Who else is being injured by the vilification of Israel?

From JCPA:
"...The systematic exploitation of international humanitarian law by "Palestinians" comes at the expense of others in need. It erodes the credibility of UN bodies. And it MUST come to an end."

Amnesty International - still keen to vilify Israel

From AIJAC, 12 July 2013, by Or Avi-Guy:

Amnesty International has it hands full in the Middle East at the best of times, and now it seems that they are busier still; Egypt is experiencing unrest and mass protests which has led to casualties, as well as a surge in sexual harassment of women, and Syria is still enthralled in its brutal civil war with refugees pouring into neighbouring countries.

Even with such urgent and severe crises, Amnesty still finds the time to deal with... the so-called "bullying and judicial harassment" faced by one Palestinian "rights activist", Nariman Tamimi.
...to Amnesty it seems that a Palestinian woman facing trial for entering a closed military zone during the weekly protests in Nabi Saleh is as much of a human rights violation and an injustice as the killing of protesters in Turkey and Egypt.

Every Friday, in Nabi Saleh demonstrations are held by local Palestinians and activists in a similar fashion to the demonstrations held previously in Bil'in. Part of the ritual in these demonstrations is to intentionally provoke Israeli soldiers, and then document their response. For that purpose, dozens of cameramen and photographers are present at each demonstration. The most infamous case of such provocation in Nabi Saleh took place late last year, when a picture of young An'd Tamimi, Nariman's daughter, confronting a soldier was circulated online and in the global media (see AIJAC's blog post on the incident).

On June 28 Nariman was arrested, along with another protester, for this kind of provocation, when she entered an area which was closed off by the military. She was released on bail and while she awaits trial she was temporarily forbidden from participating in the Friday demonstrations. This requirement by the court that she will stay in the family home between 9am to 5pm on Friday until her trial date was described as a "partial house arrest"- well, very partial, considering the fact that it is only meant to keep her temporarily from events in which she repeatedly breaks the law and confronts soldiers, at least until her most recent actions are brought to court. It does not seem that to prevent a repeat offender (Nariman was arrested in the past for intentionally clashing with soldiers) from participating in the very activity during which they break the law is such a draconian measure. But in the eyes of Amnesty it is: 

"Amnesty International has accused the Israeli authorities of bullying and judicial harassment of Nariman Tamimi, a Palestinian rights activist who was placed under partial house arrest today to prevent her taking part in peaceful protests while she awaits trial next week.

'This is an unrelenting campaign of harassment, the latest in a litany of human rights violations against Nariman Tamimi, her family, and her fellow villagers. These arbitrary restrictions should be lifted immediately and the charges should be dropped,' said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Program Director.

'They have been denied the basic human right to peacefully protest over land illegally seized by Israeli settlers, and the Israeli judiciary has used spurious legal tools to punish them for exercising their basic human right to peaceful protest,' said Philip Luther."

But Luther's description is misleading- no one denied the villagers' and activists' right to peacefully protest. The only thing that was denied was the entry of Nariman to a closed military zone. Once she broke the law and confronted the soldiers she was arrested. Not for peacefully protesting. Other protesters who did not try to break into that area were not arrested, and this Friday demonstrations took place as usual. Does Luther think that the "human right to peacefully protest" includes a right to break the law and not face charges and legal consequences?

The Tamimi family is prominent in organising the weekly demonstrations in Nabi Saleh, and in the "resistance" to Israel more broadly. Her husband Bassam is one of the main organisers of the protests, as are Naji and Bilal Tamimi. Amnesty International is making them into non-violent resistance heroes, but this is a political stand by Amnesty. It might be framed in the language of human rights, but when someone breaks the law, is brought to court and the only sanction they face until the trial date is to not participate in the very action in which they broke the law in the first place, the excuse of human rights violation is pretty flimsy. The people at Amnesty International must know that, they deal with the daily casualties of protests elsewhere in the region- when the right to protest is truly being repressed, it does not end with individual arrests, bail money and a court date, while the demonstrations themselves continue as usual.

The Tamimi family story is not simply about a family from Nabi Saleh that peacefully responds to what they perceive as violations of their rights. While Nariman brags about the "non-violent" and "peaceful" nature of the demonstrations, in interviews she has stated that throwing rocks is considered "non-violent" in her eyes. The fact that these stones are often aimed at civilians and have caused death and injuries, does not seem to concern her:

"Nonviolent resistance is mostly verbal; we respond back with words, but if a stone was the response or comeback then that doesn't mean it is a weapon. It is more of a message than a weapon. [...] throwing rocks at the soldiers is more of a retaliatory symbolic message."

Nariman's war might be predominantly a propaganda war- staging conflict between Palestinians civilians, including young children, with soldiers to defame the Israeli Defence Forces, and Israel. But it does not stop there. The kind of actions she is supporting can escalate to violent action. This happened in Nariman's own family - her husband Bassam's nephew, Nizar Tamimi, served a life sentence after murdering an Israeli settler in the early 1990s. His cousin Ahlam Tamimi, is infamous for her involvement in helping to carry out the Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing in 2001, as well as other terror attacks, and was sentenced to 16 consecutive life sentences. She holds the dubious title of the first female member of Hamas' "military wing." Both were released from prison in the Shalit prisoner swap deal, and after meeting in prison, they were engaged at the time of their release. Both are very popular in Nabi Saleh and upon their release celebrations were held in the village. Is glorification of terrorism also a form of "non violent resistance"?

Human rights organisations who criticise Israel for temporarily preventing a woman who is awaiting trial from participating in the same activity during which she broke the law are undermining the cause of human rights and draining the term of any substance (see AIJAC's previous blog post about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights). Any soccer fan that is disruptive during a match would receive similar treatment and could be removed from the stadium until his or her case is heard in court. This is especially the case when considering the regional context. How could anyone take Amnesty's condemnations about deaths in protests in Turkey, about sexual harassment in Tahrir Square or about the disintegration of Syria into chaos seriously, if they use the same language to describe Nariman Tamimi's case?

See Israel with Bridges for Peace

You've Read The Book - Now See The Land!

Just four months and you could be on your way to the amazing land of Israel...

Our end-of-year "Standing With Israel" tour group will leave Sydney on 28 October, returning on 16 November - that's 16 full days in Israel! You will see so much and enjoy all kinds of fascinating experiences - like walking the length of the 530-metre Hezekiah's Tunnel built to safeguard Jerusalem's water supply, an exhilarating adventure as our last tour group [left] can testify! Contact us now (see below) for your application pack.

Click here to download a detailed itinerary of this eye-opening and life-changing tour

Are You Ready for an exhilarating experience with other young adults on our next Israel tour?

In January 2014 young adults from all over the world will fly to Israel and enjoy a truly life-changing experience, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, learning about the incredible land of Israel, and connecting with the people of this land. If you are looking for something very different during the January holiday, give us a call and we will fill you in on the details.

Click here, then under "video", for a short Zealous 8:2 adventure tour clip

Contact

PO Box 1785, Buderim,
Queensland 4556, Australia
Phone - 61 7 54794229
Phone - 1800 000 661
Fax - 61 7 54792210
Click here to email us
www.bridgesforpeace.com.au 

VISIT ISRAEL with the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce - November 2013

COMPLIMENTARY INFORMATION BRIEFING SESSION - Tuesday 30 July 12-2pm at the Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA

AICC Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce(WA) Inc invites you to participate in our Mission to Israel scheduled for Thursday 28 November to Wednesday 4 December 2013.

The AICC has been organizing Missions to Israel for over 20 years, during which there have been over 40 separate group missions of varying sizes. They are always presented in the context of a historical, cultural, industrial and policy perspective and as such, I am confident the mission will provide you and other delegates with a memorable, stimulating and meaningful experience and above all, linkages to generate real business opportunities.

Next Steps:

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the mission, kindly contact John Cluer on 0419 938 480, or if you would like to receive the full Mission Brochure and Expression of Interest e-mail:  diane@aicc.org.au

Complimentary Information Briefing Session will be held from 12 to 2pm in the Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIWA) Function Centre, 180 Hay Street East Perth. This session will be attended by Mr Paul Israel, from our Tel Aviv office.  The purpose of the session is to answer your questions, clarify all elements of the mission and to hear from the delegates who have been on our missions.

To register : RSVP to Diane at diane@aicc.org.au or call 0402 344 352.  If you cannot attend this briefing, please indicate your interest by informing Diane and we will contact you.

The Battle of El Alamein and Jewish Survival

by Michael Meyer

Michael Sutherland MLA, Member for Mount Lawley and Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly and Barry House, President of the Upper House invited a number of members of the Perth Jewish community to a talk by Kelvin Crombie at the Western Australian Parliament House on 25^th June.

Kelvin Crombie is an author who made an intensive study of the history of Australian troops’ involvement in both the 1^st and 2^nd Word Wars in the Middle East and has written five books concerning the history of the period in Israel after 1798, mostly associated with the British and Anzacs, and has co-produced several documentaries on the same subject.  His main work on the Anzacs is entitled ‘Anzacs, Empires and Israel’s Restoration 1798-1948.’  His latest book is entitled “El Alamein – Halting an Impending Holocaust in the Middle East”.
Kelvin spoke about the battles of Tobruk and El Alamein in which allied forces consisting mainly of British, Australian, New Zealand, South African and Indian troops, fought against the German army under the command of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts from April 1941 to November 1942.
He spoke of how victory at the second battle of El Alamein of the allies, under the command of Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery,is regarded as one of the significant turning points of the Second Word War and of how the defeat of the Germans prevented a possible holocaust in the Middle East.  Kelvin described how the Germans has formed a Einzatskommando, mobile SS death squad, which was to carry out a mass killing of Jewish people in British mandate of Palestine similar to the way they operated in eastern Europe. "Einsatzkommando Egypt" was standing by in Athens and was ready to disembark for Palestine in the summer of 1942, attached to the "Afrika Korps"  The Middle East death squad was similar to those that operated throughout Eastern Europe.  Approximately 700,000 Jewish people lived in Egypt, the British mandate of Palestine, Syria and Iraq at the time.
Kelvin brought the “Montgomery Bible” to the talk.  The Bible was an official gift given to Field Marshal Montgomery by the National Council of Palestine Jewry (the Jewish government in British mandate of Palestine prior to May 1948) in recognition for his role in saving the Jewish community in from the impending German forces.
The Montgomery Bible is the Old Testament (Tanach), the cover of which is encased in silver and ivory.  The words on the inscription accompanying are:

“Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, GCB, DSO, the gallant leader of the victorious forces by whose hand God has placed salvation in Zion in the days of El Alamein presented in token of the everlasting gratitude of Palestine Jewry by the Vaad Leumi, General Council of the Jewish Community in Palestine”.

Kelvin presented to the Premier, Colin Barnett and the Speaker, Michael Sutherland a gift of a photograph of the official ceremony of the surrender of Jerusalem by the Turks at the Citadel inside Jaffa Gate on 11 December 1917.  British commander General Allenby is seen facing a semi-circle guard of honour, which included the 10th Light Horse from Western Australia.  He asked that the photograph be hung in Parliament House.

Kelvin ended his talk by addressing the Premier and the other parliamentarians present, saying that the threat facing Jews in Israel and around the world is real and that those who wish to destroy the Jewish people are no less fervent than the Nazis and that it is their responsibility to ensure that anti-Semitism is not permitted to thrive in Australia and Western Australia.

El Alamein and the Jewish Survival – A Book Review

by Shirlee Finn, Sydney, December 3, 2012

Little did I realise when I went to [NSW] State Parliament recently for the launch of Kelvin Crombie’s new book, “El Alamein and the Jewish Survival” that  I was in for such a special treat…writes Shirlee Finn.

I must admit my main interest initially was to see the Tanach – Old Testament, which was presented to Field Marshal Montgomery as an official gift of gratitude for his role in saving the Jewish community in Palestine from the impending conquest by the German-led forces commanded by General Rommel.

Not only was it emotional seeing such a part of the History of Palestine, it was an extremely informative talk about the whole war time history of the region and how grateful the Jews of Palestine were for the Australian Forces keeping them safe.
The words on the inscription attached to the Tanach and encased on the cover in silver and mother of pearl are:

“Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery, GCB, DSO, the gallant leader of the victorious forces by whose hand God has placed salvation in Zion in the days of El Alamein presented in token of the everlasting gratitude of Palestine Jewry by the Vaad Leumi, General Council of the Jewish Community in Palestine”.

During the twenty four years he lived in Israel Kelvin heard from dozens of older Jewish people about the importance of the battle of El Alamein for the survival of the Jewish people in the land of Israel. One of these was Professor Alex Carmel from Haifa University. In the late 1980’s Kelvin and Prof Carmel together tracked down the Tanach, which the Jewish leadership of Eretz Israel had given to General Montgomery after the victory at El Alamein, at the UK office of CMJ (Churches Ministry among Jewish People). It was hidden away and forgotten.
Kelvin brought this Bible back to Israel and displayed in the museum at the Heritage Centre, of Christ Church in the Old City of Jerusalem, which he had established. He used it when lecturing Israeli groups about Gentile involvement in the restoration of Israel. Most of those gallant soldiers at El Alamein and other battles which fought the Axis (German and Italian) forces in the region were Gentiles– whose very presence hindered the penetration of the Holocaust into the Middle East.
It is currently in Australia in Kevin’s care for the 70^th anniversary of the battle of El Alamein, fought in 1942.
Kelvin Crombie grew up in rural Western Australia, listening to stories of the Anzacs from uncles who served in the Middle East in the Australian Army during the Second World War; and also due to various direct Israeli connections such as an Israeli family on a nearby farm; and the Six Day War in 1967.
He subsequently went to Israel in 1979, this in turn led to him developing a very keen interest in Israel and the Jewish people. He was not a practicing Christian and he is not Jewish. He went to Israel in 1979, as he told me, because he was searching.  In the process he found his faith in G-d. He met and married his Dutch wife in Israel, where they lived for 24 years and raised their four daughters.
In 1986 Kelvin was asked by to become the guide at Christ Church, the Anglican church in the old City of Jerusalem, hosting thousands of people monthly, including secular Israelis studying the beginning of modern history in Jerusalem and the land of Israel.
As a guide he not only lectured these numerous groups but also had to undertake considerable research. During this research he discovered numerous historical artifacts. These included several large and unique models of Jerusalem as well as the largest portrait of Jerusalem, the 1879 Jerusalem Panorama a painting and the very special Montgomery Bible. One model, discovered by Kelvin in 1986 was made in Jerusalem in 1864 revealed a tunnel going under Christ Church. In that same year, 1986, the tunnel was re-discovered, but not excavated.
Kelvin pioneered the ‘In the footsteps of the Light Horse’ tours, doing his first of over hundred tours to Beersheba in 1988. In 2007 he was one of the main instigators of the re-enactment of the Charge of Beersheba and was the guide for the Light Horse tour. He periodically guided or spoke to Australian diplomatic, military and trade delegations visiting Israel.
He has written five books concerning the history of the period in Israel after 1798, mostly associated with the British and Anzacs, and has co-produced several documentaries on the same subject. His main work on the Anzacs is entitled ‘Anzacs, Empires and Israel’s Restoration 1798-1948.’
In 1992 Kelvin travelled to El Alamein and together with Allied, German and Italian veterans recalled the 50^thanniversary of this battle. Shortly later during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, he spoke of his visit to El Alamein. Rabin then spoke quite passionately about the danger then facing the Jewish people in Eretz Israel had the Germans won at El Alamein. A similar attitude was voiced by General Uzi Narkiss (the commander of the Israeli forces who captured Jerusalem in 1967) when Kelvin also interviewed him. It was clear that this sentiment was known by every section of the Jewish community who lived in the land of Israel during that traumatic period.
This present book goes more in-depth on this subject matter than his two previous books relating to the Middle East during the Second World War (Anzacs, Empires and Israel’s Restoration 1798-1948&Anzacs & Israel) and includes more material from German sources. Apart from providing historical data, it reveals some of the motives behind this Nazi-Muslim agenda for destroying the Jewish communities of the Middle East. This aspect is important as similar forces of evil are still in evidence today.
El Alamein and the Jewish Survival” was launched at Christ Church in Jerusalem early in November. In the House of Lords in London November, at a meeting convened by the present Viscount Montgomery, this past week in Parliament House in Sydney and 2nd December at the ‘Friends of Israel Western Australia’  ‘Gallipoli to Jerusalem Day’ in Perth. It is also planned to have the ‘Montgomery Bible’ on display at these functions.
There is so much more to this very interesting man. Over the years Kelvin has become involved with other ANZAC military heritage and commemoration projects in Israel. He is a participating member of the Association of the Heritage of the First World War and was one of the initiators of the 2007 Ride of Peace and re-enactment of the 1917 Light Horse charge at Beersheba where he guided the seventy-strong group of horsemen.
Kelvin is occasionally asked by the Australian Embassy, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Army and others (including recently a WA Government delegation) to provide exposure to visiting delegations concerning the ANZAC involvement in the land of Israel.
He has also completed in conjunction with the ‘Hatikvah Film Trust’ a documentary detailing this entire story entitled ‘From Exile to Restoration’ (in Britain, ‘The Destiny of Britain’, and in USA, ‘The Cyrus Call’).

Australian Muslims are being radicalised in Syria

From the ABC 7:30 report, 30/05/2013, by Caro Meldrum-Hanna (Follow the link to view the video and for a full transcript):

Up to 100 Australians are thought to be fighting in Syria at the moment and authorities fear young Australian Muslims are being radicalised on home soil as a program in a Western Sydney bookstore suggests.

The spectre of home-grown terror has haunted security agencies in countries like Australia since 2001.
...Authorities' concerns are being heightened by the bloody conflict in Syria. It's become a magnet and a new training ground for militants around the world, including in Australia.
To date, four Australians have died fighting in Syria against the Assad regime and a hundred Australians are currently believed to be on the frontline, even though it's illegal under Australian law.
...Caro Meldrum-Hanna's been investigating...
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA, REPORTER: ...this [video] ...Yusuf Toprakkaya, a Melbourne bricklayer and a father...was killed in Syria last year. In this tribute video posted online after his death in December, 2012, he's shown making detonators for bombs and on night patrol with rebels in Syria, proof that he was involved in fighting at the frontline, a criminal act under Australian law.
...Yusuf Toprakkaya was well known to Australian authorities. He was named in this secret 2010 cable from the US Embassy in Canberra, requesting 23 Australians be added to the terrorist screening database.
...AARON ZELIN, WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: ...four Australians ...have ended up with martyrdom notices on jihadi forums. And there have been many foreigners who have died in Syria, but not all of the individuals who are foreigners who die in Syria end up with having martyrdom notices on jihadi forums. Therefore I think ...they ... joined up with some rebel forces.
...CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: When news of Majzoub's death hit Sydney, hundreds of young Muslim men flocked to the Al Risalah Bookstore in Bankstown, Western Sydney to pay him tribute.
PREACHER [in Sydney]: But I warn the youth today... will we waste the blood of the martyrs?
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Since it opened just over one year ago, Al Risalah Bookstore has gained a reputation as a centre of Islamic extremism. Sheikh Majzoub gave his final lecture here.
...CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: What do you know of the Al Risalah Bookstore in Bankstown?
JAMAL DAOUD, SOCIAL JUSTICE NETWORK: Al Risalah Bookstore especially is very secret, very secretive. They conduct their business in a very secretive way.
...I tried, I tried to explore who's behind this group. We can't. It is very secretive. This is very worrying for us in a democracy to have some secretive organisation. They conduct all their businesses in very secretive way....
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: 7.30 has been investigating al Risalah's activities and the speeches made by a number of sheiks, urging Australians to get involved in Syria.
This is Sheikh Abu Sulayman, picture here delivering a lecture at the Al Risalah Bookstore last year, encouraging his audience of young Muslim men to join the jihad in Syria.
ABU SULAYMAN, MUSLIM SHEIKH: We're calling day and night for us to support them with our wealth and with our blood and with whatever we possess.
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: This is Sheikh Omar El Banna who also gave a lecture at Al Risalah last year. He made this speech, titled Syria is my Responsibility, in western Sydney.
OMAR EL-BANNA, SHEIKH: I want to pass on two points. That you are responsible for what's happening there. ... What should we be do? When one organ is in pain, the remaining parts of the body, they show care. ... In Syria now, the problem, Allah will ask you, "What did you do?"
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: This is Musa Cerantonio. ....Once an Italian Christian, now a passionate convert to Islam, teaching at Al Risalah. Here Musa Cerantonio promotes the Al-Qaeda-backed jihadist group Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria.
MUSA CERANTONIO: Allah willing, as one of the leaders Jabhat al-Nusra said: "If we take this (Damascus) - and I don't want to give false hope - but if we take this, Allah willing, victory is near."
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Al Risalah has another even more infamous sheikh. Abu Suhaib, known to the authorities as Bilal Khazal, a former baggage handler for Qantas, trained at a military camp in Afghanistan and a confidante of Osama Bin Laden. Khazal was lecturing at Al Risalah until mid-2012 when he was convicted and sentenced to nine years' jail for producing a do-it-yourself terrorism book. Al Risalah posted this video of Khazal online titled "Final advice before his imprisonment":
ABU SUHAIB, MUSLIM SHEIKH: We ask God Almighty for victory and that the Islamic state rises up.
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Do you believe that these bookstores are radicalising young men?
JAMAL DAOUD: Definitely. If you go inside and read what DVDs and books they're distributing, it's all about radical Islam.
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: The possibility that extremist sheikhs are radicalising youth at home before they go to Syria has Australian authorities on high alert.
Are you aware of the sheikhs behind Al Risalah and what they're teaching, preaching?
NICK KALDAS, NSW DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER: Um, I am aware of Al Risalah and I'm aware of some of the activities that go on and some of the individuals involved, yes
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: Would it concern you if these sheikhs and teachers at Al Risalah were promoting violent jihad?
NICK KALDAS: All of that has to be of concern, certainly. But I would also say that our federal authorities are very much involved in some of the issues you've just raised, certainly in term of fundraising and people going - leaving Australia and going to fight overseas. The federal authorities have to be involved and have privacy in a lotta those issues.
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: If there's evidence of that though, of this radicalisation ...
NICK KALDAS: It is of concern. It's definitely of concern....

‘Kingdom Culture’ conference 27-28th August

Peter Tsukahira (from Mt Carmel Assembly, Israel) is returning to Perth for a special two night conference, entitled ‘Kingdom Culture’ on Tuesday the 27^th & Wednesday the 28^th of August, to be held at Subiaco Church of Christ.

See the brochure below, with full registration details. 

 

 

This conference, smaller than his previous ones, will be limited in numbers to approx 500, so do be quick to register and confirm your ticket (only $20!), as per the details on the brochure attached.  Peter is also joined by Steve Carpenter (refer bio attached).

Please feel free to circulate this important info on to friends and family.  Please note: Peter's new book, "Culture of The Kingdom" is very exciting and is a wonderful and gripping read, which he is also launching at this conference.  Don't miss this!

Blessings and sincere thanks,

Craig Beech

(for Carmel Friends Inc.)
0419 899 363