Tuesday, June 03, 2014

MK's Stand Strong!

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Updated 

MK's Stand Strong:




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We need strong Lobbying on Capital Hill to fight the White House and the State Department from embracing Terror!  In Israel, MK's Stand Strong!

The State Department committed to embracing, at least initially, the new Palestinian Unity Government (PUG). Not all legislators were in agreement.
By:  Lori Lowenthal Marcus
Published: June 3rd, 2014


Israel furious at US support for Palestinian unity government

Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Arlene Kushner: From Israel. Incredible!
June 3, 2014
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MK's Stand Strong!  

Establishment of a forum of government ministers to examine the application of Israeli sovereignty over Gush Etzion


Nissim Zeev: Chairman of the Caucus for combating De-legitimization calls ImTirtzu to lead the caucus to fight De-Legitimization of the State of Israel. Im Tirtzu, to prepare legislative and action initiatives to fight delegitimization.

Apprehending Settler Youth for handing out bumper stickers is allowable in order to prevent an intifada?????? Former MK Eldad's comments:


Former MK Eldad: Letter to Editor Jewish Press page 75 June 6, 2014 entitled "Implausible Prediction"

"...Some on the pro-Palestinian Israeli left are promoting new legislation to redefine "price tag" vandalism as akin to Palestinian terrorism.  Jewish vandals could then be prosecuted using anti-terrorism measures so severe as to be suited only for cases of extreme danger to the public.

Israel's Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty strictly forbids such anti-democratic legislation but has a loophole - paragraph 8 - which makes an exception for legislation "enacted for a proper purpose."

My educated guess, then, is that the unnamed officials who generated this "prediction" [ that Price Tag Vandalism Could Provoke Third Intifada, in brackets, added for clarification] may be seeking to persuade the public that ,say, apprehending youngsters for passing out bumper stickers (which actually occurred here recently) is allowable because there is a purported "proper purpose" [of] preventing an intifada. [!!!].... The reported "prediction" is utterly implausible.

Editor's Note: Dr. Aryeh Eldad, former member of Knesset who served on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee

Chag Sameach!

Press Release: re: Sovereignty: Women in Green: Establishment of a forum of government ministers to examine the application of Israeli sovereignty over Gush Etzion

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Press release:Women in Green and the Forum for the Application of Sovereignty offer their congratulations
on the establishment of a forum of government ministers to examine the application of Israeli sovereignty over Gush Etzion.

            Sovereignty over Gush Etzion is the first, and correct, step of facing the reality, toward the goal of applying sovereignty over all of Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley. For now, this is a first step of the establishment of a forum of government ministers, but the very establishment of the forum attests to the progress of the political system, to shaking off the fixation that paralyzed it in recent years and to its openness to political rejuvenation. Along with this, the Israeli government has shown that it is attentive to the mood of the people, that thirsts for a different, Jewish, moral, vision that ensures security - the vision of sovereignty.

            The people in Israel sees the feeble response of the United States to the establishment of the Palestinian terror government, and internalizes that now is the time to shake off the dictates of the American administration, to take responsibility for our future, and to present a new political vision.

            The government of Israel is capable of being an international beacon and trailblazer, a beacon arousing hope and inspiration, also for all of Europe, that in recent years has found itself dragged along after American policy to the Islamic abyss. Barak Obama's policy is causing the entire West to commit suicide. This policy is driven by faulty and disastrous ideology, and is not an expression of any momentary weakness of the American president. The Europeans are awakening and understand this. Europe will view the act of Israeli sovereignty that curbs Arab "might makes right" as the Israeli finger in the dam against the Muslim flood, and will congratulate, albeit relatively quietly, the Israeli step.

For details and interviews:
Yehudit Katsover - 050-7161818, Nadia Matar - 050-5500834
The Movement for Israel's Tomorrow
(Women in Green)

Arlene Kushner: From Israel. Incredible!

June 3, 2014
 
“Incredible!”
 
Last night, I had written my post, which spoke about my unease regarding the possibility of US support for the Fatah-Hamas unity government.  What I said was:
 
“Kerry, while expressing concern about Hamas, has had communication with Abbas and will be meeting with him. 
“He is saying the US will not accept the unity government ‘initially’. Not encouraging. He’s saying, ‘Convince me, guys.’”
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Well, it seems that when Kerry said “not initially,” he meant they would wait two or three hours. I sent out that posting, turned back to check the news one last time for the night, and found that the Obama administration had announced a decision to “work with” the new unity government.
There was not even a pretense of assessing the new government before making a decision. That decision was made up front.
And so, no, I am obviously not surprised that this is the way the US administration decided to go.  But I am shocked at the alacrity with which they signed on, without a semblance of serious consideration of the potential problems. 
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What I felt – this was about 1 AM – was the degree to which we are confronting an enemy in the White House. Also not new, not a surprise.  (Don’t write, please! to ask me, didn’t I know?)  But this was so “in our face.”  This decision to immediately give support to a government that includes Hamas – a terrorist entity dedicated to Israel’s destruction.
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Meanwhile, Congress is looking seriously at cutting funds to this new unity government. Members of Congress are none too pleased with the decision of the White House/State Department.  I will have a great deal more to say about this in coming days.
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Deputy Minister of Defense Danny Danon yesterday referred to the US decision as a matter of “moral choice.”  And indeed, right he is. There is a question of US law – which actually prohibits support for a terrorist entity – and then the question of what is simply right. 
It is, I recognize, foolish to talk about moral decisions and the Obama administration in the same breath.
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The government of Israel is quite furious at this decision and has voiced grave “disappointment” in the US.
The Security Cabinet has announced it has “formed a team to consider plans of action given the new reality that has been created, and ahead of diplomatic and security situations that will be created in the future.”
Among the various responses under consider is partial annexation (e.g. of the Gush Etzion area), although this would not happen immediately.  According to a JPost article, it would not happen before the projected unity government elections.
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My thought here, then, is Hey! Here we are again with a perfect example of why the Legal Grounds Campaign is so important. It lays the legal groundwork for decisions on annexation that may follow.  It provides strength and an attitude of certainty with regard to our rights.  Right now, in spite of such proposals for annexation, support is insufficient.  Please! will those of you who care, and are willing to help us fight this fight during this window of time, contact me.
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Among the things the Israeli government has already decided is to make commuting between Gaza and the PA areas of Judea and Samaria difficult, and to prevent voting for the unity government in eastern Jerusalem (most Arabs living there hold residency and not citizenship cards, and would want to be counted in the PA polity).  With this, there will be efforts to prevent Hamas participation in elections in Judea and Samaria.
There is talk, as well, about holding back money Israel collects in taxes for the PA.  There is always talk about this, is there not?  There seems to be a reluctance because the PA screams that they will collapse without this money, and we are causing people to suffer, etc. etc.  But the PA still owes us a large fortune for electricity.
I will have a great deal to say about Israeli responses in coming days, without question.
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Khaled Abu Toameh has written an analysis of what issues are still to be dealt with, with the formation of this new government.  As the article says: Explosive issues are left hanging in the air.  These issues involve not only the elections, but the melding of security forces and more (emphasis added):
“It’s also unrealistic to believe that PA leadership would rush to add tens of thousands of Hamas employees to its payroll, especially in wake of the economic hardships facing the government.
“On the other hand, those who think Hamas would allow Fatah-dominated security forces to return to the Gaza Strip as a result of the April 23 reconciliation pact are living in an illusion.
“For now, both Hamas and Fatah prefer to avoid answering questions that could spoil the euphoria over the ‘historic’ decision to end their differences.”
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In line with Abu Toameh’s comments, it is worth noting here that outgoing Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh, on the day when the new government was sworn in, declared:
“I am not concerned about the resistance; it is in good condition. Today there is an army, in the form of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades — it is advanced and the resistance is advanced.”
 
Israeli intelligence estimates that Hamas has some 10-12,000 rockets. Paraphrasing Abu Toameh, anyone who expects Hamas to surrender its position of “resistance, is floating in the stratosphere.
 
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I leave further analysis and deeper sharing of information to another day. For tonight begins the holiday of Shavuot, and it is time to turn my focus to other, more eternal, matters.
Shavuot, a harvest festival, marks our receiving of the Torah at Sinai.  We counted seven weeks from the time of Pesach, to reach this point.  Now it is time for joy and celebration – and the tradition of study through the night.
We must turn to the One who graced us with the extraordinary and eternal gift of Torah, and not count on the good offices of men and women.
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To all who will be celebrating, I wish a Chag Shavuot Sameach!
Shavuot
Credit: dreamstime
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© Arlene KushnerThis material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution. 
 
If it is reproduced and emphasis is added, the fact that it has been added must be noted.
 
See my website at www.arlenefromisrael.info  Contact Arlene at akushner18@gmail.com
 

Shavuot and Sinai - Ump Says Boy Can't Play Ball With Tzitzit: COL Be a Humble Mountain

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Ump Says Boy Can’t Play Ball With Tzitzit; Team Walks Off Field

Little Leaguer has to choose between team uniform, "God uniform".

Celebrate Israel Parade. Judea and Samaria represented Baruch Hashem but where were the Spectators at the Israel Day Parade?????? with 35,000 attending?

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If you looked down Fifth Ave this past Sunday, a beautiful day, a gift from heaven, with an estimated 35,000 in attendance you wondered where the spectators were?  Where were the expected crowds on such a beautiful day? 

Allow me to speculate.

Who basically marched in the Parade?


"As has been the case in recent years, young, Orthodox marchers from yeshivas and religious schools far outnumbered all the rest, many sporting the orange-colored shirts that have become de rigueur among right-wingers since the protest against the 2005 Gaza Disengagement. The audience also seemed to be made up mainly – though not exclusively, by any means – of Orthodox Jews."

 Let me tell you my first hand experience in this year's Parade.  

The barricades kept all the spectators away from 5th Ave. 

 It was the most bizarre thing.  

Personally, I arrived at 51 Street and couldn't get to 52nd Street. In order to cross to the other side of 51st Street I needed to be herded with a bunch of other spectators within the barriers set there by the New York City Police Dept. and wait for the cops to allow us to finally cross in between marching groups.  And then there was absolutely no way to get to 52nd Street since the barriers were blocking us and the options were to go all the way to either 6th Ave. on the West Side or Madison Ave. on the East Side of Fifth ave. and back again to 5th Ave.  It was the most frustrating thing.  Actually, I wanted to walk towards 72nd Street down the sidewalk of 5th Ave watching the Parade as I did in previous years according to my recollections, or alongside a group but that  was almost impossible!  AFter all it seemed to me that unless you were part of a group with the proper T shirt you couldn't walk or march down 5th Ave or even barely get to the sidewalk without crossing a barrier. 

The crowd control really ruined the Parade for me as a spectator!  I never recall such ridiculous use of police at what should have been an enjoyable event primarily for spectators and for the marchers as well. Was it my imagination to think that  if you weren't a marcher this year, they didn't really want you to enjoy/participate in the Parade.  Was this a way to get back at all of us right wingers who protested and who said that we would be at the Parade but not march?  Were they afraid of the crowd booing some of the organizers for allowing the BDS groups or perhaps that they were afraid that we would be spreading literature to the over 200 groups, mainly right wing groups according to Haaretz,  that were marching as to the dangers of BDS and our indigenous rights to Judea and Samaria.   Am I being paranoid? Or was this simply a matter of security as everyone assumed?? 

Perhaps it is the cynical side of me that guesses that primarily it was their concern to keep control of the message of the Parade rather than the Security aspect that guided their decision making process in putting up all those barriers.

So I finally walked down Madison Ave. to get to 72nd Street taking detour to 63rd Street and 5th Ave on the east side in order to touch base with Rabbi Abadie's group and Richard Allen of JCCwatch and AFsi.    

How disappointed the marchers must have been not to have the usually crowd cheering them on.  Most of the Spectators were either herded with barricades on street corners or walking down Madison or 6th Ave. missing the entire Parade.

The worst part was coming to 72nd street, the only corner where one could cross for several blocks, from the east side to the west side and being part of a huge crowd of people sandwiched like sardines in between the barriers waiting for the cops to allow the crowd to finally cross the Street. It was claustrophobic and the feeling that overcame me at the moment was "Is this the way my parents and grandparents felt when they were herded into the Cattle Cars in Europe?

What a totally depressing moment.

The few minute I did get to watch the Parade was enjoyable as usual. Too bad it was just for a few moments.

I'd like to share pictures sent to me of Signs in support of Judea and Samaria marching down 5th Ave. 

Let me single out ZOA who had the best signs and T shirts!   Their slogans 

"HEBRON The First Capital of the Jewish People   ZOA  (Zionist Organizaiton of America)

Jews have continuously lived in the Land of Israel for 3,500 Years

The Land of Israel was called "Judea" under the Greeks and Romans because it is the Home of the Jewish People

Jerusalem has been the Capital of Jewish People for the past 3,000 years since the Time of King David  (see attachments)



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