Wednesday’s “News in Review” Round-Up

Contents: Weekly Quotes |  Short Takes |  On Topic Links

“My son is not very optimal. He is also very dead,” — Patricia Smith, 72, the mother of Sean Smith, one of four Americans killed in the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in response to President Barack Obama’s remarks on Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” that “If four Americans get killed, it’s not optimal.” Ms. Smith continued “It was a disrespectful thing to say, and I don't think it’s right. How can you say somebody being killed is not very optimal? I don't think the President has the right idea of the English language.” (Newsmax, October 19, 2012)

“[T]he West Bank is a part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which included both banks of the [Jordan] River.” — Prince Hassan former crown prince of Jordan to a group of Palestinians in Amman. Hassan added that: “I hope that I do not live to see the day when Jordan, or the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, relinquishes the land occupied in 1967 by the IDF.” By way of response,  Mudar Zahran, a Palestinian-Jordanian writer who resides in the UK as a political refugee, says, “The Hashemites should relinquish any dreams of sovereignty over any part of Israel; in fact they should count themselves very lucky if they manage to maintain their rule over Jordan, where many of their subjects view them as occupiers.” (Jerusalem Post, October 23, 2012)

“If in such a meeting we spoke about the independence of Quebec, would that be good or not? …This is not the place for that.” — Iraj Nadimi, the head of the Iranian delegation, in response to Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird at the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Mr. Baird told the 1,400 participants from more than 125 parliaments that Iran “foments hatred against the Jewish people and it incites genocide. Canada won’t stand still in the face of these egregious actions. It provides aid, comfort and support to terrorist organizations, and it is guilty of widespread and massive oppressions of the human rights of its own people, including the oppression of religious minorities,” Mr. Baird said. “This regime stands for everything we parliamentarians should stand against.” (The Globe and Mail, October 22, 2012)

“This is a slap in the face to America as Egypt’s President [Mohammed] Morsi pockets billions in US aid and says amen to principles that are repugnant to all Americans,” — Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Center’s associate dean, in response to the broadcast on Egypt’s Channel 1 TV of cleric Futouh Abd Al-Nabi Mansour's sermon in which he prayed: "Oh Allah, destroy the Jews and their supporters. Oh Allah, disperse them, rend them as under. Oh Allah, demonstrate Your might and greatness upon them." Thereafter, [President] Morsi is seen and heard answering "Amen." The rabbis continued,  "Morsi, the leader who just lectured the world from the UN podium about the need to safeguard religions from desecration, apparently doesn’t extend it to the Jewish people and its faith. He and his government need to hear an unequivocal warning from the US that it won't be business as usual as long as the public espousal of genocidal hate against Jews continues," (Jerusalem Post, October 22, 2012)

"We did not choose this escalation and did not initiate it." — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in response to the more than 80 rockets launched against communities in the South of Israel on Wednesday (Oct. 24)  "But if they continue we are prepared for a much wider and deeper action. In any event we will continue with our preventive actions. Anyone who attacks Israeli citizens need to know that he will pay." Shaul Mofaz, opposition leader, in denouncing Netanyahu’s government’s response, said, “The government under Prime Minister Netanyahu has been stuttering for years. They need to put Hamas in their sites. This stuttering has a price. The decisions taken against Hamas in recent years has not been decisive enough.” While Mofaz declined to offer an alternative, Shelly Yachimovich, Labour Party leader voiced her support for Netanyahu, saying, “I am behind Prime Minister Netanyahu and understand the complexity of the situation, which requires military action and maintaining restraint. (Jerusalem Post, October 24, 2012)

“The people who were on the ship also know that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and they aim only to provoke and blacken Israel’s name. If human rights were truly important to these activists, they would sail to Syria. We shall continue to defend our borders.” — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in a statement praising the Israeli Navy’s successful seizure of the Estelle, the latest ship to attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza strip. (New York Times, October 21, 2012)

“Some might ask why the Estelle wasn’t headed for Syria. The injured, dying and trapped civilians there sure could have used a morale boost from an international activist team carrying aloft a flag bearing the message: You Are Not Forgotten! But Syria is a dangerous place: No humanitarian Ark is steaming towards the Mediterranean ports of Latakia or Tarsus. Far safer to head to Israel, where Western standards of due process are observed, and where state-of-the-art hospitals are only minutes away should the 79-year-old [former Canadian MP] Mr. Jim Manley feel faint.” — Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Dr. Harold Brackman commenting on the latest attempt to run the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. (National Post, October 23, 2012)

“So let’s recap: A 79-year-old decides on his own accord to join a group that aims to benefit the interests of a terrorist organization accused of brutalizing its own people. He does this by sitting on a boat, which is stopped and taken to a port in the region’s only democratic country [Israel], where all indications are that he is treated well. His family, which didn’t talk him out of the trip and has no indication that Manly is receiving anything but civilized treatment, demands his immediate release and offers its sympathy to the terrorist-run enclave rather than the democratic state, suggesting Israel might abuse Manly, brainwash him, force him to sign false statements or otherwise brutalize him. There is no evidence to support any of this outside an apparent ill-informed bias against Israel and in favour of its enemies.  And they wonder why no one — not even from the NDP — wants to offer support? — Kelly McParland, commenting in the National Post on former NDP MP Jim Manley’s family’s demand that he be released immediately from Israeli detention after having been arrested for attempting to run the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. (National Post, October 24, 2012)

"[T]here is no circumstance under which they will fire upon on us and we will sit on our hands." — President Shimon Peres angrily denouncing the latest on-going barrage of Palestinian rockets fired at Israel. "I want to tell the residents of Gaza and their leaders, they have to decide what they want. If they decide on war, what can we do? If they decide to build, there will not be war," in an apparent reference to the emir of Qatar's announcement of $400 million in building projects for Gaza. Peres said: "Nowhere else in the world would they gather money to build and instead of buying building materials, buy explosive materials."(Jerusalem Post, October 24, 2012)

“We want this government to resign since it’s representing the Syrian regime and protecting the Iranian policy in Lebanon,” — Nohad al-Mashnouq, a leading member of the March 14 opposition movement. “It’s very obvious that the Sunnis are targeted in Lebanon. We haven’t had any Shiites condemning [recently-murdered Sunni Gen.] Wissam’s assassination; they just condemned the explosion.” (New York Times, October 20, 2012)

“We do not think Iran should be rewarded with direct talks,” — Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael B. Oren, in response to the report of possible one-on-one US-Iran negotiations taking place after the elections; “rather that sanctions and all other possible pressures on Iran must be increased.” The Israeli government fears Iran would use new talks to “advance their nuclear weapons program.” (New York Times, October 20, 2012)

“Because Shiites are dogs,” — Khaled Hawa, 19, when asked why he had traveled [to Beirut] from the northern port of Tripoli to protest against the recent assassination of the Lebanese intelligence chief Brig. General Wissam al-Hassan. “There will be war in all Lebanon, God willing, because we cannot live like this anymore,” he added. Faisal Abu Azzam, 25, who came from the southern town of Sidon said, “Only Sunnis should live in this country. The Shiites should not be here,” “If a Shiite is passing by, we are going to kill them,” added one of his friends, who identified himself as Abu Lahab, 23. “I was born to kill Shiites,” he said proudly. (Washington Post, October 22, 2012) (Top of Page)

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GAZANS FIRE 80 ROCKETS AT ISRAEL IN 24 HOURS — (Jerusalem) Palestinians fired a total of 80 rockets at rural areas of southern Israel since Tuesday night, injuring five, causing damage and sending local residents fleeing for cover.  The Iron Dome missile defense system successfully intercepted a Grad rocket over Ashkelon Wednesday afternoon, one of eight struck down since Tuesday night. IAF strikes targeting Palestinian rocket-launching squads killed four Hamas operatives, but did little to stem the flow of rockets. IDF Home Front command instructed residents living within 10 km of Gaza to remain indoors and take shelter. All schools have been closed. (Jerusalem Post, October 24, 2012)

JORDAN STOPS AN AL-QAEDA PLOT AGAINST WESTERN DIPLOMATS — (Amman)

The Jordanian General Intelligence Department has foiled a major terrorist plot which was in the planning and preliminary stages, according to the Petra news agency. The plot, by a group of  at least 11 terrorists associated with Al Qaeda, was designed to target and carry out attacks against vital targets in Jordan, including shopping centers, residential areas, diplomats and foreign nationals. The early plans of the group were to target diplomats from hotels and public areas followed by the bombing of two major shopping malls in order to draw the attention of the security services away from these selected targets, thus clearing the way for them to target their main objectives in Abdoun, in West Amman. (Jewish Press, October 21st, 2012)

FOUR KILLED AS POST-ASSASSINATION CLASHES ROCK LEBANON — (Beirut) At least four people were killed in clashes in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Monday, as violence continued to spiral following the assassination of Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, a senior intelligence official, in a car bombing that prompted violent protests across the country over the weekend. One of the fatalities in Tripoli was identified as a 9-year-old girl. At least nine more people were wounded as gunmen exchanged fire in the northern city. In the southern suburbs of Beirut, five people were wounded as gunmen and Lebanese troops engaged in a gun battle. (Ha’aretz, October 22, 2012)

EU VOTES TO DROP TRADE BLOCK ON ISRAELI MEDICINES — (Brussels)
The European Parliament voted on Tuesday by 379-240 to remove controls on the sale of Israeli pharmaceuticals within the EU, part of a wider-ranging initiative to deepen bilateral ties between the EU and Israel. It means that Israeli pharmaceuticals can be exported to any EU nation without delays and without requiring any additional certification. The agreement was originally approved by the European Council in early 2010, but its implementation was delayed as a result of protests by pro-Palestinian organisations. The decision is good news for European healthcare as well as the Israeli pharmaceutical industry. EU countries could save nearly 25 billion euros annually by using generic drugs such as those produced by Teva, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies and the largest producer of generic drugs. (Jewish Chronicle-UK, October 24, 2012)

SUNTECH REACHES 100 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR IN ISRAEL — (Tel Aviv) Chinese company Suntech, the world’s largest producer of solar panels, has now deployed over 100 megawatts of solar panels in Israel, the company announced Sunday. Suntech, which has been operating in Israel for four years, is responsible for nearly half of the solar systems installed in the country, according to company data. Among the firm’s major clients is Arava Power Company’s Ketura Sun 4.95-MW project, the first and only medium- size field to be erected in Israel. (Jerusalem Post, October 22, 2012)

PALESTINIANS WANT ISRAELI CITIZENSHIP — (Ramallah) The Palestinian Authority says it is worried because of the rise in the number of Palestinians from Jerusalem who are seeking Israeli citizenship. Hatem Abdel Kader, who is in charge of the "Jerusalem Portfolio" in the ruling Fatah faction in the West Bank, revealed that more than 10,000 Palestinians from Jerusalem have been granted Israeli citizenship. The main reason is their fear that Israel would cede control over east Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority and, moreover that they would lose all the privileges they enjoy as [permanent] residents living under Israeli sovereignty, including free health care and education, and freedom of movement and work. Lack of democracy and massive financial corruption under the Palestinian Authority also drove many Palestinian Jerusalemites to apply for Israeli citizenship as a way of ensuring that they would always remain under Israeli sovereignty.  As one Palestinian explained, "I prefer the hell of the Jews to the paradise of Hamas or Yasser Arafat." (Gatestone Institute, October 24, 2012)

KIBBUTZIM THREATENING TO LEAVE LABOR — (Tel Aviv) The kibbutz movement is threatening to cut its historical ties with the Labor Party due to the recommendation of party Chair Sheli Yachimovich that in the [pre-election Labour] primaries their sector will be unified with the moshavim sector. The kibbutz and moshav movements have historically marked two distinct philosophies within the labor movement, and nowadays, despite privatization and many other changes to both movements, they still view themselves as historically distinct…. Should the Yacimovich proposal be accepted…it will guarantee both sectors only one Knesset seat, in place of the two seats which traditionally have gone to them. According to the kibbutz movement leadership, such a move may result in their abandoning the party with which they have been strongly identified over the years.  (Jewish Press, October 22, 2012)

STUDY: NO ANTI-SEMITISM OR ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVITY AT MOST NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGES — (Washington) Ninety-seven percent of US and Canadian college campuses report no anti-Israel or anti-Semitic events, and the campus-based anti-Israel divestment effort has failed, according to a new study. The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise released the findings of its new study, “Israel and the Campus: The Real Story,” on Tuesday. Mitchell Bard, the AICE’s executive director, and Jeff Dawson, the private organization’s campus liaison, authored the report. (Times of Israel, October 23, 2012)

QATAR'S GAZA VISIT HELPS HAMAS — (Gaza City) The Emir of Qatar became the first head of state to visit the Gaza Strip while under Hamas control. The Emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani pledged $400 million in infrastructure aid for roads, a new hospital and housing for freed Palestinian prisoners. Qatar's move exploits a patronage vacuum left by Iran, which halted its aid to Hamas after the Islamist group sided with the rebels against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But some analysts worried that Sheik Hamad's largess threatened to deepen the estrangement between Palestinians in Hamas-ruled Gaza and the Fatah-ruled West Bank by empowering Hamas to ignore the long-delayed reconciliation process, and frustrating any potential rapprochement with Israel. "It gives a stamp of permanence to Palestinian secession, you have two Palestinian de facto states that refuse to talk to each other,'' said Yigal Palmor, Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman. "What does that do to the ability to negotiate peace?" (Wall Street Journal, October 23, 2012)

SECULAR EGYPTIANS PROTEST ISLAMISTS’ ROLE IN DRAFTING NEW CONSTITUTION — (Cairo) Egyptian liberal and secular groups gathered for the second consecutive Friday in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to protest what they say is the overreach of the country’s Islamists in drafting a new constitution. The groups say the 100-member Islamist dominated drafting assembly lacks the legitimacy to write the charter that will define the way Egypt is governed and represent the values of its 85 million people. “What we know is this is not the right path, so we are trying to rectify it,” said Raafat Wagdy, a physician. “The message we want to convey [to the Brotherhood] is you are not alone, and we are not just a small minority that can be ignored.” (Washington Post, October 19, 2012)

TENURED TREASON IN ISRAEL — (Jerusalem) Israel’s Minister of Education Gideon Saar formally called for the firing of Ben Gurion University’s Neve Gordon. Gordon is the tenured extremist in the Department of Politics at Ben Gurion University who this week is the keynote speaker in a conference in Canada endorsing Arab terrorism against Jews.  He is the leading voice in Israel calling for a world boycott of Israel.  He regularly denounces Israel as a Nazi-like monstrosity and as an apartheid regime.  The Department of Politics at BGU is an anti-Israel indoctrination and propaganda center which the Israeli Council on Higher Education has called to be closed down. This is the first time that an Israeli politician has openly called for the firing of an anti-Israel tenured extremist. In the Ma’ariv report, Saar is cited as mocking the claims by BGU president Rivka Carmi that she cannot legally fire Gordon.  Saar, who is a lawyer, dismisses the claim. (Israpundit, October 22, 2012)

PALESTINIAN WITH EXPLOSIVES WAS HEADING FOR JERUSALEM — (Jerusalem)

A 19-year-old Palestinian man caught with eight pipe bombs at the Kalandiya checkpoint was trying to get to Jerusalem, the IDF said Tuesday. The man, believed to be from Nablus, got off a Palestinian bus carrying a large backpack, and tried to sneak past security checks for pedestrians at the checkpoint, which separates greater Jerusalem from the West Bank. Lt.-Col. Yuval Shenkin, commander of the Military Police’s Erez Battalion which controls crossings in the area, said the incident was highly unusual. “To try to get this amount of explosives through is certainly exceptional.” Shenkin said. (Jerusalem Post, October 24, 2012) (Top of Page)

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Is Jordan The Hashemite-Occupied Palestine? : Mudar Zahran, Jerusalem Post, October 24, 2012

The Hashemites should relinquish any dreams of sovereignty over any part of Israel; in fact they should count themselves very lucky if they manage to maintain their rule over Jordan, where many of their subjects view them as occupiers.

Study: No Anti-Semitism Or Anti-Israel Activity At Most North American Colleges.pdf

The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise released the findings of its new study, “Israel and the Campus: The Real Story,” reporting that ninety-seven percent of US and Canadian college campuses report no anti-Israel or anti-Semitic events, and the campus-based anti-Israel divestment effort has failed.

Bayonets, Horses And Ships, Oh My :  J. E. Dyer, Jewish Press, October 24th, 2012

There are so many ways to criticize President Obama’s now-infamous “horses and bayonets” comment from the foreign policy debate that one hardly knows where to start.  The snarky attitude alone is worth a column.  What is Obama, a blog troll?  If he has a case to make about having a smaller Navy, he could surely have made it without being snide, specious and condescending.

Shut Up And Play Nice: How The Western World Is Limiting Free Speech : Jonathan Turley,  Washington Post, October 12, 2012

Free speech is dying in the Western world. While most people still enjoy considerable freedom of expression, this right, once a near-absolute, has become less defined and less dependable for those espousing controversial social, political or religious views. The decline of free speech has come not from any single blow but rather from thousands of paper cuts of well-intentioned exceptions designed to maintain social harmony.

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