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1. House Majority to Clinton: Calm Down on Israel
by Hillel Fendel
More than 75 percent of Congressmen in the U.S.House of Repreentatives have signed a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressing support for Israel and demanding an end to the highly-publicized state of tensions with Israel.
Signed by 327 Representatives, out of 435, the letter calls on Clinton and the Obama Administration to settle its disputes with Israel in a non-public and friendly fashion. The current tensions “will not advance the interests the U.S. and Israel share,” the letter states, as “above all, we must remain focused on the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear weapons program to Middle East peace and stability."
The letter was initiated last week by leaders of both parties, including the top Representatives of each one: Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
Additional excerpts from the letter:
“We are writing to reaffirm our commitment to the unbreakable bond that exists between our country and the State of Israel, and to express to you our deep concern over recent tension. In every important relationship, there will be occasional misunderstandings and conflicts… Differences are best resolved quietly, in trust and confidence, as befits longstanding strategic allies…
"We are reassured that Prime Minister Netanyahu's commitment to put in place new procedures will ensure that such surprises [a municipal Jerusalem announcement on approval of another step towards the construction of 1,600 apartments in a post-1967 Jerusalem neighborhood during U.S. Vice President Biden's recent visit to Israel], however unintended, will not recur.”
"The United States and Israel are close allies whose people[s] share a deep and abiding friendship based on a shared commitment to core values including democracy, human rights and freedom of the press and religion. Our two countries are partners in the fight against terrorism, and share an important strategic relationship…
Strong Israel is an Asset to U.S.
"A strong Israel is an asset to the national security of the United States and brings stability to the Middle East. We are concerned that the highly publicized tensions in the relationship will not advance the interests the U.S. and Israel share. Above all, we must remain focused on the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear weapons program to Middle East peace and stability.”
Netanyahu returned on Thursday from Washington after a highly-unpublicized meeting with President Obama there. The lack of a press conference and photo-ops is widely viewed as an Obama snub of Netanyahu, though the excuse has been offered that the meeting was barely planned in advance.
Obama's One-Sided Demands on Israel
Obama demands that Netanyahu stop building in eastern Jerusalem and make a series of other gestures to the Palestinian Authority, while not demanding anything from the other side. Netanyahu has not agreed to do so, but met with his mini-cabinet of seven ministers on Friday to try to formulate a response. The ministers plan to meet again before the Passover holiday, which begins Monday night.
2. Ministers, MKs Encourage Netanyahu on Jerusalem
by David Lev
Speaking Thursday at Ariel University, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar said that he praised Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for his “strong stance in standing firm on the important interests of Israel, especially on our rights in Jerusalem. There is no other nation on earth that has a greater right to their capital than we in Israel do when it comes to Jerusalem,” Sa'ar said.
Attending the event, held in honor of the University, was coalition chairman Ze'ev Elkin, who said that “this evening represents the fact that Israel has an independent government that can make decisions and execute them. On this evening, the State of Israel states clearly that 'we are here and we will never leave, not from Jerusalem, nor from Ariel, the capital of Samaria, nor from any of the towns in Judea and Samaria.”
In his speech, Sa'ar said that Ariel University was the eighth largest institution of higher learning in Israel, with over 10,000 students. The school is one of the country's leaders in scientific research, he said. Participating in the event, held in honor of the University, were Professor Moshe Arens, Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman, former MK Eliezer 'Chita' Cohen and others.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also said he hoped that Netanyahu would remain strong in the wake of America's demands that Israel stop building in new neighborhoods of Jerusalem. “Jerusalem is not a settlement, but the capital of Israel. Jerusalem is not a settlement like Nokdim (Lieberman's home town), and building will continue there,” he said.
Speaking to Channel 2, Lieberman said that “Western countries do not understand the root of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. We do not intend to become another Masada here. We will defend our interests,” Lieberman said, adding that “Kadima wants to lead us to a second disengagement.”
3. ZOA: Clinton Owes New Yorkers An Apology
by David Lev
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her "to apologize to your former New York constituents (when you were their Senator) for having misled them by falsely claiming to support an undivided Jerusalem as Israel's capital." The letter was signed by Morton A. Klein, President of ZOA; Dr. Michael Goldblatt, Chairman, National Board; Dr. Alan Mazurek, Chair, Executive Committee and Steven Goldberg, Esq., Vice-Chairman, National Board.
The letter went on to say, "when you were New York's Senator from 2001 to 2009, you repeatedly stated in speeches and in a September 2007 position paper that you believed 'Israel's right to exist in safety as a Jewish state, with defensible borders and an undivided Jerusalem as its capital, must never be questioned.' Your spokesperson, Jim Chon, even said, 'this paper is a reflection of her consistent policy.that hasn't changed.'
"Madame Secretary, you also signed the June 2004 Senate Resolution endorsing President Bush's letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that supported Israel 'retaining major Israeli population centers' in Judea and Samaria in any final peace agreement.'
"We make this demand following your passionate and heartfelt condemnation of Israel for announcing the construction of Jewish homes in a Jewish neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem by stating that Jews building and moving there 'is an insult to America.' The only reasonable interpretation of this policy is that it is a first step toward dividing Jerusalem."
Despite Israel's unilateral concession of a ten-month freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria, excluding Jerusalem, which the Obama Administration and you had accepted and even praised, the Administration harshly condemned Israel. Secretary Clinton made a harsh telephone call to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in which, according to the words of the State Department, she called the Israeli announcement "a deeply negative signal about Israel's approach to the bilateral relationship (Glenn Lessler, 'Clinton rebukes Israel over east Jerusalem plan, cites damage to bilateral ties,' Washington Post, March 15, 2010). Clinton also later described it as being "not only an insult to [visiting Vice-President Joseph] Biden, but an insult to the United States" (Moshe Dann, 'A blessing in disguise,' Yediot Ahronot, March 15, 2010).
The ZOA letter went on to say, "Your shocking words about Israel building in east Jerusalem is especially perplexing in light of the fact that you have ignored Congress passing the 'Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995' by a margin of 93 to 5 in the U.S. Senate and 347 to 37 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"The Act which is U.S. Law stated:
(1) Jerusalem should remain an undivided city.
(2) Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the state of Israel.'
It also stated
(1) Each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own capital.
(2) Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel.
(3) The city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel's President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the site of numerous government ministries and social and cultural institutions.
(4) The city of Jerusalem is the spiritual center of Judaism, and is also considered a holy city by the members of other religious faiths.
(5) From 1948-1967, Jerusalem was a divided city and Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jewish citizens of all states were denied access to holy sites in the area controlled by Jordan.
(6) In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited during the conflict known as the Six Day War.
(7) Since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united city administered by Israel, and persons of all religious faiths have been guaranteed full access to holy sites within the city.
(8) This year marks the 28th consecutive year that Jerusalem has been administered as a unified city in which the rights of all faiths have been respected and protected.
(9) In 1990, the Congress unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 106, which declares that the Congress ``strongly believes that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city."
(10) In 1992, the United States Senate and House of Representatives unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 113 of the One Hundred Second Congress to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, and reaffirming congressional sentiment that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, "It took only a few months to confirm that Secretary of State Clinton bears little resemblance to Senator Clinton on Israel issues and was apparently misrepresenting her true views and beliefs on Israel to her New York constituents. From having once loudly proclaimed support for an undivided Jerusalem, upon becoming Secretary of State, suddenly, parts of an "undivided Jerusalem" became places where Jews may not move or build, even though Jews were a majority in eastern Jerusalem from the mid-1800s until 1948, when Jordan forced Jewish residents to flee, and are now a majority once again. Her recent harsh words of condemnation - a term used in diplomacy normally only to describe the most heinous acts committed by a non-democratic regime, confirms that Secretary Clinton did not believe what she said about Jerusalem when she was Senator Clinton.
"Preventing Jews, because they are Jews, from moving into or developing their communities in Jerusalem is a racist and even apartheid American and Palestinian Arab policy which aims to weaken Israel's claim to Jerusalem an is a first step towards dividing the city. This is a policy one would never have expected Secretary Clinton to support in view of her previous unequivocal statements, as U.S. Senator from New York, of support for a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty.
"Secretary Clinton owes her New York Jewish and pro-Israel constituents a public apology," the ZOA said.
4. Abbas Rejects Obama’s Peace Talks and Israeli Concessions
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, emboldened by U.S. President Barack Obama’s tough talk on Israel, has rejected American-mediated talks with Israel unless Israel agrees to demands to stop building for Jews in most newer parts of Jerusalem.
Abbas told the Arab League summit in Libya that Israel must make more concessions in accordance with President Obama’s view that large parts of Jerusalem are “occupied.” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has agreed to open up the status of the capital, as well as all other issues, for negotiation. The move was a concession to President Obama to enable the PA to resume indirect talks, but Abbas has now demanded further concessions.
President Obama has insisted that he is not imposing an agreement on Israel, but Abbas has taken the president’s condemnation of Israel’s building for Jews in all of Jerusalem as a signal that Israel can be pushed into a diplomatic corner. Abbas turned the American position into a pre-condition for talks and a non-negotiable part of a final agreement for establishing the PA as a country.
The Executive Branch’s policy contradicts stated Congressional policy, expressed in law, that Jerusalem is the united capital of Israel.
Abbas used the Arab League summit, with nearly half of its members absent from the meeting in Libya, to declare that Jerusalem is a “jewel” that cannot be compromised.
"We cannot resume indirect negotiations as long as Israel maintains its settlement policy and the status quo," he said. "Negotiations on…borders would be absurd if Israel decides [the borders of a new PA state] on the ground. We have always said that Jerusalem is the jewel in the crown and the gate to peace."
While Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said that the Arab world should prepare for the possibility of "complete failure" of the American-led diplomatic process on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon lent support for Abbas' demands. He again “condemned” Israel for building for Jews in areas of Jerusalem where the United States does not recognize Israeli sovereignty and where 300,000 Jews live.
The Arab League was less united on Iran, rejecting Amr Moussa’s suggestion to open dialogue with Iran, which is defined as Persian and is not part of the Arab League. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit told reporters, “Most of the Arab countries don't welcome this for now."
5. IDF Prepares for Large-Scale Missile Attack
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The Air Force this past week has tested new anti-missile systems by simulating a large-scale attack from several enemies using missiles ranging from the primitive Kassam rocket to Iran’s advanced Shihab missile.
The computer-simulated tests involved several defense systems, including Iron Dome and Arrow 3, against simultaneous attacks from Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
The anti-missile systems are expected to become operational over a period of years, with the Iron Dome system against short-range Kassam rockets expected to be ready before the end of 2010.
Lt. Col Avi Cohen, head of the Arrow program, explained that the exercise was staged to help determine how different systems can function in a large-scale attack requiring the use of different anti-missile systems.
He said that intensive purchase programs have enabled the Israel Defense Forces to make breakthroughs in technology, which require testing to enable the Air Force to prepare the systems for operation. Additonal tests are scheduled throughout the year.
6. Two IDF Soldiers Killed in Gaza Incident
by David Lev
Two IDF soldiers were killed on Friday in an incident near Kibbutz Kissufim on the Gaza border: Major Eliraz Peretz, 31, from Eli, and Staff Sergeant Ilan Sviatkovsky, 21, from Rishon Letzion. Two other soldiers were injured in the incident, one seriously and one lightly.
A unit of Golani troops crossed the border into Gaza in pursuit of a gang of terrorists who were planting explosives along the border, in an effort to ambush IDF patrols. Soldiers feared that the terrorists, taking advantage of the poor weather, would try to infiltrate the border and sneak into Israel in order to carry out terror attacks against Israeli civilians. An IDF investigation said that the terrorists got close to the soldiers and were able to shoot at them from close range in the fog, with one bullet apparently hitting a hand grenade one of the soldiers was carrying. The grenade exploded, killing the two soldiers. Two of the terrorists were killed, as well.
IDF Southern Forces Commander Yoav Gallant and Gaza Unit commander Eyal Eisenberg arrived on the scene shortly after the incident.
Several hours after the incident, IDF troops observed another group of terrorists planting explosives along the border. Tanks fired at these terrorists, hitting and eliminating two of them. Another terrorist was eliminated a short time later by IAF fire when he, too, was caught planting explosives. IDF patrols operated overnight Friday, destroying several buildings and other infrastructure the terrorists were using to attack soldiers.
An IDF investigation has concluded that the soldiers acted properly, the army said Saturday night. Gallant told reporters that “the terrorists were attempting to plant explosives along the border. Soldiers observed the terrorists' activities and crossed the border as required,” he said. Eisenberg said that “these kind of incidents occur almost daily, unfortunately. IDF troops act to defend civilians, in this case the residents of towns near the border. Such actions are undertaken on both sides of the border, by ground troops and tanks, both in open and secret operations. Unfortunately we paid a heavy price on Friday. We support the families and express our grief at what occurred. The IDF will continue to do what it needs to protect residents of Israel.
Eliraz, who was the regiment's deputy commander, is the second member of the Peretz family to be killed in battle. On November 25, 1998, Peretz's brother, Uriel, was killed when his Golani unit was attempting to neutralize several explosive devices planted by Hizbullah terrorists in northern Israel. His widowed mother lives in Givat Zeev, a northern suburb of Jerusalem. He has four surviving siblings.
Eliraz left a wife and four children, including a two month old infant.
Ilan Sviatkovsky left parents and a brother. He was close to the end of his army service.
7. Home of IDF Soldier Killed in Gaza Set to Be Demolished
by David Lev
The home of Major Eliraz Peretz, who was killed Friday when his IDF unit pursued a gang of terrorists into the Gaza region, is set to be demolished by May 1 at the latest, thanks to an order by the High Court which gave the state a deadline for carrying out the decision in a suit brought by the leftist Peace Now organization. MK Danon has promised to prevent the decision from being carried out, but so far it stands.
Peretz's home is located in the Givat Hayovel neighborhood of Eli, termed an “illegal outpost” by the court. Peretz's home is two doors down from the home of another IDF hero killed in battle; the family of Ro'i Klein, who was killed saving members of his battalion during the Second Lebanon War, is also set to be evicted, thanks to the court's order.
Eliraz, 31, was killed Friday when he led troops in pursuit of terrorists who planted explosives along the Gaza border in order to ambush and kill IDF troops. The soldiers also feared that the terrorists would try to infiltrate across the border in order to carry out terror attacks against Israeli civilians. An IDF investigation said that the terrorists managed to outrun the troops and were able to shoot at them from close range, with one bullet apparently hitting a hand grenade one of the soldiers was carrying. The grenade exploded, killing Eliraz, along with Staff Sergeant Ilan Sviatkovsky, 21, from Rishon Letzion. Two of the terrorists were killed, as well.
On Friday, Shlomit, the widow of Eliraz, was informed that her husband had been killed in battle by IDF Chief Rabbi Avichai Ronski. Shlomit noticed a commotion at the Klein home and went over to find out what had happened; it was there that she was told of her husband's death, as Rabbi Ronski preferred to first prepare the neighborhood for the bad news.
Miriam Peretz, the mother of Eliraz, said that her son was “the salt of the earth, a child who loved and embraced others, a child who raised his own family here in Israel. Four of my sons were Golani soldiers. I don't know much about the Golani units, but I do know that G-d loves them, that He loves the Golani soldiers of the Peretz family, and that He loves Eliraz, who was a hero.
“He didn't go to battle to get himself killed, but to ensure that I and the Jewish nation could continue to live here,” she said. Eliraz, who was the regiment's deputy commander, is the second member of the Peretz family to be killed in battle. On November 25, 1998, Peretz's brother, Uriel, was killed when his Golani unit was attempting to neutralize several explosive devices planted by Hizbullah terrorists. Eliran left behind a wife and four children, including a two month old infant.
