 |
||
 |
        |
 |
|
||
| MP3 Radio | Website News Briefs: | |||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
1. Netanyahu Says Nationalists ‘Do Not Live in This World’
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu,
far from apologizing for police brutality, made a far-reaching
statement which implies a possible stop to Jewish life in Judea and
Samaria while defending police destruction of Jewish homes at the
privately owned Gilad Farm (Chavat Gilad) in Samaria Monday morning.
Following the police violence
against Chavat Gilad residents, who threw stones at the police firing
at them with rubber bullets, the Prime Minister told his Likud party
officials, "People do not understand where they live. If you do not live
in the real world, it is possible to disregard everything, and I
suggest that they start being wary in order to protect the existing
construction. What is at stake is the new and existing construction,”
referring to major Jewish population centers in Judea and Samaria.
"There is construction in Judea and Samaria," Netanyahu said. "It's
true that in some places there are no tenders and that is being checked,
but we are currently making efforts to maintain the existing
construction."
Prime Minister Netanyahu added, "We are in a very difficult
international situation; the U.S. veto in the UN Security Council was
achieved with great effort. We could ignore everything and say 'no
problem,' but as the prime minister who bears esponsibility for this
country, I have to be responsible."
The recent American veto at the United Nations Security Council
prevented passage of a Lebanese-sponsored resolution condemning Israel
for building homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria.
Likud Minister Dan Meridor, whose political stand places him on the far
left flank of the Likud party, was more explicit than the Prime
Minister.
Speaking on Voice of Israel government radio Tuesday morning, he stated
that the government needs to concern itself with holding on to the
“consensus” that would allow Israel to retain major Jewish population
centers in Judea and Samaria.
However, that “consensus” may be history. George W, Bush, when he was
president of the United States, wrote a letter to the Israeli government
promising that areas such as Maaleh Adumim, a city east of Jerusalem,
and the Gush Etzion communities south of the capital would remain in
Israel under a future agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said he is not bound by the promise,
arguing that it is not legally binding, putting America in the position
of a government not standing up to a previous government's committments.
The Obama administration seems to agree with the Palestinian Authority
position that it should have sovereignty over all of Judea and Samaria,
but it thinks that the issue can only be resolved in face-to-face
discussions and not through resolutions at the United Nations. PA
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has refused to talk with Israel without a
commitment to meet all of its demands, including the surrender of the
Old City, including the Western Wall and Temple Mount, and other areas
of the capital where more than 250,000 Jews live. He has stated that the
hundreds of thousands of Jews in Judea and Samaria would have to leave,
making it Judenrein.
"We all want to strengthen the settlements and therefore we ought not
ignore reality,” Prime Minister Netanyahu continued as he explained his
comments to the Likud audience. "We are a few weeks after one
Quartet decision, after the U.S. veto, before another Quartet decision,
and therefore we must consider the reality in which we live. When there
is a changing world order in the Middle East, there are those who seek
an easy but irresponsible solution, and we won't help them with that."
2. UK, US Weigh Military Intervention in Libya
by Maayana Miskin
British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned Libyan dictator Muammar
Qaddafi that his country is weighing military action to prevent the slaughter of anti-regime protesters. Britain may create a no-fly zone over Libya and send weapons to protesters, he said.
Cameron suggested that Britain may even send troops to Libya as a peacekeeping force.
United States officials made a similar announcement, saying Monday that
“all options” are open, including the creation of a no-fly zone. The
U.S. military is moving naval and air forces closer to Libya, making it
easier for President Barack Obama to order intervention.
A no-fly zone would prevent Qaddafi from turning the Libyan Air Force on rebels. Two Libyan pilots fled the country several days ago and asked for asylum, saying they had been ordered to bomb protesters.
Senior U.S. officials have also put financial pressure on Qaddafi,
freezing $30 billion in assets held by his family in America. In
addition, officials have been in contact with anti-regime fighters in
Libya.
Obama remained cautious when riots broke out last week in Libya, failing to condemn Qaddafi
even as more than 1,000 protesters has been killed. However, he has
since come out strongly against Qaddafi, and called Saturday for him to
step down from power immediately.
In Libya, Qaddafi continues to insist that he will fight to the end.
A video has surfaced showing Qaddafi's son Saif Al-Islam brandishing a
gun and urging supporters to fight “until the last bullet.” Al-Islam has
previously attempted to portray himself as a moderate who favors
democratic reforms.
According to reports in the international media, Qaddafi's troops tried
and failed Monday to retake the city of Zawiya, 30 miles west of
Tripoli, which had fallen to rebel forces days earlier.
3. Iran Threatens Olympics Boycott over 'Zion' Logo
by Maayana Miskin
Iran has threatened to boycott the 2012 Olympics in London over the
logo for the event, which it claims secretly spells out the word “Zion.”
Iranian leaders have called for the logo to be redesigned, and for the
designers of the current logo to be “confronted.”
They cited “Internet documents” as proof that the logo, when rearranged, spells “Zion.”
Several videos have been posted to YouTube purporting to show that the
logo, a jagged “2012,” actually spells “Zion.” One anti-Semitic video,
with more than 50,000 views, claims the logo was designed by “the men
who rule the world from the shadows,” and that “the shadow government of
Zionists will be coming out of the closet in 2012” to rule the world.
Other claims abound as well, with some comparing the 2012 logo to a
swastika, while others say it looks like the Waffen SS logo, and still
others say it secretly depicts a sexual act. In Britain the logo was
controversial primarily due to its cost – approximately $800,000.
Olympics officials said in response to the Iranian threat, “The London 2012 logo represents the figure 2012, nothing else.”
Officials noted that the logo was revealed to the public in 2007, and
said they were “surprised” at the timing of the Iranian complaint.
4. Interview: Bringing More Jews into the World-Kosher Style
by Fern Sidman, INN NY Correspondent
"What a wonderful feeling it is to be part of an organization that
helps bring more Jewish souls into the world", declared Lea Davidson,
executive director of the Machon Puah (Puah Institute) branch in New
York.
Founded in 1990 in Jerusalem at the behest of the late Rabbi
Mordechai Eliyahu, ZT"L, (former chief rabbi of Israel), Puah
Institute is an Israel-based, international organization that assists
Jewish couples with problems relating to infertility and serves a vital
role in bridging the gap between fertility treatment and halacha (Jewish
law).
"Rav Eliyahu was deluged with questions pertaining to infertility and
halacha and he believed that more concrete research was necessary. He
then appointed Rabbi Menachem Burstein to go to the labs and to speak to
medical professionals to ascertain whether infertility reproductive
medicine could be reconciled with Jewish law", said Mrs. Davidson.
Equipped with a background of specialization in research concerning the
interface between Torah and science, Rabbi Burstein then established
Puah Institute.
"In any field of science there is always the possibility of human
error, of mix ups, and because halacha takes the concept of verifiable
lineage very seriously, the majority of orthodox rabbis have ruled that
Jewish law requires an outside supervisor present to monitor the
procedure and storage of the genetic material" added Mrs. Davidson.
In Puah, an orthodox man or women must oversee all aspects of the
(IVF) in vitro fertilization process, including sample washing,
centrifugation, freezing and loading of pipettes. The lab will have a
dedicated incubator or storage tanks for the Puah-supervised couples.
That particular incubator, unlike those containing the reproductive
material of non-supervised couples, is locked with a latch and key. The
Puah supervisor is the only person with a key.
If the clinic cannot spare an incubator, an alternative is a
stainless steel case with dime sized holes in it, known as a Puanite
box. The material is placed inside the container, which is then locked
with a plastic or metal tie embossed seal with the supervising
organization's insignia and placed on one of the incubator shelves. The
case can only be opened by snipping the tie.
“Just like rabbis supervise the production of kosher food, we
supervise the fertility process,” explained Bracha Friedman, a New
York-based supervisor with Puah. “...this is the only way this process
is halachically sound.”
Davidson adds, however, that not all infertile couples will have to
take the in-vitro fertilization route. "One out of every six people will
experience fertility problems, but 95 percent of these people can find
alternative solutions that don't require these kind of procedures", she
said. Puah assists these people in acquiring the appropriate method for
each individual case.
Davidson described Puah's holistic approach to halakhic fertility
solutions. The institute has an educational department ,and is licensed
in the field of continuing medical education. Courses educate medical
professionals to better understand the religious lifestyle and
restrictions of the Orthodox Jewish patient and also
educate rabbis about the medical challenges and options confronting
their congregants. There are classes for brides and grooms, community
rabbis and their wives.
In addition to supervision and counseling, Puah also provides a
veritable plethora of resources and endless patience to help allay the
stress that couples often endure during the fertility process.
"I first got involved in Puah when I lived in Israel and then when I
moved to New York years ago, I found that there was nothing in the way
of an organization that deals with the complex nature of Jewish
infertility," she continued. She is proud to add that, "When Puah first
opened its doors here in the United States we only had one supervisor
and now we have 30 supervisors.
The supervisors are very observant, married women who are totally
dedicated to the couples that they work with. "For example, last year on
Purim we had two couples in two different labs and when genetic
material is being feeded supervisors need to spend the whole day
there. Rather than spending the day with their families, our
supervisors gladly spent Purim with the couples in need," she said.
Mrs. Davidson said that today, "99.9 percent of all fertility
clinics in Israel have Puah sponsored supervision. In the United
States, the organization works with 50 cooperating labs.
"Puah is a unique organization in that it works with all Jews
from diverse backgrounds and levels of religious observance. That is
what I love most about it. About 20 percent of those Jews who seek our
help are non-religious but want to follow the halachic mandates. For our
religious clientele, we don't 'poskin' [make halakhic decisions, ed.]
for them, but with them. If they follow a certain rabbi, we respect
that and work closely with their rabbis. Because we are a non-political
organization, every Jew is treated with the utmost of respect and that
is the greatest kiddush Hashem [sanctification of G-d's Name, ed]," said
Mrs. Davidson.
Besides Israel and the United States, Puah Institute also
provides supervision and counseling services in Europe, Australia, South
America, and Canada.
With joy, Mrs. Davidson relates the narrative of two couples who
sought out the help of Puah. "Recently, we had two sets of triplets born
to two couples. One couple lived on the west coast and one lived on the
east coast and they were helped by the same doctor! Both sets
consisted of two girls and a boy and one set was born on a Monday and
the other set were born on Tuesday. It was quite miraculous.
"Every year, we hold an international conference in Jerusalem that
draws over 1500 people and it always takes place on the Wednesday before
Parshas Shemos. We chose that time of the year, when we begin reading
Sefer Shemos as representative of our namesake, Puah, who, as we know
was Miriam, the sister of Moshe Rabbenu and the most loving and
compassionate mid-wife", said Mrs. Davidson.
Those wishing to contact the Puah Institute in New York can access their web site at www.puahonline.org , visit their offices at 1709 Kings Highway in Brooklyn or by calling 718-336-0603.
Besides information for those seeking its help, upcoming Puah events
on the website include a raffle to be drawn within the next few days,
special musical Saturday night event [melava malka] to take place at
the synagogue in Bal Harbour, Florida on March 12th and the annual
dinner in New York which will be held on April 5th at the Fifth Avenue
Synagogue.
5. US Jews Bring Purim Cheer to IDF Soldiers
by Maayana Miskin
As the holiday of Purim approaches, the Zionist Organization of America's Brooklyn branch
is gearing up to bring Purim cheer to Israel for the eleventh year. The
group plans to distribute thousands of mishloach manot packages to IDF
soldiers.
Last year the group sent almost 6,000 gift packages
to soldiers, and another 500 to children in southern Israel. This
year's gift packages for soldiers will include something new: special
water backpacks known in Israel as “shlukerim” that help keep water cool
in the field while giving soldiers added mobility.
In addition, ZOA will be hosting a free concert for soldiers. The
concert is to take place in the Samaria city of Ariel, which was the
target of a cultural boycott earlier in the year.
"We come to thank the IDF soldiers because they are guarding the
country not only for the country itself, which is in itself a tremendous
achievement, but also for Jews all over the world," explained project
organizer Rubin Margules, head of the Brooklyn branch of ZOA.
This year, as before, many ZOA members will be delivering the gifts in
person. The IDF's Sar-El program plans to provide transport, bringing
the volunteers and their gifts to IDF bases.
The volunteers will also meet with political leaders, and will visit Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria.
6. New Zealand: Searchers Find Bodies of Missing Israelis
by Maayana Miskin
Searchers in the New Zealand city of Christchurch have found the bodies
of two Israeli men who were visiting the area when it was hit by a
deadly earthquake last week. The two were identified as Ofer Levi and
Gabi Ingel, both of Rehovot.
The two, both 22 years old, had been in New Zealand since December, and were planning to work on a farm near Christchurch.
They were found in the rubble of a building in the city center. A relative had helped New Zealand search crews with the effort.
A total of three Israelis have now been confirmed dead in the quake.
The body of Ofer Mizrachi, of Kibbutz Magal, was found earlier in the
week.
Three others remain missing. Their names have been released: Chen Ben
Hemo, Roi Vaknin, and Shlomo Avitan, all of Dimona. The three went on a
trek prior to the quake and have not been heard from since.
A total of more than 150 people have been confirmed killed in the
quake. Authorities fear the final death toll could be as high as 240.
New Zealand observed two minutes of silence Tuesday in memory of the victims.
7. House of Dior: Swift Response to Designer's Anti-Semitic Rant
by Maayana Miskin
John Galliano, one of the world's top fashion designers, has been
suspended from his job with the Christian Dior label over alleged
anti-Semitic and racist verbal assaults. A video is circulating online
in which Galliano tells two women, “I love Hitler.”
The story began with a confrontation between Galliano and a man and
woman at the La Perle restaurant in Paris. During the fight he told the
woman, “Dirty Jew, you should be dead,” and said to the man, “Asian
*******, I'm going to kill you.” The incident led to a police
investigation.
The Dior company responded quickly, announcing Galliano's suspension
just hours later. “The House of Dior confirms, with the greatest
firmness, its policy of zero tolerance for any anti-Semitic or racist
comments.”
Galliano's lawyer termed the suspension “totally disproportionate,”
claiming that Galliano “never made an anti-Semitic remark in more than
10 years at Dior” and had simply been responding to insults. However,
since then more allegations have surfaced, including a video in which
Galliano is shown telling two women, “I love Hitler,” adding, “People
like you ought to be dead, your mothers, your forefathers would all be
****ing gassed.” The video was shot at the La Perle restaurant by a
friend of the women.
A fourth woman has alleged anti-Semitic abuse as well. None of the four
women is Jewish, however, it is believed that Galliano thought they
were.
Controversy at the Oscars
Galliano's anti-Semitism created controversy at the Oscars, where some
actresses wore Dior gowns despite the controversy, while others did not.
Israeli-born Jewish-American actress Natalie Portman did not wear Dior,
despite having recently signed on as the face of Dior's Miss Dior
Cherie perfume.
Portman, who won the coveted “Best Actress” award, did not immediately
respond to questions about her choice of gown. However, she later went
on record as “deeply shocked and disgusted” by Galliano's remarks.
“In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be
Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way,” she
continued. “I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us
to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that
are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”
8. Iran: We Have the Right to be in the Mediterranean
by Chana Ya'ar
Iran contends that its military vessels are legally entitled to sail in the Mediterranean Sea under international law.
The Islamic Republic's Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari,
praised the flotilla of two vessels to Iranian naval personnel in the
Syrian port of Lazeqiyya Sunday night.
Sayyari claimed the Khark and the Alvand were on a mission to convey a
message of “peace and friendship” to Islamic and regional states and
strengthen ties among countries, according to the state-run FARS news
agency.
The Khark carries a crew of 250 and three helicopters. The Alvand is
armed with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, the news agency reported.
Both Israel and the United States have expressed grave concerns about
the Iranian vessels and their presence in the Mediterranean.
Iran has said the two ships will be docked at the Syrian port for a year-long training program.
More Website News:
 |
Rabbi to Netanyahu: We Are Not the Enemy  |
|
Anti Immigration Sentiment Soars in Britain |
|
Arab Revolutionary Juggernaut Rolls into Oman, 2 Killed  |
|
Netanyahu Asked to Choose - Barak, or Likud |
|
Film on Israeli School Wins Oscar |
