ISRAELI ELECTIONS - A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY
The Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation congratulates the newly elected government of Israel, and Israelis of all faiths, ethnicities and political perspectives, on their adherence to the rule of law, attention to democracy and love of freedom. Mazel Tov!
Best Wishes for Israel's Peace and Prosperity.
There are many challenging issues affecting Israel today, not the least of which is Anti-Zionism that is implicated in attacks against Jews worldwide. CAEF stands with Israel and will continue to challenge the three-headed monster that is attacking its very existence—the extreme left, extreme right and radical Islam, which threaten us all, Jew and non-Jew. Anti-Zionism IS Antisemitism.
RECENT LOCAL EVENTS
JEWISH LEGAL AND INDIGENOUS RIGHTS TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL, AN EVENING WITH PROFESSOR SALLY ZERKER
The fact that Jews are indigenous to the land of Israel, is usually ignored or downright denied, Professor Sally Zerker, a professor emeritus at York University stated. Dr. Zerker began teaching in 1968 and was Director of Canadian Studies for a decade in the 1980s. Dr. Zerker, who has a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Toronto with special interests in the Canadian economy and the international oil industry, is a founding member of Canadian Professors for Peace in the Middle East, and has been a member for over 30 years of the think-tank Canadian Institute for Jewish Research.
Professor Zerker has published two books, and many scholarly articles for newspapers in Canada and abroad and is a leading expert in Middle East affairs. She told the audience at her recent lecture titled, Jewish Legal and Indigenous Rights to the Land of Israel that she prefers to use the word "aboriginal" rights, based on an essay by Allen Z. Hertz, a former professor of history and law, and former senior adviser in the Privy Council Office on aboriginal issues.
Jews have been in continuous habitation in Israel from time immemorial and oppressed under a series of foreign occupations, including the British Mandate.
Moreover, the "occupation", a concoction of Arab propaganda, is an out and out lie she claims, intended to demonize and delegitimize the Jewish State. Legally, the Jews are owners of the Land, under international law which is valid to this day. These acquired rights of the Jewish people are enshrined in the UN Charter and remain valid regardless of the passage of time.
"You cannot be an occupier in your own country", she told the audience at Beth Emeth Beit Yehudah Synagogue. "Out of 195 countries, only one country's legitimacy is challenged – Israel’s."
The lecture on February 28th, was organized by the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research which honoured Professor Zerker at its annual gala in October 2018.
BELMAN PROPOSES ANOTHER OPTION
Speaking in Toronto on April 8th, Ted Belman spoke avidly of the steps required to change the demographic and geographic realities of Israel in the near and long term future. Referring to the Jordan Option, Belman who is publisher/blogger at Israpundit.org outlined a plan that recognizes Jordan IS Palestine, or the natural home of majority Arab Palestinians.
In partnership with Mudar Zahran, a Jordanian-born Arab who is Secretary General of the Jordanian Opposition Coalition, Belman proposes the abdication of King Abdullah of Jordan. Zahran is living under protection in the UK, as King Abdullah has declared he is guilty of sedition in calling for the demise of the ruler’s reign. Mudar claims his family, which still lives in Jordan, is at serious risk of “arrest and execution” resulting from his work, and that security forces want him to abandon his campaign to overthrow the king.
Writing in Arutz Sheva in September 2018, Belman states: the Jordan Option is “the Ultimate Alternate Solution to the Arab-Israeli Conflict and differs from all other solutions that have been put forward in that it calls for King Abdullah of Jordan to be convinced to abdicate and for Mudar Zahran to be installed as President of Jordan.”
For Mudar’s pronouncement, the king had Zahran tried in absentia by the military State Security Court for such crimes as “Having a long tongue against the king", "Insulting and official entity", "Writing for Israeli newspapers", "Trying to change the structure of the society" and "Attempting to change the ruling regime". He was duly tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Its interesting to note that though Jordan is a near ally with Israel, the king is said to have “mobilized Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Abbas to publicly oppose the 2017 conference - which they did.”
So, how exactly would removal of the Hashemite king be achieved? Would it benefit Israel and its Palestinian Arab population? Would it result in peace? Here are a few of the steps toward the separation of two peoples that Belman outlined. They are presented here with no commentary, endorsement or recommendation:
All Palestinians will get Jordanian citizenship; therefore, there would be no obligation to grant Israeli citizenship.
An open door policy would allow for the return of Jordanians to Jordan.
There would be incentivized Arab immigration to Jordan, such as $300,000US per family, so the total cost is estimated at $300B.
A new city would be created for a population of approximately 1 million people
Israel would help create industry in Jordan that would employ Jordanians and serve the Arab market, exporting goods to all Arab countries.
Israel would help build a desalination plant to give water to Jordan from the Sea.
More land would become arable if there was available water.
Gaza would become another Area A, administered by Jordan, with Israel and Jordan sorting out its future.
Israel would ultimately annex all of the disputed territories on the West bank of the Jordan and Gaza, and get Egypt to help redevelop the area.
The emirates would be asked to contribute $100B.
The Muslim Brotherhood would be banned from Jordan.
The last, very interesting comment made by Ted Belman at the event which was attended by about 50 people, was apparently gleaned from Mudar Zahran, to the effect that “Jordanians hate the Jews but they hate the king even more.”
REFLECTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
“Anti-Zionism is the New Anti-Semitism”, Says Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks at AIPAC
By: Fern Sidman in The Jewish Voice
Addressing attendees at the 2013 national policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the United Kingdom announced that “Anti-Zionism is the New Anti-Semitism.” Praising AIPAC for its unwavering support for Israel, Rabbi Sacks went on to speak of the alarming escalation of anti-Semitic attacks all across Europe, including France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Read more here
The Duplicitous Double Standard of the United Nations Regarding the Golan Heights
By: Sarah N. Stern
There are 194 nations in the world. Out of those, precisely 193 acquired their territory through the use of military force. That is how borders have traditionally been drawn. Most of these campaigns were offensive. I have asked many military experts, historians and scholars about this, and they have, to a person, told me that there is only one nation in the world who gained territory through the use of force that has been sued, time and time again to relinquish that territory. You guessed it: the state of Israel.
What is so profoundly outrageous about this is that Israel acquired lands in defensive wars. It is not as though Israel is a colonial state that set out to acquire land to enrich itself. Israel acquired the Golan Heights in an act of self-defense when they had been attacked on all sides in the 1967 war, and managed to successfully retain this land in the 1973 war.
Syria is a failed state. We have seen how the eight-year-old brutal Syrian civil war at the hands of Bashar Assad has left at least a half a million of his own people dead, and 5.6 million refugees along with 6.8 million internally displaced persons.
According to a recent article in Commentary by the legal scholar Vivian Bercovici, “Since World War II, the accepted understanding of international law that involves territorial loss during conflict is quite straightforward: The attacking nation may not retain permanently land acquired as a result of armed conflict.”
For those who are objecting to this move: Kindly inform us of with whom, precisely, Israel is supposed to negotiate with? Let’s take a look at the players inside Syria. Bashir Assad of the rump state of Syria? Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, the head of ISIS in the Levant? Qassam Solomeini of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps that works hand in glove with Bashir Assad? Hassan Nasrallah of Hezbollah, who now has approximately several thousand troops in Syria?
The reality on the ground is that the 400 square miles of the Golan Heights is the demarcation line of a Hobbesian state of war of “man against man” and a relatively tranquil, democratic area.
The political reality within Israel is that every Israeli, right, left and center agrees that the Golan Heights is critical for the survival of Israel. General Giora Eiland stated that “There is no solution to Israel’s survival without the retention of the Golan Heights.”
Every Israeli knows that whoever controls the high ground of the Golan Heights controls the security of the area. Most of us have stood on the Heights, and have peered down into Damascus and Beirut. We know it affords a protective shield extending all the way down to Lake Tiberias.
And the Israeli intelligence and military officials up there are the “eyes and ears” for vital intelligence and military information that they willingly share with the United States.
Words matter. By framing the language of the Golan Heights as “Occupied Territory”, it whets the appetite of Israel’s enemies, and indicates to them that this region is still in play.
That is why it is no less than infuriating when 14 nations of the UN Security Council met on Wednesday, at the request of Syria, to condemn America’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Would any of these distinguished representatives ever subject their own citizens of their nations to the uncertainty of “trading land for peace” if they had such wolves banging at their gates?
As I have written many times in the past, the birth of Israel was supposed to have been the denouement of the age-old problem of anti-Semitism. Instead, it is the focal point for all of the anti-Semites.
And many of them are distinguished representatives wearing suits and ties, casting votes in the United Nations.
Sarah N. Stern is Founder and President of the Endowment for Middle East Truth, or EMET, an unabashedly pro-Israel and pro-American think tank and policy shop in Washington, DC.
Two words that cause hysteria—"Islamophobia" and "Palestine"
In an article published online, April 1, 2019 in JNS Press. Jonathan S. Tobin asks Is it Islamophobic to deny that ‘Palestine’ exists? The story is very revealing, not just because the question is asked, but the context is chilling. It’s the story of a New York City Council member, Kalan Yeger, who has been being heavily censured for stating there is no country named ‘Palestine’, which then casts doubt on the authenticity of a people called ‘Palestinians.” Read more here
CAEF invites you to a luncheon and lecture with Dr. Mordechai Kedar, May 22, 2019
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn the truth, dispel the myths, and consider the implications. Details and tickets available here.
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