WEDNESDAY’S “NEWS OF THE WEEK IN REVIEW”
Contents: | Weekly Quotes | Short Takes | On Topic Links
On Topic Links
Watch: How the World Council of Churches’ Anti-Israel Activities Were Exposed: United With Israel, Feb. 18, 2019
Netanyahu Achieves Major Diplomatic Triumph in Warsaw: David Isaac, World Israel News, Feb. 18, 2019
Caroline Glick: Ilhan Omar & Co. Were Elected Because of Their Racism, Not In Spite of It: Caroline Glick, Breitbart, Feb. 17, 2019
If Not Now, When? Gideon Taylor, Colette Avita, Jerusalem Post, February 18, 2019
WEEKLY QUOTES
“The risk (of war) is great. The risk will be even greater if you continue to turn a blind eye to severe violations of international law. Israeli behavior is putting international law on the shelf, U.S. behavior is putting international law on the shelf,” — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zasrif said at the Munich Peace and Security Conference on the Middle East. In an interview with Germany’s Der Spiegel Online, he also rejected Vice President Mike Pence’s remarks accusing the Islamic Republic of antisemitism akin to the Nazis, calling them “laughable,” and insisted that “Iran has always supported the Jews. We are just against Zionists. The Holocaust was a disaster.” (Haaretz, Feb. 17, 2019)
“You have just heard foreign minister Zarif. Do not be deceived by his eloquence. Do not be fooled by his lies. As IDF former Chief of Staff, I saw first-hand precise information regarding what is really happening in Iran. Hence, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the regime Mr. Zarif represents is an evil one… It is no secret that Prime Minister Netanyahu is my political rival. We disagree on many issues. But make no mistakes – we are both devoted sons of the same nation. When Israel’s security is under threat, there is no daylight between us…. When it comes to defending Israel- we are united. I am standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Prime Minister Netanyahu in the fight against Iran’s aggression. I am certain he will do the same when I will be the Prime Minister of Israel.” — Benny Gantz, Founder of the newly formed Israel Resilience Party at the Munich Security Conference. He also called Hezbollah “the most dangerous terror organization in the world. Those in Europe who seek peace, security and stability- must take action and fully designate Hezbollah as the terror organization that it is. Inaction is unacceptable. We have all seen the tragedy in Syria […] But the good news is that in many ways pragmatic Arabs and Israelis are closer than ever before. Many in the Arab world have realized that Israel is not part of the problem but part of the solution.” (Arutz Sheva, Feb. 17, 2019)
“If Israel makes a mistake that sparks a new war, they can rest assured that this will bring about their elimination… They will be annihilated before the Americans get here. They should look for cemeteries outside of occupied Palestine. No technical obstacles are preventing us from increasing the range, the precision, or the destructive power of our long-range missiles. This also applies to our powerful propellants. We are not facing any technical obstacles with any of these,” — IRGC Deputy Hossein Salami in an interview on Channel 2 TV (Iran). (MEMRI, Feb. 4, 2019)
“Objectively speaking, Hitler wins. But as far as we’re concerned, we should erect a statue of Hitler for what he did to the Jews.” — Egyptian researcher and poet Mohamed Gad El-Zoghby was asked in a February 9, 2019 interview on Safa TV (Saudi Arabia/Egypt) who was worse: Adolf Hitler or Imam Khomeini. El-Zoghby accused Imam Khomeini of collaborating with the Jews and praised Hitler for supporting the Arab cause in Palestine. (MEMRI, Feb. 9, 2019)
“I see the ballistic missile program, I see Iran in Yemen and above all I see Iran in Syria … The only question that stands between us on this issue is, do we help our common cause, our common aim of containing the damaging or difficult development of Iran, by withdrawing from the one remaining agreement? Or do we help it more by keeping the small anchor we have in order maybe to exert pressure in other areas?” – German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Munich Security Conference, for which she drew lengthy applause. (AP, Feb. 16, 2019)
“The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial. The Caliphate is ready to fall. The alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them…. …. The U.S. does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go. We do so much and spend so much – Time for others to step up and do the job that they are so capable of doing. We are pulling back after 100% Caliphate victory!” – US President Donald Trump on Twitter. Trump’s comments come as the area that ISIS now controls shrunk to just 700 square meters, according to a commander with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). (CNN, Feb. 17, 2019)
“This is exactly the intention, to move the next coalition of the State of Israel to the center-right, not to the extreme right.” — the head of the Institute for National Security Studies, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin said in an interview with Reshet Bet, responding to whether the US will be supporting Benny Gantz’s Israel Resilience Party in the April election. Regarding the Jared Kushner Peace plan, an outline of which was revealed at the Warsaw Summit, he added, “I think that Netanyahu, as an experienced statesman, understood that he is going to get the Trump plan not in the summer but immediately after the elections.” (Arutz Sheva, Feb. 17, 2019)
“I am very happy to report that the process of stabilizing relations with Israel is at its height,” Venezuela’s self-declared leader Juan Guaida told Israel Hayom in an interview. A formal announcement on reestablishing ties and opening a new Venezuelan embassy in Israel would come “at the proper time.” Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez fostered ties with the Palestinians as well as Iran. Israeli leaders said Caracas’s posture prompted a flight of Venezuelan Jews. (Reuters, Feb. 12, 2019)
“As the situation in Syria stabilizes, Hezbollah is returning its forces to Lebanon. Despite the many casualties it took, the organization is coming back with extensive combat experience. They are no longer a guerrilla group, but a real army. They fought there in companies and battalions, very similar to armies. They operate in civilian areas and are ready to use large quantities of anti-tank missiles. This is a challenge the IDF must train for.” — Col. Dudu Sonago, the 401st Brigade of the IDF’s Armored Corps during a large-scale military drill in the Jordan Valley to prepare soldiers for potential future fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. (Algemeiner, Feb. 15, 2019)
“I have become embarrassed and ashamed to remain in the Labour Party. I have come to the sickening conclusion that it is institutionally antisemitic.” – Wavertree MP Luciana Berger speaking as to why she and six other Labour MPs resigned from the party. Opposition to leader Jeremy Corbin’s approach to Brexit and claiming that the party’s shift to the “hard left,” were other reasons cited. In a direct challenge to Corbyn, the seven centrist MPs said they were courting others from across parliament to join their group, saying “enough is enough” in keeping silent over their doubts about the Labour leader’s fitness for office. The seven lawmakers are Leslie, Luciana Berger, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey. They will continue to sit as members of parliament under the banner “The Independent Group.” (Algemeiner, Feb. 18, 2019)
Contents
SHORT TAKES
PRESIDENT TRUMP NOMINATED FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE (Tokyo) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has recommended President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, in response to a request from the US government, according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi for his easing of tensions with North Korea. There are 304 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 out of whom 219 are individuals and 85 are organizations. (Jewish Press, Feb. 17, 2019)
ONE THIRD OF BRITISH VOTERS BELIEVE LABOUR PARTY LEADER JEREMY CORBYN IS ANTISEMITIC: POLL (London) — A YouGov poll shows that 34 percent of voters consider Corbyn antisemitic, while 32 percent said they didn’t know. Only 24 percent said unequivocally that he is not. Asked if the Labour Party is antisemitic, 24 percent of those surveyed answered yes. (Algemeiner, Feb. 17, 2019)
ANTISEMITIC POSTERS FOUND OUTSIDE TUFTS HILLEL (Massachusetts) — More than a dozen anti-Semitic and anti-Israel posters were discovered outside the Hillel at Tufts University bearing images of militarized pigs, including at least one consisting of a caption that reads “DESTROY ISRAELI APARTHEID FORCES AND AMERIKKKAN PIGS WHICH FUND IT. FREE PALESTINE.” University president Anthony Monaco, in an email to the Tufts community did not explicitly label the posters as anti-Israel or antisemitic, rather as “disturbing and hurtful” to the school. (JNS, Feb. 13, 2019)
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE WHO SPEWED ANTISEMITIC RHETORIC HAS A RADICAL PAST (Virginia) – Ibraheem Samirah, a 27-year-old Virginia General Assembly candidate apologized for past social media posts excoriating Jews and Israel but continues to shade his involvement with groups which would like to see Israel eliminated, a sentiment that was prominent in his life. The posts, first published Feb. 7 by Big League Politics, claimed that sending money to Israel was “worse” than sending money to the Ku Klux Klan and wishing that former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would burn in hell. (IPT News, Feb. 18, 2019)
NATION OF ISLAM LEADER LOUIS FARRAKHAN UNLEASHES TORRENT OF VERBAL ATTACKS ON JEWS (Chicago) – Speaking at the Saviours’ Day event at the United Center in Chicago. Louis Farrakhan’s speech was rife with antisemitism, according to an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report. Among his other remarks, he claimed that anti-black racism ‘was started by Jewish rabbinical leaders’ in ancient times, and that Jewish racism towards Africans is ultimately responsible for the ‘enslavement… colonization…dehumanization…[and] denial of self-determination’ to black people throughout history.” (Algemeiner, Feb. 18, 2019)
GERMAN REPORT: ASSAD REGIME RESPONSIBLE FOR 98% OF 336 CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACKS IN SYRIA (Berlin) — The Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), a non-profit think tank established in 2003 in Berlin, estimates that some 90% of all confirmed chemical attacks were launched after the August 2013 threat by President Obama that should the Assad regime use chemical weapons again, it would cross a red line and change his policy regarding military intervention in Syria. It also points an accusing finger at the Russian military for aiding and participating in these war crimes. (Jewish Press, Feb. 17, 2019)
FIRST DAY ON THE JOB, NEW FOREIGN MINISTER KATZ INSULTS POLAND (Jerusalem) — Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will not attend the planned Monday meeting of the leaders of central European EU members in Israel because of what the new substitute foreign minister Yisrael Katz said concerning the role of the Poles in the extermination of Jews during WW2. During an interview with Israel’s 24-News, he quoted Yitzchak Shamir who said that “Poles suckled antisemitism with their mother’s milk.” (Jewish Press, Feb. 18, 2019)
GIANT NAZI SWASTIKA ADORNS STAIRCASE IN KIEV MALL, LATEST IN UKRAINE ANTISEMITISM (Kiev) — A facsimile of the Nazi flag with a giant swastika in the middle was painted on to a central staircase in the middle of the Gorodok shopping mall in the Ukraine capital city of Kiev several hours before Ukrainian nationalists marched through central Kiev brandishing the neo-Nazi Wolfsangel symbol. (Jewish Press, Feb. 18, 2019)
A RARE 1,900-YEAR-OLD COIN FROM THE TIME OF THE BAR KOCHBA REVOLT UNEARTHED (Lachish region) — Coins of this type that bears the name Shimon – Bar Kochba’s first name – were minted during the Bar Kochba revolt from 132-135 CE, during which Jewish rebels managed to regain some autonomy from Rome. The “second year” is either the year 133 or 134 CE. (Times of Israel, Feb. 11, 2019)
U.S. REVIVES SECRET PROGRAM TO SABOTAGE IRANIAN MISSILES AND ROCKETS (Washington) — The U.S. has accelerated a secret program to sabotage Iran’s missiles, according to current and former administration officials. Two failed Iranian attempts to launch satellites in the past month were part of a pattern. Over the past 11 years, 67% of Iranian orbital launches have failed, compared to a 5% failure rate worldwide for similar space launches. U.S. officials described a far-reaching effort, created under President George W. Bush, to slip faulty parts and materials into Iran’s aerospace supply chains. (New York Times, Feb. 13, 2019)
THOUSANDS RALLY AGAINST ANTISEMITISM AFTER SPIKE IN ATTACKS (Paris) – Political leaders from all parties, including former Presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, gathered in Paris filling the Place de la Republique to decry antisemitic acts with one common slogan: “Enough!” People also lined the streets of cities from Lille in the north to Toulouse and Marseille in the south. President Emmanuel Macron paid respects at one of the 96 desecrated graves in the village of Quatzenheim, near the eastern city of Strasbourg. (NBC News, Feb. 19, 2019)
SECURITY CABINET DEDUCTS HALF A BILLION SHEKELS FROM PA TAX FUNDS (Jerusalem) – Security officials presented data showing that in 2018, the Palestinian Authority transferred the above-stated amount to terrorists imprisoned in Israel and their families and to released prisoners. Additional deductions will be made linking PA payments to terrorism. The amount frozen will be updated, as per the information received, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Jewish Press, Feb. 17, 2019)
PRESIDENT RIVLIN LAUNCHES FIRST ISRAELI SPACECRAFT TO THE MOON (Cape Canaveral) — Eight years of intensive work by SpaceIL and Israel Aerospace Industries will come to fruition with the launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, this Thursday. The spacecraft, named Bereishit (Genesis), will carry a time capsule, which has a huge database saved on special disks that can be removed from the spacecraft. There are hundreds of digital files, including the Bible and details about SpaceIL, the building of the spacecraft, Israeli national symbols, cultural items and materials collected by the public over the years. The time capsule will remain on the moon after the mission is completed. (Jewish Press, Feb. 17, 2019)
MEDICAL AL STARTUP HEALTHYMIZE TAPS INTO VOICE ANALYSIS TECH TO MONITOR HEALTH (Jerusalem) — With its personalized, artificial intelligence-based voice analyzing software, Healthymize turns smart devices into remote patient monitoring devices for voice-affecting diseases such as asthma, pneumonia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It automates labor-intensive phone monitoring to manage chronic patients, giving healthcare professionals the ability to assess the speech of a patient at any time. (No Camels, Jan. 23, 2019)
FOREIGN INTERVENTION NOTED IN ISRAEL’S ELECTIONS (Jerusalem) — Several senior security officials, including ISA (Shabak) chief Nadav Argaman and several Israeli cyber consultants, have taken note recently of apparent attempts by several foreign countries to interfere in the upcoming Israeli elections via cyber and IW (Information Warfare) attacks. Below the radar, there is evidence that at least one country – Saudi Arabia may be attempting to interfere via more traditional methods that includes hiring PR teams, advertising agencies, and policy advocacy and lobbying companies. (BESA, Feb. 17, 2019)
CANADIAN CAPTURED IN SYRIA ADMITS TO ROLE IN ISIS EXECUTION VIDEOS (Syria) — Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed, who was detained by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on Jan. 13, acknowledged his role in the ISIS videos Flames of War and Flames of War 2, the Rojava Information Centre said. (Global News, Feb. 16, 2019)
FORMER US INTELLIGENCE AGENT CHARGED WITH SPYING FOR IRAN (Washington) — Monica Witt, 39, a U.S. Air Force counterintelligence agent who had studied Farsi, carried out covert missions in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. An indictment made public on Wednesday accused Witt of defecting to Iran in August 2013 to work with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in betrayal of the U.S. (New York Times, Feb. 13, 2019)
On Topic Links
Watch: How the World Council of Churches’ Anti-Israel Activities Were Exposed: United With Israel, Feb. 18, 2019 — The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) – a project of the World Council of Churches (WCC), one of the biggest ecumenical organizations in the world – is a political project disguised as a human rights group.
Netanyahu Achieves Major Diplomatic Triumph in Warsaw: David Isaac, World Israel News, Feb. 18, 2019 — In Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-fought diplomatic effort to bring about international pressure on Iran there have been many impressive moments.
Caroline Glick: Ilhan Omar & Co. Were Elected Because of Their Racism, Not In Spite of It: Caroline Glick, Breitbart, Feb. 17, 2019 — Rep. Ilhan Omar is an antisemite and, as the actions of the congressional Democratic leadership last week made clear, hating Jews is a perfectly acceptable position in today’s Democratic Party.
If Not Now, When? Gideon Taylor, Colette Avita, Jerusalem Post, February 18, 2019 — The turmoil surrounding the canceled visit to Israel this week of Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki provides a very timely reminder of a key aspect of Poland’s relationship with the past.
