Reem's bakery in Fruitvale: Gaming the system on Yelp

From Berkeleyside, writing about Reem's, a new bakery in the  Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland:

Assil decidedly chooses to use “Arab” over “Middle Eastern” when describing her concept. “I wanted it to be political,” she said. “People are afraid of politics, but now more than ever people are asking. If my food can stir up a conversation — even if it’s a hard conversation — that’s what I want it to do. I welcome that in my space.”

Reem Assil 's commitment to open dialog  and conversation apparently is limited to those who agree with her.  On her Facebook page, she has urged her followers to rate down negative comments on Yelp, and to give her establishment positive reviews

Reem Assil, a  local anti-Israel activist and member of the extremist Arab Resource Organizing Center (AROC)  solicited her political connections to shut down complaints about her new bakery. Anti-Israel activists from as far away as Texas, many who have never set foot in the bakery were quick to leap to her defense, sharing notes on how to game the Yelp review process, and chortling over their success in shutting down negative reviews.

Let this be a cautionary tale to those who rely on Yelp reviews.  Apparently it is not difficult to trick the Yelp review algorithm.  And let this also serve as an example of how anti-Israel activists will stop at nothing in their ruthless attempt to shut down voices that challenge them-  even if the voices are simply complaining about burnt flatbread and surly service.

Reem's bakery in Fruitvale. Mainstreaming Murder

Why is Reem's Bakery in the Oakland Fruitvale neighborhood promoting hate? Why is Reem's glorifying Rasmea Odeh, the confessed killer of 2 young students? Why is a bakery that claims to "connect people across culture" lionizing a murderer who targeted civilians in a grocery store?

Mural of PFLP terrorist Rasmea Odeh at Reems bakery in Fruitvale

Hebrew University students, Edward Joffe and Leon Kanner were best friends, murdered when members of the terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine bombed a Jerusalem grocery store in 1969. Nine other people were injured.

Rasmea Odeh, a member of the PFLP terror group placed her bomb in a kosher grocery store in Jerusalem for one reason- to target and terrorize Jewish civilians.   She was arrested and confessed to the murders after one day in custody. Physical evidence such as bomb making materials were found in Odeh’s home. Guy Wintelir, an observer from the International Red Cross attended the six month long trial and described it as fair. Rasmea was sentenced to life in prison over for her role in the attack. 

In 1980, after serving only 10 years of her sentence, Odeh was released in a prisoner exchange 

She immigrated to the United States in 1995, escaping detection by using a variety of aliases, but was found guilty in 2014 of lying on her immigration papers. She confessed after an appeal and is currently awaiting deportation.

In a 2004 documentary, Rasmea was implicated by her co-conspirator Aisha Odeh which Aisha admitted to participating in the Super Sol attack and named Rasmea as one of her accomplices.  She admitted  “Rasmea Odeh was more involved than I was [in the grocery store bombing] ... I only got involved during the preparation of explosives. We wanted to place two bombs to blow up consecutively. I suggested to have the second bomb go off five or six minutes after the first bomb so that those who get killed in it would be members of the army and secret service, but it did not explode. They diffused it 20 seconds before it exploded.”

In a community devastated by violence, why is Reems bakery glorifying this unrepentant murderer?

It remains unclear how glorifying a murderer builds connections across cultures

For more information on the crimes of Rasmea Odeh:

The Legal Insurrection website provides the most comprehensive coverage of Rasmea Odeh's history, and more importantly, those of her victims and their families.  

Justice for Rasmea Odeh

Vigil for Victims of Rasmea Odeh outside her appearance at Northwestern U

Statement from family of Leon Kanner on Rasmea Odeh plea deal

Statement from family of Edward Joffe on Rasmea Odeh plea deal

A bakery that dishes out hatred in Oakland

Hamas Terror Tunnel discovered under UN School in Gaza

Earlier this week, UNWRA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees uncovered a tunnel belonging to Hamas underneath 2 elementary schools in  Gaza 

The tunnel passes underneath both the Maghazi Elementary Boys School and the Maghazi Preparatory Boys School.

The agency has filed a complaint with Hamas and has stated:

"It is unacceptable that students and staff are placed at risk in such a way," it said. "The construction and presence of tunnels under UN premises are incompatible with the respect of privileges and immunities owed to the United Nations under applicable international law, which provides that UN premises shall be inviolable. The sanctity and neutrality of UN premises must be preserved at all times."

The agency also said it condemns “the existence of such tunnels in the strongest possible terms,” adding that it was “unacceptable that students and staff are placed at risk in such a way.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon  responded to the news by stating “the cruelty of Hamas knows no bounds as they use the children of Gaza as human shields. Instead of UN schools serving as centers of learning and education, Hamas has turned them into terror bases for attacks on Israel.”

Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories  (COGAT's) response

On June 1st, a Hamas terror tunnel was discovered under the UNRWA School for Boys in Al-Maghazi.

Hamas’ act of using children as human shields with complete disregard for their lives is appalling, but sadly not surprising. The Arab world is in agreement and has shown complete understanding about who is responsible for ruining the lives of Palestinians and their prospects for a better future.

On Thursday, the Saudi Arabian newspaper Okaz issued an article with the statement: ”Hamas is the one leading Gaza into humanitarian disaster in that it takes over and confiscates humanitarian aid and threatens the lives of residents as it digs tunnels under schools and hospitals in order to take advantage of residents as human shields."

It is clear that the Arab world has recognized Hamas as responsible for the destruction of the Gaza Strip, eliminating any hope of a positive future for the Gazan people. Perhaps the time has come for the residents of the Gaza Strip to draw the same conclusion.

Terror groups in Gaza have used UNRWA facilities in the past.  A UN inquiry found  that Palestinian groups hid weapons in three UN-run schools in Gaza and  likely used UNRWA schools  to fire rockets at Israel during Operation Protective Edge.

For more information

UNWRA discovers Hamas Tunnel under Gaza schools

UNRWA uncovers Hamas-dug tunnel under school in Gaza

The death of 16 year old Fatima Hajiji

On May 7, 16 year old Fatima Afeef Abdul-Rahman Hajiji, 16, from Qarawat Bani Zeid village, northwest of Ramallah, charged at an Israel policeman, knife in hand.  She was shot and died of her wounds.

What makes a 16 year old girl take an action that is akin to suicide? Judging from her posts on social media, martyrdom was her goal.

Incitement and the glorification of violence and martyrdom are destroying  Palestinian youth. Until this ends, peace will remain elusive.

Richard Horton of the Lancet does teshuvah

The once venerable British Medical journal Lancet and its editor, Richard Horton have been taken to task in the past for publishing a letter filled with “concealments, half-truths, and distortions that revealed the biases of its authors and signatories” regarding Israel’s conflict with Gaza.

After the controversial document was published, Lancet editor Richard Horton, was invited to Israel to meet with medical professionals at Rambam hospital.

This is why the anti-Israel forces fear normalization the most of all.

This week Richard Horton made good on his regrets for publishing the biased and controversial article, writing

We have learned lessons from this unfortunate episode. Our collaboration seeks to undo the harm and tarnish of this episode by transforming these experiences to constructive practice.

The May 8 2017 issue of The Lancet features ten articles written by Israel doctors and researchers, on topics as diverse as treating the casualties of the Syrian civil war, digital health innovation, and maternal and child health.

Horton writes:

We have identified several determinants of Israel’s advancement in health, including articulation of a clear vision, national purpose, and long term commitment that seeks to take the health of its citizens seriously; a multi-ethnic population that brings diversity and energy to national progress: a political democracy, which is characterized by robust debate and discussion about the nation’s future; national legislation governing cardinal health-care processes: cultural and religious histories that respect and revere scholarship, learning, research and charitable donation; and expanding economy. with recent but increasing appreciation of the economic, social, and political underpinnings of health and health inequities, a strong base of support from the Diaspora Jewish community ;and a strong desire for acceptance by the international community in key areas, especially science and health.

“The special issue on Israel will not be a one-time project,” Horton said. “It is the beginning of a close partnership.”

For more information on this weeks Lancet see:

Prestigious health journal publishes edition dedicated to health in Israel

3 years after open letter alleged Gaza ‘massacre,’ Lancet eyes Israeli health

After Gaza letter controversy, med journal publishes issue on Israeli healthcare

Tourism to Israel breaks a historic record. Hows that boycott working for you?

Looks like the considerable expenses and efforts of the BDS crowd to isolate Israel are for naught. 349,000 tourists visited Israel in April 2017. This is the highest ever figure for any month since Israel's inception in 1948. Since the start of the year 1.09 million tourists have entered Israel, representing an increase of 26% from last year. Tourism has injected a record NIS 6 billion into the Israeli economy this year.

This represents yet another in a series of BDS fails.

San Francisco State University's toxic climate for Jewish Students

From the Jewish Community Relations Council Director Abby Forth:

“Campuses across the nation experience uncivil discourse and anti-Semitism. But what sets S.F. State apart is its administration’s unwillingness to state for its entire campus community that it will not tolerate these acts.

“When Jewish students and guests are intimidated and Hillel is discriminated against, this administration fails to speak out. More than that, it has celebrated the perpetrators while privately assuring our Jewish community that it will look into these incidents,”

“In so doing, this administration is, at best, complicit in the marginalization of Jewish students, and, at worst, responsible for it.”

If case you missed it, check out the excellent series of articles on the campus climate for Jewish students at San Francisco State University, published in this weeks J the Jewish News of Northern California 

Dan Pine documents the history of anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist activism at San Francisco State University, and the current administration's tepid response

S.F. State’s Jewish problem: faculty and local leaders decry worsening climate''

Written by Max A.Cherney:

JCRC campaign aimed at ‘toxic culture’ for Jews at SFSU

Written by Mark G. Yudof  and Kenneth Waltzer of the Academic Engagement Network.

S.F. State ‘excommunicates’ Jewish students and pro-Israel speakers

Written by Marc Dollinger.the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Chair in Jewish Studies and Social Responsibility at San Francisco State University and  Fred Astren,chair of the Jewish studies department, stating:

"After six face-to-face meetings over the course of a year with San Francisco State University President Leslie Wong, we are obliged to report that there is no resolution in sight for problems plaguing Jewish student life on campus."
Jewish studies professors: S.F. State marginalizes Jews

Outraged? You should be.  This has been going on for a long time.

Community members are mobilizing for action.  A good first step- please sign this petition to California State University Chancellor Dr. Timothy P. White from StandWithUs  calling on him to take immediate action to "ensure the security and dignity of Jewish students"

The JCRC is encouraging people to email SFSU President Les Wong to remind him that it is the responsibility of the administration to set and enforce boundaries that protect free speech and ensure the safety of every student.  Demand he take action to protect Jewish students on campus.

Stay tuned. This is not over.

"My Name is Rachel Corrie" at San Francisco's Magic Theater

The one-woman show "My name is Rachel Corrie" is playing at San Francisco's Magic Theater in Fort Mason on a 2 week run. The play includes excerpts from the diary of Rachel Corrie, an International Solidarity Movement (ISM) member who was accidentally killed while guarding smuggling tunnels in Gaza

Even with the deep discounts offered to Jewish Voice for Peace members, there are plenty of tickets still available.

Writing in the Northern California Jewish Weekly, Johanna Meckel,  Northern California director of StandwithUs addresses the deification of Rachel Corrie:

The play “My Name Is Rachel Corrie,” currently running in San Francisco, omits all context, portraying that period of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict only through Corrie’s eyes.

Rachel Corrie’s death was accidental and deeply tragic. A 23-year-old American student decided to come to Gaza, a war zone in 2003, to stand in solidarity — but in solidarity with whom? From 2001-2005, hundreds of rockets a year were being launched from Gaza at the Israeli community of Sderot, using materials brought in through tunnels just like the ones Corrie was trying to protect by serving as a human shield. The bulldozer that tragically ended her life was there to uncover one of 90 tunnels that terrorists were using to smuggle weapons into Gaza.

She was deliberately placed in a war zone as part of a strategy by the International Solidarity Movement, whose founder George Rishmawi boasted “…if some of these foreign volunteers get shot or even killed, then the international media will sit up and take notice.” As detailed by the Israeli watchdog group NGO Monitor, the ISM has a lengthy history of working with Hamas and knowingly placing foreign volunteers in situations where ISM leadership knew that they could be injured or killed.

Dozens of innocent Americans have been killed in acts of Palestinian terror.  Their stories remain untold. If you know the name "Rachel Corrie", but don't know the name Taylor Force or Daniel Wultz then you aren't paying close enough attention.

London terror suspect was on Gaza flotilla ship Mavi Marmara

One of the "peace activists" from the Mavi Marmara has surfaced again.

Khalid Omar Ali is being held in custody in London on suspicion of terrorism.The 27-year-old man was arrested carrying knives near Prime Minister Theresa May's office by British police. He was detained as part of an intelligence operation. It was reported that a concerned family member contacted the police.

Reports indicate that Khalid Omar Ali was one of the "peace activists" aboard the Mavi Marmara, a ship in the 2010 Gaza flotilla. The ship was attempting to run the naval blockade of Gaza. After Israeli soldiers boarded it, they were attacked. The resulting scuffle left 9 dead.

Anti-Israel activists still maintain the Mavi Marmara was an aid ship, manned by peace activists
Khalid Omar Ali is currently detained under the Terrorism Act and is in custody in a London police station.

Photos from the Sun

All 100 senators sign letter asking for equal treatment of Israel at the United Nations

Bipartisan support for Israel in the US remains strong, with all 100 senators signing a letter asking for fair and equal treatment of Israel at the U.N.

The letter, released today asked the U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to address  the “continued targeting of Israel by the UN Human rights Council and other UN entities”

The letter was authored by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.).

Text follows:

Power Grab: As Hamas and the PA posture for political gain, the Palestinian people suffer.

As Hamas and the PA posture for political gain, the Palestinian people suffer.

In anticipation of his meeting next month at the White House Palestinian Authority (PA) President Abbas has taken steps to pressure Hamas to accept PA authority over Gaza.  Presidential and parliamentary elections have not been held  for over a decade.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah declared:

"I think there is a golden and historic chance to regain the unity of our people... Hamas should relinquish control of Gaza."

The PA  has been increasing the  pressure on Hamas by withholding the fuel  from Israel that powered Gaza's only generating plant, and by slashing the salaries of its 60,000 civil servants in Gaza by 30 percent.  These employees in Gaza do not work, but continue to draw salaries.  Hamas refuses to buy fuel from the PA for the Gaza power station because of a dispute over taxation. It shut down two weeks ago, plunging the people of Gaza into darkness.

Now,the Palestinian Authority has told Israel that it would no longer pay for the electricity Israel supplies to Gaza.   Israel supplies Gaza with 30 percent of its total electricity needs at a monthly cost of $11 million.  Less reliable Egyptian power lines also provide a portion of Gaza’s electrical needs. In an effort to avoid a humanitarian crisis, Israel did not immediately cut off the electrical supply.  The United Nations has also allocated $500,000 for the purchase of emergency fuel for Gaza’s 13 hospitals and 54 medical centers.

Electricity shortages have led to protests in Gaza. Cuts to the power supply affect the water supply. Sewage is flowing into the sea.

Fuad Al-Shobaki of the Palestinian Authority's Petroleum Authority blamed Hamas for manufacturing  the crisis, saying  Hamas was unable "to cover their inability to manage the Gaza Strip."

The fuel shortage is one more problem for Hamas-controlled Gaza, which is already dealing with soaring unemployment and a lack of drinkable water.

In 2016, the PA’s budget was $4.14 billion, of which the Gaza Strip’s share was $1.65 billion. Hamas continues to divert this funding  to weapons and terror tunnel, in preparation for their next war against Israel.

Eylon A. Levy of i24 News explains the Gaza energy crisis on Twitter:

Holy Land Principles. Gateway Drug to Full BDS ?

Yet one more reason you shouldn't ignore the proxy statements that show up in your mail.

 Marriott International  has more than 6000 properties in over 122 countries and territories around the world. Next month at their annual shareholder meeting, they are slated to vote on a shareholder proposal urging the adoption of the  "Holy land Principles". The principles add  burdensome layers of restrictions, oversight and bureaucracy to the 2 Marriott properties in Israel.  The Marriott Board opposes this proposal and recommends a vote AGAINST it.

What are the Holy land Principles? Their website bills them as a "corporate code of conduct" that are applicable only to businesses within Israel.

From their Website: The 8 Holy Land Principles

The Holy Land Principles call on American companies conducting business in The Holy Land to:

Principle #1

Adhere to equal and fair employment practices in hiring, compensation, training, professional education, advancement and governance without discrimination based on national, racial, ethnic or religious identity.

Principle #2

Identify underrepresented employee groups and initiate active recruitment efforts to increase the number of underrepresented employees.

Principle #3

Develop training programs that will prepare substantial numbers of current minority employees for skilled jobs, including the expansion of existing programs and the creation of new programs to train, upgrade, and improve the skills of minority employees.

Principle #4

Maintain a work environment that is respectful of all national, racial, ethnic and religious groups.

Principle #5

Ensure that layoff, recall and termination procedures do not favor a particular national, racial, ethnic or religious group.

Principle #6

Not make military service a precondition or qualification for employment for any position, other than those positions that specifically require such experience, for the fulfillment of an employee’s particular responsibilities.

Principle #7

Not accept subsidies, tax incentives or other benefits that lead to the direct advantage of one national, racial, ethnic or religious group over another.

Principle #8

Appoint staff to monitor, oversee, set timetables, and publicly report on their progress in implementing the Holy Land Principles.

Marriott  has a labor relations code of principles and practices in place and already aligns with Israel's strict labor and employment laws. From their Proxy handbook:

Marriott’s practices align with the Principles included in the Proposal. Given our Global Employment Principles, Policies and Practices, Marriott’s practices at our two managed hotels in Israel align with the Principles included in the Proposal. In addition, the Israeli Equal Opportunity Law, which applies to our managed and franchised hotels in Israel, forbids discrimination in hiring, promoting, work conditions, training or termination of work. As a result, we believe that formal adoption of the Holy Land Principles is not necessary nor incrementally valuable to our business interests nor citizenship commitment. Given our portfolio of over 6,000 hotels globally in 122 countries and territories, our policies need to be applied consistently worldwide thus making a country-by country-approach inefficient and unduly burdensome. For these reasons, the Board opposes this proposal and recommends a vote AGAINST the proposal.

While the Marriott chain has 2 facilities in Israel, you'd never know it by looking at their website.

With 18 states enacting anti-BDS legislation, the "Holy land Principles"  provides a foot in the door and a nose under the tent for the "Israel is always wrong" crowd to demonize and delegitimize Israel outside the rubric of BDS.

Always open and read  your proxy statements, and Marriott shareholders- vote No on this resolution.

BDS advocates again prove that they can't win on a level playing field

By most accounts, 2017 has been a bad year for BDS

From Jonathan Marks, writing at Commentary

... the campus BDS movement this year, until recently, had notched wins solely at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, which has been passing divestment resolutions with wearying regularity since 2004, and the University of California-Riverside, where a symbolic and ineffectual blow against Sabra Hummus was struck. Meanwhile, BDS  activists lost at Ohio State (for a third time), University of Illinois-Urbana, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Columbia University.

But recently, two universities Student Councils, in an effort to push through resolutions when the Jewish students were otherwise occupied chose to have their votes during Passover week. Tufts University announced the vote 4 days in advance, and scheduled it for the day before Passover. Pitzer College held their vote during Passover, with no advance notice.

They resorted to underhanded tactics because they knew they could not win on a level playing field. They resorted to underhanded tactics because they wanted to silence opposition. They resorted to underhanded tactics to insure that their voices alone were heard.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the National Director of the Anti-Defamation League recently accepted an honor from Tufts, and took his alma mater to task for the vote, writing 

I find the BDS resolution passed by the TCU Senate deeply disturbing from all of my personal perspectives: as an alumnus who cares about Tufts; as a nonprofit executive who cares about justice and fair treatment; and as a Jew who cares about the fate of his people....

This vote intentionally was timed right before Passover in order to reduce the ability of all the interested Jewish students from participating in the debate. This meant that a number of individuals were forced to choose between practicing their faith and defending their people. This was a shameful tactic designed to silence the voices of Jewish students and the pro-Israel community at Tufts.

The university administration of Tufts issued a bland critique of  the resolution, saying

We have made clear in the past our opposition to calls to boycott Israeli academic institutions.  While members of our community vigorously debate international politics, Tufts University does not adopt institutional positions with respect to specific geo-political issues.

Ever immune to criticism, the  Students for Justice in Palestine, and their fan-boys at the Electronic Intifada nonetheless declared victory.

Jonathan Greenblatt concludes, with an appeal to Tufts for concrete action to address this incident, and insure that it never happens again:

I appeal to you to organize a task force that convenes alumni and administrators to review how this transpired and recommend steps to ensure it is not repeated.

And I advocate that you consider introducing a code of ethics — call it acovenant of active citizenship — for student leaders, one that demands ethical behavior, that upholds democratic processes and that creates accountability for those who fall short of these basic standards.

Now, I realize that it may seem odd for an alumnus to criticize his alma mater on the very day when I am receiving an honor from this institution.

But, from what I learned at Tufts, this is exactly what you taught me to do.

To take responsibility. To speak out. To defend free speech. To demand fair play. To make arguments respectfully and forcefully but also factually and rationally. And to defend and support the university that I so deeply love.

Israeli Economy Ranked 3rd Most Stable in the World

How that BDS working for you?

After 16 years of Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions directed towards the only democracy in the Middle East, you'd think you'd be seeing some concrete results.

Ummmm. No.

Israel's low unemployment rate, low inflation rate and reputation for innovation have earned it the rank of third most stable economy in the world by the Bloomberg Finance. Only Hong Kong and South Korea ranked higher.

Imagine if all that wasted energy directed towards bringing the Israeli economy to its knees was channeled instead towards building a real and lasting peace?

Read more about the abject failure of BDS here:

Bloomberg ranks Israel with third most stable economy in 2016

The Israeli Economy’s Got Intel Inside

Israeli Economy Ranked 3rd Most Stable in the World for 2016

Why Israel still needs checkpoints.

Two sisters from Gaza were arrested today after they were stopped at the Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza.  They were caught smuggling explosives for Hamas in medical supplies. One of the sisters was receiving medical treatment for cancer in Israel, and the explosives were found hidden inside tubes labelled "medical materials"

According to the Shin bet, Hamas was behind the attempt and the explosives were to be used to manufacture improvised explosive devices for attacks within Israel .

“This is a continuation of the attempts by terrorist organizations in Gaza, mainly Hamas, to abuse the humanitarian channel and the medical aid Israel provides to Gaza residents to carry out terrorist attacks in Israel,” the Shin Bet said.

From COGAT

Data gathered by the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) indicates that since the beginning of 2015 and mid-2016, more than 360,000 Palestinians entered Israel for humanitarian needs and approximately 1,000 Palestinian physicians received medical training in Israel or abroad. The Civil Administration says, "We see medical care as the highest priority and there is no compromise on the subject; we're doing whatever it takes to save a life.”

If only Hamas felt the same way.

Berkeley Police facilitate virtue signalling

Oh, Berkeley.
Enabling the ultimate in virtue signalling.

Upon request, and with prior arrangement, the Berkeley  Police Department will "symbolically" arrest you, allowing the ultimate in virtue signalling, without any real risk. Now you too can appear cool and edgy, and earn bragging rights, simply by filling out the proper forms!

From the Berkeley Police Departments Event Planning Checklist:  

The Berkeley Police and City of Berkeley want to facilitate the safe expression of constitutionally protected speech.  We want to work in partnership with you to hold a safe and peaceful event.  The following items are things that we recommend you do to ensure a safe event.
Go to City of Berkeley Website

• Download and complete forms
• File them at the Recreation Department

Contact the Police Department and Provide:

• Purpose of protest
• Date(s) and time of event
• Location(s)
• Route of march, if planned
• Estimated attendance
• Organizing person or group
• Number of organizers
• How to identify and contact organizers/monitors at the event (hats, shirts, armbands)
• What will they be wearing?
• Will they have mobile phones?
• Do you want symbolic arrests?
• If so, where and when?

When advertising on social media

• Inform people of date, time and location
• Encourage peaceful expression and lawful behavior by attendees
• Discourage certain items from being brought to the event

During the Event

• Make organizers/monitors visible through clearly identifiable clothing
• Coordinate at the event with uniformed bicycle officers, they will help facilitate the event
• Stay on your planned march route, if applicable
• Maintain communication with officers throughout the event and notify them of any change in plans

JCRC Deeply Concerned about Climate at SF State University for Jewish and Pro-Israel Students

Statement from the Jewish Community Relations Council on this weeks events at San Francisco State University

JCRC Deeply Concerned about Climate at SF State University for Jewish and Pro-Israel Students

JCRC is deeply disappointed by the events which led to the cancellation yesterday of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s speaking engagement at San Francisco State University (SFSU). The opportunity to welcome Mayor Barkat back to campus was especially important given that his speech last year was disrupted by protesters.

Mayor Barkat requested that his April 6 scheduled appearance be a fully accessible public forum for "the kind of healing needed after the assault on free speech last year." We believe that this request was very important given the intention of disrupters to prevent the normalization of Jewish and pro-Israel voices on campus. The university should have been able to provide such a forum and also done more to assure the event was widely promoted. Instead, the university's insistence that this be a ticketed, limited event and lack of publicity communicated that it will go to lengths to prevent students from engaging in important conversations rather than advancing its purpose of fostering civil discourse and promoting the free exchange of ideas.

JCRC is deeply troubled by a pattern of marginalization at SFSU of Jewish students, and anyone else who supports Israel's right to exist. The university claims a commitment to creating opportunities for “each student to discover his or her unique path in life,” but the voices of Jewish students, particularly those in support of Israel, are limited. For the past year, we have been in constant discussions with university administration about how to correct this and improve campus climate, and this week’s cancellation represents a major failure in advancing the principles for which we believe this university stands.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat cancels visit to SFSU

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has canceled a scheduled visit to San Francisco State University, accusing the university of failing to adequately prepare for his visit.

“By failing to provide the necessary public forum and properly publicize my lecture, the University has contributed to the continuing marginalization and demonization of the Jewish state,” Barkat declared, adding “If I were a representative of any other country, no institution of higher learning would have allowed my speech to be drowned out by protesters inciting violence and then bring me back to campus in a limited, secluded way,”

The visit was scheduled for Thursday, a full year after his talk at SFSU was interrupted by anti-Israel activists.  A subsequent investigation found that SFSU failed to properly handle the protest, yet the participants faced no actual consequences. San Francisco State University is regularly listed as one of the most difficult campuses for Jewish students.

Mayor Nir Barkat planned to visit the campus exactly a year to the day after students with the General Union of Palestine Students group interrupted his on-campus speech with chants of "Intifada, Intifada", terrorizing the Jewish students and community members attending the event.

“Dozens of anti-Israel protesters disrupted my public lecture through intimidation and provocation, vulgarities and incitement that bordered on the anti-Semitic,” Barkat said

Barakat’s speech was scheduled to take place Thursday  at the Seven Hills Conference Center. The venue quickly sold  out.

Bay area Anti- Israel activists had already begun to mobilize for the event, distributing a rambling, incoherent diatribe emphasizing  their personal and collective victimhood, and demanding Wong cancel the appearance.

Instead, Barakat will be speaking a private venue.

Mayor Barkat's full statement follows:

"At San Francisco State last April, dozens of anti-Israel protesters disrupted my public lecture through intimidation and provocation, vulgarities and incitement that bordered on the anti-Semitic.

Following the incident, President Wong invited me back to the University to provide students the opportunity to learn that they were denied last spring. I felt a moral obligation to return to San Francisco State and share Jerusalem’s progress, challenges, and opportunities.

Unfortunately, the University did not offer the lecture that would provide the kind of healing needed after the assault on free speech last year. Instead, the University offered a ticketed, limited event, and no legitimate effort was made on the part of the University to publicize the lecture. I have decided not to participate.

By failing to provide the necessary public forum and properly publicize my lecture, the University has contributed to the continuing marginalization and demonization of the Jewish state. If I were a representative of any other country, no institution of higher learning would have allowed my speech to be drowned out by protestors inciting violence and then bring me back to campus in a limited, secluded way.

Mostly importantly, the University's proposed framework is nothing short of a double standard. The University has demonstrated that they will protect the rights of anti-Israel students to drown out diverse voices through violent incitement, while they will not protect the rights of the students to engage in open, robust dialogue."

--
Rachel Greenspan
Deputy Advisor, Foreign Affairs and International Media
Office of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat"

Convicted terrorist Rasmea Odeh to be stripped of citizenship and deported

Convicted Palestinian terrorist Rasmea Odeh, 69 will plead guilty to unlawful procurement of naturalization, will be stripped of her U.S. citizenship and deported, as part of a plea deal to avoid prison time.

A member of the PFLP terror group, Odeh was convicted of involvement in a 1969 grocery store  bombing in Jerusalem that killed 2 Hebrew University students and injured nine others. Bomb-making supplies were found in her apartment.  She released  after 10 years in prison in a prisoner exchange in 1980. Her co-conspirators bragged about their roles in the attack on Arab language media.

She lied about her status on US immigration forms and was able to become a citizen.

Anti-Israel groups have repeatedly defended the convicted terrorist. She is scheduled to speak at a Jewish Voice for Peace conference later this month.

Rasmea’s defense team have called her plea bargain a “victory”, claiming

Through a massive, organized defense campaign, Rasmea Odeh—a long-time icon of the Palestine liberation movement—is now a name known in every corner of the movement for social justice in the U.S.  From the Movement for Black Lives in Ferguson, Chicago, and beyond, to the call for a global #WomenStrike on International Women’s Day, Rasmea has become synonymous with resilience and resistance. This fight not only brought her story to the U.S. and the world, but also pushed forward the cause of the liberation of Palestine.

Wishing the forces of hate and intolerance many more such "victories".

Mezuzzah burning at UC Hastings

Another act of anti-Semitism in our local community, the oh so tolerant and inclusive Bay Area.

A student at UC Hastings reported his mezuzah on the doorframe of his McAllister Tower campus housing had been set on fire. It is being investigated as an anti-Semitic hate crime.

UC Hastings Chancellor David Faigman sent out a letter to students, faculty and staff  condemning this “cowardly act of anti-Semitism.”

“I am deeply troubled by the possible implications of such an act on our campus,” Faigman wrote. “We will not tolerate hateful actions of any sort against members of our community. UC Hastings is dedicated to the principals of diversity and inclusion.”

Anyone with more information is urged to call UC Hasting campus police at (415)525-4611