Israel and The Sin of Expulsion

Sharon, on Respirator, to Have Tracheotomy

Excerpts;

“Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will undergo a tracheotomy Sunday night to help wean him off a respirator that has been helping him breathe since he suffered a massive stroke Jan. 4, hospital officials said.”

“Sharon remained in critical but stable condition ahead of the surgery, the hospital said Sunday in a statement. In the procedure, doctors will put Sharon under general anesthesia and cut a small hole in his neck to insert a tube directly into his windpipe.” read more

Roads in Judea and Samaria for Palestinians Only

Excerpts;

“Makor Rishon newspaper Correspondent Chagai Segel reports today that the Ministry of Defense is planning to close off many roads to Israeli traffic in Judea and Samaria under a plan to separate Israeli and Palestinian road networks called ‘Everything Flows’“.

“While the plan has yet to be presented to the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria [YESHA Council], they have learned, for example, that the plan includes closing sections of Route 60 to Israeli traffic so that a Jew living in Shilo or Alon Moreh desiring to reach Jerusalem would first have to drive to the Jordan Valley.” read more

Another Tack: Ocean of Schmaltz [Instead of Policy-Driven Democratic Choice], by Sarah Honig

Excerpts;

“The populace evidently reveled wallowing in this bottomless ocean of schmaltz and saccharine. It was a melodramatic kitsch-fest rivaled only by post-Rabin assassination de-rigueur mawkishness, which could at least superficially be construed as arising from genuine shock at the suddenness of the historical upset.”

“… Sharon, though recklessly obese, had reached – in relatively good health up until last month – the average life expectancy of an Israeli male. A medical crisis in his case could hardly have been a bolt from the blue. Indeed, if anything confounded logic it’s the apparent assumption that he’d carry on for another term or two.” read more

Olmert to be Acting PM till Elections

Excerpt;

“Attorney General Meni Mazuz will notify Ehud Olmert on Sunday that he will continue to hold the title of acting prime minister until Israel’s March 28 elections, according to media reports.”

Comptroller Launches Campaign Finance Probe Against Peres

Excerpts;

“State Comptroller Micah Lindenstrauss launched an investigation Saturday into a $320,000 campaign contribution to MK Shimon Peres from billionaire businessman Haim Saban as well as donors outside the country.” read more

Kassam Fired at Israel, but Lands in PA Territory

8 Kassams Hit Negev, IDF Shells Northern Gaza

Kassam Falls Near Kerem Shalom

Test Shows Activity in Sharon’s Brain Lobes

Excerpts;

“A medical test showed activity in both of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s brain lobes and his condition remains critical but stable, hospital officials said Saturday.”

“Experts said activity in both lobes didn’t indicate anything about the extent of the brain damage Sharon may have suffered as a result of his devastating stroke on Jan. 4”

“‘It’s very worrisome that he hasn’t woken from his coma,’ Ifergan added. ‘Coma reflects brain damage. (But) it’s hard to talk about prospects for awakening without knowing the patient.'” read more

The Metamorphosis of Ehud Olmert

Excerpts;

“The change in Olmert began to surface shortly before he left his position of mayor of Jerusalem in late 2002, when he was running again for the Knesset. At the time, it was discovered that the Palestinian Authority schoolbooks – containing a curriculum that inculcates Palestinian schoolchildren with the conviction that Israel has no right to exist (see www.edume.org) – had been incorporated into the Jerusalem municipal school system.” read more

Settlers, Soldiers Scuffle in Hebron

Excerpts;

“Security forces had recently been tasked with the evacuation of settlers from eight Palestinian stores in the Hebron market. Two thousand policemen and soldiers have been allocated to evacuate both spots but the defense establishment, officials said, had yet to decide whether they would be evacuated simultaneously or on different days.”

“The evacuations had originally been scheduled to begin at the end of next week after the settlers succeeded in obtaining a postponement by the High Court of Justice, which had scheduled a hearing for next Wednesday.” read more

IDF Artillery Shelling Launch Sites

4 Qassams Fired at Israel

IDF Artillery Fire into Gaza on Friday

Terrorist Apprehended on Friday Tied to Bomb Placement

Sharon Still Not Showing Signs of Waking From Coma

Excerpts;

“Doctors at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem met Friday morning to discuss Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s neurological condition, which remains serious but stable.”

“However, some hospital sources have expressed concern that Sharon still hasn’t woken up despite the gradual discontinuation of anesthesia over the last few days. The prime minister’s weight and the traces of anesthesia remaining in his system could be affecting the rate at which the prime minister comes out of his medically induced coma.” read more