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1. Obama and Netanyahu End Closed-Door ’Give and Take’ Meeting
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
U.S. President Barack Obama met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu twice behind closed doors in the White House Tuesday evening, at virtually the same time Jerusalem announced final approval for another building project in united Jerusalem. (See Daniel Pipes on "When Obama Met Netanyahu.")
It was the second time in less than a month that the Prime Minister met with American leaders at the same time that Israeli officials issued a statement about construction for Jews in parts of Jerusalem that the United States does not recognize as being under Israeli sovereignty. Unlike the previous public anger by American officials, no comments were made about the announcement, nor were substantive reports issued about the subjects that the two leaders discussed.
The meeting also coincided with another spate of Arab stoning attacks on Jews in Judea and Samaria with the intention of causing fatal accidents. Neither the United States nor Israel referred to the continuing attacks, which the Palestinian Authority is committed to halt, along with all other violence and incitement against the Jewish State.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told the media that the meeting involved “give and take” with the intention to encourage talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel on the PA’s conditions for becoming an independent country.
He told reporters, “We’re not putting any preconditions on this. The Israeli government has a policy, but we also have a point of view that Jerusalem is a final status issue.”
Iran presumably was on the discussion agenda, but there was no official confirmation.
Eric Cantor (pictured), the Republican party’s sole Jewish member in the House of Representatives, criticized U.S. President Barack Obama for missing an opportunity to hold a press conference and put an end to the public spat between the two allies. It has escalated since President Obama’s “reaching out to Muslim” speech last June and reached a peak earlier this month when U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel at the same time the Jerusalem area planning committee authorized advancement in the lengthy bureaucratic process for 1,600 new residential units for Jews in the Jewish neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo.
This time, just as Prime Minister Netanyahu was about to meet the President, Israeli officials announced final authorization for the previously-approved project for 20 housing units at the government owned Shepherd’s Hotel. The site is the former office of HItler's Arab ally, Haj Amin al Husseini.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear during his visit to the United States, highlighted by a speech to American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), that the PA “demands for sovereignty over all of what it calls “eastern Jerusalem” are not up for discussion.
The U.S. government, most vocally through U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has demanded that Israel stop all building for Jews in the areas, which also include parts of southern and northern Jerusalem where 300,000 Jews live, almost all of them in totally Jewish neighborhoods.
The outcome of the visit so far is “agreeing to disagree.” Prime Minister Netanyahu has made another concession by agreeing that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority can bring up all issues for discussion, meaning the status of Jerusalem and the Arab demands for the immigration of Arabs claiming ancestry in Israel.
The diplomatic ball now is in the court of the Palestinian Authority, which so far has not yet decided whether to resume American-mediated talks.
2. Clinton on Arab Incitement: Ignorance or a Lie?
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech to American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) this week incorrectly blamed Hamas, instead of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, for inciting violence by praising terrorists.
Her brief comments on incitement referred to the newly-renamed Dalal Mughrabi Square in Ramallah, headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told Arab media in January, “Of course we want to name a square after” Mughrabi, who carried out the 1978 Coastal Road massacre in which 37 Israelis were murdered and dozens of others were wounded. She was killed during the attack.
Either intentionally or out of ignorance, Secretary Clinton stated, “When a Hamas-controlled municipality glorifies violence and renames a square after a terrorist who murdered innocent Israelis, it insults the families on both sides who have lost loved ones over the years in this conflict.”
In her speech, she also complimented Abbas, telling her audience, “We commend the government of President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad for the reforms they've undertaken to strengthen law and order, and the progress that they've made in improving the quality of life in the West Bank. But we encourage them to redouble their efforts to put an end to incitement and violence.”
Contradicting Secretary Clinton’s blaming Hamas for the renaming of the Square in honor of Mughrabi, the Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) has documented the continuous veneration of the woman terrorist by Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in the past two years.
It documented five references where Abbas personally glorified Mughrabi and 10 other examples where Fatah and other PA leaders praised her mass murder of Israelis.
Besides Abbas’ comment to the Arabic-language Al Hayat newspaper, he sponsored a celebration of her birthday in late December, as reported by the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority television station.
Abbas’ office also funded the Mughrabi computer center, where its dedication last May was attended by one of his advisors. He also sent his secretary general, Tayeb Abd al-Rahim, to speak in his name earlier this month, calling Mughrabi the “bridge over which we pass on the way to our freedom,” according to PMW.
Abbas also sponsored high school graduation ceremonies in 2008 in honor of the terrorist, where his representative “reviewed the heroic life of the Shahida [martyr]."
Although Secretary Clinton blamed Hamas for praising Mughrabi, PMW cited other examples showing that Fatah, led by Abbas, and the Fatah-led PA lauded Mughrabi. Abbas’ Minister of Culture Siham Barghouti earlier this year defended naming the square after her, declaring that "honoring them [the Martyrs] this way is the least we can give them, and this is our right."
The square was dedicated two weeks ago, on the same day that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel. Abbas had canceled the ceremony because of the timing, but the Fatah youth movement decided to stage its own ceremony that night.
That same day, PA television praised the Coastal Road Massacre, calling the attack "a glorious chapter in the history of the Palestinian people."
The day after the square was named and when Vice President Biden already was in the air on his return to Washington, Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi said at a second dedication of the square, "We shall not submit to any threats, and we are here today to celebrate our history and our battle in naming the square after Mughrabi."
Fatah also held a summer camp in 2008 named for Mughrabi "out of honor and admiration for the Shahida.”
3. IDF Reserves Col.: 'We'll Have to Return to Gaza'
by Hillel Fendel
The heating-up of the Gaza front – about a dozen rockets were fired at Israel last week, killing one Thai worker - brings to mind Operation Defensive Shield, whose eighth anniversary is commemorated at this time.
In light of the three-week military offensive’s success in combating terrorism, Col. (res.) Rabbi Moshe Hager, who was a deputy commander of an IDF division at the time, says Israel will soon have no choice but to do the same in Gaza.
“We must remember what it was like in Judea and Samaria eight years ago,” Col. Hager told Arutz-7’s Benny Toker on Wednesday. “It was a time when even in Gilo [in southern Jerusalem], one could not walk upright for fear of Arab rockets from nearby Beit Jalla, and there were terror attacks almost every day. Operation Defensive Shield brought about a total change.”
Asked to explain why Defensive Shield had such an effect while last year’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza did not, Hager said, “It’s very simple: The IDF remained in Judea and Samaria afterwards and continued doing the dirty work, day and night, of making arrests and not allowing the terrorists to reorganize. But after Cast Lead, the IDF did not remain in Gaza, and that’s the whole difference. The anti-terrorism fence/wall is of secondary importance: wherever we are not present, the security gets worse, and their rockets and terror capabilities get better. We cannot solve the problem without being on the spot.”
Col. Rabbi Hager is convinced that sooner or later, Israel will be forced to return to Gaza for another round of fighting. “The only question is when. If and when Hamas decides to escalate the situation, it will happen then. It is unthinkable to continue as is, with rockets randomly fired at Israel whenever the terrorists feel like it; the State of Israel is responsible for the security of its citizens.”
“Israel must not, under any circumstances, make any changes in Judea and Samaria,” Hager said, “such as giving security control to the forces that U.S. General Dayton is training there. All the weapons there will end up in Hamas hands… I hope that the Prime Minister will remain true to what he said before his Bar-Ilan University speech against any major change there. But if he deviates from this approach, then I imagine we will have to prepare politically to prevent this from happening.
“I assume that if we return to total control over Gaza, as there was until 1993, then perhaps the Gazans too will realize, like the Arabs in Judea and Samaria, that it is worth it for them to have quiet and raise their families nicely,” Hager concluded.
4. Britain Warns Citizens on Traveling to Israel
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Britain dealt a potentially damaging blow to Israel’s tourism industry Wednesday by warning its citizens that traveling to the Jewish State may lead to their passports details being "captured" for “improper uses.”
France also is conducting a probe into the alleged forgery of French passports. "Further investigation has revealed that these four passports were actually false, as the photos did not correspond to the names appearing in each document," a statement by the French prosecutor said.
The British warning follows Britain’s expulsion of an unnamed senior Israeli diplomat from Britain, a retaliatory move for Israel’s allegedly cloning 12 British passports that were used by a counter terrorist team that assassinated Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in January. The Mossad has widely been considered responsible for the highly sophisticated operation.
Israel has not denied or confirmed participation in the elimination of the terrorist, but British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Tuesday that there are "compelling reasons" to believe Israel was behind it.
Miliband said the passports had been copied from "genuine British passports" in a "highly sophisticated operation," indicating that a state intelligence service was responsible. He charged that that a state inquiry concluded there was “circumstantial evidence of Israeli involvement in the fraudulent use of British passports.”
The British government advised citizens, "This has raised the possibility that your passport details could be captured for improper uses while your passport is out of your control. The risk applies in particular to passports without biometric security features. We recommend that you only hand your passport over to third parties, including Israeli officials, when absolutely necessary."
Israel has a stated policy on security matters of neither confirming nor denying involvement.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman complained to Britain that no evidence has been presented that points to Israel's involvement in the affair” and added, “We regret the British decision."
5. Hamas-Ruled Gaza Receives More Aid, Markets Flowers in Europe
by Hana Levi Julian
Palestinian Authority residents in Gaza received more than 12,000 tons of humanitarian aid last week, while business owners in the region exported more flowers to Europe. The Gaza region is known for its fragrant carnations, which sell for a high price in the European Union. PA Arab business owners shipped out eight truckloads to markets on the European continent last week through the Gaza crossings.
Meanwhile, 519 trucks made their way into the region carrying wheat and flour, meat, chicken, fish and legumes, in addition to agricultural produce, hygiene products and medical supplies. Animal feed was transferred into Gaza via the conveyor terminal at the Karni Crossing. In addition, 1,079, 310 liters of diesel fuel and 837 tons of cooking gas were pumped into the region through the fuel terminal at the Nahal Oz Crossing.
The terminal at the Erez Crossing was also busy last week; 483 medical patients and their escorts crossed into Israel from Gaza in order to travel to various destinations, including facilities in Judea and Samaria, for medical treatment.
Another 67 PA Arabs entered Israel for other reasons, according to the Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (CoGAT). Staff members of international aid organizations traveled through the crossing in both directions; 188 staffers entered Gaza through the terminal last week, and 240 others left the region and crossed into Israel through the Erez terminal.
Despite the constant activity that takes place each week at the various crossing, Palestinian Authority government officials continue to attempt to convince the world that Israel has hermetically sealed off Gaza and is economically choking its residents. PA negotiator Saeb Erekat again reiterated this week a call by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for Israel to completely lift its blockade on the Gaza crossings, according to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency.
“Laying siege against the people of Gaza, creating a humanitarian disaster condemned the world over, and then making a few exceptions to what can and cannot pass through Gaza's borders is not a 'goodwill gesture', but the continuation of Israel's occupation by siege,” Erekat claimed.
However, while Erekat complains about the restricted access of PA Arabs to Gaza, kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit continues to languish as a hostage in captivity with the Hamas terrorists who rule the region. Shalit was kidnapped during a cross-border attack on an IDF base near the Kerem Shalom Crossing by a team of terrorists from three Hamas-linked terrorist groups on June 25, 2006.
Despite repeated requests by various political and religious leaders around the globe, Hamas has refused to allow any contact with the young hostage in order to determine his status – thus his condition and whereabouts remain unknown. He has also been denied the basic legal rights of visitation and medical care by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross that he is due in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.
6. Jerusalem Shepherd Hotel Project Gets Final Go-Ahead
by Gil Ronen
A project for construction of 20 housing units at the Shepherd Hotel compound in eastern Jerusalem received the final bureaucratic approvals Tuesday and construction could begin at any time. The project involves restoration of the British and Jordanian-era building in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem, next to Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood which has also seen a renewed Jewish presence and recent controversy.
The Shepherd Hotel was originally built as the home of Haj Amin Al-Husseini, the leader of Jerusalem's Muslims who became an ally of the Nazis.
The Shepherd Hotel project also includes the paving of a new access road to the compound and a multi-level parking lot. It will be undertaken by Florida-based financier and philanthropist Irving Moskowitz.
Another flap?
The Obama administration created a loud diplomatic flap with Israel two weeks ago over another construction project in Jerusalem, accusing Israel of purposely announcing the approval of 1,600 housing units at Ramat Shlomo in order to embarrass visiting Vice President Joe Biden. It remains to be seen whether the announcement regarding the Shepherd Hotel will lead to similar indignation by the US.
No less likely to protest is the British government, which is particularly sensitive about the project because it is located next to the British consulate.
The Israel Foreign Ministry website wrote about the Shepherd Hotel:
The building was built in the 1930s for the Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Al-[Husseini], who was a leader of the Arab Palestinian movement in the 1920s and 1930s and of three waves of riots during this period.
When the British Mandate government deported him, the building was confiscated and turned into a military outpost for the British Army. At the end of the period of the British Mandate, the building was transferred to the ownership of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which expanded the original structure without affecting it, and the building served as the Shepherd Hotel.
Following the Six Day War, the hotel became the property of the Government of Israel. It was used by the Ministry of Justice and as a district courthouse.
On November 5 1985, C and M properties purchased the building and surrounding land from the Government of Israel. With the beginning of the first Intifada in 1987, the Border Police leased the building and stayed there for about 15 years before moving to their new building alongside Highway One.
Since then, and up to the present, the property has been abandoned.
Former diplomat Lenny Ben-David wrote of the project:
Soon the piece of real estate will house the descendants of those who Haj Amin al-Husseini tried to kill in Palestine or the grandchildren of those European Jews who escaped Husseini’s ally, Adolf Hitler. Maybe, just maybe, there are consequences for aggression.
7. The Intifada Comes to Campus: Watch 'Crossing the Line' Here
by Hana Levi Julian
Israel National News is proud to bring its readers a new film that has been produced to explore the proliferation of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incidents on North American college campuses, particularly in the wake of Israel’s counterterrorism Operation Cast Lead last year in Gaza.
Crossing the Line: The Intifada Comes to Campus is produced by filmmaker Raphael Shore, directed by Wayne Kopping and distributed by Imagination Productions. Shore also produced the critically acclaimed Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West and The Third Jihad: Radical Islam’s Vision for America. Kopping, who also worked on both films, has been featured on CNN, Fox News and a variety of syndicated radio programs.
The film looks at the financial ties between Middle Eastern Studies departments in America’s universities and the Arab states that often fund them – and the pro- Palestinian Authority education received by the students who attend college classes in those universities. It also explores the connection between the Muslim Student Association and the Muslim Brotherhood.
One unique method used in the film to differentiate legitimate criticism of Israel from anti-Semitism is Natan Sharansky’s “3-D Test” – checking for de-legitimization, double standard, and/or demonization of Israel in posters, media, speeches, classroom discussions, school events or any other communications or activities relating to Israel.
Interviews with Jewish students and campus professionals are interspersed with footage that shows the incidents experienced by those students who are actively involved in supporting the State of Israel and fighting the biased, misinformation promulgated by Israel’s enemies both in and out of the classroom.
The film features a wide variety of personalities ranging from top Jewish leaders such as Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Major American Jewish Organizations to Abdul Malik Ali, a African-American Imam and pro-Palestinian Authority activist who endorses suicide bombings as a legitimate “resistance” tactics.
For more information about the film, click here.
Meanwhile, the Anti Defamation League and other Jewish organizations have written to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan urging him to assure that the Office of Civil Rights protects Jewish students from harassment or intimidation based on their ethnicity or religion. A statement from the ADL said: "ADL has significant concerns about harassment and intimidation of Jewish students on college campuses - including in the context of heated debate over Israel. We believe the Department of Education should use its civil right enforcement power to investigate and remedy serious incidents in which Jewish students are threatened, harassed or intimidated to the point where their college experience is impaired."
