יום חמישי, 7 ביולי 2011

Elder of Ziyon Daily Digest

Elder of Ziyon Daily Digest

"Small but high-quality flotilla"

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:00 PM PDT

From YNet:
The Gaza-bound Juliano ship left Greece Wednesday afternoon, after suffering huge delays due in part to a ban set by Athens on the departure of flotilla ships from its ports.

On board the ship are 20 activists. Last week flotilla organizers claimed that Israel had sabotaged the ship in an attempt to prevent it from sailing.

"We are at sea," former Israeli Dror Feiler, one of the organizers, told Ynet. "All roads lead to Gaza. It will be a small but high-quality flotilla."

Greta Berlin, a spokeswoman for the Free Gaza movement, told Ynet that the Juliano will rendezvous, in international waters, with a French boat already at sea before heading towards the Strip. She gave no details on the location of the meeting.
Dror Feiler came equipped for the trip - with his saxophone:

I'm 100% certain that Gaza terrorists will like his music better than European audiences.

Because here's what Feiler was up to in 2008:
A German orchestra has dropped a composition from its programme after its members claimed the music was so loud that it gave them ear problems and headaches.

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BR) said it had little choice but to drop the world premiere of Swedish-Israeli composer Dror Feiler's Halat Hisar (State of Siege), from a concert because it was "adverse to the health" of its musicians.

Members of the 100-strong orchestra said they could only contemplate playing the piece wearing headphones, after several suffered buzzing in the ears for hours after rehearsals. The 20-minute composition starts with the rattle of machine-gun fire and gets louder.

"I had to protect the orchestra," its manager, Trygve Nordwall, said. "I can't just say we'll play it anyway, for it to then cause health problems. The piece starts with machine-gun shots ... and that's the quietest part of it."
A music piece that starts with machine gun fire? That's music that Hamas could really love!

Unfortunately, the planned rendezvous with the French boat Dignite - because the Greeks have intercepted that latter boat and are holding it at least overnight.

And in case you were wondering what a "high quality flotilla" looks like, here's a photo of the Juliano:



Did he say "quality" or "comedy"?

(h/t dibbuk)

Hamas starts arresting male hairdressers

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 01:54 PM PDT

From the BBC:
The Hamas government in Gaza has begun enforcing a law introduced last year banning men from cutting women's hair.

Until now, the law had not been enforced, but this week at least one male hairdresser in Gaza was arrested.

Male hairdressers for women are regarded by many Muslims as against Islamic tradition.

The move is seen as an attempt to bolster Hamas's Islamic credentials against critics who say it has become too moderate.

The reality is in Gaza - with its huge Muslim majority - most women do not want to have their hair cut by men.

Nevertheless a few salons have clung on, where male hairdressers work.

This week they are sitting idle outside their shops, fearful of arrest if they step inside.

Adnan Barakat, a hairdresser with 27 years experience, said: "Without work, I am like a dead man, because I am without work. The salon cannot work without me. This is my work since 1984. I haven't another work. What can I do?"

Others, like Mr Barakat, complain they are being watched by undercover police.

Hamas argues it is only enforcing a law that the majority of people here want.
I guess it is hard to get your hair styled when you are wearing a burqa.

It's a real shame that the flotilla imploded. Because you just know that those champions of human rights would have spent a day protesting and singing songs of solidarity with the hairdressers.

(h/t Folderol)

Hamas believes a stupid rumor about UNRWA

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 12:50 PM PDT

I mentioned last month that there were protests in Lebanese camps against UNRWA, partially because of a rumor that UNRWA was changing its name as a precursor to reducing its services in a new mandate that would encourage resettlement of Palestinian Arabs outside Israel.

I could not find any verification of any name change or change in UNRWA's mandate.

But that didn't stop Hamas from pouncing on that same rumor. On Tuesday, the Hamas Department of Refugees echoed the same rumor, accusing UNRWA of plotting to actually solve the problem of stateless Palestinian Arabs rather than prolonging it the way it has done so well, and the way that every Arab leader wants it to continue. At Hamas' urging, there were protests outside UNRWA headquarters in Gaza.

UNRWA finally released a statement today denying any change in its name or mandate.

Now millions of "refugees," many in camps with UNRWA services, can rest easy, knowing that they will never become normal citizens in the Arab countries that they were born in and will likely die in. They will remain second-class citizens, derided and discriminated against, subject to the whim of the leaders of the countries they live in.

Victory!

American Flotidiots admit defeat, declare victory

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 11:45 AM PDT

You can't make stuff like this up.

From the USTOGAZA website that was home to the "Audacity of Hope" boat:

The presence of the U.S. Boat to Gaza in Athens is winding down. For more than 2 weeks the 37 passengers (someone was added at the last moment), 4 crew members and about 12 people in the support team there worked hard to make sure our boat – The Audacity of Hope – could sail as part of the international Freedom Flotilla 2 to Gaza. The Greek government's willingness to serve as the enforcer of Israeli's naval blockade of Gaza made it impossible for this journey to happen.

But the creative and determined spirit of this team of committed activists could not be stopped or silenced. They worked tirelessly to make the point in countless ways: they attempted to set sail knowing it might lead to a confrontation with the Greek authorities, they stood by the boat's captain when he was arrested and jailed for several days, several people held a hunger strike for a few days, everyone marched and rallied with other flotilla activists and with the people of Athens in their own struggle for economic justice, and incredible energy went into getting the word out to people throughout this country and around the world as the work with the media continued through it all.

Last night our group's activities in Athens ended and here's a description from one of our people there: "We all went to Syntagma Square... We unfurled to drum beats 22 flags sewn together representing the countries participating in the Flotilla. Our black and white signs were in Greek, Arabic and English. It was a beautiful sight. Then we marched to the Spanish Embassy where our Spanish partners were occupying its embassy demanding the release of their boat. We arrived at about 9 pm with drummers leading the way. They came out on balconies and we sang to each other. It was quite the sight."

Now our folks are beginning the journey home – some will arrive today, some tomorrow and others in the days ahead. Everyone is tired, but their energy is strong! They will share their stories and talk about their experiences in communities everywhere. And they will use this incredible time they shared in Athens as a spring board for further activism and organizing.
I wonder if they'll refer to themselves as "survivors" the way that the 2010 Terror Flotilla moonbats did.

I'd love to see videos of their singing, as well as how they describe their wonderful trip to Greece to their sycophants back home. "We went to break the blockade, and didn't make it out of port. But we got some news outlets to get us a little attention and sang lots of songs. Give us more money!"

Mondoweiss is fundraising

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:55 AM PDT

From the rabidly anti-Israel site Mondoweiss:

The urgency of this fund-drive is that we need reader support to institutionalize our website or it will begin to stagger (and ultimately disappear).

We've always said that we would be happy to be put out of business in an eye-blink if the American mainstream media would cover our issues fairly. But they won't. They are afraid.

Donate to Mondoweiss.net now to keep open the free flow of information about the Middle East

For five years we've run this site as a labor of love, and Adam Horowitz and I were able to sustain that commitment. But we often put in seven days a week, and we're both burning out.

We've raised over $10,000 in the first week of the drive, and we can't tell you how much we appreciate it! Right now, we will be trying to find foundations to help us, and wealthy individuals, but it is readers' support has been vital, and we're very grateful. If you haven't yet -- please donate to ensure the life of the site.
It's funny, because the American mainstream media also doesn't fairly cover the issues I cover. I also support the free flow of information about the Middle East - not the news media memes. I also run this site as a labor of love, 6 days a week, for nearly seven years. (I would argue that theirs is more a labor of seething hate.)

I write here largely by myself, part time, while Mondoweiss has about 14 different writers listed in just the past couple of days' worth of articles. And yet I manage to compete pretty well with the number of Mondoweiss readers, at times even surpassing it (according to Alexa.)



If the pro-Israel narrative is so dominant, then why is an anti-Israel blog getting over $12,000 in ten days of fundraising?

When it comes down to it, the Israel haters are the ones with the deep pockets. I bet that all the pro-Israel blogs combined didn't raise anything close to $12,000 over the past year. And there are certainly no foundations, no EU-funded NGOs, no Israeli government groups and no rich Zionist Jews who are throwing money towards grassroots hasbara blogs.

The problem is that the pro-Israel new media community is not nearly as well organized as the haters are. We need to do something about that.

(And I won't object to any rich Zionists who want to throw a few thousand dollars my way, using the donation button. I might even use it to revamp the site and get off of the very limited Blogger platform. Maybe if I make the site as attractive as Mondoweiss, I'll double their audience!)

Buy Max Brenner Chocolates

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:55 AM PDT

From The Australian, July 1:
POLICE officers were injured and protesters arrested during an anti-Israel rally outside a chocolate store in inner Melbourne.

Police say the rally turned violent when the group of more than 100 protesters refused to move from outside the Max Brenner store about 7pm (AEST) today.

Nineteen protesters from the Students for Palestine group were charged with offences including trespassing, besetting a premises and assaulting police.

Students for Palestine claims the company supplies chocolates for the ration packs of Israeli soldiers.
Here's a video of the obnoxious protesters in Melbourne.


Which means it is time to buy products from Max Brenner.


Here are their online shopping sites in Australia , Israel and the US.

Their chocolates have kosher supervision, but their stores (outside Israel) are not.

I cannot say I ever had any Max Brenner chocolates but the reviews are very good.

(h/t jzaik)

Israel preparing for the "flightilla"

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 08:53 AM PDT

From Israel Hayom:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich and Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino toured Ben Gurion International Airport Wednesday morning as part of preparations for the expected arrival of a pro-Palestinian aerial flotilla on Friday.

Following its intensive, and largely successful efforts to stop a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists from breaking the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, Israel is now actively working to thwart a provocative aerial flotilla - or "flightilla" - of hundreds of activists from across Europe who plan to land at Ben Gurion International airport on Friday.

"Every country has the right to prevent the entry of provocateurs and trouble-makers into its territory," Netanyahu said Wednesday, adding, "That is how all countries behave and that is how Israel will act. We must prevent the disruption of normal life for Israeli citizens."

Police believe the activists plan to disrupt the airport's operations. Army Radio reported Wednesday that ensuring normal functioning of the airport will be the primary objective of security forces deployed there on Friday.

"Any hooligans who attempt to break the law and disrupt public order will not be allowed to enter Israel, and will be returned to their countries of origin," Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich said on Tuesday.

At a ceremony in Nazareth marking the division of the police's Northern District into two new districts, Aharonovich, who has been placed in charge of dealing with the "flightilla" said, "I have ordered the Chief of Police to prepare to foil any illegal activity. My message [to the activists] is sharp and clear: know that your plan will not succeed, and that you would do well to avoid coming to Israel. We would be happy to host you as tourists, so that you can get to know the wonderful landscapes and people of Israel, but not as hooligans and not as law-breakers."

The government is preparing to prevent pro-Palestinian activists from boarding planes headed to Israel as part of the "flightilla." According to information attained by Israel Hayom, Israeli authorities possess lists with the names of activists planning to fly into the country, and have requested foreign airlines not to allow these passengers to board, since they are not in possession of entry visas.

Those activists who manage to deceive the airlines and are identified upon their arrival in Israel will be arrested and taken to detention facilities at the airport and in Israeli jails, and expulsion procedures against them will be initiated. Activists suspected of harboring intentions to create provocations will be loaded back onto their flights and deported.

A senior police commander said Tuesday that activists are expected on flights from Germany, Belgium and France. "We have no intention of giving them the pleasure of arriving here and driving us crazy," he told Israel Hayom.

Hundreds of police, uniformed and undercover, will be deployed throughout Ben Gurion International Airport to foil the planned "flightilla." Minister Aharonovitch summed up by saying that Ben Gurion Airport would "continue to function normally, and anyone found disturbing the peace will be dealt with accordingly."
The flytidiots have already started. From Ha'aretz:
Israeli police have deported five pro-Palestinian activists in the past two days. The activists were sent back to their home countries, France and Belgium.

Between 600 and 1,200 activists are expected to arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport on Thursday night and Friday, on flights from Moscow and New York.

Israeli far-left group "Anarchists Against the Wall" has a Facebook page for their members to greet the anti-Israel activists at the airport.

An email correspondent called up EasyJet and asked them their policies if someone is not allowed into a country:
If you're denied entry to Israel (or any other country) you must either book a new single fare ticket home or if you're holding a return you can change the date subject to their normal re-booking fees and the payment of any fare difference between the flight you hold and the next flight that you are obliged to travel home on.

Short answer: get denied entry by a country and you have to pay a full fare flight home.
The anti-Israel activists who think that they are getting bargain fares from Europe better be packing extra cash for their immediate trips back!

Water Wars: a war we can all enjoy

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:54 AM PDT

Every year in Tel Aviv there is a massive water fight, called Water Wars, with lots of Israeli women in bikinis getting wet. Here is a great video of this year's event - with a nice soundtrack from Israeli band The Carsitters.



(h/t I Googled Israel)

Amnesty calls out Syrian "crimes against humanity"

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:54 AM PDT

From Amnesty:
The brutal methods used in a devastating Syrian security operation in the western town of Tell Kalakh may constitute crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said today in a new report.

Crackdown in Syria: Terror in Tell Kalakh documents deaths in custody, torture and arbitrary detention that took place in May when Syrian army and security forces mounted a broad security sweep, lasting less than a week, against residents of the town near the Lebanese border.

"The accounts we have heard from witnesses to events in Tell Kalakh paint a deeply disturbing picture of systematic, targeted abuses to crush dissent," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director.

...Twenty year-old "Mahmoud", who was arrested on 16 May and released after nearly a month in detention, was held for around five days at the Military Security detention facility in Homs:
"Each day [was] the same story. They tied me up in the shabah position and applied electricity to my body and testicles. Sometimes I screamed very loudly and begged the interrogator to stop. He didn't care."

At least nine people died in custody after being arrested during the security operation in Tell Kalakh, according to witnesses. Eight of these men – some of whom had been active in demonstrations – were shot at and wounded as they were ordered out of a house, and were then taken away by soldiers.

It was only around two weeks later that relatives were told to go to a military hospital to identify the bodies of the eight men. Witnesses said the bodies had marks on them which suggested torture, including cuts to the chest, long vertical slashes on the thighs and what seemed to be gunshot wounds on the back of the legs.

A forensic pathologist analysed a photograph of one of the men, Abd al-Rahman Abu Libdeh, for Amnesty International and concluded that he seemed to have sustained violent injuries to the face, shoulders and neck while still alive.

Some of the family members who went to identify the bodies of their sons said they were forced to sign a document stating that their sons were killed by armed gangs.
This is just the story in just one town.

The report notes that "The security operation prompted thousands of people to flee to Lebanon, some of whom were shot at as they fled. "

(h/t Yoel)

PLO leader calls financial crisis "unprecedented"

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 05:54 AM PDT

Palestine Press Agency quotes Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO Yasser Abed Rabbo as saying that the PA's current financial crisis is "unprecedented."

He said that never before have the Arab nations been so delinquent in paying their pledges to the PA, echoing what PA prime minister Salam Fayyad said earlier this week.

Rabbo said that the financial crisis is "unprecedented and never at any time has the failure of previous Arab brothers for their obligations [been as serious] as is happening at the moment, and this is a surprise to us."

Like Fayyad, though, he said that the fact that the PA can't even stay afloat is not a reason that it shouldn't put in a bid for statehood in the US this September.

Because, we all know, the world needs another failed state.

Flotilla follies update

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 03:44 AM PDT

One French yacht, the Dignite, did manage to go out to sea. The flotilla activists are crowing about how they evaded the Greek Coast Guard, but, as usual, they are lying.

Here are the exciting details of how they managed to get out:
The French vessel escaped Greece on a technicality, as a pleasure craft, the Dignity is not confined by the regulations being used to block the larger Flotilla participants.

One of the passengers is tweeting in French. The passengers include Olivier Besancenot, a far left French politician.

The other flotidiots are still stuck in Greece, and being uncharacteristically quiet. Perhaps they are placing their bets on the flytilla instead.

Meanwhile, a company that had sold cement to the Swedish floatards has returned their money saying they want nothing to do with this stunt.

In a letter it sent to the Gaza flotilla organizers, the Swedish [Swiss?] company said that it had to cancel the deal due to "force majeure", and attributed the move to the Greek government's ban on Gaza-bound ships as well as to a letter by UN chief Ban Ki-moon discouraging Mediterranean countries from supporting the departure of the Gaza flotilla from their ports.
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