Olivier Melnick

August 21, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Antifa joins BDS! What could possibly go wrong?

There is currently in America a political, social and racial polarization that is reaching levels of animosity never reached before. The source for this dramatic polarization is highly debated depending on what side of the fence you position yourself. Trump supporters blame the previous administration and democrats blame the new President. Regardless of who is to be blamed for the current wedge being forced into the American people, it is changing the fabric of America at a rapid pace, and it presents some serious risks to several minorities.

One group that has emerged around the time of Mr. Trump’s victory if not slightly before, was the group self-labelled as ” Antifa”,” an abbreviation for anti-fascist or anti-fascism. They seem to be reacting and protesting Trump’s every move and policy, labelling them as fascist at the core. They claim to fight racism, homophobia, sexism and capitalism. Antifa comprises people who would position themselves on the extreme Left, also known as Alt-Left.

Fascism became a real political influence in the early part of the 20th century in Europe. It was positioned on the extreme right of the political spectrum and characterized by actions that reflected a rejection of communism, liberalism and anarchism. But Fascism is a strange political bird that can somehow be found flying across the spectrum from left to right–always adhering to a more totalitarian approach to government. Fascism has been notorious for the use of violence on property and people for intimidation and control.

Then comes “Antifa” to protest fascism. They take the streets and speak up against the ills of such an ideology. After all, America’s Founding Fathers gave us all Free Speech, Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Religion, so it is perfectly acceptable to protest in America. The problem is that Antifa proponents are for the most part using methods of intimidation, silencing and protest that very strongly resemble the very methods they claim to oppose. They destroy property and use violence on people just like fascists. In their own way, they are becoming an Alt-Left brand of fascism. They use violence and intimidation which are the two main pillars of terrorism, and they should be labelled as such.

In some rare, cases “Antifa” proponents who claim to be fighting for equality, free speech and tolerance, might achieve it, even without much violence or verbal abuse. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Jewish community and/or Israel’s right to exist, they are are not helping. For a while now, the Left has increasingly distanced itself from support of Israel and helped push the Palestinian narrative. Antifa’s primary goal isn’t to hurt Israel, but there is a new trend on American university campuses linking Antifa with BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions). From the standpoint of protesting fascism, oppression and colonialism, Antifa and BDS seem to be on the same page, at least politically and ideologically, and again its really bad for the Jews.

Neo-Nazis and white supremacists are a clear danger for the Jewish community, so is Antifa. And now that we are starting to see Antifa teaming up with BDS proponents, the horizon is becoming gloomier for my Jewish people who once again in our history are being sandwiched between two groups who hate them. While Antifa and BDS might not seek a joint photo-op to declare their anti-Semitism, they do line-up ideologically. At a time in our history when anti-Semitism has morphed to a hungrier and angrier beast, we do not need to be sandwiched between the Alt-Left and the Alt-Right. We already have our hands full with radical Islam and some of the evangelical Church teaching Replacement Theology and Christian Palestinianism!

Really, when Antifa joins BDS…What could possibly go RIGHT for the Jews?

August 8, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Failed Multiculturalism Will lead to Rigid Monoculturalism!

One of the biggest buzzwords of the twenty-first century is “multiculturalism.” It actually defines one’s tolerance level for other cultures– the trait of a good, compliant postmodern citizen. The more we tolerate other cultures, the better! In essence, there is nothing wrong with such an approach. I grew-up in France where I had Arab, Vietnamese and African friends all throughout my childhood, and nobody thought anything of it . In the 60s and 70s, various cultures were kept in the home and/or respective places of worship, and adherence to a country’s laws were the norm when outside the home and/or communal life. That was what we can call successful multiculturalism. Those days are long gone!

To an extent, various cultures are still able to truly co-exist within the same country. Yet there is a dominant culture, or more accurately a dominant “ideology” that doesn’t play well with others, and that is the Muslim ideology. I say ideology because there is not doubt in the mind of those who look at Islam, that it is much more than a religion. It is an ideology that includes a religion, a financial system, a legal system and much more. In other words, Islam is a way of life! We all have the right to choose which way we want to go through life and if one wants to do it as a Muslim, it is their personal choice. I happen to have chosen a different path that includes Judeo/Christian ethics and a belief system based on the teachings of the Bible (Old and New Testament.)

I like my way of life as a disciple of Yeshua and I wish that more people would adhere to it and be as blessed as I am, yet I would never impose it on anyone because it would then instantly become legalism. My Jewish people have been the victims of legalism for centuries. Forced conversions, forced baptism and other Christian dogmatic indoctrinations have driven a wedge between Christians and Jews and led to a plethora of bloody massacres over the ages. People should always be given a choice not an order when it comes to culture, customs and beliefs. After all this is why the United Nations came up with the “Declaration Universelle des Droits de l’homme.” in 1948 (Universal Declaration of Human Rights.)

In Article 2 of the UDHR, we read “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” When this is applied properly, we have multiculturalism at its best. It protects world citizens wherever they come from and wherever they live. But in the last few decades, these principles have been abused and used against the very people who tried so hard to uphold them. What more? Under the very eyes of modern Western countries that once were thriving democracies. The ideology of Islam taken to its radical fringes is very far from what people try so hard to call the “Religion of Peace.” It demands multiculturalism in a world still willing to provide it, but is it really in the name of tolerance, co-existence and mutual acceptance?

Many European countries that once promoted free speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press, are self-inflicting a series of restrictions in the hope that they will appease the ire of radical Islam. Western civilization’s self-inflicted multiculturalism has failed greatly and is leading only to one thing; a rigid brand of “monoculturalism.” In many cases including in the United-States, people either do not understand Sharia Law or fear reprisals for speaking negatively about it. In a 2016 article in the Washington Post, titled “Five myths about sharia”, the reader is told that :
1. Sharia isn’t “Islamic law.”
2. In Muslim countries, Sharia isn’t the law of the land.
3. Sharia isn’t anti-women
4. Sharia doesn’t demand brutal punishments
5. Sharia isn’t about conquest

I find this very hard to believe when the West has been witnessing the treatment of Jews, Christians, women and gays under Sharia. But again, if Muslim communities choose to live by Sharia standards, it is their choice according to the same Article 2 of the UDHR, and they shouldn’t be ostracized, harassed or persecuted for it. Where we are going wrong is when we extend our over-tolerant multiculturalism to let one particular ideology dominate the rest of the world. If we do not rectify our course, I am convinced that our failed multiculturalism will lead to rigid monoculturalism! From what we have seen, Islam isn’t necessarily the path to freedom. In many cases, it looks more like a theocratic dictatorship. Choose Islam if you will, but please do not choose it or any other ideology for me. I have chosen to be a Jew who follows his Messiah (Yeshua of Nazareth), and while I wish more people would investigate his claims and the simple message of salvation (Psalm 16:11; 36:7-10, Genesis 2:17; Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Ezekiel 18:4, Jeremiah 2:22, Psalm 49:7, Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12, Genesis 15:6, Habakkuk 2:4, Proverbs 28:13). After all, it should still be about personal choices!

July 18, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Macron and Antisemitism: It is easier to agree with history rather than to make history!

Much of the world communities are still applauding French President Emmanuel Macron for the bold statement he made during the 75th Anniversary of the Vel d’Hiv round-up in Paris on July 16, 2017. In the summer of 1942, (July 16 and 17,) over 13,000 French Jews were gathered by force inside the Paris winter stadium (Velodrome d’Hiver.) The move was ordered by the Nazi regime out of Germany and the orders executed by the French Vichy government militia under the leadership of Marshall Philippe Pétain. It led to the deportation of these 13,000 french Jews as part of the killing of a grand total of 78,000 French Jews during the Holocaust.

It has remained a dark stain in the annals of France’s history since World War Two. As a matter of fact, many French presidents until Jacques Chirac (President from 1995-2007,) preferred to avoid the subject of the Vel d’Hiv round-up. Diametrically opposed to Mr.Macron, we find the leader of French Front National, Marine Le Pen who declared that France was not responsible for the horrors perpetrated by the Vichy government.

The 2017 Ceremony was the first time both a French President AND an Israeli Prime Minister attended the Vel d’Hiv Commemoration. Mr. Macron spoke boldly and declared that not one German was involved directly, thus exonerating German guilt and shifting the blame where blame was due. But these words, as powerful, bold and healing as they might be for some of the parties involved–namely the Germans and the families of the Jewish victims– raise a few questions.

I cannot help but wonder if Mr. Macron spoke boldly against antisemitism, exonerating German guilt in the Vel d’Hiv round-up, so that he would solidify France’s relations with Germany? Mr. Macron is a self-declared centrist who has ties to the French socialist government. He is also a globalist, interested in the Eurozone while his opponent, Le Pen wanted to exit the European Union. Mr. Macron needs strong ties with Germany to fulfill his agenda of “euro-globalism,” and his desire to strengthen Europe. He has vowed to lift the state of emergency in place since early 2015 as well as adjusting and strengthening the laws against terrorism and radical Islam. This is–to say the least– a delicate balance between personal freedom and national security that, in my opinion, will be greatly hindered by a globalist approach. Time will tell, and hopefully without the loss of additional innocents lives.

And yet, with his bold presence at the Vel d’Hiv Commemoration, I cannot help but think that as honorable as it was, it is always easier to to agree with history in hindsight, rather than to make history. In our day and age, who would argue with the evil acts of Nazi Germany and even the Vichy government? On one hand, no one with integrity would attempt to vindicate or even exonerate the Nazis for barbarism against 6,000,000 Jews and other victims. On the other hand, it is a bit more complicated to point a politically incorrect finger at the perpetrators of a new breed of contemporary antisemitism taking place on Mr. Macron’s watch. It is always easier to point at those who did rather than those who do!

Additionally, Mr. Macron met with Mahmoud Abbas at the Elysée Palace, days before he met with Mr. Netanyahu. He reiterated his desire to achieve peace in the Middle East and condemned what he called “Israeli occupation,” clearly showing his position in the conflict as well as a certain lack of understanding of the facts.

How can he possibly commemorate an event that helps us preserve the memory of the Holocaust and say ““We will never surrender to the messages of hate; we will not surrender to anti-Zionism because it is a reinvention of anti-Semitism,”AND meet with a man whose very dissertation was on the theme of Holocaust denial. There is a serious disconnect here! But in our world of politics and diplomacy, leaders take each and every small victory they can take in the global arena, so Mr. Netanyahu praised Mr. Macron for his verbal stance against antisemitism, regardless of which part of history it was referring to.

Dear Mr. Macron, I don’t think that you can have your proverbial “Middle East cake” and eat it too . Genuinely fighting antisemitism, lifting the state of emergency, dialoguing with the terrorist head of the Palestinian Authority and keeping French citizens safe, while allowing France to be a relevant part of the European Union seems to be a very tall order, and one that is filled with contradictions. Something has got to give!

July 7, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Should Amazon Redefine our Freedom of the Press?

If a book has ever been published and is still in print, chances are you can find it on Amazon. There are millions of volumes available from the online giant in a myriad of languages. In perusing Amazon’s vast catalog, one is bound to run into books that they would disagree with, some that would rub them the wrong way and even some that are simply pushing the envelope too far. But this is what Freedom of the Press in America is all about. If you believe it, you can write about it, and if you write about it, you can publish and promote it. I value this freedom very much since I have written several books in the last two decades.

But exactly how far can we exercise our freedom to publish? The First Amendment of the US Constitution tells us: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This is of great value in America, considering that many countries are much more restrictive if not completely totalitarian in their approach to people’s freedom. This freedom is expressed through many writing styles.

One of them, satirical writing, can be traced back to ancient Egypt and has been used and perfected over the centuries. It includes humor, irony and sarcasm to tell a story and this is exactly what Assaf A. Voll used in the publishing of his recent book titled ” A History of the Palestinian People from Ancient Times to the Modern Era.“ The book is over 120 pages and all of them are blank. His tongue-in-cheek approach to the hot topic of Palestinian history quickly garnered him a top seller position on Amazon (#2 in the “Israel and Palestine” category.) Enough people thought that it was funny and left reviews on Amazon to catapult the book to #2. But apparently, many also were offended by the book’s approach to Palestinian history. His message was clear, when it comes to factual history, Palestinians have none prior the mid 1960s. One might agree or disagree with that message, yet freedom of the press guarantees that Mr. Voll’s book will be published and distributed, even on Amazon…at least for a few days!

Within a few days and under pressure, Amazon deleted the book from their catalogue claiming that the book “has been retired and is no longer for sale.” The book cannot be found either on Apple Ibooks or Barnes and Nobles site. Going back to Amazon’s decision to pull the book, one would tend to believe that the company has certain publishing standards that led to the cancellation, and that, in and of itself should be respected, if it is ethical and if the same standards apply for all books. But here is the rub…they don’t!

If you go to Amazon and look for a book like “The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion” you can purchase a copy from several suppliers. The book is supposed to comprise the minutes of several meetings held by important Jewish people regarding how they planned to take over the world. It was proven to be a hoax first published by Russian man Sergei Nilus in 1905, and since reprinted and distributed by many including Henry Ford. It has become a pillar in the edifice built on antisemitic literature and is still globally disseminated today. One Amazon page for the Protocols has a main review of the book saying” The entire world witnessed horrors that were unquestionably a direct result of the heinous prescriptions laid out earlier in the Protocols. To this day, almost a century later, the sweep of history has proven the Protocols to be genuine, authentic, and a real-life rendering of the most tragic events that have bedeviled mankind. One nation after another has suffered, and now the Zionist psychopaths have targeted the United States and Western Europe. The Protocols continue to ring true and sound the alarm. “

Is this an abuse of our freedom of the press? Is this worse than a book with blank pages? I will let you be the judge.

On a very different topic, and regarding a real piece of literature, you can also purchase a copy of Martin Luther’s 1543 work “On the Jews and their Lies” on Amazon. This small booklet was written by Martin Luther at the end of his life and was very abrasive against the Jews towards whom he had been rather friendly early on. In the book, Luther advises to burn synagogues, raze homes, confiscate holy books and forbid free passage among other things. He ends his treatise with powerful words against the Jews “My essay, I hope, will furnish a Christian (who in any case has no desire to become a Jew) with enough material not only to defend himself against the blind, venomous Jews, but also to become the foe of the Jews’ malice, lying, and cursing, and to understand not only that their belief is false but that they are surely possessed by all devils. May Christ, our dear Lord, convert them mercifully and preserve us steadfastly and immovably in the knowledge of him, which is eternal life. Amen.

This real book is still in print as part of Luther’s complete work. It brings chills down my spine when I read Amazon’s reviews of such work saying “On the Jews and Their Lies Luther’s magnificent defense of Jesus the Messiah and his exposé of the unfounded lies and accusations of the rabbis.” But freedom of the press is such that, as vitriolic as it might be, “On the Jews and their Lies” must be allowed in the Amazon catalogue. I don’t like it, but it is an undeniable part of history.

The point here is that Amazon seems to be using double standards when it comes to anything promoting Israel and the Jewish people or denigrating the Palestinian narrative, and it is a shame. Freedom of the Press has to either be all in or all out. We cannot allow it to be adjusted according to different agendas or flexing under pressure from different groups. Again, Israel is being singled out and targeted socially, culturally, politically and academically. I really hoped that Amazon wouldn’t be swayed by our postmodern view of Israel and the Jewish people. But it certainly looks like they are re-defining Freedom of the Press, at least for their catalogue. Maybe if more people who cared about the truth and an unbiased approach to information said something, then Amazon would listen. How will they know we care if we don’t speak up?

They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,
That the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
For they have conspired together with one mind;
Against You they make a covenant:
Psalm 83:4-5

June 22, 2017 By Olivier Melnick Leave a Comment

Will Nikki Haley Succeed in Reforming the UNHRC?

In 1945, The United Nations replaced the ineffective League of Nations in hope of preventing another world war. The intention was honorable and in its inceptive years, the United Nations were very influential in a positive way. One example is without a doubt the vote in favor of declaring the State of Israel in 1948. It was both historic and prophetic. Much has happened in the last 70 years, and not always in favor of Israel. As a matter of fact, more resolutions have been passed against Israel at the United Nations than any other countries in the world.

Within the United Nations body of represented governments, there exist a group started in 2006, known as the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council.) They describe themselves as follows: The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly.

The United-Nations Human Rights Council is one of the many agencies borne out of the United Nations. They seek to defend human rights and yet they target Israel–a strong promoter and enforcer of human rights–as a violator. They buy into the Palestinian narrative on a regular basis. On June 9, 2017, during the opening of the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights compared that Palestinians to Holocaust victims in a statement: “I grew up not far from the massive Palestinian refugee camp in al-Baqa’a. I worked across the street from the al-Wihdat refugee camp. In the past thirty years, I have been to Auschwitz-Birkenau, visited Dachau, seen Buchenwald. I have studied in depth the trials at Nuremberg and elsewhere, the long and painful history of anti-Semitism in Europe, Russia and later, Arab countries – an antisemitism which remains still present in far too many places around the world. Some will respond, mechanically almost, that the experiences of the two peoples are not equivalent, how could I mention them in one breath? Indeed, I agree – the Holocaust was so monstrous and so mathematically planned and executed, it has no parallel, no modern equal. Yet it is also undeniable that today, the Palestinian people mark a half-century of deep suffering under an occupation imposed by military force…”

This shameless diatribe against the Jewish people and Israel was unacceptable, yet most people in that meeting didn’t react except for the representative of Qatar who praised Mr. Al Hussein’s statement. Fortunately, Hillel Neuer, the representative from the organization UNWatch was present and spoke up to defend Israel. This was not the first time that Israel was targeted and it won’t be the last. But there seems to be a wind of change going through the United Nations with the appointment of Nikki Haley as the United States Ambassador to the UN. On June 19, in Geneva, Switzerland, she presented her ideas for a reform of the UNHRC.

Ms. Haley boldly but not blindly came to the defense of Israel when saying: “According to Hillel Neuer of UN Watch, in its first decade (2006 to 2016), the council adopted 68 resolutions condemning Israel and 67 condemning the rest of the world’s countries combined.” She delineated the three reasons why she believed that the UNHRC is flawed: Bias against Israel, blatant double standards against Israel, and the fact that human rights abusers actually hold seats on the council. Her challenging the body of the UNHRC is courageous and necessary. It remains to be seen if the UNHRC can be reformed since many of its members are either Arab or Muslim countries who support the Palestinian narrative. They follow the same path of one-sidedness as the United Nations.

Ms. Haley also pushed for a cancelation of what is known as “Agenda Item 7” within the UNHRC. “Agenda Item 7” demands that “Israel’s Human Rights violations against Palestinians” be discussed at each of the triennial sessions of the UNHRC. It also heavily promotes BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.) There have always been a few countries in attendance and in support over the years (although the United States have never attended since the UNHRC inception in 2006.)

This June, every single genuine democratic country that usually attends the UNHRC Agenda Item 7 meeting was absent. This should send a clear message to that body of the United Nations that it is time to be fair and unbiased. This should not be a farfetched expectation from an organization that claims they are: “responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them”

It looks like we live in the days that the Prophet Zechariah spoke of: “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:3). Fortunately, in Zechariah 12:8-9 we also read: “In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Ms. Haley could use our prayers for the difficult job she has in making sure the world is unbiased regarding Israel, but it is also very comforting to know that God has Israel’s back. After all it’s not for nothing that one of His most common names in the Bible is “the God of Israel!”

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