Month: April 2006

Thursday Night, Friday War News …

moshe

Weekly Commentary: No Jordan Option, Aaron Lerner, IMRA

Excerpts;

Before the retreat from the Gaza Strip Ehud Olmert was proudly clueless as to who or what would fill the void.

But today, in the aftermath of the rise of Hamas to power, the simplistic “RFTH” (run for the hills) approach is wearing thin.

In fact, some of the people in Prime Minister Olmert’s party think that the new withdrawal plan from most of the West Bank would actually leave the IDF in place and only bulldoze the Jewish communities on the wrong side of the separation fence. read more

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Parshiyot Tazria/Metzora: The Kohen’s Diagnosis …

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Parshiyot Tazria/Metzora: The Kohen’s Diagnosis

By Moshe Burt

In learning about the laws of tzara’as, we find posukim which are a pelah, a wonderment.

Torah relates in our Parsha; “If the tzara’as will erupt on the skin, and … will cover the entire skin of the afflicted from his head to his feet, wherever the eyes of the Kohen can see — the Kohen shall look, and behold! — the affliction has covered his entire flesh, then
he shall declare the affliction to be pure; having turned completely white, it is pure. On the day healthy skin appears …, it (the affliction) shall be contaminated.” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 13, posukim 12 – 14) read more

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State Controller Lindenstrauss Hands AG Mazuz Evidence Alleging Peres Illegal Campaign Contributions …

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State Comptroller: Peres Suspected of Taking Illegal Gifts

Excerpts;

The State Comptroller’s Office acknowledges that over the past several months, it has been investigating the contributions received from abroad by MK Shimon Peres for his recent primaries bid for Labor Party leadership against Amir Peretz. The contributions in question total $320,000, reportedly from the billionaires Chaim Saban, Bruce Rappaport, and Daniel Abrams.

The Comptroller’s Office notes that laws that Peres may have broken include the Public Service law, the Campaign Contributions Law, and others. read more

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The Coalition Horse-Trading: The Embarrassment of Israel Before the World …

moshe

Labor and Kadima Set to Sign Coalition Agreement

But, stop the music, Hold the phone;

Update: Labor-Kadima Signing Postponed [Over an issue With the Text of the Agreement]

Excerpts;

Kadima’s spokesman announced on Thursday that Labor and Kadima’s negotiating teams would meet at 3:30 p.m. in Kfar Hamaccabia in order to sign the coalition agreement between the two parties.

Labor Chairman Amir Peretz was finalizing the deal with Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in their Thursday meeting. In addition to the ministerial portfolios that Labor had already been offered, it was also offered the post of deputy defense minister. read more

For Peretz: The Glory, For Sneh: ALL of the “Grunt” Work as the World Laughs at Incompetence …

moshe

Sneh: Peretz to Tackle Settler Violence

Excerpts;

Under Labor Party chairman Amir Peretz’s leadership, the Defense Ministry will wield a strong hand against settlers who violently resist government policy, Labor MK Ephraim Sneh told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday.

Peretz would also cease to turn a blind eye to illegal building in the West Bank, Sneh said during an interview in his Knesset office.

Sneh, who may yet serve as Peretz’s deputy defense minister pending ongoing debate over the final coalition agreement, said that under Labor’s leadership there would be serious policy changes in the ministry. read more

Wednesday Night, Thursday War News …

moshe

IAF Missile Strike Kills Senior Islamic Jihad Militant in Gaza Strip

Excerpts;

Israel Air Force aircraft fired three missiles at targets in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, critically wounding two Palestinian militants, Palestinian health officials said. One of the militants later died in hospital.

The Israel Defense Forces said the airstrikes were aimed at a cell en route to carrying out an attack. It did not identify the targets. It said two vehicles were targeted, and one carrying rockets or explosives was hit. read more

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What Would Mazuz Say if Eitan Were Charged With Withholding Evidence Which Would Free Jonathan Pollard?

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Rafi Eitan Can Serve as a Minister Despite Charges

Full Text:

Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said today that he does not intend to prevent newly sworn-in Knesset Member Rafi Eitan, chairman of the Pensioners Party, from taking a ministerial post despite criminal charges filed against him.

Channel 10 television news reported that Eitan, an international business mogul, has been charged with violating zoning laws. The violations in question relate to illegal construction at the Dolphin Reef in Eilat, partially owned by Eitan. read more

Components of “Convergence” Being Exposed as Fraud for All With Eyes to See and Ears to Hear …

moshe

Sources: U.S. Won’t View Pullout Line as Final Border


Duh!

Excerpts;

The United States will not recognize a border created after a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank as Israel’s permanent frontier, senior U.S. administration members said in unofficial conversations.

Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is due to arrive in the U.S. capital during the third week of May, has not presented the administration with a detailed plan for the second withdrawal he promised voters, and sources in the administration say discussion of this is at a very preliminary stage. read more

More on Holocaust Remembrance; Modern-day Israel in Context of Jewish History …

moshe

For Context, refer to this post from Tuesday.

Lessons Not Learned

Excerpts;

As happened at the end of World War II, when wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill was replaced by Labor’s Clement Atlee with his mostly domestic agenda, so it has been in Israel. For the moment, socio-economic and domestic issues have trumped security issues, and the desire for “conflict management” with the Palestinians has overshadowed any hope in the foreseeable future for “conflict resolution”. It reflects growing Israeli despair over the prospects for a negotiated settlement. read more

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