Irish-Americans attending the St Patrick's Day parades yesterday were
extremely angry at Israeli Prime minister, Mr Netanyahu's
brother-in-law, who yesterday called American President Obama,
'anti-Semitic. The Irish themselves have also recently been accused of
being anti-semitic, as a result of their work with the UN in the
occupied Palestinian territories, where recently 1,500 citizens were
murdered by Israeli war planes attacking unprotected civilian areas. A
third of the victims were innocent children. Irish republicans as
result of brutal British occupation, understand the suffering caused
by occupation of invaders and are part of a rising tide of Irish
feelings against Israeli War Crimes.
Mr Ben-Artzi said his brother-in-law Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu should learn from previous Prime Ministers.
Mr Ben-Artzi was responding to US State Department criticism of
Israeli approval to build 1,600 new homes in Palestinian East
Jerusalem. Hillary Clinton stood up to the bullying of the US by
Israel and Mr Obama said the decision had not been helpful to the
peace process.On Sunday, an assistant of Mr Obama called Israel's
announcement "calculated", "destructive" to peace efforts and an
"insult" to the US. The Palestinians had just agreed to hold indirect
"proximity talks" to revive the peace process, which was stalled.
In an interview with Israel Army Radio, Mr Ben-Artzi said his
brother-in-law should learn from previous Israeli prime ministers.
"Once the Americans tried to intervene in anything related to
Jerusalem we told them one simple word: 'No'," he said.
"As a politician running for presidency he had to hide it, but it
comes out every time and I think we just have to say it plainly -
there is an anti-Semitic president in America Hagai Ben-Artzi."
"Mr Obama, not only disliked Mr Netanyahu personally, but dislikes the
people of Israel. For 20 years, Obama sat with Reverend Jeremiah
Wright, who is anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli, and anti-Jewish. It was
clear Mr Obama agreed with Rev Wright because he had remained a member
of his congregation.Think about it. If you had heard of someone who
for 20 years sat in church and heard anti-Semitic sermons and didn't
get up to leave after two weeks, wouldn't you think he identifies with
it?" he asked.
"As a politician running for the presidency, he had to hide it, but it
comes out every time and I think we just have to say it plainly, there
is an anti-Semitic President in America. Unfortunately this creates a
difficult situation for Israel, but we will never give up our deepest
interests, Jerusalem and our ties with it."
The Palestinian Authority refused to resume direct talks with Israel,
because of Israel's refusal, to stop the expansion of settlements in
the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel had announced previously a
10-month suspension of new building in the West Bank, under heavy US
pressure from Hillary Clinton. It now considers the Palestinian east
Jerusalem municipality, as its territory and thus not subject to
restricting Israeli expansion there.
Half a million Jews live in more than 100 settlements built after
Israel's 1967 war and occupation of the Palestinian West Bank and East
Jerusalem. They are illegal under international law and with the UN.
Israel disputes the right of the UN or International Law and the UN's
Goldstone report which has found Israel guilty of war crimes against
the Palestinians. International observers are confused because these
laws were initially set up to protect Jews who themselves like the
Palestinians now, suffer as a result of War Crimes.
Irish peace keepers working for the UN who were part of the
investigation that found Israel guilty of War Crimes, are also accused
of being"Anti-Semitic" and the Irish Foreign minister was refused
permission to see for himself the results of Israel's war crimes.
Irish people are also angry at the theft of their passports, in the
recent assassination of a Palestinian Freedom Fighter in Dubai, which
affects the warm welcome Irish travelers always received in the
Middle-East.
It is childish to assume that Jeremiah Wright was referring to Israel as a "dirty word." In the only tape I have found above, that could possibly be construed as anti-semitic. It does not mean that he's insulting Israel. The context in this age of soundbite, is something the political pundits with an agenda, seem to care little about. The speech makes it clear, that mentioning Israel is a loaded issue. It even seems that Wright may be supporting Palestinians in the conflict. But that does NOT make him anti-semite, no more than Barrack Obama or the Irish people are anti-semite.
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