Virus Pandemic, Israel Remembers Holocaust Victims

CAST Opinion. Tradition. OF COMEDIANS WORDS 'FAUDA' UNDERSTAND THAT TALKS THE MIDEAST HEAL SEASON 3 A2. A10. A11.

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$1.00 - PRINTED IN NEW YORK FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 | 30 NISSAN 5780 VOL. XLVII NO. 2452 In Midst of Corona- Coronavirus Lockdown Deepens virus Pandemic, Holocaust Survivors’ Israel Remembers Loneliness Holocaust Victims BY REUTERS & ALGEMEINER STAFF

Elias Feinzilberg, a 102-year-old Holocaust survivor, had to commemorate Israel’s annual memorial day for the six million Jewish dead on Tuesday separated from his family because of the coronavirus lockdown. From his third-floor Jerusalem home, he blew kisses to his daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who stood in the street below to be with him, at a safe distance, as a siren sounded across Israel to honour those who perished. “It pains me that I cannot be with my family, with my friends,” said Feinzilberg from his window.

People stand still in Tel Aviv as a two- minute siren marking the annual Israeli Holocaust Remembrance Day is heard, April 21, 2020. Photo: Reuters / Corinna Kern.

Janny Brodesky, the daughter of Elias Feinzilberg, a 102-year-old Holocaust survivor, and other family mem- BY ALGEMEINER tions paused, and drivers pulled Ministry, 75 years after the end bers, wave as they stand by his home in Jerusalem as Israel their cars over on streets and of World War II, there are still marks Holocaust Remembrance Day under coronavirus STAFF & AGENCIES disease (COVID-19) restrictions, April 21, 2020. Photo: Reuters highways. 189,500 Holocaust survivors / Ronen Zvulun. In the midst of the corona- Israel has been under strict in Israel. About 70 percent of Below, his family members, including five of his 19 virus pandemic, Israel paused on lockdown measures for more them are above age 80 — making great-grandchildren, brandished a sign that read “Remem- Tuesday to remember the murder than a month in efforts to stop the them particularly at risk from the bering close-by, embracing from afar,” part of a nationwide of 6 million Jews by the Nazis on spread of the coronavirus, with Covid-19 disease as long as there campaign to show solidarity with Israel’s roughly 190,000 Holocaust Remembrance Day. most public life shut down, and is no vaccination. Holocaust survivors at this time of coronavirus lockdown Across the country, sirens many people working from home “In this challenging period, and enforced separation. blared for two minutes, while the or out of work. when quarantine is necessary to As the siren sounded, his family bowed their heads and few pedestrians who were out in Others observed a moment of protect their health, it is important Continued on Page A3 public despite lockdown restric- silence at homes from their balconies. that Holocaust survivors in partic- According to the Finance Continued on Page A3

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view with Brigit Grant for the Jewish News, that’s where that comes from, this movement, Mason noted that “Jews are often the biggest someone who doesn’t even want a Jewish MITCHELL BARD supporters and unwitting allies of antisemi- state at all. Somehow this side never gets NEW YORK tism. If you go to any university today you’ll presented in the American media.” find a ‘Professor Silverstein’ preaching about “Congresswoman Omar has said things intersectionality, being ‘woke,’ and the oppres- like, ‘It’s all about the Benjamins,’ ‘Israel has Nearly 20 years ago, comedian Larry sion of the Palestinian people.” hypnotized the world,’ ‘May Allah awaken Miller (not Dennis Miller, as some believe) Mason observed that “all you ever hear is the people and help them see the evil doings explained the Mideast conflict better than if only Israel didn’t do this or that the Palestin- of Israel,’” Maher added. “She apologized for A Palestinian rioter hurls stones at Israeli any expert. He said: “Five hundred million ians would act differently” and suggested that it, but it’s out there: Jews control the world, troops in the West Bank city of Hebron, Feb. 6, 2020. Photo: Reuters / Mussa Qawasma. Arabs; five million Jews. Think of all the Arab those professors and BDS advocates should control the money. I can see why they don’t countries as a football field, and Israel as a contemplate “what would happen IF the get a hero’s welcome.” capital since 1949, it is where their government pack of matches sitting in the middle of it. And Palestinians… Didn’t fire rockets into towns Typical of BDS hypocrites who believe is. They’ve won all the wars thrown against now these same folks swear that if Israel gives in Israel; Acknowledged the Jews’ right to exist the First Amendment entitles them to attack them. I don’t understand why they don’t get to them half of that pack of matches, everyone in their ancestral homeland; Remembered Jews and Israel, but does not apply to anyone have their capital where they want.” will be pals.” with the Arab states and the rest of the world who criticizes them, Tlaib called for a boycott When New York Times columnist Miller reminded people of the history that they rejected the partition plan in 1947 of Maher’s show. Michelle Goldberg, appearing on his show that two-state advocates ignore, such as the and invaded with five armies; Remember the In one of the best ripostes to the “Real Time,” replied, “When you win a war you fact that Gaza was occupied by Egypt, and hundreds of thousands of Sephardic Jews preachers of intersectionality and their claim don’t get to take the other side’s land,” Maher the West Bank was controlled by Jordan. who were ejected from Arab countries and that Jews are among those who enjoy “white responded, “Actually, you do, especially Now the Palestinians say they want their own sent into exile;” and many other facts. privilege,” Maher said, “It’s predicated on this because [the Israelis] were attacked.” He country. “No, they don’t,” observed Miller. Then there’s Bill Maher, who said of the notion, I think — it’s very shallow thinking — added, “They were attacked more than once “They could’ve had their own country any BDS movement after Israel banned Congress- that the Jews in Israel [are] mostly white, and and they took land in those wars that they time in the last 30 years, especially … at Camp women Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan the Palestinians are browner, so they must be won and there has been peace offers on the David. But if you have your own country, you Omar (D-MN) from visiting the country: innocent and correct, and the Jews must be table ever since to give part of that land back.” have to have traffic lights and garbage trucks “It’s a bulls— purity test by people who want wrong. As if the occupation came right out of Maher also seems to understand better and chambers of commerce, and, worse, you to appear woke but actually slept through the blue, that this completely peaceful people than the foreign policy mavens the problem actually have to figure out some way to make history class.” found themselves occupied.” with the two-state solution. He asked why it a living. That’s no fun. No, they want what all Maher quoted one of the BDS Maher, who loathes President Trump, should be up to the Israelis to come up with a the other Jew haters in the region want: Israel.” movement’s leaders, Omar Barghouti, who gave him credit for recognizing Jerusalem as plan, since anything they propose is rejected Just in time for Passover, Jackie Mason said, “No Palestinian, rational Palestinian, Israel’s capital: “I hate to agree with Donald and then they are blamed for making it “impos- also had some words of wisdom. In an inter- not a sell-out Palestinian, would ever accept Trump … it doesn’t happen often, but I do. a Jewish state in Palestine.” Maher added: “So I don’t know why Israel — it has been their Continued on Page A9 New York Times Seder-Shames Ivanka Trump

own. TheTimes doesn’t say whether the Trump coronavirus — the practice of spying on the family seder involved Zoom, or what relatives, if people who are observing the Jewish religion, IRA STOLL any, were in attendance beyond the five-person and ratting them out publicly for doing so. Algemeiner Journal BOSTON Kushner-Trump family. The federal guidelines The Miami Herald, for example, reports (USPS 927800) is published weekly about the novel coronavirus are just that — that in Miami Beach, “The city banned formal (except for the week of Passover guidelines. There’s no statutory definition of religious services at places of worship on and Succos) what travel is “discretionary” and what is not. If March 27. Violations of the order are consid- Subscription rate $40 per year The New York Times wants everyone to the Times thinks that Trump’s action poses any ered a criminal offense.” How that is consistent know that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Covid-19-related public health risk, it doesn’t with the First Amendment is totally beyond Algemeiner Journal had a Passover seder in New Jersey, not explain how it does. If anything, it’s the Times me. What happened afterward, the Herald 208 E 51st Street, Suite 185 Washington, DC — and that the Times disap- creating the public health risk by publicizing reports, is that when Jewish prayer gatherings New York, N.Y. 10022 proves of the decision. the travel, turning a private move by two White moved into private homes, neighbors hired a A Times news article published online and House aides into an international news story. private investigator to report the home-based Periodicals Postage later in print plays gotcha with the presidential Who knows, maybe the Trumps have a prayer services to the city. Paid at Brooklyn, N.Y. daughter’s Passover plan. Online, the article Passover kitchen at Bedminster, or were able The Herald article, headlined “Neighbor and at additional mailing offices is headlined, “Ivanka Trump, Disregarding to observe the holiday there while putting hires detective to spy on Jewish prayer groups Federal Guidelines, Travels to N.J. for Passover.” themselves, their children, or their staff at after coronavirus closes temples,” quoted a POSTMASTER: The subheadline is, “Ms. Trump herself has not less personal risk. Maybe they consulted Miami Beach Commissioner, Ricky Arriola, who: Send address changes to followed the federal guidelines advising against medical or rabbinic authorities — or both — said it was “troublesome” to see neigh- Algemeiner Journal discretionary travel, leaving Washington for before deciding to make the trip, and weighed bors turning on each other to disclose the another one of her family’s homes.” various considerations to decide what would locations of religious gatherings. P.O. Box 250746 The Times even uses anonymous be best for their family and for the country. “These are very stressful times for folks,” Brooklyn, N.Y. 11225 -3023 sources to prop up its seder scoop, reporting The Times print headline is “President’s Arriola said. “Many people find comfort in a kind of breathless, Bob Woodward style: Daughter Ignores Travel Guidelines.” That’s in religion and observing religious tradi- “Ms. Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, inaccurate, because maybe she didn’t “ignore” tions and ceremonies. I think we have to be Let your voice be heard! who is also a senior White House adviser, them, maybe she thought about them, and respectful of their individual decisions.” [email protected] traveled with their three children to the decided her own travel was not discre- Troublesome indeed. Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New tionary, or that she should go anyway, given Even some Times readers didn’t think Jersey to celebrate the first night of Passover the competing considerations. It’s also weird much of this story. As one Times commenter, To advertise in this month, according to two people with to frame the whole thing as if it were entirely “CC” from Nevada City, put it in a comment the new Algemeiner knowledge of their travel plans, even as seders Ivanka’s decision and to focus the article and that won a “Times Pick” gold medal, “C’mon. across the country were canceled and families the main headline on Ivanka, as if Jared were This is a ‘tempest in a tea pot.’ I have no affinity e-mail: [email protected] gathered remotely over apps like Zoom.” just some kind of suitcase that Ivanka threw in at all for Trump or his family, but this isn’t or call Well, in our experience, at least, not many the trunk of the sport utility vehicle on the way worth your time or the readers.’ The family seders were “canceled.” On a net basis, there to the Garden State. stayed together in the car; no one in the public 718-771-0400 were probably more seders, if smaller ones, than In seder-shaming Jared and Ivanka, the was affected. … What’s the problem?” there ever have been, as people who usually are Times is joining one of the more unattractive Ira Stoll was managing editor of The Forward guests at large seders wound up leading their trends that has gone along with the novel and North American editor of The Jerusalem Post. www.algemeiner.com | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 A3 World News. Unity Deal Allows Holocaust Survivors Netanyahu to Push ‘Nothing Short of Living Trump’s Peace Plan Heroes,’ Britain’s Prince Charles Says BY ISRAEL HAYOM/JNS.org

The unity government agreement final- ized on Monday evening by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz allows Israel to promote the annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria as early as July, sources privy to the details of the deal told Israel Hayom. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in According to Article 29 of the 14-page Washington, US, January 28, 2020. Photo: REU- agreement, Netanyahu, who under the TERS/Joshua Roberts. rotation deal with Gantz will retain the US, including on the issue of the maps, and in premiership for the next 18 months, “will be dialogue with the international community.” able to present the agreement reached with The agreement further outlines two legis- the US on the application of sovereignty [in lative paths to enact annexation, seeking to Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley] bypass any objections in parliament. for the approval of the government and the The Trump administration has also Knesset starting July 1, 2020.” linked Israel’s sovereignty moves in Judea and The Trump administration presented its Samaria and the Jordan Valley with Israeli Middle East peace plan in late January. Gantz support for a demilitarized Palestinian state. Britain’s Prince Charles addresses the National Yom HaShoah UK Commemoration via video, April 20, 2020. Photo: National Yom HaShoah UK Commemoration. was previously hesitant to support any annexa- Netanyahu had already agreed to the tion move, but under the unity deal, his party has issue in principle in his 2009 speech at Bar-Ilan managed to piece their lives back together pledged to vote with the coalition on the issue. BY BENJAMIN KERSTEIN University, but has refrained from endorsing it to become the leaders and builders of your Moreover, the deal states that both in the 11 years that have since passed. Britain’s Prince Charles addressed the community, active citizens and dedicated leaders “will act in full agreement with the annual National Yom HaShoah UK Commem- contributors to wider British society.” oration via video on Tuesday, saying that the “They have been and continue to be story of the resilience of Holocaust survivors shining examples to the world of how it is Israel’s Coronavirus could serve as a role model for the world as it possible to triumph over adversity,” he said. struggled with the coronavirus pandemic. “To us they are simply nothing short “My heart goes out to you all as you of living heroes,” Charles added, “who were Death Toll Rises to 181, remember the Shoah,” Charles told those determined not just to survive but to thrive.” who gathered online due to the coronavirus Addressing the ongoing coronavirus restrictions, marking not only Holocaust crisis, he said, “For 75 years survivors, Total Number of Cases Remembrance Day, but also the 75th refugees, and liberators have inspired us with anniversary of the British liberation of the their positive messages of hope, which now, at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. such an unprecedented, anxious, and strange at 13,883 He paid tribute to the survivors of the time in all our lives, can perhaps remind us Holocaust, saying, “Despite the unimaginable that through faith, resolve, and determination, horrors that they endured and the losses the day will soon come when we will all be safely together again.” BY JNS.org including 170 new cases since Monday night. they suffered, the survivors and refugees While 4,353 Israelis have officially recovered, who found a welcome in Britain somehow Israel’s COVID-19 death toll rose to 142 are still in serious condition, 113 of whom 181 on Tuesday, after four more people are intubated. However, the number of Israelis Continued from Page A1 audience on Monday night online, with trans- Israel Remembers succumbed to the disease overnight Monday recovering from the virus has exceeded the lation in five languages. ular, and the entirety of the older generation and on Tuesday morning. number of new infections for four days in a Yad Vashem invited people from around know that they are not alone,” said Knesset Among the four fatalities was Aharon row, according to the ministry. the world to participate in a virtual name- Speaker Benny Gantz in a speech on Tuesday. Turchin, a 48-year-old father of 14 with no The update comes just days after officials reading ceremony by recording themselves Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- preexisting health conditions. Turchin, who tentatively rolled back some of the strict limita- reciting the names of victims and sharing the yahu also posted a pre-recorded message on lived in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, tions placed on movement and commerce in video on social media. “Although the circum- Tuesday commemorating survivors of the passed away at the Ichilov Medical Center in the last several weeks, as well as lockdowns on stances this year are unique, the message is Holocaust. Tel Aviv after being transferred there over the Bnei Brak and two dozen neighborhoods in still the same: We will never forget them,” said More than 13,880 people are confirmed weekend from Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Jerusalem with particularly high coronavirus chairman Avner Shalev. to be infected with the coronavirus, with the Center in Bnei Brak after his condition infection rates. The coastal city of Tel Aviv was promoting country’s death toll at 181, according to the deteriorated. Bnei Brak continues to have the highest online events, such as sharing survivors’ Health Ministry. More than 4,350 have recov- According to Israel’s Health Ministry, per capita coronavirus infection rate in the stories on Facebook. ered, the ministry added. there have been a total of 13,883 confirmed country, but residents are now subject to the It was announced last month that a tradi- Many institutions and museums were cases of coronavirus infection in the country same regulations as all other Israelis. tional memorial march between the Auschwitz since the beginning of the pandemic, holding online ceremonies to mark the I and Birkenau death camps that usually takes event. The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial place on Holocaust Remembrance Day had in Jerusalem had streamed a state opening been cancelled for the first time. Continued from Page A1 ‘A great inspiration’ ceremony that was recorded without an Loneliness Feinzilberg was packed aboard a cattle then waved to Feinzilberg. train and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where “Loneliness is one of their greatest wartime restrictions in the ghettos and camps. The average age of the survivors today is more than a million Jews were murdered. He sources of distress,” said Offir Ettinger, a Therapy sessions, led by social workers 84, putting them in the highest risk group for survived months of forced labor before being spokesman for Israel’s Authority for Holocaust and psychologists, have been increased since COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by marched by the Nazis from one concentration Survivors’ Rights, which provides thousands the outbreak, said Ettinger, and are being the coronavirus. camp to another in the final weeks of the war. of survivors with regular support through conducted by phone and video chats. Israel, which has about nine million He and his wife moved to Israel in 1969 dedicated NGOs. Jenny Brodsky, Feinzilberg’s daughter, people, has reported 13,833 confirmed and opened a shoe store. She died in 2008 and “Every Holocaust Day we see an increase said her father was dealing with isolation COVID-19 cases to date, including 181 deaths. Feinzilberg now has a full-time care worker in survivors turning to us for help, but this relatively well. Feinzilberg, born in Poland in 1917, living with him. year, because of the coronavirus isolation, it’s “(The coronavirus) is nothing compared was imprisoned with his family in the Lodz The Holocaust survivors, like other elderly different,” said Ettinger. with what he’s been through,” she said. “The ghetto after the Nazi German invasion at the Israelis, are confined to their homes under the “Even a mere word like ‘curfew’ can bring most difficult part for him is knowing that his start of World War Two in 1939. His father country’s partial lockdown and find themselves back painful memories for some,” he added, family are okay, but he has a lot of patience, he perished there and his mother and sisters far from their usual network of support. because of its associations with draconian is very optimistic. He’s a great inspiration to us.” were murdered at the Chelmno death camp. A4 | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 World News. Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Palestinian Authority’s Indoctrination of Children With Anti-Israel Hatred Moves Online

BY BENJAMIN KERSTEIN

Despite the coronavirus pandemic shutting down schools operated by the Pales- tinian Authority, a new report showed that Israel Defense Forces soldiers helping to fill and deliver oxygen tanks as part of the country’s efforts educational materials containing incitement, to combat the coronavirus epidemic. hatred and violence are now being used Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Office. extensively online. The materials were revealed by the Institute The New Normal at Jerusalem for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in Images from an educational Facebook page School Textbooks (IMPACT-se), and showed showing Palestinian children using slingshots in Venture Partners: Robots, numerous instances of the disturbing lessons Palestinian Authority schools. Photo: IMPACT-se. being taught to Palestinian children. civilians to illustrate a Newtonian principle, One video shows a teacher using the story asking, “Do the rocket launchers of the Pales- Temperature Taking Tech, and of Palestinian terrorist Dalal al-Mughrabi, one tinian resistance have potential energy?” of the perpetrators of the 1978 Coastal Road IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff 3D Printed Masks Massacre, in which 38 Israeli civilians were commented on the materials, saying, “Even killed, to teach reading comprehension to when studying at home, Palestinian children ten-year-old kids. cannot escape the hate. The violence and The presentation used graphic images of incitement of the official Palestinian curric- BY ELIHAY VIDAL/CTech door in the building has sanitizing materials at violence, and the teacher at one point praises ulum is being neatly migrated online by hand. All door handles in the compound are “the suicide operation that caused the deaths official and unofficial educational initiatives The Startup Nation is back to work, but disinfected every hour by the cleaning staff. of many of the Occupation’s soldiers.” and fed into their living rooms.” not without taking the necessary precautions. Once inside the building, in order to In another video lesson, Sir Isaac “If anything, the online versions make In the Jerusalem Venture Partners’ Media minimize contact between employees, a robot Newton’s theories are taught to seventh- the hate even more graphic and awful than Quarter of Jerusalem, for example, each manufactured by TEMI Personal Robots trans- graders using the example of slingshots used before,” he added. “If the donor community employee that arrives at the office undergoes fers documents between the offices. Guests to launch projectiles at Israelis. thought this global pandemic would lead to an advanced temperature check, completes arriving at the complex are not allowed into An answer to a question refers specifi- the Palestinian Ministry of Education leaving an online health questionnaire, prints out a the building and conference rooms, but only cally to stone-throwing, saying, “The forces that the hate behind, they were wrong.” influence the stone are the weight of the stone 3D face mask, and is allocated special space in to a dedicated guest building with a separate “It is clear that teaching Jihad is too and also the resistance of the atmosphere that the complex to ensure social distancing. entrance. Guests enter from one side of the important to the Palestinian Authority to be influences the stone.” JVP employs around 250 people in about building and the compound workers from the stopped by anything as mundane as a global Images from an eighth-grade science 20 start-ups and incubators in Jerusalem. By other. Pitches from startup companies raising pandemic,” Sheff said. textbook also appear on an educational using the latest technological solutions, they money for the JVP fund will be presented in “This is what happens when the Pales- Facebook page that show Palestinian students decided to build on the new Israeli Ministry of this space, ensuring both parties do not come tinian Authority makes a strategic decision to actually using slingshots in class. Health Guidelines to ease the restrictions on in direct physical contact. encourage over a million Palestinian children An e-learning portal operated by the economic and social activity. At the entrance “Israel’s tech sector provides solutions to sacrifice themselves and when the interna- for people across the globe dealing with the Palestinian Authority’s Education Ministry tional community funds it,” he concluded. to the complex, each employee goes through even uses the example of rockets fired at Israeli a special temperature-screening technology challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, but tool developed by Thermogate, which detects beyond that, we are producing a higher level body temperature in seconds. Then, within of best practices and standards for a return to the position of the democratic State of Israel being increasingly implemented in other places minutes, a “Good Thought” 3D printing work, which can be applied worldwide,” said towards the Palestinian Arabs with that of the on the planet.” National Socialists during the Shoah –an antise- Later in the same essay, Mbembe argued machine produces a plastic face protector to Erel Margalit, JVP’s chairman and founder. mitic picture in its purest form,” the letter argued. that the “metaphor of apartheid” — the reduce the chances of infection. “First of all, we need to make sure our workers The Jewish Values Initiative protest came brutally-enforced segregation of the black- In addition, everyone who enters the come to work and return home healthy.” a few days after Germany’s top federal official majority population in South Africa for much complex completes a short questionnaire JVP was recently selected by New York dealing with antisemitism called for Mbembe’s of the twentieth century — could not “fully developed by the Weizmann Institute, City to establish the city’s International Cyber appearance at the festival to be nixed. account for the specific character of the Israeli entrance to the building is granted or denied Center. The model for a return to work being implemented in Jerusalem will serve as a pilot “Delivering the opening speech to such separation project.” based on the results. The elevator in the an important event is a task of responsibility, Wrote Mbembe: “[G]iven its ‘hi-tech’ for the New York center, which is expected to building has been programmed to ensure that not least given the fact that the festival is character, the effects of the Israeli project on reopen in the coming month. only those granted access can use it, and each financed with public funds,” Felix Klein — the the Palestinian body are much more formi- German government’s antisemitism commis- dable that the relatively primitive operations sioner — told the WAZ news outlet last Friday. undertaken by the apartheid regime in South German Jewish Group Slams “The person selected should be someone who Africa between 1948 and the early 1980s.” lives up to this responsibility, not someone Mbembe was also criticized for his state- Festival Invite to Prominent who has been criticized in the past for the ment that the “apartheid system in South relativization of the Holocaust.” Africa and the destruction of Jews in Europe Klein said that Mbembe had “questioned — the latter, though, in an extreme fashion Academic Accused of Antisemitism Israel’s right to exist and also compared South and within a quite different setting — consti- Africa’s apartheid system to the Holocaust — tuted two emblematic manifestations of this something that is out of the question in view phantasy of separation.” of the unprecedented crimes during the Nazi In an email on Monday to the Südde- on Aug. 14 should be revoked. BY BEN COHEN era, and especially given Germany’s historical utsche Zeitung newspaper, Mbembe The group said that Mbembe — a Camer- responsibility for it.” He warned that the vigorously denied that the charges against One of Germany’s leading cultural oonian sociologist currently teaching in South Ruhrtriennale festival would suffer “consider- him had any validity. festivals was at the center of a row over Africa — had in his writings made the “antise- able damage” if Mbembe’s speech went ahead. “I am not a member or supporter of BDS antisemitism on Tuesday, as a German Jewish mitic” equation between the former apartheid The controversy has stemmed largely from or any other organization involved in the organization joined in with earlier demands regime in South Africa and the Israeli govern- a lengthy essay Mbembe wrote in 2016 titled “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Mbembe stated, to cancel the opening address at the event by ment, endorsed the anti-Zionist campaign to Society of Enmity.” Arguing that the present state adding: “I don’t believe in a general boycott of an academic charged with “antisemitism” and boycott, divest from and sanction the Jewish of world politics was “characterized by forms of Israeli academics.” “Holocaust relativization.” state, and diminished the Holocaust by brack- exclusion, hostility, hate movements, and, above Furthermore, he disputed the accusation In a letter to the elected leadership of eting it with the apartheid system. all, by the struggle against an enemy,” Mbembe that he had relativized the Holocaust, saying the North-Rhine Westphalia state in western “As Mbembe accuses Israel of apart- went on to state that “the Israeli occupation of that he knew of “no serious social scientist Germany, the Jewish Values Initiative asserted heid and compares the former South African Palestinian territories can be seen to serve as a who would compare the apartheid system in that the invitation to Prof. Achille Mbembe to apartheid system to the Shoah, this leads to laboratory for a number of techniques of control, South Africa with the Holocaust.” speak at the renowned Ruhrtriennale festival the legitimate assumption that he equates surveillance and separation, which today are www.algemeiner.com | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 A5 U.S. News.

pogrom in 1938 when Nazis looted and New Jersey Judge Releases Neo-Nazi burned synagogues and Jewish-owned homes and stores in Germany. Behind ‘Operation Kristallnacht’ He also told federal agents that he fantasized about killing black people, and once became enraged at the sight of large crowds Without Explanation of African-Americans shopping at a mall in New Jersey. “That day, he had a machete in his car and White supremacists at the ‘Unite the Right’ he wanted to ‘let loose’ with it,” the criminal rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 12, BY ALGEMEINER STAFF complaint against Tobin said. 2017. Photo: Anthony Crider via Wikicommons. His animosity also extended towards A convicted neo-Nazi who planned a campaign of vandalism and desecration against LGBT+ people and he was reportedly wrote FBI special agent Jason Novick. synagogues and fantasized about murdering black people has been freed from jail by a judge “triggered” by Pride parades. Court records did not disclose why US in New Jersey. “Richard Tobin said that he was triggered Magistrate Judge Karen Williams in Camden, Richard Tobin, 19, was released on a $100,000 bond last Wednesday, according to Matthew by the state of the country, such as when New Jersey, chose to release Tobin, who was Reilly, a spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. he saw a Pride parade or a large number arrested by the FBI last November. The magis- A federal magistrate ordered Tobin to remain under house arrest, prohibited him from of African Americans in one location. For trate sealed court records related to Tobin’s accessing the internet and barred him from having any contact with current or former members example, simply being in Times Square in bond request. of two neo-Nazi groups — one called The Base, and the other called Atomwaffen Division. New York caused Tobin to have these feelings,” From his home in Brooklawn, New Jersey, Tobin communicated online with other members of The Base and directed them to vandalize synagogues in Michigan and Wisconsin last year. He later told investigators that he had launched “Operation Kristallnacht,” a reference to the deadly MSNBC Graphic During COVID-19 News Shows ‘Palestine’ in List of Countries

BY JACKSON RICHMAN/JNS.org

A background graphic on MSNBC last week showed “Palestine” in a rolling list of countries depicting numbers associated with the coronavirus pandemic, despite it not being an independent nation. The graphic was displayed during “The 11th Hour With Brian Williams” on April 16 while internal medicine physician Lipi Roy was analyzing the number of COVID-19 cases, as well as discussing the debate over whether or not some parts of society should reopen.Media critics criticized MSNBC for the background listing “Palestine” as a country. “Now, more than ever, it’s important for the media to engage in careful and thoughtful reporting,” Sean Durns, senior research analyst at CAMERA, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, told JNS. “And the facts are clear: ‘Palestine’ is not, and has never been, an independent state.” He said “that’s what negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are about—negotiations that the media has reported on for years, and which the PA [Palestinian Authority] has, in recent years, declined,” he continued. “MSNBC’s decision to grant de facto recognition of statehood is but another example of careless reporting at a time when we can least afford it.” HonestReporting CEO Daniel Pomerantz told JNS, “When news outlets prematurely recognize a Palestinian state, they are not only being factually inaccurate, but also undermine prospects for peace by rewarding unilateralism and intransigence by the Palestinian government. Journalists have a duty to behave responsibly and to ground their work in factual reality: Israelis, Palestinians and news audiences deserve nothing less.” Dan Gainor, vice president of business and culture at the Media Research Center, a media watchdog group, told JNS that “even the ‘breaking news’ on MSNBC ends up as propaganda.” “There is no place called ‘Palestine,’ yet MSNBC wants to include it in the official list of places because it’s not news, it’s agenda,” he said. “The interesting question is what place does MSNBC consider to be part of Palestine? Gaza? Or is it claiming Jerusalem?” An MSNBC spokesperson told JNS that the listing was “an error that has been corrected and will not be included in the graphic moving forward.” A6 | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 Opinion. Bias Gives Way to False Claims on Israel, Gaza, and Coronavirus

in more urgently-needed medical and other And in 2018, he took part in the Hamas- Workers pack food supplies to be distributed supplies…” But there are many other problems orchestrated Great Return March, in which and delivered by the United Nations Relief with the Post’s op-ed. SEAN DURNS armed terrorists, interspersed among and Works Agency (UNRWA) to the homes of Indeed, Loubani fails to note that although Palestinian refugees as a precaution against WASHINGTON unarmed civilians, sought to break into Israel the Gaza Strip is a major beneficiary of interna- the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), to “tear out the hearts” of Israelis, as Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip March 31, 2020. tional aid, its kleptocratic rulers have chosen to leader Yahya Sinwar phrased it. An April Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem. invest in rockets, missiles, and terror tunnels 2018 analysis by the Meir Amit Intelligence instead of essential public health infrastructure. The Post’s decision to publish Loubani’s On April 15, 2020, The Washington and Terrorism Information Center identified For anti-Israel activists like Loubani, it’s always error-laden piece violates its standards and Post published an op-ed entitled “Gaza is an most of the slain “protesters” as belonging to better to blame the Jewish state instead of guidelines, which claim that “reporters and open-air prison. As covid-19 spreads, it’s time US-designated terrorist groups, and Hamas acknowledging the responsibility and actions editors of the Post are committed to fairness.” to life the siege.” The author, Tarek Loubani, official Mahmoud al-Zahar admitted toAl of Palestinian leaders. “No story is fair,” the Post standards assert, “if was identified as an “emergency room doctor” Jazeera on May 13, 2018, that the group was Further, not only does Israel’s blockade it omits facts of major importance or signifi- and “associate professor at the University of “deceiving the public” when it claimed that the not prohibit medical supplies as Loubani cance. Fairness includes completeness.” Western Ontario.” March was one of “peaceful resistance.” implied, but the nation has provided Gaza The Post standards also include “The In fact, Loubani is a veteran anti-Israel It is unsurprising then that in 796-words with coronavirus aid well beyond test kits. Seven Principles for the Conduct of a activist. And the op-ed itself is replete with about Israel’s “siege” on Gaza, Loubani failed As The Times of Israel reported: “Dozens Newspaper.” The “first mission of a newspaper,” outright lies and omissions. to mention Hamas once. In keeping with of doctors, nurses and medical personnel the Post intones, “is to tell the truth as nearly The Post fails to inform readers that his history and agenda, he merely echoed in Gaza have been trained by Israeli teams as it may be ascertained.” The second is to Loubani was one of eight “activists” working the US-designated terrorist group’s talking in techniques to treat patients infected with “tell ALL the truth so far as it can learn it, with the International Solidarity Movement points. Loubani lied, claiming that Israel the coronavirus, the Kan public broadcaster concerning the important affairs of America (ISM) who were deported from Israel in 2003 doesn’t allow medical supplies and doctors reported Saturday. A training session was and the world.” for obstructing the construction of a security into Gaza. He writes, “If Israeli authorities do conducted for several hours for around 20 ThePost ’s failure to vet Loubani’s op-ed is barrier during the height of the Second not act immediately to lift the siege and allow medical staff from Gaza at the Erez Border part of a pattern — a pattern that suggests that Intifada terror wave (2000-2005). ISM is a in medical and other supplies,” although, as Crossing by a team from the Sheba Medical the ideology and agenda of an opinion writer group that sends foreigners to interfere with CAMERA pointed out to Washington Post Center in Ramat Gan. In addition, a group was is more important than the newspaper’s own Israeli counter-terrorism efforts. global opinion editor Karen Attiah, Israel has allowed to leave Gaza for training at the Barzilai standards. As the Committee for Accuracy in Middle already supplied COVID tests to the Gaza Medical Center in Ashkelon and medical staff In recent years, The Washington Post has East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA) has Strip — and, as always, transfers medical from both sides have held conference calls published opinion columns by the head of documented, ISM’s website has lobbied for supplies to the Hamas-ruled territory. As together, according to the report.” the Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia whose freeing convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti, The New York Times put it, “the import of Indeed, as The Jerusalem Post reported motto is “Death to Israel, Curse the Jews.” On who was sentenced to five consecutive life medicine is not restricted.” on March 21, 2020: “In the last month, COGAT August 30, 2015, it even published a column terms and an additional 40 years in prison for Indeed, the Associated Press recently [Coordination of Government Activities in by a former Iranian diplomat who, German his role in attacks against Israel. corrected a March 18th news story that the Territories] has been seen delivering courts allege, ran a veritable hit squad out of Indeed, ISM participants have even similarly implied that Israel doesn’t allow in hundreds of testing kits into Gaza, as well Iran’s Berlin embassy, a crime for which he admitted to working with members of terrorist medical supplies (“Ravaged by war, Middle as 20 tons of disinfectants used to maintain was expelled from the country. groups. On March 20, 2003, The Seattle Post- Eastern countries face a new scourge“). The hygiene and sanitation into the West Bank.” This small sampling is suggestive of a Intelligencer reported that ISM activist Susan Post, which carried that AP dispatch, followed Nor does Loubani mention that Egypt pattern. Failing to address it will come at the Barclay told the paper “she knowingly worked suit and corrected as well. That CAMERA- also maintains a security blockade to prevent cost of the Post opinion section’s credibility. with representatives from Hamas and Islamic prompted correction noted that “in the armaments from reaching the Gaza Strip. At a time of international crisis, The Jihad,” which are designated as terrorist Gaza Strip, medical infrastructure has been Instead, in keeping with Hamas disinformation Washington Post is not “bringing people all organizations by the US State Department. strangled by mismanagement by the Islamic campaigns, he targets the Jewish state alone the facts.” Indeed, it’s not even abiding by its Loubani himself has a long history of militant Hamas rulers” — an important fact for the “blockade,” which is really in place to own standards and guidelines. anti-Israel activism that should have been that Loubani omits. prevent the free flow of weapons into the Strip. Sean Durns is a Senior Research Analyst disclosed by the Post. In 2013, he was arrested Following contact from CAMERA, One can’t blame Loubani, however. His for CAMERA, the 65,000-member, Boston- in Egypt while trying to enter the Hamas- The Washington Post changed Loubani’s record and agenda are clear. But one should based Committee for Accuracy in Middle ruled Gaza Strip. In 2014, he was detained at wording to read “If Israel authorities do not blame The Washington Post. East Reporting and Analysis. Ben Gurion Airport. act to immediately lift the siege and allow

berg’s documentary Above and Beyond: The The Arab-Israeli conflict does continue Creation of the Israeli Air Force, focused on to interest and attract fans worldwide, as can The Fauda Effect: another aspect of Jewish identity: the 1947-48 be seen in the great success of the Netflix hit efforts by Jewish mobsters led by Meyer series Fauda (Arabic for “chaos”). Fauda is Israeli Active Defense Lansky to raise money to help the Haganah Israeli active defense at its best. It showcases obtain weapons in the face of an international the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, arms embargo. Spielberg defines the movie, provides a voice to both Jewish and Palestinian on the Screen correctly, as “not just a Jewish story but an characters, and shows the multiculturalism American one.” of the Middle East and Israel that is so often While Israelis have embraced American overlooked. In contrast to Leon Uris’s Exodus, pop culture in all its aspects, Israeli movies about which David Ben-Gurion said that we have to fight with is our willingness to die.” have not really penetrated the American “as a piece of propaganda, it’s the greatest Generations of American Jews were psyche. This is mainly because their appeal to thing ever written about Israel,” Fauda is not ASAF ROMIROWSKY raised on these images and messages. They American audiences is so often diminished by hasbara but a slice of cold reality. WASHINGTON DC personalized the conflict and stoked the collec- their attention to inaccessible aspects of Israeli In the age of infotainment, the danger is tive emotional attachment of American Jews culture. For example, the 1986 Two Fingers when entertainment completely rewrites both to Israel in the early years of the state. This from Sidon dealt with Israel during the first reality and history. Today’s American Jewry is was particularly true after World War II, when Lebanon war in 1982. It captured what Israelis fragmented and conflicted in its relationship The Israeli concept of “active defense” has Jewish identity and Israel went hand in hand. felt while serving on Israel’s borders, but its to Israel. Film and television can be useful long been used by the film industry as a tool The relationship has changed a great deal message didn’t penetrate American Jewish tools in changing the trajectory of American with which to showcase the Israeli perspec- in the decades since the war. Biblical Israel sensibilities. Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman’s Jewish identity and easing its confusion and tive on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Col. David serves as a touchstone from which to be either 2008 animated documentary Waltz with discomfort about Israel. “Mickey” Marcus, as portrayed in the film Cast attached or removed. Modern Israel is either Bashir about Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and Asaf Romirowsky is executive director a Giant Shadow by Kirk Douglas, is given the a chimera to be slain or a mythical comrade his own subsequent struggle with PTSD was of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East line, “The olive branch hasn’t worked around to be supported. The art of film has attempted more successful. Waltz with Bashir was more (SPME), a senior non-resident fellow at the here since Noah ran the ark into a mountain.” to capture these visions, but they are incon- psychological than historical, and its historical BESA Center, and a fellow at the Middle East The iconic character Ari Ben Canaan in the sistent. Some break with the past in order to elisions were especially prominent with regard Forum. film Exodus, portrayed by Paul Newman, control the future and others are shaped and to Sabra and Shatila — an event that has been A version of this article was originally expressed the same idea: “Each person on constrained by the past. co-opted by Arab-Palestinian propaganda as a published by The BESA Center. board this ship is a soldier. The only weapon Recent attempts, such as Nancy Spiel- tool with which to blame and shame Israel. www.algemeiner.com | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 A7 Opinion. UN Treaty Body IfNotNow Spreads More Promotes BDS at Urging Lies About Israel of Norwegian NGO sible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person JONATHAN MICHANIE or group, or even for acts committed by was “concerned about serious human rights JERUSALEM non-Jews. implications of some investment portfolios of 2. Holding Jews collectively responsible for the Fund, which include companies found to ANNE HERZBERG actions of the state of Israel. be engaged in home demolition, Israeli settle- JERUSALEM It should therefore come as no surprise ments or other activities in the Occupied The trope that Jews (or in this conve- that IfNotNow, a self-proclaimed Jewish- Palestinian Territories. It is also concerned nient case, the Jewish state) are the cause of American “progressive” organization, violated that not all investments of the Fund are another people’s suffering is not a new one. In both of these clauses on the eve of Passover. During the 67th session of the UN subject to the ethics assessment process of fact, New York Times author Bari Weiss has In a tweet, IfNotNow proposed the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural the Council on Ethics.” traced it back to the time of Jesus’ crucifixion following question to its nearly 60,000 followers Rights (CESCR), in which the committee was The Committee then recommended, in Roman-occupied Jerusalem, and explains: in the context of condemning the alleged supposed to review Norway’s compliance again singling out Israel from all other inter- In the New Testament, it is a small band uprooting of olive trees by Jewish settlers: with the International Covenant on Social national areas where Norway does business, of Jews who get Rome — then the greatest On the eve of Pesach, our US Jewish Economic and Cultural Rights, the Committee that Norway “review the investment of power in the world — to do their bidding community must ask itself a crucial used the session as an opportunity to promote the Government Pension Fund Global in by killing Christ. Pontius Pilate, the Roman question: Will we harden our hearts to the the BDS movement. Its concluding report business entities involved in operations in governor, speaks to the Jews about Jesus in daily suffering of those under Occupation, or singled out Norwegian business activity in the the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in the the book of John: “Take him yourselves and will we stand in solidarity with the dispos- West Bank, and recommended that Norway light of its obligations stipulated in the Inter- judge him according to your own law.” But sessed Palestinians, like Moses did with the reexamine its investment policies. The recom- national Court of Justice’ advisory opinion of the Jews punt the decision back to Pilate: Hebrew slaves? mendation coincides with a current review 9 July 2004 on the legal consequences of the “We are not permitted to put anyone to Despite IfNotNow’s unfounded assump- of its ethical investment guidelines by the construction of the wall in the Occupied Pales- death.” And so, Pilate does the deed on their tion that the alleged incident is a direct result Norwegian government to be published in tinian Territories. It also recommends that the behalf. In the book of Matthew, the implica- of Israel’s military presence in the disputed June 2020. State party ensure the ethically motivated tions of this manipulation are spelled out: territories, let’s take a minute to dissect this Government funders of UN frameworks guidelines for observation and exclusion from “His blood is on us and our children,” the rather sickening post. must establish oversight mechanisms to ensure the Government Pension Fund Global are Jews say — a line that has been so histori- First, IfNotNow is explicitly insinuating that UN treaty bodies adhere to their mandates in line with its territorial and extraterritorial cally destructive that even Mel Gibson cut it that the American Jewish community holds and are not used to advance discriminatory obligations under the Covenant. … It further from his Passion of the Christ. the key to ending Palestinian suffering. political campaigns and agendas. For the past recommends that the State party pursue a That is why the International Holocaust Despite the fact that Israel’s presence in decade, NGO Monitor has documented the Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), adopted a the West Bank has — as is empirically proven phenomenon of UN treaty bodies that violate working definition of antisemitism which — increased the standard of living for the majority their mandates to evaluate state compliance as includes the following two clauses: part of discriminatory anti-Israel campaigns. 1. Accusing Jews as a people of being respon- Continued on Page A9 Last month, the CESCR embraced this disturbing trend, adopting a BDS agenda after promoters of anti-Israel BDS and demoniza- on Ethics took the position that companies some campaigning by the NGO Norwegian tion, and led an FIDH-PCHR “fact-finding” should not be excluded from the Pension People’s Aid (NPA). mission to Gaza in 2006. Fund solely because they engaged in activi- UN treaty frameworks are often targeted During the Committee proceedings, De ties in the West Bank, it had recommended Skyscrapers in Oslo, Norway. Photo: Max Pixel. as platforms for anti-Israel propaganda. For Schutter promoted the NPA claims, despite the exclusion of a number of companies that instance, the Committee Against Torture their lack of foundation in business and had built Israeli settlements there. An expert adopted NGO efforts to grossly expand the rigorous process of ethics assessment by the human rights standards and law: commission [was] appointed to assess the definition of “Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Council of Ethics.” Mr. De Schutter, noting that the existing ethical guidelines and [will] submit Treatment” (intended to address dispropor- In the pre-session List of Issues provided Government Pension Fund Global was its report in June 2020. tionate use of force against the detained that to Norway to guide the drafting of the State the largest sovereign wealth fund in the NPA has also provided a submission doesn’t rise to the level of torture) to include Report to the Committee, the CESCR had world, controlling around 1.4 per cent of to the Norwegian government as part of “settler violence,” delays at checkpoints, and asked Norway to describe its general policies all stock holdings, said that the Committee this review process along with several other house demolitions. Similarly, in 2018, the in the realm of Business and Human Rights. had continuing concerns about some of the NGOs. It will be important to engage with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial After NGO intervention, however, notably by fund’s investment choices, which included Norwegian Commission to counter the BDS Discrimination issued a statement on the NPA, the Committee chose to focus exclu- the multinational company, Caterpillar, narrative and to ensure that Israeli perspec- Gaza riots that was completely outside of its sively on Israel, and to recommend in its whose bulldozers had been used to demolish tives are included in the review process. area of competence. report that Norway revise its policies in effect buildings and homes in the occupied Pales- The UN’s Human Rights Treaty Body NGO Monitor has shown how these to mandate anti-Israel divestment. tinian territory, the Heidelberg Cement System is predicated on treaty committees bodies extensively rely on and repeat NPA has a history of political campaigns Group, which was involved in quarrying adhering to their mandates and promoting unverified claims from NGOs in setting their in conjunction with the discriminatory BDS activities in the occupied territory, and five compliance with the respective treaties. agendas and in their final reports. Indeed, movement that single out Israel for attack. In Israeli banks that helped to finance settle- Oversight mechanisms are needed to exploiting UN treaty bodies for anti-Israel 2019, the NPA issued a publication containing ments in the territory. The International safeguard the system. Confidence in these political warfare is listed as the number one numerous factual and legal errors calling on Court of Justice had clearly stated that all bodies is weakened, as is the rule of law, when strategic objective of the Palestinian Author- the Norwegian Pension Fund to cease all States had a duty to contribute to efforts to NGOs and committee members succeed ity’s United Nations Development Assistance business activities in the “Occupied Territo- end the serious violations of the peremptory in convincing committees to improperly Framework, which was devised in coopera- ries.” The NPA submitted an abridged version norms of international law, which included exceed their role and allow themselves to be tion with UN agencies and officials. of this publication to the CESCR, and it clearly the right to self-determination of the Pales- used for narrow and discriminatory political During CESCR’s 67th Session, held on served as the source material for the Commit- tinian people. That duty was also set out in campaigns and agendas. February 17 to March 6, 2020, the Committee tee’s comments and conclusions. the Committee’s general comment No. 24 on More broadly, government funders of reviewed Norway’s compliance with the Committee member Olivier De Schutter State obligations in the context of business UN agencies operating in the Palestinian International Covenant on Social Economic was responsible for raising BDS during the activities (E/C.12/GC/24). He would like Authority need to reconsider their largess, and Cultural Rights. Committee members/ Committee hearings. De Schutter, a Belgian to know whether the pension fund’s invest- given that they are being exploited to advance staffers, prompted by NGOs, also used the academic, was formerly the UN Special ments would be reviewed in the light of those Palestinian rejectionism, economic warfare, session as an opportunity to promote BDS. Rapporteur on the Right to Food, a mandate obligations. and maximalist nationalist goals rather than In its March 6, 2020 report and a February established by Cuba and criticized as a tool Norway responded: conflict resolution, human rights, or humani- 26, 2020 press release, the Committee singled with which to whitewash dictatorships and With regard to investments made by tarian objectives. out supposed Norwegian business activity in attack Western democracies. According to the Government Pension Fund Global, the Anne Herzberg is the Legal Advisor the West Bank. It did not specifically address documentation published by UN Watch, De Council on Ethics, which was an indepen- of NGO Monitor and the UN Liaison for Norwegian business operations in any other Schutter used his position as Special Rappor- dent body, made recommendations on the the Institute for NGO Research, an NGO in conflict zone in the world, or in any other teur to promote radical anti-trade policies. exclusion of companies that engaged in gross Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC countries where there are alleged human In addition, he used it to attack Israel over or systematic violations of human rights. In since 2013. rights abuses. counter-terror policy in the Hamas-controlled line with the Guiding Principles on Business A version of this article was originally In reference to the Government Pension Gaza Strip. Prior to that, De Schutter was and Human Rights, exclusion was used as published by The BESA Center. Fund of Norway, the Committee stated that it General Secretary of FIDH, one of the leading a measure of last resort. While the Council A8 | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 Impressions.

No One Can Just ‘Reopen’ Our Nation

BY DAVID SUISSA/JNS.org Stapp, who is director of technology policy resourcefulness are needed above all. And at the Progressive Policy Institute, writes, “In we’re especially aware that the COVID-19 virus There’s been a lot of debate lately over how this crisis, the FDA bet big on a single testing is a mysterious, deadly, and elusive target. There and when our political leaders will “reopen” protocol from the CDC and burned its ships. are still way too many unknowns, and way too the country. When can retail shops resume And when the ‘perfect’ test failed spectacularly, many people who need to be tested. business, and which ones? When can restau- everyone was left wishing for a way to retreat.” So while we’re glad to hear some of you rants reopen? When can schools, religious Eventually, as Stapp writes, “The FDA may be ready to boldly and gradually “reopen” institutions, movie theaters, malls, etc., come did the right thing when it expanded the EUA our country, for many of us, it will take a lot more back to life? (Emergency Use Authorization) exemption information before we can feel safe enough to Well, I have news for our fearless leaders, to all labs and manufacturers and devolved reopen our front doors. whether they be the president, governors, regulatory oversight to the states. The Depart- For example, we’ll need to know from our mayors, health authorities, or civic and commu- ment of Health and Human Services did the local authorities: How many people are you

US President Donald Trump answers questions about his administration’s plans for “Opening Up America Again” during the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, US, April 16, 2020.Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis.

nity leaders: They can announce all the gradual right thing when it waived certain provisions of testing every day and is that enough to make “openings” they want, but none of it will matter, the HIPAA Privacy Rule. But all of these actions a difference? What is the best estimate of the because it’s not up to them. were six weeks too late.” death rate? Who will still need to be quaran- It’s up to us. “Six weeks too late” is the phrase that will tined and how will you make those distinctions? It’s up to the people who will actually go forever haunt me when I look back at the devas- How will you secure public and work areas to out and do the mingling and consuming tation of COVID-19. minimize the risks of contagion? When will we decide to reopen our front When every minute and every second And, maybe most importantly, how quickly doors? counts, when a nasty virus spreads virtually like are you moving? When will we decide it’s safe enough to go wildfire, it’s little consolation to hear that it took As The New York Times reported on April back into the world and get physically close to six long weeks of deadly and rampant conta- 15, “Most of the country is not conducting nearly other people who may be infected? gion for our bureaucracy to finally “get it right.” enough testing to track the path and penetra- People seem to forget that many of us By then, of course, that same bureau- tion of the coronavirus in a way that would started quarantining ourselves before political cracy was forced to implement the draconian allow Americans to return safely to work.” leaders decided to “announce” it. We instinc- measures that have put us in lockdown and Don’t get me wrong — we are devastated tively sensed the danger. For those of us who did shut down our economy. to see our economy crumbling and are eager to our research, we also saw how health authori- Our leaders will need to forgive us, then, restart it. But you need to show us a smart and ties such as the Centers for Disease Control if many of us are taking our lives in our own pragmatic plan that balances medical priorities (CDC), the Department of Health and Human hands. Yes, we are grateful for your sincere with economic ones, and, above all, that makes Services (HHS), and the Food and Drug Admin- efforts over recent weeks to make up for your us feel safe. istration (FDA) utterly failed us before this initial blunders and combat this disease. We The ball’s in your court. We’ll let you know pandemic erupted. will continue to be in lockdown and to follow when we’re ready to reopen the nation. While the virus began to spread in late orders. But make no mistake. We know that the David Suissa is editor-in-chief and January and throughout February, our govern- societal nightmare we are living through could publisher of Tribe Media Corp and Jewish ment squandered six precious weeks dithering have been prevented had our leaders moved Journal. He can be reached at davids@jewish- over COVID-19 testing procedures. If you can fast enough when the disease first landed on journal.com. This article was first published tolerate disheartening reading, check out Alec our shores. by the Jewish Journal. Stapp’s detailed timeline of this epic breakdown We are acutely aware of the weaknesses in The Dispatch. of lumbering bureaucracies when speed and www.algemeiner.com | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 A9 Legals. Opinion.

Continued from Page A7 LEGAL NOTICE IfNotNow of Palestinians, one should certainly China’s Hallowed Status appreciate the difficulties that many Palestinians experience under the at the United Nations status quo. Checkpoints have made commutes more difficult and limited budgets have significantly reduced Human Rights Council the amount of welfare projects that the Palestinian Authority has been able to undertake. But appreciating these difficul- favor one member state even as they discriminate against another. Notice of formation of limited liability ties does not mean that we ignore BEN COHEN But the ongoing pandemic company(LLC) Name: CLJ DEVEL- their historical context. JNS.org OPMENT LLC Articles of organization Checkpoints were estab- certainly amplifies concerns about filed with the Secretary of State of New lished by Israel following the China’s status at the UNHRC — and York(SSNY) on 02/14/2020. Office Palestinian leadership’s sponsoring within the United Nations more location: Kings county . SSNY has of the Second Intifada (2000-2005), broadly. By the time the council been designated as the agent of the If you are looking for an inter- made its decision to appoint China US President Donald Trump and which saw endless terror attacks China’s President Xi Jinping in Bei- LLC upon whom process against it national institution that brazenly to its panel in April, the timeline of may be served. SSNY shall mail copy on civilians — and left over 1,000 fawns over the world’s most despotic jing, China, November 9, 2017. Photo: Israelis dead. the Chinese Communist Party’s REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo. of process to: Chuleung Leo Joo 67 regimes regardless of how low they The Palestinian Authority in 2017 willful deception of the interna- West Street #319 Brooklyn, NY 11222 might sink on the moral scale, then spent nearly 50% of its foreign aid on tional community over the impact these transfers are forced or volun- Purpose: all lawful activity the UN Human Rights Council AJ; 4/10/17/24; 5/1/8/15 its “pay-for-slay” policy, which pays and spread of COVID-19 within tary, the same analyst pointed out (UNHRC) never fails to disappoint. salaries to imprisoned Palestinian its borders was well established. the widespread fear that refusal to On April 2, the UNHRC Notice of formation of limited liability terrorists as well as their families. In Indeed, in the very same week that participate would lead to detention appointed China’s Communist company(LLC) Name: AINMHIRE fact, in 2019, the Palestinian Authority the UNHRC’s decision enabled in one of the brutal “re-education” PROPERTIES,LLC . Articles of Organi- regime to a panel that selects investi- spent approximately $14,000,000 on China to perpetuate the fiction camps operated by the regime. zation filed with the Secretary of State gators to take on some of the world’s payments to jailed terrorists and the that it is a lawful, responsible As has been the case since the of New York(SSNY) 03/20/2020. key human-rights challenges — families of those killed. state on matters of human rights, founding of the People’s Republic Office location: Kings county. SSNY from freedom of speech to arbitrary has been designated as the agent of Based on figures from the US American intelligence officials of China in 1949, fear of its excesses detention to basic food security. UN the LLC upon whom process against it Center for Disease Control and revealed that the Beijing regime remains the state’s most powerful Watch, the respected Geneva-based may be served. SSNY shall mail copy Prevention, that figure could buy was “intentionally” misleading weapon in dealing with its subjects. NGO that monitors the proceedings of process to: Nicole Convery 264 387,143 coronavirus test kits, or 465 the world over the true number What, finally, of the US admin- of the world body, rightly pointed Cumberland Street APT.13 Brooklyn, low-cost MIT ventilators. Not only of coronavirus cases and deaths istration’s response? It’s instructive NY 11205. Purpose: all lawful activity out in response that it was “absurd that, the Palestinian Authority has in China itself. Among those who to observe that the two very different AJ; 4/17/24; 5/1/8/15/22 and immoral for the UN to allow opted to pay the salaries of terrorists willingly swallowed the Commu- UN bodies discussed here — the China’s oppressive government a Notice of formation of limited liability before those of teachers and social nist Party’s line was the leadership UNHRC and the WHO — have both key role in selecting officials who company(LLC) Name: LAST LETTER welfare recipients. It’s easy to see of the World Health Organization been the target of unilateral actions shape international human rights LLC. Articles of Organization filed why the Palestinian Authority lacks (WHO), which had been warned as by President Donald Trump. In standards and report on violations with the Secretary of State of New the funds to work on social welfare early as December 31 by doctors 2018, pointing the finger at “Item worldwide.” York(SSNY) on 02/04/2020. Office programs for their own people. in Taiwan that the virus could be Seven,” America deemed the UN location: Kings county. SSNY has As UN Watch knows better IfNotNow’s assertion that transmitted between humans, Human Rights Council beyond been designated as the agent of the than most, the “absurd” and the American Jews hold the cards to but which didn’t declare a global redemption and withdrew from it, LLC upon whom process against it “immoral” are what defines the end Palestinian suffering is in direct health emergency until January while last week, Trump announced may be served. SSNY shall mail copy UNHRC. The flip side of UNHRC’s of process to: Last Letter LLC 348 violation of the IHRA’s working 30 — emphasizing, as it did so, its that the United States would no supine approach to regimes like Hancock St., Brooklyn, NY 11216. definition of antisemitism because unwavering confidence in “China’s longer fund the WHO, citing its China’s is its well-documented Purpose: all lawful activity it disregards the leading role that capacity to control the outbreak.” collusion with the Chinese regime fixation with Israel’s alleged crimes AJ; 4/17/24; 5/1/8/15/22 the Palestinian Authority has had There is also the matter of how as the primary reason. — a permanent subject of its agenda in shaping the difficulties that the Chinese regime is restarting its Sadly, while China is poised Palestinians are subjected to on a infamously known as “Item Seven.” economy with the rest of the world to continue its exploitation of the day-to-day basis. At its 40th session this past February, Continued from Page A2 still in lockdown. Throughout this United Nations, Western countries Secondly, IfNotNow’s assertion the council passed five resolutions Comedians month, activists belonging to the have failed to produce a unified that American Jews are responsible under this item, including one that sible.” He said of the Palestinians, persecuted Uyghur (pronounced: response. Trump has long been for the security measures adopted endorsed an arms embargo against “the essential thing that is making Weeg-ur) Muslim minority have clear that his foreign policy disdains by the State of Israel is yet another the Jewish State. the two-state solution impossible is amassed hundreds of videos that America’s established alliances — violation of the IHRA working And now this same body has that one party is perpetually hostile, show thousands of young Uyghur in that sense, he is more like his definition on antisemitism. selected China — where being a coiled snake.” men wearing anti-virus masks Democratic predecessor, Barack Whether you agree or disagree suspected of “espionage” or being When Goldberg ranted about gathered at transport hubs around Obama, than the previous Repub- with Israel’s security apparatus in accused of a “new crime” while you the settlements and Palestinians their region, from where trucks and lican incumbent, George W. Bush the West Bank, it is fundamentally are held on an earlier charge are having to go through checkpoints, buses transport them to factories — so any future American measures unethical to hold Jews in America among the myriad rationales that Maher schooled her: “But this is in eastern parts of China. “These against China will likely be imposed accountable for a foreign govern- allow the state to detain suspects always what happens. We talk videos came out at the time when or lifted unilaterally. The spectacle ment’s security considerations. It’s arbitrarily and indefinitely — to about what happened as a result; coronavirus was spreading in China of Western leaders coming together even more unethical when consid- assist the rest of the world with the we don’t look at the beginning of and around the world, when most to address the Chinese Communist ering that American Jews will not problem of arbitrary detention. it. Like the Israelis just put up those Chinese companies were shutting Party’s culpability for the corona- have to experience the potential Irrespective of the corona- checkpoints for no reason. They down and no one was working,” virus pandemic is not something waves of Palestinian terrorism virus pandemic, this latest UNHRC put up those checkpoints because one analyst told the US-supported that we can expect to see, much as that could follow if Israel were to decision offends the most elementary there was an intifada and they broadcaster Radio Free Asia. “And we might wish otherwise. dismantle its security establish- standards of justice. Above all, it is a were having bombings every day we only see the mass transfer of Ben Cohen is a New York City- ment in the disputed territories. further example of how the various – a pizza parlor or a bus stop was Uyghur laborers to other parts of based journalist and author who IfNotNow’s rhetoric, if left bodies and agencies that compose getting blown up, that’s why they China at this time.” writes a weekly column on Jewish ignored, will undoubtedly contribute the UN system can be twisted to built it, not for no reason.” to the rise of antisemitism in Although it’s unclear whether and international affairs for JNS. Goldberg persisted in arguing America. Equally important, it will how bad life is in the West Bank, perpetuate Palestinian suffering by and Maher reminded her of what so refusing to hold Palestinian leaders many two-state advocates ignore. accountable for their decades-long Imperfect Friends: “Israel gave back Gaza and what violation of human rights against was the result?” he said. “Did they their own people. Quakers and Jews use the funds to build schools and Yoni Michanie is a former hospitals? No. They used them to IDF Paratrooper and has a MA build tunnels to get weapons and in Diplomacy and International they invited Hamas in to shell Israel Security from IDC Herzliya. He is There has been a spate of Israel’s right to exist, as well as for a Campus Advisor and Strategic articles about the American Friends the BDS movement. across the border.” HAROLD BRACK- Maybe it’s time to replace the Planner for the Committee for Service Committee (AFSC) serving Usually, accounts begin in MAN Arabists at the State Department Accuracy in Middle East Reporting as the preeminent Quaker apologist 1948, when the UN invited the AFSC and Analysis (CAMERA). LOS ANGELES with comedians. group for Palestinian rejection of Continued on Page A10 A10 | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 Tradition.

power of speech to heal or harm. of teenage suicides and attempted This, according to the Sages, is what suicides has doubled in the past ten Words That Heal Tazria and Metzora are about. years, and most attribute the rise to Tsara’at, the skin condition whose effects of social media. Rarely have diagnosis and purification form the laws of lashon hara been more the heart of the parshiyot, was a timely or necessary. trains and a miniature townscape. punishment for lashon hara, evil A Beautiful Day in the It is a moment ripe for big-city JONATHAN SACKS speech, and the word metzora, Neighborhood offers a fascinating Photo: Genealogical.com cynicism. Yet Rogers, when they Quakers for one suffering from the condi- commentary on an ancient debate LONDON meet and talk, defies any conven- tion, was, they said, an abridgment in Judaism, one discussed by proudly put it in 1940: “the Quakers tional stereotype. He turns the of the phrase motzi shem ra, one Maimonides in the sixth of his Eight are the only religious people who questions away from himself and who speaks slander. The key proof- Chapters, as to which is greater, the have been undisturbed during the toward the journalist. Almost At the risk of disclosing a text they brought was the case of chassid, the saint, the person who entire Hitler Regime.” immediately sensing the core of spoiler, I would like to begin this Miriam who spoke badly about is naturally good, or ha-moshel The Quakers’ record regarding unhappiness within him, he then week’s Covenant & Conversa- Moses, and was struck with tsara’at be-nafsho, one who is not naturally German Jews was mixed. In 1931, turns every negative question into a tion by discussing the 2019 film A as a result (Num. 12). Moses alludes saintly at all but who practices the German Yearly Meeting wrote positive affirmation, and exudes the Beautiful Day in the Neighbor- to this incident many years later, self-restraint and suppresses the a sympathetic letter to a Berlin calmness and quiet, the listening hood. Tom Hanks plays the beloved urging the Israelites to take it to negative elements in their character. synagogue attacked by storm silence, that allows and encourages American children’s television heart: “Remember what the Lord It is precisely this question, whose troopers. The Quakers also tried the journalist to talk about himself. producer/presenter Mister Rogers, your God did to Miriam along the answer is not obvious, that gives the to protect “Non-Aryan Christians” It is a remarkable experience to a legendary figure to several genera- way after you came out of Egypt” film its edge. — Christians of Jewish origin and watch as Hanks’ gentleness, immov- tions of young Americans, famous (Deut. 24:9). The Rabbis said some severe children of mixed Christian-Jewish able even under pressure, slowly for his musical invitation, “Won’t Judaism is, I have argued, things about lashon hara. It is parentage — from Nazi persecu- allows the journalist – who had, You Be My Neighbor?” a religion of words and silences, worse than the three cardinal sins tion. But initially, the AFSC was after all, merely come to write a 400 What makes the film unusual is speaking and listening, communi- – idolatry, adultery, and bloodshed reluctant to finance shelters for cating and attending. God created – combined. It kills three people: Jews who fled Hitler. the universe by words – “And He the one who speaks it, the one of In Berlin, American Quaker said … and there was” – and we whom it is spoken, and the one Corder Catchpool at first confronted create the social universe by words, who receives it.. Joseph received Nazis directly for mistreatment of by the promises with which we the hatred of his brothers because Jews. Soon, he decided that culti- bind ourselves to meet our obliga- he spoke negatively about some of vating friendships with the Nazi tions to others. God’s revelation at them. The generation that left Egypt elite would do more good. During Sinai was of words – “You heard was denied the chance of entering the early years before Pearl Harbor, the sound of words but saw no the land because they spoke badly American Quakers stepped up the form; there was only a Voice” (Deut. about it. One who speaks it is said to refugee relief efforts, especially 4:12). Every other ancient religion be like an atheist. in Vichy and German-occupied had its monuments of brick and I believe we need the laws of France. They also established stone; Jews, exiled, had only words, lashon hara now more than almost “hostels” to help thousands of the Torah they carried with them ever before. Social media is awash refugees adjust to the US. wherever they went. The supreme with hate. The language of politics Unfortunately, influen- mitzvah in Judaism is Shema has become ad hominem and vile. tial British Quakers like George word profile – to acknowledge his that it is an unabashed celebration Yisrael, “Listen, Israel.” For God is We seem to have forgotten the Lansbury and Lord Hurtwood own failings vis-à-vis his father and of the power of human goodness invisible and we make no icons. We messages that Tazria and Metzora had openly favored appeasing the to give him the emotional strength to heal broken hearts. Today such can’t see God; we can’t smell God; teach: that evil speech is a plague. It Hitler regime. They tried to use to forgive him and be reconciled straightforward moral messages we can’t touch God; we can’t taste destroys relationships, rides rough- Eleanor Roosevelt’s friendships to him in the limited time before tend to be confined to children’s God. All we can do is listen in the shod over people’s feelings, debases with Quakers like AFSC Execu- he died. Here is a fragment of their films (some of them, as it happens, hope of hearing God. In Judaism, the public square, turns politics tive Director Clarence Pickett to conversation that will give you a feel works of genius). Such is the power listening is high religious art. into a jousting match between convince President Roosevelt to for the tone of the relationship: and subtlety of the film, however, Or it should be. What Tom competing egos and defiles all that hold a summit with Hitler. They Journalist: You love people like that one is not tempted to dismiss it Hanks shows us in his portrayal is sacred about our common life. It supported the Munich settle- me. as simplistic or naïve. of Fred Rogers is a man who is need not be like this. ment. After war broke out, Quaker Fred Rogers: What are people The plot is based on a true capable of attending to other A Beautiful Day in the Neigh- emissary Benjamin Heinrich Unruh like you? I’ve never met anyone like story. A magazine had decided to people, listening to them, talking borhood shows how good speech pleaded with Hitler to be merciful you in my entire life. run a series of short profiles around gently to them in a way that is can heal where evil speech harms. by deporting four million Jews to Journalist: Broken people. the theme of heroes. It assigned one powerfully affirming without for a Shabbat Shalom Madagascar! Fred Rogers: I don’t think you of its most gifted journalists to write moment being bland or assuming In December 1938, the Quaker are broken. I know you are a man the vignette about Fred Rogers. The that all is well with the world or representative in Berlin, Howard of conviction. A person who knows Continued from Page A9 journalist was, however, a troubled with them. The reason this is both Elkinton, met with three American the difference between what is Quakers soul. He had a badly broken interesting and important is that Quakers who arrived in Germany wrong and what is right. Try to relationship with his father. The two it is hard to know how to listen to to run Palestinian relief in Gaza on what was supposed to be a remember that your relationship had physically fought at his sister’s God if we do not know how to listen — a thankless task because of Pales- secret mission. News got out, with with your father also helped to wedding. The father sought recon- to other people. And how can we tinian resistance to resettlement. Goebbels ridiculing “the three wise shape those parts. He helped you ciliation, but the journalist refused expect God to listen to us if we are Then the AFSC concentrated men.” They were granted a meeting become what you are. even to see him. incapable of listening to others? on the push for US unilateral at Gestapo headquarters, where Note how in a few brief The jagged edges of his This entire issue of speech and nuclear disarmament and sympathy Nazis gave them empty promises sentences, Rogers helps reframe character showed in his journalism. its impact on people has become for anti-American dictators, starting not to interfere with Quaker opera- the journalist’s self-image, as well Everything he wrote had a critical massively amplified by the spread with Castro. The AFSC also offered tions. Quaker publications in the US as his relationship with his father. undercurrent as if he relished of smartphones and social media interfaith seminars propagan- seized on this as “a miracle wrought The very argumentativeness that destroying the images of the people and their impact, especially on dizing against Israel. Jewish pupils by the way of love.” led him to fight with his father was he had come to portray. Given his young people and on the entire tone attending the network of fine In 1947, the AFSC and British something he owed to his father. reputation, he wondered why the of the public conversation. Online Quaker schools and summer camps Friends Service Council were The film reflects the true story of children’s television star had agreed abuse is the plague of our age. It has were indoctrinated. awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a when the real Fred Rogers met to be interviewed by him. Had happened because of the ease and Most recently, a Palestinian- publicity bonanza for Quakerdom. the journalist Tom Junod. Junod, Rogers not read any of his writings? impersonality of communication. American, Joyce Ajlouny, has Yet despite their mixed record, like his character ‘Lloyd Vogel’ in Did he not know the obvious risk It gives rise to what has been called been appointed as the AFSC’s new Quakers did some good during the the film, came to mock but stayed that the profile would be negative, the disinhibition effect: people feel General Secretary. Holocaust — if not after. to be inspired. He said about the perhaps devastatingly so? It turned freer to be cruel and crude than they Before 1948, some in British Historian Harold Brackman experience, “What is grace? I’m out that not only had Rogers read would be in a face-to-face situa- and American Quaker officialdom is coauthor with Ephraim Isaac not certain; all I know is that my every article of his that he could get tion. When you are in the physical — despite the anti-Nazi heroism of of From Abraham to Obama: heart felt like a spike, and then, in hold of; he was also the only figure presence of someone, it is hard individual Quakers — came peril- A History of Jews, Africans, and that room, it opened and felt like who had agreed to be interviewed to forget that the other is a living, ously close to being propaganda African Americans (Africa World an umbrella.” The film is, as one by him. All the other “heroes” had breathing human being just as you shills for Hitler’s Reich. Press, 2015). reviewer put it, “a perfectly pitched turned him down. are, with feelings like yours and After World War I, Quakers and played ode to goodness.” The journalist goes to meet vulnerabilities like yours. But when had won German gratitude for The point of this long intro- Rogers, first sitting through the you are not, all the poison within opposing the Versailles Peace duction is that the film is a rare production of an episode of his you can leak out, with sometimes Treaty as well as helping feed and compelling illustration of the show, complete with puppets, toy devastating effects. The number starving Germans. As Rufus Jones www.algemeiner.com | FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 A11 Social.

‘Unorthodox’ Star Shira Hass Calls Her Survivor Grandmother on Holocaust Remembrance Day

BY SHIRYN GHERMEZIAN

Israeli actress Shira Haas, the star of the new (From top left, clockwise) Rona-Lee Shim’on, i24News anchor Michal Divon, Boaz Konforty and Yaakov Zada Daniel Netflix mini-series “Unorthodox,” shared on Insta- during a webinar on April 17, 2020, hosted by the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. Photo: FIDF. gram a screenshot of her family’s video call to her grandmother, who is a Holocaust survivor, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which began Monday Cast of ‘Fauda’ Talks Season 3, evening. Haas, 24, explained that her 86-year-old grandmother was in quarantine without any family Filming in Areas Resembling members, but added “today we did a zoom call Gaza and Coronavirus Isolation

BY SHIRYN GHERMEZIAN/JNS.org we know, even though it’s not our day-to-day now. But it’s a language we don’t forget. The things that we say to each other, I believe, if someone would listen to our Cast members of the hit Israeli series “Fauda” opened conversations and he was not in the military, he would up on Friday about the thrills and obstacles filming the have to ask for explanations. We didn’t have to ask. We Israeli actress Shira Haas in 2018. show’s third season, now streaming on Netflix, a possible understood what we have to do and the role in a very, Photo: Wikimedia Commons. season 4 and how they’re coping with the government- very deep way.” mandated coronavirus lockdowns in Israel. ‘We bonded really quickly’ Presented bilingually in Hebrew and Arabic with Season 3 of “Fauda” took about three months to together because even in Corona times and especially subtitles, “Fauda” tells the story of an elite undercover film. Regarding a fourth season, Daniel said, “I heard on this day – We will never leave her alone. Never unit in the Israel Defense Forces with a focus on Israeli that they are writing something. I hope it will happen. forget. Always remember.” agent Doron Kavillio, played by the show’s co-creator, We really want it, and I hope it will happen.” Lior Raz. The last two seasons took place primarily in Shim’on, who plays Nurit, the only woman in the the West Bank, but in the new one, the action moves to Israeli counter-terrorism unit, said the cast does all their the Gaza Strip. stunts in the show, and their training included how to fire a During a webinar hosted by the Friends of the Israel weapon, Krav Maga and kickboxing. About being the only Defense Forces (FIDF) one day after the third season of female among the main characters, she said it was a lot of “Fauda” launched on Netflix, actors Yaakov Zada Daniel, fun—“we bonded really quickly. I think there are very few Boaz Konforty and Rona-Lee Shim’on discussed filming moments where I felt like ‘the woman’ with the guys.” season 3 mostly in Israeli-Arab villages in Israel, but also She added, “They tell dirty jokes all the time; we just in Jaffa and in IDF training zones. had a lot of laughs. I know that by now if I call each one Local populations were “unbelievably friendly and of them at like two in the morning and say, ‘I need you, cooperative,” according to Konforty, who mentioned the come help me,’ they would. I earned five really amazing idea of having a tour for “Fauda” fans to see the locations big brothers.” used for filming. Shim’on said “Fauda” has helped build a bridge Daniel, who plays Eli, one of the members of the between Arabs and Israelis. “The situation we’ve been in undercover unit in the show, said the IDF helped make for many years has been one of divide. I think it’s hard to the scenes taking place in Gaza as realistic as possible. humanize the people on the other side for some people, “Of course, we cannot get into Gaza, or there would and I think that’s what the show has done. It kind of be no season 3 today or season 4,” explained Daniel. “But opened a window to a way there. Of course, we wrote the IDF really helped us and supported us. They gave us it, and we’re Israelis, and it is from our point of view. But helicopters, and we worked together closely. I think we it gave a lot of room that wasn’t there before and just both benefited from this.” pushed the conversation forward in that sense.” Daniel said his real-life experience as an under- Shim’on, Konforty and Daniel also reminisced cover operative in the IDF is similar to the role he plays; about the last time they were together before being This year marks 75 years since the end of the it helped him understand the mindset of his character. forced to self-quarantine due to the coronavirus. They Holocaust. Because of restrictions due to the corona- He has experienced undercover missions in Israeli- recalled gathering to watch a few episodes of the latest virus pandemic, many Holocaust remembrance Arab villages, similar to those in the show, but said real season, saying they missed spending time together events throughout the world have been cancelled, missions are quicker—“in and out,” as opposed to lasting eating, drinking and going out in the evenings in Tel Aviv. with commemorations and exhibits shifting online. days or months in enemy territory. During the lockdown, Shim’on said she is trying Holocaust survivors typically attend remem- Konforty, who plays Avihai—a sniper who is part to maintain her ballet routine and do yoga, Pilates and brance ceremonies and participate in memorial of the counter-terrorist unit in the show—was a tank meditate. Konforty shared that his two young children, marches, such as the March of the Living, at former commander during his IDF service. He said “being in ages 2 and 4, are keeping him busy during the quaran- Nazi concentration camps in Europe, but this year the military, when you come to a series like this, for us tine, while Daniel said he is spending his time cooking, survivors are mostly staying indoors at home. things are very, very familiar. It’s like a language that cleaning and writing. www.algemeiner.com Attention Not-For-Proﬁt Organizations

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