Category Archives: Israel

Is Iran Model For Israel?

Hundreds of human rights activists are flying into Ben Gurion airport in Israel in order to go to the West Bank where they seek to support  human rights. The Israel government is furious at attempts by outside groups to check on such vital national secrets as human rights.  Public Security Minister Yitzhak Ahranovich argues that a nation has a right to decide who can enter its border. He regards these human rights folk as a threat to the survival of Israel.

It is ironic that the Israel government now uses the same arguments as what is stated in Iran. Iran says it will not allow in any who are interested in human rights and Israel makes the same argument. Perhaps, it is time for the “democracy” of Israel to form an alliance with the “democracy”of Iran since both fear people entering who support human rights.

It would make sense for the Israel government to greet these visitors, offer them the right to travel anywhere, and express a desire to read any report they wish to present. THAT is how a democracy  functions.

“Democratic” Israel Seeks Ban On Assembly!

I come from a generation of Jews who were in the fore front of the fight for human justice in the United States and in the world. Jewish union leaders were beaten by the police for organizing workers in demonstrations that were deemed to be illegal. Rabbis walked side-by-side with Martin Luther King as they were challenged by armed police claiming they had no right to assemble and demonstrate for social justice. They were beaten, but Rabbis held their heads high because in marching for freedom they were marching as Jews for the basic values of the Jewish religion. Alas, such is not the case in “democratic”Israel.

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Israel Law Center, has called upon Attorney General Yehuda  Weinstein to arrest hundreds of activists who are arriving at Ben Gurion airport in order to demonstrate support for the Palestinian cause.
“We are asking him to put them on trial. This is criminal activity… which is a breach of several laws including unauthorized assembly and crossing the border when they have been told not to come here.”

Sorry, Ms. Leitner and all Israelis with such attitudes, the essence of a democracy is that people have a right to assemble in order to express their ideas. If you disagree with their views meet them in the assembly of open debate. The real question is how can we Jews move from Rabbis fighting for social justice to rabbis hating Palestinians?

Iran Might Compromise, Who Knows?

The  ongoing conflict between Iran and many parts of the world continues with meetings between its representatives and western nations. The US,Germany, France and the UK insist Iran must cease developing its nuclear facilities in order to achieve potential to make an atomic bomb. Iranian delegates are suggesting that it could still retain a 20% enrichment program within the country rather than having it sent outside. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi emphasized that “we will honestly try to have the two sides conclude with a win-woin situation in which Iran achieves its rights while meeting concerns of the five-plus-one group.”

Sounds fair to me. It certainly is the basis of a compromise. Continue to jaw, jaw and avoid war, war.

Who Can Be Critical Of Israel?

Gunter Grass has committed the unpardonable sin of daring to make critical comments about Israel. His crime is two fold-he as a seventeen year old served in the German army during WWII for a few months and he is a German! Israeli Anshel Pfeiffer argues that “membership in an organization that planned and carried out the wholesale genocide of millions of Jews disqualified him from criticizing the descendants of those Jews.” Let me get this straight, if one participated in an evil organization that means forever one is not allowed to make critical comments. That is akin to informing any white skin person whose ancestors were slave owners that henceforth they can not make critical comments about those with black skins.

Mr. Grass has repeatedly demonstrated the evil of Nazism and has every right to say what he believes about Jews or Israel. Those who are furious should address issues raised by Mr. Grass and defeat his ideas with valid counter points.  As a seventeen year old boy I was prejudiced against gays and did participate in physically assaulting these men. I changed over time. If you disagree with my ideas concerning gays and lesbians confront me in the marketplace of ideas.

Gunther Grass Denounced As Anti-Semite

Gunther Grass,  Nobel laureate, has always been  a controversial individual. He repeatedly has attacked governments in his own Germany for failing to adhere to liberal  standards of conduct. He shocked the world a few years ago by revelaing that during WWII he did serve in the notorious Waffen SS. Of course, he was a teen ager at that time. Grass openly attacked the current Israel government for harboring plans to launch a nuclear attack on Iran. Grass expressed fears that such action “could wipe out the Iranian people.”

He admitted his fear of openly criticising the Israel government because he had participated in the Nazi “incomparable crimes” against the Jewish people.  However, he now feels “I will be silent no longer  because I am sick of he hypocrisy of the West.” Grass is particularly upset that Germany has sold Israel a sixth nuclear capable Dolphin-class submarine.

German Jewish columnist Henryk Broder accuses  Grass of being the “prototype of the educated anti-Semitist.” Gunther Grass expressed an idea that is held by many Jews who fear that Israel could create a disaster in the Middle East by attacking Iran. A similar view has been stated by the past two heads of the Mossad. I find disturbing that Mr. Broder resorts to insults and smears rather than addressing the arguments of Grass. If Mr. Broder, or anyone, disagrees with Gunther Grass attack his ideas and leave out the “anti-Semite ploy.” Resorting to anti-Semitism is simply an excuse to avoid arguing intellectually and displaying  emotional feelings.

The issue of attacking Iran can be argued either way. No more anti-Semitism arguments!

 

Bibi Wants Peace Or Is It A Piece?

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending a letter to President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority which seeks to resume negotiation in a neutral area like Jordan. Bibi will state his desire for a meeting without any preconditions that would lead to discussion concerning issues like water, borders, security, settlements and the fate of Jerusalem. Of course, in stating there should not be any preconditions, Bibi did make clear “I am committed to maintaining the Jewish character of the country.”  He also wants Abbas to accept that Israel “is there national home of the Jewish people.”

I am glad Bibi is against preconditions although apparently he meant preconditions  by the Palestinian Authority. No nation in the world demands that other nations accept its religious character–except for Israel. Bibi has stated on numerous occasions that Jerusalem is off the table for discussion. I assume when he meets Abbas the Palestinian will be informed  there will be no discussion about Jerusalem.

Of course, there should be a  meeting. Of course, Netanyahu will not budge on any issues and the meeting will end as others have-no change from Israel. Just accept their demands and a compromise can be worked out!

Protests In Israel-OK Or Not?

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago,  Jews were among the leaders in fighting for human rights-not merely for themselves but for ALL people. When Martin Luther King marched in his civil disobedience campaigns there were rabbis by his side. That was then, now is now. Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader, who most probably has once supported terrorism, now urges civil disobedience. He called on  Palestinians to engage in large scale popular resistance, just as Martin Luther King urged people during the 1960s and just as Nelson Mandela urged in the  1990s. The Israel government placed him in solitary confinement.

It is one thing to urge violence and another to urge civil disobedience. Nelson Mandela at one point in his career supported use of violence and then changed. Why not allow  Barghouti to support  non-violence? Will this attitude prevent violence is the real question?

Israel Buys Airport

The off again and on again story of what Israel will do concerning Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons took a new twist with revelations that Azerbaijan may be working with the Israelis in order to provide them access to an airport in their land. An American official was quoted as saying: “The Israelis have bought an airfield in Azerbaijan.” According to sources the Israeli government offered the Asian nation a $1.6 billion arms deal in exchange for access to an abandoned Russian airport in their country.

Liberal Israel newspaper Haaretz claims the Israel government as agreed not to attack Iran this year and allow negotiations to proceed. US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced new funding for the Iron Dome Israel anti-missile defense system.

 

For the moment, all is quiet on the eastern front. The question is: for how long?

Boycott Used To Be A Liberal Word

As one reviews the history of boycotting it is very clear that Jewish groups in  America were firm believers in this concept, particularly during the 1930s when Hitler was in power. American Jews cried for boycotting German products to protest violations of  human rights. During the 1960s many Jewish groups supported boycotting grapes in order to support efforts of migrant workers. Alas, that was then, today is now.

The Park Slope Food Coop in New York City is holding a referendum on whether they should boycott goods from Israel to protest violation of  human rights by West Bank settlers and the Knesset.  Many in the Coop are Jews and they intend to think and act like Jews who throughout human history have defended the rights of those who are oppressed.

Carol Walk who is a member of the Coop noted that Mohammad Othman, a Palestinian activist went to Norway, and on his return was detained by Israel police. The Knesset passed legislation which bans supporting boycott campaigns!!

How can a legislature which  claims to represent the Israel democracy pass such anti-human rights laws?

Israel Court Acts Judicial!

Fortunately, for the cause of human rights and justice in Israel, the nation’s Supreme Court  continues to support the essential values of the Israel people and government. It announced that recent efforts of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin  Netanyahu to find a way to allow West Bank Jewish settlers to  continue seizing Palestinian land was in violation of Israel law.  The Court ordered closure and demolition of the Migron  settlement. It is clear that Palestinians had legal papers which  proved they owned the land PRIOR TO  1967!

For those of us who welcomed the birth of a democratic Jewish state, the record of oppression and violence against Palestinians is a dark period in the history of Jewish people. Seizing land in the name of God insults God. I doubt if there is a “God” he prefers one set of humans to other sets of humans. Israel must return to its basic democratic principles which respect the rights of ALL people.