Elder of Ziyon Daily News |  |
- Transcript of David Cameron's speech in the Knesset
- 03/12 Links Pt2: The Perils of Parachute journalism in the Middle East; Israel’s Super Cows
- Man shot dead at Gaza wedding
- Islamic Jihad pretends Manhattan explosion is from their rockets
- The shortlist of candidates to become Abbas' vice president
- 03/12 Links Pt1: The Apartheid Canard; Iran ‘Our hands are on the trigger’ to destroy Israel
- Abbas stuns Arab and Jewish audiences
- Gaza rockets still being shot, but most are landing in Gaza
- Northeastern U suspends anti-Israel group
| Transcript of David Cameron's speech in the Knesset Posted: 12 Mar 2014 05:15 PM PDT Here is the transcript for the speech that David Cameron, UK Prime Minister, gave in the Knesset on Wednesday. So far I haven't been able to locate a full video, but here is a small part: Shalom le-kulam [Hello everyone] Mr President, Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, Members of the Knesset, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honour to address this historic Parliament – for sixty-five years the heart of the State of Israel and a beacon of democracy to the region – and to the world. When I was last here in Jerusalem, I came as Leader of the Opposition and I remember being quite bemused as I sat listening to Israeli politicians telling me all about the challenges of coalition politics. They told me about building a coalition, keeping it together, balancing the demands of different parties, sorting out the disputes and I just didn't understand this strange system of government. But after nearly four years as Prime Minister of my own coalition all I can say is: ach-shav ani mevin [now I get it]. What I have always understood is the extraordinary journey of the Jewish people. Thousands of years of history in this holy land. Thousands of years of persecution. And even today, some people despicably questioning your right to exist. My Jewish ancestry is relatively limited but I do feel just some sense of connection. From the lexicon of my great, great grandfather Emile Levita, a Jewish man who came from Germany to Britain 150 years ago to the story of my forefather Elijah Levita who wrote what is thought to have been the first ever Yiddish novel. But more importantly I have learnt to understand something of Jewish values and character and I have grown to appreciate the extraordinary contribution of the Jewish people to my country and to the world. That sense of understanding has shaped my determination to remember the past, my commitment to Israel in the present and my hopes for Israel's future. And I would like to say something about each of these today. First, remembering the past. One of the most moving experiences I have had as Prime Minister came in January this year, when I held a reception in Downing Street for 50 survivors of the Sho'ah. I met some of the most inspiring people and heard some of the most incredible stories. People like Harry Spiro who couldn't understand why his mother pushed him out of her house and off to the factory, when she was actually saving his life. Gena Turgel, who witnessed her brother being shot by the Nazis and lost another brother and two sisters before she was eventually liberated from Bergen-Belsen and went on to marry the British soldier who freed her. And Ben Helfgott who endured three years in a ghetto, two labour camps and three concentration camps to make it to England where he was reunited with one of his sisters, the only other member of his family to survive. Ben went on to represent Britain as a weightlifter in two Olympics set up a society for Holocaust survivors and was honoured in Poland for his reconciliation work between Poles and Jews. And I am delighted that Ben has come with me here today. All of the survivors have made such an incredible contribution to Britain. And one of the things so many of them have done – and which never ceases to amaze me – is to go into our schools and share their testimony first hand. It is hard to imagine the sheer strength of humanity it must take to do that. To relive time and again the one thing that frankly many of us in their position would do almost anything just to try and somehow forget. But they do it because they share an urgent sense of mission that their story must never be forgotten. I share that mission too. And I am determined that long after they are gone and long after we are all gone their memory will be as strong and vibrant as it is today. As a father, I will never forget last year visiting the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin with my children and for the first time trying to explain to them quite what had happened. I want every child in Britain to learn about the Holocaust and to understand just how vital it is to fight discrimination and prejudice in our world. It is vital that we do all we can with our international partners to preserve the site at Auschwitz, which I will be visiting later this year. But we need to do more. That is why I have set up the Holocaust Commission in Britain. A number of the Commissioners are here with Ben and me today and as we visit Yad Vashem together later today, our pledge to Ben will be that Britain will never forget what he and his fellow survivors have taught us. We will preserve the memory of that generation for every generation to come. But remembering the past goes far beyond that horrific suffering of a generation. It is about remembering the long and rightful search of a people for a nation. And the right for the Jewish people to live a peaceful and prosperous life in Israel. From the early pioneers, the men and women of the Palestine Exploration Fund, who saw the Jewish history in this land and the possibilities for the future to the Balfour Declaration – the moment when the State of Israel went from a dream to a plan Britain has played a proud and vital role in helping to secure Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. And just as important as the history, is the partnership we are building between our countries today. That begins with our commitment to Israel's security. On my last visit here I took a helicopter ride heading north over Israel. Looking right to the Jordan River and left to the Mediterranean Sea, I really appreciated for the first time just how narrow and vulnerable this land is. A vulnerability that has already seen 38 missiles from Gaza this year alone. A vulnerability that just this week has seen the interception of the Klos C ship – yet another despicable attempt by the Iranians to smuggle more long-range rockets into Gaza. A vulnerability that has too often seen nearby Palestinian schools being named in honour of suicide bombers. It gave me a renewed understanding of what it must be like to be afraid in your own home. So let me say to you very clearly: with me, you have a British Prime Minister whose belief in Israel is unbreakable and whose commitment to Israel's security will always be rock solid. I understand the concern of Israelis who have seen land that Israel has pulled out of, becoming a base for terrorist attacks. And I will always stand up for the right of Israel to defend its citizens. A right enshrined in international law, in natural justice and fundamental morality, and in decades of common endeavour between Israel and her allies. When I was in Opposition I spoke out when – because of the law on universal jurisdiction – senior Israelis could not safely come to my country, without fear of ideologically motivated court cases and legal stunts. When I became Prime Minister I legislated to change it. My country is open to you. And you are welcome to visit anytime. When I saw the threat that Hezbollah represented to Israel and beyond I forged a Europe-wide consensus to proscribe its military wing, a key step in the fight against this enemy on your borders. I have led the fight against anti-Semitism and extremism in Britain. We've removed over 26 thousand pieces of illegal terrorist content from the internet worked with the police and with universities to stop extremists spreading their divisive messages on our university campuses and we've excluded more foreign preachers of hate on the basis of our strategy for preventing extremism than ever before. We said no to Zakir Naik. We said no to Yusuf Qaradawi. And we said no to Dieudonne M'bala M'bala whose abhorrent displays of anti-Semitism have no place in a tolerant and inclusive Britain. I've stood up to protect Jewish practices too. The Jewish community has been an absolute exemplar in integrating into British life in every way but integration doesn't mean that you have to give up things that you hold very dear in your religion. When people challenged kosher Shechita. I have defended it. I fought as a back-bench Member of Parliament against the last attempt to do something to change this. And there's no way I'm allowing that to change now I'm Prime Minister. On my watch Shechita is safe in the UK. I am proud to be pursuing the strongest and deepest possible relationship between our two countries. From our trade – which has doubled in a decade and is now worth £5 billion a year to the world leading partnerships between our scientists, academics and hi-tech specialists. Britain and Israel share a commitment to driving the growth of high-tech start-ups. In Britain we've introduced huge tax breaks on early stage investment and special visas for entrepreneurs and in just three and a half years we have grown our Tech City in East London from 200 digital companies more than 1300 today. Israel is the start-up nation – with the second highest density of start-ups outside of Silicon Valley anywhere in the world. As the inspirational President Peres has put it: Israel has gone from oranges to Apple. There are now more than 60 multinational companies with research and development facilities in Israel. Israel's technology is protecting British and NATO troops in Afghanistan. It is providing Britain's National Health Service with one in six of its prescription medicines through Teva and it has produced the world's first commercially available upright walking technology which enabled a British paraplegic woman to walk the 2012 London Marathon. And together British and Israeli technical expertise can achieve so much more. From our scientists working on stem cell cures for some of the worst diseases on the planet to our hi-tech specialists who are making a reality of the UK/Israel Tech Hub – the first of its kind in the world I hope this visit can lay the foundation for even more collaboration and even more business between our countries. And to those who do not share my ambition who want to boycott Israel I have a clear message. Britain opposes boycotts. Whether it's trade unions campaigning for the exclusion of Israelis or universities trying to stifle academic exchange Israel's place as a homeland for the Jewish people will never rest on hollow resolutions passed by amateur politicians. It is founded in the spirit and strength of your people. It is founded in international law. It is founded in the resolve of all of your allies to protect an international system that was forged in our darkest days, to put right historic wrongs. It is founded in the achievements of your economy and your democracy – a country pledged to be fair and equal to all its citizens whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian Arab or Druze. It is your destiny. Delegitimising the State of Israel is wrong.It's abhorrent. And together we will defeat it. Let me turn to my hope for Israel's future. We all yearn for a lasting and secure peace between Israel and its neighbours. Britain fully supports the great work that American Secretary of State John Kerry has been leading. And we believe that in Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas you have leaders who want peace too. We back the compromises needed – including the halt to settlement activity and an end to Palestinian incitement too. And we recognise the difficult and courageous decisions both sides are taking not least with Prime Minister Nethanyahu's decision to release terrorist prisoners, with all the anguish that can bring for affected families. But people come to this Parliament from all over the world and talk about maps and population numbers and processes and deadlines. They tell you how to run your peace process. I will not do that. You know I want peace and a two state solution. You don't need lectures from me about how to get there. What I want to say is something different. What I want to say is this: Imagine what this land would be like if a two state solution was actually achieved. Think of all the aspects of life that would change. Israel's relationships with the world. Its security its long-term prosperity and the quality of life for all its people. On Israel's relationships, imagine, as John Kerry put it: mutual recognition of the nation state of the Palestinian people and the nation state of the Jewish people Let's be clear what that means. An end to the outrageous lectures on human rights that Israel receives at the United Nations from the likes of Iran and North Korea. An end to the ridiculous situation where last year the United Nations General Assembly passed three times as many resolutions on Israel as on Syria, Iran and North Korea put together. No more excuses for the 32 countries in the United Nations who refuse to recognise Israel. And for the Arab League, how many of those States today yearn for a different relationship with Israel – which the peace agreement would enable them to deliver? Think of the capitals in the Arab world where Israelis could travel, do business, and build a future. Imagine Israel – like any other democratic nation – finally treated fairly and normally by all. On security, imagine a peace deal that would leave Israel more secure, not less secure. Not a temporary deal, broken by Hamas firing rockets at you or Iranian proxies smuggling weapons through the Jordan Valley. But a proper lasting peace that allows a strong moderate Palestinian government to end the fears of a failed state on Israel's border. A deal that means an end of all claims – and an end of all conflict. Israelis and Palestinians no longer each other's enemy, but actually working together to maintain security against those who would seek to harm us all. On prosperity, the possibilities of peace are extraordinary. This is a region where demographics are demanding 40 million jobs in the next decade, to keep pace with the rising expectations of young people. A region where the thirst for higher education today will need to be met with the jobs of tomorrow. So imagine the engine of Israel's economy fully unleashed to work in the region – and to meet the needs that are common to all. How to make the best use of land and technology to feed a rising population? How to harness water resources so precious to all? Imagine Israel's technology working hand in glove with those making strides with renewables – securing the future needs of their peoples for a time when their economies can no longer rely on carbon. Imagine the agreements ready to be signed off with every major trading bloc in the world. Committees deliberating not on what products to stop from Israel – but on what products they can bring in. Imagine too how this new future would feel. Because this isn't just about security and prosperity – as important as those are. This is about justice for two peoples. Dignity for the Jewish people and yes, dignity for the Palestinian people too. Generations of Jewish and Palestinian children for once growing up in hope not fear. Israel is a nation where around every corner there is a memorial and a reminder of those who fought to create a modern Israel from the human tragedies of the past. But those sacrifices were not just to build a State that was physically secure. They were to build a state that would fulfil its rightful moral position in a region where security, dignity and mutual respect would be the new watchwords. For Israelis, a life free from the everyday fear of terror. For the Palestinians, finally, the chance to live autonomously in a state of their own. Imagine if you could look your children and grandchildren in the eye and know that your hope could become their reality. These are the dividends of peace that I long for in Israel. And I will do everything I can do help bring them about. At the same time, we must be constantly vigiland about the wiuder challenges in the region. These are challenges we all face. The threat of a nuclear-armed Iran and perhaps the greatest challenge of all, the poisonous ideology of Islamist extremism. And to people who try to say that Israel is the cause of these problems. I say that fundamentally misunderstands what these problems are about. Take Iran. Israel is not the cause of the shadow that Iran casts over the world. There is no rule that says if Israel and the Palestinians make peace, Iran is somehow going to dismantle its despotic regime or abandon its nuclear intentions. That can only be done through sustained international pressure. I share your deep scepticism and great concern about Iran. I am not starry eyed about the new regime. A nuclear armed Iran is a threat to the whole world – not just to Israel and with Israel and all our allies, Britain will ensure that is never allowed to happen. Similarly, while of course, extremism feeds on conflict in the Middle East and elsewhere Israel is not the cause of the poisonous ideology that fuels terrorism across the region and across the world. We must be clear what we mean by this term – the poisonous ideology of Islamist extremism – and distinguish it from Islam. Islam is a religion observed peacefully and devoutly by over a billion people. Islamist extremism is a warped and barbaric ideology that ties to set our societies against each other by radicalising young Muslims all across the world. At its furthest end are those who back terrorism to promote their ultimate goal: an entire Islamist realm. Governed by an interpretation of Sharia. Move along the spectrum and you find people who may reject violence, but who accept various parts of the extremist world view, including real hostility towards Israel and the West, towards our democracy and liberal values. They provide succour fort the men and women of violence – and we must confront and challenge them too. That is what Britain's approach to anti-extremism is all about. No country knows more about the threat of terror justified by this grim Islamist mind-set than you do here in Israel. But we too have paid our own prices on the streets of London, elsewhere in the country and around the world. So we share your resolve top overcome this evil. And I believe that like our closest allies, Britain and Israel have the history, the values, capability and – yes – the historic responsibility to take this on. We need a response that is tough, intelligent and patient. Tough – in that it demands a strong security response. Whether that's military action to go after the terrorists, or international co-operation on intelligence and counter-terrorism. To make sure that the Taleban don't take over Afghanistan. To support AMISOM against Al-Shabab in Somalia. To support the government in Libya to build new and effective security forces. To support the people of Mali, together with their neighbours and our French allies to prevent a new terrorist haven developing on our doorstep and yes, it requires a tough, strong security response to defeat the Al Qaeda linked extremists in Pakistan, in Syria, in Sinai – and wherever else they are found. But second, alongside a tough security response must be an intelligent political response. We know that Al Qaeda franchises thrive where there is political instability and weak or dysfunctional political institutions. So we must match a strong security response with a political approach that addresses these issues. That means supporting the building blocks of democracy – the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, the rights of minorities, free media and association and a proper place in society for the army. I'm a Conservative. I don't believe in dropping these things from a great height. Every country must make its own way. But we should never forget those values that are at the heart of our own progress. And that means supporting the evolution of effective and accountable government and backing people in their search for a job and a voice. Third, we must be patient and resolute. We are in the middle of a generational struggle against a poisonous ideology which is an extreme distortion of the Islamic faith – and which holds that terror and mass murder are not only acceptable but necessary. I am convinced we will be fighting Islamic extremism for the rest of my political lifetime. We must tackle this poisonous thinking at home and abroad and resist the ideologues' attempts to divide the world into a clash of civilisations. The underlying conflicts and grievances that are exploited by terrorists are in many cases long-standing and deep. And the building blocks of democracy, which are a big part of the solution, take time to put in place. But this tough, intelligent and patient approach is the best way to defeat terrorism and ensure our own security. And we must – and will – pursue it with an iron resolve. Later this week you will celebrate Purim. You will recall the time when the Jewish people were under threat of extermination in ancient Persia. And you will experience a day of joy in memory of the way the Jewish people were saved and freedom was delivered. All of us here long for the day that the Jewish people can be free and safe in their homeland. I know the challenges in getting there are great. But far greater is the friendship I bring from Britain – and the strength of our collective resolve. So as I stand here with you and look to the future, my message to you today is simply this: we'll be with you every step of the way. Anachnu Beyachad [We are with you].           |
| 03/12 Links Pt2: The Perils of Parachute journalism in the Middle East; Israel’s Super Cows Posted: 12 Mar 2014 03:30 PM PDT From Ian: Why Shouldn't We Defund the Boycotters? Defunding those who aid boycotts is both legal and morally correct.Parachute journalism leads to poor Middle Eastern reporting Kalman's primary point of discussion, and his main complaint with the world of journalism, is a phenomenon that Kalman refers to as "Parachute Journalism." Parachute journalism is an unspoken practice among journalists, in which they enter a Middle Eastern country, report on information that they know little about, take pictures of what appear to be war-torn locations with people who appear to be terrorists and then hop on a plane back to their homes, having reported inaccurately and with a sensationalized edge.FDR to Stalin: "I Would Give Saudi King 6 Million Jews" The mystery deepened two days later, when the Washington Post published an editorial criticizing the deletions as "pernicious" and an attempt to "doctor history." It noted that among the deletions were "some remarks by President Roosevelt about the Jews," although it did not spell them out. "In historical perspective, President Roosevelt will have to be judged as a whole man, indiscretions and all," the Post argued. Cruise line drops Tunisia for refusing to let in Israelis Norwegian Cruise Lines dropped Tunisia from its itineraries after the country refused to allow Israeli citizens to disembark in the Port of Tunis. Arab airline denies claims of discrimination against Israelis An airline owned by the United Arab Emirates said it "emphatically refutes" claims that it excludes Israel from its official travel-route map and refuses to transport Israelis.The Minneapolis model: Innovating Israel advocacy Our community can rejoice in the fact that the past thirty days are showcased with pivotal victories for Israel advocacy. The recent successfully adopted pro-Israel legislation in the Minnesota Student Association (MSA) spearheaded by the Students Supporting Israel at the University of Minnesota (SSI) produces such cause to count our blessings.In Gaza, some NGOs place water politics over public health Gaza's water quality issues, due to years of overpumping from their coastal aquifers as well as other factors such as agricultural pollution, and sewage dumping, are well documented. However, efforts by some NGOs to implement what has been determined by experts to be the most effective solution - desalination - has been met by staunch opposition by some 30 Palestinian and pro-Palestinian organisations and NGOs. They made this clear in a position paper they issued on March 9 through the Palestinian water issue-focused NGO umbrella coalition EWASH. It's enlightening to examine their reasons for opposing desalination, in their own words.Barnard Yanks Pro-Palestinian Banner A banner featuring a green, borderless depiction of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip was hung at the entrance to Barnard College last night. The banner, which read, "Stand for justice, stand for Palestine," was created by the Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine as the kick-off to their annual Israel Apartheid Week, and was displayed alongside Barnard's official emblem in a space traditionally used to advertise campus events such as film festivals or dance performances.Palestinian Antisemitism: Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the Jews' plan to subjugate the world Ma'an, an independent Palestinian news agency, has published a viciously Antisemitic article depicting Jews as the force of evil in the world, fulfilling their goals of world subjugation, according to the plan in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The article contends that Jews "are planning means to take over the reins of world politics, by spreading organized destruction throughout the countries." It blames the Jews for the French and Russian revolutions and well as other civil wars, initiated by Jews in order to weaken countries of the world, in order to rule over them.Report: Saudi Arabia to close down Al Jazeera Saudi Arabia is planning on closing down the office of Al Jazeera in the next few days as the conflict with Qatar continues to escalate, a London-based Arab daily reported on Monday.Book: Infamous Nazi Goering Refused to Pray, Said Jesus Was 'Just Another Smart Jew' Shortly Before Dying On the day they were to be killed, Gerecke sat with the condemned men in his charge and asked them to join him in a prayer he had written. They were also offered communion for their sins by the pastor. However, when he approached Goering, the Nazi told him he could not say "Jesus, save me," according to excerpts of Townsend's book published by the Daily Mail.Israeli man tasered outside Paris synagogue The attack happened on Monday night at a building next to a synagogue on Pavee Street in Paris' 4th arrondissement, according to the news site JSSnews.com.France: Jewish girl beaten up for wearing a Star of David A Jewish girl was attacked in a laundry in Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon on February 17. The attackers were a mother and daughter of North African descent.France's Problem Bigger Than One Comic Rather than focus all their energy on one rogue entertainer, Europeans who care about stamping out hate need to ask whether his ability to tap into old hatreds says something about other aspects of their society. Anti-Semitism isn't merely the product of the banlieues — working class suburbs — where immigrant families live but a factor that has played a role in politics and culture for centuries. What they need are not more laws restricting anti-Semitic speech but a nationwide soul-searching about the way Jew-hatred has been enabled by a broader group than those laughing at Dieudonné's jokes.Netherlands anti-Semitic attacks rise 23% The Hague-based Center for Information and Documentation on Israel, or CIDI, recorded 147 anti-Semitic incidents in the Netherlands in 2013 compared to 114 in the previous year. CIDI's annual report was released Tuesday.Ex-Turkish minister apologizes for anti-Semitic remarks A former Turkish government minister apologized to the country's Jewish community for anti-Semitic comments he made at a political rally.Belfast's last Jews shown on the Beeb Aaron Black, one of less than a handful of young Jews remaining in Belfast, Northern Ireland, holds out little hope for the survival of the city's Jewish community. As a non-practicing Jew, he takes the drastic dwindling of numbers with considerable equanimity. As a filmmaker, however, he is passionate about documenting the community's demise before it disappears completely.David Cameron to announce multi-million pound trade deals during Israel visit David Cameron will arrive in Israel today to promote stronger ties with Britain in the technology and innovation industries.Jewish Traveler Saved From Lost Malaysia Flight by Orthodox Agent Insisting on Shabbat Observance Jewish traveler named Andrew was saved from tragedy by a last-minute decision to follow his travel agent's suggestion not to fly on Shabbat, which is how he narrowly missed boarding the lost Malaysian Air Flight 370, the Boeing 777 that has disappeared from flight maps.Uncovered in Jerusalem, 9 tiny unopened Dead Sea Scrolls They're not much larger than lentils, but size doesn't minimize the potential significance of nine newfound Dead Sea Scrolls that have lain unopened for the better part of six decades.The Land of Milk: Israel's Super Cows Are the World's Most Productive (VIDEO) Israeli technology has made the country's "Super Cows" world famous, as they produce much more milk than other countries' cows, up to 10.5 tons a year, 10% more than in the U.S. and almost 50% more than in Germany, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.The Super Cows Making Israel Flow With Milk      |
| Posted: 12 Mar 2014 02:00 PM PDT From PCHR: At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 06 March 2014, Mos'aad Mousa Abu Samrah (22) from Deir al-Balah was shot in the neck when an armed person fired in celebration of one of his relatives' wedding party. The injured was immediately taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive medical treatment. He was then transferred to Shifa hospital in Gaza City because of the seriousness of his injury. However, medical sources at the hospital declared his death an hour after his arrival at the hospital.Hey, shooting weapons wildly at a public event is a human right. I think there is a UN resolution supporting it. How dare anyone criticize a crucial part of Palestinian Arab culture and history? PCHR is obviously Zionist.      |
| Islamic Jihad pretends Manhattan explosion is from their rockets Posted: 12 Mar 2014 12:02 PM PDT Islamic Jihad's Palestine Today website is covering the rocket barrage being sent by that group to Israel. Of course, they are monitoring Israeli TV and websites to grab photos of any damage their rockets are causing. Naturally, they have lots of photos like this:  But some of their photos show what looks like much greater damage:  Does that look like Sderot or Ashkelon to you? No, it's Harlem, where there was a massive explosion today. Terror inflation! By the way, guess what Islamic Jihad is calling this operation, which as of this writing they claim includes some 130 rockets and mortars? "Operation Breaking the Silence." In other Gaza terror news, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades - a subsidiary of Fatah - took credit for 4 of the rockets fired today from Gaza, at 6:20 PM. In their communique, they called the Zionists "sons of apes and pigs," by which they of course are referring to Jews. The leader of Fatah is, of course, Mahmoud Abbas. (h/t Yenta P)      |
| The shortlist of candidates to become Abbas' vice president Posted: 12 Mar 2014 10:30 AM PDT Al Quds al Arabi (via PalToday) reports that the Fatah Revolutionary Committee will decide on a vice president for Mahmoud Abbas by the end of its current session. According to the article, here is the shortlist of candidates:
Notice that the prime ministers who have been carefully chosen to appeal to the West, Salam Fayyad and Rami Hamdallah, who have no terror connections, are not even being considered. The reason is that they are not Fatah members. And Fatah is still today a terrorist group with a "military wing," just like Hamas. In fact, just today the Fatah terror group Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades announced that "armed resistance" remains an option "until the liberation of the whole of Palestine." You don't have to think too hard about what they mean when they say that. But never has Abbas or any other Fatah leader distanced themselves from anything the Brigades say. This tells you all you need to know about the Palestinian Arab leaders' "moderation." And their method to choose the next president tells you all you need to know about their interest in democracy.      |
| 03/12 Links Pt1: The Apartheid Canard; Iran ‘Our hands are on the trigger’ to destroy Israel Posted: 12 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT From Ian: Obama, Tibi and the Apartheid Canard Then there are all the other Arabs in prominent positions – college presidents, hospital directors, ambassadors, army officers, Supreme Court justices and more. The Elder of Ziyon blog has a must-see poster collection featuring these and many other examples that are the very antithesis of apartheid. But hey, who you gonna believe: Haaretz's Gideon Levy or your lying eyes?The Questions No One Asks The Palestinians aspire to control all the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, not only those holy to Islam, but those holy to Christianity and Judaism as well.Behind The Lines: Kurdistan emerges Aydar also made some fascinating and far-reaching comments about Israel and its place in the region. His tone was one common among Kurds, yet probably without parallel elsewhere in the region. Peace and the Palestinian We Do Not Know Before signing an agreement with an aging "president" more than five years past the end of his stated term — someone with no known successor, no process for choosing one, no institutions for holding elections, no capacity to implement any agreement in half his putative state (controlled by the terrorist group he promised to dismantle under the Road Map and didn't), presiding over a society steeped in anti-Semitic incitement, unwilling to endorse even the concept of "two states for two peoples" (much less explicitly recognize a Jewish state) – we should put aside the perennial argument that time is running out, the over-hyped demographics, and "what's happening in the settlements" (since what's happening in the settlements is mostly construction in areas Israel will retain in any conceivable peace agreement), and pause to reflect on President Obama's last sentence: "We do not know what a successor to Abbas will look like."U.S., Israeli Officials Float Possibility of Expanding Israeli Missile Shield to Protect U.S. Arab Allies Reuters yesterday conveyed statements from U.S. Brigadier-General John Shapland, the chief American defense attache in Israel, suggesting that Israel could expand its anti-missile umbrella to protect Jordan and Egypt.Supreme Court: Jews legally bought contested Hebron house The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a Palestinian appeal regarding the ownership of a contested house in Hebron, ruling that it was purchased legally by its Jewish residents.East Jerusalem man planned to blow up homes in capital as revenge against Jews The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Jerusalem District Police announced on Wednesday the arrest of a Palestinian resident of east Jerusalem on suspicion of cutting cooking gas pipes in residential buildings in Jerusalem, as part of a one-man terrorism campaign.Liberman rebuffs claims of cover-up in border shooting Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman dismissed suggestions Wednesday that Israel was covering up anything in its investigation of the shooting of a Jordanian magistrate's judge at the Allenby border crossing Monday.Jordanians Outraged That Israeli Soldiers Would Defend Themselves (satire) "This travesty, this Israeli arrogance, is the last straw," said Ahmed Jamali, head of the Jordanian Bar Association. "It is deeply offensive to the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples that a man of the law, a judge, cannot act with impunity." He added that it was patently unjust to allow Israeli soldiers to carry weapons, as the only proper use for weapons is to shoot Israeli schoolchildren, which IDF soldiers have demonstrated they are unwilling to do.BBC News reframes Iranian arms shipment story, censors information Significantly, BBC audiences are kept entirely in the dark with regard to the information provided to the press which shows that the weapons shipment did indeed come from Iran. The fact that the shipment included Iranian-produced mortars is disappeared entirely from the BBC's report. The fact that the weapons were concealed under bags of cement marked as being made in Iran and that the containers carrying the arms had unique seals used by the Iranian customs authorities is also not mentioned.Netanyahu Pockets Bullet From Seized Iranian Arms Shipment (VIDEO) While presenting to worldwide media outlets on Monday the weapons seized from an Iranian arms ship last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was filmed pocketing one of the estimated 400,000 bullets found on board, Israel's Channel 2 reported.Hamas Desperate for Good Relations With Egypt Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of Hamas's political bureau, took to Facebook to send peaceful greetings to Cairo, which has barred all activities from the ruling party of Gaza because of fears that it's been colluding with deposed Muslim Brotherhood president Mohammed Morsi to lead their combined forces against Egypt's military.Bomb goes off outside Israel embassy in Cairo A bomb was detonated Tuesday outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo, Egyptian media reported, causing harm to several cars in the area but resulting in no casualties.Egypt doctor faces trial over fatal female genital mutilation A doctor in Egypt will face trial for performing a female circumcision operation that killed a teenage girl, a judicial official said on Tuesday.Jewish community leader dies in Cairo Nadia Haroun was the deputy head of the Egyptian Jewish Community Council and the sister of the current head, Magda Haroun, who was chosen unanimously in April to replace the community's former leader, Carmen Weinstein.Support Denied The Obama administration has turned down an urgent appeal from Egypt's government for the delivery of U.S. Apache attack helicopters needed for counterterrorism operations in the Sinai Peninsula.Iran general: 'Our hands are on the trigger' to destroy Israel In an article headlined "IRGC Commander: Iran's Finger on Trigger to Destroy Zionist Regime," Fars wrote that Brigadier General Hossein Salami had declared that Iranian military commanders are prepared to attack and destroy the Zionist regime of Israel as soon as they receive such an order. "Today, we can destroy every spot which is under the Zionist regime's control with any volume of fire power (that we want) right from here," Fars quoted Salami as telling a conference in Tehran Tuesday on "The Islamic World's Role in the Geometry of the World Power."Iran and Russia sign on to build more nuclear plants at Bushehr Atomic Energy Organization of Iran officials and Russia's Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation negotiated and came to an agreement about the plants, said the spokesman for the AEOI.UN chief pans Iran for human rights breaches UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon harshly criticized Iran Wednesday for doing too little to improve its human rights situation, noting more executions, the detention of regime opponents and discrimination against women.Iranian Lawmaker Blames U.S. for Plane Disappearance On Tuesday, an influential Iranian lawmaker accused the United States of having "kidnapped" Flight 370, saying it was an attempt to "sabotage the relationship between Iran and China and South East Asia."US General Warns America Must Take Out Iran The interim agreement between Iran and Western powers last November is a "farce," according to Lieutenant General (ret.) William G. "Jerry" Boykin. The former senior military official warned that the US has only one option left -- to take out Iran's nuclear program militarily.'The moment Iran goes nuclear, the Saudis will buy the bomb from Pakistan' As soon as Iran gets a nuclear bomb, Egypt will develop its own nuclear weapon, and Saudi Arabia will purchase one from Pakistan, Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, director of political-military affairs at the Defense Ministry, warned on Tuesday.      |
| Abbas stuns Arab and Jewish audiences Posted: 12 Mar 2014 07:00 AM PDT (Another Purim post.) PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas stunned the Fatah Revolutionary Council on Wednesday, telling the group that he is against armed resistance and has no intention to enforce the "right of return." He also said that he is willing to share access to Jerusalem's holy sites with the Jews and that he is against any sort of boycott of Israel. Furthermore, he hinted that he might be able to accept a compromise formula on accepting Israel as a Jewish state. As his audience gaped at him in horror, the leader strode briskly out of the room saying that he had another important meeting to attend. But when he arrived in the Ramallah hotel where Israeli liberals eagerly gathered to hear his words, Abbas struck a more hostile tone. He shouted that "Palestinian martyrs" were the heroes of his people and that Jerusalem has always been an Islamic city since the time of the Muslim King Solomon. He said that the Mufti of Jerusalem in the 1920s and 1930s was a shining example for all Palestinian Arabs and that the Holocaust that he helped engineer was exaggerated. Abbas then went on to describe his meeting a few years back with Samir Kuntar, the child killer who now lives in Lebanon, and how warm a man he is. He then said that he won't rest until every Palestinian Arab goes back to their homes in Israel and that he would never, under any circumstances, accept Israel as a Jewish state. Abu Mazen, as he is known to Palestinians, then went on to say that Jews have no rights to live anywhere in Palestine except as second-class citizens under benevolent Muslim rule. The audience became more uncomfortable as Mahmoud Abbas started to speak about his admiration of famous terrorist Dalal Mughrabi and how the Jewish Temples were a myth. However, Gideon Levy, covering the event for Haaretz, couldn't stop himself from cheering throughout the speech, often shouting "You GO, Mahmoud!" Twenty minutes into his speech, the 79-year old Abbas looked up from his prepared text and paused. He slowly took off his glasses, cleaned them, put them back on, peered around the room and turned slightly pale. The PLO leader then quietly folded up the paper he was reading from, retrieved a different sheet of paper from another pocket, and then read the words that he had spoken earlier in the day at the Fatah Revolutionary Council meeting. When Abbas was done talking about his love for peace and compromise, the Israeli liberals broke out in wild applause, giving him a standing ovation for his wisdom and moderation.      |
| Gaza rockets still being shot, but most are landing in Gaza Posted: 12 Mar 2014 05:00 AM PDT JPost reports: A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip exploded in an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council on Tuesday night.Yes, even though they don't make news unless they cause damage or deaths, they are still being fired. The latest Gaza NGO Safety Office report, covering the period from February 20-March 5, shows that (beside test firings) Gazans fired seven rockets towards Israel in that timeframe. However, out of those seven, six of them landed in Gaza! That is an astonishing 83% failure rate for rockets, by far the worst I have ever seen. Normally it is in the 30-40% range. Together with the "work accidents" that we have been seeing, it can mean a few things: 1) All a coincidence. 2) More amateurs are trying to get involved in terrorism. 3) Raw materials for explosives and rockets are becoming mysteriously unstable. It shouldn't be too hard to start a rumor that someone sabotaged the bomb-making materials in Gaza. Could be fun! UPDATE: Over 60 rockets today did make it to Israel.      |
| Northeastern U suspends anti-Israel group Posted: 12 Mar 2014 02:46 AM PDT From Max Blumenthal, writing in one of the few media outlets that still bother to publish him, Mondoweiss: On March 7, members of Northeastern University's Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) were informed by the school's Center for Student Involvement that their chapter had been suspended for at least a year.Yeah, that's what is upsetting them. University funds. The SJP Northeastern website's description of what happened is hysterical in its attempt to be treated as the victims in this incident, as they wildly spray accusations of racism and discrimination at their university: Notice how they do everything possible to ignore or minimize the actual disgusting act that they did - putting out threatening leaflets, a gimmick that has already been widely denounced in other universities. Instead they try mightily to pretend that the university is a racist institution for protecting its students. This has not been a good year for anti-Israel forces on campus. All indications are that this year's "apartheid week" events have been poorly attended and barely reported. The haters are now on the defensive, and revealing themselves as whiny crybabies rather than serious critics of Israel. Thanks to reactions like the SJP's above, this trend will only accelerate. It is obvious that the Palestinian Arab habits of playing the victim, blaming everything on others and refusing to take responsibility for their own actions is attractive to a tiny minority of people who would join their bandwagon rather than actually working to bring a solution. Only the most unstable student would ever consider joining a group that releases such a statement as the screed SJP-NE released. (h/t Jaime)      |
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