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Why the International Community Should Follow Trump’s Lead on Jerusalem

December 20, 2017 by Robert J. Avrech 4 Comments

President Trump in Jerusalem, at the Western Wall, remnant of the Second Temple which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 ACE.

President Trump has fulfilled a promise that, frankly, I did not believe he would keep.

But by recognizing Israel’s capital as Israel’s capital he has proven himself a friend of Israel and the Jewish people in a manner that is unique among American presidents. It would be interesting to discover how Trump arrived at this important decision, but ultimately it is Trump’s decision and he should be applauded by those who cherish truth and by those who hate the default Islamic appeasement that has taken hold of the chattering classes in the West.

Lt. Col (res.) Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a man who knows the Arab world inside out, has written a valuable guide to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital.

The Reunification of Jerusalem, 1967

May 23, 2017 by Robert J. Avrech 3 Comments

In honor of Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, here’s a short film that tells the story of Israel’s 1967 battle to rescue Jerusalem from Jordanian assault, and the ensuing reunification of Jerusalem.

My father z’l, said to me, “This is a miracle.”

He was right.

Netanyahu Wants to Scuttle Iran Appeasement, Thinks Trump Can Help

December 12, 2016 by Robert J. Avrech 3 Comments

Most Israeli are hugely relieved that Donald J. Trump is President-elect. Obama was openly hostile to the Jewish state and Hillary just promised more of the same.

The following is a script from “Benjamin Netanyahu,” which aired on 60 Minutes, Dec. 11, 2016. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Shachar Bar-On and Alexandra Poolos, producers.

On our recent trip to Jerusalem, we found a surprisingly optimistic Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served the longest stretch as prime minister in Israel’s history. He told us his country has never felt as secure or less isolated. But it’s been a tumultuous eight years between Israel and the U.S. over the Iran nuclear deal and the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. So part of his optimism relates to the election in the U.S. Netanyahu and his followers on the Israeli right, are greeting the idea of President Donald Trump with a resounding l’chaim.

Benjamin Netanyahu: I know Donald Trump. I know him very well. And I think his attitude, his support for Israel is clear. He feels very warmly about the Jewish state, about the Jewish people and about Jewish people. There’s no question about that.

Lesley Stahl: With Trump, do you think that Israel will not be as at odds with the United States as you have been under the Obama administration?

Benjamin Netanyahu: Yeah, we had differences of opinion with– I had differences of opinion with President Obama and most well-known, of course, is Iran.

Movies as Political Propaganda: The Battle of Algiers, Part I

September 28, 2016 by Robert J. Avrech 5 Comments

In The Battle of Algiers (1966) the Islamic terrorists are viewed as heroic freedom fighters. The truth is they were a bunch of IslamoNazi mass murderers. — In The Battle of Algiers (1966) Islamic terrorists are viewed as heroic freedom fighters. The truth is they were a bunch of IslamoNazi mass murderers.

Movies are the most powerful tools of social and political propaganda the world has ever known. Consider: America wins wars only when Hollywood supports the conflict and puts itself squarely behind America’s war effort. During World War II, every studio in Hollywood backed the Allied effort against the Axis. Hollywood stars enlisted for active duty, raised money for war bonds, toured and entertained our troops, and the studios produced films that went all out for freedom and liberty against the tyranny of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Hollywood played a huge role in America’s victory.

Contrast Vietnam. Hollywood, overwhelmingly anti-war, produced a series of movies that undermined the American effort against the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Hollywood knew that with a few clever, glossy films (most notably “Coming Home” (’78), starring Jane Fonda and Jon Voight) and their carefully-manufactured anti-war narratives, it could undermine American foreign policy and turn heroic GIs into psychotic baby-killers. America lost Vietnam.

In our times, Hollywood produced several high profile movies that argued against America’s military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not one of the films was profitable, but the damage was done. America withdrew from both fronts. IslamoNazis filled the vacuum — and Hollywood will never take notice or assume any responsibility for the chaos and mass murder it helped to create.

Friday Photos: ObamaNet Edition

February 27, 2015 by Robert J. Avrech 8 Comments

The other day Karen and I were walking along La Cienaga Boulevard when we spotted this giant sculptor of Lenin. We could not believe our eyes. Naturally, whoever is responsible for this hunk of junk will claim that this is deconstruction, an ironic comment on postmodern art and politics, yadda, eider. As far as karen and I are concerned, it's an insult to the millions of victims of Communist genocide that was a central foundation of Lenin's pitiless political program. — The other day Karen and I were walking along La Brea Boulevard when we came upon this giant sculpture of Lenin outside a building owned by Ace Gallery. “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head” is by the Chinese artist brothers Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang. I have no doubt the brothers will claim that this is an ironic comment on postmodern art and politics — yadda, yadda. As far as Karen and I are concerned, it’s an insult to the millions of victims of Communist genocide that was engineered by Lenin.

Few noticed that a significant erosion of liberty took place this week in a room in Washington where three Democrat party commissars voted to classify the internet as a public utility.

This means that over the next few years, slowly, almost imperceptibly, the federal government will levy increasingly heavy taxes on the internet. In ways both subtle and flagrant, internet content will be heavily influenced by Washington bureaucrats. Keep in mind that the internet is becoming indistinguishable from TV or even the movie screen. Thus, the greatest tool of propaganda—American movies—will, over the next few years, fall under the shadow of federal regulations.

The internet has been one of the greatest engines of innovation and free market capitalism since the invention of the printing press. The truth is, if the government had controlled the internet from the outset we’d still be using dial-up to get a slow-poke connection.

Of course, the Democrats understand that to control the internet is to control the message, which is what’s needed in order to centralize power. And the postmodern Democrat party is all about the exercise of raw power in order to establish a soft tyranny of the very highly paid whose mission is to redistribute every one else’s wealth and foster the illusion of liberty and equality.

We have gone from ObamaCare to ObamaNet.

And on that cheery note, let’s look at some moments in time that will, hopefully, brighten your weekend.