Chit Chat

By Peloni

From now on comments on every post must relate to the content of the post.

Comments that don’t relate to the post must go here.

Any person who contravenes this demand will be put on moderation. Also their offending comment will be trashed.

The reason for this demand is so that people who want to read comments which pertain to the post, don’t have to wade through the chatter.

Everyone will be happier.

April 16, 2020 | 9,399 Comments »

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58 Comments / 9399 Comments

  2. AI Overview: trump pins medal of honor on dog who captured bin laden

    +5
    In October 2019, President Donald Trump tweeted a photoshopped image of himself awarding a Medal of Honor to Conan, the military dog injured during the raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, calling the dog an “AMERICAN HERO!”. The original photo was from a 2017 ceremony honoring a human veteran.
    The Incident: The dog, a Belgian Malinois named Conan, was injured while chasing al-Baghdadi in a tunnel in Syria, which led to the leader detonating a suicide vest.
    The Photo: The shared image was doctored from an Associated Press photo showing Trump presenting the Medal of Honor to Army medic James C. McCloughan.
    Actual Recognition: Although the photo was fake, President Trump did later honor the real dog in a, at the time, Rose Garden ceremony in Nov 2019 with a medal and a plaque.
    Context: The dog was hailed for its role in the October 2019 raid against the ISIS leader, not Osama bin Laden.
    YouTube
    YouTube
    +6
    The image was widely identified as a meme or doctored image when it was shared.

    1

    • Congressman Fine Introduces Legislation to Protect Puppies From Sharia
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      Washington, February 20, 2026
      Don’t Tread on Me Graphic
      Today, Congressman Randy Fine introduced the Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act. The bill was filed in response to comments from an advisor to Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, who stated that because owning a dog as a pet violates Islamic law, it should be banned. As part of her comments, she said, “New York City is coming to Islam.”
      Washington, DC – Congressman Randy Fine introduced the Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act. The bill was filed in response to comments from an advisor to Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, who stated that because owning a dog as a pet violates Islamic law, it should be banned. As part of her comments, she said, “New York City is coming to Islam.”

      This legislation would prohibit federal funds from being provided to any state or local government that bans dogs as pets. Islamic law cannot be forced on the United States of America. It is the right of all Americans to own a dog.

      “In America, we will not allow anyone to tell us that we cannot have dogs. My bill protects Americans’ right to own a dog and would not allow federal funding to be given to any state or local government that bans them as Haram.There are 57 countries that are Sharia compliant; the United States will not be the 58th.”- Congressman Randy Fine

      “Given the choice between puppies and Sharia, I choose puppies every time. Our tax dollars should not fund any state that chooses to ban dogs as ‘haram.’ We cannot allow Sharia law to continue to infiltrate our communities, undermine our Constitution, and threaten our way of life. Enough is enough.” – Congressman Chip Roy

      “In America, we cherish dogs—loyal companions, beloved family, and yes, true gifts from God. Any foreign ideology that tries to strip Americans of our right to own dogs is not welcome here,” said Congressman Keith Self. “I am proud to cosponsor Congressman Randy Fine’s Protecting Puppies from Sharia Act. We love our dogs, but this isn’t just about pets—it’s the opening salvo against our way of life. First, they come for our dogs, then our daughters and wives, then they come for every freedom-loving American. Sharia has no place in America—keep your hands off our dogs and our liberties!” – Congressman Keith Self

      “Sharia Law is wholly incompatible with Western society. I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Fine’s bill that protects commonsense American rights.” – Congressman Brandon Gill

      Congressman Fine’s original cosponsors include: Reps. Keith Self, Chip Roy, Andy Harris, Brandon Gill, Eli Crane, Mary Miller, Sheri Biggs, Mark Harris, and Andy Ogles.

      You can read the full text of Congressman Fine’s legislation here.

      https://fine.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=167

      1

  3. As I have noted many times, Russia and China will not go to war for Iran. They will use Iran to the point that it serves their relative interests. They are partners, not allies, with the distinction between these two terms being both clear and significant.

    Beijing and Moscow have tightened coordination with Tehran, yet neither shows appetite for direct military backing if Washington launches strikes.

    China’s priority is uninterrupted oil flows. Russia is wary of jeopardizing ties with President Trump. Both are signaling they will not gamble on a war with Washington over Iran. – WSJ

    Osint613

  4. 😀 The artist’s name is Goliath. How much funnier would this be if Mackenzie’s name was David? By the way, “un-named foreign power” reminds me of Hollywood references to Germany in late 30’s spy thrillers.

    South Africa pulls out of Venice Biennale after minister pans artist’s focus on Gaza
    Gayton McKenzie, a staunch supporter of Israel, had alleged an unnamed foreign power wanted to use South Africa as ‘a proxy to endorse a geopolitical message about Israel’s actions in Gaza’

    https://www.timesofisrael.com/south-africa-pulls-out-of-venice-biennale-after-minister-pans-artists-focus-on-gaza/

  5. Fantastic article

    The Ambassador’s Explosive Claim: Is Huckabee Legally Right?
    February 21, 2026 9:04 pm15
    By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

    https://vinnews.com/2026/02/21/the-ambassadors-explosive-claim-is-huckabee-legally-right/

    When U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Tucker Carlson last Friday that it would be “fine” if Israel “took it all” — referring to the vast biblical territory stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates — the Arab world erupted. Saudi Arabia called it “extremist rhetoric.” Egypt termed it a “blatant violation of international law.” The League of Arab States accused him of inflaming religious and national sentiments.

    But here is the question that the outrage machine does not want to ask: Is Huckabee legally wrong?

    A careful examination of international law — not theology, not sentiment, but cold, hard, binding international legal precedent — suggests the answer is that he is correct. And when one focuses specifically on the heartland of the controversy — Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria — the legal case for Jewish rights is not merely plausible. It is, arguably, overwhelming.

    The Accusation That International Law Is Being Violated

    The reflexive response from Arab governments was to invoke “international law” as though it were a trump card that self-evidently settles the matter against Israel. Egypt’s foreign ministry declared that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory.” The League of Arab States thundered about violations of “sound legal basis.”

    But which international law, exactly? Because a serious reading of the actual treaties, resolutions, and legal doctrines that govern territorial claims tells a far different story.

    One Thousand Years of Sovereign Possession

    International law recognizes a doctrine known as uti possidetis juris — the last lawful sovereign retains legal title unless that title is legitimately transferred through a recognized legal mechanism. The Jewish people exercised continuous sovereignty over Jerusalem and the Land of Israel for approximately one thousand years — from King David’s establishment of Jerusalem as the national capital around 1000 BCE through the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. This included every attribute of statehood: centralized government, a functioning legal system through the Sanhedrin, minting of currency, foreign relations, and two national Temples.

    No subsequent power — Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader, Mamluk, Ottoman, or British — ever acquired the land through any legitimate legal mechanism. They took it by force. And that brings us to the second pillar.

    Conquest Does Not Confer Title

    This is not a controversial legal proposition. It is a jus cogens norm — a peremptory principle from which no derogation is permitted — codified in Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter and repeatedly affirmed by the International Court of Justice. Territorial acquisition by force does not create legitimate sovereignty. The Roman conquest of Jerusalem was an act of military aggression. Every subsequent ruler inherited a chain of title rooted in that original illegitimate seizure.

    As the foundational maxim of property law states: nemo dat quod non habet — no one can give what they do not have.

    This principle, applied consistently, cuts entirely against those who argue that centuries of Arab or Ottoman control extinguished Jewish claims. Those centuries of control were themselves built on illegal conquest.

    The San Remo Resolution and the League of Nations Mandate: Binding International Law That Has Never Been Revoked

    Here is where the legal argument becomes particularly powerful — and particularly ignored by those quick to cite “international law.”

    In April 1920, the San Remo Conference — the supreme international legal authority of its time, comprising the Allied Powers that won World War I — incorporated the Balfour Declaration into binding international law. The resolution provided that Palestine would be placed under a Mandate explicitly for “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” This resolution encompassed all of what is today Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. It contained no reservations, no carve-outs, no exceptions.

    Two years later, the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine formally recognized “the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country.” The word “reconstituting” is legally critical. It acknowledged that the Jewish national home was being restored — not invented from nothing. The world’s nations, acting through their authoritative international body, confirmed the continuity of the Jewish legal claim.

    These documents have never been legally superseded, revoked, or annulled. They remain on the books of international law.

    The United Nations Itself Preserved These Rights

    When the United Nations succeeded the League of Nations, Article 80(1) of the UN Charter — sometimes called “the Palestine Clause” — expressly preserved all rights recognized under existing League of Nations Mandates. The rights established at San Remo and codified in the 1922 Mandate were explicitly carried forward into the UN framework. Overriding them would require a Charter amendment approved by two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratified by two-thirds of Member States, including all five permanent Security Council members.

    No such amendment has ever been proposed. The rights stand.

    Jordan’s Occupation Was Itself Illegal

    Critics of Israel point to the 1967 war as the original sin. But this framing conveniently erases the 19 years before it. Jordan’s seizure of the Old City and the West Bank in 1948 was an act of illegal military aggression. The international community — including the Arab League itself — refused to recognize Jordanian sovereignty over these territories. During those 19 years, every Jewish resident was expelled, 58 synagogues were systematically destroyed, and Jewish gravestones from the Mount of Olives were repurposed as paving stones and latrine floors. Jewish access to the Western Wall was denied in direct violation of the 1949 Armistice Agreement.

    Because Jordan never held legitimate sovereignty, it could not legally transfer sovereignty to anyone else. The 1967 Israeli recapture of Jerusalem and the West Bank was, under international law, a recovery of territory from an illegal occupier — not a conquest.

    The Right of Self-Determination

    The Jewish people constitute a “people” under international law by every accepted criterion — common history, language, culture, religion, and continuous national consciousness across millennia. Their right to self-determination is not a political preference. It is a legal right enshrined in the UN Charter itself.

    For Islam, Mecca and Medina are holier than Jerusalem. For Christianity, the primary sacred site is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For the Jewish people, Jerusalem and the Land of Israel are not one option among several. They are the singular, irreplaceable center of national and religious identity — referenced three times daily in prayer for two thousand years.

    What About the “Occupied Territory” Argument?

    Critics will note that UN Security Council Resolution 242, passed after the 1967 war, called for Israeli withdrawal from “territories” captured in that conflict. Several points bear emphasis here. First, Resolution 242 was deliberately worded without the definite article — it did not call for withdrawal from “the territories,” a formulation that was specifically rejected during drafting. Second, Resolution 242 itself called for “secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force” — explicitly acknowledging that the pre-1967 armistice lines were not those boundaries. Third, a Security Council resolution cannot override the prior binding legal framework established at San Remo and codified in Article 80 of the UN Charter itself.

    The Bottom Line

    Ambassador Huckabee’s rhetorical flourish may have been diplomatically incendiary. Reasonable people can debate the wisdom of a sitting ambassador making such statements publicly. And a distinction must certainly be drawn between the full biblical promise — which encompasses vast territories far beyond anything contemplated in current Israeli policy — and the specific legal claims to Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem, which rest on solid, binding, never-revoked international legal instruments.

    But the critics who respond to Huckabee by simply invoking “international law” are not engaging with international law. They are invoking a selective, politically convenient version of it — one that cites UN resolutions when they are useful and ignores binding treaties, League of Nations Mandates, and UN Charter provisions when they are not.

    The complete legal argument — built on one thousand years of prior sovereignty, the prohibition on acquisition of territory by force, the San Remo Resolution, the League of Nations Mandate, Article 80 of the UN Charter, the illegality of Jordan’s occupation, the right of self-determination, and the lawful recovery of territory in a defensive war — does not merely offer a colorable counterargument to the critics.

    It is, on its merits, a stronger legal case than anything his critics have put forward.

    The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com

  7. INTERESTING a propos our recent storm in a teacup. My favourite character growing up was BILLY BUNTER..My aunts and uncles all read Hamilton’s stories writing as Frank Richards reputed the most word written by man.

    INTRESTING The fat boy was the hero of my early days.

    I am the oldest living member of the Billy Bunter Solciety, going strong these days with millions of members all around the old.

    Can be found at thr Friardale Society along with most ofther boys.girls magaines of those earlier days.

    2

  9. @Edgar
    @Sebastien

    I would deem it a great favor if you two would stop interacting with one another. I know that feelings have been hurt in the back and forth between the two of you, but I would greatly appreciate it if you would drop this verbal feud.

    • It has always been Israpundit’s policy to allow much greater scope with duelling members …far greater than this. Rarely do thay get into ad hominems.. However, reluctantly I’ll accept YOUR request, at the behest .of my antagonist AFTER I had declared a STOP more than once, ignored by your supplicant, with his mawkish “Irishisms”

      I am not Irish except by birth being a 1st shtetl generation. I am Latvian

      I never wanted or began the balagan.. It was that treble=mouthy meatball who took offense at a really friendly piece of info I thought might interest him to his benefit which had worked for me and thought might for him.

      .I have NO apology but certainly deserve one……………..

  10. ZORN Did you know there’s a fish called a ZORA- maybe a fist cousin EH??????

    Same fishy expression, gaping toothless mouth, popping eyes (Maybe B Pressure),scaly skin in (wash more) Just doesn’t wear glasses

    A tiny example of what you get when tangling with me.

    Let it end here and I hope you can now receive info and tips when well meant and not allow built up rancour against a certain person to spill over,

    Bu the way I had a birthday last month- I take it that you don’t wish me happiness etc.

    1

  11. SEB_

    I nwver heard of fat shaming or suCh cock-a-mami crap.
    People are fat because the eat too much or have glandular problems.

    I know nothing about your newly invented words what the hell is fat shaming…///Being ashamed to be fat????that’s a personal feeling induced internally, and if dubbed from externally is shameful…..like a lot of the crap you unload on u for the past months.

    “THE MEW MACHERSOF ISRAPUNDIT” ZEB,LOUIE,SACH, SLIP, BUTCH, ET AL\

    1

    • The Unwanted Advice
      An old Irishman is walking down the street and sees a young lad trying to fix a bicycle chain. The old man stops, watches for five minutes, then says, “You’re doing that all wrong, boy.”
      The lad replies, “Do you know how to fix it then?”
      “No,” says the old man, “but I know you’re doing it wrong.”

      • A small “ha”……..NEMO must be running out of violas or SEB wants something to keep one of his chins quivering. The other two.drip sweat as usual.
        Don’t start with me Sonny boy You’ll regret it..??

    • Paddy goes to the doctor for a check-up because he’s feeling terrible. After a thorough exam, the doctor looks at him and says, “Paddy, you’re in bad shape. You need to immediately give up the fatty foods, stop drinking alcohol, and quit smoking.”
      Paddy looks at the doctor and asks, “Well, will I live longer if I do all that, Doc?”
      The doctor says, “No, but it’ll certainly seem a lot longer.”

      • The DOWN thumb already showing what a lousy macher you’d
        make<f

        What feverish mind do all those stinko "IrishJokes" emanate???i

        "A Jew or not a Jew"……….Definitely NOT a Jew.Score 1/

  12. @edgar g.

    Current Posts
    The “Board of Peace” – A New UN or a One-Man-Show? Jerusalem Studio 1000 –
    Mark Levin Feb 15: Iran, Iran, and Iran –
    Trump’s Inaugural Board of Peace Meeting –
    INTO THE FRAY: The deradicalization of Gaza and other myths –
    DARK WOKE –
    Reiner Fuellmich, Therapeutic Choice and the Price of Speech –
    Qatar Undermines US Interests –
    Iran Preparing for War With US –
    Tucker Carlson alleges mistreatment & detention by Israeli officials after spending several hours in Ben Gurion Airport for Huckabee interview –
    IMMORAL EQUIVALENCY –
    Israeli military tribunal to try Hamas terrorists involved in Oct 7 attacks –
    Peacekeepers Without Peace? Pro-Israel Group Warns Against Indonesian Troop Deployment to Gaza –
    The ‘Other Side’ Turns Against the Jews –
    From Israel: The Fog Seems To Be Lifting!! –
    Gadi Taub on Media, Leaks, and the Deep State: Inside Israel’s Sde Teiman Scandal –
    US federal investigation signals new era of accountability for campus antisemitism –

  13. SEB\\You must be retired and have lot sof spare time…Didn’t know musicians ever retired.

    Why not place the viola under one of your chins and drift off to a ,say, Brahms “Lullaby”

    1

    • SEB- This IS a surprise. A tip given in good (food) faith and friendship to be treated like a pariah.

      Are you NUTS

      My comments were meamt well and were received like drek. The system I mentioned worked for me, thought it might help your belly and BP;Your own words showed you had these problems.

      Peloni will not interfere in such a piquant matter

      No evil intended but much done I see,

      Good bye
      PS…are you trying to take over ISRAPUNDIT or do you just have vomit mouth???

      1

      • Query: compassionate fat shaming humor

        AI Overview
        +3
        “Compassionate fat-shaming” is inherently contradictory; research shows that shaming is counterproductive to health goals and causes harm. Instead, fostering positivity, self-care, and unconditional self-respect is more effective for building confidence. Rather than using humor to criticize, focusing on mutual respect and joy is recommended.
        Diane Petrella
        Diane Petrella
        +4
        Key perspectives on this topic:
        Harmful Effects: Fat shaming, regardless of intent, is a form of prejudice that negatively impacts mental and physical health, often causing shame and low self-esteem.
        Counterproductive Nature: Critical comments regarding weight do not motivate positive change; instead, they often cause distress and are ineffective for improving health.
        Focus on Positivity: Experts recommend focusing on building self-confidence, advocating for oneself, and fostering a supportive environment rather than using humor to highlight body size.
        Replacing Negativity: Replacing self-shaming thoughts or negative media with positive, affirming, and joyful representations is more beneficial for well-being.
        Supporting Others: If concerned about a loved one’s health, it is more effective to have private, supportive conversations rather than using humor or critical comments.

  15. SEB-a TIP

    A SERIOUS ONE, I niotied i was frowing a minibasketball below my ribs so as to did into them hurtfully.
    I was eating far to muich.
    SO 2 months ago I decided HALF MEALS> So I did an yesterday was 10 lbs lighter. Madefull meals then cut them down the centre for the next night.

    It’s easy to do but MUST make up your mind..eatimg becomes a habit. If you have tidbits ration them.

    Good advice.

    Let me know how you feel

    1

    • The Italian says, “I’m tired and thirsty. I must have wine.”

      The Frenchman says, “I’m tired and thirsty. I must have cognac.”

      The Russian says, “I’m tired and thirsty. I must have vodka.”

      The German says, “I’m tired and thirsty. I must have beer.”

      The Mexican says, “I’m tired and thirsty. I must have tequila.”

      The Jew says, “I’m tired and thirsty. I must have diabetes.”

  16. Belgium is prosecuting 3 mohels, withdrew before restoring under fierce criticism federal protection for the Jewish Quarter, and just joined South Africa’s kangeroo court case accusing Israel of genocide in the ICG. So, I queried:

    Is Belgium guilty of genocide?

    undefined
    undefined
    undefined
    19 sites
    Legally and historically, the question of Belgium’s “guilt” regarding genocide is complex and depends on the specific event in question. There is no international court ruling that has found the Belgian state guilty of the crime of genocide.
    The following points clarify Belgium’s historical and legal relationship with genocide:
    1. Colonial Atrocities in the Congo (1885–1908)
    During the rule of King Leopold II, an estimated 10 to 15 million people died in the Congo Free State due to extreme exploitation, murder, and famine.
    YouTube
    YouTube
    The Debate: Many historians and demographers describe these atrocities as a “hidden holocaust” or genocide because the population was roughly halved.
    Legal Standing: King Leopold II was never held criminally liable, and the Belgian state has not been formally convicted of genocide for this period. However, in December 2024, a Belgian court found the state guilty of crimes against humanity for the forced abduction of mixed-race children from Congolese mothers during the later colonial era (1948–1953).
    Democracy Now!
    Democracy Now!
    +3
    2. Rwandan Genocide (1994)
    Belgium was the colonial power in Rwanda and has been criticized for its role in exacerbating ethnic tensions and for the withdrawal of its peacekeepers during the 1994 genocide.
    Le Monde diplomatique – English
    Le Monde diplomatique – English
    +2
    Legal Action: While the Belgian state has not been found “guilty” of the genocide itself, Belgian courts use universal jurisdiction to prosecute individuals. Since 2001, at least seven trials have been held in Belgium against individuals—both Belgians and Rwandans—accused of participating in the genocide.
    DW.com
    DW.com
    +4
    3. Recent Genocide Convictions (2025)
    In a landmark ruling in November 2025, a Brussels court found a Belgian jihadist, Sammy Djedou, guilty of genocide for his role in the Islamic State’s (ISIS) campaign against the Yazidi minority. This made Belgium one of the few countries to secure a conviction for the Yazidi genocide.
    Fondation Institut kurde de Paris
    Fondation Institut kurde de Paris
    +3
    4. Current International Position
    Belgium currently acts as an intervenor in international genocide cases rather than a defendant:
    Case Against Israel: In December 2025, Belgium formally joined the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
    Legal

  17. DEAR PELONI,

    I get at least 6-8 Israpundit notices each day and, truthfully, I need NONE.
    I check several times a day regardless and if you could do me the favour of stopping sending the notices I’d be obliged-that is, if it involves no mix-up with your machinery.

    I know they were a pet project of our beloved Ted Olov HaSholom, but just one won’t matter.(did you know that Ted’s family spoke Yiddish until he was 15.)

    Thanks in advance

    1

    • @Edgar,

      You should only be receiving 2 at most daily. I removed you from all lists, so let me know if this fixes the problem tomorrow, and if you do receive more tomorrow, let me know exactly how many you receive.

  18. Anti-Zionist groups in Canada last week launched a campaign against Jewish children’s summer camps, marking a new front in activists’ global effort to dismantle the Jewish state and demonize its supporters.

    A coalition of Canadian leftist and pro-Palestinian organizations announced the campaign seeking to strip accreditation from Jewish children’s summer camps due to their support for “a genocidal state.”

    The campaign targeted at least 17 camps across Canada, in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.

    Continue reading on The Times of Israel

    https://www.facebook.com/share/17bP1z2rip/?mibextid=wwXIfr

  19. Itis totally WEONG to deal with a terrorist group as if with a Sovereign State.

    UNWRA should just be declared non resident with NO visas available.

    And Bloody woll stixl to it like a REAL Sovereign State would/

    1
    1

    • EDGAR-

      In October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed laws banning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating within Israel, East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank, with the restrictions taking full effect in early 2025. The legislation prohibits all contact between Israeli officials and UNRWA staff, revokes immunity, and bans the agency from supplying aid, severely impacting humanitarian efforts in Gaza and the West Bank.
      Key Aspects of the Ban:
      Legal Action: The laws, passed in October 2024, allow for the dismantling of UNRWA’s infrastructure, including schools, medical facilities, and refugee camps in East Jerusalem.
      Operational Halt: The ban prevents UNRWA from entering Gaza, stopping the flow of essential food, medicine, water, and fuel.
      Rationale: Israel justifies the ban by alleging that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks and that the agency is infiltrated by Hamas, allegations the UN denies.
      International Response: The UN, alongside various nations, has heavily criticized the move, with warnings that it will devastate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians and cause the collapse of aid operations.
      Impact: The legislation is described as a, “…first in the history of the United Nations,” potentially violating the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.
      The ban is considered a form of “collective punishment” by UN officials, and its consequences are already being felt through the forced closure of facilities and the seizure of UNRWA assets by Israeli authorities.

      AI Overview

      2

  22. This is what my Holocaust Survivor father said he believed when I was a boy though he didn’t use labels. He was a philosophy major at one point though. Though he had a Reform Jewish memorial service in a funeral home presided over by a female rabbi in which religion was never mentioned, 40 years later. He did support Israel. I came to believe in the existence of a God who loves Israel, in recent years. Too many miracles for a rational person to ignore and dismiss as coincidental.

    “AI Overview

    +7
    Non-Christian Deism is a rationalist, 17th-18th century philosophy positing that a supreme being created the universe and established natural laws but does not intervene, rejecting divine revelation, miracles, and scripture. It emphasizes morality, human reason, and science over dogma, sided often viewing God as a distant creator.
    Key Tenets of Non-Christian Deism
    Rational Creator: God is considered an intelligent, impersonal “first cause” or “clockmaker” who designed the universe to function through natural laws.
    Rejection of Revelation: Deists reject the Bible, Quran, and all revealed scriptures as divine word, often viewing them as superstition.
    No Divine Intervention: Unlike theism, deism denies miracles, prophecies, and providence.
    Nature as Scripture: Truth is discovered through observation of the natural world and reason, rather than faith in dogma.
    Moral Focus: Practical religion consists of ethical conduct and virtue, not rituals or rigid doctrines.
    Historical and Philosophical Context
    Origins: Emerged during the Age of Enlightenment in England, France, and America, influenced by the rise of science.
    Key Figures: Often associated with figures like Thomas Paine and Voltaire, who advocated for a non-sectarian, rational God.
    Distinction from Christian Deism: While some early deists sought to harmonize reason with Christian morality (“soft” deism), non-Christian deism (“hard” deism) completely separates God from religious, scriptural, or, supernatural trappings.
    Non-Christian deists may believe in an “indifferent” God who does not interfere with human affairs. “

    1

  23. Maybe none recall but-

    The detrerioration in Israel’s attitude and relationship with the terrorists began whwen Israel made the FIRST deal to swap a hostage.

    Until then there had been NO deals and the Terrorists had no real interest in capturing Israelis.

    This was the beginning of the fall, and then the Shalit debacle established the value of an Israeli prisoner. DOOM….up to 1000 to ONE..

    the acceptance of Arafat and his horde of terrorists tucked harmlessly far away from Israe,l back into Israel, on ANCESTRAL TERRITORY with arms and organisation was the WORST BY FAR mistake of Issrael’s rulers. They were not only the rulers but actually instigated and guided the woeful event.
    They all deserved loss of citizenship, jail for 20 years, expulsion, and confiscation of their estates, to be put to helping the wounds caused by the terrorists.

    Many,many thousands of Jews have been murdered and wounded since because of this act to this day, spreading to international interventions bringing in powers who have no rights in the area, …….unless manufactured..

    This truncated account tells us one ONE THING.

    NEVER NEGOTIA:E WITH TERRORISTS EXCEPT UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,; EXILE. JAIL, execution. etc.

    NEVER. When Jews have no hostage value they’ll cease to be kidnapped…killed maybe but not Kidnapped. We may lose a few but that will become fewer. Terrorists lill begin to value their own lives more and take fewer chances of capture and execution.

    *****FAR FAR too many Israelis have been captured which MUST be by lack of proper outlet planning, and negligence= the casual Israeli swagger after 1967 for instance, allowing them to be taken and used as valued assets. The exchange rates crept up rapidly encouranging more captures ………..emphasis on capture.*****

    AM Yisrael Chai. L’olom Voed

    4
    1

    • I recall thinking about Oct 7, that the IDF should have stormed into Rafah the same night, accepting that some losses would be unavoidable, whether to go or not to go, as was proven. Refraining gave no gains. Ultimately, and not being a military expert, IMHO the blame must fall on the Regimes and their Imams and Media: not a single one tried to save the hostages or utter a comment. The un-Godly silence of such regimes was and remains un-attended. The regimes remain as heroes instead of trials and their removal.

      1

    • reposting:

      “Sebastien Zorn says:
      September 13, 2016 at 6:46 pm

      Ephraim Kishon brilliantly satirized this:

      Excerpt: “The Course of Justice” (From “So Sorry We Won – The Story of the Six Day War in Word And Cartoon ” by Ephraim Kishon and Dosh (Kariel Gardosh) Tel Aviv. 1967) (typed from the hardcover)

      “September: a member of the El Fatah murder gang named Mahmoud Hejazi is captured wounded on Israeli territory in possession of an automatic rifle, 12 pounds of explosives, three flamethrowers and a couple of howitzers. The examination of the infiltrator proceeds slowly as when captured, the man was in state of coma induced by fright and he is unable to utter coherent sentences. He cowers in a corner, crawls in the dust and keeps mumbling: “Mahmoud good boy…Have pity on me, great effendis…Pity…Poor Mahmoud…”

      ‘October : Hejazi is tried by a military court and sentenced to death. Upon hearing the sentence, the accused collapses and sobbingly pleads for his miserable life. The Minister of Justice remembers his European heritage and approves the appointment of an Arab lawyer to defend the murderer who appealed the sentence.

      ‘November : The lawyer arrives from Algeria and is handed a memorandum on what is expected of him in court:
      (1) That he should read the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel to an organ accompaniment.
      (2) That he should express his gratitude and appreciation for the activities of the Government of Israel.
      (3) Hatikvah
      The lawyer refuses to cooperate, he happens to root for the Arabs. Out!

      ‘December : Hejazi stands up for his elementary rights: “I won’t budge without a foreign lawyer,” he announces. The authorities are somewhat perplexed. The Chief-of-Staff’s coaxing of Hejazi falls on deaf ears: “Leave me alone,” says the disappointed infiltrator; “There’s no-one I can talk to in this country.”

      January: The trial is resumed without Hejazi’s approval. “You’re a bunch of crooks, the lot of you!” Hejazi declares. “You’re abominable behavior is in complete contradiction to all the tenets of international law and is repugnant to all freedom-loving people.” The defense attorney asks Hejazi not to make superficial generalizations, whereupon he is fired by him. The lawyer lodges an appeal.

      February: Hejazi convokes a press conference and demands the resignation of the Government, which has entangled itself in its own web of perfidy. “I cannot negotiate with hooligans.” The infiltrator tells the press. “If my case is not settled within a week from today, I won’t answer for the consequences!” The President of the Court appeals to Hejazi’s nobler feelings in an effort to win his co-operation. Hejazi announces over Kol Israel that he is forced to dismiss the court.

      March : Mr. Mahmoud Hejazi’s claim for compensation from the Israeli Army is heard by Mr. Abie Nathan as sole arbitrator. In his defense brief, the Chief-of-Staff claims that the infiltrator’s arrest was carried out without malice. Nor is he willing to accept Hejazi as a war invalid entitled to assistance and a Ministry of Defense pension. A compromise seems to be in the offing. IL.15,000 in cash and a soft drink stand.”
      —-”

      https://www.israpundit.org/archives/63617610

      Comment #29

    • @Michael

      Putin is walking in Xi’s footsteps.

      do putin and xi play musical instruments

      +6
      Vladimir Putin has publicly demonstrated skill on the piano on multiple occasions, while there is no widely reported evidence of Xi Jinping playing a musical instrument.
      Vladimir Putin: Putin has been filmed playing the piano while waiting for bilateral talks, notably playing “Moscow Windows” and “City on the Free Neva” while waiting for Xi Jinping in Beijing in 2017. He has also played at a 2010 charity event, where he performed a rendition of “Blueberry Hill”. Putin has described his ability as playing with “two or three fingers,” often blaming the piano for being out of tune.
      Xi Jinping: While there are no reports of Xi playing an instrument, in response to Putin’s 2017 performance, some Chinese social media users highlighted that former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin was known to play instruments, including the piano, flute, and guitar.
      While Putin has cultivated a “macho” image, these public piano performances were used to present a “softer” side.

      – AI Overview

      • by contrast:

        trump gives emperor of japan a viola
        +4
        Yes, during a state visit to Japan on May 27, 2019, President Donald Trump presented Emperor Naruhito with an American-made viola.
        The Instrument: The viola was crafted in 1938 by Ivan W. Allison in Charleston, West Virginia.
        The Reason: The gift was chosen in recognition of Emperor Naruhito being an avid violist, as reported by The Strad.
        Provenance: The instrument was purchased from the Little Rock Violin Shop in Arkansas, which was contacted by the U.S. State Department shortly after Naruhito ascended to the throne, according to owner Joe Joyner.
        Other Gifts: Along with the viola, Trump gave the Emperor a signed photo of American composer Aaron Copland.
        Significance: Emperor Naruhito reportedly mentioned that he still plays the instrument from time to time.
        The exchange took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, marking the first meeting between a foreign leader and the new Emperor, who had acceded to the throne earlier that month.

        AI Overview

        My comment: Banzai!

        € Cliff notes: One silly non sequitur deserves another §

  27. Ukraine only declared the IRGC a terrorist organization, yesterday, Feb. 2, 2026, and just because of its role in supplying drones to Russia! And only after the EU jumped on the bandwagon, now that the regime is failing. Everybody wants to sit at the victor’s table. What will they do if ongoing Trump negotiations give the regime a second wind?