Netanyahu Furious over Jerusalem Anarchy, Demands Crackdown  

See also: PM: Nothing Can Stop Us From Building In Jerusalem

Jerusalem Mayor wants police to go on offensive, says prime minister ‘banged angrily on the table’ during security meeting over violence.

By Gil Ronen, INN

Barkat and BibiNir Barkat, Binyamin Netanyahu

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has spelled out his plan for restoring order to neighborhoods in Jerusalem where Arab attacks on Jews have become daily occurrences, and said that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also forcefully demanded action by the security forces in a recent high-level discussion.

Barkat enumerated the neighborhoods currently under attack – from Armon Hanatziv, Har Homa, and Gilo in southern Jerusalem, through the Mount of Olives area, Issawiya and Silwan, northward to Shuafat and Beit Hanina, where the Light Rail has repeatedly come under brutal attack.
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October 20, 2014 | 9:24 am | 3 Comments »

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Kobane: US drops arms and aid to Kurds battling IS  

BBC NEWS
Hercules C130 dropping supplies (FILE PHOTO)The US military said the supplies were designed to “enable continued resistance” against IS (FILE PHOTO)

US military aircraft have dropped weapons, ammunition and medical supplies to Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State (IS) militants in the key Syrian town of Kobane.

US Central Command said C-130 transport aircraft had made “multiple” drops of supplies provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq.
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October 20, 2014 | 9:15 am | Comments »

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Women in Green issue Sovereignty Journal #4  

By Ted Belman

I keep in touch with Nadia Matar who runs it with Yehudit Katsover. They are doing great work and leading the way to extending Israeli sovereignty. Here is an email from them about their work and their fourth issue. It is supposed to be posted today at www.ribonut.co.il. Its not there yet.

There are two things of particular note in this issue.
1) More politicians are going on the record in support of it and
2) They are supporting a phased process i.e first greater Jerusalem and then bloc by bloc.

Dear Friends,

1) Here is a link to the short video of the amazing event we had on
Sukkot at Oz veGaon in which close to 1500 people participated.
http://youtu.be/gwKMML0ZeUo?list=UU2BQ9Ug9niueKD0R6Nf3F2A

2) Sovereignty Legislation is Gaining Momentum – the Fourth Issue of
Sovereignty is Published
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October 20, 2014 | 8:58 am | Comments »

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Beyond the lines: New opponents, new challenges in the Middle East  

By JONATHAN SPYER, JPOST

As the Syrian civil war spills over Lebanon’s border, Hezbollah finds itself facing a formidable Sunni threat.

Hezbollah is under pressure as the consequences of its ongoing intervention in Syria have come back to bite the terrorist organization.

There are increasing indications that the sectarian war raging in Iraq and Syria is now moving irrevocably into Lebanon.

The Shi’ite group is currently seeking to shore up its legitimacy by reminding its constituents, and other Lebanese citizens, of the role that gains it the most domestic sympathy – resistance against Israel. It is likely the strike at Mount Dov last week was part of this effort.
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October 19, 2014 | 1:54 pm | 7 Comments »

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Very Good News Israel  

The Jewish State in its true light.
In the 19th Oct 2014 edition of Israel’s good news, thehighlights include:
 
·        An Israeli-discovered link between diabetes and brain disease may lead to treatments for both.
·        The new head of an Israeli hospital is from Israel’s minority Druze community.
·        An Israeli startup is developing a 3D desktop printer that can print electronic circuits.
·        Israel has abolished customs duty on imports of clean technology products.
·        Three Israeli TV shows were big sellers at the Cannes international MIPCOM show.
·        Israel hosted the largest vegan festival in the world.
·        The birth rate in the Jewish State is the highest in the developed world. 
 
·        Last week’s JPost Israel Good News descriptive summary. Click here for “Defeating the Forces of Darkness” (fast-loading version, no adverts).  Also on United With Israel and San Diego Jewish World.  And a first-ever posting in Portuguese (thanks to Amigo de Israel).
 
·        Click here to see the newsletter on Jewish Business News, on IsraPundit and on IsraelSeen.com.
 

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October 19, 2014 | 1:29 pm | Comments »

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Missile boat crisis ends as Germany gives Israel $382 million discount  

Agreement is a reversal of Berlin’s earlier decision to withhold the discount because of Israel’s settlement construction.

By Barak Ravid, HAARETZ

Israel Navy - IDF Spokeman's Office

Israel Navy missile boat.

A crisis between Israel and Germany over missile boats required to protect Israel’s offshore gas fields has ended after Berlin agreed to slash €300 million (about $382 million) off the cost, officials on both sides said. They are expected to initial an agreement for the boats within weeks.

The talks between Israel and Germany to purchase three fast missile boats to protect the gas rigs off Israel’s shore began a year ago. Haaretz reported that the deal was worth about €900 million.
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October 19, 2014 | 12:56 pm | 35 Comments »

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‘A diplomatic storm is coming in January’. Will Obama use his veto?  

Analysis: Changes to UN Security Council bode ill for Israel as two states friendly to Israel are replaced with two that are sure to vote for full membership for Palestine at the UN, and an American veto is no longer a sure thing.

Itamar Eichner, YNET

SCChanges in the makeup of the UN Security Council have made Israel’s diplomatic stance worse and strengthened the Palestinians’ position on the world stage.

During the weekend, five new members were elected to enter the UN Security Council on January 1, 2015, as non-permanent members for two years, while five current non-permanent members will evacuate their seats. Spain and New Zealand will replace Australia and Luxembourg. But the biggest surprise was Turkey losing a seat to Spain 60-132, in a blow to recently-elected-president Erdogan.

Israeli diplomats said that following the changes in the council’s makeup it is likely Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be quick to try his luck in asking the UN Security Council to grant Palestine full membership in the United Nations. So far, the Palestinians managed to obtain non-member observer state status at the UN General Assembly, but recognition from the Security Council will make them an official member of the UN. Read more…

October 19, 2014 | 12:45 pm | 16 Comments »

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Vast Majority of Israelis Oppose Palestinian State, Dividing Jerusalem  

New survey reveals: 74.3% oppose Palestinian state within ’67 borders, 76.2% oppose dividing J’lem, 74.9% oppose Jordan Valley withdrawal.

By Shimon Cohen, Cynthia Blank, INN

Flag JordanIsraeli flag in Jordan Valley

A survey by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs demonstrates the resistance of a vast majority of Israelis to Palestinian statehood, the division of Jerusalem and giving up the Jordan Valley, Israel Hayom reports Sunday.

The newspaper reported that in response to the question of whether the spread of Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and Iraq altered one’s position on Israeli concessions of land in Judea and Samaria, 70.1 percent answered that this phenomenon did not change their opinions.

16.8 percent of respondents said that because of ISIS, they are now less willing to concede land than before. In contrast, 4.8 percent of respondents answered that because of regional changes, now is especially the time to offer political concessions.
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October 19, 2014 | 10:44 am | 21 Comments »

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The Road from Qatar to the Gaza Strip  

by Reuven Berko, Special to IPT News

In a recent speech, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor mentioned the central role of Qatar in supporting international terrorist organizations. Money flowing from Qatar to Hamas, for example, paid for the terrorist attack tunnels dug from the Gaza Strip under the security fence into Israeli territory, and for the thousands of rockets fired at Israeli civilian targets in both the distant and recent past. In response, State Department spokesperson Marie Harf rushed to Qatar’s defense, claiming it had an important, positive role in finding a solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Qatar’s funding for Islamist terrorist organizations all over the world is an open secret known to every global intelligence agency, including the CIA. It was exposed by Wikileaks, which clearly showed that funds from Qatar were transferred to al-Qaida. Qatar also funds the terrorist movements opposing the Assad regime in Syria, such as the Al-Nusra Front, encourages anti-Egyptian terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula and within Egypt itself, and is involved in Islamic terrorism in Africa and other locations. It accompanies its involvement in terrorism targeting Israel and Egypt (through the Muslim Brotherhood) with vicious and inflammatory propaganda on its Al-Jazeera TV channel.
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October 19, 2014 | 9:57 am | Comments »

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Navy official: Gaza shore ‘one big smuggling tunnel’  

TOI

Officer charged with defending maritime boundary warns extending Palestinian fishing zone will endanger Israeli assets
Palestinian fishermen sail to fish as others pull their fishnet at the Mediterranean Sea in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014. (photo credit: AP Photo/Adel Hana)

As the Gaza Strip’s authorized fishing zone grows, so shall the danger posed to Israeli gas processing platforms off the coast of Ashkelon as well as merchant ships docking in Ashdod, an Israeli Naval official tasked with safeguarding Israel’s maritime boundary with Gaza told Israel Radio on Saturday.

The expansion of the Gaza fishing zone from its current six-mile limit was one of Hamas’s key demands during the recent Gaza conflict. Israel said it would consider such a move as part of the ceasefire agreement with the terror group, though no actual change has been made so far.
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October 18, 2014 | 4:01 pm | 3 Comments »

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Danon determined to prevent PM from giving in to Washington pressure  

By Gil Hoffman, JPOST

DanonThere is a time known as “after the holidays,” when key decisions can no longer be postponed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered that critical period Friday under tremendous pressure; he is feeling the heat from the indefatigable US Secretary of State John Kerry, who wants to begin a new diplomatic initiative, from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who visited this week, and from Europe, which has started taking action against Israel that can no longer be ignored.

With all that pressure, Netanyahu could tip over and make concessions to the Palestinians. On the domestic political front, there is nothing to stop him. Bayit Yehudi wants to stay in the coalition, there is no serious alternative candidate against Netanyahu in Likud, and in any general election that would be held, another Netanyahu victory is seen as a foregone conclusion.
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October 18, 2014 | 9:35 am | 10 Comments »

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Why has Israel changed its policy on Gaza?  

After comparing Hamas to ISIS and asking Abbas to choose between reconciliation with Hamas or peace with Israel, why is Netanyahu cooperating with Fatah-Hamas ‘unity government’?

Elyakim Haetzni, YNET

Israel is being nice to Gaza. The coordinator of the activities agreed with the “head of the Palestinian reconciliation government” that construction material and a lot of mechanical equipment would be allowed into Gaza.

For the first time, Israel let 1,000 Gazans to visit the Temple Mount. Five-hundred people will be allowed to enter Israel a day. Agricultural exports are permitted, and laborers from Gaza will be allowed to work in Israel.

The Likud government agreed that the (Fatah-Hamas) “reconciliation government” would convene in Gaza. Soon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s blessing, 3,000 members of the Ramallah government’s “presidential guard” will be deployed in the border crossings, despite Hamas’ announcement that it will be in charge of these “inspectors,” and the advance payments for the Hamas employees’ wages are also being transferred.
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October 18, 2014 | 7:29 am | 6 Comments »

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Israel is weaning itself off American arms supplies  

Amir Rapaport,ISRAEL DEFENSE,  Washington  16/10/2014

National Security Trauma

Here is another unfamiliar result of Operation Protective Edge: the Israeli defense establishment will reduce the production of weapon systems in the USA in the context of joint Israeli-American projects, and will rely more heavily on Israeli-made products. Under a veil of secrecy, a decision has already been made at IMOD not to enable the production of at least one highly sensitive weapon system on US soil, despite the fact that the manufacture of said system in the USA may be funded through US defense aid instead of being paid for in NIS with Israeli taxpayer money.
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October 18, 2014 | 6:43 am | 6 Comments »

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Into the fray: The two-stage ‘solution’  

By Martin Sherman, JPOST

The entire issue of Palestinian statehood, and the Palestinian narrative on which it is based, are nothing but a giant hoax so transparent it is inconceivable that anyone even feigns credence to it.

With the two-state solution… Israel will collapse, because if they get out of Jerusalem, what will become of all the talk about the Promised Land and the chosen people? What will become of all the sacrifices they made – just to be told to leave? They consider Jerusalem to have a spiritual status. The Jews consider Judea and Samaria to be their historic dream. If the Jews leave those places, the Zionist idea will begin to collapse…. Then we will move forward.”

– Abbas Zaki, senior PLO official.
(ANB TV, Lebanon, May 7, 2009)

TSSTwo recent events have once again propelled Palestinian statehood into the forefront of media spotlight, after several months of it being overshadowed by other events like developments in Ukraine, the war in Gaza and the televised barbarity of Islamic State.

One was the statement by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (subsequently somewhat equivocally revised) that his country would recognize a Palestinian state. The other was the British Parliament’s (nonbinding, but in the eyes of some, historic) vote on recognition of statehood for the Palestinians.

In light of these incidents, I was invited to appear on i24news news and participate in a discussion with a Palestinian interlocutor on the prospects for, and the prudence of, establishing a Palestinian state.

Much of what follows reflects the things I said during that 20-minute debate – and the things I didn’t, but would have, had time permitted.
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October 17, 2014 | 6:14 pm | 5 Comments »

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What is the rationale for recognizing the non-existent state of Palestine.  

By Caroline Glick

The New York Times online debating forum Room For Debate asked me to participate in an online forum regarding the rationale for recognizing the non-existent state of Palestine.

Here’s what I wrote:

rally ukWhen Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced his decision to recognize the non-existent state of “Palestine” earlier this month, he inadvertently gave the game away.

Lofven said, “A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful coexistence. Sweden will therefore recognize the State of Palestine.”

The Palestinians refuse to recognize or peacefully coexist with the State of Israel.

Like his coalition partner Hamas terror master Khaled Mashaal, and despite his sweet talk to Western audiences, PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas  has pledged,repeatedly, over decades that he will never, ever recognize Israel. During his speech to the UN General Assembly last month he reverted to PLO language from the 1970s, referring to Israel repeatedly as “the occupying Power,” and “the racist occupying State.”
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October 17, 2014 | 6:03 pm | 36 Comments »

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Hillel can’t have it both ways.  

Fingerhut says “Hillel is deeply dedicated to Israel.” and “Hillel will not partner with organizations that espouse anti-Semitism, apply a double standard to Israel, spout racism or promote Islamophobia.”.  All good.

BUT, he also believes that students should listen to Mahmoud Abbas respectfully. I’m sorry but he doesn’t deserve respect. He is a holocaust denier, the financier of the Munich Massacre and Arafat’s partner in all his crimes against the Jews. He still wants to destroy Israel. Why should Hillel encourage their students to listen to him and to show him respect. If Hillel is truly dedicated to Israel, why give a platform to those who aren’t, who want Israel terminated. No doubt he believes students should listen to Hamas also. Hillel accepts all students regardless of whether they are “dedicated to Israel” or not.

“Inclusivity and broad-mindedness are part of our core values” writes Fingerhut. Therein lies the problem. These values undermine “dedication to Israel” and Hillel should recognize this. Either you are pro-Israel or you are “broadminded”.

For some, those simultaneous commitments to openness and pluralism on the one hand and to passionate support of Israel on the other may seem contradictory. For Hillel, there is no contradiction.” Again, that’s the problem.

Doesn’t he realize when he writes “Hillel will not partner with organizations that espouse anti-Semitism, apply a double standard to Israel, spout racism or promote Islamophobia.” that everybody applies a double standard to Israel or that Islam is Israel’s enemy and to fear Islam is healthy and not a phobia?

Ted Belman

 

By Eric Fingerhut, Pres of Hillel, HAARETZ | Oct. 10, 2014

Hillel PresNew Hillel President Eric Fingerhut speaking with Johanna Rothseid, a student member of the Hillel board of directors. Photo by JTA Photo Servicen R. Federman | Oct. 9, 2014 |

JTA – Once again the love affair between the Jewish people and higher education is back in full bloom. The start of a new school year, and the Jewish New Year, marked the beginning of robust programming for Jewish college students across the globe.

As students dig into their studies, the events in Israel and Gaza this past summer are a hot topic on many campuses. In response, Hillel International, the largest Jewish student organization in the world — its growing network now serves some 550 campuses in North and South America, Europe, Central Asia, Australia and Israel — is drawing on its expertise in promoting deep and thoughtful discussion. Hillel is sponsoring a broad range of programs to help students understand the issues and how they will affect Israel and its neighbors in the future. Read more…

October 17, 2014 | 3:47 pm | 3 Comments »

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Diversity and pluralism focus of Open Hillel conference  

350 students gather at Harvard and discuss need for inclusion of non-Zionist voices in Jewish campus conversations about Middle East conflict

BY BATYA UNGAR-SARGON, TOI,  October 16, 2014,

Open HillelCAMBRIDGE, Mass. (JTA) — Harvard senior Rachel Sandalow-Ash scanned the exuberant crowd that packed a campus auditorium on Saturday night.

“Wow,” she said, speaking to an audience of some 350 composed primarily of American college students. “This is amazing. This is really cool.”

Sandalow-Ash, 21, went on to discuss the importance of nurturing a pluralistic and intellectually diverse Jewish community.

“We believe that no one should be excluded because of their views on Israel-Palestine, or really for any reason at all. And we believe that real discussions of Israel-Palestine have to include Palestinian voices as well,” she said to raucous applause.

The crowd had gathered at Harvard for “If Not Now When,” the inaugural conference of Open Hillel — a two-year-old student group that seeks to abolish Hillel International Standards of Partnership rules that prevent campus Hillels from collaborating with people or groups that “delegitimize” the Jewish state, or support efforts of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeted at Israel.
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October 17, 2014 | 3:11 pm | 25 Comments »

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Muslim Thugs on the Temple Mount  

By David M Weinberg, ISRAEL HAYOM

Temple Mount1On Wednesday morning, for the holiday of Hoshana Rabbah (the last day of Sukkot), 20,000 Orthodox Jews gathered at dawn for prayers at the Western Wall. Waves of worshippers made their way silently on foot in the very early morning twilight through the alleyways of the Old City toward the Kotel.

Then magically on cue, they belted out the core “Shma” prayer as the sun crested the horizon. Then they waved their lulavim (palm branches) while singing Hallel (psalms of praise to God), and pounded their aravot (willow branches) on the ground in expiation of sin. By 8:30 a.m., the enormous crowd dispersed quietly.

No one would know about this uplifting holiday event from listening to Israel Radio or checking any Israel or global news website. Because there was no violence involved.

Because Jews go to pray at their holy sites, not to riot.
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October 17, 2014 | 2:39 pm | 2 Comments »

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