Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Israeli leftist enjoys being hit by Arab rocks
It’s always amusing to read the articles on the leftist Jewish website, 972MAG. Amusing, oftentimes sad to see the submissiveness of Israeli Jews to the extent that it becomes “self-hate”. Yesterday, I discovered an example of this that would, too, be amusing if it were not sad.Barry Rubin: Blumenthal: Slanderer of Israel, Son of Hillary Clinton’s Former Aide
Daniel Seidemann, a leftist Israeli activist, was hit by a rock on Saturday and required stitches in his head. He wrote a ‘sentitive response’ on social media that was republished by 972MAG in a sympathetic way. Please read below and tell me if you find Daniel’s reflection on being hit by a rock as courageous, or extraordinarily delusional.
Max Blumenthal, whose father, Sidney Blumenthal, served in the White House under Hillary Clinton, has authored a book that can only be called anti-Semitic. It has been promoted by the Nation and other radicals in a campaign of false domination that is a fantasy.New America Foundation Under Fire for Hosting Event for Anti-Israel Book
If it hadn’t been written by a “Jew,” it would be judged “neo-Nazi.” (h/t Norman F)
The prominent liberal think tank is hosting a Dec. 4 book discussion for Goliath, written by anti-Zionist activist Max Blumenthal. The book accuses Israel of fascism and includes chapter titles comparing the Jewish state to the Nazi regime, including “The Concentration Camp” and “The Night of Broken Glass.”That "moment of clarity" at the UN over Israel
The controversial tome has drawn criticism from progressives. Nation columnist Eric Alterman, who wrote that it “could have been published by the Hamas Book-of-the-Month Club (if it existed).”
Pro-Israel Democrat Alan Dershowitz recently blasted the book, calling Blumenthal “an extremist bigot whose greatest appeal is to anti-Semites and others who apply a double standard to the Jewish state.”
Instead of naming and shaming dictatorial and authoritarian leaders, the Human Rights Council gives them diplomatic cover for their crimes. The Saudi ambassador to the UN, for instance, bragged that the, “Kingdom’s election to the Human Rights Council for the third time in a row is yet another confirmation of its pioneering role in the council and the service of human rights.”The Most Nonsensical Attack on Israel (Yet)
When the interpreter made her hot mic comments, the video shows the UN Committee’s Secretary commenting rather sheepishly: “I understand there was a problem with interpretation.”
Wrong. For once, the UN’s core shortcomings were correctly translated into plain English.
It’s more than just the Bibi Derangement Syndrome that makes even rational liberals lose their grip on reality when Benjamin Netanyahu is involved. It’s a propensity on the part of some news organizations to erase the line between the news and editorial pages and go on the attack any time Israeli officials have the temerity to speak up for their country’s interests.CAMERA: Uranium enrichment and Israeli settlements
And yet, today’s Times piece is something of a landmark achievement. It gets everything wrong: the history of the peace process, the Iran deal, international law. There is not a word that redeems the paper’s decision to publish this assault on reason.
The newspaper deployed its Jerusalem bureau chief, Jodi Rudoren, to come up with a new offensive. Having already used up her cache of pejorative labels (“strident,” “stubborn,” “shrill” ) on the Israeli prime minister, Rudoren resorts to inanely equating the continued enrichment of uranium with the establishment of Israeli homes in the West Bank, suggesting that this somehow constitutes Israeli hypocrisy. The resulting column illuminates the Times’ readiness to forgo logic in its eagerness to put forth any kind of condemnation of Israel, quickly and often.CiF Watch prompts correction to extremely misleading Livni quote at ‘Comment is Free’
Here’s the incomplete quote used by Brull:The Telegraph’s 14 weaselly words about the power of ‘the lobby’
Livni knows perfectly well why Israel builds settlements. In another candid moment, she explained that “the Israel policy is to take more and more land day after day and that at the end of the day we’ll say that it is impossible we already have the land and cannot create the state.”Now, here’s the full quote which, as you’ll see, indicates that Livni was certainly NOT admitting that “Israeli policy is to take more and more land” in order to prevent a new Palestinian state from being created, but was merely characterizing what she believed was the Palestinian view on settlements:
Then, after citing statements by UK Foreign Minister William Hague and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry he interprets as dismissive of Israeli concerns, he writes the following:EU, Israel Reach "Compromise" on Science vs. Settlements
If ones takes Israel’s public position at face value, however, it is hard not to ask how it got itself into a position where its wishes could be ignored by its closest ally, the United States (an ally that according to popular opinion its Washington lobbies have in their pockets).Of course, there is another answer to the question of why the American president didn’t take Israel’s concerns about the deal into consideration that Spencer didn’t explore: the possibility that the narrative suggesting that ‘pro-Israel lobbies have the U.S. government “in their pockets” has no foundation in reality, and represents the kind of crude, simplifying hypotheses fancied by weak minds, conspiracists and bigots who can’t grapple with the complexities of the world.
One answer might be the extraordinary, prickly, combative persona of Mr Netanyahu.
Critics of the deal say it amounts to a de facto EU boycott of Israeli institutions.Jerusalem and EU agree on formula that allows Israel to join Horizon 2020 project
Indeed, the deal means that Ariel University, which is based in the West Bank, will not be eligible for EU grant money. It remains unclear how the deal will affect Hebrew University in Jerusalem, a leading research university, which has dormitories in an east Jerusalem neighborhood.
Netanyahu has been under pressure from Israel's academic and research community to find a way to join Horizon 2020, which they say is essential to preserving Israel's status as a high-tech powerhouse.
Israel and the European Union found a way on Tuesday to agree to disagree while continuing to cooperate, reaching an understanding making Israel’s participation in the EU’s flagship R&D program Horizon 2020 possible.South African MP refutes Israeli apartheid lie
Israeli officials said a compromise was found regarding the settlement guidelines issue, whereby both sides could keep their positions but continue to work together on the 80 billion euro science and innovation program.
According to the compromise, Israel would write explicitly in an appendix to the agreement that it does not accept the guidelines, while the EU will write that the guidelines reflect European policy.
Speaking with The CJN in advance of his lectures, Rev. Meshoe, who is on leave as a South African MP, said he planned to talk about the “seven acts of Parliament that formed the basis of apartheid. And I argue that without those acts of Parliament, there is no apartheid.The double-pronged threat to European Jewry
“It is improper and wrong and for anyone to make the suggestion that Israeli is an apartheid state when there is no such acts of Parliament in Israel, no segregation based on race.”
While the forces of cultural assimilation Wasserstein perceived continue to weaken European Jewish communities, a revival of hostility toward Jews on the continent – which he did not foresee – could very well deliver the coup de grace. It takes two forms: one, coming from the streets, is unapologetically anti-Semitic; the other, ostensibly high-minded, emanates from the elites.French Jews too afraid to put kids in public school
Anti-Semitism “affects Jewish families very seriously and is the main reason there are so few Jewish children in public schools,” Roger Cukierman, president of the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish communities, said Tuesday during a symposium on anti-Semitism at the European Parliament. “Most of them go to Jewish or Christian private schools.”Zionist Leader’s Skepticism on Truman Administration Vindicated by New Documents
Two previously unpublished documents, recently located by this author at the Central Zionist Archives in Jerusalem, appear to vindicate Silver’s view, at least to some extent. The documents suggest that Major-General Harry Vaughan, a senior aide to President Truman, privately harbored extremely negative views of Jews and Zionism.Israel ranks 3rd largest US partner in science collaborations
Vaughan was a longtime friend and important influence on Truman, although his role in Palestine policy is not widely known. He is not even mentioned in most books about American Zionism or America-Israel relations.
The survey is based on four key indicators — government relationships, human capital, industry cooperation, and research and development synergy.Israeli Study Introduces New Options For Brain Damage Treatment
Switzerland ranked highest with 131.05 points, followed by Canada with a score of 100.50 – just marginally stronger than Israel’s year one base line 100 point ranking.
Tel Aviv University (TAU) researchers and staff at the Assaf HaRofeh Medical Center in Tzrifin have found that high levels of oxygen in a pressurized atmosphere can significantly improve chronic brain damage.Israel’s agriculture seeds taking root in Vietnam
After treatment, patients who sustained brain injuries from 20 years ago improved their cognitive and physical responses following the treatment, the study concludes.
An Israeli-Vietnamese agriculture research and development fund — and a free-trade agreement between the two countries — may be established soon, following a series of high-level visits in celebration of 20 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Vietnam.Dutch Christian Zionists build mega-menorah
Itzik Ben-David, deputy director-general for foreign trade and international relations for Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture, tells ISRAEL21c that he and Shamir recently flew to the Southeast Asian country along with an Israeli agricultural business delegation led by Israel Export Institute CEO Ofer Sachs. It was the third time that an Israeli minister of agriculture has visited Vietnam since 2007.
In a windswept parking lot near the North Sea shore, Klaas Zijlstra stands motionless as he admires his latest creation.Israel mourns the death of beloved musician Arik Einstein
It’s the first time he is testing the 36-foot menorah he has spent weeks designing and building in the shape of a Star of David in his metal workshop in the northern tip of the Netherlands. Despite strong winds, the menorah holds, thanks in no small part to its 6-ton base.
This isn’t just any mega-menorah. For one thing, it may be the largest in all of Europe. For another, it’s the handiwork of a Protestant metal contractor, paid for by Christian Zionists and meant to be a sign of solidarity with the Jewish people.
Arik Einstein, the iconic Israeli musician whose songs were acclaimed as the soundtrack of a nation, will be buried in Tel Aviv Wednesday afternoon, after his sudden death Tuesday night at the age of 74.That Dylan video: How Israeli tech built it
Einstein was rushed to Ichilov hospital at around 10 p.m. Tuesday and died soon after of an aortic aneurysm, doctors said.
Bob Dylan doesn’t do videos, at least not gimmicky MTV-type videos with dancers and little dramatic playlets. The closest Dylan has come in the past to music videos is footage from his concerts.
So it took a little effort to sell him on the idea of a music video for his classic “Like a Rolling Stone” — but even though the video produced by Israeli video tech company Interlude is as gimmicky as they come, “the Dylan team was extremely excited about the final video,” said Yoni Bloch, CEO of Interlude.fm, which created the video.
In fact, Bloch added, they’re even more excited “as the video has gone viral.”
