ENGAGE - For a Secure Israel (EFSI)

The forgotten evacuees

2007-02-17T18:58:00.000-05:00

It is nearly a year and a half since a government-sponsored advertising campaign reassured the nation that "there's a solution for every settler" - a reference to the thousands of Israeli citizens then slated to be removed from Gaza and northern Samaria as part of disengagement.
However the sorry truth is that not a single evacuated family has been relocated to a permanent home. Most of the evacuated breadwinners are still unemployed. Only 10 of the 400 farmers were given new land, and even that was woefully inadequate. More

The Peaceful Majority

2007-01-30T08:25:00.000-05:00

by William Haynes

I used to know a man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War Two. They owned a number of large industries and estates. I asked him how many German people were true Nazis, and the answer he gave has stuck with me and guided my attitude toward fanaticism ever since.

"Very few people were true Nazis "he said," but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."

We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace.

Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.
It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority" is the "silent majority" and it is cowed and extraneous.

Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.

The average Japanese individual prior to World War 2 was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And, who can forget Rwanda , which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were "peace loving"? History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:

Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany , they will awake one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.
Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.

As for us who watch it all unfold; we must pay attention to the only group that counts; the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

Lastly, I wish to add: I sincerely think that anyone who rejects this as just another political rant, or doubts the seriousness of this issue or just deletes it without paying heed to it, or sending it on, is part of the problem. Lets quit laughing at and forwarding the jokes and cartoons which denigrate and ridicule our leaders in this war against terror. They are trying to protect the interests and well being of the world and it's citizens. Best we support them.

William Haynes
bill2space@cox.net

Thanks for the heads-up from Naomi Ragen

Chanukah 5765 - Neve Dekalim

2006-12-18T13:18:00.000-05:00

Dispelling The Darkness

United Jewish Communites Honor Olmert...

2006-11-14T23:05:00.000-05:00

Thoughts on that, here.

Where are the roses?

2006-11-13T14:03:00.000-05:00

Let's get real, things aren't that great, but maybe if we got together, we could topple the government.

Groveling Before Power - the O-U

2006-11-12T22:42:00.000-05:00

Shemayah said... Abhor taking high office, and do not seek intimacy wit the ruling power.

Rabban Gamliel...Be wary of those in power, for they befriend a person only for their own benefit, they seem to be friends when it is to their advantage, but they do not stand by a man in his hour of need.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi...Do not yearn for the table of kings, for your table is greater than theirs, and your crown is greater than theirs, and your Employer is trustworthy to pay you remuneration for your deeds. - Mishna, Pirke Avos, 1:10, 2:3, 4:5

The O-U, the Orthodox Union announced today that the Prime Minister of the State of Israel - the Hon. Ehud Olmert will address the opening session of the Biennial Convention of the Orthodox Union in Jerusalem on Wednesday, November 22.

In the words of my friend Shlomo Wollins of IsraelReporter.Com (with a little of my own editing and contributions)...

This man Olmert has sent thugs to smash brains of yeshiva students in Amona...his family are all founders or members of anti-Israel organizations. His son is same-gender oriented and living in Paris.

This past week he sent his horses to trample yeshiva students protesting the great Chillul Hashem, the Immoral Pride Parade which his government strongly suppported.

He is under investigation for 5-7 separate acts of financial or power corruption.

And not to mention his political aspirations are to throw 80,000-120,000 more Jews out of their homes in Israel central, Biblical and strategic highlands, and give it all to Israel's proven, sworn, and current enemies and murderers.

He is either insane or certainly a horrid Jew (or bought and paid for, or Erev Rav, or all the above).

It is a great disgrace that O-U associates itself with this man after his approving the Immoral Pride Parade in Jerusalem and sending his thugs to beat up kids with iron sticks who are protesting the Chillul Hashem (according to all the rabbis).

It may be time for O-U to do some teshuvah for its silence on Gush Katif by canceling this appearance. By having him appear now the O-U koshers the public flaunting of same-gender relationships (called an abomination in the Torah), corruption, the Amona bloodbath, Gush Katif, all by association. It further appears that O-U also supports the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Yesha (the Shomron and Yehuda, aka the West Bank) and the creation of a Palestinian State.

It us stunning that the O-U would associate with the upcoming (chv'sh) suicidal and cruel "convergence". What an insensitive and self-serving choice of speakers at this time. Doesn't O-U have a soul or conscience anymore, or it is just a stamp? Doesn't O-U need to stand up for Torah in more ways than just food? Supporting Olmert is opposing Torah and therefore Hashem.

We would suggest canceling the whole conference which likely accomplishes little, and give all the millions of dollars to the victims of the Gush Katif destruction who are wallowing in squalor with few helping. That would really make O-U special.

We must stand up for Torah and not try to white wash or cozy up to power. The Torah demands it, Truth demands it.

If the Orthodox Union is worthy of it's name, it must take action and reject Prime Minister Olmert as a conference speaker.

If you agree, you may express it to these O-U Contacts on their press release:

Conference Web Site - Here.

Nathan J. Diament, Director of Institute for Public Affairs
+1 202-513-6484; ndiament@ou.org

Stephen Steiner, Director of Public Relations
+1 212.613.8318; steiners@ou.org

Frank Buchweitz, Convention Information Contact
+1 212 613-8188, frank@ou.org

Live Report from the Jerusalem Front!

2006-11-06T23:34:00.000-05:00

Here.

Anti-Pride Parade Info!

2006-11-06T23:27:00.000-05:00

This is not the first Immoral Pride Parade in Jerusalem. It will be the FOURTH time!

As I understand it from their web site, there will be a gathering at Liberty Bell Park at 11 am. The parade starts at 11:45 am and usually begins at Kikar Zion traveling up Ben Yehuda (where their office is located which operates year round without disturbance!) to King George and on back to Liberty Bell Park where there is to be a "happening" at 12:30 pm.

May G-d give us the wisdom and the strength to successfully oppose the continued defilement of His Name and His City. As it says in prophet Amos...

"Thus says the L-rd: For three transgressions...and for four, I will not turn away it's punishment...."

(Another person sent...)

A new parade route has been marked out. It is through the Federal government park district of Yerusahalyaim, the Supreme Court/ Knesset grounds.

More Anti-Parade Contact Info

2006-10-31T10:48:00.000-05:00

Abraham Dicter , Minister of Internal Security
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-6496168, (International) +972-2-6496168
-- Fax (Israel) 02-6496168
-- Phone (US) 011-972-2-6753727, (International) +972-2-6753727
-- Phone (Israel) 02-6753727
-- Email adichter@knesset.gov.il

Mayor Lopianski of Jerusalem
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-6296014, (International) +972-2-6296014
-- Fax (Israel) 02-6296014
-- Email lpuri@jerusalem.muni.il

Jerusalem Police
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-5391391, (International) +972-2-5391391
-- Fax (Israel) 02-5391391

Superintendent of Jerusalem Police, Mr. Ilan Franco
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-5391466, (International) +972-2-5391466
-- Phone (US) 011-2-972-5391100, (International) +972-2-5391100
-- Email mafkal@police.gov.il

Members of Knesset on the Interior Ministry Committee that will decide if the parade will take place:

MK Eli Yishai, Head of Shas faction:
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-6662252, (International) +972-2-6662252
-- Phone (US) 011-972-2-6408406, (International) +972-2-6408406
-- Email lishka.sar@moital.gov.il, eyishay@knesset.gov.il

MK Edri, Minister of Jerusalem:
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-6753929, (International) +972-2-6753929
-- Phone (US) 011-972-2-6753939, (International) +972-2-6753939
-- Email yedri@knesset.gov.il

MK Hirshson: ahirshson@knesset.gov.il
MK Gidon Ezra: gezra@knesset.gov.il
MK Yuli Tamir: ytamir@knesset.gov.il
MK Roni Baron: rbaron@knesset.gov.il
MK Yitzchak Herzog: iherzog@knesset.gov.il
MK Pines-Paz: pinespaz@knesset.gov.il
MK Rafi Eitan: reitanhantman@knesset.gov.il
MK Yitzchak Cohen: izchakec@knesset.gov.il
MK Eitan Kabel: ecabel@knesset.gov.il

Other government minister's contact info.

Anti-Gay Parade Government Contacts

2006-10-30T22:43:00.000-05:00

Looking for someone to protest to? Try these...

Abraham Dicter , Minister of Internal Security
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-6496168, (International) +972-2-6496168
-- Fax (Israel) 02-6496168
-- Phone (US) 011-972-2-6753727, (International) +972-2-6753727
-- Phone (Israel) 02-6753727
-- Email adichter@knesset.gov.il

Mayor Lopianski of Jerusalem
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-6296014, (International) +972-2-6296014
-- Fax (Israel) 02-6296014
-- Email lpuri@jerusalem.muni.il

Jerusalem Police
-- Fax (US) 011-972-2-5391391, (International) +972-2-5391391
-- Fax (Israel) 02-5391391

news round-up

2006-09-28T14:37:00.000-04:00

Here it is.

why is the Arab terror here ignored?

2006-09-12T15:54:00.000-04:00

Jerusalem was left out of a New York Times article about terrorism!

that wall

2006-08-21T14:20:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of the ghetto wall surrounding northern Jerusalem. Someone even spray-painted the word "ghetto."

Wishing you every success!

2006-08-11T07:16:00.000-04:00

אני מתגורר עם אשתי בקיבוץ אי שם בארץ ובימים של מלחמה בצפון חולפים לפרקים מעל ראשנו מסוקי חה"א בדרכם לצפון. לפני כמה ימים בצאתי מביתי לאוטו בדרך לעבודה הבחנתי בבית השכנים בהסרת רעפים וחשבתי שככול הנראה הם מנצלים את ימי הקיץ לתיקוני רעפים.

I live with my wife in a kibutz somewhere in Israel. During the days of fighting IDF aircraft fly overheadon their way North. A few days agoas I was leaving my home to go to work, I noticed that the neighbours had removed several roof tiles. I thought there were probably exploiting the dry summer days to do some roof repairs.

היום בחזרתי לביתי בחצות הבחנתי באור בוהק העולה מגג הבית. לא לקח לי יותר משלוש שניות להבין מה פשר הרעיון

Today upon my return home I dicerned the glow of light through the roof of their house. It only took me three seconds to comprehend what they had done!

צביקה ורונית אריאל
קיבוץ עין כרמל

Tvika & Ronit Ariel
Kibutz Eyan Karmel

2006-08-04T07:50:00.000-04:00

Disengagement's Questions - One Year Later

Milking Qana

2006-08-01T20:19:00.000-04:00

A must read, here is the report's conclusion:

Whatever else, the event in Qana was a human tragedy. But the photographs do not show it honestly. Rather, they have been staged for effect, exploiting the victims in an unwholesome manner. In so doing, they are no longer news photographs - they are propaganda. And, whoever said the camera cannot lie forgot that photographers can and do. Those lies have spread throughout the world by now and will be in this morning's newspapers, accepted as real by the millions who view them

A Must Read : Hostages of Hezbollah

2006-07-31T19:24:00.000-04:00

Until 2002, I lived in a small village near Mardshaun, which for the most part was inhabited by Shi'ite Moslems like myself. Once Israel left Lebanon in 2000, it didn't take long for Hezbollah to take control of our village and the others in the vicinity as well. Greeted and cheered as successful resistance fighters, they also set up missile storage facilities in bunkers inside our village. The social work activity of the Party of G-d [Hezbollah] consisted of establishing a school and putting a residential block directly on top of those bunkers.

A local sheikh told me that the Jews are going to lose either way. Either they will get hit by the missiles or, if they attack the storage dumps, they are going to be universally condemned by public opinion because of the civilian deaths which will then happen.

I knew that I had to protect my family against such "welfare" activities. These people don't care one bit about the welfare of the Lebanese population. They simply exploit them as human shields and, once they have been killed, for pure propaganda purposes. So long as they (Hezbollah) exist, there is no chance of any peace or any quiet.

Dr. Mounir Herzallah
30-Jul-06
Berlin-Wedding

Give Israel Your United Support

2006-07-30T01:33:00.000-04:00

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2006-07-28T08:50:00.000-04:00

Ro'i Klein HY"D

A Revised History of Lebanese Modern History

2006-07-26T21:00:00.000-04:00

A must read if you want the entire bloddy history of terrorism and Lebanon.

Thanks to the AFP for distorting history and the Elders of Ziyon for correcting it!

What's Really Happening in Beruit!

2006-07-26T16:45:00.000-04:00

Retired Canadian General Lew MacKenzie — who is speaking in Toronto tonight at a Stand with Israel rally — was interviewed on CBC Toronto radio this a.m. He told the show’s anchor that he had received an e-mail only days before from the dead Canadian observor who was a member of his former battalion. MacKenzie says that the message indicated in effect that the UN position was being used as cover by Hezbollah, who, MacKenzie explained, can do so quite freely as they are not members of the UN and not subject, therefore, to official condemnation. MacKenzie further took issue with the misleading reportage (citing CNN in particular) that suggests that Beirut is being bombarded by the IDF and that the city is in ruins. He said that the bombing is no where near the saturation levels that constitute a bombardment and the IAF have specifically targetted a twelve-block area that is, more-or-less, Hezbollah City, and only after dropping
leaflets warning civilians to vacate well in advance of the planned airstrikes.

2006-07-25T20:29:00.000-04:00

An Easy Way To Do An Act Of Chesed

MUST READ! Hizballah's Strategic Plan

2006-07-25T17:55:00.000-04:00

The following article was well written, informative and said things I've only seen hinted at in more academic works. A must read!

God's army has plans to run the whole Middle East

The mini war that is taking place between Israel and Hezbollah is, in fact, a proxy war in which Iran’s vision for the Middle East clashes with the administration in Washington. What is at stake is not the exchange of kidnapped Israeli soldiers with Arab prisoners in Israel. Such exchanges have happened routinely over five decades. The real issue is who will set the agenda for the Middle East: Iran or America?

2006-07-25T07:36:00.000-04:00

Forgive Me! A Letter From Haifa To Gush Katif

CNN Poll - Check It Out

2006-07-24T21:58:00.000-04:00

Should the U.S. join European and U.N. calls for an immediate cease-fire in the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict?

Yes or No?

Make your voice heard!

[Pass it on!]

August 1 NY One Year After Disengagement

2006-07-14T04:46:00.000-04:00

details here

I'm one of the featured speakers, G-d willing.

AFSI is organizing the event.

Breaking Update from Ashdod

2006-07-12T17:28:00.000-04:00

Breaking updates from Rabbi Brody:

There's non-step jet fighter traffic over Ashdod in both directions, north and south. The whole north (of Israel) including Nahariya are sleeping in shelters tonight.

Air Force and Infantry reserves are being called up.

I've been on the phone with Rav Shalom Arush, Rav Amnon Yitzchak, and the Melitzer Rebbe - we're doing all sorts of things like giving pep talks to soldiers, free tehillim, etc.

All the tzaddikim say that this is a zero-hour for klal Yisroel.

Prayers for Israel at War

2006-07-12T17:16:00.000-04:00

I asked Rabbi Eliezer Brody, shlita (who writes at Lazer Beams)...

What tefilot (prayers) or specific actions of tzedakah (charity) or teshuva (repentence) can be done given the current situation in Israel?

The Melitzer Rebbe, shlita, says that if each Jew takes one small thing and decides to be better, it will make a tremendous impression in shamayim (heaven); this is also something that everyone can do. Rav Shalom Arush, shlita says that the heavy artillery is one hour of teshuva (repentence/reconnecting with Hashem) a day.

Amein! And may we hear only good news for all Klal Yisroel, and especially the safety of our soldiers.

Monday New York Rally for Israel

2006-07-07T15:44:00.000-04:00

Rally to Save Gilad Shalit

Monday, July 10, 2006
12:00 noon / Rain or Shine

In front of the
Syrian Mission to the U.N.
820 Second Avenue
between 43rd & 44th Streets

Subways: 4, 5, 6, 7 to Grand Central Station

Join the Ad Hoc Coalition for Justice in front of the Syrian Mission to the United Nations to send a message to Bashar al-Assad and Palestinian leaders.

Demand the immediate and unconditional release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, and an end to Syrian support for the terrorists of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah.

We encourage everyone to participate in this important event.

For more information contact the RJC (Republican Jewish Coalition) at (212) 922 -0839 / newyork@rjchq.org or The Conference of Presidents (of American Jewish Organizations) at (212) 318-6111 / info@conferenceofpresidents.org

July 6 Rally in NYC!

2006-06-28T14:56:00.000-04:00

It's one of those "lunch-break" demos.

For more details

New Movie on Gush Katif - "Home Game"

2006-06-26T17:33:00.000-04:00

Watch the first promo for Home Game the movie (more promos and trailers to come)

It tells the story of the Netzer Hazani commmunity, their basketball team struggling to win the annual Yulis Gush Katif basketball tournament at the same time that they struggled against the governement to remain in their homes.

PLEASE FORWARD THE MOVIE PROMO ON TO ALL BLOGS, LISTS, EMAILS etc.

Premier screenings throughout Israel on July 30th and some places in Chu"l as well. (If you are interested in showing it in your community send an email to info@homegamethemovie.com)

It's important that as many people as possible attend the movie so that when the Gush Katif youth play in the tournament this summer, they will know that they are not alone!

www.homegamethemovie.com

Send the Hebrew promo to all the Hebrew speakers you know.

See the article on Katif.net

The Muqata جميل في المقاطعة: real point of the Disengagement

2006-06-25T17:08:00.000-04:00

The Muqata جميل في المقاطعة: Less than a year from Disengagement, IDF re-enters Gaza Strip: "one has to wonder what the real point of the Disengagement was to being with"

I feel so frustrated when so many intelligent people around me apparently swallowed whole the red-herrings the Israeli establishment force-fed the media and the population to justify the destruction of Gush Katif (and future destruction of Judea & Samaria).

The destruction has nothing to do with defence! The past few months and the state of Shedrot prove that!

The destruction has nothing to do with demography! As many millions of Arabs that live on the "other side" of the so-called security fence, the real threat to Israel's future is the 1.5 million Arabs within the fence!

The destruction of Gush Katif, and the future destruction of Judea & Samaria are primarily directed at one objective - the destruction and demoralization of the only sector of the Israeli populace that threatens to become the power-brokers of the state in the next fifteen to twenty years! Already the majority of children entering Grade 1 in all schools throughout this country are religious! The majority of combant soldiers are religious! Eventually the majority of officers will gradually be religious! The vast majority of immigrants to Israel are religious. The vast majority of emmigrants from Israel are irreligious. Religious families have (on average) five or more children. Irreligious families have less than two (on average).

The writing is on the wall! It is only a mater of time and the electorate that will determine who sits in Keneset, and who will be the judges, and who will lead the country ... will be religious.

The secular elite must do everything in their power to destroy the power base of the National Religious while it still holds power! It has to do everything it can to dejudiaize the state and demoralize the religious so they will cease identifying with it.

The "disengagement" is a disengagement from everything authentically Jewish.

If we are going to succeed in defeating this very serious challenge to the Jewish People's future in the Land of Israel, we better start recognizing it for what it is! (and what it isn't!)

Attack News: Beyond Belief!!!

2006-06-25T13:49:00.000-04:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

Beyond belief... (graphic at the end, avoid reading if disturbed by such discussions)

Beilin: ‘Ask Abbas for an Exceptional Effort’ for Release of Captive

An escalation of violence in the wake of Sunday’s lethal terror attack on an IDF outpost would be counterproductive to Israel’s interests, according to Meretz Knesset member Yossi Beilin.

Beilin said, “The Israeli government should ask Mahmoud Abbas to make an exceptional effort to release the kidnapped soldier from the captivity of terror groups and to replace Hamas with an emergency government if he is not released immediately.”

The Meretz leader also said that the attack, which left two soldiers dead and four injured, in addition to the capture of 19-year-old Corporal Gilad Shalit, should not prompt “a new cycle of violence.”

I guess on the planet he lives on, terrorist murdering barbarians treat their captives kindly, with padded comfy chains, mood music, and 5 course meals, and release their temporary detainees on request.

Unfortunately, on planet Earth, terrorist murdering barbarians torture their captives to death, cutting off body parts and often finish by video taping their cutting off the head of the live screaming captive. They then bath their hands and face in their captives blood and carve off body parts for sharing as trophies with friends. (Every single thing I described are real events of the past 5 years.)

Attack, Kidnap, Pray For...

2006-06-25T11:28:00.000-04:00

For those who don't keep up on the Israeli news, the 'peaceful' government of Palestine, Hamas, led an attack out of Gaza on Israel, killing 2 Israeli soldiers, seriously injuring 1, and kidnapping one. (News here.)

The kidnapped soldier's name is Gilad ben Aviva (Shalit). Please pray for him.

Now, as for the government of Israel, will they recommend 'converging' (aka retreating) from the Negev and Sderot to prevent antagonizing their peace partner?

Shut Up? I Don't Think So.

2006-06-16T12:33:00.000-04:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

American Jews largely support Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's realignment plan, and those who don't will be told to keep quiet so that the global Jewish community can maintain a united front, says Consul-General in New York Arye Mekel.

"Most American Jews accept this premise," said Mekel, "that in these issues of peace and security and defense and so on, it's up to the government of Israel to make these decisions. And with all due respect to our brethren in the US, it's not up to them to second guess Israeli democracy and the Israeli voter's choice."

Dear Mr. Mekel:

The Israeli elected junta, the mask of democracy you place over your face, which no matter who is elected consistently follows the same self destructive policies to it's own citizens, to Judaism, to the Land, (the only difference elections make is the speed with which these policies are followed), has no right to tell anyone whether they can agree or not.

You make up a statement "most accept" and present it as fact. Well, here's a true fact, a 3000 year old fact -

No Jew has the right to give up the eternal heritage of the Jewish people.

To say otherwise, you must be stating that you, the junta of Israel, do not represent the Jewish people. That being the case, do not ask us for a united front with an Israeli power-elite junta. We will not enable and support your personal self destructive policies that benefit only the bank accounts and power accumulation of those living in penthouses in Tel Aviv.

Waving the Israeli flag will no longer garner our support, for we see only darkness behind it.

Utilize This Resource - Upgrades!

2006-06-14T13:11:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, as Israel heads down yet another self destructive path, it appears that this blog will once again be needed.

In that light, I've upgraded the blog template. Please let me know (via email) any thoughts or problems (I just spotted one, comments aren't working, will fix it today, G-d willing).

Remember, this resource is yours to coordinate news and anti-Israel-abandonment among various blogs and web sites.

Chazak v'Amatz!

Incoming Qassam!

2006-06-14T11:10:00.000-04:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

When you hear this sound, you have 5 seconds to duck! (Click here.)

This system has been installed by the government for your security. We hope it makes you feel better. Sincerely, the Government of Israel.

(This is the actual alert sound from the Red Dawn incoming Qassam rocket alert system in Sderot, Israel.)

tribute to Nadia from GK evacuee

2006-06-14T09:17:00.000-04:00

Here's an article from a former resident of Neve Dikalim who traveled to Jerusalem to attend the Supreme Court Hearing against Nadia Matar.

Advocate for Living Jews or Dead Jews?

2006-05-29T12:04:00.000-04:00

Letter To the Editor
Jewish Press

In this weeks Jewish Press, Rabbi Porush writes about the tragedy of the Jewish cemetery in Vilna being destroyed. He states it’s our duty to do something to stop it, stating we are not allowed to remain silent. Yet he states this as Prime Minster Olmert returns from the U.S. with plans to displace and expel tens of thousands of living Jews, not to mention disinter several cemetaries. He further intends to partition Jerusalem!

While Rabbi Porush would have us advocate for the dead Jews of old Vilna, his own party, United Torah Judaism, is negotiating to enter Olmert’s government, thereby supporting his plans to disinter tens of thousands of living Jews from their home in the Holy Land, Eretz HaKodesh, Israel.

Are Jews only worth advocating for once they’re dead? Shall we wait until they’re homeless to begin collecting tzedakah? Shall we wait until the rockets hit Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to advocate for security?

Rabbi Porush, your priorities make no sense!

Who will stand up for the living, for the land? Who will stand up before it’s too late?

US Rally Against Convergence

2006-05-17T11:36:00.000-04:00

(From Bernice Lipkin of www.Think-Israel.org)

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is coming to Washington D.C. next week to ask Congress and Pres. Bush for enough money and moral support to expel 80,000 Jews from the West Bank (Samaria and Judea).

Many of us feel this is a terrible idea. We want to demonstrate our disapproval, our outrage that the Israeli government is treating its Jewish citizens so shabbily, and our concern that Olmert is putting Israel in jeopardy.

Jonathan Silverman (jonsilverman2002@yahoo.com; 718 304 3193) initiated a call for a rally and it struck a chord. The upshot is there will be a grassroots rally at

the U.S. Capitol Building in Taft Park
(near Senate Russell Bldg)
50 Constitution Avenue N.W. (at 1st Street)
Washington DC
Tuesday May 23, 2006 at 12 noon
Metro Stop: Union Station on the Red Line. 4 block walk

I am writing you to help us let people know about this rally. Some people have already made arrangements to come in from out of town. Obviously, the more people show up, the more our disapproval of Olmert's Convergence Plan will register with the Bush Administration.

We hope you publish this information on your website and send it to your email lists.

What will expelling Jews from the West Bank accomplish? The Gaza disengagement debacle suggests that:

* Hamas and Al-Qaeda will take over the territory. As in Gaza, they will have the freedom to import war material and to put together missiles and explosives. And they will be even closer to their Israeli targets.

* The Arabs will be sitting on top of Israel's aquifer and thus controlling a critical component of Israel's water supply. Some say Israel's eventual desalination project will be a substitute -- but that is a pipe dream.

The Israeli Government botched the resettlement of the 8,000 Jews of Gush Katif, Gaza. Some 9 months after they were kicked out of their homes and farms and orchards, some are still homeless and most are living in tents and ramshackle temporary trailers. More than 40% percent have not been compensated for their homes that were destroyed. Most of the business owners and farmers have not received any payment. A vibrant and patriotic group that once contributed substantially to Israel's economy is now dispirited and traumatized and a drain on Israel's economy.

Now Olmert's government is proposing to transfer at least 10 times as many Jews. If he succeeds, both Israel and America will be the losers. At best it weakens Israel militarily and demoralizes its citizens, making them easy prey for their enemies. At worst, it is suicidal. And America loses its only reliable ally in the Middle East. The only winners will be the Arab terrorists now in control of Gaza.

If you can't come to the rally, please write President Bush and ask him to oppose Olmert's dangerous scheme. The American people can not be a party to this insanity. U.S. citizens can call the White House at 202-456-1111; you will be asked what state you are from. Faxes can be sent to 202-456-2461, and emails can be sent to Comments@whitehouse.gov and vice_president@whitehouse.gov.

new posts on Blog Free!

2006-05-17T00:18:00.000-04:00

I've just posted a slew of important notices and articles on Blog Free!, so please take a look.

EFSI via Email

2006-05-04T11:57:00.000-04:00

(A little administrative note.)

EFSI can be received via email with a daily update to your email inbox. (Click here or click on the Subscribe link to your left <--- )

For those who subscribed in the past, the Daily Email stopped working a month or two ago. The service I used for emails stopped working with Blogger, so I just switched the blog to an alternate service.

If you previously subscribed via Bloglet, you should start getting new emails from Feedblitz starting tonight.

two letters from GK evacuees

2006-05-02T08:49:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest letter from Anita Tucker.
And one from Shifra Shomron.

Two different women, two different generations, both with something important to say.

Independence Day

2006-04-30T07:38:00.000-04:00

In a statement on the eve of Israel’s 58th Independence Day Wednesday the council of Yesha rabbis wrote: “Despite the terrible expulsion carried out by Jews, against Jews, Independence Day should be celebrated as usual and we should thank the creator for the existence of the state. We must distinguish between the state as a gift from the Lord and the various regimes and their enforcement of laws not from the Torah, that took control of power centers in Israel. This country is Permanent and Present, but a government like this is temporary and transitory.” More

letter to the OU

2006-04-23T04:35:00.000-04:00

If you haven't already seen it, many consider it very convincing hasbarah to prevent further deportation and destruction.

an Anita Tucker message

2006-04-23T04:31:00.000-04:00

Here's a letter from Anita Tucker, one of the Netzer Chazani refugees.

Amatziya, the new temporary home for GK refugees

2006-04-10T07:48:00.000-04:00

A friend who lives in Amatziya sent me some pictures of the new neighborhood.

Update: Planned Jewish Town Destruction

2006-04-07T01:35:00.000-04:00

I previously wrote (here) about a friend in the West Bank Jewish town of Eli receiving a notice from the police of a planned neighborhood destruction in Eli and the town across the wadi, Givat Roeh.

Israel National News says they followed this up and found no confirmation. My friend who lives there says yep, it's straight up with one adjustment, Givat Roeh is scheduled for this Monday (that's across the wadi from Eli), the Eli neighborhood of Givat Tet is scheduled for next Monday. At least that's the printed notification he received at his front door by the police.

It does seem to correspond to this news item from YNetNews about another Peace Now petition to the Israeli Supreme Court...

Peace Now movement petitions High Court; previous petition led to Amona evacuation. Peace Now on Wednesday petitioned the High Court with a request to evacuate six illegal outposts in the West Bank...The outposts mentioned in Wednesday’s petition are: Ramat Gilad, Givat Assaf, Maale Rehavam, Mitzpe Lakhish, Givat Haroeh, and Mitzpe Yitzhar.

G-d forbid.

Part of Eli To Be Destroyed MONDAY!

2006-04-05T11:17:00.000-04:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

A friend called me this morning from his home in Yishuv Eli, the Jewish town of Eli in the 'West Bank' named for and the physica home location of the biblical priest Eli in the book of Samuel I.

Police are going door to door right now, informing the residents that the Givat Tet neighborhood of Eli, 21 large single family homes built on Jewish land, bought and purchased by the residents, will be evacuated with force (the warning actually says that) on Monday, their owners and families force-ably removed (right before Passover), and bulldozed to rubble the following Monday. As well as this neighborhood, the Jewish town across the valley, Givat Ro-eh, will be evacuated and destroyed on the same schedule (about 30 small family caravans I think).

Any other resident of the town is warned that if they do not confine themselves to their homes during this event, they face arrest and a very long jail term (yes the warning specifically says that as well).

Ribono Shel Olam! Master of the Universe! Once again Jews will be thrown out of their homes, homes they built, homes they paid for, for nothing, and with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Defense, or Retreat? Part 1

2006-04-04T20:00:00.000-04:00

Cross posted from Mystical Paths, a guest post by Rabbi Shabtai Teicher of Jerusalem, Israel...

There are five major issues, or categories of issues, which are at the center of Israeli public and political life. They are:

1. The Jewish identity of the state and the people
2. Security issues
3. Issues of settlements and the vitality of Zionism
4. The Socio-Economic welfare of the people
5. Corruption

In the recent elections only two of these major issues were dealt with, and only partially. They were the issues of settlements and the socio-economic welfare of the people. Security issues such as the ongoing Kassam rocket attacks, the rise of Hamas, and Iran were hardly mentioned. The issue of the Jewish identity of the state and people was not raised because those who would seek to reverse the long-term trend of deterioration on this point consider themselves, rightly or wrongly, too weak to challenge the powers that be. The issue of corruption was raised, but not by any of the competing political parties, and it was hidden by the major media.

The results of the election have been interpreted and reinterpreted by all the major players and commentators, sometimes seriously, and often ludicrously. The subject of this article is to deal with only one of the conclusions that must be drawn from the election results, but it is an incontestable conclusion, although some would like to continue their Pollyanna illusions and deny it.

Of the 120 people who will be sitting in the new Knesset, there are at least 110 who believe that more Jewish settlements in the near or distant future must be uprooted and destroyed, whether to a greater or lesser extent, and under specific circumstances or others!

I am not writing this article because I believe that Jewish settlements should be uprooted or not. Rather, my purpose is to contribute to the re-establishment of some kind of balance in “our camp” which has undergone such awesome upheavals and shocks in recent years (since Sharon’s Hertziliyah speech, or since the beginning of the Oslo agreements, or since the suicidal mission of the Shamir government to Madrid, or since the Israeli army lost a war to children throwing stones in the first Intifada). The criminal destruction of Gush Katif has only been the last tragic blow that has completely knocked us off our feet.

For those of us who have followed our Holy Rebbe (may his soul shine in Eden and protect us and bless us) whose opinion concerning settlements in the Land of Israel, like the opinion of other important rabbis, is based upon Chapter 329.6 in Orach Chaim in the Laws of Shabbat, the fact of more than 110 Knesset Members willing to surrender territory seems truly horrendous and full of dangerous portent. As stated previously, the purpose of this article is to try to find an idea concerning what to do about it.

First, however, it’s worthwhile to review what Chapter 329.6 in Orach Chaim teaches. That particular law in the Code starts with the statement, “If gentiles besiege an Israelite city….” It should be noted that this law does not apply to settlements in the Land of Israel only. Indeed, that law was taught concerning the pale of Jewish settlement in the Persian Empire in Talmudic times. It deals with the health, welfare and security of the Jewish people, and it has nothing to do with the question of whether it is permitted to surrender even a centimeter of the Land of Israel or not. This article also does not address that issue. My translation of the Laws of Shabbat 329.6 follows.

If gentiles besiege a Jewish town…

-a- If they have come to plunder, we do not profane the Shabbat (to go out) against them.

-b- If they have come (to kidnap or kill) Jewish souls, and even if it is not clear, then we go out against them with weapons and profane the Shabbat.

-c- If (they are coming against) a town that is nearby to the border, even if they are only coming to steal straw and hay, we profane the Shabbat (to go out) against them.

The reasoning of the law is plain and clear. It concerns pikuach nefesh – the saving of lives. In order to save lives we must resist and even profane the Holy Shabbat, as it is stated in clause (b). Consequently, if there is not threat to the lives of Jews because they are coming only to plunder, then we do not profane the Shabbat to resist them.

However, according to clause (c), if the place they are attacking is near the border, even if they are coming only to steal and plunder, we do resist them, even if we have to profane the Shabbat because of it. If they conquer our border settlements, then the rest of our settlements will be exposed to their deprivations. This can lead to unforeseen calamities that will very likely result in serious life-threatening situations.

On the basis of this last point it has been argued, and thus we have been taught by our Holy Rebbe (n”e) that abandoning or uprooting settlements in the territories of Yehudah and Shomron (and G. Katif and Gaza) is tantamount to abandoning “border settlements”, and if we are enjoined to resist and even profane the Shabbat in order to protect them, then we are certainly not allowed to willfully give them over to the enemy.

Thus far the line of reasoning is clear and compelling. However, what is there to do about our 110 Knesset members? In order to address that question, let us first play a little “war game”.

Let us suppose that our general has discerned the possibility of pushing E2 away from our southern settlements, but in order to do it he has to transfer troops from I1 to I2, and this creates the possibility that E1 will be able to advance towards our northern settlements. The new position would look like this:

old line: -------

The question that our little war game proposes is obvious, and it goes like this. Does our general’s maneuver contradict the sound advice and secure teaching of 329.6, or does it not? Since it allows E1 to advance into the territory that we have been holding and come closer to our settlements, then it is jeopardizing our people and it should not be allowed. On the other hand, since it is strengthening our hold on the southern settlements and distancing E2 from them, then the maneuver is not weakening and endangering our people, but actually strengthening them. In that case, it is not only allowed, but it is also wise.

This latter argument is further augmented by another very important point. If we are defending the line with 120 battalions, and 110 of our battalion commanders want to withdraw, then we have virtually lost the war. In that case, is it not better to save from destruction what is still possible to be saved!

Of course, the question here cannot be answered by our little war game, or by any theoretical discussion, or by any ideological position. The real life situation must be faced and soberly weighed.

When Sharon first suggested the withdrawal from Gush Katif, it was interesting to see what he really meant by it. Was it a surrender and retreat, or was it a wise regrouping of forces? Unfortunately, it soon became clear that it was the former, and not the latter – it was a rout and an hopeless attempt to escape that offered nothing in return. We waited to hear what we might gain in return for it. Would he annex Gush Etzion, would he build 500 houses between Ariel and Gush Shiloh? Would he offer the farmers the opportunity, if they wished, to relocate to the Jordan Valley in order to strengthen our settlement there? Would he, at least, put the Palestinians and world-opinion on notice that any attack upon our settlements after the destruction of G. Katif would be met with the destruction of their neighborhoods and settlements as well? In short, whatever the Israeli people were supposed to have gained from this maneuver, it has been kept a closely guarded secret. There was some talk about it improving our moral position among the international community, but this was quickly, before the deportation, proven an empty hope. There was some talk about a letter from the American President, but the letter does not bind anyone, not even the President that wrote it, let alone a future President; and it was completely vague. Maybe it included Kiryat Arba; maybe it did not even include Ma’ale Adumim.

Furthermore, if it were a regrouping and not a rout, or something criminally corrupt, then why was it necessary to destroy the three settlements in the north of the Gaza Strip, which were contiguous with the Israeli border and where there were no Palestinians at all living? Today, it is from there that Kassams and Katyushas are being fired upon the electric power station in Ashkelon.

If it were not a mere rout, then why did it have to happen in such a hurried and panicky way? Why were no decent provisions made for these people who were being uprooted from their land and their homes? Why have they been treated like animals? Were they criminals for having gone there at the behest of Israeli governments? Were they dogs for having made sand dunes blossom into fruitful gardens, for having built there a billion dollar a year agricultural industry in accordance with the Zionist dream of settling the Land and planting it?

more on Gush Katif refugees

2006-03-22T00:25:00.000-05:00

I've been posting letters and messages from Anita Tucker on Blog Free!.

about Eminent Domain

2006-03-08T22:53:00.000-05:00

Read this about Eminent Domain and Disengagement.

Whatever happened to the Jews of Gush Katif?

2006-03-02T10:19:00.000-05:00

I am deeply grateful to Katrin Levy, who took it upon herself to visit some of the Jewish families who once lived, loved, prayed and prospered in the Gaza strip. What follows is her eye-witness account.

The ‘New Millionaires’

You might not have heard about Israel’s 9,000 ‘New Millionaires’. They are the people who were removed from their homes in Gush Katif on August 18, 2005 when their homes were subsequently razed by bulldozers.

Since then, the only real mention of these people in the media has been reports outlining the compensation they were getting – in some cases, reported as being as much as $500,000 US – and the fact that they were still living in five star hotels, even though they had the choice to move elsewhere.

But in a few small places, there have been reports that the Gush Katif deportees hadn’t got all the money being headlined in the press, or in some cases, hadn’t got any money. There were stories – quickly ignored or rubbished by the mainstream press – that the deportees were living in abject poverty.

Being an ex-journalist, I know that there is only one way to be sure of what’s really happening, and that’s to go and see things for yourself. So I booked a trip on board a bus that was going to visit some of the locations where ex-Gush people are now living, to meet the new millionaires for myself.

What follows here is an account of my day. You won’t find any statistics, or any arguments pro or con disengagement. Because it’s not about politics, it’s about people.

It’s as truthful as I can make it, and I hope that you will read it so you can make your own informed decisions about what is happening in the South of Israel.

The bus

The bus wasn’t full. There where about 16 people, including me and my five year old daughter. Most of the others were orthodox anglos who seemed to have passed the retirement threshold. There were a couple of elderly Israelis – all proudly wearing their orange sweatshirts – a couple of post-grad students from the US, and George.

George was a Swiss-German journalist, and considered himself to be the voice of reason on our trip.

The first stop

The first place we stopped at was the caravillas in Nitzan, in an area of land somewhere between Ashdod and Ashkelon. Imagine a Butlins holiday chalet, and you’ll get close to what these houses are like. They come in 3 sizes: 60m, 90m and 120m, and are meant to last for three years. No-one knows what will happen when these three years are up. The occupants are charged rent of $400-$500 a month – which is being deducted straight out of the compensation that many of them still haven’t seen a penny of.

There’s some turf outside – a lot of it already dying – and in some homes, the owners have made an effort to plant a few flowers or build a porch, to distinguish their home from the many other identical ones, and make it feel more ‘homely’.

There’s no shade. Until last Thursday, the nearest shop for food staples like bread, milk, water etc was many kilometres away. If you didn’t have a car, as many people there don’t, it cost 100 shekels (£12) to get a taxi to the nearest shop. There is one, small play area for young children, (unshaded) and nothing for kids over the age of about six to do.

Our host was Esther Lilienthal, who used to live in a 270m house in Neveh Dekalim. For six months, she and her husband lived in a hotel room in Jerusalem Gold. Then five weeks back, she moved to her caravilla.

Outside Esther’s 90m caravilla, sat two massive, rusting furniture containers. The rest of her household goods are in this container, but they don’t fit into her new home.

She has 4 cupboards in total in her kitchen – not big ones. She has an oven and one sink. They had to buy a shed to put their washing machine in, and the living room is overflowing with stacked storage baskets, where the family keeps their food and kitchenware.

Her sitting room fit her table, two sofas and a bookcase – a person could just about move around in the space between them, but there was nowhere to put a small child down to play. Esther has 30 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, so that’s a problem.

There have been a spate of burglaries and reports of rape in the caravilla village, so residents feel unable to let their kids play by themselves outside now.

Esther spoke for a few minutes, and then we asked questions about how morale was, and how people were coping. Then it was George’s turn.

“You had plenty of warning that the disengagement was going to happen. It was obvious to everyone it was going to happen. Why didn’t you just pack up in time and leave?”

Esther started twisting her necklace nervously. “We had faith. We believed that Hakodesh Baruch Hu could avert the evil decree at the last minute, if he chose,” she said. “We couldn’t believe it was going to happen. I’d lived there for decades. My children and their children lived there. I couldn’t believe we were just going to be uprooted for political purposes. And what difference would it have made if we had packed up? The Government hadn’t prepared anywhere for us to go.”

“You didn’t negotiate with the Government,” said George. “How could they prepare for you?”

“They knew that 9000 people were leaving their homes. They knew we had nowhere to go. They knew it was going to happen – we couldn’t believe it,” said Esther. “It was their job to have places ready for us. Why were we expected to ask them for somewhere to go, when they were the ones to destroy our homes?”

“But you were living in a terror zone. Aren’t you glad you don’t need an armed guide to get everywhere?”

“Our community didn’t need an armed guard, only the settlements nearest to Gaza City did,” said Esther. “And anyway, 200 kassams have fallen in this area [Ashkelon] in the last month. We are still in a war zone. The disengagement didn’t bring peace.”

Elei Sinai

The next stop was Elei Sinai, which used to be a mixed community of dati and secular at the very Northern tip of the Gaza strip. Legally, Elei Sinai was built on no-man’s land, which never belonged to the Palestinians. The community had a court case pending that they shouldn’t be treated the same as the rest of the strip, but absorbed into Israel and allowed to stay in place.

The court ‘forgot’ their case (the court’s words) and the families in Elei Sinai were taken out on the same day as everyone else. They hadn’t packed – they were waiting for the court case to be decided – and left only with the clothes on their back. They walked up the road, found a field, and decided to stay there in tents for 2-3 weeks while their legal situation was sorted out.

Seven months later, our bus rolled to a stop outside Elei Sinai’s ‘communal facility’ – a massive tent. The tent had a tv, chairs, tables and a few battered sofas in it. There was a horrible damp smell because the straw mats on the floor had been soaked by Israel’s winter rains, and were beginning to rot.

Dror was our guide here. He used to be an architect working in the Gush. Now he’s unemployed. I can’t go into the details of the compensation owed that they still haven’t got, because my Hebrew isn’t very good and I don’t want to write anything that isn’t factually correct.

What I did get is that it’s costing them just over £3k a month to live there, between the rental they are now being charged on the tents, and the land, and the very basic running costs. Money is very tight. Some of the people who worked outside of Gaza still bring in an income, but many people are out of work. So now, they owe $20,000 for the privilege of living in tents.

Also, many people are still paying mortgages on houses that were destroyed in August.

Why?

Because in Israel, you get a mortgage only if you put up two guarantors. If you don’t pay, the bank comes after them for the money, which threatens their homes and families if they don’t or can’t pay up. And the banks did come after the guarantors on the Gush Katif houses.

After the chat, we went to visit the gan: like everything else, it’s housed in a tent. It’s heart-breaking. They’ve tried really hard for the kids, but there was no disguising the mounds of rubbish everywhere, the lack of games, or crafts, the depressing surroundings. Five kids between about 3 and 5 years’ old were sat at the table eating their lunch when we visited.

Next door, was their ‘homes’. Housed in a big marquee tent, are a bunch of little camping tents, where these families – some of whom have babies and toddlers – have been living for seven months.

My daughter needed the toilet, and we were directed to a set of three portacabins. Even in winter, the smell was bad. When it heats up, the stench will be terrible.

I asked one of the women in the trailer that functions as the communal kitchen for Elei Sinai when they hoped to sort things out. “After the elections, they say they will find us somewhere,” she said. “But they’ve made so many promises to us, no-one believes them anymore.”

City of Faith

One of my fellow travellers on the bus was Yaakov, a chassidic jew from Brooklyn. He’d been on one of these tours a couple of months back. We were chatting about how depressing the situation was at Elei Sinai. “If you think that’s bad, the next place is even worse,” he said. “Last time I came, all of their tents and trailers were flooded with rainwater.”

The next place was Ir HaEmunah – the City of Faith, where the former residents of Atzmona live. First impressions were terrible. It was housed in a big sort of aircraft trailer, roofed, but otherwise open to all four sides. I don’t know why, but it immediately reminded me of Birkenau-Aushwitz, which was a horrible association to have rise unbidden to the mind.

We were met by Rebbetzin Rechel, a spry woman, who seemed in good spirits. She invited us to come and see her ‘villa’. The villa was a trailer that couldn’t have been more than 30 square metres. It consisted of 3 rooms, each 10 metres square. There was one sink, 1 cupboard and a portable stove top in the kitchen. You couldn’t have both a table and armchair in that space, so they’d opted for an armchair and small side table. In the other two rooms, bunk beds were stacked, sleeping 4 to a room. You could just about stand between them.

‘This was a villa?’ we asked, not getting the joke.

“Yes,” she replied. “Because it has running water. Half the trailers here are dry.”

Imagine that, in a place where it regularly gets above 40 degrees [104 degrees Fahrenheit] in the summer.

Of all the places on our trip, the City of Faith was in some ways the most terrible. Kids played in the dirt. Large families were squeezed into living accommodation that would put a refugee camp to shame.

There were a few communal showers and communal toilets, scattered around the airport hanger. No privacy. Basic cooking facilities – some local communities had taken to bringing cakes to Ir HaEmunah for Shabbat.

But it was also the most uplifting. Our guide, Naama, smiled a lot. She laughed. She told us how the community had come, found this place and paid for it to be roofed out of their own pocket. The government had paid for nothing, because the government had wanted the community to split up and go to separate flats they had found all over the country.

But Ir HaEmunah wanted to stay as a community. In the first 3 weeks, they had worked tirelessly to build 16 classrooms at one end of the hangar. Some of the classrooms still don’t have windows. None have anything more than the most basic tables and chairs. But the important thing is that they stayed together and are still functioning as a community.

We asked questions. How had they managed to live like this for so long? “It was a mercy from Hashem that we thought we were only here for 3 weeks,” says Naama. “If we had known we’d be here for 7 months, many of us would have given up hope. It was hard, especially in the winter. We were very worried about diseases like dysentery. When my four youngest kids came in for supper, I would scrub them with soap and anything else before I let them touch food. You see how it is here. It’s very hard to keep clean.”

What were their plans for the future? “Just before he had his stroke, Ariel Sharon signed a document saying that we could move as a community to Shomrea. We want to move to caravillas there, and rebuild our lives.”

How had the kids taken it? “Baruch Hashem, they adjusted. When I went to show my five year old a caravilla, he asked me why anyone would want to have a toilet inside their house,” she laughs. But then gets serious. “But my 17 year old son hasn’t taken it so well. At that age, they see everything black and white. He’s angry.”

Then it was George’s turn again. After the standard ‘Why didn’t you pack’…etc, he said: “So do your sons hate the army now?”

“Some do. Some can’t understand how they were taken from their homes by the Israel Defence Force,” she says. Rebbetzin Relech joins in: “Some people don’t want to serve in the army anymore, but I don’t agree with them. Just a few miles away, there are half a million people who want to kill us. We need the army to protect us. I have three sons in the army.”

George again: Why hadn’t they gone to the apartments being offered by the Government, instead of living like this?

“Because our community means everything to us. If someone had a baby, we all celebrated. If someone got married, we all lent a hand with the preparations. If someone, G-d forbid, was injured or killed by a rocket attack, we all took turns to cook food, to help their family. That was the most important thing. We built somewhere very special, where people looked out for each other.

“The Government never wanted to talk to us as a community. They didn’t offer us anything that meant we could stay as a community. But we want to stay together. B’Yachad. We get strength from each other. Without each other, we could never had made it through the last few months.”

Netzar Hazani

Our last visit was to kibbutz Ein Tsurim, where we met with Anita Tucker. Anita, it turns out, is the sister of Esther. She had lived in Netzar Hazani, in the Gush, for 29 years, and had built up a very successful business growing organic celery and tomatoes, amongst other things.

Many of her children had been born in Gush Katif. Her grandchildren had been born in Gush Katif. And she said she still prayed that one day, her great grandchildren would be born there.

Anita was a powerful speaker. She told us about the first day she’d been told to look at the Gush by the Israeli Government, headed by Yitzhak Rabin, who was encouraging prospective farmers to go and grow there. “It was all sand. I said to my husband, how can anything grow in this? I wanted to get in the car and turn back. But my kids were playing on the sand dunes. They loved it. And they told me they wanted to stay.

“The first day we actually moved in, the muslim elders from Khan Younis [an arab town close by] came to give us bread and salt, and welcome us in their traditional way. They said we were pleased to come, as they hoped we would build businesses that would give their communities work. And we did. They told us that no-one had managed to grow anything on that land since Avraham and Yitzhak. But we did. We saw miracles. We started off by getting six tonnes of tomatoes out of a dunam a year. By the end, we were reaching 17 tonnes of tomatoes – out of sand!”

Anita, who had a thriving business on August 17, hasn’t had a penny in compensation for it yet. At one point, the Government was refusing to pay anything for the businesses destroyed by the disengagement. By the end, Gush Katif farmers were exporting $60 million of produce a year.

But the Government said that many of the businesses were more than 15 years’ old, and consequently ‘wear and tear’ meant they weren’t worth anything. In the end, the Government compromised and agreed to pay 60% of the saleable value. But no-one has seen a penny yet. They can’t build new businesses without some investment capital, or some new land to farm.

But while the Government makes noises about developing the Negev or Galilee, it’s doing very little to help the people from the Gush – who have proved that they know how to farm and make profitable businesses - to move there.

Why?

Anita’s community, who has similarly been fighting to stay together as a unit, has spent many months in various hotels, and are now holed up on this kibbutz waiting for their caravillas.

Just before our visit, the community had received a letter from the Government telling them the villas (which haven’t even been started yet) were due to be ready by the end of March. Even if they weren’t ready, these people who had already been kicked out of their homes with no-where to go once before, would be kicked out of the kibbutz at the end of March.

Why? Anita couldn’t say. We couldn’t explain it either.

“There is a lot of darkness, I won’t lie about,” she says. “We are trying to keep our chins up, because we had good businesses and communities before; we gave a lot of tzedaka before; and we will again. We don’t want to be turned into charity cases. We just need some help to get back on our feet.”

Many people have been run ragged by the bureaucratic demands being made on them by the Government to ‘prove’ that they lived in the Gush. Now, while many compensation settlements for the destroyed home have been decided, no money will be paid out until they have been officially approved. It will take another 4 months to set the date for the approval hearing. No-one can say when they will get compensation for their businesses.

They left their homes 7 months ago. They lost their successful businesses 7 months ago. Many can’t cope with another 4 months’ wait for money, and they don’t have any more financial reserves to fall back on.

“When my neighbour left her beautiful house on August 18, she decided to set fire to it herself,” says Anita. “As it burnt, she called out: ‘this place is not about the houses. I’m burning the house myself to show you that. What matters is our spirit. And as long as we are together, that cannot be destroyed.”

But you can see that after seven months of financial hardship, no home, and limbo, the pressure is becoming unbearable. There have been 26 divorces since the disengagement. Depression is rife. Despair is lurking behind the faith.

What can we do

The only thing keeping them going is hope. Hope that Am Yisroel will hear their stories, will care what happens to them, and at the very least, will pray that things improve for them.

The people I met on that trip are like you and I; they have families with small children; they have aspirations for a better life; they have hopes for the future that include building flourishing, jewish communities, doing mitzvahs and being responsible members of society.

George bridles at the comparison when Esther talks of how her family were kicked out of Austria-Hungary, Poland and then Germany, and how she never thought that she’d be living like a refugee in Israel. “Gush Katif has nothing to do with what happened in the second world war,” he says. “You only lost your homes, not your lives.”

Esther shakes her head, sadly. “You are looking at the end result , but I’m looking at the beginning,” she says. “That horror began with Jews being kicked out of their homes, simply because they were Jewish.”

Whether you agree with Esther or not, you can do something to ensure that the ‘only’ thing that the people from the Gush lose is their homes and businesses, and not their hope and faith in the Jewish people.

Please forward this on to as many people as you can, so that they can make their own informed decision about the situation. If you can help financially, please contact me at: Katrin@kreativity.co.uk.

If you don’t have any spare cash, but do have spare time, write to the people of Gush Katif and let them know you are thinking of them. Or better still, go and visit and see who they are and how they are living for yourself.

Israel’s new millionaires need every bit of help and support they can get.

Useful addresses / information:

Anita Tucker’s email: tucker.anita@gmail.com
To book a visit to the sites, contact: Ruthie Brenner, luveretz@netvision.net.il
Ruthie also has contact details for all of the sites mentioned here, and should be able to put you directly in touch with them.

orange ribbon

2006-02-26T23:29:00.000-05:00

Just curious. Has this happened to anyone else? The "orange ribbon" I had put on my sidebars on me-ander and Shiloh Musings seems to have "died."

Disbelief in New Jersey

2006-02-23T20:17:00.000-05:00

The "Every Inchers" need to appreciate the democracy that is Israel. It provides them with the right of redress. It allows them to call for the investigation and prosecution of those police, if any, who went overboard at Amona. Those who support the new Israeli consensus, meanwhile, need to make their voices heard - to match the passionate intensity of the "Every Inchers."

Andrew Silow-Carroll is editor of the New Jersey Jewish News

I can't believe that there are still human beings who watched the video clip of the Yasamnik who entered the house in Amona and brutally beat, without provocation, the youth who were sitting passively on the floor. Again and again and again he beat them, and when one screamed out to let him get up to leave, instead of letting the youth leave the building (that was the ultimate purpose, wasn't it?). That sadistic sad excuse for an Officer of the Law beat the youth mercilessly for opening his mouth.

It must be nice, Mr. Silow-Carroll, to sit in your office in New Jersey and pontificate on events that are taking place nine thousand kilometers away without even viewing the plain evidence that something is very wrong in this so-called "Western Democracy". I can assure you, Mr. Silow-Carroll, if anything even remotely similar occurred in your 'neck-of-the-woods' the press would be screaming for a full and impartial investigation - something an investigation authored by the Kenesset is guaranteed not to be!

Yoel Ben-Avraham
(Someone who lives within walking distance of Amona, Benyamin)

Accountability in Israeli Democracry

2006-02-23T16:59:00.000-05:00

In response to Jerusalem Post article Feb 22, 2006

So much for public accountability. If they really had nothing to fear from public investigation, they would not be so vehement about their desire to squash this initiative!

Even as the Knesset convened for a special session to vote on launching an investigation into the Amona evacuation, Olmert told the committee that the day after elections he could rule against such a committee, and was likely to do so.
"I will not allow such a committee to be established against our security forces," Olmert declared. MK Arye Eldad (National Union) promised Olmert that the Knesset would vote against the committee, if the prime minister's office took it upon themselves to launch an investigation.
"No such investigation will be launched," Olmert said. "You are sitting here blaming me for telling the police officers to use zero tolerance against settlers throwing rocks. But I will not be blamed."

How anyone can call the deliberate, premeditated use of excessive force against the vast majority of passive protesters justified is absolutely unfathomable. The only thing I can think is that these thugs desire to push the National Religious against the wall so far and so hard that they will have no recourse but to respond in kind. On that level, with one of the most powerful armies in the Middle East and a Police Force that rivals neo-Nazi's in their skinned heads and willingness to follow orders no matter how violent, the only result can be the destruction of the State of Israel as we know it.

One-by-one, the promises of disengagement have proven false

2006-02-16T17:50:00.000-05:00

Half-a-year after Gaza, there is no avoiding the decisive conclusion that disengagement was, from the get-go, a tragic, pre-ordained failure.
Not one of the positive things that were supposed to come about due to disengagement has come to pass. Similarly, not one security issue that the pullout was supposed to solve has been solved. More

Israeli hatred for Israeli "settlers"

2006-02-14T08:52:00.000-05:00

... a survey conducted by Professor Dalia Mor of the College of Management in Rishon Letzion, aimed at examining the attitudes of Israelis toward the various sectors of our broader society.... revealed that the sector most hated by the Israeli population are the Palestinians, with the settlers a close second.

And among those respondents who defined themselves as left-wingers, hostility toward the settlers ranked higher than hostility toward the Palestinians by a ration of 67 to 55 percent.

A settler bares his soul by Shlomo Riskin

cross-posted at Boker tov, Boulder!

Breaking Israeli Law - The Temporary PM

2006-02-12T11:11:00.000-05:00

by Akiva of M Paths

Recent Israeli government pronouncements, especially around events in Amona, have made clear that the rule of law is of supreme concern in Israel. So lets take a brief look at the biggest public violation of Israeli law currently going on.

Israel Basic Law: The Government : Section 30 Inability to function - “(b) Should the Prime Minister be temporarily unable to discharge his duties for a period not exceeding 100 consecutive days…”

This is the current provision under which the government of Israel, in particular the Kadima controlled executive branch, is operating. It works under the assumption that the Prime Minister is temporarily unable to discharge his duties. Which, of course, is a complete and total lie, an illegality being completely ignored! The reason for this lie is…

Israel Basic Law: The Government : Section 29 Acting Prime Minister - “(a) Should the Prime Minister die, be permanently incapacitated…the Government will empower one of the Ministers who is also a Knesset member, to serve as acting Prime Minister

Meaning, the Knesset, according to party strength (the largest party in the Knesset is Likud right now) votes in an Acting Prime Minister if the Prime Minister is “permanently incapacitated”. Let’s be clear, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, had brain surgery 3 times, is on a respirator and feeding tube, has been in an extended coma, and today had part of his intestines removed. Recovery from a minor stroke takes months to years. Everyone having a major stroke is incapacitated, in a few very rare cases they may recover some very limited communication ability. By any definition of the term, Prime Minister Sharon is permanently incapacitated from serving as Prime Minister.

The current government of Israel is illegal.

Brutalizing settlers an election tactic?

2006-02-07T17:47:00.000-05:00

SALEM – Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert directed Israeli forces to use extreme violence against Jewish protesters during last week's televised evacuation of Jewish homes in northern Samaria, a top official in Olmert's Kadima Party told WorldNetDaily. More

Israeli Cabinet Comminique

2006-02-06T00:34:00.000-05:00

Below are excerpts from today's Israeli Government Cabinet communique. It's a bit long in original, it's here, for anyone who wants to wade through it. Sorry, even the trimmed edition below is long, but scary and worse, real.

From: "Israel Government Press Office"
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 10:13 PM
Subject: CABINET COMMUNIQUE

(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 5.2.06:

2. ...Attorney-General Meni Mazuz, Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and other senior officials briefed ministers on ... the evacuation of the wholesale market in Hebron and the demolition of homes at Amona.

...The briefings detailed the scope of the injuries in the violent clashes at the site... It was noted that this not a disengagement operation but rather an action to enforce an order of the High Court of Justice.

Attorney General Mazuz added that this was neither a disengagement action nor a political evacuation decision but a routine action to enforce the law in a situation involving the highest degree of illegality. ... This was an illegal outpost, i.e. construction without a Government permit, without a permit from Defense Minister Mofaz, in contravention of plans, and without a work permit. Most severe - this was simply the theft of land, squatting and building on private land belonging to private individuals. The severity does not end there, but also encompassed gross contempt for proceedings and orders regarding the site. Therefore, this was neither a diplomatic nor a political question but one of carrying out demolition orders...

The rest here at Mystical Paths.

Video's: Blood, and Anger

2006-02-05T20:29:00.000-05:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

Under Attack in Amona: More Video from Amona, with Music - warning, graphic -

Tonight's Rally: Standing Strong, Not Afraid, with Music

In the second, notice the age of the particpants, 95% youth. I'll say it again, the government of Israel has no idea what they have done.

Jewish Response - Check it Out

2006-02-05T09:25:00.000-05:00

Please check out this spontaneous reaction to the events of February 1st 2006 the 3rd of Shevat 5766 at Amona, Benyamin. If you feel as strongly as we do, please encourage people to subscribe to the site's notifications so we can both clarify and amplify the response through numbers.

Report from Our Sons!

2006-02-02T22:22:00.000-05:00

Moshe's son is from America. A family who's returning, and has returned farther than many born into it, he's learning in yeshiva in Israel. He called his father, "The land is in trouble, can I stand for Israel?" His father answered from New York, "If I was there, we'd go together." The yeshiva called to verify, permission given? Yes.

He made it with classmates to Amona, together they entered the last of the 9 Jewish homes to be destroyed. They blocked the door and sat, laying their bodies on the line for Eretz HaKodesh, the Holy Land.

The black clad policemen came, shouting voices and faces twisted in anger and hatred. They did not come to remove those defending the land, they came to break them. They smashed through the door and broke through the windows. They waded in to the seated defenders, boys of 14 through 18, billy clubs swinging. "Achim! (Brothers!)", the boys called, "stand fast!" as boy after boy was smashed on the head, blood splattering everywhere.

After so many heads that his hand was drenched in sweat, the club slipped away from the officer before Moshe's son was hit. Moshe's son saw and dove for it, fearing not the risk of being shot to prevent another boy being struck. The policeman saw him and dove as well, coming up with the club first. Standing two feet away, Moshe's son stood fast, ready to be struck. Staring in to, in his own words, "a look of hatred such as I have never seen", the officer grabbed him and threw him out the 2nd story window!

Amazingly, in a miracle, he landed stunned but unhurt. He came away whole, but more than just whole. "Achim! Brothers!" he repeats, "now, now we are brothers!" He has risked his life for the Holy Land, and stood with his people. He's no longer the boy he was yesterday.

More here!

Pray for Yechiam ben Rachel

2006-02-01T22:50:00.000-05:00

Refuah Shleimah to Yechiam ben Rachel
He was beaten by the police at Amona, and now is fighting for his life.

Brother on Brother

2006-02-01T16:39:00.000-05:00

Cross posted from Mystical Paths.

With tears in my eyes I watch brother on brother. The lines have been crossed in Israel.

Today it was blood, tomorrow the authorities promise it will be life and death.

For what? Oslo, Wye, the Roadmap?

What insanity following the PA election of Hamas brings the Israeli government to continue this path of forcefully evacuating land? The Holy Land, the Land of Israel for which the Jewish people have not turned away and yearned for.

Tzemach at MentalBlog (click here) has a great set of photos. So does Sultan Knish (click here).

And here's a short video clip from YNetNews (click here).

But I guess they're not great, they're horrible: pain, anger, force, for nothing.

But it's not true. For those forcing, it's all about force, power, control. Those in the West, don't be fooled by government pronouncements about illegal building, permits and so forth. In Israel, whatever the government wants to happen is legal, and whatever it doesn't want to happen is illegal. They'll find the law, permit or judge to back that up.

For those watching for the Geulah, the battle with the Erev Rav has begun. Gaza was a skirmish, this is the battle, and Jerusalem will be the key. Armilus has revealed himself today.

Ribono Shel Olam (Master of the Universe), we knew it would be with tears, but does it have to be with blood? G-d forbid, will it be with lives?

Training Murderers to Lie

2006-01-29T14:28:00.000-05:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

The radicals are learning how to massage their message. Nashat Aqtash, a communications professor at Birzeit University on the West Bank, has been tutoring Hamas candidates on the language of modern politics. He says he learned one of his most valuable lessons from watching Bush's spin doctors: replace hot-button words with polite equivalents. "We don't need to 'kill people'," he says. "We need to 'remove occupation.' Both are the same, but the meaning is totally different." And aim your pitch to attract swing voters. "People tackling social issues get higher votes," he says. "When you kill, don't say you're going to do it. Just do it. And then say you're sorry."

Newsweek - here.

The latest news on the Gush Katif refugees

2006-01-28T07:01:00.000-05:00

The eviction from Gush Katif is the beginning of the fulfillment of the Palestinian dream for the ethnic cleansing of all the Jews from the State of Israel. Whoever believed that the expulsion of 10.000 Jews from thriving villages, the abandon of 36 magnificent synagogues, the destruction of hundreds of farms and businesses and the dismantling of the communities would strengthen the moderate groups among the PA, realized, as we warned beforehand that the disengagement plan is a tailwind for terrorism. More

Concern for our Brothers

2006-01-23T12:47:00.000-05:00

...Cross posted from Mystical Paths.

I received an email from Asher Rozenfeld that shared these important thoughts...

Over 60 years ago, on 26 Adar 5705, the Frierdiker Rebbe (6th grand rabbi of chabad hassidus) spoke a heartbreaking sicha (religious talk) of what will happen to the children being educated by the Zionists in Israel. These words were printed in Sefer HaSichos (of Chabad Chassidus) 5705:

"Jews! Men and women! In the Land of Israel, Jewish children are slowly being destroyed. Anti-religious people among the group of leaders who are responsible for the orphaned refugee children in Israel, have created a "Shmad corner" for the children who have been entrusted to their care.

In the places in Europe conquered by Hitler, Yemach Shmo (may his name be erased), he set up extermination camps to torture and burn Jewish bodies; in Israel, a certain group has set up extermination camps to torture and destroy Jewish souls. The "Shmad corner" which is actively prosletyzing the Jewish refugee children, is educating the children by Hamans who are dedicated to the same path and education as the men of the Yevsektsia, the evil ones.

The "Hamans" teach the children to violate Shabbos, to eat Treif (non-kosher), to eat on Yom Kippur, to eat Chametz on Pesach (Passover). They don't even allow the children to say Kaddish (memorial prayer) for their martyred parents who were killed Al Kiddush Hashem (in the name of G-d, for being Jews). They teach the children to ridicule G-d and Yiddishkeit (Judaism).

The orphans who are being educated by the 'Hamans' [will grow up to] tear up Sifrei Torah, burn down Batei Knesiyot (synogogues), destroy Jewish cemeteries, lead pogroms, stab, burn and shoot at Jewish bodies. They will rob and loot Jewish property..."

Regretfully in August 2005 in Gush Katif and Northern Shomron (West Bank) the whole world saw fulfillment of this fearsome prophecy... Except for the words in bold! So, look at latest news (22/1/06):

Police Chief Moshe Karadi refused to rule out the use of live fire in the confrontation over the eviction of the residents of Hevron's Shalhevet neighborhood. "No more mixed messages," he said. (Source here.)

Gevald! Gevald! Wake up from this terrible Golus (exile)! This is the time to say the truth and get our priorities right. The Haman's of our time are people like Sharon and his evil government machine. These are the people the Frierdiker Rebbe is talking about! They are the "Shmad corner"!

Where is our Ahavas Yisrael (love of your fellow) for the victims of these evildoers? Why are we saying Tehillim (Psalms) for Sharon and not for his victims? Is this what the Rebbe would call Ahavas Yisrael (love for your fellow)? Where is the protest, that the Rebbe emphasized so much in the name of Ahavas Yisrael (love of your fellow) and Pikuach Nefesh (risk to life)?

Do you want, G-d forbid, to see the fullfillment of the rest of that prophecy? Then DO SOMETHING! Protest, scream! This is a case "when silence is a sin". Regarding this the Rebbe said: "When the Torah says, 'You shall not stand idly by your brother’s blood,' it does not mean that you are only required to involve yourself when you are certain that your efforts will be successful. Rather, even if there is only a slim chance — even only the slightest of chances — that you will succeed in your protest being heard, you must do this, for it is the unequivocal ruling of the Code of Jewish Law!"

Amein.

The Treatment of the expellees

2006-01-22T13:47:00.000-05:00

Nobel Prize Winner Prof. Aumann at the Herzliya Conference: "The treatment of the expellees is a national disgrace, and everyone is silent... Israel's mad rush for peace has the opposite effect."
Many of the thousands of people expelled from Gush Katif and northern Shomron are still in hotels, he noted, "even now, a half-year after the expulsion, without the most basic conditions. Most of them are not yet in permanent housing, or even in reasonable temporary housing. There is no work, the children are in despair, and there have been some suicide attempts. Many families, and maybe even most, have not seen a red cent in compensation money, and those who have received are spending it on daily food." More

Is Dialog Possible?

2006-01-22T07:50:00.000-05:00

A Jewish "Settler" resident of the modern Jewish community of Shilo which grew up beside the site of ancient Biblical Shilo exchanges email messages with an Arab, resident of the village of Turmosayya, located in the valley beneath Shilo. Is there a place for true dialog between the two?

Hebron Situation Continues

2006-01-18T11:30:00.000-05:00

IsraelReporter Shlomo Wollins continues his updates and live videos from Hebron.

Don't read the news reports and summaries, check the video's and see for yourself!

The riot police of the Israeli government conducted the second invasion and lock-down of the central Avraham Aveinu neighborhood in Chevron. The intention was to locate/deport/arrest any person (in particular children) who are currently in Chevron, that is not a resident of Chevron. As the time of this update, 5 Chevron women (long-term residents) have been arrested outside of their houses as a result of their refusal to show identification (see video below of 2 local girls arrested for same reason). The refusal to show ID is a form of protest against the “police-state” conditions that exist now in Chevron, which is the first of Jewish cities and the second most holy site/city in the Jewish religion...

More here.

Live Hebron Update!

2006-01-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

Here at Mystical Paths.

Chevron Under Siege! On Site Report!

2006-01-16T20:12:00.000-05:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

IsraelReporter has live pictures and video from the Siege of Chevron. First the Arabs slaughtered them, then the British drove them out. Now the Anti-Israel Government Storm Troopers are out to drive them out again...

Shlomo Wollins of IsraelReporter is the only Jewish reporter on the scene inside with the community. Mr. Wollins reports:

Riot police invaded entire Chevron today...we are now closed military zone!! I am in middle of it, inside with the community. It was a miracle that I wasn't beat up or arrested today.

Amazingly, there are virtually no adult protestors...me, Rebbetzin Levinger, and 1,000 kids! There has been and will be serious violence. All are expecting this closure order to result in a violent expulsion after the court ruling in morning.

Little kids were seriously traumatized today...some trapped (away from their parents and care givers) in the community playground alone!! Behind riot police and German riot horses. One child I know will not leave his mother's side for moment and won't go out for any reason. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, no main stream media source (either Israeli or international) reports this damage.

After watching the Evacuation Force physically attack the protesting children yesterday, I confronted them (the Yassam police who are trained to forcefully evacuate Jews) and told one to his face that he is coward to hit children and is afraid of the real enemy (Arabs).

He wasn't sure whether to hit me (with his carried riot stick), arrest me, or ignore me. I told him that Jews have midot (attributes): chesed (kindness), rachamim (mercy), anava (humbleness), chochma (wisdom) and anyone who would do this and hurt children has none of these midot and is acting like an evil person.

I then screamed at 80 Yassam police, with all the cameras rolling from the International news, "We are supposed to be light to nations....where is the light in this?"

Live Video Clips of Chevron Events from IsraelReporter: Here!

Live Pictures from Chevron Events:
Here and Here!

Shlomo writes, "You have no obligation to me...but it is a worthy and good mitzvah to support getting the word out on these events. I willingly put my life and body on line to do what I can to save these homes and protect these children from riot police.

Instead of building my web site and profession, I'm here in Chevron doing what I can. If you cannot be here, your support becomes part of my merit in being able to be here."

To which I answer, NO OBLIGATION??? G-D forbid that a Jew shouldn't help another, one who has been thrown out of his home in Gush Katif and still is working for the land of Israel. No Obligation to Chevron? G-d forbid a Jew shouldn't be obligated to the Avot, Avraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov!

I want to hear, see, and know what's going on in holy Chevron, to Jewish land (bought, titled and paid for) and Jewish people.

Join me in helping Shlomo Wollins of IsraelReport out and keeping the real news, the real live reports, coming:

Background from IsraelNationalNews (source here)...

The army wishes to expel 11 Jewish families of Hevron from their homes on Jewish-owned land that once served as an Arab marketplace. Though many media reports say that the issue involves "Palestinian homes," the land was actually purchased by the Sephardic Jewish community of Hevron 200 years ago and transferred to the present-day Jewish community. Arabs worked there for a time, but did not live there.

In 1929, Arabs massacred 67 of their Jewish neighbors living in the Jewish Quarter. The survivors were hurriedly evacuated, and the Jewish houses and synagogues were abandoned and left uninhabited. In 1953, Jordanian troops assisted Hevron's Arab population in razing the remains of the Jewish Quarter, turning the beautiful Avraham Avinu Synagogue into a goat sty. On part of the land was built an outdoor food market, which continued to operate, even after the Jews returned during the Six Day War in 1967.

Just over a decade ago, when Arab-initiated violence in Hevron was at one of its highs, the army decided to improve Jewish security in the area by clearing out the Arab store-owners in the marketplace. Several years later, after an Arab terrorist shot to death 10-month-old Shalhevet Pass with a bullet to her head, Jews decided to renew their title to the land. They began renovating the stores, turning them into inhabitable apartments, and moving families in. Eleven families currently live there.

The Road Less Travelled

2006-01-15T10:05:00.000-05:00

The "upside" of the news item describing the IDF's decision to forbid Jewish traffic on major highways in Judea & samaria is that all those Palestinian loving Jews on the radical Left will now feel better about all the money Israel invested in "by-pass" roads during the Oslo period.

The roads in question were originally created to make it possible for Israeli traffic to travel through the non-Palestinian controlled areas safely, while permitting a withdrawal of Israel security forces from Palestinian controlled areas. From time to time I would read of the "hundreds of millions" spent on roads intended for "settlers Only" as I would stand on the side of these roads watching Arab traffic pass by, waiting for the occasional Jew to offer me a lift.Now these roads will become forbidden to Jewish traffic, and THAT will be a reason to rejoice!

Fences Make Good Neighbours

2006-01-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

My response to a Political Rant disguised as an Architecture Article in January 1, 2006 New York Times

It Begins, In Gush Etzion

2006-01-11T08:56:00.000-05:00

First it was notices to Jewish owned parts of Hebron, now it's parts of Gush Etzion...

(Israel National News - Here.)

Border police, accompanied by a bulldozer and Civil Administration officials arrived at the small community of Sde Boaz early Wednesday morning, but were met by friends of the residents and Land of Israel activists, who stopped them in their tracks.

Legal Rights and Title of Sovereignty of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel and Palestine under International Law

2005-12-20T11:08:00.000-05:00

From Katif.net:

by Howard Grief

The objective of this paper is to set down in a brief, yet clear and precise manner the legal rights and title of sovereignty of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and Palestine under international law. These rights originated in the global political and legal settlement, conceived during World War I and carried into execution in the post-war years between 1919 and 1923. Insofar as the Ottoman Turkish Empire was concerned, the settlement embraced the claims of the Zionist Organization, the Arab National movement, the Kurds, the Assyrians and the Armenians.

As part of the settlement in which the Arabs received most of the lands formerly under Turkish sovereignty in the Middle East, the whole of Palestine, on both sides of the Jordan, was reserved exclusively for the Jewish people as their national home and future independent state.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Cross-posted at IceViking, IsraPundit and the Orange Revolution

Video: Evil Stands Up and Says Hello, Iranian President

2005-12-15T22:30:00.000-05:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

(English, 9 minutes, British News Report, brief 5 second Hebrew intro.)

Video: Iranian President Declaring Goal of Destruction of Israel and the Jews, Imminent Return of Islamic Prophet, and divine intervention during his speech.

Listen to what this man has to say! He's out to destroy Israel and the Jew's. He's out to bring the world under Islamic domination. He believes heavenly light surrounds him when he speaks and subdues the leaders of the world before him. He's doing everything within his power to acquire and/or develop nuclear weapons and long range missiles. He's instructing his people to prepare for the return of his ancient prophet. He's 100% serious.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center (an international Jewish human rights & Holocaust organization) is running an online petition to the U.N. General Assembly to respond to this man's evil statements, click here. Personally I think the U.N. has absolutely no capability to do anything, even if they wanted to, and regarding Jews I don't think they want to. But, it can't hurt to try.

Credit: Video source, Hashem1.Net, Jewish End-of-Days site in Hebrew, noted from a translated article on Jewish end-of-days goings on at Yeranen Yaakov.

The Deportees

2005-12-15T00:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I toured some of the Disengagement deportee homes. Here's my report.

money down the drain

2005-12-06T12:49:00.000-05:00

So much money is being wasted by the government building temporary homes, expected to last only a few years.

Here's a post on the Disengagement refugees.

Where now the orange ribbons?

2005-11-21T08:38:00.000-05:00

I don't remember the BBC taking an interest in what Moshe and Rachel Saperstein had to say when they opposed the Expulsion of Jews (including themselves) from Gush Katif. At that time they and their fellow opponents of the plan were villified in the global press as Maniacal Evil Settlers and Obstacles to Peace.

NOW the BBC is interested in them, now that they have lost their dignity, now that they can be painted as Lovable Victims.

"... Rachel says, the settlers are still having to pay mortgages on homes which have been reduced to rubble, rent for the containers holding their belongings and $450 a month towards the hotel bill, which, she says, will be deducted from their compensation if it ever arrives."

Israel Selling Off Holy Places in Jerusalem???

2005-11-15T13:42:00.000-05:00

For the past 2 weeks, a woman in the U.S. has been trying to pin down rumors that the government of Israel is selling off parts of Mount Zion, specifically the area of Dovid HaMelek's (King David's) tomb and the location of the Diaspora Yeshiva (Jewish religious school) in Jerusalem to the Vatican. Vatican Press says it's happening, Israeli government spokespersons alternately say no, yes, maybe, never, could be, and "we can do whatever we want without telling anyone"...

From: Elisheva - Dovid_Protect@yahoo.com -
To: GPONEWS@NETVISION.NET.IL, hagit@president.gov.il, POL_ADV@PRESIDENT.GOV.IL, president@president.gov.il
CC: press@israelemb.org
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005
=======================
B"H

Adventures in Communication efforts with the Israeli Gov't,
An Oxymoronic experience.

This is a brief report of today's conversations, - well sort of, the first two were mainly them yelling - with: Avi Granot, Political Advisor to (Israeli) President Moshe Katav; & Ms. Hagit, spokesperson for Presidnet Katsav (+972-2-670-7223 / 51) & in Washington D.C., the Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Jeremy Issacharoff (+1-202-364-5578).

Greetings:

All week I have been trying to be awake in both time zones, trying to stop the attack on Mount Zion, so I'm exhausted. But I wanted to get this out - for what its worth - before Shabbos starts there.

The past 24 hours have been intense. Well the whole week, but - if I have learned anything about how the State of Israel is run, and would advise people about what to do, it is this: Be prepared to yell and scream. It seems to be what the administration is used to! If you are polite and rational and courteous, you will get hung up on immediately. Do make threats, even if you can't make good on them. Also, it earns you bonus points if you can get out a whole sentence and repeat it, regardless of the content. I know it sounds dreadful, but don't let it bother you - its just de Rigueur!

Early the past morning I actually spoke with Avi Granot - "Political advisor" to (Israeli) President Katsav. I expected to just tell a receptionist that the Diaspora Yeshiva (Jewish religious school currently located on the proposed site to be transferred to the Vatican) should get their lease - and today. All of a sudden she transferred me to him. She insisted and just went head and did it. My primary message was to insist that a lease to Diaspora Yeshiva must be given immediately, as it is the only way to show us that something very bad is not being planned. Mostly what I got out of him is that he doesn't think he or Katsav account to the people at all (as in, what the people think is irrelevent, whatever the government wants to to, it can).

I explained to him that everyone is very upset and worried, and angry, and the way to make everything better was just to give the lease so we know nothing bad is happening. He tried to dismiss my concerns by his released statement. I told him that his statements are like being given an empty envelope, and are insulting.

[See the worthless, insulting empty statement, dated November 9, 2005 - STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT KATSAV'S OFFICE - DENIAL OF VATICAN MT. ZION HAND OVER - posted at ISFSP.org, which is hosting the Save Mount Zion information website: http://www.isfsp.org/katsav2.html ]

He started rattling off lists of all sorts of things he said were not happening, in a very odd sing song manner, and offered no proof. He refused to say anyting at all affirmative.

Sometimes he would just start yelling, out of the blue. Other times he started talking gently like to a small child. His affect had almost nothing to do with mine - nor his own words. He kept yelling at me, and then saying if I didn't trust him, he would just hang up. So I started to yell back, and to my amazement, he did not hang up. One would have expected the reverse! This was repeated multiple times, for maybe 20 minutes.

He recognizes that Diaspora Yeshiva did not get a lease, says it is not his concern, and refused to answer the obvious question: well, if you are removing them, Who is going in?

He claims that the President has no authority to sign any agreement [such as with Rome]. At one point, regarding the planned Israeli presidential visit to Rome, and his blanket denials of everything and anything, he said, "That's not on our agenda". So I asked him if "that" is not on the agenda for Rome, what is? He went nuts, "I don't need to tell you what I am doing! We have no reason to tell what we [are going to do]" etc. I corrected him and said that in a democracy or republic The People do have to be told in advance, and their views solicited. I told him that the "agenda" [for the visit to Rome] should be posted and up for public review before acted on, just as governments do in the U.S.A.

He started going on about affairs of the state, and how the government can do what it wants and does not need to post things for public review before they act, and so on. I kept telling him that he has no respect for democracy and The People. The only thing I can remember him not denying is that Arabs might be involved.

So of course I had to call back a little while later to see if he had gotten the lease ready to send to the Yeshiva. It turns out he was in a meeting, but to my amazement, Spokeswoman Hagit personally answered the phone, so I had the opportunity to "talk" with her, too.

I have to admit, Avi Granot is much better to argue with than is Hagit. At least his Engish is comprehensible. Further, if you keep talking, he calms down more quickly. Finally, he does not hang up the phone on you. However, he is much more likely to hurl insults and make patronizing and derogatory statements. But this is just de Rigueur!

Hagit just yells things in Hebrew which she seems to think are in English. This actually turned out to be helpful, because when she started yelling, I could yell at her that I did not understand her, and it helped her to manage her anger. I am certain that if I understood Hebrew and if she thought that I actually knew what she said, the discussion would have ended immediately.

Frankly, my experience with this "spokeswoman" is that she really doesn't say anything at all. She did not address the concerns presented to her. How about if we dub her an Un-Spokeswoman? But maybe this is just more de Rigueur!

Finally, at the end of the afternoon here, 4:00 pm EST, I called the Israeli Embassy in Washington. I happen to have the old phone list which includes the direct line for the Deputy Chief of Mission. [This number is not on the new list.]

So when I called it, Deputy Chief Issacharoff personally picked up the phone. He was in a meeting, but actually sounded kindly compared with the first characters. Maybe he couldn't follow the de Rigueur of yelling due to eye witnesses in his office. I thanked him for taking the call; told him we are all heartsick out here and that the government is keeping it a secret which is upsetting. I asked him to please save Mt. Zion for us, and to have a lease immediately be given to the Yeshiva. I also told him that Gen. Halutz is threatening the Hesder Yeshiva's (a religious studies/army framework in Israel) again, and is making us look stupid to the Muslims, which encourages them to attack. I followed this up with a FAX of the Israel National News article on Halutz. [10 November 2005 "The Chief of Staff is Transient - The Torah is Not" http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=92786 ]

Anyhow, if I remember more specifics, I will send it along after Shabbos. And I encourage everyone to go right ahead, call these nasty officials and argue with them. If enough of us do this, it will wear them down and they will give in.

Its now 2 am E.S.T., and I need sleep. But first I think I'll call Mr. Granot and wish him a good morning. And while I'm at it, I will ask him if he brought the lease to the Yeshiva like I told him to do yesterday. In Faith, Elisheva

Would you?

2005-11-13T01:43:00.001-05:00

Would you be able to your residence? Not me!

Would you?

2005-11-13T01:43:00.000-05:00

Would you be able to your residence? Not me!

Iranian President Uveils His Plan for Genocide!

2005-11-10T19:45:00.000-05:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths...)

Thanks to Little Green Footballs for exposing this...

The World Without The Jews - The Website - Officially Supported by Iran (note the site address in the picture below.)

President of Iran Unveiling His Plan
View From a Height points out many details in his article on it here, Iran: Worse Than You Think.

And it is. An incredible nasty group of pictures and cartoons (at least one picture is extremely graphic).

There's nothing hidden about this danger. The world and Israel must take action, the enemy has announced his intention to slaughter every Jew. This is the guy who's building nukes, this is not to be ignored.

Spiritually, we must turn and return to G-d in whole hearted repentence. Ribono Shel Olam, Master of the Universe, protect your children and nation who clings to you from harm!

The Origin of the Occupation Myth

2005-11-10T18:18:00.000-05:00

From NATIV:

Howard Grief

Inasmuch as Israel is always unjustly condemned by the United Nations as an occupier of “Arab land” in regard to Judea, Samaria and Gaza, a condemnation that has no basis in either fact or law, it is important to trace the origin of this pernicious myth. This myth has provided the world body with the necessary pretext to intervene constantly in the internal affairs of these Jewish lands. The myth originated and has persisted to this very day, astonishingly enough, with the aid of Israel’s legal establishment or coterie of eminent jurists ensconced in several centers of authority, notably (1) the Supreme Court of Israel; (2) the Attorney-General’s Office; (3) the Ministry of Justice; (4) the International Law section of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), operating under the Military Advocate-General’s Command; and (5) the Law faculties of Israel’s universities. The individual who bore the greatest responsibility for this myth was Meir Shamgar, who was Military Advocate-General from 1961 to 1968, and later the Attorney-General of Israel and the President of the Supreme Court. He was at the epicenter of the decision made by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol’s National Unity Government during the Six Day War to apply not Israeli law but the laws of war to all the liberated Jewish territories, in particular the provisions of the Hague Regulations of 1907, as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. This application was completely inappropriate to the situation considering the historical connection and sanctity of these territories to the Jewish People and their legal inseparability from the Jewish National Home.

Click here to read the whole thing.

Cross-posted at IceViking, the Orange Revolution and IsraPundit

Disengaged?

2005-11-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Are you disengaged?

2005-11-02T15:05:00.000-05:00

(Cross posted from Mystical Paths.)

An excerpt to Israeli Prime Minister Sharon from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, written in 1970...

...May it be the Will of G-d that finally we be informed of true peace in the Land. Certainly the path to this is not by exhibiting signs of weakness and preparedness to compromise and to offer great concessions as is now quoted and publicised in all the newspapers.

But to the absolute contrary. As the saying goes, if you really want peace you must show that you are prepared to enter the opposite (war) with all fortitude under conditions favourable to yourselves.

Full letter here.

Join the AFSI Trip to Israel

2005-11-01T23:14:00.000-05:00

1623 Third Avenue, Suite 205, New York, NY 10128
Tel: 212-828-2424; Fax: 212-828-1717; http://us.f538.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=afsi@rcn.com; http://www.afsi.org/
Contact: Helen Freedman, Executive Director; Nov. 1, 2005

ABSOLUTELY LAST CALL FOR
AFSI MISSION TO ISRAEL NOVEMBER 20-28

WE ARE REACHING OUT TO ALL WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE REFUGEES FROM GUSH KATIF & THE N. SHOMRON
& THOSE WHO MAY FOLLOW, IF THE CRUEL AND DANGEROUS
SHARON PLAN FOR CONTINUED EXPULSIONS IS REALIZED.

AFSI’s itinerary on this November mission includes visits to the refugees wherever they may be scattered. At this point it is still nebulous since the Sharon government, which conducted a brilliant military action against its own people, neglected to use that same efficiency and organizational skills to arrange for the aftermath of the expulsion – the basic humanitarian needs of the evacuees. They have not yet received the promised compensation, and indeed, are still compelled to pay the mortgages on their destroyed homes. Employment, homes, schools, synagogues, graveyards, yeshivot, farms, greenhouses, hothouses and more, have all been taken away from them.

At this writing, many of the communities are in the western Negev in tent cities or temporary caravans. Some of the refugees now being housed in hotels in Jerusalem may be moving to caravans in the Negev. Others may be in hotels in Ashkelon. Still others may be in existing Shomron or Gush Etzion communities. Our guides will lead us to meet with the people in their temporary homes, and we will learn from them about what actions we can take to hasten the day when the Sharon government will assume its responsibilities to its forcibly expelled citizens, as promised.

In addition to concentrating on the refugees, we will visit our friends in Judea and Samaria, explore Jewish east Jerusalem, visit the Temple Mount, go home to Mother Rachel, and spend the Shabbat in Hebron celebrating Chaye Sarah, the reading of the portion of the Bible where Abraham buys the burial plot for his wife, Sarah.

Our flexible itinerary is as follows:

Sunday, Nov. 20 – Depart Newark airport on El Al flight LY028 from Newark airport at 1: 30 PM. Everyone should plan on being at the airport by 11 AM when tickets will be distributed. Please pack your belongings in one bag, so that the two bag allowance will permit you to bring along warm clothing and toys for those we’ll be visiting.

Monday, Nov. 21 & Tuesday, Nov. 22 – We are scheduled to arrive in Israel at 7 AM., meet our guides and good friends, Dror Vanunu and Izzy Danziger, and depart immediately for the Negev to visit the refugee communities. We will stay over Monday and Tuesday nights at a hotel near BeerSheva. Udi Zinar, spokesman for Netzarim, will guide us on Tuesday. Evening events will include prominent speakers. The mountains of the Negev highlands reach high altitudes, creating a special kind of desert habitat of stark desert landscapes, canyons, hidden springs and oases. We hope to explore some of these beautiful natural attractions.

Wednesday– Nov.23 – Drive north east towards Sussya, where we hope to lunch with Dalia Har Sinai in her unique cave restaurant. Continue on through Maon, Carmel and visit the Gush Etzion area on our way to Jerusalem where we will check into the Kings Hotel. An important guest speaker will address us in the evening.

Thursday–Nov. 24 –Drive north for visits to threatened hilltop and Shomron communities. Visit Bet-El, Ofra, Shilo, Kfar Tapuach, and Yitzhar. Meet with the residents and hear their stories. In Shilo we will meet with Chaya and Moshe Belogorodsky and representatives of Honenu, the organization that provides legal services to soldiers and civilians arrested because they are “ideological criminals.”

Friday–Nov. 25 –Leave for Hebron, stopping in Bethlehem at Kever Rachel. Arrive in Kiryat Arba/Hebron early enough to participate in the distribution of toys with Alan Hirsch. We will be housed in Yeshivat Nir where Rav Waldman, recently expelled from Sanur, is Rosh Yeshiva. Inspirational Kabalat Shabbat Services at the Maarat HaMachpela will be followed by dinner at the Yeshiva.

Shabbat – Nov. 26 – Chaye Sarah services at Maarat HaMachpela with thousands of participants from all over Israel and the world. Tour of Hebron during the afternoon with our friend, David Wilder. All Shabbat meals at the Yeshiva. Return to Jerusalem and the Kings hotel at the conclusion of Shabbat. Evening free for shopping and personal plans.

Sunday, Nov. 27 – Full day in Jerusalem. Optional ascent to the Temple Mount in the early morning. Tour Jewish east Jerusalem and the Old City with Chaim Silberstein of Uvneh Yerushalayim and Dan Luria of Ateret Cohanim. Gala farewell dinner and departure for the airport at 8:30 PM for midnight flight to Newark, arriving early Monday morning, Nov. 28. Those wishing to arrive at JFK must notify us.

This is a very popular mission, unique in its travels to the disputed areas of Israel. As in the past, Rabbi Bruce Rudolph is overseeing the travel arrangements, and Helen Freedman is the tour coordinator. The cost of the trip is $2000 plus airport taxes of $77, and additional $100 costs for non-AFSI members, single occupancy, and other personal travel changess. (AFSI membership is only $50 per year, so there is a $50 saving for joining the organization.) Air, bus travel, guides, hotels, all breakfasts and dinners and most lunches are all included. Those wishing to make their own flight arrangements may do so. AFSI will charge $1000 for land only. It DOES NOT include tips for hotel chambermaids, waiters, bus drivers and guides. Please plan accordingly. We encourage those who wish to rent cell phones to do so in the U.S. Arutz Sheva, Amigo, and Travel Cell all supply phones at competitive prices. Those wishing travel insurance information should contact AFSI.

Full payment is due immediately. All reservations will close on Nov. 10. You may make your check out to AFSI or call in with your charge card information. Please consult the http://www.afsi.org/ website for detailed reports and photos of previous Chizuk missions. Contact AFSI at 212-828-2424; http://us.f538.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=afsi@rcn.com. We look forward to welcoming you to the AFSI traveling family.

report on the Disengagement victims

2005-10-25T15:37:00.000-04:00

The condition of the refugees is getting worse. Here's a report.

Temple Mount Prayer for Jews Permitted?

2005-10-19T03:26:00.000-04:00

See this:

http://myrightword.blogspot.com/2005/10/prayer-on-temple-mount-permitted.html

rehabilitating the Disengagement victims

2005-10-19T02:36:00.000-04:00

What's really best for the victims of Disengagement?

Has anyone heard the Shofar?

2005-10-11T17:28:00.000-04:00

Hearing the shofar during the Yamim Noraim is supposed to be a sort of wake up call. Have you heard the shofar this year? I mean have you really heard it?

Today Yechezkel Chazani from Netzer Hazani, GK, passed away suddenly in his car while his wife jumped out to buy some food to prepare for the seudah hamafseket. Yechezkel was 52 years old and a father of 6. His oldest is married and was also just expelled from his home in Kfar Yam, GK, and his youngest is 9. All 6 are now fatherless.

After speaking with people from Netzer Hazani and Gush Katif today I heard the same message over and over again - "Sharon killed Yechezkel".

Yechezkel was a healthy man, no known health or psychological issues. He and his family were not on the "special list" for social workers to look after. He was one of the pillars of the Netzer Hazani community and a hard working man who went from being a proud bread earner to unemployed. He and his wife just decided to rent a home in Hispin, as part of their efforts to take control of their lives.

Noone will know the real reasons why Yechezkel passed away. But becoming homeless, jobless and helpless without being abe to trust any official insitution to help, probably didn't assist in keeping Yechezkel healthy.

I think the people of Gush Katif are being too generous when they blame his death on Sharon. The truth is that the Israeli establishment killed Yechezkel, not Sharon. The court system, the judges, the heads of police, the press, the heads of the army etc.

The establishment of Isreal allowed Yechezkel and 8,000 other "salt of the earth" Israeli Jews come to this reality - not only did they allow these people to be expelled from their homes, but they took part in a process that leaves all these expellees with no "solution" of housing or employment one month after being expelled from their homes.

And what about us? Where do we fit in all of this?

8,000 Jews - grandparents, parents, children, teachers, doctors, farmers etc. - are homeless for a month, becoming more and more depressed and helpless as each day passes, and we go on with our regular lives as if nothing has happened. Is that really good?

Many of us are doing chesed to help these families, but few of us are doing anything to make the guilty establishment feel guilty for what its done. Few of us are doing anything to make sure that this picture doesn't repeat itself.

Have you really heard the shofar this year?

To anyone who has has really heard the shofar and realizes that something must be done to change all this - please contact me. There is plenty to do, even after you come home from your daily work.

Through messages we hear day in and day out we are made to feel as if we are powerless, and that everything is inevitable. Well, that is exactly against what the Yamim Noraim come to teach us!

The power of teshuva is the message that G-d tells us we have the power to make changes and make a difference in this world. We are not powerless, and everything is not inevitable.

The shofar will be blown Motzei Yom Kippur. Will you really hear it this year?

Gmar Chatima Tova,
Avi Abelow
"Expelled from Netzer Hazani by the Israeli Establishment"

jail report

2005-10-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

There's still a young teenage anti-Disengagement prisoner.

some post Disengagement thoughts

2005-10-10T12:47:00.000-04:00

http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2005/10/unity.html

Dirty Politics

2005-09-30T00:32:00.000-04:00

or should this be dirty politicians http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/2005/09/dirty-politics.html?

lots of information in this link

2005-09-29T23:24:00.000-04:00

http://www.jinsa.org/articles/articles.html/function/view/categoryid/650/documentid/3172

Visit Israel with AFSI

2005-09-29T23:10:00.000-04:00

1623 Third Avenue, Suite 205, New York, NY 10128
Tel: 212-828-2424; Fax: 212-828-1717; afsi@rcn.com; www.afsi.org
Contact: Helen Freedman, Executive Director; September 29, 2005

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, THE GOOD JEWS OF ISRAEL NEED OUR SUPPORT!
AFSI MISSION TO ISRAEL NOVEMBER 20-28
OPEN TO YOU WHILE SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE

WE ARE REACHING OUT TO ALL WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
REFUGEES FROM GUSH KATIF & THE N. SHOMRON
& THOSE WHO MAY FOLLOW, IF THE CRUEL AND DANGEROUS
SHARON PLAN FOR CONTINUED EXPULSIONS IS REALIZED.
Over a period of ten years, AFSI missions to Israel have been unique in that we have visited so many of the threatened and disputed communities in Gush Katif/Gaza, Judea, Samaria, Hebron, and Jerusalem. We know the people, have sat in their homes and synagogues, eaten with them, been lodged in their field houses and hotels, and enjoyed the warmth and hospitality that has endeared all our participants to the Jews of YESHA. Today, the A in YESHA is gone. The Jews of Gaza have been displaced from their communities since mid-August, still roaming as refugees in their own land.
AFSI’s intention on this November mission is to visit the refugees wherever they may be scattered. At this point it is still nebulous since the Sharon government, which conducted a brilliant military action against its own people, neglected to use that same efficiency and organizational skills to arrange for the aftermath of the expulsion – the basic humanitarian needs of the evacuees. They have not yet received the promised compensation, and indeed, are still compelled to pay the mortgages on their destroyed homes. Employment, homes, schools, synagogues, graveyards, yeshivot, farms, greenhouses, hothouses and more, have all been taken away from them.

At this point, we believe that the Negev may prove to be the new home for many of the refugees, so we have drawn up a tentative schedule:

Sunday, Nov. 20 – Depart Newark airport on El Al at 2: 30 PM

Monday, Nov. 21 & Tuesday, Nov. 22 – Arrive in Israel in the morning and depart immediately for the Negev.
Stay over Monday and Tuesday nights at the Makhtesh Ramon Inn, adjacent to Israel’s Grand Canyon. Arrange visits and special programs with the refugees. Exciting evening programs.

Wednesday– Nov.23 – Morning optional hike in the Makhtesh Ramon with a local guide. Leave for visits to the Gush Etzion area on our way to Jerusalem where we will check into the Kings Hotel. VIP guest speaker in the evening.

Thursday–Nov. 24 – Optional ascent to the Temple Mount in the early morning. Drive north for visits to threatened hilltop and Shomron communities. Overnight at the Kings Hotel.

Friday–Nov. 25 – Morning visit with representatives from Honenu, the legal organization that defends “ideological” Jewish criminals. Leave for Hebron. On the way, we will visit some of the Hebron hills communities. Arrive in Kiryat Arba/Hebron where we will be housed in Yeshivat Nir where Rav Waldman is Rosh Yeshiva. Kabbalat Shabbat Services at the Maarat HaMachpela followed by dinner at the Yeshiva.

Shabbat – Nov. 26 – Chaye Sarah services at Maarat HaMachpela with thousands of participants from all over Israel and the world. Tour of Hebron during the afternoon with our friend, David Wilder. All Shabbat meals at the Yeshiva. Return to Jerusalem and the Kings hotel at the conclusion of Shabbat. Evening free for shopping and personal plans.

Sunday, Nov. 27 – Full day in Jerusalem. Tour Jewish east Jerusalem and the Old City with Chaim Silberstein of Uvneh Yerushalayim and Dan Luria of Ateret Cohanim. Gala farewell dinner and departure for the airport at 8:30 PM for midnight flight to Newark, arriving early Monday morning, Nov. 28. Those wishing to arrive at JFK must notify us.

This is a very popular mission, unique in its travels to the disputed areas of Israel. Once again, Izzy Danziger, head of Mishmeret Yesha, will be our guide, Rabbi Bruce Rudolph will oversee the travel arrangements, and Helen Freedman will be the tour coordinator. The cost of the trip is $2000 plus airport taxes and additional costs for non-AFSI members, single occupancy, and other personal preferences. It includes the flight, bus travel, guides, hotels, all breakfasts and dinners and most lunches. A non-refundable deposit of $250 is required immediately. You may make your check out to AFSI or call in with your charge card information. Please consult the www.afsi.org website for detailed reports and photos of previous Chizuk missions. Contact AFSI at 212-828-2424; afsi@rcn.com. We look forward to welcoming you to the AFSI traveling family.

Assisted Emigrations.

2005-09-27T12:24:00.000-04:00

Cross posted from Mystical Paths...

Among the more unusual Israeli responses to the conflict I've encountered is this one:

Assisted Emigration Services

Palestinians are trapped. Many Palestinians desperately want to, but are unable to, emigrate. Palestinians have the right to escape the incessant cross fire by migration. The Palestinians' decision to resort to terrorism has so reduced the average standard of living that about 380,000 Palestinians recently left their families and homes to emigrate elsewhere.

These emigrants found that there was no support network to help them adjust to the new country. As the security situation deteriorated, the borders to Jordan were closed.

And now, Palestinians are prevented from exercising their option to emigrate.

Freedom of migration is a basic human right protected under the 1946 UN Declaration of Human Rights.

How can anyone be against the prerogative of a Palestinian Arab to build a new life in a country of his or her choice?

There currently is no other organized system to provide assistance in emigration to Palestinians living in buffer zones and in the crossfire.

While getting an airline ticket is no problem, obtaining a visa and security clearance from the Arab village to the airport is problematic.

We have established a mechanism for the orderly and compassionate emigration of innocent families to supportive countries.

We provide humanitarian assistance to those who find themselves in the cross fire and seek a prosperous, quiet and fulfilling life. Our network of experts work together to provide the tools to build a new life. The network includes social workers, psychologists, lawyers, and financial analysts that have pooled their expertise to facilitate smooth transitions to a new country and adaptation to a new culture.

Check out: Emigrations.Net

Tagged Topic(s): israel, palestinian