It has been over a week since I’ve posted
because I have been occupied with personal affairs (I am OK). Many was the time
in the course of the last several days that I have wanted to write. Here I
will touch upon some of the news items that caught my attention, and follow with
more in coming days. (The number of things I might write about is, quite
frankly, overwhelming.)
~~~~~~~~~~
There is so much that is vile happening,
that I will begin with good news: I’m determined to maintain a balance!
See this video about a program that incorporates young people with disabilities
into the IDF:
~~~~~~~~~~
Jew-hatred, which is so prevalent in the
world, is so irrational, so maliciously skewed, so inherently sick, that those
who promote it are oblivious to information about extraordinary, humane
and sensitive actions taken by Israel. Reality is irrelevant to
them. But there are others – exposed to anti-Semitism but still open to
the possibility of seeing good in Jews - who need to know about programs such as
the one described above.
Besides, those who love Israel should share
in this pride.
On all scores, your sharing is
important.
~~~~~~~~~~
I speak about Jew-hatred now for a
reason:
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has just
released the results of a global survey on anti-Jewish attitudes done in 101
countries plus Gaza and PA-administered areas of Judea and Samaria (referred to
as the “West Bank”). Over 53,000 people were polled.
Some 25% of people across the world
exhibit anti-Semitic attitudes, according to the survey.
The highest rates of anti-Semitism in the world are found in the Middle
East and northern Africa . On the average in these areas (Muslim,
all, I note), 74% are anti-Semitic.
The very highest rate of
anti-Semitism in the world was found to exist among the Palestinian Arabs in
Gaza and PA-administered areas of Judea and Samaria. In these areas, 93%
are anti-Semitic. Let me repeat: ninety-three percent have anti-Jewish
attitudes.
Our “peace partners,” my friends.
This, too, should be shared widely.
How could anyone possibly believe there can be genuine peace between Israelis
and Palestinian Arabs? A sick joke.
~~~~~~~~~~
Prime Minister Netanyahu had it right when
he told the Cabinet on Sunday that this shocking rate of anti-Semitism, "is the result of the Palestinian Authority's endless
incitement against Israel and attempts to distort Israel's image and the
character of the Jewish people.”
As Israel National
News explains:
“Earlier this year, the Israeli
government...released its annual ‘Palestinian Incitement Index,’ which showed
that incitement against Israel and the Jewish people is continuing on official
media channels including...by bodies that are very close to the PA Chairman and
in educational and religious networks.
“Such incitement ranges from the
glorification of Nazism and the lionization of Adolf Hitler, to programs on
official PA television featuring heavily-stereotyped Jews as villains (and
encouraging violence against them), and various TV and radio shows which
literally wipe the Jewish state off the map.”
~~~~~~~~~~
If you want to see examples of incessant and
ugly PA incitement, check the Palestinian Media Watch at http://www.palwatch.org/ .
~~~~~~~~~~
I would never claim that our government
totally ignores this situation. Incitement is alluded to now and again
- clearly this is so, as there is an incitement index. But I will
charge that it is not emphasized nearly enough, not placed front and center in
press conferences and releases on a regular basis. That US leaders have
the unmitigated gall to say that “settlements” were the stumbling block in
negotiations when this sort of incitement persists is something that should be
directly and forthrightly challenged. In fact, from the “get go,” Israel
should have declined to sit at the table with representatives of Abbas as long
as this incitement persisted.
The Oslo Accords – which never required a
cessation of settlement activity - unambiguously called for a cessation of
incitement:
The Interim Agreement
(Oslo 2) of September 28, 1995 (Article XXII) states that Israel and the PA
"shall seek to foster mutual understanding and tolerance and shall
accordingly abstain from incitement, including hostile
propaganda, against each other and...shall take legal measures
to prevent such incitement by any organizations, groups or individuals within
their jurisdiction." (Emphasis added)
~~~~~~~~~~
Netanyahu did make the point at the Cabinet meeting on Sunday that Nakba Day, celebrated last Thursday as a day of catastrophe because of Israel’s establishment, constitutes incitement:
“Whoever sees the establishment of the State of Israel and its continued existence as a disaster does not want peace," he declared.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/11561-netanyahu-likens-commemoration-of-nakba-to-incitement-against-israel
~~~~~~~~~~
In point of fact, this Nakba day was quite violent, with riots in several locations.
In the course of rioting, two young Palestinian Arabs were allegedly killed, although there is serious dispute as to the circumstances.
Be alerted: An organization called Defense for Children Palestine is circulating a video that ostensibly shows the IDF simply shooting down two youths in Beitunia, near Ramallah, in the course of a lull in Nakba riots. The IDF says that the video is edited in a tendentious manner and does not reflect the true level of violence that occurred there. What is more, it appears, based on initial checks, that no live fire was used, only rubber bullets.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon says the soldiers were facing a situation that was life-threatening, and acted appropriately.
”Israeli Channel 2′s
military correspondent Roni Daniel suggested that the film may have been staged
and faked. Daniel noted that the first alleged victim put out his hands to break
his fall, which did not appear consistent with being shot. Daniel further noted
that the two alleged fatalities, ostensibly filmed an hour apart, appeared to
have taken place in almost exactly the same place, with an immediate convergence
on the scene of a similar group of people. His queries were not about whether
two Palestinians had been shot that day, Daniel said, but rather about whether
the NGO footage being disseminated indeed actually showed such shootings or was
fabricated.”
Anyone familiar with Pallywood fabricated
film sequences will find that all of this sounds familiar indeed.
Naturally the PA and its supporters revel in this.
~~~~~~~~~~
Livni, who was in London to deliver a talk, claimed that there was no choice but to continue talking. She is sufficiently obtuse so that she is likely pleased with herself. There have been calls for her resignation – and indeed she should be dumped forthwith if she doesn’t resign. But none of this will happen.
~~~~~~~~~~
The prime minister has announced his intention to submit to the Knesset a new Basic Law (Basic Law serves as Israel’s constitution) that would define Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.
With this declaration came a clarification: ”The State of Israel will always preserve the full equality, in personal and civil rights, of all its citizens, Jewish and non-Jewish alike.”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/180147#.U3tvkptZrIU
There is a distinction between personal civil rights, which adhere to all Israeli citizens, and national rights, which belong to the Jewish people. Anyone who claims that Israel will no longer be a democracy if this Basic Law is passed is distorting the reality.
~~~~~~~~~~
Yet another law that offers promise is being promoted. This, to ensure Jewish rights to pray on Har Habayit (the Temple Mount). MK Miri Regev (Likud) and MK Hilik Bar (Labor) have said they will introduce a bill that would create a situation similar to that of the Machpela in Hevron, where Jews and Muslims both pray. At a bare minimum, this should be the situation – right now Muslims have full access for prayer, but Jews are prevented by Israeli security from praying because it would generate “unrest” among the Muslims. This, in spite of the fact that the High Count has said that Jews have a right to pray on the Mount.
Dearly would I love to see this pass. I believe this issue must be promoted until the current situation is overruled. But I am cynical. I fully expect Netanyahu – who is afraid of upsetting the status quo on the Mount and risking Muslim displeasure – to do everything in his power to block it. I see the talk about this legislation as an important first step.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4520843,00.html
~~~~~~~~~~
©
Arlene Kushner.
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