Editor's Letter li Nutritionally , 1 . in S peakg By Barbara Beznos, RD, LD/N Integrated Nutrition, LLC Lies- ion: Exposing Hamas 0 ne of the most compelling position papers I've seen since Hamas provoked Israel into an ideology war in Gaza reinforces that the Arab Palestinian terrorist organization's core belief remains undeterred: Killing Jews is a prerequisite to redemption. Hamas presents itself as an Islamic supremacist move- ment violated by "the Zionist entity." The missiles and rockets that it has showered on Israel are a byproduct of that conviction. Let there be no doubt: Israel's recent three-week offensive was not a border fight but a religious dispute provoked by Hamas' Islamist hatred for Zionism and thus Jews. "Hamas' ongoing attempts to kill Jews, which have led to the current Gaza war, are a symptom of the far deeper problem — the ideology teach- ing that Allah demands the extermi- nation of Jews," argues Palestinian Media Watch, one of the most respected Jewish think tanks in Jerusalem. In a Jan. 4 backgrounder, PMW spotlights the opening Koran quote praising the Islamic world as "the best nation that hath been raised up unto mankind!' Therein lies the deadly rub. Relates PMW, "Whereas many religions and cul- tures believe that their own traditions represent messages of truth, Hamas believes that this supremacy of Islam obligates them to commit genocide, literally to exterminate millions of people who have different beliefs, including the Jews!' So how, I ask once more, is Israel sup- posed to negotiate with Gaza's ruling party, which thinks nothing of putting its own people in harm's way by hiding terrorists in mosques, schools, homes and hospitals? • In July 2008, Hamas TV spotlighted a Palestinian cleric who said, "Palestine's blessing is linked to destruction of the center of global corruption [Jews of Israel], the snake's head. When the snake's head of [global] corruption is cut off here in Palestine, and when the octopus' [Jews'] tentacles are cut off around the world, the real blessing will come with the destruction of the Jews here in Palestine, and it is one of the splendid real blessings in Palestine!' • Hamas religious and military leader Nizar Rayan said on Jan. 1, the day before he was killed in the Israel-Gaza war, Muhammad promised that we will fight the Jews with Allah's help "until the tree and stone say, (0h, Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him!" In fact, Article 7 of the Hamas Charter proclaims that redemption of all of humanity, the anticipated Islamic "Hour" of Resurrection, "will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews!' • In a speech broadcast Jan. 8 on Hamas TV, Dr. Walid Al- Rashudi, head of the Department of Islamic Studies at Saud University in Saudi Arabia, described Jews as enemies of Allah. "Kill them one by one and don't leave even one he pro- claimed. Muslim lands that ally with the West are traitors by believing in America over Allah, he expressed. How clear and sobering is that? Multiple Fronts Meanwhile, Hamas has revved its well-oiled propaganda machine. On Jan. 19, the first day of its cease-fire with Israel, Hamas claimed it had won the war in Gaza. PMW reported that an animated film for kids on Hamas TV depicts Israeli soldiers as cowards who are afraid to enter Gaza. They cry, "Mommy, Mommy," as they head into bat- tle, where they die from Hamas gunfire. The video ends with an Israeli soldier's blood splattered on the screen, accom- panied by a caption, "Whoever dares, let him come! Gaza is his certain death!" An online viewing of the video illustrates the victory myth that Hamas is peddling to its beleaguered people. Fighting Hamas with guns, planes and tanks is important. But Hamas' defeat won't be sure without an ideological coun- ter strike as well. Plainly, the battlefield is multileveled, which Hamas believes helps even its hardware disadvantage. Hamas' horrific ideology remains a daunting target. Let's not think for an instant that Hamas isn't using the fragile cease-fire to restock, reload and recommit to Israel's destruc- tion. It's the Islamists' way. As PMW put it: "Israel and the West must create a strategy not only to destroy the terror infrastructures of Hamas, but also to ultimately ensure that Jews and the world are safe from this ideology and its consequences!' ❑ Let's not think for an instant that Hamas isn't using the fragile cease-fire to restock, reload and recommit to Israel's destruction. Its the Islamists' way. Chilling Examples Hamas has pressed hard over the past year to extol the ideology of genocide in connection with Jews. Every Jew should be aware of this stark death sentence. PMW cites these ideological examples: • The Hamas belief that Jews must be killed for redemption of all humanity is a repeating theme of religious leaders on Palestinian Authority TV (Fatah) and Al Aqsa TV (Hamas). A Hamas spokesman declared on PA TV in 2007: "We must remind our Arab and Muslim nation, its leaders and people, its scholars and students, remind them that Palestine and the Al Aqsa mosque will not be liberated through summits nor by international resolutions, but it will be liberated through the rifle." • A Hamas online poster announced that killing a Jew is enough to grant the rewards of Heaven. The text read, "I will knock on Heaven's doors with the skulls of Jews?' • In March 2008, a Hamas newspaper featured a Palestinian sheik who stated, "Many of the [Islamic] religious leaders believe that the [Jews'] punishment of Fire is in this world before the next world ... therefore, we are sure that the Holocaust is still to come upon the Jews!' Dear Bar , e- cently read an article that claimed that diet soft drinks can contribute to weight gain. Is there any truth to that? Sam. Ans, ,, , er: Dear Sam, you may be referring to the ar- ticle entitled, "The Truth About Diet Soda," by David Zinczenko, long-time editor of Men's Health magazine that was featured on a major web portal. : The article posits 3 main argu- ments against what the author sees as the widespread, excessive consumption of diet soft drinks: (1) That "emerging research" suggests that the consump- tion of sweet-tasting bever- ages of any kind increases , N I' i the overall appetite for sweet-tasting food items; (2) That diet soda, gen- erally, is 100% nutri- ‘ ) tion-free, and, at the very least, consuming 5 V-, , 1 ; or more cans/bottles of i • ' diet soda a day inter- feres with the intake of more healthful beverages like water or tea; (3) That there remains some health concerns about the artificial sweetener aspartame (marketed as Equal, Nutra- Sweet, and Canderel), which is found in some 6,000 consumer food and beverage items worldwide. Next time: I'll discuss each of these arguments in more detail. — Barbara Beznos, Registered Dietitian Direct Your Questions For Barb And Counseling Inquiries To: Integrated Nutrition, LLC, 32401 Northwestern Hwy. Farmington Hills. MI 48334 Phone: (248) 538-8050 Are Gazans brave enough to oust Hamas? tn ta: What are Israel's alternatives with regard Z Z! to Hamas? 5 a a0 E-mail: ba rb @integrated nutrition.com Web: ww w.integrated nutrition. com Advertisnt JN 1432190 January 29 • 2009 A5