Daily Briefing: Wednesday’s News of the Week in Review (December 4th, 2019)

Jordyn Wright:  Facebook – Nov. 29, 2019 — Year after year, we have witnessed student leaders at McGill University being targeted as a result of their Jewish and pro-Israel identities. This year, that student is me. I am a Jewish second-year Science student at McGill. I represent my peers to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council and serve on the Society’s Board of Directors. … [To read the full article, click the following LINK– Ed.]

MCGILL SIDES WITH JEWISH STUDENT, AGAINST STUDENT GOVERNMENT (Montreal) — McGill University sent out an email to its students stating that their student government’s decision to prosecute a Jewish student for attending a Hillel-sponsored trip to Israel and Palestine fosters “a culture of ostracization.” This is in reference to a case where Jordyn Wright, a Jewish student at McGill and a Board of Director of its Student Society (SSMU), was personally targetted by the SSMU Legislative Council for attending a trip to Israel and Palestine. The motion that was presented in SSMU’s council meeting on November 28th explicitly singled out Jordyn. Furthermore, the SSMU President Bryan Buraga also introduced amendments that only pertained to Jordyn and none of the other BoD going on the trip. (The Post Millennial, Dec. 2, 2019)

MCGILL UNIVERSITY PLEDGES ‘DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOR, OSTRACIZATION (OF JEWS) WON’T BE TOLERATED’ (Montreal) — Two Jewish organizations have praised the administration at McGill University  for its prompt condemnation of a vicious anti-Semitic attack by the Student Society on one of its (Jewish) members last week, ordering her to either cancel a trip to Israel, or resign as student representative. Rabbi Reuven Poupko, co-chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs- Québec (CIJA- Québec), praised Labeau’s emailed statement condemning the threats. The Hasbara Canada organization also noted that McGill’s stance in support of Wright was an important victory for freedom of speech, human rights and Jewish students, not just at McGill, but on campuses from across the country. (Jewish Press, Dec. 3, 2019)

                                        WEEKLY QUOTES

“We discussed Iran, but we also spoke at length about the historic opportunities that we will have in the coming months. Among them are [establishing] the Jordan Valley as the recognized eastern border of the State of Israel as well as a defensive alliance with the US. These are things that we could only dream about, but we have the possibility of implementing them.” – said Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu following his his telephone call with US President Donald Trump the previous day. (Algemeiner, Dec. 2, 2019)

“The Trump administration at present has been extraordinarily supportive and we can largely thank Evangelical Christians for this, because the majority of American Jews hate Trump so intensely that they even oppose policies that are consensually supported by the bulk of Israelis. But there is no question that we will never have a better opportunity than now to resolve our long-term strategic challenges and annex the major settler blocs and the Jordan Valley. …

“Setting all this aside, unless Netanyahu steps down immediately, we are headed for a third round of elections. With the indictments, Likud could lose a significant number of seats if some of their traditional supporters either abstain or vote against. On the other hand, if Netanyahu stood down, Likud could elect a new leader in the hopefully forthcoming primaries, and swiftly form a national unity government with Blue and White, the majority of whose members already support their basic policies related to defense and the settler blocs….

“Prime Minister, the longer you delay, the greater the damage. Whatever will be, you will go down as one of Israel’s great prime ministers who laid down foundations for our long-term security, diplomatic relations and economic prosperity. Retire now for the good of the nation and in your own interest, to save your legacy and concentrate on successfully overcoming all the indictments.” – Political columnist Isi Leibler. (Algemeiner, Nov. 26, 2019)

“This time is totally different. People became their own leader. They took to the street. They risked their lives. And they had the message, which you hear through the videos. That is actually why the government shut down the Internet. Why? Because they didn’t want the rest of the world to hear the message.” — Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad said on “The Story with Martha MacCallum.”  He discussed the unrest in Iran and the hundreds of protesters killed by the government’s brutal crackdown, saying the movement opposing Tehran’s authoritarian regime could topple the country’s theocratic regime. (Fox News,Dec. 2, 2019)

“More even than during the Cold War, it is in our own best interests to maintain Nato.  Europe cannot defend itself.” – said German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a budget debate in the German parliament.  Her comments were aimed at French President Emmanuel Macron, who claimed earlier this month that the alliance is “brain dead” and said Europe can no longer rely on the US for its defence. (Telegraph, Nov. 27, 2019)

“I do not think it is possible to project the scale of anger and resistance impeachment would bring. But I can easily assert that it would rip American politics apart, wrench partisanship up into the territory of real animosity and hate, and split the world’s first democracy down the middle. The impeachment game the Democrats have been playing for three years is ultimately very dangerous, with the potential to be a real and present danger to the United States.” – writes political columnist Rex Murphy.  He argues that the Democratic Party and the media’s antipathy for President Trump blinds them to the consequences of impeachment on the state of the union that he says will be “seismic”.  (National Post, Nov. 19, 2019)

“I am disappointed that York University allowed for a hate-filled protest to take place last night at Vari Hall. I stand with the Jewish students and the Jewish community.” — said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.  He commented on the violent protests that erupted when IDF soldiers spoke at an event at Toronto’s York University sponsored by Herut Canada.  York University has launched a review of how it handles free expression on campus over the Middle East conflict.  (National Post, Nov. 21, 2019)
 
                                           SHORT TAKES
 
ISRAEL RANKED AMONG TOP 10 MOST POWERFUL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD (NYC) — The Best Countries ranking, conducted by U.S. News and World Report in partnership with the BAV Group and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, recently placed Israel at eighth in the world based on a number of key criteria. The report surveyed over 20,000 people from four regions around the world. Respondents were asked to associate 80 countries with five attributes: military alliances, international alliances, political influence, economic influence, and leadership. Israel beat countries with vast natural resources such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey as well as richer countries such as Canada and Switzerland. (United With Israel, Dec. 3, 2019)

MUSLIM-MAJORITY LIBYA OPEN TO RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL(Tripoli) – Abdelhadi Lahwij, the foreign minister of the Libyan Interim Government affiliated with General Khalifa Haftar expressed hope that his country will normalize relations with the Jewish State in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Maariv. (United With Israel, Dec. 2, 2019)

IRAN ADMITS KILLING GAS PRICE PROTESTERS (Tehran) — Iranian state television acknowledged security forces shot and killed what it described as “rioters” in multiple cities amid recent protests over the spike in government-set gasoline prices — the first time that authorities have offered any sort of accounting for the violence they used to put down the demonstrations. The acknowledgment came in a television package that criticized international Farsi-language channels for their reporting on the crisis, which began on Nov. 15. (WIN, Dec. 3, 2019)

AFTER THREATS OF RETALIATION, JORDAN LIFTS BAN ON VISIT OF ISRAELIS WEARING JEWISH RELIGIOUS GARMENTS (Amman) — — Israeli public figures attempting to visit Jordan were ordered by Jordanian border officials to remove their Kippahs, religious head coverings, Tzizit and other Jewish markers before entering the Kingdom, generating a minor diplomatic incident. Jordan backed down from their demands after Israeli Foreign Ministry officials notified their Jordanian counterparts that Interior Minister Aryeh Deri was considering preventing Jordanian workers from entering Israel following the incident.  (TPS, Dec. 3, 2019)

ICC PROSECUTOR AGAIN REFUSES 2010 GAZA FLOTILLA RAID PROBE (The Hague) — Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda of the International Criminal Court again refused to open an investigation into the 2010 storming by Israeli forces of an aid flotilla (Mavi Marmara) heading to the Gaza strip. Appeals judges in September ordered her to reconsider her earlier refusals to open a formal investigation. Eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed and several other pro-Palestinian activists were wounded by Israeli commandos. (Yahoo News, Dec. 2, 2019)

BRITISH LABOUR PARTY OMITS JEWS FROM CAMPAIGN VIDEO THAT PROMOTES RIGHTS FOR ALL (London) — The Labour Party failed to mention Jews in an elections campaign video that champions diversity and the rights of over 20 groups. The 68-second video released this week features images of British people, towns and cities, along with a September speech by Dawn Butler, who holds the party’s Women and Equalities portfolio. Butler lists various population groups, including people who are LGBT+, straight, Roma, black, white, Asian, disabled, “struggling to pay rent” or “wear a hijab, turban, a cross.” She assures that “a Labour government will value you, just be your true authentic self.” (JTA, Dec. 2, 2019)

ISRAEL COULD HALT INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION WITH UK IF JEREMY CORBYN WINS ELECTION, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SUGGESTS (Jerusalem) — Israel has become one of Britain’s most important intelligence partners after the US, but the Israeli prime minister indicated that security relationship would be damaged under a Corbyn premiership. (Telegraph, Nov. 26, 2019)

NEW STUDY FINDS MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF DEDICATED CORBYN SUPPORTERS HOLD ANTI-SEMITIC VIEWS (London) — A new study on anti-Semitism in the U.K. found that more than two-thirds of strong supporters of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn hold at least one anti-Semitic view. It also found that far-left hatred of Jews is now more prevalent than far-right Jew-hatred in Britain, with 60% of the former believing at least one stereotype. The study, called the “Anti-Semitism Barometer,” was commissioned by YouGov at the request of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism and was released on November 30. (WIN, Dec. 2, 2019)

BELGIAN TOWN CHOOSES DISGRACEFUL ANTI-SEMITIC CARNIVAL FLOATS OVER UN CULTURAL HERITAGE STATUS(Aalst) — A town in Belgium is removing its place on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) cultural heritage list rather than getting rid of its anti-Semitic parade floats, reports Antwerp’s HLN news outlet. Aalst mayor Christoph D’Haese made the announcement just a few weeks before UNESCO was expected to vote on its removal. (WIN, Dec. 2, 2019)

GERMANY TO MAKE ANTI-SEMITISM A SPECIFIC HATE CRIME AS JEWS ‘NO LONGER FEEL SAFE‘ (Berlin) — Germany is to tighten its laws against anti-Semitic hate crimes.  Under the planned changes, crimes with an anti-Semitic motive will attract heavier sentences. The move comes after a synagogue in east Germany narrowly escaped becoming the scene of a massacre last month. Stephan Balliet, a German national who released a far-Right “manifesto” before the attack, failed in his attempts to break into the synagogue, which was packed with 51 people marking Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. He later turned his gun on bystanders, killing two people. (Daily Telegraph, Nov. 29, 2019)

HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS ‘AGHAST’ AT BERLIN PROTEST USING VICTIMS’ ASHES, ALSO: GERMAN BAD TASTE (Berlin) — An art installation that claims to contain the ashes of actual Nazi victims was erected in front of Germany’s parliament. The group responsible for this act of art, Zentrum für Politische Schönheit (Center for Political Beauty), calls itself a radical form of humanism: a storm troop to establish moral beauty, political poetry, and human greatness. They insist Germany must not only learn from history, but also act as if it has learned anything, and this display of bones and ashes, they maintain, will spark this kind of learning experience.  Survivors disagree.  According to an Associated Press report, the International Auschwitz Committee is up in arms because Holocaust survivors were “aghast” at news of the installation, which “hurts their feelings and the eternal peace of the dead of their murdered relatives.” (Jewish Press, Dec. 3, 2019)

HOLY HOTLINE: ISRAELI RABBIS SET UP 24-HOUR CALL CENTER FOR FAMILIES OF TERMINALLY ILL (Jerusalem) — The Puah Institute is launching a groundbreaking hotline that will answer urgent questions of Jewish law when families have to make life and death decisions in the hospital for their loved ones. Set to begin operations this week, the hotline will be manned 24 hours a day by a team of 30 rabbis working in shifts. They have been rigorously taught what Judaism has to say on the difficult subject of medical ethics and end-of-life issues. (WIN, Dec. 3, 2019)

THREE PEOPLE WOUNDED IN HAGUE STABBING (Netherlands) — An assailant stabbed three people – all minors – Friday night in a busy shopping district in the Netherlands, and police were searching for the suspect, authorities said. The attack came just hours after a man wearing a fake explosive vest stabbed several people in London, killing two, before he was tackled by members of the public and then fatally shot by officers. Police treated it as a terrorist attack. (Globe and Mail, Nov. 29, 2019)

U.K. KNIFE ATTACKER WHO KILLED TWO WAS A CONVICTED TERRORIST (London) — A convicted terrorist released from prison last year killed two people in a stabbing attack in the heart of London before being shot dead by police, prompting authorities to lock down a busy area on the edge of the financial district.  Authorities identified the suspect as 28-year-old Usman Khan. He had been convicted in 2012 for terrorism offenses and served time in prison for the part he played in the plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange in 2010. (WSJ, Nov. 30, 2019)

TRUMP SAYS TALIBAN PEACE TALKS TO RESUME DURING SURPRISE AFGHANISTAN VISIT (Washington) — President Trump announced the resumption of peace talks with the Taliban after making a surprise trip to Afghanistan to celebrate Thanksgiving with U.S. troops.  He didn’t say how or when they would resume. So far, the Taliban has refused to hold direct talks with Kabul. (WSJ, Nov. 28, 2019)

                                FOR FURTHER REFERENCE:

Linda Sarsour Thinks You Can’t Hear or Read:  Steven Emerson, IPT News, Dec. 3, 2019 — The first thing Linda Sarsour likes to say in her speeches is that she is unapologetic.

127 Israeli, Jewish Academics Want France to Kill ‘Anti-Zionism Is Anti-Semitism’ Resolution:  David Israel, Jewish Press, Dec. 4, 2019 — On Tuesday, the French National Assembly voted to approve a resolution equating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism.

Aggressive Policy Against Academic BDS Proposed By Expert:  Janice Arnold, CJN, Dec. 4, 2019 — A leading expert on contemporary anti-Semitism suggests combating pro-BDS academics by exposing weaknesses or flaws in their scholarly works.