Portland, Oregon Defending Their BDS Decision Against Israel

Boycotting, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) means to keep American businesses
out of Israel, depriving both of making a living.  It's use is to try to force Israel
into complying with people backing it, which now include
the mainstream Protestant churches in the USA. Caterpillar Tractor Company  is one of the
businesses they are trying to harm.  

Portland, Oregon's City Hall received this decision to harm Israel with BDS.  

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                                  

Israel puts terrorists in prison just like the USA would,
but also treats them humanely; not like Turkey would.   They even receive salaries from
their Palestinian leaders for being there, something that wouldn't happen in the USA.  So they're being paid to terrorize civilians that BDS is designed to harm.   (Turkey threw a female relative and friend of mine, author Gene Hirshhorn LePere,  who was a tourist in Turkey , into the female prison where she might have had to stay for life.)

Out here in the Wild West of Oregon, our largest city and my home town, Portland,  has voted for BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) against Israel right now at this point in time and why?  What is going on to create this decision?  I contend that it's a build-up of anti-Semitism that always lies near the surface of people's minds, and sometimes even permeates  into our own Jewish people who suddenly turn against their own.  It's different from honest criticism.  Anti-Semitism is showing hostility or prejudice against Jews.  Israel is a Jewish country of 6 million Jews and 1.7 million Muslims and some Christians, etc.  Even Alice is showing prejudice and not any sort of helpful criticism.  She doesn't live there.  She's judging from afar or heresay.  Israel is the ONLY Jewish majority country in the world whereas there are at least 48 Muslim majority countries in the world--and that is without a Palestine yet.
                                                                             

I watched a TV program last night about the Irish and a leader of the IRA said, "Turn against my own people?  Never.  I'd rather die first."  Their group had just managed to kill quite a few people.   Yet we have people who go along with the masses and do not trust their own.  They're few and far between, yet they exist, and Alice Rothchild is one of them. What upsets me is that she attacks without knowing any of the circumstance.  She's joined the followers of Noam Chomsky. She's a medical doctor and like Chomsky, uses her background, which has nothing to do with the history and current events of the Middle East, to sway the public.    Her big guns have been brought into our town to defend our City Hall's decision for BDS.
                                                                           

Arafat, originally leader of Fatah terrorists.  His leadership molded the minds of the Palestinians.

Fatah terrorists from Judea and Samaria, formerly following Arafat
who was replaced by Abbas.  They're hooked up with Hamas of Gaza.  

   
The Oregonian newspaper published what is evidently a wonderful opinion piece of hers that took up 3/4 of a whole page including a huge picture which was all for BDS.  It has been followed up with a  running stream of comments for BDS, and very few against it.  If against it, the sentiment is that stupid accusation of anti-Semitism and oh, they feel wrongly criticized if they say anything against Israel and this is another point against us.  .
                                                                         

Hamas terrorist, who branched off of Fatah,  who shoot missiles, mortars and rockets into southern Israel from Gaza,
and make attacks on Israel's civilian population 

          For some time now, I as a Jew have felt the atmosphere here in the USA is leaning towards Germany's in the 1930s, getting worse and worse each year towards the same feelings that grew with Nazi power in the late 30s.  This is just the icing on the cake.  Jews have stepped out of their 2nd class Dhimmi status of the Middle East and of many other cities in Europe and are being put down by those worried about it.                                                                                

Demonstrations in Europe Against Israel 

There's a fever of attacks by those of the Muslim persuasion in Europe, but BDS must be used against the Jews of Israel,  who for the first time in over 2,000 years,  live in their own state and are being noticed.  Attacks in the UN are far more against Israel than any other group with the result that masses think they are the bad guys of the world.
                                                                               

The spill-over of population density of Arabs  now in Europe  have been treated  royally.  They have been given "the right to free education, free social services and free health care.  They have the right to voice their opinions in the media and to vote in democratic elections.  They are not disenfranchised.  Yet the Europeans get back attacks for their kindness and their troubles.  They are experiencing what Israel has been experiencing.
                                                                               
The same thing has happened in Israel.  Israel has offered the very same things to those 1.7 million who are citizens and also to those living in Judea, Samaria, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and find they are the ones affected by the Khartoum Conference of 1967 whose motto is NO, NO AND NO.  Israel has been as frustrated as Europe now is.  Israel as even higher standards of morality than any other country in the world, so it hurts them even more to keep to their standards when being attacked all the time.
                                                                         

With people on the fringe of respecting Israel or Jews, they are just not looking at the situation through  normal glasses but with damaged ones.  They've turned things around in their heads and see a teeny country of Israel,   who has been successful in defending herself against a horde of Arabs with medieval standards,  as the bad guy even though they may turn against them as well.

This week, what has happened in Israel to cause Alice's opinion piece to be published?  The USA's Obama does not consider the Golan Heights as a part of Israel and has published this.  Netanyahu has said it is.  Israel has sovereignty in this high  area which before 1967 rained rockets, mortars and missiles down on Israel.  It is populated now by the Druse, an Arab group who are peaceful and a part of Israel.  It connects to the famous historic city of Safed (Tzfat)  where I lived for over 4 years.  Please read "THE SOURCE" by James Mitchener.   When Israel's only defender keeps arguments going publicly against Israel, it brings down the defensive walls Israel has to protect its citizens.  This argument alone can cost lives.

For weeks, attacks have been happening mainly in Jerusalem of Palestinians with knives against civilians there.  This Palestinian "intifada of the knives" is blamed by those outside of Israel on some lack of hope for a better future, anger and frustration.  However, every sort of American type opportunity and help have been offered to them, and their leaders always come up with the 3 NOs (from 1967's Khartoum Conference) , and the results are attacks against Israelis.  The nicer Israelis are, the worse the answer is.  It doesn't help that Hamas is ruled by the more recent and obvious more bloodthirsty terrorists who have control of the old terrorists who were run by Arafat and now Abbas, the PLO.
                                                                          

On April 19th, the Israeli IDF detonated the Hamas terrorist attack tunnel it found 10 days before which lead from the southern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.
                                                                             

Israel already experienced 80% of the promised Jewish Homeland being stripped away
and given to King Abdullah for the creation of Jordan.  Now the Palestinian Arabs want Jerusalem, too.
After experiencing the Holocaust with the murder of 6 million Jews, Israelis have had to deal with accusations of being in a country the world leaders said YES to while the Arabs have said NO to.  

On April 21st, Shin Bet (The Israel Security Agency) said the identity of the Palestinian who detonated a bomb on an Egged bus in Jerusalem earlier in the week was confirmed.  The terrorist was Abdel Hamid Abu Srour, 19, of Beit Jala.  He had died of injuries in the attack which wounded 20 men, women and children; 7 of them seriously.

April 21st and Sin Bet announced that security forces uncovered a Judea-Samarian Arab terror cell that plotted to kidnap a settler in order to gain leverage in negotiations to free Palestinian prisoners.

Update: 5/16/16/2:18pm from Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the USA:  While it's not an economic problem for Israel, BDS is a moral problem. It is an attempt to demonize Israel, to cast it as a pariah state that has no legitimacy and should be destroyed. . .

Reference: Oregonian Newspaper, Sunday-May 8, 2016 page A21, Divestment is an appropriate response to Israel's treatment of Palestinians. by Alice Rothchild-(in my opinion)
The Jerusalem Report magazine, May 16, 2016, page 2, 3. by Bjarne Tolstrup of Copenhagen and staff.
Author Gene LePere nee Hirshhorn: : 2 books and a TV movie from the book, Never Pass This Way Again

http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2016/05/protestants-against-israel-now-for-bds.html

http://goldfoot_genealogy.blogspot.com/2016/05/illegal-refugee-relative-of-my-relative.html

Democrat From Vermont: Senator Patrick Leahy's Chutzpa Towards Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                                              

Senator Patrick Leahy

Senator Bernie Sanders

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday responded to U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy’s (D-Vt.) letter to the U.S. State Department that asked for an investigation into Israeli and Egyptian human rights abuses.

What chutzpa this Vermont Senator has!  Israel has been touted since its inception as the ONLY state in the Middle East that is Democratic!  They have gone to great lengths to regard human rights as the highest priority, and here he charges Israel, the country who invented human rights, with violations.

The first thing I noted is that the other senator in the news daily has been Bernie Sanders, also a Democrat from Vermont, who has also spoken harshly of Israel, and he himself is a Jew!  Is the harsh weather of Vermont affecting these senators' minds?  Has Bernie started this doubt about Israel?

The letter was signed by 10 others of Congress. They listed “extrajudicial executions” of Palestinians, Politico reported. That language on executions echoes the controversial criticism of Israel voiced earlier this year by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom.  By ignoring this letter, they are being threatened to invoke the Leahy Law.  "The “Leahy Law” stipulates a reduction in U.S. military aid for foreign countries whose security forces are found to have committed abuses. "  This seems to me that coming from the Democrats, who do not join the Republicans as much in cutting expenses in order to bring down the $19 trillion the USA owes as a debt to China, that they are picking on the Republican's preferred state in helping to fight against terrorism.  Israel needs to be defensive.  

May I remind people that the 10 Commandments, brought to the Israelites by Moses from G-d were a set of human rights?  They were the fountainhead of all the other laws given to the Jews, all 613 more.  They are found  in Exodus 20:2-14 and repeated again with slight variations in Deuteronomy 5:6-18.  

1. The belief in one G-d.                                        6. Prohibition against murder

2.Prohibition of idolatry                                          7. Prohibition against adultery

3. Prohibition of taking vain oaths                          8. Prohibition against kidnapping (or steal)

4. Observe the Sabbath                                         9. Prohibition against bearing false witness

5. Honor your parents                                          10. Prohibition against coveting     

The Israeli army services (IDF) Israel Defence Forces, were started  in 1948 during the War of Independence on the basis of the Hagana and the other voluntary underground organizations that operated during the Mandatory period when Britain had been in charge of the land for the past 30 years.  Also, it included veterans of the Jewish Brigade and other units which fought with the Allies during WWII.  Because of the protracted conflict, kept up by the Arab States, Israel must maintain a highly trained defense system, with modern equipment, alert to protect life and property and meet any possible aggression.   My 3rd cousin, STANLEY GOLDFOOT from South Africa, was the Chief of Intelligence for the Stern Group of Palestine at the time.  Another cousin,  STEPHEN GOLDFOOT,  became a Flight Lieutenant in the SA Air Force during WWII.  Stephen died as a result of his plane being shot down over the Egyptian western desert when the allies were firing on Rommel's troops on the 12th of December 1941.    Was there ever another army like this in the world put together as they fought?  They've turned out to be examples for others to follow.  

                                                                     

Serving in the army is something both male and females do in Israel.  When I lived in Israel from 1980-1985, males served for 3 years and women for 2 years.  They were then placed on reserve status until the age of 55.  At least by 1973, women served in all 3 forces as non-combatant personnel, replacing men, who are thus made available for duty in combat formations.  Today they are probably included in more things.  "But a closer look shows Israeli women are not in direct combat special operations such as the Green Berets. Nor are they in front-line combat brigades mobilized to engage in direct heavy combat.

In the infantry, virtually all of Israel’s female combat soldiers are confined to two light battalions — the Caracal and the Lions of Jordan — which are assigned to guard the borders with Egypt and Jordan, the only Arab countries that have peace treaties with Israel."  Again, thinking of human rights, Israel is not willing to put a woman in more than harm's way is called for. Her enemies are known to be more than ferocious and without the ethics they have. Logic prevails.                                                                                   

Yoni Netanyahu, the brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lost his life
when serving in the army.  Yonatan "Yoni" Netanyahu was an Israel Defense Forces officer who commanded the elite commando unit,  Sayeret Matkal,  during Operation Entebbe, a operation to rescue hostages held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976.  He was only 30 years old at the time.   The mission was successful, with 102 of the 106 hostages rescued, but Netanyahu was killed in action—the only IDF fatality during the operation.

  "The Israeli army has a strong ethical and moral code based on the laws and institutions of the State of Israel, the traditions of the Jewish people and democratic principles. The army guarantees basic rights for its soldiers and maintains a level of morality in the conduct of war and military operations. For example, during training, the army has a commitment to guarantee a minimum of six hours sleep a night for soldiers and seven hours before soldiers undertake a combat operation, grant regular breaks to soldiers, guaranteed meals with a minimum diet and to provide clothes and housing."

Evidently Leahy has little respect for the Jewish ethics and moral codes and the laws of Israel, or even our Jewish traditions and democratic principles to send such a letter.  Big brother (the United States) is always watching Israel, and Israelis know they are always being criticized through the UN as well, so they are more than sensitive to such watching and know that they of all people can never make a mistake.  They, like the Chinese have always felt, know they cannot bring disrespect to their family.  The Israelis are the strictest of all on their own behaviors.  They have more than enough on the left to criticize them for any mis-step, so they are always on their toes.  

It's enough that the UN is made up of enemies of Israel who pounce all the time on the little state, but now we have Leahy and his 10 joining in the fray.  

                                                                              

Ethiopian Jewish IDF

"Soldiers also have certain obligations. The first is the concept of 'personal example.' Being in uniform means that the soldier is a representative of the army and State and therefore both soldiers and officers are expected to set a 'personal example' by obeying the law of the land, appearing in orderly dress and not causing any public disturbance. The military police have the right to caution and even arrest any soldier deemed behaving inappropriately. The concept of 'personal example also extends to the battlefield. An officer is always expected to lead from the front. The famous cry of the officer is "aharai", after me. The fact that senior officers take front line combat positions means Israel suffers, proportionately the highest officer to soldier casualty rate in the world. However, the IDF believes that leading by examples increases respect for the officer corps and instills greater motivation among soldiers. Soldiers are trained to take over command in a situation where an officer is killed or injured."     

"Israel has a principle that weapons and force can only be used for the purpose of a military operation and not to harm human beings who are non-combatants or who are prisoners of war. This involves avoiding at all costs damage to human life, dignity and property. Enemy troops and civilians in areas under the control of the IDF have to be treated with the letter and spirit of the law. Soldiers have to show respect for the beliefs, values and historical sites of all civilians and military personnel."                   

This letter has followed several weeks of  Palestinian belligerence of stabbing pedestrians in Jerusalem with knives as they walk by or ramming into crowds waiting for a bus with their cars.  Yet, where is the letter about human rights to them?   It's always the same, whether it comes from the UN or our Obama government; blame Israel--not the Palestinians.  After 67 years, I can see that the Palestinians are not ALL eager to make peace with Israel.  They want to take over the country.  This has been the plan since 1948, and the die-hards are still aiming for it.  They're just like ISIS who wanted their own state and have achieved part of Iraq and Syria now.  Palestinians have been offered their own state since 1948-taking a small piece of Israel that was left after giving away 80% of it to Jordan as a state-but NO, they want all of Israel's 20%.  .  

"The IDF faces a number of major challenges. Both the threat to Israel and the nature of warfare and weapons systems is shifting. The Israeli security perimeter has extended outward, toward Iran and beyond. As a consequence, the IDF is expanding its planning over a large radius. This means, for example, that the importance given to the tank in Israel's defense concept is giving way to ballistic and radar systems and weapons research."

Another challenge are people such as Leahy who charge-UNFAIR!  Every person living in Israel is acutely aware of their precarious position and of all the surrounding enemies, yet maintains more than expected in the line of "HUMAN RIGHTS'' OF OTHERS.  They have even put themselves in harm's way to protect this principal.  This is probably what brought on the harsh criticism of any soldier in the IDF of breaking such laws.  

Resource:  http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/64714/netanyahu-blasts-u-s-senators-request-probe-israels-human-rights-record-jerusalem/?utm_source=Breaking+Israel+News&utm_campaign=c3d409a239-BIN_morning_3_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b6d3627f72-c3d409a239-83518689#gKugQOUP5pbC7mb1.97

http://www.mahal-idf-volunteers.org/information/background/content.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonatan_Netanyahu

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/25/womens-combat-roles-in-israel-defense-forces-exagg/?page=all
Update: 1:51pm PST. http://forward.com/opinion/337841/i-wrote-the-idf-code-of-ethics-heres-my-take-on-the-hebron-shooting/?utm_content=daily_Newsletter_TopSpot_Title_Position-1&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Daily%202016-04-06&utm_term=The%20Forward%20Today%20Monday-Friday  On Hebron shooting of terrorist.
Update: 4:32pm http://unitedwithisrael.org/bernie-sanders-accuses-idf-of-killing-10000-palestinian-civilians/?   utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Sanders+Accuses+Israel+of+Killing+10%2C000+Palestinians%3B+US+Jewish+Leader+Warns+Israel+of+Obama+Harm%3B+Trump%27s+Jewish+Son-in-Law&utm_campaign=20160406_m130693623_Sanders+Accuses+Israel+of+Killing+10%2C000+Palestinians%3B+US+Jewish+Leader+Warns+Israel+of+Obama+Harm%3B+Trump%27s+Jewish+Son-in-Law&utm_term=more_btn_light_png