In the aftermath of Sunday’s horrifying shooting outside a Jewish community center and an old-age home near Kansas City which left three people dead, Jews worldwide are urging solidarity and a renewed, vigorous effort at rooting out anti-Semitism.
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City, the site of one of the shootings by a suspected white supremacist, invited Facebook users to change their profile picture to pay homage to the three victims killed in the attack.
Meanwhile, the incident sent shockwaves throughout the Jewish community worldwide.
The Anti-Defamation League, American Jewry’s most recognizable and powerful organization, called the shooting “an unspeakable and heinous act of violence.”
“While it is too early to label these shootings as a hate crime, the fact that two Jewish institutions were targeted by the same individual just prior to the start of the Passover holiday is deeply troubling and certainly gives us pause,” the ADL’s St. Louis regional director, Karen Aroesty, said.
The Anti-Defamation League, American Jewry’s most recognizable and powerful organization, called the shooting “an unspeakable and heinous act of violence.”
“While it is too early to label these shootings as a hate crime, the fact that two Jewish institutions were targeted by the same individual just prior to the start of the Passover holiday is deeply troubling and certainly gives us pause,” the ADL’s St. Louis regional director, Karen Aroesty, said.
The European Jewish Congress issued a statement on Monday warning of a new wave of violence inspired by neo-Nazi sentiment.
“Unfortunately, we are witnessing an intolerable rise in neo-Nazi violence on a global scale,” Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said. “Many assume that this is just a European problem, but its affects are felt around the world and for a global problem we need a global response.”
“We cannot continue to tolerate these forms of hate and leave neo-Nazi groups unmolested because of so-called ‘freedom of expression,’ when it can turn into such violence and bloodshed,” he said.
“We stand with our brothers and sisters in the US at this difficult time and stand ready to assist in fighting this scourge together because hate knows no boundaries, especially in the age of the internet,” Kantor continued.
“Unfortunately, we are witnessing an intolerable rise in neo-Nazi violence on a global scale,” Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said. “Many assume that this is just a European problem, but its affects are felt around the world and for a global problem we need a global response.”
“We cannot continue to tolerate these forms of hate and leave neo-Nazi groups unmolested because of so-called ‘freedom of expression,’ when it can turn into such violence and bloodshed,” he said.
“We stand with our brothers and sisters in the US at this difficult time and stand ready to assist in fighting this scourge together because hate knows no boundaries, especially in the age of the internet,” Kantor continued.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday condemned the murder of three people in a shooting attack at US Jewish institutions, saying it bore the hallmarks of anti-Semitic attacks.
“We condemn the murders, which according to all the signs were committed from hatred of Jews,” said a statement from his office, which added that Netanyahu had sent condolences to the victims’ families.
“The state of Israel, together with all civilized people, is committed to fighting this pestilence,” Netanyahu said.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz also said anti-Semitism was behind the attack that left three dead.
“This is a very serious and distressing incident for those who were impacted by it, and also because of what was behind it — anti-Semitism and hatred have not disappeared from the world,” Gantz told Army Radio Monday morning. “We wish Jewish communities around the world a happy and kosher Passover. Despite the difficulties, we’ll celebrate Passover. Though the existence of the state of Israel, we ensure an alternative to which everyone can come.”
Michael Medved, the syndicated radio host, calls “Israel Indivisible” a great crash course on the “ongoing effort to obliterate Israel.”
What!
What about that “two-state” solution that American presidents have advocated for for, well, decades. What about reports from as recent as Friday that there are talks, encouraged by Barack Obama, with the goal of a negotiated peace settlement that would involve a “two-state solution.”
Actually, the USA Today report on that very issue proved revealing, confirming that Palestinians are refusing “to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.”
“Israel has in the past offered compromises on hurdles such as settlements on disputed land. But the refusal by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to concede that Israel is a Jewish state is a deal-breaker, says [Gerald] Steinberg [of Bar Ilan University.] “The refusal means Israel has no confidence that a Palestinian state on its border will end the decades-long attempt by Arab nations to destroy it, so there is no reason to agree to a two-state solution.”
That very issue now is being addressed in “Israel Indivisible,” an investigation of the two positions that represent world opinions about Israel.
“On one side are those that love and support the Jewish people and the land, and on the other side those who seem to abhor anything and anyone associated with Israel,” project creators explain. “Within the anti-Israel camp, there are those who uphold that side as a result of misinformation and lies, and those who are simply uninformed and follow along. If these people can be reached and persuaded, then the swell of support for the Jewish state can grow exponentially.”
The project, the work of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations,” led by Laurie Cardoza-Moore, was created to focus on the historical, archaeological, legal and biblical rights the Jewish people have to their ancient homeland.
It documents the story of Israel and the Jewish people as seen and heard through the lives and voices of the people who lived and died to establish and hold the land. From Abram and the promise to the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the film examines the biblical, archeological and historical evidence for the ancient and modern country of Israel.
It examines the many political twists and turns that make Israel the world’s most controversial nation. At the center of all of this history is a group of people who are arguably the world’s most persecuted.
Recent archaeological digs have revealed artifacts showing that Israelites are indigenous to the land, promotes said.
“As ‘modern world’ documentation of the history, we underscore that going back to the late 1800s, European leaders like Lord Palmerston, then British Foreign Secretary, strongly recommended that the Ottoman Empire allow the Jews to return to their historical homeland,” noted Cardoza-Moore.
Cardoza-Moore worked with Emmy Award winning director Stan Moore, who said, “Through the inspirational story of Israel and the people who have been a part of that story, we hope to change hearts and minds toward this volatile issue. The more that people know and understand the long and deep tie the Jewish people have with this land the more they will stand behind Israel.”
Pro-Russian armed forces are seizing and occupying key buildings in eastern Ukraine after a deadline set by the Kiev government for them to stand down passed this morning.
At least 100 separatists attacked a police station in Horlivka, forcing riot officers to withdraw from the area, witnesses said.
Armed men were seen smashing windows, ransacking the building and building barricades in footage beamed around the world via a live stream online.
Ukrainian TV footage showed an ambulance treating people who were apparently injured during the assault on the police HQ in the city of 300,000 people.
There was no immediate response to the action from Ukrainian forces after acting President Oleksandr Turchynov said a "large-scale anti-terrorist operation" would be launched and the Donbass region would "soon be stabilised".
At least two people were killed and several others injured in the city of Slavyansk in clashes on Sunday.
Armed men that Western leaders claim are Russian forces have set up checkpoints and barricades in towns in the area.
World leaders warned of the violent seizure of the government buildings was a "dangerous escalation" in the crisis.
David Cameron spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the pair agreed that the building occupations should be condemned and foreign secretaries in Luxembourg should discuss how work on sanctions can be accelerated.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said denials of Russian involvement did not have "a shred of credibility".
He said: "What has happened in eastern Ukraine over the last 48 hours is clearly a further escalation of the crisis in Ukraine and it is a very dangerous one because of course it could lead to other measures being taken on both sides.
"There can't be any real doubt that this is something that has been planned and brought about by Russia. The forces involved are well-armed, well-trained, well-equipped, well-coordinated, behaving exactly the same way as what turned out to be Russian forces behaved in Crimea before the full Russian military takeover of Crimea.
The first quake struck the Pacific island chain at 7.14am, with residents on islands south-east of the capital Honiara reporting seeing three large waves shortly after the tremor.
The US Geographical Survey said that the quake had a magnitude of 7.6, with the epicentre 200 miles away from the capital.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert that was later cancelled.
They reported that sea level readings indicated a small tsunami was generated that may have caused some destruction near the epicentre.
Just hours later, a magnitude 7.4 quake struck in the same area, and another tsunami alert was issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
The Solomon Islands, which is home to 600,000 people, is still reeling from devastating flash floods that struck Honiara and other areas April 3.
The floods have killed 23 people and left 9,000 more homeless.
In February, several people were killed after a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 8.0 quake struck near the Santa Cruz islands - part of the Solomon Islands nation.
The Solomon Islands lies on the 'Ring of Fire' - an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.
Also see:
Despite being forced to release hundreds of seized cattle after an astounding standoff on Saturday, the Bureau of Land Management has vowed to continue its pursuit of Cliven Bundy, asserting that no deal has been made to cease its case against the Nevada cattle rancher.
Despite Clark County Sheriff Douglas Gillespie announcing on Saturday that the BLM had agreed to cease its operation against Bundy, the BLM now asserts that it played no part in the deal and will continue to pursue Bundy “administratively and judicially” for the $1 million in grazing fees it claims Bundy owes the feds.
“The door isn’t closed. We’ll figure out how to move forward with this,” BLM spokesman Craig Leff told the Associated Press, adding, “The BLM and National Park Service did not cut any deal and negotiate anything, there was no deal we made.”
This completely contradicts reports on Saturday which stated that, “A deal has been reached between the Bundy family and the Bureau of Land Management.”
In another twist, private investigator Doug Hagmann claims a Department of Homeland Security source told him that the federal stand down on Saturday was merely a temporary measure designed to “hoodwink” Bundy supporters into “believing that the situation is being resolved”.
Hagmann says his source told him the plan to release the cattle had been devised the day before and that Saturday’s activities were focused around a military assessment of the strength of the “resistance” shown by Bundy supporters.
Whatever the truth, the ‘battle of Bunkerville’ represents a seminal moment in the modern American liberty movement.
However, the notion that it represents the end of the federal government’s pursuit of Cliven Bundy is a naive conclusion to draw.
I've personally dealt with Mr. Glen miller before. He orchestrated a clan march in Gastonia one time. He spews hatred from his mouth like water from a faucet. He provokes his mindless little followers into disruptive behavior....unfortunately, there is no law against being born ignorant, or he would have been in jail long ago....
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