By Ruthie Blum, ALGEMEINER

DEBKA

The American M48 Patton tank upgraded by the IDF was captured by Syrian forces with its three-man crew in the Sultan Yaakov battle in the Lebanon war of 1982. The three-man crew was lost. To this day the fate of Zacharia Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman has never been determined.

After the battle President Hafez Assad, father of the incumbent Bashar Assad, who established in the the1960s the first Russian-Syrian alliance the, agreed to let the Russian have the tank. They were keen to study the reactive armor the IDF had installed. Special teams of the Engineering Corps flew the tank from Sultan Yaakov battle field to Moscow.
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The serious report was issued by the ‘Lavi’ organization. Members of extreme left-wing groups give educational courses to commanders at the rank of major and above.

By Tuvia Ariel, Hakol Hayehudi
The serious report was issued by the ‘Lavi’ organization. Members of extreme left-wing groups give educational courses to commanders at the rank of major and above.

The Lavi organization publicized a report that detailed the organizations that run obligatory educational courses for senior IDF commanders. The report reveals that many of these organizations are supported by the extreme left-wing New Israel Fund, which has also funded the BDS movement at times.
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Document circulated by France proposes that talks with foreign ministers Friday focus on formulating parameters for a solution to the core issues of a final peace deal.

By Barak Ravid, HAARETZ

The French government wants the foreign ministers meeting in Paris on Friday about an international Israeli-Palestinian peace conference to agree that future negotiations between the two sides will take place within a limited timeframe, according to a document disseminated by the French Foreign Ministry to the countries taking part in the meeting.

According to the document, the French propose that a goal of the discussions starting Friday will be to formulate parameters for a solution to the core issues of a permanent peace agreement. All direct negotiations in the future would be based on these parameters.
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By Alexander Maistrovoy

The Islamic world of the Middle East is sinking into the gloomy and forgotten past: the Bronze Age, the world of slavery, human sacrifice, pedophilia, sexual sacred traditions, beliefs in conspiracies and now the most terrible – ritual cannibalism

Beaten dogs and “donkeys-occupiers”

In the 90s, when working on an article about homeless animals, I visited a shelter for dogs and cats located between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
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T. Belman. I totally disagree that this olive branch is “too little, too late”. I think that the time is right to conclude a deal now. Both from the Arab point of view and from Israel’s point of view. That is not to say that I want such a deal. I further believe that before the end of this year, a deal will be announced.

What is 14-years between frenemies?

By Tovah Lazaroff, JPOST

Yes, we like Paris, but when it comes to peace, Cairo has become our new Mecca.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night attempted to circumvent a French led internationalized process due to launch Friday by proposing a regional one based on a revised version of a 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

In so doing, he sounded almost as if he is was responding to a 14-year old call by the Arab world to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for a withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines and a resolution to the issue of Palestinian refugees.
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T. Belman. Caroline is quite right. Bibi understands this. Therefore, he hopes to cut a deal with the Arab league as to how the resolve the conflict without asking for Palestinian approval. Based on such a new framework being agreed between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the Palestinians will be undermined and will have no choice but to go along. The primary concern of these Arab countries is that any concession they give Israel will further destabilize their own countries. So I am not expecting significant concessions from them.

I think negotiations are afoot to replace Abbas with Dahlan.
Report: Israel and Arab states discuss new Palestinian leader to succeed Abbas May 26/16
Report: Netanyahu in Talks With Abbas Rival Mohammed Dahlan Feb 7/14

There is no Palestinian constituency for peace with Israel. The more Israel offers the Palestinians, the less interested they are in settling.

By Caroline B Glick, JPOST

The Israel Left is a one-trick pony. As it sees things, all of Israel’s problems – with the Palestinians, with the Arab world, with Europe and with the American Left – can be solved by giving up Judea and Samaria and half of Jerusalem (along with Gaza which we gave up already).

Once Israel does this, the Left insists, then the Palestinians, the Arab world, Europe and Bernie Sanders voters will love us as they’ve never loved us before.

The events of the past quarter century have shown the Left’s position to be entirely wrong. Every time Israel has given the Palestinians land, it has become less secure. The Arabs have become more hostile.
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T. Belman. In previous remarks I advised that Netanyahu is negotiating based on the ’67 lines plus swaps. Now he has confirmed it. But he wants the deal to reflect “the dramatic changes in the region since 2002”. This suggests he wants an emphasis on our security needs. What other changes have taken place that need to be taken into account. Or is this a flat out endorsement of ’67 lines plus swaps subject to security needs. And obviously Jerusalem is up for grabs otherwise he would have stressed that Jerusalem will remain ours.

The fact that he welcomed al Sisi’s initiative is further evidence that negotiations are well on their way.

The Oslo Accords were negotiated back channel to avoid an international initiative. I believe that here too, back channel negotiations are being conducted to avoid the initiative by France and possibly one by Obama.

‘Post’ learns that Hanegbi will help Netanyahu lead new push; Bennett said to be opposed to change in stance.

By Gil Hoffman, JPOST

Israel is prepared to hold peace talks based on the Arab Peace Initiative, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprisingly declared Monday just moments after new Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman took the oath of office, ending a month-long saga over which party would join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

“I remain committed to making peace with the Palestinians and with all our neighbors,” Netanyahu said in a press conference following the swearing- in ceremony. “The Arab peace initiative includes positive elements that can help revive constructive negotiations with the Palestinians.
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T. Belman. Mudar Zahran is a very good friend of mine. Whenever he comes to Israel we get together. We have written articles together and often discus Jordanian politics.

The Jordanian Opposition Coalition For Immediate Release: 5/29/2016

Jordan Opposition Coalition: King’s Dissolution Evidence His Regime Is Ailing & New Prime Minister is “Puppet’ To the Regime (London- UK) –

The Jordan Opposition Coalition (JOC) issued a statement in direct response to today’s actions by the king of Jordan’s Dissolution of Parliament Decree and the appointment of a puppet Prime Minister. ‘This is yet another sign the king and his regime are fragile and weak and falling apart,” JOC’s Secretary General, Dr. Mudar Zahran, said.
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T. Belman. It also makes him a candidate for Prime Minister. Wasn’t it Bennett who also pressed to destroy the tunnels once their existence came to light?

The compromise reached by Netanyahu and Bennett will save the coalition and strengthen the security cabinet, but the risk of war – which has to do more with top officials’ judgement – still remains.

By Amos Harel, HAARETZ  May 30, 2016

The somewhat forced compromise between Habayit Hayehudi and the Likud party, reached Sunday night in the last minute, should not void the weight of demands made by Minister Naftali Bennett to strengthen the security cabinet.

The events of the past week, up until Sunday night’s agreement allowing the confirmation of Avigdor Lieberman’s appointment as defense minister, may also give an indication of what’s coming – the difficulties expected in the work of the new right-wing coalition.
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By Judith Bergman, ISRAEL HAYOM

The rift in the European Union between the older, mostly Western European, members and the newer ones from Eastern Europe has become increasingly clear lately over the refusal of most Eastern European countries to receive migrants from the Middle East and North Africa.

The European Commission has proposed reforms to EU asylum rules that would see financial penalties imposed on members refusing to take in what it deems a sufficient number of asylum seekers, amounting to $290,000 for every migrant. The penalties, if passed, are particularly aimed at the newest EU countries, such as Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, since these are countries who have closed their borders to migrants or are in the process of doing so.
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T. Belman. This is a credible attempt to delve into the issues but crucial issues have been left out. Free speech and the BDS movement are acceptable to a point. But Conrad failed to discuss the point other than to say who is to decide that the point has been breeched. The Courts are, that’s who as they do in all criminal trials.

Some jurisdictions have outlawed the BDS movement because it is considered discriminatory. States are constantly outlawing discrimination even though such acts are the exercise of free speech. Many countries have criminalized free speech if it is likely to lead to violence. Just as you aren’t permitted to yell “fire” in a crowded theater, you are not allowed to discriminate or to incite to violence. While I agree with these limitations, I do not agree with outlawing free speech that hurts peoples feelings or that insults them or their beliefs.

But there is more. Should intentional lying be criminalized. A good debate is a healthy thing but it is of no value if one side utters lies to win. Surely lying in order to deligitimate or demonize should not be permitted. You can’t counter by saying “the truth will out”. It won’t unless the playing field is level..

In addition preventing the other side from talking by shouting them down, barring their way or intimidating them should also be criminalized because it denies the expression of contrary views.

By Mike Konrad, AMERICAN THINKER

The Netherlands has just declared the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement against Israel to be free speech. Israel is furious; but for classic conservatives, there is no easy answer to this issue.

“Statements or meetings concerning BDS are protected by freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, as enshrined in the Dutch Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights,” [Dutch Foreign Minister Bert] Koenders said Thursday…– Jerusalem Post

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CAMERA

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision last week harshly critical of Israel for “Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in east Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan” prompted Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid to describe it as antisemitic.
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Dozens of researchers and academics from the two countries will meet in ‘unprecedented’ response to campaign to boycott Israeli universities.

By Ariel David, HAARETZ  May 30, 2016 | 4:00 AM

In a move that Italian officials say aims to counter calls for boycotts and sanctions against Israel, Italian researchers and academics will be meeting with their counterparts in Israel this week for a series of joint conferences and other cooperative events.

A series of 10 simultaneous conferences will be held across Israel between Tuesday and Friday. Dozens of researchers will be sharing the latest discoveries in fields ranging from robotics to plastic surgery.
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Our peshmerga are the best fighting force against ISIS in Iraq. But we cannot force Sunni and Shia Arabs to live together in peace.

By Aziz Ahmad, The ATLANTIC

This week marked the start of offensives ultimately aimed at retaking two of ISIS’s last major urban strongholds—Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital in Syria, and Fallujah, the first major Iraqi city to fall to ISIS some two years ago. The final prize, Mosul, seems to remain out of reach for the foreseeable future, despite indications a year ago that a battle to retake the city could come any day. An Iraqi army offensive launched in late March stalled quickly.
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Elliot Green. Greece helped Israel  politically a few months ago when it opposed in effect a harsher EU resolution against Israel than was eventually passed. The EU could not care less that Erdogan threatens Greece and encouraged people smugglers to bring Syrian and other Muslim refugees to Greece [and then the rest of Europe]. Nor does the EU care that predominantly Greek Cyprus is partly occupied by Turkey. The EU is not against occupation in principle or as such. The EU is against Israel. http://ziontruth.blogspot.co.il/2016/03/european-union-against-israel-not.html

The Eurozone/Eurogroup worsened Greece’s economic problems and then blamed Greece for everything: http://ziontruth.blogspot.co.il/2012/02/cash-short-eu-gives-greece-ultimatum.html

They treat Greece with almost as much disdain as they treat us:

http://ziontruth.blogspot.co.il/2012/05/eurofools-betray-greek-brethren.html

http://ziontruth.blogspot.co.il/2015/07/the-eurozone-put-greece-in-debt.html

The confluence of economic woes at home and the chaos in the surrounding neighborhood got Greeks to appreciate the advantages in improved ties with Israel.

By Amos Harel, HAARETZ  | May 28, 2016 | 8:33 AM

With stormy weather at home, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can at least derive some satisfaction from Israel’s improving relations with several countries. True, the refusal of his former and current governments to advance the peace process with the Palestinians has lost him support in Western Europe and stoked a crisis with the Democratic administration in the United States.
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By ISABEL KERSHNER, NYT  MAY 29, 2016

JERUSALEM — In a politically fractious country troubled by monumental security challenges, Israel’s military has long served as an equalizer and unifier, a “people’s army” that, at least in the eyes of the Jewish majority, reflected the general interest.

But the Israeli people have shifted to the right and with them the government, amid an upsurge of Palestinian stabbings and other attacks. Now the military finds itself at the center of a tumultuous debate about its role as the nation’s conscience and most trusted institution.

Some government ministers and an increasingly shrill segment of the public have been pushing for tougher action in the face of months of Palestinian attacks that have killed about 30 civilians and soldiers. Other Israelis want the military to remain a moderating force and a bulwark against extremism.
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