Rise of A/S in the US

 By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The drastic rise in hate crimes targeting Jews has not fostered many responses on the grassroots level.

Some figures, like Senator Bernie Sanders, have even announced that they’ve had enough with all the condemning of anti-Semitism.

But there have been some inspiring attempts to help and assist the many frightened Jews. Especially frightened are those who are “obviously identifiable Jews.”

A group of martial arts experts in LA is being organized by a Remi Franklin, a Jewish martial arts instructor.

Franklin is coordinating jiujitsu, karate, mixed martial arts and boxer instructors who will escort Jews going to and from synagogue and will also secure synagogues in LA. His group is working together with a Jewish security group named Magen Am.

In interviews with the LA Times and The Forward, Remi Franklin explains that coordinating these communities combines his Jewish life and his martial arts life.

Haters of Jews need to witness strong powerful Jews and their friends standing together, standing tall and standing proud.

We need more people like Remi Franklin.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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US To RE-Open Jerusalem Consulate

 By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

US Secretary of State Tony Blinken has wrapped up his trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The secretary of state promised to re-open the US consulates in the Arab section of Jerusalem. He said that President Biden will ask congress for $75 million to re-open the consulate and for humanitarian assistance.
Why, you might ask, is there a need for a US consulate in Jerusalem - isn’t the embassy housed in Jerusalem?

The answer is that the consulate will serve the Palestinian community.

Blinken also indicated that President Biden will ask Congress for even more help for the Palestinians. Biden will ask for another $5.5 million in addition to the original request of $32 million slated for humanitarian aid.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Jews Like Israel

 By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Pew Research Center Religion and Public Life published a study in mid-May which attached numbers to Jews and their attachment to Israel.

Look at these numbers.

45% of American Jews think that caring about Israel is essential to being Jewish. 37% think that caring about Israel is important. Only 16% of American Jews polled think that the Israel is not important.

The study was conducted between June 19, 2019 through June 3, 2020.

So - what conclusions can be drawn from the Pew Study?

The most important conclusion is that Israel is still important to the overwhelming majority of Jews in the United States.

I find that to be remarkably comforting. I would guess most of those 16% of Jews do not feel anything is important to their identity, not just Israel.
Poor souls.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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From Cease Fire to Peace - NO!

 By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Since the cease fire between Israel and Hamas went into effect, I have heard over and over that it is essential to ride the wave of momentum and to continue on. The assumption is that the cease fire will lead to a peace deal.

And I say - No way! Definitely not! To think this way is, quite frankly, to flaunt your ignorance. It is wishful thinking.

Hamas’ raison d’etre is the destruction of Israel, it is the basis of their charter.
Hamas does not want peace. For Hamas the cease fire was a protective move undertaken to prevent their total destruction.
Anyone who knows the region, knows this to be true.

So, you ask, why did the UAE and Qatar volunteer to help continue to broker a peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

And why did Egypt's foreign minister, during a visit to Jordan on Sunday, discuss ways to build on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ways de-escalate tensions in the Palestinian territories and ways to revive the Middle East peace process. And why was all of that announced in an official foreign ministry statement. They certainly understand the region.

The answer is - because, they have an ulterior meeting.

The Palestinian Authority is the only party that can negotiate peace with Israel. And right now the PA is not ready to take that step.

The UAE and Qatar and Egypt countries know that. But for the moment, they want to ride the wave of success and gain favor in the eyes of the United States and other Western countries.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Israel Orders 3rd Shot

 By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The United States and Israel are at odds about Iran.

The United States, along with the five other permanent members of the UN’s Security Council plus Germany are in serious talks with Iran about their nuclear development.

While that is happening, Israel attacked Iran’s Natanz nuclear lab knocking out their centrifuge system.

The United States made it very clear to Israel that they were unhappy about the attack. So Israel has agreed to step back and halt their aggressive strikes against Iran. The trade off is that Israel is expecting – or at least hoping, to have significant input into US and policy regarding Iran.

I would posit that Israel stepped up their strikes against Iranian targets in order to one day – which turns out to be now, pull back. Israel always intended to use these attacks as a valuable card to play with the United States.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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US & Israel at Odds

 By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The United States and Israel are at odds about Iran.

The United States, along with the five other permanent members of the UN’s Security Council plus Germany are in serious talks with Iran about their nuclear development.

While that is happening, Israel attacked Iran’s Natanz nuclear lab knocking out their centrifuge system.

The United States made it very clear to Israel that they were unhappy about the attack. So Israel has agreed to step back and halt their aggressive strikes against Iran. The trade off is that Israel is expecting – or at least hoping, to have significant input into US and policy regarding Iran.

I would posit that Israel stepped up their strikes against Iranian targets in order to one day – which turns out to be now, pull back. Israel always intended to use these attacks as a valuable card to play with the United States.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
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Syrian Elections

 By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

This year, Spring is the season of Middle East elections.
Syria has announced that on May 26th they will hold presidential elections.

Assad will win a third term as president. These are not true elections and his win is a certainty.

The Assad family belongs to a minority group in Syria. They are Alawites. And Syria’s Alawites control their brutal security forces. Opposition is not tolerated. A part of the Syrian election law is that a candidate must have lived in Syria for the past 10 years.

There is no opposition within Syria.

In 2011, protests in Syria began in the south of the country. The protestors were asking for election and political reform. The protests were crushed and so began a civil war that has, for the past ten years, devastated the country.

The only question about Syria’s upcoming election is whether Bashar Assad will win 85% or 95% or even 98% of the vote.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
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