Where are the Palestinian Mothers?

Hamas activists Amer Abu Aysha, 33, and Marwan Qawasmeh, 29 have been implicated in the murder of Eyal Yifrach, 19, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Naftali Fraenkel, 16. Upon learning of her son’s potential role in this crime Abu Aysha's mother told Israel's Channel 10 news. "If he did the kidnaping, I'll be proud of him."

The role of incitement in Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians is seldom addressed, but in the Wall Street Journal, Bret Stephen asks the hard questions:

Where are the Palestinian Mothers?

He writes:

Here's my question: What kind of society produces such mothers?
　
Well-intentioned Western liberals may prefer not to ask, because at least some of the conceivable answers may upset the comforting cliché that all human beings can relate on some level, whatever the cultural differences. Or they may accuse me of picking a few stray anecdotes and treating them as dispositive, as if I'm the only Western journalist to encounter the unsettling reality of a society sunk into a culture of hate. Or they can claim that I am ignoring the suffering of Palestinian women whose innocent children have died at Israeli hands.

But I'm not ignoring that suffering. To kill innocent people deliberately is odious, to kill them accidentally or "collaterally" is, at a minimum, tragic. I just have yet to meet the Israeli mother who wants to raise her boys to become kidnappers and murderers—and who isn't afraid of saying as much to visiting journalists.

Read it all here

As we mourn our boys.

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

The StandWithUs Staff and Board of Directors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Andy David
Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Jewish Voice for Peace

JVP dehumanizes our murdered children

Heartbreaking News

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

All of the Israel mourns with you today.

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

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

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

 

The latest from Ari Lesser : Bring Back our Boys

Bring Back Our Boys by Ari Lesser





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

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

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

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

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

San Francisco Stands in Solidarity with Our Missing Sons

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

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

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

Bring back our Boys

From the NY Post Bring back Our Boys

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

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

What is your community doing?

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

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

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

Palestinians mock the kidnapping of Israeli students

h/t  Israellycool

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

From Arutz Sheva

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

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

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

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

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

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

British BDS'er expresses his desire for more kidnappings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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