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CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH RESEARCH L’I NSTITUT CANADIEN DE RECHERCHES SUR LE JUDAÏSME
.. MIarch 30SRAFAX, 2018 14 Nisan 5778 Volume XXVII, Number 295 t e n r e h s A
: ISRAEL AT 70! o t o h P
P.O. Box 175, Station H, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2K7 Tel: (514) 486-5544 Fax: (514) 486-8284 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.isranet.org ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 2
Editorial Passover 5778: Celebrating Israel At 70 A Script of Living Drama Baruch Cohen Frederick Krantz In loving memory of Malka z”l As the democratic Jewish state of Israel turns seventy, what is the historical-so - A passage in the Mishna says, Every person in cietal balance sheet? What is the meaning of modern Israel—which only three gen - every generation must look upon himself/herself erations ago had to fight for its very existence against five invading Arab as if he/she came out of Egypt. armies—both for the Jewish people and the world? The key idea that underlies the feast of First, modern Israel is today one of the world’s most successful societies. Its Passover is great and profoundly human: the idea standard of living ranks with the West European countries; a nuclear power, its IDF of freedom, of humanness. Passover shows that is considered among the top armies in the world. Its dynamic yet stable economy is the human spirit’s struggle for freedom is the outstanding, and technologically (including a remarkable space/satellite program) basis of the democratic vision of human dignity. Israel outranks every major country save for the United States. For us, the Jewish people, Passover marks our Arab and leftist propaganda notwithstanding, Israel is the region’s only democ - birth as a free people: our Sages teach us that lib - racy, in which Arabs and Christians, as well of course as the Jewish majority erty must be fought for, and renewed, in every (6,556,000 out of a total 8,793,000), are represented in the Knesset. (And Israel’s generation. growth rate, at 2% in 2015, averaging three children per woman, is three times Passover, the liberation from Egyptian slavery, greater than the OECD’s). affirms the great truth that liberty is an undeniable The Jewish state has peace treaties with two former Muslim enemies, Egypt and right of every human being. By celebrating Jordan, increasingly good relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, and with Passover we are learning about our Jewish past, great powers like China, Russia and India. Its largest economic partner is the Euro - and thus ensuring our human future. pean Union, its closest ally the world’s only superpower, the USA, especially under Hag Pesach Sameach! Happy Passover! Donald Trump—and U.S. popular support for Israel is, at 75%, the highest ever. Indeed, we rightly marvel at the breathtaking rapidity, in what seems a blink of (Baruch Cohen, now 98, has been CIJR’s an historical eye. of modern Israel’s transformation from a tiny, poor state created Research Chairman for 30 years; his moving just three years after the horror of the Holocaust, into a modern, dynamic regional memoir, No One Bears Witness for the Witness, hegemon. Initially hanging by a thread as the Arabs attempted to strangle it in its just published, is available from CIJR at cradle, then successfully accepting and integrating hundreds of thousands of Ashke - [email protected]) nazi survivors from Europe and Sephardic expellees from Arab countries, Israel became a flourishing democracy, an advanced military power, and a dynamic eco - ISRAFAX EDITORIAL BOARD nomic-technological powerhouse—the world’s leading advanced “start-up nation”. Editor ...... Frederick Krantz Publications Chairman .. Rob Coles Yet we should never forget that key to modern Israel’s development is the fact it Associate Editors ...... Julien Bauer Assistant Editor Machla Abramovitz is the legatee of a creative and dynamic Jewish People, whose history reaches back ...... Ira Robinson Archivist : ...... Bradley Martin ...... Harold M. Waller Layout & Design ..... F. Normandeau over 4,000 years. As the state of the Jewish People, modern Zionist Israel, secular Research Chairman ..Baruch Cohen Executive Assistant ... Yunna Shapira as well as religious, is the product, of values embodied in Tanach , the Hebrew Bible. Judaism paved the way for modern Western civilization, through its invention of ISRAFAX is the research publication of the Canadian In - stitute for Jewish Research , an independent and non-par - monotheism, and it vision of the rights of the individual and of history as a mean - tisan non-profit educational foundation devoted to the ingful process. Indeed, it was Judaism which invented, and with its step-daughter, study of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Christianity, spread, the key modern Western idea of Progress, of man’s ability to It provides CIJR members with key data and a digest live morally, to speak truth to Power and, through his mastery of nature, to create of international analysis and opinion on relevant issues. minimize suffering and create a harmonious human community. We welcome your letters, comments and materials, Still, Israel lives in a notoriously unstable and dangerous neighborhood, and in a which can be faxed or e-mailed (see cover.) larger post-World War II world which, despite modernity’s many achievements, is also a dangerous, and often unstable, place. And while regionally Israel is in better shape today than at any point since 1947-48, the collapse of many Islamic states THIS ISSUE into crisis and civil war after the so-called Arab Spring created surrounding insta - P. 2 EDITORIAL bility, above all in civil-war wracked, and Russian- and Iranian-occupied, Syria. P. 2 PASSOVER 5778 Syria today is a failed state, with half a million dead, civilian and military, and P. 3 WEEKLY QUOTES & SHORT TAKES ca.11 million internal and external refugees (half its total population). It is also a P. 4 TRUMP UPENDS DECADES OF U.S. POLICY WITH potential flashpoint—pro- and anti-Assad forces jostle up against assorted Islamists, JERUSALEM DECLARATION Russians, Hezbollah, Iranian forces, Turks and, in the north-east, Kurds and Amer - P. 5 ISRAEL MONITORS BORDER THREATS AMID GROWING REGIONAL TENSION icans. An unforeseen incident ( e.g., Israel’s efforts to prevent the arming of Lebanese PP. 6-7: ISRAEL FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE MODERN STATE Hezbollah by Iran through Syria, the Turks new incursion against Kurdish forces in P. 8 U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL ADVANCES AMERICAN north-east [Afrin) could, despite “deconfliction” agreements, trigger a wider war. INTERESTS And behind the Syrian situation is Israel’s one major, continuing existential prob - P. 9 JEWISH STATE IS A MILITARY AND TECHNOLOGY lem, the terrorist-expansionist Shiite mullah-cracy of Iran, a Holocaust-denying Is - SUPERPOWER lamic fundamentalist entity sworn to destroy the Jewish state and well on its way P. 10 SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES CONDONE (despite-or because of—the Obama nuclear pact) to becoming a missile-armed nu - DISCRIMINATION AGAINST “OPPRESSORS” clear power. P. 11 CIJR REVIEW OF BOOKS Preventing the devolution of the Syrian situ - P. 12 EXTRA! EXTRA! ISSN # 1193-7246 ation, blocking Iranian expansionism (in Syria, CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 2 – March 30, 2018 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 3
WEEKLY QUOTES SHORT TAKES
“Many countries in the Middle East are saying that they PALESTINIAN PM SURVIVES ASSASSINATION AT - are also allowed to enrich uranium if Iran is allowed to do so; TEMPT (Gaza) — The Palestinian prime minister survived an as - therefore, the way to prevent this danger, the nuclearization sassination attempt during a visit to Gaza. Rami Hamdallah, the of the Middle East, is to either thoroughly correct the agree - PA prime minister, had just entered Gaza when a roadside explo - ment or abrogate it…Moreover, I remind you that Iran de - sive detonated near his convoy. Hamdallah was not injured but clares, on an almost daily basis – including recently, its seven of his aides suffered slight wounds. It was not immediately intention to wipe out the State of Israel. It is hardly worth say - clear who was behind the attempted assassination but a spokesman ing that we will not allow this, to put it mildly.” — Israeli Prime for Mahmoud Abbas said he held Hamas responsible as “the de Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ( Jerusalem Online , Mar. 11, 2018) facto power in Gaza”. ( Telegraph , Mar. 13, 2018) “There is no better partner of the United States than the BDS MOTION DEFEATED AT U OF O (Ottawa) — Stu - State of Israel…The president has announced he will no dents at the University of Ottawa rejected another motion to back longer sign waivers with the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal… the anti-Israel BDS. In November, the SFUO’s Board of Admin - The president is not only committed to making sure Israel is istration considered but rejected a similar motion to endorse BDS. safe, but that its neighbors and the rest of the world are safe Instead, it passed a motion “to do all in its power to peacefully re - from ballistic missiles and from solve the Israeli-Palestinian con - Iran exporting terrorism flict.” This came on the heels of a through the region.” — U.S. failed attempt by activists within the Treasury Secretary Steve SFUO to revoke the club status of Mnuchin. ( Algemeiner , Mar. 9, Hillel Ottawa just weeks earlier. The 2018) vote marked the 10th defeat in a row “Israel is a living testament to for BDS on Canadian campuses. the power of freedom and the (Arutz Sheva , Mar. 14, 2018) power of faith…To this day, we U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL grieve the loss of the six million AMONG HIGHEST EVER martyrs of the Holocaust…Just RECORDED (Washington) — three years after walking Gallup published the findings of a through the valley of the major national poll that found back - shadow of death, they rose to re - ing for Israel among Americans re - build a Jewish future and Jew - mains extremely high. Fully 74 o ish state.” — U.S. Vice President t percent of American adults have a o h P Mike Pence. Pence said that it was favorable view of Israel, while 23% A P
his “great honor to be the first E have an unfavorable view. That’s the Vice President to address the best showing for Israel in 27 years, Knesset in Jerusalem, the capital Israelis watch fireworks during the 67th Israel since 1991’s 79% as Israel was bat - Independence Day celebrations in Tel Aviv, 2015.” of the State of Israel.” ( Alge - tered by Iraqi missiles during the meiner , Mar. 5, 2018) Gulf War. The figures varied dramatically depending on political “Well to understand the significance you have to appreci - affiliation. Support for Israel is at 83% among Republicans, 72% ate…that the Jewish people remember the Declaration of among independents and 64% among Democrats. ( Times of Israel , Cyrus from 2500 years ago that allowed the Jews to go back Mar. 14, 2018) and rebuild the Second Temple. Now I don’t know if the Per - ISRAEL WORLD’S 11TH-HAPPIEST COUNTRY sian remember Cyrus, but the Jewish people remember (Jerusalem) — Israel is the 11th-happiest country in the world for Cyrus. This decision [by Trump] will be remembered forever the fifth year running, according to the UN report. According to for the Jewish people. The fact that the leader of the free the report, the life span of Israelis increased by 3.1 years between world, the most powerful country in the world, becomes the 2000 and 2015, from 69.7 to 72.8. The Palestinian territories first leader to recognize Jerusalem as our capital, is a decision ranked 104th, while Syria ranked 150th out of 156 countries sur - that will never ever be forgotten by the Jewish people.” — Is - veyed. The U.S. slipped from 14th place to 18th place this year. rael’s Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer. ( Jewish Press , Mar. Finland clinched first place, as Norway – last year’s winner – went 5, 2018) to second place. Among the top 10 countries were Denmark, Ice - “Canada’s Conservatives led by Andrew Scheer will recog - land, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, and Aus - nize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital when we form government tralia. ( Jerusalem Post , Mar. 15, 2018) in 2019…Canada’s Conservatives have been, and always will PRINCE WILLIAM TO VISIT TO ISRAEL (London) — be, a strong voice for Israel and the Canadian Jewish commu - Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, is scheduled to visit Is - nity. Israel is one of Canada’s strongest allies and a beacon of rael, the West Bank and Jordan in summer 2018. Members of the pluralism and democratic principles in a turbulent part of the British royal family have historically rejected official state visits world. Canada’s Conservatives recognize the obvious fact that to Israel, though several have made it to the Holy Land on personal Israel, like every other sovereign nation, has a right to deter - visits. Prince Charles attended the funeral of Shimon Peres. Pres - mine where its capital is located. Jerusalem is the capital of ident Rivlin called the Prince “a very special guest,” and the oc - Israel.” — Statement on the Conservative Party of Canada web - casion “a very special present for our 70th year of independence.” site. ( Global , Feb. 26, 2018) (Jerusalem Post , Mar. 1, 2018)
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TRUMP UPENDS DECADES OF U.S. POLICY WITH JERUSALEM DECLARATION
Editorial stage: Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Togo, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and of course Israel. We hear the guffaws of the foreign pol - A Little Nation Does The Right Thing icy elites in Washington and London and Paris. Guatemala? Hon - duras? Togo? The alignment of these few little nations with U.S. After President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would policy is itself, the elites suggested, an indication of just how out - recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move its embassy landish the American policy is. accordingly, western politicos and commentators heaped contempt Well, okay. But 35 nations merely abstained in the U.N. vote, on the move and predicted violence and bloodshed in Israel and in and many of them are both sizeable and influential: Argentina, Aus - the Arab street. Hamas, the Islamic terror group, said the move tralia, Canada, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, would “open the gates of hell” and called for a third Intifada. The to name a few. We wonder what would happen if some of these na - Palestinian Fatah movement promised three “days of rage,” and tions also decided to move their embassies to Jerusalem? Perhaps there were protests in Amman and Tehran and Cairo and elsewhere. not much, or perhaps some halfhearted protests in middle eastern But the three days of rage turned into about eighteen hours of capitals and some formulaic denunciations from the usual suspects protests—and that was it. The predictions of widespread violence in Turtle Bay. Perhaps not even that. were wrong. U.S. officials have said the move to Jerusalem will In any case, there must be few substantive reasons for these na - happen officially on May 14, the seventieth anniversary of Israeli independence. Two days later, the little central American nation of tions to keep their embassies 40 miles from what everybody knows Guatemala will also move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. full well is the center and capital of the Israeli state. So far from “It is important to be among the first,” Guatemalan President jeopardizing the at-present nonexistent peace process, moving Jimmy Morales said…at the annual American Israel Public Affairs those embassies would help to rid future negotiations of the perni - Committee (AIPAC) policy conference, “but it is more important cious delusion that the Palestinians may one day control all of to do what’s right.” Jerusalem. The only basis on which to negotiate is the truth, and Guatemala was one of only nine nations that backed the U.S. so far the U.S. and Guatemala are the first openly to acknowledge embassy move when the U.N. passed a resolution condemning it. that truth. Others are welcome to follow. The other countries were similarly small players on the global (Weekly Standard, Mar. 6, 2018)
What Kind of ‘Honest Broker’ Won’t putable part of sovereign Israel. When reference is made to deter - mining the final outcome of the status of “Jerusalem”, this refers Admit What City Is Your Capital? to the walled Old City and “East Jerusalem,” which was under Jor - danian control until 1967… Vivian Bercovici Recently, federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer affirmed There are 193 sovereign nations on this Earth. Diplomatic con - that if elected in 2019, his government would do what the Liberals vention dictates that each designates a capital city, which is recog - steadfastly refuse to even consider: recognize Jerusalem as the cap - nized by the international community. Except when it comes to ital of Israel. Predictably, many have attempted to denigrate this Israel. On Dec. 6, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump fulfilled a policy position as nothing more than parroting President Trump, or bi-partisan commitment by Congress, first articulated in 1995, and crass ethnic vote pandering. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Only announced that the United States not only recognized Jerusalem as in three of the 338 federal ridings is there enough of a concentration Israel’s capital but further pledged to move the American embassy of Jewish voters to have any direct influence on the outcome. And, there from its current home in Tel Aviv. even in those cases, there is anything but a unified Jewish position Less than 24 hours later, Canadian Prime Minister Justin on the Jerusalem issue, or any other. Canada’s 375,000 Jews are a Trudeau stated, unequivocally, that Canada would not move its em - well-established and very assimilated cohort that defy reduction to bassy…Shortly thereafter, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Free - simplistic stereotypes. land expressed agreement, noting “the status of Jerusalem can be The Americans, meanwhile, are moving ahead with their plans, resolved only as part of a general settlement of the Palestinian-Is - and with far less backlash than many had expected. Several days raeli dispute.” Well, here’s the thing. Recognition of Jerusalem as ago, the American Embassy move was confirmed for May 14, on the capital of Israel does nothing to prejudice the outcome of the what will be the 70th anniversary of the declaration of independ - “conflict” or any related negotiations. Minister Freeland’s somnam - ence of the state of Israel. bulistic repetition of a rather shopworn position — a favourite of Of course, President Trump is so polarizing a figure that many the Department of Global Affairs — reflects either a profound dis - feel compelled to reflexively disagree with any position he sup - interest or a lack of understanding of the complexity, and yet also ports. Focus, then, instead on his articulate UN Ambassador, Nikki simplicity, of the issue. Haley, who fiercely defends this bold American gesture as one of From 1948 until 1967, Israel controlled what is referred to by principle that does not, in any way, prejudice the outcome of nego - some as “West Jerusalem,” and, in keeping with its designation of tiations. Rather, she has reminded the Palestinian leadership that Jerusalem as its capital, located in that city all important govern - its chronic intransigence and refusal to negotiate with Israel is the ment offices and institutions, including the Knesset (parliament) main obstacle to peace, not the long overdue American recognition and Supreme Court. By accepting the truce boundaries of 1949, the of Jerusalem… United Nations implicitly recognized West Jerusalem as an indis - (National Post, Feb. 28, 2018) 4 – March 30, 2018 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 5
ISRAEL MONITORS BORDER THREATS AMID GROWING REGIONAL TENSION
Iran’s Imperial Ambitions Challenge Experts that will choose a successor to “Supreme Leader” Ali Khamenei and is a candidate for that position himself. Visiting Middle East Borders Beirut, he took time to talk with the head of Hezbollah and to pay his respects at the home of the late terrorist mastermind Imad Elliott Abrams Mughniyeh. But, as the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs noted, “The high point of Raisi’s visit occurred in southern Lebanon when In May, 2017 Major General Qassem Soleimani, chief of the he toured the border with Israel escorted by Hizbullah military Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps’ foreign operations branch commanders and Iranian officers....” known as the Qods Force, visited the Iraq/Syria border in the com - Like Soleimani’s Iraq/Syria border visit, Raisi’s Lebanon/Israel pany of an Iran-backed Shia militia. A spokesman for the militia, border visit delivers several messages. First, borders have no mean - called the Popular Mobilization Forces, was quoted in Newsweek: ing for Iran; the Islamic Republic is determined to be the dominant “This will be the first step to the liberation of the entire border,” player in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Second, the governments of Ahmad al-Asadi, a spokesperson for the PMF said, according to those countries have no control of their own borders and territory; the Associated Press. “This victory will also be an important incen - Iranian military and terrorist leaders can come and go as they tive for the Syrian Arab Army to secure the entire border from the please. Third, whether Lebanon gets into a conflict with Israel will Syrian side,” he added. Iranian-backed forces, that is, would take be determined by decisions made in Tehran, not in Beirut. both sides of the border, so for Iran there would be no border. In That is a sad development for most Lebanese, who are not fa - June Soleimani was reported to be on the Syrian side of the border. natical Hezbollah supporters. But it is one the United States should Now, it is reported that one of Iran’s hardest-line leaders, Ibrahim keep in mind as we assess our relations with Lebanon and our mil - Raisi, has visited the Israeli-Lebanese border. Raisi, the defeated itary aid to that country. candidate for president in 2017, is a member of the Assembly of (Council on Foreign Relations, Feb. 5 , 2018) The West Sleeps Peacefully Because of Israel Giulio Meotti t
While Turkish President Erdogan and Pope Francis were in Rome e n r
complimenting each other on Jerusalem and the European Union e h s A was rolling out red carpets to Mahmoud Abbas, Israel was protecting / O P
the West. G / n o
This small state has hitherto prevented Iran from manufacturing e d i G
the atomic bomb, it has ruined the nuclear plans of Saddam Hussein i b o
and Bashar el Assad thanks to two solitary bombings, it guards the K
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security of Jordan that without Israel would collapse today like a d e r cooked pear, it has foiled attacks by ISIS on European civilian flights C and we now discover that Egypt’s el Sisi has recently asked Israel to Prime Minister Netanyahu and military commanders bomb ISIS’ posts in Sinai. on Israel’s northern border in the Golan Heights Israel today is the fireman of the Middle East. Imagine the region, from time to time, without Israel as the anti-Semites of the whole of anxiety of happiness and creation that derives from the fragility world dream of it. A Middle East of beheaders facing the Mediter - of this extraordinary adventure. A miracle. ranean, a Middle East of planes full of Westerners flying from Sharm Israel does not have time to finish the announcement of the con - el Sheikh and sinking in the Red Sea, a Middle East of a race to struction of a handful of houses in the post-1967 Judea and Samaria atomic weapons by dictatorships of all kinds, a Middle East of even that the UN Security Council is already reunited against, that the Eu - more millions of refugees going to Europe. Tonight we will sleep ropean Commission already sent its official declaration about, that more peacefully thanks to Israel. the editorials condemning the decision are already being printed and What an extraordinary country is the Jewish State! Tension is ris - that the lists of products to be boycotted have already been drawn ing and extensive military simulations are under way, with the par - up. ticipation of the U.S. Army, in the event of a missile attack Defense In the last two weeks Israel has buried two Israeli rabbis, killed in Minister Liberman has just warned that Israel will not allow images cold blood by their “peace” partners, but the same condemnation of like those of 2006 to repeat themselves, when the citizens of Beirut those houses has not been seen or heard for the murder of the Jews were on the beach while the Israelis in Tel Aviv were in shelters. who live there. Yet, this extraordinary little country has just been named the third Are we sure that the blood of the Jews is red, that they too have most innovative in the world by the World Economic Forum. The children and mothers, that after the Shoah they really regained their others are all democracies that have known war 70 years ago, often right to exist? I begin to doubt it. Every day we watch a streamed succumbing to evil. How did Israel innovate despite the fact that it is new episode of the series “Destroying Israel, a Jew at a time”. It is a democracy at war since its creation? Brain, grit and the prospect one of the most popular television productions in history. of the imminent destruction. In the air of Israel one breathes a kind (Arutz Sheva, Feb. 7, 2018) ISRAFAX – December 20, 2017 – 5 ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 6
ISRAEL FROM ANTIQUIT Y
PRE-MODERN PERIOD The Jewish People’s presence in the land of Israel has continued for over 3,200 years. In the thirteenth century B.C.E., Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, transmitted to the people of this emerging nation the Torah and Ten Commandments; after 40 years in the Sinai desert, Joshua led them into the Land of Israel. Israelite rule began ca. 1250 B.C.E., with the period from 1587 B.C.E. e c i f known as the “Period of the Kings”. The f O
s
most noteworthy kings were King David s e r P
(1010-970), who made Jerusalem the Cap - t n e
ital of Israel, and his son Solomon (Shlomo, m n r e
970-931), who built the first Temple in v o G
Jerusalem, as described in the Tanach (He - : o t o
brew Bible). The Jewish People returned h from exile after the First, “Babylonian” Di - P aspora (587), and were expelled again in Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, stands under a portrait of Theodore Herzl, the 137 C.E., after the Second Temple had been father of modern Zionism, as he reads Israel's declaration of independence on May 14, 1948. destroyed in 70 C.E. , by a Roman army led by Titus. tas imposed by the British. Many Arab lead - An armistice, but not a peace, agreement ers, such as the Mufti of Jerusalem, sided was signed between Israel and Syria, Egypt, While sovereignty in the Land was lost after with Germany and expressed Nazi antise - Lebanon and Jordan, following the Israeli- 137 C.E., a Jewish presence endured there mitic views. Arab War of 1948. into the Muslim conquest, Christian Cru - sades, and across the Middle Ages, with re- 29 NOVEMBER 1947: UN PARTITION 29 OCTOBER 1956: SUEZ CANAL CRISIS settlement (especially in Jerusalem and PLAN The nationalization of the Suez Canal by Safed) beginning in the early modern pe - When Britain after 1945 vacated its Man - Egyptian President Gamel Abdel Nasser riod and picking up steam (the Yishuv, or date responsibility, the United Nations Gen - and a terrorist campaign provoked Israel’s Settlement) with Theodor Herzl’s develop - eral Assembly, under Resolution 181, voted invasion of Egypt, in conjunction with ment of Zionism in the nineteenth century. a partition plan separating the Land of Pales - France and Britain. The aim was to regain Western Control of the Canal and force 2 NOVEMBER 1917: THE BALFOUR tine into two states, one for the Arabs and Nasser out of power, a goal which failed be - DECLARATION the other for the Jews. The resolution also included a Special International Regime for cause U.S President Dwight Eisenhower Sir Arthur Balfour, British Foreign Secre - the city of Jerusalem, which meant it would (who later regretted this) supported the tary during World War One, wrote a letter be an international city. The Partition plan Egyptians. to the head of the British Jewish Commu - stipulated the end of the British Mandate, nity, asserting that the Crown was in favour 2 JUNE 1964: FORMATION OF THE the progressive withdrawal of British forces, of the creation of a Jewish Homeland in PALESTINIAN LIBERATION and the delineation of boundaries between Palestine. “His Majesty’s government view ORGANIZATION (PLO) the Jewish and Arab states. with favour the establishment in Palestine Set up in Arab Jerusalem, the Palestinian of a national home for the Jewish people, 14 MAY 1948: DECLARATION OF National Council’s initial goal was to lib - and will use their best endeavours to facili - INDEPENDENCE erate Palestine through an armed struggle tate the achievement of this object, it being Following the Independence War of 1947- mainly targeting Israeli civilians. Until the clearly understood that nothing shall be 1948, sparked by Arab countries spurning Madrid Conference of 1991, the PLO was done which may prejudice the civil and re - Resolution 181 and seeking instead to de - seen by Israel and the United States as a ligious rights of existing non-Jewish com - stroy the nascent Jewish state, David Ben- terrorist organization. (In 1994, as a result munities in Palestine, or the rights and Gurion declared Israel a sovereign country. of the Oslo Accord, the PLO supposedly political status enjoyed by Jews in any other The first Arab-Israeli War began on May 15, agreed to Israel’s right to live in peace country”. 1948, with attacks by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and, in return, was deemed by Israel to be the official representative of the Palestin - 1939-1945: SECOND WORLD WAR AND Iraq and Lebanon. At the end of the war in ian people. THE HOLOCAUST 1949, Israel retained all the territories that Resolution 181 had assigned, as well as al - Nazi Germany took control of almost all of 5 JUNE 1967: SIX-DAY WAR most 60% of formerly Arab territories. Europe, annihilating 6 million Jews. In the Nasser closed the Red Sea’s Straits of Tiran meantime, Palestine was largely closed off 24 FEBRUARY 1949: ARMISTICE to Israeli vessels. After the earlier Suez Cri - to Jewish refugees due to immigration quo - AGREEMENT sis, Israel had won a U.S. and U.N. guaran -
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Y TO THE MODERN STATE
tee that the Straits of Tiran would remain open to Israeli shipping, JUNE 1982: START OF LEBANON WAR which Egypt now failed to respect, announcing its intention to destroy The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) invaded southern Lebanon on June the Jewish State. As Egypt massed its troops, Israel launched pre- 6, 1982, after repeated attacks by and counter-attacks against the emptive strikes against Egypt, and waged war against Jordan and Syria PLO in southern Lebanon. The military operation was launched when they entered as well. Israel won the war after only six days, tak - after gunmen from Abu Nidal’s organization attempted to assassi - ing control of numerous areas: the Western Wall and East Jerusalem nate Shlomo Argov, Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. (from the Jordanians), the Golan Heights (from Syria), and the Gaza Begin blamed the PLO for the incident and treated it as a casus belli Strip, the West Bank and the Sinai Peninsula (from Egypt). for the invasion. SEPTEMBER 1972: MUNICH MASSACRE DECEMBER 1987: THE FIRST INTIFADA Palestinian “Black September” gunmen took eleven Israeli Olympic The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against Israeli control team members hostage in Munich and killed them along with a Ger - of the West Bank and Gaza, and lasted from 1987 until the Madrid man police officer. Police officers killed five of the eight Black Sep - Conference in 1991 (though some date its conclusion in 1993, with tember members during a failed attempt to rescue hostages. the Oslo Accords). 100 Israeli civilians and 60 IDF personnel were OCTOBER 1973: YOM KIPPUR WAR killed, and more than 1,400 Israeli civilians and 1,700 soldiers in - A coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria, launched a co-ordi - jured. In Gaza, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood now formed the nated attack against Israeli forces in the occupied Sinai and Golan terrorist Hamas movement against Israel. Heights on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. Israel ultimately 1993: PRIME MINISTER RABIN AND PLO LEADER YASSER prevailed, almost reaching Damascus and Cairo, but only after suffer - ARAFAT SIGN OSLO DECLARATION ing significant losses. Designed to encourage Palestinian self-government and formally end the First Intifada followed In September, 1995 when Israeli P.M. Yitzhak Rabin and PLO head Yasser Arafat signed an Interim Agree - ment for transfer of further power and territory to a Palestinian Na - tional Authority. In November, 1995, a Jewish extremist assassinated Rabin in Tel Aviv. 26 OCTOBER 1994: ISRAEL-JORDAN PEACE TREATY The Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed at the southern border crossing of Arabah on October 26, 1994. Prime Minister Rabin and Prime Minister Abdelsalam al-Majali signed the treaty and the Pres - ident of Israel Ezer Weizman shook hands with King Hussein. Pres. Clinton observed. 18 JUNE 1996: BENJAMIN NETANYAHU OF LIKUD BECAME THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER The first Prime Minister born in Israel after the establishment of the state, Netanyahu served his first term from June 1996 to July 1999, and has since been elected Prime Minister four times, matching Israeli Prime Minister Yizhak Rabin and Jordan's King Hussein greet David Ben-Gurion’s record. He is currently the second longest-serv - each other at the Arava Border Terminal prior to the signing of the ing Prime Minister in Israel’s history after Ben-Gurion, and will— peace treaty between their countries on October 26, 1994. if his current government lasts a full term— become the longest-serving Prime Minister in the history of Israel. 17 SEPTEMBER 1978: CAMP DAVID ACCORDS 6 DECEMBER 2017: U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP In November, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited RECOGNIZES JERUSALEM Jerusalem, addressed the Knesset, and began the process that lead to Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai and Egypt’s recognition of Israel Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol, pledging to move in the Camp David Accords of 1978, signed by Sadat and Israeli the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move broke Prime Minister Menachem Begin following secret negotiations at with long-time U.S. policy and, according to the UN, EU and nu - Camp David in the U.S. The second of two framework agreements merous world leaders, supposedly threatened regional stability. But led directly to the 1979 Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty; Sadat and Begin the American leader insisted it did not signal a shift away from shared the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize. America’s goal of a workable peace in the volatile region. On Feb - ruary 23, 2018, Trump announced that the new U.S. embassy in 26 MARCH 1979: EGYPT-ISRAEL PEACE TREATY Jerusalem will open in May, 2018, to coincide with, and to celebrate, The Egypt–Israel peace treaty was signed in Washington, following Israel’s seventieth anniversary. the 1978 Camp David Accords, by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (Timeline by Liora Chartouni, former Managing Editor of and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and witnessed by CIJR’s Dateline: Middle East student magazine, United States President Jimmy Carter. and Rob Coles, CIJR Publications Manager) ISRAFAX – March 30, 2018 – 7 ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 8
U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL ADVANCES AMERICAN INTERESTS
U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem Enhances undermine the peace process, since the Embassy will be located in an area which was controlled by Israel before the eruption of the 1967 U.S. Interests Six Day War. Yoram Ettinger The relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem represents the American ethos – from the Early Pilgrims through the Founding Fa - The U.S. decision to comply with the law of the land – the 1995 thers – which has considered Greater Jerusalem the undivided capital Jerusalem Embassy Act – recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital of the Jewish Commonwealth. Hence, the 18 U.S. towns names and relocating the U.S. Embassy there, enhances the U.S. posture of Jerusalem and the 32 named Salem (the original Biblical name of deterrence, in defiance of threats and pressure, while walking against Jerusalem). The relocation of the U.S. Embassy will implement the the grain. This reasserts the independence of U.S. unilateral diplo - 1995 legislation, which has enjoyed much support on, and off, Capi - matic action, rather than subordinate U.S. interests to multilateral tol Hill, but was sacrificed – until January 2017 – by the U.S. Ad - diplomacy, which tends to undermine U.S. interests. Moreover, it ministration on the altar of false/faulty national security challenges the political correctness of the UN, the Department of considerations. A waiver was introduced into the language of the law, State and the “elite” media, which have been serial blunderers on as a result of pressure by then President Clinton, which was seconded Middle East issues. by the late Prime Minister Rabin. While President Trump recognizes Israel as a unique ally, strate - In July, 1999, a veto-override majority of 84 Senators supported gically and morally – in an explosive region and during an unpre - proposed legislation, which would force implementation of the leg - dictably violent era – his determination to remedy this 70-year-old islation by eliminating the presidential waiver. But, a coalition of faulty policy aims at advancing U.S. interests, rather than demonstrate President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Ehud Barak convinced the pro-Israel sentiments. The relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Senators to shelve it, contending that the cause of peace must not be Jerusalem reflects the realization that retreat in the face of threats and sacrificed on the altar of Jerusalem. However, reality has documented pressure intensifies anti-U.S. policies, aggression and terrorism, while that they sacrificed reality and Jerusalem on the altar of wishful-think - defiance of pressure is a prerequisite for the rehabilitation of deter - ing and a failed peace process, which collapsed during Prime Minister rence, a precondition to peace and security. Barak’s tenure, accompanied by an unprecedented wave of Palestin - U.S. procrastination on the implementation of the 1995 Jerusalem ian terrorism…Apparently, President Trump is determined to avoid Embassy Act did not advance the cause of peace. Rather, intensified – rather than repeat – the mistakes of his predecessors, fending off Palestinian expectations forced them to outflank the U.S. from the pressure and threats by rogue regimes, and therefore advancing U.S. radical side and therefore, added another obstacle on the road to interests, law and heritage… peace. The relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem should not (Jewish Press, Feb. 26, 2018)
peacefully these two states. The Arab nations unanimously rejected The Necessary Role of Christian the plan, and immediately committed themselves to casting all Jews Zionism into the sea. A Christian Zionist is one who accepts the authority of Scripture Paul Merkley – all of it, including the prophetic portions. Doing so, he signs on to the notion that History has a Master. He knows that in making this After about a quarter-century of public advocacy for Christian Zi - case he is defying the wisdom proposed by most of the historic onism it still throws me off-balance when people come up to the Christian denominations – in- cluding the Roman Catholic Church platform and ask whether it isn’t a contradiction in terms to be a and most of the “Protestant” churches. In this company, the State of Christian and a Zionist. Israel is just a political entity like all the others. In this company, it In fact, the sin of wilful contradiction belongs on the heads of does not matter that Israel came into existence as result of the delib - those Christians who reject the obligation of loyalty to Israel in order erate decision of the United Nations; likewise, in this company, it to stand in the company of the anti-Zionists who dominate the major does not make sense that the seven decades of war which the dis - churches today – not to mention the major media forces and the obedience of Arab and Muslim nations have imposed upon Israel on learned class. account of its obedience to the will of the United Nations has im - The Old Testament ( Tanakh ) speaks clearly of a day when the posed upon all subsequent generations of Christian believers the Jews, having suffered through many centuries of abuse at the hands obli- gation to stand with Israel. of great and lesser powers of every day, would be installed by Divine A Christian Zionist is simply one who accepts the authority of action within the stream of secular history, in a land of their own, Scripture – all of it, including the prophetic portions. With this, he centered on the place where, around the year 1000 BCE,King David signs on to the notion that History has a Master. Simultane- ously, had installed his newly-secured Kingdom. The correct term for belief he signs on to the obligation to defend Israel in her ongoing struggle in this promise is Zionism. for existence. On November 29, 1947, the newly-established United Nations (Here, I must say that I have never felt the need to justify either took back the “Mandate for Palestine” that the League of Nations my Zionism nor my Christian faith to anyone at CIJR, and that had been given about twenty years previously to Great Britain and through CIJR my appreciation for Jewish scholarship, Jewish Re - pledged to establish “a Jewish State and an Arab” State (NOT a search and the cause of Israel has been greatly broadened. Mazel tov .) Palestinian State) on the ground of the old Mandate. The Jews of (Paul Merkley is a Professor Emeritus of History, the world solemnly committed themselves on that day to establish Carleton University, and a CIJR Academic Fellow) 8 – March 30, 2018 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 9
JEWISH STATE IS A MILITARY AND TECHNOLOGY SUPERPOWER
Israel’s Top Arms Clients: India, against Jerusalem. The institute ranked Israel as the fifth largest arms supplier in the world, with $1.26b. of sales last year, following the Vietnam, Azerbaijan U.S., Russia, France and Germany. The data place Israel in 18th place regarding the import of arms, Herb Keinon having spent $528m. on arms last year, fully 97.5% of it imported Arms sales do not ensure support in international forums, as the from the U.S., and the rest coming from Germany. In the past decade top three markets for Israeli military equipment – India, Vietnam Israel has only imported arms from the U.S., Germany, Italy and and Azerbaijan – almost always vote against Israel in the United Na - Canada… tions. Among other interesting trends culled from the data: According to the Stockholm In - • For the second year in a row, Israel sold no military equipment ternational Peace Research Insti - to Turkey, a country that in 2009 tute’s updated data, India is by far bought some $320m. worth of Is - Israel’s largest weapons market, raeli weapons, making it far and having bought $715 million worth away Israel’s top arms client that of weaponry in 2017, down year. slightly from the $767m. it bought • The Philippines emerged as a in 2016. This represents a whop - major market for Israel for the first ping 650% increase in arms sales time in 2017, having spent $21m. to India over the last decade. Israel on radar and antitank systems. is India’s second largest source of • Weapons deals with two Asian arms, lagging far behind Russia, countries, Singapore and South which sold New Delhi $1.9 bil - Korea, slipped precipitously last lion’s worth, but significantly year, the SIPRI data said, with ahead of both France and the U.S. South Korea, which bought $52m. According to the database, Viet - in military equipment in 2016, not nam is Israel’s second largest cus - making any purchases in 2017, and tomer, having purchased $142m. in the amount sold to Singapore drop - arms in 2017, making Israel its sec - ping from $43m. to $2m. last year. ond largest arms supplier, after • Italy is the fourth largest pur - Russia. Azerbaijan – a Muslim country on Iran’s border – is the third chaser of Israeli arms, and the biggest customer in Europe, having largest weapons market for Israel, having bought $137m. worth in spent $87m. in 2017 for Israeli airborne early warning and control 2017, a steep decline, however, from the $248m. it bought in 2016. systems. Israel is Azerbaijan’s largest arms supplier. • Israel sold $25m. worth of radar systems to Canada last year, While India at times abstains on key Israel-related votes in the the first time Israeli arms have been sold to Canada since 2009… UN, Vietnam and Azerbaijan can be counted on always to vote (Jerusalem Post, Mar. 14, 2018)
How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the their ancestral homeland to Christians from Nazareth or Muslims from the Golan Heights. World In the last 70 years, Israel has sent international aid missions around the world, to Africa, Armenia, Argentina, Kyrgyzstan, Mex - Avi Jorisch ico, Rwanda, Turkey and more. The reasons for these missions have Chutzpah, obligatory military service, renowned universities and varied, with some pragmatic and others idealistic. But the desire smart big government — these, along with a diverse population for tikkun olam , repairing the world, and bringing more light into and a dearth of natural resources, go far in explaining how a tiny the world informs them all. Many of Israel’s founders experienced country in the Middle East became a tech powerhouse. But why do the horrors of the pogroms and the Holocaust, and as Israeli par - many Israeli tech companies, rather than simply enriching people liamentarian Isaac Herzog put it, because Jews felt the “world’s si - or making our lives more convenient, also wind up making the lence” during the Holocaust, they “cannot remain indifferent.” world a better place? Israelis of all faiths see it as their duty to improve the lives of Israel’s desire to repair the world is part of a host of Jewish val - other people across the globe. The country is not just a “startup na - ues. Since the Middle Ages and possibly before, Jews have recited tion,” but a place where people of all religions and ethnicities – the aleinu prayer three times a day, which instructs us to repair the even as the surrounding region undergoes a seemingly intractable world. Pirkei Avot , or Chapters of the Fathers, a collection of ethical war — strive to make the world a better place for everyone. Israel teachings compiled by rabbis around the second and third centuries has mobilized to solve problems that originally appeared unique to CE, encourages people to help others. Israel’s founding fathers, it, and its innovative solutions have proved applicable elsewhere. chief among them David Ben-Gurion, the country’s first prime This is the story of Israeli innovation and its impact on billions minister, were inspired by these religious teachings. Today, that of people around the world. These are but a few examples of how idea is taught in schools and is woven into the fabric of Israeli so - Israel and its citizens act as a force for good… ciety, affecting everyone from Yemeni Jews who have returned to (Algemeiner, Mar. 14, 2018) ISRAFAX – March 30, 2018 – 9 ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 10
SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES CONDONE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST “OPPRESSORS”
Does “Social Justice” Racism The route to “social justice” is, among other methods, “affirma - tive action,” which means that recruitment to universities, jobs, and Harm Jews? offices is now based on what race, nationality, or creed one is cate - Philip Carl Salzman gorized as. Blacks, Hispanics, and Muslims are today designated victims who must be given benefits without meeting any universal - In the past, Jews were discriminated against because they were istic criteria of achievement. Places are reserved for “oppressed mi - not Christians. Many institutions “restricted” Jews. McGill Univer - norities,” which means that for every member of “oppressed sity limited the number of Jews accepted. So did Ivy League Uni - minorities” admitted or hired or appointed, better qualified whites, versities. I remember going to a company event at a rented venue, Christians, Jews, and Asians are blocked and excluded. According and seeing a sign saying “Restricted to Christians Only.” I also re - to a National Review editorial, call as a boy other boys rolling through the street asking if I was The de facto discrimination against Asian and Asian-American Jewish, presumably not because they wanted to bless me. students is spectacular, undeniable, and shameful. They are in effect Today, inspired by so-called “social justice,” which imagines a subjected to the same quota system that the Ivy League once used utopian world of economic, demographic and statistical equal out - to keep down its Jewish population — the “bamboo ceiling,” some comes, we celebrate “the good, reverse racism” that advantages the call it. Asian-American groups pursuing litigation against these poli - marginalized, oppressed, and subaltern. “The good, reverse racism” cies have demonstrated students of Asian background on average requires that we disadvantage the oppressors, the “privileged,” the have to score 140 points above white students to have similar whites, males, Christians, and Jews. So measures are put into place chances of college admission — and 270 points higher than Hispanic to admit and include the good races, the suffering blacks, Hispanics, students, and 450 points higher than black students. The “Asian and Muslims, while excluding the bad races, whites, males, Chris - penalty” is especially heavy in places such as California’s prestigious tians, and Jews. state universities. Let us ignore the fact that religion is part of culture and not race, “Affirmative action” was not meant to be discriminatory. In 1961, and that males are not a race. All categories are assimilated into the President J. F. Kennedy’s Presidential Executive Order 10925 as - world-encompassing binary of “oppressors/oppressed,” with the serted that “discrimination because of race, creed, color, or national obligation to suppress the oppressors and relieve the oppressed. By origin is contrary to the Constitutional principles and policies of the virtue of their privilege, the oppressors are deemed to have no rights United States,” and further more that “affirmative steps which should either as a class or as individuals. They must be silenced and re - be taken by executive departments and agencies to realize more fully placed by their victims. If you think I exaggerate, then allow me to the national policy of nondiscrimination within the executive branch mention the “social justice’ professor who tweeted, “What I dream of the Government.” Government contractors “will not discriminate of is white genocide.” against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, So Jews are now discriminated against because they fall into the creed, color, or national origin. The contractor will take affirmative oppressor category, because they allegedly benefit from “privilege” action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees denied to some minorities. In fact, according to “social justice” ad - are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, vocates, Jews may no longer be considered a minority, because, ac - color, or national origin.” cording to a discussion leader at a university, “Jews have not We have come a long way from John Kennedy to “social justice” suffered.” Another minority discriminated against, although they racism. Should Jews and others, as Asians have, take a stand against have never been privileged and always been discriminated against the racist turn we have taken? in North America, are Asians. They are discriminated against be - (Philip Carl Salzman is a professor of anthropology cause they are too successful, “over-represented” among achievers. at McGill University and a CIJR Academic Fellow)
KRANTZ – ica, as opposed to W. Europe). Yet while recognition, after twenty years of Presidential continued from page 2 these phenomena demand attention and ef - avoidance, of Jerusalem as Israel’s historic capitol, is a key policy shift reflecting—de - Iraq, and Yemen) and creation of a nuclear fective action, they do not—save for an Iran - spite ongoing Palestinian, UN, and EU op - weapon, are Israel’s major political necessi - ian nuclear weapon— threaten Israel’s, or the position—the simple fact of modern Jewish ties (the instability in Hamas-occupied Gaza Jewish People’s, existence. You may have noticed the omission here Israel’s normalization, and permanence, in is also concerning.) Iran cannot be allowed the region and in the world. to establish permanent bases along Israel’s of what even a few years ago, was thought to be Israel’s “key problem”: the Palestinian Of course, the Book of the Future is al - northern border with Syria, and any move to ways difficult to read, and capable of unfore - issue (the “peace process”, the “two-state so - create atomic weapons must be blocked. seen surprises. Nevertheless, we are right lution”, etc.). This reflects, across a broad Is - Whether this can be achieved without direct today to celebrate the miracle of our reborn Israeli (or U.S.-Israeli) military intervention, raeli political spectrum, a changed reality: State’s joyous seventieth birthday. Its history remains moot. continuing Palestinian rejectionism, division shows us that while those who oppose, and On a world scale, development of a (Abbas-Fatah-West Bank vs. Hamas-Gaza), often oppress, us, come and go, am Yisrael “new”, Israel-centered antisemitism seeking and economic crisis, and a flourishing post- chai , the eternal Jewish people, lives! to delegitimate the Jewish state is concerning, l967 Israeli population in Judea and Samaria, (Dr. Frederick Krantz, Director of CIJR as is the “anti-Zionist” turn on U.S. campuses has relegated the Palestinian issue to the po - and Editor of its ISRAFAX journal, is (BDS, Israeli Apartheid Week, etc.) and Is - litical back burner. Professor of History in Liberal Arts lamic terrorism (still sporadic in North Amer - Indeed, Donald Trump’s recent, historic College, Concordia University, Montreal) 10 – March 30, 2018 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_295.qxp 2018-03-26 11:25 AM Page 11
CIJR REVIEW OF BOOKS
Baruch Cohen. No One Bears Witness at McGill University. He served as Research Director of the Cana - dian Institute for Jewish Research and worked with the Montreal for the Witness: A Memoir . New York: Holocaust Memorial Centre. Baruch would speak to classes at RVP Press/CIJR, 2018 McGill and Concordia University, and to high school students, on the Holocaust and what happened to the Jews of Transnistria, a re - Bradley Martin gion of Romania where hundreds of thousands had been slaugh - tered. As time goes on, the memory The fourth and final part of the memoir consists of a collection of the Holocaust seems to grow of poetry written by Baruch over the years. Despite all that has
dimm er w ith e ver y p a ss ing y ear. happened to him and his family, Baruch truly believes that initially
It w oul d se e m t ha t wi th t he nu - all human beings are good and that we must learn about the inhu -
merou s g enoc ide s th at c on ti nue manity of so-called humanity in order to oppose it. to thi s d ay , m a ny peo pl e are re - Baruch’s poems are very heartfelt and express a deep love for
luctant to absorb the true mean - Israel and the Jewish people. But one that stands out is his poem
ing of t he w o rd s: “never again.”
in memory of his daughter Malca, who sadly passed away in the Yet t h is b ook e ffectively encap - year 2000. In his poem titled For Malca with Love , Baruch ex -
sulates not only the horrors of presses a profound love for his daughter that is deeply moving and
the Ho l o c a u st , but the story of provides a glimpse of his depth as a compassionate human being.
an extraordinary man who Is it true that no one bears witness for the witness? To this day, maintained his humanity against BARUCH COHEN Romania struggles to confront a dark chapter of its history. Baruch overwhelming odds. No On e Bears Witn ess Cohen’s exceptional life is that of a man who witnessed the worst In this way, Baruch Cohen’s for the Witn ess of humanity, yet persevered, and continuously uplifted those a m em oir memoir No One Bears Witness around him. In a world that is intent on forgetting the Holocaust, for the Witness is truly a pre - | it is our responsibility as readers to internalize Baruch’s lessons cious gift to readers. and follow his example, thus truly honoring all he, as a witness, Following a preface by Dr. Frederick Krantz and an introduc - has done for us. tion by Dr. Joyce Rappaport, the memoir is divided into four parts. In Part I, Baruch describes his childhood growing up in Bucharest, (Bradley Martin is Deputy Editor for the Canadian Institute Romania. Baruch grew up in a poor, but not deprived, household for Jewish Research and Senior Fellow with the news and and we get to see a side of him as a young boy who loved animals public policy group Haym Salomon Center) and going to movies. Baruch also describes his loving family and thriving Jewish life. Recent Books In 1937, Romania would change for the worse with the instate - ment of racial laws and revocation of the citizenship of Romanian Douglass-Williams, Christine. The Challenge of Modernizing Jews. In January, 1941, Baruch describes the Holocaust as having Islam: Reformers Speak Out And The Obstacles They Face . New come to his city. For three agonizing days, the Jewish community York: Encounter Books, 2017 had to suffer what he called the Bucharest Kristallnacht . After the Feldman, Seymour. Gersonides: Judaism within the Limits of third day, Baruch went to a slaughterhouse to search for the Reason . Oxford: The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, whereabouts of his missing father. Thankfully, Baruch’s father would later turn up safe on the out - 2015 skirts of Bucharest. But not after Baruch witnessed what he would Glinert, Lewis. The Story of Hebrew . Princeton: Princeton Uni - describe as the most shocking image of his life: corpses hanging versity Press, 2017 from meat hooks with mocking signs attached, “advertising” what was sadistically described as “Jewish kosher meat.” Murray, Douglas. The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Part II details Baruch’s life as a forced laborer, abused and Identity, Islam . New York: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2017 beaten by Romanian fascist soldiers. Baruch’s lower spine would Panofsky, Ruth (Ed.). The New Spice Box: Canadian Jewish break, which would later require surgery in Canada. Yet Baruch Writing Volume I . Toronto: New Jewish Press, 2017 and his friends would continue secretly distributing flyers for Zionist organizations, calling for Jews to escape to Eretz Israel . Wallace, Max. In the Name of Humanity: The Secret Deal to In December, 1943, Baruch would marry his wife Sonia in the End the Holocaust . Toronto: Penguin Canada, 2017 midst of Jews being deported from neighboring Poland and Hun - gary to Nazi death camps in Transnistria. With the Communist takeover of Romania in 1944, Baruch and CIJR invites all readers Sonia left for Israel with their daughter Malca. Though Baruch was too old to enlist in the Israeli military, he did serve as a re - to consult its Research servist in the Sinai War of 1956, where he learned how to use a Library and extensive gun for the first time—a source of great pride for him. The family Israel DataBank in would then move to Canada, at the behest of Sonia’s parents. person and online. In Part III, Baruch details his life in Montreal, where he became CFO of a major corporation and did a Master’s in Judaic Studies
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