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darkbeforedawn wrote:While Murdoch doesn’t speak openly of his roots, he nevertheless has been open about his support for extreme right-wing Zionists such as Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu, the latter who wrote a book in 1986 called “The War on Terror: How the West Can Win.” Netanyahu is also a frequent commentator on Murdoch’s Fox News. What’s more, former New York Governor George Pataki said of Murdoch’s New York paper, “There is no newspaper in the US more supportive of Israel than the New York Post.”
Murdoch’s religious/political zeal undoubtedly helped him connect with the men who leased and took control of the World Trade Center shortly before its destruction. These three key figures are Larry Silverstein and Frank Lowy, the leaseholders who gained control of the WTC property six weeks before 9/11. Murdoch’s third buddy is Port Authority Chairman Lewis M. Eisenberg, who approved the transfer of the leases. Curiously, Silverstein/Lowy were the lowest bidders for the leases.
Murdoch as well as Silverstein and Eisenberg belong to and have been honored by a number of Zionist organizations, include the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) and the New York based Museum of Jewish Heritage -- A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. Murdoch spoke at its fund-raiser on April 29, 2001. And Silverstein quipped, “I’ll support you (the UJA) . . . as long as you keep it under 110 stories.” After the fact, that’s rather dark humor.
Sharon and Murdoch were also old friends. On Oct. 15, 1982, a month after the massacres of thousands of Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatila camps of Beirut, war crimes conducted under Sharon’s direct command, Sharon met with Murdoch and others, reportedly to help advance the “West Bank real estate grab.”
Murdoch also had an old friendship with the Czech-born Israeli commando Frank Lowy, a former fighter in Israel’s Golani Brigade. Murdoch emphasized his long friendship in an American Australian Assocation fund-raising dinner in honor of Frank’s son, Peter S. Lowy, in New York on November 20, 2002. Larry Silverstein and his wife also attended the event.
Silverstein and Eisenberg have both had senior leadership positions with the United Jewish Appeal (UJA), a billion dollar charity organization to which Murdoch also generously contributed. The UJA raises hundreds of millions of dollars each year for Israel. Eisenberg has served as chairman of the Republican National Finance Committee in Washington, DC. He is a Super Power Ranger, someone who was willing to contribute $300,000 to the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign. He is also a member of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
Rupe gets a royal boost
Saudi prince comes to Murdoch's aid
By JILL GOLDSMITH
Rupert Murdoch has found his white knight -- or, let's say, his prince.
Billionaire Saudi royal Al Waleed bin Talal announced Tuesday he's boosted his stake in News Corp., shifting from nonvoting to voting stock in a move that bolsters Murdoch against a possible raid by John Malone.
The news buoyed shares of the giant media conglom, which rose 2.26% to close at $17.21.
Liberty Media chief Malone has amassed a threatening 18% voting chunk of News Corp. -- second only to the 30% or so stake controlled by Murdoch and his family. Malone recently said he'd like to buy more shares, criticizing Murdoch's succession planning and capital strategy.
To ensure Malone stays at arm's length, News Corp. has put in place and extended indefinitely a shareholder rights plan, or poison pill -- a measure aimed at foiling hostile takeovers.
A friendly investor like Al Waleed is an additional firewall. The prince reiterated he may purchase more News Corp. stock "if the situation warrants."
Vote of confidence
Al Waleed's investment firm Kingdom Ltd. raised its stake in News Corp. to 5.46% of voting stock, replacing a 3% nonvoting stake.
"Last November, I said that I had the utmost confidence in Mr. Murdoch, his management team and his succession planning, and that if necessary, the Kingdom companies would replace their nonvoting shares with voting shares," Al Waleed said in a statement.
"We are all mobilized and ready to increase our stocks whenever the opportunity comes and whenever the situation warrants," the prince added during an interview on CNBC.
"For example, if we feel that the strategy of Mr. Murdoch and his son and his family is being threatened by any outsider, clearly, this is something we will not accept because we are very happy as shareholders with what Mr. Murdoch is doing," he said.
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Now, unless you are telling me that you can somehow tell a Jewish Zionist from a plain ole Jew by looking at their names, this means that 77% of the Jews on that list are against the war.
The role of pro-Israel groups in forming U.S. policy toward Iraq was controversial even before the invasion in March 2003. Some critics have suggested that influential Jewish advisers and groups pushed the Bush administration to go to war with Iraq in order to help Israel. The Bush administration and leaders of the Jewish community have strongly rejected those suggestions. These data show that the average American Jew -- even those who are Republicans and may support the Bush administration on other matters -- opposes the war.
Now, unless you are telling me that you can somehow tell a Jewish Zionist from a plain ole Jew by looking at their names, this means that 77% of the Jews on that list are against the war.
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