All Activists Agree: Jibril Rajoub must go.

These are days of miracles and wonder.  Israel advocacy group StandWithUs has a petition online at change.org, Petitioning Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)  to "Kick Extremism Out of Football: Show Jibril Rajoub the Red Card".

Be sure to sign it at Change.org.


Sports are a unique way to bring diverse peoples together through shared passion. International sporting events like the World Cup are wonderful examples of this. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority has used sports to indoctrinate children with hatred for the state of Israel, instead of allowing football, and other sports, to peacefully bring together Israelis and Palestinians of all ages. Some examples are:

- The Hilal Al-Quds club held a tournament for 12-year-olds named after Dalal Mugrahbi, the leader of a terror. The “Dalal Mugrahbi Championship."

- The Al-Amari youth center announced a soccer tournament named the “Martyr of Honor Wafa Idris Tournament.” Idris was the first Palestinian female suicide bomber.

- Eighteen teams from the Tulkarm District took part in a “Martyrs and Prisoners Soccer Tournament” at the Irtah High School. “All of the teams were named after Martyrs [terrorists],” the PA official newspaper, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, reported proudly. The top prize was the “Martyr Abu Jihad Trophy.”

- In the town of Fara’a, there is a soccer field named after Salah Khalaf, aka Abu Iyad, leader of the “Black September” gang that kidnapped and murdered 11 Israeli Olympic team members, including an American-born weightlifter, at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

One of the most egregious examples of this disturbing trend is the head of the Palestinian Football Association, head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, and former convicted terrorist Jibril Rajoub, who has been on a personal mission to suspend Israel from FIFA.

Rajoub was convicted of terrorist activities against Israeli in 1970, was released in a prisoner exchange, and rearrested for continued terrorist activity in 1985. He spent two years in prison. Following his release, he continued his path of terrorism and was deported for his activities. After the Oslo Accords, he was appointed to a position of leadership by Yasser Arafat and has "served" in the Palestinian Leadership ever since.

Rajoub has repeatedly condoned acts of terrorism and encouraged violence against Israelis. He has overseen children's football matches in the Palestinian communities that were named after murderers of Israeli civilians, he has been an outspoken advocate against any normalization or coexistence with Israelis and his statements are a direct violation of everything that both FIFA and the Olympic Games stand for. In response to a friendly match between Israeli and Palestinian children, Rajoub stated, "Any activity of normalization in sports with the Zionist enemy is a crime against humanity."

Rajoub stated about the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that “[I]f we had nuclear weapons, we’d be using them." In summer 2014, while he was serving as the head of the Palestinian Football Association, Rajoub stated, “Fatah has decided that our relations with the Israelis are relations between enemies...am I stopping you from slaughtering a settlement? No one is stopping anyone."

Rajoub is a member of the Palestinian organization Fatah who is the parent organization of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade - the terrorist organization responsible for the horrific 1972 murder of the Israeli Olympic team at the Munich games. In 2012, he opposed holding a minute of silence at the London Olympic Games for the 1972 slain Israeli Olympic team stating to remember them would be "racist."

It is appalling that such an individual is a part of anything related to FIFA or the Olympic Games.

We call for Jibril Rajoub's immediate suspension from FIFA and all activities related to the International Olympic Committee immediately.

Sports should bring people together, not encourage racism, bigotry, and violence. Kick extremism out of football: show Jibril Rajoub the red card!

 Sources: 

http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=12585

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/terrorist-chief-of-palestinian-olympics-committee-calls-minute-of-silence-requests-racism/2012/07/26/

http://news.yahoo.com/moderate-palestinian-leader-swears-had-nuke-d-used-120410701.html

http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=91&doc_id=14441

Meanwhile, at Avaaz.org, there's a petition, in Arabic,  requesting the same thing, but for very different reasons.   Palestinians are furious that Jibril Rajoub withdrew the proposal for the expulsion of Israel from FIFA, and are demanding his removal as head of the Palestinian Football Association.

How often do Palestinians activists agree with StandWithUs?  Whatever your motivation, the answer is clear. Jibril Rajoub must go.

Palestinians are furious with Jibril Rajoub

Palestinians resort to snake warfare

The Palestinians are going low tech in their war against the Jews. 

Israeli soldiers found a snake tied by its tail at the top of a barrier when they tried to seek shelter from rioting Palestinians

Photo via Ma'an

From the Times of Israel:

Palestinian rioters from a village near Ramallah may have tried to use a new weapon against Israeli security personnel on Friday: serpents.

Rioters threw stones and bottles at Israeli forces before the soldiers advanced toward the concrete cover, encountering the snake.

The soldiers suspected that the snake, which they initially believed to be a venomous viper, was tied to the block by rioters with the aim of startling, or even injuring, an Israeli.

Closer examination found that it was an Asian Racer, a non-venomous serpent with similar colorings to the deadly Palestine Viper.

“We’re witness to different and varied attempts to harm soldiers, and in this case as well awareness prevented it,” border police officer Aharon Moyal, who commanded the force, told Ynet.

Olympia Food Co-op BDS suffers major setback.

In a ruling called  “a major setback to the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) campaign.” by advocacy group StandWithUs,  the Washington State Supreme Court has held that a lawsuit can proceed against Olympia Food Co-op board members.

When BDS resolutions pass, it is very often because they have been introduced via the back door, without a chance for opposing voices to be heard.  At the Olympia Food Co-op, a 2011 divestment resolution was introduced and voted on,  in violation of its own bylaws.

Five co-op members sued.  Olympic Co-op board members moved to dismiss the case and prevailed, arguing that it was a “SLAPP” lawsuit - strategic litigation against public policy.  Under Washington State's anti-SLAPP statute, the court awarded the defendants attorneys fees and fined the pro-Israel plaintiffs penalties, leaving the plaintiffs facing nearly $232,000 in fees and penalties.

The new ruling held that the decision cut off the groups “constitutional rights of petition and jury trial”, and reversed the lower court,  writing

This case requires us to decide the constitutionality of the Washington Act Limiting Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (anti-SLAPP statute).

“The legislature may enact anti-SLAPP laws to prevent vexatious litigants from abusing the judicial process by filing frivolous lawsuits for improper purposes. But the constitutional conundrum that RCW 4.24.525 creates is that it seeks to protect one group of citizen's constitutional rights of expression and petition—by cutting off another group's constitutional rights of petition and jury trial. This the legislature cannot do. See Opinion of the Justices, 134 N.H. 445, 641 A.2d 1012, 1015 (invalidating an anti-SLAPP bill because the law “cannot strengthen the constitutional rights of one group of citizens by infringing upon the rights of another group”). We hold RCW 4.24.525(4)(b) violates the right of trial by jury under article I, section 21 of the Washington Constitution because it requires a trial judge to invade the jury's province of resolving disputed facts and dismiss—and punish—non frivolous claims without a trial. We reverse the Court of Appeals and remand the case to the superior court for further proceedings.”

Thanks to the Seattle law firm of McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren, for their help in ensuring this important victory.

For more information on the Olympia Food Co-op BDS case, see:

Justice prevails in Olympia

Big Win for Washington anti-BDS Activists

Washington Supreme Court Paves Way to Reopen Olympia Co-op BDS Case

US court ruling opens door to lawsuit against BDS

Breaking News!! BDS Defeat at Washington Supreme Court, May 28, 2015

Pass the Popcorn. Jewish Voice for Peace: Simply Hypocrisy

Its almost comical.

Jewish Voice for Peace has routinely stood shoulder to shoulder with the worse anti-Semites and conspiracy theorists out there, silent to the Jew-hate  that surrounded them. They've routinely marched along with groups  supporting terror. They've protested Jewish cultural events. They interrupted a commemoration on the liberation of Auschwitz.  They've sponsored and promoted anti-Semitic speakers.   They have lobbied against resolutions that would protect Jewish students on campus. 

And if we are to believe Gilad Atzmon, they coached a repulsive anti-Semite on how to be more politically correct and socially acceptable.

Gilad Atzmon refused and now finds himself in their cross-hairs – particularly ironic since they recently promoted his Los Angeles appearance.

Is JVP anti-Semitic? 

Its hard to know, but they have certainly aided and abetted anti-Semites, and offered them cover.  

What do we do when haters fight? I see no alternative than to sit back  and watch from a distance.

Gilad Atzmon has published a letter  that he claims is from  Rebecca Vilkomerson, JVP's Executive Director, disavowing itself from Alison Weir. He calls it  "The Protocols Of The Elders of ‘Anti' Zion".

It’s a classic pot calling the kettle black moment.

Pass the popcorn.

May 5, 2015

Dear Ms. Weir,

Jewish Voice for Peace has chosen not to work with you because our central tenet is opposition to racism in all its forms, and you have chosen repeatedly to associate yourself with people who advocate for racism.

You have been a repeat guest of white supremacist Clay Douglas on his hate radio show, the Free American. Clay Douglas is concerned primarily with the survival of the White race and sees malign Jewish influence everywhere. His racist, anti-Jewish, and anti-gay rhetoric can be found across the front pages of his multiple websites.

In the course of your appearance with Clay Douglas on August 25, 2010, for example, you were silent when Douglas invoked the Protocols of the Elders of Zion and engaged in a racist diatribe against Jews. Your repeated appearance on this show (April 23 and August 25, 2010; February 9 and May 18, 2011) show that you knew his extremist views and chose to continue the association.

Your troubling associations and choices further include giving interviews to a range of far-right outlets including The American Free Press, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has identified as a hate group, and the anti-gay, anti-Jewish pastor Mark Dankof. One of your articles appeared in an anthology that was promoted by the infamous Holocaust-denial organization, the Institute for Historical Review. We see no evidence that you have disavowed any of these outlets or institutions. Our movement must be built on a foundation of love, justice and equality for all people. It should not and cannot win by fueling or endorsing any form of hate, whether against People of Color, gays, Jews, Muslims or anyone else.

At Jewish Voice for Peace, we are particularly sensitive to the long history of anti-Jewish oppression as well as the ways that Palestinian liberation work is frequently tarred with false charges of anti-Semitism. Just as we call out the hateful associations of those who seek to perpetuate injustice against Palestinians, as a movement we must also hold the line against those who promote the false notion that Palestinian liberation can be won at the expense of others.

The alleged letter drips with unctuous self righteousness and irony.  JVP’s long history of questionable partnerships and regular protests of Jewish community events have shown  how particularly insensitive and willingly blind the group has been to the long history of anti-Jewish oppression.

It was just this March, when they collaborated with Alison Weir on an anti-AIPAC campaign.

To disavow Alison Weir, but to continue an association with Code Pink, who have happily vacationed with the mullahs of Iran (who have denied one Holocaust while planning another) is simply hypocrisy

To disavow Alison Weir, but to continue an association with American Muslims for Palestine, Sabeel and CAIR is simply hypocrisy.

To disavow Alison Weir but to continue an association with any group that deny the Jewish people the right to self determination is simply hypocrisy.

To disavow Alison Weir but to continue an association with  any group that seeks to restrict the rights of the Jewish people is simply hypocrisy.

This letter does not represent a policy shift for Jewish Voice for Peace. Its posturing- a desperate grasp at adding a veneer of respectability to an organization that's repeatedly been exposed for its intolerance and bigotry.

To learn more about Jewish Voice for Peace
Driving a wedge: JVP’s strategy to weaken U.S. Support for Israel by Dividing the Jewish Community

Jews Helping Hamas Are No Voice for Peace

Jewish Voice for Peace whitewashes anti-Semitism in the anti-Israel movement

For more information on the family feud:

When Israel-haters attack - each other

When Rogues Fall Out: Weir's warfare with Jewish Voice for Peace

Rock on! More BDS fails from Israel

One Republic, the Colorado pop rock band is now touring Israel, and its enough to make the BDS holes gnash their teeth in despair.

Its not just a hit and run concert. They are taking time to tour the Holy land,  and if their comments on social media are any indication, they are impressed.

Today One Republic visited an Iron Dome missile defense system base in Ashkelon, and took time to pose with the soldiers.

From YNET

The visit to the Iron Dome soldiers' base was part of the band's Israel tour, in which they visited Tiberias and Kibbutz Ginosar, Caesarea, and an IDF base on the Golan Heights

Sources close to the band members said they were impressed with the religious sites and claimed there was a significant gap between how Israel was presented in the news abroad and their personal impression of the Jewish state.

via Twitter

Expected in Israel, later this summer:

• Singer songwriter Suzanne Vega will give two concerts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv on June 9 and 10, 2015. Tickets are on sale via Eventim.

• Art Garfunkel from the legendary duo Simon and Garfunkel, has announced a performance date in Israel at the Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv - June 10, 2015. Tickets range from NIS 299 to NIS 1,000 and are on sale through www.leaan.co.il.

• Reggae star Damian Marley will also perform in Rishon leZion - on June 24, 2015. Tickets are on sale at Eventim.

• Dire Straits band leader Mark Knopfler will perform alongside Chris White and other international musicians on June 27, 2015 at the Tel Aviv Fairgrounds Hall 2. Tickets are on sale via Eventim.

Amnesty International says Hamas abducted, tortured and killed Palestinians in 2014

Amnesty International has documented egregious human rights abuses committed by the terror group Hamas against its own citizens. The report, Strangling Necks’: Abduction, Torture and Summary Killings of Palestinians by Hamas Forces During the 2014 Gaza/Israel Conflict documents incidences of  Hamas's torture and murder of Palestinians during last summers' conflict

Those targeted by Hamas included members of the Fatah party and people accused of "collaborating" with Israel.  23 Palestinians were shot and killed by Hamas. 6 of them were publicly executed. 3 others died in custody shortly after their arrest. Dozens more were arrested and tortured.

According to Amnesty International:

Many of the arrests looked more like abductions – with armed men in civilian clothes,
sometimes masked, who did not present identification or a legal basis for arrest, forcing the
suspects into a car and taking them to locations unknown to their families. The suspects
would often be beaten in the car and the beatings would continue at the place of detention
and during the interrogation.

Testimonies gathered by Amnesty  indicate that victims of torture were beaten with truncheons, gun butts, hoses, wire, and fists. Others were also burnt with fire, hot metal or acid.

Read the full report here.

Hamas imposed a new tax on Gaza

With its tunnel economy floundering, Hamas leaders are looking to new sources of income to maintain the lifestyles to which they have become accustomed. To that end, a new tax on "non-essentials" will be imposed on the people of Gaza. Over 400 items will be affected, including meat, fruits, vegetables and clothing. It rather begs the question of just what is considered "non-essential" in Gaza?

From YNET:

“The purpose of the law is to ease the suffering of the poor in the Gaza Strip,” said Ahmad Abu Halbiya, a member of Hamas’s parliamentary block who passed the new tax. “We’ll collapse as a society in Gaza if we do not impose these taxes. It’s not much but it will benefit the citizens of Gaza - especially the security police who need money for cars.” Abu Halbiya said that flour and medicines, as essential goods, would be exempt from the tax.

Abu Halbiya acknowledged that Hamas’s 40,000 employees will be the main recipients of the new tax revenue.

Read it all here

Sderot - Bomb Shelter Capital of the World

Over 14,000 rockets and mortars have been launched at Southern Israel from Gaza. Each of those rockets constitutes a war crime and was meant to murder, to maim, and to terrorize the civilian population of Israel.

In spite of the bombardment of rockets from Gaza, the Israeli casualty rate has been, up to now, fairly low.
Israel has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure to keep its people safe. An early warning system gives residents of Southern Israel a 15 second alert when a rocket has been fired- that can mean the difference between life and death for many. It is also available as a smart phone app. Iron Dome, a mobile missile defense system can shot rockets down before they have a chance to cause mass casualties. And in areas under threat,  Israel has built a comprehensive system of bomb shelters-  at bus stops, in playgrounds, and every where that people gather.

Via Huff Post Sderot - Bomb Shelter Capital of the World

A photo essay of the bomb shelters of Sderot.

Israel invests money in infrastructure to keep its civilian population safe.

Hamas? They have very different priorities.

 

Jewish Voice for Peace protests a Jewish Heritage Festival.

Via Emunah:

After interrupting a Holocaust commemoration in New York City, nothing Jewish Voice for Peace does should surprise us.   Jewish Voice for Peace  recently had the audacity to lobby against a California Senate resolution condemning antisemitism. T-shirts shirts glorifying Rasmea Odeh, the unrepentant murder of 2 young Jews were available for purchase at the most recent JVP conference.

Those "Jewish values" they claim guides them are nowhere to be seen.

Last weekend, JVP sank even further into the abyss,  promoting a protest of a local Jewish Heritage Festival

David L. Mandel, a Sacramento attorney and anti-Israel activist with Jewish Voice for Peace  promoted a protest of the annual  Jewish Heritage Festival protest, with an email demonizing the local  Jewish Federation, sponsor of the event as the "Israel lobby".

While thousands attended the festivities at Raley field in Sacramento, a handful of extremists gathered in protest, shouting bitterly to no one in particular

They were singularly ignored by the beautiful multi-generational throngs that packed Raley field to celebrate their heritage.

Jewish Voice for Peace has (again) chosen to stand with the anti-Semites who deny our relationship with our land , deny our history and deny our peoplehood. Perpetuating anti-Semitic rhetoric will never be the path to peace. These are not and never will be Jewish values.

Like it or not, JVP, Israel, home to 40% of the world's Jewish population, is a vital part of our cultural and religious heritage as a people.

This week, Jewish people across the world celebrate  Shavuot,  a 3500 year old link between the Land of Israel(Abraham), the Torah of Israel (Moses) and the people of Israel (united by King David).

I can only imagine what JVP will be doing instead.

Hatem Bazian's Islamophobia Conference Sparsely attended.

Hot off his  Censoring Palestine event at UC Berkeley, which reportedly attracted any where from 8 to 25 participants, 

Poorly attended Censoring Palestine conference at Boalt hall, UC Berkeley

Hatem Bazian is at it again.

According to Cinnamon Stillwell and Rima Greene, reporting in CampusWatch , The University of California, Berkeley's recent Sixth Annual International Islamophobia Conference—organized by the Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project was also sparsely attended,  drawing anywhere from 20 -50 participants.

From the article in Campus Watch h/t Gary

"Islamophobia studies" is the latest addition to the academic pantheon of politicized, esoteric, and divisive "studies" whose purpose is to censor criticism of differing views by stigmatizing critics as racist or clinically insane. The University of California, Berkeley's recent Sixth Annual International Islamophobia Conference—organized by the Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project (IRDP)—was titled, "The State of the Islamophobia Studies Field." The fact that this "field" doesn't yet formally exist in the U.S. may explain why speakers the first day of the conference barely mentioned it. As in years past, the conference featured victimology, academic jargon, and anti-Western rhetoric....

While this year's conference may have failed to usher in the dawn of an officially recognized "Islamophobia studies," it wasn't for lack of effort. Soon after, IRDP announced the latest edition of its politicized bi-annual publication, the Islamophobia Studies Journal. Perhaps following UC Berkeley's lead, Georgetown University recently launched the Bridges Initiative, a project of the Saudi-funded Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding devoted to "protecting pluralism – ending Islamophobia."

The subject is all the rage in the field of Middle East studies and throughout academe, which is doing its utmost to silence critics of the Islamic supremacism, systemic social problems, and total chaos plaguing the region. If and when "Islamophobia studies" becomes a reality, we can't claim we didn't see it coming.

Read it all here

Methodist boycott of the Holocaust Museum?

Janet Lahr Lewis’ angry, uninformed and insensitive screed on the Palestinian “nakba” is attracting the wrong sort of attention, apparently, and has been removed from the online weekly newsletter of the Methodist’s  General Board of Church and Society.

Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C. and author of Methodism and Politics in the Twentieth Century writes in the American Spectator:

Maybe the Methodist “missionary” and “peace with justice” advocate will explain what she means by “ongoing Palestinian Holocaust” in her next column. Except the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society has evidently deleted her last “holocaust” column, whether from shame or prudence. This Capitol Hill agency routinely demonizes Israel and for years has been trying to persuade its denomination to divest from Israel. But apparently it’s not ready to embrace openly a call to boycott the Holocaust Museum

Removing an absurd and disgusting column without public comment is not sufficient. This agency that represents United Methodism’s political witness to Congress should apologize. Its staff and board members should conduct a group visit to the nearby Holocaust Museum to be reminded why the Nazi murders of the Jews has special ranking in human depravity.

Janet Lahr Lewis's essay had  urged a boycott of Holocaust museums, in light of the "ongoing Palestinian holocaust", writing:

Don’t participate in Holocaust Remembrance Day without participating in Al Nakba Remembrance Day. Don’t visit a Holocaust museum until there is one built to remember the other holocausts in the world: the on-going Palestinian holocaust, the Rwandan, the Native American, the Cambodian, the Armenian… You could be waiting a long time!

With this comment.  "peace activist" Janet Lahr Lewis has placed herself squarely in the company of anti-Semites, Holocaust minimizers and deniers.

Holocaust denial and Holocaust minimization  is Antisemitism

Read Mark Tooley's full article here

UPDATE:

Media Watchdog CAMERA writes about it here, in a post by Dexter van Zile:
Methodist Staffer Demonizes Israel, Reveals Ignorance

UC President Janet Napolitano supports adopting state department definition of antisemitism

In an interview on Boston Public Radio, University of California President Janet Napolitano said she supported adopting the state Department definition of antisemitism,

In July. the Board of Regents will vote on whether the University of California should adopt the State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism.

Tammi Rossman Benjamin of the AMCHA initiative quickly responded

“We strongly commend Janet Napolitano for joining three UC student governments and the California Senate in understanding that we must implement our government’s definition of antisemitism on campus to identify and address antisemitic behavior with the same vigor as all other forms of bigotry"

This discussion takes place in the wake of many antisemitic incidents and after months of escalating tensions on California campuses.

Cindy Shamban, of Jewish Voice for Peace spoke against adopting the definition,  claiming it would “silence legitimate criticisms of Israel”

 Even with JVP’s warped sensibilities,  how could they possibly consider any of this “legitimate criticism” of Israel?

•UC Berkeley: Graffiti  “Zionists should be sent to the gas chamber” was found on a bathroom wall March 2 after an anti-Israel protest.

•UCLA: Four student senators who sponsored a successful divestment resolution argued in February that a candidate for a student board was ineligible because she was Jewish. She was rejected in one vote and accepted in a second after a professor intervened.

•UC Santa Cruz: A Hillel sponsored event had to be moved on Jan. 27 after repeated threats .

•UC Davis: Graffiti  “Grout out the Jews” was found in a bathroom at Hillel. Swastikas were painted on a Jewish fraternity after a  BDS vote.

•UC Santa Barbara:  Flyers appeared on campus blaming Jews for 9/11.

For more information, see: 

UC President Napolitano Supports Adopting State Department Definition of Antisemitism

150+ California Rabbis and Faculty Call on UC to Address Antisemitism

How can you help? 

Are you a University of California stakeholder? A taxpayer, a student, an alumni? Please consider signing this petition to the UC Regents. urging them to adopt the State department definition of antisemitism

Israeli singer makes it to the Eurovison finals

Nadav Guedj, 16,  a French-Israeli singer and the Israeli representative for the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.has made it to the finals !

Check out his song, Golden boy

"I’m a golden boy

Come here to enjoy

Before I leave

let me show you Tel Aviv."

Methodist Missionary Janet Lahr Lewis: Bias or Blindness?

Janet Lahr Lewis is a missionary with the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church serving in the Middle East as liaison between ecumenical groups.

From her biography:

Focusing on advocacy and activism, Janet's responsibilities are numerous. She is the main contact for VIM teams and United Methodist visitors who wish to follow the recommendation of the General Conference to spend a significant amount of time in the area with local Christians, acting to make those connections with UMC partner organizations.

In an essay entitled “Remember al Nakba too” published this week at the United Methodist Website, Janet has written

“Israel has even gone so far as to destroy archaeological artifacts in an effort to wipe out evidence of non-Jewish cultures, except Roman, throughout history in the region.”

This is a grotesque inaccuracy (in an essay full of gross inaccuracies), and is particularly abhorrent in light of Israel’s painstaking and meticulous efforts at protecting and documenting its rich archaeological legacy.

The Archaeological Survey of Israel was established in 1964 with the goal of creating a  comprehensive archaeological study of the land .  It is one of the largest scientific projects ever undertaken in the country and has lead to the creation of an online database which documents over 15,000 archaeological sites.

During the 50th anniversary of the survey

Dr. Ofer Sion, head of the Antiquities Authority Surveys Department, noted the unusual nature of the archeologists’ ongoing work...

“Sometimes the surveyors rappel into ancient caves, or even scuba dive in the sea to gather information,” he said.

“Without the survey we would know nothing about the history of the country.

”Who would know about the famous site at Gamla, the monastic sites, the ancient life in the desert or the hiding refuges and the story of the zealots and rebels in Judean Desert caves?”

Janet is stationed in the region.   Could it be possible that she has never gone to the Israel Museum, or to any of the myriad of archaeological sites in Israel? 

Could it be possible that she has never picked up a National Geographic to read about the tombs of the early Natufians?

Has she never heard about the magnificent bronzes and ivories of Israel’s Chalcolithic Period? 

Hasn’t she picked up a newspaper or read online about the recent discovery of a cache of coins from the period of Alexander the great? 

Janet Lahr Lewis writes:

 Ironically, there apparently is no written set of standards similar to those in engineering, for example, by which archaeologists can be held accountable.

She’s wrong about that, too

Whether the issue with Janet Lahr Lewis of the United Methodist Church is one of bias or blindness, the end result is the same- a hateful, inaccurate and dishonorable screed. 

“Football should Unite and not divide”

“Football should Unite and not divide”

Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA has met with both Palestinian and Israeli authorities this week in an effort to stop the politicizing of football in the region. Palestinians are attempting to get Israel suspended from the association, and want the matter put to a vote at the upcoming FIFA Congress

Blatter met with the Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and President of the Palestinian Football Association  Jibril Al Rajoub and with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the President of the Israel Football Association  Ofer Eini.

“I had constructive meetings with the Palestine political and football authorities," said FIFA President Blatter. "We all agree football should unite not divide. I came on a mission for peace – football should foster peace and leave politics aside. Based on my talks over the last two days, I remain confident, despite the challenging situation, that we should be able to find a solution in the interests of football and all parties involved ahead of the Congress."

Blatter  has spoken out against suspending the Israeli Football Association, saying such a move would set a "dangerous precedent".

"This is not football. That's why I'm on a peace mission."  He has proposed a “peace match” between Palestinian and Israeli teams. Netanyahu welcomed the idea but it was rejected by Rajoub

In the meanwhile, migrant workers in Qatar, building a stadium for FIFA's 2022  World Cup are dying at the rate of 1 every 2 days and the world remains silent.

California Senate Resolution condemning antisemitism passes unanimously

Finally, some good news for beleaguered Jewish students in California. Its a symbolic gesture, but its a start. 

State Senator  Jeff Stone’s (Califonia's 28th district: Temecula)  resolution SCR condemning anti-Semitism and racism has passed unanimously. The bi-partisan resolution was coauthored by Senators  Joel Anderson,  Patricia Bates,  Tom Berryhill,  Marty Block, Ted Gaines,  Holly Mitchell, Richard Roth,  Andy Vidak, and Lois Wolk.

Senator Stone’s resolution condemning anti-Semitism and racism passes unanimously 5.14.15 from CA Senate Republican Caucus on Vimeo.

Read the full text of SCR 35  here . The history of the resolution can be found here

Air bnb in Gaza

Poor impoverished Gaza.

Thousands left homeless from the war.

Children living in cardboard boxes.

Heartbreaking.

That what they tell us anyway.

(Its all Israel's fault. Its always Israel's fault.) 

I have a practical suggestion for all those haters out there- do you want to help Gaza's homeless children?

For a mere $75 dollars a day,  you can rent them an apartment in Gaza.

Meet Gaza Airbnb

Yes. Really.

To the "human rights" activists of the world:

Protesting at the Israel consulate or at a Jewish heritage fair will get you nowhere. But for a mere $75 dollars a day you can make a difference in the life of a child.

This  lovely 2 bedroom penthouse apartment overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is available now. It has an open floor plan with views from every window, a washer-dryer, a large kitchen with custom tile and granite.

For $1200 a month- a child in Gaza can be safe and warm and dry.  You can put your time, energy and money to work making a practical difference for the people of Gaza.

Or not.

You could choose instead to spend hundreds of thousands on bus ads and billboards in the United States. You could spend millions on useless flotillas. You could pay hundreds of thousands of dollars financing attorneys to harass pro-Israel activists.

It will just confirm that your "activism" has never been about helping the Palestinian people or building a Palestinian state. Its always been about destroying the Jewish state.

(We knew that anyway)

Swastika found at Drexel University

A Jewish student at Drexel University discovered a swastika and the word “Jew” written near an Israeli flag displayed outside his dorm room earlier this week.

From the Jewish Exponent:

“I was deeply distressed to learn of an incident that occurred in one of our residence halls, in which a student was targeted on the basis of religion with the posting of a hate symbol,” Drexel president John Fry said in a statement to the Drexel community after the student found the vandalism on May 12. “Whether this malicious act was a hate crime or just blatant ignorance, it is unacceptable and incompatible with the ethos of our University.”

According to the AMCHA initiative,  swastikas have been found on at least 14 campuses so far this year including:

Stanford
Northwestern
The University of Missouri
Framingham State University
Farleigh Dickinson
Northeastern
Tufts
SUNY Purchase College
UC-Berkeley
George Washington University
Vanderbilt
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Cleveland State University
UC-Davis

Now Drexel  joins that ignoble list.

Looking for an Apartment in Gaza?

In spite of evidence to the contrary, anti-Israel advocates are still claiming that Gaza has been unable to rebuild following the 2014 war with Israel. The repeated claim is that thousands remain homeless, and that Gaza is under rubble.

NGO Gisha has claimed that not a single home has been rebuilt  Yet since August, over 62,000 tons of construction supplies have entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. Forty-three thousand Gazans have purchased material to rebuild their homes.

This clip on youtube  is advertising  vacant apartments in Gaza City.


They are spacious, with large balconies and spectacular views

If thousands were still homeless in Gaza,  would there even be a need to advertise vacant apartments on youtube?

Infernal Israeli baby-washing

The Israel haters must be bawling like a baby right now.

Nothing upsets them more than having Israel (and Israelis) portrayed as ...normal.  Everything that involves the Zionist entity must, in their eyes, be seen through the prism of the “occupation”.
Any act must be viewed through the lens of this conflict.  It’s a one-dimensional, deeply cynical and very biased viewpoint.

Cue: The infernal  Israel “Baby-washing”

Some very sweet  photos of Hebrew University Professor Sydney Engelberg have gone viral.

Prof. Engelberg’s class is open to his students children. It’s a deeply sensitive and yes, feminist gesture, coming from a father of four, and grandfather of 5.

During Prof Engelberg’s class, the young son of one of his students began to cry. Engelberg picked up the child and continued on with his lecture. A student snapped a photo, and Prof. Engelberg became this week’s darling of social media. The photos have been liked over 50,000 times on Facebook, and this simple gesture has been discussed across the web.

When a baby started crying in his class, Professor Sydney Engelberg simply picked it up and carried on teaching

When A Student’s Baby Started Crying In Class, This Professor Did The Most Awesome Thing

Professor Sydney Engelberg Has Best Response To Student's Crying Baby

Simple Photo of Man Holding Baby Sparks Important Parenting Conversation

The BDS cru will be condemning this as "baby-washing" any minute now

Greenstar food Coop says no to BDS

After repeated failures in Brooklyn, Sacramento, Davis and elsewhere, JVP has spared no expense in attempting revive the moribund movement to pressure food coops to boycott Israeli products.

The Greenstar Food Coop of Ithaca, New York has been their focus for the last few months, under fire for daring to sell Sabra hummus, Tribe hummus, and Israeli peppers.

After being called out and exposed for their vitriolic rhetoric and shockingly insensitive imagery the boycott promoters (then using the name Central NY Committee for Justice in Palestine – CNYCJP) rebranded themselves as the Ithaca Committee for Justice in Palestine, and finally as Ithaca Food Justice for Palestine Campaign. 

Fortunately for the forces of truth and justice, the good folks at Legal Insurrection have been all over this.

• Sick: BDS groups spread photoshop of Concentration Camp inmates holding anti-Israel signs
• The next big anti-Israel food fight? GreenStar Coop (Ithaca)
• Ithaca (NY) anti-Israel group starts food co-op boycott drive with Sabra Hummus blood libel
• GreenStar boycott group trainer hurls “Israel-firster” slur at Schumer

From Legal Insurrection

The Ithaca Coalition for Unity and Cooperation in the Middle East, a bi-partisan, multi-denominational group formed to fight the boycott attempt submitted extensive papers to the GreenStar Council challenging the referendum as contrary to GreenStar’s Bylaws in that the referendum, among other things, (1) did not comply with GreenStar’s referendum Petition requirements because the wording was changed after the petitions were signed and was false and misleading; (2) violated the NY State Human Rights Law which prohibits boycotts based on national original; (3) was economically irresponsible in that it would damage GreenStar’s brand and cause economic loss in light of widespread community opposition; and (4) violated GreenStar’s own anti-discrimination policies.

The divestment initiative was rejected  unanimously by the GreenStar Council based on the NY State Human Rights law prohibition of boycotts based on national origin.

Just in time for International Hummus day.

Tammi Rossman-Benjamin: University of California must fight back against anti-Semitic acts

Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, a faculty member at the University of California, Santa Cruz is the founder of AMCHA Initiative, a non-profit organization that combats anti-Semitism on college campuses. Nominated as a Jewish Community hero, Ms. Rossman has a well earned reputation are a fierce and tireless protector of civil rights of Jewish students, on California campuses and throughout the country

Documenting anti-Semitic incidents in the UC System, she writes in the San Jose Mercury News:

It's not hard to connect the dots. On campuses where anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaigns have been promoted, anti-Semitism has increased and Jewish students report feeling emotionally and physically harassed, threatened, unsafe, and targeted for anti-Jewish bigotry.

The University of California is no exception. Just in the past few months:

At UC Berkeley, in the wake of a contentious BDS campaign, the message "Zionists should be sent to the gas chamber" was found scrawled on a bathroom wall. This past month, a Jewish student leader reported, "We still find anti-Semitic slogans written on bathrooms. A lot of students find swastikas and come to me," and he added that many Jewish students are frightened.

At UC Davis, in the days leading up to an anti-Israel divestment vote, the university's Hillel House was defaced with "grout out the Jews." Less than two days following the vote, large swastikas were spray-painted on a UC Davis Jewish fraternity. Several Jewish students reported feeling unsafe, one writing: "I no longer feel as though UC Davis is a completely safe environment for Jewish students or a place where I can feel free to express my support for Israel."

At UCLA, shortly after the student government approved an anti-Israel divestment resolution, four student senators who sponsored that resolution brazenly argued that a candidate for the student judicial board was not eligible simply because she was a Jew. According to one Jewish student leader, "People say that being anti-Israel is not the same as being anti-Semitic. The problem is the anti-Israel culture in which we are singling out only the Jewish state creates an environment where it is OK to single out Jewish students."

At UC Santa Barbara, after three years of divisive anti-Israel divestment campaigns, large flyers blaming Jews for 9/11 were posted on campus. At a student senate meeting this past month, a Jewish student shared: "For the first time in my life, I felt that my identity, an unchangeable part of who I am, was under attack and my entire existence as a Jew was being questioned. No one in this room can look at this past year's incidents and tell me that anti-Semitism doesn't exist. ... I'm scared for my safety."

In response to this alarming increase in anti-Semitism, student leaders at UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara have approved resolutions condemning anti-Semitism.  It’s a start, but its not enough.

Read Tammi Benjamin-Rossmans' recommendations here