MEDIA-OCRITY OF THE WEEK: “MIKE PENCE, HOLY TERROR”: “There are problems with impeaching Donald Trump. A big one is the holy terror waiting in the wings. That would be Mike Pence, who mirrors the boss more than you realize. He’s also self-infatuated. Also a bigot. Also a liar. Also cruel. To that brimming potpourri he adds two ingredients that Trump doesn’t genuinely possess: the conviction that he’s on a mission from God and a determination to mold the entire nation in the shape of his own faith, a regressive, repressive version of Christianity. Trade Trump for Pence and you go from kleptocracy to theocracy. That’s the takeaway from a forthcoming book by the journalists Michael D’Antonio, who previously wrote “The Truth About Trump,” and Peter Eisner. It’s titled “The Shadow President: The Truth About Mike Pence,” it will be published on Aug. 28 and it’s the most thorough examination of the vice president’s background to date…I asked D’Antonio the nagging, obvious question: Is America worse off with Trump or Pence? “I have to say that I prefer Donald Trump, because I think that Trump is more obvious in his intent,” he said, while Pence tends to “disguise his agenda.” D’Antonio then pointed out that if Pence assumed the presidency in the second half of Trump’s first term, he’d be eligible to run in 2020 and 2024 and potentially occupy the White House for up to 10 years. Heaven help us.” — Frank Bruni. (New York Times, July 28, 2018)
Contents: | Weekly Quotes | Short Takes | On Topic Links
The Secret Reason Arabs Reject the Jewish Nation-State Law: Bassam Tawil, Gatestone Institute, July 31, 2018
How Popular Is Iran in Lebanon?: Prof. Hillel Frisch, BESA, August 1, 2018
Child Brides in Turkey: Burak Bekdil, Gatestone Institute, July 30, 2018
How Quiet Islamization Threatens Secular States: by Abigail R. Esman, IPT News, August 1, 2018
WEEKLY QUOTES
“With current America and these policies, there will definitely not be the possibility of dialogue and engagement, and the United States has shown that it is totally unreliable…I think there are no conditions for such a discussion at all.” — Bahram Qassemi, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman. President Donald Trump said he would meet with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani with “no preconditions” as soon as the Iranian leader agreed to do so. But hours before Trump spoke, Iran said that talks with the United States would be impossible under what it called the Trump administration’s hostile policies, seeming to close the door on any chance of a dialogue. (New York Times, July 30, 2018)
“Ankara should no longer be thought of as a Western ally. Under Erdogğan, Turkey increasingly acts like the Islamic Republic of Iran and similar anti-Western regimes. Perhaps it should be treated accordingly.” — Sohrab Ahmari. Andrew Brunson is “no longer trapped in a Turkish dungeon,” after serving two years on trumped-up terrorism charges, notes Ahmari in Commentary. But the U.S. pastor is still not free, having been transferred to house arrest. Brunson, who spent 23 years preaching the gospel in Turkey, was charged with “membership in an armed terrorism organization,” for which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says there is “no credible evidence.” (New York Post, July 29, 2018)
“No group of countries is more generous with their words than the Palestinians’ Arab neighbors, and other OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) member states…But all of the words spoken here in New York do not feed, clothe, or educate a single Palestinian child. All they do is get the international community riled up.” — US amb. to the UN Nikki Haley. Haley delivered a speech to the Security Council questioning the commitment of Arab states to securing progress for the Palestinians. “Where are the Arab countries when it comes to encouraging reconciliation between Palestinian factions, which is essential to peace?” she asked. “Where are the Arab countries when it comes to denouncing Hamas terrorism? Where are the Arab countries when it comes to supporting compromises that are necessary for peace?” Claiming that the “Palestinian leadership has been allowed to live in a false reality for too long because Arab leaders are afraid to tell them the truth,” Haley asserted that the “United States is telling them the truth because we care about the Palestinian people…It is time for the regional states in particular to step up and really help the Palestinian people, instead of just making speeches thousands of miles away.” (Algemeiner, July 24, 2018)
“America, Israel, and our other allies are engaged in a fight against radical Islamic terrorist organizations, from Hamas and Hezbollah to Al Qaeda and ISIS, who cynically use human shields against us…Unfortunately, organizations like the United Nations incentivize this barbaric tactic by blaming civilized countries, who do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, for whatever civilian casualties that do occur. The United States should hold accountable the monsters who commit these war crimes. This bill will impose consequences on those who enable and facilitate the use of human shields.” — Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas). A group of eight senators introduced the bipartisan STOP Using Human Shields Act into Congress. The bill would: Direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to…secure support for a UN Security Council resolution that would condemn the use of human shields as a violation of international law; impose multilateral sanctions against terrorist organizations for utilizing such tactics; and…Impose sanctions on each foreign person that is a member of a foreign terrorist organization…(Clarion Project, July 26, 2018)
“Israel, which has been in a state of war with Syria for years, has rescued thousands of Syrians under the leadership of the IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who authorized their most recent transfer to Jordan as an incredible humanitarian gesture…The IDF leads humanitarian gestures daily – from providing medical care, infrastructure and civilian aid to Syrians in need, to establishing a state-of-the-art field hospital in Nepal, to transferring trucks of humanitarian aid to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing…However…the international media is so often focused on reporting about what they perceive Israel as doing wrong that when the IDF leads critical humanitarian efforts, they often go unreported, as positive reports about Israel doesn’t match their narrative.” — Dr. John A.I Grossman. The result, Grossman said, is an international media in which “humanitarian” and “Israel” in the same headline is an unfortunate rarity. As the IDF led efforts to evacuate 422 Syrians to Jordan at the Syrian-Israeli border, the anti-Israel bias of international news outlets reared its ugly head, with various news organizations completely leaving Israel out of their headlines about the humanitarian effort. (Breaking Israel News, July 29, 2018)
“Being anti-Israel is not in itself objectionable. But I’m not talking about ordinary criticism of Israel. I’m speaking of a hatred that permits itself no boundaries in the lies and myths it pours out. Thus, Israel is repeatedly referred to as a “Nazi” state. In what sense is this true, even as a metaphor? Where are the Israeli concentration camps? The einzatsgruppen? The SS? The Nuremberg Laws? The Final Solution? None of these things nor anything remotely resembling them exists in Israel, precisely because the Jews, more than anyone on earth, understand what Nazism stood for. It is claimed that there has been an Israeli Holocaust in Gaza (or elsewhere). Where? When? No honest historian would treat that claim with anything but the contempt it deserves. But calling Jews Nazis and saying they have committed a Holocaust is as basic a way to subvert historical fact as anything I can think of. Likewise apartheid. For apartheid to exist, there would have to be a situation that closely resembled how things were in South Africa under the apartheid regime. Unfortunately for those who believe this, a weekend in any part of Israel would be enough to show how ridiculous the claim is.” — Dr. Denis MacEoin, a non-Jewish Scottish professor, in a letter to his students who had voted to boycott Israel. (United With Israel, July 24, 2018)
SHORT TAKES
ISRAEL HALTS SYRIA AID OPERATION (Damascus) — Israel has reportedly halted its humanitarian operations for Syrians fleeing civil war and is said to be seeking Russian assurances that President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces do not harm or massacre civilians as they move to complete their recapture of the besieged south of the country, adjacent to Israel’s border. The decision marks the first time the Israeli border will be fully closed to Syrians seeking lifesaving services and medical care since Operation Good Neighbor was initiated nearly five years ago. (I24, July 31, 2018)
IDF ON THE HUNT FOR GAZA SNIPER WHO SHOT TWO SOLDIERS (Gaza) — The IDF believes that the same sniper shot two of its soldiers in separate incidents this month on the border with the Gaza Strip. Walla quoted IDF officials as saying that the assumption is that a highly-skilled shooter both killed Staff Sergeant Aviv Levi on July 20 and critically wounded another officer five days later under cover of the ongoing riots on the Israel-Gaza border. In the second case, a group of children was used to draw the IDF into the line of fire. (Algemeiner, July 30, 2018)
WESTERN CYCLISTS KILLED IN SUSPECTED TERRORIST ATTACK IN TAJIKISTAN (Dushanbe) — Four American and European cyclists have been killed by a car in Tajikistan in what authorities said could be a terrorist attack. Two cyclists from the United States and one each from Switzerland and the Netherlands were killed in the incident in the Danghara district. The men in the car then attacked the survivors with knives and guns, the interior ministry said. Three bikers from Switzerland, the Netherlands and France suffered injuries including stab wounds. (Telegraph, July 30, 2018)
HAMAS TERRORISTS KILLED IN CLASHES NEAR KISSUFIM (Gaza) — At least four terrorists were killed in the clashes, according to a report, with IDF tanks and artillery firing at Al Bureijj. The IDF attacks came in response to Hamas sniper fire aimed at Israeli forces operating along the security fence on the southern Gaza border. The Eshkol Regional Council has issued a statement saying that explosions were heard in the area, and there has been some movement of security forces due to a military incident near the security fence along the Gaza border. (Jewish Press, July 25, 2018)
SOLDIER-SLAPPER AHED TAMIMI, MOTHER RELEASED FROM PRISON (Tel Aviv) — Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi left prison after serving an eight-month sentence for slapping and shoving IDF soldiers outside her home in the West Bank village of Nebi Saleh late last year. Tamimi, 17, and her mother, who was also jailed over the incident, were being driven by Israeli authorities from a prison inside Israel to a checkpoint at Tulkarem leading to the West Bank. Troops on Saturday detained two Italian artists who had painted a large mural of Ahed Tamimi on Israel’s West Bank security barrier, according to local activist Munther Amireh and amateur video posted online. (Times of Israel, July 29, 2018)
FAMILY OF PALESTINIAN WHO KILLED ISRAELI EXPECTED TO RECEIVE GRANT, MONTHLY SALARY (Jerusalem) — A Palestinian terrorist who murdered a 31-year-old Israeli man near Jerusalem last week has been designated as a “martyr” by the PA, suggesting that his family will be financially rewarded for the attack. Muhammad Tareq Dar Yusuf, 17, killed Yotam Ovadia — a father of two — after sneaking into the West Bank community of Adam. Under PA policy, the families of Palestinians who die as “martyrs” — a designation largely given to those killed while attacking Israeli targets — are entitled to a one-time payment of 6,000 shekels (about $1,600), as well as monthly salaries starting at 1,400 shekels (about $380). (Algemeiner, July 30, 2018)
CUPW ALIGN WITH PALESTINIAN UNION (Toronto) — A labour union representing 50,000 Canada Post employees has aligned itself with a Palestinian counterpart that supports terrorism and the elimination of Israel, B’nai Brith Canada has learned. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said it “has a joint project with the (Palestinian Postal Service Workers Union) designed to strengthen the Palestinian postal union and build greater solidarity between our two unions.” On Facebook, the PPSWU has twice glorified Palestinian terrorist Ahmad Jarrar, hailing him as a “hero of my country.” Jarrar was a member of Hamas who murdered Israeli Rabbi Raziel Shevach on January 9. (B’nai Brith, July 31, 2018)
BILL WOULD FURTHER RESTRICT US FUNDING OF UNRWA (Washington) — New legislation introduced in Congress this week would ensure US funds contributed to the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA go toward the resettlement of Palestinians displaced by the war of 1948, and not their descendants – who now number 5.3 million people. The UNRWA Reform and Refugee Support Act (H.R. 6451) is “long-overdue, common-sense legislation,” Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado, the sponsor or the bill, said in a statement. In January, the Trump administration announced it would withhold $65 million in UNRWA funding “for future consideration.” (Algemeiner, July 24, 2018)
IRAN’S CURRENCY IN FREE FALL AS SANCTIONS LOOM (Tehran) — Iran’s currency plunged to another record low, dropping past 100,000 rials to the U.S. dollar as Iranians brace for Aug. 7 when the United States is due to reimpose sanctions. In May the United States pulled out of a 2015 deal between world powers and Tehran under which international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. Washington decided to reimpose sanctions on Iran upon its withdrawal. The rial has lost about half of its value since April because of a weak economy, financial difficulties at local banks and heavy demand for dollars among Iranians who fear the effects of sanctions. (Globe & Mail, July 29, 2018)
EGYPT SEEKS 75 DEATH SENTENCES OVER 2013 SIT-IN (Cairo) — An Egyptian court said it would transfer the cases of 75 people convicted of security-related offences, including senior Muslim Brotherhood figures, to Egypt’s top religious authority to decide whether they should be sentenced to death. They are among more than 700 people accused or convicted of illegal protest or murder over a 2013 sit-in that ended in the deaths of hundreds of Brotherhood supporters and dozens of police when security forces broke it up violently. Those convicted face potential sentences ranging up to life in prison and execution. (Reuters, July 28, 2018)
IMRAN KHAN DECLARES VICTORY IN PAKISTAN ELECTIONS (Islamabad) — Pakistan’s cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan declared victory for his party in the country’s general elections, promising a “new” Pakistan following a vote that was marred by allegations of fraud and militant violence. Khan aspires to be the country’s next prime minister. Khan’s message of a “new” Pakistan resonated with young voters in a country where 64 percent of its 200 million people are below the age of 30, according to a United Nations report. (New York Post, July 26, 2018)
JEREMY CORBYN HOSTED EVENT LIKENING ISRAEL TO NAZIS (London) — British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has apologized for hosting a 2010 event in Parliament on Holocaust Memorial Day where speakers compared Israel’s treatment of Gaza Palestinians to the Nazis’ treatment of Jews. Corbyn for many months has been fighting accusations of harboring antisemitic sentiments, and his party has come under intense scrutiny in the media over antisemitic rhetoric by party members. The talk was titled “Never Again — for Anyone,” part of a UK tour called Never Again for Anyone — Auschwitz to Gaza. The main speaker was Hajo Meyer, a Jewish survivor of Auschwitz who became a passionate anti-Zionist and repeatedly made the comparison between the Nazis and Israeli policy. (JTA, Aug. 1, 2018)
ROBINSON FREED FROM PRISON (London) — The founder of the English Defence League, “Tommy Robinson”, has had his conviction for contempt of court quashed as the Court of Appeal orders a new trial. The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was released from prison on bail after three judges ruled that he was jailed earlier this year following a series of procedural “flaws”. Robinson, 35, had been convicted of contempt in May after broadcasting on Facebook a 1.5 hour video from outside Leeds Crown Court about a case which has a blanket reporting restriction imposed for legal reasons. His footage was watched by 250,000 people when it went live. (Telegraph, Aug. 1, 2018)
NETFLIX NIXES PLAN TO AIR FARRAKHAN DOCUMENTARY (New York) — The online streaming giant Netflix said it would not air a documentary that celebrates the life of Nation of Islam leader and antisemite Louis Farrakhan. An initial plan to release the film was promoted by Farrakhan on Monday. Following outrage from Jewish groups, a Netflix spokesperson later said the initial announcement was due to “an internal miscommunication.” Farrakhan has a decades-long history of antisemitic statements. He resurfaced earlier this year with a particularly violent rant delivered on May 27, in which he blamed Jews for everything from gay marriage to controlling former President Barack Obama, referring to the “Satanic Jew and the Synagogue of Satan.” (Algemeiner, July 31, 2018)
KUWAIT AIRLINES SUED FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ISRAELIS (New York) — Mandy Blumenthal asked to buy a return ticket from Heathrow to Bangkok at the Kuwait Airways counter at Heathrow Airport in November 2017. Having confirmed availability, the airline refused to sell the ticket when she presented her Israeli passport. The incident was filmed, according to the website of UK Lawyers for Israel. Mandy has now commenced a legal claim against Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) for discrimination on grounds of nationality in the provision of a service to the public, contrary to s.29 of the Equality Act 2010. (Jewish Press, Aug. 1, 2018)
FACEBOOK ACQUIRES ISRAELI MESSAGING PLATFORM REDKIX FOR $100M (Tel Aviv) — The Israeli startup RedKix, which developed a collaboration platform that combines email, messaging and calendar features, announced it was acquired by Facebook. In an online post, Redkix said it will join Facebook’s Workplace team, the company’s enterprise version and its answer to the popular collaboration service Slack. The details of the transaction were not disclosed but the Israeli press reported that the deal was valued at some $100 million. Redkix was founded in 2014 and it has offices in Tel Aviv and in San Mateo, California. (Nocamels, July 26, 2018)
ISRAEL BOOSTS FUNDING FOR ULTRA-ORTHODOX TECH ENTREPRENEURS (Tel Aviv) — Israel’s Innovation Authority said it was expanding its support for ultra-Orthodox tech entrepreneurs, to make it easier for them to access funding and integrate into Israel’s booming tech scene. Under the revised terms of a program that has been in force since 2014, technology enterprises at least 33 percent-owned by ultra-Orthodox entrepreneurs will be eligible for funding for two years: 75% of their R&D expenses for the first year and 70% for the second. The original program only provided funding for one year. (Times of Israel, July 31, 2018)
SURVEY SHOWS ISRAELI JEWS SUPPORTING NATIONALITY LAW (Tel Aviv) — The new Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, enacted July 19 by a majority of 62 to 55 with 2 abstaining, is at the focal point of the July Peace Index survey, with 600 respondents who constitute a representative national sample of the adult population of Israel. In the Jewish public, 52% think there was a need for the law, 40% believe the opposite. Among those defining themselves as right-wing, 69% saw the law as necessary at this point. 36%, of those defining themselves as centrist and 11% among left-wingers saw it that way. A segmentation by religiosity shows 72% of “religious traditional” see a need for the law, religious – 71.5%, Haredim – 66%, non-religious traditional – 63%, secular – 33%. 84% of the Arab public thinks there was no need to legislate the Nationality Law. (Jewish Press, July 31, 2018)
MODEL WHO PLANNED BDS ‘VISIT TO PALESTINE’ TOLD SHE CAN’T ENTER ISRAEL (Tel Aviv) — A South African model who pledged to “re-educate” herself with a visit to the Palestinian territories after she faced death threats for defending Israel said she has been barred from entering the country. Shashi Naidoo — who first announced that she would go on a “fact-finding visit to Palestine” during a press conference organized by the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign in South Africa — said she attended a meeting at the Israeli Embassy and learned that she would be “declined access” to the country. Naidoo received a torrent of online abuse and lost multiple sponsorship deals in June after she rejected accusations that Israel was an “Apartheid state.” (Algemeiner, July 24, 2018)
The Secret Reason Arabs Reject the Jewish Nation-State Law: Bassam Tawil, Gatestone Institute, July 31, 2018 —The hypocrisy of the leaders of the Arab citizens of Israel, who are now crying foul over the new Jewish Nation-State Law, has, in the past few days, reached new heights.
How Popular Is Iran in Lebanon?: Prof. Hillel Frisch, BESA, August 1, 2018—Iran’s hard power in Lebanon is substantial. It has the Hezbollah militia at its disposal – the most powerful military force in the state – and probably the Lebanese army as well.
Child Brides in Turkey: Burak Bekdil, Gatestone Institute, July 30, 2018—Where would you like your daughter to be when she is 13? In school, or in bed with a grown man? The answer to this question is largely beyond argument in much of the world.
How Quiet Islamization Threatens Secular States: by Abigail R. Esman, IPT News, August 1, 2018—While all eyes have focused on the obvious – Islamist violence in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, in Pakistan and the Congo, and in Muslim communities of Western European cities – radical Islam has been quietly tightening its grip in formerly-secular Muslim regions such as Malaysia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Maldives.
