Biden, Buttigieg and Sanders say they would not have killed the Iranian terror master

The Editorial Board    Feb. 9, 2020 6:03 pm ET

Iranians rally in Tehran holding images of Qasem Soleimani.Photo: Rouzbeh Fouladi/Zuma Press

One of Vice President Joe Biden’s better lines in 2012 was “Osama bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive.” The crowd at the Democratic convention loved it. This year it sounds like the Democratic campaign theme may be that Iranian terror master Qasem Soleimani is dead and the world is more dangerous because of it.

That’s a fair judgment from Friday’s debate in New Hampshire when ABC’s David Muir asked the candidates “if your national security team came to you with an opportunity to strike, would Soleimani have been dead or would he still be alive under your Presidency?”

Pete Buttigieg responded: “In the situation that we saw with President Trump’s decision, there is no evidence that made our country safer.” He deplored Soleimani’s “murder and mayhem” but then zagged to the Iraq war, the Iranian nuclear pact, and a wounded veteran friend he saw in an airport. Mr. Muir tried again, but the former mayor came down with a decisive, “It depends on the circumstances.”
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But overall amount of land advertised by Israel Lands Authority was down sharply in January from a year ago

The West Bank settlement of Efrat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for the annexation of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and the Israel Lands Authority appears to be doing its part to help. In January, two-thirds of the land the government agency offered for residential construction was over the Green Line.

All told, the ILA last month advertised land designated for 3,254 housing units, 2,136 of them in settlements, including Karnei Shomron, Givat Ze’ev, Ma’aleh Adumim and Efrat.

The figures came as Netanyahu said over the weekend that Israel has begun to draw up maps of land in the West Bank that will be annexed in accordance with U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan. Netanyahu is courting settler votes ahead of the March 2 election.
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The Judge is at her best. Romney deserved it then and deserves it now. Watch this video and the next one.

High Court President Esther Hayut confronted Likud lawyer Avi Halevi about Avichai Mandelblit’s line of argument

By YONAH JEREMY BOB, JPOST

MK Heba Yazbak of UAL-Balad – (photo credit: Courtesy)

A special expanded nine justice panel of the High Court of Justice on Sunday green-lighted Heba Yazbak, by a narrow 5-4 vote, to run for the Knesset with the Israeli-Arab Joint List despite her statements against Israel and the IDF.

She had petitioned to the High Court to intervene after the Central Election Committee disqualified her.

While normally only three justices hear a case, nine justices are reserved for issues of major constitutional importance.
Last week, Likud lawyer Avi Halevi told the High Court that Yazbak had more than crossed the line with her public statements and posts supporting terrorists Samir Kuntar and Dalal Mughrabi and refusing to repudiate physical resistance against the IDF.
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T. Belman. Finally, a Def Minister who does his job.  Apparently Netanyahu is letting him do so whereas he ordered others not to do so.

Taking a page from President Trump’s book, Defense Minister Bennett applying maximal pressure to the PA to end its support for terrorism.

By Yochanan Visser, INN  09/02/20 21:49

Defense Minister Bennett, Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry

Since he became Israel’s Defense Minister at the end of 2019, Naftali Bennett has introduced a new doctrine against the Palestinian Authority and their allies which is similar to the ‘maximal pressure’ campaign the US Administration of President Donald J. Trump is using against Iran.

At the end of December 2019 Bennett started his campaign against the Palestinian Arab’s leadership by freezing the transfer of NIS 650 million of taxes and import fees Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) annually.

This amount of money is roughly equal to the funds the PA sets apart for its pay to slay policy, the monthly stipends the PA uses to pay to Palestinian terrorists in Israeli prisons and their families.

In 2019, for example, the PA paid 517.4 million Shekels to these terrorists and those who were released from an Israeli jail after serving their sentences.
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By Andrea Widburg, AMERICAN THINKER

In December 2018, Trump ordered the withdrawal of American troops from Syria, where they’d been hard at work destroying the last military vestiges of ISIS, the one-time “JV team” that ignited a reign of terror across Iraq and Syria. The Democrat party and its lapdog media promised us that our Kurdish allies would be slaughtered and we’d be on the verge of yet another one of the many Trump initiated World Wars.

None of that happened, but it appears that two regimes hostile to American interests are at each other’s throats. And of course, it’s always preferable when one’s enemies turn their aggression towards each other.

The New York Times´ reporting from 2018 about Trump’s planned withdrawal is a good example of the concern the Democrats and the foreign policy establishment had that Trump would get America into war by getting America out of war:

In overruling his generals and civilian advisers, Mr. Trump fulfilled his frequently expressed desire to bring home American forces from a messy foreign entanglement. But his decision, conveyed via Twitter on Wednesday, plunges the administration’s Middle East strategy into disarray, rattling allies like Britain and Israel and forsaking Syria’s ethnic Kurds, who have been faithful partners in fighting the Islamic State.

[snip]

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other top national security officials argued that a withdrawal would, essentially, surrender Western influence in Syria to Russia and Iran. The Trump administration’s national security policy calls for challenging both countries, which are the chief benefactors of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and have provided him with years of financial and military support.

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By James D Veltmeyer, MD

The ongoing attacks by the political establishment on President Donald Trump –which began even before he was elected – are without parallel in history. The savagery, frenzy, and outright hysteria displayed by the President’s enemies within the Democrat Party, the media, and the various power centers of the globalist elites have no prior precedent.

This President has been spied on, lied about, made the subject of phony foreign dossiers, insulted, ridiculed, scorned, mocked and threatened. We have witnessed Hollywood celebrities advocate for blowing up the White House, demand the President be beaten, jailed or even assassinated, and his children tortured and sexually abused. We have seen politicians in Washington try to convict the President of non-existent crimes, investigate him and his family members for everything from tax returns to guests at his hotels, project on to him crimes that they themselves have committed, and seed his Administration with leakers and double-agents.

No other President in American history has been treated in such a shameful manner. Not Lincoln. Not FDR. Not Nixon. Not Reagan.  What is it about this President that has roused such demons in his political foes? What is it about this President that drives his  opponents to the brink of insanity? What is it about this President that so terrifies and terrorizes the Pelosis, Schiffs, Schumers and the George Soroses? Read more…

In campaign speech in synagogue, defense minister also says ultra-Orthodox parties will accept any policy as long as they get money; vows not to join Blue and White government.

By Nati Yefet, TOI

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett speaks during the Makor Rishon conference at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, December 8, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett described ultra-Orthodox politicians as easily bought off and urged a “cold war” with Iran in a campaign speech Saturday.

Bennett, the leader of the hardline right-wing religious Yamina party, who was appointed defense minister some three months ago, set out his doctrine regarding the threat posed by Iran, saying his aim was to expel Tehran’s forces from Syria within a year and to turn Syria into the Islamic Republic’s “Vietnam.”

He said Iran was responsible for 70 percent of Israel’s security problems, via training and funding terror groups like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“We are losing our sons in [2014’s Operation] Protective Edge [in Gaza], in the Second Lebanon War, in battles with Iran’s fingertips. And who is immune all the while? The head of the octopus,” Bennett told synagogue-goers in the Tel Aviv suburb of Givat Shmuel.
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By Arye Green / TPS

Defense Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday appointed Kobi Eliraz to head Israel’s campaign against illegal Arab construction in Area C in Judea and Samaria and head off the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) efforts to claim it.

The appointment came a day after Bennett launched the campaign to reclaim land in Judea and Samaria that is under full Israeli control, which is being taken over by the PA through illegal Arab construction.

Speaking at the Kohelet Forum in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Bennett announced that “we are embarking on a real campaign for the future of the Israeli territory,” adding that Israel “will do everything to make these territories the territory of Israel.”

Eliraz, a resident of the Eli community in the Binyamin region, has served as an aide to the Minister of Defense on Settlement Affairs for over four years, under Defense Ministers Moshe Ya’alon, Avigdor Liberman and Benjamin Netanyahu. Read more…

T. Belman.  Amb Friedman muddied the waters again by saying;

US recognition of Israeli law in those areas of the West Bank will be predicated on a four-year freeze of Israeli construction in the parts of Area C that are designated as part of a Palestinian state and on Israel’s agreement to negotiate with the Palestinians along the lines of the US plan.”

He appears to be saying that Israel’s sovereignty over these lands is conditional on maintaining the freeze for 4 years. Really? I thought that Kushner made clear that annexation could take place in about 2 months being the time needed for the technical committee to complete its work. I doubt its possible to be approved and predicated at the same time. It sounds more like a conditional apprioval to only take effect after 4 years if they have honoured the freeze. I hope this gets clarified soon

US ambassador provides clarity in the confusion over the timing of US recognition of Israeli settlement annexation.

By Lahav Harkov, JPOST   FEBRUARY 7, 2020

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Waiting for annexation, rather than having it be done immediately, is in the interest of settlers, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

Friedman sought to provide clarity regarding the timing of US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over 30% of Judea and Samaria under the Trump administration’s peace plan, which they call a “vision.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in the immediate aftermath of the plan’s presentation last month that he would annex West Bank settlements the following week. But he amended that to after the March 2 election in remarks this week. This came after Special Adviser to the US President Jared Kushner repeatedly said annexation could take a few months and would come after the election.
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Amb. Friedman explains US’ considerations when deciding to recognize Jerusalem, Golan, Judea, & Samaria. All are within the lines of law.

Arutz Sheva Staff, 08/01/20 13:58

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman on Wednesday spoke at the Kohelet Forum Conference, emphasizing that Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria are not in violation of international law.

“A little bird has told me that you may be discussing today what you refer to as the ‘Pompeo Doctrine’ -categorically illegal,” Friedman said, noting that he serves as “the US ambassador to a critical ally in a the determination by the Secretary of State that Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria is not dangerous region.”

“Since coming here l’ve worked to add one more item to a busy agenda: helping to find a fix to the issues that still linger from the Six Day War. Read more…

Recent political and diplomatic developments do little to sway voters, as most still support a Likud-led coalition. Some 47% of respondents believe Netanyahu is best suited for the role of prime minister, but only 56% say they definitely plan to vote come March 2.

by  Mati Tuchfeld, ISRAEL HAYOM

A voter casts a ballot in the Knesset election | Illustration: Yehoshua Yosef

The political stalemate gripping Israel since the 2019 April election remained largely unfazed by the major events of the past few weeks, and the March 2 election may not prove to be a tiebreaker, a poll commissioned by Israel Hayom and i24NEWS showed Thursday.

Israel called the unprecedented third round of elections in the span of one year after the races in April and September failed to produce a clear winner and neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor challenger Blue and White leader Benny Gantz were able to cobble together a government.

The survey, conducted by the Maagar Mochot polling institute, found that if elections were held at this time, Blue and White would win 36 Knesset seats, giving it a narrow lead over the Likud’s 34 mandates. Read more…

107 Democratic members of the House express ‘strong disapproval’ for plan’s failure to provide for viable Palestinian state and timing of release ahead of Israeli elections

By RON KAMPEAS        7 February 2020, 10:19 pm

Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., speaks as the House of Representatives debates the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. (House Television via AP)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Two Jewish lawmakers spearheaded a letter to US President Donald Trump signed by 107 Democratic members of the House expressing “strong disapproval” of his Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.

“Our concern is both with the substance of your plan, which will exacerbate and entrench conflict rather than resolve it, and with the timing of its release,” said the letter, initiated by Andy Levin of Michigan and Alan Lowenthal of California. Another seven Jewish Democrats also signed.

Democrats at first were cautious to criticize the plan, crafted by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and released last week, in part because it restored the terminology of “two states.”

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I have been getting reports that it has claimed 30,000 deaths already.

It is alleged to be a man made vires. US Military is alledgedly treating it like a biological weapon.

Feel free to posts links and comments on the threat so that we are up to date on the threat.

I just received this email;

Dr. Neil Ferguson of the Imperial College of London and director of J-IDEA, the Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics, estimates that the official numbers released by China of less than 30,000 in total infectious cases are far too low.

His organization calculates the true infection rate is over 50,000 people PER DAY!!

Meanwhile, the contrast between what we’re told by the various world government and what we’re seeing them do continues to widen.

Law offers no clear standard for PM’s eligibility in case of indictment; court ruling against him could play into his claim he is a victim of an ‘attempted coup’

By TOI STAFF       22 December 2019,

The High Court of Justice on Sunday said it had agreed to hear a petition arguing that it is against the law for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next government.

The court said the hearing would take place December 31 at 9 a.m. before a three-judge panel led by Chief Justice Esther Hayut and including Deputy Chief Justice Hanan Melcer and Justice Uzi Vogelman.

The court also asked Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to produce a legal opinion on the question of Netanyahu’s eligibility to return to the prime minister’s chair, and to hand it to the court at least 48 hours before the hearing.

Responding to the court’s decision to hear the petition, Netanyahu implied that the judges did not have the authority to rule on his fitness. “In a democracy, those who decide who will lead the people are the people, no one else. Otherwise, it’s simply not democracy,” he said in a video released on his social media channels.
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by Dr. Eric R. Mandel and Michelle Makori, MEPIN

Oman, Bahrain and the UAE even went so far in their support as to send delegates to the White House ceremony where Trump unveiled the plan with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side.

Love him or hate him, President Donald Trump has defied conventional wisdom in the Middle East, and yet the Sun still rises every day. Trump has shattered the long-standing myths of the Middle East that allowed the Palestinians to veto every proposal for the last 100 years. They remain the only “stateless” people who have rejected multiple offers of a state.

From the Soleimani assassination to the embassy move, to the recognition of the Golan and Jordan River Valley as Israeli security imperatives, to stopping American financial support of the Palestinian Authority which rewards terrorism in its “pay for slay” terrorism scheme, the Washington pundits and the mainstream media haven’t offered a single mea culpa for how wrong they have been so far in projecting dire consequences of these policy initiatives. They predicted catastrophe, and while violence will raise its ugly head in the unstable Middle East, the outcomes have not matched their predictions.
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Following Meeting Between Leaders Of Sudan And Israel, a Senior Saudi Journalist replies

MEMRI

News of the February 3, 2020 meeting between Sudanese Sovereignty Council Chairman ‘Abd Al-Fattah Al-Burhan and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sparked criticism in the Palestinian and Arab media. Responding to this criticism, Saudi journalist ‘Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed. formerly the editor of the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat and the director of Al-Arabiya TV, expressed understanding for Al-Burhan’s motives in forming ties with Israel. He noted that that the Sudanese leader is acting to remove his country from US and international terror lists, and that many other Arab states, including Qatar and even the Palestinian Authority, likewise hold ties with Israel because it suits their interests. The attack on Al-Burhan within Sudan is unjustified, he said, and stems from narrow political motives of the Muslim Brotherhood, which lost power in the country about a year ago.

The following is his article, as published in the English-language edition of Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.[1]  
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