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Wednesday, Oct 19 '11, Tishrei 21, 5772 
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Media TerroristsUsing a Strong Arm
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by Amiel Ungar 
The British Telegraph has been comparably favorable to Israel but a perusal of its extensive coverage on the ransom paid for Gilad Shalit to the Hamas should help to illustrate the international pitfalls generated by the Israeli government's decision .
One notion that will be hard to dispel is that if Israel could reach a deal with Hamas over Shalit, it means that an organization dedicated to Israel's extermination is essentially pragmatic and open to hardheaded bargaining. The fact that a German mediator was employed does not effectively sanitize the fact that Israel negotiated with terrorists who now deserve a status upgrade. This is essentially the opinion of the paper's foreign editor Con Coughlin.
Shalit's release breaks one of the great taboos of the Arab-Israeli conflict – that it is not possible for Israel to negotiate with Hamas. For many years successive Israeli governments have refused to deal with Hamas on the grounds that the organisation refuses to acknowledge the Jewish state's right to exist. It is a mantra that is constantly repeated by Israel's current prime minister, Bibi Netanyahu.
But now we know the truth – that when it is in Israel's interest to do so, it can deal with Hamas – then perhaps now would be a good time for Israel to drop its long-standing refusal to deal with Hamas and have a far more important conversation about ending decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Given the tendency for people to situate foreign events in a familiar context, we are seeing yet again an attempt to equate Hamas with the IRA and viewing the deal as a Good Friday Agreement (that ended the fighting in Northern Ireland) in embryo. Mary Riddel latched on to the interview that Shalit was forced to give to Egyptian television where he expressed the hope for the release of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
"But today, the human conditions for a settlement are moving into place. Just as the release of IRA prisoners proved a necessary precursor to peace in Ireland, so the elation shared by Israelis and Palestinians may do more than any summitry to advance a better tomorrow.
Gilad Shalit has been a fine ambassador for peace and for Israel. His government should follow suit."
The IRA was once considered beyond the pale and now it is a legitimate negotiating partner and even a member of the Northern Ireland government in Stormont. The same could hold true for Hamas.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moo, employing the exquisite evenhandedness of his organization, channeled the same message. "Shalit's release, should be beneficial for the Middle East peace process," Ban told Reuters at the end of a three-day trip to Switzerland.
"I am very encouraged by the prisoner exchange today after many many years of negotiation. The United Nations has been calling for (an end to) the unacceptable detention of Gilad Shalit and also the release of all Palestinians whose human rights have been abused all the time."
It is difficult to fault foreign commentators and statesmen when Israel itself can supply its useful idiots. MK Dr. Nahman Shai of Kadima, the man who achieved immortality during the first Gulf War by advising Israelis sitting in shelters to drink a glass of water, made the same argument. The "successful" Shalit exchange should be followed up by Israel's leaders, whom Shai advises to rethink Israel's traditional position on Hamas as well as on the Gaza blockade.
"With Gilad Shalit's return home, Israel needs to weigh the possibility that relations with Hamas may be open to change…the blockade on Gaza was, in a significant way, dictated by Gilad's abduction and captivity."
Israeli spokespersons scrambled to explain that the blockade began prior to the abduction and was calculated to prevent a Hamas arms buildup that could threaten Israel's civilians.
Following the deal with "pragmatic" Hamas, their job has become that much more difficult.
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by Gavriel Queenann 
Hamas politburo member Mousa Abu Marzouq said Tuesday that Israel had agreed to "lift the siege" on Gaza in exchange for Gilad Shalit, adding the Israel had crossed its own red lines to secure Shalit's freedom.
Abu Marzouq told Palestine TV that Israel had used Shalit as a pretext to ‘blockade Gaza’ but said there had been ‘unofficial agreements’ to end it during talks with a German mediator.
"This was confirmed in the last negotiations," Marzouq said.
Contrary to Marzouq's assertion Gaza is under siege, it is known the Kerem Shalom crossing from Israel to Gaza is never at full capacity due to a lack of demand. Hamas has also boasted there is no financial crisis in Gaza.
According to Marzouq, Israel pledged not to pursue the prisoners for their actions prior to their detention, but did not mention Israel's stipulation that they would not be targeted on condition they did not return to terror.
Marzouq added that Israel had crossed many of its own red lines in the agreement, including releasing terrorists with blood on their hands and freeing Israeli Arabs convicted on terrorism charges.
He also expressed regret that several prominent prisoners were left out of the agreement, including Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine secretary-general Ahmad Saadat and Hamas military leaders Abdullah Barghouthi and Ibrahim Hamed.
The deal was delayed, Marzouq said, because Hamas tried to secure the release of all leaders, "but [in the end] Israel retreated on other demands and agreed to free 60 percent of the imprisoned leaders and so an agreement was reached."
He added Hamas, unlike Israeli leaders, negotiated the deal without concern for regional or international pressure.
"We did not politicize the prisoner issue."
Summing up, Marzouq said, "I think the deal represents something great for the Palestinian people. Those who are still in jail are happy for those who have been released." said Hamas deputy leader in exile Moussa Abu Marzouk, who greeted prisoners arriving in Egypt from Israel.
"The rest of the prisoners must be released because if they are not released in a normal way they will be released in other ways," he added.
Shalit was released on Tuesday as Israel freed 477 prisoners in the first stage of a deal to release 1,027 security prisoners. Some 450 of those to be released for Shalit were incarcerated on terrorism related charges. At least 28 of them had Israeli blood on their hands.
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by Anav Silverman 
In a press conference Jerusalem today, around the time that the Palestinian inmates were bussed away from the prisons, Israeli terror victim families spoke about their horror and fears for the future.
Alan Bauer, who was wounded along with his seven-year old son in a bombing on a Jerusalem street in 2002, declared that "no one will take responsibility for the future actions of the terrorists who have been freed. The country has forgotten what happened with the terrorists who were released in the Jibril Agreement."
In the 1985 Jibril Agreement, 1,150 Palestinian prisoners were freed in exchange for three Israeli prisoners. Many of those released went to form the bulk of the Palestinian leadership for the First Intifada, which broke out less than three years after the agreement was made.
Bauer, who is an American citizen and a Harvard educated biologist, explained that the political leaders are separated from the people. "Members of Knesset walk around with body guards and drive in armed vehicles, while we the people have to bear the consequences for this ticking time bomb of a decision."
Another terror victim, Eliad Moreh, who survived the bombing at Hebrew University's Frank Sinatra cafeteria on July 31, 2002, stated that she felt devastated and angered by the Israeli government's decision to release the prisoners. "I thought that these murderers were part of the past, that all my trauma and pain was over. Today is no different for me than the day the bombing happened nine years ago."
Moreh, who was a student at Hebrew University at the time, suffered from extensive shrapnel wounds to her head, neck, back, legs and ear drum. She was meeting a good friend and Israeli diplomat, David Ladowsky, for lunch at the cafeteria when the explosion happened. Ladowsky, born in Argentina, was instantly killed, along with one Israeli and five Americans.
"It was a miracle that I survived," Moreh said in a trembling voice. "The doctors thought I didn't stand a chance as a piece of shrapnel almost pierced my spinal cord."
Moreh said that she felt "betrayed by humanity" after the attack. "I did not understand how one human being could do this to another," she remembers.
"I am not asking for revenge now, I am asking for justice. When the government releases these murderers, who are supposed to serve life sentences for their horrific deeds, there is no justice."
Moreh, of French-Iraqi origin, believes that Israel was wrong to accept the deal. "The life of one soldier against 1,027 terrorists is a completely wrong equation. What of all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to capture these terrorists in order to keep our streets safe? One terrorist freed could potentially lead to the end of entire lives. The Israeli government should not have accepted this formula set up by Hamas."
"The tears I have in my eyes today will be for the next captured soldier and the future victims of terror," she said.
Hamas operative Walid Anajas who assisted with the bombing of the Frank Sinatra cafeteria at Hebrew University on Mount Scopus, and the 2002 bombings at Jerusalem's Café Moment which killed 11 and a club in Rishon Lezion that killed 16, was released today.
Meanwhile, Hamas terrorists in Gaza promised that there would be more kidnappings of IDF soldiers, given the success they realized by nabbing Gilad Shalit five years ago. Hamas held a huge rally in Gaza Tuesday night, with tens of thousands calling for the destruction of Israel and for freedom for all terrorists still in Israeli prisons.
Hamas top terrorist Ismail Haniyeh called the release of over 1,000 terrorists for Shalit “a source of pride” for Gaza. “For five years Israel searched for Shalit, but they failed and were defeated.”
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann 
Muckraking journalist Raviv Drucker said Wednesday the conduct of Israel's media in terms of Gilad Shalit was a model of surrender to emotions – which has caused tangible damage to the nation.
Drucker told Israel's Hebrew-language Marker, "The media went bankrupt. It behaved emotionally, crazily and irrationally. This included Channel 10. It was psychosis. One program closed every day with a song about Gilad – and another program made a point of counting the days [he was in captivity]."
"It's not that they silenced critics," Drucker said. "Nobody stopped me when I spoke out against the deal. But there was something childish in how it was handled. The attitude was, 'just bring Gilad home at any cost - we do not care to hear at what price.'"
Drucker said the root of all evil is the surrender to emotion, adding, "There were very strong feelings evoked on the issue. You talk about Hamas cellars, it sounds scary. It was also hyped for ratings. It fed off of and at once fueled the public obsession over the issue.”
"They built up the image of a confused, introverted, 19-year old soldier who had not begun his life and was experiencing the most difficult trial. It wasn't the picture of a tough fighter,” he explained, referring to the damage to the image of IDF fighters.
Drucker's said he believed Israel was damaged by the media onslaught, which raised the price Israel had to pay by bringing undue pressure on officials to bring results no matter what.
"Of course it raised the price," Drucker said. "Some days I read the paper and it is really hard for me, physically even. We released the Ramallah lynch murderer. No country in the world does something like that!"
Dr. Gabi Avital, Chairman of Professors for a Strong Israel, was also critical of the mainstream media treatment of Gilad Shalit's story, telling Arutz Sheva it was manipulative.
"They crafted a meme that Gilad Shalit is the son of every Israeli, a child. But Gilad is a soldier, duty-bound to defend his country knowing he may have to pay the price. A captured soldier is not a private matter. It’s a matter for a sovereign government. This was treated like a real estate deal, or industrial contract."
He also criticized the absence of balanced coverage giving voice to critics of trading terrorists for Shalit until after the cabinet approved the deal.
"The last few days, we suddenly hear many opinions of experts who oppose the deal, but why weren't their voices heard in recent years – where were they until today?"
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by Gavriel Queenann 
Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan, Yaakov Ariel, slammed Israel's Supreme Court on Wednesday saying its recent ruling on the destruction of several Jewish outposts and established neighborhoods in Judea and Samaria is invalid.
According to Rav Ariel, the court ruling in favor of the demolitions lacks foundation, is biased, and unethical and unfair.
"The court justified its ruling citing irrelevant factors," Rav Ariel said. "And now we have this pungent sentence. This court ruling is not valid!"
He added that, in the wake of such a horrendous ruling by the Supreme Court, that it was difficult to see how the situation could be rectified legally, but hoped it could be bypassed in the cabinet.
Rav Ariel also said – according to Jewish law – that the rule in cases such as those involving outposts and neighborhoods currently facing demolition orders is not to carry out the order.
Instead, the rabbi said, the only correct solution in Jewish law where there are claims of private ownership to land entire communities sit upon, is to compensate the owners for the land at market value.
Rav Ariel repeatedly stressed demolition orders, as carried out by Israel’s government at present, were invalid within the context of Jewish tradition, culture, values, and law.
The rabbi’s comments come as the community of Migron faces new orders for its destruction in coming days based on tenuous claims of private ownership by Arabs to the land it was built upon.
Many other communities, such as Givat Asaf and the Ulpana neighborhood in Beit El, also face destruction. Many of the communities in question have since received government recognition – a fact the Supreme Court did not take into account.
Comment on this story
by Arutz Sheva 
Hundreds of visitors to Israel joined local residents for a trip to Beit El on Sunday to celebrate the dedication of the first ever Talmudic Garden on the campus of the Bnei Tzvi Yeshiva High School.
Israel Government Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein attended the event.
"Instead of a regular schoolyard, we decided to do something special," says Director of Beit El institutions Hanoch HaKohen. The landscape architect integrated elements from classic stories in the Talmud into the scenery.
The result is an educational and aesthetically charming garden with a breathtaking view of the hills of the Efraim that is in itself a venue for learning and discussion.
New York philanthropists and Chairmen of the American Friends of the Bet El Yeshiva Center Mr. Eugen and Jeanie Gluck led the many buses of Beit El supporters to the ceremony. In his speech, Mr. Gluck said:
"Beit El is where Jewish history began and where Jewish life continues to thrive. You are building the State of Israel, educating the children of Israel, and defending the borders of the Land of Israel. You are doing this under most difficult conditions. We wish you much success in your holy work, and we pledge our total commitment and continued and unstinting support for many years to come. Be firm and strong."
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Minister Yuli Edelstein said:
"Forty years ago, the area of Bet El was, I apologize for the term, Judenrein – there were no Jews here. Thirty-four years ago, there were 16 families. Today there are over 1200. This speaks much about the growth of the Jewish population in Beit El and in this region.
"I am coming to you from Kiev where I recently attended the Babi Yar ceremony [commemorating the massacre of over 33,000 Jews by Nazis in 1941]. Many people say, if only the State of Israel were in existence when those things happened.
But, this line of reasoning can lead even well-meaning people to faulty conclusions. They say: 1) Terrible things happened to Jews in Europe, 2) Europeans were ashamed of themselves, 3) They found a certain piece of land and put Jews there - but this has now introduced a new problem of the suffering of poor Palestinians.'
"The Gluck Talmudic Garden is about reminding ourselves and the rest of the world that our presence in this land goes back long before any of those European countries existed. The Gluck Talmudic Courtyard proves that all the towns like Beit El are not here because Jews needed an asylum. Rather, the Jews are the rightful owners of the land.
May G-d give you strength to continue building the Land of Israel in the borders that we will be reading about in the coming weekly Torah portions."
Knesset Members Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz (National Union) and Danny Danon (Likud) also spoke at the event.
New York Attorney and President of the American Friends of Bet El David Friedman and his wife Tammy attended the gala ceremony. Addressing the crowd, Mr. Friedman noted that Beit El, via its many institutions including the Arutz Sheva media network, is an international hub of Jewish learning, activism and Israel advocacy.
Participants were treated to a bus tour from Jerusalem to Beit El, a lavish lunch in the enormous Beit El Yeshiva Sukkah - constructed especially for the event, and musical accompaniment from Hassidic singing star Akiva Margaliot.
American Friends of Beit El Activists Sherman and Sheila Simanowitz, David Hollander and Marty Segal were also in attendance. In his speech, Mr. Gluck welcomed his close friends Alter Goldstein, Daniel and Raizy Benedict and all four generations of the Gluck family from Israel and overseas – "too numerous to mention by name, bli ayin hara."
The annual Bet El Gala Dinner at the Manhattan Marriot Marquis, a not-to-be-missed event, is scheduled for Sunday, December 4th. For tickets and information, contact baruch@IsraelNationalNews.com .
[album:open:3726]
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by Gavriel Queenann 
In an apparent about-face, US officials criticized Tuesday evening the deal brokered for the freedom of Gilad Shalit, which set hundreds of terrorists, including those who had murdered Americans, free.
The criticism came after it became clear that the released terrorists included those who had murdered Jews with United States citizenship.
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Barak Obama had said he was pleased with the deal that set Shalit free despite his own nation’s strict policy of not negotiating with terrorists for the release of its citizens.
Obama also expressed the hope Israel and officials in Ramallah would take the steps necessary to return to the negotiating table.
Previously, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton also praised Israel for negotiating with terrorists to secure Shalit's release.
French President Sarkozy welcomed the release of Gilad Shalit, saying France had breathed a sigh of relief. Visiting the port city of Nice, Sarkozy's opined Shalit's French citizenship helped keep him alive. He added that Gilad will visit France soon.
Britain's foreign secretary William Hague also welcomed the release of Gilad Shalit, and like Obama, added he hoped the terrorists-for-Shalit deal would provide positive momentum allowing the resumption of peace talks.
It is unclear why the Shalit deal would provide any such momentum. Israel's deal to release 1,027 security prisoners, some 450 convicted on terrorism charges, for Shalit was made with the Hamas terror organization in Gaza and not Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah. Hamas encouraged those who were released to go back to terrorist acts.
Hamas had vowed never to negotiate with Israel.
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by Gavriel Queenann 
A Hizbullah delegation was welcomed by officials in Moscow on Wednesday for the terror group’s first official visit to the Kremlin.
The three-man delegation, headed by Hizbollah MP Mohammad Raad, is scheduled to meet Russian officials for talks on developments in Lebanon and the region, a Hizbollah source told Lebanon's The Daily Star.
The source said discussions will also touch on bilateral ties and issues of common interest.
Russia has opposed Western intervention in Syria as the uprising there enters its seventh month, as has Hizbullah, which has close ties to the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Those ties have eroded Hizbullah's reputation as a 'popular resistance movement' eroded due to its backing – and suspected participation in – Assad's brutal crackdown that has killed over 3,000 Syrian dissident to date.
But analysts say Moscow is likely seeking to bolster the terror group, which is a key component of Tehran's axis of influence in the region running through Damascus to Beirut.
Moscow's backing of Iran in recent years has been widely seen as a cold war style strategic move aimed in what may be a resurgent strategic rivalry with the United States and other Western powers over economic interests.
Hizbullah said the visit came in response to an invitation by Russia’s Parliament.
The As-Safir newspaper said the Hizbullah delegation will reiterate the terrorist group's role in "protecting Lebanon from Israel."
Hizbullah is also expected to raise the issue of ongoing pressure exerted on it from the West, which it says 'undermines the resistance' with the aim of exerting power in the region and thereby controllingnatural resources.
Observers note, however, that Hizbullah has come under increasing fire from March 14 opposition leaders in Lebanon, who demand it disarm and disband its terror militias saying they use then to undermine the will of the Lebanese people.
Criticism has also been leveled that Hizbullah's mode of 'resistance,' which includes pursuing territorial claims without Beirut's consent, has dragged Lebanon into devastating wars it wanted no part of.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Objet : A7News: Israel Will Find It More Difficult to Justify Ban on Hamas
If you cannot see this email properly, please click here
1. Israel Will Find It More Difficult to Justify Ban on Hamas
2. Hamas: Israel Crossed its Own Red Lines
3. Israeli Terror Victim: I Feel Betrayed Today
4. Israeli Ace Reporter: Media Surrendered to Emotion
5. Rav Ariel: High Court Ruling on Outposts Invalid
6. Talmudic Garden – First of Its Kind – Dedicated in Beit El
7. US Flip-Flops, Criticizes Shalit Deal
8. Moscow Welcomes Hizbullah
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