Antisemitism Continues Its Rise, Part II

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the son of the late Senator/US Attorney General, has long been an anti-vaxxer.  What he believes about vaccines is his business.  At a recent anti-vaccine rally in DC, he said this:  "Even in Hitler's Germany, you could, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland.  You could hide in an attic, like Anne Frank did..it was possible (to escape).  Many died, true, but it was possible."  When I read that, I did not know what to make of it.  Is RFK Jr. really that stupid?  You could hide in an attic?  Anne Frank was murdered by the Nazis, at about age 15.  You could cross the Alps?  It was possible to escape?  How many escaped compared to the 6 million who were murdered in the Holocaust?  

Maybe he is just another antisemite, comparing the loss of one's job if not vaccinated to the murder of 6 million Jews.  I have previously said that I do not want people losing their jobs over the vaccine mandates.  But what kind of comparison is that?  Does he not know that his own father was assassinated by a Palestinian terrorist named Sirhan Sirhan, because his father supported the Jewish people and the State of Israel.  Did RFK Jr. "inherit" his grandfather Joe's antisemitism?  

Kennedy's wife, actress Cheryl Hines, perhaps said it best:  "My husband's reference to Anne Frank at a mandate rally in D.C. was reprehensible and insensitive.  The atrocities that millions endured during the Holocaust should never be compared to anyone or anything.  His opinions are not a reflection of my own."  Reprehensible indeed.  I'll leave it at that.  

Al Franken was a United States Senator.  In expressing his displeasure recently, at the failure of the Senate to pass Biden's voting legislation, Franken said this:  "This is a serious one, and I just think other people are feeling it, it feels like, I don't know, 1933 Germany...And I'm just like, in a tavern, looking over the table and there are guys in black jack boots and Nazi uniforms, and I'm going like, 'Hmm.  This looks bad, wonder how bad it can get.'"  I know, Franken is Jewish.  But it was bad enough when Biden compared those objecting to his voting legislation to George Wallace, Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis.  But a Jew goes even further and compares the objection to the rise of Nazism.  We are in a world gone mad.  

For 18 years there have been weekly protests on Shabbat outside a Jewish synagogue in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The protesters would carry various nasty, antisemitic and anti-Israel signs, such as:  "Jewish Power Corrupts," and "Zionists Picnic While Palestinians Starve," and "No More Wars For Israel."  To borrow a word from Cheryl Hines, these people and their signs are "reprehensible."  It took 18 long years for the Ann Arbor City Council to finally pass a resolution condemning these protests.  "The Ann Arbor City Council condemns all forms of antisemitism, and in particular the weekly antisemitic rally on Washtenaw Avenue."  The Council went on to "declare its support for the" synagogue.  

The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) just filed a civil rights complaint with the US Department of Education, against the Fairfax County Public Schools.  The allegations include students being subjected to "Heil Hitler" salutes, being called "fucking Jew ass whore,"  fucking Jew," and "dirty Jew," among other antisemitic epithets.  In addition, swastikas were seen at school grounds.  Various special school related events were held on the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  One school board member is alleged to have made false anti-Israel comments, which would amount to antisemitism.  

Here we are in 2022, at a time when racism is roundly condemned (yes, there are fringe idiots who are racists), but antisemitism seems to be alive and well in respected segments of society.  And I have not even discussed the antisemites in Congress and in universities and the mainstream media.  Author, and TV and radio commentator, Mark Levin, was recently discussing the Wannsee Conference, which was a meeting of German government officials, who were planning to coordinate the carrying out of Hitler's "Final Solution."  My point in bringing this up is not to compare Nazi Germany to the USA.  I have repeatedly said that the USA is the best country in the world for Jews, outside of Israel.

No, my point is to say that those in attendance at the Wannsee Conference were not only government officials in the most advanced country in Europe, and one of the most advanced in the world, but also to point out that 8 of the 15 in attendance held advanced doctorate degrees.  The point is that academia here is not insulated against antisemitism by virtue of having advanced degrees.  Often, those with advanced degrees are the worst.  The same applies to those in the MSM and even some in Congress - regardless of how "educated" they may be.  

Antisemitism Continues Its Rise, Part I

A synagogue in Colleyville, Texas was just the latest example of a Jewish temple being victimized by antisemites.  The terrorist antisemite in question was a Muslim from Britain, and of Pakistani descent.  Because of Covid, the Shabbat (Sabbath) service was being aired on Zoom, with only the Rabbi and 3 others in the synagogue.  Why did this man take Jewish worshippers hostage?  What did this armed antisemite want? It appears he sought the release of a Pakistani known as "Lady Al Qaeda," who is currently serving an 86 year prison sentence for shooting at American soldiers and FBI agents.  The prison is in the Fort Worth, Texas area, not far from Colleyville.  

But why did this man go into a Jewish Temple to attempt to accomplish his goal?  Why did he also call a Rabbi in New York City?  According to one hostage, this terrorist asserted "I know President Biden will do things for the Jews."  The question must be asked - where does anyone get that idea?  Is this man's belief that a local Rabbi has the power to dictate US policy a reflection of what is being taught in much of the Muslim world?  How much of the Muslim world holds such a view?  

Thankfully, an FBI tactical team did their job and was able to kill the terrorist with no injuries to the hostages.  They deserve tremendous credit.  Not so for the FBI special agent in charge, who made this statement:  "He (the terrorist) was singularly focused on one issue, and it was not specifically related to the Jewish community, but we are continuing to work to find motive."  Please excuse my saying this, but WTF!  Did this Muslim terrorist enter a church and ask the priest to help get "Lady Al Qaeda" released?  Did he go into a department store and ask the store manager to help out?  No, he went into a Jewish synagogue.  There's your motive.  He was an antisemite.  He believed Jews controlled the US and probably the world.  

It took five days for FBI Director Christopher Wray to acknowledge the attack on the Colleyville synagogue was an antisemitic attack.  Here was an Op-Ed by Bret Stephens, writing in the New York Times:  "Unlike the Pittsburgh (synagogue) shooter or the "Jews will not replace us" crowd at Charlottesville - white, right-wing, mostly Christian and therefore "privileged" - the Texas assailant was a British Muslim of Pakistani descent.  Not white.  Not privileged.  Not right-wing.  In the binary narrative of the powerful versus the powerless, his naked antisemitism just doesn't compute:  Powerless people are supposed to be victims, not murderous bigots."  

There was an interesting piece in the January 22-23, 2022 weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal, with this title:  "The Growing Risk For Jews Who Show Their Jewishness."  His thesis is that Jews do very well in America's secular society.  But, like the Pittsburgh synagogue attack in 2018, like the Poway, CA synagogue attack in 2019, like the attack at a kosher market in Jersey City, NJ in 2019, we now have Colleyville.  In other words, the author opines that if you show up at Jewish religious or cultural establishments, you are at greater risk.  

I have to admit, I have not been to my synagogue, the local Chabad House, for nearly two years (except for maybe a couple of times) because of Covid, and my impaired immune system.  Otherwise, no antisemitic bastard would keep me away.  And I take heart from a letter to the editor the following weekend in the WSJ, in response to the aforementioned Op-Ed:  "My orthodox synagogue has a security team manned by shul (temple) members who have been trained by a former Army Ranger, a current police department SWAT officer and a former Israeli Shin Bet (the Israeli security forces, somewhat akin to our FBI) agent.  I regularly undergo firearms practice.  At the range, prior to squeezing the trigger, I think of my grandparents who were gassed in Treblinka, and I vow "never again."  You may count me among the Jews who are not terrified."  To which I say, "Amen."          

What About Biden? One Year In.

Things are not going well for President Biden.  And, people do not believe things are going well for the country.  In a Fox poll of 1/16 to 1/19/22, with a +/- 3% MOE, only 36% would want Biden reelected, with 60% saying they would vote for someone else.  In terms of his approval rating, he is upside down on major issues.  For border security, 37% approve, 59% disapprove; on the economy 41% approve, 58% disapprove; on foreign policy 41% approve, 54% disapprove; and on the coronavirus 46% approve and 52% disapprove.  

In an AP-NORC poll taken 1/13 to 1/18/22, only 26% say the country is moving in the right direction.  Nearly three quarters, 74%, say the country is moving in the wrong direction.  And this poll has only 48% of Democrats wanting Biden to run again.  Overall, however, only 28% overall say he should run again.  70% say he should not.

Back in 2018 President Trump called NBC's Chuck Todd a "sleepy son of a bitch."  This was supposed to be just one example of how nasty Trump could get.  Biden, on the other hand, ran as a nice guy, in contrast to Trump.  And Biden told us he would be a unifier.  On Biden's first day in office, he told his staff:  "I am not joking when I say this, if you are ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot.  No ifs, ands or buts."  

Recently, Biden called White House reporter Peter Doocy a "stupid son of a bitch."  I think that's worse than Trump's "sleepy son of a bitch."  He told another reporter, "what a stupid question."  He has demonstrated time and again that he has little tolerance for those who disagree with him.  Just recently, Biden told those who disagreed with his proposed voting rights legislation (actually, a federal takeover of elections) that they were on the side of George Wallace, Bull Connor and Jefferson Davis.  By all means, Mr. President, do not try to persuade people by any means other than demagoguery.  Because we know how "unifying" and persuasive that technique is.   

One year in office, what has Biden accomplished?  Yes, he got the infrastructure bill passed on a bipartisan basis.  But he did not get his Build Back Better bill, filled with left-wing giveaways.  He did not get his voting legislation passed, a left-wing dream piece of legislation that would have the Feds taking over all elections.  He has not ended the coronavirus, as he promised he would do - after blaming Trump for much of it.  Yet Trump's Operation Warp Speed helped provide vaccines to 250 million Americans.  Biden has not secured the border.  Just the opposite, as his Administration is secretly flying single men all over the country at taxpayer expense.  These are men who crossed illegally into the country.  

Foreign policy?  Admittedly, the Ukraine issue is complex.  No doubt that our European allies should be taking the lead.  And some European countries are stepping up.  But the leading power, Germany, has proven to be...well, Germany.  They have little interest in other than continuing to get cheap energy from Russia.  Not to mention their deal making with China and Iran.  Russia essentially controls Belarus already.  If Ukraine falls, are Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia next?  Will it encourage China to take Taiwan, and Iran to expand further in the Middle East, and complete their development of nuclear weapons?  And how much do we/should we care if the free world shrinks and the dictators control an ever expanding part of the planet.   

Biden now has an opportunity to appoint a Justice to the Supreme Court.  He says he will appoint a black woman.  I have no problem with a black woman serving on the Court.  But let's be honest.  Is he really interested in appointing a competent and knowledgeable black female jurist to the High Court?  Or, do we also have to add that she must be a liberal?  The only question is, will Biden seek a far left jurist, or a more classic liberal.  Because, we know what an uproar Trump caused in the media and the Democratic Party by daring to appoint conservatives - even though one was a woman.  What Biden does with this appointment may very well signal whether or not he continues to be follow the dictates of the far left wing of his party.

I'll end with one commentator's assessment of Biden's first year:  "He's (Biden) no longer seen as competent and effective, no longer seen as a good commander-in-chief, or perhaps most damaging, as easy-going and likeable.  In fact, just 5% of adults say Mr. Biden has performed better than expected as president, one of the many lowest firsts and fewest in our poll."  Sean Hannity of Fox News?  No, Chuck Todd of NBC.        

Let's Talk January 6, 2021, Part II - The End Of Democracy

If you have any doubt that our democracy is on its deathbed, then you need to read the editorial in the January 14, 2021 Los Angeles Times.  Here is the first sentence:  "It's coming down to the wire for democracy in the United States."  I have to ask - is the left actually frightened by all their gloom and doom prophecies?  Or is that simply their grandiloquent manner of persuasion?  As I recall, the Earth will be ending in 12 (now 9 or 10) years.  We are all going to die of AIDS.  If we survive that, we are going to die from second-hand smoke.  I cannot recall all the other horrors that await us, if we fail to adhere to leftist ideology.

The point, of course, is that January 6 proved the need for a national take-over of elections; and without that, our democracy is doomed.  President Biden is urging passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.  These laws are reformulations of H.R.1, Biden's original plan to have the federal government take over elections nationwide.  But that failed, so this is now the end of democracy 2.0.  

The other point is that the Democrats must be able to maintain control not only over all elections, but also control over government.  Permanently.  Because the Republicans cannot be trusted with our democracy.  If I recall, however, then Vice President Pence, a Republican, ignored - rightfully - the entreaties of Trump to overturn the vote of the Electoral College.  As I recall, Republican governors consistently disputed Trump's allegations of voter fraud.  And, if I recall, quite a few Republican judges denied the legal claims brought by the Trump team.  But those Republicans just cannot be trusted.  

So, the devil, I mean the President, went down to Georgia to give a speech, telling us just how dire the situation is.  If the Republicans do not pass the President's elections legislation, then they not only oppose democracy, they are downright un-American.  As Biden told the Republicans in Congress:  "Do you want to be on the side of Dr. King or George Wallace?  Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor?  Do you want to be on the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis?"  Jefferson Davis?  Oh my.  If Republicans disagree with Biden that means they seek a return to the Confederacy?  To slavery?  No wonder why Hillary called us a bunch of "deplorables." 

That was not all that Biden threw at us.  He continued to lie about the "restrictive" new voting laws in Georgia and other states.  It does not matter how often fact-checkers (including the Washington Post's well respected fact-checker) tell him he is wrong.  As Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in rebuttal, Biden's speech was "All to demagogue voting laws that are more expansive than what Democrats have in his own home state (of Delaware)."

And just imagine, those Republicans don't even want voters standing in line waiting to vote to have a bottle of water.  Does anybody buy that nonsense.  Bring as many water bottles for yourself as you like.  If necessary, ask poll workers for some water.  But the dispensing of water by third parties might very well constitute electioneering, which likely all states prohibit.    

Actually, we Republicans should be thrilled with Biden's speech.  It was so antagonistic, so divisive, that even Biden's supporters are complaining.  His speech has undoubtedly done more to assist with a Republican takeover in the House and Senate come November than anything any Republican might say.  

Allow me to end with a few lines at the end of the Los Angeles Times editorial, mentioned at the beginning of this post.  The editorial quotes a Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice:  "This is one of those moments that will be remembered in history books.  Did we save democracy or let it go down the tubes?"  And the paper's editorial finishes with this:  "Biden and Schumer have vowed to keep fighting to protect voting rights.  They must do so as long as there's a chance to save our democracy."  How could I not agree?  Their hyperbole, hypocrisy and outright lies will, in fact, help save our democracy - by helping to insure a Republican victory in November.         

Let's Talk January 6, 2021, Part I - The House Select Committee

 (Note:  For my earlier comments on January 6, please see my 1/10/21 post, "The Trump Era Ends Badly.")

The House Select Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the events of January 6, 2021, is designed to accomplish one thing - weaken Trump and the Republican Party.  A look at the membership of this "select" committee reveals there are 7 Democrat members yet only 2 Republican members.  Why is that?  When House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy appointed 5 Republicans, Speaker Pelosi rejected two of those selections - Jim Jordan and Jim Banks.  Reacting to Pelosi's "unprecedented" denial of the minority party's right to choose their own members, McCarthy then withdrew all 5 of his nominations to the committee.

The only thing "select" about this so-called "select" committee is that Pelosi selected all the members - not only the 7 Democrats, but also the 2 Republicans.  The two Republicans:  Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.  Both are anti-Trumpers, but more significantly, voted for Trump's impeachment last January without insisting on any type of evidentiary hearing first.  There were no House Judiciary Committee hearings before the impeachment vote, which was also unprecedented - at least in the modern era. 

Bennie Thompson is the chair of the committee.  And, while Jordan and Banks were deemed unacceptable by Pelosi, Adam Schiff was perfectly fine.  The same Adam Schiff who talked up the false Russian collusion story for at least two years.  The same Adam Schiff who assured us that he had concrete evidence of Russian collusion, yet, after the Mueller report issued, he seemed to have forgotten what that evidence was. 

The Democrats claim that this committee will get to the truth about the events of January 6, and in doing so will be an important step in protecting democracy.  The Democrats are also telling us that Biden's two voting bills are also important measures that will help to protect our democracy.  But just how much do the Democrats really care about our democratic institutions?  

Do the Democrats care about the Supreme Court?  No, they want to pack the court with more liberal members.  Did Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer care about the institution when, in March, 2020, in connection with a pending abortion case, he said this:  "I want to tell you, Gorsuch; I want to tell you Kavanaugh:  you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price - you won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."  Schumer's comments were so extreme, so threatening to the Justices of the Supreme Court, that the Chief Justice felt obligated to issue a rare rebuke, calling Schumer's comments "inappropriate" and "dangerous."

Do the Democrats support the US Senate?  Not at all.  They want to add states to the union (Washington, DC and Puerto Rico) for the sole purpose of adding 4 more likely Democratic members.  They want to end the Senate filibuster, so that they can pass Biden's two voting measures, which would  effectively result in a federal takeover of all elections.  The Senate, with one-third of its members being elected every two years, lends greater stability to the Congress than does the House, with all 435 members being elected every two years.  It is understood that the House reflects the passions of the moment, but the Senate does not.  It is also understood that the filibuster is another check on the passions of the moment, by protecting the rights of the minority party, and encouraging compromise.  

Do the Democrats support the Constitution?  No, again.  We already know that they do not support either the First Amendment or the Second Amendment.  When it comes to elections, Article I, Section 4, provides:  "The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof..."  Yes, there is a provision that allows Congress to overrule a state decision, but that is rarely used.  The historical precedent is for the states to control their own elections.  Article II Section 1, provides, for the election of the president:  "Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof, may direct, a number of Electors" that equals the total number of their representatives and senators.  But the Democrats do not want states to control their own elections.  And they want to abolish the electoral college.

But the Democrats support our other institutions, right?  Wrong.  They do not support the idea that the US is even a sovereign nation with the right to protect its borders and prevent people from entering illegally.  But they support our legal system at least?  No again.  They only support it when the outcome is the one they desire.  (See the posts, The Rittenhouse Verdict, Parts II and III, 11/21/21.)  But the Democrats must support an orderly society, without which no democratic institutions can exist.  No again.  Tell me how many Democrats spoke out against the violent rioting in 2020 and 2021, by groups such as BLM and Antifa.  Tell me how many spoke out against Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.  Which party supports defunding the police - the institution that makes all the other institutions possible.  And let's not forget Speaker Pelosi's reply, when asked about protesters illegally taking down the statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore:  "People will do what they do."

So please do not try to sell me on the idea that the Democrats care about democracy or any of our democratic institutions.  But if you do believe what they're selling, I'll give you a good price on the Brooklyn Bridge.

      

New Year Reflections, Part II (A Look Back At Those We Lost in 2021)

The 12/28/21 edition of the USA Today had a look at those celebrities (for lack of a better term) that passed away in 2021.  They separated the names by category, such as sports, music, entertainment and the like.  As I do not recall ever doing a post such as this, I thought I would comment on the ones I will miss the most.

In sports, it would the great Hank Aaron.  His 755 career home runs easily beat Babe Ruth's 714.  Aaron consistently hit 30 or more home runs in a season, and did so for 15 of his 23 playing years.  He finished with 2,297 runs batted in, and a .305 batting average.  Although his home run record was technically broken by Barry Bonds, I never accepted that.  Bonds broke the record during the steroid era, and so Aaron has remained the home run champ to this writer.  Aaron was 86 years old.

Jackie Mason has long been my favorite comedian.  He started out as a Rabbi.  He made fun of his fellow Jews, politicians and others, and was definitely not politically correct.  He was conservative, and a strong supporter of Israel.  Mason always knew how to set up a joke, and then deliver it with perfect timing and with his distinctive voice.  Mason died at 93.

I will also miss another strong supporter of Israel - Sheldon Adelson.  Adelson was the Chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands.  He and his wife donated huge sums to the Republican Party.  He also donated $140 million to the Birthright Israel Foundation, which provides an all expenses paid trip to Israel to young Jews in the Diaspora.  He spent $25 million to build a high school in Las Vegas, and donated $7.5 million to various universities to fund medical research.  As with this writer, he started out as a Democrat, then switched to being a Republican.  Adelson died at 87 years of age, and is buried at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Israel.  

In the field of music, I was sad to see the passing of Don Everly of the Everly Brothers.  Unlike the Righteous Brothers, Don and Phil were actual brothers.  Much of their music is from the 1950's, and I am only familiar with it because I have a brother who is four years older, and who constantly had the radio on.  Who so it seemed.  The Everly Brothers had classic hits, such as:  "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have To Do Is Dream," and "Cathy's Clown."  Don was 84.

The list would not be complete without mentioning Rush Limbaugh.  I only listened to him occasionally.  Dennis Prager's show generally aired at the same time, and I have always preferred the give and take style of Prager with his callers, to the more frequent monologues of Limbaugh.  Yet, so many conservative talk radio hosts have made it clear that they owe their careers to Limbaugh.  In that sense, he was the father of conservative talk radio.  Rush was 70 years old.

Last, but certainly not least, is Bob Dole.  He was a true war hero, serving in the Army's 10th Mountain Division.  It is well known that he lost the use of his right arm during WWII.  It happened while trying to rescue a fellow soldier.  He served in the House and the Senate, and ran as Gerald Ford's running mate in 1976, but Ford lost to Jimmy Carter.  He made a run for the presidency three times, but only one of those times was he his party's nominee.  That was in 1996, and he lost to Bill Clinton.  Dole served as Senate Majority Leader on two separate occasions.  He was a Republican and a conservative, but was able to work across the aisle, at a time when that was still possible.  In helping to defeat the Nazis and totalitarianism, he truly was a member of the Greatest Generation.  Dole was 98 years old.  

Actually, there is one more name.  But, as the list in the USA Today was published on 12/28, I could not have seen the passing of this woman on 12/31.  Betty White was a mere 17 days from her 100th birthday.  She had a career that stretched over seven decades.  My best recollection of her was from the Mary Tyler Moore show, portraying Sue Ann Nivens.  White was a volunteer in the wartime American Women's Voluntary Services, during which time she had various stateside duties.  A major passion of hers was the welfare of animals.  A shame that she could not have had a big 100th birthday celebration.           

New Year Reflections, Part I (The UN Continues Its Antisemitic Ways)

Some background.  In the May 16, 2021 post (Israel at War - Again), I discussed this past May's conflict between Israel and Hamas.  Following that conflict, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation sought a resolution from the UN Human Rights Council (as inaptly named an entity as is imaginable) that would establish a permanent commission on human rights violations in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.  

At the behest of Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority, the HRC complied.  With a vote of 24 to 9, with 14 abstentions, they voted to seek funding from the UN General Assembly for that permanent commission.  It would be the first such permanent commission.  

The resolution included language to "...urgently establish an ongoing, independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, all alleged violations and abuses of human rights law leading up (to) and since 13 April 2021."  The very wording of the resolution makes clear that the Palestinians are "occupied," giving rise to a presumption that Israel is at fault.

The resolution invests the commission with the power to "...investigate all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict, including systematic discrimination and repression based on national, racial or religious identity."  The "protraction of conflict?"  I'll be sure to look for the detailed discussion of all the wars started by the Arabs, in the hopes of wiping Israel off the map.  I'll look for a discussion of the thousands upon thousands of rockets and missiles launched into Israel by the Palestinians.  And I'm sure the commission will discuss the repeated promises by the Palestinians to control all the land from the (Jordan) river to the (Mediterranean) sea.  I just won't hold my breath.

Not surprisingly, the UN General Assembly voted in December to fund this permanent commission, with a vote of 125 to 8, with 34 abstentions.  Voting "no" was the US, Israel and Hungary, along with 5 small southeast Pacific island nations.  Sadly, many Western democracies could not find the courage to vote "no," but abstained instead.  Those countries include Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom.  Voting in favor:  France and Norway, among others.

France is said to have the largest Muslim population in the Western world, with 5,720,000 Muslims constituting 8.8% of the country's population.  Germany's Muslim population sits at 4,750,000, equal to 5.7% of their population.  The UK has a Muslim population of 4,130,000, or 6.3% of the country's population.  Norway's Muslim population of 142,800 is enough to equal 5.7% of their population.  The Netherlands' Muslim population is 880,000, which is 5.1% of the country's population.  By way of comparison, the US has 3,450,000 Muslims; but given the size of our country they constitute only 1.1% of the population.  

So why are these Western societies siding against another Western style democracy?  No doubt their votes reflect an ongoing antisemitism that has infected Europe for centuries.  Combine that with an increasing influence of the growing Muslim population in Europe, and it is clear that Israel can only rely on a precious few friends in the world. 

Ironically, on the same day as the UN General Assembly vote, the Palestinian Atlas Center for Studies and Research released a new poll.  As reported in the Jewish Journal, "45% of respondents hold the Palestinian Authority responsible for the perennial crises in the Gaza strip, with 25% saying they hold Hamas responsible.  Only 15% of Palestinians blamed Israel."  Perhaps, as in many countries, the people are wiser than their leaders.  

Recall that President Trump took the US out of the UNHRC, acknowledging their unrelenting anti-Israel bias.  As with everything else, Biden reversed that policy, asserting that the US can have greater influence by remaining a member.  Influence?  The US could not even get the major European powers to oppose this anti-Israel resolution, nor persuade countries such as France and Norway to at least abstain.  Some influence.  I question the point of the UN's existence.