The poisonous myth of 'Israeli apartheid'

The poisonous myth of 'Israeli apartheid'

Alan Baker, National Post Published: Thursday, February 14, 2008

Last week, various Canadian university campuses hosted events connected to Israeli Apartheid Week. This annual international phenomenon, which began in 2005, serves as an opportunity for those who demonize Israel to spew hatred. As the name suggests, a major theme is that Israel is the Middle East equivalent of South Africa's infamous apartheid regime.

This comparison betrays an acute ignorance -- both of the meaning of the word "apartheid" and of the nature of the State of Israel.

Apartheid is the state-sanctioned and -generated degradation of one or more ethnic groups, based on an assumption of racial inferiority. Such a system relies for its implementation on segregation, denationalization and the denial of basic rights. How anyone could seriously equate Israel with such a system defies logic.

Israel is a liberal democracy, guaranteeing civil, religious and social equality to all its citizens -- including Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Baha'0is. Israel's Arab citizens have the right to vote, and are represented by three Arab political parties in Israel's parliament (the Knesset), representing a gamut of views from communism to Islamic fundamentalism. Several newspapers freely represent the views of Arab citizens in a far freer manner than is permitted among the media of Israel's neighbours.

Complete freedom of religion for all is strictly protected in Israel -- unlike in neighbouring countries, which recognize only one state religion, Islam, and even criminalize and persecute the practice of other faiths. Consider, for instance, Saudi Arabia, whose police recently arrested 40 Christians for the "crime" of praying in a private house. Followers of the Baha'is religion, who are persecuted in Iran, are welcomed in Israel, and maintain their central religious institutions in Haifa and Acre. Coptic Christians, who face restrictions in neighbouring Arab countries, enjoy freedom of religion in Israel.

In Israel, every citizen and resident has the freedom to petition Israel's Supreme Court on any suspicion of a violation of basic rights by any governmental or official body. Arabic is an official language, together with Hebrew. All legislation, jurisprudence and official documentation appear in Arabic. Road signs are in Hebrew and Arabic. Films are subtitled in Arabic, Hebrew and Russian. There is an Arab member of the Israeli cabinet and an Arab judge on the bench of the Supreme Court. Senior officers of the Israeli army are both Arab and Druze, including at the rank of General. Arab soccer teams figure highly in Israel's soccer league, and Arab soccer players are part of Israeli soccer teams.

Does any of this sound like "apartheid"?

One third of the staff of Israel's Hadassah Hospital--one of the most prestigious and advanced hospitals in the entire Middle East, are Arab. Arabs have complete and equal access to all Israeli universities. Haifa University, for example, is 20% Arab.

The Israeli legal system attributes equal status to Muslim shariah law, Christian cannon law, Druze law and Jewish talmudic law for all personal issues such as marriage, divorce and adoption, and religious courts of all faiths explicitly constitute a part of Israel's legal system. Israeli courts strictly enforce equality among all citizens -- Arab and Jew alike -- in the purchase and allocation of land.

Regrettably, the freedoms enjoyed by Israel's Arabs are unknown to Jews in some Arab countries, who are prevented by law from owning property, and frequently suffer persecution. In many Arab nations, Jews cannot even become citizens.

Gays and lesbians, hounded in Arab countries and openly persecuted in Iran, are given protection in Israel's open society. In Israel, women of all religions are not forced to hide behind veils, or face any other religious or social limitation. They comport themselves as they wish.

In Israel, heads or other body parts are not chopped off as criminal punishment. Government-incited religious gangs do not run amok burning buildings and vehicles. In Israel's schools and universities, suicide terrorists are not glorified by posters on the walls. Israel's hit-parade figures genuine pop songs -- not songs calling for jihad and murder.

So how, in all fairness and honesty, can any spectator equate Israel with "apartheid"?

-Alan Baker is the Israeli ambassador to Canada.

From the National Post

ACTUAL ARTICLE LINK

THE BEST VALENTINE

Not all valentines are sweet and mushy! Some require the sacrifice of a life. For us!

"THE FENCE" BIASSED beyond BELIEF- by "Whatshisname" Trudeau

Saturday, September 18, 2004

"THE FENCE" - Whatshisname Trudeau

I was not able to catch the whole program called "The Fence" but from what I could see it was a surface attempt to explain that the fence should not be there because "I have been on both sides of that fence," says Trudeau. "I have laughed with the people there and shared their fears and frustrations. They are just people." (Unfortunately he left out the "JUST PEOPLE" WHO ARE WILLING TO STRAP ON A BOMB AND KILL MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE!!!) Is that his idea of "just people" ?

I SAW VERY LITTLE REFERENCE TO THE NECESSITY OF THE FENCE. The unfortunate lack of depth and seeking the real truth leaves one to "feel" that the fence is unjustified.

Well I would say that saving innocent lives of those that live in Israel IS JUSTIFIED! Is Mr. Trudeau saying that he would leave his door unlocked and open when there are "wild animals" outside? The wild animals are the Palestinian terrorists who have been taught to hate from a young age.

Why not some outrage at the textbooks which teach young Palestinians of elementary school age to hate and kill Israelis? Why not point out that it is too bad that so many Palestinians are willing to listen to their corrupt leaders like Arafat who takes aid money and builds himself more homes and leaves his Palestinian brothers to live in such places as Jenin. He cares NOTHING about his brother Arabs. He just wants as he said once, "to drive Israel into the sea". And he has to keep his people poor and uneducated so they will be his willing angry slaves.

When was the last time that you heard of an Israeli suicide bomber? The fault is on one side, NOT TWO as Mr. Trudeau would like us to believe. I know there are many innocent Palestinians but unfortunately by listening to their terrorist leaders they have brought destruction and hardship on themselves. Do they blame their leaders who encourage the suicide bombers? Or do they blame the Israelis for making life harder due to the fence? From the program, we get the feeling that the fence is unjust BUT IT WAS NOT POINTED OUT THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE BLOODSHEDDING OF INNOCENT ISRAELI JEWS AND ISRAELI ARABS.

Arabs who live on the Israeli side are treated with respect and dignity. If they are citizens, they receive the same healthcare and privileges as Jews. Can the same thing be said of Jews who live on the Arab side of the fence?

I am not Jewish. But I can at least not encourage hatred of Jews and anti-semitic feelings that can be the only result of this "seemingly innocuous" story. Shame on W5 and shame on CTV to allow a story which seems to lay the blame for the fence on the Jewish side when all they are trying to do is protect themselves.

There used to be an alternative to the RADICAL LEFTISTS WHO RUN THE CBC, but unfortunately that APPEARS to be gone and now we have two radical leftist networks. It is sad that I have to abandon the CTV network which I watched for so many years due to it's unbiassed reporting. It is sad I have to turn to U.S. PBS stations to hear reasonably balanced news, but I do.

Fwd: D.C. Imam Declares Muslim Plan to Take Over America

D.C. Imam Declares Muslim Plan to Take Over America The WorldNetDaily story below reveals that Jihad has many tentacles in addition to physical violence, with "Cultural Jihad" being a prominent one, and that these tentacles are increasingly spreading throughout America. When I am asked "Can the rising tide of Islamofascism be stopped?", here's how I respond: When Muslims who advocate or support Jihad, in all its forms, are convinced America has the moral courage to rise and stand against them... When those Muslims are convinced America has the will to fight back and will do what is necessary to stop them in their tracks... When those Muslims are convinced Americans will renounce the political correctness that aids and abets Islamofascism and provides cover to those who advocate the overthrow of our government... And when those Muslims witness what the "sleeping giant" called America can and will do when roused to defend itself... THEN we will begin to turn the tide of Islamofascism. This is why I founded ACT for America. This is why we need each and every one of you to do what you can to help us build the citizen action network that will demonstrate, both to the Islamic world and to our own government, that we are steadfast in our conviction to rise in defense of our security, our liberty and our values. Brigitte Gabriel GLOBAL JIHAD D.C. imam declares Muslim takeover-plan Washington-based cleric working toward 'Islamic State of North America' by 2050 Posted: November 10, 2007 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Art Moore © 2007 WorldNetDaily.com Logo of D.C. imam's movement A Washington, D.C., imam states explicitly on the website for his organization that he is part of a movement working toward replacement of the U.S. government with "the Islamic State of North America" by 2050. With branches in Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and Philadelphia, the group As-Sabiqun – or the Vanguard – is under the leadership of Abdul Alim Musa in the nation's capital. Musa's declaration of his intention to help lead a takeover of America was highlighted by noted Islam observer Robert Spencer on his website Jihad Watch. Spencer told WND that figures such as Musa should not be ignored, "Not because they have the power to succeed, but because they may commit acts of violence to achieve their purpose." Musa's website declares: "Those who engage in this great effort require a high level of commitment and determination. We are sending out a call to the believers: Join with us in this great struggle to change the world!" Musa launched the group in the early 1990s at the Al-Islam mosque in Philadelphia. His group says it is influenced by the writings and life work of Muslim thinkers and leaders such as Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna, Sayyid Qutb and Iranian revolutionary Ayatollah Khomenei. The writings of Al-Banna and Qutb figured prominently in al-Qaida's formation. Musa's organization says its leadership "has delivered numerous speeches in the United States and abroad, contributing their analyses and efforts to solve contemporary problems in the Muslim world and in urban America." Abdul Alim Musa "The paramount goal of the movement is the establishment of Islam as a complete way of life in America," the group declares. "This ultimate goal is predicated on the belief – shared by many Muslims worldwide – that Islam is fully capable of producing a working and just social, political, economic order." The groups says it does not "advocate participation in the American political process as an ideal method for advancing Islamic issues in the U.S.; instead, it believes in a strong and active outreach to the people of the U.S." Spencer told WND he does not know of any direct influence Musa has on prominent Muslim leaders or on U.S. policymakers, but he says it's "unclear how much 'mainstream' Muslim leaders harbor similar hopes – because no one dares question them about it." As WND reported, the founder of the leading Islamic lobby group CAIR, the Council on Islamic-American Relations, reportedly told a group of Muslims in California they are in America not to assimilate but to help assert Islam's rule over the country. CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper also has said, in a newspaper interview, he hopes to see an Islamic government over the U.S. some day, brought about not by violence but through "education." In London last summer, as WND reported, Muslims gathered in front of the London Central Mosque to applaud fiery preachers prophesying the overthrow of the British government – a future vision that encompasses an Islamic takeover of the White House and the rule of the Quran over America. Musa says he wants to avoid what he calls an "absolutist" outlook on "the advancement of Muslims." His group's philosophy is to stress unity between the various streams of Islam "in the attainment of common goals." Although As-Sabiqun is a Sunni movement, it has publicly voiced support for Shia movements and organizations such as the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah, which waged war on Israel in the summer of 2006. Musa, the group says, repeatedly has "stressed that the tendency by some Muslims to focus on the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam at this juncture in history is counterproductive to the goals of the Islamic movement as a whole." The group says it encourages social-political advancement concurrent with a program of spiritual and moral development according to the Quran and Sunnah, compilations of stories from the life of Islam's prophet Muhammad. The group says it has a six-point plan of action which is implemented at each location where a branch of the movement is established. Establishing a mosque "as a place to worship Allah in congregation and as a center of spiritual and moral training." "Calling the general society" to embrace Islam. Establishing a full-time school "that raises children with a strong Islamic identity so they can, as future Islamic leaders, effectively meet and deal with the challenges of growing up in the West." Establishing businesses to "make the movement financially stable and independent." Establishing "geographical integrity by encouraging Muslims of the community to live in close proximity" to the mosque. Establishing "social welfare institutions to respond to the need for spiritual and material assistance within the community as well as the general society." In addition to daily classes, each mosque in the movement "also provides youth mentorship, marriage counseling, a prison outreach program, and employment assistance for ex-convicts." As-Sabiqun says its branch in Los Angeles "was instrumental in creating a free health clinic in cooperation with other Islamic groups. The headquarters branch in D.C. has developed scout programs for young members of the community." The group says the inspiration for its name comes from Quran, 9:100: "The vanguard (as-Sabiqun) of Islam – the first of those who forsook their homes, and of those who gave them aid, and also those who follow them in all good deeds – well-pleased is Allah with them, as are they with Him: For them hath He prepared Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: that is the supreme Felicity." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT for America P.O. Box 6884 Virginia Beach, VA 23456 www.actforamerica.org ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America's national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. HOW CAN I TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Send a personalized version of this message to your friends. HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Click here to give an online donation.

===========================
Charles G. Pedley BA MSEd
905-228-2161
===========================
www.church-software-store.com - Church and Family multimedia
software-hardware store for both Canada and the United States
===========================
www.extremeyouth.com - A youth online community which YOUR
youth can become part of.
============================
http://powerpoint-pointers.blogspot.com/ for PowerPoint Pointers
and help.
===========================
http://worship-photos.blogspot.com for help with EasyWorship,
worship software or access to slideshows and free photos
===========================
www.ChurchFlock.com - to try out an integrated web church
communication system
===========================
www.ChurchProjectors.com
===========================
www.Cpedley.com for Financial and Computer Resources

Hollow symbols don't reduce crime

Lorne Gunter writes in the National Post on Monday, October 29, 2007
"Hollow symbols don't reduce crime"

"There is probably nothing more tenacious than a liberal with a bad idea; witness Stephane Dion's reference to the firearms registry in his response to the Throne Speech.

"The work of our police officers and the safety of our citizens would be threatened by the absolute dismantling of the gun registry," Mr. Dion claimed after the Harper government had promised to once again seek the repeal of the national database of firearms.

Too bad for Mr. Dion the national homicide stats came out the same day and once again demonstrated just how useless the Liberals' registry has been at preventing gun murders.

Too bad for taxpayers and gun owners that not even proof of the registry's futility is likely to persuade Mr. Dion to end his support of it.

There were 605 murders in Canada last year, more (210) committed through stabbings than with guns (190). [Editor: So really we should be having a knife registry if registries worked! But more realistically, have you ever been watching a pile of guns or knives when one of them SUDDENLY left the pile and SHOT or STABBED someone? No? Let me take a stab at an alternative: Since PEOPLE SHOOT GUNS and STAB WITH KNIVES, WE NEED TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND BAN PEOPLE! Then all the deviant guns and knives out there would simply stay lying in their place behaving themselves. Sound ridiculous? Well so is a GUN REGISTRY which SOLVES NOTHING except for increasing employment in the 'registry' sector.]

That in and of itself may have no bearing on the registry's ability to stop crime, although it does beg the question: If supporters of the registry are motivated by a sincere desire to reduce crime -- and are not simply inspired by some irrational hatred of guns -- why are these busybodies not pushing equally hard for a knife/stiletto/ice pick/letter opener registry? Surely what's good for the Glock is equally good for the Henkel. (Of course, it could also be the reverse: what seems instantly preposterous to us for tableware should equally instantly be obviously ineffectual for guns.)

What does bear on the registry's lack of utility, though, are the figures on what guns are used to commit murder in Canada, who owns them and whether or not they are registered.

According to Statistics Canada "handguns accounted for 108, or over half, of the 190 victims killed by a firearm." Twenty-four more were killed with a sawed-off shotgun or rifle. Together, that's 70% of the total.

Why is that important? Because sawed-off guns are illegal and Canadians have been required to register their handguns since 1934. A registry will never prevent crimes committed by illegal guns since, by definition, illegal guns will never be registered. And, if registration were capable of lowering gun crime, the first place we would see the benefits is with handguns.

Yet even though handguns have had to be registered for the past 73 years, handguns have out murdered "long guns" since 1991 and, according to StatsCan, "the gap has continued to grow since."

Registration has done nothing to keep handguns from becoming the murderer's firearm of choice.

It is also important to note that most handguns used in crimes have never been registered because they are owned by criminals who pay smugglers to bring them into the country illegally. So even if some way could be found to help registration reduce crime, our registry would have little impact on the greatest source of gun murders --handguns.

Of the 48 guns recovered by police at murder scenes in 2006, just 18 (38%) were registered.

It is not hard to imagine, either, that most of the 142 murder guns not recovered were also not registered. Handguns are less likely to be left behind at the scene of the crime because they are easy to conceal while getting away, criminals favour handguns and most of criminals' handguns are never registered. So it is entirely likely that of all the firearms used in homicides the total percentage that were registered is far less than 38%.

If that is true, it adds even more credence to the claim that registration is not a crime-reduction tool.

Gun registration is one of those hollow symbols that liberals introduce when they want to claim to be doing something to stop crime but are ideologically opposed to doing what might actually work.

Mr. Dion and his Liberals have blocked Tory attempts to lock up three-time violent offenders longer, impose minimum sentences on criminals who use guns and make bail harder to win for persons accused of gun crimes.

Such real measures make Liberals cringe because they refuse to believe criminals have any responsibility for their actions and, thus, resist attempts to punish the convicted. Instead, to show their commitment to law and order, Liberals prefer to blame inanimate objects and harass those object's legal owners."

Write to Lorne at his public email address lgunter@shaw.ca