Syrian rebels allowed to attack Latakia from Turkish soil under Turkish air cover. Iran raises Cain in Ankara

DEBKA

Turkey has ratcheted up its intervention in the Syrian war to an unprecedented level, according to exclusive DEBKAfile military and intelligence sources. For the first time in the three-year conflict the Turkish army is allowing Syrian rebel forces, including the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, passage through Turkish territory for their offensive to capture the northwestern Syrian coastal area where the Assad clan’s lands are situated.

Ankara’s support for the rebels is inclusive: Turkish troops are posted at the roadside with supplies of ammo, fuel, food, mechanical repair crews and medical aid for rebel forces as they head north. The Turkish air force gives them air cover and Turkish agents arm them with surveillance data on Syrian military movements ahead.
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J Street’s ‘Big Tent’ is open only to one side – the anti-Israel and BDS-supporting hard left of its own position; pro-Israel centrists are censored.

By Alan M. Dershowitz, HAARETZ

J Street, the American organization that calls itself pro-Israel and pro peace but that always seems to be taking positions that are anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian, is asking America’s Jewish leadership to have a big tent and to open its doors to J Street. While I generally support that position, it is imperative that J Street’s hypocrisy be exposed. J Street insists that all major pro-Israel organizations be open to speakers who favor opposing views—such as supporters of the BDS movements, supporters of the single secular binational state approach, and those who oppose Palestinian recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.
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I am posting this article in response to an email I got from Shirley Lewis as follows:

I was accidently invited to a very small, rich donor AIPAC early morning meeting, with Nita Lowey, a supposedly very pro-Israel congressperson. Here is what I learned. AIPAC and the Jewish pro-Israel contingent in Congress are delusional about Abbas. They actually think he is a peace partner and if he does not “make peace” it is the fault of the more right wing people in PA/Fatah. Yes you have read this correctly.

Also, they are clueless about the fact that all the land in true international law belongs to the Jews. They are also clueless about UNESCO perfidy. Lowey says UNESCO does good things, if they had not admitted PA to membership she would still be funding them – Lowey is on a key appropriations committee, she chairs it. She is also clueless about OXFAM, just mad at them for being anti-Sodastream, the fact that OXFAM is rabidly anti-Israel escapes her and she says she funds OXFAM too.

By Yoram Ettinger  April 27, 2010

Since 2007, US foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority and to PA-controlled NGOs reached nearly $2BN, in addition to $3.7BN contributed by the US to UNRWA since 1950. Has American foreign aid to Abu Mazen advanced moderation, the pursuit of peace and US national security interests?
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By Paddy Monaghan..

Giulio Meotti launched his book The Vatican Against Israel – J’accuse- in November 2013.  My initial response to the many untrue and exaggerated statements in it was that people will see through it and ignore it as it deserves.  However an Anglican Minister friend strongly encouraged me, as a Catholic Lay Leader, to research and respond to it.  Unfortunately I needed to buy it first and then review.  The book makes many unsubstantiated and unfair claims against the Catholic Church. I agree with Meotti on some things such as his highlighting of blatant anti-Semitism emanating from some Middle East Catholic Leaders which needs to be exposed.

Overall it is a poorly written book that can hurt Catholic/Jewish and Christian/Jewish relationships and hinder God’s purpose for reconciliation in the Body of Christ between Israel and the Gentiles.
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TOI reports on the murderers release,

The US negotiators reportedly urged Abbas to agree to extend peace negotiations beyond the April 29 deadline before the 30 prisoners are released. Netanyahu has insisted agreement be reached for extending the talks before the prisoners can go free, and has ruled out releasing Israeli Arab inmates

Nothing has happened since Kerry’s negotiations commenced save for the release of 78 murderers. The PA has not given an inch, nor will they if the talks are extended. So what’s the point?
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By Gary Gerofsky, WMD

In a gymnasium on the campus of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which is used for sports, concerts and normally happy and festive events of student life, I saw the future. It was in the form of a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) vote that passed overwhelmingly. The vote passed but will not take effect at this time because they did not get quorum (they needed over 600 students but they had a little over 400). I am told that the pending vote will be passed along to senate where its fate will be in the hands of that body. Regardless, one day soon, as on hundreds of campuses throughout the land, these and similar anti-civilization votes are or will be taking place. They are attended by hundreds of students, a good portion dressed in Islamic attire; some older students who do not appear to be students at all, angrier and more determined than your average Canadian student. Also in attendance are many Muslims and other supporters who are often bussed in by various religious and other groups, churches, unions, etc.
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By Judi McLeod, CFP 

Think of Barack Obama this way and getting the big picture will be yours: Obama is the magician on the world stage; the daily diversion to keep your enrapt attention while the fate of you and your loved ones is being planned elsewhere.

The far-reaching fate for a captive new human society is not being planned in Washington, D.C., but in New York City.

That fate is no longer somewhere off in the distant future but is being made ready to eclipse all of human society—by the end of 2015.
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The Levy Report is Israel’s response to those who unfairly and incorrectly conclude that the settlements are illegal under int’l law.

By Yair Shamir, JPOST

Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen a major escalation regarding the issue of the legality of Israeli communities over the 1949 Armistice Line (known as the “Green Line”). When asked about this, many foreign officials give little if any explanation for their accusations of illegality, fostering the inescapable impression that the issue is less about law and more about interests and politicking.
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US takes particular issue with the council’s Agenda Item 7, which mandates that Israel be debated at every session of the forum.

By Caroline Glick

Jill Schneiderman is an unlikely warrior for Jewish rights. A professor of Earth sciences at Vassar College and a lesbian activist, Schneiderman’s political passions put her smack in the middle of the far-Left academic mainstream.

At least they did until she decided to organize a student trip to Israel to study water issues.

To get a sense of just how far to the Left Schneiderman is, when her initiative ran into trouble, she contacted fanatic anti-Israel activist Phillip Weiss to ask for his support.
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TOI reports:

Israel has reportedly informed the Palestinian Authority that it will not release a fourth and final batch of prisoners expected to be freed as part of peace negotiations, a Palestinian official said Friday.

Israel didn’t comment. The deadline has passed.

But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Danon: Peace talks going nowhere, Palestinians only want terrorists freed By JPOST.COM STAFF

Following a report that the release of a group of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails would not go ahead this weekend, Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon (Likud) slammed the Palestinians for failing to make concessions in the peace process and for only being interested in releasing terrorists.

“It is clear to all sides that the negotiations are leading nowhere and it good that the Palestinians understand that Israel will not make it concessions without receiving anything
in return,” Danon said.

By Yoram Ettinger, ISRAEL HAYOM

On March 5, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 410-1 to upgrade Israel from a “major non-NATO ally” to a “major strategic partner” — significantly expanding the mutually beneficial U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation in the areas of missile defense, intelligence, national security, technology, energy, cyber security, irrigation, space satellites, defense industries, and more.

The Senate is expected to overwhelmingly support the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014, highlighting the systematic bi-cameral, bi-partisan consensus support of Israel by the U.S. constituent and its most authentic representative, Congress, the independent, equal, co-determining branch of the U.S. government.
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Former PM Ehud Olmert’s bureau chief Shula Zaken turns state’s witness, is said to have conclusive, damning evidence against Olmert • Olmert’s camp slams deal as “outrageous” • Zaken “seeks to do her part to eradicate corruption,” her attorney says.

Zvi Harel, Edna Adato and Itsik Saban, ISRAEL HAYOM

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Shula Zaken in court [Archive]

by Steve Kramer, JEWISH TIMES

Five years ago, I wrote the following article, “Green Light for Israel,” criticizing the West for its acquiescence towards the surging power of Iran [with contemporary comments added]:

“Iran is arguably the world’s greatest supporter of terror, especially against Israel. The Hizbollah terror organization in Lebanon and the Hamas terror organization [and Islamic Jihad] in Gaza, aim their scores of thousands of rockets directly at Israel. Iran is the main financier and materiel supplier for these military forces, which have already fired thousands of rockets into Israel. Iran’s elite Republican Guard is active in other Arab countries like Iraq, where Iran has contributed to the deaths of American and other Western troops, in Sudan, and and also in Africa’s largest country, Nigeria. Lately, Iran has gained influence in the African countries of Somalia and Eritrea, each located by crucial trading routes – the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, respectively.
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The trend for observant women to apply for the draft is growing – and one organization helps them serve while keeping true to Torah values.

By Benny Toker, INN

Although the Chief Rabbinate has ruled against religious girls signing up for the IDF, figures show that many religious girls continue enlisting.

Sharon Brick, who heads the “Serving in Faith” program of the Aluma Association which has worked to help religious women adjust to Army life for over ten years, noted that 1,616 religious women have enlisted over the past year.

“Over the past three years, many girls who are committed to Jewish law and Torah values have joined the Army,” Brick stated in an interview toArutz Sheva Friday.

She emphasized throughout the interview that the program does not persuade girls to join the Army, but merely provides information and guidance for high school students who show interest of their own initiative.
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Jonathan S. Tobin COMMENTARY

Today Canada’s foreign minister proved once again why the Great White North is one of the world’s outliers with regard to the Middle East. Foreign Minister John Baird said that the Canadian government stated that the fate of the Jewish refugees from Arab countries should be both recognized and taken into account in discussions about Middle East peace. The statement followed Canada’s parliament adopting a report on the subject and though Baird was careful to say that he didn’t want the issue to become a point of contention in the talks between Israel and the Palestinians sponsored by the United States, the mere raising of the topic is enough to cause some of Israel’s critics to claim the Canadians are trying to sabotage the negotiations.
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By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON, JPOST

Israeli experts and former high ranking government officials voiced pessimism regarding the chances for any agreement with the Palestinians, at a conference Thursday at Bar-Ilan University’s Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA).

The conference, titled “Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations: Whereto?”, seemed to conclude that the current reality dictates that no agreement is possible and the best that can be hoped for is some kind of step-by-step agreement that does not seek to solve the fundamental points of conflict.
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Tobin’s argues:

The problem with injecting Pollard into peace talks is that it is the sort of American concession for which Israel will pay a disproportionate price with little prospect of receiving what it wants.

Israel should make no further concessions to keep the peace process going regardless if Pollard is released. She is being blackmailed to give further concessions. Ted Belman

By Jonathan S. Tobin, COMMENTARY

Over the last 20 years, the name of Jonathan Pollard has hovered around the margins of the Middle East peace process. Almost every time the United States wanted to push the Israelis to make concessions that were unpalatable, some have suggested that the Jewish state might be enticed to swallow one bitter pill or another by the release of the former U.S. Navy analyst. Pollard, who has been imprisoned in the United States since 1985 for spying for the Jewish state, is a sore point for many Israelis as well as some Americans who believe, not incorrectly, that his sentence of life in prison was disproportionate to the crime and far more draconian than anyone else ever convicted of espionage for a U.S. ally. So it is hardly surprising that now that the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are imploding once again, talk of releasing Pollard has returned as well.
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