Muslim Slavery In Pakistan

The Australian edition of Christian Today is reporting about a Pakistani Muslim who beat a Christian who refused to work for him as a slave:

A Muslim land owner in Pakistan this month subjected a 25-year-old Christian to burns and a series of humiliations, including falsely charging him with having sex with his own niece, because the Christian refused to work for him without pay.

Lebanon Breaks New Worlds Record (Updated: Another Record)

Putting their victory over Israel for largest bowl of hummus, Lebanon has found other worlds to conquer--

Al Qaeda Targeted Synagogues In Mail Bomb Attempt

Though much is still unclear about the targets, information is coming out about the attempt by Al Qaeda in Yemen to send mail bombs to synagogues in the US:

The 22-year-old woman, named locally as Hanan al Samawi, was traced through a phone number left with a cargo company. Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president, said the information that identified her was provided by the US and the United Arab Emirates.

She was arrested at a house in a poor area in the west of Sana'a, where she is studying medicine at the university. Her mother was also arrested, but is not a prime suspect according to her lawyer.

...US and British security officials believe Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born figurehead of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was behind the foiled attack in which two ink cartridge bombs, posted in Yemen, were intercepted in Britain and Dubai on the way to America.

...In Sana'a, authorities were also questioning cargo workers at the airport and employees of shipping companies contracted to work with the freight companies FedEx and UPS.

While the devices were addressed to synagogues in Chicago, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, was the first to announce that the target for the bombs could have been the planes.

Video: If You Think The Political Ads Are Vicious, Check Out Jefferson vs. Adams

The Telegraph helpfully provides the Top 20 best and worst political ads of 2010 US elections:, but to get the full flavor of what American political ads can sink to, try this:



From Reason.tv:

Have this year's negative political ads really "taken dirty to a whole new level, as CNN's Anderson Cooper frets? Is a "return to civility...a relic of a bygone era," as President Barack Obama laments?

Er, not exactly.

If anonymous political speech, the other widely decried villain of this political season, helped found the United States, attack ads are as American as apple pie. If you fancy yourself a patriot or a history buff, you will most certainly approve this message, which is taken from statements made by, for, and against the nation's founders. For historical sources, go here.

Technorati Tag: Political Ads.

Video: The Three Prime Ministers Who Preceded Netanyahu Also Wanted To Make Peace

Israel and the Palestinians: "No" is the Real Obstacle to Peace from AJC on Vimeo


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Technorati Tag: Mideast Peace Talks.

Video: Latma on Tom Friedman And Israel's 10,000th Illegal Alien

Technorati Tag: Latma and Thomas Friedman.

US Will Exempt 4 Countries From The Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008

At least Gaza is not included in those four, but still--it cannot be setting a good precedent. After all, we expect the UN to turn a blind eye to terrorism and the abuse of children brainwashed into becoming terrorists.

But we expect better from the US.
At least we used to.

Now the US is giving a pass to countries using child soldiers:

In a decision critics say has undermined a powerful new law, the United States has decided to turn a blind eye to four countries that use child soldiers in their armed forces.

Seriously, Would You Want Abbas To Be YOUR Landlord?

There were indications that the US was thinking of getting more involved in the talks--apparently that is true: the US wants Israel to lease land from Abbas:

Palestinian sources confirmed that both sides were discussing the option that Israel would lease land in east Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley from the Palestinian state for 40-99 years.

Will Brigitte Bardot And Pamela Anderson Make The Streimel An Endangered Species?

You would think that in the Middle East it would not be that big of a deal for a country to pass a bill banning fur--but you would be wrong:

On paper, passing such a bill shouldn't be very hard in Israel, with its hot climate, seriously informal dress code and teeny fur trade. And nearly 80% of the people support the initiative, according to public opinion polls. But when presented last year, the proposed legislation hit an unexpected snag: ultra-Orthodox Jews.

UNRWA: To Be Honest, Palestinians Are NOT Returning Home (Updated: UNRWA Backs Down)

Truth be told, there is nothing shocking in making such an obvious statement: the Palestinian Arabs must settle down in the Arab states:

Speaking at a National Council for US-Arab Relations conference last week, Whitley, who heads United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said that Palestinian refugees needed to start "debating their own role in the societies where they are rather than being left in a state of limbo where they are helpless."

The Paradoxes Of Daily Reality In Israel

The following article is by Yochanan Visser, Researcher, Missing Peace--and is reposted here with permission

The good old days before we had peace

The British journalist Peter Hitchens recently published an article about his visit to Gaza and the West Bank.

He wrote: ‘The true state of the Gaza Strip and of the West Bank is so full of paradoxes and surprises that most of the news coverage of the Middle East finds it easier to concentrate on the obvious and to leave out the awkward bits’.
Hitchens’ article was one of those rare things: an analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that was honest.

I was reminded of the tenor of Hitchens’ words this week when I had three encounters, each of which underlined the paradoxes of daily reality in Israel.

Video: PA TV--Jews Persecuted In Europe Because Of Their Love Of Money

Both parties are taking some steps to help create an atmosphere that is conducive to successful talks, including President Abbas’ statement that he will work against incitement of any sort...

Statement on Special Envoy George Mitchell's Trip, May 9, 2010

And I say in front of you, Mr. President, that we have nothing to do with incitement against Israel, and we’re not doing that. What we care about is to live in coexistence with Israel, in order to bring about the independent Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and stability.

Abbas, Remarks by President Obama and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority after Meeting, June 9, 2010

Palestinian Media Watch has posted this excerpt of the latest attempt by the Palestinian Authority of create just the right atmosphere to make it possible to live in coexistence with Israel in peace and stability (if video does not appear, click here):

Jews` money lending "Shylock" behavior caused Antisemitism explains PA TV

Video: The Mystery of J Street - Solved

From the Republican Jewish Coalition



Hat tip: The Muqata

Technorati Tag: J Street.

Abbas Wants To Declare A Palestinian State--Again

The last man nearly ruined this place, he didn't know what to do with it.
If you think this country's bad off now, just wait 'til I get through with it.
Duck Soup

The lines from the above song could just as well have been sung by Abbas in reference to Arafat and himself--and I'm sure that any similarity between the West Bank and Freedonia is purely coincidental.

But there is a Marxist (Groucho, not Karl) logic in the threat by Abbas and friends to declaring a Palestinian state.

After all--it's already been done.

Obama, The Philosopher President? (Updated)

The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead.
Obama, Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the End of Combat Operations in Iraq, August 31, 2010

Go ahead, take another look at that deceptively simple sentence and try to delve into its hidden depths.

Had enough?

According to Harvard historian James T. Kloppenberg, author of the new book Reading Obama:

That single sentence encapsulates Obama’s commitments to deliberative democracy and pragmatism, the signature features of the approach to American history and politics he adopts in his writings and his speeches.

Who knew?

Muslim Countries Imprisons Bloggers--And Are Not Above Using Internet To Suppress It's Foes

Last month, Iran imprisoned Hossein Derakhshan, Iran's 'blogfather' to almost 20 years for cooperating with hostile states and insulting Islam. This is just one example of how Muslim countries in the Middle East are cracking down on bloggers:

Iran is far from alone in locking up bloggers. Governments across the Middle East are increasingly twitchy about their citizens’ online activities. As internet use in the region has soared—up 19-fold since 2000, compared with a fivefold rise in the rest of the world, according to Internet World Stats, which monitors global internet usage—so the number jailed for what they do on the web has shot up too.

Daniel Pipes: "Israel and Congressional Democrats"

I am posting this article by Daniel Pipes not only for the point it makes, but also because it documents its points with examples.

That being said, can we seriously hope that Jews will demonstrate--finally--that the Jewish vote is not something to be taken for granted?

Israel and Congressional Democrats

by Daniel Pipes
National Review Online
October 19, 2010


How should American voters concerned with Israel's welfare and security vote in the U.S. Congressional elections on Nov. 2?

This much is clear after almost two years of Democratic control over the executive and legislative branches of government: Democrats consistently support Israel and its government far less than do Republicans. Leaving Barack Obama aside for now (he's not on the ballot), let's focus on Congress and on voters.

Obama's Pro-Palestinian Policy Comes In Waives

No surprise to this first waiver--it's been going on since Clinton was president:

Obama extends Jerusalem embassy waiver
June 3, 2010
President Obama has extended a waiver for an additional six months delaying moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

Obama's waiver, issued Wednesday, follows in the footsteps of predecessors Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, who also extended the waiver every six months since the law was adopted in 1995 calling for the move of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Presidents are permitted to delay the move on national security grounds.

Some Jewish groups have pushed for the United States to move the embassy as a way to bolster Israeli claims to the city. Those favoring the use of the waiver say that such a step would anger the Arab world and put the United States in the position of taking sides on an issue that should be settled in peace talks.

But now Obama has added one of his own--and he wonders why his Mideast peace talks lies in shambles:

The "Silent, De Facto Building Freeze"

From Arlene Kushner:

Leaders of Judea and Samaria are warning of a "silent, de facto building freeze."

Naftali Bennet, director-general of the Yesha Council, has reported that "The cities of Judea and Samaria are effectively frozen. The government has promised to stop the freeze, yet it is continuing it."

Forget About Israel--What Has Obama Done About Anti-Semitism?

The focus of the Jewish community has naturally been on Obama's Middle East policies and his relationship with and pressure on Netanyahu. Chicago attorney Pejman Yousefzadeh writes about another issue, one that has not received much attention: Obama And Anti-Semitism:

The inability or unwillingness of the Obama Administration to forcefully speak out against instances of anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party should also be a cause for concern. The demagoguery of Democrats like Rep. James Moran, who has stated that an “extraordinarily powerful” pro-Israel lobby—with “the strong support of the Jewish community”—was responsible for causing the United States to go to war with Iraq, is well known, but the Obama Administration has not decided to challenge him, or other Democrats like him, for seeking to profit politically from the popularization of anti-Semitic tropes. Nor has the administration taken on members of the liberal blogosphere for engaging in reflexive anti-Israel hatred and general anti-Semitism and for potentially causing a serious rift between liberals and American Jews, a rift that would harm the president’s political prospects and the Democratic Party’s electoral future.

First Kosher Slaughtering, Now Circumcision

Religious rituals are taking a beating.

I blogged about the situation in the UK where there is a controversy over ritual slaughtering, in part due to the backlash to halal meat being served in restaurants without telling the customers.

Now an issue is being made about the legality of circumcision in Finland:

Is This The Next Scenario For Middle East Talks?

In her blog, Laura Rozen writes On the Mideast, waiting for superman
Can you guess who superman is?

Another Washington Middle East hand who consults closely with the administration said he too has started to hear growing rumors in recent days of a possible official administration role on the Middle East peace process for Indyk. Under the arrangement that was described to that Middle East hand, the NSC's Dennis Ross would capitalize on his decent ties with Israel's Bibi Netanyahu to be a main administration point of contact with the Israelis, Indyk would capitalize on his good ties with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (universally referred to as Abu Mazen) to be a channel to the Palestinians, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would be in charge.

Myths and Facts: "Israel cannot be both a democratic state and a Jewish state."

The following article is by Dr. Mitchell Bard
It is reposted with permission.
You can read the article with the hyperlinks here.
Order Myths and Facts online

MYTH:
"Israel cannot be both a democratic state and a Jewish state."

FACT:

The uproar over Israel's proposed loyalty oath for new immigrants has sparked renewed debate over whether Israel's insistence on being a "Jewish state" violates the principles of western democracy. Critics claim that by identifying the country with Jewish symbols, such as the Star of David or menorah, having its national anthem relate to the Jewish yearning for a "return to Zion" and granting Jews automatic citizenship through the Law of Return, Israel is verging on theocratic ideals and rudely affronts its non-Jewish citizens. Israel is not a theocracy, however; it is governed by the rule of law as drafted by a democratically elected parliament and enforced by a highly praised judicial system.

Israeli law adheres to many Jewish religious customs and is largely informed by Jewish values, but this structure makes it no different than other democracies that shape themselves around Christian or Islamic traditions.

Public Incitement Against Israel Continues In West Bank

Both parties are taking some steps to help create an atmosphere that is conducive to successful talks, including President Abbas’ statement that he will work against incitement of any sort...

Statement on Special Envoy George Mitchell's Trip, May 9, 2010

And I say in front of you, Mr. President, that we have nothing to do with incitement against Israel, and we’re not doing that. What we care about is to live in coexistence with Israel, in order to bring about the independent Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and stability.

Abbas, Remarks by President Obama and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority after Meeting, June 9, 2010

Palestinian Media Watch has the latest example of the incitement of hatred against Israel by the Palestinian Authority:

Video: John Bolton On Obama Administrations Policies Towards Israel And PA

Hat tip: Israel Matzav:



Technorati Tag: John Bolton.

On The Issue Of Palestinian Emigration--The West Bank And Gaza Have Changed Places

A couple of days ago, I blogged about a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) indicating that half of Palestinians polled were in favor of killing Israeli civilians.

Elder of Ziyon found another interesting result in the poll: Over a million Palestinian Arabs want to leave their homeland - and cannot

He gets that number based on the following poll question and response:

08) Do current political, security, and economic conditions lead you to seek emigration abroad?
	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
1) Certainly seek to emigrate	14.1	9.6	21.3
2) Seek emigration	15.2	14.8	16.0
3) Do not seek emigration	33.6	34.7	31.6
4) Certainly do not seek emigration	36.5	39.9	30.9
5) DK/NA	0.7	1.0	0.2

That means that 24.4% of West Bank Arabs and 37.3% of Gazans want to leave, for a total of 25.3%--and based on the total number of Arabs in the territories, that comes out to 1.1 million Arabs.

How does that number compare with years past?

Human Rights Council Has Failed to Protect Human Rights

For Immediate Release
October 26, 2010

Contact: Jason Edelstein, +972-2-566-1020

Human Rights Council Has Failed to Protect Human Rights

NGOs Continue to Overlook Problematic Nature and Biases of HRC

Jerusalem – As the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) begins its review process in Geneva, NGO Monitor calls on international human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to hold the Council responsible for its failure to properly protect universal human rights.

The HRC was established in March 2006 (resolution 60/251) after the Human Rights Commission was deemed ineffective due to its failure to address human rights abuses and obsessive focus on Israel. At that time, the UN General Assembly decided that the Council would review its work and functioning five years after it has come into existence. That review process currently is underway, but unfortunately, little has changed.

The US Looks More And More Like Israel All The Time

I blogged the other day about how the UN Human Rights Council will be assessing the status of human rights in the US--an opportunity the membership of the group is sure to take advantage of.

But if having its human rights record criticized by Third World countries does not make Americans empathize with Israelis, the activities of Wikileaks should:

Is It Counterproductive to Speak Kindly of Islam?

In response to an op-ed by Reuel Marc Gerecht in opposition to Obama's toned-down approach to Islam, Jeffrey Goldberg asks the question Is It Counterproductive to Speak Kindly of Islam?:

I actually find Obama's ratcheting-down of the rhetoric refreshing and possibly useful, but Gerecht makes an interesting counter-argument:

Does How do you approach the problem of Islamic militancy in the West and in the Middle East? President Obama, who has had innumerable briefings on the threats posed by al-Qaeda and other radical Islamic groups, has chosen to dial down American rhetoric (it was actually pretty tame under President George W. Bush) in the hope that average Muslims, wherever they may be, will view the United States as more friend than foe, and help Washington combat "violent extremism."

This friendly approach is, unfortunately, counterproductive.

The IDF Goes Green!?

Yeah, that will strike fear into Israel's enemies and ensure her security.

New IDF Project: IDF Protects the Environment:

The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, announces the new plan, “IDF Protects the Environment”, to the sum of one billion NIS tomorrow, during the inauguration ceremony of the Officer Instruction Base as the first “green base” in the IDF.

Congressional Report: Let's Merge Hezbollah And The Lebanese Army!

According to a blog on Congressional reports in the region, there is a recent report Hezbollah: Background and Issues for Congress

:[M]ost observers believe that prospects for accommodation and engagement between the United States and Hezbollah are slim, even as the group’s close relationships with Syria and Iran, its pivotal role in Lebanese politics, and reinvigorated U.S. engagement in regional peace efforts increase Hezbollah’s potential influence over stated U.S. national security objectives. The Obama Administration is requesting $246 million in FY2011 foreign assistance to continue a multi-year program specifically designed to increase the central authority of the state and deter the use of force by non-state actors. Since FY2006, the United States has provided more than $1.35 billion in assistance for Lebanon.

So, what kind of recommendations are in the report?
According to Naharnet:

Among the suggestions, the report said, was to merge Hizbullah into the Lebanese Army, but it pointed to Hizbullah's rejection to this offer.

Video: Pajamas Media Interviews Wafa Sultan About Women And Sharia

Raised in Syria, Wafa Sultan suffered under Sharia law. The author of A God Who Hates: The Courageous Woman Who Inflamed the Muslim World Speaks Out Against the Evils of Islam, she sits down with Bill Whittle to talk oppression, freedom, and the creep of Sharia across the globe.



Technorati Tag: Wafa Sultan and Women And Sharia.

Video: Holocaust Survivor Alice Herz Sommer, Age 106, And Her Music

You can read an interview with Alice Sommer here.

Here is an updated video about the life of Alice Herz Sommer, now 109 years old.



This video is actually the trailer to a movie about Sommer, The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life

In addition, there is a book, A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the World's Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor, written by Caroline Stoessinger -- with a foreword by Vaclav Havel.


Technorati Tag: Alice Herz Sommer and Holocaust and Shoah and Theresienstadt.

What Does It Take To Understand Israel?

In response to an earlier post on how bad the media really is or isn't, Yaacov Lozowick addresses a problem facing the media--and others:

The fundamental problem is the assumption that complex reality can be known by reading online newspapers. It can't, of course. If you wish to understand a society and gauge its potential policies, following the media is perhaps better than nothing but that doesn't say much. You need to know the language, and the codes in the language, and the body language (which can't be reproduced in the media at all, not even on television, unless you already know how to read it). You need to read the literature (as in novels, not professional literature), stand in line at the bank, interact with officials and medical personnel, and go to some weddings and funerals. In other words, you need to live there, as part of the society you're trying to understand; and you need to keep in mind that other people around you who are doing the same may well understand the same society in different ways, depending on who they are and where they're coming from.

Muslims Say So-Called Democracy Is Really A Dictatorship (And We're Not Talking Israel)

The Universal Periodic Review "has great potential to promote and protect human rights in the darkest corners of the world.”
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General

Ahlul Bayt dutifully reports:

Muslims live under dictatorship in America, said an African-American Muslim activist, ahead of a review of the US human rights records by the UN Human Rights Council.

In less than two weeks, the Human Rights Council will, for the first time ever, assess the human rights status of the United States in a Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Israel Is Both A Jewish And Democratic State--Just Look Around You

Douglas J. Feith addresses the issue of Israel as both a Jewish and Democratic state. While the US--along with Canada, Australia and New Zealand--are liberal democracies that ignore ethnic, religious or regional identities, the fact remains that most countries do not:

The democracies of Europe and East Asia and those in the former republics of the Soviet Union, meanwhile, tend to cluster on the ethnic side of the spectrum. Numerous laws and institutions in those nations favor a country's principal ethnic group but are nevertheless accepted as compatible with democratic principles. Christian crosses adorn the flags of Switzerland, Sweden, Greece and Finland, among other model democracies, and the United Kingdom's flag boasts two kinds of crosses.

And So It Begins: Halal Uproar Causes Backlash Against Kosher Ritual Slaughtering

The problem started earlier this month when it was revealed that McDonald's in the UK was selling halal chicken without telling its customers:

Fast-food giant McDonald's has admitted selling halal chicken without telling its customers. The poultry was used in popular menu items such as Chicken McNuggets and the McChicken Sandwich in its 1,200 British outlets.

The admission comes three weeks after the company categorically denied to this newspaper that it used any halal meat. Now McDonald's has revealed that the firm that supplies its poultry, Cargill, produces halal chicken at one of its abattoirs.

Now it appears that as a reaction a major supplier of kosher meat to England has shut down its kosher operations:

With New Discovery In The Negev, Could Israel Become The Next Big Oil Exporter In The Mideast?

Judith Levy writes at Ricochet that Israel suddenly has an embarrassment of riches as new oil deposits have been found in the Negev:

A preliminary geological survey has indicated that there might be about 26 million barrels of recoverable oil a mile under the sand near two kibbutzim in the northern Negev. That would amount to about $2 billion at current prices. There might be 12 million additional barrels further down.

Why Should NPR Apologize About Juan Williams? They Never Apologized For Equating Jews With Nazis...

"Let's face it. The Jews are colonizers. They're colonizing there."
NPR's Foreign Editor Loren Jenkins

With the firing of Juan Williams, NPR has left itself open to criticism of statements made by other members of the station that have been ignored--or even perpetuated. That gives rise to Edward Olshaker's contention that Comparing Jews to Nazis Meets NPR's 'Editorial Standards and Practices':

Remember what National Public Radio did to its foreign editor Loren Jenkins last year after he said, "Israel has used Gaza as a bombing target practice"?

They did nothing to him, for he was simply espousing the reckless anti-Israel hyperbole that is business-as-usual for NPR.

Video: Rafi Eitan, Pollard's Former Handler, On Jonathan Pollard

As Jonathan Pollard nears the completion of his 25th year in prison his former handler and former Israeli Cabinet Minister, Rafi Eitan, reveals for the first time that a secret deal was made with the US at the time of Pollard's arrest and conviction that he would serve no more than 10 years. Eitan states that the US broke a solemn commitment and instead is keeping Pollard in prison forever to serve another unrelated agenda.

Technorati Tag: Rafi Eitan and Jonathan Pollard.

Poll: Half Of Palestinians Think Killing Israeli Civilians Is A Swell Idea

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) conducted a poll in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 30 September and 2 October 2010.

Among the questions:

55) Concerning armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel, I...
	Total	West Bank	Gaza Strip
1) Strongly support	14.4	10.4	20.8
2) Support	34.6	31.3	40.0
3) Oppose	43.2	48.5	34.5
4) Strongly oppose	6.0	7.1	4.1
5) DK/NA	1.8	2.6	0.4

Ahmadinejad On Israel Over The Years--In His Own Words

Europe strongly condemned Iran's president on Thursday for saying Israel should be wiped out and said the call raised concerns about the aims of a country the West suspects is planning to build an atomic bomb.

..."Calls for violence, and for the destruction of any state, are manifestly inconsistent with any claim to be a mature and responsible member of the international community," EU leaders said in a statement issued at a one-day summit outside London.

"Such comments will cause concern about Iran's role in the region, and its future intentions," they said.
Reuters, October 2005

Meanwhile, 5 years later, The Israel Project has collected 81 quotes from Ahmadinejad from over the years--most of them dealing with Israel. Nothing has changed--except that neither Europe, nor anyone else for that matter, bothers to condemn what Ahmadinejad says anymore.

Here are the Ahmadinejad's statements about Israel.

Video: The Jonathan Pollard 9000 Day Rally

The center-piece of this video is a speech by Dr. Hagai
Ben-Artzi, brother-in-law of Prime Minister Netanyahu. Hagai speaks with
passion about Jonathan Pollard and his devotion to the Land and People of
Israel and of his selflessness and principled unwillingness to be freed in
any deal that might put Jewish lives at stake by the release of murderers
and terrorist or the uprooting of Jews from their homes. Ben-Artzi's words
are heart-rending as he calls upon his brother-in-law PM Netanyahu not to
abandon a soldier in the field, to finish the job and bring Pollard home
now!

Worthy of Note: Video includes interesting foootage of the recent 9000-Day
Vigil for Jonathan Pollard that was recently held in a 3 day marathon at
Gesher HaMeitarim in Jerusalem. Recognizable, for the most part, by all the
Pollard 9000-days-in-captivity banners and signs.

Technorati Tag: Jonathan Pollard.

Vatican: "There Is No Longer A Chosen People"

It's still unclear why the Vatican considers itself 'chosen' to lecture Jews on their theology, but that did not prevent the Vatican synod from condemning Israel:

In a separate part of the document -- a section on cooperation with Jews -- the synod fathers took issue with Jews who use the Bible to justify settlements in the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967.

Video: Wikileaks Proves Mearsheimer Wrong

Here is a video of an interview with John "Israel Lobby" Mearsheimer during Yearly Kos 2007, where he dismisses the killing of American soldiers by Iran as "a small percentage" and the result of "disingenuous arguments" by the Bush administration.



Based on the Wikipedia leaks, it seems that Mearsheimer is the disingenuous one.
Who knew!?

The New York Times is reporting that Leaked Reports Detail Iran’s Aid for Iraqi Militias:

Iran--Like Its Puppets Hamas And Hezbollah--Stages Kidnappings Across Its Borders

The latest batch of documents released by Wikileaks is making news, but one of the items covered has nothing to do with the Iraq War, but rather with Americans kidnapped by Iran in Iraq:

The three American hikers arrested by Iran last year were on the Iraqi side of the border, according to US military documents released on Friday by WikiLeaks, reported the New York Times.

Leaving Hummus Record To Lebanon, Israel Takes Chess Record From Iran

Back in May, Lebanon bested Israel's record for largest serving of hummus. Israel's record was 4 tons--but 300 chefs in Lebanon set a new record: 10 tons.

Now Israel has come back and taken a record away from Iran, by setting a new record for most simultaneous games of chess played by an individual:

Israeli chess champ Alik Gershon played 523 people, moving from board to board in a Tel Aviv plaza. He started Thursday and finished overnight, winning 454 of the matches, losing 11 and drawing in 58.

Is A Pollard-Settlement Freeze Swap Still On The Table? If Not--Why Not?

That's the impression you get from an LA Times editorial, which opposes a Pollard-Settlement Freeze swap:

There may be good reasons for granting clemency to Jonathan Pollard, the former Navy intelligence analyst who was sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for providing U.S. military documents to Israel. But Pollard's usefulness as a diplomatic bargaining chip isn't one of them.

Video: Latma--Rabin On The Crystal Ball and Plumbers Vs. Israel

Technorati Tag: Latma and Yitzchak Rabin.

Fiamma Nirenstein: "Islam Does Not Like Christians"

This week, Jewish Italian MP Fiamma Nirenstein was reconfirmed in Italy as Vice President of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Nirenstein was also appointed by Italian Foreign Minister Frattini to be an official consultant on Israel and the international Jewish communities.

This week, she commented about the Christian leaders who have condemned Israel and have accused it of causing Christians to flee:

She pointed out that “Islam does not like Eastern Christians: it has forced them to flee and now they account for only 6% of the population in the Mideast”

MYTH: "The Palestinians Can Pressure Israel To Negotiate On Their Terms By Unilaterally Declaring Statehood."

The following article is by Dr. Mitchell Bard and is reposted with permission.
You can view the article online with all of the hyperlinks here

MYTH: "The Palestinians can pressure Israel to negotiate on their terms by unilaterally declaring statehood."


FACT:

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced in early 2010 his intention to declare an independent Palestinian state in the summer of 2011 irrespective of whether or not a peace agreement is signed with Israel. Angered by Israel's unwillingness to capitulate to demands for an extended settlement moratorium, the Palestinian Authority is now threatening to seek recognition by the UN of a Palestinian state based on the 1949 armistice lines (i.e., the pre-1967 frontier).⁴⁰⁷

Juan Williams Is Not The Only One Afraid--Vatican: Koran Permits Killing Of Christians

During a meeting of bishops at the Vatican, it became clear that others are also somewhat afraid of Muslims:

The Koran is a text that encourages Islam to impose itself with force and permits the killing of Christians, said Lebanon's Catholic Patriarch of Antioch Archbishop Raboula Beylouni, addressing a Vatican meeting of Middle East bishops.

Selling Weapons To The Saudis Is Based On A Lie

Profeesor Mitchell Bard warns against Selling Saudis Arms and Our Souls

The Obama administration has announced plans to sell $60 billion worth of military equipment and services, the largest weapons sale in U.S. history, to Saudi Arabia, a country that supports terrorists who seek our destruction, violates the human rights of its citizens, believes Jews are apes and Christians are pigs and obstructs American efforts to facilitate a Middle East peace agreement. Though the sale may be couched in terms of national security, no one should be fooled that this is anything but a political gambit to allow Obama to claim credit for saving or creating thousands of jobs in the defense industry.

The administration claims this sale is needed to prove the U.S. is committed to Saudi security and to bolster their ability to defend themselves against unspecified threats. This has been the mantra of administrations for decades, but has always been a lie.

But does the sale of weapons help Saudi Arabia defend itself? Among the points that Bard makes:

Statistics Show Women Fare Badly Under Islam

CNSnews.com reports on a report released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs that reveals that the inequality of women in Muslim countries goes way beyond the burqa--statistics show women fare badly under Islam

On Wednesday, the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) released another major report, also dealing with the status of women around the world in 2010. The numerous indicators explored in the report include the rate of girls of primary school age enrolled in school, compared to that of boys.

Fact-Free Middle East Negotiations?

This post by Arlene Kushner also appears on American Thinker.
Reposted here with permission.

FACT-FREE MIDDLE EAST NEGOTIATIONS?

Arlene Kushner

The dispute between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with regard to the freezing of Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria (aka the West Bank) is predicated on the assumption that Israel’s border is the ’67 line – called the Green Line – that pertained before the Six Day War. The Palestinian claim, broadly accepted by the international community, is that everything on the other side is rightfully theirs.

There is, however, an essential problem with this: The Green Line was never Israel’s border, but rather a temporary armistice line.  

CAIR's Role In Juan Williams Firing May Be Violation Of Foreign Agents Registration Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:

Mike Hamilton, Hamilton Strategies
mhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com
610-454-1538

Center alerts NPR, Fox News, CPB: CAIR's role in Juan Williams firing may be violation of Foreign Agents Registration Act

WASHINGTON, DC: On October 21, 2010, the Center for Security Policy sent urgent alert notices to Juan Williams, news analyst for Fox News and recently fired news analyst for National Public Radio (NPR); Vivian Schiller, President and CEO, NPR; Roger Ailes, President, Fox News Channel; Bill O'Reilly, Fox News Channel; and the Inspector General of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), regarding a possible violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), warning that they may have been the target of an influence operation by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) which resulted in the firing of Williams.

Video: CAIR Must Register As Foreign Agent Of Saudi Arabia And Iran

The video is by CairObservatory.org



Here is a summary of the main points of the video, from the YouTube page:

West Bank Continues To Celebrate The Murder Of Israelis

Both parties are taking some steps to help create an atmosphere that is conducive to successful talks, including President Abbas’ statement that he will work against incitement of any sort...
Statement on Special Envoy George Mitchell's Trip, May 9, 2010

And I say in front of you, Mr. President, that we have nothing to do with incitement against Israel, and we’re not doing that. What we care about is to live in coexistence with Israel, in order to bring about the independent Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and stability.
Abbas, Remarks by President Obama and President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority after Meeting, June 9, 2010

Now, let's jump ahead to this week, as Terrorists who killed 6 lauded as "heroes" in clip shown seven times in three days on PA TV:

Would The US Veto A UN Security Council Resolution Declaring Israeli Settlement Illegal?

We may soon find out, now that the Financial Times is reporting that Palestinians to seek UN West Bank resolution:

The Palestinian leadership is preparing to call for a UN resolution that would formally declare Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal.

Besides creating another wave of diplomatic pressure on Israel, such a move would present the US with a quandary:

Turkish Support For Gaza Flotilla--And Plans For Resistance--Found On Confiscated Computer

Of course, as Haaretz reports, Turkey denies offering assistance to Gaza flotilla organizers

Records of the meeting between the heads of the flotilla two weeks prior to embarkation and other similar documents were found on laptop computers confiscated by the Israel Defense Forces.

Data found on a laptop of a passenger of last May’s Gaza bound flotilla indicates that the flotilla’s organizers received assistance from the highest levels of the Turkish government, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Edogan and other senior government officials.

Islamist Terrorists Want Their Own State--In The Philippines

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Obama’s U.N. ‘Engagement’ Swindle

From Eye On The UN (reposted with permission)

For Immediate Release:
October 20, 2010

Contact: Anne Bayefsky
anne@hudsonny.org
(917) 488-1558

Obama’s U.N. ‘Engagement’ Swindle

It doesn’t speak well for our foreign policy when the administration

has to fabricate supposed successes.

This article by Anne Bayefsky appears today on National Review Online.

As gross human-rights violations continue to plague much of our planet, the U.N.’s lead human-rights body, the Human Rights Council, remains fixated on Israel, leaving the Obama administration in need of a strategy for justifying its policy of “engagement,” and particularly American membership in the HRC. The new strategy of choice? Misrepresentation. The State Department has posted on its website an account, photo and all, of HRC action on an egregious human-rights violation — action that didn’t happen.

Video: They Spoke Hebrew--Hebrew Scenes From Popular Movies And TV Shows

The video is by Jacob Richman, partof his free Learn Hebrew Resources



Technorati Tag: Learn Hebrew.

Mideast Peace Negotiations: It's All About Obama Saving Face

I posted about this article yesterday, but just to contrast the headline with another that directly contradicted it.

At the time, I didn't pay attention to the implications in the article itself. Take a look--at this point it's not about Middle East peace, the Mideast Peace talks are all about Obama saving face:

Israelis, Palestinians leaders agree to continue talks through U.S. elections

The Obama administration has secured pledges from senior Mideast leaders to continue their fitful peace negotiations until after next month's U.S. midterm elections, largely to avoid handing the Obama administration an embarrassing diplomatic setback before the Nov. 2 elections.

U.S. State Department's Duplicity at the U.N. Human Rights Council

From Eye On The UN (reposted with permission)

For Immediate Release:
October 21, 2010

Contact: Anne Bayefsky
anne@hudsonny.org
(917) 488-1558

U.S. State Department's Duplicity
at the U.N. Human Rights Council

This article by Anne Bayefsky appears today on Weekly Standard.com.

As the American midterm election campaigns head to the finish line, the Obama administration is trying to convince Jewish voters that its treatment of Israel is not as hostile as it appears. In fact, it’s worse. The U.S. State Department has now adopted a practice honed by Israel’s Arab negotiating partners – saying different things to different audiences. The State Department is distributing for American consumption speeches that it claims were delivered in Israel’s defense at the recent session of the U.N. Human Rights Council. But the remarks American diplomats actually delivered to the U.N. audience, which President Obama so desperately seeks to impress, were strikingly different.

Lies The Palestinian Leaders Told Me

Khaled Abu Toameh writes about what probably tops the list--The Palestinian refugees:

Palestinian Authority leaders are now saying that they will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state because that would mean that they would have to give up the "right of return" for millions of Palestinians to their original homes inside Israel.

These leaders are actually continuing to deceive the refugees into believing that one day they will be permitted to move into Israel.

Orthodox Jews Protest Niqab Ban

This caught my eye:

Orthodox Jews urge Quebec to abandon proposed niqab ban

Quebec’s Orthodox Jewish community appeared for the first time on Wednesday before a National Assembly committee, taking up an unexpected cause – fighting a bill that would ban the wearing of the Muslim niqab when receiving government services.

Now It's Not Even Politically Correct To Call A Jihadist An Anti-Semite!

In his introduction, Calvert presents Qutb as a supremely moral being. He was bent on propagating Allah’s message to humanity, and that message was beneficent and moral.
Benny Morris, in his review of John Calvert's Sayyid Qutb and the Origins of Radical Islamism

In his review, Qutb and the Jews, Benny Morris describes Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966), the subject of Calvert's book, as, "the major ideologue of modern, ultraviolent Islamic fundamentalism"--so at a time when the current explanation for the Israel-Arab conflict is that it is an issue over land, it is helpful to see what Qutb has to say.

Calvert is straightforward about Qutb's overall goal:

Qutb, says Calvert, saw jihad as the instrument of an essentially expansionist Islam. “For Qutb, as for the classical jurists, it is important that Islam be elevated to a position of power over [all] the peoples of the earth.”

That is a description that does not necessarily fit with Calvert's claim that "Qutb never would have sanctioned the killing of civilians, which several of the militant groups committed."

Be that as it may, when it comes to Qutb and the Jews, Morris writes that Calvert is even more oblivious:

The Hamas Coup--Does Anyone Remember The Human Rights Violations?

The following article no longer appears on Reuters, at least not completely--all that is left is the headline of the article, but I think it is worth remembering the time a human right group complained about international law violations in the Middle East and the UN did nothing.

Here is the article as it was saved on archive.org:

Hamas and Fatah killed innocents in Gaza war-report
Tue Oct 9, 2007 10:34am EDT
By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Hamas and Fatah committed "grave breaches" of international law in their brief civil war in the Gaza Strip in June, a Palestinian human rights group said on Tuesday, detailing a series of extra-judicial killings.

Video: Ahmed, The Palestinian Burning-Flag Salesman

[Hat tip: Elder of Ziyon]

Technorati Tag: Flag Burning and The Arab Street.

Thomas Friedman Should Just Knock It Off

Dr. Aaron Lerner reminds of us of Rabin's Forgotten Speech, his last major policy address where he details the red lines that he established in terms of what he was--and was not--willing to negotiate for peace in the Ratification of the Israel-Palestinian Interim Agreement

Here is Dr. Lerner's summary of that speech:

o No Palestinian State: "We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority."

o No return to '67 borders: "The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines."

o Control of Jordan Valley: "The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term."

o Gush Katif as model: "The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif."

o All settlements remain intact during interim period: "I want to remind you:
we committed ourselves, that is, we came to an agreement, and committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth."

How Does A Hamas 'Work Accident' End Up Injuring 5 Children?

Are you surprised that a Hamas training site is located that close to civilians?

Twelve Palestinians, including five children and three women, were injured in an explosion at a training site of Hamas' military wing the Al-Qassam Brigades on Wednesday in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Mideast Peace Talks Breakdown: Obama Administration Pats Itself On The Back For Trying And Plans New Pressure On Israel

Assuming that what Laura Rozen is writing is accurate, it sounds more like the latter--and instead of reexamining the what went wrong, it looks like the Obama administration is patting itself on the back for a job well done, and blaming Israel:

Behind the scenes, the Obama administration is still absorbing the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has to date rejected a proposed American compromise package that would have offered various security and other assurances to Israel in exchange for a 60-day renewal of a partial West Bank settlement freeze that expired last month.

The American team is said to be frustrated and upset at Netanyahu’s dismissal to date of the package, which was drafted by the NSC’s Dennis Ross in close consultation with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israeli negotiator Yitzhak Molho.

“They’re really upset,” one Washington Middle East hand in close contact with administration officials said Tuesday. “At the end of the day, they made this incredibly good faith effort to keep Bibi at the table.” And Bibi proved as yet unwilling to budge.

Does ANYONE Know The Status Of The Peace Talks?

It's all a matter of time...

McClatchy: Israelis, Palestinians leaders agree to continue talks through U.S. elections

The Obama administration has secured pledges from senior Mideast leaders to continue their fitful peace negotiations until after next month's U.S. midterm elections, largely to avoid handing the Obama administration an embarrassing diplomatic setback before the Nov. 2 elections.

Laura Rozen: Holding pattern: Middle East peace track at impasse until after midterms

Technorati Tag: Mideast Peace Talks .

Oh Joy! Now You Can Follow Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei On Twitter!

NIAC, the National Iranian American Council notes that Khamenei is now following you on Twitter, an idea that is unlikely to thrill the majority of Iranians:

Everyone in Qom, get out your cell phones and cameras, because the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei wants you to send him your videos and pictures of him when he visits today so that he can post them on his website.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei--A Trekkie?

In an attempt to show how modern he is, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claims he is a long time Star Trek fan and attempts to give the Vulcan greeting to the crowd.

It still needs a lot of work.

Technorati Tag: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The Hypocrisy Of Nominating Breaking The Silence For The Sakharov Award (Updated)

Throughout the years of Israel’s existence there has been war. Victorious wars, and also wars which Israel was not allowed to win. Each and every day – literally every day – there is the expectation of a terrorist act or a new war.”
Elena Bonner, Sakharov’s widow

Look who's been nominated for the 2010 Sakharov Prize:

"Breaking the Silence": An Israeli NGO established by former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and veterans who collected testimonies about their military service in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the Second Palestinian Intifada. It gives serving and discharged Israeli personnel and reservists a platform to describe their experiences in the Israeli-occupied territories. The group is being nominated by the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) and the Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL).

Michael Dickson, Israel director of StandWithUs, notes the hypocrisy in nominating 'Breaking the Silence' for the Sakharov award:

Happy Birthday, Huffington Post Monitor!

Huffington Post Monitor is one year old today:

Exactly one year ago today, October 19th, 2009, Zach and I started this blog to study the Huffington Post and its users. From our humble beginnings at the Brothers of Judea, to our namechange about two months ago, to where we are today.

But don't worry, while they thank the bloggers who have helped them and their reader, they don't forget to thank the people who really make their blog possible:

And, of course, thank you to the Huffington Post, their biased editors and their plethora of Israel-hating users, without which we would not have anything to talk about.

It's so important to give thanks where thanks is due, don't you think?

Happy Birthday, Huffington Post Monitor!

Do Palestinians Dream Of Middle East Peace?

That is the assumption that is always made, namely that there is a peace partner--a moderate, peace partner--on the other side of the table ready and willing to make peace with Israel. Not only that, but it is also assumed that there is a significant number of peace-seeking Arabs who similarly support peace with Israel.

Welcome to the 21st century where such assumptions can actually be put to the test.

This past April, Foundation for Defense of Democracies hired ConStrat, to assess how Palestinian Arabs feel about peace with Israel--and other issues--based on various kinds of Arabic posts found on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, wikis, and RSS feeds. The fact that the posts could be written anonymously or with pseudonyms encouraged the people posting them to write openly about how they really felt.

And the results?

Abbas Agrees--It's Obama's Fault

And he's right.

I've mentioned before that Abbas's demand for a settlement freeze is something new--here Jackson Diehl lays out How Obama sabotaged Middle East peace talks:

For 15 years and more, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas conducted peace talks with Israel in the absence of a freeze on Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Now, it appears as likely as not that his newborn negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu -- and their goal of agreement on a Palestinian state within a year -- will die because of Abbas's refusal to continue without such a freeze.

All of which raises the question why now. I've read some who claim that the Arabs have merely changed their mind and decided to make this an issue.

But Abbas himself says that is not the case:

Photographic Proof: Settlers Storm The Tomb Of Joseph!

The caption under the picture in Palestine Today could not be clearer: Settlers storm the place of 'Joseph' in Nablus

But pictures speak louder than words.

See for yourself:

The Palestinian Anthem

http://www.mythsandfacts.com/article_view.asp?articleID=53Eli Hertz passes along the following anecdote:

"In 1926, Lord Plumer was appointed as the second High Commissioner of Palestine. The Arabs within the Mandate were infuriated when Plumer stood up for the Zionists' national anthem Hatikva during ceremonies held in his honor when Plumer first visited Tel Aviv. When a delegation of Palestinian Arabs protested Plumer's 'Zionist bias,' the High Commissioner asked the Arabs if he remained seated when their national anthem was played, 'wouldn't you regard my behavior as most unmannerly?' Met by silence, Plumer asked: 'By the way, have you got a national anthem?' When the delegation replied with chagrin that they did not, he snapped back, "I think you had better get one as soon as possible." [1]

[1] Christopher Sykes, "Cross Roads to Israel - Palestine from Balfour to Bevin" London, Collins, 1965, pp. 92-93

70 years later, in 1996, they finally did come up with an anthem:

Why Do They Want To Silence Professor Geoffrey Alderman?

Who is Professor Geoffrey Alderman?

Check out his website:

Geoffrey Alderman is an academic and journalist specialising in modern British and European history and British and American politics. He is an internationally acknowledged authority on voting behaviour, pressure groups and the impact of religious and ethnic groups on political life. He has also written extensively on problems of quality and standards in university education.

And he is also being targeted by groups that are nominally interested in the protection of free speech.

Video: Turkey's Crimes Against The Armenians, The Kurds And Northern Cyprus

For more information check out Free Middle East



Technorati Tag: Turkey .

Isn't Someone Missing From This UNIFIL Meeting?

Narharnet reports:

UNIFIL Says Lebanese, Israeli Armies Stressed Commitment to 1701

UNIFIL Commander Maj. Gen. Alberto Asarta Cuevas on Monday met with top Lebanese and Israeli military officers at a U.N. base at the Ras al-Naqoura border crossing in southern Lebanon.

Linkage: Israel And--Vietnam

Evelyn Gordon addresses the perpetual issue of linkage--the idea that resolving the Israel-Arab conflict will provide a level of not only peace but also stability to the Middle East.

As I have pointed out before, the history of Islam provides a long, long list of Muslim vs. Muslim conflict--starting from the death of Mohammed and extending to modern times, as detailed by scholars such as Bernard Lewis and Rafael Patai.

Gordon gives a recent example:

Muslim Court: Men Can Discipline Wife And Kids If They Do Not Leave A Mark

This is supposed to be in accordance with Sharia law:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Supreme Court has ruled that a man has the right to discipline his wife and young children as long as the beating leaves no physical marks.

The judgment was made in the case of a man who slapped and kicked his 23-year-old daughter and slapped his wife.

The wife suffered injuries to her lower lip and teeth, and the daughter had bruises on her right hand and right knee.

The court also ruled that the bruises were evidence that the father had abused his Sharia right.

So, what is a Muslim husband supposed to do who thinks a good beating is necessary?

Ta-Ta Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu is retiring:

Obama praises 'moral titan' Desmond Tutu on his retirement

President Barack Obama congratulated Archbishop Desmond Tutu on his official retirement, praising him for the extensive list of accomplishments in his decades-long career.

"For decades he has been a moral titan -- a voice of principle, an unrelenting champion of justice, and a dedicated peacemaker," Obama said in a written statement.

The president praised Tutu for his crucial role in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement and reconciliation. The archbishop has also been involved in speaking out on issues such as gay rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, and freedom and justice around the world.

While the good that Tutu did is undeniable, there is another side to him that should not be overlooked--his anti-Israel bias, as reflected in the outrageous things that Tutu has said over the years about Israel (from an article that is now longer online but is archived here)

Obama Won't Be Visiting Chabad House When He Goes To Mumbai

So much for that message to the terrorists.

The Economist had made it sound so straightforward when it reported that Obama is going to Mumbai:

With the clear aim of sending a message to terrorists, US President Barack Obama is expected to stay overnight at Taj Hotel in Mumbai and tour other 26/11 targets when he undertakes a visit to India next month.

Israel Is A Jewish State--And Has The Papers To Prove It

Jeff Jacoby writes about a little bit of the history of why Israel has always been a Jewish state:

The UN's 1947 resolution on partitioning Palestine contains no fewer than 30 references to the "Jewish state" whose creation it was authorizing;

Islamophobia And US Leadership

I wrote last week about drawing the distinction between pranks and hate crimes against Muslims.

Today, Instapundit links to the same article I did and comments:

It occurs to me that right after 9/11 we saw the beginning anti-mosque demonstrations but those quickly dissipated. Why?

Gilad Shalit And The Chilean Miners

FreznoZionism.org notes the intense interest in the story of the 33 Chilean miners who were recently rescued--and offers a contrast between the Chilean miners and Gilad Shalit:

The 33 Chilean miners were underground for 69 days. Much of the world focused its attention on them, while no effort or cost was spared to get them out into the light after the nightmarish accident that buried them.

Gilad Shalit has been underground for one thousand, five hundred and seventy-four days today (he was taken on June 25, 2006).

Read the whole thing.

Technorati Tag: Chilean Miners and Gilad Shalit.

If The Koran Says Israel Is A Jewish State, Who Am I To Argue?

From Sura 5:

20. Remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.

21. "O my people! Enter the holy land which Allah hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin." [emphasis added]

Works for me.

Technorati Tag: Israel As A Jewish State.

If The US Think Israeli Construction Is Obstacle To Peace, Why Does It Fund Palestinian Construction?

ZOA Opposes Obama's Funding Palestinian Construction In Judea/Samaria - While Demanding Israel Stop Jewish Construction

October 15, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Morton A. Klein
Phone: 212-481-1500

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has opposed the Obama Administration for funding Palestinian construction projects in Judea and Samaria while at the same time demanding and publicly pressuring Israel to stop all Jewish construction in the same areas. This is despite the fact that Israel is only building within the boundaries of existing Jewish communities, which comprise only 4%-5% of the disputed areas of Judea and Samaria.

Nasrallah Lied To Ahmadinejad About Rifle He Gave As A Gift

It's one thing for Yedioth Ahronoth to be reporting this, but I'm surprised that Lebanese papers are picking up on how Nasrallah Deceived Ahmadinejad About The Gun:

The 2011 UN Security Council--More Negative Towards Israel?

Paul Mirengoff of Powerline writes about the composition of the new UN Security Council:

Canada lost out to Portugal after Portugal's natural ally, Brazil, lobbied Islamic countries with warnings that Canada's vote on Israel-related issues would be no different than that of the United States. Portugal, the argument went, would be more "balanced."

Video: "Green Days"--From A Documentary About Iranian Protests After Ahmadinejad Stole The Election

Below is an excerpt of "Green Days", a documentary by Hana Makhmalbaf:

Hana Makhmalbaf, a 21 year old Iranian director, brings the bloody street protests after June’s presidential vote to the big screen in the Venice film festival.

Her film, “Green Days,” focuses on the run-up to the election on the streets of Tehran and features interviews with ordinary young people, mostly supporters of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. The film blends a fictional storyline with a reaction to the swirling events surrounding Iran’s disputed presidential election.

The film features raw footage of the swelling protests by Mousavi’s green-clad sympathizers after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared winner and their brutal repression by security forces. Some of the images were shot with mobile phones by the demonstrators, as the government imposed restrictions on independent and foreign media. Hana Makhmalbaf said she had to leave Iran after the vote because the government wanted to arrest her. She finished editing the film at a secret location in Italy to avoid Iranian censorship.

According to Now Lebanon, a showing was cancelled in Lebanon in order not to insult Ahamdinejad.

Mr. Crowley, Say After Me: "Israel Is A Jewish State"

Rick Richman noted that during a daily press briefing last week, Philip J. Crowley had trouble getting out the 2 words "Jewish state" in a sentence with Israel in it.

But Crowley did come up with some interesting alternatives to "Israel is a Jewish State" along the way:

QUESTION: P.J., do you recognize Israel as a Jewish state and will you try to convince the Palestinians to recognize it?

MR. CROWLEY: We will continue our discussions with the parties. I would expect, following up on the Arab League meetings of late last week that George Mitchell will go to the region at some point. I’m not announcing anything, but I – it would be logical for us to follow up directly with the parties, see where they are. We will offer our ideas on – based on our conversations what our assessment is that – of what each side needs to be able to make the political commitment to remain in these direct negotiations.

QUESTION: And do you recognize Israel as a Jewish state?

Groundswell Of Support For Release Of Jonathan Pollard

The Jerusalem Post is reporting that a number of voices have been raised recently in support of the release of Jonathan Pollard, especially with revelations of deception by the US government.

So, who is calling out for Jonathan Pollard's release?

Iran Assumes OPEC Presidency

BBC reports that Iranian petroleum minister Masoud Mir-Kazemi starts his post on January 1:

Iran will assume the presidency of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) for the first time in 36 years.

The country's oil minister was elected as Opec president at a one-day meeting of the group, which is made up of 12 oil producing states.

Apparently OPEC cares as little as Ahmadinejad does about Mir-Kazemi's inexperience:

Approving Building In Jerusalem: A 'Tender' Question

Haaretz reports that for the first time since Biden's visit last March, 

Netanyahu approves tenders for 238 homes east of Green Line:Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved tenders for the construction of nearly 238 new housing units in areas of Jerusalem across the Green Line, Israeli media sources reported on Friday.

The Housing and Construction Ministry, along with the Israel Lands Administration, released its list of 3,500 newly approved tenders set for construction across the country.

The list includes 150 residential buildings in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot and another 80 in Pisgat Ze'ev. While both neighborhoods are technically set in the northern part of the city, they are considered East Jerusalem due to their location east of the Green Line.

Now, it's official.

Technorati Tag: Israel Settlement Freeze.

Pork As A Weapon Against Islam: Prank Or Hate Crime?

So, when someone harasses a Muslim, how do you tell the difference between a hate crime and a prank?

The Christian Science Monitor has an article investigation on growing unease in the US with Islam--and the use of pork to express anger with Islam:

Nationwide, polls show a growing ambivalence – or even anger – toward Islam among Americans, which has in part explained the opposition to a mosque near ground zero and mosques elsewhere, as well as the aborted mass burning of Korans by a Florida preacher. But subtler, more psychological attacks against Muslims have also become prevalent, say Muslim groups.

Prosecutors Ask That Geert Wilders Be Acquitted On All Charges

From Reuters:

Prosecutors asked a Dutch court on Friday to acquit anti-immigration lawmaker Geert Wilders on charges of inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims.

Recep Tayyip "The Mosques Are Our Barracks" Erdogan Pulls Out His Moderate Rhetoric

First Ahmadinejad visits Lebanon
Now Erdogan visits Pakistan.
Should we be expecting Bashar Al-Assad to be making any similar trips in the future as well?

If so, he would be hard-pressed to match Erdogan for rhetoric:

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week toured parts of Pakistan devastated by floods, using the visit to attack Israel and polish his image as a champion of Muslim solidarity.

Video: Latma On The Silwan Stoning And The Media

Many of us were waiting to see what Latma was going to do with the stone throwing in Silwan.
Well, your wait is over.

The first time you play the video, the video will start with that sketch.



Technorati Tag: Silwan Stoning.