The Not So Divine Miss M

British actress (I suppose it's poltically correct to say "actor") Miriam Margolyes, who has been an Australian citizen for some years (the photo shows her receiving her naturalisation certificate from no less a personage than them prime minister Julia Gillard), is an inveterate Israel hater, who can usually be relied upon to sign leftist "as a Jew" statements vilifying Israel.  This, for instance.

She is consequently a darling of the anti-Israel media including the supposed-to-be impartial taxpayer funded ABC, which as Herald-Sun columnist Rita Panahi showed brilliantly in an article this very day (behind a paywall, I'm afraid) is now more blatantly than ever  the home of leftist activism posing as journalism, a place that's nor merely a conservative-free zone but, increasingly, a centrist-free one as well.

In March 2015 Margolyes, a panellist on the ABC's Q&A program (the ABC's version of the BBC's Question Time) scapegoated Israel for antisemitism.

As former federal MP Michael Danby, observed in 2015,:

"I think it is appalling that the ABC had on its Q&A program the execrable woman Margolyes, who, of all the actors in Australia, had to be brought on to Q&A to comment on international affairs.

She who said, quite disgracefully on this program on Monday, that antisemitism is quite understandable.

It is not understandable in any circumstances.The death of those people [in Paris and Copenhagen] is not justifiable, Ms Margolyes.

You are a disgrace, and the ABC is a disgrace for putting you on..."

The latest way in which unapologetic Corbynista Margolyes has broken ranks with mainstream majority Jewish opinion is her endorsement of this despocable slur on Chief Rabbi Mirvis, who of course has, not before time, issued a statement deploring the effect of Labour Party antisemitism upon British Jews:

Pretty shameful, eh?

David Singer: Knifing Netanyahu Could Sink Release of Trump Peace Plan

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

From most reports, Israel’s Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu – will soon be finished politically – forced to resign as Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister to defend three indictments levelled against him by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit.

The first indictment involves bribery, fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000 – the Bezeq-Walla Affair; the second-fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000 – the Illegal Gifts Affair; and the third for fraud and breach of trust in Case 2000 – the Yediot Ahronot-Israel Hayom Affair.

One consequence of Netanyahu’s exit from politics – if it does happen – could see President Trump having second thoughts about releasing his long-awaited and eagerly-anticipated deal of the century to end the 100 years old Arab-Jewish conflict (deal) – which Trump had already promised to release after Israel’s next Government is formed.

A government without Netanyahu at the helm would pose a serious problem for Trump – who has forged a unique relationship of respect and mutual trust with Netanyahu that no other Israeli politician enjoys.

Trump is not in the business of seeing anything he proposes fail – especially this deal. Trump does not want to join former Presidents Reagan, Carter, Clinton, Bush and Obama – whose well-intentioned proposals to resolve the long-running Arab-Jewish conflict have ended up in the garbage bin of history.

Trump has carefully crafted the drip release of his deal over the last two years – possibly in close consultation with Netanyahu – to give Israel the best hope it has ever had of finally reaching
agreement with purposeful Arab negotiators. Trump’s failure so far to find such Arab negotiators has been a major factor in delaying the deal’s release.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has made it abundantly clear that it will not negotiate with Israel on Trump’s deal under any circumstances.

Egypt and Jordan – the only two Arab states to have signed peace treaties with Israel in 1979 and 1994 – and the last two Arab States to have occupied Gaza and Judea and Samaria between 1948 and 1967 – still seem to be bucking at announcing their readiness to negotiate with Israel on Trump’s deal.

Trump will seemingly not release the final details of his deal unless he first receives Arab assurances to bona fide negotiate with Israel in translating those details into binding commitments to end the long-running conflict.

Trump will not release his deal only to find it is dead in the water because no Arab negotiators will sit down with Israel.

Trump is interested in winning – not losing before he even jumps out of the starting gate.

Trump will need to now be satisfied that any new Israeli Prime Minister possesses the same views as Netanyahu on the issuesTrump has already identified as integral elements of his deal:

• extending Israeli sovereignty toJewish towns and villages in Judea and Samaria,

• declaring Jerusalem to be Israel’s eternal capital

• recognising Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights

Trump will now also need to be assured that any new Israeli Prime Minister will not call on Trump to renew America’s payments to UNRWA and UNESCO, to reopen the PLO Embassy in Washington or resume funding to the PLO.

Netanyahu’s uncertain political future and the absence of Arab negotiators ready to stand up and be counted – could see Trump’s deal being put on the political back burner until Trump’s bid for re-election for another four years is known on 3 November 2020.

Knifing Netanyahu introduces yet another wild card that could sink the release of Trump’s deal – leavingthe failed leadership of the PLO cheering and heaving huge sighs of relief.

Author’s note:The cartoon —commissioned exclusively for this article —is by Yaakov Kirschenaka “Dry Bones” —one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators —whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog

Storytelling on the Southbank

Old Father Thames keeps rolling along as a group of indoctrinated Israel haters) recite drone, on behalf of the Muslim-led Inminds group, fantastic tales about the IDF  and Palestinian Arab "children".

An Alex Seymour/Seymour Alexander video.

Corbynistas to a man and woman, I betcha.

 Meanwhile, if you have a spare 80 minutes, listen to Islam expert Dr Andrew Bostom:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_JRTxw0DFY&feature

David Singer: Israel, Jordan and Egypt Must Hop on Trump Bandwagon to Peace

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

President Trump has now delivered the missing piece in his plan to end the 100 years old Jewish-Arab conflict – providing the incentive necessary for Israel’s warring political parties to bury their hatchets and form a new Israeli Government within the next 21 days.

This unique opportunity for peace trumps the domestic differences that have prevented Israel’s political parties forming that new Government following the elections in April and September 2019.

Trump has been progressively signposting his roadmap for the last two years:

• Moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

 • Declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

• Closing down the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Offices in Washington

 • Withdrawing American funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)

• Giving a substantial aid package to Jordan

 • Recognising Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights

• Having Bahrain host the "Peace to Prosperity"workshop to discuss the economic part of Trump’s "deal of the century"

• Flagging Israel’s right to retain at least some  but – “unlikely all” – of the West Bank,.

 Now Trump has made the end goal of his “deal of the century” very clear with the following statement issued by Secretary of  State Mike Pompeo:

“Turning now to Israel, the Trump administration is reversing the Obama administration’s approach towards Israeli settlements.

US public statements on settlement activities in the West Bank have been inconsistent over decades. In 1978, the Carter administration categorically concluded that Israel’s establishment of civilian settlements was inconsistent with international law. However, in 1981, President Reagan disagreed with that conclusion and stated that he didn’t believe that the settlements were inherently illegal. 

Subsequent administrations recognized that unrestrained settlement activity could be an obstacle to peace, but they wisely and prudently recognized that dwelling on legal positions didn’t advance peace. However, in December 2016, at the very end of the previous administration, Secretary Kerry changed decades of this careful, bipartisan approach by publicly reaffirming the supposed illegality of settlements. 

After carefully studying all sides of the legal debate, this administration agrees with President Reagan. The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements in the West Bank is not per se inconsistent with international law.”

The right of Jews to live in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) for the purposes of reconstituting the Jewish National Home there has been enshrined in international law under article 6 of the 1922 Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the 1945 United Nations Charter.

The United Nations, the European Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have denied the legitimacy of these Jewish claims – emboldening the Arabs to claim 100% of these territories. Pompeo’s statement has quashed the Arabs’ claims.

One roadblock still remaining requires Trump to identify the Arab interlocutors prepared to stand up and negotiate with Israel on Trump’s plan. Pompeo has given the PLO one last opportunity to join the negotiations with Israel.

“The  United  States  encourages  the  Israelis  and  the  Palestinians  to  resolve  the  status  of Israeli settlements in the West Bank in any final status negotiations.”

The PLO had already unequivocally refused to negotiate on Trump’s plan – and will continue to do so.Trump should focus on Jordan and Egypt -the last two Arab States to have occupied Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and Gaza respectively between 1948 and 1967 – to fill the void.

Israel needs  a new  Government  within the  next  21  days  or  face  another  expensive  and debilitating election  in  March  2020 – just  as  Trump  is  bidding  for  re-election - when  he  might  consider  it inopportune to release his plan.

Israel, Jordan and Egypt must hop on the Trump bandwagon now.

Author’s note:The  cartoon — commissioned  exclusively  for this  article — is by  Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones” — one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators — whose cartoons have graced the  columns of  Israeli and  international  media  publications for decades. His  cartoons can be  viewed at Drybonesblog

David Singer: European Union Bites Off More Than it Can Chew in Judea and Samaria

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

France has set in train a diplomatic and politically-motivated semantic assault on Israel that could ultimately see the European Union biting off more than it can chew.

A press release noted that the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg on 12 November had found in favour of France’s determined effort to protect unwitting French consumers being possibly misled when they buy cheese, wine or other produce sold by Jews originating in Judea and Samaria:

“... the Grand Chamber of the Court ruled that foodstuffs originating in territories occupied by  the  State  of  Israel  must  bear  the  indication  of  their  territory  of  origin,  accompanied, where those foodstuffs come from a locality or a group of localities  constituting an Israeli settlement within that territory, by the indication of that provenance.”

This decision lays down stringent labelling requirements for Jewish producers in Judea and Samaria to ensure their products were kosher enough to be sold into the European Union.

The sham that this would prevent consumers from believing such products were “Made in Israel” took on a far more  sinister political resonance asthe press release continued:

“as regards the issue whether the indication ‘Israeli settlement’ is mandatory, the Court first of all underlined that the settlements established in some of the territories occupied by the State of Israel are characterised by the fact that they give concrete expression to a policy of population transfer conducted by that State outside its territory, in violation of the rules of general international humanitarian law. The Court then held that the omission of that indication, with the result that only the territory of origin is indicated, might mislead consumers. Consumers have no way of knowing, in the absence of any information capable of enlightening them in that respect, that a foodstuff comes from a locality or a set of localities constituting a settlement established in one of those territories in breach of the rules of international humanitarian law. The Court noted that,under Regulation No 1169/2011 ,the provision of information to consumers must enable them to make informed choices, with regard not only to health, economic, environmental and social considerations, but also to ethical considerations and considerations relating to the observance of international law. The Court underlined in that respect that such considerations could influence consumers’ purchasing decisions”.  

All this pompous gobbledy gook being required for labelling the source of products made in territory disputed between Jews and Arabs for the last 100 years is deeply disturbing. There is no appeal from this decision.

The European Union could be in a real political bind as a result. The labelling requirements introduced by the European Union in 2011 and interpreted in 2015 has led it down this disastrous path promising only ridicule and contempt.

To be consistent and not be subjected to charges that it is deliberately targeting Jews and inciting Jew-hatred – the European Union needs to insist on similar stringent labelling requirements being immediately applied on goods originating from more than 150 disputed territories around the world.

Alternatively – the European Union could get itself out of this embarrassing labelling war and PR disaster by simply requiring goods originating from Israeli settlements to state “Product of Judea” or“Product of Samaria”.

Judea and Samaria – the historic and geographic terms used for the disputed territories for the last 3000 years – were relabelled the “The West Bank” by Jordan in 1950 – and enthusiastically embraced by the European Union.

The chickens from Judea and Samaria have come home to roost. Truth in labelling by the feckless European Union is long overdue.

Author’s note:The cartoon — commissioned exclusively for this article — is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones”  — one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators —whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog

Prioritising the Protection of American Muslims Over That of American Jews (video)

How the ADL's flirtation with the left and the Democratic Party has addled the ADL's agenda: Dr Charles Jacobs pulls no punches in telling how an organisation designed to protect Jews from hate and antisemitism has entrapped itself, and let down Jews, by its subservience to the fight against "Islamophobia".

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVqqPx-Cq8k

David Singer: Release of Trump Deal Could Break Israel Elections Deadlock

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

The release of President Trump’s long-awaited and eagerly-anticipated deal of the century could be just the catalyst required to persuade Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beitenu bloc of 8 members to join Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bloc of 55 members to form Israel’s next Government.

Trump has previously announced that he would not present his plan to resolve the Arab-Jewish conflict until a new Israeli government was formed – but Trump’s position could be dramatically altered as the current political uncertainty in Israel seems to be leading to a third election being called within the space of 12 months.

New Right chairwoman Ayelet Shaked has been trying in the past week – unsuccessfully so far – to create a situation that would bring Liberman’s bloc and Netanyahu’s bloc together to enable a new government to be sworn in.

Shaked has reportedly met with Liberman. Afterwards, she also met with United Torah Judaism chairman Yaakov Litz man and Degel Hatorah chairman Moshe Gafni.

These meetings focused on a compromise on issues of religion and state – and especially the Draft Lawrequiring ultra-orthodox youth to do military service – which would allow the parties to sit together in government – as was the case throughout much of the term of the last elected Government.

Both sides reportedly were willing to listen but found it too difficult to compromise. Liberman's side is interested in recording an achievement on the Draft Law – while the ultra-orthodox seek to prevent the law from becoming too sharply-worded.

President Trump must be champing at the bit at the continuing failure of the major political parties in Israel – Likud and Blue and White – to form a Government of National Unity – that would have heralded the release of Trump’s peace proposals in September.

Trump would be equally confused by the fact that the Netanyahu and Liberman blocs have been unable to coalesce into Israel’s next Government  – despite the fact that they garnered 2,238,400 votes against the centrist and left parties who could only manage to get 1,556,491 votes.

There are five compelling reasons for Trump to release his peace proposals within the next month – rather than wait for another Israeli election to be held in March or April 2020:

• Trump could be involved in fighting impeachment proceedings in the Senate next year asthe House Intelligence Committee controlled by the Democrats continues its campaign against him.

• Trump will be in full election mode in March/April as he seeks re-election as President in November 2020

• Trump needs as much time as he can possibly get to promote, fully explain and expand on his ideas aimed at convincing Jews and Arabs that it is time to bury the hatchet after 100 years of unending conflict. This could involve countless hours in meetings and negotiations with Arab and Israeli leaders.

• A third Israeli election could result in another deadlocked resultand indefinitely delay the release of Trump’s plans until after the 2020 US Presidential elections

• Trump’s plan would focus on the need for Israel to get its act together and form a properly constituted Government to deal with and negotiate on Trump’s proposals.

The priority of trying to reach an historic agreement with their Arab neighbours would surely supersede the domestic political wheeling and dealing that has so far marked Israel’s inability to fashion a Government.

Any attack on Israel by its enemies could be another shock to jolt Israel out of its current electoral complacency. The Israeli Government that would emerge could be either a National Unity Government or a Netanyahu–Liberman Government.

Either would be preferable to the current standoff and political uncertainty.

Author’s note: The cartoon — commissioned exclusively for this article —is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones” —  one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators — whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog

"'I'm Not English ... I am a Real Jew Now"

Former BBC journalist Llewellyn reacts to Freedland's angst

"We Jews have evolved to be neurotic; so neurotic that, in certain circumstances, the Syrian border feels slightly safer than Muswell Hill.... The libel that the Jews are the enemy of everything holy (formerly Christ, now socialism) has returned.
 
There are allies, but they are largely outside Labour now. Ian Austin, a Labour MP for 14 years, now an independent, this morning asked Labour supporters to vote Tory: due to anti-Semitism....
....‘Jew’ is absolutely a loaded word again. I have been told, very recently, that the Rothschilds control Europe — at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting of all places; and by a socialist, naturally. This is normal. When I ask Labour members about anti-Semitism they react with denial or, more likely, fury; why do we seek to maim the utopia, and why do we not do something about Islamophobia? ....  That Labour call themselves progressives, and yet are imbued with the infection of ancient Christian Jew-hatred — the murder of God was our original sin — is equally laughable. We have returned to our settled place; too proud, in every sense, to assimilate; rather, we drift across the world to where we feel safe: the Syrian border for some; Muswell Hill for others.

At least I feel close to my ancestors now; I understand them better. I’m not English ....No, I’m not. If I was an English schoolgirl, I am a real Jew now."

So declares Tanya Gold in a Spectator article here.

Meanwhile, in the Guardian, Jonathan Freeland, who deplores Boris Johnson and his "Islamophobia", has a similar lament of betrayal and political homelessness. Inter alia:

"Because while I want desperately to avoid Brexit, and while I have nothing but contempt for Johnson and his hard-right party, the prospect of Prime Minister Corbyn fills me with dread.... The thought of it prompts in me, and the overwhelming majority of the community I grew up in, a fear that we have not known before.

I’m referring to Britain’s Jews who, for the first time in their history, have concluded that someone hostile to them is on the brink of taking democratic power. Yes, of course, not every single British Jew holds that view. But the most recent poll found that 87% regard Corbyn as an antisemite, meaning an anti-Jewish racist.

Why? The recitation is now wearily familiar. Recall that Corbyn’s first reaction on hearing of a plan to remove a mural filled with hideous caricatures of hook-nosed Jewish bankers was to ask, “Why?” Or that he decided to challenge two “Zionists” not on their arguments but by suggesting that, though they “might have lived in this country for a very long time”, they “don’t understand English irony”. Or that, when a Palestinian Islamist preacher was found by a British tribunal to have peddled the medieval and lethal myth of Jews feasting on the blood of gentile children, Corbyn declared that man a very “honoured citizen”, and invited him for tea in the House of Commons. (And those are merely some of the greatest hits; the full discography runs much longer.)

For four years, Britain’s Jews have – naively, perhaps – waited for the moment when one of these revelations would prove too much for the Labour faithful, shocking them into action....

But no. No revelation has ever proved shocking enough that it couldn’t be explained away by those who’d rather not see it....

We’re meant to cheer that Chris Williamson has been barred from standing again as an MP. But Jews remember that, even when Williamson’s penchant for egregious Jew-baiting was well known, Corbyn was still praising him''.... Labour’s crop of prospective parliamentary candidates has included several with a documented history of anti-Jewish bigotry, Twitter back-catalogues playing on all the familiar tunes of Jewish conspiracy, greed and the rest of it. Two candidates were forced to step down on Thursday, one for calling a Jewish fellow councillor “Shylock”. It suggests this is no longer a problem of one man, but that the malaise is now institutional....None of us should be forced to choose between a hard Brexit enforced by an Islamophobe, and electing a man whose record fills one of Britain’s smallest minorities with fear...."

And in the meantime the Inminds group, an Islamic community initiative, finds yet another Zionist enterprise to rant and rave about:

http;//youtu.be/P2koyJorh7U

(An Alex Seymour/Seymour Alexander video)

Brits & Pieces

Under the heading "To our fellow British citizens", a heartfelt plea from the current issue of Anglo-Jewry's oldest extant newspaper, the Jewish Chronicle, edited by Stephen Pollard:

Meanwhile, a prominent rabbi,  Jonathan Romain of Maidenhead Reform Synagogue,  has written to his congregants as follows:

"I am writing to all members of the community regarding the forthcoming election. In past elections, never have I dreamt of suggesting which way one should vote. This election is different.

You may recall the ground-breaking decision of all three Jewish newspapers -- The Jewish Chronicle, The Jewish News and The Jewish Telegraph - to publish exactly the same front cover on 25th July 2018: taking a united stance to suggest that a Labour government under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn would prove “an existential threat” to British Jewry.

https://twitter.com/GillianLazarus/status/1192200467775930368

You may recall the Deputy Leader of Labour, Tom Watson saying he was “ashamed” of Labour being guilty of racism, or the fact that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are currently investigating accusations of racism against Labour, the first time they have done so against a political party since their enquiry into the British National Party.

You may recall the Labour MP of 49 years, Louise Ellman, resigning in October 2019, because, as she put it: “Labour is no longer a safe place for Jews and Corbyn is a danger to the country”.

These are just a handful of examples from the last three years that make me feel that normal political allegiances are superseded by the unprecedented situation we face.

I should stress that the problem is not the Labour Party itself, which has a long record of fighting discrimination and prejudice, but the problem is Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn-led Labour, has, at best, let anti-semitism arise within its ranks, or at worst, has encouraged it. 

This has never happened under any previous Labour leader, whether under Tony Blair on the right, Neil Kinnock in the centre or Michael Foot on the left, so the finger of responsibility really does seem to point to Jeremy Corbyn

I am therefore suggesting we should each put aside all other considerations and vote for whichever party is most likely to defeat Labour in whatever constituency we are in - even if we would never normally vote for that party.

If you, too, think that a Corbyn-led government would pose a danger to Jewish life as we know it...whether it be utterances that cause Jews to feel victimised, less secure and no longer at ease...or maybe even legislation that restricts Jewish life or relations with Israel in some way, then you may wish to vote to ensure Labour does not gain your local seat. Do not discount the power of your vote - many seats are won or lost on small majorities - while the issue of Brexit means that very different voting patterns will probably take place compared to previous elections ... so do not assume that a safe Labour seat will remain Labour, or that Labour might not win a seat that previously looked safe for another party.

Please feel free to share this with any family, friend or colleagues you think might feel the same.

Let me repeat that this is suggestion I would not normally make but for the Corbyn-factor -- and you are at liberty to disagree totally with my point of view. I appreciate, too, that you may feel that other criteria take priority when voting. You should vote as your conscience dictates ...while if you wish to discuss this with me, feel free to do so."

And Liberal rabbi Yuval Keren of Southgate Progressive Synagogue has followed suit, telling his members:

"We are less than five weeks before another early general election in the UK.

In the past I have steered clear of party politics as I saw it conflicting with my Rabbinic service to the community. However, there are times when involvement in politics is inevitable, especially when the welfare of the community is at stake. In writing to you now I have taken a great deal of courage and inspiration from my colleague and teacher Rabbi Jonathan Romain, who wrote in similar terms to his Maidenhead Reform community a week ago.

Since Jeremy Corbyn’s assumption of Labour leadership, the attitude of the party towards British Jews has changed dramatically, and the party has become riddled with antisemitism.

Ken Livingstone, a senior member of Labour and former Mayor of London claimed in 2016 that the Zionists collaborated with the Nazis. It took Labour two years to discuss his expulsion from the party. He resigned from the party before a decision was taken.

Jackie Walker, one of the founders of Momentum and a prominent member of the party, has accused Jews of financing the slave trade, and called for the abolition of Holocaust Memorial Day.

Labour members have been responsible for spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, such as calling Jewish members of parliament ‘Zionist infiltrators’, and blaming ‘Israeli Jews’ for the September 11 terrorist attacks. These Labour members were not suspended - let alone expelled from the party.

That "someone" is this fella, married to an Anglican vicar

Jewish Labour members of parliament were and are under immense pressure for fighting antisemitism. Luciana Berger, who was a life-long member of Labour and a Labour MP for nine years, recently resigned from the party, asserting that under Corbyn, Labour was plagued with "institutional anti-Semitism". I fully support her view.

Antisemitism in Labour is also affecting local politics. In the past there have been calls by local Constituency Labour Parties for enquiries into “improper Israeli interference into domestic politics”. More recently there was an invitation to the Jewish Voice for Labour network to conduct antisemitism training for local activists. Jewish Voice for Labour is far from representing the Jewish community, and in fact claims that allegations of antisemitism are merely a smear campaign against Labour.

These are just a few examples, a drop in the ocean of the anti-Jewish behaviour plaguing the Labour party since the change of leadership.

I would like to emphasise that there are many in Labour who do not share these values, and many who are dedicated to fighting inequality, racism and prejudice. The problem lies with Jeremy Corbyn and the present Labour leadership who tolerate and allow antisemitism to rise from within its ranks.

I would therefore like to join the call made by my colleague Rabbi Romain. If you too believe that a Corbyn-led government would be detrimental to Jewish life as we know it, you should put aside all other considerations and vote for the party that is most likely to defeat Labour in your local constituency. Do not discount the power of your single vote as in many constituencies seats are won or lost on small majorities.

Please feel free to share this with any family, friend or colleagues you think might feel the same. You are welcome to contact me ... should you, or others, wish to discuss the content of my letter.

 Here, as well, is a certain marvellous lady, of perspicacity and courage sans pareil:

David Singer: Rabin’s Policies Can Help Break Gantz-Netanyahu Deadlock

Here's the latest article by Sydney lawyer and international affairs analyst David Singer.

He writes:

The prospect of a third election in Israel within twelve months looms large – should Blue and White leader Benny Gantz be unable to form a Government of National Unity within the next two weeks.

To break the current deadlock Gantz needs at least nine members to defect from the voting bloc of 55 seats led by Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Gantz’s cause could be considerably advanced were he to publicly endorse the policies pursued by the late Prime Minister – Yitzchak Rabin – who was assassinated on 4 November 1995.

Rabin made his intentions very clear in his last speech to the Knesset on 5 October 1995 when presenting the 300 page “Israeli - Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip” (Oslo Accords) for approval: 

“Members of Knesset,

“We are striving for a permanent solution to the unending bloody conflict between us and the Palestinians and the Arab states." In the framework of the permanent solution, we aspire to reach, first and foremost, the State of Israel as a Jewish state, at least 80% of whose citizens will be, and are, Jews.

"At the same time, we also promise that the non-Jewish citizens of Israel – Muslim, Christian, Druze and others – will enjoy full personal, religious and civil rights, like those of any Israeli citizen. Judaism and racism are diametrically opposed.

"We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

"We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority. The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.

"And these are the main changes, not all of them, which we envision and want in the permanent solution:

 A. First and foremost, united Jerusalem, which will include both Ma'ale Adumim and Givat Ze'ev – as the capital of Israel, under Israeli sovereignty, while preserving the rights of the members of the other faiths, Christianity and Islam, to freedom of access and freedom of worship in their holy places, according to the customs of their faiths.

B. The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.

C. Changes which will include the addition of Gush Etzion, Efrat, Beitar and other communities, most of which are in the area east of what was the "Green Line," prior to the Six Day War.

D. The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.”

Rabin – then Defence Minister – had stated on May 27, 1985: 

“The Palestinians should have a sovereign State which includes most of the Palestinians. It should be Jordan with a considerable part of the West Bank and Gaza. East of the Jordan River there is enough room to settle the Palestinian refugees. One tiny State between Israel and Jordan will solve nothing. It will be a time bomb.”

Supporting Rabin’s policies would stand Gantz in good stead as he seeks to form a Government of National Unity and – failing that – in any upcoming election that would hopefully end Israel’s current precarious political situation.

Author’s note: The cartoon — commissioned exclusively for this article — is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones” — one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators — whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades. His cartoons can be viewed at Drybonesblog.

In the Land of Song, Anti-Israel Warblers

Amid all the squabbling over Brexit ahead of December's British General Election comes a predictably illuminating little survey from the PSC in Wales, regarding Welsh parliamentary candidates' attitudes to Israel, based on their answers to  the following loaded five question questions:

1.Given that Israel has continued to expand settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in defiance of international law and international opinion, do you think the UK should ban the import of settlement goods into the UK?

2. Do you agree that Israel’s blockade of Gaza, imposed since 2007, should be lifted immediately?

3. Do you agree that the Government should enforce its own arms export licensing criteria, and stop supplying arms to Israel until it ceases its violations of international law?

4. Numerous reports have highlighted the mistreatment of Palestinian child prisoners in Israeli military detention. Do you agree that any child prisoner should be treated in accordance with international law and not Israeli military law?

5. Do you agree that future UK trade deals should include a strong human rights clause, and that any trade agreement with Israel should be conditional upon the respect of international law and human rights?

Of the respondents so far, six answered all five questions in the affirmative with a simple "Yes" to each.

They are:

Dinah Mulholland, Labour candidate for Ceredigion (her deeply entrenched anti-Israel pro-BDS views are seen in all their nastiness here)  describes herself on Twitter as "Mother, support worker, teacher, activist, socialist, Corbynist";  this photo (she's in the black dress) was evidently taken at the launch of PSC Ceredigion in July this year, the accompanying (unquestioningly biased) newspaper report beginning:

"A branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign was launched at an event at Arad Goch in Aberystwyth.

Local peace and justice choir Côr Gobaith sang the group into being with a moving selection of songs that featured the suffering and resolve of the Palestinian people.

Following the choir, Betty Hunter, honorary president of PSC, made an informative presentation about the plight of children who find themselves on the frontline of Israeli military actions in Palestine...."

Image: Cambrian News

Also, James Gibson-Watt, LibDem candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire; he leads the LibDems on Powys County Council; Steve Churchman, LibDem candidate for Gwynned; he's a local councillor;
Mark Hooper, Plaid Cymru candidate for Cardiff Central; Ian Johnson, Plaid Cymru candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan; and Sharon Lovell, who's fighting the Vale of Glamorgan on behalf of the Women's Equality Party.

Ms Lovell's obscure little party has issued an eight-point manifesto.  These is pledge four:

'An end to violence against women

We will repair the broken funding model for specialist services, including services that are for and led by BAME [Black, Asian and minority ethnic] women. We will put prevention, protection and provision at the heart of all our policies and we will not rest until all women and girls are free from violence and harassment.

 And this is pledge seven:

'Brexit

We will build an immigration system with gender equality and social justice at its heart. We will design trade deals that work for everybody. We will make sure Brexit does not turn back the clock on gender equality through secondary legislation.'

Ah, when will lefty Israel-bashing feminists recognise Israel as the progressive democratic society it is and acknowledge the misogyny that lies at the heart of Islam, and which facilitates "honour killings" even in "Palestine"?

When will they realise that the assaults on women that occur in Germany, Sweden and elsewhere in Europe are largely the result of mass Islamic immigration, as is the trafficking in underage non-Muslim girls that has been such an abhorrent feature of certain English cities with large Pakistani populations?

 (Incidentally, PSC Wales has seemingly forgotten, at least at this hour, to include the links to all but one of the Statements which respondents issued wither in lieu of or in addition to one-word answers.)

A Toxic Alliance

How horrendous are the latest findings by David Collier, as he uncovers a cesspool of Christian antisemitism in England's north-west.

In this case, the antisemitism in question would appear to be driven by elements within the Catholic Church.  I've written in past blogs how the Protestant Reformation in England facilitated the Readmission of the Jews to England and their acceptance within the land.

Instrumental in this path to toleration were the abolition of such cults as that of Little St Hugh, a boy who was supposed to have been ritually murdered by Jews, and whose shrine in Lincoln Cathedral was a place of pilgrimage, and the placing of a copy of the Bible in the vernacular in each parish church in the realm, which by showing people that Jesus was killed by Roman soldiers on the orders of Pontius Pilate helped to diminish the rigid assumption that Jews were "Christ-killers", a stain which marked them for all time.

The vernacular Bible also played no small part in the development of a philosemitic tradition within English Protestant sects such as the Puritans, a tradition exemplified by that marvellous man, Colonel Wedgwood MP.

It was not, of course, until Pope John XXIII's Nostra Aetate that the Catholic Church abandoned, at least in theory, the charge of Deicide against the Jews, and avowed its willingness to enter into dialogue with them. Here in Australia there have been many rewarding instances of thawed relations between Jews and Catholics, with the Sisters of Sion, and the late Father William Smith SJ, of blessed memory, being especially notable over the years. By contrast, the Uniting Church (an amalgam of Methodists and some, not all, Presbyterians) has proved particularly hostile, especially to the State of Israel.

It would be instructive to know whether the antisemitic Catholics featured in David Collier's latest blog are swayed by age-old religious bigotry or by that unfortunately all-too-prevalent attitude among many persons of Irish heritage, the assumption that the lot of the "Palestinians" is analogous to the lot of the Irish Catholics pre-Irish independendence and that Israel is, like Ulster in their view, a foreign element on another's native soil.

In any case, the alliance between them and toxic Israel-haters of the non-Catholic persuasion that the blog describes makes utterly disturbing reading.

Meanwhile, in today's British press:

Not as worthy of outright dismissal as the "as-a-Jew" Corbynistas and their antisemitic allies might (indeed do) suggest. (See also here)