The Conflict in Israel and The Middle East

September 11, 2016

As the US Recedes from the Middle East, Putin Takes Over

With Russia’s growing presence in every area of the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean, the US increasingly finds itself shut out of the “Great Game” of the 21st century. Below is a list of moves where Putin has been able to get the best of the USA:

Creating an air defense umbrella over the eastern Levant
Becoming the dominant force in taking on ISIS
Resurrecting the government of Bashar Assad
Pushing Israel to a neutral position in regards to the USA and Russia
Prying Turkey out of the NATO alliance that is fighting ISIS
Luring Greece as a major partner
Projecting stable leadership in the region

The list goes on, but the point is clear that Russia is taking over as the next sheriff of the Middle East.

Israel Loses

For a long time Israel had viewed Putin as a positive alternative to the Arabists in the USA government. The pro-Russian faction in the Israeli government had pushed for an Israeli pivot thinking that Putin could be trusted not to force the “Palestinian” issues. With Russia’s announcement that they intend to host a peace summit between Israel and the PA, that assumption was buried. Despite Israel’s increase in trade partners and economic success, the government now understands that they are all alone.

September 10, 2016December 16, 2016

Yes, The West Wants to Ethnically Cleanse Israel of Jews

Turning the tables on the long-held “wisdom” that Israel/PA peace is rooted in the brutal removal of thousands of Jews living in areas “Palestinian” Arabs claim for a future state, Prime Minister Netanyahu cleverly put the final nail in the already long dead “peace” process.

“There will be no ethnic cleansing of Jews in Judea and Samaria,” the Prime Minister said in his short video.

Condemnation was swift, yet despite the implications of such a stance, the West’s view that it is appropriate to remove Jews from their homes while Arabs can continue to build and expand is not only overtly anti-Semitic, it is down right hostile to the very country it needs to bring to the table if it really wants a deal.

Yet, that is it. The West doesn’t care about a deal that doesn’t achieve the same goals it had when it hoped the rag-tag army of Jews would be wiped out by the five nation strong Arab juggernaut nearly 70 years ago. A deal for the West must end in a neutered Israel, an Israel dependent on the West for defense. If Israel holds onto Judea and Samaria or at the very least provide security for the Jews living there, Israel would retain its sense of indigenous connection to its most sacred areas.

For the Arabs and the West, their neo-colonial aspiration rest on the removal and disconnect of the Jewish people from places like Hebron, Shilo, and Elon Morey. These are the places that form the foundation of the Jewish people’s connection to their ancient land.

Bibi Netanyahu’s video revealed the truth underlying the West’s drive for peace. The truth is that the peace process is merely a back door attempt to destroy the Jewish state. This is why both Foggy Bottom and the PA are so incensed with it.

September 9, 2016September 9, 2016

J Street’s New Mission: Destroy Regavim and Israel at all Costs

It has been revealed that Jeremy Ben-Ami head of J-Street, the anti-Israel organization based in America, sent an email out to the group’s supporters notifying them that he is personally applying pressure to the Obama administration in order to force the government to remove Regavim’s 501(3)(c) status in order to cripple the group’s fundraising power in the USA.

This threat is serious, but what is more serious are the implications of Ben Ami’s actions. Regavim’s goal has always been to pressure the government to enforce the already determined law or ruling by the Knesset or Supreme Court. By J-Street going after Regavim in such a public and base way, Ben Ami is essentially denying the legitimacy of Israel’s own governing institutions.

Taking down a group like Regavim will not only harm the Israeli right, but all corners of Israeli society as Israel’s government will be rendered ineffective.

Ben Ami’s tirade against organizations like Regavim who he claims uses US donations to destroy the “Arab village at Susiya” is ironic, since it is in fact J-Street itself that uses donations to prop up and create illegal facts on the ground in contravention of Israel’s own sovereign laws.

With the stakes high and during the presidential election, Ben Ami is rolling the dice to see if Hillary and Obama would risk alienating moderate Jewish Democrats precisely when they need them the most. Yet, that could be Ben Ami’s core strategy. J-Street has always sought tocreate fissures and divisions in the American Jewish community.

So far he is succeeding.

September 8, 2016

Russia: Israel and “Palestinian” Arabs will Come for Talks

Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced Thursday that the Russian government has recieved word from both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government that Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to meet in Moscow for direct talks. A date for the direct meeting has yet to be determined.

The last time the two men met was in 2015 for a brief handshake.

Russia is quickly becoming the only real player in the Levant region as Ameica’s role in the region continues to contract and recede. No one expects peace to come from the meeting, but Putin wants to go ahead with it to show that he is the future arbiter of regional disputes.

The only question for the Russian leader is whether he can hold himself back from pursuing the peace pipe dream of the Western world and instead build real regional stability.

Israel is praying he keeps composure.

September 7, 2016

What Happens When a Fake King Twists the Light of Redemption?

Months ago I was introduced to “King” Francois Ayi. I was invited to a dinner party to meet an extraordinary individual originally from Togo who claimed to be a King and have Jewish roots. There was a few of us there. Francois Ayi was personable and appeared to be genuine, but concerns persisted and yet many of us shelved them.

Over the next months and many meetings, Francois Ayi and I became friends and yet a quiet discontent grew within me. I kept my feelings to myself as he became the focus of media attention in Israel as a “Jewish King.” At one point members of the nascent Sanhedrin even called him the King of Africa.

I of course challenged them on this and still gave Francois the benefit of the doubt that it was us Jews so enamored to be loved by an African King that we ourselves embellished his story. At the end that was not the case. Francois Ayi used everyone he met differently. He met with government officials and religious leaders. His targets wre believers and those yearning to bring dedicated Israel loving Africans closer to the truth.

Yesterday as Rav Daniel Asur, one of the rabbis who brought Francois Ayi into notoriety here in Israel came out against Ayi, blasting him for using us and misleading many who met with him. The “King” it seems may have royal blood, but his goals were at the end nefarious. The rabbi had caught him using his phone on Shabbat although Francois Ayi claimed he had begun to keep the Sabbath. Messages were made on his phone by him exalting the use of voodoo and other witchcraft. The list goes on.

My main issue with Francois Ayi is essentially his incessant need to ask for money and to promote himself to many as the ultimate leader. This got to the point where in fact he began to build multiple followers here in Israel that actually still believe he could be the Messiah.

Bending the Light of Redemption

The question isn’t if we were fooled or why many of us did not listen to others’ “wisdom” in this case. It is clear none of us, even the great sages are perfect. We all make mistakes and many times let our desire to do good get in the way of staying on the middle path. The question is how did this charlatan get away with this and why?

We understand that as Israel has returned to its ancient homeland as prophesied in the bible a great awakening has occurred. This awakening is the light of redemption or otherwise known as the spirit of the Messiah (Ruach Mashiach). It is potent and powerful. Yet it comes with such heightened spiritual energy it attracts many who bend it and use it for their own gain.

Make no mistake this dark side holiness only has power by virtue of this light that is increasing daily in our world. It is why there is global chaos at the same time as this redemptive consciousness keeps growing.

I expect more and more of these leaders will arise as we continue within our redemptive process, which is a global process. We must filter those who seek to harm us and our friends from within and connect with those forces who are like-minded in seeing a world that is rectified.