tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12393122191558616642024-02-19T07:49:21.531-08:00Judaism and IsraelWhy am I, a Jewish 79 year old, so outraged about Israel's oppression of Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza? In part because I have observed for 46 years actions of the Israeli government irreconcilable and inconsistent with the morals, values, laws, principles and teachings of Judaism I hold most dear. The resolution to the conflict is intense global pressure on Israel through the BDS Movement and other efforts to demand peace with justice for Palestinians.Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-76660933668837465402019-02-06T10:05:00.002-08:002019-02-06T10:05:59.030-08:00Shame on the United States Senate and the Hypocritical PEP's!!!!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Y<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">esterday the United States Senate passed S.1, the unconstitutional
anti-BDS bill a vote of 77-23. Here are the Democratic senators (some are PEP’s
– Progressive Except for Palestine) who believe that those who support BDS deserve
to be punished for doing so: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Bennet (D-CO)</span>; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blumenthal
(D-CT); Cantwell (D-WA); Cardin (D-MD); Casey (D-PA);
Coons (D-DE); Cortez Masto (D-NV); Duckworth (D-IL); Hassan
(D-NH);Jones (D-AL); Klobuchar (D-MN); Manchin (D-WV);
Menendez (D-NJ); Murray (D-WA); Peters (D-MI); Rosen (D-NV);
Schumer (D-NY); Sinema (D-AZ); Smith (D-MN); Stabenow
(D-MI); Tester (D-MT); Warner (D-VA);<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whitehouse (D-RI); Wyden (D-OR)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The
77 members the United States Senate are now on record as saying that my
abbreviated list below of Israel’s violations of the international human rights of
Palestinians (a few of the reasons I support BDS) do not reach a sufficient level of concern for United States
citizens to be allowed to pressure Israel into ending them. This Senate continues
to cement its place on the wrong side of history as its supports, encourages
and blesses Israel’s cruelty and brutality: </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The illegal occupation of
the West Bank which began in 1967. On November 22, 1967, the United
Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 noting its charter commits
states to renounce the acquisition of territories and then saying compliance
requires “Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the
recent conflict.” Israel has been in violation of the United Nations Charter
Article 2 and Resolution 242 for 50 years as of this past June 10. It is the
longest violation in the world.;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The illegal settlements beginning
in early September, 1967, when Prime Minister Levi Eshkol approved the first
settlement in the West Bank by Jewish Israelis, Kfar Etzion , despite the
opinion of Legal Counsel to the Foreign Ministry, Theodor Meron, who wrote
unequivocally, "My conclusion is that civilian settlement in the
administered territories contravenes the explicit provisions of the Fourth
Geneva Convention"; i.e., “The Occupying Power shall not deport or
transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies”. As
of 2017, there are now 123 settlements where approximately 350,000 Jewish
Israeli squatters live in government subsidized or privately financed
settlements built on confiscated Palestinian land plus 200,000 squatters in
East Jerusalem under Israel’s unrecognized claim of annexation. West
Bank’s squatters are citizens of Israel, live under its civil code, and
have full Israeli voting rights while its 2.5 million West Bank
Palestinians live in 100% segregated communities under military law;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The killing and injuring
over 100,000 Palestinians;<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a;"> including
the recent murder by Israeli settlers of a Palestinian father of four during a
raid on the al-Mughayyir village in the central occupied West Bank district of
Ramallah on Saturday night. Palestinian officials and local media outlets
reported that a group of Israeli settlers raided the village under the
protection of armed Israeli soldiers — a common occurrence in areas of the West
Bank located close to settlements. There has been an increase of hate
crimes by Jewish squatters by 69% in 2018 over 2017;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The torturing of over
10,000 Palestinians;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The unequal access to
water, restricting the availability of water for the Palestinian
population while providing ample water to squatters for irrigation and pools;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The theft of Palestinian
land, - using extrajudicial process to now control 60% of the West
Bank;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The destruction of homes
(almost 50,000) since 1967 (2% for security reasons); <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The building a wall 85%
in the West Bank, separating Palestinians from lands and schools;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The construction of
apartheid roads in the West Bank where travel by Palestinians is prohibited;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The destruction of 800,000
olive trees (equal to destroying all the trees in Central Park 33 times), the
source of income for many Palestinians; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The establishment of two
separate legal systems - one (military) law for Palestinians and another
(Israeli) law for squatters as well as failing to enforce criminal laws against
squatters for killing Palestinians while punishing Palestinians for minor
infractions; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The restriction of movement
by creating numerous checkpoints, most not for security purpose but simply
to harass and humiliate Palestinians by waiting in long lines to enter Israel
for work or medical treatment or to get from one West Bank town to another for
family or business reasons;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The placement in
administrative detention thousands of Palestinians for prolonged periods
of time, without informing them of charges and/or without trial, 446 as of July
2014;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The four invasions of choice by Israel
into Gaza since 2006, using excessive force (which some believe amounts to war
crimes), including in 2014 in which over 2000 Palestinians, mostly women and
children and two-thirds civilians, were killed and over 96,000 houses and
structures were destroyed or damaged and, most recently the murders of 210 Palestinians and the wounding of 1800 in the
Gaza Strip in the six month March of Return beginning with the Passover
Massacre on March 30, 2018 as Palestinians protested along the fence with Israel
demanding their right to return to the homes and land their families were
expelled from 70 years ago;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #38444d; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The 3 year old uber-malicious Canary Mission, an online blacklist that
smears students & faculty critical of Israeli state policies, writes
distorted descriptions about them & tells prospective employers not to hire
them;</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officially
ceasing all assistance to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Since he took office, President Trump has slashed some $500 million in US aid
to Palestinians, leaving many organizations and aid programs strapped for cash;</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week
that he would be expelling the Temporary International Presence in Hebron
(TIPH), an international observatory task force that monitors Israeli human
rights violations in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron; </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Identification with racists like Roseanne Barr who said “settlers
are the pioneers at the forefront of the State of Israel” and compared BDS to a
Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses:</span> while in Jerusalem she was
accompanied by Culture Minister Miri Regev whose admiration for Barr was on
open display. The two also share the trait of being racist loudmouths: Regev
has <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-how-a-likud-mk-talked-her-way-to-the-top-1.5277198" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #043464;">called</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> African refugees a “cancer” and openly stated that she
is “happy to be a fascist”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Shame on the United States Senate and the hypocritical PEP's!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-70283522584452518462019-02-03T09:18:00.000-08:002019-02-03T09:18:23.431-08:00Unhinged Lunatics and Their Enablers<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Were you watching Lawrence O’Donnell the night of
September 9, 2016? Donald Trump had just said </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If
Iranian boats ‘make gestures’ at us, they’ll be “shot out of the water”. On his
show that evening, Lawrence O’Donnell responded “(A) reasonable person would
listen to that and say, no reasonable human being could ever mean that. The
trouble is an unhinged mad man just said it into a microphone during his
presidential campaign in public within the last two months of a campaign where
the trying to convince the American voters that he should be the commander in
chief. It’s in the week of the commander in chief forum and this unhinged
lunatic says if people in their little boats make gestures to anyone on our
destroyers, they will be shot out of the water thereby initiating an act of war
against Iran. How do we know that this lunatic doesn’t mean every word of this?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">As you know, one goal of the BDS
movement is to end Israel’s violations of the human rights of Palestinians. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Mitchell Plitnick,
former <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">director of the US Office of B’Tselem:
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories,
and former co-director of Jewish Voice for Peace.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> has written a powerful thought
article <a href="https://lobelog.com/connecting-palestinian-rights-to-u-s-civil-rights/">Connecting
Palestinian Rights To U.S. Civil Rights</a>. He concludes: A white supremacist murdered Jews in a synagogue in an
unprecedented attack. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The White House is
run by a man who himself has repeatedly shown his disdain for Jews and his
tolerance, if not agreement, with white supremacy</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">. As the Jewish state of Israel
drifts further and further into a nationalist and anti-democratic reality, and
report after report confirms the danger white supremacy represents, the Senate
is attacking the First Amendment in order to undermine a non-violent
boycott movement. Men and women of color stand accused of anti-Semitism for
defending a people who have had no rights under Israeli rule for over half a
century. That isn’t sustainable. The times are changing for liberals and
progressives in the United States. Support for the rights and protection of
Jews will need to be reconciled with the inalienable rights of Palestinians.
And if the Palestinian cause can be connected to the cause of civil rights in
the United States, there might finally be </span></span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">enough pressure to change U.S.
policy—and ultimately Israeli policy as well.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Speaking
of unhinged lunatics, here is <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2019/02/02/attacks-jewish-settlers-surge-israel-stays-silent/hKPFobyaBOhI6p8dfksTlL/story.html">the
latest report on the fanatic Jewish zealots</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“As attacks by Jewish settlers surge, Israel
stays silent - A gang of a dozen or so armed Jewish settlers descended from a
hilltop outpost to the Palestinian village below and opened fire, witnesses
said. Israeli soldiers arrived, and instead of stopping the settlers, the
witnesses said, they stood by or clashed with the villagers. In the melee,
Hamdy Naasan, 38, a Palestinian father of four, was shot and killed….While
Palestinian and United Nations officials have condemned the violence — Nickolay
Mladenov, the UN envoy to the Middle East, described the shooting in
al-Mughayyir as “shocking and unacceptable” — Israel’s right-wing government
has remained conspicuously silent, wary of alienating settlers and other
potential supporters in an election year. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
who is seeking a fifth term, is vying with other right-wing rivals for the
settlers’ support. He is facing bribery investigations and his strongest
political challenge in years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">And, in reaction to this murder by these unhinged
lunatics and 50 years of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, here is the
reaction of the United States Senate. In a procedural vote on S.1, the
unconstitutional anti-BDS bill <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>these
senators, most of them “PEPs” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Progressive
Except on Palestine) voted against human and civil rights and justice for all to
undermine this non-violent boycott movement: Blumenthal (D-CT) - Cardin (D-MD) - Casey (D-PA) - Coons (D-DE)
- Duckworth (D-IL) - Hassan (D-NH) - Klobuchar (D-MN) - Markey (D-MA) - Menendez
(D-NJ) - Schumer (D-NY) - Stabenow (D-MI) - Tester (D-MT) - Warner (D-VA) - Whitehouse
(D-RI) - Wyden (D-OR). However, as a sign of optimism, these
senators, some of them candidates for the Democratic nomination in 2020, had
the spine and the courage the others lacked to vote against the bill <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baldwin (D-WI) - Booker (D-NJ) -
Brown (D-OH) - Carper (D-DE) - Durbin (D-IL) - Feinstein (D-CA) - Gillibrand
(D-NY) - Harris (D-CA) - Heinrich (D-NM) - Hirono (D-HI) - Kaine (D-VA) - Leahy
(D-VT) - Merkley (D-OR) - Murphy (D-CT) - Peters (D-MI) - Reed (D-RI) - Sanders
(I-VT) -Schatz (D-HI) - Shaheen (D-NH) - Udall (D-NM) - Van Hollen (D-MD) - Warren
(D-MA)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">What
about other Democratic politicians, not senators? Here
is a headline from yesterday’s Boston Globe. <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2019/01/28/prominent-democrats-form-pro-israel-group-counter-skepticism-left/VuIx17sncBiPel0elNwF7H/story.html">Prominent
Democrats Form Pro-Israel Group to Counter Skepticism on the Left</a> . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Several prominent veteran Democrats, alarmed by the party’s drift
from its long-standing alignment with Israel, are starting a new political
group that will try to counter the rising skepticism on the left toward the
Jewish state by supporting lawmakers and candidates in 2020 who stand
unwaveringly with the country. With polls showing that liberals and younger
voters are increasingly less sympathetic to Israel, and a handful of vocal
supporters of Palestinian rights arriving in Congress, the new group — the
Democratic Majority for Israel — is planning to wage a campaign to remind
elected officials about what they call the party’s shared values and interests
with one of the United States’ strongest allies. “Most Democrats are strongly
pro-Israel, and we want to keep it that way,” said Mark Mellman, the group’s
president and a longtime Democratic pollster. “There are a few discordant
voices, but we want to make sure that what’s a very small problem doesn’t
metastasize into a bigger problem.” The group, whose board includes former
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and a former Clinton administration housing
secretary, Henry Cisernos, will create a political action committee later this
year and may engage in Democratic primaries, Mellman said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">“A few discordant voices”? Is he referring to the 22 Democratic
United States Senators?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">I have a great deal of respect for Jennifer Granholm. When I was
the Public Interest Adviser at Harvard Law School, Jennifer was one of the
students who would always make herself available to sit on panels I put
together to encourage other students to pursue careers in public interest and
public service. This week I emailed her material referring to my support for
BDS and including the news article about the murder of a Palestinian by a
Jewish Israeli “squatter” (illegal resident) and a link to the Michelle
Alexander article with a request that she reconsider her decision to sit on
that board. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Finally, in an
interview he gave to Fox News (no relation) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-england-patriots-robert-kraft-donald-trump_us_5c55552ce4b087104753b74b">Robert
Kraft says</a> Trump was “working very hard to serve the best interests of the
country.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">With that in mind, if
you care, good luck to your team, whether it’s the Los Angeles Rams or, as a
close friend calls them, the New England Trumpettes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-33531155191801598602018-08-15T11:29:00.000-07:002018-08-15T11:29:11.685-07:00Thoughts On the Ongoing Massacres in Gaza - July 2018 <br />
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Not- so-
good afternoon<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">BOSTON GLOBE July 20. 2018<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333;">Just hours after Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor
Lieberman warned that Israel is gearing up to launch a "</span><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-hamas-leaders-forcing-israeli-into-large-and-painful-gaza-war/"><span style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">large and
painful military operation</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">" in Gaza
that would rival Operation Protective Edge—a 2014 </span><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/07/28/ugly-resolution-us-politicians-back-israels-assault-gaza"><span style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">assault</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> that killed more than 2,000 Palestinians—the
Israeli military carried out "</span><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/20/middleeast/israel-launches-attack-in-gaza/index.html"><span style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">wide-scale</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">" airstrikes and deployed tanks against “militant
sites across Gaza on Friday following weekly anti-occupation protests along the
border fence”.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">WHY?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b>BOSTON
GLOBE July 22, 2018 </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“Even after last week’s cease-fire ended the fiercest
exchange of rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes since the 2014 war, <b>incendiary
kites and balloons</b> continued to float from Gaza into Israel, setting off
damaging fires to farmlands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">That is
what it says. Gazans continued to release <b>incendiary kites and balloons</b>
from Gaza into Israel, which were said to have set “off damaging fires to
farmlands”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">You heard
it right. Israel carried out wide-ranging airstrikes and deployed tanks against
(so it is said) “militant sites” because Palestinians, during their ongoing
protest against intolerable living conditions had resorted to releasing <b>incendiary
kites and balloons</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Let me
repeat that. Israel carried out wide-ranging airstrikes and deployed tanks
against (so it is said) “militant sites” because Palestinians, during their
ongoing protest against intolerable living conditions had resorted to releasing
<b>incendiary kites and balloons</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">For some,
this picture (by Carlin) is worth many articles describing the ongoing massacre
of Palestinians in Gaza.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cB4D9L_-5yGa6uowPcOsJHzxRvNDtbX-dXiSNTBMUYQ9SmzDp7nQoVpz67ln3f7jfcLSpDcOpDJOv8FAxIRvGwpP0iR83QjyIU5FTrUt6DV1khMHxhy3T8kQxB-I7wJ8JqegPAFXl4ew/s1600/were+just+defending+ourselves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="600" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cB4D9L_-5yGa6uowPcOsJHzxRvNDtbX-dXiSNTBMUYQ9SmzDp7nQoVpz67ln3f7jfcLSpDcOpDJOv8FAxIRvGwpP0iR83QjyIU5FTrUt6DV1khMHxhy3T8kQxB-I7wJ8JqegPAFXl4ew/s320/were+just+defending+ourselves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">First,
Israel converts de facto apartheid into de jure apartheid by enacting the
Nation-State law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Then it
continues to massacre, and make life intolerable for, Palestinians in order to
effect ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, Gaza and in Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Israel’s
end-game for decades, its only goal, is, not a just peace or two-states but a
West Bank with no Palestinians that can be annexed legally to Israel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded to the ongoing massacre of
Palestinians by Israel, saying “he was ‘gravely concerned” about the escalation
and called on both sides to step back from the prospect of another devastating
conflict adding “Any further escalation will endanger the lives of
Palestinians and Israelis alike, deepen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
and undermine current efforts to improve livelihoods.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Yes. He
called on “<b>both sides</b>” to step back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">You can be
certain that his “whining” will be totally ineffective in pressuring Israel to
end its 40 year brutal oppression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Then there is the role of the United States in supporting the ongoing decade
of massacres in Gaza. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333;">The airstrikes began to slam
Gaza just hours after Israeli soldiers gunned down at least </span><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/israeli-fire-kills-three-palestinians-during-gaza-protests-1.3571608"><span style="color: #336699;">three Palestinians</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> during
anti-occupation demonstrations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says one of its
soldiers was killed by retaliatory gunfire from the Palestinians.
"Palestinian defense forces fired back at Israeli snipers who have been
murdering Palestinian men, women, and children for weeks," </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AliAbunimah/status/1020371816286687233"><span style="color: #336699;">noted</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> journalist
Ali Abunimah. Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for
Palestinian Rights, added: "Israeli snipers shoot and kill scores of
unarmed Palestinian protesters in Gaza, including kids, then calls it
self-defense. When a Palestinian sniper fires at one Israeli soldier, Israel
bombs Gaza with F-16s and preps for all out war." "Israel has been
planning another war on Gaza for some time. They recently conducted exercises,
declared Friday as an ultimatum day, and the Americans to wrote a WaPo oped to
open the Israeli propaganda campaign," Munayyer noted, referring to
an </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/help-is-at-hand-for-palestinians--if-hamas-sets-them-free/2018/07/19/7262f224-8ac7-11e8-85ae-511bc1146b0b_story.html"><span style="color: #336699;">opinion piece</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> co-authored
by White House adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, which blames Hamas
for Israel's brutal decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory.
"Seems Israel is hell bent on war, again," Munayyer added.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza comes just days after Israel further
intensified its collective punishment of the Palestinian people by </span><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/10/intensifying-genocidal-policies-collective-punishment-israel-shuts-down-gazas-main"><span style="color: #336699;">imposing "genocidal" trade restrictions</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> on the occupied territory. As <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Common Dreams</span></em> reported,
Israel's legislature also </span><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/07/19/enshrining-apartheid-law-israeli-legislature-approves-bill-making-nations"><span style="color: #336699;">approved a bill this week</span></a><span style="color: #333333;"> that enshrines "apartheid into law" and
makes the 1.8 million Arabs living in Israel second-class citizens.<b> COMMON
DREAMS July 20, 2018<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Kushner’s op-ed, the kind of truly fake news the MSM spews in the United
States, is another example of the Israel propaganda campaign exposed in <a href="https://www.occupationmovie.org/">Occupation of the American Mind</a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Israel’s
brutal oppression began when …… 1948?, 1967? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">And in 1987
when Israel brutally repressed a Palestinian attempt to opposed the occupation
and the settlements, one consequence was the founding of Hamas in 1987 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Here are
excerpts from Wikipedia on Hamas and the First Intifada.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-left: 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Hamas was founded in 1987,</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#cite_note-17"><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; text-decoration: none;">[17]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#cite_note-18"><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt; text-decoration: none;">[18]</span></sup></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> soon after the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada" title="First Intifada"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0b0080; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; text-decoration: none;">First Intifada</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> broke out. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The <b>First Intifada</b> or <b>First
Palestinian Intifada</b> was a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_people" title="Palestinian people"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Palestinian</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion" title="Rebellion"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">uprising</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> against
the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Israeli</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Civil_Administration" title="Israeli Civil Administration"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">occupation</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bank" title="West Bank"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">West Bank</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip" title="Gaza Strip"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Gaza</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-LockmanBeinin1989_5-6"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[6]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> The
uprising lasted from December 1987 until the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid_Conference" title="Madrid Conference"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Madrid
Conference</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> in 1991, though some date its conclusion to 1993, with the
signing of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Accords" title="Oslo Accords"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Oslo Accords</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-Nasrallah56-7"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[7]</span></sup></a><sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></sup><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The
uprising began on 9 December,</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-EdSaid-8"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[8]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> in
the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabalia_Camp" title="Jabalia Camp"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Jabalia</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee_camp" title="Refugee camp"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">refugee
camp</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> after an Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) truck collided with
a civilian car, killing four Palestinians.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBerman201141-9"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[9]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-OmerMan2001-10"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[10]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-11"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[11]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> In
the wake of the incident, a protest movement arose, involving a two-fold
strategy of resistance and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience" title="Civil disobedience"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">civil disobedience</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">,</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-12"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[12]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> consisting
of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_strikes" title="General strikes"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">general strikes</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott" title="Boycott"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">boycotts</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Civil_Administration" title="Israeli Civil Administration"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Israeli Civil Administration</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> institutions
in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip" title="Gaza Strip"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Gaza Strip</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bank" title="West Bank"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">West Bank</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, an
economic </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott" title="Boycott"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">boycott</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> consisting of refusal to work in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_settlement" title="Israeli settlement"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Israeli settlements</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> on Israeli products,
refusal to pay taxes, refusal to drive Palestinian cars with Israeli
licenses, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graffiti" title="Graffiti"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">graffiti</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barricade" title="Barricade"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">barricading</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">,</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-13"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[13]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-14"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[14]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and
widespread </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_stone-throwing" title="Palestinian stone-throwing"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">throwing of stones</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktail" title="Molotov cocktail"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Molotov
cocktails</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> at the IDF and its infrastructure within the West Bank and
Gaza Strip. Israel, deploying some 80,000 soldiers and initially firing live
rounds, killed a large number of Palestinians. In the first 13 months, 332
Palestinians and 12 Israelis were killed.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-Cronin-15"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[15]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Given
the high proportion of children, youths and civilians killed, it then adopted a
policy of 'might, power, and beatings,' namely "breaking Palestinians'
bones".</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-Cronin-15"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[15]</span></sup></a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-pearlman-16"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[16]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> The
global diffusion of images of soldiers beating adolescents with clubs then led
to the adoption of firing semi-lethal plastic bullets.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-Cronin-15"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[15]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> In
the intifada's first year, Israeli security forces killed 311 Palestinians, of
which 53 were under the age of 17.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-Cronin-15"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[15]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Over
the first two years, according to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Save_the_Children" title="Save the Children"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Save the
Children</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, an estimated 7% of all Palestinians under 18 years of age
suffered injuries from shootings, beatings, or tear gas.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-pearlman-16"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[16]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Over
six years the IDF killed an estimated 1,162–1,204</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-Nasrallah61-17"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[17]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Palestinians.
Between 23,600–29,900 Palestinian children required medical treatment from IDF
beatings in the first 2 years.</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada#cite_note-18"><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 8.5pt;">[18]</span></sup></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">So, Israel was, in a way, the founder of Hamas.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">And a few years earlier, Israel similarly founded Hezbollah, a consequence
of Israel’s invasion of, and massacres in, Lebanon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">With all that in mind, it is inconceivable to me
that anyone concerned with peace and justice would oppose the non-violent BDS
movement.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">Strong global action is required and needed to
end Israel’s massacres, to end its occupations, to close its settlements and to
establish one democratic state with equal rights for all. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-55679788556238380312018-08-15T11:16:00.000-07:002018-08-15T11:16:08.482-07:00The Long Overdue Shunning of Alan Dershowitz<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Here is a column of mine that was published in the August 9, 2018, issue of the Marblehead Reporter.</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b>The Long Overdue Shunning of Alan Dershowitz</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Shunning is quite a valuable tool and, of course, is being
quite effectively used against Donald Trump. The shunning of Alan Dershowitz by
summer residents of Martha’s Vineyard, however, is long overdue. He reacted to
this by saying “I stand by my principles”. By that, I think he means fighting
for civil rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">That
might sound good to some in the United States. But if you are a Palestinian,
you might shun him because of his decades long opposition to their civil and
human rights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Dershowitz
seems to be quite selective in which US presidents he supports. While Donald
Trump is his new BFF, he has constantly attacked Jimmy Carter. Ten years ago,
on May 1, 2008, I posted on my blog “Dershowitz’s Despicable Smear of Jimmy
Carter” in response to an article by Dershowitz “Jimmy Carter for Sale” which <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">would have made Joseph McCarthy proud.
He begins by alleging “recent disclosures of Carter’s …. connections to Arab
oil money” and says that one of these connections is an “unredeemable
anti-Semite” who funds a think tank which hosted a speaker that called Jews
“the enemies of all nations”. He then connects Carter to receiving funds from
an anti-Israel bank. With that he then attacks Carter as having “dirty money”,
being “complicit in evil”, “dependent on Arab oil money” having “deception
bordering on corruption” and concludes that ”His real integrity is
extraordinarily low”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Below
are excerpts from <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="3813298651633311678"></a><a href="https://judaismandisrael.blogspot.com/2008/05/dershowitzs-despiciable-smear-of-jimmy.html">Dershowitz's
Despicable Smear of Jimmy Carter</a> dated May 1, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Alan Dershowitz is, by all
accounts, a brilliant lawyer and an extraordinarily effective advocate for many
individuals, organizations and causes – one of them being the Government of
Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-left: 1in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">CURRENT
NOTE – another is Donald Trump – “Alan Dershowitz picked a bad week to defend President Trump. Nonetheless there
was the famed former Harvard Law professor Wednesday night, sitting on the
stage at the Katharine Cornell Theater on Martha’s Vineyard, arguing that a
special counsel should not have been appointed to investigate Trump’s ties to
Russia. A polite, somewhat subdued, crowd turned out to hear Dershowitz, who is
a longtime summer resident, tell the gathering why he defends the man so
despised by many on the island.” B<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">oston Globe July 19, 2018</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Here is his conclusion about Jimmy
Carter, “He is no better than so many former American politicians who, after
leaving public life, sell themselves to the highest bidder and become lobbyists
for despicable causes.”<br />
<br />
What would justify Alan Dershowitz devoting such time and effort to personally
attacking Jimmy Carter? What “despicable cause” has Jimmy Carter been lobbying
for?<br />
<br />
Not his work in … “Havana so that I could speak directly to the Cuban people
about democracy and human rights.” Page 250, “Palestine: Peace Not
Apartheid”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Here’s a clue “Three of the most
honest, fair and peaceful of our elections have been in Palestine.” Page 250<br />
<br />
Jimmy Carter has become the most respected prominent individual openly critical
of the policies of the Government of Israel vis-à-vis the Palestinians. He has
put in decades working for a “just” peace between the Israelis and the
Palestinians. He has even been talking to everyone about “the terrible plight
of the Palestinians” Page 251;<br />
<br />
He talks about three options available to the Government of Israel – one of
them being “A system of apartheid, with two peoples occupying the same land but
completely separated from each other, with Israelis totally dominant and
suppressing violence by depriving Palestinians of their basic human rights.
This is the policy now being followed.” Page 215; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">CURRENT NOTE - “now” includes July
19, 2018 – “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Israel passed early
Thursday a controversial bill that officially defines Israel as the national
homeland of the Jewish people and asserts that "the realization of the
right to national self-determination in Israel is unique to the Jewish
people," sparking outrage from Israel's Arab community and provoking
concern from the international community.” Ha’aretz July 19, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Alan Dershowitz is a symbol of
those who support peace, justice, love, fairness, human rights, and dignity and
equality for all unless they are Palestinians. Herre’s a few values of
Judaism embodied by the work of Jimmy Carter and opposed by Alan Dershowitz
when the subject is the Palestinians: Exodus 22:20-21 - You shall not wrong a
stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt;”
Deuteronomy XVI, 18:20 – “Justice, Justice shalt thou follow.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">But I do think that his article is
symbolic of what is happening in what is fortunately an increasing smaller
segment of the Jewish community - those who agree with any action taken by the
Government of Israel. As more and more people in this country and around the
world become aware of the injustices and human rights violations being carried
out by that government, these tribal nationalistic oriented individuals and
their organizations are likely to ramp up the volume and intensity of their
personal attacks on, and verbal persecution of, those who criticize the
Government of Israel.<br />
<br />
Dershowitz .. hopes to divert our attention from any recommendations
Jimmy Carter proposes that might bring appropriate pressure on the Government
of Israel to negotiate in good faith for a “just” peace.<br />
<br />
… while Alan Dershowitz is not a public official who, after leaving public
life, sold himself to the highest bidder, he is, in my opinion, actually the
one who is a “lobbyist for a despicable cause” – support for the Government of
Israel as it continues the occupation and deprives millions of Palestinians of
their basic rights and freedoms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The shunning of Alan Dershowitz, as I said, is long overdue.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">To read the entire post and the attack article
by Dershowitz on Jimmy Carter, go to </span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://judaismandisrael.blogspot.com/2008/05/dershowitzs-despiciable-smear-of-jimmy.html" target="_blank">http://judaismandisrael.blogspot.com/2008/05/dershowitzs-despiciable-smear-of-jimmy.html</a></span></span></div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-63996074641062477442018-08-15T11:01:00.000-07:002018-08-15T11:01:02.330-07:00PLEASE READ THIS WARNING FROM GEORGE ORWELL - THERE IS STILL TIME<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 105%;">THERE IS STILL TIME <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">By Ronald W.
Fox<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">IN 1949
GEORGE ORWELL WROTE “1984” AND FORESAW THE DYSTOPIAS OF 2018<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">I find it
difficult to put into a few words the contempt I have for Donald Trump and
Israel’s “Prince of Darkness”, or, as I referred to him recently, “Net and
Yahoo”. The words, corrupt, immoral, unjust, venal and barbaric just
don’t capture their essence. I have read a number of excellent articles that
attempt to condemn them. But, as I mentioned in a previous email, I was,
and have finished, reading 1984 by George Orwell. This book, published in 1949,
is a remarkable warning to us today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">As Erich Fromm
says in the Afterword, here is one option:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">feeling <b>there is still time</b>, and
by responding with greater clarity and greater courage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Here are
excerpts from the book and an excerpt from the Afterword by Erich Fromm
published in 1981.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">“WAR IS PEACE<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">FREEDOM IS SLAVERY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">“If there was hope, it must lie in the
proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five
per cent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party
ever be generated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">“It was not desirable that the proles
should have strong political feelings. All that was required of them was a
primitive patriotism .. and even when they became discontented, as they
sometimes did, their discontent led nowhere, because, being without general ideas,
they could only focus it on petty specific grievances. The larger evil
invariably escaped their notice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">“DOUBLETHINK means
the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously,
and accepting both of them. The Party intellectual knows in which direction his
memories must be altered; he therefore knows that he is playing tricks with
reality; but by the exercise of DOUBLETHINK he also satisfies himself that
reality is not violated. .. DOUBLETHINK lies at the very heart of Ingsoc, since
the essential act of the Party is to use conscious deception while retaining
the firmness of purpose that goes with complete honesty… “To tell deliberate
lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become
inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from
oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective
reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies — all
this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word DOUBLETHINK it is
necessary to exercise DOUBLETHINK. For by using the word one admits that one is
tampering with reality; by a fresh act of DOUBLETHINK one erases this
knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the
truth … “Whatever the Party holds to be the truth IS the truth. It is
impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">(Note – I wrote here
on the page “Trump and Nunes”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">“The Party seeks power entirely for
its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested
solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness; only power,
pure power <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">“Do you begin to see, then, what kind
of world we are creating? It is the exact opposite of the stupid hedonistic
Utopias that the old reformers imagined. A world of fear and treachery and
torment, a world of trampling and being trampled upon, a world which will grow
not less but MORE merciless as it refines itself. Progress in our world will be
progress towards more pain. The old civilizations claimed that they were
founded on love or justice. Ours is founded upon hatred. In our world there
will be no emotions except fear, rage, triumph, and self-abasement. Everything
else we shall destroy — everything. Already we are breaking down the habits of
thought which have survived from before the Revolution. We have cut the links
between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and woman.
But in the future there will be no wives and no friends. Children will be taken
from their mothers at birth, as one takes eggs from a hen. The sex instinct
will be eradicated. Procreation will be an annual formality like the renewal of
a ration card. We shall abolish the orgasm. Our neurologists are at work upon
it now. There will be no loyalty, except loyalty towards the Party. There will
be no love, except the love of Big Brother. There will be no laughter, except
the laugh of triumph over a defeated enemy. There will be no art, no
literature, no science. When we are omnipotent we shall have no more need of
science. There will be no distinction between beauty and ugliness. There will
be no curiosity, no enjoyment of the process of life. All competing pleasures
will be destroyed. But always — do not forget this, Winston — always there will
be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing
subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the
sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of
the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Erich Fromm
in the Afterword refers to 1984 as a “negative utopia” which asks, “can human
nature be changed in such a way that man will forget his longing for freedom,
for dignity, for integrity, for love – that is to say, can man forget that he
is human?” Or does human nature have a dynamism which will react to the
violation of these basic human needs by attempting to change an inhuman society
into a human one. .. (Orwell) assumes that man has an intense striving
for love, for justice, for truth, for solidarity … the basic question which
Orwell raises is whether there is any such thing as “truth”. “Reality”, so the
ruling party holds, “is not external”. Reality exists in the human mind and
nowhere else …whatever the Party holds to be truth is truth”’ … Certainly
Orwell’s picture is exceedingly depressing, .. One can react to this
picture in two ways: either by becoming more hopeless and resigned, or by
feeling <b>there is still time</b>, and by responding with greater clarity and
greater courage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">THERE IS
STILL TIME!!! <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">We are
witnessing a situation analogous to that described in 1984. We have Big
Brothers here and in Israel. We have The Party – Republicans here and Likud
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">We have an
attempt to alter the truth in the United States with Donald Trump lying
thousands of times and Republicans cravenly hiding their heads in the sand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">In Israel we
have Hasbara – lies after lies intended to (and in the past successful)
convince unprincipled and doublethinking politicians (Republicans AND
Democrats) in the United States that brutal Israeli oppressors are simply
protecting themselves and that Palestinian women, children and men seeking to
end the stamping on their faces are terrorists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Further,
Israel’s 30 year Hasbara campaign (doublethink) is described in a powerful post
<a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2018/07/hasbara-is-dead/?utm_source=Mondoweiss+List&utm_campaign=e532d31b27-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b86bace129-e532d31b27-398515813&mc_cid=e532d31b27&mc_eid=48fa4c9688">Hasbara
is Dead </a>from Philip Weiss: “<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 105%;">Hasbara has died. The Israeli effort to “explain” its actions to
the world– that era is over. Israel has given up trying to explain itself to
fair-minded people. Because the fair-minded have all made up their minds; the
slaughter in Gaza has seen to that. And Israel doesn’t think they are fair
anyway. No, its explanations are reserved now for the hard-core supporters. The
hasbara is pure propaganda, aimed at rallying the base. And everyone else is
tuning out.” </span>This propaganda has been revealed and shredded in the
movie <a href="https://www.occupationmovie.org/">Occupation of the American
Mind </a>which can be viewed free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">In 1984
Winston is tortured as he is reeducated, learns the art of “doublethink” and
finally believes that two plus two is 5. Reminds me of one of my favorite
education songs that I used to play during the 1980’s for 1L’s at Harvard Law
School in the six-session seminar I presented during their first three months
before the law school began to funnel them to large law firms at high salaries
so they could repay the law schools for the excessive cost to attend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/07/11/women-law-paint-picture-harassment/aKaSdFykUeaFn3aoLX7VGL/story.html">disservice
law schools did to women students continues today</a> as women are still
encouraged to take BigLaw positions when the law schools have known for decades
about the mistreatment and abuse that lies ahead for women. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">(To me this
song written by Harry Chapin, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y5t-dAa6UA">Flowers are Red,</a> is a
vivid explanation of the defects in most elementary, post-high school and
graduate education – learning how to be a lemming). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Will we all
soon believe that there were more people at Trump’s inauguration than in any
other inauguration in history?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Winston’s
experience in Oceania makes Offred’s life in Gilead seem like Mary Poppins’
work as a nanny or Maria’s position working for the Von Trapp family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">THERE IS
STILL TIME!!!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">For what?
Possibly the only solution. Last year, there was a movement for a <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-general-strike-us-president-day-when-activists-national-facebook-twitter-a7558851.html">National
General Strike</a> . Perhaps it was too soon in 2017. The organizers were
prescient. They saw what was coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">To combat
apartheid and oppression in Israel, support for the <a href="https://bdsmovement.net/">BDS movement</a> is essential. Soon everyone
will understand that the only solution that combines peace with justice is one
democratic state with equal rights for all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">THERE IS
STILL TIME.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good men (and women) to do nothing." - Edmund Burke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-26527411876230583522018-08-15T10:50:00.000-07:002018-08-15T10:50:29.644-07:00IT DID HAPPEN HERE<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">It
Did Happen Here<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Ronald
W. Fox<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">April
20, 2039 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Tomorrow
is my 100<sup>th</sup> birthday. The key to my home in the village of
Marblehead, Massachusetts, hangs on my wall. I wonder who lives there now.
Someday I hope that my descendants will again be able to return to my house and
live there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Was
it really just 19 years ago that the 2020 election was canceled? The then
current United States President declared himself Czar Donald 1.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Soon,
thereafter, he appointed Pastor John Hagee as Minister of Racial Health. Every
member of the Jewish community should have been alarmed knowing since Hagee has
referred to Hitler as a half-breed Jewish descendant of Esau and says the
disobedience of Jews to God gave rise to their persecution for centuries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Many
of the leaders of the Jewish community were silent or urged caution knowing
that Hagee was a huuuuge supporter of Israel (because the bible says that when
Israel is invaded by Russians and Muslims, God will destroy them, the Messiah
will return, those who believe in Jesus will be taken to heaven and those who
don’t (me and my family) will be Left Behind as the world is destroyed in a
global conflagration). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Within
weeks after Minister Hagee declared New England to be the White Anglo Christian
Keystone Outpost (WACKO), Jewish organizations armed themselves and fought
valiantly but were overcome by Hagee’s militia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">The
violence and brutality of his militia forced us to flee our homes, but we were
able to take refuge in northern Maine where we were quickly surrounded. Soon
thereafter with funding supplied by Mexico and equipment provided by
Caterpillar, a wall was built and we were trapped. The area became known as the
Aroostook Zionist Action Grant (AZAG) Strip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Soon
thereafter we began to organize politically and militarily to fight against the
Czar. With support, advice and guidance from Jimmy Carter, we held an election
for delegates to the newly formed Hebrew Aid Members Armed Society (HAMAS) with
Risay Tafara as our first president. Upon hearing that there was an
attempt to establish a democracy within WACKO, Czar Donald 1 immediately
imposed a blockade of the entire AZAG Strip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Within
a few months we were no longer able to obtain sufficient water, electricity,
food, medical supplies, building supplies or any other of the necessities of
daily living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Despite
our pleas to the UN and the EU, nothing happened to alleviate our plight.
On top of that, the Czar had negotiated with the new Canadian Prime Minister,
Unjustin Falsedoe, to extend the blockade along the Canadian border.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">While
I was worried about throwing out my back, I worked with others in the
“Marbleheaders” Unit to dig a tunnel into Saint-Pamphile in an attempt to find
and bring back bread and eggs. Sadly, Hagee’s militia found the tunnel and
destroyed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">We
continued to fight back by building hurling potatoes over the wall but our
resistance was met with attacks from helicopters, missiles, drones and armored
vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Unemployment
reached 80%. Children were suffering from malnutrition. On rare
occasions, some were able to exit through one of the checkpoints connecting us
with WACKO. The process was time-consuming and humiliating. In some instances,
pregnant women lost their children because of the time consumed trying to enter
WACKO on their way to the Boston No Abortion Hospital Complex. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">We
were also extremely upset when one our high school graduates with 1550 on her
SAT’s and a full scholarship to Bowdoin College was not granted permission to
leave AZAG. When she complained, two of the militia tore her from her parents
and took her crying hysterically to a former brig in Portsmouth, Gilead, oops,
I mean New Hampshire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Finally,
in late 2038, with AZAG no longer being inhabitable, we had had enough. We
called for a peaceful protest at the Danforth Checkpoint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">All
went well until someone catapulted strawberries causing a rash on the nose of
one of Hagee’s militia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">At
that point Hagee’s militia began firing through the checkpoint fence, killing
30 and injuring 1400 men, women and children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">A
New York Times reporter, Christian White, interviewed members of Hagee’s
militia and concluded they had acted in self-defense. Another reporter, Roland
Hedley, formerly of Doonesbury reporter (see attached report from him) but now
with Fox News, suggested there might be two sides to the story and that this
might be a case of apartheid and possible ethnic cleansing but the NYT quickly
reassigned him to Myanmar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Minister
Hagee promised a full investigation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">Czar
Donald 1 applauded Hagee’s militia for their restraint and Hagee’s commitment
to peace with justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">The
majority leader of the US House, Donald Trump, Jr., from the newly formed
Nationalist Party, also praised Hagee’s militia and asked “How would you feel,
what would you do, if thousands of terrorists stormed your wall.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">How
WOULD you feel? What WOULD you do? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 12pt;">P.S.
Please don’t try to send me a birthday card. Hagee prohibits all mail for fear
that it might contain coded terror messages and won’t allow us to connect to
Net and Yahoo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-24838699773854849022018-08-15T10:40:00.002-07:002018-08-15T10:40:20.747-07:00PLEASE TELL ME I’M NOT A KHAZARIAN CONVERT TO JUDAISM<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">PLEASE TELL ME I’M NOT A KHAZARIAN CONVERT TO JUDAISM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">by Ronald W. Fox <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, for allaying my fears that I
cannot, based on having been descended from “real” Jewish people living in the
promised land two to three millennia ago, emigrate to Israel and move into a
residence vacated by, really, no one 70 years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/how-to-tell-when-criticism-of-israel-is-actually-anti-semitism/2018/05/17/cb58bf10-59eb-11e8-b656-a5f8c2a9295d_story.html?utm_term=.b8a28c340b2c">this
article in the Washington Post</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">How to Tell When Criticism of Israel is
Actually<span style="color: #111111;"> Anti-Semitism, she warns about
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas resurrecting the old canard that today’s
Jews descend from Khazar converts in a this </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/world/middleeast/palestinians-abbas-israel-jews.html"><span style="color: #2c6cb4;">recent and much-criticized speech</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #2c6cb4;">,</span></span><span style="color: #111111;"> Palestinian Leader Incites Uproar with Speech Condemned
as Anti-Semitic “ci</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">ting a
widely discredited book from the 1970s by Arthur Koestler called ‘The
Thirteenth Tribe,’ he posited that Ashkenazi Jews were descended not from the
biblical Israelites but from the Khazars, a Turkic people who converted to
Judaism in the eighth century.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When my mother-in-law passed away, we saved some books from her
library including “The Thirteenth Tribe”. One day I picked it up and began to
read Chapter 1 “About the time when Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of the
West, the eastern confines of Europe between the Caucus and the Volga were
ruled by a Jewish state, known as the Khazar Empire. … (about) AD 740,
the King, his court and the military ruling class embraced the Jewish faith,
and Judaism became the state religion of the Khazars.” And the beginning of
Chapter II “‘The religion of the Hebrews’, writes Bury ‘had exercised a
profound influence on the creed of Islam and it had been a basis for
Christianity; it had won scattered proselytes; but the conversion of the
Khazars to the undiluted religion of Jehova is unique in history.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Clearly this is a work of fiction from the author of Darkness at
Noon, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Easy enough to confirm. I went to another set of saved books,
the Encyclopaedia Judaica and opened Volume 10 -Jes-Lei. There I found,
to my dismay, nearly six full pages (incredibly small type) in the section on
“KHAZARS” including subsections entitled “Date of the Khazar Conversion to
Judaism” and “The Extent of Khazar Judaism” where it says “While the Khazars
were generally known to their neighbors as Jews .. they seem to have had little
or no contact with the central Jewish organization in Iraq.” (In terms we can
understand, they did not send a delegate to the World Jewish Congress).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But I took heart reading
this entry in Wikipedia on </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khazar_hypothesis_of_Ashkenazi_ancestry">Khazar
Hypothesis of Ashkenazi Ancestry</a><span style="color: #222222;"> from which I
have excerpted this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Khazar
hypothesis of Ashkenazi ancestry, often called the "Khazar myth" by
its critics, is the hypothesis that Ashkenazi Jews are descended from the
Khazars, a multi-ethnic conglomerate of Turkic peoples who formed a
semi-nomadic Khanate in the area extending from Eastern Europe to Central
Asia. The hypothesis draws on some medieval sources such as the Khazar
Correspondence, according to which at some point in the 8th–9th centuries, the
ruling elite of the Khazars was said by Judah Halevi and Abraham ibn Daud to
have converted to Rabbinic Judaism ... In the late 19th century, Ernest
Renan and other scholars speculated that the Ashkenazi Jews of Europe
originated among Turkic refugees who had migrated from the collapsed
Khazarian Khanate westward into Europe, and exchanged their native Khazar
language for Yiddish while continuing to practice Judaism. Though
intermittently evoked by several scholars since that time, the Khazar-Ashkenazi
hypothesis came to the attention of a much wider public with the publication of
Arthur Koestler’s The Thirteenth Tribe in 1976. It has been revived
recently by Eran Elhaik, who in 2012 conducted a study aiming to vindicate
it. Despite skepticism, he reformulated the concept in 2016 by developing
a novel method of genetic analysis that uses the fringe linguistic theories of
the Yiddish expert Paul Wexler. Genetic studies on Jews have found no
substantive evidence of a Khazar origin among Ashkenazi Jews, as opposed to evidence
they have mixed Near Eastern/Mediterranean and Southern European origins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">What a relief that there is
no genetic evidence that I may be of Khazar origin. For years I have been
proudly proclaiming to all that would listen that I am a Kohane. I have even
written a proposal that we give up on Rabbis who seem not have been able to get
the job done and return to the reign of the High Priests. With my expertise on
the grill, I would be able to hit the yearly Yom Kippur sacrifice running.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But then, why did 23andMe
tell some </span><span style="color: #111c24; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">users with Ashkenazi heritage that they may be descended from an
extinct tribe from the Caucasus known as the Khazars?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Just a short term glitch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">While I have no proof, I
think, and I thank, the alliance that worked to create a massive PR campaign to
insure that the American public never got unreasonably upset about Israel’s
violations of international law and possible charges of war crimes, gently
informed 23andMe that any hint that Israelis are descended from converts would
be a gross act of anti-Semitism and could lead to a boycott of the business
(certainly more warranted than those true anti-Semites who are supporting the
BDS movement). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">So, fortunately, recently we
learned in </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://forward.com/news/breaking-news/381367/why-did-23andme-tell-ashkenazi-jews-they-could-be-descended-from-khazars/">Why
Did 23andMe Tell Ashkenazi Jews They Could Be Descended from Khazars?</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111c24; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
genomics company 23andMe has retracted a statement made on the profiles of some
users with Ashkenazi heritage that they may be descended from an extinct tribe
from the Caucasus known as the Khazars, inadvertently wading into a
political-genetic debate with far-reaching implications for Jewish identity and
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The company said in a statement that it will
remove any reference to the theory from its site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111c24;">23andMe, which offers
direct-to-consumer genome testing services, sent out an email last week to
customers, announcing updates to the genetic reports corresponding to different
haplotypes, or genetic groups defined by certain DNA variations. The email
promised that “a major update” of the company’s genetic history reports would
help its customers “gain insights into fascinating and unusual details about
your genome, details that set your story apart.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111c24;">One of the details in
question? That a large portion of Jews may be descended from the Khazars, a
semi-nomadic tribe in the Caucasus that was largely destroyed in 10th-century
C.E. — and not from the Israelites of the Israel/Palestine area from several
thousand years ago. This theory, known as the “Khazar theory,” has been
discredited by geneticists all over the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111c24;">“The origin of the Ashkenazi
Jews has been traced back to a population of Jewish people living between the
Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea before the Roman exile,” the report on the
23andMe website read. “However, research suggests that Ashkenazi Jews who belong
to your haplogroup may descend from a single male who… may have been a member
of the Khazars, an enigmatic Turkic tribe that lived in Central Asia, and that
converted to Judaism in the eighth century A.D.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111c24;">Now, in response to
inquiries from the Forward, 23andMe is saying the inclusion of the Khazar
theory in the company’s latest genetic report — one of many released to
customers on Friday — for some Ashkenazi Jews was “an error”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Works for me!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But then, following up to see where the Khazar Empire (Khazaria)
was located geographically, I found a helpful map which can be found in this
article, <a href="https://www.historytoday.com/nicolas-soteri/khazaria-forgotten-jewish-empire">Khazaria:
A Forgotten Jewish Empire</a>.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -1.5pt;">
And</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> a long review of “Are We All Khazars Now?” b</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">y
Shaul Stampfer (which I am definitely not going to read). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wha!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111c24;">I
thought I could take a stab at writing a frightening account of the
consequences that would result if, indeed, it was true that a high percentage
(80%?) of all those who claim they were Jews were indeed, descendants of some
converts from the Caucasus but I was too late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/leaked-report-israel-acknowledges-jews-in-fact-khazars-secret-plan-for-reverse-migration-to-ukraine/">Leaked
report: Israel acknowledges Jews in fact Khazars; Secret plan for reverse
migration to Ukraine</a> by Jim Wald<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">Israel seems finally to have thrown in the towel. A
blue-ribbon team of scholars from leading research institutions and museums has
just issued a secret report to the government, acknowledging that European Jews
are in fact Khazars. (Whether this would result in <a href="http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/looking-back-at-the-hatikvah-controversy-from-independence-day-the-hope-and-competing-hopes/" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #346f99; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">yet another proposal to revise
the words to “Hatikvah”</span></a> remains to be seen.) At first sight,
this would seem to be the worst possible news, given the Prime Minister’s
relentless insistence on the need for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a “Jewish
state” and the stagnation of the peace talks. But others have underestimated
him at their peril. An aide quipped, when life hands you an etrog, you build a
sukkah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; orphans: 2; outline: none; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">Speaking off the record, he explained, “We first thought
that admitting we are really Khazars was one way to get around Abbas’s
insistence that <a href="http://www.timesofisrael.com/abbas-says-there-will-be-no-israelis-in-palestine/" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #346f99; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">no Jew can remain in a
Palestinian state</span></a>. Maybe we were grasping at straws. But when he
refused to accept that, it forced us to think about more creative solutions.
The Ukrainian invitation for the Jews to return was a godsend. Relocating all
the settlers within Israel in a short time would be difficult for reasons of
logistics and economics. We certainly don’t want another <em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">fashlan</span></em> like
the expulsion of the settlers in the Gaza <em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Hitnatkut</span></em> [disengagement].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">Speaking on deep background, a well-placed source in
intelligence circles said: “We’re not talking about <em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">all</span></em> the
Ashkenazi Jews going back to Ukraine. Obviously that is not practical. The
press as usual exaggerates and sensationalizes; this is why we need military
censorship.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Khazaria
2.0?</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">All
Jews who wish to return would be welcomed back without condition as citizens,
the more so if they take part in the promised infusion of massive Israeli
military assistance, including troops, equipment, and construction of new
bases. If the initial transfer works, other West Bank settlers would be encouraged
to relocate to Ukraine, as well. After Ukraine, bolstered by this support,
reestablishes control over all its territory, the current Autonomous Republic
of Crimea would once again become <a href="http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/164673/crimea-as-jewish-homeland" target="_blank"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #346f99; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">an autonomous Jewish domain</span></a>.
The small-scale successor to the medieval empire of Khazaria (as the peninsula,
too, was once known) would be called, in Yiddish, Chazerai.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">I have already ordered the kit from
23andMe and feel more comfortable going ahead with this but I do have one
concern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">I have been told that my mother’s family
came from a village a short distance from Kiev, Russia. When they tell me that,
should I think that something has been omitted? Should I ask for “further
review”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">As we spiral further into
authoritarianism here under a corrupt, immoral, ignorant President, do I run
the risk I will find out I am a convert and can no longer emigrate to Israel?
Does Ukraine have a Law of Return for Khazarians?</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">PS I did get back my results from 23andMe and, fortunately, while it did uncover some Asian Indian connection, there was none for the Caucasus. HOWEVER, my wife's did show a 2% connection to that region. I always thought that were a mixed marriage. </span></span></div>
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<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-35111736751652700312018-08-15T08:09:00.000-07:002018-08-15T11:37:52.174-07:00My Published Comment in the NYT on the Op-Ed by Ronald Lauder "Israel: This is Not Who We Are"<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Many of you may have already read the op-ed in the NYT by
Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, "Israel: This is Not Who We Are". In many ways, this is an unusually strong criticism from
someone who heads a very influential global organization strongly supportive of
Israel. Here is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/opinion/israel-ronald-lauder-nation-state-law.html?comments=&nlid=21182722#permid=28229381">the op-ed and my comment</a> that was
approved and published online.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">I have also printed my comment below </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ron Fox</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am a Jewish 79 year old who has opposed Israel’s oppression of Palestinians for 46 years.</span><span style="font-size: 14.06px;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Lauder’s concern seems to be that the threat to democracy and equal rights in Israel began this summer. For example, he says, “Zeev Jabotinsky .. always emphasized the need to combine Jewish nationalism with universal humanism.” </span><span style="font-size: 14.06px;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a 2007 blog post I refer to an article, Jabotinsky’s Ghost, in the Boston Sunday Globe Idea Section about Vladmir Jabotinksy’s (1880-1940) views expressed in the 1920’s. “He admonished the Jews to stand up straight .. and to tell the goyim to go to hell… it made no difference whether the colonists behave decently or not.… Zionists must be ready to use physical force.” </span><span style="font-size: 14.06px;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Lauder’s concern should have started 51 years ago when Israel: began its illegal occupation now the longest in the world; allowed illegal settlements so there are now 123; committed thousands of violations of the international human rights of Palestinians; 10 years ago established an inhumane blockade around nearly 2 million Gaza so that women, children and men are now protesting their intolerable living conditions in an area soon to be considered uninhabitable?</span><span style="font-size: 14.06px;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Lauder says, “These events are creating the impression that the democratic and egalitarian dimensions of the Jewish democratic state are being tested.”</span><span style="font-size: 14.06px;"><br style="color: #333333; font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.06px; white-space: pre-wrap;">His warnings may be too little too later. May not the democratic state already be dead, the survivor being a theocratic/apartheid regime? </span></span>Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-47893921769870991112018-08-15T07:40:00.000-07:002018-08-15T11:36:09.621-07:00An Anti-BDS Bill Goes Down to Defeat in Massachusetts<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">An Anti-BDS Bill Goes Down to Defeat in Massachusetts</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Have I ever shared with you my oral and written testimony before a Joint Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature in July 2017 opposing a bill sponsored by the local Jewish Community Relations Council which it disingenuously promoted as an anti-discrimination bill but in reality was aimed at punishing anyone supporting the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestments (BDS) Movement. Fortunately the bill died in the legislature because of the massive opposition.</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">TESTIMONY OPPOSING ANTI-BDS BILL
(S.1689/1685)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">To: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>State
Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee (SARO) Members<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">From: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ronald W. Fox<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Re: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opposition to Anti-BDS Bill (S.1689/H.1685)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Date:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> July 18, 2017<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">ORAL
PRESENTATION<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Ronald
Fox. I am a Jewish 78 year old involved with the Jewish community nearly all my
life and a strong opponent for the last 45 years of Israel’s oppression of
Palestinians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">I am appalled that the Jewish Community
Relations Council wants to punish those pressuring Israel to end its violations
of international human rights. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The occupation of the West Bank
began 50 years ago and is the longest lasting occupation in the world. In 1967,
the first settlement there was approved despite an Israeli government lawyer concluding
that it violated the Fourth Geneva Convention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For 5 years I advised Harvard Law
School students pursuing public interest careers. For the last 25 years, I have
advised unhappy lawyers on how to find satisfying careers in the law. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Will
this new bill prohibit me, a BDS supporter, from providing </span>outplacement
for lawyers leaving legal positions in the Commonwealth? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Jewish
Community Relations Council is not attempting to fight anti-Semitism but rather
using this claim as the basis for intimidating and censoring legitimate
criticism of Israel, a foreign government, the only beneficiary of this bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;">The
JCRC asks you to support these violations of international human rights laws by
Israel:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;">The 50 year occupation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;">The 123 settlements<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;">Killing and injuring of over 100,000 Palestinians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;">Torturing of over 10,000 Palestinians<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Stealing Palestinian
land and control of over 40% of the West Bank; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Demolishing over
48,000 Palestinian structures<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Building a wall
85% inside the green line; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Destroying over
800,000 olive trees; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Distributing water
unequally;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Imposing military
law for Palestinians and civil for squatters (trespassers); <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Establishing
hundreds of disruptive, humiliating checkpoints and barriers; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">Holding thousands
of Palestinians in administrative detention without trial<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">The deaths and
destruction from 4 Gaza invasions since 2006 (killing 2000 in 2014).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
JCRC’s bill will lead to more such human rights violations as over 4 million Palestinians
in the occupied territories </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">continue to
be victimized, terrorized and humiliated<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
by Israel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The JCRC’s support of this
unconstitutional bill: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">is in</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">consistent with American values of democracy,
equality, and justice;<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">violates core
values of Judaism, especially </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">“relieve the
oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” and “</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Justice, Justice
shall you pursue”; and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;">is hypocritical as
contrary to its own stated principle. “We .. remain vigilant in promoting our
nation’s commitment to civil liberties, equality under the law, and social
justice, the mighty pillars on which our nation stands”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The JCRC is surely on the wrong side of
history. Its</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> bill
supports the death of the two state solution and eventually finding Israel
guilty of the crime of apartheid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
urge you to soundly reject the JCRC’s un-American, anti-democratic, unjust,
racist, unconstitutional, pro-apartheid bill </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">punishing those pressuring Israel
to pursue peace with justice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">WRITTEN TESTIMONY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">PROPOSED ANTI-BDS LAW<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
am appalled that the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) wants to punish
those non-violently pressuring Israel to end its violations of international
human rights, civil rights and criminal laws. The JCRC is not attempting to
fight anti-Semitism but rather to intimidate and censor legitimate criticism of
a foreign country, Israel, this bill’s only beneficiary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">PERSONAL BACKGROUND<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
am a Jewish 78 year old born in Lynn who left for college and law school. I spent
three years in the US Army JAG and have lived in Marblehead since 1968 where I
and my wife, Joan, raised our two children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
have been involved with the Jewish community nearly all my life, serving on the
boards or committees of local Jewish temples, a JCC and a federation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife and I, in 1971, established a Havurah
(Jewish Fellowship Community) celebrating Jewish holidays in our homes and
other venues, such as a sunrise Rosh Hashanah service at Plum Island. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">About
this time I became aware of the conflict between the Israelis and the
Palestinians and, since 1972, for the last 45 years I have been a constant
observer, speaker and writer/blogger on the conflict between the Palestinians
and the Israelis, primarily as a critic of Israel’s actions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Related to that </span>I: signed a June
12, 1980 New York Times ad titled “End Middle East Bloodshed” reading in part,
“We are deeply saddened by the failure of the leadership of the Government of
Israel to end its settlement policy and to restrain Jews from hostile actions
in the territories”; put on a <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">debate
on “Israel in Lebanon – Invasion or Self-Defense” (1982); formed a
sister-community relationship with a Bedouin village in Israel whose homes were
being demolished; and publish a blog “Judaism and Israel”. I also support these
Israeli peace with justice groups - B’Tselem <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">- The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied
Territories, Rabbis for Human Rights and th</span>e Israeli Committee Against
House Demolitions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">HOW THE LAW WOULD
AFFECT ME<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
am proud to support BDS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Since
illegally entering Hebron in 1968, the Jewish Israeli squatters there have subjected
Palestinians to the worst abuse in the West Bank through killing, taking
property, harassing schoolchildren, attacking farmers harvesting olives and
destroying their olive trees. Greater Hebron’s population is 120,000
Palestinians, the old city being home to 30,000. One thousand IDF soldiers bar
access of Palestinians to a main street where most Palestinian businesses are while
giving free rein to 650 lawless Jewish squatters. Qiryat Arba is a Jewish
Israeli settlement in Hebron founded in 1968 with a population of 7,108 which
produces <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525;">Hebron Wines. I will
never purchase Hebron Wines and would work diligently with others to encourage a
boycott of the product of these </span>religious fanatics zealots<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525;">From 1984-89 I advised Harvard Law
School students pursuing public interest careers and s</span>ince then have
advised lawyers seeking satisfied positions in the law. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #252525;">I
assume this law would punish me by prohibiting me from providing </span>outplacement
for lawyers in transition from state positions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">THE OCCUPATION<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The occupation of
the West Bank began in 1967.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On November
22, 1967, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 noting its
charter commits states to renounce the acquisition of territories and then saying
compliance requires “</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Withdrawal of Israel
armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">.” I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">srael
has been in violation of the United Nations Charter Article 2 and Resolution
242 for 50 years as of this past June 10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #333333;">THE SETTLEMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;">In early September 1967,
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol approved the first settlement in the West Bank by
Jewish Israelis, Kfar Etzion , despite the opinion of Legal Counsel to the
Foreign Ministry, Theodor Meron, who wrote unequivocally, "My conclusion
is that civilian settlement in the administered territories contravenes the
explicit provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention"; i.e., “The Occupying
Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into
the territory it occupies”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently,
Judge Meron, now on an International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, wrote recently
that his opinion has not changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since then, each successive Israeli government
encouraged and often gave financial incentives to encourage Jewish Israelis to
move to the West Bank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a conversation in 1973 with Winston Churchill III,
Ariel Sharon said “We’ll make a pastrami sandwich of them. We’ll insert a strip
of Jewish settlement in between the Palestinians, and then another strip of
Jewish settlement right across the West Bank, so that in 25 years time, neither
the UN nor the US, nobody will be able to tear it apart”. In July, 1977,
Menachem Begin refused President Jimmy Carter’s request to freeze settlement
activity. In September, 1977, Ariel Sharon, as minister of agriculture, unveiled
“A vision </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">of Israel at
Century’s End” calling for the settlement of 2 million Jews in the occupied
territories. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an April 21, 1978
opinion, the Legal Adviser of the Department of State in the administration of
President Carter, reporting to Congress on the legal status of Israeli
settlements in the occupied territories, stated, “the establishment of the
civilian settlements in those territories is inconsistent with international
law.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 11pt;">By 1980 there were 53 settlements with approximately
12,500 Jewish Israelis squatters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Also in 1980 the UN Security Council passed Resolution</span>
465 stating, "Settlements and International Law – 5. Israel's policy and
practices of settling parts of its population and new immigrants in those
territories constitute a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention … a
serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">By 1988 there were 110 settlements with approximately
63,600 Jewish Israeli squatters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As of 2017, there are now 123 settlements where
approximately 350,000 Jewish Israeli squatters live in government subsidized or
privately financed settlements built on confiscated Palestinian land plus 200,000
squatters in East Jerusalem under Israel’s unrecognized claim of annexation.
West Bank’s </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">squatters
are citizens of Israel, live under its civil code, and have full Israeli voting
rights while </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">its
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">2.5 million West Bank Palestinians
live in 100% segregated communities under military law.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS CAUSED BY SETTLEMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In
addition, the existence and support of the settlements has led Israel to
violate many other human rights laws in its treatment of Palestinians,
including:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">killing
and injuring over 100,000 Palestinians;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">torturing
over 10,000 Palestinians; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">unequal
access to water, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">restricting
the availability of water for the Palestinian population while providing ample
water to </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">squatters for
irrigation and pools;.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">theft
of Palestinian land, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">using extrajudicial
process to now control 60% of the West Bank;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">destruction of homes/other structures, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about 27,000 since 1967 (2%<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for security reasons);<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">building
a wall 85% in the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">West Bank, separating Palestinians from </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">lands and schools; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">destroying
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">800,000
olive trees (equal to destroying all the trees in Central Park 33 times), the
source of income for many Palestinians; </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">establishing
two separate legal systems - one (military) law for Palestinians and another
(Israeli) law for squatters as well as failing to enforce criminal laws against
squatters for killing Palestinians while punishing Palestinians for minor
infractions; </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">restricting
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>movement by </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">creating numerous checkpoints,
most not for security purpose but simply to harass and humiliate Palestinians
by waiting in long lines to enter Israel for work or medical treatment or to
get from one West Bank town to another for family or business reasons;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">placing
in administrative detention </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">thousands of Palestinians for prolonged
periods of time, without informing them of charges and/or without trial, 446 as
of July 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">In addition, on four occasions since 2006, Israel has
chosen to invade Gaza through wars of choice, using excessive force (which some
believe amounts to war crimes), including in 2014 in which over 2000
Palestinians, mostly women and children and two-thirds civilians, were killed
and over 96,000 houses and structures were destroyed or damaged. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">B’Tselem
has documented such acts in frequent reports. I have 42 of them issued from 2001
to 2014 containing over 2000 pages of testimony of witnesses to, and victims
of, the brutality of Israel’s illegal occupation. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">These actions would be abhorrent and illegal
in the United State (substitute Native Americans and Blacks for Palestinians)
and yet the US not only fails to pressure Israel in the UN but has now passed a
10 year $38 billion military aid deal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">VLADMIR
JABOTINSKY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Vladimir Jabotinsky, in the 1920s, preached a ``Greater
Israel," on both sides of the Jordan with a Jewish majority outweighing
the Arab population, to be won by force and guarded, in his famous phrase, by
an ``Iron Wall". He admonished the Jews to stand up straight, to stop
cringing and making excuses, and to tell the goyim ``to go to hell." The
Israeli governments since 1967 have pursued an approach consistent with his philosophy,
making life so miserable for the Palestinians they will emigrate from the West
Bank. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Israel’s delays and excuses for
not engaging in good faith negotiations have been a cover for the goal of ultimately
annexing “Judea and Samaria” (the West Bank). The government of Israel has no
intention of supporting the establishment of a viable contiguous Palestinian
state. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">WHO OPPOSES THE
SETTLEMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
UN General Assembly has passed hundreds of resolutions since 1967 critical of
Israel. In 2015 the UN General Assembly passed 23 resolutions condemning
countries - 20 targeting Israel (exploitation of natural resource, nuclear
proliferation, Palestinian self-determination, human rights, settlements, etc.)
and 3 aimed at the rest of the world). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
US - Since 1972 the US has vetoed 88 UN resolutions condemning and otherwise
criticizing Israel but has voted in favor of 20. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">International
Criminal Court – In 1998, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
defined the transfer by an Occupying Power of parts of its own civilian
population into the territory it occupies as a War Crime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1966) - Israel has signed but has violated these
rights in the declaration including the Right to Self-Determination, the Right
to Equality, the Right to Property, the Rights to an Adequate Standard of
Living and the Freedom of Movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Israeli Officials including former
heads of Shin Bet - In the documentary “Gatekeepers”, six former heads of Shin
Bet deplored most of Israel’s political leaders, not for being too weak but for
being too rigid, hypocritical or indifferent to negotiate with Palestinians.
One, Mr. Shalom, said, “We have become cruel. To ourselves as well, but mainly to
the occupied population”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">On
April 14, 2002, Rabbi Ben-Zion Gold at Harvard Hillel said; “Building of
Israeli settlements in parts of the West Bank has frustrated their
(Palestinians) hopes. ... the conflict cannot be solved by power alone.
Then by what? By removing the basis for the conflict. The Jewish settlements on
the West Bank are a grave and dangerous mistake that have done much harm to
Israel. Micah. ‘He has told you, O man, only to do justice and to love
goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.’ By all means, Humbly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Also in 2002, Archbishop Desmond
Tutu said, “Israel is certainly more democratic that most of its
neighbors. This does not make dismantling the settlements any less of a
priority. . Each one is a step away from the safety deserved
by the Israelis and two steps away from the justice owed to the
Palestinians. If apartheid ended, so can the occupation, but the moral
force and international pressure will have to be just as determined.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>An Israeli -Yitzhak
Frankenthal on July 27, 2002 said, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">“My
beloved son Arik, .. was murdered by Palestinians. The Palestinians … have been
ready to make peace with us; it is we who are unwilling to make peace with them
.. as an occupation force it is we who .. crush the liberty of Palestinians and
it is we who push an entire nation to crazy acts of despair. ” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Nine
mainstream Christian denominations/organizations, including the Methodists, are
so opposed to settlements that they have adopted resolutions not to buy
settlement goods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Foreign
governments – as of September 14, 2015, 136 (70.5%) of the 193 member states of
the United Nations have recognized the State of Palestine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">US
presidents Carter, Bush 41 and Obama opposed the settlements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Secretary of State John Kerry – the NYT reported on
December 4, 2016, that he <span style="color: #333333; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">accused right-wing Israelis of deliberately thwarting efforts to
broker a peace deal with the Palestinians and warned the building of Israeli
settlements was undermining any hope of an agreement to allow two states to
live side by side and i</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">n
the view of the US government, Israel’s accelerated building on
Palestinian-owned land is a deliberate obstacle to peace.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>American Jewish groups, JVP, J-Street
and Peace Now oppose the settlements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">A
Pew Research Center survey in 2013 that found that “just 17% of American Jews
think the continued building of settlements in the West Bank is helpful to
Israel’s security; 44% say that settlement construction hurts Israel’s own
security interests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">WHO SUPPORTS THE
SETTLEMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
Congress of the United States, President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner and
his Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">IS THE TWO STATE
SOLUTION DEAD<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The close to terminal case of the two state
solution has been caused by Israel’s aggressive settlement policy allowing
illegal settlements and military control areas in the West Bank, thereby making
a viable contiguous Palestinians state nearly impossible, physically and
politically. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">There now
are just too many Jewish squatters (Israel calls this “facts on the ground”) scattered
throughout the West Bank. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Israel has control over Area C <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">which covers 60% of the West Bank</b> and
contains all the settlements. Palestinians are not allowed to have any economic
activity in Area C or receive permits to build there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Jimmy
Carter, in a recent interview published in the Prospect, a UK magazine, said
“At this moment there is zero chance of the two-state solution… (<span class="s1"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: black; padding: 0in;">Israel’s Prime Minister) .. does not now and
has never sincerely believed in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.”
</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">Thomas Friedman in an
op-ed published on February 10, 2016, “</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">The peace process is dead. It’s over, folks, so please stop
sending the New York Times Op-Ed page editor your proposals for a two-state
solution between Israelis and Palestinians.” </span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">“At
least </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">one good thing
came out of the election in Israel on Tuesday, when voters appeared to return
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power. Going forward, there will be a lot
fewer illusions about the hawkish prime minister, who once supported a
two-state solution with the Palestinians but explicitly rejected it during the
campaign.” <span class="apple-converted-space">Boston Globe editorial on March
20, 2015. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">WILL IT BE, OR IS IT
ALREADY, APARTHEID</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">While
there is some debate over whether Israel is now guilty of the crime of
apartheid, soon the combined population of the region will include more
Palestinians than Jewish people. At that time, there will be only two options –
a Jewish apartheid state or one democratic state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passage of anti-BDS bills like this one will
have to take some credit or blame for the eventual end of the two-state
solution and the eventual establishment, perhaps, of one democratic non-Jewish
state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Recently,
the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
issued a Report in February entitled “Palestine and the Israeli Occupation,
Issue No. 1 Israeli - Practices towards the Palestinian People and the Question
of Apartheid.” The Executive Summary begins “This report concludes that Israel
has established an apartheid regime that dominates the Palestinian people as a
whole. Aware of the seriousness of this allegation, the authors of the report
conclude that available evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that
Israel is guilty of policies and practices that constitute the crime of apartheid
as legally defined in instruments of international law.” In the full report
appears this recommendation for “national Governments of Member States”, “National
Governments should support boycott, divestment and sanctions activities and
respond positively to calls for such initiatives.” Under pressure from the
United States, the UN Secretary-General demanded the head of the commission
withdraw the report. Rather than do so, she resigned her position. The next
day, the full report and the executive summary were deleted from the website.
No attempts have been made to refute any of the findings or facts which led to
the conclusion that Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">FOUR ARGUMENTS USED
TO BLOCK CRITICISM OF ISRAEL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">There
are four arguments made every time there is criticism of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
first is that any action against Israel is anti-Semitic. This canard has been
used for more than 50 years by Jewish individuals and organizations to
intimidate and pressure clergy, public officials and anyone seeking justice for
Palestinians. I do not recall in the 80’s those opposing apartheid in Boer
controlled South Africa getting smeared as anti-Calvinists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
second is that the conflict can only be resolved by the two parties themselves
without preconditions. Israel has a powerful military, including nuclear
weapons, and for 50 years it has victimized terrorized and humiliated the other
side – Palestinians – and some continue to argue in the face of this that the
priority is Israel’s “security”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
similar to the “dark ages’ here in the United States – when some suggested abused
wives should return to their homes and stop upsetting their husbands or suggesting
in the 1800’s that slaves sit down and negotiate with their plantation owners. The
solutions were to demand first the end of slavery, to demand first the end of
spousal abuse. There should be preconditions. Israel must first end violating
international human rights laws before negotiations begin. As an example of
such perverted thinking, US Senator Ben Cardin’s proposed law would fine
companies that participate in a boycott of Israel and says “We cannot allow
these attempts to bypass direct negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians to go unchecked”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
third is the Palestinians first need to recognize Israel, a Jewish state which
discriminates against its Palestinian and Bedouin residents in Israel and
brutally oppresses Palestinians in the occupied territories. We recoil in
horror at proposals the US become officially a Christian nation but some demand
Palestinians accept a Jewish theocratic state. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
fourth is “Why are you picking on Israel when there are so many countries where
worse things are going on.” Not only has Israel over the last 50 years violated
nearly all international human rights laws, it is maintaining the longest
lasting<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>occupation in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We
in the United States are outraged that President Trump is trying to implement a
Muslim ban and has no compassion for the victims of human rights abuse while there
is widespread support in state and federal legislatures for Israel’s 50 year
abuse of Palestinians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">JCRC’S ACTIONS
VIOLATE THE CORE VALUES OF THE JCRC AND JUDAISM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
JCRC said on November 4 “Our commitment to justice and equality in our nation remain
steadfast” and on the election of Donald Trump “We ..remain vigilant in
promoting our nation’s commitment to civil liberties, equality under the law,
and social justice, the mighty pillars on which our nation stands”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The JCRC, as prime mover of this
proposed law, is acting contrary to its own principles and Israel continues to
violate these core values of Judaism:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Exodus
22:20-21 - You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were
strangers in the land of Egypt”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Deuteronomy
20:19 “When you besiege a city .. you shall not destroy its (fruit) trees ..
for you may eat from them and you shall not cut them down.”; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Exodus 12:49 saying there shall be
one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Isaiah 1:17,27 “Learn
to do well – seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead
for the widow; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>a
basic definition of Judaism “What is hateful unto you, do not do unto your
neighbor” and,</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">especially, a gross violation of
the most fundamental value of Judaism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Deuteronomy 16:20
“Justice, Justice shall you pursue, that thou may live and inherit the land
which the Lord has given you (and in a footnote in the Hertz Second Edition
1980) “</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">there is international justice, which
demands respect for the personality of each and every national group, and
proclaims that no people can of right be robbed of its national life or
territory, its language or spiritual heritage.”</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">CONCLUSION</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
JCRC is trying to convince the legislature this bill simply attempts to
prohibit discrimination in state contracts. As stated in its Action Alert,
“This bill would extend to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (“BDS”)
movement against Israel and would prevent the state from awarding contracts to
those who boycott Israeli businesses and goods manufactured in Israel solely on
the basis of national origin.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">JCRC
knows better that BDS is not anti-Semitic but rather a Palestinian-led movement
inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement with a goal of pressuring
Israel into ending its injustices towards Palestinians. BDS’s underlying
principles are consistent with both Judaism’s and America’s – freedom,
democracy, equality, dignity and justice, JCRC’s values. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The JCRC will not deny any of the
claims of Israel’s human rights violations but will instead use the above
arguments to both deflect criticism and smear those presenting legitimate
criticism of Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. . <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The JCRC is on the wrong side of
history. Its bill supports: the maintenance of what is now the longest
occupation in the world; increased illegal transfers of Israeli citizens to
settlements; more extensions of the illegal wall; continued violations by
Israel of international human, civil and criminal laws with attendant deaths
and destruction of property; the death of the two state solution and eventually
finding Israel guilty of the crime of apartheid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
urge you to soundly reject the JCRC’s un-American, anti-democratic, unjust,
racist, unconstitutional, bill punishing those pressuring Israel to pursue
peace with justice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-71933694753425698262018-08-15T07:12:00.000-07:002018-08-15T11:40:29.972-07:00Pressure by Democrats on Israel Shows Their Support for Human and Civil Rights - Does Not Put them in Peril<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pressure by Democrats on Israel shows
their support for human and civil rights. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.95pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.05pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The factually
challenged rant "<a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/opinion/op_ed/2018/08/robbins_left_s_anti_israel_trend_puts_dems_and_israel_in_peril">Robbins: Left's anti-Israel trend puts Dems - and Israel - in Peril," </a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">8/7/</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">2018) is another in the long 30 year propaganda campaign by
Israel and many representatives of mainstream Jewish organizations to keep
Americans from becoming aware of Israel’s 50+ year illegal occupation, its 123
illegal settlement policy, its over 100,000 violations of international human
rights laws and its potential accusation of war crimes. (Their latest deception
is the unconstitutional Anti-Semitism Awareness Act that would punish universities
that permit students or faculty to legitimately criticize Israel). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The nearly
two million Palestinians living in Gaza have been subject to an inhumane
blockade by Israel in retaliation for Gazans having the audacity to elect Hamas
in a democratic election in 2007. Predictions are that Gaza, because of the
blockade, will be uninhabitable in 2020. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The writer has to know that the
protest in Gaza was instituted, not by Hamas, but by men, women and children
living in intolerable conditions, having nothing to lose. Their peaceful protest,
but recently also consisting of some protestors flying incendiary BALLOONS and KITES
over the fence causing what …. grass fires, was met, starting on March 30 by
Israel’s excessive military action (missiles, snipers, tanks, apache
helicopters), known as the “Passover Massacre”. Since that date, 161
Palestinians have been killed (including a pregnant woman and her 1 year old
daughter from a military plane yesterday) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and over 17,000 wounded. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I agree Democratic
base voters are more hostile to Israel than at any point in decades and Israel
is, indeed, in peril because it refuses to end its brutal treatment of
Palestinians. Many Democratic politicians are also responding to Israel’s
savagery by ignoring the threats of loss of contributions, intimidation and
fear of being smeared with false claims of ant-Semitism. They are speaking out
and signing on to resolutions opposing the cruelty of Israel’s leaders,
especially to children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">How sad that some in the Jewish community, in order to
provide cover for Israel’s injustices, resort to criticizing President Barack Obama
and praising President (pro-tem) Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, David Friedman
and Alan Dershowitz. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Democrats will be rewarded by increased support from
voters for joining a world-wide movement for peace with justice for
Palestinians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.95pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 8.05pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk516476704"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ronald
W. Fox is a 79 years old Jewish resident of Marblehead involved with the Jewish
community nearly all his life and, for 45 years, a critic of Israel’s oppression
of Palestinians. <span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></div>
<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-23221977713663670532018-01-04T08:48:00.000-08:002018-01-04T08:48:29.768-08:00Failed Attempt to Occupy the Minds of the Residents of the North Shore of Massachusetts<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The Unitarian Universalist Church in Marblehead, Massachusetts publicized its plan to show the film "Occupation of the American Mind". </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The theme of the film is that attempts to
criticize Israel in America have been met with a well-funded public relations
attack combining pressure, intimidation, threats, misrepresentations and
charges of anti-Semitism.</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
film, which has been praised by the Israeli Haaretz Newspaper’s Gideon Levy (“I
wish every American would watch this powerful documentary), Director and
filmmaker Ken Loach, (A film that demands to be seen), Nation writer Dave Zinn
(“A vital and unmissable film”), The Guardian’s John Pilger (“One of the most
compelling and important documentaries in recent years” and Media expert
Robert; W. McChesney (“One of the most brilliant and important documentaries I
have ever seen”) has been shown without protest in hundreds of other venues.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">A local supporter of the government of Israel, being unsuccessful in intimidating, threatening and pressuring the church into cancelling the showing of the movie, purchased this expensive full page ads and placed it in local newspapers (followed by my analysis of the protest published in the local Marblehead Reporter:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"Why would a church show
an anti-Semitic movie?"</span></h2>
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The Unitarian Universalist Church in Marblehead is transforming
the phrase “it can’t happen here” to “it is happening here.”</b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Just as individuals across the country raised their voices in protest against bigotry and hatred spewed by White
Supremacist groups at rallies in Charlottesville and in other communities, we call on the community to protest
the upcoming screening of the anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, hate-filled documentary The Occupation of the American Mind
on Sunday, November 5 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Marblehead. </b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">We call on the Unitarian Universalist Church to cancel the screening of the movie because it:<br />• Is narrated by a well-known anti-Semite, who supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction Movement against Israel<br />• Presents a factually incorrect and distorted account of Israeli-Palestinian situation, which is anti-Israel and anti-Jewish<br />• Lacks transparency; for example, Israel invaded Gaza in 2014 because Hamas, which is a terrorist organization whose
sole obsessive objective is to destroy Israel, and whose Charter calls for the murder of every Jew on the planet, built a
network of tunnels to infiltrate Israel and terrorize and murder her citizens; Israel was forced to bomb a hospital because
that is where Hamas launched missiles from<br />• Is anti-Semitic by virtue of it being anti-Israel by holding Israel to standards it applies to no other people<br />• Fails to portray Israel as the thriving, vibrant democracy that it is<br />• Portrays Israel as the singular enemy of human rights in the Middle East, when in fact, many Muslim countries kill
gay people, oppress women, practice honor killings, and perform female genital mutilation<br />• Perpetuates negative stereotypes of aggressive Israeli soldiers out for the kill<br />• Implies that America is alone in its pro-Israel stance, when in fact, Israel has positive relations with India, China,
Russia and many African countries<br />• Is filled with interviews by anti-Israel individuals<br />• Fails to inform people that Palestinian children are raised from childhood to hate Jews and Christians<br />• Will fill people’s minds with lies about Israel and lies about America<br />• Will increase anxiety amongst Jewish students, many of whom are experiencing anti-Israel sentiments and anti-Semitism
at their schools </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b style="background-color: #d9ead3;">We should be able to count on UUC to stand up to hatred and bigotry. We call on people of all faiths
to stand up to bigotry and hatred by calling Reverend ..... at 781 .... or emailing office ........ to protest the screening of The Occupation of the American Mind.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 16pt;">Protest:
Failed Effort to Occupy Marbleheaders’ Minds</span></b></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">Ronald W. Fox</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">I have been a member of the local Jewish
community for most of my 78 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">For 45 years, I have observed, read, and
spoken out against the government of Israel’s brutal oppression of
Palestinians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-size: 14pt;">Fortunately, intense pressure and intimidation failed
to stop the showing of “Occupation of the American Mind” at the Unitarian
Universalist Church of Marblehead. The film documents the development of a PR
propaganda program (hasbara) by Israel and US Jewish organizations since the
early 80’s to prevent Americans learning about anything that would put Israel
in a bad light.<span style="color: #111111;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">Americans, therefore, know little about
the illegal 50 year occupation, the longest in the world; the 123 illegal
settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem
housing 650,000 Israeli citizens forbidden by the Geneva Convention from
being transferred to these occupied territories; the killings and injuring of over
100,000 Palestinians; the illegal wall; the theft of Palestinian lands so that
Israel now controls over 60% of what was to be the Palestinian state; the
invasions of Gaza; the wanton and willful demolition of 27,000 Palestinian
family homes, the holding in administrative detention of thousands without
charges ever being brought; the destruction of 800,000 Palestinian olive trees;
and the restrictions on movement not for security but for humiliation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 14.0pt;">These actions over the last 50 years not
only violate the basic American values of democracy, equality, self-government
and freedom to protest but the core values of Judaism: “Justice, Justice, Shall You Pursue”; L</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">earn to do well, seek
justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow;”
and, of course, “You shall not wrong a
stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt”.</span><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 14.0pt;">T</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">hrough
this wildly successful PR effort, Israel’s violence and lawbreaking is almost
always “reframed” by mainstream media, politicians and spokespersons for Jewish
institutions as Palestinian terrorism, anti-Semitism and Israel’s need to
defend itself. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">Local efforts to prevent open discussion
about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians have occurred
regularly since at least 1982 when, during a local debate on Israel’s invasion
of Lebanon a local rabbi led a walkout yelling “anti-Semites, anti-Semites”. Other
attempts to speak out or hold programs critical of Israel have been met with
intimidation and similar allegations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">So while I am angry and saddened by this
protest, I am not surprised. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">The effort led by the Lappin
Foundation to ban this event falsely alleged
“anti-Semitism” and demonized Palestinians and Muslims is an example of, and
has all the marking of the Israeli developed PR propaganda playbook.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 14.0pt;">Those who would try to suppress the
truth about what the government of Israel is doing are on the wrong side of
history and doing a disservice to Israel. Their actions in support of the
illegal occupation and settlements are leading to the death of the </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">two state solution and leaves Israel with two options:
a one state solution or being found guilty of the crime of apartheid.<span style="color: #111111;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;">I am not a member of the church but I
have been aware of its role pursuing peace with justice since its efforts
opposing the Vietnam War in the 70’s. The anti-Semitization and the smear
campaign waged by the Lappin Foundation does a terrible injustice to this
church. So I hope members of the
community, Jewish and non-Jewish will join me in commending Rev. Wendy von
Courter, Carolyn Corzine and the other members of their committee for having
the courage to stand up to this smear campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">The institutions of the local Jewish
community need to counter the impression that the Lappin Foundation speaks for
the entire Jewish community and that it supports its agenda to censor any criticism
of the government of Israel. I recommend they immediately begin to plan and
sponsor a film like Occupation 101 that shows Palestinian life in the occupied
territories and follow it up with an open discussion about whether Israel’s actions
there are necessary for self-defense or whether they are violations of the international
human and civil rights of Palestinians. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-55483092176748278742017-05-03T08:21:00.000-07:002017-05-03T08:21:48.544-07:00A "fair and balanced" analysis of the I/P situation for the US Congress and the US Administration<div class="MsoNormal">
My button gets pushed when I hear the common refrain from US
politicians about the need for “balance” when they talk about the conflict
between Israel and Palestine such as in a recent letter to the UN signed by ALL
100 US Senators calling for the UN to take a more balanced view of Israel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
“Through words and actions, we urge you to ensure that
Israel is treated neither better nor worse than any other U.N. member in good
standing…. We are deeply committed to international leadership and to advancing
respect for human rights. But continued targeting of Israel by the U.N. Human
Rights Council and other U.N. entities is unacceptable … U.S Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erin
Barclay criticized the UNHRC’s anti-Israel focus as ‘unfair and unbalanced’ ”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is an explanation of the “balance” issue based on a
comparison of the violations of human rights laws by the two parties going back
for the last 18,250 days, or 50 years: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has maintained an illegal occupation while the
Palestinians have not occupied any land of Israel;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has illegally transferred its Jewish citizens to the
illegal occupied territories while the Palestinians have transferred zero of
its residents to Israel;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has taken water in the West Bank and distributed it
unequally giving Palestinians less than the required minimum but allowing
squatters water for pools while Palestinians have diverted none of Israel’s
water for their purposes;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has stolen land in the West Bank from Palestinians
while Palestinians have stolen no lard from Israel;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has destroyed 48,000 Palestinian homes and structures
while Palestinians have destroyed no buildings of Israelis;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has destroyed 800,000 Palestinian olive trees while
Palestinians have destroyed no Israeli olive trees;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has built a wall 85% inside the green line while
Palestinians have not built a wall in Israel;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has charged Palestinians in a military court while
rarely charging a squatter (but if so, in a civilian court) while Palestinian
courts have not tried any squatters criminally or civilly;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has taken thousands of Palestinians into
administrative detention and held them often more than a year without ever
charging them while Palestinians have not placed any Israelis in administrative
detention;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has closed Palestinian schools and universities while
Palestinians have not closed any Israeli educational facilities;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has instituted curfews on Palestinians sometimes 24/7
while Palestinians have not instituted any curfews on Israelis;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has shut off the electricity of Palestinians and
Palestinians have never shut off the electric power to Israelis;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has tortured many Palestinians and Palestinians have
not tortured Israelis;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has extorted Palestinians into betraying family and
friends while Palestinians have not extorted Israelis to betray family and
friends;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has maintained roads just for Israelis not open to
Palestinians while Palestinians have not developed such an apartheid road system;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has crept closer and closer to its only goal, the
annexation of the entire West Bank (code words – Judea and Samaria) while
Palestinians have lost more and more access to the lands of the West Bank; </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has created hundreds of checkpoints and barriers (not
needed for security) to harass and humiliate Palestinians while Palestinians
have not restricted movement of Israelis;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has maintained an effective boycott of Gaza making it
an outdoor prison while Palestinians have not maintained a boycott on Israel;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has four times in the last twelve years Israel
attacking Gaza on the ground and through the air with tanks, motorized
vehicles, planes and helicopters and advanced artillery and other weapons because
it could with perhaps more than a hundred thousand bullets, missiles, etc.,
destroying thousands of buildings, killing thousands of men, women and children
while Palestinians have shot a few
thousand ineffective rockets into Israel and killed and injured 100’s of
Israelis by guns, stones, knives and cars; and</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has assassinating many Palestinians “suspected of
something” while Palestinians have assassinated no suspected Israelis. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That would total approximately one million (1,000,000) violations
of international human rights laws by Israel and a few thousand violations by
Palestinians.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This is a situation where one side is an oppressor –
Israel - and another side has been for 50 years victimized, terrorized and
humiliated - Palestinians. The US Congress and the US Administration continue
to ask for fair and balanced treatment of Israel. As the saying goes, beware
what you wish for because your dreams may come true. The UN’s hundreds of
actions since 1967 condemning and criticizing Israel HAVE been fair and
balanced. </span>Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-43851018743882715502017-04-27T15:09:00.000-07:002017-04-27T15:09:56.500-07:00Update on the Israel Settlements as an Obstacle to Peace Resolution before Massachsuetts DemocratsI just sent this email to members of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee who live near me in the North Shore of Massachusetts.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a member of the Democratic State Committee who might be
at the meeting this Saturday, you might be interested in the attached written
testimony I presented to the Resolution Subcommittee in support of the <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3674851-Coakley-Resolution.html">resolution
proposed by Carol Coakley</a> to oppose the Israeli settlements as an obstacle
to peace.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As I note in the testimony, I am a 78 year old Jewish
resident of Marblehead and “For the last 45 years, since 1972, not a day has
gone by where I have not been aware of Israel’s violations of the human rights,
and devaluation, of Palestinians caused by its settlement policies.” Many of
those areas (such as home and olive tree destruction and unequal distribution
of water) are further detailed in my testimony. </div>
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<br /></div>
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One reason to focus on Israel and the West Bank is that the
occupation is not only illegal but is now, at 50 years, the longest lasting in
the world. Another is that Israel has, since 1967, been in violation of the 4<sup>th</sup>
Geneva Convention which forbids an occupier from transferring its citizens to
occupied territory. A third is that the continued growth of the
settlements has likely killed the possibility of a contiguous, viable,
independent Palestinian State </div>
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<br /></div>
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Israel’s settlement policy has been criticized and branded
illegal or an obstacle to peace by US Presidents, John Kerry, democratic
voters, mainstream Christian organizations, the UN, the International Court of
Justice, Jewish people, Israeli officials, and Desmond Tutu. Rabbi
Ben-Zion Gold, former director of Harvard Hillel, who recently passed away,
said in 2002 “The Jewish settlements on the West Bank are a grave and dangerous
mistake that have done much harm to Israel.” </div>
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<br /></div>
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The opponents to the resolution have not and will not argue
that the settlements are legal nor will they try to prove that the settlements
are NOT an obstacle to peace. Opponents are left with no option but to argue
“this is one-sided with not enough emphasis on the violence of the Palestinians.”
The present situation is, indeed, one-sided. There is a huge imbalance between
the vast resources and power of Israel (militarily, technologically and
financially) combined with its incalculable number of violations of human
rights over the last 50 years versus the limited amount of resources and number
of violent acts of Palestinians.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I urge you: not to allow a small vocal group to censor and
prevent discussion about Israel’s un-American, undemocratic, unjust and an
obstacle to peace settlement policy which is inconsistent with the core values
of the Democratic Party; to reject the recommendation of the Resolutions
Subcommittee; and to allow Carol Coakley’s resolution to be voted on by the
entire Democratic State Committee. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Please feel free to share this material with others and
contact me if you have any questions or want to discuss any aspect of the
conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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Thank you.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ronald W. Fox</div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-57277461945508489572017-04-27T15:01:00.001-07:002017-04-27T15:01:56.391-07:00Proposed Resolution for the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee Opposing Israeli Settlements as an Obstacle to PeaceCarol Coakley, a member of the Massachusuetts Democratic State Committee (DSC) has proposed a resolution the thrust of which is to ask the DSC to oppose the Israeli settlements as an obstacle to peace. There was a hearing, Wednesday night, April 19, 2017, before a Resolution Subcommittee of the DSC. Ten spoke in favor of the resolution. Three opposed. The subcommittee voted to table the resolution and to so report at the meeting of the DSC this Saturday.<br />
<br />
There has been intense opposition to the resolution from the Boston Jewish Community "Relations Council and Steven Grossman, former chairman of the National Democratic Party.<br />
<br />
Here is the written testimony I gave to the subcommittee members after I testified for 3+ minutes.as well as links to two related articles.<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">MEMORANDUM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">TO:
Members
of the Resolutions Committee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Massachusetts
Democratic State Committee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">FROM:
Ron Fox<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">RE:
Resolution
on Israel’s Settlements as an Obstacle to Peace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">DATE:
April 19, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">THE SETTLEMENTS
ARE AN OBSTACLE TO PEACE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
am a 77 year old resident of Marblehead involved in Jewish organizations
locally and nationally since my bar mitzvah in Temple Beth El in Lynn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Israel
occupied the West Bank in 1967 and what is supposed to be only temporary has
become illegal and is the longest occupation in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
transfer of Israeli citizens to the West Bank in 1967 violated the 4<sup>th</sup>
Geneva Convention and was contrary to a legal opinion of a lawyer for Israel’s Foreign
Ministry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">For
the last 45 years, since 1972, not a day has gone by where I have not been
aware of Israel’s violations of the human rights, and devaluation, of
Palestinians caused by its settlement policies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
growth of the settlements from one settlement with 100 squatters (not permanent
settlers but illegal trespassers) in 1967 to 123 now with 350,000 (not
including 250,000 in East Jerusalem) and the need to maintain and protect the
squatters (many religiously fanatic zealots from Brooklyn) has spawned numerous
additional obstacles to peace, including:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">unequal distribution
of water, denying Palestinians fair access to minimal water while allowing squatters
enough for irrigation and pools; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">a massive theft
of land from Palestinians leading to Israel taking control of over 40% of the
West Bank; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the destruction
of over 48,000 homes and other structures since 1967 (very few for security
reasons); <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the building of
a wall, 85% inside the green line separating families from their lands, schools
and businesses; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the ignoring and
overlooking of squatters and the IDF destroying 800,000 olive trees; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the establishment
of military law for Palestinians and Israeli civil law for squatters; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the failure to enforce
criminal laws against squatters while punishing Palestinians for the same
actions; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the restricting of
movement by constructing many checkpoints and physical barriers unrelated to security concerns, resulting in employment
and medical complications; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the imprisonment
of thousands of Palestinians, sometimes more than a year, in administrative
detention without ever charging them
with a crime, leading to today’s humanitarian
based hunger strike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">WHO
OPPOSES THE SETTLEMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
UN General Assembly has passed hundreds of resolutions since 1967 condemning or
criticizing Israel’s occupation, settlement policy and other violations of
Palestinian human rights. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
US, since 1972, has voted in favor of 20 UN resolutions while vetoing 88.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Recently a UN committee found that many of these
obstacles to peace taken together are evidence for a finding that Israel is
guilty of the crime of apartheid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
4<sup>th</sup> Geneva Convention forbids the transfer of an occupier of its
civilians into occupied territory and the International Criminal Court defines it
as an indictable war crime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Six former heads of Israel’s security agency, Shin
Bet, in the powerful movie, Gatekeepers, deplored most of the political leaders as
being indifferent to negotiations with their Arab enemies. One, Mr. Shalom,
said, “We have become cruel. To ourselves as well, but mainly to the occupied
population”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Archbishop
Desmond Tutu in 2002 said “Over 35 new settlements have been constructed this
year. Each one is a step away from the safety deserved by the Israelis
and two steps away from the justice owed to the Palestinians. If apartheid
ended, so can the occupation, but the moral force and international pressure
will have to be just as determined.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">An Israeli -Yitzhak Frankenthal on July 27, 2002
said </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“My
beloved son Arik, my own flesh and blood, was murdered by Palestinians. The
Palestinians … have been ready to make peace with us; it is we who are
unwilling to make peace with them <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nine
mainstream Christian denominations/organizations, including the Methodists, are
so opposed to settlements that they have adopted resolutions not to buy
settlement goods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As
of September 14, 2015, 136 (70.5%) of the 193 member states of the United
Nations have recognized the State of Palestine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">US
presidents including Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Barack Obama have
either declared the settlements illegal or an obstacle to peace..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Secretary of State John Kerry on December 4, 2016, <span style="color: #333333;">warned that the
building of Israeli settlements was undermining any hope of an agreement to
allow two states to live side by side and is a deliberate </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">obstacle to peace. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jewish
groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace, J-Street and Americans for Peace Now
have stated their opposition to the settlement policies of Israel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">A
Pew Research Center survey in 2013 that found that “just 17% of American Jews
think the continued building of settlements in the West Bank is helpful to
Israel’s security; 44% say that settlement construction hurts Israel’s own
security interests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">HAS THE SETTLEMENT
POLICY KILLED THE TWO STATE SOLUTION DEAD?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Israel’s aggressive settlement policy has made the
establishment of a viable contiguous Palestinian state (a generally
acknowledged path to peace) physically
and politically nearly impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #d9ead3; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Thomas Friedman, in an op-ed published on February 10, 2016, said,
“The peace process is dead. It’s over,
folks, so please stop sending the New York Times Op-Ed page editor your
proposals for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.” <span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In 2015 Netanyahu pledged that there would be no Palestinian
state on his watch. This </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">should
surprise no one. Since 1967, Israel has pursued a policy, as promoted by
Vladimir Jabotinsky in the 1920’s; i.e., the full annexation of the West Bank
(code words “Judea and Samaria”).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">WHO SUPPORTS THE
SETTLEMENTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Congress of the United States and President Trump’s newly appointed Ambassador
to Israel, David Friedman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">CONCLUSION<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Failure
to support this resolution authorizes: the maintenance of what is now the
longest occupation in the world; increased illegal transfers of Israeli citizens
to settlements; more extensions of the illegal wall; continued violations by
Israel of international human, civil and criminal laws with their attendant
deaths and destruction of property and the death of the two state solution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ironically,
the settlements and their attendant abuse and humiliation and, frankly,
terrorization of Palestinians are also contrary to the core values of Judaism.
As stated by Rabbi Ben-Zion Gold, who recently passed away, the former director
of Harvard Hillel; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The Jewish
settlements on the West Bank are a grave and dangerous mistake that have done
much harm to Israel. Micah. ‘He has told you, O man, Only to do justice and to
love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.’ By all means, Humbly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Israel’s
settlement policy is un-American, undemocratic, unjust and an obstacle to
peace. As stated by Martin Luther King, Jr., ”There can be no justice without
peace and there can be no peace without justice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I urge
the committee to vote in favor of this resolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">“<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/24/mass-democrats-move-kill-israel-resolution/ZJPEmM5P5bzTjrJigawwFM/story.html" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #345363; font-family: "inherit","serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Mass. Democrats move to kill Israel resolution</span></a>“, <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/04/24/mass-democrats-move-kill-israel-resolution/ZJPEmM5P5bzTjrJigawwFM/story.html">BostonGlobe, April 24</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><br />
</span><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><a href="http://masspeaceaction.org/opponents-of-resolution-one-sided/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">http://masspeaceaction.org/opponents-of-resolution-one-sided/</a> </span><br />
<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-63596965454553848732017-03-22T10:09:00.000-07:002017-03-22T10:09:21.730-07:00A Categorized List of B'Tselem Reports Documenting Israel's Violations of International Human Rights <div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you ever need factual documentation and eyewitness accounts of Israel's past and continuing violations of the human rights of Palestinians, I have listed below a categorized list of the titles of Reports from B'Tselem sent to me from 2001 to 2014. Some in the media devote much time to the issue of the illegal settlements which is appropriate but there are so many other inhumane aspects of the occupation that get overlooked and are barely covered. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">B’TSELEM
- The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in
the Occupied Territories was established in February 1989 by a group of
prominent academics, attorneys, journalists, and Knesset members to document
human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of
denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights
culture in Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Titles
of Some B’Tselem Reports from 2001 to 2014<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>SETTLEMENT POLICY FOR ISRAELIS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Land Grab: Israel’s Settlement Policy in the West Bank; May 2002; 140
pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jewish Settlements in the West Bank: Built-up Areas and Land Reserves;
May 2002; Map </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hebron, Area H-2: Settlements Cause Mass Departure of Palestinians;
August 2003; 45 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The Hidden Agenda: The Establishment and Expansion Plans of Ma’ale
Adummim and their Human Rights
Ramifications; December 2009; 58 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
By Hook and Crook: Israel Settlement Policy in the West Bank; July
2010; 69 pages</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>EXPULSION PLANNING FOR
PALESTINIANS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dispossession and Exploitation: Israel’s Policy in the Jordan Valley
and Northern Dead Sea; May 2011; 59
pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Means of Expulsion: Violence,
Harassment and Lawlessness against Palestinians in the Southern Hebron Hills;
July 2005; 59 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ghost Town: Israel’s Separation Policy and Forced Eviction of
Palestinians from the Center of Hebron; May 2007; 107 pages</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>FORBIDDEN FAMILIES <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Forbidden Families: Family Unification and Child Registration in East
Jerusalem; January 2004; 41 pages<br />
Barred from Contact: Violation of the Right to Visit Palestinians Held in
Israeli Prisons; September 2006; 49 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
So Near and Yet So Far: Implications of Israel-Imposed Seclusion of
Gaza Strip on Palestinians’ Right to Family Life; January 2014; 67 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Perpetual Limbo: Israel’s Freeze on Unification of Palestinian Families
in the Occupied Territories; July 2006; 49 pages</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>HOUSE DEMOLITIONS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Policy of Destruction: House Demolitions and Destruction of
Agricultural Land in the Gaza Strip;
February 2002; 45 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Through No Fault of Their Own: Punitive House Demolitions during the
al-Aqsa Intifada; November 2004; 66 pages</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>NON-ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW ON
SETTLERS AND MILITARY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Standing Idly By: Non-Enforcement of the Law on Settlers – Hebron 26-28
July 2002; August 2002; 20 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Foreseen But Not Prevented: The Israeli Law Enforcement Authorities
Handling of Settler Attacks on Olive Harvesters; November 2002; 32 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Void of Responsibility: Israel Military Policy Not to Investigate
Killings of Palestinians by Soldiers;
October 2010; 53 pages </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>TREATMENT OF MINORS <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Caution Children Ahead: The Illegal Behavior of the Police Toward
Minors in Silwan Suspected of Stone Throwing; December 2010; 32 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
No Minor Matter: Violation of
the Rights of Palestinian Minors Arrested by Israel on Suspicion of Stone
Throwing; July 2011; 79 pages </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ground to a Halt: Denial of Palestinians’ Freedom of Movement in the
West Bank;, August 2007; 118 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Access Denied: Israeli Measures to Deny Palestinians Access to Land
Around Settlements; September 2008; 80 pages </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>FORBIDDEN ROADS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Forbidden Roads: Israel’s Discriminatory Road Regime in the West Bank;
August 2004; 55 pages</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>SEPARATION BARRIER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Behind the Barrier: Human rights Violations as a Result of Israel’s
Separation Barrier; March 2003; 41 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Facing the Abyss: The Isolation of Sheikh Sa’ad Village Before and
After the Separation Barrier; February 2004; 25 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Not All it Seems: Preventing Palestinians Access to Their Lands West of
the Separation Barrier in the Tulkarm-QalQiliya Area; June 2004; 26 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Arrested Development: The Long Term Impact of Israel’s Separation
Barrier in the West Bank; October 2012; 78 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A Wall in Jerusalem: Obstacles
to Human Rights in the Holy City; Summer 2006; 31 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>ACCESS TO WATER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Foul Play: Neglect of Wastewater Treatment in the West Bank; June 2009;
45 pages</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Absolute Prohibition: The Torture and Ill-Treatment of Palestinian
Detainees; May 2007; 104 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Without Trial: Administrative Detention of Palestinians by Israel and
the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law; October 2009; 74 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Kept in the Dark: Treatment of Palestinian Detainees in the Petah Tikva
Interrogation Facility of the Israel Security Agency; October 2010; 67 pages </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>EXCESSIVE FORCE BY IDF<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Excessive Force: Human Rights Violations during IDF Actions in Area A;
December 2001; 82 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Wounded in the Field: Impeding Medical Treatment and Firing at Ambulances
by IDF Soldiers in the Occupied Territories; March 2002; 31 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Trigger Happy: Unjustified Shooting and Violation of the Open-Fire
Regulations during the al-Aqsa Intifada; March 2002; 53 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Lethal Curfew: The Use of Live Ammunition to Enforce Curfew; October
2002; 33 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Human Shield: Use of Palestinian Civilians as Human Shields in
Violation of High Court of Justice Order; November 2002; 21 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Harm to Medical Personnel: The Delay, Abuse and Humiliation of Medical
Personnel by Israeli Security Forces; December 2003; 30 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Take No Prisoners: The Fatal Shooting of Palestinians by Israeli
Security Forces during “Arrest Operations”; May 2005; 48 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>GAZA<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One Big Prison: Freedom of Movement to and From the Gaza Strip on the
Eve of the Disengagement Plan; March 2005; 79 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Act of Vengeance: Israel’s Bombing of the Gaza Power Plant and its
Effects; September 2006; 35 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Al-Mawasi, Gaza Strip, Intolerable Life in an Isolated Enclave; March
2003; 25 pages</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>HUMAN RIGHTS GENERALLY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Human rights in the Occupied Territories; 2011 Annual Report; 63 pages</div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-469596565209151242017-03-20T14:27:00.000-07:002017-03-27T10:38:19.224-07:00UN ESCWA Report on Israel Practices towards the Palestinian People and the Question of ApartheidExcerpt from the Executive Summary<br />
<br />
I may be prepared to scan the entire document in at some time in the future but since the United Nations (under pressure from the Trump Administration) has deleted the Report of the UN ESCWA which found that Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid, I wanted to immediately print the first and last paragraph of the Executive Summary, also deleted from the UN website. When you follow the links to both of them on the UN website, you get the message PAGE NOT FOUND.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This report concludes that Israel has established an apartheid regime that dominates the Palestinian people as a whole. Aware of the seriousness of this allegation, the authors of the report conclude that available evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that Israel is guilty of policies and practices that constitute the crime of apartheid as legally defined in instruments of international law.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx </div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The report concludes that the weight of the evidence supports beyond a reasonable doubt the proposition that Israel is guilty of imposing an apartheid regime on the Palestinian people, which amounts to the commission of a crime against humanity, the prohibition of which is considered<i> jus cogens</i> (note - peremptory principles or norms from which no derogation is permitted). The international community, especially the United Nations and its agencies, and Member States, have a legal obligation to act within the limits of their capabilities to prevent and punish instances of apartheid that are responsibly brought to their attention. More specifically, states have a collective duty: (a) not to recognize an apartheid regime as lawful; (b) not to aid or assist a State in maintaining an apartheid regime; and (c) to cooperate with the United Nations and other States in bringing apartheid regimes to an end. Civil society institutions and individuals also have a moral and political duty to use the instruments at their disposal to raise awareness of this ongoing criminal enterprise, and to exert pressure on Israel in order to persuade it to dismantle apartheid structures in compliance with international law The report ends with general and specific recommendations to the United Nations, national Governments and civil society and private actors on actions they should take in view of the finding that Israel maintains a regime of apartheid in its exercise of control over the Palestinian people.</blockquote>
<br />
The <a href="https://www.docdroid.net/MmGsNrp/un-escwa-israel-apartheid-report.pdf.html">entire report can be found here</a>. One of the recommendations for National Governments of Member States in the full report is:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
National Governments should support
boycott, divestment and sanctions activities and respond positively to calls
for such initiatives. </blockquote>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-10043859906130031942017-03-10T08:53:00.000-08:002017-03-10T08:53:11.809-08:00Message for Congressman Moulton who Voted for House Resolution 11<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi Peter Billerbeck,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I received a letter from Congressman Moulton dated February
6, 2017, in which he explains why he voted in favor of House Resolution 11.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Let me tell you why I strongly disagree with the contents of
this letter..</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The letter limits the charges against Israel to its
expansion of settlements and attempts to set up some equivalency between that
and the sporadic violence of Palestinians. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an incredibly narrow view of what Israel has done. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You and the Congressman have letters and emails from me
describing 50 years of Israel’s oppression and violations of Palestinian human
rights in the occupied territories including not only the illegality of the
occupation and the settlements but also: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">distributing
water unequally denying Palestinians fair access to minimal water while
allowing ample water to squatters for irrigation and pools, stealing land and
taking control over 40% of the West Bank; destroying over 48,000 homes and
other structures since 1967 (very few for security reasons); building a wall,
85% inside the green line separating families from their lands, schools and
businesses; overlooking squatters and the IDF destroying 800,000 olive trees;
illegally establishing one (military) law for Palestinians and another
(Israeli) law for squatters; failing to enforce criminal laws against squatters
while punishing Palestinians for the same actions; illegally restricted
movement by constructing many checkpoints and physical barriers (many unrelated
to security concerns resulting in difficulty in getting to jobs and medical
assistance); holding thousands of Palestinians, sometimes more than a
year, without ever charging them with a crime. In addition Israel has on four
occasions since 2006, chosen to invade Gaza, using excessive force, including
in 2014, killing over 2000 Palestinians, mostly women and children and
two-thirds civilians, and destroying or damaging over 96,000 houses and
structures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
letter states that the shared goal is reaching resolution between the parties
of this two-sided conflict. The solution is NOT a resolution between only the
two parties. In this case where one side has been an oppressor for 50 years and
has been the subject for 50 years of condemnation from the UN, often supported
by the US, the solution is world pressure on Israel (including especially the
BDS movement) to cease and desist from violating the human rights of
Palestinians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
addition the letters states that the H. Res. 11 “correctly emphasizes that the
only path to a lasting peace between the Israeli and the Palestinian people is
a durable two-state solution where both sides can safely live side-by-side.”
Wrong again! There is increasing acknowledgement (including an op-ed by Thomas
Friedman) that because of Israel’s 50 year illegal settlement policy, the
two-state solution is dead. It is time to explore possible structures for one
democratic state, such as a federation, where all residents have equal
rights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
apologize for the delay in responding to the letter but I was vacationing until
yesterday in southern Arizona. While there I had the opportunity to visit the
Tohono O’odham reservation and its cultural center as well as other museums
created by American Indians. One learns or is reminded of the cruel
treatment of them by non-American Indians including: maps showing the small
fraction of land given to them after most of it was stolen; the forced marches,
including the “trail of tears”, endured as they were evicted from their lands
and sent to reservations (refugee centers?); the attempted forced “civilization”
of the “savages” by shipping off children to boarding schools hundreds of miles
from their homes in order to help them forget their culture; and many other
violations of American Indian human rights. The results can be seen today in
the sad picture of poverty, alcoholism and diabetes on most reservations. There
are also, of course, stories about the violence of American Indians such as
Geronimo against newly arrived immigrants to their lands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
mention that, obviously, because there is a great similarity between what the
Israelis have done to the Palestinians and what “we” did to the American
Indians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We are
today enlightened, perhaps, and would not have so easily have justified the
violations of American Indians human rights by saying their violence was the
same as our taking of their lands to build towns for our settlers from Europe
and elsewhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Nor is
it likely, except in some parts of the country, to say today that the two
parties – American Indians and Europeans should have met and established two-states,
one for the American Indians and one Christian state for the non-American
Indian settlers..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I would
ask Congressman Moulton to consider these thoughts the next time he is about to
take a position on an issue involving the conflict between the Palestinians and
the Israelis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I am
also concerned, based on the letter I received, that the Congressman may not be
taking full advantage of a number of individuals, both constituents and others
in the Boston area, who can provide him with a wealth of facts about the
Palestine/Israel conflict. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I invite
you to contact me at your convenience so that I can provide you with contact
information about some of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thank
you and the congressman for your efforts for peace with justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ron Fox<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Marblehead</span></div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-73497055329209708402017-02-01T11:21:00.003-08:002017-02-01T11:21:55.975-08:00ISRAEL'S VIOLATIONS OF PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS<h4>
While the focus has appropriately been on Israel's continuing illegal 50 year occupation and its 50 year policy of building and maintaining illegal settlements, we sometimes do not make supporters and opponents of Palestinian human rights aware of the many other actions taken by Israel in violation of international law. </h4>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>THE OCCUPATION</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The occupation of the West Bank began in 1967. Israel has been in violation of the United
Nations Charter Article 2 and Resolution 242 since 1967. The year 2017 will
mark 50th anniversary of the longest occupation in the world</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>THE SETTLEMENTS</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to Civilian Persons in
Time of War, of 1949: Article 49 states “The Occupying Power shall not deport
or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it
occupies.” From 2 by 1968 there are now 123 settlements where approximately
350,000 Jewish Israeli squatters live. Next year will be the 50th anniversary
of the first illegal transfer of Jewish Israeli squatters into the West Bank.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>THEFT OF PALESTINIAN LAND</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The use of extrajudicial process (theft and questionable
military necessity) to take control of over 60% of the West Bank has been
thoroughly documented in B’Tselem’s “Land Grab”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DESTRUCTION OF HOMES AND OTHER STRUCTURES</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel’s policy of demolishing Palestinian houses – about
27,000 in the Occupied Territories since 1967.
In only 2% of the 27,000 houses demolished were done for security
reasons related to terrorism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>THE WALL</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to B’Tselem - The Israeli Information Center
for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories as of 2011:Eighty-five percent of
the amended route is within the West Bank itself, not along the Green Line. In
areas where the Separation Barrier has already been built, the extensive
violations of human rights of Palestinians living nearby are evident. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>OLIVE TREE DESTRUCTION</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jewish squatters and the IDF have destroyed 800,000 olive
trees (equal to destroying all the trees in Central Park 33 times). Olive trees
are the source of income for many Palestinians and Israel has not taken action
to arrest, try and punish, or otherwise hold them responsible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>NON-ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has failed to charge Jewish settlers for criminal
acts including personal injury, deaths and property damage. Many reports from
B’Tselem document cases where squatters have stabbed and killed children and
adults and destroyed homes and property of Palestinians. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>APARTHEID</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What does apartheid mean, in Israeli terms? separate,
segregated roads and highways for Israelis and Palestinians in the
West Bank; hundreds of attacks by settlers targeting Palestinian property,
livelihoods, and lives, without convictions, charges, or even suspects; uncounted
Palestinians jailed without trial, shot dead without trial, shot dead in the
back while fleeing and without just cause. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>RESTRICTION ON MOVEMENT</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has created massive restrictions on the movement of
Palestinians by the establishment of checkpoints (99 fixed and 174 surprise
flying ones as of 2013) most not for security purpose but simply to harass and
humiliate Palestinians by having them have to have a long wait to cross into
Israel for work or medical treatment or to simply get from one West Bank town
to another for family or business reasons.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>UNEQUAL ACCESS TO WATER</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In its report entitled Troubled Waters – Palestinians Denied
Fair Access to Water, Amnesty International concludes: Israel’s actions and
policies have greatly diminished existing water sources and restricted the
availability of water for the Palestinian population in the OPT in breach of
Israel’s obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION AND TORTURE</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the years, Israel has placed thousands of Palestinians
in administrative detention for prolonged periods of time, without trying them,
without informing them of the charges against them, and without allowing them
or their counsel to examine the evidence. As of the end of July 2014, Israel
was holding about 446 Palestinians in administrative detention. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>INVASIONS OF GAZA AND COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most devastating is that since 2006, Gaza has been subjected
to four massive Israeli attacks that deliberately targeted and destroyed its
civilian infrastructure (power plants, water and sewage treatment plants,
hospitals and schools) and leveled entire residential neighborhoods. In the
2014 Israeli attack between 2,125 and 2,310 Gazans were killed and between
10,626 and 10,895were wounded (including 3,374 children, of whom over
1,000 were left permanently disabled). The UN calculated that more than 7,000 homes
for 10,000 families were razed, together with an additional 89,000 homes
damaged, of which roughly 10,000 were severely affected by the bombing.
Rebuilding costs were calculated to run from 4-6 billion dollars, over 20
years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DEATH OF A TWO STATE SOLUTION AND RISE OF THE ONE STATE
SOLUTION</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, all knowledgeable observers recognize that Israel’s
aggressive Settlement expansion policies have made establishment of a separate
Palestinian state physically and politically impossible. There now are just too
many Jewish Settlers— what Israelis call “facts on the ground” scattered
throughout the West Bank.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (BDS)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a growing movement of actions under an umbrella
called Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). Millions of dollars have been
donated and raised by Sheldon Adelson and others in an attempt to paint these
actions as anti-Semitic, whereas for reasons outlined above, I refer to his efforts
as “Pro-Apartheid”. These actions follow a long history in the United States of
attempts to peacefully bring pressure on states and other entities to act in
accordance with international human rights laws. The deliberate campaign to try
to discredit anyone who objects to Israel’s continuous violations of UN actions
and international human and civil rights by accusing them of anti-Semitism and
to do the same to those Jewish individuals and organizations who provide
evidence that the actions of Israel are brutally in conflict with the core
fundamental values of Judaism is disingenuous and serves not only to support
the continued brutal oppression of Palestinians but to enable the inexorable
push by Israel to drive Palestinians out of the West Bank so Israel can annex
“Judea and Samaria”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These actions would be unthinkable and abhorrent and illegal
in the United State (substitute Native Americans and Blacks for Palestinians)
and yet the US not only fails to pressureIsrael in the UN but has now passed a
10 year $38 billion military aid deal..</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Such racist, demonizing, discriminatory, brutal, violent and
hateful actions violate not only international human rights laws, international
criminal laws, hundreds of UN actions but also the fundamental and core values
of Judaism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is incumbent upon those who want to hold to the highest
standards of Judaism to condemn the actions of Israel and its oppression of the
Palestinian people and to support: actions to end the longest occupation in the
world now in its 50th year; calls to dismantle the illegal settlements many of
which are close to 50 years old; and efforts aimed at bringing not only peace
but justice for Palestinians through the establishment of one state with equal
rights for all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>FOR FURTHER RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There have accumulated since 1967 thousands of reports,
articles, witness statements, videos, books, laws, resolutions and court
records to prove that Israel’s has not just mistreated Palestinians but has
been brutal, unjust, immoral, discriminatory, inhumane, barbaric and racist. For anyone wishing to learn more about
Israel’s violations of human and civil rights, please visit the websites of
these organizations promoting peace with justice including <a href="http://www.btselem.org/">B’Tselem</a> - The
Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, <a href="http://icahd.org/">ICAHD</a> - Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
and <a href="https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/">Jewish Voice for Peace</a>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-60953173435092822952017-02-01T11:00:00.003-08:002017-02-01T11:00:39.738-08:00Israel's Violations of the Core Values of Judaism<h3>
Israel is a state and it may be a Jewish state but that does not make it a state based on the core values of Judaism. It, in fact, violates many of those core values.</h3>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM I</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
Government of Israel, its military, its civil authority and Jewish squatters
have, for close to half a century, regularly violated not only UN actions,
international civil and human rights and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights but also many of the fundamental and core values of Judaism:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel
has violated one of the 10 Commandments, You Shall Not Steal, by transferring
Jewish Israelis into occupied territory, by stealing the land of Palestinians
in the West Bank, and by taking a myriad of actions aimed at making life so
miserable for Palestinians that they <b><span style="color: #111111;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF
JUDAISM II<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Israel has violated Exodus 22:20-21 - You
shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land
of Egypt” by demolishing Palestinian homes and structures and by the building
of the wall.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">VIOLATION OF CORE VALUES OF
JUDAISM III<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel
has violated Deuteronomy 20:19 “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">When you besiege a city … you shall not
destroy its (fruit) trees .. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">for
you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down”.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM IV<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel
has violated Exodus 12:49 saying there shall be one law for the citizen and for
the stranger who dwells among you by meting out justice unfairly and more
harshly for Palestinians than for squatters, by
often arbitrarily restricting movement for Palestinians but not for
squatters, by creating separate and unequal legal systems including apartheid
roads in the West Bank, by grossly unequal distribution of water and also by
killing those “suspected” but not charged with crimes by assassination when
capital punishment is banned in Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF
JUDAISM V<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Israel
has violated Micah.6:8 “He has told you, O man, Only to do justice and to love
goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” by allowing the daily restrictions
on movement and by allowing limited access to water and electricity provided
amply to Jewish settlements.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF
JUDAISM VI<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Israel has violated Isaiah 1:17,27 “Learn to
do well – seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for
the widow .. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her
with righteousness” by arbitrarily arresting over the years t</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">housands of Palestinians and
holding them in administrative detention often for more than a year without
being charged or brought to trial for any crime.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF
JUDAISM VII<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Israel has violated the basic definition of
Judaism “What is hateful unto you, do not do unto your neighbor”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> through its 48 year brutal
oppression and occupation of the West Bank and Gaza;</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One
might wonder what Jewish people who attend Yom Kippur services at Temples and
Synagogues think when they read this Haftarah
called Acharey Mos which includes the following from Ezekiel XXII, 3-8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">“O city that sheddest blood in the midst of thee, that thy
time may come and that makest idols unto thyself to defile thee. …therefore
have I made thee a reproach unto the nations, and a mocking to all the
countries. Those that are near and those
that are far from thee, shall mock thee, thou defiled of name and full of
tumult. Behold the princes of Israel, every one according to his might, have
been in thee to shed blood. In thee have they made light of father and
mother; in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger;
in thee have they wronged the fatherless and the widow… thou hast greedily
gained of thy neighbors by oppression, and hast forgotten Me, saith the Lord
God… And I will scatter thee among the nations, and disperse thee through the
countries; and I will consume thy filthiness out of three. And thou shalt be
profaned in thyself in the sight of the nations and thou shalt know that I am
the Lord.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">VIOLATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
VALUE OF JUDAISM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Taken
together the illegal, immoral, demonizing, dehumanizing, racist, humiliating
actions of the Government of Israel and those acting on its behalf can best be
summarized as a gross violation of perhaps the most fundamental value of
Judaism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Deuteronomy 16:20
“Justice, Justice shall you pursue, that thou may live and inherit the land
which the Lord has given you. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Here are excerpts from the extensive </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">footnoted material </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to this section in
Pentateuch & Haftorahs, edited by J.H. Hertz, The Soncino Press, Second
Edition, 1980</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Justice is not the only ethical quality in God and
man, nor is it the highest quality; but it is the bases for all the others.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"> Where there is no justice, no proper and practical
appreciation of the human rights of every human being as sons of the one and
only God of righteousness – there we have a negation of religion. The
oppressor, the man who tramples on others, and especially on those like the
orphan and the stranger who are too weak to defend themselves, is throughout
Scripture held forth as the enemy of God and man. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Nor is justice
limited to the relation between individuals.
It extends to the relation between group and group, and it asserts the
claims of the poor upon the rich, of the helpless upon them who possess the
means to help. And even as there is social justice, prescribing the duties of
class to class, so there is international justice, which demands respect for
the personality of each and every national group, and proclaims that no people
can of right be robbed of its national life or territory, its language or
spiritual heritage. The pure administration of justice is thus one of the
conditions of Israel’s existence as a nation. Our teachers, from the first of
them to the last, brand the perversion of the course of justice as the most
alarming sign of national decay.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-82331504249692355282017-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:002017-01-31T11:57:10.582-08:00Gross Hypocrisy by the Boston Jewish Community Relations Council<div class="MsoNormal">
How striking the hypocrisy in this statement by the JCRC in t<a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/01/30/boston-jewish-groups-condemn-trump-immigration-policy/zU6heBatP1Uu9gdddwCGnJ/story.html">his morning's Boston Globe.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The statement, issued by the Jewish Community Relations
Council on behalf of 17 organizations, said Jews have a religious obligation to
help “the stranger,” beginning with their experience in ancient times as slaves
in Egypt. “Why should you not hate the stranger? — asks the Torah,” the
statement said, quoting Jonathan Sacks, the chief rabbi of Britain. “Because
you once stood where the stranger stands now.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, of course, the definition of “stranger” for the JCRC
apparently does not include Palestinians or else the JCRC would not have filed the unconstitutional, undemocratic, un-American pro-apartheid anti-BDS bill that would punish anyone who supports a movement that DOES believe that
a core value of Judaism is set forth in Exodus 22:20-21 “You shall not wrong a
stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Be careful not to point this out to a lawyer supporter of
the JCRC. He or she would likely say that the Palestinians are not strangers.
We know them quite well and they are all terrorists.. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
More on the JCRC from my last Memorandum</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
JCRC IS ON THE WRONG SIDE OF JUDAISM</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I read the following statements of the Jewish Community
Relations Council (JCRC) the organization responsible for pushing this proposed
law: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
November 4 “Our commitment to justice and equality in our
nation remain steadfast”;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the election of Donald Trump “We ..remain vigilant in
promoting our nation’s commitment to civil liberties, equality under the law,
and social justice, the mighty pillars on which our nation stands” and </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regarding the Trump nominee for Ambassador to Israel
“Whether President-Elect Trump supports a two-state solution, or believes that
an ambassador who does not share his commitment to same can still carry out
U.S. policy, is a matter of vital concern.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
O, Hypocrisy, where is thy sting? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have I shared with you some of the other violations of the
core values of Judaism the JCRC condones when they file the unconstitutional,
undemocratic, un-American pro-apartheid anti-BDS bill?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM I</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Government of Israel, its military, its civil authority
and Jewish squatters have, for close to half a century, regularly violated not
only UN actions, international civil and human rights and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights but also many of the fundamental and core values of
Judaism:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has violated one of the 10 Commandments, You Shall
Not Steal, by transferring Jewish Israelis into occupied territory, by stealing
the land of Palestinians in the West Bank, and by taking a myriad of actions
aimed at making life so miserable for Palestinians that they </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM II</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has violated Exodus 22:20-21 - You shall not wrong a
stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” by
demolishing Palestinian homes and structures and by the building of the wall.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF CORE VALUES OF JUDAISM III</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has violated Deuteronomy 20:19 “When you besiege a
city … you shall not destroy its (fruit) trees .. for you may eat from them,
and you shall not cut them down”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM IV</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has violated Exodus 12:49 saying there shall be one
law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you by meting out
justice unfairly and more harshly for Palestinians than for squatters, by often arbitrarily restricting movement for
Palestinians but not for squatters, by creating separate and unequal legal
systems including apartheid roads in the West Bank, by grossly unequal
distribution of water and also by killing those “suspected” but not charged
with crimes by assassination when capital punishment is banned in Israel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM V</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has violated Micah.6:8 “He has told you, O man, Only
to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” by
allowing the daily restrictions on movement and by allowing limited access to
water and electricity provided amply to Jewish settlements. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM VI</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has violated Isaiah 1:17,27 “Learn to do well – seek
justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow ..
Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her with
righteousness” by arbitrarily arresting over the years thousands of
Palestinians and holding them in administrative detention often for more than a
year without being charged or brought to trial for any crime.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF CORE VALUE OF JUDAISM VII</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Israel has violated the basic definition of Judaism “What is
hateful unto you, do not do unto your neighbor” through its 48 year brutal
oppression and occupation of the West Bank and Gaza;</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One might wonder what Jewish people who attend Yom Kippur
services at Temples and Synagogues think when they read this Haftarah called
Acharey Mos which includes the following from Ezekiel XXII, 3-8</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“O city that sheddest blood in the midst of thee, that thy
time may come and that makest idols unto thyself to defile thee. …therefore have
I made thee a reproach unto the nations, and a mocking to all the
countries. Those that are near and those
that are far from thee, shall mock thee, thou defiled of name and full of
tumult. Behold the princes of Israel, every one according to his might, have
been in thee to shed blood. In thee have they made light of father and
mother; in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger;
in thee have they wronged the fatherless and the widow… thou hast greedily
gained of thy neighbors by oppression, and hast forgotten Me, saith the Lord
God… And I will scatter thee among the nations, and disperse thee through the
countries; and I will consume thy filthiness out of three. And thou shalt be
profaned in thyself in the sight of the nations and thou shalt know that I am
the Lord.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
VIOLATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUE OF JUDAISM</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Taken together the illegal, immoral, demonizing,
dehumanizing, racist, humiliating actions of the Government of Israel and those
acting on its behalf can best be summarized as a gross violation of perhaps the
most fundamental value of Judaism</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Deuteronomy 16:20 “Justice, Justice shall you pursue, that
thou may live and inherit the land which the Lord has given you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are excerpts from the extensive footnoted material to
this section in Pentateuch & Haftorahs, edited by J.H. Hertz, The Soncino
Press, Second Edition, 1980:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Justice is not the only ethical quality in God and man, nor
is it the highest quality; but it is the bases for all the others. Where there
is no justice, no proper and practical appreciation of the human rights of
every human being as sons of the one and only God of righteousness – there we
have a negation of religion. The oppressor, the man who tramples on others, and
especially on those like the orphan and the stranger who are too weak to defend
themselves, is throughout Scripture held forth as the enemy of God and man. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nor is justice limited to the relation between
individuals. It extends to the relation
between group and group, and it asserts the claims of the poor upon the rich,
of the helpless upon them who possess the means to help. And even as there is
social justice, prescribing the duties of class to class, so there is
international justice, which demands respect for the personality of each and
every national group, and proclaims that no people can of right be robbed of
its national life or territory, its language or spiritual heritage. The pure
administration of justice is thus one of the conditions of Israel’s existence
as a nation. Our teachers, from the first of them to the last, brand the
perversion of the course of justice as the most alarming sign of national
decay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-70581508289510741232017-01-30T13:16:00.000-08:002017-01-30T13:55:05.636-08:00UN Resolutions VETOED by the United States 1972-2015<table border="1" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 443px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Year<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Resolutions vetoed</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">by the United States<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1972-2015<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1972<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for the death of hundreds of people in Syria and Lebanon in air raids </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and the
violation of the cease-fire of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1976<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for attacking Lebanese civilians</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1976<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for building settlements in the occupied territories.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1976<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Calling for
self-determination for the Palestinians</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1976<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Affirming the rights
of the Palestinians </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td><td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1978<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the Israeli human rights record in the occupied territories</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1979<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Calling for the
return of all inhabitants expelled by Israel</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1979<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Demanding that
Israel desists from human rights violations</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1979<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Providing assistance
to the Palestinian </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">people.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1979<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Discussing
sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Arab territories</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1979<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For the inclusion
of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Palestine" title="State of Palestine"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Palestinian</span></a><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> women in the United Nations conference on Women</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1980<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israeli human rights </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">practices in the occupied territories.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Demanding that
Israel cease excavations in areas of East Jerusalem considered by the UN to be part of the occupied territories</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the Israeli </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">policy on the living conditions of
the Palestinian people</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">In favour of
establishing nuclear weapons-free zone</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> in the
Middle East.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To clarify the status of Jerusalem</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To discuss the issue
of Palestinian refugees in the Gaza strip</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To grant the rights
of displaced Palestinians to </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">return
home.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Regarding the
revenues from the property of Palestinian refugees</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Creating the University of Jerusalem for Palestinian refugees</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Regarding Israeli human rights violations </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">in the occupied territories</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the
closure of Palestinian universities</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> in the
occupied territory.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Opposing the Israeli decision to build a canal linking the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Discussing
sovereignty over national resources in the occupied Palestinian a</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">nd other Arab territories.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1981<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Affirming the
non-applicability of Israeli law on the Golan Heights</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1982<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the Israeli invasion of Lebanon</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1982<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the
shooting of 11 Muslims at a shrine in Jerusalem by an Israeli soldier</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1982<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Calling on Israel to
withdraw from the Golan Heights</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> occupied in 1967.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1982<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Situation in the
Middle East (Mayors of Nablus and Ramallah Dismissal</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1982<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Situation in the
Middle East (Golan Heights).</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">International action
to eliminate apartheid</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the Israeli occupation and attack of the south of Lebanon</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Israeli</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> attack on Iraq's nuclear facilities</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Affirming the rights
of the </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Palestinian people</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">For convening
a peace conference in the Middle East</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">With regards to
the Israeli human rights violations in the occupied territories</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the
assassination attempts against Palestinian mayors</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for not putting its nuclear facilities under international safeguards.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">On the prohibition
of nuclear tests</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1984<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Offering economic
assistance to the </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Palestinian people</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1985<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Israeli occupation</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> of and attack on the south of </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Lebanon</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1985<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for using </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">excessive force</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> in the </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">occupied territories</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1986<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for its actions against </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Lebanese</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> civilians.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1986<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Calling on Israel to
respect Muslim hoy places</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1987<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Urging Israel to
stop deporting </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Palestinians</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1987<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for its actions in </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Lebanon</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1987<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Calling on Israel to
withdraw its forces from </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Lebanon</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1988<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning </span><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Israeli</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> practices against Palestinians in the occupied territories</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span><sup><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">]</span></sup><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Situation in the
Occupied Arab Territories.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1989<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Calling for a
solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on previous UN resolutions</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1990<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To send three
observers of the UN Security Council </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">to the Arab occupied territories.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; mso-cell-special: placeholder; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;" width="156"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1995<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Stating that land
in East Jerusalem </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">annexed by Israel is occupied territory.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1997<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Urging Israel to
halt the construction of settlements in East Jerusalem and other occupied territories</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2001<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To send unarmed
monitors to the West Bank and the Gaza strip</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2001<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning Israel
for acts of terror against civilians in the occupied territories</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2003<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the
decision of the Israeli parliament to </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"eliminate" Palestinian President-elect Yasser Arafat</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2003<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the
construction of a wall by Israel on Palestinian </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">land.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2004<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the
assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2004<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemning the Israeli incursion</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> and assassinations in </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip" title="Gaza Strip"><span style="color: #0b0080; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Gaza</span></a><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2007<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Calling for
the right of self-determination of the Palestinian </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">people. Other resolutions on the Palestinians and their
rights.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Affirming the
sovereignty of the Palestinians in the occupied territories </span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">and their resources.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Affirming the right
of Palestinians to self-determination</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Urging Israel to pay
the cost of cleaning up an oil slick on the coast of Lebanon</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> caused by its bombing.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Resolutions on Palestine</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">, its people, their property and Israeli practices in
Palestine, including settlements.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2009<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Call for an end to
the 22-day Israeli attack on Gaza</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2011<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Call for a stop to
the Israeli settlements in the West Bank</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2011<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Call on Israel to
cease obstructing the movement and access of personnel, vehicles and assets
of the Agency of the United Nations Relief and Works for Palestine Refugees</span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2011<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">To request the
immediate and complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem and the the occupied Syrian Golan</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2011<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">It integrates the
Palestinian Authority to the United Nations as an observer member.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 37.5pt;" width="50"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 171.5pt;" width="229"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Condemns Israel for
its massive violations of international law in Gaza and the West Bank.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border: none; padding: 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt; width: 117.05pt;" width="156"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-15250558526046150112017-01-30T13:06:00.000-08:002017-01-30T13:06:15.730-08:00Titles of B'Tselem Reports from 2001 to 2014 Documenting Israel's Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Territories <h4>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">B’TSELEM
- The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in
the Occupied Territories was established in February 1989 by a group of
prominent academics, attorneys, journalists, and Knesset members to document
human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of
denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights
culture in Israel.</span></b></h4>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>SETTLEMENT POLICY FOR ISRAELIS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>L</b>and Grab: Israel’s Settlement Policy in the West Bank; May 2002; 140
pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>J</b>ewish Settlements in the West Bank: Built-up Areas and Land Reserves;
May 2002; Map </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hebron, Area H-2: Settlements Cause Mass Departure of Palestinians;
August 2003; 45 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>T</b>he Hidden Agenda: The Establishment and Expansion Plans of Ma’ale
Adummim and their Human Rights
Ramifications; December 2009; 58 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>B</b>y Hook and Crook: Israel Settlement Policy in the West Bank; July
2010; 69 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>EXPULSION PLANNING FOR
PALESTINIANS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>D</b>ispossession and Exploitation: Israel’s Policy in the Jordan Valley
and Northern Dead Sea; May 2011; 59
pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>M</b>eans of Expulsion: Violence,
Harassment and Lawlessness against Palestinians in the Southern Hebron Hills;
July 2005; 59 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>G</b>host Town: Israel’s Separation Policy and Forced Eviction of
Palestinians from the Center of Hebron; May 2007; 107 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>FORBIDDEN FAMILIES <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>F</b>orbidden Families: Family Unification and Child Registration in East
Jerusalem; January 2004; 41 pages<br /><b>
B</b>arred from Contact: Violation of the Right to Visit Palestinians Held in
Israeli Prisons; September 2006; 49 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>S</b>o Near and Yet So Far: Implications of Israel-Imposed Seclusion of
Gaza Strip on Palestinians’ Right to Family Life; January 2014; 67 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>P</b>erpetual Limbo: Israel’s Freeze on Unification of Palestinian Families
in the Occupied Territories; July 2006; 49 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>HOUSE DEMOLITIONS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>P</b>olicy of Destruction: House Demolitions and Destruction of
Agricultural Land in the Gaza Strip;
February 2002; 45 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>T</b>hrough No Fault of Their Own: Punitive House Demolitions during the
al-Aqsa Intifada; November 2004; 66 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>NON-ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW ON
SETTLERS AND MILITARY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>S</b>tanding Idly By: Non-Enforcement of the Law on Settlers – Hebron 26-28
July 2002; August 2002; 20 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>F</b>oreseen But Not Prevented: The Israeli Law Enforcement Authorities
Handling of Settler Attacks on Olive Harvesters; November 2002; 32 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>V</b>oid of Responsibility: Israel Military Policy Not to Investigate
Killings of Palestinians by Soldiers;
October 2010; 53 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>TREATMENT OF MINORS <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>C</b>aution Children Ahead: The Illegal Behavior of the Police Toward
Minors in Silwan Suspected of Stone Throwing; December 2010; 32 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>N</b>o Minor Matter: Violation of
the Rights of Palestinian Minors Arrested by Israel on Suspicion of Stone
Throwing; July 2011; 79 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>G</b>round to a Halt: Denial of Palestinians’ Freedom of Movement in the
West Bank;, August 2007; 118 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>A</b>ccess Denied: Israeli Measures to Deny Palestinians Access to Land
Around Settlements; September 2008; 80 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>FORBIDDEN ROADS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>F</b>orbidden Roads: Israel’s Discriminatory Road Regime in the West Bank;
August 2004; 55 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>SEPARATION BARRIER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>B</b>ehind the Barrier: Human rights Violations as a Result of Israel’s
Separation Barrier; March 2003; 41 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>F</b>acing the Abyss: The Isolation of Sheikh Sa’ad Village Before and
After the Separation Barrier; February 2004; 25 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>N</b>ot All it Seems: Preventing Palestinians Access to Their Lands West of
the Separation Barrier in the Tulkarm-QalQiliya Area; June 2004; 26 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>A</b>rrested Development: The Long Term Impact of Israel’s Separation
Barrier in the West Bank; October 2012; 78 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>A</b> Wall in Jerusalem: Obstacles
to Human Rights in the Holy City; Summer 2006; 31 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>ACCESS TO WATER<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>F</b>oul Play: Neglect of Wastewater Treatment in the West Bank; June 2009;
45 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>A</b>bsolute Prohibition: The Torture and Ill-Treatment of Palestinian
Detainees; May 2007; 104 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>W</b>ithout Trial: Administrative Detention of Palestinians by Israel and
the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law; October 2009; 74 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>K</b>ept in the Dark: Treatment of Palestinian Detainees in the Petah Tikva
Interrogation Facility of the Israel Security Agency; October 2010; 67 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>EXCESSIVE FORCE BY IDF<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>E</b>xcessive Force: Human Rights Violations during IDF Actions in Area A;
December 2001; 82 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>W</b>ounded in the Field: Impeding Medical Treatment and Firing at Ambulances
by IDF Soldiers in the Occupied Territories; March 2002; 31 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>T</b>rigger Happy: Unjustified Shooting and Violation of the Open-Fire
Regulations during the al-Aqsa Intifada; March 2002; 53 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>L</b>ethal Curfew: The Use of Live Ammunition to Enforce Curfew; October
2002; 33 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>H</b>uman Shield: Use of Palestinian Civilians as Human Shields in
Violation of High Court of Justice Order; November 2002; 21 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>H</b>arm to Medical Personnel: The Delay, Abuse and Humiliation of Medical
Personnel by Israeli Security Forces; December 2003; 30 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>T</b>ake No Prisoners: The Fatal Shooting of Palestinians by Israeli
Security Forces during “Arrest Operations”; May 2005; 48 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>GAZA<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>O</b>ne Big Prison: Freedom of Movement to and From the Gaza Strip on the
Eve of the Disengagement Plan; March 2005; 79 pages </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>A</b>ct of Vengeance: Israel’s Bombing of the Gaza Power Plant and its
Effects; September 2006; 35 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>A</b>l-Mawasi, Gaza Strip, Intolerable Life in an Isolated Enclave; March
2003; 25 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>HUMAN RIGHTS GENERALLY<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>H</b>uman rights in the Occupied Territories; 2011 Annual Report; 63 pages</div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-33111143464884243452017-01-30T12:54:00.000-08:002017-01-30T12:54:09.769-08:00QUOTES OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE ILLEGALITY AND IMMORALITY OF THE SETTLEMENTS (2003)<div class="WordSection1">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1980
April 25, 1980 - Hon Arie Lova Eliav</span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> – his belief
that Palestinians also have a right to the land led him being a prominent
member of the Labor party to leadership of the doves “It also is the basis for
his opposition to the present policy of establishing Israeli settlements in the
occupied territories. This land, under
his proposal is being held for the Palestinians subject to their agreement on
demilitarization and other conditions.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 9pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1991 -Michael Lerner on Linkage in Nov/Dec 1991 Tikkun Starting in early 1990 Shamir clearly announced his
intention to use Soviet Jewish immigration to counter …the threat of higher Palestinian birth rates
… But to carry out Shamir’s strategy, Israel needs loan money to be used inside
Israel; this would then free up the billions of dollars for settlements on the
West Bank… So in a supreme act of chutzpah, Shamir turned to the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and asked
Bush to provide the funds to make a mockery of Bush’s own land-for-peace
policy.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
Core Vision and Founding Principles of
the Tikkun Community </span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“… the greatest obstacle to
the creation of a state living up to the values of an ethically and spiritually
renewed Judaism are the Occupation, the settlements, and what is described in
Michael Lerner’s book Jewish Renewal as the “Settler Judaism” mentality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002 - Michael Lerner – June
24, 2002</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> - </span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">If the US wants peace, George
Bush is going to have to summon the courage that allowed his father to stand up
to the American friends of Israel’s Right wing. In 1991 that meant demanding a settlement
freeze, but in 2002 that will mean support for an international intervention to
separate and protect the two sides from each other and to impose a settlement
which minimally requires an end to the Occupation and the settlements,
reparations for the Palestinian refugees</span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
<st1:personname w:st="on">Jan Hayden</st1:personname> –</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> the settlements are
currently an obstacle to peace - I want to get the US to move from the
“obstacle to peace” language … downgraded from “illegal” over the years, back
to stating that the US considers the settlements to be illegal, and therefore
Israel must abandon them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
- April 14 - Rabbi Ben-Zion Gold at Harvard Hillel –</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Building</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Israeli</st1:placename> settlements in parts of the
<st1:place w:st="on">West Bank</st1:place> has frustrated their (Palestinians)
hopes. At this point three generations of Palestinians have lived for
thirty-five years under Israeli occupation and the persistent building of
settlements on their land has led to violent conflict. When <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sharon</st1:city></st1:place>
was elected . . his commitment to the
preservation of the settlements precluded the possibility of a peaceful
resolution of the conflict. . the
conflict can not be solved by power alone. Then by what? By removing the basis
for the conflict. The Jewish settlements on the West Bank are a grave and
dangerous mistake that have done much harm to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Micah. “He has told you, O man, Only to do
justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” By all means,
Humbly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
Brit Tzedek V’Shalom</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> - Founding Principles – 6) The
evacuation of Israeli settlements in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Occupied</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Territories</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
These settlements are a major obstacle to peace, a tremendous<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">financial
burden to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and do
little, in anything, to enhance <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
security. There settlements constantly
endanger the settlers themselves and the Israeli soldiers sent to defend them,
and they bring grave harm to the Palestinians living under Occupation. We call for bringing safely home to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> the </span><span style="font-size: 9pt;">settlers
from all settlements except those included as part of a negotiated and mutually
agreed upon exchange of territories between </span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 9pt;" w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 9pt;">
and </span><st1:place style="font-size: 9pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-size: 9pt;">
in determining the final borders of both states.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
Archbishop Desmond Tutu</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> statement – In a region where repressive governments
and unjust policies are the norm, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place> is certainly more democratic
that most of its neighbors. This does
not make dismantling the settlements any less of a priority. . Over
35 new settlements have been constructed this year. Each one is a step away from the safety
deserved by the Israelis and two steps away from the justice owed to the
Palestinians. If apartheid ended, so can
the occupation, but the moral force and international pressure will have to be
just as determined.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
Jimmy Carter</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
– “Arial Sharon … rejection of all peace agreements that included Israeli
withdrawal from Arab lands, his invasion of Lebanon … have all been
orchestrated to accomplish his ultimate goals; to establish Israeli settlements
as widely as possible throughout occupied territories and to deny Palestinians
a cohesive political existence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
National Lawyers Guild</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> – April 15, 2002 – More than 200,000 Israeli settlers now live in the
West Bank in some 190 settlements linked by special highways (from which
Palestinians vehicles are excluded) that have effectively cut the <st1:place w:st="on">West Bank</st1:place> in isolated enclaves surrounded by Israeli
military forces and checkpoints. In
numerous resolutions, the UN Security Council and General Assembly have
condemned these settlements as illegal under Article 49(b) of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, which prohibits an Occupying Power from transferring parts of its
own civilian population into the territory it occupies. In May 20, 2001, the Mitchell Report urged
that Israeli government completely freeze building more settlements. Nonetheless,
Peace Now, reported in March 2002 that an aerial survey of the West Bank
shower thirty-four new settlement sites build in the last year. The recent military offensive continues the
same process that the settlements reflect, and in so doing is an attempt by <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> to effectively continue the occupation
indefinitely or drive the Palestinian population from the <st1:place w:st="on">West
Bank</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
Rabbi Arthur Waskow</span></b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> - </span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Periodically in Israeli
public life, the question is raised about bringing settlers safely home from
the Gaza settlement of Netzarim, where fifty families of Israeli settlers have
required the presence of thousands of Israeli troops and the deaths of more
than a dozen in order to protect them. Asked in an interview with
Ha'aretz in April 2001, .. "Would you be ready to evacuate settlements as
part of a non-belligerency agreement?", <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sharon</st1:city></st1:place> answered bluntly: "No. Absolutely
not." "Not even isolated settlements like Netzarim in the Gaza
Strip?", the interviewer followed up: "No. Not at any
price," <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:city>
answered. "Why do we have to evacuate Netzarim? For what?" Later
Prime Minister Sharon said that to him, this settlement is as precious as Tel
Aviv. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2002
– July 27 - Yitzhak Frankenthal</span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> – My beloved son Arik, my own flesh and blood, was
murdered by Palestinians. The Palestinians … have been ready to make peace with
us; it is we who are unwilling to make peace with them .. as an occupation
force it is we who trample over human dignity, it is we who crush the liberty
of Palestinians and it is we who push an entire nation to crazy acts of
despair. Finally, I call on my brothers
and sisters in the settlements – see what we have come to. </span></div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-47632259280251152472017-01-30T12:50:00.001-08:002017-01-30T12:50:05.735-08:00FACTS WHICH MIGHT APPLY TO THE ISSUE OF THE LEGALITY OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK (2003)<div class="WordSection1">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
Much of this material has been taken from: “Land Grab”
Israel’s Settlement Policy in the West Bank, May 2002, a publication of
B’TSELEM – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied
Territories; Tikkun Magazine; Americans for Peace Now; the Foundation for
Middle East Peace; and Christian Peacemaker Teams CPT; hebron.org; Healing
Israel/Palestine by Michael Lerner.
There has been no independent attempt to verify the facts presented –
for any formal legal action, a significant amount of additional research would
be required. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
Summary - Since
1967, each Israeli government has invested significant resources in
establishing and expanding the settlements in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Occupied</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Territories</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
both in terms of the area of land they occupy and in terms of population. As a
result of this policy, approximately 198,000 Jewish Israeli citizens now live
on 123 settlements on the West Bank (this does not include 180,000 living in
East Jerusalem).</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
____________________________________________</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
<br />
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1967 - During the first decade following the occupation,
the Ma'arach governments operated on the basis of the Alon Plan, which
advocated the establishment of settlements in areas perceived as having
"security importance,” and where the Palestinian population was sparse
(the Jordan Valley, parts of the Hebron Mountains and Greater Jerusalem). </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1967 – Kfar Etzion founded by Jewish Israeli citizens</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1968 - April 13,
1968, Rabbi Moshe Levinger led a group
of eighty-eight Israeli Jewish people into <st1:place w:st="on">Hebron</st1:place> and celebrated Passover at the Park
Hotel. “We sensed that we had made an historical breakthrough", recalls
his wife, Miriam Levinger, “and we all felt deeply moved and excited. We
received Eretz Yisrael on a silver platter in 1967.It was an honor and a
privilege to be among the first people to make the dream of return a
reality."</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1968 – A new
religious group, Gush Emunim (block of the faithful) argued that it was
forbidden for Jews to return land to the Arabs, and that the outcome of the war
was a product of divine intervention.
These “modern-Orthodox created settlements in the West bank and pushed
the agenda of Israeli expansionism. Over
the next 25 years, the Gush Emunim movement encouraged some 120,000 Israelis to
settle in the West Bank and <st1:city w:st="on">Gaza</st1:city>,
sometimes buying land, but often occupying and expropriating land from
Palestinians.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1968 – 1972 – Jewish Israeli citizens founded 11
settlements – Mehola Kalya, Argamar, Rosh Zurim, Gilgal, Ma’ale Efrayim,
Massu’a, Mevo Horan, Hamra, Mizpe Shalem, Har Gilo and Kiryat Arba</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1977 - After the Likud came to power in 1977, the
government began to establish settlements throughout the West Bank,
particularly in areas close to the main Palestinian population centers along
the central mountain ridge and in western <st1:city w:st="on">Samaria</st1:city>.
This policy was based on both security and ideological considerations.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1977 – July – Menachem Begin refuses President Jimmy
Carter’s request to freeze settlement activity. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1977 – September - Ariel Sharon, minister of agriculture
unveils “A vision of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
at Century’s End” calling for the settlement of 2 million Jews in the occupied
territories. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1978 - April 21, 1978 opinion of the Legal Adviser
of the Department of State in the administration of President Carter the
Congress on the legal status of Israeli settlements in the occupied
territories. “While Israel may undertake, in the occupied territories, actions
necessary to meet its military needs and to provide for orderly government
during the occupation, for the reasons indicated above the establishment of the
civilian settlements in those territories is inconsistent with international
law.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">1980 – There are now 53 settlements where
approximately 12,500 Jewish Israeli citizens live</span></b>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1988 – There are now 110 settlements where approximately
63,600 Jewish Israeli citizens live.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1992– There are now 120 settlements where approximately
100,500 Jewish Israeli citizens live.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1992 - The political process between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and the
Palestinians did not impede settlement activities, which continued under the
Labor government of Yitzhak Rabin (1992-1996) and all subsequent governments.
These governments built thousands of new housing units, claiming that this was
necessary to meet the "natural growth” of the existing population. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1993 and 1995 – The <st1:city w:st="on">Oslo</st1:city>
Agreements do not expressly prohibit expansion of settlements but they
preserved the “integrity and status of the <st1:place w:st="on">West Bank</st1:place>
during the interim period. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
2003 – There are now only 3 more settlements than in 1992
BUT since 1992 approximately 42 “unofficial” settlements have been established
. There are now approximately 198,000 Jewish Israeli citizens living in West
Bank settlements, a population increase since 1992 of nearly 100%. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2003
– Settlements in the West Bank whose residents are Jewish Israeli citizens and areas controlled by the Israel military forces now
control 60% of the <st1:place w:st="on">West Bank</st1:place> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
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</div>
Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1239312219155861664.post-64285515192992301002017-01-30T12:42:00.000-08:002017-01-30T12:42:02.894-08:00A Case Study of the Despicable Jewish Israeli Squatters in Hebron (2003)<div class="WordSection1">
Much of this material has been taken from: “Land Grab”
Israel’s Settlement Policy in the West Bank, May 2002, a publication of
B’TSELEM – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied
Territories; Tikkun Magazine; Americans for Peace Now; the Foundation for
Middle East Peace; and Christian Peacemaker Teams CPT; hebron.org; Healing
Israel/Palestine by Michael Lerner.
There has been no independent attempt to verify the facts presented – for any formal legal action, a significant
amount of additional research would be required.<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
_______________________________________________________</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
</div>
<div class="WordSection2">
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1968 - April 13, 1968,
From the website of the Jewish Israeli residents of <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>
entitled “The Return to <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>” <i>“Wanted: Families or singles to resettle
ancient city of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Hebron For</st1:city></st1:place>
details contact Rabbi M. Levinger” </i>This unassuming newspaper advertisement
captured the attention of many Israelis in 1968. The euphoria of the Six Day
War had subsided, Judea and <st1:city w:st="on">Samaria</st1:city>
were in Jewish hands, and yet, no Jews had made their homes this area. Rabbi
Moshe Levinger and a group of like-minded individuals determined that the time
had come to return home to the newly liberated heartland of Eretz Yisrael. As
their first goal, the group decided to renew the Jewish presence in the Jewish
People’s most ancient city, <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>.
Word of the decision spread quickly and soon a nucleus of families was formed.
Their objective: to spend Pesach in <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>'s
Park Hotel. … the Park Hotel's Arab owners were delighted to accept the
cash-filled envelope which Rabbi Levinger placed on the front desk. In
exchange, they agreed to rent the hotel to an unlimited amount of people for an
unspecified period of time. The morning of Erev Pesach, April, 1968 saw the
Levinger family along with families from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>'s
north, south and center packed their belongings for <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>. They quickly cleaned and kashered the
half of the hotel's kitchen allotted to them and began to settle in. ….
Eighty-eight people celebrated Pesach Seder that night in the heart of <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>. “We sensed that
we had made an historical breakthrough", recalls Miriam Levinger, and we
all felt deeply moved and excited". Two days later, Rabbi Levinger
announced to the media that the group intended to remain in <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>. Dignitaries, Knesset members and
Israelis from far and near streamed to the Park Hotel to encourage the
pioneers. Defense Minister Moshe Dayan was anxious to remove the pioneers from
the hotel. He suggested that they move to the military compound overlooking <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>. A heated debate
ensued. There were those who felt that moving to the compound would in effect,
strangle the project. Others saw in Dayan's suggestion official recognition,
albeit de facto, of their goal. Six
weeks later, the pioneers moved to the military compound. Rabbi Levinger
insisted on accommodations for 120 people even though they numbered less than
half at that time. Rabbi </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
Levinger was accused of being an unrealistic dreamer.
Within a few short weeks however, he was proven correct. The 120 places in the
military compound could not accommodate the hundreds of people who wanted to be
part of the renewed of Jewish life in <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>,
city of the Patriarchs. "We received Eretz Yisrael on a silver platter in
1967", explained Miriam Levinger. "It was an honor and a privilege to
be among the first people to make the dream of return a reality."</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1968 – A new
religious group, Gush Emunim (block of the faithful) argued that it was forbidden
for Jews to return land to the Arabs, and that the outcome of the war was a
product of divine intervention. These
“modern-Orthodox created settlements in the West bank and pushed the agenda of
Israeli expansionism. Over the next 25
years, the Gush Emunim movement encouraged some 120,000 Israelis to settle in
the West Bank and <st1:place w:st="on">Gaza</st1:place>,
sometimes buying land, but often occupying and expropriating land from
Palestinians.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
1995 Christian Peacemakers Term – CPT Hebron Chronology
1995-2001 including entries such as”August 1995 - The team spends much of the month
visiting and increasing their visibility on <st1:street w:st="on">Dubboya Street</st1:street>. They become particularly
involved with the family of Shakir Da'na, whose house is stoned three-four
times a week by his neighbors: settlers in Kiryat Arba. Work includes talking
with Israeli police and the military, and connecting Shakir with Israeli legal
help and journalists. The team proposes that they spend a night on Shakir's
roof or on the hillside inside Kiryat Arba from where the stones are usually
thrown, but Shakir refuses to allow the team to put themselves at risk in this
way.”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
2001 (?) From the
website of the Jewish Israeli residents of <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city> (Hebron.org) “What is Tel Rumeida – Tel
Rumeida is the Arab name for the Jewish neighborhood called Admot Ishai, or Tel
Hebron. This is the site of Biblical <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>, home of the
Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Fascinating excavations have revealed artifacts over 4000
year old! Today seven families live in this neighborhood, in caravan (trailer)
homes. <u>Construction of permanent housing is underway.</u> (underlining
supplied)</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">2001 Christian
Peacemakers Term – CPT Hebron Chronology 1995-2001 including entries such as May, 2001 “Palestinian residents of Tel Rumeida are
harassed by Israeli soldiers and concerned about expansion of the adjacent
Israeli settlement. On May 7, team members visit a doctor who reports that
soldiers stationed on his rooftop throw garbage into his yard, and they have
poured urine on the family’s clothes drying on the roof. He says the soldiers
attacked and beat him on April 25, and the army refused to take his complaint.
The Israeli high court in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>
issues a stop work order on settler apartments under construction over an
archaeological site on Tel Rumeida. However, on May 24, Adas, Holmes and
Montgomery document construction still in progress.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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2001 Summer -“A Report from the Mean Streets of <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>” by Kathleen Kern
- Nov/Dec 2001 Tikkun Magazine “I have worked with Christian Peacemaker
Teams in <st1:place w:st="on">Hebron</st1:place>
since 1995. (in the) summer 2001 … Teenage settler girls without fail assaulted
Palestinian vendors in the vegetable market on the infrequent occasions when
the Israeli military lifted the curfew there. The military would then reimpose
curfew. (The rules of the game in <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>:
If Israelis are attacked by Palestinians, Palestinians are punished. If
Palestinians are attacked by Israelis, Palestinians are punished.) Our British
friend, a Ploughshares activist, had witnessed a girl heave a rock at a
seventy-five-year-old man and then laugh as his white headscarf became soaked
with blood. My friend pled with an adult male settler to stop the girls from
throwing rocks. He proceeded to cover her Women in Black solidarity outfit with
white globs of saliva, call her a Nazi, punch her in the head, and smash her
camera. Hebron settler boys between the ages of five and twelve wandered the
streets in packs stoning Palestinian passersby, their homes, and their shops,
while soldiers looked on. A group of these boys assaulted Sister Anne Montgomery
(age seventy-four) and I when soldiers called us over to a checkpoint and asked
to see our passports. The soldiers stood there as the group of about ten boys
proceeded to stone us, hit us with sticks, and throw water at us from the
soldiers' water bottle. Despite our requests that the soldiers call the police,
they just stood there, sometimes smiling at the boys' behavior. Using our
cellphone (which the boys tried to snatch from my hands), we finally called an
Israeli friend who called the police. As the blue flashing light drew near, the
two oldest boys, ringleaders in the attack, ran into the settlement of Avraham
Avinu. The first thing the Israeli police said to us as they got out of the van
was, "We can't arrest them; they're under ten." Anne and I then
watched from the safety of the police van as the boys began to push the
policemen and try to grab the video camera of the officer taping their antics.
It almost frightened me more than getting attacked to see that the little boys,
shouting "Naziim, Naziim," knew that they could push around police
officers with complete impunity. I have not seen this level of street violence
since the months before the Rabin assassination in 1995. Then, we didn't take
the innumerable threats to kill Rabin and Peres seriously, any more than we
took offense at getting called Nazis. Now, we do.”</div>
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2002 Publication entitled Standing Idly By –
Non-Enforcement of the Law on Settlers: <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>,
July 26-28. 2002 – This report contains testimony of the actions taken by settlers and soldiers
after the killing of Elazar Leibowitz, a Israeli soldier, a resident of the
Jewish settlement in <st1:place w:st="on">Hebron</st1:place>,
by Palestinians. Eyewitness testimony
describes the stabbing of Ahmad a-Natashe, age 8, and the beating of his
brother Falah, age 9 and the killing of Nivin Jamjoum, age 14, by settlers.
Also included is the testimony of “Soldier A”,
“I saw a group of settlers, including men, women and children, going
into the yards of Palestinian homes, destroying everything in their path. They
broke windows, fences, and flower pots and damaged cars. At that stage, I saw a soldier who was on duty,
standing near one of the Palestinian homes that came under attack. He did
nothing. Four other soldiers arrived a
little later. They didn’t try to stop
the settlers either.” </div>
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2003 Testimonies compiled by B’SELEM including: the Stabbing of Iyad Salhab, age 25, by settlers in Hebron on
January 19, 2003; Pene Hever settler shoots at olive harvesters from Bank Na’im
in October, 2002, and Theft of Olive Crop; Violence of settlers from Efrat
against farmers from al-Khadr, Theft of Their Olive Crop and Uprooting of Olive
Trees, October 18-19 2002.</div>
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Ron Foxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16230271132118191383noreply@blogger.com0