Buy a United Church of Christ Mini Security Barrier for that special someone in your life

Are you still looking for that perfect gift for the special child in your life?

The United Church of Christ has the perfect gift.

"Breaking Down the Wall" is a 10-inch olive wood replica of the Israel's Security Barrier which has saved countless lives.

Five pieces, Mom and Dad.  Its educational. It comes with prayers and stories.  And stickers. Such play value for only $25. 

I know you've had your heart set on the plush Ahmed the terrorist doll, but the "must have " toy of the season is just so hard to find.

In Which Ryan Bellerose observes the local fauna

Via Emunah:

Ryan Bellerose is visiting Northern California.  A well-known member of Canada’s first nations, Ryan is active in promoting and strengthening indigenous solidarity , and defines Zionism as  the Jewish’s peoples'  indigenous solidarity movement   As part of an ongoing anthropological study of  anti-Israel asshats in their native environment, Ryan attended a protest in front of San Francisco’s venerable Westin St. Francis hotel.  The protest was promoted by assorted  local extremist groups including  International ANSWER, the Arab Resource Organizing Center and Jewish Voice for Peace. Inside the hotel, hundreds had gathered at an AIPAC dinner in support of friendship between the US and Israel.  That’s simply not allowed in San Francisco.

However, the protest was only peripherally about the AIPAC dinner, with the promotional posters proclaiming instead “Protest Israel”

Ryan’s observations about the event have been published at Israellycool

Monday nights protest featured the usual hateful elements we’ve come to expect from the local “progressive” community.   Activists expressed their support for the intifada- the violent uprising that has left hundreds dead and wounded.  Israel was blamed for everything from Ferguson  to the death of transsexuals in the Philippines.   Richard Becker’s ANSWER hit may have hit rock-bottom by commandeering a wheelchair to transport their sound system- tacky, even by ANSWER’s low standards. 

No, Dick. Using a wheelchair for your sound system does not entitle you to a disabled placard.

Vitriolic racist attacks were directed towards Ryan, both during and after the event

UC Berkeley graduate student and SJP organizer Kumars Salehi took to social media to insult the Metis activist. Yes, he called  Ryan a cracker 

There was more repulsive racism on Instagram courtesy of Kevyn Noodleman  using the account @leduviolet  

Ryan handled  it all with characteristic good humor

One hundred of them. A dozen of us on the street, with hundreds more inside the hotel celebrating the friendship between Israel and America.

It counts as a win

Landmark UAW International Ruling Rejects Local BDS Resolution

Excellent news from the civil rights activists at Informed Grads 

Landmark UAW International Ruling Rejects Local BDS Resolution 

In a landmark decision yesterday, United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union granted an appeal filed by a member of the University of California student group Informed Grads, thereby striking down a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) resolution adopted by UAW Local 2865 last year. UAW 2865 represents graduate student workers at all of the University of California campuses. UAW International, the body that oversees all UAW locals in the United States, set national precedent by denying the local organization the right to adopt such a divisive and alienating measure. 

Over the past year, certain members of UAW 2865 championed a one-sided, counterproductive BDS referendum that limits academic freedom and promotes discrimination based on national origin. Rather than focusing on the needs of the student workers they were elected to represent, these activists promoted an effort that seeks to undermine peaceful dialogue and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. 

“All workers represented by UAW International can now rest assured that their union will not support BDS tactics or endorse an extreme political agenda that is discriminatory, alienating, and stifles academic freedom,” said Informed Grads member Karra Greenberg, who testified at the appeal hearing. “The anti-Semitism and active promotion of hate that ran rampant throughout this BDS campaign cannot and must not be tolerated. We applaud UAW International for taking a firm position against BDS and discrimination based on religion or national origin.”

 “We are very pleased by United Auto Workers (UAW) International Union’s forceful rejection of BDS, which sets a powerful precedent for other labor unions and national organizations” said Scott Edelman, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, the international law firm that represented Informed Grads in its appeal. “This result was due to a real team effort between our firm and Informed Grads, and I want to pay tribute to my colleagues Jesse Gabriel, Lauren Eber, Neta Levanon and Will Brien for their dedication and hard work.” 

From the International UAW:

"...it is our unanimous belief that the notion of BDS, credibly, espouses discrimination and vilification against Israelis and UAW members who are of Jewish lineage. From this perspective, we find that the BDS Resolution is systematic in its decrying orations about Israel and its stated atrocities against Palestinians. Conversely, as emphasized earlier, the local union’s critique of any other ethnicity or victimizer outside of the Israeli and /or Jewish population is not present in its arguments. Thus, the local union’s platform is apparent in its unfavorable stance against the state of Israel, Israelis and , invariably, Jewish union members.”

For more information on the International UAW's repeal of  BDS , see
BDS resolution overturned by UC grad students’ national union: It discriminates against Jews

UAW, San Jose State foundation reject BDS measures

United Auto Workers International Overturns Local Union’s BDS Vote

Public Art in Gaza

Public art is often a reflection of a societies values.

Mural  in Gaza glorifying the murderers of Jews

New monument to the stabbing intifada, again glorifying attacks on Jews

What message does the public art of Gaza give us?

Hamas celebrates 28 years of terror in Gaza

The Hamas terror group held a parade to celebrate 28 years of terror.   Much fun was had by all.

There was face painting

Fun costumes

Cute girls

Fun activities for the kids

And healthy snacks.

Over in Nablus, like minded participants from the PFLP Terror group played "Burn the Jew'

Does anyone still believe we have a partner for peace?

Gaza's Dr. Basem Naim exploits image of disabled child

Its Pallywood at its nadir and its nothing less than shameless exploitation of a disabled child, by an official of the Hamas government in Gaza. 

Someone who ought to know better- Dr. Basem Naim,  the Former Minister of Health of Gaza has sent out a photo of a disabled toddler, claiming the boy was a victim of "Israeli terror". 

Nothing could be further from the truth. The child in this photo is Mohammed Al-Farra., who is living in Israel's Tel Hashomer hospital after being abandoned by his family.

From the Huffington Post

Born in Gaza with a rare genetic disease, Mohammed's hands and feet were amputated because of complications from his condition, and the 3 1/2-year-old carts about in a tiny red wheelchair. His parents abandoned him, and the Palestinian government won't pay for his care, so he lives at the hospital with his grandfather.

"There's no care for this child in Gaza, there's no home in Gaza where he can live," said the grandfather, Hamouda al-Farra.

This cynical, exploitative and fraudulent image has been retweeted 179 times.

Here is the photo in its original context  from the Times of Israel

This isn't the first time Mohammed's image has been used to demonize Israel,  but to have the Former Minister of Health of Gaza spreading the lie makes it particularly egregious.

Counter Anti-Israel Rally for December 14th

From our friends at San Francisco Voice for Israel

Action Alert: Counter Anti-Israel Rally for December 14th
Monday, December 14, 5pm
The Westin St. Francis
335 Powell St, San Francisco

According to the New York Times, AIPAC is the most important organization affecting the US’s relationship with Israel. AIPAC works to lobby for pro-Israel legislation and to educate legislators on issues related to the US-Israeli relationship.

Every year, AIPAC holds gala events throughout the Bay Area. This year, the enemies of America and Israel, including extremist groups ANSWER and the Arab Resource Organizing Center (AROC) are planning on protesting the event, and harassing event attendees. They are calling for an end to the “unbreakable bond” that link our democracies.

San Francisco Voice For Israel will be there to be sure the pro-Israel voice is represented and to help ensure attendees will be able to enter the hotel unmolested.

Please come join us. The protests typically are only nominally about AIPAC and mostly about demonizing Israel.

Keep in mind that those who will be demonstrating against Israel excuse stabbings and car assaults on Israeli civilians. Many openly support such actions.If you are going back to a parking garage after our counterprotest, please travel in groups.

As always, feel free to make your own signs but please no signs or graphics offensive to any racial or ethnic group including but not limited to Arabs, Islam, or Palestinians.

Sweet. More dispatches from "Starving Gaza"

Just like the Warsaw ghetto?

Al-Gayyar chocolate store, Gaza, Nov. 25, 2015. (photo by Mohammed Nehro)

In September, Gaza celebrated the grand opening of the al-Gayyar chocolate mall selling chocolate from around the world.

Owner Deeb al-Gayyar, in an interview with Al-Monitor said

“Specific [chocolate] types used to enter Gaza through the tunnels. After allowing them to enter through the Karam Abu Salem [Kerem Shalom] commercial crossing, we started importing more types of chocolate from various countries. Because of the improved trade relations with Turkey, traders find it easier to import Turkish chocolate [brands], such as Solen, Ulker, Bifa, Alpella, Elit, which now dominate the [Gaza] market.”

The Al-Gayyar Chocolate Company alone imports an average of 150 tons of chocolate a month for the Gaza market.  Its not the only confectionery in the territory.

From Al- Monitor

Many new shops have specialized in chocolate for years, such as Bonboniara, which opened in 2011 on al-Wahda Street in central Gaza City. Its owner, Ahmed al-Muzaini, said, “My father was impressed with the idea of chocolate shops that spread in the West Bank during his visit there. So we decided to open this shop [in Gaza], which was met with great demand because of our unique innovation in packaging chocolates at various prices. … The economic situation affects demand, which increases during special events. Despite that, the prices are affordable, but still some people don’t visit such shops, while others visit three times a week to buy chocolate.”

Khaled Subeih, the owner of On the Line, which opened in March on Al-Jalaa Street in central Gaza City, believes that “specialty shops selling chocolates have changed the culture of the people in Gaza, who like new things. Chocolate has become a key commodity for people of all ages, economic status, and for various social occasions.”

After all, nothing says "open air prison" quite like gourmet chocolates.