The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People
Our Parsha speaks about the reasons for the separate section delineated by the inverted “nuns” — “When the Aron (the Ark) would journey, Moshe said, ‘Arise Hashem, and let your foes be scattered, let those who hate you flee from before you.’ And when it rested, he would say, ‘Reside tranquilly, O, Hashem, among the myriad thousands of Israel.'” (Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 10, posukim 35-36)
How to Win the Battle for the Land of Israel
Excerpts;
The Judea, Samaria and Gaza (Yesha) Council heads who failed in the struggle for Gush Katif must not be allowed to continue in their positions. It’s unconscionable that people who have been proven incompetent will be allowed to bring about a second tragedy.
People who are not willing to pay a personal price to defend the Land of Israel do not deserve to represent us. In truth, people who receive their salaries from the government cannot be expected to fight against it. Only those who were willing to sit in jail to protect the Land of Israel deserve to lead the struggle.
Gov’t Has Built Homes for Less Than Half of Expulsion Victims
Full Text;
The government has built only 803 new housing units for citizens expelled from their homes in the Gaza and northern Samaria regions last summer, according to Housing Ministry figures. More than 900 families have been forced into temporary housing.
Most of the new housing units were built on relatively small plots of land, of about 90 square meters compared to the 150 square meters most of the families enjoyed before the government demolished their communities.
Provision for Raising Old Age Pensions Absent from Budget Bill
Full Text;
Labor party representatives on the Knesset Finance Committee were astonished to learn that a provision for raising old age pensions was excluded from the state budget bill.
According to its coalition agreement with the Kadima party, the government was supposed to allocate NIS 330 million to raise old age pensions.
A government official said that in the case of old age pensions, the Knesset would need to pass separate legislation.
Two Explosives Used Against IDF Forces in Jenin
W. Bank: IDF Arrests 11 Fugitives Overnight
Tel Aviv Police Arrest 81 Illegal Arab Aliens
Arab from Gaza Works as Burglar in Sharon Area
Dichter: Stop Kassams at Any Cost. Olmert: Continue Restraint
Excerpts;
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter demanded that the IDF stop Kassam attacks on southern Israel at any cost, even if it means reconquering territory in Gaza to widen the security buffer zone.
Dichter was adamant that the defense establishment take steps to put an end to the constant rocket fire launched from northern Gaza into the western Negev, “as the IDF paralyzed Hezbollah this week.”
In the tradition of Malcolm Hoenlein who sat on the truth regarding William Tenet’s position on Jonathan Pollard for 6 years, Jonathan Bassi and Major General Giora Eiland have now denounced the Sharon/Olmert government actions “disengagement” from Gush Katif as well as, in Eiland’s case, Olmert’s, convergence (or is that consolidation, or perhaps realignment) plan. MB
COS Halutz: Classroom of Kids Almost Murdered by Rocket Doesn’t Matter Since No Deaths?
For Context, click here.
Excerpts;
IMRA: A week ago a classroom full of kids in Sderot were not killed when a rocket made a direct hit on the classroom because the kid’s morning prayers, held in another room, ran a minute late.
Dan Halutz used to be in the Air Force. In the IAF a near miss is treated with the same severity as the real thing. A pilot who recklessly almost hits another jet can find himself facing the same investigation and consequences as a pilot who crashes.
Another Tack: Stan Laurel’s Smile, by Sarah Honig
Excerpts;
Israel’s Diaspora-born founding fathers ironically knew how to stand up to the world’s highest and mightiest. They could – and often did – send foreign potentates and their emissaries packing. But not so the progeny they reared, ostensibly unconstrained by degrading complexes. Pragmatic Sabras endlessly calculate the odds and are serially overwhelmed by them.
Pressurable and pliable Rabin, Barak, Sharon and Olmert – all products of our local insular upbringing – don’t remotely measure up to the stick-to-itiveness of Ben-Gurion, Golda, Begin or Shamir. Sabras may swagger but they’re fretful. They posture as tough unsentimental moral relativists, but they lack resolve, conviction and – pardon the untrendy term – pride.
Commentary;
There are undoubtedly many more Bieber, Dayan-like stories which regarding the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif and the Shomron which have not yet surfaced. Here’s one thanks to Naomi Ragen;
The Taxi Driver, by Naomi Ragen
Excerpts;
“I worked for the Ministry of Defense. I was a security guard.”
We spoke a little more, and I began to realize that I was in the presence of one of the men from those select units who protect the lives of our most powerful citizens, including our former prime minister.