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| MK Bezalel Smotrich at the Knesset, December 2016. Emil Salman |
Bezalel Smotrich is, even in Zionist
or Israeli terms, a bigot, but in Israel being an anti-Arab bigot is no great
matter. The fact that he is also a Jewish
Nazi is of no relevance. In July last
year, the Knesset passed legislation, The Expulsion Law [see After Stormy Debate, Knesset
Approves Law Allowing Ouster of Lawmakers] which allowed for the expulsion
of members who are guilty of incitement to racism. However although the legislation does not say
so, it is clearly understood that the law only applies to Arabs. That is also understandable – Israel is after
all a Jewish state.
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| Smotrich’s beast parade |
As the article below explains, Bezalel Smotrich, a member of the
Habayit HaYehudi (Jewish Home) party, which is a member of the governing
coalition, has a long record. From
organising a ‘beast
parade’ of donkeys and other animals, as a parody of Jerusalem’s Gay Pride
demonstration to supporting the present practice in Israeli hospitals that Jewish
women have the right to a maternity ward that doesn’t contain Arabs.’ ‘Israeli
maternity wards segregate Jewish, Arab mothers’
Habayit HaYehudi (Jewish Home) party, which is a member of the governing
coalition, has a long record. From
organising a ‘beast
parade’ of donkeys and other animals, as a parody of Jerusalem’s Gay Pride
demonstration to supporting the present practice in Israeli hospitals that Jewish
women have the right to a maternity ward that doesn’t contain Arabs.’ ‘Israeli
maternity wards segregate Jewish, Arab mothers’
Of course you have to understand that his wife ‘“is truly no racist, but after
giving birth she wants to rest rather than have a hafla” — a mass feast
often accompanied by music and dancing —
“like the Arabs have after their births.” He went on to say that “It’s natural that my
wife wouldn’t want to lie down [in a bed] next to a woman who just gave birth
to a baby who might want to murder her baby twenty years from now.” adding that “Arabs are
my enemies and that’s why I don’t enjoy being next to them.”
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| Smotrich at the illegal Amona outpost |
Smotrich’s non-racist wife (because Zionists
have a different definition of racism from most normal human beings) ‘Revital,
later told Channel 10 that she had “kicked
an Arab obstetrician out of the [delivery] room. I want Jewish hands to touch
my baby, and I wasn’t comfortable lying in the same room with an Arab woman.”
Lawmaker
backs segregated Jewish, Arab maternity wards
Fortunately Bezalel’s remarks are
not according to Israel’s anti-racism laws racist because all discrimination on
the grounds of religion is automatically not racist! Except when it comes to Arabs.
not according to Israel’s anti-racism laws racist because all discrimination on
the grounds of religion is automatically not racist! Except when it comes to Arabs.
However Smotrich has outdone
himself with his latest remarks calling for the lessons of Joshua (the wiping
out of the inhabitants of Jericho, yea even including their children) to be applied
to the Palestinians of the West Bank.
However, as in the case of his aforementioned remarks, there is nothing
illegal about them, even though he is advocating what the Nazis did to the Jews
because they too are based on religion.
himself with his latest remarks calling for the lessons of Joshua (the wiping
out of the inhabitants of Jericho, yea even including their children) to be applied
to the Palestinians of the West Bank.
However, as in the case of his aforementioned remarks, there is nothing
illegal about them, even though he is advocating what the Nazis did to the Jews
because they too are based on religion.
Of course there are some people
in Britain, not least the Labour Party, who believe that any
in Britain, not least the Labour Party, who believe that any
comparisons
between Israel, Zionism and the Nazis is anti-Semitic. Indeed the new International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance definition
of anti-Semitism defines comparisons between Israel and the Nazis as anti-Semitic.
between Israel, Zionism and the Nazis is anti-Semitic. Indeed the new International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance definition
of anti-Semitism defines comparisons between Israel and the Nazis as anti-Semitic.
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| The Zionists beginning with Herzl have been hostile to Armenian attempts to remember their holocaust |
Shami Chakrabarti, in her Report
on Racism and Anti-Semitism demonstrated that she didn’t have a clue as to why
people compare Israel’s actions with the Nazis. Clue: Israel
bases its legitimacy on the Holocaust and accuses its opponents variously of anti-Semitism,
being Nazis, Kapos, traitors etc. despite the fact that Israel, as an
ethno-religious state bars an uncanny similarity to Nazi Germany prior to 1941.
on Racism and Anti-Semitism demonstrated that she didn’t have a clue as to why
people compare Israel’s actions with the Nazis. Clue: Israel
bases its legitimacy on the Holocaust and accuses its opponents variously of anti-Semitism,
being Nazis, Kapos, traitors etc. despite the fact that Israel, as an
ethno-religious state bars an uncanny similarity to Nazi Germany prior to 1941.
In day -to-day
political debate, it is always incendiary to compare the actions of Jewish people
or ins titutions anywhere in the world to
those of Hitler or the Nazis or to the perpetration of the Holocaust. Indeed such
remarks can only be intended to be incendiary rather than persuasive.
political debate, it is always incendiary to compare the actions of Jewish people
or ins titutions anywhere in the world to
those of Hitler or the Nazis or to the perpetration of the Holocaust. Indeed such
remarks can only be intended to be incendiary rather than persuasive.
According to Chakrabarti’s
idiotic recommendation as to what constitutes anti-Semitism and the IHRAA definition
of anti-Semitism, Israel’s Ha’aretz newspaper and Professor Blatman who wrote
the article are guilty of ‘anti-Semitism’.
idiotic recommendation as to what constitutes anti-Semitism and the IHRAA definition
of anti-Semitism, Israel’s Ha’aretz newspaper and Professor Blatman who wrote
the article are guilty of ‘anti-Semitism’.
Of course in the real world most people
will understand that advocating the genocide of an ethnic group or people is,
almost by definition, Nazi like and those who tolerate such racism, which is
what the Israeli government and the Labour Zionist opposition are equally
guilty of is complicity in Nazi-like behaviour
will understand that advocating the genocide of an ethnic group or people is,
almost by definition, Nazi like and those who tolerate such racism, which is
what the Israeli government and the Labour Zionist opposition are equally
guilty of is complicity in Nazi-like behaviour
Those who, like the Jewish Labour
Movement and Israel’s emissary in the Labour Party, Jeremy Newmark, cry ‘anti-Semitism’
whenever Israel is criticised, are guilty of complicity in the Nazi like
behaviour of the Bezalel Smotrichs of this world.
Movement and Israel’s emissary in the Labour Party, Jeremy Newmark, cry ‘anti-Semitism’
whenever Israel is criticised, are guilty of complicity in the Nazi like
behaviour of the Bezalel Smotrichs of this world.
Tony Greenstein
The Israeli
Lawmaker Heralding Genocide Against Palestinians
Lawmaker Heralding Genocide Against Palestinians
Deputy
Speaker Bezalel Smotrich’s admiration for the biblical genocidaire Joshua bin
Nun leads him to adopt values that resemble those of the German SS
Speaker Bezalel Smotrich’s admiration for the biblical genocidaire Joshua bin
Nun leads him to adopt values that resemble those of the German SS
Daniel
Blatman May 23, 2017 9:28 AM
Blatman May 23, 2017 9:28 AM
Tomer
Persico quoted remarks that MK Bezalel Smotrich (Habayit Hayehudi) made
recently at a conference of religious Zionists, where he presented his plan to
offer the Palestinians three options: leave the territories, continue to live
there with second-class status, or continue resisting, in which case “the
Israel Defense Forces will know what to do.” These are chilling words that are
liable to lead Israel into committing the horrific crime of genocide.
Persico quoted remarks that MK Bezalel Smotrich (Habayit Hayehudi) made
recently at a conference of religious Zionists, where he presented his plan to
offer the Palestinians three options: leave the territories, continue to live
there with second-class status, or continue resisting, in which case “the
Israel Defense Forces will know what to do.” These are chilling words that are
liable to lead Israel into committing the horrific crime of genocide.
It’s hard to
believe that an elected representative of a party in the governing coalition
could raise the option of genocide if the Palestinians don’t accept the terms
he’s willing to offer them: either emigration, or life under an apartheid
regime based on principles of Jewish law, which would be even worse than the
one that existed in South Africa. Smotrich, a deputy speaker of the Knesset, is
the most senior government figure to date to say unabashedly that the option of
genocide is on the table if the Palestinians don’t agree to our terms – and
it’s clear they won’t agree.
believe that an elected representative of a party in the governing coalition
could raise the option of genocide if the Palestinians don’t accept the terms
he’s willing to offer them: either emigration, or life under an apartheid
regime based on principles of Jewish law, which would be even worse than the
one that existed in South Africa. Smotrich, a deputy speaker of the Knesset, is
the most senior government figure to date to say unabashedly that the option of
genocide is on the table if the Palestinians don’t agree to our terms – and
it’s clear they won’t agree.
Smotrich
relies on the biblical Book of Joshua as his model. Researchers of genocide in
the ancient world have already determined that the Book of Joshua is an
important document for examining the characteristics of genocide in the ancient
world. Some of its components differed from the genocides of the 20th century,
but the Book of Joshua describes actions that were explicitly defined as
genocide in the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide. The convention defines anyone who commits such acts as
someone who committed crimes against humanity and must therefore be put on
trial.
relies on the biblical Book of Joshua as his model. Researchers of genocide in
the ancient world have already determined that the Book of Joshua is an
important document for examining the characteristics of genocide in the ancient
world. Some of its components differed from the genocides of the 20th century,
but the Book of Joshua describes actions that were explicitly defined as
genocide in the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide. The convention defines anyone who commits such acts as
someone who committed crimes against humanity and must therefore be put on
trial.
This is how
the Book of Joshua describes the conquest of the city of Ai (Joshua 8:24-29):
“And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the
inhabitants of Ai in the field, even in the wilderness wherein they pursued
them, and they were all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were
consumed, that all Israel returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the
sword. … So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation,
unto this day. And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until the eventide; and
at the going down of the sun Joshua commanded, and they took his carcass down
from the tree, and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised
thereon a great heap of stones, unto this day.”
the Book of Joshua describes the conquest of the city of Ai (Joshua 8:24-29):
“And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the
inhabitants of Ai in the field, even in the wilderness wherein they pursued
them, and they were all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were
consumed, that all Israel returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the
sword. … So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation,
unto this day. And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until the eventide; and
at the going down of the sun Joshua commanded, and they took his carcass down
from the tree, and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised
thereon a great heap of stones, unto this day.”
The 1995
massacre in Srebrenica, an atrocity slightly less terrible than the biblical
one, was defined as genocide by the United Nations. Article 2 of the genocide
convention states that “genocide means any of the following acts committed with
intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or
religious group.” These acts include “killing members of the group”; “causing
serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group”; “deliberately inflicting
on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part”; and “imposing measures intended to prevent
births within the group.”
massacre in Srebrenica, an atrocity slightly less terrible than the biblical
one, was defined as genocide by the United Nations. Article 2 of the genocide
convention states that “genocide means any of the following acts committed with
intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or
religious group.” These acts include “killing members of the group”; “causing
serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group”; “deliberately inflicting
on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction in whole or in part”; and “imposing measures intended to prevent
births within the group.”
Had the
conquest of Ai taken place today, Joshua bin Nun would have been brought to
court in handcuffs and tried on charges of genocide. And that’s Smotrich’s
model.
conquest of Ai taken place today, Joshua bin Nun would have been brought to
court in handcuffs and tried on charges of genocide. And that’s Smotrich’s
model.
Article 3 of
the convention states that punishable actions related to genocide include
genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, “direct and public incitement to commit
genocide” and “complicity in genocide.” It would be interesting to hear what an
expert in international law would say about Smotrich’s remarks.
the convention states that punishable actions related to genocide include
genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, “direct and public incitement to commit
genocide” and “complicity in genocide.” It would be interesting to hear what an
expert in international law would say about Smotrich’s remarks.
Smotrich’s
admiration for the biblical genocidaire Joshua bin Nun leads him to adopt
values that resemble those of the German SS. Naturally, he didn’t take the
trouble to make such comparisons, since someone who supports genocide doesn’t
try to understand the worldview of the genocidaires who preceded him.
admiration for the biblical genocidaire Joshua bin Nun leads him to adopt
values that resemble those of the German SS. Naturally, he didn’t take the
trouble to make such comparisons, since someone who supports genocide doesn’t
try to understand the worldview of the genocidaires who preceded him.
From God’s
mouth to Himmler’s ears
mouth to Himmler’s ears
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| Smotrich’s hero, Heinrich Himmler with Reynhardt Heydrich |
This is how
God explains to Joshua why Israel was defeated in one of its battles against
the enemy (Joshua 7:11-12): “Israel hath sinned; yea, they have even
transgressed My covenant which I commanded them; yea, they have even taken of
the devoted thing; and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have
even put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel cannot
stand before their enemies, they turn their backs before their enemies, because
they are become accursed; I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy
the accursed from among you.”
God explains to Joshua why Israel was defeated in one of its battles against
the enemy (Joshua 7:11-12): “Israel hath sinned; yea, they have even
transgressed My covenant which I commanded them; yea, they have even taken of
the devoted thing; and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have
even put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel cannot
stand before their enemies, they turn their backs before their enemies, because
they are become accursed; I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy
the accursed from among you.”
Or in other
words, conquest and annihilation must be carried out according to precise
instructions from God. When Israel violates these instructions by seizing
property and looting without permission, they are punished.
words, conquest and annihilation must be carried out according to precise
instructions from God. When Israel violates these instructions by seizing
property and looting without permission, they are punished.
The
similarity between the biblical text and what Heinrich Himmler said to senior
SS officers in Poznan in October 1943 is chilling. Here is what Himmler said:
“I am referring here to the evacuation of the Jews, the extermination of the
Jewish people. … The wealth they possessed we took from them. I gave a strict
order … that this wealth will of course be turned over to the Reich in its
entirety. We have taken none of it for ourselves. Individuals who have erred
will be punished in accordance with the order given by me at the start,
threatening that anyone who takes as much as a single Mark of this money is a
dead man.”
similarity between the biblical text and what Heinrich Himmler said to senior
SS officers in Poznan in October 1943 is chilling. Here is what Himmler said:
“I am referring here to the evacuation of the Jews, the extermination of the
Jewish people. … The wealth they possessed we took from them. I gave a strict
order … that this wealth will of course be turned over to the Reich in its
entirety. We have taken none of it for ourselves. Individuals who have erred
will be punished in accordance with the order given by me at the start,
threatening that anyone who takes as much as a single Mark of this money is a
dead man.”
In every
genocide, the supreme authority insists on order and discipline from those
responsible for carrying it out, in accordance with criteria which he sets.
Members of the SS were convinced they were men of integrity, with clean hands,
who didn’t loot their victims’ property. Does Smotrich believe the ethics of
the Book of Joshua could serve as an example for how the Palestinians should be
treated today?
genocide, the supreme authority insists on order and discipline from those
responsible for carrying it out, in accordance with criteria which he sets.
Members of the SS were convinced they were men of integrity, with clean hands,
who didn’t loot their victims’ property. Does Smotrich believe the ethics of
the Book of Joshua could serve as an example for how the Palestinians should be
treated today?
Smotrich has
a reputation as a racist and a homophobe. Now it turns out that he also
potentially supports mass murder. In any enlightened society, one can find
people like this in dubious pubs, in Munich or Mississippi, that are frequented
by skinheads tattooed with swastikas. But in Israel, the person saying this is
a representative of the state.
a reputation as a racist and a homophobe. Now it turns out that he also
potentially supports mass murder. In any enlightened society, one can find
people like this in dubious pubs, in Munich or Mississippi, that are frequented
by skinheads tattooed with swastikas. But in Israel, the person saying this is
a representative of the state.
One
obviously can’t expect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do anything about
this. But the real danger to Israel comes from the hundreds of Knesset members
and public figures from other parties – including Likud, Yesh Atid and even
Zionist Union – who understand quite well where Smotrich and his colleagues in
the Habayit Hayehudi party are dragging the state, but are afraid to stand up,
form a united front with the Israeli left and tell the public the truth:
Smotrichism, like Hitlerism, Stalinism and Maoism before them, is an ideology
that leads to the perpetration of genocide.
obviously can’t expect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do anything about
this. But the real danger to Israel comes from the hundreds of Knesset members
and public figures from other parties – including Likud, Yesh Atid and even
Zionist Union – who understand quite well where Smotrich and his colleagues in
the Habayit Hayehudi party are dragging the state, but are afraid to stand up,
form a united front with the Israeli left and tell the public the truth:
Smotrichism, like Hitlerism, Stalinism and Maoism before them, is an ideology
that leads to the perpetration of genocide.
If those who
understand this don’t rise up and eliminate this danger now, this will be the
tragic end of the Palestinian people. But it will also be the end of the vision
of a sovereign Jewish existence in Israel.
understand this don’t rise up and eliminate this danger now, this will be the
tragic end of the Palestinian people. But it will also be the end of the vision
of a sovereign Jewish existence in Israel.
Prof.
Blatman is a historian of the Holocaust and genocide at the Hebrew University
of Jerusalem.
Blatman is a historian of the Holocaust and genocide at the Hebrew University
of Jerusalem.
Posted in Blog
