Dear Chaverot
I hope this finds you well.
All over Israel, school are back in session, summer vacations are behind us and we are gearing up to welcome you and your delegations to the EGM in January.
In the meantime, I am delighted to bring you the latest edition of Straight Facts including UN Watch’s report to the commission on racism, interaction between an Israeli writer and Palestinian academic and we ask if Amnesty International has lost the plot.
You can still sign up to receive breaking news from Israel and great content, just WhatsApp your name and number to me at +972525829090
I hope this is of service to you.
Warm regards,
Rolene Marks
World WIZO Executive: Public Diplomacy & Hasbara: Office of the Chairperson
+ 972 52 582 9090
rolenemarks@yahoo.com
Talking to our Neighbours
How do we talk to our neighbours? In a region where conflict – and incitement are ever present, it took a challenge issued by writer, Yossi Klein HaLevi, to bring together two divergent views to find common ground. It started with listening to each other’s narratives. You can read more about the exchange here:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/when-an-ex-fatah-palestinian-neighbor-took-up-a-zionist-authors-challenge/
Has Amnesty International Lost the Plot?
Why is Amnesty International so obsessed with Israel? Why is this once respected human rights organization focusing on the Jewish state at the expense of conflicts and human rights abuse? It would appear that Amnesty International have lost the plot. Rolene Marks writes more:
https://layoftheland.online/2019/02/17/has-amnesty-international-lost-the-plot/?fbclid=IwAR1W_v7A8moyFNt1sDrOh_GK42iaNZqKi20bEYm--Kk7y_y4ZeylunFn-eE
UN Watch Report to the 99th Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Thanks to UN Watch interventions that included a major legal submission and expert briefings, the UN's anti-racism committee criticized the Palestinians for the first time in history, calling on Ramallah to combat "hate speech and incitement to violence," saying it was "concerned" about statements by Palestinian officials, as well as in school textbooks, that promote "hate speech against Israelis" which it found "fuels hatred" and "may incite violence" and "antisemitism." Here is that submission:
https://unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Alternative-Report-of-United-Nations-Watch-to-the-99th-Session-of-the-Committee-on-the-Elimination-of-Racial-Discrimination-for-its-review-of-State-of-Palestine.pdf
Why Israel Has the Most Technologically Advanced Military on Earth:
Israel’s story is extraordinary – but along with modern day miracles, come great threats. Israel is a tiny country but has emerged as a global military superpower. Yaakov Katz explains the reasons in this fascinating article:
Is UNRWA an Obstacle to Peace?
UNRWA (the United Nations Relief Works Agency) is currently mired in scandal and at least 5 countries have cut their aid. Is there still a need for UNRWA or is the UN agency a major impediment towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians? Watch this interesting discussion:
https://transatlanticinstitute.org/videos/unrwa-obstacle-peace
Would you like to submit an article for inclusion in Straight Facts? All languages are welcome!
Email Rolene Marks, World WIZO Executive: Public Diplomacy & Hasbara
Email: rolenemarks@yahoo.com
Tel.: + 972 52 580 9090
