Anti-Semitism from Seattle to Sacramento

Nadene Goldfoot 
A US district court judge ruled against  the group suing King County and the Metro Bus Co because they refused to run an anti-Israel ad on their buses in Seattle, Washington.  What chutzpa this group has.  Seattle has already felt the attack on the Jewish Federation office where workers inside were injured.  They knew such ads would only bring on more attacks.

Now we have a white supremacist couple right here in Portland, Oregon who killed  2 family members. David Pedersen shot his own 56 year old father and his girlfriend, Holly, slashed the neck of his 69 year old stepmother for him  and then they came across a 19 year old Cody Myers.  Thinking he was Jewish by his surname, they also killed him with the intention of going on a hunt to kill more Jews  in Sacramento, California.  Before they got there they killed their 4th victim.  David Pedersen, 31 and Holly Gigsley, 24 have been caught. 
Update: 10/15/11 The 4th victim was a 53 year old black man, Reginald Alan  Clark of Eureka, California.  The killings "were part of a mission to further white supremacist beliefs," stated 24 year old Holly Grigsby, held in jail in Marysville, California.  She had gone to high school in Portland, attending Parkrose High.  Now she's up for 4 murders.  Within a month she and her killer boyfriend, David Pedersen, 31, will be returned to Washington for the first two murders.  . 

http://news.yahoo.com/white-supremacist-said-couple-wanted-kill-more-jews-211135650.html
Northwest@StandWithUs.com
Oregonian Newspaper 10/155/11 front page: Suspect:  Myers a 'civilian casualty', A5

Who is Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign?

Nadene Goldfoot

Family Security Matters' authors have done a lot of investigation.

The Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign is an offshoot of "Coalition to Stop $30 billion to Israel." This started in 2009 and tried to get support from J-Street. On April 8, 2009, they set up 10 billboards around Albuquerque, New Mexico in a 2 month contract. They were quite open in their intentions to slam Israel. The billboards mentioning "killing children" were removed after 3 weeks of the 8 week contract after many complaints. Then again in December 2009 more appeared in Albuquerque but the message was modified. A video was made

Ed Mast was the spokesman for SMAC in Seattle in relation to the Metro bus ad campaign attacking Israel. He is the one who said that their intention was not to inflame but to raise awareness.

This is the man who wrote an article for the Salem News on May 17, 2010 saying that Israel's birth in May 1948 was the Palestinian Catastrophe and went on to write a completely lopsided essay about it that is full of false information. No doubt it's as the Palestinians have been brainwashed by their leaders, and he has bought into this legend as fact.

Awareness in his mind is telling the citizens of Seattle that the US is giving 30 Billion dollars each year to Israel in foreign aid. Awareness is telling these citizens that Israel simply bombed buildings without reason in Gaza with the pictures involved in the ad. The ads are badly distorting the issues involved, and Mr. Mast's story is all one-sided.

Seven years ago,, Mast was an activist with the International Solidarity Movement or ISM and now has been involved with the Palestine Online Store, a place selling his side of the Palestinian-Israel history. He is a founding member of the Seattle-based Palestine Information Project or Palestine Solidarity committee which is involved in boycotting Israeli products and produces propaganda declaring "the racism and colonialism of the Zionist movement....remain the fundamental causes of the current conflict. With this group he has helped organize protests scheduled every Saturday.

He and Susan Barclay, both of ISM from Seattle were in Israel when Rachel Corrie stood in front of a bulldozer operated by an IDF soldier on orders trying to stop him. The problem was that she was standing on a level of ground that prevented the soldier from seeing her, and he accidently hit her. Around her were probably these ISM people and other Palestinians, goading her to stand her ground and prevent the soldier from doing his job. She died as a result and Israel has held a court hearing about this case. My friend, David Berdine, reporter, was there as a witness shortly afterwards and noticed that the observers had offered pictures that were questionable as to the time involved. The light and shading told a different story. Rachel's death was a terrible accident, but no one should stand in front of a soldier in a wartime trying to prevent him from his duty. That is suicide. Her parents are just as guilty for allowing her to go to Israel with the intent of involving herself and putting herself in danger and so were was Rachel's audience of so called friends. Why didn't they grab her away when they saw what was about to happen? Did they just cheer her on? Now Mast tells that Rachel was "murdered" by evil Israeli oppressors.

The main person behind the ad seems to be Mark Eichinger-Wiese. They are claiming non-profit status, a photographer and website designer. He is involved with St. Mark's Cathedral with Brenda Bentz, both church and Bentz being on Mast's Palestine Information Project.

Update: 1:19pm The group is also planning a walking vigil for Monday evening.

http://familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.8220/pub_detail.asp
http://www.palestineinformation.org/events.htm
http://www.ruthfullyyours.com/2010/12/21/adrian-morgan-the-whole-story-on-the-seattle-bus-campaign/
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may172010/nakba-holocaust-em.php
http://www.palestineonlinestore.com/films/palestineforbeginners.htm
Hadassah NW Regional Council

http://www.ikehillah.org/joemccainonthejewsisrael/ from Joe McCain on the Jews-very positive after battling ads against Israel

Defamation of Israel in Seattle

Nadene Goldfoot

Something horrible is happening on December 27th in Seattle, Washington. A group calling itself "The Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign" has paid King County (Seattle) $1,794 to have 12 buses carry ads on the outside of their buses saying..."Israeli War crimes --Your tax dollars at work." This is accompanied with a picture of a group of children looking at a demolished building. The buses running with these ads pasted on their outside facing all viewers is starting on the anniversary of Operation Cast Lead when Israel finally reacted after 6 years of being attacked by rockets and missiles from Gaza. One can't say that Israel wasn't patient. No one came to Israel's aid to talk to these terrorists and stop them from their attacks, and Israel warned the whole world what it was being forced to do. That irks me so that the world remained silent.

Our own American army had very high in command people commend Israel for trying so hard to keep from harming civilians in Gaza, but the Goldstone Report, UN's South African, a man already poisoned towards Israel for starters as is much of South Africa, turned out a very biased report against Israel. Knowing the UN, I was not surprised.

King County is only concerned that this horrible ad isn't about pornography, alcohol, tobacco and as long as it isn't interfering with public safety or insulting specific groups to the point that a riot could be incited, vandalism could occur or public safety could be threatened. They do not care that this ad is like another rocket attack hitting Israel.

I feel it is more than insulting, but knowing Jews and pacifistic Northwesterners, doubt if there will be a riot about it. It is "inflammatory, demonizing and divisive". Ed Mast, spokesman for the group said it's not meant to be an anti-Israel message. Of course he would say that.

King county Metro Transit spokesperson, Linda Thielke, said that some people will be offended but that's not stopping the buses. She mentioned freedom of speech. They can't object just because they offend some people.

I ask, isn't this bus message displayed for all to see attacking and defaming Israel? Isn't it conveying an unjustly and unfavorable impression of Israel? Isn't it being displayed without just cause and exposing Israel to public contempt? This advertisement is libelous.

Portland's TriMet buses have more scruples. They have commented that such ads would not be permitted on our buses because if an ad is political in nature, it must be a statement of fact in order to be placed on the side of city buses in Portland.

War Crimes? That is slanderous. Since when is defending oneself from thousands if not over a million terrorists a war crime?

PS 2:42pm Councilman Peter von Reichbauer called for a review of the advertising on the buses. He says the ads need to be reviewed and re-evaluated. In a letter he said that dangerous languge can create dangerous environments in a society. Thank you Mr. Reichbauer for your insight to this very grave situation. I just hope that the others will heed your advice and that you all find this advertisement unacceptable behavior.

12/21 2010 update: The sign also says that taxpayers are paying 30 billion each year to Israel in foreign aid. The 12 buses are costing $2,760 to run for a month in the heart of Seattle. That comes to about $7 per bus per day. First editorials neglected to mention the length of duration for the ads.

Resource: http://www.king5.com/news/Isreli-War-Crimes-sings-to-go-on-Metro-buses-112108154 by Allen Schauffler/King 5 News
Stand With Us
Northwest Anti-Defamation League

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013725651_israelad21m.html

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/12/20/in-light-of-perceived-anti-israeli-bus-ads-kc-exec-calls-for

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/112225669.html

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2010/12/anti-israeli_support_ad_slated.php

Boycotting, Divesting, Sanctioning Israel

Anti-Israel divestment campaigns have been going on in dozens of colleges, many comparing Israel to anti-Apartheid activity. This is including inflammatory street demonstrations causing tremendous stress to Jewish students. This is being seen in Seattle now, but has been going on in Portland State to a degree for some time. Campuses have been noticing a problem ever since the 60's. Jews were seen as the white successful people against the dark skin people. In Europe, a robust campaign to boycott Israeli academics continues to be parroted by a handful of N. American academics. Noam Chomsky and Michael Finklestein have been leaders against Israel.

Anti-divestment has been going on in Portland in which activists have tried to stop Israeli products from being sold in stores. We noted this happening way back in December before the holidays. Evidently its still happening in Seattle.

BDS (Boycott-Divest-Sanction) is like a viral and pathological communicable disease. We ignore it at our peril. We have been trying to educate churches such as the Methodist as to the history and position Israel finds itself in . Now the Presbyterians have adopted a resolution in 2004 declaring Israeli actions to be at the "root of evil acts: committed on both sides of the conflict and calling for "phased selective divestment" of companies operating in Israel. They have replaced the call with a more general endorsement for socially responsible investments. The Methodist has rejected divestment resolutions as have other denominations now. Virulent anti-Israel campaigns continue in several denominations. Internationally, the World Council of Churches and the Anglican Church in England have embraced BDS.

Civic: Some city councils have rejected calls for municipal divestment of Israel but in Europe there have been repeated efforts in labor unions. Thank goodness our labor leaders have publicly condemned BDS.

Corporate: A longtime BDS effort has focused on Caterpillar, Inc. Other efforts have been against companies who sell to Israel's defense forces, construction industry, and retailers that sell Israeli products or have operations across the "green line ".

Now culture is being affected. The newest campaign of BDS are artistic, athletic and other activities. A film festival in Toronto highlighted 10 films from Israel and celebrated Tel Aviv's centennial though a BDS campaign was going on. There have been protests of Israeli entertainers. Israeli athletes and teams have been ostracized in several national tournaments. I think that is very telling and reminds us of the 30's in Germany.

The Goldstone Report has caused innumerable harm to Israel's reputation, as if we really needed more mud in our eye.

The latest development in our country is that Rabbi David Nesenoff, the man who had innocently interviewed Helen Thomas at an Israel rally, has received death threats. As the next Oprah replacement (?): Rosie O’Donnell Says Helen Thomas is Right. What can be worse? Helen told the rabbi that Jews should get the hell out of Palestine and go back to Poland and Russia and the States. Is this what we all want?
A book recommended to read is START UP NATION by Elias.

Resource: CRC Israel Advocacy Committee
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2010/06/09/the-next-oprah-rosie-odonnell-says-helen-thomas-is-right/