'Palestinians' threaten members of UNESCO World Heritage Committee over Jerusalem vote
It's not the first time that the 'Palestinians' have
threatened seemingly stronger countries to kotow them to do their bidding. But it's certainly one of the most blatant instances. There's a vote of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee coming up tomorrow that would once again deny the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount. And in light of comments about last week's vote made by Mexico, Brazil and Italy (none of which have a vote tomorrow), the 'Palestinian Authority' is
making sure with threats that UNESCO's World Heritage Committee toes the line.
The resolution, which refers to the Temple Mount solely by its Muslim
name of Al-Haram Al Sharif, is expected to be approved by the committee
at its 40th session.
But in light of public statements on such resolutions made last
week by Italy, Mexico and Brazil, the Palestinians want the resolution
to pass by consensus, with the full support of all 21 member states of
the World Heritage Committee (WHC).
On Monday, they sent a letter to committee members asking them to submit their positions on the resolution by noon Tuesday.
“Otherwise,
the delegation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the delegation of
Palestine would and according to the rules of procedure be obliged to
consider other options,” they stated.
Without pledges of a
consensus approval, the Palestinians and Jordanians plan to resubmit a
text with language that was even more problematic to Israel, explained
Israel’s Ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Shama-Hacohen.
Wednesday’s
vote, had initially been scheduled to take place in Istanbul in July,
but the failed coup in Turkey cut that session short.
At the
time, the Palestinians and the Jordanians had worked out a consensus
text which they understood had the support of the European Union and the
WHC.
In their letter, they reminded WHC members of this
agreement and said, “At the beginning of the current WHC40 session, we
learned that a few member states are still hesitant whether they can
commit to our agreement in Istanbul or not.”
The Jordanians and the Palestinians said that they understood this “hesitance as a retreat from the consensual language.”
Shama-Hacohen said in response that “the Palestinians and the Arab states understand that after Mexico and Italy there might be more unpleasant surprises."
“They
are broadcasting a message that says don’t abandon us or we’ll burn the
house down with extremist anti-Israel resolutions,” said Shama-Hacohen.
He added that such resolutions would only cause tremendous damage to
UNESCO, under whose umbrella the WHC operates.
Just so totally shocked to hear UNESCO approves living a lie.
Labels: Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Temple Mount, UNESCO
Brazil: No longer safe for Jews?
JPost is reporting this morning that Jews are
fleeing Brazil for Israel.
Immigration to Israel, or aliyah, from Brazil has more than doubled in
the past four years, from 191 in 2011 to over 400 so far this year. The
average growth in aliyah for all of Latin America in the same period was
just 7 percent. Though it has approximately half the Jewish population
of neighboring Argentina, Brazil has sent more immigrants to Israel for
two years running. An estimated 120,000 Jews live in Brazil.
“They
seek a better future,” said Gladis Berezowsky, 58, who helps run Beit
Brasil, a nongovernmental organization based in Israel established in
2014 to assist Brazilians seeking to move to Israel.
But unlike France, for example, the causes of Brazilian aliya don't seem to relate specifically to anti-Semitism. In other contexts, Brazilian Jews might be referred to as 'economic refugees.'
Brazil, a nation of 200 million, is facing its steepest recession in a
quarter century, with the economy expected to shrink by almost 2 percent
this year – down from more than 7 percent GDP growth in 2010. The
Brazilian real has shrunk 138 percent compared to the American dollar in
the past five years and the inflation rate has edged up to 10 percent.
The country is also one of the bloodiest on earth, with more than 58,000 Brazilians dying a violent death in 2014.
“More
people are killed every year in Brazil through intentional violence
than anywhere else on the planet, including most of the world’s war
zones combined,” said Robert Muggah, a research director of a Rio-based
think tank that studies the intersection between violence and the drug
trade.
“The absurd violence in Rio was postponing our plans to
have children,” said Silvia Brafman, 33, who moved from Brazil’s
second-largest city to Haifa in late October with her husband. “The high
unemployment rate and lack of opportunities were the second reason to
head for Israel. The current stabbing wave here does not scare us at
all. What really frightens me most is the language, which can delay my
entering the job market.”
Whatever is motivating Brazilian Jews to come here, we are happy to have them. Welcome home.
Labels: aliya, Brazil
But not 'Palestine'?
Four Dutch NGO's - including the local branch of Oxfam - are
laying off significant portions of their staff. But note where their activities are being cut back: In countries like Sudan and Rwanda where such activities are critical. Note where they're not being cut back: In 'Palestine' or 'Palestinian territories' where they're more political advocacy than humanitarian (Hat Tip:
Mike P).
Minister Lilianne Ploumen of Foreign Trade and Development
Cooperation announced the cuts earlier this year. From January 1st 2016
the development aid organizations will be losing more than 80 percent of
their government subsidy, going from about 50 million euros per year to
between 7 and 15 million euros per year.
The Minister wants to limit subsidies to initiatives that helps
people in third world countries defend their rights – something she
calls “lobbying and advocacy”. She therefore largely stopped the subsidy
for normal development, such as helping small farmers in Africa break
into the local market. She called the cuts “painful”. But according to
Ploumen, the world has changed and the importance of official
development funds for the development of a country is decreasing. “It is
also no longer the only funding stream”, she said when she presented
the new policy, according to the Volkskrant. “Businesses now contribute
in many ways. The concept of development aid will eventually disappear.”
This translates into layoffs for the four large development aid
organizations. Hivos will be laying off 50 of its 145 employees at the
Dutch office, Oxfam Novib will be laying off about 75 of its 325,
Cordaid 69 of its 250 and Icco will lose 175 of its 350 employees. The
organizations will also stop funding to projects all over the world next
year. Hivos will be withdrawing support from, among others, a project
to stop female genital mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan – a project that is
internationally regarded as successful. Icco is withdrawing from South
Africa, Colombia, Peru and Brazil. Oxfam Novib is stopping all
initiatives in Bangladesh, Rwanda, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
According to the four development aid organizations, focusing only on
lobbying and advocacy is a risky strategy. “You only have legitimacy to
lobby and advocate for something if you’re already active in the
place”, Marinus Verweij, director of Icco, said to the Volkskrant.
“Otherwise it is not credible.”
Priorities, man, priorities!
Labels: Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, humanitarian aid, Iraqi Kurds, NGO funding, NGO's, Oxfam, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Zimbabwe
Great news: Iranian influence in Latin America 'growing'
It's been nearly six years since the picture above was taken, and Adam Kredo reports that
it's only gotten worse.
Iran’s growing influence in the region—and its effort to exert
influence over governments there—has fostered pressing security concerns
as the Iranians inch closer to the United States’ southern border,
according to these U.S. officials and Latin American leaders, who met
for several days this week at a summit organized by the Israel Allies
Foundation (IAF).
“It is troubling in some of the briefings we get, particularly on the
classified side, to see Iranian influence in Latin America,” Rep. Ron
DeSantis (R., Fla.), a member of the House Committee of Foreign Affairs,
told the Washington Free Beacon in an interview. “A lot of these [Latin American officials] share the concern.”
“It’s a security risk for all of us,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis was one of several members of Congress and 20 Latin American
lawmakers from 14 different countries who met during the IAF summit,
which began on Sunday and ran until Tuesday morning.
Iran is becoming increasingly open about its presence in Latin
America and providing its officials with passports from Venezuela and
other countries, giving them free rein to travel throughout South
America.
Iran has forged close ties with countries such as Argentina, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, among others.
Luis Heber, a member of the Uruguayan senate, said that Iranian
agents—who some suspect are members of the country’s Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC)—have been spotted in his country holding Venezuelan
passports.
Officials have determined that there is “a clear penetration of Iran
in our country,” Heber said during remarks Sunday before U.S. lawmakers
and other Latin American officials.
“We’ve also seen Venezuelan passports in the hands of Iranians,” he
revealed. “The penetration of Venezuela by Iran is clear. There is
overwhelming information on this.”
...
“The threat level has increased, it’s more open,” said Rep. Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R., Fla.), vice-chair of the House’s Subcommittee on the
Western Hemisphere.
“The Iranian threat comes not from espionage as much, but from
influencing the ideology of their host country,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
“That’s what they’re aiming for and penetrating [these countries] so
they have a presence in Latin America right at the foothold of the U.S.”
Iran establishes consulates in these countries and then uses them as a
base to conduct espionage and other covert activities, Ros-Lehtinen
said.
“How is it they have Iranian consulates in Latin America?” she asked.
“It’s ridiculous to think all of sudden Latin Americans want to travel
to Iran. They’re not using it to issue their visas. Something is
happening that Iran is penetrating the Western Hemisphere and it’s not
for cultural exchanges or approval of travel docs.”
“This makes no sense … other than espionage, subterfuge, and illicit activities,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
This activity has intensified of late, several officials said.
This is what happens when the World's only superpower decides it doesn't want to be a superpower anymore.
Shabbat Shalom everyone.
Labels: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Iran, Iranian nuclear threat, Latin America, Peru, Venezuela
Argentinean soccer star Lionel Messi wears kidnapped Israeli teens at world cup
I don't think this is a photoshop (although some of the commenters - in French - seem to think that it is).
Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi, who plays for Spain, wore
this shirt at the World Cup tournament in Brazil. Or did he?
Labels: Brazil, kidnapping, Palestinian terrorism, soccer, Spain, World Cup
No wonder Honduras opposes US interests
Last week, I blogged an article that claimed that the reason why
Honduran President Porfrio Lobo has decided to support 'Palestinian statehood' at the UN last month has more to do with the Honduran business community than it has to do with the Obama administration's support for former President Manuel Zelaya, a protege of Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Here's
the other side of the story.
But the real question is why has President Lobo decided to switch positions. His new stand on the issue came just hours after he met with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki and appears to take into account the high potential for Arab investment and oil shipments and, quite likely, Honduras’ own large Palestinian population which is heavily represented in the merchant class.
But there is surely more to it than that. There can be no doubt that President Lobo, smarting from what he no doubt considers Washington’s shabby treatment, also made his declaration as a shot across the America’s bow.
The White House’s failure to support Honduras, even after the certifiably free and fair 2009 elections, has pushed a once close friend away. President Lobo clearly feels he must take a position in line with other Latin American countries skeptical if not overtly hostile to the U.S. like Brazil, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela.
If the United States wants to see more positive actions in Honduras it must rebuild relations with Tegucigalpa. For starters, the Obama Administration can undo the punitive measures it took in the wake of former President Zelaya’s removal from office which are still in effect despite the November 2009 democratic elections. These include restoring travel visas for Honduras's Supreme Court judges, members of Congress and businesspersons as well as a restoration of all aspects of the U.S. foreign aid that was suspended.
Make no mistake. For the United States, negative trends throughout Latin America are a result of a vacuum created by a pronounced lack of American will. By surrendering a leading role in the Organization of American States (OAS) to Brazil, Washington has, in effect, allowed a new sun to burn brightly over Central and South America. We should not be surprised that the planets there are orbiting it.
Someone ought to let House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen know about this. As I understand it, Latin America is an area of particular concern to her. This kind of bullheaded foreign policy, which is so typical of the Obama administration, does no one any good. Zelaya is (thankfully) not returning to power.
Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Brazil, Honduras, Hugo Chavez, Manuel Zelaya, Organization of American States, Porfrio Lobo.
Israel supplying UAV's to Brazil
It's been a little over a month since
Brazil recognized the non-existent state of 'Palestine.' Now, Brazil is to be rewarded by being allowed to purchase top of the line
Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Elbit Systems’ Brazilian subsidiary Aeroeletrônica Ltda. (AEL) has won a contract to supply additional Hermes 450 unmanned aerial systems to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The contract follows one year Brazilian operation of two Hermes 450 unmanned aircraft and one ground station under lease for one year.
Through this evaluation phase the Brazilian Air Force and Navy were defining their operational requirements for unmanned vehicles. It is assumed that the current order will comprise two additional systems fielding operational capabilities with the Air Force, bringing the total systems operated by the Brazilian forces to three. Further units are expected to be added in the future, as the FAB expands the services provided by unmanned systems. According to Elbit Systems, the project is a part of the Brazilian Air Forces’ objective to establish independent UAS capabilities, allowing for self-reliant operation and development of UAS in Brazil.
Are we that desperate for money that we have to prostitute ourselves in front of third-rate powers to provide them with top of the line military equipment? If these were software to operate restaurant payments systems or local telephone operations, I could understand. But why are we selling our best military equipment to countries that are at best indifferent to our continued existence? How long will it take until someone turns this equipment against us?
Remember when the US wouldn't allow us to sell military equipment to China? Why do we continue to sell to all comers?
Labels: Brazil, Elbit Systems, Hermes 450, Palestine, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
What could go wrong?
In light of the Wikileaks disclosures, a group of countries, led by Brazil, is pushing for the
United Nations to regulate the internet (Hat Tip:
Instapundit).
At a meeting in New York on Wednesday, representatives from Brazil called for an international body made up of Government representatives that would attempt to create global standards for policing the internet - specifically in reaction to challenges such as WikiLeaks.
The Brazilian delegate stressed, however, that this should not be seen as a call for a "takeover" of the internet.
India, South Africa, China and Saudi Arabia appeared to favour a new possible over-arching inter-government body.
What could go wrong?
Labels: Brazil, internet regulation, United Nations, Wikileaks
Mofaz is too sanguine about a unilateral declaration of statehood
Kadima number 2 Shaul Mofaz was recently named the chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Here, he comments on the recent spate of recognitions of the imaginary state of 'Palestine' by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
Chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee MK Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) said that "The Palestinian leadership understands that a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state is dangerous".
In his first statements since he was appointed to the role of chairman of the committee, Mofaz addressed the announcements made by Brazil and Argentina in which they recognize an independent Palestinian state and said that "these are expressions of sympathy from a number of countries, and no more than that. The difference between these statements and UN recognition is immeasurable."
The recognition of 'Palestine' by Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay is a stepping stone on the way to UN recognition. The 'Palestinians' are well aware of that. Countries halfway around the world don't just recognize imaginary countries of their own initiative. Those sorts of moves are negotiated and promoted for months in advance, and were carried out at the request of and in coordination with the 'Palestinians.'
Mofaz is far too sanguine.
Labels: Argentina, Brazil, Shaul Mofaz, unilateral declaration of statehood, Uruguay
Brazil recognizes non-existent state
In a parting shot, as he prepares to leave office, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sent a letter to Abu Bluff on Wednesday, declaring that Brazil recognizes the imaginary state of '
Palestine.'
Brazil says it has recognized the state of Palestine based on borders at the time of Israel's 1967 conquest of the West Bank.
The Foreign Ministry says the recognition is in response to a request made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last month to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Silva sent a letter to Abbas on Dec. 1, saying Brazil recognizes Palestine and hopes that the recognition will help lead to states of Israel and Palestine "that will coexist peacefully and in security."
The foreign ministry says that the recognition is "in line with Brazil's historic willingness to contribute to peace between Israel and Palestine."
The announcement was posted Friday on the Foreign Ministry's website.
Brazil's action
took the United States by surprise.
"The move surprised us," a U.S. Latin American expert said Friday on condition of anonymity. "What we had heard is that the Brazilians were looking at this and talking to some people in the region about it."
It was his understanding, he added, that the Israelis had only been told of the Brazilian decision on Thursday night, but "even then, it wasn't clear that the letter made a firm commitment" to recognize Palestine. "Now it is."
The Israelis learned of the Brazilian decision Thursday, an Israeli official confirmed.
Brazil was the last of the so-called BRIC nations [Brazil, Russia, India, China] to recognize Palestine. More than 100 countries, including almost all the African and Arab ones, had recognized it, "so it was the natural thing to do," a Brazilian official explained to POLITICO.
Da Silva visited Israel and the 'Palestinian Authority' last March. During that trip, he visited Yasser Arafat's grave, but
refused to visit Theodore Herzl's grave.
Labels: Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Palestine
