 | ||
 |         |  |
 | ||
| MP3 Radio | Website News Briefs: | |||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
 |  |
1. Update: Bodies of Six IDF Airmen Recovered
by Hillel Fendel and Gil Ronen
Earlier today, the Romanian television station "Antena 3" reported that some of the bodies of the crewman killed in the tragic helicopter crash have been recovered. The IDF spokesperson confirmed the report, saying that the remains of the six IDF Air Force crewman who were killed in the crash on Monday were recovered today by Israeli and Romanian rescue services.
Romanian security services took some of the remains to a hospital in the city of Brasov. An Israeli forensic team is on its way to the hospital to identify and return the remains home to Israel.
A large IDF rescue team comprising 80 members arrived on the site in three Israeli Air Force helicopters, the IDF spokesperson said. The team included 669, the IDF's elite rescue unit, Rabbnical Corps, Medical Corps and the Oketz canine unit.
The Tragic News
The IDF Spokesman announced Tuesday that seven bodies have been found in the location of the helicopter crash in Romania. An official Romanian prosecutor signed “confirmed death” certificates for the bodies.
The dead are six Israel Air Force crewmen and one Romanian observer who took part in the exercise.
The information has been relayed to the families of the airmen. IDF body identification crews and representatives of the Military Rabbinate were on their way to the scene of the crash.
Rabbi Naftali Deutsch, the Chabad emissary in Romania, told Arutz Sheva Tuesday that the IDF soldiers taking part in the IDF's military exercise in Romania "did not sleep all night, searching for their comrades who were aboard the crashed helicopter."
He said that the area of the crash is marked by very tall mountains, and can be reached only by foot. He said he had gotten to know all the soldiers in the exercise over the past few weeks.
Video: IDF delegation leaves to helicopter crash site
The six IDF soldiers aboard the crashed helicopter in Romania were:
* Maj. Yahel Keshet (33) of Hatzerim, near Be’er Sheva, married and father of two. He was born, and his parents still live, in Moshav Sharona in the Lower Galilee, where family and friends gathered to give each other comfort and hope. “A ‘Land of Israel’ family that raised their children with values and Zionism,” a friend said with sadness.
* Lt. Nir Lakrif (25) of Tel Nof Air Force Base. His wife of a year, Maggie, who was the first to be informed that her husband was on the fallen craft, is four months pregnant. She then informed his father Yuval, who lives in Kiryat Ata with his second wife, and his mother Daniela. Nir recently completed his studies in the Air Force’s Technical School with honors.
* Lt.-Col. Avner Goldman (48) of Modi'in, the only reserves soldier on the flight.
* Lt.-Col. Daniel Shifenbauer (43) of Moshav Kidron, near Yad Binyamin, a department head in the IAF’s Operations Staff.
* Maj. Lior Shai (28) of Tel Nof Air Force Base
* Sgt.-Maj. Oren Cohen (24) of Rehovot
“We have apparently lost some of the IAF’s best air fighters,” say IAF sources.
Israel and Romania have agreed upon a joint investigation of the crash. Initial speculation is that the Yas’ur helicopter crashed into a mountainside as a result of poor visibility in the inclement weather, or a technical failure.
This was the worst IAF accident in 13 years. In February 1997, two Yas’urs crashed into each other on their way to Lebanon in heavy fog above northern Israel, claiming the lives of all 73 aboard both. Eight of the fallen soldiers were air force crewmen, while the others were combat troops on their way to outposts in southern Lebanon.
Though the Yas’ur has been involved in several fatal accidents ever since Israel began using it in the late 1960’s, it is considered an indispensable element of the Israel Air Force and the backbone of its air transport network. Manufactured in the United States, where it is known as the Sikorsky CH-53 transport helicopter, it has taken successful part in many complex military operations over the years.
Just over three years ago, the Air Force began its “Yas’ur 2025” program to upgrade the Yas’ur with new systems in self-defense, electronic warfare, communications, safety, and more. The goal is to be able to continue to use the Yas’ur until the year 2025.
2. 'Our Campaign is Not Anti-Obama, Just Pro-American Israeli'
by Yoni Kempinski, Eli Stutz
Every vote counts.
With that in mind, the American Israeli Action Coalition (AIAC) kicked-off of its “Get out the Vote” campaign among Americans living in Israel for the November 2010 U.S. Congressional elections. AIAC held a press conference in Jerusalem (watch the video below).
AIAC Chairman Harvey Schwartz explained the initiative. "It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 potential American voters living in Israel. They have a right (and an obligation) to vote in – and can have a significant impact on -- the upcoming U.S. Congressional elections."
The congressional elections are viewed by many in Israel and America as a possible turning point which could swing the American government away from the policies of Barack Obama, who many say is anti-Israel. Scwatz insisted, though, that the AIAC campaign was not levelled against Obama. "This is most definitely not an anti-Obama campgain," he said emphatically. "This is a pro-American Israeli campaign."
AIAC plans to conduct a major campaign to register as many American voters living in Israel as possible to exercise their right to participate in the U.S. electoral process. "In these critical times," said Schwatz, "it is incumbent upon all Americans to vote for their choice of elected officials – and that includes the Americans living in Israel as well."
Schwatz noted, that in the past, many American Israelis have not voted in U.S. Congressional elections for a number of reasons:
1. They do not know that, as American citizens living in Israel, they have the right to vote in U.S. Congressional elections;
2. Even if they know that American Olim can vote, they think that their personal status – for example – children born in Israel to American parents, or lone soldiers – does not permit them to vote;
3. They do not know how to participate in the absentee voting process; or
4. They think their vote will not count. (make a difference)
AIAC has identified various groups of Americans in Israel who have never been targeted before for this type of campaign. One example is American post-high school students who come to Israel to study for a year or two. Another example would be American students attending Israeli colleges, such as Hebrew University, Tel Aviv University, and Bar-Ilan University. A third example is children born in Israel to American parents. Depending on state law, they may be eligible to vote in Congressional elections even if they have never set foot in the United States.
3. "He Served G-d with Love and Joy" say IDF Crash Victim's Friends
by Eli Stutz
Friends of Lieutenant-Colonel Avner Goldman, killed Monday in the Romanian helicopter tragedy, say he had devoted himself to Torah study.
Sorrow has filled the home of Lieutenant-Colonel Goldman in the city of Modi'in since army officers arrived with the news of Goldman's death. Just a week ago, Lieutenant Goldman had celebrated his 48th birthday at home and then flew to Romania for IDF reserve duty.
Bitterly mournful community members told Arutz-7, "Avner was a servant of G-d through love and awe and joy. Since he was released from military service two years ago he has devoted himself to religious study. He was a scholar of Torah who was constantly teaching his own wonderful "chiddushim" (innovations)."
"He also affected his family around him, imparting to them the love of Torah. Every get-together of the extended family turned into a "seudat mitzvah" (a holy feast) and all present were privileged to hear from him and his sons the completion of tractates of the Talmud. He always acted pleasantly with his fellow man, with a bright face, making others happy and bringing them close to the Torah."
Community figures said that Goldman sent out his weekly Torah lecture to the community and that before leaving last week, he wrote, "I am taking a break to go on reserve duty. Will be back for "Re'eh"," which is the next week's Torah portion.
Goldman leaves behind his wife and four children.
4. Arabs Riot Over Jerusalem King's Garden Project
by Hana Levi Julian
Hundreds of Arab demonstrators rioted Tuesday in Jerusalem over the city government's plans to demolish 22 Arab homes that were built without permits.
At least 200 Palestinian Authority Arabs were involved in the violence, according to an AFP news photographer. Eyewitnesses said that some of the rioters were hurling rockets at police and border guard officers, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the mob.
No arrests were made, according to a police spokesperson. Local Arab officials eventually convinced the demonstrators to disperse. Five protesters were reportedly injured in the melee.
The city's project to upgrade the crumbling, crowded Arab neighborhood into an archaeological park has inflamed passions among the local residents, many of who built their homes without permits.
Another 66 similarly-built illegal structures in the King's Garden area, also known as the Al-Bustan neighborhood, would be allowed to remain and under the plan would be retroactively legalized.
The neighborhood is located in a part of the city known internationally as the so-called “Holy Basin,” which houses the site of ancient Jerusalem during the time of the Biblical kings David and Solomon. The area was restored to Israel during the 1967 Six Day War in a move not recognized by the international community.
5. Filmmaker Apologizes for Anti-Jewish Remarks
by Elad Benari
Filmmaker Oliver Stone apologized on Tuesday for anti-Semitic remarks he made about the Holocaust and the influence of Jewish media.
A few days ago, during an interview that was published in the Sunday Times of London, Stone said that the “Jewish domination of the media” caused Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust to be put out of context.
“Hitler was a Frankenstein, but there was also a Dr. Frankenstein,” said Stone in the interview. “German Industrialists, the Americans and the British. He had a lot of support. Hitler did far more damage to the Russians than the Jewish people, 25 or 30 million.”
Stone also said during the interview that the Jews dictated US foreign policy and have been distorting it for years. “There's a major lobby in the United States," he said. "They are hard workers. They stay on top of every comment. The most powerful lobby in Washington."
Stone’s comments received criticism from Jewish sources far and wide. David Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee said in a statement: “By invoking this grotesque, toxic stereotype, Oliver Stone has outed himself as an anti-Semite. For all of Stone’s progressive pretensions, his remark is no different from one of the drunken, Jew-hating rants of his fellow Hollywood celebrity, Mel Gibson.”
Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein also criticized Stone’s comments, referring to them as “nauseating, anti-Semitic and racist” and adding: “Not only is he showing ignorance, he is demonizing Jews for no reason and returning to the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion.' When a man of Stone's stature speaks in this way, it can bring waves of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment, and may even damage Jewish communities and individuals."
Following the outrage, Stone apologized for his comments in a statement released on Tuesday by his publicist: “In trying to make a broader historical point about the range of atrocities the Germans committed against many people, I made a clumsy association about the Holocaust, for which I am sorry and I regret. “Jews obviously do not control media or any other industry. The fact that the Holocaust is still a very important, vivid and current matter today is, in fact, a great credit to the very hard work of a broad coalition of people committed to the remembrance of this atrocity -- and it was an atrocity.”
6. Netanyahu and Abdullah Hold Meeting
by Elad Benari
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Jordanian King Abdullah conducted a rare and secret meeting on Tuesday. The two hour long meeting was not made public until after its conclusion and was described by the Prime Minister as “very positive”.
During the meeting, Netanyahu told Abdullah that Israel believes it is time for direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and expressed his belief that such negotiations are also in the interest of all moderate Arab countries. King Abdullah said during the conversation that peace is the only way in which to achieve security and stability and as such called for all unilateral moves to that delay peace to end.
Speaking of his meeting with the Jordanian king at the at the National Security College's graduation ceremony in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: “We must have peace agreements that include a solution to the threats against us, because we do not want to repeat what happened when we withdrew from Lebanon and got an Iranian military base in the north, and we do not want to have what happened in Gaza, where a southern Iranian enclave was created with increasing armament.”
The two leaders also discussed ways for Israel and Jordan to cooperate in the fields of economy, energy, and transportation. Of particular significance was their discussion of collaboration between the two countries that would see a railroad linking Eilat, Aqaba and Ashdod.
“I told the king of Jordan that we are going to connect the State of Israel with a network of roads and trains, and that we are starting to build a valley train from Haifa to the Jordan Valley,” said Netanyahu. ”King Abdullah said, 'We are also building a train to the same area, let’s connect.”
Tuesday’s meeting was not the first surprise meeting between the two leaders. In May 2009, Netanyahu paid a surprise visit to Jordan. During that meeting, Abdullah demanded that Netanyahu “immediately declare his commitment to a two-state solution, [declare] acceptance of the Arab peace initiative and to take necessary steps to move forward toward a solution.” He also said that Israel must open all crossings into Gaza.
In the past year, the Jordanian king has voiced some anti-Israel remarks. Last May, he warned that following discussions with US President Barack Obama that war will break out within 18 months if Israel does not accept the Saudi Arabian 2002 Peace Plan. In April of this year, the king warned that the status of Jerusalem could blow up into another war and stated that Jordan was better off economically before it made peace with Israel in 1994. He also said at the time: “I think the long-term future of Israel is in jeopardy unless we solve our problems. Fifty-seven countries in the world, a third of the United Nations, do not recognize Israel. In a way, I think North Korea has better international relations than Israel.”
Netanyahu summarized Tuesday’s meeting by saying that Jordan has a great significance in promoting peace and that King Abdullah constitutes an essential factor of the process to achieve peace.
7. PA Government Shakeup Planned Next Week
by Hana Levi Julian
The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority is allegedly headed for a major shakeup next week; Prime Minister Salam Fayyad may be tasked with forming a new government.
Fatah parliament speaker Azzam Al-Ahmad told the Bethelehem-based Ma'an news agency on Tuesday that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is conducting talks with all of the PA factions in Judea and Samaria to discuss the structure of the new government.
However, although Abbas is setting up the structure of the new government, it is Fayyad, or possibly “another politician” that will be tasked with forming a new coalition, according to Al-Ahmad.
He added that regardless of who becomes prime minister or what the composition of the new government will be, it will “remain affiliated to Fatah” and “strictly follow Fatah party policies.”
New PA government elections were originally scheduled for January, but were postponed by Abbas, who rescheduled the polls for early June, and then reportedly deferred them indefinitely. Likewise the current government shakeup, which was first considered in February, according to media reports, and then again proposed by Fayyad in April just before the launch of indirect talks with Israel.
Fayyad: Future Leader or Victim?
Fayyad, who majored in economics during his university years in the United States, also worked for the World Bank and has built a network of contacts that has served him well in the global arena.
He was hand-picked by the Bush administration to build the PA government's economic and administrative infrastructure in hopes of preparing it to accept the responsibility of national leadership, should a final status agreement be inked with Israel.
However, Fayyad is not a member of Fatah – in fact, he is an independent, and not necessarily subject to the whims of the “old guard” that surrounds Abbas and his cronies, a status that might eventually cost him his life.
According to a senior PA intelligence agent recently quoted by Arab activist and writer Fadi Elsalameen, there are elements in both Fatah and the Gaza-based Hamas terrorist organization that are quietly plotting to kill the PA prime minister.
The agent, identified only as “J,” explained to Elsalameen, “Fatah wants the Ministry of Finance, and Fayyad refuses and threatens to resign every time they bring this up. No one has loyalty to him.”
The writer, who runs the PalestineNote.com web site, observed, “The fact that Fatah and Hamas could disagree on every national agenda item, but agree on the elimination of Fayyad, is sinister and telling. If Palestine is to be established as a legitimate state, dirty backroom dealings to squeeze out an inflexible political element must come to an end.”
More Website News:
 | Waqf Bulldozers on Temple Mount May Be Destroying Jewish History  |
| Netanyahu: 'The Tragedy is a Great One' |
| University Cancels Conference to Defy Anti-Israel Bias |
| New British PM Calls Gaza a 'Prison Camp' |
| Israelis and Parents More at Ease Than Americans |
