When the Arabs Shuttered Al Jazeera, but Israel Couldn't - Israel Today

When the Arabs Shuttered Al Jazeera, but Israel Couldn't

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 |  Israel Today Staff

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The current regional crisis with Qatar has again demonstrated the bizarre position in which Israel often finds itself in the volatile Middle East.

Israel is often the victim of media slander, and even incitement. Sometimes, those media voices slander and incite against Arab governments, too.

One of the biggest differences is that the Arab governments, authoritarian as they are, quickly shut down the offending media, while Israel, the region's only true democracy, must endure the slander.

Such is the case with Al Jazeera.

Founded and largely owned by the rulers of Qatar, Al Jazeera has become a thorn in the side of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and other "moderate" Arab states.

Using the crisis with Qatar as an excuse, Saudi Arabia and Jordan this week shuttered the local Al Jazeera bureaus in their respective states.

Israel wishes it could do the same.

"Al-Jazeera is not media, it’s not journalism. It’s an incitement machine. It’s pure propaganda, of the worst variety, in the style of Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia," said Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman during a Knesset meeting on Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly convened the relevant government agencies to explore the option of shuttering Al Jazeera's office in Jerusalem.

But for a nation that holds to true democratic rule of law, such things aren't so simple as they are in neighboring countries.

For starters, if the government moved against Al Jazeera, the network's first move would be an appeal to Israel's Supreme Court on the basis of freedom of the press. Even if the court ultimately sided with the government, the spectacle of an Arab news network suing Israel over freedom of the press wouldn't play well on the international stage.

And that's if the court sided with the government.

Israel's Supreme Court is notoriously liberal when it comes to the right of detractors to slander the Jewish state. Losing such a case would look even worse.

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The BDS Movement Has Taken Some Big Hits - ADAM ABRAMS/JNS.ORG

The Boycott-Divest-Sanctions Movement has taken a number of serious hits in the past month. (Reuters photo)

The BDS Movement Has Taken Some Big Hits

3/14/2017 ADAM ABRAMS/JNS.ORG

Israel's Knesset last week passed landmark legislation against the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, representing just one of several setbacks this month for BDS around the world.

The Israeli bill, which passed its third and final reading with a 46-28 vote, grants the interior minister authority to deny entry visas to non-Israeli citizens who actively support boycotts of the Jewish state.

Conveying the rationale for the anti-BDS measure, Member of Knesset David Amsalem (Likud), chairman of the Knesset Interior Committee, said that "if someone demeans me, I do not let them into my home." Responding to critics of the legislation, Amsalem clarified that the new law is not intended to stifle free speech, but was implemented to combat anti-Semitism and enemies of the Jewish state. These opponents of Israel he said, "are not talking about boycotting only the settlements; they are talking about boycotting the state as a state, without any distinction. We are talking about anti-Semites here."

One of the bill's initiators, MK Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home), expressed similar sentiments, saying, "In recent years, a new anti-Semitic front has been initiated against Israel. Our enemies carry out a campaign to delegitimize and boycott Israel. Banning BDS supporters that come here to harm us from within is the minimum we can do against those Israel-haters."

Left-wing Knesset members and several American Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League as well as the Reform and Reconstructionist movements, were highly critical of the new anti-BDS law. MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) said the law "is against freedom of expression" and "is meant to silence people." The left-wing American Jewish lobby group J Street claimed the law "damages Israel's democracy and helps the BDS movement." The American Jewish Committee, a centrist group, said that it is "troubled" by the legislation.

Despite the controversy, Israel's new anti-BDS law represents just one of several recent setbacks for the global BDS movement. Last week, the Republican-led New York State Senate passed its own anti-boycott legislation with an overwhelming 49-11 majority. The bill seeks to withhold state funding from any student group that engages in hate speech and actively calls to boycott Israel or other "allied nations." The bill will now move to the state assembly, where it is anticipated to encounter some opposition. 

Much like Israel's anti-BDS bill, the New York measure has come under scrutiny. The New York Civil Liberties Union and the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Legal asserted that the law unfairly denies public funding to students practicing constitutionally protected political speech. New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Island) responded to the bill's critics by saying, "We don't have to stand by and give taxpayer money to groups that sell such hate."

Another victory against BDS on U.S. college campuses came at Ohio State University (OSU) last week. Three OSU students led a successful initiative against the anti-Israel group "OSU Divest," which had petitioned to place a pro-BDS referendum on the student government ballot under the guise of a humanitarian initiative. The BDS petition was defeated in a 4,084-3,843 vote.

The setbacks for BDS also extended to Europe. Spain's ruling Partido Popular party approved new amendments that categorically reject the BDS movement. Partido's move represents the first initiative explicitly opposed to BDS by a Spanish political party. Angel Mas, the president of Spanish pro-Israel group ACOM, told the Jerusalem Post that "the time has come to end the impunity, force accountability and create real deterrence against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in Spain."

Also last week, Christian Imark—a member of the conservative Swiss People's Party and deputy leader of the National Council, the lower chamber of Switzerland's legislature—introduced a groundbreaking anti-BDS bill that passed in a 111-78 vote in the lower chamber. The legislation seeks to halt government funding of organizations that support BDS and contribute to the spread of anti-Semitism. The bill must now clear the legislature's upper chamber, The Council of States, before it can be enacted into law. 

This article was originally published at JNS.org. Used with permission.

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White House Silent on Israeli Settlement Vote - JNS.ORG CHARISMA NEWS

A bill the Knesset overwhelmingly passed that retroactively authorizes settlements in Judea and Samaria in the West Bank has resulted in outrage around the world, except from Washington, D.C. (Reuters photo)

White House Silent on Israeli Settlement Vote

2/8/2017 JNS.ORG  CHARISMA NEWS

The U.S. has remained mum on the historic, yet controversial passage of an Israeli bill that retroactively legalizes settlement outposts in Judea and Samaria.

Rather than issuing a new statement, the White House immediately responded to the Regulation Law by referring to its statement from last week, which said "we don't believe the existence of settlements is an impediment to peace" but that construction of new settlements "may not be helpful" in the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

Late Monday night, the Knesset passed the bill 60-52, retroactively legalizing some 4,000 homes that sit on private Palestinian land, while also providing compensation to the landowners. The State Department said that "at this point, indications are that this legislation is likely to be reviewed by the relevant Israeli courts, and the Trump administration will withhold comment on the legislation until the relevant court ruling," AFP reported. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump Feb. 15, where the two will likely address the issue of settlements among other topics. 

Meanwhile, the international community and Arab leaders slammed the legislation on outposts, with the Palestinians calling it an attempt to "legalize theft" of Palestinian land.

"This is an escalation that would only lead to more instability and chaos. It is unacceptable. It is denounced and the international community should act immediately," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Arab League said the law "is only cover for stealing the land."

Just a day after Netanyahu met with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, British Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood said the bill "damages Israel's standing with international partners."

"It is of great concern that the bill paves the way for significant growth in settlements deep in the West Bank, threatening the viability of the two-state solution," Ellwood said.

Similarly, French Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault said the law "constitutes a blow to the two-state solution."

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A Proper Zionist Response: Knesset Inaugurates Jerusalem Jubilee Celebration - JNI Media BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

A Proper Zionist Response: Knesset Inaugurates Jerusalem Jubilee Celebration

By JNI Media December 29, 2016   BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“And the king made silver to be in Yerushalayim as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore-trees that are in the Lowland, for abundance.” I Kings 10:27 (The Israel Bible™)

The Knesset Education Committee on Tuesday held the inauguration of “Jerusalem Now & Forever,” a photo exhibition celebrating the 50th year of the reunification of Jerusalem. The exhibition features photos from the renowned “Photographer of Jerusalem,” Sharon Gabay, who captured the beauty, diversity and tolerance of the Holy City. The images are printed on glass, representing the fragility of the holy city in the reality of today’s Middle East.

The images will be displayed at the Knesset over the next two weeks, and then travel around the world in 2017, providing people everywhere with the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of a unified Jerusalem. It will make stops in 50 global cities, landing finally in New York City.

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Israel Passes Law to Protect Christians in IDF - David Lazarus ISRAEL TODAY

Israel Passes Law to Protect Christians in IDF

Friday, July 15, 2016 |  David Lazarus  ISRAEL TODAY

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The Knesset passed a bill this week designed to protect Arab Christians who enlist in the Israeli army.  The law, which includes an extended prison sentence for anyone who tries to dissuade a Christian Arab from serving in the IDF, became necessary in the face of stiff opposition and violent attacks against the Christian soldiers.

Much of the hostility towards the Christian soldiers comes from Arab members of Israeli Knesset. Knesset member Aida Touma-Suliman of the Joint Arab List attacked the bill during the debate. “They want to drag the Christian Arab population into volunteering for the army that is occupying their people,” she said. “We will try to suggest to our young people a path that is total pride and honor, and not to be part of any machine (IDF) that oppresses our people.”

There are over 130,000 Christian Arab citizens in Israel, a potential source of significant recruitment for the IDF. However, Arab Christian enlistment has been severely limited due largely to the threats and incitement against young Christians wanting to join the army. That appears to be changing as unprecedented numbers of Christians are enlisting.

Father Gabriel Naddaf, a Greek Orthodox priest who has advocated for a strong connection to Israel and IDF service for Christian Arabs, has also been threatened with violence, and even death. His 17-year-old son was attacked in Nazareth. The attacker was identified as an activist from the Arab Hadash party in Israel’s Knesset. Other Arab MKs have also condemned Naddaf, calling him “an agent of Zionism who seeks to divide Arabs.” 

Arab Knesset members present during discussions over a bill ultimately designed to end intimidation against fellow Arabs (albeit Christians) were extremely vocal in their opposition. MK Talab Abu Arar from the Joint Arab List told the plenum, “I, as a Bedouin Arab, call on all Bedouin Arab soldiers to throw away their uniforms … and to return to the struggle against racist policies (of the IDF) against Arabs in general and against Bedouin in the Negev in particular.”

It was a bold and dangerous decision by the Israeli government to encourage Arab Christians to enlist in the IDF. Now that the government has passed a bill putting into law protections for the Arab Christians who want to serve in the army, a clear message has been sent to the rabble-rousers stirring up violence between Jews and Arabs in the country;  they will be punished. 

Our prayer is that this bold message will contribute to greater integration and cooperation between the many Jews and Arabs who want to live together, and serve together, in Israel.

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100 Years of American Jewry's Contribution to Israel Celebrated in the Knesset By JNS - BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

100 Years of American Jewry's Contribution to Israel Celebrated in the Knesset

By JNS May 27, 2016  BREAKING ISRAEL NEWS

“There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (The Israel Bible™)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Wednesday’s Knesset event honoring 100 years of American Jewry’s contributions to the State of Israel. The event was organized by the Ruderman Family Foundation. (Daniel Gilboa)

It is “difficult to overstate the importance of the American Jewish people to the State of Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday at an event in the Israeli Knesset that honored U.S. Jewry’s 100 years of contributions to Israel.

“American Jewry’s contribution to the state has been enormous and it will continue to be important to the future of the Israeli people,” said Netanyahu. “We must be more familiar with American Jewry and we must know more about them, and I’m convinced we will continue to see many young Americans making aliyah (immigration to Israel).”

The first-of-its-kind Knesset ceremony was organized by the Ruderman Family Foundation, which focuses on strengthening Israel-Diaspora relations. The foundation takes annual delegations of Knesset members on trips to the U.S. in order to help them gain a deeper understanding of American Jewry.

“I want to thank the Ruderman Family Foundation for this wonderful initiative and all the work they do to educate our delegates on better understanding the American Jewish community,” Israeli opposition leader Member of Knesset Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) said Wednesday, on the heels of failed negotiations to bring his party into Netanyahu’s governing coalition. “It’s been a difficult few days between myself and Prime Minister Netanyahu, but one thing we have in common is our roots to the American Jewish people. We must do all we can to keep this golden bridge standing forever.”

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta) Commemorating 850,000 Jews Expelled from Arab Countries

Israel's History - a Picture a Day (Beta)

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Commemorating 850,000 Jews Expelled from Arab Countries, November 30 Posted: 30 Nov 2015 Young Jewish girl from Beirut (British Library, Fouad Debbas Collection) Jewish Women of the Orient 100-150 Years Ago Last year, Israel's Knesset designated November 30 as the memorial day to commemorate the expulsion of Jews from Arab countries and Iran. Flourishing ancient communities were forced to flee anti-Semitic persecution, deadly pogroms, and confiscation of property.  An estimated 850,000 fled, most of them to Israel.   Historic photographs of the Jewish communities and individuals serve to remind us of the rich heritage they left behind.   Maison Bonfils studio was established in Beirut in 1867 and produced thousands of photographs from all over the Middle East.  Some of the most important pictures of Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem were taken through Bonfils' lenses. Lebanese collector Fouad Debbas amassed some 3,000 Bonfils photographs.  When he died in 2001, his collection faced possible dispersal, deterioration, or worse.  The British Library's Endangered Archives Programme stepped in to save the collection, digitize it and post the pictures online. In the British Library's honor, we present these Bonfils photos of Jewish women of the Middle East. We estimate they were taken in the last decades of the 19th century. Syrian Jewish woman A young Jewish girl from Egypt Young Jewess Jewish girl from Damascus Young Jewish girl Jewish girls Young Jewess Jewish women preparing to go out Syrian Jewish woman We commend the British Library for this essential project.  The Library and its staff serve as a model: Responsible archivists and libraries digitize and preserve their treasures for the world to see. Click on pictures to enlarge. Click on captions to view the original picture.

Palestinians: Our Kids Have Right to Stone Jews - Israel Today Staff

Palestinians: Our Kids Have Right to Stone Jews

Tuesday, November 17, 2015 |  Israel Today Staff

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Earlier this month, Israel’s Knesset enacted a minimum prison term for minors who throw stones and firebombs at vehicles. An outraged Palestinian Authority called the measure “punitive and racist.”

Stoning attacks in Israel go largely unreported, but on average there are several such incidents every day. The perpetrators are usually Palestinian Arab youth, and their victims are almost always Israeli Jewish motorists.

A number of these attacks have resulted in severe injuries and deaths, including Jewish children.

There are certain areas of Jerusalem that the police, ambulances and other public services simply won’t enter for fear of being stoned.

But engaging in such violence is the “right” of every Palestinian Arab child, insisted the Palestinian Authority’s Committee on Prisoners.

The committee accused the Israelis of attempting to “deprive Palestinian children of their ability to exercise their rights in an attempt to kill their sense of belonging to their land.”

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