06/3/15

Unity

Arlene From Israel

Because first things must come first, I begin by marking National Unity Day.

As Michelle Napell of One Family Fund wrote in a message:

“We prayed for them, we cried for them and now we remember them.

“It has been one year since terrorists kidnapped and murdered Israeli teenagers, Gil-ad Shaer z’l, Eyal Ifrach z’l and Naftali Fraenkel z’l. As thousands of Israelis searched for them last summer, Jews from around the world united in an unprecedented way to support the boys’ families as they coped with uncertainty, pain and loss.

“Today, the 16th of Sivan 5775 – June 3rd 2015, Unity Day has been designated to remind us that regardless of our challenges, there will always be far more that unites us than divides us.”

~~~~~~~~~~

A video:

http://www.israelvideonetwork.com/this-is-how-the-jewish-people-respond-to-tragedy/

~~~~~~~~~~

We, the people of Israel, are indeed remarkable in how we respond to tragedy.

My prayer – and let it be the prayer of everyone – is that we come together like this, by the hundreds of thousands, the millions, ultra-Orthodox and secular, Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrachi, young and old, to celebrate peace and blessings upon the nation.

~~~~~~~~~~

A clarification, prompted by questions from a couple of readers:

I did not write yesterday that the US has never sold bunker busters to Israel.  Indeed, it has.  But those bunker busters are smaller ones, such as BLU bunker busters.  The BLU 109 weighs 2,000 pounds and the BLU 113 weighs 5,000 pounds.  Both of these munitions, were, I believe, recently acquired by Israel from the US to augment existing stores, but are a very far cry from the MOP, which weighs 30,000 pounds.

What the US has provided cannot break into the underground reinforced nuclear facilities of Iran, or pierce through the mountain at Fordow.  The MOP, which can, the US will not sell to Israel.

~~~~~~~~~~

The full interview of Obama, which I wrote about yesterday based on highlights, was released last night. When I wrote, I discussed what he said about Iran. But there was a second major theme he touched upon: “the peace process.”  I had hoped to come back to this today even before the full interview was released.  Now what he said about negotiations has been featured in news stories, and a response is even more important.

I find it fascinating, that some sources refer to Obama’s interview as a “charm offensive.”  But I?  I do not find him charming at all.  (Major understatement.) He spoke about being there for Israel, and understanding how Israelis feel, and having concern for Israeli wellbeing, etc.  Facile words. Let’s look a bit closer.  He said (emphasis added):

I think Netanyahu is someone who is predisposed to think of security first; to think perhaps that peace is naïve; to see the worst possibilities as opposed to the best possibilities in Arab partners or Palestinian partners. And so I do think that, right now, those politics and those fears are driving the government’s response.”

He was concerned, he said, about Israel having a “politics that’s motivated only by fear,” which could stand in the way of “peace” with the Palestinians Arabs.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4664266,00.html

~~~~~~~~~~

What motivates Netanyahu is a prudent and highly realistic assessment of the situation. Regrettable – no, despicable – that Obama chooses to demean this realism.

Every time Israel has withdrawn from territory, radical terrorist groups have moved it.  This is not “fear;” it is historical fact.

Hamas, which overthrew Fatah (the PA) in Gaza eight years ago, is itching to do the same thing in the Arab areas of Judea and Samaria. There is a strong Hamas presence there, and the only thing that prevents them from pushing over Abbas – who is extraordinarily weak and unpopular – is the presence of the IDF.  The IDF does operations daily (actually, nightly) – uncovering weapons caches and exposing places where weapons are manufactured; arresting wanted terrorists and foiling plans for terror attacks.

Were we to pull out of Arab areas of Judea and Samaria, we would have a terrorist entity in our midst.  A fact that is of no concern to Obama, obviously.  Obama, who cares for Israel.

~~~~~~~~~~

There is more: the terror entity at our border in the end might not be Hamas, but jihadist groups that make Hamas operatives look like peaceniks.

Take a look at this map:

Jordan

Credit: lonelyplanet

Jordan is to Israel’s east.  At Jordan’s north and north-east are Syria and Iraq – hotbeds of instability and fierce violence, home to ISIS and other savage jidhadist groups.

The king of Jordan sits uneasily on his throne, for there are radical elements in his nation already. Should he fall, and radicals take control, they would quickly move into Judea and Samaria, if that region, or part of it, was controlled by the PA.  No way PA forces could repel them.  Only the IDF could stand against them.  If radical jihadist were to move into Judea and Samaria, they would bring with them rockets that could easily reach the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. And life as we know it in a thriving, vibrant Israel would come to a halt.

~~~~~~~~~~

Obama demonstrates unmitigated gall to suggest that it is an inappropriate and unconstructive “fear” that prevents Netanyahu from risking this scenario by “taking a chance on peace.”

As Obama exposed his intentions towards the Iranian negotiations by taking the military option off the table, so does he here expose his true disregard for Israel.

~~~~~~~~~~

And still there is more, as Obama also said that Israel is losing its “credibility” with its “intransigence” – “so many caveats, so many conditions, that it is not realistic to think that those conditions will be met anytime in the near future.”

When asked about maintaining anti-Israel vetoes at the UN, he hedged:

“Well, here’s the challenge. If in fact there is no prospect of an actual peace process, if nobody believes there is a peace process, then it becomes more difficult to argue with those who are concerned about settlement construction, those who are concerned about the current situation.

“It is more difficult for me to say to them, ‘Be patient, wait, because we have a process here.'”

~~~~~~~~~~

This is a veiled (or not so veiled) threat: go back to the table or I may not support you at the UN.

~~~~~~~~~~

Obama’s entire representation of the situation is distorted.  He puts the onus on Israel, ignoring the many compromises that have been made by Netanyahu over time – compromises not in Israel’s best interest, such as release of prisoners, and freezing of construction in Judea and Samaria. At the same time, he fails to mention the enormous intransigence of Abbas, and that it was Abbas who walked away from negotiations the last time around.

~~~~~~~~~~

You can see the text of the entire interview here:

http://www.vosizneias.com/205071/2015/06/02/jerusalem-obama-netanyahu-stance-on-palestine-endangers-israels-credibility-entire-tv-interview/

~~~~~~~~~~

Having said this about Obama, I now make comments about Netanyahu, as well:

Just the other day, I wrote about this, as I have many times before.  It is not enough, to refuse to negotiate a state with the Palestinian Arabs because of the security risk – as legitimate as this reason is.

Now is the time: Our government must declare the fact of Israeli rights to the land.

The message Obama delivered in his interview was, undoubtedly, the motivating factor for Netanyahu’s recent statement that “two states for two people” is the only possible solution.  It is time to stop appeasing, to stop turning into a pretzel in order to demonstrate how willing Israel is to negotiate.  We cannot win this way.  We simply weaken ourselves.

It is time to start telling Obama and the greater Western world:

  • that Abbas doesn’t know what he’s talking about when he refers to “the 1967 border”
  • that there never was a Palestinian state
  • that we are not occupiers in Judea and Samaria
  • that international law gives this land to the Jews
  • that Judea and Samaria represent the historical Jewish heartland

It is time to go on the offensive. And to start talking about alternatives to “the two state solution.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Abbas repeatedly refers to his intention to seek statehood via the UN.  But what he is doing abrogates the Oslo agreements.  Israel has simply chosen not to call him on this.  The fact that we have no obligations under Oslo any longer also needs to be said loud and clear.

~~~~~~~~~~

I close here with on remarkable statement by Abbas that should be sent to Obama by about 10,000 people.

Abbas was in Amman, to smooth over some tensions.  In the course of statements he made, Abbas, cited directly by Al Quds, said that the relationship between Jordan and Palestine is the relationship of “one people living in two states.”

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/196194#.VW9DEZuJjIV

How about that? Then there is no “Palestinian people” after all, huh?  Abbas ought to know.

06/3/15

Our Watcher’s Council Nominations – Hard Left Turn Edition!

The Watcher’s Council

http://www.newyorker.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/141117_r25775-917-1200-10141631.jpg

As Peter Wehner notes in Commentary, The Democrat Party has essentially become the party of the Far Left.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is running on positions that would have been considered part of the Leftist fringe only an election or two ago and she has little choice even if she wanted to ‘triangulate’ because of how far the Democrat’s mainstream has moved.

Her competition – former Maryland Governor Martin O’ Malley and avowed socialist Senator Bernie Sanders are running to her left, as are Democrat heroes (and non-candidates so far) Elizabeth Warren and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The reception they’re receiving in Democrat strongholds is an indication of exactly how far Left the party is now aligned. And the primaries seem to be headed for a hard sprint in that direction to win over that constituency.

Welcome to the Watcher’s Council, a blogging group consisting of some of the most incisive blogs in the ‘sphere and the longest running group of its kind in existence. Every week, the members nominate two posts each, one written by themselves and one written by someone from outside the group for consideration by the whole Council. Then we vote on the best two posts, with the results appearing on Friday morning.

Council News:

The Council In Action!!

Terresa Monroe-Hamilton over at The Noisy Room was the main attraction as part of a fascinating panel on the Muslim Brotherhood over at blogtalk radio, and it can be heard here.

Tom White of VA Right continues to be the blogger to consult on Virginia politics. Here he is on the Tom Fredericks program on AM 820, the top rated show in his area:

This week, The Pirate’s Cove, Blazing Cat Fur, Gates Of Vienna and Seraphic Secret earned honorable mention status with some great articles.

You can, too! Want to see your work appear on the Watcher’s Council homepage in our weekly contest listing? Didn’t get nominated by a Council member? No worries.

To bring something to my attention, simply head over to Joshuapundit and post the title and a link to the piece you want considered along with an e-mail address (mandatory, but of course it won’t be published) in the comments section no later than Monday 6 PM PST in order to be considered for our honorable mention category. Then return the favor by creating a post on your site linking to the Watcher’s Council contest for the week when it comes out on Wednesday morning.

Simple, no?

It’s a great way of exposing your best work to Watcher’s Council readers and Council members while grabbing the increased traffic and notoriety. And how good is that, eh?

So, let’s see what we have for you this week…

Council Submissions:

Honorable Mentions:

Non-Council Submissions:

Enjoy! And don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter… ’cause we’re cool like that! And don’t forget to tune in Friday for the results!

06/3/15

AUDIO: How does a free society that values religious liberty handle Islamic supremacism that seeks to destroy it? A former fed prosecutor responds.

By: Benjamin Weingarten
TheBlaze

Former federal prosecutor and current National Review contributor Andrew McCarthy has published a slender but substantive new book coincidentally released eerily close to the recent Garland jihadist attack titled “Islam and Free Speech.”

We had the chance to sit down with McCarthy to discuss a variety of topics relating to his new book including a broader question that America has been grappling with for over a decade since Sept. 11, 2001: How can a free and pluralistic society built on protecting liberty including specifically religious liberty adequately counter a theopolitical Islamic supremacist ideology that seeks to use our freedoms and tolerance to undermine us.

Here is how McCarthy responded to the question:

The doctrine of Soviet Communism was … ultimately not just the complete and extensive undermining of [the U.S.], but when and if or if and when finally necessary, the violent overthrow of the United States, or the United States government.

So it’s not like this is the first time that we’ve dealt with a conquest ideology that seeks … to supplant the West with its own vision of what society should be. We’ve had this kind of a problem before.

The difference is, Soviet ideology never traveled under the banner of religious liberty, and there was never the kind of squeamishness about examining it that we have now. And … the best way to combat it is to get over that squeamishness.

41OveQ31pwL
Featured Book
Title: Islam and Free Speech (Encounter Broadside)
Author: Andrew C McCarthy
Purchase this book

What we have to understand is that there is a difference between what we ought to regard as Islam the religion … which is something that is adhered to by, you know, many many many patriotic American Muslims, who have no desire whatsoever to have a United States that’s structured like the totalitarian societies that a lot of them either left or reject for their own reasons.

So we have to distinguish that from this political Islamist ideology that is rooted in Islamic doctrine, and a very literal interpretation of it, and that rejects a division between church and state, or between mosque and state.

That ideology is — it has a religious component — but it’s a political ideology overwhelmingly. And it ought to be dealt with as one. And we should stop — you know our public officials should stop trying to label it as something it isn’t. It’s a political, totalitarian conquest ideology that has certain religious elements to it.

But the important thing from our perspective is it’s like every other political ideology that competes and has animus towards the west. And we have to see ourselves as in competition with it and needing to defeat it, rather than trying to figure out how we can accommodate it under the auspices of our commitment to religious liberty, because overwhelmingly it’s not a religious doctrine. The political element of it is overwhelmingly a totalitarian political doctrine. And we shouldn’t, just because it has a few religious elements to it, lose sight of the bigger picture.

You can listen to our interview in full below, or keep scrolling to listen to select clips on topics ranging from the ignored totalitarian nature of Shariah speech prohibitions to McCarthy’s defense of Section 215 of the Patriot Act and why McCarthy believes that conservative Americans frightened of a government that has targeted them through the IRS should be trusted with such powers.

Full Interview

The Clash of Civilizations Between Islam and the West

The Ignored Totalitarian Nature of Shariah Speech Prohibitions

McCarthy’s Defense of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, and Why We Should Trust Our Government With Such Power

What is In America’s National Interest in the Middle East, and How Should We Pursue It?

06/3/15

LISTEN: Ann Coulter exposes a gruesome but neglected double standard in the immigration debate

By: Benjamin Weingarten
TheBlaze

Ann Coulter’s new book “Adios, America” has created significant buzz over Coulter’s political correctness-free belief that mass immigration legal and illegal from Third World nations represents a conscious plot by the left to fundamentally transform the country.

An overlooked element of Coulter’s book however is her argument that given some of the surprising statistics and anecdotes she came upon in researching the subject, women, minorities and the environment represent the biggest casualties of mass immigration since 1970.

Most shocking and egregious of all in Coulter’s own view are the disproportionate amount of brutal sex crimes committed by immigrants, and the media’s double standard on this issue. She explained during our explosive in-depth interview:

The massive amount of child rape [was most outrageous to Coulter]. Child rape, gang rape, incest rape, and particularly for an American. I mean American women are about to realize American men were the best they ever had it. As I say in the book, even continental Europeans can’t compete. In de Tocqueville, writing about America, he commented on how women are treated with such respect and honor, and no crime is visited with greater severity of sanction then rape in this new country of America — contrasting America’s treatment of rape so severely unfavorable with that in France.

5111rI3Re3L
Featured Book
Title: Adios, America
Author: Ann Coulter
Purchase this book

Meanwhile, I mean part of the reason I concentrated on it is they’re just kind of arresting, keep you up all night stories … but also we have just lived through the last four or five years of the media trying to put on this conceptual art piece trying to persuade Americans that “white American men: huge gang-rapists, fraternities, lacrosse teams, the military.” And one after another all of them turn out to be hoaxes. But at the very same time, this same media is hiding shocking case of gang rape, child rape, incest rape, concubinage.

That Indian in San Francisco Lakireddy Bali Reddy importing the twelve year old girls from Indian whom he had bought from their parents for sex. And that story — I mean it’s the one thing when I came across — it wasn’t broken by the media, it was broken by a high school journalism class … It’s, I think quite a breathtaking story. And I asked a lot of my friends about it who follow the news pretty closely, some of them more closely than I do. The fact that none of them knew about that case, that tells you, that story by itself tells you how the media is in overdrive to hide the downside of mass immigration from the Third World. We will hear about every immigrant who wins a spelling bee, but we will not hear about the massive uptick in child rape, gang rape, incest rape, drunk driving, the trashing of our national parks, pesticides being dumped within a few miles of the world’s tallest tree. Peasant cultures don’t have a lot of respect for the environment — they have no concept of litter … Mexico is farther along then many of the peasant cultures we’re bringing in, and Mexico is still in the slash and burn stage of capitalism. [Link ours]

During our interview, the full version of which you can listen to below, we also had the chance to discuss a series of other topics including:

Note: The link to the book in this post will give you an option to elect to donate a percentage of the proceeds from the sale to a charity of your choice. Mercury One, the charity founded by TheBlaze’s Glenn Beck, is one of the options. Donations to Mercury One go towards efforts such as disaster relief, support for education, support for Israel and support for veterans and our military. You can read more about Amazon Smile and Mercury One here.