by Marcus Sheff, Executive Director, The Israel Project – Israel Office
on www.theisraelproject.org & www.jewishjournal.com
It was of course utterly predictable. Last Friday, Judge Richard Goldstone, reacting to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s inevitable decision to endorse his made-for Al Jazeera report about last winter’s Gaza war, criticized the UNHRC because it included only censure of Israel, without any mention of Hamas.
Richard, we are simply staggered that they would do that to you.
Among the countries that singled out Israel among all other nations for their opprobrium were routine human rights abusers China, Russia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Continue reading →
If you know anybody still having doubts that Israel is not doing enough to integrate its Arab citizens and enable them to enjoy a good life in the Jewish state, I would suggest that you forward the following message from www.theisraelproject.org
>>>As Israel brings Jews and Arabs together through a variety of coexistence programs, the government continues efforts to improve the quality of life for Palestinians. Since 2007, Israel has removed 170 roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank to ease travel for Palestinians, a move that also promotes business and tourism in Palestinian areas. Israel has also taken steps to ensure steady economic growth in the West Bank, leading to a 5.5 percent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2009. With Israel’s help, the West Bank town of Jenin has built a new neighborhood that includes a new mall, hotel and 500 new residences; Nablus too has built a new hotel.
Additionally, overseas tourists have been flocking to West Bank cities, with Bethlehem tourism nearly doubling to one million tourists in 2008. Jericho, meanwhile, attracted almost half a million tourists in 2008. Israel also has more than doubled the number of employment permits for Palestinians to work in Israel and extended until midnight the operating hours of the Allenby Bridge to encourage commerce between Israel and Jordan Israel has been able to take such measures because of the dramatic decrease in terrorism through mechanisms such as the anti-terrorism fence; Iran-backed attacks from Gaza also have diminished significantly, with just 19 Qassam, missile and mortar attacks in September 2009, compared to 407 such attacks during January 2009.
Following are a range of coexistence programs designed to promote better understanding and interaction among Israel’s Arabs and Jews.
Violence erupted in Jerusalem in recent days as Arab rioters stoned both tourists and policemen at the Temple Mount (which Muslims call the Haram ash-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary) and in eastern neighborhoods of the city. The first incident occurred on Sept. 27, the eve of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, and clashes broke out again this week with the start of the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
Some notable Israeli-Arab and Palestinian leaders have supported the rioters. Sheik Ra’ad Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, said, “We will liberate al-Aksa with blood and fire,” and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayad said, “We call on the Palestinian public to confront Israel and its plans.”
On Monday night (Oct. 5), Jerusalem muezzins (those who announce the call to prayer in mosques) called on Muslims in Jerusalem to come to the defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque due to the fear that “Jews will try to break into it.”
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