Black Balloons and Protests all over Israel

I while ago I passed on a message about 21,915 black balloons flying over Jerusalem and now I have pictures as well as other pictures of the protest held in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and at the The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I will caption some of the important ones, enjoy!
An Israeli Police office attempting to take a flag away from students at the Hebrew University

The same office grabbing the face of one of the protesters (All Israeli citizens)

Another angle

The balloons being released

There is that officer again, this time hitting a Jewish student

Students outside the university

 

US supports Jewish “right of return”

And technically so do I. Here is my rebuttal to the idiots (you know who you are).

H. Res. 185

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

April 1, 2008.

Whereas armed conflicts in the Middle East have created refugee populations numbering in the millions and comprised of peoples from many ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds;

Whereas Jews have lived mostly as a minority in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf region for more than 2,500 years;

Whereas the United States has long voiced its concern about the mistreatment of minorities and the violation of human rights in the Middle East and elsewhere;

Whereas the United States continues to play a pivotal role in seeking an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East and to promoting a peace that will benefit all the peoples of the region;

Whereas United States administrations historically have called for a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem;

Whereas the Palestinian refugee issue has received considerable attention from countries of the world while the issue of Jewish refugees from the Arab and Muslim worlds has received very little attention;

Whereas a comprehensive peace in the region will require the resolution of all outstanding issues through bilateral and multilateral negotiations involving all concerned parties;

Whereas approximately 850,000 Jews have been displaced from Arab countries since the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948;

Whereas the United States has demonstrated interest and concern about the mistreatment, violation of rights, forced expulsion, and expropriation of assets of minority populations in general, and in particular, former Jewish refugees displaced from Arab countries as evidenced, inter alia, by–

(1) the Memorandum of Understanding signed by President Jimmy Carter and Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan on October 4, 1977, which states that `[a] solution of the problem of Arab refugees and Jewish refugees will be discussed in accordance with rules which should be agreed’;

(2) after negotiating the Camp David Accords, the Framework for Peace in the Middle East, the statement by President Jimmy Carter in a press conference on October 27, 1977, that `Palestinians have rights . . . obviously there are Jewish refugees . . . they have the same rights as others do’; and

(3) in an interview after Camp David II in July 2000, at which the issue of Jewish refugees displaced from Arab lands was discussed, the statement by President Clinton that `There will have to be some sort of international fund set up for the refugees. There is, I think, some interest, interestingly enough, on both sides, in also having a fund which compensates the Israelis who were made refugees by the war, which occurred after the birth of the State of Israel. Israel is full of people, Jewish people, who lived in predominantly Arab countries who came to Israel because they were made refugees in their own land.’;

Whereas the international definition of a refugee clearly applies to Jews who fled the persecution of Arab regimes, where a refugee is a person who `owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country’ (the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees);

Whereas on January 29, 1957, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), determined that Jews fleeing from Arab countries were refugees that fell within the mandate of the UNHCR;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 of November 22, 1967, calls for a `just settlement of the refugee problem’ without distinction between Palestinian and Jewish refugees, and this is evidenced by–

(1) the Soviet Union’s United Nations delegation attempt to restrict the `just settlement’ mentioned in Resolution 242 solely to Palestinian refugees (S/8236, discussed by the Security Council at its 1382nd meeting of November 22, 1967, notably at paragraph 117, in the words of Ambassador Kouznetsov of the Soviet Union), but this attempt failed, signifying the international community’s intention of having the resolution address the rights of all Middle East refugees; and

(2) a statement by Justice Arthur Goldberg, the United States’ Chief Delegate to the United Nations at that time, who was instrumental in drafting the unanimously adopted Resolution 242, where he has pointed out that `The resolution addresses the objective of `achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem’. This language presumably refers both to Arab and Jewish refugees, for about an equal number of each abandoned their homes as a result of the several wars.’;

Whereas in his opening remarks before the January 28, 1992, organizational meeting for multilateral negotiations on the Middle East in Moscow, United States Secretary of State James Baker made no distinction between Palestinian refugees and Jewish refugees in articulating the mission of the Refugee Working Group, stating that `[t]he refugee group will consider practical ways of improving the lot of people throughout the region who have been displaced from their homes’;

Whereas the Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, which refers in Phase III to an `agreed, just, fair, and realistic solution to the refugee issue,’ uses language that is equally applicable to all persons displaced as a result of the conflict in the Middle East;

Whereas Israel’s agreements with Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinians have affirmed that a comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict will require a just solution to the plight of all `refugees’;

Whereas the initiative to secure rights and redress for Jews who were forced to flee Arab countries does not conflict with the right of Palestinian refugees to claim redress;

Whereas all countries should be aware of the plight of Jews and other minority groups displaced from countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf;

Whereas an international campaign is proceeding in some 40 countries to record the history and legacy of Jewish refugees from Arab countries;

Whereas a just, comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace cannot be reached without addressing the uprooting of centuries-old Jewish communities in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf; and

Whereas it would be inappropriate and unjust for the United States to recognize rights for Palestinian refugees without recognizing equal rights for Jewish refugees from Arab countries: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That–

(1) for any comprehensive Middle East peace agreement to be credible and enduring, the agreement must address and resolve all outstanding issues relating to the legitimate rights of all refugees, including Jews, Christians, and other populations, displaced from countries in the Middle East; and

(2) the President should instruct the United States Representative to the United Nations and all United States representatives in bilateral and multilateral fora to–

(A) use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to ensure that any resolutions relating to the issue of Middle East refugees, and which include a reference to the required resolution of the Palestinian refugee issue, must also include a similarly explicit reference to the resolution of the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries; and

(B) make clear that the United States Government supports the position that, as an integral part of any comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, the issue of refugees from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf must be resolved in a manner that includes recognition of the legitimate rights of and losses incurred by all refugees displaced from Arab countries, including Jews, Christians, and other groups.

OK, so 850,000 people of Jewish faith left their homes from either political pressure or violence while other had been voluntarily leaving to move to Palestine/Israel. The resolution fails to mention that some 600,000 resettled in Israel ^[1]. By 1951, about 30 percent of the population in Israel was accounted for by Jews from Arab countries and about 850,000 Jews emigrated from Arab countries between 1948 and 1952. During this time 586,269 Jews came to Israel from Arab countries, and 3,136,436 people live in Israel today including their offspring, which account for about 41 per cent of the total population.

So here is my suggestion. Those 3,136,436 descendants of refugees can move back to the Arab and Muslim countries from whence they came when the 3.7 million Palestinian refugees are allowed to move back into their homes in Israel. I am fine with this, it is a fair trade. While we are at it the Ashkenazim from Europe should use their “right of return” and go back to Poland, Germany and Russia. I mean we don’t want to discriminate now do we? How about the followers of Baruch Goldstein and his ilk? Can we offer to let them return to Long Island NY? Again, I say we should do it.

There I said it, Jews should be given the right of return! You are right George Bush! You are right Dick Cheney! I say we send troops into all the countries right now so we can escort these poor refugees from their camps and slums so they can exercise their rights!! Shame on us for neglecting these people, we should have acted sooner, you know like in 1948.

No, I have an even better idea. Lets have a trade of homes. The Jewish refugees can move into the refugee camps littered around the Middle East and the Palestinian refugees can move into the condos, settlements, kibbutz and old houses (to which they still have the deeds and keys to).

God Bless America.

Queen Rania wants to fight stereotypes

And dammit we are going to help. We here at The Philistine want to help Queen Rania spread her message by posting all her youtube videos here.

Arab Summit

The Arab Summit has now concluded. Oh wait you didn’t notice that it ever happened, that might be because you are a blubbering idiot or it might be that it hasn’t accomplished anything. The Arab summit concluded and it was said

“Despite Iraq’s refusal to sign the declaration and several key leaders not attending, Walid al-Moallem, Syria’s foreign minister, insisted that the summit “had ended successfully”.”

Quite the success when half of the supposed Arab countries don’t want to go and send low end delegates rather than the intended Heads  of States (Hosni was too busy doing….nothing). A great success when Syria is too busy denying their involvement in Lebanese politics and their lack of president. While Iraqi leaders were very busy trying to get the summit to condemn terrorism. I condemn terrorism, you condemn terrorism, we all condemn terrorism and it means nothing.

Giant failure is the correct words for the Arab Summit but it seems to always be the case. Well i guess this is all for my first blog,

peace and hand grenades

Abu CT

All Christians are created equal

Not in the eyes of Israel, especially during Easter.

Israel, for the third year in a row, enforced a curfew on the West Bank and Gaza preventing the Christian populations from leaving their homes. The Churches in Israel were full of tourists, but you would be hard pressed to find a single native Christian. They could not go to the churches, could not practice their religion. In Israel, you aren’t a Christian Arab, you are the enemy.

Israel has put its best foot forward in recent years to attract Christian tourists. Often they stress the security measures that have been put in place to ensure the safety of their Abrahamic brothers. These measures, for all intents and purposes, are simply aimed at keeping “the Arabs” out. The problem with this policy is that it, like other Israeli policies, is collective punishment. Israel has the right to ensure the safety of its civilians (not just the Jewish ones) but at what cost?

The truth is that the Christian Palestinian population has decreased at steady pace since the foundation of Israel as a Jewish State. Before 1948 Christians accounted for upwards of 30% of the population, now estimates hover between 2% and 5%. People would like you to believe that this diaspora of Christians is due to ” Radical Islamofascists” who attack Christians and Jews because they Koran tells them so. Obviously the facts state the opposite.

If you look back upon the recent history of Palestine you will notice a trend. No Christians were killed. No attacks upon Christians around the holidays. You may even remember when some militants took refuge in a church in Bethlehem and, to the shock of the Zionists, were fed and warmly greeted by the priests. In reality the only enemy to Christians in the Middle East are the Zionist and their not-so Christian supporters.

On a regular basis Fundamentalist Christian churches advocate support for the Israeli state while overlooking their fellow Christian. It is not as though Christian Palestinians have been absent from the world stage either. Some of the most prominent names in Palestinian history have been Christian ones:  Hanan Ashrawi, Edward Said, Emile Habibi, George Habash, Afif Safieh, Nayef Hawatmeh, and Rifat Odeh Kassis.

Hawatmeh wasn’t even allowed to leave Gaza for 40 years. Was he a security threat? Was he going to blow him self up for 72 virgins? The policies of Israel can truly be seen for what they are in these instances. Racism. This is not an attempt at security but an attempt to religiously homogenize the region.

So ask yourselves if you saw any Arab Christians walking through Jerusalem today. I can tell you they were not in Bethlehem, not when its surrounded on three sides by a cement wall. They were not in Nazareth because of the curfew and travel restrictions. They were as they always have been, in their homes alongside their Muslim neighbors coloring eggs and waiting for their fellow Christians to raise their voice.

Rabbi Lior Says It’s OK to Kill Civilians …and other rabbis are silent

Rabbi Lior Says It’s OK to Kill Civilians …and other rabbis are silent «

The day before the Israeli army shot tank shells to disperse a crowd of demonstrators in Rafah, Rabbi Dov Lior issued a ruling that killing civilians during warfare is permitted if it will save [Jewish] lives. It wasn’t just a remark. Lior’s made it an official Halachic (Jewish law) ruling. He said “The law of our Torah is to have mercy on our soldiers and to save them. This is the real moral behind Israel’s Torah and we must not feel guilty due to foreign morals.” Lior called civilians “so-called civilians”.

This was reported by Uri Glickman in Maariv International on May 19, 2004. Glickman wrote, “Sources close to the Rabbi explained that Lior made the remarks Tuesday night and they had nothing to do with Wednesday’s events in Gaza.” Of course the violent contempt for Arabs held by rabbis of Lior’s stripe has everything to do with the massacres of Palestinians.Lior is the chairman of the Yesha rabbinical council, the settler’s chief religious body.The Ma’ariv article pointedly mentioned that other non-settler rabbis would not condemn his statement. A Google search turns up no statement of criticism by any rabbi anywhere.Rabbi Lior has been a consistent defender of the most violent acts against Palestinians. He was the chief speaker at the memorial service honoring Baruch Goldstein in 1996 on the one year anniversary of his death. <p<Goldstein was killed after shooting dead 29 Palestinians in the Tomb of Abraham in Hebron.Unfortunately in the orthodox stream of Judaism there are many examples of terrifying statements against non-Jews that men like Lior cite as justification for violence against non-Jews. Israel Shahak quotes an Israeli rabbi writing to a soldier and quoting approvingly of another rabbi who said, “The best of Gentiles- kill him. The best of snakes - dash out its brains”.*In 1973 a booklet published by the Central Region Command (which includes the West Bank) included a piece by the Command’s Chief Chaplin that state, “When our forces come across civilians during a war or in hot pursuit or in a raid, so long as there is no certaintly that those civilians are incapable of harming our forces according to Halkah they may and even should be killed.

”I should also note that Lior’s resoning is very similar to the logic that Madeleine Albright used when asked to respond to the charge [in 1995] that a half million Iraqi children has been killed by U.S. sanctions. It was “worth it” because it was her responsibility to make sure US soldiers would not have to“refight the Gulf War”

Ref: the Struggle, By Stanley Heller* Jewish History, Jewish Religion, The Weight of Three Thousand Years, Israel Shahak. 1994. p78.

More links

jewish-mullah-issues-racist-fatwa

Ynet

Jpost

Rabbi Lior went further and declared that Jewish Law mandates that Jews not rent homes to Arabs or employ Arabs. There has been no opposition to these statements within Israel as of yet.

Study: Israeli Jews becoming increasingly racist toward Arabs

Haaretz 

Israel’s Jewish community increasingly supports the delegitimization, discrimination and even deportation of Arabs, found a report on racism in Israel, set to be released Wednesday.

The report, to be presented at a press conference in Nazareth by Mossawa, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens of Israel, states that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has clearly impacted public opinion, and warns that ideas such as population exchange and racial segregation are gaining ground. It also warns that several Jewish politicians are gaining influence based on a platform of racial hatred.

The report, written by Mossawa director Jafar Farah and others, mainly examines racism against Arabs in Israel, using criteria taken from the anti-Semitism reports in Europe. Mossawa is supported by the Human Rights Program of the European Commission and the United Nations Democracy Foundation.

The report covers Arabs killed by the security forces and by Jewish citizens, anti-Arab incitement by leading Jewish public figures, workforce discrimination by private Jewish organizations, the barring of Arabs from public places, and the destruction of Arab property. The report particularly highlights what it calls the government’s helplessness in the face of the problem.

The report lists Arab citizens killed by police, soldiers, security guards and Jewish civilians over the past seven years. It notes that only one Jewish citizen, of Ethiopian origin, was killed under similar circumstances during this period. Indictments were issued in only seven cases, the report states. In two cases, the assailants were found not guilty, and the State Prosecutor appealed the verdict in one of these cases. In another case, the indictment was dropped because the shooter was deemed mentally unfit to stand trial.

Most cases of Arab citizens injured by Jews were not fully investigated, and the attackers were not indicted in most cases, according to the report.

However, the report says Arab violence against Jews led to immediate police action, including collective punishment in villages like Jisr al-Zarqa this month.

The report also highlights employment discrimination against Arabs, and accuses the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry of foot-dragging in enforcing the workplace anti-discrimination law.

Citing lawsuits and verdicts of recent years, the report states Arabs are subject to racial profiling at Israel’s airports. “Problematic passenger” forms, filled out by security guards and bearing the names of Arab passengers, were found in Israel Airports Authority files. Similar cases occured at train stations and on trains, the report stated.

The report also addresses discriminatory legislation, mentioning no less than 10 bills contravening the Basic Law on the Knesset that were passed by the Knesset presidium over the period the report covers.

A new element of the 2008 report is that it also addresses refugees from Africa, foreign workers, Jews of Ethiopian, Russian and Mizrachi origin, and the ultra-Orthodox.

Clash of civilizations or simply democracy failing

In Hebrew

In English

In Arabic

When you actually speak to the people you find out what they truly want, its not what the media feeds you or what some blogger writes about, it is the people. So when you hear that a majority of Israeli’s want to have meetings with Hamas and a majority of Palestinians want to meet with the Israeli’s one would think that this would make the news, even influence their leadership.

When you read blogs from either side of the spectrum you feel as though peace is not achievable, these are the extremes. They represent the same fundamentalism that first brought on the world’s problems and do nothing to change it.

How can we as a nation advocate the spread of democracy in other countries when our own elected officials publicly declare that public polls mean nothing to them.

In the Spider’s Web

The film (in five parts below) is part of Al-Haq’s campaign to stop collective punishment practiced by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

In the Spider’s Web provides an overview of these punitive measures against the Palestinian civilians. While the film mainly addresses the accounts of two women, it also highlights the impact that collective punishment has on the whole civilian population. The film also takes the audience to a girls; school in Hebron, where it shows a typical day in the lives of these students. The documentary also seeks to capture and relay some of the disastrous implications of the continuing construction of the Annexation Wall and the further expropriation of land for its construction.

Watch this and ask yourself: Could YOU live like this?

We henceforth proclaim 3/16 as Kiss an Arab day

Mark today on your calendars, we have taken over.