Wiesenthal Center tells Jews not to travel to Sweden

Ain't socialism cool?  Obviously some think this is an exaggeration. It isn't. The owner of this blog used to sell advertising for a Swedish company called Modern Holdings. They didn't treat me well to say the least.

Dr. Samuels, from the Wiesenthal Center, said “ It is unacceptable in a democracy committed to protecting its citizens, that the Swedish Jewish community is forced to pay for necessary upgraded security measures to safeguard their lives and property.”
 Rabbi Schneur Kesselson, Chabad’s emissary to Malmö, told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that he had been harassed dozens of times by locals since he moved there six years ago.
  “The vast majority of the attacks have been verbal, usually carried out by people from the Middle Eastern background,” the Chabad rabbi said. “They say not nice things. Usually in Swedish, in English it would be translated as bad Jews. Not anything I’d like to repeat.”

Human rights organization issues travel advisory because Jews in Sweden "have been subject to anti-Semitic taunts and harassment."
A contributing factor to this decision has been the outrageous remarks of Malmö mayor Ilmar Reepalu, who blames the Jewish community for failing to denounce Israel.
Malmö attracted criticism during last year’s Davis Cup tennis match against Israel. The city authorities decided to segregate Israeli players from the competition because of a mass demonstration of roughly 6,000 leftwing and Muslim protesters against Israel. Amir Haddad and Andy Ram, Israel’s top tennis players, had to compete against their Swedish opponents in an empty stadium. Commentators said the authorities capitulated to anti-Israeli mob violence rather than defend the right of bias-free sport events.
it is unclear how long the travel advisory will apply to Sweden.

  The Wiesenthal Center reviews its travel advisory every three months.
Many of Malmö’s Jews have fled the city because of the ubiquitous anti-Semitism. In 2009, there was a 50% increase of anti-Semitic attacks when compared to 2008. Approximately 20% of Malmö’s 290,000 residents are Muslims, most of whom are Swedish Arabs.
The Jewish community registered under 700 Jews earlier this year but the number has steadily decreased due to anti-Jewish hostility and a local government, which, according to critics, foments modern anti-Semitism. via jpost.com image via via ironicsurrealism.blogivists.com
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AWESOME! Iran said to have cut Hizbullah aid by 40%

via jpost.com

Iran has in recent years provided Hizbullah with close to $1 billion in direct military aid, but due to the impact of the recent round of international sanctions, the Islamic Republic has been forced to cut back on the funding. The money is used by Hizbullah to buy advanced weaponry, train and pay its operatives and establish military positions and sustain them throughout Lebanon. Mahadavi was sent to Lebanon to fill the vacuum created by the 2008 assassination of Hizbullah’s top military commander Imad Mughniyeh in Syria, which the group has been attributed to Israel. Mughniyeh was also the chief liaison between the Lebanese group and the Revolutionary Guard. According to information that has reached Israel, Mahadavi has clashed with senior Hizbullah officials, including its Secretary- General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, on critical issues pertaining to the group, which is refusing to accept the Iranian’s authority.

via jpost.com

Merry Xmas to the Joooooooooos!

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Analysis: Washington's "Fresh" Attempt at Talks Puts Netanyahu on the Spot

On Monday, hours before the arrival of U.S. special envoy George Mitchell in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Washington's new position, taking the condition of another settlement freeze in the West Bank off the table. He said:

To reach peace, we have to discuss the issues that are truly delaying peace ... I welcome the fact that we will now begin discussing these issues and try to narrow gaps.

When Mitchell arrived in Israel, Netanyahu declared:

In their direct talks, both sides decided together to pursue a framework agreement that would establish the fundamental compromises on all permanent status issues and pave the way for a final peace treaty. That remains our goal.
Reaching this goal [face to face negotiations] will not be easy by any means. The differences between the two sides are real and they are persistent. But the way to get there is by engaging, in good faith, with the full complexities of the core issues and by working to narrow the gaps between the two.

But the Prime Minister still faces a challenge. The Obama Administration wants a "fresh" start for indirect talks from both sides. Netanyahu is expected to put forth an offer, especially on borders between Israel and a Palestinian state. The US hopes that a consensus on those borders will bring the solution of other core issues such as security, Jerusalem, water, and settlements.
On the Palestinian side, West Bank "Prime Minister" Salam Fayyad confessed the bluff of going unilaterally to the United Nations for recognition of "State of Palestine". Fayyad said, "We have already done this in 1988. We are looking for statehood."
Fayyad is right. The recognition of the state of Palestine by dozens of countries will not solve the problem, even if chief negotiator Saeb Erekat has sent an official letter to the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, calling for recognition based on pre-1967 borders. Ramallah knows that the only approach is to fulfil all the requirements of a sustainable state. That begins --- along with steps towards the legitimacy of the rule of law, the political system, and economic policy --- with an open dialogue with the Israelis.

But that of course brings everyone back to the difficulty of resuming direct negotiations, especially with the conservative and cracking Netanyahu government. As the leader of the opposition party Kadima, Tzipi Livni, revealed, Netanyahu has ruled out the possibility that Jerusalem could be divided, contradicting the statement of his Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

via enduringamerica.com
Livni does not come across as someone I would want representing me.
forget all the baggage that you might know.  She looks weak and ineffective.

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Terror group Hamas marks 23rd anniversary with Poor Design Work

Islamic terrorist group Hamas, an armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, with many front groups and fund raisers in the United States (e.g., CAIR), celebrates it’s 23rd anniversary.

The new logo for Hamas 23^rd anniversary designed perfectly to be very comprehensive,  it included the

Dome of the Rock as a sign for the occupied Islamic holy land should be freed from Zionists , Ak47 as a sign for  Palestinian resistance, a key as a sign for the Palestinian right of return, colored bird as a sign for the freedom of the Palestinian prisoners in Zionist occupation  jails, a full green map of Palestine, a number of ” 23″as a sign for the 23^rd anniversary, a strong phrase indicating the steadfastness of the Palestinian people saying as:” we remain committed to the covenant “, and finally  the Palestinian flag as a sign for Palestinian unity and Palestine.

via creepingsharia.wordpress.com

as someone with a background in design... I'd say it is a bit crowded and muddled. It almost seems to be communicating the idea that Al Asqa should be cut in half. poor work. I know I might not be impartial, but slick vectored Illustrator work does not impress me if the composition does not communicate an idea well.

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Bloomberg sued, refused to release “Ground Zero Mosque” documents

Judicial Watch filed a freedom of information request with Bloomberg’s office on Aug. 19. The Mayor’s office indicated it would supply the information in 20 days and failed to do so.

“Mayor Bloomberg’s support for the Ground Zero mosque needs to be fully explored. New Yorkers are going to want to know how closely he’s working with the radicals supporting the Ground Zero mosque,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “It is troubling that the Mayor’s office cannot be bothered to comply with the open records law. What is the Mayor’s office hiding?”

Judicial Watch is asking for:

•All records of communication between the Office of the Mayor and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf concerning the Cordoba Initiative’s proposed Cordoba House project.

•All records of of communication between the Office of Mayor Bloomberg and any of the following entities

1. Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR);

2. Islamic Society of North America (ISNA);

3. International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT);

4. American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASTHMA);

5. American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC);

6. Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).

via creepingsharia.wordpress.com
image via mikebloomberg.blogspot.com heh heh... check out who he wants as VP on the link in 2008.
the whole story should of unraveled for us then

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Social Media Is TIME's Person Of The Year

At only 26 years old, Facebook’s founder and CEO becomes the youngest person to win this award since US pilot Charles Lindbergh in 1927.

ironically when Mark Zuckerberg and his company claim that Holocaust denial and threats against a Jewish state are political speech he has a lot in common with Charles Lindbergh.

image via potato potato  source via allfacebook.com

The Reason China Opposes The Arab World On Jerusalem

"Taiwan is our Jerusalem." China may not see eye-to-eye with Israel on many issues--and not even on Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital--but they do know where Israel is coming from.

from May 14th, 2010, on Al Jazeera (Google Translation):

A dispute on Jerusalem between the Chinese and the Arab delegation, attending the fourth session of the Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum in the port city of Tianjin. The dispute erupted after Chinese officials refused to sign a joint document with the delegation, which includes the Arab Foreign Ministers, East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state. According to Al Jazeera's correspondent in China, Ezzat Shahrour that the Arab delegation was surprised at the last minute when Chinese officials refused to sign the document, despite all the efforts that have been made at the last minute in order to contain the situation.

via daledamos.blogspot.com

it has been a long time since I have seen a new angle on the Middle East

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Obama's Media Friends Attempt to Demonize Marijuana

More high school seniors report using marijuana than smoking cigarettes in the last 30 days, a government survey finds. The U.S. drug czar blames Prop. 19 and similar measures.

Obama administration drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said young people had taken the "wrong message" from such state measures as Prop. 19. (Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times / December 15, 2010)

via latimes.com

the problem here is the Democrats are demonizing one vice. Kids abuse vices. We know this. No one says that everyone should be on pain killers either. The problem is that our government is concentrating on abstinence which is harmful, when in fact they should concentrate on moderation and responsible behavior.

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The Europeans move in for the kill

MelaniePhillips
The Spectator
14 December '10
The Telegraph reports:

Europe’s foreign ministers have threatened to recognise an independent Palestinian state to punish Israeli refusal to halt ‘illegal’ Jewish settlements. A text, seen by The Daily Telegraph, warned of EU ‘readiness, when appropriate, to recognize a Palestinian state’ increasing the international pressure on Israel following the effective collapse of direct Middle East peace talks last week.
‘There is growing frustration with Israel after its refusal to commit to a new settlements freeze and patience is running out,’ said a European diplomat.

So let’s get our heads round this.
Israel, the victim of six decades of Arab aggression, is to be punished for frustrating ‘peace’ talks with its aggressors in which it is prepared to take part, ....
(Read full "The Europeans move in for the kill")

via calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com

Europe... same old... same old

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How ‘experts’ got it wrong

Op-ed: Demographic threat hyped up, Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria unnecessary

Moshe Dann
Opponents of Israel's legal and historical rights to Judea and Samaria raise a powerful and persuasive argument: Israel faces a "demographic crisis;" the Arab population between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River will soon outnumber that of the Jews, and the nature of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state is in danger. They argue, therefore, that Israel must withdraw from what was known, under Jordanian occupation, as the "West Bank," (to distinguish it from Jordan's "East Bank"), including "eastern Jerusalem," the Old City and Temple Mount, and create a second Arab Palestinian state (after Jordan); the Golan Heights, in this plan, would revert to Syria. This, they argue, would avoid charges of "occupation," "oppression," "racism," "apartheid," etc.; it does not relate to Palestinian Arabs who are Israeli citizens, or the "Nakba," (Catastrophe) in 1948, Israel's creation and what Palestinians consider "occupation."
The "demographic argument" was used to convince former PM Yitzhak Rabin to agree to the Oslo Accords, and was promoted by the dominant left-wing media, former PMs Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, Israeli ministers and politicians, and PM Netanyahu. There's only one problem: it's a myth, part of a campaign to destroy the settlement movement; it has been thoroughly refuted by various studies, including Bar-Ilan University's The Million Person Gap and work undertaken by The Institute for Zionist Strategies,
The fact is that today, nearly all non-Israeli Palestinians living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza are under the PA. The Gaza Strip, under Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, is a separate entity, with its own army and administration, supported by the PA, but opposed to its controlling group, Fatah. "The occupation," therefore, at least that since 1967, refers to territory, not people.
The legal status of the area is disputed and has never been adjudicated by a court of law. Organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the UN and EU, political groups, and governments regard the area as "occupied" by Israel, without determining to whom it belongs; the question of its sovereignty is moot, subject to negotiation.
According to the Oslo Accords, Judea and Samaria was divided into three regions: A (under total PA control); B (under PA civilian control); C (under Israeli control). No Jews reside in areas A and B (comprising an estimated million-and-a-half residents); all Jewish communities/settlements (over 300,000 Jews) are in area C, along with about a few tens of thousands of Arab Palestinians (there are no accurate figures). In addition, over 200, 000 Jews live in new neighborhoods of Jerusalem established after 1967; these areas have already been virtually annexed.
There’s no crisis
If the entire area of Judea and Samaria is considered as a single unit, the demographic argument looks overwhelming. But, when the areas are separated – viewing area C alone, as distinctly Jewish – the perspective is quite different; there is no demographic threat.
Similarly, large concentrations of Arabs reside in pre-1967 Israel, primarily in the Negev and the Galilee. Looking at the entire population between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River, using the demographic argument, the situation looks grim, with Jews and Arabs almost equal. When the areas are seen as discrete, however, the perspective changes, and the alleged demographic threat dissipates.
The argument that withdrawal is necessary to "preserve Israel's Jewish character," moreover, is vague, and contradicts the support for including hundreds of thousands of non-Jews, Arabs, Africans, and others seeking to live in Israel. Concern for the humanitarian rights of illegal immigrants seems to trump maintaining Israel's Jewish identity.
Moreover, an estimated several hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union who are not Jewish, many with no connection to Judaism, were given citizenship. Although many of them serve in the IDF and have applied for conversion, this is a controversial issue between those who expect sincere commitment according to Jewish law, and those who demand less, or none at all.
In other words, demographic arguments, including questions like, "Who is a Jew?" and "What is Israelism?" are complicated societal issues which cannot be resolved, or understood by simplistic notions, manipulating statistics, and hyping scare tactics.
There is no crisis, nor urgency to abandon Judea and Samaria in order to save the State of Israel. In fact, given realistic assessments of the threat a Palestinian state poses to Israel, the most reasonable solution is to leave things as they are.
The author is an historian, writer and journalist living in Jerusalem

via docstalk.blogspot.com

image via en.wikivisual.com

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