The international community has sent billions of dollars in aid to the Gaza Strip in recent years to provide relief to the more than 2 million Palestinians living in the isolated, Hamas-ruled territory.
The aid is intended to ease the burden on civilians of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed on Gaza when the Islamic militant group seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.
Gabriel Boric, a far-Left politician hostile to Israel, won Chile’s presidential election on Sunday. His victory may spark debate about the future of the Jewish community in the South American country.
He defeated conservative lawmaker Jose Antonio Kast in a runoff after taking 56 percent of the vote. At the age of 35, Boric will be Chile’s youngest modern-era president when he is sworn into office in March. Press reports describe him as a “progressive millennial.”
Boric will succeed President Sebastian Pinera, whose four-year term ended.
“I am going to be the president of all Chileans,” Boric said in the brief televised appearance with Pinera.
But it’s not clear that Chile’s Jewish community will share that sentiment — for two reasons.
Boric has a history of animosity to Israel.
In one memorable incident that occurred when Boric was a member of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies, the lower house legislature, the Jewish community sent him a jar of honey as a token Rosh Hashanah gift. Boric returned the honey and tweeted, “I appreciate the gesture, but they could have asked Israel to return illegally occupied Palestinian territory.”
He has supported draft legislation to boycott products and services from Israeli settlements and, during a campaign meeting with Jewish leaders, referred to Israel as a “murderous state.”
The Jewish community is also apprehensive about Daniel Jadue, the leader of Chile’s Communist Party, whose support Boric will need. Jadue is of Palestinian descent. His grandparents moved to Chile, though it’s not clear exactly when. He has served as the mayor of Recoleta, a suburb of Santiago, since 2012.
Jadue made the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s “2020 List of Ten Top Antisemites.” While Jadue opposes all trade with Israel and vindicates Hamas terror, more alarming is his long-term goal of stripping Chile’s Jewish community of its citizenship and rights.
According to the center, Jadue’s comments about Chilean Jews having dual loyalties reflect more than just rhetoric.
“Jadue has acknowledged entering Chilean politics after serving as a young militant for the PLO, an organization declared as terrorist by the majority of democratic countries… This explains his justification of Hamas terrorism. Jadue has drafted a Parliamentary roadmap that, if successful, would legalize anti-Semitism and transforms it into state policy,” said Dr. Shimon Samuels, the center’s director of international relations.
More than 350,000 Palestinians live in Chile, making it the largest Palestinian community outside the Mideast.
In an interview with Haaretz before the election, Chilean Jewish businessman Jaime Sinay said that if a Boric-Communist alliance took over Chile, “in a short time, we will become a second Venezuela.” More than 70 percent of Venezuela’s Jews have left the country in recent years because of hyperinflation and sharp rises in starvation, disease and crime.
Boric’s opponent, Jose Antonio Kast, also presented problems for the Jewish community.
Kast was dogged by revelations that his German-born father, Michael Kast Schindele, was a member of the Nazi party during World War II. German documents unearthed during the campaign contradicted Kast’s claim that his father was a forced conscript in the German army. According to Kast’s Jewish supporters, he is friendly to Israel and even if Schindele was a Nazi, Kast was not.
Next year, Japan and Israel will reach a major milestone: 70 years since relations were established between these two unique democracies. In that time, both countries have made immense strides from uncertain times following World War II. Today, in the 21st century, they are both among the most technologically advanced democracies.
Recently, some have suggested that Japan and Israel could even form a powerful new alliance with the U.S. While this is a wonderful vision that deserves to be pursued by both countries, it is imperative that Japan first address its policy towards Israel that has deeply disappointed those who would support closer ties.
A few months ago, we published an op-ed in this paper calling for Japan’s boycott of the 20th Anniversary of the anti-Israel Durban Conference (United Nations World Conference Against Racism.) Disappointingly, Japan went on to attend this anniversary event of the hate-filled antisemitic conference, rather than joining 37 major countries, including all other G-7 members, that boycotted it.
Then, on Dec. 1, we were shocked to learn that Japan voted in favor of a resolution at the U. N. General Assembly that referred to the site of King Solomon’s ancient Holy Temple (Temple Mount) exclusively by its Islamic name. The United States and other democracies denounced the move and refused to endorse such a resolution which erodes trust that the U.N. will ever have a positive role to play in resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict. Further, many Israelis were incredulous that Japan, a proud ancient people and culture that zealously reveres and protects its past, would so callously deny the Jewish people the right to protect and celebrate its 3,500-year history.
Japan’s silence on the problem of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is another concern. Many other groups, including other donor countries, have raised their voices criticizing UNRWA’s corruption and hate education.
And then, there are the recurring incidents in Japan’s political and social arenas that reveal shocking ignorance, most notably dabbling with incorrect references about Nazis and Nazi symbols and even flirting with latter day fascists and Nazis. Such troubling incidents even threatened to mar the opening of Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic Games and stained the reputation of several Japanese politicians.
But the good news is that Japanese and Israeli business joint ventures are at an all-time high. Israel is no longer a distant, unfamiliar place to Japan but a true partner in the economic sphere. With shared democratic values and tech-driven economies, there’s much to be gained by forming a strong alliance between the two countries, or even one including the U.S.
However, if Japan sincerely wants to form such an alliance, the Japanese government must show that Japan indeed shares the same values as Israel and the U.S. Otherwise, it appears Japan only wants to gain an economic advantage, while politically it continues to act in ways that directly threaten Israel’s very existence.
Alliances are built on trust. Israel cannot trust Japan if it maintains ongoing ties with Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime in Iran, a regime that has publicly sworn to wipe out the Jewish state.
To begin forging a true alliance, Japan can take the following proactive steps to reverse the repeated positions they’ve taken against Israel.
First, Japan must reverse its long-held and outdated stance at the U.N. It is no secret that U.N. agencies, especially the Human Rights Council (UNHRC), serially attack the Jewish state. Such reckless behavior bordering on overt antisemitism would change if influential countries like Japan would align with other democracies and vote”no.”
Second, it should leverage its unique position as a major donor to UNRWA by calling for significant reform and transparency in all areas ranging from its financial malfeasance to blatant anti-peace curriculum foisted on Palestinian children.
Third, it is past due for the Japanese government to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s definition of antisemitism and follow its illustrative examples as guidance.
As the world witnesses a staggering increase of antisemitic incidents, the IHRA definition has been adopted by major democratic countries, including South Korea, which was the first Asian country to do so last August.
These steps will create the proper foundation for a strong alliance between the two countries.
Finally, the two governments can work closely to deepen and expand the Abraham Accords across the Arab/Muslim world and beyond. Such efforts will also advance Japan’s foremost diplomatic policy of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” given the traditionally close relations between Israel and Australia and the recently flourishing one between Israel and India. They both refused to support the U.N. resolution that denied Jewish ties to the Temple Mount.
We know there is one Japanese hero, the late Chiune Sugihara, who would be smiling down from heaven if the 70th anniversary would spur a new level of cooperation between our peoples. He helped Jews at the time of their most dire of need during the Holocaust. He refused to stay on the sidelines, and saved thousands of Jews from certain death.
By following the roadmap above, Japan has the opportunity to build a new and dynamic alliance between Japan, Israel, and the U.S. In so doing, Japan not only aligns with many other democracies, but it also furthers its own political and business goals while partnering with Israel, an old/new nation that shares similar values. Establishing a new alliance among these influential democracies can mark a promising new era for these countries and the world.
(By Rabbi Abraham Cooper and Kinue Tokudome)
Rabbi Abraham Cooper is the Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action for the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Kinue Tokudome is a Japanese author and translator who recently translated, “Dreams Never Dreamed,” a memoir of Rabbi Kalman Samuels, the founder of Shalva, a care facility for children with disabilities in Jerusalem.
Ur perspektivet i en organisation som är professionell inom socialt arbete, är det sociala arbetet mest fokus för att hjälpa människor att komma vidare med sina liv.
Undantaget från regeln är socialtjänsten i organisationen UNRWA. Där föreskrivs istället att 5.3 miljoner ättlingar till arabiska flyktingar från kriget 1948 måste fortsätta leva som flyktingar i evighet, i 59 “tillfälliga” flyktingläger, under den falska löften att har rätt att återvända till byar som nu inte längre finns.
Framtiden stod dock inte på agendan vid UNRWA:s internationella givarkonferens den 15 november i Bryssel. Där handlade det endast om att samla in pengar för att bibehålla de arabiska flyktingarna i deras flyktingläger.
Inför konferensen skickade Bedein Center for Near East Policy Research fotografer för att dokumentera den nuvarande atmosfären i de myllrande Aida och Deheisha flyktingläger i Betlehem. Fotojournalisterna återvände med 915 bilder av massiva väggmålningar som beklädde murar och plank till flyktinganläggningar.
Alla bilder skildrar ett enda tema: krig mot judarna för att befria de förlorade arabiska byarna med vapenmakt. Dessa väggmålningar av livet i de tillfälliga UNRWA-anläggningarna kommer att bli tillgängliga för en online UNRWA fotoutställning som visas på UNRWA-Monitor.com
Allt detta väcker frågan: Vart tar UNRWA:s utveckling vägen härifrån?
Här är fem politiska punkter som bör stå på agendan för alla konferenser om UNRWA, med ett syfte i åtanke: att hjälpa 5,3 miljoner ättlingar till flyktingar från 1948 års krig att komma vidare med sina liv, istället för att som nu leva ett flyktingliv i evighet.
Detta kommer att vara agendan för den nya Israel Knesset Lobbyn: en ändring av UNRWA.
Dess sammankallande ledare är MK Sharren Haskel, som kommer att hålla sessionen i Israels Knesset 2 februari.
Vi inbjuder svenska riksdagens ledamöter och andra intresserade att deltaga via zoom.
Intresseanmälan sändes och zoom länk ansöks från David Bedein: ctrforneareastpolicyresearch@gmail.com
Israel Resource News Agency och Nahum Bedein Center for Near East Policy Research.
Institute for Contemporary Affairs
Founded jointly with the Wechsler Family Foundation
The recent uptick in terrorist attacks in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria necessitates distinguishing between two parallel tracks that underpin the violence. One is the ongoing incitement, intended to create a consciousness of struggle in the general public, particularly among Palestinian youth. The second is Hamas’ interest in increasing terrorism within and emanating from Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. The connection between the tangible expressions of these two trends has ignited a multitude of attacks and has unleashed fears that Israel is facing another wave of terrorist attacks.
The first element, incitement and preaching hatred aimed at creating a consciousness of struggle against Zionism, takes place on an ongoing basis. It is intended to instill in the Palestinian public the “Seven Themes of the Palestinian Narrative,” according to which:
The consciousness of the struggle is embedded in various ways, including statements by senior Palestinian figures, study materials, religious messages, and the new social media that, for Palestinian youth, is a very effective tool.
From the time this consciousness is set, there will always be some Palestinians, especially young people, who will feel that Israel’s harsh reality and behavior require them to act within the framework of the struggle and within the established boundaries. Their sense is that they are fulfilling what is required of them by Palestinian society. They believe that even if they lose their lives, it is no disaster since they will become heroic martyrs, with all the promised benefits to the Shahid. After all, according to the Koran (Sura 3, verse 169): “Do not think that those who are killed for Allah are dead; they live with Allah’s grace.” If they surrender, are taken alive, and imprisoned, they and their family will receive great respect and a generous salary.
When the Palestinian leadership explicitly or implicitly calls on the public to carry out attacks, the number of Palestinians responding increases significantly, to the point of creating a “wave of terrorism” (for example, in the wave of attacks of October 2015 – March 2016). Even when there is no such explicit call, there will always be Palestinians who will take it upon themselves to act. Most of them will be satisfied with participating in riots, demonstrations, stone-throwing, and firebombing. Indeed, scores of events are carried out throughout Judea and Samaria every week, which are not mentioned even in the Israeli media.
There are always a few Palestinians who will want to go further than that and carry out more violent attacks to harm Jews, such as stabbings, vehicular attacks, or even shootings (especially if they are affiliated with Hamas – such as the teacher of Islam, Fadi Abu Shkhaydam – or other extremist organizations). Among these Palestinians, there are some who are under mental stress and may seek to overcome their personal problems by carrying out an attack, whether they survive or not. However, this is not the motive for the attack, but the additional circumstances that helped them make the decision to act in this way. Some of the perpetrators of the attacks are not under pressure. Moreover, many Palestinians feel stressed, but they do not carry out attacks.
The prevalence of this phenomenon can be learned from the following table, drawn from the weekly summary of the “News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” produced by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. It describes the number of attacks carried out in the past two years according to month. However, it indicates that there has been no sharp deviation of the norm except for the May 2020 period of fighting in Gaza.
In parallel with the ongoing phenomenon of incitement and the creation of the consciousness of the struggle, which translates into individual attacks, we are also witnessing Islamic Jihad’s and Hamas’ efforts to establish organized terrorist cells capable of unleashing attacks with a significant number of casualties. Recently, four such cells, some extensive, have been uncovered and broken up. The latest cadre ambushed an Israeli car in Samaria on December 16, 2021. The squad was captured two days later, and the IDF reported they were members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
This effort is also not new and is a permanent part of Hamas’ and PIJ’s policy aimed at harming as many Israelis as possible, undermining national resilience in Israel, and demonstrating these movements’ adherence to the path of struggle, unlike Fatah, while they refrain from acting from Gaza and igniting another war. This is despite Israel’s (and the Palestinian Authority’s) efforts to degrade Hamas in the areas controlled by the PA. In fact, these steps act to strengthen Hamas’ position on the Palestinian street as the leader of the struggle against Israel and for Jerusalem and al-Aqsa, thereby embarrassing and weakening the PA. Given the sense of Hamas’ achievement in the May conflict and against the background of the PA’s growing weakness, Hamas’ efforts have increased. Although the PA works to limit Hamas’ freedom of action, it is being dragged by the competition into increasing incitement, heaping praise on the perpetrators of the attacks, and accusing Israel of executing the terrorists killed during the attacks. Thus, the Palestinian Authority itself is guilty of fanning the flames and leading more terrorists to decide that it is time to act.
Beyond strengthening the intelligence-security response, the way to address the problem is not only to ensure the quality of life of Palestinians in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, but also to create deterrence mechanisms and weaken the ideological and economic incentives that drive the perpetrators to attack. The decision to transfer to the PA a loan that, in effect, compensates it to offset the freezing by Israel of the sum equivalent to the money it pays for the salaries of terrorists is the opposite of what is required. Not only did it make a mockery of Israeli law on the matter, but it presented Israel as under stress. The loan achieved precisely the opposite of its goal; terrorism did not diminish but increased.
It should also be made clear to the Palestinians and their supporters that the spread of the lies underlying the motivation for the attacks should be stopped. The United States may cooperate in such an effort, and even the European Union and some of its members have recently shown a willingness to move in this direction, for example, by stopping funding for Palestinian inflammatory textbooks with maps in which Israel does not exist. The phenomenon will not disappear in the blink of an eye, but the more the Palestinians realize that it harms them, the greater their ability to restrain it.
Medals are usually awarded to individuals or groups for outstanding achievements and for making a positive impact on society in general.
More often than not these are well deserved.
It seems to me however that there are instances where medals should be awarded to those whose malign and moronic impacts can cause chaos and whose negative contributions may indeed herald catastrophic consequences. Likewise, recognition should be extended to those who stand mutely to one side as predictable lethal mayhem is concocted.
I am not of course suggesting that these medals would represent some sort of “kol hakavod” – well done – award but rather an ironic recognition of how well the recipients managed to fool too many for too long or were witless, silent witnesses to the obvious stupidity of so many.
Let me present my 2021 list of worthy winners with the caveat that this does not represent each and every applicant but merely a sample of some of the most outrageous in recent times. Without a doubt, 2022 will provide another opportunity to enrol further eligible candidates from an ever-mutating range of qualified “lovers of Zion.”
A prime candidate for a gold medal in the “allies’ solidarity” category must surely be the Biden/Harris/Blinken administration. Having scuttled out of Afghanistan quicker than mercury escaping from a broken (old fashioned) thermometer and leaving hundreds if not thousands of former Afghans to the tender mercies of the Taliban this most definitely must rank as one of the most shameful betrayals in recent times.
I hope the Taiwan authorities are aware that they will most probably be fairly high on the next abandonment list. The US Joint Chiefs’ Chairman remarked not so long ago: “the US military has the ability to defend Taiwan from an attack by China – HOWEVER, it would be up to the President to give the go-ahead.” That is the first red flag that should give the Taiwanese pause for serious thought. It was followed by the President himself who warned: “the Administration is NOT encouraging Taiwan independence.” A clearer clue as to what will happen when an emboldened China finally welcomes Taiwan back to the “motherland” cannot be articulated. In effect, the Taiwanese are stuffed and will be sacrificed on the altar of the UN Security Council while Washington issues meaningless condemnations.
Just as the Tibetans have been sacrificed, the Uyghur minority abandoned and the Ukrainians given false hope that they will be saved from Russian salvation so it behoves Israel to take note of the waffling and warbling sounds emanating from not only Washington but also the other democracies when it comes to the looming Iranian threats. When those in Washington obsess on a daily basis over the fact that Jews are building homes in Judea and Samaria as well as our capital, then one has to wonder whether in the priority of things the Iranian threat to annihilate us takes second place.
Having failed dismally, despite their overwhelming populations, to come anywhere near the number of Jewish Nobel prize winners, it is perhaps worthwhile to award those who spend every waking moment trying to boycott and deny us an alternative prize. Whether one calls it the alternative Oscar award for Hollywood style tantrums or the alternative Nobel prize for fantastic fantasies, serious consideration should be given to these recent examples of what passes for so-called tolerant dialogue. I might add that not one of the following caused any comment or condemnation from UN members who habitually vote against Israel.
To commemorate Women’s Day the PA Minister of Women’s Affairs explained in all seriousness that there was total equality between men and women in the PA because female “martyrs” had joined their male terror counterparts in murdering Jews/Israelis. This is surely worthy of the “fantasia” gold medal. If you doubt this take a look here (courtesy of PMW):
Hollywood performers garner awards in various areas of the performing arts but unfortunately winning medals for any sort of intelligent knowledge of the Israel/Arab conflict is not in their collective CVs. More than 100 Hollywood celebrities have signed an open letter condemning Israel’s decision to designate six Palestinian Arab “charities” as terrorist-supporting organizations. A UK group grandly named “artists for Palestine/UK” trotted out the familiar mantra of “occupation and settler colonialism.”
Helen Mirren is starring as Golda Meier in an upcoming film. She has been savaged and condemned on social media for having the temerity to do so. Fortunately, she is one of the few famous stars who actually knows what she is talking about and can sift the lies from the truth when it comes to reality in the Middle East.
Justin Bieber is scheduled to perform in Israel in 2022. This has unleashed a torrent of abuse from all and sundry. The most hilarious reaction demanding Bieber cancel his visit has been issued by the Hamas Department of Artistic Productions. Presumably this hitherto unknown department is deep underground, hidden in the tunnels beneath UNRWA schools and clinics in Gaza and protected by the Department of Rockets and Missiles. A more Alice in Wonderland scenario you could not make up. They are definitely worthy of some sort of award.
To conclude this round of what passes for daily manifestations of moronic stupidity there can be no better example than Iran’s proposed law to ban all animal pets. This enlightened edict from the Mullahtocracy will encompass crocodiles, turtles, snakes, lizards, rats, mice rabbits, dogs and other unclean animals including monkeys. Iranians will be forbidden from having any of these as pets and severe penalties will ensue for ignoring these laws. I believe that Iran should be awarded the SPCA gold medal for the protection of endangered species.
As we enter 2022 in the civil calendar, here are my suggestions for the New Year’s honour lists which the international community should consider because nothing is surer than that the coming year will be a vintage one.
In no particular order they are:
This is not an exhaustive list and can be added to at any stage.
If you have nominations for any of the above categories feel free to let your views be known. There is no deadline as it can be guaranteed that worthy recipients will not be in short supply.
Yehuda Dimentman, a 25 year old Jew, married and the father of an infant, was murdered in a drive by shooting on Thursday evening, December 16th, 2021.
In accordance with a Palestinian ordinance, anyone who murders a Jew, anywhere, will receive a salary for life.
Even worse, that law offers a fee for life for the family of anyone who murders a Jew.
While it is widely known that the nascent Palestine Authority (PA) pays Arabs who kill Jews, what has escaped public knowledge is that the PA has enacted a law to provide salaries for anyone who kills a Jew, along with the family of the murderers – for life.
The respected and scholarly think tank, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, has documented the horrific details of the “Pay for Slay” law, which has no precedent in the annals of jurisprudence.
Read the law for yourself on the website of the JCPA.org
This Palestinian Authority legislation and allocations of monthly salaries and benefits rewarding imprisoned and released terrorists, and the families of “Martyrs,” amount to $300 million annually.
This financial reward clearly demonstrates the PA’s institutional commitment to sponsoring terror against Jews.
How does the murder of Yehuda Dimentman affect every Jew?
As Yehuda Dimentman is buried on Friday, every Jew should engagge in introspection and ask:
If the PA honored killers of your parent, sibling or child with a monthly murder fee, how would you react?
PASSIA, The Palestinian Academic Society for International Affairs, documents that 138 member states of the United Nations recognize the Palestinian Authority as a Palestinian nation state, yet none of these 138 nations which is ready to recognize the PA as a state is ready to ask the PA to repeal this unpredented law which provides a gratuity for life for anyone who murders a Jew.
Of greater concern : No nation on earth condition aid to the PA on the repeal of the PA incentive for murder. The United States passed the Taylor Force Act to prevent such US aid, but the Biden administration has found ways to get around that. So whose tax money is paying the terrorist murderers?
Germany’s “traffic light” government, led by new Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was sworn in on Wednesday under the banner “dare to make progress.” Jewish leaders, activists and analysts, however, fear that the coalition will make less progress in strengthening Israel-German ties.
The 177-page coalition agreement of the “traffic light” government, named after the colors of the three coalition partners—the red Social Democrats, the Green Party and the yellow Free Democratic Party (FDP)—focuses on promoting climate protection and financial restructuring. It also includes sections on policies relating to Jews and Israel that some say are inconsistent with its oft-repeated proclamations to support Israel and fight anti-Semitism. These include an insistence on negotiating with Iran in its quest for nuclear armament, disdain of Israeli settlements and approval of funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Após relatos da imprensa de que a União Europeia agora condiciona mais financiamento da UNRWA à erradicação da incitação no currículo da UNRWA, o Centro Bedein para Pesquisa de Políticas do Oriente Próximo pediu ao porta-voz da Delegação da União Europeia a Israel para comentar, o que ele negou que tal política existe.
Em vez disso, a Delegação da União Europeia em Israel emitiu a seguinte declaração:
Atribuível à Delegação da UE em Tel Aviv:
A Agência das Nações Unidas de Assistência aos Refugiados da Palestina no Oriente Próximo (UNRWA) é um provedor essencial de serviços vitais para milhões de refugiados da Palestina e uma força estabilizadora na região. A provisão de serviços de saúde para todos os refugiados e educação para muitos jovens palestinos é crucial em Gaza, na Cisjordânia, incluindo Jerusalém Oriental, e na Jordânia, Líbano e Síria.
A UE é um apoiante de longa data da UNRWA, tanto política como financeiramente, e reconhece o papel estabilizador crucial que desempenha na região.
A Comissão recorda que não financeiros manuais palestinianos e que a UNRWA não produz manuais escolares, mas depende dos manuais dos países anfitriões, como outras agências das Nações Unidas e de acordo com as melhores práticas de educação para refugiados.
Atenciosamente,
Raphael Ahren
Assessoria de Imprensa e Informação
Os meios de comunicação de peso confundiram o Parlamento Europeu, que exigia o fim das incitações nas escolas da UNRWA como condição para o financiamento, com a União Europeia, que não fez.
O Parlamento Europeu aconselha em questões de política. A União Europeia realiza uma política.
Solicitar à mídia uma retratação coletiva de uma notícia tão positiva para Israel não é uma tarefa fácil.
A doutrinação educacional da UNRWA para a guerra contra Israel continua em vigor.
Livros didáticos utilizados nas escolas da UNRWA
A Autoridade Palestina se descreve como “o Estado da Palestina” e se considera um estado pleno sob ocupação estrangeira cujas fronteiras não se restringem às linhas de 1967. O nome “Estado da Palestina”, não “Autoridade Palestina”, aparece na capa de todos os livros escolares. O exemplo aqui – a capa de um… Continue lendo Textos usados em escolas UNRWA
“Da Bíblia Sagrada
Sentença de Jesus
Pilatos mandou flagelar Jesus para que os judeus se contentassem com isso. Mas eles gritaram: ‘Crucifica-o, crucifica-o’. Ele então entregou Jesus a eles. Eles colocaram em sua cabeça uma coroa de espinhos, fizeram-no carregar uma cruz, conduziram-no ao Monte Gólgota e o crucificaram entre dois criminosos. Eles estavam zombando dele enquanto ele estava na cruz. No entanto, ele perdoou seus crucificadores dizendo: ‘Ó meu Pai, perdoa-lhes, porque eles não sabem o que fazem’ e então ele entregou o fantasma. (Lucas 23: 33-49 [deveria ser 13-46]) ”(Ministério da Educação da Autoridade Palestina, Educação Cristã , Grau 2 (2010) p. 59)
A mensagem aqui é clara: os judeus estavam determinados a matar Jesus Cristo a ponto de quase obrigar o então prefeito romano da província da Judéia, Pôncio Pilatos, a crucificá-lo, e participaram plenamente da execução enquanto lhe expressavam várias tipos de zombaria e desprezo.
O problema com essa descrição da crucificação, que aparece em um livro didático de Educação Cristã publicado pela Autoridade Palestina (PA) para alunos da 2ª série e usado nas escolas da UNRWA na Cisjordânia e Gaza, é sua falsidade. Uma rápida olhada no capítulo 23 de Lucas revela imediatamente que a palavra “judeus” está ausente lá e, em vez disso, encontramos “os principais sacerdotes, os governantes e o povo” (versículo 13), bem como “estes homens” e “o chefe sacerdotes ”(versículo 23). Em outras palavras, este é um caso claro de citação errada do Novo Testamento, com graves implicações em termos de propagação de ódio e inimizade para o “outro” em uma base religiosa . Este abuso do material de origem pode servir como um bom ponto de partida para a discussão da atitude geral para com os judeus na educação cristã livros didáticos estudados nas escolas da UNRWA.
A Educação Cristã é uma disciplina escolar paralela à Educação Islâmica . É ensinado a alunos cristãos nos sistemas educacionais árabes onde o número de tais alunos é grande o suficiente, como é o caso nas escolas de PA, onde a Educação Cristãos livros didáticos estão incluídos nos currículos da 1ª a 11ª séries (as escolas da UNRWA incluem apenas as 1ª a 9ª séries). Esses livros foram inicialmente publicados durante a operação geral de publicação de livros escolares da PA durante os anos de 2000-2006 e quase não foram alterados desde então. Eles foram escritos por clérigos cristãos, às vezes auxiliados por educadores cristãos leigos. Todo o projeto foi supervisionado pela “Equipe Nacional do Currículo do Ensino Religioso Cristão”, com os seguintes membros: o Padre Anglicano Samir Is’eid (foi substituído em 2005 pelo Padre Fadi Diab), O Padre Greco-Ortodoxo (mais tarde – Arquimandrita e hoje – Arcebispo) Dr. Atallah Hanna, [1] o católico romano (“latim” na linguagem local) Padre Rafiq Khouri e Padre Ibrahim Hajjazin, [2]e o padre copta Efrayim Al-Urushalimi. A equipe trabalhou sob a supervisão geral do Centro de Currículos PA.
Os livros enfocam questões religiosas em primeiro lugar e geralmente evitam lidar com eventos atuais relacionados ao conflito. Assim, os judeus não são mencionados nos livros neste contexto. No entanto, os livros referem-se em detalhes aos eventos do Novo Testamento e, em menor medida – aos do Antigo Testamento, onde se espera que os judeus estejam presentes. Que constitui um certo problema para os escritores cristãos palestinos, porque a narrativa palestina geralmente não reconhecer a presença judaica contínua no país nos tempos antigos e tensões, em vez disso, a presença dos “árabes” cananeus lá até o 7 thconquista muçulmana do século. A solução encontrada para este dilema: omissão sistemática na maioria dos casos (exceto para muito poucas exceções) das características étnico-religiosas das pessoas mencionadas no contexto dos eventos do Antigo Testamento.
Essa solução às vezes cria textos estranhos onde eventos importantes na história judaica, como o Êxodo dos israelitas do Egito, a concessão dos Dez Mandamentos por Deus, a construção do Primeiro Templo pelo Rei Salomão, a destruição daquele Templo pelo Rei da Babilônia e o cativeiro da Babilônia – são todos descritos como tendo acontecido a um “povo” ou “habitantes” não nomeado (sublinhado nos exemplos a seguir):
“… Deus o chamou [Moisés] para ajudar seu povo … Durante seu êxodo com seu povo do Egito… Embora Deus por sua graça não tenha deixado seu povo passar fome ou ter sede, este povo … Moisés tomou os Mandamentos e os deu ao povo . ”
( Christian Education , Grade 3 (2002), pp. 8, 9; e veja esta estranha descrição de Moisés e “seu povo” repetidas vezes em Christian Education , Grade 4 (2005) p. 60; Christian Religious Education , Grade 6 (2000) pp. 39, 47; Christian Education , Grade 7 (2001) p. 18)
“Salomão construiu o Templo e o completou … e teve com seu povo uma grande celebração por ocasião do fim da construção.”
( Educação Cristã , 4º ano (2005) p. 34)
“Depois da morte do rei Salomão, o reino foi dividido em duas partes. Mais tarde, o Rei da Babilônia veio e capturou Jerusalém, destruiu o Templo e os habitantes foram deslocados para a Babilônia. O povo viveu muito tempo no exílio e quando voltou, vivia sob domínio estrangeiro … ”
( Christian Education , Grade 7 (2001) p. 19; e veja uma descrição semelhante em Christian Education , Grade 4 (2005) p. 40)
Um exemplo grosseiro dessa prática de apagamento é a explicação dada aos jovens estudantes sobre a antiga Jerusalém e o Templo. Em ambos os casos, os judeus estão completamente separados de sua antiga capital e centro religioso:
“ Jerusalém [ Urushalim ]: Uma cidade palestina construída pelos árabes cananeus (os jebuseus) e denominada ‘Jebus’ e depois ‘Ursalem’ ( Urushalim ). Posteriormente, recebeu muitos nomes como ‘Cidade da Justiça’, ‘Cidade Santa’ e ‘Nobre Al-Quds’. Mas o nome predominante é Al-Quds. ”
O Templo : uma palavra que significa ‘a grande casa’ que serve como um lugar para adorar a Deus, como a igreja hoje. ”
( Christian Education , Grade 2 (2010) p. 11; e veja uma explicação semelhante sobre Jerusalém na Educação Cristã , Grade 3 (2002) p. 91)
Ao contrário desta prática geral, os livros didáticos de Educação Cristã da PA referem-se aos judeus pelo nome quando as diferenças destes últimos com Jesus e os discípulos são descritas:
“Os judeus observavam o dia sagrado do sábado, tornando-o um dia de descanso e oração, no qual impediam todo o trabalho, inclusive a realização de boas ações. Ao curar os enfermos no sábado, Jesus nos ensinou que é nosso dever fazer o bem todos os dias, mesmo aos domingos ”. ( Educação Cristã , 3º ano (2002) p. 88)
“… As portas foram fechadas onde os discípulos estavam reunidos por causa de seu medo dos judeus… [Pergunta:] Os discípulos estavam em um estado de extremo medo e alarme e eles fecharam as portas. Por que todo esse medo? ” ( Christian Education , Grade 3 (2002) pp. 86, 87, respectivamente)
“Durante a Páscoa dos judeus, o discípulo Judas Iscariotes entregou Jesus aos seus adversários … os sacerdotes dos judeus acusaram Jesus de blasfêmia …” (Christian Education , Grade 7 (2001) p. 71)
As citações apresentadas acima mostram claramente que os livros didáticos de Educação Cristã da PA em uso nas escolas da UNRWA, embora dificilmente abordem as questões relacionadas ao conflito atual, ainda apresentam peças que deslegitimam severamente e demonizam os judeus. Uma vez que a UNRWA está vinculada, como agência da ONU, a padrões internacionais que proíbem a inclusão de tais peças em material educacional, ela deve limpar os livros que usa dessas expressões impróprias.
Dr. Arnon Groiss – Antecedentes
O Dr. Arnon Groiss é um jornalista de língua árabe que trabalha para a Rádio Árabe Voz de Israel desde 1973. Ele também é um especialista em assuntos do Oriente Médio, tendo obtido seu Ph.D. diploma do Departamento de Estudos do Oriente Médio da Universidade de Princeton, bem como um diploma de MPA da Escola de Governo Kennedy da Universidade de Harvard. Dr. Groiss lecionou por vários anos na Universidade Hebraica nas décadas de 1990 e 2000. Entre os anos de 2000-2010 o Dr. Groiss atuou como pesquisador-chefe e, posteriormente, como Diretor de Pesquisa do Instituto de Monitoramento da Paz e Tolerância Cultural na Educação Escolar (IMPACT-SE, anteriormente conhecido como Centro de Monitoramento do Impacto da Paz – CMIP), uma ONG apolítica empenhada em estudar a atitude para com o “outro” e para a paz no currículo israelense e em outros currículos do Oriente Médio. Durante seu trabalho lá, Dr. Groiss estudou centenas de livros didáticos de várias disciplinas escolares e foi autora de mais de dez relatórios sobre livros escolares da Palestina, Egito, Síria, Arábia Saudita, Irã e Tunísia. Os relatórios estão disponíveis no site do Institutohttp://www.impact-se.org . Um resumo de sua pesquisa de dez anos sobre este assunto pode ser encontrado em “Deslegitimação de Israel nos livros escolares da Autoridade Palestina”, publicado em Israel Affairs., Vol. 18 (2012), Issue 3, pp. 455-484, onde ele compara os livros escolares da AP com outros árabes e do Oriente Médio, incluindo seus equivalentes israelenses. Dr. Groiss tem apresentado suas descobertas desde 2000 para formuladores de políticas e pessoas da imprensa em várias ocasiões em vários lugares, incluindo o Congresso dos Estados Unidos, o Parlamento Europeu, a Câmara dos Comuns do Reino Unido, o Knesset israelense, o Parlamento canadense, os franceses Assemblée nationale e em outros lugares. Com base em sua experiência neste campo, o Dr. Groiss foi nomeado membro do Painel de Aconselhamento Científico (SAP) do Projeto de Pesquisa do Livro Escolar Palestino-Israelense encomendado pelo Conselho de Instituições Religiosas da Terra Santa (CRIHL). O projeto foi financiado pelo Departamento de Estado dos EUA e terminou em fevereiro de 2013. Dr.http://israelbehindthenews.com/library/pdfs/EVALUATION-1.pdf .
[1] O arcebispo Hanna é conhecido por sua atitude anti-israelense e foi interrogado pela polícia israelense em 2002 com base em seu suposto apoio aos ataques terroristas palestinos contra cidadãos israelenses.
[2] Pelo menos esses dois clérigos católicos deveriam ter levado em consideração, enquanto trabalhavam na peça acima citada, a resolução adotada pelo Concílio Vaticano II (1962-1965) que absolveu os judeus, como nação, do tradicional acusação de ter matado Jesus Cristo.
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