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 ט"ז באלול תשע"ז / Thursday, Sep. 07 '17 Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report -http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe Headlines
1. 'I know why people dislike Kushner. Oldest reason in the world.'by Mordechai Sones [twittervideo:2032582] Author and novelist Thomas Wictor, author of seven books and arguably the world’s only expert on World War I flamethrowers, has experience promulgating unpopular analyses. His homepage offers "some unsolicited advice to those who are thinking of publicly defending Israel: Use a pseudonym. If you don’t, be prepared to pay an exorbitant price." Wictor recently publicized on Twitter an evaluation of what he considers the unrecognized role Jared Kushner has played in saving the United States from a national catastrophe. He entitled his essay, "Why every American who cherishes freedom should forever thank Jared Kushner," in which Wictor writes, "With the exception of Donald Trump, Kushner is the most insanely vilified person in US politics. This doesn't bother Kushner. He's got his family, and he's got work to do. Kushner in helicopter over Baghdad Reuters "People lie about why they dislike Kushner. I know why people dislike Kushner. Oldest reason in the world. "If you really UNDERSTOOD what Kushner did in 2016, you'd put aside your ancient tribal hatreds and give Kushner the credit he deserves. Trump asked Kushner--who had no previous political experience--to craft a strategy that would not rely on the popular vote. "I'll explain why in a moment. "Trump THEN used MILDEC--military deception--to distract from what Kushner was doing. Kushner had a staff of less than 100. He says that he used methods that he'd learned while working in commercial real estate. "Trump is our first 'free agent' president. He's beholden to nobody except the voters. I believe that Trump's victory has destroyed the influence that wealthy cult leaders had in American politics. I'm talking about the Silicon Valley oligarchs. "Joel Kotkin has been warning about the oligarchs for a long time. Here's what makes them so dangerous: The oligarchs believe that their incredible wealth came from them being MORAL. Therefore, they have the right to control us. These people hate and fear the middle class, so they want it eradicated. They want enslavement. The oligarchs want to prohibit us from owning cars. We will be forced to live in skyscrapers in urban centers... "They have MASSIVE INFLUENCE in our politics. As cult leaders, they have certain bugs up their exhaust pipes. Because of their money, they force US to live lives according to the bugs up their exhaust pipes: CLIMATE CHANGE! [twittervideo:2032583] "Here's where the US was headed. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He's what's known as a 'godman'. They control Indian politics. Singh is a guru, music producer, singer-songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. "When he released a music album, over 3 million people gathered for the party. Indian politicians kowtowed to him. He also was involved in multiple 'good works.' [twittervideo:2032584] "Along the way, Singh committed murder, raped his followers, and had others castrated. He was just sentenced to 20 years in prison for rape. The Indian authorities were unprepared for what happened. "Singh's followers began rioting. They began running through arbitrary neighborhoods with clubs, killing people. They burned down businesses of people who had nothing to do with anything. [twittervideo:2032585] "The sentencing had to take place in secret. All public court proceedings were cancelled. Finally the riot police went in and began smashing heads. They use poles called 'lathis'. The striking end has a metal weight and a steel casing. [twittervideo:2032586] "Look around you. THIS IS WHERE THE OLIGARCHS WERE TAKING US. "And now it's over. It'll never happen here. Thanks to Jared Kushner, a great American. It wasn't luck; it was BRAINS. It was the skill and dedication of Jared Kushner. Be grateful." President Trump and Kushner at Western Wall Reuters 2. Herzl - Anti-Semite?by Shimon Cohen This year marks the 120th anniversary of the First Zionist Congress. Many events have been held to commemorate and discuss the legacy of the congress, which was held in Basel, Switzerland in 1897. In recent decades there have been a number of attempts to undermine the legacy of Theodor Herzl, who led the congress and is considered the grandfather of the Zionist movement. Some have gone as far as to accuse Herzl of anti-Semitism. Arutz Sheva discussed these accusations against Herzl with Dr. Udi Manor of the Department of Jewish Heritage at Ariel University, an expert on Israeli history, Zionism and politics. Dr. Manor was asked at the beginning of the discussion whether there is any truth to the assertion that without Herzl none of the great events which befell the Jewish people would have happened, including the establishment of a Jewish state. ""On the one hand there is an accepted saying among historians: 'don't ask 'what if?'' The fact is that Herzl existed, and our work is to examine what he did. On the other hand, we try to ask 'what was' in order to filter out [nonessential information] and to understand a thing's uniqueness." "Herzl wrote a lot, and he did not think that he had done everything. It is hard to know if all this would not have happened without him, but everything that happened in the first half of the twentieth century made a tremendous contribution to the establishment of the State of Israel," Dr. Manor said. He emphasized that "without the actions of the Zionists who came and established settlements with blood and sweat this would not have happened." When asked to summarize summarize Herzl's work, Dr. Manor said that his contribution was decisive in establishing the politicization and democratization of Zionism. This was done through the establishment and very existence of the Congress, which became a focal point where Jews could concentrate their efforts in the directions they saw fit. This direction was the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel in accordance to international law. This is what the Jews did at the congress, and, he said, it was done in a very democratic manner. גבר מחופש להרצל במהלך המחאה החברתית - 2011 צילום: רויטרס In his opinion, it was not the Dreyfus Affair which led Herzl to Zionism, even though he himself wrote it was. "This is a big question that I could not find a convincing answer to - what caused Herzl to choose this path and dedicate the last nine years of his life to Zionism? What made him a Zionist?" "He writes in 1899 that it was the Dreyfus trial that motivated him, but it was a bluff intended to enlist the support of American Jews at a time when everyone knew about the Dreyfus Affair. After that, he hardly ever wrote about it. As a student in Vienna, he understood the anti-Semitic threat to society in Europe, and not only to Jewish society. And what about the rise of nationalism and national consciousness which had occurred at that time, Dr. Manor was asked. Did that contribute to Herzl's actions in the area of Jewish nationalism? According to Dr. Manor, the answer is definitely 'yes.' "The issue of national consciousness throughout Europe certainly influenced him, but it should be said that, contrary to the words of [certain] Israeli intellectuals, Zionism did not invent the Jewish people. There was a national consciousness long before that. The roots of early Jewishness are not in the 19th century. It was organized then, but it existed way before that. Dr. Manor was presumably referring to radical Israeli intellectual Shlomo Sand, who has accused the Zionist movement of 'inventing' the Jewish people whereas before that, Judaism had only been a religion. On the atmosphere and reality that enabled Herzl's activities, Dr. Manor said that Herzl could only have acted and established the congress because he belonged to the minority of Jews who had civil rights. "Most of the world's Jews had no rights. Jews in Russia had no civil rights. Nor did the Jews of Morocco or the Middle East. The only ones [in those regions] who had civil rights were about ten thousand Algerian Jews who became citizens of France." "The creation of a congress can only be carried out by someone who has citizenship and enjoys civil rights. Herzl's book was translated into 15 languages and became the talk of the day. Herzl used his civil rights to create a political instrument that would serve the Jews to establish a state which would grant them civil rights in the future. In contrast to other historians, Dr. Manor does not belittle Herzl's meeting with the Kaiser, which he believes is the most dramatic event in establishing international political recognition for the Jewish people and its needs. He compared it to an ordinary US citizen meeting the president in the White House. Today, we are in a country whose prime minister is invited to every place in the world and continues Herzl's endeavor to achieve recognition for the Jewish State. But 120 years ago, the important factors in the Jewish people, including the Rothschild family, were hostile to the Zionist enterprise. Everyone appreciated the Rothschild family and saw them as leaders of the Jewish people, and suddenly a journalist comes along who produced a revolution on this issue. In his eyes, it was the public, not the leaders of that time, whom he had to convince. "More and more Jews were convinced, and after eight or nine years he was gaining esteem in European politics. He was meeting the emperor, and holding meetings with the most significant world leaders. The importance of such meetings cannot be underestimated." Dr. Manor was also asked about a number of statements written by Herzl which have been accused of being anti-Semitic in nature, including a statement in which Herzl said that that "the priests of the Christians are at the top of the scale and the simple Christians are better than the Jews." Elsewhere, Herzl seems to claim that the Jews rule the world, provoke nations, and that it is on their orders that governments make peace. Some statements seem as if they were ripped from The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,' the notorious anti-Semitic forgery which claims to reveal a Jewish conspiracy to control the world. In other statements Herzl seems to praise honest anti-Semites and favor mass conversion of Jews to Christianity. In order to properly understand those statements, Dr. Manor said that it is important to understand the context in which they were said or written. "It is necessary to understand who is meant by what can be defined as auto-anti-Semitism. The question of the context is the true complexity of a historian's work. People say a lot of things which have to be left in context." "It is true that Herzl had a very creative mind, and in the early stages of his life he thought of being a playwright. I one of his diary writings he dealt with the type of uniform that the members of the orchestra would wear on a ship leaving Europe and other anecdotes which are perhaps nonsense. "Herzl's criticism of Jews is not about the Jews themselves, but rather about the group which he called until he died the 'protest rabbis.' Local rabbis, a coalition of Orthodox and Reform, opposed him when he wanted to hold a congress in Munich. They believed that a Jew was first and foremost a German. Suddenly, a Jew from the German culture comes and wants to define the Jews as a national group and not only as a religious group, and writes one of the most difficult to read articles with a headline that was an [anti-Semitic] title hurled at Jews by their enemies. "His thesis is that a Jew living in a reality of emancipation can assimilate if he wants to, and that the community cannot do anything to stop him. Many Jews had erased their identity, the most famous of whom is the family of [Karl] Marx. Herzl understood this, and stated that when there is liberalism, a person has the right to choose his future. According to Manor, in this reality in which there is a fear of assimilation, Herzl sought to offer Jewish nationalism as another solution for those who did not want to or could not assimilate, and as he ironically put it, "to establish a state in which Jews can proudly turn around with their crooked nose." Manor is convinced that such a statement reveals the tone in which it is said, a tone of absurdity that uses what Jews were accused of as a tool for the Jewish reaction, a form of Jewish humor. As for the proposal to convert to Christianity, Dr. Manor believes that if the words are read in their full context, it is clear that Herzl took the words of the opponents of the Jewish state and showed them where their position would lead, and was not advocating mass conversions. "The extreme solution is absurd, and therefore I direct you to my solution, even if it is currently hard to imagine the existence of a Jewish state with urban settlements and roads," Dr. Manor explained. "The right thing to do with Herzl is not to look for embarrassing quotes, although that is permissible, but instead to take his two most important books, 'The Jewish State' and 'Altneuland,' and see in them a sincere response to Herzl's conception. In 'The Jewish State', he explains the problem of Jews who do not want to assimilate or be German or American members of the Mosaic religion, and in 'Altneuland,' e describes the establishment of the Jewish state, which would be established with accelerated technological development, and would be a place of private initiative without trampling on social values." Dr. Manor ends with the quote he considers to be Herzl's most important: "Zionism is first and foremost a return to Judaism." He said that this quote shows that Herzl did not see any disconnect between his vision and Judaism. 3. Police crackdown: 793 traffic violations in one weekby Arutz Sheva Staff Israel Police reported that 793 traffic fines were given out in a single week, most of them on Highway 60 in Samaria. Most of these fines, police said, were given to those who drive in ways which present a direct danger to the public. Twenty-four licenses were revoked, 28 vehicles were confiscated, and 5 vehicles were sent to be destroyed. Police also gave 31 fines for use of a mobile device while driving. Near the Dead Sea, police noticed an Arab vehicle which left its lane multiple times. When the driver opened the vehicle's door, they were met with a strong stench of alcohol. The Palestinian Arab driver, a resident of Hevron, was found to be under the influence of 571 mcg of alcohol per liter of air (2.5 times the legal amount). On Highway 1 near Jerusalem, an Israeli Arab was pulled over for using his cellphone while driving. Investigating, police found this was not the driver's first offense. He was arrested and his vehicle confiscated for thirty days. "Israel Police will cooperate with other agencies to enforce the laws against violations which cause traffic accidents. We will continue working to change the driving culture, while offering explanations and education to the drivers." In March, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) raised fines for traffic violations, and in July, an agreement was made to establish a joint Israeli-Arab civilian organization to combat traffic accidents. The group will also promote a lobby in the Knesset to push for legislation to combat the phenomenon. In 2016, 372 people were killed in road accidents in Israel. 4. 'The trip to Gush Etzion is becoming shorter'by Eliran Aharon From today on, 12 minutes of travel will separate between the so-called “Tunnel Road -” Route 60 from Gush Etzion to southern Jerusalem - and Route 443, starting north of Jerusalem and heading northwest towards Modiin. The “Rosemary Interchange” on the Begin Highway, that cuts through Jerusalem in the north-south direction, was unveiled today in a ceremony that saw the participation of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz. The interchange includes two levels and a 77-yard long tunnel. The lower level will provide a direct connection to the Tunnel Road from the Begin Highway. Now, it will be possible to cross Jerusalem with continuous travel - without having to stop for traffic signals - from Route 60 south of Jerusalem to Route 443 north of Jerusalem. The interchange will open to drivers tonight. Gush Etzion Regional Council head Shlomo Ne’eman blessed the new interchange, asserting that “The issue of traffic jams and travel time for Gush Etzion residents is something we have to deal with on a daily basis. Thank G-d, Gush Etzion is today at the center of the transportation revolution which is gaining strength. We praise the building of the interchange and hope that the momentum in building will only become stronger, whether with respect to infrastructure or new housing units and the blossoming of businesses and tourism.” [video:2032577] 5. Rabbis arrested for fraud sent to house arrestby Ido ben Porat The four rabbis from various Israeli cities whom police arrested Wednesday on suspicion of fraudulently obtaining police "fitness certificates," that testify to a criminal-free past and would enable them to qualify for the post of "City Rabbi," have been sent to house arrest with limiting conditions. The investigation is ongoing. The four allegedly fraudulently obtained the certificates without having taken the rabbinic ordination exams. In addition, they falsified scores of tests they never took, sent impostors to sit for the exam in their stead, and even appealed directly to the examiner to ease the test process and scoring for them. Detectives of the Lahav 433 unit arrested the four suspects and searched their homes in order to seize documents that were allegedly linked to the offenses attributed to them. The rabbis are suspected of fraud and breach of trust, receiving benefits fraudulently under aggravated circumstances, falsifying corporate documents, impersonating another person, and aggravated forgery. Police emphasized that, throughout the investigation, they received the full cooperation of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The police also clarified that the suspicions are directed against the rabbis themselves, and not at the Chief Rabbinate or anyone operating on its behalf. 6. 'Kim Jong-un's threats violate international law'by Shimon Cohen Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the coming days to discuss the North Korea nuclear crisis. Arutz Sheva spoke with Hilly Moodrick, an expert on international law at the Sha'arei Mishpat Legal College, about North Korea's crimes and how to deal with them . According to Moodrick, "The very use of nuclear weapons, and force at all, is a violation of international law. One of the foundations of international law is the prohibition against using force, and prohibition of threatening to use force." "Obviously," she points out, "this does not include self-defense or those who have received permission from the United Nations Security Council to use weapons for self-defense and not in order to attack." Moodrick also explained that each threat needs to be examined on its own. "Not every threat is considered a violation of international law," she explained. "It's important to emphasize that even if a threat violates international law, the response needs to be proportional and legitimate, and remain within the boundaries of self-defense. You cannot simply begin firing over every threat." Regarding North Korea, Moodrick believes that firing test missiles, holding nuclear experiments, and harsh words call for a response. "There should probably be a response," Moodrick explained, quickly adding that "history and reality have taught that the Security Council will not rush to allow an attack, since they prefer to use sanctions." Countries threatened by North Korea can "work independently or request the US aid their collective self-defense. International law allows an attacked country to request aid from another country, and the second country can provide this aid even if they themselves are not threatened. Providing aid to a third country is a legitimate reason to become involved in a conflict." However, if the US chooses not to support the Security Council's sanctions on North Korea, "not much" can be done, "since the US is one of the Council's five members." The US submitted a resolution to the UN Security Council demanding, among other things, an oil embargo on North Korea and a freeze on the foreign assets of its leader Kim Jong-Un. [audio:2032541] 7. Syrian army threatens 'dangerous consequences' for air strikeby Tal Polon The Syrian army responded this morning in an official statement to the air strike last night on a Syrian military site near the city of Masyaf in the Hamat district in western Syria. Earlier, Syrian and Lebanese news sites reported an air strike on a Syrian “scientific studies and research center.” The center has been associated with the Syrian regime’s production of chemical weapons. In a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency, the Syrian army claimed that “Israeli warplanes fired several rockets from the Lebanese airspace at 02:42 am on Thursday targeting one of the Syrian military posts near Masyaf, killing two army personnel and causing material damage to the site.” “This belligerence is a brazen attempt to raise the morale of the terror organization ISIS, which finds itself in a state of collapse after crushing victories by the Syrian army against the terror on more than one front.” “The attack proves Israel’s direct support for ISIS and additional terror organizations,” the army claimed. In addition, it threatened that "The aggressive Israeli attack could have dangerous consequences on stability and security in the region." This morning, Thursday, Executive Director of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies Amos Yadlin referred to the strike in a series of tweets, noting that the strike was “not routine.” “It targeted a Syrian military-scientific center for the development and manufacture of, among other things, precision missiles, which will have a significant role in the next round of conflict.” “The factory that was targeted in Masyaf produces the chemical weapons and barrel bombs that have killed thousands of Syrian civilians,” he continued. “If the attack was conducted by Israel, it would be a commendable and moral action by Israel against the slaughter in Syria.” Yadlin emphasized that “The attack sent 3 important messages. 1: Israel won't allow for empowerment and production of strategic arms. 2: Israel intends to enforce its redlines, despite the fact that the great powers are ignoring them. 3: The presence of Russian air defense does not prevent airstrikes attributed to Israel.” “Now it's important to keep the escalation in check and to prepare for a Syrian-Iranian-Hezbollah response, and even opposition from Russia,” he concluded. 8. This is why you don't feed animals at a safariby Arutz Sheva Staff [youtube:2032588] Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe | |
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