UPDATE: 8/8/2012, 9:38PM:
So it looks like Chef Wadi has caused quite a commotion with his map omitting Israel.
Here’s the play-by-play so far:
Chef Wadi of Saffron posts a map on his Facebook account that omits the country of Israel. After receiving many likes from his minions, Wadi comments that the map “is the way it should be.”
Uber-Chef, Minneapolis resident, and Big Jew Andrew Zimmern calls out Wadi on Twitter and asks for an explanation.
TCJewfolk.com picks up the story and receives dozens of comments – many from Pro-Palestinian/Anti-Israeli anonymous trolls.
Chef Stewart Woodman of Heidi’s and Birdhouse calls out Wadi on his blog and starts a comment thread discussion with him.
Jon Tevlin writes about the hoopla in the Star Tribune and mentions the article in TCJewfolk – increasing our traffic to Long Island Expressway standards.
Woodman and Wadi agree through blog comments to sit down over delicious things on September 24th to discuss the controversy.
I start my campaign to be invited to the aforementioned dinner.
Aly Raisman wins another gold medal for tumbling to Havah Negilah. She proceeds to give Jacques Rogge and the corrupt International Olympic Committee a big Jewish middle finger. American Jews rejoice and the leaflet of Famous Jewish Sports Legends increases by one.
—————-
UPDATE, 8/3/2012, 1:30pm:
According to City Pages, Chef Wadi claims the map was something he posted on his personal Facebook page, which had nothing to do with his restaurant, Saffron, the Twitter handle he used to respond.
He further explained, “Of course I don’t deny the existence of israel, i’m merely showing the existence of palestine on the world map.”
This begs the question: he is the owner and chef of the restaurant, so how do we separate his personal opinions from his business?
—————-
ORIGINAL POST
Only a few weeks ago, I went to Saffron Restaurant in Minneapolis with my wife and a few friends. It has been extremely well reviewed and I’ve only heard great things from people I know.
Beforehand, I looked at the menu and noticed that the heavy Palestinian influence. So right on the street, outside of Saffron, I pulled up this clip from the Palestinian Chicken episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8XNrAjh7eo
Funny, right?
Well, the meal was pretty damn good. And I really liked the place.
But yesterday, our own Andrew Zimmern posted something on Twitter that is truly disturbing. He actually re-tweeted something from Saffron’s Chef Wadi. It was a map of the Middle East with an obvious omission.
Click this link to see the image larger -http://instagram.com/p/N1OQYBIK5s/
Andrew Zimmern @andrewzimmern tweets: Sameh Wadi … Your joking right? Are you saying Israel doesn’t exist? Or shouldn’t? http://twitpic.com/aemyr7
And then AZ followed that up with this: @saffronmpls Care to explain your comment at top? Do you deny existence of Israel? Or just want it to go a http://instagr.am/p/N1OQYBIK5s/
The clip above is a little less funny to me now. I surely gave Wadi the benefit of the doubt that he could just own and run a great restaurant without throwing politics into the tagine.
No response from Wadi yet, but he better watch out. Zimmern’s influence goes far beyond the Twin Cities. In the meantime, no Saffron for me. What about you?
Awful to see something like that stiff. I’ve been the restaurant, and admit it was good, and I’ll definitely miss the World Street Kitchen food truck. But neither will be getting my business again.
Just last weekend we were there with my lovely in-laws to belatedly celebrate our anniversary. It was a logical choice because it’s delicious and there were more than ample vegetarian options. The service was excellent. I guess it’s good that I’m fairly certain I could action most of the items on their menu because we’ll never be crossing that threshold again.
Sickened and horrified.
Wow! if you look at Wadi’s comment as he posted the pic, this is the way he and his friends think the ‘correct’ world should be; no Israel.
That’s not ok. I’d say he obviously doesn’t want any Jewish customers either, so I won’t be going there.
Doesn’t his family also own Holy Land? Until he explains himself, consider it off my list.
Have any of you accusers of Saffron ever heard of a one-state solution where both Palestinians and Israelis live with equal rights? Is it possible that Sameh is referring to that when he shows one state? Or do you just quickly want to shut all discussion down and accuse him of Antisemtism? Andrew Zimmerman, that was quite unprofessional what you did. Very shameful.
1. His name is Andrew Zimmern. You might be thinking of another cool Jew – Bob Dylan (aka Robert Zimmerman).
2. The Palestinians have had several opportunities to come to a mutual agreement. They have rejected them all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k9IlR3-_-A
Yes, they rejected all the agreements that treats them as second class citizens!!!
Right on!
Readers of this blog don’t seem to mind that Andrew Zimmerman decided to question accusatorily chef Wadi as a representative of Saffron, even though Wadi’s posting was on his personal FB page.
What is appalling about calling for a single secular state that rigorously and diligently bestows equal rights under the law to all its citizens, instead of the present one that constitutionally, legally and practically privileges Jews.
Such a notion of a single state is not so horrific or even uncommon, including in the Jewish community, present and past. I am ready to supply thoroughgoing Jewish political discourse that argued against the establishment of a Jewish state, before and after the fact. Moreover, a sonorous call for divestment and boycott of Israel is alive and gaining power, as made by many Jewish peace and justice activists.
*Zimmern
I’m an Arab Jew with roots in Morocco. My family has experienced racism from Ashkenazi Jews for many generations. My time at Saffron, meeting the brothers and having a great meal was so fun and homey-and yes, they knew my partner and I are Jewish. I am a firm believer in the 1-state-for-2-people solution and every Palestinian I’ve met has felt the same way. This map was on Sameh’s private facebook page-not the restaraunt’s. Please resist the false dichotomization of Arab and Jew. We are counsins, and need each other for mutual survival.
I’m with Jna. The restaurant is excellent– the food delicious, the atmosphere wonderful and welcoming. So, please, think about real damage done by actual public figures who have a huge canvas on which to paint their opinions, and give these guys a break.
That map is from 1709 when Israel actually did not exist and the world recognized Palestine. Perhaps what Wadi was saying is that it’s nice to see a map recognize the state of Palestine. Also, Zimmern should stick to eating bugs and not instigating fights that he cannot win.
The Jews stand up for themselves and everyone gets angry.
What’s wrong? You miss throwing slaughtering the Jews and expelling us out of your countries? Expropriating our money and property?
I know you miss us.
Tough luck.
I have no problem with Wadi using a map that omits Israel or other countries; it’s not even an authentic map, it’s a stylistic map. That doesn’t make him anti-semitic. It shows his desire for everybody to acknowledge the existence of Palestine. Most maps that are not detailed –like the one he posted– usually only show Israel. Why can’t we look at one that does the opposite for a change?
As a supporter of a two-state solution, I welcome the day when world maps show both Israel and Palestine with mutually negotiated and recognized boundaries. I understand and empathize with Wadi’s desire for Palestine’s existence to be acknowledged. However, the significant issue isn’t so much the map as it is Wadi’s response “exactly the way that is should be” [sic] to a friend’s comment pointing out that Israel is missing from the map.
Kate echoes my thoughts exactly.
I don’t expect Wadi to be a card carrying member of AIPAC or feel all nostalgic at the sounds of Hatikvah, but his COMMENTS seem to imply that he supports a one-state solution being imposed on the people of Israel, which is an absurd fantasy that lives on in lefty academic/activist circles, but is something that even Hamas probably knows by now is never gonna happen.
I’ve been to Saffron twice before and thought the food was excellent, and Wadi was very personable. Nevertheless, I can as much support Wadi’s brand on intolerance with my hard earned money than I can support Chick-fil-A’s deep fried homophobia.
Perhaps, if Wadi would like to clarify where he stands on a two-state solution, I might reconsider, but the dodge that hey “this is my personal position” is not a good start.
The really frustrating thing about this is that if an Israeli (or Jew) asserted that it was nice to see Israel on a map that did not include Palestine, that the map was “as it should be,” this website would have likely lauded the person or passed the behavior off as normal, which it would be. Being of a terminally disenfranchised people and subsequently getting joy from seeing a map that represented those people as a part of the Arab world, a part that belongs, is not anti-Semitic. To me, this looks a lot like “political” censorship where there are no politics to begin with.
Chef Wadi did nothing more than to assert his pleasure at seeing his people represented where they would often be forgotten. That’s not politics, it’s human.
The issue here isn’t one state or two, or how one chooses to name an area from one’s perspective. The issue is: Are people allowed to have divergent views on Israel-Palestine that may be right or wrong but are not _in themselves_ hostile let alone anti-Jewish without having their livelihood threatened?
Anti-Palestinian invective here and elsewhere seems to me to have nothing to do with Jewish tradition since the Enlightenment. Sure, disagree with the guy (as I do), even tell him so if you’d like, but don’t try to take away his job.
As a Jew, I say shame on those who would boycott someone just because they express support for a bi-national state (e.g., Belgium). A small but significant minority of Jews here and in Israel support such a state, but even if they didn’t, that wouldn’t justify the boycott advocated here.
Clay Steinman
Wonderfully said. Saffron is a great place and Chef Wadi is a good man. We all have political differences but if we continue with this type of politics, attempting to burry those we disagree with, we only exacerbate the issue. The Chef didn’t align his business with his political views the way chic-fil-a has. I stand with Chef Wadi and I will continue to be a patron of Saffron.
Professor, its good to hear from you.
Perhaps, one reason why I am so annoyed by Wadi’s insensitive comments is I thought that he would have been sophisticated and sensitive enough to embrace a Palestinian nationalism that is not at the same time anti-Israel.
As stated above, I don’t expect Palestinians to be Zionists and I was happy to eat at Saffron and enjoy Wadi’s excellent food and hospitality when I thought that despite our very different starting positions we both agreed on the only solution to the conflict that can possibly be achieved without one side subjugating the other.
Because for me a lasting, real peace is not an academic question, I cannot support with my hard incomes income someone as prominent as Wadi who seems content to condemn Israel/Palestine to a never-ending cycle of violence and incrimination.
@Ethan Roberts how ironic that you speak of “imposing” a one-state solution upon Israelis, since that imposition (of a settler colonial state) is what Palestinians have dealt with every day since 1948 (and settler colonialism before the state was created). I still cannot believe we are so narrow in our hearts that we can only envision “co-existence” as being a powerful Jewish Israel and the fractured archipelago of indigenous Palestine. I hope for a better future for all involved, as a state predicated upon another people’s oppression will never lead to liberation for anyone (much like the United State and indigenous people here).
We were just there for my dad’s birthday a few weeks ago. I had been to saffron before, and world street kitchen, and the food was delicious. However, this time I noticed a change on their menu… they claim that their hummus is “just like in palestine”, and I also saw the chef and his brother walking around with palestine wrist bands.
They will no longer be getting any of my business.
This is a classic example of something taken out of context, and clearly contorted to serve a pro-zionist movement. I think Zimmern is the one serving the plate of propaganda.
He further explained, “Of course I don’t deny the existence of israel, i’m merely showing the existence of palestine on the world map.”
Here’s an “inconvenient truth” for Mr. Wadi:
The “existence of palestine on the map” does nothing to further the cause of the current Palestinian people, and only demonstrates how political blindness bred by historical ignorance is the Chef’s special at Saffron.
History lesson 101:
“Judea was an autonomous state in the Persian Empire following the return from Babylonian exile thanks to Cyrus, King of Persia. Following the death of Alexander the Great who had captured the Persian Empire, it was absorbed into the subsequent Hellenistic kingdoms
Following the Maccabean revolt, Judea became an independent state. Following the death of King Herod, the Romans seized it and it then became a Roman province. Judea was briefly independent during the first revolt against the Romans until it was finally destroyed when the Romans put down the revolt and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in the year 70.
Judah lost its independence to Rome in the year 70 and became again a colony. In the year 135, the Romans gave the country the name “Palaestina”. The name Palaestina, which became Palestine in English, is derived from Herodotus, who used the term Palaistine Syria to refer to the entire southern part of Syria, meaning “Philistine Syria.” This was to add insult to injury against the Jewish people. The intent was to remove any memory of a Jewish presence. The name was kept by the next possessors, the Byzantine Empire, and then by the conquering Arabs and their successors, the conquering Turks. Note that we have a succession of different nationalities, none of whom thought of themselves as Palestinians. They were the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, or Turks.”
A little homework, Mr Wadi:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria_Palaestina
http://www.targetofopportunity.com/palestinian_truth.htm
Yes, please list wikipedia (a site of debate over all things palestine and israel related and therefore unreliable for accurate information) and a fascist and racist website that wants to disprove the existence of Palestinians and Palestine as proof of your ridiculous claim. Well done.
Some ‘reliable’ non-‘fascist/racist’ sources. If you had a shred of intellectual honesty you would try and verify this well known and readily available information on your own instead of dismissing the information by conveniently discrediting the medium with which it is delivered.
H.H. Ben-Sasson, A History of the Jewish People, Harvard University Press, 1976, page 334: “In an effort to wipe out all memory of the bond between the Jews and the land, Hadrian changed the name of the province from Iudaea to Syria-Palestina, a name that became common in non-Jewish literature.”
Ariel Lewin. The archaeology of Ancient Judea and Palestine. Getty Publications, 2005 p. 33. “It seems clear that by choosing a seemingly neutral name – one juxtaposing that of a neighboring province with the revived name of an ancient geographical entity (Palestine), already known from the writings of Herodotus – Hadrian was intending to suppress any connection between the Jewish people and that land.”
‘The Bar Kokhba War Reconsidered’ By Peter Schäfer
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9039-judea
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/307117/Judaea
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/439645/Palestine
Zionists have worked incredibly hard to rewrite history in support of a settler colonial state. Not unlike those who have written U.S. history! That is all.
This looks like a great restaurant. I will be trying it soon.
Why is hanging a historical map of Palestine offensive? It can only be offensive if you find history offensive. And historical facts are not changeable. *Palestine existed and has a right to exist going forward.* If you don’t like that fact, it does not give you the right to falsely accuse Saffron’s owner and call for boycotting the restaurant.
Instead of focusing on what was omitted on the map (Israel) perhaps what Chef Wadi meant to highlight was how nice it was that there was finally some sort of recognition of a place that has been ignored on maps since the creation of the state of Israel.
I can’t say I’m surprised by all of this hostility, but let’s not forget a simple truth. This is TCJewfolk.com, not Israelfolk.com. Much of the hostility aimed at the “pro-Zionist movement” is just a politically correct way of saying Jew.
It’s clear in much of propaganda drilled into the heads of Palestinian children from birth.
This film I worked on has clear examples of such propaganda as well as interviews from both sides. Some of it is shocking only in its absurdity.
http://www.twocatstv.com/anti-semitism/
There are some clips on You Tube or you can buy a DVD and see for yourself.
As a non-Zionist Jew who is sick of having her cultural and religious identity used for political gain and in continuation of a cycle of oppression, currently being experience by Palestianian people I’m disgusted. Zimmerman, a usually a-political Jew now outspoken ally of Israel, is so ignorant to the obvious effect his words can have on this Palestinian owned business. It makes total sense to me that a Palestinian might get excited and post a picture of map that actually acknowledges Palestine and excludes Israel, the country that continues to limit and threaten its very existence.
Celia, dear,
As a non-Zionist Jewish American who claims certain notions of her cultural and religious identity, please tell me the following:
What will my blood and kin, my cousins, aunts, nephews and friends who immigrated to Israel from the Former Soviet Union (a country not on the World Map any more) be doing should Chef Wadi’s ambitions come to fruition?
Will you be as disgusted at their murder by Palestinian Arab hordes? Will you lobby the US Government to allow the survivors come to this country?
I do not think so. Your kind, Jewish Americans, was complacent and silent before, during Holocaust. Remember Rabbi Stephen Wise? Well I know that the current Jewish American leaders, at Adath Jeshurun, for example, will follow the same line, with their discussions of dropping support for Israel, and their statements like “American Rabbis don’t actually help people, just mediate conflicts”.
Good luck mediating, Dear.
Dmitry
American Jew, immigrant from the Former Soviet Union.
Supporter of Israel
Supporter of 2-state Solution
Supporter of unilateral disengagement from Palestinian Arabs.
Jews and Muslims are cousins y’all. Israel was called Palestine before. Hastiness to hate, discard, and dismiss only ever hurt- I know those aren’t the Jewish values I was raised with.
Give me a break. It’s a historical map showing the region BEFORE the existence of the nation-state of Israel. If you like the food and the restaurant, eat there. I’m sure most of the complainers here don’t agree with the politics or world-views of the people who design and profit from the manufacture of their computers, and you’re not boycotting the internet because your service providers are ripping you off and giving the gov’t access to your email and browser history. Whine, whine, whine you reactionary tools.
I think what Wadi was getting at, thought didn’t communicate well, was that he’d like to see more maps that acknowledge Palestine’s existence as a country. That’s not an anti-israeli or anti-semetic stance, it’s a pro palestine stance which is not even close to the same thing.
This is not hate speech and the injury to Israel here is false. I will not eat at Chick-fil-A. But this is not the same. For those of you who are making the jump and thinking of not patronizing this restaurant, please reconsider your actions.
Based on how many people in the world passionately hate Israel and Jews, I wouldn’t be surprised if their business actually increased. Of course, the exact same thing happened with ChickFilA.
This is a ridiculous and self-righteous comment thread, particularly the one where the commenter suggests that he won’t be visiting Saffron again because the menu says the hummus is “just like in Palestine.” Chef Wadi’s heritage is Palestinian. He loves Palestine, and wants to see it on a map (and by the way, that doesn’t mean he hates Israel, it just means he loves Palestine). That is not a hateful statement. It’s simply a comment based on love for his heritage. If we can’t have this level of tolerance and understanding in Minnesota, and if we continue to read between the lines in such an ignorant and reactionary way, we’re never going to move forward towards a more peaceful global future. Get over it. The food is good, and Chef Wadi has submitted a classy, respectful and even-keeled response to this incendiary accusation. This is a true case of making something out of nothing.
“Chef Wadi’s heritage is Palestinian.”
Hmm. Something wrong here.
Chef Wadi’s heritage is Arab.”
There. Fixed.
Please take a look at Jon Tevlin’s column in the Strib today: http://www.startribune.com/local/165212196.html
It is a sad day in America when a business owner, who works hard to build a thriving establishment like saffron, is held hostage for his views. He is a Palestinian American who uses not only his culinary training but his cultural training to become a successful chef. We see it in his food when he pays tribute to his Palestinian upbringing. He should not be condemned for his support if the Palestinians he should be applauded! Because without a voice we are all merely sheep following the masses. If people don’t like his food then don’t go there, but don’t try to take away his livelihood because he doesn’t believe in your false state. Shame on all Americans who sit back and allow these bullies to push around the ones who do not summit to there oppressive beliefs.
Doesn’t sound right.
“It is a sad day in America when Jews have the temerity to criticize a business owner, who works hard to build a thriving establishment like Saffron, when he erases a sovereign nation from the map.
He is a Arab American who uses not only his culinary training but his cultural training to become a successful chef. We see it in his food when he pays tribute to his Arab upbringing.
He should not be condemned for his support for the non-existence of the homeland of the Jews – he should be applauded! Because without a voice we are all merely sheep following the masses. We would have to allow the Jews to be in possession of al-Quds, which, as we all know, if an Islamic waqf, irrespective of Surah 5:21 in which Allah ordained the Israelites to take possession of the Holy Land.
If people don’t like his food then don’t go there, but don’t choose not to patronize his establishment because he doesn’t believe that Jews should have a right of self-determination, living as a free people in their own country. Shame on all those who sit back and allow al-Yahood to assert their rights.”
There. Fixed.
I don’t know where Jeff Mendel’s comment went but he had stated
“Much of the hostility aimed at the “pro-Zionist movement” is just a politically correct way of saying Jew.”
That is a generalization which is just as dangerous as the generalization the men in the video’s you posted have made.
It’s unfortunate the anti-Jewish sentiments are on the rise in Europe and elsewhere and furthermore hate-groups in the U.S. are on the rise of all types.
You think Palestinians are bread to feel hate and anger. Watch this video and see for yourself the standard of values we have for all people.
http://vimeo.com/18384109
Fact: Hamas controls a majority in the Palestinian parliament.
Fact: Hamas was democratically elected by the Palestinian people.
These are a few words from the Hamas charter (the entire charter is a must read):
“The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdullah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.”
Hamas runs the TV station, the radio stations, the newspapers, and the magazines. It also distributes a magazine for children (I urge you to get a copy and see the filth for yourself). The Anti-Jewish sentiments in all Hamas-run media is blatant and dangerous. That is what is broadcast and distributed to the Palestinian people. That is what Palestinian children read and see on television. Hamas and the PLO before it (Arafat’s personal millions did nothing for the cause) have done a great job keeping an oppressed people oppressed. Of course they hate. I would too.
But before blaming your false oppressors, look within. What is the Palestinian leadership doing to help? Where is the money going? Instead of buying more rockets, how about buying books for children? Not books published by Hamas that depict Jews as devils…I mean real books.
Until the Palestinian people reject Hamas and it’s complete disregard for the Jewish people, nothing will change.
Regimes around the world are dropping like flies. Let’s hope the Palestinian people can follow suit and free themselves from their own…
And that’s M-A-N-D-E-L-L.
It’s clearly spelled out for you at the top of the piece.
Victory to Palestinian people and all oppressed people in the US and abroad– Solidarity!
Jeff your hatred and anger permeates and transcends this platform. Furthermore, I am a believer in talking to individuals about their experiences and perceptions but thanks anyway for regurgitating the rhetoric. Therefore, this will be my last response on your blog. I anticipate your response, although I doubt it will be anything of substance.
For years, Gaza and the Palestinians remained stagnant under the previous leadership. The people had not seen any progress for years and those in power were wasteful with the resources they were entrusted with. Hamas began winning elections and managing their responsibilities; adequately and appropriately dispersing resources i.e. not embezzling the funds and actually creating change. As a result, lives began improving, clean water and other resources became more available among other improvements and the people voted. Imagine if the democratic process worked so well in surrounding countries.
Would you, Jeff M-A-N-D-E-L-L, turn away from this value proposition had you been born a Palestinian in Gaza? Of course you would have. You would have voted against Hamas and allowed the old leadership to continue to spin there wheels. You would have thought to yourself “Someday we’ll have peace and my life will get better”. You certainly would not have ignored whatever platform, charter or statement Hamas had made in favor of your improved wellbeing because you could see the light at the end of the tunnel… Peace, its almost here. Right? Don’t be so self-righteous.
I have never had the pleasure of visiting Gaza but I was able to speak with a few individuals from time to time. I hope I accurately conveyed what they tried to convey to me. Furthermore, I repeat, there is nothing more desired by them, myself, or Palestinians than peace and I believe Israelis share in our sentiments.
Peace,
Jawdy
Jawdy – you are filled with so much sarcasm that I think you might be a little Jewish.
I have always wanted to transcend something, so I thank you for pointing that out. I can cross that one off my list.
You say:
“For years, Gaza and the Palestinians remained stagnant under the previous leadership. The people had not seen any progress for years and those in power were wasteful with the resources they were entrusted with.”
I say:
Right on brother!
You say:
“Hamas began winning elections and managing their responsibilities; adequately and appropriately dispersing resources i.e. not embezzling the funds and actually creating change. As a result, lives began improving, clean water and other resources became more available among other improvements and the people voted. Imagine if the democratic process worked so well in surrounding countries.”
I say:
The people got a little clean water…just enough to believe that this group of terrorists would change their lives. And Hamas gave them just enough clean water to get themselves elected and put in control of the cash pouring in from neighboring countries, fellow terrorist groups, and relief agencies. They aren’t building as many schools as they are arsenals of rockets. There are schools being built – in fact several high schools were built by the United Nations. High school kids can take a course on how to speak Hebrew. The title of the class is Know Your Enemy. Doesn’t sound like Hamas is screaming for peace with that one, does it? I’m so glad that the United Nations is paying for Palestinian children to learn Hebrew.
You say:
“Would you, Jeff M-A-N-D-E-L-L, turn away from this value proposition had you been born a Palestinian in Gaza? Of course you would have. You would have voted against Hamas and allowed the old leadership to continue to spin there wheels. You would have thought to yourself “Someday we’ll have peace and my life will get better”. You certainly would not have ignored whatever platform, charter or statement Hamas had made in favor of your improved wellbeing because you could see the light at the end of the tunnel… Peace, its almost here. Right? Don’t be so self-righteous.”
I say:
If you vote for a terrorist organization as your majority government, then you are culpable should that government commit acts of terrorism (if in fact the election was truly a democratic one).
Let me tell you a story Jawdy. There once was a downtrodden people in Eastern Europe. They had little food, little water, and little hope. Along came a charismatic guy who promised big things – he promised jobs, lots of food, and a bright future. So the downtrodden people voted for this guy and elected him to office. Then the hammer dropped. The charismatic guy told his downtrodden people that to get that bright future they had to commit a genocide against their neighbors and friends.
Sound familiar? Tune into Al-Aqsa TV on a Tuesday night and you’ll be thoroughly educated on how much Hamas desires peace.
Pick up a copy of the Hamas children’s magazine Al-Fateh and peace will be the first word that comes to mind as you flip through its pages.
Peace is not impossible, but there a few steps that need to be taken before it can even be considered.
1. Stop firing missiles and rockets. Stop blowing up buses. Stop killing people.
2. Education. Yeah, that’s a period.
3. Get rid of the terrorist organization that you call a government. Freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. Freedome to assemble. All things not currently available for the Palestinian people.
That’s just three.
I’ll leave you with two thoughts.
The first is the image I saw today of a female Palestinian athlete at the Olympics. She is who Palestinian children should emulate. Show your Palestinian pride through athletics or medicine or engineering or anything else.
The second is that I myself was in the West Bank some years ago. And like Zimmern said of Wadi – anyone who makes Hummus that good can’t be that bad. Well, I had some kick ass falafel in some West Bank dive. I haven’t had anything like it since. So I tend to agree with Zimmern on that one.
So in the meantime, let’s just eat.
BTW, before it was Israel both Jews and Arabs and everyone in between were called Palestinians. I can’t go to this restaurant anymore. I am very sad b/c I love their food and their place so much. I just can’t spend money there. It’s just a personal choice.
Please people stop using the word ‘antisemitism’ to describe anti-Jewish sentiments! Technically only Arabs and Sephardi Jews are Semitic! Another thing, it’s your prerogative to boycott a great restaurant with outstanding food and service because the word “Palestine” bothers you, but I wonder how you’d feel if the world boycotted Coca Cola, Starbucks and all Pro-zionist corporations based on bigotry!
Mina wrote:
“…I wonder how you’d feel if the world boycotted Coca Cola, Starbucks and all Pro-zionist corporations based on bigotry!”
Go ahead. While you’re at it, stop using all modern operating systems to post to Jewish websites and start using command line Unix. Oh wait – that was also created by the kuffar.
Oh, forget it. 🙂
Would it make you happy if I just called Wadi’s words and actions Anti-Jewish? OK then, Wadi’s words and actions appear to be Anti-Jewish. Feel better?
The word Palestine doesn’t bother me (and some of the other commentors) – it’s the explicit implication that Israel should not exist.
Let’s go back to calling it just plain ol’ Judenhass. That will preclude any of their arguments about the definition of semitic.
Today’s one-liner: Arab Islamists want to designate themselves with a name given by the pagan Romans.
Go figure.
Mina says:
August 19, 2012 at 10:11 PM
“Please people stop using the word ‘antisemitism’ to describe anti-Jewish sentiments! Technically only Arabs and Sephardi Jews are Semitic! ”
Oh boy. Here we go again with the Khazar theories!!! At least this time an allowance is made for Sephardim.
I am from Belarus, and carry a Familial Mediterranean Fever gene marker. My buddy, also from Belarus, with a last name “Kaganer”, carries a Cohen gene.
Is this semitic enough for you???
Near as I can tell, my ancestors came from Spain around the time of expulsions in 1492, via Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Lithuania before landing in Belarus.
Ashkenazi Jews are not blood descendants of Khazars, who were turkic people, and who did not migrate to Western Russia after the destruction of their Khazanat.
Please note that Israel is NOT omitted in this map. It is represented by the circled number 2 in the same way that Lebanon is represented by the number 3 and all of the Balkans are circled numbers as well. Somewhere out of frame on the map/globe is a key that lists Lebanon, Israel, and all of the other countries that were marked by number due to a lack of space.
Reminder to self: Palestine has not existed as a geo-political entity since 1948 and has never been an independent, self-governing country.
And it takes up less space to indicate the sovereign nation of Israel (six letters) than a non-existent Palestine (nine letters).