Z STREET

By: Helen Freedman
March 23, 2010

We’ve been subjected to a flurry of condemnations, apologies, clarifications, and subjugations in the unfolding before us of the Obama/Clinton/Biden/Netanyahu drama.

First we saw Biden “shocked and humiliated” by the municipality of Jerusalem announcing the continuation of a building project in a developed neighborhood in Jerusalem. This was followed by Israeli apologies for the bad timing of the announcement. Despite this, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton excoriated Israel for hindering the “peace process.” She continued along this vein when speaking to the 7,500 people gather at the AIPAC Conference in Washington on March 21.

In her speech, where she made constant assurances of America’s bond with its long-time ally, Israel, she equated the building of “settlements” – even in Jerusalem, with Hamas and PA terror, incitement, rocket launching and murder of innocent victims. It is hard to believe the promises of “commitment to Israel’s security” when President Obama boycotts the delivery of bunker busters to Israel, which would be needed in Israel’s dealings with the Iranian nuclear threat. And it is hard to believe there is U.S. concern about Hamas and PA refusal to recognize Israel and all the abominations that go along with that, when there is silence from the U.S. when Arab terror murders Israelis.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the same AIPAC Conference on Tuesday night, March 22. He also spoke about Israel and America “facing monumental challenges together,” but he stressed that there are those “who continue the assault against the Jewish state and who openly call for our destruction.” In light of that, “The future of the Jewish state can never depend on the goodwill of even the greatest of men. Israel must always reserve the right to defend itself.” He spoke about the great danger that Iran presents to Israel and the world, and the fact that its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah, have amassed rockets on the borders of Gaza and Lebanon to fire into Israel. Therefore, “A peace agreement with the Palestinians must include effective security arrangements on the ground…We are prepared to take risks for peace, but we will not be reckless with the lives of our people and the life of the one and only Jewish state.”

In addition to these very real security issues, PM Netanyahu touched on the nerve center of what I believe is Israel’s central problem today, Israel’s entitlement to its homeland. He said, “The attempt by many to describe the Jews as foreign colonialists in their own homeland is one of the great lies of modern times.” This failure on the part of Israelis, themselves, to believe in their biblical, political, historical rights to all the land of Israel is what has undercut Israel’s strength as a sovereign nation.

Recently I met with Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely in New York. She spoke earnestly about the need to deepen the roots of the Jewish heritage amongst Israelis. Knowledge of Jewish history, citing the heroes and amazing accomplishments of the Jewish people, would strengthen Israeli voices and remove the apologetic, door-mat groveling that seems to surface so often. MK Hotovely stated that the Israeli/Arab conflict is not the primary issue; the need to return to our Jewish heritage is most important.

Aharon Pulver, Executive Director  of the Israel Independence Fund, is also making efforts in the direction of educating Israelis about their roots. One of his programs is bringing IDF soldiers to the ancient city of Pek’iin, where twenty Jewish families live who trace their origins to the time of the First Temple. There is also an ancient synagogue there and many sites dating back to biblical times. All of this serves to strengthen Israeli ties to the ancient Jewish heritage in the Land of Israel.

In conclusion, if Israelis and their leaders were strong in their belief of entitlement to the Land of Israel, there would be no program of “proximity” talks where America would be the middle man between Israel and the PA. There would be no talk of a “two-state solution” with a non-existent “partner.” There would be no tolerated American “outrage” over building in Jerusalem, or anywhere else in the Land of Israel. The announcement that the grave of Mother Rachel and the Cave of the Patriarchs would be historical monuments would not have been greeted with cries of outrage. The rebuilding of the Hurva synagogue in the square of the Old City in Jerusalem would not have prompted incitement and denunciation. There  wouldn’t have been an Oslo Accord in 1993, and when Rabbi Goren ascended the Temple Mount in 1967 and declared that the “Har Habayit is in our hands,” there wouldn’t have been the mentality that would then transfer control into the hands of the Arabs.

Pride of ownership, self-respect, and knowledge of oneself and one’s country are pre-conditions for survival. May Israelis and their leaders, as well as Jews throughout the world, nurture these qualities in themselves and go from strength to strength.

By: Helen Freedman

On Tuesday evening, March 9, from 5-7 P.M., in New York City, close to 250 defenders of Israel gathered at the NYPD designated spot on Park Avenue, opposite the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, to counter-protest against those who were there to defame and denigrate Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lt. General Gabi Ashkenazi and the IDF.  While hundreds of Israel haters, including members of left-wing Jewish organizations, and the Neturai Karta, marched on Lexington Avenue and across Park Avenue, right in front of the Waldorf, with their professionally made signs, all black with white letters, our groups, the lovers of Israel, were enthusiastically carrying their flags, signs, and banners in support of Israel.

Our grass roots groups, in addition to Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI, included the Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam, with Andy Upton and Marvin Belsky leading the way. Their organization includes many Hindus, and the Namdhari Sikh Foundation members were there supporting our efforts. Lori Lowenthal Marcus, of Z Street, had arranged to bring in Col. Ben-Tzion Gruber, an amazing speaker from Israel who gives detailed information about the scrupulous efforts made on the part of the IDF to be as moral and ethical and humane in their fighting program as is humanly possible. In many cases, the restraint exercised by the IDF to prevent human casualties puts the lives of Israel’s soldiers in danger.

With the help of Pam Geller of Atlas Shrugs, Lori interviewed Col. Gruber on the spot and the interview is posted on their blogs. Lori also secured copies of records of the leaflets, phone calls and local radio and TV station messages which were sent out by the IDF during Operation Cast Lead, alerting the civilians to their planned actions and telling civilians to evacuate targeted places. We know that the Arab reaction to these warnings, in many cases, simply encouraged the leaders to send women and children to the rooftops, thereby preventing the IDF from carrying out their plans. What other army would fight a war in such a way? Certainly not the Arabs, who use their civilians as human shields, and deliberately fight from hospitals, schools, mosques and homes.

We also had a large showing from the Russian Jewish community, as well as youngsters from various schools and synagogues. They were so eager to hold the flags, signs and banners supporting Israel. It was heartwarming to have the young people with us. Supporters also came from such groups as Stand With Us, the National Council of Young Israel, Get Out The Facts, ZOA, Shalom International, Jewish Action Alliance, Jewish Voice and Opinion, and the World Committee for the Land of Israel. Some passers-by, who saw our signs and gave us the thumbs up, also joined with us. Israelis visiting from Israel, such as Dan Luria of Ateret Cohanim and Yossi Baumol of the Hebron Fund were there, speaking to the crowd and giving us the benefit of their first hand knowledge. Rabbi David Algaze, spiritual leader of Congregation Havurat Yisrael in Forest Hills, Queens, NY, who is always ready to lend his support to our efforts on behalf of Israel, was there, offering words of strength and encouragement.

When we understood that the NYPD would not stop us from “walking” with our signs, as the Israel haters were doing, we began walking also. We walked past the designated location of the Arabs, just a block away from our spot. The PA flags were flying boldly, and a huge loud speaker was set up. As we walked past them, venomous words were hurled at us. So much hatred and ignorance was evident. I’m proud to say that our messages were just the opposite. We see ourselves as educators and spokesmen of the truth. Tragically, in the world of blind hatred, truth does not seem to carry much weight.

As for the media presence, it was not very visible. Al-Jazeera interviewed me, along with Dan Luria.  A fellow who said he was from the NY Times took pictures of me holding my sign which read, “AFSI stands with the IDF.”  He interviewed me also, taking my name and position as Executive Director of AFSI.  I made sure to give him a flyer about Col. Kemp who described the IDF as the most moral and ethical army he has ever known. Our flyer also carried David Bedein’s article on “The Real Apartheid State,” which would be “Palestine,” if it ever came into existence.  I have no idea if he wrote anything up, or if he even was from the Times, since he was wearing a khaffiyya scarf around his neck.

The JTA reporter never bothered to interview me or any of the other organizers, to my knowledge. The fact that their report disposed of our counter-protest with a one sentence dismissive description is certainly no credit to their reporting talents or interests. Where the JTA reporter described some of the signs carried by the Israel haters, he/she couldn’t be troubled to describe any of our signs highlighting the abuses of Muslims throughout the world against all “infidels”, the danger that Hamas poses to all, including the “Palestinians,” and our favorite sign of all, “The world does not need another Arab terrorist state.”

I’m very grateful to all those who stood together with us at yet another demonstration in support of Israel. It is unfortunate that we never get the participation of the 52 organizations that make up the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. Perhaps something will happen to make them realize that silence in the face of oppression, is acquiescence.

Helen Freedman

Jan. 27, 2010

Entering the General Assembly Hall on the evening of the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, was an experience that made me very uneasy. I am so opposed to the presence of the United (Arab) Nations in New York, and actually, to its very existence, which seems dedicated to disabling Israel at every possible opportunity, that being there seemed a betrayal of my conscience. However, there is the other side of the coin, and the real impetus for attending was to honor the young cantor, Zev Muller, Chief Cantor of the West Side Institutional Synagogue in NYC, who is my good friend and someone I admire greatly. He was chosen to sing the “El Maaleh Rachamim”, the prayer for the dead, followed by “Ani Ma’amin”. His prayers, for which the entire auditorium of people stood silently, were one of the most beautiful parts of the evening. We are very proud for him. We were also moved by the words of MK Yuli Edelstein, Minister of Information in Israel. In memorializing the Holocaust , he warned of Iran’s threat to wage a new holocaust, not only on Israel, but the entire world.

The entire program and concert was paid for by the German government. Not surprisingly, German speakers and music dominated the evening. The Nurnberg Philharmonic and the Bayreuth Zamir Choir contributed the major part of the program, but the Jerusalem Oratorio Chamber Choir was there with its 28 members and Issak Tavior, an Israeli, served as Conductor for the evening, leading the orchestra and chorus in three of his original pieces. There were also two German composers represented, Brahms and Beethoven. The German Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN was the flute soloist in an Ernest Bloch piece.

Am I wrong to feel uneasy about the overwhelming German influence in the Holocaust memorial ceremony? After all, Germany’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Peter Wittig did speak about the fact that Germany will forever be blighted by the Holocaust, regardless of its efforts to pay penance. But being in the UN General Assembly, and reading their commemorative booklet, in which the lengthy introduction COULD NOT NAME THE JEWS, but kept referring to the VICTIMS of the Holocaust, the surreal nature of the experience hit home.

Here we were, in attendance at a memorial service to six million Jews, and six million others, heinously murdered by the German murdering machinery, aided and abetted by Europeans , and the Germans were footing the bill for the event. How does one reconcile these things?

Professor Nechama Tec, a Holocaust survivor from Lublin, Poland, spoke about the many Christians who came to the aid of the Jewish survivors. She stressed that in all her research, she did not come across one survivor who did it on his own – without the help of Christians or other Jews.  Her son, Roland Tec, co-producer of the film, DEFIANCE, based on his mother’s book, spoke briefly. He bewildered me when he made reference to the Holocaust being paired with the “climate of fear” under the Bush administration. I have no idea to what he was referring. Was it the fact that 9/11 occurred while Bush was in office and ushered in the reality of Islamic terrorism into the U.S.? Or was he slandering President Bush as so many “artists” seem entitled to do? I had no chance to ask him the question, but somehow, the inference seemed to be on the latter possibility.

So how does one feel after such an event? Should we, as some advise, be grateful that at least the UN is doing “something”? Or should we boycott such seemingly hypocritical memorials when we see the UN as contributing to the threats now facing Israel? I’m still searching for the answer.

Obama may be "furious over botch in security" but I am FURIOUS and disgusted over Obama's failure to name the disease of radical Islam that is spreading throughout America and the world. Without naming it, it cannot be cured.

The cancer has succeeded in hamstringing Europe, Africa and the Middle East and is now HERE, on American soil. Our investigative organizations are incapable of following the dots that lead to terrorists. Instead, we react by putting the most ridiculous restrictions on ordinary passengers - checking shoes and underwear and restricting use of bathrooms, pillows and blankets on planes. That is so absurd. The terrorists are in place. They know how to get around all the "security" checks. They take advantage of our democracy to tie our hands in favor of political correctness and non-profiling. Our president refuses to acknowledge that we are at war and so how can we win if we don't fight?

We release terrorists who tell us they are returning to their terrorist ways. We bring those who've admitted their guilt into civilian courts so that they can change their plea and have access to all the privileges of our democratic court system. We release prisoners from Guantanomo because Obama promised to do so, regardless of the fact that they then become the leaders of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

The fact that Iran is thumbing its nose at America's "let's talk" overtures and is going full speed ahead with developing a nuclear bomb, seems to be lost on the Obama administration. John Kerry is being sent to Iran to talk nice to the leaders. The leaders, in the meantime, are slaughtering and torturing and imprisoning protestors of the tyrannical regime. Obama will "not interfere in the internal affairs of a country" which is murdering its citizens. He has no problem interfering in Israel's internal affairs, pushing for a terrorist PA state within Israel, insisting on a building freeze for Israel's citizens, sending millions of American dollars to the PA to train their army which will be taken over by Hamas, and approving a PA airport within Israel's territory. Is he also pushing for the release of 1,000 unrepentant Muslim terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit? I'm not sure about that, but wouldn't be surprised. No matter that Israel's previously released terrorists have been responsible for over 180 Israeli deaths, the most recent one being that of Rabbi Meir Chai, killed by PA gunmen in a drive-by shooting.

And who was it in NYC who approved the construction of a mosque and Islamic community center alongside of Ground Zero? What kind of memorial is that to the 3000 murdered in 9/11?  How long must this absurd, illogical, inhumane activity continue? I am furious, as are so many Americans. We're waiting for honest answers and an honest declaration of war against this obvious enemy!!

Helen Freedman