Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Monday 1 January 2018

Shmuley's Viral Ad ... & a BDS Win

"America's Rabbi" (as he describes himself) Shmuley Boteach has never, to put it mildly, shied away from publicity, and if you look at his Facebook page you'll see that he's been getting very excited each time a news outlet reports on this ad, which he's taken out in the Washington Post.

The ad does make excellent points regarding Lorde's decision to cancel her June gig in Tel Aviv (about which the great David Collier posted so very eloquently here).


The antisemites are, of course, out in force, attacking the rabbi and da Joos Khazars in intemperate terms.  But many supporters of Israel are questioning whether taking out this ad was wise, arguing, inter alia, that it has given inordinate publicity to a Kiwi performer who's not been exactly a household name and that Boteach's stunt will backfire, being interpreted as bullying, and making as many converts to the odious  BDS cause as it would hope to allay.

As the antipodean J-Wire service reports:  
'.... A spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council said:  “The advertisement funded by The World Values Network does not promote understanding or engagement. The New Zealand Jewish Council is committed to dialogue and tolerance and distances itself from the inflammatory and aggressive material that stoops to the level of BDS rather than rising above it ....'
The huge kerfuffle over Lorde has, incidentally, tended to obscure a victory for the BDS movement in November that has been the subject of this triumphalist video featuring the plummy-voiced London-based Sandra Watfa from Inminds.

It concerns hip hop artist Rag'n'Bone Man's (Rory Charles Graham's) decision to cancel his gig in Tel Aviv scheduled for next May, and we see the decision played out in real time, as it were, with his manager liaising with anti-Israel protesters outside his concert in Brixton, South London demanding that he do so, and telling them that their demo has convinced Rag'n'Bone man not to go ahead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noDAqijyAx8

All very well thought out, huh?

1 comment:

  1. These people must be barred from entry to Israel by name, for life.

    ReplyDelete

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