The Day In Israel: Sunday Feb 14th, 2010
Liberal Democrat frontbencher Baroness Jenny Tonge was yesterday sacked as the party’s health spokeswoman in the House of Lords after she urged that Israel set up an inquiry if it wants to refute allegations that its medical teams in Haiti “harvested” organs of earthquake victims.
“Following discussions with the leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Lord McNally, I have decided that Jenny Tonge will stand down as Liberal Democrat health spokesperson in the Lords following her unacceptable comments suggesting an inquiry into highly offensive allegations against the IDF humanitarian operation in Haiti,” Clegg said in a statement on Friday afternoon.
“The comments were wrong, distasteful and provocative and I recognize the deep and understandable distress they have caused to the Jewish community,” he added.
“While I do not believe that Jenny Tonge is anti-Semitic or racist, I regard her comments as wholly unacceptable,” he said.
“Jenny Tonge apologizes unreservedly for the offense she has caused.”
Well, not quite.
In an e-mail to an anti-Israel activist that was posted on an activist message board on Saturday, the Liberal Democrat peer blamed Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard for spreading the “silly allegation” and thus damaging Israel’s work in Haiti.
“This is total rubbish, as usual! Palestine Telegraph last week had a long piece by a Jewish American on the subject of organ donation – not an editorial piece,” Tonge said in the e-mail. “It said there were postings on YouTube about organ harvesting in Haiti by the large team sent out by Israel to help! The JC asked for a comment, as I am a patron of the Palestine Telegraph. I actually congratulated Israel for their prompt response to the disaster and said that if allegations were being made they should conduct an inquiry to dispel any rumors. OK? It is quite ludicrous – organs would be useless in that situation anyway and it is a nonsense suggestion.
“Trouble is he [Stephen Pollard] has now SPREAD a silly allegation and done untold damage to a really great effort by the Israelis,” Tonge said.
I wonder if her unemployment checks will be made out to “Baroness.”
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
8:00PM: Sorry, I can’t resist posting this.
Dude looks like a reject from Pee Wee’s Playhouse, yet he idolizes one of the Twentieth century’s most vile murderers.
What’s the bet he’s broadcasting from his mother’s basement?
4:58PM: Despite the PA previously calling it an Israeli conspiracy, Mahmoud Abbas has now reacted to the broadcast of a steamy sex tape involving his office manager by suspending the latter’s sorry (and exposed) ass.
9:35AM: Tell us how you really feel, Rabbi.
Shas’ spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, slammed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his weekly sermon Saturday evening, referring to the Iranian president as “Haman of our generation” and saying that he “can go to hell”.
The rabbi, who dedicated his address to Jewish laws related to the holiday of Purim, spoke about the followers of Haman, the grand vizier of Persia. “In every generation we have Hamans,” he said. “Now we have a new Haman in Persia, threatening us with his nukes.”
He went on to curse the Iranian leader, using verses from the Bible.
I’m all for equating Ahmadinejad with Haman, and seeing parallels with the story of Purim.
I just don’t know where the Neturei Karta would fit in.
6:00AM: Ma’an news reports:
Palestinian Authority Preventative Security Services in Hebron confiscated 1 million pills advertised as sexual stimulants, worth an estimated 20 million Shekels, from a warehouse in the city. According to the Ministry of Health, the pills originated from China and entered the West Bank without a required permit from the ministry.
The warehouse raid followed a tip-off (no pun intended – ed.) and was carried out in the presence of prosecutor Ashraf Al-Qawasmi, the general manager of tax and customs, Fawzi Abu Dayyah, and representatives of the Ministry of Health.
Khaled Seder, Ministry of Health manager in Hebron, said the pills confiscated were unusual, a variety he has not encountered before during his 28-year career as a doctor, he said.
I wonder if they were ordered by this man.
Meanwhile..
“These are not sexual stimulants; they are poisons. Samples will be sent to the laboratory for examination, to discover the chemical composition of these pill and to ascertain if they comply with Palestinian health standards.”
“We estimate the real value of these stimulants, of which 15 varieties were discovered, if sold on the black market could obtain about 20 million shekels” he added.
Seder added that the Palestinian market would not be able to absorb the large quantity of pills discovered, and speculated that they were intended for export to neighboring countries like Jordan.
Right. That’s why he made this call to the palestinians.
Seder called on Palestinians to consult with their doctor before purchasing pills claiming to assist in sexual-related problems and to obtain a prescription. “Do not let shame kill you; a doctor can help you more than any tonic.”
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
Why was she appointed to her position in the first place? This isn't the first time she put her foot in her mouth and her head up her tush.
They found a warehouse full of poisonous aphrodisiacs and the DIDN'T blame Israe? Heads are going to roll!
BTW, I am not familiar with the details of the British system, but do terms like "frontbencher" apply to Peers?
Dave, what in the world would Rav Yosef have to do with Moshe Hirsch?
By the way, I would love to see the original. That doesn't sound like a good translation.
I sometimes think that some of your posts, Michael, are just a bad translation. Ha ha, just kidding buddy. Regarding the remarks of the member of the House of Lords, I'm reminded of the line by Madeline Kahn to Gene Wilder as he attempts an open mouth kiss at the train station in "Young Frankenstein": "No Tonges!"
I meant it, though. I'm pretty sure I know that original, and it's a pretty abstract expression.
Perhaps Neturei Karta partook from the seudah shel oto ha'rashah.
Undoubtedly. Of course, they would say we are. And the Eidah would say both of us are.
We all know where the Neturei Karta would fit- where the sun don’t shine.
Are you referring to Mao, or Che? They both qualify, except that Mao was not "one of", he was THE worst murderer in known history. And he wasn't really even much of a Communist (according to the recent biography), just a megalomaniac. He really did want to take over the world, and if millions (literally) starved to death so he could use their grain to get weapons, well, so what?
Er .. Neturei "Zeresh" Karta?
I think his parents tossed him out. Might be his sister's basement.
"Dude looks like a reject from Pee Wee’s Playhouse, yet he idolizes one of the Twentieth century’s most vile murderers.
"What’s the bet he’s broadcasting from his mother’s basement?"
Most of the deaths from communism are highly exaggerated. First of all, there's no way the famine endured during the Great Leap Forward could have killed 50 million people, if that's what you're saying.
I know that guy through the internet, and I think he already posted a response to the criticism he gets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DOwNzHkqho
You might also like this, since it sums up your statist beliefs (i.e. "wherever I stand I stand with Israel"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsZb9Q_Km00
Jung Chang claims 70 million, total. Then we have Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot…..
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