Bibi to Palestinians: Let's talk "doogree" about peace

Last Friday, the UN General Assembly members heard both Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu speak about the Palestinian statehood bid, which Abbas also presented formally to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. PA President Abbas, who received a standing ovation upon entering the GA chamber, delivered the usual rhetoric about his people "being persecuted for 63 years" and his desire for full UN membership in a state with borders that includes all land areas prior to June 5, 1967 (when Jordan actually ruled there). The implication of being persecuted for 63 years actually is in reference to what Arabs call the "Nakba" or catastrophe of 1948, known as the War of Independence by Israelis. Abbas also spoke of the allowance of Palestinian refugees to return "home" to lands and other properties seized by Israel during this war. One might well wonder what would have happened if Arab forces had won this conflict; instead of a small and ill equipped Israeli military, many of whose soldiers were former Holocaust death camp internees.

Israeli P.M. Netanyahu received a very different greeting upon entering the same chamber a bit later. Netanyahu, although a great public speaker, decided on this occasion to speak "doogre" to the delegates who did had assembled to hear his speech. Calling the GA "the theater of the absurd" he wanted to show the delegates that he did not come to give them a lesson in diplomacy, but to "speak the truth" about "one-sided" Palestinian statehood as demanded by Abbas. Netanyahu said that a final peace agreement and nation status for the Palestinians can only be achieved by direct negotiations between the parties. PM Netanyahu again warned about the increasing dangers in the region, aggravated considerably by the "Arab Spring" revolutions that have resulted in the ousting of Egyptian president Mobarak, the overthrow of Libyan strongman Muamar Ghaddafi, and continuing disturbances and killings in Syria and Yemen. He also mentioned Iran-backed Hezbollah's increasing strength in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza, also backed by Iran. In fact, Netanyahu singled out Iran as being the most dangerous country in the world today; and how that country's leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could have the nerve to come to the UN and issue so much hateful rhetoric towards both the USA and the State of Israel.

Reminding the assembled delegates that the UN is now a very different entity than it was in 1947, when the State of Israel was voted into being by the UN, Netanyahu said that his country is willing to meet with the Palestinians "in Jerusalem or in Ramallah" and offered to sit with PA President Abbas and "talk doogre" with him about a final agreement that will result in a Palestinian state. For the uninformed, doogre is an Arab term meaning directness and forthrightness. So far, at least in Netanyahu's present term as prime minister, this directness has not taken place; and the Palestinians have now decided on the unilateral approach in their attempt to gain membership status in the UN.

Will this method win out, or is there a chance for both parties to sit together and "talk doogre" on the many unsolved issues that are separating Israel and the Palestinians?

As Jews in Israel and the world over enter the New Year, praying for peace with the Palestinians (those in the West Bank that is) should be on everyone's mind – Jews and non-Jews alike.

How many Jews, including Israelis, died in US 9-11 terror attacks?

For the past ten years since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the NYC World Trade Center and the Pentagon Building in the USA, articles still fluctuate as to the number of Jews who perished in the two coordinated attacks by Islamic extremists that wound up taking 2,749 lives, according to "official" counts. Unofficial counts go as high as a total of 3,487. This total figure includes at least 2,071 people said to be present in the twin towers of the World Trade Center, a total of 265 passengers on the four commercial airlines that were hijacked, 125 civilian and military personnel in the Pentagon, and 427 New York City Fire Dept, Police, and Port Authority personnel.

Every anniversary of what is now come to be known as the "9-11 Terror Attacks", and especially on this tenth anniversary of these infamous attacks, the question often arises as to how many people of the Jewish faith, died in the attacks – including those either living or formerly living in Israel. And "rumor mongers" still pass around articles in which they claim that Jews were even forewarned to "stay at home" prior to the occurrence of the attacks themselves.

Various statistical studies made afterwards appear to indicate that in proportion to other religious faiths, the and in respect to the total number of Jews living in the USA and the world at large (including Israel) appear to indicate that of the total number of people killed in these attacks, a significant percentage (at least 12 -13%) were Jews. This includes a large proportion of people working in stock brokerage firms and other business in the WTC, as well as passengers on the four previously mentioned commercial airlines flights. While the "official" count of Israelis killed is noted at being 5 people, this number may not count Israeli "ex-pats" that were living and working in the USA as well as those holding dual nationality and for various personal reasons only listed themselves as American citizens.

As has been noted in information published by the US Department of State, the Wall Street Journal, and the NY Times:

“A total of 2,071 occupants of the World Trade Center died on September 11, among the 2,749 victims of the WTC attacks. According to an article in the October 11, 2001, Wall Street Journal, roughly 1,700 people had listed the religion of a person missing in the WTC attacks; approximately 10% were Jewish. A later article, in the September 5, 2002, Jewish Week, states, “based on the list of names, biographical information compiled by The New York Times, and information from records at the Medical Examiner’s Office, there were at least 400 victims either confirmed or strongly believed to be Jewish.” This would be approximately 15% of the total victims of the WTC attacks. A partial list of 390 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died (out of 658 in the company) lists 49 Jewish memorial services, which is between 12% and 13%.”

12 – 13 % out of a total American Jewish population of around 5.8 million (1.25 % of America's total population) is a high proportion when there are only around 16 million Jews on this planet out of a total world population of 6.5 billion souls. The percentage of Jews killed might even be higher when it is well known that many Jews changed or shortened their last names either voluntarily or involuntarily by US immigration officials when they arrived in the USA at the turn of the last century. So taking this fact into account, the exact number of Jews who perished in the 9-11 attacks may never be known. But even so, the proportionate number of Jews who lost their lives on that tragic day, ten years ago, is more than enough to dispel the rumor mongers who still try to convince people that Jews, and especially Israelis were forewarned.

Indeed, rumor mongers should take note that the above statistics appear to indicate otherwise.

IDF Iron Dome Anti Missile Zaps 9 Palestinian Rockets

The IDF's new "Iron Dome" anti missile defense system had its first success recently with the downing of 9 Grad-type rockets fired from Hamas controlled Gaza. Two anti-missile batteries were deployed in southern Israel; one near Beer Sheva and the other near Ashkelon. The systems are designed to work both on a visual as swell as an automatic mode that will fire a deterrent rocket upon sensing the firing of a rocket being launched toward Israel. When the intercepting rocket nears its target it explodes and "kills" the oncoming rocket before it can reach its destination.

The system's development was pushed forward following the 2006 war in Lebanon in which more than 4,000 rockets, most of then short range "Katyushas", were launched by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon as well as Kassam and other rockets launched by Palestinians in Gaza. The program was given further momentum after the 2008/2009 Operation Cast Lead, which was the result of scores of Palestinian launched rockets into Israel, with several being longer range ones into Beer Sheva, Ashkelon, and even Ashdod.

According to Israel Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nechushtan, who visited the Iron Dome battery in Ashkelon over the weekend of April 9-10: "we have started on the right foot with some successful interceptions. But this is only the beginning, and things must be kept in perspective." Nevertheless, he said the system has made "world history."

The Iron Dome system is still in an "experimental mode" and most of the firings so far have been made manually after seeing rockets actually fired from Gaza. But the fact that a few interceptions were actually done at night with the battery's automatic system makes it an historical first.

Israeli citizens have been cautioned not to expect the system to be foolproof as numerous rocket firings could still result in some of them getting through to hit their targets. There is also the cost factor involved, with each launched iron dome interceptor costing around $50,000 in comparison with many Palestinian home made rockets costing less than $1,000. The system is also primarily designed for use against shorter range rockets; with the older Arrow anti-missile defense system being designed for use against longer range incoming missiles like Skuds and those from countries like Iran.

Israeli missile expert Ofer Shoham, a reserve IDF Brig. General, cautioned people into not being complacent into thinking that the Iron Dome system is a fool-proof one. "The system cannot protect against thousands of rockets being launched, but can only buy some deterrent time" he says. As to the cost of system, he notes:

"It is incorrect to compare the cost of the intercepting missile (NS 100,000) to the cost of the launched rocket itself (NS 1,000-2,000), rather the comparison should be with the cost of the damages it can cause to property, hopefully not to persons, and the cost of actions that we would have had to take following such a rocket attack. We have no pretension of intercepting thousands of missiles, only of gaining time, limiting the threat and in the meantime, the army is also doing other things. We must not forget that the system also contributes considerably to Israel's deterrent capability."

In any case, residents of Israel's southern communities now feel a bit safer with the Iron Dome batteries in place.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/iron-dome-makes-world-history-intercepting-nine-gaza-rockets-1.355033

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/10/us-palestinians-israel-irondome-idUSTRE73923M20110410

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/head-to-head-expert-ofir-shoham-does-iron-dome-s-early-success-give-the-public-a-false-impression-1.355252

http://defensetech.org/2010/07/21/israel-says-iron-dome-ready-idf-balks-at-price-tag/

Osama bin Ladin Said Killed: But Will Israel Benefit?

Osama bin Ladin, the Saudi born Al Qaeda terrorist leader who was responsible for masterminding the 9-11 terror attacks in the USA is now said to have been killed in a secret commando raid on a villa he was living in, located in the Pakistan city of Abbottabad. The nighttime operation, carried out Sunday night, May 1, by a team of specially trained US Navy SEALS, attacked the 3 story heavily fortified mansion, located about 62 miles north of the Pakistan capital of Islamabad. During the ensuing firefight, the man believed to be bin Ladin, was killed along with several others during a brief fire fight. Bin Ladin was killed by a shot in the head; and his body was taken by the assault team for positive identification - presumably in the USA.

The special and very dangerous mission was only undertaken after US President Obama had received enough information that the man living in the suspected house was indeed bin Ladin. The government of Pakistan cooperated with the US forces by allowing them to use a Pakistani air force base to launch the secret operation.

Bin Ladin, who was born on July 30, 1957 in Riyadh Saudi Arabia, was the son of a wealthy Saudi businessman. After inheriting a large sum of money following his father's death, bin Ladin began to adopt a very strict Islamic way of life that eventually resulted in his creating the terrorist organization known as Al Qaeda, or "The Base" in Arabic. Bin Ladin began his self proclaimed war against the "enemies of Islam" by directing a number of terrorist operations against American and other foreign interests in various parts of the world. These operations included the bombing of an American military housing compound in Saudi Arabia (1996), the bombing of the American embassies in Nairobi Kenya and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania (1998); the suicide boat ramming of the UUS Cole in Aden Yemem in 2000. Finally, the September 11, 2001 mega terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon intelligence center in Washington DC resulting in the USA declaring war on bin Ladin and his organization. In the 9-11 attacks alone, nearly 3,000 were killed, including the passengers on 4 commercial airliners – 3 of which were literally crashed into the terrorists' targets.

Al Qaeda and bin Ladin, together with his associates (including Al Qaeda No. 2 man Ayman al Zewahiri) have been the subjects of a massive man hunt that has been ongoing for nearly ten years. Other top Al Qaeda leaders, including bombing specialist Abi Musab al Zaeqawi have been either killed or captured during this period.

Upon receiving the news of bin Ladin's death, millions of Americans began celebrating in cities all over America, especially in both New York City and Washington DC, the scenes of the 9-11 attacks. US President Barak Obama, in a special televised address to the American people, said the following:

"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," Obama said. "A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."

President Obama, as well as international experts has cautioned everyone that the killing of Osama bin Ladin does not mean to end of Al Qaeda's ability to carry out more terror attacks. "We must be vigilant and not let this success prevent our willingness to protect ourselves from such attacks in the future", Obama said. The President also told the American People – and the world that "this attack is not against Islam as bin Ladin and his men were not representatives of Muslims or Islam."

While bin Ladin's death may help considerably in the fight against terror, Al Qaeda and other fanatical organizations are still a threat, especially to Israelis both at home and abroad. Israel has to contend with a number of radical groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah (backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran), and others. Now that the rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah have agreed to form a government together, the potential threat to Israel has become even more possible. And while Israeli leaders can congratulate the United States for ridding the world of Osam bin Ladin, we living in Israel still have plenty of threats to be vigilant about.

World Bodies Skeptical on Judge Goldstone's Change of Heart

Former South African judge Richard Goldstone, the man who's controversial Goldstone Report resulted in Israel's condemnation for its military actions in the three week Operation Cast Lead campaign may now have had a change of heart.

Judge Goldstone's report, published in September 2009, had accused both Israel and the Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations of committing atrocities during the three week operation from late December, 2008 until mid January, 2009. In this operation, the Gaza office of the Palestinian Authority, dominated by Hamas, claimed that Israeli military forces "killed around 1,500 Palestinians, and caused immense property damage." The extremely one-side report, according to Israeli governmental and military sources, failed to take into account that prior to and during the engagement, hundreds of mortars, Kassam and longer range rockets were fired at Israeli cities, towns, and settlements as far away as Beer Sheva and Ashdod; causing several deaths and injuries (including mass trauma), as well as considerable property damage.

Goldstone's recent recanting of the report, over which he presided, now notes that he has been given "additional information" that puts the Hamas led Palestinians in a much more unfavorable light than was given to them in the report. Goldstone was recently quoted as saying that "punishing for war crimes should be on the basis of the equality of all nations before the law", and said that Israel is being unfairly punished in light of the many human rights violations being carried out by other nations around the world.

Goldstone also went on to say that the accusations against Israel have:

"fueled the long-standing and repeated complaints by Israel that the Human Rights Council and the UN in general are biased against it. They repeatedly rush to pass condemnatory resolutions in the face of alleged violations of human rights law by Israel but fail to take similar action in the face of even more serious violations by other States. Until the Gaza Report they failed to condemn the firing of rockets and mortars at Israeli civilian centers."

Needless to say, Hamas and Co., as well as Fatah in Ramallah, are not very happy over Goldstone's recanting, and claim he has done so from being under intense pressure by Israel.

Goldstone claims that had he received this "new information" at the time that the report was being compiled the report's outcome would have been much different. The firing of rockets by Gaza militants, whether from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or Al Qaeda operatives (now said to be in Gaza) has been so obvious that Goldstone and his associates could not have helped but be aware of this fact. And with a renewal of these rocket firings, including the recent incident when a Grad rocket hit a residential neighborhood in Beersheva, it might be thought that Goldstone's change of heart would have some influence on the UN and other world organizations. This doesn’t seem to be the case, however, and is a matter of simply being "too little and too late" to change the negative world opinions against Israel.

As for Richard Goldstone himself, perhaps he has decided it best to try to settle his accounts with that Great Judge Above, before whom Goldstone will have to one day appear.

New IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz Assumes His Command

Israel's 20th IDF Chief of Staff, Benny Gantz, 51, has a long record of distinguished service in Israel's military establishment, Gantz began his military career in 1977, when he was drafted into the army and became part of the country's elite paratrooper brigade, after completing officers candidate school two years later. During his early years as a paratrooper, Gantz rose quickly in the ranks, and became a platoon leader and later a brigade commander.

Gantz has served in a number of prestige military positions, including Commander of the highly acclaimed Shaldag (Kingfisher) Air Force unit, Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, Commander of the Reserves Division in the Northern Command, Commander of the Lebanon Liaison Unit; and Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division in 2000. His next military command position was Commander of the Northern Command, which he assumed in 2001. He was afterwards appointed to be the IDF's Military Attache to the US Armed Forces; which he held until his appointment as Deputy of Staff in 2009.

A true believer in the merits of higher education, Gantz took time off during his busy military career to attend both the IDF Command and Headquarters College and the National Security College, as well as Tel Aviv University, where he received a BA Degree in History. He also attended graduate schools, and received both an MA in Political Science from the University of Haifa, and another MA Degree in National Resource Management from the National Defense University in the USA.

Despite what might appear as having an illustrious military career, General Gantz's career has not been without some controversy. While serving as Commander of the Judea and Sameria Division on the West Bank Gantz was criticized after a border guard policeman guarding Joseph's Tomb, Corporal Madhat Yousef, was left to bleed to death after being wounded by a Palestinian sniper. Gantz was criticized for this action for not taking measures quickly enough to evacuate Corporal Yousef fast enough. Gantz was later exonerated by a military tribunal. Another incident involved Gantz building part of his home on disputed property. He later agreed to give up this land, and even dismantled structures he had built upon the disputed property.

On a whole, General Gantz's career has been very outstanding; and is considered by his military officer peers to be very qualified to assume the post for which he has now been chosen for. General Gantz takes over the COS position from Lt. General Gabi Ashkenazi, who became COS following the resignation of Gen. Dan Helutz in the aftermath of 2006 war against the Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ashkenazi succeeded in revamping the IDF, and turning it into a much better trained and organized military fighting force. During Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi' tenure as COS, the IDF was involved in both the 2008-9 Operation Cast Lead "mini-war" in Gaza, and the more recent May 31, 2010 Mave Mamara or "flotilla" incident, in which the IDF's commando raid actions were recently absolved by the Trikul Commission.

All in all, General Gantz assumes his command over a much improved and better equipped IDF that now has to face the reality of an increasingly unstable Middle East.

Israel Military Insignia Photo Quiz

Are you an expert on IDF insignia? See if you can guess which Israel Military Insignia belongs to which department.

Test your knowledge with our fun online photo quiz!

Recent Carmel Wildfire Causes Surge in Fire Scouts Volunteers

Israel's recent disastrous fire on the northern Carmel mountain range has resulted in a surge of volunteers for the Fire Scouts, a branch in Israel's Scouting Movement. The Fire Scouts, a previously little known scouting group, has actually been in existence since 1959. Its 350 enthusiastic members, whose ages range between 15 and 18, are often in action in real fire fighting operations, as in the December 2 -5 fire in which one of the group's members, 16 year old Elad Rivan, lost his life.

The "firebug" desire to help augment the country's often strained firefighting resources by these young people often results in some of them becoming professional fire fighters upon completing military service. Such is a case of 21 year old Ben Geller who is now a full time fire fighter after finishing his army service. "I knew that at the age of 15 I had to volunteer somewhere. I asked myself, 'What am I going to do? Help the elderly? Volunteer in the Scouts? In Magen David Adom?' And then, one day, I don't know if it was because of some movie or an Internet site, I caught the firefighting bug," Ben was quoted when interviewed by Haaretz newspaper.

The services of these brave and enthusiastic youths are very much appreciated by the branches of the fire brigades with whom they frequently work. Avi Cohen, who heads the Haifa branch of Fire Scouts in which Elad Rivan was a member, says that he now runs 20 firefighting schools which fill up very quickly with students. He says that interest in taking the course has "caught on like a wild fire" since the onset of the Carmel fire disaster. Cohen is very proud of his kids and says "the moment they put on the uniform [of a fire scout] they change from rowdy to very disciplined and dedicated volunteers."

Regarding Elad Rivan, Cohen said the youth didn't register at any fire station. He simply put on his uniform and jumped on the first fire truck he saw heading in the direction of the fire on the Carmel. In fact, the regular crew didn't even know who Rivan was, or that he was so young. They accepted him simply as a fellow firefighter.
"We now have made some changes in which more control is made on the Scouts when they volunteer to fight a real fire" Cohen says. These changes involve each fire scout having to first report to his unit before being assigned to be with a fire brigade.

A professional firefighter for over 30 years Cohen says regarding the ferocity of the Carmel wildfire:

"The fire was very hard for us. I have been with the firefighters for more than 30 years, and I never had a fire like this. And not only me; no firefighter in this country has ever seen anything like it. Only in the movies - only in Hollywood."

Information on the Fire Scouts can be found by visiting the Fire Scouts forum on the Israel Firefighters website: www.102.co.il


http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/catching-the-firefighting-bug-1.329866