Politics — Motsei Shabbat — Israel/pa …

Katsav: Elections Are True Referendum on Israel’s Borders

Excerpts:

“Likud members have launched an initiative to try to persuade President Moshe Katsav to lead it in the upcoming March general elections, Channel two reported on Saturday night.”

“Earlier on Saturday, Katsav said that the forthcoming March elections will be the true referendum on Israel’s political path and future borders.

‘This time, it is the true referendum,’ Katsav said in an interview to Israel Radio. ‘We must reach a decision in the debate that has been going on for 38 years since the Six-Day War.’ read more

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We Won’t Forgive and We Won’t Forget …

I Have the Right to Be Unforgiving

This opinion article is a response to an earlier opinion article posted to the Israel National News website. The earlier article is linked from within this response. MB

Police Officer to Stand Trial for Beating Protestor

Enough is Enough: Kfar Darom Quits Hi-Rise Option

Excerpts:

The 58 families of the former Jewish Gaza community of Kfar Darom, for instance, have been told time and again that their move to a high-rise building in Ashkelon was just a matter of time, and that they could expect to move within a short time. In fact, after several delays and postponements, some families actually began moving their belongings this week into what they thought would be their home for the coming 2-3 years.” read more

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V’Shavu Banim l’Gvulam …

V’Shavu Banim l’Gvulam

Excerpts:

“Dr. Max Nordau, one of the founders of the World Zionist Organization, was named at birth Meir-Simcha. However, he was known as Max, a children’s doctor in Paris. The following story was told by Avraham Shmuel Yehuda, a Jerusalem Orientalist professor, in his book, ‘Ezer HaRav,; describing how Nordau became interested in Zionism.

On the second night of First Zionist Congress in Basel, Nordau spoke in German, giving a long speech. He mentioned several times, as a motto, three words from Jeremiah, in Hebrew, ‘v’Shavu Banim l’Gvulam,’ ‘Our Children Have Returned to their Borders.’ When asked by a young representative at the congress how he found this verse, and especially in Hebrew, for this did not fit Nordau’s educational background, Nordau replied: ‘I know these words from the person to whom I am obliged all my Judaism and Zionism. A person whose name I don’t even know. A person who was, in essence, only a little boy of eight or ten.’ read more

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The Poor State of Israeli Politics and Electioneering …

Katsav: Politicians, Tell the Truth

Excerpts:

“In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Thursday, President Moshe Katsav complained about politicians who did not make ‘the right statements’ detailing their true objectives, and pledged that he would use the four months until election day to press voters to demand that party leaders clearly disclose their intentions.

‘Asking for clear answers on [controversial] issues must become part of the national agenda,’ Katsav said in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. This was not done in the past, he said, with the electorate subsequently accusing the prime minister of deviating from his stated platform. ‘The public didn’t ask the right questions in the past, and the political leaders didn’t make the right statements.’ read more

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A Refugee’s Critique of Government handling of the Expulsion …

Homeless in the Homeland

Excerpts:

“The government’s decision to work with evacuees as individuals rather than as communities has been widely criticized by several Israeli non-governmental organizations, including the Israel Legal Forum, the social service agency Lema’an Achai, and Jewish Family Services, Israel. According to a report compiled by Arlene Kushner for the Israel Resource News Agency, The Disengagement Authority, SELA, insisted on negotiating compensation only with individual families and refused requests from leaders of Gush Katif communities to allow the Israel Legal Forum to negotiate on their behalf as communities.” read more

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Politics: Late Night in Israel …

Adviser Reveals PM Planned Split Months Ago

Excerpts:

“A meeting of the party on Thursday exposed the truth – that contacts to establish Kadima began at least two months ago.”

Yitzhaki said to those present, ‘So, as I presented this to the prime minister two months ago,’ before realizing he was making unnecessary comments. He froze for a moment, before continuing, and attempting to free himself from the error. One of those present at the meeting told Ynet: ‘We were embarrassed. The big secret is out. Sharon has been busy building a new party for two months.'” read more

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