US Jlm Consulate Underming Morals of Arab Youth?

Caught on Facebook:

Come and see an American Mystery movie, and get a chance to practice your English language at the America House in Jerusalem Nablus Road, near the Legacy Hotel. Even more, Guess the movie, guess the star and possibly win an America House surprise. (A drawing for a prize will be made for those who guess the name of the movie and the actor). Hint: "The movie and the legendary American icon that forever changed the perception of the American teenager."

Okay, I know that the political & cultural themes of the Consulate, as distinct from its consuara services, are for Arabs only and that's why this is advertised in English and Arabic only.

But I'd love to know what Hamas thinks of this attempt that might be considered as undermining the morals of local Arab youth.

^

Just Who Is Provocative and Unhelpful?

On Wednesday yesterday, State Department spokesman Mark Toner got all provocative and unhelpful to the goal of restarting peace talks.

What happened?

Well,

the State Department on Wednesday sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for adding two shrines in the West Bank to Israel's list of national heritage sites. The move, announced Sunday, sparked Palestinian protests and has drawn criticism from other quarters, including the United Nations.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the administration viewed the move as provocative and unhelpful to the goal of getting the two sides back to the table.

Toner said U.S. displeasure with the designations of the Cave of the
Patriarchs in the West Bank town of Hebron and the traditional tomb of the biblical matriarch Rachel in Bethlehem had been conveyed to senior Israeli officials by American diplomats.

I've searched for a State Dept. source but haven't come up with one.

But never mind, the point that needs to be made is twofold: what is the problem and is there hypocrisy here?

What is at the root of this preservation crisis can be explained by this article Between Paralysis and Practice: Theorizing the Political Liminality of Palestinian Cultural Heritage by Robert R. Sauders summary:

The Israeli military occupation of Palestine since 1967 coupled with the introduction of limited autonomy in 1993 has positioned the yet-to-be formed nation-state in political liminality — neither completely sovereign nor entirely subjugated. While this ambiguity has obvious ramifications for Palestine as a political entity, it also places the cultural heritage of Palestine in potential jeopardy. This paper examines the legal and historical construction of liminality for Palestine and explores how its ambiguous political status impacts the preservation, protection and management of cultural heritage in Palestine and influences the construction of cultural heritage narratives by Palestinians.

Of course, in Jordan, for a little archaeology, they move villages. But Israel is still slapped around by Toner.

But more than hypocrisy, we know that the United States provides funds for archaeological and cultural projects of Arabs in Judea and Samaria. In other words, the US is in direct competition with Israel about preserving history in Judea and Samaria.

The only question is whether that history is to be true and genuine or corrupted and fake. What will America go with? Will it be provocative and unhelpful?

And Where Were You This July 4th?

I don't know about you but I was at the American Consulate-General party on Agron Street.

Let's show you some pictures:

Here's the Consul-General Jake Walles:-



Here's the PA's Prime Minister Salam Fayyad talking with Yehuda Meshi-Zahav of ZAKA and there's another fawning Hareidi guy there under the hat:-



Here's Hanna Siniora (the white-haired man just at the center) and Bnai Brith's Alan Schneider left of center:-



Here's Yasser Abd-Rabbo (in the moustache just to right of Jake Wellis):-



And in the back center, you can see Jabril Rajoub:-



and here's a general view. We Jews were in the minority.



Wow, so many 'terrorists'.

Funny, but the C-G devoted his remarks to America's Civil War (or, the War between the States) as if to say to the Pals., don't worry, we killed tens of thousands of our own citizens but we survived.

P.S.

Two Jewish bloggers were there as well - JudeanEve and MyRightWord (aka me):-