bs"d
It is Elul. Time for Teshuva and self reflection. How can we allow history to repeat itself? Please forward! Show and send to your family and friends!
"HITNA'ARI" – Menora Chazani's Film about Jews' Expulsion from Chomesh is Presented Free of charge
Till SUNDAY, September 6 / 17 Ellul , at http://www.wejew.com/hitnaari
OR http://wejew.com/media/5878/Hitnaari_Exclusive_Online_Movie_Launch
(Book the high resolution film with screenings@12tribefilms.org (From Dr. gadi.eshel@ptk.co.il)
PS. To support Chomesh First!: http://yeshuv.org/help_homesh/
Thursday, September 03, 2009
'Jews who sell to Arabs are enemies' Halachic Decision "The New Sanhedrin" at meeting participated by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, Menachem Porush
bs"d
Dear List, In response to the talkbacks in jpost to this article:
Jews who sell to Arabs are enemies'
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804468650&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFullClearly these Rabbis are not racist and the Torah is not racist as some of the talkbacks suggest. Because Jews as well are not allowed to sell a parcel of Land in Israel forever to each other because of the commandments Shemittah and Yovel. These commandments clearly demonstrate, the Land belongs to the Creator of the World and by Jewish Law, Jews are not permitted to do as he wishes with this Land! Ownership of the Land comes with Biblical obligations. Will these Arabs who buy from the Jews keep the laws of Shemittah and Yovel as the Jews are required? Will they take a Sabbatical year every seven years? How will the Holy Land retain it's quality of holiness if the commandments are not being adhered? This isn't racism. Levites have no inheritance rights either and they are accepting of their role. What about Jewish women?The Ger Toshav, alien resident, is provided for but they must accept Jewish Sovereignty and the Laws of the Land. As some of the talkbacks noted, Torah is not the same as Democracy and Democracy is not the Torah. But Torah is the source of many democratic principles as well as a model from where the modern day republic took it's political philosopy.
Jews who sell to Arabs are enemies'
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804468650&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFullA Jew who sells his land to Arabs should not be allowed to lead prayers in synagogue, should not be given the right to make a blessing during the Torah reading, should not be counted among the quorum needed for public prayers and is considered an abettor to the enemies of Israel, according to a halachic decision issued on Monday night by a group of rabbis calling themselves "The New Sanhedrin."
Professor Hillel Weiss.
Photo: Bar Ilan-University
Prof. Hillel Weiss, a spokesman for the Sanhedrin, said that while the seller of land to Arabs is helping the Jewish people's enemies, this does not mean that he or she is guilty of a sin that entails the death penalty.
Rabbis who participated in a meeting that took place in the capital's Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood on Monday evening included Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Rabbi Ya'acov Yosef, son of Shas mentor Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and former United Torah Judaism MK Rabbi Menachem Porush, 93.....
"And the Land Will Not Be Sold Forever"
Rav Yisrael Shachor, Former Rosh Kollel, Chicago Kollel, 2003
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Anthony Wiener Flatbush USA Policy Towards Israel
bs"d
Tonight, Congressman Anthony Weiner held a Town Hall Meeting in Flatbush Ave N Jewish Center about USA Policy Towards Israel. Other meetings in the area are scheduled. It was not a full audience by any estimation. The auditorium was filled with less then half. I doubt it was widely publicized or announced in the shuls. We got a personal letter from the Weiner office since my husband had written letters in the past on this topic. I didn't hear Agudah, YI, OU publicize this important meeting regarding America's foreign policy that is infringing on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews in Jerusalem Judea and Samaria. I do believe that Young Israel did have a representative there. I can not understand this passivity given the knowledge that the citizens of Yesha have had their checkpoints removed putting the lives of 350,000 residents in danger and that no new housing permits have been approved over the last few months in Yesha. Netanyahu's gov'ts policies are seriously infringing on the quality of life for 350,000 Jews and the Jews in Flatbush or Boro Park are not being directed by their leadership to SPEAK OUT! The other day Rebbetzin Bracha Lieberman the mother of Hillel Lieberman HY"D who murdered at Kever Yosef called me up and happen to mention that checkpoints were removed and that in the past her daughter in law had 2 flats on the road. G-d forbid should this happen now without any army protection. Aside from the natural birth growth freeze, would most mothers take the chance on traveling under such hostile and dangerous roads? Giving freedom of movement to Palestinians by taking away checkpoints means providing freedom of movement for terrorists and loss of freedom of movements to Jewish mothers and widows and orphans of terror victims. For this Netanyahu was praised by President OBama!
Why aren't the Rabbonim speaking up? Unfortunately, the Silence of American Jewry occurred in 1943 as millions of Jews were exterminated and Peter Bergson tried to raise awareness to bomb the train tracks to Auschwitz. He was successful to bring 400 Rabbis to Washington for 1 march. Why did they give up so easily when they were ignored by Roosevelt? We should have raised the roof with massive demonstrations for the lives of fellow Jews! What good is all our speeches on Ahavas Yisroel and Machsom Peh? When we say we want something we must act in a way that shows that we mean it. Anyone can say that they want security for Israel and its people but if actions don't prove it and we don't back up our words in action, then such words are merely lip service and meaningless.
Congressman Weiner spoke first. His main point was that the Obama Administration should address Palestinian Terrorism rather than pressure Israel. He suggested that rather than give $900,000,000 to the PA unconditionally, we give it incrementally, $100,000,000 at a time and see if they reciprocate In addition, he and Nadler introduced legislation to stop the Bush Administration proposed 20 Billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. "They are paying the bills for the suicide bombers" Mr. Weiner said in a 2007 article in the NY Sun. He said at the Town Meeting that the Saudi's can not be trusted with the money.
He also said that we must respect the decisions made by government democracies yet at the same time he noted that Hamas and Hizbollah, terrorist organizations have been elected via the democratic process. I suppose Weiner would maintain that when it comes to a terror state one can ignore the democratic election and act in self defense and defiance against the decisions of a terror state. Apparently, he would disagree at the suggestion that one can ignore decisions of a non terror democratic elected government even when it is making decisions against the platform by which it was elected due to pressure by the American government.
The government representing Israel, made a decision against the will of the electorate to annul G--d's Covenant, This government chose to reject the Divine will, the Holy Torah, and chose to cave in to American pressure.
Congressman Weiner also said that he is a staunch activist for Jonathan Pollard and is calling for his clemency by the President. He said that Jonathan had incompetent lawyers in the past. But he prefaced by saying that it is a known fact that Jonathan Pollard did a bad thing since he spied for Israel. Congressman Weiner saw me shake my head when he said that it is a known fact that Pollard did a bad thing when he spied for Israel.
At the meeting there were 5 or 6 questions about USA Policy towards Israel.
Then there was a question about healhcare reform and the audience forgot about USA Israel Policy. It was a heated discussion about Healthcare.
I was no. 2 to be called upon. Here were my 3 points.
1) According to the Torah, the Land of Israel is not promised to the seed of Abraham completely and Ishmael is excluded since it says that Ishael will not inherit with Isaac and the inheritance goes to Isaac only. This contradicts what Obama said at Cairo. The Land is not promised to the seed of Isaac completely since Eisav sold his birthright to Jacob for a pot of Lentils. It is exclusively promised to the seed of Jacob who is called Israel. Therefore the people of Israel are the legitimate inheritors of Judea and Samaria and not the Palestinians according to the truth of the Torah.
2) The Palestinians have an ideology worse than Nazi Germany. Hitler yemach shemo promoted extermination of the Jews, and succeeded with 6,000,000. His partner was the Mufti of Jerusalem, Fatahs ideological Founding Father. Fatah goes one step further than Hilter Yemach shemo and promotes martyrdom, SUICIDE, to be SHAHID, a holy martyr in order to kill Jews. Many of the schools in the PA have names after such Martyrs, suicide bombers as reported by PMW (Palestinian Media Watch) So why is America promoting a Palestinian State whose ideology aligns itself with Nazi Germany??
3) Didn't Jonathan Pollard share intelligence of weapons of mass destruction and how would we respond if an ally to America had intelligence regarding the World Trade Center attack and did not share that info with America?
Answer to quesion no 1) was speak to the Rabbonim and that we must honor the decisions of an elected democracy.
Answer to question 2) He, Congressman Weiner is actively trying to stop aid to Palestinians unless they show some willingness to stop terror
3) Had no clear answer about whether AMerica kept to their end of their treaty with Israel to share intelligence. How then can we say that he did a bad thing when we don't know the answer to this question. If America did not keep to their treaty this put Pollard in a moral dilemma forcing him correctly to answer to a higher authority.
After several more questions the topic changed to healthcare, Weiner's baby. Congressman Weiner was very convincing that the healthcare reform that he is promoting together is the best for America.
Walking to his car I told Weiner that his arguments sold me on his healthcare arguments for now. However, my final comment to him before he went into his car was, if the Federal gov't takes over healthcare reform this means that much funds will be going to the Federal gov't instead of to private medical insurance companies. To this he agreed. Let's say that it will be half of the money going to private insurance companies. If I know that the government now is spending Tax Payer dollars to promote a destructive Palestinian State whose agenda is the destruction of Israel, how can I trust that the federal gov't will spend this health care money morally. Perhaps the key decision makers will provide major funds for abortion or mercy killing and other problematic causes in the name of healthcare. I am afraid to trust Obama and his Adminstration right now even if Medicare is well run at the moment and has been over the last 40 years. To this he replied that regarding healthcare, nothing much will change for 5 years and that will be at the end of Obama's 2nd term if reelected. Then he joked that perhaps the next President after that will be himself (Weiner).
I for one of course would welcome the change!
Robin Ticker
Tonight, Congressman Anthony Weiner held a Town Hall Meeting in Flatbush Ave N Jewish Center about USA Policy Towards Israel. Other meetings in the area are scheduled. It was not a full audience by any estimation. The auditorium was filled with less then half. I doubt it was widely publicized or announced in the shuls. We got a personal letter from the Weiner office since my husband had written letters in the past on this topic. I didn't hear Agudah, YI, OU publicize this important meeting regarding America's foreign policy that is infringing on the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews in Jerusalem Judea and Samaria. I do believe that Young Israel did have a representative there. I can not understand this passivity given the knowledge that the citizens of Yesha have had their checkpoints removed putting the lives of 350,000 residents in danger and that no new housing permits have been approved over the last few months in Yesha. Netanyahu's gov'ts policies are seriously infringing on the quality of life for 350,000 Jews and the Jews in Flatbush or Boro Park are not being directed by their leadership to SPEAK OUT! The other day Rebbetzin Bracha Lieberman the mother of Hillel Lieberman HY"D who murdered at Kever Yosef called me up and happen to mention that checkpoints were removed and that in the past her daughter in law had 2 flats on the road. G-d forbid should this happen now without any army protection. Aside from the natural birth growth freeze, would most mothers take the chance on traveling under such hostile and dangerous roads? Giving freedom of movement to Palestinians by taking away checkpoints means providing freedom of movement for terrorists and loss of freedom of movements to Jewish mothers and widows and orphans of terror victims. For this Netanyahu was praised by President OBama!
Why aren't the Rabbonim speaking up? Unfortunately, the Silence of American Jewry occurred in 1943 as millions of Jews were exterminated and Peter Bergson tried to raise awareness to bomb the train tracks to Auschwitz. He was successful to bring 400 Rabbis to Washington for 1 march. Why did they give up so easily when they were ignored by Roosevelt? We should have raised the roof with massive demonstrations for the lives of fellow Jews! What good is all our speeches on Ahavas Yisroel and Machsom Peh? When we say we want something we must act in a way that shows that we mean it. Anyone can say that they want security for Israel and its people but if actions don't prove it and we don't back up our words in action, then such words are merely lip service and meaningless.
Congressman Weiner spoke first. His main point was that the Obama Administration should address Palestinian Terrorism rather than pressure Israel. He suggested that rather than give $900,000,000 to the PA unconditionally, we give it incrementally, $100,000,000 at a time and see if they reciprocate In addition, he and Nadler introduced legislation to stop the Bush Administration proposed 20 Billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. "They are paying the bills for the suicide bombers" Mr. Weiner said in a 2007 article in the NY Sun. He said at the Town Meeting that the Saudi's can not be trusted with the money.
He also said that we must respect the decisions made by government democracies yet at the same time he noted that Hamas and Hizbollah, terrorist organizations have been elected via the democratic process. I suppose Weiner would maintain that when it comes to a terror state one can ignore the democratic election and act in self defense and defiance against the decisions of a terror state. Apparently, he would disagree at the suggestion that one can ignore decisions of a non terror democratic elected government even when it is making decisions against the platform by which it was elected due to pressure by the American government.
The government representing Israel, made a decision against the will of the electorate to annul G--d's Covenant, This government chose to reject the Divine will, the Holy Torah, and chose to cave in to American pressure.
Congressman Weiner also said that he is a staunch activist for Jonathan Pollard and is calling for his clemency by the President. He said that Jonathan had incompetent lawyers in the past. But he prefaced by saying that it is a known fact that Jonathan Pollard did a bad thing since he spied for Israel. Congressman Weiner saw me shake my head when he said that it is a known fact that Pollard did a bad thing when he spied for Israel.
At the meeting there were 5 or 6 questions about USA Policy towards Israel.
Then there was a question about healhcare reform and the audience forgot about USA Israel Policy. It was a heated discussion about Healthcare.
I was no. 2 to be called upon. Here were my 3 points.
1) According to the Torah, the Land of Israel is not promised to the seed of Abraham completely and Ishmael is excluded since it says that Ishael will not inherit with Isaac and the inheritance goes to Isaac only. This contradicts what Obama said at Cairo. The Land is not promised to the seed of Isaac completely since Eisav sold his birthright to Jacob for a pot of Lentils. It is exclusively promised to the seed of Jacob who is called Israel. Therefore the people of Israel are the legitimate inheritors of Judea and Samaria and not the Palestinians according to the truth of the Torah.
2) The Palestinians have an ideology worse than Nazi Germany. Hitler yemach shemo promoted extermination of the Jews, and succeeded with 6,000,000. His partner was the Mufti of Jerusalem, Fatahs ideological Founding Father. Fatah goes one step further than Hilter Yemach shemo and promotes martyrdom, SUICIDE, to be SHAHID, a holy martyr in order to kill Jews. Many of the schools in the PA have names after such Martyrs, suicide bombers as reported by PMW (Palestinian Media Watch) So why is America promoting a Palestinian State whose ideology aligns itself with Nazi Germany??
3) Didn't Jonathan Pollard share intelligence of weapons of mass destruction and how would we respond if an ally to America had intelligence regarding the World Trade Center attack and did not share that info with America?
Answer to quesion no 1) was speak to the Rabbonim and that we must honor the decisions of an elected democracy.
Answer to question 2) He, Congressman Weiner is actively trying to stop aid to Palestinians unless they show some willingness to stop terror
3) Had no clear answer about whether AMerica kept to their end of their treaty with Israel to share intelligence. How then can we say that he did a bad thing when we don't know the answer to this question. If America did not keep to their treaty this put Pollard in a moral dilemma forcing him correctly to answer to a higher authority.
After several more questions the topic changed to healthcare, Weiner's baby. Congressman Weiner was very convincing that the healthcare reform that he is promoting together is the best for America.
Walking to his car I told Weiner that his arguments sold me on his healthcare arguments for now. However, my final comment to him before he went into his car was, if the Federal gov't takes over healthcare reform this means that much funds will be going to the Federal gov't instead of to private medical insurance companies. To this he agreed. Let's say that it will be half of the money going to private insurance companies. If I know that the government now is spending Tax Payer dollars to promote a destructive Palestinian State whose agenda is the destruction of Israel, how can I trust that the federal gov't will spend this health care money morally. Perhaps the key decision makers will provide major funds for abortion or mercy killing and other problematic causes in the name of healthcare. I am afraid to trust Obama and his Adminstration right now even if Medicare is well run at the moment and has been over the last 40 years. To this he replied that regarding healthcare, nothing much will change for 5 years and that will be at the end of Obama's 2nd term if reelected. Then he joked that perhaps the next President after that will be himself (Weiner).
I for one of course would welcome the change!
Robin Ticker
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: aaron kinsberg <aitlaasot@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Subject: impression on Weiner's public relations spiel
To: faigerayzel@gmail.com
Cc: aitlaasot@yahoo.com
From: aaron kinsberg <aitlaasot@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Sep 1, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Subject: impression on Weiner's public relations spiel
To: faigerayzel@gmail.com
Cc: aitlaasot@yahoo.com
| ב"ה WORTH REPEATING Hi Robin, My take on the Wiener Town Meeting. It's worth repeating. He is quite bright & knows how to say the right things. He let's people hear what they want to hear. He let us know that he doesn't agree with the Pres' comment re settlement freeze b/c he doesn't know what is the game plan. He said this different ways to everyone's delight. Of course, one hears what one is set up to hear. I have no doubt that he has worked hard for Israel and deserves recognition for that. But when push comes to shove, he's a Democrat first. As he was leaving, I approached the Congressman. For a brief moment, I believe he let his guard down. I told the Congressman that he was downplaying the negative effect of Obama's comments re the building freeze. I pointed out to him that Israel made numerous concessions over the past 17 years and received nothing in return except a vague promise of American support. Menachem Begin, A"H, said in 1971, "There is no guarantee that can guarantee an international guarantee." And sure enough, each Israeli concession was met by further Arab demands & more US pressure and more terrorism. The Congressman then blurted back, "All I meant was that the President's statement regarding the settlement freeze was nothing more than that. It was a statement and nothing has happened. Nothing has changed." ... I immediately pointed out to him that Obama's statement will have the opposite effect because every unilateral concession by Israel in the past has been met with Arab intransigence. He again repeated that nothing has been lost by Obama's statement. When I again repeated that the Arabs will make more demands because they see their tactics work, he conceded, "Yes, it could have that effect." I wanted too ask him if he was aware of the building freeze in parts of Y-m, and in all of Yehuda & Shomron and this is having a detrimental effect on the lives of Jews. But he turned to speak to somebody else. I wanted to ask him publicly what I had asked him after the meeting. Unfortunately I was not called on and the meeting became more passionate, not about the mid-east but Health care. It was also dominated by a handful of people who kept calling out with comments re Health care. Kol Tuv, Aaron Kinsberg FYI: In 2003, Congressmen Wiener was trying to pressure Pres Bush to recognize Y-m as Israel's capital. Ira Forman, of the National Jewish Democratic Council, commenting on the silence of the Jewish community, "Anthony Weiner's efforts highlight the great hypocrisy of these people (the Bush Administration) and it highlights the failure of our community to criticize a president when it's appropriate." Well Congressman Wiener, it's time to criticize this President even if he is a Democrat. |
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Touring Israel with Mike Huckabee by Helen Freedman
bs"d
Apparently, after reading Helen Freedman's report, Governor Huckabee said many important statements of which I totally agree. In fact, I have nothing but the utmost respect for this man. He is a mensch and a true friend of Israel. But the following observation is very painful to me as a Jew. Why do Bible believing Christians assert the right of the Jews to their homeland and the Jews themselves are not assertive?
Let us work to change this and raise the Jewish Voice!
Huckabee spoke about American Christians' very deep support for Israel. He believes there is more unity amongst Evangelicals for Israel than there is among Jews. He describes the Christian connection to Judaism as one that is totally genetic, "part of its DNA," and that because of this, Bible-believing Christians assert the right of the Jews to their homeland.
Why can't the Jews?
Apparently, after reading Helen Freedman's report, Governor Huckabee said many important statements of which I totally agree. In fact, I have nothing but the utmost respect for this man. He is a mensch and a true friend of Israel. But the following observation is very painful to me as a Jew. Why do Bible believing Christians assert the right of the Jews to their homeland and the Jews themselves are not assertive?
Let us work to change this and raise the Jewish Voice!
Huckabee spoke about American Christians' very deep support for Israel. He believes there is more unity amongst Evangelicals for Israel than there is among Jews. He describes the Christian connection to Judaism as one that is totally genetic, "part of its DNA," and that because of this, Bible-believing Christians assert the right of the Jews to their homeland.
Why can't the Jews?
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: afsi <afsi@rcn.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Subject: Following the Huckabee Trail in Israel
To: afsi@rcn.com
From: afsi <afsi@rcn.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Subject: Following the Huckabee Trail in Israel
To: afsi@rcn.com
ARUTZ-SHEVA – AUGUST 24, 2009
4. First-Person Account: Touring Israel with Mike Huckabee
by Helen Freedman 
A first-person account of a US presidential candidate's trip to Israel by a prominent Jewish-American activist reveals a calm man with strong principles.
When I received the invitation from Shani Hikind at the Ateret Cohanim/Jerusalem Reclamation Project (JRP) to accompany Republican Presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on a mission to Israel, I agreed immediately.
Having listened to Huckabee speak at the many debates held amongst the candidates, and being a fan of his Fox television show and his ABC radio shows, I knew that traveling with Mike would be a unique and extraordinary experience. It was all that and more!!
I trust that the messages he brings back, which are strong contradictions of the Obama policies, will help educate the general public about the true situation that exists in Israel today, and the necessity of keeping Israel a viable ally of America.
I arrived at Newark Airport late Saturday night, August 15, and waited at the gate to board my El Al midnight flight to Israel. An unassuming man walked into the area all alone. There was no entourage, no guards, no secretaries, and no press. When I looked again, I realized it was Mike Huckabee. I approached him, introduced myself, and told him I was part of the group with which he would be traveling. He was as gracious as could be, agreed to take some books and materials that I had for him, and posed for a photo with me. From that time on, he greeted me as Helen whenever we met.
He had that same warm quality with everyone in the group, remembering each one's name and greeting each one with a smile. This calm, affable, genuine quality about him continued throughout our three-day trip in Israel, despite the constant pressure of the media surrounding him, pushing their way forward, shouting out questions, and following him everywhere.
The trip was under the tireless guidance of JRP Representative in Jerusalem, Daniel Luria. Our first day was concentrated in Jerusalem, with a fascinating tour of the City of David, where ancient excavations dating back 3,200 years have been discovered. This was followed by trips through the former Yemenite village in Silwan, mostly Arab but with a renewed Jewish presence as there was decades ago, a visit to Maaleh HaZeitim, a flourishing Jewish development on the Mount of Olives, and a delightful stop at Kidmat Tzion, another Jewish development, adjacent to the ugly wall that cuts through Jerusalem and separates Abu Dis from the rest of Jerusalem.
While most of us enjoyed a picnic lunch in the lovely shaded forest area adjacent to Kidmat Tzion, Mike Huckabee sat in the strong sunshine, in front of a stunning view of the Old City, while he gave interview after interview to the omnipresent press.
Huckabee's remarks to the press have been well-recorded, but there were some particular comments that stand out in my memory. He insisted that his visit was not meant to be a provocation. He believes that two sovereign nations cannot control the same piece of territory, and that though the PA deserves to have a state, "it can't be in Israel." He affirms the unique relationship between the U.S. and Israel which he describes as "organic," with both having experienced the same struggle and victory. He also spoke about his experiences growing up in the deep South with segregated schools, which makes him very sensitive to issues of discrimination and prejudice.
When asked about the "occupation," Mike Huckabee responded brilliantly. He described Israel's government as one of "accommodation, not occupation." He spoke about Israel's efforts to bring all types of services to the Arab communities such as schools, infra-structure development, hospitals, and welfare payments.
The Moskowitz family, owners of the Shepherd Hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem, hosted a lovely cocktail reception on Monday evening at the hotel. Although the hotel is located near the National Headquarters of the Israeli police, near the tomb of Shimon HaTzadik, and adjacent to the Hebrew University and Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus, the purchase of the hotel by a Jewish family, with the purpose of converting it to apartments for Jews, had set off a storm of protest. As we arrived at the hotel, we saw the protestors from Peace Now screaming their opposition to Huckabee's presence. Huckabee's reaction to their insults and noise was that their ability to behave in that fashion simply demonstrated Israel's democratic character, where free speech, even if ugly and unwanted, was fully tolerated.
On Tuesday, the former governor was given a tour of Maaleh Adumim and the E1 corridor to Jerusalem. The town's mayor, Benny Kashriel, explained that the population of nearly 40,000 people in the city provided 2,000 jobs to Arabs, and that freezing construction meant putting Arabs out of work. Huckabee agreed that Obama's policies are not in sync with either his campaign promises, or his assurances made to AIPAC of his continued support for previous understandings regarding Israel's settlement situation. Huckabee asserted that Israelis must be allowed to make their own decisions.
He continued along these lines as we toured Shomron/Samaria with David HaIvri. We visited Beit El, Mt. Gerizim overlooking Shechem (Nablus), Har Bracha, and Givot Olam. In each place he met hard-working, devoted people who love the Land of Israel and dedicate their lives to its preservation. Gershon Mesika, the head of the Shomron Regional Council, asked Huckabee to do what he could to encourage the Jewish people to love Israel and thus restore the Temple to Jerusalem.
Huckabee spoke about American Christians' very deep support for Israel. He believes there is more unity amongst Evangelicals for Israel than there is among Jews. He describes the Christian connection to Judaism as one that is totally genetic, "part of its DNA," and that because of this, Bible-believing Christians assert the right of the Jews to their homeland.
Huckabee suggested that Obama's positions on Israel have brought anxiety to Congress, and that Democrats don't want to be seen to be in conflict with Israel. He reminded us of Reagan's bombing of Libya, and stated, "Abandoning the Israel/U.S. relationship would be the undoing of both countries." Responding to questions about defensible borders for Israel, Huckabee maintained that there would be none if control were turned over to Hamas.
Referring to the years of peace processes, he reminded us of Einstein's definition of insanity, namely, "doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Huckabee recommends starting with a blank slate and seeing what is realistically possible; "there is no point in talking about a plan that is a proven failure." Although he recognized that he is out of the mainstream in his beliefs, he says he prefers that to the position of always having to check the prevailing winds.
Asserting that Jews should have the right to live wherever they choose in their homeland, he commented, "If Arabs didn't want to lose land, they shouldn't have started wars." He reminded us that wars and history have caused so many lands to change hands and populations.
That evening, back in Jerusalem, there was a cocktail reception at the very beautiful home of Mr. Guma Aguiar in Yemin Moshe. The former governor was awarded photos and plaques for his deep devotion to Israel as the Jewish homeland. Many Members of Knesset and other dignitaries were there, along with the press of course, and once again Huckabee displayed his modesty, equanimity, and sincerity as he graciously accepted the awards and once again pledged his devotion to Israel.
(Pictured below:) Huckabee with Rabbi Wolpe at Gush Katif Museum
By Wednesday, August 19, work commitments began to intrude in the planned schedule. Though he did not make it to the Gush Katif "resettlement camp" in Nitzan (see below), Huckabee did get to the Gush Katif museum in Jerusalem, where he met Rivka Goldschmidt, an evacuee from the destroyed Gush Katif communities. He spoke to her earnestly, listening to her description of what it had been like to have led a useful and productive life in a beautiful home and community and then to have it all torn away and destroyed. Four years later, only 15 percent of the 400 farmers of Gush Katif have received proper compensation. There were 50 greenhouses in Gush Katif; today, the former residents have only three. People are still paying off the mortgages on their destroyed homes, and must pay rent for the caravans in which they live in the "refugee camps." Huckabee seemed deeply moved by what he heard, as well as by the vivid photos and powerfully emotional film of the expulsion.
He was unable to continue with us on our visit to Nitzan, the largest of the Jewish "refugee camps," where we met with Dror Vanunu and Rachel and Moshe Saperstein, former residents of N'vei Dekalim. After a lovely lunch at the visitors' center, we traveled on to Hevron to enjoy the spirituality always present in this city of our Matriarchs and Patriarchs. David Wilder once again served as our valuable guide.
At our farewell dinner at the "Between the Arches" restaurant in the Old City, Huckabee was there to greet each one of us. He shook hands with us individually, and posed for photos. I spoke to him briefly about his plans to visit Israel again in late January/February with a Christian group. I reminded him that Herbert Zweibon, chairman of my organization, Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI, has always worked closely with the Christian community and would work with him on his planned visit. He indicated that he would look forward to discussing this further.
Mike Huckabee did not stay to dine with us; he fought the Jerusalem traffic that erev Rosh Chodesh Elul night simply to say farewell personally to each one of us who had accompanied him on this memorable trip. He then left for the airport and his return flight to New York. I look forward to watching his personal reports on Fox News and listening to his radio commentaries on Israel.
I trust that the messages he brings back, which are strong contradictions of the Obama policies, will help educate the general public about the true situation that exists in Israel today, and the necessity of keeping Israel a viable ally of America.
Helen Freedman is Executive Director of Americans For a Safe Israel/AFSI - 212-828-2424; afsi@rcn.com
Comment on this story
Fwd: West Bank: slowly, determinedly, settlers bid to build new town by Rory McCarthy
bs"d
"People like to present us like crazy lunatics," said Matar. "But one day these people in the West will see. The Muslims are taking over there too. You better be on our side for your sake, but you guys in Europe are not. Those who curse Israel will be cursed, and those who bless Israel will be blessed."
"People like to present us like crazy lunatics," said Matar. "But one day these people in the West will see. The Muslims are taking over there too. You better be on our side for your sake, but you guys in Europe are not. Those who curse Israel will be cursed, and those who bless Israel will be blessed."
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Women in Green <womeningreen@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Subject: West Bank: slowly, determinedly, settlers bid to build new town by Rory McCarthy
To: wfit2@womeningreen.org
Instructions for unsubscribing can be found in the footer of this message.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
Rory McCarthy of the Guardian spent a morning with us in Shdema. Below is what he wrote.
Enjoy!
Nadia Matar, Women in Green
Yehudit Katzover, The Committee for a Jewish Shdema
---------------------------------------------------
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audioslideshow/2009/aug/23/israel-settlements-shdema
Audio slideshow: 'This land belongs to the Jewish people'
Early in the morning, Nadia Matar drove to the hills south of Jerusalem, near the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour, and turned into a dusty, unmarked road. There she planted a sign which read "Welcome to Shdema". She drove on, stopping every few metres along the route to jam into the rocky ground a series of fluttering blue and white Israeli flags. Israeli soldiers let her pass unhindered as she drove up to the concrete ruins of what was until a few years ago the Israeli military base of Shdema.
Here, just a stone's throw from Palestinian homes and only a few minutes from the city of Bethlehem, Matar and her friends are intent on building a Jewish community, the next settlement outpost in the occupied West Bank.
It is a glaring challenge to the Obama administration, which is trying to halt all Israeli settlement growth as a precursor to renewed peace talks. But recent history suggests it is the highly-motivated settlers like Matar, 43, a mother of six born in Belgium and now living in the settlement of Efrat, who may in the end triumph on this particular dusty patch of land.
Tomorrow, the Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu arrives in London for a series of key meetings, including four hours of discussions on Wednesday with the White House's special envoy, George Mitchell, and talks with Gordon Brown tomorrow. The continued colonisation of the West Bank, an extraordinarily successful project over the past 40 years, will dominate the agenda. Settlement on occupied land is regarded as illegal by the rest of the international community, but nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers live in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Shdema is even beyond Israel's West Bank barrier, which runs deep into Palestinian territory and which many believe will one day be the final border of Israel.
Matar's goal is "redemption of the land". In her view, the land on which the Palestinian homes sit belongs by Biblical and historical right to the Jewish people and is, for now, "temporarily under Arab occupation". She is trying to build a "Jewish Shdema" and to prevent the land from remaining Palestinian. After the military evacuated the base there were plans, since shelved, to build a hospital for Palestinians. "They want more pieces of land that belong to the Jews. They want to take it away from us," Matar said.
"The Land of Israel was given by God to the people of Israel," she said. "Some will tell you God gave it to us, others will say Jewish history of 4,000 years is our historical right … You don't have to be a religious Englishman to see London belongs to the British."
This is a rare insight into how outposts get built: with determined settlers and eventually complicit Israeli authorities.
At first, after the army withdrew from the base three years ago, soldiers closed the area off and prevented all settlers from approaching. But the settlers sneaked in and kept coming. Eventually Matar, a leader of the group Women in Green, and her supporters convinced the military to allow them in just once a week, on a Friday. They cleaned the buildings up, painted over graffiti, tidied the rooms and held workshops and discussions. Sometimes they have stayed the night, sometimes they have been allowed to come twice a week and eventually, they believe, settlers will begin to live here.
Similar struggles take place every week on other hilltops across the West Bank. All this is happening even though the Israeli government says in public it will allow no new settlements.
"At the beginning we fought against the army to come up here," said Matar. "But when they saw we were adamant they let us come on a Friday … But it's not enough for us. We don't want to ask permission to be in our homeland."
Now every time they come the army far from preventing them in fact provides them with security, deploying several soldiers and armoured vehicles but not interfering with their activities. In April the military also halted the construction of a Palestinian park, part funded by the US government, because it was at the foot of the hill claimed by the settlers at Shdema.
Already the settlers have produced a glossy brochure with architectural plans of the Shdema they would like to see: it has grassy lawns, lines of trees, a cultural centre and a small but thriving Jewish community.
On this day around 30 settlers of different ages gathered, among them several children, a rabbi and at least two women carrying discreetly holstered pistols. They sat in one room on plastic chairs as Tomer Karazi, 34, a rabbi with five children, discussed a Biblical text and the importance of building a new village in this Biblical land.
Later Karazi said he and his wife Hannah were ready to move from their home in the settlement of Nokdim to Shdema as soon as possible. "It's our duty not to escort the process of redemption from the outside but to be involved and active from the inside," he said. "We don't need to wait for things like water and electricity. And we really love the place. It's beautiful."
Then out came large tubs of white emulsion paint and several brushes and the group began painting over the grey concrete walls, stopping occasionally for glasses of water and slices of watermelon.
Yosef Ziggerman, 18, a settler from Efrat had been involved in several other, often unsuccessful, attempts to establish new outposts on nearby hills. "I believe every single piece is ours and I don't see many pieces of land as beautiful as this," he said. "We aren't doing anything crazy or fanatic. We're painting and making it look nice."
Several spoke of their frustration with other Israelis who enjoy the more secular lifestyle of cities like Tel Aviv or Eilat but who seemed not to understand or endorse the settlers' millenarian ideology and their effort to claim the West Bank as their own. Since Israel withdrew its settlers from Gaza four years ago, many fear more compromises and would rather take a more radical and practical stand to expand Jewish settlement of the West Bank.
They described themselves as a frontline in a wider struggle against what they see as radical Islam, insisting that settler outposts protect the larger settlement blocs, which in turn protect Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and which in turn protect the Western world.
"People like to present us like crazy lunatics," said Matar. "But one day these people in the West will see. The Muslims are taking over there too. You better be on our side for your sake, but you guys in Europe are not. Those who curse Israel will be cursed, and those who bless Israel will be blessed."
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:wfit2@womeningreen.org
http://www.womeningreen.org
To subscribe to the Women in Green list,
please send a blank email message to:
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Check your spam filter for confirmation to reply to
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From: Women in Green <womeningreen@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Subject: West Bank: slowly, determinedly, settlers bid to build new town by Rory McCarthy
To: wfit2@womeningreen.org
Instructions for unsubscribing can be found in the footer of this message.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
Rory McCarthy of the Guardian spent a morning with us in Shdema. Below is what he wrote.
Enjoy!
Nadia Matar, Women in Green
Yehudit Katzover, The Committee for a Jewish Shdema
---------------------------------------------------
West Bank: slowly, determinedly, settlers bid to build new town
Rory McCarthy, August 23, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/23/west-bank-israeli-settlements
In the first of a series of exclusive reports examining settlements in the West Bank and their role in the middle east peace process, Rory McCarthy meets a group of Israelis who want to 'redeem' a patch of land near the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour.Rory McCarthy, August 23, 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/23/west-bank-israeli-settlements
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audioslideshow/2009/aug/23/israel-settlements-shdema
Audio slideshow: 'This land belongs to the Jewish people'
Early in the morning, Nadia Matar drove to the hills south of Jerusalem, near the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour, and turned into a dusty, unmarked road. There she planted a sign which read "Welcome to Shdema". She drove on, stopping every few metres along the route to jam into the rocky ground a series of fluttering blue and white Israeli flags. Israeli soldiers let her pass unhindered as she drove up to the concrete ruins of what was until a few years ago the Israeli military base of Shdema.
Here, just a stone's throw from Palestinian homes and only a few minutes from the city of Bethlehem, Matar and her friends are intent on building a Jewish community, the next settlement outpost in the occupied West Bank.
It is a glaring challenge to the Obama administration, which is trying to halt all Israeli settlement growth as a precursor to renewed peace talks. But recent history suggests it is the highly-motivated settlers like Matar, 43, a mother of six born in Belgium and now living in the settlement of Efrat, who may in the end triumph on this particular dusty patch of land.
Tomorrow, the Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu arrives in London for a series of key meetings, including four hours of discussions on Wednesday with the White House's special envoy, George Mitchell, and talks with Gordon Brown tomorrow. The continued colonisation of the West Bank, an extraordinarily successful project over the past 40 years, will dominate the agenda. Settlement on occupied land is regarded as illegal by the rest of the international community, but nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers live in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. Shdema is even beyond Israel's West Bank barrier, which runs deep into Palestinian territory and which many believe will one day be the final border of Israel.
Matar's goal is "redemption of the land". In her view, the land on which the Palestinian homes sit belongs by Biblical and historical right to the Jewish people and is, for now, "temporarily under Arab occupation". She is trying to build a "Jewish Shdema" and to prevent the land from remaining Palestinian. After the military evacuated the base there were plans, since shelved, to build a hospital for Palestinians. "They want more pieces of land that belong to the Jews. They want to take it away from us," Matar said.
"The Land of Israel was given by God to the people of Israel," she said. "Some will tell you God gave it to us, others will say Jewish history of 4,000 years is our historical right … You don't have to be a religious Englishman to see London belongs to the British."
This is a rare insight into how outposts get built: with determined settlers and eventually complicit Israeli authorities.
At first, after the army withdrew from the base three years ago, soldiers closed the area off and prevented all settlers from approaching. But the settlers sneaked in and kept coming. Eventually Matar, a leader of the group Women in Green, and her supporters convinced the military to allow them in just once a week, on a Friday. They cleaned the buildings up, painted over graffiti, tidied the rooms and held workshops and discussions. Sometimes they have stayed the night, sometimes they have been allowed to come twice a week and eventually, they believe, settlers will begin to live here.
Similar struggles take place every week on other hilltops across the West Bank. All this is happening even though the Israeli government says in public it will allow no new settlements.
"At the beginning we fought against the army to come up here," said Matar. "But when they saw we were adamant they let us come on a Friday … But it's not enough for us. We don't want to ask permission to be in our homeland."
Now every time they come the army far from preventing them in fact provides them with security, deploying several soldiers and armoured vehicles but not interfering with their activities. In April the military also halted the construction of a Palestinian park, part funded by the US government, because it was at the foot of the hill claimed by the settlers at Shdema.
Already the settlers have produced a glossy brochure with architectural plans of the Shdema they would like to see: it has grassy lawns, lines of trees, a cultural centre and a small but thriving Jewish community.
On this day around 30 settlers of different ages gathered, among them several children, a rabbi and at least two women carrying discreetly holstered pistols. They sat in one room on plastic chairs as Tomer Karazi, 34, a rabbi with five children, discussed a Biblical text and the importance of building a new village in this Biblical land.
Later Karazi said he and his wife Hannah were ready to move from their home in the settlement of Nokdim to Shdema as soon as possible. "It's our duty not to escort the process of redemption from the outside but to be involved and active from the inside," he said. "We don't need to wait for things like water and electricity. And we really love the place. It's beautiful."
Then out came large tubs of white emulsion paint and several brushes and the group began painting over the grey concrete walls, stopping occasionally for glasses of water and slices of watermelon.
Yosef Ziggerman, 18, a settler from Efrat had been involved in several other, often unsuccessful, attempts to establish new outposts on nearby hills. "I believe every single piece is ours and I don't see many pieces of land as beautiful as this," he said. "We aren't doing anything crazy or fanatic. We're painting and making it look nice."
Several spoke of their frustration with other Israelis who enjoy the more secular lifestyle of cities like Tel Aviv or Eilat but who seemed not to understand or endorse the settlers' millenarian ideology and their effort to claim the West Bank as their own. Since Israel withdrew its settlers from Gaza four years ago, many fear more compromises and would rather take a more radical and practical stand to expand Jewish settlement of the West Bank.
They described themselves as a frontline in a wider struggle against what they see as radical Islam, insisting that settler outposts protect the larger settlement blocs, which in turn protect Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and which in turn protect the Western world.
"People like to present us like crazy lunatics," said Matar. "But one day these people in the West will see. The Muslims are taking over there too. You better be on our side for your sake, but you guys in Europe are not. Those who curse Israel will be cursed, and those who bless Israel will be blessed."
=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:wfit2@womeningreen.org
http://www.womeningreen.org
To subscribe to the Women in Green list,
please send a blank email message to:
list4-subscribe@womeningreen.org
Check your spam filter for confirmation to reply to
To unsubscribe from the Women in Green list,
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