Israeli Rightists Warn IDF Soldiers of Prison Time Thanks to New Israel Fund

Some interesting developments today regarding the Im Tirtzu assault on the New Israel Fund.  Both Israeli and American Jewish peace groups came out swinging today in this article in the Jerusalem Post.  I’m astonished after being savaged by three prior separate Post articles (including one last week by Dershowitz) to read a respectful characterization there of my views:

The American Jewish blogosphere was also alive with comment and criticism on Monday, with well-known writers such as J.J. Goldberg, editorial director of The Forward, [and] Richard Silverstein chiming in on the Im Tirtzu report and coming to the NIF’s defense.

“I do not have a problem with anyone, whether Right or Left, expressing their views on the issues,” Silverstein wrote on his blog “Tikun Olam.”

“It is good to criticize Goldstone or New Israel Fund if you feel they’ve got things wrong. But it is dead wrong to call your opponent ‘evil’ or use Der Sturmer tactics to turn your opponent into a subhuman,” he continued, referring to the full-page caricature of Chazan.“

The Facebook Im Tirtzu is Fascist page is here.  Thanks to Americans for Peace Now and J Street for releasing strong statements of support for NIF and Prof. Hazan.

There has been one little noticed feature of the Im Tirtzu campaign, which is this ad in the Hebrew language press.  It features a “prison calculator” at the top which states:

Served in Operation Cast Lead?

Calculate how much [time] you’ll do.  It’s important how you answer–the prison calculator will aid you in determining how many years imprisonment you have coming to you:

In which branch did you serve?

How many days?

At what rank?

How many Israeli did you save from rockets?

This is meant by Im Tirtzu to be the equivalent of a wake up call for their supporters in the IDF, but think of what this really means.  They’re really runnin’ scared.  They really believe the ICC may end up getting them.  Frankly, I never thought this movement could get this far in impacting Israeli consciousness.  But it has.  And we must not let up.  Leaders must be held accountable either in Israel or New York or The Hague.

Let’s not forget that the good Pastor John Hagee is supporting this poison to the tune of $100,000 this year.

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