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2 HASHALOM February
2017
February 2017
HASHALOM
3
OBAMA’S BETRAYAL
Prof Antony Arkin
EDITORIAL
President Obama’s refusal to veto UN Security Council Resolution 2334
against Israel on Christmas Eve was an act of betrayal. The Jewish
human rights organization Simon Wiesenthal Centre ranked it as the
most anti-semitic, anti-Israel incident in 2016. The resolution calls the
settlements a “flagrant violation of international law” and demands
an immediate halt to all “settlement” construction beyond the 1949
ceasefire lines. These green lines have been called the “Auschwitz
borders” because they leave Israel militarily indefensible against its
enemies. Resolution 2334 rewrites the cornerstone Resolution 242
of 1967 that Israel has the right to live in peace within “secure and
recognized boundaries” that will include territorial adjustment.
Resolution 2334 states that any changes from the green line would not
be recognized without mutual agreement. This means the Kotel, the
prayer plaza at theWesternWall, the access roads to HebrewUniversity
and Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus, and the Jewish Quarter of
Jerusalem are now all illegally occupied. This is of course a non-starter
for both Israelis and the whole Jewish world. “We are outraged over
the US failure to veto this biased and unconstructive UNSC resolution”
argued the Anti-Defamation League. The Progressive movements’
Central Conference of American Rabbi’s statement expressed “strong
disagreement” with the UNSC resolution saying that the US abstention
“leaves us dismayed, disappointed and angry”.
Prof Alan Dershowitz in the Gatestone Institute argued that these
territories are not illegally occupied but rather liberated. Jordan captured
these historically Jewish areas in 1948, when all the surrounding
Arab countries attacked the reborn Jewish nation in an attempt to
destroy it. Jordan’s illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of Jews
was accompanied by the destruction of synagogues, cemeteries and
schools, and the bringing in or Arab settlers to move into the Jewish
homes. When Jordan attacked Israel again in 1967, Israel recaptured
these Jewish areas and allowed Jews to return to them.
By failing to distinguish between settlement expansions deep within the
West Bank and reclaiming historical Jewish areas in Jerusalem, Resolution
2334 has alienated the vast majority of the Israeli population and political
parties. The Jewish neighbourhoods of eastern Jerusalem, such as Gilo,
built on JNF land, and the large settlement blocs such as Gush Etzion have
for years been considered part of the Israeli consensus. Isaac Herzog,
leader of the opposition argued Resolution 2334 caused “severe damage”.
Tzipi Livni argued it “harms the interests of Israel”, Yair Lapid, chair of
the Yesh Atid opposition party called it “dangerous, unfair, and an act of
hypocrisy”. However by their equating Jewish Jerusalem with Amona and
other Jewish settlements the hard right parties of the current government
have been equally irresponsible.
The idea that the settlements are the greatest obstacle to peace is
ludicrous. There were no settlements before 1967, yet the Arab war of
extermination against Israel had already gone on for decades. The existing
settlements, even if expanded, do not pose any danger to the two-state
solution, if the Palestinians really want their own state more than they do
notwant a Jewish state. A contiguous Palestinian state is certainly possible
even if all the existing settlements were to remain. Settlement expansion
is the consequence of Palestinian refusal to accept repeated offers from
Israeli governments to end the occupation in exchange for peace.
Resolution 2334 clearly makes a negotiated settlement between
Israel and the Palestinians very much more difficult. The Palestinians
will now have no incentive to negotiate the boundaries of a future
Palestinian state. The primary barrier to peace remains the Palestinian
unwillingness to accept the UN resolution of 1947 calling for two
states for two peoples, the Jewish people and the Arab people. This
means explicit recognition by Palestinians to accept Israel as the nation
state of the Jewish people. President Obama’s betrayal has made the
prospect of peace far more distant.
Contact: Robyn Bradley P.O. Box 10797 Marine Parade 4056
Production Manager: Mrs Robyn Bradley
The views expressed in the pages of Hashalom are not necessarily those of the
Editorial Board or any other organisation or religious body unless otherwise
individual.
Hashalom Editorial Board:
Editor: Prof Antony Arkin
Sub Editor: Mr Colin Plen
Editorial Board: Mrs Mikki Norton, Mrs Michelle Shapira
Commitee: Dr Issy Fisher, Ms Diane McColl, Mrs Lauren Shapiro
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Editoria
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02
Out of Perspective
03
Mishna Impossible
04
Israel
05
ANC’s hateful attacks on Israel show bias and disrespect
05
its own legacy of dialogue
Fly and feed: Tens of thousands of cranes winter,
05
and eat, in Israel’s North
Why the sudden hatred of Israel?
06
Israel vote was an affront to all New Zealanders
07
4 Killed as terrorist plows truck into troops in Jerusalem
08
Jewish World
10
Ethiopian Judaism nearly identical to that practiced
10
during Second Temple Period
Leonardo DiCaprio showcases Israeli solar thermal plant
11
on Instagram
UN vote tops Wiesenthal list of top10 antisemitic,
12
anti-Israel cases in 2016
Community New
s
13
Bubkes
13
Past Tense
14
Union of Jewish Women
15
KwaZulu Natal Zionist Council
16
Wotsup Wizo
18
SAJBD
19
Letters to Editor
20
Young Israel Centre
21
Talmud Torah
21
Durban United Hebrew Congregation
22
Limmud
23
Durban Holocaust Centre
24
Divote
25
Beth Shalom
26
Eden College
27
Umhlanga Jewish Centre
28
Akiva College
29
Durban Progressive Jewish Congregation
30
Above Board
31
Cooking with Judy and Linda
31
Social and Personal
32
Diary of Events
32
OUT OF PERSPECTIVE
After checking my archives, I found that I have written an article in
March 2013 entitled
The Build-Up Nation and tall building stories.
It was
about touring around with the CEO inspecting the company’s assets
(ready-mix plants, quarries and asphalt plants). I’ve just finished the
latest tour (in mid-winter from end-December to mid-January) and
these are my latest rambling thoughts on the state of affairs in Israeli
society and economy.
Firstly, crisscrossing the country in such a short time does reinforce
the perspective that resources and wealth are firmly split between
the centre and the periphery. The centre being a loose definition from
anywhere situated north in Hadera to south in Gedera. This disparity
includes the quality of education and medical care, and the credit limit
of customers. The same may be said for the quality of radio. Picking
up Galei Tzahal, Army Radio, the premier news and talk station with
the country’s top journalists and A-list presenters, is a challenge in the
north and south. Instead, I had to be content with Radio Darom and
endless adverts for the Yes Planet cinema complex in Beersheva, and
the breakfast show hosts repeatedly trying to call Haim Yavin. He is
a veteran News presenter and documentary-writer (known locally as
“Mr. Television”) who has recently been accused of sexual misconduct.
He declined to comment each time. Radio Tzafon 104.5 was actually
broadcasting on 101.55 in my car, which confused me, as it did a guest
they interviewed: a man who had not spoken to his wife in twenty
years. Apparently they do live together, and now he had started
saying “boker tov” to her. I wasn’t sure if this was jest or a major news
item, as I drove one morning from Hazor with the sun rising over the
Kinneret, down to Bet Shean. I am not trying to denigrate local radio
stations, (there are also multifarious Arab-language stations available
which I didn’t understand), but if this is the standard fare, I wondered
if I was living in the same country?
Secondly, there is an increase in women’s work-force participation
in the building materials industry. I have seen the odd female bus
driver and taxi driver around the country, but still none driving mixer
trucks or haulage trucks. However, at many of the bigger ready-mix
plants, there is now a woman working as a collection coordinator,
and women doing a host of other administrative reports to assist the
plant manager. Seeing a big ‘Ladies’ symbol on toilets at a previously
male-only establishment is a march of progress.
Thirdly, construction activity is very robust, and a core policy of
national and local government (illustrated by many big infrastructure
projects and initiatives increasing the supply of residential housing).
But, contrary to achieving these policies, no municipality is too
interested or too keen to zone land for ready-mix plants. Everyone
is interested in developing an office park or mall, as it brings in
many people, and no doubt has a multiplier effect on the entire local
economy. A concrete plant may hire 5-6 people max, congests small
local roads with material delivery trucks and mixers, and take up a
relatively large space. Not to mention the environmental impact. The
municipal taxes that could be charged are limited to one business,
instead of potentially numerous ones. I wouldn’t want one in my
back-yard, but they are a necessity to build new offices and houses!
Fourth, dealing with local governments legitimately, lawfully and with
full compliance is painstakingly slow, and takes some creativity. The
news has been full of mayors who have been accused or convicted of
corruption: Ramat Gan, Ramat Hasharon, Bat Yam and Ashkelon are
a handful that spring to mind. Our new flag-ship ready-mix plant was
just opened at Ramla. It took years to approve as a competitor paid off
local businesses to object, and then when objections were dismissed,
went on appeal. The plant was finally opened amidst much fanfare at
the end of last year. And apparently the Hapoel Ramla soccer team
has been awarded a new generous sponsorship recently.
Fifth, deceased politicians and even defunct political parties may
continue to influence traffic-flow in Israeli cities due to security
concerns. When the late Ariel Sharon set up his Kadima party end
of 2005, the party’s HQ was located in Petah Tikvah, down the road
from our plant in the Kiryat Ariyeh industrial zone. The Shabak duly
ordered a small side road leading past the plant and past the HQ to be
closed, citing security reasons. Fair enough. But this meant cement
tankers now needed to turn around in a narrow space and make a
U-turn instead of simply continuing down the road after deliveries.
All attempts to try reopening the road have proved futile.
Sixth, despite what I wrote in the first point, Israel’s periphery is
developing fast. Yeruham, a former backwater development town
in the Negev, is growing rapidly. Located 15 km south of Dimona,
it’s still considered the middle of nowhere, but no doubt the mayor
has dreams of a mall and a hi-tech park to open up there. The
concrete may be supplied from Dimona, so he needn’t worry about
that. A new bridge over the Jordan River, near Bet Shean is about to
commence construction next month. The bridge is the first phase in
developing a free-trade zone with Jordan. Apparently this project was
conceptualised when the peace treaty was signed in 1994, but I did
mention earlier that Israeli planning is slow. This free-trade zone will
be serviced by the new Emek railway line that runs the length of the
Galilee from Haifa through Afula to Bet Shean. These thoughts may
be random, but Israel’s development is systematic.
TheWinterTour
David Arkin