Showing posts with label Zionism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zionism. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Whisky Counter-Boycott Update #1
Tuesday, June 14 Global Whisky Counter-boycott Update #1
The Global Whisky Counter-boycott is directed at the West Dunbartonshire Council in Scotland, which is boycotting Israel. Their boycott which extends to all products from Israel includes a ban on all Israeli books.
That has not stopped them from purchasing "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" and Mein Kampf, in the name of "free speech". (link)
West Dunbartonshire Council member, Jim Bollan, (Scottish Socialist Party) who is spearheading the anti-Israel boycott has come out publicly in defense of the Palestinian murderers of the Fogel family, in which the murderers expressed no regret for their heinous and brutal terrorism.
Udi and Ruth Fogel and three of their children were murdered, and the youngest victim, three month old Hadas, was decapitated by the friends of West Dunbartonshire Council member, Jim Bollan. (link)
The counter-boycott of Whiskys distilled OR bottled in the West Dunbartonshire Council Region of Scotland is extremely important as 10 other Scottish councils are considering similar, anti-semitic and anti-Israel boycotts -- the success of the current counter boycott will act as a deterrant against other Scottish Councils. Email the bottlers and distillers of whiskys in the West Dunbartonshire Council Region and let them know your outrage at the antisemitic and anti-Zionist boycott...and that you cannot sit by idly while Israel is maligned by West Dunbartonshire Council.
1. Kudos to the JPost for their excellent article about the counter boycott, which is gaining popularity around the globe. "Kiddush clubs declare boycott on Scottish whiskey" (link). Many newspapers have picked this up as well...The Forward...and organizations as well CiF Watch, etc.
2. Letters Received from the Distillers:
3. Whisky UpdatesDear Jameel,
We have received your email regarding West Dunbartonshire Council’s boycott of Israeli products and your views on this decision. Neither Morrison Bowmore Distillery nor Auchentoshan take any political stance and this policy has been made independently from us and without our consultation.
Auchentoshan has invested significantly in working with its many friends and supporters around the world, including the Jewish community and the Kosher London Beth Din, where we recently certified our Auchentoshan Classic as a Kosher Single Malt Whisky.
As a business we recognise the concerns you have expressed regarding this policy. We are forwarding your email and separately writing to the West Dunbartonshire Council to ensure it is made fully aware of the potential implications of its policy.
As a valued friend of Auchentoshan we would very much appreciate your
continued support.
Kind regards,
Kirsteen
KIRSTEEN BEESTON
Head of Brands Marketing
Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd
------Thank you for contacting Chivas Brothers and its sister company, Pernod Ricard USA, regarding the attributed decision of The West Dunbartonshire Council in Scotland to participate in the BDS campaign (Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions) against Israel.
Please be assured that the West Dunbartonshire Council does not represent the views of Chivas Brothers and Pernod Ricard USA.
Pernod Ricard USA is a long and proud supporter of several leading Jewish causes, including the UJA Federation of New York, which has worked for decades to improve the quality of life for millions of Israelis.
While some Chivas Brothers brands are bottled in Dumbarton, none of its whiskies are distilled in this region and both The Glenlivet and Chivas Regal are bottled at their site in Paisley and not Dumbarton.
Thanks for sharing your concerns with us and we hope that this makes it clear that Chivas Brothers is not associated with the views attributed to the West Dunbartonshire Council. We will be passing on any correspondence on this subject to West Dunbartonshire council so they are fully aware of the potential implications of their policy.”
Catherine SERVIER
PA to Denis FIEVET
VP Investor relations
12 Place des Etats Unis
75016 PARIS
T: +33 1 41 00 41 71
F: +33 1 41 00 42 32
For the sake of accuracy, the following list is based on the reports of expert Whiskys afficinados living in Scotland who are extremely familiar with the Whiskys in West Dunbartonshire.
This is the most up to date and accurate list as of June 14, 2011 of Whiskys Distilled OR Bottled in West Dunbartonshire.
Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd. info@morrisonbowmore.co.uk
Distillers and bottlers of:
Auchintoshan
Loch Lomond Distillery Co. Ltd mail@lochlomonddistillery.com
Distillers and bottlers of:
Loch Lomond, Scots Earl, Distillery Select, Littlemill, Croftengea, Craigslodge, Inchmurrin, Glen Douglas, Inchfad
Chivas Brothers media.relations@pernod-ricard.com
Distillers and bottlers of:
Single Malts: Glenlivet, Aberlour, Longmorn, Strathisla, Scapa, Tormore
Blends: Chivas Regal, Ballantine's, Royal Salute, Clan Campbell, 100 Pipers, Something Special, Passport
Gins: Beefeater Dry Gin, Plymouth
4. Kudos to Kiddush Clubs around the world who are joining the struggle against immoral and unethical boycotts of Israel.
Some include:
Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs - FJMC (link)
International Kiddush Club (link)
Kiddish club of the Old City of Jerusalem
If your Kiddush Club joins the counter-boycott, please let us know and we'll proudly add you to the list! Email us at muqata@gmail.com
Keep up the great work!
Jameel Rashid
The Muqata Blog
http://www.muqata.com/
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Good News From Israel: Building Boom
While "Peace Now" and AP fret over the following, its obviously good news for Israel.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Israeli settlers have begun building new homes at an extraordinary pace since the government lifted its moratorium on West Bank housing starts – almost 550 in three weeks, more than four times faster than the last two years.
In an extensive report Thursday morning, the Associated Press wrote that many of the homes are going up in areas that under practically any peace scenario would become part of a Palestinian state, a trend that could doom US-brokered peace talks.
According to the AP's count, ground has been broken on 544 new West Bank homes since Sept. 26, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lifted a 10-month freeze on new settlement building.
The survey, while not comprehensive, marks the most extensive effort yet to quantify the construction. It was based on visits to 16 of the West Bank's more than 120 settlements as well as phone calls to more than four dozen settlements and interviews with construction workers and mayors.
"This figure is alarming and is another indicator that Israel is not serious about the peace process, which is supposed to be about ending the occupation," said Ghassan Khatib, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' self-rule government in the West Bank.
Netanyahu has played down the new construction, saying it "has no real effect on the map of a possible (peace) agreement." (ynetnews)
May we continue to build in ALL parts of Israel.
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Academic Terror - Not a safe environment
Way back when I was in College, I went to a relatively non-politicized university, but it was always easy to tell who was politically right, and who was politically left. Those who kept their political views to themselves were presumably right, while those on the left made it openly clear what their views were, and often enough your grades were a reflection of how closely you toed their line.
I was young and naïve at the time, and didn’t understand how significant and dangerous this was.
With one professor, a few of us decided as a joke (and an experiment) to hand to hand in a series of essays that were very similar enough in content and subject. Some reports were accurate, factual and politically neutral, while others modified the facts and conclusions to match this professor’s worldview. You can guess which reports got the A’s, and which ones didn’t.
I had another professor that regularly started spouting leftwing political nonsense in class and essentially dared anyone to disagree with her. At the beginning of the semester I started to make the mistake of raising my hand to point out her errors in economics and politics when the looks of everyone around me made it clear that silence was going to be a virtue in this class.
There are those that espouse that professors can say what they want and it’s about Academic Freedom, and creating a safe intellectual environment.
But college campuses are not safe intellectual environments. If you dare disagree with a left-wing professor in your political science or history courses, your grades might well reflect that mistake (of disagreeing with them). That was true then, and is very true now, particularly in Israel.
This is academic terror. This stifles academic freedom and intellectual honesty.
If I had known then what I understand now, I would have reported this treatment. But this wasn’t considered a burning issue back then (as far as I knew).
Last week I was embarrassed by what I read in the papers.
I read that Im Tirtzu threatened Ben-Gurion University, that if they don’t fire some of their professors, Im Tirtzu is going to go to BGU’s donors and tell them all about the University's political bias. This message that they said BGU should fire the teachers was making the rounds everywhere (Ha'aretz to their credit, was the exception, and actually did not say Im Tirtzu said BGU should fire their staff).
From what was reported in the papers, it sounded like Im Tirtzu got a little full of themselves and decided to flex muscles they don’t really have.
Im Tirtzu did not look good.
But, I also knew that if I waited just a bit, something is going to come out that will make this all make sense.
Before Im Tirtzu became famous and put the spotlight on Naomi Chazan and the New Israel Fund they were involved in another interesting project. They researched and rated teachers at various universities based on student reports and curriculum material (what textbooks each class required). They published reports on which teachers were post/anti-Zionists and which aren’t.
(For "anti-Zionist", they only took the most extreme definition, so there wouldn't be questions about borderline anti-Zionist, or LW "Zionists").
A similar study was also done by an independent research organization.
Leftwing professors are calling this McCarthyism and a threat to Academic Freedom. But as someone who experienced their kind of Academic Freedom, I could only wish I had had this report available in my college days.
But I digress.
So let’s get back to the facts that Makor Rishon published in this weekend’s paper.
The first is that Im Tirtzu did not tell BGU to fire its professors.
Im Tirtzu said that BGU needs to “put an end to the Anti-Zionist tilt” in its classrooms. If BGU didn’t end the open anti-Zionist agitation in the classrooms, then they would expose this incitement to BGU’s donors.
But what “anti-Zionist tilt” was Im Tirtzu talking about, and who were they talking about?
Well it seems that at BGU, 9 out of it’s 11 professors in the Political Science department openly express anti-Zionist opinions in the classroom, are members of radical-left organizations, and the department head, Neve Gordon, has called for (wait for it...) a full economic, cultural and academic boycott against the State of Israel.
(This department head wants funding cut off to his own university to protest the whatever!)
If that was all of it, you could always just write it off as typical leftwing academia and nonsense.
But that isn’t all there is.
You're probably saying to yourself, if we’re writing about this and Im Tirtzu is involved, then how are we going to bring the New Israel Fund into the picture here.
Hold on to your seats, because this is going to blow you away.
Ben Gurion University offers a course called “Societal Change in the Periphery”.
Ben Gurion University receives NIS 7,300 for each student that attends this course from… the New Israel Fund.
But the connection hardly ends there.
By taking the course, the students must also volunteer/intern in one of the various “societal change” organizations on the BGU list.
BGU gives course additional course credits to the students who volunteer in these various organizations (commonly known as the Easy A).
But some (most?) of these social change organizations (always LW of course), while claiming to be involved in social issues, have also been involved in radical left political issues such as trying to get arrest warrants against General Doron Almog and calling for senior IDF officers to be brought to international trial.
But it gets better (you're probably asking yourself, “How much more can their be?”, and won’t you be surprised).
You get one guess who funds these organizations.
It turns out that all these organizations on the BGU intern list for this program receive NIF funding and are connected to the NIF’s activist arm Shatil.
But it gets even better than that. (!)
Some of these organizations that receive NIF funding, that students who take the “Societal Change in the Periphery” course are required to volunteer/intern in, and that BGU receive NIS 7300 per student for... these organizations are currently (or were, in one case) headed up by professors and lecturers at BGU, such as Neve Gordon (that name again) who ran “Physicians for Human Rights” and Haim Yakobi (who teaches the “Societal Change in the Periphery” course) who heads up “Bimkom”, and Yishai Menuchin who heads up “The public committee against torture”.
Getting back to the start of the post, it seems that the NIF has it claws deep inside the BGU Political Science department. One can only imagine the brainwashing and academic terror that happens when 9 out of the 11 political science professors have radical leftwing outlooks that they aren’t afraid to share.
I am sure that Im Tirtzu will be good at convincing BGU’s donors that a donation to BGU hurts the Zionist cause, because they have enough materials and studies to prove it.
But I also wonder if there is another way.
Every week we learn more and more about how the NIF works and how they use their connections and funding.
For instance, last week a picture was publicized with Supreme Court Dorit Beinisch participating at an NIF event two years ago when they received a $20 million dollar grant from the Ford Foundation.
Maybe it’s time we on the right learn from the NIF.
Maybe it’s time for organizations on the right to duplicate the activities of the NIF.
Openly funding courses and professors who express and teach Zionism and love for Israel.
Training and supporting the next generation of lawyers, judges, and prosecutors with a Zionist and Jewish perspective.
Funding, training and support for activist organizations. Particularly the small one or two person organizations.
Enough NIF activities and methodologies have been exposed (and continue to be exposed) that can be copied by a True Israel Fund and then we can fight fire with fire, instead of with just spilling buckets of water on various hot-spots.
Obviously, it will be more difficult without the millions of dollars that come in from foreign governments who want to influence Israel from within, but there are still rich Zionist Jews out there who could match at least some of this massive foreign funding.
This is a fight over the long haul, and if we also don't start actively influencing the next generation in the schools and in the field instead of always playing defense, then we're fighting a losing battle.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
I was young and naïve at the time, and didn’t understand how significant and dangerous this was.
With one professor, a few of us decided as a joke (and an experiment) to hand to hand in a series of essays that were very similar enough in content and subject. Some reports were accurate, factual and politically neutral, while others modified the facts and conclusions to match this professor’s worldview. You can guess which reports got the A’s, and which ones didn’t.
I had another professor that regularly started spouting leftwing political nonsense in class and essentially dared anyone to disagree with her. At the beginning of the semester I started to make the mistake of raising my hand to point out her errors in economics and politics when the looks of everyone around me made it clear that silence was going to be a virtue in this class.
There are those that espouse that professors can say what they want and it’s about Academic Freedom, and creating a safe intellectual environment.
But college campuses are not safe intellectual environments. If you dare disagree with a left-wing professor in your political science or history courses, your grades might well reflect that mistake (of disagreeing with them). That was true then, and is very true now, particularly in Israel.
This is academic terror. This stifles academic freedom and intellectual honesty.
If I had known then what I understand now, I would have reported this treatment. But this wasn’t considered a burning issue back then (as far as I knew).
Last week I was embarrassed by what I read in the papers.
I read that Im Tirtzu threatened Ben-Gurion University, that if they don’t fire some of their professors, Im Tirtzu is going to go to BGU’s donors and tell them all about the University's political bias. This message that they said BGU should fire the teachers was making the rounds everywhere (Ha'aretz to their credit, was the exception, and actually did not say Im Tirtzu said BGU should fire their staff).
From what was reported in the papers, it sounded like Im Tirtzu got a little full of themselves and decided to flex muscles they don’t really have.
Im Tirtzu did not look good.
But, I also knew that if I waited just a bit, something is going to come out that will make this all make sense.
Before Im Tirtzu became famous and put the spotlight on Naomi Chazan and the New Israel Fund they were involved in another interesting project. They researched and rated teachers at various universities based on student reports and curriculum material (what textbooks each class required). They published reports on which teachers were post/anti-Zionists and which aren’t.
(For "anti-Zionist", they only took the most extreme definition, so there wouldn't be questions about borderline anti-Zionist, or LW "Zionists").
A similar study was also done by an independent research organization.
Leftwing professors are calling this McCarthyism and a threat to Academic Freedom. But as someone who experienced their kind of Academic Freedom, I could only wish I had had this report available in my college days.
But I digress.
So let’s get back to the facts that Makor Rishon published in this weekend’s paper.
The first is that Im Tirtzu did not tell BGU to fire its professors.
Im Tirtzu said that BGU needs to “put an end to the Anti-Zionist tilt” in its classrooms. If BGU didn’t end the open anti-Zionist agitation in the classrooms, then they would expose this incitement to BGU’s donors.
But what “anti-Zionist tilt” was Im Tirtzu talking about, and who were they talking about?
Well it seems that at BGU, 9 out of it’s 11 professors in the Political Science department openly express anti-Zionist opinions in the classroom, are members of radical-left organizations, and the department head, Neve Gordon, has called for (wait for it...) a full economic, cultural and academic boycott against the State of Israel.
(This department head wants funding cut off to his own university to protest the whatever!)
If that was all of it, you could always just write it off as typical leftwing academia and nonsense.
But that isn’t all there is.
You're probably saying to yourself, if we’re writing about this and Im Tirtzu is involved, then how are we going to bring the New Israel Fund into the picture here.
Hold on to your seats, because this is going to blow you away.
Ben Gurion University offers a course called “Societal Change in the Periphery”.
Ben Gurion University receives NIS 7,300 for each student that attends this course from… the New Israel Fund.
But the connection hardly ends there.
By taking the course, the students must also volunteer/intern in one of the various “societal change” organizations on the BGU list.
BGU gives course additional course credits to the students who volunteer in these various organizations (commonly known as the Easy A).
But some (most?) of these social change organizations (always LW of course), while claiming to be involved in social issues, have also been involved in radical left political issues such as trying to get arrest warrants against General Doron Almog and calling for senior IDF officers to be brought to international trial.
But it gets better (you're probably asking yourself, “How much more can their be?”, and won’t you be surprised).
You get one guess who funds these organizations.
It turns out that all these organizations on the BGU intern list for this program receive NIF funding and are connected to the NIF’s activist arm Shatil.
But it gets even better than that. (!)
Some of these organizations that receive NIF funding, that students who take the “Societal Change in the Periphery” course are required to volunteer/intern in, and that BGU receive NIS 7300 per student for... these organizations are currently (or were, in one case) headed up by professors and lecturers at BGU, such as Neve Gordon (that name again) who ran “Physicians for Human Rights” and Haim Yakobi (who teaches the “Societal Change in the Periphery” course) who heads up “Bimkom”, and Yishai Menuchin who heads up “The public committee against torture”.
Getting back to the start of the post, it seems that the NIF has it claws deep inside the BGU Political Science department. One can only imagine the brainwashing and academic terror that happens when 9 out of the 11 political science professors have radical leftwing outlooks that they aren’t afraid to share.
I am sure that Im Tirtzu will be good at convincing BGU’s donors that a donation to BGU hurts the Zionist cause, because they have enough materials and studies to prove it.
But I also wonder if there is another way.
Every week we learn more and more about how the NIF works and how they use their connections and funding.
For instance, last week a picture was publicized with Supreme Court Dorit Beinisch participating at an NIF event two years ago when they received a $20 million dollar grant from the Ford Foundation.
Presidential Summit: Justice Dorit Beinisch (center right), President of Israel’s Supreme Court, meets with Ford Foundation President Susan Berresford (center left). In the back row from left to right are Israel Executive Director Eliezer Yaari; NIF Board VP in Israel Neta Ziv; Ford Foundation Deputy Vice President, Program Management David Chiel; Ford Israel Fund Director Aaron Back; and NIF CEO Larry Garber.
Maybe it’s time we on the right learn from the NIF.
Maybe it’s time for organizations on the right to duplicate the activities of the NIF.
Openly funding courses and professors who express and teach Zionism and love for Israel.
Training and supporting the next generation of lawyers, judges, and prosecutors with a Zionist and Jewish perspective.
Funding, training and support for activist organizations. Particularly the small one or two person organizations.
Enough NIF activities and methodologies have been exposed (and continue to be exposed) that can be copied by a True Israel Fund and then we can fight fire with fire, instead of with just spilling buckets of water on various hot-spots.
Obviously, it will be more difficult without the millions of dollars that come in from foreign governments who want to influence Israel from within, but there are still rich Zionist Jews out there who could match at least some of this massive foreign funding.
This is a fight over the long haul, and if we also don't start actively influencing the next generation in the schools and in the field instead of always playing defense, then we're fighting a losing battle.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Settlement Antifreeze
Throughout Yehuda, Shomron, and the Jordan Valley (West Bank), Jews have decided to not take the "settlement freeze" lying down.Plans have been established, the action has started -- creating facts on the ground. This time its not just the "Noar Hagva'ot" (Hilltop Youth), but mayors and regional leaders that have decided to take action.
We were just sent pictures from one such "illegal" construction site in what was once a legal, law-abiding town.
Seen "illegally" pouring, mixing concrete, and building at this site are various heads of Judea and Samaria municipalities, elected officials and regional leaders from Yehuda, Shomron, Gush Etzion, as well as mayors from various towns in Israel. Rabbi Riskin was there (which should give you a hint that it happened in Efrat, since R' Riskin is the Chief Rabbi there).
The clear message was sent out to Bibi and Barack, "You will have to arrest every single Jewish leader in this country for illegal construction, because we don't accept your illegal, undemocratic freeze."
Update: I was told that Rabbi Riskin said that when the police, army, and inspectors come, no one is to raise their hands or voices against them, but to lie down in front of their vehicles -- so I guess he is saying we should take it lying down!
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Monday, July 27, 2009
An Illegal Outpost Story
An Illegal Outpost Story
By JoeSettler, Jameel, and the Zionist Enterprise.
The Settlers faced a fateful decision.
The law prevented them from buying and acquiring land in Eretz Yisrael. Jewish growth in strategic and historic areas was coming to a standstill, if not an end. Arab violence made the roads, towns and fields dangerous. What the Jews didn’t physically claim, the Arabs would subsequently move in and claim for themselves.
And worst of all, fellow Jews were snitching on the Settlers to the authorities.
The entire settlement enterprise was in danger of destruction.
Ideas were raised on how to fight these immoral laws and dangers to the Settlement enterprise.
But there was dissent. “Dina d’Malchuta Dina (The Law of the land) -- It's forbidden to go against the law of the government," some said, not understanding that this Jewish law never applies when the government’s law goes against Jewish Law – or according to many if not most opinions, that this doesn't apply in Eretz Yisrael at all.
“But there are Arabs who will claim the empty, untouched and uncultivated land as their own,” said others, ignoring that the Arabs could bring no proof or claim– not even a tax receipt going back 50 years. Their hollow words, were their only "proof of ownership", though they never owned the land at all.
“But the government won’t even recognize our right to purchase the land, or our deeds to the land,” said others, “much less our right to build on it. We shouldn’t do this. We'll lose what little legitimacy we have left.”
And among the Settlers there was concern that those who raised their voice in dissent, while claiming to not be in league with the enemy would actually run to report the Settlers' actions at first opportunity – as some had done in the past.
So a plan was devised.
“Illegal outposts” would be built throughout the land. It would be done quietly and at night. At morning’s light the Arabs would find strategic hilltops taken. The government would be confronted with facts on the ground.
The Settlement enterprise of Eretz Yisrael would be saved.
So it was decided to build these “illegal Settlements” in utter secrecy with the element of surprise...
The year of the above story took place in 1936, the government was Britain, and the results were that over 50 "illegal settlements", Tower and Stockade (“Homa u’Migdal”) settlements as they were called then, were established practically overnight (over a period of 3 years) in the Galilee, Beit Shean, and the Jordan Valley.
Many of these illegal settlements still exist today, 73 years later: Kibbutz Nir David, Kibbutz Negba, Hanita, Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi, Sha’ar Hagolan, Kibbutz Hafetz Haim, Kibbuz Ma’aleh Hahamisha, Kibbutz Ein Gev, Sde Eliyahu, and many others.
No one calls for their destruction anymore.
No one questions their legality anymore.
No one questions how important they were to the Yishuv.
But even then, as today, the move to inhabit and rule in the land of Israel was attacked and subverted by foreign governments, Arab violence, and Jews who would betray their own.
By JoeSettler, Jameel, and the Zionist Enterprise.
The Settlers faced a fateful decision.
The law prevented them from buying and acquiring land in Eretz Yisrael. Jewish growth in strategic and historic areas was coming to a standstill, if not an end. Arab violence made the roads, towns and fields dangerous. What the Jews didn’t physically claim, the Arabs would subsequently move in and claim for themselves.
And worst of all, fellow Jews were snitching on the Settlers to the authorities.
The entire settlement enterprise was in danger of destruction.
Ideas were raised on how to fight these immoral laws and dangers to the Settlement enterprise.
But there was dissent. “Dina d’Malchuta Dina (The Law of the land) -- It's forbidden to go against the law of the government," some said, not understanding that this Jewish law never applies when the government’s law goes against Jewish Law – or according to many if not most opinions, that this doesn't apply in Eretz Yisrael at all.
“But there are Arabs who will claim the empty, untouched and uncultivated land as their own,” said others, ignoring that the Arabs could bring no proof or claim– not even a tax receipt going back 50 years. Their hollow words, were their only "proof of ownership", though they never owned the land at all.
“But the government won’t even recognize our right to purchase the land, or our deeds to the land,” said others, “much less our right to build on it. We shouldn’t do this. We'll lose what little legitimacy we have left.”
And among the Settlers there was concern that those who raised their voice in dissent, while claiming to not be in league with the enemy would actually run to report the Settlers' actions at first opportunity – as some had done in the past.
So a plan was devised.
“Illegal outposts” would be built throughout the land. It would be done quietly and at night. At morning’s light the Arabs would find strategic hilltops taken. The government would be confronted with facts on the ground.
The Settlement enterprise of Eretz Yisrael would be saved.
So it was decided to build these “illegal Settlements” in utter secrecy with the element of surprise...
The year of the above story took place in 1936, the government was Britain, and the results were that over 50 "illegal settlements", Tower and Stockade (“Homa u’Migdal”) settlements as they were called then, were established practically overnight (over a period of 3 years) in the Galilee, Beit Shean, and the Jordan Valley.Many of these illegal settlements still exist today, 73 years later: Kibbutz Nir David, Kibbutz Negba, Hanita, Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi, Sha’ar Hagolan, Kibbutz Hafetz Haim, Kibbuz Ma’aleh Hahamisha, Kibbutz Ein Gev, Sde Eliyahu, and many others.
No one calls for their destruction anymore.
No one questions their legality anymore.
No one questions how important they were to the Yishuv.
But even then, as today, the move to inhabit and rule in the land of Israel was attacked and subverted by foreign governments, Arab violence, and Jews who would betray their own.
As US President Obama's proxy, George Mitchell arrives in Israel to turn the thumbscrews on the Israeli government to halt all Jewish Settlement building -- 11 new outposts will be built in the Land of Israel today and tomorrow.
Join the Settlement Enterprise -- for the sake of Israel's Future.
Join the Settlement Enterprise -- for the sake of Israel's Future.
Tisha B'Av evening Wednesday, July 29 - join the Women in Green as they March around the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. But first the reading of Eichah will take place in front of the US Consulate on Agron Street at 8:00pm.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Day 23 of the War, Sunday, January 18, 2009
Day 23 of the Gaza War, Sunday, January 18, 2009
Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
Daily sticky post, constantly updated.
More liveblogging at IsraellyCool and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/muqata Keyword #GazaWar
Note: Using the "Refresh" (F5 key) command in your Web Browser will show you the latest updates -- Refresh on an Apple/Mac is apple+R.
Additional New posts from today can be found below this post.
As a general rule we will try and keep operational details to a minimum, that includes troop movements and the exact location of rocket hits. If items are reported in the Mainstream Israeli Media we will report them as well.
11:43 PM Hi people, Jameel here. Sorry, I'm not at liberty to discuss what is currently going on in my area. In other areas of the Shomron this evening, terrorists opened fire on the settlement of Alei Zahav. No injuries. I'm done blogging this evening -- join us tomorrow for another fun filled day of case fire.
10:04 PM JoeSettler here. Jameel had to run as there is an active terror alert in his area. He will post about it (if allowed) when he gets back.
9:56 PM Sorry people - gotta go. Terror alert in my area.
9:40 PM Breaking News. The CAT head scan of the niece of Gazan doctor, Dr Ayash whose 3 daughters were killed in his building reveals conclusively that the shrapnel in her head is NOT from IDF muntions...rather like those from Hamas-used rockets. (Channel 1 TV minutes ago)
7:08 PM Though I reported it last week, the big news today in Israel is the announcement that tremendous natural gas reserves (more than 3 trillion cubic feet) were found within Israeli territorial waters, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Haifa. Reports have started that there is enough natural gas to grant Israel energy and economic independence for generations to come. (more here and here).
Hoping, hoping, this isn't an overestimation (we could use some good news, right?)
6:04 PM Battle Weary IDF soldiers returning from Gaza.
5:44 PM Hamas issues ultimatum to Israel: Withdraw IDF troops within a week and open the border crossings, or we'll start firing rockets at you again.
5:17 PM Mortar slams into DoubleTapper's position in Southern Israel (he's called me 3 times yelling at me that I should post it, because his ears are still ringing. No Damage, No Injuries)
3:54 PM Political Cartoon Roundup (source)
2:48 PM Israel public opinion is against the "cease-fire". In a Israel TV Channel 2 poll conducted today, 64% of Israelis are against the cease-fire, 27% in favor, and 8% undecided. (source)
2:26 PM Grad rocket hits house in Ashdod. 1 wounded from shrapnel. (ynet) Sirens did not sound before rocket hit.
2:21 PM Reports that Hamas is initiating its own cease-fire for a period of a week, to allow IDF forces to retreat out of Gaza.
2:08 PM Israeli press reports that a Jew was stabbed in the Golders Green neighborhood in North West London, by a knife wielding Moslem who was yelling, "Free Gaza, Free Gaza". The teenager was hospitalized in serious condition. (source). Note; I still haven't found a source for this in the UK news...
1:59 PM YNET reports that 2 additional rockets fell in the Western Negev region. That makes 12 rockets shot at Israel so far, since Israel's unilateral cease-fire.
1:55 PM IAF gets high marks -- Hamas hotbed, radical Islamic University in Gaza heavily damaged. Photo gallery here.
1:49 PM 103FM Israeli Radio reports that IDF soldiers left messages in Hebrew in Gaza City on the walls of buildings: "Gilad, We were here. [looking for you]"
1:41 PM Reports that IDF tanks returned fire in the direction of the rocket launches at Israel earlier today.
12:59 PM No reports of injuries or damage in rocket attack on Ashkelon minutes ago. (You can ignore the Air Raid sirens, there's a ceasefire...)
12:56 PM Air Raid Sirens in Ashkelon.
12:46 PM Mortar rockets fired from Gaza at IDF Erez checkpoint. (Channel B Israeli Radio)
12:23 PM During the rocket attack on Kiryat Melachi about 40 minutes ago, a rocekt was also launched and landed in the Kiryat Gat area.
12:19 PM Ashdod Port: Customs seized shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza, found to be full of weapons, and warfare related electronics.
12:11PM Some 100 tunnels were destroyed just ahead of the cease fire. Imagine how many more we could be destroying if there was no cease fire.
12:05 PM Forensic and field reports indicates that Palestinian who died last week after throwing rocks at cars in the Shomron (which resulted in a Settler being mistakenly arrested for murder - but then released after no bullet wounds were found on the victim) actually killed himself.
One of the rocks he threw at a speeding car bounced back and hit him on the head. Now that's poetic.
12:02 PM Rockets in Kiryat Melachi. Again it fell in a some poor chicken coop.
9:39 AM Security forces confirm that Hezbollah launched rockets on Israel's North last week via Palestinian proxies.
8:54 AM Walla reports from Palestinian sources that IDF tank columns can be seen leaving parts of Gaza.
8:39 AM So this is a unilateral ceasefire. Gunfire from Gaza at IDF positions, IDF tank responds with a shell and automatic gunfire (Channel 10, minutes ago). Our IDF troops are now sitting ducks in Gaza, and can only respond to attacks.
8:36 AM Rainbow over Ashkelon this morning.
(source)
7:52 AM Reshet Bet reporting that Helicopters are attacking sites in Gaza. Residents of Sderot report they hear the heavy fire.
7:28 AM From Ha'aretz Flashes last night: 2:52 Muslim chosen to speak at Obama inaugural prayer allegedly tied to Hamas (AP)
7:22 AM We're back. Quiet night in Israel.
2:19 AM Almost made it to bed, Israel breaks ceasefire as IAF hits rocket launcher about to launch from Northern Gaza. That didn't last very long at all. (Scoop from Rotter)
2:13 AM Sorry Jameel, but JoeSettler is going to sleep too. I'm exhausted. But tomorrow I may write a new post on JoeSettler that may be half coherent.
2:08 AM Jameel going to bed. JoeSettler might be staying up a bit more. Will continue at a normal hour.
1:46 AM We're all just waiting for 2:01 AM to see what Hamas does.
1:35 AM Israel ceasefire will cause huge relief, says Britain
LONDON - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Saturday that Israel's ceasefire in the Gaza conflict would cause "huge relief".
"There will be huge relief at the announcement by Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert of the end of Israeli military operations in Gaza," Miliband said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.
1:24 AM IAF rockets hitting Islamic university in Beit Hanoun area of Nothern Gaza, where many tunnels are believed to be located that go towards Israel.
1:21 AM Reports of precision IAF targetting on many targets throughout Gaza. Did Israel lull Hamas into a false sense of security, with the objective of wiping out high quality Hamas targets before 2 AM? Details to follow.
1:18 AM IDF attempting to get in "last licks" before 2 AM unilateral ceasefire goes into affect. IAF jets and helicopters hitting targets in Han Jounis and around the Gaza strip.
1:00 AM Despite the upcoming unilateral IDF ceasefire, IDF forces are advising Palestinians in Gaza NOT to return to their homes, specifically in Northern Gaza, due to possible flareups in fighting which would needlessly endanger innocent Gazan civilians. (source)
12:46 AM Newly released IDF Spox photos from IDF operating in Gaza. (source)
12:28 AM Globalized Intifada -- its not only against Israel anymore. See this link at ZombieTime about Pro-Hamas rage around the globe. The DovBear blog has a link to virulently antisemitic cartoons from Arab press around the globe. I wonder how Neturay Karta feels about such cartoons.
12:24 AM According to this evening's cabinet decision, the IDF will remain in Gaza till the rocket attacks on Israel cease. According to Hamas, as long as the IDF is in Gaza, they will continue their rocket attacks against Israel (and they have been continuing their attacks all night)
No commentary needed.
12:06 AM Grad rocket lands in Ashdod minutes ago -- stuck deep in the road.
12:01 AM It's a new day, Israel has announced a unilateral cease fire, and Hamas in launching multiple rockets against the South. Nothing new.
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Monday, April 14, 2008
EVEN MORE HATRED IN THE SF BAY AREA
Guest post - Can also be read at the back of the hill (http://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/), which I think is a great place, but you may have some valid doubts about that opinion. That's okay too.
The text below represents a new level of anti-Semitism and cotton-wool Jewish self-loathing in the San Francisco Bay Area. It also represents an ignorant and self-righteous welt-anschauung that is truly and utterly dangerous.
Unfortunately it does NOT represent a minority point of view in many circles. I wish to post it here so that you may know exactly what we're up against in California. And note particularly the mention of a "liberation seder" at a Methodist church - to me this is such a series of misnomers and wrong concepts that it does not, cannot, compute. My mind is boggled.
[I will be attending two seders - both in the East Bay, neither in anyway whatsoever resembling the nakba seder.]
--- --- ---
[from e-mail]
Get Involved! Nakba Bay Area Jewish Anti-Zionist Efforts
Dear Bay Area "No Time To Celebrate" signatories and IJSN friends,
Last Thursday 20 people attended the Bay Area organizing meeting for Jewish anti-Zionist actions around the 60th anniversary of the Nakba. The energy at the meeting was great, and people are ready to step up into action this spring! We heard back from many more of you who could not be there and are very committed to being involved. At the meeting, a decision-making process for selecting areas of work to move forward on, was framed by the call to action from the "No Time To Celebrate" campaign
You can read and sign the pledge at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notimetocelebrate/
and that from Palestinian organizations calling on international civil society to commemorate Nakba through boycott of Israel celebrations and actions to highlight the history of Palestinian resistance at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notimetocelebrate/
Three workgroups were formed to organize the major efforts we identified as most vital:
1. Holding a Liberation Seder is solidarity with 60 Years of Palestinian Resistance;
2. Organizing Nakba Direct Actions;
3. Supporting the Free Palestine Peace and Solidarity Festival.
Following is more information about these efforts and ways you can get involved in each one.
We hope you can all join us for the next meeting on *Wednesday April 16, 7pm at 474 Valencia in San Francisco.
We are so excited to come together with you all to stand with Palestinian resistance on the 60th anniversary of the Nakba!
Areas of work and how to get involved:
Liberation Seder - Sunday, April 20, 5:00-8:30pm, Lake Merrit United Methodist Church, 1255 1st Ave, Oakland.
The Seder will be a community building event and a fundraiser for IJSN and the Palestinian Popular conference. The Seder will be geared towards promoting several Bay Area Nakba activities, including the May 10th Palestinian Cultural Festival, the Handala campaign, and the Palestinian Popular Conference.
What you can do:
1. Come and bring guests! rsvp to jewishsolidaritybayarea@gmail.com
2. Bring an item of food (wine, matzah, parsley, boiled eggs, oranges,
olives, juice, horseradish, a dish). E-mail the Seder Point Person, Eric Romann at ericromann@gmail.com to let him know what you are making!
3. Help with set-up and/or clean-up, be there for all the behind-the-scenes action! E-mail ericromann@gmail.com to sign-up for a shift.
4. Perform a piece of poetry or music, again, contact Eric at ericromann@gmail.com if you have a piece you'd like to offer at the Seder.
5. Spread the word!
Nakba Direct Actions:
We are organizing two major direct actions. We need everyone to participate in order to demonstrate, through our numbers and passion, exactly how substantial Jewish dissent to Zionism is! Please contact the Nakba Actions Point Person Sara Kershnar at skershna@earthlink.net to get involved and/or to join the next workgroup meeting on April 21, at 7:30pm.
Roles to play will include:
1. People to participate in direct actions.
2. People to come as allies and in supporting roles.
3. People willing to develop materials for distribution, design visuals for the action, and plan an art party.
Free Palestine Peace and Solidarity Festival:
http://www.araborganizing.org/concert.html
Saturday, May 10, all day at the Civic Center
This festival is being organized by the local Palestinian Nakba Committee, and will feature a fabulous line up of performers, as well as other cultural and political opportunities.
IJSN has been asked to recruit volunteers, provide logistical support, participate in, fundraise for, and promote the event.
The festival workgroup will be sending out an e-mail in the next few days with a list of ways you can be involved and support the festival.
Please contact Festival Point Person Kinneret Israel at kinneret.israel@gmail.com to get active before then and/or join the festival planning conference call on Thursday April 10th at 5:30pm.
--- --- ---
Please note that the e-mail reproduced above shows a clear link between methodists and the El Awda crowd, who advocate the destruction of Israel. El Awda insists upon a right of return to the Holy Land for Palestinians, and obligatory return to Poland for Jews. They are silent about the Jews expelled from Arab lands. It would not surprise me if they have other plans for them.
The Methodists, of course, are simply mis-informed idiots. We have a lot of those in the Bay Area. The involvement of the Methodists with the nakba crowd and anti-Israel Jews is very disturbing. The divestment movement flourishes at present among such people.
Your guest-poster,
------B.O.T.H.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
The text below represents a new level of anti-Semitism and cotton-wool Jewish self-loathing in the San Francisco Bay Area. It also represents an ignorant and self-righteous welt-anschauung that is truly and utterly dangerous.
Unfortunately it does NOT represent a minority point of view in many circles. I wish to post it here so that you may know exactly what we're up against in California. And note particularly the mention of a "liberation seder" at a Methodist church - to me this is such a series of misnomers and wrong concepts that it does not, cannot, compute. My mind is boggled.
[I will be attending two seders - both in the East Bay, neither in anyway whatsoever resembling the nakba seder.]
--- --- ---
[from e-mail]
Get Involved! Nakba Bay Area Jewish Anti-Zionist Efforts
Dear Bay Area "No Time To Celebrate" signatories and IJSN friends,
Last Thursday 20 people attended the Bay Area organizing meeting for Jewish anti-Zionist actions around the 60th anniversary of the Nakba. The energy at the meeting was great, and people are ready to step up into action this spring! We heard back from many more of you who could not be there and are very committed to being involved. At the meeting, a decision-making process for selecting areas of work to move forward on, was framed by the call to action from the "No Time To Celebrate" campaign
You can read and sign the pledge at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notimetocelebrate/
and that from Palestinian organizations calling on international civil society to commemorate Nakba through boycott of Israel celebrations and actions to highlight the history of Palestinian resistance at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/notimetocelebrate/
Three workgroups were formed to organize the major efforts we identified as most vital:
1. Holding a Liberation Seder is solidarity with 60 Years of Palestinian Resistance;
2. Organizing Nakba Direct Actions;
3. Supporting the Free Palestine Peace and Solidarity Festival.
Following is more information about these efforts and ways you can get involved in each one.
We hope you can all join us for the next meeting on *Wednesday April 16, 7pm at 474 Valencia in San Francisco.
We are so excited to come together with you all to stand with Palestinian resistance on the 60th anniversary of the Nakba!
Areas of work and how to get involved:
Liberation Seder - Sunday, April 20, 5:00-8:30pm, Lake Merrit United Methodist Church, 1255 1st Ave, Oakland.
The Seder will be a community building event and a fundraiser for IJSN and the Palestinian Popular conference. The Seder will be geared towards promoting several Bay Area Nakba activities, including the May 10th Palestinian Cultural Festival, the Handala campaign, and the Palestinian Popular Conference.
What you can do:
1. Come and bring guests! rsvp to jewishsolidaritybayarea@gmail.com
2. Bring an item of food (wine, matzah, parsley, boiled eggs, oranges,
olives, juice, horseradish, a dish). E-mail the Seder Point Person, Eric Romann at ericromann@gmail.com to let him know what you are making!
3. Help with set-up and/or clean-up, be there for all the behind-the-scenes action! E-mail ericromann@gmail.com to sign-up for a shift.
4. Perform a piece of poetry or music, again, contact Eric at ericromann@gmail.com if you have a piece you'd like to offer at the Seder.
5. Spread the word!
Nakba Direct Actions:
We are organizing two major direct actions. We need everyone to participate in order to demonstrate, through our numbers and passion, exactly how substantial Jewish dissent to Zionism is! Please contact the Nakba Actions Point Person Sara Kershnar at skershna@earthlink.net to get involved and/or to join the next workgroup meeting on April 21, at 7:30pm.
Roles to play will include:
1. People to participate in direct actions.
2. People to come as allies and in supporting roles.
3. People willing to develop materials for distribution, design visuals for the action, and plan an art party.
Free Palestine Peace and Solidarity Festival:
http://www.araborganizing.org/concert.html
Saturday, May 10, all day at the Civic Center
This festival is being organized by the local Palestinian Nakba Committee, and will feature a fabulous line up of performers, as well as other cultural and political opportunities.
IJSN has been asked to recruit volunteers, provide logistical support, participate in, fundraise for, and promote the event.
The festival workgroup will be sending out an e-mail in the next few days with a list of ways you can be involved and support the festival.
Please contact Festival Point Person Kinneret Israel at kinneret.israel@gmail.com to get active before then and/or join the festival planning conference call on Thursday April 10th at 5:30pm.
--- --- ---
Please note that the e-mail reproduced above shows a clear link between methodists and the El Awda crowd, who advocate the destruction of Israel. El Awda insists upon a right of return to the Holy Land for Palestinians, and obligatory return to Poland for Jews. They are silent about the Jews expelled from Arab lands. It would not surprise me if they have other plans for them.
The Methodists, of course, are simply mis-informed idiots. We have a lot of those in the Bay Area. The involvement of the Methodists with the nakba crowd and anti-Israel Jews is very disturbing. The divestment movement flourishes at present among such people.
Your guest-poster,
------B.O.T.H.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Today's Israeli Hero: Amram Mitzna
How often does The Muqata (tm) blog seriously pay homage to a noted Israeli left wing politician?
Today's Israeli of note is Amram Mitzna.
For the record, Mitzna previously announced his willingness to negotiate with any elected Palestinian leadership at any time – no pre-conditions. He stated his readiness to divide Jerusalem. The exiled MK Azmi Bishara (the one who collaborated with the enemy, during wartime) said of Mitzna, "Despite the image of a former general, Mitzna stands to the left of Beilin." To the LEFT of Yossi Beilin? Why am I going out on a limb to write about him?
Even though Mitzna lost the Knesset election against Ariel Sharon because HIS idea of Disengagement was deemed too odious for the Israeli public (Sharon did the exact same thing anyway), let's see what Mitzna did after leaving the Knesset.
While other failed leaders ran to the business world, such as Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak who both did very well for themselves (as opposed to failed IDF General, Dan Halutz who has been running companies into the ground**), Amram Mitzna has taken up the long ignored ideal of Zionism to actually, help others.
Going to the struggling Negev desert development town, Yerucham, Mitzna took over the reigns of the municipal council after the mayor was forced to step down amidst charges of incompetence.
Already last year, Arutz Sheva noted Mitzna's impressive work:
In his parting speech at the Knesset, he said "I believe that by going to Yerucham, I will give from my expertise to revitalize the town and will also be a role model for the spirit of volunteerism in Israel."
Some might say he's only furthering his own future political career by revitalizing Yerucham.
Big Deal; results are results. I'd rather he further his own career while helping Yerucham, than Barak, Bibi, and Halutz's personal financial ambitions. (Then again, I'm glad Halutz didn't go to Yerucham -- he probably would have buried them as well).
Amram Mitzna; Kudos to you! On behalf of the Muqata readership, we wish you a hearty Yasher Koach, and please continue to help Yerucham bloom in the desert.
Today's Israeli of note is Amram Mitzna.
For the record, Mitzna previously announced his willingness to negotiate with any elected Palestinian leadership at any time – no pre-conditions. He stated his readiness to divide Jerusalem. The exiled MK Azmi Bishara (the one who collaborated with the enemy, during wartime) said of Mitzna, "Despite the image of a former general, Mitzna stands to the left of Beilin." To the LEFT of Yossi Beilin? Why am I going out on a limb to write about him?
Even though Mitzna lost the Knesset election against Ariel Sharon because HIS idea of Disengagement was deemed too odious for the Israeli public (Sharon did the exact same thing anyway), let's see what Mitzna did after leaving the Knesset.
While other failed leaders ran to the business world, such as Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak who both did very well for themselves (as opposed to failed IDF General, Dan Halutz who has been running companies into the ground**), Amram Mitzna has taken up the long ignored ideal of Zionism to actually, help others.
Going to the struggling Negev desert development town, Yerucham, Mitzna took over the reigns of the municipal council after the mayor was forced to step down amidst charges of incompetence.
Already last year, Arutz Sheva noted Mitzna's impressive work:
Yerucham Regional Council head Amram Mitzna explained Wednesday morning how the southeastern development town turned around and became a model of financial responsibility. Failure of debt-ridden regional councils to pay workers on time is at the center of the current Histadrut labor dispute.Mitzna was only supposed to stay with Yerucham for 3 years -- yet he has put on hold aspirations to run again for Haifa mayoral elections or Knesset national elections. Mitzna announced to IDF army radio this morning that he would be staying in Yerucham for at least 2 more years.
Mitzna, formerly mayor of Haifa, took the post at Yerucham in November 2005, when the regional council was saddled with a heavy debt, municipal services were sporadic and the community center was closed. He explained to Voice of Israel government radio that the situation changed after he raised the property tax 15 percent and fired 10-12 percent of public service workers. The Yeruham council now pays its workers on time, municipal services have been restored, the budget is balanced and the economy is growing, Mitzna stated.
In his parting speech at the Knesset, he said "I believe that by going to Yerucham, I will give from my expertise to revitalize the town and will also be a role model for the spirit of volunteerism in Israel."
Some might say he's only furthering his own future political career by revitalizing Yerucham.
Big Deal; results are results. I'd rather he further his own career while helping Yerucham, than Barak, Bibi, and Halutz's personal financial ambitions. (Then again, I'm glad Halutz didn't go to Yerucham -- he probably would have buried them as well).
Amram Mitzna; Kudos to you! On behalf of the Muqata readership, we wish you a hearty Yasher Koach, and please continue to help Yerucham bloom in the desert.
**Electronics giant Elron, who named ex-top soldier Dan Halutz as its chairman, now faces a growing concern as stock and earning warnings hovers over its head. The company admitted to losing NIS 33 million and to a cash burn of NIS 28 million for the year. It has a working capital deficit of NIS 5 million and a hole in its shareholders equity amounting to NIS 3 million. Haaretz
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wake Up!!
I think the readership here at the Muqata would greatly appreciate this passionate, brilliant piece by a young woman that was received recently. Excerpt:
On the night of September 9th, 2003, a 20-year old bride anxiously awaited the coming morning. It was the night before her wedding and she counted down the minutes until she would stand under her chupah and become the wife of a man she loved with all her neshama. Her father had just returned from New York on a medical conference and the two of them decided to go out for a heart-to-heart talk on this incredible night. They made their way to Cafe Hillel on Emek Refaim. As she entered the restaurant, her father sensed that something wasn't right. He noticed a man entering the Cafe right after his daughter did, and then the panic set in. He ran in to get his daughter out, but it was too late. The blast went off and Dr. Applebaum was killed instantly. The bride remained in critical condition. I remember when the call came in from my best friend. "Naavah is in a coma. Her father is dead. Tomorrow is her wedding and she doesn't even know her father is dead."Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael and tries to make a Kiddush Hashem.
Naavah Applebaum died that same night. Her wedding day became her funeral.
This experience left me in a state of shock. I remember a few nights after Naavah's funeral I called my Abba in a fit of hysterics. I cried, "Abba, I know what my tafkid is in Olam HaZeh." My father calmly answered, "Yes shefile'? What is that?" "I want to die Al Kidush HaShem" I sobbed. My father is a man of never ending patience, wisdom, and compassion. He took a deep breath and said, "Gila, I think I have something even harder for you." "What do you mean?" I asked. "What could possibly be harder then that?" "Try living Al Kidush HaShem", my father replied.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Plague of Publicity
Some people are desperate for publicity.
Andy Grove, the past CEO of Intel Corp proved via the Pentium bug fiasco, that there's no such thing as "bad" publicity.
Therefore, how do some religious Israelis get their name everywhere?
They write articles that bash...religious Israelis.
In this fashion, the spotlight is on today's idiot, "Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg"
I have no clue who she is, but her article in YNET entitled, "The Plague of Eretz Yisrael" is proof positive that she's an attention seeker, rather than someone who wants to honestly deal with facts.
Her opinion piece can be summarized as such: Religious Jews in Israel place an inordinant amount of focus on Eretz Yisrael and neglect everything else...and that is a "plague."
Her closing paragraph:
Last week, Magen David Adom needed volunteer ambulance drivers and medics for night shifts in large cities in the Gush Dan (Tel Aviv) region. I answered their call, and did a night shift. What I found was the following: in this particular city, there were no local volunteers...at all!
Rather, all their volunteers in that (rather large city) were from settlements in the Shomron, and one volunteer from North America!
So the next time MS Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg has an epiphany about bashing religious Jews and settlers for caring "too much" about Eretz Yisrael, perhaps she should check out all the wonderful work they are doing around the country; including volunteering for MDA, Hatzala, Soup Kitchens, Aiding Developmentally challenged children, outreach, social service and welfare programs, and of course...IDF duty.
And if some people want to focus on Eretz Yisrael, that's their right, just as I know some people who focus on tzedakka, some who focus on learning and teaching Torah, and others who focus on saving lives.
Focus is a "religious, social, and moral injustice"???
I would advise that she be very cautious about using language such as "plague" and Eretz Yisrael in the same breath.
When the 10 spies spoke poorly about Israel, it didn't do them any good, nor the rest of our nation.
Andy Grove, the past CEO of Intel Corp proved via the Pentium bug fiasco, that there's no such thing as "bad" publicity.
Therefore, how do some religious Israelis get their name everywhere?
They write articles that bash...religious Israelis.
In this fashion, the spotlight is on today's idiot, "Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg"
I have no clue who she is, but her article in YNET entitled, "The Plague of Eretz Yisrael" is proof positive that she's an attention seeker, rather than someone who wants to honestly deal with facts.
Her opinion piece can be summarized as such: Religious Jews in Israel place an inordinant amount of focus on Eretz Yisrael and neglect everything else...and that is a "plague."
Her closing paragraph:
Yes, the Land of Israel is beloved, and it’s important, and it’s possible that for some people, there is no other issue. But the total focus on the struggle for the Land of Israel is not just a religious, social, and moral injustice. It’s also a plague.Since Ms. Efrat Shapira hyphen Rosenberg is too busy mouthing-off via her YNETnews soapbox, let me tell you a single story from last week, which shows just how wrong she is.
Last week, Magen David Adom needed volunteer ambulance drivers and medics for night shifts in large cities in the Gush Dan (Tel Aviv) region. I answered their call, and did a night shift. What I found was the following: in this particular city, there were no local volunteers...at all!
Rather, all their volunteers in that (rather large city) were from settlements in the Shomron, and one volunteer from North America!
So the next time MS Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg has an epiphany about bashing religious Jews and settlers for caring "too much" about Eretz Yisrael, perhaps she should check out all the wonderful work they are doing around the country; including volunteering for MDA, Hatzala, Soup Kitchens, Aiding Developmentally challenged children, outreach, social service and welfare programs, and of course...IDF duty.
And if some people want to focus on Eretz Yisrael, that's their right, just as I know some people who focus on tzedakka, some who focus on learning and teaching Torah, and others who focus on saving lives.
Focus is a "religious, social, and moral injustice"???
I would advise that she be very cautious about using language such as "plague" and Eretz Yisrael in the same breath.
When the 10 spies spoke poorly about Israel, it didn't do them any good, nor the rest of our nation.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Like it or not...we will keep returning.
Great Return to Chomesh picture roundup on HNN. (hat-tip ASJ)
The NY Times had the following to say:
Who would have thought it would have been this quick? Limor Har-Melech, the widow of Shuly Har-Melech who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorists on his way home to Chomesh, remarried, and today is the brit of her newborn son...in CHOMESH.
The Arabs...and even some Jews may not want us here, but we will keep returning.
The NY Times had the following to say:
The reoccupation, even temporarily, of a destroyed Jewish settlement deep in the West Bank, near Jenin, is an open challenge to a weak Israeli government. How it plays out will be viewed by Palestinians as a sign of whether Israel intends to keep its pledges, or whether settlement activity will continue to proceed unhindered, despite Israel’s promises to halt it.Yes, this is just the beginning. We will keep returning...and to Gush Katif as well.
“We are not here to cry,” said Batya Danziger, 16, one of the many teenagers who took part in the effort to reach the now desolate Homesh. “We are here to live and build it back up again.”
“Hooray, a house!” her friends shouted out in delight as they used palm fronds to fasten a lean-to against one of the few remaining stone walls.
Despite initial warnings to participants that their attempts to reach Homesh would be considered illegal, the government did not order security forces to stop the group from making its way there by foot. Instead, the forces provided security for a six-mile stretch of winding road on which the activists made their way to the site.
Parents held the hands of preschoolers, young people banged on drums and some pushed strollers piled high with sleeping bags, tents, bottled water and canned tuna as part of a campaign the organizers called Homesh Is the Beginning.
Who would have thought it would have been this quick? Limor Har-Melech, the widow of Shuly Har-Melech who was murdered by a Palestinian terrorists on his way home to Chomesh, remarried, and today is the brit of her newborn son...in CHOMESH.
The Arabs...and even some Jews may not want us here, but we will keep returning.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael
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