Thursday, July 31, 2008

5768.10.28 Israel the Land of My Possession., Rabbi Algaze, Today we are Sheep w/o Leaders. Shdema, Temple Mount

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Israel  the Land of My Possession.  A digest of articles in the spirit of Calev Ben Yefunah and Yehoshua Ben Nun!  Oloh Naaleh Veyarashnu Osah Ki Yachol Nuchal La!  Bamidbar 13:30. Please feel free to distribute!

28 Tamuz 5768
Tuesday, 31 July 2008

1.  Rabbi Shteinsaltz, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky.  Where R  our Rabbinic Leaders leading us?  An expose.

2.  Update on Shdema - Women in Green
3.
Petition for Temple Mount Over 2,000 Signatures.  Pass it on!

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1.  Where are OUR Rabbinic Leaders leading us?  An expose.

Rabbi Yeshayahu Hollander, a member of the Sanhedrin recently came to the United States and met with concerned Jews who love Eretz Yisroel and would like to see the Rabbanim speak with clarity for our Torah and our entitlement of Eretz Yisroel Hashleima.  Rabbi Steinsaltz is the Rosh Hanasi of the nascent Sanhedrin so his response and willingness to lead was expected.  Unfortunately, this was not the case.  We are publicizing Rav Steinsaltz's position so that those that follow him, including the members of the Sanhedrin will take note of his non position and his SILENCE and his unwillingness to lead. 

We also have been in contact with Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshiva in Philadelphia and Rabbinical adviser and mentor of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation and we are equally disappointed in his lack of desire to lead. We are publicizing Rav Kamenetsky's response to our inquiries regarding Eretz Yisroel and leave it up to you  to come to your own conclusions.  These Rabbanim have unquestioned loyalty among their chasidim.  Our concern is that there is more loyalty to the Rav then there is to the Torah and this is dangerous.  We hear you ask, "Doesn't it say

You shall come to the Kohanim, the Levites, and to the judge who will be in those days; you shall inquire and they will tell you the word of the judgment. You shall do according to the word that they will tell you, from that place that HASHEM will choose, and you should be careful to do according to everything they will teach you. According to the teaching of the Torah (al Pi Hatorah)  that they teach you and the judgment that they will say to you, shall you do; you shall not deviate from the word that they will tell you, right or left. (Devarim 17:9-11)

That is surely true when their words are words based on Torah.  But when their words are based on politics we have no obligations to follow these Leaders.  Doesn't the Torah also say in the Aseret Hadibrot "Lo Yehiyeh Lecha Elokim Acheirum Al Panai"? Shemos 20:3. There is only one G-d and we are not allowed to have an intermediary.

Rabbi Hollander writes to Rabbi Algaze,

When I returned to Israel I spoke with Rabbi Steinsaltz who will not take part in a political action, and also with Rabbi Nebenzahl.
Rabbi Nebenzahl says that in principle a government may decide to secede from land of Eretz Yisrael for political benefits to the State of Israel, BUT  he agrees that as long as the enemy state that they want to destroy us, and/or take actions in that direction, making any concessions is foolish.


Rabbi Algaze's response to Rabbi Hollander.

Regarding the "political" action and the refusal of rabbis to become involved in the current situation I am absolutely baffled. The concept of a nation, a united people,  demands that all of us take an interest in what is happening in the land. What does it mean that a "government" can decide? Any government decision is right? If the "government" is  corrupt, immoral or treasonous (as the Petain regime in France), are we to remain silent?  I would presume that they would agree to speak up. It would be the least to be expected of moral leaders. Giving up parts of Eretz Israel is forbidden by the Torah. No posek has ever allowed this. Show me one who says it is permitted. The argument that we may do so for the sake of saving lives has been amply proven wrong and I would doubt that any group of serious rabbis would make such a pesak today. The more we give the more we put our citizens in danger (witness the Gaza disengagement). I have a deep admiration for Rabbis Steinsaltz and Nebentzahl. I must say, however, that I find their silence and indifference to what is happening in Israel today very troubling and incomprehensible. It seems to me that anyone who finds a government decision foolish and remains silent about it, is either irresponsible or willfully blind.
 
I would appreciate a fuller explanation of their decision to remain aloof. Sadly, they are not the only ones to remain silent. The kidnapping of our soldiers, the decision to release murderers that encourages more terror and more death, the engagement with terrorists to give up parts of Eretz Israel, the uprooting of true halutzim(the settlers of Yesha), who endanger their lives every day to insure that we can have safety in other parts of Israel, the campaign to obliterate our connection with our historical past, are all the result of this government and others in the past. If the Rabbinical leaders of Israel who are the true "neture karta" as the Gemara describes them, do not participate in the defense of the city, who will do it?  And,if after 60 years of a state, our leaders feel so powerless, I wonder who will lead us? We are like "sheep that has no shepherd" and that should not be.

My (Robin Ticker's) reaction: 

What Rabbi Agaze says make much sense. If Rabbi Steinsalz refuses to take part in "political action" and Rabbi Nebenzahl says that in principle a government may decide to secede from land of Eretz Yisrael for political benefits to the State of Israel apparently these are not the leaders who are speaking up for Eretz Yisroel and the Torah's position regarding our entitlement to Eretz Yisroel.

Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah re: Jewish State, Oct. 1937

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Please note the highlighted words.
 
In 1937 in Marienbad, the Third Kenessiah of Agudas Yisroel was held. Here is positive proof that the majority of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah in 1937 voted in favor of a Jewish State and said that relinquishment of the Holy Land given to the Jewish people by G-d has no validity. It seems from their words that they are in favor of a Jewish State with the qualification that we must pursue expanding its borders and ensuring that the laws of a Jewish State will be founded on religion and tradition Let the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of our generation be true to their lineage, follow this declaration and actively join and unite with the multitudes of Jews that desire the same.

Taken from the journal HaPardes (volume 11, Issue 7, October 1937), 70 years ago, reprinted in Mishpacha Issue 179, 6 Cheshvan 5768, October 17,2007 Page 26)————————————————————————————————————-

"On Sunday, 16 Elul, the great Torah leaders discussed the question of a Jewish State, and reached the greatly anticipated decision of the congress. It was a stormy assembly, attended by the Rebbes of Gur, Ghorkov, Boyan, Sadigura, and the great Torah scholars members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Rabbinical Council). A great battle took place, over seven hours, with struggles about every minute detail of the decision.

"Rabbi Wasserman, Rabbi Kotler, Rabbi Rottenberg of Antwerp, and rabbis from Czechoslovakia and Hungary were unanimous in rejecting any proposal for a Jewish State on either side of the Jordan River even if it were established as a religious state, because such a regime would be a form of heresy in our faith in the belief in the coming of the Mashiach and especially since this little Jewish State would be built on heresy and desecration of the Name of G-d.

"Arguing against them were the Rebbes of Boyan and Sadigura. Rabbi Tzirelson, the president of the congress, Rabbi [Aharon] Lewin of Reisha [the head of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah] and Rabbi Sorotzkin, [who said that] it is possible to agree, according to the laws of the Torah, to the establishment of a Jewish State in a portion of the Eretz Yisael without denying the belief in the coming of redeemer. There is no need to be concerned that the nonreligious would use the Jewish State to attack our religion. therefore, it is forbidden to reject entirely the matter of the Jewish State; rather we must pursue expanding its borders and ensuring that the laws of a Jewish State will be founded on religion and tradition, and we must protest that they did not consult frum Judaism and did not include its leaders in this discussion.

"Those in favor won the vote! All the decisions were accepted affirmatively.

Although the majority of the congress seemed to be in favor of the partition plan, the text of the resolution of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah contains the statements. " The foundation of the Jewish peoples right to the Holy Land is based on the Torah and the prophets…A Jewish State not based on the principles of Torah is a denial of Jewish origin, is opposed to the identity and to the true stature of our people, and undermines the basis of existence of our people…Any relinquishment of the Holy Land given to the Jewish people by G-d has no validity" (HaPardes 11:6)

 

Consulting with Members of the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah in our Generation:

Shmuel Koenig a fellow activist has been calling Rav Shmuel Kamenetsy.  Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky told him to call a Mr. George Klein. George Klein is a big real estate developer in New York and perhaps other places.  He is apparently an Orthodox Jew from the Chocolate Barton's family with strong affiliations with the Republican party. .  We called him and I dropped off material to his office.  (see attachment letter)  He says he is busy and suggested we call Malcolm Hoenlein and Chaim Dovid Zweibel and Elliot Brody from California.  Knowing whom we are dealing ( Malcolm Hoenlein and Rabbi Zweibel) we know that talking to them is like talking to the sweet talking Devil to promote our welfare.  (even though I don't know about Elliot Brody but Malcolm Hoenlein is pushing the Roadmap and Chaim Dovid Zweibel is the public liason of the Agudah Office who is in Washington DC and focusing on tuition subsidies etc and will only go so far as to say that the Arabs must stop the terror and show reciprocity. MOetzet Gedolei Hatorah have spoken out about an undivided Jerusalem and not at all against a 2 State Solution a Gush Katif in the making in Yehudah and the Shomron chas vechalila but instead of just 10,000 lives we are talking about over 200,000 people. Kupat Hair and Vaad HaRabbonim... will be overwhelmed with new impoverished people.   In addition, when it was clear that Condeleeza Rice did want to divide Jerusalem, Agudah is even silent about Jerusalem in Washington DC.

If this man George Klein, recommended by Rav Kamenetzky as the one to help us, sends us to Malcolm Hoenlein, what does it say about the position of the sender (Rav Kamenetzky) himself? This is totally crazy!

 
I think that our best bet is to contact Michael Rothschild, Executive Director of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation and convince him to put his operation to support Eretz Yisroel and Rabbanim that speak out with clarity regarding Eretz Yisroel and not rely on Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky as his Rabbinic Advisor if he is interested in being metaken the Chait Hamiraglim the source of Tisha Baav.
 
The number of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation is 845-352-3505


Letter written to Mr. George Klein:
 

Bs"d

George Klein
Park Tower Realty
499 Park Ave. #27
New York, NY  10022 

Dear Mr. Klein, amv"sh

My name is Mrs. Robin Ticker.  I am writing to you because Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky suggested to a fellow activist by the name of Shmuel Koenig that we contact you.  We are a group of individuals that are activists for the settlement of the entire Israel.

 We understand that your focus is the development of New York and not Eretz Yisroel.   Apparently Rabbi Kamenetsky believes that you are influential in the Republican circles and would have some influence in the sphere of foreign policy.

 This is not an appeal for money or an appeal to use your political connections within the Republican Party.  It is an appeal for something much more than that.  It is an appeal for your heart and soul to do the right thing in whatever capacity you have to help the people of Israel in this time.  We are of the opinion that Rav Kamenetsky is passing the buck.  We are hoping that perhaps you have influence with the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah and somehow convince them that it is really their responsibility to make a Statement regarding our entitlement of Eretz Yisroel based on the Torah.  We believe that this is an ideological war and that only a message of clarity based on Torah can make us worthy of G-d's intervention to save us from our enemies.

Many feel that these times are Pre Nazi Germany.  Every day I get emails upon emails that seem to validate these premonitions. Since I will be in Manhattan today, I will try to stop by your office with printed material that I have received off the internet within the last few days alone. We would like to get this material or similar material to 50 or so religious leaders who do not go on the internet for religious reasons.

From the little research I have done about you it is quite apparent that your time is valuable and are accustomed with associating with others of greater prominence.  I do not have the credentials.  But I do believe that G-d is on our side and that the cause is convincing enough to realize the urgency of the matter so that you will be compelled not to stand idly by.  Please be in contact with me.  I can be reached at faigerayzel@gmail.com.

 Shabbat Shalom,

Sincerely,

 Robin (Stern) Ticker


2.  Update on Shdema - Women in Green

Some 150 youth for the Land of Israel arrived yesterday Wednesday in Shdema after another day of hiking through the hills of Judea and Samaria in the context of their week long hike from Samaria to Judea.

 

Tens of residents of the area came to Shdema to welcome the youth and give them food, drinks and chizuk (strength).

 

Rabbi Yaron Durani, Rabbi of Nokdim and Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe from the "Vaad leHatzalat Ha'Am ve'Haarets" strengthened the youth with divrei Torah.

 

Attached is a picture of one of the youth hanging two flags on the high water tower in Shdema: the Israeli flag and the orange flag on which it says "The Land of Israel belongs to the People of Israel". This orange flag has been produced three years ago by "Women in Green" after the expulsion from GK and NS and handed out by members of Women in Green in all activities connected to the struggle for the Land of Israel.

 

In addition activists also painted Zionist slogans on the buildings .

 

This morning the youth will continue their hike from Shdema to Kiryat Arba Hevron.

 

Reminder: next week, Wednesday August 6th, there will be a fascinating evening in Shdema with speeches (in Hebrew) on the topic  "From destruction to Redemption". Details will be posted soon on email and will be in tomorrows Besheva newspaper.

 

Below is Nadav Shragai's article about Shdema posted in yesterdays Haarets paper. This article makes it clear how important the struggle for Shdema is and how we must keep up with our continued activities there.

 

The Comittee for a Jewish Shdema

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The struggle for settlement contiguity

By Nadav Shragai

 

The establishment of the Jewish settlers has joined forces with non-establishment groups to fight the Civil Administration


The Jewish settlements of the eastern part of the Etzion Bloc in the West Bank - unlike the consensual settlements of the western part of the bloc - have not been suffering from an overdose of popularity among Israeli statesmen.

On the map of the permanent status agreement drawn up by negotiating teams in the past, Nokdim, Tekoa, Kfar Elad and Ma'aleh Amos - settlements in which about 3,000 people live - are marked as locations destined to be evacuated. The fact that up until about a year ago the trip from the eastern part of the Etzion Bloc to Jerusalem took about three quarters of an hour, whereas the distance between the western part of the Etzion Bloc and the capital amounts to only a 15-minute trip, only demonstrated the gap between the authorities' attitude toward settlements like Kfar Etzion or Efrat in the western part of the Etzion Bloc, and the step-children to the east of the route of the separation fence.

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Then everything changed, or at least this is the feeling among the inhabitants of the eastern part of the bloc. After long years of struggle, the Za'atra Bypass Road was completed, a fast road 10 kilometers long that connects the settlements of the eastern part of the bloc directly to Har Homa in Jerusalem - itself a controversial and relatively new neighborhood beyond the 1967 border.

The road has whittled the trip to Jerusalem down to 15 minutes, and has changed the atmosphere in those settlements from one extreme to another. In Tekoa and Nokdim, it is now impossible to obtain a room to rent, and the prices of building plots have soared by 70 percent.

Jerusalem's new suburbs

Over the last few months, 20 new families have joined Kfar Eldad, where some of the houses were empty, and others have been refused because of lack of space. Suddenly the settlements of the eastern Etzion bloc have discovered that they have become suburbs of Jerusalem, like their siblings to the west.

Now this new reality is ostensibly under threat by the possibility that Shadma, an abandoned military base in Area C which overlooks the new road that connects the eastern part of the bloc to Jerusalem, will be transferred to the Palestinians.

Up until 1967, a Jordanian army base was located at Shadma. Then Israel established military bases of its own, but for the past two years the place has been empty and the settlers' action committees have been waging a fierce battle against the Civil Administration's plan to hand it over to the Palestinians. The latter want to establish there, by means of the Beit Sahur municipality, a neighborhood with a hospital, an amusement park and perhaps also an industrial zone.

The field echelons of the Israel Defense Forces are also opposed to the plan. They fear that the settlements of the eastern part of the bloc will be cut off again. The road, they stress, is less than one kilometer distance from Shadma, in the range of light arms and machine guns.

The struggle has already changed the reality on the ground, to some extent. Nearly every week inhabitants of Har Homa and the Etzion bloc visit the site. They demonstratively ignore the warning sign "Closed Military Zone" that confronts them; they hold picnics, hikes, heritage tours and Torah lessons there, and about two weeks ago they raised an Israeli flag on the water tower.

The struggle for Shadma has engendered unusual cooperation between a Jerusalem neighborhood committee (that of Har Homa, which is overlooked by Shadma) and action committees on behalf of the settlers, between the settlers' establishment (the Etzion bloc regional council and its head Shaul Goldstein) and the anti-establishment action committees headed by Nadia Matar of Women in Green and Arieh and Ditya Yitzhak, and between the leaderships of the eastern and western parts of the bloc, which politicians have often sought to divide.

This struggle has put on the map another point of confrontation between the settlers and the anarchist organizations that are also active at Shadma, in an attempt to ensure that the place will be handed over to the Palestinians.

In Hebron, the encounter between the settlers and the anarchists led to open conflict. Here, everything is still hidden beneath the surface, and only the competing graffiti written by one side and then obliterated by the other, time after time, testifies to the potential for a similar uproar.

At the beginning of this month, a meeting of the Committee for a Jewish Shadma was held at the Gush Etzion community youth, sport and culture center. Shaul Goldstein outlined two stages: the first - prevention of the handover of the place to the Palestinians, and the second - the establishment of a Jewish settlement or outpost on the site.

He noted that Jewish settlement in the Etzion Bloc accounts for only 4 percent of the territory. "Shadma," he asserted, "is part of what is most precious to us."

MK Uri Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party) proposed working vis-a-vis the Defense Ministry, the Central Command and the Shin Bet security service to ensure that they will oppose "the destructive ideas of the Civil Administration."

Har Etzion Yeshiva head Rabbi Yaakov Madan spoke about "daily action, with all our might, in order to succeed in the struggle for the eastern road, which is a struggle for settlement contiguity between Har Homa and the Etzion Bloc."

A distant past

The struggle for Shadma has already engendered the first stirrings of a political lobby, and also a reminder from the distant past: Close to the abandoned military camp, at a place called Beit Betza, traces of the Greek siege on the Hashmoneans have been found. This is where Yehonatan, Shimon and Yohanan fled after the battle in which their brother, Judah Maccabee, was killed.

However, despite the historical connection, the settlers are more interested in the present. Arutz Sheva, the settlers' pirate radio station, reported dramatically a few days ago that "the Israeli flag that was hung on the tall water tower in Shadma is visible from afar, and declares proudly that the place will not be abandoned to the Arab enemy."

The flag is the sign. Shadma is one of the stops on the trans-outpost trip that the outpost youth are holding this week. A happening and a bike ride are planned for the site, and on Wednesday, a marathon of lectures in preparation for the Ninth of Av: from destruction to redemption.

 

3. Petition for Temple Mount Over 2,000 Signatures.  Pass it on!

go up to Har HaBayit
 
it is permitted to go up to Har HaBayit
 Igros Moshe Orach Chiam, Chelek 2, Siman 113

 





Tuesday, July 29, 2008

5768.10.26 cont Israel Land of My Possession. retractions, Residents Judea and Samaria expelled,funds needed for Gush Katif youth book,Pidyon Shvuyim Rivka Meirchik, Halamish brothers,Shdema and Women in Green, Nestles Brazil doesnt recognize Israel?

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Israel the Land of My Possession  corrections and cont.  Please excuse this very long digest.  This is what happens when I don't go on line for 2 days.  I wish I wouldn't have so much to report!

26 Tammuz 5768  
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

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1. OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN: WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?
   Correction. Post not true.

5. Robin's Side note revised

7. ISRAELI COURT EXPELS THREE JEWS FROM WEST BANK WITHOUT TRIAL

8. Appeal for funding for a personal book from the youth of Gush Katif, from Dror Vanunu sent by Helen Freedman

9. Pidyon Shvuyim  - Rivka Meirchik languishing in Prison 4 months. Much in solitary confinement.  No case. Do not stand idly by! Call Israel Embassy and State Dept and your Congressmen.

10. Pidyon Shvuyim - Halamish Brothers languishing in prison for their willingness to defend. IDF turns blind eye and  attempts of self defense met with arrest. Call Israel Embassy and State Dept.

11. Update on Shdema and Women in Green Activities

12. Nestle in Brazil not recognize Israel???? Just Palestine ? Sent by Rafi Rabinowitz

13. ITAMAR  Kids van attacked with stones.  IDF stands by as cars are attacked. Resident shoots in air and is arrested.  Also, sending money to Friends of Itamar without spending money.

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1. OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN: WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

Correction. Post apparently not true. Refer to #1 in previous email.(I still don't like many key Obama advisors. However, I also don't believe in spreading falsehoods.  If Huckabee was running, he'd get my vote. )

Pesach Acemen just sent me this link: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/donations.asp


5. Side note revised

In the previous digest of today, Israel the Land of My Possession, some of the text of my note on  #5 was deleted by accident.  Please refer to that post for the full story.  I am resending my note. I hope it now sounds somewhat better and makes more sense.  

Side Note from Robin Ticker:  I once asked Herb Zweibon Chairman of Afsi why his allies seem to be the Xtian Community in speaking out for our entitlement of Israel, rather than  the established Jewish Organizations.  Why doesn't he try to convince the Jewish organizations to speak out with clarity regarding our entitlement..  He answered "it is very satisfying dealing with the Non Jewish Community".  I understood from his answer the unspoken. 

I asked him to please not give up on the Jews.  I added that unless all of Am Yisroel is worthy of the Land of Israel, it doesn't really matter if we manage to convince the Non Jewish world and all the members of Congress of our entitlement.  If we as a nation reject our precious gift of Israel by giving her away without a protest, and  if we act as if we do not desire the Land and the commandments that require the Land of Israel, than are we worthy of keeping her? 

Why wasn't Sondra video directed to the Jews?

Handing over Judea & Samaria means the certain demise of Israel!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGZHlKapdmE

The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, the OU, the Young Israel and Chabad International have yet to make a public statement protesting a 2 State Solution proposed in 2002?

The Xtians believe in JC.  We do not.  That could be a major problem if they  partner with funding significantly with the Israel Communities. After all, we really do not wish to partner with JC.   Jews living in the Diaspora and in the Land of Israel should partner with Israel communities with strength in numbers, PR and money. After all, it is our birthright. no different than those who are Israeli citizens.  In the time of the redemption, the Nations of the World will bring their gifts to Israel on the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth).However, it seems to me that first Jews must unite in our desire to keep the Land of Israel, accept our status as a Mamlechet Cohanim and strive with all our heart and soul to keep the H-ly Commandments in the Torah.
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7. ISRAELI COURT EXPELS THREE JEWS FROM WEST BANK WITHOUT TRIAL
http://www.israeljustice.com:80/news2.asp?key=142
Monday, July 28, 2008

   JERUSALEM -- An Israeli court has ordered three Jews expelled from the
West Bank without a trial or evidence as part of a military clampdown on
Jewish movement in the region.

     Jerusalem Magistrate Ilta Siskind ordered the three who live in West
Bank Jewish communities, Efrion Oppenheimer, Arieh Davis and Alexander
Ostrovsky, expelled from the region for 90 days despite the lack of a
complainant or evidence or correct identification procedures.

     "Before me is a request to release the suspects on the condition that
they are expelled from Judea and Samaria for the period of 90 days, a bond
and a third party guarantee and that they will appear before the police when
called," Siskind said on July 24. "The expulsion from Judea and Samaria is
until Oct. 10, 2008, except for the area of their homes. The personal bond
and the third party guarantee is set at 10,000 [$2,942] shekels each to
ensure the conditions for their release and they will appear before police
when requested."

     The three and a 17 year-old were arrested on July 23 as they reached the
Jewish community of Maalei Michmas, after they set out for a hike with at
least another six youths from Kochav HaShachar in Samaria. Police said the
other six youths fled and escaped arrest.

     According to the police charge sheet, based on reports from Bedouins and
Palestinians, at least 10 youths in the group were involved in piercing
tractor tires and a water pipe along the way between Kochav Hashachar and
Maalei Michmas. But the first complainant cited on the charge sheet hadn't
made a complaint.

     "The complainant hasn't yet come to complain," police detective Yair
Aharon told Siskind. "But we have his details and he will reach us through
the sheikh."

     Aharon said that the group continued on the hike and vandalized other
tractor wheels and water pipes although, police said, they didn't have any
physical evidence of the damage and had failed to investigate the
complaints.

     "The evidence that we have is that of the complainants themselves who
pointed to the [Jewish] residents," Aharon said. "For example, Ostrovsky was
in the area with his big mixed breed [canani] dog. He was with al the group
but they [Bedoiun] didn't say that he caused any damage but he was with the
others on this 'hike'. Regarding the suspect Davis, he said he didn't do
anything but afterwards, he refused to cooperate [with the investigation]."

     Davis said that the police did not conduct a live identity line-up, or a
photographic identity procedure.

     "They brought a [Bedouin] into the investigation room and he pointed,"
Davis said. "They [police] said because I was part of the group so I was
responsible for what happened."

     The Bedoiun also failed to identify the third suspect as someone who
participated in the alleged vandalism.

     "About Efrion, they said that he was with the others and he had an M-16
[rifle]," Aharon said.

     Defense Attorney Reuven Hamburger asked whether [Efrion] Oppenheimer had
threatened anyone.

     "None of them was identified as someone who punctured tires or
threatened with weapons but everyone said they were in the area," Aharon
said.

     The police detective then advised the magistrate to accept police
recommendations for punishment to deter other young Jews from hiking in
Judea and Samaria, between the Jewish communities and disturbing the
Palestinians and Bedouin.

     "We are speaking about a hike that is organized for the purpose of
causing damage and destruction," Aharon said. "I know that next week there
is going to a similiar exhibition [hike]. I believe that the decision of the
court will have consequences and an influence and they will learn how to
behave because of this decision and if the court will agree to our request,
this will prevent phenomenon like these," Aharon said.

     Israeli civil rights organizations have criticized the police and the
court for not investigating before punishing the suspects.

     "We haven't received a complaint but on the face of it, it appears that
there is a lack of justice," Nirit Moskowitz, spokesperson for the
Association for Civil Rights in Israel, said. "They should investigate
first."

     Left-wing activists also criticized the hastiness with which the army
has recently issued closed military zone orders in an effort to clamp down
on the movement of Jews within Judea and Samaria.

     On July 24, buses carrying young hikers to the march through Judea and
Samaria were stopped at roadblocks by a military order restricting entrance
of Jews who were not residents of Samaria.

     "No person shall pass the roadblock unless he has permission from me or
from someone whom I have authorized," the order issued by Samaria Brigade
Commander, Col.Yitzhak Bar, on his third day in the position, said. "This is
required for security purposes and for maintaining public order."

     The office of Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni, head of central command, denied the
existence of the order but the closure was heavily criticized.

     "It's good that an extreme officer has reduced to the absurd the legal
status that exists in Judea and Samaria whereby hundreds of thousands of
Jews are living under military rule and are subject to his impulsive mood
swings," National Union parliamentarian Benny Elon said.

     The army has recently issued an abundance of closed military zone orders
that has also angered left-wing activists.

     "The army rushes too quickly to issue 'closed military zone orders' and
to prevent the entrance of Israelis into the area," Yariv Oppeneheimer, head
of Peace Now, said.

8. Appeal for funding for a personal book from the youth of Gush Katif, from Dror Vanunu sent by Helen Freedman

Dear friends,
    Dror Vanunu, Coordinator of Events for the former Gush Katif communities, has just informed me that the young people who grew up in Gush Katif, and were expelled from their beautiful homes and communities three years ago, have joined together to create their own personal book about their experiences and feelings. Dror assures me the book is remarkable, and I have every reason to believe he is not exaggerating.
    NOW THE BOOK NEEDS TO BE PUBLISHED AT A COST OF $12,000.  Can you contribute some part of that yourself? Do you have any ideas or suggestions for Dror about contacts he might reach?
    There are dedication opportunities - and schools might be especially interested in partnering with the project since their own students could benefit from a relationship with the youth of Gush Katif.
    If there is any way you can help, as quickly as possible, please contact Dror Vanunu directly, since I will be on my way to Israel tomorrow, Tuesday, July 29. I plan to be at the 3 year commemorative service marking the expulsion from Gush Katif, which will be held on Wednesday, August 6 at Kissufim Junction, and then again at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem on August 7. It is hoped that the books would be ready in time for the ceremonies, and could be a meaningful part of the events.
    One can understand how important it is to the psyche and well being of the GK youngsters who have worked on this project to have a completed product. Please help in any way you can.
    Dror can be reached by email at: gkatif@netvision.net.il and by telephone at: 011-972-54-777-5662. My cell phone in Israel, starting July 30, will be: 052-601-4083.
Many thanks
Helen Freedman

9. Pidyon Shvuyim  - Rivka Meirchik languishing in Prison 4 months. Much in solitary confinement. Do not stand idly by! Call Israel Embassy and State Dept and your Congressmen.

July 27, 2008

Pidion Shvuim Alert:
No. 18
 

Police Prosecutors Use The Trial Of Rivka Meirchik To Prove Land Ownership Of Shvut Ami By An Arab


    Police prosecutors in the trial of Rivka Meirchik, languishing for a
fourth month in jail, have used the case to prove Arab land ownership of the Jewish community of Shvut Ami despite the ruling by Kfar Saba Magistrate Clara Rejiniano that the indictment does not include trespassing.
    In the latest development, the army reportedly fenced off the area of
Shvut Ami in mid-July and declared it a closed military zone. Eye witnesses told Israeljustice.com that signs outside the fence read "Private Property," and "Closed Military Zone." Eyewitnesses also said that the army had burnt all the furnishings of the house and the synagogue belonging to the Jewish
residents.
    Police prosecutor Nili Dayan brought witnesses during Meirchik's trial to prove that Shvut Ami belongs to Badria Amar, who testified that neither she nor her family have lived in the structure on the land for four decades. She also testfied that they had not tended the land, include olive and pomegranate trees, for more than 11 years.     Amar is the complainant against Meirchik, who was arrested by the police
on April 2 in Shvut Ami. But Amar testified that she last visited the land
in October 2007.     "She's [Amar] the complainant," Dayan said on July 9. "We're talking about land that is not registered. In order to prove trespassing, we need to prove ownership and the physical presence [of Amar] or not does not affect this. I don't want it to come to that [to a Supreme Court hearing on ownership]."
    During the trial, the prosecution tried to prove Amar's ownership of the land with Jordanian maps dated to the early 1930's and Jordanian possession tax documents presented by an expert witness from the military prosecutor's office, Rinat Levine.
    "I have no complaints [against Meirchik]," Amar said in
cross-examination. "If there's a trial, why do I need complaints?"
    The defense has said that the prosecution used the trial of Ms. Meirchik to set a precedent to indict Jews living in Shvut Ami for trespassing.
    "They took this complainant [Amar] and tried to wrap her in this
incident that she knew nothing about," Public Defender Aliza Kashkash, said. "All her complaints to the authorities were previous complaints [against other people]."
    "Find a way to bring all these people to trial," Kashkash told Dayan.
    Dayan responded that she was using Ms. Meirchik's trial to pave the way for multiple indictments.
    "This is exactly the way," Dayan said.
    Police have also charged Meirchik with assaulting a police officer and disturbing the police after officers ordered Meirchik and four other young women to leave Shvut Ami.
    Police Commander Shmuel Hirshler testified that he announced to the girls that this was a closed military zone and that they were in violation of a military order. But Kashkash said that the order was invalid because it was dated Feb. 21 and the fact that it was not presented to the girls.
    "At any stage, they never presented the order and there's a problem with this because of the date," Kashkash said. "So it [the eviction] was
illegal."
    The prosecution concurred that there were problems with the legality of the eviction order.
    "That's why we didn't indict on violating the order," Dayan said.
    With regard to the assault charges, Kashkash said that the police
officers gave conflicting testimony as to where and how the alleged assault occurred..
    Ms. Meirchik is also charged with refusing to cooperate with police
identification procedures including fingerprinting and photographing.
    "The defendant chose not to testify, to remain silent and to ignore the authority of the court for ideological reasons," Kashkash said. "This must be taken into account."
    Ms. Meirchik, who refused to cooperate with police conditions for her release and is being held until the conclusion of judicial proceedings, has already spent close to four months in the Neve Tirza prison, most of it in solitary confinement.
    The next hearing is scheduled for August 6.
    As a first step, we request that you telephone -- rather than e-mail --
the Israeli Embassy or the Israeli consulate nearest you and demand to know why Rivka is still in prison.
    The embassy's phone number is 202-364-5500. Stress, that as an American citizen, you can ask the State Department to investigate what you feel is clearly a human rights violation.
    Now, we are asking you to call your member of Congress and raise the issue of Rivka Meirchik. We also ask you to call the
State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and inform them of Rivka and demand an investigation. Tell the
department officer you have also raised  these cases with your member of Congress. The State Department's main numbers are 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339.
    The Olmert government, with an approval rating of near zero, has refused any accountability to the Israeli people and fears only the Bush
administration. Unless we act now, there will be many more Rivkas in jail.
    If you agree with this, please act quickly. What could be more important than winning the release of a Jewish child imprisoned for loving her country
and people?

With Love of Israel ,
Datya Itzhaki

10. Pidyon Shvuyim - Halamish Brothers languishing in prison for their willingness to defend. IDF turns blind eye and any attempts of self defense met with arrest. Call Israel Embassy and State Dept.

July 24, 2008

Pidion Shvuim Alert:
No. 17

Halamish Brothers Petition Supreme Court Against President Peres

    The two Jewish security guards, imprisoned for shooting in the air to
disperse a group of Bedouins who had infiltrated their community, have
petitioned the president to decide immediately on their request for a
pardon.
    Over two months ago, the Justice Ministry approved the pardon request
for Dan and Yitzhak Halamish, two brothers sentenced to seven and eight
months respectively and sent the request to the office of President Shimon
Peres.
    On June 1, the president's office sent a letter to attorney Dov Even-Or
confirming that the pardon request had reached an advanced stage.
    "Your clients' request is being dealt with in the advanced stages,"
presidential aide on pardons, Ms. Talia Sukari-Lina, said.
    Even-Or said his petition includes a request that the president be
forced to answer all pardon requests within 30 days.
    "50 days have passed since this letter [from the president]," Even-Or
said, "and still the president hasn't announced his decision."
    In his petition, Even-Or stressed that the president should be limited
to 90 days and if he still hasn't decided, the pardon should be
automatically approved, especially in the case of the Halamish
brothers who have spent two months in jail and paid a court-imposed
fine of $2,353 [8,000 shekels] to the Bedouins.
    "The request from the petitioners for a pardon was presented in March,"
Even-Or said. "It's not reasonable that that they are sitting in jail while
the president struggles with a decision on their request."
    On May 4, Supreme Court Judge Salim Jubran rejected the previous appeal
by the Halamish brothers to postpone judicial proceedings until the
president considered their application for a pardon and ordered them
immediately to jail on May 5. Jubran is the same judge who rejected their
original right to appeal the conviction. The Supreme Court then extended the
beginning of the sentence to May 20.
    The brothers appealed to the Supreme Court after the president's office
advised the brothers to apply for a stay of proceedings, granted to a third
defendant, Baruch Feldbaum.
    The Halamish brothers, as part of their reserve military service, were
members of a security response team organized, equipped and trained by the
Israeli Army to help protect their community and surrounding region from
Arab attack. On Feb. 21, 2004, the brothers were summoned by another
security officer, Feldbaum, to help expel Bedouins who trespassed into the
Jewish community of Sdei Bar and were encamped near a student dormitory.
Bedouin tribes in the area had been deemed responsible for the killing of
several Jews in the area in previous years.
    Under the direction of Feldbaum, the Halamish brothers ordered the
bedouin squatters to leave. The Bedouins refused, and about 20 of them
approached the Jewish security officers with sticks and rocks. Feldbaum shot
toward the ground when the Bedouins continued to move closer.
    The response team later said that it shot in self-defense. An army medic
who arrived at the scene determined that nobody was struck by the gunfire,
an assertion disputed by the Bedouins.
    At that point, the military abandoned its own security team and allowed
a police investigation. Although police refused to conduct ballistic tests
or even a lineup of suspects, the brothers were convicted of shooting toward
the Bedouins. Dan was sentenced to seven months in prison; Yitzhak, to eight
months.
    An Israeli appeals court said ballistic tests or a lineup weren't
necessary. The word of the Bedouins -- who refused to show up to police
headquarters to identify their purported assailants -- was enough.
    The court also rejected a recommendation by the probation officer for
community service. The three-judge panel said it wanted the Halamish
brothers to go to jail to serve as a lesson to others.
     As a first step, we request that you telephone -- rather than e-mail --
the Israeli Embassy or the Israeli consulate nearest you and demand to know
why the Halamish brother are still in prison.
    The embassy's phone number is 202-364-5500.
Stress, that as an American citizen, you can ask the State Department to
investigate what you feel is clearly a human rights violation.
    Now, we are asking you to call your member of Congress and raise the
issue of Dan and Yitzhak Halamish. We also ask you to call the
State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and
inform them of the brothers and demand an investigation. Tell the
department officer you have also raised  these cases with your member of
Congress. The State Department's main numbers are 202-647-4000 or
1-800-877-8339.
    The Olmert government, with an approval rating of near zero, has refused
any accountability to the Israeli people and fears only the Bush
administration. Unless we act now, there will be many more Dani and Itziks
in jail.
    If you agree with this, please act quickly. What could be more important
than winning the release of a Jewish child imprisoned for loving her country
and people?

With Love of Israel ,
Datya Itzhaki

11. Update on Shdema and Women in Green Activities
July 2008

Dear Friends,

This email is to update you on our latest activities.

Women in Green have never been as active as in the past year.

Among many other struggles, we are at the forefront of the battle for a Jewish Shdema. Shdema is an abandoned Israel Defense Forces Army Camp, located on Israeli land, close to Har Choma on the Jerusalem - Eastern Gush Etzion Highway. To our shock we found out that the Olmert-Livni government is planning to hand over this strategic area to the Palestinian Authority to build an Arab neighborhood, thus endangering both Jerusalem and strangling Gush Etzion.

Women in Green initiated the struggle for a Jewish Shdema, organizing both the local Action Committees and our wonderful youth, both leading them into continued action and financing the entire struggle.

Our efforts have born fruit. Members of Knesset and other public figures have joined in the opposition to hand over Shdema to the Arab enemy.

Over the past week we have come, in small groups, to Shdema on a daily basis only to find out that the area had been declared to be a "closed military zone". This did not deter us, at the contrary. Ironically, thanks to the order calling the area a "closed military zone", no Arabs or anarchists were allowed up there and thus Shdema has basically been in Jewish hands for a week.

On Friday we organized a more massive arrival in Shdema.

Despite the order declaring the area a "closed military zone", tens of lovers of Israel, men, women, youth and children managed to arrive to Shdema this past Friday morning making it clear to all that nobody will tell us where we can and where we cant go and walk in the Land of Israel. No doubt the authorities did not expect such a large turn-out. After a nice Israeli brunch we listened to a shiur (lecture) on parashat shavua.

In addition, an athletic youth managed one again to climb onto the high water tower and raise the Israeli flag, proudly declaring to the Arab enemy in the area: the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people and we will not allow anyone to take it from us.

Thank G-d we see that the struggle for a Jewish Shdema is growing with more and more people joining.

Until we succeed to settle Shdema permanently, we have to continually return to prevent the Arabs, with the help of Israeli leftists and international anarchists, from once again taking over.

Parallel to the struggle for a Jewish Shdema, Women in Green continue with its chizuk (strengthening) trips to the outposts, and many other related activities connected to fighting for the survival of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel.

In addition, our major yearly event is approaching:

The Women in Green Tisha b'Av March around the Walls of Jerusalem's Old City in which thousands of Jews participate, religious and secular, young and old, both new olim and natives, all united in their love for our homeland.

This year, more than ever, when there is talk about giving away parts of our G-d given Biblical Homeland and our Capital, we must show the world and our own government that "For Jerusalem's Sake we will not be silent"! The Jewish People must continually defend the Land of Israel and Jerusalem.

For those who have not yet been part of this exciting Tisha B'Av event, we put up on our website a short movie about last year's March, to give you a feeling of the importance of this moving event. Click on http://www.womeningreen.org and then click on the movie to see it. On that same page you will see a copy of this years flyer.

We hope you can join us this year in person to take part in this unforgettable uplifting experience.

This year Tisha b'Av falls on Motsaei Shabbat, August 9th, 2008.

The flyer reads as follows:

Walking around the Walls
of Jerusalem's Old City

Protecting the Land of Israel! Protecting Jerusalem!

Commemorating 2594 years since the destruction of the First Temple; 1938 years since the destruction of the Second Temple, 26 years since the destruction of Yamit and 3 years since the destruction of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria.

TISHA B'AV EVENING

Motsaei Shabbat Chazon, August 9th, 2008
EICHA READING & MARCH AROUND THE WALLS

At 21:45 pm ­ Eicha reading at Safra Square. Bring a Megilat Eicha, a flag and a flashlight.

At 22:30 pm ­ Our Walk begins, led by Rabbi Israel Ariel from Machon Hamikdash, MK Prof. Arieh Eldad, Atty Elyakim Haetzni and Dudu Elharar. We will pass the New Gate, Damascus Gate and the Flower gate. At the Lion's Gate we will assemble to proclaim, in the words of Eicha, that we will not allow "our inheritance to be turned over to strangers" and pray "to renew our days as of old". We will end our Walk at the Dung gate near the Kotel. We have a police permit. Come with your family and friends and take part in a Tisha' B'Av evening to be remembered!

Women For Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
POB 7352 Jerusalem 91072
http://www.womeningreen.org/ wfit2@womeningreen.org

------------------------------------------------------------

Dear friends, we turn to you again to help us continue our activities. You are the ones who realize how important our struggle is. Not enough people understand that "activism" costs money on a constant basis. Unlike the anti-Jewish and anti-Zionistic leftist organizations in Israel who are constantly funded by the European Union and other Israel-haters, we only have you, our loyal friends, to count on.

The struggle for Shdema is a microcosm of all that is wrong in Israel with a government which hands over its own land to the enemy. Please help us continue the struggle for a Jewish Shdema!

The yearly March around the Walls is a vow of loyalty of the People of Israel to the Land of Israel and to Jerusalem as its undivided united capital. Help us repeat this march again this year.

Please send your donation (all currencies accepted) to:

WOMEN IN GREEN, POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072 ISRAEL

US citizens only: For tax deductible donations please write your U.S. dollar donation to THE CENTRAL FUND FOR ISRAEL. You must indicate that the donation is for Women in Green and send it to:
Women in Green, POB 7352, Jerusalem, 91072.

To make a contribution through Paypal please go to our website http://www.womeningreen.org and click on the Paypal logo

With Love for Israel,

Ruth and Nadia Matar
Women in Green


=============================================
Women For Israel's Tomorrow  (Women in Green)
POB 7352, Jerusalem 91072, Israel
Tel: 972-2-624-9887 Fax: 972-2-624-5380
mailto:wfit2@womeningreen.org
http://www.womeningreen.org

To make a contribution through Paypal, go to: http://www.womeningreen.org
and click on the Paypal button

12. Nestle in Brazil not recognize Israel???? Just Palestine ? Sent by Rafi Rabinowitz
Rafi Rabinowits sent me an email in Spanish that  tells the story of a South American Jew who wanted to send Brazilian chocolates from the Nestlé Corp. to a relative in Israel.  Kashrut not withstanding (as far as I know the Garoto chocolates and all Nestlé products made in Brazil do not have a hechsher!), "Israel" was not listed in the company's directory for direct shipment, but rather they had "Palestine" -- and shipped to Ashdod, in the "Israel" section of "Palestine".
Nestlé is a major international food corporation. 

13. ITAMAR  Kids van attacked with stones.  IDF stands by as cars are attacked. Resident shoots in air and is arrested.

Dearest friends how are you all. Here is a short Itamar update I also posted it on our web site.  http://www.shechem.org/itamar/eindex.html Shabbat Shalom Moshe Goldsmith.

This week the Itamar campers were returning from their welding course on the Gilad road and were attacked by a mob of Arabs that were rioting. The Itamar youth director who was driving his van and had his windows smashed. Thank G-d he managed to back up and get the teenagers out of danger. One camper was hit with a boulder in his arm. By the way the camper happened to be my son Efrayim. Lucky he is pretty tough! Thank G-d he was only bruised. The army was there and was hesitant about responding. Unfortunately, they did not stop the Jewish cars from getting attacked. Many other cars were hit as well, in one instance the Arab mob tried to pull the driver out of his car. Finally, one brave man shot in the air with his pistol and was later arrested by the Israeli police. Is this not absurdity? See picture of broken windshield on website.

 

ONE SMALL REQUEST THE IS SOMETHING A FRIEND OF MINE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION IT IS CALLED GOOD SEARCH. IF YOU REGISTER FRIENDS OF ITAMAR EVERY TIME YOU USE THEIR SEARCH ENGINE A SMALL AMOUNT WILL BE DONATED TO ITAMAR. SO PLEASE SIGN UP THERE ARE NO STRINGS ATTACHED IT IS A GREAT THING TO DO FOR US PASS THE WORD AROUND. HERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT A FRIEND OF MINE SENT ME:

 

Hi, guys! Go to Goodsearch.com and your web searches will earn money for Friends Of Itamar. It's easy! Just type your search words into the search box, then type friends of Itamar into the box designating the nonprofit of your choice and click the verify button. You'll see a line of words in red telling you can now search and make money for your organization. Then click on the search engine button and off you go! Make sure you always search this way and you will be creating Tzaddaka for Itamar.


Use GoodSearch to help support the charity of your choice.

Raise money for your favorite charity or school just by searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch - www.goodsearch.com - powered by Yahoo!




 





5768.10.26 Israel the Land of My Possession. Obama ,ZFA, Michelle Nevada, David Wilder, Sondra Oster Baras utube, interfaith dialog cancelled

bs"d

Israel  the Land of My Possession.  A digest of articles in the spirit of Calev Ben Yefunah and Yehoshua Ben Nun!  Oloh Naaleh Veyarashnu Osah Ki Yachol Nuchal La!  Bamidbar 13:30

26 Tamuz 5768
Tuesday, 29 July 2008

1. OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN: WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

2. The Zionist Freedom Alliance: Pro-Israel Revolution on Campus - Arutz7 article (Pro Judea and Samaria as well!)

3. The Covenant of Peace   By Michelle Nevada - A must read

4. Yitzchak Herskovitz claims ownership to his property in spite of  squatters and  hundreds of thousands of shekels in legal fees, court expenses, investigation and expert research of their documents. by David Wilder

5. Sandra Oster Baras of the Shomron - a must see 5 minute utube video of a pioneer settler, lover of Zion and Eretz Yisroel in the Shomron.  Unfortunately it is directed to Christian Friends of Israel Communities rather than Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah.

6.
  Interfaith dialog canceled. Anti-Darwinists turned away by Israeli academia  - Hebrew Univ. (Pro Darwin means anti Creationism) 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN: WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

By MAUREEN DOWD

Published: June 29, 2008
Washington Post


OBAMA'S TROUBLING INTERNET FUND RAISING

Certainly the most interesting and potentially devastating phone call I have received during this election cycle came this week from one of the Obama's campaign internet geeks.  These are the staffers who devised Obama's internet fund raising campaign which raised in the neighborhood of $200 million so far.  That is more then twice the total funds raised by any candidate in history – and this was all from the internet campaign.

What I learned from this insider was shocking, but I guess we shouldn't be surprised that when it comes to fund raising there simply are no rules that can't be broken and no ethics that prevail.

 Obama's internet campaign started out innocently enough with basic e-mail networking , lists saved from previous party campaigns and from supporters who visited any of the Obama campaign web sites.

Small contributions came in from these sources and the internet campaign staff  were more than pleased by the results.

 Then, about two months into the campaign the daily contribution intake multiplied.  Where was it coming from?  One of the web site security monitors began to notice the bulk of the contributions were clearly coming in from overseas internet service providers and at the rate and frequency of transmission it was clear these donations were "programmed" by a very sophisticated user.

While the security people were not able to track most of the sources due to firewalls and other blocking devices put on these contributions, they were able to collate the number of contributions that were coming in seemingly from individuals but the funds were from only a few credit card accounts and bank electronic funds transfers.  The internet service providers (ISP) they were able to trace were from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries. One of the banks used for fund transfers was also located in Saudi Arabia.

Another concentrated group of donations was traced to a Chinese ISP with a similar pattern of limited credit card charges.

It became clear that these donations were very likely coming from sources other than American voters.  This was discussed at length within the campaign and the decision was made that none of these donations violated campaign financing laws.

It was also decided that it was not the responsibility of the campaign to audit these millions of contributions as to the actual source (specific credit card number or bank transfer account numbers) to insure that none of these internet contributors exceeded the legal maximum donation on a cumulative basis of many small donations.  They also found the record keeping was not complete enough to do it anyway.

This is a shocking revelation.

We have been concerned about the legality of "bundling" contributions after the recent exposure of illegal bundlers but now it appears we may have an even greater problem.

I guess we should have been somewhat suspicious when the numbers started to come out.  We were told (no proof offered) that the Obama internet contributions were from $10.00 to $25.00 or so.



If the $200,000,000 is right, and the average contribution was $15.00, that would mean over 13 million individuals made contributions?  That would also be 13 million contributions that would need to be processed.  How did all that happen?



I believe the Obama campaign's internet fund raising needs a serious, in depth investigation and audit.  It also appears the whole question of internet fund raising needs investigation by the legislature and perhaps new laws to insure it complies not only with the letter of these laws but the spirit as well.

2. The Zionist Freedom Alliance: Pro-Israel Revolution on Campus

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126853#replies

by Ze'ev Ben Yechiel

Over the last couple of years, the Zionist Freedom Alliance (www.zfa.org.il) has been slowly taking American college campuses by storm with a message of Jewish rights not heard for many decades. Led by veteran IDF soldiers and activists in Israel, the ZFA presents Zionism to the youth as a revolutionary struggle for national liberation.

[video:123314]
Can't see player? Click here for video of Israel Liberation Week on Hofstra Campus

ZFA: "We Have a Right to Live in Freedom"
 


Unlike most pro-Israel advocacy organizations that present Israel as a democracy or focus on the Jewish state's willingness to surrender territory, ZFA speaks of Israel as a Middle Eastern nation with a legitimate moral and historic right to its land.

"We tell young people about the fight for freedom from British rule," says ZFA leader Yehuda HaKohen. "And we explain how we are still fighting against nearly the entire world for our right to live freely in the whole of our country. Educating young people to the history of our struggle creates a paradigm shift in how they view our situation today. If people know two basic facts – that this really is our country and that we fought the British Empire to free it – their understanding of the Middle East conflict is revolutionized. Suddenly the Jewish people are the natives in the story and international pressure to shrink our borders is an act of Western imperialism against an indigenous population."

ZFA speaks to Diverse Crowd


HaKohen currently lives in Jerusalem but grew up in New York City and often travels to the United States to organize ZFA activities. While some mainstream Jewish groups focus on Israel's security needs,  HaKohen's message to campuses is one of Jewish rights. "We must make the world understand that the Jewish nation, like any other nation on the planet, has a right to self-determination in our country. Not in half of our country, but in our whole country. We have nothing against any other peoples, but the world today has no shortage of Arab states. 77% of Palestine (the territory east of the Jordan River) was made into an Arab state, and we are at least entitled to the remaining 23% that was left us by international law to be a Jewish state. No power on earth has the moral authority to rob us of our land."

ZFA Warrior in Israeli Flag: "Nobody Can Take it From Us"


HaKohen is no stranger to bold declarations, having repeated the same simple message on campuses across the United States and Canada. While other pro-Israel organizations attempt to rationalize or depreciate the stridently nationalistic aspects of Zionism in order to court the favor of high-profile skeptics and to make their message palatable to wealthy and influential benefactors, HaKohen says that his group has learned out of necessity to work on a shoestring budget rather than alter their message. ZFA activists take no pains in concealing their belief in the unequivocal right of the Jewish nation to the entire Land of Israel.  And the movement puts forward this message in a clear and simple yet powerful language that resonates with young people across North American campuses.

ZFA: "Israel Demands Justice"


The movement includes an eclectic mix of activists from various backgrounds. When asked what stream of Zionism (Religious, Socialist, Revisionist) they belong to, HaKohen calls the ZFA "Revolutionary Zionism".

"History is full of great revolutions. And although many of these revolutions have succeeded in impacting the future course of world history, all of them pale in comparison to the Zionist revolution," HaKohen argues. "Only the Zionist revolution aspires to ingather a scattered nation from the four corners of the earth, to revive a dead language to everyday use, to liberate a homeland from under a mighty world empire and to create a moral society that will serve as an example to the human race. Zionism is the greatest revolution in the history of man, and the ZFA sees it as our mission to drive the revolution forward."

Zionist Revolution T-Shirt: Close-Up
ZFA on the March

Politically Correct
Having been raised and educated in the West, many ZFA leaders are sensitive to the reality of the political culture that dominates American campuses. Therefore, the movement is careful not to align with "Right-wing" campus groups, and instead targets students active with the Left. HaKohen defends this position by arguing that "there is nothing 'Right-wing' or 'Conservative' about wanting to keep our homeland free from foreign rule. If we are truly the indigenous natives in the conflict, then our cause should really be championed by liberal students everywhere. Especially since the Bush administration that occupies Iraq and imposes a Patriot Act on the American people is the very same administration pushing to ethnically cleanse the Jewish people from portions of our homeland."

Kosha Dillz & ZFA on Summer Stage, NYC


It is for this reason that ZFA avoids anti-Arab rhetoric and instead focuses its attacks on Western powers and global corporations who have special interests in forcing Israel to surrender land. The group defends this position by claiming that if the Arabs remained the security problem that they are but all international pressure would cease, Israel would immediately take the necessary measures to defend herself and ensure long term survival. But if the Arabs in Judea and Samaria would somehow disappear, the Western world would most likely find another excuse to shrink and weaken Israel. The true enemy of Zionism, according to the ZFA , is not radical Islam but globalization, which seeks to amalgamate continents into unified blocks and threatens Israel's existence as a small Jewish state situated in a mostly Arab region. ZFA activists argue this to be the true motivation behind international pressure on Israel to make concessions and that the eventual goal of Western governments is for Israel not to exist.

While this message has angered many American Jewish groups who tend to see Israel and America as allies in a global war against Islamic terrorism, it has actually earned the ZFA support from students who oppose globalization and America's War in Iraq. And it has neutralized anti-Israel voices who accuse "Zionists" of pushing America into a war that benefits Israel. In fact, most ZFA leaders oppose the Iraq War and see it as an aggressive act of neo-imperialism. And many of the students joining the ZFA today are young Jews who view themselves on the political Left. HaKohen attributes this support not only to his group's unique message, but also to their efforts to reach beyond the Jewish community.

ZFA speaks in front of Diverse Crowd


Many ZFA programs, including the "Israel Liberation Week" event, is geared towards promoting Jewish rights on college campuses and educating the general student public to the justice of the Zionist struggle. "Israel Liberation Week" includes a hip hop concert (featuring Jewish and non-Jewish artists), speeches, information campaigns, historical films and an art exhibit honoring the Jewish underground fighters who were executed by the British administration during the struggle for Jewish statehood. By securing strong support from non-Jewish students on many campuses, the ZFA makes it socially acceptable and desirable for Jewish students to support the Zionist cause.

Israel Liberation Week Logo


HaKohen believes that if young American liberals really understood the history and reality of events in the Middle East, they would naturally support Israel's rights to Judea and Samaria. The problem is that the anti-Israel propaganda and often even the pro-Israel propaganda have worked to present the Jewish state as a Western power occupying indigenous Arab natives. HaKohen argues that nothing can be further from the truth. "The Jewish nation is a Middle Eastern nation and the true native sons of our land. As a result of an injustice perpetrated against us by the Roman Empire, many of us suffered a long and difficult exile. But now we've come home. Israel is our country and like any other people we have a right to freedom in our country."

The ZFA chose a kafiyah (Middle Eastern head dress) with blue Jewish stars as a symbol of the Zionist revolution. The "Jewish kafiyah," as well as t-shirts and other items, will be available on the ZFA website later in July when they launch their online store.

HaKohen, wearing a kafiya with blue Jewish stars, with Activist

The ZFA's cutting edge message and methods have proven successful in taking the wind out of anti-Israel sails. But the movement is small and has been unsuccessful at persuading more established Jewish groups to follow their revolutionary lead. Therefore, says HaKohen, the movement works slowly, one campus at a time, to promote the Zionist revolution as a politically correct struggle for social justice.

Zionist Freedom Alliance Logo


For more information, visit the ZFA online at http://www.zfa.org.il

Comment on This Story

3. The Covenant of Peace   By Michelle Nevada
http://israeljewishnews.blogspot.com/2008/07/covenant-of-peace.html
 
We read the parasha, and too often we are distracted from the main point of the story by our own internal monologue.  We sit in the synagogue and we think, "Oh, here's that story. Pinchas.  Right.  The guy with the spear who killed some prostitute or something.  Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Pinchas was a bit hot headed. Moshe thought he was bad, G-d thought he was good. We know. OK, when does the Kiddush start."  Let's be real.  A lot of the time, the Parasha just doesn't seem to relate much to our lives.  Except for right about now.
 
Right about now, just after beating my head against the wall about the prisoner swap and the stupidity of the Israeli government in agreeing to it, just after having my guts ripped out by the image of two black coffins where two young healthy men should have been, just after I hear the cheering of terrorist sympathizers and victory speeches by murderous arabs and their equally evil leaders, just about now I am thinking—where is Pinchas?  What happened to THAT guy?  Why can't we get him back right about now?  
 
Normally, I would feel a little guilty for wishing that we had Pinchas in our midst.  Every time I am there for the reading of Parashat Pichas, I hear some rabbi go on about how the single-mindedness of Pinchas was OK, but it wasn't the best course of action.  I am told continually that we shouldn't be like Pinchas.  After all, we are told, he was too zealous.  Rabbis explain to us that he was passed over as the next leader in line after Moshe because of his actions, and the job went to Joshua instead.  We are told that Pinchas just wasn't the type of person to lead a nation.
 
In order to further justify their teachings about Pinchas, the rabbis focus upon the argument that ensued after Pinchas killed Zimri and Kosbi.  The people were divided over whether or not Pinchas was a hero or a murderer. The divide was so great, and the argument about Pinchas so heated, that G-d had to intervene:

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Pinchas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen has turned My anger away from the children of Israel by his zealously avenging Me among them, so that I did not destroy the children of Israel because of My zeal. Therefore, say, "I hereby give him My covenant of peace. It shall be for him and for his descendants after him [as] an eternal covenant of kehunah, because he was zealous for his God and atoned for the children of Israel."

It's at that point that I think to myself, "Maybe it wasn't that Pinchas was too hot headed and too passionate to lead Israel-- maybe it was that we weren't hot headed and passionate enough to deserve him as our leader."  Maybe we weren't worthy of a man like Pinchas.  
 
Yes, Joshua got to lead the nation, but Pinchas got a Covenant with G-d--the Covenant of Peace, no less.
 
Why isn't this Covenant the important part of the story?  Why don't we focus on the fact that there were very few Covenants made in Torah, and they were very serious moments in Jewish history. By my count, there were only four Covenants made with humanity in the Torah: the Covenant of Noah; the Covenant of Avraham; the Covenant of the Torah with B'nei Israel; and the Covenant with Pinchas, the Covenant of Peace.
 
Why isn't the Covenant of Peace as important for Jews to follow as the Covenant of Avraham? What is it about this Covenant that makes us so squeamish and so willing to forget that it even exists?
 
I sincerely believe that the Covenant of Peace was given to Pinchas because he was not willing to compromise.  He knew what was right, and he knew what was wrong, and he wasn't going to try to find some middle ground.  He acted upon his convictions.  It wasn't like he didn't have any patience at all.  He watched as the Moabite women were sent to Israel to seduce the men away from G-d.  He witnessed the continuing downward spiral of the morality of B'nei Israel.  He had seen how the people were being turned away from G-d, and he saw how those in charge were avoiding the problem rather than dealing with it—sitting in front of the tent of meeting weeping while the people of Israel began to drop from Plague.
 
While preserving a meaningless peace, inaction had chipped away at the foundations of Israel. Finally, Pinchas knew the time was right to stop looking the other way. He got his spear and solved the problem in one moment:
 
He went after the Israelite man into the chamber and drove [it through] both of them; the Israelite man, and the woman through her stomach, and the plague ceased from the children of Israel.

In performing a single act of selfless devotion to G-d and the rule of law, Pinchas saved the Jewish people from G-d's wrath.  In choosing to kill, he saved countless lives.
 
I wish we had Pinchas now.  I wish that Pinchas had been in the truck with the terrorist Kuntar when it was revealed that the bodies in the coffins were our young men.  
 
But he wasn't.
 
We are still arguing about the need for action.  We are still weeping before the tent of meeting and refusing to act.  We are still maintaining a meaningless peace while Israel moves daily toward annihilation.  Isn't it time we started to act like Pinchas, and became worthy of the Covenant of Peace?

4. Yitzchak Herskovitz claims ownership to his property in spite of  squatters and  hundreds of thousands of shekels in legal fees, court expenses, investigation and expert research of their documents.

David Wilder
July 17, 2008

Yitzhak Herskovitz

The Talmud in the tractate Brachot teaches us that three prizes are obtained via hardship: Torah, the Next World, and Eretz Yisrael. Yitzhak Herskovitz has first-hand experience with the adversity involved in redeeming and settling Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel.

R' Yitzchak made aliyah over 20 years ago. A carpenter by trade, he remodeled the lift he used to transport his belongings to Israel into a wonderful home in Kiryat Arba. But a home outside Hebron wasn't enough to quench his thirst for settling our holy land. Back in 1988 he began proceedings to purchase a home in south Jerusalem, near Gilo, today called Givat HaMatos, bordering a neighborhood called by the Arabs, Beit Tsafafa. 

 The transaction took a few years to finalize but in 1992 he received the papers and the property was his.

 Almost.   But not quite.

 That's because his new home had visitors who had no plans to leave. Arab squatters, the Salach clan had moved in and the new Jewish owner of the property didn't impress them. They stayed.

 Yitzchak Herskovitz did what any good citizen would do. He went to the police and eventually to the courts. That's where the case has remained for the past sixteen years.

 During the first Magistrate court proceedings, experts proved beyond any doubt that the papers presented by the Arabs, purporting to support their claims, to be forgeries. After years and years of court sessions, the judge ruled in Herskovitz' favor. An order was issued demanding that the police remove the illegal residents from the property. Over the years some seven eviction notices have been issued. But the Salach clan is still there. The police, despite the court order, refused to expel the illegal squatters.

 Following Herskovitz' victory the Arabs appealed to a Jerusalem District Court, claiming that they owned the property. The judge decided not only to hear the appeal, but also to retry the case from the very beginning, forcing Herskovitz to keep paying an attorney and bring back all his past witnesses for a second round of court sessions.

 Herskovitz' attorney, Ms. Anat Ben-Dror explained that the original court verdict did not rule on ownership of the property, rather regarded the case as an 'eviction hearing.' The Arabs, after losing the first case, then filed an 'ownership suit,' and the judge fell into the trap they set for him and began hearing the case for a second time.

 Herskovitz pointed out that when the Arabs made a verbal claim of ownership twelve years ago, the Magistrate Court judge told them in no uncertain terms: 'if you claim ownership, file a claim in the District Court which has authority to rule on such an issue.' The fact that they did not follow the judge's instructions then basically proved that they themselves knew that they had no case. 

 Not too long ago R' Yitzchak won a small victory in court. The judge ruled that the Arabs would have to deposit all back rent as well as a monetary bond covering future costs, in order for him to cancel the eviction notice issued and still standing against them. However, as of this writing they still have not paid the money, and are still living in the house.

Yitzhak Herskovitz has himself authored a number of documents concerning his property:

" I spent 15 years of my life in court. I spent hundreds of thousands of shekels in legal fees, court expenses, investigation and expert research of their documents, which the police crime laboratory and my hand writing expert found to be fabricated. All of this just to pursue justice.

The police do not enforce the law when it comes to Arabs. Should I not be upset when I see and feel the injustice of this?

I understand that there are squatter's rights when they are legitimate. But when they are illegitimate, that person is a trespasser. A trespasser is a criminal. He should be put in jail so the public will know that trespassers go to jail.

I do not believe a person can fathom the pain of what trespassing does to me. The restraint that I bear goes beyond comprehension. I have been told by many not to trust the Israeli courts. I now understand why. It goes without saying: the courts and the government are responsible to protect the property rights of their citizens.

This is the primary function of the government. This is their duty and responsibility. They must provide for the safety and security of their citizens in Hebron, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or in Beit HaShalom and in Givat Hamatos.


Many of my of my acquaintances and friends keep telling me: Sell it and forget it!

 

The best answer I can give is that I love my children, I love my family and I love my people. I want them to have a home that they can come home to. We cannot allow Arabs to occupy our homes and our properties, to steal and rob our Land from us.

 

I want to help guarantee the survival of Israel."

(This article was first printed in the Jewish Press Magazine, Page M8, July 18, 2008 issue)

5. Sondra Oster Baras of the Shomron - a must see utube.  Unfortunately it is directed to Christian Friends of Israel Communities rather than Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah.


Israel Kaplan writes:

WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITIES OF GUSH KATIF THAT THE THEN GOVT. OF ISRAEL BY HOOK OR CROOK WOULD EXPELL THOSE HOLY JEWS FROM THEIR HOMES AND COMMUNITIES, WE TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES TO BRING THE MESSAGE TO THE SHORES OF THE DIASPORA.  SO MUCH TIME, RESOURCES AND PAIN WENT INTO SAVING THEM AND AS IT TURNS OUT TODAY, SAVING THE REST OF THE COUNTRY UNTIL THOSE FINAL DAYS OF EXPULSION.   VERY FEW LISTENED AND EVEN FEWER CARED TO LISTEN WHILE RESPONDING THAT WHILE IT LOOKS BAD, YOU WILL SEE THAT EVERYONE WILL BE COMPENSATED 10 FOLD AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WILL BENEFIT BY DIVESTING FROM GAZA.   WELL HERE WE ARE A FEW YEARS LATER AND THE EXACT OPPOSITE IS THE RESULT.   VERY FEW FROM GUSH KATIF WERE COMPENSATED AND KASSAM ROCKETS INTO CITIES HAVE BECOME THE NORM.    THE LESSON OF GUSH KATIF MAY HAVE A SILVER LINING FOR THE REST OF THE SLEEPING JEWS OF THE WORLD BUT ONLY IF WE ARE PREPARED TO LISTEN AND ACT.

SO WE WILL BEGIN AGAIN AS WE DID BEFORE THE EXPULSION OF GUSH KATIF.   LET US HOPE THAT THE YOUTUBE THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO WATCH WILL SPRING YOU INTO ACTION.   JUDEA AND SAMARIA ARE 200,000 JEWS, GUSH KATIF WAS 8,000. 

 

Please watch this five minutes video prepared by an Israeli woman living in Samaria.

You may learn a few new things about the history and significance of this land.

Although the video is not touching on defense, I think you will clearly see how crucial it is for Israel,

particularly in view of recent events in Lebanon and Gaza.

Handing over Judea & Samaria means the certain demise of Israel!

  Side Note from Robin Ticker:  I once asked Herb Zweibon Chairman of Afsi why he does outreach to the Xtian Community regarding our entitlement of Israel, rather than convincing the Establishment Jewish Community.  He answered it is very satisfying dealing with the Xtian Community.  I understood from his answer the unspoken. 

I answered him that unless all of Am Yisroel is worthy of the Land of Israel, it doesn't really matter if we manage to convince the Non Jewish world and all the members of Congress of our entitlement.  If we as a nation reject our precious gift of Israel by giving her away without a protesty, if we act as if we do not desire the Land and the commandments that require the Land of Israel, than are we worthy of keeping her? 

Why wasn't this video directed to Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, the OU, the Young Israel and Chabad International who have not made a public statement protesting a 2 State Solution that was proposed in 2002.

The Xtians believe in JC.  We do not.  That could be a major problem if they come forth with funding for partnering with the Israel Communities. We really do not wish to partner with JC.  It is we the Land of Israel and then YES there will be peace for all the Nations of the world, Jews and Non Jews as Hashem promised.In the time of the redemption the nations of the World will bring their gifts to Israel (feast of Tabernacles). It seems to me that first the Nation of Israel must unite in our desire to keep the Land of Israel, accept our status as a Mamlechet Cohanim and strive with all our heart and soul to keep the H-ly Commandments in the Torah.
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6. Interfaith dialog canceled. Anti-Darwinists turned away by Israeli academia

This ynet story has been sent to you by Yakov Ticker

The people who canceled this are more worried about looking politically correct to atheist materialists than they are about finding a way to talk with Muslims and establishing a basis for peace between Israel and its neighbors.


21:29 , 07.15.08
Stood Up
Photo: AP Know your origin. Charles Darwin (Archives) Photo: AP
Anti-Darwinists turned away by Israeli academia

Turkish scientists receive last minute cancellation from Hebrew University who fears Jewish-Muslim reconciliation conference may give stage to anti-Darwinist propaganda
Avital Lahav

A group of Muslim religious scholars arriving from Turkey to participate in a reconciliation conference at the Hebrew University claim that the head of the Social Sciences Faculty refused to greenlight the event, calling it off in short notice. Professor Boaz Shamir, Dean of Social Sciences explained his decision citing the lack of proper coordination between the Students' Union, which was in charge of organizing the event, and the faculty's secretariat.

 

Receiving End

Israeli ambassador says Britain 'hotbed of anti-Israeli sentiment' / AFP

'Attempts by academics to boycott Israeli universities are against British values,' Ron Prosor writes in comment piece for the Daily Telegraph, 'I implore the British public to prevent the radical fringe from monopolizing British-Israeli discourse'
Full story

However, the correspondence received by Ynet has Prof. Shamir admitting that "we wouldn't have hosted an event supporting anti-Darwinist propaganda."

 

The Turkish lecturers arriving from Istanbul on a joint initiative between the research and scientific foundation they represent and the Interfaith Encounter Association, were planning to speak at the two Jewish-Muslim conferences at the Hebrew University's campus on Mount Scopus and at Tel Aviv University.

 

The speakers planned to talk about uniting between the two religions and denouncing Islamic terror - but also against Darwin's theory about The Origin of Species.

 

But someone at the university must have not liked the idea of giving the stage to a foundation that is busy spreading Creationism, not to mention the foundation president's negation of Darwinism in his books. Hence the cancellation notification received by Prof. Shamir a mere few hours before the event.

 

'University maintains radical image of Islam'

The dean excused the cancellation by telling the organizers that the conference could not be held in the faculty's building at any time. Later on in the correspondence, the organizers explained that the Darwinist theory had mistakenly been added to the program and that there was no intention of addressing it in the conference, but Prof. Shamir insisted on not hosting the event.

 

The foundation criticized the event's cancellation, claiming that "the Hebrew University chooses to maintain the radical image of Islam and is preventing us from spreading a message of peace. We see this as an undemocratic way of handling ideas."

 

The Turkish scholar's friend, Ehud Tokatly, was shocked by the university's stance, especially in light of Israel's struggle against the academic boycott, saying the university should apologize to the lecturers who made it all the way from Turkey to attend the conference: "Where will there be freedom of opinion if not in academia? These are two serious scientists and not some religious Taliban preachers."

 


Yehuda Stolov, founder and director of the Interfaith Encounter Association said that "the purpose (of the conference ) was to discuss collaboration between Muslims and Jews for peace and against terror. We had no plans of talking against Darwinism. Unfortunately, the anti-Darwinism made it by mistake into the list of topics on the electronic invitation, which in turn caused the cancellation of the event."

 

Kobi Nahshoni contributed to this report