Monday, March 29, 2010

To readers who celebrate Passover - Chag Pesach Sameach

(this is not a picture of me - I do not have as much hair)


To readers who celebrate Easter - Happy Easter


To everyone else - Happy "Whatever"



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Saturday, March 27, 2010 - motzei Shabbat

1. Diplomatic 101 - So the Obama Administration reacted with outrage when the construction plan for 1600 East Jerusalem apartments was announced when Vice-President Biden was in Israel. The President himself was said to be "incandescent with rage" (though he somehow cooled himself off sufficiently so that he did not get upset at the PA's dedication (during Biden's visit) of a town square to the terrorist who led the bloodiest terror attack on Israel in its history, nor when rockets from Gaza killed a foreign worker in Israel while the EU's top diplomat was in Israel and Gaza - very admirable.....), and he dispatched Secretary of State Clinton and Senior Adviser David Axelrod to publicly rip Israel.


So to show the maturity and sophistication of his Administration when it comes to these types of diplomatic matters, what does the President do when Israeli PM Netanyahu is in Washington for the AIPAC Convention? He walks out on a meeting with Netanyahu to take a private meal - call me if there are any developments?


Can anyone see the President doing this with the Saudi King, Egyptian President Mubarak, Jordanian King Abdullah, or any European, North American, South American or Asian leader (other than the leaders of North Korea, Iran and maybe Syria)?

Are you kidding me? Even the President should know that two wrongs do not make a right - or maybe they do, except that "right" is spelled "Wright" - in homage to the atrocious Reverend Jeremiah Wright who preached anti-American and antisemitic bile at the President's church in Chicago for years and years - though of course the President never noticed anything amiss.

In any event, this was a terrible move on the part of the Administration. It shows a stunning lack of tact and diplomacy. It gives a terrible signal to Israel's enemies that the Administration is prepared to hang Israel out to dry - demanding more and more concessions from Israel (which he knows that once made, will be honored) while asking nothing from the PA or the Arabs - who give nothing and ask for more from Israel. It gives a terrible signal to the right wing of Israeli politics - that the USA is going to throw Israel under the bus (where they will meet a lot of people, maybe even Reverend Wright) so that Israel should just do what it wishes.


Given his ego and bias, and that of his advisors and colleagues, the President may think that all of this is OK because the USA does not need Israel for anything. He'll be sorry for this stance - whether it will be tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. But it may be too late then.




5. Let Me Make Myself Perfectly Clear - An elderly ex-Nazi who admitted to participating in the murder of 3 Dutchmen during World War II as reprisal for attacks on German soldiers in Holland will not face jail time for his crime. As far as I am concerned, all the Nazi war criminals should be treated in the exact same way that they treated their victims, regardless of age or gender. I have read a tremendous amount of material about the Shoah -I have never come across a case where a Nazi soldier said - "oh, let's not murder this old (or young) Jew because of their age). Pajamas Media » German Court Lets Admitted Nazi Murderer Go Free - I hope you choke on your pablum, you Nazi bastard - and that your death is slow and as agonizing as possible. Then - enjoy Hell.

GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL YOU NAZI BASTARD


7. "Moderate" Muslims - Pajamas Media » Silencing the Jews


8. University of Ottawa - The Coulter fallout continues. The University Administration might consider looking at item 10 below.
9. A Passover Message For Today - Chesler Chronicles

10. Testemax - warning - this is an off-color video - or as they say on our local TV channel before every episode of The Family Guy - "Warning. This video contains coarse language and mature subject matter. Viewer Discretion is advised."

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Thursday, March 25, 2010

Sorry - I have been busy and have also had some technical issues so I have not posted for a while. I am sure that you survived just fine without me!

In any event, it has been a busy week - so here's the round-up.

1. In Case You Wondered If The UNHRC Was Still A Joke - UN condemned for making Israeli organ harvesting claim - blowing this place up would be too good for it. And at the same time - a sincere kol hakavod to Hiller Neuer of UN Watch for keeping such a close eye on the disgraceful proceedings at the UN and so many of its agencies and speaking truth to their corruption.


As he pointed out in his letter on this issue to Ambassador Alex Van Meeuwen, President of the Human Rights Council and Ms. Navanethem Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"Your Excellencies, the accusation that the Jewish state and its doctors are engaged in a racist campaign to steal Palestinian organs has no basis in fact or reality, and is nothing less than the repackaging of the medieval blood libel that was used over centuries to incite anti-Semitic hatred, violence and pogroms against Jews.

The United Nations cannot allow itself to aid or abet such blatant incitement to racism. Given that the Office of the High Commissioner carefully screens all submissions before deciding to publish them—indeed, our own submissions to this session were edited to remove certain words referring to regimes such as Iran and Libya—we are deeply disappointed that this hateful text was accepted for publication as an official UN document, and that it is now being distributed as such within the Human Rights Council chamber."
2. The Crisis - which these days can only refer to one thing - the crisis in Israel-US relations manufactured by the Obama Administration. There are a ton of stories - here is a selection:

By the way - what type of a negotiation is it when the Israelis are being asked to concede on a major point before the negotiations have even started?


And also by the way - where was the incredible outrage from the EU over this story - Thai worker killed by Kassam rocket near Netiv Ha’asara and Rocket fired from Gaza kills farm worker inside Israel - The Globe and Mail? Nope, I didn't hear it either.

Finally, the following letter appeared in the Halifax newspaper:
"Israel wags the dog

In your treatment of the “U.S.-Israeli rift" (March 19 editorial), you have not (dare I say dared not?) mentioned that important and not entirely secret fac tor in U.S.-Israel relations, Israel’s po sition of being the tail wagging the dog in its alliance with the U.S.

In a recent column, the pretty well al ways right Gwynne Dyer states that this rift will surely blow over because there is no way the U.S. Congress will seriously criticize or sanction Israel.

Another writer, Daniel Larison, says: “Despite the perceived insult to Biden and the U.S., in a speech at Tel Aviv University the vice president reaffirmed the ‘total, absolute, and un varnished’ commitment of the U.S. to Israel. It is this unqualified support that allows Netanyahu to ignore the ad ministration’s demands. Washington has opposed settlement expansion for decades, but no administration has se riously penalized Israel for blithely ig­noring U. S. wishes — because even pro posing such a penalty is unacceptable in U.S. politics."

In the latest example of Netanyahu’s “thumbing his nose at the U.S.," as many reports put it, just before leaving to visit Obama, he reaffirmed his gov ernment’s decision to go ahead with the settlement building in Jerusalem that caused the rift. On top of that, his first speech in the U.S. was to AIPAC, the principal agent of Israel’s power over the U.S. Congress. Go figure.

Donald MacDonald, Sydney"

I submitted the following response - I hope that it will be published:
"It would be one thing if Donald MacDonald would engage in a meaningful debate about the facts of the US-Israel relationship in general, or the settlement issue in particular. However, his direct suggestions of some sort of Zionist control of the press and AIPAC's supposed control over the US Congress are not only inaccurate, they are quite offensive in that they only serve to reinforce long-standing prejudices against both Israel and Jews."
3. The Dubai Hit Still Resonates - Pajamas Media » Guilty Before Trial: The Mabhouh Assassination and the Incrimination of Israel - which leads to this - Israel blasts UK for expelling diplomat - hey - no one has proven anything yet!

4. Those Wonderful Partners For Peace - The Palestinians, of course.




(yeah, right...)

(this is more like it)

9. Nor This - Chesler Chronicles » Major Palestinian Demonstration Against Honor Killings in Palestine. Never Heard About It? - notice this is a story about Israeli Arabs protesting - not Palestinians in the PA that is the darling of the leftists.

10. Ann Coulter in Canada - American political commentator Ann Coulter was in Canada this week to speak at three university campuses. Given her well-known perspective on such topics as gays, Muslims and so on - all the predictable types were outraged that she was allowed into the country.


I thought that the most obnoxious part of the story was a "warning letter" to Ms. Coulter from a Provost at the University of Ottawa (which can be found in the first link below). But then I saw Susan Cole being interviewed last night on Bill O'Reilly's FOX show - that took the prize - and - she is an Entertainment Editor!!!



which prompted me to write the following letter to her:

"Dear Ms. Cole:
I saw the last short portion of your appearance on Bill O'Reilly's show this evening.
Though I am not a fan of political correctness, I not a fan of Ann Coulter. Maybe, as Mr. O'Reilly suggested, she deliberately exaggerates to prove her point. However, I believe that one need not offensive to avoid being politically correct.
Without having researched what amounts to hate speech under Canadian law, my take is that while Ms. Coulter is offensive, she is not preaching hate. If what David Ahenakew said about Jews is not hate speech, then what Ms. Coulter said is not hate speech.
One thing that caught my attention was your comment about students being able to be safe and secure on campus. In light of personal experience on a campus regarding the treatment of a pro-Israel speaker, as well as my general observations regarding Israel Apartheid Week - where is the similar concern for the safety of Jewish students? Where is the outrage about the things that are said about Jews and Israel? Where is a similar warning letter from the Provost of the University of Ottawa?
I would be interested in your thoughts.
Thank you"


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Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

1. Hey Madame Secretary, Got Any Harsh Words For This? - Purported al-Awlaki message calls for jihad against U.S. - CNN.com - oh, I forgot - please do not offend the jihadist.......



2. The Settlement Whirlwind - there are lots of insightful articles being published on this whole situation - at least some of which are from the middle to left of the political spectrum. Here's a wide selection - pick and choose - or read 'em all!
3. What Should We Call It? - Ramallah to name street after U.S. activist Rachel Corrie - Haaretz - Israel News - OK - first there is the Terrorist Town Square that was named for Dalal Mughrabi - now there will be a street for Rachel Corrie. Here are some admittedly tasteless suggestions:
  • Pancake Place (my favorite)
  • Bulldozer Boulevard
  • Flag Burner Avenue
  • Exploited Naive Stupid Person Road



6. I'm Canceling My Trip To Copacabana - Da Silva: Tear down W. Bank fence. Hey pal - in South America, you are, shall we say, "somewhat removed" from the threat of homicidal maniacs who deny your right to exist and who deliberately target your civilians. So shut your pie hole and stop worrying about the Palestinians - why don't you worry about a fellow member of the United Nations instead?


7. What Does The US Think About This? - Netanyahu Jr. wins National Bible Quiz - Surely this must be capable of being interpreted as a snub of some sort. Did the Obama daughters or Chelsea Clinton win a similar contest? Did Bibi's son show them up?







12. Stupid Pet Tricks - this made me smile.

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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

1. I Guess There Is Nothing Else Going On - there is no question that this is one of the biggest stories in a while. And there is no shortage of opinions on the issue. Just today I had two vigorous debates with two very good pro-Israel friends on the subject - one of whom I would characterize as thinking that Israel is absolutely dead wrong on the whole settlement issue, and one of whom I would characterize as thinking that Israel has handled it extremely poorly.


I have already expressed my views on this subject in yesterday's blog. But since the storm continues to swirl, I will link to the latest blitz of articles, which, I will warn you, come from a variety of angles:



4. The Good Old NDP - John Ivison: Layton hopes Israel issue disappears - Full Comment - can you imagine this happening in Canada?
"Those who object to the use of the word “apartheid,” which is listed as a crime against humanity by the International Criminal Court, were, in essence, told to “shut the f--- up,” as one Jewish student was advised at the University of Toronto last year, as he was being grabbed by the neck and forcibly ejected."




7. Civil Discourse - Ever read some (many) of the comments that are posted on the stories that I link to? All I can say is wow. I am not talking about the stupid comments or the comments that come from a different perspective - I mean the nasty, rude, harsh & hateful comments (to pick a few adjectives) that are all too prevalent. Pajamas Media » The Value of Civility on Comment Threads







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