Meet the Israeli Tea Party That’s Joining FreedomWorks Events at Restoring Love: ‘The Arab World Is Falling Apart Around Us’
- Posted on July 24, 2012 at 7:25am by
Sharona Schwartz
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FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe and Israel Freedom Movement Founder Boaz Arad at Tel Aviv meeting last year
Protesters aligned with the so-called social justice movement in Israel have been setting themselves on fire as they protest the high cost of living and demand more government entitlements. One man — Moshe Silman — died last week, while others have carried out copycat acts in an effort to draw attention to their financial woes. The Israeli Freedom Movement – Israel’s version of the Tea Party – is warning the situation has the potential to spiral out of control and is employing its small but powerful voice to counter the tide calling for a return to socialism and statism, as promoted by the social protesters.
Israeli Freedom Movement founder Boaz Arad plans to discuss this and other developments when he travels to Texas for a meeting of like-minded groups from around the world, organized by FreedomWorks during Glenn Beck’s Restoring Love gathering this week. Arad tells TheBlaze in an exclusive interview:
In Israel, our movement is a lone voice of sanity, and it’s important people know that this voice exists, despite the fact that it’s ignored by the mainstream media. We are fighting for freedom, a reduction of the government’s role in the economy and in citizens’ private lives, as we stand opposite the media and [social justice] protest movement which are leading the public – like the Pied Piper of Hamelin – to dangerous places.
As he was about to board his flight for the 7,000 mile voyage to Dallas, Arad expressed his excitement in a telephone interview with TheBlaze from Ben Gurion International Airport on the outskirts of Tel Aviv:
I expect that the meeting will strengthen our courageous colleagues and the forces for good in the world. It’s important for me to express my appreciation on behalf of our group to Glenn Beck who stands with Israel against a climate of hostile ideas. The Arab world is falling apart around us, with bloodshed, which only illustrates how precious our freedom is and how important it is that we protect it.
Restoring Love holds special significance for the Israelis as it marks one year since they hosted FreedomWorks leaders in Tel Aviv, including President Matt Kibbe, and those who traveled from the U.S. to participate in Glenn Beck’s Restoring Courage events in Jerusalem and Caesarea last summer.
[Related: Watch the Restoring Courage Documentary on GBTV/TheBlaze TV Tuesday night at 6:00pm Eastern]
Now, they get to visit the Tea Party’s home turf at FreePAC where they hope to exchange tips and grassroots political strategies that can help translate their unique vision into political success.
Arad says at least one other group member plans to travel to Dallas, and despite their small representation it’s important to note the situation in Israel holds particular significance in light of the recent socio-economic and political developments. This is a country not only founded on socialist principles but presently facing the vocal, Occupy Wall Street-like protesters who are largely supported by the mainstream media in their push for wealth distributive reforms. Arad explains:
The social protests are leading Israel in a problematic direction. The man who burned himself is one example of how the social justice movement is becoming more noisy and violent. It’s a tragic event, but the fact is that the atmosphere that’s being created demonstrates we’re going in a very negative and dangerous direction. What we’re trying to do in the Israeli Freedom Movement is to introduce rational arguments to the public discourse and prevent the danger of masses following a Pied-Piper like leader in a direction that will lead to destruction.
In the public arena, we are the only movement trying to strengthen freedom, to make government smaller and reduce the role of government. We’re a lone voice and it’s very important to strengthen and maintain freedoms in Israel.
Israel is a country that has made great strides toward capitalism in recent years but still suffers from enormous levels of government regulation, sky high income taxes, import taxes and a 16% value added tax (VAT) on most goods and services. Arad says the average Israeli has to work 168 days each year just to pay off the tax bill before beginning to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Since TheBlaze first introduced this group to readers, its members have held a variety of events bringing their unique vision and rational argument to a public often swayed by raw emotion.
In June, they held a demonstration to protest the Netanyahu government’s plan to increase deficit spending to 3% instead of the present 2.5% deficit level.
Standing opposite the throngs of social justice activists, Freedom Movement members waved Greek flags as a symbol of the perils of unrestrained government spending. They were in good company, as even Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer blasted the move, warning the decision could scare off foreign investment in the country. He said:
This country needs to show that it intends to continue a strong fiscal policy, more similar to that of Finland than of most of the countries in Europe’s weak economy.
Israel Freedom Movement poster depicting Israeli flag morphing to Greek flag, warning "Israel is on its way to turn into Greece. No raising the deficit."
On May 1, “May Day,” they held a memorial service at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv to pay tribute to what they estimate to be the 100 million victims of communism worldwide.
Israeli Freedom Movement poster listing what it estimates to be the 100 million victims of communism, including under Stalin, the Khmer Rouge and China's Great Leap Forward
In Hebrew, the group calls itself the “New Liberal Movement,” and its website address is www.liberal.co.il. Using the word “liberal” – leeberalee – was an intentional choice based on the classical economic meaning of the term. Members say they didn’t want the left to “hijack” the word as they believe occurred in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Arad says that since last year’s Tel Aviv meeting with FreedomWorks, the group has grown from 400 to 1,000 active members. “We continue to grow and are very optimistic both for cooperation and our future successes,” he says.
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illinioshoj
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 2:54pmIt’s nice to know freedom lives outside the U.S.A. we need more nations to understand that freedom and liberty should be the rights of All people
Report Post »BondmanPhil
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:04amThere is a lot of misleading info in this piece. The housing problem in Israel, which is severe, has as a cause the fact that over 90% of the undeveloped land in Israel is owned by the government, The Israel Land Authority. Since it benefits the government if land and housing prices are high, they have no reason to release land to developers. It is also important to note that home ownership is not viewed as a right in Israel, and the government requires over 30% down to purchase a home. Most rent. What many of the protesters want is socialized housing – more government funded housing projects, IOW, bigger government, not smaller. Real Israeli right-wingers understand that the problem is the Israel Land Authority. A faction within the Likud Party, The Jewish Leadership faction, has made a platform issue of taking the land from the government and selling it, by lottery, to Israelis who have completed their compulsory military service, at low prices, to encourage development and lower housing prices. Also, the leader of this faction is fiercely committed to the cause of liberty for Israeli citizens. The “Israeli Tea Party” folks would be wise to support this faction. Learn more at JewishIsrael.org.
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:35pmI am glad to see that Israel is standing for the same values the Tea Party represents. I think it will help them feel less isolated, since Our President has done everything he can to throw them under the bus. We must all stand up for freedom in the face of Evil and Tyranny!
Report Post »myblazerisblue
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:14pmIsrael needs to stay out of America’s business and politics, just as the USA needs to quit giving them aid and money we don’t have, and coincidentally we need to stay out of their politics too.
We must outlaw the influence of all other countries and their lobbies in our government, because the only outcome is a big negative for us Americans. Also any corporation that considers itself global with more than USA interests needs banned from lobbying and receiving contracts from our government.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:11ammyblazerisblue
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:14pm
Israel needs to stay out of America’s business and politics, just as the USA needs to quit giving them aid and money we don’t have, and coincidentally we need to stay out of their politics too.
We must outlaw the influence of all other countries and their lobbies in our government, because the only outcome is a big negative for us Americans. Also any corporation that considers itself global with more than USA interests needs banned from lobbying and receiving contracts from our government
Report Post »****
But….uuuh…if your a success …it‘s someone else’s fault, you didn’t build that, Israel and America both have ROADS AND BRIDGES! So…uuuh, they‘ll be a success if they build each other’s roads and bridges… I uuh… meant… someone built Israel & America’s roads and bridges…Uuuh!!!
blair152
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 6:10pmGood. Maybe it’s time for the Democrats to get out of the way. Andrew Jackson’s probably rolling over in
Report Post »his grave.
Brother Winston Smith
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 4:29pmDick (bless their illegal alien hearts) Armey’s Freedomworks is FAKE-TEA GOP. FAKE. Their SOLE OBJECTIVE IS PRESERVING THE LEFTIST ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN PARTY and SNUFFING OUT ANY ATTEMPTS to strengthen third CONSTITUTIONALIST parties, like the WELL-ESTABLISHED Constitution Party. They do this by MIMICKING REAL tea partiers. Same as Beck.
Report Post »myblazerisblue
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:25pmThe Tea Party began as a frustrated free thinking group that opposed the political establishment that had ears only for foreign influence and control and international corporations and lobbyists. Then they were hijacked by Freedom Works INCORPORATED and turned into RNC puppets. Freedomworks supports diluting our sovereignty and opening our borders to illegals, turning the country over to globalists, handing billions to Israel and other countries that have more per capita than the USA and crony capitalism.
Report Post »frontdesk
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 4:17pmIsrael’s many problems have developed and remain because of their parliamentary form of government. There are too many political parities (over 30, I believe). When citizens go to vote, they vote for a party. Loyalty is not for an ideal but a party. Politicians become immune to the needs of the people. In addition, like the U.S., the union, Histradrut continues to have a powerful hold that disables the benefits of a free enterprise system. The Foundation for Constitutional Democracy, for example, and its leader, Professor Paul Eidelberg (a U.S. constitutional expert), have a political system ready to be put in place in Israel, similar to the system of the U.S. Israelis need a new mindset. Anything to get rid of the selfish idiots who are running amok in the Knesset and Supreme Court.
Report Post »BondmanPhil
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 11:42amAll good points, Frontdesk. But things are slowly changing for the better. Serious consideration is being given to raising the minimum number of parliamentary seats from 3 to 10, a step in the right direction. Eidelberg has some good ideas, but he is misguided in one area. He wants Moshe Feiglin, probably the only ideological politician in the ruling Likud party, to defect and form yet another tiny party. The battles over every issue in Israel are fought within the Likud party, and it is Feiglin’s intention to lead that party, and promote his ideology. If Israel ever hopes to have a constitution or a republic, this is an important first step.
Report Post »DamocleAurelius
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 11:59amUh oh, Jews are starting to join up with the Tea Party?
Bet that is making the anti-Semitic Paulbots just flip. out.
Report Post »The-Real-Enrico
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:54pmI hope you’re not hoping they flip out. We don’t need them to flip out of the tea party. I hope this can and will soften the anti semitic and racist heart to to see the truth.
We need as many freedom fighting libertarian in the tea party movement as possible ether it Ron “Paulbots” or not.
Report Post »G-WHIZ
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 1:01pm…and JAPAN has a “Green-Tea” movement….aaaah–HAH!!
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:16am@DamocleAurelius
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 11:59am
Uh oh, Jews are starting to join up with the Tea Party?
Bet that is making the anti-Semitic Paulbots just flip. out.
Report Post »****
Bet they spend months debating if the Rabbi’s should bless the Tea before they drink it! The Paulbots, won’t have a clue!
GrayPanther
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 11:12amFreedom is being fought by those having and seeking power over others. Note all of the Tea Party events in America were peaceful except for the SEIU and other thugs attempting to soil the events. “We the People” welcome all freedom loving people and we don’t care who gets the credit. Never, never trade freedom for security as you will loose both. Amen.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:50amTeam up with the nationalists, libertarians and liberals to take back your country from the traitorous fascist criminals in your goverment. there allot worse than ours and treat their people like animals. i can’t believe they have been able to tolerate a fascist police state with very little freedom for so long. I hope our goverment doesn’t get any ideas from them. But hopefully a revolution happens there and here as well.
Report Post »Babysan12
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:16amBeware Israel. Neocons will infiltrate and destory your “tea party” movement just like they have here.
Report Post »Nevo
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 5:20amWell, the comparison to the Tea-Party is misleading, as unlike the Tea Party which consisted of both conservatives & Libertarians from the get go, the Israeli Freedom Movement is actually Purely libertarian.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:01amWill the Obama loving American Jews stand with their Muslim leader against these Israelis?
Report Post »BondmanPhil
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:05pmNot all of them. BHO has single-digit approval ratings among Jewish Israelis.
Report Post »MAX0O1
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:45amPraying for your success. The LORD be with you!
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:02amWow!! Not many commentors on this thread…guess they don‘t care or can’t rap their head around that the people of Israel are living in a Marxist state..It is what I have been trying to tell them for a year..ever since the Blaze story about the Israeli bill that would make it illegal to draw comparisons to Nazism..hello..you would think that would be a clue wouldn’t you? Their is a sect of “Jews” in Israel who are Torah studying YHVH obedient rabbis who hold up signs saying that the Zionists/Communists are the reason for all of the bloodshed in the ME.. Because they are driven by greed..power and world domination..They say they got on fine with the Arabs until the Zionists showed up. This is how those who called themselves Jews but were not.. took over Israel..
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw9Qm_TejCo&skipcontrinter=1&bpctr=1343140309&skipcontrinter=1
kentuckypatriot
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:25amWelcome to the United States sir. I wish you success in your endeavors!
Report Post »I stand with Israel.
poorrichard09
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:32amIs the arab world disintegrating, or just morphing into a new entity-the caliphate?
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:48ampoorrichard09
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 9:32am
Is the arab world disintegrating, or just morphing into a new entity-the caliphate?
Report Post »***
If you’d read any of ad-man-njab’s speeches in Mid East newspapers for the last 6 or 7 years, you’d know he was building the caliphate, with a lot of help from other thugs, and now our w h and state dept.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:24amIsrael is a country that has made great strides toward capitalism in recent years but still suffers from enormous levels of government regulation, sky high income taxes, import taxes and a 16% value added tax (VAT) on most goods and services. Arad says the average Israeli has to work 168 days each year just to pay off the tax bill before beginning to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
So it has occured here, save for the VAT tax, which I imagine the democrats and progressives would love to have in addition to the income tax if events move to their advantage. Communists and the Progressives work the system from the outside in, inside out and across the board, pushing the entire system until something finally gives and sunders the entire, or a significant portion of, the system into collapse.
Soros, via Obama, is doing just that with Israel: Radical Islam from without, extremism from within, and supporting of radical ideology as well to try and sell a dream to the masses that will become a nightmare – as Obama has done with hope and change.
Report Post »mompatriot
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 4:16pmSnow, excellent post!!!
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:52am@Snow
re : So it has occured here, save for the VAT tax, which I imagine the democrats and progressives would love to have in addition to the income tax if events move to their advantage. Communists and the Progressives work the system from the outside in, inside out and across the board, pushing the entire system until something finally gives and sunders the entire, or a significant portion of, the system into collapse.
Soros, via Obama, is doing just that with Israel: Radical Islam from without, extremism from within, and supporting of radical ideology as well to try and sell a dream to the masses that will become a nightmare – as Obama has done with hope and change
Report Post »****
Used to have a name for it, it was called “Rope-a-dope” If the name holds true, may b o et al be the dopes, snared in their own ropes!
BondmanPhil
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 1:41pmSnow: No doubt that Soros would like to crush Israel – he is a self-loathing Jew of the worst order. However, Israel is not America. It is a much more right-wing country. I would guess that only 25-30% identify as Leftist, and the number is shrinking quickly. This is mainly a demographic issue. The religious and secular Zionists, and the ultra-Orthodox, all of them right-wingers, are the ones staying in Israel and having many babies, and are also the majority of immigrants. The Leftists, if they have children at all, are emigrating, mostly to the U.S. True, its leaders are Leftist, but this good ol’ boy network is on its last legs. Israel is moving rapidly to the right, and will not be fooled by Soros’ manipulation. It is a small but strong economy that is tightly controlled, and somewhat immune to Soros’ financial attacks. The fact that it is a more faithful population overall than most Western nations also keeps Israel to the right of center. I have flipped from believing that Israel cannot survive without U.S. support to feeling that Israel can survive without any help from the U.S., and might even be better off without the aid from America, which comes with many strings attached to the Arabist State Department masters. I am more worried about America‘s future than Israel’s at this point.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:19amThe first sentence in the article was the feel good part of the story and the idiots who believe in ‘social justice’ BS here in the U S should do the same,light em all up.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 8:19amSome times things just don’t add up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bNiDx7qTjA
Report Post »BenInNY
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:55amIn the case of that video, the entire premise doesn’t add up. The Paul people had an event they called a tea party. 2 years later a ton of us–most of whom had never heard of that event–began an entirely unrelated movement, the seed of which was sparked by Santelli. It would’ve happened anyway as the sentiment was burgeoning due to TARP and the stimulus. Lay claim all you want, doesn’t make it even remotely accurate. Here in upstate NY we had the Campaign for Liberty people showing up at the events with what amounts to merch tables and sign-up sheets. We largely avoided them since it felt like they were trying to direct what we were doing into a political support group rather than a protest movement before it was ready to, and before anyone had a chance to fully vet anyone.
Report Post »I don’t dislike Paul, but I’m far from a fan of his supporters for this, among other reasons.
The-Real-Enrico
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 12:47pmMany need to bashing the man. You not have to agree with him but he is the one if not the only voice of reason many if not most issues that trouble our nation and world. May not agree with him but respect him.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 5:03pm@Beninny, So you admit the co-opted, establishment version of the Tea Party is unknowledgeable? Fox will rot your brain.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 7:38amCommies are tryin to take over everywhere….. VOTE TEA PARTY.
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 7:34amComrade I wish you luck but the lie that is communism is, and has been since its founding, firmly entrenched in the Jewish community! Now the lie has spread around the world and has also deeply infected America, May God help all of us!
Report Post »BondmanPhil
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 1:46pmContrary to Marxism, property rights are central to Jewish Law. As Israel as a nation moves more to the right, and more towards observance of Torah law, you will see less and less Marxist influence, and more respect for individual rights and liberties. By definition, Marxist Jews have rejected the Torah, and in so doing, opened the door for their assimilation and dissappearance as identifyable Jews.
Report Post »JohnLarson
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 7:32amWill conservatives just gay marry Israel already? Get it over with.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on July 24, 2012 at 7:52amCongressman Larson, knowing your bio and history in the House of Representatives I would expect you to say something no less stupid than this. Hmmm, bet you are a fake anyway.
Report Post »BondmanPhil
Posted on July 25, 2012 at 1:49pmThat marriage was consumated by our founding fathers, who understood the importance of the Judeo-Christian tradition to our nation. An inconvenient truth for you, I suppose.
Report Post »