[Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News] 05/03 Links: US blames Israel for talks failure; US State Dept partners with Anti-Semitic book fair

From Ian:

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US officials: Even if Israel doesn’t like it, Palestinians will get state

Speaking on condition of anonymity to Nahum Barnea, a prominent columnist from Israel’s best-selling daily Yedioth Aharonoth, the officials highlighted Netanyahu’s ongoing settlement construction as the issue “largely to blame” for the failure of Secretary of State John Kerry’s July 2013-April 2014 effort to broker a permanent peace accord.
They made plain that US President Barack Obama had been prepared to release spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard to salvage the talks. And they warned that “the world will not keep tolerating the Israeli occupation.”
Barnea, who described his conversations with the American officials as “the closest thing to an official American version of what happened” in the talks, said the secretary is now deciding whether to wait a few months and try to renew the negotiating effort or to publicize the US’s suggested principles of an agreement.

U.S. State Department Listed as ‘Cultural Partner’ of Abu Dhabi Book Fair Featuring Anti-Semitic Titles

A listing of English and Arabic titles on display at the Fair, which is currently underway, include Holocaust Denial, The International Jew and Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf. Also exhibited is The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, the second most published book in the Arab world, which promotes the anti-Semitic notion that Jews are planning global domination.
According to the Book Fair’s official website, the U.S. Department of State is among the event’s “cultural partners.” Others include Ikea, France 24, The National Geographic and the French Embassy.
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of Jewish human rights group the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), said the discovery “should surprise no one” and urged the U.S. to disassociate itself from the fair.

Iran bans Whatsapp, citing ‘Zionist’ owner Zuckerberg

“The reason for this is the assumption of WhatsApp by the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is an American Zionist,” Fox quoted Abdolsamad Khorramabadi, head of the country’s Committee on Internet Crimes, as saying.
Facebook bought the mobile messaging service in February for $19 billion in cash and stock.
Zuckerberg is Jewish, but has made little comment about Israel or about regional politics.
One Iranian blogger who asked to remain anonymous told Fox that Tehran views social media as a threat to its power.

David Singer: Palestine Mandate Legally Triumphs Over Discredited PLO Charter

This outright rejection of international law by the PLO has never been questioned by the League of Nations compliant successor – the United Nations – which – acting in clear breach of Article 80 of the UN Charter knowingly collaborated to prolong the Arab-Jewish conflict in violation of international law when welcoming the PLO purveyor of Jew-hatred -Yasser Arafat – into its midst with adulation and enthusiastic applause on 13 November 1974.
The acceptance of this terrorist organisation into the realm of civilised political discourse by the United Nations whilst the PLO simultaneously continued to assert that the League of Nations had no power to make any legally binding decisions – must surely rank among the most shameful episodes and low points in United Nations history.
Lecturing to Israel on international law whilst allowing the PLO to reject international law was breathtaking hypocrisy on the United Nations part.
The principle of respect for the law was cast aside by United Nations members as they trashed the original and noble principles enunciated in the Mandate on the altar of expediency and national self- interest

Was Rand Paul Wrong on Aid to the Palestinians? Not Entirely.

Yet part of the problem with the PA dating back to its beginnings in the aftermath of the Oslo Accords is that it has exploited Israel’s dependence on it as a shield against accountability. Rather than use aid to the PA as leverage to force it to stand up against terror and to stop broadcasting hate and undermining peace, the U.S., often with Israel’s connivance, has given it a pass. It has been all carrot and no stick, a situation that has allowed the PA to become an institution that works hard to stoke the fires of the conflict even as it is insincerely praised as a force for peace. No matter what it does, up to and including forming a new alliance with a group that is dedicated not just to Israel’s elimination but also to genocide, it knows it can be sure that the spigot of U.S. taxpayer money funneling into the pockets of Abbas’ Fatah cronies will never be turned off. Just as Kerry’s initiative failed in large measure because of the administration’s unwillingness to press the Palestinians while they were also mercilessly bashing Israel, so, too does the aid help perpetuate the conflict as much it helps keep the peace.
While it is true the Israelis are no more interested in cutting U.S. aid to the Palestinians than the administration, Paul is right in the sense that unless something is eventually done to scare the PA straight, it will never stop feeding the anti-Zionist hate that fuels the conflict. This is a sentiment that is shared by most supporters of Israel, including AIPAC members. Nor is it surprising that the Zionist Organization of America formally endorsed Paul’s proposal.
So while Paul’s crack at AIPAC was wrongheaded and has more to do with his ambition than any love for Israel, his critics shouldn’t be so blithe about spiking his proposal. It’s time to start holding the PA accountable for its behavior. What‘s too bad is that Paul, of all people, seems to be the only one ready to do so.

Apartheid Libel is Racist, Undemocratic and Anti-Peace

First of all, this argument is incredibly racist against Arab Israelis. The question stems from the control Israel has over its non-citizens. Arab Israelis are Israeli citizens and from a legal perspective, the exact same as Israel’s Jewish citizens. There is no Jewish occupation of the West Bank but an Israeli one. To include Israeli Arab citizens in the category of non-Israeli Palestinians instead of Israelis is to treat them as 2nd class citizens and unwelcome in Israel. Disgusting.
Third of all, it ensures peace will never happen. By putting Israel in a position where it must accept a peace deal with the Palestinians or be labeled as an apartheid state, Palestinians would demand Israeli concessions that it simply could not make because they know Israel has no leverage.
In fact, such an ultimatum could leave Israel in a position where it becomes so vulnerable that the security of the entire state is threatened.
I disagree with Peter Beinart but at least his views are grounded, consistent and coherent. John Kerry’s are wholly misguided and can not be defended.

Kerry’s sins

The Mishna in Pirkei Avot warns leaders: “Be careful with your words, lest you become liable for exile.” This is a timely warning to leaders like Kerry, Livni, Barak and Olmert. To carelessly fling around baseless epithets can do great harm and can even lead to exile.
Indeed, to mention “apartheid” – the systematic, cruel racism implemented by a police state for the purpose of destroying human dignity and freedom – in the same breath as “Israel” – a beacon of commitment to human rights, freedom and equality in the Middle East – is to falsely libel and delegitimize the Jewish state and its right to exist.
Such talk promotes a boycott campaign against Israel, which, if it reaches its goal, will ultimately lead to the exile of the Jewish people from their land and, God forbid, the destruction of the State of Israel. We dare not underestimate the danger of the apartheid label.

Palestinians officially join 5 UN treaties

Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN human rights office, told reporters that the move followed the Palestinians’ April 2 declaration to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that they were adopting the treaties.
In addition, the Palestinians will on May 7 become party to an accord protecting children in conflict zones — which is an optional part of the overall child rights treaty — and on July 2 they will adopt two agreements governing civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Blaming the Victim

We live in an extraordinary time.
Catherine Ashton, the EU’s highest ranking foreign policy official, blessed the proposed joining of Hamas and Fatah. The US and the EU transfer millions of dollars to the Palestinian Authority which gives these same monies into the pockets of incarcerated Palestinian terrorists. Many of those same terrorists – who committed heinous crimes, admitted to those crimes, and take great pride in their actions – are called heroes and are released by Israel by the bushel. So it should come as no surprise that we have reached a new low in the fight against terror: blame the victim.
Lord Norman Lamont, a former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, has written yesterday in the NY Post that pending litigation against Arab Bank, the largest financial institution in the Middle East, is all about making lawyers rich and not bringing justice to terror victim families.

Leaks: Hamas Will Join PLO, Gets to Keep Arms

Al-Monitor on Wednesday published a translated English-language version of an article by Gaza-based Palestinian journalist Hazem Balousha, in which Balousha revealed a range of previously unknown details regarding a recent unity agreement between the rival Palestinian Fatah and Hamas factions, including news that Hamas had secured a commitment enabling its personnel to take up posts inside the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO):

Sit-in at Palestinian mission defused by embassy, Foreign Ministry

The Turkish Foreign Ministry and the Embassy of Palestine in Ankara have together ended a sit-in at the embassy staged on Wednesday by Palestinian refugee families who have fled to Turkey from war-torn Syria, protesting conditions at Turkish refugee camps.
“The Turkish Foreign Ministry has directed those who are in charge of the camp to work on improving the living conditions there. It was also agreed that these families would provide their documents to the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Ankara in order to proceed with issuing them with Palestinian passports,” said the statement. (h/t Yenta Press)

'Meanwhile in Syria: Islamists control Israel’s border'

Below are two important articles about the situation in the Syrian civil war. The first article written by Yossi Melman describes the situation along the border with Israel where rebels who are connected to Al Qaida now control up to 70 percent of the area.
Even more significant and worrisome from the Israeli perspective was the fact that the rebels got their hands on sophisticated weapons, such as anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. These are the kind of missiles Israel describes as “game changers,” which triggered Israeli Air Force bombings of arms convoys within Syria at least six times to prevent the weapons from reaching Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Iran denies inspectors access to suspected nuclear facility

Iran has stated that it has no obligation to grant the IAEA access to the site, arguing that Parchin’s designation as a military site puts it off-limits to inspections and is not included in the deal reached with world powers last year.
The Parchin military site has been a sticking point in long-running discussions between Iran and the IAEA; the agency suspects explosive tests took place that are “strong indicators of possible nuclear weapon development.”

Turkey Downgraded to “Not Free” by Press Freedom Watchdog

The country has maintained its status as the world’s top jailer of journalists for several years, and journalists who are not behind bars have been expelled from the country for criticizing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development (AKP) party. A wave of expulsions last February took place amid a broader crackdown on free speech, triggering fears that a systematic sweep was underway.
Multiple Turkish outlets covered the news revolving around Freedom House’s ranking. Hurriyet Daily News wrote up its story under the headline “Turkey no longer even ‘partly free,’ according to press freedom report,” and specifically cited portions of the NGO’s report that discussed how “journalists were harassed while covering the Gezi Park protests and dozens were fired or forced to resign due to their coverage of sensitive issues.”

German Pres. Dismisses Turkish Anger over Human Rights Criticism

A diplomatic spat between Turkey and Germany over the human rights policies of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government escalated on Wednesday, as Turkish outlets conveyed critical remarks directed at Erdogan by German President Joachim Gauck regarding the behavior of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Gauck had had described himself as “horrified” at a range of recent crackdowns conducted by Ankara, from a massive purge of political opponents from the police and judiciary to ongoing calls and efforts aimed at blocking access to Twitter and YouTube to violent anti-demonstrator crackdowns. Erdogan had responded by mocking Gauck’s former role as a former East German Lutheran pastor and doubling down on Ankara’s policies, which had already generated suggestions from Berlin that Turkey was not yet ready to ascend to the European Union.

Ankara Announces Intention to Build Own Weapons to Avoid Import Limits

A recent announcement from a top Turkish official – in which Science, Industry, and Technology Minister Fikri Isik declared that Ankara will begin indigenously producing weapons in order to circumvent potential import restrictions from supplier countries – has left “Western diplomats and military officials… puzzled” over Turkey’s intentions, according to a report on the speech by Hurriyet Daily News.
In a recent speech, Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Isik said Turkey would launch a “national” factory this year to produce its own “warheads, airplane bombs and plastic explosives.”
He said the new factory would end Turkey’s dependence on foreign suppliers of this type of ammunition.
The proposed production facility would be located adjacent to another ammunition factory operated by state-controlled weapons manufacturer MKE in the Central Anatolian province of Kirikkale. It will produce 600 tons of plastic explosives, Isik said.

Dutch Muslim rapper: I hate Jews more than Nazis

Dutch police are investigating a Muslim rapper who used hateful language against gays and Jews in one of his songs.
The rapper Ismo, whose real name is Ismael Houllich, included the text in his first single. The official video clip for the song titled “Eenmans” (or “One Man’s”) shows Ismo singing: “I hate those f*cking Jews more than the Nazis,” “don’t shake hands with faggots” and “don’t believe in anything but the Koran.”
The clip, which was filmed in the southern border city of Breda, had received 125,000 viewers on YouTube before a 19-year-old homosexual resident of the city, Lars Hobma, filed a complaint with police against Ismo for alleged incitement to hatred, the news site of the Algemeen Dagblad daily reported Friday.

British MP guilty of ‘worst breach’ for ‘bloody Jew’ comment

A British Conservative MP, Patrick Mercer, committed “one of worst ever” breaches of parliamentary rules by calling a female Israeli security guard a “bloody Jew,” a House of Commons watchdog report said.
In addition to the anti-Semitic remark, Mercer, who was forced to step down this week, was also found to have abused his position for paid advocacy — offenses that came to light during an undercover investigation last year by the BBC and the Daily Telegraph.
The report, published Thursday by the Commons standards committee, noted that Mercer had apologized for the remark, saying he was “very tired at the time.” He also he couldn’t be accused of anti-Semitism, as his wife had a Jewish background.

Israeli Internet TV Startup Bought By NY Company

Tvinci's 60 employees will join Kaltura's team in Israel through the sale, and Tvinci founders Ofer Shayo and Ido Wiesenberg will be appointed to Kaltura's top management team, reports Venture Beat.
While the financial aspects of the sale have not been announced, Kaltura has raised $116 million in funds since being founded in 2006, and features over 100,000 clients including media companies, educational institutions and others.
The Israeli startup's pay OTT TV platform is potentially a large profit opportunity, as clients will spend over $17 billion for the services by 2017, according to estimates.

Boxing Superstar Manny Pacquiao Names Son Israel, Mezuzahs Revealed

“Definitely, baby Israel will be an additional inspiration for Jinkee and myself to further serve our people as government servants and Christianity as servants of our faith,” said Pacquiao, who is the only pugilist to have won ten world championship belts in eight weight divisions.
Though Pacquiao said the choice to name his son Israel was inspired by Christianity, his publicist, Fred Sternberg, told The Algemeiner that Pacquiao ”loves” the Jewish state. Sternberg added that the boxer and his family have visited the country several times.
Sternberg also revealed that the superstar athlete has mezuzahs affixed to every doorpost of his Philippines home.

Israellycool: “Hey Sven, You Had One Job”

Because sometimes the antisemites let down their guard and forget to use the word “Zionists.”
P.S Those who accuse pro-Israel supporters of labeling critics of Israel as antisemites are usually – wait for it – actual antisemites.

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Posted By Ian to Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News at 5/03/2014 09:00:00 PM