Tzions Shofar: Yisrael Light of the World.: August 2006

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Latest News on Israel

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVTuesday 08/15/2006News Summary:
The cease-fire entered into force on Monday morning
Tsahal has brought several combat units home
Life is slowly returning to normal in the north
Ehud Olmert addresses the Knesset
Ariel Sharon’s health has taken a turn for the worse
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVWednesday 08/16/2006News Summary:
The Israeli army is continuing its withdrawal from south Lebanon
Residents of the north are returning home, life is going back to normal
On the southern front Tsahal is continuing its operations
And Operation Smile courtesy of the ABSI Keren-Or and Guysen continues
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVThursday 08/17/2006News Summary:
Amir Peretz has announced the creation of a commission of inquiry to analyze Tsahal’s conduct and the handling of the war
The Lebanese government is deploying its army in south Lebanon
France is ready to participate in Unifil but "it requires that the Lebanese army is deployed first"
Gilbert Montagné was a true success yesterday evening in Raanana Park
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVFriday 08/18/2006News Summary:
France is reluctant to commit its troops to Lebanon
The Lebanese army has started its deployment
In Israel, it is a time for an accounting
Operation Smile continues in the north and the south
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

A MAD Deterrent for a Madman
By Michael D. Evans
In the twenty-first century, the players and the stakes have changed dramatically. Iran is well on its way to becoming a nuclear power, and its target is none other than what the Ayatollah Khomeini first dubbed “The Great Satan” (America), and “The Little Satan” (Israel.)
Read More
A new 'Mini-Iran' is emerging in southern Lebanon
Lebanon's president and commander in chief of the army, Emile Lahoud, made it clear on Wednesday that Hezbollah would not be disarmed, not even in the area south of the Litani River.
Read More
Iran's Militia Mayhem
...by funneling its oil money to Hezbollah, arming a fierce band of fanatical fighters, Iran has honed a strategy that, if seen to succeed, could replicate itself all across the Arab world.
Read More
View of common fears drives US-Israel policy
For the first time in Israel's history, key figures in the US government believe that the same forces that threaten Israel -- Islamic terrorists and a nuclear-armed Iran -- also present the greatest strategic threat to the United States.
Read More
For Majority of Arabs, Hezbollah Won
...behind the outpouring of support for Hezbollah in recent days, some in the Middle East are increasingly worried about the rising power of religious extremists.
Read More
The war's surprises
Hezbollah used seven different types of rockets in the war - four of them the most advanced available and all produced by Russia and sold to Syria.
Read More
Hizbullah encourages Palestinian terror
Palestinian terror cells operating in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in conjunction with Hizbullah are under orders by the Lebanese-based terror group to escalate their attacks against Israel.
Read More

AUDIO :: Ambassador Lubrani Talks with Bloggers: Listen now! Hours ago, One Jerusalem hosted another blogger conference call – with Israeli Ambassador Uri Lubrani.Ambassador Lubrani headed Israel’s Mission to Iran, served as Government Coordinator for Lebanese Affairs, Coordinator of the Rescue of Ethiopian Jews, chief negotiator for...(read more)
-->
● Are The British Waking Up?: The latest round of terrorism arrests in Britain seems to have spurred the political class into action. In the wake of the arrest of the would be airline bombers, the often illusive leader of the Tory Party has publicly accused the...(read more)
-->
● One Jerusalem Hosts Conference Call with Maj-General Yaakov Amidror (res): Click here for the complete audio file.Be sure to read Anne at Boker Tov Boulder, Pamela at Atlas Shrugs and Jerry at Israpundit for the complete summary....(read more)
-->
● Lieberman Leads Lamont: Despite losing the Democratic primary Joseph Liberman is besting his opponent (Lamont) in the General election 46-41....(read more)
-->
● An International Peace Force?: One Jerusalem has it on good authority that Lebanon is actively trying to recruit a Muslim dominant "peace force". Their countries of preference are Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan.Two out of three have supplied centrifuges for Iran's nuclear project.For another comparison...(read more)
-->
● While Olmert Fantasizes Bibi Provides Leadership: One Jerusalem's eyewitness in Jerusalem just reported that in his address to the Knesset, Prime Minister Olmert declared that Israel had achieved its goals in Lebanon and he praised Foreign Minister Livni. Looking drawn and uncomfortable, Olmert sounded like a man who did...(read more)
-->
● Blog Censorship: The Islamic-Fascists government in Iran is moving to clamp down on blogs that oppose the regime.This comes on the day when the Iranian President started a blog and received free airtime with Mike Wallace. I'm sure Wallace thinks this is journalism. Its...(read more)
-->
● AUDIO :: Natan Sharansky Conference Call: Click here to listen. Yesterday, One Jerusalem hosted another newsmaker blogger conference call with our Chairman Natan sharansky. Throughout the recent war in Lebanon, Mr. Sharansky has been a vocal exponent for Israel’s need to defeat Hezbollah. As Mr. Sharansky puts...(read more)

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVSunday 08/20/2006News Summary:
The latest developments at the UN
Tsahal continues to withdraw from South Lebanon
Commando operation in Ba'albek
Interview with the officer of Yohan Zerbib, killed in Lebanon
Operation Smile continues
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVMonday 08/21/2006News Summary:
Post operation Baalbeck on Saturday. Kofi Annan condemns
Amir Peretz points to a possible resumption of fighting
The UN is having trouble mobilizing an international force
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVTuesday 08/22/2006News Summary:
In Israel criticism of the handling of the war is growing
The idea of relaunching negotiations with Syria is circulating in political circles
Italy is slated to head Unifil
And the weather in Israel is out of control
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE
------------------------------------------------------------
Ceasefire is bad for Israel - Gov´t Must Go!
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=109927
Columnist Caroline Glick & int'l legal scholar Prof. A. Bayefsky analysed the ceasefire resolution, concluding it is an "unmitigated disaster" for Israel.
*Responsibility for determining compliance is in the hands of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has "distinguished himself as a man capable only of condemning Israel…
*The resolution makes no operative call for the release of IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev being held hostage by Hezbollah…
*No arms embargo against Hezbollah...
*No mention of Hezbollah-patrons Syria or Iran, thus ignoring the regional aspect of the war.
*Rewarding Hezbollah's aggression by giving international legitimacy…
*The resolution calls upon Israel to withdraw all of its forces from southern Lebanon even before Lebanese and UNIFIL forces are fully deployed...
*By handing a victory to Hezbollah, the resolution strengthens the belief of millions of supporters of jihad throughout the world that their side is winning and that they should redouble efforts to achieve their objectives of destroying Israel and running the US out of the Middle East.
"There is no mistake Ehud Olmert did not make this past month. He went to war hastily, without properly gauging the outcome."
Lebanese minister Marwan Hamadi, a Druze, accused Hassan Nasrallah Sunday night of reneging on his pledge to abide by the UN ceasefire. – Enemies of Jewish people never keep their word, particularly the Arab ones!
Almost 250 Hezbollah rockets ravaged N. Israel before the useless Cease-Fire. Over 4,000 Hezbollah rockets hit northern Israel since the war began.
Two Grad-Katyusha missiles, fired by Arabs in Gaza , struck the marina in the Israeli city of Ashkelon Monday morning.
What Resolution? What Ceasefire?
Lebanon's Defense Minister Elias Murr told LBC Television, "The army is not going to the south to strip Hezbollah of weapons and do the work Israel did not." Lebanese Government will allow Hezbollah stay armed – provided weapons are hidden.
The French commander of UNIFIL, Maj.-Gen. Alain Pellegrini, said Tuesday that his peacekeeping force will not attempt to disarm Hezbollah. Dealing with Hezbollah was an internal Lebanese matter.
Food for Thought. by Steven Shamrak
It is the willingness of the Jewish people and the determination of our leadership will resolve the conflict once and for all by re-gaining full control over Eretz-Israel, Land of Israel, beginning with clearing Gaza of its hostile Arab population. Everything else is just a 'feel-good' exercise!
Kidnappers Blast Israel for 'Kidnapping'. The OIC, Organization of the Islamic Conference, called the detention of Abdelaziz Dwaik a "kidnapping" and "a flagrant breach of the international law". "The crimes committed by Israel against unarmed innocent civilians in Gaza demonstrates once again the urgent need for a serious and swift action by the international community…" (The Kidnappings and rocket attacks that were initially committed by the Arab terrorists of Hamas and Hesbollah, have never bothered the OIC or the international community.)
Hezbollah Drone over Israel . The Israel Air Force shot down an unmanned Hezbollah drone over Israeli territorial waters weak ago near the Krayot suburbs north of Haifa. On Sunday, Israel shot down another two Iranian-made Hezbollah drones it suspects were laden with explosives heading toward Israel.
Peace Activist Murdered by Arab Palestinian. Angelo Frammartino, a 24 year-old Italian student, planned to set up summer camp for Palestinians. He was stabbed in the back while walking with four friends.
Hezbollah 'Accepts' UN Ceasefire. Hezbollah will abide by the U.N. cease-fire resolution but will continue fighting as long as Israeli troops remain in south Lebanon. Two Hezbollah ministers have indicated that they do not accept the demand that the group disarm in southern Lebanon. (UN resolution demonstrated a lack of interest in the genuine resolution of the conflict, utilizing duplicity, disinformation and behaving with complete stupidity!)
Peretz: It is a War, Not a Military Operation. Defense Minister Amir Peretz stated the current military situation "is a war, not a military operation." The senior minister added that if diplomatic efforts fail, the IDF will be given approval to advance far into Lebanon and take necessary measures to halt rocket attacks. (Amazing, it only took a month for him to realize the obvious! What an intellectual genius!)
Jewish Contribution to Humanity.
Ruth Handler (1916 - 2002) was an American businesswoman, the president of the toy manufacturer Mattel, Inc, and is remembered primarily for her role in marketing the Barbie doll.
US Marines Trained in Israel. This spring unit of 350 to 400 fellow Marines became one of the first to do "conscription service" with the IDF and Israeli naval commandos, studying house-to-house and counterterrorism fighting, and swapping military techniques with units he calls the "elite of the elite in Israel."
Iranians Among the Dead in Lebanon. IDF officials report that the bodies of members of Iran 's Revolutionary Guard were among the dead terrorists in southern Lebanon . Identification was confirmed by papers carried by the dead terrorists.
Forgotten War with Hamas. MK Avigdor Lieberman said the PA is preparing to wage a war on southern Israel modeled on the Hezbollah military strategy. He also expressed criticism of the media for ignoring the ongoing PA Kassam rocket attacks on the cities of the Negev. PA terrorists are "smuggling Katyushas and Grad missiles into the Gaza Strip. The southern Lebanon script must be prevented in southern Israel ." (Still, no one is considering the clearing Gaza from the enemies of Israel !) Two members of FOX's News crew have been kidnapped in Gaza City. (Busyness as usual!)
US and Europe on Terror Alert. US raises terror alert to orange, Belgium and Germany cancel flights to UK , after Britain foils a major terror plot to blow up 10 UK planes bound for the United States . (Welcome to a new ugly reality: Philippines , Thailand , India , Israel , Africa , Europe and Americas have been under Islamic attack for many years, but they still do not know what to do. They are still playing games!)
Hezbollah man in Israeli hospital. A wounded Hezbollah gunman was taken Haifa 's Rambam Hospital under guard on Sunday after Israeli troops discovered him in the aftermath of weekend clashes in south-western Lebanon .
Quote of the Week:
"Small minds discuss people. Average minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas." – Unknown.
Parade of Self-Hate. Police in Jerusalem said they would bar a gay protest at a city park. But organizers of Thursday evening's event near Liberty Bell Park said they would go ahead with the demonstration. (In the time of national danger, Jewish self-haters organized self-promotional demonstration. They never cared about Jewish national unity. The self-hate is and always has been the main motivation!)
Gaza girl 'not killed by strike'. A three-year-old girl who had been reported killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza last week actually died of an accident. (Another Arab PR 'production'!)
Russian Weapons in Lebanon . Hezbollah is using sophisticated Russian-made anti-tank missiles RPG-29, which were sold to Syria by Russia . It was promised that Russian arms would not fall into the hands of Hezbollah. (This is the Russian way of fighting global Islamic terrorism!)
Another Indiscriminate Killing. A 5-year-old toddler and his mother were killed Thursday morning by one of 165 rockets were fired at Israel by Hezbollah in the Israeli Arab village of Dir Al-Assad in the Western Galilee. (Still there is no UN condemnation of Hezbollah for killing innocent civilians, even non-Jewish ones!)
97% of PA Arabs Support Hezbollah. Among Christian Arabs in the PA, 95% said they support Hezbollah. Over 90% said the kidnapped Israeli soldiers should not be freed unconditionally, while 6% said they should never be returned. 55% of those polled said they identify with Hezbollah's goal of destroying Israel. (Christians or Muslims, most Arabs are enemies of the state of Israel . Time has come to realize it and let them join their brothers and sisters in Lebanon , Egypt , Syria , Iraq and Saudi Arabia !)
Tourist Stabbed in Jerusalem. A tourist from Europe was stabbed to death Thursday in Jerusalem 's Old City by a young Arab attacker. Israeli security forces thwarted a planned suicide bombing in the West Bank by two Arab women. (Under the cloud of the war, the 'terror business' in Israel is still business as usual!)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Resolution is a Shambles.
http://www.debka.com/
Le Monde: France may send no more than 200 troops as a "symbolic" contribution to the multinational force. Italian soldiers will not be expected to disarm Hezbollah, said Italy's foreign minister Massimo D'Alema. Lebanese government has made a deal with Hezbollah:
1. The Lebanese army, which hopes to muster 7,500 men, will move into Hezbollah's former positions along the Lebanese border with Israel.
2. Hezbollah's fighting force including its rocket and missile launchers will be concentrated in 50 of the 180 villages and towns of South Lebanon, which will be closed to Lebanese troops.
3. The Lebanese army will help Hezbollah gather all its weapons and rockets scattered across the south and transfer them to these Hezbollah controlled strongholds.
4. Hezbollah fighters will not wear uniform or display their weapons in public.
5. A Hezbollah presence will be permitted in all parts of South Lebanon not occupied by Lebanese troops. This includes its reoccupation of the small towns just behind the border like Maroun a Ras and Ayt a-Chaab, the sites of fierce Israeli-Hezbollah battles.
6. Lebanese units will deploy at all the official border crossings into Syria, but not at the dozens of unauthorized crossing points, which will remain under Hezbollah control.
Violation of the resolution. Many countries which volunteered to contribute their troops to Lebanon do not recognize Israel's existence. They include Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh. Most of the participants refuse to take part in disarming Hezbollah. France is sending only 400 solders. (By refusing to disarm Hesbollah, UN participants are being in violation of the resolution. UN resolution 1701 and its implementation is another worthless product of the 'Useless Nothing'!)
Food for Thought. by Steven Shamrak
Politically Correct Warfare: USA - Al Qaida is still active, Osama bin Laden is still alive, coalition is stuck in Iraq; Israel - The Hesbollah is still active, sheikh Nasrallah is still alive, the ceasefire is not effective and our kidnapped solders are not freed. What a shameful performance!
Syrian has an Option. Syrian president Bashar Assad: "They said peace was the only way but now, after seeing how Hizballah fought, I see an option. Syrian hands will liberate Golan." The Syrian ruler threatened not only Israel but also the government in Beirut. (When gutless and indecisive politicians are in charge, new wars are planned by encouraged, opportunistic rulers!)
Time for Accountability. Demonstrators protested "the defeat in the war in Lebanon" on Thursday evening and called for political leaders responsible for the management of the operations to step down. The demonstrators who crowded Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, held up signs that read, "Defeatists Go Home", "Olmert is a National Disaster".
Our Enemy Jubilant. Arabs and Muslims from Iran, Hizbullah and the PA are celebrating Israel's acceptance of the UN ceasefire, dubbing Israel's "surrender" and calling on Arab states to attack the new "weak" Israel.
Is it all for Nothing Again? Israeli forces swept up to Lebanon's Litani River , losing at least 24 soldiers in fierce battles at Hezbollah strongholds. Massive reinforcements of tanks and troops were sent into southern Lebanon over the weekend in an 11th-hour push before a U.N.-brokered cease-fire came into effect. (Will Israel repeat mistakes of the last Lebanese war? We stayed there for too long, lost too many of our soldiers and did not obtain an international guaranty for the security of the Northern border!)
Another Intifada on Horizon. A Hamas newspaper columnist declared that the Palestinian Authority must leverage what he considers a Hezbollah victory for a renewed terrorist campaign against Israel, a "third intifada."
Useless Nothing at it best again. The United Nations´ new Human Rights Council voted by a large majority to reproach Israel for its actions in Lebanon. The resolution Friday, which condemned Israel for "massive violations of human rights," passed 27 to 11, while eight abstained. (New Council - Old style of anti-Israel bias!)
Jewish Contribution to Humanity.
Charles Ginsburg (1920 - 1992) lead a research team at Ampex Corporation which developed one of the first practical videotape recorders. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990.
Sylvan Nathan Goldman (1898 - 1984) was a businessman and inventor of the first shopping cart. He introduced the device on June 4, 1937, in the Piggly-Wiggly supermarket chain in Oklahoma City.
Record Immigration to Israel. Over 4,000 new immigrants from all over the world will have arrived in Israel from the beginning of July until the end of August in spite of crisis. (It would be good news if not for the uncontrollable global rise of anti-Semitism.)
Deflecting the Public Anger. Lieutenant General Halutz has been under attack from politicians across the political spectrum for ordering his financial adviser to sell all his stocks, worth about $US27000, three hours after the first Hezbollah cross-border raid. (Israeli political mafia is trying to deflect the attention for a failed war, which is, in fact, due to political interference and a lack of vision. The general exercised common sense - politicians have found the scapegoat!)
Yesha Withdrawal - Not for Now. PM Olmert told Kadima party colleagues this week he realizes that his unilateral withdrawal plan from the West Bank is irrelevant for now. Several Kadima members have been opposing Olmert's plan. (Just for Now! Olmert and Jewish leadership are unable to recognise that enemies of the Jewish people have only one plan - Destruction of Israel!)
Arab Debating Style. In Jenin, the West Bank, two Arab Palestinian families went after each other with knives and clubs at a wedding after one guest cursed the leader of Hezbollah. Seven people were seriously wounded.
Quote of the Week:
"I believe that forgiving Hezbollah is God's function. The Israelis job is to arrange the meeting." - General Norman Schwartzkopf.
Hollywood Against Hezbollah and Hamas . 85 high-profile Hollywood stars, directors, studio bosses and media moguls have taken out a powerfully-worded full page advertisement in Los Angeles Times newspaper. "We the undersigned are pained and devastated by the civilian casualties in Israel and Lebanon caused by terrorist actions initiated by terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas," the ad reads. "If we do not succeed in stopping terrorism around the world, chaos will rule and innocent people will continue to die." "We need to support democratic societies and stop terrorism at all costs." (Wow! Even they start to differentiate between the ugliness of reality and fake political correctness.)
Dog bomb. Iraq's Jihadi Factions said it attacked U.S. forces near Baghdad by setting off explosives attached to a dog. Dead dogs stuffed with explosives have been used against U.S. troops in Iraq before. (Why are the animal lovers silent?)
Lebanese general arrested for drinking tea with IDF. A Lebanese general, Adnan Daoud, was arrested last Wednesday for drinking tea with IDF soldiers in south Lebanon barracks. Daoud is commanding officer of the 1,000-strong joint police-army force that had positions in southern Lebanon.
Israeli civilians Snubbed by Media. CNN and many other International media outlets, including SBS in Australia, when reporting on Israel and Lebanon have unveiled the full extent of bias at work behind the global news coverage of the last war in Lebanon. Negligible attention is paid to Israeli civilians, while long, rhetorical and highly inflated reports featuring images and interviews of Lebanese civilians followed. The large number of Israelis who have become displaced from their homes in the north was hardly mentioned.
Anti-Zionist Rabbi.
by Dudi Coen.
In an interview with official Iranian news agency IRNA, Rabbi David Weiss, of the Neturei Karta movement, said "Israel was established in the name of Judaism but is impure and Godless. We are sure that it will cease to exist." Neturei Karta is a small group of Ultra-Orthodox Jews who reject all forms of Zionism and oppose the existence of that state of Israel. This stems from their belief that Israel can only truly be re-established with the coming of the Messiah and, subsequently, that any state of Israel prior to this exists in violation of divine will. (This is another side of Jewish self-hate, Gullut mentality or just simple craziness!)
NOTE: Please, let me know at mailto:StevenShamrak@gmail.comif you would like to:
- Change your mail address,
- Obtain my introduction letters or Introduce new people,
- Unsubscribe, type "unsubscribe" and your email address on Subject line.
----------------------------------------------------------------
A kiss before dying
Saddam Hussein's lawyer's last minutes captured on a mobile. more
- Confusion surrounds air crash tragedy- UK terror plot suspects revealed
Plot prompts terror review
TERROR suspects could be held for longer periods without charge in the wake of a governmental review of Australia's latest counter-terrorism measures.
Marjayun: Israel pulls back in Lebanon
Anguish at voices from past
9/11 families listen to heartrending calls and demand action. more
- Lebanese army takes control of south- US rushes aid plan to counter Hezbollah support
Our troops too busy for Lebanon
Australia has told the UN it is unlikely to send troops to help monitor the Lebanon ceasefire. more

Raid shatters Lebanon truce
05:50am: THE Lebanese government has called an Israeli commando raid deep inside Southern Lebanon a "naked violation" of the terms of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the UN.

Hamburg: Train station reopens after threat
Khartoum: Soldiers killed in Darfur ambush
Drama: Plane forced back, 12 arrested
Video shows kidnapped journos
TWO journalists kidnapped in the Gaza Strip said they were in "fairly good health" and appealed for help to secure their freedom, a videotape released showed.
London: Child dumped in airport bin died of natural causes
Investigation: Israeli President quizzed on sex allegations
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Iran's Grand Plan
As Israeli troops moved into southern Lebanon, they began coming to the realization that the infrastructure of bunkers, launching sites, and missiles that Hezbollah built up is even more elaborate and sophisticated than Israel had expected. All of it was done through the financial support, bidding and training from Iran. Israel is now estimating that Iran has spent billions of dollars to create this network.
Why? The answer is clear and speaks to why Israel's chief of staff Dan Halutz has described this battle as possibly Israel's most crucial since the War of Independence. Iran is generating a three-pronged threat to Israel's very existence. By developing a nuclear weapon, by arming Hezbollah to the teeth, and by public statements of its president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran is trying to recreate the idea that Israel's existence as a Jewish state is not a sure thing, that the notion that Israel is now a permanent entity, if not a beloved one, which had taken hold in the Middle East in recent years, is not true.
Israel, the United States, and indeed the entire civilized world must understand the nature of this threat now and must not equivocate in combating all three dimensions of this sinister Iranian strategy.
Undoubtedly, the huge infrastructure that Iran has built up with Hezbollah in south Lebanon would have been expanded in the coming years in parallel with Iran's nuclear development so that the time would arrive when Iran could threaten Israel from Teheran with a nuclear bomb and from Lebanon with chemically-tipped missiles.
Indeed, it wasn't the extremist Ahmadinejad who expressed Iranian intentions most clearly but the more "moderate" Iranian leader Rafsanjani who several years ago chillingly said with regard to the nuclear issue that Israel is a tiny country and one nuclear bomb would devastate the country while Iran was a large country that could sustain ten such bombs.
This is what Israel's war against Hezbollah is about. It is to begin to reverse Iran's implementation of its plan for Israel's destruction. Of course, it is not Israel's problem alone because Iran's aspirations threaten the Gulf states, ensure nuclear proliferation throughout the region, and menace the west through terrorism and the spread of Islamic extremism.
The west should be fully supporting Israel, as has the United States, in this struggle for its own interests. At the very least, the world must understand that Israel will defend itself and do everything in its power to destroy Hezbollah and combat the Iranian threat. It has no choice.
Help ADL Continue to Rally Support for Israel
Share this withYour Friends
See ADL's TV and Print Ads Supporting Israel
----------------------------------------------------------------
Reading Between the Lines of the Cease Fire
Implementation! Implementation! Implementation! That's the name of the game regarding UN Resolution 1701, passed by the Security Council on Friday and approved near-unanimously by Israel's cabinet.
While Israel did not achieve the kind of dramatic victory of the Six Day War, the crossing of the Suez Canal in 1973 or the ousting of Arafat from Lebanon in 1982, the potentially changed dynamic in south Lebanon is a substantial achievement, if implemented.
There's room for criticism of the resolution and of the outcome of the conflict to this point:
It doesn't provide an explicit mechanism for the return of Israel's kidnapped soldiers
No mechanism for the dismantling of Hezbollah.
Nasrallah is standing
Rockets were still hitting Israeli cities
Still, Israel got a lot of what it was seeking in the UN resolution.
It blames the conflict on Hezbollah
It provides for a beefed up international force with authority to prevent the introduction of hostile forces into the area the force will control between Israel's Northern border and the Litani river
Hezbollah, unlike before July 12, will not be in control in southern Lebanon where it had a state within a state The international force and the Lebanese army will be authorized to prevent Hezbollah's reentry with arms into the south
Israel doesn't have to redeploy until the international force and the Lebanese army begin the process of taking over Southern Lebanon
The force will be authorized to prevent the reintroduction of arms to Hezbolah (from Iran and Syria)
Israel has a right to defend itself if Hezbollah breaks the cease-fire
The resolution happened because Israel caused significant damage to Hezbollah, because the US supported Israel despite some bumps along the way, because the Lebanese government, irrespective of its strong condemnation of Israel, recognized the damage to the country caused by Hezbollah's aggression, and because the international community was forced to act out of fear of what Israel would do in order to defend itself and its citizens. Indeed, the very complaints about what Israel was doing to Lebanon's infrastructure, though exaggerated, serve Israel's deterrence capacity by convincing both Israel's enemies such as Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, as well as the international community such as the EU, that Israel will do whatever it takes to ensure its security.
The key now is whether Israel's significant gains on paper will be translated into facts on the ground. While there is justified historic suspicion about the role of UNIFIL and the Lebanese army, their fear of even greater destruction may concentrate their minds. If so, then the balance in the region will have shifted in the favor of Israel, the moderate Arab states, and the US against Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. This despite the rhetoric being bandied about of a Hezbollah victory and a gain for the radicals. If it is not seriously implemented, the extremists will be emboldened and more war, more serious war will undoubtedly loom in the future.
Our task is not to badmouth the resolution nor to join in the counterproductive and misguided criticism of Israel that is coming from some quarters of the Jewish community. Our focus must be on Israel's very real gains, the need for responsible implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and for the right of Israel to defend itself in the strongest way should Hezbollah, Syria and Iran violate the terms of the resolution.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The abdication of Lebanese leaders.
The politicians, journalists and intellectuals of Lebanon have, of late, been experiencing the shock of their lives. They knew full well that Hezbollah had created an independent state in our country, a state including all the ministers and parallel institutions, duplicating those of Lebanon. What they did not know - and are discovering with this war, and what has petrified them with surprise and terror -- is the extent of this phagocytosis.
In fact, our country had become an extension of Iran, and our so-called political power also served as a political and military cover for the Islamists of Teheran. We suddenly discovered that Teheran had stocked more than 12,000 missiles, of all types and calibers, on our territory and that they had patiently, systematically, organized a suppletive force, with the help of the Syrians, that took over, day after day, all the rooms in the House of Lebanon. Just imagine it: we stock ground-to-ground missiles, Zilzals, on our territory and that the firing of such devices without our knowledge, has the power to spark a regional strategic conflict and, potentially, bring about the annihilation of Lebanon.
We knew that Iran, by means of Hezbollah, was building a veritable Maginot line in the south but it was the pictures of Maroun el-Ras and Bint J'bail that revealed to us the magnitude of these constructions. This amplitude made us understand several things at once: that we were no longer masters of our destiny. That we do not possess the most basic means necessary to reverse the course of this state of things and that those who turned our country into an outpost of their islamic doctrine's combat against Israel did not have the slightest intention of willingly giving up their hold over us.
The national salvation discussions that concerned the application of Resolution 1559 and which included most of the Lebanese political movements were simply for show. Iran and Syria had not invested billions of dollars on militarizing Lebanon in order to wage their war, simply to give in to the desire of the Lebanese and the international community for them to pack up their hardware and set it up back home.
And then, the indecision, the cowardice, the division and the irresponsible behavior of our leaders are such that they had no effort to make to show their talent. No need to engage a wrestling match with the other political components of the Land of Cedars. The latter showed themselves - and continue to show themselves - to be inconsistent.
Of course, our army, reshaped over the years by the Syrian occupier so it could no longer fulfill its role as protector of the nation, did not have the capacity to tackle the militamen of the Hezb [hezb-Allah : the party of Allah. Translator's note]. Our army whom it is more dangerous to call upon -- because of the explosive equilibrium that constitutes each of its brigades -- than to shut up behind locked doors in its barracks. A force that is still largely loyal to its former foreign masters, to the point of being uncontrollable; to the point of having collaborated with the Iranians to put OUR coastal radar stations at the disposal of their missiles, that almost sunk an Israeli boat off the shores of Beirut. As for the non-Hezbollah elements in the government, they knew nothing of the existence of land-to-sea missiles on our territory that caused the totally justified destruction of all OUR radar stations by the Hebrews' army. And even then we are getting off lightly in these goings-on.
It is easy now to whine and gripe, and to play the hypocritical role of victims. We know full well how to get others to pity us and to claim that we are never responsible for the horrors that regularly occur on our soil. Of course, that is nothing but rubbish! The Security Council's Resolution 1559 -- that demanded that OUR government deploy OUR army on OUR sovereign territory, along OUR international border with Israel and that it disarm all the militia on OUR land -- was voted on 2 September 2004.
We had two years to put implement this resolution and thus guarantee a peaceful future to our children but we did strictly nothing. Our greatest crime -- which was not the only one! -- was not that we did not succeed but that we did not attempt or undertake anything. And that was the fault of none else than the pathetic Lebanese politicians.
Our government, from the very moment the Syrian occupier left, let ships and truckloads of arms pour into our country. Without even bothering to look at their cargo. They jeopardized all chances for the rebirth of our country by confusing the Cedar Revolution with the liberation of Beirut. In reality, we had just received the chance - a sort of unhoped-for moratorium - that allowed us to take the future into our own hands, nothing more.
To think that we were not even capable of agreeing to "hang" Amile Lahoud -- Al-Assad's puppet -- on Martyrs' Square and that he is still president of what some insist on calling our republic. There is no need to look any further: we are what we are, that is to say, not much.
All those who assume public and communicational responsibilities in this country are responsible for this catastrophe. Except those of my colleagues, journalists and editors, who are dead, assassinated by the Syrian thugs, because they were clearly less cowardly than those who survived. And Lahoud remained at Baadba [the president of the Lebanese Republic's palace. Editor's note]!
And when I speak of a catastrophe, I do not mean the action accomplished by Israel in response to the aggression against its civilians and its army, which was produced from our soil and that we did strictly nothing to avoid, and for which we are consequently responsible. Any avoiding of this responsibility -- some people here do not have the minimal notions of international law necessary to understand! -- means that Lebanon, as a state, does not exist.
The hypocrisy goes on: even some editorialists of the respectable L'Orient-le-Jour put Hezbollah's savagery and that of the Israelis on a par! Shame! Spinelessness! And who are we in this fable? Poor victims of the ambitions of others?
Politicians either support this insane idea or keep silent. Those we would expect to speak, to save our image, remain silent like the others. And I am precisely alluding to general Aoun, who could have made a move by proclaiming the truth. Even his enemy, Walid Jumblatt, the Druse leader, has proved to be less vague.
Lebanon a victim? What a joke!
Before the Israeli attack, Lebanon no longer existed, it was no more than a hologram. At Beirut innocent citizens like myself were forbidden access to certain areas of their own capital. But our police, our army and our judges were also excluded. That was the case, for example, of Hezbollah's and the Syrians' command zone in the Haret Hreik quarter. A square measuring a kilometer wide, a capital within the capital, permanently guarded by a Horla army, possessing its own institutions, its schools, its tribunals, its radio, its television and, above all its government. A "government" that, alone decided, in the place of the figureheads of the Lebanese government - in which Hezbollah also had its ministers! - to attack a neighboring state, with which we had no substantial or grounded quarrel, and to plunge US into a bloody conflict. And if attacking a sovereign nation on its territory, assassinating eight of its soldiers, kidnapping two others and, simultaneously, launching missiles on nine of its towns does not constitute a casus belli, the latter juridical principle will seriously need revising.
Thus almost all of these cowardly politicians, including numerous shiah leaders and religious personalities themselves, are blessing each bomb that falls from a Jewish F-16 turning the insult to our sovereignty that was Haret Hreik, right in the heart of Beirut, into a lunar landscape. Without the Israelis, how could we have received another chance -- that we in no way deserve! -- to rebuild our country?
Each Irano-Syrian fort that Jerusalem destroys, each Islamic fighter they eliminate, and Lebanon proportionally starts to live again! Once again, the soldiers of Israel are doing our work. Once again, like in 1982, we are watching -- cowardly, lying low, despicable, and insulting them to boot -- their heroic sacrifice that allows us to keep hoping. To not be swallowed up in the bowels of the earth. Because, of course, by dint of not giving a damn for southern Lebanon, of letting foreigners take hold of the privileges that belong to us, we no longer had the ability to recover our independence and sovereignty. If, at the end of this war, the Lebanese army retakes control over its territory and gets rid of the state within a state - that tried to suffocate the latter -, it will only be thanks to Tsahal [the Israeli Defense Forces. Translator's note], and that, all these faint-hearted politicians, from the crook Fouad Siniora, to Saad Hariri, the son of Lebanon's plunderer, and general Aoun all know perfectly well.
As for the destruction caused by the Israelis -- that is another imposture... the parts of my capital that have been destroyed by Israel. They are Haret Hreik - in its totality - and the dwellings of Hezbollah's leaders, situated in the large Shi'a suburb of Dayaa (as they spell it).
In addition to these two zones, Tsahal has exploded a nine-storied building that housed Hezbollah's command, in Beirut's city center. It was Nasrallah's "perch" inside the city, whereby he asserted his presence and domination over us. A depot of Syrian arms in the port, two army radars that the Shiite officers had put at the Hezb's disposal, and a truck suspected of transporting arms, in the Christian quarter of Ashrafieh.
Moreover the road and airport infrastructures were put out of working order: they served to provide Hezbollah with arms and munitions. Apart from that, Tsahal has neither hit nor deteriorated anything, and all those who speak of the "destruction of Beirut" are either liars, Iranians, anti-Semites or absent. Even the houses situated one alley's distance from the targets I mentioned have not been hit, they have not even suffered a scratch; on contemplating these results of this work you understand the meaning of the concept "surgical strikes" and you can admire the dexterity of the Jewish pilots.
Beirut, all the rest of Beirut, 95% of Beirut, lives and breathes better than a fortnight ago. All those who have not sided with terrorism know they have strictly nothing to fear from the Israeli planes, on the contrary! One example: last night the restaurant where I went to eat was jammed full and I had to wait until 9:30 pm to get a table. Everyone was smiling, relaxed, but no one filmed them: a strange destruction of Beirut, is it not?
Of course, there are some 500,000 refugees from the south who are experiencing a veritable tragedy and who are not smiling. But Jean [Tsadik. Editor's note], who has his eyes fixed on Kfar Kileh, and from whom I have learned to believe each word he says, assures me that practically all the houses of the aforesaid refugees are intact. So they will be able to come back as soon as Hezbollah is vanquished.
The defeat of the Shi'a fundamentalists of Iranian allegiance is imminent. The figures communicated by Nasrallah's minions and by the Lebanese Red-Cross are deceiving: firstly, of the 400 dead declared by Lebanon, only 150 are real collateral civilian victims of the war, the others were militiamen without uniform serving Iran. The photographic report "Les Civils des bilans libanais" made by Stéphane Juffa for our agency constitutes, to this day, the unique tangible evidence of this gigantic morbid manipulation. Which makes this document eminently important.
Moreover, Hassan Nasrallah's organization has not lost 200 combatants, as Tsahal claims. This figure only concerns the combats taking place on the border and even then the Israelis underestimate it, for a reason that escapes me, by about a hundred militiamen eliminated. The real count of Hezbollah's casualties, that includes those dead in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, Baalbek and their other camps, rocket and missile launchers and arms and munition depots amounts to 1,100 supplementary Hezbollah militiamen who have definitively ceased to terrorize and humiliate my country.
Like the overwhelming majority of Lebanese, I pray that no one puts an end to the Israeli attack before it finishes shattering the terrorists. I pray that the Hebrew soldiers will penetrate all the hidden recesses of southern Lebanon and will hunt out, in our stead, the vermin that has taken root there. Like the overwhelming majority of Lebanese, I have put the champagne ready in the refrigerator to celebrate the Israeli victory.
But contrary to them - and to paraphrase Michel Sardou [a French singer. Translator's note] -, I recognize that they are also fighting for our liberty, another battle "where you were not present"! And in the name of my people, I wish to express my infinite gratitude to the relatives of the Israeli victims - civilian and military - whose loved ones have fallen so that I can live standing upright in my identity. They should know that I weep with them.
As for the pathetic clique that thrives at the head of my country, it is time for them to understand that after this war, after our natural allies have rid us of those who are hindering us from rebuilding a nation, a cease-fire or an armistice will not suffice. To ensure the future of Lebanon, it is time to make peace with those we have no reason to go to war against. In fact, only peace will ensure peace. Someone must tell them because in this country we have not learnt what a truism is.
This article is from the New Republic, and is translated from the French.
This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/middleeast/State_of_Denial.asp

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

The Chosen Pariah: Anti-Semitism In The 21st Century

Israel Under Attack

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVMonday 08/14/2006News Summary:
The Israeli government has approved the UN resolution on a cease-fire that must be applied from this morning
Tsahal is nevertheless carrying out its deepest push into South Lebanon
9 dead from Israeli forces
250 katyushas fell on the north of Israel Sunday; a new record, causing one dead
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVWednesday 08/09/2006News Summary:
It is exactly one month since the war broke out.The toll: 64 soldiers and 36 civilians killed
3 soldiers killed in heavy fighting with Hezbollah
Life in the shelters continues throughout the north
Diplomatic front: the Lebanese government has said that it is ready to deploy its army on the border as soon as Israel withdraws its troops from Lebanese territories
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVThursday 08/10/2006News Summary:
The Cabinet has decided to intensify military actions in Lebanon and to increase ground operations up to the Litani River
11 soldiers killed in fighting between Tsahal and Hezbollah
Tsahal has strengthened its ground actions and weakened the Shiite organization
Rockets continue to rain down on the north of the country; long range missiles fired on Haifa
France accused the United States of slowing down the preparation of the resolution aiming to establish a cease-fire
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TVFriday 08/11/2006News Summary:
Tsahal continues its military operations: 2 soldiers killed
A cease-fire agreement is on the point of being approved at the UN
An attack aimed at American airline planes was foiled in London
YOUR VIDEO NEWS ON GUYSEN TV HERE

Dear Friend of Jerusalem,Thanks to your encouragement, One Jerusalem is actively combating the mainstream media’s anti-Israel coverage of world events.Yesterday, One Jerusalem hosted another news-making blogger conference call – this time with our own chairman, Natan Sharansky.Throughout the recent war in Lebanon, Mr. Sharansky has been a vocal exponent for Israel’s need to defeat Hezbollah. As Mr. Sharansky puts it, there is no substitute for victory.Click here to replay the call, as Natan talks about Israel, Iran, Syria and the role of the U.N.With your support, we continue to stand up for Israel, by making the news and giving you the inside scoop.Sincerely,
Allen RothPresident, One JerusalemP.S. Please pass this important message along to friends and family. Refer a friend.

AUDIO :: Natan Sharansky Conference Call: Click here to listen. Yesterday, One Jerusalem hosted another newsmaker blogger conference call with our Chairman Natan sharansky. Throughout the recent war in Lebanon, Mr. Sharansky has been a vocal exponent for Israel’s need to defeat Hezbollah. As Mr. Sharansky puts...(read more)
-->
● One Jerusalem Hosts Blogger Conference Call With Natan Sharansky: Stay tuned for a complete audio file and more detailed report but in the meantime be sure to look at these reviews of the call: Pamela at Atlas Shrugs, Jim at Gateway Pundit, and Rick at Jewish Current Issues. Others on...(read more)
-->
● VIDEO:: Hezollah Launches Missiles from Behind Lebanese Homes: Watch this exclusive video from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Click here to watch....(read more)
-->
● President Bush: Islamo-fascism is the enemy: Toward the end of his press conference today, President Bush was asked if people have a right to be frustrated by talk about another UN resolution that is almost identical to an old UN resolution - 1559 - that was...(read more)
-->
● Exclusive:: Ambassador Gold on UN Lebanon Resolution: Read this analysis of the UN Draft Resolution on Lebanon by Dore Gold.Ambassador Gold points out that the Resolution calls for the establishment of a multinational force under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. Chapter 7 is the Chapter that deals...(read more)
-->
● American People Overwhelmingly Support Israel's Cause: While the mainstream media continues to downplay Israeli casualties in the war with Hezbollah and the culpability of the United Nations and the Lebanese Army in supporting Hezbollah a recent poll of the American people by Democratic pollsters shows clear support for...(read more)
-->
● Hezbollah Will Survive To Terrorize Again: All reports are signaling that the United States and France have reached an agreement to stop the fighting in Lebanon.Israel's demand that an international force other than the United Nations be put in place before the fighting stops has been rejected.That...(read more)

Memorializing Terror
By Michael D. Evans
Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the United Nations Security Council is currently meeting and is working intensely to push for a resolution concerning the situation in Israel and Lebanon.
Read More
Outliving the Terrorists
By Michael D. Evans
There was a moment of clarity just a few years ago, in the aftermath of 9/11, when Americans reacted as one in the baptism of fire rained down by Bin Laden and company.
Read More
A plan 'to commit unimaginable mass murder'
ALARMING intelligence that an attack was imminent was the trigger for police raids which captured 24 terrorist suspects, including two white converts to Islam.
Read More
A test for the US, too
In this region, Hizbullah's survival in the face of the best Israel can throw at it is the equivalent of throwing blood in a tank full of sharks.
Read More
Hot Rockets
Ball bearings normally help motors and other machines run more smoothly. But among Islamofascists, they do exactly what Islamofascists do best: Destroy!
Read More
A Price of Fighting Terrorism
Wars, as we all know, are now fought on TV and are subject to far greater -- and quicker -- scrutiny than ever.
Read More
After Lebanon, there's Iran
When the war in Lebanon ends, the US will have to piece together a whole new strategy for dealing with Iran - especially its nuclear program.
Read More
Thank President Bush for His Support of Israel
Israel faces deadly danger on all sides. Please ask President Bush today NOT to succumb to pressure from the Arab League, the UN, the EU, and Iran to turn his back on Israel.
Sign the petition now!
Please make a donation to the Haifa Emergency Fund
The city of Haifa has been devastated by Iranian-supplied Hezbullah rockets. Please send your emergency gift today and show Mayor Yahav and the people in Haifa that we care, and that we are standing with them.
Make a secure online donation today

- Israel suspends ground offensive- France, US split over Lebanon

Fear in the skies
6:38am British police arrest 24 over plot to cause "untold death and destruction" by blowing up US-bound aircraft. more
At Tulla, business not quite as usual Rebel falls on sword over asylum Tuckey takes offence at barb in great mouth-off
OTHER TOP STORIES
- Fair call? No way, say club executives- Victoria is worst for sex crimes
WORLD
Special reports
9/11 film opens
Manhattan residents flock to see film about their own experiences. more
- Israel defers widening its offensive- Temple survived quakes, but can it survive war?

PM dumps asylum laws
12:55pm John Howard admits defeat on controversial immigration laws ahead of a planned vote in the Senate. more
Better frustrated than humiliated Ceasefire takes effect in Lebanon Israeli activist David Grossman's son killed

- Terror case judge allows AK-47 photos

Mid-East crisis: 29 die in hours before ceasefire
Workplace Agreements: Jetstar to break union hold
Terror in the skies: Six-month-old part of suicide bomb plan

Baghdad blasts claim 57 lives
INSURGENTS killed at least 57 and injured 150 in a series of blasts today that demolished two buildings in a commercial district of Baghdad, officials said.
Cuba: Chavez welcomed to Castro 80th birthday celebrations
Berlin: Nobel laureate Grass admits to Nazi SS past

- Top cop blames UK Muslims - Israel in thrust on eve of truce- Olmert faces rebellion over Lebanon
British Muslims targeted by ex-police chief
Castro's successor may not be a Cuban
Israel in final thrust on eve of truce

Major air security flaws revealed
An investigation has revealed major flaws in our aviation security system, including one allowing passengers to travel around the country using fake identities.
Lebanon: Israel confirms chopper down

Sex assault crisis in schools
SEXUAL assaults have emerged as a major problem on school grounds, with figures showing an attack occurs almost daily.
Resignation: Ailing MP in poll trigger
Osama31: Bomb-making teen walks free

Bank freeze on terror accounts
2:55pm Britain's central bank says it has frozen the accounts of 19 of the 24 men arrested in alleged terror plot. more
Security under review Taxis causes traffic chaos Victims slam pedophile sentence

- Israel defers widening its offensive- Temple survived quakes, but can it survive war?

'Unimaginable murder' prevented
BRITISH police have arrested 24 people over a plot to commit "mass murder" by blowing up aircraft flying over the Atlantic to the US, but there are unconfirmed reports five suspects are still on the loose.
Injured: 11-year-old boy mauled after dogs get loose
Mundine: 'The Mouth' to enter politics
Arrest: Teenager on theft charge over gang rape

Suicide bomber kills at least 35
A SUICIDE bomber killed 35 people near one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines in Iraq an attempt to 'sow sectarian hatred and destroy a fragile peace process'.
Rashaya: Israel thrusts into Lebanon, meets Hezbollah fire

Terror alert fuels share sell-off
AIRLINE share prices took a hammering overnight after European investors shed travel and tourism stocks on news of a plot to bomb passenger planes.

Lebanon: An International Wake-up Call
While the naysayers are out in force, it is important to recognize that Israel has accomplished a lot toward restoring its deterrence in this conflict against Hezbollah.
Menachem Begin used to say that it's not so terrible if the world thinks Israel is a little crazy. While Israel has actually taken great care in this struggle to limit civilian casualties in Lebanon, the world chooses to see Israel's actions as out of control and disproportionate. This has a major down side in terms of Israel's image in the world, which we combat. On the other hand, it reinforces the message to Israel's enemies than when the country's basic security is at stake, Israel will do what it has to do to protect itself. Or as Golda Meir once said, "better a critical editorial than a praiseworthy obituary."
Furthermore, it woke up the international community which two years ago passed UN Security Council Resolution 1559, demanding the dismantlement of Hezbollah. The world, however, did absolutely nothing to implement it while Hezbollah was accumulating a huge arsenal of rockets now raining down on Israel's cities. Now, however, to a large extent because they see that Israel is indeed serious about defending itself, the security council has drafted a new resolution , which while having some weak spots, does provide a mechanism to implement 1559. By providing for a multi-national force with authority, together with the prevention of the redeployment and rearming of Hezbollah, the resolution creates the framework for a different dynamic in southern Lebanon.
The challenge for the US and others who understand what this conflict is about is to make sure that the goals of the resolution are lived up to. If they are, then southern Lebanon will no longer be a terrorist state within a state, Israel's cities will be secure and Iran will know that its efforts to threaten Israel with Hezbollah did not succeed, nor will their nuclear ambitions.
It is therefore important, while not ignoring the problems and sadness of this conflict, to recognize and commend the strides, at great cost, that Israel has made. That recognition itself is part and parcel of the deterrence that makes Israel a safe place in a dangerous neighborhood.

Israel Under Attack: Frequently Asked Questions

AWAITING THE 12TH IMAM - (Print)
"Is there art that is more beautiful, more divine, and more eternal than the art of martyrdom? A nation with martyrdom knows no captivity." - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, Speaking on the virtues of suicide bombingIran's nuclear program has long been the subject of debate. It is viewed by most as one of the greatest threats to international security. Yet some have condemned efforts to stem Iran's nuclear ambitions as hypocritical. One such commentator wrote, "The US government cannot make a reasonable case as to why it's OK for Israel to have a stockpile of nuclear warheads but it's not OK for any other nation in the Middle East to pursue nuclear weapons technology." Such sentiments may seem reasonable to some. However they do not take into account some of the key dynamics behind the Middle East conflict.Unlike Iran, Israel is not a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and, as such, technically does not have to abide by nuclear anti-proliferation conventions. Over the past five decades Israel has developed a nuclear-weapons program but has neither denied nor admitted the existence of its nuclear arsenal. Israelis call this policy "strategic ambiguity." Israel is surrounded on all sides by enemies bent on bringing about its destruction. Israel, therefore, developed its nuclear program to serve as a deterrent. Israel's nuclear arsenal is one of the primary reason nations like Iran have not yet succeeded in their plans to wipe Israel "off the map." Iran is governed by Shiite Muslim clerics committed to a stern interpretation of Islamic law. Hatred of the United States has been a key component of Iranian foreign policy since the 1978 Islamic revolution, and Iran's leaders often refer to the United States as the "Great Satan." Iran's distaste for the United States is surpassed only by their utter loathing of Israel. Iran's political and religious leaders have repeatedly called for Israel's complete destruction.The State Department calls the Islamic Republic of Iran the world's "most active state sponsor of terrorism." Iran continues to provide funding, weapons, training, and sanctuary to numerous terrorist groups based in the Middle East and elsewhere. Iran mostly backs Islamist groups, including the Lebanese Shiite militants of Hezbollah (which Iran helped found in the 1980s) and such Palestinian terrorist groups as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Iran uses such groups to carry out a proxy war on Israel and the West. It is therefore folly to allow Iran, and consequently its terrorist allies, to obtain nuclear technology.The Dark HorsePresident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected in June of 2005 with more than 60 percent of the vote. He is Iran's sixth president since the 1979 revolution. He ran on a populist economic platform and beat former president Hashemi Rafsanjani - who was hugely wealthy and purportedly very corrupt. Unlike Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad appealed to the people. He is seen as an honest and simple man. According to reports, he lives so modestly that his personal assets include only a 30-year-old car, an even older house, and an empty bank account. Ahmadinejad projects the image of a humble and devout man. He is motivated, not by wealth or power, but by his conservative Islamic ideals.Ahmadinejad is a controversial figure in the international community, but he has the support of the Iranian people and the backing of Supreme Leader Ali Ayatollah Khamenei. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad graduated from college with a degree in civil engineering and joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps during the Iran-Iraq war. During the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ahmadinejad was a member of the radical student group that took control of the US embassy. Ahmadinejad reportedly played a central role in the hostage crisis, which included interrogating captives.Prior to running for president, Ahmadinejad was the mayor of Tehran, Iran's capitol city. He was appointed mayor in the spring of 2003 by the city council. Before becoming mayor, Ahmadinejad was a relatively unknown figure in Iranian politics. In fact, the city council members that appointed him came to power in an election that could only boast of a 12 percent voter turnout.The Return of the 12th ImamWhen Ahmadinejad addressed the United Nations General Assembly in October of 2005, he ended his speech with a prayer imploring God to hasten the return of the 12th Imam. Ahmadinejad refers to the return of the 12th Imam, also known as the Mahdi, in almost all his major speeches. In the Islamic faith, the Mahdi is the ultimate savior of mankind. His appearance will usher in an era of Islamic justice and bring about the conversion of the heathen amidst flame and fire. The Mahdi will establish Islam as the global religion and will reign for seven years before bringing about the end of the world.In a speech last November, Ahmadinejad is quoted as saying: "Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the 12th Imam, the Mahdi. Therefore, Iran should become a powerful, developed and model Islamic society. Today, we should define our economic, cultural and political policies based on the policy of Imam Mahdi's return. We should avoid copying the West's policies and systems."The beliefs of Sunni and Shiite Muslims differ on the identity of the Mahdi. Sunnis either believe that he is yet to be born, or that he was born recently and has yet to emerge. Shiites hold that the Mahdi is Muhammad ibn Hasan, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad born in the 9th century and the 12th and final Shiite Imam. As a devout Shiite, Ahmadinejad believes that the 12th Imam was hidden away by Allah at a young age and will someday emerge to bring justice and peace by establishing Islam throughout the world. After taking office Ahmadinejad allocated $20 million for the expansion of the Jamkaran mosque, a religious pilgrimage site where Shiites can drop messages to the "Hidden Imam" in a holy well.Ahmadinejad ardently believes in the imminent return of 12th Imam, which he anticipates will happen in the next two years. He believes he has a personal role in ushering in the return of the Mahdi and is preparing Iran for Judgment Day. Understanding this perspective is vital to understanding the Iranian threat.
Related Links: • Divine Mission Driving Iran's New Leader - Telegraph • Profile: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - ABC • Ahmadinejad, One Year Later - CFR • Iran leader's Messianic End-Times Mission - WND • Strategic Trends: The Rise of Islam - Koinonia House

SEATTLE SHOOTING GETS INADEQUATE ATTENTION - (Print)
Two weeks ago Naveed Afzal Haq entered the Jewish Federation office in Seattle and opened fire, killing one woman and wounding five others. Upon forcing his way into the building Haq identified himself as a Muslim and expressed his anger at Israel. Haq has since been charged with first-degree murder as well as five counts of attempted murder.The Seattle shooting was a blatant example of religious and ethnic hatred. It is therefore ironic that the media, which usually gives hate crimes prolonged attention, has treated the Seattle shootings as though it were hardly newsworthy. Both the New York Times and the Washington Post buried the story. However they weren't the only members of the media to deny these horrendous events the attention and scrutiny they deserve.Furthermore, most of the news articles concerning the shootings have focused on the attacker's history of mental illness rather than his Islamic identity. Naveed Afzal Haq has bipolar disorder, however experts say that is no excuse for his actions. Wayne Katon, a psychiatry professor at the University of Washington, commented on the attack by saying, "rarely is bipolar disorder associated with this type of crime. It's very, very unusual for bipolars to be killing anybody, let alone five or six people. Data would suggest that in terms of violence, the homicide rate of bipolars is lower than the general population."The popular media has repeatedly shied away from any discussion concerning the true nature and agenda of Islam. The disparity between the press coverage of the Seattle shootings and Mel Gibson's drunken rant is astonishing - and completely unacceptable.In January, the US Department of State released its Report on Global Anti-Semitism. The report stated that, "Anti-Semitism has plagued the world for centuries. Taken to its most far-reaching and violent extreme, the Holocaust, anti-Semitism resulted in the deaths of millions of Jews and the suffering of countless others. Subtler, less vile forms of anti-Semitism have disrupted lives, decimated religious communities, created social and political cleavages, and complicated relations between countries as well as the work of international organizations." According to the report, Anti-Semitic violence has increased dramatically in recent years.Many people today do not take the Word of God seriously. Some ignore it, many disbelieve or deny it, and others dilute its meaning with conjectures, allegories, and redefinitions. But God says what He means, and means what He says. God delights in making and keeping His promises. A disturbing aspect of many modern churches is their failure to appreciate the seriousness of God's covenant with Israel. Some believe that Israel "forfeited her promises" by rejecting her Messiah, and that these promises now devolve somehow symbolically, or allegorically, upon the Church. This false doctrine has been taught for centuries.Anti-Semitic violence has become a serious problem throughout the world. Some may blame the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Arab media, or Islamic leadership for fostering anti-Semitism. Others may say that such racially motivated hatred is limited to neo-Nazi groups and radical Islamic sects. Yet hatred of the Jews goes back long before even the existence of the Islamic faith, before the Nazi party took power in Germany, and before the advent of television and modern media. The real root of anti-Semitism is Satan's desire to thwart God's plan for the redemption of mankind. Anti-Semitism exists in many places and many forms. It may be displayed in blatant aggression or in more subtle and subversive ways, but all are aimed at the destruction of God's chosen people.
Related Links: • Man Charged in Seattle Shooting - CBS • Security High at Seattle Synagogues, Mosques Following Shooting - FOX News • One Dead in Shooting at Jewish Center - CNN

Major Alaskan Pipeline Shut Down - August 09, 2006BP, one of the world's largest energy companies, said Monday it will replace 73 percent of the pipelines from the nation's largest oil field and that production could be closed for weeks or months, crimping the nation's oil supplies at a time of peak demand. FOX News
Israeli Forces Begin Major Push - August 09, 2006Israeli troops and armored vehicles began a massive push toward the Lebanon border late Wednesday, marking the start of a new ground offensive aimed at neutralizing Hezbollah's rocket-launching capabilities. FOX News
Violence Threatens Darfur Relief - August 09, 2006More aid workers have been killed in Sudan's Darfur region in the last two weeks than in the past two years, the United Nations and aid agencies say. More than 2 million Sudanese have fled their homes and tens of thousands have been killed in the three-year conflict. Aid agencies say the situation has got worse since the May peace accord. BBC
Indonesia Sets Bird Flu Record - August 09, 2006Two Indonesian teenagers have died of the bird flu virus, bringing the country's number of human fatalities to 44, Indonesian health officials say. The test results mean Indonesia now has the world's highest human death toll from the H5N1 virus. BBC
Egyptian Students Vanish - August 08, 2006Eleven Egyptian students who were supposed to travel to a Montana university after flying to JFK airport late last month disappeared in New York, spurring federal authorities to issue a nationwide alert. The students had their visas revoked for failing to show up at Montana State University in Bozeman. Authorities say the students have no known associations with terrorist groups, but are wanted for questioning. New York Post