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October 23 The Temperature's Rising... There's a sharav wind blowing and here in Jerusalem, it's 34 degrees Celsius in the shade, but that's not the reason I've got smoke blowing out of my ears. For that you can thank Judge Richard Goldstone and his anti-Israel diatribe, otherwise known as "The Goldstone Report". Let's take a look at the mandate given by the UN to Goldstone's so-called "fact-finding mission". According to the official website of the UN Human Rights Council, the Commission was set up in order “to investigate all violations of international human rights
law and international humanitarian law that might have been committed
at any time in the context of the military operations that were
conducted in Gaza during the period from 27 December 2008 and 18
January 2009, whether before, during or after.” Pay attention to the words in italics, I shall be returning to them later. The HRC's official website further informs us that the appointment of the mission followed the adoption on 12 January 2009 of Resolution S-9/1 by the United Nations Human Rights Council at the end of its 9th Special Session. Let us therefore examine Resolution S-9/1. It's easy enough to do, just follow the link on the website. We thus discover that the subject of the resolution (proposed by the Arab, African and Islamic Bloc) is none other than "The grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly due to the recent Israeli military attacks against the occupied Gaza Strip". At the end of the resolution, the UN Human Rights Council " Decides to dispatch an urgent, independent international fact-finding mission, to be appointed by the President of the Council, to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the occupying Power, Israel, against the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, due to the current aggression, and calls upon Israel not to obstruct the process of investigation and to fully cooperate with the mission". We see, therefore, that the "fact-finding" commission set out with the intention of finding Israel guilty. Its mandate was to investigate violations of international human rights law by Israel, and by Israel alone, with no mention of the violations of human rights law carried out by the Hamas terrorists who used schools, hospitals and UN buildings as launch sites for their Kassam rockets, thus turning "Palestinian" civilians into human shields (a war crime, under international law) in order to fire missiles at Israeli civilian targets (another war crime, under international law). And while we're on the subject - what's all this about "the occupied Gaza Strip"? Occupied by who? Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip in August 2005!!! So, who are the "occupiers" referred to in the Resolution? The only non-Palestinians there (I use the word "Palestinians" merely for the sake of convenience, as there is, in fact, no such nation and never has been) were the UN workers! Now let's take a look at the members of Judge Goldstone's "Fact" Finding Mission. Professor Christine Chinkin was one of the signatories to a letter published in the Sunday Times on January 11, 2009, condemning Israel and accusing her of war crimes. Two months later, she was drafted to the so-called "independent fact-finding mission". In any normal court of law, a judge who had voiced an opinion, in advance of the trial, as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant, would be expected to recuse him/herself. Prof. Chinkin, however, hadn't the integrity to do so. Nor had Judge Goldstone, as head of the mission, the integrity to disqualify her, or to refuse to lend his name to a "fact" finding mission in which at least one of the members had already judged the case! Ms. Hina Jilani is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, was one of the sponsors of the biased and one-sided resolution S-9/1. Now, while, admittedly, Ms. Jilani has not always seen eye to eye with the Pakistani Government, a representative from one of the countries which sponsored such a one-sided resolution (and that, on behalf of the Islamic Conference) is hardly a guarantee that justice will be done. I was always taught that "Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done." Furthermore, as early as October 11, 2005, Ms. Hini had already accused Israel of "depriving Palestinians of basic rights." Thus she too had already judged Israel guilty. Next, we come to Col. Desmond Travers, who together with Richard Goldstone himself had, as early as March 16, 2009, signed an open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, stating that gross violations of international law had been committed (albeit by both sides). Thus we see that his mind was already made up that Israel had committed "gross violations of international law". In fact, the same can be said - and for the same reasons - about the Commission leader, Richard Goldstone, himself. Furthermore, Goldstone has since accused Israel of not being interested at all in peace talks. In short, he is now revealing his true colours. It is therefore painfully obvious that there was not one truly objective and unbiased member of the "Fact Finding Mission", not a single one of whom it could be said that he or she undertook the job with an open mind. Let us now examine the breakdown of votes in favour of, or opposing, the decision of the UN Human Rights Council to adopt the findings of the Mission: 25 in favour, 6 against, 11 abstentions, 2 delegations were absent and 2 more, Britain and France, refused to participate in the vote. (I would call that an abstention, but apparently, there is a difference. I'm not sure what it is though.) Of the 25 in favour of adopting the Report, 11 were Arab or Muslim countries, including the Palestinian Authority. I'm not sure how they got the right to vote, inasmuch as they are not a state, but even if they were - how come they get to vote on a subject in which they are a side to the conflict, while Israel does not??? Those countries supporting adoption of the Report included such beacons of human rights as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, Cuba, Nigeria and Russia. The latter was the only European country (if you can call her that) to support the adoption of the Report. Even the Ukraine voted against (I am cynical enough to wonder if this was maybe because Russia voted in favour) - in company with Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia and, of course, the United States. So now, the Goldstone Report is to go before the Security Council of the United Nations, with the recommendation of the HRC that they too adopt the Report. Of course, in the Security Council, the US has a veto. I demand that they use it! Furthermore, I call upon France and Britain to add their own vetoes, Britain especially, in light of the declaration of Col. Richard Kemp CBE, former Commander of the British forces in Afghanistan, holder of the Queen's Commendation for Bravery, a man who has served in Northern Ireland and in Bosnia, who stated, at the 12th Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council last Friday, October 16th: "Mr. President, based on my knowledge and experience, I can say this: During Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defence Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare." Israel did all this, while facing an enemy that deliberately positioned its military capability behind the human shield of the civilian population. In short, Israel had no choice. So, to Britain and to France, and to all those other countries who sat on the fence and abstained or, like the Cheshire Cat, disappeared and were absent at the moment of truth, I say this: If and when this iniquitous and biased Report comes before the UN Security Council, reject it. For once, do what is right, not what is expedient. Those of you who have been regular followers of this blog will observe that Col. Kemp is saying what I have held all along. But for those of you who may think that as an Israeli, I cannot be objective, I will leave you with Col. Kemp's own words. Remember them, for they are no more than the truth. During Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli Defence Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.  Download the latest version of Flash to view this content October 10 How the Norwegian Parliament Debased a Once-Noble PrizeWhen I heard the news that the 2009 Nobel Peace prize was to be awarded to US President Barack Hussein Obama, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. When it became clear I was not, I had to look at the calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1st. No, it really was October 10th.
After finally coming to terms with the fact that I was not in the realm of Morpheus, nor was it April Fools' Day, I was uncertain whether to laugh or cry. Alfred Nobel must be turning in his grave! By the terms of his will, the Peace Prize is to be awarded to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." Does anyone seriously believe that Obama meets this requirement???
What has the man achieved other than shuttling around the world posing for the cameras at international conferences which have failed to achieve anything whatsoever, calling for "meaningful dialogue" (whatever that may be)?
Has he brought peace to even one area of conflict? Has he had even the smallest modicum of success in persuading the Iranians to abandon their nuclear programme?
On second thoughts - maybe we should just be grateful the woolly-headed Norwegian Nobel Committee didn't decide to award the prize to that noted humanitarian and lover of peace, Mahmoud Ahmedinajad. Oh well, there's always next year... October 08 Of Blood and Thunder and Ribosomes and MusicThose of you used to my political polemics are probably asking yourself where I have disappeared to over the last few weeks. After all, it isn't as if there hasn't been sufficient to arouse my ire lately, what with the vicious blood libel in the Swedish newspapers last month accusing Israeli soldiers of murdering Palestinians in order to sell their bodily organs on the black market, down to the latest bestselling work of fiction otherwise known as "The Goldstone Report", which accuses Israel of committing the most heinous war crimes during Operation Cast Lead, whilst ignoring the constant shelling of Israeli towns and villages by Hamas which led up to it, as well as the fact that the Hamas criminals deliberately sited their missile-launchers in civilian areas, in schools and hospitals and even in UN buildings (with or without the cooperation of the UN workers I shall leave you to judge for yourselves). By the way, the shelling of Israeli towns and villages from Gaza is still continuing and hasn't ceased for a moment since the end of Operation Cast Lead. Did any of you know that? Has the BBC, Sky News or CNN mentioned it?
This week, we (the Jewish world, that is) are celebrating Succot (Tabernacles). Succot, which, besides being a harvest festival, also commemorates the 40 years during which the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, until Joshua led them over the River Jordan and into the Promised Land, is one of the three traditional Festivals of Pilgrimage, during which Jews make the ascent to Jerusalem. In ancient times, when the Temple still stood, the pilgrimage would culminate in the offering of sacrifices in the Temple. In modern times, the Temple Mount being the site of the Dome of the Rock (sometimes mistakenly called the Mosque of Omar) and of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, it is customary to visit the Western (Wailing) Wall and this year, as every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visited the Old City of Jerusalem and the Wall. However, for some people, Muslim fanatics such as Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, leader of the Northern Section of the Islamic Movement in Israel, this was an opportunity to stir up religious fanaticism and hatred. By means of the cynical abuse of Israeli democracy, manipulation of the masses and the repetition of the totally baseless charge that "Jewish settlers are coming to attack Al-Aqsa", this Hamas-funded demagogue (an Israeli citizen, who enjoys full legal, political. civil and religious rights in the Jewish State) has managed to stir up weeks of rioting in the Old City and in Arab neighbourhoods in Jerusalem (and not only in Jerusalem). In answer to his call, masked Arab youths have, since the beginning of the High Holy Days, been attacking Israeli security forces and civilians, hurling rocks from the Temple Mount onto worshippers at the Western Wall below, torching public property and, in general, engaging in acts of public disorder (that's the official definition - I would call this "Acts of War").
And yet, not all the news has been bad. The day before yesterday (Tuesday), I was visiting a haredi (ultra orthodox) family in the orthodox neighbourhood of Sanhedria. We were sitting in their beautifully decorated succah when suddenly, there was the sound of drumming on the roof. It was raining - no, it was pouring! We had to run for cover whilst the sons of the family rushed to unroll protective plastic sheeting to cover the roof and keep out the rain, otherwise all the lovely decorations would have been spoiled. It was a short, sharp cloudburst which didn't even affect all of Jerusalem's neighbourhoods, but together with the rainfall in the north of the country, it was yet another hopeful sign that the run of dry years has ended.
A propos decorations, I would strongly advise those assimilated Western Jews who like to have "Chanucah bushes" (that is to say, thinly disguised Christmas trees) on the pretext that it is unfair to deprive their children of the opportunity to decorate the tree like their Christian friends and neighbours, to go build a succah at Succot and decorate that instead. We have plenty of beautiful and enjoyable traditions of our own, without having to imitate anyone else's. What's more - you get to sit and eat and even sleep in the succah for a whole week.
Then yesterday, came the announcement that the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences had decided to award the Nobel Prize for Chemistry to three scientists for their work on ribosomes. One of the three is Professor Ada Yonath of the Weizmann Institute - the first Israeli woman to win a Nobel Prize and one far more worthy of fame than, say, the draft-dodger Bar Rafaeli, whose "contribution to humanity" seems to consist of posing in skimpy swimwear on the covers of such magazines as Sports Illustrated and whose main claim to celebrity status lies in having dated Leonardo diCaprio!
And finally, to my own personal little triumph! Twice a year, at Shavuot and at Succot, the Israeli Arab village of Abu Ghosh is host to the Abu Ghosh Vocal Music Festival. My choir, the Jerusalem Oratorio Chamber Choir, has performed there more than once and we appeared there yesterday in a programme of Peruvian music from the Baroque era, together with the Phoenix Early Music Ensemble, conducted by Dr Myrna Herzog. Myrna and the Phoenix Ensemble appeared with us in the concerts we did with David Shemer's Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra back in June this year (see previous blog). Appearing with us also were four extremely talented young soloists, (two sopranos, a counter-tenor and a baritone) at the start of their professional careers, all but one of whom have appeared with us before . However, one of the pieces performed, a Magnificat by Tomás de Torrejón y Velasco, for 15 voices, required not only a double choir but four soprano soloists. Thus it chanced that two soloists had to come from the ranks of the choir - and yes! Yours truly was one of them. I have to tell you, it wasn't easy because the line I was assigned was that of second soprano, a line more suited to a mezzo soprano, and the tessitura was low for me - the more so, because the instruments were tuned to Baroque pitch which is lower than modern pitch. Still, it was great to have an opportunity, at last, to prove myself. And especially so because my father, one of my sisters and my brother, who is here visiting from England, were all in the audience. I made sure my father brought his video camera and as soon as I can, I hope to post a video, at least of the Magnificat, on YouTube.
Best of all, of course, is the very fact that my brother is here, that we could all eat together in our very own succah, and that tomorrow evening, we will all be together again when we celebrate Simchat Torah. I hope also that we shall all go to synagogue together the following day. As my father always says: "The family that prays together, stays together".
September 27 Yom KippurJust a short blog this time, to wish all Beit Yisrael an easy fast. May you be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life.
צום קל וגמר חתימה טובה September 18 From One Year to the NextThis week, the last week of the year 5769 by the Jewish calendar, began well - or so it seemed. On Sunday morning, it rained. Everyone hoped that this would prove to be a sign of things to come, that the drought which has plagued us for the past three years and lowered the water level of the Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) to below danger level, had finally come to an end and that a year of abundant rainfall was in store for us. By Sunday afternoon, however, it became clear that in fact, the angels in heaven were weeping, in the knowledge of what was yet to come. An Israel Air Force F-16 jet crashed while on a training exercise and its pilot was killed. Worse news was to follow. The pilot was none other than Assaf Ramon, son of Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut, killed in the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy six and a half years ago. Just 21 years old, only three months ago he had completed what is possibly the toughest and most prestigious course in the Israel Defence Forces, the pilots' training course, top of his class. I heard the news later on Sunday afternoon. I got back from court to my office and was bitching about some stupid little thing (I can't even remember what it was now), when one of my colleagues came in with the news and shut me up cold. I started to cry. All I could think - all I could say - was: How could G-d be so cruel? I can only imagine what his mother, Rona, Ilan's widow, must be going through. Can I imagine? Can any of us, who has not been through it? Alas, so many Israeli mothers (and fathers, sisters, brothers) have been through it. It is a tragic ending to the year.
Will this coming year be any better? Have I done anything, however small, however seemingly insignificant, to make it any better? I do know that the resolution I made last year, to guard my tongue from saying thoughtless hurtful things, has been too often broken. That is the fate of New Year's resolutions, it seems. How many of us can truly say we have kept ours? Every year, we start out with high hopes of doing better this year, only to fail - if not sooner then later. And yet, throughout the month of Ellul, which precedes the High Holy Days, Jews all over the world return to the synagogues to recite the selichot prayers, hoping desperately to make up for the year's backsliding. I read an article recently in which it was explained that we are like acrobats, crossing the chasm between two high points, on a very narrow tightrope. At first, when we are still near the starting point, the rope is high, but as we progress, and move away from the high point at which we started, the rope begins to sag until, halfway across, it is at its lowest point, nearest to the ground. But then, as the tightrope walker draws nearer to his destination, he finds himself climbing again, he makes one last supreme effort - and he has made it. So it is with us. We start out on Rosh Hashana with high hopes, bursting with good resolutions, but as the year wears on, we weaken, our resolution begins to falter until we reach our lowest point. But then we remember that in a few short months, it will once again be Rosh Hashana and we will again be judged. We try to pull ourselves together, to climb back to that high point on which we stood at the end of last Rosh Hashana, full of hope and determined to do better. We see the end of the tightrope ahead of us - so near and yet so far. We make that last desperate effort and somehow, we have made it to the finishing line. We have another chance.
We say in Hebrew כלתה שנה וקללותיה, תחל שנה וברכותיה - A year and its curses have passed, a year and its blessings will start.
May this be His will.
לשנה טובה תיכתינו ותיחתימו
May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.
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Thanks for visiting my space. Please let me know what you think of it. Shimona
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