Sacrificing clarity on the altar of appeasement
By Brigitte Gabriel, American Congress for Truth blog, February 22, 2008
Opinions are like………noses. Everyone has one. As someone whose life has been greatly impacted by Israel, I am an outspoken supporter and advocate for Jewish issues and Israeli security. My outspokenness creates a few storms now and then.
With the Internet amplifying publicly voiced opinion, comments can be swirled around through instant e-mail communication seeding the most dark and foreboding storm clouds. Most of the sleet, hail and lightening I get comes from the Jewish community… usually after I have said something extolling their virtues. Most remarkable was my statement at a Duke University counter Palestinian Solidarity Movement rally in 2004 where I said the difference between Israel and the Arab world “is the difference between civilization and Barbarism.” The comment went worldwide. The president of Hillel apologized to the Arabs and Palestinians up one side and down the other.
I recently was asked my opinion about Barack Obama and boy what a tempest it has caused. And this time the maligning from my Hebrew friends comes for pointing out that a presidential candidate has deeply troubling connections to an anti-Semite? So?
The adverse precipitation came last week from the United Jewish Communities (UJC), who took strong exception to my answering question posed by a woman about Barrack Obama. The UJC’s published comments, headlined by some as “slamming” Brigitte Gabriel, cast doubt on my legitimacy and my efforts to support the Jewish nation and fight the rise of Islamofascism. I think you will find, as others have commented to me, that they are doing a disservice to one of Judaism’s ally in its fight as a people and Israel as a nation.
Here are the facts.
I was honored to be the guest speaker at the West Palm Beach Lion of Judah’s luncheon on February 4th in Florida. My presentation, like many I have given to Jewish Federations in both Canada and the US, as well as countless non Jewish organizations and churches, focused on the humanitarian qualities of Israel who rescued my family and other Christians from the Jihad against us by Muslim extremists in civil war torn Lebanon. I warned the audience about the rise of Islamofascism throughout the world and here in America. I encouraged them to get involved, support the Lion of Judah and make a difference. The 350 women present gave me a standing ovation. After lunch and the Q&A they bought up every available copy of my New York Times best seller, “Because They Hate.” I felt no hostility or heard any derogatory remarks during the greetings and exchanges of encouragement given me while signing 200 books.
That was the good part.
It was during the Q&A that a woman asked my opinion as to whether or not Obama was anti-Semitic, her words. Knowing how sensitive political issues are considering my audience, I prefaced my answer by saying, “I want to make something very clear before I answer this question. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat. I am an independent who came to this country as a fresh slate and was not raised in a home in America that influenced me to vote either Republican or Democrat. So my answer to you will be as a terrorism expert and not as someone who is trying to influence you about any party.” I then repeated what I had said at a similar Federation event in Boca Raton the previous week.
I discussed Obama’s long association with the controversial Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. of the Southside Chicago Trinity United Church. Obama has frequently referred to Wright as his ‘spiritual adviser’. Wright has peculiar Black Racist, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic views. Wright’s Church magazine, The Trumpet, has honored Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, promoted anti-Israel divestment efforts, and visited Libyan strongman, Mummar Ghaddafi.
My view is supported by the following facts:
The Trumpet honored Minister Farrakhan at a banquet for his devotion to “truth.” The magazine quoted Obama’s “spiritual mentor,” Rev. Wright, as praising Farrakhan for his “astounding and eye-opening” analysis of the “racial ills of this nation,” a “perspective” that is “helpful and honest.”
Minister Farrakhan, who regularly calls Jews “bloodsuckers,” said in a March, 2007 Al Jazeera interview:
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“The real anti-Semites are those who came out of Europe and settled in Palestine, and now they call themselves the true Jews, when in fact, they converted to Judaism.”
On January 15th, Senator Obama publicly distanced himself from the comments of Minister Farrakhan. Obama asserted:
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“I decry racism and anti-Semitism in any form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements by Minister Farrakhan.”
Even with Obama disavowing the Farrakhan award by his Church’s magazine I take great exception that he did not take the ultimate step of leaving Pastor Wright’s church and continuously supports him.
I appreciate what ADL executive director Foxman said in an interview with the Jewish Week:
‘This must be just a first step. He’s distanced himself from his pastor’s decision to honor Farrakhan. He has not distanced himself from his pastor. I think that’s the next step. One can now expect from Sen. Obama that he confront his minister. Ultimately, said Foxman, if Obama is unable to influence Wright to alter his stands, I think he has an obligation to leave.”
Conveniently, about the same time in January, Rev. Wright announced his ‘retirement’ from his Trinity Church pulpit in May of this year.
My opinion as to Obama having anti-Semitic views and characteristics is further influenced by the fact that Mr. Obama employed and still employs Nation Of Islam members and Farrakhan followers on his staff; his positions on the Israeli security fence; his comments on Yasser Arafat.
Coming from a highly sensitive viewpoint concerning the future and safety of Israel in a sea of worldwide anti-Israel bias, propaganda and media negativity, I see no difference between anti-Semitic and anti Israel. I see them both in the same. To your western ears, anti-Semitic may seem a harsher term by which it appears I am being judged.
In my opinion actions speak louder than words. It is important to watch what people do instead of what they say because talk is very cheap especially when you are raising funds and running for president! We are who we associate with. If Obama did not agree with his pastor he wouldn’t be praising him as his mentor. There are very troubling things in Obama’s past, present and his affiliations that he must answer and clarify. However that is just a relative issue compared to the real concern about Obama’s wanting to meet with the avowed Holocaust denying enemy of Israel, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address his “grievances.”
My remarks in both Boca Raton and Palm Beach are my own and while not representing the views or policies of the Federations should not be used to malign my message of anti-Islamofascism and pro-Israel support in the eyes of world Jewry. Shame on those who are using the auspices of the UJC in crying foul for something contrary to their personal politics. It is not lost on me that Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), whose district covers part of Palm Beach County, is a national surrogate in the Obama campaign. So perhaps both the Palm Beach Federation and national UJC didn’t want to appear supportive of my views because it might offend Rep. Wexler and ultimately Sen. Obama.
The JTA article quoted me as saying: “Obama was an anti-Semite. No Jews should support him. Jews should vote for Hillary Clinton.” These sentences, which appear as a direct quote, are simply a sloppy cut and paste job of statements I made about Obama and Clinton at two different events.
Were my criticisms of Sen. Obama off the mark? Am I raising pertinent questions that the Jewish community needs answers to? Witness these comments from American Jewish Committee (AJC) executive director David Harris presenting the views of South Floridians with whom he had recently spoken concerning Obama:
What are his relations with Wright? Why does he have former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski (viewed as cool toward Israel) on his foreign policy team?
Harris went on to say:
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“You could sum up the concerns as ‘does Obama feel Israel in his kishkas? ” Harris commented using the Yiddish word for guts. “And does he have the steel and spine for the tough moments or believe diplomacy is the be-all and end-all of international relations?”
Such worries have surfaced in Israel, where Danny Ayalon, a former ambassador to the United States, has described Obama’s candidacy as cause for “concern.”
I am concerned as well. What should have been a positive outcome to my appearance at the West Palm Beach Federation event has been yanked from the hands of the local federation’s control and spread as a negative across the world. From 350 attendees to millions. Now even more can continue asking the questions I and director Harris have raised. Meanwhile the topic has been converted into a slanderous campaign against me by certain factions of the left wing of the Jewish press. In effect, a messenger in support of Israel is being unfairly and gratuitously maligned for my straightforwardness. I have and will always have my antennae up about issues that may adversely affect Israel and homeland security.
Since 2003 I have done much to support Israel: speaking at Duke on the Eve of the Palestinian solidarity convention, speaking at Columbia concerning problems by Arab professors against Jewish students, going on television defending Israel during the war between Hezbollah and Israel, creating and mobilizing a national grass roots organization to stand with and defend Israel, and writing a New York Times best seller, the first one by an Arab pro Israel changing hearts and minds of non Jews and gathering support for Israel throughout the world.
To let all the above go unnoticed; to bad mouth and condemn someone who is laying her life on the line while Israel has few friends; and to stand up and support the Jewish people is such a shame. And being “slammed” is the return I get simply because someone asked for my personal opinion about Obama?
I am glad to say that since this Obama brouhaha, I have received three different invitations from Jewish organizations across the country in less than a week.
The Jewish leadership of the UJC and JTA went out of their way to publicly malign the only pro Israel Arab/Terrorism Expert with such media reach. Last year I reached over one hundred million Americans with my pro Israel message as a non Jew, something not one Jewish organization has even come close to.
With actions like these from the Jewish leadership is it any wonder why the Arabs and Palestinians were able to re-write history while the Jews failed miserably in the PR department.”
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Brigitte Gabriel is the best selling author of “Because They Hate”, Middle East commentator and founder of American Congress for Truth
Well, it is the difference between civilization and barbarism. As for Hillel’s apology for Brigitte Gabriel’s words, it seems that the nominally Jewish world still has its share of Judenrats and kapos. The difference is that the Jews who collaborated with anti-Semites during the war had guns to their heads, often literally. What is Hillel’s excuse?
Comment by Bill Levinson — February 22, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
As a Jew, I am so ashamed by the statements of the UJC. One UJC leader was quoted as saying he didn’t know who Ms. Gabriel was and wished she would just go away. How does someone rise to a leadership position within the Jewish community and not know such an important commentator on the Middle East?
It seems as though the UJC and JTA are incapable of distinguishing an enemy from a friend. They rush to have interfaith dialogue with those who say the most hateful, dishonest things about Israel, but want to deny a Lebanese Christian ally the right to express her opinions. The UJC shouldn’t have issued a comment, but if they did, all they had to say is that we encourage guests to speak their minds and the opinions of UJC guests don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of the UJC. Period. When Jewish groups have dialogue with anti-Israel Muslims or left-wing Jewish critics of Israel, I don’t remember any mainstream Jewish organization issuing condemnations of their statements. And do you really believe that the UJC never hosted a speaker who called some right-wing politician, or Republicans in general, racist?
The JTA is hampered by the same mindset as the UJC. Their writers repeat many of the same assumptions as the MSM.
Ms. Gabriel should know that there are many rank-and-file Jews who support her. We aren’t among the leadership of the mainstream Jewish organizations. But we are well aware of her work, her courage and her friendship. Like Ms. Gabriel, we are unapologetically pro-Israel. And any attack on her is an attack on us and our values.
Comment by 4infidels — February 23, 2008 @ 3:28 am
In speaking about Hillel and the UJC in the United States, Gabriel could just as well have been writing about the pro-Israel/Jewish advocacy approach and agenda of Hillel, the CJC, UJA and CIC in Canada.
Though Canadian contributors to Israpundit have expressed dismay with the aforementioned Jewish leadership in Canada, few if any have taken action to try to do something about it.
Though he did not go after Canadian Jewish leadership, the only one whom I am aware of who tried to do something to object to Israel Apartheid Week at McMaster University was Gary Gerofsky, whose letter to McMaster University in that regard successfully moved that University to ban displays of Israel Apartheid Week banners.
Perhaps that should serve as an example that where Jewish leadership fails the Jews they claim to represent and refuses to hear the concerns of their community, to be accountable for their failures and to change their ways to become more effective, Jews should ignore their deaf, dumb and blind leadership and take matters into their own hands.
This blog is concerned with the big world issues involving Israel, the Palestinians, the Middle East, more recently Serbia and geopolitics.
Israpundit however devotes little or no time to addressing the equally big issue of serious concerns with our Jewish leadership’s pro-Israel/Jewish advocacy right here in our own Canadian and American back yards and trying to motivate people to do something about it to get our Jewish leadership to listen and change where change is badly needed.
Comment by Bill Narvey — February 23, 2008 @ 7:01 am
Hi Bill: Although I appreciate your nice compliments and comments, let me set the record straight:
There were many people on many fronts protesting against the hate speech (disguised as free speech) at McMaster University and other places. I am a minor player who just happened to serve as a catalyst and a spark. I don’t know what measures the Fed did or not do; they operate in mysterious and inscrutable ways. I am not even apprised or aware of who was working behind the scenes - I just know that some good people at the university and in the community were doing the right thing for a change.
I will take this opportunity to ask everyone to write some congratulatory letters to Dr. Peter George, President of McMaster University at preswww@mcmaster.ca and Ms. Ilene J. Busch-Vishniac, Provost of McMaster University provost@mcmaster.ca
We need your voices because the administration shows signs of backtracking and under pressure they might revert/cave in to the same old fear and bully tactics that had them abandon their duty to protect students from scurrilous and abusive attacks in the most vile form. “Israel Apartheid” = Hate Speech NOT Free Speech. There are full-time people on campus whose primary roles are to create tension and anti-Israel/Jewish feelings among the university community. The letters have been coming in from academics who are siding with the jihadists and the groups who form that toxic group of haters.
McMaster students organizing against this decision can be reached at unitedforstudentrights@gmail.com so that you can let them know that their ongoing political jihad to protect their right to stomp on others freedoms is not the way to go. At present they are taunting Israel supporters for the lack of support and the few voices defending our side of the debate. If these groups really wanted to help the Palestinian people they should be advising them that terrorism, false propaganda and war are not the route to success – even a fundraiser for hospitals or education would show a desire to help Palestinians but that is not their real objective (as they and everyone else is aware) –it is to intimidate Canadian students, spread lies and hate and defend terror organizations. It is really and truly a jihad right here in Ontario.
There will be upcoming announcements on other constructive and positive campus events to counter the destructive and sinister messages. Please stay tuned and participate if you can.
Comment by Gary — February 23, 2008 @ 11:09 am
PS - There is a rally being planned by the jihadists. See: http://www.caiaweb.org/node/505
Comment by Gary — February 23, 2008 @ 11:10 am
Gary, I am sure there were some nameless others like you took action, but the point I made is that you did take action and that helped as you said “to serve as a catalyst and a spark”.
We need more catalysts and more sparks to defend against and to undermine both the anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian messages and their advocates.
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid delusionally claims:
We need catalysts and sparks to put the lie to that statement.
Who are the academics you speak of Gary that are shilling for Palestinians against Israel? What other organizations are taking an activist stance? Their names should be publicized and especially the names of the academics and their respective teaching fields.
What position is Hillel taking on this CAIA rally? What about CJC, UJA and CIC? Are they supporting the freedom of CAIA to engage in an anti-semitic hate fest?
It appears this CAIA rally is going forward.
Hopefully concerned students who stand against CAIA will attend with cameras and recorders in hand to document who speaks out to support the CAIA initiative and what they have to say.
Comment by Bill Narvey — February 23, 2008 @ 11:32 am
There was nothing to apologize for, Gabriel told the undeniable truth about the difference between Israel and her enemies. What is it in the Jewish psyche that causes so many of us to browbeat our friends and attempt to curry favor with our enemies? Why do leftist Jews and these Jewish organizations get on their knees begging for acceptance from our enemies and feeling guilty and apologizing when someone points out the superiority of our values and achievements? As for Hillel, UJC, and other like-minded Jewish organizations and Wexler and other Jewish politicians of his ilk, they are useless and I’m sick and tired of them claiming to speak on behalf of Jews, they don’t speak for me. Hillel is the same group which stands passively by while antisemitism thrives on campuses and had no real response to bash Israel week other than to beg university adminstrations to put a stop to it instead of aggressively going on the offensive and confronting these islamic nazis and their leftist supporters and enablers. I love and greatly admire Brigitte Gabriel and we should be embracing her, not giving her a hard time. We all must show our support for Brigitte.
Comment by Laura — February 23, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
Brigitte is the best asset we have.
Comment by Ted Belman — February 23, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
By the way the Media Action Group in Toronto sent this out to thousands and I for one wrote to McMaster. I also sent it to leading activists in the US including Gabriel
Dear Ted
URGENT: We need letters of support sent to the University President, Provost, Student Union President and HRES of McMaster University which is under attack. Two weeks ago, McMaster University took the courageous stand of insisting that the organizers of Israel Apartheid Week on their campus find another means of promoting their event by not using the term “Israel Apartheid” in their banner and anti-Israel literature which was against their Student Code of Conduct. NOTE: They did not stop the event - it did take place. The organizers created a different banner of protest.
Now, McMaster U is being accused of ‘repression of student rights’. In fact, the true repression is of the rights of Jewish students who are being intimidated and harassed at many major universities by those who accuse Israel of being apartheid which cannot be further from the truth - it’s a lie.
Letters must be well-written, calm, sophisticated, supportive and encouraging. Use some of the writing points below - keep letters brief - long letters will not be read. The administration must be encouraged to stand firm and not cave in to the frontal attack of the CAIA. To read their “all call” go to: http://www.caiaweb.org/node/505
Many groups across Canada including the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy (see letter below), are requesting that letters of support be written to McMaster administration.
Alumnae of McMaster should make a great effort to write! However, we need a large number of letters from across Canada - please forward this email to friends. Please forward a copy of your letter or bcc (no cc please) to, : The Media Action Group, info@mediaactiongroup.com
Writing points:
· Commend McMaster University key people (see below) and administration for their courageous stance for the removal of the words ‘Israeli Apartheid’ from their banner and anti-Israel literature stating that it was against the Student Code of Conduct of the university (note that they did not ban Israel Apartheid Week activities).
· They are to be commented for enforcing the McMaster Statement on Student Rights and Responsibilities.
· McMaster University was correct in objecting to the Banner and the anti-Israel literature which promoted the lie alleging that Israel is racist and an apartheid state which could not be farther from the truth.
· McMaster understands that like all universities it has an obligation to guarantee the right of their students to study in a peaceful unthreatened environment.
· Israeli Apartheid Week compromises that right by creating an atmosphere of hostility toward the Jewish state that cannot help but rebound on Jewish students. McMaster took an important step to correct the situation where the group promoting Israel Apartheid Week is spreading their hatred to many universities.
· Those who oppose Israel have every right to do so. However, they do not have the right to spread lies about it. This is an example of what the Nazis called “The big lie” the more blatant and the more often repeated, the more people believe it.
· Like all students, Jewish students have the right to learn in a safe, secure environment. It does nothing to further dialogue, since the big lie is not intended to start a conversation; it stops the conversation dead in its tracks.
· McMaster deserves praise its efforts in fostering an environment in which students from all backgrounds are treated with respect, and feel safe and secure. McMaster must stand firm in its decision and not waver under the undue pressure coming from those promoting hatred.
Write to:
McMaster University Provost, Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac: provost@mcmaster.ca;
McMaster University President, Dr. Peter George: preswww@mcmaster.ca;
McMaster Student Union President, Ryan Moran: msupres@msu.mcmaster.ca;
Human Rights and Equity Services at: hres@mcmaster.ca
Many thanks
The Media Action Group
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Letter from Karen Burke, Executive Director, University Outreach Committee:
You may recall last year’s British University and College Union proposed boycott of Israeli academe and our work to encourage Canadian University leadership to denounce it. The Jewish Community, the University Community and many others played a significant role in reinforcing the statements of the 27 University Presidents across Canada by supportive thank you letters to the Presidents. We once again turn to you for your help.
As many of you will know, Israel Apartheid Week was held at a number of Canadian universities 2 weeks ago. At McMaster, an anti-Israel group had booked space in a main tabling area, where they displayed anti-Israel literature, calling Israel racist and an apartheid state. Formal complaints were lodged with Human Rights and Equity Services at McMaster (HRES) by the Jewish Student Association. When the complaints were reported by HRES to Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac, the new Provost, the anti-Israel literature and the ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ banner were judged to be inflammatory and in violation of the McMaster Student Code of Conduct, at which time the anti-Israel groups were asked to find an alternative, less provocative, way of advertising their events. McMaster president, Peter George, was away when all of this took place. On his return, the administration, as well as the McMaster Student Union, agreed with the Provost’s position and supported HRES’ handling of the matter.
This unprecedented, though encouraging, outcome is now causing the anti-Israel groups at McMaster to mobilize against the administration. They have organized a rally on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 10:00am. Also, they are getting their supporters to complain to the administration.
This is a key time for us, right across Canada, to show our support for the McMaster administration, the Student Union and the HRES and to commend them for enforcing the McMaster Statement on Student Rights and Responsibilities. It is so important for us to show our appreciation for their determination to remove the toxicity in the current campus environment and thereby, to allow for an atmosphere that is conducive to civil discourse and intellectual growth, as opposed to hatred. Kindly take a few minutes to write a note (and to cause others on your Boards, and in your network of contacts, colleagues, family and friends, to write) to the Provost, the President, the Student Union President and HRES (email addresses below for your reference).
McMaster University Provost, Dr. Ilene Busch-Vishniac: provost@mcmaster.ca;
McMaster University President, Dr. Peter George: preswww@mcmaster.ca;
McMaster Student Union President, Ryan Moran: msupres@msu.mcmaster.ca;
Human Rights and Equity Services at: hres@mcmaster.ca
Thank you in advance for your help.
Regards,
Karen
Karen Burke
Executive Director, University Outreach Committee
Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy
office: 416.925.7499 x241
mobile: 647.409.4242
fax: 416.925.3531
email: kburke@cija.ca
Comment by Ted Belman — February 23, 2008 @ 2:29 pm