Netanyahu to AIPAC: Stop Iran or Israel Will

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MjFkZTMyNGM3OGNjOTk3MTBhYzJlYzQ4NzIyZTdjMTc=
[Joel C. Rosenberg]

After the worst week in U.S.-Israel relations in 35 years, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to Washington Monday and gave a powerful and effective speech at the AIPAC gala dinner at the Washington Convention Center, warning the world to stop Iran — or Israel will — and respectfully but directly challenging the Obama administration on Jerusalem and the peace process.
Netanyahu received scores of standing ovations from the 7,800 guests in attendance, the biggest event in the history of AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee). More than half of the members of the U.S. House and Senate were there, as were ambassadors from more than fifty countries and many top Israeli officials, including defense minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Tzipi Livni. The longest and most sustained came when the prime minister firmly resisted the policy of President Obama, who seeks to divide Jerusalem and stop Israel from building “settlements” in East Jerusalem.

“Jerusalem is not a settlement,” said Netanyahu. “It is our capital.”

Netanyahu’s strategy in rebuilding U.S.-Israel relations is now clear. Reduce tensions with the president and executive branch if at all possible, but focus on speaking directly to the American people and strengthening the truly pro-Israel end of Pennsylvania Avenue: Congress.

Most stunning line of the night: To the surprise of many at the dinner, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) conceded that when it comes to Iran, “Diplomacy has failed.” We all know this to be true, but it has not yet been said so clearly and publicly by such a high-ranking Democrat and close supporter of President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Will Schumer’s analysis be taken up by fellow Democrats? This remains to be seen, but if it is, it could have dramatic implications for Washington’s next steps towards Iran. Schumer urged the administration to keep the military option open, but he stressed hitting Iran with crippling economic sanctions immediately. A bill he has co-sponsored to help cut off gas supplies to Iran (Iran imports 45 percent of its gasoline) passed the Senate on January 28th, he noted. It is now being reconciled with the House version. It should go to the president for signature soon, and he demanded the president move decisively with “immediate implementation.”

The most sobering speech of the night was that of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), who spoke the truth more clearly and succinctly than anyone else when he noted that this could be the last annual AIPAC conference before Iran gets the Bomb. He said that while he hopes war won’t be necessary — he also supports crippling economic sanctions against Iran — the U.S. needs to urgently prepare for the possibility of launching massive airstrikes to stop Tehran from building and deploying nuclear weapons.

What Will Happen If the World Does Not Stop Iran?
The desire of Radical Islam to annihilate Israel was the first issue Netanyahu raised, and rightly so. “Iran’s rulers say, ‘Israel is a one bomb country,’” the prime minister noted. “The head of Hezbollah says, ‘If all the Jews gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of going after them worldwide.’”

Netanyahu called on the world “to act swiftly and decisively” to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but he made it clear that if the world does not stop Iran, Israel reserves the right to safeguard her people from another Holocaust.

“The greatest threat to any living organism or nation is not to recognize danger in time,” the prime minister said in his speech’s most sobering moment. “Seventy-five years ago, many leaders around the world put their heads in the sand. Untold millions died in the war that followed. Ultimately, two of history’s greatest leaders helped turn the tide. Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill helped save the world. But they were too late to save six million of my own people. The future of the Jewish state can never depend on the goodwill of even the greatest of men. Israel must always reserve the right to defend itself.”

What Have the Palestinian Leaders Done for Peace?
That said, given the brouhaha in the past week between the U.S. and Israel, Netanyahu’s central message naturally focused on his country’s deep and substantive commitment to making peace. He noted that his government has repeatedly called on the Palestinians to come to the negotiating table without preconditions, to no effect.

“From Day One, we called on the Palestinian Authority to begin peace negotiations without delay,” he said. “I make that same call today. President Abbas, come and negotiate peace. Leaders who truly want peace should sit down face-to-face.”

Netanyahu pointed out that his government has dismantled several hundred roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank to enable the easier flow of people, goods, and services, and that this has lead to dramatic economic growth in Judea and Samaria. He noted that his government announced last year “an unprecedented moratorium on new Israeli construction in Judea and Samaria.”

“This is what my government has done for peace,” said Netanyahu. “What has the Palestinian Authority done for peace?”

The answer, according to Netanyahu: The Palestinian Authority has “placed preconditions on peace talks”; they have “waged a relentless international campaign to undermine Israel’s legitimacy”; they have “promoted the notorious Goldstone report that falsely accuses Israel of war crimes”; they have “continued incitement against Israel — a few days ago, a public square near Ramallah was named after a terrorist who murdered 37 Israeli civilians, including 13 children. The Palestinian Authority did nothing to prevent it.”

Why Does Israel Face a ‘Triple Standard’?
The prime minister thanked the United States for six decades of a strong and enduring relationship, based on shared values and common interests. He mentioned specific ways that the U.S. and Israel work together to advance freedom and fight fanaticism. But he also noted that while Israel has its imperfections and welcomes and appreciates sincere and honest criticism from its friends, “Israel should be judged by the same standards applied to all nations, and allegations against Israel must be grounded in fact.”

Going off text, he then asked why Israel faces a “triple standard” in the world. There is, he said, one standard for dictatorships, another for democracies, and a third for Israel.

A case in point, of course, is the U.N.’s pernicious and anti-Semitic Goldstone Commission Report which condemns Israel for committing so-called “war crimes” for defending her innocent civilians from 10,000-plus rocket attacks from Hamas terrorists in Gaza while for years the U.N. did nothing to stop those rocket attacks and barely holds Hamas to account for those attacks.

Outreach to Evangelicals
Finally, it should be noted that several years ago, to their credit, the leadership of AIPAC decided to make a conscious effort to reach out to pro-Israel evangelical Christian leaders and activists. I am so glad they did. Last night, there were 130 evangelical leaders present to show unconditional love and unwavering support to the Jewish people and the state of Israel. In the future, I hope more Christian leaders attend and build bridges to AIPAC and the Jewish community.

My wife and I met numerous religious and secular Jews last night (as we did last year) who are profoundly grateful for the support of evangelicals. One Orthodox Jewish woman told my wife and me, “You Christians are the best friends Israel has. You’re the only friends we really have.”

It remains to be seen whether Prime Minister Netanyahu’s “Washington blitz” will avert a coming train wreck between his government and the Obama administration over Iran, Jerusalem, and the peace process. But he is right to speak directly to the American people and to Israel’s friends in Congress. Indeed, he and his government should do much more, including a steady stream of major addresses to pro-Israel groups of Jews and Christians throughout the United States.

— Joel C. Rosenberg is the New York Times–best-selling author of seven novels and non-fiction books about Israel, including Epicenter and Inside the Revolution. He served as an aide to Mr. Netanyahu in 2000.

Insulting Begoted Behaviour of the US.

Steven Shamrak

People who heard what Biden said were stunned: "This is starting to get dangerous for us," Biden castigated about the effect of the announcement about new housing constructions in Jerusalem . "What you're doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace." It is reported by a top Israeli journalist, Shimon Shiffer, in the conservative Yedioth Achronoth , the largest circulation newspaper in Israel. (1. Don't blame Israel for an inept and stupid war that the US started in Iraq! It was not about "War on Terror" and it has nothing to do with Israel but about the control of oil flow to the United States, a 'big stick' policy and revenge. Solve your own mess! 2. Biden snub Israel by deliberately coming two hours late to dinner with the Israeli PM. Out of self-respect Netanyahu should cancelled dinner! It is time for Israel to start snubbing the international bigots unapologetically, remember Turkey, when they deserve it!)

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Israel 's announcement of new settlement construction in 'disputed' (it is Jewish land in the Jewish capital, Jerusalem) territory in East Jerusalem was "insulting" to the United States. (Why? And must Israel be always on receiving end of international insults? For how long should the life of an independent country, Israel , be kept on hold?) She said: "Our relationship is durable. It's strong. It's rooted in common values." (Yes, but only while Israel does what it is told! If not, reprimands and insults follow immediately.) and continued: "But we have to make clear to our Israeli friends and partners that the two-state solution - which we support... - requires confidence-building measures on both sides." (Is this solution in the interests of Jewish people? Why must terrorists be allowed to create another Arab state on Jewish land? What confidence-building measures have they made so far?)

Gary Bauer, president of American Values, released an open letter to President Obama accusing his administration of "manufacturing a crisis that weakens Israel on the eve of new peace talks." The letter defends Israel's right to build homes for its own people in its own capital. Bauer said he was deeply concerned by "the fact that at the same time you are bludgeoning Israel, your (US) administration has yet to present any viable policy to stop Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons... We call on you to immediately stop your attempts to weaken our ally and turn your efforts to the real security threat facing the US and Israel - the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran." (Obama is not the first US president who has created an anti-Israel 'storm in a teacup' to distract public attention from the real problem!)

Don't Call Us... The diplomatic rift between the United States and Israel appeared to widen over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's failure to call Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she phoned Netanyahu and strongly criticize Israel's announcement of new Jewish housing in east Jerusalem during Vice President Joe Biden's trip. Clinton requested answers from Netanyahu on how Israel was planning to proceed. (Reminder: Israel is a sovereign state!)

'Peace' Rocket Fired from Gaza ! Gaza terrorists fired a rocket at the western Negev on Wednesday evening. The rocket exploded in an area open between the town of Sderot and a nearby kibbutz. "The incidents that happened this evening and throughout the last week are reminders that we are still at war." Said Alon Shuster, Shaar HaNegev Authority Head. (Where is Obama s outrage now?)

Food for Thought. by Steven Shamrak

The hate toward Jews has been used to keep people from thinking about their miserable existence and the injustice that was and is being perpetrated by their rulers and governments. It has always been used to control and misdirect the anger of the mob! Christian churches of most denominations have been doing it for 1800 years, since the Roman Empire. The hate is so embedded in the mainstream Christian psyche that even now many of them (Church officialdom, ordinary anti-Semites and brainless ones) support Islamic thugs, who are mortal enemies of Christianity, in order to keep the flame of their inherited hate toward Jews alive.

Yes, She was a Jewish-Palestinian! In its official statement in honor of International Women's Day, the Fatah movement listed a group of "Palestinian" women of whom it is proud: Martyrs, fighters, prisoners and the Virgin Mary.

Egypt's Gaza Wall in Final Stage. The reinforced underground steel wall which Egypt is building along its border with Gaza is nearly completed. After the construction phase is complete, cameras and detection devices will be installed. The observation towers along the border are currently being replaced by new steel towers which employ bullet-proof glass. Egypt says it is building the barrier to stop illegal arms smuggling. Smugglers have also used cross-border tunnels to bring basic commodities. (Because Egypt builds this wall and not Israel there are no genuine demonstrations organized by the PA, international protests or condemnations by UN or other governments. Where has their deep concern about 'poor Palestinians' gone?)

Rare Reprimand to PA from the US? The State Department said it was "deeply disturbed" by agitations made by officials from the PA against Israel 's reopening of an ancient synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City: "We call upon Palestinian officials to put an end to such incitement." (Is it a genuine concern or just a 'smoke screen' the White House has put up trying to appear more even-handed?)

What was all the Fuss about Syria? Robert Ford, who is set to become the U.S. ambassador to Syria, said that the fact that Washington was sending him to Damascus did not mean that America's attitude to Syria had changed; it was still a terror state, as far as the U.S. was concerned. (After all the efforts of the Obama administration to 'normalise' its relationship with Syria , this is not really diplomatic statement, is it? Another failed policy?)

The Less Oil, the Less Terror. Israeli Deputy Minister for Regional Development Ayoub Kara said that renewable energy - solar, wind, and others - were good not only for the environment, but for the geopolitical situation. "The more we increase our use of renewable energy, the more we weaken terror, and the more dependent we are on oil, the more we strengthen terror." (The Wahabi regime of the Saudi Arabia, the best friend of the United States, is the main sponsor of international Islamic terror!)

Another International Pretender came to Israel. Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva landed in Israel. He has refused the customary diplomatic visit to Mount Herzl and the gravesite of Theodore Herzl, but during his visit to Ramallah, he visited Yasser Arafat's grave. (Must Israel receive these types of cretins and suffer this indignity?)

Quote of the Week: "...any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided." - Obama, speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee - Empty words, just a fake PR spin in front of Jewish voters and donors to the Democratic party.

PA Frightened by Escalating Riots. Fearing that Arab riots around Jerusalem will spread and target their unpopular rule, PA police, largely members of the Fatah party, have deployed forces throughout the streets of Arab towns throughout Judea and Samaria in fear that the protests will spread and challenge the PA's authority.

Policy of Blackmail and Dictate. Commissioner of Foreign Relations of the European Union Catherine Ashton offered to Israel to upgrade economic ties with the EU in return for renewed talks with the Palestinians.

Traditional Criminal Arab Business. 1) Police have found a laboratory in the Palestinian Authority (PA) town of Yatta, south of Hevron, that was used to forge documents and license plates. The lab was used to disguise stolen Israeli cars and also provided individual PA Arabs with fake ID cards. 2) Israeli Arabs are responsible for almost three times as many car accidents as their numbers would warrant. According to police statistics, Israeli Arabs account for 40% of all traffic accidents in Israel though they only make up 15% of the overall population. (Is it their result of the hate toward Jews or disrespect for the rule of law of the country they live in, or just an inability to drive?)

UN Criticizes Israel and Egypt for Keeping Terrorists in Cage. United Nations humanitarian chief John Holmes claims that Israel's blockade of the Gaza region is not succeeding in weakening Hamas' hold on the territory. Holmes also warned about hundreds of tunnels that bypass the blockade. Egypt is reinforcing the area with underground metal plates to shut down the tunnels.

Why are We Apologizing?

MK Yariv Levin (Likud) expressed confusion over Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's apology regarding construction in Jerusalem. "We have the absolute right to build anywhere in the land of Israel and especially in Jerusalem, there doesn't need to be any policy of apologizing." Foreign attempts to dictate Israeli policy in Jerusalem are "blatant interference," Levin said.

"This is an internal matter, not an international matter," "How can it be that we need permission from the Americans every time we want to build a neighbourhood or a house in Jerusalem?" "The time has come for us to stand up for ourselves. I have no doubt that if we do so, the world will see us differently." The American condemnation of Israeli plans to build in Jerusalem exposed the real problem, the problem of Israel 's willingness to accept foreign meddling in domestic affairs, he stated. (The time has come for Israel to regain self-respect and behave as an independent country!)

Hillary Clinton's AIPAC speech: Find the Glaring Contradiction

RubinReports
Barry Rubin

When policymakers say things that are in blatant contradiction, there is something wrong with their world view and strategy. Yes, political leaders often say contradictory things--often they have to do so--but it is not supposed to be too obvious.

In her speech to AIPAC, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized and equated two things. On one hand, there is the Palestinian “culture of hate” which spouts “incitement” to murder Jews. The other is Israeli settlement construction. These problems, Clinton adds, “undermines America ’s unique ability to play a role” in the peace process.

Have you found the glaring contradiction? You could say, if you wished, that one cannot equate "hate speech" (to use the common terms for such things nowadays) urging killing with building settlements. I am, however, willing to accept that equation from a U.S. policy standpoint. What is unacceptable, however, is the point that every reporter and observer should be making: The United States, as we have seen recently, is willing to attack construction on settlements (even construction the administration has previously agreed to let happen!) at the highest level and in the loudest voice. It is willing to make this issue the number one issue in the world, a basis for pressuring Israel and verbally attacking it.

I have yet to hear a single word spoken by this administration on the subject of the bloodthirsty incitement to murder that goes on every day. For this incitement not only produces violence a lot more directly than construction on settlements (which also provides stability by employing thousands of Palestinian workers), it also prevents progress toward peace.

The Palestinian Authority's failure to undertake any educational or media campaign in 16 years to promote compromise with Israel has been almost completely ignored in the West. And while such an effort wouldn't be easy, only by building a public base of support for compromise and conciliation could the Palestinian Authority (even if it wanted to do so) make peace with Israel.

Bashing Israel over construction on settlements while doing absolutely nothing about Palestinian Authority incitement is not going to persuade Israelis of the administration's credibility or make any advance toward peace. Forget about asking this administration for a "pro-Israel" policy, how about just having a truly evenhanded policy?

Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal. His latest books are The Israel-Arab Reader (seventh edition), The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy in the Middle East (Wiley), and The Truth About Syria (Palgrave-Macmillan). His new edited books include Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict and Crisis; Guide to Islamist Movements; Conflict and Insurgency in the Middle East; and The Muslim Brotherhood.

5. Rabbi Algaze: Jerusalem is Not the City of 3 Religions

Hillel Fendel
A7 News

Rabbi David Algaze, founder and spiritual leader of the Havurat Yisrael synagogue in Queens, New York, says the disappearance of Israel would not horrify the U.S. government unduly. Rabbi Algaze (pronounced Al-gahzi), Chairman of the World Committee for the Land of Israel, spoke with Israel National Radio’s Yishai Fleisher this week, as part of an official visit to Israel.

Rabbi Algaze says it is a mistake to call Jerusalem the “City of Three Religions” and to glorify the Moslem claim to Jerusalem, that Obama’s objective is to change the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, and that the Arabs apparently do not want peace with either Israel or the world. He says the two-state solution should be banned.

Excerpts from the interview:

On anti-Semitism:

“The Jewish People is always going to be hated around the world in one way or another. We had a small lull in anti-Semitic activity following the discovery of the atrocities of the Holocaust, but it is now reawakening. Today’s version is of a new kind, masked as anti-Israel. The world doesn't condone hating Jews, but feels free to hate Israelis and Israel, which is really the same thing.”

On what can be done about rising anti-Israel sentiment:

“We have to appeal to the millions of good people around the world, those who want what is right – but the problem is that we are not presenting our case well, and certainly not as effectively as the Arab side.” He explained that when Israel first heroically liberated Jerusalem in the Six Day War, the world largely applauded – “and the anti-Semites were silent. But when we started to give it away – in negotiations, or in innuendoes - then people began to believe that maybe it’s not ours. We have to make it clear that there is nothing wrong with the Jewish People’s return to its homeland. The government has made its message mostly one of security – somewhat to our detriment.”

On Jerusalem:

“Jerusalem is known romantically as the City of Three Religions – but this is a serious mistake. Yes, there are many religions here, and Israel has been very tolerant towards them and protects the rights of all – but this doesn’t make this a city of three religions, any more than New York is a city of ten religions! The only religion that has always claimed Jerusalem as its central city throughout history is Judaism. For Islam to claim this city in any sense is totally absurd; they came to Jerusalem as invaders, just as they invaded other parts of the world – this is a ridiculous claim and yet we glorify it. We must emphasize that this is our city; we welcome others, but we will never divide it. This foolish claim of a universal city is the planting of the seeds of the division of Jerusalem.

On the Obama Administration and Israel:

“Most American Jews have coasted along, never seeing American commitments to Israel diminish; they have taken this for granted - and now might be an important time for American Jewry to recognize that there might be people like Obama and those in his Administration who will take advantage of any mistake made by Israel. Their agenda is to change the relationship with Israel and the Arabs. If Israel would, Heaven forbid, disappear or be seriously harmed, they would certainly not be horrified; the State Department, after all, considered the creation of Israel a major sin.”



On Israel advocacy:

“It is quite unusual in history for a nation to arise from the dust after 2,000 years and return to its original homeland. So we must explain this to the world: Just like the Scottish would not be relocated to Poland, the Jews belong in Israel and we do not have to share our land. By offering to share it, we weaken our claim, and this weakens us altogether.”

On the World Committee for the Land of Israel:

“We express our nation’s historical, legal, and Biblical claims to this land, without equivocation. We’re not here because we built kibbutzim 100 years ago or because of the Holocaust. We’re here because our forefathers have never forgotten this place ever since they were forcibly thrown out 2,000 years ago, and because we mourn it every year and every day, and because it is fundamental to Jewish Law and practice.



“The issue is not peace, because it doesn’t even look like the Arabs want peace, based on the way they’re talking and acting. They apparently want to conquer the entire world. So it could be that there won’t be peace. We have to talk instead about ‘rights.’ If a non-Jew wants to live in this Land, he will have rights, but not sovereignty… The two-state solution should be banned from our vocabulary.”

Netanyahu must get his act together

Isi Leibler
March 22, 2010
http://wordfromjerusalem.com/?p=2125

Dismiss the chorus of hard-liners urging us to tell the Americans to butt out of our affairs. Every prime minister was aware of the critical importance of retaining the support of at least one major power and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is no exception. He appreciates that US support today is especially crucial in light of the frenzied anti-Israeli climate engulfing the world. Beyond assisting us to retain technological military superiority against bitter foes seeking our destruction, the US is the only power capable of preventing the dominant Islamic Conference and its acolytes - including the Europeans - from imposing international sanctions against us. Without the veto power of the US at the UN Security Council, we would already be facing extraordinary problems. Since his election, Netanyahu has desperately tried to adopt a centrist approach and has made unprecedented unilateral concessions to appease US President Barack Obama, all to no avail. Despite the rhetoric about our unshakable alliance, far from being evenhanded, the US nullified agreements and understandings consummated with previous administrations, ignored Palestinian provocations and behaved more shabbily to us than toward its worst enemies.

The US administration is also crudely intervening in the domestic affairs of its purported ally and there appears to be a game plan to force Netanyahu out of office and replace him with a more pliable leader. Ironically, the Obama administration was far more restrained about regime change in Teheran.

The bloody mindedness and brutal determination to beat us into submission in relation to construction in exclusively Jewish neighborhoods over the Green Line in Jerusalem is chilling and implies willingness to sacrifice us on the altar of expediency to curry Arab support.

Despite the immediate and profuse apology by Netanyahu for a deplorably ill-timed diplomatic snafu, Obama insisted the incident was a deliberate move to humiliate the US. He did so to publicly bring Israel to its knees.

These developments have emboldened Islamic extremists to incite and promote violence in Jerusalem and intensify rocket attacks from Gaza. Should a new intifada be unleashed, the Obama administration's contemptuous treatment of Israel will have been a major contributing factor. Obama's policies have also undermined any possibility of direct negotiations.

IN THIS environment, while sympathizing with the dilemmas facing our prime minister, his delayed response was nevertheless disappointing. When confronted by the offensive onslaughts orchestrated by Obama, Netanyahu's prevarication conveyed the impression that he was uncertain and even rattled. He made generalized statements about Jerusalem and repeated hollow mantras insisting that our relationship with the US remained strong. The man with the golden tongue seemed tongue tied.

In response to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's ultimatum that to atone for the "insult," all construction activity in east Jerusalem be terminated, Palestinian prisoners be released and Israel agree to negotiate all core issues within the framework of the proximity talks, the government, after a lengthy delay, formally rejected limitations on construction in Jerusalem but was ambiguous about the other issues.

If Israel conceded to US demands concerning the agenda, it could lead to highly negative consequences for the impending proximity "negotiations." The US insists that it merely intends to act as an intermediary. But indicators suggest that if a deadlock is reached, it will seek to impose a solution and Israel will find itself negotiating with Americans rather than Palestinians.

In addition to supporting a division of Jerusalem, the US is also likely to undermine Israel's insistence on defensible borders and the long standing assumption that UN Resolution 242 relating to pre '67 borders applies to territories but not all the territories.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will be able to relax and observe the US pressurizing Israel to make further unilateral concessions before even agreeing to direct negotiations. I shudder to contemplate what Clinton had in mind when she crowed to the BBC that pressure on Israel had achieved the desired results.

MOST PRIME ministers had occasional differences with the US and defended Israel's interests. Netanyahu could take a lead from statements on Jerusalem conveyed to the US by both Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin. By delaying his response, Netanyahu may have encouraged the Obama administration to intensify its pressure.

That is not to suggest that Netanyahu should have polarized the situation by confronting Obama. However, continued reference to construction in east Jerusalem confused people by conveying images of Israelis displacing Arabs rather than ongoing building in exclusively Jewish neighborhoods in northern Jerusalem that are today no less part of Israel than Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu should have immediately employed the unique communication skills with which he is blessed and addressed the people of Israel, restating Israel's generous concessions in contrast to the intransigent and criminal behavior of our Palestinian interlocutors.

While Netanyahu must avoid engaging in US domestic politics, many Americans who support Israel will be angered if they believe that their government is treating Israel unjustly. In his present parlous domestic political position, Obama will obviously seek to avoid alienating additional segments of his constituency or Congress. But if we fail to forcefully present our case, support from the American people will erode.

That also applies to American Jews. The delay in Israel's response created havoc. We should be grateful to Abe Foxman of the ADL - who is no hawk - for having spoken out courageously at the outset or there would have been greater fallout. Subsequently, in a more muted manner, AIPAC, the President's Conference and the American Jewish Committee expressed concern and appealed to the administration to bring the crisis to an end.

However, Jews hostile to the Israeli position spoke out aggressively. Reform leader Rabbi Eric Yoffie called on Israel to adhere to US demands to cease construction in all Jerusalem; predictably J Street's message to the Obama administration was to stand firm and continue to pressure Israel to capitulate to all American demands; New York Times columnist Tom Friedman berated Vice President Joe Biden for not canceling his trip; Time columnist Joe Klein crudely accused AIPAC of dual loyalties.

THESE ARE difficult and trying times. On the surface the tensions have eased; Netanyahu is meeting Obama and warm statements reaffirming the unshakable relationship are being expressed by both parties. But Netanyahu should be under no illusions about the difficult days ahead. There are elements in the Obama administration, primarily motivated by a desire to appease the Arabs, who are promoting an imposed solution which will not necessarily take account of our existential and security requirements.

There are indeed chilling parallels today between Israel and pre-World War II Czechoslovakia. The difference is that unlike the Europeans in the 1930s, the American people require their leaders to pursue a foreign policy based on morality and decency. Netanyahu must make it clear that while we need the support of the US, there are red lines which no government may cross. As we will no doubt have seen from our prime minister's address to AIPAC by the time this column is published, no leader is better equipped to present Israel's case than Binyamin Netanyahu. But he must streamline his administration and get his act together.

ileibler@netvision.net.il

This column was originally published in the Jerusalem Post

US warns Gulf of Aden shipping at risk of Al Qaeda bombing

DEBKAfile Special Report March

The US office of Naval Intelligence warned Monday, March 22, that ships sailing off Yemen's Red Sea and Gulf of Aden coasts run the risk of al Qaeda attacks similar to the suicide bombing of the US warship Cole in 2000 that killed 17 U.S. sailors. The risk is greatest in the Bab al-Mandeb strait between Yemen and Djibouti and the Gulf of Aden. debkafile's military sources report: The warning indicates US Navy intelligence has information, albeit without dates or locations, that al Qaeda is planning attacks on shipping in these waters, among the world's busiest trade and naval routes. At risk are ships exiting the Suez Canal from the south, sea traffic bound west for the Suez Canal from the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf and ships sailing off Yemeni shores.

All ships in the vicinity of Yemen are urged to heighten their state of readiness, with "vessels of limited maneuverability or anchored at port" warned they are at greatest risk.

The US advisory said al Qaeda had developed sophisticated methods of attack, including missiles or other projectiles. For its attacks on the US Cole in 2000 and the French oil tanker Limburgh two years later, al Qaeda singled out the most up-to-the-minute maritime vessels afloat as their targets. The Cole was the latest word in armored battleships in the US Navy. It was crippled at Yemen's Aden port by suicide terrorists using an explosives-packed speedboat to ram its hull. Seventeen seamen lost their lives and 500 were injured.

For the US Navy, the blow was compounded by its certainty that the Cole was invulnerable to attack.

Two years later, the French 157,000-ton crude oil tanker, the Limburgh, exploded in flames after it was rammed outside the Yemeni port of Mukullah east of Aden. Both of its new armored double-walls, installed as a precaution against terror attack, were pierced. One crewman died.

Our military sources report that, despite US-backed Yemen army efforts to eradicate its strongholds in the country, al Qaeda has clearly enhanced its striking ability from there. New maritime raider units have been trained for operating speed boats carrying missiles as well as explosives.

Our counter-terror sources also report that al Qaeda has begun training frogmen as human torpedoes for striking Western vessels. They are to be dropped far from their targets to avoid detection and able to swim long distances before attaching themselves to ships and blowing themselves up.

The seas at highest risk of terror attack, the Gulf of Aden and waters touching on Eastern Africa, are patrolled against Somali pirates by the US Combined Task Force 151-CTF 151, as well as Russian, Chinese, and Iranian warships. Our sources stress that these are the very warships eyed by al Qaeda for its strikes.

The US warning of terrorist danger on one of the world's busiest routes for general shipping and oil supplies to the West will no doubt push up maritime insurance premiums and international oil prices.

Clinton in Major Address: Iran a "Menace," Palestinian Culture of Hate Must be Condemned

www.theisraelproject.org

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday (March 22) said the world must enact sanctions on Iran that will "bite" and called on the Palestinian leadership to end incitement against Jews and Israel. She made the comments during a 45-minute address to a packed room of 7,500 attendees and an estimated 400-plus journalists from around the world who were assembled for AIPAC’s annual Policy Conference in Washington. "Those who preach violence must be proven wrong," said Clinton. "When a Hamas-controlled municipality glorifies violence and renames a square after a terrorist who murdered innocent Israelis, it insults the families on both sides who have lost loved ones over the years," said Clinton, referring to Dalal al-Mughrabi, the Palestinian woman who carried out a suicide attack in 1978 that killed 37 civilians, including one American. The square named in al-Mughrabi's honor is actually located in Ramallah, which is in Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah-controlled West Bank. The renaming was held two weeks ago, during Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel.

"And when instigators deliberately mischaracterize the rededication of a synagogue in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City and call upon their brethren to defend nearby Muslim holy sites from so-called 'attack,' it is purely and simply an act of incitement," said Clinton, speaking of the Hurva Synagogue ceremony. "These provocations are wrong and must be condemned for needlessly inflaming tensions and impairing prospects for a comprehensive peace."

Clinton said she planned to meet later Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that President Obama would meet with Netanyahu on Tuesday (March 23).

More highlights from Secretary Clinton's speech to AIPAC:

• “For President Obama, for me, and for this entire administration, our commitment to Israel’s security and Israel’s future is rock solid.”

• “Guaranteeing Israel’s security is more than a policy position for me. It is a personal commitment that will never waver.”

• “Elements in Iran’s government have become a menace, both to their own people and in the region. Iran’s President foments anti-Semitism and threatens to destroy Israel.”

• “In addition to threatening Israel, a nuclear-armed Iran would embolden its terrorist clientele and would spark an arms race that could destabilize the region. This is unacceptable. Unacceptable to the United States. Unacceptable to Israel. And unacceptable to the region and the international community.”

• “So let me be very clear: The United States is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”

• “We are working with our partners in the United Nations on new Security Council sanctions that will show Iran’s leaders that there are real consequences for their intransigence, that the only choice is to live up to their international obligations. Our aim is not incremental sanctions, but sanctions that will bite. It is taking time to produce these sanctions, and we believe that time is a worthwhile investment for winning the broadest possible support for our efforts. But we will not compromise our commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring these weapons.”

• “Iran is not the only threat on the horizon. Israel today is confronting some of the toughest challenges in her history. The conflict with the Palestinians and with Israel’s Arab neighbors is an obstacle to prosperity and opportunity for Israelis, Palestinians, and people across the region. And it threatens Israel’s long-term future as a secure and democratic Jewish state.”

• “As Israel’s friend, it is our responsibility to give credit when it is due and to tell the truth when it is needed.”

• “The status quo is unsustainable for all sides. It promises only more violence and unrealized aspirations. Staying on this course means continuing a conflict that carries tragic human costs. Israeli and Palestinian children alike deserve to grow up free from fear and to have the opportunity to live up to their full God-given potential.”

• “There is another path. A path that leads toward security and prosperity for all the people of the region. It will require all parties – including Israel – to make difficult but necessary choices.”

• “Our message to Hamas is clear: Renounce violence, recognize Israel, and abide by previous signed agreements. And I will repeat today what I have said many times before: Gilad Shalit must be released immediately and reunited with his family.”

• “The way forward is clear: two states for two peoples living side by side in peace and security, with peace between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon, and normal relations between Israel and all the Arab states. A comprehensive peace that is real and not a slogan, that is rooted in genuine recognition of Israel's right to exist in peace and security, offers the best way to ensure Israel's enduring survival and well-being. And, it is a goal that the Obama administration is determined to achieve.”[1]

Following are recent examples of incitement by Iran-backed Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and other Palestinian leaders.

Examples of Incitement by Palestinian Officials, Clergy

March 16: Hamas issued a statement calling for a “Day of Rage” and called on Israeli Arabs and Arab residents of East Jerusalem to go to the al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount.[2] Leaders from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, Iran-backed Hamas, as well as religious officials had called earlier that week for Israeli Arabs and Arab residents of East Jerusalem to converge on Jerusalem to riot against Israel and Jews and “protect” the al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount. The leaders and officials said Israel was endangering the mosque but offered no evidence for their claims.[3]

March 15: Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar encouraged Palestinians to respond to “Israel's crimes and protect the sites that are holy to Muslims and Christians from the Zionists' racist onslaught.” He also said Palestinians should observe five moments of silence “for Israel's disappearance and to identify with Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque.” He added that Israel is “destined to be destroyed. You've made a deal with the devil and with destruction itself – just like your synagogue.”[4]

March 15: Palestinian supreme sharia (Islamic law) judge Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi issued a statement calling on “Palestinian people everywhere, especially those who live in Jerusalem and in other cities inside Israel,” to go to Jerusalem to “protect” the al-Aqsa Mosque from Jewish groups.[5]

March 15: PLO Executive Committee member Ahmad Qurei raised the specter of an intifada (uprising). He also stated, “Jerusalem is exposed to an unprecedented danger which targets its land, people, holy sites, heritage and history” and that the dedication of the Hurva Synagogue is a “dangerous program” for “Judaizing” Jerusalem in order to falsify history.[6] The synagogue is located in the Jewish section of Jerusalem’s walled Old City. Said U.S. State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley, “We are deeply disturbed by statements made by several Palestinian officials mischaracterizing the event in question. We call upon Palestinian officials to put an end to such incitement.”[7]

March 14: Khatem Abdel Kader, a senior Palestinian Authority and Fatah official with responsibility for Jerusalem, called for Israeli Arabs and Arab residents of East Jerusalem to “converge on al Aksa to save it” from “Israeli attempts to destroy the mosque and replace it with the [Jewish] temple.” As with the case of other Palestinian leaders, Kader offered no evidence for his claim.[8] Fatah Central Committee member Mohammed Dahlan also called on Israeli Arabs and Arab residents of East Jerusalem to go to the al-Aqsa mosque to “protect it from the Jews.”[9]

March 11: At a ceremony on honoring Dalal al-Mughrabi, a female Palestinian terrorist who led an attack in which 37 civilians and an American were killed, Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi said, “We are all Dalal Mughrabi” and that “for us she is not a terrorist...[but] a fighter who fought for the liberation of her own land.”[10]

Senior Palestinian Authority (PA) officials at the last minute canceled plans to hold a ceremony to dedicate a square in the West Bank city of Ramallah commemorating al-Mughrabi, but the square was still named after al-Mughrabi. The event would have coincided with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to the region.[11] The Fatah movement’s official spokesman, Faez abu Ita, said al-Mughrabi is a symbol of “our national struggle” and that the Palestinian people and Fatah are proud of her sacrifice.[12] He also said Palestinians have the right to celebrate al-Mughrabi in any way that they see fit and that they don’t need anyone’s permission to do so.[13]

Feb. 28: Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called on Palestinians “to continue the intifada and the anger that began in Hebron, Jerusalem and throughout Palestinian lands.” He also called for a “popular, Arab and Islamic uprising."[14]

Other Recent Incidents of Incitement by the Palestinian Authority

*
Following the killing of Israeli civilian Rabbi Meir Hai in the West Bank on Dec. 24, 2009, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared the terrorists responsible for the attack to be shahids (martyrs) after they were killed during an arrest operation by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unit. In addition, Palestinian Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad visited the families of the terrorists to give his condolences.[15]

Rabbi Hai was shot and killed by terrorists from Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades militia in the West Bank on Dec. 24, 2009. He was driving from his home in the community of Shavei Shomron to the nearby community of Einav.[16]

Fatah’s official website issued a statement following the terror attack stating that the “armed struggle” should be continued and that “resistance” is “the primary option for liberating Palestinian lands from the filth of the children of Zion [Jews].”[17]

*
During Fatah’s sixth General Assembly that began Aug. 4, 2009, the faction issued a statement saying, “We won’t abandon any of our options, and we believe that resistance, in all forms, is a legitimate right of occupied people in confronting their occupiers.” Fatah is headed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

The statement caused concern in Israel as it seemingly left the door open for a return to violence in the name of politics. Fatah’s new platform also insisted on the right of Palestinian refugees from 1948 and their descendants to be settled inside Israel. This is often seen within Israel as a policy designed to subvert the state and a severe obstacle to any final peace agreement.[18]
*
In June 2009, PA Minister for Prisoners Ashraf al-Ajrami lauded the terrorist activities of the Fatah-run Palestinian security forces. He said the PA security forces were “the ones who bore arms and carried out the greatest and most important operations [terror attacks] against the Israeli occupation - and especially against soldiers, and some of the most famous operations [terror attacks] in the West Bank - Ein-Arik, Wadi Al-Haramiyeh, Sorda, and others. These were carried out by the heroes of the Palestinian security forces, who protected the homeland and the national interest.”[19]
*
In June 2008, al-Ajrami appeared to advocate the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers when he said, “The language of peace and negotiations is not enough to urge Israel to cooperate positively regarding prisoners. The way Israel likes, it seems, is to exchange [prisoners] with kidnapped Israeli soldiers.”[20]

Israeli Prime Minister, President and Jerusalem Mayor Call for Peace, Calm

March 16: Israeli President Shimon Peres: “Today we are… at a decisive moment and we must decide…that even in a time of threats we will not give up on peace.” Israel, he added, should “venture to make bold decisions; decisions that follow our vision, even as shadows darken our surroundings. These must include leaving an open hand to our neighbors. Peace is not the tactic of a past era. Rather, it is the strategy of generations after generations in the history of our people. Our leaders today, like those before them, are demanded anew to stand up and decide to lead our people to the place we all desire—a peace agreement—regardless of the obstacles on their path...This was the deepest desire of our previous leaders. And this remains the choice of our generation.”[21]

March 15: Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat: “I want to send a message of peace to all religions…I believe that from this place, where we experienced the terrible pain of the destruction of a place that was holy to us...we will know to be sensitive to others doubts and troubles.”[22]

March 15: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Many people are excited about this moment - and justifiably so…We have allowed believers in other faiths to conserve their houses of worship. We proudly hold on to our heritage, while at the same time allowing others freedom of religion.”[23]

Statements by U.S. Congress Members on the U.S.-Israel relationship

March 15: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.): “In every administration […] there are times when the U.S.-Israeli relationship is not what it should be. But the guarantor of that relationship is the bipartisan, pro-Israel majority in Congress…Our enemies are common; let’s not let a mistake grow into a divisive dispute between members of the same family…Nothing good is going to happen in the Mideast without both the United States and Israel working together. That’s what we need to do, and the sooner the better.”[24]

March 15: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Republican Whip: “Israel has always been committed to the peace process, including advocating for direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians, in effort to bring this conflict to an end. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Government continues to insist on indirect talks and slowing down the process… Israel continues to be a world leader in the fight against terrorism and speak out against the prospects of a nuclear Iran.”[25]

March 13: Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) “I advocate an even-handed, not a one-sided, U.S. policy as we do the difficult work of establishing peace, and eventually, a Palestinian state. These are critical goals for our nation and for the future of the Middle East. We owe the process nothing less than fairness, candor, and intellectual honesty, not a policy of constant appeasement and reinforcement of the Palestinians’ failings as legitimate partners in the peace process.

“I strongly believe that despite this week’s flap over Israel’s announcement regarding housing construction, the U.S.-Israel relationship is strong and our partnership in pursuit of peace remains undiminished. I call on the White House to rethink its counterproductive rhetoric and to affirm that the U.S. and Israel remain united in pursuing a fair, equitable, and honest peace process with the Palestinian powers that be.”[26]

March 15: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.): “Israel is an indispensable ally and friend of the United States. U.S. condemnations of Israel and threats regarding our bilateral relationship undermine both our allies and the peace process, while encouraging the enemies of America and Israel alike. I am also deeply concerned about the Administration’s softer approaches towards the Palestinian Authority, Syria, and Iran, which are being carried out in conjunction with hard-line tactics against our key democratic ally, Israel. Our nation’s security cannot afford a foreign policy which isolates our allies and moves towards appeasing enemies of the U.S.”[27]

Footnotes:

[1] Secretary Clinton's remarks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference, March 22, 2010, http://www.aipac.org/PC2010/videos.asp

[2] Abu Toameh, Khaled, “PA calls Arabs to ‘defend al Aksa’,” The Jerusalem Post, March 14, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170950; Waked, Ali, “'Day of rage': Hamas calls for terrorist attacks inside Israel,” YnetNews, March 16, 2010, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3863432,00.html; “So be on Tuesday a day of anger and horns in support of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Hamas Web site Palestine Info, March 15, 2010, http://translate.google.co.il/translate?hl=en&sl=ar&u=http://www.palestine-info.info/ar/&ei=rF2fS4-zOMyOsAaZ0PjADA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBAQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpalestine%2Binfo%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Dbw9%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official
[3] “So be on Tuesday a day of anger and horns in support of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Hamas Web site Palestine Info, March 15, 2010, http://translate.google.co.il/translate?hl=en&sl=ar&u=http://www.palestine-info.info/ar/&ei=rF2fS4-zOMyOsAaZ0PjADA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBAQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpalestine%2Binfo%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3Dbw9%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official; Waked, Ali, “'Day of rage': Hamas calls for terrorist attacks inside Israel,” YnetNews, March 16, 2010, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3863432,00.html

[4] Waked, Ali, “Hamas' al-Zahar: Israel made deal with the devil,” YnetNews, March 15, 2010, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3863184,00.html

[5] “'Rededication' of Old City synagogue raises timing questions,” Ma’an News Agency, March 15, 2010, http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=268857; “Palestinian Call For Wordwide Mobilization Of Muslims To Defend Al-Aqsa,” MEMRI, March 15, 2010, http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/25648.
htm

[6] “Qrei'a fears Intifada if Israeli policy persists,” Ma’an News Agency, March 15, 2010, http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=268980

[7] Blum, Michael, “Israel reopening of historic synagogue angers Palestinians,” AFP, March 15, 2010 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j4uQ1xLe9WPxbO2Ao221xLht0K-Q

[8] Abu Toameh, Khaled, “PA calls Arabs to ‘defend al Aksa’,” The Jerusalem Post, March 14, 2010, http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170950

[9] Harel, Amos; Issacharoff, Avi, “Palestinians aren't missing the chance to fan the flames,” Haaretz, March 15, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156466.html

[10] Kershner, Isabel, “Palestinians Honor a Figure Reviled in Israel as a Terrorist,” The New York Times, March 11, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/world/middleeast/12westbank.html

[11] Ravid, Barak, “Israel to soon publish 'Palestinian incitement index,'” Haaretz, March 10, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1155420.html

[12] “Fatah: We are proud of Dalal al-Mughrabi and that she is a great symbol in our national struggle,” WAFA, March 10, 2010, http://arabic.wafa.ps/arabic/index.php?action=detail&id=67181

[13] “Fatah: We are proud of Dalal al-Mughrabi and that she is a great symbol in our national struggle,” WAFA, March 10, 2010, http://arabic.wafa.ps/arabic/index.php?action=detail&id=67181

[14] “Hamas, Jihad urge escalation of protests,” Ma’an News Agency, Feb., 2, 2010, http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=264908
[15] “Abbas turns 3 latest terrorists into Palestinian heroes,” Palestinian Media Watch Bulletins, Dec. 29, 2009, http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1524

[16] “Man killed in West Bank shooting,” YnetNews, Dec. 24, 2009, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3824847,00.html

[17] “Behind the Headlines: Palestinian incitement distances peace,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 11, 2010, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Palestinian_incitement_distances_
peace_11-Jan-2010.htm

[18] Abu Toameh, Khaled, “Fatah moves 'to remove, defeat occupation,” The Jerusalem Post, Aug. 10, 2009, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418557097&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull “Fatah Meeting Foreign Policy Platform,” Aug. 11, 2009, http://www.mideastweb.org/fatah_program_2009.htm; “Israel, the Conflict and Peace: Answers to frequently asked questions,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, November 2007, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Israel-+the+Conflict+and+Peace-+Answers+to+Frequen.htm#return

[19] “PA boasts of past terror attacks by security forces currently being trained by the US,” Palestinian Media Watch, July 7, 2009, http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=979

[20] “Kidnapping-for-hostage policy,” Palestinian Media Watch, June 2008, http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=663&fld_id=663&doc_id=1298

[21] Statement by Israeli President Shimon Peres at a memorial service for the late prime ministers and presidents of Israel: “We cannot afford to unravel the delicate fabric of friendship with the United States,” Spokesperson’s Dept., Office of the President, March 16, 2010

[22] Hasson, Nir; Mozgovaya, Natasha, “Netanyahu seeks to ease East Jerusalem tensions at synagogue dedication,” Haaretz, March15, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156587.html

[23] Hasson, Nir; Mozgovaya, Natasha, “Netanyahu seeks to ease East Jerusalem tensions at synagogue dedication,” Haaretz, March15, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156587.html

[24] “SENATORS JOHN McCAIN AND JOE LIEBERMAN SPEAK ON THE SENATE FLOOR 3-15-10,” U.S. Senator John McCain’s Youtube channel, March 15, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorJohnMcCain#p/a/u/0/JtqOLPH1VU8

[25] “Administration’s Stance on Israel Irresponsible and Dangerous,” Web site of the Office of the Republican Whip, March 15, 2010, http://republicanwhip.house.gov/newsroom/2010/03/administration-israel.html

[26] “BERKLEY STATEMENT ON REBUKE OF ISRAEL BY VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON,” News from Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, March 13, 2010

[27] Rubin, Jennifer, “The Fallout,” Commentary Magazine, March 15, 2010, http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/category/contentions?author_name=rubin

The Scapegoating of Jews

Amil Imani

Almost everyone uses scapegoats. It is in our fabric. The word "scapegoat" has come to mean a person, often innocent, who is blamed and punished for the sins, crimes, or sufferings of others, generally as a way of distracting attention from the real causes. It is a potent human disposition to blame others for our failings. The derivation of the term scapegoat comes from the Old Testament – see Leviticus 16. During the Jewish high holy day of Yom Kippur in the Temple era, high priests would sacrifice a goat that would be consigned "for Azazel" and would carry with it the sins of the nation.

Without scapegoats to blame, we are forced to look at ourselves for our problems. Examining ourselves can be very disturbing, particularly when we either lack the resources or the willingness to tackle them. So, we take the good old easy way out of the mess by shifting our focus to the outside world for targets to blame.

Look at young kids. They are expert blamers. They always have an answer, someone or something to blame in self-defense. We, the chronological adults, don’t completely abandon our childish strategy of ascribing blame to external sources. We simply do so with a greater degree of sophistication by finding, if at all possible, a grain or two of truth to legitimize our attributions.

The most notorious person who blamed the Jews as scapegoat was the Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler. In his infamous book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) blamed the plight of Germany at the end of World War I on an international Jewish conspiracy and used terms such as extirpation and extermination in relation to the Jews. Unfortunately, we have seen in recent years the emergence of a number of such assaults, indeed, conspiracy theories, targeting the Israel lobby and the American Jewish community.

Even former President Jimmy Carter in his book Palestine Peace Not Apartheid and John J. Mearsheimer, an American professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and Stephen Walt, professor of international affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government co-authored The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy use the scapegoating of Israel, the Israel Lobby, and American Jews.

Sadly, the Jewish people have been used as scapegoats for many centuries by a variety of non-Jews.

Regrettably, Muslims for their part and have adopted scapegoating as an article of faith. The Muslims blame the Jews for all kinds of heinous things, dating back to the time of Muhammad himself. They say that the Jews of Medina betrayed the holy prophet by their treachery. They charged the poor exorbitant sums for their goods; did no productive work, yet made fortunes through money lending. To make matters worse, the Jews refused to embrace Muhammad’s religion, they say. The story of Banu Qurayza’s Massacre from Koranic verses, is very clear how Allah actually rejoices this in slaughter and enslavement of the tribe of Banu Qurayza’s Jews.


* Koran-33:25- “Allah turned back the unbelievers [Meccans and their allies] in a state of rage, having not won any good, and Allah spared the believers battle. Allah is, indeed, Strong and Mighty.”
* Koran-33:25- “Allah turned back the unbelievers [Meccans and their allies] in a state of rage, having not won any good, and Allah spared the believers battle. Allah is, indeed, Strong and Mighty.”
* Koran-33:26- “And He brought those of the People of the Book [Jewish people of Banu Qurayza’s] who supported them from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts, some of them you slew (beheaded) and some you took prisoners (captive)”
* Koran-33:27- “And He made you heirs of their lands, their houses, and their goods, and of a land which ye had not frequented (before). And Allah has power over all things.” [Merciful Allah asked Prophet Muhammad to confiscate entire properties of surrendered Jews.


Hence, following the example of Muhammad, many Muslim societies have been blaming the Jews for everything and find them deserving of victimization. The litany of atrocities committed against the Jews by the followers of Muhammad is long indeed.

Regrettably, ascribing blame to others and legitimizing their victimization has become a way of life with the rabid Islamists. As sick as scapegoating is, it confers advantages to its practitioners. For one, it rallies the faithful against an enemy portrayed as depraved and dangerous. That’s how Hitler and his gang of thugs aroused the German nation against the Jews. They falsely, yet successfully, blamed the Jews for Germany’s economic problems.

The Islamists, for their part, are still playing the Jewish blame card as best they can. The State of Israel, by its very existence, has provided the inept and habitually devious Islamists a palpable target to blame and attack. Yet, Israel still not only exists, but thrives in their midst. None of the dastardly actions of the Islamists has been effective at realizing their dream of pushing the children of Israel into the sea.

Islamic turbaned villains in Iran and their hired thugs have done a great job of basically eliminating all internal opposition by their brutality. They have also chased the majority of the Iranian Jews out of the country by making their life as miserable as possible. The few remaining Jews are still used as whipping boys from time to time. Contrary to the Islamic dogma, the Iranian people are proud of their historical friendship with the Jewish people. The bond of friendship goes back to the landmark action of King Cyrus the Great of Persia. In 537 B.C., having, conquered Babylon, the benevolent King Cyrus freed the Jews from captivity and empowered them to return to the Promised Land and build their temple and have a peaceful life and worship their God.

The return of the Jews to the Promised Land did not mark the end of their ordeal. Successive waves of ill wishers, notably the Romans and then the belligerent Muslims, unleashed their unjustified wrath on the Jews. The Jewish people, in spite of suffering huge losses at the hands of their enemies, remained resilient and, with one exception, outlived their tormentors. The Pogroms in Russia, the ghettoization in much of Europe, and even the genocidal Hitlerism failed to wipe out the Jews. One diehard enemy, Islamic scriptures, has been hard at work for some 1,400 years to complete the work of finishing off the Jews that Prophet Muhammad himself had started.

Iranians are saddened and ashamed both by the appearance of Ahmadinejad on the international scene and his declared intent to wipe out the Jewish homeland from the face of the earth. It goes without saying that Ahmadinejad does not represent Iranian people and he is not an Iranian himself. Ahmadinejad is an Islamofascist whose aim is to have a practice run, first on the Iranian Baha’is before embarking on destroying the Jews and other “undesirables,” following in the footsteps of the German fuehrer. Being Iranian is defined by a state of mind, not by a place of residence. In fact, Ahmadinejad despises anything Persian. Numerous photos show him proudly donning the Arab headscarf around his neck – a Palestinian headscarf that presently stands as a symbol of the Arabo-Islamic genocidal hate campaign against the Jews as well as non-believers of all stripes.

The circus in Tehran, billed as a “Holocaust Conference,” was nothing more than a disgusting attempt by the barbaric inheritors of Muhammad’s hate to continue in this tradition of wanton attacks on all unbelievers, particularly the Jews. Regrettably, their journey from their early beginning to the present has been fraught with great suffering. It is a tribute to the indomitable spirit of the Jewish people that they persisted in their valiant struggle to re-gather again in the land of their birth. They should also be applauded for affording millions of Israeli Arabs opportunities denied to them in many other lands.

Many of us Iranians co-suffer with this tragic state of affairs that harms them. We, free Iranians, express our deepest sympathy to the Jewish people for what they have suffered and have been used as scapegoats throughout history and especially at the hands of the Nazis in Germany. We also condemn, in the strongest terms, the new coalition of fascists that is brewing under the disgusting and dangerous banner of Islamofascisim.

FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Amil Imani is an Iranian-born American citizen and a pro-democracy activist residing in the United States of America. Imani is a columnist, literary translator, novelist and essayist who has been writing and speaking out for the struggling people of his native land, Iran. He maintains a website at www.amilimani.com.

Pesach 5770/2010: Israel Defies the Regional & International Siege…

Yitz Dekel, M.A.
Blazer-JLTV, OP-ED, March 20, 2010

During this Passover season, Israel faces an unprecedented angry White House, a very hostile pre-Atomic Iran, a threatening axis of Syria, Hamas & Hezbollah, boasting their enormous stockpiles of advanced missiles, and a tightening chokehold of International Isolation. While Obama’s White House increases its pressure on Israel to accept the Two-State-Solution, which includes the bizarre and counter-historical Division of Jerusalem. Ironically, the White House & the Pentagon may need Israel’s “unilateral surgical preemptive strike” on Iran’s select nuclear targets before Jan. 2011. Regardless from what perspective or position of the political-ideological spectrum does any Israeli or Jewish person come from, vocalizing passionately their opinions these days, most Israeli politicians and citizens within the diverse body politics of Israel are very worried and stressed this Passover season. So are the majority of the Jewish people worldwide. More than a few may argue very openly, often fiercely, while criticizing past and current Israeli policies and governments for “harsh” actions and attitudes toward the Palestinians throughout the West Bank, since the 1967 Liberation/Occupation Six Day War. Many more however will argue that Israel did its very best, while defending itself against focused, brutal, and stubborn Pan-Arab enemies, under endless threats and conventional and terrorist attacks since 1948.

Yet, after 1900 years of dispersals, exiles and being deprived of our own homeland and sovereignty, it has been practically impossible for Israel to suddenly emerge, since the 1948 War of Independence, as a “perfect” victor-liberator-occupier. While at the same time, Israel has been continuously challenged by all 22 Members of the Arab-League, who have not concealed until today, their full agenda and ultimate goal to destroy the Jewish State of Israel, thru conventional military aggression and boycotts, or through the strategy and tactics of terror. Thus, Israel has no need to apologize for defending itself and for repelling and surviving on the winning side all these 63 years of Arab-Palestinian onslaughts of fanatic aggression. Nor does Israel have to explain to the world or to history, its historical and legal rights to engage in any activities of construction, expansion, repairing or developing housing and infra-structure, anywhere in the parameters of its Capital city of Jerusalem.

The national and international public debates and growing frictions will always depend on “who says what, when and to whom” in the ever-changing fluidity of political and military events, between the two opposing camps, much more so within the splintered Arab-Palestinian rival camps. Enemies are by definition strictly subjective, never objective. But to Israel’s misfortune, so is the international media, far from being objective and balanced, when it concerns Israel’s actions, policies and image. But at least in Israel, its 1.2 million voting Arab citizens, can freely exercise their political and civic rights and freely express their political opinions. Such extended freedoms do not exist or apply to almost 100% of all Arab citizens in the 22 Arab-League States, nor within the Palestinian Authority West Bank controlled territories. Since its independence in May 1948, all Israeli Governments were made up of Coalitions of several, mostly disharmonious political parties, with a strong opposition by excluded parties in the Knesset and thus, Israel’s dynamic and restless Democracy is still alive. None of this applies to all of Israel’s Arab neighbors dictatorial and oppressive regimes. Sadly and outrageously, the Jewish and Israeli pro-Palestinian Peace Camps, lead by Peace-Now, J-Street and New-Israel-Fund, as the most active NGO’s, must be gloating, while watching up-close these days, Israel’s predicaments and rifts with the White House, being internationally ostracized and squeezed on all sides.

The Israeli announcement of another 1600 new housing units to be constructed in East Jerusalem, made on March 10, 2010, the very day of VP Joe Biden visit in Israel, was a major political & diplomatic fiasco, upsetting the United States, Israel’s greatest ally and supporter since 1948. This unfortunate Peace Negotiations-spoiler incident, is marginal when compared to the full picture of the totality of the Pan-Arab-Palestinian wars against the Jews in Turkish & British Palestine and against the State of Israel (since 1948), for the last 120 years or so. Let us focus here on some of the more recent events and variables in the National-Nationalistic conflicting forces between the Arab-Palestinian bloc and Israel.

The highly promoted American-Pan-Arab “Two State Solution” requires also the absurd re-partitioning of Jerusalem, to make the eastern part the city the future Palestinian Capital, which it never was in history. In June, 1967, Israel liberated and unified Jerusalem during the Six Day War from Jordanian military conquest of 19 years since 1948. The aggregate of threats and hostilities of the Pan-Arab-Palestinian gigantic camp, against Israel and on world Jewry, is becoming rapidly more oppressive and more depressive. We are also witnessing a steady growth in worldwide old fashioned Anti-Semitic incidents and attacks on Jewish institutions and even cemeteries, only 65 years after the Holocaust. While on more and more American campuses, zealous Palestinian and Arab students are intimidating Jewish students with their extreme and noisy aggression.

The most unforgivable historical omission from all the international debates, are the critically missing facts about the full “Middle East Refugees Exchange” of some 590,000 to 700,000(?) Palestinian Arabs against about 1,000,000 Jewish refugees from the bellicose Arab states since 1948. Israel has laboriously embraced and settled successfully the Jewish Refugees from the Arab countries into its social, cultural, economic and political fabrics within a few decades. On the other hand Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, were most Palestinian Refugees fled to, kept them status-less and in perpetual misery of refugees enclaves, ever since. The full facts of this distorted picture and incomplete history of the Middle East Refugees, unfortunately still continues, but rendering wrong, obsolete and irrelevant any discussion about the assumed Palestinians geopolitical and economic “Rights”, lost “de-facto” & “de-jure” to the far greater material and civil Rights of the Jewish Refugees.

This state of affairs is not only unbelievable; it is totally and utterly unacceptable. The large majority of our Jewish People worldwide (a mere 14 million Jews as compared to 1.3-1.4 billion Muslims alive in the world today) are recoiling with growing anger these days. We are justifiably suspicions and impatience, ready and willing to react, not just defensively, but to hit back and attack pre-emotively, at any enemy that threatens Jewish lives, in Israel or anywhere else… Naturally, this Siege against Israel and the growing incidents of international anti-Semitism, re-awaken historical Jewish-Tribal reflexes, a state of increasing alert and awareness coming from historical memories of many centuries of exiles, persecutions, pogroms and the Holocaust. Thus we address a Twitter-like question to the very progressive President Obama: When in the last 3,000 years was a divided Jerusalem, or any divided Capital city in war regions, a key to Peace?

The growing claustrophobia closing on Israel has been evident even before the March 10th 2010; huge blunder by Israel announcing the constructing of additional 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem, during Biden’s visited in Jerusalem. As widely noted by the media, VP Biden has condemned Israel publically in his address at the Tel Aviv University, the following day. Then, Sec. of State Hillary Clinton found it Necessary to scold Bibi Netanyahu over a 45 minutes phone call, accusing his Government of delivering a slap on the face of America and gravely upsetting the peace Process. Obviously, this political public relations fiasco was very disturbing to both, Israel’s historically close relationships with the United States on the one hand, as well as a correct interpretation by the Palestinians and the Arab world, discouraging their interest in pursuing “indirect proximity peace negotiations”. Inadvertently however, beyond damage control and apologies, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, means business by being firm and consistent on his One-Jerusalem policy. Namely, that Jerusalem, was never an Arab or Muslim capital of any nation-state in history, but will remain the eternal Capital of the Jewish People and of the modern and democratic state of Israel, united, open to all Faiths worshipers and accessible to all regional and worldwide Jewish, Christian and Jewish Pilgrims.

Why should the Jewish State of Israel, one of the smallest nation-states on the planet, that lives continuously under threats and failed attempts to destroy her by its surrounding Arab neighbors since 1948, accept any foreign ideas or policies that favor the creation of yet another Arab state squeezed into unbearable congestion of the narrow West Bank, thus automatically laying all the foundations for its own destruction? Why should Israel consider or accept the built-in entrapments that are included in the unrealistic “Oslo Accords” signed under international pressure in Washington DC, on Sept. 13, 1993, by President Clinton, the late PM Yitzhak Rabin, by uniformed PLO Chairman and PA President Yasser Arafat and his deputy Mahmud Abbas, when at the Camp David Summit with Clinton and PM Ehud Barak, in 2000, Arafat rejected Israel’s best offer yet of withdrawal to pre-1967 borders and even from East Jerusalem. Clearly, the Pan-Arab-Palestinian camp remains consistently focused on ultimately destroying Israel by replacing it, militarily, politically and demographically over time.

Concerning Israel’s rights to construct housing projects anywhere in the greater Jerusalem area we must remind ourselves and the international community at large including the 22 nation-states of the Arab League, as well as the Palestinians, that Jordan had full control as an occupier of most of the disputed West Bank territories, and most remarkable, the whole of East Jerusalem, for 19 consecutive years (1948-1967). Similarly, Egypt had full control of the Gaza Strip for the same 19 years. It is hard to find anywhere, United Nations or UNRWA reports and documents about Palestinian Refugees complaints while languishing under Jordanian and Egyptian iron-fisted controls, living without civil right and liberties in poverty infested refugee camps.

Ironically, these very territories controlled by Jordan and by Egypt between 1948 and 1967, were within the intended future Palestinian State as designated by the Partition Plan of the UN Resolution # 181, of Nov. 29, 1947 that the Arab world rejected vehemently. Why didn’t Jordan & Egypt start building brick by brick and block by block the infra-structure of the future Palestinian State on the very ground they were standing and living on? Meanwhile, Israeli official sources estimate that since 1948, Israeli Arabs constructed some 100,000 illegal dwelling houses or extensions and other buildings throughout Israel, without all, if any of the required civil engineering, safety, utilities and waste management required inspections and permits. Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria should find the territorial solution for the Palestinian Refugees living status-less in their midst, in poverty, since 1948.

Most international observers and strategic-military experts agree that the “Two State Solution” is a fast shrinking mirage. It is geographically, strategically, culturally, politically & demographically, “Dead On Arrival”. Because the West Bank is already by far too small and congested to allow for such diametrically opposed National, Religious and Cultural entities to tolerate each other in mutual respect and harmony, while competing economically and technologically-scientifically so unevenly, in blissful peace. Will a future Palestinian state allow for Jewish residents within its boundaries, like Israel has 1.2 million Arab citizens, or will it be “Yuden-Rein” (free of Jews) as a strict Muslim entity? What does Obama expect?

It is historically a very stinging irony to recall and draw a comparison between two American presidents in two remarkable geopolitical situations. At the waning years of the Cold War era between the United States and the Soviet Union, President Reagan launched a cluster of geopolitical and strategic initiatives to end the Cold War. A brilliant move by President Reagan was his visit in West Berlin on June 12, 1987, speaking to the German people of West Berlin (and thus addressing East Germany, the Soviet Union and to the world at large, for all intents and purposes), aggressively pursuing the reunification of the walled city of Berlin, since its construction by the Communist East German government in 1961.

President Reagan’s words were heard around the world and definitely in the halls of the Kremlin when he loudly said, “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down this Wall!!”

This resounding call has become the beginning of the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. This event echoed another powerful statement by President John Kennedy, addressing West Berlin citizens, the Soviet Union and the World, on June 23, 1963, near the Berlin Wall, when Kennedy declared ”Ich Bin Ein Berliner” (I Am a citizen of Berlin).

In stark contradiction to these two great American Presidents historical statements that changed Europe and the world, it is a bone chilling surrealistic experience, to hear President Obama, a surprise Peace Nobel Prize Laureate, pushing aggressively in 2010, even demanding, to re-divide the Holy city of Jerusalem. It is an artificial, fabricated condition to appease the 57 Muslim nation-states of the world, including the 22 members of the Arab League countries, to supposedly achieve a very illusive Peace in the Middle East, by imposing the Two States Solution on Israel! Is there really Mr. Obama, sufficient living, functioning and developing, living and growing space for both Peoples, on the miniscule West Bank?

Should a Palestinian nation-state arise in the West Bank after all, will it help President Obama win the American wars in the greater Middle East? Or will it help defeat international Jihad? Or will it wipe out the Taliban or Al Qaeda from South-West Asia and from the international geopolitics? Or will it stop Iran from becoming a military nuclear power? Or will it slow down the Islamization of Europe and the West? Absolutely Not! Thus, pragmatically, Israel remains America’s and western civilization’s most natural, greatest cultural-democratic ally, fortress and hope in the midst of the chaotic Middle East. In the possible, although most improbable event, that an independent Palestinian state will be founded and declared, twisted geographically side by side along Israel on the West Bank and Gaza, will it suffice and satisfy the ambitions, aspirations, dreams, goals and geophysical requirements of the Palestinian state?

It is incomprehensible that the U.S. under President Reagan, lead the free world and was pivotal in uniting Berlin in 1989/90. But in 2010 President Obama, wishing to appease a hostile Muslim world, is leading the world with the initiative to Disunite Jerusalem and Break it up into 2 artificial halves, as a required condition for the Palestinian-Israeli Peace process? Israel, supported by the majority of world Jewry, will reject and foil such a suicidal “Two State Solution”. Supporting a strong Israel these days is imperative. We shall overcome and survive this siege and crisis as well. Our heritage of 4000 years’ old journey has endured and survived greater existential challenges. A very strong Israel is here to stay and survive and its united Capital city of Jerusalem will continue to grow and to thrive…

Happy Passover!

(© Yitzchak Dekel, Los Angeles, March, 2010)

Cabinet communique

Our policy toward Jerusalem is the same policy of all Israeli governments in the past 42 years and it has not changed. From our point of view, construction in Jerusalem is like construction in Tel Aviv.

(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 21 March 2010:

1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:

"This evening I will leave for Washington to address the AIPAC Policy Conference, in the presence of many Senators and Congressmen. I will also meet with the Congressional leadership. I plan to speak about our policy - on both the peace and security issues, as well as about Iran and Jerusalem. Our policy toward Jerusalem is the same policy of all Israeli governments in the past 42 years and it has not changed. From our point of view, construction in Jerusalem is like construction in Tel Aviv. These are the things which we have made very clear to the American administration. We also made it clear that in the proximity talks with the Palestinians, while each side will be able to raise its positions on the issues in dispute, a tangible solution to the fundamental problems between us and the Palestinians will be achievable only in direct peace talks. It cannot be otherwise. Only if we sit together, discuss the issues together and reach joint solutions, will we be able to reach a genuine peace agreement.

I think that it is very important that these matters not be left subject to commentary and speculation; therefore, I initiated the letter that I sent to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton so that these issues would be very clear. I must say that I sent the positions after consulting with my unanimous colleagues in the seven-member ministerial forum. I think that Israel's position is very clear and it will also be so during my visit to the American capital."

2. The Cabinet discussed amendments to its 31 January 2010 decision regarding linking Haifa Bay to the natural gas infrastructures. Pursuant to the decision, Israel Natural Gas Lines, Ltd. began to lay pipeline in order to complete missing sections. According to the decision, landowners could join a special compensation arrangement by 20 March 2010. As of today, the Israel Lands Administration is working with several landowners who applied to join the arrangement; however, no detailed agreement has yet been reached.

Despite continued efforts, it appears that it will not be possible to reach a comprehensive agreement with the Druze community regarding entry onto Druze lands.

However, on 17 March 2010, three days before the 20 March deadline, Druze community representatives, including Sheikh Muafik Tarif, the mayors of Daliyat al-Carmel and Ussafiya, and landowners' representatives sent a letter in which they requested several changes in the 31 January 2010 decision in order to make it easier to market the decision among the landowners and increase their confidence in the Government establishment after a years-long sense of neglect. They said that were the changes to be accepted, they expect and hope that work on the pipeline could proceed without interruption. The Cabinet decided to adopt the changes and extend the 20 March 10 deadline to 15 April 2010.

3. The Cabinet discussed additional budgetary outlays for community development in the eastern Lachish area, including the establishment of a new community.

4. The Cabinet discussed and approved a 2010-2014 plan for the economic development of communities in the minorities sector (including the Arab, Bedouin Druze and Circassian communities).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:

"In the first stage, we have chosen 12 Bedouin and Arab communities, with approximately 400,000 residents. We will invest NIS 800 million in these communities in developing employment, housing solutions and strengthening human capital, and in boosting law enforcement and personal security.

It is important to us that alongside full civil equality before the law, which exists - of course - for all Israelis, that there be equality of economic opportunity in employment, infrastructures, education and quality of life, in the non-Jewish sector. Our goal will be to expand the initial plan to many other communities. I think that this is very important in our view of the State of Israel as a regional power and as a global technological power, that all of its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens be able to enjoy the benefits of internal prosperity and progress."

The plan will focus on 12 communities (Maghar, Sakhnin, Shfaram, Nazareth, Arrabe, Tamra, Daliyat al-Carmel-Isfiya, Tira, Kafr Kassem, Um al-Fahm, Kalansua and Rahat), that together include approximately 370,000 residents, and concentrate on four main areas: economic development for employment, housing and real estate, transportation access and personal security/law enforcement.

The plan will be based on the following principles:
A) Partnership with, and involvement by, local authorities in implementing the plan;
B) Maintaining program continuity, fostering stability and continuity in local authorities vis-à-vis implementation, including during changes in local administration;
C) Creating economic activity based on the communities' relative advantages; and
D) Ensuring appropriate control and oversight of the plan.

The goals of the plan are as follows:
A) Increasing local residents' per capita income;
B) Advancing and upgrading economic infrastructures in order to create appropriate conditions for economic development;
C) Increasing local authorities' sources of revenue;
D) Developing human-professional and physical capital in local authorities; administrative systems;
E) Creating professional mechanisms in the local authorities that will support economic development and upgrading real estate markets;
F) Increasing human capital and
G) Increasing personal security, and both awareness of the issue of violence and the means to deal with it.

The Prime Minister's Office Authority for the Economic Development of the Arab, Druze and Circassian Sectors will be responsible for administering the plan and will report to Minister Avishay Braverman, who is responsible for minority affairs, on progress in its implementation.

5. The Cabinet amended previous decisions regarding the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon in order to allow the construction of a structurally reinforced emergency room at an alternative site.

Gazans Again Committing War Crimes, Killing Israeli Civilians In Rocket Attacks

http://www.mererhetoric.com/

The first, tragic casualty of the Obama Intifada?

Thursday's brief afternoon rain could not wash the blood out of a small pile of sand, where hours earlier the body of Thai worker Mane Singauephon had lain. He was killed around 11 a.m., when a rocket fell through the roof of a hothouse where he worked on the border with Gaza... He had come to the small community of Netiv Ha'asara more than three years ago to support his wife and child back home. "Ten workers witnessed the death of their friend," said Yair Farjun, head of the Ashkelon Coast Regional Council... Singauephon had been hit in several parts of the body, including his head, back and left arm. The geopolitical upshot is that the post-Cast Lead deterrent which had kept peace in the south of Israel is breaking down. Emboldened by - achem - international anti-Israel diplomacy, and knowing that Israel's options are constrained by a potential Goldstone II, Hamas is back to genocidal incitement against Israeli civilians:

As noted, the IDF has thus far shown relative restraint in its response to attacks directed at our territory. One of the important reasons for this is the criticism leveled at Israel internationally because of the Goldstone Report and Gaza blockade. Another reason is that these rocket attacks are usually inefficient and sporadic. A third reason is the "understanding" shown to the difficulties faced by Hamas, which genuinely attempts to prevent attacks. However, the rocket that killed a man in Israel Thursday changed the equation.... it's quite clear that the frequent rocket fire in the past day was carried out as result of Hamas incitement and the calls by its leaders for an Intifada, in the context of tensions in Jerusalem over the holy sites.

Those riots, of course, came in the context of Obama's smart diplomacy over Jerusalem. It turns out that convincing the Palestinians that they'll be able to wipe out Jewish holy sites in the Old City - again - doesn't dampen their enthusiasm for violence.

Back in Gaza Hamas has seeded the entire Strip with rockets and explosives in preparation for another war, the better to maximize civilian casualties. They're apparently hoping for more Palestinian civilian casualties than during Cast Lead, which was itself a huge civilian-murdering success for them. There are 500 pages of photographs and testimony showing that they used kids as human shields, transformed mosques into weapons and barracks, and flagrantly committed war crimes. All of which was obvious during the war and none of which kept Goldstone and his ilk from demonizing the Jewish State.

References:
* 10 workers saw their friend die [JPost]
* Deterrence tested in Gaza [YNet]
* Netanyahu To Obama: Actually, We're Going To Keep Letting Jews Build Homes In Jerusalem [MR]
* 'Hamas used kids as human shields' [JPost]
* One Jerusalem Conference Call - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu On Hamas's "Double War Crime" [Videos] [MR]

Arabs riot in Jerusalem following 'price tag' claims

Palestinians hurl stones, set tires on fire near Shuafat refugee camp. Arabs, left-wing activists say vehicles torched overnight after settlers' call for revenge. 'Any sensible person knows that we don’t set fire on Shabbat,' rightist says in response

Shmulik Grossman
YNET News

Palestinians hurled stones and set fire to tires near a roadblock in the Shuafat refugee camp in north Jerusalem on Saturday afternoon. Border Guard and IDF forces dispersed the protestors using tear gas. There were no reports of injuries. Earlier, Arab residents of east Jerusalem said that "price tag" calls made by West Bank settlers had led to the torching of several vehicles in the neighborhoods of Ras al-Amud and Wadi Joz on Friday night.


A police source confirmed to Ynet that a private car had been set on fire on Salah al-Din Street and that a bus had been completely burned in Ras al-Amud. The Palestinian reports about additional incidents have not been confirmed and it is unclear who was behind the torching.



Left-wing organizations joined the claims, saying that the acts were committed on the backdrop of the "day of rage" and the objection to the reopening of the Hurva synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem. According to the activists, extreme right-wing groups distributed leaflets earlier this week threatening revenge against east Jerusalem's residents.



Right-wing activists rejected the claims, calling them a "cowardly attempt" to present them as violent and accusing the Palestinians of sparked the recent wave of violence in Jerusalem.



"We are not being dragged into their provocations and we did not torch any vehicle. Any sensible person knows that we don't set fire on the holy Shabbat."



The rightists explained that the Palestinians often torch cars in order to gain publicity and as an insurance scam. "They take old and broken vehicles and simply set them on fire. They point a finger at the Right, but get money from the insurance companies."


'Stop Obama intifada'

Despite the high tensions, hundreds of right-wing activists are planning to take part in rallies Saturday night calling for an end to "the Obama intifada". The protests will take place in three West Bank junctions: Hawara, Talmonim and Gush Etzion.



"The Arabs are raising their heads because of Obama's backing. The riots and stone throwing in recent days are aimed at stopping Jewish construction and development in the Land of Israel and Jerusalem. Cars are being stoned across Judea and Samaria," said one of the rallies' organizers.



Rabbis and settler leaders are expected to take part in the Gush Etzion rally and to demand that the government "stand strong, resume Jewish construction and destroy terror."



Right-wing activists, led by Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir were scheduled to march in the Arab neighborhood of Silwan on Sunday, but the parade has been postponed until next month due to the high tensions in the capital.