Saturday, January 3, 2009

Pilar Rahola


Pilar Rahola

Pilar Rahola is a Spanish politician, journalist and activist. She is a passionate defender of the United States and Israel and an indefatigable fighter against anti-Semitism. All these despite being ideologically from the left. Her articles are published in Spain and throughout some of the most important newspapers in Latin America. She is the recipient of major awards by Jewish organizations.

I came across this speech and felt that it was worthwhile placing it in my blog. I translated it and assume full responsibility for any errors. If you want to visit her blog, you can do so by clicking here: Pilar Rahola. Some of her articles translated into English.

Why don’t we see demonstrations against Islamic dictatorships in London, Paris, Barcelona? Or demonstrations against the Burmese dictatorship? Why aren’t there demonstrations against the enslavement of millions of women who live without any legal protection? Why aren’t there demonstrations against the use of children as human bombs where there is conflict with Islam? Why has there been no leadership in support of the victims of Islamic dictatorship in Sudan? Why is there never any outrage against the acts of terrorism committed against Israel? Why is there no outcry by the European left against Islamic fanaticism? Why don’t they defend Israel’s right to exist? Why confuse support of the Palestinian cause with the defense of Palestinian terrorism? An finally, the million dollar question:Why is the left in Europe and around the world obsessed with the two most solid democracies, the United States and Israel, and not with the worst dictatorships on the planet? The two most solid democracies, who have suffered the bloodiest attacks of terrorism, and the left doesn’t care.

And then, to the concept of freedom. In every pro Palestinian European forum I hear the left yelling with fervor: “We want freedom for the people!” Not true. They are never concerned with freedom for the people of Syria or Yemen or Iran or Sudan, or other such nations. And they are never preoccupied when Hammas destroys freedom for the Palestinians. They are only concerned with using the concept of Palestinian freedom as a weapon against Israeli freedom. The resulting consequence of these ideological pathologies is the manipulation of the press.

The international press does major damage when reporting on the question of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. On this topic they don’t inform, they propagandize. When reporting about Israel the majority of journalists forget the reporter code of ethics. And so, any Israeli act of self-defense becomes a massacre, and any confrontation, genocide. So many stupid things have been written about Israel, that there aren’t any accusations left to level against her. At the same time, this press never discusses Syrian and Iranian interference in propagating violence against Israel; the indoctrination of children and the corruption of the Palestinians. And when reporting about victims, every Palestinian casualty is reported as tragedy and every Israeli victim is camouflaged, hidden or reported about with disdain.

And let me add on the topic of the Spanish left. Many are the examples that illustrate the anti-Americanism and anti-Israeli sentiments that define the Spanish left. For example, one of the leftist parties in Spain has just expelled one of its members for creating a pro-Israel website. I quote from the expulsion document: “Our friends are the people of Iran, Libya and Venezuela, oppressed by imperialism, and not a Nazi state like Israel.”

In another example, the socialist mayor of Campozuelos changed Shoah Day, commemorating the victims of the Holocaust, with Palestinian Nabka Day, which mourns the establishment of the State of Israel, thus showing contempt for the six million European Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Or in my native city of Barcelona, the city council decided to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel, by having a week of solidarity with the Palestinian people. Thus, they invited Leila Khaled, a noted terrorist from the 70’s and current leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist organization so described by the European Union, which promotes the use of bombs against Israel. And so on and so on.

This politically correct way of thinking has even polluted the speeches of president Zapatero. His foreign policy falls within the lunatic left, and on issues of the Middle East he is unequivocally pro Arab. I can assure you that in private, Zapatero places on Israel the blame for the conflict in the Middle East, and the policies of foreign minister Moratinos reflect this. The fact that Zapatero chose to wear a kafiah in the midst of the Lebanon conflict is no coincidence; it’s a symbol.

Spain has suffered the worst terrorist attack in Europe and it is in the crosshairs of every Islamic terrorist organization. As I wrote before, they kill us will cell phones hooked to satellites connected to the Middle Ages. An yet the Spanish left is the most anti Israeli in the world.

And then it says it is anti Israeli because of solidarity. This is the madness I want to denounce in this conference.

Conclusion:

I am not Jewish. Ideologically I am left and by profession a journalist. Why am I not as anti Israeli as my colleagues? Because as a non-Jew I have the historical responsibility to fight against Jewish hatred and currently against the hatred for their historic homeland, Israel. To fight against anti-Semitism is not the duty of the Jews, it is the duty of the non-Jews.

As a journalist it is my duty to search for the truth beyond prejudice, lies and manipulations. The truth about Israel is not told. As a person from the left who loves progress, I am obligated to defend liberty, culture, civic education for children, coexistence and the laws that the Tablets of the Covenant made into universal principles. Principles that Islamic fundamentalism systematically destroys. That is to say that as a non-Jew, journalist and lefty I have a triple moral duty with Israel, because if Israel is destroyed, liberty, modernity and culture will be destroyed too.

The struggle of Israel, even if the world doesn’t want to accept it, is the struggle of the world.

54 comments:

Unknown said...

Finally a friend!! And a very sane one!

Anonymous said...

at last somone say things truly, see the whole story, without being hipocrate. she say things out loud that even the israeli government afraid to say. the islamic fanatics controll daily life whole over the world, only israelis fight against it, and one day the whole world will think like this respectful lady, but it might be too late.

Anonymous said...

Pilar, you are so amazing. You are a reality of freedom and goodness in the world.

Thank you for fitting for the rights of all humanity.

Please lets all be like Pilar and help every human been regardless of religion and color.

Unknown said...

I admire your courage to stand up to the world and tell the truth that no one wants to listen to. the world don't understand that today it's our (= the Israelis) war against terror, but tommorrow it may and probably will be their war and their freedom will be jeopardize.

Thank you for your truth.

Anonymous said...

the world will keep on hating israel... there is nothing to do about it.
things will be changed only when the terror will attack europe itself.
it's easy for people to sit in their "safe spot" and criticize israel for her actions. but when europe will be in the same situation they will come to us asking how to fight it. i just hope it won't be too late for them.

Unknown said...

The world cannot accept Israel, as a strong, free entity. The world is used to the beaten, low spirit, opressed Jew !!
Well, as a nation that sanctify human lives, opposite to our "precious" neighbors, that worship blood, revenge,slaughter, etc... it seems that this endless conflict will never end.
The loss is their, that's for sure

Anonymous said...

A great speech indeed.

Lately I've been talking about a new approach to the problem. Undermine the terror economically. It should be in Israel's direct national interest to develop safe, clean, and efficient oil-free energy. This program will not only benefit Israel, while cutting off its enemies, but such a program will intersect exactly the groups (in America and Europe) that can and should be on board Israel's political aims, that of lasting and true peace in the region.

http://cleantech-israel.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

one thing I've noticed about Israel hatred in the US... is that there is a class of people who are defectors from middle America who were raised on the bread of American Evangelical Christianity, which holds to the doctrine that the singular justification for Israel is divine ordinance. When they reject their upbringing, they reject Israel, despite the fact that Israel exists for many reasons outside of the Evangelical one (Israel was formed by the British as a direct result of WWI).

If you are approaching the matter as secular humanist, I would say Israel wins out as well. Those guys have a way of overlooking the ideology of Hamas and neighboring states...

urbanadder22 said...

More of Pilar Rahola's articles can be found as follows:

"Spanish anti-Semitism is alive in the Left" and a couple of articles in Spanish (scroll down)
at http://thejewinyellow.blogspot.com/2008/07/spanish-anti-semitism-is-alive-in-left.html

Her website
http://www.pilarrahola.com/3_0/PRESENTACIO/default.cfm?IDIOMA=ENG look for British flag for English

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Pilar, for your ability to see the whole picture and not just believing what is fed to you by bigoted journalists and politicians and the whole Islamic propaganda machine.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Pilar,
Finally someone is standing up for Israel.
I have been asking these same questions for many years.
Do you think anything is going to change?
Why doesn’t the world see the Israeli neighbors for what they really are? Who is stopping them to go forward, but their fanatic leaders?
We keep on praying for peace. Amen.

Unknown said...

Thank you Pilar for being so brave and for standing up for Israel. It is very comfortable to critisize them for defending their country and to defend a group of terrorists. I wish the world would not be anti semitic and that peace arrives finally.
Thank you again for everything and for helping us. You are an excellent example to follow.

Iron Chef Kosher! said...

I thank Pilar for the sanity check & I thank G-d for Pilar.

Macho Alfa said...

I don't even seen Rahola demostrating on favor a free Iran or freedom for pals!! Why she want anothers must do the demonstrations she pleased or liked? Spain is a free country, so Rahola is free to demostrate for what she believe and think! Don't be a confortable coward on your house watching TV, Rahola! Take in it to the streets!! other way you become a cinic and hypocrate one!!

Anonymous said...

Pilar Rahola writes a regular column in La Vanguardia (Published in Barcelona--the largest newspaper in Catalunya) which is really worth reading. You can find it at La Vaguardia online. She is a gifted writer and a fierce opponent of hypocrisy, political corruption and demagogy, as well as antisemitism and speaks out against those evils.

Anonymous said...

Its good to see the truth from an outsiders point of view, and I say bravo, I wish more people would take up this challenge.

Anonymous said...

I would like to propose a (perhaps simplistic) reason the Left may not care for Israel. Israel was essentially founded upon socialist principles. The Soviet Union and several of its internal and satellite states were the first to recognize its existence. But with time, Israel became a flourishing western style democracy and economically became a western style capitalist economy. Indeed, today it has the highest number of start up companies in the world. I believe the organized Left has never forgiven Israel for not remaining a socialist state. Bravo to Sra. Rahola for pointing out the folly of supporting purported leftist countries that are really dictatorships of various levels of oppressiveness toward their own people.

Max Friedman said...

Pilar: You are not a leftist because a leftist cannot believe in the things you do.

You are a decent human being who does not need a label as such. But I suggest that you are closer to the conservative or libertarian political points of view than to the marxist/socialist/liberal Left.

Perhaps you are a cousin of the late Oriana Fallaci or Ginetta Sagan, at least in mentality.

Thanks for standing up for Israel, the US and against anti-semitism and anti-Americanism.

Max Friedman - from a Holocaust ravaged family - Lemberg, Belzec, Auschwitz

Anonymous said...

Thank you Pilar for your clear vision and conclusive speech.
What is puzzling is how come the leftists are still holding prominent positions in the media and government despite the bankruptcy of all leftist ideas. And how can the leftist who do not focus on religion, join forces with many of the fanatic Islamic organization that are driven by religion.
There are many journalists, writers, politicians and others who are writing, speaking and reporting exactly what Pilar is saying and believing in; but the media is controlled by a bunch of people who are not sensible enough to deal with the reality and they rather bash Israel on the head and they are stupid enough thinking that if you allow a fire to start at your neighbour’s house, it won’t spread to their house.
Will the Europeans be able to understand what Pilar is talking about? I don’t think they are quick enough and by the time they get it, it might be too late.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the article in English. Where can I find it in Spanish?

Unknown said...

Thank you, Pilar! A friend in need is a friend in deed! Thank you for being a friend to the Jewish people and to Israel.

Nachum Israel said...

Thanks to Pilar for the artcle on the hypocracy of Left Wing Politics.
Also there are many Right Wingers who hate us.
Always the power hungry use a slogan to unite the masses behind them.
I am an Israeli. I was born in the UK and in the 1950's as a schoolboy I would run home to escape the stone throwing and the calls "Jew Boy Go Home" etc.

Maybe someone will commission a study
"The Psychological Origins of 'Israel Bashing' "
Subtitled:
"Fashion and the Herd Instinct. Propaganda and The Hypnosis of the Masses. Facism and Nazism"

esamagon said...

1st liar: Rahola is not a politician; 2nd liar, is not a leftish; 3rd liar, is not an activist on any way and not belonging to not any non profitable organization... And so, all of this article (in fact a Rahola ancien one specially published to attack the Israel attackers) is fulled with liars and hate. Why don't we see demonstrations etc.? Maybe because these dictatorships are not war criminals as Israel is and have not occupied territories. But Rahola and her readers and followers are free to takin' it to the streets and demonstrate etc. but, oh my boy, they don't, why? Why we don't see Rahola demonstrate against she wont other people demonstrate against, etc.? you reach: Rahola wants other people fight for her wars and battles but she don't! Yeah, Rahola suport not just a war criminal state (Isra) and earn money doing so, but also suport Honduras coup d'etat and also suport bigotry against immigrants inside her Catalonia fatherland. Her statements and bias are the sames speached by belgian politician De Viers now under trial for that. Finally, Rahola have hate under her skin and deep in her heart, she is very professional on hate, she hate almost everybody in the world: the left, the Islam, the muslims (but obviously she buy 'muslim gas' for her car!), the crhistians, the Pope, the Church, the poles, the germans, the palestinians, the young ones, the 'Che' followers, the immigrants, the Spanish Government, the Catalonian Government, the UE, the NU, the catalonian politicians, the spanishs politicians, the hispanos politicians, the Castro brothers, the bullfights, the president Obama, the 'toreadores', the sound and fury... just three things in the world Rahola don't hate: USA, Israel and the Barcelonne Local Police

Anonymous said...

An outstanding and courageous speech. Thank you for speaking the truth loudly.

jamie glazov said...

Dear Mario M., this is Jamie Glazov, the editor of Frontpagemag.com. Can you contact me please at jglazov@rogers.com. We would like permission to reprint the blog on Pilar Rahola. Thank you.

jamie glazov said...

Dear Mario M., this is Jamie Glazov, the editor of Frontpagemag.com. Can you contact me please at jglazov@rogers.com. We would like permission to reprint the blog on Pilar Rahola. Thank you.

Lea said...

I am against "anti" anything, be it anti-semitism, anti-islam, anti-christianity; all are immoral and lacking in basic humanity, except for anti-terrorism. It's time we are "pro" something: pro- freedom of thought and religion, pro-humanity, pro- love, and pro-understanding. I am pro-Israeli, pro-Palestinian, pro-Jewish, pro- Christian, pro-Islam. All of the above stand for freedom, mutual understanding and acceptance, and above all mutual respect. Let's just stop the criticizing and starting looking for the Good. Funny thing: GOOD HAPPENS! If we aren't noticing, we will miss it! Viva la difference! Viva l' amitié! Viva! l'acceptance! Let's just all love each other! Lea

Jonathan Danilowitz said...

esamagon (who does not give a real name of course - what a coward!) ranted on about Pilar Rahola's "lies" - and then goes on to lie through his/her teeth, creating anti-Israel'facts', adding hatred and anti-Semitism. Just like the very people Rahola speaks about. What a joke!!

Poshetn Yid said...

wow, with friends like Pilar, who needs enemies?

Poshetn Yid said...

May I add that if anyone is seriously interested in combatting anti-semitism in the left, they should read:
http://www.pinteleyid.com/past/

But lets face it, this is hardly the forum for that, is it.

Unknown said...

does anyone know how to get in tuch with this lady? i think we should all send her letters of support as she must be getting a lot of hate mail from those nice left wing people.
please send me the info,
shaya@israeltravelproviders.com

Denise Rouben said...

Please tell Pilar Rahola that I thank her with all my heart for having the courage to defend the Jews.

logo said...

Well said,
We have an angle among us who see's the facts which is blinded by those who have special interest to support the evil.

Anonymous said...

I appreciated very much Pilar Rahola's insights and the courage that it takes to be so outspoken. G-d knows we need such advocates in a world drowning with lies, vicious vitriol, distortions, hate, etc.
I, too, would appreciate a direct link to her so as top express my gratitude and admiration directly.
Rabbi Simcha Freedman
rebsimcha@bellsout.net

Unknown said...

Bravo PIlar Rahola .
Por todo lo que dices, gracias.
Una persona como tu y la esperanza , aunque tenue, vive.Y bravo por el coraje, la lucidez, la honestidad, la fuerza.
Grace. Paris

BDH said...

Pilar, I would like to commend you for having the strength and courage to stand up for what is right, for freedom justice and democracy. God Bless You.

esamagon said...

Rahola is not an independent journalist, not a brave one, etc. waht she does, she does for money, she work by a prize, under a payment, she writes not like a honest citizen, but like a criminal cop corrupted by a mafia gang. She never make a boycott against 'islamics goods' as numbers and maths, oil, plastics, sinthetics robes and artifacts, etc. She is a liar, and is liying every minute, every second of her life

Anonymous said...

Rahola is not an independent journalist, not a brave one, etc. waht she does, she does for money, she work by a prize, under a payment, she writes not like a honest citizen, but like a criminal cop corrupted by a mafia gang. She never make a boycott against 'islamics goods' as numbers and maths, oil, plastics, sinthetics robes and artifacts, etc. She is a liar, and is liying every minute, every second of her life

Anonymous said...

Dear esamagon,
It doesn't matter who or what she is or is not. The fact it that she is speaking the truth. Israel is not at all a war criminal like you mistakenly claim. Israel wants peace but it has no partner for it. Every little thing Israel does is being shown in the media as something different than it is. Israel has never intentionally did anything to hurt the people we are talking about, but Israel CANNOT and WILL NOT accept terrorism on ITS land. Every war brings losses, to both sided, but Israel is not the one using women and children as human shields. Using innocent people as human shields and planting bombs in schools IS a war crime. Defending Israeli citizens who suffer from missile attacks every single day for several years is NOT a crime, of any kind.
Please, for your own sake and for the sake of others, educate yourself and speak the truth. And don't try to criticize or argue against those who do.

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Unknown said...

www.sangambayard-c-m.com

Lea said...

I wish to unsubscribe. I don't have time to read it.

Michael said...

Unfortunately, I cannot agree with her. As an Israeli, I need a possibility to criticize what Israeli government does. In the last years Israel stopped to be a European-like state. Expelling the Jews from Gaza in 2005, terrible treatment of religious Jews, and what they did in Gaza 2 years ago are expelling the state of Israel from the civilized world.

I think the normal people should boycot Israel until their policies are changed.

Michael

Anonymous said...

The Cid Campeador must be turning in his grave hearing the spanish support/help for muslim extremism

Anonymous said...

The Cid Campeador must be turning in his grave hearing the spanish support/help for muslim extremism

Anonymous said...

Where is the link to the original spanish article please?

Anonymous said...

Where is the link to the original spanish article please?

Paul Nisenbaum said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paul Nisenbaum said...

Great article and transalation.

Please send me the URL link to the original Spanish article.

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Anonymous said...

Hi!
Well this one goes better in Catalonian!
Hola Pilar,
Soc un asturiá conegut teu que vaig perdre el teu e-mail i em fá falta per.a estar en contacte mes sovint perque tenim les mateixes idees en prácticament tots els assumptes ( Catalunya, politic-religioses, judaism, etc).Escriu missatges en asturiá, catala, espanyol i anglés sobre el tema d'Israel pero, es clar, no me lo publican pas els molt hipócris. He estat a Israel en Sept, 2011. Sisplau,enviam el teu e-mail. Molt agraït per adevanta! El teu amic i
"forofu"!
jahc/xahf Josep A. De la Huerta
Puxa Asturies, Visca Catalunya, Long Live Israel.
Des.de Gijon/Xixon

Anonymous said...

Hi!
Well this one goes better in Catalonian!
Hola Pilar,
Soc un asturiá conegut teu que vaig perdre el teu e-mail i em fá falta per.a estar en contacte mes sovint perque tenim les mateixes idees en prácticament tots els assumptes ( Catalunya, politic-religioses, judaism, etc).Escriu missatges en asturiá, catala, espanyol i anglés sobre el tema d'Israel pero, es clar, no me lo publican pas els molt hipócris. He estat a Israel en Sept, 2011. Sisplau,enviam el teu e-mail. Molt agraït per adevanta! El teu amic i
"forofu"!
jahc/xahf Josep A. De la Huerta
Puxa Asturies, Visca Catalunya, Long Live Israel.
Des.de Gijon/Xixon