Embattled New Israel Fund Fights Back
By Nathan Guttman
Washington — Under attack as a subversive, anti-Israel group, the New Israel Fund, the largest financial supporter of human rights groups in Israel, has opted to respond by rallying supporters of a progressive agenda in Israel.
Adopting a notably combative tone under new leadership, the American- based charity is depicting an accusatory report by a new Israeli organization — trumpeted in a front-page story in Maariv, a major Israeli daily — as the last straw in a series of attacks against likeminded groups.
But as members of Israel’s Knesset called for hearings to look into the report’s charges, NIF’s effort to rally a broad range of Jewish groups to its side met with only limited initial success.
The charges against NIF come from Im Tirtzu, a recently formed, self-described centrist Zionist group. In a report released January 29, Im Tirtzu claimed that NIF grantees were responsible for 92% of the critical information included in the United Nations’ Goldstone Report, which found that Israel had committed war crimes during its 2008 Gaza military operation. Im Tirtzu claimed to have quantified the role of NIF’s grantees through a careful review of the Goldstone Report’s footnotes, in which it cites its sources.
Citing such NIF grantees as B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, the Im Tirtzu report concluded, “The results of these groups’ activities caused significant diplomatic damage to Israel and harmed the country’s military ability to defend itself at a time of war.”
It was a charge that NIF could not afford to take lightly, given the near-universal condemnation being heaped on the Goldstone Report in Israel. The Im Tirtzu report’s heft was magnified when Ma’ariv, Israel’s second largest daily paper, published a three-page article on Im Tirtzu’s findings by its top political correspondent on the same day the report was released.
Israeli officials view the commission’s charge that Israel deliberately hit civilian targets as an arrow aimed at the state’s legitimacy, with inevitable implications for those seen as having supported the perceived assault.
Im Tirtzu highlighted its campaign against NIF with ads in Israeli newspapers declaring that “without the New Israel Fund there could be no Goldstone Report,” and depicting the group’s president, Naomi Chazan, with a horn coming out of her forehead. The graphic was a play on words in Hebrew, in which the word for “fund” also means “horn.” But NIF leaders, citing age-old antisemitic depictions of Jews as people with horns, complained that the ads carried an antisemitic undertone.
There were also demonstrations staged against Chazan. One, outside her Jerusalem home, included protesters dressed as Hamas activists showing their “support” for the fund. Another, on the sidelines of a high-profile annual national security conference in Herzliya, included images of Israel’s defense minister and its chief military commander behind bars, with a sign that read “prisoners of the fund,” referring to possible war crimes investigations against Israeli leaders as a result of the Goldstone Report.
The group leading the charge is a relatively new player on the Israeli political scene. The organization’s name is Hebrew for “if you will it,” evoking an old-style Zionist theme based on a phrase coined by Theodor Herzl, modern Zionism’s founding father: “If you will it, it is no dream.”
Israeli lawmakers also took up the issue. Member of Knesset Otniel Schneller from the centrist Kadima party submitted a proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into NIF’s activities. Such an act is considered unusual in Israeli politics and has only been taken a few times in the past. If established, a Knesset inquiry committee could summon witnesses and issue a report.
Other lawmakers have called for a special meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to discuss the issue.
Israel’s minister of Information and Diaspora Affairs, Yuli Edelstein, said during a February 2 visit to Washington that the support provided by NIF to such groups “has reached an absurd level” and that “it is worth looking into.”
The outburst of criticism in Israel caught leaders of NIF as they convened in New York for the group’s first board meeting with its newly appointed CEO, Daniel Sokatch.
“It put people in a good fighting mood, all fired up and ready to go,” Sokatch said of the initial reaction among activists upon hearing of the campaign.
The group stressed that it had no plans to reconsider its support for organizations that investigated Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.
A review of NIF’s 2007 tax records — the most recent publicly available — showed that its expenditures on program services in Israel that year were about $16.5 million . Among its largest grantees were the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, all of which deal at least partly with defending Palestinian rights. NIF also provides grants to groups involved in Israel’s civil society, including women’s shelters, groups aiding Ethiopian Jewry and organizations challenging Orthodox Judaism’s state-backed monopoly on Jewish religious life in Israel.
NIF officials viewed the attack as an opportunity to energize supporters. They vowed to take on Im Tirtzu publicly and to fight for what they viewed as a series of attempts to infringe on freedom of speech in Israel.
“We know that Bush and Cheney were very unhappy when the ACLU told the world that the U.S. is using waterboarding, but does that mean we shouldn’t know about it?” Sokatch asked. He acknowledged that some of the information revealed by organizations in Israel “could give some comfort to Israel’s enemies,” but he also emphasized that it is much more important “for Israel’s moral fiber and its values to tell the truth.”
The group quickly sent out an e-mail blast presenting its view on the Im Tirtzu report and making a pitch for donations to support NIF work.
As it happened, Im Tirtzu’s report against NIF came out the same week that an official Israeli response to the Goldstone Report acknowledged the work of one of NIF’s grantees, B’Tselem, in helping the Israeli army interview Palestinians and gather evidence on the events of the war.
NIF cites several instances from recent months as indications that Israel is becoming less tolerant toward groups fighting for human and civil rights. The list includes attempts by nongovernmental organizations’ watchdog groups to stop funding for not-for-profits that do not support the views of the Israeli government; the interrogation of Anat Hoffman, leader of the feminist religious group Women of the Wall, by the police, and the arrest of Hagai El-Ad, executive director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, during a demonstration in East Jerusalem.
Simultaneously, NIF supporters began questioning the sources of finance provided to Im Tirtzu — most significantly, the Rev. John Hagee, who is a both a fiery American supporter of Israel’s right wing and the founder of Christians United for Israel.
CUFI spokesman Ari Morgenstern told the Forward that funding in the sum of $200,000 over the past two years was provided by John Hagee Ministries, not by CUFI. He stressed that Hagee disagreed with the images portrayed in the ads. “Although we are often demonized by our critics, we never demonize those with whom we disagree, and we object when others do,” he said.
NIF also sought backing from major Jewish groups, stressing the harsh nature of the attacks and the use of troubling images in the campaign. As of February 3, only Americans for Peace Now, J Street and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism had issued statements in support of NIF.
Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, told the Forward that he believes attacks against NIF and Chazan are “unjustified” and that he knows the group is “only trying to do good.” Foxman did, however, suggest that Jewish funds should have standards for organizations they support. He cited the demand put forward to the Ford Foundation in 2003 that it not provide grants to groups that delegitimize Israel.
Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com
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So basically a left wing anti-Israel organization can say or do anything. But let a little critisism come thei way. And they start crying McCarthyism. And perhaps Sokatch could lay off the Obamaism for now.
Stop prettifying the NIF. Aside from its fascist attacks on the Im Tirtzu student group in Israel and its demands that IM TIRTZU students be silenced, let us recall the long ties between NIF and anti-Israel Arab groups, Palestinian groups, NIF's financing of the defense mass murderer Marwan Barghouti, and its attempt to hold an anti-Israel "celebration" of Israeli independence at the Smithsonian featuring traitor-spy Azmi Bishara!
NIF is anti-Israel and anti-democratic. It is Tikkun magazine on steroids!
Since Abe Foxman never knew a leftist who did anything wrong, he can say he "knows the group (the New Israel Fund, whose "grantees were responsible for 92% of the critical information included in the United Nations’ Goldstone Report") is “only trying to do good.”
I wonder what would be if they were not trying to do good?
An excellent article on the NIF by Caroline Glick on JPost.com is worth reading. Quoting Abe Foxman in this article is totally worthless because poor old Abe has lost his way and has trouble telling right from wrong and friend from foe. I also heard that David Saperstein of the Reform Movement has endorsed the NIF. I just looked at the urj.org the Reform web site. It is astounding how little content they offer on Judaism, on defending Israel and on the threats Israel must face.
We need to clearly distinguish truth from lies, right from wrong and friend from foe. Enemies can be Jewish as well as gentile and some anti-Semities even pose as observant Jews including the Netura Karta. There are secular Jews and Christians who can be righteious people and true friend to the State of Israel. cufi.org that group that the Jewish left likes to demonize are true friends and we should vist their web site and recognize ther valuable support. A visit to nif.org will also reveal how little interest they have in defending israel against her enemies.
Groups and individuals with anti-Israel agendas accused Israel of war crimes before the Goldstone Report and the New Israel Fund. For that matter, such accusations were being made regardless of Israel’s actual guilt or innocence. Israel would prob'ly be accused of kicking puppies and not eating her vegetables, but war crimes make much better press.
I question Bert’s promotion of Christians United for Israel. Much of Christian Zionism —in general— and CUFI and John Hagee —in particular— base their support of Israel on a frankly anti-semitic End Times narrative. To paraphrase writer/researcher Rachel Tabachnick: they love Israel yet demonize Jews.
The double-talk of Christian Zionists such as CUFI and John Hagee regarding the role of Jews in their “pro-Israel” agenda has been exposed by the work of Tabachnick [http://zeek.forward.com/authors/rachel-tabachnick/] and Max Blumenthal [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjMRgT5o-Ig]. CUFI’s antipathy toward living, breathing Jews should come as no surprise to the readers of the FORWARD as it has been covered here and in ZEEK, its sister publication.
With friends like CUFI et al., who needs enemies?
The attempt to tar NIF is scurrilous. Let's face it, they told the truth when asked. So now truth is the enemy. The Israeli government could have had the Goldstone Report full of footnotes from the Israeli government but they stonewalled. I don't blame them; it would have involved answering a lot of unpleasant questions. The Gaza assault was not a showcase of tohar nesher (purity of arms). The government didn't even dare allow independent internal inquiry. So now the program is "shoot the messenger." They can shout "anti-Israel" etc. but that does not make it true.
"And they start crying McCarthyism."
Well at this point most of us know that's a predictable response from the radical left. Even worse is some have identified Im Tirtzu--a centrist organization--as "fascist."
"And they start crying McCarthyism."
Nowhere in the above article does anyone cry McCarthyism. I site searched the NIF website and “McCarthyism” does not appear there either. Neither does “McCarthy.” The first place the term appears relative to the article is in the comment by Bill Pearlman. TNC echoes the charge.
What was the definition of “McCarthyism” again?
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mccarthyism
Once again we find the Reform Movement's Religious Action Committee (RAC) leaping to the defense of a group undermining the security of Israel. Although the RAC claims it represents the vast membership of the Reform Movement, it consistently takes positions far beyond what is acceptable to rank and file Reform Jews who consistently support a strong and secure Israel.
Good grief. You'd think the Forward is a publication aimed at a "regressive" readership. Sad sad sad. Where's the outrage to this pitiful bunch of responders?
And let me add: that cartoon of Naomi Chazan is pretty darn close to Der Sturmer anti semitica.
Where were the "progressive human rights" groups funded by NIF during the many years of shelling of Israeli civilians by Gazans? How come the NIF supporters haven't demanded an independant inquiry into Obama-authorized American targeted killings of Taliban? How come NIF supporters haven't demanded an independent investigation of the Obama administrations killing of manyh non-combatant civilians in Afganistan and Iraq. NIF knows very well the anti-Israel agenda of some of the organization it funds. It is smart enough to through a few morsels to a handful of groups that actually do some good in Israel, but NIF clear agenda is to use this as a cover to channel money to groups who want to malign and undermine the jewish state. Too bad that there are naive jewish americans that have been suckered into supporting NIF. Look to whom the money goes and what is done with it, and not the hypocritical human right and democracy blah-blah that is spout by the NIF.
@Daniel Steinmetz- You are correct and well said.
Any friend of Israel would truly NOT support the NIF if he or she would read the websites of some of the groups it supports like ADALA or Physicians for Human Rights. THEY (PHR), for example, sponsored FREE trips to unrecognized Bedouin towns. I went on one. THe day was full of anti-Israel lies and propaganda. I could not believe my ears. Two Jewish women and one Israeli Arab spewed lies and half truths all day. THe Arab is from the North but represents the unrecognized towns which is just the biggest illegal land grab going on in Israel. He is not even a Bedouin. I couldn't believe the women were Israeli Jews. The Arabs can put down their weapons and relax with self-hating nuts like these. And to think innocent, well meaning Jews have funded this kind of stuff because of their lying statements about supporting pluralism and democracy in Israel, etc. blah blah blah! Jews: wake up! If you support our right to live in this country (however flawed we may be) then shout to these groups: "Enough of your deception! I want to support Israelis right to live unfettered by missiles , terrorism, etc. NOT AID THE ENEMY WITH MY WELL INTENTIONED DONATIONS!" Yes, the NIF does a few good things too, like helps Ethiopian Jewry in Israel but for every $1 you donate to NIF perhaps 5 cents goes to pro-Israel causes and not to demonizing Israel. I live in the Negev and I know! But don't take my word. Go on the websites (of Adala, Mossawa,PHR etc.), check their links, etc. Check their articles. You will be in for a rude awakening! I am SURE most reform Jews in America are clueless of the pronouncements of Rabbi Eric Joffee and others representing the movement and proporting to talk for their membership defending the indefensible!
Among the organizations that NIF funds are those who advocate and act to undermine the jewish state. NIF funding of groups who demonize israel is not done "by mistake" but as a deliberate policy. This certainly pleases those donors to NIF who also want to undermine Israel. But there are plenty of naive donors who think their donations to NIF are used to benefit Israel. These people are being conned.
When NIF is exposed for what it does - funding many Israel demonizers whose avowed aim is to tar the jewish state - then NIF groupies shout foul and wave the flag of free-speech (which is a red herring here) and try to shoot the messengers exposing them. How about some HONEST speech. There is no doubt that NIF supports Israel demonizers. The attempt to pass off NIF as a pro-Israel progressive organization is scurrilous.
Labeling what NIF does as "undermining" and "demonizing" the Jewish state ( including this scare tactic cartoon as ) does more to show the rest of the world something more scary about those who are doing this than any NIF activities.
NIF represents a valid point of view, widely held by many also "pro-Israel" who believe that it is actually Israel's actions and policies that are undermining and threatening it's existence, that is the cause of this growing criticism and the increasing loss for Israel of respect internationally. This undermines Israel. Demonizing such criticism, as if there is only one acceptable view ( whatever the government does is right), which has been happening for years, moves Israel further down the path reminiscent of fascism.
Instead of facing the plain facts, NIF groupies set up phoney straw men NIF is the bankroller, not the trigger man. There are NIF-funded groups (who nominally package themselves as civil rights organizations) whose avowed purpose it is to undermine Israel. Now NIF groupies would have us believe that (1) funding the undermining of Israel is really good for Israel (2) these marginal, hostile-to-israel groups (funded by NIF and foreign agencies,especially from the EU)are somehow more representative of Israel democracy than the duly-elected government of Israel (3)it is good to demonize Israel since Israel is the cause of all the world's troubles and is really a monster. Instead of the false pretence that NIF funds are used to further social welfare or promote peace activities, why does NIF not admit the truth to potential NIF contributors: NIF bankrolls groups that are hostile to the jewish democratic state of Israel. It is clear that if NIF advertized its true agenda, then it might remain only with donors who actually want to undermine Israel and the charade would be up.
I find it odd that americans of mosaic persuasion who don't know the middle east scene, so readily throw stones at Israel. I suggest that these sanctimonious americans devote their energies to cleaning up the mess in their own problematic country - the USA has a gluttonous appetite for basic world resources and obesely stinks out a disporportionale amount of planet-threatening atmospheric pollution. The USA government displays over and over a moral obtuseness when it comes to anti-democratic, anti civil-right, totalitarian, terror-exporting regimes (ie. Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, North Korea ) and a disgusting blindness to mass murder when it is directed against blacks (Darfur, Congo ). Ah, but it is so much easier to dump on Israel and ignore that the problems of the USA. Suzanne and Daniel - clean up your own backyard. maybe start with the USA presidential palace, The White House, which was built by black slaves.
Jack, I was responding to Bill P's comment. The first comment to appear below this article. And if you have not read lefties claiming Im Tirtzu's actions are reminiscent of McCarthy, here is one example:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/7/12114/17507
There are many other examples from similar sources. I'm sure you are aware of this.
But these sorts of accusations don't surprise me. They are to be expected. What I found alarming is the claim that a centrist organization is fascist. I understand that these groups disliked the advertisement but these are the same people who get all twisted out of shape when people on the right call Obama a communist. If it's wrong for the right to make these sorts of insane comparisons than it is just as wrong for the left.
Reuven- All you have in response to very valid and serious criticism is the same old tactic of changing the subject to irrelevancies, tired old ones at that. When you have something of value to say, you don't need this tactic.
TNC-
from an article in Maariv by Meretz Chair Haim Oron
Through sophisticated PR and – more worrisome – by virtue of non-investigative journalism, the “Im Tirtzu” campaign was presented as a mainstream initiative of a “centrist extra-parliamentary movement,” being led by “a secular guy from Ramat Sharon who’s in hi-tech” (according to the Maariv report), and which professes to be, “uninterested in the politics of left and right” (according to the Jerusalem Post). A real boy next door.
A 15-minute internet search reveals a completely different story, of course. This campaign is being financed by a combination of lunatic Christians who believe that Hitler was sent by God to help bring the Jews to the Land of Israel (“Christians United for Israel”, led by Pastor John Hagee) and right-wing Israeli fanatics who serve as a pipeline for contributions to Nadia Matar and her friends [of “Women in Green” – R.S.] as well as for the purchase of weapons (!) for the most extreme extremists in the settlements (the “Central Fund of Israel”, based in New York and in the settlement of Efrat).
What’s all the fuss about? About the fact that Israelis dared to publish reports and to relay information that contains some criticism of Israel.
http://meretzusa.blogspot.com/2010/02/meretz-chair-oron-fascism-is-at-israels.html
suzanne: the subject is: why is the NIF claiming to be pro-israel and yet channelling so much money to organizations who are actively hostile to the jewish state? This is a valid and serious question.
Now remind us all what is your "valid and serious criticism" that you claim is being ignored?
the jewish nation not only survives but also prospers - despite the NIF and the israel demonizers that it funds.
N.I.F. is an organisation of Self Centered and self righteous Soviet style leftists 'aiming to do good' but due to their ignorance and extreme uninteligence and naivitete destroying all that it is good !
The fundamental desire of this group of spoilt inadequates is to be noticed by shocking established society with irresponsible abandon, such as untermining the state of Israel 'aiming to do good' naturally....
Since when 'aiming to do good' was a defence against treason ?
Just mmy opinions folks.
Reuven says:"suzanne: the subject is: why is the NIF claiming to be pro-israel and yet channelling so much money to organizations who are actively hostile to the jewish state? This is a valid and serious question."
That is your question, your wording, your view about what is hostile and what is threatening to Israel. Others who are pro-israel do not see those( pro-Israel) organizations in that way. That's what you cannot tolerate and that is what makes you sound like a fascist.
Reuven says: "suzanne: your association of Efrat, the Scarsdale of Yehuda (Judea) and Shomron (Samaria) with "the purchase of weapons for the most extreme extremists" make it clear you don't have a clue about the place."
Not my words- this was a quote from Meretz Chair Oron which I should have put in quotes. You can take your argument up with him. Here it is again with the link you apparently did not follow.
Again this is a QUOTE:
"Through sophisticated PR and – more worrisome – by virtue of non-investigative journalism, the “Im Tirtzu” campaign was presented as a mainstream initiative of a “centrist extra-parliamentary movement,” being led by “a secular guy from Ramat Sharon who’s in hi-tech” (according to the Maariv report), and which professes to be, “uninterested in the politics of left and right” (according to the Jerusalem Post). A real boy next door.
A 15-minute internet search reveals a completely different story, of course. This campaign is being financed by a combination of lunatic Christians who believe that Hitler was sent by God to help bring the Jews to the Land of Israel (“Christians United for Israel”, led by Pastor John Hagee) and right-wing Israeli fanatics who serve as a pipeline for contributions to Nadia Matar and her friends [of “Women in Green” – R.S.] as well as for the purchase of weapons (!) for the most extreme extremists in the settlements (the “Central Fund of Israel”, based in New York and in the settlement of Efrat).
What’s all the fuss about? About the fact that Israelis dared to publish reports and to relay information that contains some criticism of Israel."
http://meretzusa.blogspot.com/2010/02/meretz-chair-oron-fascism-is-at-israels.html
That was a QUOTE. I totally agree that this fuss is more about those who just cannot tolerate criticism of Israel as being valid and helpful to it's existence. If this attitude prevails at the highest levels and is promoted by knee jerk apologists out here name-calling then we are talking about fascism. The NIF in a democracy, should be allowed to do it's work. It should be welcomed in fact.
This cartoon and it's spread in the media is doing more damage to Israel.
Reuven and Yehudit, denigrating the American galut is not a wise tactic if you’re advancing a secure Israel, especially in the FORWARD. Of course when Eli Valley quotes you, you’ll prob’ly be among those who compare his cartoons to der Stürmer.
Suzanne: the artice by Haim Oron was originally posted on NRG at: http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/049/503.html
There are over 500 reactions to his post and you would be advised to read them. Meretz, the party which he heads, has declined steadily over the years and now constitutes a utterly marginal and irrelevant handful of Knesset members. Probably to avoid utter electoral bankruptcy, it will cease to call itself Meretz and try to reinvent itself under a different label. But reality has taught the Israeli public who these people are and Israelis are no longer suckers for the empty slogans of Meretz.
As for the specific claims by jumes which you quote, a simple google reveals that the organization that he denigrates is a fund for helping former Gush Katif residents.
Now even Kadima has agreed that an investigation of the NIF is in order. What's wrong with shedding a little light in a dark corner?
It is ironic that when there is even the slightest questioning or criticism of a left-wing organization, that the issue at hand isn't addressed head on but rather there is shrill namecalling (fascist) together with a how-dare-anyone-question-us-about-anything attitude . I think it was an American who said you can fool people some of the time, but not all the people all the time. The Israel public has learned the hard way that the meretz agenda is just an empty verbage divorced from reality. Once many of the Jewish People were suckered into the false come-on that "arbeit macht frei". The israeli public (except for those who would dispense with the jewish state) has realized that blathering over and over that" peace now macht frei " is just snake oil.
Reuven- this will be my last to you. I will, thank you, decide how to spend or waste my time. 500 responses by yahoos do not make them correct.
It's not anti-Israel for a human rights group to demand that Israel enforce Israeli laws.
On the contrary, it's anti-Israel to demand that Israel *ignore* Israeli laws.
those who value israel's well-being may want to examine the following two links: http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8811190867
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZprVPKi-W6s&annotation_id=annotation_252323&feature=iv
There are several journalist's articles ( presumably they did the research) on Shoval. I will link Gideon Levy's recent in Haaretz even though the avid defender of Shoval here will denigrate Levy no doubt. Not that there is any convincing to be done on either side because minds are closed shut tight. But I have read enough from those sources I respect to have mase up my own mind but would be willing to read another article that is not a right wing nut article. But here is also another article on Shoval and his movement ( and so-called centrality) from June 2009 before the horn appeared on the head of NIF like a Nazi cartoon:
Neo-Zionism 101 by Kobi Ben-Simhon
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1090681.html
And here is the Gideon Levy article from a few days ago:
Im Tirzu Hides Behind Respectable Mask of Zionism
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1148014.html
ah yes....., Gideon Levy, the Arab affairs reporter of Haaretz who can't understand Arabic. ^ Interview with Gideon Levy (in Hebrew), ( ynet, 2002-2-26) Translation: About the Arabic language, to my great shame no, that is my great failure. I had a private teacher and for a year I only managed to get one word, which is thank you (which I knew beforehand). Original:
לגבי השפה הערבית, לבושתי הגדולה לא, זה המחדל הגדול שלי. היה לי מורה פרטי ובמשך שנה הצלחתי לקלוט רק מילה אחת, שהיא תודה. (שגם ידעתי אותה לפני כן
Or in the words of novelist Irit Linur in the letter of jan. 2009 cancelling her subscription to Haaretz since newspaper had become compromised by a radical anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian agenda, lead by Gideon Levy: Translation: Furthermore, and maybe this also does not have to be noted, his whole carrer is touched with unseriousness, since he is one of the few journalists for Arab matters in the world who does not speak Arabic, does not understand Arabic and does not read Arabic. He gets a simultaneous translation, and that's enough. For me, that is amateur journalism. Original:
כמו כן, ואולי גם את זה לא צריך לציין, כל הקריירה שלו נגועה בחלטוריזם, מכיוון שהוא אחד הכתבים היחידים בעולם לעניינים ערביים, שלא יודע ערבית, לא מבין ערבית ולא קורא ערבית. מתרגמים לו סימולטנית, וזה מספיק. לטעמי, זו עיתונות חובבנית. .
for those of you who aren't really sure who Richard Goldstone is, I suggest a little homework: use google to find out the connection between Gruban Malić and Richard Goldstone. This should enlighten you about his judicial competence.
Unfortunately, many people on the left have a strong desire to work with the people trying to destroy Israel. These people on the left seem to have joined forces with the groups trying to destroy Israel. TIF is acting as a "useful idiot" to those who would eliminate Israel.
Comments on this thread have been removed because they are off-topic and contain personal insults. The Forward welcomes vigorous debate as long as it remains respectful. Please be courteous towards fellow commenters.
OK, let's see if this right-on-topic pareve posting gets through the wholesale censoring.
Instead of "presumably researched" articles regarding the exposure of dubious funding by the NIF, I suggest being skeptical and focussing on "actually researched" articles with footnotes spelling out sources. For example:
NIF-Funded NGOs: Goldstone’s Building Blocks (feb 9, 2010) http://www.ngo-monitor.org/article/nif_funded_ngos_goldstone_s_building_blocks
Now the question still remains: Why does the NIF bankroll groups who are clearly out to demonize and deligitimatize the jewish state? I hope that there is some straight talk direct to the issue and not more evasive manouvers.
The point of my previous enjoinder to skim through the comments (most of which are clearly marked as consisting only of a subject line) following Chaim Oron's NRG article is to encourage getting a guauge of what Israelis - the people directly affected by the consequences of NIF's actions - think.
Those who need an appropriate musical interlude from this thread may consider listening to the Palestinian child singing about victory over Israel and the US: "Daddy gave me a present, a machine gun and a rifle"
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1643
A Palestinian girl singing the same song was once broadcast on PA TV. To see the video, see:
www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=472&fld_id=473&doc_id=985
I wonder if the NIF would consider funding the voice training of these children....
The NIF prob'ly doesn’t have enough funds for voice training, but Im Tirtzu would likely pay for _horn_ lessons. [*Ba-da-bomp! Ka-ching!* Thank you folks, you've been wonderful! I’ll be here all week.]
Suzanne, you are engaging in the same guilt by association (or so-called "McCarthyism") that the Left is accusing Im Tirtzu of engaging in. If you have some evidence linking this group to fascism–actual fascism, not simply promoting policies you happen to disagree with–please produce it. It is a horrendous accusation to make without any proof.
http://newcentrist.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/centrist-organization-im-tirtzu-decried-as-fascist-by-israeli-and-jewish-left/
The NIF and ALL Jews who support the Liberal Left and its Israel bashing agenda are today's equivalent of Lenin's 'Useful Idiots' who served the cause of Bolshevism in the West. Their idiocy serves the Islamofascist cause. What a bunch of useless morons.
Unfortunately, the comments above are about killing the messengers who bring facts. if you do not like the news, or the moral judgments being made, then blame the reporter-the investigator- the judge. Distinguished careers, like Levy's and Goldstone'd for instance, or Hazan's, do not matter- what is more important is that anyone who supports Israel, tow one line, the "official line" and overlook plain facts that are too hard to accept that conflict with that. If not - if they don't tow the right line and wish to tell it like it is, like they see it, then they are anti-Israel, anti-Zionist and the smearing campaign begins.
I have used the word "fascistic" meaning like fascism. The actual word "fascism" with regard to the campaign to smear critics of Israeli policy and actions (they don't deny Israel's right to exist) is being used now by many observers. This description cannot be silenced either except by allowing and facing the criticism square on. The mere suggestion that what Israel is doing is wrong morally, unfortunately gets such rabid defenders that it makes the word "fascism" very believable.You can argue me down but that only helps the hole to get dug deeper.
Compassion without Wisdom results in Foolishness. The NIF, and all individuals like Goldstone, suffer from this syndrome. The inability to comprehend the Totality of the Israeli-Arab conflict as a natural extension of Islamic imperialism in the Dar al Islam produces the foolish examples we have of Jewish organizations and individuals working against the Jewish homeland. Why? Because, delusional as they are, they know that there is no hope of 'persuading' the various Islamofascistic states and organizations to reform their violent ways and truly enter into a dialogue of peace with Israel. So instead, these neurotic and compassion-addicted fools must need be to turn their efforts on the only other player in the conflict, Israel. Emotionally lacking the ability to bring any Wisdom into their 'analysis', like any Junkie addicted to any substance or neurosis, they are forced to act out reflexively to satisfy their 'compassion' addiction. Understanding who is the real victim and who is the real perpetrator of violence is beyond their mentality.
Close-minded individuals don't want clarifying exposure of the actual truth of a matter and so persist in pointless obfuscation and diversion away from anything that dares challenge their dogmatically-held beliefs. Surely the credibility of of a journalist or a jurist is relevant in assessing claims by such people. Surely backing up extreme appellations (calling someone or a group fascist) requires some reasonable justification and not just bleating everybody-does-it. Surely harsh accusations must be backed up by corroborating, hard evidence. Now the central issue in this thread is: Why does the New Israel Fund chose to bankroll organizations which are manifestly hostile to Israel? Now instead of reasoned response, we get evasion and how-dare-the-fascists-deny-that-Israel-is-a-monster-since-there-is-a-veritable-chorus-of-saintly-accusers-funded-by-the-holy-and-infallible NIF that constantly-aver this-self-evident-truth.
Suzanne writes:
“I have used the word "fascistic" meaning like fascism.”
No, you have used the word “fascistic” meaning someone who disagrees with your particular left-wing politics. Look, I get it. You’re no different from the right-wingers who call Obama a communist. You are both cut from the same cloth.
Here's another take on the the NIF issue by Israel Harel in a Haaretz blog:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1149056.html
Last update - 09:37 11/02/2010 The New Israel Fund for Deepening the Jewish-Arab Rift
George: "Because, delusional as they are, they know that there is no hope of 'persuading' the various Islamofascistic states and organizations to reform their violent ways and truly enter into a dialogue of peace with Israel. So instead, these neurotic and compassion-addicted fools must need be to turn their efforts on the only other player in the conflict, Israel."
Right. Israel is no better.
And if there is no hope- what does that leave????
Why should your enemy "reform their violent ways" if Israel does not and can't. And so on- which is as foolish and neurotic and unwise.
All that can be seen or felt in that downward spiral is one's own victimhood.
Suzanne, thank you for further clarifying the extent of your delusion. If you were of sound mind and body, you would not be assigning equivalence to Israeli reactions against arab attempts to weaken and de-legitimize the Jewish state. Unable to mount a meaningful dialogue with the parties responsible for the ongoing violence, the various arab nations and terror orgs of the area, your neurosis compels you and your fellow delusionals to vent your bile upon the victim.