I keep coming back to the issue of antisemitism (specially in Europe) as this always seemed to me so horrifying: after two thousand years of discrimination, after Shoah antisemitism has never really left Europe and in recent years, for various reasons, it has increased according to many sources and data collected. So if you wonder about this recurring topic I assure you it is not out of obsession (I will write soon about many issues as due to my professional duties I was recently writing much to rarely) it is out of necessity.
Just recently FRA (Fundamental Rights Agency in EU) published report about current antisemitism in 8 European countries, namely: Belgium, France, UK, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Sweden. I encourage you to read it, but let me share with you here the most important findings: 66% of the respondents believe antisemitism to be a problem in EU, the same percentage of Jewish parents of the school age children in EU worry about their safety because of their ethnic background or religion (over half of the parents worry about physical safety of the children). 76% of the respondents believe antisemitism is on the rise in EU and half of all people surveyed feel endangered in physical way. Nearly 60% just during the last 12 months heard opinions that Shoah (Holocaust) never happened!!!
I don't know about you but for me this level of insecurity suggests something is fundamentally wrong!Had somebody told me 2/3 of Christians in rural Egypt feel endangered I'd have no problems believing i, maybe even I would think that having been in their shoes I would expect 90% of my co-believers to be scared. But wait a minute, it is not developing country at the time of unrest, it is 8 European countries! It is something to be ashamed of an - even more - something to be understood and rectified as soon as possible as antisemitism is a kind of cancer speaking volumes about problems in society.
And stories? One is described here. In a country where it is considered rude to stare at somebody no matter how differently he/ she looks and where many kinds of religious outfit may be encountered the reactions to kippah were just... plainly rude. They were also offensive and intimidating, specially as it was in Malmo where the attacks on religious Jews and trials to set synagogue on fire occurred during last few years. I may easily imagine it is very hard to be in this situation, can you?
I have some personal experience with it. Few years ago my, at that time 7 years old, son took part in the play in which he was wearing kippah. Straight from school we went to the airport in big European capital. At the arrivals hall he went to buy himself some juice. Never in my life had I watched him with such fear and was so ready for intervention - including times when he was climbing trees, skiing down the black route (double diamond) or stepping on the bus on his own for the first time. I could tell how people were watching him, as a kind of extraterrestrial. And it should be so natural.... I must say that at this one moment I understood how hard it is to be a Jew in Europe, now, in XXI century....
Monday, 31 March 2014
Monday, 20 January 2014
Knesset's special meeting will take place in Poland
In advance of 70th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz (which will take place next year) and on the 69th anniversary of it, January 27th, Holocaust Remembrance Day, over 60 Knesset Members will hold a special session in Auschwitz (over half of the Knesset members). Later they will meet with Polish MPs and public figures from both countries as well as from the USA and Canada (possibly other countries too).
It will be the largest Knesset delegation to Poland so far.
The two planes carrying the Knesset delegation will land at a military base in Krakow. From there the delegation members will be taken by bus to Auschwitz, where they will tour the prisoner blocks and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which is located in Block 27. The tour will be conducted by Education Minister Shai Piron and MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, both of whom gave guided group tours of Auschwitz in the past.
Following the tour the delegation will march to the Birkenau concentration camp. The march will be headed by Speaker Edelstein. In Birkenau, a memorial ceremony will be held on behalf of the Polish government, during which Edelstein, Holocaust survivors and representatives of the Polish and Russian governments will speak. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part in this ceremony.
Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein notes: “The Holocaust did not start with Auschwitz-Birkenau, but with boycotts, words and throwing stones at Jewish shop windows.” He is also particularly concerned about some of the “openly anti-Semitic” parties and politicians around the world today, especially in Europe warning that anti-Semitism “is not just a Jewish or Israeli problem alone” and that while “it starts with the Jews, it doesn’t end with the Jews.” Auschwitz, originally built as a camp for Polish prisoners of war, subsequently turned into concentration camp (it was so till the end of the war) and subsequently having its part turned into death camp for Jewish people is astounding symbol of his warning after which we may (and should as often as possible) add only the words "never again". They used to be so powerful but with history fading in European children's minds and antisemitism on the rise the words lost some of their drive at the time when they should be heard more loudly than ever! And as the awful thinks happen when good people do nothing we are all under obligation to remind what those words "Never Again!!!" stand for.
It will be the largest Knesset delegation to Poland so far.
The two planes carrying the Knesset delegation will land at a military base in Krakow. From there the delegation members will be taken by bus to Auschwitz, where they will tour the prisoner blocks and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, which is located in Block 27. The tour will be conducted by Education Minister Shai Piron and MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, both of whom gave guided group tours of Auschwitz in the past.
Following the tour the delegation will march to the Birkenau concentration camp. The march will be headed by Speaker Edelstein. In Birkenau, a memorial ceremony will be held on behalf of the Polish government, during which Edelstein, Holocaust survivors and representatives of the Polish and Russian governments will speak. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part in this ceremony.
Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein notes: “The Holocaust did not start with Auschwitz-Birkenau, but with boycotts, words and throwing stones at Jewish shop windows.” He is also particularly concerned about some of the “openly anti-Semitic” parties and politicians around the world today, especially in Europe warning that anti-Semitism “is not just a Jewish or Israeli problem alone” and that while “it starts with the Jews, it doesn’t end with the Jews.” Auschwitz, originally built as a camp for Polish prisoners of war, subsequently turned into concentration camp (it was so till the end of the war) and subsequently having its part turned into death camp for Jewish people is astounding symbol of his warning after which we may (and should as often as possible) add only the words "never again". They used to be so powerful but with history fading in European children's minds and antisemitism on the rise the words lost some of their drive at the time when they should be heard more loudly than ever! And as the awful thinks happen when good people do nothing we are all under obligation to remind what those words "Never Again!!!" stand for.
Monday, 13 January 2014
Ariel Sharon
Today the former PM of Israel, Ariel Sharon, who has spent last 8 years in coma after 2 strokes and died last week, is being buried. Just when I write it the funeral takes place.
Sharon was not only PM but also a soldier. He took part in 1948 independence war when Israel was attacked by 7 Arab armies not even 24 hours after its creation. He was wounded in that war and today the procession will stop in Latrun where he was wounded on its way to Sycamore Ranch where he will be buried along his wife who passed away in 2000. He took part in 6 days war in 1967 and in Yom Kippur war in 1973. Both were the deadly danger and if any of those wars (all of them defensive) had been lost it would have been like opening hell's door for all Jewish people again.
As a soldier he pursued victory, as a PM he pursued peace and made many steps towards it. His was the move to abandon Gaza strip taking all Jewish inhabitants from there. Since than (2005) the only Jew who has spent there considerable time was abducted soldier Gilad Shalit kept by Hamas for nearly 6 years and exchanged for over 1,000 convicted Palestinian terrorists.
He knew what was at stake and the fate of Israel and Jewish people, their well being, their safety, were always on his mind.
In his own words: "Before and above all else I am a Jew. My thoughts are dominated with the Jewish future."
He was a hero.
It is just worth noting that Palestinian authorities (not just ordinary people who do many things anywhere) are celebrating his death with joy in the same way as they did 9/11.
Sharon was not only PM but also a soldier. He took part in 1948 independence war when Israel was attacked by 7 Arab armies not even 24 hours after its creation. He was wounded in that war and today the procession will stop in Latrun where he was wounded on its way to Sycamore Ranch where he will be buried along his wife who passed away in 2000. He took part in 6 days war in 1967 and in Yom Kippur war in 1973. Both were the deadly danger and if any of those wars (all of them defensive) had been lost it would have been like opening hell's door for all Jewish people again.
As a soldier he pursued victory, as a PM he pursued peace and made many steps towards it. His was the move to abandon Gaza strip taking all Jewish inhabitants from there. Since than (2005) the only Jew who has spent there considerable time was abducted soldier Gilad Shalit kept by Hamas for nearly 6 years and exchanged for over 1,000 convicted Palestinian terrorists.
He knew what was at stake and the fate of Israel and Jewish people, their well being, their safety, were always on his mind.
In his own words: "Before and above all else I am a Jew. My thoughts are dominated with the Jewish future."
He was a hero.
It is just worth noting that Palestinian authorities (not just ordinary people who do many things anywhere) are celebrating his death with joy in the same way as they did 9/11.
Sunday, 5 January 2014
What should be done to achieve peace and how does EU counteract it?
In any conflict (between persons, businesses or international law subjects) if mediation come into the picture the role of the mediator is to find the deepest needs of each party and try to accommodate them all. Contrary to expectation it can be done as those most important needs do not have to be conflicted. And - certainly - not all needs of all parties may be met.
For example in Israel-Egypt peace deal on the Israel's side it was security, on the Egypt's side it was regaining Sinai Peninsula. Making the last but as a demilitarized zone enabled both parties to accommodate their primary needs (sacrificing some other but it is always a case with agreements).
Equally important is the question if the deal is possible to be executed. And not only forcibly by law (as in civil law cases) but is it generally possible. The famous case of the specious deal was the Versailles Treaty finishing I WW. If the contribution Germany was to pay would have been paid (or even tried to be paid) Germany would gone bankrupt leading to revolution or alike. There were also no willing parties to try to impose it on Germany which leaded in a way to II WW showing how fictitious was the treaty.
Going back to Israeli-Palestinian treaty what would be the most important needs of the parties was there to be a treaty? For Israel certainly being recognized as Jewish state and security. On Palestinian side gaining the status of a country but is it doable? In contrast to Israel attacked not even 24 hours after independence declaration Palestine would be safe externally at least for starters but internally and specially economically it could be completely other story....
Certainly there are poor states in abundance and it is no reason for them to cease existence, but a newly-created country (had there been one) with people brought up in extremism, 50% with no work (Gaza), accustomed to relatively good conditions of living in sharp contrast to not being accustomed to paying for media and on territory with lots and lots of weaponry may be problematic both for neighbors (not only Israel, Jordan likewise) and for authorities.
What is the role of EU in it?
here it is
EU pays with taxpayer money for PA administrative staff out of which many do... nothing.
I have already written about debts towards Israel for electricity and other media. Generally speaking PA lives for Israel money when it comes to everyday needs of the people and media and on EU's money when it comes to money itself, specially paying renumerations.
Does a territory with no proper health care, no media supply, high unemployment, lots of weaponry and dependent on others for payments to administration stand a chance of creating and maintaining state? I very much doubt it.
So, if Palestine was created and - as should be expected - broke relations with Israel how will they supply energy? Will they be willing or able to buy it from neighbors? Possibly not. Will they maintain schools and health care? No. Are they to stay as a country clients of EU at the time when in many European countries pensions are being reduced and maybe soon to be gone? (Eastern Europe specially). Is the aging EU able to support one of the most demographically explosive territories as it does now together with Israel and the USA? What would be the price of not to? Intifada in Europe?
Last but not least - is it not so that "preliminary conditions", breaking negotiations and all alike is in fact escaping by PA authorities, living on (good) European money, the horrifying (to them) perspective of taking responsibility by the state? Are they already hostage of their hateful rhetoric frightened that they may get what they were bragging about and have no idea what to do with?
Tell me what do you think...
For example in Israel-Egypt peace deal on the Israel's side it was security, on the Egypt's side it was regaining Sinai Peninsula. Making the last but as a demilitarized zone enabled both parties to accommodate their primary needs (sacrificing some other but it is always a case with agreements).
Equally important is the question if the deal is possible to be executed. And not only forcibly by law (as in civil law cases) but is it generally possible. The famous case of the specious deal was the Versailles Treaty finishing I WW. If the contribution Germany was to pay would have been paid (or even tried to be paid) Germany would gone bankrupt leading to revolution or alike. There were also no willing parties to try to impose it on Germany which leaded in a way to II WW showing how fictitious was the treaty.
Going back to Israeli-Palestinian treaty what would be the most important needs of the parties was there to be a treaty? For Israel certainly being recognized as Jewish state and security. On Palestinian side gaining the status of a country but is it doable? In contrast to Israel attacked not even 24 hours after independence declaration Palestine would be safe externally at least for starters but internally and specially economically it could be completely other story....
Certainly there are poor states in abundance and it is no reason for them to cease existence, but a newly-created country (had there been one) with people brought up in extremism, 50% with no work (Gaza), accustomed to relatively good conditions of living in sharp contrast to not being accustomed to paying for media and on territory with lots and lots of weaponry may be problematic both for neighbors (not only Israel, Jordan likewise) and for authorities.
What is the role of EU in it?
here it is
EU pays with taxpayer money for PA administrative staff out of which many do... nothing.
I have already written about debts towards Israel for electricity and other media. Generally speaking PA lives for Israel money when it comes to everyday needs of the people and media and on EU's money when it comes to money itself, specially paying renumerations.
Does a territory with no proper health care, no media supply, high unemployment, lots of weaponry and dependent on others for payments to administration stand a chance of creating and maintaining state? I very much doubt it.
So, if Palestine was created and - as should be expected - broke relations with Israel how will they supply energy? Will they be willing or able to buy it from neighbors? Possibly not. Will they maintain schools and health care? No. Are they to stay as a country clients of EU at the time when in many European countries pensions are being reduced and maybe soon to be gone? (Eastern Europe specially). Is the aging EU able to support one of the most demographically explosive territories as it does now together with Israel and the USA? What would be the price of not to? Intifada in Europe?
Last but not least - is it not so that "preliminary conditions", breaking negotiations and all alike is in fact escaping by PA authorities, living on (good) European money, the horrifying (to them) perspective of taking responsibility by the state? Are they already hostage of their hateful rhetoric frightened that they may get what they were bragging about and have no idea what to do with?
Tell me what do you think...
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
HANUKKAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today at sundown Hanukkah has started. It will last for 8 days and here is what it celebrates :)
The year was 164 BC
Enjoy :)
VERY HAPPY HANUKKAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The year was 164 BC
Enjoy :)
VERY HAPPY HANUKKAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Iran's nuclear deal (for whom?)
It will be less about Israel and more internationally today.
Today in newspapers they proclaimed a great success - signing a deal with Iran on halting its nuclear program in exchange for vast Western economic help. It is said to be success in negotiations and a road to peace, but is it really?
Let's look a it closely. Does Iran need complicated and expensive nuclear energy for peace purposes? I don't think so. The country sitting on oil with gas prices ranging around 0,15$ per liter or less hardly needs to invest in this type of technology before tending to other needs.
Do they need Western economic help? Yes, for the first time in years they might use some as due to the restrictions put on it for last few years the crisis set on. It means that the restrictions were working.
Were the Western negotiators willing to put this pressure in order to halt and dismantle nuclear program under supervision? No, it purely is supposed to be halted. But its goal was never pacifist one and nobody in Iran was really denying it. And it is not only aiming towards regional hegemony and - possibly - destroying Israel (which was announced loudly by Iran's president). It is also close enough to Europe to dictate some of European politics, using dirty bombs as arguments, information (true or untrue) about missing nuclear material or threatening its sources of energy not only in Iran but the whole region.
And it doesn't take a genius to guess who and what does Iran wants to protect. It is Islamic republic, home of Khomeini and Islamic revolution, a country as hostile towards West as they make it. Yes, it is engaged in eternal bloody war in Muslim world between Sunni and Shiite but it has governors adept enough at socio-technics to be able to (for a time) unite them formally against common enemy if need be. And they have many friends in the region.
Now look at the demography: in 1956 Iran had app. 19 million residents; in 2009 already 75 million, in 2050 it is expected to have app. 105 million residents. Compare with app. 500 million in the whole EU with its 10% Muslim minority (so, app. 50 million people).
Now look at what has been said by Iran's authorities lately:
"The wave of Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world"
"Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of Islamic nation's fury"
"Global equations undergo changes, this is their nature"
"The UN structure is one-sided, stacked against the world of Islam"
Do they sound scary? For me they do, words of fanatics - ready to kill and die and send others to their death always do sound scary.
We are taking about reasonably rich, powerful, fast-growing country with over representation of military-oriented young men, with fanatical government and authorities acting as if under attack by anybody in the West and as if representing Islam (no just Iran) - in its whole. It strongly brings to memory words of Nasser at the dawn of 6 Days War. It also brings to memory the times where 2 sides acting on different principles were engaged: conquistadors and native Indians, Romans and Huns, Europeans and Mongols in XIII century, or - more recently - Hitler and Deladier / Chamberlain. One side believes the other will be appeased by economic help and transfer of wealth (diminishing in Europe, not required in Iran which IS a rich country), the other operates under principles of faith, lust for power and belief in its holy mission.
Let me compare to quates:
“Today, that diplomacy opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure, a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.”(President Obama, today)
"I have returned from Germany with peace for our time." (Neville Chamberlain, 1938, just after Munich conference, less than a year before WWII)
Today in newspapers they proclaimed a great success - signing a deal with Iran on halting its nuclear program in exchange for vast Western economic help. It is said to be success in negotiations and a road to peace, but is it really?
Let's look a it closely. Does Iran need complicated and expensive nuclear energy for peace purposes? I don't think so. The country sitting on oil with gas prices ranging around 0,15$ per liter or less hardly needs to invest in this type of technology before tending to other needs.
Do they need Western economic help? Yes, for the first time in years they might use some as due to the restrictions put on it for last few years the crisis set on. It means that the restrictions were working.
Were the Western negotiators willing to put this pressure in order to halt and dismantle nuclear program under supervision? No, it purely is supposed to be halted. But its goal was never pacifist one and nobody in Iran was really denying it. And it is not only aiming towards regional hegemony and - possibly - destroying Israel (which was announced loudly by Iran's president). It is also close enough to Europe to dictate some of European politics, using dirty bombs as arguments, information (true or untrue) about missing nuclear material or threatening its sources of energy not only in Iran but the whole region.
And it doesn't take a genius to guess who and what does Iran wants to protect. It is Islamic republic, home of Khomeini and Islamic revolution, a country as hostile towards West as they make it. Yes, it is engaged in eternal bloody war in Muslim world between Sunni and Shiite but it has governors adept enough at socio-technics to be able to (for a time) unite them formally against common enemy if need be. And they have many friends in the region.
Now look at the demography: in 1956 Iran had app. 19 million residents; in 2009 already 75 million, in 2050 it is expected to have app. 105 million residents. Compare with app. 500 million in the whole EU with its 10% Muslim minority (so, app. 50 million people).
Now look at what has been said by Iran's authorities lately:
"The wave of Islamic revolution will soon reach the entire world"
"Anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of Islamic nation's fury"
"Global equations undergo changes, this is their nature"
"The UN structure is one-sided, stacked against the world of Islam"
Do they sound scary? For me they do, words of fanatics - ready to kill and die and send others to their death always do sound scary.
We are taking about reasonably rich, powerful, fast-growing country with over representation of military-oriented young men, with fanatical government and authorities acting as if under attack by anybody in the West and as if representing Islam (no just Iran) - in its whole. It strongly brings to memory words of Nasser at the dawn of 6 Days War. It also brings to memory the times where 2 sides acting on different principles were engaged: conquistadors and native Indians, Romans and Huns, Europeans and Mongols in XIII century, or - more recently - Hitler and Deladier / Chamberlain. One side believes the other will be appeased by economic help and transfer of wealth (diminishing in Europe, not required in Iran which IS a rich country), the other operates under principles of faith, lust for power and belief in its holy mission.
Let me compare to quates:
“Today, that diplomacy opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure, a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.”(President Obama, today)
"I have returned from Germany with peace for our time." (Neville Chamberlain, 1938, just after Munich conference, less than a year before WWII)
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Promised land (for the birds)
Many people do not know, as I didn't until somebody gave me a clue, that very few species of birds are capable of flying long distances over the sea. Most migratory birds prefer to fly mostly over the land and thus seek the route from Africa to Europe's nesting grounds and back with as little oversea flying as possible. Israel is not only on the way, it is on the very center of the way.
It is very convenient passageway for migratory birds, home to many non-migratory ones and - due to decades of protection law enforcement and general welcoming by people and institutions alike - nothing short of the garden of Eden for the birds.
Twice a year through Israel, the country smaller than Belgium and in half consisting of desert, 500 million birds fly on their way to/ from Europe. It is their resting ground. And - in an addition to some 230 migratory species - there are approximately 270 species native to Israel which in total gives only 150 less species than one may encounter in the whole of the USA.
There are more than 10 institutions dedicated to research, help and watching birds and huge areas are under protection for their use (one of the mos famous is Hula Valley in the north).
In Eilat former garbage dump site was transferred to bird-feeding station as area's salt marshes have been transformed and no longer can support that many birds. It is ilegal in Israel to kill or even stress birds (the last giving way for many jokes about what stresses the birds, still they are very welcome guests to the country).
No wonder that each yer thousands of tourists come to Israel for the exclusive purpose of bird-watching. It is rare delight for anybody interested in birdwatching and for most of us who just like to have a glimpse at the wonders of our world. See for yourselves :)
It is very convenient passageway for migratory birds, home to many non-migratory ones and - due to decades of protection law enforcement and general welcoming by people and institutions alike - nothing short of the garden of Eden for the birds.
Twice a year through Israel, the country smaller than Belgium and in half consisting of desert, 500 million birds fly on their way to/ from Europe. It is their resting ground. And - in an addition to some 230 migratory species - there are approximately 270 species native to Israel which in total gives only 150 less species than one may encounter in the whole of the USA.
There are more than 10 institutions dedicated to research, help and watching birds and huge areas are under protection for their use (one of the mos famous is Hula Valley in the north).
In Eilat former garbage dump site was transferred to bird-feeding station as area's salt marshes have been transformed and no longer can support that many birds. It is ilegal in Israel to kill or even stress birds (the last giving way for many jokes about what stresses the birds, still they are very welcome guests to the country).
No wonder that each yer thousands of tourists come to Israel for the exclusive purpose of bird-watching. It is rare delight for anybody interested in birdwatching and for most of us who just like to have a glimpse at the wonders of our world. See for yourselves :)
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