Green Energy
The Atlantic:
Don't Give to the Jewish National Fund
Dec 3 2010, 9:42 AM ET
Inevitably, the Jewish National Fund, which, among other things, plants forests in Israel, is asking for donations from Americans for its "Forest Fire Emergency Campaign," in response to the massive fire spreading across the Carmel mountains. But I'm not giving.
Israel's per capita GDP is nearly $30,000. Israel is a rich country. The fact that it doesn't possess adequate firefighting equipment is its own fault. The fact that the leadership of its fire service is incompetent is its own fault (you can read more about that here). At some point, the good-hearted Diaspora Jews who still think of Israel as a charity case are going to have to tell their cousins to learn to fully-fund basic services like firefighting if they want to be thought of as citizens of an advanced country.
There are a great many good causes in Israel that deserve help, and a great many causes here in America that deserve our help. It seems to me, however, that Israel's national fire service should be funded by Israel's government, not by the people of Boca Raton, Potomac and the Upper West Side.
My sympathy is with the people who lost their lives, their families, and those still in danger. It is not with a government that appears to be negligent. And I'm not going to contribute funds that might serve to paper-over the government's inadequacies.
- Qaddafi's Shocking Admissions
From Punditarian at the Astute Bloggers: The New Duranty Times invited Muammar Qaddafi to write an op-ed on Israel and the Arabs. It was no surprise to read that he advocates dissolving the Jewish State by returning it to the Arabs. He thinks that Israel...
- Duck And Cover, Tel Aviv
Israel to hold massive emergency drill In the face of a possible escalation with Syria and Iran's efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon, parts of the country will shut down next month in what security officials say will be the largest emergency...
- What Would You Do If They Asked You To Divide Your Capital City
Israpundit declares an "Emergency Campaign to Save Israel." I'm not sure the situation is that bad that a state of emergency needs to be enacted, but what do I know? In any case, the idea of splitting Jerusalem into two seems the height of stupidity...
- Syrian Attitudes Towards Jews And Israel
The JTA was able to send a reporter to Syria recently, where local attitudes towards Jews and Israel seem quite odd. On the one hand, they actually respect the very few Jews left living there, ditto their religion (or so it would seem). On the other hand,...
- News Media "implicitly" Recognizes Palestinian Right To Destroy Israel
This morning Associated Press is carrying the story "Hamas-Fatah To Implicitly Recognize Israel." Isn't it interesting that they are not outright recognizing Israel's right to exist? No. Instead, they are "implicitly" recognizing Israel. In fact,...
Green Energy
Anyone Here Still Read The Atlantic?
The Atlantic:
Don't Give to the Jewish National Fund
Dec 3 2010, 9:42 AM ET
Inevitably, the Jewish National Fund, which, among other things, plants forests in Israel, is asking for donations from Americans for its "Forest Fire Emergency Campaign," in response to the massive fire spreading across the Carmel mountains. But I'm not giving.
Israel's per capita GDP is nearly $30,000. Israel is a rich country. The fact that it doesn't possess adequate firefighting equipment is its own fault. The fact that the leadership of its fire service is incompetent is its own fault (you can read more about that here). At some point, the good-hearted Diaspora Jews who still think of Israel as a charity case are going to have to tell their cousins to learn to fully-fund basic services like firefighting if they want to be thought of as citizens of an advanced country.
There are a great many good causes in Israel that deserve help, and a great many causes here in America that deserve our help. It seems to me, however, that Israel's national fire service should be funded by Israel's government, not by the people of Boca Raton, Potomac and the Upper West Side.
My sympathy is with the people who lost their lives, their families, and those still in danger. It is not with a government that appears to be negligent. And I'm not going to contribute funds that might serve to paper-over the government's inadequacies.
- Qaddafi's Shocking Admissions
From Punditarian at the Astute Bloggers: The New Duranty Times invited Muammar Qaddafi to write an op-ed on Israel and the Arabs. It was no surprise to read that he advocates dissolving the Jewish State by returning it to the Arabs. He thinks that Israel...
- Duck And Cover, Tel Aviv
Israel to hold massive emergency drill In the face of a possible escalation with Syria and Iran's efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon, parts of the country will shut down next month in what security officials say will be the largest emergency...
- What Would You Do If They Asked You To Divide Your Capital City
Israpundit declares an "Emergency Campaign to Save Israel." I'm not sure the situation is that bad that a state of emergency needs to be enacted, but what do I know? In any case, the idea of splitting Jerusalem into two seems the height of stupidity...
- Syrian Attitudes Towards Jews And Israel
The JTA was able to send a reporter to Syria recently, where local attitudes towards Jews and Israel seem quite odd. On the one hand, they actually respect the very few Jews left living there, ditto their religion (or so it would seem). On the other hand,...
- News Media "implicitly" Recognizes Palestinian Right To Destroy Israel
This morning Associated Press is carrying the story "Hamas-Fatah To Implicitly Recognize Israel." Isn't it interesting that they are not outright recognizing Israel's right to exist? No. Instead, they are "implicitly" recognizing Israel. In fact,...