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.

Shimon Peres Becomes Israel's 9th President

In a ceremony fraught with pageantry and fanfare Former Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres was sworn in July 15 as the 9^th President of the State of Israel. In a moving Knesset ceremony, Peres took the oath of what is usually a largely ceremonial position similar to Britain's Queen Elizabeth. In his acceptance speech afterwards, however, Peres (who usually loves to be in the center of governmental goings-on) indicated that his term of office will be anything but ceremonial, with the new president volunteering to go on various peace missions on the government's behalf.

Despite his advanced age (83) Peres seems to be in excellent health, and loves to travel abroad and hobnob with foreign government leaders and other dignitaries. This means that he may become the county's first globe trotting President and will undoubtedly not wait even for the paint on the door of his new office in Beit Hanasei to dry before he leaves on his first international assignment; most likely to either the USA or the UK – both favorite destinations for a man who has literally been in nearly every major world capital, including Olso Norway, where he jointly accepted the Nobel Peace Price in 1994, along with Yizhak Rabin and Yassir Arafat.

After nearly 50 years of governmental and political activities, Peres has finally found a position that most suits his wide and diversified career in public life. In a way it's a shame he didn't have this opportunity seven years ago when he barely lost out to Likud political party rival Moshe Katsav, who has now left the Presidency in disgrace following his admittance to being involved in a number of incidents of sexual misconduct. Katsav is also being accused of at least two counts of rape, which were dropped by Israel State Prosecutor Manny Mezuz in an effort to keep an already scandalous incident from becoming an embarrassing public trial.

Shimon Peres' ascension to the presidency will hopefully do much to erase the pall that has been cast on this office by both Katsav and Katsav's predecessor Ezar Weizman, who wasn't ashamed to speak his mind; even if his remarks were frequently taken out of context by the press. Peres brings an air of dignity to an office where dignity and protocol are two of the most important aspects. With Peres in this position, not only will he be meeting foreign dignitaries when they arrive in Israel, he himself will be going to meet them on their home ground; where Peres feels as much at home as he does in Jerusalem.

Despite his wife, Sonia being in ill health, Peres will undoubtedly volunteer to be his country's official peace envoy for as long as he is able to do so. And judging from the current state of affairs that Israel finds itself in, peace is something that Israel sorely needs. If Shimon can make a positive contribution towards this end, his final position in public life will be more than fitting for a man who has dedicated a great deal of his life to the cause of peace.

Despite Everything – They Still Come

Almost one year to the day after the outbreak of last summer's Lebanon II war, 220 new Olim arrived Tuesday, July 10, aboard an El Al flight from New York. Participants in the highly successful Nefesh B'Nefesh program, this event was featured on Israel television and included interviews with several new arrivals who said that despite leaving relative comforts and familiar surroundings in America, they were happy to have the privilege to join their Israeli brethren in their Jewish homeland.

Why has Nefesh B'Nefesh been so successful, with yearly increases in Aliyah from North America, the U.K., and France? The answer is that a more intense effort is now being made to ensure that these new citizens have a better chance to make it in a country where immigrants from western countries often become discouraged and go back to their former places of residence. These efforts include more assistance in finding them suitable employment by more intense screening to make sure that the potential Oleh's education and work experience better match available employment opportunities, particularly in technology based industries. Finding suitable housing and educational facilities for school aged children are also important aspects; and many Olim not only already know which city and neighborhood they want to live in, but have already checked into available housing in these locations.

These factors, plus special loans and grants given to new Olim, help them to become settled easier. It's still difficult to adjust to living in Israel, as many long time Anglo 'vatikim' attest to. Israel is located in the Middle East, with all its implications; and Israel society does take a bit of getting used to, especially behavior patterns and the way people drive on the country's motorways.

Still, it's wonderful that more than 10,000 new Olim have arrived via Nefesh B'Nefesh since it's founding; and one flight actually arrived last year during the midst of the war. It would be nice if more attention is given to a potential Aliyah source that has already become an important part of Israel's population mix, with a highly educated and talented labor pool that can be drawn on, especially in the professions and high tech fields.

It is true that the majority of these new arrivals come from religious or traditional Jewish backgrounds. But this may contribute to their ability to withstand the adversities and challenges of living in a country that is constantly under threat of war and even annihilation.

Nefesh B'Nefesh – Souls reaching Souls. May it continue to go from strength to strength!

Live Earth – The Aftermath

The concerts attracted audiences from all over the globe, with live music in major world cities ranging from Sydney Australia to New York. Some of the planet's most well known entertainers took part, including Black Eyed Pea, Madonna, Phil Collins, Police, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Snoop Dog, and more. Even Israel had its own version in central Tel Aviv, playing ironically only meters from the spot where Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in November, 1995. The message was clear enough, as expressed in a taped message by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore: the world is getting hotter due to Mankind's abuse of the environment; and as a result, severe and even drastic changes are already occurring to the earth's climate – changes that could prove fatal to many of our planet's inhabitants in the coming years.

And in addition to the live concerts, the events were watched on T.V. the world over by at least 2 billion souls.

Little Israel, with a population of over seven million, is getting its share of the effects of global warming, the consequences of which were being shown to both the concert attendees at Rabin Square as well people sitting at home. Some of what of is bringing on these changes in Israel, and the end result, including rising temperatures and coastal sea levels were also talked about including the fact that most of the country's fresh water supplies, especially the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee is heavily polluted, and that high air pollution levels in major cites result in the death of at least 600 people annually. With more than 1,000,000 cars on the country's roads, at least 60% of them leased vehicles given to employees of high tech and other companies. This fact alone is responsible for 92% of the country's air pollution problems.

Israel's mounting problem with solid waste disposal, including hazardous industrial chemicals and other compounds was also mentioned, though not covered enough, considering the countrys' problem with both ground and air pollution.

So now, just a few days later, have any changes occurred since Live Earth that can be spoken of in real terms, since the music ended? Even after the concerts, most people rode home in either their own cars or in public conveyances, some of which also are major contributors to air pollution. Ramat Hovav, Israel's frequently talked about industrial waste disposal site, is likely to remain polluting the country's entire southern regions for years – if not generations – to come. And the country's ground water aquifer is becoming harder and harder to purify as more and more surface pollutants continue to contaminate it.

Madonna, one the London concert's guest performers and a champion of world social and environmental issues, made a very important comment by hoping that people attending the concerts will not only listen to the music but get the message of what needs to be done to prevent the end results of global warming. Many people say that the consequences of environmental pollution will eventually be far more serious to Israelis that any security problem short of outright nuclear war.

And so, people still clog the highways with their "lease-mobiles", still throw their rubbish on the country's beaches and in the national parks, and literally thousand of plastic bottles and other similar non-biodegradable items are seen lying forlornly everywhere. For those who aren’t aware, those plastic water and soft drink bottles are estimated to take at least 800 years to disintegrate; and the polymer composition of the plastic is very carcinogenic.

Three days later and nothing seems to have changed. – so far anyway. The future of global warming to inhabitants of this region is one in which rising sea levels may inundate parts of Tel Aviv and other coastal cities, and surface summertime temperatures may be similar than those in places that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (one wonders what the climate in those places will be like a mere 50 years from now).

Live Earth; save the planet. We all have a lot to do in order to make this dream become reality. We all live on an island we cannot leave. And unless we make a greater effort to reverse the environmental problems we all face , the future may not be very pleasant for any of us. So, make the effort and make one day a week a car-less day, and try to conserve both energy and water supplies, as well as pick up and dispose of trash more properly. Wash dishes by hand and hang out clothing to dry in our abundant sunshine. And take just one less shower per week.

It's our world, so let's improve it!

When the "Prophet" Comes to Call

9-11, Bali, Baghdad, Beirut, Delhi, Madrid, Kenya, London, and now Glasgow, the list of terror operations and attempted terror operations being carried out either by Al Qaeda, and organizations affiliated with Al Qaeda grows on and on. Only a year ago, a massive air-terror attack involving at least 20 international flights from London to New York was thwarted when special liquid explosive bombs disguised as cosmetics and other liquids normally carried in hand luggage were discovered at Heathrow Airport by British security officials. The foiled terror operation was linked to Al Qaeda; and had it been successful, more than 5,000 passengers and flight crews would have lost their lives.

Islamic sponsored terrorism, or radical Islamic sponsored terrorism, to be more tactfully correct, appears to be behind nearly all acts of international terrorism occurring in the world today. Whether it be an attack by Chechnya rebels on targets in Russia, a car bombing in Beirut or central Baghdad, or the recent terror attacks, and near terror attacks in central London, These events are being traced to terrorists connected with radical Islamic organizations.

Radical Islam – is this what is responsible for most acts of international terror, or is it something else; something more basic, more fundamental than what has been sensationalized by all the world's news media organizations, including BBC, CNN, Sky News and Fox? A generation ago, international terrorism was carried out by a number of organizations and individuals, including Carlos the Jackal, the Badar Meinhoff gang, the Red Brigade, the IRA, and Spain's ETA. Some of them acted together, some alone. But the reasons for their actions were either political or privately motivated. Since the mid 1990's, however, it appears that the vast majority of terror operations have been traced to Islamic groups. There is good reason for this as Islam in itself is now the fastest growing religion in the world; and most certainly the fastest spreading religious movement in Western Europe.

The following example is a good indication of how quickly Islamic sponsored terror spreads: Less than a month ago, British novelist Shalman Rushdie, author of the intensely controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, was benighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth; an act that almost instantly set off a wave of furor among Muslims in both the U.K. and abroad. Rushdie, upon whom a fatwa death warrant had been issued by Iranian religious leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini, is still a marked man by his alleged blasphemy against Islam, and the act of making him a Peer of the Realm only appears to legitimize his blasphemy in the eyes of Muslim clerics. A short time following Rushdie being benighted by the Queen, two cars were found in central London, filled with explosive materials, including LP gas cylinders, nails and other metal fragmentary material. This incident alone resulted in the entire central London theatre district being sealed off for fear of a massive terror attack. And following on its heals, three men tried to crash a jeep 4 X 4 into the arrivals entrance of Glasgow International Airport. The burning vehicle's blaze was only extinguished an hour later by the airport's fire brigade.

Incidents such as this only point out the very core of what is causing these acts of terrorism. And that "core" is a fast spreading religion that once tried to exert itself over half of the known world and is once again flexing its muscles and trying to become the dominant religious movement in Asia, Africa, Europe, and even North America. It is a religion that already has more than 1.3 Billion adherents: and is only being held back in Central and South America, where the Catholic Church still has a major influence.

The power of this religion is being felt all over the world, from the streets of Baghdad and Beirut, to the refugee camps of Gaza City. Its holy warriors fought a vastly superior Israeli military force last summer in southern Lebanon, and emerged as the psychological victors. It continues to frustrate and hold at bay both Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as American and other Coalition forces in Iraq. And it's acts of terrorism, have caused panic and alarm to millions the world over.

This religion, known as Islam, or submission to God's will, has from its outset been a religion of coercion and intimidation, a religion spread by force of arms. It is not to say that other religions have not used similar tactics to force their doctrines upon others. Christianity, especially during the Middle Ages, also used brute force to gain converts; and the Holy Inquisition of the Catholic Church only ended officially a century ago. But while Christians have made great strides to make amends for their previous actions, Muslims have only increased their armed struggle.

This "struggle" is made even more intense by the acts of martyrdom by Muslims resulting in much death and suffering worldwide. In fact, Islamic martyrdom has accounted for the great majority of deaths, human injury, and property damage attributed to their acts; the most noteworthy being the September 11, 2001 mega terror attacks on both New York City and Washington DC.

The resulting War of Terror, i.e. Islamic sponsored terror, has only been partially successful; and has even been set back significantly by the ongoing insurgent war in Iraq.

Al Qaeda's chief leaders, including Usama bin Ladin himself, have yet to be accounted for, and in Afghanistan, where both Al Qaeda's main headquarters and the ultra religious Taliban, who once held the country in an iron grip, are now making a strong come back.

It is nearly seven years since the horror of "9-11" with still no end in sight to the nightmare of Islamic sponsored terrorism. Countries who aid and sponsor these terrorists, such as Iran, Syria, and even to some extent Saudi Arabia, continue to do so despite threats and sanctions from the U.N. Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza continue to be a dire threat to the State of Israel, as well as to the world at large. Hezbollah operatives are said to be present in Iraq, aiding the local insurgents in designing and planting car bombs and other explosive charges responsible for widespread death and destruction.

And the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its obstinate desire to become a nuclear power, is an intensive threat not only to it's immediate geographical region (especially to Israel), but to the entire world as well.

The Prophet Muhammad, when founding the religion called Islam, could not possibly have imagined what the end result would be. But we, living in today's world more than 1,400 years later, know this "end result" far too well.

Haste is From the Devil

Temperatures have returned to normal after last week’s record electricity consumption in Israel...

After demonstrations and anger at President Katsav’s plea bargain...

And after gasoline prices rose again last night by 1.65%.

Yes, Israel is definitely a high energy, hot-blooded country.

A country of Jews from Morocco, Yemen, Spain, Germany, Hungary, England, France, India, Iraq, Canada, you name it – we all develop a Middle Eastern mentality within minutes of landing at Ben-Gurion Airport!

And that means no patience.

We replace our prime ministers With alarming frequency...

We sack soccer and basketball coaches after one season...

And we can’t wait for the Palestinians to prove they’re serious about peace, because...

Because?
Because?
Because Olmert and Co – just like those before them – want to engrave their names in the annals of history?

Because we’ve just had enough. The people are tired and just want to stop fighting. It’s not peace but at least it’s quiet.

Because Uncle Sam is pushing and pressurizing and bribing?

Because if the Government haven’t got the Palestinians to bother with, they might be
forced to do something about unemployment, poverty, crime?

Because we no longer believe in the justice of our cause?

Because we feel we owe the Palestinians for all the years of suffering?

All of the above?

Whatever the reason, Israel’s repeated and incessant urgency to make progress
in the ‘peace process’ (irrespective of what the other side does or doesn’t do),
needs reassessing. STOP! THINK!

Look at the facts!

At the Palestinians’ track record of keeping agreements...

At what happens when you give them guns, concessions, money...

At what happens when you give them Gush Katif...

Peace is not Pizza!

Two wise men put it very well:

“Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly.”
(Confucius)

“Fraud and deceit are ever in a hurry. Take time for all things. Great haste makes great waste.” (Benjamin Franklin)

The Jewish people have waited over 2,000 years.

We can wait some more. What’s the rush?

What Really Happened in the Middle East?

Dear Friends of Israel

In light of the recent conference being held in Sharam al Shiekh, everyone should look at this presentation sent to us by Bruce Tuchman.
This is WHAT THE ARABS REALLY WANT IN THE MIDDLE EAST!,

What Really Happened in the Middle East?
A 10-minute flash video produced by the Terrorism Awareness Project.
Terrorism Awareness Project is a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center.
Click here to View the Video

A Home for Israel’s Soldiers

Let’s keep away from the political scene this week.

After all, people do try and live normal lives in Israel.

But we will stick with the IDF and see how they’re doing on the home front.

Well, the good news is the Government has recently approved the establishment of a number of military neighborhoods in the Negev.

Since IDF training bases will now be moved south, hundreds of career soldiers will need new homes.

And based on the success of the first such neighborhood - Zahala in North East Tel Aviv – and others such as Reut-Maccabim, Kohav Yair and Kfar Yonah, that’s good news for the local economy.

One of “our aims is to arouse the hard hit real estate market in the Negev – both qualitatively and quantitatively,” says Lieutenant-Colonel Jackie Suissa, Head of Housing Projects in the IDF’s Human Resources Division.

“And it’s a 20% savings on market prices for every family.”

Such neighborhoods also raise the value of the rest of the city too.

The army’s aim is to provide its top ‘employees’ with choice physical living conditions so they are not tempted away to Hi-Tech, business or other fields.

And for the career soldiers, knowing who your neighbors are before you move is also a big plus!

However, there are of course those who oppose this particular ‘military strategy.’

Professor Yossi Katz, Head of the Geography Department at Bar-Ilan University, argues these neighborhoods will just create elites and widen the socio-economic gaps in their host cities.

And since career soldiers are traditionally moved from job to job, he claims there’s no guarantee that families who buy houses will actually live there. Especially when the Negev is not so attractive in terms of education, culture, sport etc.

Or the environment.

The Greens were out demonstrating this morning against the Government’s decision.
“We are against the establishment of these training bases before the pollution failings – which cause breathing problems, birth defects and ,miscarriages – are dealt with,” says Didi Zilberman, spokesperson of the student environmental group at Ben-Gurion University.

“Why endanger the lives of soldiers unnecessarily?”

The problem is the nearby Ramat Hovav Industrial Park, notorious for its heavy air pollution.

In response, the Government claims the highest pollution standards have been maintained there for the last year and a half. At any rate, whatever the arguments for and against, I’m sure a solution will be found pretty quickly...

Unlike the political situation we wanted to keep away from this week!

Hamas!

Has the world woken up now?

Have Bush and Rice seen sense?

Have Olmert, Peres, Barak and the rest of the Israeli Left recognized their mistakes over the last decades?

Do they finally understand you cannot make peace with terrorists?
People (a compliment) for whom human life is disposable.
Who have no god but themselves...
People who cannot be trusted to keep any agreement...
Who do not know the meaning of the word compromise, or mercy.
Peace is not just the absence of war.
Peace is that two peoples can live side by side without fear.

Open borders; healthy economies,sharing resources...

Yes, there is a Palestinian people who want to live a quiet, normal life like you and me.

Who want to see their children educated, prosperous and living in a reality free of hatred and bloodshed.

But if we haven’t heard their voice yet, what chance do they have now?

Dear President Bush, Prime Minister Olmert and other world leaders with a conscience, Now is the time to FIGHT terror And wipe out this cancer.
No negotiations. No summits. No superficial Saudi suggestions.

Yes, do your best to save innocent lives by all means.
But the aim must be to eliminate Hamas. And all it represents.

Not only for the survival of Israel, but for the sanity of the whole
wide world.

Finally – Shimon is a Winner!

Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who up to now has had one of the longest and disappointing carriers in Israeli political history finally came out on the long end by his election to the presidency today by a final majority of 86 parliamentary votes. His two rivals, Likud MK Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin and Labor MK Colette Avital conceded in favor of the 83 year old Peres who will take up his new post as President of the State of Israel on July 15.

Peres lost out to Moshe Katsav for the post in June, 2000, and since then has been involved in a number of political ventures including being part of the governments of both former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and present Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The largely ceremonial presidency is a 7 year post which includes officiating at important state functions such as Memorial and Independence Day celebrations, Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations, and officially receiving new ambassadors and other high ranking foreign dignitaries; duties which Mr. Peres is more than qualified to undertake.

Following the scandalous end to the presidential term of Moshe Katsav, who has been accused of numerous crimes of sexual misconduct, including rape, Mr. Peres should bring an air of dignity and respectability back to the Presidency which is sorely needed in Israel today.

Peres will perform his duties well, and be remembered afterwards in a similar favorable light as former presidents such as Haim Herzog and Yitzhak Navon.

We wish him well and our best wishes in his new endeavor.

"We will name the babe Muhammad!"

Great Britain's Muslim population, particularly Muslims living in greater London, is growing so fast that it is now acknowledged as the most prolific minority group there today. In fact, so fast is this ethnic group increasing in size, one only has to walk through the maternity ward of most British hospitals to see how many babies are being born to Muslim parents.

One recent indication of this phenomenon was a revelation that the most popular name being given to new born males in the U.K. is Muhammad, the prophet and historic founder of the religion known as Islam. Not that the name Muhammad hasn't been popular with Muslim mothers outside of the U.K. At least 1 in 3 new-born Muslim males are given the name Muhammad, especially those born into fundamentalist Muslim families. That the name has become popular amongst the fastest growing segment of Gt. Britain's population indicates that the future trend for this country's demographic make up is obvious to all.

The British government is trying to tighten up immigration policies to make it more difficult for new immigrants to enter the U.K. Despite this effort, however, a considerable number of new immigrants from Muslim countries continue to enter the U.K. each year; many of them illegally. This fact, coupled with a high birth rate for Muslim women of 6-8 children per childbearing Muslim woman compared to less than three for non-Muslim women, means that a Muslim population that is now approached 5 million is expected to double in the next 15 - 20 years.

Like other Western countries where minority immigrant populations have grown considerably, the British government has no one to blame but themselves for maintaining an 'open door' policy for peoples who originated from former British colonies and Commonwealth countries, particularly India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more than half of the African continent. Muslims from these countries naturally took advantage of British generosity, especially after the partition of India in 1947. On a smaller scale, Muslims from Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Jordan, and the territory which became the State of Israel in 1948, also came to live in Great Britain following the end of the Mandate period.

Muslims living in London, Manchester, and other major cities have established their own neighborhoods and culture, a phenomenon which has become even more evident with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. The recent 2005 bombings in central London were carried out by young Muslims of Pakistani origin, and at least three of them held British nationality. As the Muslim population increases, so will undoubtedly an increase in Islamic radicalism, which could result in further suicide bombings.

This is the reality of the 'brave new world' that Great Britain will have to cope with; especially the government which comes to power after Prime Minister Tony Blair leaves office in only two weeks. With the name Muhammad now the most popular name for a male child, it probably won't be long until Amira or Fatima will be the name of choice for female newborns as well. This possibility is definitely something for the Archbishop of Canterbury to ponder; especially with more Muslims attending mosques on Friday than Anglican Christians attending churches on Sunday.

And will this someday result in Canterbury Cathedral someday becoming the Great Mosque of Canterbury? Only time will tell.

War or Peace? Israel's 'new' polices towards Syria

Syria's President Bashar Assad claims that the Israeli government, especially Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, is sending out "mixed signals" in regards to possible peace negotiations with Syria. Olmert's recent announcement that his government is ready to enter into serious negotiations with Syria involving the Golan Heights, is coming on the heels of both countries preparing for a future military conflict over the territory taken by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War.

Assad, who recently declared that his country is ready to retake the "Heights", sees Israel in a much weakened position following last summer's Lebanon II war. Basking in his so-called "re-election" for another 7 year term as president, Assad seems more determined to reclaim his country's ownership of the territory still being held by Israel. Olmert, for his part, is offering to return nearly the entire Golan Heights, except for small sections around the Sea of Galilee, including Hamat Gader, one of the important sources of the Jordan River and a major water source for Israel.

Giving back this territory to Syria, which would include the entire Mt. Hermon Ski area as well as most of the eastern shore of Lake Kinneret, would mean that Syria will once again be sitting literally on Israel's doorstep. It would also mean that Syria would have full access to Israel's most important fresh water source, and could literally pump out the same water now being used by Israel. Some of the regions best fruit crops, especially apples, are grown on the Golan; and more recently world-class quality wines are produced there as well.

More than 30,000 Israelis live on the Golan Heights, as well as several thousand Druze who still claim Syrian nationality. Returning the Golan to Syria would necessitate relocating these people back to Israel – a feat much more difficult than the disengagement from Gaza in August, 2005.

The Golan Druze, however, are still loyal to Syria despite receiving various services from Israel including medical.

Many analysts agree that Prime Minister Olmert is offering up the Golan Heights out of a position of weakness; and that a stronger leader would not have considered this gesture to one of Israel's worst enemies. Still, other political leaders including Yizhak Rabin, and even Binyamin Nantanyahu have made similar offers in the past.

Both Israeli and Syrian military forces have recently staged military exercises on each other's respective side of the border; and intelligence reports indicate that the Syrians are repairing and cleaning bomb shelters and bunkers on their side of the cease fire line. Syria reportedly has hundreds of Scud-type long range missiles aimed at central Israel, including major population centers like Tel Aviv. And if Syria and Israel were to go to war, The Hezbollah in Lebanon would certainly "join the party".

Present day realities show that returning the Golan Heights to Syria is not as simple as returning the Sinai to Egypt. If this is not believable, then all one has to do is to go to the Golan and see this reality 'on the ground' Still, peace – even a cold one like the current relations with Egypt and Jordan, is still better that no peace at all, many declare.

That may be true, but can the Syrians really be trusted to abide by a peace treaty? And who would gain most by a final agreement. Possibly both countries, if they take it seriously.