#stopbds

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

I read this article with great dismay. The United Nations continues its senseless attacks on Judaea and Samaria under the supposed belief that Israeli’s are holding Palestinian markets in “captivity”, among other accusations. 

Thus they have blacklisted mostly Israeli companies which do business in the disputed territories, falsely labelled as “Palestinian territories”, despite there being no legal mandate which confirms this. 

On the other hand, it was the international council of nations itself which confirmed the Jewish right to settle throughout these regions, a right which has never been revoked. 

The Jordanian military, who invaded these regions illegally in 1949 are now given credibility not just through the dismal deal with the Waqf over the Temple Mount, but also through using the term “West Bank”, which is nothing more than an extension of Jordan-- the other side was called the “East Bank”, yet curiously nobody claims those are “Palestinian territories”, too. 

While Israeli leaders have vowed to fight the list, supporters of Israel abroad must do their part and buy from these companies whenever and wherever possible. This is particularly necessary since the European Union has upheld its shameful decision to label Israeli products made in the disputed territories. As Britain is no longer a member of the European Union, we are not bound to follow this rule, but countries who support Israel within the Union must support Israeli produce in spite of labelling. 

It is the height of hypocrisy that a people who have repeatedly refused the very land as a future state (most recently in President Trump’s so-named “Deal of the Century”) now claim that this blacklist is “a victory for international law”. Yet they have no sovereign claims in that region and have just kicked the ball of peace another couple of kilometres by refusing to even consider Trump’s plan. 

It is also ironic to note the number of Palestinian employees who stand to lose economically from this blacklist, yet their leaders support it. Furthermore, the UN Human Rights agency lists the “captivity” of Palestinian markets, while conspicuously failing to notice the wholesale embezzlement of the Palestinian Authority, and the fact that Palestinians who have raised the alarm over this have been sent to prison. Journalist Khalid Abu Toameh has documented this almost alone. 

Once again, the time to support Israel is now. As Rabbi Hillel rightly said, “If not now, when?”

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar once again displaying her tiresome habit of playing identity politics every time her actions are justifiably criticised and she is shown to be wrong. Her support for BDS constitutes an effective Jewish ban. But does she discuss that? Of course not. 

[aniohevetetyisrael]

MUST READ! Only in America: #Palestinian Terrorist Organizations operating in daylight and claiming protection under the First Amendment. BDS organizations pretending to be Human Rights NGO's, include 30 current and “retired” known terror operatives. https://www.jpost.com/BDS-THREAT/Over-30-Hamas-PFLP-terrorists-hold-posts-in-anti-Israel-BDS-groups-govt-579544 …

[garyorgabi]

I love you radiohead

[justanotherurl-not]

[americanmysticom]

U.N. DECISION OUTRAGEOUS AND IS ABSOLUTELY A BLACK-LIST, ANNOUNCED AT A TIME THAT HARMS THE PEACE PROCESS, AND HARMS PALESTINIAN WORKERS

‘Shame on Them’: US, Israeli Leaders Blast UN for 'Black List’ of Companies Working in Israeli Settlements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoMtMIQvDfg

CBN News 2.14.20

TEXT ‘STOPBDS’ to 41-444

VISIT cbn.com/stopbds

[freedstyler]

Bought my own flags from the UN gift shop & was promptly asked to remove them from display. Successfully achieved my first diplomatic incident within 20 minutes of arrival. #diplomacy #britsabroad #english #stopBDS #godsavethequeen #unionjack #unitedkingdom (at United Nations, General Assembly)

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

In yet more proof that a college academic is not de facto source of truth, a damning new report outlines who college Professors give academic credibility to slanders against Israel. 

Worse, they encourage the spates of harassment and smears against pro-Israel students, who have faced disgusting accusations of supporting apartheid, genocide, and white supremacy. 

It is a total abuse of those terms, and their import, to use them as trendy labels against those who have a rational and principled support of Israel. Needless to say, Israel does not practice apartheid, has not committed genocide, and does not support white supremacy. None of those accusations can stand scrutiny. 

Israel has legitimate claims to Judaea and Samaria, which are supported by international Law. None of the plans set forward by the League of Nations, nor the Balfour Declaration have been abrogated. Nonetheless, Israel has offered on at least 2 occasions to cede control of this area in return for peace. The Palestinians, supposedly “occupied”, have refused. 

Whilst the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza has caused many to accuse Israel of deliberately targeting civilians, the truth is far from that simple. Gaza is a densely-concentrated strip from where Hamas terrorists insist on provoking Israel with merciless rocketfire. 

Citizens in towns like Sderot have seen injuries, deaths, and destruction to property from this malicious violence. Many Palestinian casualties have been of militants. In fact, Israel still tries to avoid civilians, mostly by posting leaflets in advance of a strike. Israel has repeatedly negotiated ceasefires, often flouted by Hamas militants later. 

The accusation of white supremacy is delirious. Israel has a fundamental historical, legal, and moral right to assert national sovereignty in the historic land of Israel. Every other ethnic and/or national group benefits from this right. 

The Palestinian Arabs have been offered substantial pieces of land, including parts of modern-day Jordan (originally allocated for the Arabs, anyway). In addition, the Balfour Declaration, often paraded as some injustice, stipulated that Jews not undermine the civil and religious rights of people living in the region. 

Whilst Israel is not a perfect country, she has tried to the utmost to maintain this side of the bargain, hence why over 1.2 million Arabs are citizens in Israel with equal civil rights. 

Those falsely accusing Israel of white supremacy abuse American history, true victims of white supremacist racism, and decency. It conveniently escapes their memory that the murderers of 6 million Jews in Europe and parts of North Africa were white supremacists. Or that many modern day white supremacists despise Israel and the Jewish People. 

The reason people attach the label of racist to Israel is because, according to their ideology, Jews cannot be victims because they are “white”. In reality, anyone can be a victim of bigotry, violence, and discrimination, as many examples will surely demonstrate. 

Furthermore, this nonsensical accusation weaponises victimhood, turning it into a trophy. This is insulting and dehumanising, especially as it means Israeli victims of terrorism are blamed for their own persecution and murder. That is totally reprehensible, and the fact that other ethnic groups are less likely to be treated this way, makes it racist. 

Thus the people accusing Israel of “white supremacy” have to demonstrate their own racism and anti-Semitism in order to justify this slander. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

I do not share in praise for Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Her comments about President Trump we can leave aside, since I am no fan of the former. I did find her language injudicious, but that pales in comparison to her open contempt for the State of Israel. Putting a sticker up to eradicate Israel’s existence is not just a blatant insult, not just an assault on the 6 million or so Jews living in their only homeland, but flies in the face of history itself. Were she so interested in the existence of a Palestine (no such country in recorded history: they were originally Pan-Syrian Arabs who rejected the notion of a “Palestine”), why did she not include a sticker next to Jordan, also calling that Palestine? For the British Mandate included more land than Israel currently possesses today. But that inconvenient fact would shred the narrative of Israel as an “occupying” nation. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

IsraelBritain Alliance are working to confront the shameful “Israel Apartheid Week”, a time of slander, abuse of language, and burying of the truth. Despite the fact that bullying, harassment, intimidation, and threats against Jewish students is well-documented during this pseudo-intellectual orgy of deceit, many universities allow such events to take place. 

One may argue that events critical of other nations can and should be allowed to take place. The difference is that 1)- the accusations against those countries are demonstrably true and thus require criticism, whereas, 2)- the accusations of apartheid against Israel are demonstrably false and should be rejected, 3)- criticism of other countries is often headed by members of those countries or their diaspora (think of Chinese/Russian dissidents) whereas, 4)- attacks on Israel are often headed by notorious antisemites, racists, and conspiracists, with very few Jews endorsing, 5)- criticism of other countries is not the same thing as denying their right to exist, because, 6)- promoters of “Israel Apartheid Week” believe Israel has no right to exist, 7)- no legitimate criticism of a nation would leave its members living in fear of abuse and assault. 

If you believe that Israel should be treated fairly, get involved with campaigns to expose the shameful “Israel Apartheid Week”. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

The German Parliament has declared BDS as anti-semitic. Time for the Democrats in the US House of Representatives to follow suit. 

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Couldn’t have said it better myself. 

Nailed it!

(H/T Likud-Herut UK)

Sussex Friends Of Israel

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Letter to MP against UK university anti-Semitism

A copy of a general letter to MPs against universities that inexplicably refuse to endorse the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism, because attacking Israel is more important to them than treating Jews and their nation-state fairly (criticised when wrong, praised when right). 

(Generic letter content in quotations, additional comments in bold). 

I am writing to you with great concern over increasing anti-Semitism in our society, which endangers the city's small Jewish population and destroys the fabric of our society. I hereby append a letter from the IsraelBritain Alliance organisation, which makes my own views plain, and will also include my own commentary thereto.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced that universities who fail to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism will be named and will face possible funding cuts.

I agree with the Secretary of State.

Our universities are funded to the tune of £billions each year by taxpayers and are covered by the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which requires them to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

It remains a matter of great concern to me that vice-chancellors at UK universities allow Israel Apartheid Week events to take place on their campuses, when the evidence shows that they generate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

Copious evidence will demonstrate the blatant anti-Semitic hatred which features at anti-Israel events. Examples include promotion of Nazi genocide against Jews, comparing Jews to Nazi's, insults towards Jewish students who support Israel, and calls to wipe Israel from the map.

This evidence can be demonstrated in slogans, videos, posters, talks, and views held by those attending such events. The level of hostility directed towards Jews even by holding such events cannot be underestimated, with Jewish students nationwide testifying to increased discomfort on university campuses, increased abuse, and even fear. Bear in mind that the Jewish population in Britain numbers between 250 000- 350 000, a tiny proportion. 

Moreover, there is a strong case that these events breach the IHRA definition, by allowing double standards to be applied, requiring of Israel a behaviour that is not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

Israel acts in self-defence to protect its population. While we do not forbid the fair criticism of Israel's military actions (which occurs regularly within the Jewish State), we do question those who attack Israel's actions without offering any criticism of Palestinian terrorism.

Thousands of Israelis, most of whom are Jews, have lost their lives due to terrorist attacks. Names such as Kim Yehezkel, Ziv Hagbi, Ari Fuld, Rina Shnerb, Dvir Sorek, are just a few of the recent heartrending cases. The true list is longer. Bear in mind that these terrorist attacks from Palestinians can occur even when Israel does not employ military action.

Promoters of BDS and attacks on Israel often downplay or even justify the murder of Israeli Jews, particularly if they live in the disputed territories. Very few, if any other people living on disputed land face the wholesale downplaying or justification of terrorist murder. 

The architects of Israel Apartheid Week seek to make a comparison with Apartheid South Africa, a baseless comparison that cannot be supported factually or with the most generous definition of hyperbole.

Those who promote Israel Apartheid Week slanderously claim that the conflict is being motivated by the same reasons for the South African apartheid regime: race/ethnicity. They posit the claim that Israeli actions are motivated by European racism against the "indigenous" Palestinians.

In fact, around 51% of Israel's Jewish population are Middle Eastern/North African Jewish descendants, with small populations from Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, and other nations. A fifth of Israel's population is Arabic, with small proportions of other ethnicities and cultures. Israel enshrined equality before the law in its very founding documents.

Israel's detractors will claim that the building of settlements in disputed territories constitutes apartheid, ignoring crucial facts: 1)- terrorism against Jews by Palestinians in those areas, leading to increased security which was not required beforehand, 2)- the numerous Palestinians living and working with Jews in those regions (the victims of the Barkan terror attack worked with Palestinians on a daily basis), 3)- the offers of this land to the Palestinians, met with repeated refusal, 4)- the insistence made by Palestinians that no Jews would be allowed to live in their potential state, 5)- the physical danger, particularly for Jewish women, from entering Arabic villages in those same disputed territories.

Disputed land conflicts occur all over the world, and are usually solved through negotiation. Falsely accusing one side of practicing apartheid when that same side has repeatedly offered most of this land to their accusers, is an abuse of language and an abuse of the truth. Israel does not have a system of apartheid, and has a legal system which discourages and punishes unjust treatment of anyone. This can easily be confirmed by documentation.

Furthermore, one must wonder what motivates universities in the UK to withhold their endorsement of the IHRA definition when it explicitly breaches their compliance with their responsibilities under the PSED.

It may or may not surprise you to learn that the University of London SOAS had a Hamas linked group, Europal, on its campus in early March. Worse still they have lied to the public about the event taking place. You can read more at this link - http://david-collier.com/soas-lying/.

As your constituent, and in line with your role as a political leader in our community, will you publicly support Robert Jenrick’s position, and will you confirm that you will contact the universities that serve our community and ask them to confirm that they have, or will be, endorsing the IHRA definition?

Bearing in mind that definitions of what constitutes other kinds of prejudice have been accepted without question by various institutions around the United Kingdom, the fact that people struggle to accept an internationally-recognised definition of anti-Semitism exposes the problem at universities. This has nothing to do with alleged concern for the Palestinians, and more to do with anti-Jewish bigotry. Your support could help hold those bigots accountable. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

This letter has been copied to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Secretary of State for Education and to Alistair Jarvis, the Chief Executive of Universities UK.

Also, recognising that education is a devolved issue, this letter has been copied to the politicians responsible for education policy in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.