[Elder of Ziyon] 6/19 Links Part 2: De Niro likes tough Israel, Praise for U21 Tournament and The Arabs of Israel

From Ian:

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Khaled Abu Toameh: The Arabs of Israel

The Arab citizens of Israel are not fighting for political rights, which they already enjoy -- otherwise, there would not be so many Arab political parties, or Arab Members of Parliament in the Knesset. Rather, they are fighting for better services and equality. They want more jobs in the public and private sectors and equal distribution of public funds.
Any attempt to politicize the case of the Arab Israelis will only cause damage to Arab citizens, most of whom remain loyal to Israel.
The sharp rise in the number of Arab volunteers for national service is an encouraging development that shows many Arab citizens have lost faith in their representatives, particularly those who are trying to incite them against Israel.

Putin Perpetuates Antisemitic Lie of First Soviet 'Mostly Jewish'

Some antisemitic lies just don't die, but it is incumbent on Jewish reporters to refute them every single time, especially when they're being espoused by a brutal Russian politician with the capacity to inflict a lot of pain on the Jews in his country.
According to a JTA report, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the world last week that at least 80 percent of the members of the first Soviet government were Jewish.

Barbra Streisand butt of Dutch singer's anti-Semitic joke

Singer Cornelis Willem Heuckeroth, better known as Gordon, said on the air last week that Streisand, a famous Jewish-American actress and singer, had come to the Netherlands to perform on June 6 because "she wants to earn money, which is a Jewish trait."

Jewish Group Responds to 'Little Jewboy From Gestapo' Attack

The Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the verbal attack on Jewish journalist Flor Mizrachi Angel, labeled "That little Jewboy from the Gestapo" by the Governor of Panama, Omaira Mayin Correa.

2 Arrested in Plot to Use X-Ray Weapon in Lethal Radiation Attacks

Two upstate New York men, one who prosecutors say is a member of the Ku Klux Klan, are accused of conspiring to develop a portable X-ray machine capable of emitting lethal doses of radiation that they intended to use against Muslims and "enemies of Israel."
Crawford allegedly sought financing from the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina, and approached two Jewish organizations saying he wanted help targeting Muslims. The two Jewish groups both called the FBI and the investigation began.

Israeli Consul General Responds to Author's Boycott Calls

Israeli consul general in New York Ido Aharoni has responded to American novelist Alice Walker's overt calls to boycott the Jewish state, noting that there is a "strange twist" is her efforts to undermine freedom and pluralism.
In an open letter to Walker published Wednesday in the New York Post, Aharoni defended the state of Israel in the face of such anti-Israel calls, which often border on blatant anti-Semitism.

Israeli Food Exports to U.S. Grow 50 Percent Since 2008

This rise in Israeli food exports to the U.S. resulted from a "more aggressive marketing strategy at all levels by the Israeli manufacturers and their US representatives," sources told KosherToday.

Rwanda and Israel to Forge Closer Ties

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame arrived in Jerusalem, Israel, on Monday to strengthen ties between the Middle East nation and his country at the fifth Israel Presidential Conference.
Kagame hopes to posit Rwanda's economic security in line with that of Israel's at the 2013 Israeli Presidential Conference, The Africa Report said. (h/t Zvi)

Tough guy De Niro likes tough Israel

American actor Robert De Niro praised Israeli aggressiveness during a talk at the President's Conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
"I always enjoy coming to Israel. Israelis are warm, they're energetic people. Forthright. Very smart. I always like smart people. They're nice people, you know. Aggressive, and I respect that aggressiveness because you need it in their situation," he said.

Baird: 'Israel Has No Greater Friend Than Canada'

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird, who is in Jerusalem attending the 2013 Presidential Conference, spoke to Arutz Sheva regarding the strong ties that exist between the two countries.
Barid called the conference an "exciting opportunity to strengthen [the] relationship" between Israel and Canada.

Israel to be First in World with F-35 Fighter Jets

Lockheed Martin Aircraft Industries has announced that Israel will be the first nation to receive its F-35 stealth fighter jets, the most expensive weapon in U.S. history.
The company's vice president, Steve O'Bryan, made the announcement Tuesday at the Paris Air Show.

US cites Israel among countries fighting human trafficking

A State Department report published Wednesday places Israel in the top tier of countries fighting human trafficking, while downgrading Russia and China for violations and placing them in the same tier as North Korea, Iran and others.

Waze president aims for 30% of worldwide driving market

Speaking publicly for the first time since inking a deal with Google to sell the traffic application Waze for $1.3 billion last week, one of the firm's founders said there was still much work to do.
"We only have 51 million users. There are a billion cars in the world so we have a long way to go," Waze co-founder and president Uri Levine told the Globes financial daily on Wednesday.

Cisco to Open Cyber Research-and-Development Laboratory in Israel

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Cisco Chairman and CEO John T. Chambers Wednesday to discuss a host of new Cisco initiatives meant to spotlight the expanding ties between the Jewish state and the multinational American company.

Platini lauds Israel at end of Euro U21s

Israel came in for warm praise from European football's supremo Michel Platini as the Euro Under-21 football championships ended with Spain thrashing Italy 4-2 to retain the title.
"The stadiums were wonderful and well-organized, the pitches excellent and the atmosphere in the stadiums was great with many families with young children attending. That is exactly the type of tournament that I like to see," Platini told a news conference. (h/t Zvi)

Poland's Jewish Renaissance Brings to Light 'Underpinnings' of Judeo-Christian Western Culture

June 28 will mark the start of the 23rd annual Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow, Poland, whose closing event is a concert that routinely draws 20,000-25,000 people and exemplifies the re-emerging broad appeal of Jewish culture in a country that was home to 3 million Jews who died during the Holocaust.

UNESCO adds Yad Vashem testimonials to world heritage list

Holocaust survivors' testimonials, as archived by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, are among the 54 new additions to the UN educational and cultural agency's Memory of the World Register.

Return to Auschwitz: How Israel keeps Holocaust memories alive

The number of people who survived the Holocaust is dwindling - they are all now old men and women. But the Holocaust carries a special importance for Israel. Can it ensure that the next generation knows, and does not forget, what happened in Europe seven decades ago?
Under a lightless Polish sky as dull and flat as a sheet of beaten lead the Israeli flag flutters listlessly in the light wind.
There are not many touches of colour to be seen at the gates of Auschwitz and the blue Star of David stands out on its crisp white background. (h/t Zvi)

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Posted By Ian to Elder of Ziyon at 6/20/2013 05:30:00 PM