Jewish Defence League Parsha and Weekly Update

When her term to bear grew full, then behold! There were twins in her womb. (Bereishis 25:24)

The twins, were none other than Ya'akov and Eisav.

According to the Midrash, even while still in the womb their religious differences were apparent, as Rashi explains:

THEY STRUGGLED: . . . Whenever she passed the doors of the Torah (i.e., the yeshivah of Shem and Eiver), Ya'akov moved convulsively in his efforts to be born, but whenever she passed by the gate of a pagan temple, Eisav moved convulsively to be born. (Rashi, Bereishis 25:22)

G-d told him, "Your name will no longer be 'Ya'akov,' but 'Yisroel' will be your name . . ." (Bereishis 35:10)

The Jewish People are the descendants from Ya'akov and the Arab People are from Eisav. We do not share the same vision. The Arab People do not support the idea of a Jewish State in the Land of Israel. Two weeks ago, the Reform Judaism Movement at their convention in Toronto, passed an anti Jewish State resolution. This resolution was organized from the New Israel Fund. For those that are concerned about anti Israel movements on campus and the lack of a Jewish reaction, the following information should explain that our true problems are from within. The Reform Judaism Movement are upset and claim that Israel discriminates against Arabs that are opposed to a Jewish State.

The New Israel Fund was the recipient in 2003 of a landmark $20 million grant from the Ford Foundation. (The Ford Foundation itself has been criticized for funding anti-Israel groups and agendas).

The NIF has funded the following groups:

· Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel; and Mossawa Center: In 2006-07, these two NIF grantees entered Israel's national debate over a constitution with their own proposals: Adalah proposed a 'Democratic Constitution,' and the Mossawa Center proposed 'An Equal Constitution For All?' Both proposals called for a binational state that would couple an unlimited 'right of return' for Palestinians with abolishing the Jewish Law of Return. In addition, some NIF-Ford grantees weighed in on a third such proposal, the 'Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel' which opposes Israel's existence as Jewish state.

· Yesh Din, Bimkom, Machsom Watch, HaMoked: Center for the Defense of the Individual, the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel: In March 2007, eight groups, including these seven NIF grantees, successfully petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice against what it labeled the 'Apartheid order' to create an 'Apartheid road' on which Israeli police would restrict Palestinians from traveling in Israeli cars in the West Bank. The petition did not mention Israel's justification for the directive, which it said was to prevent the transport of possible terrorists.

· The Association of Civil Rights in Israel: In March 2008, the New York Times quoted a lawyer from this group, described as a "flagship grantee of the NIF" by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency report – was reported as saying that, "There is already a separate legal system in the territories for Israelis and Palestinians … With the approval of separate roads, if it becomes a widespread policy, then the word for it will be 'apartheid.'" (The late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin once described another beneficiary of NIF's largesse, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, as the Organization for the Rights of Hamas Terrorists).

· Adalah: In its April 2008 newsletter, this NIF grantee published an article by the group's general-director, Hassan Jabareen, titled 'The Israeli Regime of Hafradah (Separation in English and Apartheid in Afrikaans).' With no mention of Palestinian attacks, Jabareen alleges that Israel "aims to redefine the Jewishness of the state." Also in April, five Adalah board members joined an Israeli Arab delegation to South Africa in a visit the group itself portrayed as commiserating with fellow victims of apartheid

Other groups and individuals supported or funded by NIF not mentioned in the JTA report include:

· International Solidarity Movement: it gave a stipend to a member of the International Solidarity Movement, which not only promotes divestment, but justifies Palestinian 'armed struggle' [i.e., terrorism] and participates in efforts to impede legitimate Israeli counter-terrorist measures. Its co-founder, George Rishmawi, is even on record justifying the "need" for terrorism.

· Shamai Leibowitz: Leibowitz was NIF's 2004 Fellow, Shamai Leibowitz, who, according to NGO Monitor, 'has devoted great efforts to advancing the cause of economic and diplomatic war against the existence of the Jewish state.'

· Israeli Arab MK Azmi Bishara: NIF also honored Israeli Arab MK, Azmi Bishara, by inviting him to speak at a major NIF function despite the fact that Bishara is a determined foe of Israel as a Jewish state, has laid a wreath on the grave of an Islamic Jihad leader, endorsed the so-called 'right of return' and called for a jihad against Israel. Has praised Syria for its "struggle to liberate occupied Arab land, its resistance against occupation and its defense of the legitimacy of such resistance" (Jerusalem Post, September 12, 2006); stated that "We are Syria's ally" and supported its efforts to free "occupied Arab land" (Haaretz, September 10, 2006); condemned "Israel's barbaric onslaughts" against Lebanon and urged Hizballah's Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah to "continue his fight" (Jerusalem Post, September 12, 2006) and warned Syria of likely "preemptive Israeli strikes" (Jerusalem Post, September 12, 2006), something of which he might well have knowledge as a result of his presence in the Knesset. Bishara's National Democratic Assembly (Balad) Party, have been shown in a video chanting in Arabic "Our Popular Front [for the Liberation of Palestine] – we want an attack from you" and "Oh [PLFP chief Ahmed] Sadaat we want weapons to build." The video was screened by Israel TV's Channel One in connection with Arab protests over Land Day in the Arab village of Arrabe ('Israeli Arabs call for terror attacks against Israel at Land Day protest,' Independent Media Review Analysis, March 30, 2008). Bishara left Israel in April 2007, following police investigations into his anti-Israel activities and charges of treason and espionage, including passing information to the enemy and contacts with a foreign agent, as well as laundering money received from foreign sources ('Balad Chairman Bishara: I cannot receive a fair trial in Israel,' Haaretz, April 28, 2007).

Get involved with the Jewish Defence League of Canada. Come out every Monday evening 7:00 pm for Karav Maga (Israeli Martial Arts) at the Toronto Zionist Center 788 Marlee Avenue. Also, every Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm will be an open discussion group with snacks and refreshments. Come and discuss the issues. Visit our web site at www.jdl-canada.com

The JDL will continue to lead and speak out.

With Love of Israel,

Meir Weinstein National Director Jewish Defence League of Canada