Mofaz Expresses Faith in Peretz
Excerpt;
Defense minister distances himself from reports claiming his associates slammed inexperienced Labor leader as unfit for Defense Ministry.
Commentary;
The first loose cannon of Kadima going off? MB
Month: April 2006
Overnight War News …
Kassams and Arrests Continue, Al-Qaeda Strengthening in Gaza
IDF Arrests Islamic Jihad fugitive Near Tulkarm
Kassam Lands South of Ashkelon; None Wounded
IDF Officer Wounded, 2 Terrorists Arrested in Raid
Steinitz Warns of Military Infrastructure in Gaza
Full Text;
Outgoing chairman of the Knesset Defense and Foreign Affairs committee Yuval Steinitz warned on Wednesday that the Palestinians were establishing military foundations in Gaza.
He noted that the weapons were being smuggled through Egypt. The increase in their military capabilities also included infiltration of al-Qaida agents into Gaza, Steinitz said in an Israel Radio interview.
Coalition Machinations Continue: ‘Convergence’ Watered Down or Disappearing? Once Snookered, Be on Guard!
Olmert and Peretz to Hold Press Conference at 2 P.M.
Excerpts;
“It is very important for the country that there be the widest coalition possible, with representation from as many different sectors in the nation as possible, provided that there be wide agreement on the government’s policies of advancing the peace process and running a stable economy with socioeconomic sensitivity,” Olmert said in a meeting with National Union-National Religious Party MKs.
In an effort to form that coalition, Olmert’s convergence plan will apparently not be mentioned in the coalition guidelines. Instead, the guidelines will follow the outline of Olmert’s victory speech last Tuesday in which he reached out to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas but left open the possibility of Israel acting on its own if the PA is not willing to make necessary sacrifices.
Israel in Dire Need of Regulations Restricting Monopolies, Cartels and Big Business, Top Wealthy Families’ Influence on Political, Diplomatic
Forbes Reinforces Claim That Kadima is Tool of Oligarchs
Barak of IRIS lays out the reality of the Kadima Party here and here.
Excerpts;
Forbes Israel reported Sunday that twelve business groups control Israel’s economy – making it among the most concentrated on the globe. The report echoes warnings by journalist Ari Shavit.
According to the report, the business groups are controlled by the following families: Sami Ofer, Nochi Dankner, Shari Arison, the Cerberus-Gabriel consortium, Charles Bronfman, Yitzchak Tshuva, the Saban group, Lev Leviev, Matthew Bronfman, Tzadik Bino, the Borovich family, and Eliezer Fishman. The 12 families own 60 percent of the aggregate market value of all Israeli public companies (excluding the even larger Teva Pharmaceutical Industries), Forbes reported.
Beneath the Kadima Mindset; Rabin in Reverse: If They’re Not Good Boys, We’ll Just Give Them More …
Column One: ‘Let’s Ignore Hamas’, by Caroline Glick
Excerpts;
HAMAS’S RISE to power renders it all but impossible to deny the connection between the insurgency in Iraq and the global jihad in general and the Palestinian war with Israel. Indeed, in his first statement as foreign minister, Mahmoud Zahar attacked the US claiming, “America is committing big crimes against the Arab and Islamic countries.”
Yet as Hamas prepares for war on all levels, Israel is about to form a government led either by Kadima or Labor whose politicians insist on pretending that there is no problem here. Kadima’s plan to remove Israeli communities and IDF forces from Judea and Samaria is based on an abject refusal to admit that the areas abandoned will be taken over by Hamas. Furthermore, as Olmert has repeatedly stated, Kadima refuses to acknowledge that Hamas is even a threat to Israel.
Overnight War News …
Rocket From Gaza Landed Near “Sensitive Security Structure”
Five Kassam Rockets Fired Toward Ashkelon Power Station
Full Text;
Five Kassam rockets were fired from Gaza towards Jewish towns in the western Negev and the Ashkelon power station Sunday at noon.
The rockets landed south of the power station and in Zikim and Carmiya.
It is not yet clear if injuries or damage were inflicted.
The IDF spokesman’s office said that in response the IDF was shelling rocket launching sites in northern Gaza.
The Coalition Machinations Go On …
Kadima Officials Planning to Begin Assembling New Gov’t Next Week
Labor Members Slam Peretz for Courting Right
Rabbi Elyashiv Instructs MKs to Recommend Olmert
Activists Call on Public to Pressure Shas and UTJ Not to Choose Olmert
Shas and United Torah Judaism to Form Bloc
Commentary;
Don’t the Chareidim catch on that they’re being burned yet again? Or is it that after Gush Katif, they still care about NOTHING but the money?? For context, click here and here. MB
Rafi Eitan Shows His True Colors: As Pollard Languishes in US Prison …
Possible Vote Recounts?
Interesting Development in E. Jeruslem: Will E. Jerusalem Neighborhoods Withstand Attempts to Demolish?
Settler Group Takes Over two Compounds in E. Jerusalem
Excerpts;
Last Wednesday, the day after Election Day, the Elad organization took control of two large, populated and sensitive compounds in two East Jerusalem neighborhoods, Silwan and A-Tur (on the Mount of Olives).
Elad members intend to put between 15 and 20 families there.
“Our goal is to hold on to outposts in East Jerusalem and create an irreversible situation in the sacred basin around the Old City,” said Adi Mintz, a member of Elad’s management board.
Regime’s Budget Surplus; Unpaid Gush Katif Compensation??
Gov’t Awash with Cash as Revenues Exceed Expenditures
Full Text;
The Israeli government posted an NIS 1.8 billion ($385 million) surplus of revenues over expenditures for the month of March. Since the start of 2006, the government has been running a budgetary surplus totaling NIS 7.9 billion ($1.7 billion).