...about four dozen [Israelis]...made an unusual recent pilgrimage to Ramallah, one of several Palestinian cities that have been officially off-limits to most Israeli citizens for more than a decade...organized by the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information [from their FB: IPCRI - Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information shared a link.Wednesday Our Breaking Down Walls tour is featured in the New York Times!]...contacts between the two peoples have dwindled. Fewer Palestinians work inside Israel. Dialogue groups have broken up. Camps connecting children are harder to find. The communities increasingly function as if in alternate universes.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Busing with Jodi
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Passover: a Time for Reflection
To Jews, Passover is a festival of freedom. It is the celebration of a people overcoming slavery and obtaining redemption.
As a Jew very much devoted to my religion, I take the Passover story very seriously. That said, there is one part of the narrative that I feel speaks more to my political side than my religious. It concerns the loss of freedom, rather than the obtaining of it.
To many, the Passover story begins with the ancient Israelites already enslaved in Egypt. Another way to approach the Passover story is to consider its beginning when Joseph invited his brothers and their families to relocate in Goshen, Egypt, (hundreds of years earlier).
Just to backtrack for a moment, as you no doubt recall, Joseph's brothers, who once sold Joseph into slavery and presumed him long dead, had come to Egypt seeking relief from the drought. Joseph recognized them but they did not recognize him. After testing them a bit to see if they had grown morally, he eventually revealed himself to them, and, bearing no malice, invited his siblings and their families to move to Goshen where he could help them beat the remainder of the seven-year drought, and, as the number two man of Egypt, be able to look after their well-being in general.
As a Jew very much devoted to my religion, I take the Passover story very seriously. That said, there is one part of the narrative that I feel speaks more to my political side than my religious. It concerns the loss of freedom, rather than the obtaining of it.
To many, the Passover story begins with the ancient Israelites already enslaved in Egypt. Another way to approach the Passover story is to consider its beginning when Joseph invited his brothers and their families to relocate in Goshen, Egypt, (hundreds of years earlier).
Just to backtrack for a moment, as you no doubt recall, Joseph's brothers, who once sold Joseph into slavery and presumed him long dead, had come to Egypt seeking relief from the drought. Joseph recognized them but they did not recognize him. After testing them a bit to see if they had grown morally, he eventually revealed himself to them, and, bearing no malice, invited his siblings and their families to move to Goshen where he could help them beat the remainder of the seven-year drought, and, as the number two man of Egypt, be able to look after their well-being in general.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Muslim Brotherhood Thugs Tortured Christians in Mosque
Not a problem for Islamists. After all Jihad, the torturing and killing non-Muslims, is the highest form of worship in Islam.
Islamic hard-liners stormed a mosque in suburban Cairo, turning it into torture chamber for Christians who had been demonstrating against the ruling Muslim Brotherhood in the latest case of violent persecution that experts fear will only get worse.
Demonstrators say they were taken from the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in suburban Cairo to a nearby mosque on Friday and tortured for hours by hard-line militia members.
Israel's Insightful Cynicism
Robert D. Kaplan
Chief Geopolitical Analyst
Chief Geopolitical Analyst
Israel
is in the process of watching a peace treaty unravel. I don't mean the
one with Egypt, but the one with Syria. No, I'm not crazy. Since Henry
Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy in 1974, the Israelis have had a de facto peace agreement of sorts
with the al Assad family. After all, there were clear red lines that
both sides knew they shouldn't cross, as well as reasonable
predictability on both sides. Forget about the uplifting rhetoric, the
requirement to exchange ambassadors and the other public policy frills
that normally define peace treaties. What counts in this case is that
both sides observed limits and constraints, so that the contested border
between them was secure. Even better, because there was no formal peace
agreement in writing, neither side had to make inconvenient public and
strategic concessions. Israel did not have to give up the Golan Heights,
for example.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Europe: The Submission That Dare Not Speak Its Name
Guy Millière
During the previous days, he had shot three French soldiers of Arab origin.
The killer was quickly located, besieged by the police for thirty two hours, then riddled with bullets when he tried to escape.
What is taking shape could be a shift toward the end of the Jewish presence in Europe.Exactly one year ago, a killer entered the courtyard of a Jewish school in Toulouse, France, and shot in cold blood a rabbi and three children. He said he had wanted to kill more, and to perpetrate a massacre, but that his gun jammed.
During the previous days, he had shot three French soldiers of Arab origin.
The killer was quickly located, besieged by the police for thirty two hours, then riddled with bullets when he tried to escape.
Europe acquiesces while Jews are threatened, and killed. Again
Adam Turner
When
Gunther Grass, a German writer, wrote a nasty bit of verse attacking
the Jewish state of Israel and defending the Mad Mullahs of Iran and
their genocidal desires to destroy the world's Jews, many of the
chattering classes in the Europe were, oh-so-shocked. Considering
Grass's background as a member of the notorious Waffen S.S.,
I was not. The only shocking thing to me was that a Nazi verbally
attacking the Jewish state was considered newsworthy by anyone in the
real world.
Formal peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians would only lead to more hatred
Elyakim Haetzni
|
YnetNews.com |
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4358206,00.html
These words are addressed to the president of the United States on the eve of his visit and are written by a "settler" who, according to the president's policy, should be banished from his home. They are written in the classic Jewish form of dialogue known as ichfa mistabra - where one takes the opposite point of view to prove a point. Dear Mr. President, They say the Americans are committed to resolving our crisis with the Palestinians. But could it be, ifcha mistabra, that the Americans are the problem and not the solution, because the Arabs' expectation for American pressure on us only makes their positions more radical? A two-year-old girl is fighting for her life, and her mother and two sisters are injured. |
Obama encouraged Israelis to rebel
Op-ed: In Jerusalem
speech, US president went over the head of a prime minister he does not trust
|
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/ CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-4360129,00.html Try to imagine for a moment what would happen if Prime Minister Netanyahu would speak before American students at Columbia University and call on them to rise up and demand that their politicians block any gun control legislation or encourage the students to act determinedly against President Obama's health care law. What an uproar such an act would have caused in the US and the world over - and justifiably so. The prime minister of Israel, the headlines would say, is intervening in the most sensitive issues of American politics. |
Lebanon teeters on the edge, where's the media?
One has to wonder why this story has not gotten more play. Pro and anti-Assad factions have been battling it out for the last three days on the streets of Tripoli, Lebanon, which is generally one of that country's quieter cities.
Lebanese
media reported several people injured Saturday night in
the fierce fighting between pro- and anti-Bashar Assad partisans in the
country’s second largest city, as sectarian tensions threatened to
plunge the country into further chaos.
The
army said Saturday night it would enter the Alawite neighborhood of
Jabal Mohsen to restore order, after the worst fighting the city has
seen since the latest round of violence erupted on Thursday.
Some seven people have been killed and scores more injured in three days of fighting, according to Lebanese media.
UN concerned Syria war spilling over into Golan Heights
Israeli Syrian border in the Golan Heights Photo: REUTERS/Baz Ratner
UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council voiced concern
on Wednesday about repeated violations of the ceasefire line between
Syria and the Golan Heights and the danger to UN peacekeepers there due
to the escalating Syrian civil war.
The armed struggle between rebels and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad has posed increasing difficulties for the 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). UN peacekeepers monitoring the line halted patrols this month after rebels held 21 Filipino observers for three days.
"The members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at all violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement," the council said, adding that it also voiced "grave concern at the presence of the Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces inside the area of separation." UNDOF has the task of monitoring an "area of separation" between Syrian and Israeli forces, a narrow strip of land running 45 miles (70 km) from Mount Hermon on the Lebanese border to the Yarmouk River frontier with Jordan.
The armed struggle between rebels and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad has posed increasing difficulties for the 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). UN peacekeepers monitoring the line halted patrols this month after rebels held 21 Filipino observers for three days.
"The members of the Security Council expressed grave concern at all violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement," the council said, adding that it also voiced "grave concern at the presence of the Syrian Arab Republic Armed Forces inside the area of separation." UNDOF has the task of monitoring an "area of separation" between Syrian and Israeli forces, a narrow strip of land running 45 miles (70 km) from Mount Hermon on the Lebanese border to the Yarmouk River frontier with Jordan.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Arab League reject call to recognise Israel as Jewish state
IBA
The Arab League have rejected Israel's request to recognise it as a Jewish state.
The League approved a Qatari proposal to set up a $1 billion fund for Arab east Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as the capital of an independent state under any peace deal with Israel.
Canada, Keystone, and the Palestinians
Christine Williams
One can note some important "arguments" the U.S. is having with Canada. Canada is outperforming the U.S. economically on every level.As Obama wrapped up his Middle East tour, applauded by AIPAC for reaffirming "unbreakable bonds" and "deep affection" between two key allies; and by Al Jazeera for "normalizing" Israel Turkey ties, Obama's neighbors to the north are left scratching their heads about what he meant by his off-the-cuff statement that compared Israeli-Palestinian relations to Canada-U.S. relations.
Islam’s Outrageous Obscenities
Islamic TV personality, Abu Islam—the man who made international headlines when he insulted Christianity and tore a Bible on camera to screams of “Allahu Akbar!” and later incited Muslims to rape female protesters—unwittingly insulted Islam’s prophet Muhammad in a way that would have caused much of the Islamic world to riot and call for his death (if he was a non-Muslim).
This occurred during one of Abu Islam’s recent TV shows, which revolved around attacking Egyptian commentator and comedian Bassem Youssef, whose popular jabs frequently target Islamists, including President Morsi. In retaliation, Abu Islam spent a large segment of his show insulting Youssef. Yet, unlike the latter’s well-received jokes which are primarily based on wit and innuendo, the cleric relied on hurling ugly obscenities). Among other things, Abu Islam swore to Allah that according to Sharia law, because Youssef is a “pretty boy,” he is required to wear a niqab, or face veil, to cover himself up like a woman.
Apartheid Palestine
Jihad Watch
Israel is not an apartheid state. Muslim Arabs are in the Knesset, and enjoy more rights there than they do in an Islamic state. The real apartheid is in Sharia states, where the oppression of women and non-Muslims is institutionalized.
"Apartheid Palestine?," by Ann Bayefsky in the Jerusalem Post, March 17 (thanks to Pamela Geller):
Israel is not an apartheid state. Muslim Arabs are in the Knesset, and enjoy more rights there than they do in an Islamic state. The real apartheid is in Sharia states, where the oppression of women and non-Muslims is institutionalized.
"Apartheid Palestine?," by Ann Bayefsky in the Jerusalem Post, March 17 (thanks to Pamela Geller):
It is impossible to read this latest UN report, or to listen to its authors and its state sponsors, without knowing that the campaign to rid the world of Israeli settlements is a campaign to rid the world of Israel. On Monday, March 17 in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council will hold a first-ever three-hour session devoted to the alleged human rights abomination known as the “Israeli settlement.” In the moral wasteland of the United Nations, a Jew living on Arab-claimed land is a violation of Arab human rights.This was an Islamic phenomenon, not an Arab one. But otherwise Bayefsky's analysis is spot-on.
There were once an estimated 900,000 Jews across the Arab world, but today there are less than a few thousand. They were given a choice: die, convert or flee.
Op-Ed: A Baby is Stoned for Being an "Occupier"
The "occupation" terminology has lethal results.
Giulio Meotti
The writer, an Italian journalist with Il Foglio, writes a twice-weekly column for Arutz Sheva. He is the author of the book "A New Shoah", that researched the personal stories of Israel's terror victims, published by Encounter. His writing has appeared in publications, such as the Wall Street Journal, Frontpage and Commentary. He is at work on a book about the Vatican and Israel.A two-year-old Jewish girl named Adele, who lives in the "settlement" of Ariel, is fighting for her life, and her mother and two sisters are severely injured. The truck driving in front of the Bitons was attacked with stones during Palestinian Arab riots that erupted in Judea and Samaria ahead of Obama’s visit. The driver stopped short and Adele's mother, whose vision was blocked by the width of the truck, hit the back of the vehicle.
A week earlier, an old Israeli man was shot near Kedumim.
In 2011, Asher Palmer and his infant son Yonatan were killed when their car overturned after being pelted with boulders.
The Fogel family is already legend in the pantheon of Israel's victims of terrorism.
Who is responsible for this? The Western "symbolic violence against the Jews" is to blame, as Shmuel Trigano called it in a recent essay. The Israelis must be burn in effigy, he said, before being physically slaughtered on the streets.
The same week as the terror attack against the Bitons, a 8,000-word New York Times magazine cover story justified Palestinian Arab terrorism and called for another Intifafa.
“If there is a third Intifada, we want to be the ones who started it: One village in the West Bank tests the limits of unarmed resistance”.
U.S. will spend $6 billion to remove military equipment from Afghanistan by 2014
Emma Graham-Harrison, The Guardian
Huge numbers of weapons and vehicles and tense relations with nearby countries make task more daunting than Iraq pullout
Fighting wars is expensive, but so is winding them down. As the US prepares to ship most of its weapons, vehicles and other equipment home after more than a decade in Afghanistan, the bill for the move will be a staggering $6bn, officers in charge of the complex process say.
Rusting Soviet tanks and guns still dot the Afghan landscape, serving as bleak memorials to violence of the 1980s, and perhaps a spur to Nato forces to ensure there are no similar reminders from the last decade of conflict.
Fighting wars is expensive, but so is winding them down. As the US prepares to ship most of its weapons, vehicles and other equipment home after more than a decade in Afghanistan, the bill for the move will be a staggering $6bn, officers in charge of the complex process say.
Rusting Soviet tanks and guns still dot the Afghan landscape, serving as bleak memorials to violence of the 1980s, and perhaps a spur to Nato forces to ensure there are no similar reminders from the last decade of conflict.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Jonathan Pollard: The Case for Commutation of Sentence
MARK SILVERBERG
March 26, 2013
During the course of President Obama's recent interview with Israel's Channel 2
on March 21st, in response to whether he would consider commuting the
life sentence of former civilian American naval intelligence analyst and
convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, he remarked: "As president, my
first obligation is to observe the law here in the US. I need to make
sure that every individual is treated fairly and equally."
Scottish Government Funds Pro-Terror Group
Samuel Westrop
Although the Scottish government may be convinced it is engaging with the Muslim community, in truth it is funding Islamist groups with extremist agendas and ties to terrorism.The Daily Express revealed last week that Islamic Relief Worldwide, a British charity accused of links to terrorism, was presented with £398,000 of the taxpayers' money by the Scottish Government last year, as part of its £9 million International Development Fund.
Erdogan, Netanyahu reconciliation: Interests triumph over ego and politics
Barak Ravid
After three years in which Israel-Turkey relations were the victim of ego games and internal politics disguised as national pride, the two leaders understood that the damage done by the crisis was far greater than the benefits they could reap from a renewal of relations.
Erdogan, Netanyahu reconciliation: Interests triumph over ego and politics
After three years in which relations between the two countries fell victim to internal politics and ego games disguised as national pride, unrest in Syria, Iran's nuclear program and some U.S. pressure pushed the Israeli and Turkish PMs to make up.
There were three reasons behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan choosing to end the crisis between the two countries: Interests, interests, interests.After three years in which Israel-Turkey relations were the victim of ego games and internal politics disguised as national pride, the two leaders understood that the damage done by the crisis was far greater than the benefits they could reap from a renewal of relations.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Germany and Genocide - Again
Kenneth R. Timmerman
Within months of the March 16 attack, after a fact-finding team dispatched to interview refugees along the Turkey-Iraq border pieced together eye-witness accounts to reconstruct an accurate account of the events, the United States Senate determined that the chemical attack against the city of Halabja by the Iraqi Air Force was a "genocide."
The overwhelming majority of technical expertise, know-how, and design information of the Iraqi dictator's chemical weapons plants came from German companies. The nerve and mustard gas was produced in German-built factories in Samarra and Fallujah. The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel refused to accept responsibility for the actions of German companies.Halabja, Iraq – Just a few days ago, the Kurds in northern Iraq and I stood to commemorate the 25th anniversary of one of the most barbaric war crimes since WWII: Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons to commit mass murder of his own citizens.
Within months of the March 16 attack, after a fact-finding team dispatched to interview refugees along the Turkey-Iraq border pieced together eye-witness accounts to reconstruct an accurate account of the events, the United States Senate determined that the chemical attack against the city of Halabja by the Iraqi Air Force was a "genocide."
Two different views on Netanyahu’s apology to Turkey’s Erdogan plus predictable subsequent action.
http://israel-commentary.org/?p=6231
I From Professor Steven Plaut – An open letter to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister of Turkey
Dear Mister Prime Minister:
On behalf of all of the people of Israel, I would like to apologize to you for the cowardice and fathomless idiocy of the Prime
Minister of Israel. As you know, this weekend Benjamin Netanyahu sent you an “apology” for Israel having defended itself against the genocidal terrorists who attacked Israeli soldiers armed only with paint guns when they boarded the terrorist “flotilla” ship that you sent out to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of the Hamas enclave in Gaza.
I From Professor Steven Plaut – An open letter to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister of Turkey
Dear Mister Prime Minister:
On behalf of all of the people of Israel, I would like to apologize to you for the cowardice and fathomless idiocy of the Prime
Minister of Israel. As you know, this weekend Benjamin Netanyahu sent you an “apology” for Israel having defended itself against the genocidal terrorists who attacked Israeli soldiers armed only with paint guns when they boarded the terrorist “flotilla” ship that you sent out to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of the Hamas enclave in Gaza.
Flotilla 3.0: Redeeming Obama's Palestine Speech With Gaza's Ark
Robert Naiman
There's a half-empty way and a half-full way of looking at
President Obama's Jerusalem speech about the creation of an
independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza, and East
Jerusalem.
The half-empty way of looking at it is: this was Obama's white flag of surrender. To everyone around the world who for decades has been assuming that at the end of the day, the president of the United States would lead the way to resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, Obama was saying:
The half-empty way of looking at it is: this was Obama's white flag of surrender. To everyone around the world who for decades has been assuming that at the end of the day, the president of the United States would lead the way to resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, Obama was saying:
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Obama’s Visit to Israel: A Turning Point?
Isi Leibler
March 24, 2013
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4558
"In
each and every generation they rise up against us to destroy us. And
The Holy One, blessed be He, rescues us from their hands" (Passover
Hagada)
March 24, 2013
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=4558
 |
Wishing all my readers a very Happy Passover
Chag Sameach,
Isi and Naomi Leibler
Both American and Israeli
leaders must have heaved sighs of relief as Air Force One departed from
Ben-Gurion Airport with President Obama’s visit culminating on a high
note for both parties.
Don't Call It Amnesty
DON'T CALL IT AMNESTY
Amnesty is bad. Everyone agrees on that. Even the senators who support amnesty claim not to support it. Instead they support “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” with “A Path to Citizenship”. They support a comprehensive solution that will be compassionate and work as an immigration policy for the 21st century.
No one uses the term “amnesty” anymore except opponents of amnesty for illegal aliens and their more vociferous advocates. This makes for some confusing speeches and press conferences.
The most bizarre argument that advocates of amnesty are making is that we have “de facto amnesty” now. The argument goes that since we have de facto amnesty now, we should just have the real thing and get it over with.
A lack of proper enforcement is not de facto amnesty. Amnesty is legalization. What Rubio and Rand Paul call de facto amnesty is the difference between not arresting a drug dealer and legalizing heroin.
Al Qaeda Document Reveals Terrorist Plans For Attacks In The U.S., Europe
The Huffington Post | By Meredith
Bennett-Smith
Al Qaeda discussed attacking pipelines, dams, bridges, and other important
infrastructure in the U.S. and Europe, according to a document seized from Osama
bin Laden's Pakistan compound.
News of the document recently came to light after German newspaper Die Zeit published a story detailing its contents.
The outlet reports that the U.S. Department of Justice gave the letter to the German Federal Office of Justice in April 2012 for the trial of alleged terrorists in Germany, according to a Huffington Post translation of the story.
News of the document recently came to light after German newspaper Die Zeit published a story detailing its contents.
The outlet reports that the U.S. Department of Justice gave the letter to the German Federal Office of Justice in April 2012 for the trial of alleged terrorists in Germany, according to a Huffington Post translation of the story.
Does Obama not know the messages Palestinians get?
David Bedein
Published: Sunday, March 24 2013
President Barack Obama, on his first trip to Israel
as president, struck a cord of confusion with the people in Israel on
Thursday when he ascribed peaceful intentions to Israel's adversary, the
Palestinian Authority, the administrative arm of the Palestinian
Liberation Organization (PLO), a terror group founded in 1964 by the
Arab League, with the purpose of total war against the state of Israel.
Yet, President Obama, speaking on Thursday at the Jerusalem convention center, declared, "While I know you have had differences with the Palestinian Authority, I genuinely believe that you do have a true partner in President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. I believe that. And they have a track record to prove it."
Published: Sunday, March 24 2013
Yet, President Obama, speaking on Thursday at the Jerusalem convention center, declared, "While I know you have had differences with the Palestinian Authority, I genuinely believe that you do have a true partner in President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. I believe that. And they have a track record to prove it."
Mini-Guide on Different Groups’ Responses to Obama’s Trip to Israel
Barry Rubin
Since President Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East was such a turning point for U.S. policy, I thought it should be summarized by showing characteristic responses of different groups. These are, of course, generalizations, and there are many variations.
The Far Leftist: Why has Obama been so nice to Israel? He’s sold out and become just another typical president who backs Israel. How infuriating!
The “Mainstream” Liberal (Current Version): We told you so! Of course
Obama loves Israel despite all of that propaganda against him, and he
really showed it this time. I’m so glad I voted for him twice.
Since President Barack Obama’s trip to the Middle East was such a turning point for U.S. policy, I thought it should be summarized by showing characteristic responses of different groups. These are, of course, generalizations, and there are many variations.
The Far Leftist: Why has Obama been so nice to Israel? He’s sold out and become just another typical president who backs Israel. How infuriating!
The Left-Liberal: Did you see how Obama told off the Israelis and
demanded they make peace? Of course, the people love him and it is only
the reactionary leaders who oppose a truly great president who is doing a
great job. He hasn’t changed at all; he’s just found a clearer way to
articulate his position.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Assessing President Obama's Trip*
Alan Dershowitz
Now that President Obama is on his way back from his trip to the Middle East, its potential impact can be assessed. All in all it was a success, despite some pitfalls.
Whenever a high ranking American dignitary visits Israel, there is concern that something will happen—new settlement building, further rocket attacks—to spoil the visit. It happened again, as President Obama was visiting President Abbas, having had a positive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. This time the spoiler was neither Hamas nor the settlement builders (though rockets were fired and settlements expanded). It was The New York Times, running an extensive and illustrated story casting doubt on President Obama's signature gift to Israel: America's financial support for the joint anti-missile system called "Iron Dome."
The success of the Iron Dome has been central to Israeli-American relations, as well to the security policies of both countries. An anti-missile system capable of destroying up to 90% of Hamas rockets directed at Israeli population centers has made it possible for Israel to focus on prevention rather than deterrence.
Now that President Obama is on his way back from his trip to the Middle East, its potential impact can be assessed. All in all it was a success, despite some pitfalls.
Whenever a high ranking American dignitary visits Israel, there is concern that something will happen—new settlement building, further rocket attacks—to spoil the visit. It happened again, as President Obama was visiting President Abbas, having had a positive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. This time the spoiler was neither Hamas nor the settlement builders (though rockets were fired and settlements expanded). It was The New York Times, running an extensive and illustrated story casting doubt on President Obama's signature gift to Israel: America's financial support for the joint anti-missile system called "Iron Dome."
The success of the Iron Dome has been central to Israeli-American relations, as well to the security policies of both countries. An anti-missile system capable of destroying up to 90% of Hamas rockets directed at Israeli population centers has made it possible for Israel to focus on prevention rather than deterrence.
From Cairo 2009 to Jerusalem 2013
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, "Second Thought: a US-Israel Initiative”
"Israel Hayom”, March 22, 2013, http://bit.ly/14hfaoH
Is President Obama learning from history by avoiding – or repeating - the crucial errors of his 2009 visit to the Middle East?
In 2009, Obama anticipated engagement, rather than confrontation, with Iran, which threatens the survival of pro-US Arab regimes in the Persian Gulf and beyond. Obama expected an Arab Spring and a march of pro-US democracy on the Arab Street, rather than the stormy, tectonic anti-US Arab Winter. Just like President Carter's reckless abandonment of the Shah and his courting of Khomeini, President Obama turned his back on America's ally, Mubarak, while extending his hand to America's inherent enemy, the trans-national, subversive Muslim Brotherhood.
"Israel Hayom”, March 22, 2013, http://bit.ly/14hfaoH
Is President Obama learning from history by avoiding – or repeating - the crucial errors of his 2009 visit to the Middle East?
In 2009, Obama anticipated engagement, rather than confrontation, with Iran, which threatens the survival of pro-US Arab regimes in the Persian Gulf and beyond. Obama expected an Arab Spring and a march of pro-US democracy on the Arab Street, rather than the stormy, tectonic anti-US Arab Winter. Just like President Carter's reckless abandonment of the Shah and his courting of Khomeini, President Obama turned his back on America's ally, Mubarak, while extending his hand to America's inherent enemy, the trans-national, subversive Muslim Brotherhood.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Obama Uses His Egyptian Disaster to Argue That Israel Should Trust the Terrorists
Is Obama familiar with anything that happened in Egypt since his speech? Seriously.I ask you, instead, to think about what can be done to build trust between people.
Four years ago I stood in Cairo in front of an audience of young people. Politically, religiously, they must seem a world away. But the things they want — they’re not so different from what the young people here want. They want the ability to make their own decisions and to get an education and to get a good job, to worship God in their own way, to get married, to raise a family. The same is true of those young Palestinians that I met with this morning. The same is true for young Palestinians who yearn for a better life in Gaza.
On Palestinian Shoes
President Barack Obama urged Israelis to consider the view from the other side, basically saying:
Put yourself in Palestinian shoes
His exact words were:
But the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and justice must also be recognized. Put yourself in their shoes – look at the world through their eyes
Mr. Obama, look what Palestinian shoes do, to you and to us:
Dear Gov. Huckabee,
Yesterday when I opened the Jerusalem Post I saw a copy your
full-page Gush Katif address printed for those of us who live in Israel.
It was a lovely surprise at first but then, I realized that it should not have
been- because you are always ready to support us no matter where you
are.
We know what a dedicated and loyal friend you are - one who
truly understands our history and our rights to this land. At a time when
Israel has so many enemies and anti-Semitism is once again rearing its ugliness
worldwide, your vision and courage in speaking out is so
appreciated.
At this particular time, we are again being pressured to agree
to the creation of yet another terrorist apartheid state - this one
'Palestine' - in the heartland of our democratic precious ancient
homeland! Would such an outrageous demand be made of any other country -
and would that country agree?!
Obama’s grim message to Jerusalem
The
White House is contending that Barack Obama’s first visit to Israel as
president underlines his administration’s commitment to Israel’s
security.
Rarely, however, has the style and symbolism of a political maneuver been more distant from the underlying substance.
Rarely, however, has the style and symbolism of a political maneuver been more distant from the underlying substance.
"The Party's Over"
If indeed there ever was a party,
except in people's imaginations.
I must confess something
here. I understand better today how Obama got re-elected. I'm seeing
his charm up close and when he turns it on, it's considerable. Then it
becomes a question of what to accept as real....
~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A Case Study of Media Manipulation on the Middle East: Slate About Me
Barry Rubin
Here's what Slate has to say about me:
Here's what Slate has to say about me:
"The
anti-Obama peace-process skeptics
can’t help but gloat. As Barry Rubin, a conservative, pro-Israel
American pundit put it on his Facebook page: “I think we have just won a
huge victory … Obama has admitted defeat on trying to bully,
manipulate, or pressure Israel.'"
This is a very revealing sentence in several respects:
--First
of all, the
article was not on my Facebook page. On my Facebook page was a link to
my article in PJMedia. Zacharia is not a friend on my Facebook page so
she could not have seen the material quoted there. Consequently, she
wrote it that way to avoid having to admit the existence of PJ Media and
linking to that publication. By saying something was on my Facebook
page--rather than on one of the biggest news/analysis sites on the
Internet--I am to be made to sound like a basement-dwelling blogger.
Obama's mysterious visit
Why
is US President Barack Obama coming to Israel today? In 2008, then
president George W. Bush came to celebrate Israel's 60th Independence
Day, and to reject Israeli requests for assistance in destroying Iran's
nuclear installations.
In
1996, then-president Bill Clinton came to Israel to help then-prime
minister Shimon Peres's electoral campaign against Likud leader Binyamin
Netanyahu.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
U.S. Government Funding Radical Israeli NGOs' Information Operations
CAROLINE GLICK
March 19, 2013
Earlier this month NGO (Non-governmental organization) Monitor released its report
on foreign government funding of radical political Israeli NGOs which
work to undermine Israel's international standing and subvert Israeli
society. Along with the usual European suspects who give millions of
shekels (or Euros or pounds) to Israeli groups like this, it works out
that the US government is also funding extremely radical organizations,
courtesy of American taxpayers. Notably, the three groups that reported
receiving funding from the US are all in the business of waging
political warfare campaigns directed at the Israeli public.
PA's welcome to Obama: Americans behind 9/11 attacks and Hitler was greater than Roosevelt
Official PA daily:
History is written by the victors,
therefore "Muslim terrorists" are falsely blamed for 9/11
and Nazism is prosecuted instead of honored
"Had Hitler won, Nazism would be an honor"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Two days before US President Barack Obama's visit to Israel and the PA, the official PA daily chose to print anti-American hate speech along with pro-Hitler comments in an op-ed:
"Our history is replete with lies... [including] the lie about Al-Qaeda and the September 11 events, which asserted that Muslim terrorists committed it, and that it was not an internal American action by the Freemasons."
The op-ed further implies that Hitler was greater than both Churchill and Roosevelt, who were "alcoholics":
Ministers and Senior Officials of the 33rd Government of Israel 18 Mar 2013
| |||||||||||
Government Ministers 
Monday, March 18, 2013
Obama and Netanyahu – ReStart
Gerald M. Steinberg
In their second act, will Benjamin Netanyahu
and Barack Obama find happiness, and cooperate on policies that will
best serve both Israeli and American interests?
The answer does not depend on psychology or
individual personalities. Serious leaders leave their private likes and
dislikes behind when it comes to serious issues – Churchill, Roosevelt
and Stalin did what they had to, despite the deep animosities. And Sadat
and Begin did not need to play golf in order to negotiate peace.
A Peace Agreement and Israel's New Government
myrightword
Haaretz reports:
The actual Coalition Guidelines first paragraph reads:
Haaretz reports:
The coalition agreements signed with both parties make almost no mention of the peace process...Habayit Hayehudi added a clause to the agreement requiring the government to pass a law within 90 days mandating a referendum over any agreement that includes handing over territory.
The actual Coalition Guidelines first paragraph reads:
To the Jewish people the inalienable right for a state in the Land of Israel, its historical national homeland of the Jews.
A new 'bargaining chip' as Obama comes to Israel
A special nanochip containing the founding
declarations of U.S. and Israel is set in ancient stone to be handed to
Obama • "Unique gift symbolizes the main messages of the visit — the
strong and deep bilateral ties," Prime Minister's Office says.
The nanochip U.S. President
Barack Obama will get from the prime minister, with the Jerusalem stone
underneath.
|
Photo credit: Yoav Bachar & Shlomo Shoham, Technion.  |
||||
|
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give
U.S. President Barack Obama a special gold-coated silicon nanochip
containing the U.S.'s Declaration of Independence written alongside
Israel's founding document.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Israel's military intelligence chief says Syria's embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, is preparing to use chemical weapons.
Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi told a security conference in the coastal town of
Herzliya that Assad is stepping up his offensive against rebels trying to oust
him.
Kochavi claims Assad is making advanced preparations to use chemical
weapons, but has not yet given the order to deploy them.
Coalition guidelines to change Israel's religious status quo
The planned reforms could include a new
military draft law, a tweaked system of government, and a new Basic Law
that puts Israel's Jewish character ahead of its democratic nature •
National religious to control rabbinate and conversion apparatus.
The issue of haredim serving
in the army and sharing the burden play a major role in the 33rd
government's formation. [Archive]
|
Photo credit: Reuters  |
The new coalition agreements between
Likud-Beytenu, Yesh Atid and Habayit Hayehudi may result in sweeping
changes on many fronts, ranging from the control of religious
institutions to the very identity of the state.
Among the first orders of business for the new
government is the passage of a new budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year
and the enactment of a national service law that would replace the de
facto blanket exemption ultra-Orthodox currently enjoy. In addition, the
mandatory length of service in some units would be cut to two years for
all draftees. (Currently Israeli men serve three years and women, two.)
Both of these items must be submitted for a vote within 45 days.
Biased, Prejudiced, and Unprofessional: The UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission Report on Israeli Settlements
Alan Baker
- On 31 January 2013 the "International Fact-Finding Mission on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" published its findings on the implications of Israeli settlements on the human rights of the Palestinian people.
- The enabling resolution of the Human Rights Council, the composition of the mission, its mandate, mode of operation, and substantive content are, from the outset, based on a premise that considers Israel's settlement policy to be illegal. This premise dictates the one-sided and prejudiced nature of the mission and its report.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
First known Canadian Muslim waxed waging jihad in Syria
creeping
Thank Obama in part for legitimizing the Syrian jihadists. via Blazing Cat Fur: First Canadian to be killed in the jihad fields of Syria.
Thank Obama in part for legitimizing the Syrian jihadists. via Blazing Cat Fur: First Canadian to be killed in the jihad fields of Syria.
The civil war in Syria appeals to young
Muslims from many countries including the West, wishing to join the
ranks of Jihad (holy war) as part of the rebel forces in Syria, most of
which are identified with radical Islamic streams.
Canadian citizens have also enlisted with
the Syrian rebels. One of these Canadians was killed recently in
fighting against forces of the Syrian regime in the environs of the
capital Damascus. Jamal Mohamed Abd al-Kader was born and raised in
Canada, a member of a Kurdish family originally from the village of Juka
near Afrin in north east Syria.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thrown in Prison for Shredding the Koran
ANDREW E. HARROD
March 15, 2013
A Bruges, Belgium criminal court
convicted a man for shredding a Koran on March 6, 2013. The court
imposed a four-month prison sentence and a 600 euro fine upon him. He
now additionally faces a revocation of a previous suspension of an
18-month prison sentence for having set a fire in a wood. This case
highlights yet again the greater restrictions on speech in free
societies outside of the United States and how these restrictions can
limit open debate about Islam.
One Small Step for Media Accuracy on Israel
Dovid Efune
This week, two vicious, accusatory and vastly damaging media reports about Israel were publicly exposed to be false. As is often the case, one correction drew little attention. The other however made international headlines which I believe should be cause for measured optimism.
The first story was published by Israel’s Haaretz, a newspaper that has distinguished itself in its eagerness to paint the government of the Jewish state as practitioners of racism and apartheid. Haaretz has displayed blatant disregard for accuracy in its frenzied pursuit of this agenda as evidenced in this particular case.
“A government official has for the first time acknowledged the practice of injecting women of Ethiopian origin with the long-acting contraceptive Depo-Provera,” opens the Haaretz report, which first appeared in the paper’s English edition on January 28th.
Citing a letter which was sent from Health Ministry Director General Prof. Ron Gamzu to four health maintenance organizations, Haaretz claims that he asked them “not to renew prescriptions for Depo-Provera for women of Ethiopian origin if for any reason there is concern that they might not understand the ramifications of the treatment.”
This week, two vicious, accusatory and vastly damaging media reports about Israel were publicly exposed to be false. As is often the case, one correction drew little attention. The other however made international headlines which I believe should be cause for measured optimism.
The first story was published by Israel’s Haaretz, a newspaper that has distinguished itself in its eagerness to paint the government of the Jewish state as practitioners of racism and apartheid. Haaretz has displayed blatant disregard for accuracy in its frenzied pursuit of this agenda as evidenced in this particular case.
“A government official has for the first time acknowledged the practice of injecting women of Ethiopian origin with the long-acting contraceptive Depo-Provera,” opens the Haaretz report, which first appeared in the paper’s English edition on January 28th.
Citing a letter which was sent from Health Ministry Director General Prof. Ron Gamzu to four health maintenance organizations, Haaretz claims that he asked them “not to renew prescriptions for Depo-Provera for women of Ethiopian origin if for any reason there is concern that they might not understand the ramifications of the treatment.”
Thursday, March 14, 2013
How Small is Israel? So Small You Can Run it in 9 Days
As Obama and his entourage prepare to descend on Israel demanding more territorial concessions for terrorists, it may be time for a reminder of how small Israel really is.
Marc Hendel, a south Florida native and recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, will soon attempt to become the first American to run the full length of Israel in nine days – from Rosh HaNikra, near the Lebanon border, to Eilat, the Red Sea port at Israel’s southernmost tip. Hendel is running to raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri and for Youth Futures, a Jewish Agency for Israel-sponsored mentorship program that assists at-risk children throughout the Jewish state.
The 23-year-old will begin his nine-day, 470-kilometer Strengthening Bonds Run on Tuesday, March 12.
Mike Huckabee addressing Barack Obama
Gov. Mike Huckabee’s Message to President Obama on his upcoming Visit to Israel
http://israel-commentary.org/?p=6102
Excerpted from a Keynote Address at Gush Katif Museum Dinner
Razag Ballroom, Brooklyn NY
March 9, 2013
Well, first let me say thanks for the wonderful frank reminder of Gush Katif. (a group of Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip deliberately destroyed by Arik Sharon while giving all of Gaza to the Arabs in a self-serving gesture of insanity for which Sharon was visited with a devastating stroke and now remains maintained, for some questionable reason, in a permanent vegetative state – jsk)
It has been a delight getting to share a fellowship with you, to share a mutual passion with you, for the protection of the security of Israel. And I was asked earlier, “Why would a Goy, a Christian, be interested in Israel?” Sometimes I feel that my passion for the goodness of Israel, maybe exceeds even my Jewish friends – and I tell people, I say, “you have to understand – It is entirely possible to be Jewish and not have a complete relationship to Christians – but it is impossible to be Christian and not have a complete relationship with Judaism – because it is in fact the foundation upon which every Christian believes and every Christian understands – that Israel is G-d’s Chosen Land! And we recognize that, and respect it and understand that the Nations Who Bless Israel Will Be Blessed And Those Who Curse Israel Will Be Cursed!
http://israel-commentary.org/?p=6102
Excerpted from a Keynote Address at Gush Katif Museum Dinner
Razag Ballroom, Brooklyn NY
March 9, 2013
Well, first let me say thanks for the wonderful frank reminder of Gush Katif. (a group of Israeli communities in the Gaza Strip deliberately destroyed by Arik Sharon while giving all of Gaza to the Arabs in a self-serving gesture of insanity for which Sharon was visited with a devastating stroke and now remains maintained, for some questionable reason, in a permanent vegetative state – jsk)
It has been a delight getting to share a fellowship with you, to share a mutual passion with you, for the protection of the security of Israel. And I was asked earlier, “Why would a Goy, a Christian, be interested in Israel?” Sometimes I feel that my passion for the goodness of Israel, maybe exceeds even my Jewish friends – and I tell people, I say, “you have to understand – It is entirely possible to be Jewish and not have a complete relationship to Christians – but it is impossible to be Christian and not have a complete relationship with Judaism – because it is in fact the foundation upon which every Christian believes and every Christian understands – that Israel is G-d’s Chosen Land! And we recognize that, and respect it and understand that the Nations Who Bless Israel Will Be Blessed And Those Who Curse Israel Will Be Cursed!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Student Who Taped Dutch Muslim Youths Praising Hitler Forced Into Hiding
Zach Pontz
The Dutch doctoral student who was seen in a controversial video trying to reeducate Dutch-Turkish youths has been forced into hiding after receiving death threats.
The Dutch daily NRC writes that Mehmet Sahin has gone into hiding with his family on the advice of the mayor of Arnhem, Pauline Krikke.
Last week a video surfaced of Sahin interviewing several Muslim youths in Holland. During the interview the youths spewed vitriol at Jews and praised Hitler, with one of the boys saying, “As far as I’m concerned Hitler should have killed all Jews.” The youths also displayed an alarming lack of knowledge about their subject, with one boy saying that “millions of Palestinians are being killed.”
Dutch Labor Party parliamentarian Ahmed Marcouch said that he will ask parliamentary questions about the threats. He remarked: “It is horrible that someone has to be afraid because he has done something that we all should do – teach children not to hate.”
Positive article about "settler and peace activist" in official PA daily
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=8653
Official PA daily:
Official PA daily:
"He was
the Rabbi of the Tekoa settlement... worked vigorously towards a
peaceful solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict... founder of the
peace movement, 'Land of Peace,' whose members are both settlers and
Palestinians."
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Rabbi Menachem Froman of the Israeli town of Tekoa in the West Bank passed away a week ago. The Palestinian Authority daily newspaper seldom prints positive articles about Israelis and almost never portrays those they call "settlers"
in a positive light. However, the PA daily recently published a very
positive article on its front page about Rabbi Menachem Froman and his
efforts to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The article was originally published by Agence France-Presse.
In 2010, the official PA daily reported on a solidarity visit by Rabbi Froman to mosques in the West Bank.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
‘Killing Jews Is Worship’ Ad Campaign Rolled Out On SF Muni Buses
Poeple so not realize that Koranic genocidal Jew-hate is part of the Islam book and is still taught today.
‘Killing Jews Is Worship’ Ad Campaign Rolled Out On SF Muni Buses
A new ad appearing on San Francisco buses from the American Freedom Defense Institute (CBS)
“Killing
Jews is worship that draws us closer to Allah,” reads one of the ads,
which has people debating the line between free speech and hate speech.“The purpose of our campaign is to show the reality of Jihad, the root causes of terrorism. Using the exact quotes and text that they use,” said Pamela Geller of the American Freedom Defense Institute.
Several San Francisco city leaders, including District Attorney George Gascon, have condemned the campaign.
“San Francisco won’t tolerate Islamophobic bigotry,” said Gascon. “The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to look the other way and do nothing.”
Board of Supervisors President David Chiu said the American Freedom Defense Initiative is made of “well-known hate extremists” and said he is introducing a resolution at Tuesday’s board meeting to denounce the ads.
Syrian Druze: Toward Defiant Neutrality
When Race Hatred Meets Class Hatred
he desire of intellectuals for some grand theory that will explain complex patterns with some solitary and simple factor has produced many ideas that do not stand up under scrutiny, but which have nevertheless had widespread acceptance — and sometimes catastrophic consequences — in countries around the world.
The theory of genetic determinism which dominated the early 20th century led to many harmful consequences, ranging from racial segregation and discrimination up to and including the Holocaust. The currently prevailing theory is that malice of one sort or another explains group differences in outcomes. Whether the lethal results of this theory would add up to as many murders as in the Holocaust is a question whose answer would require a detailed study of the history of lethal outbursts against groups hated for their success.
MI Director: Middle East will be more hostile
imra@netvision.net.il
Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, director of military intelligence, IDF at 2012 Herzliya Conference: "We are facing a Middle East which will be more hostile" The Middle East's leading security & policy gathering concludes today at the IDC Herzliya Campus Speaking at the opening session of the final day of the 2012 Herzliya Conference, Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, director of military intelligence, Israel Defense Forces said that he saw the new reality in the Middle East as "a sort of storm" adding, "More than ever I think that this turmoil storm has created new contexts within which we have to analyze this reality."
Muslim Terrorist Wannabe’s Jewish Lawyer Seeks to Bar Jews from Jury
Jewish Press
Frederick H. Cohn, New York lawyer for Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, recently said in court that he wants to exclude Jews from the jury that will hear Shehadeh’s case.
Shehadeh, 24, has been charged with lying about his alleged attempt to join the Taliban or other terrorist organization in Pakistan in 2008, and that he attempted to conceal the fact that he had traveled to Pakistan, when he later attempted to join the U.S. military.
Frederick H. Cohn, New York lawyer for Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, recently said in court that he wants to exclude Jews from the jury that will hear Shehadeh’s case.
Shehadeh, 24, has been charged with lying about his alleged attempt to join the Taliban or other terrorist organization in Pakistan in 2008, and that he attempted to conceal the fact that he had traveled to Pakistan, when he later attempted to join the U.S. military.
Monday, March 11, 2013
The Not-Bluffing Bluff
WSJ, REVIEW & OUTLOOK
Iran gains more time to build nuclear weapons while the U.S. makes
more concessions.
Joe
Biden got a rousing reception in Washington on Monday at the annual
conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, especially when he
talked about the Administration's approach to Iran. America's policy, he said,
"is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, period." To underscore
the point, he added that "President Barack Obama is not bluffing. He is not
bluffing."
That much was made clear Tuesday when
General James Mattis, the blunt-spoken Marine in charge of U.S. Central
Command, testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Are the current
diplomatic and economic efforts to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapons
capability, are they working?" asked Oklahoma Republican Jim Inhofe.
"No sir," the general replied. The
evidence, he noted later in his testimony, was that Tehran's "nuclear industry
continues."
Netanyahu Sings Praise of Rabbi Druckman, Religious Zionism
Gil Ronen & Yoni Kempinski
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu delivered a heartfelt tribute to Rabbi Haim Druckman, venerated spiritual leader of the religious Zionist stream, at an evening Sunday honoring Rabbi Druckman upon reaching the age of 80.
Netanyahu tore up the speech he had prepared and delivered an improvised version of it instead. "You know," he quipped, "in my family, reaching the age of 80 is not something to write home about... and you have a long road full of great deeds ahead of you."
Netanyahu played on the word 'gvurot' – courage – which is used in Judaism to refer to the age of 80.
"I would like to speak of your courageous virtues," he said, "three of them, and the first is here in the hall and outside it."
Sunday, March 10, 2013
A misconception about Pollard
GREER FAY CASHMAN - The Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Arts/Article.aspx?id=305676 One of the reasons for a certain degree of complacency about the eventual release from prison of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard is that many believe that his freedom will be automatic once he has served 30 years. (Pollard began his 28th year in jail on November 21, 2012.) But that is not the case, former US secretary of defense Dr. Lawrence J. Korb, who has been one of the leading activists on Pollard’s behalf, said when asked about this at the Jerusalem Press Club this week. Pollard has to apply for parole, but his lawyers are not being given access to all the government files pertaining to his case. Korb became interested in the Pollard affair after receiving a letter from Pollard’s father. He subsequently visited Pollard in prison and all the things that Pollard told him were later corroborated by the CIA.
Chechnya builds ‘2nd-largest mosque’ in Israel after Al-Aqsa
http://rt.com/news/chechnya-build-israel-mosque-039/
Russia’s Chechen Republic is funding the construction of a mosque which it claims will be the second-largest in Israel after the famous Al-Aqsa. It will be located just 10 km from Jerusalem and hold several thousands of worshippers at a time.
The location of the mosque is the Abu Ghosh village, which is partially populated by ethnic Chechens.
Construction is already underway. The mosque is being built on a street named after ex-Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in 2004. The mosque will also be named after the deceased president, the father of the republic's present leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.
Russia’s Chechen Republic is funding the construction of a mosque which it claims will be the second-largest in Israel after the famous Al-Aqsa. It will be located just 10 km from Jerusalem and hold several thousands of worshippers at a time.
The location of the mosque is the Abu Ghosh village, which is partially populated by ethnic Chechens.
Construction is already underway. The mosque is being built on a street named after ex-Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, who was assassinated in 2004. The mosque will also be named after the deceased president, the father of the republic's present leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.
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