Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

Sales of recreational marijuana are expected to begin soon on Long Island, another step in the legalization of cannabis in New York for adults 21 and older. This weeks clergy discuss what Scripture says and doesnt say about the drug previously legalized for medicinal prescription.

Rabbi Jack Dermer

Temple Beth Torah, Westbury

The mention in Exodus 30:23 of the aromatic spice kaneh-bosem, which sounds strikingly like cannabis, has led scholars to speculate on the use of the substance during ancient Israelite worship. That historical debate notwithstanding, modern Jews follow the directives of the rabbinic sages on matters of ethics and religious practice. The rabbis in the Talmud remind us that Jews are obligated to observe the laws of the lands we live in. In places where cannabis remains illegal, the majority of rabbis would advise their congregants not to break the law. In states where recreational use is now legal, the question broadens.

If cannabis use makes you tired or lazy, overly self-involved or less likely to contribute to society, then I would urge you to reflect deeply and ask yourself, Is this really worth it? But if cannabis use makes you a more empathetic and thoughtful person, and when used occasionally and safely, it helps you to appreciate all the good that God has given us in this world music, food, loving relationships and nature then I have no issue with Jews using it. Just please, not before service. We dont have enough bagels for everyone to come with the munchies!

Khalid S. Lateef of Deer Park

President and imam emeritus, As Siraataal Mustaqeem Islamic Center, Wyandanch

The highest source for guidance for Muslims is the Holy Quran, which does not mention marijuana, but does address wine as an intoxicant and cautions against getting intoxicated by any means. Quran, Chapter 2, Verse 219, says: They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin, and some profit for men; but the sin is greater than the profit.

Our next source for life guidance is the Sunnah, or sayings and behavior of Prophet Muhammad, in which it is reported that the Messenger of God said: Every intoxicant is khamr (wine) and every intoxicant is haram (unlawful).

The third source of guidance for the Muslims life is the consensus of Muslim scholars. All schools of Islamic jurisprudence unanimously agree that consuming any intoxicant is haram. Finally, the Muslim is encouraged to use logical reasoning. Euphoria is the experience (or effect) of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of well-being and happiness. This feeling can be achieved through natural means: exercise, music, fasting and religious disciplines. The use of marijuana and other drugs is an unnatural way to feel a sense of euphoria. In short, Islam does not support marijuana use.

The Rev. Earl Y. Thorpe Jr.

Pastor, Church-in-the-Garden, Garden City

While the Bible has many admonishments, codes and teachings regarding personal piety and societal relationships, as with many challenges and questions we face today, there is no specific guidance on recreational marijuana use. However, the Bible always invites us to discernment and deep exploration regarding issues that affect our lived experiences.

The question of recreational marijuana, or any of todays hot-button topics, must be considered holistically and in the context of the Bibles mandate of love and justice. These subjects can never be divorced from their societal relationships and the history of discriminatory laws and enforcement against this countrys poor and minority classes. Too often, we cherry-pick Scriptures to justify our means and desired outcomes on controversial matters. This is terrible and sophomoric theology!

I believe faith is more concerned about justice and the dismantling of power structures that oppress rather than individual questions of does the Bible allow this or that? Therefore, to those considering cannabis use: Please make an informed personal decision. Do not assume that because your faith interpretation condones or prohibits a behavior, that your view should be the law of the land. Instead, allow space for the opinions of others to ensure equity for everyone.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS youd like Newsday to ask the clergy? Email them to LILife@newsday.com.

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Asking the Clergy: Your faith and recreational marijuana - Newsday

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

GENEVA (30 August 2022) Israels refusal to issue or renew visas for UN Human Rights staff in the occupied Palestinian territory will not prevent the Office from continuing to monitor and report on the human rights situation on the ground, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said today.

In 2020, the 15 international staff of my Office in Palestine which has been operating in the country for 26 years had no choice but to leave, said Bachelet. Subsequent requests for visas and visa renewals have gone unanswered for two years. During this time, I have tried to find a solution to this situation, but Israel continues to refuse to engage.

As a Member State, Israel must cooperate in good faith with the UN and grant its officials the privileges and immunities necessary for them to independently exercise their functions. This includes an obligation to exempt UN officials from immigration restrictions and to deal with applications for visas for UN officials as speedily as possible.

Israels failure to process visa applications that are necessary for my staffs access is inconsistent with these standards, and I call on the Government to meet its international obligations in this regard, the UN Human Rights chief said.

Bachelet said that barring the UN Human Rights Offices international staff occurred in a context where Israeli authorities are increasingly limiting human rights eyes and ears on the ground. There is a growing roll call of UN staff and mechanisms, non-governmental organisations and others being expelled or refused entry.

Israels treatment of our staff is part of a wider and worrying trend to block human rights access to the occupied Palestinian territory, Bachelet said.

This raises the question of what exactly the Israeli authorities are trying to hide.

Last year, Israeli Forces killed 320 Palestinians, a 10-fold increase on the number killed in 2020, and injured 17,042 people, six times the 2020 figure. The UN recorded the highest number of incidents of settler violence since recording began in 2017, and arrests of Palestinians doubled. So far in 2022, Israeli forces have killed at least 111 more Palestinians.

Despite its international staff being barred, the UN Human Rights Office in Palestine is delivering on its mandated work in monitoring the States compliance with its international human rights obligations and providing technical assistance on human rights.

We publicly report on violations by Israel, but also on violations by the State of Palestine, by Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian armed groups. We also provide the principal support to the Palestinian Government to help it improve its compliance with international human rights obligations, Bachelet said.

We will continue to deliver on our mandate. And we will continue to demand access to the occupied Palestinian territory for our staff, in line with Israels obligations as a UN Member State.

ENDS

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Bachelet deplores Israel's failure to grant visas for UN Human Rights staff in the occupied Palestinian territory - OHCHR

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

A group of fired-up 20-somethings crush together in the aisle of the bus, singing at the top of their lungs, WERE GOING ON A FIELD TRIP!, while pouting for the dozen or so iPhones set to selfie mode.

Its 7 a.m. and far too early for this level of pep. But pep is the name of the game in the influencer business, and this group of 16 Israelis have an endless supply to share with their combined following of 32 million social media users around the world.

The bus driver tells the guy with hair the color of cycling shorts to sit down for the tenth time, while the girl with the immaculately applied contouring asks, once again, when the next poop break is. The trip, which took place at the end of June and was paid for by the Jewish National Fund USA, feels more like an end-of-year school outing than a carefully curated excursion aimed at encouraging tourists to Go North that is, to visit the Galilee.

Histrionics aside, these influencers are deeply savvy and know exactly just how hammy to behave when it comes to creating a viral TikTok video for any given scenario. For a trip like this, which aims to showcase the culture, coexistence and culinary scene of Israels north, the content is light and glossy. At one stop, gaggle of tween girls crowds around Eviatar Ozeri, who has garnered close to10 million followerslargely thanks to his hilarious exchanges with his chihuahua Niki (who has more than 1 million followers inher own right), and he happily poses for selfies with each of them.

I like giving my message by making fun of myself and acting stupid people connect to it, said Ozeri, who was hired by former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennettduring his 2021 election campaignin a bid to draw younger voters (Niki and Bennett featured in a social media reel together).

Ozeri and the rest of the influencers on the bus may very well be Israels most advanced weapon in its war of hasbara, the Hebrew term for public diplomacy, the only battlefield where Israel feels it is losing. Harnessing the enthusiasm and the tremendous reach of these digital warriors is supposed to help deliver a message that official Israel has thus far failed to convey, of a cool, peace-loving nation, eons away from the conflict zone depicted on cable news channels.

A visit to a cross-border tunnel dug by the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group is an excuse for merriment, as the influencers pose for a group reel, flip the bird and yell, F Hezbollah!

During times of actual conflict, they move into high gear. Their daily content is varied and specialized one posts aboutno-makeup makeup, another aboutwater-to-wine chemistry experiments, another aboutgirls with guns but during flare-ups with the Palestinians their messaging is uniform and usually involves some iteration of Israels right to defend itself.

Bella Hadid, Im back and so are my facts, Shiraz Shukrun said in arecent postaddressing the Palestinian-American supermodel. Youre such a busy model and have zero time for research, so its not your fault. Using the hashtags #stopfakenews and #Israelunderattack, Shukran hoped to counter a post by Hadid that blamed Israel for the death of several Palestinian children, an incident Israel says was due to a misfired rocket.

The global value of influencer marketing in 2021 was estimated at $13.8 billion by Influencer Marketing Hub, and American influencers can reportedly command $20,000 or more for a single promo reel. Yet none in this Israeli crew receives a penny from either JNF USA or the MFA for their content promoting Israel. They say they feel compelled to do it anyway.

I started posting [pro-Israel] content out of frustration, said 20-year-old Guy Rabi, whose 3.1 million followers watch his alter ego @coolchemistryguyblow up gummy bearsandmelt various other substances. The lies were pissing me off so I just began reacting to anti-Israel posts.

Rabi paid no small price for his activism. The top city in Rabis following was Tehran; his first story on Israel lost him 20,000 followers in one fell swoop and death threats have slid into his DMs on more than one occasion.

At 33, Idan Matalon is one of the older of the groups digital creators, attested to by the fact that he has the mostfollowers on Facebook the dinosaur of social media platforms. Most of Matalons content is in Spanish, having picked up the language from telenovelas, like manyIsraelis of his generation. He launched his digital career when Instagram was still in its infancy over a decade ago by asking people to say I love Israel in Spanish.

These days, though, its all about TikTok, he said. TikTok is the greatest hasbara tool for the Arab world and all the incitement [against Israel] comes from TikTok. Fighting it is impossible, because there are so few of us and so many of them. Our only strength is that were putting out classier content.

Some American Jewish social media warriors have dedicated their feeds entirely to fighting antisemitism and criticism of Israel. The Israelis tend to take a more integrated approach, weaving pro-Israel messages alongside their existing content.

Dekel, whosequirky skincare routinesand lack of last name are incongruous with her training as a biomedical engineer, maintains that there is no reason that reels onbutt acnecant share the same social media real estate as pro-Zionism posts.

Its who I am, these are my values and I want to portray that, she said.

Dekel, along with the rest of the influencers on the JNF USA trip, are part of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiative called the Israeli Influencers Dream Team. According to the ministrys senior director for digital strategy and partnerships Ido Daniel, they wanted to help fight the good fight for Israel and combat fake news and trolling online but didnt know how.

We provide them the platform and the ability to know better and to create content that is Israel-related as they please, Daniel said. We do not ever tell them what to post, we only provide them with information and answer their questions. They are the experts about the actual content.

The relationship is already bearing fruit: When veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an IDF raid in Jenin, Dekel turned to Daniels team for help creating a video explaining Israels side of the story.

But its not just crisis management where the influencers are seen as an asset. The program includes training sessions and briefings, matching Israeli influencers with influencers overseas, and tours around the country, such as the trip to Israels north where JNF USAs ultimate goal is to attract 300,000 new residents by creating employment and economic development opportunities, as part of its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade.

The JNF bus arrives in Kiryat Shmona, a working-class city near the Lebanon border, for a tour of Margalit Startup City Galil, venture capitalist Erel Margalits food tech center. The tour provides plenty of Insta fodder, fromgrasshopper-eating competitionstoslurping sessionswithstraws made from straw.

The next stop is Buza, a boutique ice cream chain, which in the past partnered with Margalit-funded InnovoPro to create vegan ice cream from chickpea protein. The trip to Buza (ice cream in Arabic) is also a chance to showcase Israeli coexistence. Founded by an Arab Muslim and a Jew, the Galiliean ice cream company now has six shops all over Israel. According to the stores Christian Arab manager, when riots broke out in mixed Arab-Jewish cities during the Gaza conflict in May 2021, Jews and Arabs alike flocked to the shop in a show of support.

The Dream Team doesnt exactly blend in in Kiryat Shmona, and it isnt long before a group of overexcited Arab schoolchildren swarm them for selfies. At one point, a man with an oversized tattoo on his forearm rolls down his car window to scream with delight at the sight of Orin Julie, an influencer who calls herself theQueen of Gunsand who has more than apassing resemblanceto the iconic Tomb Raider character Lara Croft. His brakes screeching, the man jumps out of his vehicle and hugs an elated Julie.

A former commander in the elite Golani unit, Sharon Tsur tells Julie he has been an avid fan since she began her social media journey, telling the world how she fought to be accepted into a combat unit despite her low medical profile.

I cant believe Im seeing you in real life. Im getting goosebumps like Im hearing Hatikvah, Tsur said, referencing Israels national anthem.

Today, Julie is both an ardent womensrights activist and gun rights activist. Americans love the story of the nice Jewish girl in the army, she said.

For JNF USA, the idea behind the trip is to bring more people to spend time in the north, and not necessarily for day jaunts as tourists. According to the groups Israel-based head of communications, Yael Levontin, while tourism is a big driver for development in Israels north, the region actually loses money if people only stay for a few hours. Convincing people to spend several days, or to consider making a permanent move, yields much more fruit economically.

While the precise return on marketing investment for JNF USA is unclear (it would be a stretch to assume that viral videos are enough to galvanize people to uproot their lives and move to the north), the trip opened the nonprofit to new audiences. The Dream Team uploaded a total of 287 posts over the two-day visit, and according to Levontin, reached thousands of new accounts through their platforms, drawing engagement and new followers to JNF USAs own pages.

At least anecdotally, the exposure benefited Israels image. According to Ozeri, it broke stereotypes about Israel and the conflict. The TikToker dedicated a series of stories to a visit at the home ofSavta Maha, a niqab-clad Druze woman who serves traditional Druze cuisine (thats also kosher) a mashup that he said one Turkish follower deemed very cool.

Were eating stuffed vine leaves and rosewater malabi and suddenly my Muslim followers are saying, Hey, youre eating my food, Ozeri said. Its entirely new for them.

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On the bus with an army of pro-Israel TikTok influencers J. - The Jewish News of Northern California

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

All I Can Do, by Shiri Nevo Fridental, focuses on the legal aspects of sexual violence. Photo by Shiri Nevo Fridental

By Olga GershensonAugust 30, 2022

The Jerusalem Film Festival has showcased the Israeli film industry for 39 years. The best entries circulate there before they arrive in the U.S. This year I saw several excellent candidates for international distribution.

June Zero, a new Israeli-American film directed by Jake Paltrow (Gwyneth Paltrows brother) takes place in 1961. Adolf Eichmann, a major architect of the Holocaust, has been sentenced to death in Israel. The question is what to do with his body. Burial is not an option, lest his grave turn into a site of Nazi pilgrimage. Though the premise is grim, the film is delightful. The story is told from the point of view of 13-year-old David (the excellent Noam Ovadya). The son of new immigrants from Libya, David works at a factory to help out his family. Mechanically gifted, he becomes instrumental in the creation of a crematorium for Eichmanns body.

Along with Davids fictional story, we get to look under the hood of history. The story of Eichmanns guards is based on real-life events; concerned about vigilante revenge, every staff member who came in touch with the Nazi had to be verified non-Ashkenazi and non-survivor. As a result, the guards were Mizrahi Jews, whose characters allow the film to explore the unusual intersection of the Holocaust and Mizrahi identity. Paltrow denies Eichmann any screen time we never see his face or even his body in full. He is very deliberately not a character. The character of David, though, will stay with you.

The Partisan with the Leica Camera, a documentary directed by Ruth Walk, takes a very different approach to history. Its the story of Mundek Lukawiecki and his wife Hannah Bern, two of the very few Jews who fought in the Armia Krajowa, the Polish underground army killing Nazis and Polish collaborators.

Lukawiecki was assimilated, athletic and good-looking. Bern was from an Orthodox family. Nazi violence brings them together. When Bern, at 16, is raped by the Ukrainian police in the ghetto, her father pays Lukawiecki to take her with him to the forest. Bern undergoes transformation in a partisan camp. Fighting along with some 40 partisans, she faces sexual violence from them, too. She learns to kill. After the war, Lukawiecki and Bern arrive in newly-founded Israel and form a seemingly normal family. But the violence doesnt leave them the neighbors remember his screaming and her crying, a soundtrack of violated life.

We learn this story not only from recollections, but from Lukawieckis photographs he picked up a camera when he was a young man and never put it down, even when documenting underground fighting was potentially deadly. His extraordinary photographs are overlaid with footage of the forest in motion. The characters in the photos gradually dissolve, becoming ghostly presences, and then disappear completely. The images linger in our memory long after.

A number of festival films this year explored social issues such as #MeToo, race relations and police violence. Barren, directed by Orthodox filmmaker Mordechai Vardi, has all the elements of recent Haredi dramas: a childless couple desperate for good news, an overbearing mother, a devout father. And yet, the film veers into unusual territory.

When a young husband travels to Uman, he leaves his wife Feige with his parents. Her in-laws welcome to the house a saintly man, a miracle-worker with a shofar. Things get uncomfortable very soon, when the guest suggests that Feige hold his shofar: Feel it, he orders.

The shofar is enormous, its phallic power obvious and repulsive. When the tikkun doesnt work, the man steals into Feiges bedroom at night to try other means. What unfolds in the aftermath of the assault is a nuanced drama, challenging both the family dynamic and religious institutions. Mili Eshet, as Feige, steals the show: her eyes are luminous; her elfin figure expresses shame, pain, and ultimately, hope.

All I Can Do, by Shiri Nevo Fridental, focuses on the legal aspects of sexual violence. A young woman, Efrat (Sharon Stribman), sues a man who sexually assaulted her when she was a teen. Reut (Ania Bukstein) is a public prosecutor on her case. The case is old and relies solely on testimony and character, a fact exploited by a manipulative defense.

It goes as expected: Efrat is rebellious but unstable. Reut is reserved at first, but then gets emotionally involved, as she discovers her own vulnerabilities and family secrets. Despite being predictable, the film is worth watching. The acting is superb and the court scenes feel authentic not surprising because Fridental was a lawyer before she turned to film.

Concerned Citizen by Idan Haguel contends with gentrification, police brutality and liberal guilt in a way that feels fresh and uncompromising. A gay yuppie couple moves into southern Tel Aviv, a neighborhood of migrant workers and African refugees. Ben (Shlomi Bertonov) tries to do good. He cleans up human feces in his entrance hall, heads the housing committee, and even plants a tree next to his building. But when police responding to Bens call beat an Eritrean migrant to death, Ben fails to act. Instead, he goes on a guilt trip, taking us with him, and ultimately arrives at the place where he can forgive himself but we cant.

The story is told in a series of scenes, many of them darkly funny. But Haguel cuts away from them abruptly before sarcasm turns into comedy. He keeps landing us on a blank screen to remind us that we are watching his film, and that once its over we have to face our own moral choices, not just feel superior to Bens.

While not an issue film, Ofir Raul Graizers America also engages with charged themes of violence and racism. The film opens with Eli (Michael Moshonov) living in the U.S., to which he escaped after his ex-cop father killed his mother. Now the father has died and Eli returns to Israel for the inheritance. The plot springs into action when he meets with his childhood friend Yotam and Yotams fiancee Iris (a revelatory Oshrat Ingedashet), and a freak accident changes the course of their lives.

What follows is a melodrama with a love triangle, entangled histories and unhealed traumas. Without being political, America quietly touches on the difficult realities of life in Israel. Elis story explores toxic militarist masculinity. Iris is an Ethiopian Israeli and the racism she encounters becomes part of her story.

Aside from its stirring plot, this films biggest achievement is its expressive cinematography. Elis lonely life in Chicago is filmed in blue and indigo. The palette changes to grey and brown once he enters the oppressive atmosphere of his fathers house. The screen bursts with colors in the house of Iris and Yotam, awash in yellow and red, and in their flower shop overflowing with green, pink, and purple. With its precise attention to textures and colors, America is a feast for the eyes.

The Soldiers Opinion, by Assaf Banitt, is a documentary about military censorship in Israel. For 50 years, from 1948 to 1998, the IDF maintained a special department tasked with perusing every single letter sent by every single soldier ostensibly, to monitor for military secrets, but in reality, as the censors themselves admit, as a means of mind control.

The censors wrote detailed reports on soldiers opinions, which, at times, influenced policies. More often, these reports provided to higher ups intelligence on private infringements, including homosexuality (which was criminalized), drug abuse, health issues and moral quandaries. What emerges in the reports are doubts about the morality of Israels wars, accounts of plundering, even parallels between the Nazi treatment of Jews and the IDFs treatment of the Palestinians.

The film generously quotes the soldiers letters, on which the reports are based, revealing an honest and painful commentary on Israels wars. In a mere 55 minutes, the film succeeds in bringing together the letters and reports illustrated using rare archival footage, interviews with the censors, talking heads of scholars, and even a reconciliation between a former soldier and a former censor.

Today, even as cell phones put an end to letter writing, the censorship continues. IDF censors monitor soldiers minds and hearts via social media. This eye-opening film, at times moving and at times devastating, is a must-see.

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7 great new films from Israel coming soon to a (big or small) screen near you - Forward

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

As the countdown begins for the signing of a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, a number of disputes have surfaced between Israel and the US about the deal. There is also criticism within Israel of the government's political and military approach towards the agreement. The occupation state appears to be opposing the whole world, which has more or less united to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions through diplomatic means, while Israel foolishly sticks to the punishment approach.

In a step devoid of political wisdom, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to prevent the signing of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal agreed by the administration of then US President Barack Obama. Netanyahu arrived in Washington on the eve of the signing ceremony and delivered a speech in the US Congress against the deal behind Obama's back. Obama did not hesitate to describe him as ungrateful. In the end, Netanyahu returned empty handed while the agreement was signed.

The strange thing is that current Prime Minister Yair Lapid is now following in Netanyahu's footsteps. His National Security Adviser, Eyal Kholta, has arrived in Washington for talks at the White House during which he will hear the details of the agreement before expressing Israel's opposition. It is true that he will be briefed on the details closely, but he will not get what he wants. US President Joe Biden is determined to give Israel a second chance, which it will be a mistake to miss. Mossad spy chief David Barnea has also criticised the agreement, which is being seen as direct criticism of the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, more Israelis are calling for a different policy on the Iran nuclear issue. Automatic opposition to any agreement, coupled with angry rhetoric and an attack on Iran, may earn Brownie points within certain sections of the Israeli electorate, but it brings Tehran closer to deciding to arm itself with nuclear weapons, because it will be the one to decide whether there will be a renewable agreement with the global powers regarding the nuclear file.

Many Israelis believe the new agreement to be less useful than what was on the table earlier. The fact is that Israel can't expect anything better. Iran has made great progress in the production of centrifuges, and is able to enrich uranium faster than before. Israeli policy has played an important part in reaching this bleak situation. It began with Netanyahu's direct attack on Obama, and he continued to push Trump to withdraw from the agreement which he did in 2018 even though Iran had fulfilled its part of the terms.

READ: Rushdie's stabbing is unlikely to delay the Iran nuclear agreement

Israelis are afraid of reproducing Netanyahu's opposition to the nuclear agreement to the point of starting a crisis with Biden, which could cost Israel a lot. The current agreement, even if Israel sees it as bad, is better than no agreement at all, because Israel's current policy is pushing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. Tel Aviv needs to think seriously about a change of policy.

A nuclear Iran is apparently a serious threat to Israel, because it will open the regional nuclear arms race even wider. This will require an examination of every step that Iran takes when looking at other conflict zones. Israelis recall that the late Mossad chief Meir Dagan said, "Forcefully preventing Iran's bomb cannot be achieved by Israel alone; it requires international preparation."

All of this confirms that Israel is facing a complex situation, which has prompted its military and security leaders to ask the politicians and government to coordinate their activities with other countries, notably the US, as well as with their regional partners. The idea must be to create checks and balances against Iranian interests in various places, and to stop believing blindly that the only solution is Israel's military power. Such a belief means, in short, bringing Iran closer to having nuclear weapons.

Israelis are now talking about the conflicting interests of the US and Israel in the nuclear agreement to be signed. This requires the latter to find a way to act without necessarily causing a clash between Lapid and Biden. Netanyahu clashed with Obama, causing relations to deteriorate dramatically.

Although not much is known about the details of the new nuclear agreement, it is clear that it is already much weaker than the original JCPOA signed by Obama, according to Israeli estimates. If implemented, the deal will limit Iran's ability to enrich uranium even more than the original agreement. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv is still making great efforts to persuade Washington not to sign the agreement, or at least to toughen some of its provisions.

READ: Iran nuclear deal limbo may serve interests of both US and Iran

Four main components have been identified to deal with the consequences of the imminent agreement: careful monitoring by the intelligence services, which will prevent Iran from developing an explosive nuclear device secretly; the means to respond and disrupt production if Iran resumes its nuclear weapons development programme; a joint identifier by Tel Aviv and Washington as when to consider Iran to have achieved a breakthrough towards nuclear weapons; and understandings on the action to be taken by Tel Aviv and Washington together, or separately, if Tehran actually gets a nuclear bomb.

It is clear that there are a number of conflicting interests between the occupying power and the United States. The latter has an interest in lifting sanctions on Iran so that it will be able to produce and export oil and gas with no limits, averaging 3.5 million barrels per day, in the face of the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war, and to fill the fuel shortage that Russia has created for Europe in the coming winter. The US also wants to save Iran from falling into the arms of China and Russia and thus reduce the strategic and economic negotiating power of the anti-Western camp.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

Those planning to visit Israel for the first time are often astonished when they realise its small size. Even driving from the northern tip of the country in Metula to its most southerly point in Eilat can be done in less than six hours.

In British terms, the land area of Israel within its internationally recognised borders is about the size of Wales. Or in American terms, it is slightly larger than New Jersey. Even if the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are added to the calculation, they only increase the land area marginally.

But it is not just in relation to geography that Israel is a minnow. In terms of GDP (and despite the success of its high-tech sector) it ranks 28th globally, according to the International Monetary Fund. And its population is only about 9.4million (of whom less than three quarters are Jewish). Even its military although huge relative to the countrys own population and economy is, in absolute terms, less substantial than those of other regional powers, such as Egypt, Iran and Turkey.

Israels relative smallness is surprising given its high profile globally. Matters related to Israel often lead the international news. And debates about Israel and the Palestinians are frequently the most emotionally charged of any topics related to foreign policy and global affairs.

In fact, Israel is probably the most important contemporary example of what Adam Garfinkle, an American historian and political scientist, has called Jewcentricity that is, the tendency to think Jews play a larger role in the world than they actually do. In that respect, it might even make sense to talk about Israel-centricity as a grossly exaggerated view of Israels geopolitical importance.

Anti-Semites are the most obvious example of Jewcentrics. Often, they point to what they see as the immense power of the Jewish lobby in dominating American foreign policy. Their arguments tend to reflect older, conspiratorial tropes about the supposed power of the Jews. And they tend to focus obsessively on Israels shortcomings while ignoring, or at least downplaying, those of many other countries. Indeed, some of the worlds most unsavoury and discriminatory regimes are all too eager to indulge in savage criticism of Israel.

But Jewcentricity is not confined to anti-Semites. Even those who are sympathetic to Israel or to Jews more generally often overestimate its importance. Jews loom larger in their imagination than the cold hard facts suggest is reasonable. That probably helps explain why the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians has been central to the foreign policy of every American president, from George HW Bush to Donald Trump.

The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel and the Fate of the Jewish People, a new book by foreign-affairs professor and Wall Street Journal columnist Walter Russell Mead, examines the unique position attributed to Israel and the Jewish people. As Mead puts it: The state of Israel is a speck on the map of the world; it occupies a continent in the American mind.

The Arc of a Covenant has two related key themes. It is a critique of what Mead calls the Vulcan theory of US-Israel policy the common obsession with the supposed immense power of the Jewish lobby. And it also explores the broader story of Israel and the Jews in American politics, cultural history and even theology, from the colonial era to the present day.

By Vulcanism, Mead is referring to a theory in astronomy popular in the mid-19th century. This held that there was a partially hidden planet Vulcan that explained the apparently erratic orbits of some of the Suns other planets. It was only with the advent of Einsteins theory of relativity in the early 20th century that a better explanation was found.

In Meads view, todays Jewcentrics are like those 19th-century astronomers obsessed with the power of a hidden planet. They selectively pick evidence to support their theory, ignore or downplay contradictory facts and miss the bigger picture. For instance, they overlook the existence of important discontinuities in Americas policy towards Israel. Indeed, the US has not always strongly supported Israel, keeping its distance from the Jewish state from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Jewcentrics also underestimate the differences within the American Jewish community. It was only when the liberal order seemed to be failing Jews notably by refusing to allow free immigration for European Jews desperately trying to flee the Nazis that most American Jews came to support Israel. Before that, it was a minority position. Even today there are big rifts in the American Jewish community over how Jews should relate to the Jewish state.

Mead also gives many examples of Jewcentrics missing the bigger picture. One of the most striking is what he describes as an article of faith namely, the idea that a powerful Jewish lobby engineered the 1947 United Nations vote supporting the creation of a Jewish state. To counter the argument, Mead makes the fair point that if the international Jewish lobby really was so powerful, why did it not stop the rise of Hitler? Or get the worlds countries to oppose Nazi Germany? Or somehow stop the Holocaust?

Mead pays particular attention to American Christians positive attitude towards the Jewish people and Israel. In contrast to the generally more hostile attitude of European Christians towards Jews in Europe, many although by no means all American Protestants came to see Jews in a positive light. The Jewish people were commonly seen as under Gods special covenant and care.

Religious and patriotic support for Israel gained new impetus with the rise of the new American right in the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan. Many evangelical Christians saw the establishment of a Jewish state in the deserts of Palestine as confirming the essential truths of Christianity. This was accompanied by a rise in support for Israel among what Mead calls Jacksonian populists. They tended to be sceptical of attempts to build international institutions, but admired what they saw as Israels strength.

On the left, a key thread from the 19th century onwards was the link between support for the Jewish state and American providential nationalism. Backing Israel was widely seen as in line with Americas own mission to promote national self-determination and self-rule. That was particularly the case when old empires such as the Ottoman Empire and later the British Empire dominated the Middle East. It should be noted that in this context, though, many Americans also supported the emergence of Arab nation states on similar grounds.

The Arc of a Covenant is not flawless. It tends to overlook the fact that, until the 1970s, the right was more critical of Israel, while the left generally backed it. Indeed, it is notable that the civil-rights movement was avidly pro-Israel. But as progressives have moved away from support for national liberation towards a more globalist outlook, they have become increasingly hostile to the Jewish state. Strident criticism of Israel has become an important marker for the left, along with criticism of capitalism and of America itself.

Nevertheless, Mead has performed an important task in identifying some broader themes in relation to American perceptions of Israel. And above all, he has shown that to understand contemporary anti-Semitism, you have to understand the outsized role accorded to both the Jewish people and to Israel.

Daniel Ben-Ami is an author and journalist. He runs the website Radicalism of Fools, which is dedicated to rethinking anti-Semitism. Follow him on Twitter: @danielbenami.

The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel and the Fate of the Jewish People, by Walter Russell Mead, is published by Knopf. (Order it here).

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Why is America so obsessed with Israel? - Spiked

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

The United Nations, despite having voted for the re-establishment of the Jewish state in 1948, remains a cesspool for anti-Israel and anti-Semitic bias. The most striking recent example came in an interview in which Miloon Kothari, a member of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)s Commission of Inquiry (COI) for Israel and the Palestinian Territories, blamed a Jewish lobby for obstructing the bodys work. The commission, he said, is disheartened by the social media that is controlled largely by whether it is the Jewish lobby or specific NGOs. He went on to muse: I would go as far as to raise the question of why are they [Israel] even a member of the UN.

This plainly anti-Semitic comment should lead to both Kotharis resignation and the commissions wholesale dissolution. Kothari believes that Jews control the media and impede the work of the UN. Jews, he further implies, anathema to the UN that is to say, the family of nations.

The Israeli flag outside the United Nations. (Shutterstock/Shutterstock)

We are encouraged that the United States, the European Union and a number of other countries denounced these utterances. Even some UN representatives, while claiming themselves incapable of forcing a member of the Commission of Inquiry to resign, expressed concern about Kotharis comments. This includes the press office of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

But that response simply does not suffice. The commissions other two members, Navi Pillay and Chris Sidoti, both have a record of troubling statements. Sidoti recently claimed that Jews throw around accusations of anti-Semitism like a rice like at a wedding. Pillay claimed that Kotharis comments seem to have been taken out of context and that the commission feels it necessary to clarify certain issues given the seriousness of the accusations.

These statements show how manifestly unfit this commission is to continue in its role. The Commission of Inquiry was established by the UN Human Rights Council following Israels response to Hamas terrorists firing 4,000 rockets at civilians in May 2021. Its resolution makes no mention of the terrorist group Hamas, nor of Israels right to defend herself from terrorist attacks. With no clear mandate and unlimited funding, this one-sided COI is nothing short of an assault on our democratic ally and the worlds only Jewish state.

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The UNs credibility as an honest broker in the region, which already has been spent, will be further overdrawn by the existence of the bias thats now been clearly established. Both Israels Prime Minister Yair Lapid and the Biden administration have rightly demanded the commission be defunded and called for Kotharis dismissal.

The UN could play a productive role in fostering peace in the Middle East. Instead, it is bent on producing biased reports against the state of Israel and serving as a hotbed for the new antisemitism, in which hatred of Jews is presented as human rights activism. From the notorious 1975 General Assembly resolution equating Zionism to racism, to the Goldstone report in the wake of Operation Cast Lead, the UN has a miserable record on these matters. It could start down the long road to improving its reputation by sacking Kothari and disbanding this kangaroo-court panel.

The COI has repeatedly and opportunistically applied its open-ended mandate and disproportionate budget to dishonestly undermine Israels defensive military action. The commission places unfair blame on Israel for supposedly perpetuating conflict in the region while willfully ignoring the countless instances in which the Palestinian Authority (PA) has operated in bad faith at the negotiating table, including frequent incitement of violence against Israel and its civilian population. President Mahmoud Abbas and other PA officials have directly encouraged violence, murder, and hatred directed against Jews, particularly through pay-for-slay schemes that promote the killing of Jews and Israelis for profit.

It is irresponsible and dangerous to minimize the existential threats facing Israel. Violence by terrorist organizations, including Hamas, which the commission refuses to label as a terror group, and particularly of Islamic Jihad, which fired more than 1,100 rockets at civilian targets in Israel at the beginning of the month, threaten to tear apart the very fabric of Israeli society.

Israel has a fundamental right to defend herself in accordance with international law. The nations of the world must condemn the UN commission for the anti-Israel farce that it is and unite against anti-Semitism, whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head.

In September, leaders from around the globe will convene in New York for the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. Let this be the year that we join together in solidarity against Jew-hatred and against the isolation and demonization of Israel. A good start would be to disband the biased and hateful Commission of Inquiry.

Daroff is the chief executive officer of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

Israel and the Palestinian Territories cover an area thats only a bit larger than Wales, but this small slice of land is some of the most sacred on the planet and the most contested. As the location of holy sites for the worlds three major religions, this place has lured travellers like a magnet for millennia. It has been a crossroads of culture and commerce since time immemorial, but Israel and the Palestinian Territories also pack in an astonishing array of landscapes, including coastline on two different seas, two famous lakes, roasting rural deserts and even snow-capped mountains.

Travel restrictions and entry requirements

Israel has lifted most of its Covid-19 restrictions. Travellers arriving in Israel must fill out an Israel Entry Form before departure but no longer have to show proof of vaccination or wear a mask on the plane, and taking a Covid-19 test is not required. The Israeli government asks that travellers who do not feel well during their first 10 days after arrival take a PCR test. Visitors must have a health insurance policy that includes coverage for the treatment of Covid-19. The government does not currently mandate wearing a mask in indoor spaces, but previous rules may be reimposed depending on Covid case rates. Some businesses might still require masks.

Best time to go

Like other destinations in the Middle East, Israel and the Palestinian Territories are best visited in spring and autumn, which are marked by balmy but comfortable weather. Temperatures soar in the summer (May-September), making it a great time to head to the beach but this time of year can mean sweat-drenched sightseeing in the cities. Winters are relatively mild. Snow falls in northern areas and at higher altitudes, including in Jerusalem, but at Israels southern tip, you can still take a winter dip in the Red Sea.

Crowds and costs surge around religious holidays. Because the Jewish and Islamic calendars are based on lunar cycles, holiday dates shift slightly every year in the Gregorian calendar. Visiting during a holiday can have a huge effect on your stay: on some Jewish holidays, restaurants, supermarkets and even border crossings close, while during Ramadan, businesses in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian West Bank and Arab areas of Israel close for the day but reopen after sunset.

The weekly Shabbat the Jewish day of rest that takes place from Friday evening to Saturday night might also affect travel plans. In observant and Orthodox Jewish areas, including parts of West Jerusalem, many shops and restaurants close and public transport ceases for those 25 hours. Shabbat is more relaxed and life carries on more or less normally in large cities such as Tel Aviv and tourist zones like the Dead Sea. As a weekly Jewish observance, Shabbat does not have much effect in predominantly Christian and Muslim areas, such as Nazareth, the West Bank and Akko.

Top cities and regions

Tel Aviv

Unabashedly hedonistic Tel Aviv is Israels party capital, and the city gives every visitor something to celebrate. The sun-soaked seaside stretches along the coast for kilometres, drawing in beach bums, matkot (paddle ball) players, rollerbladers zipping along the promenade and kitesurfers showboating on the water. The citys culinary scene, focused on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, continues to astound with creative takes on Middle Eastern and international cuisine, and Tel Aviv has been named one of the worlds best cities for vegans multiple years in a row. Hip rooftop hangouts tower above hole-in-the-wall craft beer bars that have taken up residence street-art-filled alleys. Tel Avivs distinct whitewashed Bauhaus architecture has also earned it a Unesco listing, and history runs deep in the historic Arab neighbourhood of Jaffa, home to one of the oldest harbours in the world.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is Tel Avivs much more buttoned-up sibling, a place of intense passion, deeply held convictions and heartbreaking division. Spirituality radiates from the Old Citys four quarters, home to Temple Mount (Al Haram ash-Sharif), the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre major holy sites for Muslims, Jews and Christians. Outside the Ottoman-era Old City walls, Jerusalem moves at a more modern clip, but is still firmly rooted in tradition. By day, Machane Yehuda appears at first glance to be a standard fruit, veg and spice market, but after dark, it moonlights as one of Jerusalems coolest nightlife spots, with wooden tables and happy drinkers spilling out into the markets narrow pathways.

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea fills the planets lowest point with hypersaline water thats 10 times saltier than the ocean. The areas unique geography is said to have curative properties, from the oxygen-rich atmosphere found 430.5 metres below sea level to the mineral-dense mud that you can scoop up from the lakebed and lather on your skin. Active types can hike up the nearby mesa of Masada, where Jews took a final stand against Roman rule in 73AD. This historic hilltop is a favourite trek for early birds catching the sunrise.

Bethlehem

Bethlehem might be a bit bigger than the little town you imagined from the Christmas carol, and pilgrims continue to congregate here, especially around Easter and for midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. But even the non-religious will be enchanted by Bethlehems busy market, winding limestone alleys and ancient churches built by various Christian denominations. Travellers also now come to Bethlehem to see the street art painted on the 9m-high, Israeli-built concrete separation wall that divides Israel from the Palestinian West Bank. Banksy has been adding work to the wall since 2005, and the artist even opened the Walled Off Hotel directly across the street from the barrier, which boasts of having the worst view in the world.

Best under-the-radar destinations

The Negev and the Red Sea

Have you really been to the Middle East if you havent seen the desert? The Negev, Israels southern desert that covers the bottom half of the country, feels surprisingly off the grid even though its just a couple hours drive from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. This desert is home to some seriously cool natural and geological features, from the Grand Canyon of Israel at Makhtesh Ramon the worlds largest erosion cirque to the beautiful water-sculpted Red Canyon and an oasis-like desert gorge with still pools and waterfalls at En Avdat National Park. Farther south still, Israel has just 11km of coastline along the Red Sea, but these waters have some of the planets best opportunities for diving and snorkelling. The Red Sea is a hotspot for biodiversity and has hundreds of endemic species found nowhere else.

Akko (Acre)

Though it doesnt have instant name recognition now, Akko is one of the worlds oldest continuously inhabited settlements. Much of the architecture visible today comes from the Crusaders and the Ottomans, and plenty of historic sites both above and below ground, including the vaulted Knights Halls and the underground Templars Tunnel, promise to keep you occupied for hours. Dont miss a stroll along the citys seafront stone walls and a bartering session in the bazaar before scrubbing away the dust of the past with a trip to Ghattas Turkish Bathhouse, located in a sumptuously restored Ottoman-era stone structure.

Ramallah

Night owls and budget travellers should leave time for a pitstop in Ramallah, the West Banks best spot for bars and nightlife. Drinkers will find a surprising selection of watering holes in town, as well as a couple of breweries in nearby villages. Taybeh Brewing Company even puts on its own Oktoberfest. But its not all about the late nights: Ramallah is the de facto West Bank capital and its intellectual heart with a diverse cultural calendar. History buffs and politicos will want to visit the Yasser Arafat Museum, which details the Palestinian leaders life and includes his original office where he was under siege from Israels military for nearly three years.

Best things to do

Graze your way through markets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv

Once youve experienced the depth of history in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, ruminate over your sightseeing adventures at the cities incredible markets. In Tel Aviv, Carmel Market and Levinsky Market are international smorgasbords of treats from the Balkans, Turkey, Syria and beyond. Jerusalems Machane Yehuda Market is a delight at any time of day. Vendors hawk spices, olives, cheese, fish and meat while the suns up, and after some of the stall shutters come down in the evenings, pint-sized bars come to life. Although you can explore the markets on your own, going on a foodie tour with the likes of Yalla Basta provides an in-depth taste and behind-the-scenes access.

Take a hike

The varied range of landscapes here mean exploring by foot is hugely rewarding. Hikers can set off for one day or many along a growing number of long-distance trails, including the country-spanning Israel National Trail, which runs from the Lebanese border to Eilat. The Jesus Trail around Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee takes in important Christian sites. In the West Bank, walkers can follow a section of the Abraham Path between Nablus and Hebron its hoped that one day this trail will link up and span the Middle East from Egypts Sinai across the West Bank, Jordan, Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan.

Spot Roman ruins

So many civilisations have left their mark on this part of the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the most famous empires of all was no exception. Not content to remain in Europe, the ancient Romans pushed east to extend their empire, declaring new provinces and constructing monumental cities. Between Haifa and Tel Aviv lies the Herod-founded Caesarea, once a major port city that still has an impressive 10,000-seat amphitheatre, some mosaic-covered floors and a huge hippodrome in its stunning seaside location. Inland at the intersection of two valleys is Beit Shean, a member of the affluent Decapolis league of cities. It offered all the classic trappings for the empires well-to-do, such as column-lined cobblestone streets, social bathhouses and theatres.

Getting around

Train lines link up major cities, with stations in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Akko and Beer Sheva, as well as at Ben Gurion Airport. A high-speed train operates between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel and the Palestinian West Bank have an extensive and separate network of bus services and shared taxis that run between cities and towns. Hiring a car opens up trips to the countryside, but parking in the cities can be a hassle, and the local driving style can be aggressive. In the West Bank, many travellers opt to hire a driver for the day to see spread-out sights. Public transport in Israel shuts down every week on Shabbat.

How to get there

Israels main international airport is Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv. Budget flights also land in the Red Sea coastal town of Eilat. Israel has four land border crossings, one with Egypt and three with Jordan. Some cruises around the eastern Mediterranean include Israel, docking in Ashdod and Haifa.

The Palestinian Territories do not have an airport. Visiting the West Bank requires passing through an Israeli checkpoint on foot, on a bus or in a car. Israeli citizens including Israeli-run taxis and buses cannot enter Area A, which is under Palestinian administrative and police control. To reach the West Bank by public transport, take an Arab bus from East Jerusalem or an Israeli bus or taxi to the checkpoint, walk through the checkpoint and then find a Palestinian bus or taxi on the other side.

Money-saving tip

Youll find an excellent range of budget accommodation options, from wild camping on the beach or near nature reserves to staying in pilgrim hostels or sleeping at lovely rural kibbutzim Israeli socialist communes usually built between the 1950s and 1970s that have opened their doors as guesthouses with a communal ethos.

FAQs

Will my passport be stamped?

Having an Israeli stamp in your passport means you are unable to visit some countries in the Middle East. Instead of a passport stamp, Israel usually provides a loose business-card-sized entry card for arrivals into Ben Gurion Airport. However, passports are sometimes stamped at land border crossings, and entry to some Arab countries has been denied because of exit stamps from Egypt or Jordan, indicators that youve visited Israel.

What time zone is it in?

The same time zone as eastern Europe: GMT+2. Summertime adds one hour to the clocks from the end of March to the end of October.

What currency do I need?

Israeli new shekels are used in both Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

What language is spoken?

Hebrew and Arabic. English is also widely spoken.

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Israel country guide: Everything you need to know before you go - The Independent

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Posted By admin on August 30, 2022

Ex-spy Pollard endorses Shaked despite her misplaced loyalty

Former American spy Jonathan Pollard has released a video endorsing Ayelet Shaked, leader of the fledgling Zionist Spirit party, making his first intentional public foray into Israeli politics.

Because of my unqualified love of this country and my dedication to its survival and well being, I must now endorse someone who I know will serve Israel in a way that will safeguard both our core interests and our honor. That person is Ayelet Shaked, he says in a video posted to social media.

Speaking in English, Pollard chides Shaked for her misplaced loyalty in Israels last government, but says he thinks she has changed.

I truly believe that she realizes the mistakes she made and will not repeat her error, he says. We need her now, free and clear of the bad influences that hurt both her personal reputation and her political credibility.

He does not mention Shakeds party, which is currently not forecast to make it into the Knesset, though it may get a boost from the endorsement, which had apparently been sought by other right-wing parties.

Shaked tells Army Radio she did not pursue Pollards support, but shes happy for the backing of the right-wing cause celebre.

Its always good in politics when someone gives you support and I hope the public hears his words, she says.

Pollard, a former US Navy analyst, served 30 years in prison for passing secrets to Israel. in the 1980s He moved to Israel in 2020, and though Israeli officials avoided fanfare to keep from angering Washington, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu nonetheless greeted him on the tarmac, in what was seen as a bid to boost his own electoral chances.

Then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) greets released US spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard and his wife Esther at Ben Gurion Airport, December 30, 2020 (Courtesy)

Reacting to the endorsement, Likud MK Shlomo Karhi tweets, and then deletes, This is like going on another spy mission for someone who betrayed you.

He later says he only sought to criticize the scammer Shaked, and meant no disrespect to Pollard.

Simcha Rothman, a spot on whose Religious Zionism partys slate was turned down by Pollard last week, expresses dismay at the video, but tries to keep his criticism focused on Shaked and not the former spy.

Everything may be true. It may be that Ayelet Shakeds actions are not evil, her convictions are not malicious, and she is not even guided by stupidity, he says in an English-language statement. But the bottom line is that it doesnt really matter If she showed weakness at the most critical moments in the history of the State of Israel and fell precisely on issues that were at the core of her actions and her ideology, she is simply not suitable for the position.

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Strike looms after court rejects states request to order teachers to work - The Times of Israel

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Israel's imposition of the crime of apartheid must come as a "wake-up call" to end "impunity on steroids", the UN Security Council was told on Thursday. The president of the US/Middle East Project and former Israeli government advisor Daniel Levy delivered a stark message to the world body in which he warned of the "structural violence" committed by Israel against Palestinians; the failure to uphold international law and deliver a solution based on justice; and the danger of ignoring Israel's countless violations.

Other speakers urged the Security Council to consider the long-term effects of allowing the status quo to remain in the Occupied Palestinian Territory following Israel's recent bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip. Some members welcomed economic measures to allay the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave, while others stressed that this relief is no substitute for a genuine political horizon. Levy criticised the paralysis within the council and denounced routine "condemnation", "formulas" and "slogans" for which the world body has become famous when it comes to Israel's decades-long illegal occupation.

According to Levy, the reason for the stalemate is because the world body continues to hold on to the same false assumptions and beliefs that allow the perpetuation of regular violations of international law and crimes against humanity. Listing the false assumptions, he pointed to the "structural violence" to which Palestinians are subjected daily. His argument was that aid and relief, although essential, cannot be a substitute for genuine peace based on justice. The illegal blockade of Gaza and the unlawful occupation represent forms of structural violence and collective punishment that cannot be ignored, he insisted.

Read: 'Israel is an apartheid state legally, politically and morally', landmark conference concludes

Any attempt to resume negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians without addressing power asymmetries "is a hollow and redundant exercise," said Levy. He urged a focus on power relations rather than "both sides-ism".

"Economic palliatives under occupation deepen dependence and enmity," he pointed out, noting that profound shifts are occurring because of the unwillingness to hold Israel to account. He described the decades of failing to do this, largely due to the US veto and Washington subsiding the apartheid state, as "impunity on steroids".

The former Israeli advisor noted that the failure to generate accountability was the reason why the situation in Palestine is one of apartheid, as documented by all major human rights groups. "The increasingly weighty body of scholarly, legal and public opinion that has designated Israel to be perpetrating apartheid [including] the African group, the Arab group and the OIC group must be a wake-up call." He went on to argue that the current trend is more worrying for Israel than anyone else because the death of the two-state solution will leave no "off ramp" for the occupation state to come down from its racist, apartheid reality.

The significance of the use of the term apartheid by rights groups as well as Arab, African and Islamic groups at the UN Human Rights Council earlier this year cannot be ignored, Levy added. "It will come as little surprise if this echoes and resonates in parts of the world that have experienced apartheid and settler colonialism and have gone through decolonisation. It is a paradigm that will also bring the discrimination faced by Palestinian citizens of Israel into sharper relief."

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UN told Israel's imposition of apartheid must be 'wake-up call' to end impunity - Middle East Monitor

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