Israel - at the U.N., in the L.A. Times, and in the Latest Poll of American Jews

I'll start with the most disappointing. The AJC (American Jewish Committee) recently released the results of a new poll comparing the attitudes of American Jews with Israeli Jews. While 77% of Israeli Jews either strongly approve or somewhat approve of President Trump's handling of US-Israeli relations, that number dwindles to 34% for American Jews. And while a significant 85% of Israeli Jews approve of the moving of the US embassy to Jerusalem, only 46% of American Jews approve. I'll let the numbers speak for themselves.

The June 10, 2018 Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times had a front page story with this headline: "Lifelong Injury." The article discusses the thousands (per the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza) of Palestinians injured by Israeli bullets at the Gaza border with Israel. Never mind that Hamas has been sending tens of thousands of their people to mass at the Israeli border trying to breach the security barrier and/or throwing various weapons at Israeli troops. The article continues inside for 2 1/2 pages with plenty of pictures.

Here's a fun quote from the Times article: "...Israel accuses the militants of diverting funds for public services to military activities, an allegation Hamas denies." That's it, then? They just accept Hamas' denial? All of Hamas' rockets and missiles do not cost anything. All of the sophisticated tunnels built by Hamas, with tons of concrete and electrical wiring and ventilation cost nothing. Right.

The Times: "The (weekly border) protests, called to demand the lifting of the blockade and a right to return to ancestral homes in what is now Israel, were an exciting distraction from the grinding poverty." Maybe it would be better to not risk life and limb and do whatever may be possible to help your situation. Maybe show up at Hamas headquarters and protest their unwillingness to create a civil society to benefit their people. And let me ask the Times, assuming I lost my senses and decided I wanted to return to my ancestral home in Russia, would the Times care? I trust they do know about the Russian pogroms of the Jews.

This past Wednesday, the UN General Assembly passed yet another anti-Israel resolution. The resolution condemned Israel for what they said was "excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate" force against the Gazans during their mass efforts to breach the border with Israel. The resolution also called for "an international protection mechanism" for the Palestinians. My conclusions? The world only supports the Jews when they are being killed. If a General Assembly resolution had the same enforcement capabilities as a Security Council resolution, the world would be only too happy to send in troops to eliminate Israel.

The measure was propounded by Turkey and Algeria, and passed with 120 votes in favor, 8 opposed and 45 abstentions. Voting no were the US, Australia, Israel of course and some small Pacific Island nations. As the US has no veto power in the General Assembly, our Ambassador, Nikki Haley was unable to prevent passage of the measure. However, she did propose an amendment to the measure, specifically condemning Hamas for the firing of their rockets into Israel, the digging of the tunnels into Israel and the frequent border attacks.

That amendment actually passed by a vote of 62 in favor, 58 against and 42 abstentions. However, because of General Assembly rules, an amendment would have to pass with a 2/3 vote. The takeaway? I would have to give credit to President Trump and Ambassador Nikki Haley (along with Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon) for helping to slowly but surely change the anti-Israel sentiment at the UN.