Sens. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) and Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) on Tuesday
unveiled a bill that would prevent the Obama administration from lifting
economic sanctions on Tehran until these U.S. terrorist victims are
paid for the crimes committed by Iranian-funded terrorist proxy groups,
such as Hezbollah, according to a copy of the legislation obtained by
the Washington Free Beacon.
“Iran-sponsored terrorists have killed more Americans than the Islamic State,” Kirk told the Free Beacon. “Families
of Americans killed by Iranian-backed terrorism have used U.S. laws to
take Iran to court and lawfully win approximately $43.5 billion in
unsatisfied damages, so if the United States fails to ensure Iran fully
pays these judgments before Iranian terror financiers get over $100
billion in sanctions relief, we risk emboldening Iran and other state
sponsors of terror to continue targeting and killing more Americans.”
Iran has been held legally liable by U.S. courts for the murder of
scores of Americans, according to official government estimates.
Iranian-backed terrorist groups, for example, have killed more than 700 Americans, including at least 290 in Lebanon
over the past several decades. This accounts for the 241 U.S. service
members murdered during the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, which Iran
sponsored.
Attacks by Iran and its terrorist proxies additionally have killed at
least 500 Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2000, according to
intelligence officials.
U.S. courts have awarded the victims and their families more $46
billion in damages as a result of Iran’s terrorism, according to the
Congressional Research Service (CRS). Around $43.5 billion of this has
yet to be paid by Iran.
I hope that this time, we at least get to a vote in the Senate. What happened with the nuclear sellout was disgraceful, but at least there were no Americans who were directly and immediately affected by it. This could be worse. Let's at least make Obama feel the pain of exercising his veto.
Over the weekend, the Iraqi military’s Joint Operations Command announced that it would enter into an intelligence sharing agreement “about ISIS terrorism” with Syria, Russia and Iran.
Exactly what sort of information Iraq agreed to share with Russia, or
has shared already, was a matter of some confusion during Tuesday’s
Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob
Work acknowledged that the Defense Department doesn’t have a firm handle
on the sort of communications going on between the Iraqi government
and Moscow.
“We were caught by surprise that Iraq entered into this agreement
with Syria, Iran and Russia. Obviously, we are not going to share
intelligence with either Syria, or Russia, or Iran. So we are in the
process of working to try and find out exactly what Iraq has said.
Certainly we are not going to provide any classified information that
would help those actors on the battlefield.” Work said in response to a
question from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Russia was in
Syria primarily to bolster President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s claims this week that his forces were in
Syria to defeat the Islamic State was, Clapper said, “a
belated motivation.”
Clapper suggested that mutual mistrust between the parties could
limit the scope of the Iraq’s intelligence sharing agreement. “As far as
the joint intelligence arrangement is concerned. Can’t go into detail
here in this forum … But each of the parties entering into this are a
little bit suspicious of just what is entailed here. We will have to see
how robust a capability that actually provides.”
U.S. Cyber Command commander and NSA
chief Adm. Michael Rogers identified Russia as probably the most
capable adversary the United States faces online. The recent breach of
the Joint Staff civilian email system, for instance, has been attributed
to a Russian affiliated group and affected as many as 4,000
email accounts.
In fiscal 2015, Congress appropriated more than $1.6 billion in train and equip funding
for the Iraqi military, including trucks and small arms but also some
potentially sensitive pieces of equipment related to improvised
explosive device detection. Detailed information about how U.S.
troops detect mines and explosive devices on the battlefield could
represent a vulnerability for the United States if that equipment were
to fall into the wrong hands. And then there are the people, more than
3,550 U.S. troops are in Iraq right now officially serving in train and assist roles. But that’s not all they do. In May, a U.S. Special Forces raid resulted in the death of Abu Sayyaf, an ISIS senior leader in Syria.
It's kind of hard to believe that Israel is not sharing intelligence with the US on an area that's quite close to our eastern and northern borders. Was our information shared too?
If you're looking for Obama, he's on the golf course, trying to find a way to blame Bush.
During a luncheon at the ongoing 70th session of the United Nations
General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, U.S. on Monday
September 28, 2015, Zuma carried on with his phone call as Obama
stretched his arm to greet the SA president.
Obama joked about the situation, doing a hand sign to show that Zuma was still on the phone as he tried to catch his attention.
It would be interesting to know who it is, who kept Zuma on phone that he couldn’t stop to greet the powerful president… Lol!
Congress seeks to hold up Iran sanctions relief until victims of Iranian terror paid
Congress is seeking to hold up the release of moneys to Iran until American victims of Iranian-financed terror are paid some $43.5 billion in compensation. A bill to do just that has been introduced by Representative Patrick Meehan (R-Pa).
Let's go the videotape, and then we'll hear about the bill from Adam Kredo.
Yes, before you click the video, that's my friend Arnold Roth's daughter Malki HY"D (May God Avenge her blood), second row from bottom, second from right (first full picture in the row), who was murdered in the Sbarro terror attack.
Adam Kredo reports on the bill.
The bill, which is expected to be brought to the House floor for a
vote this week, would require Iran to first pay $43.5 billion in legal
penalties awarded by U.S. courts to American victims of Iranian
terrorism.
President Obama would then be in a position to either disregard the
requirement under his executive authority, thereby clearing the way for
Iran to immediately receive $150 billion, or force Tehran to negotiate
settlements for these terror victims.
The legislation, called the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act, comes after a lawsuit
filed by U.S. terror victims that argue they should first be paid
damages before Iran sees a dime of the money promised by the Obama
administration.
The victims said they fear that if the money is first released to
Iran, they will never receive the billions in compensation awarded to
them by U.S. courts.
Meehan told the Washington Free Beacon that the legislation
would create a circumstance in which “the president must certify that he
believes it’s more important to pay money to the Iranian terrorists
than it is to compensate the victims of Iranian terror.”
The bill, he said, “would prevent the president from releasing any
sanctions unless or until the full damages, which have already been
awarded in American courts to victims of Iranian terror, are paid.”
“I’d just like to understand why [Obama] thinks it’s more important
to give money back to Iran than it is to first pay the victims of their
past terror acts,” said Meehan, who released a video late last week detailing the stories of several Americans harmed by Iranian-backed terrorism.
While the bill has garnered at least 75 co-sponsors in the House,
Meehan said he is not certain whether supporters will be able to achieve
a veto-proof majority.
After the nuclear sellout, just bringing it to a vote would be an accomplishment.
But you can bet that Obama will veto the bill if it ever passes. His legacy is more important than compensation to ordinary American terror victims. May he rot in hell.
While American sources claimed Abbas’ statement was “inaccurate,”
senior Palestinian and Israeli officials alike confirmed that the
Americans were not enthusiastic about such a meeting taking place. They
believe it would be explosive and cause the situation to deteriorate
even further. The Americans have learned from experience. They bear the
battle scars of countless disappointments. They would therefore prefer
to spend time preparing for such a meeting, honing positions,
coordinating expectations and going for a sure thing.
For the past few months, the Americans have been very concerned that they could lose Abbas. The Palestinian president’s status among his own people is getting weaker by the day,
and demonstrations against him are turning violent. A quiet uprising of
sorts against him is already underway in the refugee camps, and it
erupts every so often. In some instances, there has even been an
exchange of fire between insurgent Palestinians and security forces. The
last thing Kerry wants to see is Abbas resign or be deposed and have
the West Bank slip into administrative and military chaos. He’s already
had enough problems like that.
The real drama is taking place behind the scenes on various fronts. Kerry met recently
with the leader of the Israeli opposition, Knesset member and Zionist
Camp head Isaac Herzog. While both sides deny they discussed the
political situation, it is quite safe to assume that they did not skip
over the topic.
Netanyahu made him a very tempting
offer in which Herzog’s party would receive the Foreign, Defense and
Justice ministries. Herzog does want to join the government. He knows
that the position of defense minister (offered for just half a term, in
another year and a half) could help him overcome his image as a weakling
and give him that special something he needs to become prime minister.
Before he can join, however, he will have to convince his own party’s
Central Committee to extend his term as chairman until late 2017. That
is what Netanyahu wants in exchange for the deal. The prime minister is
not willing to forego all these strategic assets only to see Herzog
deposed a few months later and replaced with a new party chair who will
lead the Zionist Camp out of the coalition. If that happened, Netanyahu
would be exposed in every direction.
...
Kerry and the peace team he put together (which has since come apart)
are committed to achieving something. They have no interest in leaving
the negotiations in ruins. It is quite possible he would prefer that negotiations were renewed
after Herzog joins Netanyahu’s government and leads it to the political
center. Not only is Netanyahu’s current government incapable of
conducting negotiations, it wouldn’t last the first 15 minutes. Bringing
24 new Knesset members from the center-left into the coalition would
turn this government into something very different. I assume that Kerry
is kept abreast of the secret contacts between Herzog and Netanyahu and
is keeping his fingers crossed for them.
But there is another issue that is even more significant. On Sept. 2,
Al-Monitor revealed that in his meeting with Abbas on March 17, 2014,
President Barack Obama handed Abbas a proposal for a framework agreement with Israel.
This proposal was based on an earlier draft of a framework agreement
reached between the Israelis and the Americans. That agreement was the
outcome of intense negotiations between Kerry, Netanyahu and their
respective staffs, conducted over many long weeks via video
conferencing. The talks took place on an almost daily basis and lasted
for hours. They eventually resulted in a very volatile document in which
Netanyahu agreed to create a mechanism to rehabilitate the Palestinian
refugees. He even agreed to take in a limited number of refugees (to be
determined by Israel), as well as to the principle of the 1967 borders
serving as the basis for each state (with land swaps).
The one point that Netanyahu refused to concede was the status of
Jerusalem. The Americans inserted an especially explosive clause (making
Jerusalem the capital of two states) and presented it to Abbas.
The Palestinian leader has been true to form and has yet to respond
to Obama’s proposal. Kerry seems concerned that in any potential meeting
between Netanyahu and Abbas, this draft will be raised for discussion.
The ensuing explosion would be nuclear. There is no way Netanyahu could
survive politically once that happened. When the Americans informed the
Israelis about their changes to the draft, the Israelis responded with a
shrug. Netanyahu’s adviser, attorney Yitzhak Molcho, told the
Americans, “You can add whatever you want. The Palestinians will still
say no.”
So Netanyahu has already conceded the 1967 lines (1949 armistice lines) as a 'basis for negotiations,' has already conceded '100% land swaps,' has already conceded the 'right of return,' but hasn't yet conceded Jerusalem. The difference between Netanyahu and Olmert 2008 or Barak 2000 is... quite small.
Aren't you glad we elected a 'right wing government'?
Horrible video of Jewish man and kids being harassed in Jerusalem's Old City
Please note that although this video was taken in Jerusalem's Old City, it was NOT taken on the Temple Mount. It was taken in the Arab shuk (marketplace) that runs through the Old City. Based upon the time it was posted, it was likely taken on Monday, the first day of the holiday, on which 'work' strictures apply here in Israel (they apply for two days outside of Israel).
Astonishingly beautiful picture of blood moon over Western Wall
Moadim l'Simcha, a happy holiday to all of you and a reminder that because I live in and am located in Israel, I am only barred from 'working' on one day of the holiday at the beginning and another at the end.
Below is a stunning picture of the 'blood moon' lunar eclipse over the Western Wall on Sunday night.
I can only hope it was taken by a non-Jew because Jews are not supposed to benefit from pictures taken by Jews on the night of the holiday to which the 'work' strictures apply.
10-year old Russian tourist finds 3,000 year old seal in Temple Mount dirt
You will recall that the Muslim Waqf used bulldozers in an attempt to erase any trace of the Jewish Temples on the Temple Mount, and that Israeli archaeologists had the dirt trucked to a site near Mount Scopus where they have been carefully sifting through it for years.
Last week, a 10-year old Russian tourist found a 3,000-year old seal from the times of King David and Solomon.
The Temple Mount Sifting Project, which for more than a decade has been
sifting through the tons of topsoil discarded by the Jerusalem Waqf
Islamic trust, announced that the young Russian tourist, Matvei Tcepliaev, found a 3,000-year-old seal dating to the eras of Kings David and Solomon.
Archaeologists believe the 10th century B.C. artifact is the first seal of its kind found in Jerusalem.
The Temple Mount Sifting Project announced that the seal’s age would
place it in “the historical period of the Jebusites and the conquest of
Jerusalem by King David, as well as the construction of the [First]
Temple and the royal official compound by his son, King Solomon.”
The discovery not only offers further evidence of the Jewish
connection to Jerusalem but also of the biblical narrative about the
reigns of David and Solomon, as described in the two Books of Samuel and
1 Kings.
That would be the narrative that the 'Palestinians' deny.
Jonathan Tobin in Commentary Magazine explained the political context of the fight over archaeological evidence:
By trashing an area that was loaded with precious
artifacts buried over 30 centuries, the Palestinians hope to convince
the world that Jews have no claim to Jerusalem, let alone any part of
Israel, including the areas inside the 1967 lines.
The significance of the seal is that it shows the level of activity
that is consistent with it serving as the site of the capital of ancient
Israel. Since denying the existence of David’s Kingdom might hurt the
case for Zionism’s legitimacy, destroying evidence of that history is
key to their agenda. […]
Try as they might to call the Old City “traditionally Palestinian” or
“Arab East Jerusalem,” all you need to do to confirm Jerusalem’s Jewish
roots is to start digging.
The Sifting Project noted in its announcement of the discovery that
the seal is “particularly significant,” because it was found on the
Temple Mount which has never been excavated:
The discovery of the seal testifies to the administrative
activity which took place upon the Temple Mount during those times.
[….] Upon the base of the seal appear the images of two animals, one on
top of the other, perhaps representing a predator and its prey.
Additionally, the seal is perforated, thus enabling one to hang it from a
string.
The Sifting Project which is run by Bar-Ilan University and the City
of David Foundation invites tourists to help comb through the 400
truckloads of dirt dumped in a valley outside the Old City of Jerusalem
in 1999 by the Islamic trust.
Volunteers have also discovered hundreds of 10th century B.C. pottery
sherds and a rare bronze arrowhead believed to be from the same period.
Chag Sameyach (Happy Holiday) everyone! I will be back on Monday night because the restrictive part of this holiday is only one day here in Israel.
Kerry prevented meeting between Netanyahu and Abu Mazen... because he wants Herzog in the government
'Palestinian' sources claim that US Secretary of State John Kerry recently prevented a meeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu and 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud AbbasAbu Mazen from taking place. While the US State Department is calling the 'Palestinian' version of events 'inaccurate,' the reason that the meeting was apparently blocked is that Kerry is trying to force Netanyahu to form a 'unity government' with Labor party leader Yitzchak Herzog.
On Monday, Abbas met in Paris with four retired Israeli ambassadors. There he said he had expressed a willingness in recent weeks to meet with Netanyahu but that “a third party who is not Israeli” had blocked the meeting. Senior Palestinians and Israelis said Abbas was alluding to an incident that took place this month.
Netanyahu has been conveying to Abbas for weeks now, both publicly and through official and unofficial channels, that he wants to meet to discuss the possibility of reviving the peace process. Netanyahu is doing this amid concerns about initiatives by international players, and amid the escalating violence in the territories and Abbas’ threat to tell the UN General Assembly he will reassess or suspend clauses in the Oslo Accords.
In the framework of the messages between Netanyahu and Abbas, an official who is not American tried to initiate a meeting between the two leaders. Abbas responded positively but said he had to consult with Kerry on the matter.
Palestinian and Israeli officials said Kerry asked Abbas not to hold the meeting and to wait a few weeks until the two met at the UN General Assembly in New York.
A meeting between Abbas and Kerry took place on Saturday night.
It is not entirely clear why Kerry made this unusual request of Abbas. Kerry has been the key international player in recent years trying to promote the peace process. Palestinian officials said Kerry did not want a meeting between Netanyahu and Abbas to take place without American involvement and his personal mediation.
...
One official interested in the peace process with whom Kerry has met is opposition leader Isaac Herzog. The two held a two-hour private meeting 10 days ago in London that dealt almost exclusively with the peace process.
Israeli sources who were informed about the details of the discussion said Kerry did not come with a set plan but told Herzog he wanted to make another effort to push the process forward. Israeli political issues also came up during the meeting; for example, Kerry asked about the government’s stability and Netanyahu’s maneuver room with his current coalition.
According to one Israeli source familiar with details of the meeting, Herzog and Kerry also discussed the scenario of an Israeli unity government. But Herzog told Haaretz that this issue did not come up at all.
A senior U.S. official did not completely deny the matter.
“Kerry was in listening mode during the meeting in London,” he said. “He specifically stated that he and the administration were not in the business of advising on internal Israeli politics. It is entirely up to Israel’s leaders and the Israeli people to make all the choices about the shape of their government.”
Even if Kerry does not admit it publicly, the establishment of a unity government with Herzog’s Zionist Union could buoy the renewed peace initiative Kerry wants to lead.
Four 'Palestinian' teens arrested for fatal Rosh HaShanna rock attack
Four 'Palestinians' have been arrested for carrying out a rock attack on the first night of Rosh HaShanna in which a 64-year old man was murdered and his two daughters seriously wounded.
An investigation determined the rock was thrown by youths from the
neighboring Arab village of Sur Bahir. In a joint statement with the
Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), police said on Saturday that the
four suspects from the neighborhood confessed to carrying out the
deadly attack shortly after their arrests.
“During interrogation
by the Shin Bet, the four admitted that they planned to carry out
terrorist acts, especially on Rosh Hashanah, and positioned themselves
so that they could throw stones at passing Israeli vehicles,” police
said.
The four suspects, police added, are between the ages of
16-19, and have Israeli residential status. Three of the four suspects
have been identified as Mohammed Abu Salah, born in 1997; Fares Mostafa
Walid Atrash, born in 1997; Mahmoud Abed Rabbo Doiat, born in 1996. The
identity of the fourth suspect was barred from publication due to his
age, police said.
Doiat, who confessed to throwing the large
rock that killed Levlovitz, said he wore a Hamas flag which he received
earlier in the month at a “Al-Aksa Is in Danger” demonstration
condemning the Ministry of Defense’s ban of two radical Muslim groups
from the Temple Mount. The rally was organized by Hamas and the Islamic
Movement, according to security forces.
Levlovitz was
critically wounded after striking a tree upon losing control of the car.
His two daughters were also seriously wounded.
Police said that after observing the crash, the four suspects fled the scene, and subsequently met again to coordinate their alibis if arrested. Despite their arrests, police said that the investigation into the attack is ongoing, and that the Jerusalem District Attorney will file formal charges against the four upon reviewing the evidence against them.
This was the attack in which the New York Times' Diaa Hadid reported that rocks pelted the road and Levlovitz just happened to be there.
A Jewish man died early Monday morning after attackers pelted the road
he was driving on with rocks as he was returning home from a dinner
celebrating Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, the Israeli authorities
said.
Can't wait to see how the Slimes reports the arrests.
Pam Geller - who led the fight against it - reports that plans to build a mega mosque near the site of the former World Trade Center have been scrapped.
The
infamous “Ground Zero mosque” debate is officially over. A “market
maker” 70-story skyscraper will soon break ground at lower Manhattan’s
45 Park Place, ending any possibility of resurrecting plans for the
religious building.
Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf’s proposal four years ago to create a 15-story
Islamic cultural center near the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks sparked a national uproar.
Developer Sharif El-Gamal of Soho
Properties, who was originally on board with the plan, rendered the
whole debate moot by opting to build a 667-foot condominium tower for
the property instead, Crain’s New York Business reported Friday.
El-Gamal told Crain’s his skyscraper will include 5 full-floor units of 3,200 to 3,700 square feet, and average prices higher than $3,000 a square foot.
“Every day that we’ve been waiting, the market has been getting stronger and showing incredible signs of resilience,” Mr. El-Gamal said, the magazine reported. “The appreciation and absorption this market is showing is unprecedented.”
El-Gamal put aside plans for the “Ground Zero Mosque” in 2011 after he had trouble finding financial backers, but until now was unsure what would take its place. Public records show he bought the lot in 2009 for $4.85 million, the magazine reported.
The developer expects to break ground on the project – just two blocks from where the former World Trade Center towers stood – in early 2016, Crain’s reported.
@AmericanAir recognizes Hamas leader for 'leadership'
Shavua tov and a good week to everyone.
While I did pick up the American Way magazine on my flight from New York to London two weeks ago, and I do recall seeing this article, I had no idea that one of the four employees to whom American Airlines gave a 'leadership award' in June is also a leader in a different organization: Hamas.
The September edition of American Airlines’ magazine – American Way –
revealed Mohamed El Sharkawy received the 2015 Earl G. Graves Award for
Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion “for (his) work in making a
lasting impression in the workplace.”
The award was given to Sharkawy at the end of June, but was published in American Airlines’ American Way in September.
Mohamed El Sharkawy was previously the Director for Hamas in Arizona,
doing business as the Council on American Islamic Relations or CAIR.
Evidence, some of which is listed below, reveals CAIR was created by
the US Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee (Hamas) in 1994 to be a
node for Hamas in America to provide the Hamas cause with “media, money,
men, and all that” meaning propaganda, fundraising, recruits, and all
else that comes with waging jihad.
Is this the kind of individual who should have access to sensitive areas of Phoenix Airport or American Airlines?
American Airlines Public Affairs Office refused to comment on El
Sharkawy’s employment, but encouraged UTT (Understanding the Threat) to
contact the FBI if threat information exists.
El Sharkawy is also serves as the Chairman of the Arizona Muslim Police Advisory Board.
As many of you know, I do a lot of flying on American and its partner airlines. I've traveled to the US on those airlines five times this year (2015) and eleven times in the last two years. Time to make a change?
Senior New York Times editor defends use of 'Jew tracker'
Some of you might recall that during the 'debate' over Obama's sellout to a nuclear-armed Iran, the New York Times introduced something called a 'Jew tracker,' which correlated Senators' votes with their religion and the number of Jews in their district. When word got out, the 'tracker' was quickly revised. We now know that at least one senior editor at the Times - Greg Brock - regretted the tracker's revisions.
The Times’ “Jew tracker”
was described as anti-Semitic and offensive by pro-Israel officials who
slammed the paper for feeding into stereotypes about Jewish power and
money.
The controversial chart listed all lawmakers who voted against the
nuclear deal and highlighted in yellow whether or not that person was
Jewish. The chart also included the number of Jewish persons living in
each lawmaker’s district.
Following a report by the Free Beacon on the tracker, the New York Times
altered the site by removing the column identifying members as Jewish.
The paper also edited the report to remove overt references to the
relationship between each lawmaker’s religion and his position on the
Iran deal.
Despite altering the website to address the material critics viewed as offensive, a senior New York Times editor praised the tracker and fought back against one Jewish critic who had written to express outrage over the post.
“Are you so ignorant that you don’t understand the historical
significance of what you’re doing? Are you so tone deaf? Why don’t you
include addresses so that people’s homes can be attacked?” wrote the
reader, who requested anonymity, to Greg Brock, a senior Times editor.
“My parents were Holocaust survivors and the first thing the Nazis
wanted to know is: where are the Jews? This merely furthers the classic
anti-Semitic trope of dual loyalty,” the reader added.
In a response, Brock defended and praised the tracker, saying he wished the Times has published it “sooner.”
“I’m not going to get into the gutter with you with name calling and
saying your email is ‘stupid’—as you said of us,” Brock wrote. “But it
would be helpful if you did your homework. You’ll find that we are in
excellent journalistic company. I just wish the Times had thought of it sooner so we do not appear to be copying others.”
Brock maintained that Jewish publications, which are written for
local Jewish communities, have run similar reports detailing which
lawmakers voting for and against the deal are Jewish.
“Do you ever read the Jewish press—some of the finest journalism
around, in my humble opinion,” the editor argued. “If you search online
right now, you will see that these publications have been keeping a
running count of the voting position of Jewish senators and
representatives for weeks.”
Anyone still believe the Times isn't anti-Semitic?
Shabbat Shalom everyone. Don't get your news from the Times.
'Coordination'? Russia threatens to shoot down IAF jets targeting Hezbullah convoys
'Coordinating' with the Russians over Syria doesn't seem to be so much fun after all. According to this story (translated from an Arabic original here), the Russians have, in essence, threatened to shoot down any IAF jets targeting weapons convoys moving from Assad forces in Syria to Hezbullah in Lebanon.
“Moscow imposed on Tel Aviv a military coordination in advance for any
military operation carried against Syrian military targets or against
Hezbollah in Syria, to prevent any fatal accident. Senior military
officers on both sides will maintain regular meetings and contacts to
allow a smooth Russian military presence in Syria. Above all, Russia
would like to avoid shooting down an Israeli jet in case one of its
officers is hit by mistake while present in a convoy or in special
mission. Israel and Russia will also coordinate naval operations off the
coast of Syria, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, where there is a
large Russian naval base”, said a decision-maker source in Damascus.
You can bet that every weapons convoy to Hezbullah will now include a Russian officer.
According to the source, quoting a Russian envoy that referred
details of the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “the promenade era of Israel
over the sky of Syria is ending. Israel agreed to stop hitting any
military target or convoy on Syrian land under any excuses or without
prior coordination with the liaison officers that will be established
starting form next October. President Putin opposed the U.S President
Barack Obama when he decided to hit President al-Assad. Therefore,
Netanyahu’s national security concern would be Russia’s priority. None
the less, Putin confirmed that Israel has the right to hit any military
convoy leaving Syria and entering the Lebanese soil if suspected of
carrying weapons to Hezbollah ».
“Russia is becoming the guarantor and the coordinator of rival
parties and countries, like Hezbollah, Syria and Israel as well as the
striking force against extremist groups the Levant, like Jabhat al-Nusra
(al-Qaeda in Sham) and the group called “Islanic State” (IS). Hezbollah
agreed to limit all military activities in Syria without hitting Israel
as long as the Russian forces are present on the ground and Israel
won’t hit Hezbollah in Syria” confirmed the source.
One has to wonder whether hitting such weapons convoys once they are in Lebanon is too late. That has been the presumed value all along of hitting them while they are still in Syria.
But the Russian intervention imposed a forced rhythm on the United
States and Europe to change the rules of the game. The international
focus needs to be orientated toward the fight against terrorism and not
to change Assad. With or without the Syrian President, ISIS and al-Qaeda
have no intention to leave the country. Therefore, the U.S current
method used to contain extremists by adopting a soft approach is not
successful. Russia believes a more rough methods are required and is
preparing to carry more raids in one single month, equivalent to nearly a
year of airstrikes carried by the coalition against terrorists”, said
the source.
In other words, because Obama never had a real policy, Russia will now 'have' to impose one. #ThanksObama.
Russian state-run arms trader Rosoboronexport and the Russian
Helicopters holding are engaged in consultations with their Egyptian
partners concerning a possible acquisition of Kamov Ka-52 'Katran'
ship-based helicopters for the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers,
originally built for Russia, that Egypt has agreed to buy from France, a
source in an organization linked with arms exports told Interfax-AVN.
"Indeed, such consultations are in progress. They deal with a
possible acquisition by Cairo of some 30 Ka-52K 'Katran' ship-based
helicopters that were initially supposed to be placed on board the
French helicopter carriers and are 100 percent adapted for these ships,"
the source said.
"The price of the contract will stand at over $1 billion," he added.
"Moscow will not impede this deal [the provision of the Mistral-class
helicopter carriers to Egypt] and is ready to offer Egypt the shipborne
helicopters developed specially for these vessels," the source told
Interfax.
He added that a flexible payment system is possible here, including the provision of a loan to buy the helicopters.
The Ka-52K is a shipborne helicopter based on the all-weather Ka-52
combat helicopter Alligator. It has two modernized VK-2500 engines (each
has a capacity of 2,400 hp). The forebody contains a two-seat cockpit
containing new generation equipment. The pilots' seats are equipped with
ejection mechanisms. The shipborne helicopter has folding blades.
On August 5, the presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Francois
Hollande of France made a final decision on the future of the two
helicopter carriers that the sides had tried to make for almost a year.
On that day over €1 billion in compensation was transferred to a
settlement account in one of the banks and then to the Russian Federal
Treasury (€950 million for the refusal to supply the vessels and €67.5
million for the garboards).
On September 23, the French paper La Tribune reported,
citing its sources, that an Egyptian delegation was having negotiations
on the purchase of the Mistral-class helicopter carriers and Gowind
corvettes. The Elysee Palace later confirmed it.
I guess the Russians need the money. After all, they didn't just get $100 billion in sanctions relief.
Maybe Obama ought to pay off the Russians? It's faster than growing....
Debbie Wasserman Schultz's vile smear of @marcorubio
Democratic National Committee Chairthing Debbie Wasserman Schultz ("I wear my support for Israel to work on my sleeve every day, but I support a nuclear-armed Iran if mein fuhrer says it's the right thing to do") has slammed fellow Floridian and Republican Presidential candidate Marco Rubio for holding a fundraiser at the Texas home of a 'collector of Nazi memorabilia.'
I know Harlan Crow, who is on the board of trustees of the American
Enterprise Institute where I am a resident fellow, and I have been in
his house. He is well known for his collection of historic artifacts.
In his garden he has placed statues of totalitarian leaders which he
has purchased after the fall of totalitarian regimes. That doesn't mean,
Madame Chairman, that he endorses those regimes; it means he celebrates
their downfall. To suggest that he is a Nazi sympathizer is a vile
smear.
In a particularly ludicrous aside, Wasserman Schultz says one reason
Rubio should cancel the fundraiser is that he "represents a sizable
Jewish population in our home state of Florida." Of course anti-Semitism
and Nazism are repugnant regardless of how many Jews live in your
constituency. Wasserman Schultz gives new meaning to the term cheap
shot.
My guess is that Wasserman Schultz is less concerned about Republican fundraisers than she is about criticism from her South Florida constituents,
Jewish and gentile, who oppose her vote against disapproving President
Obama's nuclear deal with Iran. Her vile smear against Harlan Crow and
her hamhanded attack on Marco Rubio are an attempt at distracting
attention from her vote.
Maybe Mr. Crow can purchase a statue of Hussein Obama after January 2017 so that Wasserman Schultz can get the point into her pea brain.
NYTimes blames 'peace process' failure for Israel's vulnerability to Iranian nukes
It wasn't enough that the New York Times editorial board came out against granting Israel bunker busters - probably the only remaining effective way to deter Iran from developing nuclear weapons. They also had to throw in this.
America
has a responsibility to help ensure the security of Israel and the gulf
allies and to see that Iran adheres to the deal. But this cannot be
done if Congress imposes restrictions that cause the agreement to
implode or prevent the administration from taking advantage of openings
to cooperate with Iran. Congress can be most helpful by creating its own
process for rigorously monitoring how the accord is implemented.
The
focus on America’s obligations often ignores the responsibility Israel
and the gulf states have for regional security. Saudi Arabia shares much
blame for the rise of extremist groups, while Israel undermines
stability by failing to negotiate peace with the Palestinians.
In
the end, what’s most important for Israel’s security is the
relationship with the United States. Those ties were put at risk by
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and congressional Republicans, who
polarized the debate over the Iran deal. A crucial sense of trust needs
to be rebuilt. It is unclear that this can happen soon, no matter how
many promises of aid and cooperation America makes to Israel.
Congressional monitoring is meaningless with a President who is determined to implement his will irrespective of Congress. Obama has and will continue to ignore the law and Congressional prerogatives. He may stymie a vote on monitoring as he did with a vote on the deal itself.
Israel has not 'failed to negotiate peace' with the 'Palestinians.' It is the 'Palestinians' who have walked away over and over and over again. Netanyahu continues to offer negotiations 'without preconditions,' but those will never happen so long as the 'Palestinians' continue to believe - with Obama's and Kerry's encouragement - that they ought to be compensated just for coming to the table (like Iran was).
Unfortunately, I've had computer problems all day today, but I do want to wish you all a Gmar Chatima Tova. May you all be sealed in the books of life, health, happiness and wealth for the coming you, and may God Accept all your prayers for good.
I will be back on Wednesday night after the fast if my computer works (and yes, I am looking for a new one).
CONFIRMED -- Iran allowed to collect own samples at nuclear military base -- Verification expert on self-inspection deal: "You need the eyes and the brain to look where to sample... video camera opens up additional methods of deceiving"
The Israel Project's Omri Ceren reports that it has now been confirmed that Iran was in fact allowed to 'inspect' its own nuclear military facility at Parchin. I received this by email.
Reuters this morning conveyed Iranian
media reports establishing that the Iranians recently took their own
environmental samples at their Parchin military facility, where they
conducted tests relevant to the detonation of nuclear warheads, in lieu
of having IAEA inspectors take the samples (Reuters story below;
original IRNA story here [a]).
The IAEA has long sought access to Parchin: the agency needs to
clarify the nature and scope of Iran's past nuclear weapons work - the
possible military dimensions (PMDs) of Iran's atomic program - to
establish what the Iranians did and how far they got, which are the
prerequisites to setting up a verification regime against future
violations. The Obama administration had promised lawmakers that IAEA
inspectors would be able to inspect Parchin and resolve all PMD issues
before any final deal was inked [b][c][d][e][f].
Instead the JCPOA
allowed Iran to sign a secret side deal with the IAEA permitting the
Iranians to self-inspect the facility rather than grant IAEA inspector
robust access.
That side deal was subsequently revealed and published by the AP: the
Iranians would get to collect their own samples, those samples would
have to come from mutually agreed upon areas under overlapping photo and
video surveillance, and the number of the samples would be limited
[g][h]. An Iranian statement this morning confirmed that the Iranians
collected their own samples: "Iranian experts took samples from specific
locations in Parchin facilities this week without IAEA inspectors being
present" [i]. An IAEA statement confirmed the sampling was done from
mutually agreed upon areas under overlapping photo and video
surveillance: "the determination of the spots where the samples are
taken is a separate, important, careful activity…. [that] have to
satisfy our requirements… the actual swiping or other sample taking
[place] under redundant continuous surveillance" [j]. It's not yet clear
whether the AP was also correct about the number of samples being
limited.
The arrangement means that the IAEA will not be able to establish what happened at Parchin.
David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and
International Security, explained at a panel hosted earlier this month
by the Hudson Institute that self-sampling under surveillance is
inadequate. Inspectors need to be on the ground to identify dusty nooks
and corners where violators forgot to dust; the mutually agreed upon
areas are by definition the ones that violators know have been
sanitized [k]:
What you have is, is the situation where there'll be videotaping
of the potential locations where sampling would take place. Then the
IAEA would direct the Iranians to take the samples. And that's not the
normal way to do things.
If I could give the example in Iran of Kalaya Electric, a secret
centrifuge research and development facility that Iran denied was such a
thing. The IAEA got access and it brought in a very top level
centrifuge expert with that access, who looked around. And when they did
the sampling finally they didn't find any trace of enriched uranium in
the areas that had been heavily modified. But in a another, a secondary
building they found in a ventilation duct - which had not been modified -
they found traces of enriched uranium...
You need the eyes and the brain to look where to sample.
I brought an example of sampling in North Korea... they sampled
in the Yongbyon reprocessing plant in the early 90s... you can see in
the sampling they're looking behind this box... Look for where it's
dusty. The idea is that it's not been disturbed. In the case of Parchin,
it would be look for where the paint doesn't look solid. And so, that's
very hard to do with a video camera. So I think the video camera opens
up additional methods of deceiving the IAEA. And it's not the normal way
they've been doing it. And so I think that's a problem...
The sampling would be done, and then the IAEA access would
follow. And so the access is coming at a point where it's not as
useful... You want it to drive the inspection effort and the
environmental sampling effort, not be done at the end of the process [7:29].
The arrangement was also read more broadly as kneecapping the IAEA.
On the experts side, CNN got analysis from Olli Heinonen, former
director of the IAEA's verification shop, as Albright, president of the
Institute for Science and International Security: "It is very unusual...
I find it really hard to understand why you would let someone else take
the samples and only see through the camera" and "It's really not
normal... I don't know why they accepted it. I think the IAEA is
probably getting a little desperate to settle this" [l]. On the
Congressional side, a visit by Amano to the Hill on the side deals left
Senators fuming [m].
The IAEA reacted to this morning's leak by issuing more assurances
about the adequacy of Iranian self-inspections. White House validators
have already picked up the "redundant continuous surveillance" theme and
you're likely to hear more of it [n].
The problem is that the IAEA assurances read a little bit like a
hostage note: lawmakers, experts, and journalists know that the
arrangement is unprecedented and that inspectors need to be on the
ground, so the IAEA statements may be read as evidence that the agency
has bent to political pressure.
You just knew that Barack Hussein Obama was going to try to find a way to maintain control of the United States when his term of office ends on January 20, 2017. According to this report, Obama has agreed to endorse Joe Biden for President provided that:
a. Biden agrees to allow Obama to choose his running mate.
b. Biden agrees to serve only one term in office and to hand the reins to that running mate.
c. The running mate will be a black - probably former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (having it be Mooch would be a little too obvious).
Biden is mulling over the offer.
Disgusting!
If I were Hillary Clinton (whom I also don't like), I'd be screaming FOUL at the top of my lungs.
Given the very lax standards to which Iran is apparently not being held, it is not surprising that the Mullahcracy is highly confident that sanctions against it will be officially lifted by the December 15 deadline for doing so. Iran has already started to spend its windfall on its favorite terrorist organizations: Hezbullah and Hamas (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).
Since the deal was signed, Iran has
significantly increased its financial support for two of the largest
terror groups in the region that have become political players, Hamas
and Hezbollah. In the years before the deal was signed, the crippling
sanctions limited this support, which had significantly diminished along
with Iran’s economy. But Tehran’s belief that tens, or hundreds, of
billions of dollars will flow into the country in the coming years as a
result of sanctions relief has led to a decision to boost the cash flow
to these terror organizations.
This support, for example, has enabled
Hezbollah to obtain highly developed new armaments, including advanced
technologies that many militaries around the world would envy. Al-Rai, a
Kuwaiti newspaper, reported Saturday that Hezbollah has received all
the advanced weaponry that Syria has obtained from the Russians. The
report cited a security source involved in the fighting in Zabadani, on
the Syria-Lebanon border, where Hezbollah is fighting the al-Nusra
Front, the Islamic State, and other groups. It is evidently the growing
Iranian financial support that is enabling the Lebanese Shiite militia
to purchase advanced weapons, including ones that were hitherto outside
of its reach.
The increased Iranian financial support for
Hezbollah in the wake of the deal is not unrelated to other political
developments in the region. The growing sense of security in Iran with
regard to its political status has also been bolstered by a Russian
decision to increase its involvement in Syria, and may be what drove
Iran to send hundreds of members of its Revolutionary Guard Corps to
play an active role in the Syria fighting. Iran, along with Hezbollah
and Moscow, has decided to dispatch sizable forces to the Syrian front
in the past few weeks to prevent the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime.
...
Today, Iran is the main, and likely only,
power attempting to build terror cells to fight Israel on the Syrian
Golan Heights, in areas under Assad’s control. This does not mean that
the Syrian president is aware of these attempts or green-lighted them.
But for Israel, that does not matter. Tehran is investing more effort
and money after the nuclear deal to carry out attacks against Israel
from the Golan, even under Assad’s nose.
As regards the Palestinians, in the past two
months, Iran has sent suitcases of cash – literally – to Hamas’s
military wing in Gaza. Not everyone is happy about this, including some
Hamas officials. Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who was always the man who
controlled the money, has found himself outside the circle of Iranian
funding over the summer. Tehran, which was none too pleased by his visit
to Saudi Arabia and meeting with King Salman, decided to take revenge
on him in an original way. It bypassed Mashaal and has handed over the
suitcases, by way of couriers, directly to the leaders of the group’s
military wing in the Gaza Strip.
As you might recall, Meshaal is not in Gaza - he's in Qatar.
So Israel is facing new and improved terror organizations on both its northern and southern fronts, thanks to the 'most pro-Israel administration evah.' #ThanksObama. And thanks to the Senate Democrats who prevented even a resolution of disapproval from coming to a vote. May you all rot in hell.
Incredible: Steven Salaita blames Israel for Saudi Arabia crucifying teenager
I am sure many of you remember Steven Salaita, the professor who was denied a promised position at the University of Illinois when the university discovered he is an anti-Semite. He now holds the Edward Said Chair of American Studies at the American University in Beirut.
Look what he tweeted about two and a half hours ago.
@ExiledHeroine Let me guess: Maher said nothing about his beloved Israel's cozy relationship with the Saudi regime.
13-year old head of Teens for Ted has 36,500 Twitter followers, supports Ted Cruz, shreds Obama
Here's a video well worth seeing. It's by 13-year old CJ Pearson, the head of an organization called Teens for Ted, which supports Ted Cruz (R-Tx) for President of the United States. The video has 1.6 million views since it went up last Wednesday.
Let's go to the videotape.
Much more about CJ and his organization here (Hat Tip: Mrs. Carl).
While I don't agree with everything in this analysis, Udi Segal raises much cause for concern regarding the current situation involving the 'Palestinians.'
Another reason that Islamism has for the most part been halted in Judea
and Samaria can be traced to the fact that the Fatah movement is in a
fight for its very survival. It knows that failure would spell the end
for it, and Hamas would show it no mercy. When it comes to religious
fanaticism, the formula of “bad is good” applies.
This formula
is what guides the spread of radical Islamism. It is the source of
horror and shock that is generated by the specter of Shi’ite Islam as
represented by Iran and the Revolutionary Guards. The Islamic Republic
has spent a great deal of money financing terrorism as well as a costly
nuclear program.
The extremist Sunni organization, Islamic
State, took things a step further. Its actions dwarf the brutality of
the Al Quds Force. Even al-Qaida looks like a cute, cuddly teddy bear in
comparison. Have the people who have come under ISIS rule seen their
lives improve? The answer is no. Bad is good.
If we were to take a
peek at what is going on with our neighbors to the northeast, we are
left to wonder - is there anyone enjoying the situation in Syria now?
No. There is a brutal civil war there in which a quarter million people
have been butchered. As a country, Syria is in ruins. Its infrastructure
is crumbling. Its economy is in shambles. Its citizens are being
slaughtered, and those who survived are witnesses to acts that will stay
with them as personal and national traumas for generations to come.
Millions
have become refugees who have streamed into Jordan and Turkey. Now,
wretched and without any possessions, they knock on the doors of Europe.
Is this Arab pride? Is this Syrian courage? Hezbollah has lost 1,400
guerillas, more than one-tenth of its fighting force. ISIS is conquering
territory and losing some as well, bombing and being bombarded. Things
are bad, for everyone involved.
And this is precisely the goal.
For extremist Islam, bad is good. Only the destruction of the
foundations of contemporary Western culture and a return to the stone
age - in its simplest and historic meaning - will usher in the rule of
sharia, the austere form of Islam that was in effect 500 years ago. That
will pave the way for the establishment of the Islamic caliphate.
It
is quite an ambitious goal - taking apart the artificial entities
imposed by the West, including statehood, institutions of law and order,
economic structure, and norms of morality and regulations. The goal is
to destroy everything and wash it over with Islamism, some of whose
adherents believe is engaged in a war of armageddon.
This toxic
mix could easily merge with the rising tide of terror and rebellion
percolating in the Palestinian territories. With despair the dominant
theme, the Palestinians could decide to take everything apart. Even
Abbas, the serial threatener, is planning a provocation of his own by
announcing at the United Nations that he is handing back the keys to the
Palestinian Authority.
Read the whole thing. My own view is that this is the time to rule with an iron fist. That's why (as those who follow me on Twitter already know) I am all in favor of the new rules of engagement that allow the police and the IDF to shoot at stone throwers. The stone throwers are attempted murderers, and showing them mercy is a mistake. They are a deadly force and the law of proportionality requires responding to them with deadly force. Fortunately, the IDF has been able to shut much of the weapons flow to Judea and Samaria that led to the 'second intifada' 15 years ago, and there is no reason to let up now.
As the English edition of Jerusalem: Delusions of Division goes
to print, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy has published
remarkable findings of a public-opinion survey conducted in east
Jerusalem in June 2015, under the supervision of David Pollock.1
For the first time, it has been discovered that more than half the Arab
residents of the eastern part of the city – 52 percent – prefer to
obtain Israeli citizenship with equal rights, while only 45 percent
prefer Palestinian citizenship within the framework of a Palestinian
state. Only five years ago, in another survey that Pollock supervised,
only 35 percent of the east Jerusalem respondents said they wanted to
become Israeli citizens.
Anyone not aware of what has been happening in east Jerusalem is
indeed likely to be surprised. However, the findings presented in this
book – on the Israelization trend and the growing incorporation of east
Jerusalem Arabs in the municipal fabrics – easily jibe with the survey’s
findings.
Reality has a seductive power. A huge power. Forty-eight years of living together in one city have fostered a different mindset among the east Jerusalem Arabs, more modern and much more cognizant of reality. It is a very different mindset than that of the Arabs of the West Bank or Gaza. It stems from common patterns of life within the city, and also, to a great extent, from a plethora of economic and other advantages. These advantages are entailed by the resident status that the east Jerusalem residents maintain – a status and attendant benefits that the Arabs of the West Bank and Gaza do not maintain at all.
This study, however, also depicts a contrasting, worrisome process: 60 percent of the east Jerusalem Arabs who were polled in the summer of 2015 support an armed struggle against Israel, and Hamas is very popular among this group. On the one hand, the trend of acclimatization and intermingling advances. On the other, the political dispute over the future of the city, along with the rise of radical Islam and the antagonism toward the Palestinian Authority, which the Jerusalem Arabs charge with neglecting them, leads to phenomena of separation and confrontation, lightly armed and more lethal terror, and the popularity of Hamas.
...
And another large “asterisk”: Pollock’s survey also found that 90,000 east Jerusalem Arabs who have remained outside the “security fence” hold much more radical and hostile views than the east Jerusalem Arabs who have remained on the “Israeli side” of the fence. Among a segment of this population, the desire for Israeli citizenship, which was strong in the past, is now significantly weaker than among the east Jerusalem Arabs still “inside the fence.” A decade of neglect and unsuccessful policy toward this population by the municipal and governmental authorities has turned this area into a wasteland with the population as its denizens. These parts of north and east Jerusalem are today a focal point of crime, terror, and profuse traffic in weapons. The residents have become a kind of ticking bomb. They feel neglected both by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and they seethe with bitterness and anger. This book proposes a plan of action for these areas and their population from which all can benefit. Israel’s policymakers would be wise to give it serious consideration.
The Obama administration has come up with another new 'strategy' for Syria.
Instead of fighting the Islamic State in small units, the
U.S.-trained rebels would be attached to larger existing Kurdish and
Arab forces. They would be equipped with U.S. communications gear and
trained to provide intelligence and to designate Islamic State targets
for airstrikes in coordination with U.S. troops outside of Syria, the
officials said.
The change amounts to an acknowledgment that the administration’s
current approach is not working. It was described by officials who spoke
on condition of anonymity because a final decision on how to proceed
has not been made.
The discussion of a new approach comes a day after the head of U.S.
Central Command, Gen. Lloyd Austin, told Congress that the $500 million
effort to train 5,000 moderate Syrian rebels in a year had yielded “four
or five” new fighters after another 50 or so were captured, wounded or
fled in their first encounter with extremist militants.
The new approach is designed to intensify military pressure on Raqqa,
the self-declared capital of the so-called caliphate the Islamic State
has established across much of Syria and Iraq. The city is sometimes
targeted by American-led coalition airstrikes, and Syrian government
forces have occasionally targeted it as well.
In addition to changing the role of the U.S.-trained rebels, the
Pentagon would scale back their numbers from the original target of
5,400 per year to a much smaller total, perhaps 500, the officials said.
Their vetting, designed to weed out terrorist infiltrators, also would
be streamlined, one official said Thursday.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told reporters Thursday that
officials are looking to make “adjustments,” adding, “We’re asking a
host of questions about this program.” He said the plan is for it to
continue “in some form or fashion.” He was not more specific.
Because Obama would rather that the United States not have an army.
Rocket sirens sounded Saturday night in Israeli towns near the border with the Gaza Strip. The IDF said it was investigating the incident.
Late Friday night, Israeli warplanes carried out three air strikes in the northern Gaza Strip after two rockets were fired from the Strip at southern Israel.
One rocket fired at the city of Ashkelon was intercepted by an Iron Dome battery, hours after another rocket exploded in an open area in the city of Sderot.
In Sderot, a nearby bus was damaged by shrapnel, but none were wounded. Rocket alerts were sounded in both cases. The rocket appeared to have been fired from Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza. This is the first rocket to hit Sderot since the 2014 summer Gaza war.
This time, let's not wait for it to get worse. It's time to mow the lawn (and more) before it grows out of control.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
