By: Mariano Lowy
Mariano Lowy is an Israeli born Canadian citizen. He has a Masters degree in Government, Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security studies from the IDC in Herzliyah Israel. To contact him please send emails to minos29@gmail.com
Almost a full calendar year since the beginning of the Arab spring which gave hope to a democratic future to many Arab states who were under tyrannical and Islamist rule, we have not yet seen much change. The hysteria of the West about the Arab awakening turning into an Arab Islamist nightmare is reaching full-blown proportions.
The West had it hopes that the people would lean towards a secular, more democratic party and relieve Islam of its guarding post in the heart of their political positions. However, Israel is now facing the dilemma of having to deal with a Muslim Brotherhood majority government as a peace partner. This couldn’t be any more of an oxymoron than it already is.
The Muslim Brotherhood is the same party that believes in the destruction of Israel. It’s the same party that wouldn’t recognize a Jewish State. It’s the same party that vowed to kill Jews. We were hoping that Egypt, a country with a long, extensive history, the longest of the Arab nations, would lead by example in the Arab Spring. Conversely, this has not happened, and it seems that the Arab populous speaks for itself when the Muslim Brotherhood won majority seats in the government. The people don’t care to live alongside Israel, just like the Palestinians who voted for Hamas when they had the opportunity to take a stance and make changes with their new and unilaterally acquired land (Gaza Strip). It’s easier to blame Israel, than have to deal with the domestic issues going on in their country. It’s always easier to point a finger. When Anwar Sadat signed the peace treaty with Israel he was condemned by many of his people, and was later assassinated for it. If it wasn’t for Mubarak upholding the treaty and quelling the Muslim Brotherhood’s movements, who knows if we would even be using the term peace and Egypt in the same sentence.
To this day no democratic country has gone to war with one another; instead they have looked to prosper from economic ties. Economic ties lead to restraining violence due to a checks and balances theory which means that one would gain more from not fighting than fighting with one another. The people choose, the people vote for it, and the people elect it. Then why don’t we see this happening in Egypt? Arabs know they don’t care for democracy, they also know they don’t want to be peace partners with Israel. If we still believe that the Arab Spring will bring us democracy and peace to the Middle East region, then perhaps the tooth fairy is real and Santa Claus will come down our chimneys on Christmas.
The Arab world is seeing a sea of change. The Arab people are facing many crucial and important choices that will determine the future the Middle East. New Arab governments will face monumental challenges such as deep poverty, poor industrial infrastructure, broken health systems, and systemic corruption. And if the recent election results are any indication, the Islamists are here to stay.
This is one of the best short documentaries I have seen in a long time about Arab Apartheid against the Palestinians in Lebanon - this information and footage is crucial for our fight against the people who falsely claim Israel as an Apartheid state and ignore the real Apartheid occurring right on our borders... share this and make it viral!
Post it on every "Israeli Apartheid" site you can think of...
A Strategic Review by Ianiv Lowy
Ianiv Lowy is an Israeli born Canadian citizen. He has a Masters degree in Government, Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security studies from the IDC in Herzliyah Israel. To contact him please send emails to ianivl3@gmail.com
It cannot be denied that Gilad Shalit’s return to Israel, to his home, and to his family and friends is a joyous occasion for the entire nation, even for those of who opposed it; one of Israel’s own has returned to freedom from the grasp of enemy hands. The Netanyahu government paid the heaviest price yet in Israel’s history for the release of an Israeli soldier. It is therefore easy to argue that Israel showed its flexibility but more so that hostage taking is a profitable market for Arabs and Hamas might just as well be preparing for the next kidnapping as a result. However, many fail to realize the strategic timing as well as the political realm that might just come to life because of this moment.
In the United States, two outstanding events took place before and after the announcement that Israel struck a deal with Hamas to return Shalit home. Firstly, the US had extracted information from an Iranian captive that the Iranian government planned and was directly involved in an assassination attempt on the Saudia Arabian ambassador to the US as well as the bombing of Saudi and Israeli embassies in Argentina and abroad. Secondly, Hilary Clinton had visited Libya the day of Gilad Shalit’s release, citing the most senior US official yet to visit and acknowledge the Libyan Transitional Council as the new leader of Libya. What this means in the bigger picture is that the US is slowly tightening the noose on Iran and separating it from influencing Libya’s outcome but more importantly loosening its grip on its proxies, beginning with Hamas.
With the reality on the ground in Syria, Hamas no longer has a safe haven in Syria. Damascus is slowly sliding into civil war. The Syrian government shelled out billions in their attempt to squash the resistance, leaving them next to bankruptcy. The sanctions the EU and US have placed on their central banks forces them down to their last lifeline, Iranian bank loans but that can also last only so long. Furthermore, Hamas went against Iranian wishes when they opposed Syria’s crackdown on its civilians. This means Hamas needs a new home. When they originally approached Egypt, they were flatly denied. Now with the Shalit deal in place, the US and Egypt permitted Hamas delegations as part of the deal to begin setting up a new political base in Egypt. Lest we not forget, Hamas is the birth child of the Muslim Brotherhood, already headquartered in Egypt. Therefore, the real deal is that the US realizes that their support in the Arab Spring allowed the Muslim Brotherhood, a very influential force in the so-called Arab Spring to resurface. They cannot turn back on their support for the ‘people and civilians’ so the best solution is to get the Brotherhood on their side. After all, the Muslim Brotherhood is a political movement; enough financial, economic and strategic incentive can change their constitutional beliefs in one day (although it will take a much longer dedication to complete that task successfully with the Muslim Brotherhood).
The PA may have isolated themselves more than Israel ever could with their attempt to launch a unilateral bid for statehood. The only thing that can reverse that now is a Palestinian unity deal not just in words but in writing and in action. If that doesn’t happen Hamas may just stay on course to open a secret diplomatic and strategic channel with the West and that means they will privately stop their charter of assault on Israel. This is swaying Hamas away from the grip and dependence on Iran. This also continues to show the true face of Russia and China, whom of which vetoed crucial sanctions on Syria only because they sell weapons and armament to the Syrian government. The United States representative used the harshest words yet to explain this, with Russia replying that the US is trying to inch closer to Iran with every move; as if that is a wrong strategy considering Iran’s publicly openly violent rhetoric on the West and it’s calls for Israel’s destruction.
Ultimately Israel stands to gain from this because the Muslim Brotherhood may well just be the strongest political power involved in the Arab Spring and if the US and the EU can tone their hatred rhetoric of Israel down and instead open up political and strategic channels with them, it will give some peace of mind to Israel that the Arab Spring won’t turn into a cold winter for them. The Shalit deal cleared a lot of political turmoil and speculation on Israel that it was isolating itself, and Netanyahu respectably checked off one if the not the most crucial “to-do’s” on his list as PM. Now Israel can focus on the political turmoil surrounding its borders and more effectively work indirectly with Hamas to shrink the importance of the PA's statehood bid. After all, the PA statehood bid may be the direct reason as to the timing of Shalit’s release, and may just have been the light at the end of the tunnel that sealed the deal for his release. This could very well signal a turning point with Hamas but more so it may just have marked the first crucial steps in weakening Iran’s influence in the region.
Get ready for the Jewish New Year and High Holidays with this great video from Aish. See the lyrics below the video.
Song Lyrics:
Synagogue, Rabbi's talk, going on for a while, can you check the clock, huh
Cantor's opera, lost my spot, do you know the place, choir in the slot
Wine we drink, with family now, good deeds you do, good for your soul
Fish head, ram's horn, shofar blow, give some money, appeal for dough
Yo, I'm returnin' to the fold can you explain mo'
Got this desire to know Torah scroll, say hello
Our prayers rock, yeah, we're the Jews and we question
Got the pride, just cant stop, our lives are changin'
Rosh Hashanah's in the house tonight
All the world is passing through the light
Let's all get written in the book of Life
Shana Tova -- It's High Holiday time
Taking stock is what we do tonight
Shana Tova -- it's High Holiday time
Let's all get written in the book of Life
Blow the shofar and -- Shuckle!
Three times a day I'm shucklin'
shucklin', shucklin'
Shofar blast, all across the world we will do this task
Apples and honey, feelin' glad -- now stop, never get mad
Fill the Kiddush cup, my friends around
Books are opened up, the challah's round
All our history, we see it now
Now please hear our plea, we're prayin' now
Stand up, sit down, pass the prayer books around
Stand up, sit down, pass the prayer books around
Stand up, sit down, pass the prayer books around
Pass the prayer books around, pass the prayer books around
Rosh Hashanah's in the house tonight
All the world is passing through the light
Let's all get written in the book of Life
Shana Tova -- it's High Holiday time
Taking stock is what we do tonight
Shana Tova -- it's High Holiday time
Let's all get written in the book of Life
Blow the shofar and -- Shuckle!
Everyday I'm shucklin'
He fought. He killed. He conquered. He was a normal Jewish man who led what seemed to be a normal, even boring life in pre-state Israel. But Ezra Yakhin was anything but. As a young man, Yakhin was a postman by day, a LECHI fighter by night.
The British labeled him a 'terrorist'.
Ezra Yakhin tells of his time growing up very poor in Israel what was then called Palestine. Though he lived in Jerusalem, the home he lived in didn't have a toilet, he had to leave his apartment to use a common bathroom for the building. Not having a kitchen in his house, his mother had to cook on a primus stove burner in the back yard of the building. Yet, Yakhin says he never felt like he was poor as a child because his friends and neighbors lived that way as well, so he didn't feel any different. Life was difficult, but there was a growing sense of the revival of the Jewish People in their home, Israel. The dream of statehood had taken hold since the end of WWI when the British, now with its troops in the Middle East, had promised, then reneged, on allowing the Jews to establish their homeland.
It was oppressive living under British occupation who clearly favored the Arab nations. The Jews were not allowed to protect themselves against Arab theft, violence or pograms. Curfews were common and the obvious preference of the Arabs by Britain made it impossible for Jews to live and practice their Judaism freely.
Ezra Yakhin tells the story of how he wanted to help fight for the freedom of the Jewish nation. He had read about the actions of the mysterious heroes in the LECHI (Lochamei Herut Israel – Israel Freedom Fighters) underground. He yearned to join up but he didn't know who to approach. All members were recruited secretly, so he had to try to send out hints to his neighbors and friends to let them know he wanted to be recruited, without making it too obvious, where someone might snitch on him to the British. Sometimes he would wait at night to see if he could spot the newer members of the LECHI whose job it was to paste posters up on lamp posts and city walls urging people to throw off British rule and gain independence. But these newly recruited members were also impossible to find. They had to be good at being invisible, because getting caught by the British putting up 'freedom posters' was a crime. All LECHI members were considered terrorists. They could be caught, imprisoned and tortured for information. Yakhin, so much wanting to join up to fight for Jewish independence, would wait at night to try to find anyone hanging up posters. However, even he couldn't spot them. One moment there was nothing out of the ordinary, and the next, there would be a newly pasted up poster nearby, without a trace of anyone having been there.
Ezra Yakhin, still a youth, knew that his working at the post office would help the LECHI. British headquarters were at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem and he knew the area well delivering mail and telegrams. Photos in his book, ELNAKAM, show the streets in Jerusalem near British headquarters filled with barbed wire. Apparently, the British were very fearful of the Jewish underground groups and protected themselves by keeping nearby streets 'no man's land'.
Yakhin tells how he finally succeeded in being recruited into the LECHI underground, the secret ways he used his job at the post office as a delivery boy to help with LECHI intelligence, and how he finally was trained for real military missions against the British occupation forces in Palestine. He also tells about the first time he had to kill.
Idealistic and also in the throws of youthful love, he shares with us the story of the girl he fell in love with who was also a LECHI member - and what happened to her.
After WWII, the British were even more lustful in finding Jewish underground members because of their aiding Holocaust survivors trying to make it to the shores of the Land of Israel. The British were strict with their policy of curtailing Jewish immigration to Israel. In his book, Elnakam, Yakhin shows notices sent out by the underground which stated: "Since the arrival of the immigrant ship, 'Exodus 1947' and the banishment of its immigrants, the Israel Freedom Fighters have begun a systematic campaign against the enemy forces, its vehicles and installations." The notice then goes on to show a list of strikes against British army patrols and bases. It is an impressive list of actions and Yakhin describes many of the scenes that could be scenes in a real action movie.
Yakhin also relates the heart wrenching story of his best friend who was kidnapped in broad daylight by the British and never seen or heard from again. British denials of any wrong doing filled and fueled news paper articles for quite some time. It wasn't until much later that the truth came out that he had been murdered by the British who tried to cover it up.
The book ends with his telling how he was fighting in the streets of Jerusalem in one of the major battles for the Old City, the area of Jerusalem where the Temple once stood and the Western Wall continues to stand. It is the holiest place in the world for the Jewish people. In this fierce battle to liberate Jerusalem and at great losses of his friends and other (now) Israeli fighters, an explosive shell was fired in front of him and exploded. As he turned to shield himself, shrapnel cut though his helmet going through the back of his neck up through, and out of his eye. Rushed with the other wounded fighters to the hospital, he had to have surgery without being given anethstesia. Throughout the several hour ordeal, awake on the operating table as they worked on him, he kept repeating to himself in the grips of immense pain, "A LECHI Man doesn't groan". He ended up losing an eye from his massive head wound and has a glass eye until this day.
Yakhin is still active to this day. Though over 80 years old, he lives in an old Jewish neighborhood which, since the Jordanian occupation of eastern Jerusalem, is now occupied by hostile Arabs. The apartment building he lives in is inhabited by a group of Jewish families and married couples who aren't afraid to re-establish their Jewish roots there.
An excerpt from his book, Elnakam:
"No sleep for you tonight," says Tanchum. "You're to go to the Abu-el Bassal quarter and mark the movements of the army there. What we need is information about the movements of military vehicles in the path joining the Beit Yaakov and Zichron Yoseph quarters."
We went to look for the place best suited for the look-out base, finally choosing the brick factory in Sadoff's yard, where I could hide all night behind a pile of bricks and observe the movements of the vehicles on the path. I didn't go home this time to tell my parents that I was "sleeping at a friend's place," I simply couldn't face the fearful look in their eyes, knowing full well how anxious they would be. Obviously, they would not be slow in making a connection between my absence and the acts against the Brits, and their feelings, when I failed to return that night were not hard to imagine. On the other hand if I didn't let them know in advance, they might comfort themselves with the thought that I had been caught breaking curfew and arrested. This wasn't pleasant, but implied a fine at the most.
So – no going home. As curfew time approached I was ensconced behind my pile of bricks. Each of the neighbors nearby took a last look at the yard before lowering their shutters and locking their doors, and they all saw me there. To avoid their worried glances I slipped around to the other side of the pile, making myself fully visible to the patrols enforcing the curfew. Only after everybody was shut inside the houses did I slip back – only to be cordially invited by someone peeping through the shutters to go in and stay till the morning. Ignoring the invitation I waited tensely for darkness to fall.
The noise of army vehicles touring the area filled the night. Sometimes they would stop to permit a foot patrol to get out. At times, some men talking English, approached my brick pile, and I couldn't tell whether they were just loitering or going straight for me. Hearing a vehicle approaching I would raise my head to see it, risking being seen by a passing patrol. I could hear them but it was too dark to see them. Conversely, I realized that my dark figure could be easily made out on the background of white bricks, and I was just what the enemy was looking for. There…. They were coming, now! They had seen me and where could I hide? They were getting nearer. Their English fell painfully on my ear. No place to run…. " (source)
