There is No Palestine

Sent to me by a cherished Israeli listener named Nurit. Thank you Nurit!

"Palestine" is the name that the Romans gave to the land of Israel when they conquered this land 2000 years ago and Wikipedia explains (Israel) :

Quote:

It was during this time that the Romans gave the name Syria Palaestina to the geographic area, in an attempt to erase Jewish ties to the land. The Mishnah and Jerusalem Talmud, two of Judaism's most important religious texts, were composed in the region during this period. The Muslims conquered the land from the Byzantine Empire in 638 CE. The area was ruled by various Muslim states (interrupted by the rule of the Crusaders) before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in 1517.
There was never in the history of the world a Palestinian nation.

There was never in the history of the world a Palestinian state.

There was never in the history of the world a Palestinian kingdom.

There were never in the history of the world Palestinian kings.

There was never in the history of the world a Palestinian capital.

There was never in the history of the world a Palestinian essence.

There was never in the history of the world a Palestinian heritage.

There was never in the history of the world a Palestinian culture.

The Palestinian are Arabs who were brought to the region by the Ottoman empire as part of the Muslim occupation in the region. They are definitely not the tribes from Crete who settled down in the 5 cities of Gaza strip. These tribes were called Filistins and they weren't Arabs at all and the nowadays "Palestinians" are definitely not their descendants. The Filistins don't exist as a nation nowadays.

There was an Israeli/Jewish state in the land of Israel 2000 years before the prophet of Islam dreamt that he's flying on a "magical horse" from Mecca to Jerusalem.

There was an Israeli/Jewish nation in the land of Israel.

There was an Israeli/Jewish kingdom in the land of Israel.

There was an Israeli/Jewish capital in the land of Israel.

There were Israeli/Jewish kings in the Israeli/Jewish kingdom of Israel.

There is an Israeli/Jewish culture and essence.

The words Jews and Israelis have the same meaning:

Jews are people of the tribe of Judah. The tribe of Judah was one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel was Jacob and Israel is the new name that G-d gave to him. Israel had 12 sons who later became the 12 tribes of Israel. These 12 tribes who were slaves in Egypt are the ones with which G-d made his covenant and gave them the Torah and its commandments, commanded them to settle down in the land of Israel - a land that he promised to Jacob hundreds years before - to conquer it and to establish a kingdom of priests.

In 722 B.C. the Assyrians conquered the north part of the Israeli kingdom and exilled 10 tribes (9 tribes plus parts of the Levi tribe who didn't have an estate of their own, parts of the tribe of Levi were scattered amongst all the other tribes) amongst the 12 tribes of the children of Israel and these 10 tribes lost their faith, became gentiles and assimilated with them.

The Jews nowadays worldwide and in Israel are the descendants of 3 tribes: Judah, Levi and Benjamin (and some of them from the tribe of Menashe). Judah was the biggest tribe which settled in the Judean desert, then the Romans who conquered the land of Israel 2000 years ago called all the children of Israel "Jews"

Zuheir Mohsen is widely known for having made the following statement in a March 1977 interview with the Dutch newspaper Trouw:
Quote:
"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."
Couple of facts about Israel that the haters of Israel don't like:

1. Israel became a state in 1312 B.C., two millennia before Islam.

2. Arab refugees from Israel began calling themselves "Palestinians" in the 1960's (1967), two decades after (modern) Israeli statehood in 1948.

3. After conquering the land in 1272 B.C., Jews ruled it for a thousand years and maintained a continuous presence there for 3,300 years.

4. The only Arab rule following conquest in 633 B.C. lasted just 22 years.

5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem was the Jewish capital. It was never the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even under Jordanian rule, (East) Jerusalem was not made the capital, and no Arab leader came to visit it.

6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in the bible, but not once is it mentioned in the Qur'an.

7. King David founded Jerusalem; Mohammed never set foot in it.

8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem; Muslims face Mecca. If they are between the two cities, Muslims pray facing Mecca, with their backs to Jerusalem.

9. In 1948, Arab leaders urged their people to leave, promising to cleanse the land of Jewish presence. 68% of them fled without ever setting eyes on an Israeli soldier.

10. Virtually the entire Jewish population of Muslim countries had to flee as the result of violence and pogroms.

11. Some 630,000 Arabs left Israel in 1948, while close to a million Jews were forced to leave the Muslim countries.

12. In spite of the vast territories at their disposal, Arab refugees were deliberately prevented from assimilating into their host countries. Of 100 million refugees following World War 2, they are the only group to have never integrated with their co-religionists. Most of the Jewish refugees from Europe and Arab lands were settled in Israel, a country no larger than New Jersey, USA.

13. There are 22 Muslim countries, not counting Palestine. There is only one Jewish state.

14. Fatah and Hamas constitutions still call for the destruction of Israel.
Israel ceded most of the west bank and all of Gaza to the Palestinian authority, and even provided it with arms.

15. During the Jordanian occupation, Jewish holy sites were vandalized and were off limits to Jews. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian holy sites are accessible to all faiths.

16. Out of 175 United Nations Security Council resolutions up to 1990, 97 were against Israel; out of 690 general assembly resolutions, 429 were against Israel.

17. The U.N. was silent when the Jordanians destroyed 58 synagogues in the old city of Jerusalem. It remained silent while Jordan systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, and it remained silent when Jordan enforced apartheid laws preventing Jews from accessing the temple mount and western wall.

18. Arabs started all five wars against Israel, and lost every one of them.

Destroying Jewish Farms, Not Terror

Never mind the Arab terrorists. It's the horrid Jewish settlers that are at fault again... and the government won't stand for it.

Just one day after the country celebrated Israel's 59th Independence Day, specialy trained police forces (Yassam-nikim) and army came with a bulldozer and destroyed a lone tent-like shelter built for visitors at the Sulam Yaakov Farm, 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of Jerusalem.

Site of the 'Jacob's Ladder Farm', and where the former 'visitor's tent' stood.

The farm, built together by a few families from the village of Kochav Yaakov, once served as a petting zoo with goats and other farm animals. Groves of olive trees were also planted on the site to help restore the land of Israel. Shmuel and Sarah Rachmani, former residents of Kochav Yaakov, live on the Sulam Yaakov (Jacob's Ladder) Farm today, with their children. But the roar of the bulldozer, the crashing of the structure and the show of police force on the farm has traumatized this peaceful pioneer family.

"It was Wednesday morning, about 8:15 or 8:30, and I saw about 6 people in civilian clothing wandering around the area. I figured it must be workers from the electric company." says Sarah Rachmani. "My husband said that we should go out and ask them if maybe they want something to drink. When we got there, we saw they were not from the electric company. Just then, the uniformed security forces swarmed in, and a bull dozer roared in and swiftly mowed down the 'scha-cha' (visitors' tent). The destruction was terrible and traumatic. We protested and begged them to stop, but to no avail. They finished the job within minutes. We were not notified that the police would be sending forces to bulldoze it. The whole ordeal was very frightening!"

The irony of this use of force must be noted. A terror war is raging in the south of the country. Kassam rockets are being launched by terror groups from the Palestinian Authority into the homes of Jewish residents in Sderot, but the government apparently decided that their security forces would be better utilized destroying a make-shift tent at the Sulam Yaakov Farm. The structure, made from wooden posts and aluminum sheeting (like a permanent 'succa' or Scha-cha in Hebrew) was built for visitors to the farm to escape the blazing heat of the sun. It was also used as a place to hold Sabbath services for residents of Kochav Yaakov who would walk there to experience prayer in a more natural surrounding.

The Sulam Yaakov Farm overlooks an important road which leads to the Jewish communities of Psagot and Kochav Yaakov (seen in the background of above photo). Jewish presence on this hill is neccessary to help maintain security, and to keep Arab terror at bay. It helps to distance any terrorist acts like sniper shootings at families traveling to and from their homes in the nearby Jewish communities. Before there was Jewish presence there, Arabs would come in from a few kilometers away to destroy and pull up all that was planted.

According to the Kochav Yaakov newspaper, police forces, yasmanikim, army, and the civilian authority raided the Jacob's Ladder Farm around 8:30 in the morning and destroyed the visitors' tent in front of Rachmani's wife and children. "We protested against this act to the commander of the forces there. Now we must look ahead, and stand together as one, as to what might come in the future, G-d forbid... we call all the public to go and protest against these acts."The commander of the security forces who had the site bulldozed claims that the action was done with the knowledge of the local YESHA council, yet the local governing body of the yishuv said they were not informed of the demolition plans.

Some of the questions that need to be asked here are:


1) Why is this of such importance to the State of Israel's leaders, that this simple visitors' tent be destroyed?

2) Why was taxpayers' money used to send 2 police vans filled with yasmanikim, and also army troops to bulldoze something that is of no significance to keeping the public safe, while our bretheren are being bombarded by rockets down south?

3) How much money was spent to finance this fiasco? Dozens of police and security men were The government needed to pay dozens of security forces for this senseless action, in addition to hiring a bulldozer to come all the way out there and bulldoze some aluminum walls and some wooden posts.

4) This area, as seen in the photos, is nowhere near any Arab homes or near 'anywhere' for that matter. It is out in the hills of the Benjamin council region, the part of Israel that was alocated to the tribe of Benjamin. Who is it bothering then? The Europeans? The world's anti-Semites? Who?

I am posting this story on my blog because I know the family personally, and I went today to take a few photographs after I heard what happened this week, but it should be posted in the Israeli press. The whole episode is absurd! Bombs are flying in the southern part of the country, but our forces are apparently better utilized destroying 'visitor tents' and 'Houses of G-d', than fighting terror. The day before the destruction in the Sulam Yaakov Farm (on Israel Independence Day) the Hamas terror group fired twenty (yes, I said TWENTY) rockets laden with explosives at Israel's southern city of Sderot. Twenty rockets in one hour(6am-7am) aimed at civilian targets! More rockets were launched later in the day by other terror groups in the Palestinian Authority against Jewish homes and schools.

Our government leaders show restraint and patience towards terrorists, but lack the same tolerance and restraint for Jewish needs. I guess the terrorists, and the Palestinian Authority that funds and protects them, are not dangerous, but synagogues on farms overlooking Jewish access roads are. Jewish buildings must be destroyed, and not be tolerated. Terror can.
What do you think about that?

(Area of the Sulam Yaakov Farm, -Not bothering anyone, in the middle of almost nowhere.)

Feeling Like Fred Flintstone

Do you remember Fred Flintstone? Do you remember that whenever he would get embarrassed, he would shrink in the cartoon to the size of Tom Thumb? Well, this novice blogger feels that way now. I am very tiny at this moment because I have to look up at you with hat in hand and ask for your vote if you have at all liked my blog or learned anything from it.

I only heard about these awards last year, and it seems that my blog was nominated in one (actually 2) of their many different categories, so now I am thrust in the turmoil of the JIB Awards (Jewish & Israeli Blogs). Why turmoil? Because if already my name appears on their list of bloggers, for the category of BEST NEW BLOG, I at least want to finish respectfully.

I also found out that I was nominated for Best Right Wing Blog. Gee, I wish someone had bothered to let me know. I was looking through all the different categories and by chance, I found my blog nominated there as well.

There are many award categories. Mine have been nominated for:
Category: Best 'New' Blog - Group D

Category: Best Right Wing Blog

Tamar Yonah Show

You can go and vote at: Jewish & Israeli Blog Awards

Unbecoming Behavior of the Daughters of Israel

This 'California Girl' (me) is not a prude. I grew up in the land of sun and fun. There is a time and place for being care-free and then a time for using your brains. What I saw taking place in downtown Jerusalem this last week really was not only embarrassing, but worrying.

It was Wednesday, and I was at one of the busiest meeting places in Jerusalem, "Zion Square". It's the place where the busiest street in Jerusalem (Jaffa Street) hooks up with a pedestrian mall. I went there to meet family who were visiting from California.Our university students need help. They need to use their brains, not their bodies. The first things I noticed, when arriving at the square, were drums and music which filled my ears.

Now, I love Ben Yehuda Street which has become this pedestrian mall. It was a place where I spent much time when I was single. It is hip and has a diverse population which gives just the right spice to the normal myriad of shoppers and cafe goers.

University Tuition Demo
"Our university students need help.

They need to use their brains, not their bodies. "

T. Yonah

I frequently see immigrants from Russia playing violins, American and British travelers with guitars, fire juggling Israeli youth, older, former opera singers, and even artists selling funky jewelry in the plaza. The street bustles with intersting people, sometimes even foreigners who dress in togas and think they are the Messiah, but it's anchored into reality by the regular Jerusalemites who fill the area having lunch and doing business. I love it.

What mostly got my attention on this day though, aside from hearing loud drumming, was the crowd of people standing around watching something besides the impromptu band there. It was the daughters of Israel circling around in erotic Biblical abandon style dancing(not shown in photo).

University Demo - Jerusalem

Sorry to be so grotesque in my description, but that is what it was, and that is why there was a crowd of

young and old men snapping away with their cameras. I am not showing you the more provocative pictures, but you will notice that the dancers are almost entirely female, and the on-lookers, almost entirely males.

The reason these women were dancing was of course obvious.... it was a student demonstration against a proposed hike in university tuitions. The two go together, don't they? Angry students who want an education, and dancing in skin tight clothing, gyrating in a very public square. They were part of a nationwide organization representing university students who launched an open-ended boycott of classes, in an effort to force the government to reduce tuition and increase the budget for higher education. The students were upset about a possible hike in tuition. A pledge to lower tuition fees at Israeli universities by 50 percent was made by a previous government headed by PM Ehud Barak in 2001. It never was fulfilled.

Education has suffered a substantial cut in its budget the last few years, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Education Minister Yuli Tamir and Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson have recently appointed "The Shochat Committee" to possibly make even more cuts, and raise tuitions.

I can understand why the students were upset but they can garner the public's sympathy, if done in the proper manner.

How about instead bringing foldable tables and studying outside with signs saying they have no money to afford a formal education?

Or how about them standing in a line taking turns reading out loud letters of how they want to better their lives and enter the professional fields, but can't do it if they have to pay extra tuition fees?

I've been to a zillion demonstrations, for a myriad of valid reasons. Abandoned dancing was never our choice when trying to get our point across to the public. The dancing of these 'daughters of Israel' didn't get their point across either. It was more a seduction show, than a serious display of the Israeli students' plight. In fact, if someone didn't know Hebrew, of which there were many passing through this area, then the reason for the demonstration wouldn't even have been understood.

I failed to see why these students protested in this way. It actually turned off someone like me who thinks that one shouldn't have to be rich in order to be able to afford to get higher education. In addition to their very un-professional and adolescent display, they had taped pictures of the face of Ehud Olmert onto the plaza floor, where they had students and passers by stepping and trouncing on the Prime Minister. I saw one student holding the same photo of Prime Minsiter Ehud Olmert, and publicly crumble it up in her hands in protest.

I couldn't help but think, if this would have been a demonstration by anyone on the right wing, it would be all over the news... "Settlers Trample the Prime Minister" or "Yeshiva Students Incite to Violence on P.M." The Left would be having a hey-day about it.

Not a word though when it is done by the secular university students, the future leaders of our country. And yet, even this fact doesn't strike that much of a chord with me, but what really hurt me was the provocative dancing in a public thoroughfare by our young female students . Our 'daughters of Israel' were dancing with arms flailing, high leg kicks and hips gyrating (not shown in photo).

Students place photo of PM Olmert on ground where people step on.

They reminded me of the Biblical story of when the Jews were in the desert and the Midianite women came to entice the Princes of Israel to perversity. Have our children totally lost their dignity? Do they even realize that they have become like the wanton nations of the world and adopted their values? Do they really think that this is a proper way to hold a protest for a legitimate complaint?

Our university students need help. They need to use their brains, not their bodies.

And finally, if this is what our universities churn out, perhaps we should re-think our support for these campuses. Perhaps we need to fund instead, an injection of proper values and professional and dignified behavior for our future lawmakers, teachers and entrepreneurs.

2nd Generation Holocaust Survivors - Yah, that's me.

Below is all the info pertaining to my radio show today:

"The Second Generation of Holocaust Survivors" (16-04-07)

On this show we discuss some of the issues that 2nd Generation Holocaust Survivors experience while growing up.

My guest was Holocaust Studies educator Debby Jacoby. Debby and I are both 2nd generation survivors ourselves and we share some of our personal stories.

Debby also takes us through the harrowing day her father and his family were forced out of their home, put on a train and sent to Auschwitz to be gassed.
You can read this dramtic story that Debbie's brother, Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby, wrote about their father:
MY HERO, MY FATHER

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=my_hero_my_father

<------- Debby Jacoby, Holocaust Studies Educator

One thing that I did not add in the radio interview with Debby is that my father also did not talk much about the Holocaust. I had to hear some of the stories through my mother, until many years later, when I was an adult and my father started to open up and share more. I was going to Poland to see the concentration camps and would be near his city where he was from, Lodz. My father was pushed into the Lodz ghetto by the Nazis when the Jews were forced to leave their homes.

All I remember when I was younger was that stuffed deep in my dad's drawer were postcards from the holocaust. They were pictures of piles of naked dead bodies. I can't imagine who published these photos in the format as 'post cards'. I mean, who would want to send a post card with naked dead bodies of men, women and children on it to someone? "Hi mom, I went to Poland and here is what I saw.... having a great time, Adolph." Sheesh! Anyway, I remember staring at these photos secretly, and then putting them back in the stack of other papers in the drawer. Some other memories I had -I spoke of on the show. Of course there are more memories, but I don't really feel like sharing it all now. Perhaps it just has helped to mold and shape me into who I am today and why I make some of the decisions I do. I am hardened a bit, and very stubborn and straight forward. Those are the qualities that made my father survive the Holocaust.

Click HERE to hear the interview, or go to our web page.

I am also posting for you all the lyrics and video to a beautiful song sung by Ofrah Haza, --I call her Israel's 'Princess Diana', as she was even more precious to the Israeli people. She was a great singer, with a voice that could lift one to the clouds. She was Israel's flower, and we were all shocked at her sudden death at such a young age and with such a promising future. One of the songs she sings is called: L'orech HaYam.

This song is often played on Israel radio stations in times of sadness... i.e. Holocaust Day, Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen Soldiers, and of course when there is a terror attack. It is a hauntingly beautiful song. To view the video, click here.

Ofrah Haza

For transliterated lyrics to sing with her, read here in blue text:

(a translation of the song is below)


Ofra Haza - Leorech Hayam
Tagid li eich la'atzor et hadma'ot
Tagid li eifo yesh olam acher lichyot
Tagid li lama ein emet, rak hazayot
Az lama lenasot ulehamshich achshav livkot?

(chorus)

L'orech hayam Ein galim, yesh olam Shenishbar lirsisim al hamezach
L'orech hayam Ein galim, yesh olam Shenishbar lirsisim al hamezach

Tagid li eich la'atzor et had'ma'ot
Tagid li eifo yesh olam acher lichyot
K'she'anashim ratzim el tofet k'mo el yam
Ani arutz el toch ha'esh
Im yachz'ru misham

L'orech hayam Ein galim, yesh olam Shenishbar lirsisim al hamezach
L'orech hayam Ein galim, yesh olam Shenishbar lirsisim al hamezach

Tagid li eich im hamavet atah chai
Mastir hadma'ot bechol laila -
Tagid li, ad matai?
Ha'esh shekoreit li
Lo nimtzeit sham be'emet
Vezeh shene'elam,
Ha'im yachzor, oh kvar met?
Tagid li eich im hamavet ata chai
Mastir hadma'ot bechol laila -
Tagid li, ad matai?
Ha'esh shekoreit li
Lo nimtzeit sham be'emet
Vezeh shene'elam,
Ha'im yachzor, oh kvar met?

L'orech hayam Ein galim, yesh olam Shenishbar lirsisim al hamezach
L'orech hayam Ein galim, yesh olam Shenishbar lirsisim al hamezach

Tagid li eich la'atzor et hadma'ot Tagid li eich....

Translation: ALONG THE SEASHORE (Leorech Hayam)
Tell me how to stop the tears

Tell me where there's another world to live in

Tell me why there is no truth, only illusions

So why should we try, and continue crying now?
*
Along the length of the sea
There are no waves; there is a world
Broken into fragments on the pier
Along the length of the sea
There are no waves; there is a world
Broken into fragments on the pier
*
Tell me how to stop the tears

Tell me where there's another world to live in

When people run into an inferno as if into the sea

I would run into the fire,
If only they would return from there
*
Along the length of the sea
There are no waves; there is a world
Broken into fragments on the pier
Along the length of the sea
There are no waves; there is a world
Broken into fragments on the pier
*
Tell me how you live with death

Hiding the tears every night -
Tell me, how much longer?

The fire that calls me
Is not really there

And the one who disappeared,
Will he return, or is he already dead?
*
Along the length of the sea
There are no waves; there is a world
Broken into fragments on the pier
Along the length of the sea
There are no waves; there is a world
Broken into fragments on the pier
*
Tell me how to stop the tears
Tell me how.....

Wherever You Are On This Planet, Here's What To Do During the Holiday...

Because of the Pesach (Passover) Holiday, most of the staff will not be working regular schedules, or be working at all. In the meantime, I suggest a very wonderful video that was produced by my guest Yuval Ovadia, from this last Tuesday's show called:

He Made It in Hollywood, but Left It for the Holy Land
Yuval Ovadia was an average Israeli who, after finishing his army service, decided to leave Israel for the glitz of Hollywood. He moved to New York and struggled to make it. Years later, after studying film and acting, he finally won roles in New York and Hollywood. He had moved up to the good life; Hollywood party invitations, starring roles in action movies, an apt. on Park Ave., - the works. He had made it. So what happened to him after all his hard work, that made him want to chuck it all, move back to Israel and become a Torah observant Jew? Watch his video. ( http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7069571280084715695&q=the+final+journey )

The radio show interview with Yuval Ovadia is on our web page: www.IsraelNationalRadio.com or directly at: mms://msmedia.a7.org/arutz7/shows/ty/tamar070327.mp3 <---- Just copy and paste to a new browser window.
If you would like to be in touch with him, then you can email me and I will forward all letters to him. ( Tamar@IsraelNationalRadio.com )

I will be back to the mic this coming Sunday, April 8th, with Malkah Fleisher. Until then, most of us are on vacation, but there will be some LIVE shows, so keep an eye out.

The VIDEO that is very inspiring and apt for this Pesach Holiday is about the END DAYS and is full of prophesies that have come true today (made by Yuval Ovadia). It is a great video to watch and send out to your friends.
I'd love to hear your comments on it, you can post them below this blog entry.

Here is part 1: The LAST WAR ( ZERO HOUR)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3235423378789294307

Here is part 2: The LAST WAR ( ZERO HOUR) part 2
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=408729886795553337&q=END+OF+DAYS+PART+2In

(In Hebrew)... Zero Hour http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5023321040876648867&q=zero+hour

Chag sameach!
Tamar