Author: Orit ben Tzvi

Orit is Israel Rising's regional and threat analyst. She has a degree from IDC in Middle East Diplomacy and has served both intelligence related activities for the IDF as well as advised privately for firms doing business in the region.
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The Decision on Destroying Amona is the Crossroads for the State of Israel

The State of Israel has shown very little problem in destroying flourishing communities over the green line.  Over 11 years ago it destroyed all of Jewish Gaza just to placate the Bush administration.  Settler activists pray that Amona will be different, but with the legal system firmly controlled by the left and the politicians unwilling to take the steps to change it, Amona’s fate appears to be sealed.

However, it does not need to be this way.  Amona is a test case for how the State of Israel views itself.  Will it allow dubious land claims by Arabs who are funded by the extreme left and foreign governments dictate policy or will it chart an “Israel First” course. No other threat to Israel’s existence is as ominous as the precedent about to be set at Amona and if it is destroyed similar cases will pop up all over Judea and Samaria.  We see this in Susiya, which is now claimed by squatters from Yatta a former Jewish city now populated by Arabs.

Amona’s destruction would not only be precedent setting, it would prove it pointless to put one’s trust in state authorities.  Not one of the politicians in the government can and will stop Amona from being destroyed, only the Prime Minister.  Only Bibi can, if he decided that Jewish values trump foreign influence be able to save Amona.

Amona puts the future of the State of Israel on the table and in the hands of unelected judges. Can it be stopped…yes, but only if we are willing to call into question the ineffectiveness of elected officials to stand up to foreign powers.

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When it comes to Israel, Vox Media Makes Up Its Facts

Vox, a left leaning online magazine, which pushes its agenda through a host of articles, podcasts, and well put together short videos decided to use its immense reach and media tools to hammer away at the returning Jewish presence in areas of Jerusalem that were made Judenrein in the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s.

Below is Vox’s video, which acts more as a hit piece on organizations like Ateret Cohanim and Ir David that work to resettle neigborhoods of Jerusalem whose formerly Jewish residents were replaced by Arab squatters.  Of course this is not how the issue is presented.

Before watching the video, understand that no mention of the former Jewish nature of these neighborhoods is mentioned. Not only that, but an emphasis on the messianic zeal as a prime motivating factor is woven througout the film. “Facts” that are supplied by known European backed leftist organization like Betzelem are used.  This is instead of the actual facts, which are easily available by Jerusalem’s government. It is known that Arab enighborhoods have experienced a comlete overhaul in recent years.  Neighborhoods with returning Jewish populations have lower crime rates and increased stability.

Yet, the biggest issue with the video is that it somehow builds its claims off of the notion that private house purchases by Jews in historically Jewish areas should somehow be made illegal.  If that is not anti-semitic, I don’t know what is.

Watch the video below and be prepared to run out of the room screaming at the complete twisting of reality.

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Showdown in Syria: Russia vs. the West, Leaving Israel Isolated

Russia’s success in dividing NATO by breaking off Turkey from the alliance has not been lost on the European American members of the alliance. There first reaction has been to blame Russia for the failure of the truce to stick, but in reality American attacks on various targets has thrown the onus onto the Obama administration not Putin.

The West’s interest in Syria is twofold.  The first is to prevent Iran from building a Shiite crescent from Iranian soil to the mediterranean.  The second is to push back on Russia’s growing control of the Middle East.  On both of these accounts, Putin’s entrance into the fray last year threw the West off of their playbook and they have been rushing to recalibrate ever since.

The above, coupled with Russia’s move to putting the screws on Washington’s regime change in the Ukraine has divided the alliance and kept it from putting up a real fight against Russia. By blaming Putin for the collpase of the truce, Washington and the countries in NATO that are of like mind are trying to set the stage for their increased involvement in the Syrian theatre.

Israel On Its Own

The last thing Israel wants and needs right now is increased fighting between the West and Russian forces on the ground in Syria.  Although it has supported regime change in Syria from the beginning, the Israeli cabinet and Defense Establishment will not push that at the expense of ruining their détente with Putin. Nothing in the West’s playbook gives them assurances that Israel will be defended from Russian and Iranian aggression if America and NATO stand up to Russia.

According to news reports and other sources, Syria-Hezbollah backed by Iran are preparing to launch the same sort of attacks they have been doing on rebels in the Aleppo area next to the Golan. The presence of the Syrian army and Hezbollah so close to the Israeli border seems to imply that it is in fact Israel which will suffer a response if NATO increases their involvement in Syria.

This is ultimately why Bibi has reached out to Putin to put out any flames that may occur.  The challenge is that it may be beyond Putin to stop the Iranian backed armies of Assad and Nasralla from attacking Israel.  After all Putin needs them to finish the job in the rest of Syria.

With Obama about to leave office and being no friend of the Jewish state anyway, Israel is on its own.

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Break the BDS

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BREAKING NEWS: Failed Attack on Israeli Embassy in Turkey

 

Reports are conflicting about the attack on the Israeli Embassy in Turkey.  CNN reports that the attacker used a knife against the security guards.  Local accounts on Turkish NTV and other eye witnesses insist it is actually the attacker that used the gun against the security guards.

The attack comes after a series of ISIS related attacks against US targets in an apparant uptick in world wide Jihadist movement.  Both Turkey and Israel recently signed a rapproachment deal which gives ISIS substantial reason toa attack targets there.

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BREAKING NEWS: North Korea Ready to Attack the South

Kim Jong Un declared that North Korea is ready to launch a fresh attack on the South against ‘US provocations.’ North Korea has grown increasingly braisen as the world has gone on edge following the North’s latest nuclear test.

North Korea detonated its most powerful nuclear test to date this month. After the test it stated it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile.  If such an advancement was true, the US and its Asian allies have what to be worried about.

South Korea said the North was ready to set off another test at anytime.