Tag: West Bank

Jews Have No Future In Western Europe

JERUSALEM — The Israeli official responsible for encouraging Jewish immigration said that Jews have no future in western Europe, adding fuel to a dispute that has riled leaders in France, Germany and Denmark.

Israel must prepare for a mass exodus of Jews from Europe, Mr Natan Sharansky, the former Soviet dissident who heads the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency for Israel, said in an interview with Arutz Sheva news website today (Feb 17).

“It can take five years or 20 years, but there is a strengthening of the Islamist community and the growing hatred of Israel from the direction of the liberal community,” Mr Sharansky said. “The two things together make Europe a very uncomfortable place for Jews.” Mr Sharansky’s office said the remarks were accurate.

His comments echo similar statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the shootings at a kosher supermarket in Paris and the attacks in Copenhagen on Saturday, where one Danish Jew was killed at a synagogue. Mr Netanyahu called for a Jewish exodus from Europe and the response from national leaders there has spurred debate over the future of European Jewry.

“I can’t allow things to be said in Israel that would lead one to think that Jews have no place in Europe and particularly France,” French President Francois Hollande said Monday, after assailants vandalised a Jewish cemetery in north-eastern France.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country “will do everything to ensure the security of Jewish locations and the citizens of Jewish origin”. Jews “belong in Denmark, they are part of the Danish community and we wouldn’t be the same without the Jewish community in Denmark”, added Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

The number of French Jews moving to Israel doubled to about 7,000 last year, according to Jewish Agency figures, and Mr Sharansky said 15,000 are expected this year. He urged the government to allocate more funds for immigrant absorption, saying Israel will be in competition with such nations as the US, Canada and Australia to attract those Jews leaving Europe.

“There is no future for Jews in western Europe,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

February 18, 2015
Canadian Foreign Minister Heckled During Visit To West Bank

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian protesters heckled and threw eggs at Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird during a visit to the occupied West Bank on Sunday, denouncing Ottawa’s diplomatic support for Israel.

Baird was not hit, but one of the eggs smacked onto the roof of his car after a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart at the Foreign Ministry in Ramallah.

Several dozen Palestinian special forces armed with machine guns and riot gear made no effort to confront the egg-throwers among a crowd of about 100 protesters.

“You’re not welcome,” the demonstrators shouted at Baird.

Canada was among a handful of countries that voted against Palestinians’ successful bid to become a non-member state at the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. This month, Baird called a Palestinian move to join the International Criminal Court “concerning and dangerous”.

Amid bouts of failed peace talks with Israel, Palestinians have opted to confront Israel in international bodies and the conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has become one of the most outspoken critics of the strategy.

In a statement on Sunday, top Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat demanded an apology from Baird for visiting Israeli officials in occupied East Jerusalem last year.

Palestinians seek East Jerusalem, which Israel captured along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip in a 1967 war, as the capital of a future state. Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim that has not won international recognition.

“We regret the Canadian government’s decision to stand on the wrong side of history by blindly supporting the Israeli occupation and its apartheid policies,” Erekat said.

Most countries deem Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal. Israel pulled troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.

Source: www.todayonline.com

January 20, 2015
SG on Gaza: ‘Analysts’ and ‘Experts’ Should Not Complicate and Obfuscate Conflict

I refer to Mr Goldberg’s article ‘Why Hamas is trying to get Gazans killed‘.

I am quite astonished by the ahistorical approach he has taken, and his attempts to diminish the severity of the over 100 Gazans killed by Israeli attacks, and worse, absolving Israel of any blame.

Interestingly, the number of Israeli casualties/injuries are also not mentioned, hence the grossly brutal and disproportionate nature of the attacks were hidden.

It is also quite astounding that entire blame is shifted to Hamas. Lest we forget, this conflict is not three weeks old, nor is it one that started in 2005 as the author seemingly suggests.

Hamas was founded in the 1980s (and perhaps the author forgets that Israel was at least partially responsible for its creation), while Israel’s occupation began in 1948, and further expanded in 1967. To attribute the effect of occupation as the cause, is at best a rewriting of history, and at worse, disingenuous.

Additionally, the West Bank is not under Hamas; so if Hamas is the problem, why is West Bank still illegally occupied by Israel?

Israel has violated more UN resolutions than any other state in the world, and even though almost the entire world voted at the UN general assembly for an independent Palestine, Israel – backed by the US – purposefully ignores the will of the international community. I wonder why all these basic facts were not mentioned in the letter.

Another unmentioned truth is that whatever actions the Palestinians have taken – armed resistance, ceasefire, negotiations with Israel, going through the UN – the building of Jewish settlements never ceased and in fact grows exponentially. A simple look at UN reports and one would find this.

Considering all these, is it any wonder there is so much trouble in Palestine?

I urge Israel to abide by the international laws that govern every state, and I hope that ‘analysts’ and ‘experts’ will provide better and fairer analyses, and not obfuscate and complicate what is a relatively simple and straightforward matter.

Authored by Walid Jumblatt Abdullah

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July 16, 2014
PERGAS Condemns Humanitarian Violence on Palestinians

Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS)

Pergas would like to reiterate that it firmly condemns all kinds of injustice and violence against human regardless of religion and race. This includes the most recent violence on Palestinians as a result of the abduction of 3 Israeli teenagers. Targeting innocent civilians is against humanitarian values.

Pergas calls upon Muslim and other communities to condemn and resist these humanitarian violence. Pergas also encourages Singapore Muslim community to perform qunut nazilah or make dua for those who are being oppressed in all parts of the world such as Muslims in Gaza and Rohingyas in Myanmar.

Please also refer to the link below for Pergas’ previous statement regarding the citizens of Gaza which was issued on 20 November 2012:

http://v1.pergas.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PERGAS-media-statement_Gaza-.pdf

MEDIA STATEMENT

20 November 2012

PERGAS CATEGORICALLY CONDEMNS THE VIOLENT ACTIONS OF THE

ZIONIST ISRAELI REGIME ON THE CITIZENS OF GAZA, PALESTINE

The Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association of Singapore (Pergas) categorically condemns the Zionist Israeli military operation on the citizens of Gaza, Palestine.

2 The operation clearly contradicts the ethics of international relations which give rights to all citizens of the world to live in peace and harmony, despite the differences in ethnicity and religion.

3 The barbaric Zionist military operation is incompatible with humanitarian values that emphasize the dignity of every man by giving his due rights, in accordance with the words of Allah which mean:

“We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special
favours, above a great part of our creation.” Surah Al-Israa’: 70

4 As a civilized nation, Israel must respect the rights of the Palestinians to sovereignty and freedom to govern their country in peace. Excuses of ‘building safe zones’ or ‘the right to self-defence’ is never justifiable in killing innocent human lives.

5 Pergas hereby reiterates the concept of peace in Islam that is built through justice and fairness, and that it can never be achieved through war or acts of terror.

6 Thus, Pergas calls on the local Muslim community to perform hajat prayers and qunut nazilah either individually or in masses, as one of our efforts to help theoppressed, and pray they are given the strength and calmness in facing this tremendous test.

7 May the sufferings of the Palestinians be eased and replaced with harmony and security, which are the rights of every man on the surface of Allah’s world. Amin.

THE ISLAMIC SCHOLARS AND RELIGIOUS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE

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July 2, 2014