Yet Another Non-published Letter to the Editor

To the Editor, the Times of London,

In his column, Hugo Rifkind writes, "you can be in favour of a two-state solution, or you can be in favour of expanding settlements. But not really both" ("Settlements are a step too far for many British Jews", 9 Sept). 

In a two-state solution, will Arab settlements be permitted to remain in Israel's territory, pre-1967 or otherwise? If so, why cannot Jewish settlements remain in a future 'Palestine'?  

Or are the proponents of a two-state solution in favor of creating a second Islamic Arab ethnostate in the region of historic Palestine, the other being Jordan, while insisting Israel not only accept a topographical strategic security threat but accept as well a 20+ percentage of its population being Arab and all that entails? 

Yisrael Medad, Shiloh

Israel

^

The Violent Status Quo's Origin in Jerusalem

We all know about the post-1967 "status quo" that applies to the Temple Mount.

To a great extent, its conceptualization was based on an existing framework that had been adopted by the Ottoman Empire.

How did the concept develop in Jerusalem? What were its historical roots?

A short summary of the original status quo (here, too):

The concept of the “status quo”1 was introduced in 1852, when the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Mejid, in a futile attempt to avoid a war, issued a decree freezing the rights of worship and possession of the religious communities in the Holy Places of Christendom. The decree terminated the bloody rivalry between the Greek Orthodox patriarchate and the Roman Catholic church for predominance in the Christian sanctuaries and recognized the paramount rights of the Greek Orthodox church in the Holy Places affirmed since 1757. In 1853, the sultan issued another decree, which transferred the power of jurisdiction over the sanctuaries from the local officials in Palestine to the Sublime Porte. Subsequently, Article 62 of the Treaty of Berlin (1878) proclaimed the inviolability of the decree of 1852 and declared it the “Status Quo of the Holy Places.” The successive governments of Palestine, the British Mandate, and the State of Israel further maintained the regulations as set forth by the status quo of 1852.

The British employed the term on the November 1928 White Paper. I have ealt with it and, for example, see here.  The Cust Report is also useful.

What is overlooked, though, is that the status quo, while seeking to fix in place a reality that should not change, was necessitated and gained through acts of force and violence to change a reality and then benefit from that behavior.

What had been the Christian practice amongst the various sects and their churches and other institutions was altered in 1757, a turning point as that Maudy Monday when a number of sanctuaries previoulsy maintainbed by the Franciscans were taken over by the Greek Orthodox in quite a violent confrontation. On April 2, 1757 (the eve of Palm Sunday), Greek clergy attacked the Franciscans at the Holy Sepulchre and ransacked and smashed much of the Latin treasure. A lamp, a gift of Emperor Charles VI, was badly damaged in the assault.

A Franciscan historical account gives an even more dramatic description: after the Franciscans had completed their Palm Sunday procession, the Greeks overturned their altar, broke silver lamps, tore down velvet and brocade hangings, destroyed Latin property and assaulted Catholics

Here:

At the beginning of 1757, French ambassador, the count of Vergennes obtained a new firman from Othman III, confirming the Latins as exclusive owners of the sanctuaries which Louis XIV had rendered to them in 1690. The pretentions of the Greeks had been declared without foundation, and the Pasha of Damascus, had ordered the severe punishment of the three oriental monks who had beaten our Brother sacristan at Holy Sepulcher. So, here on Palm Sunday, after the Franciscans had retired after their usual procession, the Greeks tipped over our altar adorned before the Most Holy Sepulcher, broke all the silver lamps, tore all the velvet and brocade tapistries which the Franciscans had put in place for the feast. They destroyed everything that belonged to the Latins, striking the Catholics they met and sought to end the lives of the religious. The governor was alerted too late, and deterred by a Greek, his secretary put off to the next day, his visit to the site. However it was too late for the Greeks to deceive him, so he sent the troops to allow the Franciscans to enter Holy Savior, and he declared an act legally and authentically acknowledging the Greeks’ vandalism. However, in the interim while he waited for the punishment, one of the three oriental monks who should have been chastised by virtue of the firman cited above, returned from Constantinople where he had purchased the favor of the Grand-Vizier for the sum of Five hundred million dollars (Turkish money). He is followed a few days later by a Turkish officer carrying a new firman which gave the Greeks the Basilica of Saint Helena in Bethlehem, the seven arcades of the Madeleine (in the Bailica of the Holy Sepulcher), the most holy Sepulcher of Our Lord, and that of the Blessed Virgin!!! M. de Vergennes wanted to protest against such a despicable conduct. The Grand-Vizier Regyb-Pasha was content to answer with insolence: “These sites belong to my master the Sultan. He can give them to whomever he pleases, and while they were in the hands of the French until now, His Highness wants from now on that they should belong to the Greeks.” All the catholic ambassadors present in Constantinople wanted to go before the Turkish government as a group, but all were of the opinion such action had to wait for the death of the Grand Vizier. That would happen a few years later, (1762), but the Catholic influence had already forgotten the Franciscans and the Sanctuaries of the Holy Land, as they were approaching the French revolution.

^ 

'An Issue About a Few Hills'

Hugo Rifkind, writing in the London Times, "Settlements are a step too far for many British Jews" on September 8, insists:

Thereby demonstrating a lack of knowledge of history, topography and strategic depth as well as disregarding 3000 years of Jewish existence, religious and cultural fundamentals to favor a collective that has proven it will not fulfill any peace agreement, will not accept Jewish national identity nor has it, since 1993, reduced terror and violence, introduced peace and coexistence educational programs into their schools, halted incitement or stopped the 'pay-for-slay' financial support for terrorists.

Moreover, his dismissal tone of minimizing the matter of Judea and Samaria and expressing disdain, is contemptible

^

Quoted in the London Times

One settler leader suggested that British consumers would be “missing out” on Israeli-made wines, but said the ban would not have a significant effect on his income and instead only have a negative effect on the UK.

“I hope [Ed] Miliband will compensate Arabs who will lose income or even employment as a result of his ban. As for Brits who will lose the benefits of our products, especially wine, maybe another minister will deal with that,” said Yisrael Medad, the Israeli spokesman for the West Bank settlement of Shilo, which produces wines and is known for its ancient sites.

While UK law already dictates that products made in settlements are labelled as such, it can be difficult to distinguish which goods are made beyond the Green Line, the boundary that separated Israel from the West Bank and Gaza after 1948.

 

Yisrael Medad, the Israeli spokesman for the West Bank settlement of Shilo

^

Lurking Doubts Behind October 6-7, 2023

What is driving right-wingers about the accusations that the debacle of October 7, 2023 was solely due to Binyamin Netanyahu? Why do they promote a conspiracy theory? Are they on to something or fantasizing?

In the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 105a, discussing Balaam's attempt to curse Israel. The biblical verse says: “And Balak saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes” (Numbers 24:2). The Talmud interprets Balaam's vision and says that God prevented him from seeing Israel's sins - literally, “the shadow of mountains [appears] as mountains.”

I sought out materiel and present it below. I am quoting, to be clear. I do, however, add links to certain sections so that readers can review the issues and, perhaps, make judgments of their own. Just recently, Sara Netanyahu hinted in a fashion and was immediately taken to task. For those interested in the full report by the IDF in English, it is here.

"Treason?

There is a mountain of evidence that the October 7, 2023 Hamas raid into Israeli communities, the murder of 1250, the burning of some, the killing of babies, the vicious rapes, and the kidnapping of hostages and the suffering the hostages went though for month after month, aד as well as the slow response of the IDF and the authorities (taking in some cases 6 hours while the murders were happening, though foreign journalists managed got get get there much faster), was connected to a conspiracy intentionally designed by anti-Government leftists who imagined a tragedy could unseat the government - in short an effort to spark a coup d’etat.

TREASON??? For the friends here who have been brainwashed by hate, we'll keep it simple. This post will bring facts that cannot be argued with.

At the end of March 2022, an "important and sensitive source" handed over to Israel the document of Hamas's "Al-Aqsa Flood" program that details the raid as it occurred, the possible dates for the raid, Hamas's possible partners, and more. The program was translated to Hebrew and turned into a presentation called "Jericho's Wall”.

The three possible dates for the raid were the first day of Passover Yom Kippur and Simchat Torah. Hamas chose these dates after the vacation schedule of IDF soldiers was published on the IDF website, where it was noted that a larger percentage of leaves would be available  - more than usual.

The Hamas plans, as well as all the signs indicating that started the day before the disaster, were hidden from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Galant, contrary to, and in violation of both MilitaryJustice Law (1956). and Basic Law of the State.   

Starting from 2019 the chief intelligence officers were in contact with Yahya Sinwar who gave them details of his opponents in the Islamic Jihad and Israel did the job for Sinwar, eliminating them in three operations mainly against Islamic Jihad: Operation Black Belt, Operation Cost of Dawn, and Operation Shield and Arrow. (Here we emphasize - until then Israel has never gone out on an operation against the Islamic Jihad primarily! 

As a result, Sinwar had become an important and sensitive source of information, which despite the IDF's knowledge of the Hamas's plan to raid and despite signs indicating such an attack would take place from Gaza that presented details of the events that occurred on October 7, 2023, the IDF never provided information to the appropriate political level.

Four months after the exposure of the three strong indicators, about a year before the disaster, Israel  ceased to support Hamas.

Despite the signs of an impending disaster, the IDF recommended to the political level not to eliminate Sinwar and failed to properly inform the Government of what they knew. 

The leaders of the Kaplan protests knew of the three possible dates for the coup, that before each of the possible dates for the raid on which the Hamas plan for a coup was written, they knew to publish the comparison of the disaster of 1973 to the disaster that would come in 2023. Their knowledge originated from connection with security or political persons.

Ilan Shiloah, one of the protest leaders knew of the approaching disaster, and three weeks before October 7 asked to publish an announcement about the thousands of deaths that will soon be there. The ad was rejected in the media because "it doesn't make sense” (or that has been the excuse of those who preferred the public not be informed)

Shikma Bresler knew of the approaching disaster and wrote that Israel will be without an army, GSS and the Mossad. About a month before the last two possible dates for the raid, she posted on Twitter - "This month everything will be as clear as the sun.”  Clearly she had inside information.

At the end of August 2023 Yair Golan posted on Twitter [I cannot find a screenshot] - "October is coming. The hour of decision”. Obviously, Ya’ir Golan, who has now created a new political party, knew in advance what Hamas would do and that the response would be weak or non-existent. An “accessory before the fact” as they say in criminal law, yet he wants to head a political party today? [This is pure speculation]

Despite the leaders of the protest knowing [unproven] of the possibility of murder and kidnapping of their friends surrounded by Gaza, many of whom participated in demonstrations, they chose not to warn them directly and actually abandoned them to their deaths and kidnapping.

On the first two possible dates for a raid, Passover and Yom Kippur 2023, the IDF acted as such, responding to the indicative signs and preventing the raid. On the third possible date with the most severe indicating signs, the security system chose to reduce forces and go out completely unprepared, to send more than half of the fighters on a holiday unlike a third of the fighters as usual, send teams of tank to sleep in the residence, prevent in the morning the Golani units from going to the border axis as usual. Two combat helicopters that are supposed to be on standby in the center of the country at the time, remain at the Ramon base.

Evidence from inside appears that security officials were certain that there would be only hit in two communities (probably Kfar Gaza and Nahal Oz) with numerous casualties and kidnappings . The belief that there would be only damage in two settlements, could have come solely from an agreement with Sinwar.

Although a discussion took place during the night regarding the risk to the Nova Party  participants, security officials chose not to cancel it, which again indicates an assumption of an attack only against two settlements [speculation].

Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi in one of the calls sent a recorded confession: “”Hamas committed a fraud on us.”” "Fraud" according to the dictionary - deceiving, misleading. Fraud can only happen in agreement.   Clearly he knew the details.

Ronen Bar, the head of the GSS sent in the pre-morning two teams  to rescue the GSS workers living in the area, but chose not to warn the police and the emergency services and not the residents of the envelope either and that in the messages to the phones of the GSS migrant workers in the area, they were told not to leave their houses.

Investors in the capital market, knew five days in advance that the disaster would occur without the IDF preventing it and said that fat stocks would lose value and they would make many millions. The investors' knowledge that the disaster will occur on October 7, proves their knowledge of the intention of senior security personnel to allow the raid. 

The same investors invested even before the first possible date of the raid and lost capital because the IDF prevented it. On the second possible date, they already knew that the IDF would prevent the raid and didn't invest a penny, which proves a connection with security or political factors from the left.  Clearly some big investors,  some of those that financed the protests previously,  were informed of the conspiracy. The volume of investments betting a disaster was 240 times larger than the average daily volume in the previous month. A monstrous volume that has never been in the whole world before disaster 

What we are finally understanding, is that some Israeli Military officials, Politicians, and Wealthy Investors, were perfectly willing to sacrifice Jewish Lives and to allow t he country to be victimized by the enemy b=for months after months - for what?  For political and financial gain,  to force a coup d’stat,  like a banana republic, so certain politicians to drive others out.

And though all of this, where were Bennett, Lapid, Eisenkot? They were busy trying to undermine the Government with false accusations, with slander, with making promises and saying things that contradicted everything they claimed to believe in the past."

Before there was "genocide", there was "mass slaughter of children"

Arab propagandists have been working very long and hard and planting the seeds of a linguistic revolution to subvert Zionism.

Here:

By the way, back in 2009, in an interview with The Jewish Chronicle, Wallace Shawn, discussing Israel and the way Jews are perceived by younger generations, said:

“I find it horrifying that Jews are seen … as victimisers who are very self-righteous about what they do. From a moral point of view it was better when we were victims.”

 He signed the pro-Ruffalo Hollywood letter.

^

Getting It Wrong on the Altalena Affair

This blog post appeared in the Times of Israel (having been translated from the Hebrew by the author and expanded) on the Altalena Affair here titled "Altalena Was the Moment Israel Chose to Become a State" and I wish to comment on some of it (I am not permitted to comment there).

The excerpts and my reactions:

Altalena’s enduring lesson is that sovereignty survives only when no camp, cause or elected authority is allowed to own a piece of the state.

The issue was not the state's sovereignty. It was the immoral ethical behavior of Ben-Gurion who decided, at the last moment, to alter an agreement's terms that had been reached in two different meetings on May 16, and June 16 and to lie to the government to ahcieve their agreement for the use of force.

On June 1, 1948, the Irgun, Menachem Begin’s pre-state underground organization, agreed to integrate into the newly created Israel Defense Forces. When Altalena arrived laden with arms, Irgun leaders sought to direct some to their forces in Jerusalem, which remained outside the June 1 integration arrangement, and some to IDF units composed of former Irgun fighters.

The Irgun did integrate and Irgun units had been in Jerusalem since 1931. So, too, the Hagana. Jerusalem was outside the state's sovereign borders. And begin didn't "seek". That was in the agreement's understanding.

A party, underground movement, commander or fighting force does not choose their destination. The state decides who receives them...

Again, that was in the agreement.

If the Irgun may decide where the arms it brought go, then tomorrow the Palmach, Lehi or any other armed formation inherited from the pre-state era can claim the same right. 

The arms were intended for the Irgun, in part. 20%. And the same privilege was awarded the Palmach until it was disbanded. In fact, it had a separate command from the IDF until November 7, 1948 due to Mapam's opposition. They, seemingly, were never criticized by the same people who criticize the Irgun for the same basic behavior.

Had Ben-Gurion blinked, the concession would have become precedent, leaving Israel with separate armed loyalties instead of one national army.

See above. There was: the Palmach.

The danger begins when a state applies that rule selectively — when some armed actors are confronted as a challenge to sovereignty while others are indulged because their cause, identity or politics are familiar.

His example of George Washington and Charles DeGaulle are silly because, until B-G ordered Dori to disband the Palmach in late September, three (!) months after the Altalena, selectivity was okay.

He goes on and drags in "settler violence" and priviate citizens funding IDF units (which has been ordered discontinued) which I will not get into.

^

What to Keep in Mind Regarding the Altalena Incident

The Hagana in Europe was aware early on that the Irgun had purchased a ship and were preparing it for sailing to Israel with arms and men/women to fight early in 1948.

At one point, given the expense of keeping the Altalena in port (rental fees, etc.), the Hagana was offered to purchase it from the Irgun.

On June 16, a meeting was held in Tel Aviv between the Irgun High Command and Yisrael Gallil, Levy Eshkol and other Defense Ministry officials to arrange its arrival.

The arrival location, Kfar Vitkin, was a Mapai moshav.

Defense Minsitry officials were update on Saturday night, June 19, that the Altalena had reached the area off of Tel Aviv and would be proceeding to the off-load area near Kfar Vitkin.

The talks broke down on the beach at Kfar Vitkin over the division of the arms and Begin was given 10 minutes to stand down his men. The people who were there with whom I spoke insist it were the IDF soldiers under Moshe Dayan's command who first fired on those on the beach.

The Altalena was shadowed by navy corvettes on its way to Tel Aviv. As the ship neared the coastline, the corvettes began firing at it with bursts of machine gun fire, and stopped after fighters on board. 

According to the book Altalena by journalist and political analyst Shlomo Nakdimon [he], Ben-Gurion instructed the Israeli Air Force to sink the ship on the high seas, long before it approached the shore. This would have resulted in much greater loss of life aboard. Gordon Levett, a Mahal volunteer pilot, wrote in his book Flying Under Two Flags that Heiman Shamir, deputy commander of the Air Force, tried to convince non-Jewish pilot volunteers to attack the ship. However, three pilots refused to participate in the mission, one of them saying, "You can kiss my foot. I did not lose four friends and fly 10,000 miles in order to bomb Jews."

On June 22, the day the Altalena reached the Frishman Street area of the Tel Aviv shoreline, where subsequently it was fired upon, the Palmach arms ship Inaco slipped into Jaffa Port indicating that the excuse that the Altalena should not have set sail as the UN Truce had begun was only applied to the Irgun, not the Palmach.

^