Israel and The Sin of Expulsion

Olmert Hands Over Home Sale Documents

Full Text;

“Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday handed over the documents related to the sale of his house, in cooperation with the investigation by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss into the matter.”

“The investigation centers on the sale of the house for $2.7-million to a businessman who has contributed significant sums of money to fund the campaigns of various politicians, including Olmert.”

“The documents included the sales contract for the house and the rental contract Olmert signed with the buyer, among others.” read more

Kassam Attack on Netiv Ha’asara

Kassam Lands in Western Negev; No Wounded

IDF Discovers Kassam Rocket Manufacturing Material

IDF Nabbed 14 Would-Be Bombers in Last 3 Weeks

IDF Shells Kassam Launch Sites in Northern Gaza

Israeli Man Lightly Wounded by Palestinian Fire

IDF Arrests Six Wanted Palestinians in West Bank

Kassam Lands in Yad Mordehai, No One Wounded

Shots Fired at Bus Near Mevo Dotan

Arab Stone Throwing Attack Near Kalkilya

State Comptroller Investigating Acting Prime Minister Olmert For Corruption

Olmert Accused of Still More Shady Dealing

Mazuz Calls on Hanegbi to Resign

Zeevi Expects Olmert to Make Sure Father’s Killers Stay in Jail

Our World: Weak on Hamas

Excerpts;

“At its Sunday morning cabinet meeting did Israel’s interim government finally lay out a strategy for contending with the fact that Hamas has taken over the Palestinian Authority? The Israeli and international media reports of the meeting could easily lead a person to think so.”

“Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth. The interim government’s decisions Sunday show that the government has no policy for contending with Hamas. The absence of a policy is a result of the government’s lack of a basic understanding of – or its unwillingness to understand – the threat the Hamas takeover of the PA poses to Israel.” read more

Gush Etzion and Kiryat Arba to Protest New Border Crossing and Labeling of Vehicles

Excerpts;

(IsraelNN.com) “Activist committees in Kiryat Arba are preparing a protest against stickers the army is planning to distribute to residents to enable passage through the large border-crossing type checkpoint being constructed at the entrance to Gush Etzion from Jerusalem.”

“Kiryat Arba’s local council met on February 12th and concluded unanimously that it is ‘opposed to the army’s objective of differentiating and separating the residents of Yesha (acronym for Judea, Samaria and Gaza) communities from other citizens of the State of Israel, and has therefore decided not to distribute the stickers to drivers living in Kiryat Arba. In addition, it will join with the other local councils in Yesha to frustrate this objective.’” read more

Kadima Proposes Negative Tax, Civil Marriage and Secular Burial

For those among the Religious who would entertain the notion of voting Kadima, check out who is in favor of civil marriage and secular burial. MB

Excerpts;

“… Sheetrit said Kadima would push for legislation legalizing civil marriage and facilitating secular forms of burial. Such matters, in relation to Jews, are currently under the authority of the Israeli Rabbinate.”

“Kadima’s stand on these issues makes it highly unlikely the party would form a coalition with the religious parties, or other more nationalistic parties on the right. These parties generally oppose measures that would negatively impact on Israel’s character as a Jewish state.” read more

Gush Etzion Women to Hold Mega Bridal Shower For Gush Katif Brides-to-be

Nadia Matar Plans Aggressive Defense in Freedom of Speech Case

Ex-IDF Officer Alleges Police Brutality Against Girls at Amona

This story is related to the above story; IDF Reserve Duty Colonel Reports He Too Was Beaten in Amona

Kadima’s Israel

Omri’s Lessons

Excerpts;

“The conviction and sentencing of Omri Sharon, the ailing prime minister’s son and one of the most influential people in Israeli politics for the past three years, is likely to become a legal, political and cultural landmark in Israeli history.“

“The felony for which Omri Sharon has been convicted, illegal campaign financing, along with charges of perjury and fraud to which he confessed previously in a plea bargain, should have rendered his 18-month jail sentence a foregone conclusion, especially since more than half of the sentence was suspended.” read more

Essay: Brooklyn’s Not-One-Inch Crowd

Commentary;

Had Ehud Olmert not had such a zealous desire to “rub the noses of religious Jews in it” on the very day of the expulsion from Gush katif, had he said the same thing at another time, in a different context, in a more couched, diplomatic way, his words about Aliyah in large numbers might well have been taken on a more positive context.

Instead, as this author wrote shortly after the expulsion, in an article which was not posted to the internet owing to time, in a personal apology to the Nefesh b’Nefesh people who arrived on 17 August and who were subjected to Ehud Olmert’s humiliating comments, “We followed in the news and heard how you were immediately subjected, right at the airport upon landing in Eretz Yisrael, to the aggresiveness and gross arrogance and chutzpah of one Ehud Olmert. All of us owe you our deepest apologies for his disgraceful words and actions, that he dared to agitate and provoke you, that he dared come-on to you with his wretched attempt at righteous superiority, particularly with his comments about the timing of your Aliyah. We too, amidst our agony at the expulsion, share your emotions at having your first day of Aliyah marred by this despicable being.” read more