By Amy Zewe
Weekly I report on various news topics from progress in fighting BDS and antisemitism to setbacks and horror stories about the suffering resulting from BDS and antisemitism.
This week I’d like to share a few headlines:
Newsweek published an opinion article, “Are Bill De Blasio and Andrew Cuomo Targeting New York City’s Jews?” by Josh Hammer on Oct. 7 2020:
The New York City Commission of Health and Mental Hygiene dutifully followed Cuomo’s imperial lead, issuing a new slew of draconian dictates for local private schools—meaning yeshivas—in eight specific Brooklyn- and Queens-based ZIP codes. Each of these eight ZIP codes are in predominantly Jewish areas of Brooklyn and Queens. And as law professor Josh Blackman has noted, “the Commission did not impose similar crippling restrictions on at least six New York City ZIP codes with similar COVID-19 positivity rates that are not predominantly Jewish. Cuomo had the ‘chutzpah’ to threaten to coercively shut down noncompliant religious institutions and schools—in other words, synagogues and yeshivas.”
According to the Elder of Zion Website, BDS has targeted an Arab Israeli (who identifies himself as an Israeli Palestinian) because he believes Jews are normal people.
Nuseir Yassin, better known by his Facebook name Nas Daily, has amassed nearly eight million followers on Facebook, over two million on Instagram and 1.6 million on YouTube since he started creating one-minute video clips in 2016.
Last month, Yassin launched “The Next Nas Daily,” a paid opportunity for 80 Arabic language content creators to take part in a six-month training program run by the Nas Academy, which offers classroom and online courses teaching skills such as shooting video, editing and storytelling.
“We want to make the Middle East more accessible and understood by the world and we need YOU to make that happen,” the website states.
In early October, the BDS movement posted a statement calling on “content creators and influencers in the Arab region to boycott the upcoming Nas Daily program, which aims to implicate them in normalizing relations with Israel and cover up its crime.”
Take-away: 80 Arabs are told not to engage in a opportunity for work and income and to contribute to education and good will in the middle east, because the project is “cover” for normalizing Israel.
Meanwhile BDS activist have to decide how they are going to counter the latest news cycles of Arab leaders in various neighboring nations not only working to normalize relations with Israel, and celebrate agreements and collaboration attempts, they have to deal with these leaders also outright condemning Palestinian leadership. I wonder if the BDS movement can be FOR anything rather than just against Israel? If it were trying to bid for the rights and freedoms of Arabs within the region, both Christian and Muslim, what are they proposing would be the condition to fight for? Gaza and the PA certainly have not proven to be any bastion of protection for women, for those who are not part of the majority Muslim religion, or provided and economic frameworks that would allow the people to work and prosper. Only Israel has done that in the last 75 years. Saudi Prince Bander Bin Sultan is quoted recently as saying “Palestinian leaders have been failures for 70 years.” And he is not the only Arab official in public who has been saying these things.
In addition to the BDS baseline argument of Israel being the source of all ills befalling those who identify themselves a Palestinian, and offering nothing to support as far as leadership for the Arabs in the region, the notion to boycott everything Israel is often rebutted with very tangible international action. This action includes the recent peace deals, the various Arab chambers of commerce now partnering with Israel’s Chamber, the collaboration for medical research, including COVID-19 counter measures, technology collaboration, environmental collaboration including water sourcing and technology, security collaboration, and even energy collaboration!
Israel and Jordan just signed an airspace agreement.
Lebanese Journalist Rami Naim: “Peace with Israel Is Coming No Matter What; Normalization Started When Speaker Berri Announced Border Negotiations.” This publicly stated on MEMRI TV.
Elbit Systems America, a subsidiary of Elbit systems LTD of Israel just signed a $50 deal with the US army to support the night vision google equipment—life saving technology for both soldiers and civilians.
Let us rejoice in the progress Israel and the world is making for peace and prosperity. Let us continue to pray for revelation of truth against those who peddle lies against Israel and Jews.
Shavua Tov. Have a great week.