Im Tirtzu
Encyclopedia
Im Tirtzu is a Zionist extra-parliamentary group based in Israel
. Its name is based on a phrase by Theodor Herzl
– "אם תרצו, אין זו אגדה" or "If you will it, it is no dream."
(also known as the Goldstone Report). The campaign included posters of NIF chairwoman Naomi Chazan with a horn strapped by a string on her forehead (In Hebrew, the word "horn" also means "fund"). Chazan responded that in her eyes, the campaign is against democracy itself. The executive director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Hagai El-Ad, denied Im Tirtzu's allegations. Gideon Levy
, writing in Haaretz, likened Im Tirzu's campaign against NIF to fascist tactics. Gershon Baskin, writing in the Jerusalem Post, accused Im Tirzu of using an "anti-Semitic motif" as part of a "witch-hunt" that "is reminiscent of the darkest days of McCarthyism."
In a joint statement referring to the campaign against Israeli universities, the heads of Israel's seven leading universities urged condemnation of what they called Im Tirtzu's bid to create a "thought police." Im Tirtzu responded, "All Im Tirtzu asked from BGU is that a solution be found to the extreme bias found in the Political Science department, where only post-Zionist opinions are presented."
to launch a criminal investigation into the operations of Machsom Watch
for allegedly violating an IDF
order prohibiting Israelis from entering the Palestinian village of Awarta
.
, Im Tirtzu launched a campaign accompanied by a 70-page booklet called "Nakba Bullshit" (נכבה חרטא) that describes the Nakba "a lie that threatens to drown us like a tsunami." On 15 May dozens of Im Tirtzu activists gathered outside the offices of UNRWA in Jerusalem holding signs and chanting, "They expelled, they attacked, they lost."
Ministries (JHM) via the Christian-Zionist
organization Christians United for Israel
(CUFI). Im Tirtzu received US$100,000 from JHM and $34,000 from other sources. In 2010, The Jerusalem Post reported that JHM "expressed deep displeasure" with Im Tirtzu after its campaigns against the New Israel Fund and Ben-Gurion University and announced the cessation of its funding. A JHM spokesman said that Im Tirtzu "misrepresented its focus when they told us their mission was strictly Zionist education."
The Houston Jewish Federation also publicly renounced Im Tirtzu's campaign and said that it would no longer fund the group because it had "morphed into a quasi-political organization".
The Inter Press Service
has characterized Im Tirtzu as an "ultra-rightist group".
In 2009, Abe Selig, writing for the Jerusalem Post choose Im Tirtzu as: "Young Israelis of the year: Im Tirtzu (If You Will It): Herzl's army".
Im Tirtzu's website states that it is "a centrist extra-parliamentary movement."
Interviews
Articles
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Its name is based on a phrase by Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl , born Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl was an Ashkenazi Jew Austro-Hungarian journalist and the father of modern political Zionism and in effect the State of Israel.-Early life:...
– "אם תרצו, אין זו אגדה" or "If you will it, it is no dream."
NIF report
In 2010, Im Tirtzu published a document and launched a campaign in the Israeli media that alleged connections between organizations supported by the New Israel Fund and the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza ConflictUnited Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict
The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, known as the Goldstone Report, was a team established in April 2009 by the United Nations Human Rights Council during the Gaza War as an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate alleged violations of international...
(also known as the Goldstone Report). The campaign included posters of NIF chairwoman Naomi Chazan with a horn strapped by a string on her forehead (In Hebrew, the word "horn" also means "fund"). Chazan responded that in her eyes, the campaign is against democracy itself. The executive director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Hagai El-Ad, denied Im Tirtzu's allegations. Gideon Levy
Gideon Levy
Gideon Levy is an Israeli journalist.Levy writes opinion pieces and a weekly column for the newspaper Haaretz that often focus on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories...
, writing in Haaretz, likened Im Tirzu's campaign against NIF to fascist tactics. Gershon Baskin, writing in the Jerusalem Post, accused Im Tirzu of using an "anti-Semitic motif" as part of a "witch-hunt" that "is reminiscent of the darkest days of McCarthyism."
Academy bias report
In 2008, Im Tirtzu published a report regarding the syllabuses in various academic departments. According to the report, researchers rejecting the notion of nationality, or supporting anti-Zionist views get much more exposure in the reading lists. In 2010, Im Tirtzu sent the head of the Ben Gurion University a letter, demanding that they stop the "anti Zionist bias" in its politics and government department. The letter alleged that 9 out of 11 professors in the department were involved in extreme left wing activities (among others an attempt to persuade other countries boycott the Israeli academy). Im Tirtzu threatened to notify the donors of the university if the problem was not rectified.In a joint statement referring to the campaign against Israeli universities, the heads of Israel's seven leading universities urged condemnation of what they called Im Tirtzu's bid to create a "thought police." Im Tirtzu responded, "All Im Tirtzu asked from BGU is that a solution be found to the extreme bias found in the Political Science department, where only post-Zionist opinions are presented."
Initiatives against Machsom Watch
In May 2011 the organization called on Attorney-General Yehuda WeinsteinYehuda Weinstein
Yehuda Weinstein is an Israeli lawyer and the Attorney General of Israel, having replaced the previous attorney general, Menachem Mazuz, on 1 February 2010.-Biography:...
to launch a criminal investigation into the operations of Machsom Watch
Machsom Watch
Machsom Watch, or Checkpoint Watch is a group of Israeli women who monitor checkpoints in the West Bank and the military courts, out of opposition to the Israeli occupation...
for allegedly violating an IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
order prohibiting Israelis from entering the Palestinian village of Awarta
Awarta
Awarta is a Palestinian town located southeast of Nablus, in the northern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of 5,623 inhabitants in 2007...
.
Nakba Day
Also in May 2011, with the approach of Nakba DayNakba Day
Nakba Day is generally commemorated on May 15, the day after the Gregorian calendar date for Israeli independence day...
, Im Tirtzu launched a campaign accompanied by a 70-page booklet called "Nakba Bullshit" (נכבה חרטא) that describes the Nakba "a lie that threatens to drown us like a tsunami." On 15 May dozens of Im Tirtzu activists gathered outside the offices of UNRWA in Jerusalem holding signs and chanting, "They expelled, they attacked, they lost."
Annual convention
Following the 'Nakba Harta' campaign, Im Tirzu held its third annual convention. More than 300 activists and supporters participated in the convention. During the convention speeches were made by the movement's chairman, Ronen Shoval, the Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs, Yuli Edelstein, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Danny Ayalon, Deputy Minister Ayoob Kara, Coalition Chairman Zeev Elkin, and Knesset Members Faina Kirshenbaum, Tzippi Hotovely, Otniel Schneller (Kadima) and Yulia Shamalov Berkovich (Kadima).Controversy
In 2009, Im Tirtzu’s largest donor was the John HageeJohn Hagee
John Charles Hagee is an American founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a non-denominational charismatic megachurch with more than 19,000 active members...
Ministries (JHM) via the Christian-Zionist
Christian Zionism
Christian Zionism is a belief among some Christians that the return of the Jews to the Holy Land, and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, is in accordance with Biblical prophecy. It overlaps with, but is distinct from, the nineteenth century movement for the Restoration of the Jews...
organization Christians United for Israel
Christians United For Israel
Christians United for Israel is an American pro-Israel Christian organization that defines itself as "a national grassroots movement focused on the support of Israel." It is the "largest" pro-Israel organization in the United States....
(CUFI). Im Tirtzu received US$100,000 from JHM and $34,000 from other sources. In 2010, The Jerusalem Post reported that JHM "expressed deep displeasure" with Im Tirtzu after its campaigns against the New Israel Fund and Ben-Gurion University and announced the cessation of its funding. A JHM spokesman said that Im Tirtzu "misrepresented its focus when they told us their mission was strictly Zionist education."
The Houston Jewish Federation also publicly renounced Im Tirtzu's campaign and said that it would no longer fund the group because it had "morphed into a quasi-political organization".
The Inter Press Service
Inter Press Service
Inter Press Service is a global news agency. Its main focus is the production of independent news and analysis about events and processes affecting economic, social and political development....
has characterized Im Tirtzu as an "ultra-rightist group".
In 2009, Abe Selig, writing for the Jerusalem Post choose Im Tirtzu as: "Young Israelis of the year: Im Tirtzu (If You Will It): Herzl's army".
Im Tirtzu's website states that it is "a centrist extra-parliamentary movement."
External links
- Im Tirtzu, official website
- Video filmed by Im Tirtzu, YouTube
Interviews
- Interview with Ronen Shoval, Channel 2
- Interview with Ronen Shoval, Channel 1 (begins on minute 07:15)
- Interview with Ronen Shoval, Educational TV (begins on minute 06:28)
- Interview with Erez Tadmor, IDF Radio
- Interview, Radio Haifa
Articles
- , An article on Im Tirtzu's flotilla demonstration on Maariv's news site
- Article on Im Tirtzu's flotilla demonstration on Arutz 7's news
- , An article on the flotilla on Yediot Ahronot's news
- http://www.mako.co.il/news-channel2/NewsFlash/Article-032ee0403e6f031004.htm, Channel 2 News – "Mivzak Hatzot" – July 5
- , An article on the flotilla on the Israeli Druze News site
- , Radio Kol Rega (local radio in Israel's northern region)
- http://www.haolam.de/index.php?site=artikeldetail&id=5804, An article in English:
- , An article in Russian
- http://www.radiojai.com.ar/online/notiDetalle.asp?id_Noticia=55875, An article in Spanish on Radio Hai: (Latin American Jewish Radio)
- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/7432687.html , Chinese news agency