In a letter directed to the executive Board of UAW Local 2865, the California Teamsters have reiterated their opposition to BDS, stating unequivocally that they “cannot conceive of an action more hostile to the interests of
[Teamsters] members and more antithetical to the most basic principles
of the union movement”
The letter is reproduced in its entirety at the website of Informed Grads, a group organized in opposition to the Dec. 4th BDS resolution at the University of California
Dear [Michelle] Glowa and Members of the Executive Board,
It
has come to our attention that the Executive Board of UAW Local 2865 has
endorsed the “Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction Movement”
against companies that do business in Israel. In addition, we understand
you have also endorsed the so-called “Academic and Cultural Boycott of
Israel.” We further understand that you are putting the matter to a vote
of your bargaining unit members on December 6 [sic], 2014.
Teamsters
Joint Council 7 and 42 is comprised of our members in California,
Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific. This includes Local 2010 that
represents 14,000 employees throughout the University of California
system.
As you are no doubt aware, the companies that are targeted
by the BDS movement include numerous employers that are represented by
organized labor, including many thousands who are represented by the
Teamsters. Indeed, some of the companies you wish your union to boycott
and divest from are represented by the United Auto Workers. In the case
of the Teamsters, we represent tens of thousands of employees at the
following companies that are listed as targets of the BDS campaign:
Boeing
Cemex
General Dynamics
General Electric
ITT
Lockheed-Martin
Northrup-Grumman
Whatever
your motives, we cannot conceive of an action more hostile to the
interests of our members and more antithetical to the most basic
principles of the union movement than for a union to call for actions
which are intended to do harm to the economic security of other union
members. We would find it difficult to ask our members to support your
union in a labor dispute with the University of California so long as
you are engaged in activities that are fundamentally hostile to their
interests.
Giving you the benefit of the doubt, we can only assume
that you took your actions without consideration of the potential harm
to hard working union members across California and the United States.
We ask you to look at that issue now. Unlike the members of your union,
who are graduate students and therefore union members for a short period
of time, our members are working in jobs that must support them for a
lifetime and it is our job to protect them for all of their working
lives.
We would strongly request that you reconsider your actions.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Remembering the Jews Expelled from Arab lands
Via Emunah:
In Israel, November 30 is now the national day of commemoration of the forgotten refugees, the Jewish expelled from Arab lands and Iran.
In 1948 close to a million Jews lived in the Middle East and North Africa, calling these lands their home since the Babylonian captivity.
Jews in the Arab lands and North Africa faced escalating levels of persecution in the 20th century, and were denied basic human rights. Between 1948 and 1967, many were expelled or fled the region, seeking safety in Israel and elsewhere.
The value of assets lost by the Jewish refugees is estimated at $700 million - roughly $6.7 billion today.
Algeria: 140,000 in 1948, today 28
Morocco: 285,000 in 1948, 6500 today
Tunisia: 110,000 in 1948, 1700
Libya: 32,000 in 1948, 0 today
Egypt: 100,000 in 1948, 150 today
Sudan: 350 in 1948, 0 today
Lebanon: 20,000 in 1948, 50 today
Syria: 35,000 in 1948, 0 today
Yemen: 63,000 in 1948, 100 today
Saudi Arabia: 0 Jews
Somalia: 0 Jews in recorded history
Iraq: 150,000 in 1948, 0 today
Bahrain: 600 in 1938, 37 today
UAE: 0 Jews
Muscat (Oman): 0 Jews since the 19th century
Jordan: 0 Jews
Iran: 100,000 in 1979, 20,000 today
TOTAL: 935,950 in 1948, 8565 today
Israel: 150,000 Arabs in 1948, 1,640,000 today
For more information on the Jews expelled from Arab lands, see:
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries from the Jewish Virtual Library
JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa
In Israel, November 30 is now the national day of commemoration of the forgotten refugees, the Jewish expelled from Arab lands and Iran.
In 1948 close to a million Jews lived in the Middle East and North Africa, calling these lands their home since the Babylonian captivity.
Jews in the Arab lands and North Africa faced escalating levels of persecution in the 20th century, and were denied basic human rights. Between 1948 and 1967, many were expelled or fled the region, seeking safety in Israel and elsewhere.
The value of assets lost by the Jewish refugees is estimated at $700 million - roughly $6.7 billion today.
Algeria: 140,000 in 1948, today 28
Morocco: 285,000 in 1948, 6500 today
Tunisia: 110,000 in 1948, 1700
Libya: 32,000 in 1948, 0 today
Egypt: 100,000 in 1948, 150 today
Sudan: 350 in 1948, 0 today
Lebanon: 20,000 in 1948, 50 today
Syria: 35,000 in 1948, 0 today
Yemen: 63,000 in 1948, 100 today
Saudi Arabia: 0 Jews
Somalia: 0 Jews in recorded history
Iraq: 150,000 in 1948, 0 today
Bahrain: 600 in 1938, 37 today
UAE: 0 Jews
Muscat (Oman): 0 Jews since the 19th century
Jordan: 0 Jews
Iran: 100,000 in 1979, 20,000 today
TOTAL: 935,950 in 1948, 8565 today
Israel: 150,000 Arabs in 1948, 1,640,000 today
For more information on the Jews expelled from Arab lands, see:
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries from the Jewish Virtual Library
JIMENA: Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Block the Boat Seattle: Hoax in process
Yes, there is another Block the boat protest at the port of Seattle scheduled for Nov. 29, at 4pm, and yes, they are promoting this action with that universal symbol of brotherhood and good will, the Molotov cocktail.
The Zim Djibouti is currently anchored in Washington along with several other container vessels.
They are not delayed by any protesters- they are waiting for their turn, based on the posted schedule for unloading at the Port of Tacoma. Thats right, Tacoma, not Seattle at 5pm Nov. 29.
According to the Block the Boat organizers, they are meeting at the port of Seattle at 4pm, yet the object of their affections, the Zim Djibouti isn't due into the Port of Seattle until Dec.1. So why is Block the boat asking people to meet in Seattle and not Tacoma?
What we are seeing is the genesis of the Block the Boat hoax.
It'll go something like this:
The Zim Djibouti arrived in Washington State Nov. 28. There was a protest at the Seattle port, preventing the Djibouti from unloading at Seattle until Dec. 1. The boat was therefore " delayed " by 48 hours, costing Zimthousands millions. This will be followed by the usual back clapping self congratulatory press releases that we've been seeing for months. Block the boat is "unstoppable". BDS is on a "roll" .Its about union "solidarity"
And its all a lie.
From the President of ILWU local 23.
The Zim Djibouti is currently anchored in Washington along with several other container vessels.
They are not delayed by any protesters- they are waiting for their turn, based on the posted schedule for unloading at the Port of Tacoma. Thats right, Tacoma, not Seattle at 5pm Nov. 29.
What we are seeing is the genesis of the Block the Boat hoax.
It'll go something like this:
The Zim Djibouti arrived in Washington State Nov. 28. There was a protest at the Seattle port, preventing the Djibouti from unloading at Seattle until Dec. 1. The boat was therefore " delayed " by 48 hours, costing Zim
And its all a lie.
From the President of ILWU local 23.
Friday, November 28, 2014
UC-wide BDS vote on Dec 4, the effort to oppose it, and how you can help
Please forward widely to all UC Grad students, parents of grad students.
UC-wide BDS vote on Dec 4, the effort to oppose it, and how you can help:
by Jonathan Kummerfeld
From Informed Grads, a UC-wide student group
Graduate
students across the state will be voting next Thursday, Dec 4, on
whether their union should join the BDS movement. If passed, it would
make them the first labor union in the US to join, and make the
political activities of the BDS movement a part of their standard
activist platform (alongside issues like reducing class sizes and
fighting discrimination on campus). Since announcing the vote, some of
the things union leaders have done are:
- Encouraged TAs to advocate BDS politics in the classes they teach
- Participated in and endorsed the Block the Boat protests in Oakland
- Spent several thousand from member dues on bringing BDS leaders to speak on campus in support
- Rejected a proposal to endorse Jewish self-determination (in July they made a statement that included support for Palestinian self-determination)
Informed Grads (informedgrads.org)
is a student group that has organized to fight the proposal. Since the
vote is state-wide and any graduate student, including law, medical and
MBA students, can vote, we have a real chance of defeating the proposal,
but only if we can get the word out (most grads don't even know it's
happening). This is where we would appreciate all the help we can get. You can help right now by:
- Telling grads you know that this is happening and they should go vote
- Asking undergrads and grads to help put up posters and leave flyers around campus (even a single hour can make a big difference), they should get in touch at informedgrads@gmail.com
- Tell friends and family and ask them to spread the word
- Like the Informed Grads facebook page, facebook.com/informedgrads and encourage others to do so too
There will also be an event on campus on Monday, Dec 1st:
Prof.
Russell Berman on "Scholars against Scholarship: The Boycott as an
Infringement of Academic Culture", his contribution to the new
book, "The Case Against Academic Boycotts of Israel"
It is open to all, please encourage grads and undergrads to attend and have them sign up here:
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
One Third of all Nations have religious symbols on their Flags
According to a new report by the Pew research center 1/3 of all nations have religious symbols on their flags
Of the 64 countries in this category, about half have Christian symbols (48%) and about a third include Islamic religious symbols (33%). Only Israel, the national state of the Jewish people has a flag with Jewish symbols
And only the Israeli flag is controversial.
Of the 64 countries in this category, about half have Christian symbols (48%) and about a third include Islamic religious symbols (33%). Only Israel, the national state of the Jewish people has a flag with Jewish symbols
And only the Israeli flag is controversial.
Anti-Israel activists shuting down free speech on campus
From the facebook page of the San Joaquin Delta community College District Police Department
On 11/20/14 at approximately 5:30 p.m. an unknown race male entered the Stockton campus of San Joaquin Delta College and defaced approximately 12 posters advertising an upcoming event. The posters were placed by the Christians United for Israel Club.
The male who did the defacing was wearing a grey beanie, dark sweatshirt, grey pants, black backpack and black shoes.
If you recognize this person, please contact the
District Police Department at (209)954-5000. Reference CR# 14-0443 and
ask for Officer Kim.
Vandalism. Shutting down free speech on campus. Where have we seen this before?
At Cal Berkeley, Kumars Salehi, tweeting from the Berkeley SJP account boasted of his role in covering up posted material placed by other student groups.
Anti-Israel groups on California campus have become increasingly ruthless, in both their brazen tactics and their extremist rhetoric. This is what pro-Israel students are facing now.
On 11/20/14 at approximately 5:30 p.m. an unknown race male entered the Stockton campus of San Joaquin Delta College and defaced approximately 12 posters advertising an upcoming event. The posters were placed by the Christians United for Israel Club.
The male who did the defacing was wearing a grey beanie, dark sweatshirt, grey pants, black backpack and black shoes.
 |
| Anti-Israel activists at work at the San Joaquin Delta College |
Vandalism. Shutting down free speech on campus. Where have we seen this before?
At Cal Berkeley, Kumars Salehi, tweeting from the Berkeley SJP account boasted of his role in covering up posted material placed by other student groups.
Anti-Israel groups on California campus have become increasingly ruthless, in both their brazen tactics and their extremist rhetoric. This is what pro-Israel students are facing now.
Welcome to Pallywood; Tortured Palestinian prisoner edition
Welcome to Pallywood, the term used for invented atrocities, mis-captioned photos and staged events that have been especially created to demonize Israel, the only democracy in the middle east.
This might be the worst of the worst. We're talking turkey, right here.
This photo is making the rounds on social media, via Facebook and Twitter. It purports to be Tzahal prison guards torturing a poor innocent Palestinian.
The prisoner doesn't look like he's being tortured, but that's the least of the issues here. Tzahal does not administer the Israeli prison system.
What really says "low production value" to me is the paper armband. Scrawled on with sharpie.
Even the Islamic Jihad Kindergarten graduation had better props.
This might be the worst of the worst. We're talking turkey, right here.
This photo is making the rounds on social media, via Facebook and Twitter. It purports to be Tzahal prison guards torturing a poor innocent Palestinian.
The prisoner doesn't look like he's being tortured, but that's the least of the issues here. Tzahal does not administer the Israeli prison system.
Even the Islamic Jihad Kindergarten graduation had better props.
Lara Kiswani of the AROC: The face of pure hatred.
On Nov. 12 a panel discussion was held at at U.C. Berkeley organized by the BDS Caucus of
UAW 2865, the union for 13,000 University of California graduate
student workers. The panel included 3 advocates for BDS, Michael Letwin, Clarence Thomas and Lara Kiswani and featured rhetoric so disturbing, a student left the room in tears.
From the J weekly, the weekly newspaper of the Northern California Jewish community, written by Jewish community hero, Tammi Benjamin-Rossman
Ms. Benjamin-Rossman is a lecturer at U.C. Santa Cruz and co-founder of the Amcha Initiative, a nonprofit that combats anti-Semitism on college campuses.
"Bringing down Israel will really benefit everyone in the world and everyone in society, particularly workers.”
These words were spoken by Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, at a Nov. 12 panel discussion at U.C. Berkeley organized by the BDS Caucus of UAW 2865, the union for 13,000 University of California graduate student workers. Those grad student-teachers and other workers will be voting on a union resolution to boycott Israel on Dec. 4.
Throughout her talk, Kiswani made crystal clear that the goal of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel is not to legitimately criticize Israeli policy, but rather to bring an end to the Jewish state, and she claimed that UAW 2865 members will be playing an important role in achieving that goal should they approve the BDS resolution in their vote next week:
• “BDS is about isolating Zionism.”
• “I think you should boycott any Zionist institution, academic, organization, whether it be from 1967 occupied Palestine or 1948 occupied Palestine, because BDS really should be about shifting the cultural framework and shifting how we see Israel and isolating it and making it feel unwelcome anywhere and everywhere.”
• “We have demanded that the world take a stand in isolating Israel everywhere.”
• “We’re resisting colonialism in Palestine, and colonialism entails all of occupied Palestine from Haifa to Jerusalem to Ramallah.”
Make no mistake: Calling for the elimination of the world’s only Jewish state is anti-Semitic. Not only do the United States and Canada consider denying Jews the right to self-determination a prime example of anti-Semitism, but the vast majority of Jews around the world experience BDS and other attempts to “bring down Israel” as a deeply anti-Semitic assault on the entire Jewish people.
Read the full account here. The entire panel discussion is available here
The Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) has a long history of extremist rhetoric, intolerance and promotion of violence
From the J weekly, the weekly newspaper of the Northern California Jewish community, written by Jewish community hero, Tammi Benjamin-Rossman
Ms. Benjamin-Rossman is a lecturer at U.C. Santa Cruz and co-founder of the Amcha Initiative, a nonprofit that combats anti-Semitism on college campuses.
"Bringing down Israel will really benefit everyone in the world and everyone in society, particularly workers.”
These words were spoken by Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, at a Nov. 12 panel discussion at U.C. Berkeley organized by the BDS Caucus of UAW 2865, the union for 13,000 University of California graduate student workers. Those grad student-teachers and other workers will be voting on a union resolution to boycott Israel on Dec. 4.
Throughout her talk, Kiswani made crystal clear that the goal of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel is not to legitimately criticize Israeli policy, but rather to bring an end to the Jewish state, and she claimed that UAW 2865 members will be playing an important role in achieving that goal should they approve the BDS resolution in their vote next week:
• “BDS is about isolating Zionism.”
• “I think you should boycott any Zionist institution, academic, organization, whether it be from 1967 occupied Palestine or 1948 occupied Palestine, because BDS really should be about shifting the cultural framework and shifting how we see Israel and isolating it and making it feel unwelcome anywhere and everywhere.”
• “We have demanded that the world take a stand in isolating Israel everywhere.”
• “We’re resisting colonialism in Palestine, and colonialism entails all of occupied Palestine from Haifa to Jerusalem to Ramallah.”
Make no mistake: Calling for the elimination of the world’s only Jewish state is anti-Semitic. Not only do the United States and Canada consider denying Jews the right to self-determination a prime example of anti-Semitism, but the vast majority of Jews around the world experience BDS and other attempts to “bring down Israel” as a deeply anti-Semitic assault on the entire Jewish people.
Read the full account here. The entire panel discussion is available here
The Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) has a long history of extremist rhetoric, intolerance and promotion of violence
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
United Auto Workers Union reaffirms opposition to BDS movement.
UAW's region 5 covering California and 16 other states sent a brief letter to UAW 2865 leadership
reaffirming its opposition to the BDS movement. The letter states that
the UAW International’s position has not changed since it signed a Statement of Opposition to Divestment From or Boycotts of Israel in 2007 with 40 other national labor leaders.
Via our friends at Informed grads
Dear Sisters [Michelle] Glowa & [Leslie] Quintanilla [President and Recording Secretary of UAW 2865],
The International Union has received numerous requests for a position from the Local 2865 leadership and membership regarding the BDS movement. Please find enclosed a 2007 Statement of Opposition to Divestment From or Boycotts of Israel, signed by over 40 national labor leaders.
The International Union’s previous position has not changed.
The following is the aforementioned statement of opposition to BDS, signed by various labor leaders, that still stands as a statement of principle.
Trade unionists and their organizations seeking such a just and fair resolution should be assisting those working to bring the two sides together in direct talks and then negotiations. In this regard, we call for increased engagement of trade unions with their counterparts on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We support efforts of Palestinian and Israeli trade unionists and their organizations to maintain contact and cooperative and mutually supportive activities, even in the midst of tumult and political change within their respective communities and polities.
Calls for academic boycotts of Israel are inimical to and counter to the principles of academic freedom and freedom of association, key principles for which academics and educational unions have struggled over many years. Rather than limiting interactions with Israeli educators, academics and educational institutions, we see the importance of maximizing, rather than proscribing, the free flow of ideas and academic interaction between peoples, cultures, religions and countries.
Similarly, calls for journalistic boycotts of Israel are inimical to the free flow of information and journalistic objectivity, and must be opposed.
Rather than divestment from Israel, we believe that investment of time, energy and material aid is the best means to alleviate the ongoing suffering of Palestinians and Israelis. Engagement, rather than disengagement, with the Israeli people and the Palestinian people is needed, so that a just and fair resolution of this conflict may be pursued, and so that meaningful progress towards achieving the legitimate needs of Palestinians and Israelis can be made.
We offer our support to assist trade unionists as well as interested members of the community-at-large who are grappling with these matters, and who share our concern over simplistic and non-constructive approaches, whether in the form of misguided resolutions or other statements on the tragic conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Stuart Appelbaum
President, Jewish Labor Committee
President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union / UFCW
Edward J. McElroy
Secretary, Jewish Labor Committee
President, American Federation of Teachers
Morton Bahr
Treasurer, Jewish Labor Committee
John J. Sweeney
President, AFL-CIO
Anna Burger
Chair, Change to Win
Clayola Brown
President, A. Philip Randolph Institute
Timothy A. Brown
International President, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots / ILA
R. Thomas Buffenbarger
International President,
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
William Burrus
President, American Postal Workers Union
James Clark
President
International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers-Communications Workers of America
Larry Cohen
President, Communications Workers of America
Barbara J. Easterling
Secretary-Treasurer, Communications Workers of America
Patrick D. Finley
General President
Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association of the United States and Canada
John J. Flynn
President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
John Gage
President, American Federation of Government Employees
Leo W. Gerard
International President
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union
Ron Gettelfinger
President
United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union
Michael Goodwin
President, Office and Professional Employees International Union
Larry V. Gregoire
President, International Chemical Workers Union Council / UFCW
James A. Grogan
General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers
Don M. Hahs
National President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen / IBT
Joseph T. Hansen
International President, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Edwin D. Hill
International President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
William P. Hite
General President
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
James P. Hoffa
General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Joseph J. Hunt
General President
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Frank Hurt
International President
Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union
Louis Lacarbonara
President, Italian-American Labor Council
D. Michael Langford
National President
Utility Workers Union of America
Thomas F. Lee
President, American Federation of Musicians
Jill S. Levy
President, American Federation of School Administrators
James C. Little
International President, Transport Workers Union of America
William Lucy
President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Douglas J. McCarron
General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
Gerald W. McEntee
President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Bruce S. Raynor
General President, UNITE HERE
Cecil E. Roberts
President, United Mine Workers of America
Michael Sacco
President, Seafarers International Union of North America
Robert A. Scardelletti
International President, Transportation Communications Union / IAM
Michael J. Sullivan
General President, Sheet Metal Workers International Association
George Tedeschi
President, Graphic Communications International Union / IBT
Patric M. Verrone
President, Writers Guild of America, West
Reg Weaver
President, National Education Association
James A. Williams
General President, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Via our friends at Informed grads
Dear Sisters [Michelle] Glowa & [Leslie] Quintanilla [President and Recording Secretary of UAW 2865],
The International Union has received numerous requests for a position from the Local 2865 leadership and membership regarding the BDS movement. Please find enclosed a 2007 Statement of Opposition to Divestment From or Boycotts of Israel, signed by over 40 national labor leaders.
The International Union’s previous position has not changed.
The following is the aforementioned statement of opposition to BDS, signed by various labor leaders, that still stands as a statement of principle.
Statement of Opposition to Divestment From or Boycotts of Israel
We view with increasing concern the
phenomenon of trade unions in a number of countries, including, most
recently, the United Kingdom, issuing resolutions that either directly
or indirectly call for divestment from and boycotts of Israel.
With the large number of local, regional and international conflicts, with the diverse range of oppressive regimes around the world about which there is almost universal silence, we have to question the motives of these resolutions that single out one country in one conflict.
We note with increasing concern that virtually all of these resolutions focus solely on objections to actions or policies of the Israeli government, and never on actions or policies of Palestinian or other Arab governments, parties or movements. We notice with increasing concern that characterization of the Palestinians as victims and Israel as victimizer is a staple of such resolutions. That there are victims and victimizers on all sides, and that many if not most of the victims of violence and repression on all sides are civilians, are essential items often not mentioned in these resolutions.
Any just and fair resolution of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be brought about through meaningful
negotiations between their elected representatives. We believe strongly
in a two-state solution, brought about through meaningful negotiations,
with the involvement and encouragement of the world community. With the large number of local, regional and international conflicts, with the diverse range of oppressive regimes around the world about which there is almost universal silence, we have to question the motives of these resolutions that single out one country in one conflict.
We note with increasing concern that virtually all of these resolutions focus solely on objections to actions or policies of the Israeli government, and never on actions or policies of Palestinian or other Arab governments, parties or movements. We notice with increasing concern that characterization of the Palestinians as victims and Israel as victimizer is a staple of such resolutions. That there are victims and victimizers on all sides, and that many if not most of the victims of violence and repression on all sides are civilians, are essential items often not mentioned in these resolutions.
Trade unionists and their organizations seeking such a just and fair resolution should be assisting those working to bring the two sides together in direct talks and then negotiations. In this regard, we call for increased engagement of trade unions with their counterparts on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We support efforts of Palestinian and Israeli trade unionists and their organizations to maintain contact and cooperative and mutually supportive activities, even in the midst of tumult and political change within their respective communities and polities.
Calls for academic boycotts of Israel are inimical to and counter to the principles of academic freedom and freedom of association, key principles for which academics and educational unions have struggled over many years. Rather than limiting interactions with Israeli educators, academics and educational institutions, we see the importance of maximizing, rather than proscribing, the free flow of ideas and academic interaction between peoples, cultures, religions and countries.
Similarly, calls for journalistic boycotts of Israel are inimical to the free flow of information and journalistic objectivity, and must be opposed.
Rather than divestment from Israel, we believe that investment of time, energy and material aid is the best means to alleviate the ongoing suffering of Palestinians and Israelis. Engagement, rather than disengagement, with the Israeli people and the Palestinian people is needed, so that a just and fair resolution of this conflict may be pursued, and so that meaningful progress towards achieving the legitimate needs of Palestinians and Israelis can be made.
We offer our support to assist trade unionists as well as interested members of the community-at-large who are grappling with these matters, and who share our concern over simplistic and non-constructive approaches, whether in the form of misguided resolutions or other statements on the tragic conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Stuart Appelbaum
President, Jewish Labor Committee
President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union / UFCW
Edward J. McElroy
Secretary, Jewish Labor Committee
President, American Federation of Teachers
Morton Bahr
Treasurer, Jewish Labor Committee
John J. Sweeney
President, AFL-CIO
Anna Burger
Chair, Change to Win
Clayola Brown
President, A. Philip Randolph Institute
Timothy A. Brown
International President, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots / ILA
R. Thomas Buffenbarger
International President,
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
William Burrus
President, American Postal Workers Union
James Clark
President
International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers-Communications Workers of America
Larry Cohen
President, Communications Workers of America
Barbara J. Easterling
Secretary-Treasurer, Communications Workers of America
Patrick D. Finley
General President
Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association of the United States and Canada
John J. Flynn
President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
John Gage
President, American Federation of Government Employees
Leo W. Gerard
International President
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union
Ron Gettelfinger
President
United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union
Michael Goodwin
President, Office and Professional Employees International Union
Larry V. Gregoire
President, International Chemical Workers Union Council / UFCW
James A. Grogan
General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers
Don M. Hahs
National President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen / IBT
Joseph T. Hansen
International President, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Edwin D. Hill
International President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
William P. Hite
General President
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
James P. Hoffa
General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Joseph J. Hunt
General President
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Frank Hurt
International President
Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union
Louis Lacarbonara
President, Italian-American Labor Council
D. Michael Langford
National President
Utility Workers Union of America
Thomas F. Lee
President, American Federation of Musicians
Jill S. Levy
President, American Federation of School Administrators
James C. Little
International President, Transport Workers Union of America
William Lucy
President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Douglas J. McCarron
General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
Gerald W. McEntee
President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Bruce S. Raynor
General President, UNITE HERE
Cecil E. Roberts
President, United Mine Workers of America
Michael Sacco
President, Seafarers International Union of North America
Robert A. Scardelletti
International President, Transportation Communications Union / IAM
Michael J. Sullivan
General President, Sheet Metal Workers International Association
George Tedeschi
President, Graphic Communications International Union / IBT
Patric M. Verrone
President, Writers Guild of America, West
Reg Weaver
President, National Education Association
James A. Williams
General President, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Labor Solidarity Demands a “No” Vote on Israel Boycott
UAW
Local 2865 represents approximately 13,000 student workers: teaching
assistants, tutors, and readers at the University of California. On
December 4, they will be voting on an academic boycott of Israel.
Via the Alliance for Academic Freedom (AAF), a group of over 120 liberal and progressive scholars, affiliated with The Third Narrative, who are dedicated to combating academic boycotts and blacklists, defending freedom of expression and promoting empathy and civility in the debate over Israelis and Palestinians.
Via the Alliance for Academic Freedom (AAF), a group of over 120 liberal and progressive scholars, affiliated with The Third Narrative, who are dedicated to combating academic boycotts and blacklists, defending freedom of expression and promoting empathy and civility in the debate over Israelis and Palestinians.
Please forward to any graduate students you know at the University of California.
Labor Solidarity Demands a “No” Vote on Israel Boycott
As an association of progressive scholars and academics, many of whom are union members and all of whom support the labor movement, the Alliance for Academic Freedom is deeply disturbed that the Joint Council of UAW Local 2865, representing more than 13,000 student-workers across the University of California system, seeks to lend the local’s support to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. We urge our brothers and sisters in UAW Local 2865 to vote “no” on December 4, 2014, in the membership vote on this question.The internationalism to which the labor movement has proudly and historically been committed does not mean siding with one nationalism against another; it means supporting the progressive and emancipatory forces and opposing the reactionary forces within each nation. Support for the BDS movement constitutes a betrayal of internationalism properly understood, for it fails to distinguish progressive and reactionary elements within Israeli and Palestinian societies. It is for this reason that U.S. labor leaders issued a joint statement in July 2007 denouncing calls by British trade unions for “divestment from and boycotts of Israel.” The signers of the statement included the presidents of the AFL-CIO and more than two dozen major unions, including the steelworkers, autoworkers, teamsters, mine workers and garment workers, as well as the heads of the two most important black labor organizations, the A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. A decision by UAW Local 2865 to support or join the BDS movement would be internally divisive and place it in opposition to other unions, undermining the solidarity upon which the labor movement depends and without which it cannot be effective.
Moreover, a union of student-workers has an especially good reason to reject the BDS movement: it threatens the vital professional interest of the union’s own members in academic freedom and open intellectual exchange. We believe that boycotts of academic institutions cannot be meaningfully separated from the individuals whom those institutions employ and whom such boycotts inevitably harm; that a boycott of Israeli academic institutions is therefore more accurately described as a blacklist; and that individual scholars should not be punished on the basis of their nationality, political views, or the policies of their employers or governments. A blacklist of Israeli academic institutions also harms student-workers in the University of California system by restricting their academic freedom to work with scholars from other institutions around the world. Such freedom is necessary for the fulfillment of their professional responsibilities as current and future educators and researchers. It is for these reasons that the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors have consistently opposed academic blacklists.
We commend and share the desire of many UAW Local 2865 members to aid their Palestinian colleagues and oppose Israeli occupation of the West Bank. However, we believe that BDS will have perverse consequences, doing economic harm to Palestinians and isolating and weakening Israeli progressives. Furthermore, contrary to the claims of BDS proponents, it is hardly the only means to support Palestinian colleagues and oppose Israeli military occupation. For example, unions can promote these goals by supporting progressive movements and organizations within Israel such as Peace Now and the New Israel Fund, and by joining Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine (TULIP), an organization of unions in countries around the world which in the spirit of genuine internationalism seeks to promote cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians.
The labor movement is strongest when working people stand together, not when they are divided by nationality, political views, or the policies of their employers or governments. For these reasons, we appeal to our brothers and sisters in UAW Local 2865 and urge them to vote “no” in the membership vote for joining the BDS movement on December 4, 2014.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Hamas brags about Resuming Tunnel Building
Our international aid dollars at work.
Winter is coming, and instead of using international aid money and resources to re-build critical infrastructure in Gaza, Hamas is back to digging terror tunnels. Its been estimated that each tunnel costs between 1-3 million dollars to construct, proving again that the worst enemy of the Palestinian people is the Palestinian leadership
Winter is coming, and instead of using international aid money and resources to re-build critical infrastructure in Gaza, Hamas is back to digging terror tunnels. Its been estimated that each tunnel costs between 1-3 million dollars to construct, proving again that the worst enemy of the Palestinian people is the Palestinian leadership
Friday, November 21, 2014
Support the family of our hero, Zidan Sayif
Zidan Sayif, 27 was the fifth victim of the terror attack on a Jerusalem synagogue. He was the first responder to reach the scene, and was shot twice in the head while attempting to save lives.
At Zidan's funeral Yohanan Danino, the National Police Commissioner Inspector Genera eulogized the Druze officer who “ran into the heart of the murderous inferno, without fear, without concern” and that he “endangered himself for the security of the citizens of Israel....The people of Israel owe Zidan a great debt – a great debt to this man and this great officer - to remember his greatness, his character, his heroism and his courage.”
Now we have a chance to repay that debt. Zidan Sayif leaves behind a wife and a seven month old daughter. Lets make sure his family does not fall through the cracks, and is supported in this difficult time.
One Family Fund, an organization dedicated to helping the victims of terror is collecting donations to be earmarked specifically for Zidan Sayif's family.
Please donate, in thanks and in gratitude not only to the Sayif family, but in honor of all the Druze who stand side by side with us as we defend our beautiful land against those that would destroy it.
At Zidan's funeral Yohanan Danino, the National Police Commissioner Inspector Genera eulogized the Druze officer who “ran into the heart of the murderous inferno, without fear, without concern” and that he “endangered himself for the security of the citizens of Israel....The people of Israel owe Zidan a great debt – a great debt to this man and this great officer - to remember his greatness, his character, his heroism and his courage.”
 |
| Funeral of Druze officer Zidan Sayyif |
Now we have a chance to repay that debt. Zidan Sayif leaves behind a wife and a seven month old daughter. Lets make sure his family does not fall through the cracks, and is supported in this difficult time.
One Family Fund, an organization dedicated to helping the victims of terror is collecting donations to be earmarked specifically for Zidan Sayif's family.
Please donate, in thanks and in gratitude not only to the Sayif family, but in honor of all the Druze who stand side by side with us as we defend our beautiful land against those that would destroy it.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Jewish Voice for Peace. Finding common cause with terrorists
Jewish Voice for Peace again finds common cause with the murderer of Jews
We seek #Justice4Rasmea. #FreeRasmeaNow!
JVP's support of this convicted terrorist went beyond Facebook listings and organizing demonstrations. They also filed an amicus brief with the court, claiming Odeh had an 'exemplary personal history" that precluded her from being a flight risk.
JVP writes:
On Monday, beloved community activist Rasmea Odeh was
placed under arrest and taken to jail, where she will be held until her
sentencing hearing in March. The Rasmea Defense Committee and SJP are
calling on all of us in the movement to be a part of her continued
fight. Rasmea's case demonstrates the horrors of the Israeli Occupation
and the grave injustices of our own system.
Rasmea, accused of "illegal procurement of naturalization," has not been given a fair trial, and now faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and the possibility of deportation. In response, Boston activists will gather Monday evening outside the Federal Building.
Rasmea, accused of "illegal procurement of naturalization," has not been given a fair trial, and now faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and the possibility of deportation. In response, Boston activists will gather Monday evening outside the Federal Building.
We seek #Justice4Rasmea. #FreeRasmeaNow!
The JVP "Background" follows, which predictably, neglects Rasmea's role in the murder of 2 young men. My comments in italics
On Monday November 10th, 67-year-old Chicago-based activist Rasmea Odeh was unjustly found guilty on one count of Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization for allegedly failing to mention a 1969 conviction by the State of Israel, based on a confession obtained through brutal, sustained torture.
On Monday November 10th, 67-year-old Chicago-based activist Rasmea Odeh was unjustly found guilty on one count of Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization for allegedly failing to mention a 1969 conviction by the State of Israel, based on a confession obtained through brutal, sustained torture.
Rasmea Odeh's lies included failing to mention her arrest AND conviction, as well as failure to mention her involvement in the PFLP terror group.
Her conviction occurred in a military court that has a greater than 99% conviction rate for Palestinians.
 |
| Rasmea Odeh lied on her immigration paperwork |
Rasema Odeh’s 1969 confession was made after being held in Israeli custody, for twenty-five days, during which she was tortured and raped.
As many have pointed out, if Rasmea Odeh was willing to kill for her cause, don't you think she'd be willing to lie for her cause?
After Israeli security officials detained her father and threatened to force him to rape Ms. Odeh, she confessed to charges surrounding an unsolved bombing. Ms. Odeh has since spoke openly about her experience, including 1979 testimony before the United Nations in Geneva.
The confession was only part of the evidence against her. There was substantial physical evidence as well.
"Rasmeah Odeh was more involved than I was [in the grocery store
bombing] ... I only got involved during the preparation of explosives.
We wanted to place two bombs to blow up consecutively. I suggested to
have the second bomb go off five or six minutes after the first bomb so
that those who get killed in it would be members of the army and secret
service, but it did not explode. They diffused it 20 seconds before it
exploded."
JVP's support of this convicted terrorist went beyond Facebook listings and organizing demonstrations. They also filed an amicus brief with the court, claiming Odeh had an 'exemplary personal history" that precluded her from being a flight risk.
Exemplary personal history? Rasmea Odeh was complicit in the deaths of 2 young men, and in the attempted bombing of the British consulate in Jerusalem. A search of her home found grenades and explosives.
 |
| Bomb-making supplies were found in Rasmea Odeh's home |
There is nothing that indicates that this vile, evil woman has shown the slightest remorse or regret about her role in these terrorist attacks. By coming to the defense of this unrepentant Jew-killer, JVP has again chosen to stand with those that would destroy our people.
With thanks to the Legal Insurrection Blog, for their superb coverage of the Rasmea Odeh trial
Compare and Contrast.
The Jewish Response to heartbreak and devastation:
Mrs. Bryna Goldberg and family
Mrs. Yaacova Kupensky and family
Mrs. Bashy Twersky and family
The Palestinian Response to heartbreak and devastation:
Soliciting more.
The widows and orphans of the four rabbis who were slain in
the Jerusalem synagogue massacre this week issued a letter calling for national
solidarity and unity:
With broken hearts, drenched in tears shed over the spilt
blood of holy men – the heads of our families.
We call on our brethren wherever they are – let us come
together so that we may merit mercy from Heaven, and let’s accept upon
ourselves to increase love and comradery, between each individual and each
community.
We ask that every person accept upon himself on this Sabbath
Eve (Parshat Toldot, November 20-21, 2014), to set aside the day of Shabbat as
a day of unconditional love, a day during which we will refrain from words of
disagreement and division, from words of gossip and slander.
May this serve to elevate the souls of our husbands and
fathers who were slaughtered while sanctifying God’s name.
God will look down from the heavens, see our suffering, wipe
away our tears and put an end to our tribulations.
May we merit seeing the coming of our Moshiach (Messiah)
speedily in our days. Amen.
Signed with a torn heart,
Mrs. Chaya Levin and familyMrs. Bryna Goldberg and family
Mrs. Yaacova Kupensky and family
Mrs. Bashy Twersky and family
The Palestinian Response to heartbreak and devastation:
Soliciting more.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Block the Boat has morphed into Operation Annoy Zim's Customers
Its not over yet. There is a new onslaught of unbridled self-righteous hypocrisy from Block the boat
Just a quick reminder of just how warped the Block the Boat moral compass is:
Block the boat proudly waved a flag in support of the terror group Hamas at their Oakland protest
Block the Boat held banners that glorified gun violence
Block the Boat promoted endless violence throughout the world.
Block the boat used anti-Semitic images
Having failed to convince the planet that Zim's routine business decision to consolidate its shipping, and use subcontractors for certain ports was the result of their action, this bigoted extremist group has morphed into Operation Annoy Zim's Customers
Psst, Block the Boat: If your original action was as ground-breaking and successful as you claimed, why is this even necessary?
Urging their followers to "strike at every single pillar that allows ZIM to perform business" the companies on the Block the boat Hit list "Zim Customer call in day" include:
ECOMMERCE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ZIM:
INTTRA:
Customer Service: 1 877 225 1703
GTNEXUS:
Corporate Headquarters
1111 Broadway, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone:+1 510 808 2222
Fax:+1 510 808 2220
information@gtnexus.com
These Companies Ship With ZIM:
Federal Cartridge Company:
CEO: Gerald Bersett
900 Ehlen Drive
Anoka, MN 55303-7503
800-831-0850
763-323-2506
Alliant Tech Systems:
Subsidiary of Federal Cartridge
13133 34th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762
(727) 572-1900
GOODS AND PRODUCTS:
Esteson Co.
(800) 682-4705
jim@estia.biz
Good Stuff Distributors,
located in San Francisco, California
2000 McKinnon Ave Bldg 428, Unit 7, San Francisco, CA 94124
(415) 647-6617
Alfa Omega Co.,
which has trading partners in France, Spain and Greece
20 West 22nd Street, Suite 801, New York, NY, 10010 / USA
P: +1-888-902-3511 F: +1-212-255-0795
contact@panjiva.com
Carmichael International Service:
Customers broker and freight forwarder- laminated glass shipments on ZIM
533 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026-5097
(213)353.0800
General Information:
info@carmnet.com
Sales / Marketing:
sales@carmnet.com
Cynara Worldwide Sourcing Inc.,
located in Fresno, California
2904 South Angus Avenue
Fresno, CA 93725
Phone: (559) 439-2365
American Metals and Chemicals,
located in Hollywood, Florida
2700 North 29th Avenue
Hollywood, FL 33020 -
Phone: (954) 926-7470
Its a desperate tactic from a desperate movement, whose extremist agenda was clear from the beginning. Block the Boat and the BDS movement have never been concerned with the "occupation"- they are opposed to Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people within any borders.
Just a quick reminder of just how warped the Block the Boat moral compass is:
Block the boat proudly waved a flag in support of the terror group Hamas at their Oakland protest
 |
| Block the boat protest in Oakland |
Block the Boat held banners that glorified gun violence
 |
| Block the boat protest in Oakland |
 |
| Block the boat protest in Oakland |
 |
| Block the boat protest in Oakland |
Having failed to convince the planet that Zim's routine business decision to consolidate its shipping, and use subcontractors for certain ports was the result of their action, this bigoted extremist group has morphed into Operation Annoy Zim's Customers
Psst, Block the Boat: If your original action was as ground-breaking and successful as you claimed, why is this even necessary?
Urging their followers to "strike at every single pillar that allows ZIM to perform business" the companies on the Block the boat Hit list "Zim Customer call in day" include:
ECOMMERCE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ZIM:
INTTRA:
Customer Service: 1 877 225 1703
GTNEXUS:
Corporate Headquarters
1111 Broadway, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone:+1 510 808 2222
Fax:+1 510 808 2220
information@gtnexus.com
These Companies Ship With ZIM:
Federal Cartridge Company:
CEO: Gerald Bersett
900 Ehlen Drive
Anoka, MN 55303-7503
800-831-0850
763-323-2506
Alliant Tech Systems:
Subsidiary of Federal Cartridge
13133 34th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762
(727) 572-1900
GOODS AND PRODUCTS:
Esteson Co.
(800) 682-4705
jim@estia.biz
Good Stuff Distributors,
located in San Francisco, California
2000 McKinnon Ave Bldg 428, Unit 7, San Francisco, CA 94124
(415) 647-6617
Alfa Omega Co.,
which has trading partners in France, Spain and Greece
20 West 22nd Street, Suite 801, New York, NY, 10010 / USA
P: +1-888-902-3511 F: +1-212-255-0795
contact@panjiva.com
Carmichael International Service:
Customers broker and freight forwarder- laminated glass shipments on ZIM
533 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026-5097
(213)353.0800
General Information:
info@carmnet.com
Sales / Marketing:
sales@carmnet.com
Cynara Worldwide Sourcing Inc.,
located in Fresno, California
2904 South Angus Avenue
Fresno, CA 93725
Phone: (559) 439-2365
American Metals and Chemicals,
located in Hollywood, Florida
2700 North 29th Avenue
Hollywood, FL 33020 -
Phone: (954) 926-7470
Its a desperate tactic from a desperate movement, whose extremist agenda was clear from the beginning. Block the Boat and the BDS movement have never been concerned with the "occupation"- they are opposed to Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people within any borders.
U.C. Berkeley Students react to ISIS flag
Welcome to UC Berkeley.
A man waving an ISIS flag is ignored, but faces harassment when he waves an Israeli flag.
Its no worse than the usual quality of discourse we've seen on campus
A man waving an ISIS flag is ignored, but faces harassment when he waves an Israeli flag.
Its no worse than the usual quality of discourse we've seen on campus
Hillel Neuer from UN Watch at U.C.Berkeley
Tuesday evening Nov 25 at 7 PM at UC Berkeley, Wheeler Hall 110: Hillel Neuer of UN Watch will be speaking.
Tikvah (UC Berkeley's pro-Israel student group) will be hosting Hillel Neuer, the executive director of UN Watch, to speak about the United Nations, human rights and Israel. He will address the controversial Schabas Commission on the Israel-Gaza conflict this summer.
He will also survey the overall history and current practices of the UN Human Rights Council.
Tikvah (UC Berkeley's pro-Israel student group) will be hosting Hillel Neuer, the executive director of UN Watch, to speak about the United Nations, human rights and Israel. He will address the controversial Schabas Commission on the Israel-Gaza conflict this summer.
He will also survey the overall history and current practices of the UN Human Rights Council.
Hillel C. Neuer is the executive director of UN Watch, a human rights
NGO in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Neuer appears regularly before the
United Nations Human Rights Council, intervening for the victims of
Darfur, the rights of women, political prisoners in China, Russia and
Zimbabwe and the cause of Middle East peace.
Hillel Neuer's banned U.N. speech has became the most viewed and written-about NGO speech in the history of the United Nations.
Hillel Neuer's banned U.N. speech has became the most viewed and written-about NGO speech in the history of the United Nations.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Massacre in Jerusalem
Two Palestinians
armed with a meat cleaver, axe and a gun stormed a synagogue in the Orthodox neighborhood of Har Nof and attacked
worshipers during morning prayers. Of the four killed, three were Americans and one was a British national. 8
others were wounded, including police officers
Rabbi Kalman ( Cary) Levine, Rabbi Avraham Goldberg, Rabbi Aryeh Kopinsky and Rabbi Moshe Twersky were killed, according to an announcement made by the synagogue.
The attackers, Palestinian cousins Odai Abed Abu Jamal, 22, and Ghassan Muhammad Abu Jamal, 32. were killed in a shoot-out with the police. The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility for the attack. Palestinians celebrated the bloodshed throughout the West Bank and Gaza, dancing in the streets and passing out candy.
In a Facebook post, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman called for more attacks against Israelis. Another Hamas spokesman, Mushir al-Masri, called this an “heroic action.” Husam Badran, Hamas’s foreign relation spokesperson, described the attack as a “quality action.”
UPDATE:
Zidan Saif, a Druze policeman has become the fifth victim of the terror attack, succumbing to a head wound he received in today's gunbattle with the Palestinian terrorists
Rabbi Kalman ( Cary) Levine, Rabbi Avraham Goldberg, Rabbi Aryeh Kopinsky and Rabbi Moshe Twersky were killed, according to an announcement made by the synagogue.
The attackers, Palestinian cousins Odai Abed Abu Jamal, 22, and Ghassan Muhammad Abu Jamal, 32. were killed in a shoot-out with the police. The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, claimed responsibility for the attack. Palestinians celebrated the bloodshed throughout the West Bank and Gaza, dancing in the streets and passing out candy.
In a Facebook post, Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman called for more attacks against Israelis. Another Hamas spokesman, Mushir al-Masri, called this an “heroic action.” Husam Badran, Hamas’s foreign relation spokesperson, described the attack as a “quality action.”
UPDATE:
Zidan Saif, a Druze policeman has become the fifth victim of the terror attack, succumbing to a head wound he received in today's gunbattle with the Palestinian terrorists
In solidarity with our people. Tonight in Berkeley
Our hearts are heavy with sorrow learning of the massacre of our friends and family in Israel. The community will gather in solidarity and prayer, at Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley.
If you know of other events, we'd be happy to publicize them as well.
Via Rabbi Yonatan Cohen and Maharat Victoria Sutton:
The news from Jerusalem this morning breaks our hearts. The lives of four Jews were shattered in the midst of their prayers - violently taken away from this world as they were reciting the Amidah.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Rabbis Moshe Twersky, Arye Kupinsky and Kalmen Levin, all U.S. citizens, and R. Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, who was English born. All four men bound their fate to the land of Israel, joining Avraham Avinu's ancient journey to the promised land.
R. Moshe Twersky, the grandson of Rav Soloveitchik zt"l and the son of R. Isadore Twersky zt"l, represents generations of Torah scholars and community leaders who devoted their lives to our people - a devotion that is now sealed with blood.
This morning we must also pause to pray for the victims who are in critical condition:
חיים יחיאל בן מלכה
איתן בן שרה
שמואל ירוחם בן ביילה
אברהם שמואל בן שיינה
אריה בן ברכה
Chaim Yicheil ben Malka
Eitan ben Sarah
Shmuel Yeruchum be Beila
Avraham Shmuel be Sheina
Aryeh ben Bracha
This evening, at 7 p.m., our CBI Family will gather to recite Tehilim (Psalms) and learn Mishnah as an expression of our profound sense of grief. Our learning of Mishnah will focus on teachings related to the Amidah service. Maharat Victoria Sutton's weekly class will be held right after at 8:00 pm and will also be dedicated to the memory of the victim of this vicious attack.
May Hashem bring comfort to the families of those who have been murdered and a Refuah Shleimah to those who have been injured. As with the conclusion of the Amidah, we continue to pray for God's blessing of peace.
If you know of other events, we'd be happy to publicize them as well.
Via Rabbi Yonatan Cohen and Maharat Victoria Sutton:
The news from Jerusalem this morning breaks our hearts. The lives of four Jews were shattered in the midst of their prayers - violently taken away from this world as they were reciting the Amidah.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Rabbis Moshe Twersky, Arye Kupinsky and Kalmen Levin, all U.S. citizens, and R. Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, who was English born. All four men bound their fate to the land of Israel, joining Avraham Avinu's ancient journey to the promised land.
R. Moshe Twersky, the grandson of Rav Soloveitchik zt"l and the son of R. Isadore Twersky zt"l, represents generations of Torah scholars and community leaders who devoted their lives to our people - a devotion that is now sealed with blood.
This morning we must also pause to pray for the victims who are in critical condition:
חיים יחיאל בן מלכה
איתן בן שרה
שמואל ירוחם בן ביילה
אברהם שמואל בן שיינה
אריה בן ברכה
Chaim Yicheil ben Malka
Eitan ben Sarah
Shmuel Yeruchum be Beila
Avraham Shmuel be Sheina
Aryeh ben Bracha
This evening, at 7 p.m., our CBI Family will gather to recite Tehilim (Psalms) and learn Mishnah as an expression of our profound sense of grief. Our learning of Mishnah will focus on teachings related to the Amidah service. Maharat Victoria Sutton's weekly class will be held right after at 8:00 pm and will also be dedicated to the memory of the victim of this vicious attack.
May Hashem bring comfort to the families of those who have been murdered and a Refuah Shleimah to those who have been injured. As with the conclusion of the Amidah, we continue to pray for God's blessing of peace.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Flag of Palestine
A fascinating bit of trivia is going viral across the Internet.
A blogger, looking in an old French dictionary had their eyes drawn to the flag of Palestine.
The dictionary was from 1939- you can note the German flag on the upper left hand page.
The flag of Palestine is on the right side of the page. Even in 1939, Palestine was to be the nation State of the Jewish people.
Read it all here
A blogger, looking in an old French dictionary had their eyes drawn to the flag of Palestine.
 |
| Early Palestinian Flag |
The flag of Palestine is on the right side of the page. Even in 1939, Palestine was to be the nation State of the Jewish people.
 |
| Palestine flag |
Saturday, November 15, 2014
CAIR makes UAE list of terror organizations
The United Arab Emirates have produced a list of who they consider designated terrorist
organizations.
The full list is available here
There are no surprises for many of the groups listed here:Al-Qaeda, Dae'sh (ISIL), Boko Haraa, The Muslim Brotherhood.
The existence of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations was interesting, however. CAIR, listed as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land trials often works hand in hand with Jewish Voice for Peace.
Oh, JVP. You are known by the company you keep.
The full list is available here
There are no surprises for many of the groups listed here:Al-Qaeda, Dae'sh (ISIL), Boko Haraa, The Muslim Brotherhood.
The existence of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations was interesting, however. CAIR, listed as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land trials often works hand in hand with Jewish Voice for Peace.
Oh, JVP. You are known by the company you keep.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
More scenes from Concentration camp Gaza
Today is day one of ExpoTech Gaza 2014
Among the invited are
All photos are from the Facebook Page of Palestine's Technology Week [Expotech]
Truly a humanitarian crisis of massive proportion exists in Gaza
Among the invited are
- More than 200 Palestinian ICT companies.
- Palestinian Academics, opinion leaders and other role models from Palestine and abroad.
- Key governmental bodies and other Palestinian partners from the public sector.
- Non-profit developmental organizations and think-tanks in Palestine.
- Palestinian and International media.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Anti-Israel activists barricade the Oakland Federal Building (Sorta)
Breaking news from our friend Emunah,
As of 8am:
Anti-Israel activists (well, two of them anyway) Noura Khouri and Henry Noor are sitting symbolically in front of a doorway at the Oakland federal building to express their uncontrollable rage over convicted murderer Rasmea Odeh's pending imprisonment. Two of their comrades have used U locks to fasten their necks to the building. They seem vaguely aware of just how ridiculous it look, and they avert their gaze from mine. A handful of other anti-Israel activists are also milling around aimlessly, waving banners and chanting slogans.
A handful of Homeland security officers are surveying the scene, looking bored.
Two bomb sniffing beagles are walking the perimeter of the complex, happy to get out in the autumn air.
Also sighted (don't these people have jobs?) Kate Raphael, Dick Becker, Ramsey El Qare, Sara Kershnar, tree-sitter Ayre and several dozen angry Arabs, JVPers and other familiar faces.
The activists distribute a flyer glorifying Rasmea Odeh, a member of the PFLP terror group who was responsible for the death of two young men, Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner.
The flyer, predictably, is short on facts.
Rasmea Odeh was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a Marxist-Leninist group and a designated foreign terrorist organization.
She lied about this on her citizenship application.
Ayesha Oudeh, Rasmieh Yousef Odeh's co-conspirator has spoken about their involvement in the bombing that killed Leon and Edward in the documentary, Women in Struggle.
Ayesha Oudeh stated on camera, "Rasmea Odeh was more involved than I was [in the grocery store bombing] ... I only got involved during the preparation of explosives. We wanted to place two bombs to blow up consecutively. I suggested to have the second bomb go off five or six minutes after the first bomb so that those who get killed in it would be members of the army and secret service, but it did not explode. They diffused it 20 seconds before it exploded."
In 1995, Rasmea Odeh immigrated to the United States. She concealed her role in this terror attack on her application for U.S. citizenship and lied about her arrest.
On Friday at 7 pm, a fundraiser for Rasmea Odeh, a terrorist and convicted murderer, will be held in Oakland at the Oakstop on Broadway.
The moral arc of the universe appears to be sinking fast.
As of 8am:
Anti-Israel activists (well, two of them anyway) Noura Khouri and Henry Noor are sitting symbolically in front of a doorway at the Oakland federal building to express their uncontrollable rage over convicted murderer Rasmea Odeh's pending imprisonment. Two of their comrades have used U locks to fasten their necks to the building. They seem vaguely aware of just how ridiculous it look, and they avert their gaze from mine. A handful of other anti-Israel activists are also milling around aimlessly, waving banners and chanting slogans.
A handful of Homeland security officers are surveying the scene, looking bored.
Two bomb sniffing beagles are walking the perimeter of the complex, happy to get out in the autumn air.
Also sighted (don't these people have jobs?) Kate Raphael, Dick Becker, Ramsey El Qare, Sara Kershnar, tree-sitter Ayre and several dozen angry Arabs, JVPers and other familiar faces.
The activists distribute a flyer glorifying Rasmea Odeh, a member of the PFLP terror group who was responsible for the death of two young men, Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner.
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| Victims of Rasmea Odeh |
Rasmea Odeh was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a Marxist-Leninist group and a designated foreign terrorist organization.
She lied about this on her citizenship application.
Ayesha Oudeh, Rasmieh Yousef Odeh's co-conspirator has spoken about their involvement in the bombing that killed Leon and Edward in the documentary, Women in Struggle.
Ayesha Oudeh stated on camera, "Rasmea Odeh was more involved than I was [in the grocery store bombing] ... I only got involved during the preparation of explosives. We wanted to place two bombs to blow up consecutively. I suggested to have the second bomb go off five or six minutes after the first bomb so that those who get killed in it would be members of the army and secret service, but it did not explode. They diffused it 20 seconds before it exploded."
In 1995, Rasmea Odeh immigrated to the United States. She concealed her role in this terror attack on her application for U.S. citizenship and lied about her arrest.
The moral arc of the universe appears to be sinking fast.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Rasmea Odeh convicted of Immigration Fraud
Rasmea Odeh, a member of the PLFP terror group was found guilty today of immigration fraud for failing to reveal her criminal background when applying for citizenship. She had neglected to disclose her conviction in an Israeli grocery store bombing that killed two young university students when she first immigrated from Jordan in 1995 and again when she became a U.S. citizen in 2004.
According to Ron Hansen, a spokesman for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, the 67 year old activist was convicted of unlawful procurement of naturalization. She faces up to 10 years in prison and will lose her U.S. citizenship.
Judge Gershwin Drain declared her a flight risk, and Odeh was removed from the courtroom in handcuffs.
From the FBI:
"...Odeh omitted her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment overseas, which were material facts for the United States government in determining whether to grant her citizenship.
“The United States will never be a safe haven for individuals seeking to distance themselves from their pasts,” said William Hayes, acting special agent in charge for HSI Detroit. “When individuals lie on immigration documents, the system is severely undermined and the security of our nation is put at risk.”
"An individual convicted of a terrorist bombing would not be admitted to the United States if that information was known at the time of arrival," McQuade said. "Upon discovery that someone convicted of a terrorist attack is in the United States illegally, we will seek to use our criminal justice system to remove that individual."
William A. Jacobson of the Blog Legal Insurrection has covered this trial extensively. See:
· Rasmieh Odeh Defies Judge’s Order, Claims Torture to Jury
· Jury nullification is defense strategy in Rasmieh Odeh trial
· Will Pro-Palestinian activists clash with Judge at Rasmieh Odeh trial?
· Court rejects Rasmieh Odeh motion to postpone trial
· Devastating pre-trial rulings against Rasmieh Odeh in naturalization prosecution
· Judge orders jurors protected from pro-Palestinian activists
· Palestinian activist groups accused of attempting to influence jury
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