'German research institute trivializes Holocaust to attack Israel'

Via Jerusalem Post:

Israel’s embassy and leading deputies in the German parliament slammed a Max Planck Institute branch for stoking hatred of Israel and Jews with a series of lectures from a pro-Hezbollah US academic who trivialized the Holocaust and is popular among neo-Nazis.

“It is outrageous that a distinguished German institution [Max Planck Institute branch in Halle] gives a stage to someone who spreads, in the best case, science fiction, and in the worst, pure incitement against Israel. Supporting [Norman] Finkelstein to maintain his academic facade is highly dangerous and an abuse of the scientific standards,” the Israeli Embassy in Berlin told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

Michaela Engelmeier, a Social Democratic deputy in the Bundestag, told the Post she was astonished that “with our history it is possible to welcome academics who play down the Nazi regime’s murder of six million Jews and present it as trivial.”

She added that the fact that the anti-Israel academic is delivering talks close to International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 is “especially insensitive.”

She urged the Max Planck Institute to cancel next week’s Finkelstein lecture titled “Gaza: An Inquest into its Martyrdom.”

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UK: Row over plans to erect new Jewish 'eruv' boundary around north London

Via Evening Standard:

Plans to create a Jewish “eruv” around several neighbourhoods in north London have sparked an angry row.

Hundreds of objectors have asked Westminster council to throw out plans to enclose a large swathe of the north of the borough — including St John’s Wood, Little Venice, Maida Vale, Regent’s Park, and parts of West Hampstead — within a perimeter of fishing wire suspended from 51 telegraph poles up to 18ft tall.

Critics claim a religious boundary has no place in a secular society and could become a target for terror attacks.

The symbolic boundary would give religious Jews living within it greater freedom from the restrictions of the Sabbath, when all work is banned.

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Croatian School Removes Anne Frank Exhibition

Via BalkanInsight (h/t glykosymoritis):

A travelling exhibition about Holocaust victim and diarist Anne Frank was removed from a high school in the coastal town of Sibenik after the school’s director complained that it portrayed the Croatian fascist Ustasa movement negatively, local media reported on Thursday.

The educational exhibition for pupils depicts the life of Anne Frank but also shows the broader context of World War II and the Holocaust, as well as its effects on Croatia and the region, highlighting crimes committed against Serbs, Jews, Roma and anti-fascist by the Ustasa.

School director Josip Belamaric asked the organisers of the exhibition, the Hermes NGO – local partner of the Amsterdam-based Anne Frank House museum – to remove six panels describing the local context of the war.

“According to these panels, it seems that the Ustasa were criminals who slaughtered Serbs, Jews, starved children, and the [Yugoslav anti-fascist] Partisans were innocent. What about the crimes committed by the Partisans?” Belamaric old local news site Sibenik In.

Belamaric asked why there were no billboards showing what happened in May 1945 when “Partisans killed Croats” in Bleiburg in southern Austria, or about the Yugoslav prison camp on the island of Goli Otok which was run by the Communists.

Maja Nenadovic from the Anne Frank House told BIRN that this was the first problem they had encountered after 23 successful exhibitions in Croatia, which attracted over 40,000 visitors.

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EU's Mogherini: 'We will not move our EU delegation in Tel Aviv' worried about consequences in Europe

Via the European Jewish Press:

“We will not move our European Union Delegation that is in Tel Aviv and we hope that there can be a reflection on consequences of any move that is taken,’’ EU foreign policy chief declared Monday at a press conference following a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels.  

Asked about a possible move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem under the new Trump administration, she replied: “We still do not have a new US administration – we have an administration in the US, not a new one yet. And I believe that it is very important for us to refrain from unilateral actions, especially those that can have serious consequences in large of public opinions in large parts of the world’’, the EU foreign policy chief told reporters after chairing their talks in Brussels. “We hope that there can be reflection on consequences of any move that is taken,” she said. 

Mogherini said that the EU would continue to respect the international consensus that embassies should not be based in Jerusalem as laid out in U.N. Security Council Resolution 478, dating from 1980.  

“I am worried that large parts, as I say, of not only institutions but public opinion in parts of the world that are quite significant - the Arab world but also Africa, Asia, parts of Europe could have in reaction to a move that for sure would not be in line with, as I said, the international consensus embodied in the UN Security Council Resolutions, especially 478.’’

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UK: The hateful whispers that make me want to move from London to Tel Aviv

Via The Spectator (by Simon Wilder):

As a Jew, the city where I grew up and have always lived feels less and less comfortable

I’ve always lived in London. I grew up near Baker Street and went to school in Camden. Even when I was at college in Kent, I lived in Islington and commuted. Five years ago I moved to Belsize Park and I’ve been here, the nicest place I’ve lived, ever since. I didn’t mean to stay — I was going to see the world, but my father died and my mother said she needed me to be close. She said it with a tremor in her voice, so I stayed. 

London is in my heart and in my blood, but the wind has changed, like it did for Mary Poppins, and I think it’s going to blow me out of the city, all the way to Tel Aviv. (...)

There’s a train of thought among right-thinking people in London at the moment that Israel is culpable; that it is responsible for all the ills of the Palestinians, all the woes of the Middle East. If it weren’t for Israel, they say, the world would be a better place. If you go to a dinner party you can hear things that wouldn’t have sounded unfamiliar in 1930s Germany. They say they’re just ‘anti-Zionist’ but to be anti-Zionist is to be anti-Semitic. No one is anti- any other country. No one questions, say, Iran’s right to exist. (...)

If only those people who wish ill on Israel, on Jews, could know what it’s like to hear their hatred — to live in London and hear that Jews are the puppet-masters of the world, that Israel only helps in disaster zones to harvest organs. My father would have known. He spent time in the 1940s in Nazi concentration camps, because he was Jewish. His parents and sister were murdered for the same reason. My father would feel the same dread chill, and know — first-hand — where all this blame and hatred of Jews leads. If you think I exaggerate, then tell me; where do you think it leads? It may be only the first ugly murmur, from stupid people, but it won’t end there.

I’ve been to Tel Aviv four times in five years, and it seems to me a place of positive things: hope, investment in the future, strength and patience and humour. This is why I’m thinking of moving. 

A large section of the city was designed by European émigrés who had studied at the Bauhaus in the 1930s. The lucky architects who managed to leave Germany in time, of course. The buildings are rarely more than three or four storeys and often have curved balconies. These are lovely streets to walk along, not least because of the exotic trees planted close together, casting cool shadows.

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Netherlands: Municipal employee fired for antisemitic comments

Via Telegraaf:

A municipal employee of Doetinchem was fired after it was discovered he had made antisemitic comments on Facebook two years ago.

The man, who lives in Enschede, wrote "Fucking Jews.. the Germans did a job half done."  He was employed for the past few months as a debt counselor.

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Netherlands: Utrecht fans shout slogans against Jews

Via CFCA:

Utrecht - During the game with Sparta some fans who came with FC Utrecht starts to riot. They sang songs about Jews before as a preparation to the game between FC Utrecht and Ajax next week.
 

Viewers and people in the stadium heard the songs clearly. The referee Sardar Gözübüyük said after the game that he did not hear anything.

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UK: Unmasked antisemitic YouTube blogger faces police probe of “Jewish problem” comments

Via CAA:

YouTube video blogger “Millenial Woes” has been unmasked as Colin Robertson, a 34-year-old unemployed former arts student, from Linlithgow, Scotland. Robertson attracted a thousands-strong far-right audience with his videos made in the spare bedroom of his father’s house.

Robertson spoke at a rally in Washington DC in which neo-Nazis infamously shouted “Hail Trump” whilst performing Nazi salutes, leading Donald Trump to comment: “I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn.” In a short documentary about the incident, Robertson said: “Two or three years ago, I finally came to understand what is called the ‘Jewish Question’. That there are problems with the Jewish people. And that was difficult because I really didn’t want to become an antisemite. It’s like the cliché, the biggest right-wing cliché.”

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German nationalist calls for end to Nazi guilt

Via Times of Israel:

A prominent member of the nationalist Alternative for Germany party wants to end the country’s decades-long tradition of acknowledging and atoning for its Nazi past.

Bjoern Hoecke leads the party in the eastern state of Thuringia. He said Germany needs to perform a “180-degree turn” when it comes to remembering its past.

Hoecke said Tuesday that the Berlin memorial to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust is a “monument of shame.” He told party supporters in the eastern city of Dresden that no other country would erect such a memorial in its capital and called instead for Germany to take a “positive” attitude toward its history.

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UK: Labour drops action against Oxford students accused of antisemitism

Via Jewish Chronicle:

The two members of the Oxford University Labour Club who were accused of engaging in antisemitic acts in front of Jewish students have been cleared by party officials.

Today Labour’s National Executive Committee disputes panel ruled that the investigation into the allegations should be dropped.

It is believed the decision will be formally rubber-stamped by the full NEC in a matter of weeks.

Members of Oxford University Labour Club were claimed to have discussed Zionists rigging British elections, frequently used the abusive term “Zio” and said that European attacks on Jews were justified because of Gaza.

The investigation into the OULC was launched after Jewish students at the university revealed a list of what they said were examples of antisemitism from Labour-supporting students.

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Greece: Radio reporter says world money owned by Jewish lobby and 'in all big deals, one will meet a Jew'

Via Against Antisemitism:

Dimos Verykios

Greek journalist Dimos Verykios recently made antisemitic comments during the morning show “Happy Day” of Alpha TV channel. More precisely, he stated:

“The world money is concentrated in three centers: they are actually dominating the planet. One center is the banks, the global banking system. Through this banking system, two main centers are ruling the game. One of these centers is the Jewish lobby, powerful, extremely powerful in America and elsewhere! In all big deals, one will meet a Jew! Or a mason!”  

The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece in a statement condemned Verykios’ antisemitic comments and demanded an apology from the Greek reporter:

“We expect that he will realize his big mistake and apologize to the audience for the promotion of these unsubstantiated and false accusations, which do not inform at all the public but instead lead to misinformation and encourage anti-Semitism in Greece.”

Two days ago, Dimos Verykios denied on Twitter any “antisemitic intention” and claimed that he just said the “truth: The world money is owned by the banks-Jews-Masons”.

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France: Why Is ‘Doctors Without Borders’ prescribing anti-Israel propaganda in Dubai? France exporting hatred for Israel.

Roger Cukierman, former head of the Council of Jewish Institutions in France, had condemned "the display as “an apology for terrorism” and warned “that [it] could inflame antisemitic violence”" but the exhibition went ahead in France and is now being exported.  This just shows the lack of regard for Jews in France.  It is not surprising that every year thousands of Jews leave France for Israel,  the United States and other countries.

Background:  France: Paris photo exhibit glorifies Palestinian terrorism, Jewish group says

Via Algemeiner:

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, aka Doctors Without Borders) has risen to international stature as a result of the volunteer medical assistance it provides to people in underdeveloped countries and in crisis areas around the world. However, over the last few years, the group has branched out to include political advocacy targeting Israel as a component of its international activity.

The latest example of this egregious misuse of its humanitarian mandate is the “In Between Wars” exhibition that the NGO presented in Dubai last November. Following installments in France and Jordan, the piece purported to provide visitors with a view into the lives of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. Instead, “In Between Wars” served as a mouthpiece for incitement and radicalization.

The exhibition – also available online – refers to the founding of the state of Israel as a catastrophe — the “Nakba” — delegitimizing the very existence of the Jewish state. It goes further and asserts, “The history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rooted in the history of colonization in this part of the world, entwined with the world zionist [sic] movement,” presenting Jewish Israelis as unwelcome and illegitimate foreigners who belong elsewhere.

 MSF does not limit itself to attacking the legitimacy of Israel and Zionism. It also romanticizes deadly Palestinian violence by referring to images of “armed soldiers face[ing] young stone throwers or Molotov cocktails” as “icons symbolizing the struggle of the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation.” Similarly, one of the exhibits displays the living rooms of Palestinian homes, identifying them as a place to pay tribute to “martyrs” – a term that whitewashes the murderous terror attacks carried out against innocent civilians.

Unsurprisingly, after being displayed in France in December 2015, this sympathetic portrayal of Palestinian violence led Roger Cukierman, head of the Council of Jewish Institutions in France, to condemn the display as “an apology for terrorism” and warn “that [it] could inflame antisemitic violence.” 

While “In Between Wars” indicates the NGO’s embrace of a politicized agenda, what is entirely unclear is how it fits into MSF’s stated goal of providing medical care to those in need. The exhibition makes only passing mention of the process through which Israel grants Palestinians medical permits to reach Israeli medical facilities, instead focusing its attention on Palestinian violence and “resistance.” 

It is ironic and noteworthy that MSF is holding these exhibitions in countries like Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both of which have troops fighting as part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. 

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UK: Amazon worker sacked after putting anti-Semitic note in a parcel to a Jewish mother

Via Daily Mail:

An Amazon employee has been sacked for leaving a note for a Jewish customer which read: 'Greetings from Uncle Adolf'.

The worker left the anti-Semitic note inside a parcel which contained a toy that the woman had ordered for her niece.

It is believed the culprit knew the woman was Jewish because of her surname. 

The employee has now been sacked and police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

The woman, who is in her 30s but did not want to be named, said she was so upset by what happened that she had to take two days off work.

Her outraged friend Liran Meydat, from north London, has now spoken out about the incident, claiming Amazon failed to take it seriously until he shamed the company on social media.

The 39-year-old said his friend 'freaked out' when she discovered the note.

'When she told us about the note she was shaking - she's a very gentle and humble lady,' Mr Meydat said.

'She does a lot for charity - both Jewish and non-Jewish - and helps all members of the community, that's why she took it very badly.

'British Jews feel scared to speak out. I'm an Israeli and have lived here for a few years so I don't feel scared.

'When I heard what had happened it made me think about my grandfather who showed me the number on his arms from the Nazi camp in German-occupied Poland. He lost all his family there.'

Mr Meydat said the note was found within the Amazon packaging but not within the product.

He added: 'I believe the UK is one of the best countries world-wide for Jews. This country has done more for Jews in the two world wars [than anyone else].

'We have a historical debt to the UK, I don't think it's an anti-Semitic country. I know it's only a small minority who think like that.'

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France: Funding to NGOs involved in boycott campaigns and with alleged ties to terror groups

On social media there was anger at the money being spent on the conference while so many French people live in poverty and are homeless, a staggering 6 million are unemployed, and support for the National Front continues to rise.

As the NGO reports points out officially boycotts are illegal under French law, but unofficially they are encouraged.

Via NGO Monitor:

An international peace summit, spearheaded by the French government (was) held on January 15, 2017, in Paris. In this report, NGO Monitor documents French government support of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that support discriminatory BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns against Israel and with alleged ties to terror groups. This type of financial support casts doubts on the ability of France to serve as an impartial host of a summit dedicated to peace.

Executive Summary

• The French government funds numerous French, Israeli, and Palestinian organizations that support and promote BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns against Israel, despite the fact that such boycotts are illegal under French law.
• The Platform of French NGOs for Palestine (The Platform) is one such grantee. One of the Platform’s government-funded projects is explicitly geared towards influencing elected officials, media, and public opinion regarding the conflict – an obvious abuse of taxpayer money. The Platform supports boycott campaigns targeting Israel and partners with organizations instrumental in BDS efforts.
• France directly and indirectly funds several other NGOs with alleged ties to the PFLP terror group.

Detailed Analysis:

• French funding to organizations that support boycotts against Israel is in direct violation of French law:
  • In 2015, the Court of Cassation confirmed a 2013 decision regarding the illegality of boycotts and the call for boycotts in France. Under this law, in 2013, BDS France was fined €28,000 by a local French court, following a call made by 14 activists in 2010 to boycott Israeli products in a supermarket. In addition, each of the 14 activists was fined €1,000.
  • Despite these legal decisions, the French government continues to fund NGOs that support boycott campaigns.
  • The support for boycott campaigns in France is manifested in several ways. Examples include:
    • The Made in Illegality campaign, which includes The Platform of French NGOs for Palestine, International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), and the French Union La CGT, goes beyond the French government’s November 2016 decision to support labelling products produced in the settlements and instead supports the boycott of such products. The campaign’s goals include “prohibiting the import of settlement products,” “excluding the settlements from their bilateral agreements and cooperation with Israel,” and “excluding companies which are active or located in the settlements from public markets and public procurement procedures…”
    • Al-Haq, FIDH, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, and the Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS) are part of a campaign advocating for the cessation of relations between French and Israeli banks that have branches in the settlements. In practice, this would result in divestment from all major Israeli banks (see letters by AFPS to the French banks Crédit Agricole and La Société Générale, and the French insurance company AXA).
    • The campaign for the suspension of the European-Israeli association agreement that is being conducted by The Platform, AFPS, Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (LDH), and numerous others.
  • The French government supports the following French, Israeli, and Palestinian organizations involved in promoting BDS campaigns against Israel:
    • French NGOs include:
      • AFPS: €139,550 in 2012-2014 from L’Agence francaise pour le développement (AFD); €36,500 in 2013, €53,000 in 2014, and €25,500 in 2015 from the French Foreign Ministry.
      • La Cimade: €4.3 million in 2015.
    • Israeli NGOs include:
      • Alternative Information Center (AIC): €14,950 in 2013 from the Commission nationale consultative des droits de l’homme (National Consultative Commission for Human Rights); €19,970 in 2013, €4,975 in 2015, €12,960 in 2016 via CCFD-Terre Solidaire. (CCFD-Terre Solidaireis a private organization that receives French government funding and distributes grants to various NGOs.)
      • Israel Social TV: €5,000 in 2015 via CCFD-Terre Solidaire.
    • Palestinian NGOs include (funded by AFD):
      • Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC): $329,888 from 2010 – 2013.
      • Maan Development Center: $343,578 from 2010-2013.
      • Culture and Free Thought Association: €770,032 in 2014.
      • Palestinian Hydrology Group: $394,200 from 2010-2013.

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Sweden: Malmö woman still suffers from antisemitic vandalism attacks

For the past few years, a Jewish woman in Malmö has been targeted by a hate campaign (see here and here).  Her front door is repeatedly vandalized.  She files complaints with the police, but they take no action whatsoever.


The latest attack was a couple of weeks ago, when her door was vandalized with a swastika and Star of David.