Two Lynches & The Ship of Terror
Two terrible lynches occurred this week, one took place in the Mediterranean and one is taking place on the international stage. Israel is the victim in both of these lynches as it is being ripped apart, beaten with physical metal rods and knives, and pulverized and stabbed with condemnations and political beatings.
Brave Israeli troops boarded the Mavi Marmara ship armed with paintball guns and with pistols which were still in their holsters as they sought to take control of this ship which was violating Israeli law and supplying goods to the terrorist group Hamas. As can be seen clearly in the videos (and here) and photos as each one landed they were thrown to the ground or off the deck and beaten with metal rods, knives, shot at and lots more, at one point the mob had full control of one soldier and were beating him to death. It became obvious that either the first 15 soldiers were going to be butchered alive or needed to be saved. Thus the result was 9 deaths of “the lynching mob” and many others who were wounded. Two IDF soldiers are battling for their lives as a result of this lynch and many more were injured to various degrees and are recovering in Israeli hospitals.
If Hamas and their international supporters want to end the blockade and want Israel to start allowing in metal and other similar supplies it takes only one simple solution and that is for Hamas to renounce violence. On the day that this happens there will be no need for a blockade and metal and other such supplies will be allowed to pass into Gaza once again (besides for all the ongoing humanitarian aid that passes through anyway) as it will be used for purposes other than for manufacturing weapons.
It is important to point out that the blockade is fully legal by international law and either way humanitarian and many other supplies are allowed through by the tens of thousands of tons each month. In the US we have our own version of embargos and blockades such as on Cuba and North Korea which are slightly different to Hamas in that they are not attacking the US on a daily basis. Another important point is that Israel offered the boats organizers the opportunity to unload in an Israeli port and have it transported by land to the Gaza Strip, but they sought to have a clash and were not interested in Israel transferring the goods.
The second lynch by the media and by many governments around the world is just as bad as the first lynch and perhaps a lot worse as it will directly lead to much more of the very same violence it supposedly wants to stop. Once again so many governments, media outlets, and organizations are failing to condemn the source of terror, the Hamas Movement, the violent mob that initiated the lynch and the governments that stood behind this fiasco, and instead are focusing their efforts on lynching the victim and yelling at him “for heaven’s sake why did you defend yourselves”. It is precisely this warped sense of justice and the fake cry of justice and peace that will encourage more of the same violence and will yet harm so many more.
The cries of Haibar Haibar ya Yahud – Jaish Muhammad Sa'ufa Ya'ud (Translation: Remember Haibar Oh, Jews – Muhammad's Army will return) which are video documented as being sung and shouted on the Gaza Flotilla for days preceding the clash with the IDF are indicative of the agenda of the Flotilla’s organizers and says it all as to what their intent was. (This phrase refers to the town of Haibar in Arabia in which the Jews who had refused to convert to Islam were slaughtered several hundred years ago. This is often used as a battle cry and a call for murder in the attacks on Israelies and Jews).
Living in New England, we may be thousands of miles away from where these incidents are playing out, yet it is vital and a moral imperative to make sure that evil is recognized for what it is and the victim is not labeled the aggressor. We play a big role in giving recognition to the rights and wrongs of what happens on the world stage and it starts right here in Massachusetts with our neighbors, friends, and community. It is only through clearly recognizing those values for what they are that we will be able to bring more security and long lasting peace to the world. Remember, the day that Hamas renounces terror and that it will stop shooting missiles at Israeli towns will be the day that the Gaza blockade will be lifted.
We stand with the people of Israel!
Rabbi Yisroel Freeman
What You Can Do
In the words of Israeli PM Netanyahu, this was "a clear case of self-defense because as our soldiers were inspecting these ships, they were attacked-they were almost lynched. They were attacked... and they had to defend themselves-they were going to be killed."
In the biased court of public opinion Israel was immediately convicted. A full blown PR war has been launched, and sadly (but not surprisingly) Israel is losing the media war.
Its time to fight back and its up to you and me to do so, and make no mistake we CAN turn the tide. As members of Am Yisrael (the eternal Jewish People) we are all regarded as ambassadors of Eretz Yisrael (the eternal Jewish Homeland). This is irrelevant of our desire to do so, or lack thereof, it is simply a matter of fact.
As the famed Sage Hillel used to say: "If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, When? (Avot chap1; 14)
In light of the current difficult situation I am urging and encouraging each and every one of you to do your best to broadcast the truth in any way you can, and to whomever possible.
As our beloved Rebbe famously told PM Benjamin Netanyahu 25 years ago regarding standing up for Israel in the UN: "if you light a candle of truth it will dispel a great deal of lies and darkness."
Below I have enclosed talking points and links. Please use them well and help illuminate the darkness. We can, we must and we will succeed... because in the end the truth always triumphs!
Talking Points
- Israel made every effort to avoid a confrontation. The organizers of the flotilla - prior to their departure and later while at sea - were invited to dock at the Port of Ashdod for the sake of transferring their cargo to Gaza, subject to security inspection. The organizers refused.
- The passengers on the boat initiated violent clashes. Israel very much regrets that people have been injured and killed, but responsibility lies with the organizers and participants of the flotilla who initiated the violence. The troops were simply defending their lives.
- IDF troops were physically attacked with live ammunition and other weapons. This happened as soon as they arrived on the ship. The activists were wielding knives, axes, metal clubs, pepper spray, stun grenades and firebombs which had been prepared in advance. A weapon belonging to one of soldiers was snatched and, apparently, fired on the soldiers.
- The activists had intentionally planned this pre-meditated violent response. The ill-informed soldiers were surrounded by a lynch mob and quickly engulfed in a life-threatening situation. They had no choice but to take extreme measures to protect themselves.
- There is no famine or humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel delivers 15,000 tons of humanitarian aid including medicine, food and water each week. Unfortunately, the area is under the control of Hamas, a terrorist organization that continues to arm itself with weapons and rockets for the purpose of attacking Israelis - as it has done in the past.
- Hamas continues to hold captive an Israeli soldier, in contravention of international law and has fired thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and cities. Accordingly, Israel stands on its natural right to inspect all cargo entering Gaza.
- The entire flotilla was designed as a media stunt and political provocation by elements that are hostile to Israel, primarily the IHH - a violent, extremist group with court-proven ties to Hamas and Al Qaeda. They have previously supported terrorist organizations under the guise of humanitarian activity.
Helpful Links
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mfa.gov.il
IDF YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk
Spiritual Response
Throughout our history Jews have always reacted to adversity with a spiritual message too, thus I would like to encourage everyone to take on an extra good deed to help Israel be it putting on Tefillin for Men, or lighting Shabbat Candles for Women, or giving extra charity, or anything good deed or Mitzvah.
- Putting on Tefillin Click Here or let us know and we will be glad to help you do it.
- Lighting Shabbat Candles Click Here for more info
- Charity, Click here for more info
Janice wrote...
Thank you for doing your bit to publicise the true facts
Stephanie wrote...