Letter to an official of the Reconstructionist Rabbincal College in Philadelphia.

As a journalist who provides in depth coverage of the Palestinians for the past 37 years, it has come to my attention that there are Rabbis and Reconstructionist Rabbinical students who express support for the current campaign conducted on behalf of Hamas, sanctioned by the US Government  as an FTO, a foreign terrorist organization,https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/hamas_fto.html
 
Journalistic question. Will RRC allow Reconstructionist Rabbis RRC students to support Hamas on its premises? 
 
Wll RRC issue a statement to warn that Hamas is  defined by the US government as a terrorist organization?
 
Full disclosure ;  I was a devotee of Rabbi Mordecai  Kaplan, founder of the Reconstructionist Movement, who also served as the Rabbi of my father in law, Dr. Wiliam Rosenblum, of blessed memory. 
 
When I was a student at the University of Wisconsin, I  attended a special presentation by Rabbi Kaplam which has influenced my entire life,  during winter vacation in December 1969
 
This took place  at the SAJ.,   when RabbI Mordecai Kaplan convened a conference of students from campuses around the US to declare that there cannot be any Palestinian State because of the PLO covenant which called for Israel’s total destruction. 
 
 Rabbi Kaplan asked that everyone  read and internalize the real message of the PLO in their covenant.  
 
When I moved to Israel in 1970, I got my first job with the number two man in the reconstructionist movement, Rabbi Jack Cohen z”l, who would have affirmed this.
 
In April 1996, it was  our  Palestinian TV crew that was the only media outlet to  film  and record the special session of the Palestine National Council, the PNC, where the PLO covenant was discussed and NOT cancelled, even though the whole world reported that the PLO then cancelled its covenant
 
 
 
Hoping to hear from you soon.
 
B’vracha,
 
David Bedein
 
whatsapp:0587222661

Inside the anti-Israel network planning a sweeping DNC protest

Nearly 100 organizations planning to protest against Israel next week in Chicago outside the Democratic National Convention are under the spotlight in a new report by a watchdog group.

The report, authored by NGO Monitor, highlights how left-wing activist hubs sympathizing with Hamas after its Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel are aiming to pressure Democrats to adopt anti-Israel policies. The forthcoming protest, which was dealt a blow this week after a federal judge rejected a request from activists for more space to demonstrate, comes as Republicans raise concerns over whether Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, will be tough on Hamas.

The Biden-Harris administration has called for de-escalation in the Middle East as Iran and its terrorist proxies attack Israel.

“The same NGO network that orchestrated and funded the mobs chanting ‘intifada now’ on university campuses and in major cities will be harassing and intimidating DNC delegates and participants in Chicago,” Gerald Steinberg, the founder and president of NGO Monitor, said in a statement.

Groups planning to protest outside the DNC between Aug. 19 and 22 include CODEPINK, Palestinian Feminist Collective, Students for Justice in Palestine Chicago, American Muslims for Palestine Chicago, and other pro-Palestinian groups active across the United States, NGO Monitor said in the report. One group, the ANSWER Coalition, was recently behind a violent protest in Washington, D.C.

Another, the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, is an Israeli-designated terrorist group housed under a charity in Arizona, the Washington Examiner reported.

The anti-Israel coalition published a joint statement upon President Joe Biden deciding he would not run for reelection, accusing his administration of committing genocide in supporting Israel. NGO Monitor highlighted in the report how the DNC march coalition has “non-transparent” funding and is fundraising on the Action Network platform.

However, as the Washington Examiner has reported, many entities linked to anti-Israel protests, including the forthcoming one, are bankrolled by influential progressive dark money groups. The dark money groups, such as the Tides Center and its affiliated Tides Foundation, as well as the WESPAC Foundation, are fueled by Democratic megadonors such as George Soros and Bill Gates.

“The question is whether leaders of the Democratic party, including Vice President Harris, will stand firm against the antisemitic hatred and violence, in contrast to the university administrators,” Steinberg added in the statement.

NGO Monitor’s report highlights an investigative series by the Washington Examiner on Alliance for Global Justice, the Samidoun-linked group, and its ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The report noted that payment processors, including PayPal, Stripe, Salsa Labs, and Deluxe, cut ties with AFGJ over its terrorism ties.

The anti-Israel coalition has a wide variety of demands for Democrats, according to NGO Monitor. Those include ending U.S. aid to Israel, “community control of the police,” and others.

“We condemn the Democratic Party for promoting wars in Palestine, Ukraine, and countries all over the world, and for strangling dozens of countries with illegal sanctions that affect over 2 billion people,” the anti-Israel coalition said. “U.S. economic and military interests are behind the genocide in Gaza, and are threatening war on China. The US military puts the entire world in danger of war and targets people’s movements like in the Philippines and Colombia.”

Inside Israel. Threats to Jewish lives which stem from the lethal policies of the Palestinian Authority

The Jewish national fast day was observed this year on the Jewish calendar date of the 9th of Av, which this year fell on August 13, 2024. The date marks centuries of the remorseless murder of Jews.

This year, the existential threat to Jews again come into focus, following the crimes of Oct.7, 2023 — a day that witnessed the wholesale murder, rape and kidnapping of Jews, endorsed by the Palestinian Authority, funded by 135 nations.

This Tisha B’av, Jews reflect on  threats to Jewish lives which stem from the lethal policies of the Palestinian Authority:

Pay-for-Slay Legislation

The PA has enacted an unprecedented law to pay a salary for life for anyone who murders a Jew, or a stipend for the family of anyone killed while murdering a Jew.The PA now runs a cottage industry which employs hundreds of Palestinians who process automatic payments for those who murder Jews. A whopping 7% of the $19 billion PA budget is now allocated to remunerate killers of Jews, including fees to the perpetrators of the October 7 massacre.The head of the PA, Mahmoud Abbas, Yassar Arafat’s successor, assumes direct responsibility for running this system of award for murder.

Yet, no one objects. Not one nation calls for the repeal of Palestinian Pay-for-Slay legislation.

The media is silent as Jews are butchered and people are paid to carry out this crime. That is the message of Tisha B’av — the isolation of the Jews as they are slaughtered.

PA Schools of War

The PA operates a new curriculum to incite a new generation to wage war on Jews.

PA schools do not acknowledge the right of Jews to live anywhere in Israel. PA school maps replace the names of every Jewish community with Arabic names. The PA even features a textbook which sanctifies the legacy of Dalal Al Mugrabi, an Arab woman who commandeered a bus on the coastal highway in 1978, murdering more than 30 Jews, including 13 children.

Yet, no one objects.PSF – Palestinian Security Forces

Initially trained by IDF, the PSF turned on the Jewish state, openly taking part in terror attacks on Jews throughout the country.

Yet, no one objects.

UNRWA

UNRWA , which oversees 6.7 million descendants of Arab refugees and heir descendants from the 1948 war, festering in in 59 refugee camps, funded by 67 nations to dwell under the premise and promise of “The Right of Return by Force of Arms”, without any plan or pretense to replace “temporary” refugee camps with communities that would be dedicated to UN ideals of peace and reconciliation.

Yet, not a single UNRWA donor nation calls for UNRWA policy change.

The solution?

Over the past month, Israel has been credited with the execution of two Palestinian Arab leaders who assumed responsibility for multiple murders of Jews: Muhammad Deif and Ismayel Hania. Perhaps this is the time for Israel to train its sights on the head of the snake, Abu Mazen, who calls the shots.

THE WORLD WILL UNDERSTAND

Article is missing a lot of important information regarding Ilan Goldberg’s views on Israel.

What does the Secretary-General feel about the UN investigation’s findings on the UNRWA employees involved in the October 7th massacre?

UN Watch Executive Director tells Albanese govt to ‘stop lying for UNRWA’ after nine employees linked to Hamas Oct 7 attacks

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer has called on the Albanese government to “stop lying for UNRWA” after nine of the agency’s employees were linked to the October 7 attacks.

Findings from an investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) into shocking allegations at least a dozen employees had links to the terror incident.

Mr Neuer accused a senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) official several months ago of lying to the Senate about claims the Australian government was taking allegations of links between UNRWA and Hamas seriously.

When asked about UNRWA’s links to Hamas at Senate Estimates in February, DFAT First Assistant Secretary Marc Innes-Brown admitted the allegations had been raised “for years” before disparaging groups critical of the United Nations body like UN Watch.

“I think it’s generally known that there are at least several organisations that, their agenda is to focus on misconduct by UN,” Mr Innes-Brown said.

Speaking to Sky News host Gabriella Power on Thursday, Mr Neuer slammed the Albanese government for “lying for UNRWA” and attacking UN Watch reports linking UNRWA with Hamas “without any basis”.

Mr Neuer went on to mention several UNRWA employees who actively promote anti-Semitism or have links to Hamas.

“Teachers like Elham Mansour of Lebanon, who works for UNRWA as a teacher at UNRWA, who openly says, in the name of Allah, we need to slaughter the Jews,” he said.

“The head of the teachers’ union in Lebanon is Fathi al-Sharif. He is a senior Hamas official. Doesn’t hide it on his Facebook page, UNRWA knows that they refused to fire him.”

He said an individual called Suhail al-Hindi, who was head of the UNRWA teachers’ union in Gaza for many years, is now on the Hamas Politburo (Political Bureau) with Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ newly appointed political chief.

“The Australian government needs to stop fronting for this agency that is corrupted by terrorists,” Mr Neuer said.

“There are many other options if you want to help Palestinians, and sadly, Australia is embracing a group, UNRWA, that is only promising further education for generations of resentment, grievance and war.”

Despite temporarily halting its funding to UNRWA during the investigation, the Albanese government restored the funding only two months later despite the probe into the claims not having been completed.

The move came despite Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in February calling for Labor not to restart the funding after the possibility was floated by the Foreign Minister.

The government is now being hit with condemnation for reinstating funding when the probe was not yet complete, with Coalition figures calling for Labor to reconsider its involvement with UNRWA.

Mr Dutton criticised the government’s “bad judgement” on Tuesday, saying it “has a lot to answer to”.

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer has called on the Albanese government to “stop lying for UNRWA” after nine of the agency’s employees were linked to the October 7 attacks.

Findings from an investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) into shocking allegations at least a dozen employees had links to the terror incident.

Mr Neuer accused a senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) official several months ago of lying to the Senate about claims the Australian government was taking allegations of links between UNRWA and Hamas seriously.

When asked about UNRWA’s links to Hamas at Senate Estimates in February, DFAT First Assistant Secretary Marc Innes-Brown admitted the allegations had been raised “for years” before disparaging groups critical of the United Nations body like UN Watch.

“I think it’s generally known that there are at least several organisations that, their agenda is to focus on misconduct by UN,” Mr Innes-Brown said.

Speaking to Sky News host Gabriella Power on Thursday, Mr Neuer slammed the Albanese government for “lying for UNRWA” and attacking UN Watch reports linking UNRWA with Hamas “without any basis”.

The Albanese government has come under fire for restoring funding to UNRWA before an investigation was concluded. Picture: NewsWire / David Beach.

The Albanese government has come under fire for restoring funding to UNRWA before an investigation was concluded. Picture: NewsWire / David Beach.

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Mr Neuer went on to mention several UNRWA employees who actively promote anti-Semitism or have links to Hamas.

“Teachers like Elham Mansour of Lebanon, who works for UNRWA as a teacher at UNRWA, who openly says, in the name of Allah, we need to slaughter the Jews,” he said.

“The head of the teachers’ union in Lebanon is Fathi al-Sharif. He is a senior Hamas official. Doesn’t hide it on his Facebook page, UNRWA knows that they refused to fire him.”

He said an individual called Suhail al-Hindi, who was head of the UNRWA teachers’ union in Gaza for many years, is now on the Hamas Politburo (Political Bureau) with Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ newly appointed political chief.

“The Australian government needs to stop fronting for this agency that is corrupted by terrorists,” Mr Neuer said.

Hillel Neuer, UN Watch Executive Director, accused the Albanese government of "fronting" for UNRWA following an investigation linking nine of its employees with the Oct 7 attacks.

Hillel Neuer, UN Watch Executive Director, accused the Albanese government of “fronting” for UNRWA following an investigation linking nine of its employees with the Oct 7 attacks.

“There are many other options if you want to help Palestinians, and sadly, Australia is embracing a group, UNRWA, that is only promising further education for generations of resentment, grievance and war.”

Despite temporarily halting its funding to UNRWA during the investigation, the Albanese government restored the funding only two months later despite the probe into the claims not having been completed.

The move came despite Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in February calling for Labor not to restart the funding after the possibility was floated by the Foreign Minister.

The government is now being hit with condemnation for reinstating funding when the probe was not yet complete, with Coalition figures calling for Labor to reconsider its involvement with UNRWA.

Mr Dutton criticised the government’s “bad judgement” on Tuesday, saying it “has a lot to answer to”.

Peter Dutton has called on the government to reconsider UNRWA funding in light of the investigation's findings. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

Peter Dutton has called on the government to reconsider UNRWA funding in light of the investigation’s findings. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable that a UN agency would have employees involved in, or alleged to have been involved in, the October 7 tragedy,” he told Sky News Australia.

“It’d like to see more information, I think as most Australians would, because Australian taxpayers’ dollars are being given to these organisations with an understanding that they’re going to provide aid and support to people who are in need.

“And if that turns out not to be the case, then really think the government has a lot to answer to here.”

UNRWA had received more than AU$2 billion in 2023 from government partners including the United States, European Union and Australia.

Eulogies

The accepted protocol when speaking at a funeral is to praise the deceased’s achievements and overlook any negative traits.

However, what should one do when the deeds of the deceased are so horrendous that there are no redeeming features that can honestly be recounted?

Additionally, when faced with delivering a political “eulogy” on the retirement or resignation of a politician and political leader, can one honestly extol the virtues of the individual when everyone knows that his/her accomplishments have been disastrous?

What are we to make of eulogies recited for the Jewish People collectively over the millennia and right up to this current time?

These questions take on an added significance as we survey the unfolding dramas from near and far and as we prepare to face the latest machinations of today’s Jew/Israel/Zionist haters.

When the late Iranian President was killed in a helicopter crash, the eulogies flowed thick and fast. One could safely ignore the tributes emanating from fellow terror allies as standard hypocritical utterances. It was the tear-jerking sycophantic expressions of grief from the likes of the EU and representatives of democratic countries that gained first prize for double standards.

Here was a politician responsible for carrying out the worst crimes on behalf of his glorious leader, being eulogized as though he was some sort of saint.

It naturally followed therefore that when his successor was “elected” or should we say “anointed” the world media and the same international hypocrites would once again break into hymns of praise. Describing the new President as a “moderate” when he clearly endorsed the genocidal aims of his spiritual superior is the height of absurdity. The fact that most of the international community can willingly endorse this farce shows how low matters have fallen.

The EU sent a representative to the swearing-in ceremony in Tehran. No doubt he issued expressions of admiration as he hobnobbed with representatives of such enlightened human rights champions as Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Palestinian Authority, Russia, China and North Korea. Trying to escape obvious embarrassment, the EU issued a statement saying that its representation was not political but only diplomatic. This pathetic distinction only fooled those gullible enough to be oblivious of reality.

Once again, the Irish managed to prove that they are the gold medal winners of stupidity. The Irish President forwarded a gushing letter to the new Iranian President praising Iran’s role in the “struggle for peace.” Where he got this piece of fiction from is anyone’s guess but perhaps after a few bottles of Guinness his faculties became befuddled.

The big news, of course, was the dispatch of Hamas’s leader to martyrs’ heaven, where virgins await. Speculation will percolate for a long time as to how this was achieved and exactly by whom. Various theories abound, and no doubt, one day, all might be revealed in either a biographical revelation or a blockbuster movie.

Anyone associated with the murder and kidnapping of Israeli men, women, children and babies is guaranteed to have an early expiry date. It should, therefore, not have come as a surprise that a premature retirement occurred. The real embarrassment for the Iranians is that it happened while they hosted this arch-terrorist and just after he paid his respects to the new President and the “Supreme leader.”

Adding to this early exit was the news that other top terrorists, including the second in command of Hezbollah, were likewise eliminated in Beirut.

What followed was entirely predictable.

Eulogies for the deceased terror masterminds poured forth in tsunami-like torrents. The usual suspects excelled in their rhetoric concerning the saint-like attributes of the departed. No surprises about that. The media excelled in reporting the “pragmatic” and “moderate” qualities of individuals whose hands were tainted with the blood of murdered Israeli civilians and who plotted every hour of their miserable lives on how to murder even more.

Equally nauseous have been the forked tongue pronouncements of representatives from democratic nations.

The Guardian reported that Penny Wong, Australia’s Foreign Minister, stated that “the Australian Government is increasingly alarmed at Israel’s troubling pattern of behaviour.”  Meanwhile, Biden is upset that removing terror instigators complicates his “peace” efforts. His ambassador to Qatar praised its “role in maintaining peace and security.” It was reported by JNS that a Qatari official told the Arab League, “Jewish People are slayers of prophets and Judaism only accepts one thing – killing.” Qatar is the safe haven for Hamas as is Turkey.

Joe Biden’s decision to “retire” has unleashed “eulogies” from Israeli leaders and media.

President Herzog described Biden as the symbol of the unbreakable bond between the USA and Israel and the best friend Israel ever had.

PM Netanyahu embraced him as an “Irish Zionist.”

The Jerusalem Post editorialized that Biden is a Zionist at heart and that his support of Israel will never be forgotten.

Denying Israel weapons and telling our PM not to speak “bullshit” is not exactly a sign of friendship and solidarity. According to news reports, the US Administration has warned Israel that the (non-existent) coalition demands that any response to an Iranian missile barrage be limited in scope. In their words “don’t push it.”  In plain English this clearly means that the USA has no intention of tackling Iranian genocidal ambitions and will not back Israel when it retaliates.

Are these manifestations of a best friend?

I wish that we had another Menachem Begin who in 1972 responded to Senator Biden when he threatened to cut off aid to Israel.

“Don’t threaten us with cutting off your aid. It will not work. I am not a Jew with trembling knees. I am a proud Jew with 3,700 years of civilized history. Nobody came to our aid when we were dying in the gas chambers and ovens. Nobody came to our aid when were striving to create our country. We paid for it. We fought for it. We died for it. We will stand by our principles. We will defend them. When necessary we will die for them again, with or without your aid.”

 Biden banged on the table with his fist. Begin retorted:

“This desk is designed for writing not fists. Don’t threaten us with slashing aid. We are grateful for the assistance we have received but we are not to be threatened.”

 Instead of sycophantic eulogies we could do with some honest rhetoric instead.         

The Iranian Ambassador to Australia revealed his country’s true agenda in a tweet in which he proclaimed: “wipe out the Zionists from Palestinian holy lands. I am looking forward to such a heavenly and divine promise.”  The Australian Government’s response was to call in the ambassador for a reprimand with a slap on the wrist with a wet rag. Penny Wong said that his remarks “do not represent Australia.” Of course they don’t – they represent Iran’s ambitions. How about sending the ambassador packing or is that too provocative?

Over the long and tortuous course of Jewish history, there have been many occasions when the rest of the world has issued eulogies for murdered Jews. In fact, eulogizing dead Jews has become a fashionable pastime. It followed the destruction of both Temples and exile after inquisitions, pogroms, expulsions, exclusions, theological revisionist denials of Judaism’s authenticity and, of course, the Shoah. In each situation, Jews as a people and faith were written off as eternal victims, unworthy of being saved and beyond redemption. In more recent times those who could have prevented tragedy and didn’t, assuage their guilty feelings by engaging in eulogies at ceremonial gatherings.

As we currently face another existential threat to our existence, there are some who are already preparing to eulogize us. Instead of helping to crush those planning another round of genocidal terror, Jew haters and self loathers alike are busy undermining Israel.

Haman of ancient Persia tried this once before. He and his supporters were dispatched before they could carry out their nefarious plans.

The same fate awaits today’s plotters.

The time is long overdue when politically correct apologetics are replaced by forthright articulation of truths.

TIME Cover: Exclusive Interview – Bibi at War

In an exclusive interview with TIME, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explains how he sees the Gaza war and mounting regional threats.

For the cover story, TIME’s Eric Cortellessa—who interviewed Netanyahu for 66 minutes in his Kaplan Street offices on August 4, 2024—writes: “Through a combination of electoral vicissitudes, sweeping regional changes, and his own political gifts, his almost 17-year cumulative tenure is longer than that of anyone else who has led Israel, a country only two years older than he is. Over that span, Netanyahu’s political endurance has been built around one consistent argument: that he’s the only leader who can ensure Israel’s safety.”

 

Cortellessa continues: “But in the wake of the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust, with more than 40,000 Gazans dead in the ensuing conflict, Israel under Netanyahu is not blessed with peace but besieged by war. As we speak, the country is on edge for an expected aerial attack from Iran, the second in four months…The fighting is ongoing in Gaza, with more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas. Much to the frustration of the Biden Administration, Netanyahu still has not articulated a credible plan to end the war or a vision for how the Israelis and the Palestinians can peacefully coexist.”

– Credit: Photograph by Paolo Pellegrin—Magnum Photos for TIME

– Read the full cover story: here

– Read the full transcript of TIME’s interview with Benjamin Netanyahu: here

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TIME’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BENJAMIN NETANYAHU:

On whether he would make an apology for the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu tells TIME: “Apologize?…Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened. And you always look back and you say, Could we have done things that would have prevented it?”

On how he’s bracing for escalating conflict on even more fronts: “We’re facing not merely Hamas…We’re facing a full-fledged Iranian axis, and we understand that we have to organize ourselves for broader defense.”

On how his approval of Qatari cash infusions was humanitarian: “We wanted to make sure that Gaza has a functioning civilian administration to avoid humanitarian collapse.”

On how he claims the money didn’t form the basis of Hamas’ eventual threat to Israel and his primary mistake, he says, was acceding to his security committee’s reluctance to wage full-on war: “The main issue was the transfer of weapons and ammunition from the Sinai into Gaza…Oct. 7 showed that those who said that Hamas was deterred were wrong…If anything, I didn’t challenge enough the assumption that was common to all the security agencies.”

 

On how a visit intended to showcase solidarity with Israel’s most essential ally instead deepened what was for Israel a growing and dangerous partisan divide: “I don’t think that the much reported erosion of support among some quarters of the American public is related to Israel…It’s more related to America.”

 

On how once Hamas is out of power, he wants to recruit Arab countries to help install a civilian Palestinian governing entity that wouldn’t pose a threat to Israel: “I’d like to see a civilian administration run by Gazans, perhaps with the support of regional partners…Demilitarization by Israel, civilian administration by Gaza.”

On how his vision of allowing only limited pockets of autonomy in Palestinian areas where Israel maintains overriding security control: “That’s a detraction of sovereign powers…There’s no question about it…I agree we should maintain a Jewish majority, but I think we should do it in democratic means…That’s why I don’t want to incorporate the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria as citizens of Israel [referring to the biblical name of the West Bank] It means that they should run their own lives. They should vote for their own institutions. They should have their own self-governance. But they should not have the power to threaten us.”

On Zionism surviving the war: “It will, if we win…And if we don’t, our future will be in great jeopardy.”

 

On whether he intends to remain Prime Minister: “I will stay in office as long as I believe I can help lead Israel to a future of security, enduring security and prosperity.”

On whether he would say an opposition leader who presided over Israel’s worst security failure should stay in power: “It depends what they do…What do they do? Are they capable of leading the country in war? Can they lead it to victory? Can they assure that the postwar situation will be one of peace and security? If the answer is yes, they should stay in power. In any case…that’s the decision of the people.”

The cover story also features conversations with Israeli officials, including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak who tells TIME:

On how Netanyahu is in his psychological elements: “He genuinely believes that he’s saving Israel…Not that he’s responsible for one of the worst events in its history.”

 

On the claim that Netanyahu is drawing out the Gaza campaign for personal political reasons: “Netanyahu is focused on his longevity in power more than the interests of the Israeli people or the State of Israel…It will take half a generation to repair the damage that Netanyahu has caused in the last year.”

On Netanyahu deepening divisions between Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza: “He saw Hamas as an asset and the [West Bank–based] Palestinian Authority as a liability…As long as he can hold Hamas alive and kicking and being a threat to Israel, he can easily protect himself against demands from America and from the rest of the world who argued that Israel should look for a way to achieve a breakthrough with the Palestinians.”

SWC Statement on the City of Nagasaki’s Decision to Selectively Not Invite Israel to Anniversary of Atomic Bombing

July 31, 2024

 

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director for Global Social Action of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, issued the following statement on a recent decision by the City of Nagasaki to selectively not invite Israel to its ceremony commemorating the dropping of the Atomic bomb in 1945.

“The Nagasaki Mayor’s immoral decision not to invite Israel to the Atomic-bomb Memorial debases the memory of innocent Japanese who perished that day and insults the memory of 1,200 Israelis mass murdered on Oct 7th by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists—the largest single-day killing of Jews since the Nazi Holocaust. Adding insult to injury the local mayor did invite a Palestinian representative to attend, a decision that will only embolden terrorists everywhere to conclude that mass violence works to advance their agendas.”

 Rabbi Cooper also noted that “the Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki finally ended World War II, a war which saw Japan allied with Nazi Germany.  For decades, people of goodwill in Japan, the US, and among world Jewry have labored to forge new trusts, friendships, and alliances as we all struggled to absorb difficult lessons from the past.  While the mayor of Hiroshima did invite the Israelis to attend, the mayor of Nagasaki’s insulting refusal has harmed that trust.”


For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Erik Simon at esimon@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).