Posted on 09/23/2003 7:00:22 PM PDT by joesnuffy
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Repercussions of Peres’ Birthday by Arlene Peck September 23, 2003
Funny thing happened on the way to meet a neighbor. I brought up the topic of a column that I had just read written by Arutz-7's own Opinion Editor, Nissan Ratzlav-Katz. He wrote about the truly appalling display of disregard for the citizens of Israel in the then-upcoming eightieth birthday party of Shimon Peres. While Israel is struggling to pay its bills and feed its citizens, Shimon Peres, in yet another example of his self-serving attitude, saw fit to give himself, at tax-payer expense, a glittering celebrity birthday party.
In this cast of thousands, the “A” list invitees ranged from Bill Clinton, former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, and - my heavens! - even Barbara Streisand and Spielberg. I think that somehow Peres even managed to get that strong supporter of the Jewish people, Kofi Annan, into the fold. Too bad Yasser Arafat wasn’t there for another great photo-op hugging, as we’ve seen so often in the past. He was probably too busy sending out more of his suicide bombers.
It’s not that I have anything against partying. I’ve partied with the best of them. But, folks, I have to admit, I think that it’s more than a little tacky when all these special people are living it up and the people in beleaguered Israel are getting the tab.
Now, folks, it’s really not fair to Bibi Netanyahu, the finance minister, who’s doing his best to keep spending slashed to a minimum on mundane things like single mothers, who are having their social welfare benefits cut. Nor is it fair when Hilton and Sheraton Hotels are cutting floors, because tourism is down to a trickle. Nor when all the hospitals are filled with victims of Arab terrorism, because of Peres’ secret and disastrous Oslo Accords.
Which reminds me, as a member of the Hollywood crowd, where have those same Jewish celebrities been when it came to speaking out about the double-standard and violence their Jewish brothers in Israel have been forced to live under? I’ve seen Hollywood marches to save the whales, trees and ferrets. But, Jewish victims of Arab terrorism? Naw. Maybe these bleeding hearts were busy packing for their celebration with Shimon in a glittery and obsessive display of bad taste. Do you think?
About two years ago, I was asked to help produce a fund-raiser for one of Israel’s organizations, AKIM, which supports handicapped children. AKIM is in dire need of support, as are most of the charitable and government agencies in Israel. So, I had the idea of doing a celebrity auction and was lining up movie stars who had committed to work as MC’s, or to be “sold” the night of the event. The venue had been hired, bands auditions, etc. We were well on our way. Then, abruptly, things were put on hold as the homicide bombings began in force and Jews in Israel were dying - dying because of Shimon Peres and his pal, Yassar Arafat. Everyone just thought it in ‘bad taste’ to continue and all plans were stopped.
Folks, that was two years ago. Now, however, it seems that the situation is cause for celebration, and it’s “birthday or bust”, or, in this case, bomb. When it comes to self-serving behavior, nothing seems to stop the serial loser, Peres. (Tell me, an ignorant American, has he ever been elected or have Mr. Peres’ actions always been the fallout of ‘appointments’?)
Anyway, back to my neighbor. When I showed her the spread in the Los Angeles Times about Israel’s Peres celebration, along with the outrage of the citizens of Israel at it being held at tax-payer expense, she commented, “Hmmm, why is Israel asking American Jews to give donations or even asking our government for loans when they have the money for things like this?”
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