SFPD bias. The catch and release of terrorist wannabee Salim Ahmad Nasser

His name is Salim Ahmad Nasser.  He violently attacked a peaceful celebration in honor of Israel's independence in San Francisco.  The attack was witnessed by members of the San Francisco Police Department and by dozens of others.  And yet he was released without consequence, by an impotent police department that just couldn't be bothered protecting the first amendment rights of the Jewish community

The "catch and release" policies of the San Francisco police department jeopardize free speech and lawful assembly in our community, and sends a message to Jewish community members that if they take to the streets, they do it alone.

The release of Salim Ahmad Nasser is just one in a series of incidents where attacks on Jewish community members  have been ignored by the police department.

Salim Ahmad Nasser  under arrest for battery

In the police report, filed on May 15  2018, Salim Nasser is described as "extremely angry" and "aggressive".  He was heard yelling profanities at the pro-Israel crowd that had gathered in celebration of Israel's 70th anniversary. The police readily admit witnessing his assault on a young man with an Israeli flag.  Nasser admitted knocking the young man to the ground.   He is taken away, and summarily released.  There is no consequence to his action.   There was no jail time.  No restraining order to keep him from attacking peaceful protests in the future.

The message to the pro-Israel and the Jewish community is chilling.   The San Francisco Police Department is not committed to protecting our constitutional rights or our personal safety.  SFPD- you can do better.  We need you to do better.

Anti-Zionism meets anti-Semitism, as a sukkah is vandalized in New York City

This week in Carl Schurz Park on the Upper East Side of New York City,  a community sukkah was vandalized, spray painted with the words  "Free Gaza".

The structure had been erected by Chabad to commemorate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

According to Chabad:

In a neighborhood where an apartment with a balcony or private rooftop large enough to host a family sukkah costs about $4 million, public sukkahs are a must for just about anyone who wants to spend time and eat in a sukkah.  

Even in New York City, Sukkahs in public area are at risk.  

When anti-Israel graffitti vandalizes a Jewish religious structure, it is pure anti-Semitism.

True to Chabad tradition, the grafitti was painted over with messages of peace and unity.

The New York City Police Department  is investigating the graffiti as a "possible"  bias incident.

Civil Rights groups urge the University of Michigan to take action against anti-Israel professor

Fifty-eight religious, civil rights and educational groups have called upon President  Mark Schlissel of the University of Michigan to take actions to safeguard the rights of students seeking to study abroad in Israel.

The letter was coordinated by the AMCHA Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to investigating, documenting and combating antisemitism at institutions of higher education in America.

The letter follows:

Dear President Schlissel,

We are 58 religious, civil rights and education advocacy groups writing to you about an incident of grave concern to our organizations and our hundreds of thousands of members and supporters.

Earlier this month a University of Michigan faculty member in the department of American Culture, Prof. John Cheney-Lippold, refused to write a letter of recommendation for one of his students applying to study abroad at Tel Aviv University.  Cheney-Lippold unabashedly disclosed that the sole reason for his refusal is that the academic boycott guidelines forbid “writing letters of recommendation for students planning to study” in Israel. 

Impeding a student’s ability to participate in a university-approved educational program in order to carry out political activism is reprehensible. Individual faculty members have the right to express public support for an academic boycott of Israel. But when faculty like Prof. Cheney-Lippold go as far as implementing the boycott’s guidelines by taking action to suppress students’ ability to travel to or study about Israel, they have abrogated the most basic professorial responsibility of promoting the academic welfare of their students. Such discriminatory behavior that impedes the rights of students must be sanctioned to the fullest extent of university policy.  

We are aware that on 9/18/18 your office issued a public statement reiterating the university’s opposition to the academic boycott of Israel and stating that the academic goals of U-M students "are of paramount importance" and that the university will "take all steps necessary to make sure our students are supported."  With all due respect, this statement is simply insufficient to assure students, their parents, and all other U-M stakeholders that you recognize the egregiousness of this incident. Of particular concern are the omission in your statement of any condemnation of Cheney-Lippold’s behavior and your statement acknowledging that "members of the University of Michigan community have a wide range of ‘individual’ opinions on this and many other topics."  Both your omission and inclusion give the impression that individual U-M professors will be permitted by your administration to discriminate against students wanting to study about and in Israel. This is deeply alarming, given that there are at least two dozen U-M faculty members in a number of departments who have expressed public support for the academic boycott of Israel, including seven faculty members currently serving as chairs and directors of U-M academic departments and programs. Left unaddressed, this isolated incident could lead to unchecked discrimination, and the denial to students of their fundamental rights.

And while we appreciate your own remarks that were posted yesterday, in which you acknowledge that "personal views and politics should never interfere with our support of students," these remarks, too, do not go far enough.

We therefore call on you to make a public statement specifically stating that this behavior will not be permitted, affirming your commitment to ensuring that no U-M student will be impeded from studying about or in Israel, and detailing the steps you will take to ensure that faculty do not implement an academic boycott of Israel at the University of Michigan.

Thank you,

Academic Council for Israel

Accuracy in Academia

Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (AEPi)

Alums for Campus Fairness - National

Alums for Campus Fairness - Swarthmore

Alums for Campus Fairness - UC Davis

Alums for Campus Fairness - UC Riverside

Alums for Campus Fairness - UCLA

AMCHA Initiative

American Council of Trustees and Alumni

American Institute for Jewish Research

American Truth Project

Americans for Peace and Tolerance

Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA)

BEAR: Bias Education, Advocacy & Resources

Campus Anti-Semitism Task Force of the North Shore

Center for Righteousness and Integrity

Christians and Jews United for Israel

Club Z

Coalition for Jewish Values

Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA)

CUFI on Campus

Davis Faculty for Israel

Eagles Wings

Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET)

Hasbara Fellowships

Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel

Iranian American Jewish Federation

Iranian Jewish Women’s Organization

Israel Matters

Israel Peace Initiative (IPI)

Israeli-American Civic Education Institute

JAM

Middle East Forum

Middle East Political and Information Network (MEPIN)

National Conference on Jewish Affairs

National Council of Young Israel

NCSY

NH4Israel

Proclaiming Justice to the Nations   

Religious Zionists of America

Rhode Island Coalition for Israel

Russian Jewish Community Foundation

Scholars for Peace in the Middle East

Simon Wiesenthal Center

StandWithUs

Stop BDS on Campus

Students and Parents Against Campus Anti-Semitism

Students Supporting Israel National

Students Supporting Israel at Columbia

Students Supporting Israel at UCLA

The Israel Christian Nexus

The Lawfare Project

Tufts Friends of Israel

World Jewish Congress, American Section

Zioness Movement

Zionist Organization of America

ZOA’s Fuel for Truth

Cc: University of Michigan Board of Regents

       Special Counsel to the President Liz Barry

The Hypocrisy of University of Michigan Professor John Cheney-Lippold

This is yet another example of how BDS is anti-peace, and how it hurts Jewish students and pro-Israel students on campus.  BDS seeks to actively prevent students from learning about the conflict first hand.  By stifling opportunities to engage, it limits academic discussion and academic freedom.

Via Club Z:

Abigail, a student at the University of Michigan, asked her Professor, John Cheney-Lippold for a letter of recommendation for her study abroad trip to Israel. Cheney-Lippold agreed initially, then rescinded his original offer, citing the academic boycott of Israel.

Tilly Shames, executive director of the University of Michigan Hillel, sent out this email:

You may be aware of the issue regarding a University professor's refusal to offer a letter of recommendation to a student applying to an Israeli university. Our Hillel has been actively engaged on this issue with the Provost's Office and other University leadership. Like many of you, we expect to hear the University strongly condemn this action and uphold the academic values of the institution by supporting all of our students' rights to the education they choose. This professor's decision is antithetical to the academic values of our University. A professor's political views should not factor into any student's access to learn, including studying in Israel.

We appreciate the University's serious attention to this matter at its highest levels, and support for the student involved. For us, the bottom line is our students and their campus experience. We are making ourselves available to our students as a supportive resource, and are actively engaging with our student leaders on how best to advocate and educate on this issue among our campus community.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to be in touch. Thank you, as always, for your support. 

She was likely disappointed by thie University of Michigan's tepid response

Statement from the  Public Affairs and Internal Communications  University of Michigan statement  Sept. 17, 2018

The University of Michigan has consistently opposed any boycott of Israeli institutions of higher education.

That position has been stated publicly by university leaders, including this statement from the president and provost in 2013 and this statement from members of the university’s governing Board of Regents in 2017.

No academic department or any other unit at the University of Michigan has taken a position that departs from this long-held university position.

There also is no doubt that members of our campus community have a wide range of individual opinions on this topic and many other topics.

The academic goals of our students are of paramount importance. It is the university’s position to take all steps necessary to make sure our students are supported.

It is disappointing that a faculty member would allow their personal political beliefs to limit the support they are willing to otherwise provide for our students.

We will engage our faculty colleagues in deep discussions to clarify how the expression of our shared values plays out in support of all students.

It is not readily apparent from the University's public statement if there will be any disciplinary action taken against  Prof. Cheney-Lippold

For more information see: 

University of Michigan ‘Disappointed’ After Professor Refuses to Write Recommendation Letter for Student Studying Abroad in Israel

Citing BDS, professor refuses to write reference for student to study in Israel

Professor Refuses to Write Letter For Student Wanting To Study Abroad in Israel

Pssst, Professor Cheney-Lippold.  Apple's second largest research and development facility in the world is in Herzilya, Israel.  Shouldn't you be boycotting Apple, too?

John Cheney-Lippold on transcoding the body into the body politic. #DataPowerConf pic.twitter.com/uqqphJrhGy

— Andrew Iliadis 🐞 (@andrewiliadis) June 22, 2017

UPDATE:

Remarks by U-M President Mark Schlissel
Sept. 20, 2018

I want to take a moment to address the recent situation in which a faculty member refused to provide a previously promised letter of recommendation for a student because she was seeking to study abroad in Israel – and to reiterate that this view is not the position of the University of Michigan, nor does it reflect the position of any department or unit on our campus.

I will state again: The University of Michigan strongly opposes a boycott of Israeli academic institutions.

The academic aspirations of our students – and their academic freedom – are fundamental to the University of Michigan, and our teaching and research missions.

We are committed as an institution to support our students’ academic growth.

We are a large and diverse public university, and the individual opinions of our community range widely on many issues. But personal views and politics should never interfere with our support of students. It is counter to our values and expectations as an institution.

The Regents, Executive Officers and I have been deeply engaged in this matter. We will be taking appropriate steps to address this issue and the broader questions it has raised. 

The Gaza Palace of Justice: Snapshots from Concentration Camp Gaza

Today was the grand opening celebration for the Gaza Palace of Justice, a multimillion dollar complex bankrolled by Qatar.

Grand Opening of the Gaza Palace of Justice

Grand Opening of the Gaza Palace of Justice

The complex consists of 3 buildings, each consisting of 7 floors and will house the Supreme Judicial Council, the Magistrate's Court, an administrative building, chapel, cafeteria and clerks' offices

Gaza Palace of Justice

Gaza Palace of Justice

This administrative and judicial complex, on ten dunans of Gaza real estate cost nearly $12 million dollars to build.  Yet, people like Lynn Gottleib of the Rabbinic Council of Jewish Voice for Peace still claim "Israel does not permit building materials to come into Gaza."

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl Sounding the Alarm for Anti-Semitism

In recent weeks, anti-Semitic flyers have appeared by local synagogues.   A holocaust denier appeared on Berkeley radio station KPFA.  And the repugnant Institute for Historical Review has placed digital advertisements at local BART stations.

Its time for the Bay Area, and the country as a whole, to wake up.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of  New York's Central Synagogue, one of the largest reform congregations in America addresses this issue in her Rosh Hashanah sermon posted on Facebook, detailing the mainstreaming of anti-Semitism in our everyday life.
  
Yom Teruah  Sounding the Alarm for Anti-Semitism

Ever heard of Russell Walker?

He proclaimed: “God is a white supremacist”
and says all Jewish people “descend from Satan.”
So who is Russell Walker?
He’s the Republican candidate
for a seat in the North Carolina state legislature.

Steve West hosts a YouTube Channel where he said:
“Looking back in history, unfortunately, Hitler was right.”
West speaks of “Jewish cabals”
that are “harvesting baby parts” from Planned Parenthood.
He recently won the Republican primary
for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.

John Fitzgerald posted a reward online
of “$2,000 to anybody who can prove
that the official Holocaust narrative is true.”
He will be a Republican candidate
for the California House of representatives.

Ilhan Omar is already a Democratic state representative in Minnesota
and nearly certain to win a US Congressional seat this year.
She tweeted, quote: “Israel has hypnotized the world,
may Allah awaken the people
and help them see the evil doings of Israel,”
which she described as an “apartheid regime.”

These are real candidates who aspire to run our country.
ADL reports that there are more people running for public office
who express antisemitic views than ever before.

This anti-Semitism, on both the left and the right is evident not only in the political arena, but on campus, as well.  Rabbi Buchdahl  continues:

Opposition to Israel

has increasingly become a necessary precondition
for all other progressive commitments.
Some groups will only allow Jewish students to participate 
if they take a ‘disloyalty oath’
and affirm they are opposed to “Israeli racism.”
This singling out of Israel, as THE litmus test
for Jewish involvement in any social justice cause
is antisemitism,
plain and simple. 

And I beg of you students to call that out when you see it. 

Read  Rabbi Buchdahl's powerful call to action here.

All's fair in love, war, and in Jewish Voice for Peace fundraising

All 's fair in love, war, and in Jewish Voice for Peace fundraising, apparently.

JVP put a considerable amount of effort lobbying for the defeat of famed civil rights attorney Kenneth Marcus's appointment as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education.

Ultimately Marcus was confirmed, but JVP still holds a grudge. Enough of a grudge, in fact, to spread this whopper of a lie. Marcus is reopening an investigation regarding a 2011 incident at Rutgers University, in New Jersey.  JVP  falsely claims Marcus has "declared all students who support Palestinian human rights anti-Semitic", and that his motivation in declaring the event anti-Semitic was because  "it included criticism of the Israeli government".

JVP lies.

The Rutgers event,  organized by Sara Kershnar, now legislative assistant to controversial Berkeley City Councilperson Cheryl Davila was well documented at the time.

From the New Jersey Jewish News:
Members of the Jewish community and other pro-Israel supporters complained that organizers initiated an admission fee to the Jan. 29 event — which was advertised as being free — in order to prevent demonstrators from attending....

The estimated 500 students and members of the Jewish community who gathered at the Douglass Campus Center outnumbered the 200 or fewer program attendees. While the program was originally billed as being free and open to the public, organizers decided at the last minute to charge a $5 admission fee, in part, according to a number of Jewish community and Hillel leaders, to discourage the attendance by demonstrators who would hesitate to give money to the organizations that planned the event.

From The Jeruslaem Post:

Around 400 pro-Israel students, as well as Holocaust survivors, say they were barred from a public pro-Palestinian gathering at Rutgers, New Jersey's state university, on Saturday night.

"The event page on Facebook [said] that the event was free and open to the public... [and] a suggested donation of $5-$20 would be asked for at the door," wrote Rutgers News Real blogger Aaron Marcus, who led the Zionist students in protest. "Only after 200- 400 pro-Israel supporters showed up did the event – held in a state school, paid for by both tax dollars and student fees – begin to discriminate who could enter the event free-of-cost."

Rutgers student Binyomin Sheis told The Jerusalem Post, "We came straight from Havdalla [the service marking the end of Shabbat], and hardly any of us had money. However, I saw an older woman give [organizers] five dollars, and they gave her money back."

Sheis added that there was also a physical effort to block the group.

From Aaron Marcus at the NewsRealBlog

Only after 200-400 pro-Israel supporters showed up did the event–held in a state school, paid for by both tax dollars and student fees–begin to discriminate who could enter the event free-of-cost.

First, the organizers of the event asked all of those who gathered together in opposition to the event to stand in a separate line and wait for seating to take place. Meanwhile, those in anti-Israel apparel, keffiyahs and hijabs were taken aside, given green wristbands, labeled as event “staff” and given free entrance. At one point, the hosts of the event, which ranged from groups like the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network to the International Socialist Organization, tore apart a suggested donation sign leaving only the admission fee visible. The group then said students could attend free-of-charge if they became members of BAKA. However, this policy once again did not apply for the Jewish students hoping to attend. In fact, at one point, I signed my name and the woman behind the desk read it and furiously crossed out the information I had just posted.

JVP claims, falsely, that this is a free speech issue.  It is not.   The incident at Rutgers involves differential admission fees based on a religious litmus test.   And that, best beloved, is  discrimination.

Anti-Semitic flyers found at five East Bay synagogues

And Happy New Year to you, too.

Anti-Semitic fliers were found recently at 5 synagogues in the East Bay in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

The fliers show Infowars owner Alex Jones with a Jewish star covering his mouth, and has  anti-Semitic depictions of Jews in the background.

The local police and the ADL have been informed, and security at local synagogues is being ramped up for the upcoming holidays.

A board member of San Leandro's  Temple Beth Sholom board member found the flyer, prompting the temple board to release a statement:

 "These hate groups stand for the very opposite of our values of love and inclusivity. We are fortunate to have a warm and close-knit community that will not be cowed by attempts to intimidate. We wish our entire community a sweet and happy new year."

“

Zionists in Berkeley!

From Emunah:

Taking our proud, fearless Zionism into the streets. These photos were taken at the Solano Stroll Berkeley, California Street Fair 9/9/2018 . The Solano Stroll is the largest street fair in the East Bay, and attracts hundreds of thousands of participants.

ht/t SF Bay pro Israel Blog

Reem Assil Manipulates Yelp Reviews. Again.

They call it the Palestine Exception. Its the belief that being Palestinian enables you to use  your eternal victimhood as a  "get out of jail free" card to evade any moral or civic responsibility.  Reem Assil, proprietor of an Oakland bakery decorated with a mural of a convicted Jew-killer uses it like a master.  Faced with negative crowd-sourced reviews for her Oakland restaurant, Reem denounces them as "racist" targeting her "Arab owned business" and mobilized a response. 

Reports of dirty restrooms?    There are zionists afoot.

Small portions?  Only a zionist would complain.

Cold, bland food?  Only a jealous Zionist would make that claim.

The Palestine Exception means criticizing cold coffee is "racist", if its served in an Arab owned business. 

The Palestine exception means never having to take personal responsibility for your actions.  

 

David Jaber takes Reem's bait, and explains how to "drill down" and report the profiles

The Palestinian Exception means that Israel haters across the world have rushed to Reems defense, linked by their common hatred of the Zionist entity.   Emma Rosenthal freely admits she has never eaten in Reem's restaurant. yet posts a review, in violation of  Yelps' terms of agreement.  And yes, Emma Rosenthal calls unapologetic Jew Killer Rasmea Odeh,  "a hero"

Within days of the Reem initiated manipulation, many of the negative reviews had vanished from Yelp.  This form of blatant manipulation dilutes the Yelp brand, and makes all their reviews suspect. 

The way to win in Reem Assil's world is to Cry "Zionist" and let loose the dogs of war.

Department of Education Embraces State Department Definition of Anti-Semitism

Thank you, Congressman Brad Sherman for your efforts on behalf of the Jewish community.  From a press release sent out by his office:

Washington, D.C. – In a precedent-setting move, the U.S. Department of Education has employed the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.  This is a milestone in an eight-year effort to protect Jewish college students from anti-Semitism masquerading as legitimate criticism of the Israeli government. 

The effort began in 2010, when Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), working with Jewish community groups, convinced President Obama’s Department of Education that Title VI applied to Jewish students.  Title VI protects against discrimination based on “race or national origin,” and a previous Bush Administration policy had excluded Jews as “merely a religion.”

Anti-Semites have often claimed that their actions are merely fair criticisms of Israel.  For eight years, Congressman Sherman pushed for a definition of anti-Semitism that would include calling for the abolition of the Jewish State.

“You cannot protect Jewish students from anti-Semitism unless you define anti-Semitism,” Sherman said.

While the Department of Education has for eight years refused to define anti-Semitism, the Department now has instructed its field offices to employ the State Department definition of anti-Semitism which includes: “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.”

The current State Department definition was developed by a 31-nation organization known as the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance).  The full text is available here.

“I look forward to vigorous enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act against those who harass Jewish students with claims that the only nation-state that should be obliterated is the nation-state of the Jews,” Sherman said.

Sherman continued, “I applaud the Department of Education for using the same definition of anti-Semitism as the State Department.  After all, if our diplomats are using a definition to criticize a foreign government, our own government should live by that definition.”

Background:

• To view Congressman Sherman’s letter to the Department of Education sent on April 30, 2008, click here.
• To view Congressman Sherman’s letter to the Department of Education sent on June 5, 2015, click here.
• To view Congressman Sherman’s letter to the Department of Education sent on December 14, 2016, click here.
• To view Congressman Sherman’s letter to the Department of Education sent on June 5, 2017, click here.

Tell Hamas: Free Avera Mengistu

It is 4 years, this week that Avera Mengistu has been held captive by the Iranian funded terrorist organization Hamas in Gaza.    Avera is a mentally ill Israeli civilian.  Hamas refuses to allow visitation or contact with his family members.  His family has received no assurances that his condition is being medically managed.

Avera Mengistu, 30, is a Jewish Israeli who emigrated as a 5 year old from Ethiopia. He is one of 10 children.  Avera was exempt from serving in Israel's miltary because he struggles with schizophrenia. In September 2014, he was last seen approaching the Gaza border. It is widely believed he is currently in the custody of the Hamas terror group

The International Red Cross and Amnesty International  has met with Avera's family, who provided medication in hopes it could be transfered to Avera.  

From Ilan,  Avera Mengistu’s older brother.:

“Avera’s story is completely different ... He never held arms. He ended up there by mistake. He is mentally ill,” said Mengistu’s older brother, Ilan. “We know it’s complicated, we understand that, but at the end of the day, we are talking about an innocent man who is being held there against his will.”

Hamas has not released any information on Avera's condition.

The world was in uproar over a 17 year old Palestinian woman arrested for assaulting an Israeli soldier.  Their silence on Avera is  deafening.