that israel girl

Fall 2008
1900 Hours
Destination Unknown
True Account in the Life of That Israel Girl

Mischief finds me in this seemingly benign city I call home. Such was the case last fall when I ventured out upon an adventure to make new friends. I found myself at a networking event where an intimate group met for dinner at a swanky restaurant in a celeb part of town. The set-up: Asian IT Consultant greets me from a reserved table. As she introduces herself, she immediately goes to work.
“Your profile says you’re a writer. What do you write?”
“Just this and that,” I reply.
“What exactly is this and that?” she presses.
“A little blog,” I respond.
“What kind of blog?” she pushes.
“A pro-Israel take on foreign policy,” That Israel Girl [me] answers.
She nods. “My husband is from Iran.”
 

Iran

“Persian?” I ask.
She laughs, then shakes her head. “No, from Iran.”
“That’s really nice,” I say.
“Lee should be here by now,” she checks her watch. “He’s always late. A girlfriend of mine is also going to join us. She’s German. Hope you don’t mind?”
An Iranian and a German, what luck, but shall I say, interesting…

A few minutes later, Lee shows up. He’s a throwback to the rat pack days both in age and black fedora. Mr. Rat Pack wastes no time launching into a tirade against then, President Bush. I flash a smile that says, I’m committed to diplomacy tonight.

An imaginary movie clipboard clamps down: Take One–Scene One–Action: Through my Semitic eyes, she enters the restaurant in slow motion. She’s the quintessential hausfrau; blond hair, tight bun placed high atop her head, plump physique, and buttoned-up attire. While many Germans are smitten by debauchery, it appears she’ll have none of that. She takes a seat with gracious determination in spite of her rotund shape. Her German friend has arrived.

I’ll call my new found friend, Schlotzklink. She explains the company she owns markets to ethnic groups. “Niche marketing?” I ask. She nods, with a sweet smile. Mr. Rat Pack then takes the lead as he pours out his “love for Germany.” His German lessons are really progressing. He can’t wait to go back there. He turns to me and asks about the subject of my blog. When I tell him, he asks me, “Why won’t the Jews just let the Germans go?” Stunned, I reply, “We have.” But what I’m really

Germany

thinking is…Everyone has the right to redemption. Germany’s deep investments in Iran however, a country led by a dangerous, neo-Nazi regime, makes me wonder if they really want redemption. How did I get hooked up with this crowd again?

Scholtzklink comes alive, “What is your blog about?”
“Israel,” I reply.
“Israel?” She asks as if the Jewish State were a despicable aftertaste. “In Germany, I lived right next to a mosque. I used to love to hear the Muslims pray five times a day. So beautiful,” she adds, with distinct haughtiness. Wait a minute. Is she challenging me to a duel? The room goes deaf, then black as my eyes focus on her through a rifle’s telescopic lens. It’s just her and me. Game on, fraulein.

The waitress asks her if she wants a drink. She’s hesitant. “No..no thank you.” Our waitress departs as Schlotzklink leans forward, then speaks in hushed tone. “Germans get depressed. It’s very cold in Germany. A lot of people don’t know that it gets dark in winter around 3:30 in the afternoon. The lack of sun makes a lot of us depressed. I used to go into deep depressions because of it.” Hhm, alcohol augments depression, I calculate. “Have a drink, it’ll relax you,” I say. My thoughts spiral deeper  into Machevellianism as I dream up a covert operation involving the sale of massive amounts of hard alcohol into Germany. Given the German police’s recent ban on the Israeli flag during Gaza protests, yet their “ability” to overlook Germans illegally singing Nazi songs in public, I’d say such fantasies are warranted.

Schlotzklink continues, “The gap between those poverty stricken in Germany versus the wealthy is becoming really pronounced. The poorer Germans live near and in the region that was formerly East Germany. That’s where I lived.”
How thrilling, I muse to myself. “How unfortunate,” I comment.

As the night wears on, I can’t wait for its end. Welcome to Fraulein hell. Wait a minute, I’ve been here before–flashback to past dalliances with a pure blooded German boy. Schlotzklink’s prince charming, my Gestapo nightmare. The kind of guy she’d find enticing…”I had a boyfriend who was born and raised in Germany,” I carefully begin. Then the dagger, “He was quite wealthy. Spoiled me to death.” Snow White’s wicked queen glares at me from across the table, still I continue, “His father was CEO of a German international, multi-conglomerate.” I raise my eyebrows and smirk. The music comes to an abrupt halt.

When the check comes, everyone rushes to cover her many drinks as she complains about her dire economic straits. I offer nothing but my share. Outside on the boulevard, we say our adieus. Our obligatory hand shakes and manufactured  smiles promise we’ll never see each other again. Schlotzklink gives me a sick smile. I almost bite into her poison apple. Then I stop, and remember who I am. Other Jews might want to take a look at this anti-Semitism that awaits them beyond their realm.

Although my performance was spot on charmingly girlish, the night leaves me uneasy. I confess to you that when I was a child, my sleep was haunted by nightmares of Nazi’s hunting me down in the ruins of Europe. Somewhere along the way things changed–I changed. Israel found me–empowered me. And now I have no fear.

Sources:
(1) “German Police ban Israeli flags,” Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post.com, Jan. 14, 2009
(2) “The Country with Real Leverage in Tehran,” Diethard Pallaschke, Wall Street Journal Europe, July 10, 2008
(3) “Schlotzklink” referenced from “Fascist Women,” university paper prepared by That Israel Girl for “Women In History”

“We are calling for accountability for all actions in this conflict as per the Geneva Conventions.  There are laws of war…everyone must be accountable for these actions…” railed John Ging, Head of UN Relief and Works Agency.  Is he talking about the more than 1/2 million innocent Israeli citizens under siege by Hamas rockets?  Not a chance.  That wouldn’t be true to the United Nations hypocritic oath.  Ging’s response in a UK televised interview was to the Israeli bombing of Hamas terrorists caught launching rockets into Southern Israel from a UN school.  The school and Palestinians taking refuge within were an abhorrent, inadvertent casualty.

What really happened at the UN (UNRWA) school?  Hamas operatives were positioned in the UN school compound, firing mortars at IDF troops.  IDF forces fired back in self defense with a total of three mortar shells.  Captain Benjy Rutland, IDF Spokeperson’s Unit, commented, “Unfortunately, after the event it turned out that the mortar fire from Hamas was coming from a UN school.  Hamas had cynically used the school where a number of civilians were taking refuge as a location to fire on the IDF.  This is a breach of international law and is a continuation of the cynical use that Hamas is making of the civilian population in Gaza.”  In fact, two Hamas operatives were found dead at the UN school in the aftermath: Hassan Abu Askhar and Imad Abu Askhar.

The UN and John Ging fail to hit the target.  Civilian deaths are abhorrent.  So why does Hamas use Palestinians as human shields?  Hamas hides weapons, ammunition and launches rockets from areas of dense civilian populations.  Hamas plays this dangerous game because they know Israel targets rocket launchers and ammunition sites with the end goal of eliminating missile attacks on the Jewish State.  Especially attacks on innocent Israeli civilians–which by the way are against the Geneva Conventions.

Israeli Airforce surveillance video captured evidence Hamas terrorists launch rockets from school compounds. 
Hamas Bombs Israeli Troops From UN School Compound from That Israel Girl on Vimeo.
These attacks were perpetrated against Israeli civilians while the Jewish State delivered humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza.  Israeli military intelligence also found a Hamas sketch indicating the terrorist group’s explosives deployment and forces amidst civilians in the northern Gaza strip:

Hamas Sketch

Intelligence Corps Officer-in-Chief, Brigadier General Yuval Halmish who revealed the sketch has this to say, “The map was found during Paratrooper Brigade forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip and was translated from Arabic during the operation.  It describes, among other things, the location of explosive devices and firing positions in the middle of the civilian population in the dense neighborhood, which endanger the life of the civilians.  That’s what Hamas has been doing throughout the entirety of the operation - perversely using civilians as human shields.”  Brigadier General Yuval Halmish also stated Hamas prevents the spread of Israeli cautionary leaflets alerting Palestinians to evacuate their homes.

Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman warned, “If you [Hamas] go to sleep with a rocket, don’t be surprised if you don’t wake up in the morning.”  Even an Iranian student group, Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat - Taif-e ‘Alameh (the Office for Strengthening Unity - Clerics Circle) called Hamas a “terrorist group” and condemned their “inhumane” use of Palestinian civilians as human shields.  Clearly Hamas knows better than to use the Palestinian people they vow to protect as human shields.  What exactly is the UN doing about Hamas’ gross violation of the Geneva Conventions in using Palestinian human shields?

Israeli schools and other civilian populated areas have been hit hard by Hamas rockets and mortars supplied primarily by Iran.  Curious that John Ging and the UN fail to apply the Geneva Conventions to onslaughts against the Jews in Israel.  Wiesenthal Center’s Rabbi Hier pointed out January 8th in his “The Jews Face a Double Standard,” Wall Street Journal op-ed, “Have there been any all-night Security Council sessions held during the 7 months when Hamas fired 3,000 rockets at 1/2 million innocent civilians in Southern Israel?  You can be certain that during those 7 months, no midnight oil was burning at the UN headquarters over resolutions condemning terrorist organizations like Hamas.”

The UN ignores Hamas’ siege on innocent Israeli citizens.  When Israel acts in self defense to protect these innocent civilians, the UN maligns the Jewish State.  The international body charges, “Israel’s response is disproportionate…using excessive force.”  The truth is the UN’s response is disproportionate.  The only “excessive force”–the UN’s condemnation of Israel’s right to self defense.  The UN on Hamas’ rocket barrage on innocent Israeli civilians?  Silence. 

It seems everyone’s a little sentimental about the UN.  In a recent press conference, Dan Gillerman sums it up: “We expect very little from the UN.  The UN hasn’t helped the lives for Palestinians or Israeli’s.  [The UN's] a charade for hypocrisy, deception and cynicism.  We wouldn’t expect the UN to play a successful role.”  Nor will we expect success from the UN in the Israeli/Gaza crisis, lest we forget the UN’s hypocritic oath.

Sources:
(1) John Ging interview in UK, http://uk.youtube.com/watchy=uWPOGVOwVSk
(2) “The Jews Face a Double Standard,” Op-ed by Rabbi Hier, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Wall Street Journal, Jan. 8, 2009
(3) Transcript of Press Conference with former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, theisraelproject.org, Jan. 5, 2009
(4) “Fiction vs. Fact in Gaza: 6 Common Fabrications,” theisraelproject.org, Jan. 2, 2009
(5) “Israel’s Operation Against Hamas in Gaza - Update Jan. 10,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel
(6) “Arab Government and Civilian Leaders Continue to Blame Hamas for Gaza Violence,” theisraelproject.org, Jan. 9, 2009
(7) “Iranian Student Group: Hamas is a Terrorist Group and its Use of Civilians is Inhumane,” MEMRI, Jan. 5, 2009, http://www.memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD217509
(8) “Facts Update: Israel and the Situation in Gaza, 9 Common Allegations,” theisraelproject.org, Jan. 11, 2009
(9) “Hamas Operatives Killed in UNRWA School, 6 Jan 2009,” IDF Spokesperson’s Unit Communique, Jan. 6, 2009, http://idfspokesperson.com/2009/01/06/hamas-operatives-killed-in-unrwa-school-6-jan-2009/; “UNRWA School in Jabalya, 6 Jan 2009,” IDF Spokesperson’s Unit Communique, Jan. 6, 2009, http://idfspokesperson.com/2009/01/06/unrwa-school-in-jabalya-6-jan-2009/; IDF VLOG: “Hamas Terrorists Hide in UN School,” IDF Spokesperson’s Unit Communique, Jan. 6, 2009, http://idfspokesperson.com/2009/01/06/idf-vlog-hamas-terrorists-hide-in-un-school/ 

January 2, 2009
1300 hours
Pro-Hamas Protest
Whereabouts: Los Angeles, California

I arrive early at the scene to scope out the terrain.  Media trucks are camped outside the Israeli Consulate.  An NBC photojournalist emerges to greet me, unaware of who I am.
“Is there going to be a protest today?”  I feign ignorance.
“Yeah, the Israeli side over there [he points to the north side of Wilshire Boulevard], the other side over here,” [pointing to the south side of Wilshire, in front of the Israeli Consulate].
“I’m curious,” I begin, doefully, “How do you guys go about framing these stories?”
“Mainly the producers.  Everyone thinks we’re biased but we just go in, shoot and come out with whatever we get.  We don’t know what the story’s going to be.  Which side are you on?”
I’m strategically dressed to blend in with either side–jeans tucked into motorcycle boots, black pashima, cable knit beanie.  “I’m Jewish,” I reply.
“We met with the Israeli Consulate this afternoon.  He was really cool.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was surprised.  Hope it doesn’t get real crazy out here tonight.”
“It’s Shabbat so a lot of the Pro-Israeli’s might not be here,” I respond.
“Oh, we totally forgot about Shabbat!  I can’t believe we missed that.”

Police with bomb sniffing dogs begin to scour the area for explosives.  LAPD cars line the blocks.  Protestors are sparse, but continue to trickle in at a steady pace.

Through the fog that envelopes the city of angels, I see the Israeli fence that separates Israel from Gaza.  The Israeli side on the north and Gaza to the south, with Wilshire Boulevard as the fence between the warring factions.  I cross the fence into Palestinian territory.  My Jewish brethren I leave behind who eye me quizzically need to understand I need to research the opposition.

Veiled Muslim women begin screaming at the Pro-Israeli’s, “F***king Jews, you’re not f***king sons of Abraham!  A Palestinian man joins in, “F***king Jews, you’re f***ing Nazi’s.”  A Palestinian girl, age six, holds a protestor’s banner sitting right next to the anti-Semitic agitators.  Other Palestinian children peep in and out of the Pro-Hamas crowd.  Although the Pro-Israeli demonstrators fire back in self defense, there are no toddlers, or profanity coming

Pro-Israeli Demonstrators

Palestinian Girl Amidst Pro-Hamas Agitators

from their side.  Despite heroic efforts on the part of StandWithUs.com, they’re a smaller group compared to the other side.  Make no mistake about it–this media war is an asymmetrical fight with the Jews as the underdog.

In an instant, media cameras rush in to catch the media spectacle of the Pro-Hamas agitators screaming profanities.  The visual of the Palestinian child holding the banner, smiling for the cameras as her elders scream obscenities–the indoctrination, would never make it to prime time television.  Later that night, Pro-Hamas agitators however, would be shown on TV, swinging from the rafters, in this case traffic lights.

Pro-Hamas agitator demographics:  A large, diverse group, varied ages, from toddler, young adult, middle aged, to senior citizens; Caucasions, Palestinians, a few Afro-Americans, but my eyes settle on an innocuous looking Asian guy in glasses holding an AnswerLA.org banner.  I spark up a conversation with

AnswerLA.org's Chief Organizer

him.  “Hi, I’m curious, what’s your background, what brought you here today?”  That Israel Girl asks.
“I’m here to fight for the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza,” he replies in soft spoken cadences.
“How did you get involved?”  I ask.
“I’m the chief organizer for AnswerLA.org.  My parents raised me to fight on behalf of oppressed peoples.”

His group, AnswerLA.org, is dedicated to the organization and funding of Pro-Hamas agitators.  If you check out their website however, you’d think they were simply peace advocates for Gaza.

“Where do you go to school?”
He hesitates.  “Uh, well I go to L.A. City College.”
“So I take it you think Hamas are the oppressed.”
“Hamas are representing the Palestinian people who are oppressed by Israel supported by the United States.  You know, in 1948, the Jews were just a small group in that part of the world.  Now they’ve taken over.  Zionism must end.  It’s an evil oppressor.”
“I’m confused,” I begin, “It’s my understanding that Israel left Gaza with every intention of peace with the Palestinian people.”

                                                                                         
“Israel occupies Gaza.  They’ve had a total blockade of Gaza, trapping all of the Palestinians inside, leaving them starving, with no food or medical supplies.  They can’t get out.”
His facts are wrong.  Further, the blockade is an act of self-defense by the Israeli’s.
“So you view the blockade as the same thing as an occupation?”  I ask.
“Yes, of course.  It’s an occupation,” he insists.

Out of the blue, he switches the conversation to Muslim gender stereotypes.  “It’s not true all the stuff they say about the way Muslim women are treated.  It’s just a way to distract from the real issue of occupation.”
“What about honor killings and Palestinian graffiti that says women who don’t wear the veil are collaborators, and all collaborators will be shot,” I offer.
“That’s just the US government trying to distract from the issue of the apartheid state Israel has created.  Israel is an apartheid state.  The apartheid must be destroyed.”  He shrugs, “Yeah, the Muslim women are backwards but that’s their culture.  We can’t put down their culture.”
“Are you in favor of missiles being thrust upon Israel by Hamas?”
He shrugs, “Their rockets don’t hit anything.  They’re not sophisticated weaponry like Israel has.”
“I heard Hamas blows up gas and energy centers that generate power for the Palestinians,”  I add.
He looks away, then shakes his head.  “Not true.  That’s just not true.  Hamas wouldn’t do that.”
“I don’t think Hamas is as nice as you think they are,” I mention.
“They’re not supposed to be nice.  They’re the oppressed fighting against a superpower.  In this case–the US and Israel,” he states.
Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal’s really oppressed living fat in Damascus sending thousands of Palestinians to their deaths.  Endangering the lives of thousands more by hiding ammunition, weaponry, and more in civilian homes, but that’s Israel’s fault according to the PR hit job against the Jews.  In this media war, Hamas sets fire to their own Reichstag, then blames the Jews to consolidate power.  Still, I’m silent.
“Will there ever be peace?”  I ask.
“Peace will come when the Palestinians return to their homes,” he’s emphatic.
“Then what about the Israeli State?”  I ask.
The self-proclaimed “chief organizer” of AnswerLA.org looks away, then at the Pro-Israeli demonstrators across the street.  He can barely look me in the eye.  “We want to dismantle the State of Israel.”  He nods, looking ahead.  “That’s our goal.  Of course–we will dismantle the Israeli State.”
There we have it–the truth about Pro-Hamas agitators.  Their talking points on peace–all a ruse.

Sources:
(1) “Iran-Backed Terrorists Continue to Shoot Rockets at Israeli Civilians,” www.theisraelproject.org, Dec. 8, 2008
(2) “Moral Clarity In Gaza,” by Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post, Jan. 2, 2009
(3) “Fiction vs. Fact: Israel and the Situation in Gaza: 6 Common Fabrications,” www.theisraelproject.org, Jan. 2, 2009