My friend recently asked me if I knew Obama's real stance on Israel when he ran for President.  I answered "I did and I did not vote for him because I decided that the number one issue to me was Israel  and the number two issue was Obamacare" - but that is a discussion for another day.  What I didn't say, was that I hoped my instinct was wrong.  Unfortunately, it was spot on!

Before anyone stops reading, or comments about what he has done for Israel (Iron Dome $), please let me clarify.  I would describe my political leanings as a conservative liberal (must be due to the 7 years I spent in Ann Arbor).  I vote based on issues and then I rank the issues in importance to me.  Sometimes I lean right, sometimes left.  I do not think that government should have as big as a role as it does, but mostly because I think inevitably, government screws everything up (i.e. VA Hospitals).  In a perfect world, I am all for paying taxes to help others, but this is not a perfect world - it is full of greedy short - sited people that say one thing and do another.  I might not approve of all aspects of Obamacare, but what I liked about Obama was that he seemed intelligent.  Intelligent people make informed decisions.  Intelligent people think about the consequences of their decisions.  Obama seems to have blinders on when it comes to foreign policy.  Not seeing too many intelligent decisions there.  There is a cartoon I saw today with John Kerry (whom Obama appointed, whom I also used to think was intelligent) that does a great job showing his stupidity.

Contrary to my great-aunt's comments, I do not think he is a secret radical Muslim (okay, sometimes these days I am starting to question that).  I do and did think that he could care less about Israel.  What he seems to care about is all of the Jewish supporters who donated to his campaign.  Okay, the last statement is an assumption, since he hasn't been Anti-Israel, he has done enough in non-war times to appear to support Israel.  However, as soon as trouble brewed, he started by not condemning the kidnappings to not letting the world know, unequivocally,  that the US stands with Israel.  Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, supposedly a close ally of the US.  It is as if I am in middle school (and I am Israel in this scenario) and another kid started a bad rumor about me (hamas) and my best friend (Obama is this case) decides to stay away from me instead of standing by me and letting the rest of the school know the truth.  My mother would have said that my so called best friend, isn't really a friend at all.  Obama is not being a very good friend to Israel.

More importantly, he is not being a very good president to this country.  I will state it again, Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.  Obama is asking Israel to negotiate with terrorists, when the US would do no such thing.  Lets see, when have terrorists directly bombed the US.....mmm.... what did that lead to. ... Oh yeah, billions of US tax dollars, thousands of lives (civilian lives I may add) and two long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq!!!!    It seems that Obama has been relatively silent, except a few phone calls to Netanyahu.  Really?  that is all? oh no, I forgot, he pledged $47 million dollars to the Palestinians.  I have no doubt that the people of Gaza need that money for basic needs, but I would love to see the money trail for those funds.  Give it to Hamas - that would actually by illegal by federal law ( If the money goes to the Hamas led government, that is a violation of 18 U.S. Code § 2339B - Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations).  If the money goes to UNWRA, that does not seem much better than the money going to Hamas.  This organization seems to be controlled by Hamas considering weapons are found in their schools and then given back!  But to get back on this topic.  
if Hamas wins, the US loses its footage in the Middle East.  This region has been important real estate since the beginning of time.  Even without considering the economic impact, the political impact is even worse.  There are radical Islamists throughout the region and without the presence of the Western world, it will only get stronger.  Maybe more moderate Muslims can contain these forces, but it seems that country after country is falling or unstable.   Obama might not seem to care about Israel, but unless he is a radical Muslim, which I doubt, even he does not want to see a future where radical Muslims rule the world as we know it..... another topic for another time.  Maybe he needs to think about the consequences of his actions or inactions!

How to stop the tidewave of Anti-Semitism?

I spent today, as most days this summer, reading Facebook, checking facts, searching for more stories and more angles of Israel on the web and thinking a lot about Israel.  I really tried to find anti-Israel comments.  I found a post in which my cousin, Andrew, commented on.  The Anti-Israel comments were the same I have heard over and over.  The Palestinians are suffering at the hands of the bully Israel.  The people are backed into a wall, because Israel left them no alternative, with no food, water, electricity.  I wanted to take these comments, line by line to refute these peoples' mistaken beliefs.  BUT they do not want to hear that Israel left the people of Gaza thriving businesses, gave them cement to build schools, infrastructure.  They don't want to hear that Israel does more for these civilians of Gaza than their own ELECTED government.  In what other conflict or war has the opposing side allowed a cease-fire to provide the its enemies civilians with necessities to live, AND every cease fire so far has ended with Hamas firing onto the civilians of Israel.

These same people with selective hearing also appear as everyday Americans (or Canadians, as in my last post).  I also saw a video on Facebook that took place at a rally in Atlanta.  A 30-something caucasian man kept telling the interviewer of the evils of Israel.  A young jewish man entered the video and eloquently debated each or every point, explaining why Israel was doing was it was doing and why it is justified.  The 30-something man REFUSED to listen to the facts.  He did not give any reason or any counter-facts, it was almost like he was possessed and only believed the Hamas propaganda that he heard.

After digesting the video from Atlanta and the negative Anti-Israel comments, I decided to search the web to see the similarities to Nazi, anti-semitic propaganda.  I was sickened and scared!  I read through a few websites, but they mostly reported the same thing.  First the Nazi's took the worlds insecurities and blamed the Jews.  The websites said that the Nazi's dehumanized the Jews.  Then it started to pass laws to restrict Jews.  Lastly, genocide.  Guess what....we are in the first phase right now!  All around the globe, mostly in Europe, but in North America too, everyone is blaming Israel and the Jews.  Why? because Hamas is successfully putting out propaganda that Israel is bullying the Palestinians.  Americans love the underdog.  So, many are embracing the Palestinians.  How do we make people understand that the real bully is Hamas, when people do want to listen to truths.  Are these people just anti-semitic?  I would argue, yes.  They are willing to believe the worst of Jews without listening and learning the facts.  What is to be done?

Now comes the big HOWEVER, there is hope.  This is not 1930s Europe.  I think the most important differences are the internet and Israel's existence.  Jews are no longer weak.  We have Israel, a homeland.  A land where brilliant minds have figured out how to make an oasis in the desert AND keep it protected!  We have the internet, where the world has become so small.  I just finished reading many stories how journalists who have finally made it out of Gaza are writing how Hamas is trying to control through terror how things are reported.  There are many counter-PR's to Hamas' propaganda.  I will admit, that Hamas took good notes from the great propaganda machine of the Nazis, BUT in 2014, I hope that is not enough to turn the world against the Jews.

I think the key lies with influential individuals.  President Obama, Congress, the heads of all the European Countries, etc.  Some have given unqualified support, some have not (Mr. Obama, Mr. Kerry or the UN).  However, these are the people who need to really understand the situation and not believe the propaganda.  They can influence their constituents and make world policies.  I think that trying to convince the average American who has already decided to hate Israel is a waste of time.  As stated above, they don't listen.  However, the leaders of the free world need to listen and make educated decisions.  So far, I have not heard one argument, that is based on reasoning and fact, in support of Hamas.    If leaders can not make educated decisions based on fact, then why are they still in office!  Except the UN (a topic for another day), there are checks and balances in the US, maybe they need to be used.

How do we turn the tide to this brainwashing?

Questions on Israel/Gaza!

I am often asked, what I did this summer while my children were away at camp.  The truth, I have become obsessed with the war in Israel.  I spend hours looking at my Facebook, then at secondary sources trying to verify stories (the lawyer in me).  I am appalled, scared and feel a sense of proudness at various times.  I started this blog a year ago, with hopes of writing about managing my family.  I entered one post.  As much as I love my family, the world doesn't need to know that my kids started hockey practice after being back from camp for only 24 hours.  However, the world seems to be misinformed, in denial, or just plain ignorant when it comes to Israel.  I keep saying, the Jewish people need a good PR firm.  Although I have no PR training, I can't remain quiet any longer.

As a jewish child in America, I remember learning of the Holocaust and wondering why? Why did others allow this to go on?  Why did American jews allow this to go on?  This is my attempt to do something!!!

Well folks, like it or not, admit it or not, Anti-semitism is "in" again.  I recently read someone saying (I am paraphrasing), that until there is world outrage and rallies regarding the war in Syria, the Ukraine, etc. then this outcry against Israel is really just Anti-Semitism.

I was just in Toronto.  Outside my hotel, on my way to breakfast, a group of people were protesting Israel.  This was peaceful.  Just a bunch of caucasian, non-muslim (women didn't have head coverings, so I am assuming) people sitting on lawn chairs with signs.  I wanted to say something, but decided that since I had my 5 year old with me and I was in a foreign country, I better not.  So, I am writing this instead.

But..... I just do not understand.  How can any person in the free world protest Anti-Israel and for Hamas?  What are they really protesting against, if not Jews?  Facts from this war is that Hamas is a recognized terrorist organization, Hamas's charter calls for the complete destruction of Israel.  Yes, the war has had "disproportionate" deaths, but beyond the numbers.  Ask why? There are many reasons, Hamas uses civilians as human shields, Hamas does not allow civilians to go to safety, Hamas shoots rockets from civilian homes, hospitals and schools.  Just to name a few.

From my law school days, I have tried to see the "other" side to this conflict.  I can't.  I sympathize with the people of Palestine.  I realize that Israel is not perfect (not sure about my feelings on settlements).  However, I have yet to read a rational argument for Hamas.  Disproportionate? Seriously, this is war, not a basketball game.  Also, Israel has spent a lot of time, money and brain power to protect its citizens, between safe rooms and Iron Dome technology.  Hamas has spent its time, money and brain power (lack of better word) on digging tunnels to Israel.  Nothing on protecting its citizens.  The poor people of Gaza without food, electricity, etc.  Whose fault is that?  Hamas started this, chose to build tunnels instead of investing in daily life for its citizens.  And I believe it was Hamas' missile that took out the electricity in Gaza!

So I am asking, What are the rational arguments in support of Hamas?  If there are not any, why do so many people believe that Hamas deserves support, from the people I saw on the street in Toronto to some in the American government (John Kerry)?