Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Monday, July 30, 2012

Objectivity, Palestinian Arab-style (Arafat death edition)

An unintentionally funny story from Ma'an:

The investigation into late President Yasser Arafat's death is ongoing, director of the committee responsible for the inquiry said Sunday.

Tawfiq al-Tirawi told Ma'an that a medical committee headed by Abdullah al-Basheer is undertaking research in coordination with international specialists and will brief officials on the results once investigations reach their final stages.

"We haven't initiated the investigation based on the hypothesis that Arafat was killed by poison, but we agreed to begin an investigation searching directly for the killer regardless of the medical reports which will eventually show the method of killing and name of the toxin," al-Tirawi told Ma'an.

"All Palestinian people know the truth about Arafat’s death," he added, stressing that the committee needs time to get produce results.

See how objective al-Tirawi is? The investigation into Arafat's death is completely unbiased, except that he already knows that Arafat was killed and who did it.

Video of Syrian MP threatening using biological, chemical weapons

From MEMRI:

Following are excerpts from several TV interviews with Syrian MPs and Lebanese sympathizers, which aired on various TV channels in July 2012.

Al-Manar TV, July 20, 2012:

Syrian MP Ahmad Shlash, deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee: These biological and chemical weapons are intended for a confrontation with the country's enemies.

As for those terrorist groups, the defenders of the land can get rid of them...

Interviewer: Yesterday, Ehud Barak toured the area...

Ahmad Shlash: Let him tour it. He wants to see where he will be buried if he tries to...

He's wondering what hole will be dug for him...

Let me tell you something. I cannot tell a lie. We have biological weapons. What's the problem? We have advanced weapons. Why lie to the people? We have them. That is what's known as the balance of power. You have nuclear weapons, and we have advanced biological weapons.

We counter might with might, but we're keeping this for the end. If you consider using nuclear weapons, we will use something equivalent, or something that causes similar damage.

Nasrallah said that Syria has drastically changed its [military] systems. Syria no longer relies upon artillery, tanks, and airplanes. Syria relies upon missiles. We have all types of missiles. All types of missiles!

Let them bear in mind and take into consideration that Syria has both chemical and biological weapons.

[...]

I would like to convey a message to my beloved Syrian president. Honorable President, enough with the leniency and the tolerance. Enough giving one respite after another. I am against the principle of tolerance. If you want to be tolerant toward someone – save it for later. This is the time to finish it off militarily – throughout the country. For the sake of Allah, oh President, the people want you to finish it off.

Al-Manar TV, July 23, 2012:

Interviewer: We are talking about unconventional weapons. Today, Syrian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jihad al-Maqdisi said: "We will use these weapons in the event of a foreign attack."

Syrian MP Sharif Shehadeh: So, what's wrong with that?

Interviewer: You're taking precautions for any attack on you?

Sharif Shehadeh: I don't know, but if the Syrian government has weapons of that type – of course they will use them against any attacker. What should we do with them? Make tabouleh or fattoush salads? Of course we will use them against of attackers. That's only natural. When Israel was waging war against Syria and Lebanon, they used cluster bombs, which are banned internationally. Why is Israel allowed to do this while the Arabs must accept being tramped underfoot on a daily basis? Let me tell you, the Syrian public is hoping for a war. The Syrian public is hoping that we will wage a war. Either [they win, or we do].

[...]

Al-Dunya TV, July 24, 2012:

Syrian MP 'Issam Khalil: I'd like to say to those [Israelis]: The missiles of Hizbullah, which defeated you in the 2006 war, were nothing more than extremely simple fireworks compared with the firepower that Syria has in stock, which could burn you to ashes. This is well known. I'm not revealing any secret. The range [of our missiles] far exceeds what you believe. Indeed, Syria possesses weaponry, as is its right, because its facing the danger of the Zionist enemy.

NBN TV, July 10, 2012:

Hizbullah MP Brig.-Gen. [ret.] Walid Sakariya: The coalition between Syria, Iraq, and Iran builds up a power superior to Israel, even without nuclear weapons. They can annihilate Israel in a war, even if it costs them a million martyrs. We should not consider the figure of one million martyrs to be catastrophic. By no means. The USSR sacrificed 26 million martyrs in WWII, yet it became a world superpower. France and Germany suffered 6-7 million casualties in the war. We have a total population of 130 million in these three countries

If 5,000 martyrs are sacrificed out of everyone one million people...

It's like in the 2006 war – this is a price that we can cope with. Even 10,000 martyrs per million... You could easily afford a million martyrs.

Interviewer: Now we are over-simplifying things...

Walid Sakariya: It's true. People need to know this, rather than delude themselves that 100 martyrs is such a big deal. It’s not the end of the world. The living nations are the ones that are prepared to sacrifice blood for the sake of their freedom. Those that are not willing to pay for freedom with their blood will remain subjugated and will live the life of a slave.

Al-Mayadeen TV, July 24, 2012:

General Mustafa Hamdan, Former Head of Lebanese Presidential Guard: If foreign soldiers or forces try to enter Syria, there will be an all-out war – not only with chemical weapons, but with biological weapons as well. Davutoğlu Effendi also declared: We may participate in an operation within Syria. They deployed some surface-to-air missiles, in an attempt to raise the morale of the saboteurs in Syria. The Syrian reaction was quick: Any attempt of foreign intervention will lead to an all-out war, in which all types of weapons will be used, including chemical and biological.

The fake Tunisian Olympic hero

A Facebook page has popped up saluting Tunisian swimmer Taqi Murabit for refusing to compete against Israeli swimmer Gal Nevo, featuring this photo that is being copied all over the place in the Arab blogosphere:

It would have been a great story, but it is a lie. Mrabet did compete against the Israeli and was in the pool at time - but he was disqualified.

From Tunisia Live:

Tunisia’s quest for Olympic glory is off to a rocky start as Taki Mrabet has been disqualified in the first heat of the 400m Individual Medley.

Violations punishable by disqualification include not observing the required strokes during the medley (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle) and exceeding the underwater distance limit in the freestyle section, among other violations.

According to the news agency TAP, Mrabet was disqualified by a judge for a technical foul.

But perhaps he purposefully drew a foul so as not to enter the same disgusting waters as the Israeli?

Well, no. Here is the video of the heat, showing all eight swimmers in the pool, that I grabbed from Israel's "One" website (UPDATE - video taken down for copyright violation but you can see it on the Israeli site..)

Israeli swimmer Gal Nevo is in lane 1, Mrabet is in lane 8, as the NBC Olympics site shows:

So in reality, the Tunisian was disqualified for a technical foul, but he did try to compete against Israel. And now fans are trying to cover up for his ignominious outing by pretending that he disqualified himself on principle.

(h/t MJ)

Oh, by the way, terrorists are still shooting rockets at Israel

YNet reports two Qassams being fired on Friday night, and four rockets being shot on Saturday. GANSO says on of the Saturday rockets was a Grad. Arutz 7 counted two rockets Saturday night, for a total of eight over the weekend.

But having terrorists shooting rockets aiming at women and children into your country is considered acceptable behavior by the world (when your country is Israel.) So this is hardly even worth mentioning.

Muslims don't like loud calls to prayer either

From The Algemeiner, July 16:

Residents of the French Hill neighborhood in Jerusalem plan to combat Arab prayer-calls by blasting music from loudspeakers, in defiance of Arab religious conventions. According to Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot, Israelis plan to broadcast music from loudspeakers positioned toward a mosque in the Arab village Al Issawiya, located in Jerusalem on Mount Scopus near Hadassah Hospital.

A widespread practice among Muslims, the adhan is a call for Muslims to attend voluntary prayers that are broadcast from a Mosque’s large towers called minarets, like the one standing over the western wall in Jerusalem. In previous centuries, the muezzin, leader of the adhan, would stand atop the minaret and project his voice, but technological advances have yielded microphones and loudspeakers, which are now utilized to project the adhan remotely at volumes of up to 100 decibels. Jerusalem residents are often bothered by the noise because adhans occur before each of the five daily Muslims prayers, the first of which begins before sunrise, and feature Arabic versions of the basic Muslim creed, to persuade Muslims to attend mandatory prayer service.

In an effort to convey their displeasure, residents of Jerusalem’s Givah Tsarfatit, or French Hill neighborhood, have approached an amplification company with intentions of buying four giant loudspeakers, from which rock and roll music will be played to clash with the Muslim prayer songs. The music, specifically chosen from the hard rock musical genre rather than mellower styles like classical or Mediterranean music, will be played when the Muslim broadcasts begin.

The campaign to limit the Muslim broadcast has until now taken place at Jerusalem’s city hall, where attempted negotiations between the village of Al-Issawiya and the French Hill have taken place. The agreements yielded a promise by Al Issawiya to lower the noise level of their adhans, but French Hill inhabitants claim that no such change has been instituted, leading to the launch of their more drastic rock and roll campaign.

If the campaign is successful, other neighborhoods have pledged to follow suit.

There go those Jews again, disrespecting the rights of Muslims to blast their prayer calls as loud as they want at any hour of the day.

But the loudspeakers seem to bother some Muslims, too:

In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs banned small mosques from using loudspeakers for the nightly tarawih prayer in Ramadan. The sounds of prayers coming from different mosques at the same time can be confusing, the ministry said explaining the rationale behind their decision.

“Raising the sound of loudspeakers above the accepted level is not permissible,” said Sheikh Tawfiq al-Sayegh, imam of a mosque in the coastal city of Jeddah, to Okaz daily. “There are ill and elderly people in the neighboring houses who need rest and quietness.”

However, the ministry is struggling to enforce their decision. Writing for the same paper, columnist Humoud Abu Talib said very few mosques have actually respected the ministry’s instructions to control the noise levels.

And in Indonesia:

In a move few could have predicted, Indonesia’s hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) threw their support on Wednesday behind calls to curb the excessive use of loud speakers by mosques during Ramadan.

“It is indeed better that mosques adjust their loud speakers when reciting the Koran, so as not to disturb other people, especially if the reciters can’t recite fluently or don’t understand what they are reading, lest there be negative comments from others,” the head of the Jakarta office of the FPI, Habib Salim bin Umar Alatas, told beritasatu.com on Wednesday.

Central Kalimantan’s deputy governor Achmad Diran asked local mosques on Wednesday to refrain from blasting their speakers sporadically throughout the day.

“Don’t use loud speakers when reciting the Koran. Take pity on people of different faiths who want to rest,” Achmad said during an event in Palangkaraya on Wednesday.

The Jakarta branch of the FPI — usually known for inciting angry protests against “immoral” culture — surprisingly agreed.

“If they recite well and understand what they read, then [using loud speakers] should be okay; it might even inspire remorse to those who hear it. But please don’t be too loud, and do it only during the day not at night,” Salim said.

The difference, of course, is when Muslims complain about loud calls to prayer, it is an internal matter; when Jews complain, it is Islamophobia.

Links

From Ian:

An Olympic insult to Israel’s murdered athletes

A 12 word exchange tells you all you need to know about the international community and Israel
“You didn't hear the voice of the world,“ the two ladies exclaimed. “'Yes, I did," he replied. That, according to the Jewish Chronicle, was the exchange of words at a meeting earlier this week between two Munich massacre widows and the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, who refused their request for a minute’s silence at the opening of the London games."

Memorial for 1972 Israeli Athletes Held at Trafalgar Square Ahead of Opening Ceremonies

New York Jews lambast IOC over silence

Rudy Giuliani: Obama as Friend of Israel Is “Biggest Joke I’ve Ever Heard” (VIDEO)

'U.N. Me' is a must see

“Filmmaker Ami Horowitz joins Brian Lilley to discuss his new documentary which exposes the truly useless nature of the United Nations.”

Bulgaria Attack: The Victims’ Stories

Man in CCTV footage not the Burgas bomber, investigator claims
Doctor who carried out autopsy says evidence doesn’t match suspect from airport video

MK blames Israel for Burgas bombing

‘Israel is not a victim, and even when civilians are killed, the occupying Israeli policy is to blame,’ says Haneen Zoabi

The Attacks on Israelis You Won’t Read About Anywhere Else, July 24-26

Infographic: Last week, 39,795 Tons of Goods Entered Gaza From Israel

David Singer On The Palestine Mandate As Israel's Entitlement To Claim West Bank Sovereignty

'The Levy Commission’s resurrection of the Mandate for Palestine as the legal title deed establishing Israel’s entitlement to claim sovereignty in the West Bank has come 48 years after the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) first tried to bury it.”

Why is EU refusing to label Hezbollah as terrorists?

Analysis: Dutch appear ready for ban on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, while Germany, France have showed no appetite for one.

Police bar Jews from Tisha B’Av visits to Temple Mount, fearing disturbances

“Activist says it’s ‘shameful’ Jews can’t ascend to site where Temples once stood”

PM tells Romney: We need ‘strong and credible military threat’ against Iran

Romney: I listen to your views with ‘great seriousness.’ Republican presidential candidate says he’s honored to visit Jerusalem on Tisha B’Av and to ‘recognize the solemnity of the day and also the suffering of the Jewish people’

Netanyahu flatly denies AP story on Israelis spying on CIA

‘This is a false report,’ says Prime Minister’s Office, rejecting Associated Press article that claims US national security officials consider Israel to be ‘a genuine counterintelligence threat’

Gaza terrorists fire 4 rockets on southern Israel
Missiles explode in unpopulated areas near Sderot and in Eshkol region

Jihadi Group Releases Video Documenting Its Attacks Against Egyptian Gas Pipeline To Israel

‘Prisoners of War,’ inspiration for TV drama ‘Homeland,’ now airing on Hulu
US online streaming site airing new episodes every Saturday

Archaeology news part 2: Stone seal depicting Samson?

Ma'ariv reports on the discovery of a stone seal that seems to depict an image of a man holding onto a lion-like animal with a large head and tail.

The seal was excavated in Tel Bet Shemesh, and comes from around the 11th century BCE, the same time period that the biblical Samson was said to have lived, according to the archaeologists who discovered it, Prof. Shlomo Bunimovitz and Dr. Zvi Lederman from Tel Aviv University.

In the Biblical story from Judges 14, Samson killed a lion with his bare hands, and used it as a source for a riddle that ended up starting a feud with the Philistines.

The archaeologists also discovered an early pre-Kingdom temple in the area, which had thousands of animal bones that seemed to be of Israelite origin.

(h/t Yoel)

Archaeology news part 1: "Mass grave from Temple destruction"

From Israel HaYom:

Remains of thousands of Jews massacred by the Romans on the Temple Mount at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple may have been uncovered in Jerusalem, according to a veteran archaeological journalist.

During a conference on Thursday at Megalim – the City of David Institute for Jerusalem Studies, journalist Benny Liss screened a movie recorded a few years ago that clearly shows thousands of skeletons and human bones in what appears to be a mass grave.

Liss, veteran archaeological correspondent for Israel's Channel 1, told the amazed audience that the film had been shot in a spacious, underground cavern in the area of the Mercy Gate, near the eastern wall of the Temple Mount, but just outside it. Liss raised the possibility that the skeletons were the remains of 6,000 Jews, mostly women and children, killed on the Temple Mount when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple, as described in the writings of Flavius Josephus, who witnessed the destruction.

The movie shows a group of people accessing the cavern with construction tools. Liss goes in first, followed by a lighting technician and cameraman. The three first pass through a narrow passage and then enter the cave with the skeletal remains. Liss says he tried to work out the size of the pile of remains by putting his hand in as far as he could, but he could not reach the bottom. The movie shows Liss crumbling some of the carbonized materials near the skeletons. As soon as Liss left the cave, Antiquities Authority staff resealed the cave, he says.

During the lecture, Liss also cites historical sources that show that in the area of the Old City where the Muslim cemetery now stands, there was once a Jewish neighborhood and cemetery, which was moved to the Valley of Josaphat. He basis his theory that the skeletons are the remains of the people killed on the Temple Mount on the site of the mass grave, the soot in the cave and the written history.

"The Romans stayed on the Temple Mount for a month after the destruction of the temple until going on to conquer the upper city [today's Jewish Quarter],” says Liss. “They had to get rid of the thousands of decomposing bodies and the most obvious place to do this would have been the natural caves on the upper slope of the mount, around Mercy Gate."

The veteran journalist emphasized that this was just a theory. "Now, after publishing this information, the experts should go into the field and examine what we found back then, evaluate it and publish their own findings," he says.

A host of senior archaeologists approached by Israel Hayom said that photographs were not enough to determine the history of the cave and that samples need to be taken from the site and dated.

The chances of the site being reopened are very slim as it is located in a particularly sensitive area, where the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf keeps a close watch and interprets every movement by Jews or Israeli authorities on the mount.

The Antiquities Authority said in response that it was unaware of the findings presented in Liss' movie, and it would be happy to receive the materials. One official told Israel Hayom that he was aware of unsubstantiated reports of a cave with a large amount of human remains in the area, but because of the extreme sensitivity of the location and its close proximity to the Muslim cemetery, the cave had never been explored.

Jordanians take biggest falafel record from "the Jews"

From MENAFN:

Jordan entered the Guinness Book of World Records on Saturday for the largest falafel weighing 74.75kg.

A representative from Guinness was present and confirmed that Jordan created the world's largest falafel.

"This is a great achievement and a difficult record to beat for years to come. We welcome everyone who successfully took part in the family of Guinness World Record holders," Annabel Lawady, adjudication manager at Guinness, said after announcing the results.

According to the Guinness World Book Record's official website, the previous record was set last year in the US when a 23.95kg ball of falafel was made at the Santa Clarita Valley Jewish Food and Cultural Festival in California.

In Arabic, the organizers make it clear that the idea that Jews had made the biggest falafel was an insult.

Jordan's Dostor newspaper describes the real impetus:

General Manager of Hotel Landmark Acer Batayneh told reporters that "the hotel managed this feat of stripping Jews of the claim to the Guinness world record for a falafel ball, as [Jews] try to market themselves to the world that they are the owners of heritage and roots in Palestine by stealing the culture of its inhabitants associated with the indigenous Palestinian dress and food to make it appear that they are the owners of the culture and roots in Palestine and the region. "

Batayneh said "We were able to break the record and to beat the Guinness record instead of the Jews to thwart the goal of the Jews aimed to introduce the impression in the minds of the West and the world that they are the makers and the heirs of Palestinian culture."

In other words, if some Chinese had decided to break the record, they wouldn't have minded so much, but when Jews did it, then they were all fired up.

Just more evidence that the Arab love of "Palestine" isn't real, but rather just a manifestation of hate towards Jews and Jewish nationalism.

As I've mentioned before, people who are secure in their own heritage aren't so quick to be insulted when others borrow it for whatever reason. I cannot imagine such hate coming from Jews or Israelis if Arabs decided to create the biggest gefilte fish or Bamba.

They would just laugh, which is the proper reaction to the constant Arab attempts to one-up Jews in order to assuage their own feelings of inferiority.

Bob Costas' moment of silence. Plus Al Jazeera's! (updated)

Here is what NBC's Bob Costas said when the Israeli Olympic delegation entered the stadium in London on Friday:

It might have only been five seconds, but it is appreciated.

Then again, Al Jazeera went silent at that same time, but for assuredly different reasons:

However, as soon as the Israeli delegation entered the stadium led by windsurfer Shahar Zubari who was wielding the Israeli flag with pride, the Arab broadcasters suddenly fell silent.

The festive ceremony was covered by the two renowned Arab sport commentators, Yousef Saif and Isam Shawali. As the Israeli team entered the stadium, Shawali said "They don't deserve it."

UPDATE: Here's the silence on Egyptian TV from commentator Essam Shawal when Israel entered the stadium, apparently the Al Jazeera feed:

(h/t Vandoren)

UPDATE 2: Canada's CTV's Brian Williams was even better:

(h/t Daled Amos)

Documentary on Israel's disengagement of Gaza

Because and Shabbat and Tisha B'Av, I will not be posting until at least Sunday afternoon.

The Land of Israel website suggests that people watch this documentary about Israel's disengagement of Gaza on Tisha B'Av, the saddest day of the year.

The 90 minute film, UNSETTLED, offers a personal behind-the-scenes look, both before and during the evacuation, at the people whose lives would forever be impacted by the events which unfolded during those difficult weeks. With the ramifications of the disengagement from Gaza still very evident today, this emotional documentary film takes you back to experience the event from the perspective of both the settler and the soldier.

Anti-semitic attack roundup

US:

Jewish campers terrorized in Pennsylvania:

Crown Heights youngster attacked with an iron rod

Greece:
The Greek Jewish community in a letter to political leaders and the country's president expressed its “revulsion” to the swearing-in of an antisemitic musician as a national lawmaker.

"...The Jewish community took particular exception to Mathaiopoulos, who was a bass player in a hard rock Greek band called Pogrom, which has a “repertoire of fiercely racist, fascist, vulgar and antisemitic songs,” the lettter said, noting that a song titled “Auschwitz," has lyrics like “fuck Anne Frank”, “fuck the tribe of Abraham” and “piss on the Wailing Wall.”"
Additional antisemitic slogans in the song Pogrom (video included the link) include: “Juden raus” and “Auschwitz, how much I love it” (translation based on http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/international/article/385/greek-jewish-community-blasts-hate-music-golden-dawn-mp-statement)

Hungary:
Hungary neo-Nazis: Cash for info on Jews at protest (with videos)

"Antisemitic website offers 100,000 Forints ($450) for data on participants in protest against suspected war criminal Csatary."
BTW: The first video showing the protest is titled (goggle translate):
"Hooked nose hung before an empty house in the Jewish mob vérszagra sink"
The link includes also videos in English

UN:
U.N.’s Richard Falk accuses “the organized Jewish community” of crimes against Palestinians

(h/t O.)

Weekend links

From Ian:

Latma Summer Series:
The callous Israel government

Mofaz seeks a partner
Dedicated to Jonathan Pollard "Close Every Door"

Video: Viral Response to BBC's Map: Olympic Team Salutes to Jerusalem

Video: CNN talks to the widow of Israeli coach Andre Spitzer. He was taken hostage and killed during the Olympics in Munich.

Cameron will attend Guildhall Munich commemoration

"David Cameron has agreed to attend the Guildhall commemoration to mark the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes at the hands of Palestinian terrorists 40 years in Munich."

Italian parliament holds a minute of silence for Munich victims

Palestinian Olympic goalie, Red Crescent staffers held for West Bank shooting

13 people allegedly planned further attacks on Israeli targets
“Omar Abu Rwayyis, 23, the Palestinian goalkeeper, obtained the two AK-47 guns that were used in the shooting, and carried out the attack together with another man, Salih Bar’al, the IDF said in a statement. Both men were said to be employees of the Palestinian Red Crescent, and Abu Rwayyis was also said to be a member of Hamas.”

Is appeasement of Hezbollah now EU policy?

“In his request to the EU to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said: "It would send the right signal to the international community and the Israeli people."
But in their rejection, the only sign the EU has sent is that Jewish blood is cheap, while appeasement of terrorism is now official EU policy. Moreover, the EU has missed a golden
opportunity to strike at the heart of Iran’s empire of terror.”

Blockade charade: The misguided campaign against Gazan border control

Five years since Hamas took power, the international community is still more interested in falsely castigating Israel than condemning the terrorist group
“... the Palmer Report invoked Article 51 of the UN Charter precisely because “[m]ore than 5,000 [rockets, missiles, and mortar bombs] were fired between 2005 and January 2009”. In light of this, it is curious that a signatory to the petition such as UNICEF should cite Article 33 without mention of Hamas, given that the latter half of the Article explicitly
prohibits “all measures of intimidation or of terrorism”, tactics that Hamas insatiably employs against Israel.”

5 arrested for terrorizing Pennsylvania Jewish camp

Suspects allegedly damaged property, shot paintball guns and hurled anti-Semitic slurs at Camp Bonim in Wayne County.

U.S., Lockheed reach deal on Israeli F-35s

Israel Daily Pictures:
The Jews' Wailing Place -- Photographed 150 Years Ago
Tisha B'Av -- Mourning at the Western Wall 90 Years Ago

Borat’s bubbe will whip you in shape
Sacha Baron Cohen’s 97-year-old grandma is an exercise instructor for the elderly

Also:

US Jewish Federations drop "Zionism" from their global plans

'We have to liberate Syria, then we'll go to Golan liberate Palestine,' refugee in Damascus neighborhood says

Al Qaeda providing instruction and guidance for Israeli wildfires? (Hebrew)

Israeli technology in F-35 fighter planes (Hebrew)

Huffington Post - on Tisha B'Av

Muslim owner of Santa Monica hotel sued for kicking out pro-Israel event

NPR notices Palestinian Arabs aren't happy with Abbas

(h/t Ishai, Yoel, Yerushalimey, Jonathan Schanzer tweet)

Olympics organizers build barrier between Lebanese, Israeli judo teams

Sportsmanship:

The Lebanese judo team at the 2012 London Olympics refused to practice next to the Israeli one on Friday afternoon, and a makeshift barrier was erected to split their gym into two halves.

According to several Hebrew sports sites, the two teams were scheduled to use the same gym and mats at London’s new ExCeL center for their final preparations. However, the delegation from Lebanon would not train in view of the Israeli team, and insisted some sort of barrier be placed between them.

Organizers accepted the Lebanese coach’s demand to separate the teams, erecting a barrier so that the Lebanese team wouldn’t see the Israeli one.

So the Olympic organizers cave to the demands of the haters.

Which would be unusual, except when the object of the hate is the Jewish state. Then it is A-OK.

"Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordechai the Jew sitting at the king's gate"

Today, Arabic media is reporting that as many as 100,000 Muslims have gone to the Al Aqsa Mosque and the courtyards of the Temple Mount for the second Friday in Ramadan.

Israeli police are coordinating the safe passage and human traffic jams through the streets of the Old City.

As far as I can tell, there were never anything close to this number of Muslims who ever came to the Temple Mount when it was under British or Jordanian control, even though Israel is restricting some men under 40 from coming.

Bur even so, every day this week we have seen angry stories about the daily visits of a few dozen Jews who are quietly and respectfully visiting Judaism's holiest spot, in this week before Tisha B'Av, the anniversary of both Temples' destruction.

So I am reminded of the verse that is the title of this post, from Esther 5:11-13:

And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and everything as to how the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman said moreover: 'Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordechai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.'

This is the essense of anti-semitism.

Hate for Jews (or its more recent incarnation toward Jewish nationalists) has no logical basis.

It is not because others have "lost" anything. By any objective standard, Arab Israelis enjoy more freedom than any Arabs in Middle East history. Early Zionists worked hard to ensure that their building up the land would only benefit the Arabs there at the time.

The hate is visceral.

And because of this, there is nothing that Jews can do to make them liked better by the haters. A few of the more craven ones might be happily used by the anti-semites to advance their agenda, but in the end the hate is the only constant.

So all that today's Zionists can do is what they always have done. Do what is necessary to survive and prosper; work as hard as possible to act in a moral fashion, and ignore the haters - because there is nothing that can ever appease them.