Israel, Diaspora Jews not equal partners

I recently came across a Torah site that, I think is unlike any other.  I am profoundly impressed by the quality of the essays that HaRav Ariel Bar Tzadok has written.  In particular, I read Identifying Shiloh The Secret Soul of the Mashiah, and was stunned by the insights and quality of his writing.  His site includes a biographical essay of Rav bar Tzadok as well.  Below is a list of essays that are contained in his site:

An Unlikely Shidduch?

2010/06/13 — ravron

Israel about to criminalize BDS

June 9th, 2010
by Sydney Levy

What is Israel’s reaction to the growing nonviolent movement of boycott, divestment, and sanctions? Well criminalize it, of course!

We just learned new bill has been introduced in the Israeli Knesset by 25 Knesset members, that would criminalize all BDS activities or even BDS advocacy inside or outside Israel. You can find info about this in English here and with more detail in Hebrew here.

The proposed bill would target those that initiate, encourage, or provide assistance or information about boycotts against Israel.

Israeli citizens or residents of Israel could be sued by whoever was harmed by the boycott and would have to pay up to 30,000 shekels in restitution and an additional amount according to the harm established by the Israeli courts.
This provision would endanger the Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace, New Profile, Boycott from Within, among others.

Those that are neither citizens nor residents of Israel would lose the ability of entering Israel for at least ten years and would be forbidden from economic activity in Israel (holding an account in an Israeli bank, owning Israeli stocks, land, or any other good that requires registration.)
It is not clear whether this provision would apply also to entry into the West Bank, although Prof. Noam Chomsky’s denial of entry may be a sign of things to come.

A group in a foreign country would also be forbidden from economic activism in Israel. This would apply to the Palestinian Authority as well.
In the case of the PA, Israel would freeze transfer of money it owes and would use it to pay restitution to those harmed in Israel.

SYDNEY LEVY (San Francisco) is Jewish Voice for Peace’s Campaign Director. Together with other JVPers, he has campaigned against the use of Caterpillar bulldozers to demolish Palestinian homes and in solidarity with Christian churches deliberating whether and how to divest from companies that profit from the injustices of the Israeli occupation. Sydney is the son of Egyptian Jews who immigrated to Venezuela, where he was born. Sydney lived in Jerusalem for seven years, where he received his Masters degree in Jewish History from the Hebrew University. Read his posts here.

Why some Israeli liberals lose perspective
Posted by Isi Leibler on June 17th, 2010

It is surely ironic that simultaneously with the emergence of a broad consensus endorsing a centrist position and the marginalization of extremist left- and right-wing factions, a number of Israeli intellectuals – mainly writers and academics – are intensifying their public condemnation of their country at a global level.

I am not relating to post-Zionists or demented lunatics who hate their country, but to those with a track record of genuine Zionist endeavor, national icons like Amos Oz, one of our most gifted writers, who, one assumes, loves Israel.

There was a time when Oz would resolutely refuse to condemn Israel to the global media or when he was in a foreign country. I recollect while visiting Australia 20 years ago, his response to media questioning his attitude to the Shamir government was “I am a proud Labor Zionist and while in Israel I can passionately criticize my government. But when I travel abroad, I regard myself as an ambassador for my country and leave political differences behind me.”

This contrasts starkly to the approach Oz currently adopts. With the country isolated as never before and the entire world applying double standards and pouring venom upon us, Oz, who shares the frustration of most Israelis with the botched Gaza flotilla imbroglio, contributed an op-ed to the Guardian and The New York Times which extended far beyond the issue of the flotilla. He told Americans and British readers that “power has intoxicated us,” that we are “fixated by the concept of military force” and that we abuse this power not for reasons of self-defense but to “squash ideas and smash the problems” confronting us with brute force.

In a widely circulated US blog, his daughter, Fania Oz-Salzberger, a distinguished professor of political science at the University of Haifa and Australia’s Monash University, conveyed similar sentiments. She said, “Every true Israeli patriot ought… to apologize very humbly to the dead and injured of the ‘Free Gaza Movement’ flotilla, to the Turks, to the international community. And while we are at it, also to the innocent majority of Gazans.” Her message to the international community was “your almost unanimous condemnation is spot on. As a private citizen, I join it. As a habitual Israeli patriot, I am ashamed.”

A SIMILAR article appeared in The Guardian by David Grossman, another outstanding writer, who lost a son in the IDF during the Second Lebanon war. Last week, the German Book Trade honored him with the same “peace prize” it had awarded Amos Oz in 1992. In his column, Grossman stated, “No explanation can justify or whitewash the crime that was committed” and “there are those here who seek to spin the natural and justified sense of Israeli guilt into a strident assertion that the whole world is to blame. Our shame, however, will be harder to live with.”

What impels talented people of this caliber, who consider themselves devoted to the welfare of Israel, to contribute to such self-deprecating outbursts in the foreign media at a time when the nation is united in fending off the most vicious global defamation since its birth? Indeed, aside from Haaretz, even the habitually masochistic Israeli media have been echoing the bitterness of most who feel that notwithstanding errors or operational blunders that were committed, the country is being singled out, demonized and delegitimized in an unconscionable manner.

The call for “ending the blockade” implies that a government should sit with folded arms while the Iranians flood Hamas with missiles and other weapons. Even the principal opposition party, Kadima, is calling on the government to stand firm and maintain the blockade. Could one possibly visualize any country not blockading a neighbor which openly proclaims that its primary objective is to annihilate it, rains missiles on its civilian population and abducts a soldier, boasting that it intends to launch further kidnappings? As to “ending the occupation,” we are still reeling from the fallout from our unilateral Gaza disengagement.

In fact, despite frequently being accused of heading an extreme right-wing government, Binyamin Netanyahu has been remarkably successful in achieving a national consensus. There are no fundamental ideological differences between Likud and Kadima. The truncated Labor Party is in the government and the far-left Meretz party has been reduced to an all time low of three out of 120 elected Knesset members. The bitterly hostile remarks conveyed to the foreign media by these intellectuals thus find little resonance among the public and generate much anger.

Why then, do intellectuals and writers like Amos Oz, who love Israel and have no desire to be associated with the loony anti-Israeli extremists, express such rabid criticism against their country knowing that their words will be exploited by our fiercest enemies? THE TRUTH is that being educated or intellectually gifted does not necessarily bestow political wisdom.

For example, throughout history, in antiquity, the Middle Ages and especially in modern times, the genesis of anti-Semitic movements could usually be sourced to intellectual elites rather than originating from the grass roots.

However, the prime motivating factor encouraging liberal Israeli and Diaspora intellectuals to distance themselves from Israel is a desperate passion to be recognized as rising above the parochial interests of the tribe or the nation. Since emancipation, the constant struggle for Jews was to find a balance between particularism and nationalism. Until recently, despite considerable internal opposition, Zionism was accepted as the national liberation movement of the Jewish people. As long as Jews suffered and were perceived as underdogs, liberals had few inhibitions in supporting the Jewish state.

However, with the dramatic growth of postmodernism after the Cold War and the emergence of the New Left (which also impacted on Labor Zionism), many liberals began adopting a negative attitude toward all forms of nationalism, including Zionism. The combination of the suffering of the Palestinians, even if self-inflicted, the military power of Israel and the romance of the left with Islam, led to the Jewish state being portrayed as the global epicenter of evil. That was massively reinforced by the explosion of Jew hatred, in which “Zionist colonialism” assumed the role of a surrogate for traditional anti-Semitism.

Today, this has culminated with condemnation of Israel becoming a major prerequisite for being considered a liberal. Thus, many Jewish intellectuals, for whom liberalism was akin to a secular religion and who were desperate to remain within the “progressive” fold, consciously or unconsciously felt impelled to dissociate themselves from the “negative image” of the Jewish state, especially one led by a “right”-wing government.

Needless to say, many Israeli liberals with legitimate criticisms of their government manage to express their opposition without defaming the country in the foreign media or providing ammunition to the global enemies of Zion.

One can only express profound regret that the hubristic inclinations of some talented Israelis have encouraged them to employ their gifts to damn their own without regard to the consequences of their actions.

Isi Leibler can be contacted at: ileibler@netvision.net.il

This article was published in Jerusalem Post

It’s one thing that Michael Lerner has stolen the title of “Rabbi” (which he is not). Now the pseudo-leader of the “Jewish” far-left is “protesting” on behalf of the Flotilla terrorists who were beating Israeli soldiers! The Jerusalem Post quotes Lerner as having said:

The overwhelming majority of American Jews are saddened at the killings and wounding that took place on the high seas on May 31st, and want to make clear that this kind of behavior is not a morally acceptable or politically effective way for Israel to achieve security.

Is it morally acceptable for Arab terrorists to beat Israeli soldiers over the heads with metal rods? Is it morally acceptable for a man to pose as a rabbi and defend these animals? Furthermore, Lerner has for years been promoting himself at the expense of Israel, when those of us living here are forced to deal with the reality of Arab terrorism-while he sits back, sips lemonade and pretends to be a rabbi!

special thanks to Steven Plaut for this little ditty!

Based on the hit song “Thriller” by Michael Jackson (or – for those of you who read Tikkun magazine – Reb Michael) – original lyrics can be found here: http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/michael-jackson-lyrics/thriller-lyrics.html )

Flotilla-Flotiller lyrics

It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight that almost stops your heart
They scream and shoot, terrorists fire before you make it
You fire back at the creeps right between the eyes
So what if You’re stigmatized

‘Cause this flotilla, flotiller night
And no one’s gonna save you from the jihadists about to strike
You know flotiller, thriller night
You’re fighting for your life against a killer, flotiller tonight

‘Cause this is flotiller, thriller night
There ain’t no second chance against the thing with forty eyes, girl
flotiller, thriller night
You’re fighting for your life against the killer, flotiller tonight

They’re out to get you, there’s demons closing in on every side
They will possess you unless you fire back
Now is the time for you and I to cuddle close together, yeah
All through the night I’ll save you from the terror on the screen
I’ll make you see

That this is flotiller, thriller night
flotiller, thriller night

Imp Facts to disseminate about the Gaza Flotilla Violence
All of us on Z STREET:

It is our job to share the key messages regarding the Gaza Flotilla violence with everyone we know. Send on this info, pick a few facts and write letters to newspapers (there will be many negative articles in the days to come – correct what is incorrect, provide what is correct!)(go to the Z ST website, click on Important Contacts in left column, and click on media to get email addresses), tell friends and not-friends, keep it going. Be relentless – it’s our only hope.

Included below are the facts regarding the violence that occurred; the background leading up to it, including the expressed hope of the flotilla organizers that violence would be beneficial to their public relations and the use of children as part of their PR campaign; ithe reasons for the blockade and the provision of humanitarian goods by Israel to the Gazans despite their leaders’ continued terrorism against Israel; and the legal support for Israel’s actions. We have the essential supporting evidence, including videos, below.

Comments? Questions? Please go to WWW.ZSTREET.ORG and leave your comments so that we all can benefit from everyone’s suggestions and remarks.
#######
* Sunday night the IDF forces boarded an Islamist-controlled flotilla which was bound for Gaza in contravention of the blockade imposed because of the years-long practice of smuggling support for the Gazan terrorist activities directed at Israel.
* Israel left Gaza in hopes of peace in 2005 and in return received more than 10,000 rockets and terrorist attacks.
* The State of Israel approached the organizers of the flotilla – prior to their departure and late, while at sea – and invited them to dock at the Port of Ashdod for the sake of transferring their cargo to Gaza, subject to security inspection. The organizers refused.
* “We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence against us, they are going to have to forcefully stop us,” said one of the flotilla’s organizers.
* Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this week: “If the ships reach Gaza it is a victory; if they are intercepted, it will be a victory too.”

 * The extremists brought small children on board knowing that they intended to violate international maritime law.
* Passengers on one of the six boats initiated violent clashes.
* While boarding on of the vessels, IDF soldiers were physically attacked with live ammunition and other weapons, including knives and clubs, which had been prepared in advance. A weapon belonging to one of soldiers was snatched and, apparently, a barbarian fired on IDF forces.
* During the course of the incident, when their lives were put in danger, IDF soldiers were compelled to employ means to disperse demonstrations, including live weapons.
* The IDF action was authorized by the Security Cabinet, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense.
* There were nine casualties amongst the flotilla barbarians, and others injured. Seven Israeli naval officers were also wounded. All of the injured were evacuated to hospitals.
* Responsibility for the violence lies with the organizers and participants of the flotilla who initiated the violence.
* The entire flotilla was designed as a media stunt and political provocation by elements that are hostile to Israel, primarily the IHH – a violent, extremist group which supports terrorist organizations under the guise of humanitarian activity.
* There is no famine or humanitarian crisis in Gaza. http://picasaweb.google.com/mererhetoricblog/GazaTravelGuideShopping?fgl=true&pli=1# The area is under the control of Hamas, a terrorist organization that continues to arm itself with weapons and rockets for the purpose of attacking Israelis – as it has done in the past. Hamas continues to hold captive Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, in contravention of international law. Accordingly, Israel has the right to inspect all cargo entering Gaza.


* Israel has and continues to express its desire for peace and continues to extend its hand to all those who are willing to participate in moving forwards to true peace.



VIDEOS 

1. IDF Spokesperson video:
The Israel Navy warns flotilla that the Gaza region is closed to maritime traffic, and invites the ships to enter Ashdod port to transfer humanitarian aid.

http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=52&l=-http–www.youtube.com/watch–Q-v–E-P6jDIQr59Sk
 

2. IDF Spokesperson 2nd video taken from helicopter

http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=53&l=-http–www.youtube.com/watch–Q-v–E-bU12KW-XyZE

and one by the IDF Navy


http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=54&l=-http–www.youtube.com/watch–Q-v–E-yphfyN0dqi8–A-NR–E-1

And one of the barbarians attacking the IDF soldiers with metal pipes and fists and throwing one of the soldiers off the ship.
http://www.youtube.com/idfnadesk & http://tinyurl.com/39vxnj3. (COMM. BY GPO)

4. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs clips
http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=56&l=-http–www.youtube.com/watch–Q-v–E-5wlWcNXzstI
CLOSE-UP FOOTAGE OF MAVI MARMARA PASSENGERS ATTACKING IDF SOLDIERS http://www.youtube.com/idfnadesk & http://tinyurl.com/39vxnj3. (COMM. BY GPO)


5. Media coverage:

http://www.justjournalism.com/media-analysis/view/peace-activists-or-violent-attackers-how-the-media-narrative-on-flotilla-incident-is-shaping-up



Regarding claims of Israel violating Laws of the sea 


http://blog.camera.org/archives/2010/05/ny_times_flotilla_coverage_mis.html%20


The Gaza Flotilla and the Maritime Blockade of Gaza

Legal Background –
31 May 2010
1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea.
2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea.
3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral States.
4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the blockade.


5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by means of the accepted international professional maritime channels. Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla. Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect.
Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above.
Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area. That includes both civilian and enemy vessels.
8. A State may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade.
9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law.


10. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval blockade, Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel’s intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade.


11. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the area of the blockade.


12. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such attacks.




With thanks to our wonderful friends at
MediaCentral

Aryeh Green, Director
MediaCentral

aryeh@m-central.org

02-623-2344
054-648-234
4
8 HaRav Kook St., Jerusalem

www.m-central.org
–
Lori Lowenthal Marcus
president, Z STREET
WWW.ZSTREET.ORG
P.O. Box 182
Merion Station, PA 19072

Thursday May 27, 2010
Candidly Speaking: Bogus ‘pro peace’ organizations undermine Israel
Posted by Isi Leibler

Of late, the western media has provided inordinate prominence to Jewish fringe organizations like J Street and its European clone, JCall, which define themselves as “liberal” and “pro-peace”, but concentrate on castigating the Israeli government and undermining mainstream Diaspora pro-Israel Jewish organizations.

These bodies are primarily controlled by anti-Israeli activists, but also include many well-meaning but confused liberal fellow travelers. They also attract uninformed Jews and members of the anti-Zionist chic influenced by constant negative media depictions of Israel.

Their core message is that the Jewish establishment is alienating the bulk of the Jewish street, by blindly supporting the policies of an extremist right wing Israeli government and indulging in “McCarthyite” tactics to excommunicate anyone who dares to criticize Israeli policies.

These unrepresentative bodies receive widespread favorable exposure by a media which relishes quoting Jews beating up on Israel. Whenever Jewish writers or academics condemn Israel or castigate their own community, they are portrayed as heroic voices of conscience resisting a harsh and bigoted Jewish leadership. One only has to compare the enormous media coverage provided to the European J Call petition criticizing Israel with a counter petition by Italian MP Fiamma Nirenstein which contained many more signatories and was effectively ignored.

This was also exemplified in the US by the extraordinary media coverage extended to former New Republic editor Peter Beinart who wrote a lengthy essay titled “The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment” in the New York Review of Books, a periodical renowned for its longstanding hostility to successive Israeli governments. Beinart selectively chose extremist remarks from Israeli hawks, falsely alleged that Prime Minister Netanyahu repudiated the Oslo Accords, quoted the “renowned” Hebrew University professor Ze’ev Sternhell – a bitter post-Zionist – alleging that Israel has “fascist characteristics” and accusing the Israeli government and Jewish leadership of alienating the younger generation of liberal Jews.

There is an uncanny parallel between these “pro-peace” groups and the bogus peace councils sponsored by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, which also claimed to be the true custodians of peace and succeeded in duping many “fellow travelers” into becoming accessories in promoting the global objectives of the Evil Empire.

Today these pseudo “pro-peace” bodies seek to undermine the only liberal democratic state in the region and divert attention from the reprehensible behavior and denial of human rights practiced by Israel’s enemies.

In the battle of the war of ideas in which electronic media images of the suffering of the underdog blur moral considerations of right and wrong and disregard the source of conflicts, these groups distort the case for Israel and undermine the Zionist narrative.

They call on the global community to pressure the government of Israel to make further unilateral concessions. They insist that the core of the problem rests with the settlements, an issue which does divide Israelis. However, the suggestion that peace and goodwill would be achieved if Israel unilaterally withdrew from territories across the green line is absolute nonsense and detracts from the real obstacle to peace which is the absence of a genuine Palestinian peace partner and the ongoing Arab obsession with bringing an end to Jewish sovereignty.

The “pro peace” groups ignore the fact that Netanyahu has steered the government to a genuine centrist position and achieved a broad consensus that aside from the major settlement blocs, Israelis would compromise on territories in return for genuine peace and security. That sentiment prevails despite the awareness that until now territorial concessions have only yielded further terror and aggression.

The repeated wails by the “pro peace” groups that they encounter McCarthyism and are denied the opportunity to express themselves are specious and particularly hypocritical coming from those who unhesitatingly slander and seek to intimidate their critics. There has always been vigorous dissent amongst Jews on all political issues. But it was during the formative years of the state when the social-democratic Mapai ruled the roost, that a consensus prevailed that Diaspora Jews, who do not face the life and death consequences arising from decisions relating to Israel’s defense, were morally obliged to allow the people of Israel through their democratically elected government to determine such issues.

Today, that concept is regarded with contempt by the “pro peace” elements, who claim to have a better appreciation of what is in the best interests of Israel than Israelis themselves. Indeed, these self appointed formulators of Israel policy articulate views that are sometimes more extreme than those of Meretz, the most far Left political party in the Knesset, holding only 3 out of 120 Knesset seats.

Of late, it is increasingly alleged that the new generation of younger Jews is turning against Israel. This is highly misleading. Obviously the passion for Israel amongst Jews of this generation is less intense than those who witnessed the Shoa and the struggle to create a Jewish State. However, it was always only 25 to 30% who comprised the activist element within Jewish communities and were at the forefront of Zionist and pro-Israel activity. Assimilated or less involved Jews were understandably less involved and somewhat apathetic, only becoming galvanized during periods of acute crisis such as the Six-Day War.

With some modifications, this remains true today. Jewish youngsters actively involved in Jewish life remain overwhelmingly supportive of Israel. Those ignorant or indifferent to Judaism are more susceptible to the impact of hostile influences surrounding them, especially on the university campuses, and many recoil from involvement with Israel.

However, the dramatic response by the activist American Jewish community to the negative attitude displayed against Israel by the Obama administration was astonishing. Despite the fact that 78% of them supported him, at a grassroots level many committed Democratic Jewish supporters have displayed anger and frustration against the administration for having reneged on Obama’s electoral undertakings concerning Israel.

However, one should not underestimate the potential for damage that small numbers of determined Jewish anti-Israel activists can inflict. The message that they seek to impart is that Israel is controlled by extremist right-wing bigots and that it is incompatible for liberals to support such a regime. They compound this by directly or implicitly giving credence to canards accusing supporters of Israel of dual loyalties as well as allegations that Israel is endangering American lives. In fact, there are already disturbing signals that today the traditional bipartisan support towards Israel is eroding and that Democrats are far less committed to Israel than the Republicans.

Needless to say, this requires urgent attention. Both the government and the Jewish Agency should map out a strategy which takes account of the enormous damage these groups can inflict if they are not marginalized. One of the most effective means would be for the government to sponsor a global solidarity meeting with Jewish leaders, intellectuals and key activists to demonstrate that the vast majority of committed Jews remain fully dedicated to supporting the Jewish State. Israel must be able to rely on the ongoing support of world Jewry.

Friends:

This is an issue of great concern, and one about which we cannot stick our heads in the sand for fear of offending anyone or appearing to be racist or any other “-ist” or “-phobe.”

Please pass on this email and tell everyone you know what is happening. The disingenuous claims by the Imam and his supporters that this is an effort to promote interfaith harmony is itself an insult. If interfaith harmony was sought, Muslims would never choose to put a mosque near the site where Jihadis, in the name of Islam, murdered thousands of innocents and shattered our sense of security forever.

There are those of us who are taking on this issue as a major cause. Even if we are not successful, at least we are willing to stand up for Western civilization. Are you?

What can you do? There will be a rally at Ground Zero at noon on June 6th, but that is just the beginning. This rally is being spearheaded by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer of SOIA, and Z STREET is a major supporter of this cause.. At the moment we have joined the legal team, but there is MUCH to do. In particular, we need the word to be spread and an outcry to be raised. Will you join us? For more information go to Our website will also provide continuing information on what is happening and how you can help. Folks, the plans for this one hundred fifty million dollar, 13 story mosque are proceeding quickly. CASH was paid for the property. More than a million dollars in CASH! Shouldn’t that raise eyebrows?

Please let us know your thoughts and whether you will join this effort. This is an outrage, an insult, a clear provocation and is devastating to all who lost family, friends and faith in the security of our nation.

Jewish World Review May 14, 2010 / 1 Sivan

Do we deserve a mosque at Ground Zero?

By Diana West

The second attack on the World Trade Center is coming. It will stand 13 stories high, cost $100 million dollars and include a mosque. Known as Cordoba House — the name echoing an early caliphate that, of course, subjugated non-Muslims — it will be located two blocks away from where our magnificent towers crashed and burned, easy wafting distance for the Islamic call to prayer.

How demoralizing is that? Let’s step back for some historical perspective. With the U.S. military preparing its assault on the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, there’s a not-too-wild comparison to be made between the mind-blowing reality of New York City approving a mosque at Ground Zero and the unthinkable notion of Honolulu authorities, with GIs massing for the ultimately unnecessary invasion of Japan, approving Shinto shrine construction adjacent to Pearl Harbor.

Both are equally outrageous. But there is a key difference. During World War II, the militaristic cult of Shintoism, the state religion of Imperial Japan, was always understood to be enemy ideology. In our irresponsibly long war, we have never, ever acknowledged that Islam, with its supremacist cult of jihad, is the enemy threat doctrine. And that’s not because I say so. It’s because the enemy says so, 24-7, and so do his mainstream, unimpeachable Islamic legal and religious sources.

But we plug our ears, drowning out our better judgment with counsel from apologists for Islam, flimflam men who, like carnival hawkers, are adept at misdirecting attention away from the Islamic doctrinal motivations behind what is a global jihad, waged both openly (violently) and more subtly, to advance the influence of Sharia in the world. Indeed, we become apologists and flimflam men, too. Or maybe we just don’t care. “If it’s legal, the building owners have a right to do what they want,” said a spokesman for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. If it’s “legal”? What if it mocks the dead?

Maybe we deserve such a mosque at Ground Zero. It will serve as the perfect monument to post-9/11 America, a shining reproach to a nation that long ago capitulated through loss, or worse, absence of will. Not that it will be widely seen that way. Aside from the torment and seething of survivors, both family and professional family of the 9/11 dead, aside from blog noise and tabloid venting, the phony narrative of Cordoba House as a kind of healing outreach center — pure deception — appears ready for chiseling into stone. And that’s not because Cordoba’s flimflamming Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf obfuscates everything negative about Islam (jihad, for instance), and promotes everything antithetical to Western liberty (Sharia), often with jarring Western references. (“To Muslim ears,” he writes, “Sharia law means … the conditions necessary for what Americans call the pursuit of happiness.”) That is, it’s not only the efforts of Imam Rauf that are the problem. It’s because nearly nine years after 9/11, we are still stupid enough to buy them.

Why? Why do we take it, with Rauf, for example, at his Cordoba Initiative website, still pushing the propaganda that jihad only and merely “boils down to the need for peaceful struggle for self-betterment — the war we wage against the vices within ourselves.” Please. Surely, nine years after 9/11, we know there exists “greater” jihad, the personal struggle against Islamic vice, which means nothing to non-Muslims. But we’re also onto (or should be) the other jihad, the one that took down the towers. Sometimes known as “lesser” jihad, it’s the first definition of jihad in the authoritative Sharia book, “Reliance of the Traveler”: “Jihad means to war against non-Muslims,” it says, adding that jihad is also a “communal obligation” in one form (fighting) or another (support). Defining jihad as a clean-living effort is an insult to everyone’s intelligence.

Or is it? The land is bought — with $4.85 million in unaccounted for cash — and the project is a go. Short of colossal public outcry leading to an administrative miracle, Cordoba House will join the Manhattan skyline, a multiculti vision of togetherness.

Of course, that’s the flimflam story. But if Ground Zero, a focal point of Dar al-Harb (House of War) since 9/11, is reconstructed with a “world class” Islamic center, the transformation to Dar al-Islam (House of Islam) becomes symbolically clear.

And that’s no way to treat our 9/11 dead.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0510/west051410.php3

Lori Lowenthal Marcus
president and co-founder, Z STREET
WWW.ZSTREET.ORG
P.O. Box 182
Merion Station, PA 19066