So there it is – gone. After all the razz-a-matazz, all the planning (good and bad), all the security concerns, the tons of meat and chickens barbequed, we now settle back into a routine. Yes there is the Presidents conference to come this week, the guest list impressive. It seems the Swiss are put out by not being invited. Well, if they feel it unjustified, maybe they should consider what their business deals with Iran are going to cause for Europe in general and Israel in particular.
The routine we are returning to also involves helping others and one of the first aid crews to enter Myanmar after the cyclone was, yes, you guessed it, the Israeli team. Talking to the Israeli media, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3541463,00.html Josh Krieger of the Latet organization reported of the difficult sights and the great damage caused by the storm, as well as of the difficulties posed by the authorities.
"You see a chaos which is only now being treated. Trees on the roads, destructed houses, roofless houses, water and fuel shortages," he said.
Krieger is one of the only volunteers who managed to enter Myanmar, after the ruling junta refused to allow aid teams to enter its territory. Many international aid crews, including United Nations organizations, have been waiting In Thailand for days in hopes of receiving an approval to enter the country.
Meanwhile Hamas is desperately trying to generate sympathy for the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1209627049950&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Gaza officials said Saturday that they switched off all three turbines that had been generating electricity for hundreds of thousands of Gazans. Energy official Kaanan Obeid said Israel hadn't provided enough diesel to run the power plant. Ninety percent of Gaza City was plunged in darkness Saturday night, Obeid said.
Whilst true that Israel didn't deliver as much fuel as planned to Gaza last week because Palestinian terrorists attacked the crossing used to deliver it, it is also reported that Hamas is taking supplies for itself. Now I wonder what for? Surely not the rockets and mortars?
And finally, looking at the overseas media and the programs on the BBC reporting on the birthday, all I can say is that in general, the anti Israel feelings and deligitimisation of the State are very healthy and surviving on the incessant use of incorrect and distorted information, but then what’s new?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Independence Day in Haifa
There we are – it’s been and gone! The rapid change of moods from the somber Remembrance Day to the enjoyment of Independence Day has once again passed over successfully in spite of the 11 “hot” terror threats.
With a sudden burst of enthusiasm we invited friends round to an “open house”, to eat and watch the traditional start to the Independence Day celebrations of the torch lighting ceremony on TV. Most of the invitees said the perhaps wouldn’t come as there were firework displays, family commitments, etc.
In the end everyone did turn up even though the last couple arrived at close to midnight but there was still enough pizza and wine to go round. We eventually got to bed around 1:30 am.
I find the torch lighting ceremony quite emotional with each of those invited telling the audience about their background. Immediately prior to lighting the torch they declare “To the glory of the State of Israel”
This year the emphasis on the torch invitees was on education and voluntary work and included young and old, Jews, Christians, Druze, Muslim and Bedouin. A reflection of the multiculturism that is so natural in Israel.
Amongst the torch lighters were:-
Ralph Goldman, 93, honorary executive president of The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. He lit the torch with Shmuel Falik, 13, of Miami, who was born on Independence Day.
Galila Ron-Feder-Amit, one of Israel's most prominent and renowned children's book authors, a foster mother of children from broken homes and a volunteer helping underprivileged kids. She lit the torch with Ronni Ackerman, 13, an actress in The Orna Porat Theater for Children and Youth.
Ronny Douek, a businessman who has been working for 20 years now as a social entrepreneur for the welfare of children and youth. He lit the torch with Pnina Nivetzag, 18.5, a graduate of the Aharai! ("Follow me!") youth movement.
Dr. Erika Landau, who has been working for 40 years now to educate generations of gifted and talented children to lead in all areas of life. She lit the torch with Zurarish Weba, 18, who is about to join the IDF and is active among youths who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia.
Dr. Yitzhak Kadman, CEO of the National Council for the Child, which engages in a variety of activities for the sake of Israel's children. He lit the torch with eight-year-old Niv Caspi, a resident of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom near the Gaza Strip.
Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman, founder of the Migdal Ohr education network, which is active in the fields of education, welfare, aiding children at risk, immigrant absorption and bringing people closer together. He lit the torch with Tamir Abukasis, 13.5, an eight-grader at the Bnei Akiva yeshiva, who escaped a Qassam rocket attack in Sderot but lost his sister Ella who protected him with her body.
Uri Jakobovitch, an agriculturist at the Sdeh Bar farm for youth at risk, where he arrived about four and a half years ago in the footsteps of his older brothers. He lit the torch with Reuven Bentolila, 17, who immigrated to Israel from France in 1999 and was evacuated from Gush Katif as part of the 2005 disengagement plan.
A Bedouin who lit the torch had her car torched in her village; such is the pressure that those who want to co-exist in peace come under from their own communities.
This is the face of Israel
With a sudden burst of enthusiasm we invited friends round to an “open house”, to eat and watch the traditional start to the Independence Day celebrations of the torch lighting ceremony on TV. Most of the invitees said the perhaps wouldn’t come as there were firework displays, family commitments, etc.
In the end everyone did turn up even though the last couple arrived at close to midnight but there was still enough pizza and wine to go round. We eventually got to bed around 1:30 am.
I find the torch lighting ceremony quite emotional with each of those invited telling the audience about their background. Immediately prior to lighting the torch they declare “To the glory of the State of Israel”
This year the emphasis on the torch invitees was on education and voluntary work and included young and old, Jews, Christians, Druze, Muslim and Bedouin. A reflection of the multiculturism that is so natural in Israel.
Amongst the torch lighters were:-
Ralph Goldman, 93, honorary executive president of The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. He lit the torch with Shmuel Falik, 13, of Miami, who was born on Independence Day.
Galila Ron-Feder-Amit, one of Israel's most prominent and renowned children's book authors, a foster mother of children from broken homes and a volunteer helping underprivileged kids. She lit the torch with Ronni Ackerman, 13, an actress in The Orna Porat Theater for Children and Youth.
Ronny Douek, a businessman who has been working for 20 years now as a social entrepreneur for the welfare of children and youth. He lit the torch with Pnina Nivetzag, 18.5, a graduate of the Aharai! ("Follow me!") youth movement.
Dr. Erika Landau, who has been working for 40 years now to educate generations of gifted and talented children to lead in all areas of life. She lit the torch with Zurarish Weba, 18, who is about to join the IDF and is active among youths who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia.
Dr. Yitzhak Kadman, CEO of the National Council for the Child, which engages in a variety of activities for the sake of Israel's children. He lit the torch with eight-year-old Niv Caspi, a resident of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom near the Gaza Strip.
Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman, founder of the Migdal Ohr education network, which is active in the fields of education, welfare, aiding children at risk, immigrant absorption and bringing people closer together. He lit the torch with Tamir Abukasis, 13.5, an eight-grader at the Bnei Akiva yeshiva, who escaped a Qassam rocket attack in Sderot but lost his sister Ella who protected him with her body.
Uri Jakobovitch, an agriculturist at the Sdeh Bar farm for youth at risk, where he arrived about four and a half years ago in the footsteps of his older brothers. He lit the torch with Reuven Bentolila, 17, who immigrated to Israel from France in 1999 and was evacuated from Gush Katif as part of the 2005 disengagement plan.
A Bedouin who lit the torch had her car torched in her village; such is the pressure that those who want to co-exist in peace come under from their own communities.
This is the face of Israel
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Really a Cease Fire?
There is much talk of a possible “cease fire” between Hamas and Israel, however the Western understanding of a cease fire is far from the Arabic understanding.
The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hudna_050508e.htm defines the a cease fire as “Tahadiya” which is a modern, secular term adopted by the Palestinians meaning a “lull in the fighting” and used exclusively in relation to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It has no religious Islamic validity and in practical terms means an agreement between two rival sides, sometimes with the intervention of a third party, not necessarily as part of negotiations or a written agreement (such as a gentlemen's agreement, or an understanding).
Thus it is less binding than a “hudna” , a truce, which is an Islamic term. For that reason Hamas preferred to use the term “tahadiya” both in relation to the current contacts with Egypt and to the Cairo Agreement of 2005. That is because a “tahadiya” does not commit Hamas to recognizing Israel and permits it to carry out military activities except for engaging in actual fighting .
Thus far it seems that what has been agreed according to ITIC is that :-
i) Hamas agreed to a six-month lull in the Gaza Strip, during which time Egypt would work to extend it to the West Bank .
ii) The lull had to be mutual and simultaneous , and include the “ lifting of the blockade ” and the opening of the crossings, including the Rafah Crossing. The crossings would be opened as the lull went into effect. Mahmoud al-Zahar said that an agreement had been reached [between Egypt and Hamas] regarding the principles and commitments involved in reopening the Rafah Crossing.
iii) The other Palestinian organizations had to agree to the lull within a “national agreement.” Omar Suleiman would invite their representatives to Egypt to discuss the issue.
iv) Once the other organizations had agreed, Omar Suleiman would initiate contacts with Israel to achieve its agreement to the lull and to set up a time table for its implementation. Israel and Egypt would immediately take steps to prepare public opinion for the lull and to provide the Gaza Strip with basic supplies, especially fuel.
v) Egypt will ask the president of the Palestinian Authority for his agreement to open the crossings. Mahmoud al-Zahar noted that Hamas was close to an agreement with the PA regarding how the Rafah Crossing would be administered.
vi) The release of Gilad Shalit would be delayed until after the lull went into effect. Mahmoud al-Zahar said that the main obstacle was Israel's refusal to release terrorists who had been sentenced to long terms.
We have seen the ineffectiveness of such agreements in the past. Even the agreement via the UN for the peacekeepers in Lebanon has become a joke. Hizbollah is reportedly twice as strong as it was before the war and the UNIFIL peackeepers have not stopped Hizbollah’s build up one iota.
So once again it looks as though we are being conned into a cease fire in order that Hamas can regroup to fight another day – AND IT WILL!!
The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/html/hudna_050508e.htm defines the a cease fire as “Tahadiya” which is a modern, secular term adopted by the Palestinians meaning a “lull in the fighting” and used exclusively in relation to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It has no religious Islamic validity and in practical terms means an agreement between two rival sides, sometimes with the intervention of a third party, not necessarily as part of negotiations or a written agreement (such as a gentlemen's agreement, or an understanding).
Thus it is less binding than a “hudna” , a truce, which is an Islamic term. For that reason Hamas preferred to use the term “tahadiya” both in relation to the current contacts with Egypt and to the Cairo Agreement of 2005. That is because a “tahadiya” does not commit Hamas to recognizing Israel and permits it to carry out military activities except for engaging in actual fighting .
Thus far it seems that what has been agreed according to ITIC is that :-
i) Hamas agreed to a six-month lull in the Gaza Strip, during which time Egypt would work to extend it to the West Bank .
ii) The lull had to be mutual and simultaneous , and include the “ lifting of the blockade ” and the opening of the crossings, including the Rafah Crossing. The crossings would be opened as the lull went into effect. Mahmoud al-Zahar said that an agreement had been reached [between Egypt and Hamas] regarding the principles and commitments involved in reopening the Rafah Crossing.
iii) The other Palestinian organizations had to agree to the lull within a “national agreement.” Omar Suleiman would invite their representatives to Egypt to discuss the issue.
iv) Once the other organizations had agreed, Omar Suleiman would initiate contacts with Israel to achieve its agreement to the lull and to set up a time table for its implementation. Israel and Egypt would immediately take steps to prepare public opinion for the lull and to provide the Gaza Strip with basic supplies, especially fuel.
v) Egypt will ask the president of the Palestinian Authority for his agreement to open the crossings. Mahmoud al-Zahar noted that Hamas was close to an agreement with the PA regarding how the Rafah Crossing would be administered.
vi) The release of Gilad Shalit would be delayed until after the lull went into effect. Mahmoud al-Zahar said that the main obstacle was Israel's refusal to release terrorists who had been sentenced to long terms.
We have seen the ineffectiveness of such agreements in the past. Even the agreement via the UN for the peacekeepers in Lebanon has become a joke. Hizbollah is reportedly twice as strong as it was before the war and the UNIFIL peackeepers have not stopped Hizbollah’s build up one iota.
So once again it looks as though we are being conned into a cease fire in order that Hamas can regroup to fight another day – AND IT WILL!!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Not the Holocaust story again!
Today is Holocaust Day and there is a feeling of melancholy that pervades the atmosphere. The sirens around the country sounded at 10:00 am and I was at that moment at a very busy junction near the local shopping mall.
The only things moving were the traffic lights, changing from green to amber and red. All the cars, buses and taxis were suspended in a time warp and people were standing to attention at the side of their cars.
Yes, this day still requires a remembrance of what actually happened, not what so many Arabs and anti Semites try to convince the world with their “version” of what happened.
My wife was born in Amsterdam, nine of her Uncles and Aunts perished in the Holocaust and it is still painful for her to watch the programmes on TV recalling the events of the darkest of periods of mans inhumanity to man. Her family was also holed up in an apartment under similar conditions to Anne Frank as were many of the Jewish community of Amsterdam.
If anyone is in any doubt then the web site http://history1900s.about.com/library/holocaust/blholocaust.htm gives a very full account of what happened.
As the Arab propaganda machine churns out more and more distorted data, casting their doubts on what really happened, Palestinian Media Watch http://www.pmw.org.il/ report on a Hamas educational program that claims Jewish leaders planned the Holocaust to kill "disabled and handicapped" Jews to avoid having to care for them. As much of the world prepared to commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hamas TV presented its latest sinister twist on Holocaust denial.
The Hamas TV educational program, broadcast last week, taught that the murder of Jews in the Holocaust was a Zionist plot with two goals:
1- To eliminate "disabled and handicapped" Jews by sending them to death camps, so they would not be a burden on the future state of Israel.
2- At the same time, the Holocaust served to make "the Jews seem persecuted" so they could "benefit from international sympathy."
In response to one of my e-mails, one of my contacts writes “why do you exclude Christians? They too are and were deeply affected by this atrocity. In fact many Christians gave their lives to stop the monster that was Hitler and his henchmen?
We are all in this together and as time passes we are all under the same attack from Radical Islam.” And he is right, we should not forget the role so many of them played in risking their lives to save Jews and, of course, many of them gave their lives as a consequence. Yad Vashem here in Israel fully acknowledges the role played by Christians. Let’s also not forget the number of gypsies also murdered by Hitler. See the newly launched YOU TUBE videos at www.youtube.com/user/YadVashem
The only things moving were the traffic lights, changing from green to amber and red. All the cars, buses and taxis were suspended in a time warp and people were standing to attention at the side of their cars.
Yes, this day still requires a remembrance of what actually happened, not what so many Arabs and anti Semites try to convince the world with their “version” of what happened.
My wife was born in Amsterdam, nine of her Uncles and Aunts perished in the Holocaust and it is still painful for her to watch the programmes on TV recalling the events of the darkest of periods of mans inhumanity to man. Her family was also holed up in an apartment under similar conditions to Anne Frank as were many of the Jewish community of Amsterdam.
If anyone is in any doubt then the web site http://history1900s.about.com/library/holocaust/blholocaust.htm gives a very full account of what happened.
As the Arab propaganda machine churns out more and more distorted data, casting their doubts on what really happened, Palestinian Media Watch http://www.pmw.org.il/ report on a Hamas educational program that claims Jewish leaders planned the Holocaust to kill "disabled and handicapped" Jews to avoid having to care for them. As much of the world prepared to commemorate Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hamas TV presented its latest sinister twist on Holocaust denial.
The Hamas TV educational program, broadcast last week, taught that the murder of Jews in the Holocaust was a Zionist plot with two goals:
1- To eliminate "disabled and handicapped" Jews by sending them to death camps, so they would not be a burden on the future state of Israel.
2- At the same time, the Holocaust served to make "the Jews seem persecuted" so they could "benefit from international sympathy."
In response to one of my e-mails, one of my contacts writes “why do you exclude Christians? They too are and were deeply affected by this atrocity. In fact many Christians gave their lives to stop the monster that was Hitler and his henchmen?
We are all in this together and as time passes we are all under the same attack from Radical Islam.” And he is right, we should not forget the role so many of them played in risking their lives to save Jews and, of course, many of them gave their lives as a consequence. Yad Vashem here in Israel fully acknowledges the role played by Christians. Let’s also not forget the number of gypsies also murdered by Hitler. See the newly launched YOU TUBE videos at www.youtube.com/user/YadVashem
Monday, April 28, 2008
CEASE FIRE with HAMAS
The BBC World service reported yesterday (Sunday) that Israel had attacked a village in GAZA after a cease fire had been agreed. Once again the BBC is presenting a story totally out of context. Yes, there are discussions between Hamas and the Egyptians but let’s be clear there is no agreement for a cease fire with Israel.
And let’s suppose there was such an agreement. Noam Bedein, the Director of the Regional News Service for Sderot & the Western Negev, writes “ How many people remember that there was, in fact, such a ‘ceasefire' with Hamas-controlled Gaza only one year ago? How many people remember what occurred during that 'ceasefire'? Well, the people in Sderot and the western Negev remember. Even if no one else does."
"Let us refresh out memories. From November 26, 2006, until May 15, 2007, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel went on for almost six months. One cannot ignore the statement made by Hamas five days before the ceasefire: "Hamas's military wing will stop the rocket fire when residents evacuate the city of Sderot." (from November 21, 2006)
During that 'ceasefire', Gazans launched 315 missiles targeted at Sderot and the western Negev, according to an IDF spokesman. There was not one IDF response to the rocket fire during that ceasefire period."
Also in that 'ceasefire' period, on February 27, 2007, there was an agreement, the Mecca Agreement, reached between the Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). The agreement took place three months after the ceasefire went into effect; after 160 missiles had been fired at Israel since the day the 'ceasefire' commenced. Mashaal promised, in Moscow, to stop the Kassam rocket attacks. Two days later, seven missiles were launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel.
As reported by Calev Ben David http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208870507031&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull in the Jerusalem Post today, in a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, Middle East expert Robert Satloff noted that Hamas "has no advocates of peace with Israel. The divide is between those who call for a tahdiya (a brief lull in the fighting) and those who favor a hudna (a longer-term armistice)."
Speaking over the weekend to Al-Jazeera, Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal made it clear which side of that debate he is on. In discussing his organization's proposed cease-fire with Israel, he admitted, "It is a tactic in conducting the struggle... It is normal for any resistance that operates in its people's interest... to sometimes escalate; other times retreat a bit... The battle is to be run this way, and Hamas is known for that."
So tahadiya it is.
And let’s suppose there was such an agreement. Noam Bedein, the Director of the Regional News Service for Sderot & the Western Negev, writes “ How many people remember that there was, in fact, such a ‘ceasefire' with Hamas-controlled Gaza only one year ago? How many people remember what occurred during that 'ceasefire'? Well, the people in Sderot and the western Negev remember. Even if no one else does."
"Let us refresh out memories. From November 26, 2006, until May 15, 2007, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel went on for almost six months. One cannot ignore the statement made by Hamas five days before the ceasefire: "Hamas's military wing will stop the rocket fire when residents evacuate the city of Sderot." (from November 21, 2006)
During that 'ceasefire', Gazans launched 315 missiles targeted at Sderot and the western Negev, according to an IDF spokesman. There was not one IDF response to the rocket fire during that ceasefire period."
Also in that 'ceasefire' period, on February 27, 2007, there was an agreement, the Mecca Agreement, reached between the Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). The agreement took place three months after the ceasefire went into effect; after 160 missiles had been fired at Israel since the day the 'ceasefire' commenced. Mashaal promised, in Moscow, to stop the Kassam rocket attacks. Two days later, seven missiles were launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel.
As reported by Calev Ben David http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208870507031&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull in the Jerusalem Post today, in a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, Middle East expert Robert Satloff noted that Hamas "has no advocates of peace with Israel. The divide is between those who call for a tahdiya (a brief lull in the fighting) and those who favor a hudna (a longer-term armistice)."
Speaking over the weekend to Al-Jazeera, Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal made it clear which side of that debate he is on. In discussing his organization's proposed cease-fire with Israel, he admitted, "It is a tactic in conducting the struggle... It is normal for any resistance that operates in its people's interest... to sometimes escalate; other times retreat a bit... The battle is to be run this way, and Hamas is known for that."
So tahadiya it is.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Cynical Use of Civilians
One final comment on the ex President Carter’s visit to Israel and then let the subject be put where it should remain –buried 6ft underground! Alan Dershowitz writes that “It now turns out that Jimmy Carter--who is accusing the Jews of buying the silence of the media and politicians regarding criticism of Israel--has been bought and paid for by Arab money” http://www.spme.net/cgi-bin/articles.cgi?ID=1665
It seems that even as a peanut farmer, Carter had to be bailed out with money from Saudi sources. Writes Dershowitz “Carter and his Center have accepted millions of dollars from suspect sources, beginning with the bail-out of the Carter family peanut business in the late 1970s by BCCI, a now-defunct and virulently anti-Israeli bank indirectly controlled by the Saudi Royal family, and among whose principal investors is Carter's friend, Sheikh Zayed. Agha Hasan Abedi, the founder of the bank, gave Carter "$500,000 to help the former president establish his center...[and] more than $10 million to Mr. Carter's different projects."
Yes I could go on with this subject but let’s bury Carter’s visit finally.
Carter is obviously not prepared to open his eyes to the true nature of Hamas. After leaving Gaza to be run by the Palestinians for the Palestinians, we have seen that the charter calling for the destruction of Israel is very much alive and well. Rockets and other missiles are continuing to rain down on the civilian population.
In addition snipers are now making life impossible for the farmers in Nahal Oz and Nir Oz. Farmers are now resorting to working at night in order to avoid being seen by the snipers.
As was to be expected, Hamas having attempted to kill and maim as many soldiers and civilians as possible with their operations at the crossings points at Nahal Oz and Neve Shalom, which are used for transferring fuel and basic humanitarian aid, are now complaining through the United Nations relief organizations that the power plant will have to close down, sewage is not being collected and all the usual heart string pulling stories.
And finally, now that Egypt has seen the necessity of building a wall (yes, this time it is a wall) along the southern border of Gaza, where is the outcry.
Hamas is cynically using the general population whether they like it or not and then getting their proxies to cry “foul”.
Just when will the world wake up to this nonsensical situation?
It seems that even as a peanut farmer, Carter had to be bailed out with money from Saudi sources. Writes Dershowitz “Carter and his Center have accepted millions of dollars from suspect sources, beginning with the bail-out of the Carter family peanut business in the late 1970s by BCCI, a now-defunct and virulently anti-Israeli bank indirectly controlled by the Saudi Royal family, and among whose principal investors is Carter's friend, Sheikh Zayed. Agha Hasan Abedi, the founder of the bank, gave Carter "$500,000 to help the former president establish his center...[and] more than $10 million to Mr. Carter's different projects."
Yes I could go on with this subject but let’s bury Carter’s visit finally.
Carter is obviously not prepared to open his eyes to the true nature of Hamas. After leaving Gaza to be run by the Palestinians for the Palestinians, we have seen that the charter calling for the destruction of Israel is very much alive and well. Rockets and other missiles are continuing to rain down on the civilian population.
In addition snipers are now making life impossible for the farmers in Nahal Oz and Nir Oz. Farmers are now resorting to working at night in order to avoid being seen by the snipers.
As was to be expected, Hamas having attempted to kill and maim as many soldiers and civilians as possible with their operations at the crossings points at Nahal Oz and Neve Shalom, which are used for transferring fuel and basic humanitarian aid, are now complaining through the United Nations relief organizations that the power plant will have to close down, sewage is not being collected and all the usual heart string pulling stories.
And finally, now that Egypt has seen the necessity of building a wall (yes, this time it is a wall) along the southern border of Gaza, where is the outcry.
Hamas is cynically using the general population whether they like it or not and then getting their proxies to cry “foul”.
Just when will the world wake up to this nonsensical situation?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
From Peanut Farmer to Peace Maker
Well, the visit of the inveterate octogenarian, former President Carter, has been and gone. He is and has been convinced that “if only Israel would be good little boys and talk to Hamas, then everything would be alright". Now which world is he living in?
One Associated press writer, KARIN LAUB, on Monday reported that “Former President Carter said that Hamas — the Islamic militant group that has called for the destruction of Israel — is prepared to accept the right of the Jewish state to "live as a neighbor next door in peace."” – Wow, what are we waiting for? But then Carter warned “that there would not be peace if Israel and the U.S. continue to shut out Hamas and its main backer, Syria.” Oops, thought it was too good to be true
Another Associated Press writer ALBERT AJI, on the same day reporting from Damascus stated that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal says “his militant Islamic group will not recognize Israel. However he says Hamas will accept a Palestinian state on Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war”. What a great base from which to destroy the State.
And who is funding Carter and his peace making nonsense – but of course – the Arabs, who else! No ex President Carter, your presence here is a disgrace. Your term as President was replete with failures from Iran to Zimbabwe – go back to peanut farming.
One Associated press writer, KARIN LAUB, on Monday reported that “Former President Carter said that Hamas — the Islamic militant group that has called for the destruction of Israel — is prepared to accept the right of the Jewish state to "live as a neighbor next door in peace."” – Wow, what are we waiting for? But then Carter warned “that there would not be peace if Israel and the U.S. continue to shut out Hamas and its main backer, Syria.” Oops, thought it was too good to be true
Another Associated Press writer ALBERT AJI, on the same day reporting from Damascus stated that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal says “his militant Islamic group will not recognize Israel. However he says Hamas will accept a Palestinian state on Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war”. What a great base from which to destroy the State.
And who is funding Carter and his peace making nonsense – but of course – the Arabs, who else! No ex President Carter, your presence here is a disgrace. Your term as President was replete with failures from Iran to Zimbabwe – go back to peanut farming.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)