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1. New York Flotilla for Freeing Gilad Shalit
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Pro-Israel supporters are turning the anti-Israel flotilla fad into a positive effort to sail in a rally for the freedom of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. This Thursday will mark four years since Hamas and allied terrorists kidnapped him at an Israeli checkpoint near Gaza.
The “True Freedom” flotilla of covered boats will sail, rain or shine, at noon Thursday from Manhattan’s Pier 40. At least four boats will sail, including two of them capable of accommodating 500 people each, according to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which is sponsoring the event.
The organization told Israel National News that Conference director Malcolm Hoenlein came up with the idea of the flotilla, which has been a favorite gimmick the past year by pro-Hamas supporters trying to end Israel’s anti-terrorist maritime blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza.
The boats will sail pass the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations before returning to Pier 40 around 2 p.m. EDT.
The flotilla’s is "to remind the international body and the world of the real siege in Gaza and call for the release of Gilad Shalit,” the Conference stated.
He remains held in total isolation with no access to the International Red Cross or other humanitarian bodies, contrary to the Geneva Convention. Since his capture, Hamas has provided only two indications that Gilad is still alive – a recorded message of his voice released two years ago and a video of him released last October.
Hamas has refused Israeli offers to free up to 1,000 terrorists and prisoners in exchange for Shalit.
Supporters will be able to gather on the East River Esplanade to view and encourage the flotilla, whose passengers are invited guests and journalists. The entrance is on the east side of First Avenue at 34th, 35th or 37th Streets.
2. Large Rally for Rubashkin in Los Angeles
by Hillel Fendel
Some 800 people took part in a Los Angeles rally on Monday evening, in support of convicted meat-plant owner Sholom Rubashkin of Iowa. Rubashkin was sentenced to 27 years in prison on Monday for various counts of financial fraud, after being earlier acquitted of violating labor laws.
The 800 Orthodox Jews came to support the Rubashkin family, including his wife and ten children, and to protest what many perceived as the thinly-disguised anti-Semitism of a disproportionate sentence. “For a 51-year-old man, 27 years is essentially a life sentence – and for a white-collar crime,” several said.
Rubashkin is the former CEO of the Postville, Iowa Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant, which was the world’s largest, producing half of the United States' kosher meat. It declared bankruptcy after the government raided it in May 2008. The plant has since been purchased and is trying to make a comeback, though it no longer produces kosher meat.
The Los Angeles rally featured several speakers, including one of Rubashkin’s sons, 23-year-old Meir Simcha, who arrived in the city on Monday. Prayers were also recited for the convicted man’s welfare.
The young Rubashkin spoke of his father’s strong faith, and of the family’s gratitude to the Jewish community for its support. “One of the things that gives [my father] strength is to know that he has the backing of the Jewish world,” he said, according to the Jewish Journal of LA.
Rabbis said that Rubashkin “is blatantly being treated unfairly,” and that the verdict was “outrageous,” a sign of “clear prejudice” and “certainly anti-Semitism.”
“No one condones criminal activity,” one rabbi said, “but the scapegoating [and] the viciousness is enough to send shivers down the spine.”
Some in the Jewish community have been hesitant to support Rubashkin because of PETA accusations against his shechita practices, and/or because he is a convicted lawbreaker. Others feel that even these considerations do not warrant a life sentence, or even 27 years in prison.
3. MK Ariel: We'll Evict Arab Squatters from Synagogue on July 4
by Hillel Fendel
MK Uri Ariel (National Union) told the Knesset Wednesday that the time has come to execute a court order to evict Arab squatters from the old Yemenite synagogue in Silwan, Jerusalem – and that he and other nationalists plan to do it themselves on July 4.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is scheduled to be visiting U.S. President Barack Obama on that date, and the timing would cause him some awkwardness, or worse, during their meetings. It is not clear whether the date was chosen purposely for this reason or not; the plans had been in the air for a while, but today was the first time that a date has been set.
The synagogue, which stands 150 meters away from Beit Yehonatan and Beit Dvash, the only two Jewish-populated buildings in the area, is now occupied by four Arab families, some of whom have been there since 1938. The building was built in 1890 by the Yemenite Jewish community, which was forced to abandon it in the late 1930s because of Arab pogroms.
In late 2008, a court ruling was issued ordering the police to cooperate in evicting the Arab squatters, and to raze the additional rooms built there illegally over the years. “The court ordered the building restored to its original state,” Assaf Baruchi of the Ateret Cohanim Association told Arutz-7 several weeks ago, “but since then the police have done nothing, and so if we have no choice; we’ll do it ourselves.”
It now appears that that threat will be actualized 12 days from now – plenty of time for the police to make all proper preparations, MK Ariel said. He was speaking at a special Knesset session dealing with his claim that when it comes to building violations, Jews in Jerusalem are discriminated against in comparison with their Arab neighbors.
“There are fewer than 50 illegal Jewish structures,” Ariel said, “while the number of illegal Arab buildings is estimated in the thousands. With these numbers, it is unfair to demand one Jewish demolition for each Arab demolition… In addition, demolition orders for Jews are rushed up, while those for Arabs happen much more slowly…”
Specifically, Ariel noted that the orders to raze or seal up Beit Yehonatan have been given high priority, while those pertaining to the Yemenite synagogue lie dormant.
Another spokesman also noted the “discrimination in everything having to do with the illegal construction enforcement policy. It is not clear why the State insists on evacuating [or sealing up--ed] Beit Yehonatan even though there is a compromise proposal, while at the same time the same authority does not execute a court order to evacuate Arabs from a Jewish-owned property [the synagogue].”
Public Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovitch defended the policy, saying that there is “no connection between the two other than geographic proximity.” He acknowledged that building demolitions are scheduled in accordance with various considerations, “including political issues that have to do with general political and diplomatic sensitivity.”
Minister Aharonovitch hinted that perhaps MK Ariel’s parliamentary immunity would enable him to take part in the eviction, but others would not be exempt from prosecution. However, the court ruling does not say that police permission must be received before implementing the eviction.
4. 500 Children Protest Jerusalem Red Tape
by Hana Levi Julian
Five hundred Sephardic elementary school boys protested Monday in Jerusalem a bureaucratic decision that has kept them from being able to learn in their school building. The students gathered in Safra Square, seeking to call attention to the fact that they no longer have a place in which to hold their classes.
One of the walls of the 15-year-old Ohr Shraga Talmid Torah has collapsed – but according to Yeshiva World News, the city has not allowed the institution to repair the building, which has been designated as a “preserved structure.”
Since the building is now considered dangerous, some 500 children are out on the street, with no classrooms.
“Send the mayor home!” shouted the children during their demonstration, brandishing signs that bore slogans critical of city officials. “Resign!” After reading psalms and other prayers, the boys – ages 3 to 13 – pulled out soccer balls and started a game in the City Hall promenade.
“The city won’t let us rebuild, and they aren’t offering any other alternative,” a parent commented. “We are not Ashkenazim… City officials do not pay attention to us.”
5. Hamas Fears Israeli Raid If Red Cross Visits Shalit
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hamas has flatly refused Red Cross visits to kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit because the terrorist organization fears the contacts would encourage Israel to try to conduct a raid and free him from his captivity, a Hamas spokesman told an Arabic language newspaper Wednesday.
Shalit was kidnapped four years ago, less one day, after Hamas and Army of Islam terrorists attacked an Israel army checkpoint in the western Negev and killed two of Shalit’s comrades.
Hamas continued a propaganda campaign and psychological warfare Tuesday, claiming that it allowed Shalit watch the World Cup game in which his native country France was playing. The al-Aqsa satellite channel reported that Shalit alleged viewing of the game helped him forget depression "after the Israeli government decided to suspend indirect talks to finalize the swap deal with Hamas."
It added that the soldier "was very sad when France was defeated by Mexico during the World Cup matches held in South Africa."
Several rounds of mediated negotiations have failed to conclude an agreement between Hamas and Israel over the release of more than 1,000 terrorists from Israeli jails in return for Shalit.
Hamas has offered no signs of his health or even if he is alive except for two tapes that were released the past two years.
Shalit’s parents and a large number of left-wing academics conducted a media campaign a year and a half ago to promote a proposed deal, but it collapsed after Hamas insisted on the return of “heavy-duty” terrorists to their homes in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. Israel wanted them deported to foreign countries.
There also was no agreement on the fate of 10 terrorists who have been convicted for being involved in attacks that murdered dozens of Israelis.
The soldier’s parents recently have urged the government to take an opposite stand and not make any concessions to Hamas unless their son is returned home safely. The Shalit family bitterly objected to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s relaxing the partial blockade on Gaza this week without securing the freedom of the soldier.
In France, several thousand people rallied in Paris on Tuesday for his release, holding banners supporting Israel and condemning Hamas and “Iran accomplices.”
In New York, a pro-Israel flotilla of several boats is scheduled to sail around the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations to show support for freeing Shalit.
The soldier’s 85-year-old grandfather met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Tuesday, telling him he does not know if he ever will be able to see his grandchild again.
6. Iran’s ‘Nail Polish in Public' Scandal – Woman Fined
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The Iranian morality court has fined a woman $224 for the immoral act of wearing nail polish in public on “four and a half” of her fingers. She also was ordered to pay an additional $250 each for three other offenses – wearing a short jacket, wearing it in bright red and green colors, and wearing make-up.
The fine for nail polish was calculated at the rate of $50 per finger. She also must pay between $500 and $1,500 for her hair being toned in a light color, and $180 for wearing glasses over her hair. The court did not order that she be lashed, a frequent punishment in Islamic law.
The report of the fine and a picture of the guilty woman’s identification card were provided by the Iran Focus web site, which said that the woman was arrested by the “Guidance Patrol” near a commercial complex.
Iran recently has stiffened its control over public conduct among women, and police have issued warnings to 62,000 women for being improperly veiled in the province of Qom, the center of Iran’s Shiite clerics.
An Iranian newspaper quoted police chief Colonel Mehdi Khorasani as saying that his officers confiscated approximately 100 vehicles carrying women who were improperly dressed, noting that "encouraging such relaxations are among the objectives of the enemy."
The crackdown on women contradicts a recent statement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said he is "firmly against such actions [because] it is impossible for such actions to be successful."
The Washington Post reported earlier this month that hard-liners in the Islamic Republic have become more influential since last year's re-election of Ahmadinejad, a victory that was widely viewed as the result of a rigged vote.
By law, women in Iran must be veiled and wear long coats when in public.
Following the 1979 overthrow of the Shah, under whose reign mini-skirts were not uncommon, Islamists began beating women who were not veiled.
After Ahmadinejad became president four years ago, the Guidance Patrol began enforcing dress codes, but it has not been able to impose its will on the entire population.
The Washington Post quoted one teenager in Tehran, which hosts a population of 12 million, as saying, "My white coat was three inches too short on the sleeves. It was impounded. The Guidance Police called my dad to pick me up and gave me a “chador” [veil] to wear on the way home.”
7. Memphis Group Sets New Model To Counter Anti-Israel Forces
by David Lev
Anti-Israel forces in the United States have been busy organizing protests, boycotts, and public events. In fact, in recent months, dozens of cities have held “anti-Israel apartheid weeks,” dedicated to encouraging Americans to embrace anti-Israel views.
Is there an antidote? There may very well be, says Dr. Scott Baum of the Memphis Friends of Israel group. According to Baum, the major pro-Israel festival the group sponsors each year, along with smaller educational events throughout the year, is an example of an excellent way for supporters of Israel to respond to the bile of the anti-Israel crowd - “especially since we have the facts on our side,” Baum said in an interview with Israel National News.
A long-time activist on behalf of Israel, Baum sensed a few years ago that Israel's message just wasn't getting the media attention it deserved – while anti-Israel events and views were being promoted apace in the local media. “At the time, we opened a chapter of Honest Reporting, and we would hammer the local and national media for their incorrect and biased points of view, but we just weren't getting the coverage we needed.” It was then that Baum and several other Memphis area activists decided to go with a less “hard” approach – and Memphis Friends of Israel (FOI) was born. 
The organization's main activity is an annual 'down home' style festival – with a pro-Israel twist. The festival features games, music, food, races – and an Israel information booth.
The organization's main activity is an annual “down home” style festival – with a pro-Israel twist, says Baum. “We sponsor our event in a public forum, not behind a synagogue, and we invite everyone, Christians and Jews” - with members of both faiths actively participating in the organization and execution of Memphis FOI activities. The festival features games, music, food, races – and an Israel information booth. “The people come and have a good time – they dance to Israeli music, eat some falafel, and listen to speakers who tell Israel's side of the story,” Baum says.
This year's festival was the third sponsored by Memphis FOI, says Baum – and each year, the event attracts more visitors. “When we first started the group, we figured we would preach to the choir, helping pro-Israel advocates to better defend Israel,” he says. But with the response to the group's events so positive, Memphis FOI now reaches out to the general community, Baum says – trying to reach fair-minded people who are looking for the facts.
And disseminating the facts is the best way to battle the anti-Israel crowd. “There's no question that the anti-Israel forces are gaining strength these days. They have grassroots support but no facts on their side - and that's how we battle them,” says Baum. Speakers at the festival this year included a soldier who was expelled from his home in Gush Katif, an Ethiopian immigrant to Israel, and a speaker who talked about the facts of life in the Middle East.
Could what works in Memphis work in other cities as well? Baum thinks so, and in fact, Memphis FOI is ready, willing and able to provide assistance to any group that wants to sponsor pro-Israel events. “We have plenty of materials on our website, and plenty of flags and other items we can lend out” - and in fact, says Baum, the organization will be doing exactly that in Nashville later this year. “Our festival is a great way to educate people,” says Baum. “Most people want to be educated, and for most people, the facts will win out.”
For more information, contact Dr. Baum via the Memphis Friends of Israel website.
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