Jun 5, 2010

Cry for Palestinian Children

This video does not leave room for an introduction or explanations:



Shame...

Jun 3, 2010

Israel Kills 'peace' Seekers II

A follow up on my previous post "Israel Kills 'peace' Seekers".

Glen Beck from FoxNews.com analyzes the 'Peace' Flotilla to Gaza, its background and intentions.

In this video, he looks at the people behind "Free Gaza" who financed and organized part of this flotilla.

Israel Kills IHH 'peace' Seekers

Glen Beck from FoxNews.com analyzes the 'Peace' Flotilla to Gaza, its background and intentions.

Interesting observations and questions for the anti-Israel mob.

Looks like the world media is so anti-Israel and biased that I will not be surprised to soon see people and nations defending the following headline as a democratic, peaceful and internationally acceptable trend:

"Let's Kill the Israelis peacefully".   




Comments are welcome.

Jun 2, 2010

Flotilla aid refused by Hamas

The humanitarian aid aboard the 6 boats has been transported to the Gaza border crossing yet Hamas is refusing to allow the aid to enter the Gazastrip.

Read the entire article from the Jerusalem Post here: 

Flotilla aid refused by Hamas

May 31, 2010

Flotilla "peace" activists

For those who buy all the world media sell them, here are some of the peace activists before starting their humanitarian aid sail to Gaza:

 Courtesy of Haaretz

And here they are in action, calling for peace:



Khaibar is the name of the last Jewish village defeated by Muhammad's army in 628. Many Jews were killed in that battle, which marked the end of Jewish presence in Arabia. There are Muslims who see that as a precursor to future wars against Jews. At gatherings and rallies of extremists, this chant is often heard as a threat to Jews to expect to be defeated and killed again by Muslims.

Israeli soliders kill 10 'peace' activists

Wow! - some headline - the mighty Israeli army cold bloodily executes peace activists.

Many are going gobble, savor and digest the above headline which will appear in all its ferocious forms in the world media. Good luck to those. For many others, those who are able to breath for a second before resorting to a default "Israel bash" mode, read on...

Since this incident is far from over, I am extremely cautious not to provide unofficial information that has not been categorically verified. For now, lets examine some of the known verified facts:

  1. During the planning stages, the Israel Defense Force and government repeatedly announced that unwarranted maritime vessels with unmonitored cargo will not be allowed to enter territorial waters.
  2. An alternative conventional and viable solution was proposed  - the cargo would undergo security checks in Ashdod harbor and then be delivered by Israel. This solution was refused.
  3. Before the military operation, the flotilla was repeatedly requested to change course and warned of the takeover. The warnings and requests were met with clear defiance and refusals.
  4. Israeli soldiers were equipped with demonstration dispersion equipment in an effort to prevent using live ammunition.
  5. In video footage, it is clearly evident that the soldiers were attacked with iron bars and other material, yet did not hasten to open fire with live ammunition. In one case, a soldier is seen to be trying to ward off an attacker without making use of a weapon. 
  6. Five our of the six vessels were overpowered without any show of violence on behalf of the activists and therefore, on these boats, no one was injured.
 
Fresh reports announce that the first wave of soldiers was not armed with live ammunition in an attempt to prevent unnecessary violence but rather with riot equipment. After almost being lynched (some of them jumped in the water to escape), the second wave of soldiers took control of the vessel. (Remember that these are highly trained navy commando seals).

No nation allows unmonitored cross border access. An alternative reasonable solution to pass humanitarian aid were offered but refused. Despite repeated warnings the organizers decided to defy orders and were thus overpowered. Only after the activists initiated violent attacks on the soldiers (clearly seen on video footage), and apparently shooting at soldiers from a seized weapon, did the Israeli soldiers justifiably use live ammunition on the Mari Marmara.

Was the purpose of this flotilla to send humanitarian aid into Gaza? Or, was it a provocation designed to de-legitimize Israel? Why were the "peace" activists on the Mari Marmara armed with axes, iron bars and clubs? Here is the footage of a "peace" activist stabbing a soldier!

(Courtesy of Israel Channel2 News)

The Turkish charity "IHH" is the organization behind this flotilla to send humanitarian aid sent to Gaza. Closely tied to Hamas (considered a terror organization by most of the international community) previous aid sent to the "people of Gaza" was in effect handed over to Hamas leadership (the IHH even confirms in a published document). 

That is is for now - I'll keep you posted or revisit for updates.

Mar 17, 2010

Goldstone report - pure anti-Israel bias

The above heading might seem a bit powerful but it will never be as powerful as this report - considered as Israel's first real response to the Goldstone Report. 

This 349 page report by The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center provides the main findings of a study which examined how the Goldstone Report dealt with the nature and activities of Hamas in the Gaza Strip before and during Operation Cast Lead. The  main  conclusion  of  this  study  is  that  there  is  an  enormous  discrepancy between  the  findings  of  the  Goldstone  Report  and  the  factual  findings,  and  an extreme    imbalance   tipped   against   Israel.

The Goldstone Report systematically  relies  on  selective,  biased  information,  in  many  cases  supplied  by Hamas  or  by  individuals  and/or  institutions  controlled  by  it.  The  Report  analyzes  the selective, biased information in a way clearly intended to reinforce the thesis that Israel deliberately targeted civilians.

This report contains lots of video footage and graphic images:



This study is based on a vast amount of intelligence information from the Israeli
intelligence community which was made accessible to the team of researchers. It also made
extensive use of Palestinian, Arab and international media, and of previous bulletins issued by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (which were used selectively by the
Goldstone Mission). In addition, the intelligence information was supported and
complemented by statements and investigations of IDF forces who fought on the ground.

The report is found here: http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/g_report_e1.pdf

 The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center website: http://www.terrorism-info.org.ilhttp://www.terrorism-info.org.il

 

Mar 8, 2010

The Green Prince

Musab Musab Youssef, son of the Hamas leader in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), followed his convictions to save lives and became an agent of the Israeli General Security Service. For 14 years he served as anagent and prevented many Israeli and Palestinian deaths by exposing suicide bombers and even a planned attempt on Shimon Peres's life.

He left Israel, resides in Canada and has converted to Christianity. A very brave man who has endangered the rest of his life for the sake of saving lives. His book "The Green Prince" has recently been released. (Click the link on the left to purchase).

Below is an exclusive interview on Israeli TV. The introduction is in Hebrew but the interview is conducted in English.

Mar 2, 2010

Humanitarian Aid Pours into Gaza

There is much talk about Israel's so-called blockade of Gaza. Egypt was the first to close the border, followed by Israel. If you carefully read this article by an "activist [who] discusses Israeli blockade of Gaza", you will notice that Egypt and Jordan delayed and tried to prevent aid from Turkey reaching Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel allows aid to pour into Gaza. Interestingly, this does not feature in the world media.

The following is from the IDF spokesperson's office:

During the week, 976 tons of humanitarian aid were transferred into the Gaza Strip from Israel. 255 medical patients crossed into Israel and Judea and Samaria for treatment

Over the last week, a total of 595 truckloads, consisting of 13, 976 tons of humanitarian aid were transferred into the Gaza Strip from Israel via the various crossings. Likewise, ten truckloads of carnations were exported from Gaza to Europe.

Photo: IDF Spokesperson

Additionally, 255 medical patients and accompanying individuals from the Gaza Strip crossed into Israel and the Judea and Samaria region for medical treatment. 222 staff members of international organizations crossed into the Gaza Strip.

Essential food and humanitarian aid products, including milk powder, baby food, rice, cooking oil, flour, hygiene products and medicals supplies including a CT scanner were among the goods that crossed into Gaza this past week.

Lastly, 1,216,297 liters of diesel fuel and 992 tons of cooking gas also crossed into Gaza.

Mar 1, 2010

Vote for the Dead Sea

The New7Wonders Foundation, which is behind the New7Wonders campaigns, has the express aim of undertaking documentation and conservation works of monuments worldwide under the motto:

"OUR HERITAGE IS OUR FUTURE"

New7Wonders calls on all citizens of the world to support it
Through film, television, the Internet and books, people shall be sensitized to the beauty of the world’s heritage, both man-made and natural, and be alerted of its destruction and decay.

Photo: Laurence Seeff 02/2010

You can vote for the Dead Sea and 6 other sites at the New7Wonders Foundation website

Co-existence in an Israeli school


Israel is often portrayed as an intolerant, elite society which disregards the needs and desires of minority groups. This video shows integration where Arab and Israeli children co-exist.



Feb 25, 2010

First Burn Center in Congo - joint Israeli & USA effort

Most of the international media wrongly connects the words "Israel" and "humanitarian" to "violations" and "Palestinian" (Google the first two words), however Israel is also connected to other leading humanitarian efforts worldwide.

The Israeli nonprofit aid organization Moriah Africa (an IsraAID member) has joined hands with Los Angeles human rights organization Jewish World Watchhttp://www.jewishworldwatch.org/ and MASHAV, the Israeli Foreign Ministry aid arm, to establish a Burn Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Center will be housed in the large central government hospital in Bukavu, a key city not only in eastern Congo but also in the wider Great Lakes region.

In a country of 65 million people, where almost the entire population continues to cook over open fires and constant insecurity acutely limits access to medical care, burns and their crippling, disfiguring after-effects are relatively widespread. Yet modern treatment for basic burns and skin trauma is nonexistent. This burn center will be the first ever established in Eastern Congo.

Feb 23, 2010

Campus Intifada

University campuses have become the new battleground for anti-Israel propaganda behind a smokescreen of intellectual freedom of speech. 

A short film worth watching.

Feb 22, 2010

Goldstone Report Rejected by USA

Israel is not the only country which has rejected the validity of the Goldstone report. The American government has strongly rejected the report by calling it "deeply flawed" and "irredeemably biased."

In an article published on the AIPAC website, a summary of the flaws are listed concisely under the following headers:
  • The United States has rejected the findings and methodology of the Goldstone report.
  • The Goldstone report failed to recognize Israel's right to self-defense after years of rocket attacks against its civilians.
  • The Goldstone report is part of a pattern at the U.N. of singling out Israel for criticism and condemnation.
  • Israel's actions in Gaza were consistent with international law and subject to rigorous internal legal scrutiny.


Read the whole article here.

Feb 11, 2010

New Revelations About the UN Goldstone Report

The Goldstone report caused lots of damage to Israel's image worldwide. I am convinced that quite ironically, because the accusations towards Israel are so grave, the international arena will not be able to just let the report lie (no pun intended). I regularly will be posting updates on the Goldstone report as they emerge, so check in often to see how the bare truth is slowly revealed. 

Credibility: JCPA (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)


New Revelations About the UN Goldstone Report that Seriously Undermine its Credibility

Col. (ret.) Desmond Travers was one of the four members of the UN Fact Finding Mission that produced what is widely called the Goldstone Report. The Mission  investigated Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip between December 27, 2008 and January 18, 2009.  Travers joined the Irish Defense Forces in 1961 and retired after forty years. As the only former officer who belonged to Justice Richard Goldstone's team, he was the senior figure responsible for the military analysis that provided the basis for condemning Israel for war crimes.

After following his repeated public appearances with the other mission members in July 2009, and especially in light of his most recent interviews, serious flaws have now become evident in the methodology he followed, in his collection and processing of data, and in the conclusions he draws. In the past, the flaws in the Goldstone report, and especially its lack of balance, have been criticized by the London Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Economist, but the fundamental problems of its military analysis have not been fully addressed. In the material presented here, this becomes evident in four specific ways:


"The resilience of the people is stronger than we expected"

Israeli volunteers have opened a makeshift school in Port-au-Prince, providing education and counseling for 800 of the city's traumatized children.


Photo by UN Photo/Logan Abassi, Flash90.

The resilience of the people is stronger than we expected 

Feb 5, 2010

Tribute to Alan Dershowitz

Alan Dershowitz is an American lawyer, jurist and political commentator and is the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. Known as "Israel’s single most visible defender – the Jewish state’s lead attorney in the court of public opinion", he comments regularly on issues related to Judaism, Israel, civil liberties, the War on Terror and the frist amendment.

Dershowitz is an outspoken commentator on the history and politics of Israel, and has engaged in highly publicized media confrontations on a number of different topics including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and lately, the Goldstone report. Dershowitz is often interviewed and commentates in the mainstream media.

Dershowitz is the author of a number books and articles which have been published worldwide. He often takes issue on controversial issues, and challenged Jimmy Carter to a debate at Brandeis University regarding Carter's book "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid". Carter declined the challenge on the grounds that "There is no need . . . to debate somebody who, in my opinion, knows nothing about the situation in Palestine."

Dershowitz has recently been active refuting the Goldstone report, a UN investigation of the "Operation Cast Lead" offensive in Gaza. He was invited to Forham Law School give a talk about the report. Dershowitz invited Goldstone to debate his analysis and findings and rebuttals. Goldstone refused.


In his talk, Dershowitz explains why the report is a farce and excuse to bash Israel which does not even legally classify as an investigation. He then continues to  explain his views and finally, opens the floor to questions.

A captivating 1.5hr video of the talk can be found here.

I am awed by his commitment, devotion, knowledge, eloquence and activities in a lot of fields that are dear to me.




Jews of Six Arms

From a speech by Pilar Rahola, a Spanish politician, journalist and activist and member of the far left. Her articles are published in Spain and throughout some of the most important newspapers in Latin America.


Why don't we see demonstrations against Islamic dictatorships in London, Paris, Barcelona?
Or demonstrations against the Burmese dictatorship?

Why aren't there demonstrations against the enslavement of millions of women who live without any legal protection?

Why aren't there demonstrations against the use of children as human bombs where there is conflict with Islam?

Why has there been no leadership in support of the victims of Islamic dictatorship in Sudan?

Why is there never any outrage against the acts of terrorism committed against Israel?

Why is there no outcry by the European left against Islamic fanaticism?

Why don't they defend Israel's right to exist?

Jan 31, 2010

Gaza blockade

My response to MJ Rosenberg's article "Lift Gaza blockade now" (http://mediamattersaction.org/blog/20100). This article is cleverly quotes Haaretz but is laced with bias and hearsay. He writes for "Media Matters Action Network" and writes some vile anti-Israel content.


Rosenberg,

Great article: http://mediamattersaction.org/blog/201001150001  (“Lift Gaza blockade now”).

If you are “correcting conservative misinformation” and “ensuring accuracy” and “providing a full range of resources” (as appears in your “about us” text), please correct the following misinformation and ensure its accuracy by providing a full range of sources for the following, quoted from your article:

“…the war it launched that took 1400 lives (mostly civilians, including 320 children)…”


Please provide your sources, because it looks like the only possible conclusions (pending your reply) are:

A. The majority of the casualties during Operation "Cast Lead" were militants.
B. "The Palestinian Center for Human Rights" (PCHR) blatantly lied and distorted the findings.

The PCHR (Palestinian Center for Human Rights) published very similar figures. Since then, Hamas has published their “martyrs”. You can find their names and photographs here:

http://www.hosem.org.il/Cast-Lead

Something is very wrong, I am afraid. Israeli reports, published immediately after the Operation, pretty much confirm this new info, yet you rely and publish old inaccurate figures. Surely this is considered misinformation. I hope you have not fallen into the Pallywood net. Please correct this urgently, it discredits your article and paints them with bias.

Another point to consider and correct:
Hamas publicly announced the end of the 26 week cease-fire. Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak pleaded with Hamas not to resume indiscriminate rocket fire at Israeli civilians. Mubarak also blamed Hamas for the Operation which followed. The cease-fire did not end  "because Israel did not live up to its commitment to lift the blockade and continued, despite the cease-fire, to target and kill Hamas militants in Gaza".

I could go on, but prefer to allow you to make these corrections first.


Sincerely,


Laurence Seeff

Jan 30, 2010

SACH - Save a child's heart

I can personally identify with this organization.

Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children from developing countries who suffer from heart disease and to create centers of competence in these countries. SACH is totally dedicated to the idea that every child deserves the best medical treatment available, regardless of the child's nationality, religion, color, gender or financial situation. 



SACH is motivated by the age-old Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world. By mending the hearts of children, regardless of their origin, SACH is contributing to a better and more peaceful future for all of our children.

Since 1995, Save a Child's Heart (SACH) has treated more than 2,200 children suffering from congenital and rheumatic heart disease aging from infancy to 18 years of age from the “four corners of the Earth” -  36 countries where adequate medical care is unavailable.
40% of the children who underwent cardiac surgery are from Africa; 49% from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan & Iraq; 4% from Moldova, Russia and former USSR and 7% from China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
The number of children treated by SACH has grown dramatically from 48 cases in 1996 to over 200 in 2008.

Jan 28, 2010

Israel: Harvesting organs in Haiti

Amid talk that Israel sent medical teams to Haiti with cynical motives, among others, to harvest organs and capitalize on the earthquake tragedy, here are a number of links that advocate the humanitarian work that keeps IsraelProud:







Videos:
  1. Low supplies, many injured - abcNews
  2. Israeli hospitals in Haiti - CNN Report
  3. IDF Search & Rescue Team Saves Trapped Man - IDF Spokesperson's Unit
  4. Makeshift ICU saving lives in Haiti - Fox News

Articles:
  1. Israel's field hospital - Haaretz newspaper
  2. Israel: sending soldiers of peace to Haiti - Los Angeles Times

Israeli government sources have said that the hospital includes 10 tons of medical equipment, 40 doctors, 24 nurses, medics, paramedics, x-ray equipment, a pharmacy, an emergency room, two surgery rooms, an incubation ward, a children’s and maternity ward.

Update:
I have seen some published texts that claim that Israel might have caused the earthquake in order to distract world attention away from the Apartheid and genocide carried out in Israel.

    Jan 27, 2010

    The Peace Activist

    This letter was written in response to an article written by a self-proclaimed "peace activist".
    I suggest reading this individual’s article first at: gilasvirsky.com/godbliss.html to pick up the thread.

    Dear Gila,

    I stumbled onto your article “God Bliss” through a link from a website that recommended reading your article.
    I read the article.

    I also read about your commendable commitment, devotion and activities to bring peace into this troubled area. I respect all those who are concerned with making the world a better place and take the time and effort to do so, ultimately contributing to bringing about positive change for our generation and those to follow.

    However, your article troubles me deeply, perhaps as deeply as your contempt for those who turn a blind eye to the hardships of the Palestinian populations in Gaza and the West Bank. It troubles me fivefold.

    Jan 20, 2010

    Hamas does not target civilians?

    Hamas claims that they did not intentionally target Israeli civilians before "Operation Cast Lead",  but military targets only.

    In an exceptionally unusual report, the BBC2 screened footage (Newsnight 19.01.10) of Gulf War veteran Colonel Tim Collins' trip to Gaza for a soldier's view of the conflict. 

    A summary of his report can be seen here thanks to Conflictzones.tv.


    Below is a snapshot from the video footage showing rockets targeting Sderot, a civilian town in Israel. This is a Hamas billboard poster, not Israeli. Does this look like a military target?

     

    The full BBC2 video report can be found here.


    Jan 6, 2010

    A letter to EAPPI

    A letter to a church organization that apparently has a just cause. The unwary reader might be fooled by the humanitarian wrapping on this disguised anti-Israel website. The organization's vision, quoted from the website: 

    "The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) seeks to support local and international efforts to end the Israeli occupation and bring a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a just peace, based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions".

    My letter:

    Dear Sirs,

    I would like to join your wonderful organization after reading about it on the official EAPPI website (http://www.eappi.org/en/about/overview.html).