Month: January 2024

NOT FUNNY

South African cartoon ignores massacre in Israel while distorting facts on war in Gaza.


An open letter to South Africa’s celebrated cartoonist by Stephen Schulman


Dear Jonathan Shapiro,

I have long been an admirer of your artistic talents and you are undoubtedly a real virtuoso of the cartoonist’s art. This genre not only demands a discerning eye but also a work ethic that places objectivity and an adherence to moral values highly for without them the message is distorted and lost.

Unfortunately, dear Jonathan, it is in these last two categories that you fall far short for your bias and chronic hatred of Israel has warped you to the extent that your cartoons of Israel are so vitriolic and antisemitic that they pervert reality.

I am referring to the one cartoon which appears above and to which you have given pride of place in the Daily Maverick, choosing it as one your best exemplars for 2023. The picture speaks for itself: Israel intentionally targets innocent Gaza civilians by bombing their homes, schools, hospitals and shelters. The message conveyed is quite clear: here is an amoral country that in a unilateral action murders innocent people, destroys their homes and country with unprecedented brutality and justifies it with a self serving, cynical hypocrisy. Any viewer unaware of the true situation cannot but be aroused to the emotions of disgust, revulsion and fury.

Sadly, and predictably, in your cartoon you not only choose to ignore the massacre in Israel but distort the facts. Firstly, Israel has never bombed hospitals in Gaza. The Al Ahli hospital’s casualties were caused by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket that fell short. This fact has been independently proved. But then why miss the opportunity to slander! Secondly, there are no civilian shelters in Gaza. Hamas has built subterranean tunnels for its fighters and prefers to use civilians kept above ground as shields.

Unlike your simplistic and one-sided cartoon, the reality is more complex and the facts are clear. On October 7th 2023, the sovereign country of Israel was invaded by an army of 3,000 well trained terrorists from Gaza whose mission was to destroy, pillage and terrorize. In calculated and premeditated acts of unprecedented cruelty, barbarism and bestiality, they tortured, maimed, gang raped, burnt alive, murdered, mutilated, dismembered and decapitated over one thousand and three hundred innocent people from babies to old pensioners.

The terrorists returned to Gaza dragging two hundred and forty hostages ranging in age from a ten-month-old baby, young children and teenagers to sick octogenarians. Many have been murdered in captivity while the rest are kept in inhumane conditions, abused and cruelly treated.

And lest we forget – the well over nine thousand rockets from Gaza aimed at homes, hospitals and schools that have rained and are still raining on Israel!

Now, dear Jonathan, for you – the self-proclaimed paragon of impartiality – with heightened sensitivity to suffering and gifted with your art as a tool to excoriate egregious acts of injustice, all these horrific facts should surely have given you a plethora of material on which to wield your pen. Most sadly, as per usual, it appears that when it pertains to Israel, the murder of its citizens and its right of self defense, any compassion and all critical principles have long been defenestrated with your chronic bile and bias taking their place.

The Jewish community in South Africa is in an unenviable position and for them the future bodes ill. Cyril Ramphosa, the head of a government both corrupt and inept that has reduced the country to the state of being 3rd world, assiduously backs, courts and hosts the Hamas leaders – an organization designated by both the USA and European countries as terrorist. The intense official hostility directed towards the State of Israel leaves the community increasingly isolated and even facing a palpable physical threat. Nevertheless, hanging on to the coat tails of the ministers, you, Jonathan, have long been sitting on the official bandwagon and braying the official line. True to form, we can expect many more of your vitriolic anti-Israel caricatures and cartoons to appear that can only stoke the fires of hatred and further alienate and endanger the Jewish community.

Aligning with Evil. A massacre of Jews by Hamas while still holding hostages including todlers, did not prevent South Africa’s ANC leadership publically flaunting their support for the perpetrators or Shapiro joining in with his cartoons maligning the Jewish state.

Would you ever dare to show some objectivity and criticize Hamas, their atrocities, their use of hospitals, schools and civilian homes for terrorist activities? You are doubtless aware that there is absolutely no way as you cannot bite the hands that buy your books and of those who publish your work and/or employ you.  If you ever deviated from the official line and demonstrated a smidgeon of sympathy for the 7th October victims, you would be instantly branded as yet another traitorous Zionist Jew, be shunned and out on your ear. But then after all, a man has to make a living!

For you Jonathan Shapiro, Jewish lives do matter. They matter very much when they are useful to serve you and your family.  They mattered when you sent your children to Herzliya – a Jewish school that is unabashedly Zionist – to get the best education possible. They mattered when you with peace of mind sent them off to a Jewish youth movement summer camp and they mattered very much when you applied to get your mother admitted to the Cape Town Jewish Aged Home. When do Jewish lives not matter? For you the answer is crystal clear: when they are in Israel and include the thirteen hundred innocents that were massacred on the 7th October – a trifling matter that can be ignored.

There is a term that describes certain people as self serving hypocrites. They are callous individuals who elect to adopt a selective morality and turn a blind eye to many injustices in order to further their own selfish interests. In a rare moment of honesty, ask yourself if you fall in that category.

Stephen Schulman
Ramat Hasharon
Israel



Blood on his Pen. Just when you thought Shapiro could not descend more into vile antisemitism, he adds to his vicious visuals the vocabulary of the Holocaust turning it on Israel and endangers Jews everywhere.  



About the writer:

Stephen Schulman is a graduate of the South African Jewish socialist youth movement Habonim, who immigrated to Israel in 1969 and retired in 2012 after over 40 years of English teaching. He was for many years a senior examiner for the English matriculation and co-authored two English textbooks for the upper grades in high school. Now happily retired, he spends his time between his family, his hobbies and reading to try to catch up on his ignorance.





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

A DISGRACE NAMED ‘BLUE BEACH RESORT’

Revelations at top hotel in Gaza reveal rock bottom in integrity

By Motti Verses

Staying in resort hotels should be a treat to enjoy, to unwind, to leave behind daily stress and exhausting life styles and experience the ultimate in relaxation. We’re willing to pay for it, and we’re only satisfied if our expectations are met with the service we receive.

Opening a hotel complex to meet these expectations is undoubtedly an exciting task if not also somewhat stressful. With a new property presenting 162 chalet-style rooms set among palm trees and overlooking the Mediterranean the potential for success should be guaranteed. The enthusiastic owner, investing enormous funds, needs to choose an alluring name that will entice his target audience – excuse the pun. The choice of this hotel was The Blue Beach Resort.

The location – Gaza City.

The entrepreneur of the promising resort was the Palestine Real Estate Investment Company (PRICO), a firm based in Ramallah in the West Bank. PRICO serves large segments of the Palestinian society, implementing projects such as Residential and Commercial Complexes, Commercial Towers, Hotels, Tourism Resorts, Public Building and Industrial Areas, with branches in Gaza, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. The Blue Beach Resort was built based on an agreement concluded with the Palestinian Ministry of Housing on the basis of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system. The agreement stipulates that PRICO develops and operates the resort for a period of 49 years, renewable for a similar period, and will be handed over to the authorities right after.

Catering to Terrorists. While providing its guests with luxury accommodation, the Blue Beach Resort also ‘catered’ to Hamas who used the hotel as a shelter from which they planned terrorist attacks. (Photo: Hotel’s FB page)

An outsider from another planet might rationally believe that peace and stability dominate the relations between Israel and the Palestinians, seeing children and toddlers happily playing and jumping into the hotel’s swimming pool while their content parents on patio deck chairs look on. The luxury Blue Beach Resort overlooking the calm serene blue of the Mediterranean with its manicured green lawns, a semi-Olympic-size swimming pool, luxury suites and a picture-perfect beach is a sight to behold and experience. The hotel’s online publication is spot on: “An ideal escape for family vacations and for recreational and relaxation purposes, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”

For Tourists and Terrorists. It was here at the beautiful Blue Beach Resort that dozens of Hamas terrorists barricaded themselves inside firing anti-tank missiles at the approaching IDF units. (Photo; Hotel’s FB page)

THE ESCAPE SEEKERS

The hotel offered a home for journalists, aid workers, personnel of the UN and the International Red Cross, but mainly for rich Gazans and their families that sought an esthetic escape with an international ambiance. It provided an escape away from the trauma and tumult brought to Gaza since Hamas ruthlessly imposed its rule on the strip 16 years ago.

Belying the hotel’s majestic and tranquil setting since its opening in 2015, Gaza, under Hamas, launched on Israel’s civilian population an ongoing rocket barrage of 8259 missiles until the end of 2022. Yet during 2023, since October 7 and the unspeakable atrocities mainly against civilians, additional 9600 rockets inflamed the Middle East and initiated the 2023 Israel-Gaza war.

UNDER THE SURFACE

Using Guests as Human Shields.  What kind of hotel management allows terrorist tunnels like this discovered by the IDF’s 14th Brigade under the Blue Beach Hotel? (Photo: IDF)

Israel understandably responded and launched its ground maneuver along the Gaza Strip beach to neutralize Hamas. Fierce battles commenced in the resort itself as dozens of terrorists launched anti-tank missiles at the Israeli troops from its guest rooms. The Blue Beach Resort turned into a battlefield. After a few weeks, Israel’s 14th Brigade conducted operations, dismantling concealed weapon storage facilities, missile launch platforms and underground command centers. Beneath the beautiful resort compound, a tunnel network was discovered. The Brigade and troops of the Yahalom Special Engineering Unit uncovered a troubling subterranean complex comprising seven tunnel shafts and living quarters, obviously not included in the hotel accomodation inventory, used by terrorists to plan and execute attacks. Additionally, IDF forces found an extensive hideout of weapons, including AK-47s, explosives and drones. Video footage as shown at the end indicates that access to some tunnels were available from numerous hotel guest corridors!

Hellish Hotel. In an elaborate subterranean complex, IDF discovers a weapons cache under the Blue Beach Resort in Gaza City’s entertainment district

The relaxing atmosphere of the promising and pampering paradise resort transformed into a hell and inferno. Endless questions have arisen as to what were the real intentions of building this promising leisure resort adjacent to serene beaches? Was the tunnel network built alongside the hotel construction a decade ago? Were the tunnels dug later when the hotel was fully operational, hosting families and guests? Was the hotel’s General Manager and his leading team aware of the hotel being a base for weapons and terrorists while hosting civilian guests? These are serious questions that require truthful answers.

Down and Out. Beneath the Blue Beach Resort, a stairway in a tunnel once used by terrorists. (Photo: IDF)

The director of al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in the Gaza Strip Muhammad Abu Salmiya was held for questioning following evidence showing that the hospital, under his direct management, served as a Hamas weaponized command and control center. A serious question-mark on medical ethics arose. Is there now a similar concern in Gaza’s hospitality industry? The answer is certainly yes. The ethical principles and integrity that I was nurtured on during my 35 years in the hotel industry were my constant compass. Honesty, being truthful, never mislead or deceive customers and team members who place the safety of their guests first and foremost – always.

The recent discovery by Israeli forces as to what was happening behind-the-scenes at PRICO’s Blue Beach Resort in Gaza is nothing less than a shameful disgrace. No less disappointing is the silence of the global hospitality industry! 






About the writer:

The writer, Motti Verses, is a Travel Flash Tips publisher. His travel stories are published on THE TIMES OF ISRAEL  https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/motti-verses/. 
And his hospitality analysis reviews on THE JERUSALEM POST, are available on his Linkedin page LinkedIn Israelhttps://il.linkedin.com › motti-verse…Motti Verses – Publisher and Chief Editor – TRAVEL FLASH TIPS
And his hospitality analysis reviews on THE JERUSALEM POST, are available on his Linkedin page LinkedIn Israelhttps://il.linkedin.com › motti-verse…Motti Verses – Publisher and Chief Editor – TRAVEL FLASH TIPS





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

Lay of the Land Weekly Newsletter- 08 January 2024

Unveiling the contours and contrasts of an ever-changing Middle East landscape Reliable reportage and insightful commentary on the Middle East by seasoned journalists from the region and beyond

Home

Like this content? Please share and tweet it to your friends and followers.

To subscribe via email please send a mail noting your request to: layotland@gmail.com 

Please visit/ join/follow our social media platforms:

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LotLSite/

X (Twitter): Lay Of The Land – @layoftheland5

Also available on YouTube @The Israel Brief  – Simply click on the red subscribe button to receive alerts when a new report is posted.



What’s happening in Israel today? See from every Monday – Thursday LOTL’s The Israel Brief broadcasts and on our Facebook page and YouTube by seasoned TV & radio broadcaster, Rolene Marks familiar to Chai FM listeners in South Africa and millions of American listeners to the News/Talk/Sports radio station WINA, broadcasting out of Virginia, USA.

THE ISRAEL BRIEF- 01-03 January 2023
(Click on the blue title)



Swimming against the Current

In a world swept up in virulent antisemitism, Israel’s women’s national water polo team (above) was blocked at the European Water Polo Championship in Eindhoven last week from wearing dog tags and yellow arm bands calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza “by orders from the European league.”(Photo: MAJA HITIJ / Getty images)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-9.png



Articles

Please note there is a facility to comment beneath each article should you wish to express an opinion on the subject addressed.

(1)

ME TOO UNLESS UR A JEW

The silence of women around the world to the 7/10 sexual violence on Israeli women is deafening.
By Allan Wolman

Stunning Silence. In response to the silence of the sexual violence against Israeli women by Gazans on October 7, demonstrators gather during a “#MeToo unless you’re a Jew” protest outside of United Nations headquarters in New York City on Dec. 4, 2023. They see, they hear and they ignore….

ME TOO UNLESS UR A JEW
(Click on the blue title)



(2)

LETTER FROM ISRAEL AT WAR – WEEK 13

Leading lavish lifestyles, Hamas leaders enjoy the advantages of terror, leaving the disadvantages for their people to endure.
By Harris Zvi Green

Dividends of Terror. With little thought to the wellbeing of the children in Gaza, these adult children of the Hamas officials who could stop the war by returning Israel’s hostages – are more at home away from home in Doha’s plush hotels in Qatar.

LETTER FROM ISRAEL AT WAR – WEEK 13
(Click on the blue title)



(3)

AN ACT OF LOVE

A brave act by one young wife and mother ensures that another remains a wife and a mother.
By Lennie Lurie

A Love Story. “No Hollywood director,” says the writer, could do justice to the first meeting of two special young Israeli women – Ma’ayan and Efrat – whose circumstance and values,  will unite then forever bound by the true meaning of humanity.

AN ACT OF LOVE
(Click on the blue title)



(4)

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

Around the world, Hamas supporters hijack the ‘public space’ to protest in support of the murder of Jews.
By Jonathan Feldstein

Rally Cry to Kill Jews. These Hamas-supporting protestors – typical of demonstrations taking place across the world – chant a slogan whose message translates into the extermination of Jews in Israel. Hamas tried on October 7, 2023!

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER
(Click on the blue title)




LOTL Cofounders David E. Kaplan (Editor), Rolene Marks and Yair Chelouche

To unsubscribe, please reply to layotland@gmail.com





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER

Around the world, Hamas supporters hijack the ‘public space’ to protest in support of the murder of Jews.

By Jonathan Feldstein

It’s astounding to think that a war anywhere in the world would become such a public cause by supporters of one side or another that it would dominate and even hijack the public space.  That has not happened even with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, even with the wide display of blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with their plight, and a corresponding wide boycott of Russia and Russian products. 

Other than the 2014 kidnapping of Nigerian girls by Islamist Boko Haram terrorists which generated its own hashtag, no recent wars in Africa or Asia came close to the visibility of that in Ukraine.  I’m hard pressed to think of any other war that’s come close to galvanizing any public opinion or outcry, even though it’s not the only war that’s taken place. Most would be hard pressed to list any of the dozens of other wars and armed conflicts taking place right now, even with a gun held to your head.

As much as solidarity with Ukraine was widespread, in no case was there widespread public disruption in protest of Russia’s aggression, or in support of Ukraine the victim, or of any other war. Until October 2023!

Supporting Killers. These Hamas-supporting protestors that chant a slogan whose message translates into the extermination of Jews in Israel. Hamas tried on October 7, 2023.

Israel’s war against Hamas has triggered widespread public disruptions by terrorist supporters around the world. Calling them terrorist supporters is not rhetoric but fact. Even before the bodies of the 1200 people massacred by Hamas terrorists on October 7 had been identified, massive public protests took place.  Shockingly, astoundingly, the protests were not against Hamas’ atrocities and war crimes, but against Israel: the victim. 

The world and millions of Hamas terrorist supporters turned a blind eye. They deny that Hamas committed such atrocities even when the evidence – visual and testimony – showed:

– that families were bound by metal wires and incinerated alive,

– that women were gang raped and executed in the most violent ways,

– that babies were beheaded,

– that children were murdered before their parents’ eyes and parents murdered before their children’s eyes

– that tens of thousands of rockets were fired at Israeli communities by the terrorists or when the terrorists’ own rockets fell short and killed Palestinian Arabs in Gaza.

Crossing Bridges. Protesters in London crossed more than Vauxhall Bridge over the Thames on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 in their support of Hamas’ mass murder of Jews.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

These Hamas apologists denied that these crimes took place, even saying that Israel fabricated the videos that the terrorists made themselves documenting their inhuman slaughter, they blamed Israel for the massacre – then blamed Israel for its response.  

Sadly, this kind of behavior and manufacturing of lies is all too be expected from Hamas and its terrorist supporters. Now, however, we’ve seen them raise the bar on their incivility by shouting down and threatening others, and hijacking the public space over and over. They have effectively opened countless fronts of this terrorist war, not just against Israel but against the West, with particular distain for Jews and Christians.  

This has taken place in many forms and venues.  Pro-Hamas protesters disrupted the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in New York, winning this year’s award for the biggest Grinch to steal Christmas. During the Christmas holiday travel season, pro-Hamas demonstrators blocked roads leading to major US airports as if somehow doing so is going to “free Palestine”. On Christmas day, a friend in Chicago tried to get to her parents, only to be rerouted for hours by pro-Hamas protesters blocking more roads. They blocked all the entrances/exits of the Freedom Tower, the site of another massive terrorist attack that you may have heard about on 9/11. New York Mayor, Eric Adams warned that the annual New Years Eve celebration would become the target of pro-Hamas protesters ushering in a new year of hate and it did.

Erasing Jews. Five days after the massacre in Israel by Gazans, students at Columbia University in New York, Oct. 12 demonstrate in support of Hamas. While holding aloft a sign about never erasing Palestine, they have no problem supporting “erasing” Jews from Israel!  (PHOTO:  JEENAH MOON/REUTER)

All over the world, thousands of cruel heartless people tore down and defaced pictures of the 250 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, as if somehow showing human compassion for civilians held hostage in Gaza was an evil worse than that of the terrorists’ massacre.

Social media has been hijacked by the pro-Hamas ilk as well.  Of course, they depict the war with the lies of Israel committing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and wantonly killing innocent civilians, believing the inflated and unconfirmed Hamas death toll which conflate the number of terrorists killed with actual civilians. Naturally, they make no mention of Hamas using these civilians as human shields, or the fact that Hamas has tens of thousands of terrorists wearing jeans and t-shirts so as to easily blend in and be confused with civilians.

Sign of the Times. Despite the massacre of Jews in Israel on October 7, these protestors at a rally in NYC’s Time Square label Israel “the terrorist”. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Expecting terrorists to lie is not unusual. However, something no less insidious is taking place with simple social media posts that are apolitical being trolled and hacked by the pro-Hamas people. A personal example is the promotion of a petition to release all the hostages that I launched on behalf of the Genesis 123 Foundation.  Decent people from dozens of countries have signed the petition. 

However, sick evil people who see any post, even with a picture of a ten-month old red-headed baby boy who remains in captivity, as fair game to attack.  They launch evil and even threatening diatribes that not only shows no compassion, much less actually taking responsibility for taking hostages to begin with, but they respond with calls to annihilate Israel, or a “parallel” call to free terrorists.

Hamas is the little brother to the bigger and older PLO, Palestine Liberation Organization, established in 1964. The anniversary of the first terror attack for which it took credit is this week, January 1, 1965.

Voices for Violence. Determined to terrorize and create chaos, pro-Hamas supporters in Cape Town, South Africa clash with police during a violent attack to disrupt a pro-Israel prayer rally in the seaside suburb of Sea Point on November 12, 2023. (photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp)

That the PLO was established in 1964 is significant. It proves that their goal was never to live side by side, with two states for two people, but to destroy Israel. This was three years before the so-called 1967 “occupation” about which they blame Israel for all their problems. Their ethnicity was invented in the 1960s, some time before the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” became their war cry, but the genocidal worship of massacring and expelling all the Jews from Israel is the same goal.

The supporters of this genocidal ideology and their actions today who are blocking highways, disrupting public events, and hijacking the public space, and are literally being allowed to get away with murder.



About the writer:

Jonathan Feldstein ­­­­- President of the US based non-profit Genesis123 Foundation whose mission is to build bridges between Jews and Christians – is a freelance writer whose articles appear in The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Townhall, NorthJersey.com, Algemeiner Jornal, The Jewish Press, major Christian websites and more.






While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

THE ISRAEL BRIEF- 01-03 January 2024

The Israel Brief – 01 January 2024 – South Africa vs Israel at ICJ and updates.



The Israel Brief – 02 January 2024 – Israel pulls back thousands of troops and updates.



The Israel Brief – 03 January 2024 – Hamas leader eliminated and update.



05.01.2024 – Rolene Marks on CHAIFM





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

LETTER FROM ISRAEL AT WAR – WEEK 13

Leading lavish lifestyles, Hamas leaders enjoy the advantages of terror, leaving the disadvantages for their people to endure.

By Harris Zvi Green

December 29, 2023

My dearest friends,

This bloody conflict is now 84 days old. The job is getting done but it’s going to be a long business. According to Israeli military sources, 175 soldiers have been killed; and 874 soldiers have been injured since the start of the ground operation. Our young soldiers are paying the highest price to fight terror and protect our country. Our nation is in mourning.

Ori continues his service on the Lebanese border. As the father of two young children, being away from home at this time isn’t easy. Not for him. Not for his wife. Not for his children. Not for his parents, his brothers, his sisters or for his grandparents. But like so many young people in Israel at this time, Ori is proudly serving his country in her hour of need.

Northern Exposure. As winter sets in, the Israeli-Lebanese border is hotting up with daily exchanges of fire.

The fighting along the Lebanese border is primarily focused on anti-tank missiles being fired by Hezbollah and the retaliatory artillery shelling. The damage caused to the farms and villages along the border has been extensive. Nearly 100,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes. The clashes have increased in frequency over the past few weeks and could so easily escalate into a full-blown war.

Omer picked up a bad infection at the base of his back. Unfortunately, the infection hasn’t responded to antibiotics. He’s been evacuated from Gaza, been treated and remains under medical supervision. He needs to be in a sterile environment. It’ll take a few weeks until he can rejoin his unit. He’s scheduled to be married in two weeks.

Israel’s problems aren’t limited to Gaza and Lebanon.

Sign of the Times. Road safety is not the concern of these Israeli soldiers patrolling near the border with Lebanon in northern Israel on October 19, 2023. (Photo: David Cohen/Flash90)

The Houthis, Iran’s proxy in Yemen, have launched a series of attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea. This has resulted in a major disruption to the maritime route linking Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal. Container costs have soared as shippers are forced to use longer routes to deliver goods to their destination markets. The economic implications for Egypt, Israel and Europe are serious.

These attacks constitute a gross violation of International Law. Unfortunately, none of this bothers the vast majority of the UN member nations. Feeding their obsession with Israel-bashing is much easier than taking concerted action against Iranian sponsored piracy on the high seas.

US efforts to assemble a coalition of nations to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea were dealt a major setback following refusals from Spain, France and Italy to join the coalition.

The Houthis have also taken to firing long range missiles at Israel. Fortunately, Israel has the air defense systems to intercept these missiles, but such systems aren’t invincible. We could so easily find ourselves in a situation fighting a war 2,000 kilometers from our shores. That’s quite an order for a country with just under 10 million inhabitants and surrounded by hostile neighbors. We’re talking about a regional war which would certainly include Iran with her nuclear capabilities.

Turbulence in the Red Sea. Iran’s proxy in Yemen, the Houthis, are causing major disruption to the maritime route sending shipping costs souring.

Hamas continues to hold 129 hostages in the most appalling conditions. We don’t know who’s alive and who’s no longer with us. The Red Cross still hasn’t visited them. Not even one Red Cross official has resigned in protest.

Please give the hostages a thought and include them in your prayers.

It’s so difficult to fathom the level of cruelty and sadism displayed by Hamas. Children, badly injured people, elderly folk, living on borrowed time and dependent on live-saving medication. Even dead bodies. They’re all bargaining chips for the cynical and corrupt Hamas leadership.

I’m an accountant by profession. Numbers talk to me.

In my last letter, I quoted a credible source who claims the top three Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, Mousa Abu Marzouk and Khaled Mashal, have amassed a cumulative fortune of $11 billion.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was established by the United Nations in 1948 to provide essential services to those Arabs displaced in Israel’s War of Independence. UNRWA’s annual budget is $1.63 billion.

In other words, the three Hamas leaders who dedicated their lives to commercializing terror and derailing any compromise solution to the Arab-Israel conflict, have the resources to finance UNRWA for another 7 years! That’s right. They live lavishly off the suffering of those they claim to represent.

Dividends of Terror. With little thought to the lives of children in Gaza, these children of Hamas officials are far too busy living it up in Doha, Qatar. (Photo: Social media screenshot)

Let’s put this into a different perspective by considering the fortunes amassed by three of the greatest all-time sports personalities. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. Their cumulative sports and multi-million endorsement careers span more than 75 years. Yet these sports greats have only been able to accumulate a combined net worth of $4.7 billion.

You might argue that revenue earned from terror is tax-free. So, too, is the free, luxury accommodation provided to them by courtesy of the Emir of Qatar.

No matter how you roll it out, terror is a much more lucrative business than sport.

Michael, Tiger and Roger have retired. They gave us so much pleasure. They were role models. But Haniyeh, Abu Marzouk and Mashal aren’t going anywhere. Neither is their legacy of terror. Retirement isn’t an option for them. It’s simply not worth their while. They’ve shown the world that crime pays.

It beats me how the leaders of the free world allowed this to happen. How do those who elected them to power, continue to tolerate the moral bankruptcy of their leaders?

My condolences to those mourning their nearest and dearest. My wishes to the injured for a complete and speedy recovery. May God protect our brave soldiers.

Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom and better times ahead.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Harris Zvi Green

AN ACT OF LOVE

A brave act by one young wife and mother ensures that another remains a wife and a mother.

By Lennie Lurie

We read in the Hebrew Bible, Leviticus 19:18:

“You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord”.

The latter Commandment is a core principle of Judaism that relates to the law concerning ethical relationships.

The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Akiva, declared that this verse: “You shall love thy neighbor as thyself”, contains the great principle of the Law (“Kelal gadol ba-Torah“) and stands as the central commandment of the Torah as it emboldens individuals to treat each other as equals. “Thy neighbor” does not refer exclusively to the Israelite neighbor but as we read in Leviticus 19:34, it is extended to “the stranger that dwells with you ….and thou shalt love him as thyself”.

The word “love” can be exhibited in many forms. Some Jewish sources have emphasized the importance of self-sacrifice in regards to putting our needs second to another’s. Confounding interpretation, Rabbi Akiva’s teaching of “Your own life takes precedence to that of another” contradicts his own principle of loving thy neighbor as thyself. However, we can accept the universal spirit of this command as expressed by another Talmudic sage, Rabbi Hillel, in responding to the heathen who requested him to tell the Law while standing before him on one foot:

“What is hateful to thee, thou shalt not do unto thy neighbor. This is the whole of the Law, the rest is only commentary”

However, the 20th-century Jewish theologian, Will Herberg, argued that “justice” is at the heart of the Jewish notion of love, and the foundation for Jewish law:

“The ultimate criterion of justice, as of everything else in human life, is the divine imperative – the law of love …. Justice is the institutionalization of love in society …. This law of love requires that every man be treated as a Thou, a person, an end in himself, never merely as a thing or a means to another’s end. When this demand is translated into laws and institutions under the conditions of human life in history, justice arises”.

A contemporary, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, has interpreted love as a motivation for giving to others. As a way to extend one’s hand to the community, one can give Tzedakah, or charity, which comes from the word Tzedek meaning justice. As an obligation, one must give to the poor “as a means of restoring justice to the world…not as an altruistic or voluntary gesture.” A way to outwardly and tangibly exhibit love is by giving. By giving to the community, one can demonstrate love outwardly while also embracing it inwardly.

Love has also been expressed as being the selflessness of mankind (Rabbi Louis Jacobs, Greater Love Hath No Man). Humans have the capacity to self-sacrifice in the interest of others, as every life is valuable and unique. When one risks his or her own life to save another, it is seen as an act of piety and an act of love and justice which “advocates the most excessive altruism…”

I wish to relate a real-life incident which embodies self-sacrifice in the interest of others, exemplifying all the human goodness in fulfilling the commandment:

“Thou shall love your neighbor as thyself”

Ma’ayan is no ordinary Israeli woman. The Hebrew name Ma’ayan translates as “a spring or fountain” and Ma’ayan literally bubbles with energy, love and goodwill. She was raised in the rural village of Kiryat Tiv’on, located about 20 km east of Haifa in the north of Israel. She matriculated from the local high school and undertook her mandatory 20 months military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). She completed an Officer’s Course and was awarded the distinction as a Soldier of Excellence.

Ma’ayan as a First Lieutenant in the Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Following her service in the IDF, Ma’ayan studied and graduated with a B.A. degree in Psychology at the University of Haifa, worked for a while in the Ministry of Health in Haifa finally gravitating to the hi-tech industry. She also gravitated to Guy in the hi-tech industry. The couple got married, settled on moshav S’de Yehoshua, about 15 km from Kiryat Tivon and have three kids – an 11-year son called Omer, and two daughters: Yuval aged 9 years and Ofri aged 5.

And then, in May, 2023, Ma’ayan informed her husband Guy that she wanted to donate a kidney to a seriously ill person who needed desperately a kidney transplant in order prolong his/her life. Guy was momentarily shocked at this decision and tried to understand the motivation for this extraordinary and seemingly dangerous undertaking. Ma’ayan had no reason at all other than her desire to extend the life of a very ill person. She admitted that she had undergone lengthy periods of introspection and had felt that her decision was the right one. She had read that the operation itself, though serious, was not life threatening and that the donor, then with only one kidney, could be expected to lead a normal, natural and lengthy life. Guy felt the conviction of his wife’s feelings and promptly reassured her of his full support, cooperation and everything else Ma’ayan needed to implement this altruistic act of “loving thy neighbor as thyself”.

Ma’ayan, Guy and their three children

Ma’ayan had numerous meetings with doctors and medical personnel and undertook extensive medical checks at the Beilinson – Rabin Medical Centre in Petach Tikvah. She was interviewed by psychologists to ensure that her motivation was entirely altruistic and that she was aware that her donated kidney could be given to any person who was in need of same.

The date of the kidney removal and transplant was set for the 14th September, 2023.

On that unique occasion, just prior to the dual kidney operations, two youngish and attractive women faced each other for the first time: one was the kidney donor, Ma’ayan and the other was Efrat, the kidney recipient. Each woman knew that they would be forever “united” in that most beautiful and perfect of altruistic human acts: a kidney transplant!

Efrat was born with a genetic kidney impairment which only exacerbated with the passing of years. At some stage she had to have one kidney removed which created additional health complications. After her marriage, she was unable to fall pregnant. The young couple then decided to have a surrogate mother give birth to their child. Suitable arrangements were made with a professional organization specializing in this complex procedure. The couple travelled to Georgia where a local woman was impregnated with their embryo. In due course, twins – a son and a daughter – were born and the delighted and proud parents returned to Israel to raise their two children.

Sadly, Efrat’s remaining single kidney failed to function normally and it had to be surgically removed. This resulted in her undergoing the very arduous and exhausting process of dialysis, three times a week. She was unable to drink any liquids or digest foods / fruit containing liquids which imposed dietetic complications.

One can only assume that at this critical stage, Efrat must have realized that her life was lacking all quality and meaning. The dialysis process is soul destroying and leaves the patient with no hope for any permanent cure. The only possible and effective remedy is a kidney transplant. Other than that, the patient must anticipate the very worst …

So Efrat was placed on the list of potential kidney transplants. She must have been fully aware that with each passing day without receiving a kidney transplant, that inevitability of death was being brought closer and closer.

A miracle then took place when that courageous, kindhearted and compassionate Ma’ayan stepped into the picture – and Efrat smiled for the first time ….

Ma’ayan and Efrat meeting for the first time at the hospital

A video clip movie was made of the actual scene whereby the kidney donor and the kidney recipient met each other for the first time in the hospital, each woman knowing that they will be forever “united” in that most beautiful and loving altruistic human act: a kidney transplant!

At first, we see in the video clip, the women who are facing each other are stationary but their lips are moving. We can naturally assume that they are greeting each other. After this very brief interlude, they each take a step or two forward and fall into each other’s arms, embracing like lovers! But much more than that: there is something in their hugging that seems to indicate an intensity of feeling, a unique bond sharing that will unite them and their families for all their lives.

No Hollywood director could produce a similar scene with such an emotional impact on the viewer who knows the background of that meeting! One didn’t have to hear the silent wording of the two women in the video clip to comprehend what was being said: words of passionate gratitude and appreciation, contrasting with words of pleasure and fulfilment. The wording was very secondary to the physical embrace which communicated everything that can be portrayed in that almost miraculous act of extending and giving new life to a much-endangered young mother with twins.

The actual kidney transplant was performed in sequence: the removal of the kidney from the donor to the immediate implant into the body of the recipient.

The kidney transplant operations were a complete success. Ma’ayan has made a wonderful recovery; returning home to her family and later resuming her work in Tel Aviv. Efrat now lives a full and normal life and together with her husband, take an active role in raising their 6-year-old son and daughter.

There is that well-known and used Yiddish expression: “Der Rabbi zocht!” (“The Rabbi says!”) What the Rabbi says, the congregant undertakes without question or delay. Believe it or not, but those amazing Rabbis of the extreme orthodox community in Jerusalem have told their congregants to donate their kidneys to those ill persons (irrespective if they are Jew or Gentile, religious or secular) who are waiting for a suitable donor to get a new kidney and thus have their lives saved.

The Beilinson – Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikvah where the kidney transplant was performed on the 14th September, 2023.

These days, the largest sector in Israel that are kidney donors, are those religious Jews in Jerusalem who have taken that Biblical command: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” in its most literal sense, sharing their body organs with strangers to save human lives!

Let us turn to those two wonderful women and to all the courageous, compassionate and neighbor-loving organ donors in Israel and recite to them from the Book of Numbers, Chapter 6, verses: 24-26:

“May the Almighty bless you and keep you; may the Almighty make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Almighty turn his face toward you and give you peace”.

Please forgive me but I forgot to state in the aforementioned story that Ma’ayan is my elder daughter! And I am an exceptionally proud father of a kidney donor who has fulfilled the commandment:

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself”



About the writer:

A B.Sc. graduate in Economics and Geology from the University of Cape Town (UCT), Lennie may be the only volunteer from abroad who was granted permission to leave his group on kibbutz during the 1967 Six Day War to rejoin his paratroop brigade that he had served with years before following his matriculation in Cape Town. In Israel, Lennie has worked as an Export Manager for some of the country’s major food manufacturers and chemical companies as well as an independent consultant in Export Marketing guiding many small Israeli businesses to sell their products and services in the world-wide market. As a result of a work accident in 1995, Lennie made a career change and became an independent English teacher working mainly with hi-tech companies and associated with universities and colleges in the north of Israel.





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

ME TOO UNLESS UR A JEW

The silence of women around the world to the 7/10 sexual violence on Israeli women is deafening.

By Allan Wolman

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) emphatically asserts that “All women and girls deserve to live a life free from all forms of violence”. UN Women marked the commencement of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, extending through to December 10, Human Rights Day, known as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

Stunning Silence. In response to the silence of the sexual violence against Israeli women by Gazans on October 7,  demonstrators gather during a “#MeToo unless you’re a Jew” protest outside of United Nations headquarters in New York City on Dec. 4, 2023. (Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)

On October 7, Hamas terrorists callously initiated a savage and barbaric massacre, brutally murdering 1300 Israeli civilians in a horrific orgy of violence.

Despite the availability of forensic evidence, including eyewitness accounts, bodycam videos shared by Hamas terrorists on social media, and detailed reports from medical examiners, UN Women maintained silence, thereby falling short in its commitment to all women for 55 days. The New York Times, often critical of Israel, recently published an in-depth investigation into sexual violence on October 7 by Hamas:

Haunting Photo. This husband-and-wife couple, Gal and Nagi Abdush, had been together since they were teenagers until Hamas arrived on October 7. A video taken the day after the massacre reveals Gal had her underwear ripped off, raped and burnt alive. Nagi too was murdered in the masacre.

In a CNN interview on November 28 (during the 16 Days), Sarah Hendriks, the Deputy Director for UN Women, refrained from condemning acts of brutality against Israeli women. Michal Hertzog, Israel’s First Lady, pointed out the complete absence of any condemnations of Hamas regarding gender-based violence, stating:

 “It is not that condemnations of gender-based violence by Hamas have been weak or insufficient – there have been none at all.”

Hendriks recently removed around 153 anti-Israel tweets from her social media accounts, where she had made strong statements promoting anti-Zionism and accusing Israel of “genocide” since October 7th. A UN spokesperson acknowledged that her actions constituted a violation of her Code of Conduct

The silence of Michelle Obama, whose (“#BringBackOurGirls’) statement in the wake of 276 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014, is deafening, but not surprising. The shameful and well-publicized testimonies in congress by the presidents of Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology continue to play out in the media. Linked to these elite college demands for ‘context’ is a bizarre report from the University of Minnesota’s Sima Shakhsari, a candidate for a senior position who has denied that Hamas-led terrorists committed rape and sexual violence during their devastating onslaught on 10/7. As a self-professed rape counsellor, she states:

“I believe the survivors. I am yet to see Israeli rape survivors of Hamas come and speak.”

Fed-Up with UN Failure. A protester holds a sign to protest U.N. Women during a rally in support of Israeli victims of sexual assault at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in New York City on Dec. 4, 2023.
(Photo: Lev Radin/VIEWpress)

What is astonishing is that in a letter co-signed by more than 700 “concerned South African Jews”, many of whom are women, the best expression they could muster was their “dismay”. Even after 80 days, not a single woman from that group has publicly condemned the violence specifically targeting women, raising concerns about the apparent disregard for the victims and their traumatic experiences by those concerned Jews, seemingly indifferent to gender-based violence against Israeli women. “We believe in the universal values of peace, justice and equality, and condemn in the strongest terms any and all violence against civilians, and against children in particular.”

But no mention of rape and sexual violence on women!

Do they join the Sarah Hendriks and Sima Shakhsari of this world by their complicit silence?

UN’satisfactory. Sarah Hendriks, Deputy Executive Director for UN Women (right), talks to Bianna Golodryga on CNN trying to respond to claims her organisation is not sufficiently condemning sexual violence committed by Hamas.



About the writer:

Allan Wolman in 1967 joined 1200 young South Africans to volunteer to work on agricultural settlements in Israel during the Six Day War. After spending a year in Israel, he returned to South Africa where he met and married Jocelyn Lipschitz and would run  one of the oldest travel agencies in Johannesburg – Rosebank Travel. He would also literally ‘run’ three times in the “Comrades”, one of the most grueling marathons in the world as well as participate in the “Argus” (Cape Town’s famed international annual cycling race) an impressive eight times. Allan and Jocelyn immigrated to Israel three years ago.





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

Lay of the Land Weekly Newsletter- 02 January 2024

Unveiling the contours and contrasts of an ever-changing Middle East landscape Reliable reportage and insightful commentary on the Middle East by seasoned journalists from the region and beyond

Home

Like this content? Please share and tweet it to your friends and followers.

To subscribe via email please send a mail noting your request to: layotland@gmail.com 

Please visit/ join/follow our social media platforms:

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LotLSite/

X (Twitter): Lay Of The Land – @layoftheland5

Also available on YouTube @The Israel Brief  – Simply click on the red subscribe button to receive alerts when a new report is posted.



What’s happening in Israel today? See from every Monday – Thursday LOTL’s The Israel Brief broadcasts and on our Facebook page and YouTube by seasoned TV & radio broadcaster, Rolene Marks familiar to Chai FM listeners in South Africa and millions of American listeners to the News/Talk/Sports radio station WINA, broadcasting out of Virginia, USA.

THE ISRAEL BRIEF- 25-28 December 2023
(Click on the blue title)



On December 18, 1,000 musicians, old and young, rockers and classical players, amateurs and professionals assembled at Caesarea’s
Roman amphitheater that resulted in “Homeland Concert” – a medley of lyrics from Ehud Manor’s classic song, “Home” and part of “Hatikva” Israel’s national anthem.  it warms our frozen hearts following Hamas’ massacre of October 7, when some 1,200 people were murdered and another 240 people taken as hostages to Gaza. Watch, listen and share in our journey: 
https://youtu.be/XyI2GPDDLWc




Articles

(1)

IF GAZA’S CHIEF EXPORT IS DEATH TO ISRAEL, IT’S NO SURPRISE ITS CHIEF IMPORT IS THE IDF.

Israel’s flag unfurled in central war-torn Gaza sends a message of resilience and resolve.
By David E. Kaplan

Exchanging Messages. Gaza sent a strong message to Israel and Jews across the world on October 7. The Israeli flag unfurled in Gaza City’s devastated Palestinian Square returns the message. Beneath this flag lay tunnels that today, like Hamas leadership, leads nowhere.

IF GAZA’S CHIEF EXPORT IS DEATH TO ISRAEL, IT’S NO SURPRISE ITS CHIEF IMPORT IS THE IDF.
(Click on the blue title)




(2)

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS

You said “Never Again” and we believed you. When it comes to Jews, “Again” you remain silent.
By Rolene Marks

UN’helpful. The UN’s Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have shown little interest for the Israeli child victims of the 7/10 atrocities such as 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, seen here in a poster held up by a relation of the Bidas family who all remain hostages held by Hamas.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS
(Click on the blue title)



(3)

LETTER FROM ISRAEL AT WAR – WEEK 12

Global complicity in how “Aid money” poured into Gaza is diverted to sustain Hamas’ murderous military machine.
By Harris Zvi Green

Keeping Fit but Unfit for Office. Funded by a gullible world community, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal is one of the $11 billion exclusive Hamas leadership ‘club’, whose lavish lifestyle in Doha, Qatar is a world apart from that of the people his Hamas thuggishly misrules in Gaza.

LETTER FROM ISRAEL AT WAR – WEEK 12
(Click on the blue title)



(4)

YES, RACE MATTERS

Why when African blacks are gunned down by Hamas operatives from Gaza, Africa ignores?
By Kenneth Moeng Mokgatlhe

Gunned down by Gazans. When fellow Africans – Joshua Mollel and Clemence Mtenga from Tanzania – were
mowed down by Hamas on October 7, the writer rightly asks why most of Africa were silent. “Was it so difficult to send a message of condolence to Tanzania?” he asks of his own South African government.

YES, RACE MATTERS
(Click on the blue title)



(5)

THE DAY I AGREED WITH AOC

Playing with the past, US Congresswoman unintentionally reveals a fact out of fiction.
By Jonathan Feldstein

“Silent Night”. Conveniently ignored by the American congresswoman, Jesus’ birthplace Bethlehem, once a
thriving Christian city of 80 – 90% Christian has whittled down to a paltry 10-20% due to the persecution
of the Christian community – not by Israelis – but by their Moslem neighbors.

THE DAY I AGREED WITH AOC
(Click on the blue title)




LOTL Cofounders David E. Kaplan (Editor), Rolene Marks and Yair Chelouche
To unsubscribe, please reply to layotland@gmail.com






While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).

THE DAY I AGREED WITH AOC

Playing with the past, US Congresswoman unintentionally reveals a fact out of fiction.

By Jonathan Feldstein

Yes, that’s right. I agree with AOC. 

No, these were not words I ever expected I’d put together in the same sentence much less in that order. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) is reckless, dangerous, factually-challenged, and a member of the extremist progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Other than the sun rising in the day and setting at night, and the existence of gravity (I assume she agrees), there’s nothing I can think of that I ever would have agreed with her on. This highlights the saying that even a broken clock is right once a day, implying that even flawed or imperfect sources can occasionally be accurate.

Confused Cortez. US Rep. Ocasio-Cortez was slammed over her Christmas message comparing Jesus to Gazans.

Recently, just in time to be the Grinch to ruin anyone’s Christmas, AOC raised eyebrows and ruffled feathers by referring to Jesus’ family as “Jewish Palestinians”.

Absurd, right? Jesus never heard the word Palestinian. It was not invented until more than a century after he was crucified, used by the Romans to belittle the Jewish communities of the Land of Israel, Judea, that they conquered and in which they put down a major revolt. Using the term “Palestine” was meant to be a complete vanquishing of Jewish sovereignty. (Join the Inspiration from Zion podcast episode about this here.)

AOC drew ridiculous parallels that would make one think she was a contortionist, not just a former bartender. “Naturally” she discovered and boldly shared in her social media that Jesus’ persecutors then, and modern Israel, had unavoidable similarities.  She wrote that “modern-day Palestine” was being persecuted by Israel, carrying out an alleged “massacre of innocents.”

AOC wrote that Jesus “was part of a targeted population being indiscriminately killed to protect an unjust leader’s power.”  Unable to resist a baseless slander of Israel she added, “Thousands of years later, right-wing forces are violently occupying Bethlehem as similar stories unfold for today’s Palestinians.”

“Silent Night”. Conveniently overlooked by OAC, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus was once a thriving Christian city of 80 – 90% Christian is now between 10-20% Chrisitan due to persecution and being driven out not by Israelis but by their Moslem neighbors.

Anti-Israel AOC surely meant that Israel was “occupying Bethlehem” which is unfounded, and overlooked the fact that Bethlehem, of all Arab cities that has such a central role in Christianity, and which used to be 80 – 90% Christian, is now only 10-20% Chrisitan.  AOC conveniently overlooked that under the Palestinian Authority, Bethlehem’s Christian Arabs have been persecuted and driven out by their Moslem neighbors.

Unsurprisingly, AOC neglected the season’s “peace on earth” theme in her barrage of accusations against Israel, resembling a verbal and theological barrage of Hamas rockets at Israeli communities. She did not mention Hamas – or its brutal October 7 massacre, the slaughtering of some 1200 people that day, kidnapping of hundreds of hostages to Gaza, the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars meant for the wellbeing of Gazans, or the war crime of terrorists operating out of civilian areas including hospitals, schools, mosques, UN facilities, and residential neighborhoods.  Oops.

Highlighting her horrifying slander, AOC’s Christmas message was superimposed over an image of a toy doll lying in a pile of rubble, drawing ridiculous parallels between the war in Gaza with a Bethlehem nativity scene.  The implication, as well as the image itself, was deliberately malicious, underscoring her allegation of Bethlehem being “occupied” by Israel, rather than controlled by the Palestinian Authority. For the uneducated AOC follower, her post allows one to believe the myth that Israel has carried out a war in Bethlehem.

On a redemptive note, AOC’s neighboring New York colleague and fellow Democrat, Rep. Ritchie Torres, criticized AOC’s comparison between Jesus and the Palestinians in his own post, but did not mention her directly. Torres wrote:

 “It is antisemitic to compare Israelis to the Romans who murdered Jesus. Associating Jews with the murder of Jesus is antisemitism.”

Correcting Cortez. US New York Rep. Ritchie Torres (above) criticized OAC’s comparisons of Jesus and the Palestinians in a post saying, “It is antisemitic to compare Israelis to the Romans who murdered Jesus.”

Using the Christmas season to make baseless and offensive statements about Jesus being a Palestinian are not unusual.  Jesus’ identity as an orthodox Jewish man in the Land of Israel, a Judean, is beyond dispute. Nevertheless, pro-Hamas “leaders” in congress like AOC, along with the terrorist leaders of the Palestinian Authority itself, have peddled this lie with no shame. They have referred to Jesus as “the first Palestinian” and a “Palestinian martyr” as if he had strapped on a suicide vest and blown himself up in a crowded Israeli bus or a café.

AOC surely added a new dimension to the Palestinian Jesus myth by referring to him and his family as “Jewish Palestinians”.  Of course, that’s absurd. It’s even more absurd than believing Santa Claus is real because its not based on just a myth, but a flagrant lie.

However, this is where the AOC clock is right just the one time, even though she intended it for slandering Israel and Jewish history, if not adding to the blood libel of the Jews killing Jesus. The term “Jewish Palestinian” is absurd in the sense she meant it.  But there is truth to it.  Before Israel declared independence in 1948, the Land of Israel was referred to by the British who controlled it as “Palestine”. There was never a Palestinian state in any format, and Israel’s restoration of Jewish sovereignty did not erase such an entity, because it never existed. Before the British Mandate in 1917, the Ottomans controlled the Land from the 16th century. But they didn’t refer to it as Palestine, rather as administrative areas called “sanjaks”.  Again, there was never a Palestine anywhere between “the river to the sea” that ceased to exist in 1948.

Moreover, when the British controlled Palestine, their reference to “Palestinians” was not about the Arab population, but the Jewish population.  When the British referred to Palestinians, they meant the Jews.  This included my father and grandparents.  Palestinian Jews.

That the term Palestine had not even been invented when Jesus was alive makes it factually impossible to ever refer to him as a Palestinian, any more than Elizabeth Warren is a Native American. So, referring to Jesus as AOC did is nonsense.  However, by using the term “Jewish Palestinian”, AOC accidentally stumbled on the truth that before 1948 the only people referred to as Palestinian were Jews.  That term was hijacked and repurposed only in the 1960s when a new Arab ethnic group was created called Palestinian, regardless of whether they were indeed indigenous, or if they and their parents had immigrated from Egypt, Syria, and Arabia.

Thank you, AOC, for highlighting this truth, and the one time we agree.  Now, back to your regularly scheduled fake programming.



About the writer:

Jonathan Feldstein ­­­­- President of the US based non-profit Genesis123 Foundation whose mission is to build bridges between Jews and Christians – is a freelance writer whose articles appear in The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, Townhall, NorthJersey.com, Algemeiner Jornal, The Jewish Press, major Christian websites and more.





While the mission of Lay of the Land (LotL) is to provide a wide and diverse perspective of affairs in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by its various writers are not necessarily ones of the owners and management of LOTL but of the writers themselves.  LotL endeavours to the best of its ability to credit the use of all known photographs to the photographer and/or owner of such photographs (0&EO).