WEDNESDAY’S “NEWS IN REVIEW” ROUND-UP

Contents: | Weekly Quotes |  Short Takes   |  On Topic Links

On Topic Links

UNESCO Had Help from Israeli NGOs and Their Funders: Gerald Steinberg, Times of Israel, Oct. 28, 2016

A New President for Lebanon: David Schenker, Washington Institute, Oct. 31, 2016

Clinton’s Money Grab Comes With a Price: Konrad Yakabuski, Globe & Mail, Oct. 31, 2016

The Jewish Folk Singer Who Gave Chicago Cubs Fans 2 Anthems: Gabe Friedman, Times of Israel, Nov. 1, 2016

"Hillary Clinton's corruption is on a scale that we have never seen before. We must not let her take her are criminal scheme into the Oval Office. I have great respect for the fact that the FBI and the department of justice are now willing to have the courage to right the horrible mistake that they made…(the system) might not be as rigged as I thought! The FBI, I think they're going to right the ship, folks…And they're going to save their great reputation by doing so."" —Presidential candidate Donald Trump (R). At a rally in New Hampshire, Trump praised the FBI for reopening its investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email as secretary of state. (Real Clear Politics, Oct. 28, 2016)

"It is extraordinary that we would see something like this just 11 days out from a presidential election. The director owes it to the American people to immediately provide the full details of what he is now examining. We are confident this will not produce any conclusions different from the one the FBI reached in July." — John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman. Clinton's campaign could have gone a few different ways with its response to the bombshell news that the FBI is looking into more emails related to its investigation of the Democratic nominee. It went with angry. Podesta called on the FBI to offer more details about what exactly is happening with the emails, which sources have said are actually from an unrelated investigation into disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who has separated from his wife, top Clinton aide Huma Abedin. (Washington Post, Oct. 28, 2016)

“The world’s most powerful nation has become a laughingstock – overcome by groping scandals, e-mail leaks, and the antics of a guy named like a slang word who takes selfies of his crotch. America’s allies are appalled, and its enemies can scarcely believe their luck. Demagogues and authoritarians around the globe are crowing about the obvious deficiencies of democracy. Vladimir Putin is squirming with delight. The Chinese must be concluding that we’ve reached the twilight of the Western age. America has been brought to its knees – not by its enemies, but by itself. I want this to be over. I want it to stop. But I’m afraid that it will never stop. I’m afraid that we’ll wake up on Nov. 9 only to discover that one nightmare may be over, but the next has just begun.” — Margaret Wente (Globe & Mail, Oct. 31, 2016)

“If you’re a true deplorable, I have nothing to say to you by way of persuasion. You should follow the endorsements of neo-Nazis, and current and former members of the Ku Klux Klan who say Trump is the embodiment of their beliefs. A vote for anyone but Trump, as the former Klansman David Duke says, is “treason” to your heritage. He’s talking about a lineage that goes directly back to slavery.” — Timothy Egan (New York Times, Oct. 28, 2016)

“I don’t understand how people of Jewish faith can back the Democratic Party which over the last 50 years has been so clearly anti-Israel, so clearly anti-Jewish Israel. I don’t know what else would need to be done, said or happen for people to understand that… the Democratic [party] is only aligned with Israel because we have agreements in place that make them have to be.” — Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. During an appearance on CNN’s “The Lead,” the legendary baseball player posed the question to host Jake Tapper, who is Jewish, after being questioned about his support for Trump, in spite of the candidate’s purportedly offensive comments about women. Schilling is mulling a run for the US Senate on the Republican ticket. (Algemeiner, Oct. 23, 2016)

“At a time when the Middle East is in turmoil and historical heritage sites are being destroyed by groups such as ISIS, it is imperative that the U.S. stands with Israel, our closest ally and the sole democracy in the region…Recent UNESCO resolutions that deny Jewish and Christian ties to holy sites in Jerusalem not only reinforce the necessity of withholding American funding from this counterproductive U.N. organization, but also call into question future U.S. membership in UNESCO… Because UNESCO continues to deviate from its founding mission and adopt one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions, it is time for the U.S. to stand with Israel and suspend our ties with UNESCO." — Republican Senators Mark Kirk, Marco Rubio, David Perdue, and Johnny Isakson, in a letter urging Obama to suspend ties with UNESCO following its adoption of an anti-Israel resolution denying any connection between Jews, Christians and holy sites in Jerusalem, such as the Temple Mount and Western Wall. (Mark Kirk, Oct. 26, 2016)

“We want to be doing everything we can to create conditions where the direct parties involved, the Palestinian Authority, Israelis…can find a way to the peace table…We are deeply interested in the peace and stability and the challenges in this part of the world…Canada is anxious to do its part.” — Canada’s Governor-General David Johnston, on a state visit to Israel. During his time in Israel he will meet with both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and PA President Abbas. “We want to reinforce our friendship and relationship with Israel,” Johnston said. Among other things, he said, his country has taken a strong position against the BDS movement. Ultimately, it is the Israelis and the Palestinians who have to reach a negotiated solution, said Johnston. Other parties like Canada can encourage that, but can’t substitute for it, he said. (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 1, 2016)

“ISIL’s depraved, cowardly strategy is to attempt to use the presence of civilians to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations.” — Zeid Raad Al Hussein, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. I.S. fighters are forcibly relocating thousands of people from villages around Mosul, Iraq, to use them as human shields inside the city and have begun systematically executing those who refuse, the UN said. The tactic is a familiar one. In previous battles, I.S. fighters have retreated to safety and loaded their trucks with civilians to deter U.S.-led coalition airstrikes from targeting them. Hussein said I.S.’s behavior means Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces need to be especially vigilant not to engage in “eye-for-an- eye” retribution. (Arutz Sheva, Oct. 28, 2016) 

“The scales of war tipped towards Assad during the past year once Russian military involvement began to increase in strength. One can say with certainty that Russia has become the Syrian Army's main source of power, mainly from the air, and that a good part of the Russian navy, armed with rockets and aircraft carriers, is concentrated opposite Syria's shores. The air defense systems that Russia has spread along the Syrian coast threaten the activities of the US, Israeli and Turkish warplanes in the area. Russia acts without legal or moral constraints, and bombs civilian neighborhoods mercilessly, forcing their citizens to become human shields for the rebels – those that Saudi Arabia supports, mostly in the eastern quarters of Aleppo.” — Dr. Mordechai Kedar (Arutz Sheva, Oct. 28, 2016)

“Recent studies show that anti-Zionist expression, particularly the promotion of BDS, whether found on the campus quad or in the lecture hall, is strongly correlated with acts of anti-Jewish hostility, including assault, harassment, discrimination, suppression of speech, and displays of antisemitic graffiti and flyers (such as those seen recently at UC- Berkeley).  Tellingly, these studies also show a very strong correlation between faculty who have endorsed an academic boycott of Israel and acts of anti-Jewish hostility.  Schools with one or more faculty boycotters are four times more likely to be the scene of incidents targeting Jewish students for harm.” — Letter from 47 organizations and 176 faculty members to University of California President Janet Napolitano, urging her to ensure that UC faculty are not permitted to use the classroom as a pulpit for antisemitic and anti-Zionist political advocacy and activism. (Read the full letter here—Ed.)

“We are calling on Sony Music and the group’s producer, Yasushi Akimoto to apologize for this inappropriate and deeply offensive presentation…Watching young teens on the stage and in the audience dancing in Nazi-style uniforms causes great distress to the victims of the Nazi genocide…This is a time when the Simon Wiesenthal Center is struggling against increased anti-Semitic attacks and burgeoning online hate around the world. Even if there was no harm intended by the group, that performance cheapens the memory of victims of the Nazis and sends the wrong message to young people in Germany and other countries where neo-Nazi sentiment is on the rise. We expect better from an international brand like Sony which has caused embarrassment to Japan.” — Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Simon Wiesenthal Center. (Simon Wiesenthal Center, Oct. 31, 2016)

Contents

TRUMP ADVISERS EXPLAIN CANDIDATE’S STANCE REGARDING ISRAEL (Washington) — Trump’s advisers on Israel released a position paper explaining their candidate’s stance regarding the Jewish State. Among the topics highlighted in the document was the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries. A Trump administration would promise that Israel receives the greatest amount of aid possible. Also, according to the document, if Trump is elected, the US will continue to support direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians without any preconditions, and oppose any Palestinian or European attempt to avoid these negotiations. In regards to Jerusalem, Trump will move the US embassy, which is currently located in Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Online, Nov. 2, 2016)

ADELSON POURS $25 MILLION INTO WHITE HOUSE RACE (Washington) — Casino magnate and Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson donated to Donald Trump's campaign for president in a big way on Monday, after having pledged last spring to fund the candidate's path to victory. Coinciding with a visit by Trump to Las Vegas, Adelson – who has long prioritized issues concerning Israel in his political calculations– donated $25 million to his campaign, Fox News reported, describing the billionaire as "going all in on the Republican nominee" just one week before Election Day. (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 1, 2016)

PALESTINIAN ATTEMPTS TO RUN OVER, STAB SOLDIERS IN WEST BANK (Jerusalem) — A Palestinian man attempted Friday to run over IDF troops with his vehicle at a checkpoint near the settlement of Ofra in the central West Bank, north of Jerusalem, the army said. Soldiers fired at the vehicle, and after it halted, the suspect, a man in his thirties, got out with a knife in his hand and charged at the soldiers. The soldiers opened fire and seriously injured him. No IDF soldiers or Israeli civilians were wounded in the apparent attack. (Times of Israel, Oct. 29, 2016)

NEW RAIL PLANS LINK JERUSALEM TO WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS (Jerusalem) — Plans to expand Jerusalem’s light rail will link Israel’s capitol with three West Bank settlements, including the city of Ma’aleh Adumim. News of the plans came as politicians are in the midst of a campaign to sway the government and the Knesset to annex the city, which is home to over 37,000 people. Aside from Ma’aleh Adumim the train will also reach the settlements of Givat Ze’ev and Geva Binyamin, both of which are also just outside of Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 2, 2016)

ISRAELI BILL SEEKS TO HOLD EU LIABLE FOR ILLEGAL PALESTINIAN BUILDING (Jerusalem) — A new Knesset bill designed to halt European Union support for illegal Palestinian construction in Area C of the West Bank was filed on Wednesday. If passed by the Knesset, it would strip diplomats of immunity in activities relating to terror, human trafficking and illegal construction, and would make EU diplomats legally liable for helping Palestinians build illegally in Area C of the West Bank.  The bill is part of a larger campaign by right-wing politicians and non-governmental groups to halt such building, particularly in the area of Route 1, as it runs from Jerusalem past the Ma’aleh Adumim settlement in the direction of the Dead Sea. (Jerusalem Post, Nov. 2, 2016)

CHRISTIAN ALLY OF HEZBOLLAH WINS LEBANON PRESIDENCY (Beirut) — Lebanon’s parliament ended more than two years of political deadlock in the country, electing as president a former army general who is the main Christian ally of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Michel Aoun, 81 years old, won 83 out of the 127 votes cast on Monday, restoring the most powerful political office held by a Christian in the Middle East as the sect faces persecution across the region but enjoys rare security and power-sharing in Lebanon. Under longstanding political agreements, a Maronite Christian is always president while the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker is a Shiite Muslim. Hezbollah’s militia is considered the most powerful military force in Lebanon, stronger than even the national army. (Wall Street Journal, Oct. 31, 2016)

ERDOGAN RENEWS PUTSCH PURGE WITH TARGETS IN MEDIA (Ankara) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed efforts to root out opposition to his rule since July’s failed coup, with officials arresting the top editor of a major paper and firing more than 1,200 professors. Police detained Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu and prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 12 other executives, writers and cartoonists at the daily on suspicion of assisting both Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Erdogan accuses of masterminding the attempted overthrow, and the outlawed Kurdish rebel group PKK. (Bloomberg, Oct. 31, 2016)

RUSSIA KICKED OUT OF UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (Ankara) — In the wake US claims of Russian war crimes in Syria, the United Nations General Assembly voted Russia off the UN Human Rights Council during a general vote this week. The United States was re-elected to its position on the council. Forty-seven countries participated votes on Russia's continued involvement, with only 2 votes more to kick Russia off than to keep them on. Some participants termed the vote "historic." This is the first time Russia has not been part of the UNHRC since the council's inception in 2006. 80 different human rights organizations signed a petition asking Russia be removed from UNHRC after Russia's involvement in Syria's civil war caused many to believe Russia is guilty of war crimes. (Arutz Sheva, Oct. 30, 2016)

VENEZUELA USED FRONT GROUPS TO SUBVERT UN REVIEW OF RIGHTS RECORD (Geneva) — The UN is being called upon to investigate how their officials allowed Venezuela to influence a UN review of the country’s human rights record by using hundreds of “front groups” to submit comments favorable to the regime. While “519 supposedly non-governmental organizations” submitted comments for Venezuela’s review, only 54 commented on Uganda, 26 on Syria, 23 for South Sudan, and 20 on Zimbabwe, according to UN Watch.  Although “critiques by genuine NGOs do appear, they are overwhelmed by … submissions by fraudulent ‘NGOs’ that, if  they do exist, are either controlled by the government of Venezuela, or by its allies Cuba and Bolivia… This is fraud committed on a massive scale,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch. (UN Watch, Nov. 1, 2016)

EXTREMISM ‘MOTIVATED BY JIHADIST BELIEFS’ TOP SOURCE OF TERRORISM (Ottawa) — Religious extremism has become the top motive for Canadian terrorism, replacing environmentalism, according to an academic study prepared for Public Safety Canada. While environmentalist causes were the main driver of Canadian terrorist incidents in the 1990s and 2000s, religious motives have taken over the lead since 2010, the study found. Between 2010 and 2015, 29 per cent of terrorist incidents were religiously motivated while 7 per cent were categorized as “anarchist,” and 3 per cent were “supremacist.” The motives for 61% were unknown. All “religious” terrorism dating back to 2001 was “motivated by jihadist beliefs,” said the March 2016 study. (National Post, Oct. 30, 2016)

FRANCE'S DE-RADICALIZATION PROGRAM DEEMED A FAILURE (Paris) — The latest attempt to deal with the threat of Islamic radicalization in the prison system has been deemed an utter failure. French officials announced that they would no longer isolate inmates with jihadists tendencies from other inmates. They found that the program actually increased the threat of radicalizing inmates into terrorists rather than diminishing it. Following a series of terrorist attacks in France, investigators found that a large number of the jihadists had previously spent time in prison where they were influenced by the radical teachings of incarcerated Islamists. France has produced more soldiers for I.S. than any other Western country. (IPT, Oct. 28, 2016)

TONGE QUITS PARTY THAT SUSPENDED HER OVER ANTI-ISRAEL RHETORIC (London) — UK lawmaker Jenny Tonge left her Liberal Democrat party hours after her suspension from it amid an outcry over her latest anti-Israel rhetoric. The party suspended Tonge, who serves in the upper house of the Parliament, after she hosted an event last week at the House of Lords that featured critical observations about the Balfour Declaration of 1917. According to reports, some in attendance made antisemitic statements, including blaming Jews or Zionists for the Holocaust. Participants also reportedly drew comparisons between Israel and Islamic terrorists. In July, Tonge, who has hosted and participated in many anti-Israel events, said that “the treatment of the Palestinians by Israel is a major cause of the rise of extreme Islamism and Daesh.” (JTA, Oct. 27, 2016)

WATERS’ ISRAEL OPINIONS ARE COSTING HIM MILLIONS (London) — Roger Waters is planning his most spectacular tour yet — but the Pink Floyd legend is facing backlash from some big-name sponsors over his views on Israel. Sources tell us that American Express balked at spending up to $4 million to sponsor Waters’ 2017 US + Them North American tour. AmEx sponsored this month’s Desert Trip festival, where Waters performed. Waters, who has angered many with his support for a boycott of Israel over the issue of Palestinian rights, shocked people at the festival by unleashing a series of brutal images targeting Donald Trump, then voicing solidarity with students protesting for Palestinians. He also urged people to support the controversial BDS Movement. (New York Post, Oct. 27, 2016)

BDS STICKERS FOUND ON ISRAELI PRODUCTS (Winnipeg) — Stickers supporting the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement have been found on SodaStream boxes in two department stores in one of the largest malls in Winnipeg. The stickers warn buyers not to purchase the products because they are "Made in Israel, a country violating international law, the 4th Geneva Convention and fundamental human rights.” They also state, “stand up for human rights” and “boycott Israel until it respects international law.” SodaStream is the Israel-based producer of a popular beverage carbonation machine. According to B’nai B’rith, BDS stickers have also appeared on other Israeli-linked products such as Sabra hummus at an Ontario supermarket. (JNS, Oct. 28, 2016)

SWEDEN OFFICIALLY DECLARES WALLENBERG DEAD (Stockholm) — On October 31, 2016 – 71 years after he disappeared in Hungary — Sweden has officially declared World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg dead. He is believed to have died in captivity in the hands of the Soviet Union. The authority set the date of Wallenberg’s death as July 31, 1952, in accordance with a rule that a missing person is presumed dead five years after his disappearance. Wallenberg dropped out of sight after his arrest by the Red Army in 1945. After an initial denial, the Soviet Union claimed in 1957 that Wallenberg had died of a heart attack in a USSR prison on July 17, 1947. The Swedish envoy is credited with having saved the lives of at least 20,000 Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust. (Jewish Press, Oct. 31, 2016)

Contents

On Topic Links

UNESCO Had Help from Israeli NGOs and Their Funders: Gerald Steinberg, Times of Israel, Oct. 28, 2016— UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), whose motto is “Building peace in the minds of men and women,” recently committed a heinous crime — or to be entirely accurate, two crimes — against the Jewish people. In attacks seeking to erase Jewish history in Jerusalem, as part of the narrative war, the UN perpetrated the equivalent of the wanton desecration committed by the Taliban and ISIS in their unholy crusades. UNESCO also claimed that Jewish visitors were “storming” the Temple Mount; and the October 12 resolution also refers to the Western Wall Plaza (a central place for Jewish prayer for centuries) as the “Al Buraq Plaza.”

A New President for Lebanon: David Schenker, Washington Institute, Oct. 31, 2016 —After more than two years without a president in Lebanon, the parliament convened on October 31 and elected Maronite Christian figure Michel Aoun. The previous president, former Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) chief of staff Michel Suleiman, finished his six-year term in May 2014, but the legislature was unable to reach consensus on his successor due to sectarian divisions (mostly between Sunnis, Shiites, and Christians) and competing foreign alignments (whether with Sunni Saudi Arabia or Shiite Iran).

Clinton’s Money Grab Comes With a Price: Konrad Yakabuski, Globe & Mail, Oct. 31, 2016 —If you still have any doubts about Hillary Clinton’s stamina, consider the superhuman pace of fundraising the Democratic presidential nominee has maintained since declaring her candidacy for the White House. By one count, she has headlined 350 fundraisers in the past 18 months.

The Jewish Folk Singer Who Gave Chicago Cubs Fans 2 Anthems: Gabe Friedman, Times of Israel, Nov. 1, 2016 —You’ve likely never heard of Steve Goodman. The late Jewish singer, who released at least 10 albums of folk music in his short lifespan, wrote the seminal song “City of New Orleans” — but the tune was made popular in a version sung by fellow Jewish folk artist Arlo Guthrie (it has since been covered by several other artists, from Judy Collins to Israeli singer Yehoram Gaon).