The John Batchelor Show

Wednesday 24 May 2017

Air Date: 
May 24, 2017

Photo: Six Day War, 1967, Moshe Dayan.
 
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
 
Co-host:  Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents.
 
EL AL MIDDLE EAST REPORT, special edition from Tbilisi, Baku and Jerusalem; today, in Jerusalem.  
Bob Hope and Bing Crosby on the road.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_w3UG6C_Mo
Hour One
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 1, Block A: Aaron Klein, Investigative Radio and Breitbart Middle East Bureau Chief, in re:  Pres Trump's visit to Israel: the day after.  Air Force One off-the-record briefing on anticipated regional cooperation, from Cairo to Riyadh, including Jerusalem.  Establish something rather like an Arab NATO against violent state-destruction such as ISIS, al Qaeda, Hizbullah and Hamas are endeavoring. 
Yisrael Katz, an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud, as the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Intelligence and as member of the Security Cabinet of Israel.  He proposes expanding the Israeli railroad system to run to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and thence the Gulf; and another line northward to Turkey, which would connect to China’s One Belt/One Road project.  Potential for this railroad highlights the rich possibilities.  Meanwhile, Fatah (PA) nixes all such deals until there’s an independent Palestinian state.  Israel wd have to evacuate all Gaza, all West Back, all Golan, and no Eastern Jerusalem or Temple Mount or Western Wall; withdraw to completely indefensible pre-1967 borders.  In other words, no deal at all from Abbas.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-temple-mount-will-forever-remain-under-israels-control/
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 1, Block B: Aaron Klein, Investigative Radio and Breitbart Middle East Bureau Chief, in re:  Pres Trump's visit to Israel: the day after.  . . . When Abbas is gone, there’ll be no  central authority and swiftly revert to a group of competing gangs.  Praise to Pres Trump for agglomerating these four under the same rubric: ISIS, al Qaeda, Hizbullah and Hamas.  Abbas was courteous in person to the president, but set up a mean prank by having a demonstration outside the Church of the Nativity the he purported meant that the president could not enter the church despite long-advance planning. Joy in Israel at Pres Trump’s visit, which reversed eight yeas of failed US policies.  Meanwhile, Israel is trying to work out a peace process with an organization that pays stupendous amounts of cash to families of dead shahidis and imprisoned mass-murderers.   Abbas’s Fatah has a strong history of desecrating holy sites of other religions.  Nightmare.  Took nuns and priests hostage. Used pages of the Bible as toilet paper. Dumped truckloads of dirt with ancient Jewish artifacts, and have sealed off the tomb of Abraham and Sara.  Isaac Herzog, had of Labor, proposes to give Jerusalem to Arabs. Israelis don’t take him seriously.  http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-temple-mount-will-forever-remain-under-israels-control/
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 1, Block C: Dennis Ross, Doomed to Succeed (part III of IV)
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 1, Block D: Dennis Ross, Doomed to Succeed (part III of IV)
 
Hour Two
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 2, Block A:  Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents; in re: John Batchelor spent much of his day at the Israeli Antiquities Authority, under the direction and curatorship of Mme Pnina Shor, most ably assisted by two preservationists, Tanya Treiger and Ashleen Oprescu.  JB stood inches from and actually saw the earliest-known complete book of Deuteronomy, with all ten commandments.  Breathtaking.  When the parchment was first found, a US foundation came over, saw 20,000 fragments, and actually scotch-taped them on to glass, leading to the destruction of the parchment. Rectifying very, very slowly — need maybe another thirty years and also are copying now in tomography to digitize so in future researchers needn’t count on reading destroyed scraps by applying special chemicals. The tomography version will have to stand for the rest of time. Preservationists are working with enormous care and diligence. Amazing to a visitor that the scribe, two thousand years ago, wrote in perfect, tiny letters; looks as though it was printed.  Parchment is about 12” x 8”.   
Malcolm Hoenlein, meanwhile, spent his day with various Ministers, including Tzachi Hanegbi, a prominent Israeli politician and national security expert. A member of Likud, Hanegbi is currently Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, in charge of National Security and Foreign Affairs and Minister of Regional Cooperation; also Yisrael Katz, an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud, as the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Intelligence and as member of the Security Cabinet of Israel.  He proposes expanding the Israeli railroad system to run to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and thence the Gulf; and another line northward to Turkey, which would connect to China’s One Belt/One Road project.  Revive the Orient Express. He also proposes to build an island offshore of Gaza for an international airport, one where Israel would control customs and  the transfer of cargo (essential for security), and also provide much-improved transportation for Gazans.  Malcolm also met with other Knesset members. Then Tower of David. In honor of Jerusalem 50, mayor gave a reception open to the whole city and half the city showed up.  Sound and light show.   At the Western Wall, the March of the Flags: national and organizational banners.  Again, a huge assembly and parade: 70,000 people joined.  It was emotionally exhilarating, with astounding energy.   A concert. Prayers.  A Torah scroll was presented.  Singing, dancing, all around the Temple plaza.    Then on to a leading yeshiva, where Malcolm spoke, then Benjamin Netanyahu arrived and spoke.  Most participants were young people.  All this gives much faith for the next generation, and everyone was happy with Pres Trump’s visit. 
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 2, Block B:  Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents; in re:  Malcolm Hoenlein and John Batchelor were initially at the Knesset together, where they met with Israel Katz, Minister of Transport, National Infrastructures and Road Safety; again: expanding the Israeli railroad system to run from Haifa to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and thence to the Gulf — never have to go around Africa; and another line northward to Turkey, which would connect to China’s One Belt/One Road project. Can now ship from China to Turkey by rail in eight days.  (Note also north-south RR from Russia to Azerbaijan.) This is planning for the future, perhaps the proximate future, and is capacious in its vision for the entire region.  Goals are to share resources and knowledge, and ship goods into and out of Israel and strengthen regional trade.  In its strategic grasp, it probably appeals to Pres Trump.  Seems to be time for the Saudis to make a move.  Not only in reaction to the predation of Iran but to take advantage of what Israel has to offer – a booming economy with tremendous creativity.  In solar power and water reclamation, Israel leads the world. 
Miniser Katz proposes building an island offshore of Gaza for an international airport, one where Israel would control the transfer of cargo (essential for security) and also provide much-improved transportation for Gazans.  Currently, Israel sends 800 to 1,000 trucks into Gaza daily with supplies. This is never remarked on in the world press. Island would also produce energy, electricity, water-reclamation. 
Pres Trump’s visit is widely considered to have been a reversal of eight years of starvation. Swiftly moving the US embassy to Jerusalem is not a burning issue for the moment.  His visit to the Western Wall and his remarks at the museum were encouraging. UNESCO depredation of Christian and Jewish histories in the Holy Land.    There certainly is some concern about the Iran deal; however, so far a positive assessment and we’re in an early stage of this discussion. There’s satisfaction both in Israel and regionally, among Arab states, that a new day has dawned.  Looking to the future. 
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 2, Block C:  Yariv Levin, Israeli Minister of Tourism, in re: establishing three-star hotels in Israel for Christian Chinese visitors, and training translators. In Ben Gurion airport: long lines of excited Chinese tourists, and another line of Indian visitors.  This year we’ll have 100,000 Chinese tourists; currently flights from Beijing to Israel, and Cathay Pacific is now flying from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv and, soon, from Shanghai.  Chinese Christians, of whom there are thought to be a hundred million people, these days visit holy places from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem, and Sinai; and go to the Dead Sea for the experience of floating in the saline water; also to Tel Aviv because of its many culinary and beach attractions. 
In India we also reach out, and are awaiting direct flights.  Have met with mgt of Air India and we expect to have Delhi-TLV flights in a few months. We also work with Indian high-tech forms to bring workers to obtain relevant professional information. This segment is growing quickly, will probably be similar to Chinese guests numbers.   Will need trilingual guides — Hebrew, Chinese, English — and the demand is growing fast. Trying to bring in Chinese students interested in Israel to train them as guides.  We also need to offer Indian and Chinese cuisine. That’ll need the right ovens; and training chefs to do a good job.  Also need food supplies and signs in Chinese.   We urgently need three-star hotels for vastly-increasing demand.  Need three-star hotels in north and Jerusalem. We give 33% of construction-building costs as govt grant to hotel-builders.
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 2, Block D:  Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 2, Block D:  Gordon Chang, Forbes.com & Daily Beast, in re:  Moody’s Sovereign Rating Group downgrades China to AA3. Estimated govt debt burden would rise to 40% in several years.  (Fitch, also?)  Look for a rush of money exiting China. 
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/23/moodys-downgrades-china-rating-to-a1-from-aa3-with-stable-outlook.html ; also:  http://www.newswee k.com/chinese-counterspies-roiling-us-intelligence-operations-613393   A congressional staffer who visited the embassy within the past two years said CIA employees were “directed to talk in a whisper” even in their own offices, which occupy two floors of the main building, an eight-story glass-enclosed edifice, out of fears of electronic listening devices. “It was really spooky,” the staffer says. “I'm quite convinced that in the building of that embassy we were secure,” the former analyst said, “but that's not to say the Chinese weren't constantly looking for an opportunity.”
..
The US allowed Chinese material and Chinese workers to build the American embassy.  This is bat-nuts, identical to the scandalous insanity of building the US embassy in Moscow, which was an unmitigated disaster. All walls entirely riddled with listening devices, micro-video cams, everything imaginable to permeate all US comms.  This is entirely the fault of Washington. 
 
Hour Three
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 3, Block A:  Bruce Hoffman. Anonymous Soldiers (part II of VI)
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 3, Block B:  Bruce Hoffman. Anonymous Soldiers (part II of VI)
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 3, Block C: Christian CarylStrange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (part I of II)   https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Rebels-1979-Birth-Century/dp/0465065678/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1495645162&sr=1-1&keywords=christian+caryl
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 3, Block D:  Christian CarylStrange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century (part I of II)   https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Rebels-1979-Birth-Century/dp/0465065678/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1495645162&sr=1-1&keywords=christian+caryl
 
Hour Four
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 4, Block A: Thaddeus McCotter, WJR, The Great Voice of the Great Lakes; and author, Liberty Risen, @ThadMcCotter; in re:
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 4, Block B:  Ze’ev Ben-Shachar,  Director of Israel Education at Jerusalem U; in re: Six-Day War in June 1967.  Younger generation is unsure about even recent Israeli history.  Twelve short (three or four minutes each) films in project to educate and inspire youth about history. Film medium is a great way to connect both intellectually and emotionally. Our goal is not only to provide information, but to create transformation: not just as observers, but feeling themselves to be key players in Jewish history, being the writers of the next generation. Jerusalem U is an organization focusing on Israel and Jewish education, or prime focus is films. Connect people worldwide to the history, the powerful stories; incl heroes of Israel society: one is about five soldiers as they transform from high school to infantry soldiers in the IDF. Personal growth, values of Israeli society. We have a team of at least a dozen people on only one film: writing, directing, cameraman. Bigger team on distribution and marketing 
Partnership with JPost, sent to hundreds of thousands of people to organizations, schools, temples, everybody interested.  See: SIX-DAY WAR PROJECT   http://www.sixdaywarproject.org/#May-30
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 4, Block C: Samuel TadrosMotherland Lost: The Egyptian and Coptic Quest for Modernity (Herbert and Jane Dwight Working Group on Islamism and the International Order)
"Samuel Tadros's book, "Motherland Lost: The Egyptian and Coptic Quest for Modernity," is a scholarly yet riveting account of this tragedy. The author takes us on a grim tour through the modern history of Egypt, chronicling the rise and fall of its Coptic minority, the country's largest Christian community."  —Michael J. Totten, Wall Street Journal
"Samuel Tadros, author of the newly published Motherland Lost: The Egyptian and Coptic Quest for Modernity, an account of modern Egyptian history after Napoleon’s 1798 invasion, and one of the most in-depth English-language histories of Egypt’s age-old Christian minority population."  —Lee Smith, Tablet Magazine
"Tadros’s historically informed description of Egypt’s ongoing failure to come to terms with modernity reveals the shallowness of most contemporary American commentary, rooted as it is in the categories of parochial Western modernity." —Paul Marshall, National Review
"The only option, for many, is escape to the West—an option that may end a Christian presence that has endured in Egypt since St. Mark the Evangelist arrived 2000 years ago." —Mark Movsesian, firstthings.com
"By no means does Tadros offer a solely political account. He pays due attention to the modern Coptic culture revival and sketches the genuinely exciting spiritual rebirth of modern times, a phenomenon that clamors to be better known among Western Christians." —Philip Jenkins, Books & Culture
https://www.amazon.com/Motherland-Lost-Egyptian-Modernity-International/dp/081791644X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1495644881&sr=1-1&keywords=samuel+tadros
Wednesday   24 May 2017  /Hour 4, Block D:  Samuel TadrosMotherland Lost: The Egyptian and Coptic Quest for Modernity (Herbert and Jane Dwight Working Group on Islamism and the International Order)