Daphne Anson: Anti-Israel Fanatics Badger The Bachelor Boy

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)

Friday, 1 February 2013

Anti-Israel Fanatics Badger The Bachelor Boy

British pop icon and practising Christian Sir Cliff Richard (seen and heard in film footage below against the backdrop of Jerusalem) is scheduled to perform in Israel this summer.

And, predictably, the wretches of the BDS movement are bombarding him with demands that he cancel his plans.

Reports ICI (Independent Catholic News):

"Human rights groups and Christian campaigners from many churches have expressed their concern over the announcement that Sir Cliff Richards is planning to give a concert in Tel Aviv this summer."

It quotes in full an open letter a fanatical foursome have written to Sir Cliff, from which I take extracts to convey the flavour:

"We read that you’re scheduled to perform in Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 11 this year. From the TV coverage of your 1988 birthday celebration for Israel, where you say that ‘as a Christian, Israel has special significance for me’, we understand your forthcoming show might have similar motivation.

It seems to us, however, that such automatic identification with Israel is increasingly questioned by Christians, who express concern about Israel’s racist actions in the Palestinian territories it illegally occupies and call for action against the Israeli government. We are writing to ask you to reconsider your decision to perform in Israel.

We wonder if you’ve read the letter from church leaders to the US Congress, published on 5 October last year....

Their letter lists many human rights violations committed by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, including the killing of children, house demolitions, and the use of prohibited weaponry such as white phosphorus and flechette shells.

Perhaps you missed the press release issued in December last year by Southern African church leaders, including the heads of the United Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic churches and the Evangelical Alliance....

Importantly, the Southern African church leaders renounced any kind of biblical justification for what is happening to the Palestinians: ‘We are conscious how a literal reading of the Bible, one where the Israel of the Old Testament is confused with the State of Israel, can result in the oppression of people’.

Sir Cliff, when you sang Yerushalayim, the anthem of the Israeli occupation forces in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, did you not realise – as the church leaders we’ve quoted do – that Israeli conquest means Palestinian dispossession and ongoing repression?

Palestinians under occupation are calling for a cultural boycott of Israel by international artists like yourself. The South African church leaders support the boycott call, as ‘a strategy that helped end apartheid in South Africa’. In response to an appeal from Kairos Palestine that describes the occupation as ‘a sin against God and humanity’, growing numbers of individual Christians and church groups around the world are engaging in campaigns of boycott, divestment and sanctions.

Your appearance in Tel Aviv, however, will reassure Israelis that ethnic cleansing and repression of the Palestinians are morally tolerable – to you, at least, if not to presidents and congregations of churches in the USA, South Africa, and elsewhere. Sir Cliff, we urge you to consider whether this is a message you want to give. Please don’t go."

And who are the fanatical British foursome who are so au fait with and partial to the anti-Israel movement within church circles?

Well-meaning but naive Quakers?

Trendy lefty Methodists?

BDSers within the Church of Scotland?

A group of Stephen Sizer's Anglican parishioners?

Followers of anti-Israel Welsh Archbishop Barry Morgan?

No. They're a coterie of Israel-demonising Jews based in academia: Haim Bresheeth, Adah Kay, Jonathan Rosenhead, and Mike Cushman.

Hopefully, Cliff Richard will treat their entreaty with the contempt it (and others like it) so richly deserves.

5 comments:

geoffff1 February 2013 at 10:56
Vile. These creeps are the bridgehead of the most dangerous and racist assualt on the West since the Nazis.If the Nazis had used Jewish "intellectuals" to pave the way these are exactly the people they would have used.

Come to think of it they did.
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Ian G1 February 2013 at 11:46
Perhaps a counter-plea signed by a lot more people than four would help/ Anyone got Sir Cliff's email address?
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Anonymous2 February 2013 at 09:54
'...automatic identification with Israel is increasingly questioned by Christians...' only by the 'vocal useful idiots using the 'guilt trip' argument and who do not represent the majority.

'...Israel’s racist actions in the Palestinian territories it illegally occupies...' I have yet to see any 'racist actions' yet. If the Arabs had not gave gone to war in the first place , then the boundaries would not be where they are. I havent heard any bleatings from these idiots about the Russians still occupying Japanese Territory from the end of WW2. I was also under the impression that Gaza had been handed back to the mental patients to be left in charge.

'...Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians, including the killing of children, house demolitions,...' I would like to see proof.

'...and the use of prohibited weaponry such as white phosphorus and flechette shells.' Where do these idiots get their info from? Under the Geneva Convention, they are not 'prohibited weapons'. I cannot find anything in the Convention that prohibits their use. White phosphorus is used to mark targets and the Brits and Seppos use flechette rockets on their Apache Gunships.

'...can result in the oppression of people’.' Have they bothered to as the Israeli Arabs whether they are 'oppressed'? Or would the truth be 'too bloody inconvenient for the 'useful idiots'?

I could go on, but its depressing me. I need a beer.

Cheers
Regards

Beertruk

Ps :

Daphne,

Please dont tell Shirlee I am going for beer, otherwise I will get an 'earwigging' email about its 'evils'. :-)

Cheers
Regards

Beertruk

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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.
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