New Ideas!

[Ari]

While the campaign for Chaim continues, I was wondering if any of our great members had any additional thoughts on Chaim's aliyah efforts.  We can not rest until this great man achieves his lifelong dream!

[Merkava]

I think what we have to do is raise money to rent a jet, have Chaim onboard, fly over Israel and drop Chaim with a parachute. Then he will land safetly in Israel.

[Ari]

Novel idea.

[MassuhDGoodName]

The nation France has traditionally made itself a haven of asylum for any number of politically persecuted individuals, regardless of their political alignment.

I am quite serious when I suggest contacting President Sarkozy of France in asking for official asylum for Chaim so that he may live safely in France, and from there gain a larger worldwide audience for his views.

This could be reinforced with a JTF American-based "plan of action" of non-stop bombardment of media & public officials bringing Chaim's plight of not being allowed either to enter Israel or to campaign for office there into the focus of all opposed to political persecutions and all those opposed to anti-democratic governments.

Before you dismiss this idea, it worked exactly as I describe to give the Ayatollah Khomeini asylum, protect him, allow him to propagandize against the Shah, and then re-enter Iran from where he had been banned.

France has also granted asylum to any number of American Communists, Black civil rights activists...almost anyone who can prove political and/or religious persecution.

President Sarkozy is just the right guy at the right time to give serious consideration to Chaim's petition for political asylum as someone being persecuted by "Israeli Zionists"  .

In effect, JTF could utilize "liberal socialists" who believe in always siding with "the underdog" to actually champion Chaim Ben Pesach in his struggle to return to Israel a free man. (might take a little "spin doctoring" to provoke a lot of sympathy for him but that wouldn't be as difficult as the spin which was required to make Ayatollah Khomeini appear to be a "kind, Christian, Saintly, old man driven out by the cruel demon Shah).

Short of having success with this plan, the only thing I can think of is to dress him up as a Chassid (Begin pulled this off in his youth), and being dropped off ashore in the dead of night complete with forged papers identifying one Rabbi Yossi Cohen (perhaps followed by another sea-drop of weapons and ammo for Jewish freedom-fighters who need self defense against the brutality of Olmert and his gang of criminals.)

[Merkava]

Sounds like a gd idea.

But I would worry about Chaim's safety. France doesn't exactly love Jews and there are too many muzzies that would put a price on Chaim's head (G-d forbid anything happens to him)

[Sarah]

Is Chaim not allowed to even visit Israel?
Maybe if he is allowed to stay temporarily on visiting purposes, he might be able to futher his status to stay forever.

[WestCoastJTF]

Is Chaim not allowed to even visit Israel?
Maybe if he is allowed to stay temporarily on visiting purposes, he might be able to futher his status to stay forever.

I believe that is the case - he's not allowed to set foot in the country.

Hoardes of Arabs can claim the "right of return" but one of Israel's most loyal defenders is banned...

[kellymaureen]

Is the ban because of his conviction, or views?

[WestCoastJTF]

Is the ban because of his conviction, or views?

I don't really know.

I would guess

• officially, because of his conviction.  There have been other people who've been denied the right of return because of their criminal convictions, e.g. Meyer Lansky.  Of course, to equate Chaim with a mafia thug is absurd.  But that is no doubt the type of precedent they're using - "we've denied the right o return to other people with criminal records, you have a criminal record, so we'll deny you as well.
• really, because of his views and potential for political change/impact/disruption.  CBP is the real deal - and the government of Israel knows it.

It's so absurd...hundreds of thousands of people (ex-Soviet Jews) are living in Israel BECAUSE OF THE WORK CHAIM DID.  But the man himself is barred.

[kellymaureen]

officially, because of his conviction.  There have been other people who've been denied the right of return because of their criminal convictions, e.g. Meyer Lansky.  Of course, to equate Chaim with a mafia thug is absurd.  But that is no doubt the type of precedent they're using - "we've denied the right o return to other people with criminal records, you have a criminal record, so we'll deny you as well.

Once your time has been served and you are free, why do they still hold that against you
and what about a pardon, do those work in this kind of case?

[Ari]

Who knows what is behind their reasoning?  That is why Chaim often describes them as a Bolshevik Government.  I still have faith one day Chaim will live in Israel though.

[Sarah]

Calling them a Bolshevik Government, won't make it any easier. I think Chaim has made it extremely hard for himself to go back but he believes he has no choice.

[JTFFan]

Who knows what is behind their reasoning?  That is why Chaim often describes them as a Bolshevik Government.  I still have faith one day Chaim will live in Israel though.

I do too, I think he'll make it to Israel there someday.

[Nolandforshalom]

I think Chaim Personally writing to an MK and asking for help would be most beneficial. Perhaps a National Union MK.