hz, Author at Netzach Yisrael

University Students Indoctrinated to View Jews, Israelis as ‘Bad,’ Palestinians as ‘Victims’

hzMarch 10, 2017March 10, 2017News

Algemeiner

Jonathan Haidt, Dan Senor (center) and Frank Bruni on the Charlie Rose show

Identity politics are leading to the indoctrination of university students to view Jews and Israelis as “bad” and Palestinians as “victims,” a prominent American social psychologist warned on Monday.

Jonathan Haidt — professor of ethical leadership at NYU’s Stern School of Business — made this assertion during a panel discussion on PBS‘ “Charlie Rose,” with guest moderator Dan Senor — co-author of Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle — and New York Times columnist Frank Bruni.

The “old idea of education,” Haidt said — of encouraging students to consider various perspectives — has been replaced with a “totalizing perspective,” according to which “all social problems get reduced to [a] simple framework.” This, he said, has been detrimental to discussion on the issue of Israel.

hzMarch 10, 2017March 10, 2017News

Algemeiner

A Saudia Boeing 787

Airlines that omit Israel from their route maps — as well as those that don’t offer kosher meal options — appear to do so to play to the prejudices of their customer bases, a new academic research paper reported on by The Economist this week found.

According to the study, authored by Joel Waldfogel and Paul Vaaler of the University of Minnesota, carriers that leave solely Israel off their maps — making clear it was an intentional move — include Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Middle East Airlines, Qatar Airways and Saudia.

hzMarch 10, 2017March 10, 2017News

JTA

Reform President, Rabbi Rick Jacobs

Leaders of the U.S. Reform movement met with Palestinian Authority President President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

The delegation of around 30 leaders from the Union for Reform Judaism, led by its president, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, met with Abbas and other Palestinian officials Thursday afternoon.

hzMarch 9, 2017March 9, 2017News

MEHR News Agency

Mohsen Rezaei

Former IRGC general and current secretary of the Expediency Council has warned President Rouhani of ‘little dynamism’ to save an economy already in trouble, since a new president in the White House would decide differently than had Obama in the past.
…
“The current language of diplomacy and peace should be changed to signal to Trump that Iran was not too weak and compromising to be easily molded in the hands of the White House; nor should Tehran act in a manner to tantalize Trump administration into even more dangerous adventurism such as military option; this is the art of the foreign policy and diplomacy to keep a safe distance from Trump, yet to prevent him from going too farther afield and into the wilderness,” the letter recommended.

hzMarch 9, 2017March 9, 2017Articles

Washington Times

By Clifford D. May: This palm-fringed oasis in the Jordan Valley has been continuously inhabited for 10,000 years. That justifies it billing itself as the “oldest city in the world.”
Officers of the Palestinian National Security Force (NSF) headquartered here will proudly tell you that it’s now among the safest places in the Arab Middle East, and that their paramilitary organization is an important reason why. They’re also grateful for the training, arms, ammunition, equipment and even buildings being provided by American taxpayers.
This arrangement was agreed to by the Israelis who, in 1994, gave the Palestinian Authority administrative control over Jericho and other West Bank cities.
Could the next step be a “two-state solution” to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? Count me among those who see that as unlikely anytime soon no matter how energetic, determined and skillful the diplomacy of the Trump administration turns out to be.

hzMarch 9, 2017March 9, 2017News

JTA

Mark Tone

A new law that would ban entry to Israel of foreigners who publicly support boycotts of the Jewish state is Israel’s “sovereign decision,” a State Department spokesperson said.

In a briefing to reporters on Wednesday, Mark Toner said that while the United States opposes boycotts of Israel, it is up to Israel to make decisions regarding its borders.

“While we oppose boycotts and sanctions of the state of Israel, we also support firmly freedom of expression,” Toner said. “That said, it’s – this is a sovereign decision for Israel to make regarding its borders.”

The law, adopted Monday by the Knesset, bans entry to foreigners who publicly call for boycotting the Jewish state or its settlements.

hzMarch 9, 2017March 9, 2017News

Washington Post

President Trump’s controversial pick to serve as U.S. ambassador to Israel earned the support of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday with all but one Democrat opposed to his nomination.

David M. Friedman’s bid to serve as the next ambassador to Israel will now go to the full Senate.

But the 12 to 9 split over his nomination in committee is a sign that partisan divisions will hang over Friedman’s confirmation process going forward, and possibly his expected tenure as ambassador as well.

Only one Democrat — Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey — voted in favor of Friedman’s nomination Thursday. The others argued that Friedman’s record of incendiary comments made him unfit for the post, despite his efforts to retreat from some of his more fiery statements during last month’s confirmation hearing.

hzMarch 9, 2017March 9, 2017News

Times of Israel

The National Council, the Swiss lower house of parliament.

The lower house of Switzerland’s parliament on Wednesday advanced a bill prohibiting the Swiss government from providing aid to NGOs engaged in boycotts of Israel.

The legislation calls for cutting off foreign aid to any groups that promote “racist, anti-Semitic or incendiary” actions or that call for boycotts of Israel, according to the Basler Zeitung daily.

The bill, which was proposed by Christian Imark of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, passed in the National Council with 111 votes in favor to 78 against.

hzMarch 8, 2017March 8, 2017News

NORPAC

Dear Friends,

David Friedman, President Trump’s choice to become the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel, is facing a difficult confirmation process in the Senate.

We have worked tirelessly over the years to build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians, but now is the time to send a strong message to stop Palestinian incitement and murdering of Jews. Naming Friedman the new American Ambassador to Israel is surely a signal that it’s no longer business as usual.

Now is the time to call your Senators and tell them that you support David Friedman.

In response to the backlash that David Friedman is facing in the Senate, I am urgently asking for your help. Please call your Senators today and tell them to support David Friedman’s nomination for U.S. Ambassador to Israel!

The vote is tomorrow and there is no time to waste.

Not everyone will agree with Mr. Friedman’s positions on settlements and moving the embassy, but we feel strongly that a new approach is required to change the behavior of the international community and the Palestinian Authority.

You can reach the office of New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez at (202) 224-4744 and Senator Cory Booker at (202) 224-3224.

You can reach the office of New York Senator Charles Schumer at (202) 224-6542 and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand at (202) 224-4451.

Thank you for your help in confirming David Friedman. With your support, we will continue to foster and grow our special bond with the State of Israel.

Hamas said set to recognize 1967 borders, but not Israel

hzMarch 8, 2017March 9, 2017News

Times of Israel

Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal

Hamas is reportedly planning to endorse a state of Palestine along the 1967 borders — a move that would be a monumental shift from the group’s long-held policy of reclaiming all of historic Palestine — though it won’t recognize Israel’s legitimacy.

The new policy will be announced in amendments to Hamas’s charter that is to be published in April, after the group’s political bureau completes its internal elections, the Pan-Arab daily a-Sharq al-Awsat reported Tuesday, citing sources within the group.

The new policy is being crafted in order to engage regional and international partners, such as Egypt, the report said.

University Students Indoctrinated to View Jews, Israelis as ‘Bad,’ Palestinians as ‘Victims’

Academic Study: Middle Eastern Airlines That Omit Israel From Route Maps Appear to Be Playing to Antisemitic Prejudices of Customer Bases

Reform movement leaders meet with Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah

Trump not as flexible as Obama in dealing with Iran

No rushing the peace process

State Department: Israel’s anti-BDS law is ‘sovereign decision’

David Friedman, Trump’s pick for Israeli ambassador clears key Senate panel

Swiss lower house votes to defund pro-BDS groups

Message from NORPAC: Help get David Friedman Confirmed US Ambassador to Israel

Hamas said set to recognize 1967 borders, but not Israel