Israel and The Sin of Expulsion

Expert: Once Israelis Worry About Sharon the Person, not Leader, Support for Kadima Will Drop

Is Barak Probing for a Slot in Kadima?

Speaker Rivlin Opposes Decision to Remain in Govt

Excerpts;

“Rivlin stated on Saturday night that ministers should act on the original decision and resign from the cabinet immediately.”

“Rivlin is calling on Likud to continue its opposition to the policies of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adding the party must work with increased tenacity against the acting prime minister.” read more

Abandoned Comrades

Excerpts;

“Ariel Sharon, Shimon Peres, Amir Peretz and Benjamin Netanyahu [add to that Ehud Olmert — in Spades – MB] are so caught up in themselves and the new social agenda they have suddenly discovered that they have lost sight of 10,000 individuals who were uprooted from their homes some three months ago.”

“Many of them are unemployed. And most don’t have homes yet. Their children wet their beds at night, and some cringe in fear at the sight of police or soldiers. Dozens have ended up in hospital cardiac wards. Hundreds are still living in hotels, which have become gilded cages for them. Many families are falling apart; couples are divorcing; parental authority has been undermined; and normal family life has become impossible.” read more

Sharon’s Doctors Delay Decision on Waking Up PM

Excerpts;

“On Sunday morning, an interdisciplinary team of experts at Hadassah-University Medical Center reassessed Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s condition and decided to perform another computerized tomography (CT) scan of his brain prior to deciding whether to gradually reduce the amount of drugs that have kept him in an induced coma.”

“Krumer said that this additional brain scan was part of standard treatment, and that the hospital would give an update on Sharon’s status around noon.” read more

2 Arrests Made Near Bethlehem

IDF fires Artillery Shells into the N. Gaza Strip

Barrage of Qassams Launched From Gaza

IDF Arrests Eight Wanted Militants Across West Bank

Kfar Darom Expellees Move into Temporary Home [Plus Other Gush Katif Refugee News]

Excerpts;

“The Kfar Darom-ites, who have nothing but praise for their hosts in the Paradise Hotel, are scheduled to remain in Ashkelon only for two years or so. In the duration, they will be seeking solutions for the establishment of their permanent community.”

“Many of the new Ashkelon residents are still out of work and will join the city’s unemployed rolls …”

“The community’s educational institutions – the school, yeshiva, Kollel, and the Torah and Land Institute – will continue to function in a building granted by the Ashkelon Municipality. The day care centers and the synagogue will function in the Eyal Towers building itself.” read more

Arik’s Bus

Excerpts;

“‘A bus is on the way from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” begins a story told by retired major general Israel Tal. “After Sha’ar Hagai, when the ascent begins, the driver stops the bus, turns around and says, ‘I can’t drive anymore, maybe there’s someone here who can continue until Jerusalem?’ Fifty passengers fall silent, look at one another, afraid to take responsibility. A bus is big and heavy and there are turns and cliffs, and 50 people have to get home safely. It’s complicated. But the moment a prime minister says ‘I can’t go on anymore,’ 50 people are candidates to replace him – because it’s only the premiership, you don’t need any special knowledge or skills, we’ll muddle through.'” read more

Neurosurgeon Thinks PM has Good Chance to Survive

Sharon’s Condition Serious but Stable; Vital Signs Normal.

Excerpts;

“Doctors at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem announced that the CAT scan conducted Saturday on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon showed a ‘very slight’ improvement. Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef, the hospital’s director general, said that the intracranial pressure had decreased and that Sharon’s vital signs were normal.”

“Mor-Yosef reiterated that the prime minister’s condition was stable, but nevertheless serious. He also said that while the latest CAT scan showed that although the left side of Sharon’s brain appeared ‘normal,’ there would be no way of assessing the extent of the damage caused by the prime minister’s cerebral hemorrhage until doctors brought Sharon out of his induced coma.” read more

Police, Shin Bet Arrest Spy for Iran

Excerpts;

“The Israel Police’s Serious and International Crimes Unit together with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has arrested the former head of the Fasuta Local Council in the Upper Galilee suspected of spying on Israel for Iranian Intelligence, it was released for publication on Friday.”

“Jaris Jaris, 58, was arrested on December 12, after police discovered that he had been recruited by Iran and was asked to use his political contacts to infiltrate the government and the Israeli political system by becoming a member of Knesset.” read more

Two Kassams Land Near Erez Crossing, None Wounded

Two Qassams Rockets Intended for Israel Land in the Gaza Strip

IDF Continues Aerial Assaults on Kassam Launch Sites

Palestinians Detained at Kissufim, Hawarah

Vilnai: Invasion of Gaza Strip Can’t be Ruled Out

Mazuz: If PM Doesn’t Recover, Cabinet Must Choose Successor

Excerpts;

“Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is currently defined as temporarily incapacitated, but should this definition change to permanently incapacitated, the cabinet will have to meet immediately to choose an acting premier.”

“Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said this during a special cabinet session called Thursday to discuss the legal implications of Sharon’s condition.”

“Mazuz explained that as long as Sharon is temporarily incapacitated, his appointed deputy, Ehud Olmert, will serve as acting premier. However, should Sharon be declared permanently incapacitated, then by law the cabinet must choose an acting premier from among the ministers who are also MKs and members of Sharon’s party.” read more