View Full Version : Arab Like Me
A thought provoking article from National Review. It does not speak to Islam vs Judaism, but instead Arab vs Isreali.
NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE www.nationalreview.com PRINT
Arab like Me
By Lee Habeeb
February 15, 2012 4:00 A.M. There are two kinds of Arabs in this world. Those who hate Jews, and those who don’t. And in my life, I have met more of the former than the latter.
I am not proud to say that. Arabs will not like me for admitting it. But it is true. And it is something I wish the Obama administration understood. It is something Americans should know as the “Arab Spring” enters its second year.
I didn’t know much about any of this as a Lebanese kid growing up in New Jersey. But I found out about it when I wrote my first pro-Israel column for my college paper as a young student journalist.
I defended Israel on some point I’ve long forgotten, but what I’ll never forget is the backlash I received from fellow Arabs. Some were Americans, others were students from Arab countries, many of whom I counted as friends.
First came the letters to the editor, then the personal insults. It was as if I’d broken a secret code I didn’t know existed. Some secret blood oath, which goes something like this: Arabs don’t speak unkindly of Arabs in public, or kindly about Israel.
The backlash stunned me. I pondered the pounding I had taken, and floundered a bit. I even thought for a short time of writing something negative about Israel the next time I had a chance, just to balance things out and reestablish my Arab bona fides.
One friend accused me of being a self-hating Arab. He explained to me that I was exploiting my ancestry to ingratiate myself with white America and the Jews who controlled white America.
I explained to him that I was white. And that I was an American. And that I didn’t believe that Jews controlled America. The Jewish men I knew had a hard enough time controlling their own families! But nothing I said helped relieve the tension, not even my stab at humor.
I also explained that many of my Jewish friends did not like my column. Most were liberals from New York or northern New Jersey who assumed I was with them on the politics of the Middle East, that I was in agreement with the governing thesis that drives most Arabs and liberal Jews: that it is Israel that is the problem in the region, not the Palestinians, and not the Arab world itself.
I also explained to him that I was mostly Lebanese, but also part German and part Italian, and that I was raised by parents who didn’t much care for the whole notion of hyphenated America. They taught me to think for myself, and have the courage to challenge authority. Even theirs, if I could make the case.
The fact is, Arabs don’t all look alike or think alike. But we are often pushed into a kind of groupthink, a kind of self-censorship that hinders our development and our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
We are not a universal group. But some of us believe in a simple universal truth: that every Arab deserves to live in freedom, wherever he or she might call home. Some of us want Arab countries to be more like America and Israel, places where the individual can flourish.
Say those words to many Arabs and they are shocked and angered. Soon, words like imperialist are thrown about, and the subject turns to Israel. Always, it seems, it turns to Israel.
Why the anger when I hint that America and Israel might have something to teach the Arab world? I thought about it for the longest time, and only recently stumbled upon the answer.
It is all about Arab self-doubt. It is all tied to a profound lack of cultural self-confidence, and a deep-seated fear that maybe, just maybe, Arabs won’t be very good at the self-governance thing. That Arab nations won’t be capable of building democratic cultures that engender the flourishing of human freedom, and that these nations won’t have the ability to tap the God-given talents of their people the way Americans and Israelis do.
That maybe, just maybe, the Arab world will never measure up to America or Israel.
Better, goes the logic, to cling to anger over the plight of the Palestinians. Better to cling to international policy disputes and to a deep-seated hatred of Israel. Better to play the role of victim, and the role of self-righteous critic, than to do the hard work of lifting up the conditions of your people.
An Arab American friend of mine who works for a large NGO is a case in point. He is Jordanian, he’s well educated, and he speaks five languages. But mention the word Israel, and watch his blood boil immediately. He will go into a lengthy diatribe about the injustices perpetrated against the Palestinians by Israel. When Prime Minister Netanyahu’s name is mentioned, I worry that he will have a seizure on the spot.
Why is this? Why is all of his passion, all of his anger and rage, directed at this one country, this one people?
Why is it not directed at Syria, I ask him? By all accounts, the Syrian government orchestrated the assassination of one of the Arab world’s great men of peace, former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri. And President Assad continues to terrorize his own people.
Why not at Hezbollah, which orchestrated the takeover of Lebanon?
Why not at Hosni Mubarak when he was in power? Or Saddam Hussein?
Why not at the ways in which Islam degrades women in the Middle East, trapping them in a life of servitude?
Why not at the ways some Muslims are persecuting Christians throughout the Middle East, as reports pour in about atrocities upon atrocities?
Why not a critique of the Koran itself, which regrettably finds little separation between mosque and state, thus relegating the majority of Arabs to life under theocratic regimes?
Two reasons: fear, and envy.
To the dismay of Arabs around the world, Jewish people turned an ancient piece of real estate in the Middle East into a thriving oasis of intellectual, political, religious, and commercial activity, where people are free to do as they please. One of the oldest places on earth — a place where Abraham walked — Israel is as thoroughly modern as any place on earth, with a functioning government that respects religious and economic freedom.
A young person in Israel can choose to work in some of the best high-tech companies in the world, or can pursue a life dedicated to Talmudic studies. A woman has an equal right to pursue any career she likes, and people of different sexual orientations are not driven underground — or worse.
The fact is, the God-given talents of the people of Israel are allowed to flourish in ways Arabs should want to emulate, and replicate.
This smart, dynamic Jordanian friend instead focuses on border disputes and the acts of the Israeli government. He performs Houdini-like intellectual twists to dodge my questions, which are always gentle, but cut right through to his very clear — and almost programmed — bigotry.
I ask him why he is obsessed with the 1967 border dispute, and not some other border grudge, as it would not take long to find other countries unhappy with the ways in which territories were allocated as spoils of various 19th- and 20th-century wars.
I tell him that using his logic, Mexican terrorists should be blowing themselves up in Houston and El Paso. And they should have his unwavering support to compel America to return Texas to its rightful, original owner.
I now ask Arabs who show such a knee-jerk reaction to Israel a simple question, one that cuts to the heart of all this nonsense: Why do you hate Jews?
They first get angry, but then quickly point out that they have no beef with Jews. It’s Israel they hate.
To which I reply, “If Israel had been handed over to Bolivians or Albanians or Estonians, would you still hate it?”
It is a none-too-subtle question, but it makes the point: Despising Israel the way Israel is despised in much of the Arab world is all about anti-Semitism. And most anti-Semitism anywhere in the world has its origins in envy.
Benjamin Netanyahu once gave a speech in which he pointed at a map of the Middle East. He rattled off many of the countries in the region, and the relative size of those nations to Israel. Jordan is four times the size of Israel, Iraq 20, Egypt 46; Saudi Arabia is nearly 90 times the size of Israel.
“Big countries,” he said. “But small accomplishments.”
He then went on to describe Israel, which is just slightly bigger than one of America’s smallest states, New Jersey.
“Little country,” he concluded. “But big accomplishments.”
And there you have it, in one perfectly formulated binary.Today, Arabs are at a crossroads. The “Arab Spring” is an opportunity like none the region has ever seen. The people who live there are no more or less capable than the people of Israel or the United States.
But it is up to them to build functioning democracies, and a culture that breeds and rewards hard work and success. It is up to Arabs themselves to take advantage of their newfound freedom, and unleash the productive capacities of their people.
Countries aren’t built on spite and hate, but on love, trust, shared sacrifice, and hard work. Maybe, just maybe, Arabs in the Middle East will be so busy working, yearning, and striving to make their own lives better that they will have little time left to burnish old grievances.
Maybe, over time, Arabs will build governments worthy of their people, as Israel and America have done.
Maybe, Arabs will come to see Jews not as their enemies, but as their neighbors, and as their trading partners.
And maybe, just maybe, as their friends.
Here is one Arab praying that will happen.
— Lee Habeeb is the vice president of content at Salem Radio Network, which syndicates Bill Bennett, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Michael Medved, and Hugh Hewitt. He lives in Oxford, Miss., with his wife, Valerie, and daughter Reagan.
Badger52
02-15-2012, 14:02
Thanks for posting that. Pretty good piece of penmanship.
wmaousley
02-16-2012, 05:27
Well we all know that if it were not for the USA, Israel wouldn't have accomplished a damn thing, right or wrong?
We dont send AID to the GCC countries but send 3 Billion in aid annually to Israel.
If you need US aid money you havent accomplished shit. Bottom Line
If you need US aid money you havent accomplished shit. Bottom Line
Does that include money from the IMF?
Egypt seems to enjoy it's $1 + Billion dollars in direct aid each year. I know they're not a GCC country but are you sure we don't give anything to the GCC countries?
A few other countries that "haven't accomplished shit"
"It's all your money: Foreign Aid to Muslim/Arab Nations"
"...While America's standing in the Middle East couldn't get much lower, you wouldn't know it looking at the U.S. foreign aid budget. Of proposed U.S. assistance for 2012, almost two-thirds is earmarked for Muslim nations and one-third goes to Arab countries.
Yet, despite those billions in aid, opinion polls show most Arab citizens still have an unfavorable view of America and most Muslim nations routinely vote against U.S. interests in the United Nations.............."
Read more: http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/05/24/its-all-your-money-foreign-aid-muslimarab-nations#ixzz1mXpXwQWS
The story has a link to a .pdf of all aid for 2010.
It would appear that just Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank get almost as much as Israel.
wmaousley
You are becoming known as a person who pulls the pin on a grenade, rolls in into a thread and takes off never to come back and answer questions posed to you.
You want to make a statement you need to start backing them up.
Barbarian
02-16-2012, 07:19
wmaousley's entire post
That is a very narrow and incomplete view point. As Pete pointed out, there are a great many countries in the ME that receive US aid. Israel is one of the few working to help better itself and is showing any success at it.
craigepo
02-16-2012, 08:14
Good read.
wmaousley---your logic and conclusions are faulty. This happens when you allow a personal opinion to cloud your thought process. If you don't like Israel or Jewish people, then be man enough to come out and say it. Don't hide behind ignorant, pejorative babble.
Well we all know that if it were not for the USA, Israel wouldn't have accomplished a damn thing, right or wrong?
We dont send AID to the GCC countries but send 3 Billion in aid annually to Israel.
If you need US aid money you havent accomplished shit. Bottom Line
Let me ask you a question, but first some FACTS to consider before you answer.
1) Yes the US sends plenty of money to Israel in aid every year (2010 combined economic and military aid was around 2.8B and ranked #3 on the countries given the most. Afghanistan was 1st and Pakistan was 2nd)
2) Egypt is ranked #5 with 1.8B (Iraq is #4)
3) The US provided over 19B in aid to countries in the Middle East, excluding Israel, in 2010
Now the question:
How is it that the Israelis are able to have turned a piece of desert into the 24th largest economy in the world with a GDP growth of 4.7% last year,yet the Palestinian people are still living in camps? Would it have something to do with Arafat taking all of the money given in aid and keeping it for himself while his "people" starve, and live in intolerable conditions? Care to comment on the amount of money that was suppose to go to the Palestinan people that Arafat's wife ran off with when he died?
Or could it have something to do with the fact that fellow Muslims don't give a rats ass about the Palestinian people, unless it is to poke a stick in the eye of Israel? Do you really think OBL and AQ care about them, or were they just a convenient addition to their list of grievances? Why have the other Muslim nations in the Middle East not stepped up to help their fellow Muslims? I suggest you do a little research into why Jordan stopped accepting Palestinian "refugees".
There is plenty of blame to go around in the ongoing Israeli - Palestinian issue. But the Palestinian people will NEVER amount to anything until they decide to stop playing the victim and actually do something to improve their standard of living.
How much would you like to bet that if the US cut off all aid to the entire Middle East, Israel would still find a way to survive?
How is it that the Israelis are able to have turned a piece of desert into the 24th largest economy in the world with a GDP growth of 4.7% last year,yet the Palestinian people are still living in camps?
Israel, India, and Turkey are all democracies unlike most of their neighbors.
wmaousley
02-20-2012, 00:39
SRY I have delayed posting, I was out on business.
Israel has the 41st largest economy not 24th like one of you suggested, which means Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE & Iran have a better economy.
We all know Israel would not have anything without the backing of the US, and the US's Allies (Notice I said US's Allies). I dont have a problem with Judaism or its followers, as a matter of fact I have had a ton of Jewish friends all my life as well as Arab friends.
I just dislike the way we bow down and play mommy to Israel when she has a problem and come to the rescue and I am tired of hearing about the protection of israel comming up in our election campaigns.
So lets re-read my post and notice I stated GCC not Middle Eastern Countries, I am well aware that the US sends aid to most arab countries, but no GCC country takes aid from any country as they're economy is self sustaining and sufficient.
Egypt is an arab country but located in Africa not the Middle East.
In closing, I am not bashing Israel, just highlighting the ops wrong remarks about how wonderful Israel is, and that its really not.
wmaousley
02-20-2012, 00:45
How much would you like to bet that if the US cut off all aid to the entire Middle East, Israel would still find a way to survive?
Well IMO stopping aid means they wouldnt back them. They wouldnt survive, if the US stopped backing Israel, the ME would over run Israel in an all out war.
I dont have a problem with Judaism or its followers, as a matter of fact I have had a ton of Jewish friends all my life as well as Arab friends.MOO, your comments in this thread and elsewhere reflect your views about Israel and Jews more accurately than your boiler-plate denial.
.......So lets re-read my post and notice I stated GCC not Middle Eastern Countries, I am well aware that the US sends aid to most arab countries, but no GCC country takes aid from any country as they're economy is self sustaining and sufficient.
Egypt is an arab country but located in Africa not the Middle East.
In closing, I am not bashing Israel, just highlighting the ops wrong remarks about how wonderful Israel is, and that its really not.
This is an interesting chart to put up against your statement.
It looks like Israel with no oil is right behind three oil producing countries while Egypt - well, not even close.
GDP per Capita - Egypt Compared to Continent
http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Middle-East/Egypt/gdp-per-capita
DevilSide
02-20-2012, 05:35
Well IMO stopping aid means they wouldnt back them. They wouldnt survive, if the US stopped backing Israel, the ME would over run Israel in an all out war.
The ME tried that once already, didn't go so well for them, and I don't see that changing.
Also, Israel was the 24th largest economy in 2010.
mark46th
02-20-2012, 09:15
The U.S. is a personal ATM for the rulers in the Middle East. Of all the countries in the Middle East, Israel probably uses most of the money for its intended purpose. The money that goes to other Middle East countries ends up in Switzerland...
Well IMO stopping aid means they wouldnt back them. They wouldnt survive, if the US stopped backing Israel, the ME would over run Israel in an all out war.
You know, I remember that surrounding countires like Iraq, Syria, Jordan/Trans-Jordan, and Egypt tried to do just that. In 1948. An 1967. And 1973.
What happened again?
Yes, I'm sure it was all the evil American support that allowed the incompetent and cowardly Israelis to vanquish the valiant and skilled combined armies of four nations that collectively outnumbered them by a landslide, with similar equipment.
Those countires haven't tried again because it became (painfully) apparent that they weren't going to get rid of Israel by force, and that trying resulted in embarrasing losses of both territory and prestige.
Have you been to Israel? How about surrounding countries? You quote the size of the economy...how about per capita? 31000. Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan are 6500, 4800, 3300, and 5400. Why the disparity? Surrounding countries have trillions of dollars in natural resources and many more times the population, but are much poorer than Israel, which has dust and olive trees. Why did one surpass the other in terms of relative wealth? US aid??
When the British and French mandates in the middle east were being carved up into nations, the UN declared that the area in Palestine that Jews inhabited would be a seperate country, and the area inhabited by arabs would be another. The border would be gerrymandered, and no one would take any property from anyone else. The Jews said, Sure, sounds fair. The arabs said DEATH TO THE JEWS! and enlisted the aid of surrounding countries to come in and evict/kill the jews.
They lost. The arabs fled to Syria, Lebanon, and Trans-Jordan. If those countries gave a shit about the Palestinian Arabs, they would have let them naturalize and absorb into their new countries. They didn't, they stuck them in camps where they remain to this day, so they could be used as a whipping post by other nations.
And I suppose you want the Israelis to negotiate a peaceful return of the Palestinians, right? Like the withdrawl from Gaza? They forcibly uprooted their own citizens and evicted them, and handed the the territory back to the Palestinians free and clear. They were rocketed from that same ground the very next day.
That horrible, evil, wall that rings the entire country....was a response to young palestinians blowing up school buses and cafes. New wall, no more suicide bombs. Neat, huh? Do you want Israel to stop bombing southern Lebanon, Gaza, the west bank? Here is a novel idea, stop launching rockets at them.
Wife is dragging me off the soapbox. More later.
wmaousley
02-21-2012, 01:23
You know, I remember that surrounding countires like Iraq, Syria, Jordan/Trans-Jordan, and Egypt tried to do just that. In 1948. An 1967. And 1973.
What happened again?
Yes, I'm sure it was all the evil American support that allowed the incompetent and cowardly Israelis to vanquish the valiant and skilled combined armies of four nations that collectively outnumbered them by a landslide, with similar equipment.
Those countires haven't tried again because it became (painfully) apparent that they weren't going to get rid of Israel by force, and that trying resulted in embarrasing losses of both territory and prestige. I think its safe to assume that it hasnt happened again because of the aid from the US started flowing in the direction of the said countries.
Have you been to Israel? No I have not, and for one reason; If i have been known to visit Israel, the GCC will not allow me into their countries.How about surrounding countries? Been to all accept lebanon, Israel. You quote the size of the economy...how about per capita? 31000. Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan are 6500, 4800, 3300, and 5400. Per capita isnt how GDP is calculated by the IMF. Why the disparity? Well nothing is equal on any scale. Surrounding countries have trillions of dollars in natural resources and many more times the population, but are much poorer than Israel, which has dust and olive trees. Why did one surpass the other in terms of relative wealth? US aid?? US Aid, foriegneconomic policy geared toward Israeli exports into the US and other countries etc;
When the British and French mandates in the middle east were being carved up into nations, the UN declared that the area in Palestine that Jews inhabited would be a seperate country, and the area inhabited by arabs would be another. The border would be gerrymandered, and no one would take any property from anyone else. The Jews said, Sure, sounds fair. The arabs said DEATH TO THE JEWS! and enlisted the aid of surrounding countries to come in and evict/kill the jews. I could could care less about the Palestenians. They sold all their land to the Israelis and now want it back.
They lost. The arabs fled to Syria, Lebanon, and Trans-Jordan. If those countries gave a shit about the Palestinian Arabs They never will especially after what they did during the Gulf War, they would have let them naturalize and absorb into their new countries. They didn't, they stuck them in camps where they remain to this day, so they could be used as a whipping post by other nations.
And I suppose you want the Israelis to negotiate a peaceful return of the Palestinians, right? Like the withdrawl from Gaza? They forcibly uprooted their own citizens and evicted them, and handed the the territory back to the Palestinians free and clear. They were rocketed from that same ground the very next day. Like I said above, I could care less about the Palestenians and Israelis. Hell they deserve one another
That horrible, evil, wall that rings the entire country....was a response to young palestinians blowing up school buses and cafes. New wall, no more suicide bombs. Neat, huh? Do you want Israel to stop bombing southern Lebanon, Gaza, the west bank? Here is a novel idea, stop launching rockets at them.
Again not a concern for me
Wife is dragging me off the soapbox. More later.
I am just sick of the US cleaning up the immature israeli governments messes at our expense. You guys may accept that shit but I dont.
Having said that I was elated last week when I saw Leon Penetta disagreeing with Israeli Intel about Iran having the capabilities to produce weapons grade isotopes.
Guys, I respect what most of you do and have done for our country, but if I were a newbie to this forum and read this thread I would think you all had Israeli passports.
Just saying
Entire post.Okay. But when are you going to explain how, were it not for the Jews running America, Jack Palance wouldn't have accidentally given the Academy Award for best supporting actress to Marisa Tomei?:rolleyes:
.....Israeli passports.
I have an Israeli passport.
The aid that Israel receives from the US is VERY important to Israel. The primary benefactor of this aid is the military for defense. In addition, the largest governmental budget is the military/defense budget, more than education, more than health, more than infrastructure etc. WE DID NOT CHOOSE THIS
Whilst it is safe, and mostly accurate to state that without the US aid, Israel would be in "trouble", i think it would be more accurate to state that without US aid, the Israeli defense apparatus would need to restructure.
The economy, industry etc., is built from hard working citizens, Jew and Arab and not from US aid.
Below is a short list, as of 2004 of Israel's achievement, you will see that most are not defense related. As to the accuracy, if you doubt, research it yourself.
1. The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.
2. Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel.
3. The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel. Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor were entirely designed, developed, and produced in Israel.
4. The Pentium microprocessor in your computer was most likely made in Israel.
5. Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
6. Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.
7. The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.
8. According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry's most impenetrable flight security. US officials now look to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.
9. Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.
10. Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.
11. Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
12. Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin — 109 per 10,000 people — as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.
13. In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the second largest number of startup companies after the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).
14. With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration hi-tech companies in the world — apart from the Silicon Valley, US.
15. Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.
16. After the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.
17. Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.
18. On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech startups.
19.
Twenty-four percent of Israel's workforce hold university degrees — ranking it third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland — and 12% hold advanced degrees.
20. Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.
21.
In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews at risk in Ethiopia to safety in Israel.
22.
When Golda Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world's second elected female leader in modern times.
23.
When the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day — and saved three victims from the rubble.
24. Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship — and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 — in the world.
25. Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.
26. Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as "conflict free."
27. Israel has the world's second highest per capita rate of publishing new books.
28. Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.
29. Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.
30. In the field of medicine, Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.
31. An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in US hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment
mistakes.
32. Israel's Givun Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, the camera
helps doctors diagnose cancer and digestive disorders.
33. Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with heart failure. The new device is synchronized with the heart's mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.
34. Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the US, over 70 in Japan, and fewer than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions, Israel places first in this category as well.
35. A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the ClearLight device, produces a high-intensity, ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self-destruct — all without damaging surroundings skin or tissue.
36. An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully functional electricity generating plant (in southern California's Mojave desert).
ERETZ-ISRAEL [(Hebrew) - the Land of Israel, Palestine] was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.
After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom.
Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses. Pioneers, ma'pilim [(Hebrew) - immigrants coming to Eretz-Israel in defiance of restrictive legislation] and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and towns, and created a thriving community controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the blessings of progress to all the country's inhabitants, and aspiring towards independent nationhood.
In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own country.
This right was recognized in the Balfour Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917, and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular, gave international sanction to the historic connection between the Jewish people and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Jewish people to rebuild its National Home.
The catastrophe which recently befell the Jewish people - the massacre of millions of Jews in Europe - was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewish State, which would open the gates of the homeland wide to every Jew and confer upon the Jewish people the status of a fully privileged member of the comity of nations.
Survivors of the Nazi holocaust in Europe, as well as Jews from other parts of the world, continued to migrate to Eretz-Israel, undaunted by difficulties, restrictions and dangers, and never ceased to assert their right to a life of dignity, freedom and honest toil in their national homeland.
In the Second World War, the Jewish community of this country contributed its full share to the struggle of the freedom- and peace-loving nations against the forces of Nazi wickedness and, by the blood of its soldiers and its war effort, gained the right to be reckoned among the peoples who founded the United Nations.
On the 29th November, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish State in Eretz-Israel; the General Assembly required the inhabitants of Eretz-Israel to take such steps as were necessary on their part for the implementation of that resolution. This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable.
This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State.
ACCORDINGLY WE, MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNCIL, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ERETZ-ISRAEL AND OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, ARE HERE ASSEMBLED ON THE DAY OF THE TERMINATION OF THE BRITISH MANDATE OVER ERETZ-ISRAEL AND, BY VIRTUE OF OUR NATURAL AND HISTORIC RIGHT AND ON THE STRENGTH OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HEREBY DECLARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JEWISH STATE IN ERETZ-ISRAEL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
WE DECLARE that, with effect from the moment of the termination of the Mandate being tonight, the eve of Sabbath, the 6th Iyar, 5708 (15th May, 1948), until the establishment of the elected, regular authorities of the State in accordance with the Constitution which shall be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than the 1st October 1948, the People's Council shall act as a Provisional Council of State, and its executive organ, the People's Administration, shall be the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, to be called "Israel".
THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
THE STATE OF ISRAEL is prepared to cooperate with the agencies and representatives of the United Nations in implementing the resolution of the General Assembly of the 29th November, 1947, and will take steps to bring about the economic union of the whole of Eretz-Israel.
WE APPEAL to the United Nations to assist the Jewish people in the building-up of its State and to receive the State of Israel into the comity of nations.
WE APPEAL - in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions.
WE EXTEND our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East.
WE APPEAL to the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz-Israel in the tasks of immigration and upbuilding and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realization of the age-old dream - the redemption of Israel.
PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE "ROCK OF ISRAEL", WE AFFIX OUR SIGNATURES TO THIS PROCLAMATION AT THIS SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE, ON THE SOIL OF THE HOMELAND, IN THE CITY OF TEL-AVIV, ON THIS SABBATH EVE, THE 5TH DAY OF IYAR, 5708 (14TH MAY,1948).
David Ben-Gurion
Precis of the Hamas Charter for comparison..:
The Hamas charter is the document which sets out the movement’s ideology as it was formulated and honed by its founders. It includes its radical Islamic world view conceived by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt), which has basically not changed in the 18 years of its existence.
With regard to Israel, the charter’s stance is uncompromising. It views the “problem of Palestine” as a religious-political Muslim issue, and the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation as a conflict between Islam and the “infidel” Jews. “Palestine” is presented as sacred Islamic land and it is strictly forbidden to give up an inch of it because no one (including Arab-Muslim rulers) has the authority to do so. With regard to international relations, the charter manifests an extremist worldview which is as anti-Western as Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations.
That worldview brings in its wake the refusal to recognize the State of Israel’s right to exist as an independent, sovereign nation, the waging of a ceaseless jihad (holy war) against it and total opposition to any agreement or arrangement that would recognize its right to exist. At the beginning of the charter there is a quotation attributed to Hassan Al-Bana, that “Israel will arise and continue to exist until Islam wipes it out, as it wiped out what went before.
MOO, your comments in this thread and elsewhere reflect your views about Israel and Jews more accurately than your boiler-plate denial.
I think in many respects, the comment above reflects an outright prejudicial opinion, much more so than one justifying opinion through association. What is exampled here is retort, in which any criticism, reference, or any passing remark about Israel, Israelis relations, or Jews is suspect as anti-Semitic. The implied anti-Semitism label employed as it in the quote above, silence’s reasonable debate, by attacking and marginalizing anyone who posits an open and honest discussion of what is in our National best interest with regard to Israel.
FWIW - I disagree and think Sigaba's comment is a valid assesment of what a reasonable person might infer from following wmaousley's postings since he's been a member of this BB.
Richard :munchin
That may be true, it may not; my intent was to broaden the discussion. Sigaba comment was constructed to be accusatory with the intend of limiting discussion about Israels influence in American domestic and international political affairs.
I follow an Isreal blog 972 Mag.com Here is an interesting perspective with regard to our current election cycle.
http://972mag.com/american-domestic-issues-social-security-housing-and-israel/35089/
Occasionally, in a comments section where the hand of the censor is light, you do see an upsurge of the “to hell with Israel” sentiment, people calling for government that puts our own country first and stops pandering to a foreign state. But almost never is this heard from the leadership, except from Ron Paul, and the rest of the punditry dismisses his position with derision. Why is this so?
.
Adelson himself makes his Israel-first position clearly known. Gingrich (whom Adelson has now given up on) stated clearly that he got Adelson’s support over the Israel issue. But the media reports usually omit or minimize this factor.
.
It’s interesting to contrast the treatment given to the two Jewish billionaires – Adelson and Soros. Because Soros is not an Israel-firster, he is demonized, particularly in the Zionist media, where I have seen him compared to Hitler. Only Jews, and Zionist Jews, could get away with smearing a Jew as Soros has been smeared. The US conservative media in general don’t mention Soros’s Jewishness.
.
Likewise, the fact that Adelson is Jewish, is in fact as he calls himself “the world’s richest Jew” is not emphasized. “Casino magnate,” yes. “Jew,” not. Nothing is more relevant to Adelson’s current political activity than his Jewishness, but it goes largely unspoken. The hounds have thoroughly cowed the media into believing that any reference to Jewishness is going to bring on accusations of anti-semitism. The current campaign against “Israel-firster” is part of this.
I think you are misinterpreting the purpose of the comment Sigaba made, and that it is up to wmaousley to defend himself and his stated opinions - or not.
As far as American and Israeli Jewish relationships go, this address by Ambassador Oren is an interesting read and gives some insight into how complex the issue is for us all on so many levels.
Israel & American Jewry: What Can We Expect From One Another
http://www.israelemb.org/index.php/en/the-embassy/ambassador/333-ambassador-orens-remarks-at-the-jewish-federations-of-north-americas-general-assembly
Richard :munchin
It’s interesting to contrast the treatment given to the two Jewish billionaires – Adelson and Soros. Because Soros is not an Israel-firster, he is demonized, particularly in the Zionist media, where I have seen him compared to Hitler. Only Jews, and Zionist Jews, could get away with smearing a Jew as Soros has been smeared. The US conservative media in general don’t mention Soros’s Jewishness.
.
Likewise, the fact that Adelson is Jewish, is in fact as he calls himself “the world’s richest Jew” is not emphasized. “Casino magnate,” yes. “Jew,” not. Nothing is more relevant to Adelson’s current political activity than his Jewishness, but it goes largely unspoken. The hounds have thoroughly cowed the media into believing that any reference to Jewishness is going to bring on accusations of anti-semitism. The current campaign against “Israel-firster” is part of this.
MOO: To Adelson and Soros, "Jewish" is just an identity, a convenient face they put on when in benefits them, hence the anti-Semitic charges when anyone calls them out. IMHO: If anything, both(Soros especially), represent more of a threat to Jews and Judaism, with the funding they provide to various ideological and "warm and fuzzy" groups whose messages and goals contravene Jewish law (attempts to ban circumcision, ritual slaughter etc), than Iran does at the moment. One of the reasons as to why they rarely get called out in conservative media, Jewish media especially, is because of the millions they donate to various Jewish schools and institutions. As far as the Zionists are concerned, if you aren't with them, you are against them...
My jaded Jewish .002...
Badger52
02-21-2012, 11:10
The US conservative media in general don’t mention Soros’s Jewishness..Clearly you recognize that media recognizes the import/distraction/tempest that derives from the anti-semitic label, correctly applied or not. It's like someone asking, "so when did you stop beating your wife?"
I'm curious why would conservative media - absent anti-semite leanings or not - even need to mention Soros' "Jewishness" when what is informing them is his massive support to efforts with goals viewed as counter to what America stands for? His "Jewishness" matters not at all and is the last thing they need as motivation to take him to task for anything.
I think in many respects, the comment above reflects an outright prejudicial opinion, much more so than one justifying opinion through association. What is exampled here is retort, in which any criticism, reference, or any passing remark about Israel, Israelis relations, or Jews is suspect as anti-Semitic. The implied anti-Semitism label employed as it in the quote above, silence’s reasonable debate, by attacking and marginalizing anyone who posits an open and honest discussion of what is in our National best interest with regard to Israel.Penn--
I was referring to a comment offered in this thread <<LINK (http://professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=433978)>>, specifically the following remark. Lets take a look at something kept quiet by our government, because of the overwhelming [amount] of Jewish influence in our government.This comment does not merely suggest that there's a pro-Israeli lobby. Instead, it insinuates that a Jewish conspiracy here in America undermines freedom of the press. The fact that the member in question has not provided any evidence of this conspiracy, coupled with his subsequent posts in this thread (for example post #18 (http://professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=435862#post435862)), indicate that he is not really interested in honest debate about America's relationship with Israel but instead wants to bash Jews.
Clearly you recognize that media recognizes the import/distraction/tempest that derives from the anti-semitic label, correctly applied or not. It's like someone asking, "so when did you stop beating your wife?"
I'm curious why would conservative media - absent anti-semite leanings or not - even need to mention Soros' "Jewishness" when what is informing them is his massive support to efforts with goals viewed as counter to what America stands for? His "Jewishness" matters not at all and is the last thing they need as motivation to take him to task for anything.
Badger52,
You raise a very valid point. MOO: Overall, I agree, it is a useless distraction, however, they should be taken taken to task for their "Jewishness" when they attempt to twist Jewish law in favor of the positions they support, which they do from time to time. A fine example is Soros and his views on gun control, which along with (Rabbi) Eric Joffe, he attempts to reconcile with Jewish law. If anything, the opposite is true: In Deuteronomy, G-D exhorts the people to "Live by them[the laws]", the Sages extrapolate that one's own life trumps Jewish law in all but three cases(the three cardinal sins). The use of deadly force in protection of ones own life is not only permitted, but mandated by Jewish law. When you have a moment, look for Rabbi David Bendory's video on gun control and Jewish law.
The article connects the cultural thread between the Israeli and American Jewish community, pointing out the symbiotic relationship “united not only at the hip but, more viscerally, at the heart”. Clearly, the speech’s intention was to unite the audience of American Jews to Israeli interest. The article also states that the Birthright of Israeli citizenship is for any Jew, regardless of place of birth. This is a pragmatic means of enlisting undying loyalty in Israel’s historical fight to survive as a nation.
But, Israel ruling elite use of this tribal allegiance to defend every political move, implicate Israel impact is to the detriment of American people and a manipulation of our national interest.
To state that Israel and American have similar political structure and origins, is correct. We are two Nation that can claim their origins in genocide. But, that’s not my point, that’s just a minor correction and a historical observation.
In addition, it isn’t about Soros, or any other person for that matter. It is simply this attacking propaganda policy/method, which curtails an investigation into the truth of why American Foreign policy towards Israel is not open to discussion.
In comments posted by an Israeli in the blog 926mag is any evidence, one could conclude that this statement is prideful, if not outright boosting of the influence exerted on American National interest worldwide. The post I am referencing: ARISTEIDES in the link I provided earlier.
“The hounds have thoroughly cowed the media into believing that any reference to Jewishness is going to bring on accusations of anti-semitism”.
The article connects the cultural thread between the Israeli and American Jewish community, pointing out the symbiotic relationship “united not only at the hip but, more viscerally, at the heart”. Clearly, the speech’s intention was to unite the audience of American Jews to Israeli interest. The article also states that the Birthright of Israeli citizenship is for any Jew, regardless of place of birth. This is a pragmatic means of enlisting undying loyalty in Israel’s historical fight to survive as a nation.
But, Israel ruling elite use of this tribal allegiance to defend every political move, implicate Israel impact is to the detriment of American people and a manipulation of our national interest.
To state that Israel and American have similar political structure and origins, is correct. We are two Nation that can claim their origins in genocide. But, that’s not my point, that’s just a minor correction and a historical observation.
In addition, it isn’t about Soros, or any other person for that matter. It is simply this attacking propaganda policy/method, which curtails an investigation into the truth of why American Foreign policy towards Israel is not open to discussion.
In comments posted by an Israeli in the blog 926mag is any evidence, one could conclude that this statement is prideful, if not outright boosting of the influence exerted on American National interest worldwide. The post I am referencing: ARISTEIDES in the link I provided earlier.
Agreed. IMHO: Some of our policy towards Israel could use critical analysis, however, in policy and politics, there will always be a (well-paid) lobbyist somewhere crying foul in the interest of those who fund him/her. Some cries, like anti semitism, are almost always louder than others, whether the wolf is there or not. In the words of a venerable member of this forum: And so it goes...
GratefulCitizen
02-21-2012, 17:30
In the words of a venerable member of this forum: And so it goes...
Venerable?
Wow. I didn't know he was that old.
:D ;)
Venerable?
Wow. I didn't know he was that old.
:D ;)
venerable[1]:
a : calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments
[1]http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/venerable
Fine, age too :p :D
FWIW I just finished "Forged in Fury" by Michael Elkins a book dealing with the Holocaust and Jewish Vengeance. Initially there is so much horrific detail of the evils inflicted upon the Jews during the war, it is hard to believe this isn't embellished, then without skipping a beat Elkins goes right into the brutal vengeance taken by Holocaust survivors since the war, not shirking from describing their acts of revenge in stark detail. (For example a stifled post war 1945 plot to poison a city of one million Germans, not Nazis, but Germans in payback.) If anything an insight into the hardening of those who survived and their mindset "Jews can only depend on Jews" Frankly, the Arabs despite their superior numbers had no idea of the buzz saw they were attacking. Brutalized survivors with superior leadership, fighting for their lives are a formidable foe. This was years ago, but it does give you some insight into what the Jews who settled Israel experienced, the culture they passed down, and why they do what they do, the Israelis are their own worst enemy.
As an American, Israel is far from a perfect ally, and they share responsibility for the troubles of the region, however they are the most stable democracy in the region, and frankly history indicates they fight better than the Arabs. Our interests are going to be aligned with theirs more often then their neighbors. Until such point and time as Israel's neighbors modernize and adopt democracy, why should America's bias change in the least?
"Maybe, over time, Arabs will build governments worthy of their people, as Israel and America have done."
They've done that.
FWIW I just finished "Forged in Fury" by Michael Elkins a book dealing with the Holocaust and Jewish Vengeance. Initially there is so much horrific detail of the evils inflicted upon the Jews during the war, it is hard to believe this isn't embellished, then without skipping a beat Elkins goes right into the brutal vengeance taken by Holocaust survivors since the war, not shirking from describing their acts of revenge in stark detail. (For example a stifled post war 1945 plot to poison a city of one million Germans, not Nazis, but Germans in payback.) If anything an insight into the hardening of those who survived and their mindset "Jews can only depend on Jews" Frankly, the Arabs despite their superior numbers had no idea of the buzz saw they were attacking. Brutalized survivors with superior leadership, fighting for their lives are a formidable foe. This was years ago, but it does give you some insight into what the Jews who settled Israel experienced, the culture they passed down, and why they do what they do, the Israelis are their own worst enemy.
As an American, Israel is far from a perfect ally, and they share responsibility for the troubles of the region, however they are the most stable democracy in the region, and frankly history indicates they fight better than the Arabs. Our interests are going to be aligned with theirs more often then their neighbors. Until such point and time as Israel's neighbors modernize and adopt democracy, why should America's bias change in the least?
Thanks akv, I got another title to read on my long list of "things to read eventually" :) FWIW I agree, while I am not aware of any vengeance outside of summary executions of SS camp staff*, rumor has it that the words "Never Again" in Hebrew and English are welded on to the first nuclear warhead Israel created. So, while the "You can't trust nobody" attitude hasn't made them many friends, its also the fading of that attitude that gets them into trouble, again. Kind of like the lobster in boiling water, you can't get too comfortable.
*I had relatives on both sides during the war, lost 7 great great aunts in Auschwitz, and my grandfather along with his brothers served in various capacities in the US Army, Marines and OSS. Considering the stories that grandfather related, I guess my interest of that time period was a bit heavy on the US and allied campaigns...
Badger52
02-22-2012, 09:17
Badger52,
You raise a very valid point. MOO: Overall, I agree, it is a useless distraction, however, they should be taken taken to task for their "Jewishness" when they attempt to twist Jewish law in favor of the positions they support, which they do from time to time. A fine example is Soros and his views on gun control, which along with (Rabbi) Eric Joffe, he attempts to reconcile with Jewish law. If anything, the opposite is true: In Deuteronomy, G-D exhorts the people to "Live by them[the laws]", the Sages extrapolate that one's own life trumps Jewish law in all but three cases(the three cardinal sins). The use of deadly force in protection of ones own life is not only permitted, but mandated by Jewish law. When you have a moment, look for Rabbi David Bendory's video on gun control and Jewish law.Good points you mention, thanks. I'll look for the vid. The view you cite (correct imo) is also completely in line with R-C catechism on the subject of the duty to defend one's life, life being precious and Divinely bestowed and the would-be taker of same just gets what they deserve. I'm of neither faith; had to research quite a bit of this as we attempt to take WI backwards into pre-1897 in certain areas. You & I are trackin. Soros isn't the first to pervert dicta to his own desire for some collective end, that results in people realizing too late that they should've owned a "get on the train" gun and known how to use it.
The media seem to have no problem citing the corruption of so-called "peaceful" doctrine by a few "radicalized" ones when speaking of Islam, but I don't think they have the stones to touch the 3rd rail you suggest of addressing how someone like Soros (or anyone so motivated) would corrupt established Judaic writings.
Badger52,
The video that I mentioned can be found here: http://blip.tv/play/AYH7zBEC
Badger52
02-24-2012, 07:29
Badger52,
The video that I mentioned can be found here: http://blip.tv/play/AYH7zBECThanks; will catch it at home (dang filter).