יום רביעי, 23 באוקטובר 2013

Elder of Ziyon Daily News

Elder of Ziyon Daily News

Link to Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Today, the PLO screwed its people yet again

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 06:09 PM PDT

This Jodi Rudoren article in the New York Times is far from perfect, but it echoes things I wrote recently:

Mayor Nir Barkat proudly trumpets the investments he has made over the past five years in the Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem: about $141 million for roads and infrastructure, $113 million to build 500 classrooms, more than $1 million for a single soccer field in Beit Safafa.

Mr. Barkat, a high-tech multimillionaire who is favored in Tuesday's municipal elections here, did not, however, highlight these accomplishments in the actual Arab neighborhoods they benefit — because he, like his challenger, did not campaign at all in those places.

"You don't focus on the ones that tell you they don't intend to vote," Mr. Barkat said with a shrug last week.

....As part of a broader "anti-normalization" campaign, the Palestinian leadership has for decades warned residents against casting ballots. So a vast majority do not vote, despite the possibility that their large numbers could win a solid blocking minority on the 31-member City Council, if not a winning coalition with sympathetic Israelis.

"The whole thing is not really rational," said Sari Nusseibeh, president of Al Quds University, whose family has 1,300-year roots in Jerusalem. "It's not by reason that people are guided; it's by sentiments and feelings and fears and histories."

Mr. Nusseibeh once advocated Palestinian voting, backing an Arab newspaper publisher who ran for mayor in 1987 but withdrew after his cars were burned and his home vandalized. Yet Mr. Nusseibeh himself has never voted here, either. And he said that the current Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, with the fate of Jerusalem among the contentious questions on the agenda, make people even more wary that voting could be seen as legitimizing Israel's control of the city.
As I noted, at the same time the PLO threatens those who vote, it also complains that Jerusalem Arabs are disenfranchised.

In other words, the PLO is looking to score propaganda points far more than it cares about the welfare of its citizens.

According to early numbers, only about 1% of the Arab residents of Jerusalem across the Green Line voted.

And guess who is celebrating? The Palestinian Authority!

According to Al Watan (Saudi Arabia,) the low turnout was welcomed by the PA, calling it a "referendum."

If doing nothing except for complaining when things don't go your way is a referendum, then the PA has the market cornered.

10/22 Links Pt2: ADL's Top 10 Anti-Israel Groups, PA Youth Magazine Publishes List of Hitler Phrases,

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 03:00 PM PDT

From Ian:
Caroline Glick: Our World: A miracle and an outrage in Washington
The only lawful owners of the Iraqi Jewish archive that is being shown in Washington are the Iraqi Jews and their descendants, who are now overwhelmingly Israelis. The only place the archive should be sent is the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center in Or Yehuda, the only museum in the world dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the 2,500-year-old Jewish community of Iraq.
Yet for the American foreign policy establishment, besotted by a quasi-religious belief that the establishment of a Jew-free Palestinian state on Israeli land will cure everything from Islamic jihad to the common cold, recognizing this simple truth is a bridge too far. Restoring the Iraqi Jewish archive to its Israeli owners would be tantamount to recognizing that the cause of the Arab world's conflict with Israel is Arab anti-Semitism.
The Moral Incoherence of the Israeli Scholars Boycott Movement
More troubling with calls for an academic boycott against Israel, as Anthony Julius, British attorney and scholar of anti-Semitism, observed is that it reveals an obsessive inclination to demonize Israel, not to mention a breathtaking double standard in applying moral yardsticks to Israel not used to measure the political or social behavior of any other country—including those with far more dismal records of human rights abuses, racism, genocide, terrorism, and gender apartheid, among many other national pathologies. And in making a moral exception when Israel is the target of this collective moral opprobrium, those calling for a boycott against Israel are also not only violating some of the fundamental precepts of academia, but are repeating the impulses that have historically served to marginalize, demonize, and expel Jews from society—what Julius believes to be anti-Semitism.
College Professors Shamelessly Promote BDS Movement
It is also necessary to note that efforts to use professional societies and journals as vehicles to promote BDS are becoming routine. Another recent incident was the 2013 declaration of support for BDS by the Association for Asian American Studies. This marginal organization is one of the only ones to adopt a BDS resolution, but such efforts have been successful in British and more recently Irish academic unions.
Boycott proposals in other U.S. organizations, notably the Modern Language Association, have been proposed but to date have failed.
The Journal of Academic Freedom BDS issue demonstrates the extent to which American academic organizations continue to be an arena for BDS activists, many of whom move from one platform to another. This usefully demonstrates again the organized nature of BDS and the determination of activists to penetrate all aspects of academia. The use of "academic freedom" as a means to vilify and expel Israel from the global academic community is certain to intensify.
Arab Student Group Shows True Colors on Israel, Syria
SAIA [Students Against Israeli Apartheid] has had an increasingly conspicuous presence on campus. When the Syrian refugee fundraiser was posted on social media sites, it was a SAIA member that was the first to comment on the event, stating sarcastically that he was "always down to whitewash apartheid!"
Despite being well aware of their lack of respect for the ISA, it was still surprising to see members of SAIA handing out flyers and waving the Palestinian flag during our event.
Initially, they didn't interact with us, and we managed to set up our area without any conflict. While we, the Israel Student Association, were attempting to raise funds for Syrian refugees, SAIA was handing out flyers for an event that documented "the torture of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention." It was quite a convenient time and place to be advertising for such an event.
ADL Lists 'Top 10 Anti-Israel Groups' in the U.S.
In a statement, ADL National Director Abe Foxman said each of the groups is "fixated with delegitimizing Israel."
"The Top 10 anti-Israel groups are the most significant players in the domestic anti-Israel movement today," Foxman said. "The groups are fixated on delegitimizing Israel and convincing the American public that Israel is an international villain that deserves to be ostracized and isolated."
No means too cheap to wipe out Israel
The far-left sees Islamism as the only movement capable of crushing capitalism and consequently uses every means to demonise Israel – the only country in the Middle East to grant equal rights to citizens of all religions and protect the human rights of gays and lesbians.
It is said that while it is hard to stand up to your enemies, it is even harder to stand up to your friends. I spent many years at the heart of left-wing politics and discovered, to my cost, what can happen when you begin to take a different view, when you do your research and realise that the accepted consensus isn't necessarily correct; speaking out on this can result in rejection, expulsion from the club. (h/t IsraellyCool)
Toronto transit turns down 'inaccurate' anti-Israel ads
The Toronto Transit Commission rejected four anti-Israel advertisements for being "inaccurate and misleading."
Brad Ross, a spokesman for the transit commission, told JTA on Monday that the ads were turned down because they were "inaccurate and misleading." The ads were intended to run on buses and subways, as well as the commission's shelters.
Proposed by the Montreal-based Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, the ads were similar to the "Disappearing Palestine" ad that ran this summer in Vancouver's transit system. The Vancouver ad showed four maps, spanning from 1946 to 2012, that suggested Israel was taking over Palestinian land.
Toronto Star Columnist Wrongly Portrays Jesus as Palestinian
This is not only a distortion of Jesus' personal history, but also an anachronism. The Romans changed the name of Judea/Israel to 'Palestine' 136 years after the birth of Jesus, to punish the Jewish nation after their unsuccessful rebellion. In another anomaly, Jesus is turned into a Shahid – a holy Martyr of Islam. Whereas Islamic teachings do view Jesus' gospel as part of the Islamic prophetic tradition, nowhere does Islam refer to him as a Shahid."
Writing in the Toronto Star on October 20, Ken Gallinger, dubbed an "ethically speaking columnist," wrote the following non-sequitur statement: "Why are 'good' Christians so irredeemably more racist than their cousins outside the church? Incidentally, Jesus, the Palestinian, didn't have blue eyes."
Official Guardian editorial legitimizes a 'one-state solution'.
Ignoring polls indicating that Palestinian residents of Jerusalem would prefer – in the event a Palestinian state were created resulting in a divided Jerusalem – to remain citizens or residents of Israel, their Oct. 21 editorial (Jerusalem elections: the ballot and the boycott) starts off by legitimizing the most radical and unrepresentative Palestinian voices:
Hamas claims tunnel, calls for new intifada, praises recent terror attacks: BBC silent
These latest additions to the BBC's record of omission are of course less surprising when one considers that it elected not to include the issue of terrorism in its definition of the so-called "core issues" of the Middle East conflict.
PMW PA-associated youth magazine published list of sayings it claims are Hitler's
The PA-associated educational youth magazine Zayzafuna, whose Advisory Board include PA Deputy Minister of Education Jihad Zakarneh and the Head of the Media Department of the PA Ministry of Education, Abd Al-Hakim Abu Jamous, published a list of ten short wisdom sayings that it claimed were said by Hitler. The youth magazine gave no introduction or comment on the list other than the title "Among Hitler's sayings."
PA Official Boasts: Our Security Forces Responsible for Intifada
During a televised speech which featured on the pan-Arab Al Jazeera news network, translated by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute), the PA's Ambassador to Libya, Mutawakkil Taha, boasted of the achievement, claiming that most terrorist attacks during the early days of the Second Intifada were carried out by members of the PA's own security forces.
"Israel decided to gather the youth who had fought it in the first Intifada, and to organize them into security forces, showering them (with money), so that they would defend it, rather than Israel having to defend itself," he said, essentially summarizing the doctrine of the Israeli Left at the time.
Lapid: We Must Fight Anti-Semitism
Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) stressed on Monday the importance of fighting anti-Semitism and hate.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the World Jewish Congress in Jerusalem, Lapid told the story of his father, former MK and government minister Tommy Lapid, who narrowly escaped being killed along with thousands of other Jews who were taken to the banks of the Danube and shot in public in the winter of 1945.
World Council of Churches Stands By As Christians Perish, Churches Wither
The World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva claims to represent and serve 345 churches worldwide. What has it done to help the persecuted churches in Iraq, Syria and Egypt? Or the flood of Syrian refugees into Jordan and Lebanon? Answer: it has devoted the whole of 2013 to promoting a World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel (September 22-28). That is, it has poured its Swiss francs into stirring up the one corner of the area that is currently almost calm.
Israel becomes major partner in EU satellite program
At a gala event Monday evening in Jerusalem, Science and Technology Minister Yaakov Peri and the head of the Israel Space Agency, Menachem Kidron, signed an agreement with European Union officials to give Israeli researchers and companies access to projects associated with the EU's Galileo satellite program.
From DC to IDC: Ambassador Oren joins prestigious school
Dr. Michael Oren, who served as Israel's ambassador to the U.S. between 2009 and 2013 has accepted a faculty position at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya's Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, the college announced on Monday.
The IDC Herzliya is a private institution modeled on the Ivy League universities in the U.S. Its faculty includes former Chief Justice Aharon Barak and former Education Minister Amnon Rubinstein as well as other known figures who served in senior positions in the public and private sectors. The IDC's annual Herzliya Conference is often the forum in which Israeli leaders make key policy addresses.
NYC mayor Bloomberg wins first 'Jewish Nobel'
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was announced Monday as the winner of the first Genesis Prize, a $1 million award dubbed "the Jewish Nobel Prize."
The inaugural award, bestowed upon "exceptional people whose values and achievements will inspire the next generations of Jews," will be given to Bloomberg by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Jerusalem ceremony in May.
How One IDF Commander Turned Back a Syrian Column in the Yom Kippur War
With just one tank, Captain Zvika Greengold withstood the might of the Syrian military. As the battle around him raged, he moved in and out of the darkness, firing at Syrian forces while remaining undetected. He persisted heroically for hours, throwing himself at the enemy in the face of almost certain death.
IDF Boasts First Bedouin Tank Commander
The IDF is about to receive its first Bedouin tank commander. While about 1,000 Bedouin Arabs serve in the IDF, most of them serve as trackers, or in the Bedouin reconaissance battalion. Cpl. Mustafa Tabash will become the first Bedouin tank commander in two weeks' time, once he completes the Tank Commanders' Course, reports the IDF Website.
About one in nine Bedouin men serve in the IDF. Tabash knew in high school that he intended to serve, but he planned to serve in one of the military's academic tracks. He was accepted to this track – but then changed his mind.
IDF Seeks to Bring More Women Into Combat Roles; Possibly Tank Division
The Israel Defense Force is seeking to increase the number of women in combat divisions, and may open its Armored Tank Corps to female soldiers, Israel's Channel 2 reported, citing an officer involved in the changes.
The first move the IDF made to increase the number of women in combat divisions was to eliminate a running requirement, which they learned had been intimidating many female recruits. A decision to post women to the tanks units has yet to be made, the officer said.
IDF Blog: IDF Uncovers Hamas Terror Tunnel near Gaza Border


On October 7, 2013, the IDF uncovered the opening of a Hamas smuggling tunnel in Israeli terriory. The tunnel is used by Gaza terrorists to carry out attacks and kidnappings inside of Israel. Every day, terrorists are still preparing to attack Israel from Gaza. The IDF stands ready to combat Gaza terrorism and to protect the people of Israel.

Islamists going after Libya's weapons warehouses

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 01:45 PM PDT

From Al Arabiya:
An unstable country on the brink of civil war is not all former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi left behind after his death last year. A vast collection of weapons remains in an abandoned desert warehouse in southern Libya, The Times reported on Tuesday.

The arsenal reportedly includes 4,000 surface-to-air missiles, each capable of downing a passenger jet, and thousands of barrels of uranium yellowcake. An inventory collected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accounted for 6,400 yellowcake barrels.

Bharuddin Midhoun Arifi, a former human trafficker and now commander of 2,000 fighters in the city of Sabha, was one of the main inheritors of the regime's abandoned weapon reserves.

"Sometimes I'm afraid that al-Qaeda will get me. Other times I fear that the Americans or French or British will fire missiles from the sea to destroy all I control." Arifi told the Times. He claims that al-Qaeda had most recently offered 1 million dollars for some of the weapons, an offer which Arifi says he turned down. "I told them…this belonged to my government."

Rows of the mortars and rockets stacked in crates, however, suggest some of the weapons have been shipped to Syria, along with hundreds of Libyans who have joined the rebel forces fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

No actions were taken to remove the uranium, which after intensive processing could become weapons grade, despite the U.N. mission in Libya suggesting its removal. Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammad Abdul Aziz echoed similar sentiments but with no avail.

The most pressing matter to Western officials, however, is the surface-to-air missile getting into the hands of al-Qaeda, an unchecked power in the region enjoying its new freedom in a post-Qaddafi Libya.

"Al-Qaeda was terrified of Qaddafi," says Colonel Faraj Adem, a senior army officer. "None would dare try to enter Libya's borders. But now Qaddafi has gone, and with him our border security, al-Qaeda is free to come and go as they please. They are choosing this area to rebuild their weapon stocks and become strong once more. There is no control of weapons stocks here. You want to buy a MANPADS? It's easy."

The weapon cache sits in an unguarded complex. Checkpoints between Sabha and northern cities are scarce and poorly manned by informal groups of youth.
As always, the Islamists benefit from power vacuums in the Middle East. And as always, the West cannot think more than one move ahead in the game of international chess.

American Muslims attacked during Hajj, Saudi police laugh

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 12:15 PM PDT

You know how Muslims always say how the Hajj rituals prove that they all treat each other equally and with respect? How Western nations could stand to learn a thing or two about human rights from watching Muslim pilgrims?

Well, not so much.
A group of Americans visiting Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj were threatened and attacked earlier this week on Oct. 16 by a radicalized group of extremists. On one of the nights where Hajj pilgrims are required to stay overnight in the city of Mina, a group of young men began asking different sets of pilgrims if they were from the United States.

When they encountered a group that identified themselves as not only Americans, but also as Shiite Muslims, they were threatened and attacked by the group of men, who were apparently armed with knives and other blades.

During the attack, the men reportedly shouted "Our [holy pilgrimage] will be complete once we have killed you, ripped out your hearts and eaten them, and [then] raped your women."

In continuing the assault, the men also shouted "We're going to do Karbala all over again," referring to an important historical event to Shi'ite Muslims, wherein the grandson of the Prophet, named Imam Husain, was brutally attacked and killed, after he was forced to witness the killing of many of his family members. The survivors of the incident, mostly women and children, were immediately imprisoned in circumstances that resulted in the deaths of some of the prisoners.

The Americans fled the tent area, which the Saudi government had specifically designated for American and European pilgrims. During the escape, many of the group, almost entirely U.S. citizens and mostly hailing from Dearborn, Michigan suffered bruises (in one case, due to an attempted strangulation), concussions, broken bones, and black eyes.

Victims of the attack reported that nearby police refused to take action, and in some cases were openly laughing at the attack. The Americans approached other officers, including one described as a "lieutenant with stars on his shoulder pads." They reported the attack and showed police video footage of the attack taken on cell phones.

The "lieutenant" confiscated the phones and immediately deleted the videos in front of onlookers. Without comment, he returned the phones to their owners and left.

Members of the group also turned to the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia for assistance, but were told help could only be provided if members of the group had died in the attacks.

Some victims even tweeted about the attack after reaching safety:

@seyedmg wrote "10 members of our group where attacked by 200 barbarian salafis for making salawat in Mina …. They need your [prayers]."

Later he tweeted, also referring to the incident of Karbala, "They attacked screaming kill them like Hussien [sic] and take there women as captives like Zaynab… We have people bleeding and women terrified"

"I personally thought it was the end," said one of the victims of this attack, a dentist from Michigan, not wishing to be identified for fear of reprisal from the Saudi police or other extremists. Continuing sadly, "You always hear about how nice [Hajj] is supposed to be…
"Something needs to do something about [the attack]. If this wasn't the House of God, I would say that I never want to come back."

No witness has thus far been willing to identify themselves, each of them citing safety concerns.

(h/t Jeffrey Goldberg via PMB)

Ambassador Ron Prosor's speech at the UNSC today (video, text)

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 10:45 AM PDT

Long, but worth it:

Situation in the Middle East
Conviction, Conscience, and Courage
October 2013

Mr. President,

Winston Churchill, one of the architects of this institution, is remembered for his speeches that rallied a nation in the dark hours of World War II. His words inspired a generation when he told the British people, "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty [so] men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'"

And indeed it was their finest hour.  They stood tall knowing that if they didn't stand up for human life and human dignity, their very survival would be at stake.  It was a lesson for the ages - and today they are remembered as a beacon of light during some of the darkest days the world had ever known.

With much of the Middle East in turmoil, the world is once again being called upon to defend liberty, democracy and human rights.  History will look back and judge which nations stepped forward with conviction, conscience and courage. 

Mr. President,

This morning, I would like to speak about these three qualities - beginning with conviction.  As the political landscape of the Middle East evolves, the international community must demonstrate resolve.

Last month, Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, took center stage at the General Assembly. He arrived in New York armed with a charm offensive - waving to excited fans with one hand, while waving off skeptics with the other.

Since his election, Rouhani has tried to reinforce the image that he is a quote-unquote moderate. He was published in an American newspaper, appeared on network television, and even started using social media. I have news for President Rouhani - embracing Twitter doesn't make you a reformer, but embracing human rights certainly would.

The Iranian regime is notorious for violating women's rights; targeting religious and ethnic minorities; and, denying fundamental freedoms to its citizens.  Rouhani is like the Emperor with new clothes – cloaking himself as a moderate when Iranian radicalism remains clear to the naked eye.

Unlike his predecessor, whose hateful rhetoric about wiping Israel off the map made him easy to dismiss, the new Iranian president has a strategy codenamed SLY (S-L-Y). Smile. Lie. Yield minor concessions.

Rouhani has perfected the art of saying one thing and doing another.  But you don't have to believe me.  You can read about it in his 2011 memoir describing his time as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator.  In his own words, here is what he said: "While we were talking to the Europeans in Tehran, we were installing equipment in Isfahan… By creating a calm environment, we were able to complete the work in Isfahan."

Mr. President,

While Rouhani provides diplomatic cover, Iran is marching towards a bomb.  Since the June election, Iran has installed thousands of new centrifuges and just last month, the new president declared that Iran will not give up "one iota" of its nuclear rights.

Make no mistake - the Iranian program is not for peaceful purposes.  Seventeen different countries peacefully produce nuclear energy without uranium enrichment or plutonium production.  And yet, Iran insists that their enrichment infrastructure and technology is their "right." 

It's not their right, in fact it's wrong.  When negotiating with Iran, the international community must – as Prime Minister Netanyahu said - distrust, dismantle and verify. 

Everyone, including Israel, wants to find a diplomatic solution.  But one has to wonder, why Israel along with a minority of countries are the only ones standing on the frontline warning the world that an Iran with nuclear weapons does not threaten Israel alone. It threatens the entire region, from Saudi Arabia through the Gulf States to Morocco.

Their voices are harder to hear, but if you tune into the right frequency, you will discover that they are frightened.  They know that if Iran gets nuclear weapons, it will threaten their lives and lives throughout the region.

It won't just alter the balance of power in the Middle East – the repercussions will be felt in Europe, the United States and across the globe.  The world has stood at this crossroads before.  On the eve of World War II, Churchill warned of the impending danger when he said: "They should know that we have passed an awful milestone in our history, when the whole equilibrium of Europe has been deranged... This is only the beginning of the reckoning... [unless] we arise again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time."

Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past and leave a minority to stand alone against a common enemy.  The danger is real, but this isn't the first time that Israel's warnings have been brushed aside. 

When we warned the world about Assad's chemical arsenal, we were told, "Don't worry, he won't use chemical weapons because it's not rational."  Today the entire world knows that the dictator in Damascus used chemical weapons against his own citizens. 

And the only reason that Assad has agreed to give up these weapons is the very real threat of an American military strike.  You don't need a PhD in physics to know that pressure works.

Mr. President,

The Iranian economy is crumbling under the weight of crippling sanctions.  And this pressure is getting results.  And yet some states have suggested easing the sanctions. 

This suggestion reminds me of a boxer who is clinging to the ropes in the final round.  Give him a moment to rest and he will turn around and attack you with more vigor.  We must keep up the pressure until Iran agrees to play by the rules.

Let me be clear – any sort of partial deal will be completely ineffective in containing the Iranian threat.  Any diplomatic resolution must ensure that Iran has no centrifuges, no enriched uranium, and no plutonium track.  If Iran doesn't agree, then the sanctions must not be eased; they should be increased. 

Now is the time to demonstrate conviction.  We cannot allow the world's most dangerous weapons to reach the hands of the world's most dangerous actors.  The Security Council showed its resolve when it adopted a series of resolutions against Iran. Having come so far and worked so hard - now is not the time to give in.  Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.

Mr. President,

The second quality I want to speak about is conscience.  We have all seen the horrific images that emerged from Syria.  Men and women sprawled on the floor convulsing. Young children foaming at the nose and mouth and then lying motionless. 

No one with a conscience can stand by as the people of Syria continue to be massacred - whether by chemical weapons or the routine brutality of the Assad regime.  The cynics in this hall will accuse Israel of shedding crocodile tears.  The Jewish people and the State of Israel know all too well how evil can prevail when people shut their eyes and turn their backs. 

To the Syrian people I say this - I know that our two nations have a long history of conflict and that we are separated by politics and religion.  But we are eternally linked by our common humanity.  We are horrified by the pain and suffering that you have endured. As we speak our hand is extended to your people.  And we will continue to offer humanitarian assistance to all those who need it regardless of race, religion or gender.

Mr. President,

It's hard for most of us to conceive that anyone, much less a government, would use chemical weapons against its own innocent civilians.  Is it logical? Is it rational?  Not at all.  Many in this hall said that countries would never use weapons of mass destruction.  Surprise, surprise – it turns out you can't apply rational thinking to irrational actors.

How many in this hall believed that when Bashar al-Assad became President, he would be the new hope for Western-Arab relations?  After all, here was a young London-trained ophthalmologist, with a beautiful wife, who drank high tea and ate scones at the Ritz.  Turns out the eye doctor, is just another spin doctor and his murderous rampage has Syria spinning out of control. 

We applaud the steps that have been taken by the international community so far, but the removal and destruction of Syria's weapons must remain a priority. The international community must ensure that the process is properly monitored, verified and completed while abiding by the agreed timelines. It must also ensure that no entity takes advantage of the process to advance its capacities and knowledge of chemical weapons. 

Let me be absolutely clear: we cannot trust that a regime that lies in bed with Iran and Hezbollah, isn't lying when it commits itself to eliminating its deadly arsenal. 
Together, Iran, Syria and Hezbollah form the "trio of terror."  This trio is intent on acquiring the ABCs of terrorism - Atomic, Biological, and Chemical weapons – so it can more effectively murder innocent men, women and children.

The clock is ticking and time is running out.  Our conscience tell us that the sooner Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons is destroyed, the sooner we will safeguard the people of Syria and bring greater stability to the Middle East.

Mr. President,

The problems plaguing the Middle East are centuries old and - contrary to what some in this chamber believe - cannot be solved overnight.  How many in this hall thought that the so-called Arab Spring would bring about democracy? 

I'm reminded of the lyrics from Leonard Cohen's song "Democracy" - "It's coming from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there."

Leonard Cohen could have written this song to describe the Middle East today.  The promise of democracy in the Middle East ain't exactly real and it ain't exactly there.  The region continues to be defined by bloodshed, repression, and instability.

Mr. President,

This brings me to the third quality I want to speak about - courage. 

We all want to see peace in the Middle East.  Israelis envision the day when we can live free from divisions, hatred, and violence.  But making peace requires courage.  It requires leaders courageous enough to embrace partnership and promote tolerance. 

On the very same day that CNN beamed images of Abbas talking about peace at the UN, official Palestinian television delivered a very different message.  The PA and Fatah held ceremonies to honor terrorists responsible for the murder and maiming of innocent Israelis.  At a memorial held in Ramallah, a Fatah official read a speech on behalf of Abbas praising terrorist Abu Sukkar who killed 15 Israelis and wounded more than 60.  This murderer was described as: "the most noble among the noble."

At another event on the same day, a member of Abbas's Fatah's Central Committee glorified terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, who hijacked a bus and killed 37 civilians, 12 of whom were children.  This attack was described as "the glorious deeds of [a] hero."

Examples of incitement are all too easy to find in Palestinian society.  Their results can be found in the death of Gal Kobi, who was shot in the neck by a Palestinian terrorist last month.  They can be found in the death of Tomer Hazan, who was kidnapped and murdered by a Palestinian acquaintance.  They can be found in the death of Seraiah Ofer, who was brutally beaten to death outside his home by Palestinian men wielding metal bars and axes

As horrific as these crimes are, President Abbas only found his voice to condemn these attacks to a Jewish audience in New York City – while speaking in English.  We have yet to hear President Abbas condemn these attacks in his native Arabic speaking to his own people.

The time has come for the Palestinian leadership to clearly and unequivocally condemn violence and terrorism.  The time has come to stop poisoning the minds of Palestinian children.  The time has come to start teaching tolerance, mutual respect, and coexistence.  After all, the next peace agreement depends on the next generation wanting peace. 

Mr. President,

For years, member states have been listening to debates on the Middle East.  In all this time, have you ever heard the Palestinian delegate say anything constructive about Israel?  No.  We only hear demonization and delegitimization.  It's time to stop the blame game.  The UN library will have to open a new fiction section for the countless letters sent to the Security Council by the Palestinian delegate distorting the truth.

We need to speak truthfully about the problems plaguing the Middle East.  It seems that the states that are so heavy on the criticism of Israel are also light on the facts.  Allow me to dispel a number of myths. 

Myth number one. Some nations seem to believe that a great injustice was done to the Palestinian people when the UN voted to partition then British-Mandate Palestine into two states.  In fact, in 1947 Resolution 181 which divided the British Mandate over Palestine speaks of the creation of a Jewish State no fewer than 25 times. The resolution declared that: "independent Arab and Jewish States shall come into existence."   The Jews welcomed the plan and joyously declared a new state in their ancient homeland.  But the Arabs rejected the plan and - joined by the armies of five Arab nations - launched a war of annihilation against the newly born Jewish state. 

Sixty-five years later you still don't hear the Palestinians talk about two states for two peoples.  Sure, Palestinian leaders call for an independent Palestinian state, but they insist that the Palestinian people return to the Jewish state.  This is a euphemism for the destruction of the State of Israel and a major hurdle to peace.

Myth number two.  Some in this room are convinced that the root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the settlements.  In fact, from the time Israel gained its independence in 1948 until 1967, the West Bank was in Jordanian hands and Gaza was in Egyptian hands.  Throughout this time, there was not a single settlement.  Yet the Palestinians still sought our destruction.  And where were the Arab states? They did not lift a finger to create a Palestinian state and instead sought our destruction.  Today, just 2% of the Israeli population lives in settlements, but they are blamed for 100% of the problems.  I have said it before and I will say it again, the settlements aren't the major hurdle to peace; the real obstacle to peace is the Palestinians quest for the so-called right of return. 

Myth number three.  The Palestinian delegation has sent letters to this Council accusing Israel of denying people freedom of worship.  The only denying taking place is the denial of facts on the ground. 

One of the first acts Israel undertook after reuniting Jerusalem in 1967 was to abolish discriminatory laws and safeguard access to religious sites for people of all faiths.  This was in contrast to pre-1967 when everyone but Jews could access Jerusalem.  Since Israel introduced religious freedoms in 1967, people of all faiths have been able to visit the holy sites of Jerusalem.  

In contrast, the Palestinian leadership breeds incitement and stirs up violence on the Temple Mount.  They even went so far as to accuse Israel of altering the nature of Jerusalem.  In fact, it is the Palestinians who are altering the nature of Jerusalem.  They are destroying artifacts and distorting history in an effort to erase all traces of an ancient Jewish presence.  The world's silence in response to these crimes has been deafening.   Ever since King David laid the cornerstone for his palace 3,000 years ago, Jerusalem has served and will continue to serve as the eternal capital of the Jewish people.

Instead of accusing Israel of restricting freedom of movement, the Palestinians should be concerned with holding free elections.  Let me remind you that Abbas's term expired in 2009 and since then he has been extending his term without elections.
Where are all the concerned voices from the defenders of democracy?  I didn't hear the Special Representative raise this issue in his report this morning.  I'm sure many countries would enjoy the chance to cancel or postpone elections when the polling doesn't look good.  Let me remind you all of an important truth – in a real democracy, one election doesn't earn you the right to rule forever.

Myth number four.  Israel has been accused of creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza by restricting the free movement of goods.  In fact, every month, trucks carrying hundreds of thousands of tons of goods - including food, medical equipment and construction materials - pass from Israel into the Gaza strip.

In his past reports, the Special Representative has criticized Israel for restricting the entry of construction materials.   How many of you have asked us to allow cement into Gaza so the Palestinians can build houses?  And yet, when we do, in exchange for our goods and goodwill, Israel is repaid with tunnels of terror.

Just over a week ago, the IDF discovered a two kilometer tunnel originating in Gaza and ending just outside an Israeli community – not far from homes, kindergartens and playgrounds.   The tunnel was built by Hamas using 500 tons of cement that had been earmarked for construction.  I'll repeat that again – 500 tons of cement.  To understand how much that is, the Statue of Liberty weighs 225 tons.  Just imagine how many schools, hospitals and homes could have been built.

In taking responsibility for building the tunnel, a Hamas spokesman said, ""This tunnel was made by the hand of the fighters of al-Qassam and they will not sleep in their efforts to hit the occupation and kidnap soldiers."

Instead of building houses, Hamas is building smuggling tunnels.  And instead of building schools, they are building terror networks.  This is the reality that Israel has to live with every day.  Instead of using construction materials to build a better future for the Palestinian people, the leadership in Gaza is committed to destroying the State of Israel.  It may just be my hearing, but I have yet to hear the countries that demand Israel allow more cement into Gaza condemn these crimes.

Myth number five.  Some countries around this table believe that international forces should be on the border to guarantee a future peace agreement.  That's interesting.  Because history has shown that Israel can't rely on others to ensure its security. 

While we support the work of UN forces on our borders, history has shown that Israel cannot rely on the international community to ensure its own security.  This was the case with UNEF One in the Sinai desert and with EUBAM in Gaza.

The recent involvement of certain UN bodies has hardly been helpful.  In his remarks earlier, the Special Coordinator spoke about an incident last month in Kfar MaHul.  The report neglects to note that following a review by Israel's Supreme Court, the buildings in question were determined to be illegally constructed. 

In light of this important fact, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – also known as OCHA - needs reminding that its role is the coordination of humanitarian aid not aiding in the obstruction of justice. 

Obstruction one: OCHA entered a closed military zone. Obstruction two: OCHA systematically abuses and disregards Israel's authority on the ground.  It seems, the only thing the Office of Coordination is not doing, is coordinating with Israel.

There is also the example of Palestinian Khulood Badawi, an OCHA official who was caught red-handed fabricating facts.  It has been two years, the results of the investigation were never published and she has not been officially dismissed.

OCHA demands that Israel respect human rights and justice, but they have shown no respect for our system of justice and sovereignty.  They are trying to determine facts on the ground rather than leaving issues to be addressed during final status negotiations. 

This is clearly not their mandate.  Which leaves us with the question, what exactly is their mandate?  Is it to provoke? Is it to incite? Is it to create conflict? One thing is for sure – they shouldn't be oiling the Palestinian propaganda machine.   Due to their recent behavior, Israel will have no choice but to reassess OCHA's presence on the ground.

Mr. President,

It's time to stop pointing fingers and it's time to stop laying blame at Israel's doorstep.  Israel remains committed to two states for two peoples.  We are ready to make an historic compromise to realize the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state living side-by-side with the Jewish state of Israel.  Israelis and Palestinians will have to work together to create new and lasting solutions to old problems.  This will only be possible if our work is built on a foundation of truth, mutual recognition, and security. 

A great convulsion is shaking the Middle East from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Gibraltar.  The tremors have shattered states and toppled governments - and the ground is still shifting.  The region stands at a crossroads and it is not yet clear if freedom and moderation will triumph over tyranny and fundamentalism.

Let this be the moment in history when all peoples seek understanding instead of accusations; when nations strive for harmony instead of dissonance; and when our family of nations shows the conviction, conscience, and courage to make peace possible.


Thank you, Mr. President.

10/22 Links Pt1: Planner of TA Bus Bombing Killed in IDF Raid, US Cancels Drone Deal with Turkey

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 09:00 AM PDT

From Ian:
Iran fear is not enough to push Israel, Arab states closer
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping the enemy of one's enemy truly does become a friend.
In recent years, Netanyahu has said the enmity for Iran shared by Israel and the Arab states could become a spur to regional reconciliation. Last week, in a speech to the Knesset, he noted the "many issues" on which Israel and the Arabs have shared interests could open up "new possibilities," including a peace accord with the Palestinians.
But while experts say that intelligence sharing between Israel and the Persian Gulf states has grown in recent years, thanks in large part to the facilitation of the United States, the possibility of a breakthrough appears to be overstated.
Kerry: The Peace Talks Are Intensifying
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry declared on Monday that talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were intensifying and that all issues were on the table.
According to a report in the AFP news agency, Kerry also announced that Qatar had agreed to provide $150 million in debt relief to the Palestinian Authority.
The burden of proof is on Abbas
Bottom line, the Palestinian leader still has much to do to convey the Palestinian commitment to reaching a true peace and acknowledging the State of Israel, its history and its concerns. While Abbas' speech was an improvement over past displays, the Palestinian president must now demonstrate how his affirmation of peace and partnership will be implemented at the negotiating table.
30 more Palestinian prisoners to be released, sources say
Israel is expected to release a second group of 30 Palestinian prisoners on October 29 as part of ongoing peace efforts, Palestinian and Israeli sources told The Times of Israel Monday.
The batch will include more members of the group of 104 pre-Oslo Peace Accords inmates Israel has pledged to release, contingent on progress in the talks. Twenty-six prisoners were released in the first wave on August 13, just after talks started.
Khaled Abu Toamed: Palestinians slam Israeli 'incitement' against Abbas, say it hurts peace talks
The report referred to op-eds criticizing Abbas, written by various writers and published in a number of Israeli media outlets. One article, published in the daily Israel Hayom, said that the return of Palestinian refugees would lead to the destruction of Israel.
In response to these various cries of "incitement," an Israeli official said that the Palestinians had confused legitimate political criticism with incitement.
"It is clear that the Palestinians fail to understand what incitement is," he said.
"Incitement is demonizing the other side. It is denying the legitimacy of the other side. Incitement is putting terrorists up on pedestals and calling them heroes.
It is dehumanizing the other side. Incitement is calling to violence. Incitement is encouraging to hate. The PA does all these things. Criticizing this or that aspect of President Abbas's politics is legitimate political criticism and is not incitement," the official said.
Netanyahu: Wave of terrorism disturbs 'quietest year in a decade'
The relative silence of the "quietest year in over a decade" has been disturbed by the increase of terrorist activities in recent weeks, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday morning, just after a Palestinian tunnel from Gaza into Israel was uncovered.
"I want to commend the IDF for exposing the terror tunnel," Netanyahu said.
"Its part of our policy, a policy of aggression against terror, with elimination, with intelligence work, with activities that we initiate and react to and of course with Operation Pillar of Defense," Netanyahu said.
IDF soldiers kill Palestinian planner of Tel Aviv bus bombing in West Bank raid
An Islamic Jihad member who planned a 2012 Tel Aviv bus bombing during Operation Pillar of Defense was killed in an exchange of fire with IDF soldiers at a cave hideout near the West Bank village of Bil'in, security forces announced on Tuesday.
Muhammad Asi, of the Palestinian village of Bet Likia, plotted the bombing of a bus that injured 29 civilians in Tel Aviv, the IDF said.
IDF Finds Large Bomb on Gaza Fence
A week after the IDF exposed a terror tunnel that led from Gaza to a Jewish community, IDF forces on Monday found and defused a powerful explosive charge that had been planted by terrorists near the security fence that separates Israel from the central part of Gaza.
During routine morning activity on the security path that the IDF patrols along the border, Engineering Corps soldiers from the Southern Regiment discovered the hidden charge. Large forces were summoned and the explosive was neutralized.
Five Injured in Rock Barrage Near Jerusalem
Voice of Israel pubic radio reported that dozens of Arabs were hurling rocks at cars on the Tekoa – Har Homa road south of the capital.
The Shin Bet summary for September counted 133 terror attacks, compared to 99 in August. Most of the attacks were in the Biblical heartland of Judea and Samaria, where there were 104 attacks, compared to 68 in August.
Jerusalemite gets 3½ years for conspiring with Hezbollah
In June, the court found Issam Hashem Mashahara guilty of contacting a foreign agent and conspiring to transfer information to the enemy.
Mashahara pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges in a plea bargain that saw earlier accusations of espionage dropped. In November 2012, Mashahara was indicted for spying on behalf of Hezbollah.
The 38-year-old Israeli-Arab bus driver is a resident of Jabel Mukaber, an Arab neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
Haniyeh: There's No 'Palestine' Without Gaza
In a speech he gave Sunday in front of members of the Hamas student union, Haniyeh declared that "there will not be a Palestinian state without Gaza and there will not be a state without a Gaza that stands firm and which was released by the warriors."
He said that Gaza is a "valuable part of Palestine and its administration and regime are an integral part of the Palestinian political regime."
Report: Erdogan Won't Let Hamas Reconcile with Egypt
According to the report, Erdogan advised the leaders of Hamas not to make any concessions to Egypt at this stage, given the fact that the region is still unstable, and that it is possible to change the current regime in Egypt using the pressure exerted by Turkey, Qatar and the International Organization of the Muslim Brotherhood.
It was also reported that the Turkish prime minister pressured Haniyeh not to recognize the "military coup" and reject the Egyptian demand to extradite any Gazans suspected of involvement in the terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula.
Israel: We May Export Gas to Egypt
Israel is considering export gas to Egypt, according to Minister of Energy and Water Silvan Shalom (Likud). Shalom spoke on IDF Radio Tuesday morning.
"Egypt, which is currently experiencing a shortage of gas, is showing interest in buying gas from Israel," he said. "If it turns out that they do want gas and that these things are real, I see no reason why not to [sell it]," he said, adding that "When it reaches us, we will examine the details."
Popularity of Egypt's General El-Sisi Soars
Guardian – Egyptian chocolate-maker Bahira Galal does not hide her support for Egypt's army chief, General Abdel Fatah el-Sisi. Customers at her plush boutique in central Cairo are offered a choice between chocolates coated with his face and others embossed with messages of adulation. One carries his official portrait. Another shows him in sunglasses. "Thank you, Sisi, from the bottom of our hearts," reads a third.
Egyptian writer may face jail for accusations of defaming religion
Egyptian writer and human rights activist Karam Saber will stand before a Beni Suef misdemeanor court on Tuesday to hear the decision regarding his appeal of a five-year sentence received last May on charges of defamation and contempt of religion.
The case began in April 2011, Saber told Ahram Online, when individuals related to Islamist currents in Beni Suef filed a lawsuit accusing Saber of defaming religion in his short stories collection entitled Ayna Allah (Where's God?).
Turkey Blasted As U.S. Officials Confirm Islamist Govt Deliberately Burned Israeli Spies Working in Iran
U.S. officials have confirmed to the Daily Beast the details of a Washington Post report revealing that Turkey last year deliberately burned roughly 10 Israeli spies who were working in Iran on the country's nuclear program. The Daily Beast quotes former Israeli Mossad chief Danny Yatom describing the move as "an act that brings the Turkish intelligence organization to a position where I assume no one will ever trust it again," while a CIA officer compared the incident to the betrayal of the Cambridge Five, the network of Soviet moles who provided highly sensitive intelligence to Moscow at the dawn of the Cold War. Ankara has categorically denied that it shopped the Iranians to Tehran, but over the weekend Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu lashed out at critics and declared that – if the story is true – then Turkey's intelligence chief Hakan Fidan would have been just "doing his job.
'US canceled deal to supply Turkey with drones'
The US drones were to be delivered to Turkey in mid-2012, but according to the report, Congress canceled the deal because of the growing cooperation between the Turkish and Iranian intelligence services.
Breaking the story of the Iranians and their alleged Mossad handlers last Thursday, the Washington Post cited "knowledgeable sources" who said the "deliberate compromise" of Israel's agents by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government constituted a "significant" loss of intelligence and can be interpreted as "an effort to slap the Israelis."
Al Qaeda group is operating on ransom money from the West
Over the last two years, AQAP, as Western officials refer to the group, has extorted $20 million in ransom money, according to an estimate by Alistair Burt, who until this month was the top British diplomatic official for the Middle East.
If those payments continue, "AQAP's attack capability in Yemen and against its friends and neighbors will only strengthen," he said at a recent diplomatic meeting in New York. Kidnapping has become the group's single largest source of funds, U.S. and European officials say.
Rights Group Slams Saudi Arabia's 'Hot Air' Over Human Rights
Human rights group Amnesty International has released a scathing report which levels harsh criticism against Saudi Arabia, accusing the Gulf Kingdom of failing to live up to its pledge to improve human rights.
That pledge was made in 2009 to the UN Human Rights Council, but Amnesty has slammed the government's broken promises as nothing but "hot air", claiming that in some cases, human rights abuses have actually gotten even worse since then.
Persecution of minorities, women and political dissidents are just some of the human rights violations documented in the 18 page report.

EU delegation in Israel to promote business ties

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 07:00 AM PDT

From AFP:
The European Commission's vice president was in Israel on Tuesday to strengthen business ties and promote cooperation, a spokesperson said.

Antonio Tajani arrived in Israel on Monday at the head of a delegation of 55 business executives from 17 countries aimed at strengthening business relations and "exploring further opportunities for cooperation" between small- and medium-sized European and Israeli enterprises [SMEs], a statement said.

Tajani's mission "reflects the EU's belief that there remains untapped potential in bilateral relations and this visit aims at finding new synergies," it said pointing to Israel's reputation for innovation and its "excellent research institutions."

An EU spokesperson said Tajani had met Science and Technology Minister Yaakov Peri on Monday and visited the Israeli Space Agency, signing an agreement on cooperation over global satellite navigation systems.

He also met Economy Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday, with the pair signing signed two letters of intent on industrial policy cooperation between SMEs.

In an address to a water conference in Tel Aviv, Tajani, who is the EU commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship, stressed the importance of bilateral relations to promote growth, including of green industries.
Ansamed adds:
The mission for growth to Tel Aviv follows on one to Russia in June and one to China in July, and has a triple objective: to increase cooperation in the industrial, tourism, and space and innovation sectors; to help European companies operate in Israel; and to promote entrepreneurial contacts and develop business opportunities on the green tech, communications, space, and industrial machinery sectors. The EU is the number one exporter to Israel with trade volume of 17 billion euros, and is the second importer from Israel after the US, with volume of 12.6 billion euros.
It would be interesting to know how the delegation will discuss the EU position on dealing with companies who have operations in Judea and Samaria.

Businesspeople are unlikely to be enthralled with any restrictions on who they are allowed to deal with, especially when the potential partner is world-class.

Normalization alert: Hamas talks to IDF (on Twitter)

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 05:00 AM PDT

Today on Twitter, Hamas' Al Qassam Brigades terror group responded to a tweet by IDF spokesman Peter Lerner:


Hamas addressed Lerner directly, meaning that Hamas initiated talks with the Zionist enemy!

This sounds like the dreaded "normalization" to me.

(This isn't the first time this has happened, but it is always funny to see people who choose a 7th century mentality trying to use 21st century tools.)

Three separate attacks on Jews in Djerba in September

Posted: 22 Oct 2013 02:53 AM PDT

From Magharebia:
The Tunisian island of Djerba has a centuries-old reputation for religious tolerance and diversity. The island is home to the Ghriba Synagogue, the oldest in Africa, as well as 18 other synagogues, two Christian churches and dozens of mosques. But recent incidents have undermined the atmosphere of peaceful co-existence, with Jewish residents worried about a deteriorating security situation.

Magharebia sat down with Yamina Thabet, president of the Tunisian Association for the Defence of Minorities, to discuss the situation and learn just how residents of Djerba are standing up to extremists.

Magharebia: Is there an organised campaign against religious minorities or are the recent attacks isolated incidents?

Thabet: The incidents started more than three weeks ago when the Hebrew school in Djerba was attacked by two people who broke down the school's gate while the children were in the inner yard. It should be noted that one of the men was carrying a sharp object to use for violent purposes.

The men attacked the school's synagogue and a confrontation ensued with a citizen of the Jewish faith who had come to take his son home; he tried to calm the assailants down but was attacked by one of them. He told me they made him fear for his life, especially since the other person was waving the sharp object he was holding. After the struggle with the Jewish Tunisian citizen had caused the attackers to break off, he filed a report with the security forces station and outlined the details of the incident to the officers who took down the complaint.

Once he realised the incident was not being handled seriously, the plaintiff informed the police that the school had a video recording system used to capture everything that happens on its premises and could prove what had happened. He warned that the school would publish that video on social networks. The security forces then asked for a copy of the footage and received it; however, none of the suspects were detained and no real action was taken against the attackers.

Furthermore, one of them continued to harass and terrorise citizens of the Jewish faith, physically attacking two girls on the last day of the Jewish holiday of Succoth. He took advantage of the fact that the men were in synagogue. He charged at the Egalitarian Women's Council riding a motorcycle, kicking one girl down to the ground with his foot and beating another one up after having kicked her.

We therefore consider these aggressions a systematic campaign implementing a shameful persecution against Jewish citizens that is encouraged by a hidden force aiming to force them out of their country.

Magharebia: How did the island's residents react to these transgressions?

Thabet: We have encountered disapproval on the part of the Muslim residents of the island. They have conveyed to us their condemnation of these acts, which to them are strange and inconceivable, especially the official authorities' idleness in handling this sensitive issue which violates the basic rights of Tunisian citizens.

Magharebia: And how have politicians dealt with this issue?

Thabet: We have witnessed all components of the political scene resorting to bickering and status wars and neglecting citizens' most basic issues. As a rule, political forces should pay attention and be aware of what is happening in the depth of society, because the foundations of a democratic society are rooted in the social basis and the elite cannot diminish it to mere stances in passing. Some Jewish citizens in Djerba even told me they were fed up with the rituals of political pilgrimage of certain governmental figures for a photo opportunity in festivities, as if they were in a nature reserve or some endangered species.
Yamina Thabet is adamant about protecting the Jews of Djerba, as you can see from this press conference she called on this same topic -which MEMRI translated:




I have never seen an Arab defend Jews this passionately.

The bad news is that these incidents, nearly a month ago, had not been reported in English (outside MEMRI) that I could find until today. (There were some French reports.)
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