Politics - Israeli Style Bring back Flatto Sharon

 

WITH ALL THE SCANDALS attached to Israeli politicians today I yearn for the days when an honest crook ran for, and won, a seat in the Knesset (Israeli parliament).

The last "honest" politician was Shmuel Flatto Sharon (sometimes Flatto-Sharon).

According to Wikipedia, the Polish-born, raised in France Flatto Sharon arrived in Israel in 1975, just ahead of the French authorities who wanted him for allegedly embezzling $60 million.

Despite almost a complete lack of Hebrew and no established party backing, his "Flatto Sharon" party won two seats in the 1977 Knesset.

Flatto Sharon never denied the was a crook or that the reason he ran for the Knesset seat was to avoid extradition to France.

His one term in the Knesset was his first and last.

Flatto Sharon later was convicted of buying votes to win election; he did community service for his crime.

ISRAEL HAS at last count at least 24 parties, although some are so small that their impact mostly is to draw off votes from one of the major parties, of which there are a baker's dozen, including the Arab (Muslim) parties. So much for apartheid and inequality.

The Wikipedia entry continues that Flatto-Sharon is now an established multi-millionaire and works as a radio talk-show host; his show, named Flatto Bli Heshbon (Flatto without accountability) is broadcast on numerous stations, including Radius 100, Lev HaMedina, Radio Haifa and Radio Darom FM.

Flatto Sharon is out of politics, but he is hardly out of sight - or sound.

He gave an interview to the Jerusalem Post in 2006 where he told the reporter " I want to arm every one of Israel's friends with the intellectual weapons for its defense."

The Post article continues:

It is perhaps no wonder, then, that his current radio show, "Platto bli heshbon" (roughly translated as "Flatto, no holds barred") is broadcast on several local stations, and has a wide following. This he attributes to his no-nonsense, "telling it like it is" confrontations with politicians - a format that recently got him into trouble of another sort: being taken off the air for two weeks for calling certain Arab MKs "traitors."

Flatto Sharon's take on the Israel bashing is similar to this scrivener's. According to him, I've had the idea for years. Now it seemed more urgent.

Communications is the one area in which Israel is a failure. In every other realm we excel. In fact, everything else we touch in this country turns to gold. There's no other country like it.

Let me give you a couple of examples.

A couple of months after the establishment of the state in 1948, there was a first official visit by the king and queen of Indonesia. A few hours before their plane arrived, suddenly it dawned on [the welcoming committee] that there were no flowers to give to the queen. A plane was immediately sent to Cyprus to get a bouquet for her. That's because there were no flowers in this country.

A mere 15 years later, Israel had become one of the largest exporters of flowers in the world.

Then there's the military. Not only is the IDF considered the best army in the world, but Israel used to have to rely on the United States for arms. Gradually, we began manufacturing our own arms; since then, we have become the third largest exporter of arms in the world.

The same goes for the diamond industry. I could go on endlessly with examples like this. Israel really is a magical country. In all of history, there never was a people who accomplished what we have achieved here.

So I ask you: A people who is capable of such wonders can't manage to convey a simple message? In that area, we're a bunch of idiots. Maybe it's not that we're a "bunch of idiots," but that there's no way to convey Israel's message to an anti-Semitic world? I don't believe that. In the first place, if you allow an initial lie to go unchallenged, it becomes perpetuated. It's like drugs that get into the bloodstream - it's hard to flush them out.

Maybe it's time for the honest crook to revive his one-person party and stand once again for a seat in the Knesset. He probably wouldn't have to buy votes this time, given the in-fighting in the "major" parties.

Drilling a hole in OUR boat Select your seat When buying ticket

 

A FEW HAREDI MEN on a Delta flight from JFK to TLV drilled another hole in our Jewish "boat" by their obstinacy.

And it all could have, should have, been avoided.

I've been flying in commercial aircraft for many years. I think my first flight was in a tail dragger in 1952 between MIA and IND.

(A "tail dragger" for the innocent youth, is an aircraft that had a wheel under the tail, rather than under the nose. The Delta DC-3, below, is a tail dragger.)

DC-3 in Delta livery

When I book a flight, if I want to sit next to a friend, my friend and I select adjacent seats. Before the airlines got so greedy, seat selection was included in the price of the ticket - as were meals and entertainment and accommodation of not one but TWO pieces of luggage AND carry-on. (Those were the days when seats were wider and legroom ample, the days of Lockheed Constellations. Great airplanes.)

This is not the first time the super-Os have high jacked a flight.

According to the Times of Israel under the headline Flight delayed as haredi men refuse to sit next to woman, Super Jews previously high jacked an El Al flight.

This time the disgraceful behavior caused a delay of only 30 minutes. The El Al flight - the Times did not provide origin and destination information - was held up for ELEVEN hours.

The Times article did not specify if the passengers were kept on the aircraft or if they were allowed to go back into the terminal.

Solve the problem - kick troublemakers off the plane

Passengers who are disruptive regularly are removed from flights, at least in the U.S. In some case, passengers who are not particularly disruptive are removed from flights (and later compensated by the airline for air crew stupidity).*

December 25, 2014: Man Kicked Off Flight After Going into Anti-Christmas Rage reports a man was taken off an American Airlines flight for belligerence. The same article reported that a man was removed from a Delta flight during an unscheduled stop.

Passengers on the Delta flight to Israel showed their displeasure with the Super Jews by refusing to accommodate their demand. Finally, according to the Times of Israel, an "American" - a non-Jew perhaps? - agreed to relocate and the flight departed.

FORTUNATELY most of the media coverage was by "Jewish" media and blogs.

Airlines are not obliged to provide preferential seating to passengers who did not make a seat selection when they booked the flight.

Most airlines will try to accommodate passenger requests for seating and special meals (on flights that still offer meals). In the latter case, when the airline is informed the passenger refused airline food, it should be a red flag that this passenger needs to be seated next to like-minded passengers. Computers easily can make the connection. (Many Super Jews don't accept the kashrut on airline food.)

The airlines, which now charge passengers for everything but the recirculated air they breath while they are trapped in the tube, are missing a revenue chance: sell "men only" and "women only" seat groups or even rows.

If Super Jews insist on segregated seating, let them pay for the privilege.

IN THE MEAN TIME, remove any Super Jew - or any one else for that matter - who is disruptive.

 

 *    Contrary to U.S. law, US Airways - not the nation's national carrier a la El Al and Israel or Korea Air and South Korea, but an American flagged carrier, twice in a period of three months in 2013, forced passengers with service dogs off flights. In the second case, passengers forced cancellation of the flight. In the first instance, a 100% disabled Vietnam vet was ejected.

Never too old to learn A little bit of water Keeps oil cups clean

 

WE HAVE several "candle or oil" hanukiyot (cHanukah menorahs).

For the last several years we have been using oil for one.

Each year I struggle to clean the plastic cups of the previous night's black smidges.

Since I fill the cups to the brim, the flame lasts not 30 minutes or an hour, but 3 hours or more.

To shorten the burn time, this year I added a little water before adding the oil and wicks.

Voila - actually מצאתי would be more appropriate - the wicks burned more than the minimum time (last night we had a two-hour burn) and there is no smudge on the cups!

Since oil (we use EVOO but any oil will do) and water don't mix, the oil floats on top of the water and the wick-in-a-cork-base floats on the oil.

When the oil is consumed without a water base, a last gasp of the wick creates a smudge on the cup.

BUT, if the oil is consumed and the wick floats on water, there is no "last gasp" to stay lit and there likewise is no smudge.

It's perfectly OK to limit the wicks' (candle or floating-on-oil) burn time providing the flame lasts at least 30 minutes (except on erev Shabat when it must last about 45 minutes - see your rabbinical authority for specifics).

I happen to take the mitzvah to enjoy the light seriously so a two-hour burn is fine with me; it beats any "Hanukah" candle except perhaps a "hurricane" candle. (Tea lights also can last beyond the required 30 or 45 minutes.)

Bottom line: After all these years of lighting hanukiyot I FINALLY "discovered" how to keep an oil cup clean.

By the way, if you decide to use oil, buy and fit the cups at the same time you buy the Hanukiyah. Hanukiyot made pimarily for wax generally have the holes (for the candles) too close together for oil cups.

Two-edged sword Germans rally Against Islamists, Are Jews to be next

 

The headline on the RT site reads Thousands in Dresden rally against Islamization, call for Western values.

The article led off with the following two paragraphs:

Thousands took to the streets of Dresden, Germany, to protest the Islamization of their country. Their opponents also rallied at the same time warning about spreading xenophobic ideas in Europe.

At least 10,000 people joined the march of Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of Europe, or PEGIDA, a German right-wing organization. The protesters say they want to preserve Germany’s Judeo-Christian Western culture, and curb the spread of Islamic State and Al-Qaeda activities in the EU.

Dresden is not the only city in Germany swept by similar protests. Anti-Islam rallies were held in Cologne, Hanover, Kassel, and Chemnitz.

My problem with the rally is that I fear the German's xenophobia will spread once again to anyone who is "different" from a "good" German, i.e., white and Christian.

I agree that the Islamists are taking over Europe and North America as well, but the Europeans generally know no restrictions on attacking anyone who is not a "pure" national: Islamists today, Jews tomorrow.

It's not just Germany. Hungary embraced the nazis; likewise Poland. Russia, at war with the nazis, didn't allow that to interfere with pogroms. During World War II, the United States, with its own severe case of xenophobia put its Japanese citizens into prison camps and refused entry to Jewish refugees. (Nazi prisoners in Stockton CA faired better than the Issei (immigrants) and Nisei (American-born) Japanese-Americans.)

For information about how America traded its Japanese citizens, go to Japanese American on Wikipedia.

While PEGIDA claims it distances itself from neo-Nazi groups in Germany. it "refuses to allow the spread of activities by groups such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda in Europe.

Already opposing PEGIDA, according to the RT article are members of Christian churches, the Islamic center, the Jewish community, the Foreign Residents' Association and students.

The nazis' targets were "Jews and Marxists" (a/k/a Communists). While the Jews, at least, were Germans of long standing, and many decorated for service during World War I, the nazis - like the U.S. government in its view of its Japanese citizens - considered the Jews as anything BUT German citizens. (The nazis also went after Roma (Gypsies), the old and infirm, the mentally weak, and sexual deviants.)

Now we see a movement against Islamists and while I generally support removal of people who would over-throw a more or less democratic government, PEGIDA's stance and the behavior of some of its followers is frightening.

There has to be a well-considered middle ground between the likes of PEGIDA and the liberals of the Christian churches, the Islamic center, the Jewish community, the Foreign Residents' Association and students.

As long as "good" Muslims remain silent when their fellow Muslims commit atrocities non-Muslims will view all Muslims as Islamic terrorists, and THAT is what gives organizations like PEGIDA its reason to exist - unfortunately, who can, who will, limit such groups to terrorists else it , too, becomes a terrorist organization.

Thin line, scary line.

Zichron Gavriel Israeli racism Or Smartphone At haredi school?

 

A headline in Thursday's (December 4, 2014) Israel HaYom email edition reads: Religious school shut for refusing to admit Sephardi students. (Click on the link to read it yourself.)

Why not admit the two brothers, one 5 and the other 6?

One reason suggested by Zichron Yaakov Regional Council Head Eli Abutbul

"It is obvious that they are trying to get them to leave," he said. "The haredi community is saying that it is because one of the parents uses a smart phone [forbidden in certain ultra-Orthodox circles], but that is just a terrible excuse."

Responding for the school, Attorney Ori Keidar, , said, "We have mixed (Ashkenazi and Sephardi] students, but these children do not come from a conservative haredi background."

That begs the question: Just what IS a "conservative haredi background."

According to the Israel HaYom article, Two students, brothers aged 5 and 6, were not accepted to study at the school, despite having been with the same group of students in kindergarten. Their parents went to the Education Ministry's appeals committee six months ago to complain that the refusal was based on their ethnic background.

The article continues:
The Education Ministry, which funds about 60 percent of the religious school's activities, ordered the school to accept the students, but when the two young boys arrived for their first day, they were met by the parents of the other children, who were protesting their acceptance to the Ashkenazi school.

Racism bottom line

Meanwhile, reports Israel HaYom, the conflict between the brothers' parents and the ultra-Orthodox community in the area has worsened. The boys' parents say that members of the community protest outside their home and have thrown stones causing property damage. They were even offered large sums of money to move to another city and to enroll their children in a school there.

This and similar acts by Ashkenazi haredim - and probably Sefardi haredim from Shas and similar "we're Jews and you're not" groups as well - blemishes Israel's pretty good efforts to integrate Jews from all countries and all traditions. It gives non-traditional groups, e.g., Conservative/UK Reform and Reform/UK Liberal, more reason to point the finger at traditional Jews, even the non-haredi Jews, and say "We're not like THEM."

Fortunately not all Jews are Litvaks and Syrians (outside of Israel) who live in closed societies.

The two boys would, in my opinion, be better off in a regular government school where they will get a complete education without sacrificing Jewish knowledge. (I briefly taught in an Israeli pubic school in Zefat; I lack the talent - and patience - to be a teacher.)

You cannot legislate kindness nor intelligence; that's proven everyday in the U.S., the U.S. Jewish community is a bad example of quiet racism, despite what the Torah demands of us.

As one parent told the Israel HaYom reporter, he is not concerned about the school's closure, which he thinks will not last. "Despite all the threats -- everything will go back to what it was."

That' sad.

Party, not people The elections are coming, The elections are coming

 

By the time this is uploaded a date may have been set for elections to Israel's Knesset, and with that, the prime minister.

If politicians hurry, the bill to ban anti-Israeli politicians such as Haneen Zoabi and Ahmad Tibi, both of the Balad party, will still be in consideration so these two will very likely be returned to a government that they would like to overthrow. Only in Israel.

Hurry or not, from a "modern" American's perspective, Israeli elections are a throw-back to the U.S.' Reconstruction period.

Then, and even into the 1940s in some U.S. states, it was possible to pull one lever or mark one box to vote a party's entire slate.

If the election's between a jackass and a Republican, vote for the jackass. (I'm sure the Republicans had similar words for Democrats.)

As far as I know, even in the so-called "deep south" (Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of several other states) the "vote a party slate" option is gone; history.

That doesn't mean some people don't vote a "straight" ticket - all candidates of one party, but I suspect that now most voters - certainly those who bother to study the candidates and issues - vote a split ticket, voting for whomever the voter feels aligns closest with his or her political leanings.

Only the president and vice-president are "bundled," and that makes sense. (That was not always the case.)

In Israel, voters vote by party, the old "one lever/one check box" ballot the U.S. discarded years ago.

IN THEORY the candidates at the top of the party list have the best chance of being seated in the Knesset. No party ever has taken it all.

IN TRUTH, the candidate at the top of the list the day before the elections, and a primary reason a voter selected a party, may be demoted from #1 to #60 by the time the ballots are counted. There is no guarantee than pre-election's #1 will be post-election's #1.

An American living overseas as a permanent resident or dual national can vote for U.S. president. The state and local elections are limited to those people living in those areas. The ex-pat voter is deprived of a senator and representative, but since the voter doesn't live in the community, they shouldn't need a senator or representative (although we all know that's not exactly true).

An Israeli living overseas can vote - as can all Israelis - for the party of his or her choice. Most Members of Knesset (MKs) live in/around Jerusalem or in/around Tel Aviv; the rare MK lives in the hinterlands (Bet Shean, Kiryat Shemona, etc.). Bottom line: Unless you live near the MK, getting the MK's attention may be, and often is, an exercise in futility.

But then voters in Israel don't vote for candidates, they vote for a party.

Because I am accustomed to the U.S.' "vote by candidate" I never felt comfortable voting for people about whom I knew nothing. I was personally acquainted David Levy, but I lacked acquaintenance or knowledge of other members who shared the Likud ticket with Levy.

As in the U.S., "Vitamin 'P', "protekzia," or "who you know" generally is the key to getting anything accomplished. Of course if the MK who could help you belongs to another party . . . Again, just as it is in the U.S.

TRUE STORY Some apolitical friends of mine live in Debbie Wasserman-Schultz' congressional district. She was then, as now, chair of the Democratic National Committee, a power position. My Jewish friends turned to her as their Representative - who happens to be Jewish - and were ignored. I suggested that they contact now former Representative Allen West, a Republican in a neighboring district. He responded and took care of their issue. Then he was gerrymandered* out of his seat.

I could vote in the upcoming Israeli elections but I won't. I don't know the candidates on each party ticket, not even the "Top 10" who - depending on party, might make it into the Knesset.

It helps that in the U.S. there are only two major parties and a handful of smaller parties and independents.

Even England, on which Israeli politics are loosely based, has two or three main parties; Members of Parliament (MPs) are expected to have some physical connection with the district they allegedly represent.

I'm a spoiled American who simply cannot accommodate Israeli politics. I tried. I failed.

 

* GERRYMANDER

The word gerrymander (originally written Gerry-mander) was used for the first time in the Boston Gazette on 26 March 1812. The word was created in reaction to a redrawing of Massachusetts Congressional election districts under the then-governor Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814). In 1812, Governor Gerry signed a bill that redistricted Massachusetts to benefit his Democratic-Republican Party. When mapped, one of the contorted districts in the Boston area was said to resemble the shape of a salamander.

Gerrymander is a portmanteau of the governor's last name and the word salamander. The redistricting was a notable success. In the 1812 election, both the Massachusetts House and governorship were won by Federalists by a comfortable margin (costing Gerry his seat), but the senate remained firmly in Democratic-Republican hands.

"Idiot's Guide" Jewish State law

 

The Times of Israel posted An idiot’s guide to the nation-state controversy that claims to be A bird’s-eye view of the facts, arguments and motivations behind the proposed legislation that is roiling Israeli politics.

The article by Haviv Rettig Gur, The Times of Israel's political correspondent, starts off:

So much has been written about the nation-state bills, and so much of it has been wrong on the basic facts, that a straightforward primer on the existing versions and a brief sketch of the arguments around them may provide readers with basic tools to grapple with the issue.

A government-sponsored bill is currently being written at the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and under the supervision of Attorney General Yehudah Weinstein. Contrary to reports in both Israeli and foreign media, from a New York Times editorial to the world’s largest wire services, the cabinet did not pass a nation-state bill two weeks ago. Rather, it passed a 13-page decision that committed the government to supporting two right-wing versions of the nation-state bill in a preliminary vote in the Knesset, “but only,” the cabinet decision reads, “on condition that the proponents [of the two bills] agree that their bills will be attached [Israeli legislative terminology for ‘subsumed’] in a government-sponsored bill that will be proposed by the prime minister on the matter, which will be drafted on the basis of the principles contained in the appendix to this decision, and which will be adapted to it [the government bill].”

Gur's article goes on to offer a full translation of the most recent publicly available draft of the most current version of the bill followed by a comparison of key differences between the government bill, the superseded right-wing bills, and the Declaration of Independence, which a handful of left-wing MKs want passed as a Basic Law in its own right.

Gur's words are found at http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-idiots-guide-to-the-nation-state-controversy/?utm_source=The+Times+of+Israel+Daily+Edition&utm_campaign=b1c3103b9d-2014_12_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_adb46cec92-b1c3103b9d-54477781.

How accurate is the translation? How unbiased is Gur's reporting? Not having seen the bill in the original Hebrew, and not having a native Israeli's command of the language, I will not speculate.