Yom Kippur

Wednesday is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the highest holiday in the Jewish calendar. Observant Jews as well as many half-observant and even non-observant Jews spend the day fasting and praying for forgiveness for their sins. Some take the purpose of the day very seriously, many only go through the motions and partake in the rituals.

Every Jew, who is uncomfortable with what Israel is doing and has been doing for a long time with and to the Palestinians, should make use of Yom Kippur to consider what she or he can do to bring an end to the immorality of the Occupation and land-grab in the West-Bank. This is carried out by us Jews and supposedly on behalf of us and for us. It is wrong. Had I been a believer, I would have demanded that God punish the perpetrators. Perhaps those that are, will.

And just in case someone does not know what I am talking about, Here’s an example.

Radio Interview – SWR2

The German radio station SWR2 ran a long interview with me a few days ago.

 

German speakers, who are interested, can hear the interview here.

German Secret Service - Maaßen

A few days ago, a committee of Germany’s parliament discussed recent public remarks made by Hans-Georg Maaßen, the head of the country’s internal secret service, the Bureau for the Defence of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz), and decided that he was able to provide justification for his view.

The committee met after Maaßen was criticised in the media for having downplayed the seriousness of a right-wing mob going wild in the streets of Chemnitz. This is not the first indication, that the head of Germany’s secret service may be harbouring right-wing sympathies. It had been reported some time ago, that Maaßen had briefed the heads of the extremist right-wing AfD party – on at least a couple of occasions –, as to how to avoid being tracked by his service.

Had Angela Merkel still been as powerful as she used to be, Maaßen would have been out. What he said contradicts her line and agenda. Moreover, the head of the secret service should be reporting to the government and not be making statements to the press. And definitely not without first clearing such statements with the prime minister. But Merkel has been weakened, not least by the constant berating and scolding she is subject to from the leaders of her party’s sister-party in Bavaria, the CSU. Was Maaßen’s deed done in collusion with his direct boss, the Minister of Interior and senior CSU member?

The three questions that should have been asked are:

1.   Has Maaßen divulged secret information to the AfD?

2.   Was it appropriate for Maaßen to come out publicly and belittle the right-wing mob actions in Chemnitz?

3.   Can Maaßen be relied upon to defend the country from the dangers of the rising right-wing?

The fact that such questions must be asked, suggest that Maaßen is not fit for office.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC)

Polls show that 80% of Jews in the USA opposed the move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, without making significant progress in the peace process. Two countries followed the US decision, Paraguay and Guatemala. Now, Paraguay decided to reverse its decision of four months ago and move its embassy back to Tel Aviv.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC), an American Jewish lobby organisation, came out with “AJC is deeply disappointed by Paraguay's decision to close its recently opened embassy in Jerusalem and return it to Tel Aviv… This diplomatic reversal is shocking,"

AJC yet again proves that it represents only its right-wing funders and not the opinion of American Jewry.

Is it a coup?

From the first day, ever since Trump was elected, people have been asking themselves how he will be gotten rid of. Impeachment? Declaration of unfitness for office and removal as stipulated by the 25^th Amendment or perhaps Trump getting tired of it all and resigning.

Collusion with Russia, serious mental instability, paying off women, he has had sex with, to buy their silence – there has been no lack of grounds. And nothing happened.

Special mention in the US hall of shame is due to the top echelon of senior Republican members of the US Senate: They should have acted and discreetly explained the situation to him and got him to resign. Instead, they acted – as Republicans always do – only for what they perceive to be the good of their party, forgetting that they are there to serve their country.

But, we may perhaps be seeing the beginning of the end. The evidence in Bob Woodward’s new book about the goings on in the White House, where civil servants seem to have taken over the Presidency, may be reassuring on one hand, but they are extremely worrying on the other. This is a coup by the administration. And the op-ed in Thursday’s NY Times, was described by former CIA Director, John Brennan as “active insubordination born out of loyalty to the country, not to Donald Trump.”  So perhaps?

Britain’s Labour Party and Antisemitism

Anyone who is interested in what is happening in Britain’s Labour Party Antisemitism row, should read Professor David Feldman’s splendid analysis in Thursday’s Haaretz.

Book Events and Lectures – October 2018

I will be talking at the following events in October 2018.

Come along (book a seat if required).

Please also pass the information on to anyone that might be interested.

Berlin: Thursday, 4 October, 18:30,  

Berliner Landeszentrale für politische Bildung

Hardenbergstr. 22-24

Information and Registration.

Munich: Monday, 8 October, 19:00,

NS-Dokumentationszentrum

Max-Mannheimer-Platz 1

Garching: Tuesday, 9 October, 20:00

Volkshochschule, Garching

Information and Registration

Grafing: Wednesday, 10 October, 20:00

Stadtbücherei, Grenzstr.5, Grafing

Information and Registration

Holzkirchen: Thursday, 11 October, 20:00

Max-Heimbucher Str.1, Holzkirchen

Information and Registration

Zurich: Thursday, 18 October, 20:00

Theater Neumarkt, Neumarkt 5,  

Information and Registration

Neudietendorf: 25 October, 15:00

Tagungs- und Begegnungsstätte, Zinzendorfplatz 3

Information and Registration