Category: Israel

THE VERY FIRST IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD: ADNAN OKTAR ESTABLISHES BROTHERHOOD BETWEEN JEWS AND MUSLIMS

The meeting Mr. Adnan Oktar held with the committee from Israel was followed with great interest both by the Islamic world and the West, and accepted to be a great step towards the establishment of peace in Middle East.
On January 20, 2010, Wednesday, Mr. Adnan Oktar held a press meeting with a broad committee from Israel including the leaders of various religious groups and Mr. Ayoob Kara, the Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee. The purpose of the press conference is declared to prevent the artificial tensions striven to be formed between Muslims and Jews, to ensure the establishment of peace in the region and make a call to the public for the release of Israeli Private Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive for a long time.

Mr. Adnan Oktar delivered a speech in the meeting and stated that Muslims and Jews were the descendants of Prophet Abraham (pbuh)—one party being the descendant of the sons of Ishmael whereas the other being the descendant of the sons of Jacob—and thus the conflicts occurring between the two communities were quite unfounded. He further added that Jews and Christians were committed to their trust and, just like in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), he would ensure best protection for them, and let neither Jews, nor Christians and nor Muslims be subjected to the slightest harm, stressing that this was the kind of attitude in compliance with the Qur’an and the hadith. Mr. Oktar stressed that the century in which we lived was the “Age of Mahdism” and that from then on wars, bloodshed and terror would come to an end, all weapons would be left and love would reign all over the world, the Middle East being the foremost. In reply to the question about the Iran’s nuclear weapon production, Mr. Oktar said that according to the Qur’an, the use of atomic bomb was unlawful (haram) and he sent a message to the Iranian Prime Minister Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about this issue and, indeed no sooner Iran made a statement declaring that atomic bomb was unlawful and thus Iran would not use it. Mr. Oktar also added that Turkish daily Hurriyet carried this statement to the headline.

Mr. Oktar, who also answered the questions about Private Gilad Shalit said, “It is very difficult for a person to be held captive under constant death threat.” Mr. Oktar also stated that Gilad wanted to rejoin his parents and that the pain suffered by both Gilad and his parents had to come to an end in no time. He also noted that the mothers, daughters and youth held in Israeli prisons had to also be released right away and added, “We desire each one of these brothers of ours come out of those prisons with the good morals of angels and become the kind of people who, by means of science and culture, struggle for peace.” Mr. Oktar noted that contacts with Noam Shalit, Gilad’s father, were continuing, that he would be coming to Turkey in the following days but the details of his itinerary were being withheld due to security concerns. Mr. Oktar stressed that the efforts of those who strove to form tension between Israel and Turkey were in vain and those who desired conflicts to occur between Jews and Muslims, Muslims and Christians, Shiites and Sunnis, Shiites and Wahabbites were people who were in favor of constant bloodshed but that they would not attain their goals.

Rather than acting in a way that fans the flames, Mr. Oktar stressed the importance of assuming an appeasing, forgiving attitude that left the past behind but thought ahead and employed a peaceful and moderate style, and made important statements regarding how the outlook of Muslims and Jews had to be. He also stated that the words in the Qur’an, “Do not take Christians and Jews as patrons” was misinterpreted by some people, that the phrase “do not take as patrons” actually meant not making Christians and Jews “governors” for themselves and that that was quite natural since, for the general comfort of the public, the governor of a Muslim community would be a Muslim, the governor of a Christian community would be Christian and the governor of a Jewish community would be a Jew. Mr. Oktar reminded that the People of the Book lived at ease in our Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) time, that during the time of the Ottoman Empire, Jews were brought all the way from Spain, our lands were opened to them and they were placed and hosted there in the best way possible. Mr. Oktar added that just as it was the case in the past, people had to live in bliss.

Other participants of the meeting drew attention to the importance of holding such a meeting for peace and brotherhood. Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander, the Chairman of the Sanhedrin Court for B’nai Noah, read the message sent by Syrian mufti expressing his support for the initiation and stressed that the union of those who believe in only one Allah was a great power. Mr. Ayoob Kara, the Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee, said he believed this meeting would be instrumental in leading to a very noteworthy change in the Islamic world and expressed his happiness of being a part of this initiation. Hurrian Dimitri, the Orthodox Christian Leader, said the purpose of their existence in Istanbul and the message they would like to convey was the co-existence of all religions with love, brotherhood and peace and stated that, just like our Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), Mr. Adnan Oktar was a very great person who became instrumental in changing all violence and prejudices.

The meeting was followed with great interest both by the local and foreign press. Mr. Oktar stated that the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) would appear very soon, no wars would any longer take place, and the world had entered an era in which science, arts and aesthetics would prosper and gave the glad tidings of the establishment of the Turkish-Islamic Union in the very near future. “Two years ago I told that visas would be removed and Turkish Islamic Union would be established and this is how the events proceed now”, said Adnan Oktar. He added that a great unity of love and friendship had started to unfold and this unity would be the guarantee of peace on Earth.

The attendants from Israeli delegation are:

1 ) Mr. Ayoob Kara – The Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee (Deputy Minister Kara is the closest non Jewish person to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has a vision to develop a strong and warm relationship between Jews, Muslims, Christians and all other religions.)
2 ) Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander – From Sanhedrin the Rabbinical Court in Jerusalem, Jerusalem Court for Issues of Bnei Noah
3 ) Rabbi Ben Abrahamson – Historian & consultant to the Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem, Sanhedrin relating Islam religion
4 ) Mr. Efraim Lahav – Senior Strategic Advisor Deputy Minister, Office of The Prime Minister; Chairman of Academic Union of Israeli Civil Workers; General Director Academic Association in Israel
5 ) Sheikh Ameen Kablan – Deputy of the Druze community
6 ) Mr. Hurrian Dimitri – Orthodox Christian leader
7 ) Mr. Ataf Krinawi – Bedouin leader
8 ) Mr. Japhet Tsedaka – Head of the Samaritan community

20 January 2010

January 21, 2010
How the Turks Saved the Jews from Genocide

by Shelomo Alfassa

In the fall of 1921 a Turkish steam ship sailed into New York harbor named the SS Gul Djemal, the name of the ship meant “Beautiful Rose.” On that ship, was my great-grandmother Rosa and her brother Eli; their father Isaac had arrived sometime earlier, all were Spanish speakers, all set sail from Turkey.

My family spoke the Spanish language because their ancestors had fled Spain in the late 15th century when the Spanish government committed one of the most heinous acts in history, the ethnic cleansing of the Jewish population of Spain through near-total displacement of its Jews. Although the Jews had existed in Spain prior to the invention of the Spanish language or even the arrival of Christianity, in 1492 they were subject to mass violations of human rights and were forced to flee–or as the Spanish government put it, they would “incur the penalty of death.”

In the end, hundreds of thousands of Jews fled Spain, leaving behind what would amount in today’s monetary system as billions of dollars in assets. These assets included private property such as homes, furnishings, jewelry, books, family objects, clothing, etc; and communal property such as businesses, real estate, synagogues, etc.

The only reason why I am able to sit here in 2007 and write this essay is because at the time when the Spanish government advised the Jews they would have to flee their homeland or face death, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire–the leader of the state that existed before the modern Republic of Turkey–allowed my family and our people to seek refugee in his lands, this includes what is today Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Israel, the Balkans, and other places. Not only were the Jews allowed to go freely, but the Ottoman Empire sent ships to the west to assist the Spanish refugees in their terrible plight.

Sultan Mehemet stated: “Who among you of all my people that is with me, may his God he with him, let him ascend to Constantinople, the site of my royal throne. Let him dwell in the best of the land, each beneath his vine and fig tree, with silver and with gold, with wealth and cattle. Let him dwell in the land, trade in it, and take possession of it.”

When the most powerful nation in the world, 15th century Spain, openly and publicly threatened genocide against the Jewish people for the stated crime of practicing their own religion-Judaism, it was a Muslim government, the Ottoman Empire, which stepped in and saved the Jewish people from destruction. It was the Ottoman Empire that saved the Jews of Spain and to a great extent, Portugal, from certain death which the goverment threatened them with.

Unlike the Christian kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, the Ottoman Empire never had a system of government-sponsored hatred against the Jewish people. Even though Jews were dhimmis, the government of the Ottoman Empire never set in place specific targeted anti-Jewish policies such as those that existed in Christian Europe. It is a sad reality that today many people only remember the Ottoman Turks for alleged bad treatment of minorities, when clearly, they have done many positive things that we today hundreds of years later should continue to praise.

Source: Israel Insider Magazine, October 10, 2007

January 21, 2010
Live interview of Harun Yahya with the Israeli Delegation in Istanbul on Jan 19th, 2010

ADNAN OKTAR: Now let’s make an entrance speech. There’s an understanding of brotherhood in the Islamic way of thinking, Christian way of thinking and Jewish way of thinking. The aim for the coming of our guests is to reinforce this way of thinking, to put an end to the anarchy and terror in the world, accentuate the art, science, love, affection, compassion, friendship and to cause these values to come forward.

ADNAN OKTAR:. Atheists, those who do not believe in Allah, are in full collaboration and unity in the world. On the other hand, the majority of believers do not support each other, which is a quite erroneous attitude. It is very important for those who love Allah to support one another and be brothers with each other.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course we’re not going to be enemies with the unbelievers. They’re also the servants of Allah. Sure, we also strive for them to be better but in democratic ways and with love and compassion, not with aggression and violence and also by respecting freedom of ideas and respecting freedom of thought. Each religion believes in its’ own rightfulness, which is quite normal. I mean when you say “People of the Book”, Christians and Jews come in mind. And besides, there are Muslims. Muslims surely think they’re on the right path, otherwise they would not be Muslims. But a Christian also believes he’s on the right path and that he’s going to go to heaven, or else he can’t be a Christian. And again a Jew believes he is on the right path and he will go to heaven, or else he can’t be a Jew. Then we understand all religions should respect each other, be compassionate towards each other, support and protect each other as the servants of Allah. It’s so reasonable and normal for each religion to consider itself as the true religion as long as there are no fights, uproar, wars, and suppression on the freedom of thought. In case these do not come about, everything is fine. At any rate Allah says in a verse “I made you into peoples”. Hence the Qur’an tells us this is reasonable and normal.

Atheism is the greatest problem in the world. I mean disbelief in Allah is the greatest problem. Darwinism and materialism is the biggest issue. Members of three religions should unite to struggle together against Darwinism, materialism and atheism on a scientific and rational basis and in a brotherly manner.

ADNAN OKTAR: Because Jews are being oppressed in many places. Peple have tried to oppress them at the time of Hitler, they tried to oppress them in Spain, and they tried to oppress them in their own lands. In the same way, people have tried to oppress Christians, Protestants, Orthodoxs in many places and they were made to suffer. The oppression towards Muslims is already well known worldwide. Look, so there’s a satanic trick being played here. The worldwide freemasonry is trying to get into a way by making Christians destroy Muslims, Muslims destroy Christians, Muslims destroy Jews, Jews destroy Muslims; making them enemies against each other and making them break each other up. It’s a tactic played by freemasonry, a satanic tactic. We’re going to abolish this game. We do not allow such a thing, those who love Allah will support each other, help each other and everyone will freely live their religion. And we will be respectful to every religion.

ADNAN OKTAR: Of course Jews will be ruled by the Jews. Needless to say Christians will be ruled by Christians and Muslims will be ruled by Muslims. This is what the Qur’an points out. In other words, the meaning of “do not take the Jews and Christians as patrons” is not to take them as rulers, which is normal. Of course everyone asks for those who share their beliefs to rule them. This is the meaning of it. Or else, as it’s written on the Books telling the life of Prophet Muhammad (saas), , Christians and Jews were shown mercy, love, attention, they were protected and supported at the times of our Prophet (saas), everybody knows this. Everybody knows how comfortable and peaceful the Christians and the Jews were in Fatih the Conquerer’s era. Besides, everyone knows how we sent for the Jews from Spain to here and how we provided them with opportunities and made them live in peace. Our ancestors implemented this beauty and this understanding of respect very well, we will be sustaining to implement this beauty.

ADNAN OKTAR: Thus, the ideology which thinks of bloodshed, violence, and making the believers destroy each other by pretending not to understand these issues, would be serving the system of antichrist and Satan. And thus, we would neither let Christians be atheists, materialists, Darwinists, nor the Jews to be atheists and materialists or our Muslim brothers to be atheists and materialists. Insha’Allah we will struggle decisively against disbelief in the world. It’s well-known in Israel that we don’t allow atheism in anyway and that we’re in an intensive effort about this issue. We are in a great effort to not let Darwinists and atheists to influence devout Christians. But of course it’s very important for everyone to be free in their own religions. I consider the efforts to make Israel and Turkey be unfriendly towards each other, futile. Israel is a country of the People of the Book, they’re the People of the Book. We never accept to have a tension or struggle with them. Just as we lived amicably at the times of our ancestors, we will live amicably now. This is the case with our Christian brothers also. They are also servants of Allah. They are also a community. We’ll approach them with compassion too.

ADNAN OKTAR: I mean we don’t become enemies with either Jews or the Christians because of a novel or a movie, or a theatre, and we don’t ever let that happen.

1 ) Mr. Japhet Tsedaka (Yefet Zadka) – Head of the Samaritan community

2 ) Mr. Mussa Hadi (Hurrian Dimitri) – Orthodox Christian leader

3 ) Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander (From Sanhedrin the Rabbinical Court in Jerusalem, Jerusalem Court for Issues of Bnei Noah)

4 ) Mr. Ayoob Kara – The Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galilee (Deputy Minister Kara is the closest non Jewish person to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has a vision to develop a strong and warm relationship between Jews, Muslims, Christians and all other religions.)

5 ) Harun Yahya (Adnan Oktar)

6 ) Oktar Babuna

7 ) Sheikh Ameen Kablan (Abdul Amin Kabalan) – Deputy of the Druze community

8 ) Rabbi Ben Abrahamson (Historian & consultant to the Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem, Sanhedrin relating Islam religion)

9 ) Mr. Ataf Krinawi – Bedouin leader

19 JANUARY 2010

January 20, 2010
Israel fury at UK attempt to arrest Tzipi Livni

Israel has reacted angrily to the issuing by a British court of an arrest warrant for the former Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni.

The warrant, granted by a London court on Saturday, was revoked on Monday when it was found Ms Livni was not visiting the UK.

Ms Livni was foreign minister during Israel’s Gaza assault last winter.

It is the first time a UK court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a former Israeli minister.

Ms Livni said the court had been “abused” by the Palestinian plaintiffs who requested the warrant.

“What needs to be put on trial here is the abuse of the British legal system,” she told the BBC.

“This is not a suit against Tzipi Livni, this is not a law suit against Israel. This is a lawsuit against any democracy that fights terror.”

She stood by her decisions during the three-week assault Gaza offensive which began in December last year, she said.

Israel’s foreign ministry summoned the UK’s ambassador to Israel to deliver a rebuke over the warrant.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation was “an absurdity”.

“We will not accept a situation in which [former Israeli Prime Minister] Ehud Olmert, [Defence Minister] Ehud Barak and Tzipi Livni will be summoned to the defendants’ chair,” Mr Netanyahu said in a statement.

“We will not agree to have Israel Defence Force soldiers, who defended the citizens of Israel bravely and ethically against a cruel and criminal enemy, be recognised as war criminals. We completely reject this absurdity taking place in Britain,” he said.

Pro-Palestinian campaigners have tried several times to have Israeli officials arrested under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

‘Cynical act’

This allows domestic courts in countries around the world to try war crimes suspects, even if the crime took place outside the country and the suspect is not a citizen.

Israel denies claims by human rights groups and the UN investigator Richard Goldstone that its forces committed war crimes during the operation, which it said was aimed at ending Palestinian rocket fire at its southern towns.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has also been accused of committing war crimes during the conflict.

Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday: “Israel rejects the cynical act taken in a British court,” against Ms Livni, now the head of the opposition Kadima party, “at the initiative of extreme elements”.

It called on the British government to “act against the exploitation of the British legal system against Israel”.

Addressing a conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Ms Livni did not refer specifically to the arrest attempt.

But she said: “Israel must do what is right for Israel, regardless of judgements, statements and arrest warrants. It’s the leadership’s duty, and I would repeat each and every decision,” Israeli media reported.

‘Strategic partner’

Israel says it fully complies with international law, which it says it interprets in line with other Western countries such as the US and UK.

On Monday Ms Livni’s office denied the reports that a warrant had been issued and that she had cancelled plans to visit the UK because of fears of arrest.

It said a planned trip had been cancelled two weeks earlier because of scheduling problems.

The British foreign office said it was “urgently looking into the implications of the case”.

“The UK is determined to do all it can to promote peace in the Middle East, and to be a strategic partner of Israel,” it said in a statement. “To do this, Israel’s leaders need to be able to come to the UK for talks with the British government.”

Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 1,400 people were killed during Israel’s Cast Lead operation between 27 December 2008 and 16 January 2009, more than half of them civilians.

Israel puts the number of deaths at 1,166 – fewer than 300 of them civilians. Three Israeli civilians and 10 Israeli soldiers were also killed.

The BBC’s Tim Franks says that, privately, senior Israeli figures are warning of what they see as an increasing anti-Israeli bent in the British establishment.

In turn, our correspondent adds, there is clearly concern among British officials that should further arrest warrants be issued, relations with Israel could be damaged.

BBC

December 15, 2009
British court issued Gaza arrest warrant for former Israeli minister Tzipi Livni
Warrant issued over war crimes accusations was withdrawn when it emerged former minister had cancelled plan to visit
- Ian Black and Ian Cobain
- Monday 14 December 2009
A British court issued an arrest warrant for Israel‘s former foreign minister over war crimes allegedly committed in Gaza this year – only to withdraw it when it was discovered that she was not in the UK, it emerged today.

Tzipi Livni, a member of the war cabinet during Operation Cast Lead, had been due to address a meeting in London on Sunday but cancelled her attendance in advance. The Guardian has established that Westminster magistrates’ court issued the warrant at the request of lawyers acting for some of the Palestinian victims of the fighting but it was later dropped.

The warrant marks the first time an Israeli minister or former minister has faced arrest in the UK and is evidence of a growing effort to pursue war crimes allegations under “universal jurisidiction”. Israel rejects these efforts as politically motivated, saying it acted in self-defence against Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza.

Livni, head of the opposition Kadima party, played a key role in decisions made before and during the three-week offensive. Palestinians claim 1,400 were killed, mostly civilians; Israel counted 1,166 dead, the majority of them combatants.

No one involved in the Westminster episode was prepared to confirm, on the record, what had transpired in a chaotic series of highly sensitive legal moves. But a pro-Palestinian group welcomed news of the abortive move as “long overdue”.

The Foreign Office, clearly deeply embarrassed by the episode, said in a statement: “The UK is determined to do all it can to promote peace in theMiddle East and to be a strategic partner of Israel. To do this, Israel’s leaders need to be able to come to the UK for talks with the British government. We are looking urgently at the implications of this case.”

Livni’s office said she had decided in advance not to come to the UK but lawyers seemed unaware of that when they approached the court last week. The judge refused to issue the warrant until it was clear Livni was in fact in the country, as he was erroneously informed on Sunday.

The former minister had been scheduled to speak at a Jewish National Fund conference. “Scheduled meetings with government figures in London could not take place close to the conference and would have necessitated a longer-than-planned absence from Israel,” her office told the Ynet website.

It is the second time in less than three months that lawyers have gone to Westminster magistrates court asking for a warrant for the arrest of an Israeli politician. In September the court was asked to issue one for the arrest of Ehud Barak, Israel’s defence minister, under the 1988 Criminal Justice Act, which gives courts in England and Wales universal jurisdiction in war crimes cases.

Barak, who was attending a meeting at the Labour party conference in Brighton, escaped arrest after the Foreign Office told the court that he was a serving minister who would be meeting his British counterparts. The court ruled he enjoyed immunity under the State Immunity Act 1978.

According to Israeli sources, ministers who wish to visit the UK in a personal capacity have begun asking the Israeli embassy in London to arrange meetings with British officials. These offer legal protection against arrest.

Livni, crucially, cannot enjoy any such immunity as she is an ex-minister. Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister, is in the same position.

Because of the potential damage to UK-Israeli relations – and because of legal pitfalls facing those who disclosed information about the application – few people with any detailed knowledge of it were prepared to comment today.

The Ministry of Justice, Scotland Yard and clerks at the magistrates court refused to discuss the matter. A statement issued by HM Court Service implied that there had been no application for an arrest warrant, stating “there is no record of any such hearing”. A spokeswoman maintained that this was not a misleading statement.

Samuel Hayek, chairman of the Jewish National Fund UK, the charity whose conference Livni had been due to attend, said: “I am not at liberty to confirm her precise reasons for not attending.” He added: “In any event, it is regrettable that the British government is unable to conduct free dialogue with Israel’s most senior statesmen and politicians.”

Tayab Ali, the solicitor who tried to obtain a warrant for the arrest of Barak on behalf of 16 Palestinians, said his firm was “ready, willing and able to act for clients to seek the arrest of anyone suspected of war crimes” who travelled to the UK.

Livni’s office described her as “proud of all her decisions regarding Operation Cast Lead”. It added: “The operation achieved its objectives to protect the citizens of Israel and restore Israel’s deterrence capability.”

The Guardian
December 15, 2009
Israelis win Turkish prize for financial history research

By JAMIE ROMM

While Israel and Turkey’s diplomatic relations have suffered since Operation Cast Lead, cultural and academic ties between the two countries are getting a boost this week.

The historical Imperial Ottoman Bank building in Ankara, Turkey.

On Tuesday, Israeli-born author and Hebrew University Prof. Ruth Kark, along with co-author and geographer Dr. Joseph B. Glass, will be awarded $15,000 for their research on the development of banking in Ottoman Palestine.

The prize, awarded to winners of the Best Monograph in the Competition for Research on the History of Banking and Finance, 2008-2009, is sponsored by the Ottoman Bank Archives and Research Center, the European Association for Banking and Financial History and the History Foundation of Turkey.

In their book, Sephardi Entrepreneurs in Jerusalem: The Valero Family 1800-1948, Kark and Glass present readers with a look at one of Jerusalem’s founding families, the Valeros, who were responsible for establishing the first private bank in Israel.

The book, however, is not just a look at the family’s history, said Kark.

“It’s a rare glimpse at the day-to-day lives of Jews living in Ottoman-ruled Palestine, and a look at entrepreneurship in the Middle East during this time in history,” she said.

Glass has a doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has authored five books and numerous articles.

Kark, a professor of geography at the Hebrew University, has written and edited 20 books and over 200 articles on the history and historical geography of the region.

The competition aims to promote academic research on Turkish banking, finance and economic history, from Ottoman times to the present, and to establish a tradition in this field.

December 14, 2009