13-Apr-16: Arab elites, Israeli medicine and a dose of hypocrisy

Abbas, now in 12th year of a presidential term that
expired in 2009: Man of principle [Image Source: EPA]

People who expressed deep hostility to Jews and to Israel used to be termed antisemites. 

But life got more complicated and nuanced; ugly labels started becoming burdensome. So the haters updated their language. They adopted poses that masked the bigotry in fancier words that vaguely hinted at higher principles.

None of this is new to anyone following the evolution of BDS, the political-sounding bigotry that tries to disguise a passion for eliminating the world's one Jewish country by the use of words - boycotts, sanctions, divestment - that make it seem like a New Age business strategy. 

But a closer look at who does it and how they do it soon uncovers the hypocrisy and lying that animate it. It's simply the world's oldest hatred in social media garb, and no one should be surprised that Jews are involved in it too. The passions motivating BDS map to deep, visceral and tragically familiar hatreds and resentments.

But even as the BDS herd pours its scorn on Israeli cosmetic companies, Israeli packaged-salad purveyors, Israeli academics and their universities, Israeli chocolate makers, life-saving and life-enhancing Israeli medicines, there's one demographic that isn't playing along: the political and business fat-cats of the Palestinian Arab world. Buying into BDS as if they really meant it would simply be too uncomfortable.

Today's news: "Brother of PA president hospitalized in Israel" [Source]

The brother of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was on Monday hospitalized in Tel Aviv in serious condition, Ynet reports. His arrival at and admission to the hospital took place in secret. Abu Louai, who lives in Qatar and who turned 81 last month according to Ynet, was admitted to Assuta Medical Center, where Abbas' wife and brother-in-law have previously been treated. Recently diagnose with cancer, Abu Louai chose to receive treatment in Israel. Abbas' brother initially began his treatment at Assuta, an expensive private hospital, before returning to Qatar after a stay of several days at the hospital. Now, ahead of his next treatment, he has once again been admitted to the Tel Aviv-based medical center, arriving via Jordan. In summer 2014, Abbas' wife, Amina Abbas, was admitted to Assuta for an operation on her leg. She returned to Ramallah after several days at the hospital. Six months ago, just as the current escalation in violence was beginning, Abbas' brother-in-law — Amina's brother — was hospitalized at Assuta for life-saving heart surgery.

The great thing about principles and standards when you're a hypocritical despot? You can have so many of them - a different one for every occasion.

For some context, see some of our earlier related posts:

• 13-Aug-15: What their choice of health care providers says about terrorists and their lackeys
• 20-Oct-14: Sincere wishes for a complete and thorough recovery as soon as possible
• 18-Nov-13: When Hamas insiders need the best care around, to which Zionist Entity do they turn?

We wish the PA President-for-Life's brother a speedy and full recovery. And, as we have done before, we express our hopes that the Palestinian Arabs will manage to eventually achieve a complete and rapid separation from an iron-fisted, ideologically-crazed leadership which has never hesitated to impose cruel hardships on its own society while reserving to well-connected insiders the privilege of engaging with the Zionist Entity when it suits them personally.