Staten Island now has our own grand designers!

Staten Island now has our own grand designers!

By Linda Mercaldo

Perhaps it’s for turning heads as you sip champagne under the stars at that special black-tie affair, or for dancing the night away at the wedding of your precious child.  Or perhaps, as it was for actress Melissa Hunter, it’s to dazzle the paparazzi as you take a turn down the Red Carpet at the Oscars.

Whatever the occasion, when you want to stun, you need to know one name: Galit.

Galit and Andre, designers in the finest European tradition, opened Galit Couture in Brooklyn, 15 years ago.  Using only the finest fabrics and materials, their opulent evening and bridal gowns are created to not only meet, but to consistently exceed their clients’ expectations.  Galit’s designs have appeared in Contemporary Bride magazine and she was recently the focus of an article in the New York Times.

How lucky to have a designer of international importance so close to home – and now, with the opening of their new Galit Couture location at 1470 Hylan Boulevard on Staten Island, owning a creation by Galit  and Andre has become easier and more convenient than ever.

Picture yourself in a dramatic creation rendered in silks, satins and lace.  Imagine the secret thrill when you realize that they are looking at you, as you walk through the room in a strikingly beautiful creation worn with comfort and ease.  It’s as if you were born for this moment… and perhaps you were.

If you’re ready to experience Galit Couture, if you’re ready to explore the possibilities, if you’re ready to see fantasies of high-fashion brought to life in glorious colors and textures, then you are invited to join Galit and Andre at a gala fashion show to celebrate the opening of their new store.  The date is Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 7:00 pm.  Admission is free – bring only your sense of wonder and your willingness to picture yourself in one of their unique creations. For reservation please call: 718-646-8190

But most of all – be ready to imagine yourself dressed to stun.

Sam Pirozzolo: You have got to love Gandhi – words to live by!

Dear Readers of Citizens Magazine:

My name is Sam Pirozzolo and I am proud to be writing to you in the inaugural issue of Citizens Magazine appearing in the Staten Island Advance. I hold the position of President of the Community Education Council of District 31 (Staten Island), also known as CEC 31.

CEC 31 is a group of 11 parent volunteers, 9 elected and 2 appointed:

·CEC members represent students and parents, acting as advocates for our school district.

·Nine of our members must be parents of children attending school in this school district and two members are appointed by the Staten Island Borough President.

·We advise the Schools Chancellor & NYC Department of Education about student & parent needs & concerns.

·We do NOT work for the Department of Education & are NOT controlled by the DoE.

·We receive NO SALARY for holding our positions on the CEC.

·Each school district has its own Council but CEC 31 covers the entire borough of Staten Island.

·We also participate in shaping the educational programs of the district.

You have got to love Gandhi - words to live by!

Over the last 4 years, CEC 31 has been very active in the Staten Island school system, helping to establish the Middle School Scholars Program, rezoning some North Shore school zones, fighting to get school bus service restored to Staten Island students and requesting that the DoE allow students to carry cell phones so they are safer while traveling to-and-from school.

I hope to bring you information on educational matters of interest to Staten Island parents, including discussions on school report cards, legislative topics, school progress reports and other subjects that affect your schoolchildren.

My writings will focus on broad educational themes – not to offer advice on individual concerns- but to help parents navigate the NYC Department of Education, learn about Staten Island schools and become more involved in your children’s education.

At CEC 31 our motto is “Helping You to Help Your Children”. I hope to do that for the readers of Citizens Magazine.

Sincerely,

Sam Pirozzolo
President, CEC 31
www.cec31.org

Janine Materna: I’m a third generation Staten Islander

Janine Materna: I’m a third generation Staten Islander

By Ilya Galak

Wikipedia: “A civic association is a type of organization whose official goal is to improve neighborhoods through volunteer work by its members”

Would you begin, Janine, by giving us a little information about yourself, your family background?

Sure, my name is Janine Materna and I’m a third generation Staten Islander. I’m the daughter of two loving hard working parents Joseph and Dolores Materna. From an early childhood, my parents instilled in me the values of honesty, self respect and respect for others. Most importantly, they instilled in me a strong work ethic. Through example, they show that the obstacles we face can be overcome with dedication, integrity and hard work. I’m the youngest of three girls. My two older sisters are Jodi Materna, an Attorney, and Jennifer a Financial Adviser. It was fun growing up and having my mother get our names confused, since all of our first name initials all begin with “J.” We are a very close-knit family that can truly rely on one another through thick and thin. I can honestly say that I enjoy spending time with them. I love tradition and enjoy celebrating my ethnic background, which is of Italian, Polish and Russian descent.

I was born in Great Kills and raised in Prince’s Bay. I’m the proud product of the New York City public school education. I graduated from Columbia University with a Political Science and Environmental Science degree. I also received a Graduate Certificate from the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. I have worked in the financial services industry for a number of years, consulting Fortune 500 companies both domestically and globally.

I have a strong interest in autism. I learned about autism when I ran for New York City Council back in 2009. After going from town to town, knocking on doors and meeting people, I was taken back to learn about the high amount of families touched by a loved one with autism. After awhile, it felt like every other house I visited was impacted. I began studying the subject more and more, and found it to be really interesting, so much so, that I’m currently working towards my Masters Degree in Childhood and Special Education from St. John’s University. There is just something so special about children that I love. Special needs children hold a special place in my heart and I hope to one day truly make a positive difference in their lives.

I’m involved in a variety of organizations including serving as the President of the largest Civic Association on the South Shore of Staten Island the Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York Junior Board, Co-Chair the Alumni Representative Committee for Columbia University, New York Junior League, and the Women’s Auxiliary of the Staten Island Historical Society at Historic Richmond Town. I also serve on a variety of fundraising committees for the Jewish Community Center (JCC), American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes.

How did you get involved in community activities?

My passion for the community stems from an early age, when I noticed that helping others in need, giving back to my community and investigating the issues that concerned us all gave me a sense of fulfillment in improving society.  I have always been passionate about making my community a better place. From grammar school, high school and beyond I have always been involved in some leadership capacity, whether it be organizing local food drives with the Girl Scouts, volunteering with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and March of Dimes, being a student peer mentor through the Council for Unity New York City program, serving as Senior Class President of over 1,000 students at Tottenville High School (one of the largest and most diverse New York City public schools with a student body of over 4,000  students), or traveling  to Albany, NY to lobby for more funding for updated textbooks. Back in high school, I received the prestigious New York City Public High School Distinguished Graduate of 2001 from Mayor Rudy Giuliani for demonstrating outstanding leadership, community service and scholarship. In addition, I received several Certificate of Outstanding Community Service awards from the former Congressman Vito Fossella, Former City Councilman Stephen Fialla, Former Congressman Michael McMahon, Assemblyman Matthew Titone, and Councilwoman Debi Rose.

With congressman Michael Grimm

What are the big issues you’ve faced since you’ve been a President of this Association?

One of the biggest challenges I faced as a new President was helping people adapt to the change of leadership that existed for close to 20 years. The former President, and friend of mine, Dennis Dell’ Angelo, served for 17 years of the association! As a new President, I had to work extra hard in changing people’s attitudes from what they were use to doing to what they could be doing to improve the quality of life in our community. After so many years of the same leadership, I faced people that were set in their ways a bit, but after awhile I gained their confidence and with their support have accomplished some great things in our community.

Another challenge I faced when first becoming President was being perceived as being much younger than my membership.  When people first looked at me they viewed me as someone younger than them, but when they had a chance to get to know me they saw a person that is sharp, passionate, relentless and truly committed to doing what’s right for the people of the community.

Members of the community are getting more upset each day with the methadone clinic located at Staten Island University Hospital – South. People approach me all the time on how they are trying to get to work in the morning and are approached for drugs on the platform of the Prince’s Bay train station. I also hear complaints from business owners that they are constantly being harassed by patients of the methadone clinic, residents that live up and down Seguine Avenue complain of people loitering outside their homes, and parents of children that fear for the safety of their children, while they wait for the bus stop to head to school. The Civic Association understands that people are in need of help. However, what we are finding is that the methadone patients encountered on the train platform up and down Seguine Avenue are from the outer boroughs, and not Staten Island. We believe this doesn’t make sense and the people of the South Shore of Staten Island shouldn’t have to care for patients from outer boroughs when we don’t get a fair share of health services. The population on the South Shore of Staten Island has grown tremendously over the last 10-15 years, yet a woman that goes into labor is required to go to Staten Island University Hospital – North or RUMC, due to the lack of a maternity ward in the hospital on the South Shore. We don’t have a maternity ward for the women in our community, but we service people from other boroughs? In addition, the emergency room is outdated and not fully equipped with the latest technology like our neighboring hospitals on the North Shore. The Civic Association has collected thousands of signatures and plans to sit down with the executive board of Staten Island University Hospital to discuss our concerns some time in the near future.

Why is it important for residents to join the Civic Association?

I believe it’s important for people to get involved in their community by having a voice. The Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association serves as a wonderful opportunity for committed residents of our community to address current issues that impact our community. I hear people everyday complaining about things they dislike about Staten Island, but never do anything about it. Well the Civic Association is an opportunity to make change happen, so get off the sidelines and get involved! Now more than ever is when every concerned citizen should belong to a civic association. In the South Shore of Staten Island, the oldest, most active and most prestigious civic organization is the Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association.

By joining the Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association you can express those concerns and complaints and work within the community in getting them resolved. The Civic Association doesn’t only serve as a place to complain, but to also suggest community-building events that can help foster a better sense of a community. We implemented four major traditions for our association, which are the Meet the Candidates Forum, Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony, Holiday Party and the Great American Barbecue held at the Seguine Mansion. These events serve as community builders for neighbors, business owners, families and friends alike to join forces and be a voice in our community. We strive to keep events as low cost as possible with the generous support of some local businesses to encourage more people of our community to get involved and continue to enhance the small town feeling of the 3 towns.

You can join Civic Association for as little as $20 per year per family. For that amount you receive a monthly newsletter and voting privileges.

Any thoughts for people that are thinking about applying to their Civic Association?

Your community will become exactly what you allow it to become. Be a positive influence in building a good community or suffer the consequences. You can no longer procrastinate or turn your back and let someone else “do it.”

Anyone can join the Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay, Richmond Valley Civic Association it’s open to all Staten Islanders. We have many people in the Civic Association from other towns across Staten Island, however, only those that live within the 3 towns the Civic Association represents can vote.  If you have an idea that you believe would improve the quality of life for you and/or your family, let us know. You can get as involved as you choose.

We meet the second Monday of each month from 8:00pm – 9:30pm at the CYO-MIV Community Center at Mount Loretto. Some issues we plan on addressing this year is to work towards securing a fast ferry to Manhattan, which was promised by local officials, but yet not delivered, establishing smart Park & Ride facilities at our 3 train stations, beautifying the community by planting flowers, conducting beach cleanups, and hosting additional cost effective family friendly events to bring the three towns of Pleasant Plains, Prince’s Bay and Richmond Valley together.

Where do you think you’ve been able to make the biggest change in the district?

The biggest change I have been able to make is getting people off the sidelines and more engaged in the community. Our membership has grown tremendously to over 250 paying members. I have been able to get people that would have normally never gotten involved to becoming more engaged than ever in the community.

During our monthly meetings, the Civic Association has a speaker to inform the community on a variety of topics that influence the community. Some topics covered include:  autism awareness, Office of Emergency Contact (ways to prepare and be ready for a disaster), the MTA, Senator Andrew Lanza, Dina Tush the mother of Jessica Tush on domestic violence education, New York City Parks Department, organ donation, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.

Last year I was approached by a mother whose son was on a wait list for a liver donation.  Although he was from our local area, his changes of receiving a liver were much greater in Ohio. The family was in need of financial help, due to the high costs of travel and time taken off work for the boy’s care. With that said, the Civic Association planned a fundraiser that was held at the Old Bermuda Inn, which raised over $7,000.00 to help pay for the costs of staying in Ohio. This was accomplished within a 2-week period of time. Thankfully he received a liver and is fine after his surgery.

On what issues can Civic Association be most influential?

From the past to today, the Civic Association has been influential on variety of issues from land use, the creation of Lemon Creek Park & Fishing Pier, establishment of Bloomingdale Park, replacement of the WWI monument in Pleasant Plains and the implementation of zoning changes for our community to stop over development. Most importantly, we strive each day to fulfill our motto in preserving the small-town quality of life.

The Civic Association each month helps feed our neighbors in need by contributing food each month to the St. Edward Food Pantry located in Mount Loretto. One of the most upsetting encounters of mine, was when the pantry requested that members of the Civic start contributing baby food. I can’t imagine a baby going hungry, especially within our own community.

 

 

Voting Irresponsibly Guarantees a Return to The Past

Voting Irresponsibly Guarantees a Return to The Past

 

                                                                                                                                                                By Ralph J. Rubinek

In one decade so many innocent lives destroyed, Jews, Christians and individuals of thought.  I will memorialize my parents, their pain and suffering, my childhood, which was taken as their experiences, touched my very soul and to this I remain a torchbearer to hope and vision only if we as a nation of free men and woman never forget.

As a child I knew I was different than all the other children there were no sounds of family especially at holidays.

My Mother, Chaya Hershberg was born in Olkuse, Poland to a family of blue-collar workers. Father, Mordcha Rubinek born in Kielzer, Poland to a family of industrialists. Both lead very different lives before the war only to meet as survivors of Hitler’s final solution.

My Mother, Chaya Hershberg was born in Olkuse, Poland

Jews is Europe prior to the Second World War lived in relative peace and tranquility. They were accepted in every avenue of industry and government until one day hate was projected upon them for Europe, Germany in particular needed to find blame for its failed economy and collapsing social structure.

Vague depictions were cast upon the Jewish people by controlling factions of the media starting in 1930 in Germany. Der Strummer the leading periodical of the time even claimed Jews used human blood in sacramental meals during Passover. A madman, Adolph Hitler was elected to power.

The night of “Broken Glass” was the culmination of reconstructionalism and propaganda. Today, how can we forget, least it will happen again?

When the Nazis invaded Poland almost immediately they began to round up the Jewish people. They were assisted by anti Jewish sentiment, which had spread throughout Europe were Jews were systematically identified, herded and maintained in ghettos.

No, mother told me Hitler didn’t want the final solution at first, only after the world showed they didn’t want the Jewish refugee from Europe. Thousands of Jews were allowed to flee only to be denied entry to any safe haven There was no Israel, no right of return nowhere to go except to the final solution as the world watched.

Mother and father both told me how their families were rounded up and murdered, a miracle alone they survived only to be tortured in Concentration Camps, mother in Auschwitz father late in the war, in Buchenwald. Father very German looking and fluent in German was able to flee to Italy, mother saved by the Roman Catholic Church acting with Jewish partisans. Though the Nazis were no longer in control, they were still murdering the remaining Jews. Mother too was able to escape to Italy where Jews on the whole were protected by the Italian people and little known as the “Secret” the church.

My parents met in Italy and immigrated to Israel upon its creation, there they married. Both after such inhuman conditions during the Holocaust saw the creation of the Jewish State however couldn’t bear the sight of constant war in Eretz Yisroel.

They left the land of “Milk and Honey”.

Immigrating to the United States in the Mid 50′s they made their new life and enjoyed liberty however never free of their sad memories.

I was born in August of 1958, although my life bore witness to sadness and tribulation I can proudly say there is hope as long as we remember not to forget and not to hate. Both my parents taught me this virtue.

We must remain vigilant and hopeful.

In memory of six million Jews murdered by ignorance and in memory of my parents, Motek and Chaya whose knowledge as Holocaust survivors lit up my world. Both knew how the mechanics of Socialism highjacked the causative and mechanical nature of the Holocaust as its hideous ideology unfolds to this very day. My focus is my family and personal history as it contains a parallel to today. Without memorialization based upon history our world is doomed to relive one of history’s darkest chapters. I am a Second Generation survivor who had to learn to be self sufficient and responsible at age sixteen. I learned the best lessons of life are self motivation where limitation of government sets the stage for motivation, innovation and the fruits of success, the American dream.

To do otherwise shortchanges society where reliance to government sets the foundation of servitude and the atrocities of Hitler’s final solution. Society inquires how such atrocities occur. This publication will address the ideology of hatred through conditioning and subliminal suggestion on many levels to include self hatred. Many leaders of this ilk present unattainable and unprincipled benevolence as a wrapping in order to attract the ignorant and those with preponderance toward hate into the fold. America has fallen asleep.

 My mother and father came to America to escape the chains of Europe; the very Europe America’s founders opposed setting the course toward revolution. As Lexington and Concord culminated a gathering of patriots to oppose the might of England then whereas the same band of formerly oppressed Jews escaped Europe attaining arms to confront tyranny after the Holocaust by combating the British Mandate in the Mideast in 1947… Hence claiming independence of the Promised Land away from England in the like of America’s founders. As citizens, let us remember what brought us here, I will vote responsibly as I do not wish to lose what my parents came to America in the first place.

“OurStaten Island”

“OurStaten Island”

by Albert J. Albanese, Executive Producer at Eight Days Productions

Let me introduce myself, I am a lifelong 3rd generation Staten Islander, I produce 8 TV shows that air on Verizon Foist & Time Warner Cable. The shows we produce at Eight Days Productions focus on the good things that Staten Islanders do and the wonderful events that take place on Staten Island. On our shows you will see the unsung heroes, the people who deserve credit for the wonderful things they do. The reason I decided to start producing these shows was to show the good things people do it seems the news media only shows bad things. We also show the services available on Staten Island and talk to the experts in the field so our viewers will have a better understanding of these services.

Our shows air on Staten Island cable on FiOS & Time Warner Cable

Richmond County Mustangs air on Mondays at 9:30PM on channel 34

Amanda on the Island airs Mondays at 11PM on channel 34

Staten Island Community Events airs Tuesdays at 6:30PM on channel 35

Meet the People airs Tuesdays at 7:30 PM on channel 35

Your Island Now airs Thursdays at 5PM on channel 34

Ride for the 84+1 airs Thursdays at 6:30PM on channel 34

Democratic Party Events airs Fridays at 4PM on channel 34

Off White Trash airs Saturdays at 11:30PM on channel 34

Richmond County Mustangs, hosted by Mustang Helen & Dawn Malvasio brings you to the various car shows on Staten Island and we interview the owners of those cars. The show also will give you information about the car clubs enthusiasts can join.

Amanda on the Island hosted by Amanda Grossman is all about the fun things on the island, bands, events, art & fashion.

Staten Island Community Events hosted by Jennifer Saladis brings Staten Island events right into your living room.

Meet the People hosted by Brooke Lopez, Janette McGilligan, Jenniffer Brown, Noelle Prideaux &  Lori Rhodes features interviews with Staten Islanders who have done great things that never get covered in the Advance or on the news.

Your Island Now hosted by Gloria Castelucci show events on the island and information on services available on the island.

The Ride for the 84 + 1 is an annual motorcycle fun in honor of the 85 Staten Islanders who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. The motorcycle community raises money for many charities.

Democratic Party Events shows the events sponsored by the Democratic Party and gives information about democratic candidates running for office.

Off White Trash is a local Staten Island classic rock band this show brings you their music to enjoy.

Future columns here will tell you all about events and features we at Eight Days Productions will bring to you on our many shows.

Game On!

By Russell Gallo

Brooklyn GOP Radio

Well ladies and gentlemen, we have a race this March 20th in Brooklyn! Governor Cuomo has heeded the call of Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton and is calling a Special Election to replace disgraced Democrat Carl Kruger in Senate District 27.

As has been noted here as well as other in other places, much of the senate district overlaps nicely with NY-9, which was formerly held by another disgraced Democrat and Buffoon of the Year nominee, Anthony Weiner. That seat was won by a comfortable margin by Republican/Conservative candidate and now Congressman Bob Turner.

David Storobin, a vice-chair of the Brooklyn GOP and a successful attorney is the favorite to receive the Republican and Conservative nods to run in March.

This race won’t be easy; no race for a Republican in Brooklyn is. This video has served us here at the Brooklyn GOP well over the past year and I am posting it now for our friend David Storobin.

Shocking news! U.S. Bridges, Roads Being Built by Chinese Firms

“Construction workers have been among the Americans hit hardest over the past few years,” Obama said in a written statement. “And that makes no sense when there’s so much of America that needs rebuilding.

“Americans have faced 40 years of economic warfare. Instead of the taxpayer paid officials (President, Congress, state, local, etc) who make the rules siding with America, they sided with the enemy. Traitorous, corrupt, bribed all come to mind as the rationale” – Zellousone

Famous Russian writer and producer Ivan Mendzheritsky and Vice-Chair of Brooklyn GOP David Storobin

Ivan Mendzheritsky (left) and David Storobin

“Dear David! Good Luck! Hope you are going to get to the top of the Olimp. I believe you can do it”- Ivan Mendzheritsky

The new book of Ivan Mendzheritsky and his 'GOOD LUCK" signature to David Storobin

For Filmography of Ivan Mendzheritsky CLICK HERE

About his “Crime and Punishment ” CLICK HERE

The future senator

NYS Senate President Dean Skelos about David Storobin

Transcript (By Yulia Mazur):

Thank you very much, Marty. Let me start off by saying good morning and Happy Chanukah and to the learned Rabbis and political figures and everyone thank you for being here. Thank you for your kind invitation to join with you today. David, thank you for bringing everybody together and organizing it. You know, David reminds me a little bit about me, when I was his age, chomping at the bits to run for office, working politically, working within the community and when you do that – it happens. So, David – you gonna get there, you gonna get there. And I think your entire community is very proud of you, and I know your family is also.

Let me just start of by saying … Marty has talked about different issues concerning the State of New York and how we are cutting taxes, we are cutting regulations. We eliminated for 80% of the businesses in the state, probably every small business within your community the MTA payroll tax, couple of weeks ago. We are looking to empower the business community, private sector to create jobs.

Who has the legal right to Judea and Samaria?

By David Storobin, Esq.

Despite the common misconception among journalists covering the Arab-Israeli conflict, God did not create the world during the six days of the 1967 war, and starting that late in history distorts one’s understanding of the Middle East conflict. In determining what is the law governing Judea and Samaria, also known as the West Bank, let’s start from the beginning.

Subsequent to the Romans expelling the Jews as a result of a rebellion, they gave Judea a new name, Palestine, after the ancient Greek people who were previously repeatedly battled the Hebrews but no longer existed as an independent nation by the time of Roman conquest. The re-naming of Judea was meant as a historical stab at the Jews and certainly did not mean that there were any Palestinian people. In ancient times, there was no significant Arab population in either of the two Jewish states, Judea and Israel.

Over the next 1,900 years, only colonial powers controlled Palestine and no Palestinian nation ever came into existence. As time went on, small pockets of Arabs moved into the area, but at the start of the 19^th century, the population west of Jordan stood at less than 1% of its current levels, skyrocketing as a result of both Jewish and Arab immigration beginning late in the 19^th century. One of these Arab immigrants was the Egyptian-born Yasser Arafat.

Hajj Amin al-Husseini giving a Nazi salutes to Muslim SS volunteers in 1943.

 

LEAGUE OF NATIONS MANDATE

At the end of World War I, imperial powers agreed to surrender their colonies in a process governed by the League of Nations. The 1922 League of Nations Mandate for Palestine declared that “the Mandate had as a primary objective the implementation of the ‘Balfour Declaration’ issued by the British Government in 1917, expressing support for ‘the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people’.”

It called for the “establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” recognized the “historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine” and entrusted Great Britain with establishing a “Zionist organization” that shall be recognized as a “public body for the purpose of advising and co-operating with the Administration of Palestine in such economic, social and other matters as may affect the establishment of the Jewish national home . . . .”

Shortly after the Mandate was issued, an Arab Nazi sympathizer named Hajj Amin al-Husseini, a relative and mentor of the then-young Yasser Arafat, became the Mufti of Jerusalem and used this position to establish himself as a leader of the local Arabs. Even before the Third Reich decided to engage in the Final Solution, al-Husseini repeatedly urged Adolf Hitler to murder the Jews. Later, after visiting Auschwitz, al-Husseini complained to German authorities that Jews are not being murdered quickly enough. He even drew up plans for the extermination of all the Jews in the Middle East in the expectation that the German forces would defeat the British. He was also responsible for recruiting and organizing European Muslims who were sympathetic to the Nazis, resulting in two Nazi SS divisions, the 13^th “Hanjar” division and the 21^st “Skandenber” division, as well as several other units that fought for Germany.

It was this man who set about to create a previously non-existent Palestinian national identity. In 1936, he organized a three year assault on the Jews of Palestine. In 1941, he left Palestine to organize a pro-Hitler revolution in Iraq, murdering most of the Iraqi royal family in the process. After spending the rest of the war years in Germany, he was arrested for war crimes, but escaped imprisonment and returned to the Middle East.

At the same time that al-Husseini was inciting Palestinian Arabs; the British violated the Mandate and put an end to legal Jewish immigration to Palestine, even for Holocaust refugees trying to escape Nazi Germany. This was in direct violation of Article 6 of the Mandate that ordered Britain to “facilitate Jewish immigration” and “close settlement by Jews on the land.”

To try to win favor with the Arabs, the British and various international commissions issued plans to divide Palestine. This, too, was in violation of the Mandate, which clearly stated that “no Palestine territory shall be ceded.” The mandate was very clear in stating that all the territory west of Jordan, which includes the West Bank, shall be part of the Jewish National Home.

Jews being expelled by the Arabs from East Jerusalem in 1948.

UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS

United Nations General Assembly resolution 181 is often cited as a legal basis for the creation of the Jewish state. Yet, the partition plan was nothing more than a recommendation. In fact, the U.N. General Assembly has no right to pass any legally binding resolutions. All General Assembly resolutions are mere recommendations that cannot be enforced.

Because Great Britain agreed to withdraw from Palestine subsequent to this resolution, Zionist leaders had the operational ability to declare independence. However, their right to sovereignty in Palestine is not based on an unbinding recommendation by the General Assembly, but rather on the 1922 League of Nations Mandate. Long before May 1948, Zionists were being admitted into international institutions.

In 1929, their soccer team joined FIFA, the world federation of soccer, and played in many multiple officially recognized games long before 1948. In 1933, they were allowed to participate in Olympic events, though Zionists didn’t participate until after WWII because they, for obvious reasons, chose to boycott the 1936 Games that were held in Nazi Germany, and then the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games were canceled due to World War II.

The myth that Jews were handed a country after the Holocaust because the world felt bad for them is false. Israel’s right to independence most certainly is not based on the partition plan, if for no other reason than because the General Assembly cannot pass any binding law.

The U.N. Security Council does have the power to pass binding law in some circumstances, but it too has no right to divide the territory that the Mandate specifically said should not be divided. The Security Council cannot pass a law taking away territory from Israel anymore than it can pass a law taking away territory from Sweden or Brazil.

Thus, when the Security Council passed resolution 242 on November 22, 1967, it was passed under Chapter 6, which means the resolution was explicitly non-binding. Only Chapter 7 resolutions are binding law, and no such resolution was ever passed during this or any other session that dealt with any territory mandated to the Jews by the League of Nations. The League of Nations mandate remains the only binding international law governing this land.

Resolution 242 and the 1973 resolution 338 which affirmed the original resolution is worth examining, however, because it is often cited as the basis for Arab-Israeli peace negotiations.

The most hotly debated point prior to the passage of resolution 242 was obviously withdrawal from territories Israel took over in June 1967. This withdrawal was not to be unilateral, but was linked to the “termination of all claims or states of belligerency” and the recognition that “every State in the area.”

More importantly, the Security Council specifically rejected the words “withdrawal from all the territories” as well as “withdrawal from all territories” and even “withdrawal from the territories.” The remaining language was “withdrawal from territories” and was seen by all sides to mean that Israel need not withdraw from all the real estate it took over.

Lord Caradon, the British U.N. ambassador in 1967 who actually drafted resolution 242, said: “It would have been wrong to demand that Israel return to its positions of June 4, 1967, because those positions were undesirable and artificial.”

Similarly, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (and the former U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Arthur Goldberg explained: “The notable omissions which were not accidental in regard to withdrawal are the words ‘the’ or ‘all’ and ‘the June 5, 1967 lines’ . . . the resolution speaks of withdrawal from occupied territories without defining the extent of withdrawal.”  The Ambassador added that Israel’s return of all territories is “incompatible” with resolution 242.

Israeli soldiers reach the holy Wailing Wall during the 1967 war.

Rather than calling for Israel to withdraw from all the territories it acquire in 1967, the resolution calls for Israel to withdraw to “secure” borders which the American ambassador explained to mean “territorial adjustments in their peace settlement encompassing less than a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories, inasmuch as Israel’s prior frontiers had proved to be notably insecure.”

The Soviet UN Ambassador Vasily Kuznetsov agreed that the adoption of Resolution 242 meant that “Israel [had] the right to establish new boundaries and to withdraw its troops only as far as the lines which it judges convenient.”

It is for this reason that immediately prior to the passage of resolution 242, Arab representatives declared that Palestinian Arabs would lose all rights to independence if this language of the resolution was passed.

When Israel later signed the Camp David Peace Accords returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, it gave back all the territory that was not given to it by the League of Nations Mandate. No further demands can be made upon Israel under international law and, in fact, no further demands were made by resolution 242.

Thus, we see that the law is very clear, but unfortunately, the Palestinian PR machine was able to suppress these facts, which are not in dispute regardless of the position one may take on whether or not Israel should withdraw from the West Bank. Whatever the government in Jerusalem choose to do, it is important to remember that all the land west of Jordan is Israeli land under international law and Jews are not occupiers, nor illegal settlers.

If Israel chooses to build communities in the West Bank, it will merely be fulfilling the only binding international law that was ever passed that deals with this piece of real estate, and this law calls for facilitating “settlement by Jews on the land.”