Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

03/11 Links Pt2: Fatah celebrates most lethal Palestinian terror attack; The ISIS Penal Code

From Ian:

PMW: Fatah celebrates murder of 80 (sic) Israelis in most lethal Palestinian terror attack

Yesterday, Abbas' Fatah party celebrated the anniversary of a bus hijacking in which Fatah terrorists murdered 37 Israeli civilians. On Facebook, Fatah posted a text glorifying the attack. A striking element of Fatah's glorification and celebration of the attack was the decision to exaggerate the number of Israelis killed, in order to make the "operation" seem greater and more successful:
"A huge self-sacrificing operation in Herzliya, Tel Aviv. 80 Israelis killed and over 100 wounded." [Facebook, "Fatah - The Main Page," March 10, 2015]
In March 1978, a group of Fatah terrorists from Lebanon hijacked a bus on Israel's Coastal Highway. Confronted by the Israeli army, the terrorists killed many of the passengers on the bus, in total 37 civilians,12 of them children, and wounded more than 70. The attack is known in Israel as the Coastal Road massacre.
In 2010, the PA dedicated a square in Ramallah to Dalal Mughrabi, who led the attack, by naming it after her. That square was also chosen this year by Fatah for a public event taking place today, celebrating its killing of Israeli civilians:

MEMRI: ISIS Campaign Of Executing Homosexuals – By Stoning, Shooting, Throwing Off Roofs, Public Torture

In recent months, the Islamic State (ISIS) has publicly executed men they have convicted of homosexuality in Iraq and Syria, including by burning them alive and by stoning them to death. The most common method of execution, however, has been throwing them off tall buildings; if they survive, they are usually shot or stoned, sometimes by the crowd of observers. This punishment for homosexuals was detailed, featured, and praised in the latest issue (published February 2015) of ISIS's English-language magazine Dabiq, in an article titled "Clamping Down on Sexual Deviance."
According to majority interpretations of Islamic shari'a law, homosexuality is indeed punishable by death; this has been clearly stated by well-known and highly influential Sunni Muslim authorities, sheikhs, professors, and Muslim Brotherhood leaders. These have included leading Sunni authority and head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi; highly influential Kuwaiti Islamic preacher and Muslim Brotherhood leader Tareq Al-Suweidan; Saudi cleric and Islamic University professor 'Abd Al-Qader Shiba Al-Hamad; and many others. Such punishments are also based on the Biblical story of Lot, which is often cited by both mainstream sheikhs and ISIS to justify the killing of homosexuals. These statements and teachings regarding the death penalty for homosexuality appear in Muslim school curricula, on mainstream television, and in mosque sermons across the Arab and Muslim world, and are also expressed by Muslim authorities in the West. They have also been expressed by jihadi leaders, including Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who was reportedly directly involved in the prosecution and death of a youth accused of homosexuality in the 1990s. Recent examples of executions of homosexuals by Al-Qaeda and ISIS using these methods – stoning to death, throwing off high buildings, and shooting – are documented in this report; it should also be noted that ISIS has continued to use U.S. social media, particularly Twitter, to disseminate to its supporters online images of its executions of homosexuals.
To date, there has been very little discussion in the Arab media about these executions, and there has been no significant Arab or Muslim religious or political leader who has denounced them.

Daniel Pipes: Why politicians pretend Islam has no role in violence

Why, then, do powerful politicians make ignorant and counterproductive arguments, ones they ‎surely know to be false, especially as violent Islamism spreads (think of Boko Haram, al-Shabab and the Taliban)? Cowardice and multiculturalism play a role, to be sure, but two other ‎reasons have more importance:‎
First, they do not want to offend Muslims, who they fear are more prone to violence if they perceive ‎non-Muslims pursuing a "war on Islam." Second, they worry that focusing on Muslims means ‎fundamental changes to the secular order, while denying an Islamic element permits avoiding ‎troubling issues. For example, it permits airplane security to look for passengers' weapons rather ‎than engage in Israeli-style interrogations.‎
My prediction: Denial will continue unless violence increases. In retrospect, the 3,000 victims of ‎‎9/11 did not shake non-Muslim complacency. The nearly 30,000 fatalities from Islamist terrorism ‎since then also have not altered the official line. Perhaps 300,000 dead will cast aside worries ‎about Islamist sensibilities and a reluctance to make profound social changes, replacing these ‎with a determination to fight a radical utopian ideology; 3 million dead will surely suffice.‎
Without such casualties, however, politicians will likely continue with denial because it is easier ‎that way. I regret this -- but prefer denial to the alternative.‎

A writers club in Mukallah, Yemen hosted a lecture by Humam Abdul Rahman Baabbad explaining everything Arabs need to know about the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.

He explained the history behind it, a brief description of all 24 protocols, and how Jews want to control the Arab and Muslim worlds. The latest Arabic edition apparently says that the Elders are working to extract all Arab wealth and smash all Arab values and ethics. He also showed how today's ZIonist leaders are following the protocols to a T.

Following his presentation, a series of scholars gave their on spin on these incontrovertible facts. The audience heard from Professor Salem Pars, Dr. Salah Bin Mdshl, Hashim Abdella Saqqaf, Mohamed Mounir Ben Haarharh, and finally Dr. Abdel Gadir Ali Baissy.

None of these professors were reported to have had any problems with regarding the Protocols as real.

The lecture was attended by a group of teachers and young people interested in thought and culture and the danger of Zionist colonialist schemes.

The audience did not seem too impressive, though.

Australian preacher calls to "uproot" Jews, "They Are the Most Evil Creatures of Allah"

From MEMRI:

In a Friday sermon, Ismail Al-Wahwah, spokesman for the Australian chapter of Hizb ut-Tahrir, said: "The Jews are the most evil creatures of Allah. Moral corruption is linked to the Jews." He further said: "There is only one solution for that cancerous tumor: It must be uprooted and thrown back to where it came from." The video was posted on the Internet on March 3 by the Hizb ut-Tahrir channel.

Following are excerpts from the video, which was posted on the Internet on March 3 by the Hizb ut-Tahrir channel.

Ismail Wahwah: Allah said [in the Quran]: "Fight them until there is no fitna ['strife'], and religion belongs to Allah alone." He said: "Fitna is worse than killing." Refraining from fighting and from waging Jihad against the Jews constitutes fitna. This fitna is worse than killing, because it means that the Israelites will rule the Muslims until Judgment Day.

Recognizing the Jews and giving them even a single inch of Palestine constitutes the epitome of evil, because this will strengthen that cancerous entity. They are the most evil creatures of Allah: "You shall find the strongest people in enmity towards the believers to the Jews and the polytheists." Refraining from fighting them constitutes widespread evil. It will enable them to kill Muslims and take over their countries, in order to spread corruption upon the land, and to capture and kill women and men. All forms of corruption are linked to the Israelites and their arrogance.

[...]

The wombs of this nation's women have not ceased to give birth to heroes. This nation is abundant in women giving birth to heroes and mujahideen. It has always been so and will continue to be so until Judgment Day.

[…]

Past, present, and future – since their inception, the Israelites have gone hand in hand with evil and disobedience. "They did not prevent one another from any wrongdoing." A Jew does not prevent another from wrongdoing. If [a Jew] criticizes another in the media, it is only to pull the wool over one's eyes. The Jews are in alliance and in concert with one another.

Some superficial Muslims tell you about some Jew who demonstrated against the corruption. As long he is in Palestine, that Jew is an aggressor like any criminal. His very presence in Palestine constitutes an aggression, because he is an occupier, no matter who he is.

We must not be deceived by this. The Jews are the most evil creatures of Allah. Moral corruption is linked to the Jews. Prostitution in the world began with the Israelites. Usury and gambling began with the Israelites. Killing who began with the Israelites. They slayed the prophets without just cause. Prophets must not be killed, yet the Israelites killed them.

[...]

If the Jews were given the whole world, they would want the heavens. That is the nature of the Jews.

[…]

It is a delusion to think that there can be peace and coexistence with the Israelites, with the Jews. It is a delusion to think that we can share one state or two states, and that the Jews can be our neighbors, as suggested by some self-proclaimed, yet deluded, "scholars." One such ["scholar"] claims that fighting neighbors is forbidden. He is one of them. Therefore, coexistence with Israel and the Jews is a delusion. There is only one solution for that cancerous tumor: It must be uprooted and thrown back to where it came from.

[…]

They have corrupted the world with their corrupt media. The Israelites have corrupted the world with so-called art, cinema, and corrupt films, and with sex trade, drug trade, and moral depravity. They have corrupted the world in every respect. These are the Israelites.

[…]

Whatever the outcome is of today's battle, it is not the final battle. There is a sea of blood between the Jews and us. They will pay with blood for blood, with tears for tears, and with destruction for destruction. They are deluding themselves if they think that this nation will ever surrender to a gang of foreigners.

UN OKs Hamas Refusal To Wear Uniforms In Combat: 'They Itch' (PreOccupied Territory)

Our weekly column from the humor site PreOccupied Territory.

Check out their Facebook page.

Geneva, March 11 - The United Nations Human Rights Council issued an interim directive today to the commission investigating possible war crimes during the Israel-Hamas conflict this past summer, instructing the team to make certain allowances in Hamas's favor when determining whether the organization's behavior in combat constituted violations of the Laws of Armed Conflict.

The Council issued an addendum to its instructions to the commission of inquiry, laying out several considerations that the commission may not have applied in its current investigation and analysis, specifically noting that the requirement under international law to have combatants wear clearly marked uniforms to distinguish them from the civilian population should be disregarded for Hamas, since the latter have complained that some of its fighters might be allergic to the fabric and experience itching.

"The commission will note that this Council views favorably the contention by Palestinian militant leaders that the requirement to clothe combatants in distinct garb places an undue operational burden on Hamas military command," read the addendum, in part. "The commission is hereby instructed to ignore such would-be violations by Hamas in its report, as it cannot be expected that the organization adhere to the uniforms requirement: overseeing and implementing such a measure from Central Command when Central Command is located in a sub-basement of a civilian hospital is a supremely difficult task."

Allowances are also to be made regarding the definition of "targeting civilians" where Hamas's offensive capabilities are concerned, says the addendum. "Because it was known that Israel had deployed its Iron Dome missile defense system in most of the targeted areas, the commission is to view Hamas rocket launches at Israeli territory as aiming at military equipment - namely, the projectiles that ultimately struck many of the incoming rockets. The fact that the Iron Dome system does not choose to intercept one hundred percent of incoming missiles and long-range mortar shells is not Hamas's concern." Iron Dome is programmed only to target missiles with a calculated trajectory that takes them to population centers.

No such flexibility in defining permissible combat operations should be afforded Israel, the Council warned. "An evenhanded report, or one that honestly acknowledges Israel's obligation to defend its citizens, would unduly create expectations of this Council, and of the United Nations as a whole, to fairly and effectively defend actual human rights," said the statement. "Such obligations are beyond any reasonable set of requirements of a body ill-suited to activities more demanding than grand pronouncements, catered receptions, and chickensh*t peacekeeping operations."

The commission, originally headed by Canadian professor William Schabas, announced later the same day (Tuesday) that it would delay its release of an official report until June. Observers believe the delay is necessary for two reasons: the departure of Schabas amid evidence of a conflict of interest has prompted a reexamination of the analysis, and, more importantly, the new directives in all likelihood necessitate a thorough reworking of the small portion of the report expected to discuss Hamas violations.

03/11 Links Pt1: AP's Botched Investigation into Gaza Deaths; BDSers Riot at Col. Kemp Speech

From Ian:

How the AP Botched Its Investigation of Civilian Deaths in the Israel-Hamas War

Publications, aggregation sites and broadcast outlets picking up the AP probe ranged from the New York Times to the Drudge Report and Al Jazeera America, from the Washington Post to ABC News (The AP provided subscribers with two versions of the article, a roughly 2,250-word story and one about half that size). The U.K.’s Daily Mail and The Independent both ran the piece, no doubt reinforcing the British public’s already dim view of Israel. Even Stars and Stripes, the newspaper for U.S. Armed Forces, ran the AP “exclusive.” The wide pickup was a coup for the oldest and most ubiquitous of wire services, which operates in more than 280 locations worldwide and counts 1,400 U.S. daily newspapers among his members, plus thousands of TV and radio broadcast members.
There is just one problem. The AP’s exclusive investigation was botched in just about every imaginable way.
We conducted an investigation of the AP investigation. We (the authors) have formed a nonprofit investigative project, The Mideast Reporter, that is going to do a lot of that kind of thing. We found that the news agency reached faulty conclusions based on selective information, cherry-picked quotes, and above all its “painstaking” survey was fundamentally flawed, and was set into motion by slanted, politically biased non-governmental organizations.
Some of it is Journalism 101 stuff, such as failing to write accurate headlines and failing to fully and fairly quote a principal source on a crucial issue. A lead photograph simultaneously exploited a 6-year-old child while inadequately identifying his father—a Hamas commander—as a “Hamas policeman.” And correcting captions violating its ethics rules only after we brought the issue to the AP’s attention—but limiting those corrections to an archive not usually accessed by the public, rather than the articles themselves.
A video segment, released concurrently, was even worse, and was structured almost as a kind of multimedia argument for bringing Israel to the International Criminal Court for war crimes, using as its principal source a fervent critic of Israel.
In its reporting, the AP disregarded its own code of ethics, as well as the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.

Riot at Sydney University

The lecture was being given by retired British military officer Colonel Richard Kemp, a world-renowned expert on armed conflict, the Middle East and a prolific media commentator,
Colonel Kemp had been invited by the University to speak on “Ethical Dilemmas of Military Tactics” and “Dealing with non-state armed groups,” in light of Australia’s military engagement with non-state actors, including ISIS.
Kemp began his talk with a brief explanation of his career and a joke about England’s cricket loss to Bangladesh on Monday. He went on to discuss non-state militant groups in Ireland and Afghanistan and the obligations of soldiers when engaging with civilians and civilian groups. Before he could go into any detail or discuss any other issues, he was interrupted by over a dozen students bursting into the lecture hall screaming “Richard Kemp, you can’t hide, you support genocide.”
A demonstrator with a megaphone drowned out any attempts by the moderator to get the lecture back on track. Protestors wrestled with security guards who had asked them to leave and were then forced to remove them. Protestors stood on chairs, began to push students and shout loudly at those who objected to their behaviour.
Professor Jake Lynch, the director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS) and an ardent opponent of Israel, shouted in the faces of students, including at a senior officer of the Jewish student union. He then proceeded to stand on chairs and film attendees. Lynch screamed that attempts to remove the protestors was a violent attack on freedom of speech by security guards. When another academic suggested that he ask a question, Lynch responded that was not what this is about, only later opting to ask a question when invited by the Colonel.
One student commented that Kemp “hadn’t even mentioned Israel or Palestine” in the time he had to talk. Another student mentioned that she did not have strong views on either side of this issue, was studying international relations and had come expecting a talk, not an ambush.

Hamas Tries To Fool Israel And The West With New Ceasefire Proposal

There are several problems with the Hamas proposal and the assumption that Hamas has become more moderated and has altered its stance on reaching an agreement with Israel.
Only last week, Western Journalism reported that Hamas is preparing for a new round of conflict with Israel, building new tunnels under the Israel-Gaza border and replenishing its rocket arsenal.
A closer look at the Hamas document that was given to Blair reveals that it contained inflammatory language and false claims about Israel. The document speaks of the continuous Judaization of Jerusalem and claims that Israel attacks the el-Aksa mosque on the Temple Mount and maintains a suffocating blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The document furthermore contained profound untruths about Hamas’ ideology. Hamas does not cherish the respect for human rights nor does it believe in “a positive dialogue between different civilizations with no recourse to violence or oppression,” as the proposal claims.
Hamas has murdered thousands of Israelis and Palestinians since its founding and pursued the same aggressive Islamist agenda as Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. Article 7 in the Hamas charter calls for the genocide of Jews and underlines the universal character of its jihad that must result in Islamic world domination.
Hamas did not indicate that it would be willing to annul its charter, and that explains why the organization uses the word tahdiyyah when it speaks about a ceasefire.

Things are really bad in South Africa

From the South African Jewish Board of Deputies:

The SAJBD has repeatedly expressed concern that the BDS, by importing the Middle East conflict into South Africa, is creating a climate that encourages anti-Semitism while shutting down any possible and rational debate on Israeli – Palestinian issues.

The BDS demonstration held on Sunday, 8 March 2015, shows exactly how the dynamics of intimidation are at play.

In the video link below, the anger, potential for violence and antisemitism is clear. Speakers on the podium refer to the fact that they would shut down the conference. Supporters of Israel trying to attend the SA – Israel exhibition had to be escorted through the crowd by police to ensure their safety. They were jeered, boo’ed and called sell-outs. The protestors taunted private security, chanting “Takfir”, “Msunu wenja”, “Msunu Kanyoko”, “Go back to you Land”, and sang songs with words and titles such as Makuliwe (Let there be a fight), and it became increasingly clear that some BDS members and Cosas were out of control.

Here is part of a rally enthusiastically welcoming Palestinian terrorist Leila Khaled to South Africa in February:

Last week, human rights activist Bassam Eid was not able to continue his lecture in the University of Johannesburg because "students barged into the venue and interrupted the speaker, calling him 'a liar and a sell-out.'

Here is the message that he had hoped to give:

The good news is that many South Africans are against the thuggery and antisemitism of the BDS movement, as this woman describes:

(h/t/ @SpotlightingSA)

Gunmen who are protesting the PA's arrest of members of terror groups have closed the entrance to the Balata camp near Nablus and there are clashes between them and the PA's security forces.

The gunmen are also Fatah, loyalists to Abbas rival Mohmmmed Dahlan.

This kind of thing has been going on for several weeks now, although the media is not reporting too much about it.

And it isn't only Dahlan supporters. Abbas is facing serious problems within his own government.

Al Monitor writes:

The West Bank is witnessing unprecedented security tensions. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been arresting Hamas activists and partisans of ex-Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, and armed clashes between the youth and security officers have taken place.

Al-Monitor was able to secure a copy of the statement issued by one of Fatah’s organizational structures close to Dahlan, which read: “The PA arrested more than 20 supporters of Dahlan and attacked the offices of the Gaza members of parliament who live in the West Bank.”

Maj. Gen. Adnan al-Damiri, spokesman for the PA’s security apparatus, accused Israel, Hamas and Dahlan on Feb. 16 of conspiring together to stir chaos in the West Bank by forming groups to end the PA’s presence and get rid of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Paranoid much?

The security developments in the West Bank are not limited to a pursuit here and an arrest there. The PA is concerned about a local, regional and international scenario to turn Abbas’ page, given his multiple disputes with everyone, from Hamas to Dahlan and Israel. Fatah spokesman Osama al-Qawasmi said the PA seems to believe that these rivals might unite their interests temporarily to get rid of Abbas .

Fatah and parliament member Alaa Yaghi, who's close to Dahlan, warned on Feb. 27 of the deterioration of the security situation in the West Bank if the PA’s security campaign persists. The situation will worsen, just like the incidents in Gaza that led to the division in 2007. He said the security campaigns in the West Bank are based on a conspiracy theory and on spreading rumors that a huge network is attempting to stage a coup against the PA.

In the same context, a high-ranking official who frequently visits the PA’s headquarters, told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity about “simmering deliberations between senior Palestinian officers against the backdrop of growing tensions in the West Bank. Some of the PA’s high commands are deeply concerned about the recent behavior of some senior officers with Abbas.”

In a phone interview from Ramallah, the official said: “Abbas received information stating that some high-level security officials are reporting to the US and Israel the details of the political steps he intends to take. Upon receiving these reports, the US and Israel warn him of the danger of taking such steps.”

However, Ismail al-Ashqar, Hamas leader and chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council's Security Committee, told Al-Monitor: “Abbas is to blame for the security chaos in the West Bank as it is in a state of loss and devastation. This could be a systematic sort of chaos that the PA is practicing to prevent Palestinians from defending themselves from the occupation’s soldiers.”

Al-Monitor has discussed that the increasing security tensions in the West Bank are annoying Abbas. Israel is threatening to cut him off and stop transferring funds to the PA’s treasury. He is afraid to see the scenario of Yasser Arafat repeated. Arafat was dismissed based on an Israeli decision and with the help of Palestinian pawns.

For this reason, Abbas is making significant changes in some security positions, especially those close to him, until he receives a verification of the reports about high-ranking officers playing a role in attempting to topple him. In the wake of the recent meeting of the PLO’s Central Council March 4-5 in Ramallah, the PA issued security warnings about a dirty game aimed at disturbing the Palestinian internal situation to weaken Abbas and make him lose credibility before the international bodies he is resorting to.

Al-Monitor received a Palestinian security report submitted to Abbas end of February that stated: “Political money is overflowing in the West Bank to make transitions that suit the interests of some parties and that serve suspicious foreign agendas to shake stability and security in the West Bank, in cooperation with Israel, Arab and European parties and with the US blessing. … Arab capitals accommodated meetings at governments’ headquarters and intelligence centers during which the terms of a plan to recommend an interim PA president and deputy were discussed. The first step would be by shaking the West Bank’s security to wreak havoc and form armed groups in the camps there.”

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said Feb. 6 that no party will be allowed to destabilize the West Bank or cause chaos and harm to the security of its citizens. But several refugee camps in the West Bank — especially the Balata refugee camp in Nablus — have been experiencing armed clashes between young Fatah members and security officers who tried to break into the camp to arrest them. Masked men burned tires at the entrance of the camp to prevent the advance of the officers who used their weapons multiple times.

A Palestinian security source who spoke on condition of anonymity told Al-Monitor, “News has been circulating in Balata camp that 50 gunmen ages 18-22 are in contact with Fatah leaders in the West Bank and abroad with Dahlan who funds them."

I'm sure that if there was no "occupation," then there would be none of these problems, and the PA would be a strong, secular, free, democratic state.

It's funny that Abbas is convinced of a huge conspiracy to get rid of him, when part of the reason for the crackdown to begin with is to help get rid of Israel's leader.

Yesterday, ISIS released another horrific video, this one showing a young boy murdering Mohammed Said Ismail Musallam, an Israeli Arab citizen who they claimed was a Mossad spy.

The claim is dubious, to say the least.

(The good news is that the incident will probably discourage Israeli Muslims from joining ISIS.)

But there is one aspect of Musallam's life that is not getting any attention: By any objective definition, he was an Israeli "settler."

Musallam lived in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Neve Yaakov.

Electronic Intifada calls Neve Yaakov "an illegal Jewish-only Israeli settlement in occupied East Jerusalem." Other anti-Israel groups have also characterized Neve Yaakov as "Jewish-only."

Musallam proves that they are lying.

Arabs can and do move into "Jewish-only settlements" like Neve Yaakov, Pisgat Ze'ev and French Hill.

If Musallam was an Israeli citizen living in an "illegal settlement," then he must be one of those fanatic Israeli settlers, right?

But you will not find any critics of Israel demanding that Israeli Muslims who live in those neighborhoods be expelled. No, they only want to ethnically cleanse those neighborhoods of Israeli Jews, not of Israeli Muslims. Which is a textbook definition of antisemitism.

How progressive they are!

See also
There are thousands of Israeli "settlers" that NO ONE condemns!
Ashton apparently only has a problem with Jewish, but not Israeli Arab, "settlers"

UPDATE: TOI says he lived in Beit Hanina. which is an Arab neighborhood across the Green Line.

A simple test to see if "progressives" are really "Pro-Israel" (poster)

This should be self-evident.

If you are a prolific tweeter, and yet cannot find the time to tweet a single defense of the nation you claim to love against its many critics, then you cannot claim to be "pro-Israel."

If you cannot write a single tweet saying pointing out the absurdity of Israel-haters calling Israel an "apartheid state," then you cannot claim to be "pro-Israel."

If you cannot compose a single tweet about Israel's beauty, culture, history, or accomplishments - then you cannot claim to be "pro-Israel."

So if you aren't pro-Israel and every single one of your Israel-related tweets is critical, what are you?

03/10 Links Pt2: Max Blumenthal’s Creepy Anti-Zionist Odyssey; LATMA: Ep5

From Ian:

Wild Thing: Max Blumenthal’s Creepy Anti-Zionist Odyssey

Max Blumenthal’s stock in trade is anti-Zionist polemic dripping with cartoon-like, racially weighted depictions of Israeli Jews. What distinguishes him from many other anti-Zionist writers is not his political views, but the obsessive nature of his work, which seems animated not by moral passion or analysis but by hate. It’s no surprise that Neo-Nazi Frazier Glenn Cross, the accused KKK killer who attacked Jewish community centers in Kansas, has 300 citations of Blumenthal on his website, VNN Forum. Blumenthal is also a go-to source about Jewish evildoers and evildoing for the neo-Nazi Stormfront site, and David Duke has endorsed his work. One of Blumenthal’s chapter titles in Goliath has been especially popular with the white supremacist sites that gleefully embrace his work: “How To Kill Goyim and Influence People.”
And it’s not just anti-Semitic crackpots who flock to him anymore. Mainstream journalists like James Fallows and Andrew Sullivan have also praised Blumenthal’s work. Astonishingly, Blumenthal has promoted Goliath at the New America Foundation, a centrist Democratic Party think-tank, and was recently given a platform by the New York Times.
But the truth is that Blumenthal is a pisher di tutti pishers and the mainstreaming of him has no political importance, since none of his political views are original to him. As a reporter, the best one can say about him is that he doesn’t speak Hebrew or Arabic, and he doesn’t have any sources—so it’s hard to fault him for getting things wrong. Rather, his specialty is the age-old marketing of Israel as a unique repository of the world’s evils and therefore a deserving target of unrestrained invective. The question then, is really for anti-Zionists who believe their cause to be motivated by justice and human rights: What to do about the hater in their midst?

Anti-Israel Rhetoric Toxic When Consumed In Large Doses

Blumenthal is a frequent speaker on campuses, and the darling of groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine. Blumenthal was the featured pro-divestment speaker at the U. Michigan divestment vote a year ago, and recently in Paris:
How did we get to the point that such anti-Israel propaganda finds such a receptive audience on our campuses?
Is it any wonder that a student at UCLA was challenged for having a conflict of interest because she was Jewish? Is it any wonder that Walking While Jewish is dangerous in many places in Europe.
Perhaps it’s unfair to focus on Blumenthal. He’s just one of many criss-crossing the globe and our campuses spreading a distorted, demonic view of Israel. He’s a symptom of a much bigger problem.

We'll be the Judge, episode 5

The fifth episode of the Israeli satire program "We'll be the Judge," from the creators of Latma's Tribal Update, Israel Channel 1, March 5, 2015.

The intellectual dishonesty of the "progressive" NIF

Earlier today, I published here the JINSA-sponsored report "2014 Gaza War Assessment" which showed in detail where anti-Israel NGOs are wrong in their interpretations of the Laws of Armed Conflict when they damned Israel for Operation Cast Lead.

Naomi Paiss, self described "Pro-Israel progressive VP New Israel Fund," sided with the anti-Israel NGOs and tried to say that the report was ipso facto inaccurate based purely on who sponsored it:

@ngomonitor @KenRoth from an org so captive to Israel interests it makes AIPAC look objective? LOL.
— Naomi Paiss (@NaomiPaiss) March 10, 2015

I answered her:

Can @NaomiPaiss or @KenRoth find a single mistake in report's def of LOAC? Didn't think so. @ngomonitor @JessicaMontell @NewIsraelFund
— ElderOfZiyon (@elderofziyon) March 10, 2015

OK, @NaomiPaiss, JINSA is biased. So are you. Now tell me where the report is wrong. #intellectaldishonesty @ngomonitor @NewIsraelFund
— ElderOfZiyon (@elderofziyon) March 10, 2015

I fisk reports critical of Israel for breakfast.Surely @NaomiPaiss with your resources can find one major error? @ngomonitor @NewIsraelFund
— ElderOfZiyon (@elderofziyon) March 10, 2015

I received no response.

We won't see any substantial critique of the report that exonerated Israeli actions in Gaza, written by military experts who are sorely lacking from NGOs like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

The reason is that they know that they are wrong. They know that they cannot argue with these generals on the topic of international law or the law of armed conflict, because they would lose. They know that if they would be intellectually honest they would have to drop their entire anti-Israel positions, which is the source for much of their funding.

I'm sure that Paiss didn't even read the report before dismissing it out of hand. Because she is not pro-Israel nor is she pro-truth. She reflexively chose to support those whose anti-Israel bias is proven and palpable.

So these esteemed NGOs, and purported "pro-Israel" organizations like the NIF, will continue to ignore the report for as long as they can, hoping it gets no traction. And if there is enough pressure, they will find someone to nitpick about a minor part of the report and the entire crowd will point to that as a "rebuttal." They'll say things like "But look at all the houses destroyed!" as if that point isn't discussed in the general's report.

They'll resort to sarcasm and deflection and misdirection. But none of them will honestly take on the challenge of answering the report itself.

Because Israel's critics aren't intellectually honest. And Naomi Paiss' tweets prove it.

But I am more than willing to be proven wrong if someone is willing to write a real critique of the JINSA report.

Blood libel? Check.

Holocaust denial? Check.

Jews control the world? Check.

Khazar theory? Check.

Insane accusations? Check.

(The entire net worth of the world is less than half this amount!)

Veterans Today, whose authors provide much of the commentary seen in Iran's Press TV, have outdone themselves in this huge, rambling article that covers nearly all the standard antisemitic tropes in one place.

03/10 Links Pt1: UN Gaza Commissioners defer report to June; NIF given $1 Mil from US State Dept

From Ian:

Edwin Black: New Israel Fund Received More Than $1 Million From U.S. State Department

The controversial New Israel Fund and its social change and political lobbying organization known as SHATIL, have received more than $1 million from the State Department under a program designed to create political change, reform, and activism in the Middle East. The government program, Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), has extended more than $600 million in grants to political and social activists and reformers in 18 Middle East countries, mainly with unstable or challenged political environments in need of democratic improvement. “MEPI supports organizations and individuals in their efforts to promote political, economic, and social reform in the Middle East and North Africa,” according to the agency’s official self-description.
The list of nations in which MEPI operates includes such countries as Algeria, Libya, Lebanon, and Yemen.
However, MEPI’s sphere of engagement includes Israel — ironically the only pluralistic, stable, and democratic nation in the Mideast. Among the leading recipients for MEPI grants in Israel is the New Israel Fund and its SHATIL organization. The NIF is an international, US-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization which has generated intense acrimony within the Jewish community and Israeli establishment for its highly politicized activities.

EXCLUSIVE EXPOSE: Husband Of New Israel Fund Director Supports Boycotts Against Israel

This weekend, Rachel Liel, Israel director of the NIF was featured in an article in YNET, the online version of Yediot Achronot. Using convenient half-truths, Liel discussed the importance of NIF projects which benefit minorities, benefits ultra-Orthodox women, and other fairly mainstream projects which few Israelis take offense at.
What was conveniently ignored was the fact that a significant portion of NIF’s $30 Million budget is spent on projects which directly harm the State of Israel. The New Israel Fund is a dangerous, radical organization which wraps their programs in a “respectable” package. They are rejected by the majority of Israelis across the political spectrum.
What has not yet been exposed is the fact that Rachel Liel’s husband, Alon is one of the world’s leading organizers of world boycotts against Israel. He is also a co-organizer of the campaign to call on European countries to undermine Israeli sovereignty by “recognizing” the “State of Palestine.” Alon Liel, Israel’s former ambassador to South Africa is a member of two organizations which receive large funding by NIF. He is on the management team of Ir Amin, which works against Jewish interests in Jerusalem, and is also a member of the B’Tselem Public Council.

UN Gaza Commissioners seek deferral of report to June

UN Watch welcomes the news that the United Nations commission of inquiry on Gaza is seeking to defer its report to June.
“This is what I proposed to the commissioners when I met them in September,” said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer. “A serious report needs more time and must reflect material that has come to light from all parties.”
“Moreover,” said Neuer, “the resignation of William Schabas under a cloud of bias accusations requires a complete rewriting of the report.”
“Finally, UN Watch’s recent revelation that the Goldstone Report was drafted with the help of an anarchist law professor who devoted her life to prosecuting Israelis for war crimes requires a careful review of the staffers now drafting this report, who were hired by the same UN agency.”

Pierre Rehov - War crimes- Official Trailer

Lucy Aharish is an Israeli news anchor and reporter, who was the first Hebrew-speaking Arab anchor on Israeli television.

She has experienced discrimination in Israeli society, and she has fought it admirably. Haaretz quoted her in 2009 as saying "I'm not a wretched Arab woman. How can I whine that I've been deprived? I like my life just fine, despite all the stinking racism that exists here....There is a new generation of Arabs who don't give a hoot what anyone thinks and will do everything they can to get into high positions. We have other things to get over besides the occupation and discrimination. We are fighters and don't give in. If you don't open the door for me, I will come in through the window, and if it is closed, down the chimney. We were too polite, but we learned Israeli chutzpah. It's easy to humiliate an Arab who kowtows, but when that person says 'Listen, pal, tone it down, don't talk to me like that,' you arrive at a dialogue."

Yet Aharish is also a proud Israeli. She has just been chosen to be one of people to light the torch at Mount Herzl for Israel's Independence Day this year, and she is thrilled:

Lucy Aharish, Arab Israeli television host and reporter, woke up on Saturday morning and saw that someone had been trying to reach her by phone for hours.

"I called back. It was Yitzhak Zunshine, the head of the Hasbara Center," Aharish said in an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth.

"I asked what the urgency was and he responded: 'I wanted to congratulate you. You were chosen to light a torch on Independence Day.' I fell silent. I, usually very talkative, could not speak a word. Tears came to my eyes. It was the last thing I thought would happen," said Aharish.

One of the first calls Aharish made after she received the good news was to her mother. "I called her and said: 'Mom, they chose me to light a torch on Independence Day.' 'Okay, great,' she responded.

"I was surprised by her response. 'Do you fear something?' I asked her. 'It is after all the biggest ceremony at Mount Herzl.' And she answered, 'Wonderful. This is how you will hit back at all the racists who make your life hard everyday.'

"I accept what she says 100 percent. It is a slap in the face to all those racists who have no shame to post comments such as 'stinking Arab' and 'Get out of here, this is not your country' and 'who needs Arabs on their (TV) screens.'"

Aharish says she did not think of giving up the position for a second. "I'm proud of it," the television host who was born to Muslim parents and grew up in Dimona said. Aharish now resides in Tel Aviv.

"I know that a lot of people will have something to say, but the moment my parents are proud – I am happy."

You know the haters will accuse Israel of "tokenism" for choosing to honor Lucy Aharish. But there sure are a lot of "tokens" out there - at some point they add up to a lot more than a token amount.

Guess who is speaking at the annual J-Street conference?

PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat!

Yes, the same Saeb Erekat who recently compared Israel to ISIS.

The same Saeb Erekat who routinely accuses Israel of "genocide."

The same Saeb Erekat who claimed that 96% of those killed in Gaza were civilians.

The same Saeb Erekat who claimed that his family had been in Palestine for 9000 years (they came from Jordan in the 19th century.)

The same Saeb Erekat who compares Mahmoud Abbas to Mother Teresa and Thomas Jefferson.

The same Saeb Erekat who believes that Jews cannot live in "Palestine."

The same Saeb Erekat who once accused Qatar of investing in Jewish settlements.

The same Saeb Erekat who once said "Everybody should be aware that the only threat in the region is Israel’s occupation and not Iran."

Yup - he's a perfect fit for "pro-Israel, pro-peace" J-Street.

(Eric Fingerhut, the president of Hillel International, withdrew from speaking at J Street’s conference when he found out Erekat was a featured speaker.)