• Israel's leader cancels trip to memorial of anti-apartheid icon
    28 replies, posted
[quote]Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a last minute decision not to participate in a memorial service for the late South African President Nelson Mandela, despite having notified the South African government that he would attend the event. The decision was made in light of the high transportation costs resulting from the short notice of the trip and the security required for the prime minister in Johannesburg. The Prime Minister’s Office found that the trip would have cost roughly 7 million shekels ($1.9 million) – of which 2.8 million shekels (about $800,000) for chartering a private El Al plane and another 3.2 million shekels (about $910,000) for transporting security equipment and personnel on an Israeli Air Force plane, in addition to other costs.[/quote] [url]http://www.haaretz.com/mobile/.premium-1.562435?v=733F81A32FE1B1D650CC3EFCECC39273[/url] I don't believe it's about the money, he's trying to save face. Mandela was a huge supporter of the Palestinian cause and Israel's apartheid polices in the Palestinian territories aren't viewed favorably in South Africa. [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_and_the_apartheid_analogy#By_South_Africans[/url] [quote]In 2008 a delegation of ANC veterans visited Israel and the Occupied Territories, and said that in some respects it was worse than apartheid.[200][201] One member said "The daily indignity to which the Palestinian population is subjected far outstrips the apartheid regime."[/quote] [quote]Tutu wrote "I have been to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and I have witnessed the racially segregated roads and housing that reminded me so much of the conditions we experienced in South Africa under the racist system of Apartheid. I have witnessed the humiliation of Palestinian men, women, and children made to wait hours at Israeli military checkpoints routinely when trying to make the most basic of trips to visit relatives or attend school or college, and this humiliation is familiar to me and the many black South Africans who were corralled and regularly insulted by the security forces of the Apartheid government."[187] In 2011, Tutu wrote an article for the Tampa Bay Times, arguing that Israeli apartheid is now so bad that only an international boycott can force Israel to change its policies.[188][/quote]
It's funny, since they literally have Warsaw Ghetto v2 in Israel.
[quote]The Prime Minister’s Office found that the trip would have cost roughly 7 million shekels ($1.9 million) – of which 2.8 million shekels (about $800,000) for chartering a private El Al plane and another 3.2 million shekels (about $910,000) for transporting security equipment and personnel on an Israeli Air Force plane, in addition to other costs.[/quote] /pol/'s gonna have a field day
I find it ridiculous just for any world leader to visit another country it costs millions.
Any Israeli attempt to honor Mandela is an act of clear-cut mendacity. Ignoring Mandela's pro-Palestinian remarks made in the past, Israel secretly supported and relied on the apartheid government as they were willing to give nukes to Israel in private. Pretty sure it has to do with the politics. It's no surprise that Israel, in it's current apartheid form, would actually collaborate with apartheid South Africa. Pretty sure they learned a trick or two from them.
Israel can't pay for the trip = It must be because of their oppressive politics!!!
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43120808]Israel can't pay for the trip = It must be because of their oppressive politics!!![/QUOTE] No? They can afford to, they choose not to though, using cost as an excuse. Were pointing out the huge irony
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43120808]Israel can't pay for the trip = It must be because of their oppressive politics!!![/QUOTE] Spin doctors.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43120808]Israel can't pay for the trip = It must be because of their oppressive politics!!![/QUOTE] I wonder where those billions of dollars in US aid are being spent. Exterminating Palestinians is expensive work.
[QUOTE=archangel125;43120937]I wonder where those billions of dollars in US aid are being spent. Exterminating Palestinians is expensive work.[/QUOTE] Dude don't be an ass. Plenty of it gets used for a good cause, like spying on rest of the outside world, including America.
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;43122028]Dude don't be an ass. Plenty of it gets used for a good cause, like spying on rest of the outside world, including America.[/QUOTE] I think you're talking about America, not Israel.
I think it's ridiculous for a world leader to make a trip cost 7 mil
[QUOTE=Monkah;43122062]I think you're talking about America, not Israel.[/QUOTE] Nah Israel is pretty big on spying too. CIA considers Mossad the #1 intelligence threat in the region.
Oh vey thats a lotta shekels! Mandela? I hardly knew him!
[QUOTE=A_Pigeon;43122144]I think it's ridiculous for a world leader to make a trip cost 7 mil[/QUOTE] He should go economy class
[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;43122149]Nah Israel is pretty big on spying too. CIA considers Mossad the #1 intelligence threat in the region.[/QUOTE] aren't they supposed to be sucking the mossad's dick?
[QUOTE=A_Pigeon;43122144]I think it's ridiculous for a world leader to make a trip cost 7 mil[/QUOTE] 1.9 mil in our currency. Still kind of silly, at that rate it'd be cheaper to just stick the guy on a cargo plane with some soldiers and call it a day. You got your plane [I]and[/I] security in one package, and they're already pre-paid by the military budget! [editline]9th December 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Heroku;43122207]aren't they supposed to be sucking the mossad's dick?[/QUOTE] Mossad spies on the CIA, and even does some of their operations under the CIA's 'flag', so if they fuck up, the finger gets pointed at America.
Trying to save face from what? He said he'd attend, and after being informed of the costs, decided to cancel the trip because it's a huge waste of money. Getting a president abroad costs a shitload because there are so many security measures to take. You guys are, as usual, stirring shit with retarded speculations and assumptions.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43120808]Israel can't pay for the trip = It must be because of their oppressive politics!!![/QUOTE] yeah, I guess Netanyahu is just a stingy miser. I'm sure he'd rather just use the Israeli taxpayers' money on maintaining one of his many homes. Or you know, maybe his trip would be more affordable if he didn't fly with things like a 127,000 dollar bed in his plane? [url]http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/12/netanyahu-turbulence-127000-bed-plane[/url] [QUOTE=Melnek;43122371]Trying to save face from what? He said he'd attend, and after being informed of the costs, decided to cancel the trip because it's a huge waste of money. Getting a president abroad costs a shitload because there are so many security measures to take. You guys are, as usual, stirring shit with retarded speculations and assumptions.[/QUOTE] Yeah, and yet 50 other world leaders were able to attend. Just admit it, he's saving face. But whatever, if you want admit your leader is a cheap-ass, go ahead. [url]http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/south-africa-hosts-53-world-leaders-for-nelson-mandela-funeral/story-e6frg6n6-1226779188467[/url]
[QUOTE=Lamar;43122446] [url]http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/south-africa-hosts-53-world-leaders-for-nelson-mandela-funeral/story-e6frg6n6-1226779188467[/url][/QUOTE] Yeah, and approx. 140 other 'world leaders' were not able to attend. What's your point? [quote]if you want admit your leader is a cheap-ass, go ahead.[/quote] President spends too much of taxpayer money = greedy scum. President decides to cancel non-affordable trip to not spend as much taxpayer money in light of recent events = cheap-ass trying to save face. This is amazing. How about, in the future, instead of poking these dumb, snide and petty jabs at anything Israel related you focus on discussing actual issues without coming off as a severely upset child.
[QUOTE=Melnek;43122499]Yeah, and approx. 140 other 'world leaders' were not able to attend. What's your point?[/QUOTE] He was already scheduled to attend (most likely by other members of government), he cancelled to save face.
[QUOTE=Lamar;43122537]He was already scheduled to attend (most likely by other members of government), he cancelled to save face.[/QUOTE] What. You think presidents are scheduled by 'other members of the government' to attend to these things? They may be advised, but the decision is entirely in their hands. I really dont understand how you think the government works. Additionally; [quote]a senior Israeli official said Netanyahu had planned on holding a meeting with representatives from the South African Jewish community at his hotel.[/quote] It really doesn't sound like he wasn't planning on attending. He already scheduled the whole thing and someone must've informed him of the costs at which point he decided to cancel. It's as simple as that.
You're hopelessly naive if you really think he decided to cancel for financial reasons. We're talking about the guy who flied with a $127,000 "sleep chamber" and spent thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on scented candles and ice cream. [url]http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/netanyahu-under-fire-over-hefty-spend-on-candles-and-flowers-251451.html[/url] [url]http://rt.com/news/netanyahu-plane-bed-chamber-176/[/url] Him wanting to save money by canceling his attendance for Mandela's memorial service are just bullshit politician lies.
omg the fact that they call their currency shekels makes me giggle like mad
Doesn't help they jewish stereotype at all. Nope.
[QUOTE=archangel125;43120937]I wonder where those billions of dollars in US aid are being spent. Exterminating Palestinians is expensive work.[/QUOTE] is that so doctor? Israelis and Palestinians won't know what peace is for a long time, and people like you aren't doing very much to help find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;43120832]No? They can afford to, they choose not to though, using cost as an excuse. Were pointing out the huge irony[/QUOTE] The huge irony being the stupid ass close minded belief that "Jews have all the money" ?
[QUOTE=Melnek;43122371]Trying to save face from what? He said he'd attend, and after being informed of the costs, decided to cancel the trip because it's a huge waste of money. Getting a president abroad costs a shitload because there are so many security measures to take. You guys are, as usual, stirring shit with retarded speculations and assumptions.[/QUOTE] If that was the case, then they'd've invoked this before with cancellations of other state visits. I'm pretty sure they had estimated the cost of the trip before he even committed to say he would be there, and if that was the case he would have said he'd never come in the first place. Again, if price was a concern they would have not committed to come at all. I'm pretty sure this has to do with avoid angering more nationalist members of the government or those supporting it, as Mandela had made some criticisms of Israel that was seen as unconditional support for Palestinians.
[QUOTE=darunner;43125052]The huge irony being the stupid ass close minded belief that "Jews have all the money" ?[/QUOTE] I'm not claiming that. You are. Israel is a rich state and the government is largely paid and subsidized by the USA
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