54% Israelis - Demographic Threat All BS

Alerted by IMRA (I haven't as yet received the Report), the most recent Peace Index out confirms the dichotomy in polling Israelis and proves what I and others have been claiming for years - that the proper questions are not being asked.

For example, on the issue of whether Israelis want "territories" or a "Jewish state", they found

a large majority (76%) preferring that Israel remain a country with a Jewish majority, with one-quarter preferring that Israel continue to rule all of the Land of Israel west of the Jordan. Asked how they would respond if they knew that "continued Israeli rule over the West Bank would lead to one state for Jews and Arabs in the entire Land of Israel that would not have a Jewish majority,” the majority (63%) answered that in this case they would oppose continued rule in the territories.

That sounds bad, yes?

But consider this

However, the majority (54%) did not agree with the claim that continued rule in the territories will result in a country without a Jewish majority...[they believe] that continued rule in the territories will not prevent Israel from remaining a Jewish and democratic state. In other words, the public indeed prefers that Israel be a Jewish state over continued rule over the whole Land of Israel, but most of it does not believe there is a contradiction between the two objectives.

This is a powerful indictment of pollsters who never ask the obverse of the frame of reference of their pessimistic prophecies and thus, never reveal the true feelings and attitudes of Israelis.

Here it is, again, but in detail:-

This month, we again checked the Jewish public’s preferences regarding Israel being a state with a Jewish majority or continuing control over the West Bank. Again we found a large majority (76%) preferring that Israel remain a state with a Jewish majority, with one-quarter preferring that it
continue to rule all of the Land of Israel west of the Jordan. Asked how they would respond if they “knew that continued Israeli control of the West Bank would lead to one state for Jews and Arabs in the entire Land of Israel that would not have a Jewish majority,” the majority (63%) of Jewish respondents answered that they would oppose continued control of the territories. Here, however, the gaps between those defining themselves as right-wing or left-wing are considerable: about a third of those who define themselves as right-wing, compared to 18% of those calling themselves centrists and only a few percent of those identifying themselves as left, say they would support continued control of the territories even if it led to a joint entity without a Jewish majority.

At the same time, the majority (54%) of the entire Jewish public does not agree with the claim that continued rule in the territories will result in a state that does not have a Jewish majority. Moreover, 54% believe that continued control of the territories will not prevent Israel from remaining a Jewish and democratic state. Here too there are wide gaps based on political self-definition: a large majority of respondents on the right (62%) and a considerable majority of those in the center (57%) do not see a problem here, while a sizable majority (65%) of respondents on the left says continued control will in fact prevent Israel from being both Jewish and democratic. In other words, the public indeed prefers that Israel be a
Jewish state over continued rule over the whole Land of Israel, but most of it does not see a contradiction between these two objectives.

Enjoy.

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Three Lies in One Ma'an Agency Story

There is not a shred of truth in this Pal. tale:-

Israeli settlers raided the village of Qaryut, north Ramallah on Thursday, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, witnesses told Ma'an.

Settlers marched to the center of the village and planted trees on village land while soldiers looked on, villagers told Ma'an

.

Tu B'shvat was Wednesday.

The land is Shiloh's. And it is not at the center of Qaryut.

And as for raiding, read this.

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CNN Divests Itself of Israeli-Jewish Veteran Employess

Tipped off by EoZ, I learned that Jean-Patrick Grumberg of Dreuz.info is reporting

CNN Israel fired all Jewish journalists

...the names of the four journalists that were fired:
Moshe Cohen, editor, fired on january 30, 10 years with CNN.
Izi Landberg [that should be Lemberg, I think], Producer, about 25 years with CNN, fired on January 30. Avi Kaner cameraman fired on january 30, 10 years with CNN. Michal Zippori desk producer, situation still unclear.

...[this is a scandal that] is likely to provoke a wave of shock and indignation within the North American media industry, and it certainly will not calm down the controversy over the pro-palestinian CNN treatment of the conflict.

We learned today that the Israeli branch of CNN, located in Jerusalem, is downsizing to cope with reduced income from less advertising.

What goes beyond good management is that CNN has fired four Israeli Jewish journalists (out of a crew of 8), and has retained only Arab journalists. Where, until now, CNN always sent a Jewish and an Arab journalist to cover information, now there will be only an Arab journalist. The local chief editor of the News Chanel is now Arabic.

He asserts

This is a conflict where information is central to public opinion, and it weighs a lot on diplomatic decisions. Furthermore, it is no secret that Arab journalists cannot freely publish what they want without risking for their own lives when traveling to Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Judea Samaria. Thus, CNN decision to fire all Jewish journalists from its Jerusalem office is of particular concern, because the general public is unaware that they will be receiving biased information from CNN.

I tried to get reliable confirmation but besides the fact that I was informed that there are stilll Israelis employed there, I am, at this moment, unable to state that this is 100% correct.

UPDATE

DG pointed me to this

[David Suissa] met another Jew who is obsessed with the facts, journalist Izzy Lemberg. As a news producer for CNN in Israel, where he just finished a 22-year stint..,

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The Shadow of Rome on Jerusalem's Horizon

An excerpt from Giulio Meotti's op-ed on the Vatican's aspirations and demands in Jerusalem:

...The Vatican never raised its voice to protest against the apartheid imposed by the Jordanians. Israeli leaders asked the Vatican to use its “good offices” to intervene in order to stop the desecration, but during this dark period, the rape of Jewish Jerusalem did not lead to any expression of concern from Vatican diplomats.

The Catholic Church, which has now discovered “rights” in Jerusalem, was totally silent from 1948-1967, when its representatives witnessed the systematic pillaging of the Jewish synagogues.

Once Israel reunited the city, followers of all three monotheistic faiths have been able to worship without restrictions, with the only apartheid the restrictions imposed on Jews on Judaism's holiest site, the Temple Mount, which though under Israeli sovereignty, is controlled by the Moslem Wakf.

Would a Palestinian flag over Temple Mount in the heart of ancient Jerusalem promote tolerance, or would it have the opposite effect?

If this area came under the control of the Palestinian “security” forces or was put in international custody, how long would it take before the Jews praying there would be pelted with rocks and garbage as occurred in October 1990?

Read it all.

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The Privileges of An Arab Criminal

Two nights ago, there was a suspected infiltration of Shiloh but after less than an hour, the 'all clear' was given.

Last night, again there was an alert.  One of our security squad members observed an act of theft, began following and then another three Arabs exited their cover and all four ran towards our neighboring Arab village of Qaryut.

They were chased by additional members of the emergency intervention squad, backing up the first member, and the suspects entered Qaryut.  Still following them, our squad members discovered the Arabs had sought "sanctuary".  They holed up in the mosque and barred the door.

Calling up the Army, it was made clear to them that mosques are inviolable.

That may seem logical and rational to you.

However, consider this: synagogues do not serve as sanctuaries for Jews and they can even be destroyed (this one more than a dozen times).

I guess an Arab criminal has privileges.

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Adah Girl

This woman

accepted an unheard-of offer from Tom Maguire's San Francisco Opera House: She would receive one-third of the gate. This made [her] the highest paid actress in the world [during the 1860s].

Mark Twain described her appeal:

"A magnificent spectacle dazzled my vision—the whole constellation of the Great Menken came flaming out of the heavens and shed a glory abroad as it fell! I have used the term 'Great Menken' because I regard it as a more modest expression than the 'Great Bare.'"

And she was Jewish.

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What Biblical Act Bothered Muslims on the Temple Mount?

Sacrifices?

Prostration?

Prayer?

Alerted by EoZ, I went here and found nice pictures of visiting Israel security forces, including IDF soldiers

and Border Guard policemen

on the Temple Mount.

But these two pictures seemd to upset the site owners who wrote:

نددت “مؤسسة الأقصى للوقف والتراث” في بيان عممته اليوم الاربuاء 8/2/2012 بشدة إقدام أحد السياح الأجانب بالتبوّل في احدى جنبات المسجد الأقصى المبارك ، دون مراعاة حرمة المسجد الأقصى وقدسيته ، الى ذل

or

The "Al-Aqsa Heritage Foundation" in a statement denounced strongly foreign tourists urinating in the corners of one of the Al Aqsa Mosque, without taking into account the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque and holiness and causing humiliation

If he is indeed urinating, a) he is not wearing a kippah and b) does he look Jewish? but c) with the close accompaniment of all visiting Jews by police escorts, I doubt this man is Jewish and d) as he has been spotted, if Jewish, would he have continued?

But let's not forget, that's a Biblical act, I Samuel 25:21 -

22 God do so unto the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light so much as one male.'--

but in Hebrew -

כֹּה יַעֲשֶׂה אֱ-לֹהִים לְאֹיְבֵי דָוִד וְכֹה יֹסִיף אִם אַשְׁאִיר מִכָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ עַד הַבֹּקֶר מַשְׁתִּין בְּקִיר.

which translates as "he who urinates against the wall".

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How A Belly Dancer Could Be A Martyr

His opinion:

A professor from Al Azhar, Sunni Islam’s highest seat of learning, was shown in a video saying that a belly dancer can be considered a “martyr,” since she is out to make money for herself.

Saad al-Din al-Hilli...told Al Arabiya that a dancer can be considered a martyr if she took on the street to protest against corruption or oppression, or if she went to do a good deed and she drowned, was shot, or killed...the professor said if the dancer was doing her job and dies accidentally, then she is not a martyr, since dancing in front of men who are strangers is forbidden in Islam.

He described belly dancing as much less severe than gossiping and giving false witness accounts.

Glad he has his priorities straightened out.

I think.

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State - No State

If you go here, you can read about a great resource publication, The Middle East & North Africa Media Guide.

It is

an easy-to-use reference book listing contact details, telephone & fax numbers, postal and e-mail addresses, distribution and circulation data for over 5,000 newspapers, magazines, television channels, radio stations and other media outlets across 18 countries, as well as providing insightful analysis and an overview of the regional media industry.

Now in its ninth edition, the 610-page guide is fully revised, updated and expanded with even more media contacts, providing you with instant access to the media in the Middle East & North Africa.

But what do they mean by the countries of the "Middle East & North Africa"?

Well, look at the map and the list of countries:

Palestine is a state. But it isn't.

Israel does appear, and Jerusalem is even capitalized to indicate it being the capital city. But it doesn't make the guide's list of countries.

Is that good media?

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Doug Greener on the Land Issue

From my friend, Doug Greener:

If you missed my letter in The Jerusalem Post last week, here it is. A few words will follow.

Sir, – Gershon Baskin writes in “A victory for our side?” (Encountering Peace, January 31) that a one-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians will soon be inevitable. His reason: Building in Jewish towns and villages is taking away land “slice-by-slice” from a possible Palestinian state.

Baskin has been saying the same thing for many years, without bringing a solution one step closer.

If he were to change his perspective by just a few degrees, he would understand that Jewish residents and their dwellings are no threat at all to “Palestine.”

What Baskin and his ideological colleagues should be saying is: “Let the Jews stay and build all they want. Jewish towns and villages do not prevent the creation of a Palestinian state any more than Arab villages prevent an Israeli state. Nor do they unilaterally determine Palestinian borders. Palestinians should pursue diplomacy and state building without any reference to Jewish residents in their future state. They should welcome Jews and all others who are willing to live as citizens in Palestine.”

If the Palestinians and their supporters in Israel and around the world negotiate on this basis, new possibilities would open up in the diplomatic process toward a two-state solution.

DOUG GREENER
Jerusalem

Here are the few words:

This is not the letter of a right-winger. True rightists want to build and expand Jewish towns and villages in the West Bank because they think it will prevent a Palestinian state. And the Palestinians have happily accepted this thesis. They do not want two states for two peoples. They want two states for one people: an ethnically pure Palestine and a de-Judaized, bi-national Israel, "a state of all its citizens."

So both sides are stuck over this issue.

My suggestion for a way out is to divorce the issue of Jews in the West Bank from all negotiations on the two state solution. Now, even though I may not fit into the "rightist" category, I am certainly a security hawk. We owe the Palestinians nothing, zip, nada. If the existence of a Palestinian state is deemed to be an unmitigated security risk to Israel, let them find another way to express their newly-minted national identity. But if through mutual negotiations both sides agree that such a state should exist in parts of the West Bank, so be it. There will certainly be restrictions placed on this Palestinian state and one of them should be this: No Jews who choose to remain in Palestine should be expelled by force.

Let Palestine have a Jewish minority just as Israel has an Arab one. This may add an element of balance and stability to a venture into unknown territory.

Doug

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Point Me To Jerusalem

There is an application for the iPhone called Jerusalem Compass which points the user towards the Kotel. It costs 99 cents.

By default, the True East mode is enabled (when the switch is ON). This mode uses your current locations and your compass heading to calculate the exact geographic direction of the Kotel.

On the other hand, the Absolute East mode (when the switch is OFF), uses your compass to show you the direction of the East relative to your heading.

Since this compass needs the built in GPS and compass, it only works on the iPhone 3GS. The digital compass should only be used for basic orientation, please do not use for any major project since magnetic fields can harm the accuracy of the compass.

No, not this one. And read this.

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Tu B'shvat at Shiloh

Over 4000 members of the Bnei Akiva youth movement came to Shiloh to plant trees.

From the photo album of Miriam Feyga Bunimovitch:

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Pied Piper Peter Beinart

Peter Beinart has written a new book, The Crisis of Zionism. In it he attempts to tear apart the relationship of admiration, support and defense that has existed between Israel and American Jewry for over a century. According to his ideological worldview, there is a “deep chasm” between the Jewish social justice tradition, as he understands it, and the American Jewish Establishment when it comes to Israel. That community sent its children to the American South to help the blacks and balances that with the assertion that “millions of West Bank Palestinians are denied rights simply because they are not Jews.” He pits Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against President Barack Obama as one who rejects the tradition revered by Obama. He warns against the dying of a dream of a democratic Jewish state while American Jews watch. Coincidentally, the book will be released at this year's J Street National Conference which is also promoting an "we doubt Iran's threat" theme.


For Beinart, “only by giving Palestinians their own country in the West Bank and Gaza Strip can Israel again become a Jewish state that offers the right of citizenship to all the people within its domain.” He portrays himself, his agenda and his polices as upholding the ”honor of the Jewish people in our time.”

Beinart, of course, does not only write books but pens op-eds and recently tried to deny Iran’s threat to Israel, trying to parallel the situation America went through with the Iraq war and the no weapons of mass destruction, although he leaves himself an escape route by adding “The point is not that an Iranian nuclear weapon poses no threat to Israel”. What bothers him is that there seem to be security experts who deny Iran’s threat but that no one is listening to them, that there is “a struggle between people who think practically and people who think ideologically, between people trying to soberly assess a given adversary”.

I am not sure who is scaring Beinart more, Netanyahu or US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta who declared last week that if Iran does not change course, the US is "prepared to respond if we have to", reiterating that all U.S. options are on the table, implying the possibility of using military force.

Beinart, to my mind, is a reborn version of the coercive utopian, so ably described and criticized in the 1984 book by Rael Jean Isaac and her husband Eric. He broke into public consciousness at the debate conducted on April 29th with Yossi Klein Halevi which followed the publishing of his New York Review of Books piece in May 2010. In that essay he posited that mainstream American Jewish organizations hew to a liberal vision of Zionism but willingly support a near-fascist Israel where democracy is crumbling. His target is American Jewish youth who are the real victims of that establishment having been under-educated to the history of Zionism and its conflict with the Arabs of Eretz-Israel.

Beinart is a Pied Piper who himself is ideological. His hooking up with J Street is most natural. Unfortunately, he is playing a tune that is detached from the reality of the Middle East as it is from what genuine Jewish nationalism is. Beinart’s claims of loyalty to Israel notwithstanding, he fealty, I am convinced, is to his liberal and American identity foremost. In the end, his music is quite off-key.

___________

Reminds us of Joe Klein:

It’s one thing to just adore Israel, as the evangelical Christians do; it’s another thing entirely to send American kids off to war, yet again, to fight for Israel’s national security.”

UPDATE

Harsher IAEA report on Iran nuclear program expected next month

Upcoming follow-up report apparently includes new details about efforts by Tehran to develop nuclear warheads for ground-to-ground missiles.

^

Our new media comment is up

Here, at the Jerusalem Post.

On Galatz, the IDF radio station.

^

A 99% Video Clip Success

A great video clip, "curtesy" of Bill Clinton:

However that last caption segment of "Israel Wants Peace" shopuld not have been followed by "When will the Arabs?" but rather -

What Do The Arabs Want?

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Zionism's Religious Foundational Framework

On the one hand, incisive, very wise and correct but almost:

Zionism insisted it was strictly a political movement charged with founding a Jewish homeland and freeing the Jewish people from generations of subservience and persecution. The truth was that a different spirit animated it from the start...the truth was that the feeling behind Herzl’s religious-tinged dream was one many of Zionism’s early luminaries shared...Such religious fervor, whether conscious or not, united radical Marxists and stern Halachists in common cause. Zionism’s core thrust was a return to Zion—but that notion is impossible to understand outside of its biblical context. Whatever its political interests and accomplishments, Zionism was never satisfied with mere earthly affairs. It still isn’t.

In denying Zionism its religious essence, the Israeli left is proving to be inept not only at understanding the past but also at planning for the future. Increasingly, it is governed by a humanist ethos that sees the occupation and the horrific acts committed to preserve it as an affront to universalist values. But there is a very strong argument to be made that the occupation is also an absolute violation of Judaism’s core tenets...

As for that "almost", read my comments there.

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Now, This Is A True Jewish College Student

Watch this video of Sarah Grunfeld's story.

Admire her courage.

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Heard About the Rabbi And Fear?

Jonathan Hoffman of the UK, also a member of the Board of Deputies, attempted to unseat Rabbi Danny Rich from the British Zionist Federation.  Rich is the chief executive of Liberal Judaism and a ZF patron.

As reported:

...ZF joint vice-chairman Jonathan Hoffman tabled the resolution to remove him at a meeting of a national council last week...it is understood that he complained about Rabbi Rich's recent participation in a church event with Peter Kosminsky, the director of The Promise, Channel 4's contentious drama on the birth of Israel, and anti-Zionist Deborah Fink.  He also took issue with Rabbi Rich's view that advocates of a one-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict are not by definition antisemitic.

On that event:

a sixth-form study day at the Gryphon Church of England school, chaired by the Bishop of Sherborne, Graham Kings. The event was focused on Israel and Palestine. But its objectivity and impartiality left much to be desired. Partly organised by the anti-Israeli Palestinian Christian movement entitled "Friends of Sabeel", aided by members of Jews for Justice for Palestinians, its spotlight was unashamedly on the privations allegedly inflicted upon Arabs by Jews in what was once part of Mandate Palestine. The event was planned around last year's controversial Channel 4 series, The Promise, and the guest of honour was its writer, Peter Kosminsky...Other participants in the Sherborne event included Dr Hassan Qasrawi (described on the Salisbury diocesan website as "a Palestinian refugee") and Deborah Fink, a singer and leading Jewish anti-Zionist activist, whose multifarious accomplishments have included demonstrating against a concert by the Jerusalem Quartet in London in 2010...

On the one hand, although the resolution did not pass, Harvey Rose, ZF chairman, commented that the patrons of the ZF, including Rabbi Rich, would be asked to reaffirm their allegiance to the Jerusalem Programme – the World Zionist Organisation's manifesto.

As for Rabbi Rich, on a trip to Israel this week, he responded so:

"Jonathan Hoffman's petty campaign against me does neither him nor the Zionist Federation any credit. Perhaps now that his views have been comprehensively rejected by his ZF executive colleagues, he will find a more constructive cause for his undoubted energy.

"He is in danger of being out of touch with those of us who consider ourselves real friends of Israel, who advocate for Israel in places where others fear to tread."

I am not fully familiar with the particulars, although I am aware of the general malaise that concerns Jonathan, with whom I am familiar. Nevertheless, the good Rabbi should know that if one need fear to tread, there may be a very good reason for that fear.


P.S. After searching around further, I doscovered that on March 21 2010 Rich allowed ICAHD's Jeff Halper the use of the Montagu Centre. The meeting was organised by “Jews for Justice for Palestinians”. And at a meeting at Kingston Synagogue in October 2010 Rich made a comment which alll heard that the ZF was in cahoots with the English Defense League.

Maybe we should fear the Rabbi?

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Wow, Israel Leads Off The News

Madonna has announced that she will go on tour from May for the first time in three years, starting in Israel and so leads off the BBC, Reuters and many others.

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Post-Super Bowl Expectations for Israel

You've been following the exploits of the Israel Football League here, and the game my son plays at defense (even when he wasn't at defense last week, the Jerusalem Lions won its last game 62 - 0 against the Troopers of Petah Tikva at the Kraft Stadium and pics here

).

Well, this is good news:

It turns out DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, has a soft spot for Israel and “would love to bring 15 of our players out there to help boost the growth of football in the Holy Land.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell concurred.

“That would be a special trip that I’d love to take part in,” he remarked, likely without realizing that he was going to be held to this “promise.”

That comes from the report from Indiannappolis by the IFL Commissioner who also informed us that

I have to get to sleep. I have to make it on time for minyan with the Krafts – Robert has to say Kaddish – at 9 a.m....Mr. Kraft somehow never fails to impress. (“It’s not that I’m such a religious or observant person, and I am not so strict on saying Kaddish for my sweetheart every day, but I want to demonstrate to my children and my grandchildren that even on day as big as this, the things that are important in life take priority.”)

A previous report here.
Who says Jews aren't good at sports?

And playing football in Israel has advantages:

A Toms River native was scoring big abroad, twice named the all-Israel Football League defensive end for his stint with the Tel Aviv Pioneers, a football team in Israel.

Jason Gosnell garnered these impressive football accolades, but his work in Israel was primarily to study and practice law...According to the Rutgers Focus, who published a featured story on Gosnell, he is driven by intellectual pursuits. This path led him back to Rutgers after his six years in Israel. He's now pursuing a Master's degree in the new Department of Jewish Studies program offered on the New Brunswick campus.

And a quiz - what sport and where does Israel Folau play?

Answer.


P.S.

Remember this (via Carl)?

Thanks to the unending generosity of Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his wife Myra, American Football has turned into one of the fastest growing sports in the country. [I want to stop there and add something. Whenever the Krafts come to Israel, they sponsor a get-together for all the Bostonians who are here on youth programs. That's what the kids tell me. I envy them. No one did that for us when I was in yeshiva here. CiJ] Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem is home to over 1,000 football players in four leagues.

Youth programs are now operating all over the country and even a new tackle football league has gotten off the ground.

Kraft Family Stadium was constructed in 1999. The Krafts gave another donation in 2005 to re-dedicate the facility with state of the art Fieldturf. Robert Kraft spoke at the re-dedication in Hebrew, and told the audience that "before building the field in Jerusalem, the Patriots had never won a Super Bowl. Since building the field we have three championships."

He then looked toward the heavens and said, "This could not have been by chance."

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Are You A Jewish Archaeologist?

I wonder, could Jewish archaeologists apply to this?

a session on “The Archaeology of Southern Arabia and Her Neighbors ” at the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) Meetings in Chicago, November 14-17, 2012.../covering a wide spatio-temporal swath from the Paleolithic to the Present centered on the Arabian Peninsula but including neighboring areas such as The Horn of Africa, East Africa, and South Asia. Contributions might be tied to the region thematically (e.g., pastoral nomadism, domesticates, or
agricultural strategies), methodologically (e.g., landscape
archaeology, or satellite imagery technologies) or through ancient contacts such as trade along The Red Sea, Persian/Arabian Gulf or Indian Ocean.

The deadline for submissions is February 15, 2012.

more information can be found here

Even if it is in Chiocago, you never know with those Saudis.

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Responding to a WashPost Letter-to-the-Editor

The Washington Post has a letter-to-the-editor this morning:

The next time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces he is willing and ready to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians, I hope readers will remember what he has just done. In a speech last week, he said that his Likud party “is ‘committed to settlement in the Land of Israel,’ a nod to a growing constituency of settlers and their supporters in the party’s ranks” [“Netanyahu strengthens his base within Likud,” news story, Feb. 2]. According to The Post’s coverage, his government also “approved new housing subsidies and loans for people who move to more than 500 communities in designated ‘national priority areas,’ including 70 West Bank settlements.”

The meaning of these moves is clear. Mr. Netanyahu and his party have no intention of stopping the growth of settlements in the West Bank, no matter what he might pronounce to be seen as a man of peace and reconciliation. The “peace talks” that Israeli leaders say they support are a farce, and the Palestinians realize that.

Joanne Heisel, Columbia

I left this comment there:

I don't understand JHeisel's thinking. The residency of Jews in the territory some people wish that a "Palestinian" state be established somehow is wrong, part of a farce, unhelpful to peace or reconciliation. If that is her conceptualization of a resolution of the conflict the Arabs began in 1920 by launching a series of riots and violent attacks agaist Jews during the Mandate Period, should the reverse also be true: that the residency of Arabs in "settlements" in the state of Israel is somehow wrong and intrusive and not assisting reconciliation and peace? Or can it be that she does not recognize any historic, religious, cultural or legal right the Jewish people possesses - and which was recognized by eh League of Nations at the time - to reconstitute our national home in that territory at all? If she does, then just as Arabs reside in Jerusalem, Beer-Sheba, Acre, Rahat and Um Al-Fahm, Jews can and should live in Shiloh, Hebron and Bet-El - and even in Rabat-Ammon, for that matter. No?

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What's Wrong Here?

Take note of this book:-

The Prehistory of Jordan, II. Perspectives from 1997, ed. by H.G.K. Gebel, Z. Kafafi, and G.O. Rollefson (1997). III + 662 p., 207 figs., 46 pls., 160 tables, 49 contrib., softcover.  ISBN: 3-9804241-3-8
Price: 95,00 €

Well, if we are talking about "prehistory", Jordan was included in what the world knew, and which an invented people want to be known, as "Palestine".  In fact, there is an article entitled "Tracking Activity Patterns Through Skeletal Remains. A Case Study from Jordan and Palestine" but not one that includes "Israelite".  In other words, there are no Jews, Hebrews or Israelites in this academic anthology.

And if you suggest that the geographical territory is defined by today's contemporary borders for convenience, what do we do about this article - " The Early History of Copper Metallurgy in the Southern Levant"?  Is Israel not in the Southern Levant?

Can there be such a terminology as "Jordanian Palaeolithic Research"?  Is the research "Jordanian" or is the palaeolithic period* "Jordanian?  Can it be Jordanian so long ago?

Academics, these days.  Harumph.

UPDATE

Consider this topography found at this article, "Pastoral Clashes: Conflict Risk and Mitigation at the Pottery Neolithic Transition in the Southern Levantby Lee Clare of the University of Cologne here, p. 13:

__________
*
The Palaeolithic, or Stone Age, is the longest period of human history. The end of this period is traditionally positioned some 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the Ice Age.

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Shiloh Street, Jerusalem Stays That Way

I was at the meeting last night of the Street Naming Committee of the Jerusalem Municpality that wished, among other suggestions, to rename Shiloh Street. I registered an objection to the alteration of Shiloh Street in the Nachlaot neighborhood being changed to Sharabi Street and provided an alternative location right nearby.

Some pics:

In the end, they decided not to alter any of the names.

Victory!

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What A (Jonah) Whale-Out-of-Water Story

Notified of

Verification of the Existence of Life at Ashdod at the Time of Jonah the Prophet

The foundation of a large fortress that was situated there during the First Temple period was exposed in an excavation the Israel Antiquities Authority...In a trial archaeological excavation the Israel Antiquities...remains of massive walls more than 1 m wide were found that are dated to the late eighth century and early seventh century BCE.

In the estimation of the excavation director, Dmitri Egorov, of the Israel Antiquities Authority, these walls constituted the base of a large building from the First Temple period, the time when Jonah the prophet was active..Based on the finds the remains are probably an extensive foundation of a structure that was used as a stronghold or fortress that dates to the time of the First Temple.

According to Sa'ar Ganor, the Ashkelon District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “Giv'at Yonah, which rises c. 50 m above sea level, is the highest hill in Ashdod, whence one can look out to sea, to Tel Mor – located in the Nahal Lachish estuary which was probably an ancient anchorage, and to Tel Ashdod. Due to its strategic location, it is not surprising to find there remains of a fortress that overlooked the region in the First Temple period”. Ganor adds, “There are two possibilities regarding who inhabited the fortress at that time: one possibility is that it was controlled by the Assyrians who were the regional rulers in the Iron Age. Another possibility is that Josiah, king of Judah, occupied the fort at the time, who we know conquered territory from the Assyrians and controlled Ashdod-Yam in the seventh century BCE”.

So, you are the "invented people" in this region?

Jews or the "Palestinian Arabs"?

^

Cop Hit By Brick - In Meah Shearim?

No.

At Occupy Washington DC:-

Authorities say 11 people have been arrested in Washington's McPherson Square since Park Police began clearing away tents from one of the nation's last remaining Occupy sites.

David Schlosser, who is a spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, said Sunday that one of those arrested was charged with felony assault on a police officer and assault with a deadly weapon. That person is accused of hitting an officer in the face with a brick Saturday evening. The officer was treated at a hospital.

Three others were charged with assault on a police officer.

I guess you don't have to be a hareidi to be violent.

^

"Interim" is the Key 'Palestinian' Buzz Word

According to the NYTimes

Palestinians Consider Abbas to Lead Interim Body
-

According to Palestinian reports, an interim unity government would be led, at least at first, by Mahmoud
Abbas, the current president of the Palestinian Authority.

Most things are 'interim' by them, it would seem.

Interim negotiations - that never finish.

Interim governments - that never complete their tasks.

Interim nation...


UPDATE

PM Netanyahu's Response to the Agreement that was Signed between the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas (Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks earlier this afternoon (Monday), 6.2.12, at a meeting of the Likud Knesset faction:

"I would like to say a few words about what was signed in Doha. Hamas is a terrorist organization that strives to destroy Israel, and which is supported by Iran. I have said many times in the past that the Palestinian Authority must choose between an alliance with Hamas and peace with Israel. Hamas and peace do not go together. Over the past few weeks, Israel and elements in the international community have made great efforts to advance the peace process. If Abu Mazen implements what has been signed in Doha, he will have chosen to abandon the way of peace and to join with Hamas, without Hamas having accepted the minimal conditions of the international community: Not only does Hamas not recognize Israel and the [previously signed] agreements, it has not abandoned terrorism. It is continuing with terrorism and to arm itself in order to perpetrate even deadlier terrorism. I say to Abu Mazen: You cannot hold the stick by both ends. It is either peace with Hamas or peace with Israel; you cannot have it both ways."

That's fairly final.

^

Mountain Out of a Mohel

Caught this circumcision story:

Now that three studies have shown that circumcising adult heterosexual men is one of the most effective “vaccines” against Aids—reducing the chances of infection by 60 per cent or more—public health experts are struggling to find ways to make the process faster, cheaper and safer.

The goal is to circumcise 20 million African men by 2015, but only about 600,000 have had the operation thus far. Even a skilled surgeon takes about 15 minutes, most African countries are desperately short of surgeons, and there is no Mohels Without Borders.

What does Fark say 'bout this?

UN wants to circumcise 20 million African men by 2015. Some say this is making a mountain out of a mohel

^

New Book: Only Israel West of the Jordan River

While everyone seems to only be talking about the "two-state solution" and the need that a "Palestine" be established, the second Arab country to arise out of the Mandate territory, an attitude that has monopolized political discourse for decades and smothered alternative proposals, a new book is out that will shake you.

Written by my friend Mordechai Nisan, who has been teaching Middle East Studies for 35 years at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and has researched and published extensively on Israel and the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Palestinian question, minorities in the Middle East, Islam, and U.S. foreign policy, "ONLY ISRAEL WEST OF THE RIVER" defends the Jewish national state narrative, rejects the Palestinian state idea, argues in favor of Jerusalem united under Israeli rule, elucidates the Jewish settlement enterprise, while offering a coherent paradigm to contend with the Israeli-Palestinian conflct.

Only Israel west of the Jordan river is a core proposal to generate new political discourse and conflict-resolution toward a vision of peace.

From the blurb:

This book offers a coherent paradigm to contend with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It first clarifies the national Jewish character of Israel, the danger of domestic Arab challenges, and the imperative of Israeli rule throughout the area west of the Jordan River. It secondly considers the Palestinian population in Judea and Samaria, and the complexity of arranging Jewish-Arab accommodation and political stability. The book then argues for the consolidation of a Palestinian entity east of the river in Jordan. This innovative approach to conflict-resolution offers the only reasonable political solution for a problem that is more than one hundred years old. The two-state solution, currently monopolizing political discourse, is a non-starter; our proposal is the only worthy and serious option to consider.

I strongly suggest you order the book at: www.createspace.com/3584834
or on www.Amazon.com at list price $8.99. The Amazon link is: http://www.amazon.com/Only-Israel-West-River-ebook/dp/B005IRPQ3Q/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 .

Read it!

Nahal Shiloh After The Rains

The rains poured down during January here and ER's pictures of Nahal Shiloh, the stream that begins just east of Shiloh and continues to the sea, show the blessing from heaven:

^

Amnesty Hits on Syria? No, Israel

I was informed about 'another human rights farce':

Today at 11 am at the American Colony Hotel (aka the PLO media center), instead of being in Syria or in Turkey, Amnesty will be attacking...Israel -

have joint release w#HRW re forcible eviction & transfer of 20#Palestinian communities (#Jahalin) in occupied West Bank

Always fixed on the real target - Israel.


UPDATE

ChallahHuAkbar sent me this.

^

Super Bowel Modesty Issues

Thanks to LK:

I know this doesnt need to be said but I cant resist. THE TV MUST BE TURNED OFF DURING THE HALFTIME SHOW!  I heard there was a mysa a few years back where one of the woman involved in the show had a "wardrobe malfunction."  Well not in my house. Ahh but you might say that Madonna is a real masmid of Kabullah and she is on such a madreiga that the moment wont get to her.  I hear the vort, but "safek d'orysa l'chumra" so I insist on that the half time show is not to be watched in my home.

You want the whole piece?

Hi,

I live in KGH, mamesh 4 minute walk from Lander College.  I will be watching the game by my inlaws who arent so frum so i will not be home all day on sunday.  I have a 42 in tv in my bedroom.  I dont have it in my living room because I dont want my children to know we have a tv in the house, chas v'shalom even see me watching it.  I only watch sports anyways. I have no problem  with a few guys renting my apartment to watch the game.  There are just a few conditions I need to make %100  sure will be kept.

1) Any food brought into my house must be Cholov Yisroel (even thought no shtark bocher is going to be eating dairy during the big game). Most importantly, every thing must be Yashan.  I take it very seriously.  Some Yidden are of the opinion that that Yashan is just a chumra.  Thats fine, those are the same people that dont wear hats and jackets while they are davening.  Its pashut to me that Yashan is not a chumra, but im not going to get into the details right now.

2) If my wife is still in Niddah, then you can probrally fit about 5 to 6 folding chairs between our beds.  Ill make sure to move the night table that separtes our beds into the living room.  If she baruch hashem is not in Nidda anymore, then you can probrally fit 3 to 4 chairs between out beds.  Oh, and please dont eat in my bedroom.

3)  I know this doesnt need to be said but I cant resist. THE TV MUST BE TURNED OFF DURING THE HALFTIME SHOW!  I heard there was a mysa a few years back where one of the woman involved in the show had a "wardrobe malfunction."  Well not in my house. Ahh but you might say that Madonna is a real masmid of Kabullah and she is on such a madreiga that the moment wont get to her.  I hear the vort, but "safek d'orysa l'chumra" so I insist on that the half time show is not to be watched in my home.

4) Hats and jackets MUST be worn to and from my apartment.  Once you get inside you can dress however you want.  You can even wear a brooks brothers light blue shirt for all I care.  I cant have my neighbors see people coming in and out of my apartment that dont look like b'nei toyrah.

5) Absolutely no gambling on the game in my house.  Gambling is for modern orthodox people who think its "ok" as long as im not sitting at a card table with another jew.  Wrong!  Not in my house.  I dont need the pictures of my Rabbeim on the wall to see bochrim gambeling in my apartment. I am charging $36.00 dollars a head, two times chai, per person who comes to watch by me. If there is serious interest, please email me back soon so I can figure out an excuse to tell my wife why we have to sleep by her parents house sunday night.

I will tell you my exact address and the place i will leave the keys
at a later time.

Tizku L'mitsvos and LETS GO GIANTS!

^

"Palestinian Reverse Inventivity" - Example: Jerusalem

In my "Inventivity Model of 'Palestinianism'", I noted its uniqueness in that not only does this natioanlism invent itself but also seeks to use invented theories, examples and cases to eradicate Jewish nationlism.

For example here: Am I Not a Human (7): The Suffering of Jerusalem and Holy Sites under the Israeli Occupation

which claims

The book...documents the suffering of the holy city, holy in Islam, Christianity and Judaism, and its population under the Israeli Occupation; in addition to the Occupation's infringements on other Muslim and Christian holy sites in Palestine generally.

The book presents a historic and legal background on the issue of Jerusalem, since its occupation...that prove the illegality and de-legitimacy of the Occupation.

The book also considers the Israeli infringements on Al-Aqsa Mosque, including excavations beneath and near the Mosque that threaten its infrastructure, the breakings into the Mosque, the expropriation of its areas and of neighbouring homes and neighborhoods, and the continuous attempts of the occupation to transform it into an open site for Jews and tourists, thus depriving its religious sanctity to Muslims.

Additionally, the book describes the Israeli Occupation's practices in the issue of Judaizing Jerusalem and imposing a Jewish façade on the city instead of its currently Muslim-Christian dominant Arab identity; and works in constructing a parallel "holy" Jewish city in the project named "Jerusalem first".

Jerusalem has had a Jewish population majority since the late 1850s - that's 130 years already, before 'Palestinianism' was invented:

According to the Prussian consul, the population in 1845 was 16,410, with 7,120 Jews, 5,000 Muslims, 3,390 Christians, 800 Turkish soldiers and 100 Europeans.[102 - Jerusalem: Illustrated History Atlas Martin Gilbert, Macmillan Publishing, New York, 1978, p. 37] .  Another source.

^

Latma: 92 Days And Noam Schalit Not Yet in the Knesset

At 4:50 at the Latma video this week:

Watch it.

^

Shiloh Celebrated 34 Years

On the 1st of Shevat back in 1978, the first familes set themselves up near the Tel of Shiloh. Two weeks later, on the Hebrew Arbor Day of Tu B'shvat, the official ceremony took place (see my post from four years ago).

Last night, we celebrated 34 years of renewal.

The pictures from the camera of Miriam-Feyga Bunimovich:

Some photos:

the invitation:

Shiloh's rep at Latma:

My wife, Batya, in action:

^

This Is Criminal

Emily Amrousi writes:

This week, the seven families evacuated from Mitzpeh Avihai discovered that the rubble of their former homes, along with all of their belongings, had been taken to a garbage dump site in the South Hebron Hills area. Those who went searching for their things were met with dozens of Palestinian looters who asked if another shipment was on the way. I couldn’t believe this story, until I saw video footage. I saw toys, solar panels, an iron, a kid’s chair, a dresser, windows – all rolling out from inside the garbage truck. The driver of the truck saw a nice sink and grabbed it for himself. Let’s assume there was justification for the state to confiscate these private belongings – what about the established procedure for depositing and seizing property?

The state decided that Shlomit and Yaki’s home, and the home of Noga and Avraham, were garbage.

^

Shiloh and An Almost Jewess

The "Shiloh" is Shiloh Fernandez and the "almost Jewess" is Jane Levy - her father is Jewish.

The story:

Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez Join "Evil Dead"

With Lily Collins out of the picture, Fede Alvarez's upcoming "Evil Dead" remake was lacking a female lead. But today, the film announced two big casting decisions. Jane Levy from ABC's "Suburgatory" joined the film as Collins' replacement. Additionally, Variety is reporting that Shiloh Fernandez will be one of the five friends holed up in a cabin facing demonic forces let loose on the world. The flick is pegged for an April 12, 2013 release

I haven't the faintest idea about this but, well, I did spot 'Shiloh' and 'Levy'.

More here, if you're interested.

^

That's A Torah Scroll But That's No Rabbi

I was alerted to the "Rabbi" Messer (no one who believes this can be a Rabbi) story by friend Ellen Horowitz of JewishIsrael (although we do disagree on some issues*, her work on Christian efforts to proselytize Jews is super and suberb).

And now The Atlantic hits on it.

As CNN reports:

Bishop Eddie Long has been called anointed, but he was recently awarded another title, as shown in a video that’s gone viral. He’s now a king. Long was wrapped in a “Holocaust Torah” and crowned a king during a recent Sunday ceremony at New Birth Missionary Church, his suburban Atlanta congregation. A visiting rabbi wrapped Long in the Torah, which he said was recovered during the Holocaust. The rabbi then directed four men to lift a seated Long in his chair and parade him before the New Birth congregation.

“He is a king. God’s blessed him. He’s a humble man, but in him is kingship, royalty,” Rabbi Ralph Messer shouted...Messer leads the Simchat Torah Beit Midrash congregation in Colorado, which describes itself as a community of Jewish and non-Jewish believers in “Yeshua,” or Jesus Christ. He said the ceremony was held to honor and encourage Long because the pastor had given so much to his church, and the world.

“It was not to make Bishop Eddie L. Long a king,” Messer said in the statement. “Lifting him on the chair was to acknowledge and honor him. It is done all the time at Jewish weddings and bar mitzvahs.”

JewishIsrael further alerts -

Heads-up Jewish community leaders: Messer, who claims to have "dual citizenship in Israel", will be leading a tour to Israel in March 2012 billed as "The Land of Israel Awaits Your Return" and Jewish communities like Shiloh, with its excavations, are featured on the itinerary.

I checked and according to the tour schedule, on Sunday, March 4, 2012 the group arrives in Israel and then drives to "

the suburbs of Ariel, north of Tel Aviv. Before dinner, walk through the biblical gardens and a replica of the Tabernacle

and on the next day, they

drive to ancient Shiloh and visit the excavations of this ancient site, including the harbor, the Crusader City, the Amphitheatre, the Hippodrome and the Roman aquaduct [sic].

I think there must be a typo there since Shiloh is no where near a body of water.

In any case, "Rabbi" Messer may be greeted by some boos.

*
BTW, if you check the map here, you'll see no "messianic Jewish" groups across the Green Line. And we intend to keep it that way.

^

The Duchess Kate and the Hassid's Coat

Thanks to CR.


How a Hassidic sartorial garment became the model for the Duchess of Cambridge:

It's a beautifully cut and timeless piece - camel wool, dark chocolate brown detailing and a line that elongates and flatters: The London Contrast coat is one of the Duchess of Cambridge's most elegant wardrobe choices.

 

But while some lucky women, royalty in their midst, are proud owners of the Katherine Hooker's creations, one anonymous Israeli boy was the inspiration behind the whole label.

Such a schmatta story.

^

The Reported Qaryut Story That Didn't Happen

Yesterday, I blogged - Moshko Ruch - on the Qaryut residents' procession and demonstration. Well, here is the Ma'an report which bears little resemblance to what happened:-

Nablus village road opens after demonstration

Hundreds [there were less than 200] of Palestinians [there were at least a dozen 'internationalists', Americans and Europeans] joined in a popular demonstration after Friday prayers in Qaryot village south of Nablus, before opening a road [when I left, the dirt roadblock was still in place; see map below]* which was closed during the intifada.

Palestinian Authority official Ghassan Doughlas

said residents were tired of Israeli measures which require them to travel 16 km through bypass roads in order to reach their homes, after a direct route was closed. [but they brought olive tree saplings which is somethibg not mentioned]

Israeli authorities stood by as Palestinian bulldozers [??? I saw no bulldozers] opened the road [it's still closed], although they called on the crowd to calm down, Doughlas added.

Here, thanks to Maplandia, is a map which I've created:

Tel Shiloh is labled in red.  The community village of Shiloh is off to the right of the map, marked in black.  The Arab village of Qaryut is north-east of Shiloh and Eli, another Jewish community is north of us.  Moshe Moshkowitz and Yaakov Sharvit's fields are outlined in yellow. The main highway, 60 (which extends from Beer Sheva up to Afula, #2), just left of center, is entered by a dirt path (#1) that comes from Qaryut in the east.

The dirt roadblock is marked by a purple arrow.

Quite simply, while understanding the need for easy transportation arrangements, to permit traffic entry and exit at the point where the path joins Highway 60 would simply cause death, injury and damage.  The highway at that point is where cars travel up to 80 kph as there is a slight decline coming fromthe south and absolutlely no way for cars traveling from the north to turn left at the proposed link-up.  Right-hand tunrs also are dangerous as the vehicle would have to slow down, with speeding cars (it's a one lane in each direction road) bearing down.

It's a simple impossibility unless a lot of money is invested for major earthworks and even a traffic light. Is the PA ready for that investment - and whether or not we Jews are here, the problem exists in any event.

_________________

*
I have been informed, both by a Qaryut resident and now by the security officer of Shiloh, that indeed the earthern roadblock was removed.  I hope I will not have to report on too many traffic injuries before the road again is closed.
_________________

And more pictures from Yonah Tzoref's camera:

a) the few olive tree sapling:-
 
^

 b) the "hundreds":-

 c) prepared - the ambulance:-

Here Comes the "Jordanian Spring"?

And, on the other side of the Jordan River, at a traffic circle called the "Eighth"...

Clashes broke out on Friday between security forces and supporters of a former deputy who was arrested Thursday on charges of “undermining the regime”, as pro-reformers cancelled a planned protest in the capital.

Relatives of former MP Ahmad Oweidi Abbadi converged on the eighth circle Friday evening to hold an open-ended sit-in shortly after a rally at the tribe’s nearby diwan in support of the ultranationalist activist, who was arrested late Thursday following his public call last month for the establishment of a “Jordanian Republic.”

Upon their arrival, Abbadi's supporters clashed with anti-riot forces who had cordoned off the Eighth Circle - a vital west Amman intersection and, according to eye witnesses, used use tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Following the clashes, Abbadi supporters attempted to close the intersection by setting fire to trash cans, damaging nearby commercial outlets in the process, according to a Public Security Department (PSD) statement...nine persons were arrested for attempting to close the intersection and their involvement in the clashes, which left “several” security officers and policemen injured...pro-reformers in the governorates continued their protest-drive, with dozens of leftist and independent activists leading marches in Salt, Karak, Maan and Tafileh.

Under the slogan “we will not give up on reform,” dozens of activists in the southern cities in Karak and Maan protested against recent decision to raise electricity tariffs and called for an end to corruption.

We'll keep an eye out for developments.

After all, eventual unification of all the regions of the Land of Israel is an option.


^

"Moshko, Ruch"

As I have reported here previously, Arabs from Qaryut who claim to own agricultural land aside Highway 60 and to the left and north of the Tel, assisted by Arik Ascherman, went to court and lost their case. The fields legally belong to Moshe 'Moshko' Moshkowitz and his partner, Yaakov Sharvit (who was injured defending their land from trespassers during an earlier demonstarion).

Arabs from Qaryut returned today to demonstrate. I was on the scene, together with Yona Tzoref, a graduate of the Tatzpit program, and we took pictures.

The protestors, shouting 'Palestine Free' and 'Ruch Moshko' (= Moshko Get Out), brought along flags and olive tree saplings and also hoe-type shovels to try and dismantle the dirt blockade to prevent them entering/exiting from Highway 60 which is quite dangerous.

Pictures:

a) waiting at the east side of the Tel:

b) the fields of Moshko (all the way to the stone fence off on the right)

c) the crowd

d) leaving

e) the arrow points to the leader:

Will wait for MSM (mainstream media) reports.

^

Demographic Demonology

A friend sent this around:

Anyone care to comment on the numbers they [Barak Ravid] are saying*, and the consequences if it's true?

I quickly responded:

sure. Yoram Ettinger has proven the PCBS lies.

He calls it demographobia. Check his other articles. And search my blog, looking for "demography", etc.

Another acquaintance wrote this:

Even according to the inflated PCBS numbers, as they appear in the piece, there are 4 million Arabs in the West Bank-Israel. The uninflated numbers are closer to 3.2 million (here; and here).

According to the ICBS numbers, there are 5.9 million Jews in that same area. This number is undisputed. Now, it makes no difference which numbers you choose, the inflated PCBS ones or the uninflated Israeli ones, the figures say the same thing: Jews constitute 60-65% of the population of Israel and the West Bank together, and even in the highly unlikely scenario that every single West Bank Arab becomes a citizen of Israel (presuming Israel were to allow such a thing) together with every single Arab resident of Jerusalem that has hitherto refrained from accepting Israeli citizenship, there is little chance there will be an Arab majority of Israeli citizens in the foreseeable future. Ravid’s attempt to pretend otherwise is based on including inflated Gaza numbers, and inflated Gaza population growth rates, neither of which are relevant.

*

What Ravid wrote:

Last week, the Palestinian Authority's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) published its report summarizing 2011...The report revealed that the number of Palestinians in the territories stands at about 4.2 million people: 2.6 million in the West Bank and 1.6 million in the Gaza Strip. Added to them are about 1.4 million Palestinians who are Israeli citizens and about 5.6 million Palestinians that belong to the Arab countries and the rest of the world.

On the one hand, no Israelis are citizens of "Palestine", as yet, if at all.  Not fair.  On the other, why count abroad Arabs?  There are millions more Jews.  So?

In other words, Haaretz is again the Ha-Ha-Haaretz.

Boo!

^

BBC Bans Call of "Free Palestine"

Challah Hu Akbar alerted me this story that the BBC has censored a British rapper who, in this clip, at 3:00, shouts "I can scream 'Free Palestine'" - but he can't. The sound of broken glass replaces it.

From the lyrics:

I still have the same beliefs
I can scream free Palestine die for my pride still pray for peace
Still burn the feds for the brutality they've spread over the world
Pakistan's an ocean, bodies in the brown water floating still nobody helps

But some 3 seconds later, he shouts "Pakistan".

British hypocrits.

^