Inconvenient revelations

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April 8, 2022

Very often there are news items that upset conventional thinking and as a consequence, they sink without trace.

On the other hand, inconvenient revelations can also result in a re-evaluation of the subjects involved.

Three unrelated news reports this past week demonstrate how unexpected facts can have an impact nationally and internationally.

One could call them “down under” connections because all three have something to do with New Zealand and Israel.

After fifty-three years of diplomatic relations, Singapore is opening an Embassy in Israel. Realizing that a physical presence on the ground is more conducive to productive diplomacy the Singaporean Government also desires to take advantage of the enormous opportunities offered by Israeli technological innovations. It also sends a message that having a presence in Israel facilitates inter Governmental and trade opportunities.

Contrast this move with New Zealand’s reluctance and refusal to open an Embassy preferring instead to have a remote diplomatic representative situated in Turkey.

New Zealand only gave de jure recognition of Israel on 28 July 1950, i.e. two full years after the country was re-established. One could speculate as to why it took so long to finally acknowledge the fact that Jewish sovereignty had been successfully restored but it certainly set the pattern for the future.

Seventy-two years and umpteen anti-Israel UN resolutions later we are still waiting for a New Zealand Government to open a presence here. God forbid that a diplomatic mission should be established in Israel’s capital, as is the usual protocol in every other country, but at least a Tel Aviv situated Embassy would demonstrate that NZ takes its relationships with us seriously.

Realistically, there is no prospect of any change and we will have to reconcile ourselves to that sad reality as well as a continuing scenario of New Zealand voting at the UN against Israel with the immoral majority of hypocritical nations.

The second news item which caught my attention was the result of an international survey rating the world’s happiest nations for 2022.

When one reads newspapers and online news sites it is easy and quite logical to dismiss any notion that Israel should feature anywhere but towards the bottom of the list. After all, the overwhelming impression the generally ill-informed public is likely to gain from the endless cycle of negative news about Israel is one of mayhem, violence, acrimony and dissension. Accused of libels of apartheid and colonial settlement, it is unsurprising that the impression is made of a country continually embroiled in social upheavals, non-democratic norms and a society seething with discontent and bitter feuds.

It therefore must have come as a shattering bolt from the blue when the list of happiest nations was released for publication because lo and behold, miracle of miracles, Israel was in ninth spot, in fact, one above New Zealand which came in at number ten and ahead of Australia which gained twelfth place.

No doubt this totally unexpected result which shattered all the usual delusions and lies peddled by the media explains why in the headlines of many of the news outlets the list stopped at number eight, thus avoiding the inconvenient facts. One had to go to the small print in the main report in order to discover that Israel was the ninth happiest country in the world. As most only read the headlines the real truth lies buried.

The happiest country is apparently Finland, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Israel and New Zealand. Canada is 15, USA is 16 and the UK 17.

What criteria were used to determine the rankings?

Health, life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support in times of trouble, low corruption, high social trust, generosity in a community where people look after each other and freedom to make life decisions were all a factor.

Needless to say, the news that Israel made the top ten, sunk without a trace no doubt because it does not fit in with the politically correct narrative so beloved by commentators, self loathers and associated radical groups.

The third revelation to hit the headlines was the result of a 2021 survey about antisemitism in New Zealand. It revealed an appalling ignorance of the Shoah and an alarming acquiescence concerning commonly held conspiracy theories about Jews.

Shocking as these attitudes may seem to most I must admit that it did not come as any great surprise to me. Over 50 years ago I was very involved in New Zealand with interfaith and Jewish/Israel outreach activities and one of the most salient things which stuck in my mind was the high level of ignorance prevalent amongst the general population. Social media had not yet become the source of most disinformation and conspiracy theories about Jews and Israel but despite this, there still was a huge black hole as far as these subjects were concerned.

Shoah education was non-existent in high schools, the vast majority of Church groups I addressed were woefully deficient in any meaningful understanding of Judaism and Jewish history and except for Evangelicals, there was a total lack of knowledge as to the connection between Israel and Jews. Among many of the latter, the sole reason for encouraging Jews to be in Israel was to facilitate our mass conversion.

I met some very sincere individuals who tried their best to disseminate the truth but it was hard going for them to influence ingrained prejudices and the rising tide of anti-Israel pc policies especially as sponsored by the World Council of Churches.

Fast forward half a century and very few things have changed.

Education of the Shoah is still not a compulsory part of the high school curriculum, Christians are a diminishing section of the population and thanks to social media, the internet and other sources of incitement the number of those who are influenced to believe the worst about Jews has grown.

There is no doubt that education is a vital tool in the battle against hate. Local Holocaust groups are doing a valiant job in this respect but unless and until the NZ Government turns rhetoric into action there will be no chance that any change will materialize. As well as Shoah education they must, as a matter of urgency, adopt the IHRA declaration on hate against Jews and Israel. Failure to do so merely exposes their mealy-mouthed double standards and contributes to the accelerating dangerous perceptions of Jews and Israel among the general population.

It has been suggested that “getting to know each other and doing things together” is the best way to fight the racist hate against us. While this sounds good in theory and can work among a few who are willing to learn, in practice, it has limited impact. The outreach to indigenous groups is important and hopefully successful but one has to wonder whether it will counter the massive influence that radicalized hate groups are already making in that area.

Taking into account those Jews who are not affiliated and do not take any part in organized religious, Communal and Zionist organizations the number remaining is somewhat diminished. Subtract those whose knowledge of Judaism and Israel is minimal and the number who can interact in a positive manner with the misinformed decreases even more. Subtract further anyone who feels inhibited to flaunt their Jewish connection and you end up with an even smaller smattering of defenders of Jews and Israel.

We should by all means try to galvanize and involve as many as possible but at the end of the day, one has to be realistic.

Then, again, we also need to learn from the recent past.

The avalanche of hate and incitement combined with apathetic ignorance, unfortunately, mitigates against success in convincing increasing numbers of all age groups and ethnicities exposed to it that neither Jews nor Israel are the evil forces so portrayed.

I recall my late parents telling me how lifelong non-Jewish friends in pre-war Germany with whom they mixed and socialized suddenly, from one day to the next, cut off all contact with them. Despite “knowing each other and doing things together” they swallowed the slanders being trotted out by the politicians and media.

With the right amount and constant drip-feed of poisonous lies, who can guarantee that even in benign societies it can be a case of “never again?”

This latest report should be a wake-up call for NZ Jews and indeed all those who realize the dangers which loom ahead.

Recent terrorist attacks in Israel undermine ‘prospects for peace’: Guterres

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April 8, 2022

“Such acts of violence can never be justified and must be condemned by all,” he said in a statement issued through his Spokesperson.

Secretary-General @antonioguterres condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Israel, which claimed the lives of at least 11 Israeli citizens. In the spirit of the upcoming religious holy days, he calls for an immediate end to violence: https://t.co/1sZWz28I4r

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) March 30, 2022

Tuesday’s terrorist assault on the street in Bnei Brak, a small ultra-Orthodox city on the eastern outskirts of Tel Aviv, was the third such attack in Israel in a week.

Five people were reportedly shot dead in the suburban attack, three Israelis, and two Ukrainian citizens.

Broad condemnation
Amateur video broadcast on Israeli TV stations showed a man dressed in black brandishing a rifle. According to news reports, the Palestinian gunman was a resident of Ya’bad, in the northern West Bank, who was believed to have been working at a local building site.

He was later shot dead by Israeli police, but not before fatally wounding one of the officers who confronted him.

Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, said the country was facing a new wave of terrorism. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also condemned the attack.

Spate of attacks
The attack marked one of the bloodiest weeks in Israel in recent years, ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, beginning next weekend.

Two previous attacks just days earlier, saw an Israeli Arab drive his car into a cyclist, killing him. The attacker, who reportedly had planned to join terrorist group ISIL – then stabbed three people to death outside a shopping centre.

Five days later, two Israeli Arabs killed two police officers in Hadera, after opening fire on them at a bus stop. ISIL reportedly said that it was behind the assault.

“In the spirit of the upcoming religious holy days, the Secretary-General calls for an immediate end to violence, which only serves to undermine the prospects for peace,” the Spokesperson’s statement said.

The UN chief also extended his “heartfelt condolences” to the families of the victims and wishes a prompt recovery to those injured.

What Motivates an Arab to Murder a Jew

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April 8, 2022

What would cause an Arab to grab an automatic weapon, kill random bystanders, and flee like a jackal into the night?

Look no further than the law enacted by the nascent Palestinian Authority which in 2015 legislatesd a “salary for life” for anyone who kills a Jew, and a salary for life for the family of the killer, if the killer dies while committing an act of murder.

That law can be found at the site of the respected Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs:

Incentivizing Terrorism: Palestinian Authority Allocations to Terrorists and their Families

Despite the universal condemnation of PAY FOR SLAY, no nation, including Israel, have yet demanded that the PA repeal this unprecedented statute which promotes premeditated murder

Instead, the priority for Israel and the West is a stable economy for the Palestinian Authority, where businesses in Israel can also profit.

Therefore, Israel approves of an arrangement which leaves PAY FOR SLAY in place.

Instead of becoming a nation of prophets, Israel deteriorates into a nation of profits.

On the eve of the Passover holiday, the time has come to free the people of israel from the bondage of slavery to wealth at any cost

The first people to mobilize against this system are those whose loved ones were murdered, who witness in pain as the PA grants a monthly fee to those who indeed murdered their loved ones.

The time has come to demand that the PA repeal PAY TO SLAY, or threaten the PA with economic collapse. Some companies people in Israel would also collapse. To save lives, it is worth it.

The Condemnation of Terror by Mansour Abbas: Is It Real?

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April 7, 2022

Muhammad Majadla, head of Nas Radio’s news department, Channel 12 commentator, and weekly columnist for Globes, said that “today [April 3, 2022] Ra’am is planning an important speech, they say, by Mansour Abbas in Hebrew and Arabic. On the second evening of Ramadan.”¹

A few hours later Majadla reported: “The speech by the Ra’am chairman will not be broadcast this evening, even though it was already filmed, because of internal disagreements about the content. As I understand it, the Islamic Movement thinks Mansour got a bit carried away in some of his statements about the terror wave, and they are fearful of criticism in the Arab public.”²

Member of Knesset Mansour Abbas, who serves as chairman of the United Arab List (Ra’am party) and deputy head of the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement, voiced condemnations of the terror attacks during the second half of March, as follows:

March 22: “Ra’am condemns the criminal attack in Be’er Sheva, and sends its condolences to the victims’ families while wishing a full recovery to the wounded. The Arab citizens of the country are law-abiding and deplore anyone who uses violence against other citizens. Ra’am calls on all citizens to maintain the common and delicate fabric of life, show responsibility, and promote a tolerant discourse in this difficult hour.”³
March 27: “I condemn the despicable crime in Hadera. This is vile Daesh terror that does not represent the Arab society in Israel, which seeks to uphold the rule of law and the values of respect for the sanctity of human life, ordinary Arab and Jewish life, and the values of peace and tolerance. My condolences to the families of the victims, and I wish a speedy recovery to the wounded.”⁴
March 29: “In Bnei Brak today a terrible and deplorable crime of terror was perpetrated against innocent civilians. I take part in the sorrow of the families and wish a full recovery to the wounded. All of us stand together against a murderous wave of terror, all of us without distinction. The streets of Israel’s cities are full of Arab and Jewish citizens, and those who engage in a despicable killing spree do not distinguish and do not differentiate between blood and blood.”⁵

Abbas repeated his message condemning the terror attacks in interviews with the Israeli media.

At the same time, his condemnations of terror in Ra’am’s name were not posted on the official Facebook pages of Ra’am;⁶the Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement,⁷ which Ra’am represents in the Knesset; or of the Islamic Movement’s Institute for Religious Law and Islamic Studies.⁸

Nor did the Islamic Movement’s leader Safwat Freij⁹ or its former leader Hamed Abu Dabas¹⁰ issue any condemnations of the terror.

Ra’am Knesset members Walid Taha¹¹ and Ayman Khatib¹² did not disseminate Abbas’ condemnation of the terror in Ra’am’s name, and Ra’am Knesset member Mazen Ghnaim issued only his March 22 condemnation of the Be’er Sheva attack.¹³

Analysis and Assessment

In Israeli political circles there is disagreement about the sincerity of Mansour Abbas’ recent condemnations of terror.

Some see them as reflecting a moderate and courageous line of Ra’am and the Islamic Movement, while others view them as no more than a propaganda exercise.

The condemnations do not jibe with Ra’am’s and the Islamic Movement’s consistent support for the security prisoners, most of whom are convicted terrorists. They portray them as freedom fighters and heroes, and the Islamic Movement funnels aid to them through its charity organization.

The fact that the condemnations were voiced almost exclusively by Abbas probably points to disagreements among the senior Ra’am and Islamic Movement leadership about the policy toward the armed jihad operations—or “wave of terror.”

By giving Abbas alone the task of condemning the attacks, Ra’am and the Islamic Movement want to have their cake and eat it too—paying lip service to partnership in the government coalition without requiring the leaders of the movement, and particularly its institutions of religious law, to take an official stance against armed jihad.

Still at the top of Ra’am’s order of priorities are the perks of being part of the coalition—a large budget for the Arab sector, influence over outline plans, recognition of Bedouin communities in the Negev, and the fight against crime. At this stage, they have no interest in breaking up the coalition. They believe that, with the condemnations, they can overcome the challenge to its stability posed by the security incidents.

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Notes

Hysteria is unnecessary, but public pressure is important

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April 7, 2022

A little perspective. In terms of Palestinian terrorism, nothing new or surprising happened last week. It was a spate of incidents. So on one hand, there is no need for a hysterical response, but on the other, it’s good that the public responded with an uproar, because that is the only way to compel the Israeli government to act with the necessary responsibility in the mid and long terms, rather than the reckless addiction to temporary calm that is the result of a lack of political courage. In hindsight, it turns out that the rioters in Lod, Acre, and on the roads of Arad in May 2021, and the terrorists in Beersheba, Hadera, and Bnei Brak now, are forcing the government to deal with what it and its predecessors this past generation should have prevented through responsible policies.

Palestinians have been indiscriminately killing Jews for over 100 years. Since the Palestinian people emerged, prior to any foundational event or after it – the establishment of the state of Israel, the 1967 Six-Day War, Oslo and Camp David, the Second Intifada, the disengagement from the Gaza Strip. Always: when the Palestinians are in distress and when they are flourishing; under the mufti, Yasser Arafat, and Mahmoud Abbas; in the midst of a peace process and when peace talks are frozen; under supportive US administrations and US administrations that ignored them; in the territories and inside the Green Line. Perpetrators of terrorism are ignorant and education, poor and well-off, religious and secular, Muslim and Christian, men, women, children, motivated by nationalism or by personal troubles, citizens of Israel, residents of Jerusalem, residents of Gaza, residents of the West Bank and the Bedouin sector.

Palestinians have an inherently high motivation for violence. It is a violent society, under Israeli rule and outside it, even toward its own. Murderers of Jews (shahidim) are the main role models, who are honored and financially rewarded based on the number of Jews they kill. This stems from the Palestinian national ethos, which describes a historical compromise (a retreat from the demand for “right of return”) as a betrayal and sanctifies the “sacrifice” of preventing a violent struggle that will go on for generations. Only ongoing forcible prevention (the Shin Bet security agency and IDF thwart attacks based on high-quality intelligence) and deterrence can hold terrorism in check, combined with awareness of a critical blow to what happens to perpetrators of terrorism and those around them, as dealt by Operation Guardian of the Walls.

The absence of forcible prevention is perceived as helplessness, which invites violence. This is what happens when the government, for years, is afraid to take action against thousands of armed Bedouin rioters in the Negev, against agricultural crime, against protection schemes and against expressions of solidarity with the enemy in a time of war. It happens when in matters that pose a threat to leaders of society, courts impose absurd, not to say irresponsible, punishments and the prosecutorial authorities suggest scandalous plea bargains. The government also transfers billions to Arab local authorities without ensuring that the money won’t be diverted to criminal organizations via the clans. Rather than dealing with eroding deterrence in a generation that has no memory of Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, Israel continues to accept vandalism of the security barrier and stops oversight over entry of hundreds of thousands of members of the people fighting against it. To “keep things calm,” Hamas is being allowed to rebuild its strength after Guardian of the Walls so it can recover for the next conflict, while sending tens of thousands of laborers into Israel. The price of the addiction to the supreme goal of “calm today” is an incalculable eruption “the day after.”

So it’s good that the public is outraged. Not because of the 11 people killed, but because it is starting to lose faith in its governments. They have allowed the Bedouin the take over the Negev, the violent lawlessness in Arab society, and legitimization of terrorism among Arab citizens. The violent Arab society and political culture are mainly responsible for these perversions, but the government is responsible for suppressing violence.

Now we need to force the government to repair the security barrier, oust Palestinians in Israel illegally, forcibly put down Bedouin rioting – including the massive encroachment on state-owned land – and issue severe punishments to people who participate, for example, in mass events in Umm al-Fahm that identify with the murderers of two police officers on the Temple Mount in 2017. Legislators much make it clear to prosecutors and judges that their role is to protect victims of terrorism, not show empathy for the perpetrators. Honest Arab citizens, who want to integrate into society, will welcome this wholeheartedly.

David Bedein asks: will PA/UNRWA indoctrination to war be on the agenda?

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April 7, 2022

Biden Secretly Pushing for PA-Israel Summit

The Biden Administration is again pressuring the State of Israel to hold senior-level diplomatic talks with the Palestinian Authority, at the White House, according to a report by the Hebrew-language Walla! News outlet.

This is the third time in five months US officials have urged Israel to agree to such a meeting, although up to this point, the discussions have been behind closed doors.

The first proposal came in December 2021; the next in February 2022. Thus far, Israel’s response has been noncommittal.

Three past and present senior officials in the Biden Administration, and two senior Israeli officials told the news outlet the Israeli government did not outright reject the US proposal, but had reservations.

Without a positive response from the Bennett-Lapid government, American officials decided to try again this month.

If such a meeting were to take place, it would be hosted by White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. Israel would send National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata. Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and Jordanian intelligence chief Ahmad Hosni would also attend, according to the proposal.

(DM Takes 3 Monkeys Role) DM Gantz Speaks with PA Chairman Abbas

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April 6, 2022

(DM Takes 3 Monkeys Role) DM Gantz Speaks with PA Chairman Abbas
Dr. Aaron Lerner 5 April 2022

When it comes to DM Gantz’s approach with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas it is
“see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”.

Gantz met with Abbas after Abbas’ spokesman along with the PA PM and other
PA officials condemned Israel for killing 3 terrorists who opened fire on
Israeli forces rather than surrender and called for Israel to be prosecuted
in international court for this “crime”. The terrorists were on the way to
murdering Israelis at the time they were stopped. The fourth member of the
team surrendered later without a scratch.

Not a word from DM Gantz about this.

The irony: When DM Gantz takes on the 3 Monkeys role, he makes it HARDER for
Abbas to behave himself since the Palestinian street sees that there are no
consequences to publicly attacking Israel for defending itself.

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DM Gantz Speaks with PA Chairman Abbas

This evening (Tuesday, 5 April 2022), Defense Minister Benny Gantz spoke
with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Minister Gantz wished Chairman Abbas and the
Palestinian people a blessed month of Ramadan.

During the call, Minister Gantz said that the month of Ramadan must be a
month of peace and quiet and not a a period marked by terror. He spoke of
the horrendous terror attacks that took the lives of 11 Israeli citizens
over the past two weeks and emphasized that Israel will continue to take the
measures necessary to prevent attacks and to defend its citizens.

Minister Gantz expressed his appreciation to Chairman Abbas for condemning
the terror attack that took place in Beni Brak. He also noted that Israel is
prepared to expand civilian measures during and after the month of Ramadan,
in accordance with the security situation.

COGAT Maj.-Gen. Ghasan Alyan was on the call.

Media and Foreign Affairs Advisor to Defense Minister Gantz
Betty Ilovici

________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

Why does the US place UNRWA funds for education in escrow?

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April 5, 2022

Over the past 10 months. UNRWA has issued crying appeals to the world- claiming poverty, complaining that the US did not deliver funding that the Americans had promised to deliver – earmarked for UNRWA education.

It would seem highly unusual for the US State Department to issue an official statement that it would renew funds to UNRWA and then welch on the promise.

The reason that the US holds back funds is that UNRWA will not fulfill its side of the US-UNRWA memo of understanding from July 14, 2021, a written diplomatic accord which requires UNRWA to excise incitement from its school system as a condition to received renewed US funds, which were stopped on August 31, 2018.

The UNRWA spokeswoman, Tamara Alrifai. made it clear in an interview with a Swiss media outlet on July 30, 2021 that UNRWA would not make any move to change the UNRWA curriculum.

The UNRWA curriculum relies on textbooks and teachers from the imindoctination- infested Palestinian Authority

Therefore, with the bipartisan backing of the US Congress, the US has therefore placed promised aid to UNRWA in escrow. with the exception of a nominal amount of food aid to UNRWA in Lebanon.

The current US Congress became aware of the UNRWA curriculum because of briefings that the Bedein Center for Near East Policy Research provided staffers of Congress, through a series of bipartisan zoom sessions conducted by the center, 2020-2021

Sources:

Biden is delaying US’s donation to UNRWA so as not to Support Terrorism, while working towards Unfreezing Money for Iran

https://israelbehindthenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Jews-in-Palestinian-Authority-Schoolbooks-in-UNRWA-Use.pdf

Our march 2022 mission to London

US holds back on Funds for UNRWA: Opportune time to hold UNRWA accountable

gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-2022-US-UNRWA-Framework-Signed.pdf

The Current Terror Wave in Israel: Main Characteristics and Implications

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April 4, 2022

Institute for Contemporary Affairs

Founded jointly with the Wechsler Family Foundation

Vol. 22, No. 6

The recent terror wave of shootings and stabbings in the large Israeli cities of Be’er Sheva, Hadera, and Bnei Brak shows several significant characteristics that distinguish it from previous terror surges such as the wave in 2015-16 (known as the “Knives Intifada”). The attacks were all perpetrated within pre-1967 Israel, undermining the sense of security of many Israelis who wanted to believe they were not targets of terror.
Three of the four terrorists were Israeli Arab citizens, one from the Bedouin village of Hura and the other two from the town of Umm al-Fahm. Israelis, including the security services, did not expect Israeli Arabs to go that far. The affiliation of the two Israeli Arab terrorists from Umm al-Fahm with the Islamic State was a surprise since terror against Israel is not high on its order of priorities, and it has no organized structure among the Palestinians and the Israeli Arabs.
The Israeli government and the security services wanted to believe that by improving the economic situation in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza, they could gain at least temporary quiet. Pouring money into Israeli Arab society was also considered a way of bolstering their interest in integrating into Israeli society and keeping them away from violent and criminal activities.
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas, as well as elements of the pragmatic leadership of the Israeli Arabs, may take advantage of the economic gestures and deliver what is expected of them, but they are not in full control of the terror threats. In addition, the PA and Hamas continue to stoke terror and hatred, and Hamas calls for terror from the areas not under its control, including by Arabs in Judea and Samaria and within Israel. Most Palestinian people, including many Israeli Arabs who consider themselves Palestinians, are committed to the Palestinian narrative of an ongoing struggle against Zionism.

The recent terror wave of shootings and stabbings in the large Israeli cities of Be’er Sheva, Hadera, and Bnei Brak shows several significant characteristics that distinguish it from previous terror surges since the one in 2015‒16 (known as the “Knives Intifada”). These new characteristics surprised the Israeli government, security organizations, and the public, even though there were expectations of a spike in terror on the eve of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. Indeed, the spate of attacks exposed misperceptions and made shockingly clear that the “rules of the game” the other side was believed to be upholding are no longer in effect.

The Terror Attacks Were Perpetrated within the Green Line (pre-1967) Israel

Israel got used to sporadic terror attacks in Judea and Samaria and east Jerusalem. At the same time, the rest of the country enjoyed relative calm and was considered more or less safe. Hence, the attacks undermined the sense of security of many Israelis who wanted to believe that, under the unwritten rules of the game, they were not targets in the ongoing terror against the Israelis living in the territories occupied since 1967. Terror from Gaza in the form of periodic rounds of rocket fire is expected and the Iron Dome provides a sense of protection against it. However, the crueler face-to-face terrorist stabbings and shootings in the streets of cities within the Green Line were unexpected and created a feeling of insecurity and helplessness. Israelis also realize that the attacks could have resulted in horrific mass casualties if the terrorists had not been gunned down so rapidly. In two of the three instances, the quick response happened by chance or by civilians.

Israeli Arabs as Terrorists

Three of the four terrorists were Israeli Arab citizens, one from the Bedouin village of Hura and the other two from the town of Umm al-Fahm. In light of many Israeli Arabs’ participation in the violent riots during the May 2021 Operation Guardian of the Walls in Gaza, January’s violent protests against the planting of trees in the Negev, and the enthusiastic welcoming celebrations for freed Israeli Arab terrorists and agitators, the emergence of domestic Arab terror should not have shocked Israelis. Nevertheless, it came as a blunt surprise; Israelis, including the security services, did not expect Israeli Arabs to go that far. Terror acts are “supposed” to be carried out by Palestinians living in the territories. Instead, this unwritten rule of the game was challenged and broken as well. (For an in-depth analysis of attitudes toward violence among different categories of Israeli Arabs, see An In-Depth Analysis of the Forces Driving the Israeli Arab Riots of May 2021.)

The perpetrators of the Hadera terrorist attack — Cousins Ayman Ighbaria and Ibrahim Ighbriah, the perpetrators of the Hadera terrorist attack on March 27, 2022, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. (*Screenshots*)

The Islamic State (IS) Daesh Role

Israelis got used to terror attacks by members of Palestinian terror groups or by individual Palestinian terrorists after being motivated by the ongoing incitement and hate indoctrination of the Palestinian Authority and the other terror organizations. IS was not considered a direct threat, since terror against Israel is not high on its order of priorities, and it has no organized structure among the Palestinians and the Israeli Arabs. Hence, the affiliation of the Israeli Arab terrorists, especially the two from Umm al-Fahm, with Daesh was a surprise that not even the security forces were prepared to deal with. Although Daesh most probably did not order the attacks, it immediately capitalized on the terrorists’ adoption of the organization and launched an incitement campaign in the hope of gaining popularity and inspiring more Palestinians and Israeli Arabs to engage in terror. It is worth noting that at the peak of Daesh’s power (2015‒18), several dozen Israeli Arabs sought to join the group in the fighting in Syria. Some managed to do so, some died, and some were forced to return to Israel and were arrested for a relatively short time.

The Totality of the Palestinian Struggle against Zionism and the Faulty Economic Assumptions

The Israeli government and the security services wanted to believe, and they convinced themselves that by improving the economic situation in the Palestinian Authority’s areas and Gaza, they could gain at least temporary quiet and muddle through the sensitive period of the religious and nationalist holidays in April and May. They believed that the PA would fight terror in the areas under its control, and Hamas would preserve calm and restrain the other factions in Gaza. Pouring money into the Israeli-Arab society was also considered a way of bolstering their interest in integrating into Israeli society and keeping them away from violent and criminal activities. Although these assumptions may be correct, they miss the point.

The PA and Hamas, as well as elements of the pragmatic leadership of the Israeli Arabs, may take advantage of the economic gestures and deliver what is expected of them, but they are not in full control of the terror threats. In addition, more disturbingly, the PA and Hamas continue to stoke terror and hatred, and Hamas calls for terror from the areas not under its control, including by Arabs in Judea and Samaria and within Israel. The distinction between different components of the Palestinian people regarding violence and terror is becoming less relevant. This may be attributed mainly to Hamas and its supporters in Israel, who promoted that message in May 2021 and ever since have made it a central plank of their propaganda, including the March 26, 2022, gathering in Gaza aimed at spurring Israeli Arabs to confront Israel. To sum up, most of the Palestinian people, including many Israeli Arabs who consider themselves Palestinians, are committed to the Palestinian narrative of an ongoing struggle against Zionism, and the economic benefits to the general public are not going to stop them, from time to time, from taking action when they see fit.

The Israeli public’s frustration also stemmed from the gap between their expectations of the security services and the judiciary system on the one hand, and the reality on the other. The current impression is that the security services were ill-prepared to deal with the new rules. Two of the three Israeli Arabs were known to have had an affiliation with Daesh and had been arrested in the past and released after short prison terms. Yet they were not under any surveillance. A week after the first attack by a Daesh supporter in Be’er Sheva, the two Umm al-Fahm terrorists were able to acquire a large arsenal of weapons without being noticed. Even after the government promised to improve the security measures, the terrorist from the Jenin area managed to drive a car with a gun through the security fence without being noticed. Although the security system clearly cannot guarantee zero failures in thwarting terror attacks, this string of attacks eroded the public’s trust.

The Israeli response was an attempt to ensure as much as possible that the wave of attacks would end. An intensified effort to monitor the attempts to carry out attacks, along with increased presence and activity of security forces in the Palestinian cities and along the security fence, enabled security forces to thwart at the last minute an attack by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad squad from the area of Jenin and Tulkarm. Three terrorists were killed, and a fourth was apprehended, and arrests were made in areas controlled by the PA. The number of Palestinian workers entering Israel without authorization was also curtailed. Parallel efforts directed at Israeli Arabs suspected of affiliation with Daesh led to many arrests. While late in coming, these efforts, accompanied by an increased police budget, have helped restore public trust in the security services.

However, it is still not clear to what extent the government comprehends the meaning of the changed rules of the game; some of those changes happened almost a year ago but, although they were well-known, they prompted no change in the government’s policy and attitude. If the new reality is fully grasped, then the counterterror efforts should persist and include a wide-ranging campaign to seize illegal weapons, apply severe measures against inciters, and adopt a harsher approach by the courts to those involved in terror, reassert control in ungoverned areas, and more.

Why Now?

Why did this terror wave happen now? It appears to stem from the ongoing incitement by the PA and the other terror groups, the heightened Islamist devotion to Ramadan, nationalistic emotions on “Land Day,” inspiration from the “success” of the initial attacks, and the growing frustration over the marginalization of the Palestinian issue on the international and regional stages. The Negev Summit with foreign ministers from Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, Bahrain, and the United States reflected that phenomenon. The condemnation of the attacks by the participating Arab foreign ministers and later by President Erdogan of Turkey himself highlighted the depth of the change in the region.

Foreign ministers of Israel, the United States, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Egypt delivered statements to the press. (*Screenshot from Yair Lapid’s official Twitter account/GPO*)

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is responsible for much of the incitement, including by his insistence on paying salaries to arrested terrorists and monthly stipends to the families of killed terrorists. His expenditures will now include payments to the families of the terrorists killed in the latest attacks and confrontations with the security forces, and to arrested terrorists. Yet, Abbas avoided any reference to the first and second attacks, and only under Israeli and American pressure did he issue a very feeble condemnation of the third. Meanwhile, the Fatah movement, which he leads, and its terror arm, the Al-Aqsa Brigades, praised the attacks.

What really infuriated the PA was the Israeli success in foiling the attempt at a significant terror attack by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives. Indeed, Abbas’ spokesperson and other PA dignitaries harshly denounced the Israeli preemptive raid. While Abbas appears aware that the terror campaign is steadily eroding his power, he does nothing to stop it.

What comes next? The terror groups supported by Iran, such as the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, may launch more organized attacks and call upon Arabs in the territories and Israel to participate in the terror campaign. If they fail, the option of terror attacks and rocket barrages from Gaza may be in the offing, as well. Israel must maintain a very high alert on all fronts for the foreseeable future. Israel must also bear in mind that if the United States and Iran reach an agreement on restoring the nuclear deal, the Iranian resources available to the radical terror groups will grow substantially.

Under the radar

By

Michael Kuttner

-

April 2, 2022

If something is flying under the radar it usually means that it is undetected or unseen.

That accurately sums up news concerning Israel as far as most of the mainstream media is concerned. On those rare occasions when there is a major blip and items slip through it is almost guaranteed that somehow or other the facts will be skewed, twisted and distorted. It makes no difference whether it is misleading headlines or a report which conforms to the politically correct agenda of the journalist or editor, the fact remains that those without either access or the interest to dig further will be locked into believing the worst about Israel.

Do a quick survey of your local media.

Have you noticed any in-depth analysis of the field hospital set up by Israel on the Ukrainian border area? The fact that this country was the first to get the only viable hospital operating and is treating injured and sick refugees as well as delivering babies, disappeared beneath the radar of the vast majority of news outlets.

Did you read that Israel has just welcomed its 10,000th Ukrainian refugee?

Good news is not news and that is why emphasis is given to conflict, political disagreements and scandals.

The same under the radar techniques are employed when it comes to the actions and rhetoric of our adversaries. As an added bonus whenever the UN and its affiliated groups together with NGOs and self-loathing bodies pass resolutions and produce reports condemning Israel for a myriad of sins against humanity, you can be assured that these will be enumerated in full. Missing will be any sort of intelligent background which exposes the falsehoods of the alleged crimes and is silent about the hateful agenda of those peddling them.

This week has been no different than any other in the way that vital facts have sunk or been obliterated without being detected and exposed.

The Islam holy month of Ramadan is about to commence. This year it coincides with Pesach and Easter. Unreported, unmentioned and studiously avoided, are any references to the fact that Ramadan in this part of the world and increasingly elsewhere, is the time for an upsurge in terrorist and extremist activities. Google “Ramadan terror” and see the facts for yourselves. This holy month has been increasingly hijacked by extremists but political correctness successfully downplays the situation.

In Israel, we know when Ramadan is approaching because the level of incitement increases and outbursts of terror occur in advance of the month. This year is no exception. King Abdullah of Jordan travelled to Ramallah in order to bolster the PA’s demand that Israel agrees to go back to the 1967 lines and surrender half of Jerusalem. The irony of course is that the President for life of the corrupt PA and his colleagues are some of the biggest cheerleaders of murderers and mayhem. What is even worse however is the pass they receive from some of our own politicians and those in the international community who still hallucinate that a two-State solution led by Fatah, Hamas and assorted terror-supporting groups is our only salvation.

In typical chutzpah mode, the Jordanian Monarch admonishes Israel and warns it not to make any provocative moves. In plain English, this means banning Jews from visiting Har Habayit (the Temple Mount). The scandal is that some of our politicians actually fall for this sort of hypocrisy.

When Israel is pilloried for defending its citizens and the likes of Ambassador Nides and Secretary of State, Blinken, admonish Israel for “upsetting” those dedicated to our demise, what can one expect from the media which buys into this false narrative? When building homes for Jews in places that have been part of a sovereign Jewish nation for three thousand years is condemned as a threat to world peace and Israel is warned not to evict illegal Arab squatters is it any wonder that the Ramadan terrorists are encouraged?

Israel has just announced the establishment of five new towns in the Negev. In any normal country, this would elicit nary a peep or comment. However, where hypocrisy and double standards are the rule things are different. Members of Knesset from the Arab Joint List Party together with the usual chorus from Ramallah and Gaza have protested the “Judaization” of the “occupied” Negev. For good measure, they also have ramped up, in time for Ramadan, their baseless libels about the “Judaization” of Jerusalem. Without fail and right on time we can expect full-blown riots and violence on the Temple Mount and elsewhere. On cue, the media, the UN and the usual assortment of “noch shleppers” will condemn us for provocations.

The daily outpouring of hate and incitement against Jews from mosques, in PA and UNRWA school textbooks and summer camps combined with officially sanctioned media, slanders all contribute to the climate of terror which erupts during Ramadan. In addition, the payment of lifelong pensions and grants for the murderers of Jews gives a green light for inevitable violence.

None of these factors is unknown but because highlighting them attracts cries of “Islamaphobia” two-faced politicians and terrified communal leaders run for the hills and prefer to ignore the elephant in the room.

This is the reason that no questions are asked or explanations demanded as to why Islamic followers feature so disproportionably among the perpetrators of terror and murder. Once upon a time Jews were the prime targets of fatal venom at Easter and countless numbers were massacred with the sanction of the various Christian denominations. This has more or less petered out as a result of a more enlightened theological reform and has been accompanied by sincere efforts at reconciliation.

While there are some enlightened Islamic scholars and leaders who realize that current trends are leading to disastrous consequences, they are a distinct minority. The deafening silence on the part of Islamic nations, national Islamic organizations and spokespersons illustrates the problem. If the enlightened minority are too fearful of speaking out against what their adherents are doing worldwide and especially in Israel, we have a problem which needs to be exposed. If politicians and communal leaders are so inhibited by political correctness that they prefer to ignore what is staring them in the face, the terror will multiply as it is doing these days.

Mealy mouthed and insincere utterances following terror against Jewish and non-Jewish Israelis are simply designed for international consumption. The usual gullible groups will fall for these worthless words and the media will hail them as proof of peaceful intentions.

Meanwhile, daily deluges of lies and incitement will pour forth from PA/PLO/Fatah/Hamas sources on a daily basis. Look at these three samples (courtesy of MEMRI) for what passes as peace and tolerance and then you may understand what motivates the masses.

https://www.memri.org/tv/palestine-islamic-scholar-mraweh-nassar-jews-instigated-war-ukraine-establish-jewish-state

https://www.memri.org/tv/fatah-official-jamal-huwail-praises-beersheba-stabbing-israel-palestine-river-to-sea-palestine

https://www.memri.org/tv/palestinan-official-nasser-qaram-extols-martyrdom-israel-enemy-allah-terrorize-commit-crimes

Silence by Muslims and members of every other faith or those without any religious affiliation explains why this Ramadan, a supposedly peaceful holy month dedicated to contemplation and prayer, will in fact mutate into another orgy of murder.

Until and unless the root causes are tackled and eliminated the poison will merely spread and threaten everyone.

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.

Israel Behind the News

Inconvenient revelations

Recent terrorist attacks in Israel undermine ‘prospects for peace’: Guterres

What Motivates an Arab to Murder a Jew

The Condemnation of Terror by Mansour Abbas: Is It Real?

Analysis and Assessment

Hysteria is unnecessary, but public pressure is important

David Bedein asks: will PA/UNRWA indoctrination to war be on the agenda?

(DM Takes 3 Monkeys Role) DM Gantz Speaks with PA Chairman Abbas

Why does the US place UNRWA funds for education in escrow?

The Current Terror Wave in Israel: Main Characteristics and Implications

The Terror Attacks Were Perpetrated within the Green Line (pre-1967) Israel

Israeli Arabs as Terrorists

The Islamic State (IS) Daesh Role

The Totality of the Palestinian Struggle against Zionism and the Faulty Economic Assumptions

Why Now?

Under the radar

Column from the Director