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1. How Important is Israel to the U.S.? Check the Map
by David Lev
For those who think that Israel is a $3 billion-a-year strategic liability for the U.S., the cause of Muslim terrorism, Mideast instability, and high gas prices, New York attorney and Israel advocate Mark Langfan has a message: Get a map.
Preferably, the 3D topographic raised-relief map system of Israel that Langfan developed back in 1991, which gives viewers a perspective on Israel – and on the Middle East – that they may not have had before. The map shows just how important Israel is to U.S. interests – how a strong and secure Israel, far from being a strategic liability, is actually the one thing that is preventing the Middle East from falling into complete chaos.
With an Israeli presence in the high ground of Judea and Samaria and on the Golan Heights, “Israel is immune to an existential attack” by ground troops from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. In a video, Langfan lays out the case for Israel's retention of these areas; with them, Israel can defend itself and ensure a semblance of order in the region, Without them, Iran and its radical Islamist allies would have a free hand, picking through the debris of the “regimes' ancien” of the Middle East, and eventually taking over the greatest prize of all – oil-rich Saudi Arabia, thus controlling the fate of the entire Western world.
In the video, Langfan revives the idea of the “domino theory,” which was a cause for great debate in the U.S. during the Vietnam War era. But there's no debate over what a Middle East domino spill would look like; a weak Israel without its strategic land assets would be open for attack by a revitalized Islamist front, led by Egypt, Hizbullah, Hamas, and Syria (with the likelihood that Bashar al-Assad will eventually be replaced by an Islamist government, as happened in Egypt).
If Israel is destroyed – or even if it is allowed to survive (temporarily) in a cowed, defensive state, the Islamist front, led by Iran, would continue with its agenda to take over the Middle East. First to go would be Jordan, which Syria has coveted for decades, and which Islamists despise because of King Abdullah's ties with the West. By that time, Iraq would also have been absorbed into the super “Shiastan” state expanding from Iran – and there would be nothing to stop Iran and the Islamists from walking into Saudi Arabia and taking over. The Islamists would be in full control of all waterways that Western navies could use to send ships and troops to the region, including the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. And at that point, Langfan says in the video, the U.S. and Europe would be truly be the vassals, or “dhimmis,” of the Islamists.
Even if the U.S. could find the wherewithal to defend its Middle East interests under such conditions, it would cost far more than the $3 billion Israel gets each year- not to mention the costs in blood and treasure from a protracted war in which U.S. troops, without a friendly base to work from, are forced to fight in difficult desert conditions. That is, of course, even if the American people could be rallied to take on such a fight – unlikely after their experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.
All this can be avoided, however, if the U.S. supports Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria and in the Golan. The video also mentions the importance of Gaza, which Israel has since abandoned – resulting of tens of thousands of missiles being fired at southern Israel by Hamas, and inspiring Hizbullah to attack Israel with tens of thousands of its own missiles from the north. If that is the result of abandoning the small territory of Gaza – which does not even have strategic defensive height and is surrounded by sparsely populated desert areas – what would be the result of Israel's abandonment of the much more important territories in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan?
Langfan hopes we never have to find out. “Israel is the cause of U.S. stability,” he says. “Israel is the tip of the West's spear against a Muslim tsunami.”
If you don't believe him, just check the map.
Comment on this story
by David Lev
For those who think that Israel is a $3 billion-a-year strategic liability for the U.S., the cause of Muslim terrorism, Mideast instability, and high gas prices, New York attorney and Israel advocate Mark Langfan has a message: Get a map.
Preferably, the 3D topographic raised-relief map system of Israel that Langfan developed back in 1991, which gives viewers a perspective on Israel – and on the Middle East – that they may not have had before. The map shows just how important Israel is to U.S. interests – how a strong and secure Israel, far from being a strategic liability, is actually the one thing that is preventing the Middle East from falling into complete chaos.
With an Israeli presence in the high ground of Judea and Samaria and on the Golan Heights, “Israel is immune to an existential attack” by ground troops from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. In a video, Langfan lays out the case for Israel's retention of these areas; with them, Israel can defend itself and ensure a semblance of order in the region, Without them, Iran and its radical Islamist allies would have a free hand, picking through the debris of the “regimes' ancien” of the Middle East, and eventually taking over the greatest prize of all – oil-rich Saudi Arabia, thus controlling the fate of the entire Western world.
In the video, Langfan revives the idea of the “domino theory,” which was a cause for great debate in the U.S. during the Vietnam War era. But there's no debate over what a Middle East domino spill would look like; a weak Israel without its strategic land assets would be open for attack by a revitalized Islamist front, led by Egypt, Hizbullah, Hamas, and Syria (with the likelihood that Bashar al-Assad will eventually be replaced by an Islamist government, as happened in Egypt).
If Israel is destroyed – or even if it is allowed to survive (temporarily) in a cowed, defensive state, the Islamist front, led by Iran, would continue with its agenda to take over the Middle East. First to go would be Jordan, which Syria has coveted for decades, and which Islamists despise because of King Abdullah's ties with the West. By that time, Iraq would also have been absorbed into the super “Shiastan” state expanding from Iran – and there would be nothing to stop Iran and the Islamists from walking into Saudi Arabia and taking over. The Islamists would be in full control of all waterways that Western navies could use to send ships and troops to the region, including the Persian Gulf and the Suez Canal. And at that point, Langfan says in the video, the U.S. and Europe would be truly be the vassals, or “dhimmis,” of the Islamists.
Even if the U.S. could find the wherewithal to defend its Middle East interests under such conditions, it would cost far more than the $3 billion Israel gets each year- not to mention the costs in blood and treasure from a protracted war in which U.S. troops, without a friendly base to work from, are forced to fight in difficult desert conditions. That is, of course, even if the American people could be rallied to take on such a fight – unlikely after their experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.
All this can be avoided, however, if the U.S. supports Israel's presence in Judea and Samaria and in the Golan. The video also mentions the importance of Gaza, which Israel has since abandoned – resulting of tens of thousands of missiles being fired at southern Israel by Hamas, and inspiring Hizbullah to attack Israel with tens of thousands of its own missiles from the north. If that is the result of abandoning the small territory of Gaza – which does not even have strategic defensive height and is surrounded by sparsely populated desert areas – what would be the result of Israel's abandonment of the much more important territories in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan?
Langfan hopes we never have to find out. “Israel is the cause of U.S. stability,” he says. “Israel is the tip of the West's spear against a Muslim tsunami.”
If you don't believe him, just check the map.
More on this topic
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2. Turkey's President Gul in Hospital, 'Improving'
by Chana Ya'ar
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul's health is reportedly “improving” following hospitalization for an ear infection.
Gul, 61, tweeted from his hospital bed on Thursday to reassure Turks he is recovering from an ear infection that forced him to cancel a Victory Day reception. Several overseas trips were also sacrificed to the infection as well. Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Turkish Minister of Health Recep Akdag said Wednesday, “Thank G-d, President Gul is in a good health now.”
Akdag added that doctors at the Hacettepe University Medical Center, where the 61-year-old president was hospitalized, expected the infection to dissipate shortly. Asked if surgery was required, the minister replied that he was not aware that any surgery was to be performed. Gul has been undergoing treatment for a recurring problem in both ears since last week. He cut short a visit in Kyrgyzstan due to the condition, and returned to Turkey last Thursday for treatment. Doctors have recommended the president remain grounded for the next two months.
Gul, who is a moderate, holds a position in Turkey that at present is largely ceremonial. However, the Turkish parliament is currently considering a change to its constitution that would transform its government to one led solely by a president, rather than by prime minister.
If the parliament approves the constitutional changes, there may be a power struggle on the horizon between Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an Islamist who is perceived as more of a hardliner within the ruling AK Party.
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by Chana Ya'ar
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul's health is reportedly “improving” following hospitalization for an ear infection.
Gul, 61, tweeted from his hospital bed on Thursday to reassure Turks he is recovering from an ear infection that forced him to cancel a Victory Day reception. Several overseas trips were also sacrificed to the infection as well. Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Turkish Minister of Health Recep Akdag said Wednesday, “Thank G-d, President Gul is in a good health now.”
Akdag added that doctors at the Hacettepe University Medical Center, where the 61-year-old president was hospitalized, expected the infection to dissipate shortly. Asked if surgery was required, the minister replied that he was not aware that any surgery was to be performed. Gul has been undergoing treatment for a recurring problem in both ears since last week. He cut short a visit in Kyrgyzstan due to the condition, and returned to Turkey last Thursday for treatment. Doctors have recommended the president remain grounded for the next two months.
Gul, who is a moderate, holds a position in Turkey that at present is largely ceremonial. However, the Turkish parliament is currently considering a change to its constitution that would transform its government to one led solely by a president, rather than by prime minister.
If the parliament approves the constitutional changes, there may be a power struggle on the horizon between Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an Islamist who is perceived as more of a hardliner within the ruling AK Party.
Comment on this story
3. PM May Go for Early Elections After All, Observers Say
by David Lev
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he plans to serve out his full term – through the end of 2013 – but recent political developments are said to be making him reconsider, sources in the Likud said. And those sources said that in recent days, Netanyahu has become much more attentive to advisers who are telling him that the time for elections is now.
While a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and the likely security and political fallout is getting nearly all of the media attention in Israel and abroad, Netanyahu actually has more immediate problems – and, for him, they are more crucial politically than Iran's nuclear program.
One is the ongoing debate over replacing the Tal Law that regulated exemptions for hareidi-religious yeshiva students. The original law has expired, and as a result, thousands of yeshiva students are now official AWOL. The IDF has not yet taken legal steps to force these students to serve, but that possibility exists, and hareidi-religious parties in Netanyahu's coalition – including Shas, a major partner – are unlikely to wait much longer for Netanyahu to propose an alternative. Doing so, however, would alienate Yisrael Beytenu, another major coalition partner. Netanyahu has managed to keep a lid on the situation for now, but it is unlikely he will be able to continue keeping the peace between both sides for much longer, political observers said.
Even more important, however, is the need for the government to pass a new budget. The technical deadline for this to occur is December 31, with an extension to March 1, 2013, if necessary. With recent weakness in the Israeli economy (which, experts say, is still performing well but is being affected by weakness in the U.S. and Europe), rising prices and taxes, and the growing protest movement over high prices, the economy may figure as a much more important issue in the elections than most people realize.
MKs from parties inside and outside the coalition are likely to try and present themselves as “friends of the people,” pushing benefits, tax cuts, and transfer payments that Netanyahu and, especially, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, would never accept. The possibility of a coalition crisis and a scarring battle over the budget - in which Netanyahu will inevitably come off as the “bad guy” demanding cuts in benefits and increases in taxes – is much on the mind of Netanyahu's advisers, insiders said, and Netanyahu is said to be coming around to their point of view.
Declaring elections at this time, with Netanyahu automatically becoming head of a caretaker government, would have numerous advantages, especially regarding the budget, as the requirement to pass a new state budget by deadline would be suspended until after the election. Netanyahu is in a very strong position politically, advisers told the Prime Minister, and confronting his political opponents would be easier now than after the coalitions unrest that the Tal issue and the state budget fight will inevitably bring. If he has to fight, his advisers say, Netanyahu should do it from his current position of strength, instead of coming into the election battle-scarred.
If Netanyahu does acquiesce, elections are likely to be held in January, about ten months before they would have taken place had the government served its full term.
Comment on this story
by David Lev
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he plans to serve out his full term – through the end of 2013 – but recent political developments are said to be making him reconsider, sources in the Likud said. And those sources said that in recent days, Netanyahu has become much more attentive to advisers who are telling him that the time for elections is now.
While a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and the likely security and political fallout is getting nearly all of the media attention in Israel and abroad, Netanyahu actually has more immediate problems – and, for him, they are more crucial politically than Iran's nuclear program.
One is the ongoing debate over replacing the Tal Law that regulated exemptions for hareidi-religious yeshiva students. The original law has expired, and as a result, thousands of yeshiva students are now official AWOL. The IDF has not yet taken legal steps to force these students to serve, but that possibility exists, and hareidi-religious parties in Netanyahu's coalition – including Shas, a major partner – are unlikely to wait much longer for Netanyahu to propose an alternative. Doing so, however, would alienate Yisrael Beytenu, another major coalition partner. Netanyahu has managed to keep a lid on the situation for now, but it is unlikely he will be able to continue keeping the peace between both sides for much longer, political observers said.
Even more important, however, is the need for the government to pass a new budget. The technical deadline for this to occur is December 31, with an extension to March 1, 2013, if necessary. With recent weakness in the Israeli economy (which, experts say, is still performing well but is being affected by weakness in the U.S. and Europe), rising prices and taxes, and the growing protest movement over high prices, the economy may figure as a much more important issue in the elections than most people realize.
MKs from parties inside and outside the coalition are likely to try and present themselves as “friends of the people,” pushing benefits, tax cuts, and transfer payments that Netanyahu and, especially, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, would never accept. The possibility of a coalition crisis and a scarring battle over the budget - in which Netanyahu will inevitably come off as the “bad guy” demanding cuts in benefits and increases in taxes – is much on the mind of Netanyahu's advisers, insiders said, and Netanyahu is said to be coming around to their point of view.
Declaring elections at this time, with Netanyahu automatically becoming head of a caretaker government, would have numerous advantages, especially regarding the budget, as the requirement to pass a new state budget by deadline would be suspended until after the election. Netanyahu is in a very strong position politically, advisers told the Prime Minister, and confronting his political opponents would be easier now than after the coalitions unrest that the Tal issue and the state budget fight will inevitably bring. If he has to fight, his advisers say, Netanyahu should do it from his current position of strength, instead of coming into the election battle-scarred.
If Netanyahu does acquiesce, elections are likely to be held in January, about ten months before they would have taken place had the government served its full term.
More on this topic
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4. August Surprise: Heavy Rain in Western Galilee
by David Lev
Northern coastal Israel experienced an extremely rare August event – a significant rain storm. Forecasters Wednesday night had said that there was the possibility of a small drizzle in the north, but Thursday morning's rain went far beyond the very light rainfall that occasionally happens during the summer months.
Residents reported steady rain that lasted for more than a half hour in several areas of the western Galilee, from Nahariya south to Akko (near Haifa), and many broke out umbrellas that have been collecting dust for months. Thunderclouds were reported off the coast, although no thunder or lightning was reported.
The rain could migrate south, forecasters said, with light rain affecting some parts of the coastal center of the country. Temperatures Thursday were slightly below normal for late August, and the weather in the center of the country was partly cloudy. The rain is being produced by a cold front that swooped down from Turkey, bringing somewhat cooler temperatures – and, of course, Thursday's rain – to Israel for most of the week. Summer, however, is hardly over; forecasters predicted rising temperatures on the weekend, with the heat returning in earnest by next week.
The Kinneret, in the eastern Galilee, was unaffected by Thursday's rain. The Kinneret has fallen 74.5 centimeters since last May, due to pumping and evaporation. The lake's current maximum level is 212 meters, 94 centimeters above the “upper red line,” below which pumping water could be dangerous to the Kinneret. Earlier this week, Israeli officials said that by 2014, they expect to be able to provide nearly all Israeli households with up to 85% of their water usage from desalinated or recycled water sources.
Comment on this story
by David Lev
Northern coastal Israel experienced an extremely rare August event – a significant rain storm. Forecasters Wednesday night had said that there was the possibility of a small drizzle in the north, but Thursday morning's rain went far beyond the very light rainfall that occasionally happens during the summer months.
Residents reported steady rain that lasted for more than a half hour in several areas of the western Galilee, from Nahariya south to Akko (near Haifa), and many broke out umbrellas that have been collecting dust for months. Thunderclouds were reported off the coast, although no thunder or lightning was reported.
The rain could migrate south, forecasters said, with light rain affecting some parts of the coastal center of the country. Temperatures Thursday were slightly below normal for late August, and the weather in the center of the country was partly cloudy. The rain is being produced by a cold front that swooped down from Turkey, bringing somewhat cooler temperatures – and, of course, Thursday's rain – to Israel for most of the week. Summer, however, is hardly over; forecasters predicted rising temperatures on the weekend, with the heat returning in earnest by next week.
The Kinneret, in the eastern Galilee, was unaffected by Thursday's rain. The Kinneret has fallen 74.5 centimeters since last May, due to pumping and evaporation. The lake's current maximum level is 212 meters, 94 centimeters above the “upper red line,” below which pumping water could be dangerous to the Kinneret. Earlier this week, Israeli officials said that by 2014, they expect to be able to provide nearly all Israeli households with up to 85% of their water usage from desalinated or recycled water sources.
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5. Iran's Supreme Leader Claims No Interest in Nuke Weapons
by Chana Ya'ar
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini claims the country has no interest in producing nuclear weapons.
However, he told the Non-Aligned Movement summit for heads of state on Thursday, Iran will continue to pursue its nuclear technology development program. Khameini insisted Iran's nuclear activities are aimed at developing peaceful atomic energy.
“Our motto is nuclear energy for all, and nuclear weapons for none,” he said.
It is Khameini who holds the ultimate power over whether or not nuclear weapons are created -- and used --- or not, in Iran.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is attending the summit, told Iran's leadership on Wednesday to stop threatening Israel, his spokesman said. The U.N. chief urged Iran to prove in concrete terms the country's nuclear activities are peaceful.
In addition to his meeting with Khameini, Ban met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
Khameini fiercely criticized the U.N. Security Council in his speech, calling the international body an illogical, unjust and defunct relic of the past used by the U.S. “to impose its bullying manner on the world.”
Comment on this story
by Chana Ya'ar
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini claims the country has no interest in producing nuclear weapons.
However, he told the Non-Aligned Movement summit for heads of state on Thursday, Iran will continue to pursue its nuclear technology development program. Khameini insisted Iran's nuclear activities are aimed at developing peaceful atomic energy.
“Our motto is nuclear energy for all, and nuclear weapons for none,” he said.
It is Khameini who holds the ultimate power over whether or not nuclear weapons are created -- and used --- or not, in Iran.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is attending the summit, told Iran's leadership on Wednesday to stop threatening Israel, his spokesman said. The U.N. chief urged Iran to prove in concrete terms the country's nuclear activities are peaceful.
In addition to his meeting with Khameini, Ban met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili, spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
Khameini fiercely criticized the U.N. Security Council in his speech, calling the international body an illogical, unjust and defunct relic of the past used by the U.S. “to impose its bullying manner on the world.”
Tags: Ban Ki Moon ,Iran Nuclear threat ,Iran Supreme Leader ,Ayatollah Ali Khameini ,Non-Aligned Movement
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6. Ban to Iran's Leaders: Stop Threatening Israel
by Elad Benari
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Iran’s leaders to stop threatening Israel, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
Ban, who arrived in Iran on Wednesday for the Non-Aligned Movement Conference, had a series of meetings with Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
Ban also held talks with the Iranian Parliament Speaker, Ali Larijani, and with Saeed Jalili, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
“In all these meetings, the Secretary-General conveyed the clear concerns and expectations of the international community on the issues for which cooperation and progress are urgent for both regional stability and the welfare of the Iranian people,” said Nesirky.
He added, “On human rights, the Secretary-General in his meeting with the President said that the human rights situation in Iran remains a source of concern. He said fundamental, civil and political rights should be respected. He also mentioned in his meeting with the President, and separately with the Supreme Leader, that he strongly objected to recent remarks from Iranian officials denying the Holocaust and Israel’s right to exist. He said that such offensive and inflammatory statements were unacceptable and should be condemned by all.”
Both Ahmadinejad and Khamenei have repeatedly called to wipe Israel off the map. Most recently, Ahmadinejad said that “any freedom lover and justice seeker in the world must do its best for the annihilation of the Zionist regime in order to pave the path for the establishment of justice and freedom in the world.”
Khamenei recently said, “The light of hope will shine on the Palestinian issue, and this Islamic land will certainly be returned to the Palestinian nation, and the superfluous and fake Zionist (regime) will disappear from the landscape of geography.”
Ban’s spokesman said that the Secretary-General also discussed Iran’s nuclear program with Iran’s leaders, telling them “that Iran needed to take concrete steps to address the concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency and prove to the world that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.”
“He said that there is no alternative to peaceful, diplomatic and negotiated settlement which should be reached step by step and based on reciprocity,” said Nesirky.
Ban also “urged both the President and the Supreme Leader in separate meetings to use Iran’s influence to impress upon the Syrian leadership the urgent need for the violence to stop and to create the condition for a credible dialogue and a genuine political process that meets the will of the Syrian people.”
Meanwhile on Wednesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attacked the participants in the Summit of Non-Aligned States, saying the summit “is a disgrace and a stain upon humanity.”
Netanyahu said this at the start of his meeting with David McAllister, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, who is visiting Israel.
Before Ban’s trip, Netanyahu spoke with the UN Secretary-General and told him that a trip to Tehran is a major mistake.
Netanyahu told Ban that he sees no reason to visit a country the regime of which is anti-Semitic and which has set for itself the goal of destroying the State of Israel.
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Iran’s leaders to stop threatening Israel, his spokesman said on Wednesday.
Ban, who arrived in Iran on Wednesday for the Non-Aligned Movement Conference, had a series of meetings with Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, spokesman Martin Nesirky said.
Ban also held talks with the Iranian Parliament Speaker, Ali Larijani, and with Saeed Jalili, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
“In all these meetings, the Secretary-General conveyed the clear concerns and expectations of the international community on the issues for which cooperation and progress are urgent for both regional stability and the welfare of the Iranian people,” said Nesirky.
He added, “On human rights, the Secretary-General in his meeting with the President said that the human rights situation in Iran remains a source of concern. He said fundamental, civil and political rights should be respected. He also mentioned in his meeting with the President, and separately with the Supreme Leader, that he strongly objected to recent remarks from Iranian officials denying the Holocaust and Israel’s right to exist. He said that such offensive and inflammatory statements were unacceptable and should be condemned by all.”
Both Ahmadinejad and Khamenei have repeatedly called to wipe Israel off the map. Most recently, Ahmadinejad said that “any freedom lover and justice seeker in the world must do its best for the annihilation of the Zionist regime in order to pave the path for the establishment of justice and freedom in the world.”
Khamenei recently said, “The light of hope will shine on the Palestinian issue, and this Islamic land will certainly be returned to the Palestinian nation, and the superfluous and fake Zionist (regime) will disappear from the landscape of geography.”
Ban’s spokesman said that the Secretary-General also discussed Iran’s nuclear program with Iran’s leaders, telling them “that Iran needed to take concrete steps to address the concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency and prove to the world that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.”
“He said that there is no alternative to peaceful, diplomatic and negotiated settlement which should be reached step by step and based on reciprocity,” said Nesirky.
Ban also “urged both the President and the Supreme Leader in separate meetings to use Iran’s influence to impress upon the Syrian leadership the urgent need for the violence to stop and to create the condition for a credible dialogue and a genuine political process that meets the will of the Syrian people.”
Meanwhile on Wednesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attacked the participants in the Summit of Non-Aligned States, saying the summit “is a disgrace and a stain upon humanity.”
Netanyahu said this at the start of his meeting with David McAllister, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, who is visiting Israel.
Before Ban’s trip, Netanyahu spoke with the UN Secretary-General and told him that a trip to Tehran is a major mistake.
Netanyahu told Ban that he sees no reason to visit a country the regime of which is anti-Semitic and which has set for itself the goal of destroying the State of Israel.
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7. New Zealand's Only Jewish Day School Forced to Close
by Rachel Hirshfeld
The only Jewish day school in New Zealand’s capital of Wellington has been forced to close its doors at the end of the year.
Citing lack of resources as the main reason for the school’s closure, president of the Wellington Jewish Community Centre Claire Massey told J-Wire that the news “wasn’t a complete surprise,” as there are currently only sixteen students at the school between the ages of 5 and 13.
The Moriah School was founded in 1985 and at its peak had almost 60 students.
As part of its Holocaust education program, the school became involved in a project to amass 1.5 million buttons, representing the children murdered by the Nazis.
“The closure of Moriah College is viewed with regret by both the New Zealand Jewish Community and the rest of the country,” Stephen Goodman, president of the New Zealand Jewish Council, told J-Wire.
“While relatively small Moriah has added to the spread and understanding of Jewish values in Wellington and across the rest of New Zealand. Activities such as their button project, raising Holocaust awareness, could only be carried by a Jewish school. In addition their involvement with many community and cultural events will be sorely missed,” he said.
Goodman said that, “any loss” to Jewish education “diminishes us all.”
Wellington is the second largest Jewish community after Auckland, which is home to the majority of the country’s estimated 7,000 Jews.
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by Rachel Hirshfeld
The only Jewish day school in New Zealand’s capital of Wellington has been forced to close its doors at the end of the year.
Citing lack of resources as the main reason for the school’s closure, president of the Wellington Jewish Community Centre Claire Massey told J-Wire that the news “wasn’t a complete surprise,” as there are currently only sixteen students at the school between the ages of 5 and 13.
The Moriah School was founded in 1985 and at its peak had almost 60 students.
As part of its Holocaust education program, the school became involved in a project to amass 1.5 million buttons, representing the children murdered by the Nazis.
“The closure of Moriah College is viewed with regret by both the New Zealand Jewish Community and the rest of the country,” Stephen Goodman, president of the New Zealand Jewish Council, told J-Wire.
“While relatively small Moriah has added to the spread and understanding of Jewish values in Wellington and across the rest of New Zealand. Activities such as their button project, raising Holocaust awareness, could only be carried by a Jewish school. In addition their involvement with many community and cultural events will be sorely missed,” he said.
Goodman said that, “any loss” to Jewish education “diminishes us all.”
Wellington is the second largest Jewish community after Auckland, which is home to the majority of the country’s estimated 7,000 Jews.
Comment on this story
8. Married Hareidi Woman Arrested for 'Dodging Draft'
by Gil Ronen
A married hareidi woman who planned to fly to Crown Heights, Brooklyn for the holidays is in military jail after the IDF accused her of being an enlistment evader.
The imbroglio began when the woman showed up at the Military Police offices and asked why she was told by airport authorities that she could not leave Israel. She was told that an order restricting her from leaving Israel had been issued against her, and that she has been "wanted for a long time."
She explained that she is a married hareidi woman, but this impressed no one and she was promptly arrested and taken to military jail.
According to the Chabad On Line website, MKs Michael Ben Ari (National Union) and Uri Makleb (UTJ) sent an urgent letter to the Defense Minister Wednesday asking him to intervene in the affair.
"D., who grew up in a hareidi family, was a candidate for enlistment who did not report that she is religious, despite having been educated in hareidi institutions and leading that lifestyle," they wrote.
"D. did not obey the law when she failed to settle the matter of her enlistment / non-enlistment, at the time when she was required to report for service. But now, after she married, she asked to settle her case vis-à-vis the Military Police, and when she came with her husband to settle the matter she was immediately taken to jail."
"To the best of our understanding, and along with our criticism of D., this is an unacceptable act. It is hard to understand why it was so urgent to arrest her when she herself showed up to settle her case. Could she not have been summoned for trial?"
"The arrest of a married hareidi woman is seen in the public as a serious breach of her modesty. We turn to you and ask for your immediate intervention for D.'s release. And there is no doubt that from here on in she will show up as required for her trial. There, she will be able to present her arguments and if there is a need for punishment, a way must be found to do it without violating the rules of modesty."
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by Gil Ronen
A married hareidi woman who planned to fly to Crown Heights, Brooklyn for the holidays is in military jail after the IDF accused her of being an enlistment evader.
The imbroglio began when the woman showed up at the Military Police offices and asked why she was told by airport authorities that she could not leave Israel. She was told that an order restricting her from leaving Israel had been issued against her, and that she has been "wanted for a long time."
She explained that she is a married hareidi woman, but this impressed no one and she was promptly arrested and taken to military jail.
According to the Chabad On Line website, MKs Michael Ben Ari (National Union) and Uri Makleb (UTJ) sent an urgent letter to the Defense Minister Wednesday asking him to intervene in the affair.
"D., who grew up in a hareidi family, was a candidate for enlistment who did not report that she is religious, despite having been educated in hareidi institutions and leading that lifestyle," they wrote.
"D. did not obey the law when she failed to settle the matter of her enlistment / non-enlistment, at the time when she was required to report for service. But now, after she married, she asked to settle her case vis-à-vis the Military Police, and when she came with her husband to settle the matter she was immediately taken to jail."
"To the best of our understanding, and along with our criticism of D., this is an unacceptable act. It is hard to understand why it was so urgent to arrest her when she herself showed up to settle her case. Could she not have been summoned for trial?"
"The arrest of a married hareidi woman is seen in the public as a serious breach of her modesty. We turn to you and ask for your immediate intervention for D.'s release. And there is no doubt that from here on in she will show up as required for her trial. There, she will be able to present her arguments and if there is a need for punishment, a way must be found to do it without violating the rules of modesty."
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