Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Friday, March 12, 2010

Weekend open thread

Sorry I didn't post much today. Here's an open thread as a lazy way to make it up to you.

While we are at it, here is Barry Rubin on the "peace talks" and an interesting entry from MEMRI.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Linkdump

Lots of semi-interesting things out there today:

A truly stupid Reuters article that quotes an unnamed Kabbalist about "ominous signs" during Biden's trip to Israel. This article was ignored by the vast majority of online newspapers - but Arab newspapers picked up on it.

Apropos to a recent comment thread on hate speech, free speech and incitement, the National Post speaks about the rights of a truly vile Canadian named Salman Hosain who calls for a new Holocaust.

A review of a book about how the Nazis used propaganda in the Arab world before WWII. Some of the reviewer's side comments are interesting, such as his claim that anti-semitic stories were added to The Arabian Nights tales in the 17th and 18th centuries.

WSJ on the new Hurva synagogue.

Firas Press in Arabic quotes an unnamed Israeli official saying that the only reason that Israel is acceding to US demands for new negotiations with the PA is to calm down the Arab world and unify nations against Iran. Maybe not the only reason but no doubt a very major one.

Saudi court sentences "sorcerer" to death

From the Arab News:

The General Court in Madinah upheld its verdict against 46-year-old accused Arab sorcerer Ali Hussein Subat (aka Scheherazade), saying he deserved death for publicly practicing black magic, thus spreading corruption on the earth.
The judges said they called for the execution of the man for his continuous practice of black magic and that he had been doing it publicly for several years before millions of viewers of a satellite channel.
The court insisted that the magician deserved death in order to make him an example and deterrent for others, especially for foreigners who come to the Kingdom to practice sorcery.
The magician was arrested at a hotel in Madinah two years ago. Members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice seized a talisman where he had written the name of a man, his mother and wife.
Shahrzad acknowledged in front of the general court in Madinah that he had presented a black magic program on the Saudi Sports Channel. However, he claimed that he was practicing black magic during the past eight years in order to treat patients. He also admitted that he had called for the assistance of Satan, Jinn and talisman for his purpose.

"Satan, Jinn and Talisman" would also be a great name for a music group. Maybe country or bluegrass.

The article says that Subat was practicing his magic on the Saudi Sports Channel. You would think that they would cut him some slack; he was just trying to predict who would win the game. He's the Arab world's Jimmy the Greek!

We better keep Sesame Street's Amazing Mumford away from the Anti-Magic Kingdom. Not only does he practice magic, but his magic words are "Allah Peanut Butter Sandwich."

On a more serious note, HRW actually mentioned this case when Subat was arrested two years ago:

In March 2008, Human Rights Watch asked a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice to clarify the definition of the crime of witchcraft in Saudi Arabia and the evidence necessary for a court to prove such a crime. The official confirmed that no legal definition exists and could not clarify what evidence has probative value in witchcraft trials. Saudi Arabia has no penal code and in almost all cases gives judges the discretion to define acts they deem criminal and to set attendant punishments.

Islamic Jihad reminds everyone that Jews are inherently evil

The Saraya.ps website, run by Islamic Jihad's Al Quds Brigades, has a useful reference article about how evil and deceptive Jews have been for the past 1500 years.

Since the dawn of Islamic history, since the revelation to the Prophet peace be upon him,... God has revealed a lot of the vile and despicable Jewish ethical traits. An examination of the Quran shows this reality and how they are [guilty of] corruption, and deviation in attitude and behavior, and distance from the right path.

From the description of Jews in the Quran we see their great envy, as it says precisely in the Quran "Or do they envy mankind for what Allah hath given them of his bounty?" (Women, 54)

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was subject to three assassination attempts, only by Jews.

The article then goes on the detail those supposed incidents, including, interestingly enough, "incitement to murder" and "throwing stones."

But don't call them anti-semitic! No, they just hate Zionists and Israelis!

(The third assassination try was an attempt to poison Mohammed, with the wonderful Google autotranslation of "Creamy grilled poison sheep." That would make a great name for a band!)

The newly rebuilt Hurva Synagogue, destroyed by the Jordanian army in 1948 will finally be rededicated next week.

The house of worship was first built in the early 1700s, burned down in 1720, and rebuilt in 1864. Built in the center of the Jewish Quarter, it dominated the Jerusalem skyline (along with the Tiferes Yisrael synagogue.)

Naturally, the Muslims are furious at Jews daring to rebuild a synagogue in a spot that they had lived continuously for well over two thousand years. As I reported a few months ago, what really bugged them was the height of the structure, because in Islamic tradition mosques should always be the tallest buildings in the area. Since the Jewish Quarter is on a hill, the Hurva dome will be higher than the domes on the Al Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock.

Now, however, they have a new reason to seethe. Ever since Ha'aretz reported a (pretty much unfounded) rumor that the Vilna Gaon had predicted that the Third Temple would be built on March 16, 2010, they have been convinced that Israel has evil plans. Saraya, the Islamic Jihad newspaper, says that Hurva is being built on an Islamic neighborhood, and says that the construction of the Third Temple will commence on March 16th. The Al Aqsa Heritage Foundation says that the Hurva dedication will take place on Sunday and Monday, also to be followed by the public start of the building of the Third Temple, as well as more Jews "storming" Al Aqsa for Passover at the end of the month.

Hey, if they are expecting it already, there's nothing to lose by doing it, right?

The likely next Al Azhar leader - a "moderate"

After the death of Sheikh Tantawi, who led Egypt's Al Azhar University, the most likely successor is the current Grand Mufti of Egypt, Sheikh Ali Gomaa.

From Gomaa's Wikipedia entry he comes across as being very moderate:

Since taking office Gomaa has issued a number of fatwas and statements that have made an impact in the media. He has issued a fatwa asserting that men and women enjoy equal political rights in Islam, including the right to become president of a modern state.[12]

In November 2006, prof Gomaa ruled that female circumcision (also referred to as female genital mutilation or FGM) should not be applied; this ruling is in accordance with Egyptian law, that also forbids female circumcision. This ruling came about after a conference instigated by research and a documentary on FGM in Somalia by the German action group Target. This fatwa is now also used in Western Europe to combat FGM.[14] On June 24, 2007, after an 11-year-old died under the knife undergoing circumcision, he decreed that female circumcision was not just “un-Islamic” but forbidden.[15]

He has also stated that Islam does not call for and has never known a theocratic state and that there is no contradiction between Islam and liberal democracy saying, “I consider myself a liberal and a Muslim, but this does not mean I am a secularist. The Egyptian [historical] experience has combined liberalism and Islam in the best of ways.” [16]

In 2007 he "unequivocally told the Washington Post that the death penalty for apostasy simply no longer applies."[18]

Gomaa has publicly asserted that the anti-Semitic The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is a forgery and made an official court complaint concerning a publisher who falsely put his name on an introduction to its Arabic translation.[19]

Sounds pretty good, right?

Unfortunately, the Wiki entry does not fully address his feelings towards suicide bombing against Israelis. The Nationmaster encyclopedia fills in the blanks:

In an interview with an Egyptian paper “Al-haqiqa” in July 2003, Sheikh Ali Gomaa was asked a number of questions regarding Palestine. He also made some statements regarding the issue which were reported in al-Hayat newspaper on the 30th September 2003. [6] [7]

When asked about the rule of an Egyptian man illegally entering Palestine and carrying out a ‘martyrdom’ operation without the express permission of the head of state he replied that "he is a Shahid [martyr], because Palestine is a special case and not the ordinary case existing in the world… This is because in Palestine there is an enemy that rules the land. This rule is considered a crime by international conventions and resolutions… The world has let the Jews spread corruption throughout the land and they have succeeded in obtaining international legitimacy to territories that were conquered after 1967…Israel is a special case that does not exist [anywhere else] on the face of the earth. We are facing a criminal occupation that is the source of terror."

When asked about the explicit ruling on “martyrdom” operations he replied that "The one who carries out Fedaii [martyrdom] operations against the Zionists and blows himself up is, without a doubt, a Shahid [martyr] because he is defending his homeland against the occupying enemy who is supported by superpowers such as the U.S. and Britain."

In the same interview, referenced above, he was then asked regarding the rule regarding differentiating between civilian and non civilian targets replying that

"The Zionists themselves do not differentiate between civilian and military personnel. They have set the entire people to military service. The civilian settler who occupies land in a state of war is a Harbi [that is, a non-Muslim living in an area regarded as 'Dar Al-harb,' the 'domain of war,' in which Islam does not dominate]. Besides, everyone in Israel, civilians and military personnel, bear arms. That is, they are 'Ahl Al-Qital'[that is, those who deserve to be fought]."

Various other questions and answers from the same interview include:

Question: "Do you differentiate between operations carried out within the 1948 borders and operations carried out within the 1967 borders?" Sheikh Gum'a: "Even Zionists do not differentiate. They occupied the entire territory. We differentiate when there is a difference, [but] there is no difference between Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Hebron."

Question: "Is it permitted to kill an Israeli traveling outside the borders of his land?" Sheikh Gum'a: "Yes, it is permitted to kill him, because he is a Harbi and the Harbi spreads corruption throughout the face of the earth."
Question: "Even if he is wearing a diplomatic uniform, for example?" Sheikh Gum'a: "He can wear a diplomatic uniform as much as he likes, but his blood is permitted. But permitting his blood does not mean that he must be killed; it only permits his killing."

Wikipedia mentions only the last question and quotes another person who says that the sheikh denied making that statement. It also quotes Church Times:

During a press conference on Wednesday, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Ali Gomaa, rejected press reports that he had praised suicide- bombers in Palestine. The reports were wrong and had “muddied the picture. . . We are against any persecution of any minorities,” he said.

That denial is not a denial, it is a non-sequitur.

But so long as you can accept that the word "moderate" has completely different definitions when referring to Arabs/Muslims and when referring to any other human beings, then you can certainly call him a "moderate."

Emiratis freak out over Israeli supermarket ad

From ITN:

This supermarket ad is front-page news at the UAE-based Gulf News, and the reader comments indicate how offended they are by the ad, which hasn't even aired yet as far as I can tell.

Meanwhile, Dubai Police Clown Khalfan is backtracking from his statement that the UAE will stop all Israelis (and Jews) from entering the country, saying that they will be stopped "only if they are Mossad suspects." Of course, since his suspect list keeps growing, that may soon include every white man and woman in the world.

Ramallah central square to be named after child-murderer

From YNet:

The Palestinian Authority decided Wednesday to postpone a ceremony naming Ramallah's central square after Dalal Al-Mughrabi, a female terrorist who carried out a deadly terror attack on an Israeli bus in 1978.

For the time being, a new date has not been set for the ceremony.

The postponement is assumed to be linked to a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden, who is currently in Israel. Earlier in the day, Biden condemned Israel for approving the construction of 1,600 new housing units in east Jerusalem.

In recent weeks, Israel has conveyed harsh messages to the Palestinians regarding the plans for the square's new name. Al-Mughrabi is a popular figure, considered by the Palestinian public to be a major hero of their struggle, with many legends linked to her name over the years.

Her attack killed 37 people, including at least 10 children and American photographer Gail Rubin, shot in cold blood at the beginning of the attack.

Palestine Today quotes Fatah sources as confirming that the square will be named after Mughrabi "despite Israeli threats." The official made it clear that terror attacks have been an integral part of the "Palestinian revolution."

There are girls schools named after Mughrabi in Gaza and Hebron. Summer camps and other institutions are named after her as well.

Anti-semitic, anti-Israel protest at the Waldorf

This is my edit of two videos taken outside the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York on Tuesday night. Thanks to tmdrdd for the footage, and check out his other videos of the event.

I saw in a supermarket a bottle of something called Pepsi Throwback - an old-style bottle of Pepsi made with cane sugar, available "a limited time only."

It just so happens that this is the only time of the year that one can get Coke made with cane sugar - the yellow Coke caps indicate the kosher for Passover Coke, which do not use corn syrup.

Coke aficionados have known for years that the only way to get Coke made the old-fashioned way with sugar was to buy the Passover formula Coke, and they probably buy more of them than Jews do. (Mexican Coke is apparently also made with sugar.)

Pepsi seems to have noticed this trend, and it is unwilling to concede even this limited market share to Coke. So, Pepsi introduced Throwback - this is its second year - at roughly the same time that Passover Coke is in stores.

The ironic part is that Pepsi Throwback is not kosher for Passover!

Gazans get their Internet from...Israel (and Egypt)

Gazans have been complaining for a while about the poor Internet service they have been receiving from PalTel. It has been unreliable and slow.

Some of them have come up with an innovative idea to solve it.

They obtain Israeli or Egyptian cell phones that have Internet capability and tether them (either via cable or Bluetooth) to their PCs and laptops.

It appears that Israeli mobile phone providers Cellcom and Orange have coverage over most of Gaza and they seem to have a way to get Gazans to pay their bills, perhaps electronically. Also, it seems that the Cellcom phones can be directly connected to routers, allowing many to share a single cell phone connection.

The Israeli and Egyptian wireless internet services are cheaper and faster than PalTel. You can be sure that the Internet traffic going over both countries' wireless infrastructure is being captured and analyzed as well.

Women of Islamic Jihad rally in Gaza

Here's a photo of a rally in Gaza by the Women's Movement of Islamic Jihad:

To the West, PalArabs love to talk about how many women are in Israeli jails, implying that women somehow couldn't do anything that would necessitate imprisonment. Yet here's how the women display themselves to their own people - as soldiers.

You gotta admit, the burqas make them look hot.

Literally.

Gaza play makes fun of Fatah, Hamas

It is unbelievable that Hamas has allowed this play to be staged in Gaza:

A new play has shocked audiences in the Gaza Strip by shouting out what many in the Hamas-ruled territory mutter behind closed doors -- that Palestinian politicians are a bunch of crooks.

The biting comedy entitled "Umbilical Cord" goes after the Islamist Hamas and its secular Fatah rivals, accusing them of ignoring the suffering of their people and selling out to Iran and the United States, respectively.

Though it takes to task all the main Palestinian factions, the play is remarkable for its criticism of Hamas, which has ruled the embattled territory since driving out its Fatah rivals in June 2007.

The main Palestinian factions are represented throughout the play by four men in suits sarcastically referred to as "The Great Ones", all carrying briefcases labeled "politics."

A colored cord identifies their factions -- green for Hamas, yellow for Fatah, black for Islamic Jihad and red for the smaller leftist factions, hence the title.

Throughout, the play heavily implies that Fatah is in the employ of the United States while Hamas works for Iran.

"Setting up a faction is easier than opening a shop," says Lafi al-Ahbal, the wise fool of the play.

"If you want to set up a faction just shout slogans about Jerusalem and the settlements and the wall and incontinence... You'll make a fortune in aid."

The harshness of the criticism shocked many in the audience. Since it seized power Hamas has brutally cracked down on any perceived threat to its rule, whether from Fatah members or more radical Islamic groups.

Yet despite fears of a shutdown the play ran as planned, each evening drawing some 1,500 Gazans eager for diversion after all the enclave's formal theatres and cinemas were shut down during the first Palestinian uprising, or intifada, in the 1980s.

A handful of local and international cultural centers, like the al-Shawa Cultural Center where "Umbilical Cord" was shown, however, carry on cultural life here, hosting plays and other events.

"This is a scream in the face of the officials, because the people are sick and tired of the way they do business," said Iyad Abu Shariya, who heads an independent cultural organization that produced the play with aid from the Swiss development fund and local donors.

Perhaps the Swiss aid is what made Hamas think twice about shutting the play down.

The latest desecration of the Temple Mount

As Sabeel (Jordan) breathlessly reports on the latest outrage at the Temple Mount:

A number of guards of Al Aqsa Mosque said that four ultra-Orthodox Jews on Tuesday performed rituals near the door of mercy within the Al Aqsa Mosque.

They said that small groups of Jewish extremists and foreign tourists stormed the Aqsa mosque on the Mughrabi Gate.

Those Jews and their violent "rituals"...how dare they!

Arab press quoting bizarre plan for Israel to annex Iraq

I recently mentioned a bizarre article by a nutty American writer (and "truther") named Wayne Madsen that Israel was working with Kurdistan to annex parts of Iraq.

At the time, the question was whether the Arab world would embrace this crazy conspiracy theory.

A data point just came in: Palestine Press Agency has just quoted essentially the entire article.