Temple Mount Arabs Bring Hitler Into Egypt's Fight For Leadership

 Nadene Goldfoot

The Temple Mount, an area off limits to Jews by the design of Israel's own government in an act of fairness and sensitivity to their minority Muslim population, was a scene of aggressive anti-Israel rhetoric and hatefulness by Arab Israelis towards their fellow Jewish citizens today.

The Arabs there were getting in on the act of demonstrating for Morsi, the past leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President by the Egyptian Military who has taken over in an interim position until new elections.  In the poster They are comparing Hitler with the commander in Chief of Egypt's army, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.  
                                                                       

Do they even realize that it was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammad Amin al Husayni,  who went to Germany to conspire with Hitler against the Jews?  It was the Grand Mufti who had organized rioting and massacres against the Jews in "Palestine" when the British held the mandate.  The Grand Mufti was probably the Granddaddy of the Muslim Brotherhood.  They've pulled out the wrong evil empire representative to compare with Sisi.
                                                                             

King  Abdullah I of Jordan, a distant relative,  had to remove the Grand Mufti from this position and banned him from Jerusalem.  It was Abdullah who was in agreement in Israel's creation, but he had turned against the idea when he saw that Britain had promised the Jews more land than he was led to believe.  Neither the Jews nor Abdullah saw promises from Britain come to fruition.  In the end it was the Jews who accepted the lot while the Arabs did not.

Egypt does not think of the ousting of Morsi as a coup.  As one government employee, Ahmed Ragab,  in Cairo puts it, "If you have roaches in the kitchen that are eating away at your food,, what do you do?  You spray them,"  he said.  "These are not Islamists.  They are terrorists."

The Muslim Brotherhood's charter has as its goal to destroy Israel, so anyone sticking up for the Military on the Temple Mount was taunted by them to be on the side of Jews.  Yet here they all are, freely demonstrating without being carried off to the police station or hit with a baton, right in Israel.  They are not even free to do that in Egypt, and for many reasons.  There it has turned into a war with the Muslim Brotherhood behaving like terrorists and instigating all the fight against the citizens of Egypt along with the military.  The demonstrations in Egypt have turned into savage death events.

Cairo, a city of over 18 million people, has almost 3 times the population of Israel's 7 million.  Egypt has continued to have a peace pact with Israel since Sadat, who came to Israel in a show of sincere peace  and spoke to the Knesset on November 20, 1977.  Egypt's total population is about 91 million people.

"El-Sisi was the youngest member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of Egypt. On 12 August 2012, Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi took a decision to replace Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Egyptian Armed Forces, by el-Sisi, and promoted him to the rank of General.   El-Sisi also took the post of Minister  and Military Production in the Qandil Cabinet." 

The Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood have gone after the Christians, the churches and nuns.  They have torched a Franciscan school, took 3 nuns like they were prisoners of war and paraded them in the streets while they were sexually harassed.  Christians had been all of 10% of Egypt's population before the Muslim Brotherhood came into power with Morsi last year.  The pastor, Boulos Fahmy,  of a Catholic church was interviewed and told the reporter that he was terrified and unable to focus.  His church was just a short distance away from a Franciscan school in Bani Suef.  "I am expecting an attack on my church anytime now," he commented.

When the new President Barack Hussein Obama of the USA went to the Cairo University with his speech in 2009,  the Muslim Brotherhood was still being outlawed, but there they were, listening to him speak.  Khaled Hamza, editor of the Muslim Brotherhood website, confirmed that 10 of their parliamentary bloc had received official invitations to attend the speech.  Conservatives in the US were upset because these Muslims were not known to be the conservatives to appeal to.  However, the comeback was that they had renounced the use of violence in the 70's.  What the Muslim Brotherhood wanted most was to see changes in the US foreign policy.  This seemed to start the future power and comeback of the group, recognition by the American President.
                                                                         
Resource:  http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2013/08/18/anti-semitic-slurs-by-morsi-protesters-on-the-temple-mount/
Oregonian newspaper 8/19/13 page A5, Egypt, con't from page 1, Venomous feud turns Cairo into battlefield by Aya Batrawy, AP
Oregonian newspaper 8/19/13 page A4,  Christian sites become targets by  Hamza Hendawi, AP
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/sadat_speech.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdel_Fattah_el-Sisi
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/03/muslim-brotherhood-members-attend-obamas-cairo-speech/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Mufti_of_Jerusalem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_I_of_Jordan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haj_Amin_al-Husseini

Cairo, Egypt's News Today-Hit al Qaida Hard

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                   

Egypt has not slept.  Al-Qaida was surprised today when their Chief, Ayman al-Zawahri found out his brother was arrested today in Cairo.  Mohammed al-Zawahri b: 1953, a Jehadi Salafist, who are even more extreme than the Muslim Brotherhood, if that is possible, was detained in Gaza which is right across the Nile River from Cairo.  He had spent time in prison from 2000 to 17 March 2011 and then was re-arrested soon after.

173 people were killed yesterday.  The Muslim Brotherhood rebels held up in the downtown Cairo Mosque. People had ignored the 7pm curfew and kept battling.

Protesters find themselves in a crossfire.  The Four Seasons Hotel was the scene of a gunfight right at the doorway  with opposing sides who were wielding guns and machetes.  There are plain old criminals roaming the streets.  One cannot tell who is friend or who is foe, depending on what side you are on.

Two days ago the police had moved thousands of protesters from sit ins supporting Morsi and wound up killing about 200 to do so.  Egypt is the 5th most populous Muslim country  in the Middle East with about 91 million people.  That's not counting the Syrian refugees that took refuge there.  The military-government issued a statement saying that they, the police and the people were together in the face of the treacherous terrorist scheme against Egypt.  They had promised to restore order and security but the Brotherhood isn't letting it happen.  Two policemen have been killed.  One of the Muslim Brotherhood members killed was 30 year old Dr. Khaled el-Banna, the grandson of the Brotherhood's founder, Hassan el-Banna who was shot almost in the same locale in 1949.  This was at Ramses Square where much of the rebellion was going on.

There have been marches where one could see guns in the hands of civilians on both sides.  One Morsi supporter held a machine gun near the hotel.  Other civilians threw rocks or held sticks while police fired.  .

A coalition of Morsi supporters say they will continue demonstrating for this coming week. " The coalition says that they won't back down until it topples the government installed by the military."

Looking back in better days, there was a bus from Cairo to Jerusalem that started in 2008.  They had 3 busses going; one that left at 6am, one at 9:30am and the last at 10:15pm.  A person just bought his ticket a day in advance.  The same was repeated from Jerusalem.  I'm sure that isn't happening today, and of course all tourism is hurt with the rebellion going on.   Maybe someday again all will be quiet and it can again be a great tourist spot.  

Resource:  http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/17/egypt-brother-of-al-qaida-chief-arrested/
Oregonian newspaper 8/17/13 front page, and A7 Violence, anarchy raise toll in Egypt by David Kirkpatrick and Kareem Fahim, NY Times
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anwar_Sadat
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/17/mohammed-al-zawahiri-arrested_n_3772315.html

Tuesday Night's Rocket Into Sha'ar HaNegev

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                     

Terrorists in Gaza had concealed a rocket launcher in northern Gaza which shot a rocket into Sha'ar Ha Negev Tuesday evening.  They had shot 2 rockets, but one fell on their own side.

Israel had to have an airstrike Wednesday morning to snuff it out, which they did.  This is supposed to be a period of cease fire, and it hasn't been.  Terrorists continue to shoot rockets and mortars into southern Israel's civilian population.

The responsibility is on Hamas to keep the peace, but they are the ones who shot the rockets!  They fell at the moment that the 26 prisoners were being released.

I'm noticing that as the peace talks progress, the terrorists get less cautious  in their attacks on Israel.


Resource: Christians United For Israel
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Rockets-fired-from-Gaza-at-South-as-Israel-releases-prisoners-322952

Qassam and Rocket Shot From Gaza During Past Month of Cease Fire and Peace Talks

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                       

Nadene Goldfoot
Wednesday night a Qassam rocket from Gaza fell into the Eshkol Regional Council.  Terrorists from there just can't keep their fingers off of firing into southern Israel.

Last Tuesday morning a rocket was shot into the Shaar Hanegeve Regional Council.  Promises evidently are made by these terrorists in order to break them.

These are follow ups from rockets shot on the 18th and 21st of July.  So there's really been many rockets breaking the cease fire that have been shot into southern Israel.  Do not think that just because no one was killed that it doesn't cause damage to the civilians.

One thing is certain; it hardens the hearts of the Israelis who are the targets and it hardens the hearts of those of us who find out how our friends are being treated.  If Israel were any other country, such as China, you know how they would react.  How about Northern Korea or Russia?

I don't want to hear one word about how horrible Israelis are and that they have killed Gazans.  Israel is not like any other country in that when they feel they must retaliate to teach those incapable of understanding a lesson, they aim for the supply centers and not the civilians.  The tactic that this unbelievable foe uses is to hide among their own people, especially children.  They don't mind if they lose such people to the cause anymore than they mind talking  depressed  or extremely radical people into becoming suicide bombers.  Their whole scene is  sick.

Resource:  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170696#.UgMHQdKOTqE

Interviews of Hanan Ashrawi on Peace Talks

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                     

                                  Yasser Arafat, PLO Leader and Hanan Ashrawi before 2004
                                                 
CNN aired this morning an  interview with  a representative of Israel's peace negotiations and then Hanan Ashrawi, 67 year old Palestinian spokeswoman, a  legislator and activist.  She is the daughter of one of the founders of the PLO, Daoud Mikhail.  Anytime she has ever been interviewed she manages to talk like a speeding train spouting out her pat list of grievances and opinions of Israelis.  

The Israeli’s concerns were of security.  Hanan was asked about the Palestinian concerns and she mentioned “Jerusalem.”  She said, “Jerusalem.”  She didn’t say East Jerusalem.  Then she went on with her diatribe against Israel, which I finally had to turn off.  It was so full of lies and false accusations that I just couldn’t listen anymore.  I feel for our peace negotiators.

A July 26th interview done by Christine Amanpour with Hanan heard her say, “and we are waiting now for the invitation from Secretary Kerry on the basis of what he is going to receive in terms of Israeli commitments.”

Christine answered that statement with, “That sounds suspiciously like laying down conditions and I think everybody pretty much understands that conditions and preconditions are a non-starter.”  Hanan denied saying this.

One of the other comments made by Hanan was, “Well, first of all, when we talk about the Europeans, settlement activities are illegal.  Annexing and stealing land which is not your own is illegal.  The Europeans have been telling the Israelis to stop doing this repeatedly for years.  This is illegal.  This is counter productive.  This destroys the chances of peace.  And Israel has refused".

What she said was a lot of bashing of Israel and then she talked about the right of return of 4 million Palestinians.

What I'd like to do is give her a lesson in Israeli history, something she has so mixed up.

Resource:  CNN TV aired newscast interview of Hanan Ashrarwi 8/4/13
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanan_Ashrawi
Hanan,
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1307/26/ampr.01.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/ashrawi.html

Rocket and Mortar Attacks into Southern Israel: Before and on Eve of Peace Talks

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                        

Why shoot rockets into Southern Israel on the eve of peace talks for the Palestinians?  Don't they want peace with Israel?  Evidently not according to those who have shot the rockets as it's a defiant move from Hamas terrorists in Gaza showing their disfavor with Fatah and the peace talks that have already started in Washington DC.

July 18th was the first one.  Two rockets struck the Eshkol region in the evening.  This is land in NW Negev between Ashkelon and Beersheba which borders the  Gaza Strip.   Then again on July 21st. at 10pm another rocket struck the Eshkol region.  The Eshkol region was hit again by 2 mortar shells  which struck on the 24th at 10am.   Now this Tuesday morning,  the 30th,  another rocket struck  into the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council area without killing anyone, thankfully. This is in the same area but also includes the town of Sderot, which has been hit so many times in the past.

A rocket is a rocket, though,  and a mortar is just as bad.  They bring death and destruction if it falls within a populated spot.  One never knows.  It's like Russian roulette.  It brings fear to one's body which can cause a woman to miscarry.  The emotional strain on people adds up to physical problems, and the Israelis have been under such pressure in southern Israel since 2000.

Israel has been hoping for peace ever since they were created once again on May 14, 1948.  That's a long time enduring lots of wars and attacks.  While the repertoire coming out of the Palestinian side is," does Israel want peace" and the reply has always been yes, the Palestinians have never agreed to anything pertaining to a peace pact.  In fact, what Abbas does is praise those who have killed Israelis in public squares and on TV.   Now both the Fatah members and Israel are committed to 9 months of sitting it out and coming to a plan.

Hamas in Gazans been completely cut off from Fatah who reside in Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem.  Making peace with Fatah hopefully will cause Hamas to agree to the same program.  Israel is actually in the position to have to make peace with 2 entities; not one.  Is there any logic to this war that has been going on?

As George Peters writes from Melbourne, Australia, the so called "Occupied Territories" are not being "Occupied" by Israel, and if they belong to anyone, they belong to the Jewish national Homeland as part of the League Mandate for Palestine (which is still enshrined in Article 80 of the UN Charter.)  Yes, they were part of the Jewish National Homeland.

From winning in the 1967 Six Day War, which was an Arab nation attack on Israel, the Occupied Territories were simply a return to the reconstituted Jewish national Homeland that had been illegally annexed by Jordan in 1948.  The Arabs waged an aggressive war against Israel.  This can be called "Crimes against Peace" and was #1 in the Nuremberg Trial of the Major War Criminals.  It was a crime against Humanity; Israel.

As for East Jerusalem, which the king of Jordan has complained loudly about not wanting any Jewish prayers said on their Mosque grounds, which is also the grounds of our past Temple, is, along with Judea and Samaria, geographically, historically and legally, part of the reconstituted Jewish National Homeland.  These places have been reclaimed by the Jews after several Crimes against Peace were committed against them by the many belligerent pan-Arab military invasions of 48-49 and 1967.

Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem were illegally seized and then retaken by Israel after 2 illegal wars of aggression and are now with their rightful owner as in accordance to the League Mandate for Palestine.  According to international Law, they are not occupied Territory.  They are legally part of of the Jewish Homeland which is called Israel.  If someone from Australia can figure this out, which many international lawyers have been declaring and we bloggers have been repeating, the 9 month peace program is going to be quite the place to hear some loud shouting.  I hope the defenders of Israel have their notes at hand. So far the attack is on again with 4 rockets and 2 mortars upon southern Israel and the peacemakers are just warming up.

Resource:  http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=10477
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/272689#.UfhGvNKOTqE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel,_2013

Yesterday's Mortars Hit Southern Israel From Gaza

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                     

Two mortar shells were fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Wednesday.  Evidently they were fired in defiance of the Hamas ruling of not to fire any.

The result was a lot of trauma to the citizens who were not warned of the attack because their code red program evidently wasn't working.

Luck was with the Israelis this time as no one was hurt and nothing was destroyed.  However, trauma and fear were enough of a jolt.

Resource:  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170223#.UfHadNKOTqE

Syrian Hezbollah Terrorists and Iran Threaten Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                      

On July 5, 2013, the Syrian port city, Latakia, was attacked.  Hezbollah terrorists were receiving a Russian shipment of improved Yakhont anti-ship missiles there.   The weapons cache were destroyed in the assault. These weapons could have targeted Israel's naval vessels as well as its Mediterranean gas fields.

Hezbollah terrorists have been receiving their military training, weapons and financial support from Iran.  Its political support comes from Syria as this "Party of Allah or God" is a Shi'a Islamic militant group and also a political party based in Lebanon.  The Arab and Muslim worlds regard it as a resistance movement and we; ie;  Netherlands, France, UK, Australia, Canada, Gulf Cooperation Council and Israel  regard it as a terrorist group.  It is on the side of the Syrian government in this civil war.  They were ones involved in the recapturing of Qusayr, a very strategic Syrian town.

Israel is the most concerned party as they would be first on the list of being harmed.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his government will not tolerate weapons transfers to Hezbolla.  His policy is to prevent such transfers to terrorist groups.  He was interviewed on CBS News program, "Face the Nation" about the Latakia attack and didn't mention who the attacker of the port was.

Netanyahu's other problem is Iran.  He said that they were edging closer to building a nuclear weapon.  He felt that Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, was "a wolf in sheep's clothing".  He just smiles and continues to build a bomb.  Rouhani is said to be a moderate in his policies, unlike Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was.  Would the Ayatolla Khomeini allow anyone in as president who wasn't following his prescription for ruling Iran?  Rouhani was one of 3 men involved with Robert McFarlane in the Iran-Contra Affair.  "He also headed Iran's former nuclear negotiating team and was the country's top negotiator with the EU three– UK, France, and Germany – on Iran's nuclear program." He is to take office on August 3rd.    

Netanyahu has reports that they're edging up to the red line but haven't crossed it yet.  His conclusion is based on the fact that they are building faster centrifuges that will enable them to jump the line at a much faster rate and will be there in a few weeks.

The US should "ratchet up its sanctions against Iran and if this doesn't work, Iran must be told that that the USA is prepared to take military action.  This is the ONLY thing that will get their attention.  Iran must understand this.

What is the USA doing in other parts of the world?  A month ago, Obama promised arms and ammunition to the Syrian rebels, but now everyone sees that these are really very limited plans.  The USA planned to use the CIA to covertly train and arm the rebels but this could take months as it hasn't even started yet and probably will not  have any effect in the war.  It's not enough to get Assad to negotiate.  The USA has had previous ill effects from taking such steps.  Besides that, the international laws prohibit lethal support to a group trying to overthrow a sitting government, so our Congress is highly skeptical.  We were going to give the rebels AK-47 rifles, anti-tank weapons and ammunition which could find their way to terrorists who could use them to shoot down commercial aircraft.

Syria's government troops had clashes on Sunday on the edge of Damascus.  Their military has had the offensive to retake districts in opposition to them for the past few months.  They had tank shells and artillery that they were firing against the rebels.  Iran continues to back Syria.

Back in the 1980's, Iran, under Rouhani Ayatolla Khomeini(1902-June 3, 1989) arrested, imprisoned and executed thousands and thousands of their citizens because they conflicted with the regime's philosophy. All totaled, 20,000 died.

 Today,  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the reigns of power and "Iran’s supreme leader has strongly rejected proposals for direct talks with the United States, effectively quashing suggestions for a one-on-one dialogue on the nuclear standoff and potentially other issues."   This supreme leader is the Ayatolla, the head of religious power in Iran, not the president.  The president is pretty much just a puppet.  

"The US  further tightened sanctions on the Islamic Republic, which have already cut Iran’s oil revenue by 45 per cent. AP"  It looks like Iran will not bend to nuclear concessions saying the USA is holding a gun to their head.  Instead, they have been  asking for "a six-nation group comprising the permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany" for economic assistance. 

Will sanctions work?  We can't count on the UN for understanding or backing.  Two weeks to the red line?   Are we now living in the eye of the hurricane?   What will August bring us? 

 Rouhani promised to bring about economic stability in Iran and is now incensed over Ahmadinejad's lying about their economic stability.  "Several newspapers quoted Rouhani as saying his team of experts concluded that only an average of 14,000 jobs were created annually from 2006-2012. Ahmadinejad, who took office in 2005, claims his government created hundreds of thousands of jobs."

Again, who rules Iran?  "All key policy decisions rest with the ruling clerics. The most immediate impact by Rouhani could be on economic affairs, which are part of the portfolio of the presidency."   "The hardline supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains the ultimate authority on all state matters, including the nuclear program."  Iran may have voted in a moderate, but the real rulers are not showing signs of softening towards Israel.  

Resource:Oregonian newspaper 7/15/13, page A3 US help for Syrian rebels unlikely to tip scales, Los Angaeles times and New York Times; Israeli leader talks Hezbollah, Iran thrreats and  article by Mark Mazzetti, eric Schmitt and Erin Banco of NYTimes
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/irans-srebrenica-how-ayatollah-khomeini-sanctioned-the-deaths-of-20000-enemies-of-the-state-8485984.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Rouhani
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/15/hassan-rouhani-criticizes-ahmadinejad-iran_n_3598075.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/16/hassan-rouhani-israel-relations-iran_n_3450830.html

Israeli Female Arab Soldiers Into Democracy

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                  

Israel has Jewish females in the IDF.  They also have volunteer Arab male soldiers in the IDF .  This is their country too, and should want to fight for it.  This is a big topic in Israel as Yeshiva students have been excused from serving in the IDF for at least the past 10 years, but are  being expected to serve once again.

Arutz Sheva reports that MK Hanin Zoabi, a woman, has had strong opposition to having Arabs join the IDF, regardless of sex.  She feels that if a law requires Arab Israelis to enlist in the army is passed, Israel should prepare prisons for them.  She was also a member of the crew on the Mari Marmarva which was the main ship of the flotilla protesting against Israel.

Two Arab women who enlisted in the army this week are criticizing her stand on this.  They feel she does not represent them or other Arabs who want to serve in the army.  They themselves did face a little opposition in their village.  They feel it is good for them to join up.  I see one of the young women lives near Tzvat (Safed) where I lived for almost 5 years.  They are Israeli Christians who speak Arabic and feel their serving would be with pride and they should not feel ashamed for doing so.

Jarisi said that "any extremist in Israel who thinks of themselves first as Palestinian doesn't have to stay here.  He's a zero.  She thinks Zoabi should go to Gaza where such people  will be welcomed with open arms."  She feels that Zoabi doesn't have the right to speak in her name. Rajda Jarisi doesn't see herself as an Arab anymore.  She sees herself as an Israeli.

Zoabi has built up a bad reputation by being seen with senior Hamas terrorists in the past.  She has given anti-Israel speeches and talking about Israel's "occupation."

However, the Supreme Court has decided to allow Zoabi to run for election.  How democratic to a fault Israel is.  Especially noted is the fact that "Zoabi rejects the idea of Israel as a Jewish state, which she describes as "inherently racist." She has argued that this is the only way to combat Avigdor Lieberman's demand that Israeli citizens take loyalty oaths: "Balad's concept, which rejects the 'Jewish state' idea, is the only idea that can remove [Avigdor] Lieberman from the circle of political and moral legitimacy... When you agree with the 'Jewish state' idea, you necessarily agree with the idea of loyalty to this state. Rejecting the 'Jewish state' concept will block the road for anyone who demands our loyalty to such a state."Zoabi sees no difference between Lieberman and more mainstream Israeli politicians, saying that Lieberman, Tzipi Livni, and Benjamin Netanyahu are "all a bunch of fascists pure and simple."

Israel was created to a a Jewish state.  It is the only one in a world full of Muslim states or Christian states.  It was created as a Jewish state because of the religious bigotry of these other two and how they treated Jews for the past 2,000 years.  Even the whole world decided this was a right for the Jewish people finally, and voted for the Jewish Homeland through the League of Nations in 1917.  Too bad you don't go for this, Zoabi.  I  join my Israeli Christian sisters in recommending that you move onto Gaza if you don't like Israel and think so badly of  the state that is giving you a refuge from refugee camps that others would rather live in.  Good for Naradin Tuma and Rajda Jarisi.  They are our citizens.  I think the Supreme Court should have requirements for MK's to be loyal people.  They're really going overboard on this fairness issue.  

Reference:  Arutz Sheva news@israelnationalnews.com Female Arab Soldiers:  Zoabi Should Go to Gaza, by Elad Benari.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_Hilou

Wounded Syrians Find Treatment Within Israel's Hospitals

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                       

                                                  Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel
Having  lived in Safed (Tzfat) from 1981 to the end of 1985 and having been there during the Lebanon War, I know that the hospital on my corner that was across the street from the public junior high school on David Elezar Street was treating Lebanese Arabs that were injured.   Safed is in the northern Galilee and was a stone's throw away from the borders of Lebanon and Syria.

Injured Lebanese were brought in by helicopter, and my students were afraid that their family members might be among the wounded as well.  Most all of our students were traumatized during the war.  I was there and couldn't teach much English when they were all cowering with fear for their dads in the classroom corners, but my droning voice seemed to steady them, for if I stopped talking, they'd cry out to keep on going.

My 9th grade boys were asked to help the hospital by translating and anything else they could do for the staff.  They told me about it in class the next day.  These boys were pretty shook up by the wounds they would see, but glad they could do something both for the patients and the medical staff.

Today, Israel's medical care continues to help wounded Syrians from the Civil War.  They've been doing this since last February when it was reported and it was  ignored by the major news wires such as BBC.

The number of Syrians treated is higher than previously thought and increasing numbers of patients are children.  "Two minors injured in Syrian fighting were transferred to a hospital in Israel on Wednesday, June 25, 2013.  They were boys, 9 and 15 and were transferred to  Ziv Hospital in Safed for treatment, the same hospital near the junior high which I have also been in.  The 9 year old had moderate injuries from shrapnel wounds across his body and he also lost his right eye.  This was reported in the Maariv newspaper.  The 15 year old was in serious condition.

Today, a wounded Syrian is guarded by either an IDF soldier or by a civilian security guard in order to isolate them  from speaking with unauthorized people who might photograph them or pass on their information to Syria.  This would harm them or their families by exposing them being in an Israeli hospital.  When they would return to Syria they could be killed for being there.  You must remember that there are Israeli Arabs in the hospital as well as Jews.

More than 100 wounded Syrians have crossed the border in recent months.  Some 70 have been taken to Israeli hospitals.  Two have passed away because of critical injuries.

Safed's hospital is not the only one actively treating Syrians.  Patients have also been treated at the Western Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya; Rarmbam Hospital in Haifa  an army hospital, another one I've been treated in; and Poriya Hospital in Tiberias.  All of these medical facilities in the north of Israel have Arabic-speaking social workers, trauma specialists and nurses.

As for finances, in Israel treatment in a hospital is normally paid for by the patient's particular medical insurance company, just like in the USA, but Syrian patients do not have insurance, so Israel's Health Ministry and Defense Ministry agreed to jointly fund the hospital treatment for the Syrians.  No doubt that the UN is not helping out but I think they should.  This is humanitarian care of the finest.

The case seems to me to be that if there's anything good that Israel is doing, it will never make the papers.  Let something be said that is just nasty gossip about Israel, and it makes the world's papers.

In my first year after making aliyah to Israel in September 1980, I wound up in two of these hospitals.  I fell down in Haifa during my ulpan living and was taken to Rambam where 3 doctors operated on my crushed elbow for 3 hours and where I learned the Hebrew words, Koh-ev Lee (there is pain to me, or Ow!  I'm hurting!)  Later when living in Safed, I choked on a chicken bone and finally went to the hospital where I was placed in an astronaut capsule and turned upside down, like in a carnival ride.  Oh, I was there so many times, I can't recall them all.  It was a great hospital.  It's where my doctors were.  Being immigrants, we signed up for the cheapest insurance and never had a moment's worry about paying.  The insurance covered everything.

Resource:  http://bbcwatch.org/2013/07/03/bbc-continues-to-ignore-israeli-medical-care-for-wounded-syrians/
Book:  Letters From Israel by Nadene Goldfoot-on amazon.com

Eilat Hears 2 Grad Missiles

2 Grad missiles were heard to drop near Eilat.  They have just had the all clear signal.  It seemed to come from Egypt.

Resource:  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4401115,00.html

Israel's "Egged" Bus Fired On in Samaria

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                 

On about the 4th of June and again this morning, an Egged bus driving through Samaria was shot by a terrorist or terrorists.  The attack this morning happened again in  the Palestinian village of Harawa in northern Samaria which is south of Shechem.  Luckily, no one caught a bullet, but the police had to be called to investigate.

The rocket attacks starting up again in Gaza on Israel's westside are being helped by such shootings from Samaria. on Israel's eastside.  
                                                                               

Egged buses also go through Ramat in East Jerusalem.  This is a picture taken in June of 2011.  There are even bullet-proof versions used for travel through Judea and Samaria.  Egged has 57 armoured buses.

Egged was started in 1933.  It is a cooperative owned by members and is the largest transit company in Israel.  Their buses go through most Israeli cities, towns, kibbutzim, moshavim and Judea and Samaria.  

They have 2,861 regular buses and and make 25,767i trips per day for a million passengers.  Most people travel by bus and do not have cars.  They also have tourist buses.  

Things are not always quite in Samaria. In April at Tapuah Junction Evyatar Borovsky,  from  the Jewish village of Yitzhar,  was stabbed to death  in his chest and stomach by Salam Azal,  Palestinian,  who then stole his gun.  Jews living here often find themselves at odds with Israeli security forces as well as the Palestinians.  It had been over a year since an Israeli was killed.  "From Yitzhar, located high up in the hills near Nablus, the Biblical city of Shechem, you can clearly see the entire Israeli coast. That’s why the site was chosen by the IDF to set up a Nahal community in 1983."  Since this town protects Israel below, the Palestinians would love to drive the people of Yitzhar out.  

The group, Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI) took a bus trip throughout all of Israel and Judea-Samaria starting on October 24, to November 2, 2010 and traveled by bus.  Their report tells all that they saw, including how the Arabs are squatting on land designated for Israel in the C section and how Jews were restricted but the Arabs weren't by the government in power then.  That tells me that Israel was going overboard in trying to keep the peace.  .  

Resource: http://israelmatzav.blogspot.co.il/2013/06/another-terror-attack-you-wont-hear.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egged_(company)

http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Arts/West-Bank-Terrorist-kills-Israeli-at-Tapuah-junction-311545

http://www.afsi.org/chizukreport2010.htm

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11801    On Yitzhar

Sunday NightCame With 7 Rocket Attacks

Nadene Goldfoot
Gaza was at it again shooting 7 rockets into southern Israel Sunday night.  Before midnight, 3 rockets fell into the Bnei Shimon region and exploded in an open area.  People knew about it first with the siren sounding.  It broke the silence of 40 days.

By 1:am 4 rockets had fallen in the Ashkelon region.  One must have been caught by the Iron Dome as 3 exploded in open areas.

There had been 12 rockets attacks   in April and 3 in May of which 2 were rockets and one was from small arms shooting.

Though no one was inured, this does wake everyone up including children.  It is unnerving and simply angers most people.  It lets people know that the neighbors are neither friendly or peaceful and cannot be trusted.

http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=10160
Update: 6/24/13: Ha'aretz newspaper reports that Israel took out 4 targets in Gaza in reply to the 6 rocket attack.  

Palestinians in Judea and Samaria Act Out

Nadene Goldfoot                                                               

We're always hearing about the rockets, mortars and missiles coming from Gaza and hitting southern Israel.  Judea and Samaria are acting out as well in different ways.

From June 11th to the 17th , 2013, there have been 72 rock throwing incidents of Arabs throwing rocks at Jews, and 15 firebomb attacks.  Before this there was a stabbing incident where Eviatar Borovzky was stabbed to death by a Palestinian.

 

"The name Judea, when used in Judea and Samaria, refers to all of the region south of Jerusalem including Gush Etzion and Har Hebron. The region of Samaria, on the other hand, refers to the area north of Jerusalem. East Jerusalem has been incorporated into Jerusalem District and is under Israeli civilian rule. Jerusalem is undivided today.  That part of the West Bank is thus excluded from the administrative structure that is the Judea and Samaria Area."

By 1967, there were 565,904 Muslims living in Judea and Samaria. By July 1972, there were almost 1 million Arabs living in Israel's administered areas.  640,600 were in Judea and Samaria on land that was 2,270 sq miles.   Today there are about 2,316,700.  As of February 2013, there were 360,000 Jews living in both Judea and Samaria.   There are 1.7 million Arabs living in Israel.  

Judea and Samaria are acting like a buffer zone between 4 million Jews of the Tel Aviv and Netanya corridor.  This original Israelite land is the Iron Dome for the 6 million Jews of today's Israel.  There is nothing else protecting them from the land of Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia,  Syria, and Lebanon and the ultimate Iranian  incursion.  

Resource:  https://www.facebook.com/idfonline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea_and_Samaria_Area
http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/02/14/jewish-population-in-judea-and-samaria-on-the-rise/
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/demograhics.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html#we
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/settlers-riot-after-west-bank-terror-attack-6-arrested.premium-1.518394
Facts About Israel, Division of information, ministry for foreign affairs, Jerusalem

Golan Heights Hit By Mortar Shell

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                   

First it was Wednesday mornings hit from Gaza by 3 rockets.  Now at 12:30am Wednesday evening a mortar shell flew into the Golan Heights by the Syrian army.

 It appears they are trying to provoke Israel into making an attack as their government because they also had fired at an Israeli jeep by deliberately aiming at it.  This was no stray hit.  There was nothing else to hit aiming in that direction.

UN Ambassador Ron Proser wrote a letter of complaint to the UN Security Council about it, but most likely nothing will happen.  They never seem to act on messages from Israel; only about Israel.

Resource:  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169118#.UcJX6eeOTqF

Southern Israel Struck by Rockets

Nadene Goldfoot                                          

Three rockets hit southern Israel near the Hof Ashkelon regional council area Wednesday morning, setting off the alarm system in Ashkelon and probably shocking everyone.  That broke the calm of 2 months.  So far this year, 20 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza.  There was an attack when Obama was visiting.

Since November 2012's Israeli Operation Pillar of Defense,  things had been a little better.  Israel had been hit ever since 2001 by Gaza.  Eleven years of living under such attacks was too much.  No government except the attacked Israel was complaining about it.  The  UN did nothing about it.  Neither did all the Human Rights Nations.  Only when Israel responded with Pillar of Defense did we hear any comments, and that was to complain about Israel's retaliation of sorts.  Even that was different from the Palestinian attacks.  Whereas the Palestinians aimed at the populace hoping to hit civilians, Israel went in by air and pinpointed targets with the goal of stopping their ability to continue firing at Israel.  They went out of their way not to hit civilians.  Of course, their militants hide behind women and children in schools and mosques when the going gets rough.

An example of this lopsided attitude which condemns Israel so easily is found in today's news about soccer.

 "A call by 62 top football players, many from English Premier League and first division teams in Europe, condemned Israel’s recent attack on Gaza and the decision by UEFA, the European football federation, to hold its 2013 Under 21 tournament in Israel.  Petitions calling for the boycott of the tournament have been organised by, among others, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK, and former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Frédéric Kanouté "  Kanoute ended his international career in 2010.  The 35 year old 6'4" striker now plays in the Chinese League.  

Where was this group when Israel was being attacked for 11 years?  Now the attack is starting up again.  But the soccer game will be held in Israel on time as scheduled.  Notice that it is the Palestine group leading the boycott.  

The result of this morning's attack was the immediate closure of the Kerem Shalom border crossing.

It looks like the Salafist group are the ones doing the shooting.  They have stated that they will not abide by the rules.

Resource: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Palestinians-launch-rockets-toward-Ashkelon-shattering-calm-317015?rz=n_19June13
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169083
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel,_2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Kanout%C3%A9

What Oslo Accords Failed to Do: Wrench in Progress for Kerry

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                

Twenty-five years ago in 1987, the First Intifada started.  It didn't stop until the Madrid Peace Conference.

Twenty years ago, on September 13, 1993 to be exact, Prime MinisterYitzchak Rabin and Simon Peres, Foreign Minister, along with Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas of the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) were at the White House in Washington DC.  They all  signed the "Declaration of Principles" which had all been discussed in Oslo, Norway. Russia and the USA were co-signers.   It stipulated mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO.  The PLO were to stop terrorism and end it's covenant calling for Israel's destruction.

Israel had ratified this accord in the Knesset one week later.  Arafat never could get the PLO to ratify it, announcing this on October 7, 1993.

On May 4, 1994 they had signed the Gaza-Jericho Agreement
On August 29, 1994 they had signed the Preparatory Transfer of Power and Responsibility
On August 27, 1995 they signed the Protocal transferring power to the PA.

"The five-year transitional period would commence with Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and Jericho area. (This they have done.)  Permanent status negotiations would begin as soon as possible between Israel and the Palestinians. The negotiations would cover remaining issues, including: Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements, security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with other neighbors, and other issues of common interest."

Starting in  the year 2001, Israel was being attacked by rockets, mortars and missiles.  800 rockets rained down on Israel by 2005.  Attacks forced Israel's retaliation with Operation Rainbow and Operation Days of Penitence in May 2004.  In August and September 2005, Israel had pulled out of Gaza.  Since the pullout, there have been more than 12,800 rockets that have attacked southern Israel from there.  Operation Summer Rains from June 28th  to November 26th took place in 2006 when IDF soldier Gilat Shalit was captured.  "Israel's stated goals in Operation Summer Rains were to suppress the firing of Qassam rockets from Gaza into the western Negev  Attacks into Southern Israel have not stopped. 4,000 rockets had rained down on Israel since 2005.  Israel answered the attacks with Operation Autumn Clouds in 2006 and Operation Hot winter in 2008 and Operation Cast Lead in 2009.   Even though there was a cease fire from Operation Defensive Shield in November 21, 2012,  23 rockets and 7 mortars have been shot into Southern Israel in 2013 with only January free of them.  30 Israelis were killed, 1,500 were injured and all the residents have been traumatized.  

This makes the PLO (today's Fatah)  still on the books in Israeli law as a terrorist entity because of not ratifying the Oslo accord.  This is also true in American Law being the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah are listed as a terrorist organization.  Such groups are to forfeit US foreign aid assistance.

Two times the Palestinian National Council had never canceled the PLO Covenant.  So David Bedein, head of Israel Resource News Agency and director of Near East Policy Research,  brings up the issue of the fact that there is a reason to renew talks with the PLO or Fatah.   They need to ratify the Oslo Accord and to cancel the PLO covenant calling for Israel's destruction even before they decide to recognize Israel.

Already the Palestinians have let it out that a future Palestine is to have no Jews living in their territory.  They want East Jerusalem, or even have grandiose ideas of having all of Jerusalem.  The Palestinian officials want all Palestine refugees to return and be allowed in their territory.  This would be overcoming  and would drown Israel. There were few Palestinians in Palestine in 1948 and now there are millions.   They have produced textbooks with geography maps showing all of Israel as Palestine and teach hatred for Israelis and Jews.  Fatah and Hamas have no cooperation with each other let alone with Israel, and they have no proper resource for money other than donations from other Muslim countries and groups.  The occupation of so many have been in bomb making and that's about it.

One can see that these are very sensitive matters.    Kerry and Obama are pushing the oppositional Palestinians into discussions with Israel. Why is it so imperative that Fatah sit down to discuss peace with Israel when they haven't a united force for a Palestinian state?     How can Israel even consider being held to discussion with Hamas terrorists who wish to wipe them out?  Is this an act just to get something written on one's resume?

Mahmoud Abbas was first Prime Minister of Palestine and is now the president.  He has just ousted Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister and has replaced him with Rami Hamdallah, another Fatah member who is a USA educated economist.  They have discovered that they are just about bankrupt, owing far more money than a state should that hasn't even been officially  formed yet, even though google hadn't been aware of its standing as yet.

Peace is not ready to be served on the table.  There is much that the Palestinians have to do to become neighbors of Israel.  They're not showing their willingness to live in peace when they teach their children to hate Jews and Israelis as shown by their school textbooks and their cultural programs.  Peace will have to remain in the oven where it is simmering.

Resource: http://www.israelbehindthenews.com/bin/content.cgi?ID=5582&q=1 by David Bedein
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bedein
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_I_Accord
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/06/palestine-challenges-hamdallah-government-hebron.html
http://news.yahoo.com/palestinian-president-appoints-prime-minister-173034019.html
http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-battle-of-fatah-and-hamas-with.html
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2013/06/kerrys-plan-dud-with-palestinians.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Summer_Rains
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Terrorism/rocketrange.html

Worldwide INTEL Still Expanding, Maybe in Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                  

The birth of Intel Corporation took place on July 18, 1968 in Santa Clara, California.  .  It is the largest multinational semi conductor chip maker in the world.   They make the micro processors found in personal computers.

They have had several branches in Hillsboro, Oregon, where many Israelis have come to work.  Intel has also expanded to Arizona and New Mexico.  Reports from Israel this past weekend tell of Intel's undecided decision about where to build a new chip factory.   The two prospects are Kiryat Gat, Israel or Ireland.  They are almost finished building new fabs in Hillsboro and Arizona.  The new fab in Hillsboro is called DIX where they will work on larger,  and better 450-millimeter silicon wafers.  That will affect fabs all over the world.

It all depends on whether or not they can secure a large subsidy from the Israeli government.  Intel wants Israel to pay 10% of the cost, $300 million to $400 million.  This project could boost the company's employment in Kiryat Gat by 3,000.  There is also another site in Haifa, Israel.

Intel has been leasing  a factory to Micron, but Micron is planning on shutting it down, so Intel is either going to overhaul this (fab) or build a new one according to Haaretz and the business publication "Globes."

Intel expanded in Ireland 2 years ago.

Reference:  Oregonian newspaper, June 11, 2013,  page C4
http://www.haaretz.com/business/shakeup-at-intel-weakens-israeli-execs.premium-1.528166
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/intel_corporation/index.html

Palestine About Bankrupted Before It is Created

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                    

   King Solomon died in 920 BCE and Judea was Created out of Israel, which came to be called Samaria.

For the past 65 years the Palestinian Arabs have refused the opportunity to have their own state, which was offered to them when Israel accepted their offer from the British that held the mandate to the land.  Four wars in Israel's first 25 years where the Palestinians and neighboring states attacked has caused Israel to never know peace.  They still have refused to accept Israel's existence, yet Israel has tried to sit down and talk about peace terms.

Since 1967's Six Day War (June 5th to 11th) ,  when all the Arab states attacked Israel and lost, they suddenly decided they wanted their own state, but have been so busy attacking Israel that they haven't really put their minds to the challenge.                          

                                                            Jordan River
The Palestinian Authority (PA) have been in control of Judea-Samaria for about that past 10 years and have not been able to get the Hamas terrorists and others in Gaza since they have had control from 1972  to settle down and stop attacking southern Israel.  The leadership of both the PA and Gaza cannot come to terms.  What have they done?  Stack up a huge debt.

On  August 12, 2011, it was reported that the USA had given the Gazan Hamas terrorists $100 million and then might hold it back.  "The American threat came in response to a growing attempt by Hamas to exert control over the international organizations that support the many impoverished Palestinians among Gaza’s population of 1.5 million people.Hamas shut down the U.S.-financed International Medical Corps after it refused to submit to a Hamas audit.

As reported on October 23, 2012, Qatar's Emir, Sheik Hamad bin Khaifa-al-Thani,  came to Gaza causing quite a stir by pledging $400 million to Hamas in Gaza.  Usually, the Hamas terrorists get their money from "private donors in Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states. Iran also provides significant support, which some diplomats say could amount to $20-30 million per year. In addition, some Muslim charities in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe funnel money into Hamas-backed social service groups."

The PA's financial crisis is getting worse, even though they keep receiving handouts from their rich Arab neighbors.  Their PA deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Muhammad Mustafa,  explained on Tuesday their dire state in that they are $4.2 Billion in internal and external debt.  The PA owes $600 million to banks and $1 Billion to international financial institutions.  Gaza has owed Israel 700 million shekels in unpaid electricity bills.  Israel has been giving them electricity when they have fired rockets, mortars and missiles at southern Israel.

The USA had given aid to the Gazan Palestinians annually in the tune of about $500 million.  Besides that, the USA is supporting the UN quite well.  Since they are terrorizing Israel, they are not to receive such money today.                                            

                                                       Gaza City
Mustafa also warned of a growing job crisis because they have more than 250,000 Palestinians unemployed.  This is very bad for the young people.

There are many Palestinian refugee camps set up since 1948 where there have been 3 generations living as such, the longest historical group of people living in this status.  They are dependent on the UN for everything.

Israel's Arab minority in "Palestine"  has multiplied immensely since 1948.  Then the minority population of Arabs in Israel was 126,000.  Their illiteracy was at 95%.  They had a school aged population of 10,000 children, 286 teachers. and 15 university students.  Only 4% of the women gave birth in a hospital and they had absolutely no health services.  Electricity was almost non-existent..  Their farmers had but 5 agricultural machines and they expect to only live to the age of 52.

By 1972 the Arab population in Israel rose to 458,500 and illiteracy was down to 5% with 117,000 school aged children and 5,000 teachers.  The universities now had 1,000 Palestinian students.  93% of mothers gave birth in hospitals and they have 85 clinics and 75 mother and child health stations.  92% of the people had electricity and the farmers had 960 agricultural machines.  The Palestinians could expect to live to age 70.  By July 1972, there were almost a million Arabs living in the administered areas.  640,600 lived in Judea and Samaria on 2,270 sq miles.  388,600 lived in the Gaza Strip of 140 s. miles and North Sinai and 8,000 lived in the Golan Heights on 500 sq miles.  Today, Israel has about a 20% population of Arabs, about 1.7 million.  They are full citizens.

The Palestinians are still not ready to have their own state.  At the rate they are going, they would want 2 anyway since the two groups are never in agreement.  It's a power struggle.  If they would stop trying to take all of Israel and settle down recognize Israel and that it's here to stay, decide to go for peace instead, then work on the parts of state building, they might make it in the next 100 years.

Resource:  http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=603934, (Ma'an News Agency)
http://www.bridgesforpeace.com/dispatch/article/how-does-israel-treat-its-arab-citizens/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_aid_to_Palestinians
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/world/middleeast/pledging-400-million-qatari-emir-makes-historic-visit-to-gaza-strip.html?_r=0
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22967.pdf
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/08/wth-us-gives-100-million-to-hamas-controlled-gaza/
http://www.cfr.org/israel/hamas/p8968
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/162159

Syrian Encroachment in Golan Heights

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                    

The Golan Heights, Israel has a border crossing along the Israeli-controlled land.  The Syrian rebels overran the border position near the abandoned town of Quneitra early yesterday and held their positions for several hours before the Syrian government troops retook it.  Its importance is that the peacekeepers receive most of their supplies through this position from Israel.  The fighting is also spilling over into Turkey and Lebanon as well.  It's only 1/2 mile away from Israel.

This actual fight caused the 377 international peacekeepers of Austria's contingent who maintain a 40 year old truce to decide to withdraw.  This has caused Israel to feel that they can soon be dragged into the Syrian civil war.  It is thought that the Russians will replace them.

From Israel one can see the Syrian tanks and armored vehicles right across the border.  They can hear the lage explosions all day and see thick smoke and flames rise.  Like back in the days of the American Civil War, tourists in Israel went to the Golan to look across the frontier and watch the fighting along with the TV stations.  Israeli IDF along the border were on high alert.

Night came and things calmed down.  Danny Danon, deputy defense minister of Israel said that they remained on high alert and are watching what is going on in Syria.  They are ready to protect Israel. "The Israeli military did not confirm the crossing was overrun by Syrian rebels, but said the area had been declared a "closed military zone" and was off-limits to journalists because of fighting nearby." Yahoo News

"Also Thursday, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri tapped into the deepening Sunni-Shiite rift stemming from the conflict, calling on Sunnis everywhere to devote their lives, money and expertise to the overthrow the regime, set up Islamic rule in Syria and prevent a U.S.-allied government from taking over after Assad, whose regime is dominated by the Alawite sect, an offshoot group of Shiite Islam." Yahoo News

The Islamic militants have joined the rebels in trying to oust Bashar Assad.  The fear is that they will turn their guns on Israel if this despotic Assad is toppled.  The Syrian government could not guarantee support of the UN, Defense Minister Gerhard Klug said, explaining why they were withddrawing their troops from the station they were to protect.  They were a major contingent of peacekeepers.

There is more danger on the horizen.  Qaradawi, the terrible Muslim leader wanting to have all Jews killed, is entering the fracas.  Al-Qaradhawi Calls On Sunnis To Join Syrian Jihad: "How Can 100 Million Shi'ites Defeat 1.7 Billion [Sunni Muslims]?"

Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi, the head of IUMS, also joined the attack on Hizbullah and called for jihad against it. In his Friday sermon on May 31, 2013, he called on young Muslims from around the world to travel to the Syrian city of Al-Qusayr in order to fight Hizbullah there, and said that it was illogical to abandon the Muslims (i.e., Sunni Muslims) in Syria while thousands were coming there to fight against them, referring to Hizbullah. Al-Qaradhawi added: "Anyone who can fight, should fight. I swear that if I could [fight] I would do so without hesitation." He even called the 'Alawites "bigger infidels than the Jews." Memri

Resource: Oregonian newspaper 6/7/13 Syrian rebel offensive jolts Israel by Sebastian Scheiner and Josef Federman, AP
http://rt.com/news/golan-heights-russia-peacekeepers-368/
http://news.yahoo.com/austria-withdrawing-un-troops-golan-heights-161203350.html
http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/7219.htm

Evidence of Nerve Gas Used in Syria

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                   

                                                  Rebels fighting in Syria

France is the first to confirm that the nerve gas, Sarin, was used many times and in a localized way in Syria.  This finding shows that it was used at least once by the government.  This information was finally confirmed to the media on Tuesday.  The civil war has been going on for 27 months to date.

Britain acknowledged later that their tests on samples from Syria tested positive for Sarin, too.

The problem has been of confirming what was suspicioned from a distance.  President Obama set the red line and it has been crossed, but by which side?   President Bashar Assad has not allowed any UN investigators into the country.  These confirmations come from samples brought out to be tested.  A UN team said it had "reasonable grounds" to suspect small scale use of toxic chemicals in at least 4 attacks in March and April.

Doctors were also interviewed and so were witnesses of these purported attacks.  There were also amateur videos brought out of Syria of the stricken.  Now they say they need direct samples from victims or from the sites of attacks.

Syria is thought to have the world's largest chemical weapons arsenals including mustard and nerve gas like Sarin, making this very serious for Israel, who has had to arm every citizen with gas masks and the directions for providing for themselves a safe room.

Sending weapons to the rebels is scary business because they are made up of Islamic militants as well who would not flinch at obtaining and keeping chemicals  and then later using them on Israel, for Islamic groups have been no friends to Israel at all.  France's Fabius feels that in one case, the regime and its allies were responsible for the attack.  Britain has found other chemicals, as well as Sarin, in their samples tested.

In the meantime, Assad's troops have advanced toward Qusair near the border with Lebanon and chased rebels from another district on the edge of Damascus on Tuesday.  Now the Syrian government is leading in this civil war that has taken over 80,000 lives so far.  The Syrian army is backed by Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon.  They have announced they have "eradicated the remnants of terrorists" of Qusair."

Reference:  http://www.avaaz.org/en/syria_the_last_straw_c/?bTtDAdb&v=25488
Oregonian Newspaper, 6/5/13, page A9, Europe:  Nerve gas used in Syria by Greg Keller and Karin Laub, AP and Assad's troops gain ground by AP.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-levels-warning-at-israel-in-wake-of-qusair-victory/