Perhaps there is no greater event in history that perpetuated -and some claim grant legitimacy to- the creation of the State of Israel than the Holocaust. While Jews began trickling back into the Holy Land a the end of the 19th century, the slaughter of Jews in Europe propelled thousands of more Jews into the region and invigorate efforts to obtain an independent state for the Jews.

Today marks the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz and Birkenau camps and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, with international officials meeting in Poland and throughout the world to commemorate the event.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu used to the anniversary to issue another warning that grave threats to the Jewish people and the world still exist. In a likely reference to the Iranian nuclear program, Netanyahu re-declared Israel’s ability and willingness to defend itself from destruction.

Meanwhile Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made statements foreshadowing the destruction of Israel. He said “the destruction of the Zionist regime” would occur at some point, with the time line determined by actions from Muslim nations.

Meanwhile, anti-Semitism persists, with the desecration of a Jewish cemetery in Strasbourg, France. Tombstones were shattered and swastikas were spray painted on graves.

The White House released this video of President Barack Obama talking about the liberation of the camps. The transcript of Obama’s comments include:

For you know the truth that Elie Wiesel spoke when I stood with him at Buchenwald last spring.  There, where his father and so many innocent souls left this earth, Elie said that “memory has become the sacred duty of all people of goodwill.”

We have a sacred duty to remember the twisted thinking that led here—how a great society of culture and science succumbed to the worst instincts of man and rationalized mass murder and one of the most barbaric acts in history.

We have a sacred duty to remember the cruelty that occurred here, as told in the simple objects that speak to us even now.  The suitcases that still bear their names.  The wooden clogs they wore.  The round bowls from which they ate.  Those brick buildings from which there was no escape—where so many Jews died with Sh’ma Yisrael on their lips.  And the very earth at Auschwitz, which is still hallowed by their ashes—Jews and those who tried to save them, Polish and Hungarian, French and Dutch, Roma and Russian, straight and gay, and so many others.

But even as we recall man’s capacity for evil, Auschwitz also tells another story—of man’s capacity for good.  The small acts of compassion—the sharing of some bread that kept a child alive.  The great acts of resistance that blew up the crematorium and tried to stop the slaughter.  The Polish Rescuers and those who earned their place forever in the Righteous Among the Nations.

And you—the survivors.  The perpetrators of that crime tried to annihilate the entire Jewish people.  But they failed.  Because 65 years ago today, when the gates flew open, you were still standing.  And every day that you have lived, every child and grandchild that your families have brought into the world with love, every day the sun rises on the Jewish state of Israel—that is the ultimate rebuke to the ignorance and hatred of this place.

So to those of you who have come back today, I say, no, you are not “former prisoners.”  You are living memorials.  Living memorials to the loved ones you left here.  And to the spirit we must strive to uphold in our time—not simply to bear witness, but to bear a burden.  The burden of seeing our common humanity; of resisting anti-Semitism and ignorance in all its forms; of refusing to become bystanders to evil, whenever and wherever it rears its ugly face.

Let that be the true meaning of Auschwitz.  Let that be the liberation we celebrate today—a liberation of the spirit that, if embraced, can lead us all—individuals and as nations—to be among the righteous.

Photo from Ha’aretz.

If you’re in D.C. in the next few weeks, there are a couple of Israel-related events you could find interesting.

On Feb. 1, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is sponsoring a human rights film festival at the Georgetown University Law Center. Of note is:

“Jerusalem: War in My Land” by Arturo Perez, Jr., winner of the Project Report contest, a partnership between the Pulitzer Center and YouTube.

Go here for details.

Separately, Americans for Peace Now, Project Engage, the Foundation for Middle East Peace, and Churches for Middle East Peace are hosting a seminar on Palestinians student travel (which stems from pressure on Israel to permit Gaza students into the West Bank) on Feb. 3.  Details are:

Wednesday February 3, 1:00 - 3:00pm
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1st floor
1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC

It read’s like a spy novel and plays out like an episode of 24.

A new article from DEBKAfile outlines the fate of a secret stash of gossip compiled by former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Realizing the impact that closeted skeletons can play in international affairs, Arafat ordered aides to uncover secrets on international officials and secured the gossip in Tunis. The story involves a widow, effective blackmail, and involvement from multiple governments. I won’t ruin the ending but read it here.

Both Israeli and Turkish diplomats probably have headaches from the year-long tiff between the two countries, which began shortly following Operation Cast Lead and reached an apex earlier this month with Israeli Foreign Ministry officials insulting -and subsequently apologizing to- Turkish officials.

The upside- if you have vacation time from work, check Turkey out. Israeli tourism to Turkey has dropped 40-percent of late and prices are expected to follow suit in time for the Passover break.

Even though the Turkish government is aligning itself with Islamic elements and distancing from the West, the people don’t want the tiff to affect their pocketbooks and reduced prices to encourage tourism.

I went to Turkey last summer and, from Tel Aviv, the cost as for airfare and hotels was less than $500 (in fact, I think it was closer to $300 but I don’t remember).

My recommendation- let the diplomats butt heads while you have a great time in Turkey.

The Israeli Defense Force has been lauded as having launched one of the only effective response efforts in Haiti. However, anti-Semites will never pass up the opportunity to throw a little blood libel in the mix. Last year, a highly controversial article was published in a Norwegian paper alleging that the IDF regularly harvests Palestinian organs. Even though the article has been widely refuted and dismissed as anti-Semitic, the blood libel continues to spread through allusions to organ harvesting and Jewish greed.

Just a few days ago, I linked to an incredible CNN video outlining the superb work of the IDF in helping victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Notice how the man in the video below uses the exact same footage to issue a stark and absurd warning. With no evidence and spouting historically anti-Semitic falsehoods, the man says:

“People have to be aware of personalities who are out for money. The IDF has participated in the past in stealing organ transplants of Palestinians and others.”

The Israeli military is known for being the best in the world at certain things- namely assassinations, espionage, and long-range covert operations.

Add another to the list.

The Israeli military sent mobile hospitals to aid relief efforts in Haiti. The military certainly has experience, as the government set up hospitals during recent wars including Operation Cast Lead and the Second Lebanon War. The medical units seem to be operating significantly more effectively than support units from other countries, including those from the United States. Watch this video from CNN.

Federal officials have developed a sophisticated knack for dodging questions they don’t want to answer. And the State Department is in no way different. The State Department’s response to the Israeli intention of building a barrier along the Egyptian border was quite simple. It read:

“Israel has a right to defend itself and to monitor and protect its borders. Israel is solely responsible for security and law enforcement on the Israeli side of the border.”

The statement effectively condones the border wall but doesn’t delve into any of the concerns expressed about the barrier.

And, in yesterday’s State Department Briefing, Acting Deputy Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid does it brilliantly. He obfuscates the administration’s position on the barrier and instead focuses on other aspects of the conflict. The exchange went like this:

QUESTION: I was just wondering your position on the wall being built along the Rafah border in Egypt.
MR. DUGUID: We have seen that Egypt is carrying out activities which will help stop weapons smuggling into Gaza. We believe that weapons smuggling should stop, and that measures taken to stop that weapons smuggling should be – could be carried out, yes.
QUESTION: Well, aside from the weapons going through those tunnels, there’s also humanitarian aid that does and medicine and food going through.
MR. DUGUID: We also support greater access for humanitarian supplies to get into Gaza. There are established channels for that, and those established channels should not be hindered by Hamas or any party in Gaza. We do support the humanitarian supplies flowing into Gaza.
QUESTION: So you’d like to see the Egyptians open the Rafah border for humanitarian aid, then, which they haven’t done.
MR. DUGUID: What we’d like to see is for Hamas to stop using the border crossings as methods for smuggling in weapons and let’s get the weapons smuggling stopped, but at the same time look for ways that we can improve the lives of ordinary Gazans through the supply of humanitarian aid.
QUESTION: If I could just follow up, mainly on the political scope of what – of the wall. It’s creating a political rift inside Egypt’s parliament as well as with the upcoming elections, and they view this wall being built as a possible hindrance to Egypt acting as an honest broker through the peace process. Is that of concern to you that the –
MR. DUGUID: I will – we will continue to work with Egypt as one of the parties that has much influence in the region and has been working to try and get the parties back to the negotiating table. That is our concern right now. We want to see the parties return to the negotiating table to start talking about the issues that will lead to a settlement or that can build the confidence to lead to a settlement. For reactions or divisions within Egypt, I refer to you to the Government of Egypt for that.
QUESTION: But Hamas and the majority of the Egyptian parliament, they believe that this wall will be a huge problem for the peace process and it will hinder negotiations. So, having said that, do you support this wall being built, even though it’s –
MR. DUGUID: I think I’ve given you our position that we need to stop weapons smuggling into Gaza, and this wall is being built as – in that effort.

Alright, I couldn’t complete the alliterative headline. But, I got close.

The year-long feud between Israel and Turkey spiked once more after months of quiet signalling potential repairs in the relationship.

Speaking alongside Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lambasted the Israeli government for violating Lebanese airspace and water. Earlier this year, Erdogan and Israeli President Shimon Peres sparred over Operation Cast Lead, with the Turkish leader attempting to lecture on human rights violations during the offensive.

Erdogan also levied two other accusations against Israel for failing to admit the existence of nuclear weapons in the country and renewing aerial strikes on the Gaza Strip this past weekend. Israel defends its actions, citing increased rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel.

In retaliation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the Turkish government “has no right to preach morality” and lambasted the Turkish ambassador to Israel for the depiction of IDF officers and Israelis in a series of television programs. In a rather curt exchange, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon refused to shake the Turkish ambassador’s hand and said ”we just want it to be seen that he is seated below us and that there is only one flag here.”

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also attempted to use his clout by trying to persuade Defense Minister Ehud Barak to cancel a reconciliation trip Turkey.

Meanwhile, Erdogan won the 2010 King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, with the committee citing his commitment to the Palestinian people as a key component to deciding to award the Turkish leader the prize.

The whole tift with Turkey is getting a bit old. Turkey has said it wants to help negotiate a peace between Israel and Syria. The way things are going, it may be more realistic for Syria to serve as the mediator between Israel and Turkey.

I wonder what Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah has to say about this.

An ongoing feud between Israeli and Lebanese chefs ratcheted up another notch this week, with a new world record broken outside of Jerusalem for the creation of the largest tub of hummus.

The dish, created in Abu Gosh in Israel, comes months after a group of Lebanese chefs broke the record in an effort to “reclaim” the dish as Lebanese and not Israeli. Moreover, businessmen in Lebanon sued Israeli manufacturers for what they call fraudulently advertising hummus as an Israeli product.

One potential solution would be for Israel to name the dish something else, as hummus is Lebanese nomenclature, one man suggested.

The food nationality problem is somewhat specific to Israel, as many of the country’s residents came to the Israel from various other places, bringing their own traditions along. The only unifying thing for many citizens is religion, and even holiday foods often differ between individuals from certain countries. The foods we generally think of as Israeli are often from other places in the Middle East (tehini- ancient Persia; falafel- Egypt; shawarma- Turkey; sabich-Iraq, etc… although, I’m sure some countries would protest these areas of origin, citing their own nationality as the true creator of these delicious goodies).

Maybe Israel can mass market gefilte fish, kugel, and stuffed cabbage as distinctly Israeli, although even these foods originated in Europe. Or maybe, the country could trademark a style of food preparation and restaurant etiquette- charming and surly service (TM Israel).

Unfortunately, though, the Israelis used an old satellite dish as the bowl for their tasty treat. The lack of sanitation seems to fit right in with the general level of cleanliness at most hummuserias in Israel.

Tension on Israel’s northern border has long been an issue. Hezbollah and Israeli officials have verbally spared over the past year, although the conflict has not formally escalated into an all-out battle since the Second Lebanon War in 2006 (apparently, some people are calling the Hummus fracas the Third Lebanon War).

Moreover, Israel is preparing to withdraw from part of the city of Ghajar, a border town that both Israel and Lebanon have staked some claims to. Following reports of an Israeli withdrawal from the northern half of the city, villagers protested that the move would divide the city in two.

(Full disclosure- when I buy hummus, even in Israel, I try to get the kind labeled as Lebanese. Sorry! I just like it a bit better.)

Photo taken from NPR.

Operation Cast Lead -the Israeli strike on the the Gaza Strip one year ago- continues to dominate Israeli foreign relations, particularly with the United Nations. Some of Israel’s air strikes damaged UN facilities, including schools and a UN Relief and Works Agency facility. Israeli officials said Hamas terrorists were harbored in some of these compounds.

Following the conclusion of the Israeli strikes, the UN effectively submitted to Israel a bill of $11 million for repairs on the facilities. Reports emerged today indicating Israel agreed in principle to compensate the UN for the damages, although the final figure has not been revealed.

Separately, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs released the presentation of former Ambassador Dore Gold from his debate with Judge Richard Goldstone, the official solicited by the UN to write a report on Operation Cast Lead. The report was widely considered to be anti-Israel and one-sided, with the U.S. Congress debating resolutions to reject the report.

Watch the Goldstone-Gold debate here.