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Israeli Fire Department: Mass Blazes Caused by Arson

By
Sholom Schreirber
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0
The mass blazes in the center of Israel that caused the displacement of thousands and the destruction of dozens of homes is suspected to be an act of arson, the Fire Department stated Sunday. Photo by Rivka Franks/TPS on 26 May, 2019

The mass blazes in the center of Israel that caused the displacement of thousands and the destruction of dozens of homes is suspected to be an act of arson, the Fire Department stated Sunday.

Teams investigating the scene at Mevo Modi’im and Kibbutz Harel have discovered that the fires were ignited at several locations, lending credence to the suspicion that the fire was ignited by arsonists.

The investigation is ongoing, the Fire Department said.

Over the course of 41 hours starting on Thursday, fires burned 32,000 acres and 50 homes in Mevo Modi’im and Kibbutz Harel. Most residents lost all their positions and were left with only the clothing on their bodies, and over 3,500 Israelis were evacuated from their homes due to fires caused by an extreme heatwave.

No one was injured by the fires, but 13 firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.

In related news, the police over the weekend arrested three Arabs who attempted to start fires in Jerusalem as an act of terrorism.

A Police spokesman stated that while firefighters across the country were fighting fires, police in Jerusalem arrested three suspects for attempting to deliberately start fires.

The police arrested a 19-year-old suspect while he was attempting to start a fire near the French Hill neighborhood. A 15-year-old was arrested in similar circumstances in the Har Hazofim area, which borders with Arab neighborhoods and has repeatedly been the target of arson attacks.

A third suspect, 30, was also arrested for attempting to start a fire in the Kidron area.

“Investigations into those three suspects are continuing and they remain under arrest,” the police said.

Arab terrorists over the years have adopted arson as a weapon against Israel, taking advantage of the dry and hot weather to ignite fires and cause mass damage to property as well as the loss of life.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Sunday held a special ceremony at Tel-Nof AFB saluting the teams from around the Middle East which arrived in Israel to help it fight the mass blazes that hit the country.

Firefighting aircraft and crews from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, arrived in Israel on Friday to provide assistance in fighting the wildfires which began raging in Israel on Thursday as a result of a heavy heat wave.

“Their response warms our heart. We take them in with much appreciation,” said IAF Brig. Gen. Peleg Niego, Commander of Tel-Nof AFB.

The Teams were awarded a certificate and a small token from the Ministry of Public Security.

“We express our gratitude to the countries extending assistance in combating forest fires as well as those who have expressed willingness to help. Thank you Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Croatia and Italy for your friendship. A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon stated Friday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked “my friend Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for sending two helicopters to help in putting out the fires that have broken out across Israel.”

(TPS)

Is it the End of the “Skullcap” for Jews in Europe?

By
Sholom Schreirber
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0
Let's give credit to our Trump appointed ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell who said quite openly to all Germans: "The opposite is true. Wear your kippa. Wear your friend's kippa. Borrow a kippa and wear it for our Jewish neighbors. Educate people that we are a diverse society. Photo Credit: Facebook

Germany, while being one of the most pro-Israel European nations in its commercial dealings with Israel, seems to be unable to detach itself from its long history of Jew hating. Back in the Hitler/Nazi days, Jews were forced to wear identifying armbands and as we’ve seen in photos of those years, Jewish owned stores had “Jude” painted on them to label them as targets for the thugs roaming the streets. Now, 75 years later, a German leader has suggested that Jews refrain from wearing kippo (yarmulkes) while in the streets, on public transport, at events and in general….at any time. In other words, “Hide your religion, hide your Judaism for your safety.” Just this past week, Felix Klein, the federal government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Anti-Semitism (there is such a position??) said: “My opinion on the matter has changed following the ongoing brutalization in German society. I can no longer recommend Jews wear a kippah at every time in Germany.”

We are sure he probably meant well and that he was looking out for the security of the few Jews who still call Germany home. But what did he mean by his statement about this “brutalization in German society?” Just who are those who are doing the brutalizing and who are the victims? Why can’t he be frank and call a spade a spade and blurt out the truth that those replicating the Nazi actions of yore, the Islamofascists and neo-Nazis are the culprits, the anarchists, the Jew hating attackers? Why not speak the truth? For this guy to suggest that Jews have to hide, to camouflage themselves as non-Jews, to have to hide their Jewishness is nothing more than despicable coming from an official.

Why not order the cops of the nation to crack down on these Muslim terrorists and wannabee Nazis? Why not condemn them openly? This is nothing more than capitulation to shariah law brought in by the millions of Muslim immigrants permitted to migrate into Germany. This was a victory for hate, bigotry and intolerance that should have ended in 1945. Jews have to once again accommodate their antagonists by being compliant, fearful and weak. Let’s give credit to our Trump appointed ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell who said quite openly to all Germans: “The opposite is true. Wear your kippa. Wear your friend’s kippa. Borrow a kippa and wear it for our Jewish neighbors. Educate people that we are a diverse society.” Perhaps that’s what we should all be doing here in America. And that’s for all of us to start wearing kippos, Mogen Dovid jewelry and show our pride in being Jews. With the evil tide of prejudice being promulgated from even our own elected leaders, we should start our campaign of Jewish pride now, before it’s too late like in….Germany..

Trump Winning in European Elections

By
Sholom Schreirber
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Pictured above is UK Prime Minister Theresa May. Recently, she announced that she would resign her post due to the bellicose pushback she has been received from leftist political parties in Britain that oppose taking takes to make the Brexit vote a reality. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Europe has always been considered a pariah by our nation. The recently commemorated Memorial Day brought to mind the hundreds of thousands of young Americans who sacrificed their lives in two massive wars so that those Continentals could once again mess themselves up. They did it after WWII in flirting with Communism, embracing the crippling philosophy of Socialism and then signed the European Union (EU) virtual death warrant that has brought these elitists to their knees. This past weekend’s EU vote indicated that the common citizens, the serfs, have had enough and voted overwhelmingly to signal that the progressives are on their way out. But give thanks again, to the land of the Stars and Stripes.

The results of the European Union (EU) vote throughout much of Europe has demonstrated that President Trump’s policies regarding trade and illegal immigration and standing up to radical Islam are working. Anti-EU parties have made big gains securing outright victory in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Hungary and Poland, among others. Nigel Farage’s UK’s Brexit Party, France’s Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and Italy’s Matteo Salvini’s League Party all declared victory in their respective countries. Throw in the conservative wins in Poland and Hungary to make this a slam-dunk defeat for those who welcomed in millions of Muslims to destroy their Western outlook.

According to our so called, self-identified betters, the Leftist Progressives, this wasn’t supposed to happen. Wasn’t Europe a utopia? Weren’t we told time and again that it was a secular, socialist paradise where the atheist, the Muslim, the GLBTQ gang supposedly lived together in peace and harmony and the Jew and Christian were treated with disdain and chased out with many acts of accepted terror? Not anymore.

Most assuredly we will now be hammered with many complicated, intellectual, political rationalizations about the trend this vote signals but what it boils down to is that people are proud of who they are! Americans want to be Americans! Brits want to be Brits and French want to be French. Global citizenship and world-wide kumbaya is bubkis. Look how well the United Nations functions. We are all different and national pride motivates us to do better. Competition works. Perhaps this is an indication that the Trump attitude depicting self-worth, self-respect and aggressiveness against the evils of socialism, Communism and Islamofascism really works. Maybe, just maybe, there’s hope for the future generations.

Letters to the Editor

By
Sholom Schreirber
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0

Thinks DeBlasio is a Joke

Dear Editor:

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio for President belongs in the comics section. “De Blasio for Prez–No Way!” (Editorial —May 22). Democrats Governor Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio have a lot in common with the late Republicans Governor Nelson Rockefeller (1959–1974) and NYC Mayor John Lindsay (1966–1973) along with Governor George Pataki (1995 -2006) and NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (1994–2001). The same is true for the late Democrat Governor Mario Cuomo (1983–1992) and NYC Mayor Ed Koch (1978-1988). Nelson Rockefeller, George Pataki, Mario Cuomo and son Andrew Cuomo deal with Mayors who want equal billing on the political marque.

Lindsay’s urban, Koch’s Big Apple, Giuliani’s safety/quality of life and de Blasio’s progressive agenda is dependent upon both increased state and federal assistance. de Blasio envisions himself as the national spokesperson for progressive Mayors from all cities. This conflicts with Governors who have to worry about all 62 counties making up New York State. It also creates problems for both Cuomo and de Blasio who harbor Presidential ambitions in 2020. Cuomo like his father Mario, Rockefeller and Pataki, de Blasio like Lindsay and Giuliani will never come close to winning any primaries let alone occupy the White House. Better to spend your time packing for moving back to your old Park Slope Brooklyn home when your term ends in December 2021.

Sincerely,

Larry Penner

Remembering Brooklyn in the 1950s!

Dear Editor:

I was born September 12, 1941 on a street in Brownsville called Hopkinson Avenue. One of my older brothers was also born on September 12th exactly 10 years older then me. For the last 77 years we have celebrated our birthdays together. The hospital I was born was called Beth- El and later in years it was changed to Brookdale Hospital. It is still there and is located on Linden Boulevard and Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn.

When I was a few months old my parents moved to 260 Amboy Street. I was told that the rent being 28 dollars was cheaper than the other apartment. It definitely wasn’t an upgrade because it was a small two bedroom apartment that had a bathroom with no wash stand. We had to wash our hands in the kitchen sink. The bathroom was so small that two people could not fit in at one time. Sometimes I would have to wait on line to use the shower but after awhile we had a schedule.

You can see by the attached picture of our building, it had three floors and we lived on the first floor front overlooking the garbage cans.

My telephone number Dickens 5-2364. It was a party line which means we shared the phone line with other families. Sometimes if you wanted to dial out you had to wait for the other parties to get off the phone.

There were two families on each floor. The tenant on the first floor behind us was The Schwieds, the second floor were the Beckmans and the Cramers, and on the top floor were the Sass family and in the back was old landlord the Krasners.

One true story I recall was about our back neighbor. Francis Schwied was in our apartment talking to my mom. All of a sudden nature called and she had no choice but to use our bathroom. She weighed over 300 pounds and running into the bathroom she got stuck between the tub and wall. My mom had to call the fire department to free her. She never made it to the toilet.

My father was a mailman and had to get up early to get to Manhattan Beach Post Office to deliver the mail. My mom had a bad heart and was in an out of the hospital. She had problems sleeping because it was hard for her to breathe. So when we moved to Amboy Street my father took one of the bedrooms for himself.

That left 5 boys and my mom with one bedroom. The living room sofa opened up into a bed. This is where my mom sleep along with myself and two of my brothers. My two older brothers slept in the other bedroom. Sometimes when I woke up in the morning the first thing I saw was my brothers feet in my face. The Jewish word for sleeping foot to face was called ” tzifissin” This got me right out of bed to be first on line in the bathroom. This may be the reason why we considered a close family.

Sincerely

Martin

Irked by Cuomo’s Attitude & Ignorance

Dear Editor,

I was a little irked by the governor’s comments and attitude from your article “Cuomo Slams MTA for Ineptness at Association for a Better New York Luncheon.”

“Vendors are installing technology they designed in the ’80s. I believe there is better technology out there,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “If you can figure out how a car can fly and you can get in a car that drives you by itself to Southampton, you have to be able to have technology where one train can tell you where the other train is on a closed system.”

He’s talking like a true politician. His words mean nothing, and he may not know what he’s talking about. It’s really convenient to be in a position where you can just wish for things that are untenable or don’t exist yet, especially coming from the guy who says he is not in control of the MTA, until he declares an emergency and then does as he pleases while skirting any and all responsibility for the everyday problems of New Yorkers.

The newer technology is on PATH trains now. The railroad was required to meet the PTC mandate. The subway system actually has CBTC on the L train Canarsie line and is working out the kinks on the newly installed CBTC technology on the 7 train Flushing line. The technology, paired with experienced subway operators and dispatchers, could allow lines to operate over 30 trains an hour, which would mean waiting less than two minutes for a train and still having a safer ride. With more train frequency, there is also less dangerous crowding on platforms and fewer delays from dwell time.

Even though this technology is promising, the agency has dragged its feet. The technology would really help the system, as would continuously expanding it. I don’t know what the governor is talking about when he says better technology exists. He ought to let the agency do its work without impugning the character and integrity of so many MTA employees.

Sincerely,

Lisa Friedman

Will Iran’s Pinprick Provocations Backfire?

By
Sholom Schreirber
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A map of the region near the UAE coast where four ships, including two Saudi tankers were sabotaged. Photo Credit: Daily Mail

Over the last two weeks, as US-Iran tensions have grown, there have been several incidents that appear designed to provoke the US into responding to Iranian threats to the region. Washington had earlier warned Tehran that any attack on US interests or those of its allies would be met by “unrelenting force.” This included acts by Iran’s allies and proxies.

However, on May 12, four ships were sabotaged in the Gulf of Oman. While an anonymous US official hinted that Iran or its allies might be to blame, nothing subsequently led to the conclusion that Iran was behind it. Then the next day, the Iranian-backed Houthis used drones to attack Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities. This was a clear attack on a US ally by an Iranian-backed group. But the US did not respond. Instead, Saudi Arabia has called together Arab leaders, but it, too, appears reticent to respond.

On May 19, the most serious incident took place, with a rocket fired several miles toward an area where the US Embassy is located in Baghdad. Once again the US did not respond, but President Donald Trump did threaten Iran.

It appears that at each juncture, so far, Washington has preferred to walk back its claims of holding Iran accountable, and delay any “swift and decisive” response, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had warned on May 10.

Neither the US nor Iran want war, but their rhetoric has tended toward bluster and threats. America does not want to appear as if it is not abiding by its word, but neither does it want an open-ended war with Iran and its proxies. With some of these issues being known by both sides, the region is now beset by high-stakes brinkmanship by both the Islamic republic and the Americans.

Has Iran set upon a policy of testing US resolve? Were these incidents in the Gulf of Oman and Baghdad designed to do just a bit of damage but not harm anyone nor destroy anything, and thus not force a response?

If a rocket hit the US Embassy for instance, then Washington would have to do something. Rockets have been fired in the past – at the US consulate in Basra for example – and the US evacuated the post. It had already withdrawn non-essential staff from Iraq.

How difficult is it to aim a rocket at the embassy? Iran showed in strikes last year that it had ballistic missiles capable of pinpoint precision. But its militia allies may not. Either way, if the missile was not aimed, then there was a chance it might have hit the embassy. Would an Iranian-allied militia have risked such a devastating mistake in which the embassy was struck by an inaccurate rocket? Likely not. Instead, the culprit purposely fired the rocket near the embassy as a warning and to test what the Americans would do. Iranian allies know about this method. They have done it to Israel via Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.

Similarly with the tanker sabotage, it did not sink the ships. A weapon has to be super-precise and calibrated to damage but not sink a ship. That means studying ballast tanks and design, and knowing what payload or warhead to use. We still have not heard the final details on what caused the damage to the tankers, but it appears like a complex operation designed to test US resolve, and also the resolve of the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The Houthi drone strikes were more serious, but the Houthis and Saudis are already engaged in a war, so the incident was not necessarily unexpected.

MEANWHILE, there are other rumors about movements of US troops and Iran’s constant rhetoric about being ready for war. The question is whether the pinprick-style attacks, perhaps designed to test US reactions, will increase. After the embassy incident, almost all of the Iranian-backed Shi’ite militias in Iraq distanced themselves from the attack, asserting that it wasn’t helpful for the public interest. They didn’t exactly condemn it, but their statements were designed to show that they were not responsible.

Clearly the statements, if not coordinated, were issued quickly to prevent US blame from falling on their shoulders. Sen. Marco Rubio had warned two of the largest paramilitary militias, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib Hezbollah, against attacking the US. They were on notice. They know that America is serious. But whoever fired a rocket wanted to see just how serious.

The narrative emerging abroad is that the US is all bark and no bite. The Boston Globe called Trump’s foreign policy “erratic, cautious and ineffective” on May 14. “Iran tensions spotlight Trump’s questionable credibility,” CNN said on May 15. The Washington Post also said on May 15 that Trump may not be convinced the time is right for conflict. The Telegraph examined how “Iran’s Revolutionary Guard are ‘jabbing’ at the US without provoking full-scale war,” on May 18. “Trump’s Iran threats are part of a troubling and ineffective foreign policy,” NBC said on May 21. NBC had originally titled its headline, “All bark, no bite.”

Iran’s strategists read US media and they seek to play into US domestic policies, even feeding narratives to allies in the West. With Trump, Iran has channeled the “madman theory” that president Richard Nixon had pushed in Vietnam. Both The Atlantic and CNN have identified this as part of the Trump doctrine. Iran even called Trump “crazy” on May 20. The concept is that “his adversaries would presume a disproportionate, irrational response, without Nixon having to give one,” as CNN notes.

But in order for that to work, one has to also be willing to do something. Nixon ordered the bombing of North Vietnam, the bombing of Cambodia, mining Haiphong Harbor, and Operation Linebacker II, the Christmas bombing of the North. Trump, by contrast, has not done anything like that.

So far, the pinpricks are testing US policies and threats. If they continue, an incident may occur that Washington cannot ignore – and then Trump’s threats will be tested fully and openly.

            (The Jerusalem Post)

Seth Frantzman is The Jerusalem Post’s op-ed editor, a Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a founder of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis.

After the Omar & Tlaib Affair, Is Jewish Support of the Democratic Party Dwindling?

By
Sholom Schreirber
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0
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

“Jews are a hard people to figure out. They are, undoubtedly, the brightest minority on the face of the earth. There is no profession in which they are not held in the highest esteem. They excel in the arts, science, medicine, law and finance. But right here in America they’ve shown their political intelligence to be an oxymoron. In this area they are just plain stupid. Their support for Democrat candidates who are outright Jew haters in inexplicable. They show no common sense nor desire to build up whatever portion of the brain that functions as a road map to survival. I’m downright serious when I say that if Adolph Eichman were alive today and running on the Democrat ticket, he would get their votes. “Look, time heals all wounds and let the past remain in the past. He’s our party’s choice.” they would say.

Barely 75 years after the end of the Holocaust in which nearly one half of the world’s Jewry was slaughtered, Jews appear to have no interest in finding ways to prevent such a cataclysm from reoccurring. They may hold hands during the sad memorials such as Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), listen to stories repeatedly told by aging survivors, shed tears and pray for those who perished at the hands of the Jew Haters but appear to be absolutely blind to the fact that Holocaust II is flaming up before their very eyes and they themselves are throwing kindling on the emerging fires.

Look at the number of Jews who proudly supported and voted for Barack Obama who was a solid 20+ year member of the Jew hating United Trinity Church of Christ in Chicago run by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright who never hid his Jew hating during his weekly sermons while the Obama family sat in the front row. The Obama’s were married by and had their kids Christened by Wright. Barack worshiped the guy. Claimed Wright was like his uncle. Wright served on Obama’s 2008 election team. Wright also had Louis Farrakhan preach at his church and he honored this major Jew hater with that house of G-d’s “Man of the Century” award. And Obama knew nothing of this? And Jews voted for him in the 75% range on both of his presidential wins. Are we to believe that Jews were ignorant of Obama’s views as reflected in his choice of church and pastor? Give me a break! Stupid, they’re not!

Let’s move on to the present with the likes of Jews such as Schumer, Feinstein, Nadler, Schiff, Deutch, Debbie Schultz as Democrat leaders in Congress. Democrat Jews hold 8 seats in the Senate and 32 in the House. They have enough to form their own Jewish Congressional Caucus as the blacks and Hispanics do to fight for their respective causes. But there is no such Jewish organization. And we see the reason for this. They have no allegiance to the needs of their Jewish constituents. Did any of them ever speak out against Obama’s overt shameful personal treatment of Israel’s Prime Minster Netanyahu? Did any of them ever rebuke Obama for his actions to “create daylight between us and Israel?” Did any of them ever bring up the danger to Israel of Obama’s support for the Iranian nuclear deal and handing over billions to that Israel-hating regime, or voice concern for Obama’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood leader Muhammed Morsi to be President of Egypt? Were they tongue tied or just ignoring the wishes of their constituents knowing that the “D” in front of their names on the ballots would be enough to get the Jewish vote?

And just where do they stand today with the likes of newbie Democrat Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and her sister colleagues, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, both radical Muslims, all of whom are outspokenly Israel/Jew haters? Where is the outrage over the dangerous verbiage emanating from their mouths that tend to stoke the fires of Jew hatred not only among Americans but around the world? Why have Jewish lawmakers not demanded the ouster of Omar from her prestigious seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee? Their silence says it all. They are political whores who have sold their souls to the party that is inching toward overtly stating they are sliding dangerously close to an anti-Israel platform for their 2020 presidential campaign. After all, not one of their present announced candidates deigned to show up to address the recent AIPAC meeting. They shunned it in what appears to be a Democrat leadership order to do so. Not one of these candidates uttered a word of support for Israel during the recent rain of rockets from Gaza into Israel. One though, former Alaska Democrat Senator, Mike Gravel tweeted, “Long Live Palestine!” Bernie Sanders called Israel “racist” and he might just be the Dem’s candidate to run the country and set our foreign policy.”

Zev Jabotinsky in the early 1930’s warned Europe’s Jews of the impending Holocaust. They refused to face reality and heed his clarion calls and look how that ended up. America under Obama clearly changed our position in support of Israel and initiated a clearly anti-Jewish movement led by George Soros’ support of such groups as J Street, Jewish Voice For Peace, T’ruah, Black Lives Matter and MoveOn among others. This movement has slowed under the leadership of pro-Israel/Jewish President Trump. However, the upcoming 2020 elections will tell the story of whether American Jewry will be threatened by the now open Jew hating brazenly promulgated by the Democrat Party. When will Jews finally wake up to this fact and utilize their votes and $$$ to defeat their enemies and finally give support to the party that supports them? I can’t wait.

David Eliot, a writer living in New York City is researching the fluctuations of Jewish support for the Democratic party over the last five decades.

Israeli Independence Day and Lag B’Omer vs. Nakba

By
Sholom Schreirber
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0
Most Israeli Jews celebrated Israeli Independence Day (according to the Hebrew calendar) recently.

Most Israeli Jews celebrated Israeli Independence Day (according to the Hebrew calendar) recently. Meanwhile, thousands of Israel’s Arab citizens decried the “Nakba” (The Catastrophe), namely the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, with a day of protest and mourning. Israel’s Arab community protested and mourned again, on May 15th (the general calendar date), when the British Mandate was officially terminated, and the State of Israel came into being. Arab Mk Ahmad Tibi (Hadash-Ta’al), spoke at a Nakba Day event in Ramallah. Yet, many more Israeli Jews will have fun, singing and dancing on Lag B’Omer.

Arab MKs Ayman Odeh (Hadash-Ta’al) and Mtanes Shehadeh (Balad) spoke at a Nakba ceremony, just outside the gate of Tel Aviv University. Shehadeh reminded the mob that on Nakba day, “we remember the expulsion of more than 700,000 people from their lands, the destruction of more than 530 Palestinian towns and the murder of many others. Israel has been trying for 71 years to erase the Palestinian’s identity and collective memory by any possible colonial means, from the Nation-State Law to the ‘deal of the century,’ to squelching freedom of expression, demolishing homes, political persecution and continual occupation and violation of international law.”

MK Uzi Dayan (Likud) said he condemned the statements made by the Arab MKs, and the idea of Nakba day in general. “Seventy-one years have passed and for you, nothing has changed,” Dayan said. “You are stuck in 1948, while we march toward 2048. We send a spaceship to the moon and you fly incendiary balloons over the Gaza border. Your thoughts and behaviors are your Nakba,” Dayan concluded.

In the Gaza Strip, thousands rioted by the fence, as was expected, and launched incendiary balloons into Israel. Israeli firefighters in southern Israel had to put out nine fires.

So while the Jews were happy and dancing, on Independence Day, and then will dance again, on the anniversary of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s death (hundreds of thousands flock to his grave in Meron annually), the Arabs are crying this time of year, over the tragedies, they claim befell them.

That says everything…

Several years ago, in Lod, a Jewish city in Israel, with Arabs living there, over 1,500 Israeli Arabs attended a “Nakba Day” rally. MK and Balad party leader Jamal Zahalka said to them, “This is a day of mourning for the Palestinian people. Lod is a special place for us, because it is here that the massacre [?] of 1948 took place at the Great Mosque, and that is why the city has become a symbol for us. Our message is that we will never forget and never forgive for what happened. We have come here to say that the Arab population will remain in Lod forever.”

What really happened in Lod?

Several major attacks by Arab forces occurred in the Lod area during Israel’s War of Independence. Lod and Ramle were counter-attacked by the IDF because they were on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road and convoys attempting to resupply and reinforce Jerusalem had to travel through the streets of the two towns, routinely under fire. The IDF could not afford to allow Jerusalem to be cut off from the rest of the country.

Yitzhak Rabin, then a commander involved in the operation, later said he agreed with Ben-Gurion’s order to expel the Arabs of Ramle and Lod. The Arabs in Lod were “armed and hostile,” Rabin said, presenting a danger, and they had to be driven away. Fighting with Arab gunmen took place, but no massacre occurred, the enemy during wartime was dealt a heavy blow.

Lod is a town where till this day, the Arab population has been consistently harassing the Jewish population. See my article, “The Jewish Struggle Against Arabs in Israel.”

“This is our memorial day,” National Democratic Assembly member Gabi Tanus said, in Lod at the time. “It is more important to us than the Holocaust is to the Jewish nation.”

Notice according to them, the Arabs suffered more than the Jews did from the Holocaust…

Lag B’Omer and Israeli Independence Day

Lag B’Omer marks the end of a period of mourning, over the death of thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students. Rabbi Akiva was an arms smuggler for Bar Kochba’s revolt against the Roman occupation of Judea (according to Maimonides). Tradition tells us that the 24,000 students died during a plague, because of their behavior toward each other. But, Rav Sherira Gaon, and others, claim they died in the battles to liberate Judea from the Roman occupation, basically like Hesder Yeshiva guys today in the IDF.

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (one of Rabbi Akiva’s top students), was a vocal critic of the Roman occupation, and was forced to flee for his life and hide in a cave, because he was found out. There, he and his son studied Torah night and day for 13 years, till the “secrets of creation” were revealed to him. His teachings were later written down as “The Zohar,” the Book of Splendor, a mystical commentary on the Hebrew Bible.

Just as the Jews of Judea fought and gained independence from the “super-power of their time,” the Roman Empire, for 3 and a half years, Modern Israel finally gained independence, over 1,800 years later.

And the Arabs? They sit and weep, just as Jews did for those intervening 1,800 years. The only difference is that the Arabs are a recent settler population, who came to the Land of Israel only in the last hundred years or so, and have no real connection to this place, in spite of their weeping (and terrorism). For example, Saeb Erekat, the Secretary-General of the PLO, claimed in 2014 that he is a direct descendant of the Canaanite tribes who lived in Israel some 9,000 years ago. Yet according to Erekat’s own Facebook entry, the Erekat clan is from the northwestern Arabian Peninsula and settled in the Palestine area around 1860. See also, my article, “Who is a Palestinian Refugee.”

Notice they are not mourning the loss of the 1967 territories, but all of “Palestine.” Coming up in about two weeks is Jerusalem Day. Jews the world over will celebrate the liberation of Eastern Jerusalem, with it’s Temple Mount and Western Wall. Hebron, Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights were all delivered out of the hands of the Arab occupiers and into the hands of their rightful Jewish owners.

Israeli Arabs were never a happy bunch, even though they have full civil equality. But since Oslo, there has been growing “Palistinization” within their community, brought on by their involvement with Palestinian terrorists from the Palestinian Authority. Combined with their growing vocal repudiation of Israeli Independence Day as their “Catastrophe;” its proven to many Israeli Jews, what they always suspected, many Israeli Arabs are not trustworthy citizens.

The Israel Democracy Institute’s recent study, the “2018 Democracy Index,” asked, “Does Israel have the right to be defined as the nation-state of the Jewish people?” 69.2% of Israeli Arabs, Somewhat or Strongly Disagreed.

And, when the Israel Democracy Institute’s “The Peace Index of April 2017” asked, “To what extent do you feel yourself to be part of the State of Israel and its problems?” It found that only 57.5% of Israeli Arabs agreed, compared to 82% of Israeli Jews.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute’s “Israeli Democracy Ranking and Poll of 2010,” 53% of Israeli Jews said, “the government should encourage Arabs to emigrate.”

Similarly, the Washington-based Pew Research Center, a non-partisan think tank, conducted a poll from October 2014 to May 2015, and found that 48% of Israeli Jews said they agreed with the statement that, “Arabs should be expelled or transferred from Israel.”

Maybe Israel will one day soon, decide to solve its “Arab security and demographic problem,” the way most Jews in Israel would like to, not by expelling Jews from parts of their ancestral homeland (like what happened in Gush Katif), but by removing “the thorns in our side,”(Numbers 33:55), like Ben-Gurion and Rabin understood to do.

Ariel Natan Pasko, an independent analyst and consultant, has a Master’s Degree specializing in International Relations, Political Economy & Policy Analysis. His articles appear regularly on numerous news/views and think-tank websites and in newspapers. His latest articles can also be read on his archive: The Think Tank by Ariel Natan Pasko.

Burying Herman Wouk and Burying His Zionism

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Sholom Schreirber
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In 1959 Herman Wouk penned his first non-fiction work This is My God: The Jewish Way of Life

Herman Wouk, the famed novelist who first became a household name for his 1951 Pulitzer Prize winning The Caine Mutiny died last week nearly 70 years after achieving fame. Besides his long career as a writer he was also a lifelong Zionist.

This fact of Wouk’s love affair with the State of Israel has been completely absent from the many articles celebrating his literary career and marking his passing, less than two weeks before what would have been his 104th birthday.

In this small space we will attempt to rectify that.

Herman Wouk’s love affair with the State of Israel has been completely absent from the many articles celebrating his literary career and marking his passing, less than two weeks before what would have been his 104th birthday. Photo Credit: npr.org

Again and again — from his 1959 first non-fiction work This is My God: The Jewish Way of Life through his pair of books about modern Israel The Hope (1993) and The Glory (1994) until his second nonfiction book, published in 2000, The Will to Live On: This is Our Heritage — Wouk focused much of his literary abilities on Israel.

Perhaps no line in any of his books demonstrates his love of Israel more than this one from This is My God: “The first time I saw the lights of the (Israeli) airport in the dusk from the descending plane, I experienced a sense of awe that I do not expect to know again in this life.” Wouk, an Orthodox Jew, synthesized his love of Torah with his love of the reborn Jewish state.

And his view of Zionism is also clearly laid out in This is My God: “Zionism is a single long action of lifesaving, of snatching great masses of people out of the path of sure extinction.”

Forty years later in The Will to Live On Wouk, as he inter-wove Jewish history and shared stories of his personal interaction with David Ben-Gurion, Yitzhak Rabin, and other leading Israeli generals and politicians, showed that his love of Israel was clearly undiminished. “The resurgence of Jewry in the Holy Land is nothing but phenomenal,” he wrote.

Wouk had been a U.S. Naval officer during World War Two and his love of the Israeli military and respect for its accomplishments was a large part of his Israel novels The Hope and The Glory.

Those two books can be juxtaposed with his pair of famous World War Two novels The Winds of War (1971) and War and Remembrance (1978). In his Israel novels the heroine Natalie Jastrow undergoes a long and tortured journey from American Jewish girl to Holocaust victim to Zionist.

Herman Wouk penned the introduction to the 1980 English version of Self Portrait of a Hero: The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu. Yoni’s brothers, Benjamin and Iddo Netanyahu, put together the book. “My parents like his were Zionists,” writes Wouk. Later in the introduction he explains his connection to Israel. “Like most American Jews we believe in Israel and support it, buy Israel Bonds, make frequent trips there; I give speeches for Israeli causes and so forth,” and then relates how the book allowed him to better understand his own son’s desire to make his home in the modern Jewish state.

The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Jerusalem Post as well as wire services and other newspapers all managed to leave Zionism out of their summations of Wouk’s life. Whether deliberate or not, this missing piece of his life surely matters as one simply cannot understand Wouk without realizing the central place Zionism occupied in his life, no less than his love of Torah and his deep faith.

Wouk’s passion for the well-being of his fellow Jews and for Israel should serve as a reminder to American Jews of how the Greatest Generation also bore witness to the horrors of the Holocaust and the rebirth of Israel. Those who reflected on what they saw were forever changed. Wouk loved Israel and America and we should emulate that attachment to the Land of the Free as well as to the reborn Jewish State.

Postscript: Self Portrait of a Hero is a must read; it contains Yoni Netanyahu’s letters to family and friends from 1963 when he first entered high school in the Philadelphia suburbs to just days before the rescue of hostages at Entebbe. His intellect, patriotism, compassion, dedication to duty and leadership are all on full display, amplifying the loss of someone who had just turned 30. The book had a profound effect on Wouk and if you have not read it do yourself a favor and read it and you too will be forever changed by it.

Moshe Phillips is national director of Herut North America’s U.S. division; Herut is an international movement for Zionist pride and education and is dedicated to the ideals of pre-World War Two Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky.

Riveting Film Focuses on Genocide of Greek Jews of Salonika During the Holocaust

By
Sholom Schreirber
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“Heroes of Salonika” is a new documentary film which sheds new light on the practically unknown genocide that befell the Greek Jews of Salonika during the Holocaust.

“Heroes of Salonika” is a new documentary film which sheds new light on the practically unknown genocide that befell the Greek Jews of Salonika during the Holocaust.

Known as “the Jerusalem of the Balkans,” the Jewish community of Salonika(Thessaloniki) was the largest Sephardi community in Europe prior to World War II. Over 50,000 Jews lived in this coastal city, the second largest city in Greece — but less than 2,000 of them survived the annihilation wrought by the Nazi barbarians during the Holocaust.

According to a previously published article on the film that appeared in the Jerusalem Post, Jewish life in Salonika dates back to ancient times, but it began to flourish at the end of the 15th century, when the city’s small community was joined by hundreds of Jews newly expelled from Spain and Portugal. This mostly Ladino-speaking Sephardi community continued to grow and prosper, often as the majority of the city’s population.

Prominent socially, culturally and economically, the Jewish community’s bright days ended with the arrival of the Nazi war machine to Greece in 1941. The Germans wasted little time in beginning to systematically persecute the Jews, with new racial laws, public humiliation and violence. In 1943, they forced the Jews into a ghetto near the railroad, and started deporting them to concentration camps, mostly to Auschwitz.

“Heroes of Salonika,” produced by Yigal Yosef Pomerantz and Sol Levy, depicts the pre-war thriving community, a home with over 40 synagogues and schools. The film follows the war years of six survivors, aged 15-20, as they arrived at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

Pomerantz told the Jerusalem Post that as someone who had never studied filmmaking he did know that he needed money for the film, and that he needed professional film people to make it. “So that’s what I did. I went out and started to contact potential sources of funding, and I went around shopping for support for the film. When I had that, it was enough for me to get started.”

Filmed from 2015-17, the survivors, then in their late 80s and early 90s, relate events and details with crystal clear clarity, almost as if being presented contemporaneously. Historical footage is interspersed throughout the documentary with a musical score reflecting Salonika’s heritage of Ladino culture.

One of the heroes, 15-year old Jaco Maestro, at great risk, saved hundreds of Jews in Auschwitz. When the Germans occupied Greece, Maestro, as a child, learned German while shining shoes and selling trinkets to German soldiers.

Upon arriving in Auschwitz, Maestro used his knowledge of German and his ingenuity to become a translator and an assistant to Jerzy Pozimsky, the head of the prisoners’ labor office. Maestro, having access to prisoners’ files placed Jews and Gentiles alike in positions which were more tolerable, giving them a possibility to survive their bitter incarceration.

Greek Jews, placed by Maestro in the Canada section of Auschwitz-Birkenau would smuggle diamonds and gold currency. These precious items were then forwarded to Jaco to bribe the Germans so that he could save more inmates.

“Heroes of Salonika” was filmed with the established Israeli crew of director Tom Barkay, cameraman Yochay Rosenberg, and production consultant Itay Ken-Tor; original music was scored by Boaz Schory.

Prof. Dr. Gideon Greif, of Yad Vashem served as the film’s historical and academic advisor. Dr. Greif regards Maestro’s rescue efforts as unique in the annals of the extensive history of Auschwitz and the Holocaust.

Additionally, the film, is intended for non-Jewish audiences who are not familiar with the history of the Holocaust.

“Heroes of Salonika” was recently broadcast on the Keshet-12 news channel in Israel on Holocaust Remembrance Day and over 300,000 people viewed the film and were captivated by its powerful content. Subsequent to the film’s premiere on Israeli television, the station was deluged with superlative reviews of the film.

“This documentary really caught the interest and attention of the people in Israel as few were really clued into the history of Greek Jews during the Holocaust, “ said a source familiar with Keshet 12. “The stories that the survivors relayed in the film were beyond impactful in a multitude of ways. Their testimonies brought hitherto unknown information into the historical record for posterity. As the actual number of survivors of the Holocaust are dwindling with the passage of time, it is exceptionally important to have their narratives documented for the purposes of archival research and for the utilization in educational programs of future generations who will learn about the Holocaust,” the source added.

Dilemmas involving family loyalty, faith, and survival are presented so that audiences can empathize with the universal struggle for human rights and social justice.

“Heroes of Salonika” has been translated into English.

For more information on “Heroes of Salonika” and to make a donation for the English language production and distribution of this important film please send inquiries to: [email protected]. Heroes of Salonika also has a Facebook page

Michele Baio, Formerly of Lesters, Joins Staff of the Coquette Kids High Fashion Boutique

By
Sholom Schreirber
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Bunny Benhooren, the founder of Coquette Kids is pictured here with neighborhood children at the Mary Tawil fashion show in 2016

Coquette Kids, the high fashion boutique for the latest in children’s wear is exceptionally delighted to announce that Michele Baio, formerly of the iconic Lesters has joined their staff. Having recently closed after 70 years in business, Lester’s achieved iconic status among Brooklyn’s varied children’s clothing shops. Under Michele’s leadership as the executive in charge of their layette department, Lesters was in the forefront of expanding their selection and, as such, created an impressive legacy for the quality of their merchandise, the diversity of their designer lines and their outstanding customer service.

Michele Baio brings her years of expertise to Coquette Kids where an atmosphere is being created that is perfectly suited for a full-service layette venue. After 25 years at Lesters, Michele had earned a stellar reputation along with an impressive following of customers

Now, Michele brings her years of expertise to Coquette Kids where an atmosphere is being created that is perfectly suited for a full-service layette venue. After 25 years at Lesters, Michele had earned a stellar reputation along with an impressive following of customers. As a veteran of the business, Michele’s knowledge and honesty has assisted thousands of customers in choosing their selections; thus instilling them with complete confidence in her skills.

Michele said, “It is my great honor and privilege to serve the customers that call Coquette Kids their ‘home’ for all their children’s wear selections. I am thrilled to be a part of the Coquette Kids vibrant team of experienced fashion consultants. Starting a designer layette department at Coquette Kids is a really exciting project that we are all looking forward to. Additionally, we are now offering worldwide shipping options and we have vastly enhanced and improved the Coquette Kids web site, www.coquettekids.com.”

The selection of designer brands at Coquette Kids ranges from the most prestigious designers–such as Dolce & Gabbana, Young Versace, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, and Balmain–to small, up-and-coming brands.

To celebrate Michele joining the Coquette Kids staff, during the month of June, this outstanding boutique will be offering a 20% discount on all layettes as well as offering a free gift to all customers!

But, who are the people behind Coquette Kids? From whom are you buying your children’s clothing? Founded in 1993 by Bunny Benhooren, Coquette Kids has a world-renowned reputation for specializing in European imported children’s clothing as well as haute couture that includes an extraordinary collection of custom designs.

The spectacular layette gift box that comes with every order at Coquette Kids

As a high-end boutique that caters to a discerning clientele, Coquette Kids has expanded to two locations–one in Brooklyn, NY and the other in Deal, NJ, selling special couture clothing for all ages, ranging from newborn to 16 years old.

Coquette Kids carries over 100 brands–each one carefully chosen by their team of buyers. Every season, Coquette Kids’ priority is to seek out the most beautiful, exciting new designers to offer. Their buying team has over 25 years of experience in childrens’ wear, selecting the very best products and brands.

Every season, they travel the world to ensure that Coquette Kids has the very best in fashion choices for their customers.

Coquette Kids, the high fashion boutique for the latest in children’s wear (Avenue U and East 4th Street) is exceptionally delighted to announce that Michele Baio, formerly of the iconic Lesters has joined their staff.

The selection of designer brands at Coquette Kids ranges from the most prestigious designers–such as Dolce & Gabbana, Young Versace, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, and Balmain–to small, up-and-coming brands.

Moreover, Coquette Kids is at the forefront of organizing children’s fashion shows with proceeds going directly to a variety of charitable organizations.

Known for its exquisite apparel, exceptionally professional presentation and truly remarkable customer service, Coquette Kids continues to be the one-stop shop for all of your children’s clothing needs.

For an appointment please call 718-627-7000 or contact Michele directly at 917-865-9622. You can also visit the Coquette Kids web site at: coquettekids.com to view their latest fashions!

A Unifier Prevails in Special Election: Farah Louis Emerges Victorious in Bklyn’s 45th City Council District Race

By
Sholom Schreirber
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Councilwoman-Elect Farah Louis

In a special election that was held on May 14th, Farah Louis, a fresh, new face on the Brooklyn political scene was resoundingly elected to the NYC council, representing the 45th council district in the heart of Kings County. Ms. Louis has now assumed the seat on the city council that was vacated by Jumaane Williams when he was elected as the city’s new Public Advocate several months ago.

Ms. Louis ran on a platform predicated on the values of respect for racial, cultural and religious diversity, as well as the preservation of individual rights, freedoms and community unity. She was represented on the ballot on the United 45 ticket.

“This very special community, this amazing city council district, is comprised of a vast array of minorities and nationalities. We are exceptionally proud to say that living among us are our brothers and sisters from Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti and all over the Caribbean. We wholeheartedly embrace the richness and beauty that all cultures bring to our community; Jewish, Christian and Muslim. We are also incredibly proud of those of the Muslim and Jewish faith in which we share our lives on a daily basis. They are our esteemed friends and neighbors and we have gained so much from their remarkable faith and their drive to enhance and improve the lives of every constituent in the district, “ said Ms. Louis at her victory address.

Unity in Action Team Visits Israel in July of 2018

Addressing her supporters at her victory party subsequent to her election to the city council, Ms. Louis added that her decision to “throw her hat in the ring” and seek elected office was due to the inspiration she received on a recent trip to Israel. “It was while I was immersed in prayer at Jerusalem’s Western Wall did I decide to continue to dedicate my life to public service and try to help as many people as I can,“ she added.

She said that what she learned while visiting a large number of various religious sites in Israel that played a paramount role in the growth of Christianity, Islam, Judaism & Buddhism was that each religion has an incredible amount of wisdom and faith to add to this world. Ms. Louis took note of the fact that as individuals we all have the innate ability to overcome differences in terms of belief systems and can find common ground in which to coalesce and improve the quality of life for all of us.

Ms. Louis had spent 10 days in Israel last summer with the Unity in Action team led by “The Bridge” founder, Mark Meyer Appel. Upon her victory, Mr. Appel said, “Farah is a true leader and I am sure her call for unity and her strong commitment to social and economic justice will make us all very proud to have her represent our district in the city council.”

The electoral results confirmed that Louis received 42 percent of the votes in the 45th city council district. She earned 3861 votes out of a total 9,235 ballots cast with more than 99 percent of scanners counted by Wednesday morning, May 15th.

The 45th city council district includes parts of the Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Midwood, Canarsie and Marine Park sections of Brooklyn.

In terms of hands on experience in city government, polls indicated that what impressed voters about Ms. Louis was her firm commitment to making the daily lives of her constituents better in a multitude of ways. Said one voter, who chose to remain anonymous, “While I really admired the slate of candidates who ran for this position, I felt that Ms. Louis really had her finger on the pulse of the people in this community. She had a precise understanding of what they genuinely needed to improve the quality of their lives and she offered real and workable platforms in which people could progress both professionally and personally. I think she gained this awareness from her prior experience in city government. I might also add that her knowledge of how government can help the people was simply remarkable.”

Ms. Louis served as the deputy chief of staff for six years for former city councilman Jumaane Williams as did former staffer Monique Chandler-Waterman, who came in second with 2,790 votes, just north of 30 percent.

Mr. Williams sent his congratulations to Louis on her victory on social media.

“Congratulations to @FarahNLouis Councilmember of the 45th District,” he wrote on Twitter.

The two front runners soared ahead of the other candidates, with Jovia Radix — daughter of New York Supreme Court judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix — coming in third at a mere nine percent of the vote and 849 ballots cast.

The councilwoman-elect garnered the backing of multiple political heavyweights including NYS Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush), who labored assiduously to unite the community in support of Ms. Louis. Additionally, Ms. Louis received the support of the NYPD union of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein (D-Flatlands), and the late former city councilman Lew Fidler. Ms. Louis also received the full-throated support from Councilman Chaim Deutsch and Councilman Kalman Yeger who campaigned with alacrity for Ms. Louis in the Jewish community, along with the Flatbush Jewish Coalition.

Louis also received the endorsement of powerful Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Frank Seddio, who had previously thrown his support behind the campaign for Public Advocate that Jumaane Williams waged.

Among the many planks in her party platform, Ms. Louis campaigned on stemming the displacement of locals by a new wave of developers. She has advocated for what she calls “contextual zoning” – a concept that would mandate new buildings be built in accordance and in concert with the neighborhood’s existing character and building sizes.

Ms. Louis has also called for significant reforms in the federally-mandated formula of the Area Median Income for determining so-called “affordable housing”. She has said that such imperative reforms will serve to better reflect the composition of local communities.

Ms. Louis will serve out the remainder of the current term of the office and will soon be poised to revive her campaign in order to place her name on the ballot in the upcoming June primaries. Subsequently, the general election will be held in November for a two-year term ending in 2021.

Louis profusely thanked her team of volunteer supporters and those who cast their votes for her. She said that had it not been for their tireless efforts and the fact that each person threw their heart and soul into this campaign, she would not be celebrating a victory.

“This campaign has shown me the beauty, resiliency & power of this district,” she said on Twitter. “Every person who contributed, volunteered, voted & every person who offered a word of encouragement played an integral part in tonight’s outcome. It is my deepest honor to represent you on the city council.”

Israel’s Richest Woman, Shari Arison, May Face Indictment on Bribery Charges

By
Sholom Schreirber
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Shari Arison, the heiress to the Carnival Cruise Line fortune may soon be indicted as part of a case involving alleged bribes to government officials for construction contracts in a group of African nations. Photo Credit: YouTube

The heiress to the Carnival Cruise Line fortune may soon be indicted as part of a case involving alleged bribes to government officials for construction contracts in a group of African nations.

Shari Arison, said to be Israel’s richest woman, is the heiress in question. The drama became a topic of conversation in February of 2018, but it was only this past weekend that law enforcement authorities together with the Israel Securities Authority recommended that Arison be indicted.

She and a collection of top managers at the firm Shikun & Binui (Housing & Construction) – said in published reports to be the biggest construction conglomerate in the State of Israel – are alleged to have offered a bribe. Interestingly, it is only relatively recently in the Jewish State’s history that such offenses have been strictly enforced among business leaders.

“This is a complex investigation, in which 50 suspects were interrogated and 34 testimonies were taken,” the police’s Lahav 433 Major Crimes Unit said.

At least 19 Kenyan citizens have been arrested in connection with the investigation, which is being carried out in conjunction with the Kenyan police, according to i24News.

The official statement by the police continued, “Bribes totaling tens of millions of shekels were transferred, which generated jobs and benefits measured in hundreds of millions of shekels.” In Kenya, Shikun & Binui’s projects primarily center on road construction and maintenance.

Arison’s father, Ted Arison, is renowned as the man who established Carnival Cruise Lines. He was also one of the driving forces behind Israel’s biggest bank, Bank Hapoalim.

Arison’s personal fortune is said to come in somewhere in excess of $5 billion.

The Jewish Voice reported extensively on Arison’s travail’s last year as she faced questioning – along with CEO of Arison Investment Efrad Peled — by an anti-corruption unit known as Lahav 433.

Shikun & Binui became part of the probe in the first place because of possible bribery of foreign government officials, according to police and Israel Securities Authority. The purpose of the bribes were allegedly supposed to help the company get lucrative construction projects okayed by foreign countries.

“As part of the Israel Police’s organized battle against offenses relating to public corruption, the investigation continues into bribery of a foreign public employee and offenses under the Securities Law,” according to Israel Securities Authority.

The Arison Group said in a statement at that time, “Shari Arison and Efrat Peled were summoned in advance to Lahav offices 433. They cooperated fully and are confident that there was no flaw in their conduct – and that this will also be the conclusion of the law enforcement authorities. The Arison Group has zero tolerance for any inappropriate conduct. The group worked, works and will work to set high ethical standards in all its activities and fields of investment in Israel and around the world – and will continue to do business with added value for the benefit of the economy, society and the environment.”

Officials at the company told the Jerusalem Post in 2018 that some of the employees were dealing with the police over potential bribery in Africa. CEO Ofer Kotler was among the four employees, some former, who had answered police questions so far related to the probe.

Arison has an interesting past herself, we noted at the time. Her biography says she is an American-Israeli businesswoman and philanthropist who was born in America in 1957. The heiress has a beneficial interest in Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, and leads the Arison Group, a global business and philanthropic group. The group’s business arm, Arison Investments, is made up of the pillars of the Israeli economy, including Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank, and has been a major backer of former President Bill Clinton.

Teva to Pay Oklahoma $85M to Settle Suit; Accused of Expanding Opioid Crisis

By
Sholom Schreirber
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The Israeli-based pharmaceutical firm Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and related affiliates of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. said it will pay $85M to Oklahoma in order to bring to end a lawsuit in which it was accused of expanding that state's opioid epidemic. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The Israeli-based pharmaceutical firm Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and related affiliates of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. said on Sunday that it will pay $85 million to the state of Oklahoma in order to bring to end a lawsuit in which it was accused of expanding that state’s opioid epidemic, according to Oklahoma’s attorney general.

While the terms of the settlement agreement may take up to two weeks to finalize, the money will go to the state once it’s received, according to a statement released by Oklahoma’s Attorney General Mike Hunter. The funds will then be used to abate the opioid crisis in Oklahoma. A future announcement containing the specific terms of the agreement will be made at a later date.

As Teva pointed out in its own statement, the settlement “does not establish any wrongdoing on the part of the company; Teva has not contributed to the abuse of opioids in Oklahoma in any way.” Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has been developing and producing medicines for more than a century. It is a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 35,000 products in nearly every therapeutic area.

The state’s trial against the remaining defendant and nation’s largest drug manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, is still set for Tuesday in Cleveland County. The case will be heard by Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman.

Hunter said the team remains focused on Tuesday. “Today’s announcement is a testament to the state’s legal team’s countless hours and resources preparing for this trial and their dedication and resolve to hold the defendants in this case accountable for the ongoing opioid overdose and addiction epidemic that continues to claim thousands of lives each year.”

Hunter continued by noting, “Nearly all Oklahomans have been negatively impacted by this deadly crisis and we look forward to Tuesday, where we will prove our case against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries.”

Teva is the second defendant group to settle ahead of Tuesday’s trial. In March, Purdue Pharma settled with the state for $270 million, with the majority of the money going to the Oklahoma State University Center for Wellness and Recovery. The university will use the money to fund addiction treatment and research to stem the ongoing addiction epidemic in Oklahoma and nationwide.

The state’s settlement agreement resolves current claims against Teva Pharmaceuticals, USA, Inc., Cephalon, Inc., Watson Laboratories, Inc., Actavis, LLC., and Actavis Pharma, Inc., F/K/A Watson Pharma, Inc.

Earlier this year, Teva was also involved in a price-fixing scandal. The firm is accused of artificially boosting prices of drugs, sometimes as high as 1,000%.

“The fraud is estimated to have cost taxpayers several billion dollars. Led by Connecticut’s attorney general, more than 40 states are now pursuing legal action against Teva and other drug companies involved in the scandal, which touched more than 100 drugs,” reported i24news.tv.

As Teva pointed out in its own statement, the settlement “does not establish any wrongdoing on the part of the company; Teva has not contributed to the abuse of opioids in Oklahoma in any way. The company has resolved this matter in a way that benefits the people who have suffered from abuse of opioids and to help stop the effects of the opioid crisis. Teva continues to keep the long-term stability of the company at the forefront.”

The firm insisted that it remains focused on its future as a leader in creating access to life saving medications like the company’s recent final approval for the first generic naloxone spray, which is widely recognized as an essential lifesaving medication to combat opioid abuse.

“While the company has long stated that the courtroom is not a place to address the crisis, Teva is pleased to put the Oklahoma case behind it and remains prepared to vigorously defend claims against the company, including the upcoming federal court trial in Cleveland where the majority of the cases are pending,” the statement continued. “The state will allocate the payment made by Teva at its discretion including for payment of its fees and costs in connection with this settlement.”

Teva officials went on to say that their company recognizes the “devastating impact to communities across the U.S. as a result of illegal drug use and the misuse and abuse of opioids that are available legally by prescription. Teva continues to advocate for collaborative solutions throughout the country.”

The Oklahoma case is being closely watched by plaintiffs in other opioid cases, particularly some 1,850 mostly municipal and state governments that have sued the same drug makers in the federal court in Ohio, Haaretz reported. “Sources said Teva probably paid a “premium” to settle with Oklahoma because it was scheduled to be the first to go to trial.”

The agreement, the paper continued, “comes three weeks after Teva CEO Kare Schultz took aim at the lawyers filing suits accusing opioid manufacturers of being responsible for an epidemic of addiction, and compared the claims to blaming drunk driving on the makers of alcoholic drinks.”

Freedom Center Study: “An Epidemic of Jew Hatred on Campus: the Top Ten Neo-Nazi Incidents”

By
Sholom Schreirber
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The UCLA Undergraduate Students Association just passed a resolution to condemn the David Horowitz Freedom Center’s newest report, “An Epidemic of Jew Hatred on Campus: the Top Ten Neo-Nazi Incidents” which was distributed in newspaper form on the UCLA campus on April 30. Photo Credit: Front Page Mag

The UCLA Undergraduate Students Association just passed a resolution to condemn the David Horowitz Freedom Center’s newest report, “An Epidemic of Jew Hatred on Campus: the Top Ten Neo-Nazi Incidents” which was distributed in newspaper form on the UCLA campus on April 30. As the author of that report, I want to respond to the false and defamatory accusations made in the student council resolution.

The resolution passed by the student council charges the Freedom Center with “falsely and slanderously equating Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activism with Nazism and terrorism” and making “racist and demonizing accusations of campus activism [against Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)] being directly continuous with terrorism.” These charges are demonstrably and factually false.

Our report stated that the BDS movement against Israel is funded by terrorist organizations. It also stated that these terrorist organizations funnel money to SJP to propagandize for BDS on campus. These statements are not slanderous or demonizing because they are true.

In testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Jonathan Schanzer, an expert who previously worked as a terrorism finance analyst for the United States Department of the Treasury—someone who knows what he’s talking about—described the how SJP’s propaganda activities and support for BDS are orchestrated and funded by a Hamas front group, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP). Hatem Bazian—a cofounder of SJP and a professor at the University of California-Berkeley—serves as chairman of AMP. The organization’s leadership includes former officers of the Holy Land Foundation and other Islamic “charities” previously convicted of funneling money to Hamas.

Schanzer explained, “At its 2014 annual conference, AMP invited participants to ‘come and navigate the fine line between legal activism and material support for terrorism.’” He described AMP as “arguably the most important sponsor and organizer for Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which is the most visible arm of the BDS campaign on campuses in the United States” and revealed that AMP “provides speakers, training, printed materials, a so-called ‘Apartheid Wall,’ and grants to SJP activists” and “even has a campus coordinator on staff whose job is to work directly with SJP and other pro-BDS campus groups across the country.” Furthermore, he stated, “according to an email it sent to subscribers, AMP spent $100,000 on campus activities in 2014 alone.”

Further evidence comes from a recent study presented by Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy Gilad Erdan at the recent Global Coalition 4 Israel Forum (GC4I). The study exposed a “Network of Hate” connecting the most prominent BDS organizations worldwide with the terrorist organizations Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Minister Erdan described how BDS organizations disseminate false propaganda provided by Hamas and the Palestinian authority and stated, “The relationship between terrorist organizations and the BDS movement has never been closer, ideologically or operationally.”

And there is no doubt that the BDS movement contributes to rampant anti-Semitism on campus. A recent study conducted by the Amcha Initiative found that there is a “strong correlation between anti-Zionist student groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and anti-Semitism.” The study’s results indicated that “99% of schools with one or more active anti-Zionist groups had one or more incidents of anti-Semitic activity, whereas only 16% of schools with no active anti-Zionist student group had incidents of overall anti-Semitic activity.”

As for equating BDS with Nazism, that is indeed a justifiable comparison. Just as Hitler’s reforms aimed to marginalize Germany’s Jews through increasingly restrictive laws and sanctions, the BDS movement seeks to isolate and delegitimize Israel, cut it off from the world community, and bankrupt its resources in the hopes of ultimately destroying it.

A more direct connection also exists between BDS and the Nazi movement. The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt in 1928 by Muslim scholar Hassan al-Banna. An ardent follower of Adolf Hitler, al-Banna translated Mein Kampf into Arabic in the 1930’s and launched the Islamic-Palestinian movement to “push the Jews into the sea.” According to Richard Clarke – the chief counterterrorism advisor on the U.S. National Security Council during the administrations of both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush—Hamas, along with al Qaeda and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is one of the “descendants of the membership and ideology of the Muslim Brothers.” Therefore we can show that Hamas—the organization funding SJP’s BDS activism—has a demonstrable lineage extending back to Nazi Germany.

UCLA was one of the schools named in our report because of an incident that occurred there on May 17, 2018—although in truth there have been a great many anti-Semitic incidents at UCLA. On that date, members of Students for Justice in Palestine viciously disrupted a pro-Israel event titled “Indigenous Peoples Unite” which had been organized by Students Supporting Israel. While a participant was speaking about surviving genocide in his native Armenia, a protestor walked over and tore the Armenian flag off the wall and threw the speaker’s notes on the floor, while screaming directly in his face. SJP protestors used horns and whistles to create a chaos of noise and chanted slogans including “We don’t want 2 states, we want ’48,” a genocidal statement in favor of abolishing Israel and returning to a time before it existed. Due to SJP’s protest, the event was forced to halt for over 15 minutes until calm could be regained.

Despite SJP’s egregious behavior during this incident and others, the UCLA administration allowed SJP National to hold its infamous annual conference on the UCLA campus the following semester. The conference announcement even bragged about disrupting pro-Israel events.

And yet it is the David Horowitz Freedom Center that is being condemned by the UCLA student council for exposing the truth about this incident and others. Not SJP for its censorship of pro-Israel speech on campus and for espousing the anti-Semitic doctrine of BDS.

Instead of attempting to bully pro-Israel organizations like the Freedom Center and the Canary Mission into silence, UCLA’s student council would do better to look at the source of the Jew hatred lurking in their midst.

            (FrontPage Mag)

Trump Tweets for Stronger US-Israel Alliance as New Israeli Elections Loom

By
Administrator
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Avigdor Liberman, left, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his swearing-in ceremony on May 30, 2016 - Photo Credit: Haim Zach/GPO

Netanyahu thinks that Liberman may respond to pressure from the U.S., Israeli officials say.

Edited by: JV Staff

In a brief speech to the press on Monday at the Knesset, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned against “unnecessary elections” and called for all parties to act responsibly. To bolster his argument, he noted that President Donald Trump himself had expressed his hopes that a coalition would be formed, according to a World Israel News report.

NBC News reported that Netanyahu delivered a primetime statement on Monday calling on his potential partners to put “the good of the nation above every other interest” in order to avoid sending the country once again to “expensive, wasteful” elections. He placed the blame on Israel Beitenu chairman Avigdor Liberman for creating the crisis, but said he was hopeful his efforts to salvage a compromise in the next 48 hours would succeed.

Netanyahu stated Sunday night that he had proposed a solution in the last effort to prevent elections, as was reported by TPS. “I am now making a final effort to establish a right-wing government and to prevent unnecessary elections. I gave the partners a proposal for a solution. It is based on the principles established by the army and on the data that the army has compiled – there is no reason to reject this. I’m going to invite all party leaders tonight, I want to talk to them and try together to prevent unnecessary elections,” he stated.

A strong U.S.-Israel relationship carries weight with the Israeli public as was previously proven. According to Maariv, Netanyahu wants members of the Trump administration to step in and pressure Liberman to join the coalition.

Liberman, thus far has stubbornly refused to do so. Though Netanyahu’s Likud party increased its power to 35 seats in parliament in the April 9 vote, it can’t muster a 61-seat majority without Lieberman’s party. WIN reported that failure to form a government means the country would again go to elections, an unheard-of event in Israel.

The crisis ostensibly revolves around Lieberman’s insistence that current legislation mandating that young ultra-Orthodox men be drafted into the military goes through the Knesset voting process without a single modification or alteration to the bill, as was reported by World Israel News.

Haredi, or Orthodox parties consider conscription a taboo, fearing that military service will lead to immersion in secularism. Although exemptions have led to widespread resentment among non-religious Israelis, the haredi parties insist they stay in place.

Tazpit Press Service reported that the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, with 16 seats, have made concessions regarding the draft law, but are unwilling to adopt the formula that Liberman is demanding.

The Likud stated that the Moetzet Gedolei Ha-Torah, its supreme leadership committee, has accepted Netanyahu’s proposal regarding the IDF draft law.

“The draft law has become a symbol and we will not capitulate on our symbols,” Liberman defiantly said, vowing to press for new elections if his demands are not met.

NBC News reported that Netanyahu’s Likud party has traditionally had an alliance with Orthodox and nationalist parties. But Liberman, a former top Netanyahu aide, is a wild card. Though stanchly nationalist, he also champions a secular agenda aimed toward his political base of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, according to the NBC News report.

“I will not be a partner to a Halachic state,” he said, using the word for Jewish law.

However, Israeli officials told Maariv that Netanyahu thinks the Trump card may work with Liberman, who will be asked to join the government out of “national responsibility.”

On Monday, Trump tweeted his hopes “things will work out with Israel’s coalition formation and Bibi and I can continue to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever. A lot more to do!”

Netanyahu referred to Trump’s tweet in a statement that was broadcasted live on all the television channels in Israel, according to Axios.com. He thanked the US leader for his tweet and said: “Trump is right – we still have a lot of work to do.”

Netanyahu is one of Trump’s main allies around the world. During the last election in Israel, Trump intervened in favor of Netanyahu and Netanyahu used Trump in his TV ads and on billboards around Israel, as was reported by Axios.

Two weeks before the election, Trump recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel. This decision was a huge win for Netanyahu and had an influence on Israeli public opinion.

On the Israeli political front, World Israel News reported that the Likud has assailed Liberman in recent days for undermining the people’s will for a right-wing government and accused him of acting out of personal spite for Netanyahu. The prime minister himself said Lieberman would be fully responsible for dragging the country into a major crisis and that his people have vowed to aggressively go after Lieberman’s core supporters in response.

But the mercurial Liberman seems to be holding his ground, according to the WIN report.

“The only motivation of Israel Beiteinu is to stand by our principles and our commitments,” he said in a Facebook post. “We are not looking to topple Netanyahu and are not looking for an alternative candidate, but we will not compromise.”

New Right party officials say they’re ready for a second go if the country goes to unprecedented back-to-back elections, according to a WIN report. The party narrowly failed to meet the minimum required threshold by about 1,400 votes in the last elections held in April.

When a party doesn’t pass the electoral threshold all of its votes are discounted. In the New Right’s case it cost Israel’s right-wing bloc over 138,000 votes, which went up in smoke when the party failed to make it into the Knesset, as was reported by World Israel News.

But now it appears the party may get a second chance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has encountered unexpected difficulties in forming a government coalition. In mid-May, he requested a two-week extension. It expires on Wednesday night.

Netanyahu’s best efforts have not been able to bring together coalition partners who stand at opposite ends of the debate over the conscription law.

On Monday, the Likud brought a motion to dissolve the Knesset, a first-step toward heading to new elections, according to the World Israel News report.

The New Right was founded by Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. It’s not clear if Shaked will run again.

According to party officials, “The party will run in the elections and make connections, with Shaked or without her.”

The World Israel News report observed that this may be a disadvantage for the New Right as Shaked is popular, a fact known to the party and indicated by the fact that her name came first on campaign posters despite Bennett being the party’s leading figure.

Prior to the sudden possibility of new elections, it appeared that Bennett would move on from politics or at least take a long hiatus.

At the International Bible Competition on May 9, during his final speech as education minister at an official event, Bennett said “You try as long as you can, don’t give up as long as there’s any chance. Once you’re hit – get up, learn from your mistakes and move on. I did the best I could. There’s so much work yet to be done, and people at least as good as me to do it. Wherever I’ll be, I’ll never stop giving everything I can for the Israeli people.”

A Monday poll published by the Maariv newspaper shows that the right would gain further power if elections were held today, as was reported by TPS.  Netanyahu’s Likud would maintain its 35 seats, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, the main opposition party, would lose one seat and get 34 mandates, and the right-wing parties in total would get 68 seats, three more than their current 65 seats.

On Tuesday, INN reported that the special committee for the bill to dissolve the Knesset approved the motion for second and third reading. On Wednesday, at noon, the Knesset will begin its deliberations on the bill.

Meanwhile, a source in the Likud who has been involved in the negotiations told Channel 13 News in Israel that if an agreement is reached at the last minute to form a coalition then National Union chairman Bezalel Smotrich would have to be given the justice portfolio.

The official stated that Smotrich would be made Justice Minister despite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s preference to give the portfolio to Likud MK Yariv Levin due to the lack of time before tomorrow’s deadline to form the coalition, as was reported by Israel National News.  

Also on Tuesday, INN reported that Netanyahu had met with Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut and her deputy Hanan Meltzer at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, at his request.

Chief Justice Hayut and Deputy Chief Justice Meltzer stressed the importance of maintaining the independence of the judicial authority. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the need for balance between the branches of government.

INN reported that at the end of the meeting, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying, “The participants noted the importance of substantive and respectful dialogue between the branches of government.”

In her speech, Hayut claimed that Netanyahu did not address the issues he himself committed to in his inaugural address to the Supreme Court, in which he emphasized the need for a strong and independent judicial system.

(WIN, TPS, NBC)

 

Kushner Co’s Luxurious Wave Resort in Pier Village on Jersey Shore Opens with Great Fanfare

By
Sholom Schreirber
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The Kushner Company’s luxurious Wave Resort, located in the heart of Pier Village along the Jersey Shore, debuted right before Memorial Day, and is receiving universal praise. Photo Credit: Kushner.com

The Kushner Company’s luxurious Wave Resort, located in the heart of Pier Village along the Jersey Shore, debuted right before Memorial Day, and is receiving universal praise.

The exquisite pool at the luxurious Wave Resort on the Jersey Shore.

Nicole Kushner Meyer, principal of the New York-based real estate development group, kicked things off — flanked by Mayor John Pallone and Kushners’ head of hospitality operations, Robert Dunic — with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. The six-story, 67-room hotel is only the first of several similarly posh resorts to come.

Construction of the boutique hotel began in January 2018, one facet of the $283 addition to Pier Village. The project also features 245 high-end condos called The Lofts, which carry a price tag ranging from $569,000 to $2.4 million.

The Wave Resort is one of three Kushner-owned hotels at Long Branch’s beachfront, according to the Asbury Park Press. The others are The Bungalow, a 24-room boutique hotel and the 102-room Onada Surf Club, which is still under construction.

The lobby of the Kushner Company owned Wave Hotel in Pier Village on the Jersey Shore

Kushner, the sister of President Donald Trump’s son in law, White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, the son-in-law to President Donald Trump, said those involved as “focused on developing Pier Village into a year-round Town Center for Long Branch.” Her father, Charles Kushner, formerly owned a home in the area.

Demolition has already been completed on a trio of beachfront buildings to make space available for the planned Onada Surf Club. It will be a seven-story 102-room hotel located next to Pier Village, one of the marquee attractions at the beachfront, owned by Kushner Cos. and partner Extell Development. It is located across the street from Kushner Cos.’ Wave Resort.

Wave Resort’s rooms were designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA). Each room is configured to provide views of the Atlantic Ocean from terraces and through floor-to-ceiling, wall-to wall windows. Blackened wood finishes and rope details were integrated throughout, according to Hotel Management Magazine.

Wave Resort’s rooms were designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA). Each room is configured to provide views of the Atlantic Ocean from terraces and through floor-to-ceiling, wall-to wall windows. Blackened wood finishes and rope details were integrated throughout, according to Hotel Management Magazine.

Its seven food and beverage outlets include seasonal fine dining seafood and coastal casual restaurants; a boardwalk coffeeshop; swim-up pool bar; and a hybrid burger-and-taco shop. The dining venues were influenced by Pier Village’s boardwalk. “Each restaurant and bar, from the boardwalk café to the brasserie-style fine dining room to the second-floor pool deck, has a collection of communal lounging spaces,” the magazine added.

“Upon entering the living room-style lobby, eyes will immediately be drawn to a bespoke, gallery-worthy concrete reception desk,” is how Hospitality Design described it. “Framed vistas juxtaposed with natural, warm raw materials; color-blocked, dusty, sunset-toned fabrics; and crisp graphic designs make for an interactive and inviting foyer space that is perfect for relaxing with a cocktail or playing pool with friends. Each restaurant and bar, from the boardwalk café to the richly toned brasserie-style fine dining room to the second-floor pool deck, serve as a collection of communal lounging spaces that seamlessly transition from work to play throughout the day.”

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