Wednesday, Thursday War News: Gaza Crossings Re-Opened, No Progress on Shalit; 19 Arab Terrorists Nabbed
.
Israel Continues Allowing Trucks into Gaza
Excerpt;
“Israel re-opened the Gaza crossings following a halt in rocket and mortar shelling attacks on Israel by Gaza terrorists. The temporary Gaza ceasefire was announced by Hamas and Israel last month. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Cabinet that the agreement is tied with the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, but no progress has been reported in talks to free him.”
Olmert to Step Down Only Upon New Leader’s Coalition
.
While Prime Minister Olmert announced that he would not be running in the Kadima Party primaries and that he will resign in September, he is by no means out of the picture yet.
Barak of IRIS cites these political procedural protocals noted by Jerusalem Post’s Gil Hoffman;
Kadima’s election committee decided on Tuesday to set an August 24 deadline to join the race, which it scheduled for September 17.
The winner in the Kadima primary will have until October 26 to submit his new government for approval by President Shimon Peres.
‘Many Designs are in Man’s heart, Hashem’s Counsel Will Prevail’
.
Commentary;
19th century writer Mark Twain wrote an essay concerning the Jew and his immortality. And there is the classic story about the group of Chassidim accosted by Nazi soldiers as they awaited being herded into a train for transport to one of the death camps.
After Nazis ordered the Chassidim to “sing and dance” and threatened to kill them there, on the spot, the Chassidim slowly broke into song;
Mir vil zei iberleiben, iberleiben, iberleiben: We will outlive you!
The spelling or pronunciation of the Yiddish may be a little off, but you get the point.
Monday, Tuesday War News: Why Livni’s Truce Violation Comments?; Rocks Thrown at Cars, Buses in Jerusalem, Near Hevron, Illegal Arab Homes Leveled in East Jerusalem, 17 Terrorists Nabbed in Two Days
.
Livni: Israel Must Respond to Cease-Fire Violations, Fire Against Fire
Commentary;
After repeated documented “truce” violations including rocket and mortar fire through mid-July, Livni’s comments regarding Israeli responses are puzzling as there has not been a documented report of a “ceasefire” violation since mid-July. If all is quiet, why the “must respond” comments? Could there be a gag-order in place regarding “truce” violations? Is Livni delivering a hidden message? Could this message be politically motivated?
Sunday War News: IDF Preps for Rockets on Ashdod; IDF Kills Terror Mastermind of Dimona Attack, Hamas Men Nabbed in Tulkarm, Warning of Revolving Door Terrorists, Terrorists Nabbed for Stonings, Will Israel Demolish Terrorist Homes, Expell Families?
.
IDF Preparing for Rocket Attacks on Ashdod
PA Forces Arrest Hamas Men in Tulkarm
IDF Kills Hamas Terrorist Responsible for Dimona Attack
IDF Kills Terror Mastermind [of February Terror Attack in Dimona] in Hebron
IDF Warns of Revolving Door Terrorists
Palestinians Arrested After Throwing Rocks at IDF Troops South of Bethlehem
Mofaz: Demolishing Terrorists’ Homes and Expulsions Now on Agenda
Commentary;
Any bets as to whether or not anything will actually happen?
Parsha Masei 5768: Consequences of Not Possessing Eretz Yisrael
.
Eleven years ago — prior to Aliyah, on 3 July, 1997, after participating in the Sefer Torah Recycling Network’s 2nd Hachnasat Sefer Torah in 3 days (Yishuv Sh’vut Rahel taking place on 1 July) in Yishuv Maalei Chaver, this author was being driven back to Jerusalem. On the way, we passed by, in the distance, the controversial mountain upon which would later be built the new community of Har Homa.
The conversation in the car turned to The Land; the failure of Israel to take over The Land and to evict the Arabs from it. One of the other passengers gave a maashal, a story whose cited reference this author can’t recollect. In essence, the story seemed to indicate that the Arabs are occupying for us those parts of the land which we haven’t inhabited ourselves, lest those areas be inhabited by dangerous wild animals, snakes, poisonous plantlife, etc.
Ehud Barak: Despite Political Moves, Part of Problem, Not of Solution
.
Commentary;
For those lacking the perspective of history regarding Ehud Barak over the past 9 years, columnist Caroline Glick debunks the rationales behind Ehud Barak’s political machinations in the 2 years since the Lebanon conflict and his bogus “distancing” from Olmert and Livni. MB
Reading Ehud Barak, by Caroline B. Glick (Jewish Press)
Excerpts;
On July 14, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak castigated UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which set the terms of the cease-fire that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Iran’s Lebanese army Hizbullah, saying, “UN resolution 1701 didn’t work, isn’t working and won’t work.” He added, “UN resolution 1701 is a failure.”
Friday War News: Mortar Attack Near Gaza Crossing, Gaza Truce “Illusion” — Terror Arms Buildup Continues; Kuntar — ‘I’ll Kill More Israelis’; Rock Attacks and Bombing in Yesha, 10 Terrorists Nabbed
Olmert Parody on Barak: “I Will Do Everything…” [To Hold Power?]
.
Commentary;
Defense Minister Ehud Barak keeps saying things like “I will do everything to bring him [Gilad Shalit] back” or “Israel would do everything in its power to see the safe return of captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.” It is highly questionable what the limits of that “everything” are. For instance, does everything include liberation by military means?
Meanwhile, we have watched Barak’s coalition partner prime minister Ehud Olmert complete his 2 year charade concerning deceased IDF soldiers Regev and Goldwasser which, as Evelyn Gordon seems to indicate in her commentary below;