Foot in Mouth epidemic

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“If you keep your mouth shut you will never put your foot in it.”

Michael Kuttner

This quote came to mind in a week which has witnessed a seemingly endless parade of prattle by all and sundry. Living in Israel one somehow becomes used to the gratuitous and mind numbing pontifications issuing forth from politicians, commentators and those who know better than everyone else. If nothing else it becomes almost second nature for those of us targeted, to discern the genuine from the malicious, friend from foe, realist from orbiting astronaut and ambitious politician from ill informed journalist. Not an easy task admittedly but essential if one is to combat lies and disinformation.

For some reason which is not too difficult to discover, Israel more than any other country attracts more than its quota of foot in mouth critics. They are not exclusively to be found in the corridors of power overseas but also crop up domestically. Being a vibrant democracy and given the Jewish penchant for debate, discourse and disagreement, this epidemic finds a natural home in the Jewish State. What never ceases to amaze me however is the outpouring of unctuous advice from self proclaimed experts who inhabit countries untouched by enemies plotting their demise or conversely living in places poised to be terrorised. The former pontificate from a position of hopeless naivety while the latter seem to be deliberately oblivious to their imminent demise at the hands of groups which for politically correct reasons they refuse to name.

Thus we witness a foreign minister from “down under” who wants to impose on us yet another valueless piece of paper via the corrupt United Nations and a President of what was once the major champion of the free world who prefers tangoing in South America and hobnobbing with human rights abusers.

Here is a small sample of the latest pearls of wisdom.

Top of the pops again without a doubt is the Secretary General of the UN. After a visit to an Algerian camp which houses refugees from Western Sahara, Ban made reference to this territory being occupied by Morocco. It has indeed been illegally occupied by Morocco since Spain withdrew in the 1970’s. This territory is claimed by Algeria amongst others. Following Ban’s “slip of the tongue” which in actual fact correctly describes the situation, Morocco expelled UN peacekeeping troops in the disputed territory and mass demonstrations took place against him. It did not take long for Ban to backtrack and issue an abject retraction. In the words of a spokesperson: “His use of the word was not planned, nor was it deliberate. It was a spontaneous, personal reaction. We regret the misunderstandings and consequences that this personal expression of solicitude provoked,”

“Nothing (Ban) said or did in the course of that trip was meant to offend or express hostility toward the Kingdom of Morocco, which is a valued member of the United Nations. The position of the United Nations has not changed. He has not and will not take sides on the issue of Western Sahara.”

Do you note the hypocritical difference in this groveling statement as opposed to Ban’s and the UN’s incessant accusations about Israel’s legal presence in Judea, Samaria, Golan and East Jerusalem?

The US Ambassador to Israel echoing his master’s voice in Washington observed that the lack of “peace” talks made supporting Israel more difficult. He is obviously blind and deaf to the daily incitement and glorification of terrorists which spews forth from Ramallah. He is also oblivious to the fact that since 1948 Israel has made many peace offers, all of which have been spurned.

The European Union Ambassador to Israel pitched in as well. He stated that boycotts will disappear when Israel embraces peace! According to his befuddled logic if there was no Palestinian issue there would be no BDS. Presumably this genius has never heard that from 1948 and still to this day, the Arab League boycott office is alive and well and that boycotts of Israeli products and companies doing business with Israel has been officially in place for at least 68 years. According to the EU representative, apparently it is entirely Israel’s fault that peace has not been achieved.

It is amazing that these critics still refuse to internalise that it is not the lack of talks which is the problem. The real catalyst for terror by our neighbours is the fact that Israel exists at all. The ironic part is that even if the Jewish State were to disappear tomorrow the various Arab and Moslem factions would still be murdering and rampaging.

It was reported this week that an Indian Catholic Priest was crucified by Islamic State in Yemen on Good Friday. At the same time Pakistani Christians were massacred in a terror outrage by Islamic jihadists. Pope Francis naturally lamented the violence taking place against Christians but declared that the only way to defeat terror was by showing love. With all due respect to the Pontiff, given the current dire threats to Christians and Jews, the least effective means to defeat Islamic terror is by turning the other cheek.

Demonstrating that foot in mouth disease is just as widespread amongst Israeli politicians as elsewhere, Tzippi Livni the current co-chair of what is erroneously called the Zionist Union Party but is in effect the Labour Party in disguise, pontificated that terror in Europe is caused by religious extremism but that the same terror in Israel is caused by nationalism. This denial of reality characterises those on the left who refuse despite all evidence to the contrary to acknowledge that Islamic intolerance is the root cause of the murderous rampages occurring worldwide.

I am afraid that I will have to conclude this short roundup by once again focusing on the pathetic role being played by New Zealand on the UN Security Council. Two events this week have yet again highlighted the ongoing farce surrounding this organisation.

Israel once more sent a letter to the Security Council demanding that it take action and condemns the latest threats against it by the leader of Hezbollah. His declaration that the terror group will strike all targets in a future war and the continuing stockpiling of rockets and other weapons in Lebanon for use against Israeli civilians flouts every resolution ever passed by the UN. According to UN resolutions, south Lebanon was to be free of weapons and terrorists. In 2015 alone, 1,079 incidents were reported where armed groups freely roamed in an area designated by the UN as terrorist and weapons free. In addition hundreds of other violations took place, all observed by the UN.

The Canadian Government protested the appointment of one of its citizens as Rapporteur on Israel crimes against humanity by the UN Human Rights Council. The Canadian Foreign Minister observed that the appointee because of his past anti Israel statements could not be an impartial investigator. Remember that this person was unanimously approved by the UNHRC which means that New Zealand endorsed his appointment. Canada is not currently represented on the Council.

In the face of Hezbollah actions and the UNHRC’s blind obsession with Israel bashing, what was the reaction of New Zealand’s Foreign Minister acting on behalf of his Government? The Hon. Mr. McCully mouthed the following: the viability of the 2 State solution is disappearing because of Israel’s settlement activity. New Zealand would talk to others on the Security Council about an appropriate response.”

The only appropriate comment one can really make in the face of this foot in mouth lunacy is to note a couple of relevant quotes on the subject.

“It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove any doubt.”

“If only closed minds came with closed mouths.”

Michael Kuttner is a Jewish New Zealander who for many years was actively involved with various communal organisations connected to Judaism and Israel. He now lives in Israel and is J-Wire’s correspondent in the region.