Happenings In Our Crazy World This Week (June 17, 2014)

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                                        

                    The kidnapping of 3 Jewish school boys by Hamas Terrorists

The biggest disappointment happened last week in Athens when a proclamatiion was adopted by EU foreign ministers and their Arab colleagues.  It was one-sided and said that "it hails the Fatah-Hamas union and praised the Palestinians committed to DEMOCRACY and HUMAN RIGHTS.   Yet Hamas continued to shell Israel more than usual.  The declaration included harsh criticism of Israel.  Seems they can practice terrorism such as shooting  and terrorist acts of kidnapping, and that's okay.                                    
                                                                             

         Judea-Samaria and Gaza  in red, Israel in yellow.  One can see the katusha rocket range from "Palestine."  This week it's still hitting southern Israel from Gaza.  

ISIS, IRAQ  and  IRAN

The USA had  meetings with Iran about Iraq, the state they had a war with in 1980 that lasted for 8 years. Iraq and Iran  had fought so long and hard that the war was down to children fighting.   They met on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland about the ongoing nuclear negotiations and discussed the crisis in Iraq.  They discussed how ISIS threatens many countries in the region, including Iran.   (TIME).
                                                                         

                          ISIS now 35 miles from Baghdad, Iraq

Israel is against such an unparallelled meeting.  Yuval Steinitz, the Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister, said Iran should not be helped to extend it's sway in Iraq.  Tehran would then have more control in Syria, where the Iranians back President Assad.  They'd get their foot in the door in Lebanan, where they have their Hizbullah allies.  This would wind up softening the American positions on the issue of the Iranian nuclear issue more than they already are, just what Iran would love.  It would be that the USA and Iran would be on the same side of supporting the government of Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki.

It may be that both are rooting for Maliki, but each has their own different reasons.  ISIS, the branch of al-Qaeda, is the enemy in this case, and is the worst Shi'a group in history.  For a group that started with little finances, they fixed that by robbing a big bank in Iraq, so that now they are loaded.  Right now ISIS is about 35 miles away from Damascus, supposedly a well-fortified city.

                                               KIDNAPPING OF 3 ISRAELI TEENAGERS
Two (2) months ago, PA's Abbas asked that Palestine be included in 15 international conventions.  One was the 1989 UN convention on the Rights of the Child...and Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in Armed Conflict.  At the same time they are responsible for the kidnapping of 3 Jewish teenagers by Hamas.

Israel holds the PA responsible for this act.  Hamas terrorists took the boys, of who one holds dual citizenship- USA and Israel.  The terrorists were staying in Judah which is under PA control.  Israel is holding many people in the act of searching for them.  Israel said that the 3 boys' lives are in danger and they will have to move in anyway possible to get information as to where they are to rescue them.  The clock is ticking.  Netanyahu promised that those who try to attack Israeli citizens like this will be hit for doing so.

He asks that the international community condemn this abduction and support Israel's legitimate acts of self-defense.  All the while Israel has been attacked by rockets from Gaza during this period from Hamas.  When a state is under attack by a terrorist group, it is a far more serious situation than if some gang of thieves kidnaps someone for financial gain.

                                                    RANDOM ACTS OF HOSTILITY
Three (3) Palestinians tried to break through the security perimeter of Kochav Yaakov in Judea-Samaria late Monday night and IDF soldiers shot at them, injuring one.  The others got away.

Two (2) firebombs were thrown at the Beit Orot Yeshiva on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem which set off a  fire , but it was small.          

Resource:  www.dailyalert.org
Time
Reuters
BBC News
Prime Minister's Office-Israel
Times of Israel
Wall Street Journal

                                          

60+ Rockets Hit Southern Israel From Gaza

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                

Southern Israel was just hit by 60 rockets from Gaza.  No doubt Hamas terrorists, but Islamic Jihad terrorists say they are responsible, and really Hamas is responsible for what they do.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu threatened a strong response against those responsible.  Tanks are now clashing with terrorists and have destroyed 2 targets of destruction.

Remember that Israel left Gaza completely in 2005.  They withdrew the IDF and left their Jewish communities and forced 9,000 Jews living there to leave-unwillingly.  They did this in the name of peace.

At the time, Israel's right wing warned that this would leave Israel vulnerable, and they were right.  Since 2001, southern Israel has been hit with more frequency from Gaza's people of which Hamas had kicked out Abbas and had taken over as full time terrorists.  

Such timing.  Right now it's early Thursday morning.  Sunday is Purim, the celebration of Jews remembering how they were saved from death planned by Haman in Persia by the Queen Esther, who was a Jew unknown to the royal house.  She was in the right place at the right time to save all the lives of her own people.  

Hopefully, we have the same thing going on today, with the right people in the right place to save Israel.  Such is what they have been doing since 1948.  

Resource: Ari Soffer; Foreign Minister Says Israel Needs to "Retake Gaza." http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/178424#.UyDw4z9dU8o
facebook alert.  

Israel Raids Iranian Ship Near Sudan

Nadene Goldfoot                                                              

Israel had to do what Israel has to do; raid another ship with weapons headed for Gaza's terrorists.  The fact that the ship, Klos C,  is Iranian didn't stop them at all.  It had an international crew of 17, now being interrogated.   Thirteen IDF commandos raided it off of Sudan early Wednesday morning.  This ship was disguised with a Panamanian flag and was carrying dozens of B-302 missiles with a range of up to 200 kilometers or 124.274 miles.

Last time Israel raided a ship was during the fleet of ships of May 2010, the Gaza Flotilla, which was  trying to break into the waters off of Gaza with heavens knows what as their cargo.  The ship, MV Mari Marmara,  was from Turkey, and this caused quite a roar with the end result of Israel having to pay Turkey a bundle for the death of a few of their 40 some crew  who attacked the 13 Israelis as they boarded to search the ship.  That's a tip-off right there that they weren't carrying dolls for the children or else why wouldn't they let the commandos search their ship like other ships in the fleet did?  .
                                                                 

Here's a case where the Iranian ship had a shipment originated from Syria.  The Syrian missiles, probably sent to Syria from Iran in the first place, were now taken on planes back to Iran, and then were repacked  on the ship to Sudan and were hidden with sacks of cement which is why Israel likes to search ships for weapons.  The captain of this ship first navigated toward Iraq and then finally toward Sudan in an effort to fool the IDF.                                                    

Evidently the Mossad was in on this as the IDF knew for sure that Iran was behind the shipment.  Our IDF are safe and guiding the ship to Eilat's port.  Israel knew that they were for Hamas, the terror group in Gaza. They were to be unloaded in Sudan and smuggled to Gaza through the Sinai.  There is a regional arms race with Iran in the lead.  The IDF will continue to act against such smugglers to secure the safety of the people of Israel.

Reference:  Arutz Sheva, Gil Ronen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_flotilla_raid
https://www.google.com/#q=Iranian+ship%2C+Klos+C%2C+pictures&tbm=nws
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=678910
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_flotilla_raid
Update:  3/6/14 http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/us-aided-in-klos.c-take-over-according-to-white-house-4097?utm_source=contactology&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Middaynewsletter USA in on it.

Messages From A Syrian Jew Trapped In Egypt

Nadene Goldfoot
Jack Huffman, Storyteller                                                                  

Title:  Messages From a Syrian Jew Trapped in Egypt, by Nadene Goldfoot and Jack Huffman, Storyteller.

This is the story of Vick,  who finds out his birth mother was Jewish and he's a Syrian in Damascus.  What he must do is flee to Egypt during the Civil War, but while there tries to find out how he can find his mother, who is reportedly in Israel.  Read about the history of Syrian Jews and what they had to endure as well as what's happening to Syrian refugees today.  You'll see what foods are prominent in the Syrian culture and be in on Vick's many amours.  Historic Fiction.  206 pages, 5X8 " pocketbook.
 Available at amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and publishers-Authorhouse; book and E-Book, Kindle. 

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Messages+From+a+Syrian+Jew+Trapped+in+Egypt

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/messages-from-a-syrian-jew-trapped-in-egypt-nadene-goldfoot/1118740457?ean=9781491866658  

LETTERS FROM ISRAEL

                                                                   

Letters From Israel by Nadene Goldfoot is a book I wrote using all the letters I wrote to my family from 1980 to the end of 1985.  It was published by 1st Books in 2003, 452 pages, now Authorhouse.  

What happens when two middle-aged American West Coast Jewish teachers decide to make aliyah to Israel with their German shepherd without having first vacationed there?  

When I started to read my letters that my mother had saved, I  cried.  She had saved them because they were so very interesting.   I put the letters back in the bag and stuck them away in my closet.  It was too painful to keep reading.  After a few months, I knew what I had to do:  write a book.

Read and find out what it was like to be in Israel during this period.  I was able to meet my illustrious cousin, Stanley Goldfoot, and hear his account of his life in Israel and what it was like to be the Chief of Intelligence for the Stern Group before Israel was created in 1948.  We were able to meet with my husband's illustrious cousin, also, the rabbi who had started Boys Town.

There was one book written earlier that was given to us to read when we were in the ulpan that told of a different family that had moved to Israel with their children.  Our story is quite different from theirs.

My husband and I and our German shepherd had made aliyah.  We were teachers in Oregon and went through classes in Haifa, where we lived for 10 months, to become certified teachers in Israel.  Danny was an actor from Miami, originally, so we started our own drama group and played in hotels across Israel with our shtick of a Laugh-In style act.   I wrote plays that we put on in Safed.  We were able to take in a lot of tourist attraction visits on weekends.  The most serious time was in being in the 1982 conflict with Lebanon, which was not too far from our home in Safed.

Going from conservative to orthodox in Safed and celebrating holidays like we had never celebrated before was our personal high experience.

The book is available to buy on http://www.amazon.com and other online bookstores.   

Tourist Bus in Egypt Exploded By Terrorists

Nadene Goldfoot
The Taba border crossing is between Egypt and Israel and is near Eilat.  A tourist bus carrying 30 tourists of many nationalities suddenly exploded while on the Egyptian side killing 5 people of which 4 were from Korea and injuring 14 others.  Egypt has had to deal with terrorists from Jihad and al Qaeda more frequently since Morsi is on trial and has stirred up the Muslim Brotherhood to attack.  This happened Sunday, Egypt time.  Egypt is about 12 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time.  

"The bus was on its way to Israel at the time, after visiting St. Catherine’s monastery in the Sinai."  They believe a bomb exploded in front of the bus.  

Resource:  http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/bus-explodes-near-eilat/2014/02/16/

Explosion at Syrian Air Base with Missiles

Nadene Goldfoot
There has been an explosion Thursday night at a Syrian air defense base near Jableh, on the Mediterranean coastal province of Latakia.  This was reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights who collects reports from oppositional activists.

"Hezbollah already has a reported 100,000 missiles of various ranges pointed at Israel despite the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) having been charged since the end of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2006 with ensuring that arms wouldn’t reach the internationally recognized terrorist organization."  fox news.  Assad has become very tight with Hezbollah, which worries Israel a great deal.  

The media is reporting that it was caused by Israeli jets who were attacking missile launchers at this Syrian base.  Nothing has been confirmed, so it remains as gossip.  Whereas the USA leaked information about Israel purposely last time, there has been no mention of who did this so far.  Perhaps it's a surprise to them as well.

This same air base was also said to be hit by Israel on Halloween of last year because of Russian-made missiles directed towards Israel.

Resource:  http://honestreporting.com/israel-daily-news-stream-01272014/
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/01/27/evidence-points-to-secret-israeli-strike-on-syrian-missile-launchers/
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Syrian-opposition-Israeli-jets-bomb-missile-launchers-in-Latakia-339465
http://rt.com/news/syria-israel-attack-latakia-049/

4 Rockets Reported

Nadene Goldfoot                                            

Four rockets were fired from Gaza onto Israel.  One is known to land in the Ashkelon area.  One more was counted, making five.  

Security Problems in Israel on Daily Basis

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                         

                                    Collecting rocks from a rock attack on vehicle

Our want-to-be neighbors, the Palestinians, have had a strange way of showing how we can all get along.   This year is starting off with a lot of attacks so that  Israelis are getting the message fast. The  attacks are not only from rockets, mortars and missiles.  Rocks can still be as deadly as they were for David with Goliath and they are used a lot against Israelis on a daily basis.  Below is an example of a day in the life of emergency medical assistants that go out and rescue give medical treatment if necessary in Israel.

January 12, 2014 What's going on near Jerusalem?  In the past few hours of this report,
1.Cars were being attacked between the Tunnel Road (which is the Jerusalem-Hevron Highway and El Hadar Junction.
2.  Rocks were thrown into the Baby Care Center in Bet Hadassah, Hevron.
3.  There were also rock attacks between Gilad Farm and Yitzhar causing damage but no injuries.
4. Rock attacks on IDF Forces were on the way to Har Bracha with no injuries.
5. A bus was attacked by rocks on Gush Etzion-Hevron Highway near Bet Umar which caused damage to the body of the bus and its window but there were no injuries.
6. Rock attacks by Mivtarei Harmeleh near Tekoa in the East Gush Etzion region with no injuries.
7. Road accident between 2 trucks and a private vehicle with only Arabs involved turned into an Arab confrontation near T Junction.  8 people slightly injured.
8. Thrown improvised grenade by Arab terrorists did not explode near Kever Rachel  with bomb squad working to disarm.
9. Rock attack from moving vehicle on T Junction, no injuries.
10. Fire bomb thrown on security fence of Opherit Base reported from Jerusalem Police, no injuries
11. Rock attacks near Na'alin.  One injured in head.  Treated by IDF.  Dr. lightly injured.
12. Rock attacks near Tachsin on Highway 55.  No injuries.

                               January 13, 2014                                            

1.  Fire bomb thrown at vehicle by Arab terrorists.  Victim from Neve Zuf near Meir Spring; no injury
2. Rock attacks on gush Etzion-Hevron Highway near El Arub, no injuries
3. Arabs rioting near Kever Rachel.  IDF used crown dispersion to break up the riot.
4. Rocket attack of 2 rockets north of Sderot from Gaza terrorist, fell in open area, no injuries

. Shift ended at 4:00pm.  More reports coming to complete the day

There have been attempted murders and these continuous attacks.  This incitement by the heads of the Palestinian Authority and the praise that they give the terrorists and turn them into heroes by their leadership only encourages murderous attacks on the Jews of Israel.

Such attacks are never reported by any press or even mentioned and this is a definite part of the Oslo Agenda.  Kerry will visit Israel and make out that the USA is concerned about the security and welfare of Israel but they don't know the half of it.  Are they aware of this nibbling away of constant attacks on civilians?  These on-going terror attacks only mean that the Palestinians will expect more gestures that will actually put the lives of the people of Judea, Samaria, Jordan Valley and Jerusalem in more danger by easing up the protection needed for them.

Resource:  Yehudit Tayar of Hatzalah Yehudah and Shomron, voluntary emergency medical organization with over 500 volunteer doctors, paramedics, medics on call 24/7.  They rescue anyone who needs medical assistance; civilians, military and Arabs within the PA territories.  To them, life is precious and they risk their own lives to rescue anyone in need.

Lebanon Shooting Rockets into Northern Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                   

Sunday morning, which is a good 10 hours ahead of USA time, was the time when Lebanon terrorists shot 2 rockets almost reaching Kiryat Shimona that landed west of this town housing a department store similar to the USA's Macy's.  When I lived in Safed from 1980-1985, we would drive up there which is quite close to the Lebanon border to shop. This town had been hit many times.  It had been attacked by rockets so many times  that our friend from the Teacher's Program, who had gone there to visit, wound up stuck in a bomb shelter for about a week and was unable to leave during that time.  Many Westerners live in Kiryat Shimona.

Now this morning by Israel time, 5 rockets were shot at Israel from this northern state of Lebanon and one landed in Israel.  Usually all the attacks have been coming from Gaza into southern Israel.  It is a sad thing to see this starting up from Lebanon once again.

Israel retaliated as warned the same day.

Resource: https://www.facebook.com/Middle.East.Insights

December 25th 2013 in Southern Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                        

Christmas Day was remembered by Gaza's Hamas terrorists who fired a rocket towards southern Israel, but protection from above made sure it would drop within Gaza, which it did, harming no one.

It isn't that the terrorists are tired of terrorizing.  It's well known that their activities of late have been to look for longer range missiles for the next go-around.  They're stockpiling more advanced missiles.  

This means that Israel has to be prepared for ways to protect themselves as well.  Having the Iron Dome ready is one way.  

This latest shot evidently was their way of saying some sort of response to Israel's response to their previous attack of killing an Israeli who was repairing the fence after a storm and was shot by a terrorist sniper.  The Israeli was on Israel's side of the fence.  They knew what he was doing.  He was just an available target.

Resource: Arutz Sheva by Maayana Miskin

Latest Terrorist Attacks in Israel

Nadene Goldfoot

Israel has warned the Gazans that it will not stand by and allow Israelis to be shot from Gaza without reprisal.  On Tuesday a civilian, a Bedouin Israeli,  was shot and killed near the Gaza border fence by sniper fire.

The IAF retaliated by hitting a base west of Khan Younis.  As Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "This is an extremely serious incident and we will not stand idly by.  Our policy up until now has been to thwart and retaliate with force.  That's what they are doing.

The Defense Minister in Israel said, "If there is no peace in Israel, there will be no peace in Gaza.

"The Palestinian Authority continues to instigate against the State of Israel and its citizens and is not encouraging a culture of peace, so Israel feels that they are forced to deal with terror attacks."  mentioned Ya'alon.   It's an intolerable situation for Israel who has had to deal with attacks in southern Israel since 2001.  The people in Gaza, the Hamas terrorists,  have not accepted any thoughts of peace and it's high time they did.

Such action from Gaza encourages other acts of violence in Israel.  On Sunday a bus driver near Tel Aviv was alerted by a passenger that a large black knapsack was sitting in the bus unattended.  The passenger opened it to find  a bomb in it whereupon the driver had the passengers disembark from the bus.  A sapper attempted to defuse the bomb then but it blew up.  A policeman was slightly injured in the blast.  This was a terrorist act.

Another 41 year old police officer on the security force was stabbed literally in the back by a long knife wielding Palestinian as a terrorist attack in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Adam.  The attacker fled to a nearby Palestinian neighborhood.  This happened the day after the bus attack.

And so, the state of Israel on this 24th of December must always be aware, at least in this era, of attacks on its population that can come at any time so long as the Arabs are withholding any measure of peace for all men  and no good will towards any Israeli.

Resource:  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4469142,00.html
UPdate 12/25/13 http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-man-severely-wounded-by-sniper-fire-from-gaza/
UPdate 12/25/13http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4469142,00.html
UPdate 12/25/13http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/12/24/israeli-worker-shot-and-killed-by-gaza-sniper-update/

Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense's One Year Anniversary Against Hamas

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                        

It was just one year ago that Israel had said ENOUGH and after being hit by rockets, mortars and missiles from Gaza since 2001, finally went into Gaza  in an offensive land operation to put an end to the shooting with Operation Pillar of Defense that lasted for 8 days.

It was recalled by both Hamas and other affiliated terrorists in Gaza and in Israel.  Cities like Sderot and Ashkelon were favorite sites hit in Israel.  Where Sderot is very close to the border, Ashkelon is a large major city to the north of Gaza along the sea where a large hospital is that serves both Arab Gazans and Israelis inside a large perimeter.  The strikes have caused the hospital to go to the basement levels in order to take care of their patients.  What seems to be an insane goal to me, the Arabs keep aiming for the city that provides them life when they themselves are injured.

Saturday afternoon during Shabbat, southern Israel was greeted by 3 rockets shot at them from Gaza.  They landed in an open field in Gaza!  The platform they were shot from must have been further back to not make it over the border into Sderot or some other Israeli site.

That was the climax of a week of rockets that were fired.  Last week one rocket again fell short of the border of Ashkelon from Gaza. First the warning siren blared.   The population were driven to take cover in bomb shelters.  The rocket fell just a little way from the border but landed on the Gazan side.

Last Tuesday, a Palestinian Arab managed to get into Israel from Gaza and was caught by the Israeli security forces.  He didn't come over as an immigrant wanting a better life, though.  He had grenades in his pockets.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented that there have been only 35 incidents of rocket fire since then, so this showed a 98% drop of rocket fire since last year's operation.

Will Kerry be successful in bringing about peace between the Palestinians and Israel?  He's dealing with Abbas from Fatah right now.  They have no connection with Gaza, the section that Israel left, lock, stock and barrel in the name of peace that has turned into a launching pad of rockets, mortars and missiles against them.

Hamas's charter shows no sign of ever making peace.   The charter is a 30 page document and as long as it remains their guiding dogma for Hamas or the Palestinian people in mass, the dream of peace remains impossible.  Land is elemental in this problem.  It is religion that is guiding the Palestinian Arabs.  From the Hamas Covenant, we read that "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."  (said by The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna, of blessed memory.)  The name "Hamas" means  strength and bravery according to Al-Mua'jam al-Wasit: c1.  They write, "Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious.  It needs all sincere efforts."

That religion is the driving force, from article 6 in their charter, says, "The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees.  The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.  Only the Gharkad tree, (evidently a certain kind of tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews." (related by al-Bukhari and Moslem).

I have asked several Muslims about this section often quoted by Westerners who have studied the Koran and it has been explained to me in a very confusing way that either it's not there or its meaning is different and must be studied from another one of Islam's writings.  I get the feeling that it is not interpreted correctly but is often used by less educated Muslims to be the banner for their land fight against Jews in the Middle East.  However, when Muslims of little education read it, it is a very blatant statement and sounds like a dictum to be very aggressive against Jews and to do them harm.

Therefore I see in article 13  that there is no solution in Palestinian thinking  about the  Palestinian question  of a 2 state solution except through Jihad.  Initiative, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.  Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences  are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement.

Article 32 threatens Muslims that today Jews are taking Palestine and tomorrow it will be one country or another and that the Zionist plan is limitless.  They warn that the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates, and then want to take more land.

I find this laughable because our problem is keeping Israel with a majority of Jews to keep it a Jewish state.  The last thing we need is again to live among the world as we have been, a minority without any rights of our own as has already happened in the past.  It is the Muslims who have been expansionists, forcing everyone to convert to Islam and taking their land and holy sites.  So what they really are fearing is that Jews will suddenly act like they have with the same kinds of goals.  Once they realize we are not about to ape their behaviors, perhaps they will accept us.  Hamas must be educated with some of these more enlightening and realistic ideas to solve this world problem.

 Has John Kerry, Secretary of State of the USA, found out if Hamas has changed its charter yet?  How about Fatah?  Why should Israel make peace with one who is under the spell of the other and will cooperate with fighting against Israel?  Shouldn't that twosome be worked on by the USA first before even thinking of creating another state?  Could they be thinking that this will give Fatah power over Hamas?

Resource:  http://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-fire-three-rockets-at-israel/
Excerpts from the Hamas Charter, produced by StandWithUs.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/police-find-third-body-on-ashkelon-beach/

What? Me Worry About the Iranian Deal? Yes, Worry and Also Worry About North Korea!

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                          

People all over the world are suffering from anxiety about the nuclear agreement between the major large countries and Iran and wonder why it should be supported.  They are also worried about the start of a never-ending world war because of it.  It doesn't help that biblical prophesy has pointed out the end of the world at this time.  Atomic weapons only encourage this type of thinking.

So far, nothing has been signed.  There's just been a lot of talk.  When will it take effect?  Right now Iran isn't stopping anything.  The machinery is still doing its job.  Sanctions are being lifted anyway. Iran is receiving its bonus money of $7 billion dollars in sanction relief.   Countries are chomping at the bit to do business with Iran.  The deal was to be for this 6 month period only, and then final matters would be settled upon.

The final deal is a "huge concession and it says that it will involve a mutually defined enrichment program with mutually agreed parameters."  Enrichment only means to have the capability of making a bomb.  It is centered on the fuel cycle.  Iran has made no promise to stop working on ballistic missiles or weapons.  The nuclear program has 3 parts:  the fuel is one of them.  Then there is the warhead and the delivery system.  During these next 6 months they can do whatever it wants to work on like these last 2 items.

They are very close to reaching the nuclear threshold now.  Remember the line Netanyahu showed at the UN Conference that was televised?  They are only about 1 or 2 months away from this goal.  Mohamamad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister said that when sanctions started Iran had less than 200 centrifuges.  Today they have 18,800 that have been added, so sanctions did not stop them.

The only thing sanctions seemed to do was to bring Iran to the negotiation table in Geneva and get some publicity.  Obama thought they were "crippling sanctions:, but that turns out to be a lie.  This is why Netanyahu has made the Iran situation his number one priority.  Amos Yadlin, Israeli expert said that Iran is on the verge of producing a bomb.   So the window of opportunity of stopping them is now closed.  The country most likely to be hit by Iran is Israel.  The statement of Obama's about having Israel's back seems to fade into the sunset.   Second in line would be USA targets nearby.  What is left to do other than worry?

The USA has also allowed North Korea to gain atomic capabilities and that is also a country with an evil empire.  The USA entered into the Korean War from 1950-1953.  Previously in August 1945, it had used the new atomic discovery, THE A BOMB on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan to bring the war to an end  The USA had nuclear weapons stored in South Korea, and now they have their own.  North Korea, the enemy in this war, just celebrated on July 27, 2013 the Armistice Day of this war between their North and South.  They continue to be an unstable government now ruled by the spoiled son, Kim Jong-un b: 1983, whose father was Kim Jong-il  who is following in his father's footsteps but is even more cruel and hard to figure out.   Kim just ousted his own uncle from his government position.  "Tensions between North and South Korea soared this year as Pyongyang reacted angrily to tightened United Nations sanctions imposed in response to its latest nuclear test.   The two sides are still technically at war after the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in a mere truce, not a treaty.  North Korea has been helping Iran with their atomic goals for the past 10 years.  

This Iranian Deal  does not give us any indication that it will impede Iran's capabilities to manufacture the A bomb.  Instead, Israel may have to decide on military action in order to prevent being hit by an A bomb since Iran has been so obvious about their intentions to destroy this tiny country.  The possibility that the deal could lead to de-nuclearization is extremely remote, especially now that sanctions have been lifted.  It was the sanctions that drove them to the table in the first place and sanctions might have ended their desire to kill off a whole country as not being worth the trouble.  But now, it's probably full steam ahead for the next 6 months, and then the haggling, of which Iran is a master of, will begin.  June will be another worrisome month.                                                                    
                                                                      
Maybe Iran and North Korea are singing this song, now, from St. Vincent Lyrics
"C'est la vie
What me worry?  I never do
Life is one charming ruse for us lucky few."

Or perhaps the big 5 and Kerry will be singing this stanza in 6 months, 
Have I fooled you, dear? 
The time is coming near when I'll give you my hand and I'll say, 
"It's been grand, but...I'm out of here
I'm out of here." 

Resource: Blomberg's 6 Reasons to Worry about the Iranian Nuclear Dear by Jeffrey Goldberg, Dec 3, 2013
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-threat-of-nuclear-war-north-korea-or-the-united-states/5343793
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/12/world/asia/north-korea-questions.html?_r=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-un
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/03/world/north-korea-upheaval/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-24/iran-to-reap-7-billion-in-sanctions-relief-under-accord.html
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/stvincent/whatmeworry.html

Golan Heights Hit by Mortar Shell

Nadene Goldfoot                                              

The Druze village of Majdal Shams, lying in the southern foothills of Mt Hermon  in the northern Golan Heights,  was hit by a mortar shell.  It seems to have come from the fighting in Syria and was launched from the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.  It's under Israeli civil law and has been a part of Israel since 1967.  It had been a part of Syria before this and was the place of attacks on Israel.  Druze had settled here in the early 1700's.

The Golan Heights' altitude is 9,232' on Mt. Hermon in the north and goes down to 1,300' along the plateau of the Heights.  The reason it is so important to Israel is that the enemy was above them and could easily pick them off.  Now they have had it since 1967 and are much safer for it.  Mt. Hermon is so high that people ski there in the wintertime.  By comparison to Mt. Hood in Portland , Oregon's area, that mountain is 11,235' high and is a popular ski resort.

No one was injured nor was there any damage from this mortar.

Resource:  http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/syrian-mortar-hits-majdal-shams/2013/12/02/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hood#Elevation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majdal_Shams

Read more at: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/syrian-mortar-hits-majdal-shams/2013/12/02/

Granddaughter of Hamas Leader in Israeli Hospital

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                    

"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; (Proverbs 25:21)"

This is just how Jews are, that's all.  We live by a very moral code handed down to us by Moses, and we're still reading and studying it.  We haven't stopped since Moses gave us the lecture from about 1310 to 1290 BCE.  There's so much to understand in his 5 books of what we call Genesis (Bereishis), Exodus (Shemos), Leviticus (Vayikra), Numbers (Bamidbar) and Deuteronomy (Devarim).  It gives us the moral code to follow and a reason for our living.  It is easy reading as well as very heavy things to think about

The oddest thing happened in Israel.  The very head of Hamas, the Palestinian Prime Minister himself, Ismail Haniyeh's little 1 year old granddaughter from his oldest son, Abdel Salam, had an acute infection in her digestive tract.  First she was taken to Al-Nasr Hospital in Gaza.  Then she was taken to Israel's Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva for treatment.  Now she is back in Gaza in their hospital.  

This was not the first time that Haniyeh made use of the medical facilities in Petah Tikva.  His brother in law went there 1 1/2 years ago in a cardiac episode.  

So here we are, supposedly in a state of cease fire and  Gaza was not to bomb southern Israel but has been regularly.  Hamas is in charge with the job of keeping terrorists from doing this.  Somebody is giving the go-ahead, as they are not being stopped.  And Israel can turn around and treat their loved ones without batting an eye.  Too bad the feeling is never reciprocated.  

Proverbs come from King Solomon.  RASHI, the great commentator on the 5 Books, said that Solomon's words are allusions and parables.  When he speaks of a good woman, he is alluding to the Torah.  When he speaks of a promiscuous woman,  he is alluding to idolatry.  Solomon said that wisdom itself loses its meaning without fear of G-d.  Even reading Proverbs superficially gives countless nuggets of wisdom.  He tells us that though money brings us popularity, ill-gotten gains have no value.  It is the quality of a bank account that matters, not its size.  With money comes responsibility to the poor and the obligation to heed their cries.  It's a collection of lessons for life with formulas that give life the only meaning that truly matters.  

Remember, Solomon was born a good 3,404 years ago.  Moses cannot be replaced with better lessons for us.  He got his information  from the master himself.  King Solomon was raised on the Torah, the 5 books of Moses.  To see intellectuals sitting around in a Yeshiva and discussing and debating each point is something in itself, an educational marvel.  That's an exercise that our Rabbis engage in.  It's also what makes such great doctors and sharp minds!  

Reference:  http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/israeli-hospital-treating-hamas-heads-granddaughter/?utm_source=Breaking+Israel+News&utm_campaign=cf3f3f00fc-BIN+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b6d3627f72-cf3f3f00fc-83518689
Tanakh, the Stone Edition

Brinkmanship of Fatah Has Palestinian Negotiators Walking Away

Nadene Goldfoot                                                             

        Saeb  Erekat, born in 1955 in East Jerusalem when it was under Jordanian Control

John Kerry is determined to reach a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal.  However, we just found out Wednesday that the 2 man Palestinian team, Saeb Erekat and Muhammad Shtayyeh,  had resigned 10 days ago in protest because Israel has continued construction in Judea/Samaria and east Jerusalem neighborhoods.

Israel seems to feel that the peace talks, which are given 9 months, are just keeping progress from moving along and intended to build. "Only two days earlier, Israel had announced plans to construct 1,700 new homes for Jewish settlers in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) . Palestinians angrily accused the Israelis of not negotiating in good faith."   The plans were in the works long ago and are much needed.   They had stopped for a year as agreed with Abbas and it was wasted time, as Abbas didn't come to any peace negotiations that time, either.  Israel has offered the olive branch ever since 1948 and has been very patient after being attack time and time again in wars by  the Arab countries.  That's 65 years without peace.  Now Kerry expects Israel to give away their baby with the bath water.  Give up everything, and what has Israel been offered?  Bubkas, as far as we know, since it is all very secret.

Abbas hasn't said if he would accept or reject the resignations.  He couldn't say if there has been any progress and will wait 9 months and afterwards they will feel free to do what they want.  Erekat thinks that because Israel is building this means it was the end of the peace process.  He's already told the US, Russia, the UN and the Arab League that these building plans mean that the negotiations ended.

Israel feels this is "brinkmanship", something that keeps on happening with the Palestinians and is a pattern that has happened many times.  It's their standard way of negotiating.

Netanyahu has told the housing minister to "reconsider" plans for the 24,000 units beyond the Green Line as a result.  "I'm concerned about their progress, because I see the Palestinians continuing with incitements, continuing to create artificial crises, continuing to avoid and run away from the historic decisions that are needed to make a genuine peace."   Abbas had to cut his visit to Saudi Arabia and return to Ramallah to talk with PLO and Fatah leaders about what is going on.  Since when are there any PLO people?  Supposedly PLO became Fatah.  Yasser Arafat had been the PLO leader.

The Palestinians are trying to take Jerusalem as their capital, among other factors that they have been demanding.  Jerusalem is a united city once again and the capital of Israel.  Another sticky point is allowing all the refugees who have multiplied since 1948 into this tiny area as the Palestinians demand.  Being they will not accept Israel in the first place in their midst, there are just too many idiotic concessions that they are demanding that will completely tear Israel apart, as little as it is and surrounded by hateful terrorists.   Personally, I think John Kerry is asking the impossible of Israel.  Also, he was aiming on having this all completed by May 2014, which is 6 months from now.

One important matter to Israel has been Iran.  Watching how the USA has capitulated to Iran shakes up Netanyahu's trust in the USA's negotiating, and this is a failure.  The way the peace talks with the PLO/Fatah is going looks like it's on the same path; both being against Israel's needs to survive.


Resource:  http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Abbas-Palestinian-peace-negotiators-resign-over-lack-of-progress-331604
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saeb_Erekat
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/july-dec13/mideast1_11-13.html
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/july-dec13/mideast2_11-13.html

Hamas Ignores the Cease Fire Agreement Continues Attacking Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                   

      Five IDF soldiers were injured last night due to a mortar bomb exploding in a tunnel dug in Khan Younnis in southern Gaza.  One was seriously injured of the 5.  

In due process, 3 Palestinian terrorists were killed.  " “Their activities breached the understanding with Hamas since Operation Pillar of Defense and they implemented activities against Israel by building the tunnels.  Hamas is in control in Gaza and it is their responsibility to prevent terrorism of any kind. "  

Rockets have been fired lately from Gaza after several months of quiet.  It could be a relatiation to the peace talks that Fatah's Abbas is involved with and the releasing of murderers by Israel in compliance to Abbas's demands.  What Hamas has been doing is stockpiling mortars, rockets and missiles and building tunnels.  

A tunnel used by terrorists had been found and is now blown up.  

Resource:  http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/politics-and-military/military/five-idf-soldiers-wounded-near-khan-younnis-2178

Hamas Rocket Launchers Got A Direct Hit by Israel

Nadene Goldfoot
Israel IAF hit 2 concealed rocket launchers in northern Gaza late Monday morning.  They were direct hits.  This was in response to the 2 missiles Hamas had fired from Gaza that morning; one coming into Ashkelon that the Iron Dome stopped.

"“This targeted strike, based on IDF intelligence and advanced air force capabilities, is an immediate response to the terrorist aggression and its infrastructure in Gaza," Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said. 

This is what must happen every time Israel is attacked.  There must be an immediate response and snuff out the origin of the attacks.  

Resource:  http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=12891

Last Week, This Week, Israel Faces Attacks

Nadene Goldfoot                                                               

Last week there was a shootout, not at the OK corral, but in Judea-Samaria.  The IDF had the shootout with Mohammed Aazi who they wanted to arrest for the Tel Aviv bus bombing that caused injury to 20 people aboard the bus.  Instead of coming along quietly, he risked shooting and lost.

Also during that time, the IDF found a bomb placed in the security fence meant to go off when IDF military vehicles drove past.  They dismantled it.

Israel announced early Monday morning the names of the 26 prisoners they were letting out of prison in order for the peace initiative to go forward as demanded by the Palestinian Arabs.  They are all convicted murderers.  5 are from Gaza.  This was enough reason for Hamas in Gaza to fire off 2 rockets into Israel to show their unwillingness to go along with any Fatah-produced peace with Israel.  One of the rockets was aimed toward Ashkelon which the Iron Dome stopped  The 2nd fell nearby in an empty lot.

Israelis were quick to see the connection.  I wonder if Kerry and his contingent will understand the meaning of  the rockets.  Is this peace talk around the table now in a stalemate?

Resource:  http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/rockets-rain-israel-eve-prisoner-release/?utm_source=Breaking+Israel+News&utm_campaign=1771a1b26e-BIN+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b6d3627f72-1771a1b26e-83518689
http://virtualjerusalem.com/news.php?Itemid=11131

Terrorist Tunnels in Gaza Discovered

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                           

                    Underground  Tunnel discovered dug from Gaza to Israel

In September of this year of 2013, Israel shipped in 1,244 truckloads of construction materials to Gaza so that they could build things they would like to have more of such as  homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and parks.  Instead, they have used the materials to build tunnels.  These tunnels are used to bring in weaponry to use against Israel.  Israel had been wary of allowing such shipments to go in, but from outside pressure, bent their decision and allowed it, and this is how they are repaid.

It was the Egyptian army who discovered the latest tunnel. It is used for smuggling weapons and attacking Israelis.  It went from the Gaza Strip to the Sinai Peninsula.  In another description it extends from the southern Gaza Strip to the Egyptian border.

 Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper reported that they arrested 72 people in Sinai for involvement in a bomb attack tat killed 2 and wounded 5.

Egypt and Israeli delegates are getting together to discuss this problem.  The Egyptian army has been working to destroy Islamist terrorist cells that have formed in the Sinai since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in 2011.  Militants from Gaza have been attacking Egyptian civilians and soldiers in the Sinai.

It was on October 10th that a large, very high and deep tunnel was discovered going from Gaza right into Israel.  Hamas claims they are responsible, and of course they are.  They are the leaders of Gaza.  "The Hamas spokesman said the tunnel had been dug in an effort to force Israel to release some of the thousands of Palestinians in Israeli jails. Former Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured and brought into Gaza through such a tunnel in 2006."

We have already started releasing prisoners who are murders from jail as requested to meet the conditions of  the peace table with Abbas.  Finding this and with the way the Palestinians glorify their killers is a huge turn-off in continuing such a practice.  It was to be used to kidnap Jews and also  to allow terrorists into Israel to kill Israelis, for that's what they have done in the past.  

Resource:  http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=12815
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152779163027316&set=a.279044817315.179332.73528002315&type=3&theater
http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/69956/hamas-claims-responsibility-for-large-terror-tunnel/

Rumor From Kuwait About Missile Attack

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                      

Rumor has it that Israeli jets hit Hezbollah's shipment of advanced missiles that were in a convoy.  The occurrence supposedly happened along the Syrian-Lebanese border.  This was reported about yesterday by Al Jareeda Newspaper from Kuwait.

The story is that on Monday the 21st (here on the West Coast of the USA) the jets attacked the missiles' shipment.  Lebanon evidently had reported that Israeli jets were in its airspace.  Nothing has been confirmed.

Israel should be watching, nevertheless.  Having such a shipment by people who want to destroy Israel and its people just cannot happen.  Israel is doing its best to protect the lives of its citizens.  It's on the job 24 hours a day in detecting such movements.

The best offense is defense, and this is what  Israel is doing;  defending itself.  She's in a very tough neighborhood.

Resource:  http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=12795
http://www.israpundit.com/archives/63591085

Lebanese Rockets: A Threat From Hezbollah For Israel

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                             

From Lebanon comes the threat by Hezbollah that they have 200,000 long-range rockets pointed at Israel that can hit any spot in the tiny country.  I believe Israel has known about this for some time, now and is ready in case any are shot into their country.

Evidently this is all Lebanon's elite are concerned about doing, killing Jews.  Do they care about what their people need and would like to have improved?   Have the people of Lebanon forgotten what it was like to live in a free society?  A citizen there is not really living.  They are existing in some kind of police state where the police are not in control anymore.

This small state of only 4,196,453 north of Israel has been overrun and occupied by Muslim invaders, not the Jews.    Once a state with 60% Muslims, the Christians have been beaten down by a combination of Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

Resource:  http://www.timesofisrael.com/minister-hezbollah-has-over-200000-rockets/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/172667

Has a 3rd Intifada Started?

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                      

The Islamic Jihad and Hamas have called for the 3rd intifada to begin against Israel.  Riots have broken out in some parts of Judea and Samaria even though the Palestinian Authority there has said that they don't want it to happen.  Six Israelis were injured.  This happened on the 13th anniversary of the 2nd Palestinian Intifada.  The 2nd one, or Al-Aqsa Intifada started in September 2000 and ended in 2005 with 3,000 Palestinians dead and 1,000 Israelis as well as 64 foreigners.  During peace negotiations, this tells us something.  Abbas does not have control over his people.  This is not demonstrating the value of their neighborliness.  It's showing why Netanyahu is so adamant about security.

Riots started up in Hebron, an ancient city of  Judah, on  September 27th. This is the city where Abraham bought a plot of land called the Cave of Machpelah in which to bury his wife, Sarah.  Jews had lived here since then, but in 1929, Arabs massacred almost all the 700 Jews in Hebron , causing survivors to flee.  Some returned in 19331 only to have faced more riots in 1936.  Today a mosque stands on this site.  After the Six Day War of 1967, a number of Jews again settled in Hebron, establishing the Kiryat Arba quarter east of the city.  They had a population of 3,700 in 1988.  Rioting has happened in east Jerusalem

Friday, which is the Muslim holy day and when Shabbat starts for Jews at sundown, an IDF soldier was wounded by a stone that was thrown at him just north of Hebron in the village of Beit Ummar.  He was treated right there by a medical team.  Dozens, meaning more than 24 Palestinians of Hebron were throwing stones and lighting their garbage cans on fire.  The IDF in return shot rubber bullets at the protesters, injuring about 4 Arabs.
                                                                           

                                                                    Ramallah
Other outbursts came from the old Christian village of Ni'lin outside Ramallah, now almost all Muslim, which is 6 miles north of Jerusalem,  where an Israeli was injured and taken to Tel  Hashomer Hospital and treated for minor wounds.  Ramallah is in Judea/Samaria.   Near Ramallah is the Ofer prison where a a demonstration outside was taking place.  Rock throwing and tire burning were part of the demonstration.  Several Palestinian Arabs received some slight injuries during this riot.  Evidently the peace talks have stalled as well. Ramallah is where they meet.  The problem is that paramount in importance to Israel is the settlement about borders and Israel's security which Abbas is avoiding.  This peace initiative started in July.  Now the USA has sent Martin Indyk to lead the meetings and he hopes to get more accomplished.  He should be there now to see why security is so important and see how friendly our neighbors are behaving with this uprising called an intifada.

Two Palestinians were caught carrying fire bombs near Bethlehem, which is almost  all Muslim  today.  They also threw rocks and burned tires, causing the IDF to respond with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets.

In northern Gaza, there was a demonstration of Hamas governed Palestinians who were marching toward the Israeli border fence, meaning to tear it apart, no doubt.  The IDF managed to disperse them.

The actions of the 1st intifada started on December 6, 1987 with the stabbing of an Israeli in Gaza while shopping.  Rioting then was instigated on December 9, 1987 in the Jabalia refugee camp. A 17 year old threw a molotov cocktail at an IDF soldier and he was shot in return.  This brought on the intifada to Gaza, Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.    It didn't really stop until the 1993 Oslo Accords.  The Madrid Conference of 1991 slowed things down a little.  About 1,000 Palestinians lost their lives during this 6 year demonstration.

A 9 year old girl was shot point blank in the chest on Shabbat by a rifle from  a black masked rioting shooter in Psagot, a Jewish town in Judea/Samaria with a population of 1,623 back in 2008.  No one can be safe in such rioting.  Psagot lies outside Ramallah and seems  cuts off the expansion of the larger city. When Israel won land by the Arab attack in 1967 when resulted in the Arab loss, Israel gave the people of Ramallah Israel identity cards which meant they could travel into Israel and Gaza.  Yet they were the first to rebel in the 1st intifada.

One wonders if this anniversary Intifada was called in reaction to the Muslim Brotherhood being dismantled in Egypt.  They held the same type of doctrine as Hamas.

Abbas had agreed in July to 9 months of discussions about a resolution between Israel and the Arabs' desire to create their own state of Palestine out of part of Israel,  but Hamas threw him out of Gaza and now seems to be trying to take over Abbas's territory.   Even during a peace talk, there is no peace.

Resource:  http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/palestinians-hurl-stones-israelis-mark-intifada-anniversary/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=palestinians-hurl-stones-israelis-mark-intifada-anniversary
Jerusalem Post
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramallah
http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Abbas-US-envoy-Indyk-discuss-Israeli-Palestinian-peace-talks-in-Ramallah-327909
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/intifada.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.550672
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psagot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramallah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Intifada