IMMIGRATION, ISRAEL Comments turned off

What Will Happen When the Migrant Caravan Reaches the Border? Look to Gaza. Robert Spencer

Posted By on October 29th, 2018

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/271759/what-will-happen-when-migrant-caravan-reaches-robert-spencer

President Trump has put the thousands who are advancing to the U.S. border on notice: “To those in the Caravan, turnaround, we are not letting people into the United States illegally. Go back to your Country and if you want, apply for citizenship like millions of others are doing!” But there is no chance that they will heed his words. They will continue to advance inexorably toward the United States, and what will happen when they get here? A likely answer to that comes from the recent border protests in Gaza.

The Jerusalem Post reported last May: “Some 40,000 Palestinians took part in violent demonstrations at 13 different locations along the fence, throwing stones, explosive devices and Molotov cocktails at the fence and IDF troops, as well as burning tires and launching burning objects such as kites with charcoal or containers of burning fuel with the intention of setting fires in Israeli fields, the IDF said.”

This was a Hamas operation. That same month, Aaron Klein reported in Breitbart: “Hamas, desperate over its increasingly precarious situation in Gaza and eager to please Iranian paymasters, has escalated the premeditated, openly violent campaign aimed at breaching the Israel-Gaza border and attacking nearby Israeli communities.” And Hamas official Salah Bardawil admitted at that time: “In the last rounds of confrontations, if 62 people were martyred, 50 of them were Hamas.” IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus noted: “This proves what so many have tried to ignore: Hamas is behind these riots, and the branding of the riots as ‘peaceful protests’ could not be further from the truth.”

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Now It’s Official: Europeans Can’t Criticize Islam The European Court of Human Rights goes full dhimmi. Bruce Bawer

Posted By on October 29th, 2018

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/271763/now-its-official-europeans-cant-criticize-islam-bruce-bawer

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe – which today counts every European state except Belarus and Vatican City as a member – is supposed to be a guardian of democracy and human rights. That’s its official raison d’être. It is separate from the European Union, and its court, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), whose judges are elected by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (a legislative body whose 324 members are drawn from Europe’s national parliaments), should not be confused with the EU’s European Court of Justice (ECJ). It began hearing cases and handing down verdicts in 1959.

How many Europeans are even aware of the Council of Europe’s existence – or, if they are, could explain what it does? How many know the difference between the ECHR and the ECJ? Relatively few, I suspect. But this is par for the course in Europe, where the elected governments, in the decades since World War II, have built up a network of international bodies that wield considerable power while operating in the shadows with little or no accountability to the people. Guardian of democracy, indeed.

All of this dry information is by way of prefacing news of a sensational and sobering verdict that was handed down by the ECHR last week. Although the full name of the petitioner is not mentioned – she is identified only as an Austrian woman with the initials “E.S.” – the case, as Robert Spencer has noted, is obviously that of Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, who in 2011 was convicted in her native country of “disparaging religious doctrines” for having stated, in seminars entitled “Basic Information on Islam” that she held in October and November 2009, that Muhammed, the prophet of Islam, was a pedophile. Of course, any minimally knowledgeable student of that religion knows that, according to the canonical records of Muhammed’s life that are known as hadith, he wed his wife Aisha when she was a child of six and (perfect male role model that he was) waited until she was nine to consummate the marriage.

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From Pittsburgh to Fort Hood: Trump Versus Obama Contrasting presidential responses to mass murder. Lloyd Billingsley

Posted By on October 29th, 2018

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/271765/pittsburgh-fort-hood-trump-versus-obama-lloyd-billingsley

“This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil,” Trump said on Saturday. “This was an anti-Semitic act. You wouldn’t think this would be possible in this day and age.”

That was President Trump, responding to the murder of 11 Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

“Our minds cannot comprehend the cruel hate and twisted malice that could cause a person to unleash such terrible violence,” the president said, “during a baby naming ceremony at a sacred house of worship on the holy day of Sabbath.” The president said “anti-Semitism and the widespread persecution of Jews represents one of the ugliest and darkest features in human history. Anti-Semitism must be condemned and confronted everywhere and anywhere it appears.”

Suspect Robert Bowers, 48, yelled “all Jews must die” as he fired, killing 11 and injuring six, including four police officers. FBI special agent Bob Jones said it was the “most horrific crime scene” he’s witnessed in 22 years. Swift action by police prevented many more casualties and police took Bowers into custody.

President Trump told reporters “people who do this should get the death penalty. I think they should stiffen up laws and I think they should very much bring the death penalty to anybody who does a thing like this to innocent people.” Agent Jones said that prior to the synagogue attack, Bowers was unknown to law enforcement.

That was not exactly the case with U.S. Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan. Major Hasan had been emailing terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki about the prospect of killing infidel Americans, and the “Soldier of Allah,” as he called himself, did everything but take out an ad on the Super Bowl to announce his jihadist intentions. The U.S. security establishment was well aware of the communications but did nothing to stop Hasan.

IMMIGRATION Comments turned off

GLAZOV MOMENT: CARAVAN JIHAD?

Posted By on October 29th, 2018

In this new Jamie Glazov Moment, Jamie discusses Caravan Jihad?, and he asks: Are Jihadis lurking within the migrant caravan? https://jamieglazov.com/2018/10/28/glazov-moment-caravan-jihad/

Don’t miss it!

And make sure to watch Jamie share how his new book, Jihadist Psychopath, calls Trump a “Godsend” and reveals how, in this dire hour, America’s president has successfully pushed back a pernicious enemy.

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

RACHEL EHRENFELD: GEORGE SOROS’S VICTIMHOOD

Posted By on October 29th, 2018

Anti-Semitism should always be condemned. But it is somewhat ironic that a man who is Jewish by birth, yet proud for growing up in an “anti-Semitic home,” who demeans Jews and gives millions to anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian and BDS groups, claims to be a victim of anti-Semitism. That man is George Soros.

In the run-up to the midterm election the demonization of President Trump, Republicans and anyone opposing the invasion of undocumented illegal aliens into the U.S., which Soros’s Open Society Foundations has been inderctly supporting, is reaching new heights in the pro-Soros, progressive Left media. Trump’s opposition even claims “Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric may have contributed to an increase in pre-term births among Latina women.” So it is not surprising that Soros’s son alleges “Trump’s anti-Semitic and anti-Democratic Rhetoric Led to Bomb Scare.” And it took no time for the Washington Post and Trump hating Democrat politicians to also blame the President, who supports Israel, and whose daughter is an observant Jewess whose Jewish husband is his trusted adviser, for the tragic anti-Semitic attack that killed 11 American Jews praying at their synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Jewish by birth, Soros has been known to shun his Jewish heritage for decades, bringing it up only when he felt he could exploit it one way or another. And the more he seems to indulge in his alleged victimhood, the more he prompts anti-Semitism.

ISRAEL Comments turned off

Netanyahu Presses to Build Relations in Gulf States Israeli prime minister’s trip to Oman reflects effort to shift Mideast narrative toward security against regional threats like Iran and away from Palestinians By Felicia Schwartz

Posted By on October 29th, 2018

https://www.wsj.com/articles/netanyahu-presses-to-build-relations-in-gulf-states-1540753549

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Oman marked a new chapter in his effort to strengthen ties with Gulf Arab nations and shift the conversation from Palestinian issues toward regional threats like Iran.

Mr. Netanyahu sees countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman as crucial potential allies in a Middle East that is realigned around opposition to Iran and is less concerned about Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land without a signed peace deal. U.S. officials hope Saudi Arabia and other states can pressure Palestinians to come to the table and accept the Trump administration’s terms.

Mr. Netanyahu on Sunday promised additional public meetings with Oman to follow up on his heavily publicized trip last week. Other Israeli officials also visited Gulf nations recently or are due to see them in the coming days in rare open settings, potentially building on the quiet ties between Gulf and Israeli intelligence agencies.

Israel lacks diplomatic relations with most of its Arab neighbors, save for Egypt and Jordan. Israel tacitly shares some intelligence information with neighbors including Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E.

In building relations with Oman, Mr. Netanyahu opens a potential back channel to Tehran as Israel is trying to push Iran out of Syria with the war there drawing to a close. Oman has served as a go-between for warring players in the region, including for the U.S. and Iran in 2013.

“In our long meeting we discussed in detail the challenges facing the Middle East. These were important talks—both for the state of Israel and very important talks for Israel’s security. There will be more,” Mr. Netanyahu said on Sunday ahead of a meeting of his cabinet.

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European Human Rights Court Backs Sharia Blasphemy Law by Soeren Kern

Posted By on October 29th, 2018

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/13204/european-court-human-rights-sharia

The European Court of Human Rights — which has jurisdiction over 47 European countries, and whose rulings are legally binding on all 28 member states of the European Union — has effectively legitimized an Islamic blasphemy code in the interests of “preserving religious peace” in Europe.

The ruling effectively establishes a dangerous legal precedent, one that authorizes European states to curtail the right to free speech if such speech is deemed to be offensive to Muslims and thus pose a threat to religious peace.

“In other words, my right to speak freely is less important than protecting the religious feelings of others.” – Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that criticism of Mohammed, the founder of Islam, constitutes incitement to hatred and therefore is not protected free speech.

With its unprecedented decision, the Strasbourg-based court — which has jurisdiction over 47 European countries, and whose rulings are legally binding on all 28 member states of the European Union — has effectively legitimized an Islamic blasphemy code in the interests of “preserving religious peace” in Europe.

The case involves Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, an Austrian woman who in 2011 was convicted of “denigrating religious beliefs” after giving a series of lectures about the dangers of fundamentalist Islam.

Sabaditsch-Wolff’s legal problems began in November 2009, when she presented a three-part seminar about Islam to the Freedom Education Institute, a political academy linked to the Austrian Freedom Party — which today forms part of the Austrian government. A left-leaning weekly magazine, News, planted a journalist in the audience to secretly record the lectures. Lawyers for the publication then handed the transcripts over to the Viennese public prosecutor’s office as evidence of hate speech against Islam, according to Section 283 of the Austrian Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB).

The offending speech was an offhand comment by Sabaditsch-Wolff that Mohammed was a pedophile because he married his wife Aisha when she was just six or seven years old. Sabaditsch-Wolff’s actual words were, “A 56-year-old and a six-year-old? What do we call it, if it is not pedophilia?”

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

The Rhetorical Art of Blame-Laying By Adam Ellwanger

Posted By on October 28th, 2018

https://amgreatness.com/2018/10/28/the-

As a public service, here are some things that are in no way responsible for creating a “climate of political violence” in the United States:

Public performances of plays that depict the execution of Trump-like figures.
Publishing a Trump assassination fantasy in the New York Times.
The constant, deliberate misrepresentation and denigration of mainstream conservative policy positions by the corporate legacy news outlets and elected representatives on the left—and their incessant refusal to be accountable for it. There are too many examples to link. Start with the steadfast equivocation by media outlets between conservative perspectives on immigration in general and their criticisms of illegal immigration in particular.
The recent use of violent rhetoric by presidents on the left: for example, when Barack Obama advises supporters to oppose opponents by saying if “they bring a knife, we bring a gun.”
The media’s valorization of virtue-signaling celebrities who make threats against the president’s family, disparage his supporters, encourage public violence, or create violent images like the mock-decapitation of the president.
Antifa’s (and associated groups’) violent responses to peaceful exercises of conservative speech in public spaces.
Leftists running high-profile conservatives out of restaurants.
Maxine Waters’ encouragements of those who would use violent methods to signify their opposition to the Trump Administration.
Hillary Clinton’s call for a hiatus on civility until Democrats regain control of the government.
The widespread, false, and cynical equivocation between conservative speech and hate speech.
The would-be assassin who almost killed Rep. Scalise.
Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder saying, “when [conservatives] go low, we kick them.”

WORLD NEWS Comments turned off

Bolsonaro Takes Brazil The former army captain ran as an alternative to socialist corruption. By Mary Anastasia O’Grady

Posted By on October 28th, 2018

https://www.wsj.com/articles/bolsonaro-takes-brazil-1540768718

Sunday’s runoff presidential election in Brazil pitted Jair Bolsonaro, a former army captain who has spent 27 years in Brazil’s Congress, against Fernando Haddad, a former one-term mayor of the city of São Paulo. On Sunday evening with 97% of the vote in, Mr. Bolsonaro was handily beating Mr. Haddad, 55.4% to 44.6%.

Much was made during the campaign of Mr. Bolsonaro’s history of rude comments about women and minorities and about his pledge to use an iron fist to fight crime in poor neighborhoods.

He was labeled a racist, a misogynist, a homophobe, a fascist, an advocate of torture and an aspiring dictator. His opponents gathered in the streets to denounce him and wrote withering diatribes against him in the press. The proudly “progressive” international media joined the fray, declaring him a threat to the environment and democracy.

It ought to have been enough to sink the Bolsonaro candidacy. Yet he prevailed, and it isn’t hard to see why: Brazilians are in the midst of a national awakening in which socialism—the alternative to a Bolsonaro presidency—has been put on trial. The resounding victory of Novo Party’s classical-liberal gubernatorial candidate Romeu Zema in the large state of Minas Gerais confirms that theory.

Mr. Haddad was the candidate of Brazil’s gigantic left-wing populist Workers’ Party, known as PT. He was also the handpicked successor to former two-term President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is in jail on a bribery conviction but remains popular with his supporters. Against Mr. Bolsonaro’s small Social Liberal Party, Mr. Haddad should have won walking away.

How Mr. Bolsonaro triumphed is worth examining because it suggests that something changed in this election. It can always change back, and it probably will. But for now the momentum is on the side of reform, and policy makers have a unique opportunity to advance liberty and prosperity in South America’s largest economy. CONTINUE AT SITE

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

The Oldest Hatred All good Americans stand in solidarity against anti-Semitism.

Posted By on October 28th, 2018

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-oldest-hatred-1540760984

The massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh is an awful reminder that there are human hatreds far more virulent and ancient than those that animate our current political divisions. The killer of 11 human beings on the Sabbath Saturday morning was an anti-Semite who was out to kill Jews.

“All Jews must die,” alleged killer Robert Bowers yelled as he burst into a religious service and opened fire. As our friends at the New York Sun note, anti-Semitism is not aimed at Jewish behavior, or support for Jewish immigration, or support for Israel. Robert Bowers simply hated Jews.

This irrational hatred is one of humanity’s oldest and manifests itself in murder almost daily in the Middle East. Jews are killed simply because they are Jews, as they have been throughout history. This is why millions have sought refuge in a Jewish state, Israel, and also in the religious protections embedded in the Constitution of the United States.

The outpouring of support and grief for the victims of the Pittsburgh massacre is a reminder of America’s unique role as a refuge for the world’s religious. Muslim states often persecute non-Muslims as well as Muslims who do not share their brand of Islam. China persecutes people of all faiths. America protects them.

The U.S. has seen an increase in anti-Semitic acts in recent years, according to the Anti-Defamation League. But there are still fewer in America than in most of the rest of world, and the sources of anti-Semitism range across the political spectrum, including some on the right like Robert Bowers but also from the pro-Palestinian left, especially on university campuses.