ADL: Palin took 'blood libel' out of painful, historical context

[Historically, the false accusation that Jews used the blood of Christians in the making of matzoh was a pretext to attack and murder Jews. --Mark Finkelstein]

ADL Statement on Sarah Palin's Response to Tucson Tragedy

New York, NY, January 12, 2011 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today responded to criticism of former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin for using the term "blood-libel" in her statement on the tragic shootings in Tucson, Arizona.

Abraham Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

 It is unfortunate that the tragedy in Tucson continues to stimulate a political blame game.  Rather than step back and reflect on the lessons to be learned from this tragedy, both parties have reverted to political partisanship and finger-pointing at a time when the American people are looking for leadership, not more vitriol.  In response to this tragedy we need to rise above partisanship, incivility, heated rhetoric, and the business-as-usual approaches that are corroding our political system and tainting the atmosphere in Washington and across the country.


It was inappropriate at the outset to blame Sarah Palin and others for causing this tragedy or for being an accessory to murder.  Palin has every right to defend herself against these kinds of attacks, and we agree with her that the best tradition in America is one of finding common ground despite our differences.


Still, we wish that Palin had not invoked the phrase "blood-libel" in reference to the actions of journalists and pundits in placing blame for the shooting in Tucson on others. While the term "blood-libel" has become part of the English parlance to refer to someone being falsely accused, we wish that Palin had used another phrase, instead of one so fraught with pain in Jewish history.

 Source: http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Mise_00/5962_00.htm

Motive cited

@Daroff: FoxNews: Dept of Homeland Security memo cited #Giffords' #Jewish identity as a motive in shooting http://bit.ly/grLYqa (@talk2jta)


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Doubts raised as to truthfulness re: death of woman in the West Bank

[Summary] Irregularities and inconsistencies have fueled suspicion  that a woman from the town of Bil'in, in the West Bank, died on Friday from other than having inhaled tear gas fired as a means of riot control by the IDF. 

 

Among the details being scrutinized by the IDF at present are the following:

 

The hospital’s records listed the official cause of death as “inhaling gas from Israeli soldier according to the family.”  Her family’s report that she was “hurt by Israeli gas” was not corroborated by any other source.

 

The hospital admission record stated that the woman had never been to the hospital before, but Israeli officials have confirmed that Rahma had been treated there many times over the last month, and indeed was on various medications – including one commonly used to treat leukemia.

 

If suspicions are confirmed and the woman died from other than exposure to tear gas on the scene of a pre-meditated riot, contentions by the Palestinians of Israel's commission of a war crime will be chalked up as yet another example of anti-Israel propaganda.

 

Source: http://cifwatch.com/2011/01/03/palestinian-version-of-events-in-bilin-begin-to-unravel/

 

You may wish to scan the continuing coverage of this matter online at ynetnews.com

 

//Mark Finkelstein   jcrc@dmjfed.org

 

SWU: Israel IQ at UCLA

Please view this brief video.



Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_2SbkRybBk

More Gaza terror attempts

IDFSpokesperson

IDF thwarts 2nd terrorist attack along Gaza Strip security fence in less than 72 hours- http://ow.ly/3viFC

Anti-Israel bias and the start of the 2008 Gaza War

It is pure bias against Israel to contend that Israel had no right to defend itself against the thousands of rockets launched into Israel by Hamas. 

 

 It is pure bias to hold Israel responsible for the 2008 Gaza War, when, in fact,  Hamas -- at the time -- even claimed to have started the war.  -- Mark Finkelstein

 

As explained by Elder of Ziyon:

 

Today is the second anniversary of the beginning of [Israel's] Operation Cast Lead - but it is not the anniversary of the beginning of the Gaza War.

On the very first day of OCL, I pointed out something that has been all but ignored by the media (but that I had mentioned earlier): Hamas declared war on Israel on December 24th, a full three days before Cast Lead.

Gaza - Ma'an - The military wing affiliated to Hamas, Al-Qassam Brigades released a statement on Thursday morning [ 2008- December 25 ] briefing the group's military activities over the first twenty four hours of an operation they called "Oil Stain" which started Wednesday morning.

According to the statement, a total of 87 shells have been fired at Israeli targets bordering the Gaza Strip including 54 mortar shells, 31 homemade projectiles which Hamas calls "Qassam", and two Soviet-made Grad missiles.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=207221 

 

 Amnesty's history of the war starts on December 27th.  [Amnesty International] 

HRW   [Human Rights Watch]  characterizes the entire war as "Israel’s three-week-long military offensive in Gaza that began on December 27." It isn't even a war - it is simply framed as Israeli aggression. And this is in a report about Hamas rocket fire!

Goldstone's chapter headings  [ in Judge Goldstone's report , adopted by the U.N. ]  show this false framework as well:

III. EVENTS OCCURRING BETWEEN THE “CEASEFIRE” OF 18 JUNE 2008 BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE GAZA AUTHORITIES AND THE START OF ISRAEL’S MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GAZA ON 27 DECEMBER 2008

VI. OVERVIEW OF MILITARY OPERATIONS  CONDUCTED BY ISRAEL IN GAZA BETWEEN 27 DECEMBER 2008 AND 18 JANUARY 2009 AND DATA ON CASUALTIES

When the very framework of the issue is biased to begin with, anyone trying to take Israel's aide is already handicapped. It loads the dice before the game even starts, and it takes an effort to re-frame the argument - something that Israeli spokespeople have little opportunity to do when giving statements to the press or when answering questions about NGO accusations.

Even though Hamas wants to be known as a masculine defender of Arab rights in Arabic, and it was proud to take credit for starting the war back in 2008, it has realized the immense value of the false framework provided by Goldstone and HRW and Amnesty and the mainstream media. So it has adopted that framework simply because it puts Israel at a disadvantage.

This is one of the biggest issues that Israel faces when speaking to the world. The idea of Israel as aggressor is so ingrained in the fabric of the discussion that it is not easy for even Israel's defenders to recognize it when they see it. It is especially difficult in the heat of a debate to be able to step back and challenge the questioner as to their implicit assumptions.

One fact is clear - Hamas started the war, and they bragged about it. Any narrative of the Gaza War that does not recognize that simple fact is inherently biased from the outset. No mater how prestigious the NGO or media outlet that promulgates this lie - it is still a lie, and that lie must be corrected.

 

Source:  http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2010/12/false-framework-of-gaza-war.html    12/ 27/2010

Escalation of attacks from Gaza

Escalation belies Hamas claim of truce. Arutz 7: IDF Foils Gaza Terrorist Attack; 'Cast Lead 2' Nears http://bit.ly/gWY2up


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