Thursday, March 28, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Wednesday’s “News in Review” Round-Up

Media-ocrities of the Week

 

Settlements are a cancer spreading all over Palestinian land, and cancer should be treated and eradicated. I am talking about…not buying…products from these settlements.”—Israeli MK Ahmed Tibi (UAL-Ta’al), during a visit to Ottawa, calling on Canadians to boycott products manufactured in Israeli “settlements.” According to Postmedia, Tibi was aware that his words contravene Israel’s Boycott Law, which allows citizens to bring civil suits against persons and organizations that call for boycotts against Israel, Israeli institutions or territories under Israeli control. (Jerusalem Post, April 17.)

 

Support for a two-state resolution is inseparable from…support for Israel.”—Excerpt of a letter sponsored by J Street and signed by seventy-four Democrats in the US House of Representatives, conditioning ongoing American support for Israel on the Jewish state’s compliance with “peace process” dictates. (Israpundit, April 16.)

 

Weekly Quotes

 

Today’s decision adds to the many actions we have taken in recent years on behalf of holocaust survivors. Time is urgent and the survivors are, to our sorrow, leaving our world. We want to remember those who perished, the six million brothers and sisters, and heed the lessons of the Holocaust in order to ensure the future of our people.”—Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, at a special cabinet meeting ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day (April 19), announcing plans to increase to NIS 225 million the government’s 2012 budget for services to improve the lives of approximately 200,000 Holocaust survivors living in Israel. (Jerusalem Post, April 17.)

 

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day, a remembrance of horrors too terrible to be believed but not too terrible to have happened, of the Holocaust as a war against the Jews in which not all victims were Jews but all Jews were targeted victims—defamed, demonized and dehumanized—as prologue and justification for their destruction. As a reminder of the dangers of state-sanctioned incitement to hatred and genocide; of the dangers of the oldest and most enduring of hatreds, anti-Semitism; of indifference and inaction in the face of incitement and mass atrocity; of the targeting of the vulnerable, whom the Nazis spoke of as having ‘lives not worth living’; of the culture of impunity; of the dangers of forgetting, ignoring, trivializing or denying the Holocaust; and, remembering also, on this centenary of Raoul Wallenberg, this hero of the Holocaust.… Let us pledge never again to be silent or indifferent in the face of evil. Never Again!”—Canadian MP Irwin Cotler, on the occasion of the Canadian Parliament’s observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. (Office of Irwin Cotler, April 4.)

 

By sacrificing his personal safety, and ultimately his life, to protect the lives of a generation of Jews, Raoul Wallenberg exhibited the kind of noble courage that we prize in America.”—William Daroff, director of the Washington office of the Jewish Federations of North America, praising Congress’ unanimous vote to award Raoul Wallenberg the Congressional Gold Medal. Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat in Budapest during the German occupation in 1944, issued Swedish travel documents—known as “Wallenberg passports”—to at least 20,000 Jews and also set up more than 30 safe houses for Jews. (JTA, April 18.)

 

Dear activist, we appreciate your choosing to make Israel the object of your humanitarian concerns. We know there were many other worthy choices. You could have chosen to protest the Syrian regime’s daily savagery against its own people, which has claimed thousands of lives…[or] the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on dissent and support of terrorism throughout the world. You could have chosen to protest Hamas rule in Gaza, where terror organizations commit a double war crime by firing rockets at civilians and hiding behind civilians. But instead you chose to protest against Israel, the Middle East’s sole democracy, where women are equal, the press criticizes the government, human rights organizations can operate freely, religious freedom is protected for all and minorities do not live in fear.”—Excerpt of a sarcastic letter distributed to pro-Palestinian “activists” who arrived last weekend at Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport as part of a “flytilla.” (Independent Media Review and Analysis, April 14.)

 

The discussions on the Iranian nuclear issue have been constructive. We want now to move to a sustained process of serious dialogue, where we can take urgent, practical steps to build confidence.”—EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, describing as “useful” last weekend’s nuclear talks between world powers and Iran, and confirming that another meeting will take place “on May 23 in Baghdad.” (Reuters, April 14.)

 

My initial impression is that Iran has been given a freebie. [Iran now has] five weeks to continue enrichment without any limitation, any inhibition. I think Iran should take immediate steps to stop all enrichment, remove all enriched uranium [from the country] and dismantle the [underground] nuclear facility in Qom.”—Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, describing as a gift to Tehran the decision by world powers not to condition future nuclear talks on the suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities. (Jerusalem Post, April 15.)

 

We’re going to keep on seeing if we make progress. Now, the clocking is ticking and I’ve been very clear to Iran…that we’re not going to have these talks just drag out in a stalling process. The notion that somehow we’ve given something away or a ‘freebie’ would indicate Iran has gotten something.…”—US President Barack Obama, responding to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s “freebie” assertion. (JTA, April 16.)

 

If the West wants to take confidence-building measures it should start in the field of sanctions because this action can speed up the process of negotiations reaching results.…”—Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, alleging that Iran is prepared to resolve all nuclear issues, “even in the Baghdad meeting,” but only if the West demonstrates “goodwill” by lifting sanctions. (Reuters, April 16.)

 

You should know that the Iranian nation is insisting on its fundamental rights and…will not retreat even one iota.…”—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, reaffirming that Tehran will not surrender its nuclear program “even under the most difficult pressure.” (Reuters, April 12.)

 

The Iran threat is very real.… The Iranian regime has repeatedly threatened its neighbours and its own citizens; singled out Israel with a threat of destruction it would attempt; supported international terrorism; and continually thwarted the legitimate efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency to enforce UN Security Council resolutions.… This is also a regime that denies basic rights to its own people—violently crushing the demand for a free and open society.… The stakes are too high to be left to wishful thinking. A nuclear Iran would only embolden a leadership with an already atrocious domestic and international record.…”—Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, calling on the international community to confront Iran’s nuclear program “now”, or “face the prospect of even tougher decisions later.” (National Post, April 14.)

 

The U.S. has given $3 billion in aid to the Palestinians in the last five years alone, and what do we have to show for it? Now the administration is sending even more. Where is the accountability for U.S. taxpayer dollars?”—US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, strongly denouncing the Obama administration’s decision to resume the flow of U.S. aid to the Palestinians despite a hold placed on the funds by congressional lawmakers. (National Journal, April 11.)

 

In the 39 months since Barack Obama took the oath of office as president of the United States, the federal government’s debt has increased by $5,027,761,476,484.56. Although he has served less than a term, Obama is now the first American president to see the federal government’s debt increase by more than $5 trillion during his time in office. The $5,027,761,476,484.56…equals $16,043.39 for every one of the 313,385,295 people the Census Bureau now estimates live in the United States. The $5,027,761,476,484.56…is more debt than the federal government accumulated in the first 219 years of the Republic.”—Terence P. Jeffrey, describing the US government’s ballooning debt under President Barack Obama. (CNS News, April 18.)

 

The FBI wanted to keep Pollard as a hostage until Israel gave them his partner. There of course was no partner, and the charge is totally outrageous, yet it is difficult to shake. This unrealistic and stupid suspicion could be one explanation as to why he is still in jail after so many years when others who did much more damage spying for real enemies have gotten out.”—Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, speculating that former Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard remains in prison in part because of a mistaken theory that he had an unnamed accomplice. Last week, US President Barack Obama rejected a request by Israeli President Shimon Peres to commute Pollard’s sentence. (Jerusalem Post, April 11.)

 

Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea’s provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments.”—White House spokesman Jay Carney, condemning last week’s failed attempt by North Korea to deliver a satellite into space via long-range rocket. Analysts believe the exercise’s aim was to enhance North Korea’s capacity to design inter-continental ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. (Reuters, April 13.)

 

Short Takes

 

EGYPT BARS TOP ISLAMISTS, SULEIMAN FROM PRESIDENTIAL VOTE—(Cairo) Egypt’s electoral commission has disqualified 10 candidates from the upcoming presidential race, including the top three candidates, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Khairat al-Shater, former spy chief Omar Suleiman and Salafi sheikh Hazem Salah Abu Ismail. According to Egypt’s Al-Masry Al-Youm, Suleiman was excluded on the basis of the geographical distribution of his signatures of support, as a candidate must have 1000 signatures from 15 separate governorates to qualify; Shater, who was released from prison in March 2010, because of a law that states that candidates can only run in elections six years after being released or pardoned; and Abu Ismail because his mother holds another nationality, violating election rules. The first round of Egypt’s presidential elections will take place on May 23 and 24, with a runoff between the top two candidates scheduled for the following month. (Independent Media Review and Analysis & Reuters, April 14.)

 

UNSC APPROVES DEPLOYMENT OF MONITORS TO SYRIA—(United Nations) The UN Security Council has authorized the deployment of up to 30 unarmed observers to Syria to monitor the country’s fragile ceasefire. In the first resolution approved by council since the anti-government uprising in Syria began 13 months ago, the 15-member body “condemed the widespread violations of human rights by the Syrian authorities” and called on “all parties, including the opposition, immediately to cease all armed violence in all its forms.” The resolution also included a vague warning to Damascus, saying the council would “assess the implementation of this resolution and…consider further steps as appropriate.” Meanwhile, opposition activists confirmed that at least six people were killed in Syria by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad on the same day the Security Council voted to approve the move. (Reuters, April 14.)

 

JORDAN TO REVOKE CITIZENSHIP OF PA, PLO OFFICIALS—(Jerusalem) The Hashemite Kingdom has decided to revoke the Jordanian citizenship of Palestinian Authority and PLO officials, a move that coincides with a new electoral law in the country that seeks to limit Palestinian representation in parliament. In recent years the Jordanians have stripped thousands of Palestinians of their citizenship in an apparent response to calls to establish a Palestinian state in Jordan. The Jordanians have defended the decision by explaining that it is aimed at “preserving the Palestinians’ national identity and paving the way for their return to Palestine.” Khalil Atiyeh, a Jordanian MP, pointed out that the new legislation “ignores half of the Jordanian people,” some 1.6 million people of Palestinian origin. The law will reduce their representation in parliament to less than eight percent. (Jerusalem Post, April 11.)

 

TALIBAN CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR KABUL ATTACKS—(Kabul) Afghanistan’s Taliban has launched a “spring offensive” with multiple attacks against Western embassies in the central diplomatic area in Kabul. The assault, one of the most serious on the capital since US-backed Afghan forces removed the Taliban from power in 2001, highlighted the ongoing ability of the terrorist organization to strike the heavily guarded diplomatic zone after more than 10 years of war. The Taliban said the main targets were the German and British embassies and the headquarters of Afghanistan’s NATO-led force. The coordinated attack is intensifying worry in the run-up to the planned withdrawal from Afghanistan of foreign combat troops by the end of 2014. (Reuters, April 15.)

 

TERRORISTS FREED IN SHALIT DEAL RETURN TO TERROR—(Jerusalem) Israel’s Shin Bet (Security Agency) has revealed that two Palestinians released as part of October’s Gilad Shalit deal returned to terror activity. The first is Omar Abu Snina, who has been working in recent months to recruit Palestinians into Hamas’ ranks. The Shin Bet confirmed it obtained a memory card Abu Snina sent family members which included detailed instructions related to kidnapping soldiers, illegally obtaining weapons and establishing a terrorist cell. The second is Daoud Hilo, who was arrested a month after his release for illegally purchasing weapons. Senior IDF officers in the Central Command recently warned of the growing involvement of Palestinians released in the Shalit exchange in terror activity. The officers said the IDF had noted a dramatic increase in the smuggling of cash into the Palestinian territories since the beginning of the year and that some of the money was to be used to reestablish terror cells for the 55 Palestinians released to the West Bank under the deal. (Jerusalem Post, April 17.)

 

SURVEY: NEARLY HALF OF ISRAELIS FEAR ANOTHER HOLOCAUST—(Jerusalem) According to a new poll conducted by Israel’s Tel-Hai Academic College, approximately 40 percent of all Israelis believe a second Holocaust could happen, and 43 percent are concerned the State of Israel is in danger of being destroyed. Prof. Shaul Kimhi, one of the faculty members involved in the study, said the findings reflect the deep impact of the Holocaust on succeeding generations in Israel, including those born after World War II. “This substantial proportion [of the population] is an indication [that] Holocaust fears…[are] part of Jewish-Israeli culture,” Kimhi noted. He said the threats Israel faces from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas act to preserve the collective trauma of the Holocaust. (Haaretz, April 16.)

 

ASSANGE INTERVIEWS NASRALLAH IN NEW TV PROGRAM—(Jerusalem) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has premiered his new Kremlin-funded, English-language television show, The World Tomorrow, with an exclusive interview with Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary-general. During the interview, the Hezbollah leader rejected claims that the terrorist group fires rockets toward Israeli civilians and towns, explaining that Hezbollah only “reacts” to “Israeli aggression.” Nasrallah also reiterated his support for Bashar Assad’s regime, despite the Syrian president’s brutal crackdown on protests. Nasrallah vowed Hezbollah would not “back down in the face of Israeli and American pressure,” and claimed that Hezbollah’s support of Syria was rooted in Assad’s service to the “Palestinian cause.” (Jerusalem Post, April 17.)

 

PRO-HAMAS EXHIBIT IN FRANCE HELD DESPITE PROTESTS—(Paris) A photo exhibition sympathetic to Hamas has opened in the western French city of Angoulême, despite strong protests from the country’s Jewish leaders. The exhibition, which features eighty-eight large photographs by Frédéric Soutereau, is part of a photography festival that runs opposite Palestinian Fortnight, an event organized by the regional chapter of the Palestine Solidarity Association. According to organizers, the pictures depict the daily activities of Hamas and its “active and positive role” in the social, economic and cultural life of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. Richard Pasquier, president of CRIF, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, denounced the exhibition as an “apology for terrorism, “ and a “worrying” example of the “complacency of society with regards to the Islamist terrorist hatred against Jews.” Soutereau responded by calling Hamas “a terrorist organization for some, a resistance movement for others.” (Jerusalem Post, April 18.)

 

JEWISH SUMMER HOUSES NEAR MONTREAL VANDALIZED—(Toronto) Vandals have broken into more than a dozen Jewish-owned country houses in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal, defacing at least two with anti-Jewish hate messages. Pinkas Feferkorn, director of the Val Morin synagogue, confirmed that Quebec Provincial Police are investigating the break-ins, in which furniture was damaged, and clothes and toys were thrown out windows. In two instances, swastikas were spray-painted on the outside of houses, along with at least one phrase: “F— Juif [Jew].” According to Feferkorn, the community is in “shock,” as Jews only frequent the area for “two months a year and don’t bother anybody.” (JTA, April 16.)

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