Sunday, June 17, 2018
Elder of Ziyon
I guess I'm in the mood for good news today...
Sunday, June 17, 2018
From Ian:
Shin Bet: Israel busted large Hamas cell planning Jerusalem, Tel Aviv bombings
NGO Monitor: European Union Funding for “Accountability” Against IDF Soldiers
Shin Bet: Israel busted large Hamas cell planning Jerusalem, Tel Aviv bombings
Israeli forces uncovered a large and highly active Hamas terror cell operating out of the Palestinian city of Nablus earlier this year that was allegedly planning to conduct a number of bombings and shooting attacks in Israel and the northern West Bank, the Shin Bet security service revealed Sunday.'Hamas terror plot proves Israel must control Judea, Samaria'
“In recent months, the Shin Bet, Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police uncovered a Hamas terror cell, extraordinary in its size and level of activity, which operated in the Nablus area,” the Shin Bet said in a statement.
“During the suspects’ interrogations by the Shin Bet, it was determined that the cell planned to carry out terrorist bombings in central cities in Israel and the northern West Bank, including a bombing in Tel Aviv, a suicide bombing and an explosive attack in Jerusalem, a bombing in the Itamar settlement and shooting attacks in the Samaria region,” the security service said, referring to the biblical name of the northern West Bank.
The Shin Bet said it arrested more than 20 suspected members of the Hamas cell in late April, including its two leaders: Mutassem Muhammad Salem, 35, and Fares Kamil Zebidi, 33.
According to the security service, this cell began operating in October 2017.
Today’s revelation of a Hamas terror cell plotting a series of major attacks on Israeli cities and other targets is further proof Israel must maintain full security control over the entire area of Judea and Samaria, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday afternoon.
The comments came following a report by Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency, which revealed that a massive Hamas-led terror cell operating out of the Palestinian Authority- controlled city of Shechem (Nablus) had been arrested at the end of April while it was in the midst of planning a series of bombing attacks.
According to the report Sunday, the cell included more than 20 terrorists, and was planning for a string of bombing attacks – including suicide bombings – and shooting attacks in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the town of Itamar in central Samaria, and other locations across Israel.
In response, the Prime Minister said the revelation is further evidence of the importance of maintaining Israeli control over all areas “west of the Jordan”.
"The ISA, the IDF and the Israel Police have thwarted a Hamas terrorist cell that sought to carry out horrific attacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, from Nablus in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “Hamas is trying to attack us from both Gaza, and Judea and Samaria. This is why we will continue to maintain security control of all areas west of the Jordan River."
NGO Monitor: European Union Funding for “Accountability” Against IDF Soldiers
In November 2017, the EU approved a €269,975, four-year grant to an Israeli legal NGO, Yesh Din, for a project designed to increase “Israeli security forces personnel (ISFP) accountability for forcible home entries in line with democratic standards and international humanitarian and human rights law.” Yesh Din is carrying out these efforts in partnership with Breaking the Silence and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR-I).Retired General Gets Smacked Hard For Using Holocaust To Score Political Points
As reported in Israel HaYom (June 17, 2018), the activities undertaken as part of this project reveal the highly politicized premises under which these NGOs raise money from European governments.
In a funding appeal submitted to the UN, Yesh Din alleges, “…the military justice system grants nearly complete impunity for Israeli security forces personnel and their conduct” regarding “Forcible Home Entries (FHEs)” (emphasis added). The three Israeli groups intend to address these supposed deficiencies by “Appealing decisions to close investigations on a case-by-case basis” and “Filing petitions to High Court of Justice on specific cases and principled matters” (emphases added).
This project and the rhetoric surrounding it are part of a wider “lawfare” strategy of pressing “war crimes” cases against Israeli officials in foreign courts and in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The threat of ICC intervention and other examples of lawfare is a central concern for Israeli decision-makers.
Thousands of people blasted former CIA and NSA chief Michael Hayden on Saturday after he compared the Trump administration's immigration policies to Nazi concentration camps that were used to murder millions of Jews during World War II.
Hayden's comparison came less than 24 hours after two MSNBC analysts declared that the Trump administration was throwing children into concentration camps.
"Other governments have separated mothers and children," Hayden tweeted.
The reaction to Hayden's tweet was overwhelmingly negative: (h/t jzaik)
This is a former director of the CIA. He's comparing a long-standing, bi-partisan U.S. law enforcement policy to a Nazi concentration camp. How could someone with such rash judgement ever have been in charge of American intelligence? https://t.co/Jf93mnHFuB
— Ezra Levant 🇨🇦 (@ezralevant) June 16, 2018
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Elder of Ziyon
A good news post.
I'll probably get back to doom and gloom tomorrow....
We have lots of ideas, but we need more resources to be even more effective. Please donate today to help get the message out and to help defend Israel.
I'll probably get back to doom and gloom tomorrow....
- Sunday, June 17, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
From TOI:
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Friday claimed Israel’s win at the 2018 Eurovision contest was a scam, saying “Israel knows only how to kill, not how to sing.”
During an interview with Turkish television station, Yildirim said Netta Barzilai’s winning song “Toy” was “not good,” and claimed the voting system had been rigged by “imperialists” in order to ensure next year’s competition would take place in Jerusalem in order to “sow strife between religions” in the region.
“They let Israel win, even though they did not have enough points, so they could host the competition next year,” he said.
According to the annual competition’s rules, the winning country hosts the following year’s contest.
Yildirim went on to personally attack Barzilai, asserting that the “Israeli singer was not good. She can’t sing.”
Turkey hasn't participated in the singing competition since 2013. It decided to boycott the Eurovision, claiming there was discrimination in favor of the large countries in the European Union.
Ah, yes. "Imperialists." A secret cabal of powerful people united to work behind the scenes to ensure that the Jewish State would win Eurovision. Who could those people be?
The news is not that the Turkish Prime Minister is a bigoted idiot. The news is that the European and world media are not reporting that the Turkish Prime Minister is a bigoted idiot.
Apparently, it is not news for a Turkish politician to show that he is an antisemite.
- Sunday, June 17, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
Last week, Israel's PM Netanyahu gave a 35 minute speech a the International Homeland Security Forum.
It is worth watching to see what Israel has been prioritizing in its methodology and strategy to secure its citizens.
The comments are also entertaining, with antisemitism from Germany mixed in with pro-Israel comments in Arabic and from elsewhere.
The first Arabic comment says, I believe, "enlightening" while the second one (which was attacks by other Arabs) says "Hero Netanyahu, God protect you and protect the State of Israel and its capital Jerusalem from the Islamic Satanic aggression."
Saturday, June 16, 2018
From Ian:
When Does Pro-Palestinian End … and When Does Anti-Israel Begin?
When Does Pro-Palestinian End … and When Does Anti-Israel Begin?
In a 2013 news item on Iran’s annual Quds Day march, the Associated Press reported that newly elected President Hassan Rouhani said at the event that Israel was an “old wound” that needed to be removed.Elliott Abrams: The UN's Automatic Majority Against Israel is Fraying
The AP later provided some context for those remarks, “Rouhani spoke at an annual pro-Palestinian rally marking ‘Al-Quds Day’ — the Arabic word for Jerusalem — and although his remarks appear contrary to his outreach efforts to the West, they should also be seen in the context of internal Iranian politics where softening the establishment’s anti-Israeli stand is not an option.”
Despite the AP’s efforts to downplay the extremism of Rouhani’s comments – that he had no choice but to express his opposition to the Jewish state – it also reported, “In the capital, Tehran, tens of thousands took to the streets, chanting ‘Down with America’ and ‘Death to Israel.'”
In a report about last week’s cancelled soccer match between Israel and Argentina, The Washington Post reported, “The BDS movement aims to pressure Israel into complying with international law vis-a-vis its policies toward the Palestinians by discouraging the purchase of Israeli goods, pressuring international companies not to conduct business in Israel and urging celebrities not to visit or perform in the country.”
Omar Barghouti, one of the founders of the Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment (BDS) campaign, has been clear about the goal of his movement. He has said, “A Jewish state in Palestine in any shape or form cannot but contravene the basic rights of the indigenous Palestinian population and perpetuate a system of racial discrimination that ought to be opposed categorically….Definitely, most definitely we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No Palestinian, rational Palestinian, not a sell-out Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.”
Nor is Barghouti alone among proponents of BDS in calling for an end to the modern state of Israel.
On June 13, the United Nations General Assembly voted once again to condemn Israel, this time for its actions against Hamas in Gaza when tens of thousands of Hamas supporters and terrorists stormed the Israeli border. The condemnation is not news, but the voting patterns are worth a look.In Israel, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Calls to Turn the Tide Against Terrorists
The final resolution passed 120 (yes) to 8 (no) with 45 abstentions. Who were the eight countries voting no? The United States and Israel, several Pacific island states (Marshall Islands, Nauru, Micronesia, Solomon Islands), Togo—and Australia.
Last year Australia’s government announced that it was through with unfair and unbalanced UN treatment of Israel and would henceforth vote against such resolutions in all parts of the UN system. And so it has. For example, on May 18 of this year, the UN Human Rights Council adopted yet another worthless resolution condemning Israel. The vote was 29 to 2, and the two countries voting no were the United States and Australia. So the first thing to note about the recent General Assembly voting was the Australian vote: a rare show of principle and determination on the international diplomatic scene, and a model for other democracies who all ought to be following Australia’s path.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told the International Homeland Security Forum in Israel on Tuesday:
Our alliance has been fortified through crises and strengthened by collaboration. Following the 9/11 attacks - the deadliest terror assault in modern world history - you were right there by our side. We knew we could not win the coming fight alone. And we turned to you for guidance because the State of Israel has withstood decades of violence at the hands of fanatics - and has proudly defended freedom against relentless terrorist enemies.
From Ottawa to Berlin, our communities are now on the frontlines. All countries represented here have experienced this evil in one form or another, whether your nationals have been victims or your homelands have been hit directly. We are at war. And we must respond accordingly.
Victory in this struggle begins with moral clarity. We are engaged in a generational struggle against Islamist militants, the preeminent terror threat to our lives, our livelihoods, and our way of life.
Whether it is global jihadist groups such as ISIS and al-Qaeda and their legions of digital followers, or the proxies of rogue nation states such as Iran, our enemies have perverted a major religion to justify horrific violence and lust for power. Their goal is to establish a totalitarian empire governed under a backwards and repressive worldview. And the danger they pose is at its highest point in decades.
There have been more than 100 terrorist attacks in Western countries since the rise of ISIS in 2013, resulting in thousands of casualties. The U.S. has been the victim of around 25 of those incidents. Most were carried out by homegrown violent extremists inspired by the group's heinous propaganda.
The good news is that we have put clear-eyed, focused pressure on terrorist groups around the world. We have obliterated the core safe havens of groups such as ISIS and taken tens of thousands of them off the battlefield. The U.S. is standing up to rogue regimes that bankroll terror and use proxies to advance their malign goals.
Friday, June 15, 2018
From Ian:
What an Israeli Wishes Palestinians Could Understand
What an Israeli Wishes Palestinians Could Understand
In Letters to a Palestinian Neighbor, Yossi Klein Halevi, an American-born Israeli who now spends much of his time fostering Jewish-Muslim dialogue, makes the case for Israel to the Palestinian people. He has even made an Arabic translation of his book available for free online. In an interview with Adam Rubenstein, he explains why peace has so far proved impossible:'BDS efforts harm the Palestinians'
The conflict [with Israel] is at the heart of Palestinian identity in a way that’s not true for [Israel’s] other neighbors. The Palestinian national movement, in all its factions, tends to see compromise [with the Jewish state] as a betrayal of justice. What we’ve just seen on the Gaza border in these last weeks is an expression of what’s wrong with Palestinian national identity. Why are Palestinians who live in Palestine demanding the “right of return” to a country that is no longer Palestine? Return to where from where? Leave Gaza—Palestine—and go to Israel? Why, for that matter, are there refugee camps in Gaza—in Palestine? Aren’t they already home? Or does the Palestinian right of return only play out literally, to the actual ancestral homes that were lost in war 70 years ago? Those homes are never going to be retrieved; in most cases they no longer even exist. No Israeli government will agree to national suicide by allowing the descendants of refugees to move to the Jewish state.
The Palestinian demand for right of return to the state of Israel is an expression of the rejection of Israel’s right to exist. . . . I believe that that rejection is the source of the conflict. If there was an indication that even part of the Palestinian people was publicly challenging the official narrative about Israel and the Jewish people—namely, that we are thieves and colonialists and liars who have invented our own history—if there was only some indication on the other side that this is now being debated in Palestinian society, that would be a moment when many of us in Israel would say, “well, maybe we really do have a partner.” In the absence of any debate within Palestinian society over Israel’s legitimacy, it’s hard to argue with the Israeli consensus that there is no partner for peace among the Palestinian leadership.
Like the authors of the study, Diker is all too familiar with the main obstacle to coexistence – violence. Dajani Daoudi's car was rigged with explosives in 2014 after he took his students to visit the Auschwitz concentration camp. Aloush refuses to have her photo featured here for fear of retaliation, and Basherat was questioned by Palestinian intelligence after participating in a conference promoting coexistence that was sponsored by the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation.
The study, which has already been published in English, will soon be published in Hebrew, but releasing it in Arabic is a highly sensitive matter and Diker, as the editor, is careful when he addresses the issue. "The Arab world for 'normalization' can also be used to mean 'collaboration,' and that has a very negative connotation of helping Israel," he explained. "This is why we opted for 'shared perspectives on a new path to peace.'" Sensitivities aside, the paper will soon be issued in Arabic, as well.
JCPA President Dore Gold explained that the study is directed at the international community but also at the Arab and Jewish sectors. "We must bring about a change in awareness, not only among the Palestinian public but also in the international community, which must understand that any progress towards a solution between us and the Palestinians has to be based on cooperation and not on the approach promoted by the BDS movement.
"That's something that has to be said and it's one of the goals of our publications. Moreover, there are those in the Jewish community abroad who think that BDS is what we need now. We have to say – loud and clear – that this is the wrong approach and that the right path is cooperation. If we don't say that, we will lose the battle and that is why it is so important," he concluded.
- Friday, June 15, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
In the Israel in Arabic Facebook page, from Israel's Foreign Ministry, the State of Israel wishes luck to the Saudi, Egyptian and Moroccan soccer teams in the World Cup.
A few Arabs appreciate the well-wishes, but most do not.
One said, "Know, entity, that we in Iraq will not rest until we uproot the last Zionist from the land of Palestine."
Another wrote that the well-wishes were a "blatant lie" hiding Israel's real hidden intentions of marketing its presence in the region to legitimize it. He said that "to establish a relationship with you is unacceptable and we know for sure that you do not recognize our children and do not love Islam and you have racism towards the Arabs."
But another wrote, "Thank you 'Israel speaks Arabic' for your support of Arab participation in World Cup ... God wants security and peace in the Arab region and all over the world."
And another attacked the haters: "As I read the comments on this page I notice the extent of violence and massive hatred that constitutes the psychology of Muslim man (especially Arab). If you don't like the page, why do you follow it?
"The root of this schizophrenia, which most Muslims suffer, belongs to the muhammadiyah education prevailing in the Muslim world which includes violence and hatred. Everything is incompatible with [the Muslim man's] opinions and moral values. As long as this massive amount of aggression is a cornerstone of the educational system, then violence, ignorance, and hatred will continue to prevail in Muslim societies."
So far every Arab team that Israel wished the best for has lost their first matches, so I imagine Israel is at fault for that somehow.
From Ian:
Haley: UN Makes ‘Morally Bankrupt Judgement’ by Passing Resolution Against Israel
UN rights body reopens amid US threat to withdraw over anti-Israel bias
White House to present Trump peace plan 'not before August'
Haley: UN Makes ‘Morally Bankrupt Judgement’ by Passing Resolution Against Israel
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to condemn Israel for using “excessive force” against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks.
The resolution, “Protection of the Palestinian civilian population,” which was proposed by Algeria and Turkey, was passed with 120 “yes” votes, eight “no” votes, and 45 abstentions. A similar resolution was rejected by the UN Security Council earlier this month after a US veto.
According to the language of the resolution, it condemned the “excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force by the Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians,” while calling on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to submit a report within 60 days on his proposals for “ensuring the safety, protection and well-being of the Palestinians.”
Prior to the resolution’s adoption, the United States attempted to add an amendment condemning Hamas. However, that amendment, which was supported by a slim majority of countries, 62-58, was ultimately rejected on procedural grounds after failing to achieve a two-thirds majority.
“The nature of this resolution clearly demonstrates that politics is driving the day. It is totally one-sided. It makes not one mention of the Hamas terrorists who routinely initiate the violence in Gaza,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the UN body.
In his address prior to the vote, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon harshly criticized the countries supporting the resolution.
“The resolution before you today does not protect innocent Palestinians. It does not protect innocent Israelis. It does not condemn, does not even mention, Hamas, the internationally recognized terrorist organization directly responsible the violence in our region,” he said. “By supporting this resolution, you are colluding with a terrorist organization. By supporting this resolution, you are empowering Hamas.”
UN rights body reopens amid US threat to withdraw over anti-Israel bias
The UN Human Rights Council will kick off a new session Monday under a cloud of growing US criticism and the threat of Washington withdrawing from the body altogether, primarily over its anti-Israel bias.David Singer: PLO Rejects Trump Lifeline on Negotiations with Israel
Longstanding US criticism of the council for its bias against Israel has escalated since UN-skeptic Donald Trump came to power.
US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley gave a fiery speech before the Geneva-based council a year ago, demanding deep reforms to fix its “chronic anti-Israel bias.”
She also demanded the body throw out abusive regimes, like Venezuela and Burundi, which hold seats on the rotating 47-seat council.
Despite the tough US rhetoric — which essentially said reform or we are leaving — little has changed.
Tired of waiting for reform, Washington a few weeks ago circulated a proposed resolution unilaterally laying out the full makeover it was looking for.
But the US received little support and has not yet formally tabled the resolution, sparking fevered speculation it was about to quit, and fears of the impact that would have.
President Trump – still mulling over the release of his ultimate peace deal to resolve the Arab-Jewish conflict – has seen the swift rejection of the call by Jason D. Greenblatt – Trump’s Special Representative for International Negotiations – to have Dr Saeb Erekat replaced as chief negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in future negotiations with Israel.
Greenblatt raised America’s objection to Erekat in stark and uncompromising terms – alleging Erekat
- failed to contribute to an atmosphere conducive to peace
- used rhetoric and made claims that were in many respects simply inaccurate
- had baselessly claimed that Trump’s decision to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem was part of a U.S. attempt to force an Israeli-written agreement on the Palestinians.
- had failed to acknowledge a significant escalation of rockets fired by Hamas and other militant groups into Israel, which clearly represented the danger that Hamas and these groups present.
Greenblatt asserted that the Palestinian leadership need not shackle themselves to Hamas’s failure – in fact, this should be the Palestinian Authority’s opportunity to do the right thing for the people they lead.
Greenblatt called on Erekat and the Palestinian Authority to reject Hamas’s violence and lies and work with America to bring relief to Gaza where America believed real progress could be made that would lay the foundation for a more hopeful future.
Greenblatt’s reference to the “Palestinian Authority” was strange indeed – since it had been disbanded by written decree issued by PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on 3 January 2013.
Greenblatt stressed it was time to stop indulging in overwrought rhetoric and give the Palestinian people something beyond words. Palestinian leadership must create better lives, not sacrifice those lives for Hamas’ grim agenda of terror.
Greenblatt claimed he had heard many Palestinian voices over the past 16 months and many did not agree with Erekat or his approach. Yet, the sad thing is that most would only meet and speak honestly and openly in private because they are afraid to speak publicly.
White House to present Trump peace plan 'not before August'
The White House is unlikely to present its Middle East peace plan before August, a source familiar with the issue told Israel Hayom Thursday. Jerusalem officials confirmed they had no information regarding an earlier rollout of a peace plan.
A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner and Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt are expected to travel to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia "to discuss the situation in Gaza and to discuss the next stages of the peace effort, as well as get some ideas from players in the region about some remaining questions the White House peace team has. The trip may include other stops as well."
While in Israel, Kushner and Greenblatt are scheduled to team with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump's Dec. 6 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the Palestinians have refused to meet with American officials, citing their "gross biased" toward Israel. As such, Kushner and Greenblatt are not scheduled to meet with anyone from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' government.
- Friday, June 15, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
Forest Rain, Opinion
Yesterday we learned that the terrorist who smashed Ronen Lubarsky’s head with a slab of marble was arrested. It was Ronen’s friends, from his unit, who made the arrest.
The terrorist is named Islam and he comes from a family of Hamas terrorists serving prison sentences for murdering Jews. He served a prison sentence between 2004-2009 for previous participation in Hamas acts of terror.
Ronen’s family said that they were thankful to be notified that the arrest had been made, that they had had full faith in the IDF and Israeli Secret Service that they would succeed in finding the terrorist and felt a measure of relief.
So did Ronen’s friends.
This was one item on the news, among others. A quiet declaration: “A circle has been closed.”
There was no bombastic language, no discussion of what the prison sentence could be or any theoretical talk about how we’d all have been better off and (it would be more likely for justice to be served) if the terrorist had been killed during the arrest. We don’t do things that way.
Like a warm hand on your shoulder, not attempting to give comfort because no real comfort can be given (how can you ever reconcile with the fact that your son has been murdered?), a simple gesture of solidarity.
It reminded me of the front page of this newspaper which I photographed because I was struck by the power of an image to encapsulate the spirit of Israel. This is who we are. This is why we do what we do.
The caption under the photo of the two women says:
“Partners to the same destiny. Yael Shevach comforting Miriam Ben Gal: “We were chosen for this role.”
“Partners to the same destiny. Yael Shevach comforting Miriam Ben Gal: “We were chosen for this role.”
Yael’s husband Rabbi Raziel Shevack was murdered by a terrorist on Jan 9th, 2018. Three weeks later Rabbi Itamar Ben Gal was murdered as well. In her grief, Yael felt driven to comfort Miriam.
The headline says:
“Into the night: large mission underway to find the terrorist that murdered Rabbi Ben Gal”
Beneath that it says: “Manhunt in Shechem * a large number of forces are in the area * hundreds said their final goodbye to Rabbi Ben Gal: “We will continue to raise the children, for you” * A different bill is already closed: the head of the terrorist unit that murdered Rabbi Shevach has been eliminated.
“Into the night: large mission underway to find the terrorist that murdered Rabbi Ben Gal”
Beneath that it says: “Manhunt in Shechem * a large number of forces are in the area * hundreds said their final goodbye to Rabbi Ben Gal: “We will continue to raise the children, for you” * A different bill is already closed: the head of the terrorist unit that murdered Rabbi Shevach has been eliminated.
A few short words and one hug tell the story of Israel. This is why we do what we do.
The IDF didn’t go on a manhunt because they were ordered to. They certainly didn’t do it because it’s fun. They did it for Miriam. Just like they had previously done for Yael. Just like they did now, for Ronen’s family.
This is what it means to be a family.
This is Israel.
- Friday, June 15, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
In a surreal statement, Iranian leader Ali Khamenei said:
Concerning this usurper entity (Israel), Gamal Abdel Nasser forty or fifty years ago created slogans and said, "we would throw the Jews into the sea".....See? he says Jews can vote - as long as they lived in Palestine a hundred years ago. The millions who returned to their ancestral homeland cannot vote, of course; the millions Palestinian Arabs who fled in 1948 can vote, of course.
The Islamic Republic has not said this ever, but we have submitted a proposal from the beginning and we said that democracy and consideration of public opinion and the voices of the people today represent a modern and advanced method agreed by the whole world.
A referendum can be established. This is what was said years ago to the United Nations as the opinion of the Islamic Republic. This is our opinion: Palestinians had been Palestinians for no less than a hundred years were Muslims, Jews and Christians. The voices of these Palestinians wherever they are, whether they were in the occupied territories, the land of Palestine, or outside of Palestine, and any system these will determine the fate of the land of Palestine, what will be the ruling regime, whatever they want.
Is this opinion a bad opinion? Is this view not progressive? The Europeans are not willing to understand this talk, and then you see that deadly side of the evil, pimply children who go there pretending to be oppressed and say that Iran wants to eliminate us and eliminate several million people ...
This is the kind of progressive democracy that Iran embraces, where only the people they allow can vote for only the people they allow to run.
I'm not quite sure how his "progressive" voice fits in with forcing a million of his citizens to go out last Friday to chant "Death to Israel!" but, on second thought, a lot of Western self-proclaimed "progressives" do the exact same thing....
- Friday, June 15, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
Hamas has pledged to send 5000 fire-balloons and kites to Israel today, in another round of protests that the UN and Human Rights Watch say are non-violent and pose no danger.
This morning, Israeli police found and deactivated a booby-trapped balloon that says "I Love You." From what I can tell, it appears that there was a small explosive attached that could have blown off a child's finger.
Meanwhile, children from an Israeli kibbutz near the Gaza border, Nir Am, plan to send green balloons with candy to the children of Gaza tomorrow as the Eid al Fitr holiday ends.
Because obviously the Israelis are the aggressors.
We have lots of ideas, but we need more resources to be even more effective. Please donate today to help get the message out and to help defend Israel.
This morning, Israeli police found and deactivated a booby-trapped balloon that says "I Love You." From what I can tell, it appears that there was a small explosive attached that could have blown off a child's finger.
Meanwhile, children from an Israeli kibbutz near the Gaza border, Nir Am, plan to send green balloons with candy to the children of Gaza tomorrow as the Eid al Fitr holiday ends.
Because obviously the Israelis are the aggressors.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
From Ian:
UNRWA: Gaza Baby Mortality Shot Up As Soon As Israel Left
PMW: PMW welcomes FIFA investigation of Jibril Rajoub
UNRWA: Gaza Baby Mortality Shot Up As Soon As Israel Left
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) periodically estimates infant mortality rates (IMR) among the Arabs in its Gaza Strip camps. These surveys recorded a decline from 127 per 1000 live births before the Israeli takeover in 1967, to 20.2 in 2006 – a few months after Israel had unilaterally left the Strip.
A survey in 2006 revealed an IMR of 22.2. A survey conducted in 2011, following five years under Hamas rule, revealed an IMR of 22.4. And a survey in 2013, estimated the IMR at 22.7.
Alerted by these findings, a follow up survey was conducted in 2015 to further assess the trend of IMR. It found, according to a new UNRWA report published on Wednesday (Stalled decline in infant mortality among Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip since 2006), that the mortality rate in infants in the refugee camps has not declined since 2006.
Infant mortality refers to deaths of young children, typically those less than one year of age, measured by the IMR, which is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births. IMR is an indicator used by the UN to monitor progress in the efforts to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Meaning, the higher your IMR, the lower are the chances that the rest of the population is healthy.
According to the Director of UNRWA’s Health Department, Dr Akihiro Seita, the new findings are “an extraordinary warning sign, an alarming trend in the overall situation not only of health for infants but also the health of entire Palestine refugee population in Gaza. Moreover, it is a warning sign on the overall social and economic situation of Gaza, as the Palestine refugees account for more than seventy per cent of the entire populations in Gaza. Infant mortality is a barometer of the health of an entire population.”
FIFA announced that it received and is investigating the Israel Football Association’s (IFA) complaint against Jibril Rajoub, for inciting violence against Argentinian football playersWho to Root For in the World Cup, From Least to Most Anti-Semitic
PMW has resubmitted PMW’s complaints to FIFA’s disciplinary committee against Jibril Rajoub due to his incitement to murder Israelis and glorification of terrorists who killed Israelis. From PMW’s letter to FIFA:
“Should the Disciplinary Committee deal only with the complaints against Rajoub related to Messi and the Argentinian football team, the clear implication would be that while attacks on football stars is unacceptable to FIFA, incitement to murder Israelis and the glorification of terrorist murderers of Israelis is acceptable. This clearly discriminatory and even racist approach cannot and must not be reflective of FIFA’s message.”
PMW calls on the Israel Football Association to also submit PMW’s complaints to FIFA in addition to its own recent complaint. It is important that the IFA expresses as much protest against Rajoub’s calls to murder Israelis as it expressed to Rajoub’s threats of violence against Argentinian players
The international football association FIFA announced yesterday that following the complaint of the Israel Football Association (IFA) it will be investigating the statements by Jibril Rajoub and the threats that he made against the Argentinian national football team and its star Lionel Messi, which led to Argentina canceling the friendly match that had been scheduled to take place in Israel.
While PMW welcomes FIFA’s decision, it is far too little and far too late.
The World Cup starts tomorrow, and if you were planning on rooting for either the U.S. or Israeli team, you already had your hopes dashed when they failed to qualify.
And so, with 32 countries vying for the title, it’s hard to decide which team to support. Should you root for an underdog? Pick the team with the best looking players? Or, better yet, ask yourself the age-old question: Are they good for the Jews?
The ADL conducted a study about global anti-Semitism in 2014 (partially updated in 2015). The study’s general system: If you answer “probably true” to a majority of the anti-Semitic stereotypes polled for, you count as an anti-Semite, and a country’s overall score is the percentage of people questioned who fall into this category. So the lower the score, the less anti-Semitic the country. And the more likely we are to root for their soccer team.
The ADL even has a nifty “compare” feature—so if two countries with the same overall index play each other, you can easily look at them side by side, and think, “Hm. More South Koreans think Jews complain too much about the Holocaust, but in Senegal we’re more likely to get blamed for the world’s wars!” (Or, you can side with the country with the lower population, which therefore contains fewer total anti-Semites. You can insert your own judgment.)
- Thursday, June 14, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
We've spoken about Ein al Hilweh, the Palestinian "refugee" camp in Lebanon that is surrounded by a high wall and watchtowers - a literal prison camp.
Now it is even more of a prison camp:
The Lebanese Army has placed electronic security screening gates at all entrances to the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in south Lebanon to screen everyone entering or leaving the camp. The installation of the gates around the perimeter of Ain al-Hilweh drew a strong rebuke from Palestinian factions and camp residents, with activists taking to social media to call for protests at the camp’s entrances. The camp has four main gates in addition to multiple smaller entry points.I'm sure that the "pro-Palestinian activists" will pressure entertainers to boycott Lebanon for treating Palestinians so badly. I mean, they really care about Palestinians and their rights, right?
The political leadership of secular and Islamists factions in Sidon Sunday held an emergency meeting to discuss the issue.
The leadership condemned the “e-gates, which damage the brotherly ties between the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples.”
In a statement released after the meeting, the Palestinian factions called for Lebanese authorities to remove the “e-gates, which [undermine] the dignity of the Palestinian people and the families in the Ain al-Hilweh camp.”
They also spoke of the need for “bridges of trust” between Lebanese and Palestinian communities.
- Thursday, June 14, 2018
- Elder of Ziyon
- Opinion, Vic Rosenthal
Vic Rosenthal's Weekly Column
I am an American-Israeli, an American-born Jew who has lived about 17% of his life in Israel. I made aliyah back in 1979, lived on a kibbutz for nine years, and then returned to the US for 26 years, before coming back to stay four years ago. Unsurprisingly, I am interested in the relationship between American Jews and the Jewish state.
I was born in 1942, and I grew up in non-Jewish neighborhoods. The Jews I did know were mostly secular. I had what was supposed to be a bar mitzvah in a Reform Temple (my grandfather insisted), but since I stubbornly refused to learn anything in the obligatory religious school, it was embarrassingly pointless. Later, during summer jobs at Jewish camps, I came to know some Orthodox Jews who finally taught me a little about Judaism.
Nevertheless I always had a very strong sense, from my earliest days, of belonging to the Jewish people, though I would not have expressed it that way for some years. We lived with my grandparents for the first 8 years of my life, and after that nearby, and although they were not “religious” at all, they understood Jewish peoplehood in a way that only those who had lived as Jews in pre-revolutionary Russia (or perhaps an Arab country) could. I interacted with them more than with my parents, who were born in the US, and whose formative experiences were the Depression and WWII. They were Jewish and their friends were Jewish, but their “peoplehood,” if this makes sense, was American.
My grandparents lost siblings and cousins in the Holocaust. I was just old enough to begin to understand what had happened when they received the final confirmation of their fears. They had lived in the part of the Pale of Settlement where the Germans simply shot every Jew they could get their hands on, and as far as I know, my only living relatives are descended from those who left Europe long before the war. It was very clear to me, even as a child, that this happened to them because they were members of an extended family, a family that the evil Nazis hated. My family.
So it was natural for me to strongly identify with the new Jewish state, a place of refuge for my extended Jewish family. It was also the country that allowed my people to regain their self-respect after being treated like vermin in Europe and the Arab world. My people. I cheered when Israel won wars and when it hanged Eichmann. And I have a feeling of admiration and identification when I see the flag of the state of Israel, the nation-state of the Jewish people. Nothing made me more proud than the opportunity to wear the uniform of the IDF, unless it was seeing my children wearing it.
I am representative of an older generation of American Jews, a generation that is now stepping back from active participation in the institutions of society in favor of playing with their grandchildren. We remember when there wasn’t a Jewish state, and some of us remember what that actually meant in terms of Jewish blood.
But younger American Jews have different experiences. The Holocaust recedes and they are less likely to meet survivors or know anyone who lost close relatives or friends. They know about Israel’s wars as one-sided victories, and they don’t remember when her continued existence was in doubt. They don’t know about the weeks before the outbreak of the 1967 war, when Nasser and other Arabs were bragging about the massacre they planned to perpetrate, and volunteers were preemptively digging graves in Tel Aviv parks. They don’t remember the early days of the Yom Kippur war, when massive Syrian and Egyptian forces were on the verge of breaking through.
What they do know is the story they see in the media and on the net, which is almost all contrived to present Israel as a colonial superpower which oppresses the “native” Palestinians. In its mildest form, they are told that there is a “cycle of violence” which only a “two-state solution” can end. This served the interests of several US administrations and the oil companies, which were concerned to force Israel back to pre-1967 lines in order to mollify the Arab countries that controlled the world’s oil supply. At worst (and most recently) they are presented with propaganda intended to delegitimize and demonize Israel in order to set the stage for her destruction.
The millennial generation (born in the 1980s and 1990s) walked into a fusillade of vicious anti-Israel hatred in the universities from groups like Students for Justice in Palestine. Today they face the “intersectional” Left which associates opposition to Israel with support for every kind of minority rights, and demands compliance as the price of social acceptance. Those who do not comply are ostracized as “racists” or “fascists.”
Many American Jews, especially younger ones, are not able to withstand the assault – or don’t even recognize it as such – on their sense of peoplehood. It’s not surprising, because this identification has been suppressed by the American educational system and media from their earliest years. Although certain minority groups are encouraged to feel pride in their heritage and their cultures, Jews are not included as one of these groups – they are considered “white,” which is to say, colorless. Therefore they are required to appreciate the minority cultures (and to feel guilty for their oppression by the majority of “whites”), but not to express their own pride in their culture or of their homeland.
Indeed, if they do so, they may be accused of having “dual loyalty.”
The Israeli experience has been significantly different. There are more Holocaust survivors around. Everyone knows veterans of Israel’s wars, most have served in the IDF, and while there may be a lesser sense of vulnerability among younger people, most people understand that the Jewish state’s continued existence isn’t guaranteed. The hierarchy of victimhood of minorities and the concept of intersectionality that have so damaged intergroup relations in America haven’t appeared in Israel. Although there is much room for improvement, the teaching of Jewish and Israeli history to Israelis is better than what most American Jews get.
Jewish Israelis know they are living in the state of the Jewish people. There is no existential contradiction, no continuous reminder that you are a guest in somebody else’s state. They are Jews in the Jewish state.
A new survey of American and Israeli Jews by the American Jewish Committee confirms that Americans are far less Jewishly identified than Israelis. Only 40% said that being Jewish is “very” or “most” important in their lives, while 81% of the Israelis felt this way.
I don’t like the question about “being Jewish” because it is ambiguous between peoplehood and religion. I would have asked a question about “being part of the Jewish people.” I know that at any time in my life after about the age of 15, I would have answered that being a member of the Jewish people is the most important part of my identity. And this is why it turned out that I feel more comfortable and secure here than I did in the US.
Unfortunately, no age breakdown was included in the results as published. But other surveys have consistently showed that their Jewish identity is less important to younger Jews than older ones, for the reasons above.
The survey showed that there are various other divergences, particularly over the chances for a peace agreement with the Palestinians (Americans think it’s possible and Israelis are doubtful) and Donald Trump (Israeli Jews approve of him; American Jews overwhelmingly don’t). There are disagreements about the role of religion and state in Israel, about which the Reform movement in the US has chosen to stir the pot. But these are minor matters that can be worked out. Identity is the big thing.
American Jews are losing the connection with the Jewish people. America has been good to them and they are happy being Americans. If the situation changes – and historically, that’s a good bet – then they may yet be reminded of who they are.
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