Parsha Re’eh 5766 — Collective Responsibility for Our Brethren and for Eretz Yisrael — Revisited.

Parsha Re’eh 5766 — Collective Responsibility for Our Brethren & for Eretz Yisrael — Revisited.

By, Moshe Burt

Parsha Re’eh begins with the B’nai Yisrael assembled on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eval. Moshe Rabbeinu continues his mussar saying, “Behold, I set before you … a blessing and a curse; the blessing if you heed the commandments of Hashem, and the curse, if you will not observe his commandments.(Sefer Devarim, Perek 11, posukim 26-27) read more

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Rank’s Privilege: I Will Beat The War Crash, To Heck With Everybody Else?

Halutz Sold Investments After Kidnapping

Excerpts;

Several hours after the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers on the northern border and in the midst of discussions over whether to launch a major military operation in Lebanon, the chief of staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, decided to sell off his personal investment portfolio, Maariv reported Tuesday morning.

According to the report, Halutz spoke to his investment broker at Bank Leumi about three hours after Hizbullah’s cross-border raid, and instructed him to sell all the assets in his portfolio, valued at about NIS 120,000. read more

Olmert HaBayita (Olmert, Go Home!)

The Olmert Government Must Go, By Caroline Glick

“We don’t need a commission to determine what we need to do. Because of the Olmert government’s failures, ever greater battles await us. As the dangers mount by the hour, we must replace this misbegotten government with one that can defend us.”

Excerpts;

We do not need a commission to know what happened or what has to happen. The Olmert government has failed on every level. The Olmert government must go.

The Knesset must vote no confidence in this government and new elections must be carried out as soon as the law permits. If the Knesset hesitates in taking this required step, then the people of Israel must take to the streets in mass demonstrations and demand that our representatives send Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and their comrades out to pasture. read more

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What a Surprise: Withdrawal from Yesha Dangerous …

Committee Finds: Withdrawal from Yesha Dangerous

Excerpts;

Leading politicians not necessarily associated with the right-wing have come to similar conclusions. Less than two months ago, President Moshe Katzav said that a unilateral pullback from Yesha should not be construed as constituting a diplomatic solution, and even had strong criticism of the unilateral nature of the pullback from Gaza.

A minister in Olmert’s own government and party, Housing Minister Meir Sheetrit of the Kadima party, recently expressed his opposition to a unilateral withdrawal from Judea and Samaria. One of the first to join former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in forming Kadima last year, Sheetrit said, “For one thing, in Gaza, we withdrew all the way to an internationally recognized border, whereas that will not be the case in Judea and Samaria. So what would be the point?” read more

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Tuesday War News …

Rockets Hit Lebanon Despite Cease-Fire

Excerpt;

“Hezbollah guerrillas fired at least 10 Katyusha rockets that landed in southern Lebanon early Tuesday, the Israeli army said, adding that nobody was injured. The army said that none of the rockets had crossed the border and so it had not responded.”

118 Still Hospitalized, 32 in Serious Condition

Bush Says Israel Defeated Hezbollah

Excerpt;

“President Bush admonished Iran and Syria for backing Hezbollah, which captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12 igniting the conflict. Bush made clear he was determined to help the Israelis in the post-fighting struggle of words about who wound up on top.” read more

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A Replay of Olmert’s Despicable Display of Last Year?

Olmert to Greet Three Flights of Immigrants Wed.

Full Text;

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will greet three chartered flights of Jewish immigrants from the U.S., Canada and UK that will land simultaneously in Israel Wednesday morning, resulting in a day of record setting Western immigration.

The U.S. flight, departing JFK, will also carry Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Mr. Danny Ayalon.

The expected arrival of more than 800 North American and British Jews on Wednesday is part of a six day global campaign by Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization dedicated to the revitalization of ‘Aliyah’ (immigration to Israel), in close cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel. read more

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PMO: The World Will See Who the Aggressor is and Will Understand Us…

Jerusalem Expects Cease-fire Deal to Fail, by Gil Hoffman

Excerpts;

Israel intends to abide by the cease-fire when it takes effect on Monday morning, even though senior Israeli officials assume that Hizbullah will not honor it, officials close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday night.

The officials said the working assumption at the Prime Minister’s Office was that Hizbullah would not honor the agreement and that the world would then comprehend Israel’s predicament more than ever. At press time, the Lebanese cabinet had not given final approval to the cease-fire. read more

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After Cease-Fire: Covering Thineself Begins in Earnest Among PM, DM, FM and Chief of Staff …

Now the Infighting Begins

Excerpts;

At exactly 8 a.m. on Monday the fighting in Lebanon will come to an end. IDF troops will man key positions throughout southern Lebanon, but will stop sweeping through villages in pursuit of Hizbullah terrorists as they have been doing for the past month. The IAF will cease air strikes and cannons will become silent.

But while the fighting in Lebanon might be coming to an end, the infighting in Israel is just beginning. Officers and politicians involved in the decision-making process throughout the war have for the past few days – ever since realizing that a cease-fire was about to be implemented – been working on creating alibis for their actions and decisions throughout Operation Change of Direction. read more

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Monday War News …

7 Soldiers Killed in South Lebanon

Hezbollah Gunman Hit by IDF Fire in Southern Lebanon

Excerpt;

“Golani soldiers fired at the armed operative who moved towards an IDF unit ‘in a threatening way.’ The army said it did not know if the fighter had been killed or wounded, but said the Israelis ‘fired in self-defense.'”

Peretz: We’ll Silence the Guns, Won’t Lift the Blockade

Excerpt;

“Defense Minister Amir Peretz made it clear that the naval and land blockade of Lebanon would not be lifted until other elements of the resolution are in place.” read more

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Why, Mr. Prime Minister, Why?

To the PM, From a Mother By Esther Wachsman (Jerusalem Post)

Excerpts;

On Tuesday the 7th of Av I took my youngest of seven sons to the army induction center. Because we are a bereaved family I was obligated to sign a waiver so he could serve in a combat unit. My hand shook as I placed my signature on that permission slip.

But my son was adamant: “I must fight for my country, for its very existence.”

I was proud – and, yes, anxious.

But I became all the more troubled when, the very next day, on the eve of the most tragic date on the Jewish calendar, the 9th of Av, you, Mr. Prime Minister, gave an interview to the foreign press. And in response to a question, you connected the war in Lebanon to your West Bank convergence plan, suggesting that success in Lebanon would facilitate your plans to uproot settlements in Judea and Samaria, as you did in the Gaza Strip. read more

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