The Academic Friends of Israel
22 March 2010
The view from Britain-Hate war on campus to be "stamped out"
The Reut Institute recently described London as one of the "Hubs of Delegitimisation" where a widespread network of anti-Zionist groups, hostile human rights organisations and home grown radical Islamists use cultural, academic, legal and financial weapons to campaign against the delegitimisation and demonisation of the State of Israel.
Therefore it is no surprise that over the last three months there have been many protests and actions by anti-Israel/anti-Zionist groups in Britain and on our campuses in particular , the latest being Israel Apartheid Week” at the beginning of March. Their protests will continue with the Boycotts Divestment and Sanctions [BDS] Global Day of Action on 30 March. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which will be putting an advert in the Guardian on that day, has also targeted students by encouraging them to involve Palestine student societies; trade union branches; faith groups and other sympathetic organisations to make BDS target relevant to each group – e.g. if a university has a contract with Eden Springs or Veolia.
Therefore the news that the Board of Deputies of British Jews has at long last put together a five-point action plan to combat this “virus of extremism" on Britain's university campuses is welcomed, but one has to ask why has it taken them so long when the worsening situation has been apparent to everyone else for many years. The answer is that the new leadership of the Board of Deputies is much more proactive than previous ones who preferred to work behind the scenes so as not to cause fuss which they believed resulted in increased Antisemitism. There is a time and place for everything but the policy of working behind the scenes has recently proved unsuccessful when the British government betrayed the Jewish community over promises made over "universal jurisdiction".
It has been apparent to many of us that our University Vice -Chancellors already have the necessary powers to deal with extremism and racism if they want to take action but many have been reluctant to “bit the bullet” for fear of offending one group or another or hide behind the ‘academic freedom’ or ‘freedom of speech’ banner. Therefore the recent decision by the Vice -Chancellor at Manchester University, after pressure from the Board of Deputies, to make speakers at last month's "Palestine Week" conference sign an undertaking not to incite hatred is most welcome and not before time. Speakers at that meeting included Azzam Tamimi of the Muslim Association of Britain, who had told a SOAS audience that he longed to be a martyr and that supporters of Hamas should not be afraid to be labelled terrorists.
If signing an undertaking not to incite hatred can work at Manchester University then it can work anywhere. We owe it to our students to give this decision the widest publicity and encouragement.
Remember also that the current generation of students is being brought up on a diet of ‘Israel is an apartheid state’ and ‘Israel is a racist state’ and this will influence their decision making when they are in positions of power and influence in 30 years time.
Ronnie Fraser
Director The Academic Friends of Israel
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
ACTION ON IRAN
Ivan Lewis MP, Minister of State for the Middle East, received an emergency petition on Iran in Parliament today. The petition, signed by 4000 supporters of Christian Friends of Israel, begged the Government to strengthen sanctions against Iran.
“We urge Ministers to press the enforcement of UN Resolution 1696 and require Iran to unconditionally stop enriching uranium, to open all its facilities to monitoring by IAEA, and to stop funding terrorist groups including Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas.”
The Minister told Geoffrey Smith, Director of Christian Friends of Israel (CFI) who organised the petition, that the UK Government is increasingly concerned by nuclear development in Iran and actively engaged in raising international support on this issue. “This strengthens our case,” he said.
The petitions were signed by members of CFI from churches in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Their concern is that once Teheran has enriched its supplies of uranium to 20% it could bar the inspectors and produce weapons grade uranium in a matter of months. They urged the Minister to press governments in the EU to co-ordinate action and impose a new round of tougher sanctions for the sake of regional peace.
Issued by CFI Communications PO Box 2687 Eastbourne BN22 7LZ registered charity no 1101899 www.cfi.org.uk
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
ISHMAEL KHALDI - I AM AN ARAB AND A MUSLIM AND LOVE MY COUNTRY, ISRAEL
Ishmael Khaldi, the first Bedouin Deputy Consul of Israel and the highest ranking Bedouin ever within Israel’s Foreign Ministry, spoke to over 800 people at ten different events organized by the Zionist Federation.
Khaldi talked about how he moved from his Bedouin village Khawalid where he had a four mile round trip walk to school every day, north east of Haifa, and graduated from being a Shepherd, through a Christian school in Haifa, to obtain a Degree at Haifa University in Political Science and masters at Tel Aviv University. Having served in the Israeli Border Police Force and as a Political Analyst for the IDF he then became the first Israeli Bedouin Diplomat in the Foreign Ministry and served as Deputy Consul in San Francisco from 2006-2009. Assignments included acting as translator for Clinton/Arafat talks, and speaking to the Arab Media during the Gaza disengagement. He explained how the Bedouins have served for a long time with Israeli Forces, even pre Israeli State together with Pal mach and Haganah in the early 40’s.
Khaldi’s visit to the UK began on Sunday 24th January where he spoke to Sixth Form students, all part of an Israel Advocacy Training programme. This programme was developed upon the request of sixth form students who all felt comfortable with their Jewish knowledge, but acknowledged that their Israel information could be improved. As the majority of students will be going to university in the next year or two, it is essential that they are able to learn the facts and tools to be able to speak up for, and defend Israel where necessary, and also to have the ability to sing Israel’s praises the rest of the time.
Ishmael gathered a crowd of a hundred at a joint event with EDRS (Edgware Reform Synagogue) and MNS (Middlesex New Synagogue), a crowd of sixty in Leicester, a crowd of 70 at Muswell Hill Synagogue and a crowd of over 130 in South Manchester.
However, Khaldi did not only speak to Jewish communities. He also spent a lot of time on University Campus’s speaking at events with both Jewish and non-Jewish Audiences. This was of vital importance as it demonstrated to many how Israel is a democratic state and not just a Jewish State. Khaldi successfully defended the concept of the two state solution and Israel on its democratic values. While not dwelling on Israel's current level of liberal democratic values, he made a point of stating what we all believe; that Israel, like most democracies is not perfect, but strives to be "the best of the best bunch." The audiences on campus left the lecture theatre’s in the knowledge that for all its faults, perhaps the democracy of Israel is like ours; not perfect, but amongst the best of the best.
Ishmael spoke at LSE (London School of Economics), SOAS (School of African Studies), and to over 100 students in Birmingham, and to another 100 students in Leeds University. Sadly Ishmael’s talk at Leeds University was met by twenty protests from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), who at one point tried to storm the room. Despite the protesters, and after a barrage of speakers on campus, all claiming that Israel is a racist and apartheid state - courtesy of The Friends of Palestine Society, Khaldi's arrival was a breath of fresh air. At SOAS some of the students in audience who had extremely negative views about Israel, could not believe that an Israeli Arab Muslim was saying that he loves his country and that most of the Palestinian problems are of their own making.
Extremely interesting questions followed all talks, and in every instance had to be cut short due to a lack of time. Extremely worthwhile for all.
Khaldi talked about how he moved from his Bedouin village Khawalid where he had a four mile round trip walk to school every day, north east of Haifa, and graduated from being a Shepherd, through a Christian school in Haifa, to obtain a Degree at Haifa University in Political Science and masters at Tel Aviv University. Having served in the Israeli Border Police Force and as a Political Analyst for the IDF he then became the first Israeli Bedouin Diplomat in the Foreign Ministry and served as Deputy Consul in San Francisco from 2006-2009. Assignments included acting as translator for Clinton/Arafat talks, and speaking to the Arab Media during the Gaza disengagement. He explained how the Bedouins have served for a long time with Israeli Forces, even pre Israeli State together with Pal mach and Haganah in the early 40’s.
Khaldi’s visit to the UK began on Sunday 24th January where he spoke to Sixth Form students, all part of an Israel Advocacy Training programme. This programme was developed upon the request of sixth form students who all felt comfortable with their Jewish knowledge, but acknowledged that their Israel information could be improved. As the majority of students will be going to university in the next year or two, it is essential that they are able to learn the facts and tools to be able to speak up for, and defend Israel where necessary, and also to have the ability to sing Israel’s praises the rest of the time.
Ishmael gathered a crowd of a hundred at a joint event with EDRS (Edgware Reform Synagogue) and MNS (Middlesex New Synagogue), a crowd of sixty in Leicester, a crowd of 70 at Muswell Hill Synagogue and a crowd of over 130 in South Manchester.
However, Khaldi did not only speak to Jewish communities. He also spent a lot of time on University Campus’s speaking at events with both Jewish and non-Jewish Audiences. This was of vital importance as it demonstrated to many how Israel is a democratic state and not just a Jewish State. Khaldi successfully defended the concept of the two state solution and Israel on its democratic values. While not dwelling on Israel's current level of liberal democratic values, he made a point of stating what we all believe; that Israel, like most democracies is not perfect, but strives to be "the best of the best bunch." The audiences on campus left the lecture theatre’s in the knowledge that for all its faults, perhaps the democracy of Israel is like ours; not perfect, but amongst the best of the best.
Ishmael spoke at LSE (London School of Economics), SOAS (School of African Studies), and to over 100 students in Birmingham, and to another 100 students in Leeds University. Sadly Ishmael’s talk at Leeds University was met by twenty protests from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), who at one point tried to storm the room. Despite the protesters, and after a barrage of speakers on campus, all claiming that Israel is a racist and apartheid state - courtesy of The Friends of Palestine Society, Khaldi's arrival was a breath of fresh air. At SOAS some of the students in audience who had extremely negative views about Israel, could not believe that an Israeli Arab Muslim was saying that he loves his country and that most of the Palestinian problems are of their own making.
Extremely interesting questions followed all talks, and in every instance had to be cut short due to a lack of time. Extremely worthwhile for all.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
ISRAEL RETURNS FROM HAITI
The Zionist Federation welcomes the safe return of the Israeli rescue and medical team that did such incredible work in helping with the search and rescue and medical treatment in Haiti
We also congratulate the Save a Child's Heart organisation for identifying a number of children whom they hope to bring to Israel for heart surgery, and welcome the arrival of the first child in Israel today (Thursday). We urge people to respond to the SACH fundraising appeal to make this possible.
We note with pleasure that the Israeli team has left a legacy of equipment behind, including 30 tons of medical equipment for use in the ongoing aid effort. This includes bandaging gear, surgery equipment, two incubators and other medical accessories as well as 1150 blankets, 30 large-sized tents, 500 mattresses, 200 sleeping bags and kitchen equipment. The equipment will be distributed to tent-cities in different locations in Haiti, under the coordination of the Israeli Ambassador.
We are proud that Israel has played such a valued role alongside the delegations from other countries around the world, including the UK, saving many lives and providing medical care for the injured, demonstrating the highest level of humanitarian concern after this tragedy.
Joy Wolfe co President Zionist Federation
ISRAEL IN HAITI
The ZF extends condolences to the families of the bereaved in Haiti, and sends a message of sympathy to the many who have suffered hardship.
Israel has featured predominately in the news for its response it has provided in Haiti after sending over 200 troops to assist in the search and rescue for survivors, along with setting up a field hospital. Below are only a few of the links showing Israel’s importance and achievements on the ground.
• CNN’s video state’s that: “No one except the Israeli hospital has taken any of our patients. [At seeing the Israeli field hospital – set up in a football pitch] “I am amazed at what’s here. Its like another world compared to the other hospital”. “Have the Americans set up a field hospital? Not yet. The Israeli’s came from the other side of the world”. Watch the video here.
• At the Israeli field hospital a baby was delivered by Doctor Shir Dar on Sunday. The mother has decided to name the baby ‘Israel’. Watch the YouTube video here.
• Tom Gross writes: Israel’s Disproportionate Response. Because of Israel's long history of enduring bomb and missile attacks the Israeli army (the IDF) is one of the most experienced in the world in treating mass-injuries and using specially trained sniffer dogs to locate wounded persons in the rubble. The IDF was one of the first on the scene in Haiti last week (sending considerably more troops than, for example, Britain and France did). Over 5,000 Haitians have already been treated in the IDF Medical and Rescue Field Hospital, set up in a large tent on a soccer field in Port-Au-Prince. In addition, Israeli forces have located and rescued survivors trapped in ruined buildings, including many who were injured during the collapse of the UN headquarters. In addition to teams from the IDF's canine unit, Israel sent 52 doctors and 25 nurses as well as paramedics, and has set up a pharmacy, a children's ward, a radiology department, an intensive care unit, an emergency room, two operating rooms, a surgical department, an internal medicine department and a maternity ward. Israel has since sent a further 220 doctors, medics and nurses. Israel also sent a number of French-speaking translators to aid doctors.
• The Israeli Army is the “Rolls Royce” of medicine in Haiti. You can see six new videos of the Israel team in Haiti by clicking here and scrolling down to the third item.
• After only 38 hours the ZAKA international rescue unit delegation pulled eight students alive from the collapsed university building. In an email that the head of the ZAKA International Rescue Unit delegation managed to send to the ZAKA headquarters in Jerusalem on Sunday, he writes of the “Shabbat from hell. Everywhere, the acrid smell of bodies hangs in the air. It’s just like the stories we are told of the Holocaust – thousands of bodies everywhere. You have to understand that the situation is true madness, and the more time passes, there are more and more bodies, in numbers that cannot be grasped. It is beyond comprehension”. Amid the stench and chaos, the ZAKA delegation took time out to recite Shabbat prayers - a surreal sight of ultra-orthodox men wrapped in prayer shawls standing on the collapsed buildings. Many locals sat quietly in the rubble, staring at the men as they prayed facing Jerusalem. At the end of the prayers, they crowded around the delegation and kissed the prayer shawls.
We also congratulate the Save a Child's Heart organisation for identifying a number of children whom they hope to bring to Israel for heart surgery, and welcome the arrival of the first child in Israel today (Thursday). We urge people to respond to the SACH fundraising appeal to make this possible.
We note with pleasure that the Israeli team has left a legacy of equipment behind, including 30 tons of medical equipment for use in the ongoing aid effort. This includes bandaging gear, surgery equipment, two incubators and other medical accessories as well as 1150 blankets, 30 large-sized tents, 500 mattresses, 200 sleeping bags and kitchen equipment. The equipment will be distributed to tent-cities in different locations in Haiti, under the coordination of the Israeli Ambassador.
We are proud that Israel has played such a valued role alongside the delegations from other countries around the world, including the UK, saving many lives and providing medical care for the injured, demonstrating the highest level of humanitarian concern after this tragedy.
Joy Wolfe co President Zionist Federation
ISRAEL IN HAITI
The ZF extends condolences to the families of the bereaved in Haiti, and sends a message of sympathy to the many who have suffered hardship.
Israel has featured predominately in the news for its response it has provided in Haiti after sending over 200 troops to assist in the search and rescue for survivors, along with setting up a field hospital. Below are only a few of the links showing Israel’s importance and achievements on the ground.
• CNN’s video state’s that: “No one except the Israeli hospital has taken any of our patients. [At seeing the Israeli field hospital – set up in a football pitch] “I am amazed at what’s here. Its like another world compared to the other hospital”. “Have the Americans set up a field hospital? Not yet. The Israeli’s came from the other side of the world”. Watch the video here.
• At the Israeli field hospital a baby was delivered by Doctor Shir Dar on Sunday. The mother has decided to name the baby ‘Israel’. Watch the YouTube video here.
• Tom Gross writes: Israel’s Disproportionate Response. Because of Israel's long history of enduring bomb and missile attacks the Israeli army (the IDF) is one of the most experienced in the world in treating mass-injuries and using specially trained sniffer dogs to locate wounded persons in the rubble. The IDF was one of the first on the scene in Haiti last week (sending considerably more troops than, for example, Britain and France did). Over 5,000 Haitians have already been treated in the IDF Medical and Rescue Field Hospital, set up in a large tent on a soccer field in Port-Au-Prince. In addition, Israeli forces have located and rescued survivors trapped in ruined buildings, including many who were injured during the collapse of the UN headquarters. In addition to teams from the IDF's canine unit, Israel sent 52 doctors and 25 nurses as well as paramedics, and has set up a pharmacy, a children's ward, a radiology department, an intensive care unit, an emergency room, two operating rooms, a surgical department, an internal medicine department and a maternity ward. Israel has since sent a further 220 doctors, medics and nurses. Israel also sent a number of French-speaking translators to aid doctors.
• The Israeli Army is the “Rolls Royce” of medicine in Haiti. You can see six new videos of the Israel team in Haiti by clicking here and scrolling down to the third item.
• After only 38 hours the ZAKA international rescue unit delegation pulled eight students alive from the collapsed university building. In an email that the head of the ZAKA International Rescue Unit delegation managed to send to the ZAKA headquarters in Jerusalem on Sunday, he writes of the “Shabbat from hell. Everywhere, the acrid smell of bodies hangs in the air. It’s just like the stories we are told of the Holocaust – thousands of bodies everywhere. You have to understand that the situation is true madness, and the more time passes, there are more and more bodies, in numbers that cannot be grasped. It is beyond comprehension”. Amid the stench and chaos, the ZAKA delegation took time out to recite Shabbat prayers - a surreal sight of ultra-orthodox men wrapped in prayer shawls standing on the collapsed buildings. Many locals sat quietly in the rubble, staring at the men as they prayed facing Jerusalem. At the end of the prayers, they crowded around the delegation and kissed the prayer shawls.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
WHEN GOOD DEEDS ARE WORSE THAN DOING NOTHING
by OLIVER WORTH, Jerusalem Post
When sending two jumbo-jets of aid, and setting up a field hospital with hundreds of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel is met with scorn, you know something isn't right. While most of the mainstream American and British news networks reported extensively on Israel's reaction to Haiti's devastating earthquake, unfortunately we were also reminded just how entrenched some of the world's hatred for the Jewish state really is.
While the fact that most of the Arab world donated mere pennies, or nothing at all, has escaped mention, Israel's attempt to save lives has been labeled by many as nothing but a PR exercise. The sad truth is that the the anti-Israel hard left has done such a great job of dehumanizing Israelis, that the idea they could be doing good deeds is totally incomprehensible. It's true -Israel's actions in Haiti are creating good press, but that's what happens when you do good things.
The assertion that Israel should somehow have to apologize for coming across positively is absurd, and grounded in anti-Semitism. As Kevin Myers writes for the Belfast Telegraph, "They are perhaps the only people in the world for whom extenuating circumstances are routinely cited in explanation of their charitable deeds".
While it’s no surprise that the Islamist, anti-Semitic Iranian mouth-piece Press TV accuses Israeli doctors of using the Haiti emergency to harvest organs, one should not expect to read the headline "Israel's double standards over Haiti," in Britain's Guardian newspaper, except, of course, in the comparison between Israel's efforts in Haiti and the efforts of any of Israel's neighbours. Unfortunately it comes as no surprise to those regularly inflicted with the Guardian's bias that the piece is, of course, in reference to Israel's treatment of Haitans and those it is at war with.
Israel's commitment to saving lives in disaster zones has nothing to do with Gaza. Israel has shown its amazing commitment to the preservation of life in India, Indonesia, Kenya and many other nations, Gaza war or no Gaza war. There is simply no comparison between the response shown to a people at the mercy of horrific natural events, and a people who have effectively been at war with srael since its birth.
It's truly astonishing that part of the mainstream British press has found itself unable to differentiate between a helpless Haitian people in desperate need of aid, and the Palestinian people who elected a terrorist organization into power.
While no one in their right mind would deny the widespread suffering of the Gazan people, drawing any moral equivalence between Israel's relationship with them and those trapped under rubble in Haiti is truly perverse. When the attitude toward Israel is so widely based on anti-Semitism and hate, what evidence is there to believe things would change with an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement? For peace to be possible, Israel rightly has to believe that its concessions and sacrifices would be met by more than continued hatred, that peace with the Palestinians is also peace with the world.
As things stand, Israel is the only country in the world—bar none—that has to justify giving aid and saving lives. As long as Israelis (or perhaps simply Jews) are viewed as incapable of doing anything good, in a sentiment propagated by so much of the world media, then Israel will be in no position to make concessions for peace.
No one is asking for the world to kiss Israel's feet for acts which are in line with its own moral code, but when Israel provides more per capita than any other nation in the world and is met with scorn, and the world's worst and wealthiest human rights abusers give nothing and are met with silence, well, something isn't right.
When sending two jumbo-jets of aid, and setting up a field hospital with hundreds of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel is met with scorn, you know something isn't right. While most of the mainstream American and British news networks reported extensively on Israel's reaction to Haiti's devastating earthquake, unfortunately we were also reminded just how entrenched some of the world's hatred for the Jewish state really is.
While the fact that most of the Arab world donated mere pennies, or nothing at all, has escaped mention, Israel's attempt to save lives has been labeled by many as nothing but a PR exercise. The sad truth is that the the anti-Israel hard left has done such a great job of dehumanizing Israelis, that the idea they could be doing good deeds is totally incomprehensible. It's true -Israel's actions in Haiti are creating good press, but that's what happens when you do good things.
The assertion that Israel should somehow have to apologize for coming across positively is absurd, and grounded in anti-Semitism. As Kevin Myers writes for the Belfast Telegraph, "They are perhaps the only people in the world for whom extenuating circumstances are routinely cited in explanation of their charitable deeds".
While it’s no surprise that the Islamist, anti-Semitic Iranian mouth-piece Press TV accuses Israeli doctors of using the Haiti emergency to harvest organs, one should not expect to read the headline "Israel's double standards over Haiti," in Britain's Guardian newspaper, except, of course, in the comparison between Israel's efforts in Haiti and the efforts of any of Israel's neighbours. Unfortunately it comes as no surprise to those regularly inflicted with the Guardian's bias that the piece is, of course, in reference to Israel's treatment of Haitans and those it is at war with.
Israel's commitment to saving lives in disaster zones has nothing to do with Gaza. Israel has shown its amazing commitment to the preservation of life in India, Indonesia, Kenya and many other nations, Gaza war or no Gaza war. There is simply no comparison between the response shown to a people at the mercy of horrific natural events, and a people who have effectively been at war with srael since its birth.
It's truly astonishing that part of the mainstream British press has found itself unable to differentiate between a helpless Haitian people in desperate need of aid, and the Palestinian people who elected a terrorist organization into power.
While no one in their right mind would deny the widespread suffering of the Gazan people, drawing any moral equivalence between Israel's relationship with them and those trapped under rubble in Haiti is truly perverse. When the attitude toward Israel is so widely based on anti-Semitism and hate, what evidence is there to believe things would change with an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement? For peace to be possible, Israel rightly has to believe that its concessions and sacrifices would be met by more than continued hatred, that peace with the Palestinians is also peace with the world.
As things stand, Israel is the only country in the world—bar none—that has to justify giving aid and saving lives. As long as Israelis (or perhaps simply Jews) are viewed as incapable of doing anything good, in a sentiment propagated by so much of the world media, then Israel will be in no position to make concessions for peace.
No one is asking for the world to kiss Israel's feet for acts which are in line with its own moral code, but when Israel provides more per capita than any other nation in the world and is met with scorn, and the world's worst and wealthiest human rights abusers give nothing and are met with silence, well, something isn't right.
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