Frontline Tours In The Holy Land
Shai and I discuss the current investigation concerning the Duma arson in the Northern Shomron and why this is a landmark civil rights case involving torture and human rights violations in connection with the alleged suspects. We also touch on the tension between statism and individual liberties in Israel and the need to put an emphasis on individual liberties despite the security situation and the desire for the system to preserve itself.
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Here we go again, so the theory would go, but more likely than not the retaliation we will surely see for Kuntar’s demise will be in another form, most likely an attempt to infiltrate the North as was Kuntar’s plan. The rocket attack is more or less a way for the Arabs in Hezbollah to let some steam off.
Mahmoud Abbas in Greece, Waiting for PA Recognition as New Nation
This must be the Greeks’ way of trying to stay relevant. Remember there is a gas deal with Israel and their own Prime Minister referred to Jerusalem as Israel’s historic capital. Whatever the reason, it is sad that the world cannot move on beyond supporting independence of a non-entity, never mind the fact that Palestine was not a Nation.
Benjamin Netanyahu ‘threatens to strip Jerusalem residency from 230,000 Palestinians’
Well the above link just shows you how out of touch the liberal media is to sovereignty issues. No one is stripping the “Palestinians” in Jerusalem of residency (which as a sovereign nation they are allowed to do), but rather those Arabs who are aiding and abetting terror. The same debate is going on across the globe.
Bibi Using Special Clause to Push Through Gas Deal AKA Eastern Mediterranean Alliance
Clause 54 in the gas deal allows for the Prime Minister or the Government to get around Israel’s anti-monopoly laws when security or foreign relations can be harmed in regards to the gas fields. Bibi invoking this is no sleight of hand. This gas consortium has the power to revolutionize the Eastern Mediterranean and change strategic alliances for many decades to come. Although we all want to see the common Israeli get more in his pocket, the gas deal will build far more than just money and that will be felt over the next 2 generations, cementing Israel as a regional leader and the strategic gateway between Europe and Asia.
Israel ranked 18th best country in the world to live
What more can one say. With all of the threats inside and out, Israel is still one of the best places to live. What is more surprising is that the report was issued by the UN. This means that despite their anti-Israel rhetoric, the UN admits that Israel is a darn good place. Compare that to the ranking Arab countries got and one has to wonder why the UN is so biased against the Jewish state.
Israel and China Continue to Build Long Term Partnership
With former President Shimon Peres and the President of Technion attending the cornerstone laying ceremony of the first Israeli University in China, one has to wonder why those that insist that trade does not lead to other things are missing this. The university is being funded by Chinese Billionaire Li Ka-shing out of Hing Kong and reflects a serious development in the academic partnership between Israel and China. The world is swinging East and Israel is fast becoming a major player.
Kerry: Bibi is Shortsighted and Untrustworthy
Here we go again. The world is in collapse mode or should I say the American world is on collapse mode and Kerry wheels out apartheid like statements and fear mongering to relate to Israel’s future. Once going on here is that the USA is nervous it is losing Israel and so the warning is out. “You leave our orbit and we will make you look like South Africa.” Threats don’t work anymore. Their policies are in shambles and in the new world of value based partnerships versus ideological allies, Israel is well positioned to be economic hub of the fast changing Middle East. By the way trusting the USA government never did the Kurds well either. Obama has left them to die at the mercy of ISIS.
War is Hell and the Arabs use all Means at their Disposal
The violent struggle for control over the Land of Israel continues. Thankfully, all of the injured from yesterday’s car ramming in Jerusalem will live. The 1.5 year old unfortunately will lose his foot. In the long struggle strategy that Bibi seems to have adopted over the Land, the government wants the citizenry to remain vigilant as it grinds the Arabs down over a period of time and makes them sure for peace. This strategy means we won’t see the winding down of “lone wolfs” anytime soon.
Terror War Continues in Samaria
The latest attack occurred outside the community of Avnei Hafetz. Residents of the Old City of Jerusalem had been visiting their daughter in Aveni Hafetz when their car came under fire. The idea that these attacks are lone wolf has become preposterous. The government has in word moved on from this theory, but has not been able to crack the forward momentum of the Arab war across the Land of Israel. Terror is merely a tactic to be employed to instill fear in the wider public. Treating terror with band aid or reactive measures will not work. Only a complete offensive campaign will crush the Jihadist cells and force Abu Mazen (aka Mahmoud Abbas) to sue for peace. Sadly the government is far reaching this conclusion.
Obama Has Publicly Moved on From Peace in His Time
Obama might have used his time with President Reuven Rivlin repairing his relationship with Israel by saying all the platitudes necessary, but he has squandered years trying to push something on both sides that has no reality on the ground. Sadly if Obama wanted real peace, the One State Solution is the only way forward.
Bibi is Walking a Tight Rope by Meeting Donald Trump
Although the meeting is three weeks away, furor over Trump’s opposition to allowing Muslim immigration while global Jihad is on the march has drawn the ire of just about everyone in the elite wing of both the Democrats and Republicans. Bibi cannot cancel the meeting and it is not his style. Whether or not Trump always presents issues in a nuanced manner, a vast amount of Israelis agree with the current Republican front runner. Bibi understands this and while he needs to balance the meeting with some PC statement in order to assuage the White House, the meeting will go forward.