Tuesday, 17 April 2012


IsraPundit


Praise from the Right, condemnation from the Left

 

Netanyahu: This behavior is not characteristic of IDF soldiers and commanders • MK Ben Ari praises lieutenant colonel “for doing what Netanyahu and Aharonovitch lack the nerve to do” • MK Orlev: It was only the determined action of the deputy commander that prevented the continuing rampage by a gang of anarchists.

Lt. Col. Shalom Eisner’s filmed assault on an unarmed left-wing activist from Denmark, which gained large-scale exposure on Sunday, has won praise from the Right and harsh condemnation from the Left.
The incident occurred near the Palestinian village of Ouja in the Jordan Valley, as pro-Palestinian activists staged a protest bicycle ride in the area. A confrontation between protesters and IDF soldiers was filmed, catching Eisner smashing the activist in the face with his M-16 rifle.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the officer’s actions on Sunday. “This behavior is not...
 

Flytilla people did not get a refund of their ticket payment

 

On April 15, approximately 600 activists paid about $750 each for tickets to fly to Israel to demonstrate against that country’s existence. In almost all cases, they were prevented from boarding the aircraft. Airlines are legally responsible for not allowing passengers to board international flights who will be refused entry at the point of arrival. The tickets were not refunded. That means that about a half million dollars were thrown away in “supporting” the Palestinians. Imagine if that same amount had been provided for some productive purpose like improving medical care. So the activists got a thrill and did nothing but waste time and money for absolutely no return but an ego trip.

WJC ANALYSIS – Egyptian politics to determine future of Hamas

 


The cautious truce between the Egyptian Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Muslim Brotherhood has collapsed following the Brotherhood’s decision to run a candidate for the presidency of Egypt. This in turn triggered the decision of Omar Suleiman, former deputy to the deposed President Hosni Mubarak, to put his hat in the ring, thus placing the leading powers in Egypt on a collision track.
At the same time, Hamas – an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood – is engaged in the long and secretive process of electing a new Shura, the movement’s governing body. Although the showdown between the SCAF and Muslim Brotherhood is primarily an internal Egyptian concern, it bears direct influence over developments inside Hamas proper as it will determine the future of Khaled Mashal as the organization’s leader and possible transition of Hamas from a resistance-based movement to a purely political party akin to the Brotherhood.

Additionally, the...
 

If Jordan Falls, …

 


The “Arab Spring” revolutions seem to have bypassed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan – at least for the time being. But for King Abdullah II of Jordan the long-term survival of his throne and that of the Hashemite monarchy is becoming more questionable. Jordan, a British creation, has never been an organic state but rather, is a concoction of Bedouin tribes and Palestinians, who by some estimates, comprise 70% of the population. It is therefore logical to assume that it may be just a matter of time before Jordan becomes a Palestinian State.
At this juncture in world history, it is imperative that the U.S. and its Western allies begin to examine the possibility of a Palestinian State with its capital being Amman. “Jordan is Palestine,” is not merely a slogan but rather the only realistic solution to the Arab (Palestinian)-Israeli conflict. Unlike the West Bank and Gaza, which are simply too small to contain a Palestinian population reputed to be nearly...

74 Democrats Join J Street in Urging Concessions

 

by Rachel Hirshfeld,INN

Seventy-four Democrats in the House of Representatives have joined the leftist J Street organization in supporting the Obama administration’s attempt to force Israel into making painful and possibly dangerous concessions to the Palestinian Authority.
“In our view, support for a two-state resolution is inseparable from such support for Israel, its special relationship with the United States, and its very survival as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people,” the letter asserted.
Seven Jewish members signed the letter, including Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Reps. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), Bob Filner (D-Calif.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.).

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also signed the letter.
J Street’s director of government affairs, Dylan Williams, noted that the signatories “are making clear that to be...
 

Plaut: Shalom Eisner “should instead be given a medal.”

 


Obviously Plaut agrees with my comment in the other post. But not everybody does. Steinberg said “Tragically they are still successful in finding soldiers and, in this case, quite senior officers who lose control.” In other words, he doesn’t condone the soldiers actions. Even Plaut justified the soldier by saying he had been attacked. I took the position that as a matter of policy we should make them fear us. Its called deterrence. But as good as it feels to force conformity with our demands, some say it hurts our image around the world. Should we be concerned with this? Should we create an image of “nice” or an image of toughness? Which suits us better. Should we act in confrontation or should we avoid confrontation. Should we make a a big deal out of it or should we make the event a yawn? Ted Belman

By Steven Plaut
Well the “Flytilla” of pro-terrorism anarcho-fascists and Hitler Youth pretty much was halted in their airport espresso lounges...

Egypt’s Suleiman: Israel may consider occupying Sinai

 

Ex-regime strongman says he fears ‘price Egypt will have to pay if Israel decides to reoccupy Sinai.’ Calls on political rivals to ‘exercise caution, keep peace in region’ in light of close relations between Egypt and Hamas

Egyptian presidential candidate Omar Suleiman addressed the relations between Egypt and Israel for the first time since he announced his candidacy earlier this month.
In an interview with Egyptian daily al-Youm al-Saba’a, Suleiman analyzed relations between the two neighboring countries in the wake of the Arab Spring and the ongoing terrorist activity originating from the Sinai Peninsula. “I’m fearful of the price Egypt will have to pay if Israel decides to reoccupy Sinai,” he said.

He called on the Muslim Brotherhood party, which is considered his political rivals, “to exercise caution in an effort to keep peace in the region.”
“I fear that Israel thinks Egypt has become one of its...

Eisner should be promoted, not demoted

 


I totally support this officer. Lefties must fear our wrath. Obey our commands or else. These were not law abiding cyclists. They set out to challenge and provoke our soldiers. They should not be allowed to do so with impunity. Most countries arm their soldiers with batons and they are liberally used to force compliance on the provocateurs. This is not a game. Shalom Eisner set the bar. I hope all soldiers reach it. The soldiers should stand in solidarity with him. He should be praised not demoted. Ted Belman

Melanie Phillips cuts to the chase

 

Israeli TV report shows air force gearing-up for Iran attack

 


Is Israel releasing misinformation? Is the purpose of allowing this to be reported now to add to the pressure for the negotiations to acheive something worthwhile? Ted Belman


‘IAF expects losses, and knows it can’t destroy entire Iranian program’

By GREG TEPPER, TIMES OF ISRAEL,  April 15, 2012,
File: Fighter jet at the Uvda Air Force Base near Eilat. (photo credit: Ofer Zidon/Flash90)
File: Fighter jet at the Uvda Air Force Base near Eilat. (photo credit: Ofer Zidon/Flash90)
Major Israel TV station on Sunday night broadcast a detailed report on how Israel will go about attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities in the event that diplomacy and sanctions fail and Israel decides to carry out a military strike.
The report, screened on the main evening news of Channel 10, was remarkable both in terms of the access granted to the reporter, who said he had spent weeks with the pilots and other personnel he interviewed, and in the fact that his assessments on a strike were cleared by the military censor.
No order to strike is likely to be given before...


Ted Belman
Jerusalem, Israel

Posted by Britannia Radio at 09:55