Israel Peace Now 30 Years Anniversary

OPINION

I have two things I need to write about today one is a interesting article I found on Saudi Influence in universities in the UK which underscores my opinion I have written in the past about Saudi influence in anti Israel attitudes around the world and also anti Semitic attitudes in the UK. The link of the report which was printed in a Arab business website ameinfo cannot be blamed for pro Israel bias.

http://www.ameinfo.com/153123.html

The second part this weeks blog deals with the 30 year anniversary of Israel's Peace Now. I wanted to reprint my article of last year to remind everyone what type of organization operating in Israel. Ironic both articles are about foreign influence.

British Funding of Israeli Left Wing Organizations My Opinion and Criticism

I know that in essence my job is to give the pro Israeli point of view but in light of boycotts in the UK and growing anti Israeli and Anti Jewish feeling around the world especially in Europe I feel it is my duty of a Jew to speak up when I see injustice. But for years I have always suspected some foreign government help to Israeli Left Wing so called peace organizations. I have also seen some reports on the net regarding this, but the recent actions by organizations such as the Israeli section of Peace Now in regards of challenging the legality of settlements in Judea and Samaria have led me for the quest to find out why such organizations act in such disregard to Israeli legitimate security concerns. It took me less than ten minutes to find UK government documents on the web proving that there was British Governmental financial support for several left wing organizations in Israel. According to parliamentary inquiries as describe in the three links I provided pointing to the British Parliament web site even the Ministry of Defense gave funds. Hilary Benn who was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State who is the head of Department of International Development (DFID) in October 2006 under the Tony Blair administration made the statements during parliamentary inquires. Settlement Watch getting British Government funds to spy on Israeli Settlements?? Interesting in many countries that would be considered espionage. Any way I am very surprised this information was not found earlier and the organizations confronted on their receiving donations. Well since these gentlemen worked during the Tony Blair government and this funding was given to these groups then I would think this would raise some eye brows as to the objectivity of former PM Blair. Below is a series of links to the above mentioned websites. Please note based on these UK government web links the British Ministry of Defense also contributed funds to the pool. Such Blatant interference in Israeli domestic affairs is abhorrent and reminds me of the dark days of British Colonialism. If the situation was reversed I don’t think the British people would accept it.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo061009/text/61009w0032.htm

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061009/text/61009w0033.htm

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060710/text/60710w1516.htm

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060724/text/60724w1993.htm

Example of Questioning on Website

9 Oct 2006

Israel

Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what joint projects his Department conducts with Israeli non-governmental organisations. [90264]

Hilary Benn: The Global Conflict Prevention Pool, jointly managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth 9 Oct 2006 : Column 155WOffice (FCO), DFID and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is funding the following projects with Israeli non-governmental organisations:

Peace Now—Settlement Watch;

Ir Amin—advocacy project on status of Jerusalem;

Council for Peace and Security—advocacy work on Israeli separation;

Economic Co-operation Foundation—Gaza disengagement; and HaMoKed/B’Tselem—Freedom of movement for Palestinians