Consequences!

Blood on your hands!         Almost twenty years ago, at a public forum held in a Community College auditorium near Blacksburg to discuss Virginia’s custody laws, a few judges who dealt with cases involving custody as a result of divorce fielded questions. As part of a group that campaigned for equal parenting rights in custody matters, I attended and signed up for three minutes in which to air my concerns.

By the time I was called, I’d heard answers from the judges that were so predictable I was disappointed. In essence, they were saying, “This is what we do and this is why we do it, and it isn’t going to change.” Because a number of us had driven hours in hopes of finding the judges open to discussing reasonable alterations in custody litigation, we were sorely disappointed.

That’s why I began my presentation by pointedly telling the most vocal judge that he had “blood on his hands.” He was aghast, angry at me for citing a study that had found that men who were denied ample time with their children following a divorce ruling were five times as likely as the general population of similarly aged men to commit suicide. Rather than thank me for pointing that out, he glared.

Although I’d become accustomed to displays of judicial arrogance, I was stirred that night to continue my battle for justice. That same concern has motivated me most of my life. Indeed, it had led me to write No Gold Stars, a book based on my memoir about integrating the public schools of Greenville, SC. Doing that led me to my first encounter with a candidate named Barak Obama.

While working on my MFA degree in Creative Writing at Pine Manor College’s Solstice program, I studied and attended lectures during the day; late into the night, I wrote at a computer center on campus that was open all night. Because I was the only one walking around campus then, I got to know the head of security. Each night we’d chat a while.

A retired military officer, an MP I think, he loved what he did at Pine Manor. Although the school was near Boston, I noticed his accent was much like mine. It didn’t take long to discover an incredible connection: his wife had attended Sterling Jr.-Sr. High School, the same one I had integrated in Greenville.

In fact, she may have been at the school when I taught there. Excited by that prospect, we developed a friendship that led him to invite me to join him on Friday night when he was to meet a friend who was a writer. Over beers at a local bar, he wanted to enable the two of us to talk about our writing. That was Wednesday.

Late the following night, he spotted me after I’d finished my work in the wee hours. “Barry, listen, I have some bad news. I won’t be able to make it tomorrow night.”

Immediately, I knew that meant I wouldn’t either. I didn’t know his friend and I didn’t have any idea where to find the bar. He continued.

“My daughter is in charge of arranging a fund raiser for Barak Obama on Martha’s Vineyard. I couldn’t afford to go since it cost $27,000 to attend, but since she’s there, I get a free pass. Wouldn’t miss it. Hope you understand.”

I did. I didn’t blame him. At that time, had I been able to afford it, I might have paid for the chance to get to know Mr. Obama personally. I wasn’t envious, but I was close to it.

Time has changed my perspective. Now, if I wanted to meet President Obama, I’d have to go to the same Martha’s Vineyard, but I’d have to be led through a phalanx of security. Making that happen would probably take an act of Congress.

That said, I’m reminded of the judge I addressed so long ago, his unwillingness to deal with facts on the ground, the blood on his hands. Were I able to meet with our President, I would ask immediately why he had not spoken about the tragic event that just took place in Israel. After all, he didn’t muzzle himself when it came to speaking publicly about the Travon Martin case.

I know the man has feelings and opinions; I know he knows the meaning of justice and the need to be consistently just. Perhaps, during his eight-day stay at the Vineyard, he’s wants a vacation from thinking or speaking about even the most dreaded injustice.

As leader of the free world, I’m not sure that his need for a walk on the beach serves him a convenient excuse to avoid commenting about the consequences of John Kerry’s tactics aimed at Israel.

Last night 26 murderers and would-be murderers were released from Israeli prisons. Our Vineyard-visiting President didn’t say a word about that. If you don’t think that’s a disgrace, please look at the following list of those released along with the crimes they committed. Shame on you, Mr. President!

Even the briny waters that lap the Vineyard can’t wash from your hands the blood that will flow from this travesty:

Attacks Perpetrated by the Palestinian Prisoners to be Released

(Communicated by the GPO)

Tonight (August 13), Israel is due to release 26 Palestinian prisoners, in

the framework of the steps it is taking upon the renewal of the diplomatic

process with the Palestinian Authority.

In response to the claims that these prisoners are political prisoners, the

following are the specific murderous crimes perpetrated by these

individuals:

Fayez Khur: Aged 51, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On May 10, 1983,

he murdered Menahem Dadon in the Gaza Strip, and was involved in the murder

of Salomon Abukasis in the Gaza Strip on February 14, 1983. Sentenced to

life imprisonment.

Salah Mugdad: Aged 47, a Fatah activist from Kfar Bracha in Samaria in the

West Bank. On June 14, 1993, he murdered Israel Tenenbaum, a guard at the

Sirens Hotel in Netanya. Sentenced to life imprisonment, which was then

commuted to a 32-year sentence.

Samir Na’neesh: Aged 46, a Fatah activist from Nablus in the West Bank. On

February 14, 1989 he murdered a soldier, Binyamin Meisner, by throwing a

building block at him in the Kasbah in Nablus. Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Yusef Irshaid: Aged 45, a Fatah activist from Jenin in the West Bank. On

June 15, 1992, he took part in the murder of a Druze Israeli citizen, Mufid

Cana’an. In the years 1991-92 he took part in the murder of three

Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel. He also planned a car

bomb attack in Afula and made attempts to kidnap a soldier. Sentenced to

five life imprisonments.

Mustafa al-Haj: Aged 45, a Fatah activist from Brukin in the West Bank. On

June 17, 1989, he stabbed Steven Frederick Rosenfeld to death with a knife

close to Ariel. Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Salameh Musleh: Aged 44, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On May 20,

1991, he took part in the murder of Reuven David in Petach Tikva, when he

and his accomplice beat him to death. Sentenced to life imprisonment, which

was then commuted to a 30-year sentence.

Atiyeh abu Musa: Aged 42, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On March 29,

1993, he murdered Isaac Rotenberg with an axe on a building site in Bat Yam.

Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Salah Mukled: Aged 40, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On March 29,

1993, he stabbed Yeshayahu Deutsch to death with a knife in the hothouses of

Kfar Yam. In that same year, he also carried out shooting attacks. Sentenced

to life imprisonment.

Mohemed Sawalha: Aged 40, a Fatah activist from the village of Azmut in West

Bank. On December 2, 1990, he took part in a stabbing on a bus in Ramat Gan,

in which Baruch Heisler was murdered and three other passengers were

injured. Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Atef Sha’ath: Aged 49, a Popular Front activist from the Gaza Strip. He

collaborated in the murder of Simcha Levy on March 12, 1993. Sentenced to 29

years imprisonment.

Yusef Abed al-Al: Aged 42, a Popular Front activist from the Gaza Strip. On

April 18, 1993, he took part in the murder of Ian Feinberg in the Gaza

Strip. On July 3, 1993, he murdered a Palestinian who was suspected of

collaboration. Sentenced to 22 years imprisonment.

Midhat Barbakh: Aged 38, a Popular Front and Fatah activist from the Gaza

Strip. On January 21, 1994, he stabbed his employer, Moshe Beker, a citrus

grower from Rishon Letzion, killing him. Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Ali Rai: Aged 56, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On January 21, 1994,

he murdered Morris Eizenstat in Kfar Saba. Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mohamed Nashbat: Aged 52, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On September 20, 1990, he took part in the stoning and lynch of a soldier, Amnon

Pomerantz, in al Burej in the Gaza Strip. Sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

Samir Murtaji: Aged 42, a Hamas activist from the Gaza Strip. In the years

1993-94, he murdered four Palestinians who were suspected of collaboration.

He was also involved in kidnapping other Palestinians suspected of collaboration. Sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Hosni Sawalha: Aged 39, a Fatah activist from Azmut, a village in the West

Bank. He took part in a stabbing on a bus in Ramat Gan on December 2, 1990,

in which Baruch Heisler was murdered and three other passengers were

injured. Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Faraj Rimahi: Aged 48, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. Murdered

Avraham Kinsler on June 6, 1992 and planned to murder more Israeli citizens.

Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Ala Eddin Abu Sitteh: Aged 43, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On

December 31, 1993, he took part in the murder of Haim Weizman and David Dadi in Ramle. After stabbing them both to death with knives, the murderers

desecrated their victims’ bodies. Sentenced to two life imprisonments.

Ayman Abu Sitteh: Aged 42, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On December

31, 1993, he took part in the murder of Haim Weizman and David Dadi in

Ramle. After stabbing them both to death with knives, the murderers

desecrated their victims’ bodies. Sentenced to two life imprisonments.

Esmat Mansour: Aged 36, a Democratic Front activist from Deir Jarir, a

village in the West Bank. On October 29, 1993, he aided the terrorist cell

that murdered Haim Mizrahi in a chicken farm in Beit El. He led the

murderers to a hiding place behind the chicken coops, brought rope to tie up

the victim and helped them load the dead body into the trunk of the car.

Sentenced to 22 years imprisonment.

Khaled Asakreh: Aged 41, a Fatah activist from Rafida, a village in the West

Bank. On April 29, 1991, he murdered Annie Ley, a French tourist in

Bethlehem. Sentenced to life imprisonment.

Nihad Jundiyeh: Aged 40, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On July 14

1989, he took part in the murder of Zalman Shlein in Gan Yavne. During

questioning, he admitted to planning two more attacks that were not carried

out: a stabbing in Gan Yavne and forcing a bus off a cliff. Sentenced to

25.5 years imprisonment.

Mohamed Hamdiyeh: Aged 41, a Fatah activist from the Gaza Strip. On July 14,

1989 he took part in the murder of Zalman Shlein in Gan Yavne. Sentenced to

25.5 years imprisonment.

Jamil Abed al-Nabi: Aged 50, a Hamas activist from the Hebron area in the

West Bank. He was involved in planning and carrying out the shooting in the

Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron that occurred on October 25, 1992. In the

attack, an IDF soldier, Shmuel Gersh, was killed and another soldier

wounded. Sentenced to 21 years imprisonment.

Taher Zaboud: an Islamic Jihad activist from Silat al Harithiya, a village

in the West Bank. He took part in a shooting that occurred on September 22,

1992 near the settlement Gadish. He was also involved in an unsuccessful

attempt to murder a police officer in Umm al-Fahm. Sentenced to 21 years

imprisonment.

Borhan Sabiah: Aged 42, a Fatah activist from Rai, a village in the West

Bank. He was convicted of murdering six suspected collaborators. Sentenced

to six life imprisonments.

IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Website: www.imra.org.il

                                    B.Koplen 8/14/13