More From Arutz Sheva

Arutz Sheva is a news organization that caters for national religious Israeli Jews. It is trusted by PCG, UCG and LCG. Each of these groups have quoted news articles from Arutz Sheva numerous times. Although they quote news articles rather than opinion pieces nevertheless all three groups (PCG, UCG and LCG) have never bothered to criticize them or even discuss with their readers what sort of news organization Arutz Sheva is.

Recently the Israeli President gave a speech in which he stated that Israeli society can be viewed as being divided into four groups, namely secular Jews, national religious Jews, ultra-Orthodox Jews and Arab citizens. Arutz Sheva caters for the national religious Israeli Jews.

So when looking at what Arutz Sheva should happen to say we must be careful to remember that what they say is mainly for national religious Israeli Jews. Most Israelis are not national religious Jews. If Arutz Sheva should say something we would disagree with let us remember that most Israelis (even other national religious Jews) would quite likely also disagree with Arutz Sheva and with the opinions noted here. We must not stereotype Israeli Jews. Just like any other society there is a very wide range of opinions and diversity of people within Israeli society.

PCG, UCG and LCG tend to quote Arutz Sheva about news stories, not its editorial articles. But let us take a look at what this media outlet, Arutz Sheva, have to say about things in their editorial articles. What do the writers of Arutz Sheva say about things?

Is PCG, UCG and LCG's trust in Arutz Sheva warranted?

Let's take a look at what Arutz Sheva has to say.

Anti-Zionism is the Most Powerful Political Force on Earth (?)

Really? Is anti-Zionism more powerful than America? More powerful than Russia? More powerful than China?

Israel is obviously the major victim of anti-Zionism, the most powerful political force on earth. Israelis are threatened by rockets. They must always fear war and devote attention and money to defending themselves against possible attacks. (Professor George Jochnowitz, Who Suffers From Anti-Israel Hatred?, July 26, 2015.)

More powerful than oil companies? More powerful than Germany?

Denigrating Prominent EU Diplomat as "Little Girl"

So Arutz Sheva thinks the agreement with Iran is bad and do not like it. If there are problems about the agreement let such problems be exposed and condemned. Speak out about it.

But is it really appropriate to call an EU diplomat associated with these negotiations a "little girl"?

So who are these characters [referring to the P5+1] and what are their special interests? ... [After listing the six nations the author then discusses an EU diplomat.] Which leaves the little girl in the picture: Federica Mogherini. (Zalmi Unsdorfer, What's this starry-eyed Arafat fan doing in the P5+1?, July 19, 2015.)

Of course the person in question is an adult. A senior diplomat entrusted with looking after the EU's interests in those important negotiations.  

China Untouched by Islamic Terrorism

Did you know that China has been "untouched by Islamic terrorism"?

China - happily untouched by Islamic terrorism - wants only to restore deliveries of Iranian crude oil. (Zalmi Unsdorfer, What's this starry-eyed Arafat fan doing in the P5+1?, July 19, 2015.)

Actually for quite a few years China has had problems in the predominantly Muslim Xinjiang province. Sometimes even escalating to truly lamentable levels of violence. I will not burden the reader with the tragic details except to note that the situation has been very bad in recent years. The author seems to be unaware of this issue.

Now it is more accurate to view those problems as a conflict between the Turkic Uyghurs of that province and China. It is not helpful to view it as part of some mythical grand clash of civilizations between Muslims and the rest of the world. That is not a helpful view. Politically speaking Muslims are divided into numerous nations and interests. They do not act politically in a united manner. How could over a billion people do so in regards to politics?

May peace soon come to Xinjiang.

Accusing Israeli Arabs of Dodging Train Fares

Apparently Israeli Arabs are inclined to dodge paying train fares. At least that's the opinion of one Arutz Sheva columnist.

Not a day goes by that I don't see Arabs on the train - often, I see them come on the train and stand watching to see if there is an inspector around before deciding if they will pay or not. (Paula Stern, Jabotinsky Had The Right Idea, July 7, 2015.)

I wonder what that statement would sound like if it was applied to any other group?

Israeli Supreme Court Denounced as Left Wing Tyranny

Did you know that the State of Israel is currently under the dictatorial rule of a bunch of leftist judges? Well that seems to be what how some national religious Israeli Jews view matters in Israel at present.

Given that nearly all Justice Ministers have come from the political Left - with the remainder coming from the more "establishment" elements of the Likud party (Netanyahu's favorite was rumored to have been the distinctly anti-reform Likud MK Benny Begin) - the Supreme Court Justices have had a very sweet deal indeed: on the one hand, almost unlimited power to fashion the country in their image; and on the other, in the tradition of all Middle Eastern dictators, a phony legitimacy provided by an elaborate pretense of democracy in the shape of an opaque and cynically-stacked selection process. ...

However, should she succeed against the odds, it will be nothing less than a revolution. By breaking the suffocating stranglehold of an unelected, leftist clique over Israeli democracy, she can pave the way for the Supreme Court's rehabilitation as a more balanced institution which actually represents the citizens of Israel. (Ari Soffer, Sexism and Death Threats: Why the Left is Afraid of Ayelet Shaked, May 11, 2015.)

(For reference here is an opposing view of the topic mentioned above there is the following article from The Daily Beast.)

Defending Huckabee's Controversial "Ovens" Comment

So Mike Huckabee accused the Obama Administration of leading Israeli Jews to "the ovens" by making the agreement with Iran thus comparing President Obama with those who exterminated the Jews in the Holocaust. Many Americans, including many American Jews, were disgusted at these words. The Democratic Party, which has the allegiance of the vast majority of American Jews, condemned him for it.

The National Jewish Democratic Council immediately called on members of the Republican Party to denounce Huckabee’s comments, saying it is “not only disgustingly offensive to the President and the White House, but shows utter, callous disregard for the millions of lives lost in the Shoah and to the pain still felt by their descendants today.”

“It may be the most inexcusable we’ve encountered in recent memory,” the organization added in a statement. (Anna Brand, Jewish groups react to Mike Huckabee’s ‘oven’ remarks, MSNBC, July 27, 2015.)

The Anti-Defamation League condemned it as well. 

The Anti-Defamation League, a group that fights antisemitism, said that while they are wary of the deal, Huckabee’s comments are “completely out of line and unacceptable.”

“To hear Mr. Huckabee invoke the Holocaust when America is Israel’s greatest ally and when Israel is a strong nation capable of defending itself is disheartening,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, in a statement. (Anna Brand, Jewish groups react to Mike Huckabee’s ‘oven’ remarks, MSNBC, July 27, 2015.)

What did Arutz Sheva say about it? One Arutz Sheva columnist chose to defend Huckabee and condemn the Anti-Defamation League's response.

Jumping on the Democratic bandwagon, the ostensibly non-partisan Anti-Defamation League issued [a statement condemning Huckabee's comments.] ...

Frankly, I’m unconvinced. As a Jew who has suffered from anti-Semitism, but also understands the rough and tumble of politics, I strongly believe that the ADL is way off-base, even disingenuous on this issue. Its quick attack on the conservative Huckabee, after years of silence about President Obama’s well-documented hostility towards Israel and its leaders, reveals a disturbing political bias that needs to be addressed openly. ...

[It is later referred to as] Huckabee’s supposedly controversial statement about Iran... (David Rubin, Mike Huckabee Out-Trumps Donald Trump, July 27, 2015.)

Obama Plotting to "Squeeze" the World with Iran Agreement

So why did President Obama make that agreement with Iran? Well, according to one Arutz Sheva columnist, the agreement is part of a "plan" to "spread Islam to the West" and "deliver ... Israel to Islam" using Iran.

Obama doesn’t care what his critics say.  He’s happy because, you see, he has a plan. It’s a two-in-one plan: he will become the man who will spread Islam to the West as no one before him; he will be the man who delivers Israel to Islam ... He will use Iran to do it. Through Iran, he will squeeze the Middle East .... Through Iran, he will squeeze Israel .... Through Iran, he will squeeze the world .... (Tuvia Brodie, Obama’s legacy: deliver Israel and the world to Islam, July 27, 2015.)

Well, that's one assertion I had not heard of before.

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And so this collection of quotes come to an end.

Just imagine. The COGs trust this organization.

The COGs quote news articles from a media organization that would say things like this.

They have never bothered to criticize it or even note the sort of things Arutz Sheva says.

The COG leadership ask readers to trust what this media organization says and the COGs do not even bother to note that they say things like this.