Thursday, June 24, 2004
IDF launches "full court press" against Nablus terrorists
Although suicide attempt have been foiled recently, nonetheless, says IsraeliInsider, the search goes on to eliminate all possible such terror threats.
This week, security officials said that there was a 75% drop in the number of attempted suicide bombings this year, compared to the similar period in 2003. "The level of terror is slowly declining," Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz confirmed. But Mofaz warned, "We must keep up the offensive operations. The pressure is working. The motivation of terror organizations is high, yet their capabilities have significantly decreased," he said.This morning, Israeli forces launched an extensive operation in Nablus, considered the "capital of terrorism." According to officials, 80% of the terror warnings emanate from the Tanzim's infrastructure in Nablus. Many of these Tanzim cells receive instructions from Hizbullah in Lebanon, the officials said. A planned suicide bombing in Jerusalem was thwarted by security forces this week.
Israel's war on terror continues unabated, and the present "lull," which could end at any moment, is deceiving. ...article in full>>
Opposition: Saudi security knew Johnson's location
A few anti-terrorist specialists hinted at an awareness of Saudie Arabia concerning the whereabouts of the kidnapped American Johnson, who was subsequently beheaded. This article in worldtribune explores that possibility
Saudi opposition sources said Saudi security commanders knew of the location of Al Qaida chief Abul Aziz Al Muqrin at least three days before he executed a U.S. hostage.The Washington-based Saudi Institute said Saudi authorities knew of the whereabouts of the Al Qaida cell that abducted and threatened to kill Lockheed Martin engineer Paul Johnson. But the institute said the Saudi government decided not to move until Johnson, captured on June 12, was executed.
"The Saudi government knew the location of a number of the terrorists but waited until they killed American hostage Paul Johnson before moving against them," the Saudi Institute said in a statement on Tuesday. ...full article
Of Interest
U.N.: Mideast needs political solution
Egypt gets Israeli, Palestinian pledges
Israeli Soldiers' Photos Illuminate Occupation>/a>
Intelligence Chief Confirms Clinton’s Version of Golan Talks
Intel chief: Palestinians still want Israel destroyed
Pity the poor Palestinians
IDF says Hezbollah has taken over Tanzim
AFP - still distorting PA terror ties
Bomb near Bush's hotel in Turkey
Lots of new Israeli .Net Bloggers around!
Gaza Plan Ricochets
The Sharon plan produces some changes worth noting, according to this piece in csmonitor
Israel's plan to withdraw its forces and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip next year is already boosting prospects for peace in the Middle East:
• A political split over the withdrawal plan has forced Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to lean his government toward the majority of Israelis who want a peace deal with the Palestinians, perhaps by forming a grand coalition with the opposition Labor party in coming days.• The Gaza plan has compelled Egypt to consider sending 200 security experts to the neighboring territory to train and supervise Palestinian forces. The aim is to prevent anarchy or a takeover by radical Islamic Palestinian militants from spilling trouble over the border. Egypt's move also creates a possible opening for international troops to safeguard an eventual peace pact.
• The plan has helped force Palestinian officials to finally suppress suicide-bombings (the last one was three months ago), perhaps indicating a possible end to the violent intifada that began nearly two years ago....more>>
Action: Sharon's Surrender Plan
I received two e-mails from Susie Dym, spokesperson for Cities of Israel ("Mattot Arim"). The first calls upon IsraPundit readers to question one specific Likud MK, namely Michael Eitan (mikieitn@netvision.net.il), about the human rights angle of Sharon's surrender plan. The second e-mail is a call for a letter-writing campaign, asking the Jewish Agency not to fund Sharon's plan.
Please join these campaigns!
(1) Disengagement plan; Human rights; Ethnic cleansing
By Susie Dym, Cities of Israel
New at LAT
In my June 20 post on Join The Boycott [JTB], I quoted a reference to the LA Times financial woes. Located as I am on the other side of the continent and way up north, it is difficult for me to assess how much of the LA Times woes are due to the boycott effort, but it is still encouraging to see that Israel's enemies are made to pay.
The LA Times article which deals with its own financial misery bore the title "Los Angeles Times Cuts About 160 Jobs", which demonstrates the sad reality that even victories (over this anti-Israel outlet) come with agony (to the fired workers).
I take this opportunity to remind our readers that the site of action-oriented JTB is at:
http://www.geocities.com/truthmasters/watch04-2.html#0622
Is it binding
House endorses White House position on Israel, Gaza pullout
By The Associated Press
(Whether this amounts to a binding agreement on the US is not clear. There may be spec ial wording need for that.)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday joined President George W. Bush in backing Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from all Gaza Strip settlements and confirming that a new Palestinian state, rather than Israel, should take in Palestinian refugees.
The resolution, passed 407-9 with three lawmakers voting present, states that Congress "strongly endorses" the principles laid down by Bush in an April 14 letter to Sharon, including that it was "unrealistic" to expect Israel to pull back to borders that existed before the 1967 Mideast war because of the large Jewish populations that have settled in contested areas.
Continue reading "Is it binding"
Barbara and Mordechai Goldman on the Jerusalem-Tel-Aviv Highway
Below is another of the Goldmans' posts on Jewish/Israeli history. Today's installment is dedicated to what would appear prima facia as mundane - the Jerusalem-Tel-Aviv Highway; but it is far from being mundane.
For more of the Goldman's articles, use the term "goldman" with IsraPundit's search engine (scroll down the right-hand column).
Continue reading " Barbara and Mordechai Goldman on the Jerusalem-Tel-Aviv Highway "
No ifs, ands, or buts
I received this email today. Chilling
-----------------------------------------
This past Friday evening Phyllis and I attended services at Temple Bethel in Palm Beach. We went there specifically to listen to a lecture by Dr. Khaleel Mohammed.
Dr. Mohammed is a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of San Diego. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and is an Imam schooled in the Wahabi-Sunni tradition of Islam. The title of the lecture was "Can Militant Islam Coexist with the state Of Israel?"
What we heard was blood chilling, but not at all surprising. His opening statement was, "The people of the United States worry about Osama. He is nothing but a tiny offshoot of the problem.
The main problem is (and I quote) "EVERY SINGLE MOSQUE IN THE USA
ESPOUSES FROM THE PULPIT THAT EVERY SINGLE JEW (not just Israel) IN THE
WORLD MUST BE ANNIHILATED. No ifs ands or buts!!
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Still at it
Israel thwarts Jerusalem suicide bombing
Auschwitz to Undergo Preservation Work
This is from AP
The ruins of gas chambers and crematoria at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp complex will be preserved as a "warning" to future generations, a spokesman for the memorial site said Tuesday.The gas chambers and crematoria at the Birkenau part of the camp have been in ruins since the Nazis blew them up in an attempt to hide evidence of their crimes as the Soviet army advanced toward the end of World War II.
The gas chambers at Birkenau were built in 1942 as part of the Nazi drive to exterminate Europe's Jews. The Birkenau and Auschwitz camps are a little more than a mile apart.
The conservation work, expected to start in the next few weeks, is being undertaken because "the ruins will disappear if nothing happens," said Jarek Mensfelt, spokesman for the Auschwitz memorial museum. ...more>>
DeLay introduces pro-Israel resolution
As always, a staunch and consistent friend to Israel. This piece is from BigNews Network
U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, introduced a congressional resolution Tuesday in support of President Bush's commitment to Israel.The resolution, the House's No. 2 Republican said, is intended to reaffirm the statement of principles laying out the United States' continued support for Israel's self-defense contained in the president's April 14 letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon....more>>
Mubarak’s Health Poses Questions About Egypt’s Future
This is from truthnews
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is in Germany for medical treatment and has designated his Prime Minister to act in his place while he is away. Mr. Mubarak's health problems have generated renewed speculation in Egypt about who will lead the country when the 76-year-old president retires or dies.Egyptian academics and some opposition party leaders say President Mubarak's health problems underline the need for political change in the country. Egypt has no vice-president and presidential votes in the past two decades have had only Mr. Mubarak on the ballot.
Dia Ideen Dawoud is the head of one of Egypt's opposition political parties, the Nasserite Party...more>>
Don't Do It
"Cities Of Israel" To Jewish Agency: Don't Do It
The grassroots organization Mattot Arim (Cities of Israel), similarly calls upon the Jewish Agency not to turn itself into a source of "soft money" for Sharon. "We urge the Agency not to empower Sharon to defy Israel's voting public by ramming his disengagement plan down Israel's throat," the organization said in a statement today. "Surely the Jewish Agency is entitled to wonder why Sharon prefers to use their auspices, rather than his own government agencies, to implement his plan. The answer is that use of government agencies requires Knesset approval, a very uncertain process in a democracy like Israel. The Jewish Agency, on the other hand, is not an elected body..."
Mattot Arim said it "would remind the Agency's officials and contributors" of the following points:
* Sharon has half-bulldozed his plan through his reluctant cabinet by firing two ministers in order to create an ostensible majority, and the plan has not been presented to the Knesset.
* Sharon's disengagement plan is an about-face of the lifetime image that won him the premiership. It involves de-Judaizing the Gaza Strip, facilitating its status as an international capital for terrorism.
* The plan was proudly presented to the Agency's Board this week, not -- as would be appropriate -- by a senior minister of the ruling Likud party, but rather by two opposition Knesset members, Shimon Peres and Chaim Ramon. These two men belong to the Labor Party, which ran for election just last year on the disengagement platform and was roundly defeated.
The statement concludes:
"We beg the Jewish Agency to realize the importance of absolutely rejecting any attempt by anyone, even Israel's Prime Minister, to short-circuit Israel's democracy by involving the Agency in controversial plans to drag a peaceful minority population - including thousands of children, some maimed by terror - screaming, biting and kicking, from their legal homes and farms.
"The Jewish Agency should not sully its good name by rudely imposing itself on Israel's fragile democracy at this delicate time. This is particularly the case since the Agency represents the Jewish community of the United States of America, a country whose calling card in the world community is -- democracy.
"The venerable Jewish Agency should not become embroiled in a plan which, unfortunately, could easily bring Israel to the brink of civil war."
Will the West survive?
The Muslim world is at war with Western civilization. We have the military might to thwart them. The question is: Do we have the intelligence to recognize the attack and the will to defend ourselves from annihilation? Their intent is clear, but let's refresh our memories with a bit of history.
At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, several athletes were massacred. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Tehran was taken over and 52 hostages held for more than a year. In 1983, U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut were blown up, killing 241 U.S. soldiers. In 1988, Pan Am flight 103 was bombed, killing 270 people. In 1993, there was the first bombing of the World Trade Center, and in 2001, it was reduced to rubble, killing more than 3,000 Americans. In 1998, U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, resulting in more than 200 dead and 4,000 injured. Who are the people responsible for these and other wanton murders of innocents, including the recent barbaric beheading of two innocent men? They were all Muslims.
Continue reading "Will the West survive?"
O brothers, where art thou?
This very moving story is from HaaretzThis article, bringing
the abstractions to life via a real family, is worth 1,000 analyses.
Hezi Imani was almost 20 when he died. His brother, Dan, turned 20 not long before his own death. The one was killed on Lebanese soil, the other - in the very heart of Jerusalem.
Herzl Imani remembers the days of his childhood in Iran. He was an Iranian and a Jew, but behaved as someone whose Judaism was more dominant, struggling between the two identities. His neighbors constantly harassed him because of his Judaism, telling him night and day that his religion was unclean. One day, when he was 10, he joined a group of other boys in the neighborhood, and with them pushed around a tiny car that one of the boys had received as a gift. The excitement was great; all the enthusiastic friends were eager to touch the expensive, shiny toy from Europe. Suddenly, one of the children shouted at him: "Don't touch the car." His friends chimed in and shouted at him: "Don't touch it! You're an unclean Jew."article in full>>
Organization of the Islamic Conference Backs New Iraqi Government
By Andrew L. Jaffee; Cross-posted at netWMD
While infamous al-Qaeda murderer Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is threatening to assassinate Iraq’s new prime minister, the world's largest Muslim body, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), has agreed to back Iraq’s interim government. According to FOXNews, the OIC will
…"actively assist" the [new] administration as it takes power -- a change for Muslim nations who shunned an earlier U.S.-backed council.
The 57 countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference gave no details late Wednesday, but their statement of support helps boost the legitimacy of the new Iraqi administration as it struggles to establish control and battle insurgents.
Is this a sea change in world Muslim opinion on Iraq? Is it a realization that beheadings, violations of women’s rights, and lack of political freedoms in the Muslim world are counterproductive? I don’t know what to think. I hesitate to celebrate too soon. There are still far too few Muslims who could be considered truly moderate. But the fact that the world’s largest Islamic group has legitimized the Iraqi interim government is a step in the right direction.
Eyes on Israeli Culture #1: What Need Have I For This - What Need Have I For That - I Am Dancing At The Feet of My Lord - All is Bliss - All is Bliss.
As some of you may know, many Israelis - especially upon release from the army - travel to India, in search of not only a cheap and fun adventure but for spiritual search and fulfillment after experiencing the traumas and hardships of fighting in defense of Israel.
I am sure many in the Diaspora may not understand why young Israeli Jews would go abroad to soul search when they are already in the spiritual center of the universe. The fact is that spiritual Judaism is simply not accessible enough in Israel, and many of my generation are completely turned off Judaism due to the role of Haredis in Israeli society. This is not to say that there aren't many wonderful and progressive Jewish outreach initatives here in Israel, but facts are facts and Israelis DO go to India.
Why do I bring this up?
Sometimes cross-cultural fertilization can lead to very rewarding collaborations and mutual-understanding. Such is the case with Israeli Musician Shye Ben-Tzur and his new band Heeyam (The State of Supreme Love). They perform Sufi Muslim spiritual Qawalli music IN HEBREW and the results are simply sublime. Check it out. I know there is a lot of very justified Islam bashing that goes on around here, but these guys are really great. If only they could all be Sufis - they'd be too busy dancing ecstatically and making great music to teach their kids to blow themselves up.
If any of you are interested in getting to know about real life in Modern Israel I highly reccommend getting this album and of course, reading on...
Continue reading "Eyes on Israeli Culture #1: What Need Have I For This - What Need Have I For That - I Am Dancing At The Feet of My Lord - All is Bliss - All is Bliss."
Israel to play major role in safeguarding Athens Olympics
This is from Israel21C
Jun. 23 - Greece, the US army and NATO have been in close contact with Israel security officials prior to the Olympics, Ma'ariv reported. According to the report, prior to the opening of the games, the NATO officials are planning to station on a permanent basis a senior Israeli officer in the Southern Command's war room, located in Naples, Italy. The identity of the officer has not yet been determined, however his role will be to serve as liaison between NATO and the Israel Defense Forces during the games. This would be in order to receive Israeli aid as soon as possible in case of a specific warning about a terror attack in the Mediterranean or in case of a terror attack or other disaster in Greece. In addition, coordination between Israeli and Greek security forces and the American forces of the European Command are reaching their peak these days. This is mainly between the navies, but also between the air forces. As part of this coordination, Israel has transferred information to the Americans and the Greeks about how to close access from the air and the sea to uncontrolled entry by hostile elements during the games. Israeli security establishment officials confirmed to Ma'ariv that in light of the geographical proximity between Israel and Greece, and in light of Israel's experience in the war against terror, IDF officials are expected to be prepared should Greece need direct aid during the Olympic games. "This is a clear Israeli message that we are always prepared to help in the war against terror. All over the world people appreciate both our readiness and Israel's professional knowledge," said senior security officials.
Anti-Semitism rising, Jews in France ponder leaving
This article written by Peter Ford for csmonitor re-enforces what we know all too well.
On a sunny summer's day in this middle-class suburb north of Paris it is not hard to imagine yourself in Israel: Jewish bookshops and kosher grocery stores line busy streets full of men wearing skullcaps and religious women wearing head scarves. A giant menorah stands atop the synagogue.But Sarcelles has been plunged into the midst of a painful debate about the future of Jews in France as a rising plague of anti-Semitic incidents fuels fears for their safety and prompts a new drive by the Israeli authorities to bring potential citizens to the Jewish state....more>>
Of Interest
Annan Wants Golan Heights Peacekeepers To Stay Another 6 Months
Iraqi Kurd Leader Denies Israel Military Cooperation-BBC
Palestinian leadership seeking to rein in militants, Israel says
Sharon Welcomes Egypt's Efforts in Gaza
Israel resisting Egyptian demand to halt military operations in Gaza Strip
Brig.Gen.Kuperwasser: Palestinian vision is a state over all of Palestine-Oslo Trojan Horse
Bayefsky speech to UN Very powerful speech and should be read in full
David Meir-Levi on the history of the Arab Israel Conflict - Chapters 7 and 8
Today, as IsraPundit presents the 12th in a series of articles by David Meir-Levi, we continue the multi-part "Brief history of the Arab Israel Conflict". At present, this multi-part work consists of 14 chapters which bring the reader to 1985. Over the coming days, we will be posting two chapters per installment (Monday to Friday only). The first installments, Chapters 1 to 6 were posted on Friday, June 18, Monday, June 21 and Tuesday, June 22.
One of today's topics, the communities in Yesha ("settlements") was also dealt with separately on June 9.
Barbara and Mordechai Goldman on Aristides de Sousa Mendes
Below is another of the Goldmans' posts on Jewish/Israeli history. Today's installment is dedicated to Aristides de Sousa Mendes.
For more of the Goldman's articles, use the term "goldman" with IsraPundit's search engine (scroll down the right-hand column).
Continue reading " Barbara and Mordechai Goldman on Aristides de Sousa Mendes "
Urgent action required
Please read and forward far and wide:
Within the next 48 hours, Jews worldwide will be sending email messages to
the United Nations, the EU Parliament and the EU Court of Justice with the identical message that is on this email.
PLEASE take a quick moment to copy the message below and paste it on to a new email that should be sent to the email addresses listed below:
ecu@un.org - United Nations
civis@europarl.eu.int - EU Parliament
info@curia.eu.int - EU Court of Justice
information@eumc.eu.int - EU Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia
Message:
When Israel builds a fence to keep out terrorists, the UN and EU are up in arms because it makes it difficult for terrorists to kill more Jews.
When terrorists shoot (point blank!) an 8-month-pregnant Jewish woman and her 4 little girls, there is absolute silence from your organizations. If you think your indifference goes unnoticed, count the number of messages you will receive world-wide in the next 48 hours on this subject.
Respectfully,
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Its not really about Israel, but think about it for a minute
Afghans Behead Taliban In Revenge for Beheadings
US chides Israel settler inaction
This is from BBC
Ambassador Dan Kurtzer said Washington was still waiting for Israel to deliver on promises it made last year."This is something Israel undertook to do and... we expect them to be fulfilled," he told Israeli army radio.
Israel's army has meanwhile released figures showing a sharp fall in suicide attacks by Palestinian militants....more>>>
Who killed Paul Johnson?
"Paul Johnson was killed by lies spread by Arab elites. He was killed by those who wrote those textbooks and those who taught them for decades.
He was killed by the sheiks who finance Arab television, and by the anchormen and women who, with tones of false emotion in their voices, told all those lies about Fallujah — just as they have been telling lies about other conflicts involving the Arabs for decades.
He was killed by the over 1,500 Arab lawyers who have volunteered to defend Saddam Hussein but were nowhere to be seen when he was engaged in genocide against the Iraqi people.
Johnson was killed by the wealthy Arabs who continue to finance the terror organizations."
Amir Taheri in NYPost
Gary Bauer's daily commentary
The Saudi Connection
European governments across the continent have been making a shocking discovery. Many of the most extremist oriented mosques in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, etc. are being funded by Saudi Arabia and promote the radical jihadist version of Islam know as Wahhabism. Many European governments are beginning to crack down on this potential "5th column."
Unfortunately, here in the U.S. we are lagging behind our European friends in determining how Saudi money is being used. There is substantial evidence to suggest that the same radical Wahhabi sect funded by the Saudis is in control of many American mosques. In addition, Saudi money is supporting Islamic schools, Middle Eastern studies centers at major universities and scores of Muslim community groups. I have read press reports of Islamic schools here in the U.S. teaching from geography books in which Israel does not exist. And students at a local Islamic school were quoted expressing support for the September 11th hijackers.
Continue reading " Gary Bauer's daily commentary "
Sign and Circulate the petition
From: "Edgar M. Bronfman"
Subject: Anti-Semitism Petition by the World Jewish Congress
Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004
Dear Friend,
A thoughtful friend of yours suggested I send you this note today. I hope you don't mind and I also hope you can help.
On April 26, the World Jewish Congress launched an historic campaign to collect 1,000,000 signatures for an important petition (http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/petition/) urging the UN to pass a standalone resolution condemning anti-Semitsm.
This resolution will be presented to the UN General Assembly in September, and on that day World Jewry must speak with one voice on this issue. With news coming every day of violent anti-Semitic attacks in Europe and around the globe, it is critical that we act now to stop the rising tide of anti-Semitism.
So please, read the resolution, sign the petition and urge your family and friends to do the same. "All Jews are responsible for one another" and it is only with the steadfast support and dedication of people like you that we can ensure this resolution passes.
Anti-Semitism is a problem for all of us, and today you have a chance to help put an end to it. So please, take a moment, sign the petition and spread the word, so that we can show the world that Jews stand united against anti-Semitism.
Sincerely
Edgar M. Bronfman
PS: You can read more about the rising anti-Semitism and many other issues important to Jews around the world by visiting our website.
PPS: When you visit the Web-site and sign the UN Petition, we'll also ask that you tell-a-friend about this critically important campaign at http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/taf/. It's simple, all you need do is provide us with their e-mail addresses and we'll send them this appeal. After you've signed the online petition, please consider making a donation (https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/donate/) of any amount to the World Jewish Congress. Your financial support of the WJC is what makes extraordinary campaigns like this one possible!
Thanks Again.
Edgar
Turkey Says Accepts Israel Denial on Kurd Training
This "training" had been in the news for the past few days. Clearly it has been a source of concern for Turkey. To see the Israeli response, click here
A site to explore
For a nice roundup of news items of current interest, visit jta.org. At the right-hand margin you wil find a listing of news items of interest under the heading Breaking News
Islamophobia...or...
This is a wonderful exchange of arguements. Iftikhar Ahmad of The London School of Islamics argues why the West over-reacts and resents the growth and spread of Islam world-wide. His argument, presented in full, is answered by Ali Sina of faithfreedom.orgYou need to read the entire piece to make your own judgement. click here
Palestinian Militants Criticize Egyptian Role in Gaza Pullout
Representatives of major Palestinian militant groups expressed opposition to Egypt's proposed role in securing the Gaza Strip after a planned Israeli pullout, days before a top Egyptian official is to visit the region.
It was the latest sign of trouble for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out of Gaza by September 2005. On Monday, the opposition Labor Party backed a no-confidence motion in Sharon's minority government, delivering a warning that its support for the Gaza pullout should not be taken for granted...more>>
Bayefsky on the UN and Antisemitism
One Small Step
Is the U.N. finally ready to get serious about anti-Semitism?
BY ANNE BAYEFSKY
(Editor's note: Ms. Bayefsky delivered this speech at the U.N. at a conference on Confronting Anti-Semitism: Education for Tolerance and Understanding, sponsored by the United Nations Department of Information, this morning.)
I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you at this first U.N. conference on anti-Semitism, which is being convened six decades after the organization's creation. My thanks to the U.N. organizers and in particular Shashi Tharoor [the undersecretary-general for communications and public information] for their initiative and to the secretary-general for his willingness to engage.
This meeting occurs at a point when the relationship between Jews and the United Nations is at an all-time low. The U.N. took root in the ashes of the Jewish people, and according to its charter was to flower on the strength of a commitment to tolerance and equality for all men and women and of nations large and small. Today, however, the U.N. provides a platform for those who cast the victims of the Nazis as the Nazi counterparts of the 21st century. The U.N. has become the leading global purveyor of anti-Semitism--intolerance and inequality against the Jewish people and its state.
Continue reading "Bayefsky on the UN and Antisemitism"
The more it changes...
"The BBC has now made three times as many documentaries on Israel, virtually all hostile, than on any other country (see bbcwatch.com). But have no fear. The BBC has just hired Ibrahim Helal, editor-in-chief of the radical al-Jazeera TV station, to advise it on how to balance its Middle East coverage and to train BBC journalists on "understanding the Middle East better."
Yes, there's plenty of change, but often not in the direction one might prefer."
Barry Rubin gives in JPost a piece of his mind on the ongoing changes in the MiddleEast as viewed through "pessimistic realism" spectacles.
Action: From Women in Green
The following e-mail was received from Ruth and Nadia Matar of WIG. It is a call for action for both Israelis (to demonstrate) and Israel supporters abroad (letter-writing campaign).
It is lamentable that Israel's supporters have to divert time and effort from the battle against Israel's enemies to battling Israel's own defeatist government.
--------------------------
by Ruth and Nadia Matar
According to the Jerusalem Post of Monday June 21st 2004, PM Ariel Sharon has asked the Jewish Agency to support his unilateral Disengagement Plan and use its funds to help "relocate" settlers from Biblical Gaza and Samaria to the Negev and the Galilee. According to that same article, the Agency has agreed.
The Jewish Agency has let itself be convinced by Sharon that this plan will "provide security, give a boost to the economy and improve Israel's diplomatic standing." This of course is the same pie-in-the-sky reasoning which brought us the Oslo disaster with more than a thousand Jews murdered and thousands more maimed for life.
Continue reading " Action: From Women in Green"
