Lack of Emphasis on Public Relations in War: Defunct Paradigm in West and in Israel…

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A Defunct Paradigm That’s Got to Change, by Daniel Pipes (Jerusalem Post)

“Western governments ‘need to see public relations as part of their strategy.’

The West is fortunate to predominate in the military and economic arenas, but these no longer suffice. Along with its enemies, it needs to give due attention to the public relations of war.”

Excerpts;

Soldiers, sailors, and airmen once determined the outcome of warfare, but no longer. Today, television producers, columnists, preachers, and politicians have the pivotal role in deciding how well the West fights. This shift has deep implications. read more

Governmental Reform: Functional System of Checks and Balances a Must for True Reform…

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Do It Right, by Evelyn Gordon (Jerusalem Post)

“Our current system of government is undeniably problematic, and in principle, changing it would be a good idea. But any reform must include a functional system of checks and balances among the three branches of government. Otherwise, the new system is liable to wind up being even worse than the current one.”

Avigdor Lieberman has focused media attention on Israel’s system of government by conditioning his entry into the coalition on radical changes. Yet Lieberman is far from the only person advocating governmental reform. Various citizen lobby groups are pushing this issue, and a few organizations have even prepared draft constitutions. The Knesset Constitution Committee was working on a constitution before the March elections, and planned in this context to consider changing the system of government. And President Moshe Katsav appointed a blue-ribbon commission to examine this issue; its recommendations will be submitted soon. read more

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The Real Right Plans for the Next Amonas…

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Settlers Vow Tough Struggle, Efrat Weiss (Ynet)

Ynet learns that settlers won’t abide by any plan sealed between Yesha Council, gov’t.

For context, click here.

Excerpts;

Yesha leaders are holding contacts for the peaceful evacuation of ten illegal outposts but extreme right wing activists have other plans.

Ynet learned late Thursday evening that even before Defense Minister Amir Peretz’s meeting with Yesha leaders, extreme right activists held meetings in Jerusalem to prepare for the evacuations and agreed that “the Amona model will be the model for struggle in every outpost that is evacuated.” read more

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Gearing Up to Battle the Gay Parade…

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Haredim: J’lem Gay Parade may Lead to Another War, by Neta Sela (Ynet)

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square against holding of 2006 Gay Pride Parade in city; ‘war in Lebanon broke out as soon as the parade was announced,’ haredi man says. Head of Eda Haredit rabbinic court: We did not succeed in Lebanon due to promiscuity in Holy Land.

Excerpts;

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protested at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square Wednesday against the holding of the 2006 Gay Pride Parade in the city, with most of them linking the parade to the recent war in Lebanon. read more

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Thursday War News…

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TV Report: Terrorists in PA Trained in Iran and Syria

Kassam Lands in Western Negev; None Wounded

Bomb Thrown at IDF Vehicle in Gaza; None Wounded

Hizbullah Accused of Using Cluster Bombs against Israel

Gaza: IDF Destroys 5 More Arms Smuggling Tunnels

Terrorists Attack Negev with Two More Kassam Rockets

Two Kassam Rockets Fired at Sderot; None Wounded

IDF Soldiers Targeted in a Bomb Attack

Molotov Cocktails Thrown at IDF Troops in Jenin

Hamas Fugitive Apprehended in Ramallah

Predawn Shooting Attack [Peduel-Alei Zahav Road] read more

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Nobel Prize Winner Prof. Aumann Confirms This Blog’s Assertion: “Too Many Jews Don’t Understand Why They are Here”

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Nobel Winner Doubts Israel’s Survival, By Nadav Shragai (Haaretz)

Commentary;

This blog has asserted on numerous occasions, most recently in a Vort: Yom Kippur 5767: Unity, Brachot and the Jews; Kohanim to Mankind — Revisited;

“Sometime in the past few generations, particularly over the past 20 years, as prophesized by Moshe as the Jews prepared to enter Eretz Yisrael and to stand on Har Eival and Har Grizim to hear the Blessings and Curses, we forgot Torah; we forgot why there is an Eretz Yisrael, why it was given to the Jews for all times, why it is that we are living here now, why the land laid totally fallow in the years that our aveirot brought Hashem to banish us from it and how it is that Eretz Yisrael has thrived and flourished upon our return.” MB read more

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A Hidden View of Israel’s “Youth at Risk”

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The Jerusalem You Do Not Want to Know, by David Ha’Ivri

“We are talking about many kids from good Jewish homes in the settlements, many who have become disillusioned and lost due to broken expectations following the destruction of Gush Katif and the pogrom in Amona.”

Sunday, 01 October 2006;

Last night at 11 PM Moztie Shabbat on the day before Yom Kippur, thousands of Jews were making their way to the Kotel to take part in the last gathering of slichot before Yom Kippur. As the police in Jerusalem where blocking main roads and re-directing traffic because of the congestion, I too made my way into the center of the Holy city for a very unique tour. Along with 20 of my colleagues, all youth directors in the Jewish towns of the Shomron, we set out for a very different experience, a special sight-seeing tour that should stand as a wake-up call to all of us. read more

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Is Secular Zionism an Oxymoron???

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IDF Chief Rabbi: Not Sure Secular Zionism Exists, by Ariela Ringel-Hoffman (Ynet)

“The roots of the disengagement are not the political move, but a spiritual crisis, so when we want to deal with this issue, to prevent another disengagement from happening, we should address this spiritual crisis.”

Excerpts;

Rabbi Avi Ronsky can check yet another box. Ten months after they asked him whether he would like to serve as the chief IDF rabbi, he got the job. Chief of Staff Dan Halutz pinned the brigadier general’s insignia on his shoulders in mid-September, and he assumed office on Sukkoth eve. read more

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Creating a Jewish Alternative to Israeli “Justice” System…

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Rabbis Push Jewish Alternative to Courts, By Matthew Wagner (Jerusalem Post)

Excerpts;

With a vision in their hearts of an Israeli state run in accordance with Jewish legal tradition, a group of leading religious Zionist rabbis and experts in Jewish law met in Jerusalem Tuesday evening for the official launch of a chain of rabbinic courts that aspires to replace the civil court system.

“Who is smarter, Aharon Barak or Maimonides?” the press release promoting the launch asked rhetorically, assuming it is clear to all that the 12th-century halachic authority is the correct answer. read more

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Halutz Appointing His Own Interrogator?

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Former Chief of Staff to Head IDF Inquiry into Lebanon War

Full text;

Former IDF Chief of General Staff, Lt. -Gen. (res.) Dan Shomron was chosen to head the military committee investigating the IDF’s management of the recent war in Lebanon, sources said on Tuesday evening.

Shomron, who was expected to begin work in the coming days, was asked by Chief of General Staff Lt. -Gen. Dan Halutz to lead the inquiry several weeks ago. The final decision was delayed due to Shomron’s absence from Israel until now. read more

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