Elder of Ziyon Daily News

Weekend administrivia
Friday links
Another batch of funny Hamas posters
Obama in November 2007: "The Day I'm Inaugurated..."
Islamists attack Israel from Sinai. Again. (UPDATE)
Games Palestinian Arabs Play
Late Hamas poster contest entries

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 11:40 AM PDT

This ended up being the biggest week the blog ever had - even though I didn't post at all for the two days of Rosh Hashanah!

It seems that my initial post of the Charlie Hebdo cartoons went viral, and that became my most-read post ever - 34,000 hits so far and counting. A popular Persian-language site linked to it, accounting for a large number of those hits. I banked on the media not publishing them, and there was a huge desire by people worldwide to see what the big fuss was about. (My previous record post was only from last month, but this tripled it. And it even surpassed the 27,000 that have read my "Apartheid Week" posters so far.)

My other big post of the week was the photo of masked Hamas terrorists with their message of peace which also got picked up in a number of popular websites.

Other popular posts were my piece on Romney and the PLO (which got linked to at The Daily Beast,) my own original Mohammed cartoon, and Juan Cole's libeling me as an accessory to murder. (Nothing says you've arrived like having a third-rate truth-challenged professor slander you.)

And it is almost the first day of autumn, which means I will be asking for donations again next week. Hey, everyone else is sending you tons of solicitations for the holidays...

I'm going away for Shabbat so this will be my last post until very late Saturday night, at least.

Shabbat shalom!

Friday links

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT

From Ian:

LATMA: Obama's reality perception advisor explains his Iran policy

Where Are the Muslim Protests for... ? by Khaled Abu Toameh

They are driven by their blind hatred for the US and all non-Muslims.
"Where are the street protests against human rights and media violations in the Arab and Islamic countries? Aren't most of these violations and abuses being committed in the name of Islam?
Most of the Muslims who have been protesting the defaming of Islam and Prophet Mohamed in the Arab and Islamic countries have most likely not even seen the film; they are driven by their blind hatred for the US and all non-Muslims."

Why are the Palestinians so desperate to avoid peace talks?

Palestinian rejectionism showcased again as their leaders go the extra mile to avoid peace talks with Israel
"Why are the Palestinians so intent on getting someone else to set the terms of peace negotiations for them? Israel, after all, is practically begging them to sit down and talk directly, without preconditions. Why are they so desperate to avoid this?
Whatever Erekat says, the Palestinians, more than anybody, must know that efforts to set the terms of any negotiations through the UN make meaningful talks much less likely, if not impossible. So what is their game?
Depressingly, it all smacks of the same old rejectionist strategy that the Palestinians have adopted since refusing a two-state solution all those decades ago. If there's an opportunity to be missed, they miss it. If there's a diversion to be found, they find it."

PMO: PA's UN statehood bid violates Oslo process

"The Prime Minister's Office warned Thursday that a Palestinian unilateral statehood bid at the UN, along with attempts to set the territorial boundaries of the conflict through a General Assembly resolution, would be a "mistake" and "a blow to the peace process."

CIFWatch: When Israelis can't be blamed: Tens of thousands of dead Syrians & 'humanitarian' flotillas not sent

"Remember the 2010 Gaza Flotilla? Who doesn't.
Well, another "Humanitarian" flotilla is on its way to Gaza (from Sweden) while Damascus is dying ."

How the West is losing the cognitive war with Islamism and its death cults by Richard Landes

"And the most terrible thing is, Obama lost face not only in the eyes of foes so deadly even he will admit they're "the enemy," but also to bystanders.
If you want to know who the strong horse is in the eyes of people around the globe, now in our twelfth year since 9/11, do not look to any Western figure. Our champions, like Judith Butler and Noam Chomsky, score own-goals, and we cheer them on. If this were merely a war of words, it might not be so bad, but the purpose of their war or words is to better position to strike on the battlefield. This is not a war we who treasure freedom can afford to lose."

How Orientalism Shaped Obama

The White House's response to the anti-Islam video is proof of the enduring influence of Edward Said's ideas
"He would have been wrong. The truth is that there are lots of people in the region who are disdainful of Said's paternalism, his eagerness of find offense everywhere in order to protect Middle Eastern sensibilities. Rather, they want exactly what Americans have, the right to criticize anything we like, including or especially religion. The Obama Administration failed them as well as Americans when they missed an opportunity to make a robust defense of America's universal values. Instead, it was trying to placate a bloodthirsty mob by observing the intellectual strictures of an English professor."

Palestine: Romney Recognizes Reality – Rejects Arab Revanchism by David Singer

"Replacing fiction and falsehood with historic, geographic and demographic facts is the ball that Mr Romney needs to pick up and kick downfield – should he become America's next President.
Come to think of it – President Obama should do exactly the same thing if he is returned to the White House for another four years. Recognizing reality and rejecting Arab revanchism is certainly the only way to now score a goal."

Jpost Editorial: Iran's deceit

Iranian leaders have not shied away from extraordinary honesty of late. The same sort of bluntness and candidness should be employed by the West.

Ahmadinejad: Anti-Islam film an Israeli ploy

Iranian president slams Israel as military parade displays Shahab 3 missile, which it claims can reach Tel Aviv.

National Iranian American Council confirmed as front group for Iran's bloody Islamic regime

"The case reached national prominence when Parsi's e-mails (produced during discovery) not only confirmed his ties to the mullahs but also that he has delivered lectures to the CIA, briefed Secretary Hilary [sic] Clinton and visited the Obama White House starting in 2009. As recently as this past July, he was hosted by Senior Adviser to the President Valerie Jarrett."

West accuses Iran of shipping arms to Syria

United Nations 'can't be complacent' about Tehran's nuclear ambitions, US ambassador says
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The four Western powers trying to rein in Iran's nuclear program are accusing Tehran of shipping arms to Syria in violation of United Nations sanctions and ignoring demands from the UN to open key nuclear facilities to its inspectors.

Iranian militias 'pose threat to U.S.'

Hamas worried as Egypt closes tunnels
Zahar calls for Gaza to become a free trade zone with Egypt after the shutting down of smuggling tunnels.

Germany postpones posters aimed at countering radical Islam

Kotel - Yom Kippur 1904

Germany's Interior Ministry has postponed at the last minute a poster campaign advertising a hotline aimed at countering radical Islam because of fears it could have incited violence by extremists.

Israel Daily Picture: Yom Kippur 100 Years Ago -- Or More:
Photographic Treasures from the Library of Congress from Jerusalem, New York and a French Battlefield

Also:
UC Student Association secretly passes anti-Israel resolution

On Saturday, September 15, a resolution was passed condemning HR 35, a California State Assembly resolution at UC Berkeley. Accusing Israel of "racism," the UCSA urged the UC Board of Regents to divest from companies aiding Israel in alleged human rights violations. The planning of the initiative was kept secret until the day of. No agenda was published in advance. With no engagement from Jewish and other campus groups, there was no way for opponents of the measure to have their voices heard. Meanwhile, leaders of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) were given an opportunity to convey their message at the meeting.

'Most Israeli gays are right-wing, mediocre and boring, and want a husband and children'

Moderates or Manipulators? Tunisia's Ennahda Islamists by Oren Kessler

Real Jerusalem Streets looks at Arabs in Jerusalem somehow not living in fear for their lives before a major Jewish holiday.

The LA Times still refuses to release the Obama/Khalidi dinner videotape. Because, you see, they are ethical.

(h/t StopBDS, Yoel)

Another batch of funny Hamas posters

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT

People keep sending them in! (For older posters, see here, here and here.)


From the beautiful and talented DoZ	From EZ

MW3	MW4

Obama in November 2007: "The Day I'm Inaugurated..."

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 07:10 AM PDT

I had missed this from a few days ago:

I truly believe that the day I'm inaugurated, that not only does the country look at itself differently but the world looks at America differently....If I'm reaching out to the Muslim world, they understand that I've lived in a Muslim country and, I may be a Christian, but I also understand their point of view... I'm intimately concerned with what happens in these countries and the cultures and the perspectives that these folks have, and those are powerful tools for us to be able to reach out to the world....I think that the world will have confidence that I am listening to them and that our future and our security is tied up with our ability to work with other countries in the world. That will ultimately make us safer...

But he does have a Nobel Peace Prize, so the Norwegians are much less likely to attack Americans now.

Islamists attack Israel from Sinai. Again. (UPDATE)

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 06:09 AM PDT

From YNet:

An Israeli soldier was killed and another was lightly to moderately injured when terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula opened fire on an IDF patrol in the Mount Sagi area, on the Israel-Egypt border, at around noon Friday. Heavy exchanges of fire ensued, during which the terrorists were killed.

According to an initial investigation, three terrorists approached the border with Israel near the Carmit outpost, situated south of Mount Sagi, at a point where the border fence remains incomplete. The terrorists were equipped with explosive belts and assault rifles. The three opened fire on Artillery Corps soldiers who were securing civilians building the new border fence. Soldiers from the Caracal Battalion, in which both male and female combat soldiers serve, rushed to the scene and killed the terrorists, but not before a large explosive device the terrorists were carrying was detonated.

The terrorists were also carrying a rocket-propelled grenade, the army said.

Challah Hu Akbar is live-blogging.

UPDATE: The terrorists took advantage of IDF soldiers being nice to African migrants.

According to the inquiry, the terrorists had gathered intelligence and followed the group of 15 African infiltrators. When the infiltrators arrived at the border, several soldiers left their post to offer them water.

The terrorists then emerged from their hiding spot, approached the four fighters who remained at the post and opened fire, killing Netanel Yahalomi.

Games Palestinian Arabs Play

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 04:30 AM PDT

From the NYT:

One year after the Palestinians' high-profile failure to win United Nations membership through the Security Council, they are returning to the General Assembly next week seeking largely symbolic "nonmember state" status, with a subdued campaign that many analysts see as a long-shot effort to win back the waning attention of the world.

The delegation heading to New York this weekend is half the size of last year's. And there are no concerts or street parties planned this time around President Mahmoud Abbas's Sept. 27 speech to the General Assembly; instead, it comes after days of unrest across the West Bank focused more on the Palestinian Authority than its Israeli occupier.

It has been a year without peace talks. And it has been a year in which economic conditions for Palestinians have deteriorated, Israeli settlements in the West Bank have expanded, and promised reconciliation between Mr. Abbas's Fatah faction and the more militant Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip has failed to materialize.

"A lost year" is how Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian commissioner of international relations, put it in an interview this week. "We have wasted a whole year, and that waste cost us a lot in the circumstances of our people, in the support of our people. The frustration is unequaled. This stalemate, this closed door, this impasse cannot stay."

In 2009, the PLO told frustrated American negotiators that their stance has changed and that they will stop negotiating with Israel without a freeze on all Jewish activity in the territories - a drastic change from before.

Since then, the PLO tried a UN stunt that crashed and burned spectacularly, Fatah and Hamas announced a fake unity but are now further apart then ever, Arab nations continued to renege on financial pledges to the PA,and the world realized that the status quo is really not so terrible for Palestinian Arabs.

In comparison with the real news from the Arab world - the revolutions, the rise of Islamism and the violence in Syria - the Palestinian Arab issue is now regarded, correctly, as a joke. Arab leaders pay it lip service and some Western leaders still do the same, but the world has recognized what Mahmoud Abbas said in 2009, that "in the West Bank we have a good reality . . . the people are living a normal life."

What the New York Times doesn't realize is that world leaders, Arab and non-Arab alike, are sick of Palestinian Arab intransigence. The decision to walk away from talks was stupid and counterproductive, and no one has sympathy with people who keep whining about how awful their lives are but who choose publicity stunts over actual decision making. The PLO, caring more about pride than substance, sticks to its guns.

And then they choose to continue to try even more stunts:

While there is broad support for the United Nations bid among Palestinian leaders and on the street, there are also growing calls for a far more drastic move: abandoning the Oslo agreements that have governed Palestinian-Israeli relations for nearly two decades, or dissolving the Palestinian Authority. After two evenings of sometimes-heated meetings this week, according to participants, Mr. Abbas told the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization that within 10 days of his return from New York he wanted a decision either to walk away from Oslo or to hold national elections and replace him.

Experts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict see this more as posturing than serious policy making, and they warn that a vacuum could provide opportunity for extremists. "Supposing now you scrap Oslo — then what?" Tony Blair, the representative of the so-called quartet — the Middle East peacemaking group made up of the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia — asked in an interview on Wednesday. "If you burn the house down on the basis that somebody's going to have to build you something new, you might just be left with a burned house."

They are not scrapping Oslo, they are not dissolving the PA and Abbas isn't stepping down until he is dead. We've seen this play before.

It is another stunt to frighten the world. Like a child having a temper tantrum, the Palestinian Arab leadership is acting more to regain the spotlight than to do anything constructive.

And now that the world has seen the real upheavals in the Middle East, no one is really in the mood to coddle a spoiled brat.

(h/t DM)