#and the suffering of the Palestinian people weighs on my mind

[heckyeahponyscans]

The situation with Israel and Gaza reminds me so much of the United States right after the 9/11 attack in 2001. When every concern that the US should avoid killing civilians was met with, "Oh, so you don't support our troops and want the TERRORISTS to win??"

I was a young adult during 9/11 and I remember the fear and anger that roiled American. So I understand Israelis feeling those emotions. Anger is a natural emotion. But if you let it rule you, nothing good will come of it.

In 2001, I was as angry as any American and I thought we were right to go to war to Afghanistan, "to get the terrorists". (I was always against the Iraq war.) If I could travel back in time, I would tell younger-me, "It wasn't worth it." All that was accomplished was thousands of American soldiers and hundreds of thousands of innocent Afghans died. When our soldiers finally caught up with Osama bin Ladin and killed him . . . I felt nothing. To kill this one bad man, we left an ocean of dead innocents. And for what? Bombs can't kill terrorism any more than they can kill grief.

Looking at Israel, I am disturbed to see the highest members of its government label any criticism of it "anti-semitism" and equating empathy with the Gazans--a civilian population trapped, cut off from clean water, from food, from fuel--as "supporting Hamas." Anti-semitism does exist, of course, and it is wrong. But critiquing the political actions of a political state is not automatically "anti-semitic." Saying Gazans don't deserve to be indiscriminately killed is not "supporting terrorism."

It's so bitterly funny that the US State Department had a big media blitz to convince everyone "Israel didn't bomb a hospital, dont' get it twisted! It was a Hamas missile gone astray! We repeat, Israel DID NOT bomb a hospital!", and then Israel attacked, like, three hospitals. Supposedly there are Hamas tunnels under them.

Even if those tunnels exist, attacking a hospital is not justified. Because it's a hospital. And it doesn't even make sense in context. If someone told me "There are terrorists hiding under that hospital, they are armed and dangerous and have taken hostages," my first thought would be "Holy shit, we've got to evacuate the patients and medical staff before the terrorists take them hostage too!"

I would not think "Well, let's surround the place and prevent medical supplies from entering so the patients slowly die, while the terrorists escape via the tunnels that I think exist."

It seems like this 'war' is mostly about destroying as many lives and as much infrastructure as possible.

[amerthehammer]

The Struggle of Conviction: A Pro-Israeli Voice in an all-Palestinian Family

The Struggle of Conviction: A Pro-Israeli Voice in an all-Palestinian Family

Date: October 16, 2023

In the midst of today's turbulent events, I feel compelled to share my deeply personal journey. At 34 years old, recently marking my 34th birthday, I reflect upon a life born into a devout Islamic Palestinian family. A life where the value of unity was instilled in me from an early age, but as time passed, it became increasingly apparent that my beliefs were evolving differently.

Interestingly, I developed a strong affinity for Christmas over the years – a holiday imbued with the magic of shimmering lights, grand trees, and endless decorating possibilities. This was a stark contrast to my Islamic upbringing, where Christmas had no place, and festively adorned trees were nowhere to be found. Yet, year after year, just outside my window, I would see my neighbors' beautifully adorned Christmas tree. Returning to school after the Christmas break, my friends and classmates would eagerly share their holiday experiences and gifts, while I silently grappled with the absence of such celebrations in my life. It was a challenge, but with time, I learned to adapt.

I certainly didn't fit the mold of the ideal Muslim. Failing to observe the fast-during Ramadan, for instance, led to a cascade of judgment and shame. From my earliest memories, my mother fervently impressed upon me the dire consequences of not meeting specific religious requirements, warning of eternal damnation. Within my family, an unspoken consensus had taken hold: I wasn't just destined for hell, but I was headed for its deepest depths. Neglecting to pray five times a day or to observe the fast, as my family believed, was seen as falling short of God's expectations. After enduring a ceaseless stream of such admonitions, I began to internalize them.

It was only after receiving a cancer diagnosis that I realized the futility of striving to meet my parents' religious expectations. I had to come to terms with the understanding that winning that battle was an impossibility. In those challenging moments, a mentor's words echoed in my mind: "Choose Life," inspired by the 1996 British black comedy-drama film "Trainspotting," directed by Danny Boyle. The day I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, alongside a tumor in my chest, I found myself in a hospital room, surrounded by Palestinians, my parents, and a host of relatives – some of whom I hadn't seen in years and others I had never met. It was in this pivotal moment that I made a defining decision.

In that hospital room, weighed down by my circumstances, I confidently marked the "Judaism" box under religion on the form. This form would pass through various hands, and the reactions I encountered in response to my choice were nothing short of bewildering. While judgmental looks were cast my way, I met them with a radiant smile.

In summary, my journey has led me to remission and well-being, but it has also exposed me to deep-seated prejudices within my family against Jewish people. Over the years, I've overheard my parents and relatives expressing derogatory remarks about Jewish individuals, suggesting that they were in defiance of God and deserving of their misfortunes. Growing up, Jews were often portrayed as an ominous presence, lurking like a shadow in the background. It was only when I learned about the Holocaust that I realized the long-standing fear-driven narrative that had persisted for generations.

Even before I had the opportunity to study World War II in school, I would question my father about Hitler and his actions. The explanations were consistently simplified: "The Jews were blamed for economic hardships, and people were suffering. What else could have happened?" This narrative conveniently omitted any reference to the complex historical context, including World War I and the Treaty of Versailles.

As I delved deeper into the history of World War I, I made a disconcerting discovery: the "stabbed in the back myth" had not faded into obscurity but had found a contemporary resurgence. This myth centered on the belief that the German Army's defeat in the First World War didn't occur on the battlefield but resulted from betrayal by communists, socialists, and Jewish individuals on the home front.

What struck me as profoundly unsettling was that, this time, it was my own parents who were articulating these beliefs. Though I could never fully comprehend the depth of this hatred, as someone who has endured bullying in life, I can empathize with the emotions involved. However, I firmly acknowledge that there's no valid comparison between the struggles I've faced and the enduring hardships that the Jewish community has historically and continues to endure.

With recent events in Israel on October 7th, I found myself grappling with a sense of shame regarding my Palestinian heritage. The scenes I witnessed were deeply distressing, with Hamas involved in brutal acts against innocent men, women, and children. The chilling cries of "God is great" in Arabic only added to the anguish. This experience has reinforced my belief that it is often the self-proclaimed "god-fearing" individuals who, paradoxically, perpetrate the most harm.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict transcends mere territorial disputes; it is profoundly rooted in religious differences. It has evolved into a religious war between Muslims and Jews, each side fervently asserting their faith. I've long perceived Islam as a demanding faith, one that places a continuous emphasis on submission to God. Growing up, I couldn't help but envy my Christian friends who appeared to have a less burdensome religious experience – attending church once a week and joyfully celebrating Christmas. It seemed as though they faced fewer challenges compared to my upbringing in a devout Islamic household, leaving me with the impression that they received more for less.

In conclusion, I find myself standing alone in my perspective, firmly believing that the Jews have a rightful claim to Israel, especially after the horrors of the Holocaust. While some may argue that the land belongs to the Palestinians, history suggests otherwise. Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Palestine fell under British rule. While the British made promises to both sides, the only promise that materialized was the creation of Israel. It's a historical fact. I've never shared my family's abhorrent antisemitic views, and I never will. I stand in solidarity with the Jewish people of Israel; they deserve their homeland, unequivocally. These words may draw criticism and hostility, but I'm undeterred. Antisemitism must be eradicated, and Palestinians must confront the historical reality.

[cfijerusalem]

Watching Over Zion Report 16th August 2018 (5th Elul 5778)

The Word:

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Israel defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion… May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.  Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy hill with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots; some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright. Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call. (Psalm 20)

POINTERS FOR PRAYER

As stated in the last report, regarding Israel and the Jewish people, God’s Word and promises to them do not change. The end result might not yet be visible, never-the-less, we can have 100% confidence that God is faithful and just and will fulfil all His promises to Israel through His eternal Word (Jeremiah 31:35,36).  This week we continue to report on the troubles in Gaza; we report from New Wine; we check out just why the Israeli Prime Minister got angry over Corbyn, and we bring encouragement from the words of the Vicar of Baghdad – Canon Andrew White – who knows the true meaning of ‘Faith under Fire’.  In the midst of the battle, we can still give thanks and praise to our God, for He is indeed faithful to all His promises, and to the fact that the Lord God, unlike man, does not change.

CFI UK has over the past two weeks been at the New Wine festival. Thank you for all who prayed for us over this two week period.I have included a short report below along with a LINK to a new video Matthew Soakell created at New Wine.Do pray that we would have good fruit from this festival.Please also pray for the One Festival at Lincoln that Julia and I will be at representing CFI at. This is another family based festival, but do lift before the LORD the youth of our Churches, that the fire of God would stir up their passion for the LORD, and that revelation would burn in their hearts regarding Israel.Pray that the many people we challenge at the One Festival would seek the truth regarding God's purposes for Israel, that they would read the literature we hand out regarding the Jewish nation and the CFI ministry, and that many of the youth leaders and Pastors would bring their youth based ministries in line with the Word of God, giving sound teaching on this whole issue.

Please continue to pray that we will reach many people of various ages through our Twitter and Facebook feeds, along with our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/cfiuk. Please pray that we will see an increase in support and will have fruit that will last.

BATTLING THROUGH THE TURMOIL

[Above photo: A monument showing the Land of Israel in the Palestinian Authority controlled city of Jenin. Photo Credit: Nasser Ishtayeh / Flash 90]

In the above Scripture of Psalm 20, we read, ‘May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Israel defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion’.  Recently, my wife Julia sent me a short study via her Bible App on her phone with the following comments: “In the Jewish tradition, this psalm is part of the daily prayer service because it speaks to the various struggles that we grapple with daily. Its message is beautifully summed up in verse 7: ‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.’ No matter what battle we are fighting in life right now, and no matter how much things seem to be not in our favour, God can help us be victorious.”  The article continues, “This psalm, penned by King David, is reminiscent of his very first battle when he took on the giant Goliath. Everyone tried to talk him out of fighting the giant. David was just a boy, so small that the armor King Saul offered him only weighed him down, so he went into battle unprotected — in physical armor, that is. David came fully armored in the most impenetrable armor that exists – David came clothed in the name of God. He said to the giant Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty…” (1 Samuel 17:45). And with God’s help, David took that giant down.”

However, the article then goes on to tell of another story from Israel’s recent history. “In spring 2003, Israel was fighting a war against terrorism. The Israel Defense Forces were fairly successful, but a few battles were hard to win. One such fight took place in Jenin, a Palestinian stronghold. The Israeli fighters described an incident where the morale was very low. Many soldiers had already lost their lives, and as a last resort, an Israeli general had threatened over the loudspeaker to send in F-16 fighter jets. It was an empty threat that neither the soldiers nor the terrorists took seriously.  That is until a loud booming sound was heard moments later. At first the soldiers were confused, but then they realized the sound was thunder, even though it was spring and in Israel it never rains in the spring. The terrorists were not as wise. They immediately surrendered. When asked why, they said, “We heard the sound of fighter jets and knew we were defeated.” God’s thunder won the battle. A modern-day miracle!”

With many within the church seemingly appearing ignorant regarding God’s Word on Israel; and with some even opposing Israel and teaching ‘replacement or fulfilment theology’, the battle can be hard at times.  Add to that the issues that Israel have to deal with constantly with terrorism, and then the issues with anti-Semitism, such as we are seeing in the UK Labour Party, no wonder many are struggling with the battles we are fighting. And yet, with God on our side, surely we must be able to overcome any giant and adversity? No matter how big the obstacles seem, our God is bigger. No matter how mighty the enemy might seem, our God is even stronger.  Pray that in every situation, we would all be victorious.

ISRAEL’S CONTINUING BATTLE

Even though CFI were working at the New Wine Festival in Somerset this past two weeks, both our son Matthew and I were keeping the CFI Social Media up-to date various times each day.  Much of the news was concerning the constant rocket attacks Israel suffered from the terrorist group Hamas. On Wednesday evening of August 9, 2018, Israel was hit by over 150 rockets from Hamas in Gaza. One Israeli was killed and more than 19 injured as Hamas fired their rockets at Israeli civilian areas. This video was recorded by Yaron Bob in Sderot, Israel, showing the rockets being fired at children's playgrounds and schools: https://www.facebook.com/CFIUK/videos/1813013228746340/ . Naturally, the Israel Air Force retaliated by striking Hamas terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip. However, the BBC and other Western Media channels reported nothing until of course, Israel struck back at Hamas in Gaza. The BBC then made its headlines read, "Gaza air strikes ‘kill woman and child’."  So who was this alleged child that Israel killed, and what was the background?

As stated, the Gaza terrorists fired a barrage of rockets at Southern Israel Wednesday night/Thursday morning, and air raid sirens continued to sound in the South of Israel throughout the night with thousands of Jewish families having to sleep in bomb shelters and protected spaces.  Nineteen people were treated for injuries resulting from rocket attacks from Gaza against southern Israel including a 30-year-old Israeli woman who was seriously injured on Thursday morning when a rocket hit a building. Another Israeli was killed and thousands were treated for trauma and panic attacks, including two pregnant Jewish women who went into labour. Two homes in Sderot, Israel, were hit as well as a home in Ashkelon. Several cars were also damaged as was a factory in Sderot.  However, the news stories against Israel got worse as the week continued. And what was the truth regarding the news that the BBC headlines read when stating "Gaza air strikes ‘kill woman and child’?"  

The alleged child that was supposedly killed was actually nothing more than a random picture of a girl the Palestinians took from Instagram called Elle McBroom and she's alive and well and living in L.A. America! Her parents were pretty angry about this on twitter (@AustinMcbroom @CatherinePaiz) when they realised the Gaza Palestinians had used their daughters photo claiming it to be a Palestinian child killed by Israel! [One of the many sources here]. And even the BBC ran the headlines using this fake story! It’s incredible! For more on this, go to Honest Reporting here: http://honestreporting.com/a-night-of-rockets-and-headline-fails/.

Interestingly, with the above story in mind, Gaza ‘activist’ Ahmad Abu Rutema, spokesman for the so-called ‘March of Return’, the Hamas-led riots on Israel’s border, has conceded that Hamas has “lost the battle for public support,” and that “there is nothing wrong with a tactical withdrawal” when the path becomes too costly. Speaking at a meeting organized by Hamas, Abu Rutema said that “the images of torn limbs, wounded people, blood, and martyrs are very painful, and must drive us to reexamine all our tactics and to invent new ones,” the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported.  Now note exactly what the Gaza spokesman stated here. Ahmad Abu Rutema clearly stated that they need to “reexamine all our tactics and to invent new ones.”  Does this ‘inventing new ideas’ include stealing photos of American children from Instagram? It appears it does!  Since the so-called “March of Return” was launched by Hamas in March, there have been near-weekly, violent riots along the Israel-Gaza border organized by the terrorist group. The riots have given Palestinians cover to attack Israeli security forces with gunfire, grenades, Molotov cocktails, and efforts to illegally infiltrate into Israeli territory to carry out terrorist attacks. Hamas also forced women and children to the front line to use them as human shields. Needless to say, politicians will use these issues to promote their own causes, irrespective of the truth.

NETANYAHU CONDEMNS  CORBYN’S WREATH TO ‘MUNICH MASSACRE’

As you will no doubt have seen in the media, there has been further trouble this week for the UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as photos and video reveal the Labour leader allegedly paying at tribute to Palestinian 'martyrs'.  According to various reports in the British media including the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and many others, Jeremy Corbyn was seen attending a tribute in 2014 of the terrorists linked to the Munich Massacre. Many reports stated that “Fresh evidence emerged with photographs showing Jeremy Corbyn seen holding a wreath at the tribute for Palestinian 'martyrs' of the Black September terrorists who killed 11 Israelis”. Corbyn denied he had laid the wreath to terrorists.

With his party engulfed in rows over anti-Semitism, the pictures gave Mr Corbyn fresh questions to answer about his alleged sympathy for Islamic extremists. Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel stated, "It beggars belief that anyone would wish to honour the terrorists behind the brutal massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at Munich. However, it is sadly utterly unsurprising that Jeremy Corbyn appears to have done so. Others will rightly regard it is as totally sickening."  In other developments, a video surfaced showing the UK Labour party leader apparently making a direct comparison between the alleged Israeli "occupation" of Judea & Samaria and the Nazi occupation of Europe. A Labour ex-minister took out a full-page advert in a Jewish newspaper to lambast Mr Corbyn's response to the anti-Semitism crisis. Jim Murphy said it had been “intellectually arrogant, emotionally inept and politically maladroit”. The Board of Deputies of British Jews warned Mr Corbyn to 'come out of hiding' and said the anti-Semitism crisis would not go away. A full story with photos and video were published in the Daily Mail on Saturday August 11, 2018.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has largely avoided publicly criticizing British Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, let loose on Tuesday, saying Corbyn's participation in a ceremony commemorating the perpetrators of the Munich massacre deserved widespread condemnation.  This then led to Corbyn criticizing Netanyahu via Twitter. 

So why did Benjamin Netanyahu publically condemn Corbyn? Well one reason could be due to Yonatan Netanyahu, Benjamin’s brother, getting killed by Arab Terrorists when Yoni commanded the elite commando unit Sayeret Matkal during Operation Entebbe, an operation to rescue hostages held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976. The mission was successful, with 102 of the 106 hostages rescued, but Yoni Netanyahu was killed - the only IDF fatality during the operation.  Benjamin Netanyahu lambasted the UK Labour leader stating, “The laying of a wreath by Jeremy Corbyn on the graves of the terrorists who carried out the Munich massacre and the comparison he made between Israel and Nazis deserves unequivocal condemnation from everyone – from the left, the right and across the entire political spectrum.”  The Sun reported that Corbyn was said to be attending a service to commemorate Palestinian “martyrs” at a cemetery in Tunisia. Corbyn said he was at the cemetery to commemorate 47 Palestinians killed in a 1985 Israeli air strike on a Tunisian PLO base.  In addition, a video of a speech he gave in 2013 came to light where he compared Israel’s action on the West Bank to the Nazi occupation of Europe. “The West Bank [is] under occupation of the very sort that is recognizable by many people in Europe who suffered occupation during the Second World War, with the endless roadblocks, imprisonment, irrational behavior by the military and the police,” Corbyn said.

NEW WINE BRINGS ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM CANON ANDREW WHITE

It was good to be back at New Wine again last week, and this festival is a great way to enable Christians to get a better understanding of Israel. There is a report in Julia Soakell’s CFI Prayer Support Update on New Wine and Julia writes, “Although we had very few negative responses at all, it would be fair in summary to say, that we need to pray for those who avoided visiting the stand or who think Israel is completely irrelevant to their walk with the Lord and the Church and nation at all.  We chatted with some great pastors and leaders, and with possible church links… also as many commented on recent headlines about anti-Semitism, we were able to share about the need to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and ask them to think about contacting us about ideas for their own locality/ church/ youth group etc.” 

Both Matthew Soakell and I kept the CFI Social Media up-to date various times each day, and Matthew also created a new short video, so do check out our highlights from New Wine, where once again CFI UK had a marketplace stand and engaged with thousands of festival visitors. This year was the last year New Wine will take place in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, so it was extra special to be a part of.  You can view the video here:

Do pass this on and please do comment on the video on YouTube.

For me personally, it was a great pleasure to have Canon Andrew White – the Vicar of Baghdad visit our stand, and for me to get the chance to listen to him speak at one of the meetings.  Andrew White is certainly a great advocate for Israel and is someone who knows the true meaning of ‘Faith under Fire’.  He started his seminar by stating, “I’ve been asked to come to New Wine for five years running, and I could never do it. One time I was coming and all my staff were blown up; another time they were all kidnapped; another time they [Islamic terrorists] blew up my church… and this time I’m here.”  He then went onto state, “I love Israel, I am a Christian Zionist, I am not an anti-Israel Palestinian supporter, but I do stand with the Palestinian Arabs”.  After 40 minutes he then gave an opportunity for the audience to ask questions, and I was able to ask him regarding how he coped with stress in the harrowing situations he experienced. Having survived a terrorist attack myself in Jerusalem, and been on the Gaza border during rocket attacks, I know what it’s like to suffer stress. Andrew’s answer brought tears to my eyes. He stated, “How do I cope under all the terrorist attacks and all the violence… I cope by one reason only, love, love, love (of which he used the Aramaic word). I’ve seen terrible things; there have been times when I just cried.”  He then shared his harrowing experiences of when ISIS threatened his people to deny Yeshua, and to confess their allegiance to Islam and Mohammad, but they would not deny Yeshua (Jesus) and so they killed the children. And yet his faith in his Messiah is how he copes.

Another person in the audience asked Andrew what the future was for him. Canon Andrew White answered, “The future for me, is, even though my body might be failing, I am just beginning. I know that the best is yet to come… we are going to do a lot in Israel, a huge amount, teaching the church to love Israel, teaching the church that Israel is a root of our Yeshua, of our Jesus. The church has done terrible things to Israel over the years, and one of my challenges now is to turn the church around…”  To buy a recording of the talk -Faith under Fire - by Andrew White go to Essential Christian at New Wine website. It’s only £3.99 and is available here: https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/search.php?q=NEWB10418 

David Soakell Media Correspondent Tweet me @David_Soakell

Sources: Unless stated, personal sources throughout Israel, the Israeli Embassy London, The Jerusalem Post, Israel National Radio & i24news.tv/en

[melbynews-blog]

Portman and Perlman, and the liberal Zionist awakening – Mondoweiss

Neuer Beitrag veröffentlicht bei https://melby.de/portman-and-perlman-and-the-liberal-zionist-awakening-mondoweiss/

Portman and Perlman, and the liberal Zionist awakening – Mondoweiss

Master violinist Itzhak Perlman is one of the most beloved Jewish public figures of the last half-century. His personal story; his birth to Holocaust survivors; his skills, modesty and playfulness, have made him an unassailable example of the humane, artistic, thinking Jew.

In a Billboard interview, after the release of the documentary film “Itzhak,” Perlman said it was “problematic” meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for tea after receiving last year’s Genesis Prize (shown in the movie), but that he felt he must honor the office.

The Genesis Prize is an award of four years’ standing given to recognize outstanding Jews’ “dedication to the Jewish community and Jewish values.” It aims to inspire “unity throughout the global Jewish community and the State of Israel.”

Regarding a hypothetical invitation to meet President Trump, Perlman said, “My argument about respecting the office? In this case I would definitely make an exception.” Perlman shows that limits can be reached.

The question is, can they be reached for him regarding Israel?

In refusing to appear at a ceremony with Netanyahu to accept her Genesis Prize this spring, Natalie Portman has illustrated that the dilemma of the liberal Zionist remains bleak. The key of liberal Zionism has been to count experiences of Arabs as exceptions to a generally wholesome Zionist project. As Palestinian Arabs find more voice in American media, pretending to that general blamelessness becomes harder.

Jewish Israelis live in a hothouse atmosphere of Jewish nationalism and existential threat. Among younger American Jews, Pew Research Center found there is a big drop-off in belief that support for Israel is important to Jewish identity, presumably due to their experience and practice of coexistence with non-Jews in the US.

There is a divergence between behavior of the older, Zionist-minded donors to Jewish Federations and the mass of American Jews.

It is hard for liberal Zionists to abandon Zionism once they accept it. While they don’t resist acknowledging the unjustness, cruelty, and dishonor built in to the project, they balk when it comes to abandoning the basic concept of “the one and only Jewish state,” as PM Netanyahu evokes at every possible occasion,

Functionally, there is no difference between a liberal Zionist and Netanyahu, a theme that should be emphasized. When the romance of “the one & only” is accepted, the ills are all there, inherent in the imposition of a Jewish state in an already populated land, leading to the recent slaughter of Gaza refugees.

Jewish life is hemmed with prohibitions to help protect human life, and we praise ourselves for our superior ethical nature. We should remind ourselves that history is full of cruel forces that believed they were fighting against barbarism and for civilization.

Looking to the example of how long it took the Zionist movement to take over Jewish institutions in the last century, the anti-Zionist movement among Jews faces a long fractious struggle to victory. Does that struggle, important in Jewish life, have any relevance to the struggle of Palestinians?

After the IDF began its human turkey shoot at the Gaza border, liberal Zionist Peter Beinart wrote, “Our community’s complicity in the human nightmare in Gaza should fill every American Jew with shame. The first step toward ending that complicity is to stop lying to ourselves.”

The “New Jew,” a proud, confident Jew, was meant to be created in the Zionist movement as a cure for what was diagnosed as the fatal meekness of the “unnatural” scholarly or mercantile Jews of Galut (exile). The aim and slogan was to “Negate the Diaspora!”

Historian Yitzhak Conforti writes that “the idea of the new Jew is an expression of the radical revolution that Zionism aspired to create in the life of the Jewish people.” In political Zionism, “the new Jew is a modern person stripped of historical baggage.”

Not only is the “New Jew” meant to be a proud creation, the state he creates is to be “invincible.” It is legitimate to ask whether we have made ourselves into something shameful, in our pursuit of strength and dignity. Shameful, as recognized early in the first aliyah period by cultural Zionist Ahad Ha’am (1856-1927) who raised the alarm that political Zionism imagined it could push Arabs of Palestine aside. Lo zeh haderech, “This is not the way,” he wrote.

After Natalie Portman’s startling refusal to be honored by the ”Genesis” Prize, is it unimaginable to think that Itzhak Perlman might honor the Palestine civil society appeal to boycott Israel?

If Mr Perlman is a Mondoweiss reader — not impossible — we may hear from him. He is known to be an avid supporter of social justice causes, and refused an opportunity to perform in North Carolina in protest of the anti-LGBT law HB2 two years ago.

The “major” American Jewish organizations, now anchored in Israel “advocacy,” are paralyzed from action. In a statement deaf to the sentiments of most Americans if not to their donors, the American Jewish Committee weighed in on Gaza: The AJC stands “shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel” and praises the Trump administration.

“We thank Washington for this moral clarity, when too many others suffer from moral fog.”

It is left to individual American Jews of prominence to break the taboo on speaking frankly on Israeli conduct. This will be a sign of the sentiment of everyday Jews making changes the ”major” Jewish organisations have not. Maybe they will carry Itzhak Perlman with them.

The movie “Itzhak” is in theatrical release, and will be televised in PBS’ American Masters series.

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قالب وردپرس

[clubofinfo]

Expert: Do you think it is that simple to travel around the Middle East? Think twice! Ask Palestinians, about trying to get from a point A to a point B in their own nation. Some time ago, sitting in an old Ottoman hotel in Bethlehem, I asked a waiter what it takes to travel from there to Gaza, where he said, several of his relatives were living. He looked at me as if I had fallen from the Moon: There is no way I could travel there. If my relatives get very sick or die, then, in theory, I could apply for an Israeli travel permit to go there, but there is absolutely no guarantee that they would approve, or that I could get to Gaza on time… Israeli wall in Bethlehem I tried to appear naïve: “And what if someone from an Arab country which does not recognize Israel, wants to come here, to Bethlehem? Like, a Lebanese pilgrim or just a tourist? Could he or she enter from Jordan?” The waiter weighed for a while whether to reply at all, but then had mercy on me: West Bank… You know, it only appears on the maps as some sort of autonomous or independent territory. In reality, the borders and movement of the people have been fully controlled by the Israelis. My friend, a legendary left-wing Israeli human rights lawyer and a staunch Palestinian independence supporter, Linda Brayer, downed another cup of coffee and made several cynical remarks. She was actually illegally ‘smuggled’ by me into Bethlehem. As an Israeli citizen, she was not allowed to enter the West Bank at all, but since I was driving and she was with me, a foreigner, and on top of it she wore a headscarf (she converted to Islam several years earlier), the Israeli soldiers just let us pass without askin too many uncomfortable questions. Bizarre, disgusting, and even mind-blowing? Not for us who live or operate in this part of the world! All this is by now considered as “business as usual”. During the last Intifada, I hired a taxi in Jerusalem to the border with Gaza driven by a Russian-Israeli Jew, a student, who literally clashed with a border guard, demanding to be allowed to enter Gaza, in order to “see what my fxxxxing government is doing to the Palestinian people.” They did not let him into Gaza. They detained him. As a foreigner, I entered. During my work in Gaza, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired at my hired car. It missed… But at least I was allowed to enter and work in Gaza. It is like Russian roulette: sometimes you get in, sometimes you don’t, and no explanations are given. That was the time when the new Gaza International Airport had just opened. After few days of fighting, the runway was bombed by the Israelis, all flights cancelled, and I had to, eventually make my way out through Egyptian Sinai. Later, I also witnessed how brutal the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights has been; how it has divided countless families and communities. People are forced to shout at each other through the Israeli barbed-wire electric fences. The only way for the families to reunite, at least for a day or two, was to somehow get to Jordan. An Israeli tank being moved towards Syrian Golan Heights The Syrian Golan Heights used to be famous for its delicious apples and ancient Druze community. It used to attract travelers from all over the world. Now it is occupied by Israel, and it is de-populated and monstrously militarized. You want to travel there? You cannot; not anymore. It is off limits. ***** For years and decades, this insanity of travel bans and restrictions, as well as barbed wire and watch towers, has been applying mainly (although not exclusively) to the territories occupied by Israel. However, now almost the entire Middle East is divided by conflicts, insane regulations and travel prohibitions. Empty Jordan-Syrian border Unless you are a war correspondent, a Western ‘advisor’, an intelligence agent or a ‘development worker’, don’t even think about going to Iraq. Almost like Afghanistan and Libya, Iraq had been thoroughly wrecked by the Western coalition and its allies. On top of it, to get visa there is now close to impossible. In the recent past, the Westerners flooded Erbil and its surroundings; the main city of what was called, unofficially, ‘Iraqi Kurdistan’. The place used to be governed by the independence-seeking and shamelessly pro-Western ‘elites’, and it used to have its own visa regime. Now even this area is more or less off limits to foreigners. Syria is still a war zone, although its government, which is supported by the majority of the Syrian people, is clearly winning the brutal conflict ignited and fueled by the West and its ‘client’ states. Syria used to be one of the safest, the most educated and advanced countries in the region, built on solid socialist principles. It used to have an impressive scientific base, as well as dozens of world-class tourist attractions. Therefore, applying Western imperialist logic, it had to be first smeared, and then attacked and destroyed. Logically, Syria is not issuing tourist visas to the citizens of the countries that are trying to destroy it. Next door, Lebanon is still suffering from the flood of refugees, from geographical isolation and from the various dormant and semi-active terrorist cells. Travelling from Lebanon to Syria is now almost impossible, or at least very dangerous and difficult. Lebanese citizens can still enter, but ‘at their own risk’. In the not so distant past, people used to drive from Beirut to Europe and vice-versa, via Turkey and Syria. Now this option is just a sweet memory. But then again, in the very distant past, I am often reminded, it was not unusual for the Lebanese middle class to spend a weekend in Haifa, driving their own cars. Now the border between Lebanon and Israel is hermetically sealed. Both countries are technically at war. The U.N. patrols the so-called Blue Line. Apart from drones and Israeli war planes en-route to bombing Syria, nothing can cross. Turkey building a new huge wall on the Syrian border All along the Turkish-Syrian border, both sides are suffering. Of course, the Syrian people are suffering much more, being victims of the direct Turkish military adventures. But also Turks are now paying a very high price for the war: they are suffering from terrorist attacks, as well as from the total collapse of trade between the two countries. Many villages around Hatay and Gaziantep are quickly turning into ghost towns. For instance, cities like Adana in Turkey and Aleppo in Syria used to be connected by motorways, enjoying constant flows of people from both ends. There was bustling trade, as well as tourism, and social visits. Now, Ankara has been building an enormous concrete wall between the two countries. No traffic can pass through the border, except Turkish military convoys. ***** For years and decades, it has been impossible to enter Saudi Arabia as a tourist. This fundamentalist Wahabbi ‘client’ state of the West simply does not recognize the existence of tourism, or leisure travel. To enter the KSA, it has to be either for business or religious pilgrimage. With its huge territory, the KSA effectively divides the entire Gulf region, when it comes to transportation and the movement of people. There are some loopholes, and ‘transit visas’ can be obtained (with some luck, difficulties and expense), for instance, for those people driving their own vehicles or taking a bus from Jordan to Bahrain, or to Oman. Traveling to culturally the most exciting country in the Gulf – Yemen – is now absolutely impossible. Yemen used to be one of the jewels of historic architecture and civilization, counting such cities as Sanaa, Zabid and Shiban. Now the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is occupying the city of Aden and the coast, while Saudi forces are brutally bombing the rest of the country, which is controlled by the rebels. Then, there is a bizarre conflict which is brewing between Qatar (the richest country in the Gulf with the substantial U.S. military presence as well as huge local business-controlled media conglomerate Al-Jazeera), and several other Arab allies of the West, including Saudi Arabia. Borders are presently closed and insults are flying. There is the growing possibility of a military confrontation. Qatar is being accused, cynically, of ‘supporting terrorism’, as if the KSA was not doing precisely the same. ***** Flying around the region has become a Kafkaesque experience. Flight from Doha to Nairobi All Middle Eastern and Gulf airlines are avoiding Israel. Some fly over Syria but most of them, don’t. The once mighty and now deteriorating Qatar Airways is clearly forbidden to enter the airspace of Saudi Arabia as well as of the United Arab Emirates. Recently I travelled with Qatar from Beirut to Nairobi, Kenya. It used to be a simple, comfortable commute, which has recently turned into a terrible nightmare. Unable to fly over Syrian and Saudi airspace, a plane has to first fly in totally the opposite direction, northwest, over Turkish airspace, then over Iran, making a huge, almost 90 minutes detour. On the second leg, a trip of less than 4 hours now takes more than 5 hours and 30 minutes! The plane flies directly away from Africa, towards Iran, and then makes a huge loop, avoiding both the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Lebanese MEA (Middle Eastern Airlines) is one of the few airlines that ignores all this, flying directly over Syria, and towards the Gulf states. Most of the others don’t dare. But MEA has to avoid Israeli airspace, making often interesting final approaches to Rafik Hariri Int’l Airport. The exception is Turkish Airlines which basically flies over everything and into everywhere, including Israel itself. ***** This essay is not only about the politics and what has led to the present situation, although it is clear that we are talking here, above all, about the neo-colonialist arrangement of the world. Political nightmare unleashed by the ‘traditional’ Western colonialist powers and their ‘client states’, has led to the geographical divisions; to a perverse state of affairs in this part of the world. Increasingly, the people are losing control over their own nations and the entire region. They have already lost the ability to move about freely through it. Of course, something similar exists in many other places, including the South Pacific. There, I described the situation in my book Oceania. An entire huge part of the world has been literally cut to pieces by the neo-colonialist powers and their geo-political interests and designs: the U.S., France, Australia and New Zealand have plainly overrun and shackled Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. A once proud and unique part of the world has been fragmented internally: people are brutally separated and forced to depend almost exclusively on the West. In the Middle East, divisions, walls and barbed wire, are now everywhere; they are visible to the naked eye, but they are also ‘inside’ peoples’ minds, damaging the human psyche, making dreams of unity and a common future look very unlikely, and sometimes even impossible. A bridge blown up by ISIS near Mosus, Iraq This used to be one of the cradles of our civilization – a deep, sane and stunningly beautiful part of the world. Now everything is fragmented. The West rules, mainly through its ‘client’ states, such as Israel, the KSA and Turkey. It controls everything. It governs almost the entire Middle East; nothing moves without its knowledge and permission. A suicide car bomb near Mosul, Iraq Yes, nothing and no one moves here, unless it suits the West. We don’t read about it often. It is not discussed. But that is how it is. This bizarre concept of ‘freedom’ implanted from the outside. The rulers who were injected into the Gulf and various other occupied nations. The result is horrid: the electric wires, walls and travel restrictions everywhere; the old pathological British ‘divide and rule’ concept. ***** As I am working on this essay, my plane which is supposed to be flying south-west, is actually hovering north-east, in order to avoid the airspaces of the various so-called hostile states. Local people may be getting used to the fact that their part of the world has already been ‘re-arranged’. Or perhaps they have already stopped noticing. The computer, however, keeps showing the absurd flying path of the airliner. Computers can be programmed and re-programmed, but they cannot be indoctrinated. Without judging, they are simply demonstrating the absurdity that is unrolling around them, on their screens. • First published in New Eastern Outlook • All photos by Andre Vltchek http://clubof.info/