101119
19th November 2010
Shabbat Shalom
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn up an agreement with the United States Government to continue the building moratorium with the exclusion of Jerusalem. Jerusalem's exclusion from the moratorium would be an enormous achievement for the Prime Minister and for Israel showing Jerusalem's special status. The supposed “reward” for agreeing to the moratorium is a false hope. The aeroplanes were part of a deal signed by Ehud Barak several weeks ago; We are asked to stop building and decide on the final borders of both Israel and the PA within 90 days without any solution to the refugees, compensation, the status of Jerusalem and all outstanding issues; we will not be given the planes already within our special arrangement and our Prime Minister will appear to be rigid and warmongering if he doesn't agree and the Palestinians are expected to do.......... nothing, not even recognise our existence as a Jewish National home!!!! We must read and understand exactly what this demand entails and its repercussions. Prime Minister Netanyahu has an enormous task on his head because no-one understands the might of these demands.
The United Nations needs serious re-evaluation. Its conduct, purpose and bias are clear, but then I decided to check who pays what in terms of their UN fees. Israel pays more than $40 million a year membership fees to the United Nations, which is more than any Arab or Islamic country including the oil rich ones! Iran pays $4.3 million while the US pays $598 million, surely time for a major assessment of the balance of power in the UN and a determined outside investigation of its disproportional responses to Israel! Maybe suggesting that in order to be on the Human Rights council one should have an impeccable record on human rights?
Canon Andrew White is in Baghdad where the mayhem is complete as the local extremists take the Allied withdrawal as victory. The Christian community is under siege and decimated by bombs and terror attacks. Andrew no longer lives on the American Army compound, his only refuge is in St Georges Church compound. He has lost 100 members of his flock recently and one of his drivers lost his legs in a targetted bombing. The Very Reverend, Canon Dr. Andrew White said these few simple words in a personal email to me and gave me permission to tell you and the world “There is only one country in the entire Middle East where Christians are safe and that is Israel.”
The London Revue of Books would, one would think, review books. Apparently its raison d'etre is to write scurrilous lies about Israel. Among the articles this Arts Council publication has published:
* "The state of Israel wishes to inculcate in its soldiers a "neo-Nazi ideology wrapped in Judaism." (LRB article, 22 July 2004)
* "Should Arabs in Israel be forcibly sterilized to prevent their children outnumbering the children of Israel's Jews? ... Was this inherent in the Zionist idea?" (LRB article by Charles Glass, 24 June 2004)
* "Gas chambers are not the only way to destroy a nation [like the Palestinians]. It is enough to destroy its social tissue, to starve dozens of villages, to develop high rates of infant mortality." (LRB article by vehemently anti-Zionist Israeli Yitzhak Laor, 9 May 2002)
* Yasser Arafat is "admirable" for not having "betrayed his people and accepted the offer [of an independent Palestinian state] made at Camp David." (LRB article by Raja Shehadeh)
* LRB readers were told that the IDF were "arrest[ing] hundreds of people... [and] concentrating them in camps behind barbed wire". (LRB article) Please read Tom Gross' report www.tomgrossmedia.com/mideastdispatches/archives/001151.html
Liu Xiaobo is the winner of this years Nobel Peace Prize but he will not be able ot receive it since he is in prison for expressing his opinions against the ruling party in his home country of China. His wife was allowed to tell him but she is in house arrest too; his family cannot go because they have been warned not to. Thus the headline should read PEACE HAS BEEN CANCELLED IN 2010
Further to Leakpedia on Tuesday a website published a list of 200 IDF soldiers which it classifies as directly involved in operations carried out in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead. Each entry features the soldiers and officers' pictures and personal details, including identification numbers and addresses. This endangers many Israeli soldiers and could lead to their arrest in a Europe hungry for excuses. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3986365,00.html
147 years ago Abraham Lincoln spoke the words of the Gettysburg Address. He too thought that war may cleave his nation....http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
Danny Seaman left his post heading the Prime Ministers Office Press Office for foreign journalists. Danny executed his enormous task with honour and with a great love and concern for Israel, which did not always meet with the approval of his seniors. He will be sorely missed – men of his calibre are rare. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=194079
Harry Potters grave is in Ramle! As the media hype builds over “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” Private Harry Potter was a British soldier killed in 1939 after a battle with an armed band of local Arabs and his grave in Ramle has now become a major tourist spot. I always felt that JK Rowling and Harry Potter were stories highly relevant to todays tribulations but this is ridiculous!!!! http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/17112010/5/tourists-flock-harry-potter-grave-0.html
Happiness is a moral obligation says Dennis Prager http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQqJvfh9irs&feature=channel
Talking of happiness, I actually got out of the house this week and not to the doctors!! Girlfriends took me to drink coffee (Cafe Hafuch of course http://www.flickr.com/photos/illuminea/4348804144/ ) and eat wonderful salads. The other evening my childhood friend Susan took me to the Botanical Gardens, to Caffit Restaurant, which was overflowing with clientèle. We sat beside the pond, the balmy night air kissing the dark waters, mirror smooth, reflecting the trees on the far bank. The portions are as generous as the people and as we ate our complimentary anti pasti the most gigantic bowl piled high with a little lettuce, lots of vegetables, Bulgarian cheese and a huge pile of oven roaster sweet potato chips!!!! The setting, the company, the food and the fact that I was out of bed and out of house made the day complete!!! I cannot wait to return to the passages of the Old City, to my beautiful Mahane Yehuda Market where Zvi said they miss seeing me, to the streets and coffee shops where I can once again see the incredible rainbow of people who make up this exceptional city.
I often think that the greatest asset of Israelis is that we know what the world thinks of us and truthfully don't care. Those countries that most despise us in Europe are falling under enormous economic and social stagnation Israel is young, strong, vibrant, innovative, bubbling and so full of history that it is difficult for us to understand why anyone would think we don't belong here. As one elderly friend said to me “When I was in Europe they kept telling me to go back home to Jerusalem – now I am here they tell me to go back home to Europe”. We must remember that in a world that only reads headlines people have short memories. We have to defend what is ours and no matter how good the intentions of world leaders they cannot take away our homeland. How any leader that claims to be a Christian can deny our right to Jerusalem is beyond my understanding.
Shabbat Shalom dear friends, from the most breathtakingly beautiful city in the world
Sheila
Showing posts with label Netanyahu building moratorium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Netanyahu building moratorium. Show all posts
Friday, 19 November 2010
Friday, 27 November 2009
Shabbat Shalom letter
091127
Friday, November 27th 2009.
Shabbat Shalom and to all my American friends, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, commemorating a time when Christians were persecuted, founded a nation and "settlers" was not a dirty word.
I want to write a different Shabbat Shalom letter today. Of course I will give you the news but I want to take you around my Jerusalem – as if you were a journalist who was trying to suggest that this is not a just society.
Mendel Kaplan z"l was a strong, fervently Zionist, outstanding Jew who gave his heart and soul to Israel. Mendel and Jill, his devoted and loving wife and partner, walked the walk – intolerant of those who just talk the talk. Always one to speak his mind and seek justice without "niceties" Mendel was a great Jewish leader and a fine man. Before the 1988 elections for Mayor of Jerusalem Zvi suggested and Teddy Kollek approved the initiative to persuade Mendel to become Mayor of Jerusalem but he chose to become Chairman of the Jewish Agency instead feeling his talents better served. His honesty will be missed in the double-speak world of Jewish Diaspora Affairs. May his soul rest in peace and his family know no more sorrow. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129725.html
I was horrified to read that a Florida middle school has decided not to take criminal action against 10 pupils who organized a "Kick a Jew" Day at school but to suspend them for a day and hold 20 minute lessons on tolerance in the school. No wonder our society has no concept of responsibility for their actions. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134628
The world is turning on its head, Kick a Jew Day and then this in Australia – a country which has zero tolerance for terrorism or its values. http://www.youtube.com/user/trueausse#p/a/u/1/081-MHMLRh8 Watch it and absorb.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 10 month moratorium on building in Yehuda and Shomron (West Bank disputed territory). While I am more than aware that it takes a hawk to make peace and a dove to make war this does not seem to fit either category. Not a man to take decisions lightly I am certain he was in a "no choice" situation, but I would understand it far more if the demanded "freeze" were even handed. I recognise that Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat has not made the PM's situation easier by his strong and possibly inflammatory statements but it is surely racist to insist that only Jews stop building homes without demanding the same of the other side of this complex equation. Maybe I could accept it if our enemies, whose demands are constantly appeased, would stop planning our annihilation.
A particularly Israeli paradox- a couple was waiting at the "trampiadah" – a hitch-hiking point- beside a petrol station in Kiriat Arba, close to the Biblical City of Hebron when a terrorist leapt at them with a knife shouting Allahu Akbar as he stabbed them. An off duty security guard stopped the terrorist who was seriously injured. All three were taken to Hadassah Hospital in Israeli ambulances for treatment. They will all receive the best of Israeli medicine. Israeli paradox or not?
Now for your tour. Imagine you are a journalist from CNN or the New York Times and I have been given 24 hours to convince you that Israel is a democratic, multi-cultural society. I assume you have a skimming knowledge of the Biblical meaning so I will take you to my Jerusalem rather than the Old City.
Let's start in Gilo, currently in the news. As we climb the wide road from Pat to Gilo we see the marvelously colourful metal statues of people running, waiting climbing and standing which run the full length of the grassy central reservation (go on Arlene laugh)we turn left to a breathtaking vew of Jerusalem, from Nebe Samuel to the Old City, the town centre to Baka to Talbieh. Up to the top of the hill and to the glorious view of Bethlehem and its multitudinous minarets, the lone steeple of the Church of the Nativity proof of its former glory. We drive slowly to take in the brilliant artists who painted the wall built during the Intifada when Palestinians were shooting from Beit Jalla – give us lemons we always make lemonade! Back through the busy commercial centre we head back down the hill to Beit Safafa and my favourite store. Inside you will hear the stories of the head family in Beit Safafa, who recognize their freedom here in Israel where they suffer from bureaucracy just like us!
Down the hill to Pat, a poor Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem where we see the difficulties of poverty and lack of education so familiar to a big city and then on to Bet Hanina and its grand villas with "Eiffel Tower" satellite receivers to get the Arab stations.
Shouk Ramle and its cornucopia of trivia, delicacies, spices and cheap clothes reflect the rainbow although no place reflects it more vividly than Mahane Yehuda. The costermongers and the throng reflect the full gamut of humanity. From ultra-orthodox Jews to black clad Orthodox Christians; from noisy tourists to even noisier customers; from the famous falafel stand to the elegance of the coffee shop; Jews, Arabs, Christians, Moslems, Druze, religiously reverent and impiously scantily clad the atmosphere bears no tension nor antipathy, just mingling and a zealous determination to choose the finest produce for their home. The jokes among the costermongers are in both Hebrew and Arabic since most of them are either Israeli Arabs or Jews who fled Arab countries.
The Malha Shopping Mall and the City Centre complete the openness and from there our tour takes a strange turn as we head for either Hadassah or Sharei Zedek Hospitals. The emergency rooms and the wards reflect the equality of this society far more than any other place. Israel has socialised medicine we do not differentiate between the insurance haves and have nots and the array of patients, doctors and nurses reflect the fact. We do not discriminate; Israel was created with specific and strong moral codes which are in place today despite the attacks upon our very existence.
If I could I would then take them to the United Nations Central Command which is in the former British Governor Generals home in Talpiot. It is an exquisite building with views over both Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the seat of one of the most influential people in the world – but I can't. We were in the building just once many years ago and it was only because the then Central Commander of UN in the ME was General Ganguza an open minded Italian who invited us to supper and was kicked out for doing so. 98% of the staff are Palestinian and Israelis are not welcome!!!
To complete our day I would invite them to supper on our "mirpesset" our veranda. I would suggest they bring anyone they wish to sit with us and talk freely and openly on any subject they wish; in particular I would ask them to discuss our day and what we saw and heard. We could discuss the fact that Israel protects the right of Moslem prayer on the Temple Mount http://www.answers.com/topic/temple-mount to the detriment of Jews and Christians at the demand of Moslem leaders who claim that for non-Moslems to walk on the Temple mount would defile the site! We could discuss that while it is difficult for Arabs to pass through barriers it is harder for Jews who are not allowed through at all! We could discuss the fact that Israel gives medical, agricultural and financial aid to developing countries and has first response teams to fly to disasters all over the globe http://mashav.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?MissionID=16210& and http://www.israaid.org.il/ whereas the PA only takes and never gives.
My virtual tour was somewhat selfish since I haven't left home for 12 days having been struck down by some virus – and I miss my usual traipsing around – wandering through the streets, alleyways and markets of this fascinating city.
Being a good Yiddische Momma I must return to my pre-Shabbat preparations. Zvi has gone to his Parliament in the coffee shop at the petrol station so I can do some cooking without him sending me to bed!
I wish you a beautiful Sabbath – remember that every day is Thanksgiving – with or without the turkey!!!
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
Friday, November 27th 2009.
Shabbat Shalom and to all my American friends, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, commemorating a time when Christians were persecuted, founded a nation and "settlers" was not a dirty word.
I want to write a different Shabbat Shalom letter today. Of course I will give you the news but I want to take you around my Jerusalem – as if you were a journalist who was trying to suggest that this is not a just society.
Mendel Kaplan z"l was a strong, fervently Zionist, outstanding Jew who gave his heart and soul to Israel. Mendel and Jill, his devoted and loving wife and partner, walked the walk – intolerant of those who just talk the talk. Always one to speak his mind and seek justice without "niceties" Mendel was a great Jewish leader and a fine man. Before the 1988 elections for Mayor of Jerusalem Zvi suggested and Teddy Kollek approved the initiative to persuade Mendel to become Mayor of Jerusalem but he chose to become Chairman of the Jewish Agency instead feeling his talents better served. His honesty will be missed in the double-speak world of Jewish Diaspora Affairs. May his soul rest in peace and his family know no more sorrow. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129725.html
I was horrified to read that a Florida middle school has decided not to take criminal action against 10 pupils who organized a "Kick a Jew" Day at school but to suspend them for a day and hold 20 minute lessons on tolerance in the school. No wonder our society has no concept of responsibility for their actions. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134628
The world is turning on its head, Kick a Jew Day and then this in Australia – a country which has zero tolerance for terrorism or its values. http://www.youtube.com/user/trueausse#p/a/u/1/081-MHMLRh8 Watch it and absorb.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 10 month moratorium on building in Yehuda and Shomron (West Bank disputed territory). While I am more than aware that it takes a hawk to make peace and a dove to make war this does not seem to fit either category. Not a man to take decisions lightly I am certain he was in a "no choice" situation, but I would understand it far more if the demanded "freeze" were even handed. I recognise that Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat has not made the PM's situation easier by his strong and possibly inflammatory statements but it is surely racist to insist that only Jews stop building homes without demanding the same of the other side of this complex equation. Maybe I could accept it if our enemies, whose demands are constantly appeased, would stop planning our annihilation.
A particularly Israeli paradox- a couple was waiting at the "trampiadah" – a hitch-hiking point- beside a petrol station in Kiriat Arba, close to the Biblical City of Hebron when a terrorist leapt at them with a knife shouting Allahu Akbar as he stabbed them. An off duty security guard stopped the terrorist who was seriously injured. All three were taken to Hadassah Hospital in Israeli ambulances for treatment. They will all receive the best of Israeli medicine. Israeli paradox or not?
Now for your tour. Imagine you are a journalist from CNN or the New York Times and I have been given 24 hours to convince you that Israel is a democratic, multi-cultural society. I assume you have a skimming knowledge of the Biblical meaning so I will take you to my Jerusalem rather than the Old City.
Let's start in Gilo, currently in the news. As we climb the wide road from Pat to Gilo we see the marvelously colourful metal statues of people running, waiting climbing and standing which run the full length of the grassy central reservation (go on Arlene laugh)we turn left to a breathtaking vew of Jerusalem, from Nebe Samuel to the Old City, the town centre to Baka to Talbieh. Up to the top of the hill and to the glorious view of Bethlehem and its multitudinous minarets, the lone steeple of the Church of the Nativity proof of its former glory. We drive slowly to take in the brilliant artists who painted the wall built during the Intifada when Palestinians were shooting from Beit Jalla – give us lemons we always make lemonade! Back through the busy commercial centre we head back down the hill to Beit Safafa and my favourite store. Inside you will hear the stories of the head family in Beit Safafa, who recognize their freedom here in Israel where they suffer from bureaucracy just like us!
Down the hill to Pat, a poor Jewish neighborhood of Jerusalem where we see the difficulties of poverty and lack of education so familiar to a big city and then on to Bet Hanina and its grand villas with "Eiffel Tower" satellite receivers to get the Arab stations.
Shouk Ramle and its cornucopia of trivia, delicacies, spices and cheap clothes reflect the rainbow although no place reflects it more vividly than Mahane Yehuda. The costermongers and the throng reflect the full gamut of humanity. From ultra-orthodox Jews to black clad Orthodox Christians; from noisy tourists to even noisier customers; from the famous falafel stand to the elegance of the coffee shop; Jews, Arabs, Christians, Moslems, Druze, religiously reverent and impiously scantily clad the atmosphere bears no tension nor antipathy, just mingling and a zealous determination to choose the finest produce for their home. The jokes among the costermongers are in both Hebrew and Arabic since most of them are either Israeli Arabs or Jews who fled Arab countries.
The Malha Shopping Mall and the City Centre complete the openness and from there our tour takes a strange turn as we head for either Hadassah or Sharei Zedek Hospitals. The emergency rooms and the wards reflect the equality of this society far more than any other place. Israel has socialised medicine we do not differentiate between the insurance haves and have nots and the array of patients, doctors and nurses reflect the fact. We do not discriminate; Israel was created with specific and strong moral codes which are in place today despite the attacks upon our very existence.
If I could I would then take them to the United Nations Central Command which is in the former British Governor Generals home in Talpiot. It is an exquisite building with views over both Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the seat of one of the most influential people in the world – but I can't. We were in the building just once many years ago and it was only because the then Central Commander of UN in the ME was General Ganguza an open minded Italian who invited us to supper and was kicked out for doing so. 98% of the staff are Palestinian and Israelis are not welcome!!!
To complete our day I would invite them to supper on our "mirpesset" our veranda. I would suggest they bring anyone they wish to sit with us and talk freely and openly on any subject they wish; in particular I would ask them to discuss our day and what we saw and heard. We could discuss the fact that Israel protects the right of Moslem prayer on the Temple Mount http://www.answers.com/topic/temple-mount to the detriment of Jews and Christians at the demand of Moslem leaders who claim that for non-Moslems to walk on the Temple mount would defile the site! We could discuss that while it is difficult for Arabs to pass through barriers it is harder for Jews who are not allowed through at all! We could discuss the fact that Israel gives medical, agricultural and financial aid to developing countries and has first response teams to fly to disasters all over the globe http://mashav.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/missionhome.asp?MissionID=16210& and http://www.israaid.org.il/ whereas the PA only takes and never gives.
My virtual tour was somewhat selfish since I haven't left home for 12 days having been struck down by some virus – and I miss my usual traipsing around – wandering through the streets, alleyways and markets of this fascinating city.
Being a good Yiddische Momma I must return to my pre-Shabbat preparations. Zvi has gone to his Parliament in the coffee shop at the petrol station so I can do some cooking without him sending me to bed!
I wish you a beautiful Sabbath – remember that every day is Thanksgiving – with or without the turkey!!!
Shabbat Shalom
Sheila
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