D.L. Adams
Political Islam
On April 6 in an address to the parliament of Turkey, US President Obama said that the relationship between the United States and the "Muslim world" is an important one. "In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical," the president said. During the same address the President stated, "We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better, including my own country." Mr. Obama neglected to explain in what way(s) Islam has the shaped and improved the United States. The founding fathers of the United States did not share Mr. Obama's appreciation for the "Islamic faith". In fact Jefferson, Adams, JQ Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were all were deeply concerned about the dangers that Islam represented to the new nation. Our ongoing experiences with the 21st century version of the Barbary pirates off the coast of Somalia, most recently today when an American freighter captain was freed from pirate captivity by the US Navy, illustrates a great deal about our prior relations with the "religion of peace" and how our previous leaders reacted. There is little discussion in the mainstream press about the link between Somali Islamism, piracy, and jihad, but the linkage is there nonetheless.(read full article)
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Our World: Iran's Western enablers
Apr 13, 2009 21:19 | Updated Apr 14, 2009 9:02
By CAROLINE GLICK
Egypt's recent actions against Hizbullah operatives are a watershed event for understanding the nature of the threat that Iran constitutes for both regional and global security. For many Israelis, Egypt's actions came as a surprise. For years this country has been appealing to Egypt to take action against Hizbullah operatives in its territory. With minor exceptions, it has refused. Believing that its operatives threatened only us, the Mubarak regime preferred to turn a blind eye.
(read full article)
By CAROLINE GLICK
Egypt's recent actions against Hizbullah operatives are a watershed event for understanding the nature of the threat that Iran constitutes for both regional and global security. For many Israelis, Egypt's actions came as a surprise. For years this country has been appealing to Egypt to take action against Hizbullah operatives in its territory. With minor exceptions, it has refused. Believing that its operatives threatened only us, the Mubarak regime preferred to turn a blind eye.
(read full article)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Our World: Appeasing child killers
Apr 6, 2009 21:28 | Updated Apr 7, 2009 10:34
By CAROLINE GLICK
We were not supposed to see Shlomo Nativ's name in the newspapers. At least, we weren't supposed to know who he was for several years. He was just a 13-year-old boy. He was loved by his family and friends. He had brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents. His life was not our business. And, to a certain extent, now that it is over, it still shouldn't concern us.
What should concern us is his death. Nativ was murdered last Thursday at the hands of a Palestinian ax murderer just a few meters from his home in Bat Ayin. And his death should interest us for what it teaches us, first of all about the nature of the Middle East and Israel's place in it. (read full article)
By CAROLINE GLICK
We were not supposed to see Shlomo Nativ's name in the newspapers. At least, we weren't supposed to know who he was for several years. He was just a 13-year-old boy. He was loved by his family and friends. He had brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents. His life was not our business. And, to a certain extent, now that it is over, it still shouldn't concern us.
What should concern us is his death. Nativ was murdered last Thursday at the hands of a Palestinian ax murderer just a few meters from his home in Bat Ayin. And his death should interest us for what it teaches us, first of all about the nature of the Middle East and Israel's place in it. (read full article)
A Note from Anna Kolodner, Executive Director of The David Project
April 6, 2009
All those concerned about the continued vilification of Israel by the international community, and particularly the United Nations, should be alarmed by the Durban 2 'antiracism' conference, scheduled for 20-24 April 2009.
In the name of 'anti-racism,' the first Durban conference in 2001 degenerated into a relentless and blatant anti-Semitic and Israel-bashing event, particularly by non-governmental organizations. Under the guidance of Libya, Iran and Cuba, the second conference appears to be even worse, with recommendations that the international community prohibit free speech and criticism of religion. Fortunately, pressure from the US and European countries seems to have forced changes in the conference document, but it is unclear whether these countries will or should attend.
As in the past, The David Project has mobilized to create a unique, online portal on the topic. www.durban2facts.org is the definitive place to go for materials discussing the background of the Durban conferences, the 'Durban Strategy' of isolating Israel on the model of apartheid-era South Africa, and the current status of the 2009 conference's draft declaration. These materials, viewable online or in PDF format, will be updated as necessary. For those with little time, we have devised an easy-to-read one-page summary. We have also included links to online resources, videos and relevant articles.
We hope you find this resource helpful and that you share it with others.
Happy Passover,
All those concerned about the continued vilification of Israel by the international community, and particularly the United Nations, should be alarmed by the Durban 2 'antiracism' conference, scheduled for 20-24 April 2009.
In the name of 'anti-racism,' the first Durban conference in 2001 degenerated into a relentless and blatant anti-Semitic and Israel-bashing event, particularly by non-governmental organizations. Under the guidance of Libya, Iran and Cuba, the second conference appears to be even worse, with recommendations that the international community prohibit free speech and criticism of religion. Fortunately, pressure from the US and European countries seems to have forced changes in the conference document, but it is unclear whether these countries will or should attend.
As in the past, The David Project has mobilized to create a unique, online portal on the topic. www.durban2facts.org is the definitive place to go for materials discussing the background of the Durban conferences, the 'Durban Strategy' of isolating Israel on the model of apartheid-era South Africa, and the current status of the 2009 conference's draft declaration. These materials, viewable online or in PDF format, will be updated as necessary. For those with little time, we have devised an easy-to-read one-page summary. We have also included links to online resources, videos and relevant articles.
We hope you find this resource helpful and that you share it with others.
Happy Passover,
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Giving the Diaspora a say
Mar. 31, 2009
ALAN BAKER , THE JERUSALEM POST
One of the most intractable issues facing Israel, its government and general public is the real nature of the relationship with the Diaspora. Is this a relationship of reciprocal, mutually benefitting and interdependent interests? Is it a vital relationship without which neither could realize their respective and most basic endeavors? Or alternatively, could each exist independently and follow its own narrow interests? These questions are challenging and touch upon the very nature of the linkage between State of Israel and the Jewish people in the Diaspora.
One delicate yet vital component of this relationship that repeatedly threatens to cast a schism between the two, is the ongoing peace-negotiating process on issues of central concern to Judaism - specifically concerning the fate of Jerusalem and withdrawal from territory. (read full article)
ALAN BAKER , THE JERUSALEM POST
One of the most intractable issues facing Israel, its government and general public is the real nature of the relationship with the Diaspora. Is this a relationship of reciprocal, mutually benefitting and interdependent interests? Is it a vital relationship without which neither could realize their respective and most basic endeavors? Or alternatively, could each exist independently and follow its own narrow interests? These questions are challenging and touch upon the very nature of the linkage between State of Israel and the Jewish people in the Diaspora.
One delicate yet vital component of this relationship that repeatedly threatens to cast a schism between the two, is the ongoing peace-negotiating process on issues of central concern to Judaism - specifically concerning the fate of Jerusalem and withdrawal from territory. (read full article)
Middle East still not ready for democracy
Jewish World Review March 23, 2009 / 27 Adar 5769
By Barry Rubin
Democracy is a great idea; open elections are ideally the best way to choose governments; dialogue with everyone is wonderful in theory. But in the Middle East, unfortunately, as a policy this would be a disaster.
It is not Western policy but local conditions which are going to determine whether there will be democracy in the Arabic-speaking world. In my book, The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy in the Middle East (Wiley), I analyze both the debate and the existing groups. The assessment must be pessimistic. (read full article)
By Barry Rubin
Democracy is a great idea; open elections are ideally the best way to choose governments; dialogue with everyone is wonderful in theory. But in the Middle East, unfortunately, as a policy this would be a disaster.
It is not Western policy but local conditions which are going to determine whether there will be democracy in the Arabic-speaking world. In my book, The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy in the Middle East (Wiley), I analyze both the debate and the existing groups. The assessment must be pessimistic. (read full article)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A Japanese View of the Palestinians
By Yashiko Sagamori
If you are so sure that “Palestine, the country, goes back through most of recorded history”, I expect you to be able to answer a few basic questions about that country of Palestine:
1. When was it founded and by whom?
2. What were its borders?
3. What was its capital?
4. What were its major cities?
5. What constituted the basis of its economy?
6. What was its form of government?
7. Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat?
8. Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation?
9. What was the language of the country of Palestine?
10. What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine?
11. What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan on that date.
12. And, finally, since there is no such country today, what caused its demise and when did it occur?
(read full article)
If you are so sure that “Palestine, the country, goes back through most of recorded history”, I expect you to be able to answer a few basic questions about that country of Palestine:
1. When was it founded and by whom?
2. What were its borders?
3. What was its capital?
4. What were its major cities?
5. What constituted the basis of its economy?
6. What was its form of government?
7. Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat?
8. Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation?
9. What was the language of the country of Palestine?
10. What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine?
11. What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan on that date.
12. And, finally, since there is no such country today, what caused its demise and when did it occur?
(read full article)
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