Evidence: Arab atrocity propaganda triggered Arab flight from Palestine

What Hazem Nusseibeh told the BBC about Deir Yassin The video focuses on an interview with Hazem Nusseibeh, a member of one of Jerusalem's most prominent Arab families.  In 1948 he was an editor of the Palestine Broadcasting Service's Arabic news. In this interview with the BBC he admits that in 1948 he was instructed by Hussein Khalidi, a prominent Palestinian Arab leader, to fabricate claims of atrocities at Deir Yassin in order to encourage Arab regimes to invade the expected Jewish state.  He made this damming admission in explaining why the Arabs failed in the 1948 war.  He said "this was our biggest mistake", because Palestinians fled in terror and left the country in huge numbers after hearing the atrocity claims. Nusseibeh describes an encounter at the Jaffa Gate of Jerusalem's Old City with Deir Yassin survivors and Palestinian leaders, including Hussein Khalidi... 'I asked Dr. Khalidi how we should cover the story,'. He said, "We must make the most of this." So we wrote a press release stating that at Deir Yassin children were murdered, pregnant women were raped, all sorts of atrocities,  though these things didn't happen. In the video clip Abu Mahmud, who was a Dir Yassin resident in 1948, told the BBC that the villagers protested against the atrocity claims: We said, "There was no rape." But Khalidi said, "We have to say this, so the Arab armies will come to liberate Palestine from the Jews." This false press statement was released to New York Times correspondent, Dana Schmidt leading to an article in the New York Times on April 12, 1948, claiming that a massacre took place at Deir Yassin that was reprinted worldwide and cited even in Israel as proof of Israeli atrocities Dr. Hazem Nusseibeh was a representative of Jordan at the Mixed Armistice Commission and he was Minister of Foreign Affairs.He was also the Permanent Ambassador of Jordan to the UN and has authored several books, including The Ideas of Arab Nationalism, Palestine and the United Nations and A History of Modern Jordan. http://www.youtube.com/v/GkhSHiwzaIY&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0

Three times as many urban Saudis favor Israeli strike on Iran as accept Israel as Jewish state

Three times as many urban Saudis favor Israeli strike on Iran as accept Israel as Jewish state

Asked about an Israeli military strike against Iran, one-quarter of urban Saudis said that they would support it at least "to some extent."

Interestingly, that figure is three times larger than the number of respondents who said that they would accept Israel "as a Jewish state," even "under the right conditions" -- a mere 9 percent of urban Saudis took that position. But regional differences are relatively significant here: in Jeddah, hypothetical acceptance of a Jewish state was 17 percent, compared to barely 4 percent in Riyadh or Dammam/al-Khobar.

Israel Matzav   1/20/10>

CNN: Israel's field hospital in Haiti is saving lives

From CNN.  Israel provides expert medical assistance in Haiti.

  Islamic Solidarity Games cancelled over dispute

  
Riyadh, Jan 17 (AP) The Islamic Solidarity Games have been cancelled after a dispute between Arab countries and Iran over the name of the waterway dividing them.

The Saudi-based Islamic Solidarity Games Federation says they cancelled the sporting event, which were meant to be held in Tehran in the spring, after Iran put "Persian Gulf" on the logo.

The five-year-old games were created to strengthen ties among the 57-nations of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

Arab nations call the waterway the Arabian Gulf.

The games were originally scheduled for October 2009 but postponed in attempt to reach a compromise.

ADL Continues to Voice Concern About Anti-Jewish and Anti-Israel Climate in Turkey

New York, NY, January 13, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today renewed its concern that Turkish society is becoming increasingly and openly hostile to Jews and Israel – with harmful statements by government officials and hateful depictions in the mass media.

"We continue to be concerned about a new environment in Turkey which permits and even encourages extreme expressions regarding Jews and Israel," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "We cannot ignore this new atmosphere in which distorted views of Israel and Jews are freely expressed and made to seem acceptable."

ADL wrote a letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan citing his government's "harshly critical statements" -- and his own remarks during a recent a visit to Lebanon -- as a case in point.  Mr. Erdogan condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, accused the Jewish State of threatening to undermine "global peace," and called for the U.N. Security Council to consider sanctions against Israel.

The League's letter also pointed to two recent television dramas which portrayed Israelis and the Israeli military as inherently evil and conniving.  The recent television series "Valley of the Wolves" reportedly featured Israeli agents as baby snatchers.

"While we have celebrated Turkey's history of coexistence with Jews and the protection Turkish society provides for its Jewish community, we cannot ignore this new atmosphere and its potential consequences," said Mr. Foxman.  "We respectfully urge the Turkish government to speak out directly to reject anti-Semitism and incendiary demonizing depictions of Israel and Israelis, and to reiterate Turkey's support for its Jewish community."

ADL raised similar concerns in a letter to Mr. Erdogan in October 2009.

 

The Jewish Federation's affiliate, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is

accepting  contributions to assist victims of the earthquake which has devastated Haiti.

Help JDC Assist Victims of Haiti Earthquake

In the wake of the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, the immense scale of the devastation is only beginning to be understood. News sources are reporting the loss of more than 100,000 lives and massive damage to the island's infrastructure.

JDC is the official humanitarian assistance organization acting on behalf of the Jewish community and The Jewish Federations of North America. In this capacity, JDC has moved swiftly to coordinate relief efforts with its network of Israeli, American, and other local partners on the ground.

JDC is currently supporting Heart to Heart International to provide immediate medical aid, equipment, and services to victims of the earthquake. JDC is also working with the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces and has purchased critical medical equipment for its field hospital, including infant incubators for its neonatal unit and orthopedic devices. Further partnerships are being explored for the next phase of JDC's support for Haiti's victims.

JDC brings unparalleled experience to this effort through its International Development Program (IDP), which has provided immediate relief and long-term development assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters in more than 60 countries.

To Make a Contribution:
Online: www.JDC.org
By Phone: 212-687-6200
By Mail: check payable to
JDC-Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 530
132 East 43rd St
New York, NY, 10017

www.JDC.org

JDC's Blog: No Passport Required

Since 1914, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has given global expression to the principle that all Jews are responsible for one another. Working today in more than 70 countries, JDC acts on behalf of North America's Jewish communities and others to rescue Jews in danger, provide relief to those in distress, revitalize overseas Jewish communities, and help Israel overcome the social challenges of its most vulnerable citizens. JDC also provides non-sectarian emergency relief and long-term development assistance worldwide.

 

Israel, Jewish groups sending help to Haiti

January 13, 2010

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel has sent a delegation of experts to Haiti and U.S. Jewish groups are collecting donations in the aftermath of a massive earthquake.

The Israel group sent to the Caribbean nation includes engineering, medical, logistics and rescue experts from the Israel Defense Forces' Home Front Command.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Tuesday afternoon was the strongest in Haiti in 200 years. The National Palace and United Nations peacekeeper headquarters were among the many buildings that suffered damage.

Israel's ambassador to the Dominican Republic, who also serves Haiti, said Wednesday morning that the embassy had not been able to reach Jewish families in Haiti due to downed telephone lines.

The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid, a coordinating body of Israeli and Jewish organizations and other interested parties based in Israel, also was set to dispatch a 12-man search-and-rescue team, which includes emergency medical staff. IsraAID also was considering sending a field hospital, including doctors and medical equipment, as well as humanitarian aid.

Relatives of Sharona Elsaieh, daughter of the late peace activist Abie Nathan, say she is missing and have turned to Israel's Foreign Ministry for assistance. Two other Israelis, a woman and her 9-year-old son, also have been reported missing.

Several other Israelis also live in Haiti, according to reports.

In the United States, several Jewish groups -- including the American Jewish World Service (www.ajws.org/haitiearthquake), American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (www.jdc.org), American Jewish Committee (www.ajc.org/haitifund) and B'nai B'rith International (https://secure.ga1.org/05/web_relief_donations) -- have set up mailboxes for people to make donations. 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti in the wake of this overwhelming disaster, and as we did following Hurricane Gustav in 2008, JDC will leverage its strong partnerships in the region to respond quickly and compassionately to the needs of those affected," said Steven Schwager, JDC's chief executive officer. "Now and in the months to come, JDC will provide both immediate relief as well as long-term assistance to help the Haitian people rebuild their lives."