Thursday, October 31, 2013
Ban: Releasing Murderers is Good, Building is Bad UN chief condemns Israel for building, but welcomes its "gesture" of releasing murderers.
Releasing terrorists is good, but approving new Jewish construction in Jerusalem is wrong, according to the head of the United Nations.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement he released on Wednesday, condemnedIsrael’s announcement that it will build 1,500 new housing units in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.
“Settlement activity is contrary to international law and constitutes an obstacle to peace. Any measures that prejudge final status issues will not be recognized by the international community,” said the statement.
Ban then expressed “appreciation” for Israel’s decision to release terroristswho murdered Israelis as a “gesture” to the Palestinian Authority.
According to the statement, Ban “understands that Israel took a difficult step in continuing to release Palestinian pre-Oslo prisoners in the face of deep domestic opposition, and appreciates this gesture.”
However, he added, “In keeping with the statement by the Quartet on September 27, the Secretary General expects the parties to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to the success of the negotiating process and to refrain from actions that undermine trust.”
Israel’s announcement that it will promote new construction in Ramat Shlomo came on Tuesday night, as 26 terrorists were being released, the second in a series of four releases.
Ramat Shlomo is often erroneously described by anti-Israeli media as an "illegal settlement in east Jerusalem". Israel has been slammed in the past for promoting construction in the neighborhood.
The plan to build 1,500 homes has been shelved and then revivedseveral times over the past few years, largely because of criticism over it by the United States.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
The nuclear threat from Iran's rogue regime has not abated
The nuclear threat from Iran's rogue regime has not abated.
In fact, despite a vigorous 'charm offensive' by their new president - and the Obama administration's insistence that diplomatic discussions are going well - the threat has only been growing.
Last week, USA Today reported that Iran's nuclear program has shortened its 'break-out window' - the amount of time needed to produce enough weapons-grade uranium to build a nuclear weapon - to less than a month.
Yesterday, the former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency offered a similar assessment, warning that Iran's nuclear program has passed the "point of no return" and suggesting the break-out window may be as little as two weeks.
And just today, the Times of Israel reports that a top Iranian lawmaker vowed that the Tehran regime will not suspend uranium enrichment - nor will it stop the custom of chanting 'death to America' at public gatherings!
Yet in the face of this escalation, leading members of President Obama's team have repeatedly signaled a lack of resolve.
On Sunday, the New York Times reported that National Security Advisor Susan Rice's new Middle East policy envisions a nuclear deal with Iran and includes no demands that Iran suspend nuclear enrichment.
Secretary of State Kerry, in comments widely understood as a rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, belittled concerns about a nuclear Iran.
And members of the Obama administration have pressured the Democrats who dictate the agenda of the U.S. Senate to stall action on the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, a vital economic sanctions bill that has already passed the GOP-controlled House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support and is currently awaiting further action by the Senate Banking Committee.
TAKE ACTION
Call your U.S. Senators and urge that they ask Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) to allow action on the Senate's version of the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act.
Information about how to contact your U.S. Senators can be found HERE or by calling 202-224-3121.
Senators are more responsive to their own constituents, so we encourage you to alert friends and family members in other states and ask them to contact their Senators as well.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Canadian PM: I Will Defend Israel 'whatever the cost'
Ottawa, Canada - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is prepared to suffer any political backlash that comes his way for speaking out against anti-Israel rhetoric.
Harper told an audience Monday that while Israel is receptive to fair criticism, Canada is obligated to stand up for its ally when it comes under attack from others.
"Not just because it is the right thing to do, but because history shows us, and the ideology of the anti-Israel mob tell us all too well, that those who threaten the existence of the Jewish people are in the longer term a threat to all of us."
The prime minister acknowledged that his position is not popular with all governments and organizations, including members of the United Nations and the Francophonie.
"And I know, by the way, because I have the bruises to show for it, that whether it is at the United Nations or any other international forum, the easiest thing to do is simply to just get along and go along with this anti-Israel rhetoric, to pretend it is just about being even-handed, and to excuse oneself with the label of honest broker.
"There are, after all, a lot more votes—a lot more—in being anti-Israeli than in taking a stand. But as long as I am prime minister, whether it is at the United Nations, the Francophonie or anywhere else, Canada will take that stand, whatever the cost."
The prime minister's use of the phrase "honest broker" is an apparent reference to a recent speech made by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.
Ignatieff criticized the Harper government for using Israel as a wedge issue with his political opponents in Canada, at the expense of the country's influence on peace in the Middle East. The Liberal leader called for a return to a time when Canada was perceived to be an honest broker in the global community.
Harper made his remarks at the start of a two-day conference on anti-Semitism that is being held on Parliament Hill during Holocaust Education Week.
Monday, October 28, 2013
MEMRI: EGYPT'S EXECUTIONER: "STRANGLING HAS BEEN MY HOBBY SINCE CHILDHOOD, I JUST LOVE MY JOB" "I AM CARRYING OUT THE LAW OF ALLAH."
This is unspeakable and heinous in and of itself, murder in the name of allah, for the glory of allah. But it is the sanction of the world that truly gives this evil unimaginable power. And any decent human being who cries out against this annihilationist supremacism is viciously attacked, defamed, and destroyed.
Egypt's Executioner: Strangling Has Been My Hobby Since Childhood, I Just Love My Job
Following are excerpts from an interview with Hajj Abd Al-Nabi, the official executioner of Egypt, which was posted on the Internet on September 8, 2013.Hajj Abd Al-Nabi: "I am the executioner of the Arab Republic of Egypt. I hold the rank of chief warrant officer in the police and the prison authority. I am Egypt's executioner, responsible for carrying out the death penalty." [...]"I love people, and people love me, but when I am doing my job, I am carrying out the law of Allah." [...]"When it comes to carrying out my job, I am tough. The murderer has done an abominable thing, and I cannot be soft with him. If I were soft towards this criminal, I wouldn't be able to execute him, but when I'm at home, with my kids, I am as calm as can be." [...]"I have placed [the noose] around some 800 heads – tough people, big people, young people... All the despicable crimes – killing, adultery, premeditated murder, and so on... I carry out all the death sentences."In all honesty, I love my work. I just love it! I never say 'no' when they need me at work. This is my work and my livelihood." [...]"When I was young – about 13 or 14 years old – the dry Ismailiya Canal in Shubra Al-Kheima still had water in it. My hobby was to catch a cat, to place a rope around its neck, to strangle it, and throw it into the water. I would get hold of any animal – even dogs. I would strangle these animals and throw them into the water – even dogs."Interviewer: "That was a long time ago..."Hajj Abd Al-Nabi: "Yes, when I was 13 or 14 years old. Strangulation was my hobby. When I applied for the job and did well on the tests – proving that I could take the psychological pressure and so on – they said: 'Congratulations. Now, grow a moustache. '""The truth is that my heart is dead, because executing comes from the heart, not the moustache. Only if you have a heart of stone can you be content in this line of work." [...]"My parents were hard on me. They would say: 'This will get you to hell!' I would say to them: 'The cat bit me,' 'The cat bit some kid,' 'The dog bit a boy in the leg, and the leg got infected.' I became the enemy of all things harmful to Mankind."Interviewer: "So you were violent as a boy..."Hajj Abd Al-Nabi: "I was a little Satan..."Interviewer: "Did you strangle many kids you were playing with?"Hajj Abd Al-Nabi: "Whenever I would place my hands around a kid's neck, I would go soft when I remembered that it was a child, not an animal."Interviewer: "So you had a disposition toward this job from a young age..."Hajj Abd Al-Nabi: "It's a gift."Interviewer: "Strangling is a gift?"Hajj Abd Al-Nabi: "A great gift. I love my job very much, and I can't give it up. Even when I retire, I will report for duty in emergencies. I will leave this job only when I am dead." [...]
SERAPHIC SECRET: Muslims Fly Nazi Flag in Israel
Palestinian IslamoNazis proudly display their national flag.
To liberals, progressives, peaceniks, social justice activists — whatever you’re calling yourselves this week: please don’t write and tell me that not all Muslims are Nazis, that you, personally, know some very civilized, moderate Muslims.
Those unicorn Muslims are irrelevant.
That Nazi flag flying proudly in an Arab settlement inside Israel is the true face of pan-Arab nationalism.
The so-called Palestinians — a national identity invented by the KGB for their Arab clients in the mid-1960s — have zero interest in creating a viable state.
Their primary interest is in destroying Israel, the Jewish state. The Arab Muslim love affair with jihad, a cult of murder, torture, and death, finds its apotheosis in the Nazi party. Thus, even as the Muslim world publicly denies the Holocaust, behind closed doors it celebrates the German genocide of the Jews and draws inspiration from it.
Note that the so-called Palestinians already have a state: Gaza, home to a variety of competing Islamist terrorist armies, including the Iranian militia Hizbullah. Naturally, the reichlet of Gaza is Judenrein. All too soon the members of its various terrorist groups — adherents of the religion of peace — will complete the ethnic cleansing of Gaza’s Christians as well.
The best Israel can hope for in the foreseeable future is to manage the various IslamoNazis and their chronically unstable nations.
For at least the second time in five months, Arab residents of Beit Umar in the Palestinian Authority (PA) have placed a Nazi flag over a major thoroughfare where Jews pass in their vehicles.Beit Umar is located between Halhoul and the Etzion Bloc, not far from Hevron.Soldiers from the Haruv battalion in Kfir Regiment tried to take down the flag Saturday, but encountered difficulty because it was placed very high up.A similar event took place at Beit Umar in May, when hundreds of residents of Gush Etzion who drove down Highway 60 were astounded to see an oversized Nazi flag flying next to a mosque in the Arab town.In a recent key spech, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu quoted numerous historical sources showing that the leader of the Palestinian Arabs in the first half of the 20th century, Mufti Hajj Amin Al-Husseini, was “one of the initiators of the Holocaust of the Jews of Europe,” and that he was constantly encouraging the Nazi leadership to annihilate the Jews, throughout the war. He cited evidence that the Mufti even visited the gas chambers at Auschwitz with Adolf Eichmann.“The Mufti is still a greatly admired figure in the Palestinian national movement,” said Netanyahu. “These are the weeds that need to be uprooted,” he said. “The root of the conflict is the deep resistance among a hard core of Palestinians to the right of the Jewish people to its own state in Israel.”
The Humiliation of Palestinians in Arab States
Palestinian refugees in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria suffer a daily humiliation at then hands of their Arab brothers. It is way past time that they were given dignity, equality before the law and Iraqi, Jordanian, Lebanese or Syrian citizenship. Yet BDS and all other so called Pro-Palestinian organizations do not say or do a thing about this, in fact they respond and behave as though it doesn't exist.
UK's Manchester United apologizes for swastika-like logo, Nazi-style reference
Manchester United FC
A newsletter emailed to fans of Manchester United included a logo that seemed to resemble a swastika, alongside the headline "New Order," referring to the club's emerging talent.
LONDON - English soccer team Manchester United apologized to fans after sending them a newsletter with a design resembling a swastika alongside the words “New Order,” a slogan used by Hitler's Nazi party.
The club headed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer, said Sunday the design and choice of words in the email newsletter "United Uncovered" was "completely inappropriate" and that "internal action" was being taken.
"It has been pointed out that the graphic had design similarities to a swastika which, combined with other connotations of the phrase 'new order', has caused offence which was entirely unintended," they said in a statement Sunday. “For this, United Uncovered unreservedly apologizes.”
They added the "New Order" headline was a reference to the Manchester band of the same name who were popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. One of their hits, "Blue Monday" remains the best selling 12 inch single of all time.
The swastika has been used by many cultures, but is most well known as the symbol of Nazi Germany. The European New Order was the political model Adolf Hitler wanted to impose after World War II.
The design and headline caused outrage among some fans, with many questioning how it had not been spotted.
One Twitter user, David Roberts, said: “As an advertising art director I've done 1000s of newsletters for major brands. How does that get through sign off?”
Another, Lynette Mapp, added: “Manchester United 'swastika' apology - My support for Man Utd is over! Totally unacceptable #no excuses.”
Manchester United Head of Media David Sternberg was quick to respond on Twitter. He said: “The creative is completely inappropriate; we apologize unreservedly and are taking appropriate internal action.”
The apology comes at a difficult time for Manchester United, which is one of the richest and most popular teams in the world. The team has been struggling to adapt under the management of David Moyes after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of last season.
The team known as the "Red Devils" currently lies in 8th place in the English Premier League, having lost three of their nine games this season.
ELDER OF ZIYON: "Jews hide their anti-Egypt plans in Pepsi ads"
From the ADL:
Here's the ad and its brilliant interpretation:
Yes, Israel is bringing the Muslim Brotherhood back into power on January 25, 2014!
Don't you see the resemblance between the W of NOW and the four fingered logo of the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators?
I cannot believe that the people behind this theory didn't know about Pepsi's sponsorship of the Hamas soccer tournament every year. What more proof do you need that it supports the Muslim Brotherhood?
Anyway, did you ever wonder why Jews feel such a compulsion to give coded messages of their nefarious plans to the enemy? Wouldn't it be easier to just act without telegraphing their moves?
Ah, but the reason is that this way, the Jews can discredit the bright Egyptians who figure out their schemes - by changing the date on them!
The latest conspiracy theory coming out of Egypt suggests that Pepsi is owned by Jews and that the company is somehow being used to infiltrate the country. According to the conspiracy theory, Pepsi is an acronym for “Pay Every Pound for the Security of Israel.”Well, he's right about one thing. There are a lot of stupid people around.
The absurd conspiracy theory recently surfaced on the Egyptian television talk show, Egypt Today. The program’s host, Tawfik Okasha, who is known for his opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood, said:
"What is the corporation of Pepsi? It is one of the largest and most important corporations owned by the Jewish Zionists… the Torah of Ezra tells them [the Jews] you can’t enter heaven before you rule Egypt."
Okasha then mentioned a recent Pepsi ad campaign geared toward football fans in the streets of Cairo, saying that the ad is proof that Israel and the Jews are trying to infiltrate Egypt.
Okasha elaborated on this idea yesterday on his Twitter account, where he posted a photo of the Pepsi ad with circles around the jersey numbers of the football players. The numbers, according to Okasha, represent a coded message indicating when the Jews will bring back the Muslim Brotherhood to rule Egypt.
According to Okasha, “The motto of Pepsi corporation is Pay for Israel and its owners are Jews who support the Muslim Brotherhood…anyone who wouldn’t understand the [below] ad is stupid!!”
Here's the ad and its brilliant interpretation:
Don't you see the resemblance between the W of NOW and the four fingered logo of the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators?
I cannot believe that the people behind this theory didn't know about Pepsi's sponsorship of the Hamas soccer tournament every year. What more proof do you need that it supports the Muslim Brotherhood?
Ah, but the reason is that this way, the Jews can discredit the bright Egyptians who figure out their schemes - by changing the date on them!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Abie Rotenberg Composes Song for Ill Young Man
Avi Silver is a young man (in his early 20's) who is desperately ill with Yener Machlah. He was diagnosed one year ago and his condition has slowly deteriorated. This morning he was in a crisis situation and although he's been stabilized, he remains in great danger.
He and his incredible mother have exhibited extraordinary Emunah in Hashem throughout their ordeal and they have been supported by an incredibly involved group of friends in Toronto... as well as the North American community of Jewish Music artists and of course Chai Lifeline.
Avi has had Mordechai Ben David, Baruch Chait, Abie Rotenberg, Yaakov Shwekey, Lipa Shmeltzer, Sheya Mendlowitz and many other renowned performers sing at his bedside. Kumsitzes have been commonplace in their living room -- which has become a sort of Mikdash Me'at for T'fila, Bitachon -- through the medium of Jewish Music.
A while back Avi was hospitalized and while visiting, Abie Rotenberg offered to write a song in honor of Avi. Avi and Bracha chose the words: ה' שמעה בקולי תהיינה אזניך קשבות לקול תחנוני
(Hashem listen unto my voice, may Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications).
Abie wrote music to those words and an arrangement was crafted by Toronto musician and engineer Eli Woznica. Abie, Baruch Levine, Reb Baruch Chait, Rivie and Eli Schwebel and Shlomo Simcha lent their voices to the recording -- which was mixed and mastered last night. This morning it was emailed to the hospital and Avi and Bracha listened to it for the first time.
ELDER OF ZIYON: Group claims Jews have drug-fueled orgies in rabbi's tomb in Egypt
The annual pilgrimage of Jews to the tomb of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira in Damanhour, Egypt which was protected under Hosni Mubarak's rule, was canceled in 2012, as the Muslim Brotherhood-dominated Egyptian government decided that they couldn't protect Jewish visitors because, well, Egyptians hate Jews too much.
This year, the Brotherhood is no longer ruling. So will the pilgrimage resume?
According to this Egyptian paper, Israel formally requested that 150 Israeli Jews along with 17 rabbis be allowed to visit the tomb this year. The date would be around December 22.
Initial reaction in Egypt has been very negative.
The "Coalition of Young Journalists" issued a statement denouncing the idea, and they said that they would organize human shields to prevent any Israelis from coming near the shrine. Their spokesman, Mohamed Allam, described the visits as a "desecration" of the land of Egypt, "contrary to the teachings of religion and morals" which "violate sanctities in broad daylight."
What exactly do the Jews do at this ceremony? Glad you asked.
According to Allam, the Jewish men and women dance together while listening to jazz music.
Afterwards, the groups said, the tourists make lots of noise and would bring sheep and goats. They slaughter them from the top of the neck, "contrary to Islamic law." (Kosher slaughter is not done that way.)
But that's not all.
The meat is eaten together with "all kinds of imported wines next to a cocktail of cigarettes stuffed full of drugs."
The, naturally, the Jews turn off the lights and have an orgy, with sex and homosexuality being freely practiced in the tomb itself.
Wow. That could attract a whole new crowd!
Allam also said that Abuhatzeira wasn't even a religious figure, just an ordinary Egyptian man. So there is no reason to have the ceremony anyway, and the Egyptian government should stop entertaining the idea that this pilgrimage has any religious significance. He helpfully adds that when Jews were in Egypt in Pharaonic times, they really didn't add anything to Egyptian culture, just living in tents and herding sheep. I'm not sure if they listened to jazz.
I did a little searching and see that the same accusations, almost word for word, were used two years ago by this same spokesman but he didn't have a group to represent at the time. Good to know that the "Coalition of Young Journalists" in Egypt found Mohamed Allam to be worthy of speaking on their behalf.
The story has been reported in at least four Egyptian news outlets.
As always, a search to find if anyone in Egypt is making fun of Allam, or even disagreeing with his accusations, comes up empty. There are no consequences in the Arab world to spouting the most outrageous and insane stories about Jews, so they naturally get more lurid.
It will be interesting to see whether Egypt will allow the pilgrims, and, if so, what the Egyptian army does in December to protect the wild partying Jews.
ELDER OF ZIYON: Looks like the burqa doesn't do a good job protecting women
Some Muslims like to say that a woman must be covered up in order to keep her safe from unwanted men's sexual advances.
This video shows that it doesn't help.
The video was taken in Saudi Arabia, although the women are reportedly from Egypt and Sudan. it is causing quite a stir.
The best quote is this one:
This video shows that it doesn't help.
The video was taken in Saudi Arabia, although the women are reportedly from Egypt and Sudan. it is causing quite a stir.
The best quote is this one:
Former judge and member of the Shura Council Mohammad al-Dahim told Al Arabiya that sexual harassment is not a phenomenon that occurs in Saudi Arabia, even if it appears so on social media.Whew! That's a relief!
ELDER OF ZIYON: Interview with a "sex jihadi" who got pregnant, is infected with AIDS
From Raymond Ibrahim:
I was skeptical when these stories first started to spread, and I don't know the reliability of Al Sharouk, but it does look like the phenomenon is real if perhaps not very widespread.The Arabic media has been full of interviews with some of the many Tunisian girls that went to Tunisian newspaper Al Sharaouk (“Sunrise) shed light on the horrific experiences of one of these girls.
Her name is Lamia, and she’s 19-years-old. While in Syria, she had sex with jihadis fighting to overthrow the secular Bashar Assad regime. Among other nationalities she recalls having slept with were Pakistanis, Afghanis, Libyans, Tunisians, Iraqis, Saudis, and Somalis, all in the context of the “sex jihad.”
Such a diverse array of jihadis is a reminder of the nature of the “rebellion”: it’s less about indigenous Syrians fighting for freedom and more about international jihadis fighting for Sharia.
According to Al Sharouk reporters, who went to interview Lamia at her home, the young woman began her story by saying that in 2011 she became religious, after watching an Islamic program; among other things, she took to wearing the hijab and came to believe that going out in public was a sin.
Then, “Lamia became convinced that a woman may participate in the jihad to eliminate the enemies of Islam by making her body recreational for the men after each and every raid, so that her body became their possession.”
Back in May, reports of women saying similar things began to appear. For instance, Masrawy published a video interview with one “Aisha,” another Tunisian girl who said she had met a Muslim woman who spoke of the importance of piety, including wearing the hijab and traveling to Syria to help the jihadis “fight and kill infidels” and make Allah’s word supreme, adding that “women who die would do so in the way of Allah and become martyrs and enter paradise.”
At any rate, by the time war broke out in Syria, Lamia’s mind was “dough for the cleric to mold any which way he wanted.” He proceeded to send her to Benghazi, Libya, and from there to Turkey, and then to Aleppo, Syria. There she found many women and young girls residing in an old hospital that had been turned into a campsite.
A man claiming to be the “emir” of the sexual campground met her saying his name was Abu Ayoub, the Tunisian. But, she said, the true leader was a Yemeni, who appeared leading a group of jihadis calling themselves “Omar’s Battalion” (likely named after the second caliph, whose reign saw the conquest of Syria). He was the first to take her.
Lamia confessed that she did not know how many men had sex with her and that all that she remembers is being abused, beaten, and forced to do things “that contradict all sense of human worth.” She also said that she met many Tunisian women including one who died while being tortured for trying to escape.
Finally, released back to Tunisia, Lamia has been to a doctor finding that she is five months pregnant. Both she and her unborn are carrying the aids virus.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Rabbi Hier to Pope Francis: 'Peace is one of Judaism's Greatest Virtues' — But ‘Evil is Real and Must be Confronted’ A sixty-member Simon Wiesenthal Center delegation that included Holocaust survivors, Christians and a prominent Muslim met today with Pope Francis at a private audience in the Vatican. ‘The world must not forget to act when dealing with terrorists and rogue nations’
In his speech, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the Jewish human rights NGO, raised the continuing threats from terrorists and rogue nations, like Iran.
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“There is no greater virtue in Judaism than peace or ‘Shalom’. Peace dominates our prayers. Peace, ‘Shalom’ is one of the names of the Almighty himself, “ Rabbi Hier said. “But peace is attainable, …only if one is willing to make changes.”
“There are some nations who can’t compromise. That’s what Chamberlain forgot in 1938 when he returned from Munich with his ‘Peace in our time’. Only Churchill understood who Hitler really was. If not for him, today’s audience with Your Holiness and a delegation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center could never have taken place.”
Turning to the resurgence of anti-Semitism, Rabbi Hier declared, “Seventy-five years after the infamous Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) pogrom, a poll commissioned by the respected Ebert Foundation estimates that 150 million Europeans still harbor anti-Jewish sentiment.
“Your Holiness, we know that we have you as an ally in our struggles against anti-Semitism, and we want to reiterate to you that you have an ally in the Simon Wiesenthal Center in your struggle to secure the rights of religious minorities everywhere, especially endangered historic Christian communities in Egypt, Iraq and beyond.”
“Finally, we are delighted that Your Holiness has accepted an invitation to visit Israel next year – the spiritual center of the Jewish people, where Jews, Christians and Muslims are free to practice their faith and to express their opinions without fear or repression. May your presence there help all those committed to a lasting Middle East peace, to finally recognize the existence of a Jewish state alongside her twenty-three Arab neighbors,” Rabbi Hier concluded.
In his remarks, Pope Francis reaffirmed his condemnation of “all forms of anti-Semitism,” adding, “The problem of intolerance must be confronted in all its forms… [including] the marginalization and the very real persecutions which not a few Christians are undergoing in various countries.”
Simon Wiesenthal Center Chairman, Larry Mizel presented the Pope with a specially-commissioned Jerusalem Stone menorah with a quote from Psalms reflecting the new Pontiff’s emphasis on values of kindness and good deeds - “Righteousness and Justice are His Throne’s Foundation”.
Read Rabbi Marvin Hier's full remarks here
ELDER OF ZIYON: Ambassador Ron Prosor's speech at the UNSC
Situation in the Middle East
Conviction, Conscience, and Courage
October 2013
Mr. President,
Winston Churchill, one of the architects of this institution, is remembered for his speeches that rallied a nation in the dark hours of World War II. His words inspired a generation when he told the British people, "Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty [so] men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'”
And indeed it was their finest hour. They stood tall knowing that if they didn’t stand up for human life and human dignity, their very survival would be at stake. It was a lesson for the ages - and today they are remembered as a beacon of light during some of the darkest days the world had ever known.
With much of the Middle East in turmoil, the world is once again being called upon to defend liberty, democracy and human rights. History will look back and judge which nations stepped forward withconviction, conscience and courage.
Mr. President,
This morning, I would like to speak about these three qualities - beginning with conviction. As the political landscape of the Middle East evolves, the international community must demonstrate resolve.
Last month, Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, took center stage at the General Assembly. He arrived in New York armed with a charm offensive - waving to excited fans with one hand, while waving off skeptics with the other.
Since his election, Rouhani has tried to reinforce the image that he is a quote-unquote moderate. He was published in an American newspaper, appeared on network television, and even started using social media. I have news for President Rouhani - embracing Twitter doesn’t make you a reformer, but embracing human rights certainly would.
The Iranian regime is notorious for violating women’s rights; targeting religious and ethnic minorities; and, denying fundamental freedoms to its citizens. Rouhani is like the Emperor with new clothes – cloaking himself as a moderate when Iranian radicalism remains clear to the naked eye.
Unlike his predecessor, whose hateful rhetoric about wiping Israel off the map made him easy to dismiss, the new Iranian president has a strategy codenamed SLY (S-L-Y). Smile. Lie. Yield minor concessions.
Rouhani has perfected the art of saying one thing and doing another. But you don’t have to believe me. You can read about it in his 2011 memoir describing his time as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator. In his own words, here is what he said: “While we were talking to the Europeans in Tehran, we were installing equipment in Isfahan… By creating a calm environment, we were able to complete the work in Isfahan."
Mr. President,
While Rouhani provides diplomatic cover, Iran is marching towards a bomb. Since the June election, Iran has installed thousands of new centrifuges and just last month, the new president declared that Iran will not give up “one iota” of its nuclear rights.
Make no mistake - the Iranian program is not for peaceful purposes. Seventeen different countries peacefully produce nuclear energy without uranium enrichment or plutonium production. And yet, Iran insists that their enrichment infrastructure and technology is their “right.”
It’s not their right, in fact it’s wrong. When negotiating with Iran, the international community must – as Prime Minister Netanyahu said - distrust, dismantle and verify.
Everyone, including Israel, wants to find a diplomatic solution. But one has to wonder, why Israel along with a minority of countries are the only ones standing on the frontline warning the world that an Iran with nuclear weapons does not threaten Israel alone. It threatens the entire region, from Saudi Arabia through the Gulf States to Morocco.
Their voices are harder to hear, but if you tune into the right frequency, you will discover that they are frightened. They know that if Iran gets nuclear weapons, it will threaten their lives and lives throughout the region.
It won’t just alter the balance of power in the Middle East – the repercussions will be felt in Europe, the United States and across the globe. The world has stood at this crossroads before. On the eve of World War II, Churchill warned of the impending danger when he said: “They should know that we have passed an awful milestone in our history, when the whole equilibrium of Europe has been deranged... This is only the beginning of the reckoning... [unless] we arise again and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time.”
Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past and leave a minority to stand alone against a common enemy. The danger is real, but this isn’t the first time that Israel’s warnings have been brushed aside.
When we warned the world about Assad’s chemical arsenal, we were told, “Don’t worry, he won’t use chemical weapons because it’s not rational.” Today the entire world knows that the dictator in Damascus used chemical weapons against his own citizens.
And the only reason that Assad has agreed to give up these weapons is the very real threat of an American military strike. You don’t need a PhD in physics to know that pressure works.
Mr. President,
The Iranian economy is crumbling under the weight of crippling sanctions. And this pressure is getting results. And yet some states have suggested easing the sanctions.
This suggestion reminds me of a boxer who is clinging to the ropes in the final round. Give him a moment to rest and he will turn around and attack you with more vigor. We must keep up the pressure until Iran agrees to play by the rules.
Let me be clear – any sort of partial deal will be completely ineffective in containing the Iranian threat. Any diplomatic resolution must ensure that Iran has no centrifuges, no enriched uranium, and no plutonium track. If Iran doesn’t agree, then the sanctions must not be eased; they should be increased.
Now is the time to demonstrate conviction. We cannot allow the world’s most dangerous weapons to reach the hands of the world’s most dangerous actors. The Security Council showed its resolve when it adopted a series of resolutions against Iran. Having come so far and worked so hard - now is not the time to give in. Iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
Mr. President,
The second quality I want to speak about is conscience. We have all seen the horrific images that emerged from Syria. Men and women sprawled on the floor convulsing. Young children foaming at the nose and mouth and then lying motionless.
No one with a conscience can stand by as the people of Syria continue to be massacred - whether by chemical weapons or the routine brutality of the Assad regime. The cynics in this hall will accuse Israel of shedding crocodile tears. The Jewish people and the State of Israel know all too well how evil can prevail when people shut their eyes and turn their backs.
To the Syrian people I say this - I know that our two nations have a long history of conflict and that we are separated by politics and religion. But we are eternally linked by our common humanity. We are horrified by the pain and suffering that you have endured. As we speak our hand is extended to your people. And we will continue to offer humanitarian assistance to all those who need it regardless of race, religion or gender.
Mr. President,
It’s hard for most of us to conceive that anyone, much less a government, would use chemical weapons against its own innocent civilians. Is it logical? Is it rational? Not at all. Many in this hall said that countries would never use weapons of mass destruction. Surprise, surprise – it turns out you can’t apply rational thinking to irrational actors.
How many in this hall believed that when Bashar al-Assad became President, he would be the new hope for Western-Arab relations? After all, here was a young London-trained ophthalmologist, with a beautiful wife, who drank high tea and ate scones at the Ritz. Turns out the eye doctor, is just another spin doctor and his murderous rampage has Syria spinning out of control.
We applaud the steps that have been taken by the international community so far, but the removal and destruction of Syria’s weapons must remain a priority. The international community must ensure that the process is properly monitored, verified and completed while abiding by the agreed timelines. It must also ensure that no entity takes advantage of the process to advance its capacities and knowledge of chemical weapons.
Let me be absolutely clear: we cannot trust that a regime that lies in bed with Iran and Hezbollah, isn’t lying when it commits itself to eliminating its deadly arsenal.
Together, Iran, Syria and Hezbollah form the “trio of terror.” This trio is intent on acquiring the ABCs of terrorism - Atomic, Biological, and Chemical weapons – so it can more effectively murder innocent men, women and children.
The clock is ticking and time is running out. Our conscience tell us that the sooner Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons is destroyed, the sooner we will safeguard the people of Syria and bring greater stability to the Middle East.
Mr. President,
The problems plaguing the Middle East are centuries old and - contrary to what some in this chamber believe - cannot be solved overnight. How many in this hall thought that the so-called Arab Spring would bring about democracy?
I’m reminded of the lyrics from Leonard Cohen's song "Democracy" - "It's coming from the feel that this ain't exactly real, or it's real, but it ain't exactly there."
Leonard Cohen could have written this song to describe the Middle East today. The promise of democracy in the Middle East ain’t exactly real and it ain’t exactly there. The region continues to be defined by bloodshed, repression, and instability.
Mr. President,
This brings me to the third quality I want to speak about - courage.
We all want to see peace in the Middle East. Israelis envision the day when we can live free from divisions, hatred, and violence. But making peace requires courage. It requires leaders courageous enough to embrace partnership and promote tolerance.
On the very same day that CNN beamed images of Abbas talking about peace at the UN, official Palestinian television delivered a very different message. The PA and Fatah held ceremonies to honor terrorists responsible for the murder and maiming of innocent Israelis. At a memorial held in Ramallah, a Fatah official read a speech on behalf of Abbas praising terrorist Abu Sukkar who killed 15 Israelis and wounded more than 60. This murderer was described as: “the most noble among the noble.”
At another event on the same day, a member of Abbas’s Fatah’s Central Committee glorified terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, who hijacked a bus and killed 37 civilians, 12 of whom were children. This attack was described as “the glorious deeds of [a] hero.”
Examples of incitement are all too easy to find in Palestinian society. Their results can be found in the death of Gal Kobi, who was shot in the neck by a Palestinian terrorist last month. They can be found in the death of Tomer Hazan, who was kidnapped and murdered by a Palestinian acquaintance. They can be found in the death of Seraiah Ofer, who was brutally beaten to death outside his home by Palestinian men wielding metal bars and axes
As horrific as these crimes are, President Abbas only found his voice to condemn these attacks to a Jewish audience in New York City – while speaking in English. We have yet to hear President Abbas condemn these attacks in his native Arabic speaking to his own people.
The time has come for the Palestinian leadership to clearly and unequivocally condemn violence and terrorism. The time has come to stop poisoning the minds of Palestinian children. The time has come to start teaching tolerance, mutual respect, and coexistence. After all, the next peace agreement depends on the next generation wanting peace.
Mr. President,
For years, member states have been listening to debates on the Middle East. In all this time, have you ever heard the Palestinian delegate say anything constructive about Israel? No. We only hear demonization and delegitimization. It’s time to stop the blame game. The UN library will have to open a new fiction section for the countless letters sent to the Security Council by the Palestinian delegate distorting the truth.
We need to speak truthfully about the problems plaguing the Middle East. It seems that the states that are so heavy on the criticism of Israel are also light on the facts. Allow me to dispel a number of myths.
Myth number one. Some nations seem to believe that a great injustice was done to the Palestinian people when the UN voted to partition then British-Mandate Palestine into two states. In fact, in 1947 Resolution 181 which divided the British Mandate over Palestine speaks of the creation of a Jewish State no fewer than 25 times. The resolution declared that: "independent Arab and Jewish States shall come into existence.” The Jews welcomed the plan and joyously declared a new state in their ancient homeland. But the Arabs rejected the plan and - joined by the armies of five Arab nations - launched a war of annihilation against the newly born Jewish state.
Sixty-five years later you still don’t hear the Palestinians talk about two states for two peoples. Sure, Palestinian leaders call for an independent Palestinian state, but they insist that the Palestinian people return to the Jewish state. This is a euphemism for the destruction of the State of Israel and a major hurdle to peace.
Myth number two. Some in this room are convinced that the root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the settlements. In fact, from the time Israel gained its independence in 1948 until 1967, the West Bank was in Jordanian hands and Gaza was in Egyptian hands. Throughout this time, there was not a single settlement. Yet the Palestinians still sought our destruction. And where were the Arab states? They did not lift a finger to create a Palestinian state and instead sought our destruction. Today, just 2% of the Israeli population lives in settlements, but they are blamed for 100% of the problems. I have said it before and I will say it again, the settlements aren’t the major hurdle to peace; the real obstacle to peace is the Palestinians quest for the so-called right of return.
Myth number three. The Palestinian delegation has sent letters to this Council accusing Israel of denying people freedom of worship. The only denying taking place is the denial of facts on the ground.
One of the first acts Israel undertook after reuniting Jerusalem in 1967 was to abolish discriminatory laws and safeguard access to religious sites for people of all faiths. This was in contrast to pre-1967 when everyone but Jews could access Jerusalem. Since Israel introduced religious freedoms in 1967, people of all faiths have been able to visit the holy sites of Jerusalem.
In contrast, the Palestinian leadership breeds incitement and stirs up violence on the Temple Mount. They even went so far as to accuse Israel of altering the nature of Jerusalem. In fact, it is the Palestinians who are altering the nature of Jerusalem. They are destroying artifacts and distorting history in an effort to erase all traces of an ancient Jewish presence. The world’s silence in response to these crimes has been deafening. Ever since King David laid the cornerstone for his palace 3,000 years ago, Jerusalem has served and will continue to serve as the eternal capital of the Jewish people.
Instead of accusing Israel of restricting freedom of movement, the Palestinians should be concerned with holding free elections. Let me remind you that Abbas’s term expired in 2009 and since then he has been extending his term without elections.
Where are all the concerned voices from the defenders of democracy? I didn’t hear the Special Representative raise this issue in his report this morning. I’m sure many countries would enjoy the chance to cancel or postpone elections when the polling doesn’t look good. Let me remind you all of an important truth – in a real democracy, one election doesn’t earn you the right to rule forever.
Myth number four. Israel has been accused of creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza by restricting the free movement of goods. In fact, every month, trucks carrying hundreds of thousands of tons of goods - including food, medical equipment and construction materials - pass from Israel into the Gaza strip.
In his past reports, the Special Representative has criticized Israel for restricting the entry of construction materials. How many of you have asked us to allow cement into Gaza so the Palestinians can build houses? And yet, when we do, in exchange for our goods and goodwill, Israel is repaid with tunnels of terror.
Just over a week ago, the IDF discovered a two kilometer tunnel originating in Gaza and ending just outside an Israeli community – not far from homes, kindergartens and playgrounds. The tunnel was built by Hamas using 500 tons of cement that had been earmarked for construction. I’ll repeat that again – 500 tons of cement. To understand how much that is, the Statue of Liberty weighs 225 tons. Just imagine how many schools, hospitals and homes could have been built.
In taking responsibility for building the tunnel, a Hamas spokesman said, “"This tunnel was made by the hand of the fighters of al-Qassam and they will not sleep in their efforts to hit the occupation and kidnap soldiers.”
Instead of building houses, Hamas is building smuggling tunnels. And instead of building schools, they are building terror networks. This is the reality that Israel has to live with every day. Instead of using construction materials to build a better future for the Palestinian people, the leadership in Gaza is committed to destroying the State of Israel. It may just be my hearing, but I have yet to hear the countries that demand Israel allow more cement into Gaza condemn these crimes.
Myth number five. Some countries around this table believe that international forces should be on the border to guarantee a future peace agreement. That’s interesting. Because history has shown that Israel can’t rely on others to ensure its security.
While we support the work of UN forces on our borders, history has shown that Israel cannot rely on the international community to ensure its own security. This was the case with UNEF One in the Sinai desert and with EUBAM in Gaza.
The recent involvement of certain UN bodies has hardly been helpful. In his remarks earlier, the Special Coordinator spoke about an incident last month in Kfar MaHul. The report neglects to note that following a review by Israel’s Supreme Court, the buildings in question were determined to be illegally constructed.
In light of this important fact, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs – also known as OCHA - needs reminding that its role is the coordination of humanitarian aid not aiding in the obstruction of justice.
Obstruction one: OCHA entered a closed military zone. Obstruction two: OCHA systematically abuses and disregards Israel’s authority on the ground. It seems, the only thing the Office of Coordination is not doing, is coordinating with Israel.
There is also the example of Palestinian Khulood Badawi, an OCHA official who was caught red-handed fabricating facts. It has been two years, the results of the investigation were never published and she has not been officially dismissed.
OCHA demands that Israel respect human rights and justice, but they have shown no respect for our system of justice and sovereignty. They are trying to determine facts on the ground rather than leaving issues to be addressed during final status negotiations.
This is clearly not their mandate. Which leaves us with the question, what exactly is their mandate? Is it to provoke? Is it to incite? Is it to create conflict? One thing is for sure – they shouldn’t be oiling the Palestinian propaganda machine. Due to their recent behavior, Israel will have no choice but to reassess OCHA’s presence on the ground.
Mr. President,
It’s time to stop pointing fingers and it’s time to stop laying blame at Israel’s doorstep. Israel remains committed to two states for two peoples. We are ready to make an historic compromise to realize the creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state living side-by-side with the Jewish state of Israel. Israelis and Palestinians will have to work together to create new and lasting solutions to old problems. This will only be possible if our work is built on a foundation of truth, mutual recognition, and security.
A great convulsion is shaking the Middle East from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Gibraltar. The tremors have shattered states and toppled governments - and the ground is still shifting. The region stands at a crossroads and it is not yet clear if freedom and moderation will triumph over tyranny and fundamentalism.
Let this be the moment in history when all peoples seek understanding instead of accusations; when nations strive for harmony instead of dissonance; and when our family of nations shows the conviction, conscience, and courage to make peace possible.
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