Abbas Refuses to Recognize Jewish State

Nadene Goldfoot

Push has come to shove, and the President of the Arab "Palestinians" refuses to accept that Israel is a Jewish State. To do so might negate his idea of the right of return of thousands and thousands of Arabs to swamp his "Palestine", therefore putting Israel in danger all the more. It's their idea of driving Israel into the sea and ending it once and for all.

So we come to stalemate. Marshall, Obama's representative, has said that the only solution is to have a Palestine next door to Israel, no matter what, it looks like. Just get the job done, get it on his resume, two states, side by side, and then they can fight it out again. Marshall will then be out of the way of crossfire.

To have a state next door that does not recognize the most basic fact in that it is a state created as a haven for Jewish people, at a time in the world where there is no Jewish state at all, and this would be the only one, is insane. Would anything else be recognized? Rights, Safety ? No, this is the point. This is not a workable idea.

If everyone thought that Abbas was so willing to have a reasonable situation and work with Israel, they were mistaken. He has just taken a different tactic. He's just a different personality from Arafat, but has the very same intentions. It's a sad fact of life.

Abbas said all this at a conference. At the end he was presented a map covering all of Israel with the name on it in English, Palestine. There's his intention, boldly presented.

References: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/world/middleeast/28mideast.html?_r=1
Palestinian Media Watch
Mahmoud Abbas: "I do not accept the Jewish State, call it what you will"by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook"

Jordan's King Abdullah II Speaks Out Against Israel

Nadene Goldfoot

The TV program, Meet the Press, on at 9:30 am this morning, interviewed King Abdullah II of Jordan and asked him about Israel. He's all for the USA pressuring Israel about the creation of Palestine. He said that the only reason Iran is using Atomic energy is to be a policeman in the area and the problem is the creation of Palestine, which about 57 nations are all for. The problem is Israel.

Of course, he negates the facts that since 1948 all the Arab nations have not accepted the decision of the United Nations of that day that created an Israel in the first place, and that the surrounding Arab nations have continuously attacked her and have never recognized her place in their society. I guess it's all Israel's fault for existing, and they feel that is definitely a problem to them.

The king showed his true colors in this interview. In his cultured English accent, he sounded so sincere as he spoke. I wonder how many people will decipher his message. He has the same feelings as all the other 21 Arab nations. He is speaking out against Israel's right to exist. The USA should pressure Israel into doing this, he remarked. He is for a two state solution which just has not been possible for 60 years. It takes a 2nd state that is willing to exist side by side with Israel as a good neighbor and the transition hasn't happened.

Jordan itself hasn't been bad. They've been fairly good neighbors, begudgingly, I suppose. The king is an intelligent man. He's had a lot of his own problems with the Palestinians as had his father, King Abdullah I. They did join their cousins in attacking Israel in the many big wars, however. Just being in existence has been enough to tick off these Arab nations. We haven't had to do a thing other than be a successful producing state and remain Jewish.

Jewish Persecution By Iran

Nadene Goldfoot

A large part of Jewish persecution in Iran started in 1637 when Islam arrived in Persia. They were treated terribly and from time to time rulers forced Jews to convert to Islam. That's what brought Daniel, my new cousin by marriage, to the states.

Good times in Iran came to an end in 1979 when the Shah was exiled and Islamic radicals came to power. He was a child at the time. In 1985 all Jewish schools were forced to close and children had to attend Moslem schools The principal wanted him to convert to Islam and join the army to fight against Iraq. The family spent their entire life savings to smuggle him out of the country.

14 boys including Daniel were taken by smugglers on camels at night over the border of Pakistan, caught by their police, let go after begging and paying them $20. They went to Austria through the UN embassy and with Swiss passports, got out of the country. He was 16 years old and all alone when he arrived in America.

Now the Iranians have the audacity to condemn Israel for the very acts they have committed against Jews. Israel has only acted to defend itself, and warned their aggressors first of such action.

Czechs' Bravery Brings on Attacks From EU Over Israel

Nadene Goldfoot

The Czechs bravely walked out of the UN meeting while Iran's president was talking and didn't return. This brought criticism from the rest of the EU, mainly Louis Michel who spoke with a heavy French accent.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was ranting on that Israel practiced ethnic cleansing on Palestinians and demanded the arrest of these Zionist criminals.

I guess this part of the world simply doesn't take it well of Israel warning Hamas and the world that it simply would not take anymore of the past eight years of shelling and were going to start fighting back. Mind you, Israel warned the world first that if the shelling did not stop, this would happen. So Iran thinks that Israel should be a sitting duck and not fight back
.

What is more apalling is that the Europeans, including the French, would sit and take such delusional thinking without a whimper! To sit and be proper when a madman is speaking is absolutely disgusting to me.

Evidently the Czech were not the only ones to walk out on his speech, but they were the only ones who did not return, which was extraordinarily brave. However, the Czech are noted for their individualistic thinking and bravery. They don't seem to be sheep and follow the others. Hoorey for them!

Resource: http://www.euronews.net/2009/04/22/iran-s-anti-israel-speech-sparks-internal-eu-row/

U.N. Display of Anti-Semitism in "Durban II

HonestReporting has done a tremendous job outlining the events in the United Nations that are biased against Israel.

Nadene Goldfoot
Sept. 2001: The first Durban anti-racist conference that descended into the most hate-filled festival of anti-Semitism since the end of WW2.
July 2004: The UN's International Court of Justice rules against Israel's security barrier, failing to even mention the Palestinian terrorism that prompted its construction in the first place.
Oct. 2004: Ignored by the media, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza admits that Hamas members are on his payroll.
June 2006: The new UN Human Rights Council is inaugurated. It quickly focuses on singling Israel out for condemnation while ignoring the worst cases of human rights abuses around the world.
Nov. 2006: "Special Raporteur on Palestine to the UN Human Rights Council" John Dugard writes that Israel "has many of the worst characteristics of apartheid." I've got a good mind to sue people (including ex pres Carter) for using this term. What other country has a 1:5 ratio of Arabs when Arabs are bent on their destruction and even has them in the Knesset (political governing power) and in all walks of life. There is no apartheid here. I lived in the same building as Arabs in Safed in binion (building) 13. I taught Arabs who were in my classes along with Jewish children at the junior high. We all went through a scrutiny process when entering buildings with our purses and bags. We all shopped at the same shuks (outdoor markets) and stores.
Jan. 2009: UN staff in Gaza accuse Israel of shelling a UN school, killing 43 civilians. The story is later proven to be false and John Ging, UNRWA's operations director in Gaza is forced to admit that the mortar shells landed outside of the school and that nobody inside was killed. The UN's incorrect public pronouncements however, were responsible for letting the story turn into another anti-Israel libel. Lazy reporters tend to lie and say the worst about Israel-it sells papers. People need to be more sceptical and look for accurate reports.
In October 2008, HonestReporting updated you on the preparations for the Durban Review Conference currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. Led by a committee consisting of human rights violators such as Libya, Iran and Cuba, the writing was already on the wall for Durban 2.
But is the "halo effect" starting to dissipate? This effect is what the UN tries to promote by speaking about "human rights". The UN's aura of high morality took a beating as Durban 2 gave a platform to Iran's President Ahmadinejad. As the Dallas Morning News mused:
After all, giving the Holocaust-denying fruitcake Ahmadinejad a platform to lecture the world about racism is like inviting Bernie Madoff to headline a global conference on business ethics.
While those countries that staged a walk-out during Ahmadinejad's vitriol are to be commended, many media outlets, particularly outside of the US and Canada, which decided to boycott the conference in its totality, have failed to grasp the significance of the final conference communique, which has been signed earlier than expected on Tuesday instead of the end of the week to avoid further controversies.
For, as the New York Times states:
While there have been improvements in the communique, as now written, it would affirm the conclusions of the last one, implicitly still singling out Israel.

The United Nations conference can never have credibility, or value, if it is used to attack one country — Israel — especially when so many other countries have truly abysmal human rights records, including China, Sudan and Iran.
In stark contrast to the UN's tarnished integrity, The Australian noted that Australia's quest for a temporary seat on the Security Council could be damaged by its boycott of Durban 2. However, in stark contrast to the UN's tarnished integrity, the paper concluded:
Before Durban II, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said participants would "be judged harshly" if the conference failed. So they will be. Some nations, rightly, walked out as the Iranian President spoke. Whatever the cost of our non-participation in terms of votes for the Security Council, Australia was right to have no part of it.
Predictably, although there was almost wall-to-wall condemnation of Ahmadinejad, some media outlets expressed regret that his appearance had perhaps vindicated Israel's concerns. The Guardian wrote:
It makes whatever desire there is within the UN to investigate allegations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza that much harder to realise, as the UN as a whole is tainted by the Iranian leader's presence at one conference.
Other UK papers, such as The Times and Daily Telegraph admonished the British government for attending Durban 2 even before Ahmadinejad's outburst. (See HonestReporting UK for more details.)
Sadly, as Gerald Steinberg in the Wall Street Journal points out:

Once again, the obsessive focus on the Jewish state meant that the real problems of racism and genocide were largely ignored at this U.N. conference. Only outside the official U.N. antiracism conference, at well-attended "counter conferences" organized by NGOs such as U.N. Watch, did the real victims of racism and mass murder get the attention they deserved.
Only at those counter conferences could one witness moving presentations by victims of Iranian oppression, survivors of the Rwandan genocide and the continuing slaughter in Darfur.
'DISPROPORTIONATE' COVERAGE OF HAMAS WAR CRIMES

Accusations of Israeli "war crimes" were all the rage recently, particularly in The Guardian, which spent a month in Gaza "investigating" before producing a barrage of articles and online videos attacking the IDF's actions. While the paper has also now covered a new Human Rights Watch report documenting Hamas war crimes, we share the skepticism of Richard Cohen in the Washington Post:

No doubt the Human Rights Watch report will be ignored or dismissed in the greater cause of demonizing Israel. This has been the trend of late. No doubt, too, some will excuse Hamas's criminality as the inevitable result of Israeli actions Israel's actions have never been to subject Palestinians to any other type of life any different than their own. They only react when Palestinians "Hamas" presumably, have attacked them. This angers me. Israel only reacts to its own pain, it hasn't started it. It's Hamas who seeks power and destruction of Israel, not the other way around. -- the Officer Krupke School of Behavior made famous by the singing gang members of "West Side Story." But as much as some would like to criticize Israel -- and I have done so myself -- they still have a minimal obligation to acknowledge the difference in core values between Israel and its enemies.

Resource: Honestreporting

A Palestine? After These 6 Things come to Fruition

from Dr. Mitchell Bard

I was asked what I thought of Mitchell, the foreign Minister and Netanyahu's responses about not going for another state next to Israel called Palestine right now, and find I am in full agreement with Dr. Mitchell Bard's ideas below. I fell quite sure that Benjamin Netanyahu would be, too. I'm just surprised that our USA has never seen the light of this before. But then they were dealing with Olmert.

Britannica Blog: Shock Therapy for the MideastBy Mitchell Bard

For the last 40 years, Middle East peace efforts have focused on coercing Israel to make concessions. This one-sided approach is based on the belief that the United States only has leverage over Israel, that UN resolutions obligate Israel to withdraw from territory and that relations with the Arab world depend on satisfying their demands. If President Obama wants to change the 60 year record of failed diplomacy, he must jettison this approach and apply shock therapy by taking steps to disabuse the Palestinians of many of the illusions that prevent them from reaching an agreement with Israel.

1) Make clear that violence will never lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state. No Israeli government will make concessions so long as its citizens are under attack. After ending the "occupation" of Gaza and being bombarded by more than 6,000 missiles Israel cannot be expected to consider territorial concessions unless Obama holds the Palestinians to their road map promise to stop terror and incitement against Israel.

2) State that the future borders of Israel and Palestine must take into account current demographic realities. President Clinton envisioned that the major settlement blocs, where tens of thousands of Israelis reside, would be incorporated into Israel. The Palestinian state could still be contiguous and incorporate 95-97 percent of the West Bank. The Palestinians could also receive additional territory elsewhere in exchange for the 3-5 percent of West Bank territory annexed to Israel.

3) Move the U.S. embassy to West Jerusalem. This is the capital of Israel and will remain so under any conceivable negotiated solution. This step does not preclude negotiations to establish the capital of the Palestinian state in part of Jerusalem, but it would erase Arab fantasies about the permanence of Israel's presence.

4) Insist that the Palestinian Authority reform textbooks. If Israelis and Palestinians are to coexist, the younger generation of Palestinians cannot continue to be taught that Israel does not exist, that Jews have no history in their homeland and that Islam requires them to fight infidels and become martyrs.

5) Support the settlement of Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian state. No Israeli leader will acknowledge a "right of return;" therefore, an international compensation fund should be created to facilitate the resettlement of refugees in the West Bank and Gaza upon the signing of a Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement.

6) Condition relations with Arab allies on their support for American peace efforts. President Obama should not continue to lavish aid and arms on states that vote against us more than 90 percent of the time at the UN and undermine our policies. These Arab states should be expected to end the boycott of Israel and take steps toward normalization.These policies may appear unbalanced but they will force Israel to make tough compromises as well. If violence ceases, Israel will have less justification for holding territory. Settlements outside the blocs recognized by the U.S. would probably have to be dismantled and the border of Israel and Palestine would approach the 1949 armistice line. Israel's capital would be recognized, but the predominantly Arab parts of Jerusalem would likely be ceded to the Palestinian state. Thousands of Palestinians would probably be admitted to Israel on a humanitarian basis.

Obama cannot allow fear of Arab disapproval to drive his policy. History has shown that our Arab allies need us much more than we need them. That is why, contrary to conventual State Department wisdom, relations with the Arab states have improved as the U.S.-Israel alliance solidified.The Palestinians will not agree to end the conflict with Israel if they believe terror can force Israel to capitulate, if they think the United States or others will force Israel to dismantle all the West Bank settlements and give up Jerusalem, or if they believe Israel can be forced to recognize a "right of return" for the Palestinian refugees. By taking the suggested steps, President Obama can stimulate both Palestinians and Israelis to negotiate from more realistic positions.

The Palestinians may still choose their historic path of never missing an opportunity to miss an opportunity, but they will do so knowing that they are unlikely to find a more sympathetic American leader in the future.

Resource: Dr. Mitchell Bard

How Hamas Muslim Clerics Feel About Jews

Nadene Goldfoot

Ziad Abu Alhaj, Hamas religious leader, an Imam who recently attended the "Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace", spewed out that Jews are inherently evil. Jews seek to rule the world. Jews are a threat to Muslims and all of humanity. Jews are destined for extermination.

He continued to say that hatred for Muhammad and Islam is in the Jewish soul and they are naturally disposed to it. Therefore, Israel is a cancer that wants to rule the world. Details of the Jews' plan is in "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion."

The Arabs continue to use this old false resource dreamed up by the Nazis in World War II, and shockingly, the Arab world continues to swallow it. I just hope that the Western world is a little more hep as to its anti-Semitic goal.

This Imam went on to say that the time will come when their property will be destroyed and their children will be exterminated and no Jew or Zionist will be left on the face of this earth.

(Hamas (Al-Aqsa) TV, April 3, 2009.

Isn't this reminiscent of the Arab League's goal in 1948 when they told this same thing to the Arabs living in Palestine to leave as they were attacking and when they finished the ones who left could have the Jews' property? They're still aiming for this after 60 years of trying.

Of course they blame America for the Jews' success when the Imam states that "The Jews' grandeur today, and their ascent to the world's throne, is because America, with all of its power, is ruled by the Senate, I won't say "American" but rather"Jewish" (Senate.)

Where do they get all this nonsense? "We, the Muslims, know the nature of Jews the best, because the Holy Quran taught us. The prophetic traditions explained at length to Muslims the true nature of Jews...Their war and their hatred for Muhammad and Islam is in their souls, they are naturally disposed to it.

What really rankles them is the following: "Israel today lives in the heart of Arab-Muslim territory, and it is a cancer that wants to rule the world. Know, my brothers! The Jews' expansion today brings the dissemination of an ancient thinking.....

I believe this report shows that the Western world cannot expect the Arabs to react like another Western country would. Their thinking is completely different. They don't want to change that pattern of thinking, either. I think that only time will help to erase such thoughts when they have to learn to live with Israel in their midst and see that they're not going to die of a plague, but might even prosper and learn something. It's going to be a tough row to hoe. I pray we have the fortitude.

Reference: Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook from PMW Bulletin

Social Problems Among Jewish Israelis

If your brother becomes poor, you shall maintain him. (Bible, Leviticus, 25, 35)

Nadene Goldfoot

The Israeli population did not start off from a uniform level of income and education. People came from the Middle East such as Yemen and Morocco and others came from Western Europe and the USA.

To bring everyone to one level of income, consumption, education and housing takes a long time. They have progressively been moving in that direction. In 1971, the population of Israel included 1,400,000 immigrants of whom 700,000 came from Moslem countries where most were treated as dminnis; they were almost destitute.

Their education level was far below sabras (native born) and immigrants from other countries. Many were survivors of the Holocaust and released right out of the death camps in 1945. If they went to Israel, they were inducted into fighting in 1948.

Their families were much larger. A family from Aisa-Africa is 4.7 persons. One from Europe is 2.9 persons.

In 1968-69, 17.4% of heads of families were over 65 years of age.

In the early 1950's, new immigrants (olim) were placed in tents and shacks. 418,370 apartments were built in 12 years since then.

Now that Israel is 60 years old and has endured through many wars, and countless attacks, it's a wonder and a miracle how they have advanced. I think it's truly awesome. they haven't had a minute without a problem to solve. Kol ah ka vode.

Resource: facts about Israel

Archaeological Evidence: We Were Here in Israel Long Ago

Nadene Goldfoot

In the Jordan Valley, the Galilee and the Carmel Range, bones of Early Man were found together with his tools and remains of the animals that he hunted. The oldest of these remains go back over a million years. Who were these people? We know that Abraham came from the Iraq area later.

Some of the Canaanite settlements from the 3rd and 2nd millenia BCE were found in such biblical sites as Hazor, Megiddo, Ashdod, Jerusalem and Shechem. Recent finds (1972) at Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, Jerusalem, Beersheba, Ashdod and Dan prove the settlement of the Israelites on their return from Egypt during the end of the 2nd millennium BCE and after the establishment of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. They show us details about the daily life, architecture, arts and forms of religious worship.

Remains from the time of the 2nd Temple-from the Hasmonaean period through the Jewish revolt against the Romans in the 1st century CE were unearths at Jerusalem, Caesarea, Beit-Sha'an, Tiberias and Jaffa. They found the fortresses in the Judaean Desert, such as Masada and Herodion, which were bases for the revolt ending in 70CE when the land was devastated and converted into a Roman province.

Digs in Jerusalem since 1967 when were were first allowed to enter show the city's fortifications and public and religious edifices, as well as the remains of Roman burnings. Traces of the camp of the Roman 10th Legion were found.

Exploring the caves of the Judaean desert led to finding the Letters of Shimon Bar Kochba, commander of the 2nd Jewish revolt against the Romans in the 2nd Century ACE.

We had an unbroken presence of a Jewish community throughout the Byzantine period (4th-7th centuries). Archaeologists found beautiful synagogues in the Galillee, Judaea and in the south. They also found evidence of the new Christian community that developed at that time.

This takes us up to 1972. I'd love to know if any dna testing has been done.

When we lived in Israel from 1980-1985 we did visit the Hazor ruins. I was amazed at how small a space people had to live in. Exploration was constantly going on in Jerusalem. Much more has been found. What amazes me is that this work has gone on despite all the wars Israel has had to endure.

Resource: Facts about Israel.

More Facts About Israel to be Aware Of

Nadene Goldfoot

By 1972 almost a million Arabs lived in the administered areas (not called occupied areas). 640,600 of there lived in Judaea and Samaria. This consisted of 5,900 sq km or 2,270 sq mi. 388,600 lived in the Gaza Strip consisting of 360 sq km or 140 sq mi. and North Sinai.

8,000 Arabs lived on the Golan Heights consisting of 1,250 sq km or 500 sq mi. There are the Druzes living here.

Most of this population are Moslems. The smaller Christian communities of Greek Orthodox and Latins are mainly in Ramallah, Bethlehem and Beit Jala.

Israel waited for a peace settlement which didn't come. Their objectives have been:

1. To maintain conditions of security for Israelis and Arabs alike.

2. To enable inhabitants to live normal lives without losing contact with Arabs in other countries.

3. To make possible rapid economic development.

4. To encourage co-existence and cooperation between the Arabs of the areas and Israelis, as an example for relations to come between the two peoples.

1. By 1972 things were tranquil and thriving. Local affairs were administered by the local population.

2. Open bridges on the Jordan allowed movement in either direction between the areas and the Arab States.

3. Arabs and Israelis up to 1967 had lived in mutual separation and estrangement but after 1967 were enjoying the beginnings of a peaceful and fruitful co-existence.

4. The hope was that this would make a contribution towards a transformation of Arab-Israel-relations from conflict into cooperation.

What Happened?

I daresay that other Arabs poked their goals into the territories and grabbed some political power over these people. Arafat died and Hamas took over Fatah. The whole leadership changed from bad to worse.

Israeli politics also changed. It was as if American Democrats gained power. The Left gained power and did not protect Southern Israel which was shelled for 8 years. Now the Right is back in. We await with baited breath to see how Netanyahu handles things, but I have a feeling he'll be great. Security is a big thing with him. Most Israelis voted for him for this very reason.

Unlike Muslim Nations

Arabs and Druzes take part in Israeli political life. They are in the government's legislature.

In the 7th Knesset there were 6 Arabs (one was Deputy Speaker and one was a Deputy Minister) and one Druze who was a Deputy Minister. That was by 1972. It's not a new thing. Remember, Israel only was born in 1948. It was only 24 years old. In just about every Arab nation, Jews are not allowed, even as tourists. Egypt allowed Jews by 1980 that I know of. Sadat had made a change in his attitudes. I believe it would be impossible for me to tour Saudi Arabia.

Advantages for Arabs in Israel

Israel has treated the Arabs well, though they probably wouldn't dare admit it. They have the advantages of Israel's modern medical services. They are served by 6 health centers. 79 village clinics and 75 mother and child station, besides facilities in the cities. Their death rate dropped from 20 per thousand in 1948 to 6.2 in 1971, among the lowest in the world. During this time, infantile death rates fell from 68 to 38 per thousand live births. By 1972 93% of births are in hospitals.

Now Arabs want to overwhelm Israel with their numbers demanding a return of millions and millions of Arabs who left in 1948 of their own choosing.

Resource: Facts About Israel: published by the division of information, ministry for foreign affairs, Jerusalem 1973.

Israel's Arab Minority

Population in 1948 126,000 in 1972 458,500

Illiteracy 95% ...................................5%

School Population 10,000 ...............117,000

University " 15 ....................................1,000

Teachers 286 .....................................5,000

Hospital Births 4% ................................93%

Health Services None ...........................85 clinics, 75 mother-child stations

Electricity Almost None .........................92%

Agriculture

machines 5 ............................................960

life expectation 52................................... 70

Resource; Facts About Israel from 1973 booklet published by division of information, ministry for foreign affairs, Jerusalem.

Facts About Israel You Should Know

by Nadene Goldfoot

Israel's Land: From 70 CE when Rome attacked Jerusalem to 1948 CE, for this 1,878 years, the Land was ruled by foreign governments and never by the people which lived in it. It's frontiers underwent changes according to the administrative interests of the ruling power. Its name was also changed by successive rulers to suit their needs.

1. Roman rule: 70 CE-395- changed name to Palaestina (for Philistines)-Jerusalem to Aelie Capitolina

2. Byzantine rule: 395 to 636

3. Arab rule: 636-1072

4. Seijuk rule: 1072-1099

5. Crusaders' Rule: 1099-1291

6.Mamluk Rule: 1291-1516

7. Ottoman Rule 1516-1917 up to WWI which they lost, thus Britain held mandate

8.British Rule: 1918-1948 (1922 they divided in Palestine West of Jordan and Transjordan on East of Jordan-breaking promise to Israel's leaders.

9. Israel was born: May 1948

Six-Day War: when Israel was attacked by all the Arab countries and the Israel Defence Forces defeated the massed Arab armies which menaced Israel's frontiers. This caused Israel to administer four areas.

The West Bank: Original name-Judaea and Samaria-known as the West Bank of the Jordan) Had been until 1948 part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Between 1948-1967 it was ruled by Jordan, which annexed it in 1950.

Gaza Strip: Had been until 1948, part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Between 1948-1967 (with a brief interruption in 1956-7, following the Sinai War, it was administered by an Egyptian Military Government. It was not annexed by Egypt.

The Sinai Desert: Was, until 1967, under Egyptian administration.

The Golan Heights: Until 1967, were under Syrian administration.

East Jerusalem was reunified by Israel in June 1967 with West Jerusalem.

Modern Israel has never known permanent boundaries. Until 1967, boundaries consisted of temporary armistice lines, agreed upon in 1949. Since 1967 and waiting for a peace settlement, cease-fire lines demarcate the area under Israeli control. Most of the urban regions of Israel are less than two hours away from the nearest cease-fire lines. Before 1967, the armistice lines bisected Jerusalem and were twenty minutes away from Tel Aviv. Peace has never really come. Arabs keep trying to overcome Israel.

Today I see people arguing about who Israel belongs to, and I don't think they've ever opened a book to check out facts. Israel bought land from absent Arab landowners who were living abroad in Europe at very high prices. They also were created by the United Nations in 1948, and became a very legal state. That unfortunately didn't stop the Arab nations who had no respect for legalities, and still don't as they continue to attack the very tiny state. I'd like to think that we have help from Ha-Shem (G-d) in this miraculous endeavor. Never again do we want to lose this extremely important piece of land that we were guided to.

I feel that this hatred of the Arabs stems from us not converting to the Muslim religion as they thought we would. They were converting by the sword when people didn't come along with them. We've endured many peoples who have tried to convert us, and we have remained steadfast in our convictions. This did not please the Arab nations at all. When we lived in Arab countries we were treated as 2nd class citizens because of it. We have never been equals. However, this was better treatment than being rounded up and slaughtered as happened inthe WWII.

Resource: Facts About Israel from Division of Information, ministry for foreign affairs, Jerusalem. 1973.

Fatah Showing True Colors

David Bedein, an old friend from Safed, Israel, writes from Israel that Fatah is not the peaceful ally one would hope for. They have again started their terror attacks against Israel. 250 terrorists involved in attacks in 2003 and 2004 had been pardoned by Israel. Today many are fighting Israel again, even encouraged by Fatah's leader, President Mahmoud Abbas.

They are taking advantage of Prime Minister Netanyahu's election and the world view being against him. In March and April they killed Israeli police and civilians. The USA has been training the Palestinian security forces, and these people are being recruited to attack Israel in turn. The Americans have been providing a "Senior Leaders Course," a 2 month program in Ramallah, overseen by Gen. Keith Dayton. They have had 80 graduates in two 40 student classes. Now they are also training Fatah commanders from the Palestinian National Security in Jordan in a 3rd class. There are 15,000 men in this group who police borders, get military intelligence, have military police services and provide presidential security. The Fatah security forces are still known as the al-Aqsa Brigades which have been defined by American law as a terrorist entity. Here we see that the US military is training them to be better warriors. The military is not following its own American laws.

I wrote several months ago that Fatah's ambitions were the same as Hamas; they just went about their goal in a different way. Here they are proving me right. We have already seen individual attacks from the West Bank on Israelis that were unbelieveable.

Resource: Israel Resource News Agency Fatah Terrorizes While Undergoing US Military Training

Obama Endorses King Abdullah's Plan Against Israel

The whole Arab League and including President Obama is endorsing an intitiative that will end Israel as a Jewish state stating it is for peace. Actually, it's their new proposal to end the state.

It would allow millions of "Palestinian refugees and their descendants" the right of return to Israel. This was not an acceptable consideration with Bush's administration, let alone any Israeli administration. It's an illogical idea that there were so many Arabs in the area in the first place, and this is just a way for them to take over our coveted land.

Israel would have to withdraw to the 1949-1967 armistice line, back to its beginnings at birth. Israel has already left Gaza which caused a disasterous outcome for Israel anyway you look at it. They would be forced to leave the whole West Bank, East Jerusalem, the entire Old City of Jerusalem where the Western Wall is, a most sacred site. A half million Jews would be forced to move.

George Mitchell said the US intends to incorporate the initiative into its Middle East policy. This statement comes after Obama met with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during the G-20 summit in London. Obama spoke of his appreciation for Saudi Arabia's leadership in promoting the "Arab Peace Intitiative." I'm calling it the "Arab Takeover." Previously, Obama was quoted as saying that "the Israelis would be crazy not to support this initiative." I don't believe he understands a thing about it with such a statement. It would completely end Israel!

Oh yes, the Arabs have stated that if Israel complies, the Arab nations would normalize relations with Israel. Of course, it would then be an Arab country. Hello.

Reference: http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/president_obama_king_abdullah.html

Terrorist's Gruesome Slaughter in Wet Bank-64 Attacks

Nadene Goldfoot

Today an Arab terrorist, probably a member of Fatah, went into Bat Ayin in the Gush Etzion part of the West Bank and struck a 13 year old Israeli boy, Shlomo Nativ, over the head with an axe, killing him. The Iranian backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Imad Mughniyeh Group claimed responsibility.

Then he turned towards a 7 year old boy and hit him on the head with the axe. He was actually saved by a passerby, Avinoam, who fought the attacker and took the axe from him. The killer tried to stab Avinoam, who kicked him. The killer raised the axe over Avinoam, trying to kill him, too, but Avinoam caught his hand and grabbed the axe. The killer escaped and Israeli security forces searched for him. Everyone in the area had to remain indoors as they searched.

This was a very bloody attack on innocent children. If Avinoam hadn't come along, the 7 year old would have also been killed. I wonder how many Americans would have faced a crazed killer with an axe. Thank goodness, and sadly, most all Israelis have been trained in self defense in the army.

This was not the first attack on Jews in the West Bank. From January 1st to February 28th of this year there have been 64 terrorist attacks. There was a ceasefire on January 18th. Since then, 154 rockets and mortars have been continually fired at Israel by terrorist groups in Gaza.

Reference: The Israel Project press@theisraelproject.org.

Defending Avigdor Leiberman, Israel's New Foreign Minister

by Tamar Boussi 

The last two weeks, of the Israeli election, I followed Avigdor Leiberman as he was obviously as important as the "top three" candidates that the media had determined should be followed and reported on. After listening to Leiberman in several different venues, then asking him a question regarding his purported "racism", I carefully read the platform of Yisrael Beitanu. I want to issue the following challenge. Show me where, in Mr. Leiberman’s writings, speeches or party platform he is a "hate mongering" extremist or a "racist" as he has been accused by one or the other of the above named.

First of all, the party platform in brief:
No negotiations with terrorists
Overthrow Hamas
Citizenship should be linked to loyalty to the state and its principles. (Remember there are two Arab parties who the Knesset voted to not allow to run in this election because their platforms call for the destruction of the state of Israel and replacement with a Palestinian state. The Supreme Court ruled they must be allowed to run) Americans elected to public office must take an oath of allegiance as well as new citizens. Nowhere does Leiberman call for only Arabs or any other singled out group.to be loyal to the state.

Legal residents who have served in the IDF or have done National Service will get preferential treatment when applying to Universities, receiving public service benefits and allocation of state owned land grants. (This applies to all sections of the population, not only Jews)The U.S. GI bill of rights comes to mind)
A coalition should be formed to change the system of elections to a more workable system, perhaps modeled after the American system.

A bill will be presented to allow civil union as well as religious marriage.
A special cabinet level position to encourage aliyah and integration of new immigrants from Europe and the U.S. due to the sharp rise in anti-semitism.
Remove the restrictions on the importation and sale of pork products.
Loosen Sabbath restrictions on commerce.
Some of these planks may be disagreeable, but which ones are right wing extremist and which are racist and in what way?

My question to Mr Leiberman on the borders was answered realistically and constructively. Borders are usually described as an issue in solving the disagreements between the parties in this part of the world. The idea of moving borders so most Arabs live together and will govern themselves autonomously and most heavily Jewish populated areas accrue to Israel, is basic idea behind the borders set by the UN partition. This would insure that no one is moved out of their homes. Israel is not the U.S. and the Middle East is not the Americas. How people live here is different in that cultural, religious and ethnic differences cause people to prefer living together in their own communities, in order to maintain those differences. While Arabs can live freely in Israel, Jews cannot live in Arab territories—why is that?

In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Leiberman stated he has two basic commitments, first the Security of Israel, second, prosperity for the Palestinians. He is a supporter of a two state solution and in fact believes this is the only way to solve the issue of security for Israel and prosperity for the Palestinians.
American Jews may support the Zionist enterprise or not, but to attempt to pressure the government of a sovereign state to form a government, that is contrary to the wishes of the voters, in this case, by delegitimizing one of its leaders is not their province. To quote the embattled Dutch film maker Geert Wilders, "Thanks to Israeli parents who see their children go off to join the army and lie awake at night worrying, parents in Europe and America can sleep well and have pleasant dreams, unaware of the dangers looming."

Demonizing those with whom we may disagree is not helpful, democratic or wise. While we can all read between the lines and determine that we know what another person thinks, but this is mind reading when there is no evidence to support it.

American's Misunderstandings About Benjamin Netanyahu

by Nadene Goldfoot

The American press has been very hard on Israel's new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, or "Bibbi." They have painted him as a right-wing extremist against peace. Of course, this is also associated with America's Republican Party, which is also called "right wing" and brings on thoughts of ex President Bush.

Nothing can be farther from the truth. Netanyahu was prime minister many years ago, and was also under crucifixion from the press. At that time he talked with Arafat and made and kept an agreement to withdraw Israeli troops from Hebron in 1997.

This gave the Palestinians rule over more than 80% of Hebron with a promise of leaving more areas of the West Bank in coming weeks. Hebron had a long Jewish religious and political history, and he gave it up for the hope of peace.

Again, in October of 1998 at the White House he agreed to turn over 13% of the remaining land to Palestinians in return for their pledge to stop terrorism, prohibit illegal weapons and prevent weapon smuggling. The Palestinians failed in this promise.

Today, the Palestinians are in two camps; Fatah and Hamas. Giving up more of Israel's teeny territory is no longer an option. Israelis see how giving up Gaza only brought more terrorism. Palestinians need to show they want peace. Israel has always wanted peace and has continually demonstrated this fact. Is it because they have done so the reason the world expects them to continue to give away the whole state?

Netanyahu is committed to peace. He focuses on improving the lives of the Palestinians by helping their economy. He feels this is a complement to political steps. He said that "if we have a strong Israeli-Palestinian economic relationship, it's a strong foundation for peace." He feels they should govern themselves as long as they do not threaten Israel. His new government will do all in its power to reach peace with their neighbor. All neighbors ready for peace will find Israel's hands outstretched before them.

Netanyahu was prominent when I lived in Israel from 1980-1985. I adored him. I could understand him. He spoke English and Hebrew so very well. He was intelligent and strong in his convictions. To hear Americans moan and groan about him repulses me. They only depend on the press coverage without knowing the truth about him at all. After the Olmert administration, I am delighted that Netanyahu won. I would have voted for him had I been there as I am a citizen. I felt that Olmert was giving away the baby in the bathtub, and Bibbi cares deeply for the baby and will protect it with his life. It is his baby, too.

Resource: Mitchell Bard mgbard@aol.com #326 Is Netanyahu an Advocate for Peace?

Palestine Refugee Problem, Not Israel's

Nadene Goldfoot

I remember what propaganda is from WWII. That is exactly what's happening right now about Israel. The big lie that young people are swallowing is that the Arabs were forced to leave Israel in 1948 at the creation of our state. This is a huge lie.

Shmuel Katz, or rather, Samuel Katz, is the author of Battleground; fact and fantasy in Palestine. I read this book ages ago to be knowledgable about the actual events. Shmuel was a member of the first knesset and died in May 2008. He was a biographer and essayist.

The period of 1948 was well documented by many reporters. No one spoke about Arabs being forced to leave by Jews. Neither did any Arab spokesmen comment about such a thing. Why did they leave? George Hakim, Greek bishop of the Galilee told a Beirut newspaper that the refugees would return in a week or two because their leaders promised them that the Arab armies woud crush the "Zionist gangs" very quickly and there was no need for panic or fear of a long exile. Iraq's prime minister, Nuri Said said, "We will smash the country with our guns and obliterate every place the Jews seek shelter in. The Arabs should conduct their wives and children to safe areas until the fighting has died down." An Arab commented in the Jordanian newspaper Al-Difaa, "The Arab governments told us, get out so that we can get in. So we got out, but they didn't get in."

No one expected the ragtag group of Jews to win, but they did! The fact that there are these refugees is the consequence of the action of the Arab states in opposing partition and the state of Israel. The Arab states must share in the solution of this situation and they never have. Instead they have used it as a ploy against Israel. The only state that has taken in refugees has been Jordan, and that was not an easy feat for them.

There were two bad incidents; at Ramle and Lod where Arab civilians were driven out of their homes by Israeli soldiers. At the village of Deir Yassin, we had a massacre created by novice Israelis fighting for their lives, also. That was it during the whole period.

Arabs evacuated numbered 420,000, confirmed by the UN and Arab sources as well as by Jews. The UN provided them with food, shelter, clothing and medical assistance. Because of this, Arabs from all over the area arrived for the handout. The UN had no way to identify people. Everyone signed as refugees to get the free aid. By December 1948 the relief agency was feeding 750,000 and by July 1949 they were feeding a million. Then the Red Cross International Committee joined the group and recognized any destitute Arab in Palestine as a refugee, so 100,000 were added to the list. Now we have a 3rd generation of Arabs all together as "victims of Israeli aggression" and demanding the right of return."

The Arab invasion of Israel at its creation of May 1948 was a crime. It was unprovoked except by its creation by the U.N. 6,000 Israeli citizens were killed then. Thousands were injured. Arabs have not taken any responsibility. Asking Israel to discuss or pay for the refugee problem is Hutzpa.

Resource: The Great Refugee Scam by Shmuel Katz

Battleground Fact and Fantasy in Palestine by Samuel Katz

Realistic Creation of a Palestine State

by Nadene Goldfoot

Israel is not about to jump into the fire to please the nations of the world. It doesn't intend to self-destruct.

Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party has just been deemed the new Prime Minister. His foreign minister is Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael Beitenu , the 2nd largest party in the coalition. Lieberman has declared that Israel will not follow the 2007 Annapolis meeting's outcomes. Israel had never ratified Annapolis, nor did parliament. Instead, they will continue to follow the 2003 road map.

Netanyahu has not endorsed statehood for the Palestinians. He believe they should govern themselves but have limited powers of authority that would not harm Israeli's security. The 2003 road map was more realistic. This plan made the Palestinian state contingent on the Palestinians reining in militants.

To me, it is utterly ridiculous to create a state that is bent on destroying its neighbor. They must sign papers and show after an x amount of years that they are accepting Israel and willing to go to the nth degree to live in peace. Otherwise, it's like taking a new medicine that you know will create cancer and kill you. I am very happy to read that Israel's new government is more realistic and not so eager to satisfy and please greedy nations.

Resource: Yahoo News: Israel not bound by Annapolis understandings: Lieberman, by Jeffrey Heller http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090401/wl_nm/us_israel_12