Friday, February 09, 2018

Re: A Primer on Constitutional Democracy for the Citizens of Israel by Prof. Paul Eidelberg Ph.D



On Feb 9, 2018 7:01 AM, "Paul Eidelberg" <foundation612.12@gmail.com> wrote:

A Primer on Constitutional Democracy for the Citizens of Israel

Prof. Paul Eidelberg (Ph.D. University of Chicago)

 

To simplify matters, let us ignore the controversy as to whether the original Constitution of the United States exemplifies a "Democracy" or a "Republic." True, Article IV, Section 4, of the Constitution guarantees to every State of the Union a "Republican Form of Government." but for present purposes, let us yield to contemporary terminology, which designates the U.S. as a Constitutional democracy.

In theory, constitutionalism, and therefore constitutional democracy, is rooted in ethical principles.  The source of these ethical principles is none other than the Bible of Israel. Protestant social reformers, especially the Puritans of New England, saw in the Mosaic Law models for modern government. The Puritans tried to emulate the "Old Testament" legislation in organizing their own colonial regimes. Many New England divines agreed with Harvard president Samuel Langdon when he declared, in his election sermon of 1775, that "the Jewish government, if considered merely in a civil view, was a perfect republic." Yale president Rev. Ezra Stiles, who studied the Talmud and conversed with rabbis, agreed with Langdon that the American Constitution was based on the Ten Commandments.

Although constitutionalism is rooted in ethical principles, no explicit reference to the cultivation of virtue or righteousness appears in most constitutions, including that of the United States. In fact, with the waning of aristocratic and religious values which still influenced democracy at its birth in the 18th century, but which today have been undermined by moral relativism, constitutional democracy has become increasingly normless. Nevertheless, in this essay, I shall present constitutional democracy at its best. The reader should bear in mind, however, that constitutional democracy, at its best, approaches Jewish democracy.

The Idea of an Ethical Community

Constitutional democracy implies the idea of an ethical community, one that transcends such ethically neutral principles as universal suffrage and majority rule. In a constitutional democracy, the authority of the majority is limited by legal and institutional means to safeguard the rights of individuals and minorities and thereby promote justice and fairness.

Although based on popular sovereignty, constitutional democracy implies recognition on the part of the people that there is a need to protect themselves from their own impulses. Whether written or unwritten, a constitution is a check on arbitrary human will. It regulates popular voting, terms of office, divisions of power, and how these rules can be changed only by sustained effort rather than by the whim of the people or their representatives.

To ensure careful and sober deliberation, an extraordinary majority is required for amending a constitution. This requirement has an extraordinary implication. It places in question the idea that a numerically superior portion of a people is entitled to greater influence over public decisions than a numerically inferior one—at least on constitutional issues, which, after all, may affect a people's way of life or national identity.

Unlike plebiscitary democracy, which ignores the necessity of moral restraints on the people, constitutional democracy places checks on the tendency of groups and individuals to impose their own ideas of what is politically desirable on others. Constitutionalism is therefore an expression of man's own moral will, his capacity for self-restraint, his concern for justice and the common good.

Not that constitutionalism ignores the egotistical side of human nature. It recognizes politics as an area of group conflict and self-aggrandizement. But constitutional democracy attempts to purge politics of the egotism that would crush everything in its way.

First, it limits the powers of government to prevent majority as well as minority tyranny. As may be seen in the American Constitution, the powers of government are divided among different branches, those responsible for legislative, executive, and judicial functions. Each branch of government has adequate power to check the powers of other branches. Checks and balances may include the power of judicial review. The courts may declare actions of other branches of government to be contrary to the constitution and therefore null and void.   However, the American Constitution empowers the legislature to limit the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court—in theory, at least, a check against judicial imperialism. 

The principle of institutional checks and balances translates the self-restraint taught in the family to the public domain. What began as family morality metamorphoses into public morality. The fundamental values of constitutional democracy reflect a paramount concern with human dignity and the worth of each individual. Individual rights to life, liberty, and property are protected by law (as they are in the Torah, which emphasizes men's duties). Constitutional democracy includes among its highest purposes the protection of freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. These freedoms have value both for the healthy functioning of constitutional democracy and for the full development of the human personality (which surely includes wisdom and virtue, of which even constitutional democracy, unlike Judaism, fails to emphasize).

In constitutional democracy, citizens are free not only to debate the actions and policies of their elected officials but also to express their thoughts about politics, art, religion or any other topic without fear of recrimination. Citizens have access to unbiased information from independent publishers, radio, television, and other means of communication. There is an established process to detect and correct errors in procedures used in the gathering of information and the making of governmental decisions.

Constitutional democracies recognize and protect the integrity of a private and social realm comprised of family, personal, religious, and other associations and activities. This space of uncoerced human association is the basis of a civil society free from unfair and unreasonable intrusions by government.

Individuals have the right to acquire and own property. They are free to establish private businesses free from unreasonable government regulation. The political system protects and promotes equality of political, economic, and social opportunity, a precondition of which is reduction of gross disparities of wealth.

Women are accorded the same political, economic, and legal protections as those accorded to men. All persons are entitled to the equal protection of the law. They are free from discrimination based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, class or socio-economic status.

 All persons are entitled to due process of law. Law-enforcement agencies are required to use procedures that protect the rights of those suspected of crimes. Individuals are free from arbitrary arrest and detention. They are secure in their homes and property from arbitrary search and seizure. Arrested individuals are informed of their rights and brought promptly before a judge to be informed of charges against them. Individuals have the right to have a court or other impartial body determine the legality of their arrest and detention. The accused have the right to refrain from testifying against themselves. They have the right to counsel for assistance in their defense. Government is required to provide counsel for those who cannot pay for legal assistance.

Clearly, constitutional democracy presupposes a highly civilized people, an ethical community in which justice dwells with fairness and compassion. It should also be clear, however, that not all peoples have the moral and intellectual qualifications required for constitutional democracy.   This fact should significantly affect the foreign policy of a country like Israel, which, although it falls far short of being a constitutional democracy, nonetheless boasts of being a democracy.☼

-­­­­------------------

If my articles are of interest to you, please convey your satisfaction to Rochel Sylvetsky, the editor of Arutz-7, or simply write to Editor, Arutz-7.  Thank you.  /PE




Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, February 08, 2018

Blow the Trumpets! Territory Folks Should Stick Together: What Tikkun, What Lessons can be learned from the tragic murders of Rabbi Itamar ben Gal and Rabbi Raziel Shevach and Communal Tragedies? Action Alert!

bs"d

Here are 7 lessons after contemplating, listening to eulogies and reading media reports etc. 

Lesson 1: Blow the Trumpets:  -

 To cry out to Hashem in the event of great distress that affects the community as a whole. 

The following Rambam in Hilchot Taaniyot in the Mishneh Torah was quoted by Rabbi Shlomo Diamond in a CD put out by learntorah.com RDC719  following the Azan tragedy in Brooklyn, NY Chanukah, Rosh Chodesh Tevet 5778.  Interestingly, both the Azan Family and the Sassoon Family tragedy happened on Rosh Chodesh a day designated for repentance and the sounding of Trumpets. 

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/951995/jewish/Taaniyot-Chapter-One.htm

Introduction to Mishneh Torah Hilchos Ta'aniyot


[This text contains] one positive commandment: To cry out to God in the event of great distress that affects the community as a whole. This mitzvah is explained in the following chapters.הלכות תעניות - הקדמהמצות עשה אחת והיא לצעוק לפני ה' בכל עת צרה גדולה שלא תבא על הצבור: וביאור מצוה זו בפרקים אלו:
1 It is a positive Torah commandment to cry out and to sound trumpets in the event of any difficulty that arises which affects the community, as [Numbers 10:9] states: "[When you go out to war... against] an enemy who attacks you and you sound the trumpets...."


Yael Shevach made a condolence visit to Miriam Ben-Gal, whose husband Itamar was stabbed to death in Ariel terror attack,  Their Husbands were murdered weeks apart. West Bank widows lament their common bond


There were eerie similarities between the two tragedies that took place within a month of each other."We are both educators, both Raziel and Itamar were Torah scholars, and both of us feel that we were chosen for this role," Yael Shevach said, explaining that "role" as one responsible for strengthening the settlement movement in their husbands' honor.
"Both Raziel and Itamar loved life, they both loved to dress and eat well. Raziel was killed on his way home from a circumcision and Itamar was on his way to a circumcision. Raziel's sister will be getting married in less than a month, and Miriam's sister will be getting married in less than a month," Yael Shevach added.


Lesson 2: ברית we must focus on the Eternal Covenant between Hashem and the Jewish People! 

Brit Milah is a Sign of the Covenant.  אות ברית between G-d and the Nation of Israel. An Everlasting  Covenant that Hashem is giving to Avraham Avinu and to his seed thereafter, the Land of his sojourning for an everlasting possession....  Rabbi Shevach was coming from a Bris and Rabbi ben-Gal was going to a Bris.  

Bereishit - Genesis - Chapter 17

And I will establish My covenant between Me and between you and between your seed after you throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant, to be to you for a God and to your seed after you.זוַֽהֲקִֽמֹתִ֨י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֜י בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵ֨ין זַרְעֲךָ֧ אַֽחֲרֶ֛יךָ לְדֹֽרֹתָ֖ם לִבְרִ֣ית עוֹלָ֑ם לִֽהְי֤וֹת לְךָ֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֖ אַֽחֲרֶֽיךָ:
8And I will give you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings, the entire land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be to them for a God."חוְנָֽתַתִּ֣י לְ֠ךָ֠ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֨ אַֽחֲרֶ֜יךָ אֵ֣ת | אֶ֣רֶץ מְגֻרֶ֗יךָ אֵ֚ת כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן לַֽאֲחֻזַּ֖ת עוֹלָ֑ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָהֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִֽים:
9And God said to Abraham, "And you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations.טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֔ם וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֑ר אַתָּ֛ה וְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אַֽחֲרֶ֖יךָ לְדֹֽרֹתָֽם:
10This is My covenant, which you shall observe between Me and between you and between your seed after you, that every male among you be circumcised.יזֹ֣את בְּרִיתִ֞י אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְר֗וּ בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ אַֽחֲרֶ֑יךָ הִמּ֥וֹל לָכֶ֖ם כָּל־זָכָֽר:
11And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be as the sign of a covenant between Me and between you.יאוּנְמַלְתֶּ֕ם אֵ֖ת בְּשַׂ֣ר עָרְלַתְכֶ֑ם וְהָיָה֙ לְא֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵֽינֵיכֶֽם:
12And at the age of eight days, every male shall be circumcised to you throughout your generations, one that is born in the house, or one that is purchased with money, from any foreigner, who is not of your seed.יבוּבֶן־שְׁמֹנַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים יִמּ֥וֹל לָכֶ֛ם כָּל־זָכָ֖ר לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם יְלִ֣יד בָּ֔יִת וּמִקְנַת־כֶּ֨סֶף֙ מִכֹּ֣ל בֶּן־נֵכָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹ֥א מִזַּרְעֲךָ֖ הֽוּא:
13Those born in the house and those purchased for money shall be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant.יגהִמּ֧וֹל | יִמּ֛וֹל יְלִ֥יד בֵּֽיתְךָ֖ וּמִקְנַ֣ת כַּסְפֶּ֑ךָ וְהָֽיְתָ֧ה בְרִיתִ֛י בִּבְשַׂרְכֶ֖ם לִבְרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם:
14And an uncircumcised male, who will not circumcise the flesh of his foreskin-that soul will be cut off from its people; he has broken My covenant."ידוְעָרֵ֣ל | זָכָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִמּוֹל֙ אֶת־בְּשַׂ֣ר עָרְלָת֔וֹ וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מֵֽעַמֶּ֑יהָ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י הֵפַֽר:


Lesson 3: Territory folks should stick together! Push for Sovereignty over the entire Israel

Does it take a terror attack to settle the Land? Something is not right here! Why are we settling the Land simply in response to Terror attacks rather than because it's our Land to settle?  Why are we still demolishing homes in Netiv HaAvot? Let us push legislation to normalize all of Judea and Samaria as per the Levy Report and push Sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (google womeningreen Sovereignty movement).

Lieberman Submits Proposal to Legalize Havat Gilad

State efforts to provide legal and security solutions for the residents of Havat Gilad in response to the terror attack there last week continued on Sunday, as Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman went to the cabinet with a proposal to retroactively legalize the outpost and build new housing for those on disputed land.

Naftali Bennett promises to triple the city Har Bracha following this attack. 
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241673 
"In past years, many cities were born in response to murders. Kiryat Shmona, Maaleh Hahamisha, this is the answer. There are more families, more children, more schools, more towns, and more homes. When this is what sprouts up in front of the terrorists, they'll start to understand that they're banging their heads against a cement wall, and it's a waste of their time."

 However there seems to be resistance from the Israeli Govt to apply Sovereignty over the entire Judea and Samaria even though there is wide support among the people and the Knesset. 

Netanyahu Trying to Quash Next Week’s Sovereignty Vote
By JNi.Media -  24 Shevat 5778 – February 9, 2018
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/politics/netanyahu-trying-to-quash-next-weeks-sovereignty-vote/2018/02/09/

An Open Letter to PM  Benjamin Netanyahu from the co-leaders of the Sovereignty Movement Yehudit Kasover and Nadia Matar written Feb 8, 2018 to Complete the Victory of the 1967 War.
http://womeningreen.org/3778-2
Watch Ezra Ridgley's youtube's rendition of this letter:) (a work of love)
https://youtu.be/kWjwkASmE2M


Territory Folks Should Stick Together! 

Let's stop this divide and conquer modus operandi which encourages each Yishuv to fend for themselves to address their individual needs discouraging banding together, working in unity to stop any demolition and injustice that is targeting another group of settlers or another community of settlers.  

Lesson 4: Can we Help Save Home Demolitions in  Netiv HaAvot ?

Pending bulldozing of homes in Netiv HaAvot based on Judicial tyranny of Israel Supreme Court. http://www.jewishpress.com/?s=netiv+haavotהרס נתיב האבות Destruction in Netiv HaAvot. Celebrating 70 years of Jewish Sovereignty with Destruction of The Path of Our Forefathers? https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2017/11/destruction-in-netiv-haavot.html
Bulldozers sent in to Netiv Avot February 6th.  QNch3kxnP79QDp6G7PBMYrS0P (did they really have to send in the bulldozers a month early adding insult to injury and more trauma to the families?) 


My comments:  Indeed Bennett's words are comforting for the widow of Rabbi Itamar ben Gal as was the decision to legalize Havat Gilad to the widow of Rabbi Shevach.  But while these words of comfort were said, what is happening in Netiv HaAvot?  Bulldozers were already sent to demolish their homes.  Does it take a murder chas veShalom for Naftali Bennett and the MKs to finally send those bulldozers back from where they came.  Both Rabbi Itamar ben Gal and Rabbi Raziel Shevach were well respected in Dati Leumi circles.  Let their memories serve to unite all of the Yishuvim in Judea and Samaria with a demand not only for their own particular community but also to stop the pending demolition of Netiv HaAvot! and any future scheduled demolition as a way to actualize the fulfillment of our  Covenant with Hashem.

 Lesson 5 Can We Save Elisha Odess from the Clutches of the Jewish Division of the Shabak?
This coming Monday, Elisha Odess is scheduled for a hearing.  This 16 year old kid was put under administrative detention, accused of a murder that he did not commit yet he confessed to, under torture and for the past 2, 3 years has been languishing in jail without ever having had a fair trial. 


Naftali Bennett wrote an Oped in the New York Times in 2015 that painted the hilltop youth as terrorist Jewish Youth distinct from the Nationalist Camp.  This kind of Lashon Hara and Motzei Shem Ra isolating the hilltop youth has had devastating ramifications for these kids and their families. 
Demonization and false Accusations against Hilltop Youth Elisha Odess Elisha ben Odess Please Davan and Demand RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE! Trial this Monday Feb. 12, 2018
Seeking Confession at All Costs, Israeli Court, AG, Endorsed Torture of Jewish-American Minor by David Israel
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/police-news/seeking-confession-at-all-costs-israeli-court-ag-endorsed-torture-of-jewish-american-minor/2018/02/08/

ISRAEL OPENS BRUTALITY INVESTIGATION AGAINST SHIN BET: 

 Lesson 6: Defense and Security  for the Nation of Israel  should be guided and consistent with Torah and Mitzvoth

Let us demand that military procedures, guidelines and orders on how to deal with terrorists be guided and consistent with Torah morality and ethics. 

Strikes against the Israeli Defense Leadership:

https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2018/02/strikes-against-israeli-defense.html and additional ones here...

Lieberman, Security Failures in Judea and Samaria, reflective of Failed Leadership?

https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2018/01/lieberman-security-failures-in-judea.html


 Lesson 7  Har HaBayit 
5 Mitzvoth - Lesson from Rabbi Itamar ben-Gal 


Video of Rabbi Itamar ben-Gal hy"d with a group going up to Har HaBayit teaching us of the 5 Mitzvoth, Biblical Commandments with their ascent (h)  https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_D5HzbsVy_DSe9C9q3d1YE_2Ob_yoWtt

  1. בניית בית ה  Building Beit HaMikdash.  by our very ascent to search out The Place of Har Habayit, the Mountain of the House of Hashem,  is a way to fulfill the Mitzvah בניית בית ה.,
  2. להתפלל ולהשתחוות לה  To pray and bow down to Hashem
  3.  מורא המקדש Having Awe of the Beit HaMikdash. To go with awe and trepidation on the Mount
  4. לא תחנם Not to allow a foreign entity to claim ownership and gain a foothold by our very ascent
  5. .והורשתם את הארץ to inherit, take ownership of the Land

The Eternal Capital of the Jewish People
[Video] Walking On The Temple Mount produced by Ezra Ridgley Walking On The Temple Mount. http://thejewishheritageproject.com/   This is your chance to tour the Har HaBayit, the most sacred land in the universe. Jerusalem, Israel. This is your chance to be part of something great! The site where the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt when Hashem wills it. (Next best thing to being there [Robin])
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oPjT7-RvIw&t=239s
אתם נצבים! Action time!  Call your Rabbi, spiritual leader...
 What can we do here in America and in Chutz LeAretz?  Al Taamod Al Dam Reyacha.  We can not stand idly by the blood of our Fellow Jew. Your phone call may make a difference! Please read this link and you will find contact information of Major Jewish Organizations or simply call your local Rabbi and Jewish Newspaper and ask them to publicize these travesties of justice to change the status quo on these matters!   

 For an example of an activist Par Excellence please read the letter Helen Freedman, Executive Director of AFSI (Americans For A Safe Israel) afsi.org who wrote such a letter to Knesset Members: http://conta.cc/2ErsM8V

Temple Mount, Judea and Samaria Lives and Property Hefker? Temple Mount, Netiv HaAvot, Raziel Shevach Father of 6 Murdered Chavat Gilad, Letter to Ambassador Friedman from Helen Freedman Executive Director of AFSI
https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2018/01/temple-mount-judea-and-samaria-lives.html

 -------------------------------------------------------

The Sassoon Family, the Azan Family, the Shevach Family, the ben-Gal Family, the Salomon Family, the Ariel Family, Har Nof massacre victim's Families etc share something in common.  A member or members of their family served as Communal Sacrifice(s),  for Am Yisroel.  From all the speeches and Hespedim, this seems to be a consensus.  Each and everyone of these Korbanot seemed to be amazing and special souls.  The best of the best.  The finest of the fine. 

  Why did they deserve to die if not to be Mechaper Am Yisroel,  to atone for the collective sins of Am Yisroel?

Enough of human sacrifices! What lessons can Am Yisroel learn from these horrific human sacrifices... to wake us up and to do Teshuva ...so that we don't have to be witness to any more such horrific tragic events such as these?

Let us pray and yearn for the Beit HaMikdash for the opportunity to bring Korban Chatot Tzibbur the right way. 
חַטּאת הַצִּבּוּר וְהַיָּחִיד. אֵלּוּ הֵן חַטּאת הַצִּבּוּר. שעִירֵי רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וְשֶׁל מועֲדות שְׁחִיטָתָן בַּצָּפון וְקִבּוּל דָּמָן בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפון וְדָמָן טָעוּן אַרְבַּע מַתָּנות עַל אַרְבַּע קְרָנות. כֵּיצַד. עָלָה בַכֶּבֶשׁ וּפָנָה לַסּובֵב וּבָא לו לְקֶרֶן דְּרומִית מִזְרָחִית. מִזְרָחִית צְפונִית. צְפונִית מַעֲרָבִית. מַעֲרָבִית דְּרומִית. שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם הָיָה שׁופֵךְ עַל יְסוד דְּרומִי. וְנֶאֱכָלִין לִפְנִים מִן הַקְּלָעִים. לְזִכְרֵי כְהֻנָּה. בְּכָל מַאֲכָל. לְיום וָלַיְלָה עַד חֲצות   https://www.sefaria.org/Siddur_Ashkenaz,_Weekday,_Shacharit,_Preparatory_Prayers,_Korbanot,_Laws_of_Sacrifices.3?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

translation with the help of Interlinear Artscroll for weekdays.


Sin offerings of the Community and of the individual  -- These are the sin-offerings of the community: the he-goats of Rosh Chodesh and of the Festivals...their slaughter is in the north and the reception of their blood in a vessel of service is in the north.  Their blood requires four applications [one] on [each of] the four corners [of the Altar].  How is it done?  [The Kohen] ascended the [Altar] ramp, turned to the surrounding ledge and arrived at the corner which is south-east, [then at] the east-north [corner], the north-west [corner] and the west-south [corner].  The leftover blood he would pour onto the southern base.  They are eaten inside of the [Courtyard] curtains, by males of the priesthood, in any manner of preparation, on the day [of offering] and on the following night until midnight.  


--
Sincerely,

Robin Ticker

Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch.  May their memories serve as a blessing. 

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com

Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog. 
Posted by at No comments:

Strikes against the Israeli Defense Leadership:

bs"d

 First let us begin with a tremendous Hakoras HaTov to the IDF who are risking their lives for Am Yisroel. 

 There is much good to be said and sometimes we are too quick to focus on the bad.

 Even though this post is critical who am I to criticize?   The purpose of this post is to make our defense better by putting Hashem and the Torah leading the way and the leaders and ranks and file, true Tzivot Hashem.

Let me also preface by saying that I realize that no one is perfect and it's easy to be critical...Nobody wants tabs on all their wrongdoings but it is important if we see a pattern that is dangerous. Much is at stake here, the security of the People of Israel and not only the reputation of the Defense Minister.... May all these strikes for bad be reversed for the good....

Strikes against the Israeli Defense Leadership:

  • Most recent examples of IDF Soldiers who were afraid to arrest a provocative and suspicious Palestinian at the very location that  Rabbi Itamar ben Gal hy"d was murdered.  According to these allegations he came back the next day and murdered Itamar ben Gal hy"d.  This must be investigated.    https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2018/02/fwd-is-this-true-story-shameful-story.html 

    •
  • Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu took note that the off-duty IDF officer did not use his weapons to neutralize a terrorist  but rather tried to run him over.  This gave him the opportunity to escape.  

    •
  • Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu has called for Eisenkott to retire from his duties due to leadership that has weakened the IDF.  https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/240797
for additional strikes....

Lieberman, Security Failures in Judea and Samaria, reflective of Failed Leadership?
 https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2018/01/lieberman-security-failures-in-judea.html
Posted by at No comments:

Elisha ben Odess Please Davan and Demand RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE!

bs"d

Seeking Confession at All Costs, Israeli Court, AG, Endorsed Torture of Jewish-American Minor by David Israel
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/police-news/seeking-confession-at-all-costs-israeli-court-ag-endorsed-torture-of-jewish-american-minor/2018/02/08/

Elisha ben Odess, a settler kid who was put under administrative detention by Shabak with the complicit collusion with the Defense Minister and Bagatz, was tortured and was forced to confess to a murder he never committed. His trial is scheduled for this Monday, February 12, 2018.  (secular calendar)

Please daven for him 
Elisha Chaim ben Naama Leah
אלישׁע חיים בּן נעמה לאה

This coming Monday,  the court in Israel will hold a hearing which will affect Elisha's fate. The judges will hear the evidence of the prosecution and the defense. After that, within a short time period, they will decide if Elisha is innocent or guilty.  His life hangs in the balance. 

Fwd: Day of Tefilla for Elisha Odess: Teen Tortured by Shabak for false Duma confession https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2018/02/fwd-day-of-tefilla-for-elisha-odess.html

Will we allow this blood libel to actualize:?????

Now is a good time to push for some justice for Elisha Odess and all the hilltop Youth under administrative detention who have been denied basic human and civil rights.

In USA the DOJ Dept of Justice and the FBI are seriously under investigation for criminal abuse of power. (Russian Collusion, Dossier funded by Clinton Campaign etc.)  The time has come for Israel as well.  Ayelet Shaked is doing just that and the Shabak needs to be investigated together with BaGatz and the Ministry of Defense as per their bias against the Jews living in Judea and Samaria.  When this bias happened under the reign of Obama and perhaps the politicians in Israel were being pushed to the wall, it might be understandable but still no excuse.  But now under Trump?

It is my conjecture that had the Jews of Judea and Samaria and their leadership supported the kids who were falsely accused at DUMA we would now have in place a stronger and better leadership in Israel that would have added security to Yitzhar and Havat Gilad...perhaps this tragedy of Raziel Shevach hy"d  and Itamar ben Gal hy"d, and   future tragedies chas veshalom could have been prevented....

So long as these youngsters are still not receiving justice it is a stain on the entire Israel and a stain against the Leadership and Settlers of Judea and Samaria who allowed these kids to be scapegoated and branded as Jewish terrorists.

It is not only about Judea and Samaria.  Lieberman and Eisenkott are clearly not the best Leadership for our Chayalim so long as they are dictated by politics rather than military considerations, so long as they disregard Torah and Mitzvoth and lack Yirat Shamayim, and so long as IDF soldiers do not trust that the military has their back.

Above all, we need  G-d Fearing Leadership, and a Nation who is worthy of G-d's protection! 

Leadership can come from many fronts. 

Politics is messy but it says Lev Melachim Beyad Hashem. The hearts of  Kings is in the Hand of G-d. 

I do not envy Political Leaders of Israel.  I am not judging them. I am not in their place nor do I want to be nor do I face their challenges and tests and hard choices that drive their decisions.  

There is however something to say for those of us who are not Nogea baDavar who can see things with greater clarity than someone who is driven by politics. 

The purpose is not to bash Netanyahu, Bennett,  Lieberman and Eisenkott. The purpose is to do Teshuva, admit when we did wrong and correct our mistakes and resolve not to continue in this path in the future. Sometimes we need to push our leaders in a good direction to counter all the forces that are pushing them in a bad direction.

When we the people, Am Yisroel, All Jews United, are worthy, than surely the Leadership will also reflect the will of the people.  Let us therefore not let up with a campaign to bring true justice to these hilltop youth and in return may Hashem protect all of the Land of Israel with Security and Prosperity!



Open Letter to all of us in light of the recent tragedies:
We need to sound the trumpets!

Lieberman I believe was complicit with allowing Shabak to torture the hilltop youth re: Duma. We knew it then. Yet even Rabbanim and Leadership in Yesha allowed these youth to be blood libeled and branded as Jewish Terrorist so that the Media could then portray a balanced pic of Palestinian terrorists vs Jewish terrorists. 

Naftali Bennett as well, who is a star when he eulogizes victims of Arab Terror in Judea and Samaria, condemned, betrayed and  portrayed hilltop youth as Jewish terrorists in a NY Times OP ED in 2015. 

Recently by Raziel Shevach's funeral, following shouts for revenge, he made a comment that we should leave the security in the hands of the IDF.  My comment: That's great if the IDF is doing their job effectively. But what should one do when Security is lacking and the lives of the families living in places like Havat Gilad are at risk?

Please take a moment in history to review false media reports of Hilltop Youth of Judea and Samaria being portrayed as Jewish terrorists....


Thursday, January 14, 2016

Duma Blood Libel - calling Hilltop Youth Jewish Terrorists.  Jan 12, 2015 New York Times Print Edition, Front Page blurb to article on page A9, Front cover Forward January 15, 2016

This libel did not come in a vacuum. Naftali Bennett has convicted them already in August 7, 2015 in a New York Times Op Ed. without even knowing their identity he called them terrorists, anarchists, a fifth column within Israel and like Hamas and Hezbollah they must face the full force of Israel's justice system and its defense establishment.  [If I was a lawyer of any of these Duma suspects, I would sue Bennett for defamation of character and mental anguish leading to near suicide,  false incarceration, torture and basically taking away months of my clients life away). Naftali Bennett, Prosecutor and Judge on Israel's Jewish Terrorists [Robin]
Naftali Bennett on Israel's Jewish Terrorists
AUG. 7, 2015 They killed the baby and his parents....
But they are also a tiny group. They do not represent the 400,000 residents of Jewish communities throughout the West Bank, the overwhelming majority of whom are law-abiding citizens and have condemned these acts of violence.
...The terrorists who killed Shira and Ali do not represent Israel or its people. They are a fringe group, made up of radical extremists who do not only seek to kill. Their ultimate goal is the destruction of the State of Israel. They act against and threaten the very premise of what the Zionist movement envisioned when returning to the Land of Israel after 2,000 years in exile — a Jewish and democratic state committed to equality and freedom for all its citizens. They are anarchists, a fifth column within Israel and like Hamas and Hezbollah, they must face the full force of Israel's justice system and its defense establishment.


At that point we should have raised the trumpets.  What was Bennett doing by giving credibility to the false narrative that there are Jewish terrorists?

Does it have to wait for more Karbanot like Raziel Shevach and Itamar ben Gal  hy"d for us to wake up from the brainwashing we assume was true? 

The Security around Havat Gilad was terrible as Yossi Dagan brought up and we need to investigate why. Why didn't Liberman make sure that cameras were installed as per requested from the residents of Yizhar?  Perhaps, let me postulate, he justified this breach of security  because Yizhar settlers are budding terrorists and lawbreakers and are unworthy of IDF protection as are Settlers of Havat Gilad. If you paint them as terrorists and subhuman and law breakers why protect them? They deserve what's coming to them. So who then gets to be the Korban? Raziel Shevach...the law breaker from Havat Gilad.

If you think that the Jews of Yitzhar didn't feel the isolation from their brethren, think again. Watch this video. (H)

Why did we have to thank Lieberman for saying he would look into normalizing Havat Gilad, when we should have figured out he was throwing a starving dog a bone, a few crumbs. Why didn't Yael Shevach remember or be reminded that he used almost the same lashon before they went ahead and demolished the 9 homes in Amona.

I get it.  It is a way to give him a way to save face and give him some good PR and take off some of the pointing fingers at him and pray that he will in fact send us some relief in return for not bashing him.  

It worked temporarily but I don't believe he would have followed through without being pressured. 

Soon it became clear that  he and Netanyahu had no alternative due to built up anger and frustration at the delay, when it became apparent that perhaps they were not going to follow through. 

This initial bone, announcing he would look into legalizing Havat Gilad, served to distract and take the offense off of LIeberman's own failures as Defense Minister,  and it worked.

But the gov't was forced to follow through to normalize Havat Gilad at least for now....

It is premature to let out a sigh of relief and we can not let go of the reigns. 

Let us not forget the past as it has continued ramifications especially as we are facing real threats from Hezbollah in the North and Hamas in the South. 

Strikes against the Israeli Defense Leadership:

Time for leaders living in Judea and Samaria to right a wrong for allowing a kid like Odess to be blood libeled and branded not to mention tortured.

Time to judge the likes of the Shabak, the Israel Supreme Court and Lieberman and Eisenkott for allowing  and being complicit in torture and a blood libel and Motzei Shem Ra and Lashon Hara.

Shochad MeAver Pikchim. Time to investigate if and any benefit the powers at large receive so that the hostile media gets to report about their young teen Jewish terrorists that they claim exist, detained and convicted without proof nor fair trial, no habeus corpus.... all with a Kosher Hechsher by MK's and Rabbanim.

My guess is that bread crumbs are being thrown all too often using divide and conquer technique so that "Territory folks don't stick together..."

KT Robin

 related post: 
Strikes against the Israeli Defense Leadership:https://shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com/2018/02/strikes-against-israeli-defense.html

This news will hopefully help Elisha Odess, the 19 year old Jewish teen from the Shomron who was arrested two years ago and brutally tortured by the Shin Bet until he "confessed" that he was involved in the arson of an Arab house  in the Arab village of Duma. There is no other evidence linking him to this event except for his forced confession which he gave after a week of unbearable torture. He has been held in jail without evidence under the purview of "Administrative Detention" which allows the Israeli government to hold a person prisoner indefinitely and with no legal recourse. May we finally see the end of this barbarism in the only democracy in the Middle East. 


ISRAEL OPENS BRUTALITY INVESTIGATION AGAINST SHIN BET: Jerusalem -
 Israel's Justice Ministry has launched an unprecedented criminal investigation against an interrogator from the Israel Security Agency over brutality allegations.
It marks the first time that an investigation has been opened since the Justice Ministry established a unit called Mivtan about 18 years ago to investigate complaints against the ISA, also known as the Shin Bet.
The complaint was filed against the ISA operative over an interrogation from 2015.
More than 1,100 complaints have been filed alleging misconduct and brutality by Shin Bet interrogators over the last 17 years, according to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, which called the statistic "highly unflattering." The committee did not file the complaint against the operative under the criminal probe, according to Haaretz.
Both Mivtan and the Police Internal Investigations Department, or Mahash, must approve the launch of a criminal investigation against a Shin Bet agent. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit was involved in the decision to investigate this interrogator, Haaretz reported, citing two unnamed sources.
"We hope that this precedent will usher change in the Shin Bet's interrogations procedures, in line with their legal and moral obligations," the committee said in a statement. "Personal accountability will encourage interrogators to adhere to legal practices, keeping in mind that even detainees, be them Jews or Palestinians, maintain their rights and dignity.

"By launching this unprecedented investigation, the Ministry of Justice sends a clear message that the Israeli Security Agency is not above the law and that interrogators crossing red lines will have to answer for their actions. The State of Israel acknowledges that torture is a prohibited and immoral practice, and that no justification can be made for the use of cruel or degrading treatment in breach of international treaties."
The Justice Ministry told Haaretz that 50 examinations of complaints were started in the last year.
"The process of examining the complaints has frequently led to different system-wide lessons being applied, or to disciplinary action being taken against investigators," the ministry said.   



--
Sincerely,

Robin Ticker

Activist emails sent to my list  are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch.  May their memories serve as a blessing. 

Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com

Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog. 
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)