There is additional news since yesterday’s post on the Gaza Crossings Agreement:
Wolfensohn: Israel Can be Safe With Rafah Open
Mr. Wolfensohn has taken a detour … from reality! MB
Election Run-up Politics …
Bill to Stop ‘Surplus Vote’ Swapping Passes First Knesset Reading
March Election Almost a Certainty
Knesset Opposition Aims for Early Elections to be held in March
Baruch Marzel Announces He’ll Run as Head of a New Party
Shas Not Worried About Losing Votes Due to ‘Peretz factor’
Sharon Continues Gaining on Opponent Netanyahu
FM: Sharon Ready to Agree to March Elections
Excerpts:
“Haaretz poll shows PM widening lead in Likud”
A Haaretz-Dialog poll conducted on Tuesday night under the supervision of Professor Camil Fuchs found that if the Likud primaries were held today, and the candidates were Sharon, Netanyahu, Uzi Landau (who led the anti-disengagement Likud “rebels”) and Moshe Feiglin (leader of the right-wing Jewish Leadership faction of the Likud party), Sharon would get 47 percent of the votes, Netanyahu would get 23 percent, Landau would get 9 percent and Feiglin would get 6 percent. The poll had 614 respondents and a 4.3 percent margin of error.”
Oslo War Continues …
The Gush Katif Refugee Families …
Nitzana: Suspected Infiltration Causes Alert
Living on a Prayer: Three Months After Evacuation
Excerpts:
“On Yom Kippur eve, Kirshenzaft received a call from a soldier who had evacuated them from their home asking for forgiveness. According to Kirshenzaft, the soldier wept on the phone that he regretted his actions and couldn’t sleep at night.”
“Recalls Kirshenzaft, ‘I told him that according to Maimonides, it is not enough to regret actions…one must commit never to do that same action again. I asked if he would follow such orders again and he swore he would not. So I forgave him. But other security officers involved in the expulsion, including one whom I have been friendly with for 25 years, called to ask if we were still friends …they are full of excuses …the brainwashing that it is good for democracy, for the State of Israel. Them I cannot forgive because they have not repented, but I feel sorry for them …they are more unfortunate than us. Despite what the higher-ups say, the soldiers have been traumatized for life. I heard that one kippa-wearing soldier who accompanied our family on the bus was admitted to a psychiatric hospital soon afterwards.'”
Agreements on Gaza Crossings …
Following up on earlier reports today, agreements have now been reached regarding the Gaza Crossings and the issues surrounding them.
Deal on Gaza Crossings Reached
Chairman of Knesset Security C’tee Blasts Rice Ports Agreement
IDF Intelligence Issues Rafah Warning
Israel to Allow Gaza Port and Open Rafiach and Kerem Shalom Crossings
Officer Accorded Full Acquittal in Military Trial ..
‘Confirmed Kill’ Case: Full Acquittal
Excepts;
“The captain maintained his innocence, charging that he never performed a ‘confirmed kill’ and accused his soldiers of deliberately wanting to hurt him for his stubborn attitude on duty.”
“In February 2005, a main witness decided to withdraw his initial testimony against the suspect, accusing soldiers in the base of providing false testimonies to harm the captain, whose strictness they disliked.”
President Katsav Leaves for the Vatican …
Those following the story regarding President Katsav, Mt. Zion and the Vatican will note that the President left today for the Vatican.
More Election News …
Gush Katif Refugee News …
The Disintegration of N’vei Dekalim
MK Kara: Likud ‘Loyalists’ Will Oppose Budget Due to Disregard for Expellees
My guess is that the budget won’t pass until new elections and will be re-worked, assuming that neither Sharon or Bibi make the Superbowl … A new broom will sweep Likud clean. Remember, you heard it here first! MB
