“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.” Rav Kook z"l
Friday, August 1, 2014
Disney Heiress Withdraws Investment from Israel
Abigail Disney |
TIME TO BOYCOTT DISNEY, Folks!
Abigail Disney, Walt’s great-niece and heiress, has just withdrawn her 12 million dollar investment in the Israeli Company Ahava because, she says, it is “stealing minerals” from an “Occupied West Bank.”
Ms. Disney believes this violates both the 1970 Hague Convention and the Geneva Convention “by exploiting natural resources in occupied territories.”
Well—not exactly, and not so fast.
Disney is not actually withdrawing a penny for “complicated financial reasons.” She has decided to “donate the profits, as well as funds equal to the value of her shares in the Dead Sea minerals cosmetics firm Ahava, to groups working to end this illegal exploitation."
Serious Israeli (and non-Israeli) legal experts view the territories as “disputed” not “occupied”—but let’s not quibble.
Ms. Disney may not know it, but she has now become an honorary member and poster child for the anti-peace women’s “peace” group: Code Pink. This is a group which supports the government of Iran, the Taliban, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Fort Hood shooter, and many other such “peaceful” groups and individuals.
One of their more high-profile targets is Ahava Cosmetics.
Perhaps Ms. Disney does not fully understand who her new allies really are.
For at least six-seven years, the Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment campaign has targeted Israel’s beauty and cosmetic line, Ahava.
Code Pink jumped right in and launched many creative and obnoxious demonstrations.
In 2009, Code Pink members demonstrated in the Ahava store in the Tel Aviv Hilton. They smeared mud on their chests and holding signs that read: Stolen Beauty and “There is Nothing Beautiful About Occupation.”
In 2011, Code Pink was successful in getting The Bay, a large Canadian chain of stores, to drop Ahava Products. Their campaign is global and ongoing, and often successful.
Their first victory consisted of having Oxfam’s Goodwill Ambassador, Kristin Davis, (Sex and the City), suspend her publicity work for them given her affiliation with Ahava; they have gotten London to investigate the “legality” of Ahava’s labeling, blockaded Ahava’s flagship store in London more than five times; and convinced the Dutch Foreign Ministry to launch an investigation of Ahava’s “business methods.”
The ironic thing is that West Bank companies tend to employ Arabs (both Israeli citizens and Palestinians). When such firms are boycotted, their employees suffer.
Soda Stream, another Israeli company situated in the West Bank, employs 950 Arabs (450 Arab Israeli citizens, 500 Palestinians).
In 2014, after protests about not being allowed to bring in their own food after Ramadan-- home-bought food is prohibited for everyone-- sixty of the 950 Arabs were fired.
I mention this because Israeli companies actually employ Arabs (Israeli citizens and West Bank Palestinians); and Israelis start successful companies (Yes, they are the descendants of Jews who cleared the swamps and build a modern nation out of sand and rock).
We all know what the Gazan Palestinians did to the greenhouses that Israel left standing when it pulled out of Gaza completely. They destroyed them. They did not continue to use them to supply food to their people or to export food for commercial gain.
I hope Ms. Disney changes her mind. In fact, I hope all Hollywood changes its mind about who the real “Nazis,” fascists, totalitarians, barbarians, misogynists, and racists really are today.
And it is not Israel.
Letter to Kerry from a former White House Official
Lawrence J. Haas, a former senior White House official and award-winning journalist, is Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the American Foreign Policy Council |
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I was struck by your recent observation about the Israel-Hamas conflict: “The world is watching tragic moment after tragic moment unfold and wondering when both sides are going to come to their senses.”
I can only imagine your dismay, in light of the hopes that President Obama and you had placed in Israeli-Palestinian peace, and all of your jet-setting, tongue-flapping and arm-twisting to make it happen. To encourage both sides to come to their “senses,” however, I suggest that not only do they have important roles to play. So, too, do you.
You might begin by recognizing, and speaking openly about, the profound differences between a pluralistic democratic state and a Jew-hating terrorist organization; between America’s most important regional ally and one of America’s fiercest enemies; between a country that shares our values and a genocidal terrorist entity that fully rejects them; and between a government that’s accountable to its people and a brutal dictatorship that isn’t.
You might then stop trying to negotiate cease-fires for the Israel-Hamas conflict with Qatar, which supports and funds Hamas (and with which Washington just inked a huge arms deal), and Turkey, which also supports Hamas and whose increasingly Islamist government routinely accuses Israel of genocide – while leaving Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt out of the room.
As you must know, Israel is our ally, the Palestinian Authority is the comparatively moderate Palestinian entity that we prefer over Hamas, and Egypt shares both a border with Gaza and security concerns with Israel about Hamas. And as you might suspect, Israeli officials resent your efforts to impose a cease-fire on them from the outside, as if they themselves don’t know what’s best for their own security.
You might, at the same time, stop crafting cease-fire proposals that give Hamas (remember: a Jew-hating terror group and sworn U.S. enemy) essentially everything it wants while addressing none of the legitimate security concerns of Israel (remember: our key regional ally and fellow democracy that shares our values).
Israel, which rejected the cease fire you cooked up with Qatar and Turkey, couldn’t help but notice that, as the Times of Israel reported, the deal called for easing restrictions on people and goods from Gaza to Israel; expanding fishing zones for Gaza; opening a crossing from Gaza to Egypt; and paying Gazan government employees. Israel could keep its troops in Gaza, but it couldn’t keep destroying Hamas’s threatening tunnels nor conduct any other “military or security” operations to defang Hamas.
Nor could Israel help but notice that the deal called for negotiations in Cairo between Israel and “the Palestinian factions” (presumably including the genocidal Hamas) to craft a longer-term solution that opened more Israel-Gaza border crossings, secured more movement of people and goods through them, improved the economic and social livelihood of Gazans and addressed all security issues.
You see, Mr. Secretary, Israel officials were miffed that, in your deal-making with Doha and Ankara, you addressed Hamas’ demands in detail while offering only vague references to “all security issues.” As you might imagine, they think it reflects your longstanding approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as your recent mocking of Israeli efforts to deliver “pinpoint” attacks on Hamas.
In essence, Mr. Secretary, to set the right tone to address the Israel-Hamas conflict, you might stop equating Israeli humanity with Islamic barbarism – and, most maddening of all, tilting toward the latter.
Lawrence J. Haas, former communications director for Vice President Al Gore, is a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council.
The above article was first published By U.S. News & World Report On July 29, 2014, Republished with the author’s permission
Chicage Bais Din Stands by their Psak, No Girl Should attend any of Meisels Seminaries!
From Emes Ve_Emunah Blog
It is rare for a Beis Din in America to reject the psak of a respected Beis Din in Beni Brak. But that is exactly what they have done.
Remember that the Special Beis Din consisted of some of the most respected Rabbonim/Dayanim in all of Chicago. Their Hashkafos run from Centrist to Charedi. An Agudah Dayan, the Av Beis Din of the RCA, and the Rosh Kolllel of the Choshen Mishpat Kollel here in Chicago were the 3 Dayanim on this case. And they all rejected the conclusions of the Bnei Brak Beis Din in a published letter.
From Yerachmiel Lopin’s blog, here is what they said:
We stand by our July 10 statement that we do not recommend prospective students attend these seminaries, and also note, based on evidence including testimony by victims and staff and admissions by Elimelech Meisels, our conclusion that certain senior staff members failed in their responsibilities toward students.
This statement was not written by some hot-headed blogger with an anti Charedi agenda. It was written by some of the most respected Rabbonim in America.
The Bnei Brak Beis Din has said not to listen to the ‘naysayers’ since they do not know all of the facts. The problem is that the Chicago ‘naysayers’ not only know the facts, but spent an enormously greater amount of time studying them. I think we must all conclude that the Bnei Brak Beis Din has grievously erred here. Here is a point by point refutation of their ‘Psak’:
1) It is unclear as to whether these seminaries are safe even now after Meisels has sold them to one of his friends.
2) The staff may be incredible but despite their many legitimate successes with vast numbers of students, they nonetheless failed some of them miserably. They can no longer be trusted with the safety of their students.
3) Touro (and HTC) should not restore their relationship with these seminaries.
4) Since these schools are no longer recommended, other schools have a right, and perhaps a responsibility to recruit students from those schools. The claim by the Bnei Brak Beis Din that it is forbidden by Halacha to do so is based on their erroneous conclusions.
5) Slander and defamation is normally prohibited, unless there is a Toeles… a purpose that will protect people from harm. In the case of these seminaries, it is fair to say that the teachers who allowed this kind of thing to go on by looking the other way even though they suspected something are not the kind of teachers you want teaching your daughters anything!
6) Those that have intervened – specifically the Special Beis Din - should most definitely NOT be ignored. They not only have the facts, but they know them better than the Bnei Brak Beis Din does.
I realize that the Bnei Brak Beis Din wants to protect the livelihoods and reputations of those teachers. I’m sure those teachers are all fine people who otherwise deserve the accolades they have gotten in the past from students, parents, and now the Bnei Brak Beis Din. But the judgment of these teachers on this issue was at best foolish and at worst self centered.
By saying that these teachers failed in their responsibilities to their students - the Special Beis Din determined that these teachers did not do or say anything about their suspicions. Why? Who knows... but it is not a stretch to believe that they were quiet because they did not want to rock any boats. Whistle blowers tend to get fired very quickly. Losing their jobs by reporting suspicions about their boss was certainly something to worry about. So they ignored the suspicious scenarios they saw. Ignoring suspected sexual abuse because of the fear of losing one’s job does not deserve to be rewarded.
This is a very significant development. The 3 Chicago Rabbonim have decided to speak truth to power. They have stood on principle and sided against the conventional wisdom of sympathy for the institution and protecting the reputations of their staff. Yes those teachers will be hurt. Sadly so will their families who are innocent of any wrong doing. But they will all survive. These 3 Rabbonim have instead sided with justice for the victims and the protection of our daughters. God bless them.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Satmar excommunicates owner of Pomegranate Grocery, because he is a Satmar Tziyoinie
Excommunication Letter Against Pomegranate Grocery Owner |
The owner did the right thing and fired the Satmar skunk, and put up a sign in the store that Pomegranate supports Israel and its war against Gaza.
Bad mistake!
The Romanian Satmar Mafia, put signs all over Brooklyn, that he is a traitor to the irrelevant crazy Satmar "Shita," that he, a Satmar Chassid "sold the entire Torah" by firing a self hating Jew, posting a pro Jewish sign in the store, and caused a "Chillul Hashem that will remain to the end of days, because he agreed with the Avoda Zara (State of Israel), and because his customers will now see that a Satmar Chasid can and will forgo the entire (irrelevant) Satmar Shita for a couple of dollars"
They put him in Cheirim until he apologizes to the long deceased Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel Teitelbaum z"l!
Question: What do we want from the entire world, that advocates the boycott of Israel, when we have people that are Shomrei Torah Umitzvos that hate the State of Israel, and are willing to turn over the State to the blood thirsty terrorists?
What do they want ? They want ISIS to take over?
What's the plan? Satmar?
Shalom!
France will shut down the JDL because the Arabs are beating up the Jews,?
Now you know why we need a Jewish Army!
They are shutting down an organization that tries to defend the French Jews, but they look away when Arabs beat up Jews??
Following a string of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have turned violent , the French government is blaming a radical Jewish group known as the Jewish Defense League, or LDJ, for the violence and is actively pursuing legal avenues in an attempt to shut the group down.
AFP reports that sources say authorities believe it has been an active LDJ presence at pro-Palestinian rallies that has resulted in fights and arrests, including a July 13 clash outside a synagogue that resulted in a ban on any further pro-Palestinian rallies.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said last week that that LDJ’s actions were “excessive” and “should be condemned.”
A source said the French extremely fine analysis of the law” in its attempt to disband the group.
LDJ has denied breaking any laws and said it is currently planning a pro-Israel rally.
LDJ was labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S.‘s FBI in 2001, and has largely been ostracized by France’s over-500,000 member Jewish community.government is “carrying out an extremely fine analysis of the law” in its attempt to disband the group.
They are shutting down an organization that tries to defend the French Jews, but they look away when Arabs beat up Jews??
Following a string of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have turned violent , the French government is blaming a radical Jewish group known as the Jewish Defense League, or LDJ, for the violence and is actively pursuing legal avenues in an attempt to shut the group down.
AFP reports that sources say authorities believe it has been an active LDJ presence at pro-Palestinian rallies that has resulted in fights and arrests, including a July 13 clash outside a synagogue that resulted in a ban on any further pro-Palestinian rallies.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said last week that that LDJ’s actions were “excessive” and “should be condemned.”
A source said the French extremely fine analysis of the law” in its attempt to disband the group.
LDJ has denied breaking any laws and said it is currently planning a pro-Israel rally.
LDJ was labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S.‘s FBI in 2001, and has largely been ostracized by France’s over-500,000 member Jewish community.government is “carrying out an extremely fine analysis of the law” in its attempt to disband the group.
Arab Neighbors Back Israel In Gaza Conflict
Due to an increasing fear of political Islam in the region, many of Israel’s Arab neighbors are aligning themselves with the Jewish state this time around in its efforts to eradicate Hamas’ presence in Gaza.
The NY Times (http://nyti.ms/1qpLg91) reports that as part of a newly formed coalition with Egypt, leaders from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have not officially come out in supports of Israel, but through their continued backing of proposed Egyptian ceasefires—-which to date have leaned heavily towards meeting only the demands of Israel—-they have sent a de facto message of support.
The unofficial gag-order currently in place among Arab nations with regard to the continued blood-shed of fellow Arabs in Gaza has left Middle East experts in awe.
Former U. S. presidential Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller said, “The Arab states’ loathing and fear of political Islam is so strong that it outweighs their allergy to Benjamin Netanyahu. I have never seen a situation like it, where you have so many Arab states acquiescing in the death and destruction in Gaza and the pummeling of Hamas. The silence is deafening.”
US Secretary of State John Kerry (2-R) and Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi (2-L) with their respective delegations meet for talks in Cairo, Egypt, 22 July 2014 |
The NY Times (http://nyti.ms/1qpLg91) reports that as part of a newly formed coalition with Egypt, leaders from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have not officially come out in supports of Israel, but through their continued backing of proposed Egyptian ceasefires—-which to date have leaned heavily towards meeting only the demands of Israel—-they have sent a de facto message of support.
The unofficial gag-order currently in place among Arab nations with regard to the continued blood-shed of fellow Arabs in Gaza has left Middle East experts in awe.
Former U. S. presidential Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller said, “The Arab states’ loathing and fear of political Islam is so strong that it outweighs their allergy to Benjamin Netanyahu. I have never seen a situation like it, where you have so many Arab states acquiescing in the death and destruction in Gaza and the pummeling of Hamas. The silence is deafening.”
Agudah is busy with the Dead, while the IDF is busy protecting the living!
This is too bizarre for words!
Jews throughout Israel are cowering in their shelters, and instead of making a pro-Israel rally in lower Manhattan, they are busy with cemeteries.
We know that Agudah can muster tremendous crowds; witness the disgraceful "Yom Tefillah" that they organized in Lower Manhattan just a few months ago.
Where are they now? Why is it ok now to say thillim secretly in their prospective shuls? Why arn't they organizing the masses to show the world that we are 100% behind our brothers and sisters in the land that G-D gave us????
The United States Senate has passed, by unanimous consent, legislation that seeks to protect cemeteries abroad from vandalism and desecration. Agudath Israel of America is applauding passage of the bill, which was introduced by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senator James Risch (R-ID). The measure has already been approved by the House of Representatives, where it was sponsored by Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), and is now headed to the President’s desk for signature.
Britain's largest supermarket chain Tesco, founded by Jews, pulls West Bank products from shelves,
Britain's largest supermarket chain, founded by Jews, announced that it will no longer sell products from the West Bank.
Tesco was founded in 1919 by Jack Cohen.
Tesco emphasized that the decision was not politically motivated and not related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“It was made as part of a regular review process,” the company said.
As part of the boycott, Tesco asked two health and beauty products companies to provide a list of all their products and ingredients imported from Israel and the Palestinian territories.
“We have received some questions from customers about the products we sell, which are obtained from Israel or the West Bank,” the Tesco spokesperson said.
“To make sure that we answered their questions with the most accurate and updated information, we contacted suppliers to corroborate our own data, particularly for branded products,” the spokesperson also said
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Turkey Govt will not allow 'Women to Laugh in Public'
A minister in Recep Tayyip Erdogan's conservative government has outraged Turkey's secular community by claiming that honest women should not laugh in public.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc also urged women and men to be chaste during a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) held during Turkey's celebration of Eid, the day marking the end of Islam's holy month of Ramadan.
"Chastity is so important. It is not only a name. It is an ornament for both women and men," Arınc said, according to Hurriyet daily newspaper.
Praising traditional values, the 66-year-old politician listed some rules women should abide to, saying:
"She will not laugh in public. She will not make display of her attractiveness."
Arınc also lambasted racy TV shows and series, saying they are turning the young into a generation of "sex addicts" and claimed easy access to pornography online was causing moral decay in Turkish society.
Opposition leader Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu tweeted: "What our country needs the most is to hear the merry laugher of our women and of everyone else."
In recent years, Erdogan's government has implemented a religious conservative agenda that included, for example, the adoption of stricter rules on alcohol consumption and abortion.
Ihsanoglu is running against the current prime minister in Turkey's Presidential elections that are to be held in August.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc also urged women and men to be chaste during a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) held during Turkey's celebration of Eid, the day marking the end of Islam's holy month of Ramadan.
"Chastity is so important. It is not only a name. It is an ornament for both women and men," Arınc said, according to Hurriyet daily newspaper.
Praising traditional values, the 66-year-old politician listed some rules women should abide to, saying:
"She will not laugh in public. She will not make display of her attractiveness."
Arınc also lambasted racy TV shows and series, saying they are turning the young into a generation of "sex addicts" and claimed easy access to pornography online was causing moral decay in Turkish society.
Opposition leader Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu tweeted: "What our country needs the most is to hear the merry laugher of our women and of everyone else."
In recent years, Erdogan's government has implemented a religious conservative agenda that included, for example, the adoption of stricter rules on alcohol consumption and abortion.
Ihsanoglu is running against the current prime minister in Turkey's Presidential elections that are to be held in August.
NYPD Looking For 2 Black Suspects In Robbery On Ave M & East 18th Street VIDEO
The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance with
the whereabouts and identity of the following individual’s wanted in connection
to a robbery in the confines of the 70th Precinct. The circumstances are as
follows:
On Sunday, July 27th, 2014 at approximately 9:40PM two black males followed a 18 year old female into her apartment building in the vicinity of Avenue M and East 18th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn.
The suspects then pulled the victim out of the elevator, punched and kicked her and removed her purse. They fled the location.
On Sunday, July 27th, 2014 at approximately 9:40PM two black males followed a 18 year old female into her apartment building in the vicinity of Avenue M and East 18th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn.
The suspects then pulled the victim out of the elevator, punched and kicked her and removed her purse. They fled the location.
The suspects are described as:
1) a male black, 20 to 25 years of age, wearing a black t-shirt and multi-colored pants
2) a male black, late teens to early 20′s, approx. 240 pounds, wearing an orange t-shirt, beige shorts and a backpack
A video is attached.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Obama told Netanyahu he trusts Turkey, Qatar as mediators
US President Barack Obama told Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in a phone conversation that Israel must immediately stop all military activities in Gaza, and said Jerusalem was not in a position to pick the mediators of a cease-fire, Channel 1 reported Tuesday night.
According to what Channel 1 said was a partial transcript of the Sunday phone call, when Netanyahu asked what Israel would get from stopping its military operation, Obama said that he believed Hamas would stop the firing of rockets, and that “quiet would be met with quiet.”
The White House quickly issued a denial, with Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser, calling the supposed transcript of the call “totally false.”
“Neither the reports nor alleged transcript bear any resemblance to reality,” the National Security Council press office immediately posted on its Twitter account. It was “shocking and disappointing someone would sink to misrepresenting” a private conversation between Obama and Netanyahu, the press office said.
Netanyahu, according to the report, replied to Obama that Hamas was a terrorist organization committed to Israel’s destruction, and one that had already violated five cease-fires.
Obama reportedly repeated his call for an immediate end to the IDF operation, saying the pictures of the destruction from the Gaza Strip were distancing the world from Israel. He said that a week after the operation ended, Turkey and Qatar would negotiate with Hamas on the basis of the understanding that ended Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012.
When Netanyahu said that Turkey and Qatar were Hamas’s biggest supporters, and it was impossible for Israel to rely on them, Obama reportedly said that he would rely on them, and that Israel was not in a position to chose the mediators.
The ball was in Israel’s court, Obama told Netanyahu, according to the report, and it must stop the military operation.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s rocket fire on Israel and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continued unabated Tuesday night, even amid reports that Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt have agreed to a cease-fire framework.
Channel 2 reported that under the terms of the deal, there would be a cease-fire for between 24 and 72 hours, during which Israel would continue to decommission Gaza’s attack tunnels. After that, if the cease-fire holds, the sides would meet and hold indirect talks in Cairo to hammer out a long-term accord.
This framework is similar to the Egyptian proposal put forward a few days after Operation Protective Edge began 22 days ago, and which Hamas rejected.
An Israeli government official denied, however, that any agreement had been reached.
“The fighting continues,” he said. “The military campaign is ongoing, but the diplomacy is also ongoing.”
The official said Israel has always accepted the Egyptian proposal, but would not say whether Jerusalem would accept anything different.
Hamas, through Qatar and Turkey, is demanding in exchange for a cease-fire that a number of conditions be met, including opening Gaza’s border crossings, lifting Israel’s blockade, allowing the transfer of funds to pay Hamas salaries, and the release of Hamas prisoners released in the exchange for IDF tank gunner Gilad Schalit but rearrested last month following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers.
Additional contradictions between Netanyahu and US Secretary of State John Kerry continued to surface on Tuesday, with Kerry saying the prime minister asked him on Monday night to work toward a humanitarian cease-fire, and a diplomatic source in Jerusalem saying it was Kerry who raised the issue.
Washington has expressed dismay in recent days over the harsh criticism in Israel of a draft cease-fire proposal the US presented on Friday. Israel felt the proposal fell far short of meeting its security requirements and leaned toward Hamas’s demands, giving the organization a standing it had not hitherto enjoyed. One of Israel’s main concerns with the draft was that it did not spell out that Israel would be able to continue to work against the tunnels during the proposed weeklong ceasefire.
Kerry said that the plan put forth did, in fact, allow Israel “to continue to deal with its tunnels.”
He also said that what the US was proposing did not deviate at all from the Cairo proposal.
“No variation, no deviation. We’ve been in touch with the Egyptians; we have honored the Egyptian concept. If there is a negotiation, it would be in Cairo,” he said. “It would be entirely without preconditions, and it would not prejudice Israel’s ability to defend itself.”
Repeating what he said a number of months ago when Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon slammed his efforts at brokering an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, Kerry said of the Israeli criticism that “I’ve taken hits before in politics. I’m not worried about that.”
Now, like then, he highlighted his 29 years of a perfect pro-Israel voting record in the US Senate, adding that “I will not take a second seat to anybody in my friendship or my devotion to the protection of the State of Israel.”
Kerry, who said that in recent days he has talked to Netanyahu two to four times a day, added that on Monday night, the prime minister raised the issue of a cease-fire, “as he has consistently.
He has consistently said that he would embrace a cease-fire that permits Israel to protect itself against the tunnels and obviously not be disadvantaged for the great sacrifice that they have made in order to be able to protect themselves thus far.”
The secretary of state said that if it were not for Netanyahu’s commitment to a cease-fire, the US would not be expending the effort to bring one about.
“Now, either I take his commitment at face value, or someone is playing a different game here, and I hope that’s not the fact,” he said.
A senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office, however, contradicted this telling of events, saying it was Kerry who raised the issue of a cease-fire to Netanyahu.
According to this official, the prime minister told Kerry the IDF operation in Gaza, including the actions against the tunnels, was necessary for the security of Israel and would continue. He added that there was a need to continue acting against the tunnels “until the job was completed.”
In a related development, Chile and Peru followed Brazil’s lead from last week and recalled their ambassadors for consultation in protest over Israel’s operation in Gaza. Once Brazil recalled its ambassador, it was widely expected that a number of other South American countries would do the same.
According to what Channel 1 said was a partial transcript of the Sunday phone call, when Netanyahu asked what Israel would get from stopping its military operation, Obama said that he believed Hamas would stop the firing of rockets, and that “quiet would be met with quiet.”
The White House quickly issued a denial, with Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser, calling the supposed transcript of the call “totally false.”
“Neither the reports nor alleged transcript bear any resemblance to reality,” the National Security Council press office immediately posted on its Twitter account. It was “shocking and disappointing someone would sink to misrepresenting” a private conversation between Obama and Netanyahu, the press office said.
Netanyahu, according to the report, replied to Obama that Hamas was a terrorist organization committed to Israel’s destruction, and one that had already violated five cease-fires.
Obama reportedly repeated his call for an immediate end to the IDF operation, saying the pictures of the destruction from the Gaza Strip were distancing the world from Israel. He said that a week after the operation ended, Turkey and Qatar would negotiate with Hamas on the basis of the understanding that ended Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012.
When Netanyahu said that Turkey and Qatar were Hamas’s biggest supporters, and it was impossible for Israel to rely on them, Obama reportedly said that he would rely on them, and that Israel was not in a position to chose the mediators.
The ball was in Israel’s court, Obama told Netanyahu, according to the report, and it must stop the military operation.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s rocket fire on Israel and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continued unabated Tuesday night, even amid reports that Israel, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt have agreed to a cease-fire framework.
Channel 2 reported that under the terms of the deal, there would be a cease-fire for between 24 and 72 hours, during which Israel would continue to decommission Gaza’s attack tunnels. After that, if the cease-fire holds, the sides would meet and hold indirect talks in Cairo to hammer out a long-term accord.
This framework is similar to the Egyptian proposal put forward a few days after Operation Protective Edge began 22 days ago, and which Hamas rejected.
An Israeli government official denied, however, that any agreement had been reached.
“The fighting continues,” he said. “The military campaign is ongoing, but the diplomacy is also ongoing.”
The official said Israel has always accepted the Egyptian proposal, but would not say whether Jerusalem would accept anything different.
Hamas, through Qatar and Turkey, is demanding in exchange for a cease-fire that a number of conditions be met, including opening Gaza’s border crossings, lifting Israel’s blockade, allowing the transfer of funds to pay Hamas salaries, and the release of Hamas prisoners released in the exchange for IDF tank gunner Gilad Schalit but rearrested last month following the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers.
Additional contradictions between Netanyahu and US Secretary of State John Kerry continued to surface on Tuesday, with Kerry saying the prime minister asked him on Monday night to work toward a humanitarian cease-fire, and a diplomatic source in Jerusalem saying it was Kerry who raised the issue.
Washington has expressed dismay in recent days over the harsh criticism in Israel of a draft cease-fire proposal the US presented on Friday. Israel felt the proposal fell far short of meeting its security requirements and leaned toward Hamas’s demands, giving the organization a standing it had not hitherto enjoyed. One of Israel’s main concerns with the draft was that it did not spell out that Israel would be able to continue to work against the tunnels during the proposed weeklong ceasefire.
Kerry said that the plan put forth did, in fact, allow Israel “to continue to deal with its tunnels.”
He also said that what the US was proposing did not deviate at all from the Cairo proposal.
“No variation, no deviation. We’ve been in touch with the Egyptians; we have honored the Egyptian concept. If there is a negotiation, it would be in Cairo,” he said. “It would be entirely without preconditions, and it would not prejudice Israel’s ability to defend itself.”
Repeating what he said a number of months ago when Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon slammed his efforts at brokering an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, Kerry said of the Israeli criticism that “I’ve taken hits before in politics. I’m not worried about that.”
Now, like then, he highlighted his 29 years of a perfect pro-Israel voting record in the US Senate, adding that “I will not take a second seat to anybody in my friendship or my devotion to the protection of the State of Israel.”
Kerry, who said that in recent days he has talked to Netanyahu two to four times a day, added that on Monday night, the prime minister raised the issue of a cease-fire, “as he has consistently.
He has consistently said that he would embrace a cease-fire that permits Israel to protect itself against the tunnels and obviously not be disadvantaged for the great sacrifice that they have made in order to be able to protect themselves thus far.”
The secretary of state said that if it were not for Netanyahu’s commitment to a cease-fire, the US would not be expending the effort to bring one about.
“Now, either I take his commitment at face value, or someone is playing a different game here, and I hope that’s not the fact,” he said.
A senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office, however, contradicted this telling of events, saying it was Kerry who raised the issue of a cease-fire to Netanyahu.
According to this official, the prime minister told Kerry the IDF operation in Gaza, including the actions against the tunnels, was necessary for the security of Israel and would continue. He added that there was a need to continue acting against the tunnels “until the job was completed.”
In a related development, Chile and Peru followed Brazil’s lead from last week and recalled their ambassadors for consultation in protest over Israel’s operation in Gaza. Once Brazil recalled its ambassador, it was widely expected that a number of other South American countries would do the same.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
World is silent about reports that Hamas has executed more than 30 civilians accused of collaborating with Israel.
Hamas shot some 20 Palestinians on Monday night for protesting against Hamas for the massive destruction inflicted on their neighborhood in Shejaia by the IDF in the past weeks, Channel 10 reported on Tuesday.
Over the past few days, Hamas has executed more than 30 civilians from various parts of the Gaza Strip which it suspected of collaborating with Israel, unidentified Palestinian security sources told the Palestine Press News Agency.
Hamas claimed it had detected alleged “spies” in the area of Shejaia and said that they were executed after an investigation into some of them. Such investigations reportedly revealed weapons and communication devices in the possession of the "spies."
In the past Palestinian sources have quoted Hamas’ armed wing, Ezaddin al-Qassam as saying that it has used agents in civilian clothes to monitor the movement of suspected informants.
Over the past few days, Hamas has executed more than 30 civilians from various parts of the Gaza Strip which it suspected of collaborating with Israel, unidentified Palestinian security sources told the Palestine Press News Agency.
Hamas claimed it had detected alleged “spies” in the area of Shejaia and said that they were executed after an investigation into some of them. Such investigations reportedly revealed weapons and communication devices in the possession of the "spies."
In the past Palestinian sources have quoted Hamas’ armed wing, Ezaddin al-Qassam as saying that it has used agents in civilian clothes to monitor the movement of suspected informants.
Hillary says Hamas must put Rockets in School because Gaza is very small
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Fusion TV's Jorge Ramos that part of the reason Hamas hides rockets in schools and civilian areas is "Gaza is small."
"I'm not a military planner but Hamas puts it's missiles, it's rockets in civilian areas, part of it is Gaza is pretty small and its densely populated," she said, neglecting the question of whether or not Hamas should have rockets in area to begin with.Isaac Markowitz in Letter to Yeshiva World writes "Hide yourself and don’t fight or criticize them" (the Arabs)
The following is a non-edited letter, published in its entirety, as received by
YWN:
This guy calls Israel, "Palestine" and cares more what the world says, than his own brothers and sisters!
Hi Gentlemen, just want to let you know that you guys @ YWN are the most self hated jews in todays time…
By supporting bloodshed in Palestine (by giving Chizuk to the army to fight enemies which will never end till Mushiach arrives)and young innocent boys being killed for no good reason just for ego) to criticizing Hon. President Obama Y”H and Senator Kerry by trying to help the situations and solve the crisis (which can only work by showing both sides sympathy), every comment in this site is being read by non-jews as jews also government officials know what to read and will pick the only the red lines which includes criticism against our officials and government and particularly against our President Obama y”h, you guys bring the most antisemitism to our own brothers in the world and especially in the Tri-State area, we are now in exile and have no right to criticize any officials, and by doing this you create on us even more enemies at home.
We should thank Hashem that they are letting us practice Torah & Mitzvos w/o problems. Yiden! open your eyes and look what to Torah writes what our father Yakov said to his children “Lumo Tisruei” -Why are you showing yourself as like any other nation? Hide yourself and don’t fight or criticize them, this will only make it worse for Klal Yisroel and until freed be quiet and except the Gulos” There’s a lot more to say but this is just the tip of the fork and it’s not what i say but what the Torah says.
Isaac F. Markowitz
ifsmarcy@gmail.com
This guy calls Israel, "Palestine" and cares more what the world says, than his own brothers and sisters!
Hi Gentlemen, just want to let you know that you guys @ YWN are the most self hated jews in todays time…
By supporting bloodshed in Palestine (by giving Chizuk to the army to fight enemies which will never end till Mushiach arrives)and young innocent boys being killed for no good reason just for ego) to criticizing Hon. President Obama Y”H and Senator Kerry by trying to help the situations and solve the crisis (which can only work by showing both sides sympathy), every comment in this site is being read by non-jews as jews also government officials know what to read and will pick the only the red lines which includes criticism against our officials and government and particularly against our President Obama y”h, you guys bring the most antisemitism to our own brothers in the world and especially in the Tri-State area, we are now in exile and have no right to criticize any officials, and by doing this you create on us even more enemies at home.
We should thank Hashem that they are letting us practice Torah & Mitzvos w/o problems. Yiden! open your eyes and look what to Torah writes what our father Yakov said to his children “Lumo Tisruei” -Why are you showing yourself as like any other nation? Hide yourself and don’t fight or criticize them, this will only make it worse for Klal Yisroel and until freed be quiet and except the Gulos” There’s a lot more to say but this is just the tip of the fork and it’s not what i say but what the Torah says.
Isaac F. Markowitz
ifsmarcy@gmail.com
86.5 Percent Of Israelis Say ‘No’ To A Ceasefire In Gaza
The overwhelming majority of Israelis, 86.5% feel that for as long as Hamas
tunnels are not all destroyed and the terror organization can fire rockets into
Israel, there can be no ceasefire.
The poll was taken last weekend to determine the public’s view on the ongoing military operation. 504 people representing a cross-section of the population were questioned.
If a ceasefire is declared today, which of the following options best describes your feeling?
86.5%: Israel cannot agree to a ceasefire for as long as rocket fire continues and the tunnels are not eliminated.
9.7%: A ceasefire would be a good thing.
More men (89%) than women (84%) feel the fighting must continues.
The residents of Yehuda and Shomron registered 90.5% in favor of continuing the warfare.
Tel Aviv residents polled 86.9%, as opposed to 87% in southern Israel.
3.8% of respondents explained they do not know.
Among those favoring a ceasefire, women (11.61%) are a majority as opposed to men (7.9%).
Southern residents favoring a ceasefire amount to 11.1% as opposed to 9.3% in Tel Aviv and 4.8% in Yehuda and Shomron.
When asked to rate the success of the operation to date; only 2.2% called it a major success. 22.6% feel is has yielded good results for Israel, and the majority, 47.6% feel the results are moderate. 86% of the participants stated they are seeking a decisive victory.
The poll was taken last weekend to determine the public’s view on the ongoing military operation. 504 people representing a cross-section of the population were questioned.
If a ceasefire is declared today, which of the following options best describes your feeling?
86.5%: Israel cannot agree to a ceasefire for as long as rocket fire continues and the tunnels are not eliminated.
9.7%: A ceasefire would be a good thing.
More men (89%) than women (84%) feel the fighting must continues.
The residents of Yehuda and Shomron registered 90.5% in favor of continuing the warfare.
Tel Aviv residents polled 86.9%, as opposed to 87% in southern Israel.
3.8% of respondents explained they do not know.
Among those favoring a ceasefire, women (11.61%) are a majority as opposed to men (7.9%).
Southern residents favoring a ceasefire amount to 11.1% as opposed to 9.3% in Tel Aviv and 4.8% in Yehuda and Shomron.
When asked to rate the success of the operation to date; only 2.2% called it a major success. 22.6% feel is has yielded good results for Israel, and the majority, 47.6% feel the results are moderate. 86% of the participants stated they are seeking a decisive victory.
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