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Wednesday’s “News in Review” Round-Up

Media-ocrity of the Week

 

The martyr is the ultimate source of pride.… It is the symbol of our homeland.”—Israeli Knesset member Ahmed Tibi (UAL-Ta’al), at an official Palestinian Authority event, paying homage to Palestinian martyrs—as “there is nothing more praiseworthy than those who die for the homeland”—and referring to Israelis as “those who occupy and murder.” In response, MK Danny Danon (Likud) called Tibi “a traitor,” saying, “Under the guise of democracy, the State of Israel brought a supporter of terror to the Knesset, and the time has come to put Tibi back in his natural place—the parliament in Ramallah.” MK Nachman Shai (Kadima) said Tibi was stretching his right to free speech, and predicted that the public’s tolerance would soon “explode.” MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) wrote a letter to Israeli Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein asking that Tibi be put on trial, saying “The time has come to stop Tibi’s party.” (Jerusalem Post, January 18 & 19.)

 

Weekly Quotes

 

Seventy years ago, in a lavish villa situated on the banks of a pastoral lake in one of Berlin’s suburbs, 15 senior officials from the German Reich convened and decided over breakfast to annihilate the Jewish people. Seventy years ago the Jewish nation was helpless, without any political, military or diplomatic capabilities to defend itself. This is why a third of our nation was destroyed. What has changed from 1942 to 2012 is not the lack of enemies.…What’s changed is our ability and resolve to defend ourselves.”—Israeli Prime Minster Binyamin Netanyahu, on the 70th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference, reinforcing the nation of Israel’s fundamental right to defend itself against sworn enemies. (Ynet News, January 22.)

 

Seventy years have passed since the Holocaust, and many around the world still remain silent in the face of Iran’s threats to wipe Israel off the map.… International Holocaust Remembrance Day is the day on which the world needs to stand behind the words ‘no more.’ It’s not a slogan, but has a deep meaning. It is the day on which the world must unite to make certain weapons of mass destruction do not fall into the hands of dark regimes, headed by the ayatollahs’ regime in Iran. Have we learned the lessons of the Holocaust? Are we treating these threats of destruction seriously?… Unfortunately, the answer is no.”—Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, during a special Knesset session ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which will be marked this Friday, calling on the world to internalize Iran’s genocidal threats against the Jewish people, and to confront Tehran’s nuclear ambitions with the same urgency it did the Nazis during WWII. (Ynet News, January 24.)

 

Out in the open they show their muscles, but behind the curtains they plead to us to sit down and talk.”—Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, claiming the Obama administration continues to pursue a policy of “engagement” with Tehran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, has since confirmed receipt of the letter. No response has been issued. (Huffington Post, January 18 & Reuters, January 19.)

 

This is a weak president. Because of his weakness, Israel has to keep apologizing for itself all the time. We shouldn’t have to be on the defensive.”—Former Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Gillerman, at the Women’s International Zionist Organization conference in Tel Aviv, asserting that US President Barack Obama’s weakness is detrimental to the Jewish state, as it allows Israel’s foes to blame it for the Middle East’s problems. (Jerusalem Post, January 19.)

 

The Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which resumed in Amman earlier this month, are mainly intended to help Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah bolster their stature among their constituents and the international community. For King Abdullah, who is facing growing popular protests in the kingdom over lack of reforms and transparency, the meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials in Amman are a way of distracting attention from his problems at home.… Abbas, for his part, is hoping that the talks in Jordan will ease US and EU pressure on him to resume the peace process.… Abbas is also hoping that the Amman talks will persuade the US and EU to continue, or increase, financial support for his authority. He knows that money will consolidate his power and ensure the continued support of tens of thousands of Palestinian families who are on his payroll.”—Khaled Abu Toameh, describing the disingenuous motives of both Jordanian King Abdullah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud for convening “peace” talks with Israel in Amman. (Stonegate Institute, January 13.)

 

The hour of judgment will not come until you fight the Jews. The Jew will hide behind the stone and behind the tree. The stone and the tree will cry, ‘Oh Muslim, Oh Servant of God, this is a Jew behind me, come and kill him’.…”—Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Hussein, at a rally marking the 47th anniversary of the founding of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, calling on all Muslims to hasten the actualization of the Hadith—an end-of-times prophesy—by killing Jews. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu strongly denounced the statements, calling “these remarks especially serious because they remind us of the statements of another [Palestinian] mufti who called for the annihilation of the Jews, Haj Amin Al Husseini, who was one of the architects of the Final Solution.…” Netanyahu also denounced the Palestinian leadership for “neither condemn[ing] nor tak[ing] exception to the remarks,” as “those who [purportedly] want peace should not allow such calls to murder Jews.” (JTA, January 22 & Independent Media Review and Analysis, January 22, 23.)

 

For us the red line is clear. We won’t back any sanctions or deployment of troops in Syria.”—Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, rejecting calls for foreign military intervention in Syria, and reiterating Russian and Chinese insistence that the UN not intercede in any manner to halt President Bashar Assad’s ongoing crackdown on anti-regime protests. Lavrov also confirmed that Russia continues to export weapons, including jet fighter-bombers, to Syria, adding that Russia does not need to justify this issue. (Independent Media Review and Analysis, January 18.)

 

The IDF is known for its sophisticated and advanced technology. In the past year alone, the military deployed the Iron Dome counter-rocket defense system to intercept Katyusha rockets launched from the Gaza Strip and the Trophy active protection system that can intercept anti-tank missiles fired at Merkava tanks. In recent months though, the IDF has decided to install a new defensive system—trees. ‘The idea is simple,’ a senior officer from the IDF’s Gaza Division explained. ‘Trees are planted around Israeli towns and communities that are close to the border, making it more difficult for terrorists to accurately target homes and residents.’”—Yaakov Katz, describing the launching of a project by the IDF, in conjunction with Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL)—Jewish National Fund—to plant “eucalyptus trees…outside communities located along the border with the Gaza Strip…[over] concern Palestinian terrorists will try to target residents…with sniper fire or by launching anti-tank missiles at the[ir] homes. (Jerusalem Post, January 18.)

 

President Obama’s decision to reject the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline is as shocking as it is revealing. It shows a President who once again has put politics ahead of sound policy. If Americans want to understand why unemployment in the United States has been stuck above 8 percent for the longest stretch since the Great Depression, decisions like this one are the place to begin. By declaring that the Keystone pipeline is not in the ‘national interest,’ the President demonstrates a lack of seriousness about bringing down unemployment, restoring economic growth, and achieving energy independence. He seems to have confused the national interest with his own interest in pleasing the environmentalists in his political base.”—Republican presidential frontrunner, Mitt Romney, strongly denouncing US President Barack Obama’s decision to reject TransCanada’s application for the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Weekly Standard & FrontPage, January 18.)

 

In a letter that was sent to you on September 19, 2011, signed by more than 5,000 members and supporters of the California Jewish community, we expressed our outrage that University of California administrators, including yourself, continue to fund, promote, and honor the Olive Tree Initiative (OTI), a program which brings students into contact with individuals and organizations that call for the murder of Jews and the elimination of the Jewish state.… In your response to us, you ignored our concerns and defended the OTI, calling it ‘the best tradition of activism, public service and open discussion’ and saying that you remain ‘a strong supporter’ of the program. We therefore feel compelled to bring to your attention a recent news story about Israel’s arrest of Aziz Dweik, the Hamas leader with whom OTI students met in 2009. Mr. Dweik was taken into custody yesterday on suspicion of involvement with terrorist groups. (He had been arrested in 2006 on similar charges and spent 2 years in Israeli prison, a fact which OTI leaders must surely have known before arranging a meeting between Dweik and UC students).… For many in the Jewish community, it is unconscionable that a public university would use taxpayer dollars to fund such a program. We therefore urge you, once again, to remove all University of California support for the Olive Tree Initiative.”—Leila Beckwith and Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, UC faculty members and co-founders of the AMCHA Initiative, in a follow-up letter to University of California President Mark G. Yudof, calling on the university to immediately cease funding of the Olive Tree Initiative, a post-Zionist organization sympathetic to Hamas. (AMCHA Website, January 25.)

 

Short Takes

 

EU AGREES TO IRAN SANCTIONS—(Brussels) European Union foreign ministers have approved new sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Citing “serious and deepening concerns over the Iranian nuclear program,” the EU agreed to impose a full Iranian oil embargo, including existing contracts, by July 1. According to a statement by the Council of the European Union, other new EU sanctions imposed target the Iran Central Bank and petrochemical exports to the EU. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called the sanctions “a step in the right direction…as very strong and quick pressure on Iran is necessary;” however, Netanyahu cautioned that “it is still impossible to know what the result of these sanctions will be…[and they] will [thus] have to be evaluated on the basis of results.” The EU imports about 600,000 barrels a day of oil from Iran—close to a quarter of Tehran’s exports of 2.6 million barrels a day. (Wall Street Journal & Independent Media Review and Analysis, January 23.)

 

EGYPT’S BROTHERHOOD WINS 47% OF PARLIAMENT SEATS—(Jerusalem) According to Egypt’s electoral commission, the Muslim Brotherhood has won 47 percent of seats in the new parliament. Announcing the final results from the three-staged vote, committee head Abdel Moez Ibrahim confirmed the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) captured 235 seats in the People’s Assembly, with the Islamist Salafist Nour Party placing second with 121 seats or nearly 25 percent. The liberal Wafd Party garnered approximately nine percent of the vote. Once elections for parliament’s upper house, or Shura Council, are concluded in February, the two chambers will choose a 100-member panel to draft a new constitution. Mohamed Saad el-Katatni, secretary-general of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, was appointed speaker of the House during parliament’s first session on Monday. (Independent Media Review and Analysis, January 21 & Jerusalem Post, January 23.)

 

MORE THAN 100 KILLED BY ISLAMISTS IN NIGERIA—(Abuja, Nigeria) More than 100 people have been killed in a series of attacks targeting eight government security buildings in northern Nigeria’s largest city, the deadliest strike to date carried out by Boko Haram Islamist terroristsBoko Haram, which has carried out an escalating campaign of violence in its battle to impose Islamic law across Nigeria, said the attacks were retribution for the arrests and killings of members of the sect. President Goodluck Jonathan said in a statement that he was “greatly saddened” by the attacks and that he promised that “all those involved in that dastardly act would be made to face the full wrath of the law.” About half of Nigeria’s 160 million people are Muslim. (NY Times, January 21.)

 

SYRIA REJECTS ARAB LEAGUE PLAN—(Beirut) Syria has rejected a new Arab League plan to end the country’s 10-month crisis, saying the League’s call for a national unity government represents “flagrant interference in its internal affairs.” The Arab League previously tried to stem the bloodshed in Syria by condemning Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on protests, imposing sanctions on the regime and sending a team of observers into the country. In the latest plan, the League called for a unity government to be formed within two months, which would then prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held under Arab and international supervision. It also provides for Assad to give his vice president full powers to cooperate with the proposed government to enable it to carry out its duties during a transitional period. The League also reiterated calls for Syria’s government to release political detainees, allow peaceful demonstrations and pull the military out of cities and residential areas. (Wall Street Journal, January 23.)

 

REPORT: RUSSIA TO DELIVER COMBAT JETS TO SYRIA—(Jerusalem) According to reports, Russia has signed a $550 contract to sell 36 Yak-130 aircraft combat jets to Syria in a show of support for President Bashar Assad’s regime. If confirmed, the deal would mark an open defiance of international efforts to put pressure on Assad, who has faced broad condemnation for his brutal 10-month crackdown on protests that has killed more than 5400 people. Last week, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would not offer an explanation or excuses over suspicions that a Russian ship had delivered munitions to Syria despite an EU arms embargo. He also warned that Russia would block any attempt by the West to secure United Nations support for the use of force against Syria. (Haaretz, January 23.)

 

OFFICIAL: HAMAS WILL DEFEAT FATAH IN MAY ELECTIONS—(Jerusalem) A senior Fatah official has warned that Hamas stands to defeat his faction if new elections are held in the Palestinian territories. Nabil Amr, a former Palestinian Authority minister, confirmed in an interview with the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper that “Yes, [Fatah] is concerned [and] unless the situation in Fatah changes, what happened in the past could occur once again.” (Jerusalem Post, January 20.)

 

US TERROR VICTIMS: PROSECUTE PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS—(Jerusalem) The Parents Forum for Justice (PFJ), a group of US citizens and parents whose children were murdered or maimed by Palestinian terrorists in Israel over the past decade, has sent a letter to US Attorney-General Eric Holder asking him to commence legal proceedings against prisoners recently freed in the Gilad Shalit deal. According to the PFJ, 83 American citizens were killed and 54 wounded in Palestinian terror attacks between 1993 and 2006, and several of the perpetrators were released as part of the Schalit prisoner-swap last October. “[Since their release] we have had to endure the sight of these unrepentant killers not only walking free but also being embraced as heroes, celebrated and honored by the communities to which they have now returned, and by the US-funded Palestinian Authority,” the PFJ letter to Holder said. Under the 1991 US Anti-Terror Act, the US can prosecute foreign nationals who perpetrate terrorism against American citizens even on foreign soil. (Jerusalem Post, January 19.)

 

ISRAELI OVERSEAS MISSIONS RECEIVE SUSPICIOUS POWDER—(Jerusalem) A number of overseas Israeli diplomatic missions have received envelopes containing a suspicious white powder. Although the Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the matter, when asked about the scare in an interview with Army Radio, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said the substance in question turned out to be flour and not anthrax. Envelopes arrived this week at the Israeli embassies in the Hague, Brussels and London, as well as consulates in New York, Boston and Houston. An investigation into the trans-Atlantic incidents is ongoing. (Jerusalem Post, January 24.)

 

AZERBAIJAN THWARTS TERROR ATTACK AGAINST ISRAELI TARGETS—(Jerusalem) The Azeri Ministry of National Security has confirmed the arrest of a terror cell that plotted to kill two Israeli Chabad emissaries, a rabbi and a teacher employed by the “Chabad Or Avner” Jewish school in Baku. The ministry said that the three men, Rasim Aliyev, Ali Huseynov and Balaqardash Dadashov, received smuggled arms and equipment from Iranian agents. Last November, an Iranian parliament member accused Azerbaijan of being a “local Mossad base.” (Haaretz, January 23.)

 

UGANDAN PASTOR TREATED AT ISRAELI HOSPITAL—(Jerusalem) A pastor from Uganda, who recently began preaching support for Israel, is being treated in an Israeli hospital after an acid attack severely burned his face and damaged his right eye. Pastor Umar Mulinde, 38, arrived in Israel on Jan. 5 for emergency medical treatment after being targeted on Dec. 24 in Kampala by attackers shouting “Allah Akbar” (G-d is great). Prof. Zeev Rotstein, director of Israel’s renowned Sheba Medical Center, which conducts humanitarian medical missions around the world, offered to provide acute and rehabilitative care to Mulinde free-of-charge, and visas for Mulinde were arranged on short notice by Israel’s Foreign Ministry. “Healing is deeply ingrained in Jewish history and tradition. So it was only natural that we agree to help Pastor Mulinde,” said Prof. Rotstein. (JTA, January 8.)

 

HIDDEN MASS GRAVES FOUND AT TREBLINKA—(Jerusalem) British forensic archeologist Caroline Sturdy Colls has uncovered mass graves at Treblinka, proving that the World War II Nazi camp was in fact a death camp and not just a transit camp as detractors claim. Prior to Colls’ use of ground-penetrating radar to indentify human remains, the search for graves at Treblinkla had been severely hampered by the need to adhere to Jewish law, which forbids disturbing graves. This complication resulted in a lack of “hard” evidence of the Nazis’ killing of well over 800,000 Jews at the death camp, a reality often cited by Holocaust deniers to “justify” their false claims. Colls’ findings will be presented as part of a documentary, “The Hidden Graves of the Holocaust,” broadcast by the UK’s Radio 4 (Jerusalem Post, January 18.)

 

FOUNDATION LAUNCHES WORLDWIDE SEARCH FOR REFUGEES RESCUED BY SOUSA MENDES—(Montreal) A global search has been launched for Holocaust refugees saved by little-known Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a man described as “one of the great unsung heroes” of the Second World War. Stationed in France during the war, Sousa Mendes is credited with helping at least 10,000 Jewish and other refugees flee the fallen country in 1940. While hundreds of those given life-saving visas by Sousa Mendes have been identified—including such notable figures as the Spanish artist Salvador Dali and Curious George authors Hans and Margret Rey—thousands of other refugees never knew who cleared their way to freedom. Accordingly, the Seattle-based Sousa Mendes Foundation is undertaking “an unprecedented search for the rescuees” to honor Sousa Mendes’ legacy. (Gazette, January 17.)

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