Month: January 2009
Parsha Bo 5769: Tangible Darkness, Supernal Light and Jonathan Pollard
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Before taking off on this train of thought, here’s follow up on this week’s earlier post about the Thursday night Mishmar L’Zechut Jonathan Pollard which took place last evening;
In addition to our Mishmar at Kehillat Beit Tefillah Yona Avraham, which was well attended, a few other Shuls in Ramat Beit Shemesh signed on to dedicate their learning, either last night or next week, l’Zechut Jonathan.
In addition, a news release was emailed to several email lists and Yahoo e-groups both in Israel and in Chutz L’Aretz regarding last night’s Mishmar and as to plans to continue a once-a-month Mishmar dedicated to Jonathan and encouraging the Shuls to sign on to this Mitzvah of Pidyan Shevu’im.
Livni on Olmert Dividing Jerusalem, Expelling 60,000 Jews: Denial or Total Tandem?
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Commentary;
The Jerusalem Post’s Gil Hoffman reports on Foreign Minister and Kadima party prime ministerial candidate Tzipi Livni’s denial of involvement with the concessions revealed in acting-prime minister Olmert’s recent Yediot Aharonot interview as having allegedly been made by the two of them during negotiations with PA president Mahmoud Abbas:
Will someone please tell this author how these two statements differ:
Olmert reported statement to US envoy George Mitchell:
He and Livni agreed to divide Jerusalem, maintain only settlement blocs in the West Bank and uproot 60,000 Jews from their homes.
Wednesday, Thursday War News: Hamas Terrorists Fire on IDF, Launch Rockets — Israel Retaliates; Real, or Election Posturing?; 14 Terrorists Nabbed, Arabs Stone Bus Near Otniel
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Commentary;
For now, Israel is showing “deterrence” with retaliation for each attack from Gaza. But how long will it be before the defense ministry returns to striking empty fields? What can we expect on the day after elections?? MB
Two Kassam Rockets Fired from Gaza Strip Fall Near Sderot, by Yaakov Lappin (Jerusalem Post)
Full Text;
The Likud party called Thursday for an emergency session on Olmert’s peace plan, the details of which were revealed Thursday morning. According to the plan, Israel will give up most of Judea and Samaria to the Palestinian Authority and expel 60,000 people from their homes.
Shas to Endorse Netanyahu as PM — Yishai: Strong Shas Prevents Bibi Hurting Them
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Commentary:
Shas party leader Eli Yishai claims that his endorsement of Netanyahu for prime minister is a statement that “a strong Shas will protect the weak socioeconomic groups in Israeli society.” Yishai notes that “Shas will prevent Likud from hurting them again.”
The point here is that this is ALL about money, and the restoration of all of the benefits which Bibi lopped-off in his monetary reform measures as Treasury minister under Sharon. The point is NOT about saying no to a PA (sic) state, dividing Jerusalem, NOT about saying no to expelling hundreds of thousands of Jews from Jewish land, NOT about fighting a war to WIN, be it in Gaza, Lebanon, etc., and not about saying NO to handing the Golan to Syria. History has shown clearly that Shas puts up no threat whatsoever to either Bibi or Livni regarding dividing Jerusalem or handing Jewish land to Arabs.
Monday, Tuesday War News: IDF Soldier Killed, 2 Wounded By Arab Bomb on Gaza Border, Barak Vows Retaliation, Only 250 Civilian Gaza Fatalities in War; 28 Terrorists Nabbed in 2 Nights, 17 Nabbed for Stonings
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IDF Soldier Killed by Roadside Bomb on Gaza Border [at Kissufim], Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpts;
An IDF non-commissioned officer was killed on Tuesday morning when a roadside bomb planted by Gaza operatives along Israel’s border with the Strip detonated under the army vehicle he was traveling in.
Another officer was seriously wounded and two soldiers were lightly hurt in the incident near the Kissufim crossing, the army said.
The casualties were evauated to Soroka.
The family of the fatality requested that neither his name nor his photo be published.
Special Thursday Night Mishmar B’Zechut Jonathan Pollard
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Moshe Burt, founder of the Sefer Torah Recycling Network and author of the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog has initiated the concept of a once-a-month Thursday night Mishmar b’zechut Jonathan Pollard in his Shul; Kehillat Beit Tefillah Yona Avraham.
Moshe and eight other co-sponsors will kick this project off in Shul in Ramat Beit Shemesh “Alef” on Thursday and Moshe hopes to develop and expand the project of a once-a-month Thursday night Mishmar b’zechut Jonathan Pollard beyond only BTYA; to all Kehillot in RBS, Beit Shemesh and B’Ezrat Hashem, beyond.
Sunday War News: Ehud Barak, “Tell Us Lies, Tell Us Sweet Gaza Lies…”; Rock Attack Near Bethlehem, Arab Tries to Run Over Israelis Near Har Bracha, Border Police Nab 334 Illegals Across Israel
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Commentary:
Ehud, keep “them” Gaza mythical lies coming. You know, the ones about restored deterrence while you, Olmert and Livni held the IDF back from scoring methodical victory and, in so doing, achieved none of the goals for which you went to war; Hamas again makes their tunnels operational, maintains substantial numbers of rockets, mortars and ammo and still holds Gilad Shalit. You and the rest of your Troika again wrested defeat from the jaws of victory. The responsibility for consequences rest squarely on the shoulders of the three of you! MB
Friday War News: Following IDF Withdrawal, Hamas Seizes Gaza Tunnels; Moslem Rioters Throw Rocks, Molotovs at IDF in Hevron, Rock Attack Near Bethlehem, Firebombers on Jerusalem-Hevron Road
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Commentary;
The Q and A session Jerusalem Post held with Former National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland dispels any illusions anyone might still have regarding the reliability of Egyptian or, for that matter, any third nation forces regarding the security of Israel and her citizens. But with 2 1/2 weeks to national elections, it seems that neither Livni, Barak, nor Bibi for that matter, have come to grips with this cold reality.
As stated in this post from the IRIS blog:
The bottom line is that history shows clearly that Israel can depend on no other country, or group of countries, for her national security but must rely solely on her own military for her security.
Tuesday War News: Hamas, Hezbollah Emboldened by Unilateral Cease-fire in Gaza, Spin Mythical “Victory(sic)”; Bus Stoned Near Shechem, Auto Fired on Near Kochav Hashachar, 12 Terrorists Nabbed in 3 Venues With Cache of Weapons, Ammo
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Commentary:
It is often said that “a picture speaks 1,000 words.” Well, often so do headlines. MB
Analysis: Trumpets of Victory Strike False Note, by Khaled Abu Toameh (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpt;
“Hamas believes that it won the war not only because its men ‘defeated’ the IDF and forced the tanks to retreat under fire, but also because the movement is still in power despite the massive military operation and the heavy damages and losses it incurred.”