Today in History
The Middle East keeps making the headlines. The carnage in Syria, the weekly violence in Iraq, the political instability in Lebanon, the uncertainty in Turkey, the threat posed by Iran in the region, all seem to take a backseat to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the perennial pursuit of the “peace process.” A lasting peace seems like a chimera chased by indefatigable peace processors – U.S. Secretary Kerry’s initiative being the last one in a long line of failed attempts since 1993.
When the resolution of a complex problem hits a stalemate repeatedly and almost predictably since its inception, the smart thing to do is to revisit the fundamentals, long forgotten in the past twenty years of diplomatic frenzy. A look back at recent history is essential.
Ninety-four years ago today, on April 25, 1920, the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers (Britain, France, Italy, Japan and the U.S. as an observer) gathered in San Remo, Italy, and ruled on the disposition of the Middle East territories previously held by the defeated Ottoman Empire, after having heard the claims of both the Zionist Organization, headed by Chaim Weizmann, and the Arab Delegation, headed by Emir Faisal, at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919.
The San Remo Conference was a momentous event in that it drafted the map of the Middle East as we know it today: Over 97% of the land was adjudicated to the Arabs, which resulted in the creation of the new exclusively Arab states of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and, later, Jordan. The geographic region known as “Palestine” was designated as the Jewish National Home, to be reconstituted there in consideration of the historical connection of the Jewish people to the land. National rights were exclusively granted to the Jewish people collectively, while the non-Jewish people of Palestine were granted individual civil and religious rights.
These were the terms used in the San Remo Resolution – later confirmed in the Mandate for Palestine (1922) and approved by the 52 members of the League of Nations – to highlight the pre-existing rights of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, hitherto known as “Palestine” since Roman times. These documents, and the ensuing Franco-British and Anglo-American treaties that were separately signed in the early 1920s, are based on the Mandates System stipulated in the Covenant of the League of Nations and are therefore binding to this day under international law. The acquired rights of the Jewish people to the land west of the Jordan River are preserved in the UN Charter and in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, even though the Mandate for Palestine expired in 1948 when the State of Israel was proclaimed.
The usual detractors of Israel regularly ignore, dismiss or strongly reject the validity of the provisions listed above. But their arguments ring hollow:
They claim that the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers had no authority to create a new political entity in Palestine. They forget that in the wake of World War One, the same Supreme Council created new countries in Europe (Yugoslavia, Hungary, the Baltic States and a reborn Poland) on the ashes of the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires.
They claim that a Jewish home “in Palestine” was not intended to be “in all of Palestine.” Had they read the full text of the Mandate for Palestine, they would find 15 instances of the phrase “in Palestine” which cannot leave any doubt as to the inclusion of the whole territory.
They claim that the purpose of the “Jewish National Home” mentioned in the Mandate was not to lead to a sovereign Jewish state. Here again, they are most selective in their singling out Israel, because not only all the neighbouring Arab states were created through the same Mandates System, but even Mandate territories in far less developed areas in Africa and elsewhere became sovereign states in the second half of the 20th century, such as Cameroon, Togo, Benin, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Namibia, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
But among all Israel’s detractors, the Palestinian Authority showed a particular animosity against San Remo. A document issued on April 25, 2011, by WAFA, the official press agency of the Palestinian Authority, shows that “[San Remo] is the root of all Palestinian catastrophes and sufferings” and bashes the San Remo Resolution as the work of “Zionist gangs.”
Now is the time to give precedence to factual evidence over biased opinion. On this 94th anniversary, we should remember that territorial claims on Palestine were finally settled at the San Remo Conference. Diplomacy should not be forever divorced from international law.
Salomon Benzimra, P.Eng.
Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights – CILR
The One-State Solution is only peace solution that is based on reality. It takes the solution out of the hands of America and Obama and puts it back into our hands, where is belongs and it returns our political power. This is extremely important due to our immediate discussions and decisions we need to make.
The Israeli Solution; A One-State Plan For Peace in the Middle East; eBook ISBN 978-0-385-345804-2
ISBN 978-0-385-34806-5
On Sunday, just before my speech at the Jerusalem Post’s conference in New York, I sat down with Shalom TV and discussed my book, The Israeli Solution.
http://youtu.be/rJVgK3-bUfg
It’s appropriate to remember the huge contribution Howard Grief, of blessed memory, made to demonstrating Israel’s sovereign rights under international law, on this anniversary.
It was his monumental efforts in researching the archives which re-established in today’s times facts which had been conveniently forgotten, namely, that the well-spring of Israel’s sovereignty was established at San Remo.
I have just been re-reading Cln.Richard Meinertzhagen’s “Middle East Diary 1917 – 1956” recommended by Howard, which confirms over and over again that Jewish sovereignty was to be established in ALL Palestine, leading to a Jewish sovereign state. No ambiguity there. It’s a must read.
“It’s Time to Stand Up for Israel”
Israel Longhorn Project:
It is Time to Stand Up for Israel’s Farmers
I need your help with this. PLEASE SHARE
Texas Longhorn cattle fit and thrive in desert environments. This is an educational, cattle-crossbreeding and research project that is helping Israel, Jordan and East Africa.
1. Longhorns can eat invasive shrubs and cacti (decreasing fire hazards).
2. Longhorns have higher reproduction rates and very low loss rates.
3. Longhorns have excellent calving and mothering abilities.
4. Longhorns solve the problem of rising feed costs.
5. Longhorns protect their calves from predators.
6. Longhorns are highly resistant to diseases.
Problems in Israel Beef Cattle industry
1. Their European cattle are failing to thrive in Israel’s desert environment.
2. Poor disease resistance, genetic diseases and high losses due to predators.
3. Soaring feed costs, as they do not eat shrubs, tree leaves, or cactus.
4. Calf losses as high as 30% and low reproduction rates.
5. Poor mothering skills and birth complications.
To solve these problems and others we are creating a self-sustainable herd of Texas Longhorn cattle.
To do this we need your donations of $18, $36, $100, $1000, $5,000, $10,000 and $50,000 to reach our goal of $375,000 to start the project. (We can start with less if we have to)
Later we will need the rest of the funds to a total of $575,000. That, remaining $200,000 will be needed throughout the years 2 to 5. The project is setup to be self-supporting by the 5th year. If necessary we can start with less. But, I would rather not if it is possible.
We will be using 22nd century cattle handle methods called, Stockmanship and ecological grazing techniques called Strategic Grazing. Both will be taught to Israeli, East Africa and Jordanian Ranchers. See below…
Stockmanship or a Method of Creating Happy Cows or Cattle
A method of moving cattle without stress, it is a method that uses the cow or herd’s body space. Just like in people when someone gets to close to you, you move away from the pressure. Cattle do the very same thing. We use pressure and release with the cattle simple by moving into their personal space and then releasing the pressure by moving out. This causes then to yield to the pressure and move off in the direction we asked for. This can be use for any kind of herd animal. Once the pressure is released the animal feels relief and stays in the pasture section where you placed them, until you move them again. Animals demonstrate a positive and pleasurable response to this method of movement, “Stockmanship”.
This method of animal handling also improves meat quality, increasing tenderness, increasing meat quantity. It decreases disease and meat deformity and discoloring. There are fewer dark cutters therefore, 30% more kosher cattle.
Strategic Grazing
A rotating method of grazing using every part of your pasture, one section at a time allowing grass and plant life to restore itself.
Dividing your pasture into equal parts and graze your herd in each area separately before moving on to the next. Resting grazed areas for days, weeks or even months, restores plant life. This can be done with electric fencing or even better with “Stockmanship”.
This project is self-sustainable and will support its self in 5 years.
Project supporters: The Israeli Border Police, the New Shomrim, Israel’s Agriculture Department and the Prime Minister’s office.
Israel Longhorn Project
Robin Rosenblatt, M.Sc.
Director – The Longhorn Project
Nonprofit 501(c) 3 #74-3177354
Tel: 650.631.9270 / 03.722.6108
Address: 815 Hill Street, # 5
Belmont, CA 94002
We are creating a self-sustainable herd of 300 head of pure breed Texas Longhorns.
The few slaughtering of the Texas Longhorn will be done humanely or else! Our cattle will be stunned unconscious before being killed and no other cow will see or hear or smell this before it happens.
How do you allow this? How does anyone allow this? I know it is wrong, why don’t you know it is wrong? http://youtu.be/hMF12Ru–yw
Support the Israel Longhorn Project help put a stop to it. http://longhornproject.org
The Israel Longhorn Project,
Robin Rosenblatt, ex Israel Soldier and past Anti Terrorist Agent
Director – The Longhorn Project; Nonprofit 501(c) 3 #74-3177354; Tel: 650.631.9270 / 03.722.6108; Address: 815 Hill Street, # 5; Belmont, CA 94002;
Israel and I need your help with this!