Daphne Anson: True to its Israel-Demonising Track Record, Oxfam Calls for Engagement with Hamas

Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East. (From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Sunday, 1 May 2011

True to its Israel-Demonising Track Record, Oxfam Calls for Engagement with Hamas

Oxfam "Blood Orange" Israel Boycott Poster

My local Oxfam is one of several "charity shops" in town (in Australia they're known as "op [opportunity] shops" and in America "thrift shops").

It has the dubious distinction of being the smelliest of them, as well as the most expensive - it seems to think that just because a garment has a "Per Una" or "Monsoon" label (representing the "designer" end of High Street couture) it merits inflated prices, even though the garment's a decade out of date if not threadbare.

Over-charging is characteristic of Oxfam shops in general, I'm told, with some second-hand items actually costing more than their exact counterparts for sale new, although its bookstores have proved so reasonable in pricing that they've put many a struggling independent bookseller out of business.

I must confess that I've bought many a used book in this town's separate Oxfam bookstore, trying to block my ears to the leftist anti-American talk at the counter as I browse the shelves, and doing my utmost to convince myself that the looks of disapproval that greet volumes favourable to Israel when they're presented at the checkout are entirely figments of my imagination. Once, when I purchased a handsome atlas of the Bible, the two lefties behind the counter didn't bother to disguise their sniggers; I assume they mistook me for one of the Christian fundamentalists who were holding a convention in town.

I'm pleased to help poor farmers in Africa and India and other parts of the Third World get a better deal. I approve of Oxfam's "Fairtrade" policy, although doubts have apparently been cast on how it works in practice.

However, Oxfam has a very nasty track record regarding Israel:
http://cifwatch.com/2010/10/10/oxfam-behind-the-pr-mask/ and
http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article.php?id=1313 and http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article.php?viewall=yes&id=138 and http://philosemitism.blogspot.com/2008/11/gaza-will-oxfam-uk-also-make-appeal-to.html

And once again Oxfam has proved itself an inveterate foe of Israel, issuing this press release on 29 April:

'In order to improve the lives of Palestinians divided between Gaza and the West Bank it is imperative that the international community welcomes reconciliation and avoids adopting policies that would set unity efforts back, says international aid agency Oxfam.

“Over the past four years Oxfam and its local partners have seen ordinary people paying the highest price for the divide between Fatah and Hamas. The split has compounded the suffering of civilians in Gaza, already living under the Israeli blockade, leaving them with less access to essential services such as adequate electricity, clean water, and essential drugs,” said Oxfam International Executive Director Jeremy Hobbs.

As Palestinian political factions are making strides towards an interim unity government, the aid agency calls on the international community to abandon the failed policy of non-engagement and begin dialogue with all the major Palestinian parties.

“Palestinian reconciliation is a crucial step towards achieving a just and durable solution to the conflict,” Hobbs added.'

Yes, I guess it's really time to ask myself: "Do I really want that Oxfam shlock?"

Since Oxfam, so taintedly politicised, is so out of touch with realities, perhaps Israel's supporters need to be out of touch with Oxfam.

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'For as long as these antisemites wrap themselves up in the Palestinian flag, too many people are willing to turn a blind eye. Only against Jews is this type of racism openly tolerated. It is flourishing in schools, colleges, universities, unions and in city councils. In fact, so rampant is the disease now, in some settings you can be ostracised if you do not partake in the frenzy yourself. Bashing Jews has becomes a trendy position for the ignorant social justice warrior. "Palestinianism" is a viral "ponzi scheme" and as it spreads, it carries antisemitism in the undergrowth.' David Collier (2017)

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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9685/britain-little-lies

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Islamophobia is a false allegation of prejudice which is deployed to silence rational criticism based on actual facts about attitudes and practices within the Islamic world.
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Expose The Lies!

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The "Apartheid" Slur

The division of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) into three separate areas “A”, “B” and “C” was agreed on by Israel and the PLO pursuant to the Oslo Accords.
95% of the West Bank Arabs live in Areas A and B and their daily lives are under the total administration and control of the PLO since the Palestinian Authority was disbanded by Abbas in January 2013. The PLO has total security control in A and shares security control in B with Israel. Israel has total administrative and security control in C.
Israel is entitled to and will continue to take responsibility for the security of Jews living in the West Bank.
Jews were given the legal right to settle in the West Bank under article 6 of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter. They did so for decades until they were driven out in 1947 and not able to return there until 1967.
There are Arab roads only in the West Bank that Jews are not allowed to use. Jews are also forbidden from entering Area “A”. Selling land to Jews is forbidden by the PLO under pain of death. The PLO runs the daily lives of 95% of the West Bank Arabs and Hamas runs the daily lives of 100% of the Gazan Arabs. They have been under occupation – and subjugation – by these two evil groups for the last ten years and given no say in their future or any opportunity to elect others to lead them following the disastrous political decisions of their leaders over the past ten years. Hamas and the PLO do not accept the continued existence of a Jewish State and call for its disappearance.
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I am duty-bound to defend freedom, culture, peaceful coexistence, the civic education of children, and all the principles that the Tablets of the Law have rendered universal. Principles which Islamic fundamentalism systematically destroys. This means that, since I am a Gentile, a journalist and a leftist, I have a triple moral commitment to Israel. Because, if Israel were to be vanquished, modernity, culture and freedom would also be crushed. Even though the world has failed to wake up to this fact, Israel's struggle is the world's struggle. Pilar Rahola

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