Right, Wrong & Antisemitism

Leftist brainwashing for little kiddies; see here

In the wake of events in Charlottesville, the current issue of the Australian Jewish News (AJN) contains the results of an online poll among its readers: "Are you concerned about the rise of the far right?"

Those results, given in percentages, are 58 per cent responding in the affirmative, and 42 per cent in the negative.

Since in practice anyone can respond to these AJN polls (anti-Israel lefties sometimes alert their followers to them on social media, the better to distort the results) this may or may not represent a true cross-section of communal opinion.

At the same time, as an indication of communal vox populi, the oral answers of five named and photographed Jewish members of the public to the question posed in the poll are given on that same page.  All five are indeed concerned about the rise of the far right, which is fair enough, but two of the five respondents appear to be somewhat confused:

"Yes I am.  It is happening in Barcelona ..."

 "It does concern me, but in Australia it's not as bad as the USA or Europe."

Such naivity.  Such ignorance. Evidently, those respondents are unaware of the findings of the recently-published study by University of Oslo academic Dr Johannes Due Enstad entitled Antisemitic Violence in Europe, 2005-2015, which finds Muslims, not the far right, chiefly responsible for antisemitic hate crimes in every country except Russia.

To quote from here:

'....Who is responsible for the attacks on Jews? In every country studied, except for Russia, the perpetrators are disproportionately of Muslim backgrounds. A British study cited in the University of Oslo report notes that the proportion of Muslim perpetrators increases in the wake of “trigger events” in the Middle East.

In what might be considered a clumsy attempt to downplay anti-Semitism, German authorities do not classify anti-Israeli incidents as anti-Semitism. This results in absurdity. A Muslim firebombing of a synagogue can be classified as an anti-Israeli event, but not anti-Semitic. If any country should know better, it should be Germany. Is Kristallnacht going to be reinterpreted as not anti-Semitism, but a demonstration for racial purity?

The only country where anti-Semitic incidents are not disproportionately perpetrated by Muslims is Russia, and it is the only country in the University of Oslo study where Jews do not fear to express their Jewish identity when appearing in public. This appears to perplex the study’s author, as Russia contains both large Jewish and Muslim populations.

Yet the issue is easily resolved. In Russia, the large Muslim and Jewish populations live in the same country, but are generally separated by a vast expanse of land. Most Muslims live in the Eurasian Caucasus region. Most Jews live in Moscow and Saint Petersburg....' 

See also Bruce Bawer here

In 2015 no less than 10,000 Western European Jews made aliya, and many more are thinking of emigrating.  The reason is not far to seek.

Below, a 78-minute video re antisemitism in the 21st century, and a 48-minute one:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynktmneLRi4

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5SjRxHJCQw

As so often, the depth of the burgeoning threats to European civilisation posed by replacement demography is excellently and articulately expressed by the courageous Douglas Murray;  in this worthwhile 13-minute video he reminds his audience (approx. 5:04) that he has no Israel to which to escape:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=523UhYqYX_g

It is a lesson that, for their progeny's sake if not for their own, all Europeans (and other free peoples) should heed.

History As She Is Spoke: "The Jews in Palestine are occupiers of Islamic land"

"This is not the first time apologists for Jewish criminality in Palestine have sought to silence criticism of the actions of the Jewish entity by playing the victim card. The Jews in Palestine are occupiers of Islamic land ....

 It is the height of depravity to seek to delegitimise the real and deadly concerns of the victims of Jewish barbarity in Palestine by portraying their opposition to Jewish occupation as opposition to Jews themselves. The criticisms directed towards Hizb ut-Tahrir are the in fact the same criticisms directed to all Muslims who principally oppose the criminality of Jewish occupation in Palestine....

It is well known to all that Jews have always historically turned to Muslims in times of their most desperate need. Jews have only flourished under Islam; indeed their golden age was realised only under Islam.

 To attempt to reconstruct history by portraying Muslims as anti-Semitic is not only disingenuous but criminal...."

So declares the Australian wing of the Caliphate-seeking Islamic extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in response to revelations that the New South Wales Board of Deputies has written as follows to the president of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board:

 "We write to refer a matter to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board with a request that the ADB prepare a brief for the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute Ismail al-Wahwah and Wassim Dureihi under S.20D of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.

 An inflammatory speech was delivered in [the Sydney suburb of Lakemba in Arabic on July 25, 2014 by Wahwah, the local spiritual head of Hizb ut-Tahrir – an organisation which advocates sharia and the destruction of the democratic way of life.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aumYJHM2cM]

A translated extract follows:

 “The entire world suffers from the children of Israel today and complains about them. Who will set the world free from the children of Israel so that the world will be able to say that it has rid itself of that hidden evil? This mission will be accomplished by none but you, O Muslims … The ember of jihad against the Jews will continue to burn. The struggle and the jihad will continue until the words of Allah come true.  Judgment day will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews … Tomorrow you Jews will see what will become of you — an eye for an eye, blood for blood, destruction for destruction.”

Reinforcing his message, the unseen crowd interjected with a chant of “Khaybar, Khaybar” — the full war-cry being “Khaybar Khaybar Ya Yahud jaysh Muhammad saya’ud ” (Khaybar, Khaybar O Jews,the army of Muhammad will return).

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aumYJHM2cM]

 This is a blatant call for violence against Jews on the basis of their race as Khaybar was the scene of a 7th-century massacre of Jews in what is now Saudi Arabia.

The following observations will be of assistance:

Ismail al-Wahwah gave the speech in public to a live audience.

The speech incited hatred towards, serious contempt for, and severe ridicule of, Jews on theground of them being Jewish. The speaker clearly refers to “the children of Israel” – ie Jews – as a people.

It is clear that the speech threatened physical harm towards Jews. It also incited others to threaten physical harm towards Jews.

Each of these elements was done intentionally.

The intent extends beyond that of the main speaker to the host, Wassim Dureihi, a spokesperson  for Hizb ut-Tahrir.

It is important to note that the diatribe was crude Jew-hatred reminiscent of last year’s anti-Israel rallies in Sydney that descended into blatant antisemitism, complete with Nazi swastikas and placards evoking racist images that had nothing to do with any Middle East conflict.

 Wahwah’s speech was delivered in Arabic and a subtitled video was recently released...."

(Hat tip: J-Wire) See also Shirlee Finn's excellent detailed post on this topic here

Also of interest on J-Wire, barrister Geoff Bloch's riposte to a Guardian article by a prominent Aussie human rights lawyer, Julian Burnside, who averred, inter alia, that "Right now, Islamophobia is the new anti-Semitism ..."  See Bloch's winning (game, set, and match) piece here

The D[h]im & The Dutiful: "Tragic" says Marvellous Melanie

Recently, in this land Down Under, the Uniting Church (which, incidentally, is not renowned for love and affection towards Israel) held an interfaith meeting on the illustrated theme, coined in response to the "We'll fight radical Islam for 100 years, says ex-Army lead Peter Leahy" headline that which appeared in The Australian on 9 August.

That headline appeared above this report, in which Professor Leahy, a retired lieutenant-general who is director of Canberra University’s National Security Institute and part of the Abbott government’s team carrying out a comprehensive review of Australia's defence,  maintained:

"Australia is involved in the early stages of a war which is likely to last for the rest of the century. We must be ready to protect ourselves and, where necessary, act pre-emptively to neutralise the evident threat. Get ready for a long war....

They [the government] should advance a narrative that explains that radical Islam­ism and the terrorism it breeds at home and abroad will remain a significant threat for the long term, it will require considerable effort, the expenditure of blood and treasure and it will, of necessity, restrict our rights and liberties"....

He said radical Islamists intent on a new world order were already a threat to the survival of nations in the Middle East and Africa.

If the declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq survived, bases would be established there for attacks on the West and that would embolden “home grown” radicals to attempt attacks in Australia. Military action would be needed to eliminate the threat.

Radicals saw the West as “the far enemy” and they were undoubtedly planning more attacks in Australia. Senior intelligence believes the view that the threat posed by radical Islam would pass was “optimistic”....'

All pretty sensible stuff, we may think, particularly in view of the number of Islamic fighters from Australia known to be fighting abroad, including the father of the seven-year-old pictured recently holding a severed head.

But smacking of "media vilification" in the minds of the above-mentioned conference (at which a rabbi, the not widely known Zalman Kastel of Sydney was present) and its supporters, apparently.

For they issued the the following statement, all motherhood and apple pie and good up to a point, though arguably a reckless over-generalisation, which some "as-a-Jews" as well as some of the more naive (or indifferent to Israel, rationality, and to women's rights) among the Jewish community have hastened to append their names:

'As people committed to building a healthy, cohesive and diverse communities in Australia, we have observed with dismay and empathy the way our Muslim friends have been affected by the language and tone of recent political statements and media coverage. We agree with the concerns of Muslim community leaders that the language and policies of our leaders should not marginalise or vilify people of Muslim faith, and that rhetoric used in relation to Australian security and conflicts around the world should not cause further division in our society, or make anyone feel alienated from the nation they call home.

We believe people of Muslim faith are being unfairly smeared in the eyes of the Australian public by both subtle and overt links to violent extremism in political and media discourse.

This month in Sydney; Herald-Sun photo

We know and understand the deep concern and hurt this is causing to our Muslim friends and the risks this kind of generalisation has for social harmony and cohesion.

The violence and values of extremists like ISIS are not representative of the vast majority of Muslim people in Australia, who are characterised better by their commitment to peace, community and mutual respect.

We stand in solidarity with all people who are suffering the results of war, violence and terror around the world, recognising the dignity of all people and their right to enjoy freedom from persecution and oppression.

We celebrate the diversity of the Australian community and recognise the valuable contribution of people of Muslim faith to our culture and community.

We know that vilification and alienation are not the way to peace or social harmony, but that authentic relationships, solidarity, listening, learning and mutual respect go along way to building the kind of community we’d like to live in.'

And now, worse, far worse, we read in the UK Jewish Chronicle, that the d[h]imwitted British Board of Deputies has dutifully undertaken to make common cause with the Muslim Council of Britain:

'Muslim and Jewish leaders have united in calling for stronger collaboration between their communities in the wake of the Gaza conflict.

In an unprecedented joint statement, the Board of Deputies and the Muslim Council of Britain condemned civilian deaths as tragic and called for efforts to avoid them.

They also condemned any expression of antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism generally, calling on both communities to “redouble efforts to work together and get to know one another”.

But the statement was not without controversy, with both sides unable to agree the exact meaning behind one key line.

The line reads: “The targeting of civilians is completely unacceptable and against our religious traditions.” ....'  (See more here)

Rightly comments the great and incomparable Melanie Phillips, who puts what passes for the Anglo-Jewish leadership to shame:

'It is hard to exaggerate the stupidity of the UK Jewish Board of Deputies in what it has just done. It has signed a joint statement with the Muslim Council of Britain condemning antisemitism and Islamophobia and urging that the Middle East conflict should not prevent good community relations in Britain. Apart from the false equivalence between antisemitism and Islamophobia, which equates a metaphysical global derangement – the cause of centuries of pogroms and genocide against the Jews – with a spurious thought-crime invented to silence legitimate criticism of Islam, these were unexceptionable pieties.

However, the statement also contains this passage:

"The death of every civilian is a tragedy, and every effort should be taken to minimise such losses. The targeting of civilians is completely unacceptable and against our religious traditions."

Daily Mail, 25 March 2009

The MCB is an umbrella organisation, a number of whose member groups are aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood and support Hamas. The Board of Deputies may have assumed the second sentence above could only refer to Hamas, since the IDF does not target civilians and goes to great lengths to avoid hurting them wherever possible. But there is no way the MCB would ever suggest that Israel behaves honourably while Hamas does not. It should therefore have been blindingly obvious that the MCB would do what it has immediately done – claim that the Board had agreed with it that both Israel and Hamas had targeted civilians. The Board has thus now enabled the MCB to claim that the UK's Jewish community leadership has condemned Israel for targeting civilians.

Unbelievable. But that's not the full extent of it. The Board seems to be proud that this joint statement is an "unprecedented" achievement. But just look at its new friend.

MCB leaders have in the past strongly supported Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi, the spiritual leader of Hamas who supports suicide bombings against Israelis (and previously, British forces in Iraq) and who has also asserted that the Torah permits Jews to spill the blood of others and seize their money and land.

The MCB boycotted Holocaust Memorial Day, for which it was shunned by the British government until it ended its boycott. In 2009, its then deputy secretary general, Daud Abdullah, signed the Istanbul Declaration which threatened violence against Israel supporters and British troops.

In 2005, it offered its condolences to the family of the leading Hamas terrorist Abdul Aziz al Rantissi after he was killed by the Israelis. Its former Secretary-General, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, branded Israel a "Nazi" state, accused it of "murderous leadership", "Zionist brutality" and "the ethnic cleansing of Palestine", and compared Hamas suicide bombers to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. Also that year, the BBC TV Panorama programme exposed the influence on the MCB of the Islamist thinker Sayed Maududi, who preached the need for jihad to bring abut the "universal revolution" of Islamic state rule.

In short, it is beyond astounding that the Board of Deputies should have had anything to do with the MCB at all. Its action has also dealt a blow to all who are struggling to deal with Islamic extremism in the UK. For at a stroke the MCB, which in any sane universe should be shunned as a threat not just to Jews but to Britain, has been awarded a kite-mark of respectability and decency by – of all people – the Jews.

The Board of Deputies is not fit for purpose. It has shown that it does not have a clue about the true nature of the threat posed to Jews and to Britain by Islamic extremism. Britain's Jewish community is leaderless at a time when strong, brave and wise leadership has never been more urgently and desperately needed. Tragic.'

As for the often-heard analogy between antisemitism and "Islamophobia", and more specifically that in Europe Muslims are "the new Jews", James Kirchick has a rather splendid refutation here

In Australia Next Month, "Islamophobes" Will Gather

In Australia, the "Lucky Country"

Explains its website:

"The Q Society is a national grassroots organisation run exclusively by volunteers since 2010. Members and supporters are concerned about the socio-political problems associated with the rise of Islamic sharia law in Australia; as well as religiously-motivated human rights abuses against women and indigenous religious minorities in OIC member countries. We seek to inform and lobby for a free and open discussion about the socio-political impact of political Islam in Australia. Q Society opposes the Islamisation of our society as well as attempts to silence critical debate under the pretence of multicultural tolerance and political correctness. We reject racism and multiculturalism and stand for an integrated multi-ethnic society."

In New York City

From the 7th to the 10th of next month, in Melbourne,  the 1st International Symposium on Liberty and Islam in Australia will be held under the auspices of the Q Society in association with in association with SION and SkipnGirl Productions.  Explains the blurb for the symposium:

 "From China to Iceland and from New York to Sydney, Islam is spreading. Since the 7th century this unique theocratic ideology, veiled in religious veneer, has conquered people and nations. No other ideology spawns discrimination, division and violence on a global scale. People are looking for information, perspectives and better policies. This symposium offers insights and answers."

Americans Pamela Geller of "Atlas Shrugs" and Robert Spencer of "Jihad Watch" are listed among the speakers.

So is the Israeli Arabic specialist Dr Mordechai Kedar, an expert in Islamic ideology and movements, who of course in 2008 on Al Jazeera gave a memorable defence of the Jewish People's claim to Jerusalem:

Dr Kedar's attitude towards the threat to the West from Islam may be discerned from his remarks here in 2009, where he warns of the Muslim demographic weapon that seems poised to undermine Europe and of the wider danger contained in Iranian ambitions and machinations:

The Hamas Covenant goes global

Other speakers include Dr Ashraf Ramelah, founder and president of  the human rights organisation Voice of the Copts.  He knows a thing or two about Islamic persecution of Christians.

There's New York-based human rights activist Simon Deng, a black man who was enslaved for some years by Muslims in his native Sudan.

There's Anders Gravers, chairman and founder of Stop the Islamisation of Denmark and leader of Stop

Islamisation of Europe:

"Despite death threats, violent attacks and harassment from Neo-Nazis and Islamic extremists, Anders continues to fight for freedom of speech and to stop the further Islamisation of Europe and his native Denmark."

 There's the head of the Q Society, Debbie Robinson, of whom it's explained:

"Witnessing a violent anti-Israel rally in the streets of Melbourne led Debbie to question the source of hatred and aggression she saw that day. Realising that the freedom of the Western World is also at stake, Debbie now dedicates her time to raising awareness about the true nature of Islam." 

And there's Kirralie Smith from Halal Choices, which campaigns against what some people call "halal jihad".

The full list of speakers can be found here

Meanwhile, under the headline "Don't be taken in by Islamophobia", a Jewish far-left activist in the correspondence columns of last week's Australian Jewish News, aghast at the contention of one of his friends that Muslim "asylum seekers" are

"only pretending to be boat refugees. But in fact they are the advance wave of a Muslim tsunami that threatens to engulf us all",

wrote:

"You might expect to find such ideas among some of the more benighted members of the general community, but not among fellow-Jews.  Readers of The AJN should keep their eyes and ears open, and resist the blandishments of racist anti-Muslim campaigners."

Woe betide those of any background who dare to voice concerns about mass Islamic immigration to Australia in the hearing of lefties and liberals of any background; for, as elsewhere in the West, to do so is to invite vilification.

I have mentioned more than once how a senior Jewish academic known to me was reported to his department by a clique of Aussie Jewish far leftists intent on making trouble for him after he'd told the AJN in an interview that after what he's seen in the UK in recent years Muslim immigration is not in the interests of the Jewish community or of the wider society.  A strange totalitarian bunch, some leftists.

A strange bunch in general, the Islam-friendly Left, seemingly prepared to overlook or to forgive the Islamic war on Christians, Islamic oppression of women, Islamic cruelty towards animals (see here for the difference between halal and kosher slaughter, a difference very much to the former's detriment) in their absurd insistence that all cultures are created equal.

Among the speakers at the forthcoming International Symposium on Liberty and Islam will be a well-known member of the Jewish community, retired Melbourne businessman Michael Burd.

He's no stranger to readers of the Australian Jewish News and  and the online News and Views from Jews Down Under.

At least Michael has no vice-chancellor and no head of department to whom the totalitarian leftists will be able to "dob him in" (an Aussie term for squealing on someone):

"A vocal member of Melbourne’s Jewish community whose letters in support of Israel and Jewish Human Rights often appear in Australian newspapers. He is a retired rag trader who spent 25 years manufacturing clothing out of India and Pakistan. Michael has an intimate understanding of the mindset of Muslims and Hindus. He is a passionate Zionist advocate  and a critic of the Jewish community representatives’ views  on multiculturalism and asylum seekers."

What Ails Australian Jewry's Leaders? A Concerned Jew Speaks Out

This is a guest blog by communal personality Shirlee Finn of Sydney, who is no stranger to my regular readers.

She writes:

It appears our Community Leaders in Australia have what is commonly known as the ‘British Disease’ They wonder why people want no part of the mainstream organisations . Instead of standing up and showing that we are strong, they issue weak statements. I and many, many others think it's high time they consulted with the Community to find out what they actually think. They will be unpleasantly surprised that most people don't go along with their views. They will find they are clearly out of step with main stream thinking in regards to Islam and the joke called 'multiculturalism'

In November, in a show of support for Israel in light of Operation Pillar of Cloud, Jewish communities nationwide wide held rallies to show solidarity with Israel. To be honest I have no idea what Perth and Brisbane communities did, but Melbourne and Sydney organised rallies. Melbourne’s went ahead as scheduled in a park.

Sydney’s? That’s a whole other issue. Many people decided to give it a miss because they felt that a ‘park in Bondi’ was hardly the appropriate place for a show of solidarity. They felt the City should have been the venue of choice.

At the allotted time I turned up at the designated park to find Community Security ushering people into the Mizrachi Synagogue. I was quite appalled. Where was this show of solidarity if we were hidden away? I was angry but went inside, but only for a few moments until a man took the microphone and said exactly what I was thinking. I was one of only a handful to leave in disgust. In fact I left altogether. The excuse for hiding us away apparently was a security issue, but what of those who couldn’t get inside?

Angry beyond words, I wrote a Letter to the Editor of the AJN – Australian Jewish News. I was told later that as much as they agreed with my letter, it was very strong and they were worried about publishing it. They even had a meeting to discuss it. Something apparently very out of the ordinary and the consensus was to publish it.

“I thank and congratulate the ZCNSW [State Zionist Council of New South Wales] for organising the Solidarity Rally last weekend so well and so quickly

Though I am ashamed.

Ashamed that it was deemed necessary to hide away one third of the people who attended the rally for supposed security reasons .

Whose security pray tell? Seeing as to how two thirds of people were in the park?

 I enquired about the people outside, to be told they would have to cope!

So then whose security were we speaking of?

The elite few?

If it was such a security risk, why then were there only so few police in attendance?

Haven’t we done with hiding and running away? Haven’t we done enough of that down through the ages?

No more running.

We should be finished with that.

Haven’t enough died?

Why aren’t we openly displaying our support for Israel?

People like my father who proudly and openly proclaimed their Jewishness in the East End of London, in the face of Oswald Mosley and his Fascist Party, must be turning in their graves.

I can still clearly see ‘The Blackshirt’ newspaper sitting on the kitchen table, showing a photo of my father with the words “We have to put an end permanently to this man, not only is he a Communist, he is a Jew”.

My father never hid, he never cowered. He stood proud and tall. He refused protection.

It was instilled into me never to be afraid even whilst the death threats were current and I was only allowed out with Police protection.

Let’s stand up and be counted with no more hiding.”

I waited for the backlash from our Community Leaders – and gurnisht/nothing. Not a peep. I did however hear from people I don’t know agreeing with me.

There should have been some kind of reaction from Leadership in regards to an incident on KKL/JNF -Green Sunday. Did it happen? NO!!

The AJDS – Australian Jewish Democratic Society – despite being a "Jewish" organisation, is virtually like having the enemy in our midst. They are commonly called "the enemy within". They are group with extreme leftist views and do all they can to demonise Israel.

To my way of thinking, and that of many, many others, this is just not on.  If take issue and you want to air it and you live in the Diaspora – don’t. You have no right. You are not an Israeli citizen. If you want that right then go and live there

On January 21st the Executive of the AJDS submitted the following letter to the Australian Jewish News ahead of a major fundraising drive by the Jewish National Fund.

'With the Jewish National Fund (JNF) “Green Sunday” coming up, this year raising money for projects in the Beersheva region, there are some important reasons why we need to think carefully about the role that the JNF plays in Israel. For instance,

* Despite some tinkering due to recent court cases in Israel, the JNF charter prohibits the sale or renting of land to non-Jews. Yet Israel is supposed to be a state for all its citizens. Would we support such a form of discrimination against defined groups of citizens in Australia?

* The JNF receives land from the forced removal of Bedouin villages in the Negev. While the JNF claims that such Bedouin settlements are unlawful, the deliberate resettlement of indigenous populations such as the Bedouin (and they are classified as such) clearly breaches international protocols. One village, Al Araqib, has been demolished 45 times, and its demolition orders are currently facing Supreme Court appeal.

* For decades now, the JNF’s forests have been used to cover up destroyed Palestinian villages. The villagers, many of whom fled and were not involved in hostilities, have no right to return or to claim compensation.

* The JNF continues to plant pine trees even though it is very clear that this is environmentally irresponsible and contributes to devastating forest fires. They are the wrong trees for the local environment.

* The JNF is active in the Occupied Territories, through its involvement with evictions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem. Supporting the Occupation in this way politicises the JNF in a very divisive way.

here are more ethical, non-discriminatory and environmentally-friendly organisations in Israel which deserve the support of the Australian Jewish community. These include the Green Environment Fund and Friends of the Earth Middle East, as well as Israeli hospitals which offer treatment without fear or favour, and of course, social development organisations supported by the New Israel Fund and other organisations. With the establishment of Israel over 65 years ago, it’s past time for us to think seriously about our support for the JNF.'

The paper's editor indicated that he would not publish it.  That being the case, the AJDS then decided that “the Australian Jewish community was being hindered from hearing other voices by a media outlet which considered itself inclusive and authoritative.”

Yes, AJDS, that’s because once again you are demonising Israel, and a Jewish publication won’t do your dirty work!

This group of extreme leftists then decided their best plan of action was to demonstrate, hand out flyers and cause a ruckus outside of the JNF offices, so much so, in their own words

“3 squad cars were called by the powers that be and even more security back up.”

Note: The protesters were initially rumoured to be from the Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS), although this was refuted by AJDS co-President Harold Zwier:

“I know there were some AJDS people who may have taken part in it but it wasn’t an AJDS event”

I question that fact as their President was part of the group and it was after all posted on their Facebook page

As you would expect their version was a far different one to that of the volunteers at the JNF offices:  (See here)
This is just one of the antics the AJDS get up to and yet the JCCV [Jewish Community Council of Victoria] have no issue with them being an affiliate. It’s high time our Community Organisations stood up to the noisy minority and listened to the Community as a whole.

Somehow our Community Leaders felt threatened by the presence of Geert Wilders in this country.

Geert Wilders is one of the most pro-Israel supporters on this planet. What an insult.!

The ECAJ – Executive Council of Australian Jewry – supported by other Community Organisations issued a Statement extolling the virtues of multiculturalism, which we all know is an abysmal failure and has ‘ghettoised’ the country.

Likewise the one released by the JCCV.

The ECAJ is the umbrella organisation which claims it speaks for the entire Jewish Community in Australia. The JCCV purportedly represents the Jewish Community in Victoria, it appears to most that all it does is to pander to the loony left, aka ‘the enemy within’.

As is my norm I blog and comment all over the Internet for Israel and just about everywhere I went I was seeing comments about how the Jewish Community should be supporting Geert Wilders and the statements put out were pathetic.

Andrew Bolt, who is a strong Israel supporter, also made comment on his Blog. (See here)

He says:

“Depressingly, he [Wilders] has even been shunned by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Jewish community leaders. [And quotes the pathetic statement from the ECAJ.] It seems to me that political or community advantage is being put before principle – and fear is preventing a rational discussion of Wilders’ message.”

No one was expecting the Community Leaders to come out and say they support Wilders. This is one time they could have said nothing. There was no need for such a pathetic non-statement.

I have firsthand accounts from people who were at the Melbourne and Sydney events. The audience consisting of mainly non-Jews. At both events I am told that when Wilders acknowledged that Israel has every right to exist, it raised a huge ovation.

Wilders has spoken in Israel. He has also spoken at various shuls in the USA and I believe Congress and we can’t support him here? The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has announced its strong support for him and we are busy having little Muslim/Jewish cooking sessions. How truly pathetic is that?

Haven’t we had enough? Why are we so quiet?

Why aren’t we out there voicing our opinion against Islamic speakers Taji Mustafa and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, both of whom will be here this month, who are both on record making antisemitic remarks? By that I don’t mean making statements and posting them on J-Wire or the ECAJ website

Whilst I am raving, I have questions which many people are talking about.

Why on earth is the AJDS an affiliate of the JCCV? A group of people who are trying to bring Israel to her knees. I realise we have a very strong representation of the Jewish Extreme Left in Melbourne, but why are we pandering to them? As an extension to that fact, why then is the JCCV an affiliate of the ECAJ?

I think they need to read the extraordinary number of comments on J-Wire to see what people think. I am constantly asked why the Community at large don’t see fit to join our Community Organisations. I think that is pretty clear. It’s for the same reasons I dropped out of the Community for so many years. To tell you the truth, if it wasn’t for the friendship of one person, I too would be long gone, because I feel I am hitting my head up against a brick wall.