Charades
One quote and two definitions of “charades” sum up more than adequately the Mickey Mouse situation we are currently confronted with.
Quote: “your words mean nothing when your actions are the complete opposite.”
Definition 1: an absurd pretence intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance.
Definition 2: actions which are so obviously false that they do not convince anyone.
Michael Kuttner
Feel free to choose any one of these and apply it to the examples enumerated below. In no particular order of importance, they exemplify the chaotic realities which confront Israel and Jews.
Cloud cuckoo land: In the parallel universe inhabited by the UN in New York and Geneva resolutions bearing no relation to actual facts keep rolling off the fantasy production line like well oiled Swiss cuckoo clocks. The misnamed UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution praising Iran’s human rights record. Unsurprisingly 95 out of 111 countries (85%) voted in favour while only 16 nations dissented. Among the champions of human rights who praised Iran’s record were North Korea, Qatar, Belarus, the fictional State of Palestine, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq, Haiti and Oman.
Courtesy of UN Watch here is a short summary of the sterling record which the UNHRC feels is worthy of commendation.
- According to the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Baha’is “have suffered from the most egregious forms of repression, persecution, and victimization.” Over the past 40 years, more than 200 Baha’is have been executed with impunity solely on the basis of their religious beliefs.
- According to the August 2019 report from the UN Secretary-General, women in Iran face ongoing repression and discrimination. As documented by the hundreds of Iranian video testimonies shared by journalist Masih Alinejad, women who object to compulsory veiling are regularly harassed and arrested by authorities. The 2018 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Iran 142 out of 149 countries.
- Journalists, writers and media workers are routinely subject to arbitrary arrest, detention and harassment, according to a UN report. In 2018, at least 28 journalists were detained. Iran is ranked by the Committee to Protect Journalists as one of the “most censored” countries in the world.
- Freedom House gives Iran one of the lowest ratings for political and civil rights. Iran gives the appearance of holding regular elections, but the system is fixed in advance. The Guardian Council controlled by hard-line conservatives and ultimately by the supreme leader, vets all candidates for the parliament, the presidency, and the Assembly of Experts. The council rejects candidates who are not considered insiders or deemed fully loyal to the clerical establishment, as well as women seeking to run in the presidential election. As a result, Iranian voters can at most only choose between regime-approved candidates. Ultimate power rests in the hands of the supreme leader and the unelected institutions under his control.
- Iran’s regime is responsible for “a pattern of torture and other ill-treatment conducted to compel confessions during the investigation stage,” according to a 2019 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran. According to a 2018 report from Amnesty International, Iranian authorities arbitrarily arrested and detained thousands of individuals. Hundreds faced unfair trials and lengthy prison sentences. Torture and was widespread and committed with impunity. Floggings, amputations and other cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments were carried out by the state.
Following in their Swiss-based colleagues’ footsteps, the UN General Assembly demonstrated again that hypocrisy knows no bounds. UNRWA which is dedicated to the eternal refugee status of Palestinian Arabs, recipient of billions in international funding and whose schools with the help of Hamas train the next generation to become martyrs, had its mandate extended by another three years. Endorsed by 170 nations and opposed by only two (Israel & the USA) this carte blanche certificate of legitimacy means that the green light has been given for further radicalization and corruption.
Not satisfied with this abject display, the UN then proceeded to pass a series of resolutions which once again demonstrated their deliberate obsession with Israel to the exclusion of any other country. If you want to know how your representative voted and also learn the full extent of the insane circus supported by your tax money have a look at this link from UN Watch:
https://unwatch.org/2019-un-fourth-committee-resolutions-against-israel/
It is worth noting that New Zealand voted with the immoral majority on virtually every anti-Israel resolution. When NZ some time ago announced a “pause” in funding UNRWA, premature expressions of praise issued forth from various quarters. In actual fact, the next instalment of taxpayers’ money is not due until 2020 and my prediction is that given the Government’s voting record to extend the mandate it will quietly resume transferring funds. A perfect charade indeed intended to fool everybody.
Other charade examples: At exactly the moment Israelis were being bombarded by rockets from Gaza the EU court of (in) justice decided to issue its ruling mandating labelling of products from parts of Israel. This latest manifestation of European hypocrisy contrasts with them doing everything possible to circumvent sanctions against Iran. Apparently it is OK to censure Jews for living in parts of their homeland while ignoring Iranian attempts to acquire the means to murder Jews. Meanwhile a group of Israeli extreme leftist self loathers whom the media love because they have long discredited egos issued a letter of support for the EU boycotting us.
President Trump hosted the latter-day would-be sultan of Turkey who denies his country’s genocide against Armenians and his own campaign to ethnically cleanse Kurds from not only Turkey but also neighbouring Syria. Instead of standing up for historical truth and supporting Kurdish allies, Trump preferred to proclaim that he is a “great fan” of Erdogan. Never mind that Turkey as a NATO member is now acquiring Russian missiles and supporting Islamic terror groups in their anti-Israel activities.
Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders proclaimed, “My pride for Israel lives alongside my support for Palestinian freedom.” With friends like these who needs enemies? The current and future dysfunctional state of American politics guarantees stormy times ahead.
If anyone had any doubt that BDS is a front for Judeophobia then this week’s statement by the graduate union of students at Toronto University should dispel that notion. In response to a request by Jewish students for the provision of Kosher food on campus the students’ union representative asserted that they were against this because by doing so this would be conceived as being ” pro-Israel.” Having previously endorsed BDS, in their warped minds kosher food was somehow synonymous with supporting the Zionist enterprise. Following uproar when this was revealed they have now apologized but the fact remains that BDS is still official policy.
The supreme leader of Iran announced that his country does not have a problem with Jews only with Israel. Presumably once the elimination of Israel has been achieved there will not be any Jews left which means that indeed there will be no “Jewish problem”. Go figure that one out.
It seems likely that one of the biggest charades revolves around the impossibility of implementing the results of two general elections. Barring any last-minute about-face by ego-driven politicians unable to either let go, retire gracefully or compromise, we may be heading into yet another election. Serious security and economic challenges need to be tackled without the distraction of yet more political charades.
To round off a vintage week the US announced that Jewish cities, towns and villages in Judea and Samaria are not illegal in international law. For anyone cognizant of historical facts this was not a revelation. However, for others this has set off a volcanic reaction of Pompeii proportions.
The weeks ahead promise more fire and brimstone.
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.
Olam Hafuch