Pajamas Media

25 Comments

1. John:

I don’t see why you are so surprised. Zapatero is a socialist extremist. He has been pushing a left-wing agenda ever since he came to power. His anti-semitism was on display right from the start: one of his ministers was publicly rebuked by a prominent Spanish-Jewish businessman. Zapatero has been busy cozying up to every dictator and totalitarian regime that will talk to him. Meanwhile here in Spain his ineptness is pushing us further into recession while he continues to push his social agenda: abortions for 16 years olds without parental consent, political indoctrination of school children, use of the judicial system to eliminate his political opponents and of course that “feature” of all socialist governments – corruption. And finally, who is his “hero”? Obama!

Aug 15, 2009 - 1:35 am 2. Shef Rogers:

Perhaps it would help if PJM published a clear definition of “Israel-Bashing,” as distinct from fair and reasonable criticism of the Israeli Government. This would clear up the impression many of us have that this site defines “Israel-Bashing” as any criticism of Israel whatsoever.

Aug 15, 2009 - 4:56 am 3. Kat in Indiana:

Spain’s stance is not surprising. Read Mark Steyn’s “America Alone”. Look at the shifting demography of Europe. The most popular name for baby boys in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, fifth most popular in the United Kingdom?….Mohammed. Most non-Muslim countries in the world are experiencing a decrease in non-Muslim birth rates, while the Muslim population keeps growing. The unemployment rate of Spain is 18%. Modern (post 1000 AD) education is strongly discouraged by Islam. A growing population of young men that have been indoctrinated to hate Jews and to destroy all non-Muslims, with no marketable skills in an economy that has been slowly dying. An increase in violence with lackluster opposition from authorities, who are fearful of the backlash from roving mobs (not in Pelosi’s embarrasingly neo-political definition, but The Real Deal). A country that has a long history of anti-Semitism. Spain is just protecting its posterior, in the way of all weak peoples that strive to find the speck in someone else’s eye.

Aug 15, 2009 - 6:14 am 4. George S.:

watch this clip and you will understand why they continue to make the same arguments over and over no matter what they are shown or told.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTmbcyeZ9ic&feature=related

this clip gives great insight into the lefts blind following of an ideology that will bury them at the same time it buries us.

Aug 15, 2009 - 6:31 am 5. David W. Lincoln:

Take a look at “Dear and Glorious Physician” by Taylor Caldwell. The Jews are different, and what is different is ultimately wrong.

This is what the animosity boils down to.

Needless to say, those who engage in counting clouds put their time to better use than those who
arrive at that odious conclusion.

Aug 15, 2009 - 7:36 am 6. JFM:

Perhaps it would help if PJM published a clear definition of “Israel-Bashing,” as distinct from fair and reasonable criticism of the Israeli Government

People who who have never been seen making those fair and reasonable criticisms to the Soufdanese governement./ People whpo consider that Israel must allow its citizens.

Aug 15, 2009 - 10:54 am 7. Moho:

There’s only one problem with your comparison between Israeli demolitions and Spain’s—>Spain is a sovereign and contiguous territory with internationally recognized boundaries. By contrast, the homes that are currently being rebuilt in the occupied areas outside of East Jerusalem are not under Israeli sovereignty; they were destroyed by military orders of occupation, not civilian law governing citizens. Bottom line, not on the Israeli side of the Green Line, and in no way recognized as Israeli territory. In fact, Israel signed agreements which promised, eventually, to return towns like Anata to Palestinian control.

“Anata is split in three parts; one section is considered part of Jerusalem, all of which has been annexed by Israel; the rest is split between Areas B and C, administrative designations that were applied to the Occupied Territories by the 1995 Oslo Agreement that was supposed to lead to an independent Palestinian state. Areas with the B designation are under Palestinian civil administration and Israeli military control, while C areas are under full Israeli control. All the houses in the Area C section of Anata are under demolition orders, having been built without going through the expensive and tortuous Israeli permit process, which almost always results in denial for Palestinian applicants.”

The only analogy would be if Spain occupied areas of France, and then demolished the homes there, and then sent delegates to the areas that Israel occupies to help them rebuild Palestinian homes there.

http://www.icahd.org/eng/news.asp?menu=5&submenu=1&item=723

Aug 15, 2009 - 11:05 am 8. Morry Rotenberg:

The national animal of Spain is the bull which would make most Spaniards full of what the bull is full of. What kind of behavior would one expect from the first country in Europe that will be reconquered by the jihadists?

Aug 15, 2009 - 11:25 am 9. Eric:

The distinction is that the Spanish home demolitions are NOT part of an organized pogrom of ethnic cleansing and encroachment, as are those in Jerusalem. Nor are they aimed at a specific group who are denied building permits as a matter of standard official practice, for land that they own, and have owned for generations.
Also, how is it that organizations dedicated to monitoring and improving human rights, are magically transformed into “political activist groups” in Israel?
And finally, there’s a BIG difference between criticizing Israel’s policies towards the Palestinian people, and the “bashing of Jews”. Yet Israel and its pro-Zionist supporters choose to consistently muddy that distinction with the worn out assertion that anyone who criticizes Israel is “anti-Semitic”.
I can’t say whether Zapatero is anti-Semitic or not, nor can the author, nor anyone else for that matter. But to “assume” that he is, and that anti-Semitism is rampant in Spain, simply because he and many other Spaniards empathize with the plight of the Palestinians…is absolutely ludicrous!
I’m NOT a “left-wing” liberal; but I believe in human rights. I’m NOT anti-Semitic; but I despise Israel’s occupations, its settlement enterprise, and its oppressive policies against the Palestinians. And I’m NOT anti-Israel; but that doesn’t mean I’m going to close my eyes and ignore these things.

Aug 15, 2009 - 12:08 pm 10. JFM:

Eric says:

The distinction is that the Spanish home demolitions are NOT part of an organized pogrom of

Pogrom? Like those riolts where people are lynched?

ethnic cleansing

Well there was an ethnic cleansing in the zone: the one suffered by Oriental Jews. And now one aganst Araba Christians. Defaening silence” on your part isn’t it?

And finally, there’s a BIG difference between criticizing Israel’s policies towards the Palestinian people, and the “bashing of Jews”.

Except that you ask for Jews suffering several missile attacks a day without retaliatin, except that youy try haqrd to tie Israel hands, except that you say nothing about Hams violating Laws, except that you lavish your sypathy on peoplme whp consider a hero a guy who killed a 4 years old girl in cold blood all while reaming indifferent to the sufferings of Balck Spudanese (mass murders and rapes): since they don’t want tio kill Jews liberals aren’t interested.

I can’t say whether Zapatero is anti-Semitic or not, nor can the author, nor anyone else for that matter.

I can, because I know more than a bit about Zapatero and his Foreign Minister Moratinos.

But to “assume” that he is, and that anti-Semitism is rampant in Spain, simply because he and many other Spaniards empathize with the plight of the Palestinians…is absolutely ludicrous!

Well, Spain didn’t participate in WWII so there wasn’t this feeling that things had gone too far that many staunch antisemites in countries who helped Nazis, falt after the war. But about etn plight of the Palestian, if it were real there would have been protests when four years ago Lybia expelled its Palestinians towards Gaza or when Jordan revoked their nationality. Deaqfening silence; Also could you tell me whwre uis the plight? Where are the underfed Palestinian children? How is that they have plenty of money for Kassams? How is that after sioxty fricinh yeras tyhey aren’t living from their work and that we tolerate them setting fore to the greenhouses who where supposed to provode them jobs? Also my sympathies tend to dry very quickly when people try to bomb maternities or raise their children for genocide. Tell me why those people (and you) worry so much abouit peole as repugnant as the palestinans when there is plenty of suffering in Soudan by people who don’t dream of genocide.

I’m NOT a “left-wing” liberal; but I believe in human rights.

That is why you don’t care aboutr palestina human righhts when you can’t blame the Jews and that uis why you have never cared about Souddan. Oh, I have it. For you there just nigers

<iI’m NOT anti-Semitic; but I despise Israel’s occupations, its settlement enterprise, and its oppressive policies against the Palestinians. And I’m NOT anti-Israel; but that doesn’t mean I’m going to close my eyes and ignore these things.

Like Israel putting the other cheek 8,000 times?

You aren’t anti-Semitic: staunch Polisha ntisemitsavec jews during WWII. They didn’t deserve to be soiled being put in the same basket than them. You belong tp the genocidical variety, the one in brown shirts and you care about Palestinans only because you dream they take care of the dirty work.

Aug 15, 2009 - 3:50 pm 11. Ian:

Israel and the Arabs

* Israel, the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world’s population, can make claim to the following:
* Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
* Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin – 109 per 10,000 people – as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed.
* In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world.
* In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).
* Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US. oside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.
* Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.
* Wth an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16s, Israel has the largest fleet of the aircraft outside of
* the US.
* Israel’s $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.
* On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech start-ups.
* Israel has the largest raptor migration in the world, with hundreds of thousands of African birds
* of prey crossing as they fan out into Asia.
* Twenty-four percent of Israel’s workforce holds university degrees – ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland – and 12 percent hold advanced degrees.
* Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.
* In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews at risk in Ethiopia to
* safety in Israel.
* When Gold Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world’s second
* elected female leader in modern times.
* When the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day – and saved three victims from the rubble.
* Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship – and the highest rate among
* women and among people over 55 – in the world.
* Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants
* come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.
*Israel was the first nation in the world to
* adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as “conflict free.”
* Israel designed the airline industry’s most impenetrable flight security. U.S. officials now look to Israel for
* advice on how to handle airborne security threats.
* Israel’s Maccabi basketball team won the European championships in 2001.
* Israeli tennis player Anna Smashnova is the 15th ranked female player in the world.
* Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was produced by Haim Saban, an Israeli whose family fled persecution in Egypt.
* In 1991, during the Gulf War, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played a concert wearing
* gas masks as scud missiles fired by Saddam Hussein fell on Tel Aviv.
* Israel has the world’s second highest per capita of new books.
* Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees.
* Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.
* Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic.
* Israeli scientists developed the first fully
* computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic
* instrumentation for breast cancer.
* An Israeli company developed a computerized system
* for ensuring proper administration of medications,
* thus removing human error from medical treatment.
* Every year in U.S. hospitals 7,000 patients die
* from treatment mistakes.
* Israel’s Givun imaging developed the first
* ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a
* pill. Used the view the small intestine from the
* inside, the camera helps doctors diagnose cancer
* and digestive disorders.
* Researchers in Israel developed a new device that
* directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation
* with the potential to save lives among those with
* congestive heart failure. The new device is
* synchronized with the heart’s mechanical
* operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.
* With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and start-ups, Israel has the highest concentration of
* hi-tech companies in the world (apart from the Silicon Valley).
* In response to serious water shortages, Israeli engineers and agriculturalists developed a
* revolutionary drip irrigation system to minimize the amount of water used to grow crops.
* Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.
* Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per
* 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U.S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions. Israel places first in this category as well.
* The cell phone was developed in Israel by Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.
* Most of the Windows NT operating system was developed by Microsoft-Israel.
* The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel.
* Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.
* Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.
* The technology for AOL Instant Messenger was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.
* A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the ClearLight device, produces a high-intensity,
* ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self-destruct – all
* without damaging surroundings skin or tissue.
* An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully
* functional electricity generating plant, in southern California’s Mojave desert.
* The first PC anti-virus software was developed in Israel in 1979.

Now let’s look at the Arab Alley:

*With nearly 1/5th of the world’s population can make claim to the following:
* The Arab Basement has the LOWEST ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.
* Arab countries produce fewer scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin – 1 per 100,000,000 people – as well as the lowest per capita rates of patents filed. (but they do publish some very funny comic books – known as “Newspapers”)
* In proportion to its population, the Middle East has the smallest number of startup companies in the world.
* In absolute terms, Arab nations have the smallest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except Northern Siberia (500 companies specializing in camel manure and fertilizer).
* Ranked #2 in the world for lack of venture capital funds right behind the South Pole.
* Outside of Greenland, Somalia has the smallest number of NASDAQ listed companies.
* Arab Countries have the lowest average living standards in Asia. The per capita income in 2000 was under $20,00 exceeding only that of Sub-Saharan Africa.
* With an air line fleet of over 150 old Junks, Saudi Arabia has the funniest fleet of aircraft outside of Russia.
* The United Arab Emirate’s $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.
* On a per capita basis, Arab Countries have no biotech start-ups.
* Less than 1 Percent of the Arab workforce holds university degrees – ranking second lowest in the world, after Easter Island – and none hold advanced degrees. (although many do have worthless pieces of paper in “Islamic Studies”)
* Arab nations are some of the only genuine medieval kingdoms left on earth.
* Arab lands can boast the SECOND HIGHEST ILLITERACY RATES ON EARTH
* Has the world’s lowest number per capita of new books
* Afghanistan boasts the HIGHEST ILLITERACY RATE ON EARTH – with an astounding figure of 95% reported in Rural areas
*Yemen is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in the Number citizens who cannot read and write.
* Arab lands have fewer museums per capita than any others.

Aug 15, 2009 - 4:11 pm 12. Bob from Virginia:

#11 Ian; You are missing the point old boy, the Arab countries are Moslems defending the Arab world and the Palestinian refugees for the last 60 years from the Israeli Juggernaut, hence superior in every way.

Aug 15, 2009 - 4:44 pm 13. Moho:

Ian, so you’re saying we should support Israel because what? They’re really cool. What a bunch of bs. I’d rather spend that 3 billion on our country and be rid of the constant headache of having to get involved in another country’s internal and external affairs every five minutes. I don’t owe Israel anything. If it can’t keep its head above water on its own, or figure out how to do live with its neighbors in peace, then its no different to me than the Congo. They’re grown ups, they can handle themselves.

Aug 15, 2009 - 5:27 pm 14. Thomas:

Long life Euskadi!(Basque Land)

Free Basque Country (Euskal Herria)- Hey you, resident leftists:
Do you support the Spanish oppression of the Basque people? Basques are older as nation than the Spaniards, they have their own, pre-IndoEuropean language, different from any Western languages.
If you support the Antisemitic jihadist and their Spanish Marxist enablers against Israel, then let support the Basque freedom fighters with all necessary supplies.

How does it sound Commies?
Bombing in Israel is the “TIT” and make the “TAT” in a Mallorca hotel.
Do you like the idea? No? Why not?

Aug 15, 2009 - 6:01 pm 15. Jerry:

Sheff Rogers asked for “a clear definition of ‘Israel-Bashing’”

Any criticism of Israel that is not matched by a criticism of its adversaries, or which suggests Israel owes more in negotiations than those she faces across the table, or any suggestion that Israel’s self-defense is somehow not justified, or any painting of Israelis as Nazis or Communists or subhumans, or any rationalization that the world would be better off without the existence of Israel as a state, or any denial of Arab complicity in the Holocaust in Europe, or any world view that suggests that Israel has not been a place of Jewish habitation for close to 4000 years, etc.

May I recommend to Sheff Rogers that he read “The Israel Test” by George Gilder. Failure on your part to search for the reasons underlying Israel’s actions also counts as “Israel bashing,” don’t you agree?

Aug 16, 2009 - 6:23 am 16. Jerry:

Bob from Virginia wrote that “Moslems [are] defending the Arab world and the Palestinian refugees”

Lord save me from being defended by Muslims. The Arab world is so mired in clan and family that it cannot integrate anyone new. If you left a place, then you are a stranger when you return. Jordan has removed citizenship from a portion of its Palestinians and will continue doing so in the foreseeable future; Iraq’s Palestinians have begun residing in the United States due to their status as enemies of the new Iraqi regime; Kuwait tossed its Palestinians soon after the first Iraq War; Lebanon keeps its Palestinians from acquiring citizenship – all for the past 60 years.

There are really good reasons for this failure to integrate brother Muslims, not the least of which is the need for local men folk to protect their sources of women folk from strangers. Remember please that Arabs may have up to four wives, and while polygamy is not widely practiced anymore in much of the Muslim world, any diminution in the number of women leaves a certain number of men without the potential for marriage and family. New males entering a community, therefore, undermines the local males in their fight for a normal family life. Those most likely to object to new males are the most powerful members of the community who are also the most likely to engage in polygamy. So they make rules to protect their sexual privileges or just send the unmarried to war.

Aug 16, 2009 - 6:44 am 17. Sylvia:

Ceuta and Melilla are North African enclaves under Spanish occupation. They actually belong to Morocco. So to say that Spain opposes the “occupation” of Jerusalem is sheer hypocrisy.

Aug 16, 2009 - 8:59 am 18. Thomas:

@Resident Commies:
Here is a beautiful bouquet of WALLS that the Shoemaker (Zapatero) never puts on display: Enjoy the pictures!

http://www.break-festival.org/br-media/uploaded/village/Ceutaborderfence2Orig.jpg

http://www-tc.pbs.org/now/shows/432/images/Spain-morocco-wall.jpg

Ever since they reached Berlin, the Bolsheviks became master wall builders; – like the the Italians at singing operas.

Aug 16, 2009 - 10:21 am 19. Eric:

Thanks for reminding me, JFM:
I had forgotten to mention how Israel and it’s pro-Zionist supporters invariably try to minimize its crimes by wagging a wretched finger at those of others…as if doing this someone minimizes its own. Another worn out ploy that’s exemplified by this article, and by your response to my post.
And I fail to see what Hamas’ rockets have to do with Israel’s activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Also, as much as I disagree with, and condemn Hamas’ militant activities and ideology, I can’t help but point out that your implied suggestion that Israel’s occupations, settlements, and its oppression of the Palestinian people are the result of their activities has no basis in reality. Hamas is a result of these things; NOT their cause!

Nor were settlements ever conceived to be a security barrier as Israel has claimed for 40 years. The secret is out. Even some of the original masterminds of the settlement enterprise have conceded that from its onset, the settlement enterprise was meant to create facts on the ground which would allow Israel to retain territory once the day of a final status arrived.

JFM, despite your wagging fingers, you’re clearly a racist who’d have no problem committing genocide against the Palestinians. Your use of stereotyping to condemn ALL Palestinians for the crimes of the militant few, and your skewed views of reality, reveal you for what you are.
You ask why people like me worry so much about “peole[sic] as repugnant as the palestinans[sic]“?
The answer is simple, JFM. It’s because of the injustices they’re forced to endure at the hands of repugnant people like YOU.

Aug 16, 2009 - 11:52 am 20. Thomas:

The pious preachers of mass genocides and enslavement

Only in America is possible to give moralizing lectures by those who are adherents to a murderous Marxist ideology which murdered more people than Hitler’s SS divisions.

As an Eastern European at birth, I am well acquainted with the horror that these leftist killers committed worldwide – but we weren’t intimidated by PC crap like most of Americans sadly do nowadays: one says BOOOO – YOU RACIST! and most spit on himself in disgust and goes into hiding…
Instead, we got the Russian “Burp gun” (PPSh-4 wind up by 76 rotation) and kicked the Commies a**s until they returned well…with the T34 and Mig19….

Israel…these bastard “RACIST!” hollering Commies instigated the Arabs in 1967 to attack Israel by providing military assistance to Egypt. These are our enemies that is, ENEMIES and only the Joker’s clappers worshiping these murderous bastards.

Aug 16, 2009 - 3:34 pm 21. Eric R.:

Israel should simply break diplomatic, travel and trade relations with the Nazi scumbags of Spain, and throw every last Spaniard that won’t sign a declaration that Hamas and Fatah are terrorist organizations out of the country.

Aug 16, 2009 - 3:40 pm 22. Moho:

I said it before and I’ll say it again; judging from the comments on pieces on Israel, 20 compared to 200 on other pieces posted at the same time, there is no support for these articles. I wonder why they keep appearing here, even though the free marketplace of ideas seems to be rejecting them.

Aug 16, 2009 - 6:55 pm 23. Ian:

Bob from Virginia:
#11 “Ian; You are missing the point old boy, the Arab countries are Moslems defending the Arab world and the Palestinian refugees for the last 60 years from the Israeli Juggernaut, hence superior in every way.”

(”boy,” <—white racist word by the way Bubba)

Lets see:

Israel has population of 7 million on land the size of New Jersey.
Surrounded by well armed and brutal Arab Aparteid nations numering 300 million and further Islamic aparteid natiobns numbering 1.5 billion.

Yep, sounds like those pesky Jews are a real juggernaught huh?

How about resettling those "poor palestinians," like Israel did to the 800 thousand Jews kicked out of those Arab/moslem lands? That would be a nice defense huh?

Naw, the anti-semites need a cause to attack the Jews…eh…Zionists….eh..Neocons…eh…well, the anti-semites something…a heart and brain perhaps?

Then they can get on with their boycott and toss out their Israeli developed computers, cell phones, medical imaging devices, medicines etc…

Right? can not be caught with anything made by "Zionists," people huh?

Right?

Aug 16, 2009 - 9:24 pm 24. Thomas:

@22. Moho:
You said:
“free marketplace of ideas seems to be rejecting them.

Only the neo-Bolshevik, Commie parties – of which you are a prominent member – rejecting it. This is part of the war between freedom and the totalitarian Marxists and their Islamofascist alliance – behold your hero Hugo, the Joker and Ahm***jad love fest.

This forum is NOT the DalyKos to much of you chagrin, you represent the minority Communist views here, live with it. Don’t try to set the direction for this forum toward some lefty echo chambers were opposing views are prohibited to post. See the rules at the Commie Democratic Underground: opposition is not tolerated. Be thankful to this forum’s owner because here you are free to spawn your hard leftist creed without being banned.

The “White” Israelis are our friends (- my reference to the Russian civil war of 1917 between the “Reds” and the “Whites”)- the “Reds” like Soros, Axelrod, Dead Fish are your friends the anti-Bolshevik Jews are ours.
Got it Comrade?

Aug 17, 2009 - 6:07 am 25. José Manuel López:

These kinds of articles are important and I am glad Pajamas Media continues to publish them. They expose the hypocrisy of so many European governments, not only towards Israel and the Jews, but also towards the USA and Americans. It hard to see why some Americans want to become more like Europe. So sad.

Aug 18, 2009 - 2:26 am

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