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CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH RESEARCH L’I NSTITUT CANADIEN DE RECHERCHES SUR LE JUDAÏSME
ISRAFAXApril 22, 2016 14 Nisan 5776 Volume XXVII, Number 288
IBESYORNDA THEE LBL UIEN ( & W SHIPTE )A HOCRIEZO:N
TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMY, SECURITY P.O. Box 175, Station H, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2K7 Tel: (514) 486-5544 Fax: (514) 486-8284 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.isranet.org ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 2
Editorial Passover Thoughts 5776 Israel and the World: Baruch Cohen Contemporary Issues In Loving Memory of Malca z’’l Frederick Krantz “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abun - dantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the The Jewish State of Israel, proclaimed May, 1948, and soon be land was filled with them.” ( Passover Haggadah , [Exodus 1.7]) 68 years old, is one of the greatest, and most successful, post-1945 “Even the poorest Jew, a recipient of charity, must, on the experiments in nation-building. Now with a growing population of eve of Passover, eat only in a reclining position, as a mark of ca. eight million, 75% of which is Jewish; then, marginal, the Yishuv freedom…” ( Mishna, Pesahim 10.1) with 600,000 post-Holocaust souls, facing destruction by five invad - The key idea expressed in Passover is the certainty of free - ing Arab armies. Today Israel is the regional hegemon, its nuclear- dom. With the Exodus a new age dawned for humanity: redemp - armed IDF one of world’s most advanced and powerful armed tion from oppression and misery. If the Exodus had not taken forces. place, humanity would have been destined to follow another Then, economically marginal; today, its dynamic and innovative course. high-tech sector among the world’s most advanced, with an out - During the night of Passover the Jew says, that if not for Ex - standing space exploration program ( NB : to be celebrated at CIJR’s odus, “Neither my fathers, nor I, nor my children would be free, 2016 28th Anniversary Gala, “Israel in Space”, April 12 in Toronto, we would still remain slaves.” April 14 in Montreal). Passover respects the universal, indivisible greatness of free - All of this despite constant warfare and terrorism since 1948, and dom and liberty. The Passover holiday calls us from the most successful achievement of the immense task of integrating succes - abject misery to the mizrah by which human dignity is restored. sive waves of refugees (Holocaust survivors, Sephardim expelled The night of the Seder forces man to face, and to fight for, him - from Arab lands, Ethiopians, Russians). And today a growing tide self. The Haggadah call becomes quite clear: it summons every from renewed antisemitism in the West European countries. Jew to join his brothers and sisters in the building of Jerusalem, Yet today, despite continuing tensions, Israel’s regional situation of Judaism and in the strengthening of the State of Israel. is in fact relatively stable. Formal peace treaties with Egypt and Jor - AM YISRAEL CHAI! dan, and a de facto peace with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, have “The People of Israel Live!” been sustained. Indeed, Israel, with one exception, is enjoying the best general (Baruch Cohen is Research Chairman of CIJR, and a socio-political, and diplomatic, circumstances since its founding, member of the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Center) and this despite tensions with the U.S., the superpower that became, after 1967, its closest ally and supporter (more on this later). The key exception here is, of course, Iran. A former U.S.-Israel ISRAFAX EDITORIAL BOARD ally under the Shah (overthrown with U.S. President Carter’s acqui - Editor ...... Frederick Krantz Publications Chairman ..... Rob Coles escence), Obama’s Iranian nuclear deal has reinforced terrorist-sup - Associate Editors ...... Julien Bauer Assistant Editor ...... Machla Abramovitz porting Iran’s spread across the Middle East into Lebanon, Syria, ...... Ira Robinson Archivist: ...... Roberto Lima and Yemen, this despite Israeli, Saudi (and U.S. Congressional) op - ...... Harold M. Waller Layout & Design ...... France Normandeau position. Obama’s effective withdrawal from Syria, with Russia’s Research Chairman ...... Baruch Cohen Executive Assistant ...... Yunna Shapira intervention there, has saved the vicious Assad regime. Despite the first shaky cease-fire there, in five years, with 300,000 already dead ISRAFAX is the research publication of the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research , an independent and non-partisan non-profit educational and 11 million refugees, internal/external, Syria remains a poten - foundation devoted to the study of Israel, the Middle East and the Jew - tially explosive powder-keg. ish world. It provides CIJR members with key data and a digest of in - A quick Middle East tour d’horizon demonstrates Israel’s relative ternational analysis and opinion on relevant issues. security: We welcome your letters, comments and materials, which can be Egypt : Gen. el-Sissi, having overthrown with popular backing the faxed or e-mailed (see cover.) Islamist Muslim Brotherhood regime of Morsi, is close to Israel (they cooperate against IS in Sinai, and against Hamas in Gaza). Egypt remains unstable, exposed to external and internal terrorism, and a still stand-offish Obama Administration: as a possible collapse THIS ISSUE of Cairo would make the Syrian situation look like child’s play, Is - P. 2 EDITORIAL rael (and Saudi) support for Egypt remains central. P. 2 PASSOVER THOUGHTS 5776 Turkey : Another earlier Israel ally, which after the rise of Islamist P. 3 WEEKLY QUOTES & SHORT TAKES Erdogan broke with the Jewish state (the Mavi Marmara incident, P. 4 BDS & ANTI-ISRAEL DELEGITIMATION etc.) but now seeks a rapprochement. Turkey is increasingly alone, P. 5 ISRAEL: IN U.S. ELECTION, & IN SPACE isolated, its “neo-Ottoman” policy a failure, the Turkish Kurds (pro - P. 6 ARABS: STATE VS. TRIBE voked by Erdogan for electoral purposes) rebelling, with terrorist P. 6 ISRAEL IN SPACE: TO MOON, AND MARS! explosions in Istanbul and Ankara. Traditional Turkish enemies Rus - P. 9 ISRAELI CHRISTIANS TO IDF; YAZIDIS GET HELP sia and Greece, on Tehran’s doorstep, are negotiating with Israel. P. 10 TURKS ENMESHED IN CONFLICT; ISRAEL RESCUES YEMENIS" Hence Erdogan, cozying up to Israel, evidently seeks resumed rela - P. 11 CIJR REVIEW OF BOOKS tions. P. 12 EXTRA! EXTRA! Saudi Arabia : Given Obama’s de facto ISSN # 1193-7246 Continued on page 8 2 – April 22, 2016 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 3
WEEKLY QUOTES SHORT TAKES
“(Islamic State) have really an unprecedented level of financial RUSSIA COULD REDEPLOY TO SYRIA IN HOURS, and military means available to them.” — General Gratien Maire, PUTIN SAYS (Moscow) — Russia could rebuild its military pres - France’s Vice Chief of Defense. Maire said the I.S. threat posed to ence in Syria in a matter of hours and will maintain air defenses Europe is more dangerous than in the past because the terrorist or - in the country for the foreseeable future, President Vladimir Putin ganization has territory, weaponry and support that provide impor - said. Putin portrayed the combat operation as a success that cost tant advantages to returning foreign fighters. I.S. affiliated terrorists Russia little and demonstrated the country’s “indisputable leader - struck March 22 in Brussels, killing at least 34 people and wounding ship, will and responsibility” in fighting terrorism. ( Washington scores of others in bombings of the airport and subway. ( Bloomberg , Post , Mar. 17, 2016) Mar. 22, 2016) U.N. CONDEMNS YEMEN AIRSTRIKES THAT KILLED “Most westerners, including almost all Canadians, still have not 106 (Sana) — A UN human rights official condemned the Saudi- begun to understand that they and their way of life are under led coalition fighting in Yemen, citing repeated attacks on civilian attack by a lethal army of kamikazes who are convinced they targets, including an attack in March that killed 106 people, in - are doing God’s work and that they will soon have a hallowed cluding 24 children. The Saudis are backing the contested govern - place in paradise…One need ment of President Hadi against only to have listened to Prime rebels, known as the Houthis, Minister Justin Trudeau’s who are aligned with former tepid response to the multiple President Saleh. The Saudis are terrorist attacks carried out in pressuring the U.S. for support, Paris late last year and his de - saying that Iran is backing the cision to withdraw Canada’s Houthis. ( New York Times , Mar. thin combat contribution to the 18, 2016) war against ISIL to understand FUTURE OF LEGAL BAT - that he does not regard Cana - TLE AGAINST BDS MEETS dians as being in danger.” — IN ISRAEL (Jerusalem) — An Matthew Fisher. ( National Post , eight-day seminar, bringing 45 Mar. 22, 2016) lawyers, scholars, and judges “President [Barack] Obama… from all over the world to aid Is - may be the worst thing that rael in fighting BDS, started last ever happened to Israel, believe month in Israel. The goal of the me…What…Obama gets seminar, organized by Israeli wrong about dealmaking…is Photo: Ketevan Kardava—Georgian Public Broadcaster/AP NGO Shurat HaDin, is to help its participants learn about the secu - that he constantly applies pres - Two women are wounded in a terrorist attack sure to our friends, and re - at Brussels Airport in Belgium, March 22, 2016. rity threats facing Israel and how wards our enemies…When the the country is fighting for its de - United States stands with Israel, the chances for peace really fense and international image. Israeli legal experts will give lec - rise, and rise exponentially.” — Presidential primary front-runner tures to the visiting jurists, and security officials will provide Donald Trump (R), at the AIPAC conference in Washington. Trump briefings. The seminar hopes to create a network of jurists who also vowed to move the U.S. embassy in Israel “to the eternal cap - can help Israel fight BDS with legal tools. ( Ynet , Mar. 18, 2016) ital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem.” (JNS , Mar. 21, 2016) IFJ DEFENDS PALESTINIAN VIOLENT INCITEMENT “Regardless of what happens inside Iran, President Obama and (Washington) — The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) his supporters will continue to embrace the Joint Comprehen - defended the right of a terrorist-affiliated Palestinian media outlet sive Plan of Action. They will never accept the argument that a to incite murder against Israelis. The IDF recently closed down nuclear agreement that enhances the power of Islamic revolu - Palestine Today – a Palestinian Islamic Jihad media outlet – for tionaries is so politically counterproductive as to negate the logic inciting violence and glorifying Palestinian terrorists. Instead of of the deal itself.” — Reuel Marc Gerecht ( Weekly Standard , Mar. condemning the Palestinian media outlet, the IFJ accused Israel 14, 2016) of engaging in a “wave of violence targeting journalists.” ( IPT , “The feeling that accompanies me throughout the conference is Mar. 18, 2016) that Europe is also gradually recognizing that anti-Semitism is ISRAEL AMONG THE HAPPIEST PLACES ON EARTH not only the problem of Israelis and Jews, it is a global prob - (Geneva) — In case you missed it, March 20 was International lem…Europe’s ability to deal with anti-Semitism is directly Happiness Day. As usual, it included a study of the state of inter - linked to its ability to deal with the displays of hatred and vio - national happiness, ranking countries from most to least. This lence that threaten its stability.” — Israeli MK Aliza Lavie, at the year’s top three were Denmark, Switzerland and Iceland. All are Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism confer - peaceful, prosperous democracies, located in the calmest regions ence in Berlin. “More and more parliamentarians are saying in of the world. And then, at number 11, comes Israel. Israel’s official a clear voice: There can be no tolerance … for displays of hatred Bureau of Statistics has also reported that in 2013, 86% of Israelis and incitement. This struggle relates to us all.” (Jewish Press , over the age of nineteen said they were “very satisfied with their Mar. 15, 2016) lives.” ( Fox , Mar. 21, 2016)
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BDS & ANTI-ISRAEL DELEGITIMATION
ment for Jewish students.” AMCHA exam - The Link Between BDS and Jew Hatred on Campus ined 113 U.S. public and private colleges Barbara Kay and universities with the largest populations of Jewish students in North America (but not the Canadian campuses that have high Jew - ish enrollment). Data were gathered from in - cident reports, media accounts, social media postings and online recordings. Also exam - ined were the presence or absence of active anti-Zionist student groups and the number of faculty who had signed one or more peti - tions or statements endorsing an academic boycott of Israeli universities and scholars. Categories for “targeting” of Jewish stu - dents included: physical assault, genocidal expression, destruction of Jewish property, discrimination, and intimidation. Language was considered anti-Semitic if it included historical tropes like blood libels or conspir - y l
i acy theories (Jewish control of media, banks, a D
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c Nazis, Holocaust denial, and demonization M
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t or delegitimization of Israel (derived from o
h McGill BDS students demonstrate on campus.
P the U.S. State Department definition of anti- Semitism). They found, for example, that on In a Feb. 25 Facebook post, McGill stu - ing from 94 countries (with the alleged sins more than 60 campuses, Israel was vilified dent Molly Harris recounted her experience of the only one from which they cannot be for genocide, crimes against humanity, in a “Rez (residence) Project” workshop, a expelled the hysterical, single-focus obses - “pinkwashing” (LGBT tolerance as a dis - (mandatory) three-hour discussion on “op - sion of “human rights” activism). traction from Israeli evil) and “faithwashing” pression, privilege, consent and race” de - Molly’s uncomfortable experience ranks (Israel’s religious tolerance for the same rea - signed to create a “safe space” for fellow as relatively benign in the scheme of anti-Is - son). A speaker at one school called Israel dorm students. Molly described an incident rael expression on North American cam - “the embodiment of evil.” when, singled out negatively for being Jew - puses, where the always-thin line between The report concludes that anti-Zionism is ish, she felt unsafe. According to Molly, the anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism has been the most prominent face of contemporary facilitator responded that Molly could feel slowly but surely dissolving. In the U.S. ev - anti-Semitism on campuses today, and that victimized for being female, but “being Jew - idence of the merger can be ugly: swastikas the best statistical predictors of overall anti- ish didn’t constitute grounds for systematic on Jews’ dorm doors, rancid graffiti like Semitic activity on a campus are the pres - oppression.” “Zionists should be sent to the gas chamber” ence of groups like Students for Justice in Molly writes, “Though a little perturbed, and scurrilous Facebook postings like Palestine and the number of faculty who I let this go, I didn’t argue with the facilitator, “F***ing Jews. GTFOH with all your Zion - have endorsed the academic boycott of Is - and stayed quiet for the remainder of the ist bullsh*t … Give the Palestinians back rael. Significantly, they found that the level workshop.” I sympathize with Molly’s intu - their land, go back to Poland or whatever of BDS activity on campus is the best pre - ition that pressing the issue would not have freezer-state you’re from…” dictor of anti-Jewish hostility. gone well for her. On campuses with an ac - A survey of U.S. Jewish college students By their nature boycotts are normally lim - tive anti-Zionist presence, like McGill, ha - by Trinity College and the Louis D. Brandeis ited, as they either work or they don’t. Only tred of Israel has a trickledown effect into the Center for Human Rights Under Law reveals one boycott has failed to succeed, but has general “social justice” agenda — feminism, that 54 per cent of surveyed students re - continued in various incarnations for 100 Black Lives Matter, LGBT and others — ported experiencing or witnessing instances years, namely the boycott against the Jews. which has hardened many progressives’ of anti-Semitism on campus in the first six Like the Arab League Boycott, ongoing hearts against all Jewish pain, and shamed months of the 2013-14 academic year. An - since 1948, which is its spiritual father, Jewish students into suppressing or denying other Brandeis survey found that 75 per cent today’s BDS campaigns are inherently it. of North American Jewish college student Judeophobic, and denial of “safe spaces” to And so it has become commonplace even respondents “had been exposed to anti-Se - Jews when they are exposed to identity- for Jewish students well-versed in their peo - mitic rhetoric,” and one third “harassed be - based hostility is an inherently anti-Semitic ple’s history to accept the mantle of “privi - cause they were Jewish.” Both surveys found impulse. Let’s finally acknowledge that and lege” rather than insist that 60 years of active BDS campaigns to be a consistent cor - deal with it as we would any other offensive success in North America isn’t a patch on related factor in the anti-Jewish hostility. manifestation of intolerance. three thousand years of exclusion, religious A new report by the AMCHA Initiative (Barbara Kay is a National Post columnist persecution, second-class status and whole - (Hebrew for “your people”) confirms that and a CIJR Academic Fellow; National sale massacre, not to mention ethnic cleans - BDS promotion creates “a hostile environ - Post, Mar. 22, 2016) 4 – April 22, 2016 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 5
ISRAEL: IN U.S. ELECTION, & IN SPACE
tion the political gap between the U.S. and Israeli governments has Israel in the Presidential Election widened noticeably. Furthermore the grass roots of the party has Campaign in part drifted away from support for Israel… The Republican Party, which was hardly in the forefront of the Harold M. Waller pro-Israel cause in the early days, was particularly concerning for Israelis during the Eisenhower years, when the Administration ap - This year’s presidential election campaign is mystifying in plied heavy pressure to compel Israel to withdraw from Sinai after many respects, especially the responses to the candidacies of the 1956 Suez War. And there were some anxious moments during Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. For voters who care deeply the early days of the Yom Kippur War, when resupply of Israel was about the well-being of Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship the held up for political reasons. But since then Republicans, both can - election is critical after eight years of President Barack Obama try - didates and rank and file, have generally been staunch supporters ing to put some daylight between the two countries. Moreover the of Israel. Currently Sen. Ted Cruz is an ardent supporter of Israel presence of a Jewish candidate as a serious contender for the Dem - while Donald Trump gave a speech to the AIPAC convention that ocratic nomination adds an unusual dimension to a campaign that sounded as if it could have been written by an executive of that or - departs from the conventional wisdom in so many respects. ganization. The Republican contest is particularly intriguing. For some time While Hillary Clinton addressed AIPAC with a staunchly pro- now the GOP has been the party most willing to hold to an unam - Israel message, her four years as Secretary of State were a partic - biguously pro-Israel stance. It was not always this way. After all, it was Democratic President Harry Truman who recognized the ularly tempestuous time for the bilateral relationship. Sanders, the new state at the moment of its birth. And President Lyndon John - only remaining candidate who just could not find the time to ad - son held firm while UN Security Council Res. 242 was being dress AIPAC, managed to give a speech on the campaign trail at drafted to insure that withdrawal from territories that came under the same time that was harshly critical of Israel. In that sense he Israeli control in the Six Day War would neither be unconditional appears to be in tune with the sensibilities of the younger demo - nor total. Rather any withdrawal would have to be in the context graphic that so ardently supports him. of peace agreements. Democratic presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Despite all this many American supporters of Israel tend to be Clinton presided over the signing of peace treaties between Israel very liberal in their politics. Such voters may find it difficult to rec - and Egypt and Jordan as well as the Oslo agreement with the Pales - oncile their ideological leanings with their support for Israel. One tine Liberation Organization. Yet since those halcyon days Demo - might ask when cognitive dissonance will catch up with them. cratic support for Israel has deteriorated. This has been most (Harold M. Waller is a Professor of Political Science evident during the Obama years. Despite close security coopera - at McGill University and a CIJR Academic Fellow)
Israeli Innovation is Out of this World first time. Rona Ramon launched the Ramon Foundation in her late hus - During Space Week band’s honor, asking NASA chief Charles Bolden if the items Bradley Martin could be brought to Israel for Space Week. “I’m moved that the head of NASA remembered my request… We hope that the next While Israel already has a reputation for being the “start-up generation will take heart and inspiration from the story of Ilan nation” and a major hub for technological innovation, this year’s and the shuttle,” said Rona Ramon… Space Week in the Jewish state showed that Israeli ingenuity Israel is reportedly the smallest country in the world to launch is—quite literally—out of this world. In a culmination of events its own satellites. It is also one of only 11 states with the ability highlighting Israel’s contributions to space exploration, Space to independently launch unmanned missions into space. Cur - Week 2016 honored the late Col. Ilan Ramon, the first and only rently, Israel has 15 civilian satellites orbiting the Earth, two- Israeli astronaut. thirds of which are communication devices, with the remainder Ramon was a space shuttle payload specialist who was killed being communication platforms. along with his six crew members when the Columbia shuttle dis - Israeli space technology has played a critical role in the ex - integrated upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere on Feb. 2, ploration of Mars. The Product Lifestyle Management software 2003. Every year, the Ramon Foundation, in conjunction with that enabled NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories to accurately the Israeli Ministry of Science and the Israel Space Agency, or - model the performance of the Curiosity rover was developed by ganizes a number of events hosting astronauts and leading space Siemens in Israel… The Israel Space Agency will become an of - scientists… ficial member of the United Nations Committee on Space Af - For the event, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Ad - fairs. This comes after Israel was accepted into the U.N. ministration (NASA) loaned artifacts used by Ramon. Exhibited Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in October at the Israeli Air Force Center in Herzliya, NASA included a 2015. “Israel will be able to contribute more of our know-how camera used by Ramon in space, his control system, a recording and abilities for peace, and pave the way for expanding interna - drive, and other electronic equipment. Ramon was also carrying tional cooperation in space. We will be part of a small circle of out a Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment (MEIDEX) while countries that influence world priorities in the field,” said Daniel in space. In an exhibit designed by Tel Aviv University, NASA Brook, an ISA adviser on international cooperation… sent remains of that experiment to be displayed in Israel for the (Bradley Martin is a CIJR Student Intern; JNS, Feb. 8, 2016) ISRAFAX – April 22, 2016 – 5 ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 6
ARABS: STATE VS. TRIBE
Arabs Strive for Honor, Not Peace Israel in Space: Beyond the Philip Carl Salzman Blue (and White) Horizon
The Arab Middle East today remains any insult, offense, or attack. ISRAELI SPACE PROGRAM LANDMARKS beholden to its foundational culture, Now we have come face to face with the The debut of Ofeq-1 (Ofeq is the Hebrew word Bedouin tribal culture. We see Arabs to this tribal version of the universal organiza - for horizon), the first Israeli satellite, in 1988, was day cleaving to their kin groups, their tional problem of how to inspire people to a landmark event in the history of the Israeli space tribes, their religious sects, manifesting in set aside their short-term interests in favour program. Ofeq-1 was launched approximately 30 their actions group loyalty, support of of long-term interests, and their individual years after the launch of Sputnik 1, the first arti - closer over more distant, and balanced op - interests in favour of collective interests. ficial satellite successfully placed in orbit around position, each party defined as much by One way is to instill ideals, such as “duty,” the Earth, by the Soviet Union in 1957. The Is - whom they stand against, as what they that lead people to bridge the short- raeli space program was, and continues to be, stand for. At every level honour is at stake: term/long-term, individual/collective gap. viewed as a tremendous success. The small State tribes vs. tribes or sedentary authorities, Implied is a positive social judgement of of Israel joined the exclusive club of space super - Sunni vs. Shia, Arab vs. Kurd or Persian. those who fulfill their duty, and a negative powers. Today, Israel is the smallest country with Nor should we ignore the loss of Arab ho - judgment of those who do not. The Baluchi indigenous launch capabilities. nour in their defeats by the Israelis, and the tribesmen speak of whether a lineage, a tribal segment, is patopak, solidary, or be - 1961: “SHAVIT” LAUNCH: persistent Arab desire to regain that hon - Shavit 2 was the first sounding rocket (or re - topak, disunited, with the implied judg - our. search rocket, an instrument-carrying rocket de - ment that topak is desirable, and to be Honour in the Arab Middle East takes signed to take measurements and perform patopak is admirable. two forms: Sharaf is public standing, and scientific experiments) launched by Israel on July Honour is thus a positive reinforcement, is derived in the main from a man’s politi - 5, 1961 for meteorological research. Shavit 2 a reward for correct behaviour. Honour cal status. ‘ Ird is personal standing, and is weighed 250 kilograms and was 3.76 meters tall. works similarly for the segment as a derived largely from the proper behaviour The rocket achieved a top height of 80 kilometers. whole; its reputation depends upon its suc - of the women with whom a man is affili - The Shavit sounding rocket is distinct from the cessful defence of its interests, no matter ated. Honour can be understood only as later Shavit space launch vehicle, also produced how prejudicial that defence is to the short part of tribal culture, Arab tribal culture. by Israel, to launch Ofeq reconnaissance satellites term interests of its individual members. For the individual, tribal membership into low earth orbit. means that, should he get into trouble, he Sharaf is not just a matter of doing the will have committed allies to call upon. right thing, of formalistic conforming to 1963: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL the requirements of tribal norms. Rather, But the other side of this is that another COMMITTEE FOR SPACE RESEARCH (NCSR): public standing, or the political status of a member of his group, should he get into The Israel Academy of Sciences and Human - group, is the result of its success in defend - trouble, can call on him for support. In fact, ities formally established the NCSR in 1963 to ing and advancing its interests, and thus its in a case of violence perpetrated by a explore the feasibility of space launches and satel - success in competition with other groups member of his group, he is a legitimate tar - lite development, and to formulate the Israel of like magnitude in the tribal order. get for reprisal, for vengeance, by the Space Agency. During the 1960s through the Sharaf , in short, is the reward for winning, group of the injured party. If his group set - 1970s the committee developed the infrastructure and the recognition of the winners. In the tles, paying blood money, he must con - needed for research and development in space ex - Middle East, honour is for the winners, tribute from his scarce resources. If larger ploration and sciences. scale conflict breaks out, his group mobi - shame for the losers. lizing to fight, and this is far from rare, he There is not one Arab nakhba , the estab - 1983: ESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL SPACE AGENCY must join in and be ready to engage in lishment of Israel. Rather, all of modern (ISA): nakhba combat. history is a for the Arab world, a At the beginning of the 1980s, Israel set its nakhba This all seems fair, but what if the of - self-induced, cultural as the Arab sights on developing the industrial and scientific fender from his group is an idiot who does world has clung to pre-modern tribal infrastructure required for full-fledged member - stupid things, and has gotten into conflict forms: The seventh century C.E. remains ship in the space community. The Israeli govern - through poor judgment? Or perhaps the of - the ideal for the Arab world. But modern ment established the Israel Space Agency (ISA) fender from his group, a man distant in liberal society depends upon a constitu - in 1983 and charged it with coordinating the na - kinship, is greedy or violent, and has no tional foundation, governing institutions tion’s space program. A diverse scope of activities justice to his claim and act? Must each based on law, politics allowing constant re - was established both for defence, led by the Israel member of the tribe nonetheless put his in - call, and civil society going about its busi - Ministry of Defence, and for civilian applications terests, his finances, his well-being, and ness peacefully. Loyalty must be to the under the leadership of the ISA. those of his wife and children, at risk for constitution, not to groups. Building a these undeserving causes? Yes, of course modern society and liberal state on a tribal 1988: OFEQ SATELLITE LAUNCH: he must, or else the collective security of culture is building on shifting sands. On September 19, 1988, Israel launched its the group would disappear, and individuals first satellite, Ofeq-1, a reconnaissance satellite (Prof.Salzman, a CIJR Fellow, is Prof. would be on their own, and vulnerable to that was developed and built in Israel. Ofeq-1 was of Anthropology at McGill U.) 6 – April 22, 2016 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 7
ISRAEL IN SPACE: TO MOON, AND MARS!
Computer Networking lecturer; and Yonatan Winetraub, an electrical Concept of SpaceIL's engineer in Israel Aerospace Industries. Eran Privman is the CEO Lunar Lander. of SpaceIL. GLXP is offering $20 million to land a robot on the Moon, travel 500 meters over the lunar surface, and have it send video, images, and data back to Earth. SpaceIL’s strategy is unique among GLXP contenders. Instead of building a tracked or wheeled rover, SpaceIL plans to meet the requirement to travel 500 meters on the lunar sur - L I face by having the lander “hop” from its landing site to another site e c a
p 500 meters away using rocket propulsion. S
:
e On a shoestring budget of only $36 million (the philanthropist g a
m Sheldon Adelson donated US$16.4 million to the team), SpaceIL I stands out from its well-funded competition as being the only non- launched via the Israeli Shavit satellite launcher – making Israel the eighth profit organization in the competition whose team is 95 percent com - member of the prestigious club (now eleven in number) of countries with prised of volunteers. SpaceIL aims to be the smallest and lightest space launch capabilities and with the ability to build and operate satellites spacecraft to ever land on the Moon. and spacecraft. Most Ofeq satellites have been carried on top of Shavit rockets from 2016: EXOMARS: Palmachim Airbase in Israel, on the Mediterranean coast. Most non-Is - Man’s latest attempt to search for life on Mars has an Israeli com - raeli satellites are launched eastward to gain a boost from the Earth’s ro - ponent – a propulsion system that will gently guide the newly- tational speed. However, Ofeq satellites are launched westward launched ExoMars spacecraft to the surface of Mars when it gets (retrograde orbit) over the Mediterranean to avoid flying over populated ready to touch down sometime in 2018. The craft’s propulsion sys - areas in Israel and neighboring Arab countries. tem was developed by Rafael, the same Israeli company that devel - oped, among other things, the Iron Dome missile defense system. 1996: AMOS-1: While known for its defense systems, Rafael is also active in the Amos-1 was the first Israeli communications satellite. Its development space business, specifically as the manufacturer of controllable was based on experience from Ofeq reconnaissance satellites. It was propulsion and reaction control systems (RCS), which help “brake” launched on May 16, 1996 from European Space Centre in French the landing of satellites and missiles. This ensures that their fuel Guiana. It was in use for home TV services. tanks do not crash into the ground as they land and ignite an explo - sion. 2003: FIRST ISRAELI ASTRONAUT, COL. ILAN RAMON Z”L: When ExoMars, launched March 14, 2016, gets to its destination, Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, was born on June 20, 1954 in it will release a descent module called Schiaparelli which will land Ramat Gan, and grew up in Beersheva. He completed an Israeli Air Force on Mars. The module’s fuel tanks are equipped with Rafael-supplied (IAF) pilot’s course with honors in 1974 and served as a fighter pilot with mini-rockets that will spring into action when the craft gets ready to the IAF, ultimately attaining the rank of Colonel. As a young pilot he par - land on the surface of Mars, according to Zvi Zuckerman, a Rafael ticipated in Operation Opera, the 1981 bombing of Iraq’s unfinished engineer who helped develop the system. Osiraq nuclear reactor. Ramon’s selection as the first Israeli astronaut, in the framework of a 1995 cooperation agreement between the ISA and the US National Aero - TH nautics and Space Administration (NASA), made him a celebrated Israeli 28 ANNUAL success story. In 1998 Ramon, accompanied by his family, went to the Johnson Space CIJR GALA Center in Houston, Texas for astronaut training. He was assigned to be a payload specialist on the Columbia space shuttle – a mission for which TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMY, SECURITY he spent over four years training. On January 16, 2003 the Columbia space shuttle was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with seven astronauts on board, in - ISRAEL IN SPACE: cluding Ramon – who thus became the first Israeli astronaut in space. Sixteen days later, on February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated over BEYOND THE BLUE (AND WHITE) HORIZON Texas on re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, and its entire crew perished. Ramon is the only foreign recipient of the United States Congressional Space Medal of Honor, which he was awarded posthumously.
2016: SPACEIL: Israeli space explorers now have their sights set on planting their flag on the Moon. SpaceIL is an Israeli non-profit organization competing in the Google Lunar X Prize (GLXP) to launch a spacecraft on the Moon Toronto: April 12, 2016 by 2017. SpaceIL was founded by Yariv Bash, an electronics and com - Montreal: April 14, 2016 puter engineer in the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya; Kfir Damari, a
ISRAFAX – April 22, 2016 – 7 ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 8
Iran alliance, the Continued from page 2 Saudis have come closer to military cooperation with Is - rael (including reported overflight permis - sion should an attack on Iran’s nuclear installations become necessary). Given their joint opposition to Iran, to Assad, and to IS; impact of the oil crisis on the Saudis; and their deepening war in Yemen against Iran-back Shiite Houthis, Jerusalem- Riyadh cooperation will no doubt deepen. Syria : No longer a unitary state, Syria poses no regime threat to Israel. But terror - ist IS in the northeast, at Raqqa, and vying with Hezbollah and the Iranians for a pres - ence on the Golan, is disquieting. But IS is opposed by the U.S. and Russia; and Moscow is potentially a brake on Hezbol - lah and the Iranians in Syria as well. Nev - proof that dismantling Jewish Israel, not ob - resolution, indicates], this would trigger a se - ertheless, the key role of “foreign” taining a state, is their true goal. vere crisis and, potentially, direct Israeli in - elements—Iran, Hezbollah, Russia—in Hamas in Gaza, after its disastrous third tervention. But here, a new Republican supporting Assad versus U.S., EU [the “Al - war with Israel, is relatively quiet, preoccu - administration may well itself preempt the lies”], and the Saudis, makes for instability pied with [so far failed] rebuilding, and Obama-Iran accord, meaning Israel would and potential confrontations. Possible inter - Egyptian pressure (flooding of tunnels). no longer be alone in facing the Iranians. nationalization of the conflict [similar to the There is always tension (Israel is developing (And such a new Administration—like the Spanish Civil War situation, 1936-39, a “Tunnel Iron Dome”), but no immediate, situation after Reagan was elected, when a which was a prelude to WWII] is concern - direct threat. fearful Iran released the U.S. hostages— ing, despite the recently-proclaimed Russ - With no “two-state” “peace process” would signal to Tehran a new, and pro-Israel, ian withdrawal. pressure in near future, continuation of the reality.) Iraq : Has hands full with IS in Mosul, de facto present situation (certainly better Summation : Israel—domestically, re - the Kurdish autonomy [independence] than disintegration of the PA, and Hamas’ gionally, and internationally, and despite on - movement around Kirkuk, Iraqi Sunni re - takeover of the West Bank) is in the offing. going tensions ( e.g ., the O. Admin., EU, UN, sistance to the Shi’ite regime, and its Gov - NB : Israeli popular agreement across the BDS agitation on campuses, etc., rise of IS ernment under Iranian pressure, Iraq too Right-Left divide—over 70% in a recent in Syria/Iraq, terrorist attacks, and massive poses no threat to Israel. Iraq may well poll—against a Palestinian state in the ab - refugee flows, regionally and internation - break up into Kurdish, Sunni, and Shiite sence of decent, concretely forthcoming ally)—is in very good shape. The Jewish sectors. NB : Israel and the Kurds are, his - Palestinian leadership, is remarkable—as is state—on the edge today of ‘exploring outer torically close; Jerusalem supported the the shared parallel fear that a failed Palestin - space!—is a remarkable success story, a vin - Kurds under Saddam Hussein. ian State would (à la Libya) soon be in IS dication of Herzl’s Zionist vision. Indeed, Lebanon : A Sunni population majority terrorists’ hands. Zionism, rooted in deeper Judaic values and is under Shiite Hezbollah dominance (aided U.S .: Obama’s Middle East policy (in - Jewish history, is the only successful, and by Iranian arms, 100,000 rockets, cash, cluding Syria) is a disaster (the pro-Iran tilt surviving, ideology of all those born in the etc.). But Lebanon is dealing with 1½ mil - creating opposition from Egypt, Saudi Ara - 19 th c. Legitimating in modern terms the lion Syrian refugees, and Hezbollah— bia, and Turkey). The vacuum created in Jewish People’s reclaiming of their Biblical pushed by Iran into a military role in Syria by O. has, incredibly, destroyed a fifty- homeland, Zionism has proved more than Syria—is suffering with high casualties year U.S. policy of keeping the Soviet adequate to the construction of a flourishing, (and Sunni terrorist bombings in Beirut). Union, and then Russia, out of the Middle diverse, modern industrial and high-tech Russia is a restraining influence on Hezbol - East. Now Putin is back, dominating Syria. democracy. lah, while the Saudis have declared an end Obama’s support of the PA under Abbas is Of course, the book of the future is the to their $4 billion in annual Lebanese mili - also a failure; and the hasty withdrawal from hardest of all books to read: in the Middle tary aid. Iraq was a disaster, as was the similar ac - East, as in history in general, surprises are West Bank/ Gaza : The West Bank under tion—now partially stabilized—in always possible, and Israel must not, and Abbas is unstable: the current Knifing In - Afghanistan. will not, let up its guard. This also means, as tifada continues; Abbas is old and ill, and The only fly in the ointment? Iran’s drive CIJR celebrates its 28 th year, that its impor - in the tenth year of a four-year Presidential to nuclear weapons. If Teheran seeks to tant pro-Israel work remains in little danger term, with no successor, etc. Propaganda evade the recent U.S.-brokered Nuclear of soon becoming irrelevant. about getting a state via the UN without ne - Agreement (quite probable, as their past his - (Prof. Krantz is Director of the Canadian gotiating with Israel, is unrealistic, and in tory and current testing of ballistic missiles, Institute for Jewish Research, and Editor any case the Palestinians have given ample in contravention of a UN Security Council of its ISRAFAX magazine.) 8 – April 22, 2016 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 9
ISRAELI CHRISTIANS TO IDF; YAZIDIS GET HELP
A Hopeful Sign: Christians of Israel are Signing up to Join the IDF. Paul Merkley In the mid-Nineteenth century, Britain Everywhere throughout the Middle East Islamist movements that are gaining in pop - and other European powers began under - today, Christians are undergoing martyr - ularity among Palestinian youth. taking responsibility for protection of the dom. The only exception to this gloomy The State of Israel has always allowed Christian minorities in the Middle East picture is the State of Israel. The absolute exemption of Arab young men and women from increasingly horrific assaults from number of Christians living in Israel has from the military service that is compulsory Muslim masses that were, in fact, being di - grown modestly but steadily with every for Jews. But today a number of Christian rected by Ottoman authorities. There was, census. In 1948, Christians made up 2.9% Arabs are leading a campaign to increase of course, a material motive close to the of the whole (34,000 in a total population recruitment. It is now anticipated that surface here, as there was for everything of 1.2 million); by 2004, there were over 200 Christians will enlist voluntarily that European governments did in those 146,000, which was 2.1% of a total popu - during the coming year. years. But standing for Christians was in lation of just under seven million. Today, Though he has been subjected to various those long-gone days considered the duty “Christian Arabs are Israel’s best-educated sanction from his superiors in the Greek of governments of Christian lands. and most prosperous demographic group.” Orthodox Church and although he has been Around the turn of the century, these (Donna Rosenthal, The Israelis [New York: threatened by Arab politicians active in Is - same governments began retracting this Free Press, 2003], p. 315). rael with death as “an agent of Zionism,” commitment. This made possible the Ar - An awkward fact for most of us is that Father Gabriel Nafaf of Nazareth has re - menian massacres and a general tendency until very recently these Arab-speaking cently gained the whole-hearted coopera - to suffocation of the right-to-life of Chris - Christians resident in Israel have been reluc - tion of Prime Minister Netanyahu for a tian communities everywhere in the Middle tant to declare open allegiance to the State program that seeks recruitment among East, that accelerated when European em - of Israel. After all, the vast majority of their Christian Arabs and provides for their inte - pires handed over to the masters of the new Arab co-citizens of Israel are Muslims, in - gration into the Israeli armed forces. One Arab nations in the 1940s and 1950s. Con - doctrinated like all Muslims everywhere in of these recruits says: “I tell all the commu - sequently, the most prosperous and the contempt for the sons of Pigs and Monkeys. nities in Israel, you don’t have to enlist, but best-educated Christians throughout the But lately, some young Israeli Arabs have don’t attack those who chose to contribute. Middle East took flight to the West. The been speaking up for the government under This is my country.” bottom line is that while Christians were which they live and prosper – one which (Paul Merkley is a retired Professor of roughly 13% of the population of the Arab provides the only hope for heading off the History from Carleton University and a world in 1900, they are today around 2%. chaos that is represented by ISIS and other CIJR Academic Fellow) Rescuer of Captive Yazidi Girls Leads Mission to caped from I.S. and from refugee camps in Iraq and Turkey, where they are abused and Help Yazidis Stranded in Greece live in abysmal conditions. When the Yazidis reach Lesbos, they could be Doris Strub Epstein stranded there for months. CYCI finds them, provides them with food, medication Fleeing genocide from I.S. and inhu - them get to Germany. and money, and helps them fill out the pa - mane conditions in refugee camps in Tens of thousands, from different nation - perwork needed for the trip to Germany. Turkey and Iraq, thousands of Yazidis are alities, are waiting in Greece — Afgans, One month ago, Maman aimed at help - risking their lives on rubber dinghies to Iranians, Iraqis, Moroccans, Syrians and ing 613 Yazidis reach Germany — “with reach the Greek island of Lesbos. More Africans. Unlike Canada, which is ignor - the funds we have, I never thought we than 200 have drowned in the Aegean Sea. ing the most at- risk refugees, those who could surpass that number”. But they man - Steve Maman, the Montreal businessman have been declared targets of genocide by aged to assist 1,055 Yazidis, and his new dubbed the Jewish Schindler for his rescue I.S. and focusing only on bringing in Syri - goal is 1,200 to “match the number of Jews of the captive women and girls held by ISIS ans to Canada, Greece has just issued a de - Oscar Schindler saved during the Holo - in Iraq, is spearheading a mission to help cree that only those targeted for genocide caust.” Last August, over 5,000 Yazidis the Yazidis stranded in Greece get to Ger - would have priority. “We are the only were murdered, sometimes en masse, in many, which has the second largest com - NGO’s helping (Yazidis) specifically,” Iraq’s Sinjar district and surrounding area. munity of their people in the world. Maman said. Thousands of women and girls, some as I spoke to Maman just before he boarded It was a year ago that Maman founded young as eight, have been sold as sex the plane at Montreal’s Dorval airport for the Liberation of Christian and Yazidi Chil - slaves or taken as “brides” by IS fighters. Greece. “Right now 450 are waiting,” he dren of Iraq (CYCI), to rescue Christian According to Maman, about 2,700 remain said. “They have no food, no money, just and Yazidi girls kidnapped by I.S., then in captivity in IS-held territory. the shelter of the port.” Maman has raised used and sold as sex slaves in Iraq. Now (Doris Strub Epstein is co-chair of 60,000 Euros for their welfare and to help CYCI has is helping those who have es - CIJR’s Toronto Chapter) ISRAFAX – April 22, 2016 – 9 ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 10
TURKS ENMESHED IN CONFLICT; ISRAEL RESCUES YEMENIS
Erdogan’s Boomerang: Turkey is on Edge of War Yossi Melman Israeli diplomatic and intelligence channels are attempting to verify majority. But the price is being paid in a rise in terrorist attacks, in - if the attack in Istanbul (March 19, 2016) intentionally targeted Israeli cluding suicide bombings, whose impact is greater and more painful. tourists, although it is more likely that the Israelis were caught up as Effectively, Turkey is at total war across three borders: the war on bystanders along with other tourists. Turkey receives 35 million the home front against the PKK, a war against the Kurdish minority tourists a year from many countries. State tourism has not been af - in Syria, and a war against PKK training camps in Iraqi Kurdistan. fected, despite the recent terror wave which has hit the country, with The Turkish military is hitting targets from the air in Iraq, as well as a number of deadly attacks perpetrated by both Kurds and ISIS. This sending special forces into the field. is in fact a war which has been going on for around six months, and In Syria, Turkey does not dare send its planes over the border, for has so far killed nearly 3,000 people. fear of having them downed by Russian jets and air defense batteries. President Recep Erdogan began this war by choice, and he did Erdogan is instead making do with an artillery bombardment in a des - it for political purposes. A year ago, Erogan’s AKP party failed to perate attempt to prevent the Kurds in Syria, who with the help of the win over 50% in the national elections, as it had been accustomed U.S. and Russian air power, have been able to capture territory from in the recent past. In order to form a government, he required a ISIS and establish an independent province along the Turkish border. coalition agreement with the Nationalist Party - an extreme right- To facilitate the struggle against the Kurds, Erdogan changed his wing party, who believed that Erdogan was not forceful enough in policy towards ISIS. Turning from clandestine support or turning a the struggle with the Kurds. Until those elections, the Turkish gov - blind eye to their presence in Syria, which caused the U.S. and the ernment had been conducting peace talks with the Kurdish minor - West to censure him, he decided to join the international coalition ity, including its militant wing - the PKK movement led by Abdullah Öcalan, who is sitting in prison, who was a key figure in against ISIS, opening a front against them. the talks aimed at strengthening the ceasefire and discussing the It is difficult to know what Erdogan was thinking when he de - expansion of Kurdish autonomy. cided to move against the Kurds at home and abroad, and join the Erdogan ended the peace talks and actually declared war on the war against ISIS. Perhaps he thought that they would not respond, PKK. In practice, by doing so he declared war on most of the coun - or that it was a calculated move on his part. Either way, both the try’s Kurdish minority. Six months ago it seemed that his gamble was Kurds and ISIS have responded to Erdogan’s gambles with deadly paying off. He took votes from the Nationalist Party, whose power terrorist attacks. was reduced from 80 deputies to 40, and the AKP won an absolute (Jerusalem Post, Mar. 20, 2016) 19 Yemeni Jews Arrive in Israel, Ending Secret Rescue Operation Isabel Kershner
They landed in Israel late at night — a man in a dark suit and tra - Roughly 50 Jews chose to remain in Yemen, including about 40 ditional headdress, wheeling a suitcase; a mother, veiled, in a long who live in a closed compound in the country’s capital, Sana…ac - black robe and holding a sleeping toddler; and a rabbi carrying a cording to the Jewish Agency. The latest immigrants included a group Torah scroll believed to be more than 500 years old. They were of 14 from the northern Yemeni town of Raida, including the local among a final group of 19 Yemeni Jews who were spirited out of their rabbi, and a family of five from Sana. war-torn country in recent days… bringing a months-long clandestine Exactly how they reached Israel, which has no diplomatic relations rescue operation to a close. with Yemen, largely remains a mystery. Two countries that long fa - Photographs taken at Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel cilitated Jewish emigration from Yemen, the United States and Aviv by a representative of the Jewish Agency, a quasi-governmental Britain, closed their embassies in Sana last year, as did many other body that deals with Jewish immigration, documented the arrival late Western countries. Saudi Arabia, which has no formal diplomatic re - Sunday of the last of the Yemeni Jews who wanted to go to Israel. lations with Israel, has imposed a naval and air blockade of Yemen. They are remnants of an ancient and once-vibrant group that became All traffic to and from Yemen is supposed to be checked by the increasingly imperiled by violence and anti-Semitism as Yemen de - Saudis, including flights, which stop in Saudi Arabia for inspection scended into civil war. while traveling to or from Sana… “From Operation Magic Carpet in 1949 until the present day, the The family from Sana that arrived late Sunday is related to Aharon Jewish Agency has helped bring Yemenite Jewry home to Israel,” Zindani, who was killed in what was believed to be anti-Semitic at - Natan Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident who is the chairman of tack in 2012, the agency said… Yehuda Sharf, the Jewish Agency’s the agency, said in a statement, referring to the airlifts of 1949 and director of immigration and absorption, said that there were no longer 1950 that brought nearly 50,000 Yemenite Jews to Israel soon after any Jews in Raida, where a Jewish teacher, Moshe Yaish Nahari, was the country was established. “This chapter in the history of one of shot and killed by a Yemeni Air Force pilot in 2008. “All the Jews of the world’s oldest Jewish communities is coming to an end,” Mr. Sha - Raida, Yemen, are with us,” Mr. Sharf told Israel Radio on Monday, ransky added, “but Yemenite Jewry’s unique, 2,000-year-old contri - “even the last Torah scroll.” bution to the Jewish people will continue in the state of Israel.” (New York Times, Mar. 21, 2016) 10 – April 22, 2016 – ISRAFAX ISRAFAX_288 2016-03-28 9:35 PM Page 11
CIJR REVIEW OF BOOKS
‘The Right Wrong Man,’ by Lawrence when that past is both appalling and historic? … Douglas finds that Germany’s much admired record in confronting its own terrible Douglas history fell short of actually bringing individual Nazi perpetrators Anthony Julius to trial. Confronting the collective past, by means of memorials, symposiums and films, was one thing; prosecuting individuals for Not once but twice, in Nazi-era crimes was quite another. Indeed, in the Federal Republic, the period 1987-2012, the “the obstacles to successfully prosecuting former Nazis,” Douglas Ukrainian-American John writes, “were many and formidable.” We should not be surprised Demjanjuk was tried and by this, he adds: The simple fact is that postwar Germany was full convicted of offenses com - of former Nazis. The Munich trial changed that: German judicial mitted as a World War II honor was restored. death camp guard. Follow - Last, were there larger benefits to mankind that flowed from the ing each trial, one in Israel, Demjanjuk case? Once more, Douglas answers yes. First, it yielded the other in Germany, he a modified theory of culpability, directly “connected to the exter - appealed. The first appeal minatory process.” This disposed once and for all of the defense was successful: The Israeli “I was no more than a cog in the machine,” and of its corollary, “I prosecutors had charged was only obeying orders.” A machine cannot run without its small the wrong man. The second constituent parts. As a result of the Demjanjuk case, it is now appeal was not heard: The enough to prove that a defendant worked in a death factory; it is 91-year-old Demjanjuk no longer necessary to prove that he committed wanton murder… died before the court could Second, it prompted further investigation into other low-level per - be convened, though the petrators. Third, it demonstrated the ability of mature legal systems German prosecutors were to learn from past mistakes, and thus strengthened public confi - confident his appeal would dence in the justice delivered by American, Israeli and German fail. courts — and more generally, the courts of liberal democracies… It is quite a story. The appalling Demjanjuk fought in the first years of the war in the Red Army. Captured by the Nazis, he in (New York Times, Feb. 26, 2016) due course chose to become a guard in the Sobibor death camp. In the aftermath of the war, he found his way to the United States, a beneficiary of the 1948 Displaced Persons Act. He settled in CIJR’s Recently Received Library Books Cleveland, taking a job in the automobile industry. He never re - vealed his Nazi past, which remained for decades undetected by Bikont, Anna. The Crime and the Silence: Confronting the the authorities. And then, in 1975, he was denounced as a war Massacre of Jews in Wartime Jedwabne . New York: Farrar, criminal by an American of Ukrainian descent. Straus & Giroux, 2015 After years of procedural wrangling in the United States over denaturalization and then extradition, Demjanjuk was tried and Bronfman, Edgar M. Why Be Jewish? A Testament . Oxford: convicted in an Israeli court in 1988 as “Ivan Grozny” or “Ivan Signal, 2016 the Terrible,” a Treblinka death camp guard notorious even among the other guards as brutal, sadistic and murderous. It was a bad Evans, Roger Steven . How the Early Church Fathers Misin - instance of mistaken identity; the impulse to honor survivors’ tes - terpreted the Hebrew Bible to Promote Hostility Toward the timony, riddled with “perplexing and dismaying mistakes,” Jewish People: A Study in “Blaming the Victim” . Toronto: pushed the court in a wrong direction. In 1993 Demjanjuk’s con - Edwin Mellen Press, 2015. viction was overturned… Las, Nelly. Jewish Voices in Feminism : Transnational Per - Years later, the truth of his past, in all its genuine horror, was spectives . Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2015 established, and this man, with his “deep reserves of self-pity” and his “ethos of adaptation and survival,” was a defendant once Levi, David. The Zionist Entity: The Jewish State in the 21st again, this time in a Munich court in Germany. Aided by the tes - Century . Jerusalem: Mazo Publishers, 2015 timony of professional historians, the court was able to reach the correct verdict, one that was both “remarkable and just,” Lawrence Lipski, Sam & Rutland, Suzanne D. Let My People Go: The Douglas writes in “The Right Wrong Man.” Untold Story of Australia and the Soviet Jews , 1959-89. Douglas… asks and answers some important questions. To Jerusalem: Geffen, 2015 begin with, is there justice in trying old men for crimes committed decades earlier? He answers yes. Notwithstanding the frailties and Robinson, Ira. A History of Antisemitism in Canada. Waterloo, infirmities of age, and the passage of time, we continue to be re - ON: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2015 sponsible for our actions. There can be no reward for a resourceful criminal, merely more efficient in evading justice than most other Sasley, Brent E., & Waller, Harold M. Politics in Israel: Gov - criminals. What is more, when the crimes have a historical reso - erning a Complex Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press, nance, as in the Demjanjuk case, we get not just a verdict, but a 2016 lesson too… Yoo, Dan. Project Palestine . New York: RVP Press, 2016 Next, what reckoning should a nation make with its own past,
ISRAFAX – April 22, 2016 – 11
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