Month: June 2007
Faud’s Testimony: Proof Olmert’s Winograd Pledge A Contradiction
Fuad’s Stark Testimony (Opinion: Jerusalem Post)
Related report: Dichter to ‘Post’: Kadima Must Be Ready to Replace Olmert
“The ministers, evidently, were still caught up in the trauma of the IDF’s prolonged stay in south Lebanon’s security zone… Returning to the same areas would, at the very least, have constituted an admission of error and necessitated overcoming high psychological hurdles – both moves that the politicians involved feared taking upon themselves.”
Reducing US Aid: Ongoing Argument With Increasing Relevance
Should Israel Really be Asking for an Increase in US Aid?, by Roni Bart (Jerusalem Post)
Related report: Bush Agrees to Increase US Aid to Israel
“This is, or should be, a matter of national honor. It was only a generation ago that the goal of ‘economic independence’ was still mentioned in Israel, if only as a distant aspiration.”
“American leverage over Israel, inter alia due to financial dependency, is manifested by the ever-present question: “What will the United States say?”
Wednesday War News
Kassam Fired at Negev Brings Day’s Total to Nine
Anti-tank Missile Fired at IDF Vehicle in Gaza
2 Kassam Rockets Land in Eshkol Council
Four Kassam Rockets Fired at Sderot
Related report: Update from Sderot: Rocket Damaged Synagogue
IAF Targets Kassam Launchers in Gaza [3 Kassams Fired Toward Sderot, Ashkelon]
IDF Arrests Palestinian Fugitive in Hebron
Shin Bet Arrests Jordanian Terrorist [in Modi’in Shul Plot]
Katyusha Terrorists Drove Rented Car Past UNIFIL Post [on Sunday]
Tuesday War News 2
Rock Attack [on Jewish Motorist] Near Hawara
Rock Attack [on Jewish Motorist] Near Dir Daboun
Terrorist Cell Busted Open, by Hillel Fendel (Israel National News)
Excerpt;
“The Shabak captured a terrorist cell that planned to blow up a synagogue in Modiin, kidnap Americans in Judea and Samaria, and perpetrate other attacks.”
Israeli Vehicle Damaged by Stones South of Nablus [Shechem]
Shots Fired at IDF Bulldozer in Northern Gaza
Commentary;
How many more such attacks have not been reported by Israel’s MSM? MB
Tuesday War News [or Olmert Regime’s Censorship-Imposed Lack Thereof?]
Palestinian Arrested for Throwing Stones at IDF Post
IDF Arrests 11 Wanted Terrorists
Arab Youths Arrested for Lighting Fires
Commentary;
Does this mean that there have been no stonings, no driveby shootings, no bombs left alongside IDF vehicles, no one apprehended smuggling weapons for use against Israel, no new weapons smuggling tunnels into Gaza, no attempted infiltrations of terrorists into Israel by way of checkpoints, no Kassam rocket attacks?
More likely, the regime spinning events, climate and circumstances by way of censorship to color the “moderate” Abbas so as to free hundreds of millions of shekels and thousands of weapons for Fatah which, may either fall into Hamas hands now, or will eventually, undoubtedly be turned on Jews.
Parsha Chukas 5767: Tefillot for Tikkun of Chait, Unity and Rachel Imeinu – Revisited
The placement in Torah of our Parsha Chukat and the Parah Adumah raises questions as to why the Parah Adumah and it’s Halachot are mentioned here in our Parsha; only after Korach’s rebellion and after the continued murmuring of the Am against Moshe Rabbeinu, and after the plague which killed thousands only ending with Aaron’s carrying an incense pan amongst the people (upon Moshe’s instruction), and after the story of the rods.
Previously, on Korach’s rebellion, there is a thought from R’ Simcha Bunim of P’shischa; “Now took Korach…”; that Korach was blessed with many positive attributes: fine lineage, wealth (albeit ill-gotten and questionable), wisdom, and thus he might have been worthy of being a leader of B’nai Yisrael. “‘Now took Korach — he took himself.’ He did not wait until he was offered the leadership, but he sought to take it by force. That is why he is not worthy of it.”[1] It seems that Korach used the above attributes for Ra, attempting to deceive the people and to seize power and influence from Moshe Rabbeinu and Aaron HaKohen. Perhaps the history of contemporary political leadership parallels the worst of Korach, but without any valid rationale?
Who Would Have Thunk: Hamas Loots Arafat’s Peace Prize
Commentary;
It’s reported that while Hamas was looting Yassir Arafat’s house in Gaza City, they even swipped Arafat’s precious peace prize. Undoubtedly Blogosphere is having a lot of fun with this one, as witness this recent Little Green footballs post.
It’s a shame that they didn’t come up with a matched pair by swipping Peres’ as well.
Below is the text of an email recently sent to list by author Naomi Ragen which will serve as introduction to Khalid Abu Toameh’s recent piece in the Jerusalem Post. MB
Criteria for Telling Gunmen from Human-Shields or Co-Conspirators With or Without Rap-Sheet??
Justice Minister: Israel Must Allow Fleeing Palestinians Entry to West Bank (Ynet)
Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann issued a statement Monday calling on Israel to allow Palestinians wishing to flee Gaza entry to the West Bank.
“As long as the people in question are not Hamas gunmen and do not pose a security threat, Israel must facilitate their transition,” said the statement.
Commentary;
It’ll be very interesting to watch exactly what criteria will be used in determining who is permitted to enter Yehuda and Shomron, if any is used at all, to distinguish a “peaceful” pal(sic) from a gunman, a human-shield or a terror co-conspirator. MB
Monday War News
Kassam Lands in West Negev; Two Treated for Shock
Kassam Rocket Lands in West Negev; Building Damaged
Related report: Kassam Lands in Factory with Hazardous Materials
Terrorists Having ‘Field Day’ Bringing Arms at Rafiah [Also Philadelphi Route]
Arab Israelis Indicted for Funneling Money to Hamas
IDF Investigating Shooting at Erez Crossing
Gaza: Hamas Fires to Keep Palestinians Away From Erez Crossing