Netanyahu: what he said
Israel’s Prime Minister has been slammed for stating that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem played a vital part in the extermination of the Jews during WWII – Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel states her country must take responsibility for the Holocaust.
What Netanyahu said before leaving Israel:
“I am departing now to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, at her invitation. We will discuss with the leader of one of the major European countries about the situation here, the need to stop Palestinian incitement and the key security issues which Germany is assisting Israel with. Germany is a very important partner for Israel in regards to our national security.
Tomorrow I will also, meet with United States Secretary of State John Kerry and I will discuss with him ways to calm the situation. Of course, I will again request that he demand Abu Mazen to cease the incitement which is the source of multiple attacks that we see here. In order to halt the killing the incitement must halted.
It is absurd. I had no intention to absolve Hitler of responsibility for his diabolical destruction of European Jewry. Hitler was responsible for the Final Solution to exterminate six million Jews. He made the decision. It is equally absurd to ignore the role played by the Mufti, Haj Amin al -Husseini, a war criminal, for encouraging and urging Hitler, Ribbentropp, Himmler and others, to exterminate European Jewry. There is much evidence about this, including the testimony of Eichmann’s deputy at the Nuremberg trials, not now, but after World War II. He said:
‘The Mufti was instrumental in the decision to exterminate the Jews of Europe. The importance of his role must not be ignored. The Mufti repeatedly proposed to the authorities, primarily Hitler, Ribbentropp and Himmler, to exterminate the Jews of Europe. He considered it a suitable solution for the Palestinian question’.
Eichmann’s deputy, added:
‘The Mufti was one of the instigators of the systematic extermination of European Jewry and was a partner and adviser to Eichmann and Hitler for carrying out this plan’.
The attempt by certain scholars and people to be apologists for the key and important role of Haj Amin al-Husseini, is clear. Many other researchers cite this testimony and others regarding the role of Haj Amin al Husseini.
My intention was not to absolve Hitler of his responsibility, but rather to show that the forefathers of the Palestinian nation, without a country and without the so-called ‘occupation’, without land and without settlements, even then aspired to systematic incitement to exterminate the Jews.
Unfortunately, Haj Amin al-Husseini is still a revered figure in Palestinian society, he appears in textbooks and it is taught that he is one of the founding fathers of the nation, and this incitement that started then with him, inciting the murder of Jews – continues. Not in the same format, but in a different one and this is the root of the problem. To stop the murders, it is necessary to stop the incitement.
What is important is to recognize the historical facts and not ignore them, not then and not today”.
This storm might arouse interest in the CV of haj Amin al Husseini, particularly his role in attempting to sabotage the anti-Nazi war effort of the Allies.
His antisemitism and role in The Shoah will ,however, be glossed over as “a minor detail of history,” to quote a French antisemite, Le Pen.
Just seen Henry’s sweet reply to my comment. Yes, Henry, I am for real. Are you? Netananyu did not say that Hitler y.sh, didn’t initiate the holocaust. He said that the Mufti urged and encouraged him. Which is true! Henry, do we not have enough outside enemies that we have to play petty, pathetic left-versus-right politics among ourselves to the extent of ridiculing the enormously-presurised leader of our beleagured Jewish State for what wss at most a minor lapse? Enough I say!
“Hitler didn’t want to exterminate the Jews at the time, he wanted to expel the Jews, and Haj al-Husseini went to Hitler and said ‘If you expel them, they’ll all come here. ‘So what shall I do with them?’ he asked. He said ‘Burn them.'” Now Rabbi, I know you have amazing abilities in interpreting the Torah and Talmud, but how would you interpret what Netanyahu said as, “not saying Hitler didn’t initiate the Holocaust”. So not only is my, and the rest of the World’s, criticism of you and Netanyahu a “non-issue” but is also a “petty and pathetic left v right”. It’s only you, Rabbi, and other revisionists, who are engaging in this pathetic left v right rubbish.
But I do admire your undying devotion to Netanyahu, excusing him of rewriting Jewish and world history and in the process, delighting Holocaust deniers and further mocking himself and his leadership, as a mire “minor lapse”.
No wonder there can be no peace. Look at what we have HERE… – all over a few over-simplified statements. Jews arguing with Jews. Jews arguing with the Rabbi. Christians arguing with Jews. Jews arguing with Christians. And. And. And. No wonder we have such a mess in the world. Never mind our enemies! Everybody has to be a right-fighter. Everybody has a differing opinion to the next but has to win (with their opinion) no matter what!
Marta Frid got it right – WE NEED UNITY! WE NEED JEWS TO SUPPORT JEWS. NO MATTER IF THEY GET IT A BIT WRONG SOMETIMES! WE NEED UNITY!
Erica, your absolutely right, unity and support no matter if a bit wrong sometimes, but a positive side to all this is maybe history will be refreshed with questions being asked and researched. The noted references [and library] I’ve kept over the years to educate myself from the anti-semitism I found and never understood, are from men who have spent a lifetime making sure all facts are known [and not forgotten or white washed] to those such as myself instead of just going with the flow and spoon fed.
Even for some converts to Judaism so take heart.
Thank you Lynne
Well said
Now if Netanyahu was, say, the president of your local shule, no one would give a toss how he was rewriting history in an attempt to score political points, but this bloke is the leader of the Jewish state, which is, indeed, under siege, and needs an intelligent, well informed and credible leader. And currently Mr Netanyahu is showing to have none of those qualities.
In humoring your ridiculous analogy, Henry, Everybody in the shule would “give a toss”!Re-writing history is NOT what he was doing, nor was he trying to “score points”.
But here’s one for you, Henry. You are PM of Israel (just for a day, because that would be quite enough). How intelligent, well-informed and credible are you going to be, Henry, with Arab neighbours on every border? How aggressive are you going to be? Where would you start, Henry? Which day, Henry? How many innocent Israeli lives are you going to sacrifice first, Henry? Being critical from afar is so, so easy, Henry. Unity, Henry, is what Bibi is trying for. Unity within and without Israel’s borders. Unity with the US and every other democracy on the globe. So I suggest, Henry, you stop your arrogant criticism of Israel’s PM and start thinking up ways in which one little man, Henry, yes, that’s you, can be a little less critical and a whole lot more proactive. You just never know what you might achieve, even if its only for a day, Henry.
Unity? is that what Bibi is striving for? Sort of like One Nation or, either you’re with us or against us. I get it. Sure is working a treat. There will sure be a show of unity when Netanyahu starts evacuating settlements in the West Bank to facilitate a two state solution about which he bangs on about.
But asking me how I would be if I was Israel’s PM for a day and asking how many innocent Israeli lives am I going to sacrifice; and you want to be taken seriously.
Bibi’s statements should be understood simply and without
Over-analysis and drama!
He’s saying Palestinian incitement continues!
They incited THEN and they continue to incite NOW!
His statements are simple – not about who started the incitement but
Bringing an END to it!
If anything criticism should be directed at his use of the term PALESTINIAN !
This territory was Judea and Samaria – that would make these ppl JUDEANS AND SAMARIANS!
Listen Mr Herzog, all you do is to jump at every opportunity to demonize the present government. In such critical times as Israel is facing today, we need unity – not a dysfunctional front. You are well aware that it was Hitler who proposed to the MUfti to deport the Jews to what it is our Israel, prior to activating his horrific plan. And could you tell us in your words what was the answer from the Mufti. We all remember, but it seems that you now prefer not to do so. Do you wonder why? And did Netanyahu really absolve Hitler and his Henchmen from their guilt by saying what he said? Is the hostility of the Arabs against the Jews a result of this so-called occupation, or does it have other, deeper roots to it? Do you ever talk Peace in positive and pragmatic terms that will take into consideration the other side’s views, or you just don’t know anything else than play the adversarial role even against your compatriots?
In such times we need grown up people with a sense of national responsibility. Not simple opportunists looking for a little instance to show their snake skins.
Simple it was, if fact, it was so simple that all Holocaust historians condemned his simple and inaccurate take on the Holocaust.
What is a coincidence, Dr Wolfgang Schwanitz Middle East Forum Scholar [look up his profile for credibility], is recorded as saying in the article by Rabbi Yitzchok Frankfurter among other interesting content, *Zionism, the Grand Mufti and the Holocaust on page 3 of the last paragraph; “The Mufti’s primary goal was blocking all of the ways out of Europe. He slammed the last doors of a burning house shut.”
Schwanitz himself responded to the recent criticism of PM Netanyahu on the Forum *Mufti Advised Hitler on Holocaust Oct. 21st.
*The New York Post Archives of 1948 Ex Mufti, Criminal Ally and the White Paper Book the US Dept refused to release, interesting with it’s connotations certianly not favourable for the US.
Marta,this is no conspiracy or an opportunity to bag Bibi, he’s doing a good job of that all by himself. He stuffed up and he stuffed up bad. That’s what all the respected historians are saying, not just me.
Not to forget the update on Adara Press on Dec 4 last year.
*US Dept of State Witheld Evidence From Nazi Files and Shielded Grand Mufti of Jerusalem From War Crimes in 1948.
Isn’t it fascinating that when Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas and other Arab “dignitaries” declare unequivocally that there was never a Holocaust, that there was never a Jewish temple on the site of their mosque, that Jews have no connection to The Land of Israel…one could go on…..”the international community” does not react with a paroxysm of outraged astonishment.
I wonder why Christians, who read in their Scriptures about Jesus’s activities in the Jewish temple, did not rise up as one and demand that the aforementioned Arabs retract their insinuation that the Gospels are lying. Why, at least, didn’t the Pope gently chide them? Why is that?
The Chancellor of Germany, like some of her predecessors, has acknowledged Germany’s responsibility for the Holocaust.
Germany initiated a world war that resulted in the killing of many millions of civilians other than Jews, too.
Germany should be delegitimised.
Mr. Hitler did not immediately exterminate the Jews of Germany when he took power in 1933. That evolution took place much later, even though Dachau was created back in 1933, it was primarily designed to hold political prisoners, and not necessarily Jewish People. During this time, known anti semites like the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem did visit the Fuhrer and suggested to him that for the good of Palestine, he (Hitler) should begin a program of extermination. To add icing to the cake, the Grand Mufti established and supported special Moslem SS Divisions that were designed to carry out the general orders. Relatives of mine who were in the Wehrmacht wrote in their diaries just how cruel these SS Moslems were especially operating in the Balkans and in the USSR. Their desire to kill the Jews even made the Germans blush. Netanyahu was correct in his analysis. The Grand Mufti was important for Hitler to listen to, and to take advice from.
Hitler started his quest to exterminate European Jewry well before he met with Mr Mufti. DON’T TRY TO REWRITE HISTORY. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING AND IS COMMONLY USED BY OUR ENEMIES.
Yes Lynn, he was among friends, World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem. ( sorry about slip above) so videoed and recorded for posterity. Not that that will matter. In the aftermath of Rabin’s murder, plenty of voices claiming it was a left wing conspiracy. All Holocaust historians from Bauer to Zimmerman, slating Netanyahu for distorting history. Yad Vashem also castigating Netanyahu. . And it is not as if Netanyahu is ignorant of the facts. He made these blasphemous statements in order to incite. Holocaust as the subject of farce. Wonderful.
The most damaging aspect of Bibi’s speech is that; as Prime Minister of the Jewish state of Israel, someone who would have a deep understanding and knowledge of Jewish history, to say that it was really the Mufti of Jerusalem who instigated the Holocaust, opens up damaging debate, questioning who was responsible for the Holocaust? which could lead to: if we don’t even know who instigated the Holocaust, how do we know that it actually happened?
Bibi’s speech with be milked for all that it’s worth to question the Holocaust and our legitimate right to the land of Israel.
So it wasn’t Hitler who came up with the Final Solution to the Jewish Problem, it was the Mufti of Jerusalem. Well that certainly helps Holocaust deniers.
Colour it, spin it, which ever way you like, this is a very damaging statement from the elected leader of the Jewish State.
As everyone now knows, the quote above is Netanyahu’s attempt to backtrack. What he said to the Jewish Congress in Jerusalem has been recorded for posterity. None so blind as will not see, none so deaf as will no listen….
He was among friends at the time and didn’t have to spell out what he meant, they had already shared the history.
Those in opposition quick to jump on the wagon should’ve checked the records, the subject picked up by the media and cause for ridicule.
Who slammed him? Other Jews? Jewish organisations. Ribono Shel Olam, isn’t there enough going on at the moment for folk to get worked up over a non-issue.
The only thing I would say to Bibi is: please start talking to the world about our G-D given right to be in our G-D given land. If you are talking to leaders of christian (or even nominally christian) countries, remind them that their Bible says so!
Non-issue, as to who instigated the Holocaust Rabbi Ingram? Are you for real.