RE: Aussie’s BDS participation in a protest because of the
“injustice” of her own situation.
One Fay Waddington of Wooloowin,
Qld. claims in The Australian (Letters,23/1/13) that she has ‘automatically a
right to return’ to a country to which she has no connection, Israel, because
she has a grandmother “born into a Jewish family”, while “an indigenous
Palestinian’s grand-daughter is dispossessed of that same land”.
Under the same reasoning, I, as a
former refugee, also had a grandmother and grandfather who were born and lived
in a region which belonged to Romania.
In WW2, my grandfather was
murdered and is buried in a mass grave which is now a school football ground.
That region became part of the Ukraine after the war. Since I was born in Romania (with
tongue in cheek) I want ‘the right to return’ and to take back my grandparents’
‘Romanian’ land.
How dare Ukraine take over my
grandparents’ land? !!!
Should I be starting a BDS
movement against the Ukraine?
What a chutzpah!There are plenty of other
real dispossessed former refugees from around the world here in
multicultural Australia and who can make similar claims to those of the Palestinians’
descendants. Where are their BDS
movements? Do they go around disturbing the peace and stopping Australians from pursuing their day-to-day business for some of their own personal vendettas on the other side of the world?
Or are they just thankful to be welcomed into this country instead of languishing in some of the Arab countries' refugee camps in Africa and the ME?
MM
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
MEMO TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A. (Michael Rubin)
5 things U.S. should do in Middle East
(Watch GPS special 'Memo to the President' on CNN)
By Michael Rubin, Special to CNN
[Editor’s note: Michael Rubin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and senior lecturer at the Naval Postgraduate School. The views expressed are his own.]
In the first months of his presidency, Barack Obama laid out his vision for the Middle East. “If countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us,” he told the Arabic satellite channel Al-Arabiya in his first television interview as president. Six months later, in Cairo, he proposed “a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect…[and] principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”
Unfortunately, Obama has not backed his lofty vision with coherent strategy. Since the Arab Spring protests caught not only regional autocrats but also Washington by surprise, U.S. policy has been reactive rather than pro-active. Far from shaping events, the White House struggles to keep up with events that increasingly spin out of control.
If the president wants to make his vision reality, there are five directives he should immediately issue. Some conservatives will find these controversial, and others will cause progressive complaint. Each means an end to business as usual, but decades of policy failure should be reason enough to consider them.
1) Remove carriers from the Persian Gulf. Whether Obama likes it or not, Iran will dominate foreign policy in his second term. His nomination of former senate colleagues John Kerry and Chuck Hagel to be, respectively, secretary of state and defense, suggest he aims for renewed diplomatic engagement. If success came from simply sitting at the table, however, the nuclear impasse would have long ago been solved. As important as a willingness to talk is the care with which the circumstances are set to succeed. Unless Iranian leaders believe that a diplomatic resolution is their last best option – and insincerity would be met by force – they have no incentive to do anything but stall.
If Obama wishes to convince the Iranians that his patience is not infinite, he should remove the two U.S. aircraft carriers which normally ply the Persian Gulf and redeploy them in the northern Indian Ocean. At first glance, this might seem to affirm Iranian threats about the Persian Gulf being a no-go area for the U.S. navy, but Iran’s generals know better: The Persian Gulf is both narrow and shallow. Aircraft carriers have limited maneuverability in such tight corridors, can have trouble acquiring the wind speed to launch planes, and are vulnerable to swarming Iranian speedboats. Keep the U.S. destroyers and cruisers in the contested waters, but removing the carriers would enable the United States to strike at Iran, while keeping our most valuable platforms secure. Only such a move will convince Tehran that the time for defiance has ended.
2) Don’t Confuse Iran and the Islamic Republic. The two are not synonymous: Iran is the inheritor of a rich culture and a great civilization; the Islamic Republic is an increasingly repressive regime that subjugates the Iranian people. That Obama each year issues a greeting for the Iranian New Year is smart; that in 2009, he did so to “the people…of the Islamic Republic of Iran” was disheartening (although he has not repeated that mistake in subsequent years). Still, as Obama courts Iran, many Iranians fear being sold out as part of a grand bargain with their regime. Remember that the Islamic Republic represents not the pinnacle of Iranian political evolution, but rather an anomaly. It is in the U.S. interest to see the Iranian people, who are far more moderate than their government, succeed. After all, it is not simply Iranian nuclear weapons that pose a threat to the United States, but rather the ideology of those who would wield them. Just because the White House wants to deal with the Iranian leadership does not mean that it should ever turn its back on independent Iranian trade unions, students, journalists, and civil society movements not corrupted by Iranian government ties.
More from GPS: History lesson could deter Iran
3) Don’t Consider Egypt too Big to Fail. It was no surprise that the Muslim Brotherhood did so well in Egypt’s initial elections: During more than 80 years in opposition, they could promise the world. While some Egyptians were surely attracted to the Brotherhood’s religious position, many ordinary Egyptians cast their votes for them because they said they would eliminate corruption, jumpstart the economy, right wrongs, and put a chicken in every pot. For such Egyptians, President Mohamed Morsy must be a disappointment: Security has plummeted, the economy is abysmal, the currency shaky, and the gaps between haves and have-nots growing wider.
Instead of undertaking real reform, the Brotherhood has subjugated women and minorities, sought rapprochement with Hamas, and threatened the Camp David Accords with Israel. As frequent protests in Tahrir Square attest, Egyptians are growing increasingly disenchanted with Morsy. Rather than bail the Brotherhood out for their questionable choices, the White House should underscore that the basis for democracy is accountability. Providing debt forgiveness and foreign aid (beyond that mandated by the Camp David Accords) simply allows Morsy to avoid responsibility for his actions. U.S. taxpayer support is not an entitlement. If the Brotherhood fails, Egyptians might learn that religious rhetoric is no panacea.
4) Cut Off Aid to the Palestinian Authority. The late Israeli statesman Abba Eban once quipped that the Palestinians never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. To that we can add Yankee catcher Yogi Berra’s quip, it’s déjà vu all over again. The Palestinians have received more aid per capita than any other people. If Singapore can thrive, so too can Gaza. Yet, as the two decade anniversary of the Oslo Accord nears, Palestinians have little to show for it. The problem is not Israel, but rather endemic corruption and a leadership that has promoted terror more than development; and incitement over education.
The best gift the United States could give the Palestinians is not hundreds of millions of dollars more, but the knowledge that Western patience with endless subsidies absent serious reform has ended. Such a lesson has never been more important than now: As not only Hamas but also Fatah turn their backs on the agreements Arafat made to form the Palestinian Authority, they risk demonstrating that they consider agreements ephemeral, not permanent. Such a conclusion would ruin any chance at lasting peace, not only between Israel and Palestine, but also between Israel and other Arab states for no state can expect to trust treaties that are worth little more than the paper upon which they were once written.
5) Define Terrorism. In 1988, Western police and security officers used more than 100 different definitions of terrorism. A quarter century later, more than 250 different definitions are in use. For the West today, the definition of terrorism mirrors U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s 1973 quip about pornography, “I shall not today attempt further to define [it]…but I know it when I see it…” That’s not good enough, however, when so many U.S. allies take an à la carte approach to terrorism, condemning it only so long as they disagree with is cause. Turkish officials, for example, demand the West treat the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as terrorists, even as they embrace Hamas.
If any country wants American aid against terrorists, it should first accept a common definition, perhaps something as simple as “terrorism is the deliberate targeting of civilians for political gain.” Any country that’s not willing to sign on to that is not serious about countering terror and should not expect any American counterterror support. In the war against terrorists, it’s got to be all for one and one for all, regardless of whether the victim is Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Hindu.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Top 11 Non-Jews Positively Influencing Jewish Future
Not sure if you will agree with all of these but nice to know that some people even care enough to think about putting together such a list.
Now, what to do with it?
Just good to know who one's friends are!
MM
|
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
ISRAEL - THE FUTURE
RE:The Australian, 9/1/2013. "Egypt calls in Iranian spy master".
It states that Israel is particulalry worried about the intents of the Muslim Brotherhood, especially since "a senior Brotherhood official declared last week that Israel would cease to exist within a decade".
It states that Israel is particulalry worried about the intents of the Muslim Brotherhood, especially since "a senior Brotherhood official declared last week that Israel would cease to exist within a decade".
With so many countries now getting involved to invest in various developments in Israel, the future bright scenario listed below will hopefully prevent all the ill-intent of her Islamist neighbours.
MM
ISRAEL - THE FUTURE
January 2013.
Additional
target areas are being explored all the way down the Mediterranean coast of
Israel.
b)
Oil - geologists have recently completed a large mapping of most
of southern Israel and preliminary findings indicate there are vast
amounts of oil trapped in rock layers under about 15% of the State of
Israel. This shale oil is technically difficult to extract but Israel and
the companies involved are becoming very familiar with the methodology to
extract this oil called 'fracking'. Retired Canadian experts in this
system are now resident in Israel working on this huge project.
The
World Energy Council and Israel Energy Initiatives have completed a detailed
study and presented it to the government on their estimates of Israel's shale
oil potential. They estimate that Israel's shale reserves could contain
as much as 250 billion barrels of potentially recoverable oil.
This
would be putting Israel on a par with Saudi Arabia in terms of its oil
reserves!
Israeli
planners believe that if the gas and oil finds reach the levels that the
potential indicates, Israel's current group of allies, trading partners and
opponents could drastically change. Israel's geo-political standing
in the world will also change. It's amazing what friends can be made when
you have oil and gas to export!
MED-RED RAILWAY - China is in very serious negotiation (contracts have
been exchanged) - the Chinese will build and finance most of a high speed
railway from Eilat to Ashdod. This would allow tankers and freighters to
avoid the Suez Canal as well as cut the time frame from canal usage in half, by
using the railway. This is a huge development for Israel as it will open
up the Negev, which was always the dream of David Ben Gurion. It would
not be surprising that a major announcement on this development with all its
details, should be expected by mid 2013.
CHINESE INVESTMENT IN ISRAEL
You
should be aware that the Israeli Government and various Agrarian companies are
extremely busy today in China - assisting the Chinese with their need to
get much more production out of their land, while following the Israeli system
of water economy. Further, the Chinese are learning every possible method
Israel has on how to maximize milk production, and other elements necessary for
the Chinese to raise the level of feeding their huge population. This
relationship is being very well received by the Chinese and its
government.
ALIYAH
- Numerous European countries are seeing their Jewish populations diminishing
because of a resurgence of anti-semitism and violence against their Jewish
communities. Islam is on the march in many of the European
countries. In particular, sizable numbers of French, British and
smaller numbers of Jews from other EU countries, have left or are in the
process of going to Israel. The Jewish Agency for Israel is
planning for a significant aliyah to continue as well as increase over time
with Jews leaving Ukraine and Russia.
Again
the planning of the Jewish Agency indicates that Ben Gurions dream of large
communities in the Negev is now nearer to realization than ever
before. Hi-tech companies are being offered significant inducements by
the government to establish their campuses and their R&D facilities in
communities being formed in the Negev. Currently the hi-tech campuses are
extremely crowded in an area south of Tel Aviv. Bear in mind that nothing
is far in Israel.
EMP (Electromagnetic impulses)
The
magnitude of this enormous devastating project is hard to fathom. Whoever
develops this will have a commanding position facing any adversary. EMP
could cripple a country by shutting down its electronics. It uses
non-lethal gamma energy to react with the magnetic field and produces a
powerful shock wave that can devastate any power grid and communications
system. Try as I did, I could not get anyone to make any kind of comment
regarding Israel's involvement. All I got were small, relatively short
smiles.
CONCLUSION
The
IDF, the IAF, the MOSSAD, the SHIN-BET, the AMAN, are amongst the best of their
kind in the world and will do their utmost to safeguard the State of Israel and
the Jewish people wherever they are to be found.
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Israeli News: 2012 in review.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd3V3JC35-U&feature=youtu.be
News from Israel You
May Have Missed
“Eye from Zion” marked its one-thousandth operation – saving the sight of 1,000 people around the world in the previous six months. The charity, partly funded by the Israeli government, sends leading Israeli doctors to poor countries where they set up temporary, mobile clinics. Founder Nati Marcus said: “We see ourselves as the goodwill ambassadors of Israel and the Jewish people.”
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked Israel as the second-most educated country in the world. 92% of Israelis graduate from high school, and 46% have a post-high-school degree. 2012 also saw the beginning of free preschool in Israel.
A malicious photo went viral on Facebook,
purporting to depict an Israeli soldier pointing his gun at a young girl. The
photo was removed after it was pointed out that neither the gun nor the uniform
in the photo were those issued by the Israeli army, and the picture was likely
shot during protests in Bahrain.
The killers of the Fogel family, murdered in their beds back in March 2011, were praised on official Palestinian TV; one was described by his aunt as “a hero and a legend.”
Israeli scientists found that starting the day with chocolate cake was ideal. Prof. Daniela Jakubowicz of the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon compared high-calorie chocolaty breakfasts with low-calorie options. Obese patients eating 600 calories of chocolate cake as part of a balanced died lost an average of 33 lbs. after 16 weeks; patients who ate a chocolate-less 300 calorie breakfast gained weight instead.
Scientists at Ben Gurion University of the Negev startled the world by announcing that plants can talk! Pea plants which were deprived of water sent transmissions via their roots to nearby pea plants, which then copied their stressed neighbors and likewise prepared for drought.
The “Photoshop Law” went into effect in Israel, banning the use of
underweight models in advertising. The law also mandates that magazines disclose
which photos have been digitally manipulated.
Business Week reported that Israel Theme Tours has launched full-package Elvis-themed tours of Israel. The tour features backup singers who toured with the King, Elvis impersonators, and takes in Elvis-themed sites in the Holy Land, as well.
Naim Araidi, a Druze Muslim citizen of Israel, was appointed Israeli envoy to New Zealand. Araidi, an acclaimed Israeli poet, teaches Hebrew Literature at both Haifa and Bar-Ilan Universities; he won the Prime Minister’s Award for Hebrew Literature in 2008. Araidi said: “After years of representing Israel unofficially, it would be a great privilege for me to do so in an official capacity and show Israel’s beautiful side, as well as the co-existence that, despite all the hardships, can only be maintained in a true democracy.”
Israeli soldiers gave emergency first-aid and saved the life of a 10-day-old Palestinian baby, whose panicked mother rushed her to the nearest army base. The IDF reported this was the third time in recent weeks that local Palestinians turned to the nearest army base for acute medical care.
The Israel Museum’s collection went online with Google’s Art Project.
As the top official in Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, sends rockets into civilian centers in Israel and is dedicated to the Jewish state’s destruction. But this month, his brother-in-law, accompanied by Haniyeh’s sister, traveled to Israel to undergo emergency treatment for a heart condition in Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva.
Psychologist Tal Ben Shahar, Harvard’s most popular professor, returned home to live in Israel. The professor, who became best known for his class on positive psychology, decided he’d be happiest back home in the Jewish State, one of the world’s happiest countries, according to international rankings.
At age 24, Israeli mountain climber Nadav ben Yehuda was set to become the youngest Israeli ever to scale Everest. But he gave up his own conquest when, just 300 meters from the summit, he spotted the unconscious body of another climber, Aydin Irmak, of Turkey. “Other climbers jut passed him by and didn’t lift a finger, but I had no second thoughts. I knew that I had to save him,” said ben Yehuda, who carried the unconscious climber down the mountain.
Israel banned smoking in public this month, stopping second-hand smoke in hospitals, restaurants, public pools, and on public transportation.
Dr. Daniel Hillel, whose micro-irrigation techniques revolutionized food production first in Israel and then throughout the world, won the World Food Prize, the foremost award recognizing those who have increased the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.
Acting sensation David Arquette celebrated his bar mitzvah at
Jerusalem’s Western Wall. The Scream star was attending a Bar Mitzvah
when he was invited to have his own. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the official rabbi
of the Western Wall, officiated.
A group of Jewish Russian philanthropists donated $1 million for Israel’s newest award, the Genesis Prize, which recognizes excellence in a variety of fields, honoring those who ascribe their success to Jewish principles.
Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO, praised Israel as the world’s leader of innovation and a “tech miracle” – describing Google’s Israeli innovation centers as the company’s most prized, which Google is constantly expanding.
The stunning remains of a magnificent Roman-era synagogue were uncovered in Huqoq. The synagogue features preserved mosaics, including biblical scenes and inscriptions.
A planned UN-sponsored concert in Jerusalem by Daniel Barenboim’s “East West Orchestra,” which brings together Jews and Muslims to perform together, was cancelled after anti-Israel protestors complained that having both Jews and Muslims in the orchestra implied too much “balance” between the two groups.
Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s new President, sent a warm letter of introduction to Israeli President Shimon Peres – and then strenuously denied ever making such a statesman-like overture to the Jewish state, claiming his initial letter was a hoax.
Israel tested a new missile alert system whereby messages in Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian were sent to every mobile phone in the country. In the event of an actual attack, the messages could warn residents of incoming missiles.
Israel increased its ranking in the annual Academic Ranking of World Universities list. Hebrew University, the Technion, Weitzman Institute, Tel Aviv University, Bar Ilan University, and Ben Gurion University of the Negev all made the list of the world’s top spots.
A “Tolerance Walk” in Bethlehem had to be cancelled after
participants objected to the presence of Israelis taking part.
Amateur Israeli cyclist Izhar Gafni developed a working bicycle made almost entirely of cardboard. He estimates the bike will retail around the world for about $20.
Operation Dove’s Wings began, bringing the remaining Jews in Ethiopia to Israel. The operation will take approximately one year, considerably longer than the two days in 1991, when over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel.
Lonely Planet named the Negev as the second best travel destination in the world. (Corsica in France came in first.) The travel company described the region as a “giant greenhouse of development. Think eco-villages, spa resorts and even wineries.”
November
Wine Enthusiasts Magazine awarded Israeli wine producer Katzrin its prestigious 2012 “Wine Star” prize, the first for an Israeli winery.
Israel’s anti-missile system, Iron Dome,
intercepted 421 of the over 1,000 missiles fired from Gaza in hostilities this
month. A new anti-missile system, David’s Sling, also went operational this
month, capable of intercepting longer-range missiles.
At an international scientific conference in Tel Aviv, Israeli presenters revealed they’d developed microwaves that affect cancer, but leave regular cells unharmed. The new “millimeter wave radiation” was tested on human lung cancer cells, and killed diseased cells while leaving nearby healthy cells unaffected.
A study found that 88% of Palestinians support “violent struggle” against Israel, with a minority wanting to resume peace negotiations. By contrast, 71% of Israelis favor peace negotiations, even though many – 67% – feel they won’t ultimately be effective.
Startup Genome, an international organization tracking high tech research, named Tel Aviv as one of the world’s best spots to launch a high tech company.
Coming full circle, this year is shaping up to be the “rainiest winter” in the past 20 years, raising the Sea of Galilee to near-record levels.
This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/jw/me/News-from-Israel-You-May-Have-Missed.html
 |
http://www.aish.com/jw/me/News-from-Israel-You-May-Have-Missed.html |
| |
 |
January
In Israel, rain is regarded as a blessing. In that case, 2012 started off on
a wonderful note, with January 2012 breaking all-time Israeli record with 29
days of precipitation.“Eye from Zion” marked its one-thousandth operation – saving the sight of 1,000 people around the world in the previous six months. The charity, partly funded by the Israeli government, sends leading Israeli doctors to poor countries where they set up temporary, mobile clinics. Founder Nati Marcus said: “We see ourselves as the goodwill ambassadors of Israel and the Jewish people.”
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranked Israel as the second-most educated country in the world. 92% of Israelis graduate from high school, and 46% have a post-high-school degree. 2012 also saw the beginning of free preschool in Israel.
A malicious photo went viral on Facebook,
purporting to depict an Israeli soldier pointing his gun at a young girl. The
photo was removed after it was pointed out that neither the gun nor the uniform
in the photo were those issued by the Israeli army, and the picture was likely
shot during protests in Bahrain.The killers of the Fogel family, murdered in their beds back in March 2011, were praised on official Palestinian TV; one was described by his aunt as “a hero and a legend.”
February
“For My Next Illusion I will Use Wings,” a collection of short stories by
award-winning Israeli author Alex Epstein, became the first book ever
“published” entirely on Facebook. Epstein explained that the format gave him a
chance to connect with new readers and create a dynamic relationship with his
many fans.Israeli scientists found that starting the day with chocolate cake was ideal. Prof. Daniela Jakubowicz of the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon compared high-calorie chocolaty breakfasts with low-calorie options. Obese patients eating 600 calories of chocolate cake as part of a balanced died lost an average of 33 lbs. after 16 weeks; patients who ate a chocolate-less 300 calorie breakfast gained weight instead.
Scientists at Ben Gurion University of the Negev startled the world by announcing that plants can talk! Pea plants which were deprived of water sent transmissions via their roots to nearby pea plants, which then copied their stressed neighbors and likewise prepared for drought.
March
The “Photoshop Law” went into effect in Israel, banning the use of
underweight models in advertising. The law also mandates that magazines disclose
which photos have been digitally manipulated.Business Week reported that Israel Theme Tours has launched full-package Elvis-themed tours of Israel. The tour features backup singers who toured with the King, Elvis impersonators, and takes in Elvis-themed sites in the Holy Land, as well.
April
Israel’s Ezer Mizion Bone Registry celebrated saving 1,000 lives since its
founding. The registry has expanded thanks in part to the Israeli Defense
Forces, which gives every Israeli soldier the option of giving a blood sample to
become a potential bone marrow donor.Naim Araidi, a Druze Muslim citizen of Israel, was appointed Israeli envoy to New Zealand. Araidi, an acclaimed Israeli poet, teaches Hebrew Literature at both Haifa and Bar-Ilan Universities; he won the Prime Minister’s Award for Hebrew Literature in 2008. Araidi said: “After years of representing Israel unofficially, it would be a great privilege for me to do so in an official capacity and show Israel’s beautiful side, as well as the co-existence that, despite all the hardships, can only be maintained in a true democracy.”
Israeli soldiers gave emergency first-aid and saved the life of a 10-day-old Palestinian baby, whose panicked mother rushed her to the nearest army base. The IDF reported this was the third time in recent weeks that local Palestinians turned to the nearest army base for acute medical care.
The Israel Museum’s collection went online with Google’s Art Project.
As the top official in Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, sends rockets into civilian centers in Israel and is dedicated to the Jewish state’s destruction. But this month, his brother-in-law, accompanied by Haniyeh’s sister, traveled to Israel to undergo emergency treatment for a heart condition in Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva.
Psychologist Tal Ben Shahar, Harvard’s most popular professor, returned home to live in Israel. The professor, who became best known for his class on positive psychology, decided he’d be happiest back home in the Jewish State, one of the world’s happiest countries, according to international rankings.
May
Interpol’s annual international crime-fighting convention, held in Tel Aviv,
focused in part on cyber-crime, an area which Interpol Secretary-General Ronald
Noble said, “The Israeli Police have an extraordinary reputation, worldwide, for
being able to investigate, fight it, prevent it, from a crime perspective, a
fraud perspective and also from a security perspective.”At age 24, Israeli mountain climber Nadav ben Yehuda was set to become the youngest Israeli ever to scale Everest. But he gave up his own conquest when, just 300 meters from the summit, he spotted the unconscious body of another climber, Aydin Irmak, of Turkey. “Other climbers jut passed him by and didn’t lift a finger, but I had no second thoughts. I knew that I had to save him,” said ben Yehuda, who carried the unconscious climber down the mountain.
Israel banned smoking in public this month, stopping second-hand smoke in hospitals, restaurants, public pools, and on public transportation.
June
Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held by Hamas for five years with no
contact with the outside world, was hired by Yediot Aharonot to be their
basketball correspondent.Dr. Daniel Hillel, whose micro-irrigation techniques revolutionized food production first in Israel and then throughout the world, won the World Food Prize, the foremost award recognizing those who have increased the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world.
Acting sensation David Arquette celebrated his bar mitzvah at
Jerusalem’s Western Wall. The Scream star was attending a Bar Mitzvah
when he was invited to have his own. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the official rabbi
of the Western Wall, officiated.A group of Jewish Russian philanthropists donated $1 million for Israel’s newest award, the Genesis Prize, which recognizes excellence in a variety of fields, honoring those who ascribe their success to Jewish principles.
Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO, praised Israel as the world’s leader of innovation and a “tech miracle” – describing Google’s Israeli innovation centers as the company’s most prized, which Google is constantly expanding.
July
Israeli scientists developed a marijuana that has all of that drug’s
anti-pain properties, but without the high-inducing chemicals that make cannabis
so contentious.The stunning remains of a magnificent Roman-era synagogue were uncovered in Huqoq. The synagogue features preserved mosaics, including biblical scenes and inscriptions.
A planned UN-sponsored concert in Jerusalem by Daniel Barenboim’s “East West Orchestra,” which brings together Jews and Muslims to perform together, was cancelled after anti-Israel protestors complained that having both Jews and Muslims in the orchestra implied too much “balance” between the two groups.
Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s new President, sent a warm letter of introduction to Israeli President Shimon Peres – and then strenuously denied ever making such a statesman-like overture to the Jewish state, claiming his initial letter was a hoax.
August
A researcher in Israel was able to control a robot in France, simply by
thinking about it. Student Tirosh Shapira was hooked up to a computer which sent
his brain waves to the robot in France, which he then directed to walk around
the room, and seek out people and objects.Israel tested a new missile alert system whereby messages in Hebrew, Arabic, English and Russian were sent to every mobile phone in the country. In the event of an actual attack, the messages could warn residents of incoming missiles.
Israel increased its ranking in the annual Academic Ranking of World Universities list. Hebrew University, the Technion, Weitzman Institute, Tel Aviv University, Bar Ilan University, and Ben Gurion University of the Negev all made the list of the world’s top spots.
September
Israeli pilot Noam Gershony, who was critically injured during 2006 fighting
in Lebanon, won the gold medal in wheelchair tennis at the Paralympics in
London.
October
Hamas stopped sending mortars into Israel for 48 hours so Israeli workers
could lay high speed internet cables into Gaza, to replace the slower dial-up
service that previously served the area. “This is Israel’s answer to the
hundreds of mortars, to connect the people in Gaza to the world,” said Maj. Adam
Avidam, who coordinates security for Israel in the area.A “Tolerance Walk” in Bethlehem had to be cancelled after
participants objected to the presence of Israelis taking part.Amateur Israeli cyclist Izhar Gafni developed a working bicycle made almost entirely of cardboard. He estimates the bike will retail around the world for about $20.
Operation Dove’s Wings began, bringing the remaining Jews in Ethiopia to Israel. The operation will take approximately one year, considerably longer than the two days in 1991, when over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel.
Lonely Planet named the Negev as the second best travel destination in the world. (Corsica in France came in first.) The travel company described the region as a “giant greenhouse of development. Think eco-villages, spa resorts and even wineries.”
November
Wine Enthusiasts Magazine awarded Israeli wine producer Katzrin its prestigious 2012 “Wine Star” prize, the first for an Israeli winery.
Israel’s anti-missile system, Iron Dome,
intercepted 421 of the over 1,000 missiles fired from Gaza in hostilities this
month. A new anti-missile system, David’s Sling, also went operational this
month, capable of intercepting longer-range missiles.At an international scientific conference in Tel Aviv, Israeli presenters revealed they’d developed microwaves that affect cancer, but leave regular cells unharmed. The new “millimeter wave radiation” was tested on human lung cancer cells, and killed diseased cells while leaving nearby healthy cells unaffected.
December
Jerusalem’s neo-Byzantine Inbal Hotel made Conde Nast’s “Gold List” 2012 of
the world’s best places to stay.A study found that 88% of Palestinians support “violent struggle” against Israel, with a minority wanting to resume peace negotiations. By contrast, 71% of Israelis favor peace negotiations, even though many – 67% – feel they won’t ultimately be effective.
Startup Genome, an international organization tracking high tech research, named Tel Aviv as one of the world’s best spots to launch a high tech company.
Coming full circle, this year is shaping up to be the “rainiest winter” in the past 20 years, raising the Sea of Galilee to near-record levels.
This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/jw/me/News-from-Israel-You-May-Have-Missed.html
Sunday, December 30, 2012
ISRAEL IN BRIEF. (Benjamin Nethanyahu)
Netanyahu at his best
Even those who aren't particularly sympathetic to Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, could get a good measure of satisfaction from this interview with
British Television during the retaliation against Hamas' shelling of Israel, 2012.
The interviewer asked him: "How come so many more Palestinians have been killed in this conflict than Israelis?" (A nasty question if there ever was one!)
Netanyahu: "Are you sure that you want to start asking in that direction?"
Interviewer: (Falling into the trap) Why not?
Netanyahu: "Because in World War II more Germans were killed than British and Americans combined, but there is no doubt in anyone's mind that the war was caused by Germany 's aggression. And in response to the German blitz on London , the British wiped out the entire city of Dresden , burning to death more German civilians than the number of people killed in Hiroshima ... Moreover, I could remind you that in 1944, when the R.A.F. tried to bomb the Gestapo Headquarters in Copenhagen , some of the bombs missed their target and fell on a Danish children's hospital, killing 83 little children. Perhaps you have another question?"
Apparently, Benjamin Netanyahu gave another interview and was asked about Israel 's occupation of Arab lands. His response was, "It's our land". The reporter (CNN or the like) was stunned - read below "It's our land.." It's important information since we don't get fair and accurate reporting from the media and facts tend to get lost in the jumble of daily events.
"Crash Course on the Arab-Israeli Conflict."
Here are overlooked facts in the current & past Middle East situation. These were compiled by a Christian university professor:
BRIEF FACTS ON THE ISRAELI CONFLICT TODAY... (It takes just 1.5 minutes to read!)
It makes sense and it's not slanted. Jew and non-Jew -- it doesn't matter.
1. Nationhood and Jerusalem : Israel became a nation in 1312 BC, two thousand (2000) years before the rise of Islam.
2... Arab refugees from Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BC, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand (1000) years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem , they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders
did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned even once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem . Mohammed never came to Jerusalem .
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem . Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem ..
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left (many in fear of retaliation by their own brethren, the Arabs), without ever seeing an Israeli soldier. The ones who stayed were afforded the same peace, civility, and citizenship rights as everyone else.
10. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people's lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel , a country no larger than the state of New Jersey ...
13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The PLO's Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them with most of their needs.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel .
18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.
19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives .[They used tombstones to pave roads].
20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like a policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even those who aren't particularly sympathetic to Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, could get a good measure of satisfaction from this interview with
British Television during the retaliation against Hamas' shelling of Israel, 2012.
The interviewer asked him: "How come so many more Palestinians have been killed in this conflict than Israelis?" (A nasty question if there ever was one!)
Netanyahu: "Are you sure that you want to start asking in that direction?"
Interviewer: (Falling into the trap) Why not?
Netanyahu: "Because in World War II more Germans were killed than British and Americans combined, but there is no doubt in anyone's mind that the war was caused by Germany 's aggression. And in response to the German blitz on London , the British wiped out the entire city of Dresden , burning to death more German civilians than the number of people killed in Hiroshima ... Moreover, I could remind you that in 1944, when the R.A.F. tried to bomb the Gestapo Headquarters in Copenhagen , some of the bombs missed their target and fell on a Danish children's hospital, killing 83 little children. Perhaps you have another question?"
Apparently, Benjamin Netanyahu gave another interview and was asked about Israel 's occupation of Arab lands. His response was, "It's our land". The reporter (CNN or the like) was stunned - read below "It's our land.." It's important information since we don't get fair and accurate reporting from the media and facts tend to get lost in the jumble of daily events.
"Crash Course on the Arab-Israeli Conflict."
Here are overlooked facts in the current & past Middle East situation. These were compiled by a Christian university professor:
BRIEF FACTS ON THE ISRAELI CONFLICT TODAY... (It takes just 1.5 minutes to read!)
It makes sense and it's not slanted. Jew and non-Jew -- it doesn't matter.
1. Nationhood and Jerusalem : Israel became a nation in 1312 BC, two thousand (2000) years before the rise of Islam.
2... Arab refugees from Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 BC, the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand (1000) years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.
4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 lasted no more than 22 years.
5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem , they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders
did not come to visit.
6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Tanach, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned even once in the Koran.
7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem . Mohammed never came to Jerusalem .
8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem . Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem ..
9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: in 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left (many in fear of retaliation by their own brethren, the Arabs), without ever seeing an Israeli soldier. The ones who stayed were afforded the same peace, civility, and citizenship rights as everyone else.
10. The Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.
11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000. The number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is estimated to be the same.
12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own people's lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel , a country no larger than the state of New Jersey ...
13. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: the Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.
14. The PLO's Charter still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. Israel has given the Palestinians most of the West Bank land, autonomy under the Palestinian Authority, and has supplied them with most of their needs.
15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.
16. The UN Record on Israel and the Arabs: of the 175 Security Council resolutions passed before 1990, 97 were directed against Israel.
17. Of the 690 General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel .
18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.
19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives .[They used tombstones to pave roads].
20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like a policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Interview: outspoken Muslim supporter of Israel.
Anet Haskia: Israel Is My Homeland
Wed, December 12, 2012
Anet HaskiaAnet Haskia is an outspoken Muslim supporter of Israel that was born and raised in the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Akko, Israel. She hopes to enter Israeli politics and criticizes Arab members of the Knesset because “not one” will offer condolences to the families of killed Israeli soldiers. “These Arab MKs enjoy democratic rights but don’t appreciate them,” she says.She is the mother of three children. Her oldest son finished his service in the Israeli Defense Forces earlier this year, her daughter is continuing her service as a professional soldier, and her youngest son volunteered for a year of pre-army service. She calls on the next generation of Israeli-Arabs to “change the face of the Arab society in [Israel].”
The following is RadicalIslam.org National Security Analyst Ryan Mauro’s interview with Anet Haskia:
Ryan Mauro: Tell us about your activism against radical Islam.Anet Haskia: I was born a Muslim, and I don’t intend to convert from my religion, but I don’t like the mentality of the Islamic world. I deplore the acts of barbarism, the imposing of the religion and the murder of men and women, such as in Afghanistan.
Ryan Mauro: Why are you, as a Muslim, standing up for Israel?Anet Haskia: I was born in Israel, and it is my homeland. I thank God every day that I was born in the Jewish state because of everything that happens in the Arab states in general and Syria, in particular. Not only do I support Israel, I am
Anet and her chilren also willing to sacrifice my family for the existence of this state.You have to understand, Israel is my homeland. Just because I am an Arab Muslim does not mean I will support Arab countries against Israel or identify with a murderous organization like Hamas that wants to destroy my homeland.
Ryan Mauro: What has the reaction of other Muslims been to your children serving in the Israeli Defense Forces?Anet Haskia: We are considered traitors. Even my family does not fully support me, and the truth is that I don’t want anyone to take revenge on them because of me. There have been attempts. I continue to fight and recruit young Arabs that want change and have a better life. They are tired of the old stories from 70 years ago about Palestine, etc.
There is a growth in the number of Arab girls who join the Israeli military—even with head covers. This is what I call the Israeli Arab Spring, only without bloodshed because we are more open-minded here.
Ryan Mauro: Many Muslims follow the Islamist ideology that believes in destroying Israel, resurrecting the Caliphate and creating Islamic States. Why did you end up believing differently?Anet Haskia: I don’t care what Muslims around the world think. I care about the continuation and existence of my homeland, and I will fight for that with my last drop of blood. Like my son said, “Anyone who tries to hurt our country, we will hurt him.”
Ryan Mauro: Is the Muslim world becoming more radical or more pro-Western?Anet Haskia: I think that the European countries deserve blame for letting Muslims impose their mentality in every city. Come on, we see Muslims praying in the middle of major streets.
Ryan Mauro is RadicalIslam.org's National Security Analyst and a fellow with the Clarion Fund. He is the founder of WorldThreats.com and is frequently interviewed on Fox News.
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