Bay Area anti-Israel groups have traditionally held an anti-Zionist "seder" some time during Passover to commemorate whatever it is they commemorate. This year was no different.
2012 Community Passover Seder Dinner
Co-sponsored by Bay Area Women in Black, International Jewish anti-Zionist Network
Friday, April 6, 2012
Doors open at 5:30pm, Program starts promptly at 6pm
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
(1255 1st Ave at International Blvd, Oakland)
Dinner will be served.
$10-50 sliding scale ($25 donation suggested), no one turned away for lack of funds.
Funds raised will benefit IJAN, the Middle East Children's Alliance's Silwan Project and Bareed Mista3jil - Queer Arab Women's Stories Project.
I think I can guess what haggadah they used.
From Arutz Sheva:
"The Jewish anti-Israel organization, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), has recently published a new type of Hagaddah, aimed not at celebrating the Jewish people’s exodus from Egypt, our journey from slavery to freedom, or the miracle of attaining national self-determination in our ancestral homeland. The Haggadah does, however, aim at demonizing the State of Israel, promoting the Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement and rallying the ‘Palestinian’ cause."
Its not just Arutz Sheva that's shaking their head in disbelief. Jonathan Tobin of Commentary Magazine writes:
"...the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) has now gone completely beyond the pale with a new version of Passover in which Israel is transformed into Egypt and the Palestinians have become the Jews.
This Haggadah, which was brought to our attention by the Anti-Defamation League, isn’t merely an expression of dissent against the policies of the Israeli government about which Israelis and Americans may differ. By appropriating the symbolism of the Festival of Freedom to promote a cause whose purpose is to deny the Jewish people their rights and liberty, the group is committing an act of spiritual vandalism. Identifying Israel with Pharaoh and Egyptians is an effort at delegitimization that crosses the boundary from bad taste to anti-Semitic invective...
JVP has demonstrated that it has no place within the organized Jewish community or among the society of decent Americans. Their desire to wage economic war on Israel already places them outside the boundaries of normal political dissent. But their compendium of Passover-themed slurs is an act so despicable that it merits their being shunned the same way we would any other hate group."
And from the inimitable Jon Haber from Divest this
"...No amount of cynicism could possibly explain this latest release on the JVP hit parade: their own version of the Passover Hagaddah, complete with “The Israelis are the new Egyptian Pharos!” words and imagery, delivered with the same subtlety as having a cinder block dropped on your head.
One is first tempted to simply stare dumbfounded at the combination of historic ignorance and cultural contempt required to cast the Jews as the villains in their own foundation story. Even in an era when Passover readings and rituals have been leveraged for every imaginable political purpose (featuring Hagaddah’s written specifically for those of the woman’s rights, civil rights, Zionist and transgender perspectives), JVP’s foray into this long-abused genre sets a new precedent for utter tastelessness and self indulgence. It is truly a work that could only have been contemplated (much less executed) by those whose universe consists of nothing but themselves."
I understand we'll be hearing be hearing more from Jon regarding the JVP Haggadah. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Tom Pessah presents the UC Berkeley ASUC divestment slate
From UC Berkeley's Tom Pessah:
Presenting the ASUC (UC Berkeley student Government) divestment slate.
No, no stand on decreased student services, tuition increases, huge waiting lists for labs and classes, or corruption and inefficiency in Berkeley operations.
Its all about divestment for Students for Just Us in Palestine.
So now you know, students. If you want your student government to spend their time and your money working on foreign policy , these are the folks to vote for.
Tom's announcement follows:
Do you support UC divestment from companies that enable Israel's illegal and racist occupation?
So do the following candidates for ASUC office, all of whom are strong allies of Students for Justice in Palestine.
VOTE at http://election.asuc.org/ from Tuesday April 10 9:00 AM until 11:59 PM on Thurs. April 12
The ASUC uses ranked-choice voting, so candidates should be be ordered in terms of preference (#1, #2, #3) to ensure your vote counts.
PRESIDENT
1. Andy Albright, CalSERVE
http://www.calserve.org/andrew-albright-for-asuc-president/
SENATE
1. Sadia Saifuddin, #138 Independent
https://www.facebook.com/SadiaSaifuddin138ForASUCSenate
2. George Kadifa, #186 SJP member, Student Action
3. Isaac Kreisman #205, Students for a Democratic University (SDU)
4. Deejay Pepito #184, CalSERVE
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS VICE PRESIDENT
We are fortunate to have three candidates running for this position who support SJP's goals (a sign of the successful work we've done on campus): Isabel Sausjord (SDU), Sydney Fang (CalSERVE), and Shahryar Abassi (Student Action).
Isabel, however, is a current and active member of SJP.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Candidates from both CalSERVE (Anthony Galace) and SDU (James Chang) are allies.
ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT
Candidates from both SDU (Frank Luna) and CalSERVE (Naomi Wilson) are allies.
*********
So Bears, now you know who to vote for if you want your student activity fees to go towards foreign policy decisions instead of student services. Vote accordingly.
UPDATE
From the Daily Cal
For the first time in his 15 years as a Berkeley City Council member, Kriss Worthington has endorsed student candidates for the ASUC elections at UC Berkeley.
Worthington, whose district includes the UC Berkeley campus and surrounding Southside neighborhoods, endorsed Andrew Albright, Sydney Fang and Anthony Galace, three CalSERVE executive slate candidates who have worked on city and campus issues such as redistricting, affordable student housing and the city’s second response ordinance over the course of the past year.
Albright is running for ASUC president, Fang is running for external affairs vice president and Galace is running for executive vice president.
Worthington did not endorse the fourth and final CalSERVE member on its executive slate, Naomi Wilson, who is running for the position of academic affairs vice president, because he said he has never worked with her regarding city relations.
“I wasn’t endorsing the party,” Worthington said. “I was endorsing three individual people who I have observed doing a lot of work in the broader community of Berkeley.”
Though this is Worthington’s first time endorsing candidates for the executive slate, fellow Councilmember Gordon Wozniak previously endorsed current external affairs vice president Joey Freeman during last year’s election term and has endorsed current ASUC senator Shahryar Abbasi for the same position this semester. Both Freeman and Abbasi are running with Student Action...
“(Shahryar) was involved on the student redistricting issue — he’s come to council meetings several times,” Wozniak said. “I’ve worked closely with Joey Freeman, and I hope Shahryar can continue some of the projects he worked on.”
The external affairs vice president — which both Abbasi and Fang are running for — is the ASUC representative to the UC Student Association and oversees the ASUC’s lobbying efforts, focusing on matters outside of the UC Berkeley campus, specifically in the city of Berkeley and the state.
Wilson said she supports her fellow candidates and Worthington’s endorsement even though she was not endorsed herself.
“You shouldn’t endorse someone solely due to political affiliation. I’m excited to work with him hopefully in the next year,” Wilson said.
Albright, a current senator, said Wilson may not have been endorsed because of the nature of the position she is running for.
“As ASUC senators in general, we have access to city politics,” he said. “Her work has not been focused on the city but (on) taking action on higher education … improving lives in and improving communities on campus.”
Students for Justice in Palestine has taken the words of Saul Alinsky to heart “True revolutionaries do not flaunt their radicalism. They cut their hair, put on suits and infiltrate the system from within.” Seeing this level of SJP and BDS infiltration in our Berkeley City Council and municipal politics is daunting.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Anti-Israel group "evicts" Jewish students from Florida University
According to the Florida Sun-Sentinel, fake eviction notices were taped to the doors of more than 200 Jewish students at Florida Atlantic University.
The notices were posted by Students for Justice in Palestine, who claimed they had approval from the Housing and Residential Life Department and were escorted by a member of its staff while posting the fliers on Friday night, which was the first night of the Passover holiday.
Some of the students who did not read the notice carefully thought that they were actually being evicted, a Jewish student told the newspaper.
From the Sun Sentinel
"When Rayna Exelbierd returned to her dorm room at Glades Park Tower on Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Ratoncampus last Friday, she found an “eviction notice” attached the door.
Exelbierd was one of more than 200 students in three dorms who received the fake notice from the campus group Students for Justice in Palestine.
“Some students who didn’t read the document believed they were really being evicted,” said Exelbierd, a 20-year-old sophomore from Memphis, Tenn."
The fliers contained the university housing department’s official stamp
"Scott Brockman, Hillel executive director, said in a statement, “While protecting and ensuring free speech on campus, the tactic used by Students for Justice in Palestine is unacceptable.”
The tactic, he said, “Does not promote civil discourse on campus but provokes, incites and intimidates.” And the placing of the fliers in the dormitories “compromises the university’s own value to ‘create and maintain a clean and safe and secure environment in which students live and learn.’”
The Hillel statement pointed out that the fliers contained the university housing department stamp, which Brockman said was “a clear violation of university guidelines.”
Brockman said the Jewish student campus organization is giving the university “space” to investigate the incident. “We want a statement that Jewish students will be safe on campus and have a safe environment in which to live,” he said in a phone call Wednesday afternoon. Brockman said he wants the university to “get in front of the issue.”
Andrew Rosenkranz, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Florida region, said, “The University is taking the matter very seriously and will open an investigation. Nobody wants to come back to the dorm and see a fake eviction notice nailed to their door. The university needs to create and maintain an atmosphere where people feel they are in a safe learning environment.”
The notices were posted by Students for Justice in Palestine, who claimed they had approval from the Housing and Residential Life Department and were escorted by a member of its staff while posting the fliers on Friday night, which was the first night of the Passover holiday.
Some of the students who did not read the notice carefully thought that they were actually being evicted, a Jewish student told the newspaper.
From the Sun Sentinel
"When Rayna Exelbierd returned to her dorm room at Glades Park Tower on Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Ratoncampus last Friday, she found an “eviction notice” attached the door.
Exelbierd was one of more than 200 students in three dorms who received the fake notice from the campus group Students for Justice in Palestine.
“Some students who didn’t read the document believed they were really being evicted,” said Exelbierd, a 20-year-old sophomore from Memphis, Tenn."
The fliers contained the university housing department’s official stamp
"Scott Brockman, Hillel executive director, said in a statement, “While protecting and ensuring free speech on campus, the tactic used by Students for Justice in Palestine is unacceptable.”
The tactic, he said, “Does not promote civil discourse on campus but provokes, incites and intimidates.” And the placing of the fliers in the dormitories “compromises the university’s own value to ‘create and maintain a clean and safe and secure environment in which students live and learn.’”
The Hillel statement pointed out that the fliers contained the university housing department stamp, which Brockman said was “a clear violation of university guidelines.”
Brockman said the Jewish student campus organization is giving the university “space” to investigate the incident. “We want a statement that Jewish students will be safe on campus and have a safe environment in which to live,” he said in a phone call Wednesday afternoon. Brockman said he wants the university to “get in front of the issue.”
Andrew Rosenkranz, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Florida region, said, “The University is taking the matter very seriously and will open an investigation. Nobody wants to come back to the dorm and see a fake eviction notice nailed to their door. The university needs to create and maintain an atmosphere where people feel they are in a safe learning environment.”
Friday, April 6, 2012
Another BDS Fail: Lavan's Clientele increased 37% in the wake of boycott action
From our friends at Synonymous:
Documenting another BDS Fail.
Shani Bar-Oz, an Israeli living in Vancouver owns a store, Lavan that sells Israeli beauty products. Her store has been facing protests as a result.
“I received a huge embrace and plenty of support,” Bar-Oz said, after an article about her plight appeared on Ynet. In the story, the store owner, who insists on selling Israeli products, shared her fears of contending with anti-Israel protesters targeting her business and shouting anti-Semitic slogans.
The boycott campaign against Bar-Oz backfired, with new orders pouring in as result of the story. Reports indicate the Shani's international clientele has increased by 37% as a result of the buycott campaign.
Watch it here:
And again, a message from Synonomous
"If you threaten to boycott an Israeli Business, we will move in and make them profitable, whether we need what they are selling, or not.
We are the people of G-d.
We are the people that seek to end anti-Semitism.
We are the people that hid the Jews from the Nazis.
We are the churches.
We are the synagogues.
We are synonymous.
Expect us."
Documenting another BDS Fail.
Shani Bar-Oz, an Israeli living in Vancouver owns a store, Lavan that sells Israeli beauty products. Her store has been facing protests as a result.
“I received a huge embrace and plenty of support,” Bar-Oz said, after an article about her plight appeared on Ynet. In the story, the store owner, who insists on selling Israeli products, shared her fears of contending with anti-Israel protesters targeting her business and shouting anti-Semitic slogans.
The boycott campaign against Bar-Oz backfired, with new orders pouring in as result of the story. Reports indicate the Shani's international clientele has increased by 37% as a result of the buycott campaign.
Watch it here:
And again, a message from Synonomous
"If you threaten to boycott an Israeli Business, we will move in and make them profitable, whether we need what they are selling, or not.
We are the people of G-d.
We are the people that seek to end anti-Semitism.
We are the people that hid the Jews from the Nazis.
We are the churches.
We are the synagogues.
We are synonymous.
Expect us."
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Are the Palestinians indigenous to the land of Israel ?
Are the Palestinians indigenous to the land of Israel ?
Not according to Hamas Minister of the Interior and of National Security Fathi Hammad. Speaking on Egypt's Al-Hekma TV on March 23, 2012 he declared "Every Palestinian, in Gaza and throughout Palestine, can prove his Arab roots - whether from Saudi Arabia, from Yemen, or anywhere. We have blood ties."
"Personally, half my family is Egyptian. We are all like that. More than 30 families in Gaza are called Al-Masri ["Egyptian"]. Brothers, half of the Palestinians are Egyptians and the other half are Saudis."
"Who are the Palestinians? We have many families called Al-Masri, whose roots are Egyptian. Egyptian! They may be from Alexandria, from Cairo, from Dumietta, from the North, from Aswan, from Upper Egypt. We are Egyptians. We are Arabs. We are Muslims. We are a part of you."
Our friend at Elder of Ziyon compiled a list of common Palestinian surnames a while back
In addition to al-Masri - the Egyptian, some of the names you'll find amongst the "indigenous" Palestinians include:
al-Mughrabi - the Moroccan
al-Djazair - the Algerian
al-Yamani - the Yemeni
al-Afghani - the Afghan
al-Turki - the Turk
al-Hindi - the Indian
al-Hourani - the Hauranite (from southern Syria)
al-Kurdi - the Kurd
al-Ajami - the Iranian
al-Shami- the Syrian
Khamis - Bahrain
al-Araj- part of Morocco
Halabi - Aleppo, Syria
Bardawil - named after a lake in Egypt
The ever charming Fathi Hammad adds
"...when we seek the help of our Arab brothers, we are not seeking their help in order to eat, to live, to drink, to dress, or to live a life of luxury. No. When we seek their help, it is in order to continue to wage Jihad."
Nice.
Read more at at MEMRI
Not according to Hamas Minister of the Interior and of National Security Fathi Hammad. Speaking on Egypt's Al-Hekma TV on March 23, 2012 he declared "Every Palestinian, in Gaza and throughout Palestine, can prove his Arab roots - whether from Saudi Arabia, from Yemen, or anywhere. We have blood ties."
"Personally, half my family is Egyptian. We are all like that. More than 30 families in Gaza are called Al-Masri ["Egyptian"]. Brothers, half of the Palestinians are Egyptians and the other half are Saudis."
"Who are the Palestinians? We have many families called Al-Masri, whose roots are Egyptian. Egyptian! They may be from Alexandria, from Cairo, from Dumietta, from the North, from Aswan, from Upper Egypt. We are Egyptians. We are Arabs. We are Muslims. We are a part of you."
Our friend at Elder of Ziyon compiled a list of common Palestinian surnames a while back
In addition to al-Masri - the Egyptian, some of the names you'll find amongst the "indigenous" Palestinians include:
al-Mughrabi - the Moroccan
al-Djazair - the Algerian
al-Yamani - the Yemeni
al-Afghani - the Afghan
al-Turki - the Turk
al-Hindi - the Indian
al-Hourani - the Hauranite (from southern Syria)
al-Kurdi - the Kurd
al-Ajami - the Iranian
al-Shami- the Syrian
Khamis - Bahrain
al-Araj- part of Morocco
Halabi - Aleppo, Syria
Bardawil - named after a lake in Egypt
The ever charming Fathi Hammad adds
"...when we seek the help of our Arab brothers, we are not seeking their help in order to eat, to live, to drink, to dress, or to live a life of luxury. No. When we seek their help, it is in order to continue to wage Jihad."
Nice.
Read more at at MEMRI
Passover: Adding a New Dayenu to our seder
In many households, it is part of the Passover tradition to add new songs and stories to the seder. For years we added a fourth matzah, to remind ourselves of the struggles of the Soviet Jews. For 5 years we remembered and prayed for the safe return of Gilad Shalit, reminding each other that until all of us are free, none of us are free. The seder is a reminder that our history and our heritage as Jews is ongoing. The story is not over.
The American Zionist Movement has suggestions to complete and modernize Dayenu. It calls upon the Jewish People to give thanks for the return to Israel and for all of the accomplishments of the Jewish People since the establishment of the State.
From the American Zionist Movement.
"If we had returned to Israel after two thousand years and had not established the State of Israel. Dayenu.
If we had established the State of Israel and not founded cities and made the sesert bloom. Dayenu.
If we had founded cities and made the desert bloom and had not absorbed millions of Olim. Dayenu.
If we had absorbed millions of Olim and had not revised the Hebrew language. Dayenu
If we had revised the Hebrew language and not developed a unique Israeli culture. Dayenu.
UPDATE:
( At my seder, it was uniformly agreed that the next two passages were a bit over the top. We'll likely skip them for the second night)
If we had developed a unique Israeli culture and had not established a myriad of social action organizations to improve Israeli society. Dayenu.
If we had established a myriad of social action organizations to improve Israeli society and had not developed innovative technologies to benefit the whole world. Dayenu.
If we had done all of this and even more but had not returned to Israel -Could we still say Dayenu? "
The American Zionist Movement has suggestions to complete and modernize Dayenu. It calls upon the Jewish People to give thanks for the return to Israel and for all of the accomplishments of the Jewish People since the establishment of the State.
From the American Zionist Movement.
"If we had returned to Israel after two thousand years and had not established the State of Israel. Dayenu.
If we had established the State of Israel and not founded cities and made the sesert bloom. Dayenu.
If we had founded cities and made the desert bloom and had not absorbed millions of Olim. Dayenu.
If we had absorbed millions of Olim and had not revised the Hebrew language. Dayenu
If we had revised the Hebrew language and not developed a unique Israeli culture. Dayenu.
UPDATE:
( At my seder, it was uniformly agreed that the next two passages were a bit over the top. We'll likely skip them for the second night)
If we had developed a unique Israeli culture and had not established a myriad of social action organizations to improve Israeli society. Dayenu.
If we had established a myriad of social action organizations to improve Israeli society and had not developed innovative technologies to benefit the whole world. Dayenu.
If we had done all of this and even more but had not returned to Israel -Could we still say Dayenu? "
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Only in Berkeley.
Sighted at Berkeley BART today.
"Join with us?" Is it just me, or is this a blatant attempt to confuse viewers that the advertisement is somehow associated with the pro-Israel organization StandWithUs?
And what should we make of the activists giving out these by the BART rotunda, during morning commute?
Its just another in a series of "only in Berkeley" moments.
"Join with us?" Is it just me, or is this a blatant attempt to confuse viewers that the advertisement is somehow associated with the pro-Israel organization StandWithUs?
And what should we make of the activists giving out these by the BART rotunda, during morning commute?
Its just another in a series of "only in Berkeley" moments.
Monday, April 2, 2012
For Pesach: There were Four Sons
This one's for you Bea,in honor of your Dad and for all the unsung heroes of the Bergson Group who against all odds helped build the Jewish state. The lessons hold fast even today
This was written by Rafael Medoff, director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies and originally appeared in the Jewish Exponent March 18, 2010
"Many of us recall the use of Passover themes in such Jewish political activity as the "Freedom Seders" of the Jewish student movement of the 1960s or the "Let My People Go" campaigns by Soviet Jewry advocates in the 1970s and 1980s.
But the appearance of Passover imagery in contemporary Jewish politics goes back much farther than that. With Passover approaching in 1945, Zionist activists in the United States undertook an information offensive that utilized the holiday's themes to challenge the small but influential segment of the Jewish community that opposed Zionism.
Shortly before Passover, the Jewish activists known as the "Bergson Group" issued a pamphlet that retold the "four sons" portion of the Haggadah with a starkly modern twist.
The booklet, titled "There Were Four Sons," bore no author's name, but it had all the dramatic hallmarks of the Academy Award- winning screenwriter Ben Hecht, who was the most prominent of the Bergson Group's publicists. Hecht had previously authored a series of attention-grabbing, full-page newspaper ads for the group that stoked controversy by boldly criticizing Allied policy toward European Jewry.
"There Were Four Sons" was illustrated by the famed artist Arthur Szyk, who, in between drawing covers for Time and Collier's, and political cartoons for the New York Post, put his talents at the disposal of the Bergson Group.
Szyk's four sons are taken straight out of the debates then raging in the American Jewish community over the future of Palestine. The first three are different types of American Jews who opposed, or at least were uninterested in, the fight for a Jewish state.
The "wicked son" represents the wealthy, assimilated Jew who actively opposed Zionism. He asks: "What is this nonsense about a Jewish nation and an independent homeland? When all this fuss blows over, let them return to the countries they came from ... ."
"Answer him," the pamphlet continues in the style of the traditional Haggadah, that "since he elects to hold himself aloof from a physical concern about his brother's plight, he has disqualified himself from a voice in the life-and-death affairs of a foreign and persecuted people." The Jews in Europe and Palestine fear his involvement in their affairs "more than the plotting of the anti-Semites," since "the adverse testimony of a supposed friend can be as scriptures in the mouth of the devil."
Szyk's depiction of the wicked son looks suspiciously like Joseph Proskauer, at the time the president of the American Jewish Committee, who was one of the most prominent and influential anti-Zionists of that era. Later, AJC would change its position and support the creation of Israel, but at that point, in 1945, it argued that the existence of a Jewish state would compromise the status of Jews in the Diaspora.
The second son, whom English-language Haggadahs typically call the "Simple Son," is here called the "Indifferent Son." He appears to be a middle-class businessman, wearing a fedora and chomping on a cigar. "Why don't we leave well enough alone?" he asks. "Aren't we doing OK here?" He worries that paying too much attention to European Jewry might "prod anti-Semitism here in America."
"Answer him," the Bergson pamphlet instructs, that fighting for a Jewish state would ultimately help decrease, not increase, anti-Semitism. Achieving "freedom and safety for your less fortunate kin in the death valley of Europe will create a sound moral foundation for a world order of peace and security," and that would include "banishing anti-Semitism."
Szyk's "Uninformed Son" (whom most Haggadahs call "the son who does not know to ask"), wearing a laborer's cap, is the stereotypical Jewish workingman. He says that he cannot understand why the Jews "complain" against the British administration in Palestine." After all, "Do Jews not have freedom there to live, work, sing, play and worship as they please?"
"Answer him that Palestine is far from a land of freedom today," the pamphlet asserts. "In Palestine, there are concentration camps" (meaning the detention camps where Jewish activists were held without charges), "torture chambers" (Jewish militants were often mistreated by their British captors), "ghettoes" (a reference to the curfews and other restrictions imposed on many Jewish neighborhoods) and "explicit anti-Jewish laws" (such as those prohibiting most Jewish immigration and land purchases).
The Bergson Group's "Wise Son" contrasts sharply with the other three. He is a Jewish soldier in the U.S. Army. He asks: "How can I help my fellow men in Europe and Palestine?" The pamphlet answers him by urging him to "join this crusade" for Jewish statehood "with all his heart and all his soul," and "add his voice, his influence among friends, and every penny he can honestly spare ... ."
The long dark night of Nazi persecution was drawing to a close, and the struggle for a Jewish state was about to begin in earnest. It was a struggle waged in Palestine with guerrilla warfare, on the high seas with refugee ships and in the court of public opinion with broadsides such as "There Were Four Sons," which invoked ancient imagery to sway hearts and minds. "
This was written by Rafael Medoff, director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies and originally appeared in the Jewish Exponent March 18, 2010
"Many of us recall the use of Passover themes in such Jewish political activity as the "Freedom Seders" of the Jewish student movement of the 1960s or the "Let My People Go" campaigns by Soviet Jewry advocates in the 1970s and 1980s.
But the appearance of Passover imagery in contemporary Jewish politics goes back much farther than that. With Passover approaching in 1945, Zionist activists in the United States undertook an information offensive that utilized the holiday's themes to challenge the small but influential segment of the Jewish community that opposed Zionism.
Shortly before Passover, the Jewish activists known as the "Bergson Group" issued a pamphlet that retold the "four sons" portion of the Haggadah with a starkly modern twist.
The booklet, titled "There Were Four Sons," bore no author's name, but it had all the dramatic hallmarks of the Academy Award- winning screenwriter Ben Hecht, who was the most prominent of the Bergson Group's publicists. Hecht had previously authored a series of attention-grabbing, full-page newspaper ads for the group that stoked controversy by boldly criticizing Allied policy toward European Jewry.
"There Were Four Sons" was illustrated by the famed artist Arthur Szyk, who, in between drawing covers for Time and Collier's, and political cartoons for the New York Post, put his talents at the disposal of the Bergson Group.
Szyk's four sons are taken straight out of the debates then raging in the American Jewish community over the future of Palestine. The first three are different types of American Jews who opposed, or at least were uninterested in, the fight for a Jewish state.
The "wicked son" represents the wealthy, assimilated Jew who actively opposed Zionism. He asks: "What is this nonsense about a Jewish nation and an independent homeland? When all this fuss blows over, let them return to the countries they came from ... ."
"Answer him," the pamphlet continues in the style of the traditional Haggadah, that "since he elects to hold himself aloof from a physical concern about his brother's plight, he has disqualified himself from a voice in the life-and-death affairs of a foreign and persecuted people." The Jews in Europe and Palestine fear his involvement in their affairs "more than the plotting of the anti-Semites," since "the adverse testimony of a supposed friend can be as scriptures in the mouth of the devil."
Szyk's depiction of the wicked son looks suspiciously like Joseph Proskauer, at the time the president of the American Jewish Committee, who was one of the most prominent and influential anti-Zionists of that era. Later, AJC would change its position and support the creation of Israel, but at that point, in 1945, it argued that the existence of a Jewish state would compromise the status of Jews in the Diaspora.
The second son, whom English-language Haggadahs typically call the "Simple Son," is here called the "Indifferent Son." He appears to be a middle-class businessman, wearing a fedora and chomping on a cigar. "Why don't we leave well enough alone?" he asks. "Aren't we doing OK here?" He worries that paying too much attention to European Jewry might "prod anti-Semitism here in America."
"Answer him," the Bergson pamphlet instructs, that fighting for a Jewish state would ultimately help decrease, not increase, anti-Semitism. Achieving "freedom and safety for your less fortunate kin in the death valley of Europe will create a sound moral foundation for a world order of peace and security," and that would include "banishing anti-Semitism."
Szyk's "Uninformed Son" (whom most Haggadahs call "the son who does not know to ask"), wearing a laborer's cap, is the stereotypical Jewish workingman. He says that he cannot understand why the Jews "complain" against the British administration in Palestine." After all, "Do Jews not have freedom there to live, work, sing, play and worship as they please?"
"Answer him that Palestine is far from a land of freedom today," the pamphlet asserts. "In Palestine, there are concentration camps" (meaning the detention camps where Jewish activists were held without charges), "torture chambers" (Jewish militants were often mistreated by their British captors), "ghettoes" (a reference to the curfews and other restrictions imposed on many Jewish neighborhoods) and "explicit anti-Jewish laws" (such as those prohibiting most Jewish immigration and land purchases).
The Bergson Group's "Wise Son" contrasts sharply with the other three. He is a Jewish soldier in the U.S. Army. He asks: "How can I help my fellow men in Europe and Palestine?" The pamphlet answers him by urging him to "join this crusade" for Jewish statehood "with all his heart and all his soul," and "add his voice, his influence among friends, and every penny he can honestly spare ... ."
The long dark night of Nazi persecution was drawing to a close, and the struggle for a Jewish state was about to begin in earnest. It was a struggle waged in Palestine with guerrilla warfare, on the high seas with refugee ships and in the court of public opinion with broadsides such as "There Were Four Sons," which invoked ancient imagery to sway hearts and minds. "
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Western and Jewish interests targetted in Turkey
'Unit 400', a top-secret ‘special ops’ unit within the elite overseas wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Al-Quds Brigade is planning on carrying out attacks against Jewish, Israeli and Western targets in Turkey. Sadly, we realize that "Jewish interests" includes young children going to school. That is the nature of terror.
From Arutz Sheva:
"Intelligence agencies have reportedly discovered an underground Iranian terrorist group sending members to Turkey to attack Jews, Israelis and Western targets. The organization, known as ‘Unit 400,’ is said to be part of the Al Quds Brigade.
Sky News reported an intelligence source who said that the unit "has been developing in the last few months a standing operating procedure for carrying out an attack in Turkey against western targets as well as Israeli and Jewish. It is our firm assessment that these procedures are in a very advanced stage, and that the intention is to act on the plans very soon."
The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei is said to control the Quds Force through his close ally Qassem Suleiman.
"He runs the whole thing - directly. [Mahmoud] Ahmedinajad [the Iranian president] makes all the noise and gets the attention but it's the Supreme Leader who is in charge of what is going on especially when it comes to international operations," said a senior intelligence official.
“It is our firm assessment that these procedures are in a very advanced stage, and that the intention is to act on the plans very soon,” the source added.
A secret study conducted by a foreign intelligence agency explained, "Unit 400 is a top-secret ‘special ops’ unit within the elite overseas wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF). It plans and carries out terror attacks on external targets, and provides material support to foreign militia groups, at the direct behest of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This is in accordance with the regime's core strategic considerations about how best to challenge perceived enemies in Israel and the west - through asymmetric warfare - and to cope with mounting international pressure over its nuclear programme."
According to the report, the sources cited evidence showing that Unit 400 was given instructions to carry out more frequent and more daring attacks around the world as a demonstration of ‘Iran's asymmetric power,’ Zee News reported."
From Arutz Sheva:
"Intelligence agencies have reportedly discovered an underground Iranian terrorist group sending members to Turkey to attack Jews, Israelis and Western targets. The organization, known as ‘Unit 400,’ is said to be part of the Al Quds Brigade.
Sky News reported an intelligence source who said that the unit "has been developing in the last few months a standing operating procedure for carrying out an attack in Turkey against western targets as well as Israeli and Jewish. It is our firm assessment that these procedures are in a very advanced stage, and that the intention is to act on the plans very soon."
The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei is said to control the Quds Force through his close ally Qassem Suleiman.
"He runs the whole thing - directly. [Mahmoud] Ahmedinajad [the Iranian president] makes all the noise and gets the attention but it's the Supreme Leader who is in charge of what is going on especially when it comes to international operations," said a senior intelligence official.
“It is our firm assessment that these procedures are in a very advanced stage, and that the intention is to act on the plans very soon,” the source added.
A secret study conducted by a foreign intelligence agency explained, "Unit 400 is a top-secret ‘special ops’ unit within the elite overseas wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF). It plans and carries out terror attacks on external targets, and provides material support to foreign militia groups, at the direct behest of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This is in accordance with the regime's core strategic considerations about how best to challenge perceived enemies in Israel and the west - through asymmetric warfare - and to cope with mounting international pressure over its nuclear programme."
According to the report, the sources cited evidence showing that Unit 400 was given instructions to carry out more frequent and more daring attacks around the world as a demonstration of ‘Iran's asymmetric power,’ Zee News reported."
Barukh Binah's remarks to the J Street Conference
Ambassador Barukh Binah is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC. From 2008 to January 2012 he had served as the Deputy Director General for North America at the Ministry of Foreign in Jerusalem. He had previously served as Israel's Consul General to the Midwest, based in Chicago (2005-2008).
He was asked to address the recent J street Conference.
Deputy Head of Mission Ambassador Barukh Binah's Remarks to the 2012 J Street Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2012
"Sixty-five years ago, there could not have been a Jewish ambassador, representing the Jewish State, speaking to a Jewish audience in a flourishing and confident diaspora. Today, I come before you, my Friends, to greet and congratulate you on your third conference and to discuss our common goals and possible disagreements.
Our story is always exciting and un-expected, but in the last 150 years we have surprised even ourselves. We rose from the Ghettos of East Europe and the Malah of North Africa to create a dynamic, resourceful and vibrant democracy in an unusually hostile and oppressive region.
Nobody is perfect; and, as a 7th generation Israeli born I know full well what needs to be fixed in my own society. I salute those individuals and organizations working for grass-roots improvements within Israel, and I personally attempt these corrections every four years when I cast my vote. Sometimes I have it my way, and sometimes I do not. It is called Democracy.
I understand that you, my friends, are all about future and hope. So are we, the young and most energetic country that we are. But while our view is towards the future, we dare not forget our past. History must not shackle us, but its lessons must guide us. And please, do not tell me that it is no longer relevant, because it is. (It is alive and scorching just like the trail left by an Israeli Air force F-16, flown over Poland's valleys of death by the granddaughter of the commanders of a Ghetto revolt. It is alive in ink on paper as long as a 12 year old, an 8th generation Israeli born, dedicates her Bat Mitzvah Book to "members of my family whom I never met", though nobody coached her in this direction.
We look today to our two flourishing communities – in Israel, and here in the United States; each shoulders an historic and current responsibility for the survival of the Jewish people. Our relations are therefore of the utmost importance, and we must guide them with principles that will ensure our partnership.
I come to you today not only as the second highest ranking Israeli diplomat in the US, but as a brother (and I have an extensive American family). We share your democratic values. But unlike your secure existence between these happy shores, an ocean apart from the bad guys, our borders are curved and dusty, and made of missiles and mayhem. As we continue to face intolerable threats, we sometimes have to make decisions of life and death. We welcome the opinions of our brethren in the Diaspora, especially on issues of Jewish identity and pluralism, but at the end of the day, it is we, the Israelis, who must bear the ultimate burden and may have to pay the ultimate price. And we, dear Friends and Family, have no margins of error; none whatsoever.
So, we need you to stand with us. It is as simple as that and someone ought to say it. Internal activism is a central part of democratic society, but Pressures on the elected government of Israel can present us with a problem, when we need you the most.
In this spirit of democracy and openness, I have to broach an issue with you, for J Street is not just an NGO that publishes a magazine and states an opinion in the free market if ideas. It is an organization that lobbies congress. You practice not only free speech but a legislative agenda. You don’t only publish op-eds, you bring members of Congress to the region. I respectfully submit that this relatively new role lays responsibilities before you which I am not certain have always been adequately considered. Thus, when you bring lawmakers to Israel, please make sure that they come out with a full picture.You may be critical of settlements, but if you choose to show the most extreme, it behooves you to present the greater mass of moderates as well. If you show them negative aspects of checkpoints, please show as well the catastrophe and grief of terror victims. If you show them Israel’s failings, show them also our triumphs such as the aliyah of the Jewish community of Ethiopia. I urge you to strive for balance, so that these lawmakers may become friends of Israel who might be critical, and not critics of Israel who are not friends
I welcome the evolution in J-Street's position, which brought about the recognition of the ultimate need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities. I hope that this will be followed by adopting President Obama's policy that all the options, including a military effort, are on the table.
Likewise, I welcome your position against one-sided resolutions on settlements, and I hope that you will never go back to opposing a veto cast by the Obama administration, like you did in January of 2011.
I would like to express our appreciation of J Street’s active repudiation of BDS, and of your activity on campus to help stem this insidious ideology. Our shared view is that BDS is not a form of criticism, but a blatant, though veiled attack. I hope that the leaders of the BDS movement will not be welcomed at J Street, and that all calls for boycott will continue to be refuted. They use such appearances as a means of gaining legitimacy, and whatever actually happens in your fora, they report to their supports that they were greeted at J Street with enthusiasm and consent. Please don’t let yourselves be used. They aren’t honest players.
Regarding Iran, this radical, ideological regime represents an unparalleled danger to world peace and stability and a very serious threat to Israel, as its leaders continue calling for our annihilation. For this regime to have nuclear military capability is simply unacceptable. A nuclear Iran will never be contained.
Israel's position is very clear. We support the initiative lead by the United States to take all possible measures in order to make sure that Iran gives up its nuclear military ambitions. We applaud President Obama's clarification that all options are on the table, economic sanctions, diplomacy, and including the military effort.
Our region indeed harbors forces of radical ideology, unwilling to accept our very existence as a free nation in our own country, and while we pursue and seek peace, the Ayatollahs of Iran call loudly for our annihilation. They seek to develop nuclear weapons and support terror groups in Lebanon and in Gaza who attack us constantly and defy our right to exist.
Regarding our peace policy, a vision that Israel was established with. It is the vision of our prophets, from Isaiah to Herzl. Without peace our security will not be complete, but without security there will be no real peace.
The sands of the Arab Spring may go on shifting, but Israel remains committed to achieving peace with our Palestinian neighbors. We wish them well. Yet, our efforts to directly negotiate all issues are constantly thwarted by Palestinian rejection. We are willing to put all the contentious issues on the table, in order to bring an end to the conflict. But time after time we find out that the metaphoric table was removed, or cut, or blown up in the flames of Terror. We urge the Palestinian leadership to lead their people in the arduous path of peace, as true leaders do, and to forgo the game of the past, the game of hatred and virulent incitement. It is not a game of political Quidditch that we play here; it is a heavy-duty selection of choices that we must make. A Hamas government is not a harbinger of peace and neither is an Iranian-backed Hezbollah regime.
However, the proof of the pudding, my friends, is in the eating, and so far we are only fed with the old, stale and hateful anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish slogans, as if nothing is happening. I read the sober remarks of Judea Pearle, father of the late WSJ reporter Daniel Pearle, over the last weekend. He said: "I grew up in Israel in a culture of peace and coexistence … but I do not see a hint of that on the other side … there is still no Palestinian leader who can go back to his people with the words 'end of conflict'" on his lips.
So, while we cling on to our quest for peace we must be very careful and keep our shields up. Especially when repressive regimes such as Iran's or Syria's continue to butcher their own citizenry (like in Teheran 2 years ago and in Homs, 2 days ago); especially when they go on spewing their venom, and especially when they strive to build a nuclear arsenal that might attempt, God forbid, to put an end to the Jewish Question, this time in the Middle East.
We are grateful for President Obama's statement that, “When there are efforts to boycott or divest from Israel, we will stand against them. And whenever an effort is made to delegitimize the state of Israel, my administration has opposed them.” We are just as appreciative of the US administration steadfast support in the Human rights council in Geneva, and in other international fora, rebuffing one-sided unbalanced resolutions on the settlements, and the US insistence on Palestinian return to the negotiating table. I am sure you share with us the bond of "special relations" between Israel and the United States.
I have mentioned some of the challenges that we face, but I come before you today as the proud envoy of a cheerful and optimistic country. We should celebrate our tiny, little country. You all know of our superb military, our research universities, and our Nobel laureates, the contributions we make in science, health and Agro-tech. But how many of you know that, according to UNESCO figures, Israel ranks first, alongside the UK, in the number of new titles per capita per year?
We are still driven by the old flame, compelling us to exceed our potential, and this is the true essence and meaning of being a Zionist today.
Friends, I urge you to stand by our side as Americans, as members of your community, as Jews. For the sake of our forefathers and our future, we must keep our brotherhood strong."
He was asked to address the recent J street Conference.
Deputy Head of Mission Ambassador Barukh Binah's Remarks to the 2012 J Street Conference in Washington, D.C., on March 26, 2012
"Sixty-five years ago, there could not have been a Jewish ambassador, representing the Jewish State, speaking to a Jewish audience in a flourishing and confident diaspora. Today, I come before you, my Friends, to greet and congratulate you on your third conference and to discuss our common goals and possible disagreements.
Our story is always exciting and un-expected, but in the last 150 years we have surprised even ourselves. We rose from the Ghettos of East Europe and the Malah of North Africa to create a dynamic, resourceful and vibrant democracy in an unusually hostile and oppressive region.
Nobody is perfect; and, as a 7th generation Israeli born I know full well what needs to be fixed in my own society. I salute those individuals and organizations working for grass-roots improvements within Israel, and I personally attempt these corrections every four years when I cast my vote. Sometimes I have it my way, and sometimes I do not. It is called Democracy.
I understand that you, my friends, are all about future and hope. So are we, the young and most energetic country that we are. But while our view is towards the future, we dare not forget our past. History must not shackle us, but its lessons must guide us. And please, do not tell me that it is no longer relevant, because it is. (It is alive and scorching just like the trail left by an Israeli Air force F-16, flown over Poland's valleys of death by the granddaughter of the commanders of a Ghetto revolt. It is alive in ink on paper as long as a 12 year old, an 8th generation Israeli born, dedicates her Bat Mitzvah Book to "members of my family whom I never met", though nobody coached her in this direction.
We look today to our two flourishing communities – in Israel, and here in the United States; each shoulders an historic and current responsibility for the survival of the Jewish people. Our relations are therefore of the utmost importance, and we must guide them with principles that will ensure our partnership.
I come to you today not only as the second highest ranking Israeli diplomat in the US, but as a brother (and I have an extensive American family). We share your democratic values. But unlike your secure existence between these happy shores, an ocean apart from the bad guys, our borders are curved and dusty, and made of missiles and mayhem. As we continue to face intolerable threats, we sometimes have to make decisions of life and death. We welcome the opinions of our brethren in the Diaspora, especially on issues of Jewish identity and pluralism, but at the end of the day, it is we, the Israelis, who must bear the ultimate burden and may have to pay the ultimate price. And we, dear Friends and Family, have no margins of error; none whatsoever.
So, we need you to stand with us. It is as simple as that and someone ought to say it. Internal activism is a central part of democratic society, but Pressures on the elected government of Israel can present us with a problem, when we need you the most.
In this spirit of democracy and openness, I have to broach an issue with you, for J Street is not just an NGO that publishes a magazine and states an opinion in the free market if ideas. It is an organization that lobbies congress. You practice not only free speech but a legislative agenda. You don’t only publish op-eds, you bring members of Congress to the region. I respectfully submit that this relatively new role lays responsibilities before you which I am not certain have always been adequately considered. Thus, when you bring lawmakers to Israel, please make sure that they come out with a full picture.You may be critical of settlements, but if you choose to show the most extreme, it behooves you to present the greater mass of moderates as well. If you show them negative aspects of checkpoints, please show as well the catastrophe and grief of terror victims. If you show them Israel’s failings, show them also our triumphs such as the aliyah of the Jewish community of Ethiopia. I urge you to strive for balance, so that these lawmakers may become friends of Israel who might be critical, and not critics of Israel who are not friends
I welcome the evolution in J-Street's position, which brought about the recognition of the ultimate need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities. I hope that this will be followed by adopting President Obama's policy that all the options, including a military effort, are on the table.
Likewise, I welcome your position against one-sided resolutions on settlements, and I hope that you will never go back to opposing a veto cast by the Obama administration, like you did in January of 2011.
I would like to express our appreciation of J Street’s active repudiation of BDS, and of your activity on campus to help stem this insidious ideology. Our shared view is that BDS is not a form of criticism, but a blatant, though veiled attack. I hope that the leaders of the BDS movement will not be welcomed at J Street, and that all calls for boycott will continue to be refuted. They use such appearances as a means of gaining legitimacy, and whatever actually happens in your fora, they report to their supports that they were greeted at J Street with enthusiasm and consent. Please don’t let yourselves be used. They aren’t honest players.
Regarding Iran, this radical, ideological regime represents an unparalleled danger to world peace and stability and a very serious threat to Israel, as its leaders continue calling for our annihilation. For this regime to have nuclear military capability is simply unacceptable. A nuclear Iran will never be contained.
Israel's position is very clear. We support the initiative lead by the United States to take all possible measures in order to make sure that Iran gives up its nuclear military ambitions. We applaud President Obama's clarification that all options are on the table, economic sanctions, diplomacy, and including the military effort.
Our region indeed harbors forces of radical ideology, unwilling to accept our very existence as a free nation in our own country, and while we pursue and seek peace, the Ayatollahs of Iran call loudly for our annihilation. They seek to develop nuclear weapons and support terror groups in Lebanon and in Gaza who attack us constantly and defy our right to exist.
Regarding our peace policy, a vision that Israel was established with. It is the vision of our prophets, from Isaiah to Herzl. Without peace our security will not be complete, but without security there will be no real peace.
The sands of the Arab Spring may go on shifting, but Israel remains committed to achieving peace with our Palestinian neighbors. We wish them well. Yet, our efforts to directly negotiate all issues are constantly thwarted by Palestinian rejection. We are willing to put all the contentious issues on the table, in order to bring an end to the conflict. But time after time we find out that the metaphoric table was removed, or cut, or blown up in the flames of Terror. We urge the Palestinian leadership to lead their people in the arduous path of peace, as true leaders do, and to forgo the game of the past, the game of hatred and virulent incitement. It is not a game of political Quidditch that we play here; it is a heavy-duty selection of choices that we must make. A Hamas government is not a harbinger of peace and neither is an Iranian-backed Hezbollah regime.
However, the proof of the pudding, my friends, is in the eating, and so far we are only fed with the old, stale and hateful anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish slogans, as if nothing is happening. I read the sober remarks of Judea Pearle, father of the late WSJ reporter Daniel Pearle, over the last weekend. He said: "I grew up in Israel in a culture of peace and coexistence … but I do not see a hint of that on the other side … there is still no Palestinian leader who can go back to his people with the words 'end of conflict'" on his lips.
So, while we cling on to our quest for peace we must be very careful and keep our shields up. Especially when repressive regimes such as Iran's or Syria's continue to butcher their own citizenry (like in Teheran 2 years ago and in Homs, 2 days ago); especially when they go on spewing their venom, and especially when they strive to build a nuclear arsenal that might attempt, God forbid, to put an end to the Jewish Question, this time in the Middle East.
We are grateful for President Obama's statement that, “When there are efforts to boycott or divest from Israel, we will stand against them. And whenever an effort is made to delegitimize the state of Israel, my administration has opposed them.” We are just as appreciative of the US administration steadfast support in the Human rights council in Geneva, and in other international fora, rebuffing one-sided unbalanced resolutions on the settlements, and the US insistence on Palestinian return to the negotiating table. I am sure you share with us the bond of "special relations" between Israel and the United States.
I have mentioned some of the challenges that we face, but I come before you today as the proud envoy of a cheerful and optimistic country. We should celebrate our tiny, little country. You all know of our superb military, our research universities, and our Nobel laureates, the contributions we make in science, health and Agro-tech. But how many of you know that, according to UNESCO figures, Israel ranks first, alongside the UK, in the number of new titles per capita per year?
We are still driven by the old flame, compelling us to exceed our potential, and this is the true essence and meaning of being a Zionist today.
Friends, I urge you to stand by our side as Americans, as members of your community, as Jews. For the sake of our forefathers and our future, we must keep our brotherhood strong."
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Hate speech from the promoters of the Global march to Jerusalem
Zionism is the national revival movement of the Jews. It holds that the Jews are a people and therefore have the right to self-determination in their own national home. It aims to secure and support a legally recognized national home for the Jews in their historical homeland, and to initiate and stimulate a revival of Jewish national life, culture and language.
Zionism holds that the Jews are a nation like any other, and should gather together in a single homeland.
Feroze Mithiborwala, one of the organizers of the ill-conceived and ill-executed Global march to Jerusalem lists his employer as "Solidarity Towards Oppressed People (STOP)" He has publicly declared his opposition towards "Imperialism, Zionism and Brahamism"
(Note to Feroze: If you believe ALL people in the world have the right to self determination EXCEPT the Jewish people, that might make you an anti-Semite.)
What do we need to know about "STOP"?
How about this charming post, currently gracing their Facebook page?
"God's angels of death and destruction…strike it! Let Zionism be damned wherever it is found. A heart touching wish by our brother activist- Steve Wertheim.
May it's wretched soul instantly wither and suffer eternal damnation...and may it not survive one month. May it be banished from all light and all life. May its future be dark, and may God's justice pursue it. A disaster it has never experienced will befall it, and all curses known by any who has suffered by it, its demons, and their minions, in body, mind, or spirit, come to fruition. We deliver to you, God's angels of wrath and ire, Zionism, the satanic offspring of Judaism, that you may smother it, and cast it and its spectre into damnation, dry up its wealth, plague its mind, and scatter its consciousness that it may steadily be diminished until it reaches his death. Put to death the cursed Zionism. May it be damned, damned, damned!"
Think Feroze is just a foreign extremist? Think this has no relevance to our "Peace activists" locally? Think again. Feroze was sponsored at a talk by the Middle East Children's Alliance and The International Jewish Solidarity Network and hosted at the local Arab Resource Center just a few years ago. And yes, these are the same local groups that sponsored the GMJ solidarity rally at the consulate yesterday.
Next week, when we gather with our friends, our family and our community at our Passover seders, when we read "For not just one alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us", remember please that Amalek still exists. Its our responsibility- each of ours- to fight against this evil with whatever tools we have at our disposal. In our generation this struggle may not involve picking up a sword or cross-bow. It will involve writing op-eds and letters to the editor. It will involve phoning and emailing our elected representatives. It will involve standing up against hate whenever we see it-on the streets, in the mainstream media or on the web. And as importantly, it will mean acting as a force for light and for justice in this world.
Lets take to heart the words of Mrs. Eva Sandler, the wife of murdered Rabbi Jonathan and the mother of Aryeh and Gavriel, whose lives were taken by hate in Toulouse, France.
"Parents, please kiss your children. Tell them how much you love them, and how dear it is to your heart that they be living examples of our Torah, imbued with the fear of Heaven and with love of their fellow man.
Please increase your study of Torah, whether on your own or with your family and friends. Help others who may find study difficult to achieve alone.
Please bring more light into the world by kindling the Sabbath candles this and every Friday night. (Please do so a bit earlier than the published times as a way to add holiness to our world.)
The holiday of Passover is approaching. Please invite another person into your homes so that all have a place at a Seder to celebrate the holiday of our freedom.
Please bring more light into the world by kindling the Sabbath candles this and every Friday night.
Along with our tearful remembrance of our trials in Egypt so many years ago, we still tell over how “in each and every generation, they have stood against us to destroy us.” We all will announce in a loud and clear voice: “G-d saves us from their hands.”
Zionism holds that the Jews are a nation like any other, and should gather together in a single homeland.
Feroze Mithiborwala, one of the organizers of the ill-conceived and ill-executed Global march to Jerusalem lists his employer as "Solidarity Towards Oppressed People (STOP)" He has publicly declared his opposition towards "Imperialism, Zionism and Brahamism"
(Note to Feroze: If you believe ALL people in the world have the right to self determination EXCEPT the Jewish people, that might make you an anti-Semite.)
What do we need to know about "STOP"?
How about this charming post, currently gracing their Facebook page?
"God's angels of death and destruction…strike it! Let Zionism be damned wherever it is found. A heart touching wish by our brother activist- Steve Wertheim.
May it's wretched soul instantly wither and suffer eternal damnation...and may it not survive one month. May it be banished from all light and all life. May its future be dark, and may God's justice pursue it. A disaster it has never experienced will befall it, and all curses known by any who has suffered by it, its demons, and their minions, in body, mind, or spirit, come to fruition. We deliver to you, God's angels of wrath and ire, Zionism, the satanic offspring of Judaism, that you may smother it, and cast it and its spectre into damnation, dry up its wealth, plague its mind, and scatter its consciousness that it may steadily be diminished until it reaches his death. Put to death the cursed Zionism. May it be damned, damned, damned!"
Think Feroze is just a foreign extremist? Think this has no relevance to our "Peace activists" locally? Think again. Feroze was sponsored at a talk by the Middle East Children's Alliance and The International Jewish Solidarity Network and hosted at the local Arab Resource Center just a few years ago. And yes, these are the same local groups that sponsored the GMJ solidarity rally at the consulate yesterday.
Next week, when we gather with our friends, our family and our community at our Passover seders, when we read "For not just one alone has risen against us to destroy us, but in every generation they rise against us to destroy us", remember please that Amalek still exists. Its our responsibility- each of ours- to fight against this evil with whatever tools we have at our disposal. In our generation this struggle may not involve picking up a sword or cross-bow. It will involve writing op-eds and letters to the editor. It will involve phoning and emailing our elected representatives. It will involve standing up against hate whenever we see it-on the streets, in the mainstream media or on the web. And as importantly, it will mean acting as a force for light and for justice in this world.
Lets take to heart the words of Mrs. Eva Sandler, the wife of murdered Rabbi Jonathan and the mother of Aryeh and Gavriel, whose lives were taken by hate in Toulouse, France.
"Parents, please kiss your children. Tell them how much you love them, and how dear it is to your heart that they be living examples of our Torah, imbued with the fear of Heaven and with love of their fellow man.
Please increase your study of Torah, whether on your own or with your family and friends. Help others who may find study difficult to achieve alone.
Please bring more light into the world by kindling the Sabbath candles this and every Friday night. (Please do so a bit earlier than the published times as a way to add holiness to our world.)
The holiday of Passover is approaching. Please invite another person into your homes so that all have a place at a Seder to celebrate the holiday of our freedom.
Please bring more light into the world by kindling the Sabbath candles this and every Friday night.
Along with our tearful remembrance of our trials in Egypt so many years ago, we still tell over how “in each and every generation, they have stood against us to destroy us.” We all will announce in a loud and clear voice: “G-d saves us from their hands.”
Friday, March 30, 2012
PROTEST IN FRONT OF CONSULATE TODAY
About one hundred and twenty of the usual folks on the anti-Israel side, including the most brain-damaged resident of Telegraph Avenue, plus Richard Becker, Forest Schmidt, and several middle-aged Berkeley women with sad empty lives and a thing for Levantine boys.
Oh, and the Levantine boys - but they seemed a bit drab and irrelevant.
Also three charming young damsels with flashing eyes who really appreciated my waving a shoe at them. They screamed, smiled, and waved.
Hi ladies. Anytime you want to talk about foot-wear, I’m ready.
You look like you’d be tons of good wholesome fun.
And you probably have lovely feet.
DEFECTIVE PEOPLE
One Arab teenager on the hatefilled side is in the running for a Darwin Award.
Getting hit by a truck for playing in traffic is a horrible way to become a shahid, but if you’re that unlikely to ever become a useful member of society, your parents will simply have to accept it. Better than nothing, I guess.
They can always use that four-coloured battle rag as a shroud.
For their sake it should happen soon.
You eat too much.
Richard Becker spoke at one point. Something inane about revolution and struggle, a short and relatively mild version of his usual Marxist piffle. Either he or his dogsbody Forest have probably realized that the dear ladies from code pink can’t grasp anything complicated, the angry Arab teenagers can’t spell it, and the middle-aged gentlemen of pro-Hamas convictions simply ignore it as typical prattle from a useful idiot.
You’re on their list, Dicky.
BTW, why is Forest so red-faced? High blood pressure? Frustration?
I worry about him, he’s looking unhealthy.
So do you, Richard.
Seventeen signs produced by International A.N.S.W.E.R. - printed years ago and ragged from re-use.
Organizers: ANSWER, Code Pink, AROC, and the International Socialist Organization.
More than half a year in the making.
Tons of amusing e-mails.
Four Pally flags.
Just four.
Our side had way more flags, Richard. Israeli flags. As well as more intelligent signs.
And as usual even a few of us are more than a match for your revolutionary wannabe drones.
Just remember that most of us have jobs, Richard, and are well-adjusted.
Whereas you associate with juvenile delinquents.
And the ladies of Code Pink.
Plus Forest Schmidt.
How horrid.
Oh, and the Levantine boys - but they seemed a bit drab and irrelevant.
Also three charming young damsels with flashing eyes who really appreciated my waving a shoe at them. They screamed, smiled, and waved.
Hi ladies. Anytime you want to talk about foot-wear, I’m ready.
You look like you’d be tons of good wholesome fun.
And you probably have lovely feet.
DEFECTIVE PEOPLE
One Arab teenager on the hatefilled side is in the running for a Darwin Award.
Getting hit by a truck for playing in traffic is a horrible way to become a shahid, but if you’re that unlikely to ever become a useful member of society, your parents will simply have to accept it. Better than nothing, I guess.
They can always use that four-coloured battle rag as a shroud.
For their sake it should happen soon.
You eat too much.
Richard Becker spoke at one point. Something inane about revolution and struggle, a short and relatively mild version of his usual Marxist piffle. Either he or his dogsbody Forest have probably realized that the dear ladies from code pink can’t grasp anything complicated, the angry Arab teenagers can’t spell it, and the middle-aged gentlemen of pro-Hamas convictions simply ignore it as typical prattle from a useful idiot.
You’re on their list, Dicky.
BTW, why is Forest so red-faced? High blood pressure? Frustration?
I worry about him, he’s looking unhealthy.
So do you, Richard.
Seventeen signs produced by International A.N.S.W.E.R. - printed years ago and ragged from re-use.
Organizers: ANSWER, Code Pink, AROC, and the International Socialist Organization.
More than half a year in the making.
Tons of amusing e-mails.
Four Pally flags.
Just four.
Our side had way more flags, Richard. Israeli flags. As well as more intelligent signs.
And as usual even a few of us are more than a match for your revolutionary wannabe drones.
Just remember that most of us have jobs, Richard, and are well-adjusted.
Whereas you associate with juvenile delinquents.
And the ladies of Code Pink.
Plus Forest Schmidt.
How horrid.
Global march to Jerusalem Fails to Meet Organizers Expectations
The latest high profile publicity stunt from the "I hate Israel" cru has fizzled and burned, with more people chosing to run in the Tel Aviv marathon than storming Israel's borders
The "peaceful" demonstration instead was marred by activists throwing rocks and firebombs in a vain attempt to provoke an Israeli reaction.
From Adam Kredo
"Pro-Palestinian activists involved in the Global March on Jerusalem (GMJ) criticized Israel on Twitter Friday after violent protests along Israel’s borders forced the deployment of tear gas and resulted in injuries—but downplayed the fact that rocks and firebombs had been thrown by protesters to instigate the clashes.
Pictures and videos from the protest—which aims to “end the Apartheid, ethnic cleansing and Judaisation policies affecting the people, land and sanctity of Jerusalem”—reveal that self-described “peaceful” protestors have been throwing firebombs and rocks at Israeli border police.
Twitter user Captain Barak Raz, who identifies himself as a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Force’s division in the West Bank, posted a video of protesters throwing a firebomb at Israeli security forces.
“Firebombs on security forces peaceful protest???,” Raz tweeted when linking to the video. “#Yeahright.”
He continues
"Middle East experts decried the one-sided lambasting of Israeli security forces.
“GMJ uses the same PR tactic that has become standard for all the terrorist groups who attack Israel. They want to put the Israelis in a situation where they have to kill people,” said Noah Pollak, executive director of the Emergency Committee for Israel. “Hamas, Hezbollah, GMJ—it’s all the same strategy: force the IDF to kill people, get it on video, kick back and enjoy the media furor.”
Hadar Sela, a Middle East writer and researcher, said, “The whole project was to create a PR disaster for Israel.”
“It comes as no surprise to see [Global March to Jerusalem] organizers and activists trying to get their pre-determined message out to the media by use of spin, even though that message has absolutely no foundation in the reality of the events which they initiated today,” Sela said.
Heading into the event, GMJ organizers referred to Israelis as Nazis and claimed that they are “ready for martyrdom.”
“Israel has gone crazy, and they are acting no different than Nazi’s. Our response to them is a response of bravery,” Firouz Mitiborwala, a GMJ-backer, told the Iranian-controlled Fars News Agency. 'We are ready for martyrdom for our Palestinian brothers.""
The "peaceful" demonstration instead was marred by activists throwing rocks and firebombs in a vain attempt to provoke an Israeli reaction.
From Adam Kredo
"Pro-Palestinian activists involved in the Global March on Jerusalem (GMJ) criticized Israel on Twitter Friday after violent protests along Israel’s borders forced the deployment of tear gas and resulted in injuries—but downplayed the fact that rocks and firebombs had been thrown by protesters to instigate the clashes.
Pictures and videos from the protest—which aims to “end the Apartheid, ethnic cleansing and Judaisation policies affecting the people, land and sanctity of Jerusalem”—reveal that self-described “peaceful” protestors have been throwing firebombs and rocks at Israeli border police.
Twitter user Captain Barak Raz, who identifies himself as a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Force’s division in the West Bank, posted a video of protesters throwing a firebomb at Israeli security forces.
“Firebombs on security forces peaceful protest???,” Raz tweeted when linking to the video. “#Yeahright.”
He continues
"Middle East experts decried the one-sided lambasting of Israeli security forces.
“GMJ uses the same PR tactic that has become standard for all the terrorist groups who attack Israel. They want to put the Israelis in a situation where they have to kill people,” said Noah Pollak, executive director of the Emergency Committee for Israel. “Hamas, Hezbollah, GMJ—it’s all the same strategy: force the IDF to kill people, get it on video, kick back and enjoy the media furor.”
Hadar Sela, a Middle East writer and researcher, said, “The whole project was to create a PR disaster for Israel.”
“It comes as no surprise to see [Global March to Jerusalem] organizers and activists trying to get their pre-determined message out to the media by use of spin, even though that message has absolutely no foundation in the reality of the events which they initiated today,” Sela said.
Heading into the event, GMJ organizers referred to Israelis as Nazis and claimed that they are “ready for martyrdom.”
“Israel has gone crazy, and they are acting no different than Nazi’s. Our response to them is a response of bravery,” Firouz Mitiborwala, a GMJ-backer, told the Iranian-controlled Fars News Agency. 'We are ready for martyrdom for our Palestinian brothers.""
Monday, March 26, 2012
Action Alert: Join San Francisco Voice for Israel on March 30
From our friends at San Francisco Voice for Israel, the Bay Area Chapter of Standwithus
If I forget thee, oh Jerusalem....
Friday March 30 4-6 pm
Israeli consulate
456 Montgomery St
San Francisco
Join Standwithus/San Francisco Voice for Israel as we counter a protest in front of the Israeli Consulate. Local extremist groups including Al Awda and International ANSWER have called for a protest in solidarity with the Global March to Jerusalem, the latest high profile publicity stunt that seeks to storm Israel’s borders on March 30, 2012. The march has been orchestrated by leaders of the Muslim brotherhood, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the members of the Fringe Left, who deny the Jewish peoples' historical, cultural and religious ties to our holiest city, and have demanded the end of the so-called "Judaization of Jerusalem". Just last month local organizers invited notorious anti-Semite Gilad Atzmon to the Bay area as a fundraiser for the Global march to Jerusalem. Atzmon has been widely condemned across the political spectrum for his racist views. Organizers have called for demonstrations at Israel’s consulates , declaring the "GMJ will siege Israel and its embassies over the world."
Please join us in front of the Consulate, 456 Montgomery St San Francisco this Friday, March 30 from 4- 6.
Stand with us
Stand For Peace
Stand with Israel
We encourage you to bring your own signs and flags to this action, but ask you not stoop to the opposition's level of hatred by holding signs that disparage Palestinians, Arabs, or Muslims (or any other ethnicity) as a group. It is very important that those who join us refrain from engaging in confrontations with the extremist groups organizing this event. Also we specifically dissociate ourselves from anyone delivering any hate speech or threats to those on the other side and we ask that those in attendance let us know of anyone violating these guidelines.
This is what we'll be countering
If I forget thee, oh Jerusalem....
Friday March 30 4-6 pm
Israeli consulate
456 Montgomery St
San Francisco
Join Standwithus/San Francisco Voice for Israel as we counter a protest in front of the Israeli Consulate. Local extremist groups including Al Awda and International ANSWER have called for a protest in solidarity with the Global March to Jerusalem, the latest high profile publicity stunt that seeks to storm Israel’s borders on March 30, 2012. The march has been orchestrated by leaders of the Muslim brotherhood, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the members of the Fringe Left, who deny the Jewish peoples' historical, cultural and religious ties to our holiest city, and have demanded the end of the so-called "Judaization of Jerusalem". Just last month local organizers invited notorious anti-Semite Gilad Atzmon to the Bay area as a fundraiser for the Global march to Jerusalem. Atzmon has been widely condemned across the political spectrum for his racist views. Organizers have called for demonstrations at Israel’s consulates , declaring the "GMJ will siege Israel and its embassies over the world."
Please join us in front of the Consulate, 456 Montgomery St San Francisco this Friday, March 30 from 4- 6.
Stand with us
Stand For Peace
Stand with Israel
We encourage you to bring your own signs and flags to this action, but ask you not stoop to the opposition's level of hatred by holding signs that disparage Palestinians, Arabs, or Muslims (or any other ethnicity) as a group. It is very important that those who join us refrain from engaging in confrontations with the extremist groups organizing this event. Also we specifically dissociate ourselves from anyone delivering any hate speech or threats to those on the other side and we ask that those in attendance let us know of anyone violating these guidelines.
This is what we'll be countering
Sunday, March 25, 2012
March 30 2012 is Buy Israeli Goods Day.
Celebrate and Support Israel on March 30, 2012 and everyday. In an effort to counter a global anti-israel Boycott day, scheduled for this Friday, March 30, we are urging everyone to buy israeli products. 333
From a press release by Standwithus
"We need to show the boycotters that their efforts remain doomed. Let the boycotters know that when they call for boycotts of even one or two stores or products, they will face a much larger movement to buy Israeli goods," said StandWithUs co-founder and CEO Roz Rothstein. "We are telling people to go to their local stores, request the exact Israeli products being targeted, and buy them out. Let store managers know they should keep Israeli products well stocked on the shelves."
StandWithUs, in partnership with the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, successfully countered similar boycott days in 2010 and 2011. They mobilized Israel supporters in every store that the boycotters had targeted worldwide. Shoppers bypassed the protesters and bought out entire Israeli product lines. Delighted store owners said it was their best shopping days and promised to keep their shelves stocked with the targeted products.
March 30, 2012, is an opportune day to purchase Israeli products because the Jewish holiday of Passover is in April this year. Shoppers can choose presents from the wonderful array of Israeli-made items, from fine Israeli wines to the high-quality Ahava beauty products, Israeli-made jewelry, shoes, clothes, and food, including Sabra or Tribe hummus and Osem cookies.
"We must defeat the boycotters who advocate destructive, instead of constructive, measures, who undermine hopes for peaceful coexistence, and whose only goal is to cripple and damage Israel by hurting Israeli citizens," Rothstein emphasized. "We can only do this by joining together to be part of a BIG campaign like this."
Standwithus isn't the only group promoting a buycott in support of the state of the Jewish people. Check out this new release from Synonymous
They state:
"We are the people of G-d.
We are the people that seek to end anti-Semitism.
We are the people that hid the Jews from the Nazis.
We are the churches.
We are the synagogues.
We are synonymous.
Expect us."
On March 30, 2012 and always support Israel. For a list of business that sell Israeli products, visit the Buy Israeli Goods website
For $50,000, Could YOU name a More free City than Jerusalem?
On his Radio show, WABC's Aaron Klein offered $50,000 to Frank Romano, an organizer of the upcoming Global March to Jerusalem, if he could name one city in the Middle East outside of Israel that has more freedom than Jerusalem.
Watch Frank Romano stumble, fall and fail fail fail, as he realizes that he is unable to meet this challenge.
Do you want to know the real story behind the Global march to Jerusalem? Just look at their organizers and endorsers- from the number one country in the world for state sponsored terror- the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hamas, and the Muslim brotherhood
Closer to home, the usual local extremists from Code Pink to Al Awda are planning a protest of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco, from 4- 6 on Friday. Yes, there will be a counter protest. As details become available, we'll let you know.
Watch Frank Romano stumble, fall and fail fail fail, as he realizes that he is unable to meet this challenge.
Do you want to know the real story behind the Global march to Jerusalem? Just look at their organizers and endorsers- from the number one country in the world for state sponsored terror- the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hamas, and the Muslim brotherhood
Closer to home, the usual local extremists from Code Pink to Al Awda are planning a protest of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco, from 4- 6 on Friday. Yes, there will be a counter protest. As details become available, we'll let you know.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Gilad Atzmon: Toulouse Murders a Zionist plot?
Gilad Atzmon is quickly becoming persona non grata in many circles, even amongst the extremists that once supported him. Writing on an anti-Israel website, a group of activists and academics including Ali Abunimah, Naseer Aruri, Omar Barghouti, Hatem Bazian, Andrew Dalack, Haidar Eid, Monadel Herzallah and Joseph Massad have signed onto a statement "Granting No Quarter: A Call for the Disavowal of the Racism and Antisemitism of Gilad Atzmon".
Why did it take them so long to notice that association with a man who calls the burning of synagogues a "rational act" might be construed as aiding and abetting anti-semitism and hate speech? Even so, many of the signatories of this statement have not disavowed their association with the Global March to Jerusalem, which has heavily relied on Atzmon for fundraising. Atzmon appeared at a fundraiser for the Global march last month, and his music also appears on a CD released by March organizers.
From our friends at CIFWatch
"Signatory Hatem Bazian has endorsed the GMJ and his name appears on the same website as advertisements for Atzmon-related fundraising.
Signatory Hanna Kawas is chair of the Canada Palestine Organisation and co-host at ‘Voice of Palestine’. Both these organisations appear on the GMJ-NA website as endorsers.
Jamal Juma – a colleague of signatories Omar Barghouti and Rafeef Ziadeh at the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) – is a member of the GMJ International Central Committee. In late January, Omar Barghouti gave the keynote speech at the AGM of the UK’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign – also a GMJ endorser with its director Sarah Colborne sitting on both the GMJ International Executive Committee and International Central Committee.
Signatory Haidar Eid is both an endorser of (along with co-signatories Ali Abunimah, Nadia Hijab and Omar Barghouti) and activist with the ‘Gaza Freedom March’ organization which is promoting the Global March to Jerusalem on its website.
Signatory Nada Elia is a member of the organizing committee of the US Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel, alongside Joe Catron of the ISM (a GMJ organizer) and Al Awda (a GMJ endorser).
Signatory Adam Haniyeh is also a member of two GMJ endorsing organisations: Al Awda and the ‘Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid’.
Signatory Mostafa Henway’s ‘Tadamon!’ promoted singer Shadia Mansour as recently as February 29th 2012. Mansour has collaborated widely with Atzmon in the past and appears with him on the fundraising album for the Global March to Jerusalem.
Signatory Abir Kobty (also Kopty) from Nazareth is a member of the board of the Coalition of Women for Peace which is an endorser of the ‘Free Gaza’ campaign – represented among the GMJ organisers by European Preparatory Committee member Mikalis Lukianos from ‘Ship to Gaza-Greece‘, Huweida Arraf and Feroze Mithiborwala (FGM International Co-ordinator in India).
Kobty also takes part in demonstrations organized by the ‘Popular Resistance Committees’ in places such as Nebi Saleh, Bil’in and Qalandiya. It can therefore be assumed that she is familiar with both many of the Palestinian organisations supporting the GMJ as well as individual members of the GMJ International Central Committee such as Saeed Yaqeen of ‘Stop the Wall’ or Salah al Khawaja of the Nil’in Popular Resistance Committee."
Just how bad is Atzmon?
In his latest essay "Is it an Israeli False Flag Again?" (No, I won't link to whack-doddles and anti-Semites), he writes
"I won’t rule out the possibility that Merah was actually trained by Israeli forces. Marah may have conducted a false flag operation. By way of deception is, after all, the Mossad’s motto."
(No, Gilad, actually the Mossad motto is from Proverbs 11:14 "Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." )
Yes, this deeply disturbed man is using the murders of 4 innocents to advance his hateful political agenda. Its time for all people of conscience to distance themselves completely and thoroughly , not just in word, but in deed, from this despicable human being.
Why did it take them so long to notice that association with a man who calls the burning of synagogues a "rational act" might be construed as aiding and abetting anti-semitism and hate speech? Even so, many of the signatories of this statement have not disavowed their association with the Global March to Jerusalem, which has heavily relied on Atzmon for fundraising. Atzmon appeared at a fundraiser for the Global march last month, and his music also appears on a CD released by March organizers.
From our friends at CIFWatch
"Signatory Hatem Bazian has endorsed the GMJ and his name appears on the same website as advertisements for Atzmon-related fundraising.
Signatory Hanna Kawas is chair of the Canada Palestine Organisation and co-host at ‘Voice of Palestine’. Both these organisations appear on the GMJ-NA website as endorsers.
Jamal Juma – a colleague of signatories Omar Barghouti and Rafeef Ziadeh at the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) – is a member of the GMJ International Central Committee. In late January, Omar Barghouti gave the keynote speech at the AGM of the UK’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign – also a GMJ endorser with its director Sarah Colborne sitting on both the GMJ International Executive Committee and International Central Committee.
Signatory Haidar Eid is both an endorser of (along with co-signatories Ali Abunimah, Nadia Hijab and Omar Barghouti) and activist with the ‘Gaza Freedom March’ organization which is promoting the Global March to Jerusalem on its website.
Signatory Nada Elia is a member of the organizing committee of the US Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel, alongside Joe Catron of the ISM (a GMJ organizer) and Al Awda (a GMJ endorser).
Signatory Adam Haniyeh is also a member of two GMJ endorsing organisations: Al Awda and the ‘Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid’.
Signatory Mostafa Henway’s ‘Tadamon!’ promoted singer Shadia Mansour as recently as February 29th 2012. Mansour has collaborated widely with Atzmon in the past and appears with him on the fundraising album for the Global March to Jerusalem.
Signatory Abir Kobty (also Kopty) from Nazareth is a member of the board of the Coalition of Women for Peace which is an endorser of the ‘Free Gaza’ campaign – represented among the GMJ organisers by European Preparatory Committee member Mikalis Lukianos from ‘Ship to Gaza-Greece‘, Huweida Arraf and Feroze Mithiborwala (FGM International Co-ordinator in India).
Kobty also takes part in demonstrations organized by the ‘Popular Resistance Committees’ in places such as Nebi Saleh, Bil’in and Qalandiya. It can therefore be assumed that she is familiar with both many of the Palestinian organisations supporting the GMJ as well as individual members of the GMJ International Central Committee such as Saeed Yaqeen of ‘Stop the Wall’ or Salah al Khawaja of the Nil’in Popular Resistance Committee."
Just how bad is Atzmon?
In his latest essay "Is it an Israeli False Flag Again?" (No, I won't link to whack-doddles and anti-Semites), he writes
"I won’t rule out the possibility that Merah was actually trained by Israeli forces. Marah may have conducted a false flag operation. By way of deception is, after all, the Mossad’s motto."
(No, Gilad, actually the Mossad motto is from Proverbs 11:14 "Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." )
Yes, this deeply disturbed man is using the murders of 4 innocents to advance his hateful political agenda. Its time for all people of conscience to distance themselves completely and thoroughly , not just in word, but in deed, from this despicable human being.
Iran planned to bomb Israeli ship in Suez Canal
Iran continues to provoke a war with Israel.
According to a report from Al Ahram, the Egyptian weekly paper- Iranian agents offered 2 Egyptian men 50,000 Egyptian pounds to carry out attack on an Israeli vessel while it crossed the Suez canel.
Egypt detained the two men last week after receiving information of the planned attack. Egyptian authorities have two suspects in custody – Saliman Rizek abdel Razek and Salame Ahmed Salame. Both men denied the accusations, but according to the report authorities have evidence linking them to a third suspect – Muhammad Zakri – who they allegedly tried to hire to execute the attack.
The paper reported that Zakri was told he would be "paid by the Shiites," who ordered the attack.
According to a report from Al Ahram, the Egyptian weekly paper- Iranian agents offered 2 Egyptian men 50,000 Egyptian pounds to carry out attack on an Israeli vessel while it crossed the Suez canel.
Egypt detained the two men last week after receiving information of the planned attack. Egyptian authorities have two suspects in custody – Saliman Rizek abdel Razek and Salame Ahmed Salame. Both men denied the accusations, but according to the report authorities have evidence linking them to a third suspect – Muhammad Zakri – who they allegedly tried to hire to execute the attack.
The paper reported that Zakri was told he would be "paid by the Shiites," who ordered the attack.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Radical Islam Killed That Rabbi and Those Children
(Cross-posted at Israel Thrives)
The humanitarian racists over at Daily Kos cannot bring themselves to face the obvious fact that the murderer in Toulouse was a Jihadi. Mohammed Merah was a self-identified member of al Qaeda and received "training" from that organization in Afghanistan. He was steeped in a political culture that is not at all uncommon in the mosques throughout Europe, as it is not uncommon in the mosques of the Middle East, wherein people are taught hatred for non-Muslims and genocidal incitement toward Jews and infidels.
The reason that I call the Daily Kos people "humanitarian racists" is because they hold such a low opinion of non-whites that they absolutely cannot bring themselves to ever hold them responsible for anything. Any time a Muslim or an Arab behaves in a brutal or violent fashion, they always blame Israel or the United States.
In one of the few "diaries" on the subject of the Toulouse Massacre over at Daily Kos, Ian Reifowitz writes the following:
G-d forbid anyone should actually name the movement that can "apparently reach anywhere and kill children."
So, Mr. Reifowitz, can you tell us just what this movement is? You say "the Muslims" did not kill that rabbi and those children. I agree. But is anyone arguing otherwise? Is there anyone, anywhere writing in anything that even approaches a responsible journal claiming "the Muslims" done it?
Of course, not.
Well, if the one person responsible for the actual murders was trained by a movement (and I would add, trained to hate by a movement), I would think that this movement also holds responsibility for the perfectly foreseeable results of its genocidal ideology. Let us not be coy, Mr. Reigowitz, you know as well as I, or you should, that this "movement" you speak of has a name and a history and is, in fact, currently spreading like wild-fire throughout the Middle East under the misnomer "Arab Spring."
It is the very movement that Barack Obama has hailed as an Arab version of either the Revolution of '76 or the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s that is responsible for the construction of hatred toward Jews and infidels that led to the slaughter in Toulouse. Radical Islam, or political Islam, or whatever term one might wish to use, is a movement grounded in genocide. This should not be surprising given the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood, who Obama actually visited with even before they came to power in Egypt, has a history that goes not only to a fundamentalist understanding of Islam, but to Nazi Germany, as well.
Of course, most "progressives" do not know this. The reason that they do not know this is because they do not read the history of radical Islam. The reason that they do not read the history of radical Islam is because that would actually require acknowledging that radical Islam exists. But they cannot bring themselves to acknowledge this because then other "progressives" would wag their fingers and call them nasty names like "Islamophobe."
And, so, when a Jihadi murders Jewish children in France, western "progressives" trip all over themselves trying to protect the very movement that is behind those murders by blaming anything but the actual culprit. They blame the United States for "imperialism" and "colonialism," with the implication that if only the United States was not so mean then Muslim fanatics would have no reason to murder perfectly innocent little Jewish girls in Toulouse. They blame Israel for the "occupation" with the implication that if only Israel was not so mean to the Palestinian uber-victims then Muslim fanatics would have no reason to murder perfectly innocent little Jewish girls in Toulouse.
But the truth is that radical Islam killed that rabbi and those little girls. A French Muslim murdered some French soldiers and a French rabbi and some French Jewish girls. This had absolutely nothing to do with the United States, nor Israel, and everything to do with a political movement that continues to preach hatred.
Yet, if I say so, it makes me the racist in the minds of "progressives" who would not acknowledge the Jihad... if they were blindfolded... and on their knees... in a basement... in Karachi.
The humanitarian racists over at Daily Kos cannot bring themselves to face the obvious fact that the murderer in Toulouse was a Jihadi. Mohammed Merah was a self-identified member of al Qaeda and received "training" from that organization in Afghanistan. He was steeped in a political culture that is not at all uncommon in the mosques throughout Europe, as it is not uncommon in the mosques of the Middle East, wherein people are taught hatred for non-Muslims and genocidal incitement toward Jews and infidels.
The reason that I call the Daily Kos people "humanitarian racists" is because they hold such a low opinion of non-whites that they absolutely cannot bring themselves to ever hold them responsible for anything. Any time a Muslim or an Arab behaves in a brutal or violent fashion, they always blame Israel or the United States.
In one of the few "diaries" on the subject of the Toulouse Massacre over at Daily Kos, Ian Reifowitz writes the following:
To be clear, this is not about Israelis or Jews versus Palestinians or Muslims. "The Palestinians" didn't kill these people. Neither did "the Muslims." This is about hate. Hatred of France and its soldiers, and hatred of Jews. One person carried out this act, a person who was, according to what the French government has said, trained by an organization and a movement that distorts Islam. A movement that can today apparently reach anywhere and kill children. That's what chills me.
G-d forbid anyone should actually name the movement that can "apparently reach anywhere and kill children."
So, Mr. Reifowitz, can you tell us just what this movement is? You say "the Muslims" did not kill that rabbi and those children. I agree. But is anyone arguing otherwise? Is there anyone, anywhere writing in anything that even approaches a responsible journal claiming "the Muslims" done it?
Of course, not.
One person carried out this act, a person who was, according to what the French government has said, trained by an organization and a movement...
Well, if the one person responsible for the actual murders was trained by a movement (and I would add, trained to hate by a movement), I would think that this movement also holds responsibility for the perfectly foreseeable results of its genocidal ideology. Let us not be coy, Mr. Reigowitz, you know as well as I, or you should, that this "movement" you speak of has a name and a history and is, in fact, currently spreading like wild-fire throughout the Middle East under the misnomer "Arab Spring."
It is the very movement that Barack Obama has hailed as an Arab version of either the Revolution of '76 or the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s that is responsible for the construction of hatred toward Jews and infidels that led to the slaughter in Toulouse. Radical Islam, or political Islam, or whatever term one might wish to use, is a movement grounded in genocide. This should not be surprising given the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood, who Obama actually visited with even before they came to power in Egypt, has a history that goes not only to a fundamentalist understanding of Islam, but to Nazi Germany, as well.
Of course, most "progressives" do not know this. The reason that they do not know this is because they do not read the history of radical Islam. The reason that they do not read the history of radical Islam is because that would actually require acknowledging that radical Islam exists. But they cannot bring themselves to acknowledge this because then other "progressives" would wag their fingers and call them nasty names like "Islamophobe."
And, so, when a Jihadi murders Jewish children in France, western "progressives" trip all over themselves trying to protect the very movement that is behind those murders by blaming anything but the actual culprit. They blame the United States for "imperialism" and "colonialism," with the implication that if only the United States was not so mean then Muslim fanatics would have no reason to murder perfectly innocent little Jewish girls in Toulouse. They blame Israel for the "occupation" with the implication that if only Israel was not so mean to the Palestinian uber-victims then Muslim fanatics would have no reason to murder perfectly innocent little Jewish girls in Toulouse.
But the truth is that radical Islam killed that rabbi and those little girls. A French Muslim murdered some French soldiers and a French rabbi and some French Jewish girls. This had absolutely nothing to do with the United States, nor Israel, and everything to do with a political movement that continues to preach hatred.
Yet, if I say so, it makes me the racist in the minds of "progressives" who would not acknowledge the Jihad... if they were blindfolded... and on their knees... in a basement... in Karachi.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Israel: Intel Inside. Kiss My BDS
Intel, the world's largest maker of computer chips has been operating in Israel for four decades, with four research and development centers and 2 manufacturing plants located in the tiny nation.
(Can you say "BDS fail"? Say it. I know you can)
With 8,000 employees in Israel, Intel is the largest private sector employer in Israel, accounting for 10% of all the jobs in Israel’s total electronics and software industry. Intel exports reaced exports reached $2.2 billion in 2011, making it the country’s biggest single exporter of high technology.
from the Media line:
"In 2011 Intel’s Israel operations marked a new milestone by both developing and producing a product entirely inside the country.
Today Intel Israel is at the core of the global company, with a central role in developing new products like Sandy Bridge and the Ivy Bridge. We ourselves are in sync for the first time, with a product both designed and produced in Israel,” Maxine Fassberg, an Intel vice president and general manager for Israel, told The Media Line on the sidelines of a news conference on Sunday to discuss the company’s 2011.
Sandy Bridge, the code name for the Intel Second-General Core chip, was mainly developed in Israel and is now produced there. The chip, whose original name “Gesher” (“bridge” in Hebrew) was dropped to avoid associating it with a defunct Israeli political party, uses less power and offers integrated graphics. It will be superseded in the next month or so by Ivy Bridge, the development of which Israel Intel also played a central role,
When it was launched last year Sandy Bridge became the global company’s fastest-selling product ever, with sales of more than 100 million processors. All told, products developed in Israel accounted for 40% of worldwide sales for Intel last year, said Muli Eden, who arrived in Israel last week to take up the post of Intel Israel president alongside Fassberg"
Products developed in Israel accounted for 40% of worldwide sales for Intel last year. So, what were you saying about that boycott, again?
(Can you say "BDS fail"? Say it. I know you can)
With 8,000 employees in Israel, Intel is the largest private sector employer in Israel, accounting for 10% of all the jobs in Israel’s total electronics and software industry. Intel exports reaced exports reached $2.2 billion in 2011, making it the country’s biggest single exporter of high technology.
from the Media line:
"In 2011 Intel’s Israel operations marked a new milestone by both developing and producing a product entirely inside the country.
Today Intel Israel is at the core of the global company, with a central role in developing new products like Sandy Bridge and the Ivy Bridge. We ourselves are in sync for the first time, with a product both designed and produced in Israel,” Maxine Fassberg, an Intel vice president and general manager for Israel, told The Media Line on the sidelines of a news conference on Sunday to discuss the company’s 2011.
Sandy Bridge, the code name for the Intel Second-General Core chip, was mainly developed in Israel and is now produced there. The chip, whose original name “Gesher” (“bridge” in Hebrew) was dropped to avoid associating it with a defunct Israeli political party, uses less power and offers integrated graphics. It will be superseded in the next month or so by Ivy Bridge, the development of which Israel Intel also played a central role,
When it was launched last year Sandy Bridge became the global company’s fastest-selling product ever, with sales of more than 100 million processors. All told, products developed in Israel accounted for 40% of worldwide sales for Intel last year, said Muli Eden, who arrived in Israel last week to take up the post of Intel Israel president alongside Fassberg"
Products developed in Israel accounted for 40% of worldwide sales for Intel last year. So, what were you saying about that boycott, again?
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