by Barry Rubin
The year 2010 is going to be interesting. Well, all years in the Middle East are interesting; many of them are far too interesting.
For the Obama Administration, I'm going to predict, it will not be a fun year. True, the best face will be put on things. Since it is protected—perhaps next year to a lesser degree--by the media, the administration has a special advantage over its predecessors. Yet there are two huge and two potentially serious problems which it cannot solve.
The first unsolvable problem is the Arab-Israeli conflict. Last January, President Barack Obama promised a quick solution to the issue. Then he promised that an Israeli freeze of construction on settlements would lead to a diplomatic breakthrough. A few months later, he promised he'd get some Arab concessions in response to an Israeli freeze. In September he promised that final status negotiations would begin in two months.
None of these things happened.
In fact, Obama's policy sabotaged progress. After all, if he was bashing Israel to some extent and demanding a freeze, why should the Palestinians give Israel a way out by negotiating and accept anything less than a total freeze? U.S.-Israel relations have now improved considerably and are good, but there's no talks going on because the Palestinian Authority is saying "no."
Remember in his Cairo speech, Obama said the Palestinian situation was "intolerable." The Palestinians disagree with him. They know they are doing pretty well materially, the world is criticizing Israel, and they don't have to make any concessions.
But here's where it gets interesting: there is a very serious prospect of no direct or any serious Israel-Palestinian negotiations during all of 2010. And in late September, Israel's ten-month freeze ends. No progress, no continued freeze.
There is literally no way out for the Obama Administration. The only route to getting talks is either to get more unilateral concessions from Israel (isn't going to happen) or to pressure the Palestinian Authority (also isn't going to happen). Checkmate; deadlock; no way out.
The Obama Administration is not likely to say: We were wrong. This is tougher than we thought. Nor are they probably going to put the issue on the back burner openly. Nor are they going to criticize the Palestinian Authority. So they will pretend to be working hard, sending their envoy zipping around, looking for some opening to leap into action. But isn't this going to be pretty obviously a charade? Well, only if the media wants to say so.
Then there's Iran. Originally, the administration was going to increase sanctions in September. That was moved back to the end of December. Now it is too late to meet that deadline. At best, we are going to see negotiations in January and maybe—maybe—increased sanctions in February. But who knows?
That's not all. The administration keeps pretending that it has China and Russia on board for sanctions. Anyone who actually reads Chinese and Russian statements should know this is untrue. Can this be kept secret for very long in 2010? Either there will be no sanctions, ridiculously weak sanctions or sanctions without these two. Once again, there is no way out for the administration from looking like a failure.
And by the end of the year or earlier it will be clear that any sanctions applied aren't working. The year 2010 is the make or break year for stopping Iran. Not hard to guess which it will be.
I'm not chortling over this as I'd greatly prefer the administration would be brilliantly successful in bringing peace—a good one, of course, not just any deal—and ensuring Tehran didn't get nuclear weapons. But it's not going to happen.
Two other issues may cause problems but are not likely to bring benefits in 2010, though they are designed to bring political dividends for when Obama is up for reelection in 2012. Iraq will be a headache if the Iranians decide, in part due to their more belligerent mood and as a response to sanctions, to escalate the violence. Syria, unhappy that the United States has not caved in to them, may also do so. This could lead to higher casualties making the troop withdrawal look either like running away or at least ineffective.
The same basic point holds for Afghanistan, where Obama's version of the surge will be in full implementation. The Taliban might decide to make America look defeated; Pakistan isn't going to help. Again, there could be high U.S. casualties and the appearance of failure.
Then there's the chance that Obama's vaunted popularity will crack. Palestinians will claim he isn't giving them everything for nothing; Iran, Syria, Hamas, and Hizballah will try to make short work of making America look bad. What if, for example, Obama has to veto some far-out UN Security Council resolution that, for example, demands that Israel return to the 1967 borders? Maybe he'll be able to get it watered down but that could happen.
There's always the chance of a major terrorist attack against some American target succeeding.
In short, 2010 does not look good at all for Obama. Is there any chance of a big success in the region for him? (Your eyes dart around the room trying to think of something. Finally, you give up and give the inevitable answer.) No.
The most critical question of all is whether the administration will learn from its experience. There are a lot of mistaken conceptions to learn from:
The Palestinians aren't desperate to make peace. Moving away from Israel doesn't bring you any material gains and indeed makes it even harder to get progress toward peace. Arab states won't help you. They aren't going to lift a finger to stop Iran while demanding you do so. Engaging Iran and Syria doesn't work. Being popular among Muslims and Arabs is a fragile thing and doesn't get you much more than a cup of coffee when you visit the Saudi king. Apologizing makes you look weak and everyone will then take advantage of you. Shall I go on?
Usama bin Ladin says that everyone wants to bet on the strong horse. Obama's policy makes America look like a dead horse. And, yes, Middle East dictatorships and revolutionary Islamist groups love flogging a dead horse.
Shall Obama hope that 2011 comes fast? Well, that's the year Iran will probably get nuclear weapons.
Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal.
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
Friday, December 25, 2009
ani ma'amin
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/332502/jewish/Ani-Maamin.htm
By Yitzchak Dorfman
The Rebbe of Modzitz, Rabbi Shaul Yedidya Elazar, had Chassidim throughout the major towns and cities of Poland. One of these was Reb Azriel David Fastag, who was noted for his exceptional voice throughout Warsaw. Many came to the shul where Reb Azriel David and his brothers, who were also blessed with lovely voices, would pray on the High Holy Days. Reb Azriel David would lead the prayers, while his brothers accompanied him as a choir. His crisp, clear and moving voice had a profound effect on all who heard him.
Reb Azriel David lived simply, earning his livelihood from a small clothing store, but his happiness and fulfillment came from another source -- the world of Chassidic music. His moving tunes made their way to Otvoczk (a suburb of Warsaw), where his Rebbe, Rabbi Shaul Yedidya Elazar appreciated them immensely. The day a new niggun (melody) by Reb Azriel David arrived was a festive day for for the Rebbe.
Dark clouds began to cover the skies of Europe -- the clouds of Nazism. In spite of the terrible decrees, the yellow patch and the ghettoes, most Jews could not fathom what was about to befall them. Only a few managed to escape the clutches of the Nazi occupation to safe havens. One of them was the Modzitzer Rebbe, Rebbe Shaul Yedidya Elazar, whose Chassidim made a tremendous effort to save him. As the Nazis entered Poland, the Chassidim smuggled him out of Poland to Vilna, in Lithuania, and from there he made his way across Russia to Shanghai, China, eventually arriving in America in 1940.
Meanwhile in Poland tens of thousands of Jews were being shipped off daily to their death in cattle cars that were part of the railway system. Roused from their warm beds in Warsaw in the middle of the night, husbands were separated from their wives, children wrested from the arms of their parents. The elderly were often shot on the spot, in front of their loved ones. Then the Jews were gathered and sent off in those trains to a place where their existence would no longer trouble the Nazis -- to Auschwitz, Treblinka, Majdanek.
Inside the crowded cars, over the clatter of the cattle cars' wheels, rose the sounds of people gasping, sighing, weeping and dying. One could hear the stifled cries of children crushed together. But in one such car, headed toward the infamous death camp Treblinka, the sound of singing could be heard.
It seems that an elderly Jew, wrapped up in his ragged clothing, his face white as snow, had made his way over to his neighbor on the death train, begging him to remind him the tune of Ma'areh Kohen sung by Modzitzer Rebbe during the Yom Kippur service.
"Now? Now, what you want to hear is niggunim?" answered the other, with a hard look at the Chassid, thinking that maybe all the suffering had caused him to lose his mind.
But this Modzitzer Chassid, Reb Azriel David Fastag, was no longer paying attention to his friend, or to anyone else on the train. In his mind, he was at the prayer stand next to his Rebbe on Yom Kippur, and it is he who was leading the prayer before the Rebbe and all the Chassidim.
Suddenly, there appeared before his eyes the words of the twelfth of the Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith: Ani ma'amin b'emuna sheleima, b'viat hamoshiach; v'af al pi she'yismamaya, im kol zeh, achakeh lo b'chol yom she'yavo -- "I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Moshiach; and even though he may tarry, nevertheless, I wait each day for his coming." Closing his eyes, he meditated on these words and thought, "Just now, when everything seems lost, is a Jew's faith put to the test."
It was not long before he began to hum a quiet tune to these words. There, amidst the death and despair on the train to Treblinka, the Chassid was transformed into a pillar of song, bringing forth out of his bloodied lungs the song of the eternity of the Jewish People. He was unaware of the silence in the cattle car, and of the hundreds of ears listening attentively in amazement. He also didn't hear the voices as they gradually joined his song, at first quietly, but soon growing louder and louder.
The song spread from car to car. Every mouth that could still draw a breath joined in Reb Azriel Dovid's Ani Ma'amin.
As if waking from a dream, Reb Azriel David opened his eyes to the sight of the singing train. His eyes were red from crying, his cheeks wet with tears. In a choked voice, he cried out: "I will give half of my portion in Olam Habbah (the World to Come) to whoever can take my song to the Modzitzer Rebbe!"
A hushed silence descended upon the train. Two young men appeared, promising to bring the song to the Rebbe at any cost. One of them climbed upon the other, and finding a small crack of the train's roof broke out a hole from which to escape. Poking his head out under the open sky, he said, "I see the blue heavens above us, the stars are twinkling and the moon, with a fatherly face, is looking at me."
"And what do you hear?" asked his companion.
"I hear," the young man answered, "the angels on high singing Ani Ma'amin, and it's ascending to the seven firmaments of heaven!"
Bidding farewell to their brothers and sisters on the train, the two proceeded to jump off, one after the other. One was killed instantly from the fall. The other survived, taking the memory of the song with him. He eventually found his way to Land of Israel (perhaps to the Modzitzer Rebbe's son, the author of Imrei Aish, who was in Tel-Aviv), and the notes were sent by mail to Rebbe Shaul Yedidya Elazar in New York.
Upon receiving the notes and having the Reb Azriel Dovid's Ani Ma'amin sung before him, the Modzitzer Rebbe said: "When they sang Ani Ma'amin on the death train, the pillars of the world were shaking. The Almighty said, 'Whenever the Jews will sing Ani Ma'amin, I will remember the six million victims and have mercy on the rest of My People.'"
It is told that on the first Yom Kippur that the Modzitzer Rebbe sang the Ani Ma'amin, there were thousands of Jews in the shul. The entire congregation burst into tears, which fell like water into the pool of tears and blood of the Jewish people. The tune soon spread throughout world Jewry.
"With this niggun," said Rebbe Shaul Yedidya Elazar, "the Jewish people went to the gas chambers. And with this niggun, the Jews will march to greet Moshiach."
To hear Reb Azriel David Fastag's Ani Maamin, click here
Biographical note:
Rabbi Shaul Yedidya Elazer Taub (1886-1947), the second Modzitzer Rebbe, succeeded his father, Rabbi Israel, in 1920. At the outbreak of World War II he escaped Poland and made his way eventually to New York in 1940. He traveled extensively in the USA, bringing Torah and niggunim to many communities. He may have been the most prolific Chassidic composer of all time, with the total output numbering close to 1000 compositions. Some of them may be heard on the Modzitz website (www.Modzitz.org). He was also known for his extraordinary love for the Holy Land. On his fourth and last trip there in 1947 he intended to remain and settle, but he passed away that same year. He was the last person buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem until after the Six Day War.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Hamas to accept deportation 'if prisoners agree
Gaza delegation heads to Damascus for discussions with movement's leadership on possible prisoner swap with Israel.
Latest Update: 12.24.09, 11:37 / Israel News
A Hamas delegation is scheduled to leave the Gaza Strip to Damascus on Thursday in order to complete the discussions with the movement's leadership on a possible prisoner exchange deal, after receiving Israel's response to its latest offer from a German mediator on Wednesday.
After presenting a firm objection to Israel's demand to have some of the released prisoners deported, Hamas sources appear more flexible now, saying that if the prisoners themselves accept the deportation principle the deal could be finalized, as long as the deportation would be limited in time and the prisoners would eventually be allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank.
Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, says that the proposal is still being examined and that the Palestinian organization holding kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will relay their response to the German mediator in a few days.
Hamas is being pressured by Egypt to accept the deal. The organization has so far rejected the Israeli deportation demand, saying that the Israeli offer would not be accepted in its current form.
Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said that the deal was in very sensitive stages, but added that the organization continues to oppose the deportation principle. However, Lebanese daily al-Mustaqbal reported Wednesday that Hamas has agreed to the deportation of 123 prisoners.
'Deal delayed to prevent Hamas achievement'
Meanwhile Thursday, the London-based Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper quoted sources "close to Hamas" as saying that the organization wanted to complete the deal by December 27 – the anniversary of the Israeli operation in Gaza, but that Israel has decided to delay the deal in order to prevent a moral achievement for Hamas.
According to the sources, the Israeli government has formed its 'almost final' stands on the deal, but is now delaying its completion. The sources added that the Israeli cabinet's top seven ministers have agreed "to most of Hamas' demands."
The sources hinted that Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal would announce the deal's completion in a speech "to the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation" while marking the anniversary of the fighting in Gaza.
According to the sources, Hamas has already began wording the "victory declaration" on the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including some sentenced to life, after the organization managed "to break the Israeli habit of not releasing prisoners accused of killing Israelis, Jerusalem residents and prisoners from the 1949 territories (Israeli Arabs)."
According to the report, Israeli sources have said that the Jewish state needs a few more days to complete the deal.
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
First Published: 12.24.09, 10:02
Latest Update: 12.24.09, 11:37 / Israel News
A Hamas delegation is scheduled to leave the Gaza Strip to Damascus on Thursday in order to complete the discussions with the movement's leadership on a possible prisoner exchange deal, after receiving Israel's response to its latest offer from a German mediator on Wednesday.
After presenting a firm objection to Israel's demand to have some of the released prisoners deported, Hamas sources appear more flexible now, saying that if the prisoners themselves accept the deportation principle the deal could be finalized, as long as the deportation would be limited in time and the prisoners would eventually be allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank.
Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, says that the proposal is still being examined and that the Palestinian organization holding kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will relay their response to the German mediator in a few days.
Hamas is being pressured by Egypt to accept the deal. The organization has so far rejected the Israeli deportation demand, saying that the Israeli offer would not be accepted in its current form.
Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, said that the deal was in very sensitive stages, but added that the organization continues to oppose the deportation principle. However, Lebanese daily al-Mustaqbal reported Wednesday that Hamas has agreed to the deportation of 123 prisoners.
'Deal delayed to prevent Hamas achievement'
Meanwhile Thursday, the London-based Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper quoted sources "close to Hamas" as saying that the organization wanted to complete the deal by December 27 – the anniversary of the Israeli operation in Gaza, but that Israel has decided to delay the deal in order to prevent a moral achievement for Hamas.
According to the sources, the Israeli government has formed its 'almost final' stands on the deal, but is now delaying its completion. The sources added that the Israeli cabinet's top seven ministers have agreed "to most of Hamas' demands."
The sources hinted that Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal would announce the deal's completion in a speech "to the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nation" while marking the anniversary of the fighting in Gaza.
According to the sources, Hamas has already began wording the "victory declaration" on the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including some sentenced to life, after the organization managed "to break the Israeli habit of not releasing prisoners accused of killing Israelis, Jerusalem residents and prisoners from the 1949 territories (Israeli Arabs)."
According to the report, Israeli sources have said that the Jewish state needs a few more days to complete the deal.
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
First Published: 12.24.09, 10:02
Imam Linked to Ft. Hood Rampage Believed Among 30 Al Qaeda Killed in Airstrike
Thursday, December 24, 2009 Fox News
The radical Muslim imam linked to the rampage at Fort Hood is believed to have been killed in a Yemen airstrike that may have also taken out the region's top Al Qaeda leader and 30 other militants, a security official told Reuters on Thursday.
The raid in Yemen's east targeted an Al Qaeda leadership meeting held to organize terror attacks. It is believed to have killed Anwar al-Awlaki and at least two senior members in the organization, including the leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
"Awlaki is suspected to be dead [in the air raid]," Reuters quoted an unnamed Yemeni official as saying.
The head of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Nasser al-Wahishi and his deputy, Saeed al-Saudi Shahrani, were present at the meeting and are believed to have died, but their deaths could not immediately be confirmed.
"The raid was carried out as dozens of members of Al Qaeda were meeting in Wadi Rafadh," a source told AFP, referring to a rugged location about 400 miles east of the capital.
"Members of the group's leadership, including Saad al-Fathani and Mohammad Ahmed Saleh al-Omir, were among those killed," he was quoted as saying.
"Saudis and Iranians at the Wadi Rafadh meeting were also among the dead," said the source, without going into detail.
In an interview posted on Al Jazeera's web site, al-Awlaki said he received an email from Maj. Nidal Hasan on Dec. 17, 2008, "asking for an edict regarding the [possibility] of a Muslim soldier [killing] colleagues who serve with him in the American army."
Awlaki, born in the U.S., said subsequent emails "mentioned the religious justifications for targeting the Jews with missiles"
A Yemeni official, also speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, said those attending the meeting "planned to launch terrorist attacks against economic installations in Yemen, in retaliation for Yemeni strikes launched last week."
On Dec. 17, warplanes and security forces on the ground attacked what authorities said was an Al Qaeda training camp in the area of Mahsad in the southern province of Abyan. Saleh el-Shamsy, a provincial security official, said at least 30 suspected militants were killed. Witnesses, however, put the number killed at over 60 in the heaviest strike and said the dead were mostly civilians.
Much like the effort with Pakistan's Frontier Corps, the U.S. military has boosted its counterterrorism training for Yemeni forces, and is providing more intelligence, which probably includes surveillance by unmanned drones, according to U.S. officials and analysts.
The Yemeni Interior Ministry said 25 suspected Al Qaeda members were arrested Wednesday in San'a and it has set up checkpoints in the capital to control traffic flow as part of a campaign to clamp down on terrorism.
The United States has repeatedly called on Yemen to take stronger action against Al Qaeda, whose fighters have taken advantage of the central government's weakness and increasingly found refuge here in the past year. Worries over the growing presence are compounded by fears that Yemen could collapse into turmoil from its multiple conflicts and increasing poverty and become another Afghanistan, giving the militants even freer reign.
The country was scene of one of Al Qaeda's most dramatic pre-9/11 attacks, the 2000 suicide bombing of the destroyer USS Cole off the Aden coast that killed 17 American sailors. The government allied itself with Washington in the war on terror, but U.S officials have complained that it often strikes deals with militants.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Never Again is Now (Video)
Holocaust Survivor Declares:
Destroy Iranian Nuke Sites/No 2-State! Visit NeverAgainIsNow.COM to sign the Jewish Declaration. Join us in the support to stand strong.
Note: Please - listen to what this blessed Survivor has to say to everyone, about "Never Again is Now"!
Destroy Iranian Nuke Sites/No 2-State! Visit NeverAgainIsNow.COM to sign the Jewish Declaration. Join us in the support to stand strong.
Note: Please - listen to what this blessed Survivor has to say to everyone, about "Never Again is Now"!
Ahmadinejad: Obama is a disappointment
By JPOST.COM STAFF
US President Barack Obama is a disappointment to the world, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday night in an interview with Channel 4 News.
Ahmadinejad mocked Obama's words in his Cairo speech in which he said he was extending his hand to Iran.
"Which hand did he extend? His right hand or left hand?" Ahmadinejad asked wryly. "He extended the sanctions against us."
"He has failed to meet the expectations of the people in the US and the people of the world," Ahmadinejad added.
he Iranian president continued to reject America's year-end deadline for Teheran to respond to US outreach.
"We have offered a proposal in order to provide opportunity for them, in order to have an opportunity for cooperation instead of confrontation," Ahmadinejad said. "But they are insisting that to have conditions for giving us the fuel."
"The story of these claim of US and its allies have turned into a TV series," he added.
Ahmadinejad dug in his heels this week - saying that the US and its allies can set "as many deadlines as they want, we don't care" and that he was not moved. But the US is stressing the upcoming deadline is serious and should be respected.
"Mr. Ahmadinejad may not recognize, for whatever reason, the deadline that looms, but that is a very real deadline for the international community. And I think all of those involved in the P5+1 would encourage Iran to take that deadline as seriously as it's being taken by us to live up to their responsibilities," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, referring to the negotiating group composed of the UN Security Council's permanent members (the US, Russia, China, France and England) and Germany.
Hilary Leila Kreiger contributed to this report.
Israelis file lawsuit against Hamas leaders in Belgian court
By JPOST.COM STAFF
The Pro-Israeli lobby European Friends of Israel has filed a lawsuit in Belgium against Hamas leaders, demanding that they be brought to justice for war crimes.
The lawsuit is intended as a response to Palestinian legal warfare against Israel and the various lawsuits filed against Israelis in international courts. It was filed in the name of 15 Israeli citizens who live in the Gaza periphery and who hold Belgian citizenship.
Among the Hamas leaders targeted by the lawsuit are Hamas leader Khlaed Mashaal, Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh, former Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar and Ahmed Jabri who heads the group's military wing.
The Pro-Israeli lobby European Friends of Israel has filed a lawsuit in Belgium against Hamas leaders, demanding that they be brought to justice for war crimes.
The lawsuit is intended as a response to Palestinian legal warfare against Israel and the various lawsuits filed against Israelis in international courts. It was filed in the name of 15 Israeli citizens who live in the Gaza periphery and who hold Belgian citizenship.
Among the Hamas leaders targeted by the lawsuit are Hamas leader Khlaed Mashaal, Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh, former Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar and Ahmed Jabri who heads the group's military wing.
Vatican Defends Status of WWII Pope
By RACHEL DONADIO
Published: December 23, 2009
ROME — In an effort to calm growing tensions with Jewish groups, the Vatican said Wednesday that Pope Benedict XVI’s decision moving the wartime pope Pius XII closer to sainthood was not a “hostile act” against those who believe Pius did not do enough to stop the Holocaust.
The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, issued a statement saying that the beatification process evaluated the “Christian life” of Pius, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, and not “the historical impact of all his operative decisions.”
Moving Pius toward sainthood “is in no way to be read as a hostile act towards the Jewish people, and it is to be hoped that it will not be considered as an obstacle on the path of dialogue between Judaism and the Catholic Church,” Father Lombardi wrote.
Benedict confirmed the “heroic virtues” of Pius — along with those of John Paul II — on Saturday, opening the door to beatification once a miracle is attributed to each. A second miracle would be required for sainthood.
The move created anger among many Jewish groups, which have argued that Pius did not speak out vocally enough against the Nazis or intervene to save Jews during World War II, and that the Vatican helped many former Nazis escape to South America after World War II.
The decision by Benedict — a German who was an unwilling member of the Hitler Youth — to move Pius closer to sainthood was the latest in a series of controversies. It came less than a year after he revoked the excommunication of a schismatic bishop who had denied the scope of the Holocaust, an act that caused the pope and the Vatican to issue a series of extensive clarifications. Benedict also upset many Jews when he did not directly mention the Nazis or Germany during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Israel in May, as John Paul II had done, although Benedict has denounced the Holocaust on many other occasions.
Even as the Vatican sought to separate the religious aspects of the beatification process from Pius’s historical record, observers said that Benedict’s decision to move Pius toward sainthood sent a strong message, effectively endorsing his actions.
Jewish groups had asked Benedict to delay Pius’s beatification process until the Vatican opened the archives from his papacy to scholarly scrutiny. Father Lombardi said that the Vatican “understood” the request to open the archives, and that the copious number of documents from Pius’s papacy were expected to take several more years to process.
Defenders of Pius, who was the Vatican secretary of state in the 1930s, say that his reticence was sound diplomacy, and that speaking out more directly against the Nazis would have caused more deaths in Rome and beyond. Benedict has said that Pius worked “secretly and silently” to save Jews.
In his statement, Father Lombardi said that confirming Pius’s “heroic virtues” was not intended “to limit discussion concerning the concrete choices made by Pius XII in the situation in which he lived.”
He added that the Vatican hoped the pope’s expected visit to the Rome synagogue next month would reaffirm ties between Judaism and the Roman Catholic Church. After days of tension, Roman Jewish leaders said that the visit was still expected to take place.
The legacy of Pius is particularly sensitive for the Jewish community in Rome. More than 1,000 of its members were rounded up in 1943 and deported to Auschwitz. Documents in the Vatican archives indicate that Pius knew of the deportation and did not act to stop it.
In a statement, the chief rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, said he welcomed the Vatican’s statement. “Certainly the historical evaluation remains open and controversial,” Rabbi Di Segni said. “But the Vatican’s understanding of requests to open all paths to research is significant.”
Report: Hasan asked about killing troops in ’08
NBC News
updated 7:24 p.m. ET, Wed., Dec . 23, 2009
A radical Muslim cleric claims Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan asked him about killing American soldiers nearly a year before Hasan allegedly shot to death 13 fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.
In an interview Wednesday with the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera, Anwar al-Awlaki, considered a key recruiter for al-Qaida, said Hasan asked him in a December 2008 e-mail "whether killing American soldiers and officers is lawful or not" under Islamic law.
In the interview, Al-Awlaki then appears to taunt U.S. intelligence and security, saying, "I wonder where were the American security forces that one day claimed they can read the numbers of any license plate, anywhere in the world, from space."
He also said he first met Hasan about nine years ago when he was imam at an Islamic center in Washington, D.C.
An English translation of the interview was provided by Evan Kohlmann, a terrorism analyst for NBC News.
Al-Awlaki is a New Mexico native who graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. In 2002, he moved to Yemen, where he is at large.
Intelligence officials believe al-Awlaki is living in an al-Qaida camp between the Yemeni cities of Shabwa and Mareb.
Al-Awlaki's claim would contradict statements by the FBI, which determined that discussions in intercepted e-mails between Hasan and al-Awlaki were mostly about research being conducted by Hasan and philosophical. Based on that, the FBI said, a Joint Terrorism Task Force determined Hasan "was not involved in terrorist activities or terrorist planning" and chose not to launch an investigation of Hasan.
Click for related content
Read English translation of interview with al-Awlaki
In the Al-Jazeera interview, Awlaki denies any claims that he recruited or worked with Hasan for the Fort Hood attack. "I did not recruit Nidal Hasan, but America did with its crimes and injustice, and this is what America does not want to admit.
Hasan, a Muslim Army psychiatrist, faces 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in connection with the Nov. 5 shooting attack at the Texas military facility. He remains under guard at a San Antonio military hospital, where he is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries suffered in the attack.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
updated 7:24 p.m. ET, Wed., Dec . 23, 2009
A radical Muslim cleric claims Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan asked him about killing American soldiers nearly a year before Hasan allegedly shot to death 13 fellow soldiers at Fort Hood.
In an interview Wednesday with the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera, Anwar al-Awlaki, considered a key recruiter for al-Qaida, said Hasan asked him in a December 2008 e-mail "whether killing American soldiers and officers is lawful or not" under Islamic law.
In the interview, Al-Awlaki then appears to taunt U.S. intelligence and security, saying, "I wonder where were the American security forces that one day claimed they can read the numbers of any license plate, anywhere in the world, from space."
He also said he first met Hasan about nine years ago when he was imam at an Islamic center in Washington, D.C.
An English translation of the interview was provided by Evan Kohlmann, a terrorism analyst for NBC News.
Al-Awlaki is a New Mexico native who graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. In 2002, he moved to Yemen, where he is at large.
Intelligence officials believe al-Awlaki is living in an al-Qaida camp between the Yemeni cities of Shabwa and Mareb.
Al-Awlaki's claim would contradict statements by the FBI, which determined that discussions in intercepted e-mails between Hasan and al-Awlaki were mostly about research being conducted by Hasan and philosophical. Based on that, the FBI said, a Joint Terrorism Task Force determined Hasan "was not involved in terrorist activities or terrorist planning" and chose not to launch an investigation of Hasan.
Click for related content
Read English translation of interview with al-Awlaki
In the Al-Jazeera interview, Awlaki denies any claims that he recruited or worked with Hasan for the Fort Hood attack. "I did not recruit Nidal Hasan, but America did with its crimes and injustice, and this is what America does not want to admit.
Hasan, a Muslim Army psychiatrist, faces 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in connection with the Nov. 5 shooting attack at the Texas military facility. He remains under guard at a San Antonio military hospital, where he is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries suffered in the attack.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Obama Chooses Christmas Eve as Night of Darkness For Free World
By Judi McLeod Wednesday, December 23, 2009
There may be an ornament with the face of China’s evil Mao Zedong on the White House holiday tree, but for many of the rest of us there’s an elephant right in our living room.
The elephant in our living room is what moseyed in when the mainstream media took a holiday and the mask of President Barack Obama began to crack. How long have we known in our hearts that Obama is not an American? How long have we known that even though he professes to be one, Obama is not a Christian, nor even a Christian sympathizer and that his actions over the last year prove he is not a benevolent president.
Obama wants a healthcare bill that is signed, sealed and delivered on Christmas Eve. Obama wants to ruin America and the Free Enterprise system that made America what it is.
Personal records are required to establish the legal identity of every human being on Planet Earth, but Obama’s ID was sealed off from public view before he was sworn in as the 44th President of the USA. In the reality that follows such a move, Obama could be anything. He’s the antithesis of what tens of millions of main-street Americans expect in a president. Obama is proving to be the worst enemy imaginable. Since September 11, 2001 for America and its freedom loving supporters worldwide, worst enemy could be defined as radical Muslim.
Back in March 2006 Canada Free Press (CFP) asked in a cover story, “How does a senator who came from out of the fog land himself front and center on the pages of USA Today, where he’s touted as “the new face of change and reform for the democratic party?”
CFP’s cover story went on to say, “Move over, Hillary, Barack Obama is here.
“Some Dems can trump Material Girl Madonna in reinventing themselves. During the last presidential campaign, John Kerry made much of having the same initials as President JFK.
“Barack Hussein Obama’s name only rhymes with Saddam Hussein and Osama, but he did try to parallel the life of President Abraham Lincoln with that of his own—and did it in the mainstream media.
“As Gateway Pundit aptly points out, “Lincoln was a humble man. He did not compare himself after six months in office to great men from history.”
Three years later Obama went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize after only 11 days in the office of president.
But back in March 2006, CFP pondered, “Without the media, could Barack Obama have discovered the fast track to fame?
“Looking at his day job, the Senator from Illinois is a senior lecturer in constitutional law at the University of Chicago. Make that the Rockefeller-funded U of C, a school that is Rockefeller down to the bone.
“Obama’s Dad, a Muslim from Kenya, left home when he was two. His Mom remarried and went with her new husband to Indonesia where Obama lived during his salad years. It is well known that Obama, the teenager lived with his grandparents in Hawaii, where he attended the same school attended by Hawaii royalty. Yet little is known about who Obama’s stepfather was. But some say that he was an Indonesian national and a Muslim.
“Still, Obama must have attended school in Indonesia. Is it possible that as a young Muslim boy he went to a Saudi Madras?
“Yes, that’s a possibility.
“The chapters in the Life and Times of Barack Obama always race ahead. It was during one of those chapters when we found him taking up community organizing in the Altgeld Gardens housing project on the south side of Chicago, when he converted to Christianity, formerly being secular. (brainsip.com—Now can only be searched in wayback machine).
“As a fledgling Christian, Obama didn’t join just any church. He joined the United Church of Christ.
“The United Church of Christ is very anti-Israel and supports divestment. It also sponsors speeches at its many functions by the Arab “Christian” pro-terror religious organization, Sabeel. Sabeel holds some of its biggest meetings in Chicago., (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0510/S00139.htm).
“The Democrats attract the majority of Jewish voters and funding, and this guy is being groomed as their golden boy?
“Essentially Obama is a Christian convert—but also then a Muslim apostate.
“The “What If” category of “the new face of change and reform for the democratic party” doesn’t get written up by the mainstream media.
“What if Obama is engaged in pious fraud? This is a Muslim practice of pretending not to be Muslim to further the cause of Islam or to “defend the faith”. He becomes President and then says, “Gee…I think I want to be Muslim again” after he finds the “football” in his hands that carries the launch codes for the USA nuke forces.
“Is the “New Face” theory espoused in USA Today, New Face as in the “Portrait of Dorian Grey”?
“What if Obama’s into Pious Fraud Islam–Hudaibiyah treaty"kiss the hand of your enemy until you can cut it off”? (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/708295/posts). Not Obama?
Remember the pictures of the little kids bobbing their heads up and down at the Madrases? They are all of the age Obama would have been in back in Indonesia.
“What if the converted-to-Christianity Barack Obama decides to exercise his right to revert back?
“President George Bush converted to Methodism and Justice Thomas converted to Catholicism and Jeb Bush did as well.
“Then what?
“Currently, Obama is an apostate as far as Islam is concerned. This is a fact and not a conspiracy theory. They say all babies are born Muslim but then parents of infidel religions brainwash the baby Muslims into other lesser faiths. That is a fact.
“What must be done with an apostate of the Muslim faith? Give him a chance to convert back to Islam.
“Obama is soft on the handover of the ports to Dubai.
“Obama’s Mom met his step Dad at the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii. The Center gets money from Bill Gates, the Rockefellers and, of course the United Nations.
“Obama went to Occidental college, whose motto is “West is nearest to the East”.
“Occidental College has a historic connection to the Summer Institute of Linguistics (now known as SIL International.) Associated with the Rockefellers, SIL has something going on in Dubai (http://www.finanz-adressen.de/asien/UAE-info.html, Now can only be searched in wayback machine) Scroll down three quarters of the way until you see their blinking pyramid logo.
“Meanwhile hype notwithstanding, “the new face of change and reform for the democratic party” is no Abe Lincoln, but could be the most upwardly mobile Muslim of the millennium.”
It will be four years ago this March when these questions were being asked by CFP.
The elephant in our living room has been sitting there all that time. But at 9 o’clock on Christmas Eve, Obama, the Christian, will pull a dark curtain down on the Free World.
On Christmas Eve, the elephant’s trumpet will sound very much like the camel’s bellow.
5 reasons why containing a nuclear Iran won't work
Clarice Feldman
Writing in Foreign Policy, Robert J Leiber and Amatzia Baram argue that containment of a nuclear armed Iran would be far harder than the proponents of that policy argue
In reality, defusing an Israeli-Iranian nuclear standoff will be far more difficult than averting nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis. This is true even if those Iranians with their fingers on the nuclear trigger are not given to messianic doomsday thinking.
Comparing and contrasting the situation we faced with Russian missiles in Cuba,the authors list "five factors that will make an Israeli-Iranian nuclear confrontation potentially explosive" in contrast to those we faced respecting the Cuban crisis: the lack of "communication and trust" between Israel and Iran; the different goals the USSR then and Iran now; the differences in mutual deterrence (Israel being so much smaller and vulnerable) than Iran ;the different command and control capacity of the USSR then and Iran today;the crisis instability which the authors argue would encourage Iran to launch a preemptive first strike at Israel's densely populated urban centers.
Clarice Feldman
Writing in Foreign Policy, Robert J Leiber and Amatzia Baram argue that containment of a nuclear armed Iran would be far harder than the proponents of that policy argue
In reality, defusing an Israeli-Iranian nuclear standoff will be far more difficult than averting nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis. This is true even if those Iranians with their fingers on the nuclear trigger are not given to messianic doomsday thinking.
Comparing and contrasting the situation we faced with Russian missiles in Cuba,the authors list "five factors that will make an Israeli-Iranian nuclear confrontation potentially explosive" in contrast to those we faced respecting the Cuban crisis: the lack of "communication and trust" between Israel and Iran; the different goals the USSR then and Iran now; the differences in mutual deterrence (Israel being so much smaller and vulnerable) than Iran ;the different command and control capacity of the USSR then and Iran today;the crisis instability which the authors argue would encourage Iran to launch a preemptive first strike at Israel's densely populated urban centers.
Clarice Feldman
PM: Israel faces the 'Goldstone threat'
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Knesset plenum on Wednesday that in the face of the Iranian nuclear threat, concerted attacks on Israel's right to self defense and a stalled peace process, it was imperative for the opposition to support the government.
Netanyahu opened his address to the plenum by listing the major issues facing the country, which he said were "the Iranian [nuclear] threat, the missile threat and a threat I call the Goldstone threat, along with the mission of renewing and completing the peace process with the Palestinians."
Israel was working intensively on the Iranian issue, the prime minister told the lawmakers.
"We are dealing with this a whole lot. Not everything is evident, and sanctions are an important and even necessary condition, [only] time will tell if they are sufficient, to stop the Iranian nuclear program. I assess that the UN will make decisions on the matter in February," Netanyahu said.
Regarding the "Goldstone threat," Netanyahu told the lawmakers: "Goldstone is a codeword for an attempt to delegitimize Israel's right to self-defense."
"The international battle against Israel began in UN Durban Conference I, and continued in the 2005 IJC advisory opinion against the security fence and in the Durban Conference II, as well as the Goldstone Report. This is a comprehensive attack, not on a specific Israeli government but on the state of Israel."
"Fighting against terrorists requires internal unity. We mustn't search for the cracks through which to weaken or attack the government at these times," he said.
On the Palestinian issue, Netanyahu claimed the principles set by the government represented a wide consensus.
"I set two basic principles that almost everyone ... can agree to; a demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state - meaning that the Palestinians must give up the demand for the return of Palestinian refugees, and a demand for real demilitarization of a Palestinian state," he said.
Netanyahu said the Palestinians were stalling on negotiations with the aim of blaming Israel "despite the facts" and causing divisions among the country's public and politicians.
"Our internal unity is important to successfully deal with the attacks on Israel's right to self-defense and in order to continue the peace process. When we fight false accusations made against Israel we must fight together. We must do this together. The real options are either to ram the government or to support it. This is no less than what I asked of the opposition only several months ago when I was chairman of the opposition," Netanyahu asserted.
'Exodus' captain Ike Aranne dies at 86
By JAMIE ROMM
Ike Aranne, the captain of the famed refugee ship Exodus 1947, died in Hadera on Wednesday at the age of 86 after a long illness.
President Shimon Peres described Aranne as not only the ship's captain, but "its spirit" who "gave the voyage a special character."
Peres said the Exodus captain was a rare breed of pioneer, a unique, matchless individual with extraordinary courage and a great love for his people. Peres noted that the Exodus set sail at Aranne's initiative.
"He was tenacious, and he had tremendous leadership capacity. Ike wasn't keen on taking a path paved by someone else," Peres said in a statement released by Beit Hanassi. "He wanted to pave his own path, even at the risk of being a loner."
Aranne (formerly Yitzhak Aronowicz) was born in Danzig, Poland, and came to the country at the age of 10. Aranne later worked with ships and always loved the sea, his daughter, Ella said.
In an interview in The Jerusalem Post last year he said that he first became a seaman by bribing a "guy named Perlman a whole month's salary to arrange it." After sailing on various ships, Aranne took an officers course in London - for third, then second and then first officer.
n 1942, when he returned to Palestine, he heard about the Palmah, the strike force of the Hagana, which evolved into the IDF.
He found that they had established a naval branch called the Palyam, and wanted to join, so Aranne got his friend - the co-founder of the Palmah as well as its first commander - Yitzhak Sadeh, to help him.
At that time, the Palmah had no professional sailors at all. Since he already had eight months' experience at sea, he was considered practically an expert.
The Exodus was his first captaincy.
The story of the Exodus was turned into a popular novel by the legendary author Leon Uris in 1958, which in turn was the basis for the acclaimed movie starring Paul Newman in 1960. There was also a 1997 documentary about the Exodus narrated by CBS newsman Morley Safer.
In the Post interview, Aranne said of the book and movie that the story they presented "had nothing to do with reality - not because of my own story, but because of the situation as a whole."
Aranne's captaincy of the Exodus began on July 11, 1947, when the ship set sail from France with a crew of Hagana members transporting more than 4,500 Jewish refugees, most of them Holocaust survivors, to Palestine.
The British had declared Jewish immigration illegal to appease the Arabs. They intercepted all refugee ships en route and returned them to their ports of origin. As soon as the ship - originally called the SS President Warfield, left the port near Marseille, British naval boats began to follow it.
A week later, as it neared the coast of Eretz Yisrael, the British rammed and boarded it.
David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish community in Palestine, had given an order to surrender to the British, but Aranne and his crew disobeyed. He said that he felt that surrender had brought about the decision by the United Nations to divide Palestine.
Resistance by the crew and the passengers led to clashes that left three dead and dozens wounded.
The British then towed the ship to the Haifa and forced the passengers to board boats that would return them to France.
When they arrived in France, however, the passengers refused to disembark. French authorities also refused to cooperate with the British in forcing them to do so.
Under terrible conditions, due to overcrowding and a shortage of food - in an August heat wave, to boot - the passengers remained steadfast for nearly a month, until the British ordered the boats to head for Hamburg in Germany.
There, the exhausted, hungry and despondent refugees were taken to detention camps near Lübeck.
So soon after the Shoah, there was great international sympathy for the stateless Jews and Britain was pressured to change its policy. From then on, instead of sending "illegal" immigrants back to Europe, they would be sent to detention camps in Cyprus.
The UK continued to hold the detainees in Cyprus until January 1949 when it formally recognized the State of Israel.
Aranne's daughter, Ella, told the AP that the experience remained a pivotal part of his life for years afterward.
"It was one of the most important things of his life. He wasn't a big storyteller, but he'd happily tell schoolchildren about it," she said.
"The Exodus influenced him and his friends deeply. Those were the days that defined them and as far as they were concerned defined the character of this country."
From 1993 until his death, he lived in a house built like a ship, with rooms in a row and a faux mast and huge windows providing a view of the Mediterranean.
He lived in the house alone since the death of his wife, Irene, in 2001.
Aranne's funeral is scheduled for Friday in northern Israel. He is survived by two daughters, seven grandchildren, and a 2-year-old great-grandson.
Greer Fay Cashman, Jerusalem Post staff and AP contributed to this report.
White House Christmas Decor Featuring Mao Zedong Comes Under Fire
By Maxim Lott
- FOXNews.com
Critics of President Obama are setting their sights on the official White House Christmas Tree, which features controversial ornaments including an orb depicting Mao Zedong and another showing drag queen Hedda Lettuce.
Mao Zedong is in the White House, hanging out with a drag queen. Not far away, Barack Obama is making a play to have his head etched in stone.
Critics of President Obama are setting their sights this week on the official White House Christmas tree, which features controversial ornaments including an orb depicting the late Chinese dictator, another that shows drag queen Hedda Lettuce, and yet another that shows a picture of Mount Rushmore -- with Obama's head pasted to the side of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt's.
God rest ye, merry gentlemen.
Click here for photos of the White House Christmas Tree decorations.
http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/politics/2009/12/23/white-house-christmas-tree-ornaments
Earlier this month, when the Christmas tree was unveiled, first lady Michelle Obama described how it was decorated in a video posted on the White House Web site:
"Our starting point was a very simple idea," she said. "That we include people in as many places, in as many ways as we can. We took about 800 ornaments left over from the previous administrations. We sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country and asked them to decorate them, paying tribute to a favorite local landmark, and then send them back to us for display here at the White House.
"… in the new year, we all intend to renew this effort and continue this kind of outreach, so that everyone feels like they have a place here at the White House."
The 18-and-a-half-foot Douglas Fir tree was also heralded as environmentally friendly: In addition to using recycled ornaments, it uses energy-saving LED lights and an organic tree skirt.
It all sounded as cozy as chestnuts roasting on an open fire until some of the ornaments caught the eye of conservative bloggers.
Noting some of the tree's more provocative baubles, Mike Flynn, editor of BigGovernment.com, which first broke news of the controversial ornaments: "Can we have one aspect of this White House that isn't trying to make a political statement?"
Added Azaria Jagger, a blogger at the news and gossip site "Gawker":
"[D]oes it really make sense to put a tyrannical communist leader's visage on the American president's Christmas tree? On the other hand, an ornament that shellacks [Obama's] face onto Mount Rushmore is just tacky. It's in the guy's living room, for crying out loud."
But not everyone is flabbergasted. Watchdog group Media Matters went on the counterattack, calling the controversy "the right-wing's White House Christmas tree freak-out."
And drag queen Hedda Lettuce chimed in that she is proud to have her portrait hanging in the White House, even if it's just temporary:
"A month ago I was doing some volunteer work with SAGE, at the Gay Community Center in NYC," she posted on her blog. "SAGE is an organization that helps elder gay people by providing them social activities and a community space to hang out with their peers. It was a festive afternoon, for our task of the day was decorating Christmas ornaments for the Presidential tree in the White House. As it turns out, the White House sends ornaments to various organizations, the job is to make them dazzle in hopes that they will be proudly displayed at the big white mansion in our nations capital....
"I may never get equal rights, I may never be blond and pencil thin, I may never see Lady Gaga in concert this winter at Madison Square Garden (I could not get a ticket) but one of my balls is hanging in the White House with my name for all to see."
Designer Simon Doonan, who was in charge of organizing Christmas decorations at the White House, did not respond to calls for comment. Neither did the White House.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
We the people - Ray Stevens
A full blooded American who loves his country!!! Another great song by Ray!!
Obama’s Timid Engagement Policy Endangers Israel
By Shoula Horing
In the tradition of the failed Jimmy Carter administration, Obama’s world travels during which he has apologized, bowed to, and applauded tyrants, kings and emperors have given Obama an appearance of weakness both to America’s allies and foes. The world and especially the Middle East is a dangerous neighborhood housing many of the world most brutal tyrants and regimes. Eventually, Obama's own weakness will be perceived as America’s weakness. A perceived weak and timid US is not good for Israel or the world in general.
After ten months in office , several presumptions seem to emerge as guiding Obama’s foreign policy.
The first is that the reason there is no peace in the Middle East is that US under President Bush has failed to become ” engaged” enough in Middle East diplomacy and was too pro- Israel and not an even handed mediator.
Secondly, Obama believes that the U.S.’s arrogance,, cowboy diplomacy, and lack of engagement, humility and respect are to blame for the anti US hatred and terror in the Muslim and Arab world. Therefore, Obama has set out to improve America’s image in the world by being more liked than feared.
Thirdly, like President Carter during his term, Obama believes that U.S. power is on the decline and therefore the U.S. should abrogate its moral leadership role in the world and resign itself to containing and appeasing evil regimes and tyrants rather than confronting or defeating them.
Immediately after his inauguration, Obama and his senior officials have repeatedly announced that bringing peace to the Arab- Israeli conflict and reaching out to the Arab and Moslem world are the keystones of US policy. As the newly elected leader of the free world, the first international leader Obama contacted was PA leader Mahmoud Abbas, a man who in 1982 wrote his PHD dissertation denying the holocaust and was no 2 to Arafat for 37 years as the leader of PLO, the worlds most notorious terrorist organization.. He then proceeded to embark on his “apology” tour of the Middle East. He first visited Turkey as the showcase of a Pro- Western, moderate Moslem country, and later on in another trip he visited Egypt and Saudi Arabia while, purposely skipping Israel. In Turkey and Egypt he gave two speeches , apologizing to the Moslem world for all the wrongs the US has committed against them, forgetting to mention the thousands of American soldiers whose lives have been lost protecting the Moslem people in Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He then bowed in front of King Abdullah applauding his “great wisdom”, a man who is the leader of a country in which women are not allowed to vote, drive, or go outside without a male relative…
During his second speech in Egypt, Obama began his public confrontation with Israel over his obsession with the mostly mythical controversy of ” settlement freeze”, characterizing settlements as “an obstacle to peace” , while ignoring the fact that Mahmoud Abbas rejected Olmert ’s previous offer of peace and never even gave a counteroffer. In December 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in the presence of President Bush, an unprecedented peace proposal, in which the Palestinians would get a state in an area equivalent to 100% of the West Bank and a capital in the demographically Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
In response to Obama’s speech and to salvage the Israeli-US Relations, Prime Minister Nethanyahu, accepted in a public speech , the two state solution. Even though , no past Israeli Prime Minster of any party, including Rabin and Peres was willing to accept a complete freeze, Nethanyahu accepted a temporary settlement freeze in the major settlement block in the West Bank, following completion of new units in various stages of construction. In response , Obama became more irrationally hostile to Israel.
In the same week in which Obama bowed to the emperor of Japan, and applauded the Chinese tyrants, he treated the democratically elected Israeli Prime Minster with disrespect and humiliation. Since Nethanyahu was already coming to the US to give a speech to the UJC Assembly in Washington, DC, he asked the White House for a meeting to speak with Obama . But Obama, who advocates engaging with enemies, left the leader of an ally twisting in the wind for a few weeks before deciding to grant him an audience. Only when Nethanyahu boarded the airplane to the US was he informed that the meeting would happen. According to the Israeli newspapers, Netanyahu was brought to the White House in the middle of the night in unmarked van instead of a limousine ,and was ushered through a side door, rather than the front door, hardly befitting his status as the leader of an important ally. Moreover, Netanyahu was forbidden to have his picture taken with the President and was ordered to keep the contents of his meeting with the president a secret. Later, he was forced to leave alone through a side exit.
A week later, Obama publicly condemned an Israeli plan to expand Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood calling it “a settlement”, and causing an outraged response from such peacenicks as Israeli President Peres who began the Oslo Agreement and Israeli opposition leader Livni. It seems that Obama did not do his homework again. There is a consensus in Israel that Gilo is not a settlement, since it is not in East Jerusalem, Arabs never lived there , and its houses weren’t built on private Arab land.
It seems that Obama’s cold policy toward Israel and warm engagement policies toward the Arab and Moslem world has not only reduced the excellent relations with Israel to levels unmatched since the days of James Baker in 1991 but has also failed to get any actual results or concessions from the Moslem or Arab world in return.
US efforts at restarting negotiations with the Palestinians, were set back by Obama’s exaggerated & unrealistic demand for a settlement freeze. As a result, Mahmoud Abbas who readily and frequently met with Olmert and six other Israeli prime ministers during the last 16 years without a settlement freeze, is playing hard to get and rejecting talks with Nethanyahu, expecting Obama to deliver a broken Israel.. While Abbas met Nethanyahu only once during Obama’s term, in 2008 under Bush, the Palestinian negotiators met 288 times with their Israelis counterparts ,and numerous meetings occurred between Abbas and Olmert. Abbas under Obama has become more radical, inciting against Israel over Jerusalem ,and working to maximize Israel bashing .
Moreover, a request that Obama himself delivered to King Abduallah and other Arab moderates during his Middle East encouraging them to, to reach out to Israel, by allowing over flights of their territories by Israeli planes, or opening trade offices, was rejected immediately and repeatedly.
It seems also that Obama engagement policy has failed in Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
While the Bush administration regarded the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005 as one of its biggest success in the Middle East, the new Obama administration has been less than aggressive in its backing of the pro-US Lebanese government while it tries to appease Syria. Therefore, even though the Pro Western forces won the elections on June 7, they were forced to have a unity government with Hezbolah and give up their decisive majority in the government.
In order to coax Syria away from Iran, Obama reversed Bush policy and ended the policy of Syria’s isolation, despite their military support for Hamas, Hezbolah ,and militants in Iraq. Despite the many visits to Syria by US senior officials as well as Saudis and Europeans, the US’s policy so far is failing. The Syrian president demonstratively visited Iran after the rigged presidential elections and just on Nov 3rd, Israel captured an Iranian vessel with 3000 rockets , heading to Syria with weapons destined to be transferred to Hezbolah. This is because Syria sees that the U.S. is failing in its Iran policy and ignoring Syria’s transgressions.
After the rigged June Iranian presidential elections, Obama was willing to ignore the brutal human rights violations the Iranian regime inflicted against their own people, while waiting for months for them to agree to start talks aimed at getting them to stop their nuclear weapons program. Now after almost two months of negotiations between Iran and the so- called P-5+1 group of U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China which produced no results, Iran again has rejected the group’s recent offer to ship most of its low enriched uranium out of the country to be enriched and converted to fuel rods by Russia and France and returned back to Iran after one year to be used peacefully. Further more, on Sunday the Iranian government announced publicly its plan to build 10 new uranium enrichment reactors.
Obama has warned that he intends to seek tougher sanctions early next year if Iran does not compromise, but it seems that Russia and China will not play along. According to German and Israeli Military Intelligence, Iran will have the fuel and knowledge to build two nuclear bombs in early 2010, and the International Energy Atomic Agency recently claimed that Iran has the technology to build nuclear warheads.
Obama must abandon his weak engagement policy and act now or help Israel to act before the nightmare of a nuclear Iran becomes a reality.
In the tradition of the failed Jimmy Carter administration, Obama’s world travels during which he has apologized, bowed to, and applauded tyrants, kings and emperors have given Obama an appearance of weakness both to America’s allies and foes. The world and especially the Middle East is a dangerous neighborhood housing many of the world most brutal tyrants and regimes. Eventually, Obama's own weakness will be perceived as America’s weakness. A perceived weak and timid US is not good for Israel or the world in general.
After ten months in office , several presumptions seem to emerge as guiding Obama’s foreign policy.
The first is that the reason there is no peace in the Middle East is that US under President Bush has failed to become ” engaged” enough in Middle East diplomacy and was too pro- Israel and not an even handed mediator.
Secondly, Obama believes that the U.S.’s arrogance,, cowboy diplomacy, and lack of engagement, humility and respect are to blame for the anti US hatred and terror in the Muslim and Arab world. Therefore, Obama has set out to improve America’s image in the world by being more liked than feared.
Thirdly, like President Carter during his term, Obama believes that U.S. power is on the decline and therefore the U.S. should abrogate its moral leadership role in the world and resign itself to containing and appeasing evil regimes and tyrants rather than confronting or defeating them.
Immediately after his inauguration, Obama and his senior officials have repeatedly announced that bringing peace to the Arab- Israeli conflict and reaching out to the Arab and Moslem world are the keystones of US policy. As the newly elected leader of the free world, the first international leader Obama contacted was PA leader Mahmoud Abbas, a man who in 1982 wrote his PHD dissertation denying the holocaust and was no 2 to Arafat for 37 years as the leader of PLO, the worlds most notorious terrorist organization.. He then proceeded to embark on his “apology” tour of the Middle East. He first visited Turkey as the showcase of a Pro- Western, moderate Moslem country, and later on in another trip he visited Egypt and Saudi Arabia while, purposely skipping Israel. In Turkey and Egypt he gave two speeches , apologizing to the Moslem world for all the wrongs the US has committed against them, forgetting to mention the thousands of American soldiers whose lives have been lost protecting the Moslem people in Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He then bowed in front of King Abdullah applauding his “great wisdom”, a man who is the leader of a country in which women are not allowed to vote, drive, or go outside without a male relative…
During his second speech in Egypt, Obama began his public confrontation with Israel over his obsession with the mostly mythical controversy of ” settlement freeze”, characterizing settlements as “an obstacle to peace” , while ignoring the fact that Mahmoud Abbas rejected Olmert ’s previous offer of peace and never even gave a counteroffer. In December 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in the presence of President Bush, an unprecedented peace proposal, in which the Palestinians would get a state in an area equivalent to 100% of the West Bank and a capital in the demographically Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
In response to Obama’s speech and to salvage the Israeli-US Relations, Prime Minister Nethanyahu, accepted in a public speech , the two state solution. Even though , no past Israeli Prime Minster of any party, including Rabin and Peres was willing to accept a complete freeze, Nethanyahu accepted a temporary settlement freeze in the major settlement block in the West Bank, following completion of new units in various stages of construction. In response , Obama became more irrationally hostile to Israel.
In the same week in which Obama bowed to the emperor of Japan, and applauded the Chinese tyrants, he treated the democratically elected Israeli Prime Minster with disrespect and humiliation. Since Nethanyahu was already coming to the US to give a speech to the UJC Assembly in Washington, DC, he asked the White House for a meeting to speak with Obama . But Obama, who advocates engaging with enemies, left the leader of an ally twisting in the wind for a few weeks before deciding to grant him an audience. Only when Nethanyahu boarded the airplane to the US was he informed that the meeting would happen. According to the Israeli newspapers, Netanyahu was brought to the White House in the middle of the night in unmarked van instead of a limousine ,and was ushered through a side door, rather than the front door, hardly befitting his status as the leader of an important ally. Moreover, Netanyahu was forbidden to have his picture taken with the President and was ordered to keep the contents of his meeting with the president a secret. Later, he was forced to leave alone through a side exit.
A week later, Obama publicly condemned an Israeli plan to expand Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood calling it “a settlement”, and causing an outraged response from such peacenicks as Israeli President Peres who began the Oslo Agreement and Israeli opposition leader Livni. It seems that Obama did not do his homework again. There is a consensus in Israel that Gilo is not a settlement, since it is not in East Jerusalem, Arabs never lived there , and its houses weren’t built on private Arab land.
It seems that Obama’s cold policy toward Israel and warm engagement policies toward the Arab and Moslem world has not only reduced the excellent relations with Israel to levels unmatched since the days of James Baker in 1991 but has also failed to get any actual results or concessions from the Moslem or Arab world in return.
US efforts at restarting negotiations with the Palestinians, were set back by Obama’s exaggerated & unrealistic demand for a settlement freeze. As a result, Mahmoud Abbas who readily and frequently met with Olmert and six other Israeli prime ministers during the last 16 years without a settlement freeze, is playing hard to get and rejecting talks with Nethanyahu, expecting Obama to deliver a broken Israel.. While Abbas met Nethanyahu only once during Obama’s term, in 2008 under Bush, the Palestinian negotiators met 288 times with their Israelis counterparts ,and numerous meetings occurred between Abbas and Olmert. Abbas under Obama has become more radical, inciting against Israel over Jerusalem ,and working to maximize Israel bashing .
Moreover, a request that Obama himself delivered to King Abduallah and other Arab moderates during his Middle East encouraging them to, to reach out to Israel, by allowing over flights of their territories by Israeli planes, or opening trade offices, was rejected immediately and repeatedly.
It seems also that Obama engagement policy has failed in Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
While the Bush administration regarded the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005 as one of its biggest success in the Middle East, the new Obama administration has been less than aggressive in its backing of the pro-US Lebanese government while it tries to appease Syria. Therefore, even though the Pro Western forces won the elections on June 7, they were forced to have a unity government with Hezbolah and give up their decisive majority in the government.
In order to coax Syria away from Iran, Obama reversed Bush policy and ended the policy of Syria’s isolation, despite their military support for Hamas, Hezbolah ,and militants in Iraq. Despite the many visits to Syria by US senior officials as well as Saudis and Europeans, the US’s policy so far is failing. The Syrian president demonstratively visited Iran after the rigged presidential elections and just on Nov 3rd, Israel captured an Iranian vessel with 3000 rockets , heading to Syria with weapons destined to be transferred to Hezbolah. This is because Syria sees that the U.S. is failing in its Iran policy and ignoring Syria’s transgressions.
After the rigged June Iranian presidential elections, Obama was willing to ignore the brutal human rights violations the Iranian regime inflicted against their own people, while waiting for months for them to agree to start talks aimed at getting them to stop their nuclear weapons program. Now after almost two months of negotiations between Iran and the so- called P-5+1 group of U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China which produced no results, Iran again has rejected the group’s recent offer to ship most of its low enriched uranium out of the country to be enriched and converted to fuel rods by Russia and France and returned back to Iran after one year to be used peacefully. Further more, on Sunday the Iranian government announced publicly its plan to build 10 new uranium enrichment reactors.
Obama has warned that he intends to seek tougher sanctions early next year if Iran does not compromise, but it seems that Russia and China will not play along. According to German and Israeli Military Intelligence, Iran will have the fuel and knowledge to build two nuclear bombs in early 2010, and the International Energy Atomic Agency recently claimed that Iran has the technology to build nuclear warheads.
Obama must abandon his weak engagement policy and act now or help Israel to act before the nightmare of a nuclear Iran becomes a reality.
Even for Gilad, this is not the way
Gilad Schalit in video footage released in September.
Photo: AP
By DANIEL TAUBER
The plight of young Gilad Shalit, and the struggle of his family and parents who have worked so hard for his freedom, have captivated the nation. Never before has the absence of one person been such a personal matter for all of Israel. Yet, even for Gilad, who is still alive, there are lines that cannot be crossed and deals that cannot be made.
"Thou Shalt not Kill" is probably the most important rule for civilization. No society could survive long, let alone flourish, if men could kill each other without consequence. We therefore have a justice system, at the head of which stand judges, who are, arguably, among the most respected members of society. These judges conduct fair hearings and render harsh judgments against those who have taken the lives of other human beings. Their judgments prevent the killers from killing again, exact retribution in the name of the victims, deter would-be murderers and enable society to function normally.
The worst of those who take life are those we call "terrorists," who kill because they hate Jews and desire to terrorize Israeli society. Due to the heinousness of their crimes, our justice system locks away these "beasts on two legs," as Menachem Begin called them, forever.
Today, organized gangs of these murderous animals seek to overturn the rulings of our justice system by having hundreds of terrorists, among them many convicted murderers, freed. Hamas seeks to boost its standing as a terror organization that can obtain the release of prisoners and bring Israel to its knees.
ENCOURAGED BY Israel's 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, terrorists attacked an IDF unit, killed two soldiers and kidnapped Gilad Schalit, holding him captive for over 1275 days. They knew that with an act of such barbaric simplicity they could get practically whatever they wanted fromIsrael, including the release of their murderous comrades. They knew this because, unfortunately, this is the public policy Israel: to release murderers when other murderers demand it.
The Lebanon War of 2006, in which over a hundred IDF soldiers and thousands of Lebanese were killed, was the result of this policy. Shortly before the war, Hassan Nasrallah announced publicly (as was reported in Time Magazine, July 25, 2006) that Hizbullah would obtain the release of the child-murderer Samir Kuntar by kidnapping IDF soldiers. This kidnapping sparked the war. Two years later, the Olmert government traded hundreds of terrorists for the bodies of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. The Olmert government thought it were being merciful and populist. In reality it played right into the Hizbullah's hands.
Today, the Netanyahu government faces the same demand: Release a thousand terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit. But is this really the only way to obtain Gilad's release?Israel continues to have opportunities to obtain Gilad's release without sending hundreds of terrorists into the world. Israel could make Gilad's release a diplomatic imperative in which no discussion with foreign officials or press would begin without calling for Gilad's release. Gilad's release could be a precondition for continuing the construction freeze, for resuming negotiations, or allowing international aid into Gaza.Israel could resume targeted strikes on Hamas leadership in Gaza.
All of these actions, if done correctly and persistently, would force Gilad Shalit into the international arena, rally public opinion in the US toIsrael 's side and make his release a top priority for other international players who want to ease the Palestinian's suffering and resume the peace process, including US President Barack Obama.
Yet no such proactive steps have been taken. In Netanyahu's speech at the UN earlier this year, which was televised on major news networks in the US, Schalit was not even mentioned. The Goldstone Report, which was mentioned, is an important issue but is it more important than Schalit? Surely Netanyahu left Gilad out because he feared confusing the issues and ruining the chance to achieve other diplomatic goals, like defusing the Goldstone Report. It is this refusal to take the initiative which has left us with the passive option - releasing the murderers.
Netanyahu, who once harshly criticized prisoner exchanges, is surely taking into consideration the fact that some 80% of Israelis are reportedly in favor of the deal. If he concludes the deal, this 80% would hail him as a leader able to succeed where others (Olmert, for example) failed. But are Netanyahu and those millions prepared to take responsibility for the lives of the future victims of those released and any future "Gilad Schalits" who will be taken captive? For these are the consequences that will surely follow.
Releasing the terrorists may mean saving Gilad's life, but it also means that more Jews will die and more soldiers will be kidnapped. It means that justice can never be served even against jailed murderers.
Surely this is not the way for the Jewish state to conduct itself. Let us put an end to this dangerous and embarrassing policy of negotiating with hostage takers and releasing convicted murderers once and for all. Let us obtain Gilad Schalit's release without giving our enemies the opportunity to murder more Jews.
The writer is the chairman of the American Legal Forum for the Land of Israel.
Another Peace Process in Our Time.
by Rick Richman
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — currently in the 60th month of his 48-month term, a declared non-candidate for re-election (in the event there is ever another Palestinian election), presently governing only half of the putative Palestinian state — has told Haaretz that a peace agreement could be reached within six months if Israel will make more pre-negotiation concessions.
Peace could be reached not only in our time but with four full months left over to complete Netanyahu’s 10-month settlement freeze. Abbas will hold the football himself.
Not even those on the Left in Israel believe in this process any more. Ari Shavit, writing in today’s Haaretz, notes that:
There’s one small problem: Similar things were said to us when the Beilin-Abbas agreement was formulated in 1995. Similar things were said to us on the eve of Camp David 2000. Similar things were promised us when the Geneva Initiative was signed in 2003. Similar things were promised us when Israel went to Annapolis in 2007.
Six months is in fact exactly what Abbas promised at the beginning of the Annapolis Process in 2007, only to reject still another Israeli offer of a state 12 months later.
Shavit encapsulates in a single paragraph the reason there is currently no prospect of peace, with or without additional Israeli concessions, made before or after negotiations begin:
With Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip, arming itself to the teeth and enjoying the support of about one-third of the Palestinians, it has the right to veto any diplomatic progress. With Fatah unwilling to recognize the Jewish nation-state and objecting to a demilitarized Palestinian state, there is no chance for a peace treaty.
Perhaps one day there will be another Palestinian presidential election, with a candidate campaigning on a platform calling for recognition of a Jewish state and acceptance of a demilitarized Palestinian one. Perhaps one day the Palestinians will elect such a person. But today there is no such candidate, nor even another scheduled election. The Palestinian peace movement consists of recycled interviews with Haaretz.
Rick Richman
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas — currently in the 60th month of his 48-month term, a declared non-candidate for re-election (in the event there is ever another Palestinian election), presently governing only half of the putative Palestinian state — has told Haaretz that a peace agreement could be reached within six months if Israel will make more pre-negotiation concessions.
Peace could be reached not only in our time but with four full months left over to complete Netanyahu’s 10-month settlement freeze. Abbas will hold the football himself.
Not even those on the Left in Israel believe in this process any more. Ari Shavit, writing in today’s Haaretz, notes that:
There’s one small problem: Similar things were said to us when the Beilin-Abbas agreement was formulated in 1995. Similar things were said to us on the eve of Camp David 2000. Similar things were promised us when the Geneva Initiative was signed in 2003. Similar things were promised us when Israel went to Annapolis in 2007.
Six months is in fact exactly what Abbas promised at the beginning of the Annapolis Process in 2007, only to reject still another Israeli offer of a state 12 months later.
Shavit encapsulates in a single paragraph the reason there is currently no prospect of peace, with or without additional Israeli concessions, made before or after negotiations begin:
With Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip, arming itself to the teeth and enjoying the support of about one-third of the Palestinians, it has the right to veto any diplomatic progress. With Fatah unwilling to recognize the Jewish nation-state and objecting to a demilitarized Palestinian state, there is no chance for a peace treaty.
Perhaps one day there will be another Palestinian presidential election, with a candidate campaigning on a platform calling for recognition of a Jewish state and acceptance of a demilitarized Palestinian one. Perhaps one day the Palestinians will elect such a person. But today there is no such candidate, nor even another scheduled election. The Palestinian peace movement consists of recycled interviews with Haaretz.
Rick Richman
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
Obama's Engagement Fallout: Lebanon Surrenders.
by Jonathan Tobin
This past weekend, one of the genuine triumphs of American foreign policy in the past decade was officially reversed. When Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Harriri went to Damascus to pay tribute to his country’s Syrian overlord, the 2005 Cedar Revolution was buried. Less than five years ago, American pressure, which encouraged those forces in Lebanon that longed to be free, helped bring about the withdrawal of the Syrian troops that had occupied that country since the 1970s. Syria had overreached when it sponsored the assassination of Harriri’s father, Rafik, who preceded him as prime minister. That, combined with the increased influence in the region of the United States in the wake of the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, had convinced the Syrians that they must retreat.
But although the Syrian army has not returned, it now doesn’t have to. Hezbollah, the potent terrorist force that serves as a proxy for both Iran and Syria, has effectively strangled any hope of Lebanon’s escaping the grasp of those rogue regimes. Syria’s influence is once more unchallenged in Beirut. Rather than witnessing an international tribunal arraigning Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and his underlings for the murder of his father, as well as the transformation of Lebanon into a genuine Arab democracy, Saad Harriri has been compelled to swallow the humiliation of fawning on his father’s murderer.
What changed? According to the New York Times, the failure of Harriri to maintain his country’s independence is due to one major difference between 2005 and 2009: “since then, the United States and the West have chosen to engage with Syria, not isolate it.” As a result, those who thought they had the West’s backing for resisting the thugs of Damascus have been forced to swallow their pride and swear loyalty to Assad in order to save their lives.
All of which means that we can chalk up another defeat for the United States that can be put at the feet of Barack Obama’s fetish for diplomacy for its own sake. Like the opposition in Iran, the pro-independence Lebanese have been left in the lurch while Washington fecklessly pursues deals with dictators who have no intention of playing ball. And why should they, given the administration’s distaste for confrontations and its inability to rally international support for action on behalf of either a nuclear-free Iran or a free Lebanon?
It is worth recalling that back in the fall of 2008, when Joe Biden and Sarah Palin met for the vice-presidential nominees’ debate, Biden committed a gaffe when he claimed that Hezbollah had already been kicked out of Lebanon. Palin didn’t pick up on this blooper, and Biden escaped the derision he deserved for a passage in which he claimed that the best solution for Lebanon was a NATO intervention (had Palin committed such a blunder, she would never have heard the end of it). Biden probably meant Syria when he said Hezbollah, and his intention was to claim that Bush’s policies had failed in Lebanon because of Hezbollah’s revival. But as much as it should be conceded that Bush failed to sufficiently follow up on the Cedar Revolution, we now see what a year of the Obama-Biden administration has achieved in the region.
Their blind belief in engagement, as well as increased pressure on Israel, has emboldened both Syria and Iran. Those wishing to see what kind of difference Obama has made in the Middle East need only regard the wince-inducing spectacle of Saad Harriri bowing to Assad. The consequences of American engagement are not a pretty sight.
Jonathan Tobin
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
This past weekend, one of the genuine triumphs of American foreign policy in the past decade was officially reversed. When Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Harriri went to Damascus to pay tribute to his country’s Syrian overlord, the 2005 Cedar Revolution was buried. Less than five years ago, American pressure, which encouraged those forces in Lebanon that longed to be free, helped bring about the withdrawal of the Syrian troops that had occupied that country since the 1970s. Syria had overreached when it sponsored the assassination of Harriri’s father, Rafik, who preceded him as prime minister. That, combined with the increased influence in the region of the United States in the wake of the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, had convinced the Syrians that they must retreat.
But although the Syrian army has not returned, it now doesn’t have to. Hezbollah, the potent terrorist force that serves as a proxy for both Iran and Syria, has effectively strangled any hope of Lebanon’s escaping the grasp of those rogue regimes. Syria’s influence is once more unchallenged in Beirut. Rather than witnessing an international tribunal arraigning Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and his underlings for the murder of his father, as well as the transformation of Lebanon into a genuine Arab democracy, Saad Harriri has been compelled to swallow the humiliation of fawning on his father’s murderer.
What changed? According to the New York Times, the failure of Harriri to maintain his country’s independence is due to one major difference between 2005 and 2009: “since then, the United States and the West have chosen to engage with Syria, not isolate it.” As a result, those who thought they had the West’s backing for resisting the thugs of Damascus have been forced to swallow their pride and swear loyalty to Assad in order to save their lives.
All of which means that we can chalk up another defeat for the United States that can be put at the feet of Barack Obama’s fetish for diplomacy for its own sake. Like the opposition in Iran, the pro-independence Lebanese have been left in the lurch while Washington fecklessly pursues deals with dictators who have no intention of playing ball. And why should they, given the administration’s distaste for confrontations and its inability to rally international support for action on behalf of either a nuclear-free Iran or a free Lebanon?
It is worth recalling that back in the fall of 2008, when Joe Biden and Sarah Palin met for the vice-presidential nominees’ debate, Biden committed a gaffe when he claimed that Hezbollah had already been kicked out of Lebanon. Palin didn’t pick up on this blooper, and Biden escaped the derision he deserved for a passage in which he claimed that the best solution for Lebanon was a NATO intervention (had Palin committed such a blunder, she would never have heard the end of it). Biden probably meant Syria when he said Hezbollah, and his intention was to claim that Bush’s policies had failed in Lebanon because of Hezbollah’s revival. But as much as it should be conceded that Bush failed to sufficiently follow up on the Cedar Revolution, we now see what a year of the Obama-Biden administration has achieved in the region.
Their blind belief in engagement, as well as increased pressure on Israel, has emboldened both Syria and Iran. Those wishing to see what kind of difference Obama has made in the Middle East need only regard the wince-inducing spectacle of Saad Harriri bowing to Assad. The consequences of American engagement are not a pretty sight.
Jonathan Tobin
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
Our Jewish Soul Land Called Israel
Our Jewish Soul Land Called Israel
Land of Israel. The Jewish history and the historic ties of the Jews to Israel and the holiest city for all Jews around the world, Jerusalem.
Land of Israel. The Jewish history and the historic ties of the Jews to Israel and the holiest city for all Jews around the world, Jerusalem.
Mr. Obama: Tear Down Your Wall of Secrecy
By Monte Kuligowski
Everyone has gotten the memo by this point: Do not question Barack Obama. Even conservatives have been warned by other conservatives about mentioning the secrecy issue: It's pointless and can only harm conservatism.
Recently, Rusty Humphries broke the rule and asked Sarah Palin if she would make the "birth certificate an issue" if she runs for office. In her answer, she noted that people "still want answers" and "it's a fair question." Her enemies pounced quickly, casting her as a wild-eyed conspiracy theorist.
The real issue, however, is not about birthers or theories or racism or whatever else you want to add. The real issue is about the secrecy of Barack Obama, and it involves more than the release of his complete birth records. Hospital records; high school, college and law school records; transcripts; writings; and passport info have been requested, and all are being withheld by Obama.
Mr. Obama is presented as the smartest man in the country, yet we have not seen his college course list or grades. Hmm, hmm, hmm.
A normative democratic society cannot allow a president to continue to speak disingenuously about transparency while withholding basic information.
We happen to have a president who touts openness, accountability, and transparency in a way that is unparalleled when compared to all previous presidents. Yet we know less about this man than about his predecessors. Consequently, there are twists of irony and feelings of distrust at almost every turn in the Obama presidency.
I therefore suggest a couple of reasons for the president to hit the reset button and release the requested information.
People have asked to see the records.
That doesn't seem to be too much to ask from a man of outspoken transparency. And these are not just any people, but citizens of the U.S., over whom he presides, who have asked. They're not asking for the moon and the stars -- just simple documents.
The "natural born" requirement of the U.S. Constitution was inserted to prevent conflicting loyalties and ideologies in a president. Citizens have the right to feel assured in that constitutional protection.
Mr. Obama is the only president in U.S. history whose father was a foreign national in the U.S. on a student visa. His father was a non-practicing-Muslim-turned-atheist, and his mother later remarried another foreign national, this one from from Indonesia, who was also a Muslim.
Some believe Obama was adopted and became a citizen of his stepfather's country. Obama's mother moved him to Indonesia in 1967 to live with his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro. While other children Obama's age in America were pledging allegiance to the U.S. and learning to respect America, Obama as a schoolboy (grades 1-5) registered as Barry Soetoro, was reading from the Koran, reciting Muslim prayers, and learning the civics of Indonesia (the Indonesian school records were released independently prior to Obama's blockade).
Mr. Obama is the only president in U.S. history to have been raised in nontraditional/non-Christian homes. Based on what he's said, his mother was an agnostic. Obama's grandparents, with whom he lived for a period, were extremely left-leaning in their religion and politics. As Obama admits in one of his two pre-accomplishment autobiographies, he associated with Marxists and radical leftists during his college days.
The president's situation is remarkably unique, and his uniqueness has nothing to do with the color of his skin. People have an assortment of reasons for wanting to see Obama's complete birth certificate and other records.
Yes, Mr. Obama has posted a bare-bones "certification of live birth" (which doesn't name the hospital or physician), and Hawaii has confirmed that the long-form certificate exists. However, it is no secret that births were routinely registered in 1961 by affidavit under the laws (Act 96) of the newly admitted state. On affidavits of non-hospital deliveries, certifications of live birth were generated in Hawaii.
Now, my argument is not that a foreign birth was registered as Hawaiian on a false affidavit. (Also, I don't argue that dual citizenship or a foreign adoption disqualify Obama.) That misses the point. My argument is that because Obama says he is transparent, he should be transparent -- especially when people have asked for the info.
No one should have had to file in court for Obama's records, including his birth records showing his hospital and delivering physician. And taxpayers should not have to foot the Justice Department's efforts in defending the withholding of basic information. Releasing the information would cost virtually nothing. The president should want to provide all the requested documents, especially when doubt exists. By withholding the requested information, Obama is slapping transparency in the face while trying to make it a feature of his presidency.
Mr. Obama might want to reconsider releasing simple documents to show that he respects the people. By refusing to do so, it sort of makes him look really arrogant, as if releasing the information would be beneath him. If he has nothing to hide, all that remains is inexplicable arrogance.
Do it for the historians.
Approximately one year ago, the Honolulu Advertiser ran a piece about Obama's fans who were attempting to find his hospital of birth and retrace his steps, visiting as many of his boyhood homes as possible. The piece opens with these words:
Birthplaces and boyhood homes of U.S. presidents have been duly noted and honored for nearly as long as America has been a nation. In the case of such towering figures as Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, those early locations have been deemed national treasures and historic sites ...
At least Obama's reported place of birth has been narrowed to one of two Honolulu hospitals (Kapiolani and Queens). At the end of the Advertiser piece, the author's awkwardness is palpable as he tries to explain why no one knows for sure where Obama was born. The author thinks that it might be Kapiolani because it was the most recent hospital the campaign had identified. But:
While most Obama residences can be traced, the hospital where he was born is difficult to document. The desire of historians to pinpoint where Obama's life began has crashed head-on with the modern American propensity toward confidentiality. The federal Health Information Privacy Act of 1999 -- a law passed to protect medical records from public scrutiny -- prevents hospitals from confirming births, administrators contend.
I have to wonder whether the author is a staunch Obama supporter, is simply naïve, or is both. Surely he must know that historians are crashing head-on into Obama's refusal to release any information. He must know that Obama's signature on one form would override the privacy act. Release-of-information forms are signed every day; the act is only for those, like Obama, who wish to keep all information sealed.
The author concludes the piece by quoting a hospital official saying, "Our hands are tied." Mr. Obama is the only one who can untie their hands. With permission, the hospitals could confirm or deny Obama's birth in two seconds. Without permission, the hospitals can neither confirm nor deny.
At a press conference earlier this year, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about Obama's detailed birth certificate. His response? He laughed. And he laughed some more. The room filled with journalists laughed heartily with Gibbs. The question continues to "astound" him. After all, it's posted right there online.
As long as it's a laughing matter, why not humor us, Mr. President? Humor us with your complete birth records, naming the hospital and physician. Humor us at least by giving your hospital of birth permission to release a simple yea or nay. Humor us with your college grades and financial records. Humor us with your Columbia thesis. Humor us with your law school records and writings.
You see, the issue is whether the White House will take serious the doubts and requests of American citizens or laugh at them. Some doubt his birthplace and/or eligibility; others doubt his transparency, and hence, his character.
Even if Obama was born in Hawaii, he still looks unreasonable by not releasing basic information. Maybe he is natural-born, but has a radical ideology to hide and has been counseled to seal everything in an effort to appear consistent.
Future historians far removed from the fantasy and fear of Obama will no doubt be astounded at the Obama phenomena. But they may never know of the secrets hiding in his birth, college, and/or other records. Do it for the historians, Mr. Obama: Tear down your wall of secrecy.
Everyone has gotten the memo by this point: Do not question Barack Obama. Even conservatives have been warned by other conservatives about mentioning the secrecy issue: It's pointless and can only harm conservatism.
Recently, Rusty Humphries broke the rule and asked Sarah Palin if she would make the "birth certificate an issue" if she runs for office. In her answer, she noted that people "still want answers" and "it's a fair question." Her enemies pounced quickly, casting her as a wild-eyed conspiracy theorist.
The real issue, however, is not about birthers or theories or racism or whatever else you want to add. The real issue is about the secrecy of Barack Obama, and it involves more than the release of his complete birth records. Hospital records; high school, college and law school records; transcripts; writings; and passport info have been requested, and all are being withheld by Obama.
Mr. Obama is presented as the smartest man in the country, yet we have not seen his college course list or grades. Hmm, hmm, hmm.
A normative democratic society cannot allow a president to continue to speak disingenuously about transparency while withholding basic information.
We happen to have a president who touts openness, accountability, and transparency in a way that is unparalleled when compared to all previous presidents. Yet we know less about this man than about his predecessors. Consequently, there are twists of irony and feelings of distrust at almost every turn in the Obama presidency.
I therefore suggest a couple of reasons for the president to hit the reset button and release the requested information.
People have asked to see the records.
That doesn't seem to be too much to ask from a man of outspoken transparency. And these are not just any people, but citizens of the U.S., over whom he presides, who have asked. They're not asking for the moon and the stars -- just simple documents.
The "natural born" requirement of the U.S. Constitution was inserted to prevent conflicting loyalties and ideologies in a president. Citizens have the right to feel assured in that constitutional protection.
Mr. Obama is the only president in U.S. history whose father was a foreign national in the U.S. on a student visa. His father was a non-practicing-Muslim-turned-atheist, and his mother later remarried another foreign national, this one from from Indonesia, who was also a Muslim.
Some believe Obama was adopted and became a citizen of his stepfather's country. Obama's mother moved him to Indonesia in 1967 to live with his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro. While other children Obama's age in America were pledging allegiance to the U.S. and learning to respect America, Obama as a schoolboy (grades 1-5) registered as Barry Soetoro, was reading from the Koran, reciting Muslim prayers, and learning the civics of Indonesia (the Indonesian school records were released independently prior to Obama's blockade).
Mr. Obama is the only president in U.S. history to have been raised in nontraditional/non-Christian homes. Based on what he's said, his mother was an agnostic. Obama's grandparents, with whom he lived for a period, were extremely left-leaning in their religion and politics. As Obama admits in one of his two pre-accomplishment autobiographies, he associated with Marxists and radical leftists during his college days.
The president's situation is remarkably unique, and his uniqueness has nothing to do with the color of his skin. People have an assortment of reasons for wanting to see Obama's complete birth certificate and other records.
Yes, Mr. Obama has posted a bare-bones "certification of live birth" (which doesn't name the hospital or physician), and Hawaii has confirmed that the long-form certificate exists. However, it is no secret that births were routinely registered in 1961 by affidavit under the laws (Act 96) of the newly admitted state. On affidavits of non-hospital deliveries, certifications of live birth were generated in Hawaii.
Now, my argument is not that a foreign birth was registered as Hawaiian on a false affidavit. (Also, I don't argue that dual citizenship or a foreign adoption disqualify Obama.) That misses the point. My argument is that because Obama says he is transparent, he should be transparent -- especially when people have asked for the info.
No one should have had to file in court for Obama's records, including his birth records showing his hospital and delivering physician. And taxpayers should not have to foot the Justice Department's efforts in defending the withholding of basic information. Releasing the information would cost virtually nothing. The president should want to provide all the requested documents, especially when doubt exists. By withholding the requested information, Obama is slapping transparency in the face while trying to make it a feature of his presidency.
Mr. Obama might want to reconsider releasing simple documents to show that he respects the people. By refusing to do so, it sort of makes him look really arrogant, as if releasing the information would be beneath him. If he has nothing to hide, all that remains is inexplicable arrogance.
Do it for the historians.
Approximately one year ago, the Honolulu Advertiser ran a piece about Obama's fans who were attempting to find his hospital of birth and retrace his steps, visiting as many of his boyhood homes as possible. The piece opens with these words:
Birthplaces and boyhood homes of U.S. presidents have been duly noted and honored for nearly as long as America has been a nation. In the case of such towering figures as Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, those early locations have been deemed national treasures and historic sites ...
At least Obama's reported place of birth has been narrowed to one of two Honolulu hospitals (Kapiolani and Queens). At the end of the Advertiser piece, the author's awkwardness is palpable as he tries to explain why no one knows for sure where Obama was born. The author thinks that it might be Kapiolani because it was the most recent hospital the campaign had identified. But:
While most Obama residences can be traced, the hospital where he was born is difficult to document. The desire of historians to pinpoint where Obama's life began has crashed head-on with the modern American propensity toward confidentiality. The federal Health Information Privacy Act of 1999 -- a law passed to protect medical records from public scrutiny -- prevents hospitals from confirming births, administrators contend.
I have to wonder whether the author is a staunch Obama supporter, is simply naïve, or is both. Surely he must know that historians are crashing head-on into Obama's refusal to release any information. He must know that Obama's signature on one form would override the privacy act. Release-of-information forms are signed every day; the act is only for those, like Obama, who wish to keep all information sealed.
The author concludes the piece by quoting a hospital official saying, "Our hands are tied." Mr. Obama is the only one who can untie their hands. With permission, the hospitals could confirm or deny Obama's birth in two seconds. Without permission, the hospitals can neither confirm nor deny.
At a press conference earlier this year, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about Obama's detailed birth certificate. His response? He laughed. And he laughed some more. The room filled with journalists laughed heartily with Gibbs. The question continues to "astound" him. After all, it's posted right there online.
As long as it's a laughing matter, why not humor us, Mr. President? Humor us with your complete birth records, naming the hospital and physician. Humor us at least by giving your hospital of birth permission to release a simple yea or nay. Humor us with your college grades and financial records. Humor us with your Columbia thesis. Humor us with your law school records and writings.
You see, the issue is whether the White House will take serious the doubts and requests of American citizens or laugh at them. Some doubt his birthplace and/or eligibility; others doubt his transparency, and hence, his character.
Even if Obama was born in Hawaii, he still looks unreasonable by not releasing basic information. Maybe he is natural-born, but has a radical ideology to hide and has been counseled to seal everything in an effort to appear consistent.
Future historians far removed from the fantasy and fear of Obama will no doubt be astounded at the Obama phenomena. But they may never know of the secrets hiding in his birth, college, and/or other records. Do it for the historians, Mr. Obama: Tear down your wall of secrecy.
'I am torn between freeing hostages and protecting Israelis'
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday met with the families of fallen IDF soldiers and with relatives of terror victims and told them he is torn about the deal to free abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.
"I face two vital principles - the desire to free hostages and the desire to protect Israeli citizens from an attack in the future," Netanyahu told the families.
The families, who met with Netanyahu in wake of the progress being made in the negotiations with Hamas, expressed opposition to the prisoner exchange deal being negotiated with the Islamist group because they warn that convicted Palestinians Israel would release could initiate more deadly attacks.
Shalit was kidnapped by Gaza militants in a 2006 cross-border raid, and Hamas is demanding the release of hundreds of prisoners in exchange for his freedom.
Netanyahu said he had taken note of the families warning.
After the meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, Netanyahu told the families that his meeting with them was important to him on both the personal and national level.
Under a proposed deal, about 1,000 of some 11,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails would be released.
Officials familiar with the talks said Israel was intent on barring Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis from returning to the West Bank, which is close to Israeli population centers. They might instead be sent to the Gaza Strip or foreign countries.
Hamas had accepted that some released prisoners would be exiled but wanted them to be able to choose their destinations, the officials said.
It was unclear whether Israel had dropped its opposition to freeing 20 top militants whose release Hamas has demanded. Israel says they are responsible for dozens of deaths.
Netanyahu discussed a swap with senior ministers, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, on Monday, while Shalit's family, joined by demonstrators seeking his release, held a vigil outside the Israeli leader's office.
The Shalit family returned to its home in Mitzpeh Hila late Monday.
A member of the campaign for Shalit's release said that Netanyahu's instructions to continue negotiations "indicates progress. The family and the campaign still hope the prime minister will make the decision to see Gilad Shalit freed as soon as possible."
Israel gave the German mediator its response late Monday, after senior cabinet ministers held marathon talks at Netanyahu's office. No further details were immediately available.
The top-level meetings ended shortly after midnight without an announcement of a decision over whether the forum of seven, comprising Netanyahu and six other senior cabinet ministers, had decided to accept or reject Hamas' offer.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Bureau said Tuesday, however, that the ministers were not expected to convene again at this stage.
The Hamas government was scheduled to hold its weekly meeting later Tuesday, and the deal was likely on the agenda, said a group official.
The forum of seven convened after nightfall Monday for the fifth consecutive meeting on the issue over the last two days in a frenzy of activity that suggested a deal could be close.
The group was divided, however, with some ministers opposed freeing Palestinians convicted in fatal attacks, arguing they could kill again.
After more than four hours of talks, Netanyahu's office released a statement saying only that instructions were given to the negotiating team about the continuation of efforts to bring Shalit home safe and sound.
The forum of seven deals with sensitive security affairs, and is made up of Netanyahu (Likud); Barak (Labor); Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu); Minister without Portfolio Benny Begin (Likud); Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon (Likud); Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas); and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor (Likud).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday met with the families of fallen IDF soldiers and with relatives of terror victims and told them he is torn about the deal to free abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.
"I face two vital principles - the desire to free hostages and the desire to protect Israeli citizens from an attack in the future," Netanyahu told the families.
The families, who met with Netanyahu in wake of the progress being made in the negotiations with Hamas, expressed opposition to the prisoner exchange deal being negotiated with the Islamist group because they warn that convicted Palestinians Israel would release could initiate more deadly attacks.
Shalit was kidnapped by Gaza militants in a 2006 cross-border raid, and Hamas is demanding the release of hundreds of prisoners in exchange for his freedom.
Netanyahu said he had taken note of the families warning.
After the meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, Netanyahu told the families that his meeting with them was important to him on both the personal and national level.
Under a proposed deal, about 1,000 of some 11,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails would be released.
Officials familiar with the talks said Israel was intent on barring Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis from returning to the West Bank, which is close to Israeli population centers. They might instead be sent to the Gaza Strip or foreign countries.
Hamas had accepted that some released prisoners would be exiled but wanted them to be able to choose their destinations, the officials said.
It was unclear whether Israel had dropped its opposition to freeing 20 top militants whose release Hamas has demanded. Israel says they are responsible for dozens of deaths.
Netanyahu discussed a swap with senior ministers, including Defense Minister Ehud Barak, on Monday, while Shalit's family, joined by demonstrators seeking his release, held a vigil outside the Israeli leader's office.
The Shalit family returned to its home in Mitzpeh Hila late Monday.
A member of the campaign for Shalit's release said that Netanyahu's instructions to continue negotiations "indicates progress. The family and the campaign still hope the prime minister will make the decision to see Gilad Shalit freed as soon as possible."
Israel gave the German mediator its response late Monday, after senior cabinet ministers held marathon talks at Netanyahu's office. No further details were immediately available.
The top-level meetings ended shortly after midnight without an announcement of a decision over whether the forum of seven, comprising Netanyahu and six other senior cabinet ministers, had decided to accept or reject Hamas' offer.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Bureau said Tuesday, however, that the ministers were not expected to convene again at this stage.
The Hamas government was scheduled to hold its weekly meeting later Tuesday, and the deal was likely on the agenda, said a group official.
The forum of seven convened after nightfall Monday for the fifth consecutive meeting on the issue over the last two days in a frenzy of activity that suggested a deal could be close.
The group was divided, however, with some ministers opposed freeing Palestinians convicted in fatal attacks, arguing they could kill again.
After more than four hours of talks, Netanyahu's office released a statement saying only that instructions were given to the negotiating team about the continuation of efforts to bring Shalit home safe and sound.
The forum of seven deals with sensitive security affairs, and is made up of Netanyahu (Likud); Barak (Labor); Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu); Minister without Portfolio Benny Begin (Likud); Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon (Likud); Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas); and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor (Likud).
Monday, December 21, 2009
Video for Fallen Soldiers, Second Lebanon War
The pictures in this video, the sadness in the singers voice, need no explanation. These are pictures of "war"; of what Islam and the Arabs have done to hurt Israel, as they wish to remove Israel and all Jews from off the face of the earth. That is what they teach their children from an early age in schools. That is what they teach from their Koran.
Yes, Islamic doctrine and ideology is also against Christians and anyone who disagrees with Islam teachings. However, it is the Land of Israel that the Muslims wish to take over and control; they are working through the United Nations, the European Nations, and the Media/Press, Facebook, Internet, etc. Their propaganda spreads like poison throughout the world.
Many are now falling into the old lies of saying the Holocaust never happened, like the leaders of Iran. Anti-semitism is growing here in the United States, under the leadership of a president who has armed the Palestinians, while placing untold demands upon Israel that for the sake of the God of Israel, would totally destroy her.
Israel is America's only friend and ally in the Middle East, as Dr. Reuven has stated on the front page of our newly developed website. How we pray that our own leaders in America, in Washington, DC, would also understand the importance of giving our support 100% to our best friend, Israel.
There was a Nazi, anti-Semitism, underground website posted to us the other day. My only response is to present some videos this evening, December 21, 2009 to present Israel in her glorious "Light". She has contributed much to the world, in all fields, technology, science, medicine, but of all her contributions, it is her music that I love most of all - she blesses us with her music.
Your friend,
BeeSting
Yes, Islamic doctrine and ideology is also against Christians and anyone who disagrees with Islam teachings. However, it is the Land of Israel that the Muslims wish to take over and control; they are working through the United Nations, the European Nations, and the Media/Press, Facebook, Internet, etc. Their propaganda spreads like poison throughout the world.
Many are now falling into the old lies of saying the Holocaust never happened, like the leaders of Iran. Anti-semitism is growing here in the United States, under the leadership of a president who has armed the Palestinians, while placing untold demands upon Israel that for the sake of the God of Israel, would totally destroy her.
Israel is America's only friend and ally in the Middle East, as Dr. Reuven has stated on the front page of our newly developed website. How we pray that our own leaders in America, in Washington, DC, would also understand the importance of giving our support 100% to our best friend, Israel.
There was a Nazi, anti-Semitism, underground website posted to us the other day. My only response is to present some videos this evening, December 21, 2009 to present Israel in her glorious "Light". She has contributed much to the world, in all fields, technology, science, medicine, but of all her contributions, it is her music that I love most of all - she blesses us with her music.
Your friend,
BeeSting
Memories
A must see clip of the Holocaust.
Song by Avraham Fried and Mordehai Ben-David.
"What will become of all the memories?"
Song by Avraham Fried and Mordehai Ben-David.
"What will become of all the memories?"
Holocaust Remembrance
Tevet 10 is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. More recently, Tevet 10 was chosen to also serve as a "general kaddish day" for the victims of the Holocaust, many of whom the day of their martyrdom is unknown.
An ancient Jewish custom is to deliver words of inspiration and arousal to repentance on fast days. Presented here is our modest contribution to our duty as Jews -- in pictures and music -- to reflect on the significance of this tragic event in our history.
An ancient Jewish custom is to deliver words of inspiration and arousal to repentance on fast days. Presented here is our modest contribution to our duty as Jews -- in pictures and music -- to reflect on the significance of this tragic event in our history.
Shema Yisroel
Legend tells that after the Holocaust, R. Yosef Kahaneman zt'l , the Ponevezhe Rov began looking for Jewish children who had survived the war. It was known that some of the children had ended up in churches and were being raised as Christians. The Rov encountered one church that denied the existence and presence of Jewish children within their midst... He was granted permission to enter the children's quarters to inspect for himself -- when he entered he began calling out "Shema Yisroel" and instinctively many of the children raised their hands to cover their eyes and started calling out "mama! mama!"
Torah
music and lyrics by Abie Rotenberg
This is a story of a copy of the "Torah" surviving through WWII - how the Scroll of blessed Torah was protected and now is in the Holocaust museum.
This is a story of a copy of the "Torah" surviving through WWII - how the Scroll of blessed Torah was protected and now is in the Holocaust museum.
Cool Facts about Israel
A message from the one who uploaded this video:
Shalom everyone!
As a small country with limited natural resources, Israel depends on its most important natural resource -- its people.
Israel's achievements are uniquely its own, a mixture of high idealism, ingenuity and self-reliance.
In almost 60 short years, Israel has accomplished what many nations haven't been able to do in centuries.
Israel's one natural resource is its brainpower, with a driving demand for survival and success against all odds, Israel developed an energetic and ambitious society.
On the occasion of the soon 60th Day of Independence, I take the opportunity of listing together some of the outstanding facts and achievements of our beloved Israel.
Enjoy!
Holly
Shalom everyone!
As a small country with limited natural resources, Israel depends on its most important natural resource -- its people.
Israel's achievements are uniquely its own, a mixture of high idealism, ingenuity and self-reliance.
In almost 60 short years, Israel has accomplished what many nations haven't been able to do in centuries.
Israel's one natural resource is its brainpower, with a driving demand for survival and success against all odds, Israel developed an energetic and ambitious society.
On the occasion of the soon 60th Day of Independence, I take the opportunity of listing together some of the outstanding facts and achievements of our beloved Israel.
Enjoy!
Holly