Welcome
Thank You!
I wanted to start out with a thank you to all you readers. Last week's issue (the first) was very well received and shared. The original article on Proportionality was read and shared more than I could have hoped for. If you missed the first issue, you can read it at http://newsletter.zionistpress.com/issues/1. I hope you enjoy this second issue; please let me know if you have any feedback that you hope will drive the future of the newsletter.
News
Zionist Movement Needed Now As Much As Ever
An interesting article about the importance of Zionism. Tim Stanley writes, "Zionism rejected the image of Jews as saintly victims queuing in silence to be gassed. It cast them instead as a proud nation with a right to self-determination, a right that they would assert."
Israel Holds Cabinet Meeting In Golan Heights; Vows Never To Return Land
In an historic move, the Israeli cabinet held a meeting on the Golan Heights, during which it was suggested that Israel would never return the Golan to Syria. Most who criticize Israel's "occupation" complain not only of the "liberation" of the Palestinian Territories, but also call for a return of the Golan Heights to Syria. Ignore for a moment the incredible strategic importance the area holds for Israel's security. Who in their right minds could believe that the area, which has enjoyed peace under Israeli control, would be better off in the hands of factioning Syrian rebels, a murderous Assad regime or, worse, ISIS?
Israel Ranked 4th Best Country To Raise Family
For all the troubled headlines coming out of Israel, let's focus on some of the positives. In one recent survey, Israel was ranked the 4th best country in the world to raise a family.
Why We Are Optimistic About Zionism
An interesting piece on why one should continue betting on Israel, as the Jewish state remains a beacon of light amidst a dark region.
Child's Play - Gazan Kids Put On Play About Stabbing Israelis
Much is often said about the culture of hate among the Palestinians and the indoctrination of youth to hate Jews and Israel. Most recently, a group of Gazan children put on a play glorifying the stabbing of Israelis.
Israeli Court Convicts Third Perpetrator In Murder Of Palestinian Teen
You can tell a lot about a society by how it treats its criminals and the justice it brings to victims and their families. When Palestinians kill Israelis, their actions are celebrated in the streets with candy, they are given a hero's welcome and, often times, their families are rewarded with pensions from foreign aid money. This article shows the contrasting Israeli landscape, in which the three Israelis accused of murdering a Palestinian teen were arrested, tried and have been convicted of the murder.
BDS
Israel Boycott Prevented Deal That Could Have Avoided Paris Terror
BDS is, at best, a shameful attempt at holding Israel to double standards and, at worst, a thin veil for anti-Semitism. BDS may also be deadly, as reports are now surfacing that an Israel boycott led the French to reject a deal with an Israeli security company, whose product may very well have been able to prevent the recent terror attack in France.
Anti-Semitism
French Locksmith Attacked Because Assailants Thought He Was Jewish
To take the temperature of anti-Semitism in Europe, one need look no further than the headlines. In France, three teens attached a locksmith because they thought he was Jewish (he wasn't). It is important to remember that a hate crime exists even if the victim turns out not to be a member of the perceived class; that is, this was a hate crime even though the victim turned out not to actually be Jewish.
Heroes
Hero Profile: Meet Arsen Ostrovsky
In this week's Hero profile, we introduce Arsen Ostrovsky, an international human rights lawyer and middle east analyst. A transplant from Australia to Israel, you can often find Arsen testifying before the Knesset and posting thoughtful and interesting material on Twitter. In fact, Arsen was recently voted on of the "Top 25 Most Influential Jewish Twitterers." Take a moment to thank Arsen for all that he does for Israel and the Jewish people.