Israel and The Sin of Expulsion
The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People
Bomb Detonated Against Soldiers in Gaza
Kassam Rockets Damage Vehicles, Hits College
2 Kassam Rockets Land in West Negev; None Wounded
IDF Injures Three Arabs Who Stoned Israeli Cars
Three Palestinian Youths [Throwing Molotov Cocktails] Wounded by IDF Fire
IDF Seizes NIS 6m in Raids on Moneychangers
IDF Kills Five [Teens Picking Up Kassam Launchers] in Two Gaza Strip Incidents
This is a crucial question and the perspective is a personal one, and so this blog will dispense with the usual third-person convention — “this author.” I’ve agonized on this ongoing story for months, out of concern for the welfare of those involved at the Kever Rachel complex, so as to not further jeopardize what is already a problematic situation with the regime and out of concern for the future of the various planned outreach progams to teach Israelis about what Ima Rachel means to the Jewish people.
Abbas: We’ll Demand Barghouti for Shalit
Excerpt;
“Palestinian president says PA will demand release of Fatah leader Barghouti, PLF Secretary-General Saadat as part of any agreement that would include Shalit’s release; representatives for groups involved in kidnapping deny reports of imminent prisoner exchange deal.”
For context on Marwan Barghouti, click here.
Commentary;
Abu (Abu Abbas in a business suit) Mazen, aka Mahmoud Abbas, Ehud Olmert’s retreaded hope for restarting the Road Map and for doing “convergence” (expulsion of 10s of thousands of Jews under a different label), has demanded the release of Barghouti and Saadat, imprisoned for their involvement in the Rachavim Ze’evi assassination (as well as countless other terror attacks) as part of any agreement that would include Shalit’s release. The other component is the release of many hundred terrorist murderers. What the heck does Israel need Abbas for? That deal could have been done the day after. But it is far too vast a price to pay in terms of Israel’s anti-terrorist credibility, appeasement and collective self-respect and self immage.
Kassam Rocket Hits South of Ashkelon; No Injuries
IAF strikes Gaza house that Hid Smuggling Tunnels
Report: Gun Battle Outside West Bank Church
Excerpt;
“Palestinian police guarding a West Bank church exchanged fire with assailants and chased them away early Saturday. Churches in the West Bank and Gaza have been attacked by firebombs and gunfire in recent days, as part of a Muslim uproar over remarks by Pope Benedict XVI last week, seen as insulting to Islam.”
Column One: A Prayer for 5767 By Caroline Glick (Jerusalem Post)
Excerpts;
Today, the Jewish people, in Israel and throughout the world find ourselves under attack from all quarters. The rise of anti-Semitism globally, and particularly in the Islamic world, finds us in a period of grave self-doubt. Like the Europeans, our ability to defend ourselves against the swelling ranks of haters is dependent on our ability as a people and as individuals to embrace our identity as Jews.
Commenting on the nature of this surge in Jew-hatred, the great (non-Jewish) Canadian pundit Mark Steyn wrote last month in the National Review, “The oldest hatred didn’t get that way without the ability to adapt. Jews are hated for what they are – so, at any moment in history, whatever they are is what they’re hated for. For centuries in Europe, they were hated for being rootless-cosmopolitan types. Now there are no rootless European Jews to hate, so they’re hated for being an illegitimate Middle Eastern nation-state. If the Zionist entity were destroyed and the survivors forced to become perpetual cruise-line stewards plying the Caribbean, they’d be hated for that, too.”
Olmert: Realignment Plan Not Dead, Just Frozen
Full Text:
“In a pre-Rosh Hashanah interview, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated his Realignment Plan calling for the destruction of communities in Judea and Samaria is not dead, just frozen.
The prime minister explained that realities today are considerably different than they were six months ago and therefore, the government’s priorities have shifted.”
Commentary;
One does not have to a Navi to get this right. For context, check out these previous posts. As that old song goes, “As sure as Hashem made little green apples and it don’t rain in Indianapolis in the summertime…” MB
This blog does not normally publicize polls, but in this case, public awareness is a must in order that the momentum for an independent State Investigation takes place. And this author can’t think of someone more appropriate to head such an investigation than State Controller Lindenstrauss.
Excerpts;
Telephone poll of a representative sample of 501 adult Israelis (including Arab Israelis) carried out by Geocartographia for Israel Radio’s “Its all Talk” on 20 September 2006
Olmert: Mofaz and Ya’alon Have Never Run a War By Aluf Benn and Yossi Verter (Haaretz)
Commentary;
Okay Mr. Boast, just what was Defensive Shield? After they slaughtered Jews at a Pesach Seder in Netanya, just what was Defensive Shield? Would Olmert have the guts to look Sharon in the eye and make these remarks? That Mofaz and Ya’alon never ran a war? Not!
Perhaps, we should establish the Olmert insane comment of the day page. MB
Full Text;
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a special holiday interview with Haaretz that all the substantive decisions he made during the war in Lebanon were correct.
Olmert Admits to Failures in Management of Lebanon War
Excerpts;
“There were military mistakes during the war and in how to support the civilian population,” said the prime minister in an interview given to Channel 2, adding, “I always make mistakes, and the ultimate authority lies with me but the most basic decisions were not mistakes.”
“We could have got ourselves into even greater danger and been under fire from longer range missiles,” Olmert continued, claiming that hundreds of Hezbollah guerillas had been killed and the organization’s front line had been completely destroyed. “There is no more threat of Hezbollah on northern settlements,” he claimed.