Kfar Hashiloach ("Silwan"), 1891 en 1932 (in Jeruzalem, Israel)

 

Geregeld verschijnen er reportages in de krant waarin met afkeuring wordt geschreven over Israels activiteiten in ‘bezet Oost Jeruzalem’ zoals de oude stad en Silwan. Nooit staat erbij dat daar tot 1948 Joden woonden die er met geweld zijn verdreven door de Arabieren (voor een deel gebeurde dit al in eerdere ‘opstanden’ (spreek: pogroms) tijdens de mandaatperiode). Silwan is bijvoorbeeld door Jeminitische Joden gesticht aan het einde van de 19^e eeuw. Nee, niet op Arabisch land maar op een kale heuvel. Vanaf eind 19^e eeuw had Jeruzalem een Joodse meerderheid. 

 

RP

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Kfar Hashiloach ("Silwan"), 1891 and 1932

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2010/06/kfar-hashiloach-silwan-1891-and-1932.html

Wikipedia, in the entry on Silwan, mentions:

In 1882, a group of Jews arrived from Yemen. Initially, they lived in tents. Later, when the rainy season began, they moved into the ancient burial caves on the east side of the valley.^[12] In 1884, the Yemenites moved into new stone houses on the eastern slope of the Kidron, north of the Arab village, built for them by a charity called Ezrat Niddahim. This settlement was called Kfar Hashiloach or the Yemenite Village. Construction costs were kept low by using the Shiloach as a water source instead of digging cisterns. An 1891 photo shows the homes on an otherwise vacant stretch of hillside.^[13] An early 20th century travel guide writes: In the “village of Silwan , east of Kidron … some of the fellah dwellings [are] old sepulchers hewn in the rocks. During late years a great extension of the village southward has sprung up, owing to the settlement here of a colony of poor Jews from Yemen, etc. many of whom have built homes on the steep hillside just above and east of Bir Eyyub,”

The Yemenite Jews fled for their lives from Silwan during the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine and non-Jewish Arabs moved into the vacated buildings. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Silwan was annexed by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Thanks to efforts by Robert Avrech of Seraphic Secret, here is a copy of the photograph of the Yemenite village of Kfar HaShiloach taken in 1891 (click to enlarge): 

 

Its caption:

YNet, in a historic photo essay earlier this year, fills in some blanks and shows us a photo of the exact same area in 1932: 

 

In 1882, Jews emigrated from Yemen to Jerusalem. As they failed to find room in the city within the walls, they resided in caves on the Mount of Olives slopes. The city's Jewish dignitaries rushed to help the Yemenite families, and Yisrael Dov Frumkin, owner of the Havatzelet newspaper, established the "Ezrat Nidachim" association which raised funds for the families.

South of the village of Silwan were non-constructed areas owned by Boaz the Babylonian, who donated them in order to build houses for the Yemenite Jews (marked with yellow arrows). The houses were named Kfar Hashiloach. Additional Jewish families gathered in the area, which housed up to 200 families.

In the 1921, Arabs attacked the neighborhood's residents, killed some of them and torched houses. They "completed" their work in the 1929 riots. The British Mandate authorities, which did not want any conflicts, ordered the residents of Kfar Hashiloach to evacuate themselves from the area.

Notice how much the neighborhood grew between 1891 and 1929. 

So Jews were in this specific area for the 47 years from 1882 to 1929. They were expelled for the 38 years between 1929 and 1967. Israel has controlled the area now for 43 years. At least this part of what is now considered Silwan is being claimed by Arabs as their own, exclusive, area, and most of the world seems to agree.

Why does the world consider the anomalous 19 year period of when Jordan made the eastern part of Jerusalem Judenrein, or the scandalous time period when even relatively new immigrant Jews were forced out of their homes in the 1920s and 1930s, to be the "status quo?"

 

Moslims boos over Mughrabi brug naar Tempelberg (in Jeruzalem, bezet Palestina)

 

Er is weer gedoe over de zogenaamde Mughrabi brug, die het plein voor de klaagmuur verbindt met de Tempelberg en de Al Aqsa Moskee. Dit is de enige manier voor niet-moslims om daar te komen. De laatste keer dat ik in Israel was was hij wel open (is lang niet altijd het geval) maar de rij was zo lang dat we het maar hebben gelaten. De vroegere brug was in 2004 ingestort door een aardbeving en sneeuw, en de huidige was in 2007 gebouwd. Bij eerdere renovaties was er ook al een uitbarsting van woede in de Arabische wereld, en werd beweerd dat Israel de Al Aqsa Moskee wou vernietigen. Dit is al vanaf de jaren ’20 de manier om de Palestijnen tegen de Joden op te hitsen, en het werkt telkens weer...

 

RP

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Sorely needed facts about the Mughrabi ramp and gate

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2011/12/sorely-needed-facts-about-mughrabi-ramp.html

 

It is a weekday, so that means that Muslims and Islamists are freaking out (the only other time they do that is on weekends):

A Hamas spokesman said Monday that the closure of Jerusalem's Mughrabi Bridge, which leads from the Western Wall Plaza to the Temple Mount, is an attack against Muslim holy sites, AFP reported.

"This is a serious step that shows the Zionist scheme of aggression again the Al Aqsa mosque," Fawzi Barhum told AFP.

Jordan's powerful Islamists on Monday denounced a decision by Israel to close a controversial access ramp to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem as "flagrant aggression."

"This is a very dangerous move," the head of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood, Hammam Said, told AFP.

"The only solution against this entity [Israel] is resistance in order to protect the sanctity of the holy places against such flagrant aggression," he said.

"Jordan rejects any Israeli attempt to affect Jerusalem's holy sites, identity and heritage, including Al-Mughrabi Gate" that leads to the compound's Al-Buraq Wall, known to Jews as the Western Wall, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said.

So how ancient is the obviously sacred and venerable Mughrabi ramp/bridge? Was it built in the time of Mohammed, or during the Mamluk period? Did Yasir Arafat ever step foot on it? 

Of course not. It was built in 2007, by Israel, after the earlier ramp collapsed in 2004 in a landslide due to an earthquake and snowstorms that year. 

When the ramp collapsed in 2004, the Muslims blamed Israel, saying that Israel was attempting to destroy the entire Temple Mount.

When Israeli archaeologists, after three years of study, announced the collapse had revealed a heretofore unknown ancient Muslim prayer room, Muslims complained that Israel hid this information from them. (How that helps Judaize Jerusalem is an open question.)

And when the temporary ramp was being constructed in 2007, Muslims rioted 

Let's go back in time a little. When was the Mughrabi gate re-opened to begin with?

Before 1920, The Mughrabi Gate was closed. At the time the Western Wall was a small cul-de-sac where worshipers could gather in relative privacy. But then the infamous Mufti of Jerusalem opened up the Mughrabi Gate - specifically to turn the area into a thoroughfare so that the Jewish worshipers would be disturbed. They even drove mules through the prayer area.

A few days before the 1929 anti-Jewish pogrom broke out, "an incited Muslim mob rampaged through the opening torn by the Mufti in the south of the plaza, attacking the Jewish worshipers and destroying ritual objects."

(The Mughrabi Gate itself was built only around the 12th century - above what is known as Barclay's Gate, which is believed to be one of the original Second Temple gates. Barclay's Gate was closed off by Muslims in the 10th century and was rediscovered by James Barclay in 1848. It can be seen in the women's section of the Wall today.)

So the Muslims are upset when the ramp collapses, they are upset when Israel builds a temporary replacement, they are upset when Israel closes the temporary replacement ramp.

Keep in mind also that Mughrabi Gate is the only gate that non-Muslims may use to access the Temple Mount. Muslims are not at all inconvenienced by the closure of the ramp - but Jews and Christians are.

 

 

Mensenlevens in gevaar door besluit PA minder zieken naar Israel te laten gaan voor behandeling

 

Israel wordt steeds bekritiseerd omdat het te weinig ernstig zieke Gazanen zou doorlaten voor behandeling in Israel, maar er zijn al meerdere berichten geweest dat het probleem (ten minste deels) aan Palestijnse kant ligt. Wat de beweegreden voor dit nieuwe besluit is, is niet echt duidelijk. De kosten van behandeling in Israel zouden te hoog oplopen, volgens sommigen. Dat kan een rol spelen, maar mij lijkt dat daar fondsen voor te vinden moeten zijn, en de PA krijgt bovendien buitengewoon veel internationale financiële steun. Ook worden al patiënten gratis geholpen door steun van allerlei liefdadigheidsinstellingen, ook Israelische. De rivaliteit tussen Fatah en Hamas zal zeker ook een rol spelen in dit besluit. Onderstaand bericht gaat over de Gazastrook; vraag is of deze maatregel ook in de Westoever geldt?

 

Wouter

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Two Children Die and Lives of Dozens of Others Endangered; PCHR Strongly Condemns Ministry of Health's Decision to Decrease Transfers of Patients to Israeli Hospitals without Taking into Consideration Their Serious Health Conditions or Providing an Altern

Sunday, 04 December 2011 00:00

Ref: 125/2011

http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7906:two-children-die-and-lives-of-dozens-of-others-endangered-pchr-strongly-condemns-ministry-of-healths-decision-to-decrease-transfers-of-patients-to-israeli-hospitals-without-taking-into-consideration-their-serious-health-conditions-or-providing-an-altern&catid=36:pchrpressreleases&Itemid=194

 

 

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the decision taken by the Palestinian Ministry of Health to decrease transfers of patients who are in critical or serious health conditions to Israeli hospitals to receive medical treatment or resume previous treatment, under the claim of rationalizing medical transfers from the Gaza Strip. PCHR expresses utmost concern for the lives of dozens of patients who urgently need medical treatment in advanced health facilities, due to lack of capabilities in hospitals throughout the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, with which the Ministry of Health deals.

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, the Ministry of Health in Ramallah issued a decision decreasing transfers of patients to Israeli hospitals starting from 02 November 2011, and the Department of External Treatment in Gaza has been committed to this decision. The decision is attributed, according to sources of the Ministry, to the high costs of treatment in Israeli hospitals. These sources pointed out that this decision had been studied and discussed in the Ministry of Health for years, but it was delayed due the need of some patients, especially those suffering from serious or incurable diseases in need of treatment in advanced health facilities, and because Israeli hospitals are closer to the Gaza Strip than Egypt and Jordan.

 

This decision has led to stopping dozens of transfers of patients who suffer from serious diseases, 90% of them cancer patients, whose treatment is not available in the Gaza Strip. It has also endangered the lives of dozens of patients who are in critical conditions and whose transfer to Egyptian hospitals is not possible due to the long distance. Furthermore, not all medical treatment for their diseases is available in hospitals in Jerusalem or the West Bank. Two children died as they urgently needed advanced medical treatment, but the Ministry of Health transferred them to hospitals that cannot treat their diseases. Those hospitals apologized for not admitting them, and the Ministry of Health did not transfer them to Israeli Hospitals. PCHR lawyers immediately intervened with concerned bodies and with the Director General of Medical Insurance in the West Bank in an attempt to save the lives of the two children, but they died before a response was sent to PCHR.

 

On 04 November 2011, Mohammed Azzam Sahwil, born on 29 September 2002, who was suffering from growth retardation and muscle atrophy, died. His health condition deteriorated on 01 November 2011, so he was admitted into the intensive care unit of al-Nasser Hospital in Gaza City. The Ministry of Health was provided with an urgent report to make necessary arrangements for transfer him abroad. On 25 October 2011, the child obtained Form No. 1 to receive medical treatment abroad. On 02 November 2011, the child obtained financial coverage for medical treatment in al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem, but the hospital refused to admit him because of its inability to treat him. The Ministry of Health was informed of this decision, but it did not take necessary action to transfer him to an advanced hospital that can treat his diseases – in this case an Israeli hospital. As a result, his health condition deteriorated further until he died in the intensive care unit of al-Nasser Hospital in Gaza City.

 

Less than one month later, the child's sister died in similar circumstances. The Ministry of Health did not learn the lesson from what happened to her brother. On 01 December 2011, Hiba Azzam Sahwil, born on 03 January 2003, who was also suffering from growth retardation and muscle atrophy, died. On 27 November 2011, she obtained Form No. 1 to receive medical treatment abroad. On 27 November 2011, she obtained financial coverage for treatment in al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem. On 28 November 2011, an appointment was arranged for her on 13 December 2011. However, her health condition deteriorated on 29 November 2011 and she was admitted into the intensive care unit of al-Nasser Hospital. The Ministry of Health was informed and al-Maqassed Hospital was contacted to schedule an appointment at an earlier date. However, at approximately 12:30 on 30 November 2011, al-Maqassed Hospital announced it would not admit her because of its inability to treat her. The Ministry of health was informed about that and was requested to immediately transfer the child to Ekhilov Hospital in Israel, but the Ministry refused to transfer her. At approximately 11:30 on 01 December 2011, a financial coverage was sent to al-Mizan Hospital in the West Bank, but the child had already died at approximately 11:05.

 

PCHR is following up the case of a sister of the two dead children, Ayat Azzam Sahwil, born on 31 October 2003, who suffers from the same disease. On 22 November 2011, she obtained Form No. 1 to received medical treatment abroad. On 27 November 2011, she obtained a financial coverage to receive medical treatment in al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem. The Ministry of Health was informed of her sister's death and was urged to save Ayat's life by transferring her immediately to an Israeli Hospital. At approximately 13:30 on 01 December 2011, she obtained a financial coverage for treatment in Ekhilov Hospital in Israel, and coordination for her access to the hospital is ongoing.

 

It is worth noting that PCHR has sent a letter to Mr. Nizar Masalma, Director General of Medical Insurance in the West Bank, demanding him to allow 24 patients, who suffer from serious and chronic diseases, to continue receiving medical treatment in advanced medical facilities. PCHR is still waiting for a response.

 

In light of the above:

1. PCHR calls upon the Ministry of Health to recognize the repercussions of the decision to decrease transfers of patients to Israeli hospitals and its impact on the lives of patients from the Gaza Strip who suffer from serious diseases, and calls for immediate suspension of this decision pending providing adequate alternatives that can provide similar health services to patients from the Gaza Strip;
2. PCHR warns of the deterioration of health conditions of dozens of patients who suffer from serious diseases and cannot access medical treatment in Israeli hospitals, and warns of a possible increase in the number of deaths among these patients if the decision remains in effect;
3. PCHR calls for an immediate solution to this problem which threatens the lives of dozens of patients, for whom the Palestinian Basic Law and international and regional human rights instruments ensure enjoying the highest attainable level of health, including access to necessary health services, medicines and adequate treatment to maintain the life and health of every human being.

 

 

Verbod op luidsprekers op moskeën in Israel?

 

Het is me in Israel al vaker opgevallen: vijf keer per dag worden moslims via luidsprekers tot het gebed opgeroepen, en dat hoor je kilometers ver. Het heeft voor mij iets exotisch, het laat je voelen dat je in een Midden-Oosters land bent en laat ook zien dat Israel in religieus opzicht toleranter is dan Europa. Discussies over de hoofddoek en de bouw van moskeën heb je er bij mijn weten niet, want moslims zijn een veel vanzelfsprekender onderdeel van de samenleving. In sommige delen van Israel, zoals het noorden, is 50% van de bevolking moslim. Maar nu heeft Yisrael Beiteinu een voorstel gedaan om de versterkte oproepen tot gebed te verbieden, na vele klachten van Joden (bedenk dat de oproep voor het morgengebed om half vijf 's ochtends is...)

 

"I have received numerous requests from people who are bothered by the noise from the mosques," he said. "The same problem exists in all European countries, and they know how to deal with it. It's legitimate in Belgium; it's legitimate in France. Why isn't it legitimate here? We don't need to be more liberal than Europe."

Wel, in zeker opzicht wel, want in Europa zijn moslims relatief nieuw en is het dus redelijk van hen te vragen zich aan te passen aan de samenlevingen waar zij komen wonen. Verder lijkt het mij logisch dat er alleen een probleem is daar waar moslims en Joden bij elkaar in de buurt wonen, en dat dat wellicht in onderling overleg kan worden opgelost, zoals in sommige plaatsen ook al gebeurt volgens onderstaand artikel.

 

Michael Eitan, minister for the improvement of government services, agreed with Meridor, adding that this law was just a pretext for those wishing to legislate against Muslims. "If the desire was to combat sound, then a law against sound in all areas should be introduced," said Eitan. "But the MK proposing the bill wants to combat religion. I met with her and she tried selling it to me as an environmental law. I said to her, 'Look me in the eyes. You are not interested in the environment, but in Islam."

Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat joined Eitan and Meridor, saying anyone who wishes to serve a complaint over noises coming from Mosques can already do so under existing law. "There is an anti-noise law that is supposed to deal with the problem of noise from mosques, if such a problem even exists, but that law is not enforced. There is no need for a new law, rather the proper enforcement of the existing one," said Livnat.

Die anti-herrie wet wordt in Israel zeker niet gehandhaafd, en dat zou m.i. ook onmogelijk zijn. Mensen maken er overal continu herrie, dat is een onderdeel van de nationale cultuur. Het getoeter op de wegen vanaf vroeg in de ochtend tot laat in de avond houdt mensen evenzeer uit de slaap, om over de vele werkplaatsen waar men om half zeven 's ochtends begint nog maar te zwijgen. Ik sliep zelf beter in het hostel in de oude stad van Jeruzalem dan in dat naast een rij werkplaatsen in Tel Aviv.

 

Opvallend is dat bijna alle Likoed ministers tegen het nieuwe wetsvoorstel zijn. 

 

RP

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Netanyahu backs law to ban loudspeakers at mosques

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-backs-law-to-ban-loudspeakers-at-mosques-1.400875

'There's no need to be more liberal than Europe,' PM says of move that would ban loudspeakers in calls to prayer.

By Barak Ravid

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday voiced support for a law that would ban mosques from using loudspeaker systems to call people to prayer.

The so-called Muezzin Law, propsed by MK Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu ) applies to all houses of worship but the practice is prevalent only in mosques.

"There's no need to be more liberal than Europe," Netanyahu said in reference to the law during a meeting of his Likud ministers.

After intense pressure from Likud ministers Limor Livnat, Dan Meridor and Michael Eitan, who harshly criticized the bill, Netanyahu announced that he was postponing the scheduled debate in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

Michaeli has said hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens routinely suffer from the noise caused by the muezzin's calls to prayer.

"The bill comes from a worldview whereby freedom of religion should not be a factor in undermining quality of life," she said.

Netanyahu made similar comments to the Likud ministers.

"I have received numerous requests from people who are bothered by the noise from the mosques," he said. "The same problem exists in all European countries, and they know how to deal with it. It's legitimate in Belgium; it's legitimate in France. Why isn't it legitimate here? We don't need to be more liberal than Europe."

Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor said there was no need for such a law and that it would only escalate tensions.

Michael Eitan, minister for the improvement of government services, agreed with Meridor, adding that this law was just a pretext for those wishing to legislate against Muslims. "If the desire was to combat sound, then a law against sound in all areas should be introduced," said Eitan. "But the MK proposing the bill wants to combat religion. I met with her and she tried selling it to me as an environmental law. I said to her, 'Look me in the eyes. You are not interested in the environment, but in Islam."

Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat joined Eitan and Meridor, saying anyone who wishes to serve a complaint over noises coming from Mosques can already do so under existing law. "There is an anti-noise law that is supposed to deal with the problem of noise from mosques, if such a problem even exists, but that law is not enforced. There is no need for a new law, rather the proper enforcement of the existing one," said Livnat.

"None of the ministers came to Netanyahu's defense or supported his position," said one minister who participated in the meeting.

Netanyahu realized he would not be able to muster a majority in support of the law among his Likud ministers, and announced that the bill would be removed from the agenda of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, which convened a few hours after the Likud meeting.

Netanyahu added, however, the matter would be debated over the coming days and that the bill would be brought before the ministerial committee next week.

As a resident of Caesarea, Netanyahu is particularly familiar with the struggles that exist over noises emerging from mosques. For some time now, Caesarea residents have been acting against the use of loudspeaker systems by mosques in the neighboring village of Jisr al-Zarqa. In the past few years, "round table" teams comprised of members from both villages have been set up to find solutions to various issues. One of the representatives from Jisr al-Zarqa told Haaretz the issue of mosques using loudspeakers has arisen in their meetings.

Head of the Jisr al-Zarqa local council Az-a-Din Amash said Netanyahu did not intervene in the discussions, adding, "We have no desire to clash with Caesarea residents over the matter, quite the opposite. As such, we established a joint committee for dialogue, in which numerous issues relating to mosques use of loudspeaker systems arise."

 

De Kreek is wegens antisemitisme door de rechtbank veroordeeld tot....

 

Jeroen de Kreek van de zwaar antisemitische website Het Zuur is door de rechtbank veroordeeld voor antisemitisme tot......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

een taakstraf van 40 uur. 40 uur!!! Een week lang de vloer en WC's van het Anne Frank huis schrobben, of antisemitische graffiti weghalen, of antisemitische comments van internetfora en websites meulenbelten, of.....

Het leven van een antisemiet anno 2011 gaat niet over rozen. In werkelijkheid zal het wel wat schoffelen worden, of sneeuwschuiven als het weer echt winter wordt. 

 

RP

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De sjaak

http://barracudanls.blogspot.com/2011/12/de-sjaak.html

Jeroen de Kreek, alias Het Zuur, is de sjaak. De rechtbank in Amsterdamveroordeelde De Kreek vandaag voor het beledigen van Joden tot een taakstraf van 40 uur, 'met bevel, voor het geval dat de verdachte de taakstraf niet naar behoren heeft verricht, dat vervangende hechtenis zal worden toegepast van 20 dagen.' 
De officier van justitie had overigens een werkstraf van 100 uren geëist, met een eventuele vervangende hechtenis van 50 dagen, waarvan 40 uren voorwaardelijk, met een proeftijd van 2 jaar.

In het vonnis lezen we dat De Kreek zich - kort gezegd - op het standpunt stelde dat het openbaar ministerie hem vervolgde om oneigenlijke (politieke) redenen en om deze reden niet-ontvankelijk diende te worden verklaard. 'Verdachte zoekt op zijn sites het debat om het publiek bekend te maken met aan terrorisme gerelateerde misdrijven van Nederlandse politici. Het openbaar ministerie laat na om deze misdrijven te vervolgen en neemt daarmee feitelijk deel aan internationale misdrijven. Ten slotte, aldus verdachte, is justitie in shock, ten gevolge waarvan niet wordt opgetreden tegen discriminatie en aanzetten tot haatzaaien tegen nieuwe medelanders, terwijl wel wordt opgetreden tegen de boodschapper van het slechte nieuws over de schuld van de zionisten.'

Volgens de Kreek zelf stonden de lui van het Meldpunt Discriminatie Internet buiten bij de rechtbank. 'Toen ze werden aangesproken op het vervolg, begon een hater van het MDI met schimmel in de baard "oprotten" te bitsen.' De hamvraag is: hoe lang houdt Jeroen de geheelonthouding vol?

 

Nederlandse regering heroverweegt steun aan UNRWA

 

Goed nieuws. Het is eigenlijk vreemd dat er naast de UNHCR speciaal voor de Palestijnse vluchtelingen een aparte vluchtelingenorganisatie in het leven is geroepen, met een ander doel en een ander mandaat. Voor Palestijnse vluchtelingen gelden andere criteria, zoals dat de vluchtelingenstatus automatisch wordt overgeërfd door de kinderen en kleinkinderen, en de UNRWA richt zich in tegenstelling tot de UNHCR niet op herhuisvesting en dus het oplossen van het probleem, maar slechts op tijdelijke hulpverlening binnen vluchtelingenkampen. De UNRWA houdt net als de PLO en de PA vast aan het zogenaamde recht op terugkeer van de miljoenen nakomelingen van de vluchtelingen, en staat daarmee een oplossing juist in de weg. Het is goed dat Nederland haar financiering van UNRWA eens kritisch zal bekijken; hopelijk is dit – na Canada – een duidelijk signaal. De vluchtelingen verdienen beter dan eindeloos in de kampen te worden gehouden terwijl de mythe van een 'terugkeer' naar Israel kunstmatig in stand wordt gehouden.

 

RP

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Holland to reconsider UNRWA funding

 

http://www.ejpress.org/article/news/western_europe/55030 by: Cnaan Liphshiz

Updated: 11/Dec/2011 22:35

 

THE HAGUE (EJP)---Holland will "thoroughly review" its policy on the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA), Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal told the parliament in The Hague.

The Dutch ruling party called UNRWA's definitions "worrisome." Holland is UNRWA's 6th largest donor, with an annual contribution of roughly 30 million dollars.

Rosenthal announced the review in reply to a question by the speaker of his own faction, the Liberal VVD.

"UNRWA uses its own unique definition of refugees, different to the UN's. The refugee issue is a big obstacle for peace. We therefore ask the government acknowledge this discrepancy, which leads to the third-generation Palestinian refugees," VVD speaker Hans Ten Broeke said.

Minister Uri Rosenthal promised to "thoroughly review the subject and adopt a balanced resolution on it." He added: "I understand many involved parties regard UNRWA's approach as highly important as it helps clarify matters and bring them into focus."

The minister's position is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks in a letter to parliament.

UNRWA was set up in 1949 by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as an independent body entrusted with caring for Palestinian refugees who fled their homes in the years 1946-1949. Unlike UNHCR, UNRWA extends the definition of refugee also to descendants.

Additionally, UNRWA refugees keep their status after gaining citizenship. UNHCR is responsible for all refugees except Palestinians.

According to UNRWA, there are approximately five million Palestinian refugees worldwide.

Last year Canada stopped its core funding of roughly 10 million dollars annually for UNRWA. In 2011 UNRWA enjoyed a budget of 1.23 billion dollars, roughly half of it provided by the U.S and the European Commission – its two largest donors, followed by Sweden, Britain and Norway.

 

Belgisch Centrum Gelijke Kansen nu zelf aangeklaagd wegens racisme

 

Tijdens een cursus over 'multiculturele communicatie' van het Belgische centrum voor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racisme bestrijding zei een van de docenten over Joden: "Die mensen kunnen zich alles permitteren omdat ze geld en financiële macht hebben, maar ook omdat ze ons schuldgevoel voor de Holocaust steeds uitbuiten". Tien jaar geleden zou je het niet hebben geloofd, tegenwoordig past het in een patroon van steeds meer anti-Joodse uitingen en ook tolerantie daarvoor in de samenleving, juist of in ieder geval ook bij links. De directeur van het centrum reageert, nadat een van de cursisten erop wees, nogal defensief. Van enig gevoel van schaamte of urgentie lijkt geen sprake:

 

Volgens De Witte zou het commentaar gemaakt zijn op een moment waar het over inburgering ging en refereerden zijn medewerkers naar het feit dat een handvol chassidische Joden uit het buitenland weigerden om deze cursussen te volgen. Maar de verschillende politiecommissarissen die wij konden spreken ontkennen dit snoeihard. De Witte geeft uiteindelijk toe dat het om antisemitisch gedrag gaat maar stelt dat het nog te vroeg is om conclusies te trekken: "Om een opinie te kunnen geven of het hier om strafbaar antisemitisme gaat is het nodig om meer informatie te hebben. Zoals u weet stelt de wet dat 'de context en de opzet', mee bepaalt of iets al dan niet strafbaar is".

 

De docente die de gewraakte opmerkingen maakte is zelf van Turkse komaf.

 

RP

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Centrum Gelijke Kansen nu zelf aangeklaagd wegens racisme

http://joodsactueel.be/2011/12/12/centrum-gelijke-kansen-nu-zelf-aangeklaagd-wegens-racisme/

Maandag 12 December 2011 14:15

 

Ongeloof alom tijdens één van de lessen 'multiculturele communicatie' voor hoge functionarissen van de politie, eerder deze maand. De cursus wordt gegeven door leden van het Centrum voor Gelijke Kansen die blijkbaar zelf racistische praat niet schuwen. De agenten maken er kennis met een flagrant staaltje racisme wanneer één van de lesgeefsters eerst enkele bedenkelijke commentaren lanceert over homo's en wat later de Joodse gemeenschap de volle laag geeft: "Die mensen kunnen zich alles permitteren omdat ze geld en financiële macht hebben, maar ook omdat ze ons schuldgevoel voor de Holocaust steeds uitbuiten". De agenten reageren geschokt. 

 

David Vroome (43) is politiecommissaris bij de federale politie te Brussel en volgde op 6 en 8 december samen met een twintigtal collega's de voorgenoemde cursussen in het Geruzetcomplex te Etterbeek. Vroome is jurist van opleiding en werkte jaren als advocaat in Antwerpen en Brussel. "De uitspraken tegenover de Joodse Gemeenschap waren totaal ongehoord", vertelt Vroome tegen Joods Actueel. "En te denken dat dit een medewerkster was van het Centrum Gelijke Kansen maakt het nog des te erger", vertelt de man. Ook andere agenten, allen hoge kaderleden van de politie, bevestigen ons het relaas.

 

De cursus werd gegeven door twee vrouwelijke medewerksters, de gewraakte uitspraken komen op rekening van een vrouw van Turkse origine. Commissaris Vroome: "Op een bepaald ogenblik ging de cursus over etno- en subculturele groepen in onze samenleving en werd er gesproken over de Chinezen, de Japanners en de Eurocraten in Brussel die elk in hun eigen winkeltjes en restaurants terecht kunnen maar ook hun eigen omgangsvormen en regels hebben. En zo kwamen we terecht bij de Joodse gemeenschap. 

 

Het was toen dat de choquerende uitspraken vielen. Er werd gewezen op de "financiële macht" van de Joden waardoor ze zich alles konden permitteren. Maar ook het feit dat "Joden steeds weer over het verleden beginnen" – manifest verwijzend naar de Holocaust – speelt een rol. "En", voegde de lesgeefster er in één adem aan toe, "terwijl België hier toch niets mee te maken had!" 

 

"Het publiek in de cursuszaal reageerde plots zeer alert", getuigt een andere politiecommissaris die niet met naam vermeld wil worden. "Je hoorde de mensen de adem inhouden en je zag iedereen de ogen wijd opentrekken. De andere Centrum-medewerkster gaf geen krimp en de les werd gewoon verder gezet, als was er niets gebeurd". 

 

Onpartijdigheid
"Er bestaat geen twijfel dat beide vrouwen medewerkers van het Centrum zijn", aldus de commissaris, "dat was het eerste wat ze vertelden en trouwens op de slides die we meekregen staan ook de contactgegevens van het Centrum onder de presentatie". Vandaag maakte de commissaris dan zelf melding van dit incident bij het Centrum. De vraag is echter of het Centrum wel een klacht tegen één van zijn eigen medewerkers kan onderzoeken. Hiermee wordt de schijn van onpartijdigheid al meteen ondermijnd. De commissaris overweegt daarom ook om een gerechtelijke klacht in te dienen. "Aan getuigen zal het alvast niet ontbreken", zegt de politieambtenaar die ook nog weet dat het getuigenis van beëdigde ambtenaren een grotere juridische waarde heeft dan dat van reguliere burgers.

 

Directeur van het Centrum, Jozef De Witte, reageert vanuit Washington tegen Joods Actueel. In eerste instantie lijkt het alsof hij zijn collega's in bescherming wil nemen: "Stellen dat joden geld hebben is een grove veralgemening. Men heeft mij herhaaldelijk en vanuit diverse kanten gezegd dat er bijvoorbeeld in Antwerpen Joden leven die het echt niet breed hebben, wel integendeel." De Witte relativeert hiermee het racistisch gedrag van zijn medewerkers door het debat ogenschijnlijk te verleggen naar de vraag of Joden nu wel of niet rijk zijn. Hij vervolgt: "Stellen dat België niets te maken had met de Jodenuitroeiing is natuurlijk een flagrante onjuistheid: er is al genoeg gepubliceerd over de betrokkenheid van België." Nogmaals speelt De Witte de bal mis door te focussen op het waarheidsgehalte van de uitspraken zonder de bredere context te kaderen, namelijk de opmerking dat Joden zich alles kunnen permitteren omwille van deze of gene reden. 

 

Volgens De Witte zou het commentaar gemaakt zijn op een moment waar het over inburgering ging en refereerden zijn medewerkers naar het feit dat een handvol chassidische Joden uit het buitenland weigerden om deze cursussen te volgen. Maar de verschillende politiecommissarissen die wij konden spreken ontkennen dit snoeihard. De Witte geeft uiteindelijk toe dat het om antisemitisch gedrag gaat maar stelt dat het nog te vroeg is om conclusies te trekken: "Om een opinie te kunnen geven of het hier om strafbaar antisemitisme gaat is het nodig om meer informatie te hebben. Zoals u weet stelt de wet dat 'de context en de opzet', mee bepaalt of iets al dan niet strafbaar is". Met andere woorden, het Centrum lijkt, in eerste instantie, enkel te willen optreden na een gerechtelijke veroordeling. David Vroome: "Dat is absurd, zo'n mensen horen gewoon niet thuis in een centrum voor racismebestrijding. Ik kan er totaal niet inkomen waar De Witte nog op wacht om deze dame met onmiddellijke ingang te schorsen, was ik directeur geweest van dit centrum dan had ik dat alvast meteen gedaan".

 

Dankwoord van Gilad Shalit

 

Ook in Nederland is aktie gevoerd voor de vrijlating van Shalit, maar niet door de gebruikelijke mensenrechtengroepen en zelfverklaarde vredesactivisten.

 

 

Shalit thanks activists for 'determined struggle'

In pre-recorded message, former captive says campaign for his release made exchange deal with Hamas possible

Boaz Fyler

Published: 12.10.11, 21:34

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4159614,00.html

 

In a pre-recorded message to activists who worked 1,941 days for his release, Gilad Shalit said, "I will be grateful for the rest of my life."

 

"I know without a doubt that your ongoing determined struggle for my release, each one according to his or her abilities, along with the support for my family throughout the long journey, was one of the deciding factors in the decision to bring me home," he said.

 

Some 300 activists gathered in Kibbutz Shefayim Saturday evening to listen to the message from Shalit, who was released in October in the framework of a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.

 

"I am certain that I will hear much more about this long and exhausting campaign you launched in the summer of 2006 and continued without getting discouraged or backing down despite the difficulties, the ups and downs, the hope and disappointments, until it ended on October 18," Shalit told the activists.

 

Noam Shalit, the former captive's father, told the activists "tonight we've reached the end of this long journey. Gilad still has a long way to go, but you – the dedicated activists – can say ('job well done').

 

"Gilad still does not know about all the rigorous work that was done for him, about all the good people who worked tirelessly for so many years. Naturally, he is finding it difficult to process so much information, but I suppose that in time he will be exposed to everything that was done and all the people and organizations who acted and accompanied us loyally and tenaciously until the struggle was over," he said.

 

Shimshon Libman, who headed the campaign to free Gilad Shalit, told the activists they were the "heroes of 2011," adding "the words of (Palmach commander Yitzhak Sadeh) come to mind: 'Heroism is not only courage in battle, it is also the opposite of selfishness.'"

 

Libman also thanked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his "brave decision" to approve the prisoner exchange agreement.

 

Activist Shai Gross, who was one of the hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976, told Ynet he met Gilad Shalit two weeks ago. "He gained weight and looked much better than I had expected. Obviously it will take him time. It was difficult for me at first too, but I have no doubt he will be fine," said Gross.

 

Muizen speuren naar terroristen op vliegveld

 

In Israel zijn ze door de ratten besnuffeld, of eigenlijk door de muizen. Maar als het de rompslomp en het lange wachten en de irritante controles op Ben Gurion Airport verminderd, dan kan ik misschien leven met deze exploitatie van kleine onschuldige diertjes, niet?

 

Wouter

___________

The latest in high-tech security - a mouse

http://www.israel21c.org/technology/the-latest-in-high-tech-security-a-mouse

By David Shamah
February 24, 2011

 

Forget X-ray body scanners and sniffer dogs, Israel's Bioexplorers has developed a foolproof system for security agencies to detect explosives, by using mice.

Israeli startup Bioexplorers has developed a new and unique way to sniff out terrorists - literally. After years of research, company CEO Eran Lumbroso tells ISRAEL21c, Bioexplorers has hit upon a foolproof, non-invasive and easy method to detect contraband in purses, luggage and even cargo - using mice.

It's no joke. "Mice have an excellent sense of smell, and they're relatively easy to train. And they're easier to use for odor detection than other animals traditionally used for their olfactory capabilities."

Dogs are most often used by security forces to detect drugs and explosives, says Lumbroso, but they generally respond to the directions of their trainer, making their work more of an art than a science. "I was looking for a way to automate and mechanize the training process, so it could be duplicated easily and installed in a variety of settings. And we have been able to achieve that goal using mice."

Mice get it right every time

Here's how it works: A person passes through a passageway in which a Bioexplorers system is installed. A fan passes air into a sensor receptor, and delivers it into a chamber with several mice. The mice, having gone through intensive behavioral training, sniff the air. If the odor is one associated with items the mice have been trained to recognize, like drugs or bombs, they move into another chamber - setting off an alarm. Security officers can then move in and stop the appropriate suspect.

"The mice rarely make an error, and the entire procedure is far less invasive or intimidating than the alternatives, like using dogs or X-ray machines," says Lumbroso. "There's no radiation, and no concern about being seen naked," he adds.

The system is appropriate for use in any setting - airports, government buildings, shopping malls. In fact, the company has conducted several tests at sites in Israel to ensure that the sensors work in real situations, including at Tel Aviv's Azrieli Mall. More than 1,000 people passed through a Bioexplorers sensor - some having been given "suspicious" objects and substances to hold - and the mice made the right call every time, says Lumbroso.

The rodents employed on this security detail are specially raised lab mice, "which are very clean, and there is no chance that they will transfer diseases to humans, since there is no contact between the mice and the people passing through the sensor," says Lumbroso.

The mice are trained over a period of about two weeks using a patented computerized program based on Skinner-style behavior theory and methods, "which we have tweaked using our own special technology and methodology," Lumbroso says.

Rodents train easier than canines

He stresses that the mice are treated well; they "work" for four hours, and then rest for eight, to ensure they don't experience sensory overload.

Each mouse's "career" can be expected to last for about two years, and each sensor installation is staffed by four to eight mice. In order to prevent "false positives," more than one mouse has to respond to the odor and move into the second chamber.

Lumbroso, who has a background in biology, has been working on the Bioexplorers system since 2004. "Most animals have senses of smell that can detect the items we search for, but it's easier to train mice than many other animals," especially dogs, the four-legged mainstay of the smell-detection industry.

"The main advantage of mice is that they can be integrated in a standardized training program, easily duplicable and deployable in numerous settings," Lumbroso says.

With the product ready for market, the four-man Herzliya-based company has seen a great deal of interest, says Lumbroso, who is also looking for investors. Until now, funding has come from several angel investors, and Lumbroso hopes to secure new funding "to bring the project to the next level."

The first systems will most likely be deployed in airports and public buildings, and a version for cargo examination has been developed as well. The system, which has not yet been priced, will be turnkey for buyers, and the company will carry out the necessary staff training. "We are also looking at developing systems for medical use, in which the mice can detect growths or other problems by smell, without the need for invasive procedures," Lumbroso says.

Meanwhile, the company is close to closing some deals for deployment of the system. "Chances are good that in another year or so, you'll be passing through a Biosensor system when you travel somewhere," predicts Lumbroso.