Thursday, November 30, 2006

Baker-Hamilton Commission-Bad Ideas All Around

Today I’m going to talk about some U.S. issues rather than things going on in Israel. With the recommendations of a bipartisan congressional commission (Also known as the Baker-Hamilton Commission) on Iraq coming out, I felt it was a good time to sound off with my thoughts on some of those recommendations.

Some things I know both President Bush as well as Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki don’t want to see is a divided Iraq wherein the different ethnic and religious groups of Iraq would obtain their own largely autonomous “zones” of influence. Oil would have been shared by all parties. But, according to al Maliki that won’t help stop the bloodshed. In fact he says it will do just the opposite. I am not sure one way or the other, but on the surface of it, separating the factions and giving them areas where they hold power seems to me more reasonable than trying to force them all to live together and get along. A democracy is not going to alleviate these peoples’ problems. A dictatorship like that of Saddam Hussein is just about the only thing Muslims in general understand, and I cannot blame them much since its been that way for them for a thousand years. Islam itself promotes the idea of a single leader in most areas of life.

Regardless, I have to say although I am not a fan of President Bush, this commission headed by James Baker III, that man who famously said “F**k the Jews!”, has some recommendations that would be disastrous for Israel, but also for Saudi Arabia and for the United States. This Baker Commission is saying that there should be direct, high-level diplomacy between the U.S., Syria and Iran, encouraging these two extremist states to step up their influence in the Middle East and help to resolve the conflict in Iraq specifically.

Here’s why that’s such a bad idea.

1. Saudi Arabia (supposedly a great friend of the USA), is a Sunni Muslim nation. They don’t want to see the influence of Shiites in the Middle East grow. Therefore, they don’t want Iran having a lot of influence in Iraq. They are already troubled by Iran and Syria’s influence in Lebanon. If the U.S.A. pushes for Iranian and Syrian involvement in Iraq, this will say to the Saudis that the U.S.A. is also pushing for a broader Shiite presence in the Middle East. (This is despite the fact that the anti-Syrian government in Lebanon currently is Sunni, and is also friendly to the U.S.A.) The Saudis don’t want to see the U.S. act in what they would consider an unfriendly manner.
2. It would be undeniably bad for Israel if Syrian and Iranian influence in the Middle East grew and was encouraged by the U.S.A. This is because some of the stipulations Syria wants just to enter into diplomatic negotiations with the U.S. regarding helping in Iraq, have to do with the U.S.A. pressuring Israel to return the Golan Heights to Syria, and of course, Iran wants Israel wiped out permanently.
3. It would be bad for the U.S.A. because entering into direct negotiations with either Syria or Iran would show the Muslim world that terrorism pays. They would, indeed have bullied the U.S. (As well as Europe) into doing their bidding. Iran wants to be a nuclear power at any cost, they support terrorist organizations around the world and they have basically, on more than one occasion, told the rest of the world to f**k off. If the U.s. enters into direct diplomacy with Iran they will view it, not as a victory for their nation, but as a victory for Islam. The United States will be seen as weak, the protective walls of the “great Satan” will be viewed as crumbling. And again…extremists win in that situation.

All around the commission’s recommendations are foolish. They are appeasing to radical Islamic nations, and will do nothing to truly engender peace in the long run. Do I think the U.S. needs to remove its military forces from Iraq? Of course. I don’t think U.S. soldiers need to die over there. They’re not protecting America by being there.

On the other hand, using Iraq as a staging point to take out a belligerent and maniacally homicidal and suicidal nation like Iran just might be the smartest thing the U.S. could do.

And screw James Baker III, his commission and anyone else (Britain included) that would push for an agenda which does nothing but aid the enemies of the U.S.A. and of Israel, and is detrimental to the true safety of the world.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Fight to the Finish

King Abdullah of Jordan is an interesting man. Constantly talking about peace, constantly trying to exert some kind of influence in the Middle East, constantly “worried” about peace between Israel and the ‘Palestinians’ etc.

There’s really not that much strange about that considering that the rest of the world’s leaders want to leave a lasting legacy when it comes to brokering a real peace in the Middle East. But, Jordan’s Hashemite king doesn’t seem to really…I mean REALLY want peace in the Middle East since,

According to an article in the Jerusalem Post written by correspondent Paula Slier:

King Abdullah of Jordan said on Tuesday that he would not allow a massive influx of Palestinian refugees into his country as part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

During a speech at the Jordanian parliament, Abdullah added that he would oppose any deal that discriminated against the Palestinians or that came at Jordan's expense, Israel Radio reported.

Jordan's king went on to say that he would help the Palestinians as far as possible in establishing an independent state on the basis of UN decisions and the peace process.

Well, I wonder why King Abdullah doesn’t want ‘Palestinian’ refugees entering Jordan? Well gee, could it have anything to do with remembering Black September? Could it be that the Jordanians… (Same peoples as the ‘Palestinians’ here)…don’t really like their brothers and sisters? Could it be that they really…like most other reasonable peoples…don’t like the thought of having attempts at overthrowing their government by people you are related to, possibly occurring yet again, as it did in September of 1970, resulting in heavy casualties and the eventual expulsion of the PLO to Lebanon?

Does it have anything to do with remembering how the PLO set up a state within a state and over 500 armed conflicts between Jordanian military forces and the PLO Fedayeen transpired?

Hmmm. Just possibly.

But, King Abdullah is ready to host a round of peace talks (of course, making sure that Jordan will not allow any peace agreement wherein ‘Palestinians’ are permitted to cross into the Hashemite Kindom) franticly noting that: "a tremendous crisis" is brewing in the Middle East.

To that, I would say: No duh Sherlock! You’re a real observant fellow now aren’t you?

But peace deals with Arabs always seem to be about ME, ME, ME, ME, MEEEEEEEE. This is what I want. Why do I want it? And why will I never compromise? (in truth), because the holy Qur’an doesn’t allow us to think that we could be beaten by Jews in three separate wars and numerous other conflicts, the holy Qur’an does’nt allow us to acknowledge that Islam is not supreme in the Middle East. The holy Qur’an doesn’t allow us to allow a non-Muslim nation to exist in what would otherwise be the world’s Islamic stronghold.

And because Jews will never submit to the Islamic Allah, there will be no true peace between the differing peoples. It has always, throughout history, been a matter of religion and not of land. The Arabs know this. The Persians know this. Even the Turks know this.

Despite the fact that they follow a religion dictated by an Angel claiming to be from G-d. Hey…it’s easy to put some truth in every lie to tickle itching ears.

Sure, King Abdullah can bluster and spout as much hot air as he wants to, but in the end, nothing will come of it.

As I said before, it’s a matter of religion…not just land. It’s a battle between Hashem and Allah…not between Isaac and Ishmael. Sure, both peoples’ blood is spilled but in the end we’re related. We’re a warring family. But it’s truly a spiritual war as I see it.

Jews know Hashem gave the Land of Canaan which became the Land of Israel, to the Jews…just as He gave the rest of the lands the Arabs now hold to them. They ought to be satisfied with the larger portion He bequeathed to them.

King Abdullah thinks wars are possibly coming. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad knows they are coming and believes he is the instrument Allah will use to bring chaos to the world, it remains for the Jews to realize that the Muslims across the world recognize that there is a spiritual battle going on.

The Muslims hold us in contempt because they KNOW we believe G-d gave us the Land of Israel and we are willing still, through our leaders, to act like Esau whom Hashem hated, willing to offer up his birthright for a bowl of stew, offering and dividing up G-d’s land for empty promises of peace.

It remains for Jews in Israel as well as the Diaspora to rally back to Hashem and seize and hold on to the promises He has made to us throughout the ages. There should be no leaning on America, Russia or any other for support or victory.

Remember what Hashem says:

"But Zion says, The L-rd has forsaken me, and my L-rd has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, even they may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Your children shall make haste; your destroyers and those who destroyed you shall go away from you. Lift up your eyes around, and behold; all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live, says the L-rd, you shall surely dress yourself with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on you, as a bride does. For your destruction and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall now be too narrow for your inhabitants; and those who swallowed you up shall be far away. The children who were taken away from you shall say again in your ears, The place is too narrow for me; give me room to dwell in. Then shall you say in your heart, Who has borne me these, seeing I have lost my children, a solitary, an exile, and a wanderer to and fro? and who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they been? ... Fear not; for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded; for you shall not be put to shame; for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. For your Maker is your husband; the L-rd of hosts is his name; and your redeemer the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the earth. For the L-rd has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, but a wife of youth, Can she be rejected? says your God. For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercy will I gather you. In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the L-rd your redeemer." (Isaiah 49:14-21; 54:4-8)

Monday, November 27, 2006

Push For Peace

Let’s talk peacemaking here. Olmert wants to talk peace, so does Abbas, so let’s do it.

First of all I find it suspect that there is sudden talk about peacemaking coming from Abbas as well as Olmert only days before a visit to the region by President Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Oh there’s pressure from the U.S.A.?! Oh! Now it’s time to talk peace.

Let me blunt here:

This goes out to Prime Minister Olmert because as Israel’s current leader you bear the brunt of responsibility for Israel’s security right now…

…a catch and R.E.L.E.A.S.E. program is not beneficial to peace. The ‘Palestinians’ in prison are there for a reason. They are terrorists bent on Israel’s destruction. Releasing them in exchange for an Israeli soldier who was not even fighting ‘Palestinians’ is reprehensible unless you plan on making sure those same ‘Palestinians’ you are releasing are either recaptured or killed. Otherwise they will be back at it in no time flat trying to kill and/or hurt Jews. You know this is true. Everyone knows it. Anyone who denies it is living in a fantasy world of their own making.

The 'Palestinians' DO NOT WANT PEACE. They want the Land of Israel to be Judenrein and they want a victory for Islam.

In a major policy speech, (According to an article by Yehuda Gruber in Reuters) “Olmert offered to ease travel restrictions on Palestinians and free up frozen funds if violence against Israel ended. He repeated his readiness to give up some occupied land for an eventual peace agreement.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed the killing of two ‘Palestinians’ in an Israeli raid in the West Bank, where a truce is not in effect.

In response to the prime minister extending his hand in peace, we see what some Palestinian factions are giving in return," Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin said.”

Someone please tell me at what time the ‘Palestinians’ have ever lived up to a cease fire! When have they ever truly honored their hudnas? Not just that, but the West and the Israeli leadership are delusional. It is not just ‘Palestinian’ “factions” that are spitting in Olmert’s face as he tries mistakenly to offer peace deals to these people. The regular, every day ‘Palestinian’ Arab on the street would jump at the chance to carve Olmert’s heart out with a spoon if given the chance! Just remember the popularity Hamas holds with the average ‘Palestinian.’ Just think of all the chanting of “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” these ordinary, everyday ‘Palestinian’ people do (And on a regular basis!)

Wait a minute! Why are we even talking about hudnas and temporary cease fires?

You want something from us? Then make peace period damnit! None of this, “Oh we’ll agree to a peace with time limits…after that…it’s back on!” Forget that! To paraphrase Jedi Master Yoda: “Make peace or do not make peace; there is no hudna.” And if there is no peace, then go in and kick the ever loving crap out of them until you win.

Forcibly remove the enemy from your midst into other Islamic lands. (Rabbi Benny Elon has a great plan for that actually. He even has a compensation plan for those Arabs that would like to leave peacefully. It’s a heck of a lot nicer and more fair than what the Islamic countries did to Jews that THEY kicked out.) But back to the issue of hudnas…

…In case the doves out there including Olmert still don’t realize what a hudna is, let me be more clear:

A hudna is nothing more than a period of calm wherein terrorists can breathe a bit more freely, can find time to renew planning phases of attacks, and can re-arm themselves. It’s a breather until they are ready to carry on their intefadeh.

So screw that, and screw Bush and Condi Rice when it comes to pushing for peace between Israel and the ‘Palestinians’. We all know that the demands will be more “Land for Peace” stipulations. America needs to get its nose out of Israel’s affairs. Be an ally yes, but don’t tell Israel what to do. Do you do that to England? Be a friend, but not the kind that is only friends as long as Israel does your bidding.

America needs to remember that Israel is not its Middle Eastern lap dog.

But then, maybe America wouldn’t treat Israel in that fashion if Israel’s leaders, ala Olmert, didn’t behave as an eager to please mutt, allowing America to put its leash and collar on Israel, and heeling at every command from America’s own B+&%$! of the century:

Condoleeeeeeeeeeza.

Oh wait! One other thing…Israel might do well to stop asking for, and receiving money from the U.S.A. When you owe someone money you are rather beholden to them. You don’t like the U.S.A. telling you what to do? (I don’t.)

Here’s a big tip:

Stop accepting monetary aid from them. If you don’t owe them anything, you can then tell them exactly where to shove it when they and the rest of the world come calling.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

I know this is an old, old issue. But it is one that has come up again with the moving of the Costa Rican and El Salvadorian embassies from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. It’s sad. These were the last two foreign embassies in the capitol of Israel and now, they have succumbed to the pressure of the Muslim Arab world and have capitulated.

But hey, they are following the example of the USA. American presidents have a history of promising to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv TO Jerusalem every election cycle. Once in office they conveniently decide to forget they ever made those promises. Or, they use the excuse as Clinton did that moving the embassy would complicate the Israeli-‘Palestinian’ conflict.

To which I say…give me a massive break. Like the conflict could get any worse than it ever has been? Like the United States needs to appease the ‘Palestinian’ people who elect known terrorist organizations to lead them? Like the U.S. needs to appease a people who REFUSED through Yassir Arafat, the best deal the ‘Palestinian’ people ever had offered to them in July of 2000 at the Camp David Summit.

Yet again, I’d like to remind my readers just what the ‘Palestinians’ refused:

Ehud Barak, then Prime Minister of Israel offered to form a ‘Palestinian’ State initially on 73% of the West Bank (that is 27% less than the Green Line borders) and 100% of the Gaza Strip. In 10 to 25 years the West Bank area would expand to 90% (94% excluding greater Jerusalem). A road from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea would separate the West Bank, with free passage for ‘Palestinians’ except that Israel reserved the right to close the road for passage in case of emergency. The ‘Palestinian’ position was that the annexations would block existing road networks between major Palestinian populations. In return, the Israelis would cede 1-3 % of their territory in the Negev Desert to ‘Palestine’. Yassir Arafat rejected this proposal and did not make a counteroffer.

What is it that REALLY keeps the good ol’ U.S.A. from moving its embassy to Jerusalem? Is the United States genuinely afraid of an Islamic backlash? Are we afraid Iran, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia will deny us their oil if the Americans really did move the embassy?

Again I say…give me a massive break.

The U.S. doesn’t even have diplomatic relations with Iran, the diplomatic relations with Syria are strained and always have been, The U.S. has nominal control over Iraq, lets see…who would the U.S. have to worry about then? Oh yeah! Saudi Arabia!

That nation from whom 90% of the 9/11 jet hijackers came from! That nation that Osama bin Laden called home for most of his life. That nation that has the most religiously intolerant leadership in just about the entire Middle East. That nation where American Christian soldiers cannot wear cross necklaces or carry a Bible. That nation that carries out Sharia, that divine law set forth in the Qur’an. (Beheadings anyone? Mmm??? Hands chopped off? Mmm?)

Yup…that great ally of the U.S. in the Middle East…Saudi Arabia!

Who here can sense my sarcasm? Raise your hands!

Ok, so the Saudis’ have a lot of oil. But they don’t share the Western outlook on life in any regard. (Does anyone seriously believe that the United States needs to be energy independent? Raise your hands yet again!) If oil is the primary reason to appease Islamic peoples who hate the United States and call the U.S. the “great Satan” on a regular basis (And not because of the U.S.’s vocal support of Israel) then hell, the U.S. should focus on making itself independent of any foreign nation’s oil supply and tell those that are stuck in a violent religion and code of law over a thousand years old to go take a flying leap, and focus on making and keeping the only true friends in the Middle East the U.S. has got.

Can anyone guess who that friend is? Continually insulting Israel by refusing to acknowledge Jerusalem as Israel’s declared capitol actually means refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of Israel as a Nation.

How would the U.S. feel if other nations decided to put their embassies in Houston, TX? Or how would England feel if the USA put its embassy in Liverpool?

No. The hypocrisy should end and the embassies of the Western nations at the very least should be moved to Jerusalem in recognition of Israel’s legitimacy.

The rest of the world that doesn’t wish to be Islamicized should follow suit.

So…

Hamas is saying that the Jews must evacuate Sderot according to an article in World Net Daily. Oh man, the gall! The chutzpah! The sheer, disgusting nerve of these guys!

For those of you who just don’t get it, let me put this into perspective for you, a little history lesson if you will:

1. Sderot started out as a little town in 1953 with a population made up largely of Persian and Kurdish Jews. (Hey these were Jews who didn’t even come from Western countries!)
2. The town lies only one kilometer (Less than a mile remember) from the border of Gaza.
3. It is still well within Israel Proper.
4. It currently has a population of slightly over twenty thousand (20,000) people ninety nine percent of whom are Jews while the remainder is non-Arab, non-Jews. There is just about no Arab presence in the town.

Now, Hamas’ current demands would be as if Mexican nationals suddenly said the tiny little town of Zapata, Texas were to be evacuated of non-Hispanic people and handed over to the Mexican government. Except Mexico might have a slightly more legitimate claim since Zapata’s population is 89% Hispanic or other Latino. It’s European “white” population is less than 0.25%!!!

But guess what? The Hispanic population of Zapata, Texas doesn’t feel that they are Mexican nationals. They live in the U.S.A. on the American side of the border and are United States citizens. Their ethnic brothers and sisters on the Mexican side of the border don’t try to claim Zapata or any other city on the American side of the border as theirs, even though historically, the United States took that land away from them and annexed it.

Hamas doesn’t have the right to demand a thing of any Israeli, especially on the Israeli side of the border. They have no legitimate right to send rocket attacks against Sderot. (And U.N. Observer Louise Arbour can go sit and spin.) Hamas is not defending anything with their rocket attacks.

No.

In fact Hamas is committing acts of war, not of resistance. Their excuse of continuing resistance against occupation is a flimsy one used on the pathetically gullible mainstream Western media. (And these guys are supposed to have journalistic standards…pshaw!)

The only thing the residents of Sderot are occupying is their own homes, their own land, and their own schools…in short they are Israelis occupying Israeli land.

It is high time Ehud Olmert and the rest of the government quit acting like cowards, afraid of every distasteful, sour glare sent their way by the rest of the world. It is high time the voice of the U.N. was completely shut out by Israel (by America too), they are ineffective and they are just not relevant anymore. A limited ground incursion into Gaza by Israeli forces is not the answer. “Creative Solutions” are not the answer.

Wiping out Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s leadership and their ability to fight completely is.

I am a huge proponent of Aliyah. I believe Israel is the home of the Jews. That will never change and is certain. Now however, an argument from me is about to arise in response to Israeli Chief Sephardi Rabbi, Shlomo Amar’s assertion that converts to Judaism should not enjoy the benefits of the Right of Return and automatically be able to become Israeli citizens.

 I would like to list a few things the Orthodox community would do well to remember:

1. The Chief Sephardic Rabbi (Orthodox) of Israel changed his requirements for conversion without informing American Orthodox rabbis.
2. Orthodox Judaism has not had a unified standard of conversion.
3. There are arguments about conversion between ultra-orthodox, modern orthodox and haredi orthodox sects.

I come from a Conservative background, so I usually disagree with the Orthodox community anyway on a whole host of issues, but this latest idea and proposal by Rabbi Amar is not only religiously intolerant, it is elitist and condescending.

Who gave him the right to decide part and parcel who is a Jew and who is not? If Israel were to adhere to his standards I would bet that the Jewish population would decline tremendously because by his standards only those who met with the Orthodox criteria would be considered Jewish.

“Hey we don’t go around wearing black coats and pants, black shoes and tie, black hat and a white shirt! The only way people can tell us apart from the Amish is to note that hidden under our black hats are Kippot! We’re the ones that are REALLY Jewish.”

Nonsense.

Now, I realize that is a rather inflammatory description of the Orthodox community, but honestly it grates on my nerves to no end that they presume to be the only standard bearers for the correct interpretation of the Torah. And that carries over to standards of conversion.

But now, it’s not just standards of conversion that are at issue. It’s whether converts to Judaism should be able to automatically become Israeli citizens after they convert?

My position is this:

1. Why not? These people made a choice to become Jews.
2. These people want to live AS Jews in Israel. How much more Zionist can you get?
3. That’s MORE Zionist and more jewishly patriotic than those in the Orthodox community in Israel which doesn’t believe Israel even has a right to exist, and doesn’t serve in the IDF because the Moshiach didn’t set the nation up himself!

I can’t stand the conceit and arrogance that people like Rabbi Amar wallow in. Let me tell you something Rabbi, people that are not born Jews but that become Jews are often more observant than those that were born to Jewish parents.

I know. I haven’t been observant my whole life, but I’ve known converts that adhered to halakhic requirements ten times more than I did, and I was born to a Jewish mother. (My dad was an Irishman.)

Oh man, I’m only HALF Jewish! But I guess I get into the brotherhood by the skin of my teeth and by halakhic law because my Mom is Jewish. Yet I tell you a lot of converts DESERVE the title of Jew more than many of us who are born as Jews if religious observance is the definition of a good Jew.

(Or should I say…Orthodox religious observance?)

And yes, notice I said “converts.” Not just non-Jews that live like Jews but have not converted. I know the difference.

More than that, I wonder just how “pure” the blood is of most Jews in the world today. Probably not very. Throughout the history of the people of Israel there have been intermarriages, sex with women and men who were not Jews, and kids born to those unions. And it didn’t always used to be, that being Jewish meant being born to a Jewish mother. But since that’s the way it is today, I think the Orthodox would do well to remember that in the Bible, Ruth was a convert to Judaism. Not only was she a convert, she was an ancestor of King David. That means she is also an ancestor to the Moshiach.

That’s right. The Moshiach has a convert as an ancestor. *GASP!*

I doubt sincerely that Ruth had to go through an “Orthodox” conversion to become a Jew. No, in fact she merely made a statement saying:

Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.
Ruth, 1. 16

And from the Jerusalem Talmud:

WHITHER THOU GOEST I WILL GO: to the tent of testimony, to Gilgal, Shiloh, Nob, Gibeon, and the Permanent Temple. [These were the different places where the sanctuary rested before it settled in Jerusalem.] AND WHERE THOU LODGEST I SHALL LODGE: I shall lodge overnight with the sacrifices. [According to Deuteronomy 16:7, one had to stay overnight in Jerusalem on the first night of festivals after the sacrifice had been offered.] THY PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, in that I will destroy all idolatry within me, and then THY GOD SHALL BE MY GOD, to pay me the reward of my labor. (Ruth Rabbah I:23)

Nope, no mention of Orthodox conversions there. Just statements signifying her intention to BE a Jew and to join herself to the people of Israel.

Let me tell you something else Rabbi, these converts in modern times, yes those JEWS you don’t recognize, will strengthen Israel, will serve in the Israeli Defense Forces and will protect your old rear-end when it comes down to conflict.

See, they don’t have a problem in recognizing that being Jewish is more than a matter of your birth.

It is unconscionable that the people of Gush Katif, plucked up by their brothers and sisters in the IDF and thrown out of their homes in order to make way for ‘Palestinian’ whiners who cannot stand the thought of Jews living in their midst, in order to somehow make peace that never comes, should still, to this day, have no permanent homes inside Israel proper.

What is it about Israeli bureaucracy that makes helping these people and living up to the government’s promises to them so hard? Everyone knows the immense bureaucracy that Israel suffers, but the point has been made by the Head of the Committee for Gush Katif, Lior Kalfa, that “Just like Dis-engagement had a deadline which was kept despite the bureaucracy, thus the rehabilitation should have a deadline which is kept despite the bureaucracy. And solutions should be implemented which do not harm the community or the family structure.”

I agree with that statement in the extreme. If the Israeli government could push through a massive expulsion of Jews from Gaza in a rather dictatorial method by Arik Sharon, it is also able to “make it happen” for the former residents of Gush Katif now. Israel’s government must live up to their promises no matter who is in power. Jews must be good to Jews.

It has been said that you must be cruel in order to be kind. Jews were unkind to Jews in order to be kind to Arab Muslims by removing the Jewish presence (horror of horrors!) from Gaza. Now, the rest of Israel must be kind to their brothers and sisters from Gush Katif. The rest of Israel should demand that these people’s plight be taken care of and expedited in the most efficient, kind and timely manner humanly possible.

I am also sickened that many major American Jewish organizations have refused to aid these people. They have raised tons of money (over $300 Million according to Arutz Sheva) for the northern part of Israel, hit by missiles from Hezbollah, even raising lots of money for Arab villages but American Jewry has by and large been unsympathetic to the Settlers who were thrown out of their homes and even now don’t have good places to live. (Homes and community buildings which have been taken over by Hamas by the way). So, kudos to you American Jews who supported the Expulsion. You’ve succeeded along with the rest of the world in aiding Israel’s enemies.

Well, surely these bleeding hearts that raise tons of money for Israeli Arab children can also see the need of the children of Gush Katif. (Or wait a minute! Perhaps these people and their children are not worthy of American Jewry’s money. After all, in the leftist elite circles in which many American Jews run, the issue of Gush Katif and the Settlers is a political liability!)

Shame on you American Jewry! Aiding your brothers and sisters should be of more importance to you than the empty smiles of people who are your friends only as long as you agree with them. I can’t stand the political stances of Gush Shalom…but I would be there for those Jews if they needed my aid…simply because they are Jews.

Live up to those promises.

Ok now look, I was going to take some time this morning to write an article about Iran and Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip here in the States and his comments (Which I happen to agree with) but, the Militant Islamic weirdoes in Gaza that have their people brainwashed into thinking it’s cool to act as human shields have stolen the day’s headlines and so I’ve changed the thrust of this article.

I mean in the morning news on Yahoo! This morning, in an article published by the Associated Press by a writer named Ibrahim Barzak (A Muslim writer no less!), there was this huge celebration by ‘Palestinian’ people and by Hamas in-particular and Hamas’ Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh celebrating the fact that lots of people showed up to block an Israeli air-strike against two different houses in the Gaza Strip that were targeted for housing terrorist weapons (I.E. bomb making supplies, rocket making supplies, etc.), and celebrating that they were able to make Israel call off the strikes, giving the ‘Palestinians’ a victory in a sense.

The first thing one would wonder is how did these throngs of ‘Palestinians’ even know that Israel was going to make a strike at these homes? Did Hamas tip them off? Did Fatah talk to Israeli informants and then make a mad dash to a radio station to blare the news to the faithful to gather and defend homes against the Zionist enemy?

No.

Israel routinely issues warnings to those in such homes to get out of them BEFORE a strike occurs in order to reduce or completely prevent human casualties. Bad Israel! Bad! How dare you care about human life! Remember Beit Hanoun! That’s your REAL self!

That’s what those who play the media game would have their readers and listeners believe anyway. But Israel really and truly does care about human life…even the lives of those who want to destroy Israel. (I bet the mainstream media didn’t mention that in Beit Hanoun after the Israeli tank shelling, that it was Israeli emergency medical personnel that came and took the wounded to Israeli hospitals to be cared for by Israeli doctors and nurses.)

But I digress. I’m talking about ‘Palestinian’ human shields.

"We are so proud of this national stand. It's the first step toward protecting our homes, the homes of our children," Haniyeh said as he made his way to the roof of the house, decorated during the night with black and green flags symbolizing the Popular Resistance Committees and Hamas groups.

What a hypocrite! Hamas has routinely used human shields when fighting on the ground with Israeli troops. And during those battles it didn’t matter if the human shields were willing or not. It just didn’t matter to Hamas. When kids died in street battles with Israeli soldiers, by and large it was because some stupid father or mother actually WENT to the battle site WITH their kids to see what was going on…or perhaps to become a martyr and get to Paradise that much faster. Or, the militant terrorists would run through the streets with their Kalashnikovs and duck and dodge through crowds of innocent civilians; they would get back behind the crowds and then fire through them toward the Israeli soldiers. Hamas, Fatah, the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Islamic Jihad, all of them used the same tactics. And masters of the media that they are, they spun the stories so that it appeared Israel was intentionally killing kids in the streets of Gaza.

Whatever.

It just sickens me that the likes of Haniyeh can get regular every day people to willingly come and act as human shields. And of course they think they are protecting their homes etc. from Israel. Now however, somehow I doubt that these regular everyday folks are completely stupid. I doubt that they are completely ignorant of Israel’s reasons for coming to destroy those houses with the weaponry hidden inside. No…of course these people are neither stupid nor blind.

It’s the West that is stupid and blind. It’s Israel’s current leaders who are stupid and blind to think that the regular, everyday ‘Palestinian’ Arab wants peace. It was these lemmings who elected Hamas in a landslide election in the first place. And it was based (Sure on the idea that Hamas wasn’t as corrupt as Fatah) but mainly on the premise that Hamas would lead them ultimately to victory over Israel.

It always comes down to hatred of Israel over advancement of themselves as a people.

Do you know why? There are NO ‘Palestinian’ people. They have no distinct culture. They are the same peoples as Iraq and Egypt. In fact their ancestry can be traced back to either country. Just take note of their family names.

So what we have here are willing, perverse sacrificial lambs hearing and answering the call of Haniyeh, their wolf-like, criminal shepherd. A man who knows his neck ought to be on the chopping block, but who has no problem offering up the masses in his place.

  "Death to Israel. Death to America," the crowds chanted. Local mosques and Palestinian TV and radio stations also mobilized supporters. It was the first time Palestinians have formed human shields to prevent an air-strike.

            Yeah, and these guys have the gall to still ask for American money? “Death to America!” they shout. Wake up Americans! These guys are not friends of the West any more than they are friends of Israel.

Those chants sure sound like those of peace makers don’t they?

"These Palestinian masses have come to defeat the Zionist swords which are targeting our heads and the heads of our fighters," said Nizar Rayan, a Hamas leader in northern Gaza. "Look we are defeating them," he added, pointing to Israeli warplanes overhead in the night sky.

Nizar Rayan is right. The ‘Palestinians’ are winning. They will continue to win their vicious war not only with the “little Satan” Israel, but joining hands with their ideological brothers the Iranians through Hizbullah, they’ll win against “the great Satan” America by proxy when the Iranian madmen get their hands on nuclear weapons.

They will continue to win as long as Israeli leaders care more for the opinions of Europe and Russia (Both of whom are in bed with Iran and Islam in general) than they do for the security needs of Israel.

With this new tactic shown by the consensus of the ‘Palestinians’, Israel will have to adopt a new strategy of her own.

1.      I would suggest not telling terrorists you are going to bomb them beforehand.

2.    &nb