Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
South Carolina is United With Israel!
America’s “Bible Belt” takes the Scriptures seriously – very seriously. There still are some folks there who think Jews have “horns on their heads,” a view based on the improper translation that Moses descended from Mount Sinai with “horns” of light on his head, based on the literal translation of the Hebrew word “keren,” which in this context is understood as “rays.”
There are other verses that are not open for interpretation, and two South Carolina senators this year succeeded in using them to help gain unanimous state legislative support for the first-ever pro-Israel resolution in a state.
It commends “the Nation of Israel for its relations with the United States and with the state of South Carolina.” Even more unusual is that the resolution was proclaimed “Whereas, Israel has been granted her lands under and through the oldest recorded deed as reported in the Old Testament, a tome of scripture held sacred and reverenced by Jew and Christian, alike, as the acts and words of G-d, and whereas, as the Grantor of said lands, G-d stated to the Jewish people in the Old Testament; in Leviticus, Chapter 20, Verse 24: ‘Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey.’”
Several other “whereas” statements continued the theme of the Promised Land for Jews and also noted that “those same haters of Israel also hate, and seek to destroy, the United States of America.”
Resolution co-sponsor Sen. Alan Clemmons, on his first-ever visit to Israel, visited Samaria this week and spoke with Arutz Sheva, which asked him why a Bible Belt senator – a Mormon, no less – is so interested in Israel while the “Jewish vote” is minimal in his state.
“I have a heartfelt desire to correct what I felt was a wrong when President Obama shared with the world his proclamation and his belief that Israel should return to the 1948 ceasefire lines, what he called the 1967 borders,” Sen. Clemmons said. “You and I know there are no such borders.” He said that he, along with co-Republican Sen. Larry Smith, who is to visit Israel next week, sponsored the resolution in favor of Israel because “I am bringing peace to myself.”
Sen. Clemmons explained that it must be understood that “Israel is a G-d given land, that G-d gave the land to Israel and that Israel is not occupying any land. He promised the Jewish people that Israel would be theirs forever. That means ‘always,’ regardless of what a president or prime minister says.”
He said he was pleasantly surprised that “not a single one of the 124 members of the legislature in South Carolina objected to the resolution.”
Asked if local issues are not more important to his constituents, the senior senator replied, “In the area I am from, one out of every five able-bodied persons is unemployed. At the same time, I cannot overlook injustices. Our best friend is under attack. To send such a message of despair from the president to America’s best friend was a wrong to be righted.”
As a Mormon, Senator Clemmons is aware of concerns by many nationalists that “Christian Zionists” are on a secret mission to convert Jews.
“Israel is a special place for all Christians, and Jews have a right to be concerned with Christian persuasion and influence,” he replied. “When it comes to Israel, abuse and injustice in the name of religion have worked against the Jews for millennia, but if there is any thought of missionary activity – there is none. I am not interested in converting Jews. I am here to support Jews.”
Like many first-time visitors to Israel, Sen. Clemmons expected “an old city of Jerusalem and a strife-filled and older country with little infrastructure and bullets flying. What I found was a modern country that is loved by her citizens, and I found a land where the reverence that I feel in Israel for the land is palpable.” He also said he is in contact with other states concerning a resolution similar to that passed by the South Carolina legislature. “I have heard back from 15-20 states where they are looking to introduce the same in the coming session.”
Source: http://unitedwithisrael.org/south-carolina-is-united/
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The F-15I Ra'am (Thunder)
F-15I
An Israeli Air Force F-15I (Ra'am) from the No 69 Hammers Squadron maneuvers away after receiving fuel from a KC-135 during Red Flag 2004.
The F-15I is operated by the Israeli Air Force where it is known as the Ra'am (רעם – "Thunder"). It is a dual-seat ground attack aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines, and is based on the F-15E.
After the Gulf War in 1991, in which Israeli towns were attacked by SCUD missiles based in Iraq, the Israeli government decided that it needed a long range strike aircraft and issued a Request for Information (RFI). In response, Lockheed Martin offered a version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, while McDonnell Douglas offered both the F/A-18 Hornet and the F-15E. On 27 January 1994, the Israeli government announced that the intention to purchase 21 modified F-15Es, designated F-15I ("I" for Israel). On 12 May 1994, the US Government authorized the purchase of up to 25 F-15Is by Israel. In November 1995, Israel ordered 4 extra F-15Is, thus 25 were built from 1996 to 1998.
The two-seat F-15I incorporates new and unique weapons, avionics, electronic warfare and communications capabilities. Israel selected the F-15I in January 1994 after evaluating a variety of aircraft to meet its defense needs. The F-15I, like the U.S. Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle, is a dual-role fighter that combines long-range interdiction with the Eagle's awe-inspiring air superiority capabilities.
The F-15I Ra'am is similar to the F-15E, however the F-15I has some avionic systems specifically to meet Israeli requirements. To facilitate night-time strikes, the F-15Is were initially fitted with Sharpshooter targeting pods designed for Israeli F-16s. The Sharpshooter pod was less capable than the LANTIRN pods used on USAF F-15Es, the United States later allowed Israel to buy LANTIRNs instead, 30 LANTIRN pods were eventually delivered. The F-15Is, as delivered, did not have any Radar Warning Receivers, thus Israel installed its own electronic warfare equipment, the Elisra SPS-2110. A central computer and embedded GPS/INS system have also been fitted. All of the aircraft's sensors can be slaved to the Display And Sight Helmet (DASH) helmet-mounted sight, giving both crew members an entire means of targeting which the F-15E lacks. The F-15I uses the APG-70 radar; using the radar's terrain mapping capability, it is possible to locate targets that are otherwise difficult to spot—e.g., missile batteries, tanks and structures—even in adverse conditions such as complete fog cover or heavy rain. The radar can detect large airliner-sized targets at 150 nautical miles, and fighter-sized targets at 56 nautical miles.
"From a purely technological standpoint, the F-15I is a masterpiece. It will provide the qualitative edge Israel requires to preserve peace," said Phil Condit, chairman and chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. "Israeli engineers and suppliers played a significant role in the production of this airplane. That fact is meaningful not just from a technology standpoint, but as a matter of pride," he said."
When Israel's minister of defense, Yitzhak Mordechai, formally accepted the F-15I on behalf of the people of Israel, the Star of David was placed on the aircraft's fuselage. "I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the government of the United States, to the Boeing Company, to all of the American and Israeli employees who labored to build this aircraft, and of course, to the air crews who will fly it," said Minister Mordechai. "The F-15I will provide a significant contribution to Israel's air deterrence power. I pray this aircraft will bestow upon us the wings of peace and not the ghosts of war," he said.
The F-15I is one of the most advanced fighters ever to be produced. Its avionics include the Hughes APG-70 synthetic aperture radar, the Kaiser holographic head-up display system, and an Elbit display and sight helmet (DASH) system. The aircraft is armed with a number of precision weapons systems, as well as Python and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. Power is provided by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 low bypass turbofan engines, each capable of developing approximately 29,000 pounds of thrust.
Boeing also is providing a software development facility for the F-15I, as well as support for the aircraft, operator and maintenance training, flight testing, and an industrial cooperation program. The F-15I industrial cooperation program currently involves 34 partners in Israel's aerospace industry, working on contracts valued at more than half a billion dollars. The relationships continue a long-standing commitment to Israeli industry that dates back almost 40 years.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Do Jews Celebrate Thanksgiving?
My curious non-Jewish friends always ask me whether I, an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, celebrate Thanksgiving. The question reminds me that we still have much to learn about each other, because the answer is so obvious once you really understand what Thanksgiving is all about.Every Kindergartner knows the story of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620 and gave thanks for their success and accomplishments. What most people don’t know, however, was just how unique those Pilgrims were.
Unlike any other group before them, the Pilgrims were fleeing from religious oppression in Europe and looked to the Bible for inspiration. They saw themselves as the chosen people fleeing from a brutal King (James I), who they referred to as Pharaoh, casting off the yolk of bondage and oppression. They referred to their voyage on the Mayflower as passing through the Red Sea into the wilderness. For inspiration, they looked to Exodus and even studied Hebrew in order to read it in the original. When they arrived in what they referred to as the “Promised Land”, they offered thanks and prayer to G-d, like the biblical Feast of Tabernacles.
No other group in history had ever felt that they were reenacting and fulfilling the bible like the original settlers in America. For centuries, European explorers had set sail for new lands without referring to the Bible, seeing themselves as G-d’s chosen people or looking for the Promised Land. This remarkable fact was never inevitable and should not be taken for granted.Furthermore, the Early Americans who looked towards the biblical narrative for inspiration doesn’t end with the first Thanksgiving, in fact, that’s only where it begins.
At the first presidential inauguration in 1789, George Washington held up the procedures until a bible was found, insisting upon swearing his oath of office on a bible, a tradition that has continued to this day. Every American president has referred to the Hebrew Bible in his inauguration address, comparing his generation to the Israelites in the wilderness, confronted with challenges, yet on the verge of the promised land. British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has pointed out that what is interesting is that not only does every American president look to the biblical narrative for inspiration, but America is the only country in the world where this occurs!
The very first Americans believed that they were chosen to be a special people with a unique mission for a new world. The Jewish people have always claimed that it was our universal mission to promote the values of peace, freedom and hope, but unfortunately, for the last 2,000 years no one was listening. From its inception, however, America was different.
The “American Dream” has developed from these great biblical themes, which is why that despite pockets of anti-Semitism in American history, there has always been a deep and distinct appreciation for the Jewish people. We repeatedly hear references to America’s “Judeo-Christian values” which is one of the principle reasons for America’s strong support for the State of Israel.I celebrate Thanksgiving because it is the day that celebrates a proud fact, that the lessons from our Torah have been ingrained into the American soul. As a Jew, I am thankful for the fact when America was discovered, America discovered the bible.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Field Intelligence Unit You’ve Never Heard of
Female combat soldiers of the field intelligence company “Nachshol” are stationed along the southern Israeli border. Due to the increased tension in the area, a unique exercise was conducted in the beginning of November, practicing clashes with terrorists, storming at targets, and high-level camouflage, while confronted with mock explosives simulating real bombs."The idea is to improve the combat expertise, tactics and operation as a united team," said 2nd Lt. Nitzan, a commander in the company. "We also improved the cooperation between the female soldiers' permanent teams, enhancing the essential capability of fighting together."
2nd Lt. Nitzan continued, "Our job as a company of female combat soldiers is to execute ambushes and collect intelligence in the field. Our work includes three aspects: combat operations, professional intelligence gathering, and social interactions. If necessary- we attack. During ambushes, the girls are extremely close for long periods of time, they literally do everything together."
“Both the female observer and the female field intelligence combat soldier observe the field to gather information, though the two differ in their method of observation,” said Lt. Dana, the company commander. “A combat soldier stationed near the fence will unquestionably know how to storm a target.”After getting released from the army, Lt. Dana volunteered to become an officer and serve in various positions in the Field Intelligence Corps. "I understood where I want to contribute, influence and change," she said.
Referencing her experience as a company commander, Lt. Dana explained that "today in the IDF there are female combat soldiers who, like the guys, operate at crossings and during routine activity. After enlisting, our female soldiers go through combat training and then are taught to use their skills to achieve the desired results."
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Modern Warfare 3.... no Israeli flag
On Monday night, a highly anticipated video game was released world wide. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.To get right to the point, there is something that was brought up by a good friend of mine that I do not appreciate.
Let's back track first. There was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, an amazing video game that allowed the players to design the background of their gametag. The video allowed players to unlock a variety of artistic background banners. Some of these banners included flags from around the word. Obviously, the U.S. Flag, Britain's flag, Canada's flag, etc... However, in Modern Warfare 2, there was no Israeli flag to choose from. Sucks.
Well, after Modern Warfare 2, there came Call of Duty: Black Ops. Yes! The Israeli flag was included in the array of worldwide flags to choose from.
But with the new release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the Israeli flag is no where to be seen. What the heck? That's totally screwed up. Iran's flag has made it each time, and even other stupid countries as well.
But the nation of Israel, the land of God's favorite people, the nation with the most elite special ops military in the world, a nation of incredible science and military advancement, technological monuments, and epic history..... the Israeli flag is not included in Modern Warfare 3.
Activision and Infinity Ward were the companies who brought the Modern Warfares together. Why did they leave out the Israeli flag for both games? Yet when Activision teamed up with Trearch to produce Black Ops, they pulled it off. Is Trearch a pro-Christian company? They use the symbol of the Holy Trinity as their logo. Hmmm..... is this why the Israeli flag is only in Black Ops?Was this an accident on Activision's part? Whatever....
I smell something anti-Semitic.... but God only knows. Maybe it was just an accident.
Increased Terrorist Attacks in month of October
In October 2011, there was an increase in the number of terrorist attacks carried out against Israel - 80, compared to 68 in September.The data was published in a monthly report released by the Israel Security Agency.
In October, 46 attacks originated in the Gaza Strip, compared to 12 in September.
However, the number of attacks in Jerusalem and the Judea and Samaria region decreased slightly. In Jerusalem, there were six attacks, compared to 17 the previous month. In Judea and Samaria there were 28 attacks, compared to 39 the previous month.
One Israeli was killed in Ashkelon on October 29 as the result of a rocket fired by terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
In October, 52 rockets and six mortars were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip, compared to eight rockets and two mortars in September.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Sarkozy and Obama Trash Talk Netanyahu
French President Nicolas Sarkozy reportedly told US President Barack Obama that he could not "stand" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that he thinks the Israeli premier "is a liar."According to a Monday report in the French website "Arret sur Images," after facing reporters for a G20 press conference on Thursday, the two presidents retired to a private room, to further discuss the matters of the day.
The conversation apparently began with President Obama criticizing Sarkozy for not having warned him that France would be voting in favor of the Palestinian membership bid in UNESCO despite Washington's strong objection to the move.
The conversation then drifted to Netanyahu, at which time Sarkozy declared: "I cannot stand him. He is a liar." According to the report, Obama replied: "You're fed up with him, but I have to deal with him every day!"
The remark was naturally meant to be said in confidence, but the two leaders' microphones were accidently left on, making the would-be private comment embarrassingly public.
The communication faux pas went unnoticed for several minutes, during which the conversation between the two heads of state – which quickly reverted to other matters – was all but open to members the press, who were still in possession of headsets provided by the Elysée for the sake of simultaneous translation during the G20 press conference.
"By the time the (media) services at the Elysée realize it, it was on for at least three minutes," one journalist told the website. Still, he said that reporters "did not have a chance to take advantage of this fluke."
The surprising lack of coverage may be explained by a report alleging that journalists present at the event were requested to sign an agreement to keep mum on the embarrassing comments. A Reuters reporter was among the journalists present and can confirm the veracity of the comments.
A member of the media confirmed Monday that "there were discussions between journalists and they agreed not to publish the comments due to the sensitivity of the issue."
He added that while it was annoying to have to refrain from publishing the information, the journalists are subject to precise rules of conduct.
Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4145266,00.html
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Noam Schalit: "Today we have experienced the rebirth of our son."
"Today we have experienced the rebirth of our son"
A few hours after embracing his son at the Tel Nof Air Force Base for the first time in more than five years, Noam Schalit said Tuesday night that “today, we have experienced the rebirth of our son.”
He described the emotional reunion to reporters as he stood outside in his hometown of Mitzpe Hila in the Upper Galilee at the end of a whirlwind day.
“When I saw Gilad, I didn’t say much. I just hugged him. And if I remember correctly, I said, ‘Welcome,” Noam recalled.
Since early that morning, when Noam, his wife, Aviva, their son, Yoel, and daughter, Hadas, left their home to greet Gilad at the Tel Nof Base near Rehovot, reporters, Mitzpe Hila residents, friends and relatives waited anxiously for their return.
The road to the community was lined with Israeli flags and signs that read, “It’s so good that you have come home.”
Police blocked off the gravel road leading to the Schalit’s home in the hilltop village of some 150 families.
Next to the police barrier, the community had set up a large TV screen so people could watch Gilad leave Gaza, where he had been held since Hamas kidnapped him as he and his fellow tank crew members patrolled the southern border on June 25, 2006.
The main TV stations set up make-shift studios along the road leading to Mitzpe Hila.
As the hour drew near for Gilad to return home, wellwishers lined the road holding white flower bouquets.
They cheered as his helicopter appeared in the sky. They applauded, screamed and threw flowers as he arrived in a police motorcade.
As he exited a van and walked down the small stairwell to his home, dozens of people burst into song at the other end of the road. They waved Israeli flags, danced and released white and blue balloons.
But they quieted down to hear Noam say that after a long, hard struggle, his son “opened the door to the home he last left 1,941 days ago.”
“A long and exhausting journey had been completed,” Noam said.
All in all, he said, his son feels fine but suffers from minor wounds that were not treated while he was in captivity.Initially, he said, Gilad was held in difficult conditions, but the situation improved in recent years.
“Gilad is happy to be home,” Noam said, but he added that because of the isolation he experience in captivity, it is difficult for him to be exposed to people.
It’s been a long time since Gilad had been able to talk to people in his own language, said Noam.
He expressed a hope that his son’s rehabilitation would happen quickly and that he could soon return to normal life.
When Gilad last left home in 2006, he was a shy, 19-year-old tank gunner, known only to his friends and family.
He returned on Tuesday, at age 25, a national hero and an internationally recognized figure, whose cause was known to and championed by world leaders.
As they waited anxiously for him throughout the day, his neighbors recalled the boy they knew and their five-year struggle to bring him home.Mitzpe Hila resident Avi Kam recalled how as a small boy, Gilad learned to ride a bicycle on the same small road, where journalists now crowded to await his return.
“It was very funny to see his attempts to stay on the bike,” Kam remembered.
The tall gray-haired man milled around with the reporters with a camera slung over his shoulder.
“The happiness we feel can not be described, it’s like walking on the moon,” he said.
Gilad was a “very shy boy who didn’t talk that much with adults,” Kam said. “A week before he was kidnapped, I gave him a lift from the intersection below to his home.” He was very quiet during the ride, he said.
What struck him on Tuesday, as he watched the interview Gilad gave to Egyptian television, was how much Gilad spoke.
Gilad’s neighbor Elana Levy said that it was very emotional to see him on television.
“I have a river of tears that are bursting out. I cried for a hour, I could not stop,” she said.
“I knew Gilad since he was a baby. I felt that that he has grown up. But you can see that he is very weak, that he has not been in connection with people,” Levy said. “But his mind was clear. He gave such good answers.”
She recalled seeing him walking on the road in his uniform during a visit home, shortly before he was kidnapped.
Soon after that, she received a call at 6:30 a.m. from the chairman of Mitzpe Hila, who told her that a tank had been attacked on the Gaza border and that they believed a soldier from their community had been inside.
In the shocking days that followed, both Levy and Kam said no one imagined it would take more than five years until he returned home.
Kam said he thought it would not take more than a year-and-a-half to free Gilad.
For more than five years, they held on to their faith that he would return to them.
There was a point, toward the end of prime minister Ehud Olmert’s term in office, when they thought that he might be released, Levy said.
Since then, the situation seemed to deteriorate and there were many sharp dips downward in the process, she said.
“It seemed like lately, we had almost lost faith,” she said.
The campaign to free Gilad had drawn on the parallel between his story and that of missing airman Ron Arad, who was captured in Lebanon in 1986 and disappeared two years later after the government failed to conclude a deal for his release, Levy said.
“The two stories started to seem so much alike, that it sowed seeds of despair,” she said. “There were no negotiations. No one delivered any message from him. The Red Cross did not see him.”
In the midst of that sea of discouragement, suddenly she heard, like the rest of country, the news of his pending release.
But it was only after the cabinet approval last week, when she watched Gilad’s mother, Aviva, in the protest tent in Jerusalem, that she believed Gilad was on his way home.
As Levy spoke, she paused to take phone calls from activists wanting to know where to place flowers along the road.
The efforts the Mitzpe Hila community of 150 families has made to prepare for Schalit’s return, seem very little compared to his five years in captivity, she said.
That experience, which she said was likely worse then death, united the nation of Israel to fight on his behalf.
“He brought us all together. He helped us believe in one thing, that we can do it,” Levy said.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Beautiful Slide-Show of Israel/ article: Israel Does Not Stand Alone
ISRAEL Does Not Stand Alone
by: Michael Oren
The claim of Israel’s isolation, echoed by Democratic and Republican leaders alike, is gaining status as fact. “Israel finds itself increasingly isolated, beleaguered, and besieged,” John Heilemann wrote recently in New York magazine. The Economist reported that “Israel’s isolation has . . . been underlined by the deterioration of its relations with Turkey and Egypt.” New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “isolating his country,” while Thomas Friedman described Israel as “adrift at sea alone.”
But is Israel really more isolated now than in the past?
Isolation, of course, is not automatically symptomatic of bad policies. Britain was isolated fighting the Nazis at the start of World War II. Union forces were isolated early in the Civil War, as was the Continental Army at Valley Forge. “It is better to be alone than in bad company,” wrote the young George Washington. That maxim is especially apt for the Middle East today, where one of the least-isolated states, backed by both Iran and Iraq and effectively immune to United Nations sanctions, is Syria.
Israel, in fact, is significantly less isolated than at many times in its history. Before the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel faced a belligerent Egypt and Jordan and a hostile Soviet bloc, Greece, India and China — all without strategic ties with the United States. Today, Israel has peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan; excellent relations with the nations of Eastern Europe as well as Greece, India and China; and an unbreakable alliance with America. Many democracies, including Canada, Italy and the Czech Republic, stand staunchly with us. Israel has more legations abroad than ever before and recently joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which comprises the most globally integrated countries. Indeed, Egypt and Germany mediated the upcoming release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held hostage by Hamas for five years.
Israel is not responsible for the upheavals in the Arab world or for the lack of freedom that triggered them. Israelis did not elect Turkey’s Islamic-minded government or urge Syria’s army to fire on its citizens. Conversely, no change in Israeli policies can alter the historic processes transforming the region. Still, some commentators claim that, by refusing to freeze settlement construction on the West Bank and insisting on defensible borders and security guarantees, Israel isolates itself.
The settlements are not the core of the conflict. Arabs attacked us for 50 years before the first settlements were built. Netanyahu froze new construction in the settlements for an unprecedented 10 months, and still the Palestinians refused to negotiate. Settlements are not the reason that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed a unity pact with Hamas in May, or why, in his address to the U.N. General Assembly last month, Abbas denied the Jews’ 4,000-year connection to our homeland. As Abbas wrote in the New York Times in May, the Palestinian attempt to declare a state without making peace with Israel was about “internationalization of the conflict . . . to pursue claims against Israel” in the United Nations, not about settlements.
As for borders and security, Israel’s position reflects the 2005 withdrawal from Gaza. After uprooting all our settlements, we received not peace but thousands of Hamas rockets fired at our civilians. In Lebanon, a U.N. peace force watched while Hezbollah amassed an arsenal of 50,000 missiles. Israel’s need for defensible borders and for a long-term Israeli army presence to prevent arms smuggling into any Palestinian state is, for us, a life-and-death issue. Moreover, in a rapidly changing Middle East, we need assurances of our ability to defend ourselves if the Palestinians who support peace are overthrown by those opposed to it.
Despite repeated Palestinian efforts to isolate us, Israel is not alone. And we have a great many friends, especially in the United States, who we know would not want to imply that Israel stands alone in a dangerous region. Prime Minister Netanyahu remains committed to resuming peace talks with the Palestinians anywhere, any time, without preconditions, while insisting on the security arrangements vital to Israel’s survival. Meanwhile, we will continue to stretch out our hand for peace to all Middle Eastern peoples. To paraphrase one of George Washington’s contemporaries — if that be isolation, make the most of it.
The writer is Israel’s ambassador to the United States.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Shalit's Release – Step by Step
The fog surrounding the details of the prisoner exchange deal is beginning to clear – If everything plays out as planned, kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit will reunite with his family for the first time in five year as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
Here are the details of the operation, which will begin in the Gaza Strip and conclude in Shalit's home in Mitzpe Hila.
In the middle of next week, Shalit will be transferred from the Gaza Strip to Egypt, and from there to Israel. At the same time, 450 prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons as part of the first stage of the deal. The second stage will be implemented two months later, and will see the release of an additional 550 prisoners selected by Israel.
IDF officials will receive Shalit in Egypt, in order to identify him and give him preliminary medical examinations. He will then be flown to a military base in central Israel, where he will reunite with his family members and also most likely be greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In order to prevent media frenzy, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit will document Shalit's return and family reunification, and will hand the images to the media in an orderly fashion. The security establishment stated that it will allow Shalit to spend several weeks with his close family before questioning him about his time in captivity. IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz is expected to speak with the family in the upcoming days in order to run through the process with them.
Preparing for Gilad's return in Mitzpe Hila (Photo: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv)
'Neither Israel nor Hamas surrendered'
Meanwhile, the Israel Prison Service is gearing up to release all 450 prisoners. On the day of the release, Shalit will be handed to the Red Cross and immediately afterwards Israel will free 27 female prisoners, most of which will return to east Jerusalem and the West Bank; 2 others will be deported.
Later on, the rest of the prisoners will be transported in buses to the West Bank. Those who are slated to be deported or transferred to Gaza will first be handed over to Egypt.
Earlier on Wednesday Shin Bet Chief Yoram Cohen said that "90% of the Shalit deal was decided upon three years ago. We didn't start from scratch in July. The list of names was agreed a long time ago and the negotiations were in fact focused on who goes where and who gets deported."
Cohen added that "in the initial discussions we already understood that they were willing to compromise. They dropped their demand to release 1,400 prisoners and let Israel choose the 25 "heavy" murderers from a list of 75. Neither Israel nor Hamas surrendered."
In addition, Cohen said Israel agreed to release five other "heavy" murderers who are suffering from chronic illnesses on the basis of "humanitarian release."
Out of the 450 prisoners slated for release, 110 will return to their homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, 230 prisoners who are residents of the West Bank will be deported to Gaza or abroad, 131 prisoners will return to their homes in the Gaza Strip and six Arab-Israeli prisoners will be allowed to return to their homes in Israel.
The prisoners who will return to the West Bank will be placed under restrictions, which include a prohibition on crossing the Green Line or leaving the West Bank for 10 years. Additionally, they will be required to report to the IDF District Coordinating and Liaison once a month, and will be restricted to their district of residence for a period of three years.
Among the prisoners deported abroad, Israel will select 18 that will be allowed to return to the West Bank and east Jerusalem in one year's time; an additional 18 will be allowed to return in three years, in accordance with the completion of their prison sentence. Another 55 will be allowed to return in five to 10 years, while 55 others will be allowed back after only 20 to 25 years.
An additional 55 released prisoners will be banned from entering Israel for life.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Justice Ministry stated that the list of prisoners to be released in the first phase of the deal will be published by Sunday morning.
The ministry said that the list will appear on the Israel Prisoner Service's website, and the public will have 48 hours "to submit reservations and objections.
"Two months ago Israel was willing to release Barghouti and other officials," the sources, who were involved in the negotiations, told Palestinian news agency Maan.
Article by: Yoay Zitun and Elior Levy contributed to this report
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
IDF Gets 50 Huge Sukkahs and More!
As Sukkot draws near, fifty IDF units are receiving giant-sized modular Sukkahs, courtesy of the Ahavat Yisrael project headed by Rabbi Menachem Ofan. In addition, 1,000 sets of the “Four Species” (Arbaat HaMinim) have been donated.The Sukkahs and Four Species sets were given to the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers (AWIS), which has received requests from various IDF units and from the IDF Rabbinate for assistance in helping IDF soldiers celebrate the holiday properly and in accordance with Jewish law.
AWIS is transferring the sukkahs to IDF units and to the Soldiers’ Hostels (known as Beit HaHayal) and recreation villages it maintains throughout Israel. The Four Species sets are being transferred to the IDF Rabbinate.
It is crticial that our brave soldiers are able to celebrate our joyous holidays, even when they find themselves far away from the comforts of home.
A special thank you to The Ahavat Yisrael Project Leaders (the organization name means “loving the people of Israel” – our fellow Jews) for making this possible!
Sukkot – A Celebration For Every Nation!
There’s a party in Jerusalem and EVERYONE is invited! Watch this entertaining sneak preview into Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, as celebrated in Jerusalem today.
Ari Abramowiz and Jeremy Gimpel will take you to the heart of Israel you’ll see the restoration of an ancient tradition of the Jewish People where thousands of people from all nations of the world voyage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Sukkot Festival (Feast of Tabernacles).
Gilad Schalit Freed from Terrorist Captivity for 5 years, returns to Israel Home
The heads of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the Mossad and the IDF all expressed support for a prisoner exchange deal to free captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, during a cabinet meeting late Tuesday night.Before the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu vowed to bring Schalit home within the coming days.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of an urgent cabinet meeting over the prisoner-swap deal that free Schalit - which Hamas has approved - Netanyahu said he would stand true to his promise to bring Schalit home to his parents and grandparents.
Netanyahu presented the final prisoner-swap deal to the cabinet late Tuesday night, following rigorous negotiations with the Palestinians.
"There was great tension between bringing Schalit home...and maintaining the security of Israeli citizens," Netanyahu said of the talks.
The prime minister convened a special cabinet meeting Tuesday evening to approve the Egyptian-mediated deal.
Netanyahu was quoted on TV news as saying "the window has been opened for an historic deal" to free Schalit, captured by Hamas terrorists tunneling under a border fence in June 2006.
In Gaza, a source involved in Egyptian-mediated talks between Israel and the Islamist group told Reuters agreement had been reached for a swap to take place possibly as soon as in the coming days.
The deal was signed by both sides in Cairo last Thursday.
Government sources said that in recent days there have been a number of high level meetings in the Prime Minister's Office dealing with Schalit. The Egyptian press has also reported in recent days visits by Israeli officials to Cairo.
The announcement came after last week, Palestinian and Egyptian sources denied an Al Hayat report which said that German mediator Gerhard Konrad was in Cairo for talks over a prisoner-swap deal.
By HERB KEINON AND JPOST.COM STAFF
Yaakov Katz and Reuters contributed to this report.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Molotov Cocktail hits Jaffa Synagogue
Hours after far-right-wing graffiti was reported to police in Muslim and Christian cemeteries in Jaffa, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a synagogue in the area on Saturday. The projectile struck the roof of the Rabbi Meir synagogue in the city. No damage or injuries were reported in the attack.Earlier on Saturday night, police said that far-right-wing graffiti was found spray painted in Muslim and Christian cemeteries in Jaffa, but later said they were not convinced the graffiti was actually spray-painted by right-wing extremists.
The messages "price tag" and "death to Arabs" were written on the tombstones. However, police later reported that the slogan "death to Russians - G.A. 02" was also spray painted in the cemetery, adding that this graffiti was "linked to a soccer group."
Police denied media reports that some 25 graves were damaged in the incident.
"We have not seen any smashed stones," a Tel Aviv police spokeswoman told The Jerusalem Post.
"An investigation is underway," she added.
"This is not a new incident. We believe it occurred several days ago," she said. "The graffiti has been erased."
The head of the Islamic Movement in Jaffa, Sheikh Ahmed Abu Ajawa, told Channel 10 news that he had issued a call to all Arab groups in the city to "act with caution and avoid being dragged into a violent response."
He described the incident as "an attempt by an extremist group to blackmail the Arab masses in the city."
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police were looking "at a number
of possibilities" regarding the cemetery defacement.
A separate investigation is underway into the Molotov cocktail attack, he added.
On Saturday night, around 200 people took part in a protest in the Ajami neighborhood of Jaffa against the vandalism.
Head of the Ajami neighborhood committee in Jaffa, Kamal Agbariya, said Saturday night, “this is a terrible and offensive action to desecrate a cemetery, but we say that the writing was on the wall. There were two cases in the past month where people wrote “death to Arabs” on walls in Jaffa and probably people saw that there was no response from the police so they did it again.”
Agbariya called on police to act against the vandalism and said that Jaffa residents would visit the police headquarters on Salameh street in South Tel Aviv on Sunday to demand that they take further actions to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Throughout the rally, protesters chanted against “settlers” and “fascists” and pointed an accusatory finger at the Netanyahu government, which they claimed is not taking enough actions against Jewish extremism.
Tel-Aviv Jaffa city councilman Sami Abu-Shehada blamed the government for not taking what he said were strong enough steps against such actions, saying “the government gives these people a green light to commit such acts. If people were to pay a serious price after the first price tag operation, it wouldn’t happen again.”
On Thursday, police announced the arrest of a yeshiva student from northern Israel on suspicion of being behind an arson attack on a mosque in a Beduin village in the Galilee.
A night of rioting broke out in the village of Tuba Zanghariya after the incident, followed by waves of arrests of suspected rioters.
Security Forces on High Alert as Israelis Mark Yom Kippur
Since Friday night, security and rescue forces are on high alert and deployed in large numbers in Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank for Yom Kippur. Security was on high alert in Jerusalem in preparation for the Jewish High Holiday, train and bus services ended throughout the country and will resume Saturday evening. Streets and highways also emptied in observance of Yom Kippur.
Security crossings into Israel from the West Bank were temporarily closed Thursday night and will open again at midnight on Saturday in accordance with security assessments adopted by the IDF.
The security presence in Jerusalem was also beefed up on Friday in preparation for Yom Kippur.
Train services throughout the country ended at 11:30 a.m and Egged bus services stopped running at 1:30 p.m. Bus services will resume at 7:30 pm on Saturday.
As occurs every year, streets and highways across the country are also empty of private traffic in observance of Yom Kippur.
The fast will begin at at 4:41 p.m in Jerusalem, 4:58 p.m in Tel Aviv, 4:50 p.m. in Haifa and will last 25 hours.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Eroding Support for Obama among Jewish Voters
The race for 2012 heats up, President Obama faces some difficult losses -- more Jewish adults disapprove of President Obama's overall performance than those who approve, according to the latest poll from the American Jewish Committee. The annual survey found that only 45 percent of potential Jewish voters approve of Obama's job performance -- a dramatic drop from last year's 57 percent approval rating.
Forty-eight percent of respondents, by contrast, disapprove of the president's performance.
The major sticking point, according to the poll, is the economy. A stunning 60 percent of the Jewish community said they disapprove of the way the president has handled the economy, as opposed to 37 percent who do approve.
And Obama saw another steep drop in the number of Jews who approve of his handling of U.S.-Israel [1] relations -- only 40 percent approve, down 15 percentage points from last year.
The survey was conducted just as Israeli-Palestinian relations came into the global spotlight this past week at the United Nations [2], when Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas [3] controversially asked the UN to recognize Palestine [4] as an independent state.
President Obama appeared to side with Israel, however, in his own speech before the UN last week, where he stressed the need for Israeli security.
But the president has come under fire this past year from Israel supporters, most notably after he voiced support for a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders -- an idea that Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu [5] called "indefensible."
The drop in Jewish support could spell trouble for Obama in 2012, as the Jewish community tends to vote along Democratic lines. Obama faces worries from other minority groups, as well; Rep. Maxine Waters [6] fired back at the president Monday morning after he spoke to the Congressional Black Caucus and asked the caucus to "stop complaining" and "press on."
"He would never say to the Jewish community, 'stop complaining about Israel,'" Waters told CBS. "I don't know who he was talking to, because we're certainly not complaining."
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Bibles Rescued From Syria In Secret Op, James Bond Style
It was a James Bond-style, continent-wide operation with many participants. It began in Syria, continued in the United States and ended in Israel. And yet, not a single word has been published about it – until now.Yedioth Ahronoth has revealed the amazing rescue of some of the world's most ancient Bibles from Damascus.
The 11 holy books, some dating back 1,000 years, were written by copyist of the Scriptures around the world and arrived in the Syrian capital in different periods. The Jewish community took pride in them and guarded them meticulously, helping them survive the political upheavals that took place in the city over the years.
The Damascus books are considered the world's most ancient Bibles after the Aleppo Codex, which compared to them is torn and shabby.
The Rabin government decided to bring the books to Israel in 1995. The defense establishment, governmental organizations and immigrants from Syria took part in the secret operation.
"It was one of the most important operations we participated in," says Eliyahu Hasson, chairman of the community of Damascus Jews in Israel, who served as director-general of the Transportation Ministry at the time.
Judy Feld Carr, a Canadian pensioner who turned helping Syria's Jewry into her life's work, lauds the operation as well. "Out of all the things I have done in my life, this operation was the most brilliant," she declares.
Mystery Remains
On their way from Israel to Syria, the ancient Bibles made a stop in New York. They arrived at a safe haven thee, inside a grey container, without anyone guessing its priceless content.
The mystery surrounding the books' journey from Damascus has not been fully cleared, and some parts of the story cannot be published.
"I'm sorry, I can’t tell you exactly how I got it out of there," says Feld Carr about the book she personally helped bring to Israel. "When I had a famous rabbi look at it, a Tunisian Jew, he burst into tears and said, 'Get this book out of my house. I feel like I have just seen God.'"
The people involved in the operation say that its execution was very costly. "It cost a lot of money, a lot," says Hasson. "Whoever did it acted wisely and knocked on the right doors. One weak link would have been enough to break the entire chain."
Hasson explains that in light of the sensitivity of the operation, it was supervised by high-ranking officials. "I have no doubt that Yitzhak Rabin was in on the secret," he says. "Unfortunately, the prime minister was murdered before they arrived in Israel and did not get to see the mission accomplished."
Since being brought to Israel, the books are being kept at the National Library in the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. They will be presented to the wide public on Wednesday evening in a festive event attended by guests from Israel and abroad.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Israeli Scientist Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Technion scientist Dan Shechtman shares Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovery of quasicrystals, described as "fascinating mosaics of the Arabic world reproduced at the level of atoms."Fresh off Wednesday's announcement that he will receive the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Technion's Dan Shechtman was forthcoming in sharing the honor. "I think this is a great day for me, of course, but also a great day for the country," he said at a press conference.The prize does not belong to him alone, he continued. "There are thousands of scientists that research the subject I developed, and I'm sure they all see the prize as an achievement for themselves as well, and indeed they deserve it."
Accompanied by his wife and grandson, Shechtman said he was somewhat overwhelmed by the media attention. After the official announcement, "all hell broke loose," he said in English. A string of media and congratulatory phone calls prevented him from personally relaying the news to his daughters in the United States. "I don't envy any celebrity," he joked.
Shechtman won the prize for discovering quasicrystals, which have non-repeating patterns the committee described as "fascinating mosaics of the Arabic world reproduced at the level of atoms."
Prior to his discovery, crystals were thought to only have repeating patterns. The controversy of his finding was so great that Shechtman was asked, at one point, to leave his research group. His research, ultimately, prevailed, using Arabic mosaic patterns, which rely on mathematical non-repeating patterns, as a model."
The main lesson I learned over time is that a good scientist is a humble scientist, not one who is 100 percent sure," Shechtman said.
Assad threatens to attack Tel Aviv in case of NATO strike
Syrian President Bashar Assad on Tuesday threatened to set fire to the Middle East, and especially to Israel, if NATO attacks Syria, the Iranian Fars news agency reported.
In a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Assad said: "If a crazy measure is taken against Damascus, I will need not more than six hours to transfer hundreds of rockets and missiles to the Golan Heights to fire them at Tel Aviv."
Davutoglu reportedly conveyed a message of warning from the US to Assad. The Iranian report has not been verified by other sources.
According to the Fars news agency, the Syrian president stressed that Damascus will also call on Hezbollah in Lebanon to launch a fierce rocket and missile attack on Israel, one that Israeli intelligence could never imagine.
"All these events will happen in three hours, but in the second three hours, Iran will attack US warships in the Persian Gulf as American and European interests will be targeted simultaneously," Assad reportedly said.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Israelis Develop Sight for the Bling using Nano Technology
The Israeli company expects clinical trials to position its tiny implant as the most advanced solution for people with damaged retinas.A two-year-old Israeli company is pairing electrodes with living neurons in the eye to create bionic sight for the vision impaired, in a nanotech development that sounds more like science fiction, than real life.
Nano Retina, operating since 2009 in Herzliya, is now manufacturing an R&D prototype of the development. While it is not the first in the field to develop such a technology, its advance offers a tenfold improvement in vision compared to the two technology solution providers on the market today, according to the company's managing director, Ra'anan Gefen.
Inserted into the retina in a 30-minute procedure, Nano Retina's implant device, about the size of a grain of rice, turns into an artificial retina that melds to the neurons in the eye. It is activated by the wearer using special eyeglasses, transforming natural light into an electrical impulse that stimulates the neurons to send images to the brain.
With investment money from its founding partners, and a grant from BIRD, the US-Israel Bilateral Research and Development Fund, Nano Retina plans to start clinical trials in 2013. If successful, these trials could lead to restoring the vision of millions of people with degenerative retinal disease, including those suffering from age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
According to the National Federation of the Blind, some 50,000 people in the United States go blind every year, and there are currently some 3.6 million Americans aged 40 and up who are legally blind.
Easy procedure for instant results
A joint venture of Rainbow Medical and Zyvex Labs, Nano Retina's Bio-Retina is a man-made electronic retina activated by glasses fitted with a laser energy source.
The implantation requires only local anesthesia and a small incision. Vision is restored almost immediately, with a recovery time of one week.
Nano Retina managing director Ra’anan Gefen (below)
"We are talking about a 10 times better resolution [than existing solutions] and in the gray scale, instead of black and white," Gefen says. "It will enable people to have vision similar to somebody who wears glasses, so they can read, watch TV and function in society."The best that can be hoped for with existing procedures is a 50 percent chance that the patient would be able to recognize the door in the room, says Gefen, referring to the industry benchmark of how to measure restored sight. "We hope [Bio-Retina] can do much better than that," Gefen says confidently.
"We are working extremely fast to facilitate it. I am sure we can deliver, and can show [how this device will] function by the end of this year."
"At the edge of technology, we are working at helping disabled people." This is, he says, "a good reason to wake up in the morning and do our best to bring it to life."
The people behind a life-changing technology
Nano Retina was founded by a team of entrepreneurs and businessmen, including veteran inventor Yossi Gross, Jim R. Von Ehr and Efi Cohen-Arazi. The company also works with consultants and researchers including Prof. Yael Hanein from Tel Aviv University.
At the helm is Gefen, a graduate of the prestigious Talpiot, an elite Israel Defense Forces training program that allows young people gifted in science and mathematics to pursue higher education and then bring their expertise to further IDF research and development. Given his experience in the defense market, and the last 10 years in biotech, Gefen is certain that Nano Retina is offering a life-changing technology.
And he is not alone: In advance of the BioMed Conference held last month in Tel Aviv, Nano Retina was named one of Israel's top 10 promising biotech companies.
Panetta Warns Israel Is Getting More Isolated, Says Negotiations With Palestinians Must Restart
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday that Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East, and said Israeli leaders must restart negotiations with the Palestinians and work to restore relations with Egypt and Turkey. In a blunt assessment made as he was traveling to Israel, Panetta said the ongoing upheaval in the Middle East makes it critical for the Israelis to find ways to communicate with other nations in the region in order to have stability.
"There's not much question in my mind that they maintain that (military) edge," Panetta told reporters traveling with him. "But the question you have to ask: Is it enough to maintain a military edge if you're isolating yourself in the diplomatic arena? Real security can only be achieved by both a strong diplomatic effort as well as a strong effort to project your military strength."
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Israel has a responsibility to try and ease tensions in the region and find a way to resume negotiations with the Palestinians.
Standing next to Barak, Panetta said now is the time for bold action by both the Israelis and Palestinians to move toward a negotiated two-state solution. He says there's no alternative to negotiations.
Panetta met Monday with Barak in Tel Aviv on the first leg of a Middle East trip that also includes meetings with Palestinian leaders, and a stop in Egypt to meet with top officials there.
Panetta is scheduled to meet this week with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and then travel to a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. His visit comes as Mideast negotiators push for a peace deal by the end of next year, amping up pressure for the resumption of long-stalled talks.
The Pentagon chief said Israel risks eroding its own security if it does not reach out to its neighbors.
"It's pretty clear that at this dramatic time in the Middle East, when there have been so many changes, that it is not a good situation for Israel to become increasingly isolated. And that's what's happening," he said.
Panetta said the most important thing now is for Israel and its neighbors "to try to develop better relationships so in the very least they can communicate with each other rather than taking these issues to the streets."
His visit comes at a particularly critical and fragile time.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked the U.N. Security Council to recognize an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. The United States opposed the U.N. bid, saying there is no substitute for direct peace negotiations. But with Israel continuing to build settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Abbas says there is no point in talking.
Some 500,000 Jewish settlers now live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
The United States, Britain, France and other council members are likely to try to hold up consideration of the application while they press for a resumption of long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, diplomats said.
Negotiators, known as the Quartet, are asking both the Israelis and the Palestinians to produce comprehensive proposals on territory and security within three months.
Israeli officials have welcomed parts of the proposal, but have also expressed concerns about the timetable for some discussions. They also have refused to endorse the 1967 prewar borders as a basis for the future Palestinian state -- something President Barack Obama has endorsed.
The Palestinians, meanwhile, have said they won't return to talks unless Israel freezes settlement building and accepts the pre-1967 war frontier as a baseline for talks.
The Quartet -- the U.S., European Union, United Nations and Russia -- is urging both sides to avoid "provocative actions." Just last week, Israel approved the construction of 1,100 new housing units in an area of Jerusalem built on land captured in 1967, a move that drew widespread international condemnation.
Panetta said he wants to stress to both sides that instead of setting conditions or pursuing other approaches, "the most important thing they can do is go to the negotiating table. That would be a tremendous signal to the world that both the Israelis and the Palestinians want to try to find a solution to these problems. I don't think they really lose anything by getting into negotiations."
Panetta is scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
His visit to Israel comes six months after his predecessor, Robert Gates, traveled to the region to meet with Israeli leaders and make the first journey to the West Bank to talk with Fayyad.
The U.S. has said it would veto the Palestinians' U.N. request, despite the high political cost in the Arab world. However, Washington would not need to use its veto if the Palestinians fail to get the support of at least nine of 15 council members. Palestinian officials have said they believe they have eight yes votes, and are lobbying for more support.