The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People
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Rocket Lands between Ashkelon and Ashdod
[Hamas’ Cellphone Warfare] Hamas Sends Text Messages to Israeli Cell Phones, by Ali Waked (Ynet)
‘IAF Aircraft Assassinates Senior Hamas Leader in Gaza’
IAF Steps Up Gaza Strip Air Strikes [Killing Nine People, Including Senior Hamas Leader], by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Nizar Rayyan Considered Successor of Ahmed Yassin [ IAF Dropped Bomb on the Eight-Story Jabalya Apartment Building he Lived in], by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
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Commentary;
There are those on the Right who hold that this Gaza ‘Cast Lead’ operation may just be all about politics and political edge merely 41 days before national elections.
And there are others on the Right who correctly assert that “those who forced Israel out of Gaza do not have the moral right to send our soldiers back there” and that “Israeli society must free itself of their despotic grip.”
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Beersheba Theaters, Movie Cinemas Halt Performances [Through January 6] Due to Rocket Fire
IDF: Rocket that Hit Beersheba School Made in China, by Yael Barnovsky (Ynet)
30 Treated for Shock in Beersheba Hospital Wednesday
Cabinet Rejects French Proposal to Hold 48-Hour Cease Fire
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Hamas Steps up Bombardment of Beersheba; Empty School Hit, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
Katyushas Blast Be’er Sheva; Warning System Fails, by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu (Israel National News)
Rockets Fall in Ashdod, Sderot, Ashkelon [and Sha’ar Hanegev area]
Grad Rocket Hits Route 6; No Wounded
[48 Hour Suspension of Operation] Analysis: A Head-Spinning Time-Out?, by David Horowitz (Jerusalem Post)
Amir Oren [of Haaretz] Slams Barak for Cease Fire Remarks, by Dr. Aaron Lerner (IMRA)
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Commentary;
It is disturbing, to say the least, to behold responses in certain Israeli Chareidi circles to this question.
One such response received today was this; “The big Rabbonim have not told us to do anything.” In other words, Pidyon Sh’vu’im is out the window unless these Rabbonim invoke it to the flocks? And it apparently has fallen on deaf ears that Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, shlita and Rav Aharon Leib Steinman, shlita co-signed a letter to President Bush asking the president to release Jonathan Pollard from jail.
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Commentary;
It may be that the much decorated defense minister Ehud Barak is a wily, cunning military character who may well have more tricks up his sleeve for operation Cast Lead, including a ground offensive which takes Hamas by surprise.
But, excuse the cynicism, the fact remains that over the last 3 1/2 years, Israel’s governance has lost all credibilty, both diplomatically and militarily, amongst the governed. And Ehud Barak, along with the rest of the governing Troika of Olmert and Livni, is very much a part of problem regarding lost credibility. MB
Man Lightly Wounded as Kassam Slams into Sderot House [5 Kassams Hit Sderot]
10 Dead in Gaza Strikes [Targeting Gaza City, Khan Yunis] After 3 Israelis Killed in South, by Yaakov Katz (Jerusalem Post)
[UN Ambassador] Shalev: Israel Seeks to ‘Destroy’ Hamas
Excerpt;
“Israel will push forward with its offensive in the Gaza Strip until it “completely destroys” Hamas, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gabriela Shalev, said Monday, saying that the operation will continue as long as necessary to reach that goal.”
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Commentary;
As the Israel Air Force continues blasting away on day 3 of ‘Cast Lead’, Kassam and mortar hits on Ashkelon, Ashdod and the Negev mount up as do Jewish casualties. Are we witnessing a replay of Lebanon 2006? Defense Minister Ehud Barak is quoted as stating that this is “all-out war” with Hamas, a “war to the bitter end.”
Remember those words if or when the same electioneering opportunistic ploysters Ehud Barak and Tzipy Livni spin a repeat of the Lebanon conflict results, imposed ceasefire in Gaza with international forces to further obstruct Israel’s sovereignty and self-defense. MB
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Commentary;
No, this is not a mis-posting meant for a sports blog. 7 years before 2008’s glorious Philadelphia Phillies World Series championship, a future Hall of Fame pitcher and one of baseball’s finest 3rd basemen (at the time) both talked back to team management telling them that they were not serious about contending and winning.
In turn, Curt Schilling and Scott Rolen were both sent packing and traded from the team. Schilling was subsequently instrumental in bring three World Series titles to 2 cities and Rolen helped bring his team to the World Series once.
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Commentary;
Before rushing to click on MSM BBC coverage of Israel’s ‘Cast Lead’ Gaza operations, check out the real, unslanted perspective behind Israel’s current Gaza operations by viewing this YouTube video. MB