
If funding is really the issue, why are you only targeting study abroad to Israel?
2) Additional dangers to U.S. citizens, not described in the State Department travel warning, deserve consideration. There have been multiple instances of U.S. citizens, including students, who have been severely injured, and in some cases killed by Israeli military forces. For example, in 2010, Emily Henochowicz, a 21-year-old Jewish American art student, lost an eye when Israeli soldiers shot her in the head with a high velocity tear gas canister. She had joined protests against Israel's attack on the humanitarian aid flotilla, during which Furkan Dogan, aged 19, another U.S. citizen, was killed by Israeli troops. Other young Americans killed or injured by Israeli forces include Rachel Corrie, Brian Avery, and Tristan Anderson.
Yes, David Klein, CSU Northridge math instructor is creating a moral equivalence here- acquainting those hurt while obstructing operations in a closed military zone, with those targetted simply because they were Jews in a Jewish state. Davis Klein dares equate the death of UC Berkeley graduate Marla Bennett, murdered while eating lunch in the Hebrew University cafeteria with the death of Rachel Corrie, dead while guarding smuggling tunnels in Gaza. David Klein, math professor dares to compare the death of Daniel Wultz, age 16, murdered while eating lunch with his dad with Furkan Dogan. Turkish member of the IHH, who ambushed and assaulted Israeli soldiers in international waters
3) If the Israel Study Abroad Program is reinstated, participating CSU students could face discriminatory treatment, based on race and ethnicity. According to a U.S. State Department document:
"U.S. citizens with Arabic or Muslim names, those born in Muslim or Middle Eastern countries, those who have been involved in missionary or activist activity, those who ask that Israeli stamps not be entered into their passport, and other U.S. citizen travelers have been delayed and subjected to close scrutiny by Israeli border authorities, and on occasion they have been given a “Palestinian Authority only” stamp in their passport which prohibits entry into "Green Line" Israel. U.S. citizens have been detained and/or arrested at the airport and at other border crossings on suspicion of security-related offenses. Members of religious groups have been monitored, arrested, and deported for suspicion of intent to proselytize in Israel. In some cases, Israeli authorities have denied U.S. citizens access to U.S. consular officers, lawyers, and even family members during temporary detention."
"Palestinian-American dual citizens living in the West Bank can be detained or arrested by the IDF. In such instances, the Government of Israel may not recognize the U.S. citizenship and will instead consider the arrested person a Palestinian. In such cases the U.S. Consulate General may not be notified."
If Palestinian America students wanted to study in Israel, and had no ties to terror or plans on proselytizing, this would not be an issue
4) During its October 2011 meeting, the Academic and Fiscal Affairs Committee of the CSU Statewide Academic Senate made a recommendation as follows:
"The AFAC recommends in light of the developments of the past 10 years, and in order to provide a more inclusive perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian issue that priority and effort be given to exploring new partnerships such as: Birzeit University, Arab American University in Jenin."
Reinstating a CSU Study Abroad Program in conjunction with Israeli universities without similar programs in cooperation with Palestinian universities would be one-sided.
The same man who just wrote "The CSU is facing unprecedented funding cuts, and programs serving greater numbers of students than this program may be more deserving of the limited available funds." is now proposing new programs.
5) To restart the CSU International program in Israel at this time would not reflect well on the CSU's commitment to the universal right to education. Israel has consistently violated its obligation under Article 50 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires the Occupying Power to facilitate the proper functioning of educational institutions in occupied territories. Israel remains the Occupying Power because it retains effective control in all these areas, and exercises this control by making education difficult or impossible for Palestinians in a variety of ways: blockading, besieging and bombing schools and universities; suspending delivery of books and educational supplies; restricting or barring the movement of students, teachers and researchers to their institutions of learning, as well as to travel abroad for educational purposes. Because of these actions, Israel has deprived hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of their right to education.
Mr. Klein forgets that Arab students at Israeli colleges on average are about 12 percent of the student population. And he ignores that in Israel's years as "occupying power"
"... during the two decades preceding the intifada of the late 1980's, the number of schoolchildren in the territories grew by 102 percent, and the number of classes by 99 percent, though the population itself had grown by only 28 percent. Even more dramatic was the progress in higher education. At the time of the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, not a single university existed in these territories. By the early 1990's, there were seven such institutions, boasting some 16,500 students. Illiteracy rates dropped to 14 percent of adults over age 15, compared with 69 percent in Morocco, 61 percent in Egypt, 45 percent in Tunisia, and 44 percent in Syria."
6) Recognized leaders and prominent intellectuals have compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians to Apartheid in South Africa. Among these are Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Mairead Maguire [4]. John Dugard, a South African professor of international law, has served as Judge ad hoc on the International Court of Justice and as a Special Rapporteur for both the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the International Law Commission.
Logical fallacy, Mt. Klein.
Appeal to Authority
Description of Appeal to Authority
An Appeal to Authority is a fallacy with the following form:
Person A is (claimed to be) an authority on subject S.
Person A makes claim C about subject S.
Therefore, C is true.
Affiliations of the signatories are included for identification purposes only.
CSU Faculty, Staff, and Administrator Endorsements
David Klein
Department of Mathematics
CSU Northridge
Ian Barnard
Department of English/Queer Studies Program
CSU Northridge
Harry Hellenbrand, Provost
CSU Northridge
Edie Pistolesi
Department of Art
CSU Northridge
Jerry Rosen
Department of Mathematics
CSU Northridge
Vida Samiian, Dean
College of Arts and Humanities
CSU Fresno
Cross posted at Bluetruth
He's been passing around this open letter to CSU Chancellor instead. David hates Israel so much, he devotes part of his CSU Northridge Website to Israel bashing. From David's website, hosted on the CSU server: "Israel is the most racist state in the world at this time". Yes, David's website includes the gratutious dead baby photos, along with BDS resources. Nice. Really nice
He teaches math, incidentally
MY comments are BOLD
An Open Letter to CSU Chancellor Charles Reed Regarding the CSU-Israel Study Abroad Program
Dear Chancellor Reed;
The CSU system has recently taken steps to reinstate the Israel Study Abroad Program. It was suspended in 2002 because of costs and because of the U.S. State Department travel warning on travel to Israel.
The second intifada led to thousands of casualties from acts of Palestinian terror. In 2002 alone, 2,348 Israelis were wounded in terror attacks, with 220 dead from suicide bombings alone. These numbers have greatly decreased, due in part to the security barrier, which according to some reports, has reduced casualties by 90%
We strongly urge you not to reinstate the CSU Israel Study Abroad Program.
The signers of this letter, CSU faculty, staff, students, and administrators, represent a wide range of views and political perspectives, but each one of us shares that conclusion along with some or all of the following concerns:
As of Nov 12, all SIX of them
1) The original reasons, from 2002, for suspending the program remain valid, and may, in some respects, be even more compelling. The CSU is facing unprecedented funding cuts, and programs serving greater numbers of students than this program may be more deserving of the limited available funds. The State Department travel warning also remains in effect
If funding is really the issue, why are you only targeting study abroad to Israel?
2) Additional dangers to U.S. citizens, not described in the State Department travel warning, deserve consideration. There have been multiple instances of U.S. citizens, including students, who have been severely injured, and in some cases killed by Israeli military forces. For example, in 2010, Emily Henochowicz, a 21-year-old Jewish American art student, lost an eye when Israeli soldiers shot her in the head with a high velocity tear gas canister. She had joined protests against Israel's attack on the humanitarian aid flotilla, during which Furkan Dogan, aged 19, another U.S. citizen, was killed by Israeli troops. Other young Americans killed or injured by Israeli forces include Rachel Corrie, Brian Avery, and Tristan Anderson.
Yes, David Klein, CSU Northridge math instructor is creating a moral equivalence here- acquainting those hurt while obstructing operations in a closed military zone, with those targetted simply because they were Jews in a Jewish state. Davis Klein dares equate the death of UC Berkeley graduate Marla Bennett, murdered while eating lunch in the Hebrew University cafeteria with the death of Rachel Corrie, dead while guarding smuggling tunnels in Gaza. David Klein, math professor dares to compare the death of Daniel Wultz, age 16, murdered while eating lunch with his dad with Furkan Dogan. Turkish member of the IHH, who ambushed and assaulted Israeli soldiers in international waters
3) If the Israel Study Abroad Program is reinstated, participating CSU students could face discriminatory treatment, based on race and ethnicity. According to a U.S. State Department document:
"U.S. citizens with Arabic or Muslim names, those born in Muslim or Middle Eastern countries, those who have been involved in missionary or activist activity, those who ask that Israeli stamps not be entered into their passport, and other U.S. citizen travelers have been delayed and subjected to close scrutiny by Israeli border authorities, and on occasion they have been given a “Palestinian Authority only” stamp in their passport which prohibits entry into "Green Line" Israel. U.S. citizens have been detained and/or arrested at the airport and at other border crossings on suspicion of security-related offenses. Members of religious groups have been monitored, arrested, and deported for suspicion of intent to proselytize in Israel. In some cases, Israeli authorities have denied U.S. citizens access to U.S. consular officers, lawyers, and even family members during temporary detention."
"Palestinian-American dual citizens living in the West Bank can be detained or arrested by the IDF. In such instances, the Government of Israel may not recognize the U.S. citizenship and will instead consider the arrested person a Palestinian. In such cases the U.S. Consulate General may not be notified."
If Palestinian America students wanted to study in Israel, and had no ties to terror or plans on proselytizing, this would not be an issue
4) During its October 2011 meeting, the Academic and Fiscal Affairs Committee of the CSU Statewide Academic Senate made a recommendation as follows:
"The AFAC recommends in light of the developments of the past 10 years, and in order to provide a more inclusive perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian issue that priority and effort be given to exploring new partnerships such as: Birzeit University, Arab American University in Jenin."
Reinstating a CSU Study Abroad Program in conjunction with Israeli universities without similar programs in cooperation with Palestinian universities would be one-sided.
The same man who just wrote "The CSU is facing unprecedented funding cuts, and programs serving greater numbers of students than this program may be more deserving of the limited available funds." is now proposing new programs.
5) To restart the CSU International program in Israel at this time would not reflect well on the CSU's commitment to the universal right to education. Israel has consistently violated its obligation under Article 50 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires the Occupying Power to facilitate the proper functioning of educational institutions in occupied territories. Israel remains the Occupying Power because it retains effective control in all these areas, and exercises this control by making education difficult or impossible for Palestinians in a variety of ways: blockading, besieging and bombing schools and universities; suspending delivery of books and educational supplies; restricting or barring the movement of students, teachers and researchers to their institutions of learning, as well as to travel abroad for educational purposes. Because of these actions, Israel has deprived hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of their right to education.
Mr. Klein forgets that Arab students at Israeli colleges on average are about 12 percent of the student population. And he ignores that in Israel's years as "occupying power"
"... during the two decades preceding the intifada of the late 1980's, the number of schoolchildren in the territories grew by 102 percent, and the number of classes by 99 percent, though the population itself had grown by only 28 percent. Even more dramatic was the progress in higher education. At the time of the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, not a single university existed in these territories. By the early 1990's, there were seven such institutions, boasting some 16,500 students. Illiteracy rates dropped to 14 percent of adults over age 15, compared with 69 percent in Morocco, 61 percent in Egypt, 45 percent in Tunisia, and 44 percent in Syria."
6) Recognized leaders and prominent intellectuals have compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians to Apartheid in South Africa. Among these are Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Mairead Maguire [4]. John Dugard, a South African professor of international law, has served as Judge ad hoc on the International Court of Justice and as a Special Rapporteur for both the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the International Law Commission.
Logical fallacy, Mt. Klein.
Appeal to Authority
Description of Appeal to Authority
An Appeal to Authority is a fallacy with the following form:
Person A is (claimed to be) an authority on subject S.
Person A makes claim C about subject S.
Therefore, C is true.
Affiliations of the signatories are included for identification purposes only.
CSU Faculty, Staff, and Administrator Endorsements
David Klein
Department of Mathematics
CSU Northridge
Ian Barnard
Department of English/Queer Studies Program
CSU Northridge
Harry Hellenbrand, Provost
CSU Northridge
Edie Pistolesi
Department of Art
CSU Northridge
Jerry Rosen
Department of Mathematics
CSU Northridge
Vida Samiian, Dean
College of Arts and Humanities
CSU Fresno
Cross posted at Bluetruth
Friday, November 11, 2011
Are the Flotidiots in Violation of US law?
Are the Flotidiots in Violation of US law? Maybe.
18 USC 962 - Arming vessel against friendly nation
Sec. 962. Arming vessel against friendly nation
Whoever, within the United States, furnishes, fits out, arms, or attempts to furnish, fit out or arm, any vessel, with intent that such vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince, or state, or of any colony, district, or people, to cruise, or commit hostilities against the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace; or
Whoever issues or delivers a commission within the United States for any vessel, to the intent that she may be so employed—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Every such vessel, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all materials, arms, ammunition, and stores which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one half to the use of the informer and the other half to the use of the United States.
The flotillas are in direct service to the Hamas led government of Gaza.
Can we use 18 USC 962 to prssecute the American Flotidiots and their enablers? Attorneys, please weigh in.
18 USC 962 - Arming vessel against friendly nation
Sec. 962. Arming vessel against friendly nation
Whoever, within the United States, furnishes, fits out, arms, or attempts to furnish, fit out or arm, any vessel, with intent that such vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince, or state, or of any colony, district, or people, to cruise, or commit hostilities against the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace; or
Whoever issues or delivers a commission within the United States for any vessel, to the intent that she may be so employed—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Every such vessel, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all materials, arms, ammunition, and stores which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one half to the use of the informer and the other half to the use of the United States.
The flotillas are in direct service to the Hamas led government of Gaza.
Can we use 18 USC 962 to prssecute the American Flotidiots and their enablers? Attorneys, please weigh in.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Gilbert Achcar's Anti-Zionism of Fools
Gilbert Achcar has been making the rounds of the UC system. This UC Berkeley event report is from Cinnamon Stillwell and Rima Greene, originally published at CampusWatch
"Don't expect me to take a pro-Israel view. I'm an Arab."
So declared Gilbert Achcar—professor of development studies and international relations at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies—at the outset of his lecture last month at the University of California, Berkeley. Those in the audience hoping for scholarly objectivity were thus informed that Achcar's ethnicity trumped intellectual independence and that, despite evidence to the contrary (Nonie Darwish, the founder of Arabs for Israel, comes to mind, as do the majority of Israel's Arab citizenry), an Arab could not be pro-Israel. One had to give him credit for at least confirming his biases up front.
A Lebanese-born, self-described "academic, writer, socialist, and anti-war activist," Achcar was on a University of California speaking tour to discuss his 2010 book, The Arabs and the Holocaust: The Arab-Israeli War of Narratives. His UC Berkeley lecture was sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) and was held in its Saudi-largesse-provided Sultan Room, with a glowing introduction from CMES vice chair Emily Gottreich. The audience of around 75 students and adults had to strain at times to discern Achcar's words, delivered as they were in a heavy accent and low tones, but the crowd appeared politically sympathetic.
Achcar's book, which according to the lecture description purports to "cover Arab attitudes to Zionism, anti-Semitism, Nazism and the Holocaust from the aftermath of the First World War to our time," joins a growing body of scholarship that employs Holocaust studies to deny Israel's legitimacy and downplay contemporary Islamic anti-Semitism. Such work enjoys significant legitimacy in academic circles, as it masks its outlandish conclusions with scholarly apparatus while confirming the biases of the left-leaning, anti-Israel Middle East studies establishment. In their critical review of Achcar's book, atypical professors Matthias Kuntzel and Colin Meade conclude, "this is a book in which an author from the political left seeks to protect the dogmas of Western anti-Zionism from the reality of Arab anti-Semitism" (click here to access a debate between the reviewers and Achcar).
Achcar wasted no time confirming the review's thesis and slandering eminent Princeton University historian Bernard Lewis, who has written about the history of Nazism and Arab anti-Semitism, in the process. As Achcar put it:
Mine is a scholarly investigation fixed into a current frame aiming at revising the image in western scholarship. The lies of Bernard Lewis are extremely biased, which produced an image of Arabs being pro-Nazi, the locus of the new anti-Semitism.
The audience chuckled in agreement as Achar extended his attack on Lewis. He claimed that a close reading of Arab newspapers of the 1930s and 40s found an overwhelming rejection of Nazism in the name of liberal values. He identified four predominant positions: liberal Westernizers, communists, nationalists, and fundamentalists. Only among the latter, he alleged, were there serious numbers of anti-Semites—the result of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This tired argument of blaming anti-Semitism in the region on the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 is trotted out by apologists for Arab anti-Semitism despite ample historical evidence of its previous existence.
He continued in the same vein, claiming that, "At the time of the Dreyfus trial [in late nineteenth century France], there was philo-Semitism, but the Zionist project ruined that." Later, he proposed that, "If Israel would shift, we could decrease the tension," without elaborating on the extent of the "shift" he envisioned.
Achcar was determined to assign anti-Semitism's origins to the West:
The discourse of conspiracy theories about Jews is very Western. The shift was with increasing tensions in Palestine; the discourse was imported from the West.
He briefly acknowledged a Koranic basis for anti-Semitism, but then pivoted to blame Christianity:
Yes, there is an anti-Judaic element in Islam, but it's part of the three monotheistic religions, and certainly there's more enmity to Jews in Christianity than Islam.
Achcar attempted to downplay the crucial role played by Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem during the 1920s and 30s, as a Nazi-collaborator and a figurehead for Arab anti-Semitism:
[The Mufti as Nazi] is all blown out of proportion . . . it's presented that he inspired the Final Solution. This is [the kind of] propaganda against Arabs that's popular in English. . . . Thousands had a much greater role in the Holocaust than the Mufti. The Mufti was turned into central Zionist propaganda after 1945; [he] was aimed at the United Nations [for the purpose of] presenting Arabs as a continuation of the Nazis and the creation of a Jewish state as a moral duty. 1948 becomes the final battle of WWII; useful in saying the only other choice was genocide. [Based on this logic], the fate of Palestine would be decided by the world powers.
He addressed anti-Semitism in the modern-day Middle East, but, as with his treatment of Bernard Lewis, blamed the messenger by alluding to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a website that provides translations of regional media:
Today in Israel there's a huge amount of literature which monitors anti-Semitic expression. There are websites devoted to this search and funded by the [U.S.] State Department; biased websites such as the one founded by a high ranking person in Israeli intel. Anti-Arab attitudes in Israel are not monitored.
The latter comparison is a red herring. Achcar didn't acknowledge that, unlike its anti-Semitic counterpart, "anti-Arab attitudes in Israel" are neither widespread, promulgated through state-provided education and other official means, nor the primary reason for the continuation of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
He admitted that there has been a surge of anti-Semitic, Islamic "resistance"—a despicable euphemism for terrorism—but claimed that such "counter-violence . . . pales in scale" to Israel, "the most powerful state in the region."
He then proceeded to address the scourge of Holocaust denial in the region with more apologetics:
Holocaust denial is a form of protest. [I'm ] not excusing it, but it is necessary to understand. Holocaust denial is the anti-Zionism of fools. It [the Holocaust] happened.
Achcar didn't deny the Holocaust, but he repeatedly denied Israel's right to defend itself, an act he termed "Israel's aggressive behavior." Furthermore, he claimed, "The Jews are not oppressed now as they were in western history."
Later in the lecture, he minimized the genocidal threats issued daily by the Iranian regime as, "the government using anti-Semitism, not so much against Israel, as competition with the Saudis; [it is] trying to win over Islamic fundamentalists." Moreover, he noted, "a nuclear holocaust would hit everybody in the region," as if this would deter fanatics hoping for the apocalypse.
Achcar concluded by drawing an asinine correlation between the Holocaust or Shoah and the "Nakba" or "catastrophe," the Arabic term to describe the creation of the state of Israel:
The Shoah ended in 1945, but the suffering of the Palestinians is never-ending. The Holocaust was a major tragedy in human history. But the Palestinians didn't do it. This denial of the Nakba is a major obstacle for reaching peace.
During the question and answer period, Achcar was challenged by a woman in the audience who asked him, "Do you blame the Jew-hatred in the Hamas Charter and the Hezbollah Manifesto on Israel, or the West, or Christian history?" He reacted by accusing her of not listening and of having preconceived notions, but she pressed on until he answered angrily, "I am not going to repeat myself. I said that the Hamas Charter has anti-Semitic elements. I explained to which tradition this belongs," when in fact, Achcar had not previously mentioned the Hamas Charter. She then asked him, "Can you blame that on Israel and the United States?" to which he responded predictably, "Yes, I blame the U.S., which funded fundamentalism in the 50s and 60s."
Another audience member—perhaps herself an academic, given the level of her paranoia—complained about students taking notes that, as she put it:
[G]o on websites like Campus Watch. The students are paid, $100-$200 bucks. It's ruined some careers. So some people do not speak about the issue, but some keep on speaking. I was wondering since you come from Europe, are you able as an academic to speak honestly? How are you treated?
He responded:
It's a different tradition; there is more room for this debate . . . with this book I was interviewed in major mainstream Israeli newspapers [even though] I have been accused of 'normalizing the enemy.' I've been invited to speak in Jewish studies and reviewed in the Jewish Review of Books. I am proud of that.
Perhaps he was proud, also, of his lecture at the University of California, Davis later that month, which was sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program despite significant outcry from the local Jewish community, pro-Israel groups, and concerned academics. The lecture included founding chair David Biale, current chair Diane Wolf, and professor Susan Miller, who lauded Achcar's scholarship as "courageous" during her introduction. Achcar can count fawning anti-Israel Jewish studies professors among his fan base.
Achcar's entire University of California speaking tour is indicative of the aforementioned "anti-Zionism of fools" so prevalent in academia today. The rot is so pervasive that it's infected Middle East studies, Israel studies, Jewish studies, and Holocaust studies alike. At this rate, there will be no bastions of true scholarship left.
Please e-mail your concerns and comments to the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley (cmes@berkeley.edu) and to the Jewish Studies Program at UC Davis (jst@ucdavis.edu).
"Don't expect me to take a pro-Israel view. I'm an Arab."
So declared Gilbert Achcar—professor of development studies and international relations at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies—at the outset of his lecture last month at the University of California, Berkeley. Those in the audience hoping for scholarly objectivity were thus informed that Achcar's ethnicity trumped intellectual independence and that, despite evidence to the contrary (Nonie Darwish, the founder of Arabs for Israel, comes to mind, as do the majority of Israel's Arab citizenry), an Arab could not be pro-Israel. One had to give him credit for at least confirming his biases up front.
A Lebanese-born, self-described "academic, writer, socialist, and anti-war activist," Achcar was on a University of California speaking tour to discuss his 2010 book, The Arabs and the Holocaust: The Arab-Israeli War of Narratives. His UC Berkeley lecture was sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES) and was held in its Saudi-largesse-provided Sultan Room, with a glowing introduction from CMES vice chair Emily Gottreich. The audience of around 75 students and adults had to strain at times to discern Achcar's words, delivered as they were in a heavy accent and low tones, but the crowd appeared politically sympathetic.
Achcar's book, which according to the lecture description purports to "cover Arab attitudes to Zionism, anti-Semitism, Nazism and the Holocaust from the aftermath of the First World War to our time," joins a growing body of scholarship that employs Holocaust studies to deny Israel's legitimacy and downplay contemporary Islamic anti-Semitism. Such work enjoys significant legitimacy in academic circles, as it masks its outlandish conclusions with scholarly apparatus while confirming the biases of the left-leaning, anti-Israel Middle East studies establishment. In their critical review of Achcar's book, atypical professors Matthias Kuntzel and Colin Meade conclude, "this is a book in which an author from the political left seeks to protect the dogmas of Western anti-Zionism from the reality of Arab anti-Semitism" (click here to access a debate between the reviewers and Achcar).
Achcar wasted no time confirming the review's thesis and slandering eminent Princeton University historian Bernard Lewis, who has written about the history of Nazism and Arab anti-Semitism, in the process. As Achcar put it:
Mine is a scholarly investigation fixed into a current frame aiming at revising the image in western scholarship. The lies of Bernard Lewis are extremely biased, which produced an image of Arabs being pro-Nazi, the locus of the new anti-Semitism.
The audience chuckled in agreement as Achar extended his attack on Lewis. He claimed that a close reading of Arab newspapers of the 1930s and 40s found an overwhelming rejection of Nazism in the name of liberal values. He identified four predominant positions: liberal Westernizers, communists, nationalists, and fundamentalists. Only among the latter, he alleged, were there serious numbers of anti-Semites—the result of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This tired argument of blaming anti-Semitism in the region on the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 is trotted out by apologists for Arab anti-Semitism despite ample historical evidence of its previous existence.
He continued in the same vein, claiming that, "At the time of the Dreyfus trial [in late nineteenth century France], there was philo-Semitism, but the Zionist project ruined that." Later, he proposed that, "If Israel would shift, we could decrease the tension," without elaborating on the extent of the "shift" he envisioned.
Achcar was determined to assign anti-Semitism's origins to the West:
The discourse of conspiracy theories about Jews is very Western. The shift was with increasing tensions in Palestine; the discourse was imported from the West.
He briefly acknowledged a Koranic basis for anti-Semitism, but then pivoted to blame Christianity:
Yes, there is an anti-Judaic element in Islam, but it's part of the three monotheistic religions, and certainly there's more enmity to Jews in Christianity than Islam.
Achcar attempted to downplay the crucial role played by Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem during the 1920s and 30s, as a Nazi-collaborator and a figurehead for Arab anti-Semitism:
[The Mufti as Nazi] is all blown out of proportion . . . it's presented that he inspired the Final Solution. This is [the kind of] propaganda against Arabs that's popular in English. . . . Thousands had a much greater role in the Holocaust than the Mufti. The Mufti was turned into central Zionist propaganda after 1945; [he] was aimed at the United Nations [for the purpose of] presenting Arabs as a continuation of the Nazis and the creation of a Jewish state as a moral duty. 1948 becomes the final battle of WWII; useful in saying the only other choice was genocide. [Based on this logic], the fate of Palestine would be decided by the world powers.
He addressed anti-Semitism in the modern-day Middle East, but, as with his treatment of Bernard Lewis, blamed the messenger by alluding to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a website that provides translations of regional media:
Today in Israel there's a huge amount of literature which monitors anti-Semitic expression. There are websites devoted to this search and funded by the [U.S.] State Department; biased websites such as the one founded by a high ranking person in Israeli intel. Anti-Arab attitudes in Israel are not monitored.
The latter comparison is a red herring. Achcar didn't acknowledge that, unlike its anti-Semitic counterpart, "anti-Arab attitudes in Israel" are neither widespread, promulgated through state-provided education and other official means, nor the primary reason for the continuation of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
He admitted that there has been a surge of anti-Semitic, Islamic "resistance"—a despicable euphemism for terrorism—but claimed that such "counter-violence . . . pales in scale" to Israel, "the most powerful state in the region."
He then proceeded to address the scourge of Holocaust denial in the region with more apologetics:
Holocaust denial is a form of protest. [I'm ] not excusing it, but it is necessary to understand. Holocaust denial is the anti-Zionism of fools. It [the Holocaust] happened.
Achcar didn't deny the Holocaust, but he repeatedly denied Israel's right to defend itself, an act he termed "Israel's aggressive behavior." Furthermore, he claimed, "The Jews are not oppressed now as they were in western history."
Later in the lecture, he minimized the genocidal threats issued daily by the Iranian regime as, "the government using anti-Semitism, not so much against Israel, as competition with the Saudis; [it is] trying to win over Islamic fundamentalists." Moreover, he noted, "a nuclear holocaust would hit everybody in the region," as if this would deter fanatics hoping for the apocalypse.
Achcar concluded by drawing an asinine correlation between the Holocaust or Shoah and the "Nakba" or "catastrophe," the Arabic term to describe the creation of the state of Israel:
The Shoah ended in 1945, but the suffering of the Palestinians is never-ending. The Holocaust was a major tragedy in human history. But the Palestinians didn't do it. This denial of the Nakba is a major obstacle for reaching peace.
During the question and answer period, Achcar was challenged by a woman in the audience who asked him, "Do you blame the Jew-hatred in the Hamas Charter and the Hezbollah Manifesto on Israel, or the West, or Christian history?" He reacted by accusing her of not listening and of having preconceived notions, but she pressed on until he answered angrily, "I am not going to repeat myself. I said that the Hamas Charter has anti-Semitic elements. I explained to which tradition this belongs," when in fact, Achcar had not previously mentioned the Hamas Charter. She then asked him, "Can you blame that on Israel and the United States?" to which he responded predictably, "Yes, I blame the U.S., which funded fundamentalism in the 50s and 60s."
Another audience member—perhaps herself an academic, given the level of her paranoia—complained about students taking notes that, as she put it:
[G]o on websites like Campus Watch. The students are paid, $100-$200 bucks. It's ruined some careers. So some people do not speak about the issue, but some keep on speaking. I was wondering since you come from Europe, are you able as an academic to speak honestly? How are you treated?
He responded:
It's a different tradition; there is more room for this debate . . . with this book I was interviewed in major mainstream Israeli newspapers [even though] I have been accused of 'normalizing the enemy.' I've been invited to speak in Jewish studies and reviewed in the Jewish Review of Books. I am proud of that.
Perhaps he was proud, also, of his lecture at the University of California, Davis later that month, which was sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program despite significant outcry from the local Jewish community, pro-Israel groups, and concerned academics. The lecture included founding chair David Biale, current chair Diane Wolf, and professor Susan Miller, who lauded Achcar's scholarship as "courageous" during her introduction. Achcar can count fawning anti-Israel Jewish studies professors among his fan base.
Achcar's entire University of California speaking tour is indicative of the aforementioned "anti-Zionism of fools" so prevalent in academia today. The rot is so pervasive that it's infected Middle East studies, Israel studies, Jewish studies, and Holocaust studies alike. At this rate, there will be no bastions of true scholarship left.
Please e-mail your concerns and comments to the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley (cmes@berkeley.edu) and to the Jewish Studies Program at UC Davis (jst@ucdavis.edu).
30,000 Palestinian and Syrian Youths Volunteer for Suicide Missions in Israel
From Fars-Iran
30,000 Palestinian and Syrian youths signed a petition expressing their willingness to be used as suicide bombers and in other martyrdom-seeking operations inside Israel, saying they are ready to infiltrate Israel and conduct any type of operation.
The petition said that those who signed it have passed military, combat and tactical trainings.
Does this call for martyrdom within Israel have any relationship with next years anti-israel crusade, The Global march to Jerusalem? ,described in Engaging Zion "as a crazy scheme concocted by God-intoxicated fanatics hellbent on starting a Global Holy War."
Its very likely.
From Arutz Sheva
That march is being organized by Indian activist Feroze Mithiborwala, who said in a recent press conference in Pakistan that the march will unite people from all over the world, and of all faiths - including Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Jews - "to participate in the march towards the Jerusalem and liberate it from the Zionists.” The march would be in the form of a “caravan” which would start from three directions – Asia, Europe, and Africa, originating in India, Turkey and Morocco respectively. The caravans would stop in all the countries on the way and pick up more participants. The objective is to gather hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people at the borders of Israel who would simply push their way through, reaching Jerusalem and “liberating” it.
The North American contingent of the Global March to Jerusalem is being organized by our old friends, Paul Larudee and Deppen Webber. The "global march" is no less than an assault on Israel's borders. If the past behavior of the Israel haters is any indication, women and children wil be marching in the front lines, used as cover for the 30,000 militarily trained infiltrators and wanna- be martyrs
30,000 Palestinian and Syrian youths signed a petition expressing their willingness to be used as suicide bombers and in other martyrdom-seeking operations inside Israel, saying they are ready to infiltrate Israel and conduct any type of operation.
The petition said that those who signed it have passed military, combat and tactical trainings.
Does this call for martyrdom within Israel have any relationship with next years anti-israel crusade, The Global march to Jerusalem? ,described in Engaging Zion "as a crazy scheme concocted by God-intoxicated fanatics hellbent on starting a Global Holy War."
Its very likely.
From Arutz Sheva
That march is being organized by Indian activist Feroze Mithiborwala, who said in a recent press conference in Pakistan that the march will unite people from all over the world, and of all faiths - including Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and Jews - "to participate in the march towards the Jerusalem and liberate it from the Zionists.” The march would be in the form of a “caravan” which would start from three directions – Asia, Europe, and Africa, originating in India, Turkey and Morocco respectively. The caravans would stop in all the countries on the way and pick up more participants. The objective is to gather hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people at the borders of Israel who would simply push their way through, reaching Jerusalem and “liberating” it.
The North American contingent of the Global March to Jerusalem is being organized by our old friends, Paul Larudee and Deppen Webber. The "global march" is no less than an assault on Israel's borders. If the past behavior of the Israel haters is any indication, women and children wil be marching in the front lines, used as cover for the 30,000 militarily trained infiltrators and wanna- be martyrs
Sunday, November 6, 2011
UC Davis Jewish Studies Program Presents the Anti-Israel Narrative and Censors Questions
Cross-posted at Bluetruth
This is the report of a speaker event at the University of California at Davis, hosted not by an anti-Israel group but by the Jewish Studies Program. It was written by Gail Rubin J.D., co-chair of StandWithUs Davis. Please e-mail your concerns and comments to the Jewish Studies Program at jst@ucdavis.edu and to their funders: the Koret Foundation , the Osher Foundation , the Taube Foundation (info@taubephilanthropies.org), and the Posen Foundation (info@culturaljudaism.org).
This is the report of a speaker event at the University of California at Davis, hosted not by an anti-Israel group but by the Jewish Studies Program. It was written by Gail Rubin J.D., co-chair of StandWithUs Davis. Please e-mail your concerns and comments to the Jewish Studies Program at jst@ucdavis.edu and to their funders: the Koret Foundation , the Osher Foundation , the Taube Foundation (info@taubephilanthropies.org), and the Posen Foundation (info@culturaljudaism.org).
A WAR OF NARRATIVES AT UC DAVIS JEWISH STUDIES PROGRAM
Some UC Jewish Studies programs seem to be part of the growing problem of anti-Israel and anti-Zionist bias on UC campuses. Consider the lecture sponsored by the UC Davis [UCD] Jewish Studies Program on October 21st.
The lecturer was University of London professor Gilbert Achcar, author of the controversial book, “The Arabs and the Holocaust: The Arab-Israeli War of Narratives.” He was introduced by Diane Wolf, current chair of the UCD program, Professor Susan Miller, and founding chair, David Biale. Professor Miller praised Achcar and called his scholarship “courageous.”
Achcar may have been courageous in acknowledging the Holocaust was a uniquely horrifying event directed at Jews and that Palestinian leader Haj Amin al-Husseini’s anti-Semitism and collaboration with Hitler were deplorable. But after these observations, he careened into anti-Zionist, anti-Israel charges and distortions. Despite ample evidence to the contrary, he argued that the Mufti’s Jew-hatred had little influence on Palestinian and Arab hostility to Israel. He dismissed evidence about the cross-fertilization of Muslim anti-Semitism and Nazi-inspired anti-Semitism as hyperbole and charged that Israel exploits the Holocaust and exaggerates the Mufti’s influence only for propaganda purposes.
More disturbingly, he has argued that the rise of Zionism in 1920, not prejudice, spawned Arab Jew-hatred, essentially accusing Jews of causing anti-Semitism. Indeed, in his book, he excuses the current popularity of the Czarist anti-Semitic forgery, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” in the Arab world, arguing it must be read from an anti-Zionist, not an anti-Semitic, perspective.
Achcar minimized pogroms against and expulsions of Jews in the Arab world after World War II and after Israel’s reestablishment, equating their expulsion with the American internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. He repeated anti-Israel clichés, denying Israel’s right to exist and referring to it as a “settler colonial project” built on “Arab land,” accusing Zionists of "ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians", and downplaying any suggestion of Pan-Arab racism toward the Jewish people.
Despite these tendentious charges, challenging questions were not welcomed during the Q & A. I was abruptly censored while attempting to establish facts to challenge Mr. Achcar’s skewed conclusion that the Grand Mufti’s anti-Semitism had only a minimal impact on both Jews and Arabs. Professors Miller and Biale angrily told me the questions were insulting and to either stop or leave the room. So much for free speech and scholarly discourse in academia.
Unfortunately, this lecture was not an anomaly. It is symptomatic of attitudes in the UC Davis Jewish Studies Program and elsewhere in the UC system. Approximately 30 Jewish Studies faculty members signed a March 3 letter to the Orange County District Attorney, opposing legal action against the “Irvine 11.” The “Irvine 11” were the Muslim Student Union students who had orchestrated a disruption of a lecture by Israel Ambassador Michael Oren on the UC Irvine campus, in violation of both campus guidelines and the law. The six UCD faculty connected to Jewish/Middle Eastern scholarship who signed that letter are: David Biale; Ari Kelman; Ze’ev Maoz; Susan Miller; Brenda Deen Schildgen; and Diane Wolf.
Yet, these same academics turn a blind eye to campus anti-Semitism. Open letters were submitted to UC President Mark Yudof in June of 2010, highlighting the rise of anti-Semitism throughout the UC system. Some of the signatories included the Simon Wiesenthal Center, CAMERA, StandWithUs, and Scholars for Peace in the Middle East. More than 700 students signed an on-line petition. In September , 2011, more than 5,200 supporters sent another letter to Mr.Yudof, urging him to investigate and take action. Thus far, not one of the UCD professors referenced above has signed on to the letters, nor have they taken action to protect Jewish students from harassment and fear on their own campus. In fact, Emanuel Ringelblum Professor David Biale criticized the decision by the U.S. Office of Civil Rights to extend Title VI protection to Jewish students as “bizarre” because “the Jews are a group with power”.
Blind allegiance to any ideology is dangerous for the free exchange of ideas that is supposed to be the hallmark of a university. It is even more dangerous in the current climate where professors and academic departments encourage anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and anti- Jewish views and behaviors. Too often, students who express favorable views about Israel are ridiculed and verbally abused. Surely Jewish Studies Departments should ensure that the distortions and misinformation that propel anti-Israel dogmas are exposed and critiqued. People committed to intellectual integrity and the future of Israel and the Jewish people should be concerned about these trends in Jewish Studies Programs.
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