"The terrorists' Magna Carta": a former Israel Justice Minister speaks out against the Goldstone Report

Now that the well publicized Goldstone Report is being circulated throughout the Western World, it's legal foundation, as well as the credibility of it's "research" is being increasingly brought under scrutiny by political and legal authorities in the few countries where this document has not been accepted as prima face evidence of what really occurred during the 21 day Israeli-Palestinian war in Gaza, referred to by Israel as Operation Cast lead.

The 575 page report, said to be based on more than 10,000 pages of documents, photos and other "evidence" appears to put the onus of the blame on Israel, while whitewashing most, if not all, of actions by the Hamas led "militants", including using many Palestinians as human shields ("Hamas created a human shield of women and children, the elderly, and the mujahadeen against the Zionist bombing machine", as stated by a Hamas member and noted on p. 475 of the Report).

As a rebuttal to this report - which has been accepted by the UN Council on Human Rights by the lopsided vote of 25 to 6 - one of Israel's most distinguished legal authorities, Professor Daniel Friedman, who served as Israel's Justice Minister from February 2007 until March 2009, wrote a scathing rebuttal to the report. The report was completed by a UN sanctioned commission headed by another prominent legal personality, Judge Richard Goldstone, who like Friedman is also of the Jewish faith.

To put it bluntly, Professor Friedman dissects the so-called legal document, particularly the sections in which Israeli military forces are accused of being responsible for the killing of more than 1,200 Palestinians, the majority of whom were actually Palestinian "militants" or according to Friedman and Israeli political leaders, outright terrorists. In Freidman's letter, published in the Friday edition of the Jerusalem Post, he wrote: "false accusations against Israel are made in the absence of evidence or even contrary to the evidence, while the innocence of the terrorists is presumed even in the face of convincing evidence of guilt".

Friedman also noted statements given by outside military officials, including British Col. Richard Kemp, who said before a session of the UN Human Rights Council in October, that "the IDF took extraordinary measures to give Gaza civilians notice of areas to be targeted, dropping over 2 million leaflets and making over 100,000 phone calls….The civilian casualties were a consequence of Hamas' way of fighting. Hamas deliberately tried to sacrifice their own civilians".

What can be more to-the-point than that?

Later on in his letter, Professor Friedman notes that the make-up of the UN investigative commission itself included such people as Prof. Christine Chinkin, who one of the signatures to a letter published in the London Sunday Times in January that was entitled "Israel's bombardment of Gaza is not self-defense – it's a war crime". This should have resulted in Prof. Chinkin being considered as unfit to sit on the Goldstone Commission, but instead, Goldstone said he had no problem with her participation, and even considered Prof. Chinkin to be an "intelligent, sensible, even-handed person". "Even handed" indeed! Goldstone himself, when touring Gaza on a personal fact-finding mission following the fighting (see photo), was accompanied by Hamas officials who appeared to literally stage the entire visit, including statements by so called "witnesses to Israeli atrocities". Professor Friedman points out that both Hamas and Hizbollah are experts in diverting public away from their own criminal acts, and that both organizations are being aided and trained by Iran. Friedman even goes on to say that actions of groups like Hamas and Hizbollah are not unlike those of criminal organizations like the Mafia in regards to "respect for the law".

Prof. Friedman ends his rebuttal with a stern warning to Western societies to realize that actions of groups like Hamas are no better that those by organizations like the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and that all of these groups, especially Hamas, are now going to use the findings of the Goldstone Report as their "Magna Carta" to commit further acts of terror and intimidation with full assurance that they will be left alone by such world bodies as the UN Human Rights Council. Friedman warns that the result of this report will no only be damaging to Israel but to the entire Western world as well, as terror organizations like Hamas, Al Qaeda and others now have immunity.

Immunity! With this "immunity" we are all losers in a world battle against an uncompromising and unrelenting enemy.

Nearly 100 young single Jews arrive in Israel on final summer Nefesh b'Nefesh flight

Nearly 100 young Jewish singles from North America arrived in Israel Tuesday, September 8, aboard a chartered El Al Nefesh b'Nefesh (NBN) flight from New York. The singles, all new Olim, arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on the flight that made up a total of 204 New Olim or immigrants, on the last seasonal NBN flight that brought a record 3,000 new Olim to Israel this summer alone. The singles, numbering 24 men and 57 women, decided to try their luck at finding a Jewish spouse in the country that now has the largest number of Jews of any country in the world, including the USA.

What better way to celebrate the coming of the Jewish New Year of 5770?

One young immigrant, Zach Taylor, even wound up proposing to a young female arrival, Nechama Simon, in a touching scene that was later shown on TV. They were a good example of what many singles were saying in that they had good opportunity to "check out other singles on the flight". Many of the young arrivals came also to do army duty, saying that they feel it is their obligation as Jews to serve in the IDF. This summer alone, a total of 14 flights, 4 of them chartered and the rest group flights brought the largest number of NBN Olim to Israel since the Ailyah organization was founded in 2001. Since then, more than 28,000 new Olim from North America and the UK have arrived in Israel, courtesy of Nefesh b'Nefesh.

When asked why so many singles decided to try to try their luck in Israel, many said it was because of the continuing economic situation in America. But many others said it was because they felt something was profoundly missing from their lives. "I love Israeli women, they're much more mature and down to earth than American girls" one young man, Aviel Weinstein (age 26) said. As for Israeli men, Ruth Sagman, 21, from Montreal was quoted as saying: "Israeli men are much more respective of women" (hopefully she won’t follow what is often happening here in the news).

Nefesh b'Nefesh, together with the Jewish Agency, provides the new arrivals with a number of grants and subsidies to help them ease into the mainstream of Israeli life; providing the new Oleh commits to staying at least 3 years in Israel.

Among those on hand to greet the new Olim were a large group of former NBN arrivals, young Israeli soldiers handing out flowers and waving flags, and a number of government and political figures. Among these notables were Opposition Party Leader and Kadima Party head Tsipi Livni and new Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, himself a former Oleh and Prisoner of Zion from the former Soviet Union.

A Mother's Son: Miki Goldwasser remembers her son Udi on Remembrance Day

As we once again remember the more than 22 thousand soldiers and civilians who have been killed in wars and acts of terror, we living in Israel cannot help but wonder how women such as Miki Goldwasser, the mother of Ehud (Udi) Goldwasser, can go from being in a state of sad remembering to one of joy when Yom HaZicharon (Soldiers Remembrance Day) changes in just 24 hours to the festivities of Yom HaAtzmaut.

Ehud Goldwasser, together with another soldier, Eldad Regev, were kidnapped on July 12, 2006 by the Hezbollah along the border with Lebanon. For two agonizing years, their exact fate had been unknown (at least to their loved ones) until their bodies were finally returned to Israel in two black boxes on July 16, 2008, virtually 2 years after their Humvee jeep had been attacked by enemy fire. Along with Udi's wife Carnit, his mother Miki had waged a relentless campaign to have him returned to his family, only to have him come home as another fallen soldier.

Miki was recently interviewed by the Jerusalem Post, during which time she talked about her son and what kind of person he had been during his short life of only 31 years. She recalled how he had become so much in love with life, and with his country and his wife, with whom he had planned to raise a family following their graduation from university (they were both graduate students at the Technion when the Lebanon II war broke out). She spoke about Udi's childhood and how, from a very early age, he had decided that he could live nowhere else but in Israel.

Udi's love of life was shown many times during his life, both at home, in school, in the army, and especially with Carnit, the love of his life, and childhood sweetheart. Although Udi had lived abroad with his parents from time to time (his father Shlomo was a merchant marine ship captain) Udi knew that he could live his life only in the country he loved. Miki recalled how her son had once told her that even though it was comfortable living in places like South Africa, he could only fulfill himself by living in Israel. He and Carnit were together for more than nine years before they finally married, and were only together as husband and wife for 10 months before that fateful day in July, 2006.

Both Miki and Shlomo have been active in the ongoing campaign to free captive soldier Gilad Schalit, and they have been regular visitors to the Schalit home in Moshav Mitzpeh Hilla in the Western Galilee. They understand what Noam and Aviva Schalit, Gilad's parents, are going through. And she is even more determined to perpetuate Udi's memory by helping other families whose sons have also fallen for the country they loved.

This is just one example of the brave young men and women who dedicate themselves to their country; and to their parents – ones like Miki and Shlomo Goldwasser.

Hopes rise for release of captive Israeli soldier

There appears to be increased optimism that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit may soon be released from his nearly 3 year captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza. Schalit, whose army armor corps unit was attacked on June 25, 2006 while on patrol alongside Israel's Kerem Shalom border area; was taken back to Gaza by his captors following the ambush on his armored personnel carrier in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and three were wounded. Since then, no actual photographs or video films have been shown to indicate his condition, and only three letters have been given to his parents, Noam and Aviva, to confirm that the young soldier is alive.

Since his capture, intense local and international efforts have been made to secure his release from a captivity that is now in its 961st day. Until now, the release of the young soldier, who has been promoted to Staff Sergeant, has been delayed numerous times by unacceptable demands made by Hamas which has included releasing more than 1,000 Palestinians including several who have been found responsible for involvement in a number of deadly terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

A number of countries have tried to intervene on Schalit's behalf, including European ones like Germany and France. Due to his holding French nationality, Schalit was recently named an Honorary Citizen of Paris. Even the Catholic Church has tried to gain his release, through its representatives in Gaza; but until now, these efforts have been to no avail. Gilad's parents have been involved in a number of international rallies to gain more attention to the plight of their son; and recently, Aviva Schalit was featured on a weekend news magazine for the Israeli Channel 2 TVnetwork.

Following the 22 day Operation Cast Lead military actions between Israel and Hamas, diplomatic efforts have been stepped up on Schalit's behalf, and several meetings have been held in Cairo to work out a deal to gain his release. The Hamas organization, whose infrastructure was severely damaged during the war, which also left more than 1.300 Palestinians dead, appear to want to enter into a long period of quiet with Israel in order for them to rebuild installations damaged or destroyed. Schalit himself was reported by his captors to have been injured by explosions during the action.

Schalit's release is now a top priority for the Israeli government and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other government officials are demanding that Schalit be released before Israel agrees to enter into a serious truce with Hamas and other Islamic terror organizations in Gaza. For their part, the Hamas leadership seems to be more in favor of the young soldier's release, providing certain "conditions" be met, including opening of border crossings to allow sufficient aid and supplies to enter the place that many people refer to as an "open air prison". There is also the matter of exchanging hundreds of Palestinian militants for a young man who never harmed anyone and only joined the army unit he was stationed in because he considered it his duty, since his elder brother Yoel had also served in this unit.

All everyone can hope for now is that Gilad is alive and in some measure of good health, despite the suffering that both he and his family have endured during this long period.

The IDF Launches Air and Ground assaults on Hamas militants

Following a barrage of rockets and mortar rounds on southern Israeli towns and settlements, Israeli air and ground forces began Operation Cast Lead on December 27 2008 against Hamas militants who have been firing scores of rockets on targets as far as Beer Sheva and Ashdod. The combined air and ground actions have so far resulted in substantial damage to the infrastructure of the Hamas organization including the destruction of numerous government buildings and other structures and the deaths of more than 400 Hamas militants. Israeli casualties include 4 deaths and scores for people wounded or treated for shock and trauma. The constant rocket launchings against Israel have caused a certain amount of property damage as well, leaving the IDF no choice other than to launch the military operations to severely limit Hamas' ability to strike Israeli targets.

While these measures against Gaza may seem harsh, in the end they may actually save the people living there as it appears that the Hamas organization has less regard for their welfare than its leaders try to portray. Even though Hamas has provided some help to local Gazans, that assistance has come at a price. And that price is the hold that Hamas has over the very lives of the people. If that is not tyranny, then what is?

Something has to be done to break the cycle of hatred that inspires Palestinian parents to praise their children when they choose to become suicide bombers and throw their lives away for what they consider to be "holy martyrdom". Young children are taught to hate literally from birth, and those who are leading them, i.e. the Hamas controlled government, even encourages this kind of activity.

As for Israel's current military assault against Gaza, which has unfortunately killed and injured scores of ordinary Gaza citizens, the Israeli government was left with no choice after residents of southern Israeli cities and towns were once again subjected to bombardment by rockets launched from Graze following the end of the six months old cease fire. Even U.S. President George Bush and President Elect Barack Obama were quoted as saying that they would advocate the same retaliation if their families were subjected to such actions.

It wasn't so long ago that more than 150,000 Gazans worked in Israel, and supporting their families with their wages. A substantial amount of trade was also affected between the two sides; and once a European automobile manufacturer even considered building a vehicle assembly plant in Gaza City. All this is history now, and with unemployment in Gaza reaching official figures of more than 50%, opportunities in "The Strip" are virtually nil.

When the fighting finally does stop, a good portion of Gaza's infrastructure will have to be rebuilt, resulting in construction jobs for many Gaza workmen currently unemployed. But for the long term, the people of Gaza will be much better off with a different leadership which is more receptive to developing peaceful coexistence with its Israeli neighbors, rather than continuing the cycle of violence that has been in effect for so long. As for who will eventually save Gaza, in the end, only the people of Gaza can save themselves from the hardships and misery they are now facing.

President Obama and the Jewish State

In what has been heralded as a historic moment for his country, Senator Barack Hussein Obama was elected November 4 as the 44th President of the U.S.A. by a more than 2 to 1 Electoral vote margin and by more than 7 million popular votes. Obama defeated Senator John McCain, whom many people living in Israel believed would be the better choice for carry on the close relationship between their country and the U.S.A. Now that the election is over, the big question is how the new president will act towards the Jewish State; as well as towards Israel's neighbors, including the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians, and other Arab entities who are still in either a state of conflict or war against Israel.

President-elect Obama has visited Israel twice: once in early 2004 after becoming a U.S. Senator, and last June while still a presidential candidate. During Obama's three day whirlwind last summer, he met with Israel government officials and visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial as well as the Western Wall. He also toured briefly in the southern town of Sderot, which at that time was under siege from Palestinian launched Kassam rockets from neighboring Gaza. During this visit, he pledged that if elected president his administration would continue its close relationship with its Israeli ally, a pledge that he has continued to reiterate on to this day.

Now that Barack Obama is going to be the next American president, only time will tell if he will honor this pledge which includes assurances that his country will help Israel maintain its qualitative strategic edge over its enemies, including Iran. This pledge will undoubtedly be tested, possibly not long after the new president is inaugurated on January 20, 2009. Towards the end of the presidential campaign, Senator Joe Biden, Obama's running-mate for Vice President, was quoted as saying that he believed that during the first six months of the new president's term he will be tested by adversaries in order to see how he will stand up against a threat to his country. This statement was taken seriously by many, an even used by his opponent in campaign ads to say that Obama might not be able to meet the challenge of this kind of threat.

That the forewarned threat might involve Israel, is something that concerns many people, including Israel's political and military leaders. Israel is itself scheduling parliamentary elections for January, 2009, after Kadima Party leader Zippy Livni could not form a coalition government following her winning the recent primary elections in her party. The outcome of these scheduled elections will determine who will be working with the new president, who himself will just beginning his term of office. Obviously, a right winged Israeli government led by Likud Party leader Binyamin Natanyahu will not be as flexible as one led by Ms. Livni. But we will only know this after the elections take place. Obama has shown that he can be a good listener. The big question now is how well he will be able to "listen" to what is needed to solve the problems dealing with Israel and her adversaries.

Caring For Israels Finest

LIBI, meaning "My Heart", is a special private fund that was established to provide assistance and services to serving in the Israel Defense Forces, otherwise known as the IDF. Funds received by LIBI are used to assist soldiers in a number of ways, including educational programs, medical assistance programs, assistance for lone or "boded" soldiers who immigrated to Israel without their immediate families, and have no place to go when on leave. The money raised by LIBI volunteers helps augment the already strained defense budget of Israel's government, which simply cannot provide the needed services and assistance that organizations like LIBI can provide.

With the Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur holidays soon upon us, the assistance provided by LIBI to immigrant soldiers helps them to participate Israel's major Jewish holidays. LIBI provides gift parcels for the soldiers which include clothing, toiletries, sweets, and other personal items as well as giving financial assistance to help the young soldiers pay for renting rooms and group apartments to enable them to feel that they are with "family". The Organization also helps the soldiers with finding places to stay with families in order to truly feel part of Israeli society.

And for soldiers who come form poor families, LIBI also helps provide financial assistance, including food vouchers, increased monthly pay, and special loans and grants to not only assist the soldiers, but help their families too.

LIBI also provides for needed medical equipment in hospitals and other medical facilities that care for soldiers, not only in time of war, but in the event of serious injury or illness. Funds donated by contributors abroad recently enabled the purchase to two ambulances to transport soldiers from their bases to hospitals for needed medical treatment. Medical aid raised by LIBI volunteers helped considerably during the 2006 War in Lebanon, when IDF solders suffered numerous casualties, requiring immediate medical attention. A special medical center to treat wounded and sick IDF solders was inaugurated at the Medical Corps Base in Beer Sheva. The center not only includes a modern surgical and convalescent treatment facility, but a complete dental treatment unit as well. LIBI also helped a special rehabilitation center at the Tzriffin Army base, outside of Tel Aviv. This center includes a special orthopedic treatment and convalescence unit to treat IDF soldiers to recover from serious orthopedic injuries.

One might think that it is easy to solicit enough funds to provide for these projects. In reality, LIBI personnel and volunteers must work very hard to solicit and receive the necessary funds, both in Israel and abroad. This work includes annual fund raising campaigns as well and special fund raising projects during the year. Although large sums of money are occasionally received from individuals and groups abroad, the LIBI fund receives most of its funds from small contributions from individuals and families. These amounts can be anywhere from the equivalent of 3 to 5 dollars, and even small donations are greatly appreciated. As was said once by Yizhak Rabin, an IDF Chief of Staff from 1964 to 68 and twice Israel's prime minister:

"Our soldiers prevail not by the strength of their weapons but by their sense of mission; by their consciousness of the justness of their cause, by a deep love for their country, and by their understanding of the heavy task laid upon them: to ensure the existence of our people in their homeland and to affirm, even at the cost of their lives, the right of the Jewish people to live their lives in their own state, free, independent and in peace"

Oketz Dog Wars

War Dogs


When Israeli army units go into battle, or on patrol, Man's Best Friends often go with them. In fact, these canine members of a special unit known as OKETZ (Hebrew for sting) have been so successful that when they are killed in action they are buried in special military cemeteries and receive full military honors.

Although dogs have been used by the Israeli military and police units for some time (police have their own K-9 units which are similar to those in the USA and other countries), the present format of the Oketz units have proven themselves to be invaluable in both locating explosives and other dangerous objects, as well as locating terrorists and other enemy persons during patrols into areas such as Gaza and the West Bank, not to mention during wartime. During the 2006 war in Lebanon, Oketz unit dogs were invaluable in finding explosives as well as during night patrols into enemy territory. Although several different kinds of dogs have been used for this kind of duty, including Rottweilers and German Shepherds, the most suitable breed is the Malinois or Belgian Shepherd, due to it's size, short fur, and color.

Belgian Shepherd pups are chosen at an early age and sent to special training schools which last several months. During this training period, each dog is assigned to a soldier who has also undergone a special preliminary training course prior to being assigned his or her "buddy". Both dogs and their handler literally live and work together and form a close bond with each other. This relationship becomes so close that both animal and human literally depend on each other for survival when on duty.
Often, the dog becomes the personal pet of his trainer after leaving active duty.

When an Oketz dog is killed during a patrol or other operation, they are buried in a special pet cemetery located in the central part of the country. The cemetery is a special memorial place for these fury heroes, and includes a special inscription at the cemetery entrance, that translated into English reads: Walk softly, for here lie soldiers of Israel. On each miniature tombstone is inscribed the dog's name, date of death, and that the dog died during military action.

The use of these dogs has become so successful that they are hated by Arab in areas where the dogs are often sent on patrol, due to the Arab's frequent acts of violence during political and similar demonstrations, especially in the West Bank. Despite the occasional controversies surrounding their use, these brave "dogs of war" have proven their value time and time again, and have saved many human lives. Their use by the Israeli military will continue to be an outstanding contribution to helping to preserve the future of the State of Israel.

Hativat Golani Brigade Attracts Israeli Youth

Formed during the early years of Israel's existence as a defensive unit to protect Israel's Northern border with Lebanon and Syria, the Hativat Golani Brigade resulted from the combination of two older fighting units, the Lebanon and Carmeli brigades, to form what is now considered as one of the country's top infantry units.

Since its formation in February, 1948, the Hativat Golani has seen action in every major war involving Israel, as well as numerous smaller military actions, especially those against terrorist infiltrations and special operations in the West Bank.

Known by their brown berets and olive tree arm patches, Hativat Golani is one of the most decorated combat units and is often likened to such foreign military combat units as the U.S. 1^st Calvary Brigade and the British SAS. Also known as the "Farmer's Brigade" with their brown berets denoting their attachment to the soil, Golani fighting units have some of the toughest training programs of any modern military organization in the world today.

The Golani Brigade is divided into four infantry battalions, including a special reconnaissance battalion, "The Egos" and a special unit battalion that includes anti-tank and engineering companies. The Sayeret Golani, the brigades most elite unit, is the one that pulled off the Entebbe Operation in July, 1976.

Golani units have seen intense military action on Israel's border with Lebanon, especially during the 1982 Operation Peace for Galilee campaign, and countless border skirmishes with the Hezbollah in Lebanon. More recent combat activities involving Golani Brigade soldiers include operations in the West Bank, and the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Young Israeli youth are particularly attracted to signing up for this unit, and many Golani Brigade soldiers have hailed from kibbutzim and moshavim (agricultural settlements).

Golani Brigade soldiers are known for their high military camaraderie; for this reason many young Israeli youth are willing to undergo the brigade's intense training program, in which many do not pass. Israel's current Army Chief of Staff, Major General Gabi Ashkenazi, an agricultural moshav member, was Hativat Golani Brigade's Commander from 1986 to 88.

Golani Brigade badges and insignia, including Golani Warrior, Palsar Golani Sayeret badges and "Olive Tree" arm patches are highly prized among military insignia collectors the world over. This is particularly true for the Golani Recon Sayeret Battalion, whose members are often compared with the elite American Army "Rangers" combat unit.

Givati Brigade - Israel's Southern Defense Strength

The IDF's Givati Brigade went into action again on Monday in Israel's southern border with Gaza. Often considered to be the equivalent of the Israeli Military's famed Golani Brigade, stationed mostly on Israel's northern borders with Lebanon and Syria, the Givati Brigade is the IDF's elite mechanized infantry brigade whose primary function is to defend Israel's long southern border with both Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

Formed in 1948 during the War of Independence, what became known as the Hativat Givati Brigade has seen combat action in virtually all of Israel's wars with her Arab neighbors. Since the start of the second Palestinian uprising, better known as the "Al Aqsa Intifada" or "the second Intifada" in the year 2000, Givati Brigade forces have been deployed along the borders of the Gaza Strip, and have seen action on numerous occasions against Palestinian insurgents and terrorists who continue to engage in acts of terror against Israeli towns and settlements in the country's southern regions.

Givati Brigade soldiers, distinguished by their special insignia and purple berets, have been decorated time and time again for acts of bravery under fire; including such notable operations as the one in 2004, when Palestinian terrorists used UN vehicles in order to transport fighters and arms for use against Jewish settlers living in Gaza settlements.

The Givati Brigade is divided into three battalions: Shaked, Zabar, and Rotem. They also have special units involved in reconnaissance, amphibious assault operations, and engineering units. One unit in particular, the 846 Shualey Shimshon, or Samson's Foxes, was patterned after the famous British 'Desert Foxes' Battalion that distinguished itself in North Africa during WWII.

Since Israel's disengagement from Gaza in August 2005, Israeli forces, including those of the Givati Brigade, have had to re-enter the Strip on several occasions to either capture or kill terrorists and militia forces suspected of planning and carrying out acts of terror against Israel. Many of these military actions have been in response to continued launchings of home-made "Kassam" rockets, of which more than 4,000 have been launched against Israelis, most notably targeting towns such as Sderot.

Following the kidnapping of IDF Corporal Gilad Schalit in June 2006, Givati Brigade soldiers have been involved in a number of military actions inside Gaza, including Operation Summer Rains, which resulted in over 300 terrorists being killed, and Operation Hot Winter in early 2008.

In the aftermath of several attacks on Israelis involved in transporting fuel and other supplies into Gaza, and the continuous missile barrages, including those of longer range against the city of Ashqelon, the IDF is said to be planning another large scale offensive on the level of Operation Summer Rain. Meanwhile, small Givati units continue to enter the Strip to carry out operations against Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists such as the most recent one on June 16, in which 3 Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed.

The Givati Brigade, like the Golani Brigade in the north, will continue to do its duty to protect Israeli civilians for as long as this is necessary, since no peace has yet been made with groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and others bent on attacking innocent people in Israel. We who live in the Jewish State owe a great deal to these fine young men who constantly put themselves at risk to guard and protect their fellow Israeli citizens.

The IDF Rebuilds Its Military Infrastructure

The Israeli Defense Forces, otherwise known as the IDF, have undergone considerable upgrading since the 2006 war in Lebanon. Following the appointment of former Golani Brigade commander Lt. General Gaby Ashkenazi to IDF Chief of Staff, virtually all branches of Israel's military, especially its ground forces, have undergone a number of changes to prepare for a possible future war with the Hezbollah and possibly Syria as well. Askenzaki is well suited for his new role as he has considerable combat experience and is well acquainted in ground combat fighting, as he was a commander of what many consider to be the IDF's top fighting unit.

Being a field commander, General Ashkenazi is much more suited to head the IDF than his predecessor, Dan Halutz, who formerly headed the Israeli Air Force before his appointment to be C.O.S., by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 2005. One of General Ashkenazi's major tasks has been to improve the morale in IDF military units, especially among reserve soldiers, considered to be the backbone of the country's military. Gross logistical failures during what is now called the Lebanon II War, resulted in many reserve soldiers saying that they would refuse to fight in a new conflict unless considerable changes were made to enable them to have the required equipment and training needed to face an enemy that has grown much stronger and is better equipped than in previous years.

For security reasons, a number of these revisions have not been disclosed to the general public. One of main problems that many IDF officers have had is in regards to the type of warfare known as asymmetric warfare that is now being fought not only by Israel against its enemies but by other armies such as the American-led coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Russian forces in provinces such as Chechnya. In asymmetric warfare, different ideologies and the will to fight often results in a lesser equipped enemy having an advantage over a stronger, better equipped army.

Besides Israel's ground forces, including the highly acclaimed Givati brigade, the armor corps in which the Ga'ash Formation is the largest armor group, and special units such as the Egoz special operations unit, the IDF is also upgrading the Naval Forces and Air Forces.

Speaking at a recent officer's school graduation ceremony at Mitzpeh Ramon, both General Ashkenzi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak (a former C.O.S. himself) warned that the IDF must be ready to face the threat of possible regional conflict that could break out at any time, especially following the assassination of Hezbollah's top terror strategist Imad Monighyeh in March 2008, and in light of Hezbollah's recent political gains in the Lebanese parliament.

Throughout Israel's 60 years as an independent country, its army has had to make constant upgrades in its ability to meet the challenges facing the Jewish State in light of constantly changing realities. Only in this way can a small country such as Israel meet the challenges of facing its enemies and prevailing against them.

Reflections on Israeli POW's and the public's reaction towards them on Israel's 60th

Last Friday, May 2nd, a very interesting article appeared in the Weekend supplement of the Jerusalem Post, Israel's oldest English language newspaper. The article, entitled Stigma of Surrender, and written by correspondent Larry Derfner, dealt with Israelis who had been taken prisoner in various wars, especially the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and the first Lebanese War of 1982. Former Israeli POW's who had been taken prisoner and later released, recounted their experiences in the hands of the enemy, and what happened to them after their final release. Many of them said that the treatment they received by IDF authorities who "interrogated" them afterwards was (from a psychological basis) almost as bad as when they were prisoners of war, or of terrorists.

With Israeli soldiers such as Gilad Schalit, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser still not back home after nearly two years, this year's Soldier's Remembrance Day and Independence Day celebrations will take on a special meaning for members of their families, as well as for many other Israelis.

Israel will be celebrating its 60th anniversary as an independent state this week; and the matter of captured and missing soldiers is an issue even more important, especially in light of recent offers to affect a prisoner exchange with the Hamas organization for captured soldier Gilad Schalit.

Many people in Israel feel that trading this young soldier's life (assuming he's still alive) for several hundred Hamas and other terrorists who will only go back to killing Jews, is not going by the old Rabbinical context of "he who saves one life has saved the entire world". This time it's entirely different.

I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of either Mr. and Mrs. Schalit or the Prime Minister in regards to what to do in this situation. Israeli prisoners have mainly been repatriated in wartime - and at that most were from the Egyptians who were only slightly more humane than their Syrian allies.

Regarding soldiers captured or taken prisoner by terrorist groups, it's nearly always been a death sentence - except for some like Elhanan Tennenbaum, an Israeli reserve officer who was captured while in Dubai on a "business trip" and later transported to Lebanon, and who may have had "connections" which enabled him to stay alive.

Some people feel that Israeli solders should be issued a cyanide pill, like Mossad agents are, and if they have the opportunity, to simply swallow it. At least it prevents the suffering, including by such as Ron Arad, who may actually have died long ago (this was supposedly verified by Russian and other foreign diplomats who received inside information).

That's the sad reality of being captured as an Israeli soldier. So much for the "Pinchas Shevi" (POW ID Card) issued every IDF recruit. Some say that it's not worth the paper it's printed on!

Or is it?

I'm quite sure that if one talks to parents and relatives of the three young men mentioned here, they will definitely agree that Israeli soldiers should not only come back alive but should be given the honor that they truly deserve. In fact, I'm sure these relatives feel that Israeli leaders are not doing enough to ensure their loved ones' release.

As Israelis celebrate 60 years of independence, they should also take time to reflect on these brave young men who so much deserve to come home – with honor – to their loving and waiting families.

How Israelis Plan To Celebrate Passover, 2008

Israelis have always had a "love-hate" affair when comes to the 7 day holiday known as Pesach (Passover) or Hag HaAviv (Festival of Spring) to secular folk. Pesach is one of Judaism's most beautiful and important festivals as it commemorates the Jew's freedom from slavery under the Egyptian Pharaoh, Ramsis II, more than 3,000 years ago. Like Thanksgiving in America, the Passover Seder is one of the best times for families to be together to enjoy this holiday and eat the foods that God commanded their forbearers to eat as they left Egypt for what turned out to be 40 years of wandering through the wilderness of Sinai.

For some Israelis, however, Pesach is not the joyous and meaningful festival that it should be, and many go abroad for the week to escape having to eat matzah or unleavened bread and other foods deemed Kosher for Pesach. Recently, more and more restaurants and stores have begun offering bread products, including pita, pizza, and even baguettes to those who want them. This now includes large supermarkets as well as small convenience stores, many of which are run by non-religious kibbutzim. Enforcing the existing law concerning the selling and eating of "hametz" (leavened bread and other non-kosher for Pesach products) has been difficult, and many businesses, including a large supermarket chain, simply pay fines as a "cost of doing business".

Enter Pesach 2008. Due to objections in the existing laws by secular Israelis, a Jerusalem court judge issued a decree that in some instances the existing "Passover Law" will not be binding for private establishments who are not considered as "public arenas". This means that breads and other "hametz" products will now be allowed to be sold in grocery stores, restaurants and pizza parlors, etc., and that beer will flow freely in all the pubs (as if it hasn't already up to now!). While this has made a lot of secular people happy, religious and traditional Jews feel just the opposite as this edict clearly violates a very old and important tenet of Judaism.

Or does it? Those who intend to keep Kosher for Pesach wouldn't eat or drink in most of the establishments who will serve "hametz" as many of them are already non-kosher and are open during the year on Shabbat and religious holidays; serving non-kosher foods, including pork and shellfish. This being the case, there's really no reason for these types of establishments to have to be Kosher for Pesach anyway, since serving non-kosher pepperoni pizzas prepared on matzos instead of normal pizza dough is a bit superfluous.

The bottom line is the personal consciousness of people; and being forced to do something they really don't care to do is not going to change them. Anyway, it's been estimated that at least 70% of all Jews in Israel will forsake their pizzas and falafels for a week and be none the worse off for it. In fact they will do this proudly, out of respect for their faith and tradition.

As for the remaining 30%, hopefully some of you will get the message and join your Jewish brethren in observing a truly unique and wonderful religious tradition to celebrate our release from human bondage into freedom.

Hag Pesach Semach!

Less murders in Israel as police return to "normal" work

Despite the recent terrorist attack in Dimona and continued Kassam missile attacks on Sderot, Israel police say they actually have more time now for conducting what they consider to be normal police activities. New Head Police Inspector General Dudi Cohen disclosed that in the year 2007, the number of murders actually decreased in Israel by 21%. Although many serious crimes such as aggravated assault, robbery, and rape have not shown significant deceases, at least murders have, according to Cohen.

While murders have decreased, assaults such as stabbings by youth have increased, however; and this area is one in which the police are trying to put more efforts into. Another area in which the police will be putting more attention in is the increasing numbers of traffic violations and serious accidents, many resulting in death and serious injuries. Hardly a week goes by without these accidents being shown on TV. Many are caused by young drivers as well as by those with a history of serious traffic violations. The police are already putting more officers on the roads to give citations for traffic offenses. This might be something that senior police officers should make themselves examples of as it was just the other day that the Inspector General himself was shown driving at speeds in excess of 140 km per hour.

Another new unit, called the Magen anti-drug enforcement unit is working on combating narcotics smuggling from Egypt to Israel. Some of their new equipment includes specially equipped helicopters to spot smugglers on the ground and thus call in mobile units to apprehend them. One of their top offices, Chief Inspector Kobi Mor is the police officer who killed the second terrorist in the attack in Dimona. His unit was not far away when alerted to the scene of the terror attack.

Inspector General Cohen was appointed to his post after his predecessor was forced to resign following a number of serious allegations dealing with his connections with crime figures. The police force has had problems with other high ranking offices as well, and one of Cohen's chief tasks has been improving the image of the police in Israel.

It hasn't been an easy task. Cohen and other high ranking police and security officials attended a special conference a few months back dealing with finding ways to improve the police and security forces in Israel. The conference, entitled: To Protect and to Serve – Police and Policing in an age of terrorism and beyond, was also attended by law enforcement officials from the USA. It is hoped that new efforts and concepts will improve the efficiency of all departments of the police force in Israel.

Mass Sderot protests after Kassam attacks

Increasing numbers of Kassam rocket attacks on Sderot are resulting in more casualties as either the Palestinians are getting better at launching on populated areas, or just by the numbers of rockets launched. Whatever the reason, the recent attacks occurring over the weekend, in which two boys in the same family were both seriously injured, and may other people were treated for shock, appears to be pushing the IDF into some kind of ground engagement in Gaza.

The plans for a ground attack although potentially costly to Israeli soldiers is basically two-fold. Following the breach in the security fence and wall between Gaza and Egypt, a large amount of more sophisticated rockets (like Ketiushas) and other military hardware were probably brought over from Egypt into the strip, which will eventually be used against Israeli civilian and military targets. A large scale ground attack will be aimed at gaining some form of control back over the Philadelphi crossing at Rafah, where the border breach was made. Another reason for a ground attack is to try to wipe out the sources of the rocket launchings and possibly even capture some high ranking Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders; forcing these organizations to tone down their attacks.

Israel is already stepping up concentrated air strikes against those involved in planning and carrying out these missile attacks; and word is out that high ranking Hamas officials, including Ismail Haniyeh himself, may be targets. This policy has already been tried in the past when Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and former Hamas leader Abdel Azziz Rantisi were both "taken out" in this manner. Other ideas, including complete cutting off of Gaza from both water and electricity are also being considered; although it must be remembered that it was these forms of collective punishment that resulted in Hamas people blowing up the border barriers at Rafah two weeks ago. Many of the more than half a millions Gazans who took advantage of this act to have a free tour of the Sinai are still over there and possibly planning future terror attacks against Israel.

The people of Sderot, in the wake of the severe Kassam rocket attacks, took to the streets, burning tires and other material and shouting for the P.M. to either take immediate action or quit. They have now carried their protests to both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Prime Minister Olmert is still hanging on to his position regarding the matter; but all indications are that he won't be able to hold the army back for long. In the meantime, even though government officials like Defense Minister Ehud Barak promise that Israel will "use all available means to stop these attacks" the attacks themselves continue and the residents of this southern town of 20,000 are growing more and more impatient.

Mass Sderot protests after Kassam attacks

Increasing numbers of Kassam rocket attacks on Sderot are resulting in more casualties as either the Palestinians are getting better at launching on populated areas, or just by the numbers of rockets launched. Whatever the reason, the recent attacks occurring over the weekend, in which two boys in the same family were both seriously injured, and may other people were treated for shock, appears to be pushing the IDF into some kind of ground engagement in Gaza.

The plans for a ground attack although potentially costly to Israeli soldiers is basically two-fold. Following the breach in the security fence and wall between Gaza and Egypt, a large amount of more sophisticated rockets (like Ketiushas) and other military hardware were probably brought over from Egypt into the strip, which will eventually be used against Israeli civilian and military targets. A large scale ground attack will be aimed at gaining some form of control back over the Philadelphi crossing at Rafah, where the border breach was made. Another reason for a ground attack is to try to wipe out the sources of the rocket launchings and possibly even capture some high ranking Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders; forcing these organizations to tone down their attacks.

Israel is already stepping up concentrated air strikes against those involved in planning and carrying out these missile attacks; and word is out that high ranking Hamas officials, including Ismail Haniyeh himself, may be targets. This policy has already been tried in the past when Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and former Hamas leader Abdel Azziz Rantisi were both "taken out" in this manner. Other ideas, including complete cutting off of Gaza from both water and electricity are also being considered; although it must be remembered that it was these forms of collective punishment that resulted in Hamas people blowing up the border barriers at Rafah two weeks ago. Many of the more than half a millions Gazans who took advantage of this act to have a free tour of the Sinai are still over there and possibly planning future terror attacks against Israel.

The people of Sderot, in the wake of the severe Kassam rocket attacks, took to the streets, burning tires and other material and shouting for the P.M. to either take immediate action or quit. They have now carried their protests to both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Prime Minister Olmert is still hanging on to his position regarding the matter; but all indications are that he won't be able to hold the army back for long. In the meantime, even though government officials like Defense Minister Ehud Barak promise that Israel will "use all available means to stop these attacks" the attacks themselves continue and the residents of this southern town of 20,000 are growing more and more impatient.

Snow comes again to the Holy City

Snow comes again to the Holy City

 

With all the 'combinations' of precipitation and lower temperatures coming into form, "Jerusalem the Golden" became all white as the winter season's first snow storm blanked the city with 2 to 3 inches of snow. The snowfall is always a welcome diversion to the city's children, though more a nuisance to their parents since the municipality announced that schools in the Holy City will be closed on Wednesday due to the Frosty the Snowman's visit. The snowy weather also reached some higher elevations in the Galilee and really hit the northern Golan Heights, especially the ski site at Mt. Hermon, which had been unused for that purpose so far this year. With a little more snow in next few days, the site will probably be at least partially open to both skiers and people who just want to bring their kids to frolic in the "sheleg" the Hebrew word for snow.

The moisture for both the snow and the rains that have reached Israel is welcome relief to the country's chronic water problems, and anyone who has visit the Kineret lately must have noticed that the lake level is a bit low – even to the point where fishing boats are sitting in the mud instead of floating in their mooring berths. The lake should receive enough water from both the melting snows on Mr. Hermon and from feeder streams (including the Jordan) to raise the water level at least half a meter. Even so, the lake level will still be about 2 meters below the accepted level to not cause any water shortage problems during the long dry season of April through October.

Not much rain has reached Israel so far this year, and what has arrived previously is far below what the country should have received by late January. Israel's "rainy season" if one were to call it that, is only from December to March, although some rain does fall occasionally in October and November; and even some freak rain storms come as late as mid May.

But getting back to Jerusalem, a winter snowfall adds a special beauty and charm to an already beautiful and charming city. Seeing pictures of a snowy blanket on the Old City and the Mt. of Olives is especially enchanting, and despite any temporary inconveniences, I'm sure the citizens of Jerusalem will agree. It is written in Jewish daily prayer, referring to God's divine assistance to the Land of Israel: "Thou causest the winds to blow and the rains to fall".

Israeli Hip Hopper goes big time

What is a nice Jewish Israeli girl doing with a bunch of L.A. rappers and hip hop artists? Why she's making a lot of money with them – that's what! Miri Ben Ari began playing the violin when she was a young girl, and more recently switched from classical music to more interesting melodies like gospel, rhythm and blues and jazz after going to America following advice from local entertainment personalities who said that her music style was something that would have more possibilities in the USA.

But what has really given her career a boost is her connection the black American music community, especially the one performing the new hi hop style of music. In fact, her career has done so well that she recently won a Grammy award for her music and has put out a best selling CD entitled The Hip Hop Violinist. "I was introduced to this kind of music by the pop star Wyclif Jean, and also received a lot of assistance from another well known artist Jay Z, who introduced me to the black community".

She won her Grammy award for her performance with the rapper and record producer Kayne West.

Miri is very enthusiastic about her association with the black music community as she is able to relate to them very well, despite being from Israel. "Many blacks are evangelistic Christians who are very pro Israel" she says. Despite the fact that Miri lives most of the time now in the USA, she is very proud to tell people that she is Israeli; and she has recently been involved in performing special music to commemorate the Holocaust. Some of her music, used in the recent Hollywood movie The Freedom Riders, was honored by the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum in Jerusalem. Mir recently visited Israel and made several guest appearances, including one on the morning Channel 10 talk show. She is very proud that her music is connected with helping to create more awareness about the Holocaust.

Her music will be featured in special events connected with Israel's upcoming 60^th anniversary celebrations and she is now working on a new music album as well as providing background music for a "come back" album by pop music icon Donna Summers. She has also performed in campaign promotions for Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

"As a woman, I would love to see a woman president, although Barack Obama is also very capable" she said.

At Least 3 Reasons to Keep the Golan Heights

I just came back from 3 wonderful days of vacation in the Golan Heights.

We enjoyed the wide open spaces, the stunning nature trails, the flowing water in the streams and waterfalls...

Who could ever dream of giving this away to Syria?

But apart from the stunning natural landscapes, there are at least three very good reasons why Ehud Olmert would be wise not to negotiate at all on the fate of this land.

1. Emotional. There is a national consensus about it. As Nadav Shragai wrote in a Haaretz article a couple of weeks ago: “The Golan is a lot more "Israeli" than "Syrian." It has been Israeli for 40 years, double the time it was in Syria's hands. It has been under Israeli sovereignty for 26 years... The Golan has become a part of Israeli life. It is the most frequently visited part of the country, dotted with dozens of Jewish communities, agricultural fields, industrial areas and tourist resorts, nature reserves and wild landscape.

... For the past two generations at least, the Golan became ingrained in our consciousness as an inseparable part of the state... It doesn't take a poll to know that the Israeli public is tied to the Golan, loves it and senses through healthy intuition that it is part of it.”

2. Historical. I’m not sure why we talk about ‘returning’ the Golan to Syria. In the brief period Syria held the Golan, they turned it into a launching pad, all too similar to Hezbollah’s behavior last summer and the Kassam attacks on the South today. The Syrian army shelled the border communities, tried to tamper with Israel’s water system and turned life in the North into a Sderot-style hell. The Golan was conquered in a justified defensive war. We paid for it with blood. The Syrians lost it fair and square.

In Biblical times too, the Golan was always part of Israel. Archeologists repeatedly find evidence of Jewish sovereignty, from the reign of Solomon, through the Second Temple period, the heroic battle of the city of Gamla and the Talmudic period. It was certainly no foreign land.

3. Security. In 1992, before the elections, the late Yitzhak Rabin declared, “As for the future, it is inconceivable that even in peacetime we should go down from the Golan. Whoever even thinks of leaving the Golan wantonly abandons the security of Israel.”

He acted a little differently after his election but the facts remain:

1. The 400 square mile area is of supreme strategic importance.

2. Its high ground provides early-warning capability. Without it, Israel would be exposed to surprise Syrian attacks, just like in 1948, ’67 and ’73.

3. The Golan dominates the Jordan Valley.

4. There are only two natural terrain bottlenecks through which tanks can advance. These ‘choke points’ are defensible and indeed Israel used them to repel 1,400 Syrian tanks in 1973.

5. If the Golan were in Syrian hands, they could overrun Israel in a matter of hours.

6. Over one third of Israel’s fresh water comes from the Golan. In 1964, when they possessed the area, Syria attempted to cripple Israel’s water supply. What would stop them trying again?

In short, whatever way you look at it, Ehud Olmert should make it clear that any peace negotiations should be conditional on one thing: The Golan Heights are not for sale.

Needed: More Inspiration for Israeli Youth

A recent editorial in the Jerusalem Post stated that 25% of today's youth in Israel do want to be in military service, or have been disqualified from the military due to physical of emotional problems. No longer are the country's youth considering careers in the military either, as even this opportunity is becoming less available due to budget tightening measures to help keep the country's inflation index at a near 0 level.

Why is this happening when Israel's enemies are become more militaristic, and are willing to become martyrs in order to kill or wound more and more Israelis? The answer may lie in the fact that modern Israeli youth have simply changed most of their values from doing everything for their country to simply doing everything for themselves.

That's right; Israel has become a "No. 1" oriented society, where people are only interested in looking after themselves and not for society as a whole. Beginning as a country with a "one for all and all for one" mentality in the country's early years, Israel has become a country in which social minded goals for the nation's youth have been replaced with materialistic ones; including new cars, private homes, and frequent trips abroad. It's actually cheaper to fly to Turkey or Greece on holiday than to spend the same time at an Israeli resort hotel – kosher food and all!

Instead of pursuing vocations involving physical work, such as driving a bus or truck (once very desired vocations), or as a tradesman or mechanic, today's youth prefer to pursue careers in information technology where they also receive a late model car to drive to and from their posh, air conditioned jobs, enjoying a lifestyle that even their parents could only dream about.

Last summer's Lebanese war did more than simply point out the problems that reserve soldiers faced by a government unable to provide for their basic needs while in the field. This war also indicated a society who simply wasn't prepared to go to war, while the country's enemies have been training and building up their military infrastructure. This 'infrastructure' now includes a virtual army or more then 15,000 trained soldiers in the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip, consisting of 4 field brigades, and an increasing array of munitions and explosives, most of them smuggled in under the obliging eyes of Egyptian soldiers and international "monitoring" forces.

When the country was fighting for its existence in the 1948 War of Independence many of the men fighting in Israel's military and paramilitary forces were either volunteers from abroad or Holocaust survivors who had only been freed from Nazi death camps a few years before. These men, and women, knew that it was either fight or die, and many did die during those first terrible months, especially in battles like the Battle of Latrun (in which more than 600 former Detention Camp inmates were slaughtered trying to take the Jordanian held Latrun Police Station) and the Battle of Burma Road, in which the American volunteer, Col. Mickey Marcus, lost his life.

Inspiration: what more inspiration is needed other than the obvious; in that the State of Israel is in perhaps more danger than it has been in since the Yom Kippur War and War of Independence. With Syria and Iran, two of Israel's arch enemies, now forming a military alliance, and Hezbollah once again at full strength along Israel's northern border (not to mention Hamas in the South and Israel's "former" enemy, the PLO, entrenched in the West Bank) The people of Israel have no shortage of enemies to deal with.

The main concern now for the Jewish State is whether the country's youth are ready, and able, to accept the challenges needed to prevail.