Here's my letter that appeared in The Jerusalem Post, April 25, 2005:
Sharon and 'Time'
Sir, – Uri Dan is correct that Ariel Sharon technically won his libel suit against Time in that the court noted that what the magazine had published was false ("From Zero to hero," April 21). Nevertheless, Dan is a bit sloppy himself in failing to alert his readers that the final judgment was an acquittal.
The federal jury was addressed by the judge, Abraham Sofaer, who explained with care the subtleties of the actual malice standard. The jury subsequently found that, first, the statement at issue was defamatory; second, that it was false – but third that Time did not act with actual malice in publishing it. Sharon failed to gain financial remuneration.
The important consequence of the trial was the undercutting of the unethical journalistic standard of quoting from unidentified sources.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
Whose Crusade?
Eva Green opines that the new movie in which she stars, "Kingdom of Heaven", is one "with substance", one that will "wake up people in America...to be more tolerant, more open towards the Arab people."
One, then, can only attempt to remind her that in this past century the historic Jewish Jerusalem, from the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives, has been ravaged and destroyed by Arabs in an effort to obliterate a history, a culture and a future. Archeological remains and ancient synagogues, artifacts representing three-thousand years of presence, have been targeted for physical obliteration in a different type of crusade.
However Hollywood presents events of the 12th century, we hope that Ms. Green's political message will not pass any test of time.
One, then, can only attempt to remind her that in this past century the historic Jewish Jerusalem, from the Temple Mount to the Mount of Olives, has been ravaged and destroyed by Arabs in an effort to obliterate a history, a culture and a future. Archeological remains and ancient synagogues, artifacts representing three-thousand years of presence, have been targeted for physical obliteration in a different type of crusade.
However Hollywood presents events of the 12th century, we hope that Ms. Green's political message will not pass any test of time.
My Full Sympathy and Empathy
Colm Toibin has my full sympathy and I surely identify with his feelings about Tara, an historical site in Ireland. In a guest column in the New York Times, "A Road Runs Through Tara", published on April 25, 2005, Toibin writes eloquently of the importance of such locations.
As I view the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, I, too, recall the site's "precious heritage", its "special status as a symbol of former strength and glory" and the "grandeur that lies in its commanding position". Not only does the
Temple Mount possess a "lovely old dreaminess" of two temples but it asserts the promise of a renewed future for all mankind.
But the Temple Mount has been assaulted, on the one hand, by the construction of buildings by a rival religion, Islam, that seeks to supplant its past and, on the other, by a government policy that restricts entrance to its precincts by Jews and denies any religious actions therein by them.
I hope Toibin and his band of Irishmen succeed in their campaign as we continue ours.
As I view the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, I, too, recall the site's "precious heritage", its "special status as a symbol of former strength and glory" and the "grandeur that lies in its commanding position". Not only does the
Temple Mount possess a "lovely old dreaminess" of two temples but it asserts the promise of a renewed future for all mankind.
But the Temple Mount has been assaulted, on the one hand, by the construction of buildings by a rival religion, Islam, that seeks to supplant its past and, on the other, by a government policy that restricts entrance to its precincts by Jews and denies any religious actions therein by them.
I hope Toibin and his band of Irishmen succeed in their campaign as we continue ours.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Friedman: One "He" vs. "They"
Thomas Friedman had a particularly nasty op-ed published yesterday.
While praising democratic values, he seems quite unattuned to his own rather outrageous undemocractic behavior.
Viewing Jewish religious nationalists a "threat", he discards all pretense of any liberal, humanistic outlook and asserts "they killed Mr. Rabin for getting in their way and have threatened to do the same to Mr. Sharon". He ominously concludes "some of these settlers will not go down quietly".
Who are "they"?
Are "they" all kippa-wearing youngsters? Is this a blanket condemnation that in itself may lead assertive left-wingers or even, perhaps, the police in Israel, to act in ways that would recall anti-semitic societies? And how does one "put down" such a threat?
Friedman should clarify and apologize.
And I received this letter from Eve Harow:-
Thomas Friedman says that "one of the criticisms leveled at Ariel Sharon over his decision to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza is that he has never fully spelled out the reasons for his epiphany".
Although that is true, it is Sharon's anti-democractic behavior that is more worrying.
Elected on an anti-unilateral disngagement platform, he reneged on his commitment to abide by an internal Likud party poll, which he lost. He then fired two ministers before they could vote against his plan in order to gain an artificial cabinet majority he wouldn't have otherwise achieved. He had the army's chief-of-staff, Moshe Ayalon, who had expressed reservations about the plan, fired.
Sharon has, since then, spoke of civil war, intimating, just as Friedman does in his article, that his opponents pose a real threat while the danger stems foremost from his own disengagement plan.
And no one has asked the hardest question - least of all the media. What happens when the terror continues, using Gaza has an international base?
Why bother - Sharon wouldn't answer that, either.
While praising democratic values, he seems quite unattuned to his own rather outrageous undemocractic behavior.
Viewing Jewish religious nationalists a "threat", he discards all pretense of any liberal, humanistic outlook and asserts "they killed Mr. Rabin for getting in their way and have threatened to do the same to Mr. Sharon". He ominously concludes "some of these settlers will not go down quietly".
Who are "they"?
Are "they" all kippa-wearing youngsters? Is this a blanket condemnation that in itself may lead assertive left-wingers or even, perhaps, the police in Israel, to act in ways that would recall anti-semitic societies? And how does one "put down" such a threat?
Friedman should clarify and apologize.
And I received this letter from Eve Harow:-
Thomas Friedman says that "one of the criticisms leveled at Ariel Sharon over his decision to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza is that he has never fully spelled out the reasons for his epiphany".
Although that is true, it is Sharon's anti-democractic behavior that is more worrying.
Elected on an anti-unilateral disngagement platform, he reneged on his commitment to abide by an internal Likud party poll, which he lost. He then fired two ministers before they could vote against his plan in order to gain an artificial cabinet majority he wouldn't have otherwise achieved. He had the army's chief-of-staff, Moshe Ayalon, who had expressed reservations about the plan, fired.
Sharon has, since then, spoke of civil war, intimating, just as Friedman does in his article, that his opponents pose a real threat while the danger stems foremost from his own disengagement plan.
And no one has asked the hardest question - least of all the media. What happens when the terror continues, using Gaza has an international base?
Why bother - Sharon wouldn't answer that, either.
Monday, April 18, 2005
President Bush, Why Not?
The New York Times reports that Israel will be releasing 9 Jordanian prisoners. Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is quoted as saying, "We want to improve and strengthen the relations between Israel and Jordan".
Wouldn't a similar American gesture be appropriate at this time? In granting Jonathan Pollard clemency, President George W. Bush would, in permitting him after 18 years to go free, marry and move to Israel, would not only improve ties and relations with Israel but would surely be doing an act of moral justice in the deepest sense.
Wouldn't a similar American gesture be appropriate at this time? In granting Jonathan Pollard clemency, President George W. Bush would, in permitting him after 18 years to go free, marry and move to Israel, would not only improve ties and relations with Israel but would surely be doing an act of moral justice in the deepest sense.
Not So Difficult to Find a Reason
In HaAretz, a report notes that:-
"The IDF's rules of engagement along the Philadelphi route have not been altered for the period of calm. According to IDF sources, the rules of engagement along the route have remained unchanged due to the need to continue to prevent smuggling across the border.
"The soldiers, therefore, acted in accordance with their directives, but military sources said Sunday night that the commander of the force had been mistaken in his considerations and that it was plain to see that the five youths had been unarmed and shots to their legs would have sufficed.
"The soldiers acted as if they were involved in a confrontation with an armed cell, and there was no justification for this," a military source said. "There was no reason for an incident like this to have ended in the death of three youths."
Well, I can find a justification. They won't have to shoot ever again, at all, because the youths who support terror and criminal activity in aid of terror won't dare to do what they did again. And if they do, they'll have to know that being involved in this type of activity which is intended to kill and maim Israelis, will result, necessarily, perhaps, in their own deaths.
"The IDF's rules of engagement along the Philadelphi route have not been altered for the period of calm. According to IDF sources, the rules of engagement along the route have remained unchanged due to the need to continue to prevent smuggling across the border.
"The soldiers, therefore, acted in accordance with their directives, but military sources said Sunday night that the commander of the force had been mistaken in his considerations and that it was plain to see that the five youths had been unarmed and shots to their legs would have sufficed.
"The soldiers acted as if they were involved in a confrontation with an armed cell, and there was no justification for this," a military source said. "There was no reason for an incident like this to have ended in the death of three youths."
Well, I can find a justification. They won't have to shoot ever again, at all, because the youths who support terror and criminal activity in aid of terror won't dare to do what they did again. And if they do, they'll have to know that being involved in this type of activity which is intended to kill and maim Israelis, will result, necessarily, perhaps, in their own deaths.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Proof Positive
Reuters posted this article which provides us proof positive that all along they knew that "militants" was a term that described very violent individuals, persons who carry weapons and kill people.
So, why then use "militants" when 'gunmen', 'gangsters' or even 'terrorists' are words that so much better rivet one's attention?
So, why then use "militants" when 'gunmen', 'gangsters' or even 'terrorists' are words that so much better rivet one's attention?
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Who Gets to Be "Civil" and "Rebellious"?
The Left in Israel always presume that ipso facto, they are right and the Right is wrong. It's not only double standards. They really don't read what they write or listen to what they themselves say.
Here's a letter of mine that appeared in the Jerusalem Post of Wednesday, April 6:-
Whose norms?
Sir, - Nachman Shai foresees a new normalcy, one in which there is room for a "spirit of [...] civil rebellion" such as in the fight for medications and the students' battle ("The coming new normalcy," April 3). According to Shai, in adopting the disengagement, Israel has "created this reality, and will need to live by its new rules."
Can we assume that civil rebellion would also be acceptable to prevent the disengagement plan, which many feel will not bring us a new reality but simply will renew the old normalcy of security problems, including Arab terror, a weakened Israel, threatened water resources and a diluted Zionist spirit?
Or are the "new rules" only to be set by Shai and fellow disengagement supporters?
Here's a letter of mine that appeared in the Jerusalem Post of Wednesday, April 6:-
Whose norms?
Sir, - Nachman Shai foresees a new normalcy, one in which there is room for a "spirit of [...] civil rebellion" such as in the fight for medications and the students' battle ("The coming new normalcy," April 3). According to Shai, in adopting the disengagement, Israel has "created this reality, and will need to live by its new rules."
Can we assume that civil rebellion would also be acceptable to prevent the disengagement plan, which many feel will not bring us a new reality but simply will renew the old normalcy of security problems, including Arab terror, a weakened Israel, threatened water resources and a diluted Zionist spirit?
Or are the "new rules" only to be set by Shai and fellow disengagement supporters?
Monday, April 04, 2005
In Concert
Although I haven't be trumpeting my opinion, one of the major
problems the anti-disengagementists have faced is what is
described below, or what was the situation until this notice.
There has been a major lack of strategic thinking, lack of ability
or unwillingness to coordinate and not dominate, lack of open
avenues for receiving creative ideas, lack of proper spokesperson
activities and organization, lack of understanding how best to spend
money, how to shape the campaign, reliance on "professional"
outsiders, weak communication links, separation of the political from
the activist, etc., etc.
========
Right-Wing Organizations Committed to Unity
Monday, April 4, 2005 / 24 Adar 5765
(IsraelNN.com) Right wing organizations, including the Yesha Council and Cities’ Action Committees met today and reached an understanding, an agreement and commitment to work in concert towards preventing the implementation of the Gaza Disengagement Plan.
Following last week’s Knesset defeat of the Referendum Bill, the last political hurdle in the way of the implementation of the plan was lifted, giving the prime minister all the political and legal backing required to move ahead towards the implementation phase, grassroots activists realize the time has come for ‘in-the-streets’ opposition.
Opponents to the government plan admit the defeat was a significant one, but vow they will continue the battle which will now focus on grassroots efforts to stop the planned destruction of some 25 communities in Gaza and northern Shomron.
problems the anti-disengagementists have faced is what is
described below, or what was the situation until this notice.
There has been a major lack of strategic thinking, lack of ability
or unwillingness to coordinate and not dominate, lack of open
avenues for receiving creative ideas, lack of proper spokesperson
activities and organization, lack of understanding how best to spend
money, how to shape the campaign, reliance on "professional"
outsiders, weak communication links, separation of the political from
the activist, etc., etc.
========
Right-Wing Organizations Committed to Unity
Monday, April 4, 2005 / 24 Adar 5765
(IsraelNN.com) Right wing organizations, including the Yesha Council and Cities’ Action Committees met today and reached an understanding, an agreement and commitment to work in concert towards preventing the implementation of the Gaza Disengagement Plan.
Following last week’s Knesset defeat of the Referendum Bill, the last political hurdle in the way of the implementation of the plan was lifted, giving the prime minister all the political and legal backing required to move ahead towards the implementation phase, grassroots activists realize the time has come for ‘in-the-streets’ opposition.
Opponents to the government plan admit the defeat was a significant one, but vow they will continue the battle which will now focus on grassroots efforts to stop the planned destruction of some 25 communities in Gaza and northern Shomron.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Well, Why Not Jerusalem?
Member of the Palestinian National Council Muhammad Muqbel was in the
Ziryab restaurant when gunmen of the Fatah's Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades
shot it up. His reaction as recorded by Steve Erlanger, New York Times correspondent?
"You want to act tough, go to Jerusalem!"
("Militants' Wild West Night Leaves West Bank Town Dismayed", April 1).
This, then, is the true face of Israel's "partner for peace": violence, terror,
ill-disciplined security forces and public figures for whom Israel will always be the target.
For them, "Jerusalem" will be the symbol for Israel's disintegration.
Ziryab restaurant when gunmen of the Fatah's Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades
shot it up. His reaction as recorded by Steve Erlanger, New York Times correspondent?
"You want to act tough, go to Jerusalem!"
("Militants' Wild West Night Leaves West Bank Town Dismayed", April 1).
This, then, is the true face of Israel's "partner for peace": violence, terror,
ill-disciplined security forces and public figures for whom Israel will always be the target.
For them, "Jerusalem" will be the symbol for Israel's disintegration.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Too Explicit
Well, if we are getting "explicit", as it's Israel that's doing the stripping here, can we not have some good music from the good ol' US of A?
Or is it that Ariel Sharon is stripping Israel of its security, its Zionism and its future?
===========
28/03/2005
PM: We can't expect explicit U.S. okay to build in settlements
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
"We can't expect to receive explicit American agreement to build freely in the settlements," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said at Sunday's cabinet meeting. The large blocs of settlement in the West Bank "will remain in Israel's hands and will fall within the (separation) fence, and we made this position clear to the Americans. This is our position, even if they express reservations," he said.
The U.S. administration makes a distinction between his position that the blocs will remain in Israeli hands after the final status agreement, and the issues of continuing construction in the settlements at the present phase, Sharon said.
"The Americans always expressed criticism about construction in the settlements, and they have done so now, too. The publicity (about the plan to connect Ma'aleh Adumim to Jerusalem - A.B.) put them in a very difficult spot," he said.
Or is it that Ariel Sharon is stripping Israel of its security, its Zionism and its future?
===========
28/03/2005
PM: We can't expect explicit U.S. okay to build in settlements
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
"We can't expect to receive explicit American agreement to build freely in the settlements," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said at Sunday's cabinet meeting. The large blocs of settlement in the West Bank "will remain in Israel's hands and will fall within the (separation) fence, and we made this position clear to the Americans. This is our position, even if they express reservations," he said.
The U.S. administration makes a distinction between his position that the blocs will remain in Israeli hands after the final status agreement, and the issues of continuing construction in the settlements at the present phase, Sharon said.
"The Americans always expressed criticism about construction in the settlements, and they have done so now, too. The publicity (about the plan to connect Ma'aleh Adumim to Jerusalem - A.B.) put them in a very difficult spot," he said.
Time for Slogans
Here's a start.
Can you add your own anti-disengagement slogan?
If Not Katif, It's the Kassams.
The Katif Bloc Blocks the Kassams.
Don't Strip Gaza from Its Jews.
Don't Strip the Jews from Gaza.
Don't Uproot. Let the Gaza Jews Grow.
Uprooting Farmers is Against Nature.
Can you add your own anti-disengagement slogan?
If Not Katif, It's the Kassams.
The Katif Bloc Blocks the Kassams.
Don't Strip Gaza from Its Jews.
Don't Strip the Jews from Gaza.
Don't Uproot. Let the Gaza Jews Grow.
Uprooting Farmers is Against Nature.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
A Matter of Interpretation
The following news item from the Arutz 7 English news site and the phrase therein, "taking into account", reminds me of one of Menachem Begin's quips.
When asked that in the first Camp David accords there was a recognition of "legitimate Palestinian rights", and that phrase was in opposition to his own long-held ideological position, he replied to his critics saying that having a state isn't one of those rights.
A simple matter of interpretation.
(IsraelNN.com) US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says Washington’s position on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria is clear. In an interview with Israel Radio, Rice said Israel and the US agreed on April 14th last year that final status negotiations with the Arabs must take into account demographic realities on the ground, which include major Israeli population centers.
“The American view is that while we will not prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations… the existing major Israeli population centers will have to be taken into account in any final status negotiations,” Rice said.
When asked that in the first Camp David accords there was a recognition of "legitimate Palestinian rights", and that phrase was in opposition to his own long-held ideological position, he replied to his critics saying that having a state isn't one of those rights.
A simple matter of interpretation.
(IsraelNN.com) US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice says Washington’s position on Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria is clear. In an interview with Israel Radio, Rice said Israel and the US agreed on April 14th last year that final status negotiations with the Arabs must take into account demographic realities on the ground, which include major Israeli population centers.
“The American view is that while we will not prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations… the existing major Israeli population centers will have to be taken into account in any final status negotiations,” Rice said.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Publication Ban
Due to a court-ordered ban on the publication of a certain news item,
it is nigh impossible to get any details about an incident that appeared
earlier on Thursday on three Israeli web sites, including YNet, regarding a possible police-initiated operation against the Yesha Council recalling a similar event a decade ago when a GSS provocateur was used to besmirch the anti-government
protests.
Hopefully, details will be forthcoming soon.
Approaches were made to foreign news agencies to utilize their
contacts and achieve the right to publish which in Israel's state
of selective non-democracy is most difficult.
It seems that about 6 weeks ago, the operations unit hired people to help distribute fliers, banners, etc. One guy wasn't very good - lazy, late, etc. So they told him they were firing him.
He then says "I live in Lod and I can get explosives so we can blow up the disengagement process". The unit head tells Pinchas, Pinchas tells the police, they set up a sting at Lod Wednesday at midnight. All show up, he's arrested and the next morning Yesha sends out a press notice. I saw it on Ynet and Maariv.
Next thing they know, after making inquiries, that there's a court-ordered
publication ban.
Was there an agent provocateur?
it is nigh impossible to get any details about an incident that appeared
earlier on Thursday on three Israeli web sites, including YNet, regarding a possible police-initiated operation against the Yesha Council recalling a similar event a decade ago when a GSS provocateur was used to besmirch the anti-government
protests.
Hopefully, details will be forthcoming soon.
Approaches were made to foreign news agencies to utilize their
contacts and achieve the right to publish which in Israel's state
of selective non-democracy is most difficult.
It seems that about 6 weeks ago, the operations unit hired people to help distribute fliers, banners, etc. One guy wasn't very good - lazy, late, etc. So they told him they were firing him.
He then says "I live in Lod and I can get explosives so we can blow up the disengagement process". The unit head tells Pinchas, Pinchas tells the police, they set up a sting at Lod Wednesday at midnight. All show up, he's arrested and the next morning Yesha sends out a press notice. I saw it on Ynet and Maariv.
Next thing they know, after making inquiries, that there's a court-ordered
publication ban.
Was there an agent provocateur?
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
A Rejected Letter
I received this posting from Michael Caines of the prestegious Times Literary Supplement:
"The Editor thanks you for your letter, but regrets that he is unable to
publish it."
And here is what was rejected:-
In his review of ADVENTURES IN EGYPT AND NUBIA, on the travels of
William John Bankes ("Take walk, make no book"), Mick Imlah
writes that Bankes traveled also "in Syria, including modern Jordan and
Palestine". This description is misleading.
Palestine always included both modern Israel and Jordan. All maps of
the area portray Palestine as stretching east and west of the Jordan
River. Indeed, the original geography of the League of Nations Mandate,
granted to Great Britian in 1922, spanned from the Mediterranean Sea to
the Iraqi Desert. Jordan was administered, until 1946, as part of the
Palestine Mandate.
To avoid mentioning Israel, if done consciously, is to completely miss
the compass.
Now you know why it was rejected, right?
"The Editor thanks you for your letter, but regrets that he is unable to
publish it."
And here is what was rejected:-
In his review of ADVENTURES IN EGYPT AND NUBIA, on the travels of
William John Bankes ("Take walk, make no book"), Mick Imlah
writes that Bankes traveled also "in Syria, including modern Jordan and
Palestine". This description is misleading.
Palestine always included both modern Israel and Jordan. All maps of
the area portray Palestine as stretching east and west of the Jordan
River. Indeed, the original geography of the League of Nations Mandate,
granted to Great Britian in 1922, spanned from the Mediterranean Sea to
the Iraqi Desert. Jordan was administered, until 1946, as part of the
Palestine Mandate.
To avoid mentioning Israel, if done consciously, is to completely miss
the compass.
Now you know why it was rejected, right?
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
That Amazing Bubblegum
This news item from Japan got me thinking - but not what you're thinking.
Chewing gum can 'enhance breasts'
A chewing gum which the makers say can help enhance the size, shape and tone of the breasts has proved to be a big hit in Japan. B2Up says its Bust-Up gum, when chewed three or four times a day, can also help improve circulation, reduce stress and fight ageing.
The gum works by slowly releasing compounds contained in an extract from a plant called Pueraria mirifica.
In theory, this helps to keep the muscle tissue in good order.
The plant's underground tubers contain a number of chemicals called phytoestrogens - natural compounds which mimic the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen.
These include miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, which are believed to exert a particularly strong effect, as they are very close in chemical structure to oestradiol, the main human oestrogen.
B2Up says that it is the effect of these two chemicals, coupled with a third phytooestrogen isoflavone, which makes its gum so effective.
It cites tests carried out by Thailand's Chulalongkorn University which found Pueraria mirifica therapy was able to enhance breast size by 80%.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/4361563.stm
==========
So, what was I really thinking?
Well, the chewing gum recalled to me when Pals. tried to pillory Israel,
claiming that Israel was causing trouble by handing out chewing gum to unsuspecting Arabs.
The two stories appear below but I am sure that a majority of those who read the Japanese report and thought it just plain silly, are more than willing to believe the Pal. version and probably did when it first made headlines then.
1.
Muslim Anti-Semitism: A Clear and Present Danger
by Robert S. Wistrich
Anti-Semitic Falsehoods: From Food Poisoners to Child Molesters
The examples of anti-Semitic falsehoods are truly numberless and consistently outrageous. Thus, Israel is repeatedly alleged by Egyptian (and Jordanian) news sources to be distributing drug-laced chewing gum and candy, intended to make women sexually corrupt and to kill children
http://www.ajc.org/InTheMedia/Publications.asp?did=503&pid=1201
2.
Raphael Israeli Jerusalem Letter / Viewpoints April 15, 2004
An Epidemic on the West Bank
On the morning of March 21, 1983, one week before Pesach, in a high school in the town of Arrabeh in the Jenin area of the West Bank, Palestinian girls (between the ages of 15 and 17) were sitting in several classrooms when they suddenly began to faint, one after the other. They were taken to hospital and checked, but no medical reason was found for their fainting. Yet they had fainted, so a search began in order to find the reason. Then other girls of the same age began fainting in other villages on the West Bank, in Bethlehem, and afterwards in Hebron and Halhul, Tulkarem and Nablus. Over a period of a few days approximately 1,000 girls ended up in hospital at the same time, seemingly victims of an epidemic. Since all this occurred just before Pesach, the motif of blood libel and mass poisoning was raised. The rumors began that it was the Israelis who had poisoned the girls.
In 1997 the Palestinians exposed yet another Israeli "plot to suppress Arab population growth." They claimed to have tested packets of strawberry-flavored bubble gum which were found to be spiked with sex hormones and sold at low prices near schoolhouses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was claimed that the gum aroused irresistible sexual appetites in women, then it sterilized them. According to Palestinian Supply Minister Abdel Aziz Shaheen, it was capable of "completely destroying the genetic system of young boys," as well. In this case, Palestinians allege, Israel came with chewing gum laced with progesterone, one of the two hormones of femaleness. The hormone, they say inaccurately, drives women wild with desire and serves as a contraceptive, too -- corrupting Arab women while ensuring they cannot reproduce. The story was reminiscent of a furor over Israeli chewing gum a year earlier in Egypt. The story grew with the retelling. Shaheen contended that the gum was sold "only at the gates of primary schools or kindergartens," because Israelis "want to destroy our genetic system" by giving sex hormones to children before their bodies can cope with them. By the time the story reached Hebron in the West Bank, local health official Mahmoud Batarna claimed to have captured 200 tons of gum. The Washington Post commissioned a test of allegedly contaminated chewing gum provided by Palestinian health officials. Dan Gibson, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at Hebrew University and a member of the left-wing lobby group Peace Now, said that, using a mass spectrometer capable of detecting as little as a microgram of progesterone, he found none in the gum.
http://www.ourjerusalem.com/opinion/story/opinion20040825a.html
Chewing gum can 'enhance breasts'
A chewing gum which the makers say can help enhance the size, shape and tone of the breasts has proved to be a big hit in Japan. B2Up says its Bust-Up gum, when chewed three or four times a day, can also help improve circulation, reduce stress and fight ageing.
The gum works by slowly releasing compounds contained in an extract from a plant called Pueraria mirifica.
In theory, this helps to keep the muscle tissue in good order.
The plant's underground tubers contain a number of chemicals called phytoestrogens - natural compounds which mimic the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen.
These include miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, which are believed to exert a particularly strong effect, as they are very close in chemical structure to oestradiol, the main human oestrogen.
B2Up says that it is the effect of these two chemicals, coupled with a third phytooestrogen isoflavone, which makes its gum so effective.
It cites tests carried out by Thailand's Chulalongkorn University which found Pueraria mirifica therapy was able to enhance breast size by 80%.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/4361563.stm
==========
So, what was I really thinking?
Well, the chewing gum recalled to me when Pals. tried to pillory Israel,
claiming that Israel was causing trouble by handing out chewing gum to unsuspecting Arabs.
The two stories appear below but I am sure that a majority of those who read the Japanese report and thought it just plain silly, are more than willing to believe the Pal. version and probably did when it first made headlines then.
1.
Muslim Anti-Semitism: A Clear and Present Danger
by Robert S. Wistrich
Anti-Semitic Falsehoods: From Food Poisoners to Child Molesters
The examples of anti-Semitic falsehoods are truly numberless and consistently outrageous. Thus, Israel is repeatedly alleged by Egyptian (and Jordanian) news sources to be distributing drug-laced chewing gum and candy, intended to make women sexually corrupt and to kill children
http://www.ajc.org/InTheMedia/Publications.asp?did=503&pid=1201
2.
Raphael Israeli Jerusalem Letter / Viewpoints April 15, 2004
An Epidemic on the West Bank
On the morning of March 21, 1983, one week before Pesach, in a high school in the town of Arrabeh in the Jenin area of the West Bank, Palestinian girls (between the ages of 15 and 17) were sitting in several classrooms when they suddenly began to faint, one after the other. They were taken to hospital and checked, but no medical reason was found for their fainting. Yet they had fainted, so a search began in order to find the reason. Then other girls of the same age began fainting in other villages on the West Bank, in Bethlehem, and afterwards in Hebron and Halhul, Tulkarem and Nablus. Over a period of a few days approximately 1,000 girls ended up in hospital at the same time, seemingly victims of an epidemic. Since all this occurred just before Pesach, the motif of blood libel and mass poisoning was raised. The rumors began that it was the Israelis who had poisoned the girls.
In 1997 the Palestinians exposed yet another Israeli "plot to suppress Arab population growth." They claimed to have tested packets of strawberry-flavored bubble gum which were found to be spiked with sex hormones and sold at low prices near schoolhouses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It was claimed that the gum aroused irresistible sexual appetites in women, then it sterilized them. According to Palestinian Supply Minister Abdel Aziz Shaheen, it was capable of "completely destroying the genetic system of young boys," as well. In this case, Palestinians allege, Israel came with chewing gum laced with progesterone, one of the two hormones of femaleness. The hormone, they say inaccurately, drives women wild with desire and serves as a contraceptive, too -- corrupting Arab women while ensuring they cannot reproduce. The story was reminiscent of a furor over Israeli chewing gum a year earlier in Egypt. The story grew with the retelling. Shaheen contended that the gum was sold "only at the gates of primary schools or kindergartens," because Israelis "want to destroy our genetic system" by giving sex hormones to children before their bodies can cope with them. By the time the story reached Hebron in the West Bank, local health official Mahmoud Batarna claimed to have captured 200 tons of gum. The Washington Post commissioned a test of allegedly contaminated chewing gum provided by Palestinian health officials. Dan Gibson, professor of pharmaceutical chemistry at Hebrew University and a member of the left-wing lobby group Peace Now, said that, using a mass spectrometer capable of detecting as little as a microgram of progesterone, he found none in the gum.
http://www.ourjerusalem.com/opinion/story/opinion20040825a.html
There's a Reason for Empty Horizons
In a report on the newly approved contruction plans of Maaleh Adumim in the New York Times, reporter Greg Myre describes for us the town's panoramic view, noting that
"to the west is the skyline of Jerusalem, and to the east are stark desert hills dotted with Palestinian villages",
("Israel to Expand Largest West Bank Settlement", Marc. 22).
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/international/middleeast/22mideast.html
The eastward view would have also included Jewish villages if not for the aggression of the Arabs in 1947-1948.
During that period of intra-communal fighting, Jewish communities in that area, such as Kibbutz Bet Ha'Aravah, near Jericho, and Neveh Yaakov and Atarot closer to Jerusalem, were overrun and ethnically cleansed of its Jews.
If the Arabs had accepted the UN partition proposal of compromise, Jews would still have benn living in those areas and others the world now knows as the "West Bank and Gaza". After all, despite the fighting, Arabs live in Israel.
Why is it that a skyline empty of Jews is something "natural"?
"to the west is the skyline of Jerusalem, and to the east are stark desert hills dotted with Palestinian villages",
("Israel to Expand Largest West Bank Settlement", Marc. 22).
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/international/middleeast/22mideast.html
The eastward view would have also included Jewish villages if not for the aggression of the Arabs in 1947-1948.
During that period of intra-communal fighting, Jewish communities in that area, such as Kibbutz Bet Ha'Aravah, near Jericho, and Neveh Yaakov and Atarot closer to Jerusalem, were overrun and ethnically cleansed of its Jews.
If the Arabs had accepted the UN partition proposal of compromise, Jews would still have benn living in those areas and others the world now knows as the "West Bank and Gaza". After all, despite the fighting, Arabs live in Israel.
Why is it that a skyline empty of Jews is something "natural"?
Monday, March 21, 2005
How Bad Can "Badly" Be?
The New York Times fails the test of semantic sensitivity again and again.
Its report on the budget vote woes in Israel of Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres
("Peres Says Budget Fight May Imperil Coalition" on Mar. 21) notes that Sharon's party, the Likud, "is badly split over Gaza"
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/21/international/middleeast/21mideast.html?
The use of the adjective "badly" is perjorative and biased.
Many would think that the split is a good development and will halt an unwise decision that endangers the security of Israeli civilians and contribute to an illegal act of banning Jews from living in a portion of their national homeland. Indeed, the majority of the Likud Knesset faction opposes the proposed budget due to their disagreement over the disengagement plan.
"The Likud is split" is enough of a description it would seem.
Its report on the budget vote woes in Israel of Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres
("Peres Says Budget Fight May Imperil Coalition" on Mar. 21) notes that Sharon's party, the Likud, "is badly split over Gaza"
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/21/international/middleeast/21mideast.html?
The use of the adjective "badly" is perjorative and biased.
Many would think that the split is a good development and will halt an unwise decision that endangers the security of Israeli civilians and contribute to an illegal act of banning Jews from living in a portion of their national homeland. Indeed, the majority of the Likud Knesset faction opposes the proposed budget due to their disagreement over the disengagement plan.
"The Likud is split" is enough of a description it would seem.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
How Not To Translate
Read this excerpt from the Haaretz site:-
"Ya'alon was speaking to a forum of businesspeople from Haifa and the north.
'The [militant] organizations want the period of calm, but see it as a time to regroup and rearm before the fighting is resumed, without waiving their strategic goals,' the chief of staff said.
'Until I see terror groups disarmed, and [PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas] fulfilling his commitments to having only one political entity and one law, I cannot say this war is behind us,' Ya'alon added.
'We must not be intoxicated by the relative calm. We must deal with that which lies ahead and can break out soon if the [terror] infrastructure is not dealt with.'"
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/553785.html
He calls them terror groups but in his first quotation, Haaretz would rather him be saying "militant".
I doubt if that is the term he would have used.
This is Haaretz playing at editorial discretion or how to sneak your own political bias into your newspaper.
"Ya'alon was speaking to a forum of businesspeople from Haifa and the north.
'The [militant] organizations want the period of calm, but see it as a time to regroup and rearm before the fighting is resumed, without waiving their strategic goals,' the chief of staff said.
'Until I see terror groups disarmed, and [PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas] fulfilling his commitments to having only one political entity and one law, I cannot say this war is behind us,' Ya'alon added.
'We must not be intoxicated by the relative calm. We must deal with that which lies ahead and can break out soon if the [terror] infrastructure is not dealt with.'"
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/553785.html
He calls them terror groups but in his first quotation, Haaretz would rather him be saying "militant".
I doubt if that is the term he would have used.
This is Haaretz playing at editorial discretion or how to sneak your own political bias into your newspaper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
