Arab's throwing rocks @ JEWS OK!

A statement issued by the European Union on Tuesday seemed to suggest it supports Palestinian Authority Arabs’ rights to throw stones during non-violent protests.

The statement, released on Tuesday by the spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, criticized Israel for convicting PA Arab Bassem Tamimi of dispatching stone-throwers and protesting illegally.

An Israeli court convicted Tamimi on Sunday, according to an AFP report. The 45-year-old was charged with soliciting stone-throwing based on evidence that he directed such incidents from the roof-tops.

He was arrested on March 24, 2011, AFP reported, and accused of organizing illegal gatherings and incitement in connection with a series of weekly demonstrations in the Arab village of Nabi Saleh.

Nabi Saleh is a regular hotspot where Arabs, radical leftists and anarchists engage the IDF and Border Police in clashes every Friday, for the purpose of disseminating propaganda footage to the world. Much violence occurs there regularly and is initiated by the demonstrators, who injure soldiers who attempt to use non-violent means such as water and tear gas to disperse them.

Tamimi's arrest sparked international condemnation, AFP noted, with the EU recognizing him as a human rights defender, and Amnesty International declaring him a prisoner of conscience.

Tuesday’s statement by Ashton’s spokesperson said that “The High Representative is very concerned by the conviction of Bassem Tamimi in an Israeli military court on 20 May 2012 on charges of taking part in illegal demonstrations and of soliciting protesters to throw stones.”

“The EU considers Bassem Tamimi to be a 'human rights defender' committed to non-violent protest against the expansion of an Israeli settlement on lands belonging to his West Bank village of Nabi Saleh. The EU attended all court hearings in his case and is concerned at the use of evidence based on the testimony of a minor who was interrogated in violation of his rights,” the statement continued.

“The EU believes that everyone should be able to exercise their legitimate right to protest in a nonviolent manner,” it concluded.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, director of IMRA, the Independent Media Review and Analysis, pointed out the problem in the EU’s statement.

“The EU doesn't deny that Bassem Tamimi engaged in soliciting protesters to throw stones. And the EU doesn't take a stand against stone throwing,” he wrote, adding that the question is “Does the EU consider stone throwing to fall within the classification of ‘non-violent protest’?”

Last week, as part of EU’s assessment of its partnership with 12 neighboring countries, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton listed a set of characteristically harsh ‘recommendations’ regarding relations with Israel.

The recommendations include a call on Israel “to continue to step up its efforts to minimize settler violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and to bring all perpetrators to justice” and “address the excessive use of administrative detention.”

Ashton previously made a skewed comparison between the lethal, unprovoked shooting attack at a Jewish school in Toulouse and the unintended deaths of children in Gaza when Israel attempts to stop missile launchings and apprehend terrorists. She later categorically denied making that comparison.

via israelnationalnews.com

IsraeliIDF Take ... Hey Catherine, what's your coordinates & we'll be on our way to come stone you & see how much you like stoning PEOPLE then!?

IDF corporal Itai Sviri may be hard of hearing, but says it has never stopped him from doing anything - including serving his country.

Sviri finished high school with honors and decided to enlist in the IDF. Now he's on track to become a non-commissioned officer.

Sviri told Arutz Sheva, "My hearing loss is considered light to moderate. Without a hearing aid my hearing is 40% of a regular person's. But with a hearing aid, I hear almost as well as anyone. I need a hearing aid during the day, but I do not let that limit me in anything."

"I try to be as much as I can be," Sviri said. "I worked hard and did the best job possible, and now the Army is sending me to be an NCO."

"I do not feel like I'm hard of hearing," Sviri added. "Because people don't care about it."

Sviri said he has also experienced unpleasantness and negativity in life, but chooses not to despair. "The hearing aids I wore in the past were obvious, and my childhood was not easy. Making friends was hard, but I eventually learned to get along."

"I don't worry about it, and don't let it limit me, or stop me from doing the things I want to do," he added.

Sviri enlisted in the IDF six months ago, and has completed his basic and specialty training.

"I was assigned to a base in the north," he said. Now the officers say I will be a noncommissioned officer. I am already in charge of training, management, and human resources for the base. I work morning and night."

Sviri said his being hard of hearing taught him a sage lesson, "My advice? If you can dream it, then you can do it."

via israelnationalnews.com

It is not every day that one hears of a former Iranian soldier flying an Israeli flag outside of his home.

Ali Ramezan, however, does.

After having been subjected to torture in the Islamic Republic, Ramezan fled his home country and settled in Manchester, where he now supports the State of Israel and is attempting to file charges against the regime, the Jewish Chronicle (JC) reported.

The 47-year-old veteran of the Iran-Iraq war has been granted residency in the UK after 11 years of seeking refuge.

“I only watched an anti-government protest, but I was arrested,” he said. “I have relatives who go out shouting ‘Death to America,’ ‘Death to Israel.’ I realized it was brainwashing.”

Ramezan is currently in the process of filing charges against the Iranian government, alleging that restrictions forced to leave his wife and son behind.

Now, he displays his newfound freedom by waving Israeli and American flags in the predominantly Muslim neighborhood of Cheethan Hill, noted the JC.

“People have said I could be firebombed, but I’m not scared to fly my flags. In Iran they would hang you,” he said.  

via israelnationalnews.com

Vandals defaced the memorial in Budapest of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust, Hungarian media outlets reported Wednesday.

A group of Jewish tourists from New York, visiting in the Hungarian capital, alerted authorities after they found bloody pig feet suspended from the statute.

The Righteous Gentile used his position as envoy to the Nazi occupied city to issue protective passports and shelter Jews, saving tens of thousands of lives. He was arrested in 1945 on espionage when the Soviet Army entered Budapest and subsequently disappeared.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Wallenberg was awarded the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem. 

via israelnationalnews.com

Hundreds of pro-Israel activists and local residents rallied behind Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman as he addressed the Jewish National Fund in Hendon, UK.

The counter-protest by British Israel Coalition began as Israel activists challenged anti-Israel and Islamist groups protesting Lieberman's presence.

However, as news of the anti-Israel demonstration spread, local residents turned out to join with the British Israel Coalition, swelling their ranks and amplifying their voice.

Hasan Afzal, spokesperson for British Muslims for Israel, which took part in the counter-demonstration, noted, "At first there were fifty of them and fifty of us, but a few hours later, our numbers had swelled to 200 proud supporters of Israel, including Christians and Muslims."

"The anti-Israel crowd was actually turned out of Hendon," Afzal said. "We showed that our presence was all that was needed to turn the tables on those who attack us and our community.

"I protested in support of the two-state solution and peace; the anti-Israel crowd represented destruction and violence. The local residents who joined us struck a powerful blow against those who intimidate Jews and supporters of Israel," he added.

Ari Soffer, Director of the British Israel Coalition, and organizer of the rally, stated, "British Jewry no longer has to suffer under pusillanimous leadership in the face of vicious anti-Israel sentiment."

"Now, Jews, Christians and Muslims are standing up against the bigots and bullies who make up the anti-Israel network. As word spread of our counter-demonstration, local residents turned out in support until we outnumbered the anti-Israel groups three-to-one.

"We turned back the anti-Zionists. This is anti-fascism work at its finest," he said, adding, "The British Israel Coalition stands where others back down. We support the Israeli State with passion and work to defend its democratic values with pride."

via israelnationalnews.com

Palestinian Authority forces threatened to break press cameras, and barred coverage of British supermodel Naomi Campbell’s visit to Bethlehem Tuesday.

She celebrated her 42nd birthday with a trip to the Church of Nativity in the city, located between Jerusalem on the north and Gush Etzion and to the south, amid a call for “good vibrations, not destruction” in the region.

Either at her own request or through the initiative of the Palestinian Authority, journalists were warned by private and Palestinian Authority guards to keep their distance, drawing a stern protest from the Freedom Committee of the PA Journalist. The complaint is one of a growing number of appeals from international journalists on Palestinian Authority restrictions.

The Freedom Committee expressed “anger and resentment” at Palestinian Authority security forces who threatened to confiscate and break cameras.  

Campbell’s visit apparently was made in relatively secrecy, and she was escorted by her private security bodyguards as well as Palestinian Authority guards during her tour of Bethelhem, which is under full control of the PA.

She did not refer to the threats on journalists and instead told the Associated Press she hopes that “weapons and war [and] greed and oil will end. The news agency also reported that as she ate in a Bethlehem restaurant, Palestinian Authority officials threatened to punish employees who talked with journalists.

Campbell also visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

via israelnationalnews.com

Archaeologists have discovered the first evidence outside of the Bible that Bethlehem was part of the First Temple era Kingdom of Judah.

The dramatic archaeological find was announced Wednesday, five days before Jews around the world celebrate the holiday of Shavuot and hear the recital of the Book of Ruth, which takes place in Bethlehem.

A half-inch clay seal was discovered at the ongoing excavations at Ir David (City of David) located across the road from the Western Wall.

The stamp, with ancient Hebrew script, is one of a group of seals used to stamp official documents that were to be opened only by authorized officials.

Three lines in the stamp state:

בשבעת (Bishv’at)
בת לכם (Bat Lechem)
[למל[ך ([Lemel]ekh)

The writing means that the stamp was sent from Bethlehem to the king in Jerusalem in the seventh year of his reign.

Eli Shukrun, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said that it is unclear if the reference to the king is to Hezekiah, Manasseh or Josiah.

The stamps, or seals (called bullae), were used to seal tax shipments in the Kingdom of Judah in the late eighth century and the seventh century BCE.

“The tax could have been paid in the form of silver or agricultural produce such as wine or wheat,” according to Shukrun.

He added,” This is the first time the name Bethlehem appears outside the Bible, in an inscription from the First Temple period, which proves that Bethlehem was indeed a city in the Kingdom of Judah, and possibly also in earlier periods”.

Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis (Bereishit) when it is named concernng the place of death and burial of the Matriarch Rachel.

Bethlehem also is mentioned in the Book of Ruth as the place where “the children of Judah dwelled,” including the family of Boaz, who is a central figure in the Book of Ruth, which takes place in Bethlehem except for the first few verses..

Bethlehem is cited in the Book of Samuel as the city where David was anointed as king and the location of his family's home.

via israelnationalnews.com