The Truth About the Refugees: Israel Palestinian Conflict

Israel's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon's latest youtube highlights the issue of the Jewish refugees, forced out of their homes in the Arab world and contrasts them with the Arab refugees perpetuated by UNRWA and the Arab nations.



In 1948, an estimated 500,000 Arabs left their homes in Israel- of those, 160,000 returned and resettled after agreeing to live in peace with their Jewish neighbors. These Arabs, and their descendants make up the 1,300,000 Israeli Arabs who are full citizens of Israel today.

The others? Their number has grown to nearly 5 million today as they languish in refugee camps throughout the Arab world, used as pawns in the perpetual war against Israel.

Incidently, Minister Ayalon, a descendent of Jewish refugees from Algeria gave a talk at the UN High commission for Refugees Ministerial Meeting in Geneva yesterday, saying:

"The State of Israel is a country that was established as a shelter for Jewish refugees from all over the world, including, survivors of the Holocaust and those forced from their homes in North Africa and the Middle East. Our society is a mosaic of people from around 100 countries who returned to their ancestral homeland escaping the horrors of persecutions and violence.

As a result of our experience, Israel was one of the initiators of the Refugees Convention and one of the first countries to join it. Israel is committed to all its articles.

In addition, we support the application of the general principles governing the treatment of refugees worldwide to apply universally, without exception, including those in the Palestinian context. While the UNHCR has found durable solutions for tens of millions of refugees, the agency created specifically for the Palestinian context has found durable solutions for no one."

The 'Angry Arab' Goes Mad

"I am in favor of chaos because I'm really enjoying what's happening in Egypt, especially what's happening against Israel [the attack on the Israeli embassy]. I've played these scenes on YouTube more times than I've played songs."

As'sd AbuKhalil

Another day, another teach-in at UC Berkeley. At this one, however, the thirst for chaos and disorder transcended that of peaceful co-existence.

by Cinnamon Stillwell and Rima Greene

As'ad AbuKahlil-a political science professor at California State University, Stanislaus-spoke last month at a day-long "teach-in" at the University of California, Berkeley titled, "Building Solidarity with the Arab Spring." It consisted of a number of "workshop sessions" at the Valley Life Sciences Building, followed by a "plenary session" at the Multicultural Center, and was co-sponsored by the Arab Resource Organizing Committee, the Berkeley Muslim Students Association PAC, the International Socialist Organization, and the Syrian American Council.

AbuKhalil's workshop on "The U.S. and the Arab Uprising" was held in a tiny, hot, windowless room filled with students wearing hijabs and keffiyehs. Immediately visible to all who entered was a sign leaning against the black board that set the anti-American atmosphere:

Victory to the Arab Revolutions!

U.S. Out of the Middle East!

AbuKhalil, author of the "Angry Arab" blog, was introduced as "the most influential Arab blogger in English and Arabic." Wasting no time living up to his self-caricature, he presented the demise of Israel as his life's work, referred repeatedly to the "usurping Zionist entity," and characterized the U.S. as the source of all that ails the Arab world.

To read the entire article, go to the Campus Watch website

Gaza's economy booming with 31 % economic growth

The Gaza economy grew 31 percent in the second quarter of 2011, according to figures released by the Palestinian Authority's central bureau of statistics. The 25 percent unemployment rate in Gaza represents the lowest rate in a decade.

And yet, Time is not on our side. Ever biased, Time's headline reads "As the Peace Process Goes Sideways, Gaza’s Economy Remains Stiffled" Only in a reality challenged existence would 31% economic growth be considered "stiffled"

Fom the Israeli ministry of Foreign Affairs:

On 15 November a plan to import building materials for the private sector in the Gaza Strip began. Building materials for the renovation and rehabilitation of 10 private sector factories will be imported, under the supervision of the international community. This is in order to ensure that the raw materials reach their intended destinations and do not fall into the hands of terrorist organizations.

Growth reached 31% in the second quarter of this year (the construction industry accounted for the most significant increase in economic growth).

Unemployment is the lowest it has been in a decade.
There is no shortage of commercial goods in the Gaza Strip.
One hundred exit permits for businesspersons are issued every day, in addition to the passage of Gaza residents for humanitarian reasons and the entry of international organization employees.
The import of new cars is also permitted, and many luxury cars are imported to the Gaza Strip via the Erez crossing.

Projects

Recently Israel approved 13 more projects of the international community, bringing to 176 the total number of projects approved. Thirty-five of the projects have been completed, 70 are in various stages of implementation, 63 have not yet begun, and eight were canceled.

Up to the beginning of November, 11,343 truckloads of building materials were delivered to the Gaza Strip for these projects.

Projects by type

Education - 64
Infrastructure - 32
Agriculture - 18
Health - 14
Housing - 13
Roads - 10
Miscellaneous - 25

Projects by sponsor

UNRWA - 76
USAID - 47
UNDP - 39
World Bank - 3
Red Cross - 3
France - 2
Germany - 2
Egypt - 1
Belgium - 1
Netherlands - 1
Sweden - 1

Exports

The agricultural export season begins on 21 November. Exports are expected to be similar to last year (291 truckloads of agricultural produce were exported last year). Last week seminars were held for exporters from Gaza on packing and export procedures in order to ensure optimal management of this year's exports.

Voices of Tolerance and Diversity in Israel

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel

US Appeals Court: Holy land Foundation Funneled money to Hamas

A U.S. federal appeals court upheld the convictions of five leaders of a "charity" on charges of funneling money and supplies to Hamas, designated by the US as a terrorist group. The unanimous three-judge panel referenced “voluminous evidence” that the foundation, which was started in the late 1980s, had long-running financial ties to Hamas. The Texas-based Holy Land Foundation had its assets frozen by the Bush administration in December 2001 and were found guilty in 2008 on charges of funneling money to Hamas.

Ghassan Elashi, of Richardson, one of the founders of the "charity" , received 65 years for support of Hamas money laundering and tax fraud. Shukri Abu Baker, of Garland, Holy Land's CEO, received 65 years for support of Hamas, money laundering and tax fraud. Mufid Abdulqader, of Richardson received 20 years for conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; conspiracy to provide funds, goods and services to a specially designated terrorist; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Abdulrahman Odeh, of the New Jersey office received 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; conspiracy to provide funds, goods and services to a specially designated terrorist; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Mohammad El-Mezain who ran the California Office of Holy Land received 15 years in prison for providing support to Hamas.

The organizers of the Holy Land Foundation, based in Richardson, Texas argued they were denied a fair trial in 2008. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected those challenges, concluding that “while no trial is perfect,” Holy Land and its leaders were fairly convicted.

Federal law makes it a crime to provide material aid and support to a designated terrorist organization like Hamas. “By supporting such entities, the defendants facilitated Hamas’ activity by furthering its popularity among Palestinians and by providing a funding resource. This, in turn, allowed Hamas to concentrate its efforts on violent activity,” wrote Judge Carolyn King

This organization's tax exemption has been suspended under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(p). Contributions to this organization during its 501(p) suspension are not deductible. This organization has been designated by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control as supporting or engaging in terrorist activity. All financial transactions with this organization by residents of the United States, or within the borders of the United States, are prohibited.

Who Is The 99%? And Who Decides That?

On Monday night, standing outside Oakland's Grand Marriott Hotel, holding a flag and a sign that said "The 99% Support Democracy, The 99% Support Israel", I had some time to consider the usefulness (or lack therof) of this whole 99% and 1% business, as it applied to the business at hand.

The organizers of the event, Students for Justice in Palestine, Code Pink, Jewish Voice for Peace, and company, were running with the idea that AIPAC is the 1%--the quintessential 1%--and called their event 'Occupy AIPAC, Not Palestine'. (The complex means by which 'occupy' is now being used by these people both as a positive and negative term--and the total lack of actual 'occupation' in any of these contexts--is a story for another time.)

AIPAC is not the 1%. AIPAC's membership is made up overwhelmingly of economically average Americans. AIPAC is a lobbying group, and entirely uninvolved with the banking industry, or the current economic morass in which the United States finds itself.

One of our members was told directly, twice, on Monday night, that she 'was the 1%'. This was patently not true; she is, in fact, a kindergarten teacher at a public school, which is not traditionally a profession of the rich and influential. But in the minds of the anti-AIPAC protesters, she had given up her place in the economic rank-and-file of the country by daring to cross them over Israel.

Meanwhile, San Francisco Voice for Israel held signs proudly proclaiming ourselves lovers of Israel who are the 99%, and claimed the support of the 99% for democracy, and for peace in the Middle East. The mere idea that we would do this seemed to confuse some who were unable to grasp the idea that they did not own the Occupy movement. Allison Deger at Mondoweiss was baffled:  "(In an odd occurrence, while members of the Occupy Oakland movement were present at the Stop AIPAC demonstration, members of the pro-AIPCA demonstration carried sign identifying as the "99%")." Note: There were members of the Occupy Oakland movement present on both sides. That this is unthinkable to people who like to imagine that all left-wing activists agree with them does not make it any the less true.

But to get back to this 1% business--to call someone "the 1%" is essentially to say that they are rich and powerful, which is a fairly loaded thing to falsely throw at Jews. After the demo, several people commented that they had perceived the emphasis on AIPAC as 'the 1%' as containing rather obvious layers of racist nuance. "Essentially they mean Jews are the 1% who run the world," a friend commented.

This shouldn't surprise anyone, but it should be of some concern to those anti-AIPAC protesters marching blithely around with signs declaring that AIPAC violates their Jewish values. These people should understand that they are being offered a bargain that's all too familiar to Jewish activists: they are permitted to consider themselves part of the struggle, as long as they ask for nothing for themselves, and never critique the ways in which anti-Semitism is used in that struggle.

It's a bad bargain. Regardless of feelings about AIPAC, no Jew should accept it.

Look Who Thinks They Started A Revolution

If there is one thing that anti-Israel groups with an agenda really can't stand, it's the sight of people organizing and protesting without them, and even worse, pursuing an agenda other than the one the anti-Israel groups would really like to see, ie, trashing Israel.

So, to some extent, the Occupy movement has to be a bit of nightmare for the likes of International ANSWER. The sight of large, quasi-organized groups of left-leaning Americans blaming the problems of the world on economic inequality, rather than the State of Israel is infuriating.

There are a couple of ways to handle this. One is to attempt to persuade the Occupy Movement that protesting the existence of Israel is, in fact, something that should be a priority. Hence, the (tabled) attempt to convince the General Assembly of Occupy Oakland to protest at last night's AIPAC conference. Despite plaintive claims about AIPAC, Occupy declined to follow Code Pink and Students for Justice in Palestine out to the Hilton, and their rally drew fewer than fifty people. They did their best to link their hate to the memes of the Occupy Movement, carrying signs insisting that "AIPAC is the 1%", and falsely accusing AIPAC of forcing the US into Iraq, but it seems that the actual Occupiers weren't interested, staying away in droves.

The other way, of course, is to simply claim credit, as in this charming e-mail that landed in my box:

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the ANSWER Coalition. Founded just three days after the September 11, 2001 attacks, ANSWER has been the central organizer of many major demonstrations against war, racism and repression in cities from coast to coast over the past ten years. Today, ANSWER is an integral part of the Occupy movement that has swept the country and around the world, providing vital logistical as well as political support to this electrifying new expression of popular opposition to injustice, war and inequality.  

INTEGRAL! Do you hear me, we're INTEGRAL!!

The year 2011 has seen an amazing resurgence of grassroots resistance here and around the world. In January and February we saw the popular uprisings that brought down the U.S.-backed regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.


I almost get the sense that ANSWER also wants credit for bringing down the governments of Tunisia and Egypt.


ANSWER has played a key role in linking the anti-war struggle to the Occupy movement, Richard Becker continues. He doesn't exactly go on to prove this, however, he just states:

While most U.S. troops will finally be leaving Iraq after devastating that country, thousands of “contractors” (really military in different uniforms) will remain. U.S. officials have made it clear they will continue to surround Iraq with U.S. bases that blanket the region. Following the bombing war against Libya, the Pentagon continues attacks on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and other countries with impunity, threatens Iran, funds Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and has just sent an initial contingent of troops into central Africa. The real military budget this year will be well over one trillion dollars, more than $3 billion every day!


What to do about all of this? Send money, of course. International ANSWER may not be able to get Occupy out to protest AIPAC, but they still hope for a pity check or two.

Twitter Wars: #IsraelLoves overtakes #Israelhates

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate...must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963.

When you pay a huge PR firm 30 K a month plus expenses to manage your social media, what does it get you?
Apparently it pays for "#israelhates" to trend on twitter.

Twitter activists noticed this disturbing trend over the weekend, as hateful, often anti-Semitic tweets began appearing, using the hash tag #israelhates. The hash tag had reached 0.15 percent of all worldwide tweets, according to the web site Trendistic, which monitors the popularity of trend topics.

The initial response from Jewish community activists? Variations on the theme #israelhates terror

Enter Avi Mayer, head of social media for the Jewish Agency, who tweeted “The haters have gotten ‘IsraelHates’ to trend worldwide. Let’s counter with #Israelloves”

From the Jerusalem Post

Mayer’s tag had become so popular, reaching 0.02 percent of worldwide tweets, that the message of hate he had sought to combat had disappeared from the trending list.

“It’s important for those who love Israel to talk about it in a positive way,” said Mayer.

Thanks Avi. This is an important lesson for all of us who love Israel throughout the world. As we enter the darkest day of the darkest month of the year, let us remember the power of light to overcome darkness, evil,and despair. Thats the message of Hannukah, and thats the also the message of Avi Mayer.

Hows that "secular democractic state" going for you, btw?

So, How's that "secular democratic state in Palestine " working out for you?

From the MAAN News Agency


AZA CITY (Ma'an) Police shut down the Gaza branch of a social media conference on Sunday, days after another video conference was closed by authorities in the coastal strip.

Billed as the first Palestinian social media conference, the three-day event opened Sunday in Ramallah's Cultural Palace with a video link to the Light House Hotel in Gaza City.

Mohammad Abu Sharkh, Gaza office director of conference organizers Amin, said police entered the conference venue and ordered it shut as it had failed to obtain requisite licenses.

Abu Sharkh said in a press statement that the group had sent a formal letter to authorities notifying them of the conference.

"They told us there was no problem," he said.

When police arrived, the organizers complained to Gaza's media ministry who tried to intervene, but without success, Abu Sharkh said.

They were informed the conference could proceed as soon as the necessary licenses were obtained, he added.

On Thursday, police shut down the Gaza venue of a conference on labor rights for women organized by the Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (Musawa), the Palestinian Center for Human Rights said.

PCHR said the event coordinator had notified police of the event two days prior and called on the government and security services to stop interfering in private meetings.

The law on prior police notification applies only to meetings of more than 50 people in an open place, and thus not to Musawa's event, PCHR said at the time.

The rights group said closing down the conference "constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly which are ensured under the constitution."



Gaza Police (MaanImages/Wissam Nassar, File)

To CalPERS and CalSTRS : California Rejects Divestment

Its been 8 month and the divestment petition urging CalPRES and CalSTRS to divest from companies doing business in Israel is going down for the third time. After 8 months, less than 5,000 names are on the petition- the vast majority identifying themselves only as "California taxpayers"- with no funds invested in CalPERS or CalSTRS.

Organizers are in panic mode. The original intention was to present the petition to Fund administrators on Dec.12, no doubt accompanied by massive press releases declaring "California urges divestment from Israeli Apartheid"

From Sherna Gluck via Al Awda.

Note the charming new definition of "California tax-payer"- anyone who makes a purchase in California.

"We are getting down to the wire, going to PERS Investment Committee on December 12th with the IDC petition and a pretty compelling report/argument. We are making a final push in order to reach 5,000 signatures. Another 100 +_/- will do it.l Please forward widely to all your contacts in California. .

Remember, anyone who nakes any purchase in California is a tax-payer, so that means students, too.

ANYTHING you can do to help us reach that goal would be fantastic."

Onward!

Sherna


Dear Friends,

On December 12th, members of the Israel Divestment Campaign (IDC) will be presenting a petition to CalPERS (the Public Employee Retirement System), the largest public pension fund in the US) calling on it to start the process that leads to divestment. The campaign has targeted some of the companies that facilitate/profit from Israeli violation of human rights, International law, and UN Resolutions, including: Caterpillar, Elbit and Veolia.

I hope that you will help the campaign reach its goal by signing the petition online today! www.israeldivestmentcampaign.org/petition.htm
and be sure to respond to the automated message after you sign asking you to confirm your signature.

I signed, won't you?

December 1st, 2011
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition calls on its members and supporters to join the global effort to bring freedom and justice to Palestine.

This is the most significant BDS Project based in California and we need your help and support.

On December 12th, members of the Israel Divestment Campaign (IDC) will be presenting its petition to CalPERS (the Public Employee Retirement System), the largest public pension fund in the US, calling on it to start the process that leads to divestment. They have targeted some of the companies that facilitate/profit from Israeli violation of human rights, International law, and UN Resolutions, including: Caterpillar, Elbit and Veolia.

Help the campaign reach its goal by signing the petition online today!:

israeldivestmentcampaign.org/petition.htm

Be sure to respond to the automated message after you sign asking you to confirm your signature.

Please distribute this email widely!

Al Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition

What can you do? Drop CalPERS a line. Ask them to ignore the haters, and not to capitulate to extremist political groups while investing your retirement money.

The Forward Censors Pro-Israel StandWithUs

Regarding the Recent Hit-Piece in the Forward

The once venerable Forward recently published an highly slanted article on StandWithUs, and has refused to allow StandWithUs to respond.

The censored response follows:

StandWithUs appreciates your recent coverage of our dynamic growth, and of our multiple educational and advocacy efforts in cities around the world.
However, we were disturbed by the bizarre angle of your article, which tried to discredit us as “right wing,” and absurdly asked whether StandWithUs should register as an agent of a foreign government even though your own sources emphatically rejected this notion. You even tried to imply that there is something suspect about our funding sources though the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and Birthright Israel can hardly be considered suspect.
Your readers deserve to know the facts.
StandWithUs does not and has never advocated specific policies for Israel. Our work and our respect for Israel’s democratically elected government is not contingent on which parties are in power. Instead, since our founding, our mission has been to counter the vicious anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda campaign that was unleashed along with the Intifada in September, 2000. Our goal is to educate the public about Israel—and empower others to educate their communities—to counter the demonizing propaganda and to make it possible to have reasonable, informed conversations about Israel’s policies on campuses and in communities.
Your readers should be informed about the virulence of the anti-Israel propaganda campaign. Israel is the only modern state whose right to exist is still questioned. If you consider support for the existence of the Jewish State a right wing position, then indeed we are right wing. Yet you repeatedly confused anti-Israel propaganda with “reasonable criticism” of Israeli policies. But the boycott movement against Israel is not just critical of Israel’s occupation and settlements as you claimed. The movement opposes the very existence of the Jewish state. Read their literature and their websites which are biased screeds that ignore ongoing terrorism and falsify facts. We objected to the Israeli soldiers’ group speaking on campuses not because they are critical of the Israeli government but because they misrepresent the IDF to vilify it and contribute to the malicious misinformation about Israel on American campuses.
Similarly, your article misrepresented why we object to J Street. It is not because J Street “criticizes” Israel's government policies, but rather because it attempts to get the American government to strong arm Israel into adopting specific policies that Israeli voters clearly rejected in their democratic elections. It is an effort to bypass Israel’s democracy. Furthermore, J Street has often supported blatant demonization of Israel, as when it tried to facilitate bringing Richard Goldstone and the infamous UN Goldstone Report to Congressional members. Even Goldstone himself has admitted the inaccuracy and bias of that report.
Indeed, it seems you had to search hard to find some evidence that would justify your criticism of StandWithUs. Though you claimed that StandWithUs has many critics, the only one you cited by name is well-known for his extremist views. Your criticism of some specific facts in our educational materials is simply erroneous . Despite your claim, Israel’s founding in May, 1948, did not cause the Palestinian refugee problem. Indeed, no responsible historian, including Benny Morris, disputes the fact that had Palestinian leaders accepted the UN Partition plan instead of launching a war to destroy the newly declared state, there would have been no refugees and a Palestinian Arab state would exist today. The Danny Ayalon video simply laid out the historical facts about the West Bank. It is disputed territory, and both Palestinians and Israelis have legitimate claims to it. What policies Israel and the Palestinians choose in light of these facts is a political question that will hopefully be hammered out in negotiations. StandWithUs does not recommend any specific policies, but rather elucidates the facts and history so there can be reasonable discussions about different policy options.
It is a shame that The Forward, while seeming to congratulate our growth and achievements during the last ten years, nonetheless chose to malign our efforts.
These are difficult times for Israel. The Arab spring has created instability in the region and allowed the rise of Islamist forces that oppose Israel’s existence. Iran is racing to develop nuclear weapons and constantly reiterates that it wants to wipe Israel off the map. Hezbollah and Hamas continue amassing arms. The anti-Israel propaganda campaign, often called the “new anti-Semitism,” (for good reason) persistently tries to make inroads in liberal Western democracies. StandWithUs alerts and educates the public about these challenges, while the Forward minimizes them, doing a disservice to its readers.
Roz Rothstein, CEO
StandWithUs

How Much do you know about Palestine?

From Our friends at CIF Watch:
A guest post by Geary, shamelessly reproduced in its entirety, here.

Please take the following quiz on topics regarding Palestinian quality of life, demography and history, and test your knowledge with the answers provided below.

Questions
1.) Rank these countries according to life expectancy (longest first).

Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, Gaza, Russia, & world average

2.) Rank these conflicts (since 1950) in terms of number of casualties.

Burma/Myanmar; Russia-Chechnya; Arab-Israeli conflict; Zimbabwe civil disorders; Iranian Revolution; Repression of Kurds (Turkey,Iraq,Iran); Sudan civil wars

3.) How many Palestinians were treated in Israeli hospitals in 2010?

None; 180; 1,800; 18,000; or 180,000

4.) Which of the following organs of Palestinian society are under “occupying” Israeli control?

Education system; The Judiciary; The Press, Taxation; or None of the above

5.) Rank these countries by rate of economic growth (GDP, 2009 figures)

Australia, Germany, Israel, Egypt, Palestinian Territories, Hong Kong, and Brazil

6.) The UN Human Rights Council has passed more resolutions against Israel over the Palestine question than against all other nations combined.

Which of these countries are not currently serving on the UNHRC?

Sweden, Russia, Pakistan, Canada, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China

7.) How much of Gaza’s electricity is supplied by Israel?

None, 10%, 33%, 50%, or 70%

8.) Rank these countries in order of family home ownership.

United States, Italy, Palestinian territories, France, Germany, and Switzerland

9.) Since Arafat launched the 2nd Intifada War against Israel, the last decade has been by far the most costly in Palestinian lives in the history of Israel-Palestinian relations. How many Palestinians have died in conflict with Israel since 2000?

Less than 10,000; 10,000 – 20,000; 20,000 – 30,000; 30,000 – 40,000; or more than 40,000

10.) In the Second Intifada War against Israel, how many Palestinians were killed by other Palestinians (the “Intra-fada”)?

70; 170; 370; or 570

ANSWERS
1.) Rank these countries according to life expectancy (longest first)

i) Gaza Strip – 73.4 years

ii) Egypt – 72

iii) Brazil – 72

iv) Turkey – 72

v) World average – 66.6

vi) Russia – 66

So you can expect to enjoy an extra 16 months if you were born on the Gazan side of the Rafa Crossing than if you were born on the Egyptian side.

The average West bank Palestinian does better still, at 74.5, which may well be explained in part by Question 3.

And given that the average Gazan lives longer than the average Turk, perhaps those ‘humanitarian’ flotillas should be heading in the opposite direction.

Sources, here and here.

2.) Rank these conflicts (since 1950) in terms of number of casualties.

i) Sudan civil wars – 1.9 million casualties

ii) Repression of Kurds – 300,000

iii) Russia–Chechnya – 140,000

iv) Burma/Myanmar – 130,000

v) Sri Lanka – 8,000

vi) Iranian Revolution – 80,000

vii) Zimbabwe – 60,000

viii) Arab-Israeli conflict 52,000

In fact the Arab-Israeli conflict comes just 49th in the list of the worst conflicts of the last sixty years, many of which are, shamefully, completely forgotten or ignored by the western press.


3.) How many Palestinians were treated in Israeli hospitals in 2010?

i) None

ii) 180

iii) 1,800

iv) 18,000

v) 180,000

These included many thousands of patients from Gaza, despite its government’s constant attacks on Israeli citizens.

Israeli hospitals would be able to treat many more Palestinians if security was not an issue. Before the 2000 Intifada was declared, any Palestinian could simply arrive at an Israeli hospital and be treated.


4.) Which of the following organs of Palestinian society are under “occupying” Israeli control?

i) Education system

ii) The judiciary

iii) The press

iv) Taxation

v) None of the above

Compare this to, say, the complete lack of autonomy of the Kurds and other minorities in Turkey.

5.) Rank these countries by rate of economic growth (GDP, 2009 figures)

i) Palestinian Territories (8%)

ii) Brazil (7.5%)

iii) Hong Kong (6.8%)

iv) Egypt (5.1%)

v) Israel (4.6%)

vi) Germany (3.5%)

vii) Australia (2.7%)

After the economic depression which accompanied Arafat’s Intifada War on Israel, and after the building of the Security Fence to protect Israelis from terrorist aggression and restore security to the West Bank, things are definitely looking brighter for the Palestinian economy.


6.) The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has passed more resolutions against Israel over the Palestine question than against all other nations combined.

Which of these countries are not currently serving on the UNHRC?

Sweden and Canada are not on the UNHRC, whilst China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Pakistan are.

7.) How much of Gaza’s electricity is supplied by Israel?

i) none

ii) 10%

iii) 33%

iv) 50%

v) 70%

Israel supplies over 70%, Egypt a ‘generous’ 5%, with the remaining 25% coming from the Strip’s lone plant.


8.) Rank these countries in order of family home ownership.

i) Palestinian territories 84%

ii) Italy 78%

iii) United States 65%

iv) Sweden 60%

v) France 54%

vi) Germany 43%


9.) Since Arafat launched his Intifada War against Israelis, the last decade has been by far the most costly in Palestinian lives in the history of Israel-Palestinian relations.

How many Palestinians have died in conflict with Israel since 2000?

i) Less than 10,000 (Around 6,000, combatants and non-combatants.)

ii) 10,000 – 20,000

iii) 20,000 – 30,000

iv) 30,000 – 40,000

v) More than 40,000


To put this in perspective: 20,000 are feared dead in one month in 2009 of the Sri Lanka conflict

Between 50,000 and 70,000 have died in the same decade in Chechnya, whilst 35,000 people have died in Mexico’s drugs wars since 2005.

10.) In the Second Intifada War against Israel, how many Palestinians were killed by other Palestinians (the “Intra-fada”)?

i) None

ii) 70

iii) 170

iv) 370

v) 570


Or, more precisely, 557 according to B’Tselem. For some reason, few, if any, international protests were heard on such Palestinian-on-Palestinian killings.

YOUR SCORE

8-10 Well-informed. You are probably a regular visitor to CiF Watch.

4-7 You often uncritically accept the mainstream media’s coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

0-3 You likely read the Guardian as a serious newspaper.

Supporting Sources available at the CIF Watch website

CSU Northridge David Klein's offensive webpage.

Is there a limit to academic freedom? Is there ever a time when academic freedom crosses the line into full-fledged indocrination of students? Does a Professor have the right to post offensive, racially charged and academically irrelevant material on his state-funded website?

From the AMCHA Initiative, authored by Tammi Benjamin, a nominee for Jewish Community Hero of 2011

David Klein, a Mathematics professor at California State University Northridge, is a founding member of the Academic Boycott of Israel campaign, and recently authored an open letter to CSU Chancellor Reed, urging him to rescind the newly revived CSU-Study Abroad Program in "apartheid" Israel. Professor Klein uses the official website of the CSUN Mathematics department to post anti-Semitic text and pictures, which are intended to incite hatred of Israel and her supporters and encourage political activism to harm the Jewish state.

Last week we sent the following letter to CSU Northridge President Jolene Koester , apprising her of Professor Klein's anti-Semitic webpages and urging her to have them removed from the CSUN server:

******************************
Dr. Jolene Koester
President, California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge, CA 91330

Dear President Koester,

We are faculty members at the University of California, who have been investigating and documenting anti-Jewish bigotry on California public university campuses for the last several years.

In case you have not seen them, we wanted to bring to your attention two webpages of CSU Northridge Professor of Mathematics David Klein, which are hosted on the CSUN server:
Professor Klein's "Home Page," linked to the "Tenure-Track Faculty" webpage of the CSUN Department of Mathematics, contains a section entitled "CSU and Political Issues," that includes a link to another CSUN-hosted webpage entitled "Boycott Israel."
Professor Klein's "Boycott Israel" page contains a litany of false and inflammatory statements and photographs intended to incite hatred and promote political activism against the Jewish state.

There are several reasons why Professor Klein's webpages should be immediately removed from the CSUN server:

1) These webpages are in clear violation of the CSU policy prohibiting the misuse of the CSU name for inappropriate purposes, including for the promotion of political organizations and activities such as "boycott." As you have seen on Professor Klein's Home Page, he specifically links the University to several political action organizations and activities, including the boycott of Israel, in a section he telling calls "CSU and Political Issues."

2) Many of Professor Klein's statements on his "Boycott Israel" webpage meet the U.S. Department of State's Working Definition of Anti-Semitism, including the statement that "Israel is the most racist country in the world." In addition, the pictures of mutilated dead babies that appear on this page, with the clear implication that the babies have been brutally murdered by Israeli soldiers, are perfect examples of the classic anti-Semitic "blood libel", the false accusation that Jews kill non-Jewish children for evil purposes, an accusation that has been used throughout Jewish history for the purpose of inciting hatred and violence against Jews. Campaigns to boycott the Jewish state are also anti-Semitic according to the U.S. State Department, and in some cases are a violation of U.S. law.

3) The promotion of virulently anti-Israel and anti-Semitic statements and imagery on the departmental website of a CSUN faculty member cannot help but contribute to a hostile environment for Jewish students on your campus.

4) CSUN is a public university, whose facilities and resources, including the CSUN website, are supported by the tax dollars of California citizens, many of whom would find Professor Klein's webpages an egregious violation of public trust.

We do not believe that this is an issue of Professor Klein's freedom of speech. Indeed, CSUN's policy on internet use explicitly states that the University has the right to remove "any defamatory, offensive, infringing, or illegal materials" from its website. If you choose not to remove Professor Klein's anti-Semitic material from the CSUN website, we will presume that it is because the University finds nothing "defamatory, offensive, infringing, or illegal" about these webpages, and is unconcerned with the effects they may have on CSUN students, parents, community members, and taxpayers.

We know that you will soon be retiring as CSUN President, but we trust that you will have the opportunity to look into this matter and take appropriate action.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Tammi Rossman-Benjamin
Lecturer, University of California at Santa Cruz
Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative

Leila Beckwith
Professor Emeritus, University of California at Los Angeles
Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative

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

It has been over a week, and we have not heard from CSUN President Koester or the individuals copied on our email. We believe it is important for the CSU leadership to know that members of the Jewish community are outraged that a publicly funded university is hosting an anti-Semitic website. Please consider sending a respectful letter to one or more of the following individuals, asking them to remove Professor David Klein's anti-Semitic webpages from the CSUN server:

CSU Northridge President Jolene Koester: jolene.koester@csun.edu
CSU Chancellor Charles Reed: creed@calstate.edu
CSUN Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Harold Hellenbrand: harry.hellenbrand@csun.edu
CSUN Department of Mathematics Chair Werner Horn: werner.horn@csun.edu


You may also consider sending an email to Chancellor Reed, asking him to reject the open letter authored by Professor Klein urging the Chancellor to rescind CSU's Israel Study Abroad program. Given the anti-Semitic nature of Professor Klein's website, it is quite clear that his open letter is yet one more attempt to harm the Jewish state and those who support it. In this case, his anti-Jewish animus is aimed directly at our students.

Sincerely,

Tammi Rossman-Benjamin
Lecturer, University of California at Santa Cruz
Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative

Leila Beckwith
Professor Emeritus, University of California at Los Angeles
Co-founder the AMCHA Initiative
*********************

Please consider writing a letter to the CSU Chancellor regarding this wildly inappropriate use of tax-payer sponsored bandwith. Its up to ALL of us to defend the rights of Jewish students on campus.

Chaya Sara and the Zionist Invasion of Hebron

Read, if you can stomach it, Alistair George and Ben Lorber's (International Solidarity movement) version of the gathering of Jewish Pilgrims in Hebron, for the annual reading of Chaya Sara. Having the Jewish people worship in their second holiest city is regarded as an unwelcome intrusion. Like all of the ISM and their International handlers, they deny the Jewish people's 3,500 year connection to our holy land :

From their Nov. 20 article

"Over 1000 American and International Zionists joined 700 extremist settlers in Hebron this weekend to celebrate the reading of the Torah portion detailing Abraham’s biblical purchase of Hebron land, and to assert sovereignty over the Palestinian residents of Hebron.
On Friday, many Zionist visitors camped in tents on Israeli-controlled Shuhada Street. Inebriated from the Shabbat festivities, the visitors harassed local Palestinians throughout the night."

For what really goes on , read David Wilders account

"All hours of the day and night the streets are full of people walking to and from the various neighborhoods in Hebron. Saturday afternoon, multitudes tour the city, visiting the Hebron Heritage Museum at Beit Hadassah, the tomb of Jesse and Ruth in Tel Rumeida, and the Avraham Avinu synagogue in the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. Special Casba tours are also included in the day’s agenda.

The heart of the day’s events takes place at Me’arat Hamachpela. On Friday night, literally thousands of people gather at this holy site, inside and out, to offer joyous Sabbath prayers. Singing and dancing during a huge “Carlebach minyan,” conducted in the Machpela courtyard, is unbelievably uplifting.

But the pinnacle and actual raison d’être for the ingathering begins early Saturday morning.

By 5:15 a.m., thousands make their way to early morning prayers at the Machpela. The entire building is open to Jewish worshipers, including “Ohel Yitzhak,” the Isaac Hall, available to Jews only ten days during the year. The first vatikin service, with the sunrise, is a spiritually inspirational way to start the day.

However, the peak takes place about an hour into the service. A Torah scroll is removed from the Holy Ark and opened. The first person, usually a cohen, or priest, is called up to the Torah. Following recitation of a blessing, the reader begins:

“And the life of Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. And Sarah died in Kiryat Arba –the same is Hebron – in the land of Canaan; and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her… and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver…four hundred shekels of silver… And Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre – the same is Hebron – in the land of Canaan…” (Gen: 23, 1-20)."

The ISM tirade doesnt notice or care about the joyful worship. To Ben and Alistair, its all about the eternal victimization of the Palestinian people:

"On Saturday, soldiers stationed themselves through the streets of Hebron’s Old City, forcing the shutdown of Palestinian shops, while swarms of visitors were treated to an extensive settler-guided tour championing the Jewish roots of Old Hebron. In what was advertised by the Hebron Committee as “the most unforgettable Jewish experience of a lifetime”, throngs of young, mostly American males clapped and chanted ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ (‘life to the people of Israel’) and other nationalistic chants, while Palestinian residents were forced to the sidelines of their own streets and kept there by soldiers."

These are some of those "extremist settlers" that Alistair and Ben complain about, courtesy of Elder of Ziyon:



If only I could say that I was surprised by the language of dehumanization, the denial of Jewish heritage and the venomous hate from the ISM article. Sadly, its all too typical.

UN GA: Debate on "The Question of Palestine"

"If you ever hear a Palestinian leader say “two states for two peoples”, please phone me immediately. My office has set up the equivalent of a 9/11 number in the event of such an unprecedented occurrence."

Statement by Ambassador Ron Prosor, Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, Nov 29, 2011

Mr. President,
A great Jewish sage once wrote, “The truth can hurt like a thorn, at first; but in the end it blossoms like a rose.”
His words came to my mind today. His insight could really benefit many in this hall.
It takes a well of truth to water the seeds of peace. Yet, we continue to witness a drought of candor in this body’s discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. On this historic day, real facts in the General Assembly remain few and far between.
For any who have been here on November 29th before, today is déjà vu. Some of you may have noticed that some minor changes have been taking place in the Middle East lately, but any changes in this body’s resolutions condemning Israel are very, very rare.
Indeed, it didn’t take a creative writer to craft the language in these resolutions. The exact same text is copied and pasted, year after year – much of it dating back five decades.
The account we heard today is one-sided. It is unilateral. It is unjust. And it is unhelpful. It presents a distorted and impartial version of history. It transforms the cause of Palestinian self-determination into a deliberate attempt to denigrate, defame, and delegitimize the State of Israel.
The political dynamics in this body are sadly predictable. Every November, the leaves change color in New York, but the automatic anti-Israel majority never changes its votes.
Each and every responsible member of the international community that affixes its seal of approval on this exact same set of resolutions – which are irrelevant at best, and damaging at worst— should do a little soul searching. Is this the message that you want the General Assembly to send to the world?
Mr. President,
Let me take a moment to remind this Assembly about what actually occurred on this day 64 years ago – and in the days that followed.
On November 29, 1947, the United Nations voted to partition then British-Mandate Palestine into two states: one Jewish, one Arab. Two states for two peoples.
The Jewish population accepted that plan and declared a new state in its ancient homeland. It reflected the Zionist conviction that it was both necessary and possible to live in peace with our neighbors in the land of our forefathers.
The Arab inhabitants rejected the plan and launched a war of annihilation against the new Jewish state, joined by the armies of five Arab members of the United Nations.
One percent of Israel’s population died during this assault by five armies. Think about that price. It would be the equivalent of 650,000 dying in France today, or 3 million dying in the United States, or 13 million dying in China.
As a result of the war, there were Arabs who became refugees. A similar number of Jews, who lived in Arab countries, were forced to flee their homes as well. They, too, became refugees.
The difference between these two distinct populations was – and still is – that Israel absorbed the refugees into our society. Our neighbors did not.
Refugee camps in Israel gave birth to thriving towns and cities. Refugee camps in Arab Countries gave birth to more Palestinian refugees.
We unlocked our new immigrants’ vast potential. The Arab World knowingly and intentionally kept their Palestinian populations in the second class status of permanent refugees.
In Lebanon for many years and still today, the law prohibits Palestinians from owning land – and from working in the public sector or as doctors and lawyers. Palestinians are banned from these professions.
In Kuwait, the once significant Palestinian population was forcibly expelled from the country in 1991. Few remain.
In Syria, thousands of Palestinians had to flee refugee camps in Latakia last August when President Assad shelled their homes with naval gunboats.
In the vast majority of Arab Countries, Palestinians have no rights of citizenship. It is no coincidence that the Arab World’s responsibilities for the “inalienable rights” of these Palestinians never appear in the resolutions before you.
Mr. President,
The basic question underlying our conflict for 64 years has not changed. That question is: has the Arab World – and particularly the Palestinians – internalized that Israel is here to stay and will remain the Nation-state of the Jewish People?
It is still unclear whether they are inspired by the promise of building a new state, or the goal of destroying an existing one.
Two months ago, President Abbas stood at the podium in this very hall and tried to erase the unbroken and unbreakable connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.
He said the following:
“I come before you today from the Holy Land, the land of Palestine, the land of divine messages, ascension of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the birthplace of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him).”
This was not an oversight. It was not a slip of the tongue. It was yet another deliberate attempt to deny and erase more than 3,000 years of Jewish history. The Arab leaders from those two nations that sought peace have offered a different message.
For example, in 1995, King Hussein came to the United States and said (quote): “For our part, we shall continue to work for the new dawn when all the Children of Abraham and their descendants are living together in the birthplace of their three great monotheistic religions.”
In 1977, President Sadat came to Israel’s Knesset and quoted this verse from the Koran: “We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes and in the books given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets from their lord.”
President Sadat and King Hussein spoke of THREE monotheistic religions, not ONE or TWO.
Mr. President,
The resolution that gives the 29th of November significance – General Assembly resolution 181 – speaks of the creation of a “Jewish State” no less than 25 times. We still do not hear Palestinian leaders utter the term.
The Palestinian leadership refuses to acknowledge Israel’s character as a Jewish state. You will never hear them say “two states for two peoples”. If you ever hear a Palestinian leader say “two states for two peoples”, please phone me immediately. My office has set up the equivalent of a 9/11 number in the event of such an unprecedented occurrence.
Palestinian leaders call for an independent Palestinian state, but insist that the Palestinian people return to the Jewish state. This is a proposition that no one who believes in the right of Israel to exist could ever accept.
The idea that Israel will be flooded with millions of Palestinians is a non-starter. The international community knows it. The Palestinian leadership knows it. But the Palestinian people aren’t hearing it. At this very moment, the gap between their perception and reality remains the major obstacle to peace.
Let me repeat that: the so-called right of return is and will remain the major obstacle to peace. It is not settlements. It is not the laundry list of baseless accusations launched against Israel in today’s resolutions.
I’ll repeat it again: the so-called right of return is the major obstacle to peace. Everyone knows it.
Yet, all of those who were so vocal today in telling Israel what is has to do for peace – mumbled, stuttered and conveniently lost their voices when it came to telling the Palestinians that the so-called right of return is a non-starter.
For decades, this body has rubberstamped nearly every Palestinian whim, no matter how counter-factual or counter-productive. What has this accomplished? The lip service of this body has only done a disservice for peace.
Mr. President,
True friends of the Palestinians have a responsibility to tell them the truth.
They will stop promoting the distorted version of history that characterizes this day, and start delivering the real lessons of history that the Palestinian leadership now refuses to heed.
These lessons are clear: bilateral negotiations are the only route to two states, for two peoples – living side-by-side in peace and security; negotiations that resolve the outstanding concerns of both sides.
While bypass maneuvers may work for heart surgery and highway construction, they will not bring peace or security to our region.
Direct negotiations were the way of President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin, the way of Prime Minister Rabin and King Hussein. It has been the framework for advancing peace between Israel and the Palestinians for the past two decades.
Time and again, we have extended our hand in peace to the Palestinians. Prime Minister Netanyahu stood in this very hall last September and declared his commitment to the cause of Palestinian self-determination – and his vision for establishing a Palestinian state, alongside the Jewish State of Israel – two states for two peoples.
Yet, today we wait for the Palestinians to give up the false idol of unilateralism – and get back to the real hard work of direct negotiations. And – as they continue to run away from the negotiating table, the Palestinian leadership continues to move closer into their embrace of Hamas – an internationally recognized terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
This development brings to my mind Groucho Marx’s famous line: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them … well, I have others." The Quartet has long applied three principles that Hamas must adopt. It must renounce violence, recognize Israel and abide by prior agreements. At no point has Hamas satisfied these conditions – or indicated any intention to do so.
Those who advocate recognizing a Government that includes Hamas are urging a Groucho-Marxist policy in a complex, unstable region. If Hamas is too extreme to accept these principles, they argue, we must tailor our principles to match Hamas's extremism.
The bar has been set very low. On these basic requirements for peace, there can be no adjustments. There can be no bargaining. There can be no Holiday Season discounts – in this hall or anywhere else.
Mr. President,
Even more than the words spoken in the speeches here today – or the words in the resolutions before you— it is the words not spoken that speak volumes. This Assembly has made clear that it does not stand in solidarity with many people in our region today.
In this hall, I hear no solidarity with the one million Israeli men, women and children who live under the constant rain rockets, mortars and missiles from the Gaza Strip.
I hear no solidarity with the 16-year old boy who was killed last April when a Hamas anti-Tank Missile struck his school bus. Or the thousands of other Israeli civilians who have been killed and injured.
I hear no solidarity with the Israeli children who learn the alphabet at the same time that they learn the names Kassam, Grad, and Katyusha – the rockets that keep them out of school for weeks at a time.
I hear no solidarity with the Palestinians who are victims of brutal Hamas rule – with the political opponents who are tortured, the women who are subjugated, or the children who are used as suicide bombers and human shields.
And – Mr. President, today I hear no solidarity with the many people in the Middle East who are being repressed and slaughtered every single day for demanding their freedom. From Syria to Iran to Yemen, these people are no longer content with their leader’s explanations that Israel is to blame for all the problems of the Middle East – a fiction that is advanced through resolutions like those before us today.

Today the People of the Middle East demand real answers for their plight.

I also heard no discussion today about the incitement that continues to fill the West Bank and Gaza, where the next generation of Palestinian children is being taught that suicide bombers are heroes, that Jews have no connection to the Holy Land, and that they must seek to annihilate the State of Israel.

From cradles to kindergarten classrooms; from the grounds of summer camps to the stands of football stadiums; from the names of public squares to the public pronouncements of Palestinian leaders, these messages are everywhere.

Just last month, President Abbas declared that the Palestinian Authority would provide a grant of up to $5,000 to every terrorist released in exchange for Gilad Shalit, Israel’s kidnapped soldier.
These are people like Ibrahim Shammasina, who helped to murder four Israelis, including two teenagers. People like Walid Anajas, who planned bombings in the heart of Jerusalem and Rishon Lezion, which killed 32.
People like Wafa-al Bis, who unsuccessfully tried to blow herself up in an Israeli hospital.
Washed in the blood of innocents, these terrorists are being held up as role models for the next generation of Palestinian children.
Palestinian Authority television broadcast President Abbas’ remarks to these released terrorists last October. He said, “You are people of struggle and Jihad fighters for Allah and the homeland... Your sacrifice and your effort and your actions were not in vain.”
Mr. President,
Sustainable peace must take root in homes, schools, and media that teach tolerance and understanding so that it can grow in hearts and minds.
It must come from a Palestinian leadership willing to tell its people about the difficult compromises that they will have to make for statehood.
It will come through the hard work of state-building, not the old habit of state-bashing.
Today none of these truths have been spoken.
Today I hear no solidarity with the principles of peace.
I know that the truth can be a burden. I know that old habits die-hard. I know that the convenience of the moment sometimes weighs heavy on the interests of the future.
Yet, only the truth will set us free. After years of darkness, I call on this Assembly to bring new light to this debate.
I call on each and every delegate in this hall to embrace pragmatic solutions, not automatic resolutions; to speak with candor, and not slander; to grapple for a new vision, and not old divisions.
I call on this Assembly to finally glean truth from this historic day, nourishing the seeds of peace in our region that can blossom into a brighter future.
Thank you, Mr. President

The Ethnic Cleansing of Jerusalem

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet.

Jerusalem has has played a central role in Jewish existence for over 3,000 years. Now our holy city is under attack, by those who deny our history and our heritage.

In May 1948, Jordan invaded and occupied east Jerusalem. For 19 years, the city was divided, with Israel establishing its capital in western Jerusalem and Jordan occupying the eastern section, which included the Old City and many holy sites. Thousands of Jews and Christians were ethnically cleansed from Jerusalem during this period.
During Jordanian occupation, the population of Christians in Jerusalem dwindled from 25,000 in 1949 to less than 13,000 in June 1967. Strict government controls were instituted on Christian schools, with restrictions on the opening of new schools. There were governmental controls over the hiring of teachers and school finances. Koran study was mandatory. Christian religious and charitable institutions were banned from purchasing land in Jerusalem. There were limits on the number of Christians allowed to visit the Old City and Bethlehem at Christmas and Easter

Jews were denied access to the Kotel, and to the cemetery on the Mount of Olives, where they had been burying their dead for 2,500 years. The Jordanians built a road through the cemetery, destroying hundreds of graves. The tombstones were used as paving stones. The ancient Jewish quarter of the Old City was ravaged. 58 synagogues- some centuries old- were ruined.



Before the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem



After the ethnic cleansing of the Jews from Jerusalem
Photos from Time Life


There is a new assault on our Holy city scheduled for March of 2012. The promotional brochure of the Global march on Jerusalem is now being distributed.






The Global March on Jerusalem represents a denial of Israeli sovereignty, and a denial of the Jewish bond to our holy city. The organizers, including Paul Larudee and Deppen Webber, both from California, and Feroze Mithiborwala of India represent an extremist fringe element closely associated with Iran and the Iranian client state of Gaza

I rejoiced when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
And now our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city, walled round about.
There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,
As it was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
There are the thrones of justice, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
“May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your ramparts, prosperity within your towers.”
For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,
“Peace be with you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord, our G-d,
I pray for your good.
Psalm 122


Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo "Tel Aviv, judgment day has come"

5,000 people joined a Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo on Friday called to promote the "battle against Jerusalem's Judaization." Activists vowing to "one day kill all Jews" attended the rally, held in Cairo's most prominent mosque.

Speakers were quick to scapegoat and condemn Israel with calls for Jihad and for liberation the whole of Palestine. Ahmed al-Tayeb claimed that Jews everywhere in the world are seeking to prevent Islamic and Egyptian unity. "In order to build Egypt, we must be one. Politics is insufficient. Faith in Allah is the basis for everything," he said. "The al-Aqsa Mosque is currently under an offensive by the Jews… we shall not allow the Zionists to Judaize al-Quds (Jerusalem.)

Upon leaving the rally, participants were given flags, with Egypt's flag on one side and the Palestinian flag on the other, as well as maps of Jerusalem's Old City detailing where "Zionists are aiming to change Jerusalem's Muslim character."

Today begins a preliminary "March to Jerusalem", a precursor to the much larger march to be held in 2012. The March 30 crusade, organized by Paul Larudee, Deppen Webber, Feroze Mithiborwala and others aims to amass thousands on all Israel's borders.

To Paul, Deppen, Feroze, Ahmed and all those who deny the Jewish people's eternal bond with our holy city Jerusalem, I present to you Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon,there we sat and we wept,
when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Sing us a song of Zion, our captors urged

How shall we sing of Zion in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,

let my right hand forget her cunning.
let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth;
if I do not remember Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Not into ancient liturgy? Check out this modern ode to our city of light, of peace and of gold

From the Israel Project: Ten Facts about the Palestinian Terror Group Hamas

"But, but, Hamas was democratically elected"

Ten Facts about the Palestinian Terror Group Hamas from the Israel project

1. Hamas Leadership
Hamas is a radical Islamic terror group operating out of the Gaza Strip. Hamas, which means “enthusiasm” or “bravery” in Arabic, is the acronym for its full title, the Islamic Resistance Movement. Its military wing is called Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, named after the early 20th century militant leader. Hamas also has a paramilitary police force, known as the Executive Force. The group has some 20,000 fighters among its ranks...
2. Hamas Founders
Founded in 1987, Hamas was created by former Muslim Brotherhood members Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Mahmoud al-Zahar. Abdullah Azzam, an Arab Islamist from the West Bank city of Jenin, was another pivotal figure in the founding of Hamas. He studied with Muslim Brotherhood members at Cairo’s al-Azhar University and became al-Qaeda arch terrorist Osama bin Laden’s mentor in Pakistan.
3. Hamas Terror Tactics
Hamas carries out civilian attacks and suicide bombings and purposefully fires rockets at Israeli towns and cities. Human rights group Amnesty International called on Hamas to "publicly renounce its policy of unlawful attacks against civilian population centers in Israel." The group’s hardline ethos advocates fighting Jews in order to create an Islamic Palestinian state in place of what is currently Israel.
4. Hamas, an Iranian Proxy
Like the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, Gaza-based Hamas is funded, armed and trained by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran provides hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to Hamas and other proxy groups.In fact, Hamas militants are trained in Iran and weapons provided by Iran are routinely smuggled into Gaza.
5. Hamas’ Bloody Gaza Takeover
Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, when it violently ousted Fatah, the political party of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. During the year that culminated with the bloody coup, more than 600 Palestinians were killed and at over 1000 were wounded
6. Hamas: Bin Laden a Holy Warrior
United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) states: “Hamas is a Foreign Terrorist Organization that calls bin Laden a ‘holy warrior,’ remains determined to destroy Israel, and is responsible for the deaths of Israelis and Americans.”
7. A Hamas-Fatah Government
Referring to the impending Hamas-Fatah move towards a new Palestinian government, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen added in a statement: “Now, Hamas will be a part of the PA, without having to recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, or accept previous agreements.” World leaders have called the move towards Hamas-Fatah unity a blow to peace because of Hamas’ hardline and violent rhetoric.
8. Palestinian Violence
In April 2011, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said: "The United States supports Palestinian reconciliation on terms which promote the cause of peace…Hamas, however, is a terrorist organization which targets civilians. To play a constructive role in achieving peace, any Palestinian government must... renounce violence, abide by past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist."
9. Hamas and al-Qaeda
Although Hamas denies its ties to al-Qaeda, operational links – as well as ideological similarities - between the two terror groups have been confirmed. Jonathan Schanzer, a Middle East expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, confirms that the two groups trained together in the 1990s in Sudan
10. Hamas’ Capture of Gilad Shalit
Gilad Shalit, an Israeli-French national, was kidnapped by Iran-backed Hamas on June 25, 2006 during a cross-border raid from Gaza into Israel. Shalit was a 19-year old soldier at the time. He was released more than five years later in October 2011. Hamas violated Shalit’s most basic human rights as a captive, barring any visits from humanitarian organizations as demanded by international law.


Read it all at the Israel Project

The Rise and free-fall of STOP AIPAC

"And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust"

The demise of yet another anti-Israel organization:

From Jim Harris of Stop AIPAC

When the website StopAIPAC.org started over 5 years ago, we had hopes to inspire people to unite in protest against AIPAC, a lobby for occupation and war. Since that time, there have dozens of protests around the country, in city after city, as aipac kept selling its product , an apartheid system that could only be promoted with fear and and the spread of hatred (in the form of Islamophobia), and protected by massive military expenditures. We witnessed the emergence of Move Over Aipac and its protest of aipac at its annual Policy Conference in DC. That was a modest success, and it remains to be seen if the next Policy Conference in March will be confronted by something bigger, our fondest hope.

What is certain is that due to many personal reasons i no longer wish to be doing this newsletter, or updating the website. This is the last newsletter you will be receiving, and the website will fade away soon also. I hope many others continue to fight aipac and work for justice and peace in the Middle East, and fight the threat of a US and/or Israeli war against Iran, which could easily turn into the greatest catastrophe of our era.

I am personally thankful for those who sent words and even donations of support. We hope you find other organizations to support (like Move Over Aipac or The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation ) We hope that the protests continue to grow and that people will continue to express their outrage at politicians that pander to plotters of war and oppression. We can make a better world.
--- jim harris for Stop AIPAC

Jim Harris who blogs as "Tom Joad" is a staple at anti-Israel events locally. The diminutive activist (Does he really walk dogs for a living?)reportedly was upset that his organization was not chosen to organize AIPAC disruptions in Washington and was growing progressively more disgusted at the hypocrisy of his colleagues' refusal to condemn anti-democratic homophobic, misogynist regimes in the Middle east

We've seen this over and over again in the Bay area. Hatred of the state of the Jewish people isn't enough to keep these groups unified. They break and fragment over being too Marxist. Not Marxist enough. Recently we've seen much imploding and divisiveness regarding the Arab Spring, with some groups rallying behind dictators and autocrats. Anti-Israel groups begin, break up and re-form with surprising regularity.

Does this mean AIPAC protests in the Bay Area for December 2011 are cancelled?
No.
Central Valley Hate groups are already coordinating a protest at the AIPAC lunch in Sacranmento, Sunday December 04 from 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM.

They show up every year. Who could ever forget Stephen Pearcy aand Virginia Johnson Pearcy with their Hamas and Hezbollah flags, Zionist baby killer effigy and and sign glorifying Nasrallah?



In the absence of StopAIPAC, protests on Oakland December 5 and San Francisco December 6 will likely be organized by a consortium of haters, from the AFSC, to JVP and the AROC. And if the past is any indication, while several dozen are gathering out side in protest, over a thousand people will be inside celebrating the special relation between the American and Israeli people.

Extinct Frog re-discovered in Israel

We thought it had croaked.

The Hula Painted Frog, once believed to be extinct was seen for the first time in 50years this week. Omri Gal of Israel's Nature and Parks Authority said, "It's an amazing find, now we have a second chance to preserve the species."

The frog is native to the Hula Valley, a swamp drained in the 1950s to stop malaria.
It is believed that rehydration of the area is responsible for the frog sighting and it is possible that more frogs live in the reserve. However, this is only the sixth specimen ever collected of the Hula painted frog, and the species remains highly endangered.

The Hebrew name for the frog is "agulashon shehor-gahon," which refers to its black belly and round tongue

Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and diease threaten amphibians worldwide. Over 40 percent of the world's amphibians are threatened with extinction, and over a hundred species have vanished in the last three decades alone.