Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Opuscula

Peace
and the
Ahmedah

A thought on the "normalization" agreements.

They are NOT "peace treaties."

They are, primarily, trade agreements.

A good start toward peace, but not peace.

Bahrani Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at signing of the Abraham Accords on September 15, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

 

In the weekday Ahmedah (אמידה) we — Sefardim — read

"ועושה לה תקוב טובה ואחרית שלום"

Give us good hope and afterwards peace.1

What we have with the "normalization" agreements is hope.

Hope that the governments — as they stand now — won't make war on us or send troops against us.

It will be years before we have a true "peace" with these not-next-door neighbors.

"Peace" to this scrivener's mind means acceptance by all our neighbors, not just the governments.

Peace with governments AND people

We have a "peace" treaty with Egypt and another with Jordan.

But, except for officials, traveling to — or from — either country is less than casual; indeed, it can be dangerous.

An Israeli can travel to Jordan, but he must leave his sedur in Israel.

An Egyptian has difficulty LEAVING Egypt for Israel.

Once there was a direct flight between Cairo and Lod. A thing of the past.

There are flights from Amman to Lod, but via a third country, often Turkey. A half hour flight now takes about 18 hours.

It could be worse. Israelis are prohibited from entering the PLO/PFLA-controlled areas and entry into Gaza by a sane Israeli almost is suicide. (Hamas is holding two Israelis who voluntarily entered Gaza. Both are thought to be mentally deficient. Hamas refuses to return them to Israel.)

Long memories

The U.S. "civil war" was ended more than 150 years ago.

Yet, today — December 2020 — there are places where "damnYankees" still are not welcome. In the north, many Southerners still are automatically considered racists, bigots, even sans any evidence of this.

While it would be NICE to think that the people of Bahrain, the UAE, Sudan, et al will welcome us in friendship, the "man in the street" in the end counts more than those in the governments.

I did not include Morocco as it has a generally welcoming population, albeit there are those who oppose not only peace with Israel but the king as well.

Sad but true. A Jew may be

  ✡ Safer in Bahrain than in France.

  ✡ Safer in the UAE than in Germany.

  ✡ Safer in Morocco than England.

For now.

On the flip side, Israelis, particularly those whose parents came from Muslim lands, need to control their hate of Muslims, Israeli Muslims and visitors from the "normalized" countries. Again, government officials are one thing; the man in the street is altogether a different matter.

Notes

1 Ahmedah, winter prayer "ברך עלינו" which most Ashkenazim don't have.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on eace and the Ahmedah

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Opuscula

Remembering
Why we light
Hanuka wicks

THIS IS PROMPTED BY A NEW YORK TIMES SLAM of yet another Jewish “thing.”

The NYT published a letter from a woman who wrote that neither she nor her wife (correct) intended to raise their children as Jews.

Why SHOULD they?

Neither is Jewish.

The writer’s father was a non-observant Jew married to a Roman Catholic and the writer’s “wife” is a non-practicing Roman Catholic.

 

For the moment forget WHY the NYT decided to print a “Hanuka story” that trashed the holiday.

So much for Jews controlling the media.

The letter writer’s ignorance of anything “Jewish” is astounding, but — unfortunately — not surprising given her background.

She complained that she didn’t know what the Hebrew words meant.

She COULD have read the blessings in whatever language she knew best.

Her father could have read the blessings in whatever language he knew best.

But obviously the father was as ignorant as his daughter — and apparently preferred it that way.

Perhaps the writer’s next epistle to the NYT will trash Pesach or Yom Kippor.

Surely the NYT will find space for her next screed.

Hanukah “hagadah”

MAYBE WE NEED a Hanukah “hagadah” similar in purpose to the Pesach hagadah.

If not a hagadah, perhaps a Hanukah story akin to the Purim story, although unlike Hanukah, Purim did “make the cut” as the Book of Esther.

The basic story is in the first Book of Maccabees. 1 This would be the basis for a Hanuka hagadah. Unlike the Exodus, the Hanukah story is not part of the TaNaK.

Jews, particularly non-observant Jews, seem to consider Hanuka a “Jewish Christmas.”

In truth, from a commercial point of view, it is.

Jews in the “west” have turned the eight days into a gifting spree, trying to keep up with their non-Jewish neighbors.

This (still) is less prevalent in Israel where non-Jews are minorities.

As Jonathan S. Tobin opined on the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) site (https://tinyurl.com/y6rg5zhv): For most American Jews, the holiday is merely a blue-tinseled version of Christmas that allows us to participate in the holiday season on something like an equal footing. If, for many assimilated families like that of Prager’s, Hanukkah represented the last vestige of the Judaism they observed, it was because it gave them a chance to compete with Santa Claus.

But WHY Hanukah?

In a nut shell

Almost all children of observant families — and even “semi-observant” families — know about the Maccabees – the historical heroes, not the beer. (They may learn about the beer when they are a little older.)

The Maccabees were a family of cohanim that refused to bow down to the Assyrian Greek gods.

The father and his sons led a revolt that eventually drove out the aliens.

The sons cleaned up the Bet HaMikdash and wanted to rekindle the menorah (that, incidentally, only has seven branches).

Two menorot: Bet haMikdash’s 7-branch menorah (left) and a 9-branch Hanuka menorah/hanukia (right)

For the record, the image of the Bet HaMikdash menorah was carved on a wall in Rome to celebrate the Roman defeat of the Jews. The Romans are gone; the Jews remain.

ANYWAY, the menorah wicks were fueled by oil — presumably pure olive oil. According to the story, the Maccabees found a single cruise of oil, sufficient to last one day.

We celebrate Hanuka for eight days because the oil miraculously lasted eight days.

Hanukia then and now

For observant Jews, there are several “Hanukah” specific things, in addition to lighting the wicks.2

Each day of Hanukah full Hallel is recited.

The reason for this is that each day of the original Hanukia was considered a separate miracle. There is no “hol hamoed” (intermediate days) with Hanukah as there are with Pesach and Succot.

There is a unique haftarah for Hanukah: Zechariah 2:14 > 4:7. (If in the very rare case there are two Shabatot during Hanukah, the haftarah for the second Shabat is 1 Kings 7:40-50)

Different traditions have different “traditional” foods. (The ideal neighborhood in which to live consists of many different ethic groups — delicious.)

On the topic of food, there is an additional paragraph in the post-meal blessing noting the holiday.

Sefardim typically light only a single, family hanukia.

Ashkenazim typically have a hanukia for each member of the family.

The Ashkenazim established the custom of “Hanuka gelt” — money gifts. That has “grown like Topsy” especially among the less and non-observant communities.

All the rabbinical laws of Hanukah can be found on multiple web sites:

  ✡ The blessings and songs

  ✡ When to light the hanukia wicks

  ✡ Where to put the hanukia

  ✡ How high or how low

  ✡ How long must the wicks burn on weekdays and on erev Shabat

THERE IS NO EXCUSE for ignorance with “Rabbi Google” close at hand

While it is sad that too many parents lack the knowledge to transmit to their children, it is even sadder that they fail to take advantage of all available assets.

You don’t have to be observant — fully or partially — to celebrate Hanukah.

No hanukia? No problem. Line up eight “tea” candles in a row and set a ninth candle a little higher than the rest.

Happy Hanukia חג חנוכה שמח

Notes

1. The First Book of the Maccabees Source: https://tinyurl.com/rpeold2 I Maccabees presents a historical account of political, military, and diplomatic events from the time of Judaea’s relationship with Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria (reigned 175–164/163 bce) to the death (135/134 bce) of Simon Maccabeus, high priest in Jerusalem. It describes the refusal of Mattathias to perform pagan religious rites, the ensuing Jewish revolt against Syrian hegemony, the political machinations whereby Demetrius II of Syria granted Judaea its independence, and the election of Simon as both high priest and secular ruler of the Judaean Jews.

I Maccabees is the only contemporary source for the civil wars in Judaea, and the only surviving one for Judaean-Syrian relations after the reign of Antiochus IV. The historical integrity of the book, which was compiled from official written sources, oral tradition, and eyewitness reporting, is attested to by the absence of almost all of the conventions of the Hellenistic rhetorical school of historiography and by its uncritical use by the later Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.

2. Why “wicks” and not “candles”? Some people, this scrivener among them, who prefer oil hanukiot. They are a closer reminder of the menorah in the Bet HaMikdash. Moreover, it is easier to control the “burn time” with oil hanukiot. Candles are fine and can be colorful. Mess? That’s a toss up. Both oil and candles are great, but they should not be mixed.

<PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

Comment on Hanuka 2020

Monday, November 30, 2020

Opuscula

“Palestinians” make
Amazing change
In just only 3 weeks

ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, about the time of the U.S. elections for president, the PLO/PFLP in Ramallah said it was ready to negotiate with Israel.

Ramallah’s negotiators told the world they were prepared to resume negotiations with Israel with a third country to mediate.

Now, the leadership in Ramallah has reneged.

What could have caused this sudden change of heart?

 

Two buddies: Joe Biden and Terrorist Abu Mazen

 

WHAT HAPPENED INDEED.

Until about three weeks ago, a U.S. President was lining up Muslim countries to make “normalization” agreements with Israel.

    UAE signed on.

    Bahrain signed on.

    Sudan is signing on.

Even Saudia Arabia is entertaining the idea of formal normalization with Israel.

Abu Mazen and the PLO/PFLP were being left in the cold.

So, seeing the writing on the wall, Abu Mazen ordered a return to the negotiating table

BUT THEN

But then Joe Biden won — stole if you prefer — the election.

Biden was vice president to a previous president.

That president was pro-Muslim and anti-Israel.

He had been a student at a madrasa, and he was one of Jeremiah Wright’s congregants for many years. Wright is the preacher who asked god to damn America.

He made that perfectly clear by

  * Snubbing Israel’s prime minister

  * Funding UN organizations that served ONLY the “Palestinians”

  * Sending a US$221 million gift to Ramallah on his last day as president.1

  * Having the U.S. abstain from the annual UN Israel bashing 2

Stands to reason

With Biden expected to bring back Obama’s disastrous-for-America and disastrous for Israel policies, and with far left Harris-Emhoff waiting in the wings to take over the government when Biden is either pushed out or carried out, Abu Mazen had a change of heart.

He no longer wants to negotiate with Israel.

There is no need to negotiate with Israel; the Democrats have his back.

Unlike the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran is not a DIRECT threat to either Ramallah or Gaza.

But, if Iran acts on its promise to obliterate Israel, then both Ramallah and Gaza will be counted as “collateral damage.”

Saudi Arabia already is in danger of losing access to U.S. weapons to use in its fight with Iran-backed rebels attacking the kingdom from Yemen.

Israel cannot protect these Muslim countries threatened by another Muslim country. Would any of them come to Israel’s aid if it is attacked … by Iran or any other rogue state. Rhetorical question.

MEANWHILE there are those close to Biden and Harris-Emhoff that are pressing to remove President Trump’s supplemental sanctions on Iran. Granted, while the sanctions have hurt Iran financially, like Hitler before him, the ayatollah will spend his country into a depression before he will give up his grand scheme to blow up parts of the world (the Big Satan and the Little Satan – and anything nearby).

Nobody knows

At this point, no one really knows what Biden (or his handlers) are thinking. Anyone who claims he will, or won’t, do this or that is simply gazing into a cracked crystal ball.

There’s a better chance of predicting what Harris-Emhoff will do when she moves into the White House.

She was a senator only a brief time, but established herself as one of the most liberal — if not the most liberal, left-wing — members of the senate.

The question now is: Will Harris-Emhoff win election to the presidency after completing Biden’s term?

America and Israel are in for a fraughtful four years.


Sources

1. Obama give US$221 million to PLO: https://tinyurl.com/y2yuhfnx

2. Obama and UN vote: https://tinyurl.com/y2rv9pk6

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Amazing Change

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Opuscula

For whom
Do Arab MKs
Really work?

ISRAEL, UNLIKE MOST COUNTRIES, allows men and women to sit in its parliament (Knesset) whose primary goal is the destruction of Israel.

That would be similar to allowing Communists to be members of the U.S. Senate. (There are members of the U.S. House of Representatives who openly profess support for the government’s over throw.)

The question: If these Members of Knesset (MKs) oppose Israel, who DO they support?

 

NOT ISRAELI ARABS.

Not the people who live in “Palestine” or Gaza.

Who do they represent?

They represent the despots who control “Palestine” and Gaza: the “leaders” of the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Jihad.

According to Israel Today, the ways in which Arab-Israeli Knesset members are failing to work to realize the interests of the Arab citizens of Israel who elected them and whom they are meant to represent. Rather, they are working for the interests of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Arab Knesset members are taking advantage of their position to advance the Palestinian issue—an issue in which most Arab countries have lost interest—at their own constituents’ expense. (Cited by BESA Center, https://tinyurl.com/y4dnfscp)

Arab List candidates, 2015

Israel has normalization — not exactly peace — agreements with (thanks to U.S. ex-President Trump) with several Muslim countries in the region: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan. It also has shaky peace agreements with Egypt (thanks to Anwar Sadat and Likud’s Menachem Begin ) and Jordan (King Hussein bin Talal and the leftist Israeli PM du jour).

Hopefully, even with an Obama throwback government the treaties will remain in force.

The fact that traveling to either Egypt or Jordan is difficult and Israelis are not welcomed by the general populace so far has not caused the peace agreements to collapse.

Abu Mazen had even offered to meet with Israeli negotiators, seeing as he did, Muslim countries normalizing relations with Israel. That offer, now that Bidacq and soon-to-be president Kamala Harris-Emhoff are in office probably will be withdrawn.

It’s interesting. Abu Mazen prevents the average “Palestinian” from going to Israel for medical care, but cabinet members and their kin, specifically Chief Palestinian Propaganda Minister Saeb Erekat, is (was) being treated at Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem … along with an unnamed Jordanian general.

Abu Mazen recently reluctantly agreed to accept tax money Israel collects for the PLO, apparently realizing he has lost millions in aid from Muslim countries that are weary of his unwillingness to realize the reality that is — or at least was — on the ground. Europe’s leftists continue to line his pockets (as they did for his predecessor, the Egyptian Arafat).

The Arab Knesset members are angry that the Abraham Accords do not address the issue of Palestinian statehood and do not contain any real concessions for the Palestinians. One member, Sami Abu Shehadeh, hurried to be interviewed by Aljazeera on the day of the vote. In his interview, he repeatedly stated that he considers himself a Palestinian and that he opposes the whole agreement, which he deems no more than “a weapons deal.”

This is an MK ! Anti-Israel, but an MK.

He also is anti-”Palestinian” man in the street, but he is pro “slay for pay.”

Israeli Arabs or Palestinians in Israel?

Amnesty International, the organization that ignores the PLO’s rights abuses in “Palestine,” set up a special web site. The Israeli branch of the human rights organization established the website due to its perception that Arab Israelis, or "Palestinian citizens of Israel" as the organization refers to them, are undergoing a "severe attack" and need to operate in an organized and collective manner to fight for their rights as a minority in Israel.

Are they “Palestinians” in Israel or are they Israeli Muslims who prefer Israeli citizenship to life under Abu Mazen? Certainly there are no Jewish citizens of “Palestine; Jews are not allowed to live in Abu Mazen’s heaven-on-earth. (Unlike Muslims from “Palestine” who come into Israel to work, to shop, and to receive medial treatment, Jews are injured or killed for venturing into Abu Mazen’s utopia.)

Either way, the Arab List lends more support to Abu Mazen et al than to Israeli Muslims.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Arab List MKs

Monday, October 12, 2020

Opuscula

S T U P I D !
Israel government
Gives, gets nothing

Allows Qatar to fund Hamas for a SIX MONTH ceasefire

Israel and Hamas are reportedly close to agreeing to a medium-term cease-fire that will include the transfer of $100 million in Qatari funds to the Palestinian terrorist group in the Gaza Strip.

 

According to I24 news (https://tinyurl.com/y6ej46z5)
Israel and Hamas are reportedly close to agreeing to a medium-term cease-fire that will include the transfer of $100 million in Qatari funds to the Palestinian terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. According to media, the coronavirus pandemic has put severe economic pressure on Hamas, which is therefore seeking financial assistance in exchange for a six-month truce.

Mossad chief Yossi Cohen (right, shown with Obama advisor Susan Rice) apparently is spearheading the indirect negotiations via Qatari intermediaries.

The matter of filling Hamas’ coffers has become somewhat contentious in Israel, given that the terror organization has for over five years been holding captive two Israeli civilians with psychological conditions who crossed into Gaza on their own accord. Hamas similarly has refused to return to Israel the remains of two soldiers who were killed in the Palestinian enclave during the 2014 war.

Israel needs a Gen. Geo. Patton

Patton never would allow his sworn enemy a six-month truce to rearm.

That’s STUPID. Patton was well known for saying that he thought.

Worse, this is hardly the first time Israel’s government has stupidly — “foolishly” is too kind a word — agreed to a temporary ceasefire that allowed Hamas (and Islamic Jihad) to rearm.

The results of a ceasefire with the despots of Gaza? More Israeli casualties and fatalities.

This is the Euro-Jew mentality.

This is the mentality of someone (or a government) that is crazy, at least if the definition of “crazy” is doing the exact same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.

NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT AN END TO HAMAS AND ISLAMIC JIHAD.

Many of Israel’s Muslim neighbors indicate, with words and actions, that if Israel makes and end to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, these neighbors — while they might not openly applaud as they did on 9-11 (2001) — will not militarily object to Israel removing Hamas and Islamic Jihad from Gaza. (Iran undoubtedly will rattle its rockets and fire a few missiles from the safety of Lebanon and Syria, but so far, Iron Dome has proven capable to protect Israelis.)

QUANDARY. Interim government

Before Israel can eliminate Hamas’ and Islamic Jihad despots, it MUST have a caretaker government ready to fill the void left by the despots’ departure.

At the end of World War 2, the triumphant allies installed Chas. de Gaulle in France and Konrad Adenauer in (West) Germany. Japan was ruled by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander for Allied Powers (SCAP), until 1951.

Israel has proven it cannot govern Gaza.

Ariel Sharon forced out Israelis from the strip by 2007. The new owners largely dismantled the Jewish-built agricultural infrastructure, repurposing much of it to use again Israel.

While Israel cannot, should not, attempt to rule Gaza, it should — with assistance primarily from Egypt, but with other Muslim powers — prepare an interim government to rule until the Gazans can install a new government.

Democratic elections may not be in the future for Gaza. There are peoples — the Cubans, for example — that simply cannot function with a democratically-elected government. The U.S. should never force American-style democracy on any people.

Israeli captives in Gaza

I confess to having mixed emotions about the two Israelis Hamas holds in Gaza.

As I24 notes, the “two Israeli civilians with psychological conditions crossed into Gaza on their own accord.”

I have been given to understand that the Red Cross/Red Crescent cannot get information from Hamas regarding the condition of the “illegal immigrants (to Gaza)” — are they receiving treatment for their conditions? Do they WANT to be repatriated to Israel? Is there anyone in Israel to assume responsibility for their care?

It seems to this scrivener that blocking the Qatari funds until Israel has the answer to those questions — AND THE BODIES OF THE ISRAELI SOLDIERS RETURNED — is in order. The answers need to be provided by a truly neutral source; I’m not sure the Red Cross, and certainly not the UN, qualify.

Bottom line

Caving to Hamas and Islamic Jihad and allowing the Qatari money to flow to the despots of Gaza is, as the headline states,

S T U P I D

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on S T U P I D

Opuscula

Asad wants Golan,
PLO/PFLP deal,
But offers nothing

SYRIAN DICTATOR BASHAR AL-ASSAD SAID THE ONLY WAY HIS COUNTRY WOULD MAKE PEACE with Israel is if Israel gives him the strategic Golan Heights.

PLUS, Israel must cave to its enemies.

Some people never learn.

 

A far better man than Bashar Al-Assad made a peace deal with Israel following which the man — Anwar El Sadat — got back the Sinai (but “stuck” Israel with Gaza). El Sadat and his partner for peace, Menachem Begin, were two old terrorists who had suffered personal losses in the wars between the two countries.

Al-Asad is no El Sadat and there is no one in power in Israel with Begin’s good sense.

January 8th, 1980, after first El Al flight to Egypt
Dan Hadani Archive, National Library of Israel @ https://tinyurl.com/yy87wm2x)

Iranian proxy

Al-Asad is in bed with the Iranians (Persians).

The Iranians continually promise to wipe Israel off the map.

Given the close relation with Iran, it is difficult to see how Israel would give up a militarily strategic position. It cost too many Israeli lives, both civilian — due to Syrian shelling Israeli civilian settlements — and military to claim the heights following Syria’s attacks on Israel.

Unlike a growing number of Muslim-dominated countries, Al-Asad fails to realize there are more economic and other benefits to “normalization of relations” with Israel.

Continuing to demand that Israel cave to the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Jihad is a pipe dream. Perhaps if the Democrats recapture the White House in Washington, the U.S. will once again cater to the Palestinians, but if the Republicans prevail, Ramallah can expect less support from the U.S., Europe, and even other Muslim-dominated countries.

Impossible dream

Al-Asad’s problem festers in Ramallah.

It is impossible for Israel to make peace with an enemy that refuses to negotiate.

In the past, leftist (Labor) governments caved to every demand the PLO/PFLP even BEFORE negotiations commenced.

Actually, had the PLO et al agreed to the 1947 partition plan, it would HAVE a state much larger than Israel of 1948.

The PLO/PFLP never kept any agreements with Israel.

Egypt has.

Jordan has.

Both Egypt and Jordan have benefited from the agreements, as has Israel.

The normalization with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) already is showing signs of benefit to all concerned.

But Al-Asad?

Al-Asad has nothing to offer Israel in return for the Heights.

Israel could have, and still can, take Damascus militarily. That would be foolish and a waste of men, but it could be done. Syria cannot take Jerusalem, even with Fifth Column support.

(The same can be said for Beirut.)

If Al-Asad is serious about reclaiming the Heights, the first things (plural) he should do — but probably cannot and will not even if he could —

    Get rid of Hezbollah
    Settle the civil war in Syria
    Disassociate Syria from Iran
    Encourage the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamist Jihad to (a) stop attacking Israel and (b) seriously negotiate with Israel before it looses everything.

Al-Asad and Ali Khamenei (Yousef Alhelou @ https://tinyurl.com/y2t7a2sq)


PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Al-Asad

Friday, October 9, 2020

Opuscula

“Light unto
The Nations”?
Not in NYC

IF WE ARE TO BE “a light unto the nations” (Isaiah Chapter 49 יְשַׁעְיָהוּ), what the hasidim (the “pious”) are doing in New York is hillul ha shem.

Isaiah Chapter 49 יְשַׁעְיָהוּ
(Image source: Mechon-Mamre.org, https://tinyurl.com/y43kujvt )

Jewish man blasted as ‘snitch’ badly beaten during Borough Park protests screams a NY Post headline (https://tinyurl.com/yyfm9crz). The UK’s Mail, putting the leedcq paragraph in the hedcq as Jewish man is left critically injured after being branded a 'snitch' by ultra-Orthodox rioters in Brooklyn who attacked him and a photographer for recording COVID-19 violations amid spike in coronavirus cases (https://tinyurl.com/y69rtw2v)

Why’s everybody always pickin’ on me?

The “pious” Jews of Borough Park have been targeted by New York politicians for flagrantly violating face mask and distancing rules. (Sounds like Jerusalem and Bnei Brak.)

If these “pious” Jews were confined to Borough Park, with their freedom restricted a la the ghettos of Europe and the mellahs of the Muslim world, perhaps ignoring the mask and distancing rules could be tolerated.

If these “pious” Jews financed and managed their health care on their own, they could ignore the rules for public safety.

But neither is the case.

Still, the “pious” Jews of Borough Park have a legitimate grievance.

New York’s “leadership” seems to ignore non-hasidim who do the same thing.

As with most things Jewish (and most things Israel), there is a blatant double standard.

Is New York a part of Europe with its Jew hatred then and now?

Is New York’s general population European? Latino? Asian? Middle eastern?

Why these Jews?

Why, because they are “different.”

The dress differently.

They put their rabbis above the law of the land despite דִּינָא דְּמַלְכוּתָא דִּינָא‎. (Jeremiah 29:7; cited by Mar Samuel (bar Abba) in Talmud Bavil)

This, obviously, is a generalization, but it is — based on images captured in places where “pious” Jews dominate — a fact for many.

Be fair

I don’t know if the attacks on Jews — while ignoring non-Jews doing the same thing — is politically motivated.

It seems everything today is “politically motivated.”

Are these politicians anti-Semites? Possibly. (Even a Jew can be self-hating; there are far too many of those around the world.)

Are these politicians simply stupid.? (Rhetorical question.)

Don’t the “pious” Jews vote? Don’t they have allies in the “regular” observant Jewish community?

If the politicians are going to attack the “pious” Jews for endangering themselves and those with whom they associate, then the same politicians should attack all citizens for the same violations.

Jews, “pious” and otherwise, are not above the law. Ignorant, non-observant Jews may think they are above they law. They are not, at least not Jewish law..

Rabbinical fiat

Rabbi Akiva Eger, (right) in the midst of a 19th-century global cholera pandemic, advocated social distancing, abbreviated services, reduced singing, and absolute transparency regarding one’s health prior to entering a synagogue.

He worked in concert with medical experts and local governmental authorities.

R. Eger’s edict likely prevented thousands of deaths, embodying the biblical principle of “v’chai bahem,” that Jewish law demands vitality. (https://tinyurl.com/y5uksoef)

I realize that the “pious” Jews follow their own rabbis and typically ignore any authority outside their circle.

Cliches, but ...

Boged or “snitch” makes no difference. The behavior is the “pious” Jews is unacceptable.

They are “drilling a hole” in our boat; we all are in it together.

To use another cliche, we (Jews) all will be “tarred by the same brush” in the hands of anti-Semites.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Light

Friday, October 2, 2020

Where’s it from?

Show product’s origin
In advertisements, package

The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA or Act), enacted in 1967, directs the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration to issue regulations requiring that all "consumer commodities" be labeled to disclose net contents, identity of commodity, and name and place of business of the product's manufacturer, packer, or distributor. The Act authorizes additional regulations where necessary to prevent consumer deception (or to facilitate value comparisons) with respect to descriptions of ingredients, slack fill of packages, use of "cents-off" or lower price labeling, or characterization of package sizes. The Office of Weights and Measures of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, is authorized to promote to the greatest practicable extent uniformity in State and Federal regulation of the labeling of consumer commodities.1

 

The canyon-wide loop hole

The Act is useless regarding “name and place of business of the product's manufacturer” since, per the act, this information need not be disclosed as long as a distributor is listed.

Sampling of products listing DISTRIBUTOR in lieu of manufacturer.

It is clear that the distributors use multiple vendors to produce the same product, but the distributors should be obliged to list the PLACE of manufacture.

All things being about equal, I will buy Made in the U.S.A. before I will by a foreign-made product, regardless of country of origin. (I will pay 200% more for a “Made in the U.S.A.” product over an import, but a 10% or event 20% difference may be acceptable.)

If it goes into my mouth

If something goes into my mouth, be it veggies, mouthwash, toothpaste, fish and meat, even garlic for seasoning, I want to know the product’s origin.

I don’t want to eat fish that was fed human feces.

I don’t want to eat garlic fertilized with human feces.

I don’t want to eat something labeled one thing when it is another.

While the US Food & Drug Administration and the U.S. Trade Commission may not be 100% reliable, it is more likely to have inspected U.S.-produced products than imported products.

If a product, as this is keyed, onions are the focus of recalls, is found to be unsafe, the inspection agencies recall the product and publicize the recall. 2 In addition, many consumer groups also publish the recalls. The U.S. CDC raised the hue and cry regarding onions.3

Keeping kosher has its benefits.

The situation with onions first came to my attention on Kashrut.com.

I was “spared” Mad Cow Disease because sick animals cannot be slaughtered for kosher food.

Keeping kosher, sadly, does not protect me from tainted fish or garlic, although Kashrut.com watches lists from the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere usually warns me of suspect products before we buy them. Great resource, and free!

Clothes, toys, and more

Haband, the clothing-by-mail retailer, never lists the origin of products it sells. The buyer finds out when the product arrives (if it arrives.)


On two occasions articles sent from Haband via DHL “disappeared” then DHL was supposed to hand off delivery to the USPS in Orlando. USPS claims it never got the hand off. Despite a tracking ID from Haband, the product just “disappeared.”

What’s the big deal?

Flammability. Materials are supposed to be treated to reduce the chance they will catch fire. Most U.S.-made clothing will burn for a second or two, then the fire is out. (I gave up smoking because I had burn holes in my trousers; no fires. Sad and expensive experience.)

It was not long ago the flammability issue was raised with imported infant and child pajamas.

Likewise, in the not too distant past, the U.S. imported toys painted with lead-based paint, long outlawed in the U.S.

The “and more”? Fake wood flooring (formaldehyde)4 and drywall material (sulfur)5. Even automotive tires.6

That is not to claim that all “Made in the U.S.A.” products are safe and all foreign-made products are unsafe.

It IS to say that consumers should know where a product originates. If the product contains components from multiple points-of-origin, e.g., orange juice, the points (plural) of origin should be clearly shown in both advertising and on the product container.

If representatives and senators — on both sides of the aisle need to pass laws to force retail merchants — the Walmarts, Targets, CVSs and other pharmacies, Haband and other clothing retailers — to include the points (again, plural) of manufacture of each major component in the product.

Sources

1. Fair Packaging and Labeling Act: https://tinyurl.com/y9bgav5e

2. FDA recalls: https://tinyurl.com/y5kxnwbu

3. U.S. CDC: https://tinyurl.com/yxmocvnw

4. Flooring: https://tinyurl.com/yb86gfd3

5. Drywall: https://tinyurl.com/yb86gfd3

6. Tires: https://tinyurl.com/ybbohujo

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on ID production site

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Opuscula

Tweaking prayers

When I read the morning prayers, I make a couple of minor changes.

I am not a rabbi, or even a talmid hakham, nor do I play one on tv.

But “tweaking” prayers has a long tradition within Judaism.

 

FOR EXAMPLE,

תָנָא דבי אֵלִיָהו זָכור לטב כׂל הַשונֶה הַלָכות בֵכׂל יום

recited shortly before עלינו tells us to say this instead of that.

I use Sefardi sedurim, primarily סדור אבותנו and וזרח השמש .

The former is rife with comments about “optional” words, moreso than the latter.

The former also has a plethora of notes: the minhag here is this, the minhag there is thus.

שֶלׂא עָשַנִי גוי That you did not make me a non-Jew

Converts and those who are not Jews but participate in the prayers, can’t truthfully state:

שֶׁלׂא עָשַׂנִי גוי

Frankly, I take issue with the word “goy” when what is meant is “non-Jew.” The correct Hebrew for a non -Jew is “no-kare” (נוכר). “Goy” means “nation” but thanks to its misuse it has become a pejorative.

For all that, a convert could say שֶׁעָשַנִי ישראל

While a non-Jewish woman could say שׁעָשַנִי ישראלת

No female slaves in enlightened countries

The word “שִפחָה” pops up a number of times; firstly in the morning blessing (ברכות השחר), ibid.

It shows up again among the rules for sacrifices (just before רִִבִי יִשמָעֵאל).

In the section beginning “זִבחֵי שַלמֵ" we read that one of the errors includes “אשם שִפחה חרופָה”

Rather than a female slave (שִׁפחה), I prefer “conversation, words” (שִׂיחָה), replacing a shin with a sin and a yud for a pei. Now we have the sin of speaking badly of one another. It also reminds why the thousands of R. Akiva’s student’s died; for speaking ill of one another. (Much like politicians of today, alas.)

Changes to the Amedah (עמידה)

Before going on, it is best to identify the sedurs in use.

סדור אבותנו and וזרח השמש both of which follow Moroccan traditions. “Traditions” is correct; Morocco is a huge country and traditions — as noted in the אבותנו sedur — vary by area.

רֵפָאֵנו

To the paragraph asking HaShem to heal the sick (רֵפָאֵנו) I add “and all the world” (ואת העולם כולו).

Why? The Chinese virus, a/k/a Corona or Covid 19, spreads quickly around the world thanks to the wonders of modern airplanes and the reluctance of some countries to alert others to a danger. This is not the first pandemic and China is not the only source of past pandemics (e.g., Mexico gave us the so-called “Spanish flu” of 1918; it killed more people than WW1).

תעַקֵר וׁתשַבֵר

Rabbi Sholom Messas adds a word to the paragraph in the עמידה that begins תעַקֵר וׁתשַבֵר. In the sedur וזרח השמש, the rav adds one word —ותַשמִידֵם— “destroy them.”

The Amedah is from the rabbis, not the Torah, so changing a word or two to remain “au courant” (e.g., את העולם כולו) should not cause umbrage except perhaps from someone who wears blinders to the reality of today.

I am not suggesting changes to halakah — that’s the rabbis’ domain.


PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Embarrassed

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Opuscula

Bully’s crutch
Kicked aside,
PLO in a bind

GIVEN THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS IN THE U.S. perhaps it is not “fair,” but in all the years since 1948, no U.S. executive managed to broker a peace agreement with the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Jihad.

The U.S. “leadership” cajoled and threw money at the “Palestinians,” and the Palestinians remained obstinate: No honest negotiations with Israel.

Yes, there was Oslo — a pact the “Palestinians” almost immediately abrogated.

During the Obama administration, the “Palestinians” had a friend in D.C. and the Israelis did not.

During the Obama administration, the ayatollahs were quieter than now; the administration allowed the mullahs to expand their nuclear objectives.

The presidents before Obama were little better.

 

BACK IN THE DAY, the “Palestinians” had the support of many Muslim-dominated countries.

Thanks to Iran and its saber rattling and gentle pressure from Washington, two and a half Muslim countries — United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain are “normalizing” relations with Israel and Saudia is allowing over-flights — are at least open to peaceful coexistence with Israel.

So far, both Bahrain and the UAE have shown a willingness to welcome Jews, both as visitors and residents.“Normalization” does not necessarily equate to “peace,” although initial indications are that the two nations will be more accepting of Israel and Israelis than Egypt and Jordan.

 

Dry Bones cartoon for 13 SEP 2020 @ https://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/)

 

Why are Bahrain and the UAE more welcoming than Egypt and Jordan?

At least three things.

One: Bahrain and the UAE and wealthy, certainly by comparison to Egypt and Jordan.

Two: Neither country has a large “Palestinian” contingent. Jordan IS Palestine and many so-called “Palestinians” came from Egypt.

Three: The general level of education in Bahrain and the UAE generally is higher than that of either Jordan or Egypt.

Both Egypt and Jordan have “shaky” governments; not so much with Bahrain and the UAE.

 

Pragmatism

Anyone who has lived and worked in Israel knows that Israel has been exporting to the more moderate Arab countries for decades. Saudis prefer Israeli-made air conditioners; they work better in Saudi conditions than European-made units.

Israeli-made refrigerators also are popular.

Indeed, if anyone travels to the PLO/PFLP or Hamas/Islamic Jihad-controlled areas, they will see an assortment of Israeli products.

The “Palestinians’” dilemma:

*  I won’t have anything to do with you politically, but I will buy Israeli-made products.

*  I won’t accept Chinese virus aid from Qatar since it came via Israel’s main airport (and if my people die, ah well.)

*  I won’t let my people go to Israel for medical treatment, but I will send my family there for treatment.

Meanwhile, other Muslim nations are quietly, often under-the-table, doing business with Israel.

 

Between Iran and the U.S.

Between the threat from Iran and encouragement from the U.S., more Muslim-controlled countries are inking “normalization” agreements with Israel.

Suddenly open trade is possible.

Suddenly technology transfers are possible.

The trade and technology will go both ways, although initially the balance of trade may be to Israel’s advantage.

Israelis are travelers.

If they cannot go to Egypt or Jordan, then Bahrain and the UAE are more than suitable replacements; they are closer that Tibet and India.

If Ramallah and Gaza City “leaders” really wanted what is good for their citizens, they would put down their weapons and make at least “normalization” agreements with Israel.

A real peace, such as between the U.S. and Canada, is a long way off; perhaps it won’t happen until the next century. But it would be a start.

To accomplish that, the “Palestinians,” regardless of where they live, must give up terror attacks on Israel and Israelis.

Eventually even the media will tire of making excuses for the intransigent “Palestinians” and start reporting the facts on the ground. To borrow a phrase, “The ‘Palestinians’ never miss a chance to miss a chance.”

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 Comment on Bully

Monday, September 7, 2020

But PLO/PFLP won’t come to table

Arabs want “Palestine”
Issue settled before
Signing peace pact

IT IS RIGHT OUT OF JOS. HELLER’S CATCH 221, 2

Several major Muslim neighbors, in particular Saudia and Qatar — the later being the “bank” for Hamas — are willing to “normalize” relations — that does not necessarily equate with “peace — with Israel

IF

Israel first makes a peace deal with the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Jihad.

* * * * * *

Qatar: Normalization with Israel only after two-state solution with Palestinians3

* * * * * *

Normalizing ties with Israel linked to Palestinian statehood, Saudi king says4

On the other hand, President Trump’s son-in-law, possibly a Pollyanna,5 suggests that the “Palestinians will get peace 'as soon as they are ready'.”6

 

Given that the “leadership” of the terrorist groups (ibid.) refuse to negotiate with Israel, particularly when they are confident the pro terrorist Democrats may regain the White House and Congress in November, there is no way, short of a devastating attack unleashed by Israel on the terrorist-controlled areas to which “the world” would condemn Israel, that the terrorists’ “leadership” will send delegates to a negotiating table.

Hamas has accepted Egypt to mediate between it and Israel. (Hamas arranges a short-term cease fire to once again stockpile materiel to use against Israel — and Israel’s “leaders” stupidly fall for this again and again and again.)

IF, THEN, the Saudis and Qataris want a peace agreement between the terrorists and Israel, they must push the terrorists to the negotiating table and they must convince the terrorists that attacks on Israel must cease — permanently.

The question is, what country or organization can guarantee the peace?

Not the UN; it has proven both useless (UNIFIL) and in the pocket of the terrorists (UNRWA).

The U.S. is tired of sending its troops into danger.

The Europeans, save for Russia, likewise will not endanger their personnel.

China, perhaps. It sees itself as the next (of not already) major world power.

Since Israel has repeatedly made concessions to the terrorists, and since the concessions were accepted by the terrorists as a sign of Israel’s weakness — perpetuated by Israel’s “leaders” — someone needs to stand as surety that the terrorists will indeed forego attacks on Israel and is citizens.

No one on any side should expect that a “peace agreement” will bring any more than a cessation of hostilities.

If “normalization” is what members of EuroCom have — passport-free passage over national borders — or what U.S. and Canadian and U.S. and Mexican citizens have, then this is not a “normalization” that can be expected.

While there are peace agreements between Israel and Egypt and between Israel and Jordan, true normalization is far from being achieved. Travel to and from Israel by citizens of the three countries is difficult at best. (Tourists are another matter and have fewer handicaps.)

It would be interesting to know what the Qataris and Saudis expect Israel to concede. The terrorists make it clear that they will accept nothing less than an end to Israel. Even with the Democrats controlling Washington and Israeli leftist controlling the Knesset and Supreme Court, allowing the terrorists to drive Israelis — Christian, Jew, Muslim, and “whatever” into the sea — is not going to happen.

Everything the terrorists have lost they lost due to wars of aggression started by Muslim states.

Had Jordan accepted the UN partition in 1948 and had the Muslims not repeatedly attacked Israel, the “Palestinians” might have a state of their own, assuming Jordan would allow it.

Had Syria not attacked Israel in 1948 (and again later), it might have all of Mount Hermon.

If Grandma had wheels . . .

Sources

1. “Catch 22,” book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22

2. “Catch 22,” expression: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22_(logic)

3. Qatar: https://tinyurl.com/y3pqmvlg

4. Saudia: https://tinyurl.com/y43n3t8a

5. Pollyanna defined: https://tinyurl.com/yxhfortw

6. Kushner comment: https://tinyurl.com/y4et545j

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Catch 22

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Opuscula

Do “boycotts”
Do any good?

ARE WE HYPOCRITES?

If I am against Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) when it comes to Israel, can I honestly be for a boycott of Chinese products?

Is there a difference?

 

WHY WOULD I BOYCOTT Chinese products?

Because, time and time again, Chinese products have proven to be

  * Shoddily made

  * Unhealthy

  * Unsafe

I’m not so concerned about shoddy workmanship, but there too many risks that the product may be unsafe.

  * Drywall as an example.

  * Tires as an example.

  * Toys with lead paint as an example.

  * Clothing that lacks fire-retardant.

Anyone who is concerned about health needs to know:

  * How farmed fish are fed (human feces).

  * How Chinese mushrooms are fertilized (human feces).

  * How the Chinese adulterate food products.

  * How Chinese pharmaceuticals are below minimal FDA standards.

Anyone who is concerned about racism and segregation based on religion should boycott China. The Chinese government has reportedly detained more than a million Muslims in re-education camps. 1

If a person claims to be a “progressive,” that person should avoid Chinese products due to the sweatshop environments in which laborers work. (Also think about the lack of responsibility U.S. companies such as Apple show for the people who make their products.) After the Tiananmen Square massacre in April 1989, Americans began to look more closely at all things Chinese.

Between President Trump’s efforts to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and the Chinese (Corona) virus (Covid-19) messing up the supply chain, many companies are taking some or all of their production out of China to “points elsewhere.”2

Stealing secrets

Like the Japanese shortly after WW 2, the Chinese government steals whatever it desires from wherever if desires. The U.S. is just one source. Russia also has been victimized.

Not only do the Chinese steal industrial secrets, they also steal national secrets.

It is a matter of record.

BDS against Israel

First and foremost, most of the people promoting BDS against Israel have never BEEN to Israel; their information is third or fourth hand from leftists who want to believe that, DESPITE FACTS TO THE CONTRARY,

Israel

  * Is an apartheid country

  * Oppresses minorities

  * Keeps “Palestinians” behind a fence

  * Prevents “Palestinians” from working in Israel

  * Is racist and discriminates against Christians, Muslims, people of color

Never mind that

  * There are Muslims in Knesset, on courts, including the highest court

  * There are Muslims in the army and the national police

  * There are Muslims teaching in schools from kindergarten to university

  * There are Muslims practicing medicine in all government hospitals

  * That hundreds of “Palestinians” come to work in Israel every day

  * That an Israeli Muslim may live anywhere in Israel

  * That an LGBTQ? safely parade down the streets of major cities

  * Honor killings, and misogyny, in general is illegal in Israel

Conversely, a Jew cannot live in “Palestine” nor can a “Palestinian” sell land to a Jew on pain of death; a person who is LGBTQ? must fear for this life in areas controlled by the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Jihad. Women also must fear for their lives if a male relative even suspects they brought dishonor to their family.

BDS hurts “Palestinians.”

Companies, such as Soda Stream that had facilities close to the Israel-PLO/PFLP border, hired “Palestinians” to work alongside Israelis; equal pay for equal work. The “Palestinians” had a higher salary than they would have working under the PLO/PFLP.

Thanks to the “progressives’” BDS, Soda Stream shut down the plant, leaving the “Palestinians” unemployed. (The Israelis could, if they wished, relocate with Soda Stream to the south of the country where the company employs both Israelis and Bedouin in its plants.)

Soda Stream is not the only company that employs “Palestinians.”

True, there IS discrimination in Israel.

The Euro Jews look down on anyone who is not one of them, but over time, non-Euro Jews have made their mark. That Israel has Iron Dome is a credit to a Moroccan. Another Moroccan was deputy prime minister.

There is discrimination against “Euro-Orthodox” soldiers when they return to their old neighborhoods.

Israel is not a perfect country.

Its politics are, by U.S. standards, a kluge, a beligan, a mess.

I have no problem boycotting Chinese products. I have no problem with Chinese PEOPLE, just as I have no problem with Muslims who prefer peace and cooperation to hatred and obstinacy such as consistently shown by the PLO/PFLP, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad regarding Israel.

Boycotting Israel, especially when it hurts the people the boycotters claim they want to help, is stupid. Boycotts don’t stop people from buying products made in Israel, despite UN and EU resolutions.

Yes, I have been to Israel. In fact, I lived there, so I know of what I write.

Sources

1. Chinese Muslims: https://tinyurl.com/yxb5r8zx

2. Exiting China: https://tinyurl.com/yxh9mttf

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Boycotts

Friday, August 14, 2020

Opuscula

A few thoughts
About Israel-UAE
Peace agreement

With a great deal of hoopla and self-congratulations, Trump’s son-in-law is taking bows for lining up the third Muslim country in the region to make a pact with Israel.

Peace almost always is a good thing.1

The accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), regardless of what it actually entails, should be a good thing for the region. 

The Sunni-dominated UAE is a winner in the deal as it, like Israel, is threatened by Shiite-dominated Iran.

The UAE military is smaller (not being threatened by an immediate neighbor is helpful) than Israel’s Defense Force.

For 2020, United Arab Emirates is ranked 45 of 138 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. 2

Always in a state of readiness, the nation of Israel fields one of the most capable military forces in the world - despite its size. For 2020, Israel is ranked 18 of 138 out of the countries considered for the annual GFP review. 3

The UAE is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The GCC was established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 1981. The purpose of the GCC is to achieve unity among its members based on their common objectives and their similar political and cultural identities, which are rooted in Arab and Islamic cultures.4

 

Countries belonging to the GCC (Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski @ https://tinyurl.com/y47oxzm5)

 

Because the UAE is a GCC member state, it is likely, albeit not assured, that the other member states will either follow UAE’s lead or at least use the UAE as a conduit to Israel.

Qatar currently is the main source of revenue for Hamas, until recently depositing US$15 million-a-month into the terrorists’ pockets. The funds were earmarked by the Qataris for humanitarian aid. Qatar also funds some PLO/PFLP activities.

Qatar recently sent two planeloads of medical supplies to the PLO/PFLP. Abu Mazen and friends rejected the aid since the supplies were landed in Israel sans Abu Mazen’s permission! (The PLO/PFLP lacks an airport to accommodate a modern jumbo jet.)5

Despite funding Hamas and the PLO/PFLP, Qatar apparently has, as do most of the GCC states, a pragmatic relationship with Israel. This is not new; as early as the 1970s Saudi were buying Israeli-made air conditioners; they worked better in Saudia’s climate than the European brands.

Israelis visit GCC states

Netanyahu visits Oman, Oct. 2018 6

Communications Minister Ayoub Kara's trip to Dubai, Oct. 2018 7

Sport & Culture Minister Miri Regev at UAE judo competition, Oct. 20188 Regev, of Moroccan descent, also visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.9

 

Israeli Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev, middle, shakes hands with Mohamed Bin Tha'loob Al Derai, President of UAE Wrestling Judo & Kickboxing Federation, after one Israeli player won the bronze medal during the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Judo tournament in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP/Kamran Jebreili @ https://tinyurl.com/y266oxes)

 

Some concerns

The rapprochement between Israel and the GCC is not without concerns.

For example, Qatar had been at odds with other GCC members and Egypt for some time. 10

Direct Flights Emirates and Etihad already overfly Saudia to deliver aid to the PLO/PFLP. Will Israeli airlines (El Al, IsrAir) be allowed to overfly Saudia? Saudia is a GCC member.

Iran is troublesome for ALL middle eastern countries (and beyond).

Will agreements between Israel and individual GCC states include mutual military assistance? Israel has the strongest and best trained military in the region. While there is military cooperation with Egypt, a mutual assistance agreement to defend against a belligerent state (e.g., Libya) is not part of the public peace deal.

PLO/PFLP & Hamas Will the GCC states abandon the “Palestinians” and would that be good for Israel.

Both the PLO/PFLP and Hamas, with Islamic Jihad at its side, have proven their dependence on Israel, yet all are bent on Israel’s destruction. If the GCC quits funneling funds to the terrorists, if the GCC quits supporting the terrorists politically to the rest of the world (primarily the EU), will the terrorists finally be driven to abandon terrorism and make a true peace with Israel? One that does not have an “expiration date.” Or will the terrorists continue to receive support from the EU, and — like Pharaoh — “harden their hearts” and continue their sworn goal of a Jewish-free “Palestine.”


Sources

1. Peace is not a good thing when it is faux paxcq (see https://tinyurl.com/y4utkrv3) that allows a sworn enemy, e.g., Hamas or Hezbollah, to rearm and prepare for a new aggression.

2. UAE military: https://tinyurl.com/y45g4cy6

3. Israel military: https://tinyurl.com/ya9wppoa

4. GCC: https://tinyurl.com/y47oxzm5

5. Medical supplies to PLO/PFLP: https://tinyurl.com/y2dtsu37

6. Netanyahu in Oman: https://tinyurl.com/yd48z583

7. Ayoub Kara in Dubai: https://tinyurl.com/y6c9yput

8. Mimi Regev at judoka: https://tinyurl.com/yytd8buk

9: Miri Regev outside mosque: https://tinyurl.com/yarefvqx

10. Qatari conflicts: https://tinyurl.com/y4fd63ep

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Peace pact

Friday, July 31, 2020

Opuscula

England, Germany,
Israel & “Palestine”,
The Blue & The Grey

I WAS WATCHING AN ILTV show about why there is no resolution of the conflict with the PLO/PFLP and Israel. (https://youtu.be/dKrAtkWe9bs)

The PLO/PFLP sympathizer said there is no reason why there cannot be a rapprochement between the two sides similar to that between England and Germany.

THE RAPPROCHEMENT between England and Germany occurred only after Germany was soundly defeated; its cities left as rubble and its leaders either dead or sneaking off the other countries.

If that is what it takes to subdue outward hatred, then Israel should level every PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Brotherhood city, town, and village; rain total devastation on the Muslim-only areas, and then take over politically and militarily to suppress any any lingering opposition.

That’s what England did, with a lot of help from the U.S., in the “western zone” and what Russia did, with no help from anyone, in the “eastern zone.” (Chas. de Gaulle at least had the good sense not to interfere.)

The U.S. inked a surrender agreement with Japan after Harry S Truman ordered two atomic bombs dropped on the island.

Japan, like Germany, was devastated.

To its credit, the U.S. then helped the defeated Germans and Japanese get back to business, even at the cost to America’s steel manufacturers. (The U.S. steel industry still has not recovered.)

Conversely, ill will lingered long after the end of the War for Southern Independence, a/k/a the U.S. Civil War.

Why?

For the most part — there are exceptions to every rule — the Federals who came to the defeated South did everything they could to humiliate and hinder the southerners who fought for an ideal.

In parts of the U.S. you still can hear “damnyankee” said with the same bitterness as some people say “red neck” or “hillbilly.”

It is no secret that while blacks who made an effort left the ghettos and rose to high positions, many blacks prefer to blame whites for their station in life. Like the captives in Gaza and the PLO/PFLP areas, and in UN “refugee” camps, they are resigned to their plight.

Unless Israel brings the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Brotherhood to their knees and eliminates them there will be no peace. Once the oppressors are eliminated — militarily and politically — then, and only then, can Israel help the Muslims in those areas come into the 21st century; to become productive and independent.

Of course, the Muslims under today’s oppression could be like Cubans.

The U.S. has several times “freed” Cubans from dictators, only to see the Cubans abandon democracy at the first instant and revert to a dictatorship. Some people, and perhaps the currently oppressed Muslims are in this category, cannot function in a democracy.

If — perhaps “when” — Israel tires of trying to make peace with the recalcitrant Muslims and turns out its “leadership,” it must provide a temporary government; it cannot leave a vacuum to be filled by other despots.

The question is: Are there Muslims who are able to successfully rule, at least on an interim basis, people who never knew democracy; who have only known autocracy, rule by tyrant and demigod. If there are, where are they? If there are, do they have the charisma to rule, even for a brief period?

The first test that democracy has a chance is when free elections are held and the leaders appointed by the victors surrender their offices.

Bottom Line: Germany and Japan were devastated; their cities leveled, their soldiers and civilians killed, and their leaders put on trial for war crimes.

If the PLO/PFLP sympathizer wants to use England and Germany as an example of two peoples who have — at least for now — sheathed their swords, he should understand that Germany (and Japan) had no alternative, and England, which had a hand in forcing Germany to revolt against its WW1 treaties (by demanding reparations Germany could not provide in the worldwide depression), held all the cards (dealt by the U.S.)

If he is proposing such a rapprochement with the PLO/PFLP and Hamas/Islamic Brotherhood is possible, it only can happen if Israel thoroughly devastates their enemy.

The despots must know that they can depend only on Iran for aid, and Iran currently is fending off, less and less successfully, internal insurrection.

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on England & Germany

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Opuscula

STUPID HEADLINE

THE JEWISH NEWS SYNDICATE, a/k/a “JNS” wins the award for stupidest headline of the week.

At https://tinyurl.com/y25echvv JNS asks What does Iran’s pivot to China mean for Israel?

It HAS to be kidding.

 

Consider:

  *  China owns Israel’s Haifa and Ashdod ports

  *  China is making attempts to build Israeli infrastructure

  *  China owns at least one major food supplier (Tnuva)

  *  China is notorious for stealing other counties’ secrets

  *  China is known to “play both ends against the middle” for its own benefit

  *  China has, largely through deception and spying, stolen military secrets from the U.S. and Russia and on those secrets it has built its modern military

That being the case, China’s “pivot” to Iran — a “pivot” that has been going on for at least a decade and includes trade with the ayatollahs banned by the U.S. and others — MUST be a concern for even the most leftist Israeli.

 

The enemy of my enemy . . .

The Muslims have an expression: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. That can be reversed in the case of Persia: The friend of my enemy is my enemy.

China is Iran’s friend — at least for the time being.

China has a goal — restore the trade route between China and Europe. It is making the effort over land and over water.

In itself, there is nothing inherently wrong with China’s ambition.

The problem is China’s abuse of its political and trade alliances.

China never has been known as a peacemaker, so any hope that China would mitigate the ayatollah’s goal to destroy Israel is no more than a pipe dream.

What China could do, and based on its history, likely will do, is to “sell” information about Israel to the ayatollahs who in turn will share it with their proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, and Jordan. Do they really care about the floundering PLO/PFLP? It may not be worth the ayatollah’s effort or funds.

China is offering — for a fee, of course — to dig tunnels in Israel for rapid transit, a la major cities’ subway (“tube”) lines.

Israel sits on a major fault — that’s how the walls of Jericho fell1 — and quakes are known to happen throughout the country.

 


Dead Sea Fault line (FIU article & image @ https://tinyurl.com/y3orf9dl)

 

The Dead Sea Fault (DSF) has branches (below) toward the Mediterranean Sea that pass beneath some of Israel’s most densely populated areas.

 


DSF branches into population centers
Left: Maps of the World @ https://tinyurl.com/y2vgv3o5
Right: From FIU map (ibid.)

 

Although the fault and is branches are fairly well documented, the Chinese would, of necessity when digging tunnels, precisely locate the fault lines. Sharing this information with the ayatollahs and their proxies could result in a major earthquake destroying much of the country.

Would the ayatollahs risk destroying the Mosque-on-the-Temple? Would they risk endangering the lives of their friends under PLO/PFLP? Consider the Muslim desire to die in an intifada. Given that, what is the obvious answer?

 

Pay me now or pay me later

Israel must decide if it really is in its best interest to allow the Chinese to buy the country food companies, to take over the sea ports — U.S. ships visit Haifa; will that cease when the Chinese flag flies over the port? — to dig tunnels near a fault line.

Granted, there may be some financial benefits to selling the country to the Chinese — could it be worse than the Roman, Greek, Assyrian, or other occupations? — but in the long run, is it in Israel’s long-term best interests?

There was a Fram oil filter commercial many years ago2 that told car owners: Pay me now, or pay me later.

If Israel sells out to the Chinese will it have to pay later?

TO BE HONEST, this scrivener heartily dislikes the Chinese government. It has sent the U.S. a long list of faulty and dangerous products, it has given the world more than one virus (COVID-19 being just the latest), it has proven it steals secrets, both government and commercial. In this scrivener’s opinion, China cannot be a trusted friend.

Sources

1. Joshua 6 2-17 (JPS ©1955)

2. Fram commercial: https://tinyurl.com/z2up2ug

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Stupid Headline


Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Opuscula

When did Gantz
Join the Joint List?

HOW IS IT THAT co-Prime Minister, Benny Gantz, supports the PLO/PLFP’s Slay for Pay?

According to Yediot Aharonot, as reported by Israel National News/Arutz 71, Gantz over the weekend extended the moratorium on an order imposing criminal sanctions on Palestinian Arab banks that hold accounts of terrorists and their families and which are budgeted by the Palestinian Authority.

The imposition of sanctions was initiated by former Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, and Gantz froze the sanctions a month and a half ago.

 

Ayalet Shaked and Naftali Bennett

 

Granted, Gantz is not a member of either Netanyahu’s Likud or Bennett’s Blue and White political party, but leader of the so-called Israel Resilience Party.

It seems more than a little strange that Gantz, former Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, is so willing to fund the killers of Israeli military and civilians.

Abu Mazen and the PLO/PFLP cuts the pay of its workers to pay prisoners in Israeli jails salaries that often are greater than the wages they would get at an honest job.

At the same time, the PLO/PFLP don’t pay their bills for utilities they get from Israel. Abu Mazen, in a fit of pique,

  * Refuses to accept tax money Israel collects for the PLO/PFLP

  * Condemns his people to second rate health services by preventing access to Israel’s superior health care workers and facilities

  * Prevents his people from working in Israel for better wages.

Meanwhile, Abu Mazen calls the continued payments to terrorists a "red line" that would not be halted under any circumstances.

 

Is Gantz a PLO agent?

While Gantz may not be an active member of the anti-Israel Arab Joint List, his allowing the PLO/PFLP to continue paying people who have slain Israelis seems to be counter-productive — unless you are Abu Mazen.

Will allowing Slay for Pay payments bring the PLO//PFLP to the bargaining table? So far it has not, Abu Mazen et al are as intransigent as before.

Based on past discussions, the only way Abu Mazen will be satisfied is when the last Jew leaves Israel.

Abu Mazen has lost face with Arabs around the globe. He still is the darling of non-Arab liberals everywhere, but in truth, he has become an embarrassment to the PLO/PFLP bosses.

Hanging on to the Slay for Pay is his last gasp — and Gantz is helping him by allowing the program to continue.

Not only is Gantz propping up Abu Mazen, he is showing the world that (like the U.S.) Israeli decisions are cast in Jell-O®, if even that much.

With Netanyahu fighting for his political life, Gantz is PM heir apparent.

The only alternative to a Gantz-led government similar to Rabin, Olmert, and Peres, to name but three leftists prime ministers, is a government headed by Bennett, Shaked, or similar strong personality.

Abu Mazen — even despite losing support from other Muslims in the Middle East — refuses to even DISCUSS borders with any right wing government and Netanyahu, who flips and flops daily on settlements, still is considered “right wing.” Abu Mazen is no fool. He realizes that with Gantz as prime minister the PLO/PFLP again will be in position to demand additional concessions from the leftists . . . with the likelihood of getting them.

I would not wish yet another election on the people of Israel, but the current kluge is similar to having Trump as president and Biden as vice-president.

 

 

Sources

1. Arutz 7: https://tinyurl.com/y2ufy62o

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Gantz