Ofer Petersburg Published: 07.01.10, 07:59 / Israel Activism
Mosque in Geneva (archive) Photo: AFP
An unlikely benefactor. An Ashkelon resident who made a fortune in the European real estate business has decided to pay for the construction of a mosque in France for the benefit of the local Muslim community.
Father of four Robert Harush, 58, grew up in Ashkelon and having completed his military service tried his luck in the real estate business in Europe. His success has won him many hotels and buildings and he is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of shekels.
Despite his success Harush did not forget his hometown and has returned to Ashkelon and invested in local building ventures. For the past 10 years he has been dividing his time between Israel and France. His four children all speak Hebrew.
The businessman even chose to stay in the southern city during Operation Cast Lead. He remained in Israel also after a Grad rocket landed near his house.
Surprisingly, he has not harbored any ill-feelings against the Arab side and is a strong supporter of co-existence. He was recently approached by the mayor of Montereau, a French city adjacent to Paris, who informed him of his difficulties in financing the renovation of a large mosque in the city.
"I told myself 'here is an opportunity to bring the people together' and decided to donate the money," Harush said. "People were dumbfounded. What does a Jewish-Israeli man have do to with refurbishing a mosque? The answer is simple: I'm sick and tired of the hatred. A sane voice must emerge."
Harush explained that he built the mosque in order to promote co-existence. "It wasn't a cheap venture but I did with all my heart."
Ashkelon projects
Leaders of the Montereau Muslim community have thanked Harush for the gesture and maintain a warm relationship with him.
The businessman, however, is not interested in supporting the Muslim community alone and has paid for the construction of one of the largest and most grandiose synagogues in Asheklon last year, which was named after his late father.
He is currently working on setting up a mikveh in the southern city to be dedicated to his late mother. "I myself am not a religious person but I feel that in the absence of upstanding politicians it falls on businessmen to bring together Jews and Arabs and seculars and the religious.
However, Islamic extremists have accused the main U.N. aid agency of corrupting Gaza's youth with its summer program of games, sports and human rights lessons for some 250,000 children.
The U.N.'s main competitor is the Islamic militant Hamas, which operates camps for some 100,000 children and offers lessons on Islam and military-style marching.
Local U.N. spokesman Adnan Abu Hasna says vandals broke into a camp site in central Gaza early Monday. He says they burned down tents and damaged facilities, but gave no further details.
Meital Yasur-Beit Or Published: 06.24.10, 07:31 / Israel Activism
Some 250 children suffering from severe and life-threatening heart defects will be given the opportunity to undergo surgery thanks to the "Save a Child's Heart" project at the Edith Wolfson Medical Center in Holon.
The association, which was founded 15 years ago, has helped fund surgeries for more than 2,400 children – about half of them from the Palestinian Authority and Gaza and the rest from some 40 developing nations, including Iraq, Morocco, Angola and Romania.
The EU is expected to issue a 400,000 euro ($496,000) grant towards the project, while Minister for Regional Development Silvan Shalom announced his office would allocate NIS 1 million (about $260,000) to the program, enough to perform an additional 250 surgeries a year.
"At a time when the world is debating Israel's actions in Gaza, our answer to the next flotilla is this project and saving children from Gaza," Minister Shalom said during a ceremony held at the hospital Sunday. "We are not engaged in a conflict with the Palestinian people, but with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas."
Girl from El Salvador during ceremony (Photo: Shilo Shalhevet)
Funds transferred by the EU will be used to train Palestinian physicians, to operate on Palestinian children with heart problems and to support joint Israeli-Palestinian community activity.
European Union Ambassador to Israel Andrew Standley said during the ceremony at Wolfson that the project proves that Israel and the Palestinians can cooperate.
One of those who underwent surgery at the hospital is nine-year-old Kurdish boy Aram, who made his way to Israel along with his mother Shawana from Iraq, via Jordan. "His condition has improved. Before the operation he had trouble breathing. Now he is breathing better," said the mother.
"I am glad he had the operation and I was not afraid to come to Israel. Everyone knew that we were travelling to Israel. We did not keep it a secret," she added.
According to a price list published by the Health Ministry, open heart surgery costs NIS 67,000 ($18,000), but the cost of an operation for children who are part of the project is only NIS 27,000 ($7,000).
Wolfson Medical Center Director Dr. Yitzhak Berlovitz said, "We are proud of this project, and hope other hospitals will take an active role in it."
Tamar Zmora Published: 06.13.10, 07:50 / Israel Activism
Some 350 Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian students aged 10 to 14 participated in a soccer tournament last week on the Wolfson-Chodorov soccer field in Holon.
The annual one-day event serves as a celebratory culmination to a year of activities and curriculum, Gal Peleg, Development Manager of Mifalot, told Ynetnews in a phone interview.
"The whole idea is for them to get to know each other, to break down stereotypes, and to informally get to know that the other side are not demons as it sometimes seems in the news," Peleg said.
Through the "Know Your Neighbor" project, the children work in pairs with different communities and meet altogether at the end of the year for the tournament. There are pairings of Israelis and Palestinians from east and west Jerusalem, Israelis and Jordanians, and Arab and Jewish Israelis.
These pairs meet four or five times throughout the year and go on outings together to the beach, theater, and water park among other activities. “They are no different from us,” said Ofir, an Israeli youth who played in the soccer game last week. “I am glad we got to meet like this."
'They are no different from us' (Photo: Nir Keidar)
The tournament began five years ago as part of a larger initiative. Founded in 1997 by the owners of soccer team Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Mifalot is an organization that utilizes soccer to build more cohesive communities by trying to bridge the social, political, religious and ethnic divides within the Middle East.
"Mifalot peace programs foster new friendships between Jewish-Israelis, Arab-Israelis, Palestinians, Bedouins, Druze, Christians, Refugees, Ethiopian Immigrants and Kibbutz children. They all come together and play as mixed football teams with no boundaries or borders," reads a mission statement from the organizations website.
Getting Jordanian relatives involved
This year was the first year the tournament included Jordanian students. The ability to expand the project resulted from the family relations of the Arab Israeli participants, who helped expand the program because they have relatives in Jordan who were eager to get their friends and relatives involved.
Guests on hand to cheer on the teams included Vice Premier and Minister for Regional Development Silvan Shalom, Head of the European Union's mission in Israel Andrew Stanley, Mifalot Chairman Avraham Burg, Captain of the national champion soccer team Hapoel Tel-Aviv Walid Badir, and assistant coach of Hapoel Tel-Aviv Yossi Abukasis.
On the soccer field, participants reflected on their experience in the project. Tarek from Umm al-Hir summed up the game by saying that "the mixed game gave me a feeling that we can begin to make peace and enjoy life through football."
In Times op-ed, José Maria Aznar asks West to remember Israel its only ally in 'turbulent' region.
Ynet Published: 06.17.10, 13:06 / Israel News
José Maria Aznar, former prime minister of Spain, published an opinion article with the London Times Thursday saying the world must support Israel because "if it goes down, we all go down".
Aznar, who has joined the 'Friends of Israel' campaign to which David Trimble, a foreign observer taking part in Israel's flotilla raid probe, also belongs, calls on Europe to refuse to put up with cries to eliminate Israel as part of global Christian-Jewish cooperation.
"Anger over Gaza is a distraction. We cannot forget that Israel is the West’s best ally in a turbulent region," Aznar writes of the IDF's calamitous raid on a flotilla bound for Gaza on May 31.
"In an ideal world, the assault by Israeli commandos on the 'Mavi Marmara' would not have ended up with nine dead and a score wounded. In an ideal world, the soldiers would have been peacefully welcomed on to the ship."
Aznar also criticizes Turkey, to which the Marmara belonged, for placing Israel "in an impossible situation" in which it would have to either give up its security or face world condemnation.
The former prime minister calls on the world to "blow away the red mists of anger" and take a "reasonable and balanced approach" based on the fact that Israel was created by a decision of the UN and therefore unquestionably a legitimate state.
"Israel is a nation with deeply rooted democratic institutions. It is a dynamic and open society that has repeatedly excelled in culture, science and technology," he adds.
However, he says, "62 years after its creation, Israel is still fighting for its very survival. Punished with missiles raining from north and south, threatened with destruction by an Iran aiming to acquire nuclear weapons and pressed upon by friend and foe, Israel, it seems, is never to have a moment’s peace."
Aznar says the real threat to the region is extreme Islamism, "which sees Israel’s destruction as the fulfillment of its religious destiny and, simultaneously in the case of Iran, as an expression of its ambitions for regional hegemony".
"Both phenomena are threats that affect not only Israel, but also the wider West and the world at large," he adds.
Aznar concludes by saying that Israel is the West's first line of defense against the chaos set to erupt in the Middle East, and therefore must be protected.
"It is easy to blame Israel for all the evils in the Middle East," he writes. Some even act and talk as if a new understanding with the Muslim world could be achieved if only we were prepared to sacrifice the Jewish state on the altar. This would be folly."
Roee Nahmias Published: 06.16.10, 07:37 / Israel Culture
The head of Egypt's Actors Guild, Ashraf Zaki, has decided to launch an inquiry against Egyptian actor Khaled Nabawy for "normalization with Israel" over his role in Doug Liman's American film "Fair Game" alongside Israeli actress Liraz Charhi.
Nabawy was criticized by Egyptian officials after being photographed embracing Charhi on the red carper during the Cannes International Film Festival, where the movie has its world premiere and took part in the official competition.
The different professional associations in Egypt forbid any type of normalization with the Jewish state and strongly condemn any association member who challenges this demand.
Charhi and Nabawy at Cannes (Photo: Getty Images Bank)
Zaki told a London-based website that he would meet with Nabawy this week and inquire whether he knew in advance that Charhi had an Israeli citizenship. If Nabawy is found guilty, he is expected to be suspended from the association for a long period of time.
Arab websites that reported the affair noted that Charhi was "an Israeli actress of American descent, who served in the army for two years before turning to acting and appearing in a number of American films."
Zaki told the Reuters news agency that he would bring the matter to the Actors Guild council in the coming days. "I asked to meet with Nabawy. After we meet, I will write a memo to the council so it can make a decision."
He refused to elaborate on the punishment Nabawy may face if he is found guilty.
Charhi: He knew he would pay a price
The Israeli actress involved in the affair told Ynet on Tuesday that "the picture of the two of us did not change anything. Nabawy already knew that he would pay the price for our cooperation on the screen.
"Even before he was cast for the role, there was another Egyptian actor who withdrew from the production after receiving threats that he would be dismissed from the association," Charhi added.
"At this stage I was certain that they would let me go. But then Nabawy arrived, a professional actor who came to work. When we met during rehearsal I noticed that he was a bit indrawn, and I waited a while before I approached him.
"I knew that it was all very sensitive, so I was very gentle. But during the filming period we became friends. We played a brother and sister, and it didn't seem strange to either of us.
"When they arranged the seats for the screening, they put us together and we both didn't mind. He didn't say anything when we stood together for the photo shoot. I was sure that they would be angry at him, but I didn't believe that they would launch a suspension procedure against him. I'm shocked.
"We saw this film as work, not politics, and hoped that seeing us getting along would convey some kind of message. But I never imagined that the voices against him would be so hostile," she concluded.
Recently I was asked by a very close Muslim friend a direct and tough question. The question was: “Do you hate the Muslims?”.
To be honest it was a bit surprising, but as a Jew I always asked myself that question. I was bothered with the definition of “hate” and about my own interpretation of “hate” since this is not a kind of an absolute value. Another issue is if I “hate” what does it mean in practical life.
My answer to my friend was that I don’t hate the Muslims as a whole group of people, but dislike some of them as I define them as bad people. Then my friend asked me about what is the percentage of Muslims I dislike? That question was tough once again because to define the figure I probably must know all Muslims in the world (which I don’t). I couldn’t provide an answer this time. Can someone define?
Of course I dislike some of the Muslims since I can see them as my enemies (present and past times) as same as they see me as their enemy. We cannot expect enemies to like each other or even respect each other all the time. We cannot hide the conflict between Muslims and Jews which the root cause is still not known. Those who claim that they know the root cause still cannot find the way to solve that problem.
Does each and every Muslim like all Jews? I have a doubt about that. Like in any group everyone categorizes people into two groups. One group as good people and the other group as bad people, according to his own definition and judgment. That judgment is based on the education and exposure to information. That education and information is establishing the fundamental bias of the opinion. We cannot say that there are no biased people (objectively). Let me say that even the best judge has some biased opinion but he has a book of rules he must follow during judgment. But the regular people who are not having the legal law book of rules are judging according to their biased opinion and “provoked” emotions. This is true for everyone either a Jew, a Christian or a Muslim.
So how can a Jew like me like Muslims like Mahmud Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, who want to exterminate the Jews from Israel? Muslims can find Jewish names who they also dislike or even hate. People tend to say that the conflict between the Jews and Muslims is a territorial. If it was a territorial conflict, why should Iran and other Muslim countries be involved in that conflict? What territorial claims has Iran over the land of Israel? It is the Muslim brotherhood (religion based) to support the Palestinians. Is there any Muslim country that supports Israel or the Jews? Do all Muslims think that Israel doesn’t have the right to exist? Do all Muslims think that Israel should be wiped off the map?
If I would hate all Muslims I wouldn’t have that Muslim close friend. We can have different opinions and even hardly argue about issues. What is fascinating in our friendly relation is that despite our differences we manage to remain friends. This is thanks to the tolerance and rational thinking that hatred will not bring any good to either side and we must live in mutual respect. The respect and honor is something a person is providing willingly and not demanding it from the other side.
I wonder what each and everyone thinks about his own definition of hating or disliking the other side.
No countries surrounding Israel are willing to accept her sovereignty as a nation. American and British did not consider the opinions of the surrounding countries when they created the nation of Israel many years ago. Because no countries around the region were willing to accept the birth of Israel, the existence of Israel from the day of its birth is full of miseries and turmoil. British and Americans should take the responsibilities for the mistake they have made by creating Israel without taking the opinions of the Muslims Arabs that live around Israel. United State of American and Great Britain are the two superpowers that created the nation of Israel in the wrong way. Since Israel began in the wrong way, peace and tranquility has never achieved by Israel since its birth as a nation.
As a nation, Israel does not feel secure, as all the nations surrounding her are enemies to Israel. Israel does not feel secured ever since she was born and the feeling of insecurity leads Israel to practice aggression. When a person is not secure, he or she becomes aggressive. Insecurity leads to stress and stress leads to aggression. Israel has become a very aggressive nation because it began with a wrong beginning. It started wrong and forever it can never become right. Israel recent action towards the ship that carries foods, medicines and peace activists to Gaza clearly reveal her aggressiveness. The ship carry only medicines, food and peace activists and not war ammunitions but Israel attacked the ship and killed many peace activists including many from Turkey.
The action of Israel has drawn international criticism and public demonstration against Israel. The big mistake Israel had done in the incident was the killing of many peace activists from Turkey. Although in the past, the relationship between Israel and Turkey was very good but the sad incident has led to the good diplomatic relation enjoyed previously shattered. Although Israel has poor diplomatic relationship with her surrounding Arab Muslim countries but her relationship with Turkey had been very good. Turkey even had military partnership with Israel. Turkish is known to be a very strong and brave race and although Turkish were not Muslims when they conquered the great Muslim empires hundreds of years ago but later on, the Turks embrace Islam and becomes Muslims. Later on, the Muslims Turks conquered Constantinople and spread the Muslim empires towards the west, up to Yugoslavia. Turks known to be a brave and strong race than the Arabs are. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w used to warn the Arabs not to disturb the Turks. The Turks came to Bagdad to do trading and when the Arabs Muslims did injustice to the Turks traders, their King attacked Bagdad and defeated the Muslims. They demolished the Muslim empires and destroyed the civilization, established by the Arabs to ashes.
Because of the recent attack by Israel on the ship, that carries humanitarian aids to Gaza, Turkey join the group of countries that has enmity with Israel. The recent attacks have increased the number of countries that have enmity with Israel. Israel becomes more insecure and isolated and thus becoming more aggressive. In order to make Israel to become less aggressive the whole world particularly the ‘maker’ of Israel, Americans and British have to make Israelites feel more secured. Many Jews live peacefully with the Muslims in all over the world. What is the reason the Jews cannot live peacefully with the Muslims in the Arab world now. Many Jews live in Medinah at the times of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and they live peacefully with the Muslims. The Jews driven out of Medinah only when the Jews at that time did not comply with the treaty they made with the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and the Muslims at that time.
Many Muslims believe that Allah forever curses the Jews and because of that, many Muslims hate the Jews. Many Muslims think that all Jews are bad and they are not fit to live and many Muslims think it is an act of worship to curse the Jews. They cursed the Jews because they believe that Allah forever had cursed them. Allah never cursed anyone because of their race, color of skin but Allah curse someone because of their bad actions. The Muslims should not think that all Jews are bad and must be curse. Jews are the same as any other race and among the Jews, there are bad as well as good Jews. We should give values and respect to a person not because of their race but because of their actions.
The actions of the government of Israel to order their soldier to attack the ship on peace and humanitarian missions were wrong. The Jews who do those actions should be curse and brought to justice. Allah and the whole humanity curse, and hate those actions. However, the Jews do this because the Jews think and feel that they are insecure. Israel will forever feel insecure as long as American and the British are not doing anything to bring Israel and all the countries surrounding Israel, to a discussion and meeting table. All the countries that are neighbors to Israel should be call to the meeting. As Muslims, we should be kind to our neighbors. Muslims should not try to drive the Jews out of Israel as Allah has made them to become our neighbors. Allah has made the Jews to live among the Muslims and the Jews should not drive the Muslims out of Israel.
Jews must not regard the Muslims as enemies and the Muslims too must not regard the Jews as enemies. Political people and those who want power and wealth would not like people to live with peace and harmony. When people live in peace and harmony, political people cannot become popular and powerful. Many Jews leaders as well the Arabs are propagating the sentiment of racism. They are spreading the fear that the other side is trying to take our lands and to drive us out of our homes. The fear created by the opportunists is sufficient to make the region to remain forever unstable and turmoil. American and the British are not trying to eliminate the fear that makes both sides to become aggressive. As Israel has more sophisticated weapons, and feel more insecure they become more aggressive than the Arabs do.
Both the Jews and the Arabs can live together in peace and tranquility .A treaty be made not only between Israel and Palestine but also with all the countries surrounding Israel. The war between Israel and the Palestinians will continue forever unless the fear that both parties have, eliminated. Israel will continue her aggression against Palestinians who are unarmed and fight only using stone and sand. Americans and British are responsible for the aggression done by both sides and they should dismantle the aggression by negotiating a treaty between Israel and all the neighboring countries.
I'll not express my thoughts and definition about Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He called to remind the Jews "You shall not kill". Self defense is not killing. As he don't know Hebrew I'll correct him with the 6th commandment. In Hebrew it says "לא תרצח" which means "You shall not murder".
The Turks were stupid enough to publish this morning in their Hurriyet news paper some pictures taken and showing "blood on paper" how the IDF commandoes were exposed to a lynch.
A peace activist (a parliament member from Yemen) exposes his peaceful knife in front of the journalists during the sail
What are those peace activist holding in their hands? An olive branch?
An IDF soldier stabbed with a knife in his stomach
Those are peace activist from the Mavi Marmara which learned the 6th commandment as their sponsor Recep Tayyip Erdoğan taught them. A lynch is not a murder just "Jihad".
The world must stop this mad man who is a murderer of his own people.
It was a tragedy of mistakes that caused lost lives. all those mistakes has been created by politicians and religious emotions.
The first and primer politician to blame for the tragically mistake is the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He is the igniter of hostility by sponsoring the flotilla of terror support. What humanitarian aid are 1000 people? Do the Gazans need human flesh as meat to eat? Or do the Gazans need another 1000 mouths to feed if they are already starving? In average 1000 people are equal to 80-100 tons of real food like rice, flour, corn or even essential medicine drugs. What for was the purpose of sending 1000 terror supporters on a ship to Gaza? Are they serving as the crew of the vessel? There is only one answer. It was for the sake to smear mud on the face of Israel rather to sympathize the Gazans. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is well known from his past and present life as a great Jews and Israeli hater and only he is the assassinator of the 9 killed people. That hatred was the reason why he sponsored the flotilla. Why were the other 5 vessels captured without any violence and no one was even scratched. Just the Turkish vessel Marmara created the whole mess and violence? Only because of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a radical Islamist, Turkey wasn't still accepted as a member of the EU.
Israel offered the flotilla organizers to transfer the goods of humanitarian aid via a port in Israel after security control in order to check if there are no weapons or materials which can produce weapons and explosives. The organizers refused that offer only because they wanted to create the tragic incident. Since Gaza or the Palestinian authority is not a registered state it has no territorial water borders in the sea and that area is under the Israeli control.
Are really the citizens of Gaza starving? If yes, how come that Ismail Haniya is so fat as well as many other members of Hamas? If kids are starving there, the Hamas leaders need to fast every second day and give their daily food for the kids. There are hundreds of smuggling tunnels from Gaza to Sinai-Egypt. What is the purpose of those tunnels? Aren't those tunnels to transfer goods and of course explosives and weapons? The shops and markets of Gaza are full of goods to sell, so how can it be that they are starving?
The only purpose of that flotilla was political and not humanitarian. It was purely for propaganda purpose. As this was the reason, the banner was written on the wall and the results were well known by all parties.
Those 9 killed people were a result of a fatal mistake by trying to lynch the Israeli soldiers who landed on the vessel not armed with automatic guns but paint-ball guns. The soldiers were beaten with iron rods, stubbed with knives and even shot with bullets from fire arms. Those circumstances enforced the soldiers for self defending and they used their personal pistols which were placed on their back. They were armed with the pistols "just in case" if they need to act self defending and this was a self defending act.
Another big mistake was the IDF too soft approach and under estimation of the "peaceful" passengers as violent anarchists and hooligans. Those hooligans and organizers took the advantage of the IDF's "soft manner" approach to create lynch activities and extreme violence.
What is really the Turkish organization IHH?
Shooting the Messenger: A Look at the Facts on the Turkish Aid Group IHH
When I first published a research paper four years ago with the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) on the Turkish Muslim charitable group Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), I didn't imagine it would get much of a response outside the academic conference in which it was presented in Copenhagen. However, as a result of this weekend's tragic Israeli raid on an IHH-sponsored flotilla of vessels attempting to break the ongoing blockade on Gaza, the group has suddenly jumped into the headlines, and has become a focus of intense debate over the intentions of the flotilla organizers and the controversial killing of at least 9 would-be participants by Israeli commandos.
Though my DIIS paper made no mention of IHH's activities in Gaza or in support of suffering Palestinian refugees, some of those angered by the Israeli flotilla raid have instead turned their emotional animus on past critics of IHH, such as myself. While I certainly can't speak with any authority on what took place on the Gaza flotilla boats, I'm rather mystified why the flotilla killings--whether right or wrong--would have any bearing on the factual question of whether the IHH has engaged in illicit financing and episodic support to extremist groups. The evidence in this regard is fairly weighty, and much of it comes directly from the Turkish government -- not the United States, nor the Israelis.
On December 5, 1997, Turkish police raided the IHH headquarters office in Istanbul and arrested its principal leaders. Following their preliminary inquiry, on April 27, 1998, Turkish investigators launched a formal legal case against the IHH. According to a report produced by French counterterrorism magistrates, the inquiry was spurred by the sale of an AK-47 assault rifle to an IHH leader by "a member of the illegal organization VASAT." Turkish police reported seizing a series of disturbing items from the IHH in Turkey, including an explosive device, two sticks of dynamite, bomb making instructions, and a "jihad flag." The French magistrates report noted that: "It appears that the detained members of IHH were going to fight in Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Chechnya... The essential goal of this Association was to illegally arm its membership for overthrowing democratic, secular, and constitutional order present in Turkey and replacing it with an Islamic state founded on the Shariah. Under the cover of this organization known under the name of IHH, acted to recruit veteran soldiers in anticipation of the coming holy war. In particular, some men were sent into war zones in Muslim countries in order to acquire combat experience. On the spot, the formation of a military unit was assured. In addition, towards the purpose of obtaining political support from these countries, financial aid was transferred , as well as caches of firearms, knives, and pre-fabricated explosives."
An official review of the phone records from the IHH's office in Istanbul revealed two calls to the Bosnian Mujahideen Brigade unit headquarters in Zenica, five phone calls to a member of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA) based in London, and at least one call to Anwar Shaaban's notorious Islamic Cultural Institute in Milan, Italy.
The IHH's connections to international terrorism have even surfaced in sworn witness testimony in the U.S. federal court system. During the trial of attempted Millenium bomber Ahmed Ressam, noted French counterterrorism magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguiere took the stand and testified that IHH had played “n important role” in Ressam's bomb plot targeting LAX. Under repeated questioning, Bruguiere insisted that “here’s a rather close relation”: "The IHH is an NGO, but it was kind of a type of cover-up… in order to obtain forged documents and also to obtain different forms of infiltration for Mujahideen in combat. And also to go and gather these Mujahideens. And finally, one of the last responsibilities that they had was also to be implicated or involved in weapons trafficking."
None of this information is considered sensitive or secret, nor is it particularly difficult to come by. Turkish government officials have openly acknowledged as much in major Western media outlets. In August 1999, the governor of Istanbul was interviewed in the Washington Post after he personally ordered local IHH bank accounts frozen because of suspected criminal activity. He explained at the time, "All legal institutions may have some illegal connections. This might be the case here. If they don't like it, they can appeal in court."
To his credit, the former Istanbul governor here underscores another critical point. Contemporary terror finance networks are most effectively curtailed using accepted legal sanctions and transnational cooperation between regional allies. Incidents such as the deadly Gaza flotilla raid ultimately undermine the battle against illicit financing, and weaken shared international resolve to punish those who manipulate humanitarian relief as a cover to fund terrorism. The Israeli government must be more mindful in the future of the wider political repercussions its attempts at punitive actions can have, whether technically justified or not. Those repercussions impact not only the state of Israel, but also carry implicit costs for the United States and its European allies.
June 1, 2010 12:40 PM
One of the IHH peaceful acivists o the Marmara vessel
Related information
Close-Up Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking IDF Soldiers
Video footage from idfnadesk, the Israeli Defense Forces' YouTube Channel, May 31, 2010
Video taken by IDF naval boat shows the passengers of the Mavi Marmara, one of the ships in the 'Free Gaza' Flotilla, violently attacking IDF soldiers who were trying to board the ship after having sent repeated requests for the boat to change course.
Mavi Marmara Passengers Attack IDF Before Soldiers Board Ship
Gaza flotilla participants created war atmosphere before confronting Israel. Participants chanted Islamic battle cry invoking killing of Jews and called for Martyrdom
Behind the Headlines: The Israeli humanitarian lifeline to Gaza
In 2009, more than 738,000 tons of food and supplies entered Gaza. Pictures in local newspapers show local markets aplenty with fruit, vegetables, cheese, spices, bread and meat to feed 1.4 million Gazans. The total amount of aid transferred from Israel to Gaza in 2009 increased by 180 percent, compared to the amount transferred 2008.[1]
From Jan - May 8, 2010, 230,690 tons of humanitarian aid was transferred from Israel into Gaza through the Israel-Gaza goods crossings. This included medical supplies, milk powder and baby food, meat, chicken, fish, grains, legumes, oil, flour, salt, sugar, fresh vegetables and dairy products as well as animal feed, hygiene products and clothes.[2]
At holiday times, Israel increases transfers. During the Muslim holy days of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, Israel shipped some 11,000 head of cattle into Gaza.
2. Maintaining Medical Aid for All in Need
The Medical Corridor: In 2009 alone, 10,544 patients and their companions left the Gaza Strip for medical treatment in Israel. Moreover, there were 382 emergency evacuations from Gaza for medical purposes.
The Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem donates $3 million in aid annually to treat Palestinians in Israel.
Following fears of a swine flu outbreak, three Israeli hospitals were assigned to treat cases in the Gaza Strip and 44,500 immunizations were transferred to the Strip.
Since 2005, Palestinians exploited medical care arrangements more than 20 times to carry out terror attacks.
Medical Equipment: In 2009, some 4,883 tons of medical equipment and medicine were brought in.
In the first quarter of 2010, Israel shipped 152 trucks of medical supplies and equipment into Gaza.
In 2009, Israel coordinated the transfer of medical supplies for the disabled including wheelchairs, crutches and first aid kits. Other equipment shipped to Gaza include heart-monitors, baby feeding tubes, dental equipment, medical books, ambulance emergency equipment, artificial limbs and infant sleeping bags.
3. Quality of Life in Gaza
Projected life expectancy in the Gaza Strip (2010) is 73.86, greater than Estonia, Malaysia, Jamaica and Bulgaria.
The infant mortality rate in Gaza is 17.71 per 1000, better than that of China, Jordan, Lebanon and Thailand.
Schoolchildren: Israel transfers school equipment supplied by UNRWA including notebooks, school bags, writing implements and textbooks.
Israel is currently coordinating the transfer of 200,000 laptops for Gaza schoolchildren.
In the first quarter of 2010, Israel transferred 250 trucks with equipment for the UNWRA summer camp, including arts-and-crafts equipment, swimming pools, inflatable toys, ice cream machines, musical instruments, clothing, sports quipment.
4. Building for the Future: Infrastructure and Economic Aid
Building Materials: While the import of cement and iron has been restricted into Gaza since these are used by the Hamas to cast rockets and bunkers, monitored imports of truckloads of cement, iron, and building supplies such as wood and windows are regularly coordinated with international parties. Already in the first quarter of 2010, 23 tons of iron and 25 tons of cement were transferred to the Gaza Strip.
On 13 May 2010, Israel allowed approximately 39 tons of building material into Gaza to help rebuild a damaged hospital. The construction material for al Quds hospital was transferred after safeguards in place and French assurances ensured that the construction material would not be diverted elsewhere.
On 24 May 2010, Israel opened Kerem crossing to 97 trucks loaded with aid and goods, including six trucks holding 250 tons of cement and one truck loaded with five tons of iron for projects executed and operated by UNRWA.
Electricity: As noted by a UN report of May 2010, 120 Megawatts (over 70 percent) of the Strips’ electricity supply comes from the Israeli electric grid, while 17 MWs come from Egypt and 30 MWs are produced by the Gaza city power station. Since January 2010, there has been deterioration in the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip since the Hamas regime is unwilling to purchase the fuel to run the Gaza City power station.
Throughout 2009, Israel transferred 41 trucks of equipment for the maintenance of Gaza’s electricity grid.
Israel facilitates the transfer of fuel through the border, and maintains that the diversion of fuel from domestic power generators to other uses is wholly a Hamas decision. Over 133 million liters of fuel entered Gaza from Israel over the last 18 months.
Sewage: During the first quarter of 2010, the UN coordinated with Israel the transfer of equipment for UNWRA to upgrade the sewage pumping station. In 2009, 127 trucks containing more than 3,000 tons of hypochlorite entered the Gaza Strip for water purification purposes. Moreover, 48 trucks of equipment for improving the sanitation infrastructure led to a substantial reduction in the Beit Lahya facility's waste levels.
Economy: Primary exports from Gaza are cut flowers and citrus, with trade partners being Israel, Egypt and the West Bank. During 2009, 7.5 million tons of flowers and 54 tons of strawberries were exported from Gaza with Israeli cooperation.
In 2009, 1.1 billion shekels (about $250 million) was transferred to the Gaza Strip for the ongoing activity of international organizations and to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority workers.
Footnotes
[1] “Humanitarian assistance to Gaza during the period of calm (June 19 - Dec 18, 2008),” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 26, 2008, http://tiny.cc/j6plg; “Humanitarian assistance to Gaza from 27 Feb 2008 escalation up to 19 June calm understanding,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, June 18, 2008, http://tiny.cc/01r1m; “Summary of Gaza humanitarian activity in 2009 presented to international organizations,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 15, 2010, http://tiny.cc/0c7ef
[2] “Increased humanitarian aid to Gaza after IDF operation,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 8, 2010, http://tiny.cc/3gtug
Once upon a time we were brothers, So were our mothers and fathers. So were our grandfathers, grandmothers. Can't we have something that gathers?
Why should hate spread more then love? Why to shoot down the peaceful dove? Why to use the killing bloody sword Instead a meaningful peaceful loving word?
Can't we join our forces to unite? Can’t we spread love instead to fight? Our common to bloom and prosper, The hate will eliminate and defer.
Let our bright sun to rise and shine, Salute peace to end the suffering time. Build for our kids playing yards And not bloody gloomy graveyards.
Let's then be sisters and brothers, Even our colors differs the others. Let our hands strongly embrace and bundle, Then on earth peace will role and handle.
