The summer months have long been ones of strange newspaper stories, which is why this period is known as ‘silly season’. This is in reference to the raft of strange stories that fill the pages of the press during this traditionally-slow news period, such as The Sun’s ‘Victor Meldrew Found In Space’ front page of 2005. Well, that story was sane compared to some recent developments…
The news that seven ‘anti-war’ activists were cleared of causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to an arms factory, after arguing that they did so to prevent ‘Israeli war crimes’, launched that silly season a little early this year. The fact that Judge George Bathurst-Norman told the jury ‘you may well think that hell on earth would not be an understatement of what the Gazans suffered in that time’ made the story all the more jaw-dropping.
There were no words of concern from the judge for what the people of southern Israel suffered during the years of thousands of rocket attacks. Unlike the weapons of the IDF, which were targeted with painstaking care during Operation Cast Lead, the Hamas rockets were deliberately aimed both in location and timing at Israeli civilians, often kids walking home from nursery schools. The self-indulgent activists found nothing to condemn in Hamas rockets either.
Next on the silly season roster came the Methodists’ Annual Conference’s overwhelming vote to boycott goods grown or made in ‘illegal’ settlements in Judea and Samaria. Let’s deal with this ‘illegal’ thing first. Israel remains in Judea and Samaria for security reasons following the defensive war of 1967. Indeed UN Resolution 242 says that withdrawal from these areas should be in exchange for security. Therefore, Israel is in Judea and Samaria perfectly legally.
Incidentally, one of the co-ordinators of this boycott was Ben White, who relentlessly and distortingly campaigns against Israel. He wrote in 2002: “I do not consider myself an anti-semite, yet I can also understand why some are. There are, in fact, a number of reasons.” Classy guy, huh?
During the debate a speaker said: “The Chief Rabbi has assured us of his prayers and we wish to assure him of our prayers”. That’s nice, but I have a better suggestion for the Methodists: stop listening to hate-mongers such as White and instead undertake a fact-finding tour of the Middle East. This should begin in the Old City of Jerusalem, where you can see the access all faiths have to their places of worship.
I then recommend you pop over to Gaza, Judea and Samaria to see the fortunes of Christians there. If you’re not spooked out of your wits by that, then why not swing by Pakistan and Iran to see how Christians are treated in those countries. You’ll really need to watch your back but hey, I wish to assure you of my prayers and all that.
Of course no such tour will take place and neither will any resolutions be passed in a hurry against the truly brutish states of the Middle East. Whether it’s self-indulgent activists smashing up an arms factory, or the Methodists and the hate-mongering Ben White, these people are not just hypocrites but cowards. They are too terrified to raise even a whisper against the truly dark forces of the world. As such, their talk of ‘peace’ demeans all those who have throughout human history bravely and sincerely worked towards that all too elusive state of affairs.
The silly season does not even reach its peak until next month, so don’t be surprised to see even more insane developments in the coming weeks. These are tough times as Israel comes under increasing attack from the bullies of the world. But if we keep calm and keep telling the truth, we can all do our bit for the Jewish state. Don’t let the bigots get you down.
The above is my latest column for Jewish News. You can read Jewish News online here.
great piece Chas
Chas, you always hit the nail on the head.
The Methodists have done a terrible thing.
Agreed; great piece. A scorcher indeed.
Thanks. Well, it is summer!
Powerful and informative. I have shared on Twitter.
I really wish it was just silliness – that I could deal with – but I suspect that there is something much more sinister going on with the Methodists and have done for some time.
During ‘Cast Lead’, the Methodist church in the town in England where I was living at the time had a big poster on its outside notice-board facing the main street declaring that ‘Israel commits war crimes’.
At Christmas time a local Methodist preacher wrote an article in the town newspaper comparing Mary and Joseph to Palestinians at Israeli check-points.
When religion is hijacked by politics the results are always very dangerous, as history has shown us so many times. It is very alarming that the ordinary members of the Methodist church,the majority of whom I am sure are very reasonable people, have had their organisation taken over by a minority of politically (rather than religiously) motivated movers and shakers.
Let’s hope they wake up soon and claim back their church.
During ‘Cast Lead’, the Methodist church in the town in England where I was living at the time had a big poster on its outside notice-board facing the main street declaring that ‘Israel commits war crimes’
This is indeed sinister behaviour by those Methodists,Israelinurse.After all,if the IDF had been commiting war crimes during Operation Cast Lead,surely they would’ve come out and admitted it by now? They haven’t,which proves that they didn’t commit any war crimes.Just ask the al-Samouni family.
I think you will find that a soldier has been indicted for this alleged offence and will stand trial. One would consider your post here a little more reasonable if you could point to the Palastinians conducting trials against terrorists who had attacked innocent Israeli civilians – but of course we know that will never happen will it?
re the ‘activists’ – while they were cleared due to the argument of believing they were preventing the committing of war crimes – Israel went into Gaza to prevent the committing of war crimes by Hamas upon Israelis.
Really interesting Chas. Well done as ever.
“I do not consider myself an anti-semite, yet I can also understand why some are. There are, in fact, a number of reasons.”
“I do not consider myself racist, yet I can also understand why some hate black people. There are, in fact, a number of reasons.”
At Pride on Saturday I pointedly refused to take an anti-Israel leaflet that some woman was handing out. I would’ve got into an argument with her but was with friends and didn’t want to kick up a fuss. If I was gay I know where I’d rather live.
Putting aside the hypocrasy of the Methodists and all who sail in her ‘boycott’ ship – do these self-indulgent people ever stop to think about the possibility that they might actually be contributing to the de-railment and/or delay of peace?
The settlement freeze approaches its end or renewal date. Netanyahu is in America speaking on various TV stations and on every one is issuing invitations to Abbas to enter into peace talks. The thing to do now is hold back on anything that might bolster the PA’s apparent reluctance to talk.
Oh the silly season goes on unabated. The British Ambassador to Lebanon blogs a fawning obitury on the Foreign Office web-site extolling the “virtues” of a Jew hating Holocaust denying so-called cleric. The Foreign Office after consideration take down the post – so the BBC in reporting the matter repeats the offensive passages on their web-site – could not get any sillier – could it?
I’ll see you one daft bint of a British Ambassador, and raise you one emergency motion passed at the Conference of the Woodcraft Folk – a children’s scheme mind – to boycott Israel.
Who’s next – Auntie Julie’s Playgroup? The Hove Movement for Pre-Natal babies?
http://hurryupharry.org/2010/07/09/woodcraft-folk-%e2%80%93-yes-to-the-colour-green-no-to-israel/#more-35857
Yeah, here’s another one Chas – disgusting.
http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/watt/entry/where_does_this_all_fit
I really hate to be negative, but the “upper-classes” of Britain have blood on their hands and eyes and mouths.
He has a comments section at his blog. Would do well to leave him a number of comments bringing him up to date with the news, ie that the ‘peaceful flotilla’ was anything but. Can’t believe that these Foreign Office ‘envoys/ambassadors’ in the Middle East are so prejudiced against Israel. One usedto laugh at Yes Minister. This is no longer funny.
I did a leave a couple of replies but the limit is at 1000 characters – although there wa s response clearly longer than that – and they have a moderator who scans the comments. I very much doubt that anything against the agenda of the ambassador would get published.
Chas, regarding your comment about the dark forces of the world.
The Ben Whites of this world get off on these dark forces. It’s like those who write/talk/are eerily fascinated by serial killers. They love these forces.
After all, what’s sexier than making friends with murderers?
And they have, after all, through the Church, been educated and primed to hate Jews – those silly independent types who disdain to join that all-loving Christianity pastime that’s so full of love for sinners and jihadis but so full of contempt for those under attack by jihadis, including their own flock.
What are they doing to protect their own Christian people from being decimated by Islamic jihadis, in Gaza, Pakistan etc? They themselves -ie Church authorities – are busy sucking up to and aiding, abetting and financing these people!
Therefore, Israel is in Judea and Samaria perfectly legally.
LOL.Or indeed ROFL.Or is it ROLF? Anyhow,those spin seminars are really paying off,Chas.Now you are an expert in international teritorial law.Incidently,is that the only UN resolution on the issue?Or are there others you have chosen to ignore? Now why don’t you explain why the settlements are not only a good idea but lawful as well.
…why not swing by Pakistan and Iran to see how Christians are treated in those countries.
Eh? What have Pakistan and Iran got to do with this?Please explain.
That’s right. I attend spin seminars. It’s all part of a shadowy Jewish conspiracy in which I am a mere pawn…
…as distinct, of course, from the actual Islamic not-so-secret conspiracy or plan to take over the world and establish a Caliphate. Of course, the fact that they’re so open about it and so powerfully pursue this puts Jew haters into fervent denial, despite all the proof eg the presence and conferences of hiz but tahrir, daily terrorism in Pakistan and all countries in which Muslims live among nonmuslims, the papers of the Project of al Quaeda, etc etc.
Just a quick word in favour of some very good friends of mine who are Free Methodists. Always pro Jewish and Pro Israel with a very good understanding of Israel and what it has to put up with.
I think this illustrates how the political radicals have taken over the church, marginalising the “good” people.
The Methodists have a numbers problem – they’re in decline:
Britain’s Methodists in Meltdown
http://www.daphneanson.blogspot.com/
Who is talking about “shadowy Jewish conspiracies”? Not me Chas.What you’ve just done is known psychologically as ‘projection’.
Here is what you have to say for yourself on the 5th of May this year…Remember,these are your own words…
Thanks for all the encouraging comments and messages after last night’s Talk For Israel event. I think it went really well….(yaddayaddayadda)….
Then I spoke about blogging and how to use a blog to campaign for Israel. It was great to be able to share some of what I’ve learned. Jonathan Sacerdoti was the final speaker and he gave an informative and inspiring talk about ways to use Facebook, Twitter and other online resources to advocate for Israel.
Now,what’s the problem with saying you’ve been attending “spin seminars”?
Did blahblahblah speak at that seminar too? No offence Chaz but blah’s idiotic commentary does more to help Israel than most others.
You have to laugh at this gem posted via Jerusalem Post.
“Kassam destroys factory in Negev” in big bold letters across the page then below in small type it said
“A Kassam rocket was fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip Wednesday morning, damaging a factory in the Sdot Negev Regional Council area.”
And a great picture showing a Kassam laying on a bit of wasteland. great reporting LOL
PS Chas love the Zionist lovefest blog, how much do you get paid for running it ?
I’m not sure what is funny about rockets being fired at Jewish people.
The photograph is not of the incident. It is used illustratively, as often happens on online websites as I suspect you know.
I don’t get paid, but thanks for the conspiracy theory.
Perfectly stated Chas!!
So Ben White doesn’t consider himself an antisemite! He’s the very model of the species!
Chas the point I was making which you conveniently side stepped was the was the strap line to the original story ! “Kassam destroys factory in Negev” which clearly is and was not the case, the use of the picture conveniently termed ” Illustratively ” was used quiet simply because the factory was not destroyed nor badly damaged, just the media generating a sensational story for it’s readers.
I asked about your funding for the site because I cannot find one single criticism of Israel on the many many pages you have posted, I am assuming in your eyes Israel is the perfect state and never does anything wrong.
Oh for the record I do not find rocket firing funny in any shape or form. What find funny is that the Zionist media is just as bad as most others. Pick an agenda and spin a story, hence the reason I reference from multiple sources as somewhere in the middle the truth is usually found.