ain't america wonderful?
In the Safra Synagogue on the Upper East Side in New York just a few nights ago (March 18th), a leader of the Israeli Settler's group "Women in Green" called for the assassination of President of the Palestine Authority Mahmoud Abbas, a leader the United States is very supportive.
Incitement to murder? or just a fundraising pitch for a "charitable" organization?
You decide.
Exclusive report from Mondoweiss: In a speech at a New York synagogue Wednesday night, Nadia Matar, a leader of the Israeli settlers' group "Women in Green," called for the assassination of Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, as a way of bringing peace to Israel.
Just as Churchill understood that in order to bring peace to Europe, "he had to destroy the Nazi beast," Matar explained, "today we must destroy all the terrorist organizations. We must kill all the terrorist leaders, starting with Mahmoud Abbas and all others...Nobody had any moral qualms at destroying the Nazi regime. We have to abolish the Oslo Agreements, there's no difference between the PA, the Islamic Jihad, the Hamas, whatever names you have, they're all terrorists and we cannot have peace with them."
Matar then urged the crowd at the Safra Synagogue on the Upper East Side to make tax-deductible donations to Women in Green by writing checks to the Central Fund of Israel.
As our site has reported, the Central Fund is a U.S. charity group that supports Jewish settler militias. ...
Read the whole thing, and bookmark Mondoweiss.
According to Guidestar, this charity raked in $12 million in 2007. Those contributions were not taxed (meaning, funds lost to the US treasury ), and used, for what we might say, are questionable legal activities. I think calling for the assassination of a foreign leader is not the proper activity of a nonprofit organization. This synagogue, also a non-profit entity, is not the venue to make threats against a whole people.
Wanna actually hear these statements? Then Philip Weiss has that here. From his description, this woman is a regular Avigdor Lieberman, the quasi-fascist (hey, even Israeli diplomats are comparing him to Jorge Haider, it's not just me) likely future Foreign Minister with the incoming Netanyahu as Prime Minister.
So will this organization, "The Central Fund for Israel" be investigated by the proper authorities? That's the question. Given the lawlessness that even many of the most ardent supporters of Israeli policies admit exist on the West Bank settlements, with constant attacks against Palestinian residents, it would seem to be a good idea for peace.
A side note- The Woman in Green was formed as a response to the Women in Black in Israel, formed in 1988 as a group opposed to the Occupation. I had the honor of standing with the Women in Black not only in the Bay Area but also in Jerusalem. May their message for peace and justice be heard and multiplied.
Update!!
J Street takes action.
Rabbi of synagogue where this event was held renounces remarks.