Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Friday, March 25, 2011

How Muslims think about Israel, in a nutshell (NewsRealBlog)

My latest article in NewsRealBlog is up. Here's a part:

OnIslam, which is a breakaway website from Islam Online, has a fatwa section where someone recently asked this:

Can you answer the question why the Palestinians and the Israelis have been fighting for so long? What is it all about? Why do they seem to hate each other so much? Is it related to the Catholic/Protestant faith, Judaism and Islam?

The answer given is very illuminating.

It illustrates why real peace is impossible: because the other side doesn’t even know the basic facts about Judaism, Zionism and Israel. It is simply not possible to reach an agreement when one side’s entire conception of the others is, simply, filled with lies.

Read the whole thing.

"Apartheid?" poster sighting - on Roger Waters' FB Wall (updated x2)

I love the idea that someone is posting my "Apartheid" posters on the page of anti-Israel ignoramus, BDS advocate and former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters.

All in all they're just more posts on his "Wall"....

(thanks to Mitchell Rubin, h/t אורי פלג)

UPDATE: That bastion of liberal free speech is censoring all pro-Israel posts on his Wall.

Because,of course, he don't need no education.

I just posted a completely non-offensive pro-Israel poster (about the Israeli Wildlife Hospital) , we'll see if it stays up.

UPDATE 2: Yup, it got taken down and I can't post more. How open-minded Waters is!

Morning links

Just clearing out my many open browser windows...

Krauthammer on Obama and Libya

Rubin on Obama and Syria

Toameh on the Future of Syria.

Rubin again on why Israel/Hamas war is inevitable

JPost on new car sales, and other indications of an economic boom, in the PA territories

Sol Stern on how Jeremy Ben Ami is no Zionist hero

(h/t David G, Zvi, Challah)

Report: Two planeloads of Basij militia arrived in Syria on Saturday

The Beirut Observer last week reported that two planes filled with Iran's Basij militia were flown from Iran to Damascus last Saturday. (The story was picked up by Kol Israel Arabic.)

The purpose was to protect the Assad regime from continuing protests throughout the country.

Arabic news sites also mentioned a YouTube video showing a funeral for one of the people killed in Daraa this week, with the protesters chanting "Neither Iran nor Hezbollah ... only to be a Muslim who is afraid of God."

100 Syrians protested in front of the Syrian embassy in Dubai yesterday, saying that "Israel is more merciful than the Syrian regime, she [Israel] did not do what he [Assad] has done to us" and they accused Syria of importing Hezbollah fighters as well to quash demonstrations, also chanting "Neither Iran nor Hezbollah..."

Surprise! Muslim Brotherhood is practically running Egypt!

I am shocked that the Western experts were so wrong. Again.

In post-revolutionary Egypt, where hope and confusion collide in the daily struggle to build a new nation, religion has emerged as a powerful political force, following an uprising that was based on secular ideals. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group once banned by the state, is at the forefront, transformed into a tacit partner with the military government that many fear will thwart fundamental changes.

It is also clear that the young, educated secular activists who initially propelled the nonideological revolution are no longer the driving political force — at least not at the moment.

As the best organized and most extensive opposition movement in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood was expected to have an edge in the contest for influence. But what surprises many is its link to a military that vilified it.

“There is evidence the Brotherhood struck some kind of a deal with the military early on,” said Elijah Zarwan, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group. “It makes sense if you are the military — you want stability and people off the street. The Brotherhood is one address where you can go to get 100,000 people off the street.”

“We are all worried,” said Amr Koura, 55, a television producer, reflecting the opinions of the secular minority. “The young people have no control of the revolution anymore. It was evident in the last few weeks when you saw a lot of bearded people taking charge. The youth are gone.”

In the early stages of the revolution, the Brotherhood was reluctant to join the call for demonstrations. It jumped in only after it was clear that the protest movement had gained traction. Throughout, the Brotherhood kept a low profile, part of a survival instinct honed during decades of repression by the state.

The question at the time was whether the Brotherhood would move to take charge with its superior organizational structure.

It now appears that it has.
But the more secular forces say that what they need is time.

“I worry about going too fast towards elections, that the parties are still weak,” said Nabil Ahmed Helmy, former dean of the Zagazig law school and a member of the National Council for Human Rights.

As I said, I am shocked. Only last month the NYT's own Nicholas Kristof waxed lyrical about the courage of the Facebook youth of Egypt and said we should be ashamed to even think that they would not be taking Egypt in a new, liberal, democratic direction.

And I, an anonymous blogger who does not have the prestige or experience of Nick Kristof and who has never even visited Egypt, had the audacity to respond:

Kristof is making a major mistake. He is confusing bravery for political maturity.

No one doubts the protesters' bravery. No one doubts their integrity, or their desire for change, or even their desire for democracy.

But there are serious doubts at their ability to translate the raw desire for freedom into a functional, liberal, democratic government.

It is hard work to create the institutions necessary. More importantly, it takes time - and time is not on the side of the protesters.

It is now fashionable to pooh-pooh the dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood in Kristof's liberal circles, but no one can doubt that the Islamists are better organized and much more politically mature than the Facebookers of Tahrir Square. It takes time to set up an organization, to define a clear agenda, to build a fundraising mechanism, to attract volunteers, to build a means to communicate with all the people - including in rural areas, and to do all the myriad details from physical buildings to a phone system to a mailing list.

True freedom cannot flourish until Egyptians have been exposed to a wide range of ideas on a level playing field. The existing Islamist groups are running circles around the "Egyptian youth" we hear so much about. Kristof is so caught up in the emotions of the moment that he cannot think outside Tahrir Square, to the 99% of the country that is not as emotionally invested in who their leaders would be. To them, the nice people with beards who build a free Islamic school for their kids are the only game in town.

Enthusiasm does not ensure effective state building and true freedoms. Kristof, instead of spouting straw-man arguments, should be advocating ways for his jeans-wearing heroes to channel their sparks of enthusiasm and bravery into the hard, thankless and often boring work necessary to build a new Egypt from scratch.

How dare I disagree with such an outstanding pundit and accurately predict nearly everything in this article written by his employer a month later? How could I have the chutzpah to mention that the New York Times is paying someone to spout wishful-thinking nonsense while I, and many others, could see what was to happen from thousands of miles away?

(I didn't see a partnership with the army, I admit...that is actually stunning and far more worrisome than what I had written.)

Latest Latma (3/25/11)

I thought the NATO spoof was weak, but I liked the "optical illusion."

Who killed Mary Gardner in J'lem? Herald-Scotland doesn't know

An unbelievable article in the Herald (Scotland) about the victim of the Jerusalem terror attack makes it sound like anyone could have planted the bomb:

A SCOTS Christian campaigner from Scotland who worked in the Third World has been killed in a bomb blast in Jerusalem.

Mary Gardner, 59, who previously taught in Orkney, was the only fatality. She was caught up in the explosion caused by a bomb placed in a phone booth as she stood at a bus station in the Israeli city.

She died in hospital from her injuries despite desperate efforts by paramedics following Wednesday’s terror attack.

The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ms Gardner was killed by the blast across the street from the Jerusalem Convention Centre near the central bus station.

A spokesman said: “[Ms Gardner] was critically wounded as a result of the bombing, and rescue services transferred her to hospital, where doctors fought for her life for about an hour and ultimately were forced to declare her dead.”

Beautiful Jerusalem, where bombs just appear and explode spontaneously.

(h/t Tony H.)

Red Cross sheltering Hamas terrorists?

From CBN:

Hamas officials are praising Wednesday's deadly bombing of a bus station in Jerusalem -- a city they've vowed to conquer.

Jerusalem is also a place where wanted Hamas members have found safe haven from Israeli authorities -- and they're getting help from one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations.

Although Hamas's main headquarters can be found in Gaza and Damascus, over the past several months, three officials from the terror group have also set up shop at the International Red Cross office in East Jerusalem.

Israel suspects these three Hamas legislators had a role in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. It ordered them to be deported from Jerusalem last summer.

Instead, the three found refuge at the Red Cross, where they've set up a tent and held court on a daily basis, with no protest from their hosts.

The three Hamas officials have been living there since July. During that time, they've held a number of press conferences and met with foreign dignitaries, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Every Friday, dozens of East Jerusalem residents gather at the Red Cross to hold prayers as a show of support.

Red Cross spokesperson Cecilia Goin told CBN News that hosting the wanted Hamas officials is in line with the organization's humanitarian mission -- despite Hamas' long track record of terrorism.

"Under international humanitarian law, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory," Goin said. "So the Palestinians living in East Jerusalem are considered protected people."

Goin, who refers to Israel as an "occupying power" in East Jerusalem, said politics are not involved in the Red Cross's decision.

Even if part of Jerusalem is considered occupied (and it clearly isn't,) that doesn't mean that the 'occupying power' has no right to arrest known terrorists in the territory. In fact, they have an obligation to.

From a monograph called "US Army Doctrine and Belligerent Occupation" that interprets international law for occupation:

The first essential task is to restore public order and safety. ...

The third implied task is to review the local laws in order to enforce, suspend or repeal them and enact new laws in their place as needed. ...Although not commonly done, the
occupying power may also enact their own laws in the occupied country, as both Germany and Allied forces did during World War II. Clearly, certain procedures must be adhered to ensure any new laws are both effective and obeyed. Such procedures would include giving notice to the populace in their native language(s), publishing the laws in writing, and ensuring that new laws are not applied in an ex post facto fashion.

The fourth implied task to the restoration of public order and safety is supervision of courts, jails, and prisons. The Geneva Convention provides, “[t]he necessity of ensuring effective administration of justice, the tribunals of the occupied territory shall continue to function in respect to all offenses covered by the said laws.” The occupying power has considerable latitude to use a variety of courts, tribunals, and local government systems to adequately enforce and administer the law.

If I am reading this correctly, the Red Cross is unlawfully interfering with Israel's obligations and allowances to create and enforce laws, under international law.

Moreover, while civilian occupants are considered protected people, Hamas is by any definition at war with Israel. It is less clear that these Hamas members have the status of combatants, but an argument can be made that Hamas does not distinguish between their own military and civilian infrastructures and that these three people are de facto militants.

So if the CBN article is accurate, and it appears to be, the Red Cross is helping to violate international law of the rights of the occupier, by its own definition of Israel as an occupier.

(Usual disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.)

Here come the Quran riots

Parts of the Muslim world are upset over Terry Jones' buring of a Quran last Sunday. So guess who they blame?

From The International, Pakistan:

The Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam announced on Thursday a province-wide protest on Friday (today) against the desecration of the Holy Quran in Florida by a US pastor.

Hundreds of demonstrators of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan and of the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat blocked the road off the KPC and burnt the effigy of the pastor and a US flag.

JUP activists, led by their leader, Qazi Ahmed Noorani, held banners inscribed with anti-US slogans and demanding death sentence to Jones.

Noorani, speaking on the occasion, said that the Zionist forces had hatched a conspiracy against Muslims to incite their religious feelings. He said that Islam never allowed harming of sentiments of people from other religions, but Jones and people like him had always hurt the sentiments of Muslims.

Another version of the story from Pakistan:

Condemning the sacrilegious burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by devilish American pastor Terry Jones, Jamaat-ud-Dawa ameer Hafiz Muhammad Saeed on Monday called it a conspiracy of the zionists and the crusaders working in collusion to disrupt peace and order in the world.

Separately, addressing a Jihad Conference in Jamia Masjid, Qadisiya Town, the Dawa chief said America, India and Israel are scared of Jihad. The Muslim must understand that Jihad is the key to their survival.

Oh, and here's how some Muslims in the area are reacting:

Tension continues to spread in eastern Punjab province where police struggled to control a mob attempting to raid a Full Gospel Assembly church in Lahore.

Two separate mobs headed to the Christian slum on March 22 after different mosques announced that the “church members deliberately burnt the Qur’an transcript in garbage on a US pattern.”

Most of the 250 Christian families in the slum have sent their daughters to relatives for fear of further violence.

Well, it's Friday, and that holy day of prayer is usually the day that we see the most violence. Funny, that.

"Palestinian traditions and morals" (video)

(h/t Joel)

New record/ Begathon/ Open thread

This month I have gotten 120,000 page views, making this the best month for EoZ ever - beating out July 2010, the Mavi Marmara month.

And there is still a week to go.

The posters I have been featuring - Apartheid?, Real Liberals Love Israel and now The Face of a Terrorist - have been very popular, and seem to have given me lots of new readers, as my daily averages keep going up and up.

The "Apartheid" posters in particular are now all over the place. It has been printed in newspapers (more coming, I am told.), hundreds have recommended it in Facebook and people are forwarding them in email chain letters.

I'm getting more emails than usual, which also take time to answer (please forgive me if I didn't answer you). And lots of the emails are of the type "why don't you make a poster of X?" Hey, I'm fast, but it still takes time to find the right photos and how to make it look nice! But thanks for the emails, even if I don't answer.

I also have an article about hasbara in the upcoming Passover issue of Young Israel Viewpoint, under my nom de plume Eldad Tzioni.

Also some relatively well-known people in the hasbara community have been contacting me to see if we can work together, which is really cool. Nothing to report yet, but it is still fun talking to people who have been behind some very well-known initiatives.

Like movies.

Not bad for a month when I was so busy in real life as well!

Yesterday I received a very generous donation from a remarkable woman who, I later found out, has over the years helped literally thousands of disadvantaged people go to college in Israel. She's really amazing. When I thanked her, she responded, "It is a pleasure to know that people like you exist."

Now, that's a nice compliment!

It is great to see that as I continue to take my own advice from my Hasbara lecture, it is paying dividends for the blog and, hopefully, for the pro-Israel community.

Since spring has officially started, it is a good time for me to ask that if you enjoy the blog and the hard work I do, to please consider a donation.

You can make a one time donation in the upper right corner of this page, or sign up for a monthly donation. If you prefer, you can also choose to buy something from the Elder Store, or pay the $5 to watch my Hasbara 2.0 lecture.

A big thank you to all those who have donated to EoZ! It really does help, and I do deeply appreciate any and all donations. (So does the long-suffering Mrs. Elder.)

Now...open thread time!

Miral - the posters (updated)

The pro-Palestinian Arab movie "Miral" is being released after a gala premiere at the UN. The New York Times has run a couple of stories on it already.

I have not been following the controversy about the movie that closely, and I do not know if the movie is as anti-Israel as some claim it is.

But I am offended by the movie's poster:

The implication of the poster is that the nice young woman portraying the protagonist (who is actually an Indian actress, by the way) could not possibly be a terrorist because of her innocent looking face. To me, it also implies that Israel, or perhaps the West, unjustly considers all Palestinian Arabs to be terrorists.

Unfortunately, a friendly face does not exclude the possibility of a young woman being a terrorist: