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Vice President Biden “Shlugs Kaparas” with Israel (revised)
Posted by admin in Anti-Semitism, Bible, Contrarian wisdom, Current Events, Holidays, Israel, Political Commentaries, ethics, good and evil | 1 Comment
The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular…The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within.—Mohandus Gandhi
When Familiarity Breeds Contempt . . .
This past week or so, we heard a most remarkable statement from Vice President Biden that is a sobering reminder of the kind of animus the U.S. State Department has always maintained for the last several decades regarding Israel. Biden went on record sayng, “What you’re doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace. . . .” Frankly, I don’t know why he didn’t blame George Bush.
When Biden was asked by American and Israeli newspaper reporters to clarify his statement, guess what? Biden refused to elaborate on his earlier remarks. This was no surprise. The Obama administration did not want to polarize the Jewish community at the recent AIPAC convention. Obama fears the political repercussions. Obama has no love for the Jews, they are only a political means to a presidential end. The political opportunist extraordinaire Jesse Jackson warned that Obama would take care of Israel–and he was right.
Even some of my liberal Jewish friends are starting to wonder as they experience their first revelation of cognitive dissonance: Is this a way to treat a loyal ally?
Swing Your Partner Round and Round . . .
Permit me to draw a parallel to Biden’s behavior to a peculiar custom known in Jewish tradition as “Shlug Kaparas” (“swinging of the chickens”). Here is how the ritual goes. On the eve of Yom Kippur, Hasidic and other Orthodox men take a rooster, while women must take a hen. The person taking the rooster in the right hand then announces: “This is my exchange, this is my salvation, this is my atonement. This rooster shall go to its death, while I will enter and proceed to a good long life, and to peace.”
The tradition then prescribes that the “swinger” (this was the obvious meaning of the original term) revolves the chicken around his head. Some authorities say that this should be done three times others say once is sufficient. If you are an expecting mother, it is customary to use two chickens for atonement–one for the mother and one for the child. One last note: The ritual demands that the chicken must be alive; a dead chicken will not atone for sins–only a live one will suffice.
If I did not know better, I would say that Biden seems to have been quite familiar with this ritual, but instead of using a live chicken, he decided to use Israel instead. Abraham Foxman commented at a Jerusalem Post interview, [Biden's remark] “smacks of blaming the Jews for everything . . . This is probably one of the most serious charges that we have ever heard.” Of course Foxman is correct.
All this political fanfare begs the obvious question: Why now? It would appear that Obama is trying to show the Arab world that they now have a friend who thinks, speaks, behaves, and negotiates just like Yasar Arafat.
And What of Jerusalem?
Obama, Biden and especially Hillary Clinton are experts in double-speak. The neighborhood is in Jerusalem, and the 2009 Netanyahu-Obama agreement was for a 10-month freeze on West Bank settlements excluding Jerusalem. Like a mentsch, Netanyahu apologized to Biden for the embarrassment. When Biden left Israel on March 11, the apology was officially accepted and the issue was diplomatically laid to rest–or so we thought. . . Enter Hillary–a woman whose political aspirations knows no bounds–or political etiquette.
Looking for an evanescent opportunity to boost her public image, Hillary demonstrated once again why she has an almost magical penchant for making little problems exponentially greater. A good diplomat knows when to hold her tongue. Even the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon made it clear this past week that the Jerusalem issue is to be discussed in final status talks. Hillary Clinton’s reaction is inexcusable and irresponsible.
Caroline Glick’s comments sum up calculated Obama’s reaction best:
“First, Israel must cancel the approval of the housing units in Ramat Shlomo. Second, Israel must prohibit all construction for Jews in Jerusalem neighborhoods built since 1967. Third, Israel must make a gesture to the Palestinians to show them we want peace. The US suggests releasing hundreds of Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons. Fourth, Israel must agree to negotiate all substantive issues, including the partition of Jerusalem (including the Jewish neighborhoods constructed since 1967 that are now home to more than a half million Israelis) and the immigration of millions of hostile foreign Arabs to Continue Reading
anthropomorphic language reflects a deeper significance than most of us realize:
The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular…The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within.—Mohandus Gandhi
When Familiarity Breeds Contempt . . .
This past week or so, we heard a most remarkable statement from Vice President Biden that is a sobering reminder of the kind of animus the U.S. State Department has always maintained for the last several decades regarding Israel. Biden went on record sayng, “What you’re doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace. . . .” Frankly, I don’t know why he didn’t blame George Bush.
When Biden was asked by American and Israeli newspaper reporters to clarify his statement, guess what? Biden refused to elaborate on his earlier remarks. This was no surprise. The Obama administration did not want to polarize the Jewish community at the recent AIPAC convention. Obama fears the political repercussions. Obama has no love for the Jews, they are only a political means to a presidential end. The political opportunist extraordinaire Jesse Jackson warned that Obama would take care of Israel–and he was right.
Even some of my liberal Jewish friends are starting to wonder as they experience their first revelation of cognitive dissonance: Is this a way to treat a loyal ally?
Swing Your Partner Round and Round . . .
Permit me to draw a parallel to Biden’s behavior to a peculiar custom known in Jewish tradition as “Shlug Kaparas” (“swinging of the chickens”). Here is how the ritual goes. On the eve of Yom Kippur, Hasidic and other Orthodox men take a rooster, while women must take a hen. The person taking the rooster in the right hand then announces: “This is my exchange, this is my salvation, this is my atonement. This rooster shall go to its death, while I will enter and proceed to a good long life, and to peace.”
The tradition then prescribes that the “swinger” (this was the obvious meaning of the original term) revolves the chicken around his head. Some authorities say that this should be done three times others say once is sufficient. If you are an expecting mother, it is customary to use two chickens for atonement–one for the mother and one for the child. One last note: The ritual demands that the chicken must be alive; a dead chicken will not atone for sins–only a live one will suffice.
If I did not know better, I would say that Biden seems to have been quite familiar with this ritual, but instead of using a live chicken, he decided to use Israel instead. Abraham Foxman commented at a Jerusalem Post interview, [Biden's remark] “smacks of blaming the Jews for everything . . . This is probably one of the most serious charges that we have ever heard.” Of course Foxman is correct.
All this political fanfare begs the obvious question: Why now? It would appear that Obama is trying to show the Arab world that they now have a friend who thinks, speaks, behaves, and negotiates just like Yasar Arafat.
And What of Jerusalem?
Obama, Biden and especially Hillary Clinton are experts in double-speak. The neighborhood is in Jerusalem, and the 2009 Netanyahu-Obama agreement was for a 10-month freeze on West Bank settlements excluding Jerusalem. Like a mentsch, Netanyahu apologized to Biden for the embarrassment. When Biden left Israel on March 11, the apology was officially accepted and the issue was diplomatically laid to rest–or so we thought. . . Enter Hillary–a woman whose political aspirations knows no bounds–or political etiquette.
Looking for an evanescent opportunity to boost her public image, Hillary demonstrated once again why she has an almost magical penchant for making little problems exponentially greater. A good diplomat knows when to hold her tongue. Even the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon made it clear this past week that the Jerusalem issue is to be discussed in final status talks. Hillary Clinton’s reaction is inexcusable and irresponsible.
Caroline Glick’s comments sum up calculated Obama’s reaction best:
“First, Israel must cancel the approval of the housing units in Ramat Shlomo. Second, Israel must prohibit all construction for Jews in Jerusalem neighborhoods built since 1967. Third, Israel must make a gesture to the Palestinians to show them we want peace. The US suggests releasing hundreds of Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons. Fourth, Israel must agree to negotiate all substantive issues, including the partition of Jerusalem (including the Jewish neighborhoods constructed since 1967 that are now home to more than a half million Israelis) and the immigration of millions of hostile foreign Arabs to Israel under the rubric of the so-called ‘right of return’ …. Netanyahu was led to believe that in return for these concessions Obama would begin behaving like the credible mediator his predecessors were. But instead of acting like his predecessors, Obama has behaved like the Palestinians. Rather than reward Netanyahu for taking a risk for peace, Obama has, in the model of Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas, pocketed Netanyahu’s concessions and escalated his demands. This is not the behavior of a mediator. This is the behavior of an adversary” (Emphasis added)
This is a wake-up call to Jews everywhere in the United States; it is a wake-up call for anyone thinking Clinton would make a great president. By the time the next 2012 election arrives, I predict that the American people will “Shlug Kaparas” with the Obama team. I think Obama’s legacy will be remembered as one of the most disgraced presidencies of recent history. Once the American people get wind of the Messianic Complex that is consuming their president and his morally challenged enablers, his popularity will eventually reach the single digits. If Obama manages to hoodwink the people one more time, Obama’s future attack on Israel will make this recent comment seem like a pleasant day in the park.
Three Great Quotes from History
When I think about the Obamatization of our government and possibly nation, I realize that change is not always good–especially when a leader lacks both the humility and the wisdom to tread lightly along treacherously dangerous paths that spell potential death and disaster for so many innocent people. Anyone reading the news from Hamastan, knows the genocidal impulse that characterized Hitler’s manic obsession to destroy the Jews is alive and well in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, and Syria.
Three sayings in particular best define the current debacle we seem to be in. The Chinese have a curse, “Be careful of what you wish for, because you might actually get it.” We wanted change, now we got it. Abraham Lincoln warned the future generations, “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Lastly, perhaps Aristotle said it best : In a democracy people get the government they deserve
not necessarily the government they need.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Great Article by Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi of The Israel Project
This article written by Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi of the Israel Project speaks volumes. It summarizes what the Israelis have been and continue to be up against. We are in a very difficult time - the world continues to judge Israel by a different set of standards from any other country.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2010
Contact:
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi: 202-857-6644 (office), 202-365-0787 (cell), jenniferm@theisraelproject.org
www.theisraelproject.org
Subscribe to The Israel Project's RSS Feed
Statement by Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, TIP Founder & President
on Jerusalem and U.S.-Israel Relations
At this very moment, 3,000 Israeli security officials are protecting Jerusalem because extremist Arabs are using the re-dedication of the Hurva Synagogue as an excuse to incite violence.
No religion should fear that its religious sites in Jerusalem – or anywhere else – might be destroyed at any time. And no one should use religion as an excuse for violence. Americans know that. In fact, by an 8 - 1 margin, a recent poll shows that Americans say the United States should side with Israel in a conflict with the Palestinians. The time for peace is now.
Additionally, while Israel apologized for the timing of the announcement of new housing units in Jerusalem, Israel should not be put in a position of apologizing for Jews living in their holiest city and capital, Jerusalem.
Jews have not only been connected to Jerusalem for thousands of years, they are the only group in recent history that has protected Jerusalem’s holy sites for Christians, Muslims, Jews and others -- keeping them open and safe to all faiths. Indeed, Arab and Christian citizens of Israel have freedom of religion, speech, press and the right to vote. By contrast, when Israel gave up all of Gaza in 2005 in hopes of peace, all Jews (including those buried in the cemetery there) had to leave Gaza. Indeed, the only Jew in Gaza is kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
So why did Vice President Joe Biden say in Ramallah: “The decision by the Israeli government to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem undermined that very trust, the trust that we need right now in order to begin as well as produce -- have profitable negotiations. That is why I immediately condemned the action”?
Shouldn’t American leaders save the word “condemned” for terrorists and for Iran’s dangerous nuclear program? Not once did we hear Biden “condemn” the fact that Palestinians were planning – during his trip there – to honor a terrorist by dedicating a town square in her name.
Yes, Israel made a mistake in the timing of its housing announcement. But it is also a mistake to think that the road to peace can be paved by imposing discriminatory housing policies in Jerusalem. Division along the '67 lines would leave major Christian sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Via Dolorosa under Muslim control. It could also put Israelis at risk of attack by terrorists lobbing grenades and launching rockets that could strike the heart of Jerusalem in seconds. The final boundaries for a two-state solution should be achieved in face-to-face negotiations with the parties, not imposed upon Israel, a democracy which has worked towards a two-state solution for 62 years.
Has the world forgotten that in 2002, dozens of armed Palestinian militants took over the Church of the Nativity, trapping about 60 Christian clergy? Has the global community they forgotten that from 1948 - 1967, when Jerusalem was under Arab control, that Jordanian forces destroyed 58 synagogues in the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and 38,000 Jewish tombstones on the Mount of Olives?
Have they forgotten that access to the Western Wall and other places of worship was denied to Israeli Jews by the government of Jordan and only limited access was granted to Israeli Christians to visit Christian holy sites? Have they forgotten that when Israel gave up all of Gaza, Palestinian extremists returned the gesture with thousands of rockets aimed at innocent civilians – and the international community did nothing more than provide empty promises about Israel’s security?
Have they forgotten that Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon started a war against Israel less than three years ago and that Israel stopped its defensive actions in return for yet more empty promises from the international community that it would stop Iran from re-arming Hezbollah? Today Hezbollah has tens of thousands of rockets, ready to again attack Israel.
The road to security and peace in the Middle East does not lie in wishful thinking. True, there are Palestinians in the West Bank, including Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who seem serious about peace. But his party doesn’t control Gaza and has no influence over Hamas, the Iran-backed terrorist group that acts at Iran’s will. Indeed, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in Tunis this week, "Iran doesn't want Hamas to sign the Cairo reconciliation document," and that his own goal is to "pull our people out from Iranian tutelage."
Israel’s government and the majority of its citizens support a two-state solution. Despite years of empty promises and attacks, they remain willing to make painful territorial sacrifices. But for the last 14 months Abbas has not been willing to negotiate with Israel. If the Palestinians really want a state, shouldn’t they start talking without pre-conditions today?
And given that Israel protects the rights and freedoms of its Muslim citizens, shouldn’t any future Palestinian state do the same for its Jewish citizens?
Meanwhile, it is in America’s interest to stop the threat of Iran. The Islamic Republic not only is building nuclear materials in defiance of the world, it is undermining Palestinian leaders Abbas and Fayyad by supporting terrorism by Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The United States must enforce existing sanctions laws, forbid U.S. tax dollars from going to companies aiding and abetting Iran, and do all it can to expand sanctions on Iran to peacefully resolve this crisis.
We need a GPS that works. The road to peace isn’t through Jerusalem. It’s through Tehran.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2010
Contact:
Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi: 202-857-6644 (office), 202-365-0787 (cell), jenniferm@theisraelproject.org
www.theisraelproject.org
Subscribe to The Israel Project's RSS Feed
Statement by Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, TIP Founder & President
on Jerusalem and U.S.-Israel Relations
At this very moment, 3,000 Israeli security officials are protecting Jerusalem because extremist Arabs are using the re-dedication of the Hurva Synagogue as an excuse to incite violence.
No religion should fear that its religious sites in Jerusalem – or anywhere else – might be destroyed at any time. And no one should use religion as an excuse for violence. Americans know that. In fact, by an 8 - 1 margin, a recent poll shows that Americans say the United States should side with Israel in a conflict with the Palestinians. The time for peace is now.
Additionally, while Israel apologized for the timing of the announcement of new housing units in Jerusalem, Israel should not be put in a position of apologizing for Jews living in their holiest city and capital, Jerusalem.
Jews have not only been connected to Jerusalem for thousands of years, they are the only group in recent history that has protected Jerusalem’s holy sites for Christians, Muslims, Jews and others -- keeping them open and safe to all faiths. Indeed, Arab and Christian citizens of Israel have freedom of religion, speech, press and the right to vote. By contrast, when Israel gave up all of Gaza in 2005 in hopes of peace, all Jews (including those buried in the cemetery there) had to leave Gaza. Indeed, the only Jew in Gaza is kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
So why did Vice President Joe Biden say in Ramallah: “The decision by the Israeli government to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem undermined that very trust, the trust that we need right now in order to begin as well as produce -- have profitable negotiations. That is why I immediately condemned the action”?
Shouldn’t American leaders save the word “condemned” for terrorists and for Iran’s dangerous nuclear program? Not once did we hear Biden “condemn” the fact that Palestinians were planning – during his trip there – to honor a terrorist by dedicating a town square in her name.
Yes, Israel made a mistake in the timing of its housing announcement. But it is also a mistake to think that the road to peace can be paved by imposing discriminatory housing policies in Jerusalem. Division along the '67 lines would leave major Christian sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Via Dolorosa under Muslim control. It could also put Israelis at risk of attack by terrorists lobbing grenades and launching rockets that could strike the heart of Jerusalem in seconds. The final boundaries for a two-state solution should be achieved in face-to-face negotiations with the parties, not imposed upon Israel, a democracy which has worked towards a two-state solution for 62 years.
Has the world forgotten that in 2002, dozens of armed Palestinian militants took over the Church of the Nativity, trapping about 60 Christian clergy? Has the global community they forgotten that from 1948 - 1967, when Jerusalem was under Arab control, that Jordanian forces destroyed 58 synagogues in the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem and 38,000 Jewish tombstones on the Mount of Olives?
Have they forgotten that access to the Western Wall and other places of worship was denied to Israeli Jews by the government of Jordan and only limited access was granted to Israeli Christians to visit Christian holy sites? Have they forgotten that when Israel gave up all of Gaza, Palestinian extremists returned the gesture with thousands of rockets aimed at innocent civilians – and the international community did nothing more than provide empty promises about Israel’s security?
Have they forgotten that Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon started a war against Israel less than three years ago and that Israel stopped its defensive actions in return for yet more empty promises from the international community that it would stop Iran from re-arming Hezbollah? Today Hezbollah has tens of thousands of rockets, ready to again attack Israel.
The road to security and peace in the Middle East does not lie in wishful thinking. True, there are Palestinians in the West Bank, including Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who seem serious about peace. But his party doesn’t control Gaza and has no influence over Hamas, the Iran-backed terrorist group that acts at Iran’s will. Indeed, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in Tunis this week, "Iran doesn't want Hamas to sign the Cairo reconciliation document," and that his own goal is to "pull our people out from Iranian tutelage."
Israel’s government and the majority of its citizens support a two-state solution. Despite years of empty promises and attacks, they remain willing to make painful territorial sacrifices. But for the last 14 months Abbas has not been willing to negotiate with Israel. If the Palestinians really want a state, shouldn’t they start talking without pre-conditions today?
And given that Israel protects the rights and freedoms of its Muslim citizens, shouldn’t any future Palestinian state do the same for its Jewish citizens?
Meanwhile, it is in America’s interest to stop the threat of Iran. The Islamic Republic not only is building nuclear materials in defiance of the world, it is undermining Palestinian leaders Abbas and Fayyad by supporting terrorism by Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The United States must enforce existing sanctions laws, forbid U.S. tax dollars from going to companies aiding and abetting Iran, and do all it can to expand sanctions on Iran to peacefully resolve this crisis.
We need a GPS that works. The road to peace isn’t through Jerusalem. It’s through Tehran.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The World Needs to Know this
ISRAEL21c Newsletter
Building a better future together Working together - Israelis help Palestinian veterinarians fight avian flu Israeli seeds could solve the biofuel-food crop dilemma Israeli researcher discovers new fungus that could provide low-cost alternative fuel An Israeli company drills for oil in algae Israelis and Palestinians to speak with 'one voice' Israeli and Palestinian chefs devise a recipe for peace [VIDEO] Israel's Eco Energy looks to seaweed as a super-green biofuel [VIDEO] Isaac Berzin to enlist Israelis into the business of green When it comes to Alzheimer's there is no Mid East conflict Programming for Middle East peace More than a slim chance for Middle East peace [VIDEO] Israeli super-star consortium to produce castor oil biodiesel in Africa Small science offers big hope for Israeli and Palestinian scientists A celebration of faith at Israel's only Scottish school Jaffa bakery scion has turned Israel football into a little UN Giving birth to peace Throwing a Frisbee for Middle East Peace Israel scores a touchdown with American football [Video] Doing a hard job together Double chromosomes equals more plant power A musical bridge for Palestinians and Israelis Put some peace in your tank A solar-powered COMET lights up Palestinian homes NATO aids water bridge between Israel, Jordan and the US A year in videos: ISRAEL21c's top 10 YouTube stories of 2009 Ushering Israel's Arabs into the global village Israel aims for new record in the Middle “Eats” hummus war For one Israeli Arab woman, peace begins within Incubating peace with Israel's Arab sector It's time to learn the language of the other Swinging from the coexistence trapeze Israel launches Operation Respect On a mission to create friendship and understanding Ten top Israeli business ventures that inspire peace in the Middle East
By Karin Kloosterman
February 28, 2010
Peace in the Middle East may seem elusive, but Jews and Arabs across Israel are working hard to create bridges though business. ISRAEL21c brings you a list of Israel's top ten coexistence business ventures.
Making peace in the Middle East will never be an easy task, but what many people don't realize is that even in the midst of conflict, there are thousands upon thousands of Israeli people working dedicatedly for coexistence and the promise of a better life.
Some of the most effective of these peace projects are those based on business. Peace through prosperity is not a new concept, but as Yoav Stern, director of the Business and Economics Department at the Peres Center for Peace, admits, projects like these help building confidence.
It's a "win-win-win game," says Stern, who helped ISRAEL21c compile this top 10 list. "I think that what's unique in these kind of businesses is the fact that the interests are clear for all sides. In order to have a sound business project you must identify the interests of all sides, not just the Israelis not just Palestinians.
"They are very good ideas when you want to build confidence measures," he adds. "The business community is a very good engine for the peace train and without its commitment and involvement peace will not come," he asserts.
1. Tefen Park
Stef Wertheimer, one of the richest individuals in the country, has a vision that economic prosperity will spark peace for all people in Israel and the region. To that end, he has created Tefen, an industrial park in the Galilee region that boasts high-quality schools and spurs business ventures and creativity for industry. At Tefen Jews, Arabs and Druze work side by side as they realize their common goals. Built in 1982, it is one of four industrial parks created by Wertheimer that bring in a combined $1 billion in revenue, proving that co-existence can be a powerful business model.
"When people work together, they have no time for nonsense," Wertheimer has said. "They're too tired at night to commit terrorist acts. They're satisfied, they engage in producing. They work together, not against each other."
2. Babcom
Want to outsource your call and customer service centers? Want to fuel a little Middle East peace? Instead of working with India, consider the services of Babcom. Based in the Galilee region, Babcom hires a significant number of Israeli Arabs and trains them as call center managers who work for both local and international companies. Functioning as a strategic partner, Babcom provides a cost-effective service for companies worldwide.
Co-founded in 2008 by Imad Telhami and Delta's Dov Lautman, Babcom was set up to meet its customers' long-term goals and to provide customer call services in Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian. The company works with large cellular providers in Israel.
3. MME New Diesel Biofuel
Initiated by the Peres Center for Peace, MME New Diesel, a new Jordanian-Israeli company, is using German-made technology to create biofuel from biomass waste. Biomass waste is quite a problem in the region, with excessive amounts of agriculture-based organic matter building up in Jordan, Israel and within the Palestinian Authority. This new company plans on repurposing it into biofuel and squeezing out a little peace at the same time. The new pilot facility will be built in Israel's Arava Desert where it can strategically serve all three communities.
4. A NATO grant for a salt-free water bridge
Israel and Jordan share environmental problems, but regional politics and prejudices often prevent them from solving them together. A new North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) grant set up to develop two inland water desalination plants - one in Israel and one in Jordan - not only gets two Middle East universities collaborating, but the end-product could help to quench the region's thirst. It could also boost an under-used new technology that promises to save both water and energy the world over.
5. The Israel-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce
Members of the new Israel-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce certainly hope to make peace through business. It might seem like a head scratcher, but even in times of extreme conflict, as recently as last year, Israel and the Palestinian Authority maintain an active trade relationship.
The chamber plans to grow new business ventures even further. Consider some facts: Of NIS 15 billion (about $4 billion) worth of sales of products and services in 2008, about NIS 13 billion was to the West Bank, while an estimated NIS 2 billion went to the Gaza Strip.
6. G.ho.st
Don't be afraid: Peace has more than a ghost of chance, with new business projects like G.ho.st, or Global Hosted Operating System (pronounced "ghost"). G.ho.st is run by Israelis and Palestinians who provide organizations and other users with a virtual operating system.
The company has received a lot of international press coverage, both due to its technology and the fact that it's the only true Israeli-Palestinian startup. It was also the first company in the Palestinian Territories to offer its employees stock options.
7. Tsofen
After achieving successful careers in high-tech, entrepreneurs founded Tsofen, a non-profit organization to help Israel's Arab citizens enjoy the same benefits as Israeli Jews. Three partners share the vision of helping Israel's qualified Arab engineers in Nazareth find gainful work in the high-tech industry.
The long-term goal is to strengthen Israeli society from within. "We are located in Nazareth and our facilities enable industry to come to Nazareth and help Arab academics come close to the high-tech industry. It's not technical training that we give, but more cultural and hands on," says Smadar Nehab, one of the founders.
8. New Generation Technology
The New Generation Technology (NGT) business incubator is situated close to the new road that links Nazareth to the country's business hub in the center of Israel. The idea is to accelerate technologies in both the Jewish and Arab sectors, with a focus on life sciences. Success stories include D-Herb, a herbal formulation to counter diabetes, and Nutrinia, an infant formula developed with the same natural bioactive proteins that are usually found only in mother's milk.
Says founder Davidi Gilo: "There are many Israeli initiatives that open factories and do different things with Arabs - but basically the Jews are the employers and the Arabs the employees. NGT is the only project in Israel that is a pure, true partnership between Jewish and Arab businessmen in Israel. We're all board members, and we've all invested the same amount of money."
9. The Center for Jewish Arab Development
The Center for Jewish-Arab Economic Development (CJAED) is a non-profit organization established in 1988 by a group of Jewish and Arab businesspeople. Today, the group spearheads a large number of projects falling within four units: The Business Unit; the Women's Unit; the Joint Jewish-Arab Employment Zone Unit; and the Higher Education Leadership Programs Unit. The guiding vision of the CJAED is that Jewish-Arab economic cooperation within Israel is an essential ingredient if peace, prosperity and economic stability are to be achieved locally and in the Middle East as a whole.
10. Asal Technologies
Rather than outsource your computer coding and programming to India and China, why not try the Palestinian Authority? Asal Technologies aims to supply gainful employment to Palestinian engineers who speak the same "language" as their Israeli neighbors. Each year there are about 3,000 Palestinian graduates in computer sciences, but few find jobs. Already working with large multinational companies based in Israel, Asal is providing solutions that Israeli teams can trust, with value and a product delivered in the same time zone.
"We realized that instead of fighting each other and throwing bombs we needed to work together," says Jonathan Levy, a general manager for the Israel-based chip manufacturer Winbond, who is one of the idea's founding fathers. "I started thinking that it would be better to hire a Palestinian engineer to develop our less complex products, for reasons related to cost calculations as well as problems of language, culture and deadlines," he explains.
Building a better future together Working together - Israelis help Palestinian veterinarians fight avian flu Israeli seeds could solve the biofuel-food crop dilemma Israeli researcher discovers new fungus that could provide low-cost alternative fuel An Israeli company drills for oil in algae Israelis and Palestinians to speak with 'one voice' Israeli and Palestinian chefs devise a recipe for peace [VIDEO] Israel's Eco Energy looks to seaweed as a super-green biofuel [VIDEO] Isaac Berzin to enlist Israelis into the business of green When it comes to Alzheimer's there is no Mid East conflict Programming for Middle East peace More than a slim chance for Middle East peace [VIDEO] Israeli super-star consortium to produce castor oil biodiesel in Africa Small science offers big hope for Israeli and Palestinian scientists A celebration of faith at Israel's only Scottish school Jaffa bakery scion has turned Israel football into a little UN Giving birth to peace Throwing a Frisbee for Middle East Peace Israel scores a touchdown with American football [Video] Doing a hard job together Double chromosomes equals more plant power A musical bridge for Palestinians and Israelis Put some peace in your tank A solar-powered COMET lights up Palestinian homes NATO aids water bridge between Israel, Jordan and the US A year in videos: ISRAEL21c's top 10 YouTube stories of 2009 Ushering Israel's Arabs into the global village Israel aims for new record in the Middle “Eats” hummus war For one Israeli Arab woman, peace begins within Incubating peace with Israel's Arab sector It's time to learn the language of the other Swinging from the coexistence trapeze Israel launches Operation Respect On a mission to create friendship and understanding Ten top Israeli business ventures that inspire peace in the Middle East
By Karin Kloosterman
February 28, 2010
Peace in the Middle East may seem elusive, but Jews and Arabs across Israel are working hard to create bridges though business. ISRAEL21c brings you a list of Israel's top ten coexistence business ventures.
Making peace in the Middle East will never be an easy task, but what many people don't realize is that even in the midst of conflict, there are thousands upon thousands of Israeli people working dedicatedly for coexistence and the promise of a better life.
Some of the most effective of these peace projects are those based on business. Peace through prosperity is not a new concept, but as Yoav Stern, director of the Business and Economics Department at the Peres Center for Peace, admits, projects like these help building confidence.
It's a "win-win-win game," says Stern, who helped ISRAEL21c compile this top 10 list. "I think that what's unique in these kind of businesses is the fact that the interests are clear for all sides. In order to have a sound business project you must identify the interests of all sides, not just the Israelis not just Palestinians.
"They are very good ideas when you want to build confidence measures," he adds. "The business community is a very good engine for the peace train and without its commitment and involvement peace will not come," he asserts.
1. Tefen Park
Stef Wertheimer, one of the richest individuals in the country, has a vision that economic prosperity will spark peace for all people in Israel and the region. To that end, he has created Tefen, an industrial park in the Galilee region that boasts high-quality schools and spurs business ventures and creativity for industry. At Tefen Jews, Arabs and Druze work side by side as they realize their common goals. Built in 1982, it is one of four industrial parks created by Wertheimer that bring in a combined $1 billion in revenue, proving that co-existence can be a powerful business model.
"When people work together, they have no time for nonsense," Wertheimer has said. "They're too tired at night to commit terrorist acts. They're satisfied, they engage in producing. They work together, not against each other."
2. Babcom
Want to outsource your call and customer service centers? Want to fuel a little Middle East peace? Instead of working with India, consider the services of Babcom. Based in the Galilee region, Babcom hires a significant number of Israeli Arabs and trains them as call center managers who work for both local and international companies. Functioning as a strategic partner, Babcom provides a cost-effective service for companies worldwide.
Co-founded in 2008 by Imad Telhami and Delta's Dov Lautman, Babcom was set up to meet its customers' long-term goals and to provide customer call services in Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian. The company works with large cellular providers in Israel.
3. MME New Diesel Biofuel
Initiated by the Peres Center for Peace, MME New Diesel, a new Jordanian-Israeli company, is using German-made technology to create biofuel from biomass waste. Biomass waste is quite a problem in the region, with excessive amounts of agriculture-based organic matter building up in Jordan, Israel and within the Palestinian Authority. This new company plans on repurposing it into biofuel and squeezing out a little peace at the same time. The new pilot facility will be built in Israel's Arava Desert where it can strategically serve all three communities.
4. A NATO grant for a salt-free water bridge
Israel and Jordan share environmental problems, but regional politics and prejudices often prevent them from solving them together. A new North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) grant set up to develop two inland water desalination plants - one in Israel and one in Jordan - not only gets two Middle East universities collaborating, but the end-product could help to quench the region's thirst. It could also boost an under-used new technology that promises to save both water and energy the world over.
5. The Israel-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce
Members of the new Israel-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce certainly hope to make peace through business. It might seem like a head scratcher, but even in times of extreme conflict, as recently as last year, Israel and the Palestinian Authority maintain an active trade relationship.
The chamber plans to grow new business ventures even further. Consider some facts: Of NIS 15 billion (about $4 billion) worth of sales of products and services in 2008, about NIS 13 billion was to the West Bank, while an estimated NIS 2 billion went to the Gaza Strip.
6. G.ho.st
Don't be afraid: Peace has more than a ghost of chance, with new business projects like G.ho.st, or Global Hosted Operating System (pronounced "ghost"). G.ho.st is run by Israelis and Palestinians who provide organizations and other users with a virtual operating system.
The company has received a lot of international press coverage, both due to its technology and the fact that it's the only true Israeli-Palestinian startup. It was also the first company in the Palestinian Territories to offer its employees stock options.
7. Tsofen
After achieving successful careers in high-tech, entrepreneurs founded Tsofen, a non-profit organization to help Israel's Arab citizens enjoy the same benefits as Israeli Jews. Three partners share the vision of helping Israel's qualified Arab engineers in Nazareth find gainful work in the high-tech industry.
The long-term goal is to strengthen Israeli society from within. "We are located in Nazareth and our facilities enable industry to come to Nazareth and help Arab academics come close to the high-tech industry. It's not technical training that we give, but more cultural and hands on," says Smadar Nehab, one of the founders.
8. New Generation Technology
The New Generation Technology (NGT) business incubator is situated close to the new road that links Nazareth to the country's business hub in the center of Israel. The idea is to accelerate technologies in both the Jewish and Arab sectors, with a focus on life sciences. Success stories include D-Herb, a herbal formulation to counter diabetes, and Nutrinia, an infant formula developed with the same natural bioactive proteins that are usually found only in mother's milk.
Says founder Davidi Gilo: "There are many Israeli initiatives that open factories and do different things with Arabs - but basically the Jews are the employers and the Arabs the employees. NGT is the only project in Israel that is a pure, true partnership between Jewish and Arab businessmen in Israel. We're all board members, and we've all invested the same amount of money."
9. The Center for Jewish Arab Development
The Center for Jewish-Arab Economic Development (CJAED) is a non-profit organization established in 1988 by a group of Jewish and Arab businesspeople. Today, the group spearheads a large number of projects falling within four units: The Business Unit; the Women's Unit; the Joint Jewish-Arab Employment Zone Unit; and the Higher Education Leadership Programs Unit. The guiding vision of the CJAED is that Jewish-Arab economic cooperation within Israel is an essential ingredient if peace, prosperity and economic stability are to be achieved locally and in the Middle East as a whole.
10. Asal Technologies
Rather than outsource your computer coding and programming to India and China, why not try the Palestinian Authority? Asal Technologies aims to supply gainful employment to Palestinian engineers who speak the same "language" as their Israeli neighbors. Each year there are about 3,000 Palestinian graduates in computer sciences, but few find jobs. Already working with large multinational companies based in Israel, Asal is providing solutions that Israeli teams can trust, with value and a product delivered in the same time zone.
"We realized that instead of fighting each other and throwing bombs we needed to work together," says Jonathan Levy, a general manager for the Israel-based chip manufacturer Winbond, who is one of the idea's founding fathers. "I started thinking that it would be better to hire a Palestinian engineer to develop our less complex products, for reasons related to cost calculations as well as problems of language, culture and deadlines," he explains.
Monday, March 1, 2010
My 2010 Volunteer Mission to Israel
This is my second time in 4 years coming to Haifa as part of the Doppelt Volunteer Mission. Arriving here 3 weeks ago I felt like I was returning home. Wonderful friends and smiling warm familiar faces here to greet us and the love shown to our whole group is something very hard to translate into words. I was asked to write a short note about a memorable experience but in all honesty there have been so many that I find it difficult to pick only one. Dancing with Ethiopian children at Temple Or Kadash , celebrating TuBishvat with our host families who welcomed us into their homes with joy, laughter and incredible food, participating in Israeli folk dances at Zamir Beach on Shabbat, working with the children of Chuggim High School and tutoring English to the lovely women of the Boston/Haifa Dialogue group are simply a few of the heartfelt experiences to date. Most important, however, is the connection and friendships we have made in this beautiful “city by the sea”! I can only describe the friends I have made here as some of the most giving people I have ever met- they have big hearts and are truly beautiful souls . Where else but in Haifa can you board a Sheirut and within five minutes have an invitation for coffee at a home of a complete stranger?
There is so much for me to write about that it would take me much more than a paragraph. I will just conclude by saying “Todah Rabah” to all my “chaverim” here for making this such a special journey- I feel blessed to have had this opportunity!
There is so much for me to write about that it would take me much more than a paragraph. I will just conclude by saying “Todah Rabah” to all my “chaverim” here for making this such a special journey- I feel blessed to have had this opportunity!
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