יום שישי, 8 בנובמבר 2013

Elder of Ziyon Daily News

Elder of Ziyon Daily News

Link to Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

There is one Jewish museum in the Arab world (video)

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 05:32 PM PST

Asharq al-Awsat has an article, in Arabic, about the only Jewish museum in the Arab world, in Casablanca.

It is a positive article talking about the history of coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Morocco.

I found a nice video made by JN1 this year that shows it:

11/07 Links Pt2: The Lies of Protest Tourism, Norwegian Amb. blames Israel for Syria

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 03:00 PM PST

From Ian:
CAMERA: Countering the Lies of Protest Tourism
Ardie Geldman, a resident of Efrat, has written a piece for The New English Review that details the manner in which Palestinian activists have helped turn the West Bank into a theme park where privileged tourists from the United States and Europe adopt the persona of human rights heroes assailing Israel's misdeeds. Like most theme parks, there is a huge amount of trickery and showmanship going on.
A Norwegian Diplomat Who Only Harms His Country's Image
In Israel, the greatest damage to how Norway is viewed was probably caused by its current Ambassador Svein Sevje.
In a recent interview with extreme left wing Israeli journalist Akiva Eldar, Sevje explained why Bashir Assad will go down in history as a barbarian dictator instead of a democratic reformer. He implied that the Syrian civil war resulted from the absence of a peace agreement with Israel saying: "I believe that with such an agreement, Syria would have been a different country today.
The Myths of Ilan Ziv's film
Having previously hesitated, the BBC this week chose to screen Ilan Ziv's film Searching for Exile: Truth or Myth?, which focuses on the idea of Jewish exile after AD 70.
Ziv uses the community of Tzippora Jews in the Galilee to argue that there was no Jewish exile, as Jews were still living in the region after AD 70. The Bar Kochba revolt of 135 is also held up as evidence against the 'myth of exile'.
Yet no-one would say that all the Jews disappeared from Jerusalem in AD 70. Of course there has been a continual Jewish presence in Israel.
Spies R Us
The difference between outraged Americans and impassive Israelis is striking, and illuminating. It is the difference between a public for whom security is largely a theoretical issue, and a public for whom defending the homeland is a perpetual concern.
The explanation is basic. According to a Pew Research Center survey from 2011, "just one-half of one percent of American adults" served on active duty at any given time over the previous decade, even though it was a period of sustained war for the United States.
By contrast, a vast majority of Israelis serve in the military at some point. As many as one in five personally witnessed a terrorist attack. And according to the Israel Defense Forces, in 2012 more than one million Israelis were living under the threat of rocket attacks from Gaza.
Israelis cannot afford to not worry about their safety, and so they look at the indignation of Americans and, say, Germans over Washington's spying on Chancellor Angela Merkel as hypocrisy or naiveté. They're thinking: Keep on spying, America, because as long as you do we know you're still helping police the world.
Open Letter to Hamas Spokeswoman
Similarly, what is your opinion of modesty operations by Hamas policemen in Gaza over the past few months, in which women are detained in the street if their dress is considered to be immodest or their haircuts too modern?
I would also love to hear your thoughts regarding Article 18 of the Penal Code (1936) applicable in Gaza, whereby judges are expected to mitigate the sentence of a man who murders his daughter, wife, mother, sister or other family member in order to preserve "family honor". Is this a worthy law in your eyes?
Former CIA director renews call for Pollard's release
In a two-minute video, recorded on Monday at a conference in Manhattan in which Woolsey took part, Woolsey said: "If you look at other allies of the United States, such as South Korea and the Philippines, where we have caught spies, the sentence that they had has been light, not like Pollard's; it's been about six or seven years. What I said in The Wall Street Journal essentially was that if anybody is hung up over the fact that he's an American Jew or that he's Israeli, just pretend that he's a South Korean and set him free."
Galloway's Viva Palestina Booted Off Charities Register
There may be many reasonable explanations for the failure of Galloway's charity to file accounts, and indeed for the failure to account for the money that it claimed to have raised.
However, given the litigious nature of Mr Galloway and his friends, it would be best to keep comments closed on this article, lest some uncharitable person speculates unfairly on the reason behind these failures.
UK Politicians Collaborate with Muslim Brotherhood Islamists?
Speakers at the upcoming Global Peace and Unity conference can be categorized as follows: 65% are anti-Semitic, misogynist, homophobic and pro-terror preachers, 20% are public servants offering political legitimacy and moral credibility to the other speakers, while the remaining 15% could perhaps claim to be part of the conference's "project dedicated to creating a more harmonious world."
The U.S.-Saudi Royal Rumble
In early 1939, a Saudi delegation went to Nazi Germany to negotiate an arms agreement, part of which would have been diverted to Palestinian Arabs fighting Jewish immigrants in the British mandate of Palestine. At least some of the Saudi group met Adolf Hitler at his mountain top hideaway at Berchtesgaden.
German arms never reached the kingdom -- or Palestine - as the Saudis could not afford to consummate the deal (that was in the days before the oil revenues started flowing in). However, King Abdullah still treasures a dagger given as a gift from the Fuhrer himself, and occasionally shows it off to guests. Visiting U.S. officials are briefed in advance so they can display appropriate diplomatic sang-froid if Abdullah points out the memento. (h/t Yoel)
Berlusconi says his kids feel like Jews persecuted by Hitler
Replying to a question about whether his five children had asked him to sell his media empire and leave Italy to escape his legal troubles, Berlusconi said: "My children say that they feel like Jewish families in Germany under Hitler's regime. Truly, everyone is against us."
Holocaust museum highlights Myanmar's Rohingya
Myanmar's government views the exhibition as inappropriate. The U.S. government-funded Holocaust museum primarily commemorates the genocide against the Jews by the Nazis during World War II. But it also documents the mass killings that have blighted Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan, and seeks to spotlight situations where it sees a repeat of such atrocities. It has previously projected images on its walls of Holocaust survivors, and from South Sudan and the Darfur region of Sudan.
"We are not saying that genocide is taking place in Burma," said Michael Abramowitz, director of the museum's Center for the Prevention of Genocide. "We are not trying to equate these different situations. The Holocaust was a unique event in human history. But what we do want to do is use our assets to try to prevent these kinds of crimes from happening to others in the future."
Huffington Post Planning Israel Website
The Huffington Post is planning to launch an Israeli website, founding editor Roy Sekoff told Israel's Channel 2 on Wednesday.
Sekoff said that the move is part of HuffPo's road map for opening foreign sites, sometimes creating them in local language. "With so much innovation in Israel, we had opportunities to work with many Israelis," Sekoff added.
Rabin's granddaughter inks Hollywood TV deal
Noa Rothman, the granddaughter of the late Yitzhak Rabin, gave Israeli audiences a glimpse into a prime minister's family's gilded world when she wrote the drama "The Prime Minister's Children." Now American audiences are about to also get a taste, thanks to a deal inked this week with Hollywood's Timberman-Beverly productions to produce an adaptation of that program for American television.
Israeli Energy Minister: 'Everyone Wants to Hug Israel' Because of Its Natural Gas Production
Israeli natural gas is saving the country's economy $300 million a month, a figure that could reach as high as $1 billion, Israeli Energy Minister Silvan Shalom told Bloomberg News, adding that the country has become an attractive natural gas supplier in the global marketplace, one that "everyone wants to hug."
"It means it will bring a huge improvement to the Israeli economy because the gas will be much cheaper. We will cut the tariff for electricity. We will cut the tariff for water that is produced by electricity, and all the products that are produced in Israel will be much cheaper," Shalom told Bloomberg.
Israel's Mobli Gets Major Boost From Mexican Billionaire Carlos Slim
The photo and video-sharing platform Mobli has received a major financial boost from one of the world's richest men.
Mexico's América Móvil SAB de CV, controlled by multi-billionaire Carlos Slim, is leading a new $60 million round of investments into the company. As part of the deal, Mobli will get distribution with América Móvil's millions of mobile users.
Israel's Sodastream to Air $4 Million Super Bowl Ad
Sodastream, the popular Israeli carbonated drinks company, has announced that it will kick off its 2014 advertising campaign with a $4 million Super Bowl ad for the second year in a row.
"The Super Bowl is a proven venue for SodaStream to deliver our beverage revolution message to over 100 million viewers, empowering consumers to enjoy a smarter, 'better-for-you'alternative to packaged soda," SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum said in a statement.
Paula Abdul floats idly in Dead Sea after lathering herself in mud during spiritual retreat in Israel
As she continues her spiritual journey through Israel, Paula Abdul took part in an age-old tradition that dates back to biblical times.
She submerged herself in the skin-nourishing qualities of the Dead Sea last Friday.
The quest continues to honor Arab hero doctor
While Helmy is the first person from the Arab world to be designated by Yad Vashem, more than 60 Muslims who saved Jews in Bosnia, Albania and the then-Soviet republics have been recognized, said Irena Steinfeldt, director of the Righteous Among the Nations department.
Despite the Hassans' refusal to accept the honoring of Helmy, Yad Vashem is pursuing several avenues, including Egypt's embassy in Tel Aviv, to locate additional relatives.

Egypt denies Israeli firm securing Suez Canal

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 01:45 PM PST

The not-very-reliable Middle East Monitor reports:

A report by the Arab Organisation for Human Rights has revealed that an Israeli company, Seagull Maritime Security, provides maritime security services for cruises and cargo ships passing through the Suez Canal in Egypt. The Egyptian authorities have granted the company a license to work in the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and in Arab and African ports including Jordan, UAE and Oman.

According to the report the company is one of the few whose guards are allowed to disembark fully armed on the Egyptian Tiran Island.
The company's official site does not reveal its Israeli identity however several other sites connected to the company reveal the background of the company's directors and managers as IDF veterans from elite units. The company is a member of the Israeli Association of Private Security Companies. The company was founded by its CEO, Kfir Magen who served as an officer in the Israeli navy, in 2008.

According to related sites the company's directors were prominent leaders of the Israeli army, including Eliezer Marom who served as a navy commander between 2007 until 2011. Marom planned the attack against the Freedom Flotilla in 2010 and Operation Cast Lead in 2008.
Seagull Maritime Security is definitely an Israeli company. Although its webpage is currently down, while it didn't say Israel explicitly it didn't try to hide it much either:
Kfir Magen– CEO. Served as a commanding officer in the elite Naval Commando and has acquired years of maritime operational experience. Holds a BSc. degree from the Technion – Institute of Technology.

Jeremy Weiss– VP BD, Marketing & Sales Served for over 20 years as Senior Commander in the Special Forces. Following, he was an Executive Director at InSightec ,a Hi-Tech medical device company. Jeremy holds an Executive MBA from Northwestern Uni. Kellogg School of Management.

Yuval Brenner– COO, an officer in an elite scouts unit. Worked at Zim Integrated Shipping services as Senior Logistic and Equipment Manager. Joined Seagull in 2010. Holds a BSc. Degree from the Technion – Institute of Technology.
It specializes in securing commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba areas:
We hold a Weapon Storage at the port of Eilat. Together with our fast boats we can provide unique and flexible embarkation and disembarkation of our security teams throughout the Gulf of Aqaba and Red Sea (27°N Red Sea, port of Eilat and port of Aqaba).
So it is plausible that they work in the Suez Canal as well.

Of course, Egypt was quick to vehemently deny it:
Egypt's Suez Canal Authority denied Wednesday allegations that Egyptian authorities gave permission to Israeli firm Maritime Seagull Security to secure ships in the Red Sea.

The Canal Authority insisted seven Egyptian security and military bodies only are in charge of securing the sea passage.

News that the Israeli company operates in the area based on an "official" permit using fully-armed personnel on the Egyptian island of Tiran in the Red Sea went viral on social media, Al-Jazeera reported.

Video: Anti-Jewish books publicly displayed on Jordan's streets

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 12:15 PM PST

The filmmaker visited four book kiosks on the streets of Amman.



Just think, a kiosk can only hold maybe 100-200 titles, usually best sellers, and yet Mein Kampf and books about Jewish domination of the world are prominently displayed in each one!

(h/t Israel Muse)

Swedish Jew wants asylum - in Sweden

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 10:30 AM PST

In August, I linked to a heartbreaking story about a Swedish Jewish woman and the antisemitism she had experienced there.

The woman, Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, has written something new that is also worth reading:
A case for asylum

I just got my tickets for the 21st annual Jewish film festival here in Stockholm. It's the 2nd Jewish event I've been to in this city this fall alone. Well. When I say Jewish event I mean Jewish cultural event, of which this city of some 4000 Jews has more than its fair share.

And I guess that's why so many of my fellow Jews and friends say that we are doing ok. That there's no need to rock the boat or cause any trouble in a time where hundreds of people are buying tickets for a klezmer concert and watching holocaust-movies at the local art theatre.

But you know what, we are not ok. I am not ok. This is not ok.

Kosher slaughter has been outlawed in my country since 1937. And as I go to work tomorrow morning I will continue writing the response to a bill demanding the ban of the import and serving of kosher meat. Another pillar of the Jewish faith, circumcision, is also under threat. In my profession as a political adviser I personally have dealt with 2 such bills in the past year, and the issue of a national ban is gaining both bipartisan political support as well as traction in the public debate. Public display of one's Jewish identity, such as donning a kippah in public or wearing a magen david , is paired with risk of verbal harassment and physical harm. Synagogues are heavily guarded, so much so that Jewish tourists cannot attend services unannounced or pre-scanned by security, but are turned away. And we, the members, celebrate chagim in the constant presence of police. On Rosh Hashana, as we were taking the 5 minute walk to the water for tashlich, my young son turned to one of the policemen guarding us and asked him why they were all there. The officer replied: "so that no bad people can hurt you". This is the reality that mine and other Jewish children in Sweden grow up with. They form that self-image, that being Jewish means being under threat of "bad people".

And I ask- why are we putting up with this? Why do I hear people, even my own people, say that we are ok? Why do the politicians and the pundits tell me that Jews in Sweden are safe when in reality they are telling us that we are safe as long as we are assimilated?

We are not being murdered. True. Nor are we being physically driven out. But, we are driven to assimilation. How is this not a crime? How is killing our observance not an imminent threat and a clear violation of our basic human rights?
I want my religious freedom to be protected. I want to be able to live as an observant Jew in Sweden. I want not to have to flee my own country in order to be who I am and live according to my faith.

What I am asking for is no more than what is given to any refugee seeking asylum in my country, or in the whole of the EU. They want the freedom to practice their religion. Not to be persecuted due to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or political beliefs. These are basic human rights, expressed in the United Nations universal declaration of human rights as well as a crucial part of the Swedish constitution. People from all over the world seek refuge in my country in order to be who they are. To have the ability to live freely. I want this for them, and I want this for us.

According to The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, anti-Semitic crimes have tripled since 2010. Worst is the situation in Malmö where we see an increase in 320% just from the year 2011. These are the statistics of reported crimes; we can only imagine how many crimes go unreported each year.

When I raise these issues I often get the answer that I and the rest of Swedish Jewry should make Aliyah, that Europe is doomed and that the time to make a difference has come and gone. But I cannot accept that to be true, no matter how much I promote the idea and practice of Aliyah. Because what is happening is simply not right. And as a people, as humans, we must protest inequality and discrimination in our midst as adamantly as we do when it is perpetrated abroad. Many Swedish politicians and activists are quick and vocal in their fight against oppression all over the world, but silent when it comes to what is going on within our borders.
And that is why I think it is time to make a statement heard around the world.

I call upon all Swedish Jews to seek asylum. Not in America, nor in Israel. But here, in our own country, and make the Swedish government live up to the promises made. The statues provided by the European Union clearly state that a person should be granted asylum if he or she "has well-founded reasons to fear persecution due to race; nationality; religious or political beliefs; gender; sexual orientation; or affiliation to a particular social group". Jews in Sweden, particularly in Malmö, meet these criteria, and should thereby receive the protection and support given to non-natives.

I do realize the absurdity of what I am writing, what I am asking. But the situation is beyond absurdity, beyond op-eds and strongly worded letters. This situation calls for action, reaction, and a statement from Swedish Jewry that it refuses to chooses between fear and assimilation. And as we make that statement we are fighting not only for ourselves, but for all minorities. As we all know it may start with Jews but never ends with Jews. We are now fighting for the right to live a religious life, to preserve cultural and individual identity, and to be who you are without fear of persecution.

So please, tell me I am not being naïve. Tell me I am not asking too much when demanding the right to practice my religion freely and openly. Or is this no longer to be expected in the Europe that was once the leader in liberal ideas and progressive thought? Is alive and assimilated good enough now, have we given up on the dream of living freely, observantly, Jewishly?

Please tell me that the dream isn't dead. Pleas say that there's some fight in us yet.

Annika Hernroth-Rothstein
(received via email)

(h/t Andrew)

11/07 Links Pt1: Fascist Rally at Al Quds Uni, Iranian Nobel Laureate - Rouhani is no Moderate

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 09:00 AM PST

From Ian:
Tom Gross: Scenes yesterday afternoon from a "moderate" Palestinian university
Al-Quds is a Palestinian university in east Jerusalem. It is often hailed as a "liberal" or "moderate" university by western diplomats and journalists.
Academics and students (including, quite possibly, some in these photos) have received and continue to receive grants from European governments, charities and foundations. Al-Quds University is also currently in partnership with liberal (and largely Jewish) institutions in the U.S., including Brandeis University and Bard College.
I would urge you to take a quick look at these photos. These kinds of scenes can be seen regularly at Palestinian universities and elsewhere in the West Bank but Western news organizations strenuously avoid reporting on them.
As long as the Palestinian Authority encourages such demonstrations and the university authorities tolerate them, it is doubtful there can ever be peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Peace which presumably we all want.
EU MP: We Froze Aid Money PA Was Using for Terror
After the meeting, Susy de Martini, a European Parliament MP and member of the Parliament's budgeting committee, said that "the EU should not be funding these anti-Israel groups and activities. From what I understand, the EU recently made a decision to freeze money being sent to the Palestinians because we found that some of that money was being used to fund terror.
"I believe that the EU needs to be friendlier to Israel and to those who are interested in real peace in the region," de Martini added. "Economic stability is as important as political stability. I am a friend of Israel and I hope the relationship between Israel and the EU improves."
Palestinian Hatred is the True Obstacle to Peace
The rambunctious Israeli press, politicians, and public cover the political spectrum, and aren't shy about disagreeing with government positions regarding the peace process. An alphabet-soup of Jewish and Israeli organizations regularly protests government policy.
By contrast, where is the Palestinian dissenting opinion? Where are the Arabic opinion columns arguing that Jews aren't treacherous devils? That Jews have a deep and ancient connection to the land? That blowing up Israeli cafes and buses is inherently wrong? That real peace with a Jewish Israel isn't an entirely bad idea? That peace may require that not all of the millions of descendants of 1948 refugees be able to settle in Israel?
Where is the Palestinian Peace Now? The Arab Voice for Peace? P-Street? The Palestinian movement to boycott and divest from Palestinian entities until terror and violence against Israelis is ended?
Curbing Palestinian incitement would go a long way toward peaceful coexistence. But incitement is only a symptom; the uniformly anti-Israel monopoly on Arab and Palestinian opinion is the bigger problem.
Missing Peace: Israeli goodwill measures and Palestinian intransigence
The atmosphere surrounding the current peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel seems to be poisoned since the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners who were convicted of serious crimes, such as murder. The release was part of a deal that was reached with the US administration prior to the renewed negotiations.
Many in Israel were outraged by the prisoner release which took place despite continuing Palestinian terror and incitement against Israel.
Two-State Paradigm 'Unworkable'
For these and other reasons, Inbar said, the current situation – a status quo in which the PA controls the civil life of Arabs in its jurisdiction, with Israel responsible for overall security – is the best solution for everyone. "It's good not just for Israelis, but for Palestinians, too," he said. "The Palestinians look at the failed Arab states" like Syria and Egypt "and understand that things could be much worse for them."
And it's not just Israel and the PA that have come to this conclusion, Inbar said: Slowly, the rest of the world is coming to realize that the current status is the most workable one for the long term. "The Palestinian issue is becoming less important on the international stage," he added, "and as a result there is less pressure on Israel to agree to setting up a PA state."
Oslo Architect: No Repeat of Past Mistakes
Doctor Yair Hirschfeld of Haifa University, one of the architects of the Oslo Accords, has admitted that "mistakes were made" in the plan, and expressed his opinion that the current round of peace talks with the Palestinians will not end with the signing of a comprehensive agreement.
Regarding Oslo, Hirschfeld said he sees it as an important part in the process of the "two state solution," however he admits that the the process saw mistakes and problems from both sides.
Kerry: US considers Israeli settlements to be 'illegitimate'
"Let me emphasize at this point the position of the United States of America on the settlements is that we consider them... to be illegitimate," Kerry said after discussions with Palestinian President
Kerry pledges $75m. more in US aid to Palestinians
US Secretary of State John Kerry says the United State will provide an additional $75 million in aid to create Palestinian jobs and help them improve roads, schools and other infrastructure.
US officials say the aid is designed to boost Palestinian public support for faltering peace talks with Israel by showing them tangible benefits from the process. (h/t Herb Glatter)
Israel: Arafat 'Poisoning' Sounds More Like a Soap Opera
In response, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told the BBC, "This is more soap opera than science."
Palmor said the investigations had been commissioned by "interested parties" such as Arafat's widow and the Palestinian Authority and had "never bothered" to look for some key data.
"The other huge hole in the theory is the absence of all access to the French hospital where Arafat died and to Arafat's medical files," said Palmor.
"How can the cause of death be determined without the opinion of the doctors or the results of the medical tests they ran on the patient? Israel doesn't feel concerned in the least," he told the BBC.
Arafat polonium — junk science
With the most amazing measuring equipment, in the most physically shielded room possible, you couldn't find a piece of radioactive Polonium-210 eight years after it was made. Looking for some in an exhumed body or belongs is astonishing.
The decay products of Polonium-210 are not uncommon enough to look for either.
There's no way on earth this lab found anything scientifically significant in the corpse of Arafat (hence their very cagy language).
Arafat died of natural causes, Aids or something else: releasing an unedited version of his medical records would go a long way to solving this little mystery. Certainly that would do more than a pseudo-sicence dance in Switzerland. No matter what his widow and his adoring terrorist friends would like to think.
Lieberman Acquitted, Will Return to Foreign Ministry
In a unanimous verdict, a three-judge panel on Wednesday acquitted former Israeli foreign minister and Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman Avigdor Lieberman of corruption charges, Israel Hayom reported.
"I congratulate you on your acquittal and I am pleased with your return to the Israeli cabinet so that we can continue to work together for the benefit of Israel," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Sunday will ask his cabinet to reinstate Lieberman as foreign minister.
Report: IDF Deems Hebrew U Area Unsafe for Soldiers
The report revealed that the IDF base in the area now locks its gate at 6 p.m. From that point on, soldiers are allowed to leave the base only in secure convoys.
During the day, soldiers are not allowed to leave on foot at all.
The new regulations were put into place following an attack on two female IDF commanders. The two women were targeted by an Arab gang throwing firebombs as they drove near the base.
Palestinian man allegedly tries to run over IDF officer
An IDF officer was nearly run over early Thursday morning while conducting operations in the West Bank. The incident near the West Bank village of Naalin occurred during a security sweep of the area.
The officer, a company commander, was standing outside his vehicle during the operation when a Palestinian driver allegedly attempted to ram him. Soldiers opened fire at the car, and the driver fled. The vehicle was found abandoned several hours later.
Smuggling Into Gaza By Sea On the Rise
As a result of the closure of many underground tunnels into Gaza, smuggling of weapons into Gaza by sea is on the rise, The Israel Navy thwarts many smuggling attempts into Gaza. Navy soldiers have noticed that one thing is missing: no vessels have arrived with medicine or humanitarian goods.
Senior IDF Commander: Hezbollah's Battle Tactics Spreading to Syria
Hezbollah is transferring its knowledge of warfare to Syria, teaching its Syrian allies to fight underground and lay bombs along Israel's border. As the cooperation between Hezbollah and Syria grows stronger, the IDF is preparing for a different kind of war in the north.
Former Jordanian MP Yaq'ub Qarash Glorifies Jihad and Martyrdom on PA TV, States: The Israelis "Can Only Survive as Nazis" VIDEO
The [Jews] want everything, although they have no religious rights. They want to prove myths, elevating them above the truth, although these are nothing but myths that they fabricated and now believe in. By Allah, if that [Wailing] Wall really was part of a temple, I am certain that the companions of the Prophet would have honored that. The Islamic nation is known for never having desecrated a synagogue or a church. It is a fact, however, that they do not have any rights. We confront myths.
J'lem court convicts Islamic Movement leader for incitement to violence
The prosecution also said that Salah made references to blood-libel against Jews as the basis for a separate claim against him for racist incitement.
In his speech, Salah said that he and other Muslims never made their Ramadan bread with the blood of children, adding, "whoever wants a more comprehensive explanation, should ask what happened to some of the European children whose blood was mixed with flour for use in holy bread."
Salah's lawyer successfully convinced the court on this point that Salah's words on the blood libel issue were potentially open to multiple interpretations, including to the Christian crusaders killing of children in Europe.
As a result, the court convicted Salah of incitement to violence, but not racist incitement.
John Bolton: Obama Should Listen to Saudi Arabia
The Saudis have been entirely candid: They think the Security Council is broken. For nearly three years Riyadh has watched Moscow and Beijing stymie every effort to have the Security Council weigh in against Syria's Assad regime, while U.S. diplomacy has been inconsistent and ineffective. Weak American policies toward Iran, moreover, combined with Russian and Chinese political cover for Tehran, have largely rendered the council a bystander to the Iranian nuclear problem. Now, with President Obama yearning for a negotiated "resolution" of Iran's nuclear weapons threat, the Saudis have snapped.
Make no mistake: For Saudi Arabia as well as Israel, an Iranian nuclear weapon constitutes an existential threat. The dangers are as great for Riyadh as for Jerusalem, and very similar in nature: a religious conflict that has existed almost since the birth of Islam, ancient ethnic disagreements, and the continuing inability to establish stable conditions for regional peace and security. That is why, if necessary, the Saudis (and most other Gulf Arab states) would privately welcome an Israeli military strike against Iran's nuclear weapons program. The Arab governments will not say so publicly and, if Israel did attack, would likely join the international chorus of disapproval. But I for one would dearly love to see the private message that Saudi Arabia's king would transmit to Bibi Netanyahu after a successful Israeli strike.
Iran says nuclear deal possible this week
A second round of talks between Iran and the West kicked off in Geneva Thursday, with the Iranian foreign minister saying that a deal over his country's controversial nuclear program could be reached by week's end, if all parties strove to reach that goal.
"If everyone tries their best we may have one," Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted by Reuters as saying. "We expect serious negotiations. It's possible."
Israel preemptively opposes new Iran proposal
Israel is reportedly urging its Western allies to reject an expected proposal to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for limited relief from crippling economic sanctions.
"Israel in the last few hours has learned that a proposal will be brought before the P5+1 in Geneva in which Iran will cease all enrichment at 20 percent and slow down work on the heavy water reactor in Arak, and will receive in return the easing of sanctions," an Israeli official told AFP Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Israel thinks this is a bad deal and will oppose it strongly," the official added.
Iranian Nobel Laureate Criticizes 'Moderate' Rouhani
Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi has strongly criticized the human rights record of Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani, whom the West has touted as a "moderate".
As part of his efforts to woo both Iranians and the West, Rouhani has previously said that a strong government does not "limit the lives of the people and has claimed that he believed social networking sites such as Facebook were a welcome phenomenon.
Ebadi, however, is not buying the new president's seemingly moderate statements. Speaking to The Associated Press, she cited a dramatic increase in executions since Rouhani took office this year and accused the government of lying about the release of political prisoners.

"Jews have always stolen and looted"

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 07:00 AM PST

Vetogate, an Egyptian news site, has an antisemitic screed that accuses Jews of a long history of thievery and crime - from gold in the time of the Pharaohs until today, when they are stealing, um, music.

The article by Mohammed Laithi says that Jews could never live with their non-Jewish neighbors. They lived separately in ghettos in Europe. The Haskalah movement, meant to integrate Jews in the countries they lived in, was a failure. The reason is, we are told, that it is forbidden for Jews to have any dealings with the gentiles.

On the other hand, we are also told that Jews have a love of money and would use usury and inflated prices to get rich at the expense of the neighbors who they had no contact with. They would even take over the economies of these countries from their ghettos, apparently, forcing their hosts to get rid of them.

Consistency is not a hallmark of antisemites.

Anyway, since Jews had failed to infiltrate these societies with haskalah, they then decided to steal Palestine, continuing on their love of stealing.

Laithi then detours back to Pharaonic times, noting that even then the Jews lived separately but that they stole jewels, gold and kitchen utensils from the Egyptians under the pretense that God wanted them to.

The Jews in Egypt only built mud storehouses in the cities of Pithom and Ramses, and had nothing to do with the Pyramids. Hardly proof of their technical superiority!

This wasn't the first time Jews stole from Egypt, obviously, since they stole the Sinai in 1967.

And now, after this litany of Jewish theft, we get to the latest outrage of Jews stealing from Egypt:

Their music!

Laithi links to 10 videos of Israeli artists singing Egyptian songs with Hebrew words. "If we assume that the Israelis are actually descendants of the sons of Israel, it is valid to say that they are addicted to stealing from the Egyptians."

This is not the first time that Arabs complained about Israel "stealing" their music (and cuisine, and clothing, and dances....) This video compares Arab tunes with the ones Israelis supposedly stole.



That specific charge, at least, appears to be true. In 2010 an Egyptian artist accused an Israeli of taking his tune, and the Israeli apologized and said he would be happy to give him credit. I don't know whether Israeli singers are generally open about taking tunes from Arab songs (UPDATE: Phil in the comments shows that they are.)

I somehow doubt that any Arab artist would sell the rights of a song to an Israeli Jew.

Even so, it is very funny that the punch line of a huge anti-Jewish article is the unauthorized taking of Arab music.

"Saudis ready to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan"

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST

In Time magazine, Fareed Zakaria wrote one of the dumbest columns I've ever read. He argues that the US shouldn't care if the Saudis are upset at Washington's incompetent Middle East policy, because Saudis have a terrible human rights record and are largely  responsible for Wahhabi terrorism.

I was thinking of writing about it, but the BBC found a much better response.

The Saudis, alarmed that President Obama will not stop an Iranian nuke, are reportedly working on getting their own:
Saudi Arabia has invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and believes it could obtain atomic bombs at will, a variety of sources have told BBC Newsnight.

While the kingdom's quest has often been set in the context of countering Iran's atomic programme, it is now possible that the Saudis might be able to deploy such devices more quickly than the Islamic republic.

Earlier this year, a senior Nato decision maker told me that he had seen intelligence reporting that nuclear weapons made in Pakistan on behalf of Saudi Arabia are now sitting ready for delivery.

Last month Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, told a conference in Sweden that if Iran got the bomb, "the Saudis will not wait one month. They already paid for the bomb, they will go to Pakistan and bring what they need to bring."

Since 2009, when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia warned visiting US special envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross that if Iran crossed the threshold, "we will get nuclear weapons", the kingdom has sent the Americans numerous signals of its intentions.
Notice that Saudi Arabia never felt threatened by Israeli nuclear weapons, but the prospect of Iran with nukes is enough to start a nuclear arms race throughout the Middle East.

There are many other ways that Iranian nuclear weapons would change the world for the worse, but this one is immediate - and it was quite predictable. The BBC article notes the evidence that Saudi Arabia would acquire nukes if Iran develops them have been around for over a decade.

But the Saudis have a horrendous human rights record, so to Fareed Zakaria, who cares what they do?

Israeli video wins FIAT/IFTA award in Dubai, Arabs freak

Posted: 07 Nov 2013 02:49 AM PST

Earlier this year I reported about the shameful actions of FIAT/IFTA, the International Federation of Television Archives. They did not complain when Dubai banned the Israeli nominee for their awards from arriving in the country an they decided to allow the ceremony to go forward anyway - and they even said this showed their "independency! [sic]"

Well the Israeli video, called "Israel: A Home Movie," won the Archive Achievement Award. Here's the entire ceremony; the award is at around 17:50. The award was accepted by what I believe is a FIAT/IFTA official.official.



The video itself shows archival footage of Israel's history through the eyes of ordinary people and their home movies. Here's the trailer:



At least one Arabic media outlet is enraged that the winner of an award given in Dubai dares say that Israel is the home of the Jews. It rails against the idea that these rich Jews, owning expensive movie equipment, came to Palestine to replace the "indigenous" Arabs. The movie shows Jews in these home movies having fun, their weddings and other family events - the sort of thing that home movies would show -  which is a slap in the face of the suffering Arabs, according to the article.

Beyond that, the article asks, how can an Israeli work be honored on Arab land?

From what I could tell (I didn't watch the entire video nor the discussion afterwards ) FIAT/IFTA downplayed the fact that the Israeli director was not there, simply saying he couldn't be there without saying why or making a statement in favor of freedom and against Dubai's bigotry.
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