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1. Min. Landau, MK Dichter: Renew Targeted Killings of Terrorists
by Gil Ronen
Minister Uzi Landau (Israel is Our Home) and MK Avi Dichter of opposition party Kadima both expressed support Thursday for a renewal of the "targeted killing" policy against terror chiefs. Dichter also called for striking civilian infrastructures in the terror haven.
The "targeted killings" policy is a proactive anti-terror tactic in which the IDF does not wait for terrorists to act against Israel in order to strike at them. Rather, it uses its air superiority in order to pick off known terrorist leaders based on real-time intelligence regarding their whereabouts.
Dichter, who is a former Head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), said that some politicians' calls to invade Gaza were "divorced from reality." Embarking on such an operation, he explained, requires a period of preparation of more than a year. "This is our strategic goal," he said, "but right now we need to act... immediately on the tactical plane."
The way to create deterrence vis-a-vis Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Dichter added, requires pinpoint strikes rather than massive attack. Israel, he said, should be "hitting key members of the terror infrastructure in Gaza and at the same time hitting the civilian infrastructures of the Strip."
"The current escalation is the product of an area that, for all purposes, has turned into a terrorist entity. The state of Israel cannot allow itself to accept such a reality between itself and Egypt," Dichter said. His party, Kadima, initiated the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza which led to its being taken over by Hamas.
Minister Landau said that the ongoing terrorist missile fire was 'inching northward' toward Tel Aviv, and was a direct result of the lack of a decisive victory in Operation Cast Lead. He blamed the previous government under Kadima for allowing a routine of incessant missile fire to gain legitimacy.
A policy of retaliation that consists of bombing open spaces, "a tunnel here and a tunnel there," which consists of "causing sand to fly and making some dust" only invites more terror.
Hamas leaders in Gaza, he said, "should go into the bunkers and worry about their personal good health around the clock."
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
Minister Uzi Landau (Israel is Our Home) and MK Avi Dichter of opposition party Kadima both expressed support Thursday for a renewal of the "targeted killing" policy against terror chiefs. Dichter also called for striking civilian infrastructures in the terror haven.
The "targeted killings" policy is a proactive anti-terror tactic in which the IDF does not wait for terrorists to act against Israel in order to strike at them. Rather, it uses its air superiority in order to pick off known terrorist leaders based on real-time intelligence regarding their whereabouts.
Dichter, who is a former Head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), said that some politicians' calls to invade Gaza were "divorced from reality." Embarking on such an operation, he explained, requires a period of preparation of more than a year. "This is our strategic goal," he said, "but right now we need to act... immediately on the tactical plane."
The way to create deterrence vis-a-vis Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, Dichter added, requires pinpoint strikes rather than massive attack. Israel, he said, should be "hitting key members of the terror infrastructure in Gaza and at the same time hitting the civilian infrastructures of the Strip."
"The current escalation is the product of an area that, for all purposes, has turned into a terrorist entity. The state of Israel cannot allow itself to accept such a reality between itself and Egypt," Dichter said. His party, Kadima, initiated the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza which led to its being taken over by Hamas.
Minister Landau said that the ongoing terrorist missile fire was 'inching northward' toward Tel Aviv, and was a direct result of the lack of a decisive victory in Operation Cast Lead. He blamed the previous government under Kadima for allowing a routine of incessant missile fire to gain legitimacy.
A policy of retaliation that consists of bombing open spaces, "a tunnel here and a tunnel there," which consists of "causing sand to fly and making some dust" only invites more terror.
Hamas leaders in Gaza, he said, "should go into the bunkers and worry about their personal good health around the clock."
Comment on this story
2. Call to Pray for Wounded in Jerusalem Terror Attack
by Elad Benari
Wednesday’s terror attack in Jerusalem left as many as 50 people wounded from physical injuries as well as from trauma.
At present, eleven of them are still in the hospital and two are in still listed in serious condition. A worldwide call was issued asking people to pray for their quick and complete recovery. In Judaism, it is customary to say Psalms and mention in the prayers that they are dedicated to the recovery of the injured person, who is called: his/her given name the son/daughter of his/her mother : Odelia Nechama bat Michal suffered serious head injuries and is in intensive care. Her life is still in danger. Natan Daniel ben Shulamit, a 17-year-old student, suffered massive internal injuries and has had a number of internal organs removed. Leah Bracha bat Shoshana, a 19-year-old seminary student, suffered burns to her legs and arms as well as serious shock. David Amoyal, the owner of the snack stand next to the bus stop who told the people who were in the area to run away and then called the police, and was on the phone with them when the bomb exploded. Amoyal suffered injuries to his legs, feet and lower body and is listed in moderate condition. Sasson ben Shulamit suffered lower body injuries and serious post-traumatic symptoms. Ad Shapira, an 18-year-old who is about to complete high school, suffered light orthopedic injuries and is in good condition in hospital. Shilo ben Ofra, 15 years old, suffered burns and fractures to his legs and lower abdomen. He is sedated in intensive care. Daniel ben Nurit, 13 years old, suffered lacerations and shrapnel injuries to his lower extremities, and is likely to be released from the hospital before Shabbat. Elchanan ben Alona, 14 years old, suffered serious injuries to his feet. One ankle and three of his toes were crushed. He has had one operation and will require more surgery. He will likely be in the hospital at least 2-3 weeks. Netanel ben Shlomit, an 18-year-old who works as a security guard at the bus station, was injured in the abdomen had surgery. He is now recuperating in the hospital.
The four-pound bomb exploded across from Jerusalem's Central Bus Station on Wednesday afternoon and killed one person. The explosive charge was placed at a public telephone booth and was detonated as two packed buses passed by.
The terrorist or terrorists who planted the bomb fled the scene, but Palestinian Authority security forces have arrested two members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in connection with the blast.
The two, Khaled Jaradat and Tarek Ka'adan, were picked up in Jenin on Wednesday night, and the Islamic Jihad claimed the PA forces had been working in coordination with Israeli security personnel.
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
Wednesday’s terror attack in Jerusalem left as many as 50 people wounded from physical injuries as well as from trauma.
At present, eleven of them are still in the hospital and two are in still listed in serious condition. A worldwide call was issued asking people to pray for their quick and complete recovery. In Judaism, it is customary to say Psalms and mention in the prayers that they are dedicated to the recovery of the injured person, who is called: his/her given name the son/daughter of his/her mother : Odelia Nechama bat Michal suffered serious head injuries and is in intensive care. Her life is still in danger. Natan Daniel ben Shulamit, a 17-year-old student, suffered massive internal injuries and has had a number of internal organs removed. Leah Bracha bat Shoshana, a 19-year-old seminary student, suffered burns to her legs and arms as well as serious shock. David Amoyal, the owner of the snack stand next to the bus stop who told the people who were in the area to run away and then called the police, and was on the phone with them when the bomb exploded. Amoyal suffered injuries to his legs, feet and lower body and is listed in moderate condition. Sasson ben Shulamit suffered lower body injuries and serious post-traumatic symptoms. Ad Shapira, an 18-year-old who is about to complete high school, suffered light orthopedic injuries and is in good condition in hospital. Shilo ben Ofra, 15 years old, suffered burns and fractures to his legs and lower abdomen. He is sedated in intensive care. Daniel ben Nurit, 13 years old, suffered lacerations and shrapnel injuries to his lower extremities, and is likely to be released from the hospital before Shabbat. Elchanan ben Alona, 14 years old, suffered serious injuries to his feet. One ankle and three of his toes were crushed. He has had one operation and will require more surgery. He will likely be in the hospital at least 2-3 weeks. Netanel ben Shlomit, an 18-year-old who works as a security guard at the bus station, was injured in the abdomen had surgery. He is now recuperating in the hospital.
The four-pound bomb exploded across from Jerusalem's Central Bus Station on Wednesday afternoon and killed one person. The explosive charge was placed at a public telephone booth and was detonated as two packed buses passed by.
The terrorist or terrorists who planted the bomb fled the scene, but Palestinian Authority security forces have arrested two members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in connection with the blast.
The two, Khaled Jaradat and Tarek Ka'adan, were picked up in Jenin on Wednesday night, and the Islamic Jihad claimed the PA forces had been working in coordination with Israeli security personnel.
Comment on this story
3. From Itamar to Terror Stricken Bus Stop
by Elad Benari
A convoy numbering dozens of cars headed out on Thursday from Itamar, through the site of Wednesday's terror attack in Jerusalem, and all the way to Be'er Sheva which has been hit by rockets fired by terrorists from Gaza.
The convoy's message was loud and clear: "We are all one people and terror affects us all equally."
“The Arab terror is rearing its ugly head and is trying to destroy and uproot Jews,” said Samaria Residents' Council head Benny Katzover, who added that “unfortunately, Israel’s security system is headed by a person who stands opposite all these developments and tries to uproot us from here. He’s trying to build for them a Palestinian terror state, and we demand that the Prime Minister fire Barak. He authorized the shooting of rubber bullets at Havat Gilad, he takes only steps that lead to destruction, and we’ve decided to start a series of protest actions against him. We’re also calling on all the Likud voters to turn to Netanyahu and tell him: 'Get rid of Barak or we won’t vote for you in the next elections.'”
“This is a small effort for us, to stand for half an hour in the pouring rain, but the people of Israel have to gather all their strength,” said Rabbi Deuel Basok. “Anyone who thinks that ‘we’re here, but they are there’ should know that this concerns all of us. We’re one nation, in one country, on one front. With G-d’s help we will win.”
Avishag Gigi, who headed a group of girl who took part in the protest, said: “We’re here to express solidarity after all the latest events: the terror attack in Itamar, the mortar shells and Grad rockets in Be’er Sheva, the terror attack here in Jerusalem. We’re expressing solidarity. We love this nation and we want to show the entire nation that we’re strong and that we love them.”
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
A convoy numbering dozens of cars headed out on Thursday from Itamar, through the site of Wednesday's terror attack in Jerusalem, and all the way to Be'er Sheva which has been hit by rockets fired by terrorists from Gaza.
The convoy's message was loud and clear: "We are all one people and terror affects us all equally."
“The Arab terror is rearing its ugly head and is trying to destroy and uproot Jews,” said Samaria Residents' Council head Benny Katzover, who added that “unfortunately, Israel’s security system is headed by a person who stands opposite all these developments and tries to uproot us from here. He’s trying to build for them a Palestinian terror state, and we demand that the Prime Minister fire Barak. He authorized the shooting of rubber bullets at Havat Gilad, he takes only steps that lead to destruction, and we’ve decided to start a series of protest actions against him. We’re also calling on all the Likud voters to turn to Netanyahu and tell him: 'Get rid of Barak or we won’t vote for you in the next elections.'”
“This is a small effort for us, to stand for half an hour in the pouring rain, but the people of Israel have to gather all their strength,” said Rabbi Deuel Basok. “Anyone who thinks that ‘we’re here, but they are there’ should know that this concerns all of us. We’re one nation, in one country, on one front. With G-d’s help we will win.”
Avishag Gigi, who headed a group of girl who took part in the protest, said: “We’re here to express solidarity after all the latest events: the terror attack in Itamar, the mortar shells and Grad rockets in Be’er Sheva, the terror attack here in Jerusalem. We’re expressing solidarity. We love this nation and we want to show the entire nation that we’re strong and that we love them.”
Comment on this story
4. Israel's Military Goes Green for "Earth Hour."
by Gavriel Queenann
Israel's military is observing "Earth Hour 2011," the IDF Spokesperson's Office stated from darkened offices on Thursday. As a result, the lights at numerous IDF installations - including the Kirya, Tel Hashomer, and Tzrifin bases - were turned off.
This is the fourth year in which the IDF has turned off lights for "Earth Hour," and the first year a group of officers and soldiers will take part in the main "Earth Hour" concert at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Soldiers from the IDF's Technology and Logistics Branch, who are involved in environmental protection and energy conservation on a daily basis, will participate in pedaling the bikes that will provide power to the concert.
On a year-round basis, the IDF conducts activities to protect the environment and conserve energy, by dealing with and preventing hazards, increasing the awareness of soldiers and commanders and using advanced technologies.
The IDF is not alone in observing the event. Fifteen Israeli cities and several major corporations are also participating. The cities taking part in the project this year are Tel Aviv-Yafo, Ashdod, Bat Yam, Yavne, Yeruham, Jerusalem, Kfar Saba, Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, Ness Ziona, Netanya, Petah Tikva, Arad, Raanana, Rehovot and the Tamar Regional Council.
Earth Hour is a global event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as World Wildlife Fund, and is held on the last Saturday of March annually. Organizers ask households and businesses to turn off non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.
Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights. Following Sydney's lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008. In Israel, fifteen
Earth Hour 2011 is scheduled to take place on March 26, 2011 from 20:30 to 21:30, at participants' respective local time. Israel however, due to the Sabbath, observed Earth Hour on March 24th from 20:00-21:00.
Israel National News produced this article with the lights off.
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann
Israel's military is observing "Earth Hour 2011," the IDF Spokesperson's Office stated from darkened offices on Thursday. As a result, the lights at numerous IDF installations - including the Kirya, Tel Hashomer, and Tzrifin bases - were turned off.
This is the fourth year in which the IDF has turned off lights for "Earth Hour," and the first year a group of officers and soldiers will take part in the main "Earth Hour" concert at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. Soldiers from the IDF's Technology and Logistics Branch, who are involved in environmental protection and energy conservation on a daily basis, will participate in pedaling the bikes that will provide power to the concert.
On a year-round basis, the IDF conducts activities to protect the environment and conserve energy, by dealing with and preventing hazards, increasing the awareness of soldiers and commanders and using advanced technologies.
The IDF is not alone in observing the event. Fifteen Israeli cities and several major corporations are also participating. The cities taking part in the project this year are Tel Aviv-Yafo, Ashdod, Bat Yam, Yavne, Yeruham, Jerusalem, Kfar Saba, Modiin-Maccabim-Reut, Ness Ziona, Netanya, Petah Tikva, Arad, Raanana, Rehovot and the Tamar Regional Council.
Earth Hour is a global event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as World Wildlife Fund, and is held on the last Saturday of March annually. Organizers ask households and businesses to turn off non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.
Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights. Following Sydney's lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008. In Israel, fifteen
Earth Hour 2011 is scheduled to take place on March 26, 2011 from 20:30 to 21:30, at participants' respective local time. Israel however, due to the Sabbath, observed Earth Hour on March 24th from 20:00-21:00.
Israel National News produced this article with the lights off.
Comment on this story
5. Politicians Warn Against PA State
by Hillel Fendel
The upcoming UN General Assembly session in September, where many countries are poised to recognize a Palestinian state, does not bode well for Israel.
Even Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who, as Prime Minister in 1998, once offered Yasser Arafat close to 98% of Judea, Samaria and Gaza for such a state, is concerned. In a speech last week, Barak said he considers this scenario a “political tsunami” against Israel. He even said that this political development will carry a strong element of de-legitimizing the State of Israel.
As opposed to an increasing number of politicians, however, his solution, was not to try to head off its formation – but only to remove its “unilateral” nature. He accused his boss, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, of not being more forthcoming in negotiations with the PA, and said Israel must express immediate willingness to discuss issues such as final borders, Jerusalem, and the settlement of Arab refugees.
Politicians Against PLO State
Many other politicians, however, are not willing to entertain the possibility of a Palestinian state at all, unilaterally or otherwise. MK Anastasia Michaeli, for instance, of the Israel Our Home party, said this week that she and her party “are doing all we can to prevent… the formation of a hostile and belligerent state in Judea and Samaria."
Also last week, coalition whip and Likud faction chairman MK Zev Elkin, visiting post-massacre Itamar, stated strongly that "there is no place for a Palestinian state, not in temporary borders and not in any other configuration."
The grassroots “Mattot Arim” organization, based in Raanana, recently urged its members to "work strongly against Israel's upcoming big military mistake, namely turning Area A into a Palestinian state."
Can Israel Override PLO Army?
The organization explained, "Even today, there is a Palestinian army in Area A. However, when this Palestinian army gets completely out of hand - for example, in 2002 when its members participated in horrendous terror attacks - the IDF simply retracts the PA army's freedom of operation, partially or completely, for a few hours or for many months. [On the other hand,] once there is a Palestinian state, the IDF will no longer be able to cast it or its army aside, temporarily or permanently, even after that state or army becomes heavily involved in terrorism."
Similarly, Arab-world expert Dr. Mordechai Kedar of Bar Ilan University wrote this week that Israel has only a little time left before the General Assembly session to convince the world how dangerous a Palestinian state would be, "not only to Israel but also to its neighbors."
Conditions Not Fulfilled
Kedar wrote that though Netanyahu laid down two conditions for his acceptance of an Arab state in Judea and Samaria, neither of these two conditions appears to be materializing. They were that the PA must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish nation, and that any future PA state must be demilitarized. “Palestinian spokesmen repeat day and night that they would not dream of recognizing the State of Israel as the Jewish national home,” Kedar wrote, and added that the recent capture of large shipments of weapons bound for Gaza show that the Arabs strongly intend to arm the PA entity “to the teeth with the longest-range, most modern weaponry.”
Ten days ago, Likud MK Yariv Levin reported to his constituents his recent efforts against the formation of a Palestinian state. Having gone on record as being “diametrically opposed to recognizing a Palestinian state," he said he had "raised this issue in the last two Likud faction meetings, and in a personal conversation earlier this year with Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon.”
A week earlier, Yaalon himself, who also serves as Strategic Affairs Minister, told an interviewer that he hopes it is “incorrect” that Netanyahu said he intends to offer the PA a state with temporary borders.
Last month, Deputy Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom went so far as to hint that he might leave the government were it to agree to the formation of a PA state. Shalom told the weekly B’Sheva newspaper that although Netanyahu is talking about such a state, "in our system of government, determinations are made by governmental decision, and there is no such government decision. I have never spoken about a Palestinian state and for as long as it is possible to influence the decision making process in the government, and for as long as no decision has been made that contradicts my position, I am in the government."
Netanyahu Against PA State
Netanyahu himself made perhaps the clearest case against a Palestinian state, when he addressed the Likud Central Committee in May 2002. Such an entity, he said, “will demand all the powers of a state, such as controlling borders, bringing in weapons, control of airspace and the ability to knock down any Israeli plane that enters its area, the ability to sign peace treaties and military alliances with other countries. Once you give them a state, you give them all these things, even if there is an agreement to the contrary - for within a short time they will demand all these things, and they will assume these powers, and the world will stand by and do nothing - but it *will* stop us from trying to stop them.”
"We will thus have created with our own hands a threat to our very existence,” Netanyahu continued. “What will happen if the Palestinians do what the Germans did after World War I, when they nullified the demilitarized zone? The world did nothing then, and the world will do nothing now as well. Even now, the Palestinians are removing all the restrictions to which they agreed in Oslo – they are smuggling in arms, polluting the water sources, building an army, making military deals with Iran and others, and more… But when we try to take action against this, the world opposes us – and not them...”
Netanyahu quoted Yasser Arafat: "Arafat said it best when talking to reporters the day he signed the Oslo Accords: 'Since we can't defeat Israel in war, we must do it in stages, we must take whatever area of Palestine we can get, establish sovereignty there, and then at the right time, we will have to convince the Arab nations to join us in dealing the final blow to Israel.' Self-rule, yes. But a state with which to destroy the State of Israel - no...”
Netanyahu continued, “When Arafat threatened to declare a Palestinian state in 1999, I announced at the United Nations that if he did so, we would annex broad areas of Judea,Samaria and Gaza – and Arafat capitulated.” Might Netanyahu today follow his own advice from 2002?
“On matters vital to our existence,” he concluded in 2002, “we always took clear action, even if others didn’t agree with us. Because the bottom line is that saying 'Yes' to a Palestinian state means 'No' to a Jewish State, and vice-versa.”
Comment on this story
by Hillel Fendel
The upcoming UN General Assembly session in September, where many countries are poised to recognize a Palestinian state, does not bode well for Israel.
Even Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who, as Prime Minister in 1998, once offered Yasser Arafat close to 98% of Judea, Samaria and Gaza for such a state, is concerned. In a speech last week, Barak said he considers this scenario a “political tsunami” against Israel. He even said that this political development will carry a strong element of de-legitimizing the State of Israel.
As opposed to an increasing number of politicians, however, his solution, was not to try to head off its formation – but only to remove its “unilateral” nature. He accused his boss, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, of not being more forthcoming in negotiations with the PA, and said Israel must express immediate willingness to discuss issues such as final borders, Jerusalem, and the settlement of Arab refugees.
Politicians Against PLO State
Many other politicians, however, are not willing to entertain the possibility of a Palestinian state at all, unilaterally or otherwise. MK Anastasia Michaeli, for instance, of the Israel Our Home party, said this week that she and her party “are doing all we can to prevent… the formation of a hostile and belligerent state in Judea and Samaria."
Also last week, coalition whip and Likud faction chairman MK Zev Elkin, visiting post-massacre Itamar, stated strongly that "there is no place for a Palestinian state, not in temporary borders and not in any other configuration."
The grassroots “Mattot Arim” organization, based in Raanana, recently urged its members to "work strongly against Israel's upcoming big military mistake, namely turning Area A into a Palestinian state."
Can Israel Override PLO Army?
The organization explained, "Even today, there is a Palestinian army in Area A. However, when this Palestinian army gets completely out of hand - for example, in 2002 when its members participated in horrendous terror attacks - the IDF simply retracts the PA army's freedom of operation, partially or completely, for a few hours or for many months. [On the other hand,] once there is a Palestinian state, the IDF will no longer be able to cast it or its army aside, temporarily or permanently, even after that state or army becomes heavily involved in terrorism."
Similarly, Arab-world expert Dr. Mordechai Kedar of Bar Ilan University wrote this week that Israel has only a little time left before the General Assembly session to convince the world how dangerous a Palestinian state would be, "not only to Israel but also to its neighbors."
Conditions Not Fulfilled
Kedar wrote that though Netanyahu laid down two conditions for his acceptance of an Arab state in Judea and Samaria, neither of these two conditions appears to be materializing. They were that the PA must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish nation, and that any future PA state must be demilitarized. “Palestinian spokesmen repeat day and night that they would not dream of recognizing the State of Israel as the Jewish national home,” Kedar wrote, and added that the recent capture of large shipments of weapons bound for Gaza show that the Arabs strongly intend to arm the PA entity “to the teeth with the longest-range, most modern weaponry.”
Ten days ago, Likud MK Yariv Levin reported to his constituents his recent efforts against the formation of a Palestinian state. Having gone on record as being “diametrically opposed to recognizing a Palestinian state," he said he had "raised this issue in the last two Likud faction meetings, and in a personal conversation earlier this year with Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon.”
A week earlier, Yaalon himself, who also serves as Strategic Affairs Minister, told an interviewer that he hopes it is “incorrect” that Netanyahu said he intends to offer the PA a state with temporary borders.
Last month, Deputy Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom went so far as to hint that he might leave the government were it to agree to the formation of a PA state. Shalom told the weekly B’Sheva newspaper that although Netanyahu is talking about such a state, "in our system of government, determinations are made by governmental decision, and there is no such government decision. I have never spoken about a Palestinian state and for as long as it is possible to influence the decision making process in the government, and for as long as no decision has been made that contradicts my position, I am in the government."
Netanyahu Against PA State
Netanyahu himself made perhaps the clearest case against a Palestinian state, when he addressed the Likud Central Committee in May 2002. Such an entity, he said, “will demand all the powers of a state, such as controlling borders, bringing in weapons, control of airspace and the ability to knock down any Israeli plane that enters its area, the ability to sign peace treaties and military alliances with other countries. Once you give them a state, you give them all these things, even if there is an agreement to the contrary - for within a short time they will demand all these things, and they will assume these powers, and the world will stand by and do nothing - but it *will* stop us from trying to stop them.”
"We will thus have created with our own hands a threat to our very existence,” Netanyahu continued. “What will happen if the Palestinians do what the Germans did after World War I, when they nullified the demilitarized zone? The world did nothing then, and the world will do nothing now as well. Even now, the Palestinians are removing all the restrictions to which they agreed in Oslo – they are smuggling in arms, polluting the water sources, building an army, making military deals with Iran and others, and more… But when we try to take action against this, the world opposes us – and not them...”
Netanyahu quoted Yasser Arafat: "Arafat said it best when talking to reporters the day he signed the Oslo Accords: 'Since we can't defeat Israel in war, we must do it in stages, we must take whatever area of Palestine we can get, establish sovereignty there, and then at the right time, we will have to convince the Arab nations to join us in dealing the final blow to Israel.' Self-rule, yes. But a state with which to destroy the State of Israel - no...”
Netanyahu continued, “When Arafat threatened to declare a Palestinian state in 1999, I announced at the United Nations that if he did so, we would annex broad areas of Judea,Samaria and Gaza – and Arafat capitulated.” Might Netanyahu today follow his own advice from 2002?
“On matters vital to our existence,” he concluded in 2002, “we always took clear action, even if others didn’t agree with us. Because the bottom line is that saying 'Yes' to a Palestinian state means 'No' to a Jewish State, and vice-versa.”
Comment on this story
6. IDF Soldier Injured in Rock Attack; Assailant Shot by Police
by Gavriel Queenann
An IDF soldier was injured Friday morning in a rock throwing attack on Route 90 near Moshav Tomer in the Jordan Valley.
Police said the soldier was standing at a trampiada (hitchhiking stop) at the Tomer Junction when an Arab terrorist pelted him with stones and tried to grab his weapon. Police on the scene opened fire on the terrorist, wounding him in the leg. The soldier sustained moderate wounds as well.
The officer, Zecharia Shepso, described the incident, "I was on routine patrol along with another officer. As we approached Tomer I noticed a woman waving her hands crying for help. I stopped the vehicle and saw two people fighting. At first I didn’t understand it was a terror attack. I stepped out of the squad car and ran towards them. That's when I saw the soldier, who was in uniform, and the terrorist leaning over him with a rock in his hand, repeatedly beating the soldier's head with it."
"There was a lot of blood," Shepso said. "Only then did I understand it was a terror attack. I kicked the terrorist. He got up and began attacking me with the rock. I fired a shot in the air, and when that didn’t help, I shot him in the leg. He continued advancing towards me so I fired a few more shots at his leg – that's when the incident ended. I did what was expected of me as a police officer."
Magen David Adom medics arrived shortly after the incident and administered first aid. Both the soldier and terrorist were evacuated by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem.
"The officer raced to the scene, saw what was in progress, and fired at the terrorist, wounding him," a police spokesman said. "He responded to the scene acted with determination and brought about the rapid conclusion of the incident. These actions and prevented the soldier from being kidnapped or more greviously injured, or his weapon from falling into the wrong hands."
Hospital officials have since described the soldier's condition as "light."
Shortly after the attack, two PA Arabs were nabbed with four pipe bombs at a checkpoint near Shechem.
Earlier this week a Jewish resident of Hevron opened fire at stone-throwers who attacked him in his car near his house. Local Arabs claimed the driver slowed down his car and fired into mourners at a funeral. According to reports one of Arabs involved in the incident was seriously injured.
GitHub: Software description: the Objective-C HTTP library that Apple should have created, seriously (C). »
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann
An IDF soldier was injured Friday morning in a rock throwing attack on Route 90 near Moshav Tomer in the Jordan Valley.
Police said the soldier was standing at a trampiada (hitchhiking stop) at the Tomer Junction when an Arab terrorist pelted him with stones and tried to grab his weapon. Police on the scene opened fire on the terrorist, wounding him in the leg. The soldier sustained moderate wounds as well.
The officer, Zecharia Shepso, described the incident, "I was on routine patrol along with another officer. As we approached Tomer I noticed a woman waving her hands crying for help. I stopped the vehicle and saw two people fighting. At first I didn’t understand it was a terror attack. I stepped out of the squad car and ran towards them. That's when I saw the soldier, who was in uniform, and the terrorist leaning over him with a rock in his hand, repeatedly beating the soldier's head with it."
"There was a lot of blood," Shepso said. "Only then did I understand it was a terror attack. I kicked the terrorist. He got up and began attacking me with the rock. I fired a shot in the air, and when that didn’t help, I shot him in the leg. He continued advancing towards me so I fired a few more shots at his leg – that's when the incident ended. I did what was expected of me as a police officer."
Magen David Adom medics arrived shortly after the incident and administered first aid. Both the soldier and terrorist were evacuated by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem.
"The officer raced to the scene, saw what was in progress, and fired at the terrorist, wounding him," a police spokesman said. "He responded to the scene acted with determination and brought about the rapid conclusion of the incident. These actions and prevented the soldier from being kidnapped or more greviously injured, or his weapon from falling into the wrong hands."
Hospital officials have since described the soldier's condition as "light."
Shortly after the attack, two PA Arabs were nabbed with four pipe bombs at a checkpoint near Shechem.
Earlier this week a Jewish resident of Hevron opened fire at stone-throwers who attacked him in his car near his house. Local Arabs claimed the driver slowed down his car and fired into mourners at a funeral. According to reports one of Arabs involved in the incident was seriously injured.
GitHub: Software description: the Objective-C HTTP library that Apple should have created, seriously (C). »
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7. Feeding the Mouth that Bites: IDF Lets Gaza Imports Continue
by Gil Ronen
The IDF Spokesman's Unit proudly announced Thursday that Israel is continuing to allow supplies into Gaza. "In the shadow of the recent increase in rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, the IDF is continuing to move forward with its broad policy of aiding the civilian population of the Gaza Strip," it said. "The policy is carried out in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, with the help of the international community."
Over the past week, an average of 300 aid trucks entered Gaza per day (as far as Thursday is concerned, that makes about 30 trucks per missile fired at Israel - ed.). The trucks carried a variety of materials, including wheat, gravel and animal feed, among other items.
The goods were transferred into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, operated by the Ministry of Defense Crossing Authority, instead of the Karni crossing, which was recently closed due to security threats.
In the second half of 2011, it is expected that 450 trucks will enter Gaza daily to meet the import and export needs of the civilian population.
The IDF continues to aid the civilian population of Gaza in construction. Around 19,000 tons of aggregates (gravel used in the construction process to reinforce concrete) have been transferred to Gaza thus far.
Gravel is generally prohibited from being imported into the Gaza Strip due to concerns it will be used by terrorist organizations for the construction of bunkers, for example. However, coordinated deliveries of gravel are permitted for civilian projects only. The projects are funded and monitored by international organizations that operate in Gaza, and are intended for improvements in the areas of education, welfare and housing. Among other things, aggregates are to be used in the construction of hospital wings, residential buildings and schools.
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by Gil Ronen
The IDF Spokesman's Unit proudly announced Thursday that Israel is continuing to allow supplies into Gaza. "In the shadow of the recent increase in rocket and mortar fire from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel, the IDF is continuing to move forward with its broad policy of aiding the civilian population of the Gaza Strip," it said. "The policy is carried out in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, with the help of the international community."
Over the past week, an average of 300 aid trucks entered Gaza per day (as far as Thursday is concerned, that makes about 30 trucks per missile fired at Israel - ed.). The trucks carried a variety of materials, including wheat, gravel and animal feed, among other items.
The goods were transferred into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, operated by the Ministry of Defense Crossing Authority, instead of the Karni crossing, which was recently closed due to security threats.
In the second half of 2011, it is expected that 450 trucks will enter Gaza daily to meet the import and export needs of the civilian population.
The IDF continues to aid the civilian population of Gaza in construction. Around 19,000 tons of aggregates (gravel used in the construction process to reinforce concrete) have been transferred to Gaza thus far.
Gravel is generally prohibited from being imported into the Gaza Strip due to concerns it will be used by terrorist organizations for the construction of bunkers, for example. However, coordinated deliveries of gravel are permitted for civilian projects only. The projects are funded and monitored by international organizations that operate in Gaza, and are intended for improvements in the areas of education, welfare and housing. Among other things, aggregates are to be used in the construction of hospital wings, residential buildings and schools.
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8. BGU Head: S. African U. Was Impressed by the Pluralism Here
by Elad Benari
Professor Rivka Carmi, President of the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, was quite surprised by Wednesday’s announcement by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) that it would be severing all ties with the institution she heads.
“The UJ representatives were actually very impressed with the pluralism on campus during their visit to the Ben-Gurion University,” Carmi told Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew website on Thursday.
She explained said that delegates from UJ had visited the BGU campus in preparation for a joint project between the two universities aimed at cleaning a water reservoir in the vicinity of Johannesburg from algae that accumulated in it, using the innovative technologies developed at BGU.
UJ’s reasoning for canceling the agreement was explained by the fact that BGU was ordered by UJ to include a Palestinian Authority university as a partner in its research but had not complied with the request.
Carmi explained that BGU had approached several potential Palestinian Authority partners to participate in the project, all of whom had refused. She noted, however, that she was made to understand that the joint project with UJ would continue regardless.
She revealed that after announcing that it would sever ties with BGU, UJ approached BGU with a request to continue the project informally. BGU refused this request.
Carmi noted that she believes the real reason for the cutting of ties is a report that was presented to UJ and which attacked what it claimed is “anti-pluralistic conduct” exercised by BGU, with an emphasis on BGU’s cooperation with the IDF. Carmi believes this means a special flight course offered at BGU in conjunction with the Israeli Air Force.
BGU responded on Thursday to UJ’s decision by saying that it regrets the decision but remains committed “to promoting the values of academic freedom as well as regional cooperation to promote social justice through education and research.”
The university noted that the joint research project with UJ was designed “to solve real problems of water pollution near Johannesburg, and as such, it is for the direct benefit of local residents.” Carmi added that, ultimately, “those who will end up losing because of this decision are the South African people.”
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by Elad Benari
Professor Rivka Carmi, President of the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, was quite surprised by Wednesday’s announcement by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) that it would be severing all ties with the institution she heads.
“The UJ representatives were actually very impressed with the pluralism on campus during their visit to the Ben-Gurion University,” Carmi told Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew website on Thursday.
She explained said that delegates from UJ had visited the BGU campus in preparation for a joint project between the two universities aimed at cleaning a water reservoir in the vicinity of Johannesburg from algae that accumulated in it, using the innovative technologies developed at BGU.
UJ’s reasoning for canceling the agreement was explained by the fact that BGU was ordered by UJ to include a Palestinian Authority university as a partner in its research but had not complied with the request.
Carmi explained that BGU had approached several potential Palestinian Authority partners to participate in the project, all of whom had refused. She noted, however, that she was made to understand that the joint project with UJ would continue regardless.
She revealed that after announcing that it would sever ties with BGU, UJ approached BGU with a request to continue the project informally. BGU refused this request.
Carmi noted that she believes the real reason for the cutting of ties is a report that was presented to UJ and which attacked what it claimed is “anti-pluralistic conduct” exercised by BGU, with an emphasis on BGU’s cooperation with the IDF. Carmi believes this means a special flight course offered at BGU in conjunction with the Israeli Air Force.
BGU responded on Thursday to UJ’s decision by saying that it regrets the decision but remains committed “to promoting the values of academic freedom as well as regional cooperation to promote social justice through education and research.”
The university noted that the joint research project with UJ was designed “to solve real problems of water pollution near Johannesburg, and as such, it is for the direct benefit of local residents.” Carmi added that, ultimately, “those who will end up losing because of this decision are the South African people.”
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