Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Friday, May 13, 2011

The Incurious President (DavidG)

From DavidG:

The New York Times reports that Obama seeks reset in Arab world (h/t Tweeted by Tamar Abraham )

On page 2 of the story we learn:

At night in the family residence, an adviser said, Mr. Obama often surfs the blogs of experts on Arab affairs or regional news sites to get a local flavor for events. He has sounded out prominent journalists like Fareed Zakaria of Time magazine and CNN and Thomas L. Friedman, a columnist at The New York Times, regarding their visits to the region. “He is searching for a way to pull back and weave a larger picture,” Mr. Zakaria said.

The point of the story is to portray President Obama as sophisticated and intellectually curious, but this paragraph has just the opposite effect.

I wondered what Zakaria and Friedman have written about Barack Obama.

Zakaria wrote a column, How Obama sees the world, before the election in which he praised the candidate:

Obama rarely speaks in the moralistic tones of the current Bush administration. He doesn’t divide the world into good and evil even when speaking about terrorism. He sees countries and even extremist groups as complex, motivated by power, greed and fear as much as by pure ideology. His interest in diplomacy seems motivated by the sense that one can probe, learn and possibly divide and influence countries and movements precisely because they are not monoliths. When speaking to me about Islamic extremism, for example, he repeatedly emphasized the diversity within the Islamic world, speaking of Arabs, Persians, Africans, Southeast Asians, Shiites and Sunnis, all of whom have their own interests and agendas.

Before the President’s Cairo speech two years ago, Friedman wrote Obama on Obama in which he observed:

It was clear from the 20-minute conversation that the president has no illusions that one speech will make lambs lie down with lions. Rather, he sees it as part of his broader diplomatic approach that says: If you go right into peoples’ living rooms, don’t be afraid to hold up a mirror to everything they are doing, but also engage them in a way that says ‘I know and respect who you are.’ You end up — if nothing else — creating a little more space for U.S. diplomacy. And you never know when that can help.

Friedman’s conclusion came across as eerily prescient:

I think that’s right. An Egyptian friend remarked to me: Do not underestimate what seeds can get planted when American leaders don’t just propagate their values, but visibly live them. Mr. Obama will be speaking at Cairo University. When young Arabs and Muslims see anAmerican president who looks like them, has a name like theirs, has Muslims in his family and comes into their world and speaks the truth, it will be empowering and disturbing at the same time. People will be asking: “Why is this guy who looks like everyone on the street here the head of the free world and we can’t even touch freedom?” You never know where that goes.

Neither pundit is one who challenges the President’s assumptions. It’s not like he reads Charles Krauthammer, Barry Rubin or Jackson Diehl, to challenge his assumptions. Rather he seems to seek out those who confirm his own premises. The media sophisticates loved to dismiss President George W. Bush as being “incurious,” but what’s being reported here shows that that epithet applies to the current President. The man who’s been praised for his “supple” intelligence and “nuanced” view of the world can’t be bothered with contrary opinions.

Even the claim that he searches for blogs for information betrays a certain unseriousness on the part of the President. Sure he’s doing the “cool” thing, but was he paying attention when Mohammed el-Baradei tweeted when he was attacked by Islamists? Or that the face of the revolution, Wael Ghonim was kept off the stage when Sheikh Qaradawi spoke? If he were following “Edward Dark,” I believe that the United States would be taking a stronger stand against Assad. Whatever information the President gets from blogs isn’t clear. What is clear, is that he would rather be reassured than challenged.

Recognizing "Palestine" will lead to unending war (NewsRealBlog)

Cross-posted from NewsRealBlog:

Since World War II, Europeans have been understandably skittish about doing anything that could lead to armed conflict. Europe, and later the EU, has generally stuck to using negotiations and (in extreme cases) sanctions as the only tools in their arsenal to cajole dictators and despots to get in line.

Not surprisingly, this strategy often fails.

Nevertheless, one can understand the European fear of conflict. Europe was devastated by WWII and the collective memory of the horrors of that war are still raw. Medium-sized towns in Europe lost more people in the war than America lost on 9/11.

All of this makes the recent flurry of stories about European countries being eager to recognize a Palestinian state all the more puzzling.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Britain is prepared to formally recognize an independent Palestinian state in September unless Israel opens peace talks with the Palestinians. (He somehow didn’t seem to notice that it has been “moderate” Mahmoud Abbas who has resisted negotiations, not Israel.)

French President Sarkozy has made a similar statement. So has Norway’s foreign minister. Spain doesn’t look too far behind.

Such a unilateral move is a recipe for disaster.

Negotiations are meant to solve the biggest issues between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs: Israeli towns and villages in Judea and Samaria, Arab prisoners in Israeli jails, water resources, Palestinian Arabs who live in other countries wanting to “return” to Israel, incitement to terrorism in the Palestinian Arab media and schoolbooks, Israel’s security, and Jerusalem. By recognizing a state, Europe would not be solving a single one of these issues. On the contrary, they will be exacerbating them.

Today, despite these outstanding issues, there is relative peace. Palestinian Arabs in the West Bank are doing well economically, they are not worried about Israeli army actions, their travel restrictions have been consistently diminishing, and they have more autonomy than they have ever had in their history. Even in Gaza, under the autocratic rule of Hamas, as long as Hamas is stopping rocket fire the Gazans can start to gain a semblance of normal lives.

If “Palestine” is unilaterally declared, all of the gains over the past two decades would disappear in an instant.

Israel’s Oslo obligations would no longer exist. Security cooperation between Israel and the new “Palestine” would disappear. The Palestinian state would consider Israel to be its enemy (this language is used daily in mainstream Palestinian Arab media). The peace treaty that the PLO signed with Israel would be null and void because the PLO would no longer exist. Israel would no longer provide electricity to Gaza – part of an enemy state. Tax revenue collected by Israel that make up 70% of the PA budget would disappear.

Most importantly, it would solve none of the issues that are outstanding in the conflict. On the contrary, it will encourage Israel to make its own unilateral moves concerning land, water, Jerusalem and so forth.

“Palestine” would not want to naturalize millions of Arabs of Palestinian descent who now live in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and their problem of being forced to remain stateless by the Arab League will remain. In fact, the Palestinian entity would continue to insist that they move to Israel, destroying the Jewish state demographically–a negotiating position that they have never wavered on, and a problem that is kept artificially alive by the Arab states.

Any of these issues–”refugees,” land, water, Jerusalem–is enough to spark a regional conflict. Together, such a conflict is inevitable.

Only Israel has made real, concrete concessions during the long Oslo process. The PLO has not only not budged–they have bragged about their own intransigence. If the Europeans decide to recognize a Palestinian Arab state, they would be rewarding intransigence. And if that state includes Hamas, then the EU will also be explicitly rewarding terror.

One thing is certain: if a Palestinian Arab state becomes generally recognized by the world community in September 2011, then the Palestinian Arabs who such a state is supposedly meant to help will be in a much worse situation for years, if not decades, afterwards. Terrorism–which has been successfully fought by Israel over the past eight years–will return, as the Palestinian Arab security forces would abandon all cooperation with Israel. Hezbollah and Hamas would be emboldened to increase rocket fire and other terror attacks.

More likely than not, European recognition of a Palestinian Arab state will culminate in another major Middle East war–and possibly a series of them.

Freedom of expression, Jordanian-style

From Ammon News:

Chief of the Public Security Directorate (PSD) on Wednesday stood before Amman Public Prosecutor to submit complaints against three Jordanian electronic news websites for what he considered offensive reports about PSD and personal character assassination.

Lt. General Hussein Hazza' Majali voluntarily stood before the judge and explained the repercussions of publishing offensive reports against the country's security forces and the personal harm against him in what he considered an offense to his reputation and status.

Majali sounds like a real jerk.

Oops! He might go after me now.

Speaking of....

Jordanian security officials summoned the parent of a college student over what they considered are blogs that criticize government performance, "Dhabahtuna" a students' rights watchdog group said.

A statement issued by the group reported that the female student's blogs critiqued government performance "within the limits allowed by the law."

It added that the student and her family received threats to expel the student from the university if she does not stop writing blogs about the government.

The blogger resorted to shutting down her blog after pressure from her family out of fear that their daughter would be punished for her opinions.

A similar incident also took place last month in which Dabahtuna said that security forces threatened a mother of arresting her daughter if the latter doesn't curb her activism on university campus.

Egyptians preparing for "Naqba Day" march to Gaza

From Al Masry al-Youm:

Egyptians planning to march to Gaza in a protest scheduled for 15 May - the 63rd anniversary of the day when Israel was established - have gathered in Sinai to cross to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

The gathering comes after news that Egyptian authorities plan to close all entrances leading to Sinai, such as the Salam Bridge over the Suez Canal and the Martyr Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel, as well as take other measures to reduce the number of people crossing into Gaza at Rafah.

The Egyptian city Arish in particular reportedly witnessed an influx of Egyptian young people staying in hotels.

An Egyptian security official said there were no instructions on how to deal with participants on that day.

No security planning on how to handle potentially thousands of people? Should be fun.

NYT political correctness in NYC terror arrest

Here's how the New York Times reported the arrest of two men who allegedly planned terror attacks against area synagogues:

Two men who the authorities said intended to carry out a terrorist attack in New York City were arrested late Wednesday, two law enforcement officials said with knowledge of the matter.

The two men had sought to purchase hand grenades and guns, and they were arrested after what one law enforcement official described as a sting operation, saying that their aims appeared “aspirational.” A person briefed on the matter said the men had discussed attacking a synagogue although they did not appear to have a particular one in mind.

The identities of the men were not released but another official characterized the suspects as “homegrown” and another said one of the young men was of Moroccan descent. The person briefed on the matter said the other was of North African descent. The case was being prosecuted by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, and law enforcement officials said the men were expected to be charged under New York State’s terrorism law.

Here's how ABC News reported the same story:

Two men allegedly trying to buy weapons including three pistols and hand grenades as part of a plot to attack Manhattan synagogues were arrested in New York City, averting a terror threat, law enforcement sources said.

The two men, at least one of whom was a Muslim of North African descent, had already obtained some guns and were trying to buy more, as well as a grenade, law enforcement officials said.

Their attempts were detected by investigators with the NYPD's Intelligence Division, who moved in to set up a sting.

One of the men, in his 20s, lives in Queens, N.Y. That man was allegedly going to sell drugs to buy the guns. He has prior arrests, including for drug possession. He said he was drug dealing for jihad, sources said.

The drug dealing suspect became more and more verbal about jihad as his interactions with an undercover police officer continued. Police considered just taking him under drug laws, but felt they finally had enough to make the arrest under state anti-terror statutes, law enforcement sources said.

From a pure news perspective, does the fact that at least one of the men is Muslim and talked about "jihad" a relevant detail, or is it a manifestation of Islamophobia?

I don't think there is even a question.

Which means that America's most influential newspaper decides that it will withhold important details about a news story to pander to political correctness.

PalArabs upset over Lebanese gay adult movie

Firas Press reports that a Lebanese adult movie featuring gay actors is upsetting not only the Lebanese, but also Palestinian Arabs.

Because one of the characters is wearing a keffiyeh during a love scene:

I don't know what the big deal is. We've seen at least one man with a keffiyeh kissing every strong, masculine terrorist supporter he could find:

PLO reiterates that destroying Israel demographically is non-negotiable

From Palestine Press Agency:

The head of Department of Refugee Affairs in the PLO, Zakaria Al-Agha, said on Thursday that 'the implementation of UN resolution 194 and the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes with compensation is a right that is not subject to blackmail or barter in any settlement or political solution that comes'.

At a news conference on the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba at the Ministry of Information in the city of Ramallah, Agha said 'despite the difficult political situation, and obstacles and horrors, and the Israeli insistence on the looting of all Palestinian rights, still we send on this anniversary a message to all the world that we are committed to all of our rights, and especially the right of return and compensation.'

Of course, in the West, "everyone knows" that this will not happen and that the PLO will drop this demand in a negotiated solution. Too bad none of these "experts" actually bothers to read what the PLO has to say on the matter - and how consistent it has been about the issue since it was founded.

A unilateral Palestinian Arab state will not make this demand, to destroy Israel demographically, go away - it will intensify it.

Which is just one reason why the idea of European states and the UN recognizing the state of Palestine is a recipe not for peace, but for war.

More evidence that the London 2012 Olympics are a Zionist plot

Remember how Iran freaked out over the London 2012 Olympics logo, saying it spelled "Zion"?

I even made a T-shirt on the issue:

Well, here is more evidence:

Mossad officials participated in a security drill at London's Olympic Park last weekend.

A source at the British Cabinet told Yedioth Ahronoth that the drill simulated a terrorist attack on athletes, similar to the one that occurred in the Munich Olympics in 1972, when Palestinian terrorists took over the building where the Israeli delegation was staying, and killed 11 of them.

The UK's entire defense establishment, including the emergency services, participated in the massive drill, which was held secretly by the British Defense Ministry.

But British intelligence officials were not satisfied, and invited their Mossad counterparts to share their experience.

That Mossad pops up everywhere, doesn't it?

Deep Purple calls bands that boycott Israel "wimps"

From Haaretz:

Ahead of their third Israeli tour, English rock band Deep Purple took a stand against other musicians who cancel their concerts in Israel due to politics, saying artists should not take sides in political conflicts, with drummer Ian Paice calling these musicians "real wimps."

The band spoke at a press conference Wednesday ahead of two concerts they are due to perform in Caesarea on Saturday and Sunday. This visit is Deep Purple's third Israeli tour. The last time they visited was in 2008, when they played four concerts to full crowds of cheering fans.

Deep Purple's vocalist Ian Gillen stressed to reporters that musicians should remain impartial in political disputes, and likened this to making the assumption that Deep Purple supported all of Tony Blair's policies because they gave a concert in London ten years ago.

Guitarist Steve Morse quipped that left-wing groups did not know what to say to them when they refused to cancel performances in Israel. Saying that in any case, Deep Purple doesn't respect politicians in their native England, and questioned why their attitude would be any different in other countries.

In 2008, the venerable band dedicated one of their songs, Contact Lost, to Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon who was killed in the Columbia tragedy.

And here they are playing their most famous song in Caesaria:

Muslims upset at BBC saying "Zam Zam" is poisonous

From the BBC last week:

Holy drinking water contaminated with arsenic is being sold illegally to Muslims by UK shops, the BBC has found.

"Zam Zam" water is taken from a well in Mecca and is considered sacred to Muslims, but samples from the source suggested it held dangerous chemicals.

Tourists can bring back small amounts from Saudi Arabia, but it cannot be exported for commercial use.

An undercover researcher found large quantities of bottles being sold in east and south London, and in Luton.

The president of the Association of Public Analysts said he would "certainly would not recommend" drinking it.

A BBC investigation discovered "Zam Zam" water was being sold by Muslim bookshops in Wandsworth, south-west London, and Upton Park, east London, as well as in Luton, Bedfordshire.

"The water is poisonous, particularly because of the high levels of arsenic, which is a carcinogen," said Dr Duncan Campbell, president of the Association of Public Analysts.

The BBC asked a pilgrim to take samples from taps which were linked to the Zam Zam well and to buy bottles on sale in Mecca, to compare the water on sale illegally with the genuine source.

These showed high levels of nitrate and potentially harmful bacteria, and traces of arsenic at three times the permitted maximum level, just like the illegal water which was purchased in the UK.

The reaction was as one would expect:

A BBC report that claimed Zamzam water from Makkah is polluted and that it contains high levels of nitrate, potentially harmful bacteria and traces of arsenic three times the permitted level has met with angry reactions from pilgrims and residents.

Saudi authorities have refuted the claim, saying adequate measures have been taken to ensure the safety of Zamzam well and its water.

The majority of people Arab News spoke to rubbished the BBC’s "flight of imagination" and advised it not to play with the sensitivities of Muslims and the Arab world.

Suleiman Abu Ghilya, president of the United Zamzam Office that is in charge of the distribution of the holy water, told the Al-Eqtisadiah daily that the recent BBC report was biased and baseless.

“This report was not at all based on laboratory tests of the holy water taken from the Zamzam well. The report could have been based on tests undertaken on contaminated Zamzam after collecting it from people who stored it in unhygienic conditions,” he said while highlighting the fact that the holy water is tested at laboratories in Makkah on a daily basis.

“The tests are being carried out by experts, including those from the Saudi Geological Survey and the Saline Water Conversion Corporation,” Abu Ghilya said.

Umrah pilgrims and visitors to Islam’s holiest city rejected the claims against Zamzam water. They considered the allegations baseless and emphasized that such propaganda did not deter them from drinking the holy water. “Our ardent desire to drink Zamzam water is based on the Tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said: ‘Zamzam water is what one intends to drink it for.’ We are accustomed to hearing such baseless allegations about Zamzam every now and then,” a pilgrim told Al-Eqtisadiah.

Dawood Belal Bernawi, a Saudi who was born and brought up in Makkah, also exclaimed with wonder on the BBC’s idea of a contaminated Zamzam well. He was also confident that the perennial spring would never be contaminated, and he added that in his family the young, grownups and even very old people all drank Zamzam since their birth and their health was ideal. “When the whole region was affected by viral infections, Zamzam saved our family from cold and fever,” he said.

And:

King Fahd University for Petroleum and Mineral Resources (KFUPM) has conducted tests on Zamzam water using the latest laser spectrum disintegration technology and concluded that it contains no harmful substances, including arsenic.

The series of tests, which were conducted over the last few months, gauged part-per-million levels of harmful materials, the smallest unit of measurement.

“It was an independent study to reach definitive results on different water samples, including Zamzam water,” said Dr. Fada Al-Adel, a physics professor at KFUPM.

“The main objective was to detect the precise component structure of Zamzam water.” He said the research team, which also included Dr. Muhammad Koundal, Dr. Khidhr Hayad and Dr. Abdul Qadeer Destagair, used the latest laser spectrum disintegration methods in their testing, and that the study is in the final stages of results analysis and is scheduled for publication in scientific journals.

To be fair, it is entirely possible that the Muslim pilgrim that the BBC hired to grab the real Zam Zam might have just grabbed some fake Zam Zam from a shop in the UK.

The BBC really needs to follow up. If its methods are at odds with the scientists saying that Zam Zam is safe, the one who is wrong needs to do some explaining.

Egyptian university lecture: Jews intent on destroying Egypt

On Wednesday afternoon, a lecture given at Fayoum University by Sheikh Hazem Shoman. While the Egyptian media reported on one part of his speech - denying that Salafists were involved in the attacks on the Coptic church - most of them didn't mention another part of the speech.

Al Wafd reported his remarks this way:

Sheikh Hazem Shoman says that Egypt is a country of Muslims and Copts, and the Jews who occupy Palestine are their enemy. The most important thing to [the Jews] is simply the destruction of Egypt because Egypt is the leader of the Islamic nation and 46 [Islamic} countries.

This came during a lecture Wednesday afternoon at the University of Fayoum, in the presence of thousands of students jammed the Grand Ballroom at the university.

Afternoon links

Harry's Place on another wonderful organization that Amnesty International supports whose philosophy would seem, in a sane world, to be at odds with those of a human rights organization.

Noah Pollak's Commentary article on B'Tselem is now available in full.

NGO Monitor surveys NGO reaction to the Hamas/Fatah unity agreement to see if any of them demand that Hamas abandon violence and recognize Israel. Results pretty much as expected.

Martin Peretz: Why should Israel make peace with failed states?

CAMERA details how Hamas is using doubletalk that the Western media is eating up - and points out that nothing that Hamas is saying today is inconsistent with an interview last year where Hamas says it intends to destroy Israel in stages.

PMW: 64% of Palarabs wouldn't object to Bin Laden being buried in "Palestine."

Obsession, the movie, available for a limited time

For a limited time, you can watch the entire move Obsession about the dangers of radical Islam online for free:

Obsession: Radical Islam Against the West - Full Version from Clarion Fund on Vimeo.

(h/t Wayne Kopping via Twitter)

Syrians kill Syrians, and they blame - Israel

From Now Lebanon:

Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf warned Israel of instability if the regime of his cousin, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad falls, vowing to "fight to the end," according to The New York Times.

"If there is no stability here, there’s no way there will be stability in Israel," said Makhlouf, who is on a list of 13 Syrian figures subjected to European Union sanctions for their role in violence against protesters opposing Assad's autocratic government.

"Nobody can guarantee what will happen after, God forbids, anything happens to this regime," Makhlouf told the US daily.

"What I’m saying is don’t let us suffer, don’t put a lot of pressure on the president, don’t push Syria to do anything it is not happy to do," said Makhlouf who is a member of Assad's Alawite minority.

So Assad's cousin is telling Israel to stop the Zionist protests if it knows what's good for it.

However, some Arabs are interpreting his statements differently. From the comments there, Sami writes:

A great proof of who is protecting Israel!

Yeah, Makhlouf really cares about Israel.

As is inevitably the case, both sides accuse the other of being Zionist.

Meanwhile, whose side are Israelis on?

Well, a popular Israeli singer is recording Arabic protest songs, and getting them smuggled into Syria to the protesters. One such song can be heard here.

(h/t Joel)

Muslim Brotherhood leader running for Egyptian presidency

Remember those wonderful days of the Egyptian revolt, last February, when the Muslim Brotherhood sought to allay Western fears about themselves by writing an op-ed in the New York Times?

We aim to achieve reform and rights for all: not just for the Muslim Brotherhood, not just for Muslims, but for all Egyptians. We do not intend to take a dominant role in the forthcoming political transition. We are not putting forward a candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for September.

Never mind:

A leader of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement will run for the post of Egyptian president as an independent candidate, the al-Masry al-Youm newspaper said on Wednesday.

"Abdul Munim Abu al-Futuh has decided to run in the presidential election in response to numerous appeals by his supporters," the newspaper said.

A loophole: since a MB leader is not running as a member of the MB's "Freedom and Justice" party but as an independent, the Brotherhood can have its cake and eat it, too..

The Palestine pound: A little revisionist history

From the Los Angeles Times' blog Babylon and Beyond:

As part of a statehood bid they plan to bring before the U.N. this September, Palestinians are pushing for the creation of a new Palestine Central Bank and the introduction of new currency.

But Jihad Al-Wazir, 48, governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority, which hopes to soon evolve into the first central bank, says work is needed before reintroducing the Palestinian pound.

“We do not expect that in September we would wake up the next day and find the Palestinian pound all over the place,’’ he told the Los Angeles Times recently. “That’s not going to happen. The way it looks now, people would like it in the first week and enjoy the fact that the pound is back, but would they put it in their pocket and use it the next day? That would be the challenge.”

Well, there was indeed currency called the Palestine pound. Here's what it looked like in 1939:

Yikes - look at all that Hebrew! And that Jewish shrine on the front - in Bethlehem!

But wait, there's more! Here's what the Palestine Pound looked like in 1948:

In fact, these were the last Palestine Pound notes made, as Israel migrated to the Lira (Israeli pound). The last place that the Palestine pound was legal tender was in - Israel.

Do you think this is the pound note Al Wazir wants to "re-introduce"?

Al-Wazir, by pretending that he might bring the Palestine pound back, is implying that there was once an entity called "Palestine" that issued its own currency, rather than using British currency (equal to one pound sterling) of Mandate Palestine.

Incidentally, before 1948, the Palestine pound was also legal tender in Transjordan. Perhaps it should be re-introduced there as well.

A 12-meter "Naqba key" in Rafah

Palestinian Arabs in Rafah have unveiled what they say is the world's longest key, to symbolize when they fled Palestine in 1947-48.

At the two hour ceremony, the organizers pleaded with Arab countries to continue to push their Palestinian Arab guests to "return" to a country most of them have never entered. Which means that they asked Arab countries to continue their apartheid-like practices of discrimination against their Palestinian Arab populations and never allow them to become naturalized citizens, even if they want to.

The person behind the stunt said

The goal is to consolidate this key in the minds of young people, women and children, to tell them that they they were expelled and deported from their land.

In fact, most of their ancestors simply fled their homes out of fear, after their own leaders fled before them. They thought that their neighboring Arab nations would welcome them and allow them to start afresh, but they didn't count on their own leaders and the Arab leaders to create a myth of Palestinian Arab nationalism meant to ensure that they remain in misery forever. If they would have known how their Arab "brethren" were going to treat them for the next six decades, most of them probably would have stayed put.

The organizer continued:

The fight with the Jews is ideological, and therefore it is imperative for young people and children in particular to be aware of this through awareness by the community, through the organization of such events, and the work of innovative ideas as this key of return.

He added a message to Israel, "There will be no security for you," and he called for the Arab and Islamic nation and the Palestinian factions to unite in Jihad and resistance until the restoration of "usurped Palestinian land."

This is the two-state solution that we've been hearing so much about from the New York Times.

A twitter thread with an anti-Zionist who hated my posters

It is fun to watch how Israel haters react to my series of posters celebrating Zionism.

One such hater is someone named Ben White, who apparently is one of the leaders of the anti-Israel crowd. He wrote a book called "Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner’s Guide" and has been praised by the usual crowd of anti-Zionists like Ali Abunimah and Ilan Pappe.

His reaction to my posters was to put up his own spoof poster on Twitter, replacing "Zionism" with "Hasbara" and tweeting "Israel at 63: This is Hasbara!":

Not having ever heard of him, I thought this was a compliment, because I thinkit is a very good example of what hasbara should be. Only when MargieInTelAviv responded

ah can't stand the truth can you? Why not check it out?

did I realize it was meant to be an insult.

I responded:

Of course it is #Hasbara. And it is true. Hasbara is no more an insult than #Zionism!

Ben:

#hasbara in 2011 = treating kids in Haiti, evicting kids in #Palestine

He then included a link to "Hasbara Buster" who claims that Israel's good deeds aren't good in themselves, but an insidious plot to redirect the world from talking about Israeli crimes.

Me:

You are a sad man to get so upset over Zionists doing good things.

Ben:

you are a not-so-bright man if u think its the "doing good things" bit that's objectionable

Me:

Ah. One sided propaganda against Israel=good, telling the other side=evil. Got it.

Ben:
No, its called using acts of charity in strategy 2 defend apartheid. But nice #projection though

Me:
Even your example disproves your thesis. Org is private. But your hate overrides all. Sad.

He then tried to change the subject, with a photo that I suppose is meant to illustrate Zionist evil. Which is the usual modus operandi of people like him - they need to change the playing field in order to pretend to win.

But think about his main argument: he believes that when Israel - or in this case, ordinary Israelis - do good things, they have an ulterior motive: to cover up crimes. And when people like me publicize how great Israel is, we also have an evil motive: to cover up Israel's crimes.

In other words, to these mental midgets, Israel is inherently evil. Everything it does is evil. This is the premise that informs all of their activities. No shades of grey, no nuance, not even the possibility of admitting that things are more complex than they pretend. When Israel does something seemingly bad, it proves it is evil, when it does something good, it's just more proof that it is evil.

Logical people, who make up their minds based on evidence, can look at both sides of a story and decide. Haters, however, already know the answer, and any evidence to the contrary they use to "prove" their own point!

Let's once again look at the oppressed Palestinian Arab cancer patients who enjoyed a day in the snow courtesy of the IDF, the subject of my first poster:

Looking at these photos drives the haters crazy, as we have seen. They cannot reconcile the idea of Israelis - especially Israeli soldiers - actually doing something nice for the people they supposedly despise and who are, they believe, being ethnically cleansed by the very same soldiers. The cognitive dissonance must be painful. They must therefore invent their own elaborate frameworks of bizarre conspiracy theories to reconcile the obvious truth about Israel with their own, twisted, hate.

How can oppressed Palestinian Arab kids allow themselves to be used as pawns by the evil IDF? How dare they laugh and smile and have fun with the symbols of Zionist atrocities? Better that they refuse to go sleddign in Mount Hermon, and stay in their hospitals, than go and have fun when there is a slight chance that someone might photograph them and use them in such a terrible evil hasbaristic way! Don't they see that they are exactly like the Jews in Theresienstadt before the Red Cross visited it in 1944? Their smiles are lies! Their fun is a lie! The pictures are probably Photoshopped! The IDF was probably mowing them down with machine guns!

There is an entire industry out there, with people who are emotionally - and, in this case, financially - invested in demonizing Israel. Showing the truth is a direct threat to their worldview, and for them, this cannot be allowed. To them, Israel is a uniquely evil entity that must be destroyed, and tons of solid evidence showing that they are completely, irrevocably wrong is simply something else that they must do battle with their only weapon: lies.

PA soldiers at Joseph's Tomb were asleep; fired wildly when they awoke

From Arutz-7:

Palestinian Authority soldiers last month woke up from a slumber and shot wildly at Jews who had been praying at Joseph’s Tomb, killing Ben Yosef Livnat, according to the private Israel Defense website, which is not associated with the IDF.

The report states that an internal PA investigation totally contradicts original accounts that the armed forces shot at the worshippers after they allegedly broke through a roadblock on their return from prayers at the holy site.

The internal investigation, as reported by Israel Defense, discloses a string of failures by the PA. Three soldiers, who had been trained by American army officers, were sleeping in their jeep several hundred yards from Joseph’s Tomb on April 24, the morning of the last day of Passover.

Nineteen Jews, including Livnat (pictured), a nephew of Likud minister Limor Livnat, passed the PA checkpoint where the soldiers were sleeping. When the worshippers began returning home in their three vehicles, two other PA officers at Joseph’s Tomb also were asleep next to a bonfire they had lit to keep warm.

The report states that they woke up from a slumber, saw vehicles they did not recognize, and started shooting wildly at close range without asking superiors for permission to fire.

The shooting woke up the two officers in the jeep, and one of them also fired without knowing who he was shooting at, but he did not hit anyone. The other officer did not fire because he was guarding without a weapon, in violation of standard procedures. The worshippers later said that the PA forces knew them because they frequently prayed at Jospeh's Tomb.

The Palestinian Authority security forces also did not report the incident immediately, while the IDF, observing from nearby Mount Gerizim, observed the shooting and arrived at the scene before senior PA officers arrived, even though PA units are stationed in Shechem.

An Israeli investigation showed that one of the PA soldiers was a former terrorist. It also found that the PA soldiers wildly fired 44 rounds during the incident - when they were not threatened at all.

(h/t Yerushalimey, Joel)

The Muslim world's inferiority complex

From Hudson-NY, translating an op-ed by Khaled Montaser in Al Masry al Youm late last year:

We Muslims have an inferiority complex and are terribly sensitive to the world, feeling that our Islamic religion needs constant, practically daily, confirmation by way of Europeans and Americans converting to Islam. What rapturous joy takes us when a European or American announces [their conversion to] Islam—proof that we are in a constant state of fear, alarm, and chronic anticipation for Western validation or American confirmation that our religion is "okay." We are hostages of this anticipation, as if our victory hinges on it—forgetting that true victory is for us to create or to accomplish something, such as those [civilizations] that these converts to our faith abandon.

And we pound our drums and blow our horns [in triumph] and drag the convert to our backwardness, so that he may stand with us at the back of the world's line of laziness, [in the Muslim world] wherein no new scientific inventions have appeared in the last 500 years. Sometimes those who convert relocate to our countries—only to get on a small boat and escape on the high seas back to their own countries.

The dilemma which we Muslims imbibed from one end of the earth to the other—by way of our sons, our intellectuals, our youth, our elders, our men and our women—regards the German writer Henryk Broder. We celebrated him through our media and Internet sites, saying that he had converted to Islam, because he said "I have been saved from misguidance and have come to know the truth, returning to my natural state [fitriti, i.e., Islam]." Our writers and intellectuals portrayed Broder's statement as a slap to Germany's face, since he was one of the most critical opponents of Islam, but now he had announced his repentance.

Then the truth was immediately revealed and the embarrassing predicament which we imbibed of our own free will: for Broder is not to blame; he merely wrote a sarcastic article—but we are a people incapable of comprehending sarcasm, since it requires a bit of thinking and intellectualizing. And we read with great speed and a hopeful eye, not an eye for truth or reality. Some of us are struck with blindness when we read things that go against our hopes.

We actually imagined that the man was speaking truthfully and sincerely! Thus we drank from the bitter cup of failure and shame, products of our chronic ignorance and contemptuous feelings of inferiority and detestability.

How come the Buddhists don't hold the festivities we do for those who convert to their religion? And some of these converts are much more famous than Broder. Did you know that Richard Gere, Steven Seagal, Harrison Ford—among Hollywood's most famous actors—converted to Buddhism? What did the Buddhist countries of Asia do regarding these celebrities? What did the Buddhists in China and Japan do?

Did they dance and sing praise and march out in the streets, or did they accept these people's entrance into Buddhism as a mere matter of free conviction? When Tiger Woods, the most famous golf player and richest athlete in the world, discussed his acceptance of Buddhism, did China grant him citizenship, or did Japan pour its wealth on him? No, being self-confident, they treated him with equality, not servility.

It is sufficient for the Buddhists that these celebrities purchase their nations' electronic goods—without any beggary or enticements.

I have discussed the Arab and Muslim inferiority complex in the past, and some of the stuff is worth revisiting.

May 2005: Why Israel's creation is a "naqba"

July 2005: The flip-sides to Arab "honor"

December 2008: Mixing up importance and impotence

US Defense Dept. analysis of the Muslim world, 1946

Anecdotal but convincing: Pakistan knew where Bin Laden was

A fascinating article in Hudson-NY by Anna Mahjar-Barducci:

Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Usama bin Laden was killed last week, is the same town I lived in for five years – in a house 800 meters away from his villa.

...All these roads were already heavily patrolled before 9/11, and more so after the Taliban took over the Swat valley: it is unthinkable that the most wanted man tried his luck in reaching Abbottabad at the risk of being stopped at a checkpoint. To avoid this danger, according to experience, there is only one way: to use an official car. No soldier will ever dare to stop what he supposes to be a high-ranking officer.

Abbottabad is considered a "cantonment," or a military town, with many military institutions: the Frontier Force Regiment (popularly known as the "Piffers"), an infantry regiment, and a batallion of mountain artillery. The most remarkable institution, however, is the "Pakistan Military Academy" (PMU), the Pakistani equivalent of West Point, from which Bin Laden's hideout was only a few hundred meters.

In such a place, the presence of security forces and secret services is everywhere. Everyone is under observation, particularly foreigners and newcomers.

Once you gain the confidence of the local officers they may even reveal themselves to you. Some officers of the so-called "secret police" were not exactly the movie image of James Bond. Rather, they were badly dressed and probably having some problems making ends meet. However, this ramshackle police managed to give an American aid-worker suspected of espionage 24 hours' notice to leave the country, It did not take much to raise their suspicion, and for them to take the subsequent action.

Bin Laden's compound was located in Bilal Town, a not very elegant area of Abbottabad. ... The presence of more than 20 people living in the compound, however, could not have passed unnoticed.

...In a country where gossip is a national sport, how is it possible that the presence of people from Waziristan, who were buying food for scores of persons, was never signalled to the police? When I lived there, everybody seemed to know me and my whereabouts. I even received anonymous phone calls although my name was not in the telephone book. I did not know these people, but they knew me.

...Pakistani officials are now protesting that the country's sovereignty has been violated. It probably was. But more importantly, Pakistan's credibility -- if there was any left -- as a reliable partner in the war against terrorism, is now completely gone.

Until now, many thought that Pakistan's double game was due to some deviated sectors of the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence); now we understand that there is more to it than that. Americans knew full well that Pakistanis could not be trusted, so they took action without informing the country's authorities -- they were right.

Gaza man run over by bulldozer.

Arab media is reporting that a man near the Rafah tunnels was killed accidentally when he was run over by a bulldozer.

I wonder why in this case they assume it is accidental, while in other cases they assume murder?

Canadian PM's Yom HaAtzmaut message

From the Prime Minister of Canada site:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebrations:

“Today, on the 63rd anniversary of Israel’s independence, I extend warm regards to the many Canadians who are celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut.

“Since its creation in 1948, the world has witnessed Israel’s unwavering dedication to affirm its right to exist and to achieve peace and security with its neighbours.

“This day offers an opportunity to remember the constant struggles facing Israel and its citizens, and to reaffirm our commitment to strengthen the bonds of our partnership. Through trade, investment and the exchange of knowledge in areas such as innovation, green technology, medicine and law, our nations can continue to grow together.

“Our Government understands the realities of the Middle East and we will not falter in our continued support of Israel, Canada’s friend and ally, in defending the values that both nations share – freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

“As we celebrate the creation of the State of Israel and the return of the Jewish people to their homeland, I call on all Canadians to wish them peace and prosperity in the year ahead.”

I think we have a winner.

EoZ "Apartheid?" posters translated into Arabic!

BlueStar, a great Israel advocacy organization, has translated (and, in many cases, redone) my "Apartheid?" poster series - into Arabic!

Very nice!

Why the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" is relevant today

The National Post has a nice piece from a new book by Jonathan Kay called Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground. This excerpt talks about how the famous forged work, "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion," is in many ways the precursor to today's conspiracy theories:

Even once the Third Reich lay in ruins, and anti-Semitism became widely detested in its bald-faced Nazi-style form, the Protocols would remain ensconced as a sort of universal blueprint for all the successor conspiracist ideologies that would come to infect Western societies over the next nine decades — right up to the modern-day Truther and Birther fantasies of the 21st century.

In these conspiracy theories, the imagined evildoing cabal would come by many names — communist, globalist, neocon. But in most cases, it would exhibit the same recurring characteristics that the Protocols fastened upon the Jewish elders in the shadow of First World War.

The entire article is worth reading, but this part is of particular interest:

The Protocols was a lie. But like all successful conspiracy theories, it was a lie that people wanted to hear....

For Europeans reading the Protocols in the 1920s and 1930s, the document offered something precious: the idea that only a single barrier — the Jewish race — blocked a return to the peaceful, pious and socially ordered world that had been destroyed by war, revolution, mechanization, urbanization, radical political ideologies, secularization and catastrophic inflation. The evil brilliance of the Protocols lay in the fact that it patched together a theory of Jewish conspiracy that covered every one of these upheavals — all the while enchanting the reader with backward glimpses of the noble, God-fearing milieu that the Jew allegedly had undermined.

Isn't this exactly how many in the world look at Israel today?

It is patently ridiculous to even think that Israel is the source for all the world's problems and the major obstacle to world peace. Yet the idea that if only Israel would give up/go away, things would be better for everyone is mainstream in the Arab and Muslim world and only a tiny bit beneath the surface in Europe and among the far left.

As with the Protocols, today's rampant anti-Zionism is not pure anti-semitism. Rather, it uses latent anti-semitism in order to get people to believe that their problems will be solved by getting rid of the Jewish state. The driving force is not hate as much as an extreme form of wishful thinking that is exploited by hate.

How many times have we seen seemingly smart and logical people say absurd things when it comes to Israel? They are not consciously anti-Jewish or even anti-Zionist; but their Achilles' heel is their intense desire to solve the world's problems in a neat and easy package. It is seductive to pretend that there is a simple solution - force Israel to do what its neighbors have been insisting for years is the major "obstacle to peace."

People naturally gravitate towards finding an Occam's razor to solve the world's problems. And the Arab leadership has been blaming Israel for all of their problems for decades. Even though it is easy to prove that this is not only false but an attempt to deflect from their own corruption, the constant repetition of the lie along with the world's latent antipathy towards Jews are the only ingredients necessary to make the wishful thinkers grab the idea as their own. Against all logic, they believe the autocrats and then find the justifications for their theories afterwards.

This is the reason we hear nonsense like "Israeli intransigence" and "Israeli racism" and "Israeli apartheid." Just like the Protocols, these are the lies that the world wants to hear, today, in order to justify their illogical desire to get rid of that pesky "obstacle to peace" known as the Jewish state.

Syrians torturing protesters - to get their Facebook passwords

From The Telegraph (UK) yesterday:

Protest organisers have set up the Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook page and have promised that "demonstrations will continue every day".

However, amateur video footage showing the violent suppression of protests has dwindled to a trickle amid signs that the regime could be gaining the upper hand after more than seven weeks of anti-government protests.

"The lines of communication have almost been completely severed," one activist said.

"Some of our people who have been taken have been broken under the most severe torture, and they have revealed passwords and names."

Activists admitted that many of the once-secure networks they used on sites such as Facebook and Twitter had been compromised following a campaign of mass detentions in which more than 8,000 protesters have been arrested.

Over the past two days, almost no video footage has emerged from the town of Baniyas and very little from the city of Homs, despite military sieges having been imposed on both places. With Western journalists barred from entering Syria, individuals have taken it upon themselves to smuggle out footage to reveal the full horrors of the regime's response to the protests, in which at least 650 people, possibly many more, are thought to have died.

Organisers of the uprising have depended on technology. Although the regime has cut off power as well as mobile and land telephone lines in many of the worst affected towns and cities, activists have got round the system by using generators and satellite telephones smuggled in by foreign sympathisers.

With these tools, they have powered up laptops and transmitted images to fellow activists who have then broadcast them to the world on the internet.

Iran is said to have provided the Syrian government with technology for blocking satellite telephone signals that it used to crush protests in Tehran in 2009.

Many of the activists who distributed the images have also fallen silent after they were arrested or cowed into submission. Activists said that some passwords that were disclosed as a result of torture had revealed the identities of many of those at the forefront of the protests and that they too had now been rounded up.

I had noticed that the number of videos had gone down over the weekend, but there seem to be more coming out today, including this one showing gunshots at a protest in Deir al-Zour:

The BBC adds:

Reports from Syria say columns of tanks have moved towards the central city of Hama, which has been the scene of anti-government protests in recent weeks.

Earlier, the UN said it was concerned it had been unable to get humanitarian aid to the embattled city of Deraa.

The humanitarian aid referred to is specifically to 30,000 Palestinian Arab "refugees" in Deraa, via UNRWA.

The best place to get up to date information is from Now Lebanon!

(h/t Mike)

Yom HaAtzmaut 1962 - narrated by Frank Sinatra (video)

An amazing fundraising video about Israel made in 1962, narrated by Frank Sinatra!

It includes footage of him singing at the Tel Nof IAF base and attending Yom HaAtzmaut ceremonies when Israel turned 14 years old.

Well worth watching!

(h/t Jean)

Get your very own "Palestinian" identity card!

The PA Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture are offering free symbolic "Palestinian" identity cards to anyone who asks.

Just fill in the fields, upload your photo and you are an unofficial citizen with the "right to return."

Here's mine (not sure I got all the fields right...any Arabic speakers want to help out?)

If you always dreamed of "returning" to Palestine, here's all you need!

I can't wait to return to Shechem (Nablus)!

If anyone comes up with other innovative things to put on the card, post them (or the photo) in the comments!

President Obama's and Hillary Clinton's greetings on Yom HaAtzmaut

From The White House:

Sixty-three years ago, when Israel declared its independence, the dream of a state for the Jewish people in their historic homeland was finally realized. On that same day, the United States became the first country in the world to recognize the State of Israel. As Israelis celebrate their hard-won independence, it gives me great pleasure to extend the best wishes of the American people to the people of Israel and to honor their remarkable achievements over the past six decades. Our two nations share a unique and unbreakable bond of friendship that is anchored in common interests and shared values, and the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. I have every confidence that the strong relationship between our countries will grow deeper with each passing year.

This is a period of profound change in the Middle East and North Africa, as people across the region courageously pursue the path of dignity and self-governance. Just as I know that Israel will always be one of our closest allies, I believe that the region can be more peaceful and prosperous when its people are able to fulfill their legitimate aspirations. We will continue our efforts with Israel and others in the region to achieve a comprehensive peace, including a two-state solution, and to working together toward a future of peace, security and dignity for the people of Israel and all the people of the region.

I offer my best wishes to President Peres, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the people of Israel as they celebrate their 63rd Independence Day.

From The State Department:

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Israel on your 63rd National Day this May 10 – a young nation, but a rich history that holds deep meaning for so many. Your achievements are a testament to your hardworking citizens, innovative economy, and commitment to democratic institutions. Israel has been a beacon of hope and freedom for so many around the world.

Sixty-three years ago the United States was the first country to recognize Israel's independence, and that spirit of kinship continues to guide us today. Our two countries are united by a deep, unshakable friendship and bond. We are bound together by our shared values and history pursuing freedom, equality and democracy. And this relationship is deepening every day. Whether it’s our security partnerships or the expanding economic and trade collaborations – our work together is securing a brighter future for all our people.

As you celebrate your independence, the Middle East is experiencing rapid change. This is a moment of uncertainty, but also of opportunity. The security of Israel is - and will remain - a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, and we will continue to strive for a comprehensive peace between Israel and all of its neighbors.

Looks like the new PA will abrogate Rafah crossing agreement

I mentioned last week that a key indicator on the seriousness of the new Hamas-Fatah "unity" government would be how they treat the Rafah crossing.

Israel, the PA and the EU signed an agreement in 2005 allowing European observers on the Rafah border to watch for illegal smuggling, with Israeli observers watching via closed-circuit TV.

The question is: would the PA honor that agreement?

Further signs indicate that the answer is no.

According to Palestine Today, even ahead of specific negotiations between Hamas and Fatah to take place next week, both of them agree that the agreement will not be resumed. A Hamas spokesman said that any Israeli involvement is unacceptable.

Will the EU push back on this explicit abrogation of a signed agreement? Or is the word "unity" so dazzling that every other issue is regarded as irrelevant in its beautiful glare?

It seems that the EU is very big on expecting Israel to honor agreements with the new, unified PA, but not too bothered by the PA reneging on its own signed agreements - with the EU!

Amr Moussa redefines "terrorist"

From the Washington Post, in an interview with Egyptian presidential front-runner Amr Moussa:

The view that Hamas is a terrorist organization is a view that pertains to a minority of countries, not a majority. Being a terrorist is not a stigma forever.

Hamas shooting a laser-guided missile at a schoolbus and murdering a child on board is not "terrorism," according to Amr Moussa. An act is only considered terror if a majority of the world's countries says so, no matter how heinous.

See? Amr Moussa is such a great supporter of democracy that he even wants words in the dictionary to be defined democratically!

Fatah delays local elections

From Ma'an:

Fatah will recommend postponing local elections scheduled for July 9, Central Committee member Mohammad Shtayyeh said Monday.

The reconciliation of Fatah and Hamas in Cairo last week created a new situation where all decisions must be made by national consensus, the Fatah official said.

Elections were set for July by the Fatah-dominated government in Ramallah in February, but Hamas officials vowed not to facilitate polls prior to unity.

The fruits of "unity."

Proud to be a Zionist - 5771 edition

I wrote the original essay around 2002 and I have been modifying it since then. Here is this year's edition:

Every year, the State of Israel seems to be up against yet another unsolvable crisis. Whether it is war against terrible odds, a wave of terror attacks, a new feeling of isolation as friends seem to turn hostile, the threat of nuclear-armed enemies, or political threats from the international community, there are always new challenges that she faces - sometimes simultaneously.

Yet, here she is, 63 years old and more beautiful than she was at birth.

In prayers every morning Jews recite a phrase praising G-d, describing Him as המחדש בכל יום תמיד מעשה בראשית - He who continually renews the act of Creation. In other words, the Jewish concept of G-d has him in an active role keeping the universe running, and as such it is appropriate to praise Him.

It is a little hard to conceptualize this idea, that the very laws of physics, that the world rotating and revolving around the sun is not automatic, but only occurs due to the constant will of G-d. But perhaps it is easier to understand this phrase if we apply it to the modern state of Israel.

Every single day that the Jewish state continues to exist cannot be explained adequately with historical or social or military reasons. Which means that we are witnessing a miracle every day.

The most recent years have been very hard for Zionists. Yet when we step back and look at the big picture, Israel is something to be very proud of.

Yes, I am a Zionist and I am proud of it.

I know that Israel has the absolute right to exist in peace and security, just like - and possibly more than - any other country.

I am proud of how the IDF conducts itself during the war on Palestinian terror. There is no other country on the planet, save the US, that would try to minimize civilian casualties in such a situation where innocent Israelis are being threatened, shot at, mortared, rocketed, and murdered in cold blood. At times there are discussions whether the IDF's moral standards end up being counterproductive - and what other army could one even have that conversation about?

I am also proud that Israel investigates any mistakes that happen on the battlefield and keeps trying to improve its methods to maximize damage to the terrorists while minimizing damage to the people that the enemy is hiding behind. This is not done because of pressure from "human rights" organizations - it is done because it is the right thing to do. Even when everyone knows that the world will accuse it of "war crimes," the IDF retains incredibly high moral standards.

I am proud that Israel remains a true democracy, with a free press and vigorous opposition parties, while in a constant war situation. Any other nation, again besides the US, would have imposed martial law to maintain peace.

I am proud of how the IDF responded to the terror attacks of the early days of the intifada, managing to bring deadly suicide attacks from 60 in 2002 down to practically none. The enemy has not stopped trying, and if Israel hadn't acted decisively things would look like Iraq or Afghanistan today. For every "successful" attack (if you can use such a term) there have been many failed attempts, and these are truly miraculous.

There is a right and a wrong in this conflict, and I am proud that Israel is in the right.

Of course, I am equally proud of Israel's many accomplishments in building up a desert wasteland into a thriving and vibrant modern country, with its many scientific achievements, leadership in environmental issues, world class universities and culture. A tiny nation, under constant siege, with almost no natural resources besides breathtaking beauty, has used its brains - and strength - to build a modern success story. In a short period of time Israel made itself into a strong yet open nation that its neighbors can only dream of becoming.

And they are indeed starting to dream. The so-called "Arab Spring" is, in many ways, a subconscious cry from Israel's Arab neighbors to be more like Israel. Despite the constant incitement against Israel in their media, ordinary Arabs know that Israel treats its minorities with more respect, and gives them more civil rights, than Arab nations give their own Arab citizens.

At a time that groups are trying to hurt Israel economically, the nation has thrived. Every boycott attempt since the 1940s has failed to dent Israel's amazing growth. Israel is in the lead in lifesaving medical breakthroughs and clean energy technologies. Even more amazing, practically every computer and mobile phone being built today includes technology and innovations from a single, tiny, Middle Eastern country.

I am proud that the vast majority of Americans support Israel as I do, and that the rabid terror-lovers we see on the Internet are the aberration.

The word "Zionist" is not an epithet - it is a compliment.

This is Zionism: IDF Alpine Unit (video)

I decided to turn one of my "This Is Zionism" posters into a video. Enjoy!

Daraa, Syria worse off than Gaza ever was

Here's a roundup of the latest from Daraa, Syria, from Now Lebanon.

May 8: Twitter user @SyrianJasmine tweets that Daraa is in need of food, medicine and milk for children, and so far there are 6,000 detainees being held in schools.

May 9: Daraa is still under siege and the army and tanks are on the streets in Daraa al-Mahatta. The situation is slightly improved, since women are being allowed to go down to the market for three hours, but there is nothing in the market. The shops are all closed. Electricity is only available for three hours per day at the most. There is water available in Daraa al-Mahatta. Telecommunications are cut in the entire province of Daraa without exception. Electricity, water, food, and communications are still cut in Daraa al-Balad. Trash is lying around uncollected and the snipers are still deployed in the mosque minarets and on buildings’ rooftops. The army and security forces have not withdrawn from Daraa.

By any objective measure, the residents of Daraa are being treated by their own government worse than Gazans were treated by their sworn enemy during a war.

Where are the flotillas? Where are the human rights activists? Where are the anguished op-eds?

As of this writing (11:00 AM EDT) , Syria is not one of the top 14 stories listed at MSNBC. It didn't make the top 30 stories at Reuters. It was number 19 at Fox News (a story from Friday.)

The Secret Codes Hidden War

Yaakov Kirschen, the cartoonist behind Dry Bones, has put together a fascinating academic paper that traces the use of coded anti-semitic imagery in political cartoons during the past 80 years.

He shows, very effectively, that the same memes were being used by the far-right Nazis, the far left Soviets, and modern American (and arab) political cartoonists - shorthand memes to demonize Jews.

For example:

Kirschen is on a speaking tour through America, sponsored by Z Street, where he is elaborating on his research. It is really good stuff.

More details here.

A thousand year old yeshiva in France

From YNet:

The courthouse of the French city of Rouen is an impressive gothic building from the 15th century. For hundreds of years – in fact, since its establishment, the place was used by the district judicial authority.

Even today, those who happen to reach the criminal ward, and not as one of the workers, can at least enjoy a colorful Renaissance ceiling.

About 40 years ago, archaeologists were surprised to discover under the building a historic structure dating back to 1100.

The archeological find was only revealed to the wide audience in the past year. It appears to be a yeshiva from the Middle Ages – the only one in Europe whose remains have been preserved to this day.

Rouen residents are very proud of the yeshiva, referring to it as "the most important Jewish archeological find in Europe."

The structure discovered under the courthouse proves that about 1,000 years ago, Rouen had an intellectually and commercially active Jewish Quarter.

Two phrases in Hebrew were found inscribed on the internal wall of the underground building: May the Torah Reign forever" and "This house is supreme".

The second writing made the researchers assume that the structure was a house which belonged to one of the community's rich members, a theory which was only raised after a suggestion that it was a synagogue was contradicted due to the absence of a typical eastern wall.

When American researcher Norman Golb of Chicago University delved deeply into the matter, a new light was shed on the walls. Golb, an expert on Hebrew manuscript materials, studied the structure in its initial discovery stages and established the thesis that it was a yeshiva.

Some interesting background material, that might answer why no one had heard of this in Jewish history:

[Golb]'s selection of the site of the yeshiva on Rouen's Rue aux Juifs was based on the fact that references to the building stop with the sixteenth century. This was the point at which the highly ornamented Palais de Justice was built. "I surmised that they had rased the Jewish center to make way for the new construction," Golb told me joust intelview.

Equally fascinating is the fact that Golb may have discovered why Rouen was overlooked as a center of Judaism during the Middle Ages. It may have been bypassed because Hebrew references to the city were misread by Latin scholars of the Middle Ages. Until the fourteenth century, Rouen was known as Rodom.

In surviving Hebrew manuscripts, the name Rodom is written like Rhodoz, a medieval city in southern France. What happened was that scholars, in recopying the manuscripts, often mistook the Hebrew letter samech for a final mem. Golb said he was fascinated by the possibility that the city they were really talking about and writing about as a "thriving Jewish community" was really Rodom or Rouen.

"I went back to the original manuscripts at the British Museum, and my suspicions were immediately confirmed," he said. Subsequent studies of manuscripts in Paris, Amsteidam, and Jerusalem revealed detailed maps, as well as descriptions of the Jewish quarter and of life in the city.

Today in Rouen, there are about 400 Jewish families engaged in professions and academic life, as well as industry and commerce. The Jews who came to Rotten in the 1960s from Algeria and Tunisia brought a Sephardic presence to the area.