However, officials say Israel is likely to seek clarification from far-right Freedom Party leaders on several matters, including renouncing party’s and Austria’s Nazi past, removing members who identify as Nazis, improving Holocaust studies in schools
By Eldad Beck and Israel Hayom Staff
Israeli government officials on Tuesday clarified that Israel does not intend to boycott Austria’s right-wing government, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement Monday that he would boycott ministers from that country’s far-right Freedom Party. The party came in third in the Austrian parliamentary election held on Oct. 15, securing 51 seats in the National Council.
In a statement issued Monday by the Foreign Ministry, Netanyahu, who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio, said Israel will maintain direct contact with Austria’s new chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, leader of the Austrian People’s Party, who took office on Monday.
The statement also said that for the time being, Israel would maintain professional contacts with the Austrian government ministries in which ministers from the Freedom Party serve.
However, officials in Jerusalem said the government is likely to seek clarifications from Freedom Party leaders on several matters, among them renouncing the party’s and Austria’s Nazi past, the removal of members who identify as Nazis, and a commitment to increase Holocaust studies in schools.
The Foreign Ministry said Netanyahu had instructed Foreign Ministry Director General Yuval Rotem to “carry out a professional review regarding the manner in which Israel will conduct itself toward the new government.”
“The State of Israel stresses its commitment to combat anti-Semitism and preserve the memory of the Holocaust,” the statement said.
@ Edgar G.:
Same page.
@ Sebastien Zorn:
I’m watching this exchange with increasing amusement….. When I see weight attached to Germany and Austria saying that Israel is a Jewish State, I’m reminded of how Sadat came back from his “historic” visit to Jerusalem waving the piece of paper (the treaty) saying with glee (as reported by several sources) “and I got all the Sinai just for signing this little scrap of paper”… (paraphrased).
As we found out since, it meant nothing, only increased Jew-hate and the same no peace no war situation which had existed in between wars. One of these latest Resolutions overwhelmingly passed again the Jewish State was originated by Egypt. Anf our other “peace partner_ Jordan can’t restrain it’s hate, and malignancy. Why doesn’t it just overcome them and let them burst and expire, like happens at the ending of all the good books of the 19th century…oh yes, “and we live long, prosperous lives and happy ever after”.
And I fully understand the reference to using Torah anachronistically….he duz a lotta dat. As well as metaphorically in a very selective way supporting his mishugas, and denouncing our mishugasn.
I saw that Daniel mentioned England… I presume he means the “lionized Daniel”, who lived-reputedly- about 1000 years before the Saxons and Angles decided to explore that large Island, and about 14 hundred years before it was referred to as Angle-Land.
I think the “Daniel” must be Daniel Pipes, whom he also mentions, being closer to reality, and is currently on the scene.
Michael, you suffer a lot for your faith don’t you… and take the slings and arrows with such good grace that I for one, respect you, and congratulate you very sincerely; even though, with my sense of humour, and being hard to resist, I throw a good few myself,..
You know that Jews have a very highly developed sense of humour don’t you. Most of the great comedians, comics and so forth have been Jews.
@ Michael S:
I’m all agog.
My gog.
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Yes, Bastien. The English. Did you know that Daniel mentioned them?
Daniel 7:
[7] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
The “fourth beast” followed what was described as the Greek successors of Alexander the Great. It was the Romans. And the ten horns were successors of the Romans.
Who were these successors? The Roman Empire endured, in Constantinople, until 1453 CE. It did not have ten successor states, but was conquered by the Ottomans.
The western half of the empire, however, which included Rome itself, was taken over by Pepin I in 751 CE. With a credulously believed document called the “Donation of Constantine” as authority, the Pope crowned Pepin’s successor Charlemagne as the “Holy Roman Emperor”. This empire endured until 1804, when dissolved during the Napoleonic Wars. Dynasties that arose out of this empire (and their dominions after the Congress of Vienna in 1815) are:
1. The House of Bourbon (France, Spain, Naples)
2. The House of Braganza (Portugal)
3. The House of Hanover (the British Empire, Hanover)
4. The House of Holstein-Gottorp (Russia, Denmark)
5. The House of Habsburg-Lorraine (the Austrian Empire)
6. The House of Hohenzollern (Prussia, thence Germany)
7. The House of Nassau (the Dutch Empire)
8. The House of Savoy (K. of Sardinia, thence Italy)
9. The House of Wettin (Saxony, thence the UK H. of Windsor)
10. The House of Wittlesbach (Bavaria and Palatine)
These houses divided the world among themselves during the next 100 years, as “Congress Europe”, led by the “Holy Alliance” of Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia. After WWI, the Congress powers formed the League of Nations, which became the United Nations after WWII.
No corner of the world escaped the dominion of this modern empire. Afghanistan was a protectorate of Britain; Persia was divided into zones of influence between Russia and the UK; China was divided among the “Alliance of Eight”, which included the great European powers plus Japan and the US; Africa was carved up into fiefdoms; the Ottoman Empire was divided between the British and French, etc. Daniel talked about it long ago; it’s only news to us.
No, these countries are NOT friends of Israel. Ultimately, they, along with the US and the whole world, will attack Israel. In the UNGA, that is close to happening already.
Michael S Said:
Not since Balfour 100 yearsago.
@ Michael S:
gosh.
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Hi, Sebastien
Friend, eh? What does that mean, in this electronic world? I’ll put it this way: You have been friendly to me. You have given me the time of day, even if it’s been to pop off snarky remarks sometimes. That counts for something.
Anyonggi Ka Haseyo?
I imagine that’s heading on the track toward being correct. If the “ki” is said by the one leaving, then I guess the “ka” would be for the one remaining. Korean is the only language I know, where I need help every time I say “goodbye”.
I don’t think you “got” the “airborne” message. In basic training, in 1969, we had to sing “I wanna be an airborne ranger” as we marched double-time. It was to psych us into being “gung-ho”, which didn’t work in my case. I threw it out there, to guess your age. I would place you as maybe in your 50’s. You certainly weren’t military age during the Vietnam War. If so, it’s good — you’ve been spared a few nightmares.
Have you ever read Zechariah 14? In “A Christmas Carol” language, that’s “The spirit of Christmas to come”, from one of Ebenezer Scrooge’s nightmares. It talks about a war, in which Israel is pitted against the whole world. Israel gets invaded, and takes quite a beating; but then God intervenes miraculously on their behalf: not to save them from harm (for the UN troops are already raping and pillaging in Jerusalem), but to wreak vengeance on those who are attacking them; and that vengeance consists of a nuclear holocaust.
This is what I see, at the end of all these UN shenanigans; and I expect the US to be joining in the attack, if not leading it. I think the event is a few years away, because there are a few things, it seems, that have to precede it.
One of those “preceding” events is an attack by an alliance led by Turkey, allied with Iran, Sudan and Libya. This is described by Ezekiel 38-39, Turkey being “The land of Magog” and President Erdogan making a very convincing Gog. I’m sure Oral Torah doesn’t see it that way; but the Oral Torah people did not know Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
I’ve been saying these things since the 1980s, long before Erdogan was on the scene, and at a time when it was unimaginable that the US would ever not veto Security Council resolutions against Israel.
Those days are fast approaching now; and a person would have pretty big blinders on, not to see them. Remember, this is all TaNaKh stuff. I haven’t brought up the New Testament. This is from God’s message to THE JEWS, without a doubt; and if you don’t believe God sent the message, it makes no difference: These things are happening, now, and it’s behind all the headlines.
That’s the sort of thing I’d like to discuss with someone, seriously. It’s a subject I cannot even broach among my Christian friends; because (1) they think they will be “raptured” out of any troubles, and (2) some of them think God no longer has any plans concerning the Jews. They are wrong on both counts; but as I said, they’ve stopped their ears on the matter.
Ears open or ears closed, these things are happening. Knowing this won’t make them not happen; but it can certainly keep one from needlessly wracking one’s brain, trying to understand the news.
@ Michael S:
Airborn, eh? OK. Geronimo, Kimo Sabe. Anyo Ki Haseyo to yerself, as well my sophist — icated friend.
My bed.
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Hello, Sebastien
You’ll find that it’s common, outside of New York City, to say hello. We even wave at cars and trains. And we look out the window and see trees, fields, deer, blue jays. Try it sometime — you might like it!
Koreans. Nice people, very friendly.
Did you try the crossword? It’s very easy. Heart Sutra? We call it “BS” where I live. You don’t seem to know what honesty is. Keep doing the crosswords, then tell me what you think. If you find yourself lying about it, that’s called “dishonesty”. “Honesty” is something else.
Good bye 🙂
And Germany? What the Krauts who while condemning anti-semitism and the Shoah, and theoretically recognizing the Jewish character of the Jewish state, bring in hordes of Jew hating Muslims and vote to de-legitimize said Jewish state? One region even outlawed Kosher slaughtering briefly, as i recall. Same as the Austrians who eagerly joined them in the Anschluss. No forgiveness.All the Jews should leave.
A reminder to Michael S., the Talmud is the Oral Torah.
How the Talmud Became a Best-Seller in South Korea
By Ross ArbesJune 23, 2015
https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/how-the-talmud-became-a-best-seller-in-south-korea
@ Michael S:
Michael S Said:
The article is about Austria.
I see it ate my earlier comment.
General Giap and another N. Vietnamese Veteran said in an interview that the U.S. would have won if it hadn’t withdrawn.
https://www.duffelblog.com/2013/10/vietnam-war-winning/
And S. Korea is a thriving, prosperous democracy that is not only an ally of the U.S. but is in an ongoing cultural love affair with the U.S. You would know this if you watched any of the dramas, listened to any of the pop music, or met any of the many people who go back and forth like the U.S. is their second home, in fact, their mother country. A lot of people.
And most of them are Christians who identify with the Jews and quote the Torah all the time in their church services. At one point they mandated Torah study in schools over there. They are very Westernized. “Italy of the East” they call themselves.
@ Michael S:
It’s a history. It’s the Torah you claim as an authority. I quoted what’s there. Belief? What? Heart? Are you referring to the Heart Sutra? Which passage? Are you looking at Pali, Sanskrit, or English translation?
Remember 2001, A Space Odyssey. Hal, The polite Computer who always says, “Good Morning” before he calmly murders the crew. Not that I’m saying you would murder anyone but you are so formal, so polite, I find it funny. Hello, Good morning. You sure you’re not Korean, Japanese or Chinese? Or perhaps a Mormon?
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Hi, Sebastien.
I didn’t catch the humor in the link to “HAL” Oh well. In other matters, I see that I left off answering much of your post. You said,
‘And what do you call honestly? Nothing more honest than literal quotation.’
Honesty is speaking from your heart, something you know is true. It does not depend on “quoting” anyone.
Referring, it seems, to the Bible, you said,
“We just honestly wrote it down, blemishes and all. More power to us.
But, it’s not a guide. It’s a museum piece. Like The Odyssey.”
Yuck ;-( You’re comparing the word of God to Pagan legends. I can see why your personal religion seems to focus on Groucho Marx. Let me put it this way: It doesn’t get you anywhere. It reduces you to looking for meaning and answers in life, in something on the level of the daily crossword puzzle. What should I do? Feel sorry for you? The appropriate words, which mean “I feel sorry for you” are, “Woe to you!” Jesus said that. You read it, and disregarded it, along, it seems, with the rest of the Bible. Here, let me quote “scripture and verse”:
http://games.aarp.org/games/daily-crossword-new
Enjoy.
@ Michael S:
Good morning*, Michael:
I agree with your last 2 paragraphs.
* https://vimeo.com/127219599 (humor)
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Good morning, Sebastien. You said,
“What do you expect them to say? They all say that. So what?”
This was said, with reference to:
http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/12/17/austrian-governments-platform-refers-to-israel-as-jewish-state-for-first-time/
Read the article again. It notes,
“So far, the German government, under Chancellor Angela Merkel, has been the only European government that has recognized in its platform Israel’s Jewish character.”
What do I expect “them” to say? If even our long-time friends like the English are unable to cough up this confession, I think it’s remarkable for Kurz to move his lips in this direction. The norm for “them” (namely, Europeans) is to continually bash and denigrate Israel. I find Austria’s new leader to be refreshing in this regard.
That said, I am not ecstatic about the fresh look in the Eastern Kingdom. Not many countries there are with us: Only Latvia, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herz. and Romania have had the decency to abstain; and Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkmenistan were honorable enough to stay home. In East Asia, only Bhutan abstained, while Myanmar and Mongolia failed to show. Taiwan, of course, has the excuse of being a pariah.
I don’t have high hopes for Europe. Even Melania Trump’s Slovenia has joined the rats; and neither can we expect anything from supposed old “friends” like Japan, nor “new” ones like India and Saudi Arabia. They all stink to high heaven, and are reserving the wrath of God against themselves.
On the up side, Guatemala and Honduras have done well, along with Togo and the old standbys, namely, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau and Nauru. It’s good to know we still have some friends.
@ Michael S:
What do you expect them to say? They all say that. So what? that was then. This is now and they are voting to destroy us.
And what do you call honestly? Nothing more honest than literal quotation. When have you ever provided a checkable primary source reference? Skipping around and interpreting things metaphorically or referring to uncheckable sources is sophistry.
Nothing to be ashamed of. It was thousands of years ago, and human beings were barely upright, killers and savages all. Only Islamists, which is to say, honest Muslims, are like that today, in any numbers. We just honestly wrote it down, blemishes and all. More power to us.
But, it’s not a guide. It’s a museum piece. Like The Odyssey.
Hitler was an Austrian. Screw them all. Forgiveness is for losers or (non-Burmese) Buddhists. Are you a (non-Burmese)Buddhist now? I like to think of myself as a Burmese Buddhist.
@ Sebastien Zorn:
Sebastien,
I am far removed, from thinking you could or would ever quote Torah honestly. Meanwhile, Daniel Pipes made an excellent observation:
Daniel Pipes?Verified account @DanielPipes
#Austria’s new, anti-immigration government, has (for the first time) recognized #Israel as the #JewishState & explicitly acknowledged Austria’s culpability in the #Holocaust.
Me: And this is the dread “far-right” coalition, they say.
http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/12/17/austrian-governments-platform-refers-to-israel-as-jewish-state-for-first-time/ …
6:45 AM – 22 Dec 2017
— https://twitter.com/DanielPipes/status/944217346075516928
I approve his message.
Austria voted for the resolution condemning Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. How nice for themselves they are keeping Muslims out but why should Israel care? They are not friends. They are the mamzer children of their Nazi forbears. The sins of the fathers should definitely be visited upon them. I hope Trump folllows through on his threat and there is some kind of benefit for Austria that can be cut, whether in aid or in trade. A pox on all their houses, I hope they all get leprosy, if you wanna get all biblical about it.@ Michael S:
@ Michael S:
Monty Python and The Holy Grail Monks (with subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4q6eaLn2mY
@ Michael S:
And some of it’s just plain silly.
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/165573/dogs-and-cats
@ Michael S:
If they’re no longer Nazis, then why do they cling to the same party? And since when are modern Israel’s policies based on the Torah, anyway? Aside from the fact, that, as with any religion, you can find passages to prove anything you want in there, It’s a valuable record of our history, but it’s from thousands of years ago. Gimme a break. Might as well base modern urban zoning policy on the Epic of Gilgamesh, while you’re at it. The only countries that live like that are Muslim countries, which is why they are living in the Stone Age, except for some imported technology.
@ Michael S:
So tiresome when people quote the Torah selectively and anachronistically.
Deuteronomy 25
Visiting the sins of the fathers unto the children?
As I recall, the Israelites who rebelled against God were destroyed, among those TWENTY YEARS OLD and upwards. In the case of Austria, those 20 years old and upward in 1945 will be 100 in 2025.
Fair enough, go after them: but Kurz and the others cannot be accountable for what the Nazis did. I think Messiah will come around then, and take matters out of your hands.
Meanwhile, seeing what’s been happening in Europe is “the gift that keeps on giving”, for those hoping for its destruction. With Kurz in power, Austria promised to align with the Visegrad group against the migrant invasion, splitting Europe in two; and with Brexit and Catalonia splitting it further, into three and four, and Greece about to fall off the edge and make five, the place may need a “Political Marshall Plan” to keep from anarchy.
Stand with Kurz or oppose Kurz. Either way, Europe loses; and the worms and maggots win.