Lies, Damn Lies, and MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi

The other day Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke at Israel's parliament.  Rarely does Israel hear such an impassioned, pro-Israel speech on the floor of the Knesset, let alone from the leader of a foreign country.

The first speech in the Knesset by a Canadian prime minister was peppered with standing ovations, the enthusiastic likes of which may not have been seen since Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the US Congress in 2011.

Statements like “through fire and water, Canada will stand with you” were met with rousing rounds of applause, and though clapping is against Knesset protocol, even Speaker Yuli Edelstein joined in.

The Canadian premier said he believes “it is right to support Israel because, after generations of persecution, the Jewish people deserve their own homeland and deserve to live safely and peacefully in that homeland. 

“Let me repeat that: Canada supports Israel because it is right to do so,” he emphasized. “It is... a Canadian tradition to stand for what is principled and just, regardless of whether it is convenient or popular.” (JPost)

Unable to control himself at such a passionate outpouring of Zionist ethos, MK Ahmed Tibi from the Ra'am (United Arab List) - Ta'al party interrupted Harper's speech spewing protected-freedom-of-speech lies: Israel's is an apartheid state and the like...culminating that his fellow Arab MK, Taleb Abu Arar doesn't even have water or electricity in his village.

Its unfortunate that the world takes every word from MK Tibi's mouth as sacred.

Not only does MK Taleb Abu Arar's village (and personal home) have water, sewage, electricity, gas delivery, garbage removal, telephone/high speed internet infrastructure and free State sponsored education, but MK Taleb Abu Arar's impoverished and apartheid home also has Satellite TV.

Satellite TV Dish on MK Taleb Abu Arar's home  -- taken 22/1/2014
Photo by Meir Deutch, Regavim

Here's an easy tip to know when MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi is lying.

His lips are moving.


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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Why Noam Shalit will make an excellent MK

(courtesy JewishPress)

Joining the political rat-race in Israel, Noam Shalit -- famous for being the "Father of Captured IDF Soldier Gilad Shalit (tm)" has decided he has what to offer Israel in terms of leadership and vision. For the record (which you won't easily find), Noam's wife was is? an active member of the anti-IDF "Machsom Watch" organization.

So why would Noam Shalit, make an excellent MK? Because MKs in Israel are notorious for not accepting responsibility for their actions. Oslo Accord leading to the deaths of thousands of Israelis -- make you eligible to become Israel's President. Yank the IDF out of Lebanon resulting in the second Lebanon war -- you become Defense Minister. Evict 8000 Jews from their homes, leading to thousands of rockets on Israel's Negev heartland (and terrible conditions for the Jewish refugees) and you end up leading the biggest party in Israel.

Noam Shalit may be a dedicated father who stopped at nothing to get his son released -- regardless of who may be killed as a result, and ignoring the terrible injustice of releasing terrorists from imprisonment. Yet that has nothing to do with leadership or proving one is worthy of making difficult choices needed to lead Israel. He had no difficult choices to make -- his only choice was to support releasing Gilad at all costs.

Shalit also managed to elicit the anger of those orphaned by the terrorists freed for his son -- "A Letter to Noam Shalit" from Meir Schijveschuurder.

Welcome to politics Noam Shalit.

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Analysis: Barak Plus Four Leaving Labour Party

Dropping a political bombshell, Labour Party Head Ehud Barak announced Monday morning that he and 4 others from the Labour party intended to split from Labour, and would create a new party -- tentatively named, "Atzmaut" (Independence).

The background for such a move is very clear. For months left-leaning MKs in the Labour party have been castigating Barak for not bolting from the government, due to "a lack of positive movement" regarding negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. Barak holds his position dearly, fully knowing that being Defense Minister in a Netanyahu government is the best he can possibly hope for, and he therefore orchestrated his split from the Labour party.

Now, Barak can safely stay in his Defense Minister position without being criticized (from within his party) for remaining in the government.

Reports indicate that PM Netanyahu was fully aware of this plan, and he guaranteed that Barak and Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai would keep their positions. Netanyahu doesn't even have to fire the remaining Labour government ministers (who criticize him daily), as they will be resigning on their own.

The government is now slightly smaller, yet has gained more stability.

The opposition will grow louder, but their effectiveness is still close to zero.

Final thoughts: I don't think the earthquake has finished...and we will probably see more political aftershocks in the coming days. Additional disenfranchised Labour MKs might also split and move to Kadima, furthering neutering the remains of the Labour party.

Ehud Barak's done a great job at destroying Jewish community outposts over the past 2 years, so it's only fitting to see him do another hatchet job on the Labour party.


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Protecting Israel's Democracy

An interesting piece of legislation is about to be presented to the Knesset for its second and third reading (which would make it law), having passed today in the Knesset House Committee.

The "Referendum Law" states that should the Israeli government approve a withdrawal from territory under full Israeli sovereignty (i.e., the Golan Heights, Eastern Jerusalem, parts of pre-1967 Israel alongside the Gaza strip, but not Yehuda vShomron/West Bank) – then the decision will be put to a vote in the Knesset. Once passed in the Knesset, a national referendum will be held within 180 days. Only a vote of 80 (or 90) Knesset members or more can prevent a referendum from being required to implement the withdrawal.

This law's origin is based on the problem that Israeli politicians routinely run on one platform, and then do an about-face after elections, and reject their previous platform. Examples include Yitzchak Rabin and the Oslo Accords, in which the entire issue was hidden from the public's eye till it was announced. The Oslo 2 Accords only passed in the Knesset by a 1 person majority (61-59) after Rabin bribed 2 MKs to abandon their party's platform in exchange for a Ministerial position and a Mitsubishi car and driver.

Ariel Sharon, the previous "champion of Israel's security and supporter of Jewish settlement" did a radical about face in the middle of his term, leading Israel's disengagement from Gaza, despite having won the election against the publicly stated disengagement platform of the head of the Labor party, Amnon Mitzna. This also despite Sharon's promise to abide by the public referrendum of the Likud party's membership on the issue of Disengagement, in which the Disengagement idea was rejected by an overwhelming 69% to 29%.

What I found amazing was an interview with MK Daniel Ben-Simon (Labor) who announced on IDF radio this morning that this law was a threat to democracy and would diminish the sovereignty of the Knesset.

The "sovereignty of the Knesset"? By putting a vote into the hands of the people, that impedes the representatives of the people? That impacts our democracy?

This need for this law is further reinforced by yesterday's acquittal of MK Tzachi Hanegbi. Hanegbi was cleared on the charges of fraud, breach of trust, and electoral bribery in the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court. He was charged on just one count in the indicted filed against him in 2006: perjury.

Quoted on IDF radio, Hanegbi stated that the conviction of perjury was only a minor issue, tacked on to the end of the indictment. If the court doesn't rule that Hangbi's perjury carries the stain of "Kalon" (moral turpitude) , this will herald his return as a major player in Israeli politics and a leader within the Kadima party.

Since when is perjury such a petty crime, that when committed by a politician that it be ignored and minimized as a "minor issue." I assume that since politicians in Israel lie all the time, why should any politician even be expected not to lie under oath?

Tzippi Livni considers herself Mrs. Clean, and Kadima to be the "clean hands party" -- yet to allow Hanegbi to continue in the party after a conviction of perjury (with, or without the official court declaration of "kalon") demonstrates the worst of Israeli politics and utter disregard of the law.

If we want to protect Israel's democracy, we need to protect ourselves from politicians in Kadima and the Labor party that moan about Israelis wanting to decide for themselves about Israel's future and not leave it in the hands of immoral criminals housed in the Knesset.

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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Knesset Gym to have seperate hours for male and female MKs

Kikar reports that due to the request from MK Dr. Michael Ben Ari, the Knesset gym/health spa will now have separate hours for male and female MKs who wish to exercise in a more modest same-gender environment.

As of next week, 2 hours a week will be allocated for male-only MKs and 2 hours for female-only MKs.

Will separate seating be next?

Now, no one has an excuse not to exercise, except for me who is too lazy to run on the treadmill.

(Though I still play an exhausting Saturday night hockey game. This past Saturday night, one of the players loudly announced, "Jameel, my arch-nemesis...bwahahahah" Good thing they put us on the same team later on in the night)

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Mazal Tov: MK Anastasia Michaeli Gives Birth to 8th Child

Mazal tov - congratulations to Member of Knesset Anastasia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu) on the birth of her 8th child, a son, this early this morning. MK Michaeli is the first Israeli parliament member to give birth during Knesset tenure.

As opposed to less than clever Members of Knesset we've seen in the past few years, MK Michaeli holds a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, and a BA in Business Administration.

"I feel fine. The delivery was very swift," Michaeli told Ynet. "I'll leave the hospital and then decide what maternity leave to take."

Asked about the new parliament child's name, the MK replied, "I'm having doubts about the name and consulting the rabbi."...

In the current legal situation, a Knesset member is not defined as a worker and is therefore not entitled to maternity leave.

"It's clear that the right given to any workers, which is aimed at allowing her to rest following the delivery and nurture the bond between the parent and child, should also be granted to Knesset members," the committee members stated. (YNET)

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

The Great Election Poll Roundup

By Israeli law, polls cannot be conducted or taken any more till Israel's election. The above table represents the latest (and last) polls from Israel, all published on Friday, Feb 7th, 2009.

One of the commenters on Friday's post said he was voting for Kadima. I'd like to understand why anyone would vote for the most corrupt party in Israel's history? The current Kadima Prime Minister, Ehud Olmet attended his 13th police investigation this past Friday for corruption in the past 2 year period.

Additional winners from the upcoming elections, Kadima party list include:

Kadima #4: MK Tzachi HaNegbi: Indicted, awaiting trial for fraud and breach of trust for allegedly making 69 inappropriate political appointments while serving as environment minister between 2001 and 2003)

Kadima #8 MK Ruchama Avraham: Under police investigation for bribery, stopped by Israeli customs agents last week for illegally smuggling whiskey into Israel.

Kadima #13 MK Yaakov Edri: Police recommend indictment for breach of trust and accepting a bribe, awaiting special hearing.

Kadima #14 MK Eli Aflalo: Under police investigation for bribery.

Kadima #17 MK Chaim Ramon: Convicted sexual predator -- sexual harassment.

Down but not out: in addition to Ehud Olmert, don't forget former Finance Minister and MK Avraham Hirschson (indicted for breach of trust, aggravated fraud, theft and money laundering) and past MK Omri Sharon, convicted criminal of fraud and breech of public trust.

Don't forget Ari Shavit's scathing analysis of Tzippi Livni on Haaretz (of all places).

I could go on and on about Kadima, but I honestly don't understand why anyone would vote for them. I could even think of more reasons to vote for the Labor party, than for Kadima. This is the party that founded itself on the coat-tails of the Disengagement, the party that then continues to turn its back on the refugees of Gush Katif -- after forcibly removing them from their homes, denying them permanent housing, causing severe unemployment (over 60%), and a myriad of social and educational issues.

Livni has voted in the Knesset against every single law that would advance women's rights in Israel.

I could go on and on, but would rather talk about possibilities that might further Israel's goals as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state.

And I'll be posting that tomorrow.

Regards,

Jameel

PS: During Operation Cast-Lead, when Defense Minister Ehud Barak was running the war and Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu put aside all partisan politics and gave marathon video news interviews...Tzippi Livni decided to campaign instead (note, Labor and Likud had zero meetings like this). See the video for yourself...Channel 10 (Hebrew only)



Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Surprise! Another Shas MK Convicted!

Shocking!

"Shas party Knesset Member Rabbi Shlomo Benizri was convicted by the Jerusalem's District Court Tuesday on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, committed during his tenure as labor and welfare minister.

Two years ago Benizri was indicted for passing on advance information to building contractor Moshe Sela which included details on the quota of foreign laborers expected to arrive in Israel.

The prosecution said that in return for this information the Shas member had received perks worth millions of shekels, including large sums of money, expensive furniture, cleaning services, electrical appliances and help in expanding his apartment. The MK was also convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud and disrupting court proceedings.

His spiritual and political patron, Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, was convicted of facilitating and accepting bribes and conspiracy to commit fraud." (YNET)

Money Quote: Regarding the indictment, Benizri stated: "After listening to the prosecutors say this is the most serious case of bribery in the history of Israel (I have to say), this is the biggest lie in the history of Israel."

Wow. The biggest lie! Rather impressive.

Benizri joins ranks with other fellow Shas convicted criminals:

Arieh Deri - convicted of taking a total of $155,000 in bribes while director-general of the interior ministry and later as interior minister.

Raphael Pinhasi - convicted of counterfeiting corporate documents, attempted extortion, acting as an accessory to a crime and giving false witness.

Yair Levi -- convicted of embezzling NIS 300,000 from Shas's El Hama'ayan non-profit association

Yair Peretz -- Peretz was found guilty of receiving a BA in psychology from the now-defunct local extension of Burlington University, after he copied nine essays written by former students at the school and submitted them as his own.

Opher Chugi - Guilty of a number of serious offenses, including aggravated forgery, using forged documents, receiving items through fraudulent means, false registration of a corporation and attempting to receive items through fraudulent means.

Shlomo Dayan - Convicted of Fraud (along with Raphael Pinchasi, see above)

For a political party that names itself for the Oral Torah and claims to act only under orders and directions from Shas Spiritual Leader R' Ovadia Yosef and the Shas Supreme Council of Torah Sages, I would posit that Benizri's conviction is a good definition of the word, "Chilul Hashem" -- a desecration of G-d's name, and an embarrassment to Jews everywhere.

Of course, don't get me wrong; Ehud Olmert's ruling Kadima party is not without it's criminals.

PM Ehud Olmert is currently under 3 different criminal investigations!

Finance Minister, MK Avraham Hirschson (indicted for breach of trust, aggravated fraud, theft and money laundering)

MK Tzachi HaNegbi (indicted, awaiting trial for fraud and breach of trust for allegedly making 69 inappropriate political appointments while serving as environment minister between 2001 and 2003)

MK Yaakov Edri (police recommend indictment for breach of trust and accepting a bribe, awaiting special hearing)

MK Eli Aflalo (under police investigation for bribery)

MK Ruchama Avraham (under police investigation for bribery)

MK Chaim Ramon (convicted sexual predator -- sexual harassment)

past MK Omri Sharon, convicted, currently in prison.

Mighty Impressive.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Israel's Stupid Laws (and Knesset lawmakers who enact them)

Israel is no stranger to limiting personal freedoms, be they freedom of religion, property rights, or expression.

So it should come as no surprise that MK Yisrael Hason's latest proposed law is all about limiting freedom of expression on the internet. Or more specifically, stripping the ability to remain anonymous when leaving comments, "talkbacks" on internet news sites (maybe even blogs?)

Web sites could be absolved of all responsibility for content published on their message boards, or talkbacks, if they agree to reveal the details of people posting on their sites, according to a bill approved Sunday by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation.

The bill, which was drafted by MK Yisrael Hasson (Israel Beiteinu) would effectively define Web sites as newspapers to those who wish to press libel charges against statements made in various forums. While the owners, or editors, of a Web site would be legally responsible for the content on their site, they could be absolved of liability if they provide details of the users and posters.

The bill would provide an extension to the current law, which allows courts to order a Web site to reveal users' technical information, such as their IP address.

A clause in the bill, however, mandates that Web sites with more than 50,000 'hits', or entries by Internet surfers per day, would be accountable for all contents published on their pages. (JPost)

Perhaps Israel is only attempting to follow in Poland's footsteps (after all, they tell jokes about Israel in Chelm). Poland enacted a law as part of criminal penal code that states that "those who publicly slander the Polish nation for its alleged part in orchestrating or taking part in the crimes of the Communists or Nazis will be subject to a three-year prison sentence."

As a result, Poland is examining the possibility of pressing charges against the Polish-born Jewish American historian Jan T. Grosz (also a History Professor at Princeton University). Grosz's highly-acclaimed book, "Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland after Auschwitz" which was published in the US over a year ago, and just translated into Polish, describes the widespread anti-Semitism and violence towards Poland's Jews who survived the Holocaust, including a pogrom in the town of Kielce in 1946. (YNET)

Nice.

Of course, don't go blaming all of Israel's legal silliness on the inherited laws from the Ottoman Empire, British Mandate, or Jordanian Law -- urban legends are just as important a factor in determining Israel's laws...as is MK Hason's desire to remove our anonymity.

On January 31, 2005, the Knesset enacted a law (sorry, link is in Hebrew) that forbids the use of mobile phones in gas stations, with a whopping fine of NIS 12000 ($3260) for the criminals who dare to flagrantly endanger public safety.

And where did the Knesset get such an idea? From an Urban Legend spam email going around.

Cell Phones

In case you do not know, there was an incident where a driver suffered burns and his car severely damaged when gasoline vapors ignited an explosion while he was talking on his mobile phone standing near the attendant who was pumping the gas. All the electronic devices in gas stations are protected with explosive containment devices, (intrinsically safe) while cell phones are not. READ YOUR HANDBOOK!

Mobile phone makers Motorola, Ericsson, and Nokia, all print cautions in their user handbooks that warn against mobile phones in "gas stations, fuel storage sites, and chemical factories." Exxon has begun placing "warning stickers" at its gasoline stations. The threat mobile phones pose to gas stations and their users is primarily the result of their ability to produce sparks that can be generated by the high-powered battery inside the phone.

Please pass this on.

Since Israel's lawmakers are too stupid to check spam emails and urban legends with the Snopes website (one of the internet's authoritative websites on proving or disproving Urban Legends), it's no shock we end up with silly laws on the books.

It's worth reading the entire snopes entry on mobile phone and gas stations to see how pathetic the Knesset really is.

Perhaps that explains the rumor that Israel's Finance Ministry is preparing a proposal to replace Bituach Leumi (social security) with a new kind of individual investment plan: Each citizen will be paired up with a widow of a slain third-world high-ranking government official, who had stashed enormous amounts of embezzled money in secret Swiss bank accounts. In return for agreeing to assist in the withdrawal of the funds, everyone will get a generous cut of the loot, which should be more than sufficient to provide for all future medical and retirement needs. (Lurker heard it first)

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael  --  טובה הארץ מאד מאד