There is so much ignorance about Israel and Israelis. They are so many lies told by anti-Israel haters.

I like the personal touch so I thought I would take you on a bit of a tour to meet some:

THREAD

Avraham Kiryati was 8 years old when in 1929, Arabs massacred the Jews of Hebron. His uncle stepped outside and was one of those murdered. He is a descendant of Jews who escaped the Spanish inquisition, settling first in Tzfat and then in Hebron.

Eden Alene is singing Israel's entry in next years Eurovision song contest. She was born in Jerusalem, but both of her parents had immigrated from Ethiopia - fleeing the persecution there. There are about 130,000 Jews of Ethiopian descent in Israel today.

Elinor Joseph is a Christian Israeli Arab. She serves in a combat role in the Israeli military. She was born in the village of Jish in northern Israel. She is one of approximately 177,000 Christians living in Israel - the only country in the region that protects them.

Yaakov Horovitz was born in Alexandria, Egypt in the 1930s. His family had a successful business. In 1956 they were arrested and told to sign over all their posessions and given days to leave the country. They were expelled and eventually arrived as refugees in Israel.

Ruth survived the Holocaust. She jumped from a train heading to the camps and joined partisans to fight the Nazis.

Here she is with her granddaughter Opal - an officer in the Israeli army. One of those protecting the Jews to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.

Ismail Khaldi is an Israeli Beduin. He was born in Khawaled, a village near Haifa. He served in the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Israel Police, and in the Israel Defense Forces. He is now an Israeli diplomat in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Pe'er Tasi is a successful Israeli singer. His music is of Mizrahi or 'eastern' genre. Tasi's family come from Yemen where like many, they fled persecution. There are about 400,000 Israelis of Yeminite descent.

Eli Amir was born in Iraq. His family fled the persecution - and he was one of a million Jews in Arab lands who were ethnically cleansed. In Israel he forged a successful - award winning writing career. There are about 450,000 Israelis of Iraqi descent.

Behruz Baradarian was born in Iran. He fled Iran after the Islamic revolution in 1979. He has a shop and sells dry goods and spices. Behruz regrets that he cannot visit the place of his birth. He is one of over 130,000 of Iranian descent living in Israel.

Ninet Tayeb is of Tunisian descent. She is a successful musician, singer-songwriter, composer, DJ, model and actress. Her parents arrived in Israel seperately, both fleeing persecution. There are 10,000s of Israelis with Tunisian descent.

Yossi Cohen was born in Israel. In fact his family trace back roots in Israel at least nine generations. He is the current Director of Mossad. As Jews have ALWAYS been present in the region, many Israelis families can count them as their descendants.

Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh is a Druze-Israeli. She is a politician and journalist. Her faction, Blue & White are in the present government. She was the first female Druze Israeli politician to become a member of the Knesset.

Natan Sharansky was born in the Soviet Union. As a refusenik he spent 9 years in Soviet Jails. He was the 1st political prisoner released by Gorbachev. When the Soviets eventually opened its doors, a million Jews escaped. Sharansky went on to be a successful Israeli politician.

Sarah Avraham is an Israeli kickboxer. In 2014 she won the Women's World Thai-Boxing Championship. She was born in India and moved to Israel after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. There are approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian-origin in Israel.

Beram Kayal is an Israeli Muslim. Kayal is a successful footballer and plays for Brighton & Hove Albion. He has played at the International level since 2008, with 44 senior caps to date playing for Israel. There are over 1.5 million Arab Muslims in Israel.

Amir Ohana was born in Israel. His parents fled persecution from Morocco. Ohana is a Likud MK and he is the current Minister of Justice. Ohana is openly gay. There are now 6 openly gay MKs in the 120 seat Knesset. In Israel a million Jews claim Moroccan heritage.

Daniel Gal was born in Algeria. When he was just 5 or 6 he was expelled for being Jewish. His father lost his job as Jewish businesses were taken by the state. Under heavy persecution, his family fled to Israel.

Salim Joubran is a Christian Maronite. Salim Joubran was appointed justice in Supreme Court of Israel in 2004. Which made him a sitting judge in the highest court in Israel. He recently retired.

Jonathan Elkhoury was born in Lebanon. He is gay Christian Lebanese refugee. Jonathan and his family were forced to flee Lebanon - running from Hezbollah retribution. Now AN Israeli, Jonathan tours campuses in the west, debunking lies about Israel that haters tell.

I could keep going because there are more examples, but I think the point is made. The idea Israel is some European colony is a lie spread by haters seeking to delegitimise the Jewish state

So now *YOU* know not to believe the lies

Shabbat shalom everyone -have a great weekend!