NIF-Funded Organization Ejects IDF Radio Reporters from "Co-existance Concert"

The well-funded tentacles of the New Israel Fund continue to challenge the legitimacy of the State of Israel.

IDF Radio reports:

The invitation to the event promised an extraordinary demonstration of co-existence. Musicians from the Palestinian National Orchestra came to Haifa to appear before an Israeli crowd, but instead of music bridging their positions and differences of opinion, the concert only managed to sharpen and divide when the Palestinian musicians refused to answer questions from the IDF-radio reporters. The IDF radio reporters were later forced to leave the concert hall because they were dressed in IDF uniforms.

The cultural event was held last night (Sunday) and was intended to put differences aside -- 40 Palestinian National Orchestra musicians arrived at the Kreiger Hall in Haifa before an Israeli audience, but when posed questions by the IDF Radio reporters, they refused the uniformed IDF soldiers, even though they were simply reporters for IDF radio.

The uncomfortable situation continued after the interview session, when the concert's organizers announced that recordings could only be made during the general rehearsal, and that the IDF radio reporters would not be allowed to stay for the concert because they were wearing IDF uniforms. The musicians felt uncomfortable performing before uniformed IDF soldiers, yet the primary question is, how can IDF soldiers be prevented from attending a concert which is held in a concert hall that belongs to the Israeli city of Haifa?

The only response to the question came from Jafar Perach, the director of the Mossawa Center for Arab Civil Rights in Israel, that tried to explain the incident in the name of the orchestra. "The musicians are used to IDF uniforms interrogating them at checkpoints, but it was strange for them at a cultural event. You [IDF Radio] arrived to interview them wearing the uniforms of the occupying army."

The Haifa crowd that came to hear the concert was also at unease and offered creative solutions; including that the IDF soldiers "dress up" [not in uniform]. The Haifa City spokesman, Tzachi Terno said "this behavior is unacceptable. We denounce any boycott based on nationality race, dress or anything. Specifically in Haifa, there is no place for such behavior, and we will be very careful in the future about letting activities into Haifa that boycott others." (translated by the Muqata Newswire)

The Mossawa Center for Arab Civil Rights in Israel is another proud New Israel Fund project. You can see them listed on the NIF website, listed under "Palestinian Israeli" organizations funded by NIF.

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

Tel Aviv Nightclub Targets IDF Soldiers

The popular "Rogatka" (slingshot) nightclub in Tel Aviv is refusing entry to IDF soldiers in uniform.

IDF Uniforms are associated with oppression and genocide, and the IDF's violence is the reason for all violence in Israel, explained the club's workers.

The ground rules of the club are clear: Naturalism, Pluralism, and no IDF uniforms -- anyone can visit the club on Yitzchak Sadeh street in Tel-Aviv, with any clothing style, except for IDF uniforms.

Two IDF combat soldiers who visited the club last week were forbidden entry. They were told they could switch to civilian clothes and come in, but it was forbidden to wear uniforms inside.

"It's nothing personal, but ideological. Your uniforms symbolize genocide and violence." they were told by club employees and guests.

One of the soldiers took off his IDF issued shirt, but his Unit's t-shirt didn't pass muster either...and they were told to leave.

IDF radio sent a solider from an elite unit to validate the claims. As soon as he sat down at the bar, employees came over to him and demanded that he leave.

"Your shirt symbolizes sh&^ and disgust," he was told, "and as soon as I see your shirt, it hurts me. So before I hurt you, I'm asking you to leave."

The elite combat solider replied, "I kill myself to protect you and you're throwing me out?"

Their response: "They pay you half of what you deserve. You aren't killing yourself. They are taking advantage of you, and you're a slave to the army...now leave." (source, translated from IDF radio via rotter)

I feel bad for the people in Tel Aviv that have to put with up with this leftist garbage on a daily basis...and even worse for the IDF soldiers who wanted to visit the nightclub.

The faster the nightclub owners leave Israel, the better for everyone. Go somewhere peaceful, like Gaza.

Tisha B'Av evening Wednesday, July 29 - join the Women in Green as they March around the Walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. But first the reading of Eichah will take place in front of the US Consulate on Agron Street at 8:00pm.

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

Allegations agaisnt IDF based on rumors, not fact.

Updated: In addition to my post below, the following YNET article appeared as well. There are probably thousands of furious IDF reserve soldiers who are disgusted by Haaretz's report, and the slander from an IDF NCO who wasn't even in Gaza (let alone seen battle).

"I don’t believe there were soldiers who were looking to kill (Palestinians) for no reason," said 21-year-old Givati Brigade soldier Assaf Danziger, who was lightly injured three days before the conclusion of Operation Cast Lead.

"What happened there was not enjoyable to anyone; we wanted it to end as soon as possible and tried to avoid contact with innocent civilians," he said.

...

A Paratroopers Brigade soldier who also participated in the war called the claims "nonsense". Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said "It is true that in war morality can be interpreted in many different ways, and there are always a few idiots who act inappropriately, but most of the soldiers represented Israel honorably and with a high degree of morality.

"For instance, on three separate occasions my company commander checked soldiers' bags for stolen goods. Those who stole the smallest things, like candy, were severely punished," he said.

"We were forbidden from sleeping in Palestinians' beds even when we had no alternate accommodations, and we didn’t touch any of their food even after we hadn't had enough to eat for two days."

Israel's most anti-Zionist Hebrew daily newspaper, Haaretz, let loose with a bombshell of an "exclusive expose" today about the IDF's actions during the "Cast Lead" operation in Gaza: IDF in Gaza: Killing civilians, vandalism, and lax rules of engagement

Haaretz "reports:"

During Operation Cast Lead, Israeli forces killed Palestinian civilians under permissive rules of engagement and intentionally destroyed their property, say soldiers who fought in the offensive.

The soldiers are graduates of the Yitzhak Rabin pre-military preparatory course at Oranim Academic College in Tivon. Some of their statements made on Feb. 13 will appear Thursday and Friday in Haaretz. Dozens of graduates of the course who took part in the discussion fought in the Gaza operation.

The reporter goes on to beat his own drum in a separate "analysis" piece entitled, "Can Israel dismiss its own troops' stories from Gaza?"

The statements of the Israel Defense Forces soldiers from the Yitzhak Rabin preparatory course provide the first, uncensored look at what occurred in some of the combat units in Operation Cast Lead.

It seems that what soldiers have to say is actually the way things happened in the field, most of the time. And as usual, reality is completely different from the gentler version provided by the military commanders to the public and media during the operation and after.

The soldiers are not lying, for the simple reason that they have no reason to. If you read the transcript that will appear in Haaretz Friday, you will not find any judgment or boasting. This is what the soldiers, from their point of view, saw in Gaza. There is a continuity of testimony from different sectors that reflects a disturbing and depressing picture.

Now, I know plenty of soldiers who saw action in Gaza during the "Cast Lead" operation, and no one that I know saw anything remotely similar to what Haaretz described.

Fast forward to a few minutes ago. Channel 2 TV Army correspondent Roni Daniel stated at 6:30 PM this evening, that he personally tracked down one of the soldiers interviewed for the Haaretz article. Apparently the soldier's testimony to Haaretz wasn't based on anything he personally saw or witnessed, rather based on rumors and hearsay he heard (and the soldier wasn't even in Gaza!)

Truth is rarely important to Haaretz, as long as it can bash the IDF, Israel, settlers, religious Jews, or anyone not agreeing with them. As a result of their propaganda article, the entire planet picked up on their "expose" and the poison keeps propagating around the world...

Gaza-Krieg: Israels Soldaten berichten über wahlloses Töten FACTS - Ausland 12:08

Soldaten schockieren mit Aussagen über Gaza-Krieg N24.de - Politik 11:58

IDF killed civilians in Gaza under lax rules of engagement Guerrilla News Network - Headlines 11:53

Wahlloses Töten in Gaza ntv.de 11:52

Gaza-Krieg – Soldaten gestehen wahlloses Töten Die Welt Online 11:44

Israeli army orders investigation into unethical actions in Gaza Xinhua Online - Middle East 11:39

Soldados israelíes mataron a palestinos indefensos en Gaza, según militares Yahoo! Espana - Mundo 11:28

Los soldados israelíes mataron civiles en Gaza con órdenes "laxas" de combate Yahoo! Espana - Mundo 11:28

Soldados israelenses mataram palestinos indefensos em Gaza 19/03/2009 08:24 CorreioWeb - Mundo 11:25

- Exterior » Soldados israelenses mataram civis em Gaza sem representar ameaça, diz jornal Clica Brasilia - Ultimas Noticias 11:22

Israeli troops in Gaza fought under 'permissive rules of engagement' The Earth Times 11:09

Israel matou civis indiscriminadamente em Gaza, diz jornal Estado.com.br - Ultimas Noticias 11:00

UPDATE: Israelis Describe Wanton Killings Of Gaza Civilians Nasdaq - Global Markets 11:00

MK Tibi demands State commission of inquiry on Gaza offensive YnetNews 10:59

Soldados israelenses mataram civis indefesos em Gaza JB Online - Internacional
10:58

Israel: Soldaten bezeugen Kriegsverbrechen in Gaza ORF.at 10:54

Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian civilians in Gaza Xinhua Online - Home 10:43

IDF orders probe into allegations over Gaza war Ha'aretz 10:36

Journal describes Gaza killings The National - Middle East 10:33

Israelis describe wanton killings of Gaza civilians Middle East Online 10:32

Mark my words My prediction: this entire story will turn out to be a tempest in a teapot, but the damage caused to Israel and the IDF has already been inflicted by Haaretz.

I'm sure their investigative reporters are already figuring out how the IDF bakes matza with blood.

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