Owner: Jerusalem Defender URL:http://jerusalemdefender.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:06:39 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Professor Alan Friedlander explores the common ground between Talmudic Principle and International Law in regards to the State of Israel maintaining full political rights to all of Jerusalem and especially the Temple Mount as a Human Right of Jews. Site statistics:Click here
Why I Still Reject Kahanism Despite Palestinian Support of Terrorism 2008-04-01 21:34:00 You may be wondering the following: If I am blaming the majority of Palestinian
s for supporting terror in their hearts and with their votes, then why do I still reject Kahanism despite Palestinian Arabic support of terrorism. It's simple, the Bible says that there should be a single law and single ordinance for the stranger and the native of the land (Numbers 15.16). Kahanism removes voting rights from Palestinian Arabs. Not all Arabs would be ejected from Israel under Rabbi Meir Kahane's plan, those who swore allegiance can stay, only without voting rights.Obviously whoever is chomping at the bit for bloodshed has no place in the Israel of the future. So what Kahanism is effectively saying is that those Israeli Arabs who befriend Israel should be rewarded with no right to vote. The Tor Read more:Support
, Terrorism
How the Palestinians Can Redeem Themselves 2008-03-23 23:38:00 The recent revelation of the Palestinian mindset changing from a silent majority of peace loving Arabs held hostage in a cycle of conflict with Israel by an internal radical terrorist fringe, into an all out terror worshiping nation had its roots in four major blunders. Many world leaders are turning a blind eye or trying to ignore this by other means, and therefore they have no hope to pinpoint these issues. The better international leaders, such as President Bush, are aware of the problems, but they have bigger issues demanding their priority, and so a full review of these issues never gets added to the sum of what Western Foreign Policy should be in the Middle-East. But I have the luxury of speaking of Utopian ideals, so I intend to, and hope that others will do likewise.My one goal Read more:Palestinians
Palestinians Choose Violence Over Peace 2008-03-20 01:16:00 As Reported in the Jerusalem Post, according to a NY Times Poll, 84% of Palestinians
approve of the slaughter of the innocent, peace loving youths at the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva. (Photo: Yehuda Boltshauser, Israel National News) While one should not hastily decide the fate of an entire people based on the results of a single poll, the horror of recent times and the collective body of evidence points to one thing, the fact that the dream of Palestinian Statehood West of the Jordan has come to an end. It is a dream I must confess that I too dreamt. Imagine… Israel performing charity that no nation would have seriously even considered attempting… ( …for themselves… even though they have tried to force it down Israel’s throat). Only in an act of pure kindness and charity could Isr Read more:Violence
, Peace
Succession in International Law 2008-03-17 23:31:00 If the Palestinian Entity is considered a full fledged legal state, and at this stage they are not. Any attempt to give them territory would fall under the rules of Cession (explained well in Shaw, 1997, Pp 339 & following). This would require the Palestinians to respect third party rights to the land (such as Jewish rights to the visit the graves of their ancestors without danger). The fact that the Palestinians have yet to show that they would respect International
legal rights of the Jews in their midst if Israel were to fully withdraw from the West Bank, makes it foolish and immoral to consider such a withdrawal, and illegal to implement such a withdrawal.If the Palestinian Entity is a nonstate organization, and at this stage, they are. Any attempt to give them land would fall
The Massacre At Mercaz Harav Yeshiva 2008-03-06 22:10:00 The Jews of Israel can't depend on the government to protect them. As the holy sages of the Talmud say in Sotah, "Upon whom can we rely? We can only rely upon our Father in Heaven."As an act of faith we should increase our recital of Tehillim/Psalms, make daily declarations of penance towards Hashem/God and anyone we may have hurt, be diligent in avoiding desecrations of God's name, such as dishonesty, plus I would suggest two security oriented policy changes at yeshivos, (especially by large yeshivos): Plain clothes armed guards (could be filled by yeshiva faculty with army experience)Divided lunch schedule, only 50% of the students are in the lunch room at any one time. Hashem will help us! Fear only Him. The massacre will not likely affect the secular government, but it c
Diaspora Jews Are People Too 2008-01-31 20:27:00 The current Prime Minister of Israel did more than insult countless benefactors and donors to his constituency when he discounted the opinions of any Jew currently living outside of the Holy Land. He attacked fundamental beliefs within the Jewish faith. While our prayers are directed towards Jerusalem, the holiness of our people transcends borders, just as God Himself transcends the physical.Any religion can tell you that the righteous certainly have meaning in God's eyes, wherever they may sojourn. The example of Joseph in Egypt comes to mind. An appropriate Talmudic quote on this is, "Even for the sake of one righteous person, the world can continue to exist, as it says "A righteous man is the foundation of the world (Proverbs 10.25)" (Yoma 38b)But in Judaism, even the non-righteous Read more:Diaspora
A Democratic Messianic King 2008-01-22 23:06:00 It is a matter of prophecy that Moshiach (the Messiah) be a king with not just the pomp and pageantry of royalty, but the legal power of life and death over his enemies within the society itself. Now in Halachah (Jewish Religious Law) matters of practice take on a religious import. If something is recognized as the best way of doing things, it is likely that when in pursuit of God's Honor, we must do things in that very way. And it is a matter of practice in our times that society considers good governance that which is closest to democratic ideals, and that which avoids the potential ability to abuse power by individual leaders. This brings us to the question. How do we have a king messiah in the age of democracy? According to God's own rules, this seems to be almost a paradox.Well we a Read more:Democratic
The Iranian Dilemma 2008-01-01 22:22:00 The likelihood of war happening as soon as this year only increases when you reduce the consequences for a county with the current kind of leadership that Iran has. The weak opposition by the West to Iran going nuclear has strengthened the danger of war with Iran. Friends of Iran, including nations like Russia, should be thinking tough love, not codependency, at a time in history like this.Ahmadinejad’s ploy is currently working. How do you keep both the American military and your political competition at bay at the same time? Shell game tactics. Just as he was coming under pressure from moderates in his own government, this change of rhetoric from the White House is taken as a breath of fresh air, and more. As the Iranian
leader values his stated declarations almost as much as actual
The Definition of True Peace: Truth 2007-12-19 18:25:00 When someone criticizes the way peace talks are held, some reports call this "opposing Peace
" or "creating an obstacle to peace". This method of journalism is best defined as the LIE method. A peace process does not always equate with peace, and in the Middle-East, it usually does not.The difference at this juncture in history, as opposed to prior to 9/11/01, is that the reason is becoming more and more clear. And the lack of a solution is becoming more and more connected to the lack of a will to listen to opposing views by Western diplomats. No, it's not wrong to not give in to terrorists. It is not wrong to kill them before they can get you. That part is good. The problem is that they are so focused on killing flies, while our leaders are leaving the screen door open, that the prob Read more:Definition
, Truth
Jerusalem & Jus Cogens 2007-12-17 19:19:00 The Israeli retention of Greater Jerusalem
and the Temple Mount represents a fundamental Human Right for the Jewish people. When the Jordanian government held Jerusalem between 1948-1967, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and Jews were allowed no free access to their most holy of places. Whereas Israel guarantees freedom of religion to all who live under her protection.As we have mentioned before, time and place have more profound meaning in Judaism than in Christianity. Jews may never, under the terms of their faith, forsake Jerusalem. Indeed, whether in the Holy Land or in exile Jews have prayed towards the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for the past 3000 years. There is no Judaism without Jerusalem.Fundamental International Laws are called Jus Cogens. There is much academic debate over whe
Temple Mount Is the Holiest Site in Judaism 2007-12-13 21:29:00 The entire Temple
Mount, not just the Western Wall, is, in fact, the holiest site in Judaism
. From a Jewish religious perspective, the Temple Mount is the Center of Jerusalem and the religion of Judaism itself, and not just a historic place in East Jerusalem. The Israeli government's website ignores this and calls the Western Wall alone the holiest Jewish site on earth. The Mount behind the Wall is even holier than the Wall to Judaism. The concept of a "holy of holies", comes from the Jewish description of the site that is currently occupied by the Dome of the Rock. Jews are connected to God through that site, and that is why we pray towards it, no matter what part of the world we are in.What would an Israeli governmental official say as a mitigating factor to the lie that it is telli
Temple Time? 2007-12-12 20:03:00 If we are discussing the religion and politics of Jerusalem, then we need to address the Temple
Mount. Very obviously, the Jewish religion calls for a rebuilding of the Jewish Temple, in its place which is upon the Temple Mount that is currently occupied by the Dome of the Rock. The timing of that rebuilding project, however, is probably not in the immediate future.Even were the messiah to come today and say that the one true religion is Judaism and the one true path to the worship of the God of the Jews is exclusively by Talmudic principles, the first project the messiah (aka Moshiach) would do would not likely be the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Here's some reasons...The Temple must be "a house of prayer for all peoples" (Isaiah 56.7). You can't assume that is likely if the very rebu
The Pollard Fiasco 2007-12-11 17:58:00 Based on what was said yesterday, that Jews must place their nation of birth before the State of Israel unless they decide to relocate to Israel, why then do so many American Jews ask for clemency for Jonathan Pollard
, a convicted traitor against America?There are many reasons, of course, and I won't restate all the arguments here, they are well stated on , but the reason arguing on behalf of his release does not go against what was said in this blog is because American Jews are, or should be asking for what is best for America. Yes, Israel would like Pollard released. But America should release Pollard because it is to our benefit to do so.First let's analyze the danger that Pollard represents:1) Pollard was never a true threat to America, he was acting to defend an ally of America.2) If Read more:Fiasco
Judaism and Jewish National Loyalty 2007-12-10 17:24:00 Due to a lot of confusion out there in regards to the role of a Jew in exile, there is a need to be specific about what should otherwise be considered obvious. An American Jew is and should be loyal to America first before the State of Israel; the same goes from each Jew of whichever particular nation he lives in. As the Talmud phrases it: "The Law of the Land (you dwell in) is the Law." If a Jew finds this concept confusing he should move to Israel. Because God dispersed his people throughout the world to spread His Glory, not to desecrate it by disloyalty to their homeland or any other sinful pursuits. A truly religious American Jew should place America before Israel if he wants to remain truly religious.A Jew's connection to the people of Israel and the Holy Land, however, is connected Read more:Judaism
, Jewish
, National
, Loyalty
Jewish Freedom of Religion and Jerusalem 2007-12-09 21:57:00 Sometimes religion and politics do mix and in some places in the world, they have no choice but to. Jerusalem
is such a place. The generally held belief, however, of Jerusalem being equally holy to three religions is simply not true.Unlike other faiths, Judaism has but one religious center in the world, and that place has remained so for some 3000 years. Jerusalem.Whereas Christianity moved its religious seat from Jerusalem to "New Jerusalem" (aka, Rome) to "New Rome" (aka Constantinople/Istanbul) and so on, Judaism is under Biblical directives to never exchange its religious seat for any other.Time and place have such profound meaning in Judaism.And Islam does not embrace Jerusalem but rejects it for Mecca and Medina.Therefore, the question of retention of Jerusalem in Israeli sovereignt Read more:Jewish
, Freedom
, Religion
An Alternative Peace Plan 2008-04-09 22:12:00 "Israeli Government Supports Kahanism - Only Against the Jews! ...Enough! ... Here is the AlternativePeace
Plan You Have Been Waiting For!!"Or"An Alternative Peace Plan" by Alan FriedlanderIn the March 30th 2008 Israel National News article, "Livni in Favor of Paying Jews to Leave East-of-Wall Towns" Left wing Jewish supporters describe the ethnic cleansing of the East Jerusalem suburbs of Jews as "relocating (them) back (home) to Israel." Either Kahanism is legitimate or it is not. If it is, then it is stupid to do it against yourself. I claim, however, it is not, so even against the "other side" I do not support ethnic cleansing and even by non-violent means. The key question then is what then is the alternative? An important question to address as for the sake of the lack of a workab
A Comparison of Peace Plans 2008-04-17 01:10:00 A peace process should have the potential to lead to actual peace. If it does not, then it should not be considered a viable option even on a temporary basis. Each time a peace deal fails radical elements become even more radicalized. True lovers of peace, should therefore have zero tolerance for fake peace processes.Two State Solution Based Peace
PlansMadrid TalksOslo Accords 1 & 2Roadmap to ?Peace?All of these have thus far been unworkable. From an International Law perspective, any compromise of Jewish religious sites, with no true expectancy of Palestinian compliance with Succession laws, is illegal from the start. The reason the Quartet are forcing Israel into a continued cycle of violence rather than using a more workable plan is perhaps threefold...Israeli governments liter
A New and Revised One-State Solution to Peace in the Middle East 2008-05-11 21:58:00 Toward an Evenhanded Policy for Peace
in the Holy Land, Part 1:A New and Revised One-StateSolution
to Peace in the Middle East By Professor Alan Friedlander When seeking an end to belligerence the goal is to remove as many current and as many potential causes for feelings of outrage by either side of the conflict. Yet previous peace plans either favored one side or the other. Previous on
The Friedlander Peace Plan: An Evenhanded Policy for Peace 2008-05-14 19:31:00 Toward an Evenhanded Policy
for Peace
in the Holy Land, Part 3 By Professor Alan Friedlander In the creation of the Friedlander Peace Plan, an effort has been made to try to form a peace plan for an electorate that currently votes for terrorists, the Palestinians, and for a nation that is adamant about keeping its current ethnic mix, the Israelis. There is a general lack of trust because Palest
A Statement Against Arrogance 2008-05-16 15:31:00 The Talmud teaches in Ethics of Fathers, one should be as clear as possible in their teachings to that students do not stumble on a misinterpretation. The Talmud (first chapter of Sotah) also relates how God despises Yuhara/haughtiness comparing it to idolatry and adultery. Ethics of the Fathers further says in the first chapter that whoever who tries to increase their name, decreases it. Indeed,
The Friedlander Peace Plan Is The Everyone Wins Peace Plan 2008-05-22 17:30:00 By the grace of God, if others wish to call my peace plan, the Friedlander Peace
Plan, I will let them. First, the name consistently differentiates between itself and the (Rabbi) Elon Peace Plan, which is also a One State Solution but of a different character. Second, the original Germanic meaning of Friedland is "peaceful land", which is the goal of any peace plan. Indeed, both are valid reasons
Making Peace With Syria 2008-05-25 14:32:00 Why would Syria
n dictator Assad wish to forsake all of his terrorist cronies in Damascus for the sake of a mere majority of the Golan Heights, when he had always demanded all of the Golan? The timing is puzzling of Assad's new willingness to give up the equivalent of an extra army in his land for the sake of only part of what he has always claimed was entirely his. Especially when you take former Read more:Peace
Russia & Iran: Avoiding a New Cold War 2008-06-06 16:51:00 Earlier this year, I mentioned that pressure needed to be brought down on Russia
's support of Iran's nuclear project so that Iran would not be encouraged to ignore Western political pressure. But there is another reason as well. CNN reported today that a key Israeli government member gave Iran an explicit warning of ceasing their nuke program, or else Israel will attack. If things stay on the sam Read more:New Cold
A United Jerusalem is the Only Chance for True Peace 2008-06-13 15:39:00 The Roadmap to Peace
is founded upon a fallacy. The UN initiative to seek a land for peace deal and settle the differences between Israelis and Palestinians by division of the Holy Land is at the heart of all the problems involved in making peace work. It is no wonder that most Israelis and Palestinian Arabs have lost hope for current peace talks to be successful.When forming a peace plan you cann Read more:United
, Jerusalem
Palestinian Leaders Indicate Trust in the IDF 2008-06-14 23:01:00 As reported in yesterday’s edition of the Jewish Press (page 69, citing MAAN News), PA negotiator Qurei recently gave something of an historic revelation. He suggested that if things do not improve in the current Roadmap guided peace process, the Palestinian
leadership may press for a single bi-national state. Back in 2004 he revealed his personal preference for this, but never before in the con Read more:Leaders
Sarkozy Too Cozy With Division of Jerusalem 2008-06-23 21:00:00
In the news today, France's leader spoke out in a healthy and tough stand against Iran, and just in case we would start to think him too wise beyond his years, in the interests of even-handedness he also made a foolish statement so he could remain on par with many other world leaders. Sarkozy
said that:
"There can be no peace without recognising Jerusalem
as the capital of two states and the gua Read more:Division
A Critique of the Elon Plan and a Summary of the Everyone Wins Peace Plan 2008-06-20 17:11:00
The Rabbi Binyamin Elon peace plan, despite a few issues that bother me, is currently the best peace plan widely known in the world today, while the “Roadmap to Peace
” is an assault on Jewish Human Rights in the form of freedom to practice Judaism in their own land. The Palestinian Authority has failed to show any indication that they intend to keep the International Laws of Succession and sa Read more:Critique
, Summary
MK Rabbi Binyamin Elon is Now Aware of the Everyone Wins Peace Plan 2008-07-08 20:19:00 It started a couple of weeks ago when I mentioned to Rabbi
Pesach Lerner, Executive Vice President of the National Council of Young Israel that the next time Rabbi Elon comes to town he should please let me know. Rabbi Lerner asked why. I said that I wished to discuss and compare peace plans with him. Rabbi Lerner then volunteered to personally deliver a letter to Rabbi Elon for me. This past Sund Read more:Aware
, Peace
How to Deal with International Hostage Crises 2008-07-07 19:14:00 I would have thought with former war hero Ehud Barak on board as Defense Minister, the Olmert Administration would have become a bit wiser when dealing with hostage crises. Unfortunately the recent "live murders for deceased hostages" idea must rank as one of the most foolish foreign policy ideas that I have ever heard. While the hallowed remains of fallen soldiers should always be sought out, th Read more:International
, Hostage
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