World Leaders Ignore Law/The Arab Lobby Rules America/other news
(Please remember that if you click on an individual article's link and get my personal AOL email page, to click on the main link for that website or else copy and paste it, in order to read entire article and see videos, and remember, it is the rich oil cartels that control the world, NOT the Zionists. If a specific article stands out for you, I ENCOURAGE you to copy and paste it in its entirety and send it to the groups. Permission is granted to fwd and share any posts that I send. MBS)
(Sorry, no table of contents but these 3 sites have the same kind of articles, that I send; US News, International News, Israel News. MBS)
http://grendelreport. posterous.com/
http://tundratabloid.blogspot.com/ http://www.israpundit.com Israeli educator fired after pushing creationism 
Education Ministry's chief scientist said evolution's flaws must be taught; also attacked global warming as a farce with a hidden economic agenda
Read More >> israelnationalnews.com 1. Caught in the Act: Peace Now Escorts US Officials at Settlements by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hagit Ofran, an official of the political lobby group Peace Now, was photographed Tuesday escorting U.S. officials and taking pictures at the Jewish community of Revava in Samaria.
American officials declined to comment and referred questions to the Consulate spokeswoman, who so far has not returned a phone inquiry.
Ofran, granddaughter of the late Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowich, often travels to Jewish communities in Judea to document construction of Jewish homes, which Peace Now opposes.
She hid her face after seeing that she was being photographed by Samaria Liaison Council director David Ha'Ivri, who greeted her with a "hello."
HaIvri also saw her with Jonathan Cullen, a political officer with the Consulate. Ha'Ivri, whose group is an official Samaria government agency, previously has traveled with Cullen to explain to him facts that had not been known to American officials, such as the relations between Jewish employers and Arab workers and the extent of Jewish industrial development in Judea and Samaria.
Ha'Ivri told Israel National News that he asked Cullen, "What are you doing—spying on us?" Cullen replied, "We are just visiting."
Ha'Ivri said to INN, "We give the United States information they did not know" about Jewish life in Judea and Samaria, "and we have nothing to hide. Now they come back with a political group."
INN tried to ask the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem if the same escort privileges would be granted to nationalist lobby groups, but no one was available for comment. Cullen, as well as a U.S. Embassy spokesman in Tel Aviv, referred all questions to the Consulate.
Tuesday was not the first time Ofran has had to hide her identity or her camera. Global Post's Fredy Gareis wrote last month, "With a practiced motion, Hagit Ofran hides her camera under the seat, bringing her white SUV to a halt in front of an [IDF] checkpoint."
| |  Political Cartoon Sunday, October 03, 2010 View It! |
2. CIA Kills German Terrorists in Pakistan by Elad Benari
Eight militants of German nationality were killed in northwest Pakistan by a suspected United States drone strike on Monday, Pakistani intelligence officials told Reuters. The eight were killed after two missiles from a suspected CIA pilotless aircraft struck a mosque in the town of Mirali.
The officials said that the militants were members of a group called Jihad Islami. No further details were provided.
Mohammad Alam, a resident of Mirali, described to Reuters what had happened: "People were gathering at the mosque for prayers when a missile hit the building. The area has been cordoned off by militants and they are not allowing anyone there."
The attack comes after the US warned its citizens on Sunday that travel to Europe at the moment could be deadly. According to the alert, the al-Qaeda terrorist organization has planned attacks in Europe similar to the multi faceted mass attack perpetrated in Mumbai two years ago and likely targets are public transportation systems and other tourist venues.
"The State Department alerts US citizens to the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe," the alert warned. "Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks."
Britain also increased the threat level from "general" to "high" for its citizens traveling to Germany and France.
According to Reuters, what triggered the travel alerts was intelligence that was received regarding a plot against European targets reportedly originating with a group of individuals in mountainous northern Pakistan, some of which are believed to be European citizens.
The person who is believed to have passed on the information about the terror plot has been identified by the media as Ahmed Sidiqi, a German of Afghan origin, who had been arrested and interrogated in Afghanistan.
According to German counter-terrorism expert Guido Steinberg, Sidiqi was a member of a cell of militants from Hamburg that was believed to be a central component of the conspiracy. The terror cell left for Pakistan in March 2009 and joined Pakistan-based members of the militant organization Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).
A CNN report said that the group consisted of 11 members, including a German of Syrian descent and a German of Iranian descent. While under arrest, Sidiqi divulged new, unverified information every day regarding the terror plot, and specifically named Britain and France as possible targets.
It is as unclear at the present time whether Monday's drone attack is related to the suspected terror plot in Europe. 3. Terrorists' Goal is Three-Way Missile Attack on Tel Aviv by Maayana Miskin
IDF Intelligence chief General Amos Yadlin said Monday afternoon that the ultimate goal held by anti-Israel terrorists is to attack Tel Aviv and the Gush Dan region, the heart of Israeli commerce and Israel's most concentrated population area, from three fronts. Iran, Syria and Hizbullah hope for a chance to rain missiles on central Israel from three directions, he said.
"Gush Dan is the main target at which our enemies plan to fire missile," he said. Yadlin spoke at an event marking 100 years since the establishment of the first kibbutz, the collective settlements that were unique to Israel at the start of the return to Zion.
Currently most rocket attacks are carried out by Gaza terrorists, and target southern Israel. Hamas hopes to gain the improved missile technology that would allow it to target central Israel as well, Yadlin said.
Hizbullah targeted Israeli cities, villages, roads and industrial areas with missiles during the Second Lebanon War, raining down katyusha rockets throughout the north and one grad missle that reached the Netanya area. 114 IDF soldiers and 43 civilians were killed. The terrorist group, which has since joined Lebanon's ruling coalition, was unable to carry out plans to target central Israel after IDF warplanes demolished its larger missiles in the first days of battle.
Yadlin also spoke of the chances for Middle East peace. The biggest obstacle to peace is Iran, he said. The Islamic Republic funds terrorist groups that upset regional stability and undermine peace talks. Iran gives Hizbullah $1 billion every year, and also gives Hamas and Islamic Jihad annual donations of $100 million and $50 million respectively.
Hizbullah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad all list the destruction of Israel as one of their primary goals and are all opposed to peace talks between Israel and Arab states or the Palestinian Authority. 4. Yair Naveh Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff by Elad Benari
Major-general Yair Naveh will return to the IDF and be appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, media outlets throughout Israel reported on Monday.
Naveh will be appointed for the position after two serving generals refused to accept it. Since his retirement from the IDF in 2007 as Head of Central Command, Naveh has served as CEO of CityPass, a company responsible for building and operating Jerusalem's up and coming light rail.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak's office said in a statement that Barak had met with Naveh on Sunday in his office in Tel Aviv, where the two discussed the possibility that Naveh would return to the IDF and become Deputy Chief of Staff.
Despite the fact that the statement claimed that "the issue of appointment of the deputy chief of staff of the IDF agreed upon in the coming days," Voice of Israel Radio reported on Monday evening that Naveh's appointment is not official but is de facto.
In August, Barak announced that Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant will be the IDF's 20th Chief of Staff, succeeding Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, whose term will end in February. Galant was chosen over four other candidates: Generals Benny Ganz (the current Deputy Chief of Staff whom Naveh will be replacing), Gadi Eisencott, Gadi Shamni and Avi Mizrachi.
Both Eisencott and Mizrahi turned down the Deputy Chief of Staff position. Mizrahi is expected to retire from the army after completing his term as Central Command chief. Eisencott is likely to remain in the IDF and participate in the race to become Israel's 21st chief of staff when Galant's term is over.
With this appointment, Naveh, who is a graduate of the Netiv Meir yeshiva in Jerusalem, will become the highest ranking religious officer in the IDF.
Naveh has been severely criticized by national religious elements for his involvement as Head of Central Command in the 2005 expulsion of Jews from Gaza, and in particular for his involvement in the Amona Confrontation during which hundreds of activists, mostly youth but MK's and other well known personalities as well, were injured, some seriously, when nine homes in the hilltop community were demolished in February of 2006 following a Peace Now lawsuit.
Naveh said afterwards that the police had used "reasonable force." He said that the police had responded to the violence of the protestors, and were "not far from life-threatening situations." However, films taken at the event showed mainly extreme police violence against passive protesters and girls suffering verbal and physical abuse as 10,000 policemen and IDF soldiers faced 4000 protestors. 5. 'Building for Jews' Freezes Religious-Zionist Unity Hopes by Maayana Miskin
An attempt to unify the two religious-Zionist Knesset factions, Jewish Home (HaBayit HaYehudi) and National Union (Ichud Leumi), failed this week as the parties disagreed over how to respond to pressure for a second Judea and Samaria construction freeze.
The National Union had hoped that the Jewish Home, which is part of the Likud-led ruling coalition, would announce it would leave the government if a second Judea and Samaria construction freeze were to be announced. Instead, Jewish Home head and Minister of Science Daniel Hershkowitz announced that his party opposes an additional freeze, but he delivered no ultimatum regarding his party's continued partnership in the coalition.
National Union head MK Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz expressed frustration at the decision. "As a result of your 'unanimous' announcement yesterday, there is rejoicing and festivity in the Prime Minister's Office. But it is a day of great mourning for the Jewish people, a day of tears and fasting," Ketzaleh wrote in a message to Hershkowitz.
"The Prime Minister understands exactly what you mean when you say that you 'oppose the continuation of the construction freeze.' He understands that you won't leave the coalition. As a result, the Prime Minister plans to announce an additional two-month freeze," he continued. "This means that in the future, even if we had planned to unify, all that has been lost."
Ketzaleh later defended his harsh message to Hershkowitz. "By staying in the government, Hershkowitz has led Netanyahu to freeze the homes of those who sent me to Knesset, to freeze my homes and the homes of my children, as part of a plan to destroy them. For this reason alone, I can allow myself to fight against Hershkowitz with all my strength," he said. 6. Legacy of Arab Attacks on Jewish Farm by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Israel is surrendering to Arabs the traditional burial site of the prophet Samuel, known as Neve Samuel, as it once did with the Tomb of Joseph. The holy site is located a short distance to the north of the Jerusalem neighborhood of Ramot, near the site of a farm that was torched twice by Arabs in the past four days.
Yisrael Orbach told Israel National News that Arabs set part of his orchard on fire on the Sabbath and tried to burn it down again on Monday. An indication of Israel's willingness to surrender sovereignty over the site was reflected in a decision to close the burial site at night because authorities say they cannot insure the public's safety during the evening hours.
A prayer session was held Monday night to protest the decision.
The Palestinian Authority would take control of Neve Samuel under a previous informal agreement with the former Olmert government. The government tourist information site lists Neve Samuel along with other holy sites but unlike the others, there is no link for details on travel directions. It is located next to the Givat Ze'ev highway northwest of Jerusalem.
Orbach says the latest attempt to destroy his farm is only one of countless attacks on it and on the traditional burial site, where Jewish holy items have been desecrated in the past, as pictured. "Since the freeze, the Arabs have staged a kind of Intifada against us," he said.
He used to herd sheep but was forced to give that up after numerous thefts by Arabs, including those from a nearby village which he reports is filled with members of Hamas. He now grows pomegranate, olive and fig trees, among others, but the Arabs have tried to destroy them, as well.
"Last Shabbat, when we returned home, we smelled smoke and rushed to discover that the lower part of the farm was on fire," according to Orbach. The blaze destroyed dozens of trees, and the flames reached the edge of a memorial tent he has erected in memory of his daughter, who was killed several years ago by Arab terrorists.
Orbach says the forest that once surrounded the areas has disappeared. "For years, the Arabs cut down and burned the trees.
They destroyed the trunks by peeling off the bark and then chopping them down, claiming the trees are theirs. Now the forest is gone."
He charges the police with not only ignoring the situation but also with hindering volunteers who try to help Orbach. "On Shabbat, a policeman arrived and said to us, 'Make sure there is no commotion here or there will be problems for you.'"
Orbach says he longer goes to the police station to file a complaint because police officers previously have turned the tables and blamed him for incidents.
"Police officers come and laugh at us, and detectives humiliate visitors and then charge us with false accusations," he added.
Orbach also revealed that the Jewish National Fund's work force includes several Arabs from the nearby Hamas village who illegally chop down the trees and sell the wood. "The trees from the forest became charcoal for stoves in Hevron," according to Orbach. "We are giving the Arabs the Neve Samuel site like we gave them Joseph's Tomb." 7. Western Wall Prepares for 15 Million Visitors a Year by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Jerusalem approved on Monday a new comprehensive plan to improve facilities for an expected 15 million visitors to the Western Wall (Kotel) in the coming years.The number of visitors has increased five times in the last several years" and will continue to grow, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz said.
The new project is aimed at providing better facilities—especially for women—and will include an information center and a stations for police and first aid.
Secular Jewish visitors, as well as non-Jewish tourists, have become more numerous at the Western Wall, which stands at the exterior end of the area that includes the Temple Mount, Judaism's most sacred site. The Wall is not part of the Temple Mount itself.
"Teachers bring their classes to the Wall, not only to pray but also to pass on a meaningful experience," according to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. "Parents of Bar and Bat Mitzvah children want to connect them with Jewish history, and groups of Israeli army soldiers and officers come to learn and discuss Jewish values," it added.
The new project is designed to provide visitors with facilities where they can sit, discuss topics and learn during their visit.
The tourist center, which will not encroach on the prayer area, reflects the approach that "archaeology is not dead stone." It will preserve discoveries and "combine them into an exhibition space that envelops the visitors," Rabbi Rabinowitz said.
The new plan still has not come up with a solution for the crowded women's area following the High Court's rejection of plans to build a foot bridge for women visitors.
Muslims have charged that Israeli archaeological objects are a camouflage for underground work that allegedly is aimed at causing the Arab mosques on the Temple Mount to collapse. The Palestinian Authority also has aired pogroms and sermons charging that there is no Jewish connection with the Temple Mount and that First and Second Temples never existed. Website News Briefs: http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/ Why Europe Still Doesn't Get Islam http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/ - Terrorists?
- Vote in the 2012 GOP straw poll
- Overnight music video
- Poll: Two thirds of 'Palestinains' want to withdraw from talks, more than half approve of murdering Jews
- Yom Kippur War: Dayan wanted wounded troops to surrender
- Bar Ilan turns down extreme Leftist for tenure
- Norwegian UNIFIL troops helped Hezbullah terrorists escape
- Sanctioned Iranians laughing at Obama
- Arab Jerusalemites oppose dividing Jerusalem
- Kotler blasts 'Human Rights Council'
- Video: Gilad Shalit is waiting to be rescued
- Asharq al-Awsat: Bibi agreed to extension; Bibi denies it
- What's to be gained from a 60-day freeze extension anyway?
- Aboul Gheit changes his tune
- Netanyahu under pressure to reject American deal outright
- More on that American travel alert for Europe
- The Golan Druze
- 'Shalom Haver' forever?
- Lieberman: Obama trying to force agreement on Israel
- Payback?
- Israel to be expelled from UEFA?
- Turkish movie to include scenes filmed on the Mavi Marmara
- PLO to set up Arab organization to support 'armed resistance'
http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com/ FRONTPAGEMAG.COM yidwithlid.blogspot.com
sheikyermami.com http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/9735 Eli E. Hertz Eli E. Hertz is the president of Myths and Facts, an organization devoted to research and publication of information regarding US interests in the world and particularly in the Middle East. Mr. Hertz is also the Chairman of the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting. His writings and opinions, unless stated otherwise, are not derived from his position as Chairman of CAMERA.
Published: 10/04/10, 8:26 PM
World Leaders Ignore Law By Eli E. Hertz
The U.S. Administration, the European Union, the United Nations, and Russia made the decision to rewrite history by labeling the Territories 'Occupied Territories,' the Settlements as an 'Obstacle to Peace' and 'Not Legitimate.'
The U.S. Administration, the European Union, the United Nations, and Russia made the decision to rewrite history by labeling the Territories 'Occupied Territories,' the Settlements as an 'Obstacle to Peace' and 'Not Legitimate,' thus endowing them with an aura of bogus statehood and a false history. The use of these dishonest loaded terms, empowers terrorism and incites Palestinian Arabs with the right to use all measures to expel Israel.
The Jewish People's Right to the Land of Israel:
1. The "Mandate for Palestine" & the Law of War
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the European Union Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton became victims of the 'Occupation' mantra their own organization has repeated over and over in its propaganda campaign to legitimize the Arab position.
Continuous pressure from the "Quartet" (U.S., the European Union, the UN and Russia) to surrender parts of the Land of Israel are contrary to international law as stated in the "Mandate for Palestine" document, that firmly call to "encourage ... close settlement by Jews on the land, including State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes." It also requires "seeing that no Palestine territory shall be ceded or leased to, or in any way placed under the control of the government of any foreign power."
Any attempt to negate the Jewish people's right to Palestine - Eretz-Israel, and to deny them access and control in the area designated for the Jewish people by the League of Nations is a serious infringement of international law.
The "Mandate for Palestine" an historical League of Nations document, laid down the Jewish legal right under international law to settle anywhere in western Palestine, the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, an entitlement unaltered in international law. Fifty-one member countries - the entire League of Nations - unanimously declared on July 24, 1922:
"Whereas recognition has been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country."
On June 30, 1922, a joint resolution of both Houses of Congress of the United States unanimously endorsed the "Mandate for Palestine":
"Favoring the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.
"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That the United States of America favors the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which should prejudice the civil and religious rights of Christian and all other non-Jewish communities in Palestine, and that the holy places and religious buildings and sites in Palestine shall be adequately protected." [italics in the original]
3. Law of War - Arab Unlawful Acts of Aggression in 1948
Six months before the War of Independence in 1948, Palestinian Arabs launched a series of riots, pillaging, and bloodletting. Then came the invasion of seven Arab armies from neighboring states attempting to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state in accordance with the UN's 1947 recommendation to Partition Palestine, a plan the Arabs rejected.
The Jewish state not only survived, it came into possession of territories - land from which its adversaries launched their first attempt to destroy the newly created State of Israel.
Israel's citizens understood that defeat meant the end of their Jewish state before it could even get off the ground. In the first critical weeks of battle, and against all odds, Israel prevailed on several fronts.
The metaphor of Israel having her back to the sea reflected the image crafted by Arab political and religious leaders' rhetoric and incitement. Already in 1948 several car bombs had killed Jews, and massacres of Jewish civilians underscored Arab determination to wipe out the Jews and their state.
6,000 Israelis died as a result of that war, in a population of 600,000. One percent of the Jewish population was gone. In American terms, the equivalent is 3 million American civilians and soldiers killed over an 18-month period.
Israel's War of Independence in 1948 was considered lawful and in self-defence as may be reflected in UN resolutions naming Israel a "peace loving State" when it applied for membership at the United Nations. Both the Security Council (4 March, 1949, S/RES/69) and the UN General Assembly (11 May, 1949, (A/RES/273 (III)) declared:
"[Security Council] Decides in its judgment that Israel is a peace-loving State and is able and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the Charter ..."
5. Arab Unlawful Acts of Aggression in 1967
In June 1967, the combined armies of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan attacked Israel with the clear purpose expressed by Egypt's President: "Destruction of Israel." At the end of what is now known as the Six-Day War, Israel, against all odds, was victorious and in possession of the territories of Judea and Samaria [E.H., The West Bank], Sinai and the Golan Heights.
International law makes a clear distinction between defensive wars and wars of aggression. More than half a century after the 1948 War, and more than four decades since the 1967 Six-Day War, it is hard to imagine the dire circumstances Israel faced and the price it paid to fend off its neighbors' attacks.
Who Starts Wars Does Matter
Professor, Judge Stephen M. Schwebel, past President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) states the following facts:
"The facts of the June 1967 'Six Day War' demonstrate that Israel reacted defensively against the threat and use of force against her by her Arab neighbors. This is indicated by the fact that Israel responded to Egypt's prior closure of the Straits of Tiran, its proclamation of a blockade of the Israeli port of Eilat, and the manifest threat of the UAR's [The state formed by the union of the republics of Egypt and Syria in 1958] use of force inherent in its massing of troops in Sinai, coupled with its ejection of UNEF.
"It is indicated by the fact that, upon Israeli responsive action against the UAR, Jordan initiated hostilities against Israel. It is suggested as well by the fact that, despite the most intense efforts by the Arab States and their supporters, led by the Premier of the Soviet Union, to gain condemnation of Israel as an aggressor by the hospitable organs of the United Nations, those efforts were decisively defeated.
"The conclusion to which these facts lead is that the Israeli conquest of Arab and Arab-held territory was defensive rather than aggressive conquest."
Judge Sir Elihu Lauterpacht wrote in 1968, one year after the 1967 Six-Day War:
"On 5th June, 1967, Jordan deliberately overthrew the Armistice Agreement by attacking the Israeli-held part of Jerusalem. There was no question of this Jordanian action being a reaction to any Israeli attack. It took place notwith�standing explicit Israeli assurances, conveyed to King Hussein through the U.N. Commander, that if Jordan did not attack Israel, Israel would not attack Jordan.
"Although the charge of aggression is freely made against Israel in relation to the Six-Days War the fact remains that the two attempts made in the General Assembly in June-July 1967 to secure the condemnation of Israel as an aggressor failed. A clear and striking majority of the members of the U.N. voted against the proposition that Israel was an aggressor."
Israel Has the Better Title to the Territory of What Was Palestine, Including the Whole of Jerusalem
International law makes it clear: All of Israel's wars with its Arab neighbors were in self-defence.
Professor, Judge Schwebel, wrote in What Weight to Conquest:
"(a) a state [Israel] acting in lawful exercise of its right of self-defense may seize and occupy foreign territory as long as such seizure and occupation are necessary to its self-defense;
"(b) as a condition of its withdrawal from such territory, that State may require the institution of security measures reasonably designed to ensure that that territory shall not again be used to mount a threat or use of force against it of such a nature as to justify exercise of self-defense;
"(c) Where the prior holder of territory had seized that territory unlawfully, the state which subsequently takes that territory in the lawful exercise of self-defense has, against that prior holder, better title.
"... as between Israel, acting defensively in 1948 and 1967, on the one hand, and her Arab neighbors, acting aggressively, in 1948 and 1967, on the other, Israel has the better title in the territory of what was Palestine, including the whole of Jerusalem, than do Jordan and Egypt."
"No legal Right Shall Spring from a Wrong"
Professor Schwebel explains that the principle of "acquisition of territory by war is inadmissible" must be read together with other principles:
"... namely, that no legal right shall spring from a wrong, and the Charter principle that the Members of the United Nations shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State."
Simply stated: Arab illegal aggression against the territorial integrity and political independence of Israel, cannot and should not be rewarded.
Professor Julius Stone, a leading authority on the Law of Nations, stated:
"Territorial Rights Under International Law.... By their [Arab countries] armed attacks against the State of Israel in 1948, 1967, and 1973, and by various acts of belligerency throughout this period, these Arab states flouted their basic obligations as United Nations members to refrain from threat or use of force against Israel's territorial integrity and political independence. These acts were in flagrant violation inter alia of Article 2(4) and paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of the same article."
Thus, under international law Israel acted lawfully by exercising its right to self-defence when it redeemed and legally reoccupied Judea and Samaria, known also as the West Bank.
| Legalities aside, before 1967 there were no Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and for the first ten years of so-called occupation there were almost no Jewish settlers in the West Bank. And still there was no peace with the Palestinians. The notion that Jewish communities pose an obstacle to peace is a red herring designed to blame Israel for lack of progress in the 'Peace Process' and enable Palestinian leadership to continue to reject any form of compromise and reconciliation with Israel as a Jewish state. |
Tishrei 26, 5771 / 04 October 10
The Arab Lobby Rules America by Alan M. Dershowitz August 24, 2010 | 10:55pm
The Arab Lobby. Lost in all of the controversy over the mosque is the fact that the Arab lobby is one of the strongest in America—even stronger than Israel's, says a controversial new book. Alan Dershowitz on how Arab governments influence U.S. politics.
While the media and politicians engage in frenzied debate about the virtues and vices of building—or preventing the building of—a Muslim community center (cum mosque) near the "sacred ground" of 9/11, Iran continues to build a nuclear weapon, as the Israelis and Palestinians take a tentative step toward building a peaceful resolution to their age-old conflict. Inevitably, whenever Middle East issues take center stage, the question of the role of lobbies, particularly those that advocate for foreign countries, becomes a hot topic. This book by longtime Middle East authority, Mitchell Bard, is a must read for anyone who cares—and who doesn't?—about the role of lobbies in influencing American policy in the Middle East. Its thesis, which is sure to be controversial, is easily summarized:
"If the reputation then builds that the Saudis take care of friends when they leave office, you'd be surprised how much better friends you have when they are just coming into office."
Yes Virginia, there is a big bad lobby that distorts U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East way out of proportion to its actual support by the American public. Professors Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer, author of the screed, The Israel Lobby, are right about that. But the offending lobby is not AIPAC, which supports Israel, but rather the Arab lobby, which opposes the Jewish state. Both the pro-Israel and pro-Arab lobby (really lobbies because there are several for each) are indeed powerful but there is a big difference—a difference that goes to the heart of the role of lobbying in a democracy. Bard puts it this way:
"One of the most important distinguishing characteristics of the Arab lobby is that it has no popular support. While the Israeli lobby has hundreds of thousands of grass root members and public opinion polls consistently reveal a huge gap between support for Israel and the Arab nations/Palestinians, the Arab lobby has almost no foot soldiers or public sympathy. It's most powerful elements tend to be bureaucrats who represent only their personal views or what they believe are their institutional interests, and foreign governments that care only about their national interests, not those of the United States. What they lack in human capital in terms of American advocates, they make up for with almost unlimited resources to try to buy what they usually cannot win on the merits of their arguments."
The Arab Lobby: The Invisible Alliance That Undermines America's Interests in the Middle East. By Mitchell Bard. 432 pages. Harper. $27.99. This is a critical distinction for a democracy. The case for Israel (though not for all of its policies) is an easy sell for pro-Israel lobbyists, especially elected representatives. Voting in favor of Israel is popular not only in areas with a large concentration of Jewish voters, but throughout the country, because Israel is popular with Evangelical Christians in particular and with much, though certainly not all, of the public in general. Lobbies that reflect the will of the people are an important part of the democratic process. Thus, the American Association of Retired People (AARP), the principal lobbying group for the elderly, is extremely powerful because there are so many elderly people in this country who want to protect social security, Medicaid, and other benefits. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a powerful lobby precisely because so many Americans, for better or worse, love their guns. And The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a powerful lobby because Americans, in general, support the Middle East's only democracy and reliable American ally. But why is the Arab lobby, and most particularly the Saudi lobby, also powerful? Saudi Arabia has virtually no support among Americans. Indeed, it is widely reviled for its export of terrorists such as Osama bin Laden, its manipulation of oil prices, its anti-Christian and anti-Semitic policies, its total deprivation of any semblance of freedom of speech or dissent, and its primitive forms of punishment that include stoning and amputation. Yet, as Bard demonstrates, the Saudi lobby has beaten the pro-Israel lobby over and over again in head-to-head conflicts, such as the sale of sophisticated weapons to a regime that doesn't even have the technical skills to use them, and the conflict over whether to move the United States' embassy to Jerusalem. Even now, Saudi Arabia is lobbying to obtain a multibillion-dollar arms deal, and it is likely to succeed over the objections of Israel. How then does a lobby with no popular support manage to exert influence in a democratic country? The secret is very simple. The Arab lobby in general and the Saudis in particular make little effort to influence popularly elected public officials, particularly legislators. Again, listen to Bard:
"The Saudis have taken a different tact from the Israeli lobby, focusing a top-down rather than bottom-up approach to lobbying. As hired gun, J. Crawford Cook, wrote in laying out his proposed strategy for the kingdom, 'Saudi Arabia has a need to influence the few that influence the many, rather than the need to influence the many to whom the few must respond.'"
The primary means by which the Saudis exercise this influence is money. They spend enormous amounts of lucre to buy (or rent) former state department officials, diplomats, White House aides, and legislative leaders who become their elite lobbying corps. Far more insidiously, the Saudis let it be known that if current government officials want to be hired following their retirement from government service, they had better hew to the Saudi line while they are serving in our government. The former Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar, who was so close to the President George H.W. Bush that he referred to himself as "Bandar Bush," acknowledged the relationship between how a government official behaves while in office and how well he will be rewarded when he leaves office. "If the reputation then builds that the Saudis take care of friends when they leave office, you'd be surprised how much better friends you have when they are just coming into office."
Bard concludes from this well known quid pro quo that: "given the potential of these post-retirement opportunities, it would not be surprising if officials adopted positions while in government to make themselves marketable to the Arab lobby."
The methodology employed by the Arab lobby is thus totally inconsistent with democratic governance, because it does not reflect the will of the people but rather the corruption of the elite, while the Israeli lobby seems to operate within the parameters of democratic processes. Yet so much has been written about the allegedly corrosive nature of the Israeli lobby, while the powerful Arab lobby has widely escaped scrutiny and criticism. This important book thus contributes to the open marketplace of ideas by illuminating the dark side of the massive and largely undemocratic Arab lobbying efforts to influence American policy with regard to the Middle East.
www.dailyalert.org
Subscribe | | DAILY ALERT | Tuesday,
October 5, 2010 |
In-Depth Issues: Iran Building Replica of Al-Aqsa Mosque in South Lebanon in Honor of Ahmadinejad's Visit - Oshrat Nagar Levit ( Ynet News) A replica of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque is being completed a few hundred meters from the border with Israel in Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon in honor of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit, Yediot Ahronot reported Tuesday. The structure is being made to look exactly like its Jerusalem prototype with a golden dome, but with an Iranian flag in honor of its sponsor. The site will also include a boardwalk and a lookout point from which Ahmadinejad plans to throw a symbolic stone at Israel. Shimon Biton, head of the council of the Israeli town of Avivim, located just a few hundred meters from the new mosque, said: "From our bitter experience we are sure that duri ng the next war this site will be used as a foremost Hizbullah outpost. I am certain that bunkers and military storerooms have been built underneath it."
Poll: Americans Don't Want War with Iran ( Politico) A 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll conducted Sep. 6-8 found that just 10% of Americans would support a war with Iran if it attacked Israel. 11% said Iran's testing of a nuclear bomb would constitute a just cause for supporting a war. 25% would support war if Iran attacked the U.S. fleet in the Persian Gulf, while 25% would support war only if Iran attacked U.S. soil.
Methodist Preacher to Sue Church over Anti-Israel Bias - Robert Mendick ( Telegraph-UK) Methodist preacher David Hallam, 62, of Birmingham, England, a former Labour MEP, has accused his own church of wasting funds to pursue a vendetta against Israel. "What I object to is money which I am putting on the collection plate on a Sunday being used to fund a political campaign against the Jewish state. This is both discriminatory and a misuse of a charity's funds." "The Methodist Church seems to think it has a God-given right to tell Jews how to run their affairs. It is very disturbing we are getting involved in a territory where we don't have any members or churches." Paul Diamond, a barrister with expertise in human rights, will argue that a Methodis t resolution passed in the summer which called for a boycott of some Israeli goods is in breach of European human rights law and an EU directive on racism. By singling out Israel, rather than other countries with often worse human rights records, Diamond will claim the church is being deliberately prejudiced against the Jewish state.
Israel Wins Bronze Medal in 39th Chess Olympiad - Eli Shvidler ( Ha'aretz) Israel's national chess team won a bronze medal on Sunday at the 39th Chess Olympiad, coming in third among 148 teams in the event, held in Russia. The Israeli team won silver at the Olympiad two years ago. Ranked 11th before the event, the team outplayed chess powers from the U.S., Armenia (champion at two previous Olympiads) and third-ranked China.
|
| News Resources - North America, Europe, and Asia: - U.S. Groping to Save Mideast Talks - Jill Dougherty and Elise Labott
The U.S. is scrambling to find a way to save the Middle East peace talks before an Arab League meeting in Libya this weekend. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday, the fifth time in the past week.
One senior Israeli official said that Netanyahu is "determined to make sure talks go forward," and is "cautiously and discretely" discussing the settlement issue with the U.S. and his own cabinet. The official said Netanyahu is also considering a set of confidence-building measures to offer the Palestinians in lieu of a full settlement freeze. "Something has to be agreed on to keep [the Palestinians] at the talks, but not put a full freeze on settlements," another senior Israeli official said. (CNN) - Facing Stark Choice, Abbas May Stall - Karin Laub
As secretive U.S. mediation efforts drag on, aides say Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may try to stall until after November's U.S. midterm elections, hoping Obama will then be bolder in pressuring Israel. A Palestinian negotiator said the U.S. is seeking to extend a 10-month-old ban on housing starts in West Bank settlements an extra 60 days - a somewhat mystifying timeframe that has drawn notice for being just enough to get past the midterms.
Palestinian officials have recently floated the idea of asking the UN Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. As part of his attempt to persuade Netanyahu to extend the moratorium, Obama promised he would block any Security Council action for the next year, a Palestinian official said. (AP) - Israeli Finance Minister: Extending Israeli Construction Freeze Is "Very Difficult" - Bill Varner
Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said it would be "very difficult" for his government to renew a freeze on settlement construction in return for American security assurances. "It was a unilateral gesture," Steinitz said in an interview Monday. "You don't negotiate on unilateral gestures. You negotiate on a peace settlement." Steinitz said there was no "reciprocity" or flexibility from the Palestinian Authority during the freeze. "To come now and to demand more is very problematic," he said. "When you are making a unilateral gesture it is not open to negotiation."
Israel says the settlements aren't illegal because the West Bank wasn't recognized as belonging to anyone before the 1967 war, in which Israel prevailed, and therefore isn't occupied. (Bloomberg) - Israel Supreme Court Upholds Deportation of Irish Nobel Laureate - Aisha Mohammed
Israel's Supreme Court upheld a deportation order against Irish Nobel peace laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, who has taken up the Palestinian cause. Israel banned Maguire from entering the country because of her attempt to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza aboard a ship in June. During Monday's Supreme Court hearing, Maguire called on Israel to cease what she called its "apartheid" policy against the Palestinian people. "This is no place for propaganda," Justice Asher Grunis retorted and cut her off. Interior Ministry officials say Maguire knew she would not be allowed into the country but sought to provoke an incident. (AP)
News Resources - Israel and the Mideast: - Netanyahu: Israel in "Sensitive Diplomatic Contacts with the U.S." over Peace Talks
Prime Minister Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet on Monday: "One month ago, the Palestinians entered into direct talks with us, following a series of gestures that the government carried out in order to advance the peace process. We have fully lived up to our commitment, a difficult commitment that we took upon ourselves. Now there is interest in continuing the peace negotiations. This is a vital interest for the State of Israel. We are in the midst of sensitive diplomatic contacts with the U.S. administration in order to find a solution that will allow the continuation of the talks." (Prime Minister's Office) - Report: Norwegian UN Troops Helped Two Lebanese Terrorists Escape in 1992 - Assaf Uni
Norwegian UNIFIL troops helped two Lebanese arrested by the Israel Defense Forces to escape from an IDF detention facility, Norwegian journalist Odd Karsten Tveit claims in a new book. In 1992, Norwegian forces helped the prisoners escape from the al-Khaim Prison in southern Lebanon. The detainees were given UNIFIL uniforms and hidden in a bus used by Norwegian soldiers on leave. Tveit told Norwegian media that Hagrup Haukland, the former commander of UNIFIL's Norwegian battalion, made the decision to help the two prisoners. The two held a press conference in September 1992 and spoke about their escape, without revealing the help they had received from the Norwegian force. (Ynet News) - UK, Spain to Boycott OECD Tourism Conference in Jerusalem - Irit Rosenblum
Britain and Spain will not send delegates to the OECD's biannual tourism conference on October 20-22, because it will be held in Jerusalem, Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said Monday. OECD officials had demanded that Israel move the conference to Tel Aviv. The Palestinians had urged OECD members to stay away from the conference, Misezhnikov charged. "The Palestinians, who insist they are a reliable negotiating partner, are continuing to cause us damage," he said. (Ha'aretz)
Global Commentary and Think-Tank Analysis (Best of U.S., UK, and Israel): - UN Poisons Its Human Rights Mission - Irwin Cotler
The UN Human Rights Council is the mandated UN body responsible for the promotion and protection of international human rights. But the council has turned its mandate on its head. It has turned a blind eye to the world's most serious human rights violators, failing to adopt any resolution or investigative mandate for such human rights violator countries as China, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Russia or Iran, to name but a few - all being listed on Freedom House's list of the 20 worst human rights abusers. While the UN General Assembly calls for countries to be elected to the council based on their human rights records, 24 out of 47 present members (51%) fail to meet fundamental standards of democracy and human rights.
Since its 2006 creation, 80% of the council's resolutions ha ve singled out one member state - Israel - for differential and discriminatory treatment, thereby breaching the UN charter's foundational principle of "equality for all nations, large and small." The tragedy in all this is that a UN body, established for the protection of human rights, has become a human rights violator. In particular, these violations now take place under the protective cover of the UN, invoking the imprimatur of international law and marching under the banner of human rights. The writer is a former minister of justice and attorney-general of Canada. (The Australian) - Recognizing Israel as a "Jewish State" - Glenn Kessler
Describing Israel as a "Jewish state" may seem like standard boilerplate in the United States, often used in newspaper articles and television programs. President George W. Bush used the "Jewish state" concept in his speeches and in an exchange of letters with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2004. President Obama has also adopted the phrase, most recently in a speech last month before the UN General Assembly.
For the Israeli government of Prime Minister Netanyahu, Palestinian recognition of Israel as a "Jewish state" would mean acceptance that the Jews have existed in the Middle East for thousands of years. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren notes that the demand is not a new concept: the UN partition of the British mandate in 1948 referred to a "Jewish state" and an "Arab state ." (Washington Post) - The Real Issues Between Israel and the Palestinians - Martin Peretz
Whatever has happened to the Arabs of Palestine over the last 60 years is a result of their refusal 1. to stand up against the Hashemites (Jordan) and the Nasserites (Egypt) who took over the land designated for the "Arab state" envisioned in the 1947 Partition Plan and, then, 2. to negotiate seriously with the Jewish state. The longer the local Arabs remain stubborn in seeking symbolic victories, the smaller Palestine will become. (New Republic)
Observations: |
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright~
25 comments:
What are your favourite music videos?
Asher Laub Music
I would be grateful if you continue with the quality of what we are doing now with your blog ... I really enjoyed it
best binaural microphone
How do i write lyrics?
Trenton P - Dreams and Frustrations
Spot on with this article, I really think this website needs more attention. I'll probably be back to read more, thanks for the info.
edm violinist
Your experience is great and learning for other peoples.
D.Pierre - More (Produced by D.Pierre & Deanyboy)
I definitely appreciate your blog. Excellent work!
prehistoric fiction
Really appreciate your work and very nice blog.
Peppa Pig Cry Pain
Your Post is very useful, I am truly happy to post my note on this blog . It helped me with ocean of awareness so I really consider you will do much better in the future.
Snackz Da Gawd - Feel So Good Freestyle (Official Video)
I really like your interesting blog and i get many information from your blog all the music in your sites are amazing.
Swiss Casino - Chain Swinging (Official Music Video)
Wow!what a nice and great information about the music and i really love this blog.
DIKKO "No destination" (Official Lyric Video)
Valuable information which you have providing about the musics song i really appreciate it and really enjoy it.
Pip Souster - True Love
I think this post will be a fine read for my blog readers cause of this article have a much fun in music and all songs are really awesome. I am sure my guests will find that very useful.
Ar Too Fresh (Official Music Video)
Really very nice and awesome music i really like it and all the details about the vote that's are very interesting.
candidates for President of USA
Most valuable and fantastic blog I really appreciate your work which you have done about the Trump VS Clinton, many thanks and keep it up.
Trump VS Clinton
Very informative site and article, i must bookmark it and keep posting interesting articles.
Political News Today
Such a nice blog and i appreciate your all efforts it's really good work. well done.
brexit
Nice blog and i appreciate you blog information which i really like it.
محمد السادس
Very informative article which is about the steven rattner and i must bookmark it, keep posting interesting articles.
steven rattner
I like your blog with a very interesting music ans lyrics i really appreciate it.
Come Back Official Music Video
Why is economics called the "dismal" science?
steve rattner
Thank you i did really need this topic you share a very nice information about the event it's great work.
Superb. I really enjoyed very much with this article here. Really it is an amazing article I had ever read. I hope it will help a lot for all. Thank you so much for this amazing posts and please keep update like this excellent article.thank you for sharing such a great blog with us. expecting for your.
Sonny Campbell Music
Your blog is very useful, I am truly to this blog which is specially design about the news.
Great job.
noticias del dia
Thank you i did really need this topic you share a very nice information about the news it's great work.
contest
Many people are really like and appreciate your all you work keep it up.
Donald Trump
Post a Comment