Holy Land 5 Successfully Prosecuted, Not Persecuted
Tuesday November 25, 2008
Today is a good day for Justice in America. Five leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development were convicted on 108 criminal counts of supporting terrorism, money laundering and tax fraud. They funneled millions of dollars to...
Filed Under: frederick block, hamas, holy land foundation, islamist politics, israel, politcs, racial profiling, terror, terrorism
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About Windows & Doors
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula. More About Brad
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I would be very cautious about extolling this as a wondrous act of justice. This dog can bite anyone, and it may just bite people who support Israel as well. I think that the case as presented by the Government was shaky. They would not have had to produce so much paper if their case was good. Their statement would not be complex and they would not have to tell people it was complicated. Instead they try to say it is too much for mere mortal minds. I am suspicious of ANYone who resorts to this tactic.
Humanitarian aid is the only way any real change will be effected. Preventing that aid is a questionable approach to diplomacy. making any assitance seem like acts of terrorism dilutes the argument and simply comes off as feeble.
The law is a great thing and I have little against it. I happen to obey the law.
On the flip side lets step back how we got here:
We the US told the Palestinians to hold democratic elections since we believe democracy is the cure for their issues.
They did just that and chose Hamas. We then told them we can't accept the result since this is a terror organization. On the other hand we are on best terms with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other great democracies.
Interestingly a large portion of the population of this planet living out of the US thinks the way we make laws is self serving, hypocritical and unjust. Perhpas we should re evaluate the law.
"your name", just because they hold democratic elections doesnt mean we have to accept their choice- electorates can make bad choices (see US Election 2000, Germany 1933). We can still base our foreign policy on independent factors, and yes, cooperate with governmental structures that are, in the case of Saudi Arabia et al, less than desirable.
One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. By labeling all armed opposition to Israel policies and tactics toward the Palestinians "terrorism," the U.S. and Israel use too broad a brush. By this definition, the people who fought the British during our Revolutionary War were terrorists.
"Humanitarian aid is the only way any real change will be effected. Preventing that aid is a questionable approach to diplomacy. "
Palestinian Arabs have received such aid for sixty years. As a result, they suffer in the way many cultures in history have when they were hooked on welfare: a high birth rate in or out of wedlock, an under-appreciation of honest work in favor of easy money, an aggressive concern with "honor" expressed through seeking both internal and external conflicts, and continual rent-seeking in lieu of self-betterment.
If change is wanted, doesn't "humanitarian aid" as we know it need to cease, rather than continue? Seems like a fit subject for diplomacy to me.
There is no modern day argument more engorged with intellectual cowardice than the oft-repeated "One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter." Yes, one can differentiate between the two, and it's not for this column.
I wouldn't call it a great day just because five Muslims have been convicted of sending money to Hamas. Sure, it was against the law, and their punishment is rightful. I don't advocate funding Hamas. But I don't advocate the US government funding Israel, either. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish who is more filled with self-righteousness and hate, Hamas or Likud. I truly believe the world would be a better place if both groups disbanded.
honesty begins in the grass roots of any society.and is finelly
sealed years later by goverments.its called revolution.when it does transform cultures its long anwsered prayer.coruption will always remain as threat to all thats good.peace
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