A Jewish blood libel?
The pro-Israel media advocacy group CAMERA and Jerusalem Post contributor Isi Leibler both are arguing that the recent spate of articles about alleged Israeli misconduct in Gaza were based on biased and second-hand information that is proving unreliable.
CAMERA's report on the issue cites stories from Ma'ariv and Israel's Channel 2 that challenge the basis of the originial stories that appeared in Ha'aretz and later The New York Times. (JTA also ran a story on the controversy, which drew a rebuke from CAMERA.). The bottom line, says CAMERA:
The brigade commander of the unit linked to alleged “wanton killings” in Gaza launched his own investigation after hearing of the charges, speaking with actual eyewitnesses, all of whom said that the alleged killings did not took place. The original charges, based only on hearsay and rumors, have therefore been refuted and should be retracted.
Leibler, in a column titled "Jewish blood libels," takes aim at Ha'aretz:
For three consecutive days these unsubstantiated accusations against religious soldiers and chaplains were headlined and given front page prominence by Haaretz, the Israeli daily newspaper whose editorial policy and columnists like Gidon Levy and Amira Hass have continuously been demonizing their own country. Few would deny that over the past years Haaretz, notably its English Internet edition -- has more effectively damaged Israel’s image in the West than all the Arab anti-Israeli propaganda combined. Depicting our soldiers as religious fanatics brainwashed by rabbis has chilling parallels to the anti-Semitic incitement of the Middle Ages promoted by converts who turned on their own people. Such libels emanating from Israel during the anti-Semitic tsunami now enveloping the world fall on receptive ears. The entire global media -- including even those who occasionally try to be more evenhanded -- carried blazing front page headlines highlighting these unsubstantiated accusations as evidence of war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict.
Even if these stories contained an element of truth (and there are no grounds to assume that), to depict them as the norm is like using Jack the Ripper to besmirch the British as a nation of cutthroat barbarians.
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There is too much solid evidence of misconduct by IDF soldiers in Gaza to simply dismiss it as a “Jewish blood libel.” For the sake of Israel’s future and moral standing in its own eyes and the eyes of the world, the reports have to be investigated by a serious, authoritative investigating commission.
This in no way relieves Hamas from its own responsibility for “misconduct” when it fires rockets against innocent civilians in Southern Israel, or brutally kills and maims Fatah activists in Gaza.
However, that does not justify any Israeli misconduct.
And one comment to the editors of the JTA. Wouldn’t it be more accurate to label Camera “the right-wing” pro-Israel advocacy group? Its positions are definitely not mainstream or liberal. The same goes for Isi Liebler, though he is an individual, not an organization.
Hillel Schenker
Tel Aviv
There is far from solid evidence of misconduct by IDF soldiers. Some of what has been reported is that a woman and her child mistakenly turned the wrong way when leaving a house, and so were, sadly, shot and killed. This was in a war zone, where woman have been suicide/homicide bombers, etc. This is not a war crime.
There are some second hand reports of some soldiers being excited about doing their jobs. Sure it would be better if each and every one of these mostly 19-20 year olds could be reflective and philosophical about the tragedy of war. Being caught up in the emotions of combat, fear for one’s life (booby trapped houses, sniper fire, etc.) is not a war crime.
There is substantial evidence of Hamas’ entire policy and practice as being, basically a “war crime.” Civilian shields, civilian targets, etc. This isn’t just “misconduct” it is a campaign of hate and destruction. Let’s remember this is the response to Israel LEAVING Gaza.
Finally, of course Israel should investigate any misconduct, as they usually do. When is the last time you saw any Palestinian or Arab country investigate anything? Let’s put this in perspective.
Debating the validity of the details of the most recent Gaza IDF confessions is ridiculous - IDF solidiers have been complaining and confessing to egregious violations of Palestinians and their rights for years. Stop. No more US $ and military aid to the current Israeli electorate and regime, mitarists and unrepentant repeat violators of international law and the law of the Torah which insists on observance of and respect for the rights and humanity of the Stranger. US financing is making possible the continuing perversion of Judaism by those ruling, and electing the rulers of, Israel.
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Sohail Choudhury
03/27/09 04:58 AM
Within one month of attack on the office of Weekly Blitz by the thugs belonging to the ruling party in Bangladesh, an Islamist and anti Semitic terrorist based in United Arab Emirates [UAE], gave life threats on Blitz editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury.
In an email sent on Thursday, March 26, 2009 2:13 PM the terrorist named Monirul Islam [Phone number +971-50-7515470] wrote, “What would you know about inter-faith dialogue...you are just snake who rattles his tail to the tune of his masters in Vatican/Saudi King/and the Zionist.
“Playing with fire, your days are just numbered I suppose! Remember a great writer [?] Humanyun Azad wrote a book Pak Sarjamin Sad-e bad, and you know how he died in Germany?”
Earlier the same terrorist sent an email to the Weekly Blitz on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 4:19 PM stating, “I have my doubts that you come from a good Muslim family although your name suggests that you may be a Muslim; but interestingly your activities are such that you are worse than the Jews. I hope you have some Idea about Quran…it is our holy book.”
He continued to write, “What kind of freedom of expression you are talking about? Where did you learn about it? What is your definition of freedom of expression? Do not bullshit…govt. did not make any move to suffocate media….why you are resorting to lies like your sister Sunita Paul?”
It may be mentioned here that, Sunita Paul is a foreign journalist, who regularly writes for Weekly Blitz. Sunita Paul wrote a number of articles after the February 25-26 Massacre inside Bangladesh Rifles headquarters exposing the conspiracy behind brutal murder of officers of Bangladesh Armed Forces.
Monirul Islam further wrote in the email, “Explain to me what is interfaith dialogue? Why you want us to have relation with Jerusalem? Look, do not play with fire.”
The terrorist introduced himself to be a “childhood friend of Barrister Tania Amir”. It may be mentioned here that, Tania Amir is an activist of Bangladesh Awami League, who has several controversies related to her profession, including cheating foreign client with false promises. She also has relations with several notorious political thugs in Bangladesh, mostly belonging to Bangladesh Awami League.
Terrorist Monirul Islam questioned eminent writer Humayun Azad, who died in Germany. Earlier he was attacked by Islamists in Dhaka because of publishing a book titled ‘Pak Sarjamin Sad-e bad’.
The latest life threat from UAE based Islamist terrorist Monirul Islam came just in a month of attack on the office of Weekly Blitz. On February 22, 2009, 35-40 armed terrorists belonging to the ruling party, led by Ruhul Amin and co-led by Shamim from DGFI [Directorate General of Forces Intelligence] attacked the office of Blitz newspaper. They instructed the caretaker named Anwar of the commercial center named Skylark Point [where the Blitz office is located] to lock the outside gate and continued their notorious actions in the broad day light for hours in presence of members of law enforcing and various intelligence agencies.
Despite lodging of a case more than 5 days back [Case No. 65, under section 143, 448, 323, 342, 384, 380, 427 and 506], members of law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh are showing extreme reluctance in investigating the case. Investigation officer [IO] of the case is putting indirect suggestions on the Weekly Blitz editor for withdrawing the complaint, instead of investigating the matter and taking any legal steps against the perpetrators. The IO said they have specific instruction of neither investigating the case nor arresting anyone as the accused are from the ruling party.