Israel, Diaspora Jews not equal partners

From JPost, July 8, 2010, by Isi Leibler:

We have grown accustomed to the ravings of the Jew haters of Zion - the loony left who identify with Hamas and Hizbullah rather than their own people, the post-Zionists who seek to undo the Jewish character of Israel and the bleeding heart liberals who make excuses for the criminality of our neighbors and condemn us for defending ourselves.

But what is more frustrating is an emerging new trend, involving even well-meaning friends of Israel, primarily liberals, who demand that as Jews and "partners" of Israel, they are entitled to partake in determining Israeli security and defense related policies.

The most notorious of these is J Street in the US which shamelessly lobbies its government to pressure Israel to adopt policies contrary to those determined by our democratically elected government. Despite living thousands of miles away and not subject to the consequences of the policies they promote, they have the gall to insist that they are more sensitive to the security needs of the Jewish state than we Israelis. Being "genuinely pro-peace," they purport to be acting in our best interests by exercising "tough love" and urging their president to bludgeon us to toe their line. Their hubris and arrogance is mind-boggling.

Nor are they deterred by the fact that Israelis today are overwhelmingly supportive of the policies adopted by their government. Even Kadima, the principal opposition party, is aware that if it held the reins of government, it would pursue a similar course. In fact, the policies promoted by the "pro-peace" elements reflect the views of only the Israeli fringe exemplified by Meretz which gained only three of 120 seats in the Knesset.

...This is simply outrageous chutzpah.

We all agree that Diaspora Jews have been and remain the most important partner of the Jewish state. No one challenges their right to provide input toward Israeli decisions which impact on the future of the Jewish people. But that principal was always accompanied by a caveat that campaigning against government policies affecting security was absolutely off limits for non-Israelis.

Let us be clear. We are one people. But Diaspora Jews and Israelis are not equal partners.

...if Jewish philanthropists believe that contributing toward worthy causes in Israel makes them eligible to become involved in security related decision-making, they should retain their money.

There is no question that ultimately only Israelis can determine security-related policy. It is we, our children and our grandchildren who will be placing our lives on the line, not Jews in New York, London, Melbourne or Rio.

... Diaspora Jews, including the younger generation who no longer live under the shadow of the Holocaust or memories of the struggle to create a Jewish state, remain overwhelmingly pro-Israel. Surveys show that the dropouts, the new liberals who are alienated from Israel, primarily originate from assimilated and intermarried families and those overwhelmed by the hostile culture and media surrounding them especially on the campus.

Instead of becoming obsessed with an urge to tell us how to run our affairs, Jewish activists should ensure that the new generation of Jews in high school and on the campus are imbued with an understanding of our history and heritage and above all exposed to the Israel narrative which will strengthen their morale and enable them to withstand the external onslaughts. That should be their primary objective, rather than groveling to left liberals who magnify every minor fault in our society while closing their eyes to the horrors that could engulf us if the barbarians at our gates succeed.

Fraudulent passports and disguises are tools of trade for Hamas

From The Globe and Mail, Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010, by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza — Reuters:

Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, the Hamas commander assassinated in Dubai, used the same tradecraft — fraudulent passports and disguises — as his killers during secret missions to procure arms for the group, a confidant said on Thursday.

...“He used to wear coloured contact lenses and dye his hair when travelling to European countries,” said the confidant, who is based in the Gaza Strip, an enclave run by Hamas Islamists. He told Reuters he spent two years in exile with Mr. al-Mabhouh.

“He used to supply money and arms to Hamas and other allied factions,” the confidant said.

“He had many passports of different nationalities — all Arab,” he added. “Recently he underwent surgery to reshape his nose. It became narrower.”

Mr. al-Mabhouh was killed last month in his hotel room in ...Dubai ....

Dubai authorities have named 26 alleged members of the team that tracked and killed the Palestinian and said they used fraudulent British, Irish, French, German and Australian passports, and disguises...

...Dubai police have not commented officially on the passport Mr. al-Mahbouh used to enter the emirate. Mr. al-Mabhouh's brother said the Hamas commander arrived in Dubai on a Palestinian passport that listed his family name as Hassan.

“(Mabhouh) never led a normal life. He was suspicious, careful, and he never told anyone, not even his wife, of his future or immediate plans,” the confidant said, adding that Mr. al-Mabhouh used Arab passports to enter European countries because they aroused less suspicion....

...Both Hamas and Iran have acknowledged Tehran's financial support for [Hamas]....

Israeli Cabinet to end Jewish Agency monopoly over immigration

From Haaretz, 20/8/07, by Anshel Pfeffer ....

The cabinet is scheduled to vote on a NIS 19 million allocation in the 2008 state budget for two independent immigration organizations. The resolution is expected to pass, essentially ending the Jewish Agency's monopoly over immigration to Israel.

The resolution would allocate funding to Nefesh B'Nefesh and AMI, which support Jewish immigration from North America, Britain and France......... The resolution would also enable the organizations to receive funds not only for their absorption activities within Israel but also for their emissaries stationed abroad.

Officials in Diaspora Jewish organizations view the resolution as a "ringing slap" in the face of the Jewish Agency, and a recognition of the fact that in the past several years it has failed to bring significant numbers of olim from prosperous countries....