As we mourn our boys.

There has been a collective outpouring of grief within the Jewish community after our 3 missing boys were found murdered.

From the JCRC:
 A Joint Statement from the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, The Jewish Federation/The Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay and the American Jewish Committee

It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we mourn the murder of Naftali Fraenkel, 16, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Eyal Yifrah, 19, who were kidnapped on Thursday, June 12. Their bodies were found in the West Bank town of Halhul, located north of Hebron.

For the past 18 days, our Bay Area Jewish community and communities around the world have come together in support, in solidarity and in prayer. Our hearts are with their families during this terrible time, and we continue to stand with Israel as authorities search for the terrorists responsible for this heinous crime. We hope that the perpetrators are quickly apprehended and brought to justice.

May the memories of Naftali, Gilad and Eyal be blessings.


From StandWithUs
Our hearts are breaking at the horrific news of the murder of the three Israeli teenagers: Eyal Yifrah, Naftali Frankel and Gilad Shaer.
Israelis, Jews and people of goodwill around the world were consumed with worry following the cruel and cowardly kidnapping of the teens.
The news of their brutal murder is painful to absorb.
As we stood with and embraced their families following the kidnapping, we stand with them today, sharing their grief and wishing them strength at this tragic time.
This sad news reminds us that terrorists continue to act with impunity under Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. It reminds us that Hamas is a terrorist organization and has no place in any serious leadership or negotiating position. We see a clear link between the horrific acts of violence by Jihadists in Iraq and Syria and the acts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian terror groups.
Hate education against Jews and Israelis continues unabated in the Palestinian Authority, Gaza and many Arab countries. The result is hatred, terrorism and murder. The institutionalized incitement against Jews and Israel permeates education, the media, mosques and other social institutions, directed and supported by the Palestinian leadership. This education produced the stomach-turning images of some Palestinians celebrating the boys` abduction. This "education" resulted in the murder of our three innocent boys. 
The world has been united in keeping the boys and their families uppermost in its thoughts and prayers and will continue to do so now.
We pray for the strength that the families and our greater community will need to cope with this tragedy.
International pressure must be placed on the Palestinian Authority to stop the ongoing incitement to hatred, terrorism and murder. The Palestinian leadership, both Abbas and Hamas, must finally be held accountable for their actions. EU and American funding of the PA should be tied to that accountability.

We continue to support Israel`s security procedures that protect its citizens from acts of terror like this.

We join all of Israel, and good people around the world, in mourning Eyal, Naftali and Gilad.
May their memories be a blessing to all people of goodwill.

May G-d comfort the families among all the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

The StandWithUs Staff and Board of Directors

From the Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest
Dear friends,

Following extensive searches led by the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Security Agency and the Israel Police, the bodies of Eyal Yifrach (19), Gilad Sha'er (16) and Naftali Frenkel (16), who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on June 12, 2014, were discovered today in the area northwest of Hebron.

The grief and sorrow of their families and loved ones is unimaginable and beyond anything words can describe.

All of us, who for the past 18 days have been hoping and praying for the boys' safe return home, grieve today along with their families.

At the beginning of today's security cabinet meeting, PM Benjamin Netanyahu stated: "In the name of the whole of Israel, I ask to tell the dear families - to the mothers, the fathers, the grandmothers and the grandfathers, the brothers and sisters - our hearts are bleeding, the whole nation is crying with them. We will bring the boys to be buried according to Jewish rites."

Outgoing President Shimon Peres has stated: "All of Israel bows its head today. For 18 days we hoped and prayed with one voice that we would find the boys safe and well. With this bitter news all of Israel mourns their deaths. Along with our deep sense of loss we remain committed to bringing the terrorists to justice. Our resolve in the fight against terror will only strengthen and we will ensure that murderous terrorism of this sort will not dare to rear its head again."

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Yifrach, Sha'er and Frenkel families.

Andy David
Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest

From the Jewish National Fund
This afternoon the world learned of the killings of the three teenagers in Israel, Naftali Frenkel, 16, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19. Our prayers and thoughts go out to their families and to all who knew and loved them.

In a way, their loss is one that we all share. Each of us came to know Naftali, Gilad and Eyal in the last two weeks through the global campaign #BringBackOurBoys. Their story and captivity brought people together from many backgrounds and nations to support their release. It was indeed an unprecedented display of emotion and community not seen in some time.

However, the fact remains that these young men were abducted and struck down for no reason. They were not soldiers but Jewish students who loved Israel, desired to learn Torah, and had their entire lives before them.

In tribute to their lasting memory, Jewish National Fund will create gardens to honor Naftali z"l, Gilad z"l and Eyal z"l.

In the meantime, we will honor the customs of our forefathers and grieve with the families who have lost so much. Our prayers are with them all.
May the families be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.
May the families know no more sorrow.

**************

Well,  maybe the collective outpouring of grief was not universal.

The ever repugnant Jewish Voice for Peace dehumanizes our children, even after their death., in an effort to score cheap political points.

From Jewish Voice for Peace

JVP dehumanizes our murdered children

Heartbreaking News

To the families of Eyal Yifrach, Gil-ad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel:

All of the Israel mourns with you today.

The three boys were kidnaped on June 12 and a massive search had been conducted for them. Throughout the world, prayer vigils and solidarity rallies were held, as the Jewish world unified in support and in solidarity.

IDF troops found the bodies Monday near the village of Halhul,  just north of Hebron. They were apparently murdered soon after they were kidnapped.

Last week Hamas operatives Amer Abu Aisha and Marwan Kawasmeh were identified as part of the terror cell that kidnaped the boys

 

The IDF Strikes Back

In the past two weeks, Gaza terrorists have fired over 30 rockets at southern Israel  As rocket fire from Gaza intensifies,  putting millions of Israeli citizens at risk, the IDF has struck back, targeting terror installations within Gaza. 

 From the IDF Blog:

On Saturday evening, six rockets and two mortars fired at Israel. Three of the rockets hit the Eshkol Regional Council and an additional rocket hit the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. Two of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

In response to these attacks, an IAF aircraft targeted two terror activity sites, a weapons-manufacturing facility and a weapons-storage facility in Gaza. Direct hits were confirmed.



Yesterday, Israeli  aircraft targeted  terror operatives O​sama Ha​s​sumi and Mohammad Fatzih​ in an amazing precison strike. . Hass​umi and  Fatzih were involved in last week’s rocket fire at Israel, as well as several terror attacks over the past few years.

The latest from Ari Lesser : Bring Back our Boys

Bring Back Our Boys by Ari Lesser





Make some noise to bring back our boys
Cause they're playing with our kids like toys
The Gaza Strip's been giving out tips
On kidnapping people like bartering chips
To twist our arm, insist Israel
Needs to release TERRORISTS from jail
Cause even THEY know that our young men
Are each well worth a thousand of THEM

Still I'm grieving cause I can't believe a
Person would kidnap kids from Yeshiva
Three teenagers all unarmed
Headed home for Shabbat, not doing no harm
They tried to hitchhike on the roadside
But it was Hamas who gave them a ride
So now we're searching far and wide
Just trying to bring back our boys alive
Til they're returned, to show our concern
We will not leave any stone unturned
Look all around until their found
Every inch of ground, let's track them down

Make some noise to bring back our boys
Cause they're playing with our kids like toys
The Gaza Strip's been giving out tips
On kidnapping people like bartering chips
To twist our arm, insist Israel
Needs to release TERRORISTS from jail
Cause even THEY know that our young men
Are each well worth a thousand of THEM

It's a new day but their aim is the same
Using our people like pawns in a game
Abducting our children straight off the street
Just to exchange them like Gilad Shalit
Sad but it's true, for a fellow Jew
If that's what it takes then that's what we do
I hope no terrorist gets released
But I want our boys back home in one piece
So now if you care, please say a prayer
For Naptali Frankel, Gilad Shaer
And Eyal Yifrach, cause somewhere out there
The fate of our boys is up in the air

Make some noise to bring back our boys
Cause they're playing with our kids like toys
The Gaza Strip's been giving out tips
On kidnapping people like bartering chips
To twist our arm, insist Israel
Needs to release TERRORISTS from jail
Cause even THEY know that our young men
Are each well worth a thousand of THEM

Chris De Beneditti: Amir Abdel Malik might not be your best choice for a Muslim role model

What was he thinking?
 

From an  article by Chris De Beneditti in the Argus, on the Bay Area's preparation for the holy month of Ramadan

	Wait, is that  Oakland's Amir Abdel Malik? Hard to imagine anyone using the word "holy" in an article featuring him Oakland's Amir Abdel Malik has traveled the California University circuit, spreading a unique brand of vitriolic intolerance, anti-Semitism and garden variety hate speech Our friend Gary at Fousesquawk  wrote about Malik's visit to UC Irvine here. And here.  From a biography of Amir Abdel Malik    Amir-Abdel Malik-Ali (also known as Abdul Malik Ali and Abd Al-Malik) is a black Imam associated with the Masjid Al Islam mosque in Oakland. A graduate of San Francisco State University and a former Nation of Islam member, he is a frequent guest lecturer at Muslim Student Union and Muslim Students Association events. A passionate supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah, he helped organize a July 1999 rally in San Francisco at which Imam Abdul-Alim Musa proudly displayed a cashier’s check made out to “Hamas, Palestine.” Malik-Ali endorses suicide bombings as a legitimate “resistance” tactic: “Palestinian mothers are supporting their children who are suicide bombers, saying, ‘Go honey, go!’ That ain’t suicide; that’s martyrdom.” Also among Malik-Ali’s notable quotes and positions are the following: “The enemies of Islam know that when we come back to power we’re gonna check ’em.” “Stay conscious and ask Allah to raise the Muslims and give us victory over the disbeliever.” “When it’s all over, the only one standing is gonna be us [Muslims].” “Sooner or later, today’s Muslim students will be the parents of Muslim children. And they should be militants.” “Neo-cons are all Zionist Jews.” Israelis ought to return “to Germany, to Poland, to Russia. The Germans should hook y’all up. You [Israelis] should go back to Germany.” “In America, you’re mostly fighting with your tongue, but you should also learn how to fight with the sword.” Watch this clip as Malik Ali announces  his support for Iran , and for terror groups  Hezbollah and Hamas. Listen how he proclaims the "Zionist Jews " control the media and are responsible for 9/11. Malik proclaims, "We will fight you until we are either martyred or victorious"  while his minions scream  "Allahu Akbar".    To Chris De Beneditti:  Imam Amir Abdel Malik may not have been your best choice if your goal  to portray a Ramadan message of goodwill.

San Francisco Stands in Solidarity with Our Missing Sons

An Evening of Solidarity for Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal Yifrah

Thursday, June 26, 2014
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Congregation Beth Sholom, 301 14th Ave, San Francisco

As we continue to await the speedy and safe return of the three Israeli young men who were kidnapped, we ask our community members to come together for a gathering of prayer and support.
The evening will include remarks from Israeli Consul General Dr. Andy David and community leaders, as well as a moving musical performance.

Bring back our Boys

From the NY Post Bring back Our Boys

In an effort to heighten awareness of the plight of kidnapped Naftali, Eyal and Gilad , Young Israel of the West Side Rabbi Dovid Cohen has paid for a giant electronic ad in Times Square.

It says:
“On June 12th, 2014, three teenage boys were kidnapped in Israel, one of them an American citizen. These boys are not soldiers. They are not fighters. They are not violent. These boys are our sons. Our brothers. Our grandchildren. Our nephews. Our friends. Please help create global awareness.”

What is your community doing?

Gaza rockets kill 3 year old

Islamic terrorists firing rockets from Gaza commit a double war crime - using their own citizens as shields while targeting Israeli civilians. Yesterday, a tragedy occurred when of the rockets fired from Gaza exploded prematurely, killing a 3 year old girl in Gaza and wounded several members of her family. A Palestinian spokesman, Ashraf al-Qedra, said the 3-year-old, Jood al-Danaf died after a"mysterious explosion" hit her home in Beit Lahiya, near the border with Israel. It has been estimated that 30 Palestinians this year have been killed by similar misfired rockets and work accidents involved in their manufacture.

Yesterday, five rockets were launched from Gaza. Two were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and two landed within Gaza. (The fifth fell in an open area in Israel’s south.), In response Israel targeted five concealed rocket launchers, a "terror activity site and a weapon manufacturing facility. Gaza news organizations said the sites were connected to Hamas, and Islamic Jihad.

NGO Monitor: Antisemitism exposed within Presbyterian Church activist group behind divestment vote

Press Release from NGOMonitor, an independent research institution, was founded in 2002 in the wake of the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa. At this conference, 1,500 NGOs formulated the "Durban Strategy" which aims to isolate Israel through measures such as boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaigns, lawfare, delegitimization and demonization.
Jerusalem - NGO Monitor, a Jerusalem based research institute, has released evidence that anti-Jewish prejudice was prominent among the internal church advocates for boycott and divestment (BDS) efforts.

The Israel-Palestine Mission Network (IPMN), a church affiliated activist group centrally responsible for lobbying the church to divest from companies that do business with Israel and publisher of the highly controversial booklet, Zionism Unsettled: A Congregational Study, also promoted antisemitism on its Facebook page.

"The IPMN's Facebook page is in fact a hate site operating under the protective wings of the Presbyterian Church," said Yitzhak Santis, NGO Monitor's Chief Programs Officer. "None of the antisemitic postings were repudiated by the IPMN leadership or other members of this Facebook group. Several Presbyterian Church senior staff members are also members of this group, and they remained silent."

IPMN members have contributed numerous postings in a "closed but not secret" Facebook group expressing overtly antisemitic sentiments, including crude anti-Jewish caricatures and links to antisemitic websites. One statement (Nov 2, 2013), "Israel's Zionist establishment wants constant war. No longer a surprise, but a most serious evil;" links to Press TV (the state-owned English-language TV station of the Islamic Republic of Iran). Other postings promoted racialist theories of Jewish origins, such as, "It seems like the Ashkenazis (sic) have an inferiority complex because they descend from Kaszars (sic) and lack any genetic tie to Palestine... the Ashkenazis are looking more fraudulent than ever in claiming a Jewish Homeland for the Jewish (White Race) only."

"The moral credibility of the Presbyterians is on the line," continued Santis. "The church must repudiate and fully distance itself from IPMN and its bigotry. IPMN has been walking the church down a dark path, and Presbyterians should ask themselves if this is the direction they wish to go," Santis said.

The IPMN closed down its open Facebook page in January 2012 after strong criticism over extremist material appearing on its site. IPMN then reopened their Facebook group as a "closed but not secret" page in July 2012. IPMN's Facebook group page now has 272 members.

Read the full report to view the antisemitic posts from IPMN's Facebook page

Key Points From the NGO Monitor report on the antisemitism of the IPMN

1. The Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA) is a main advocate within the church on behalf of the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign (BDS), whose goal is to delegitimize the State of Israel leading to that country’s dissolution. The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship is also an advocate for BDS.

2. This report produces clear evidence of a strong undercurrent of overt anti-Jewish bigotry within the IPMN as expressed on the group’s Facebook page.

3. Numerous postings uploaded to this site by IPMN members over a period of two years demonstrate an ongoing pattern of expressions of antisemitism, including:

a. a “Zionist controlled America [has a] desperate lust” for war with Iran

b. “Jewish interests” are “corrupting” the US government, and the media is “owned” and “operated” by these same “Jewish interests.”

c. the “Christian Holy Land” is “occupied” by the “zionist (sic) instigator”

d. Racial theories of Jewish origins claiming Ashkenazi Jews are not racially “Semitic,” are actually “Khazars,” and therefore should not be in the Middle East.

e. Israeli Jews should be ethnically cleansed: “Helen Thomas was right, ‘Go back to Russia, Germany…’ Just leave.”

f. “IRAN! Thank God for them! The only Zionist-free land left on earth.”

Middle East Children's Alliance. What a difference a year makes

You would think the Middle East Children’s Alliance would be concerned about  missing children in the Middle East.

You’d be wrong.

 The Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA) is a non-profit organization working for the rights of children in the Middle East , but not if those children are Jews. And not if those children are Israelis.

 Two 16 year olds and a 19 year old have been kidnapped. They have vanished without a trace.  Their families are distraught. Their people have united in prayer. Their government searches for them. And the Middle East Children’s Alliance, who purportedly works for the rights of children  instead dismisses them, dehumanizes them.  To Barbara Lubin’s non-profit, these boys have no names,  no identities. They are missing “settlers”, not even granted the dignity of a name.

To the Middle East Children's Alliance, a 15 year old Palestinian is a "boy", but a 16 year old Jew is a settler. What a difference a year makes.

Never you mind, MECA. Some of us will continue to hope for a world where all children are cherished, regardless of their religion or national origin 

What’s got Sami Kishawi's knickers in a knot?

What’s got Sami Kishawi's knickers in a knot, this time?

In a rapidly warming world plagued by famine, disease and strife, Sami's concern is, well ...knickers. Shorts. Back and white patterned shorts, in particular, sold by retailer Zara because after all, Palestinians hold the patent on all things black and white and it's cultural appropriation, I tell you, Cultural Appropriation! to design anything in black and white without acknowledging this.

Apparently, anti-Israel activist and budding fashion analyst and arbitrator of taste Sami Kishawi resents having the politically significant kuffiyeh "worn around the waist and over the butt."

From Sami via his website: Sixteen Minutes for Palestine

The cultural appropriation of the kuffiyeh — be it in any form — is offensive not just to Palestinians but to all indigenous peoples who hold onto such designs as a sign of national, cultural, or historical identity. Although television show producers and American military officers appropriate the kuffiyeh as a trademark way of identifying "terrorists" for audiences to stare at or soldiers to shoot at, ZARA's appropriation of the kuffiyeh is yet another affront to the collective identity of a people struggling for an end to Israel's occupation and a start to the observance, accommodation, and protection of their natural human rights.

Ok, then, Sami. We get it. We get it. How dare Zara market anything in black and white without kowtowing to the Palestinian narrative?

Next in Sami's cross hairs: The New York Times Crossword puzzle

Sami has recently issued a critical update with vital new information on ZARA's  black and white shorts. Those are his words. "Critical update". Because our days couldn't possibly go on without this essential information.

He writes:

Earlier, we reported that fashion retailer ZARA was selling kuffiyeh-printed shorts without any attribution to the culture or history associated with it.

Days later, we updated the initial report after discovering that the item had been removed from the website. The original link as well as another direct link to the shorts both bring up a webpage that reads: "We are sorry. The item you are looking for is no longer available. Next, you will see similar products to: printed shorts".

Apparently, we aren’t the only ones to find Sami’s concerns, ummm, concerning

He continues:

Some readers feel that we are inappropriately sexualizing the product and misdirecting our criticisms. Others feel that our criticism of the kuffiyeh-printed shorts is overly sensitive.

Well, now that you mentioned it.....

Trying to suppress my snickers, reading ‘bout Sami's kickers.

How JVP colluded with the U.S. Presbyterian Church

Several months ago, JVP ran a rather silly little campaign to “beat” AIPAC in the number of likes on its Facebook page.  Using email blasts, social media and targeted ads on Facebook, they were able to increase their numbers. Glancing at their Facebook page, it appears they’ve achieved this milestone in their usual manner- through deceit and manipulation.   Does anyone really believe  “Joos for Palestine”  or "Net Workdood" represent actual people? 

There was a reason for the campaign.  This group, which represents an outside fringe of American Jewry used its social media stats to gain credibility for its extremist views, and to bolster its claim that it speaks for the American Jewish Community.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

When the Rabbinical Council of the Jewish Voice for Peace  penned  an open letter supporting Presbyterian  divestment. it had been signed by only 8 rabbis, 4 rabbinical students, and a cantor. Contrast that with the 1700 rabbis and cantors who signed  the letter opposing divestment.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, former president of the Union for Reform Judaism has written in Haaretz regarding the Presbyterians divestment vote, and the collusion of JVP

How a radical anti-Israel Jewish group colluded with the U.S. Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian leadership is not naïve. It has been working with the Jewish community for decades on a range of issues and has been engaged in dialogue with Jews on divestment concerns since 2004. It knows how the Jewish community is organized. It knows who has a grassroots presence and who does not. And any suggestion that there is significant Jewish support for divestment or that Jewish Voice for Peace represents any more than a tiny sliver of Jewish opinion is simply preposterous.

My view is that the church desperately wanted Jewish backing as cover for their pro-divestment position and Jewish Voice for Peace became the instrument for providing that backing—or, perhaps, a means for church leaders to delude themselves into thinking that Jewish backing really exists.

Either way, none of this would have worked without the collusion of Jewish Voice for Peace, which has a tradition of cloaking extremist principles in ambiguous language.

Consider the disparity between the church's resolution and the views of Jewish Voice for Peace. The church wanted to pass a "selective divestment" resolution without seeming too extreme. The Jewish community, to say the least, was not convinced; it concluded that the church's action suggested anti-Israel attitudes. Nonetheless, the final resolution passed by the general assembly called for selective divestment in specific companies while also reaffirming Israel's right to exist, endorsing a two-state solution, and refraining from aligning with the global BDS movement.

Jewish Voice for Peace, wanting to play the hero and stay in the good graces of the church leadership, had nothing to say about these three points; an uninformed observer might think that it supports the church in the final wording of the resolution. But it doesn't. As anyone who has read its mission statement and literature knows, it supports BDS, does not endorse a two-state solution, and while it does not call for Israel's destruction, does not affirm her right to exist either.

 Rabbi Yoffie continues:

In short, those young people in black T-shirts represent a radical anti-Israel position that goes far beyond the "selective divestment" that the church professes to call for.

He is right, of course. For all of JVP's  attempt at a socially acceptable veneer , they've admitted that they support "full" BDS ("occupation" is just a red herring)

 Rabbi Yoffie concludes with a suggestion to Presbyterian leadership

Get your information about the Jewish community and the Jewish tradition from a source other than Jewish Voice for Peace. And if you want, as I do, to see a reconciliation between the church and the Jews, put an end to an alliance that is leading you astray and generating resentment in the Jewish world.

Tomorrow, JVP has planned its first Congressional briefing. Lets hope Congress is smarter than the Presbyterian leadership.

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

While the Jewish world unites in prayer for our missing boys, Palestinian popular press and social media are filled with repugnant, mocking imagery.  Among  the Palestinians there is a startling lack of empathy for these boys, missing over 10 days, now.

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

h/t  Israellycool

Arutz Sheva has unearthed something so much worse than these static, gloating images. Videos  have been made to dramatize the abduction of three Jewish teens, featuring the Jewish equivalent of blackface- racist caricatures of religious Jews, with oversize black hats and earlocks.

From Arutz Sheva

A two-part Palestinian Arab Youtube video reenacts the recent abduction of three Jewish teens in a way that apparently reflects mostly the imagination of its makers.

The first video shows the three teenagers – portrayed by Arab actors – waiting for a ride while the team of kidnappers prepares to go into action. Two of the abductors are supposedly dressed as a hareidi father and son, with hats on their heads and long sidelocks.

The “father and son” pretend to fight over the father's anger at the boy for failing to pray. The “son” falls to the ground and the “father” calls the three teenagers to help him. They offer to put the “boy” in the car, in order to evacuate him to get medical assistance.

As they start carrying the “boy,” a third member of the cell, armed with an assault rifle, emerges and abducts one of the teenagers. The other two terrorists spray an anesthetic in the faces of the two other teenagers and place them in the car's trunk.

The second video shows the three “abductees” bound and blindfolded, with the abductors stading behind them, armed. They claim responsibility for the abduction in the name of the Abu Saker al-Halili Brigades and vow to treat them according to the rules of Islam.

Its so utterly repulsive I can not bring myself to link to it, nor can I even begin to fathom the sociopathic collective mindset that could produce such a travesty.

Terror attack in the Golan. Israel strikes back

From the Times Of Israel

A 15-year-old Israeli boy was killed in the Golan Heights Sunday morning in what the IDF said was a missile attack from Syria, just south of the Quneitra crossing. Three others were hurt, including his father, a civilian contractor, who sustained serious injuries.

A vehicle that was delivering water to the contractors, who were working on the fence that Israel is building across the plateau, was targeted with an anti-tank missile fired from the Syrian side of the border, military officials said.

The IDF responded with tank fire at “Syrian military posts in the immediate vicinity,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said. The IDF was weighing a further response to what was regarded as a deliberate attack, military sources said later Sunday.

“This is not a case of errant fire but of an intended attack,” he said. “The IDF will continue to watch the northern border and react to developments in the field accordingly.”

The boy, Mohammed Karkara, from the town of Arraba in the lower Galilee, had accompanied his father to work on what was the first day of the summer vacation.

In response, Israel targeted 9  military installations in Syria.
Again, from the Times Of Israel

“The IDF targeted nine Syrian army positions in response to the earlier attack that originated in Syria killing an Israeli teenager and injuring two other Israeli civilians. The targeted sites include Syrian [regional] military headquarters and launching positions,” the IDF said in a statement. 

Time for Assad to realize that his choices have consequences .

"Yesterday's attack was an unprovoked act of aggression against Israel, and a direct continuation to recent attacks that occurred in the area," said Lt. Col.Lerner. The  military  "will not tolerate any attempt to breach Israel's sovereignty and will act in order to safeguard the civilians of the state of Israel."

As expected, there was complete silence from CodePink, Jewish Voice for peace and the Presbyterian Church on the unprovoked attack on Israeli soil leading to the death of 15 year old Mohammed Karkara.

British BDS'er expresses his desire for more kidnappings

Kudos to the intrepid activists at Sussex friends of Israel for standing up to hate, and for documenting the antisemitism of the BDS movement on  the other side of the pond.

From Today's protest at EcoStream- an environmentally friendly business that sells  bulk Palestinian olive oil. However,  since the dark and ugly core of the BDS movement is isolating and punishing Israel, NOT  helping the Palestinians, it is subject to protests for daring to sell the home carbonation device Sodastream

From the Blog of Richard Millet: Palestinian olive oil on sale at Ecostream

Abdul of Brighton BDS describes the three kidnapped Israeli youths as "soldiers" and  expressed his desire for 3,000 more kidnappings.

Again, thanks to our friends at Sussex Friends of Israel for not allowing hate to reign unchecked and  unchallenged on the streets of Brighton.

Jewish Voice for Peace Goes to Washington

Jewish Voice for Peace, the organization whose stated purpose is to drive a wedge through the Jewish community  is planning a congressional day of action on June 24. Although JVP is a fringe group that is unrepresentative of mainstream Judaism and Jewish thought, they are claiming to speak in our names.

Please contact your representatives In Washington. Let them know that Jewish Voice for Peace doesn't not speak for you. Ask them not to grant legitimacy to this group of extremists

************

JVP has asked their minions to encourage Congress to show up at their briefing, in order to gain "a foothold in the beltway" , and to be better able than ever to amplify their voices to key decisionmakers

But JVP doesn't speak for me, or for you.  JVP represents an extremist group that is "agnostic" on Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. They routinely stand hand in hand with those seeking our destructive. They do not deserve attention or legitimacy.

They've  provided this script, as full of lies as they are.

Sample Script

JVP 6/24 Capitol Hill Briefing
Phone Banking Script

Hello, may I speak to [NAME OF STAFFER]?

LIVE CALL:

Hi, my name is [NAME]; I'm a constituent, and I belong to Jewish Voice for Peace. Our organization recently e-mailed you, to let you know we are sponsoring a briefing for congressional staff on Tuesday the 24th to discuss the failure of the peace process and positive steps that can and should be taken moving forward. The briefing will take place on Tuesday the 24th in the Cannon Office Building, Room 121, at 3pm. It should last about an hour and a half. Do you know yet if you or someone in your office is able to attend?

VOICEMAIL:

Hi, my name is [NAME]; I'm a constituent, and I belong to Jewish Voice for Peace. I'd like to invite you to attend a briefing our organization is sponsoring for congressional staff on Tuesday the 24th to discuss the failure of the peace process and positive steps that can and should be taken moving forward. The briefing will take place on Tuesday the 24th in the Cannon Office Building, Room 121, at 3pm. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at congress@jewishvoiceforpeace.org.

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(THESE PROBABLY WILL NOT COME UP, BUT JUST IN CASE):

Who is JVP? Are you the same as J-Street?

JVP is a grassroots community of activists inspired by Jewish values to work for peace and justice in the Middle East. While we use civic engagement as a tool for reaching our goals, we are not Washington lobbyists. We mobilize our 40 chapters nationwide and 140,000 supporters to steer policy in the right direction. We also support Israelis and Palestinians using peaceful methods to end the cycle of violence and bring about a better future.

How do you feel about BDS?

May I send you our backgrounder, which explains our position on BDS? Our organization is committed to supporting non-violent tactics to end the conflict and supports campaigns on a case-by-case basis.

Do you believe Israel has the right to exist/Do you support two states?

Our organization supports self-determination for Palestinians and Israelis and a solution that is based on equality between them. We do not endorse one particular solution because, as the events of the past few months have shown, the future is uncertain and working for peace requires us to be flexible and creative in our thinking, and supportive of a just outcome which is of the will of the people in Israel/Palestine. Come to the briefing to find out more.

IF THE STAFFER IS HOSTILE OR ABUSIVE:

Thank you for your time. Hang Up.

TO END THE CALL:

Again, the briefing will take place on Tuesday 6/24 at 3pm in Cannon R121. I hope that you or one of your colleagues will attend. Have a great day.

BDS'holes Behaving Badly

British BDS holes behaving badly.

Obviously fake profile Palestinian activist proudly damages Israeli Produce in Tesco and brags to her facebook friends about it.

In a world where children go to bed hungry every night, these jerks would prefer to vandalize and waste food, simply because it is imported from Israel.

Some "peace" activists

Eyal, Gilad and Naftali, in our hearts

Kol Yisrael Arevim  Zeh La' Zeh. All of Israel is responsible for one another. Lets remember this as we pray for the safe return of  Eyal, Gilad and Naftali.

Famed singer Matisyahu joined in solidarity, using the hashtag  "#bringbackourboys.

What can you do to help?

Via Ex-pat Barbie, at the Times of Israel:

So what can I do? Besides donating food and provisions to the IDF, I can be part of an online community of people who are seeking some solace and solidarity. So I’ve joined Bring Back Our Boys on Facebook, and every time I see an update, my heart lurches again.
Obviously, we know that posting pictures and news updates with the hashtag #BringBackOurBoys ISN’T going to bring back our boys. But it is going to do SOMETHING: In an online environment where so many people condemn Israel, where major international newspapers send out alerts about a freaking golf tournament (seriously) and NOT about these 3 kidnapped boys, where so many people are separated by continents and oceans and are longing for some kind of community as we wait and we wait and we wait, this hashtag helps.
And apparently, the parents of these boys notice, too, and they receive some measure of comfort from it. And that should be reason enough.
#BringBackOurBoys is the social media equivalent of leaving the light on until these boys come home.

While Jews all over the world have joined together in solidarity, the behavior from the other side continues to shock people of good will.

Palestinians celebrating the kidnapping of Israeli youth

The tragicomically named  "International Women's Peace Service" jumped on the bandwagon, dehumanizing the boys by describing them as  "illegal settlers" and "members of the Israeli army".

Does anyone still believe we have a partner for peace?

Bring Back Our boys: Statement by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

From the Facebook page of Rabbi Steinsaltz : Statement on the terrorist kidnapping of three boys from Yeshivat Mekor Chaim and Kfar Etzion

The kidnapping of our students is a shocking, painful and frightening event. In a time and place that had seemed to us quiet and serene, we have been thrown into an event that we can do nothing to resolve.

Perhaps we are better off than in past times, when we were totally unable even to attempt rescue and deliverance. We are grateful to the Israel Defense Forces for all their efforts.

Still we, the families, the friends and the teachers of the kidnapped boys are standing with "idle hands" (Ecclesiastes 10:18). All we have left now is to turn to our Father in Heaven and plead. We do not despair because we doubt our Heavenly Father. Rather we feel helpless because, "God is in Heaven and you are upon earth" (Ecclesiastes 5:1).

Thus, we can never know the extent our pleas and cries reach Heaven -- and also have some effect here, on earth. What we can do – and this has been the Jewish way from time immemorial – is to add more holiness and learn more Torah. If we can, each of us should take upon ourselves something additional, no matter how small, especially and explicitly devoted for the sake and well-being of the missing boys:

Naftali Frankel (Yaakov Naftali ben Rachel Devorah)
Gilad Shaar (Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim)
Eyal Yifrach (Eyal ben Iris Tesura)

Furthermore, we Jews have always been accustomed to reciting the Psalms, and we certainly ought to do more of this, especially two psalms that seem to me most relevant: Psalms 142 and 143, chapters that literally deal with our plight. We pray also for the safety of those who are working toward their rescue.

May it be God's will that in their merit, and for the merit of their suffering, together with our prayers and good deeds, we shall soon see our boys returned to us, God willing, safe and sound.

Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

Sorry, Alison Weir. Americans Know. You can't fool them.

The attack on the USS Liberty was a tragic accident that unfolded during the 6 day war.   Ten United States investigations and three Israeli inquiries conclusively established the attack was a mistake. According to the Jewish Virtual library

Israel ultimately paid nearly $13 million in humanitarian reparations to the United States and to the families of the victims in amounts established by the U.S. State Department. The matter was officially closed between the two governments by an exchange of diplomatic notes on December 17, 1987.

The USA and Israel have closed the matter, but flotidiot and anti-Israel activist Joe Meadors and his handlers at If Americans Knew are determined to keep  the incident alive.

To  Joe Meadors and Alison Weir. Americans Know, and that's why no one showed up to your little stunt.

Joe Meadors writes about a memorial service for the men killed and wounded in the attack on the USS  Liberty, and asks " What if you gave a memorial service and nobody came?"

On June 8th of every year — the anniversary of the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty — USS Liberty survivors and our families gather to hold a memorial service in Washington DC. This year it was held in the Navy Memorial.
Members of Congress were invited to send an official representative to honor our fallen shipmates as were the Department of Defense and Navy Department, The American Legion, the Navy League and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
These are all organizations who never miss an opportunity to honor the American military especially those who have been Killed in Action during an attack by an enemy of the United States.
Well, almost never.
The Department of Defense was a no-show.
The Navy Department was a no-show.
The American Legion was a no-show.
The Navy League was a no-show.
Congress was a no-show.

The reasons were obvious, to all but Joe.  No one wants to risk the taint of an association with him or with his play group..


Joe Meadors identifies himself as the "Director of Operations" of the USS Liberty Veterans Association,  but his close alliances with doctrinaire haters Alison Weir and Paul Larudee have been well documented.

Joe- both you and Alison are whack job conspiracy theorists. The ADL diplomatically states  "Alison Weir’s criticism of Israel has, at times, crossed the line into distortions customarily found in the literature of anti-Semites."  Alison has written that Judaism “a ruthless and supremacist faith”. There's a word for people like her. I think you can guess it.

No one showed up to the memorial service, not out of disrespect for those who gave their lives in this unfortunate accident, but because of your involvement. When your organization carries the endorsement of the KKK, maybe its time to turn your gaze inward.

Here. Let me help you.

Americans Know, Joe.
Americans Know, Alison.

And that's precisely why Americans avoid you both.

Bring back our boys. Eyal, Gilad and Naftali in our hearts

Yakov Naftali ben Rachel
Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim
Eyal ben Sarah

Last Monday, an Amber Alert was issued in the Bay Area. Television programing was interrupted. Messages were automatically left on cell phones.  Highway signs lit up with the names of the victims. The three children, ages 12, 6 and 2 were eventually found, though for a moment, time stood still as we all examined our surroundings, looking for anything that might help reunite these children with their family.  We cherish our children and we've learned from our mistakes regarding childhood abductions.

Contrast that with the reaction of Palestinians in West Bank upon learning of the kidnapping of 3 Israeli teens, 2 16 years old, and one 19. Appeals were distributed throughout social media  admonishing shopkeepers to destroy any  surveillance video they  had from the last 24 hours, rather than have it used to aid in the recovery of the boys. Sweets were gleefully distributed. The mood was unabashedly celebratory.  Those with knowledge of the kidnapping were warned not to share photos or info on Twitter and Facebook. The community joined together- not to ensure the safety of the boys, but to protect the criminals.

Even the Electronic Intifada got in on the action, with one of their writers  tweeting "Wonderful wonderful news that three settlers have been kidnapped"

There are no words for the evil that committed this act, and for the evil that has excused it, rationalized it, defended it, and covered for it.

Keep Eyal, Gilad and Naftali and their families in your heart and your prayers

June is Pride Month in Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv City Hall becomes a huge rainbow flag for Pride month

 
June is Pride Month in Tel Aviv.   Tel Aviv expects 130,000 people, a record breaking number, to attend the Gay Pride events . In addition, 30,000 tourists are slated to arrive in the city for pride events across the city.

•    June 1-12: Pride Village at Meir Park (outside the Gay Community center) - events and shows (in Hebrew)
•    June 5-14: Pride Beach @ Hilton Beach with open air parties through the day until sunset
•    June 7-16: The Tel Aviv LGBT International Film Festival at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and the Tel Aviv LGBT Community Center
•    June 8-12: GAY EXPO at Dizengoff Center Mall, showcasing gay products and services (10:00-21:00 daily)
•    June 11: Gay football team practice (June 11 at 19:30 in Jaffa)
•    June 12: Mayor's cocktail at the Gay Community Center at Meir Park (in Hebrew)  (19:00)
•    June 13: Pride Parade 2014, starting at 10:00 in the morning from Meir Park . The 2014 Tolerance Award will be hosted by Israeli model and actress Moran Atias, with a performance by Israeli singer Dana International.

Check out all the Pride festivities at A Wider bridge, building LGBT connections with Israel

include the 2014 Tolerance Award and will be hosted by Israeli model and actress Moran Atias, with a performance by Israeli singer Dana International. - See more at: http://awiderbridge.org/record-breaking-number-of-people-expected-at-tel-aviv-gay-pride-events/#sthash.lKVfCEag.dpuf

Fighting back against BDS. Yascher Koach to Western Washington University

Today, the Associated Students of Western Washington University  became the first North American student government to pass a proactive resolution against the anti-Israel BDS movement. The resolution outlawing boycotts based on national origin  passed unanimously 7-0.  It is the first time a student government has taken  proactive steps to protect itself from the bitter divisiveness of a campus BDS campaign.

From Arutz Sheva:

The student government at Western Washington University (Associated Students WWU) voted unanimously Wednesday that it will not consider boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) based on national origin, according to Israel advocacy organization StandWithUs.

The 7-0 vote represents the first time ever that a North American university’s student government took pro-active legislative steps to protect students from discriminatory BDS campaigns, such as the ones that have targeted Israel at a number of campuses in recent years.

According to the resolution, the ASWWU will not support BDS campaigns because, “tensions between students related to foreign conflicts should be managed in a healthy and collaborative manner rather than be exacerbated.”

It also expressed concern that BDS campaigns, “can cause students to be targeted on the basis of nationality” and lead to “disrespectful bias, hostility, hate, or harassment.” 

WWU Student Alysa Kipersztok, a StandWithUs Emerson Fellow, brought the anti-BDS resolution to the ASWWU.

“I’ve seen how divisive anti-Israel BDS campaigns have been on campuses across the country," she stated. "Western is a warm, respectful, inclusive community. Our mission statement states that WWU ‘brings together individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives in an inclusive, student-centered university."

Yascher Koach to Alysa Kipersztok and to the student government of Western Washington University, for standing tall against hatred on campus.

A copy of the resolution appears below.  May this prove to be a successful model as we fight back against the ugliness and divisiveness of BDS on campus.

Anti-Semitic Slight in Bay Area Yearbook

Its not a harmless prank.

A Bay Area family is reeling from a slur printed in their son's high school yearbook.

In a team photo in the Monta Vista High School yearbook, a student intentionally changed the last three letters of classmate's name to "Jew". It was unnoticed by the yearbook adviser and ultimately was published and distributed  in 1,600 copies of the yearbook.

The boy's family are Israeli.

Via the  San Jose Mercury News:

The victim's parents, who speak Hebrew at home, are stunned by the stain on their son's name in the yearbook. The boy's mother said it brought to mind signs posted in Eastern Europe before the Holocaust era that read, "No Jews or dogs." Jews were also labeled during World War II by the Nazis, who forced them to wear yellow badges announcing their religion.

"It always starts out little by little," she said. "It's better to stop this now when it's little."

School officials said the offender will face "consequences.",  and will not be permitted to attend graduation.

Dr. Martin Luther King's pro-Israel Legacy

Dr.Martin Luther King's pro-Israel Legacy, presented by Dumisani Washington of the  IBSI - Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel