Friday, July 4, 2008
A Trip Across Israel in Real Time
Filmed by Judith Weiss
Concept, driving and narration by Steve Dzik
Backseat driving by Mary Madigan
During his trip to Israel last year, when the nation was celebrating its 59th birthday, Steve came up with the idea of filming the drive across the entire width of Israel from the West Bank wall to the Mediterranean Sea.
The drive took less than twenty minutes, about the time it takes the average American to commute to work. This demonstrates how small and vulnerable Israel is.
aggregated from solomonia.com
Peres: No chance of peace with PalestiniansBy Yossi Verter
President Shimon Peres believes there is no chance of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Peres, the one-time proponent of a "new Middle East" made this statement last Saturday at a dinner with the Jordanian and French ambassadors in Defense Minister Ehud Barak's Tel Aviv apartment.
At the end of the meal an argument erupted between the Jordanian envoy, Ali Ayed, and a well-known "dovish" attorney, who said Israel had no chance of reaching an agreement with the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas' leadership. Barak supported his guest's hawkish stance.
At a certain point, Peres intervened, surprising the participants by joining the attorney's prediction. "It would be very hard to reach an agreement," Peres said, due to the Hamas-Fatah split.
He said Abbas had no support among his people, no power to carry out security agreements and that any agreement Israel and the PA made crumbled a day later due to the PA's weakness. Therefore there is no chance of agreement, he summed.
President Shimon Peres believes there is no chance of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Peres, the one-time proponent of a "new Middle East" made this statement last Saturday at a dinner with the Jordanian and French ambassadors in Defense Minister Ehud Barak's Tel Aviv apartment.
At the end of the meal an argument erupted between the Jordanian envoy, Ali Ayed, and a well-known "dovish" attorney, who said Israel had no chance of reaching an agreement with the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas' leadership. Barak supported his guest's hawkish stance.
At a certain point, Peres intervened, surprising the participants by joining the attorney's prediction. "It would be very hard to reach an agreement," Peres said, due to the Hamas-Fatah split.
He said Abbas had no support among his people, no power to carry out security agreements and that any agreement Israel and the PA made crumbled a day later due to the PA's weakness. Therefore there is no chance of agreement, he summed.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Iranian TV 'documentary' series: Jewish Plan for the Genocide of Humanity
How much anti-Semitism coming from Iran is needed to convince folks of the government's intent?
Videotape #1802 - "The Secret of Armageddon" - An Iranian TV "Documentary" Claims That "a Jewish Plan for the Genocide of Humanity," Includes a Conspiracy for the Takeover of Iran by Local Jewish and Bahai Communities [ Material compiled by The Middle East Media Research Institute E-Mail: memri@memri.org website: www.memri.org]
Following are selected excerpts from MEMRI's documentation about "The Secret of Armageddon," an Iranian TV documentary, which aired on IRINN (the Iranian news channel) in May and June 2008:
IRINN, May 11, 2008
Iranian university lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi: What is known worldwide today as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion contains the plans and policies of the elders of this sect to conquer the world and establish a global Jewish government, which were discussed at the 1897 [Zionist] Congress in Basel, Switzerland.
Narrator: These plans, which exposed the views and designs of the Zionists, were edited and collected into 24 protocols. They deal with political, educational, social, economic, and legal strategies, which they planned to use after the destruction of the culture, civilization, and religions of other nations. These strategies will be carried out using dishonorable means and conspiracies, leading to the establishment of a global Jewish kingdom.
[...]
Iranian researcher Shams Al-Din Rahmani: The goal of the Zionists is the total destruction of Islam. They know that this destruction will not be achieved easily, and therefore, they are trying to Americanize the religion of Islam.
[...]
The Zionist Jew-boys talk about a "Greater Israel" – from the Euphrates to the Nile – but their actual goal is world domination.
[...]
IRINN, May 12, 2008
Iranian university lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi:
According to historical documents, it was the Rothschilds who instilled the idea of Palestine as the Promised Land in the minds of the wealthy and enlightened Jews, and insisted on making it happen. At the time, most of the Jews did not have a specific country in mind, and some even considered America or South Africa to be the Promised Land. It was due to the economic and political power of the Rothschilds that this plot was realized.
[...]
The British government, which was controlled by the Zionist empire, led by the Rothschild family, committed itself to the realization of the Zionist aspiration.
[...]
IRINN, May 23, 2008
Narrator: If we take another look at modern history, we realize that with the Balfour Declaration from November 2, 1917, England officially began to serve the World Zionist Organization's policies. Thus, the implementation of some of the main clauses of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion became the agenda of some British politicians, who were connected to the Zionist societies.
[...]
Iranian researcher Shams Al-Din Rahmani: Oliver Cromwell, the dictatorial prime minister of England, placed England entirely at the service of the Jews in the 17th century. This [policy] became so deeply engrained that by the early 18th century, the Jews had a colonialist empire, which reached as far an India. They launched the slave trade, which is a Jewish trade par excellence. Most of the slaves back then were black Muslims from Africa. This was part of their evil plan to eradicate Islam in Africa. This plan was guided entirely by the Jews.
IRINN, May 19, 2008
Iranian historian Mohammad-Taqi Taqipour:
The Zionists and their organizations in Iran devised a plan, which was signed in 1931 by Rabbi Azizullah Naim, chairman of the Iranian Zionist Organization. This plan included eight clauses. In brief, according to this plan, Reza Shah's regime must permit Jews from all over the world to enter Iran and settle wherever they wish, in accordance with the plan that they themselves devised. In addition, these Jewish immigrants would be granted liberties by law, and no one could deny them these liberties. There would be equality between Jews and non-Jews in Iran – most of whom are Muslims. Fertile lands throughout Iran would be allocated to these Jewish immigrants free of charge. After two years, they would be granted citizenship, and a visa from the government also free of charge.
Iranian University Lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi: They planned to take over large parts of Iran, and to establish concealed camps, which would be populated by Jews from around the world, and especially Europe. This way, they wanted to gradually take over Iran, like they did in Palestine.
[...]
Narrator: Is it possible that according to the schemes of the global Zionist empire, Iran was meant to become another Israel, like in the case of Palestine?
[...]
IRINN, May 28, 2008
Iranian university lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi: Historical documents point to a connection between the leaders of the Bahai sect and the Rothschild family, who financed and led the World Zionist Organization.
[...]
The Bahai way of thinking is very similar to that of the Zionist Jews. Just like the Zionists considered Palestine to be their promised land, the Bahais talked about Iran as the promised land. Out of their desire to take over the land and to destroy Islam and the Shia in Iran, they had many dreams and wrote many history books, but with the grace of Allah, none of those dreams have come true.
[...]
Narrator: A shocking SAVAK document, dated April 22, 1971, is just one example of the anti-Islamic and anti-Iranian conspiracies of this Zionist [Bahai] cult. This document quotes one of their leaders in Iran as saying: "We have received explicit instructions from America and London to spread [Western] fashion and immodesty in this country, so Muslim [women] will remove their veil. We will bring suffering upon the Muslims in Iran and other Muslim countries by means of fashion and advertisements, so they will no longer be able to claim that that imam Hussein was the conqueror of the world, and that Ali ruled the world. Weapons and ammunition are manufactured in Israel by our youth. Ultimately, these Muslims will be destroyed by the Bahais, and the world of Bahaullah will flourish."
IRINN, June 5, 2008
Narrator: For many years, Hollywood constituted another aspect of the cultural war. The film industry in the early 20th century was shaped by Jewish immigrants, most of whom belonged to Zionist organizations.
[...]
Iranian researcher Sayyid Hashem Mir-Louhi: Moral corruption will spread wherever these Jew-boys tread. In other words, every Jew-boy believes it is his personal duty to destroy the moral values of other nations, in order to control people's minds and souls. This menacing problem has penetrated American theater and cinema, and is clearly evident.
[...]
Narrator: Thus, a new front against the Islamic revolution is opened. Global imperialism invests billion of dollars and uses a broad distribution network to flood Iran with videos, CDs, and DVDs of the latest vulgar, destructive, Western films with Farsi subtitles. These films are sold cheap to the youth in dark alleys, as well as in broad daylight, in public places. The films spread vulgarity, and feed the youth with the forged Zionist way of thinking, so that in future attacks, they will remain defenseless.
[...]
IRINN, June 7, 2008
Iranian researcher Sayyid Hashem Mir-Louhi: There is a genocidal Zionist Jewish plan for the genocide of humanity at the hand of the Zionist Jew-boys. Even though the Jew-boys sometimes talk about a "Greater Israel," their real goal is world domination.
[...]
Narrator: Today, there are many indications that the "hidden hands" of world Zionism were involved in the 9/11 terrorist attack. According to a large group of Western intellectuals, the Zionists are the real rulers of the United States. According to irrefutable documents published by independent American media outlets, the Zionists used intelligence agents and spies, with the full cooperation of agencies with the country, to carry out this terrorist operation in full view of the world, in order to prepare the ground for taking over Afghanistan and Iraq, and to realize the dream of a greater Israel.
Videotape #1802 - "The Secret of Armageddon" - An Iranian TV "Documentary" Claims That "a Jewish Plan for the Genocide of Humanity," Includes a Conspiracy for the Takeover of Iran by Local Jewish and Bahai Communities [ Material compiled by The Middle East Media Research Institute E-Mail: memri@memri.org website: www.memri.org]
Following are selected excerpts from MEMRI's documentation about "The Secret of Armageddon," an Iranian TV documentary, which aired on IRINN (the Iranian news channel) in May and June 2008:
IRINN, May 11, 2008
Iranian university lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi: What is known worldwide today as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion contains the plans and policies of the elders of this sect to conquer the world and establish a global Jewish government, which were discussed at the 1897 [Zionist] Congress in Basel, Switzerland.
Narrator: These plans, which exposed the views and designs of the Zionists, were edited and collected into 24 protocols. They deal with political, educational, social, economic, and legal strategies, which they planned to use after the destruction of the culture, civilization, and religions of other nations. These strategies will be carried out using dishonorable means and conspiracies, leading to the establishment of a global Jewish kingdom.
[...]
Iranian researcher Shams Al-Din Rahmani: The goal of the Zionists is the total destruction of Islam. They know that this destruction will not be achieved easily, and therefore, they are trying to Americanize the religion of Islam.
[...]
The Zionist Jew-boys talk about a "Greater Israel" – from the Euphrates to the Nile – but their actual goal is world domination.
[...]
IRINN, May 12, 2008
Iranian university lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi:
According to historical documents, it was the Rothschilds who instilled the idea of Palestine as the Promised Land in the minds of the wealthy and enlightened Jews, and insisted on making it happen. At the time, most of the Jews did not have a specific country in mind, and some even considered America or South Africa to be the Promised Land. It was due to the economic and political power of the Rothschilds that this plot was realized.
[...]
The British government, which was controlled by the Zionist empire, led by the Rothschild family, committed itself to the realization of the Zionist aspiration.
[...]
IRINN, May 23, 2008
Narrator: If we take another look at modern history, we realize that with the Balfour Declaration from November 2, 1917, England officially began to serve the World Zionist Organization's policies. Thus, the implementation of some of the main clauses of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion became the agenda of some British politicians, who were connected to the Zionist societies.
[...]
Iranian researcher Shams Al-Din Rahmani: Oliver Cromwell, the dictatorial prime minister of England, placed England entirely at the service of the Jews in the 17th century. This [policy] became so deeply engrained that by the early 18th century, the Jews had a colonialist empire, which reached as far an India. They launched the slave trade, which is a Jewish trade par excellence. Most of the slaves back then were black Muslims from Africa. This was part of their evil plan to eradicate Islam in Africa. This plan was guided entirely by the Jews.
IRINN, May 19, 2008
Iranian historian Mohammad-Taqi Taqipour:
The Zionists and their organizations in Iran devised a plan, which was signed in 1931 by Rabbi Azizullah Naim, chairman of the Iranian Zionist Organization. This plan included eight clauses. In brief, according to this plan, Reza Shah's regime must permit Jews from all over the world to enter Iran and settle wherever they wish, in accordance with the plan that they themselves devised. In addition, these Jewish immigrants would be granted liberties by law, and no one could deny them these liberties. There would be equality between Jews and non-Jews in Iran – most of whom are Muslims. Fertile lands throughout Iran would be allocated to these Jewish immigrants free of charge. After two years, they would be granted citizenship, and a visa from the government also free of charge.
Iranian University Lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi: They planned to take over large parts of Iran, and to establish concealed camps, which would be populated by Jews from around the world, and especially Europe. This way, they wanted to gradually take over Iran, like they did in Palestine.
[...]
Narrator: Is it possible that according to the schemes of the global Zionist empire, Iran was meant to become another Israel, like in the case of Palestine?
[...]
IRINN, May 28, 2008
Iranian university lecturer Ali-Reza Karimi: Historical documents point to a connection between the leaders of the Bahai sect and the Rothschild family, who financed and led the World Zionist Organization.
[...]
The Bahai way of thinking is very similar to that of the Zionist Jews. Just like the Zionists considered Palestine to be their promised land, the Bahais talked about Iran as the promised land. Out of their desire to take over the land and to destroy Islam and the Shia in Iran, they had many dreams and wrote many history books, but with the grace of Allah, none of those dreams have come true.
[...]
Narrator: A shocking SAVAK document, dated April 22, 1971, is just one example of the anti-Islamic and anti-Iranian conspiracies of this Zionist [Bahai] cult. This document quotes one of their leaders in Iran as saying: "We have received explicit instructions from America and London to spread [Western] fashion and immodesty in this country, so Muslim [women] will remove their veil. We will bring suffering upon the Muslims in Iran and other Muslim countries by means of fashion and advertisements, so they will no longer be able to claim that that imam Hussein was the conqueror of the world, and that Ali ruled the world. Weapons and ammunition are manufactured in Israel by our youth. Ultimately, these Muslims will be destroyed by the Bahais, and the world of Bahaullah will flourish."
IRINN, June 5, 2008
Narrator: For many years, Hollywood constituted another aspect of the cultural war. The film industry in the early 20th century was shaped by Jewish immigrants, most of whom belonged to Zionist organizations.
[...]
Iranian researcher Sayyid Hashem Mir-Louhi: Moral corruption will spread wherever these Jew-boys tread. In other words, every Jew-boy believes it is his personal duty to destroy the moral values of other nations, in order to control people's minds and souls. This menacing problem has penetrated American theater and cinema, and is clearly evident.
[...]
Narrator: Thus, a new front against the Islamic revolution is opened. Global imperialism invests billion of dollars and uses a broad distribution network to flood Iran with videos, CDs, and DVDs of the latest vulgar, destructive, Western films with Farsi subtitles. These films are sold cheap to the youth in dark alleys, as well as in broad daylight, in public places. The films spread vulgarity, and feed the youth with the forged Zionist way of thinking, so that in future attacks, they will remain defenseless.
[...]
IRINN, June 7, 2008
Iranian researcher Sayyid Hashem Mir-Louhi: There is a genocidal Zionist Jewish plan for the genocide of humanity at the hand of the Zionist Jew-boys. Even though the Jew-boys sometimes talk about a "Greater Israel," their real goal is world domination.
[...]
Narrator: Today, there are many indications that the "hidden hands" of world Zionism were involved in the 9/11 terrorist attack. According to a large group of Western intellectuals, the Zionists are the real rulers of the United States. According to irrefutable documents published by independent American media outlets, the Zionists used intelligence agents and spies, with the full cooperation of agencies with the country, to carry out this terrorist operation in full view of the world, in order to prepare the ground for taking over Afghanistan and Iraq, and to realize the dream of a greater Israel.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Hebrew wording on British Mandate document (1921)indicates recognition of the Jewish claim
Contrary to Palestinian claims to exclusivity, Jews not interlopers
License to immigrate to Land of Israel given to Joachim [Chaim] Berger in Vienna, 1921 [Ynetnews.com]
"Land of Israel" written in Hebrew on official Mandate docs [Comment posted on Ynet in regard to the document pictured.]
Contrary to Palestinian claims to exclusivity, Jews not interlopers
License to immigrate to Land of Israel given to Joachim [Chaim] Berger in Vienna, 1921 [Ynetnews.com]
"Land of Israel" written in Hebrew on official Mandate docs [Comment posted on Ynet in regard to the document pictured.]
On the immigration papers, the words "Palestine Office" are written in Hebrew as "haMisrad Eretz haIsraeli" and "Misrad Eretz Israel". (Office of the Land of Israel). This gives the lie to the claim that Israel simply replaced or erased Palestine in 1948.
The term "Land of Israel" was a legally recognized name for Mandate Palestine, when written in the Hebrew language.
Israel was not created out of Palestine in 1948, but on the territory of the former British Mandate Palestine, which was absolutely categorically NOT a country.
The bottom line is that Israel is the only independent locally-ruled nation-state based in the Land of Israel in history. The use of the term "Palestine", which was originally only meant as a vague term for a geographical region, not a political entity, has become a by-word for denying or questioning Israel's right to exist.
Jake (06.20.08)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
This is part IV of a series about Islamic anti-Semitism as seen, essentially, from the perspective of Andrew Bostom, author of The Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism: From Sacred Texts to Solemn History. Bostom's recently published book is likely to restructure or overturn popular conceptions of the topic.
Conflict during the early years of Islam, in the 7th Century
The discussion about how Islam related, historically, to non-Muslims and Jews, in particular, begins with an examination of the treatment of Jews in Medina, under the direction of the prophet Muhammad (after his departure from Mecca.)
There is disagreement as to the context of a seminal incident known as the massacre of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayzah. As referenced below, the incident is related only in Islamic sources -- in which the treatment of the Jews is justified. The Jews were accused of breaking a pact, under which they were "protected." This, then, is seen by some critics of the traditional Islamic interpretation as an application of coercion directed toward the non-Muslim minority which led to the commission of jihad against the allegedly non-compliant minority. -- Mark Finkelstein
Detail from miniature painting ''The Prophet, Ali, and the Companions at the Massacre of the Prisoners of the Jewish Tribe of Beni Qurayzah'', illustration of a 18th century text, Kitāb-i Hamlah-i Haydarī, by Muhammad Rafi Bazil (d.1711 or 12). Manuscript now in the British Library.
The 'Banu Qurayza' (Arabic بني قريظة; بنو قريظة were a Jewish tribe who lived in northern Arabia during the 7th century, at the oasis of Yathrib (now known as Medina). In 627 CE, the tribe was charged with treachery during the Battle of the Trench and besieged by the Muslims commanded by Muhammad. The Muslims took the Qurayza captive and all the men, apart from a few who converted to Islam, were beheaded, while all the women were enslaved.
From a Muslim perspective:
Bostom's perspective
Bostom characterizes 'the so-called “Medina Charter” of Muhammad— [as]in reality, a part of Muhammad’s design to neutralize the Jews of Medina, and establish a hegemonic Islamic order.' He defines the Quarayza massacre as an act of jihad.
Bostom discusses the early relations between Muhammad and the Jewish tribes as follows:
-Earlier segments of this series are archived on http://jcommunitynews.blogspot.com
Criticism of the anti-Jewish content within the Quran and the Islamist jihadi culture should not be taken as an indictment of all Muslims. As put by Bernard Lewis: "Not all Muslims are fundamentalists and not all fundamentalists are terrorists...."
The content of this series is the sole responsibility of Mark Finkelstein. Direct comments to jcrc@dmjfed.org
For Bostom's introduction to the subject, read "Misunderstanding Islamic Antisemitism."
Conflict during the early years of Islam, in the 7th Century
The discussion about how Islam related, historically, to non-Muslims and Jews, in particular, begins with an examination of the treatment of Jews in Medina, under the direction of the prophet Muhammad (after his departure from Mecca.)
There is disagreement as to the context of a seminal incident known as the massacre of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayzah. As referenced below, the incident is related only in Islamic sources -- in which the treatment of the Jews is justified. The Jews were accused of breaking a pact, under which they were "protected." This, then, is seen by some critics of the traditional Islamic interpretation as an application of coercion directed toward the non-Muslim minority which led to the commission of jihad against the allegedly non-compliant minority. -- Mark Finkelstein
Detail from miniature painting ''The Prophet, Ali, and the Companions at the Massacre of the Prisoners of the Jewish Tribe of Beni Qurayzah'', illustration of a 18th century text, Kitāb-i Hamlah-i Haydarī, by Muhammad Rafi Bazil (d.1711 or 12). Manuscript now in the British Library.
The 'Banu Qurayza' (Arabic بني قريظة; بنو قريظة were a Jewish tribe who lived in northern Arabia during the 7th century, at the oasis of Yathrib (now known as Medina). In 627 CE, the tribe was charged with treachery during the Battle of the Trench and besieged by the Muslims commanded by Muhammad. The Muslims took the Qurayza captive and all the men, apart from a few who converted to Islam, were beheaded, while all the women were enslaved.
From a Muslim perspective:
The famous pact of Medina and its terms
On the arrival of the Prophet at Medina they [the Jews] had joined with the Muslims in a half-hearted welcome to the Prophet. The Prophet upon his arrival joined the heterogeneous and conflicting elements of the city and its suburbs through a Charter by which the rights and obligations of the Muslims and of the Muslims and Jews were clearly defined. The Jews because of the irresistible character of the brotherly movement had gladly accepted the pact.
This pact was officially made between the tribes living in Medina. The Jews of Bani-Kainuka Ban-Kuraizha and Bani-Nadir gladly accepted all the terms. This famous pact proceeds as follows:
"The state of peace and war shall be common to all Muslims ; no one among them shall have the right of concluding peace with, or declaring war against, the enemies of his co-religionists. The Jews who attach themselves to our commonwealth shall be protected from all insults and vexations ; they shall have an equal right with our own people to our assistance and good offices : the Jews of the various branches of 'Auf, Najjar, Harith, Jashm, Th'alaba, Aus, and all others domiciled in Yathrib (Medina), shall form with the Muslims one composite nation; they shall practise their religion as freely as the Muslims ; the clients and allies of the Jews shall enjoy the same security and freedom ; the guilty shall be pursued and punished ; the Jews shall join the Muslims in defending Yathrib against all enemies ; the interior of Yathrib shall be a sacred place for all who accept this Charter ; the clients and allies of the Muslims and the Jews shall be respected as the patrons ....."
This pact was concluded with the terms:
" All future disputes between those who accept this Charter shall be referred, under God, to the Prophet. "
Hostility of the Jews
No kindness or generosity, however, on the part of the Prophet would satisfy the Jews ; nothing could conciliate the bitter feelings with which they were animated. Enraged by the Prophet's tremendous success they soon broke off (secretly) , and ranged themselves on the side of the enemies of the 'new' Faith. They reviled the Prophet ; they twisted their tongues and mis-pronounced the Quranic words and the daily prayers and formulae of Islam, rendering them meaningless, absurd, or blasphemous; and the Jewish poets and poetesses, of whom there existed many at the time, outraged all common decency and the recognised code of Arab honour and chivalry by lampooning in obscene verse the Muslim women. But there were minor offences. Not satisfied with insulting the Muslim women and reviling the Prophet, they sent out emissaries to the enemies of the State, the protection of which they had formally accepted.
Bostom's perspective
Bostom characterizes 'the so-called “Medina Charter” of Muhammad— [as]in reality, a part of Muhammad’s design to neutralize the Jews of Medina, and establish a hegemonic Islamic order.' He defines the Quarayza massacre as an act of jihad.
Bostom discusses the early relations between Muhammad and the Jewish tribes as follows:
September 622 C.E. marks a defining event in Islam, the hijra. Muhammad and a coterie of followers (the Muhajirun), persecuted by fellow Banu Quraysh tribesmen who rejected Muhammad's authenticity as a divine messenger, fled from Mecca to Yathrib, later known as Medina. The Muslim sources described Yathrib as a Jewish city founded by a Palestinian diaspora population which had survived the revolt against the Romans. Distinct from the nomadic Arab tribes, the Jews of the north Arabian peninsula were highly productive oasis farmers. These Jews were eventually joined by itinerant Arab tribes from southern Arabia who settled adjacent to them and transitioned to a sedentary existence.
Following Muhammad's arrival in Medina, he re-ordered Medinan society, eventually imposing his authority on each tribe. The Jewish tribes were isolated, some were then expelled, and the remainder attacked and exterminated. A consensus Muslim account of the massacre of the Qurayzah " one of the Jewish tribes of Medina " has emerged as conveyed by classical Muslim scholars of hadith (putative utterances and acts of Muhammad, recorded by pious Muslim transmitters), biographers of Muhammad's life (especially Ibn Ishaq), jurists, and historians.
-Earlier segments of this series are archived on http://jcommunitynews.blogspot.com
Criticism of the anti-Jewish content within the Quran and the Islamist jihadi culture should not be taken as an indictment of all Muslims. As put by Bernard Lewis: "Not all Muslims are fundamentalists and not all fundamentalists are terrorists...."
The content of this series is the sole responsibility of Mark Finkelstein. Direct comments to jcrc@dmjfed.org
For Bostom's introduction to the subject, read "Misunderstanding Islamic Antisemitism."
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Palestinians Unworthy of Sovereignty [from weblog of Yaacov Lozowick* ]
Hamas has announced it will not "protect Israel from attacks by other factions". There is nothing new about this idiotic line of reasoning, of course, and it has been one of the standard canards ever since Israel began disbanding its occupation and transferring power to the Palestinians in 1993.
The question is not if the PLO, or PA, or Hamas, or anyone else, will protect Israel from the more extreme Palestinian forces that will always continue with their anti-Israeli violence no matter what agreements are reached. The question is if whatever Palestinian government it may be will take upon itself one of the most basic of all tasks of government, the monopoly of waging violence. As long as they don't understand that this is a fundamental need of their own, irrespective of Israel, no peace agreement with them will ever hold. On the contrary, the longer they insist on behaving like little children, the more obvious and irrevocable it will be not to allow them a government. Governing is a matter for adults.
[Which doesn't mean Israel should continue to control them. More and more I am beginning to think there will ultimately be not choice but to hand over some sort of control of the Palestinians to the Jordanians and the Egyptians
-----------
* Yaacov Lozowick,Jerusalem, Israel
Historian, author of "Right to Exist, A Moral Defense of Israel's Wars" and other works, former Director of Archives at Yad Vashem
Palestinians Unworthy of Sovereignty [from weblog of Yaacov Lozowick* ]
Hamas has announced it will not "protect Israel from attacks by other factions". There is nothing new about this idiotic line of reasoning, of course, and it has been one of the standard canards ever since Israel began disbanding its occupation and transferring power to the Palestinians in 1993.
The question is not if the PLO, or PA, or Hamas, or anyone else, will protect Israel from the more extreme Palestinian forces that will always continue with their anti-Israeli violence no matter what agreements are reached. The question is if whatever Palestinian government it may be will take upon itself one of the most basic of all tasks of government, the monopoly of waging violence. As long as they don't understand that this is a fundamental need of their own, irrespective of Israel, no peace agreement with them will ever hold. On the contrary, the longer they insist on behaving like little children, the more obvious and irrevocable it will be not to allow them a government. Governing is a matter for adults.
[Which doesn't mean Israel should continue to control them. More and more I am beginning to think there will ultimately be not choice but to hand over some sort of control of the Palestinians to the Jordanians and the Egyptians
-----------
* Yaacov Lozowick,Jerusalem, Israel
Historian, author of "Right to Exist, A Moral Defense of Israel's Wars" and other works, former Director of Archives at Yad Vashem
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Self-imposed mental, moral, and cultural censors cripple the Muslim world
Blaming others
By Farooq Sulehria 6/17/2008
The Amnesty International report on human rights for the year 2007 is out. The Muslim world constitutes, as usual, bleakest chapter. Every single country across the Muslim world has been pointed out by the Amnesty International either for executions and torture or discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities. Punishments never handed down even during the Stone Age, have been awarded in 21st century Muslim world. In one case, two Saudi nationals were awarded 7,000 lashes. Yes, 7,000. And executions? Well, 335 in Iran, 158 in Saudi Arabia and 135 in Pakistan. Violation of human rights, it seems, is the only thing that unites the otherwise divided Muslim world.
The report is no exception. The Muslim world cuts a sorry figure every time a global watchdog releases its findings. Freedom of expression here remains curtailed, Reporters Sans Frontieres annually reports. Regarding freedom of expression, there is a joke often told in Arab world. At a meeting, a US journalist says: "We have complete freedom of expression in the US. We can criticise the US president as much as we like." The Arab journalist replies. "We also have complete freedom of expression in Arab world. We can also criticise the US president as much as we like."
Similarly, it is either Bangladesh or Pakistan or Nigeria which is on top of Transparency International's corruption indexes. However, when Nobel laureates gather in Stockholm every December, Muslim scientists and writers are conspicuous by their absence. In case, as Naguib Mahfouz is crowned, he is stabbed and rendered paralysed. The irony, or tragedy, is that his attacker had not even read his excellent books. Or we disown Dr Abdul Salam just because he belonged to the Ahmadiya community. Salam's case deserves special mention since it underlines the absurdity that characterises this part of the world.
When all else fails, "Jews" and "Christian" West are there to lay the blame for all our ills. Conspiracy theories instead of scientific, rational thought holds sway across much of the Muslim world. And every time a rights abuse is highlighted in Iran, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, a typical Muslim answer is: Look at Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Chechnya. True, imperialism and Zionism have a hand in our predicament. However, there are many wounds one can only describe as self-inflicted.
Take, for instance, the Iran-Iraq war, one of the last century's bloodiest conflicts. There is no denying the fact that the United States backed the Saddam regime. But it was the Arab sheikhdoms, panicked at the Iranian revolution, that stoked the flames of war. And, ironically, now in the post-Saddam era when the "Christian" West has written off Iraq's Saddam-era debt worth $66 billion, Iraq's Arab brothers refuse to write off that country's $67 billion loans.
Similarly, last century's bloodiest Muslim genocide was not carried out by Serbs, Israelis, Americans, Europeans or Hindus. It was Pakistan's military that refused to respect a democratic verdict and plunged East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, into an ocean of blood. Millions were killed, maimed, raped and rendered homeless. Luckily, Pakistan has a "Hindu" neighbour. "Hindus are born enemies of Islam'. Hence, Pakistani children are now taught that a Bengali traitor (revered by Bengalis as founder of Bangladesh), in connivance with our "Hindu" neighbour, dismembered Pakistan. Ironically, of all her South Asian neighbours, Pakistan enjoys most cordial relations with the world's only Hindu state, Nepal. The other big genocide was perpetrated by Indonesia. The target was: its own citizens who were members of the Communist Party.
Figures are not available but Israel perhaps cannot match Iran in executing Arabs. Iran's confessional regime is a champion of the Arab cause in Occupied Territories but Arabs of its Khuzestan province are regularly sent to the gallows. Seizing the opportunity, one may also point out how only recently Afghan refugees were driven out of Iran as if Afghan refugees were not as Muslim as Palestinians. And, by the way in the fallen "Emirate of Afghanistan" itself, Hazaras were slaughtered by the Taliban in their thousands almost a decade ago – mainly because Hazaras are Shia. In Iraq, more people have been killed in Shia-Sunni clashes than in resisting the US occupation. Shia-Sunni clashes in Pakistan have claimed more lives than those lost in its wars against India. Ironically, this only "nuclear power" of the Muslim world is not being occupied on its eastern front by its "Hindu" neighbour but is losing territory on its western front to its own citizens.
One can mention from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to the recent Hamas-Fatah infighting (a shameful tribute to Israel on its 60th anniversary). The list is long. Indeed, unending. However, the solution to all our problems is always simple: return to an imagined past which, mercifully for the people of the seventh century, never existed. Every time, a scientist in the West is ready with an invention, our readymade answer is: we knew about it 1,400 years ago what the West has found only now. We kill Theo van Gogh when confronted with a film. We burn down our own cities in response to a blasphemous and racist caricature. Still, we refuse to understand that our answer to every "provocation" is either a fatwa or mindless violence – perhaps because creativity is anathema to us. Not because we lack fertile minds, but because we lack liberation and freedom -- liberation from self-imposed mental, moral, and cultural censors. And freedom to think and express. Time to heed the great Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, who said:
The writer is a freelance contributor. Email: mfsulehria@hotmail.com
By Farooq Sulehria 6/17/2008
The Amnesty International report on human rights for the year 2007 is out. The Muslim world constitutes, as usual, bleakest chapter. Every single country across the Muslim world has been pointed out by the Amnesty International either for executions and torture or discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities. Punishments never handed down even during the Stone Age, have been awarded in 21st century Muslim world. In one case, two Saudi nationals were awarded 7,000 lashes. Yes, 7,000. And executions? Well, 335 in Iran, 158 in Saudi Arabia and 135 in Pakistan. Violation of human rights, it seems, is the only thing that unites the otherwise divided Muslim world.
The report is no exception. The Muslim world cuts a sorry figure every time a global watchdog releases its findings. Freedom of expression here remains curtailed, Reporters Sans Frontieres annually reports. Regarding freedom of expression, there is a joke often told in Arab world. At a meeting, a US journalist says: "We have complete freedom of expression in the US. We can criticise the US president as much as we like." The Arab journalist replies. "We also have complete freedom of expression in Arab world. We can also criticise the US president as much as we like."
Similarly, it is either Bangladesh or Pakistan or Nigeria which is on top of Transparency International's corruption indexes. However, when Nobel laureates gather in Stockholm every December, Muslim scientists and writers are conspicuous by their absence. In case, as Naguib Mahfouz is crowned, he is stabbed and rendered paralysed. The irony, or tragedy, is that his attacker had not even read his excellent books. Or we disown Dr Abdul Salam just because he belonged to the Ahmadiya community. Salam's case deserves special mention since it underlines the absurdity that characterises this part of the world.
When all else fails, "Jews" and "Christian" West are there to lay the blame for all our ills. Conspiracy theories instead of scientific, rational thought holds sway across much of the Muslim world. And every time a rights abuse is highlighted in Iran, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, a typical Muslim answer is: Look at Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Chechnya. True, imperialism and Zionism have a hand in our predicament. However, there are many wounds one can only describe as self-inflicted.
Take, for instance, the Iran-Iraq war, one of the last century's bloodiest conflicts. There is no denying the fact that the United States backed the Saddam regime. But it was the Arab sheikhdoms, panicked at the Iranian revolution, that stoked the flames of war. And, ironically, now in the post-Saddam era when the "Christian" West has written off Iraq's Saddam-era debt worth $66 billion, Iraq's Arab brothers refuse to write off that country's $67 billion loans.
Similarly, last century's bloodiest Muslim genocide was not carried out by Serbs, Israelis, Americans, Europeans or Hindus. It was Pakistan's military that refused to respect a democratic verdict and plunged East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, into an ocean of blood. Millions were killed, maimed, raped and rendered homeless. Luckily, Pakistan has a "Hindu" neighbour. "Hindus are born enemies of Islam'. Hence, Pakistani children are now taught that a Bengali traitor (revered by Bengalis as founder of Bangladesh), in connivance with our "Hindu" neighbour, dismembered Pakistan. Ironically, of all her South Asian neighbours, Pakistan enjoys most cordial relations with the world's only Hindu state, Nepal. The other big genocide was perpetrated by Indonesia. The target was: its own citizens who were members of the Communist Party.
Figures are not available but Israel perhaps cannot match Iran in executing Arabs. Iran's confessional regime is a champion of the Arab cause in Occupied Territories but Arabs of its Khuzestan province are regularly sent to the gallows. Seizing the opportunity, one may also point out how only recently Afghan refugees were driven out of Iran as if Afghan refugees were not as Muslim as Palestinians. And, by the way in the fallen "Emirate of Afghanistan" itself, Hazaras were slaughtered by the Taliban in their thousands almost a decade ago – mainly because Hazaras are Shia. In Iraq, more people have been killed in Shia-Sunni clashes than in resisting the US occupation. Shia-Sunni clashes in Pakistan have claimed more lives than those lost in its wars against India. Ironically, this only "nuclear power" of the Muslim world is not being occupied on its eastern front by its "Hindu" neighbour but is losing territory on its western front to its own citizens.
One can mention from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to the recent Hamas-Fatah infighting (a shameful tribute to Israel on its 60th anniversary). The list is long. Indeed, unending. However, the solution to all our problems is always simple: return to an imagined past which, mercifully for the people of the seventh century, never existed. Every time, a scientist in the West is ready with an invention, our readymade answer is: we knew about it 1,400 years ago what the West has found only now. We kill Theo van Gogh when confronted with a film. We burn down our own cities in response to a blasphemous and racist caricature. Still, we refuse to understand that our answer to every "provocation" is either a fatwa or mindless violence – perhaps because creativity is anathema to us. Not because we lack fertile minds, but because we lack liberation and freedom -- liberation from self-imposed mental, moral, and cultural censors. And freedom to think and express. Time to heed the great Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, who said:
Five thousand years.
Growing beards
In our caves.
Our currency is unknown,
Our eyes are a haven for flies.
Friends,
Smash the doors,
Wash your brains,
Wash your clothes.
Friends,
Read a book,
Write a book,
Grow words, pomegranates and grapes,
Sail to the country of fog and snow.
Nobody knows you exist in caves.
People take you for a breed of mongrels
The writer is a freelance contributor. Email: mfsulehria@hotmail.com
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