Israel news from within Israel

[Def]

The problem here is an ABOMINATION before GOD. AND, it is a plague that brings dreaded diseases and death to millions every year. So, the comparison to a plague is quite accurate. Why would any country want to encourage or tolerate a public health CRISES? Even without the Biblical Directives, this would still be a matter of common sense.

snakes rattle snakes..

[Shammu]

The problem here is an ABOMINATION before GOD. AND, it is a plague that brings dreaded diseases and death to millions every year. So, the comparison to a plague is quite accurate. Why would any country want to encourage or tolerate a public health CRISES? Even without the Biblical Directives, this would still be a matter of common sense.

Brother you are much to shy, you need to speak LOUDER on the abomination before the eyes of  GOD.

[Shammu]

Olmert decision at end of Lebanon war 'reasonable:' report
30/01/2008

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision to launch a ground operation in the last days of the 2006 war in Lebanon was "reasonable," two officials quoted a key report into the conflict as saying.

"The security cabinet and prime minister's decision to launch an operation in the last 60 hours of the war were reasonable," a senior government official quoted the report as saying.

A senior defence ministry official said the key final report into the controversial war found that the decision was "reasonable within the existing diplomatic and military considerations."

The officials were speaking just minutes before retired judge Eliyahu Winograd was to read out the final conclusions of the government-appointed commission at a press conference.

The eagerly awaited report comes nine months after an interim inquiry found Olmert and other political and military leaders responsible for "severe failures" during the 34-day war.

Olmert decision at end of Lebanon war 'reasonable:' report

[Shammu]

Lebanon war a failure for Israel: Winograd report
30/01/2008

A key report into Israel's 2006 war on Lebanon published on Wednesday listed a series of major failings by the Jewish state but said that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acted in good faith.

"Overall, we regard the second Lebanon war as a serious missed opportunity," said the head of a government-appointed commission into the conflict, Eliyahu Winograd, according to an official English translation of his remarks.

"We found serious failings and shortcomings in the decision-making processes and staff-work in the political and the military echelons," said Winograd, who gave the final findings of his inquiry at a press conference.

"We found severe failings and flaws in the lack of strategic thinking and planning, in both the political and the military echelons."

"The way the original decision to go to war had been made; the fact Israel went to war before it decided which option to select and without an exit strategy -- all these constituted serious failures, which affected the whole war."

"Responsibility for these failures lay, as we had stressed in the interim report, on both the political and the military echelons."

But he said Olmert and then defence minister Amir Peretz "acted out of a strong and sincere perception of what they thought at the time was Israel's interest."

The UN-brokered ceasefire which brought an end to the war on August 14, 2006 amounted to a "political agreement, which included positive elements for Israel, which permitted it to stop a war which it had failed to win."

The commission blasted the military's performance, saying Israel's armed forces "failed, especially because of the conduct of the high command and the ground forces, to provide an effective military response to the challenge posed to it by the war."

Although in hindsight, the ground operation that Israel launched in the last days of the war, did not achieve its goals, Olmert's decision to wage the offensive "was almost inevitable, giving the Israeli government necessary military and political flexibility."

"There was no failure in that decision in itself, despite its limited achievements and its painful costs."

Winograd said that commission members "stand behind everything we said in the interim report" released last April which roasted the premier for "serious failure" during the conflict.

Lebanon war a failure for Israel: Winograd report

[nChrist]

Brother you are much to shy, you need to speak LOUDER on the abomination before the eyes of  GOD.

    I'm going to work on coming out of my shell on this issue and speak up. Everyone knows that I'm extremely SHY.   

[Barbara]

We listened last night, to Israel National Radio (Tovia Singer). The night before (I guess that's 1/30/07), there were 2 terrorist attacks. One Arab terrorist began stabbing Jews in a marketplace. In another incident, not sure of the circumstance but will look in Israeli papers for articles, a 20 year old Israeli police officer was killed by a terrorist who disarmed and shot the officer.

Meanwhile, 200 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel on the same day.

[Def]

   I'm going to work on coming out of my shell on this issue and speak up. Everyone knows that I'm extremely SHY.  

Please don't make brother Tom Holler

[Shammu]

Israel to build more in east Jerusalem

By JOSEF FEDERMAN, Associated Press Writer
Tue Feb 12, 4:15 PM ET

JERUSALEM - Israel announced plans Tuesday to build more than 1,000 homes in disputed east Jerusalem, infuriating the Palestinians and triggering a new crisis in already troubled peace talks.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of undermining efforts to reach a peace agreement by the end of the year and urged a halt to the project.

The fate of east Jerusalem is the thorniest issue in the peace talks. Israel captured the area in the 1967 Middle East war, later formally annexing it and building a string of neighborhoods that are now home to 180,000 Israelis.

Israel expects to retain Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem under a peace deal, but the Palestinians see construction there as threatening a final agreement.

The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state and have been urging Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to halt construction in the area.

Israel's housing minister, Zeev Boim, announced the latest construction plans in response to assertions from Jerusalem's city manager that Olmert was holding up work in east Jerusalem. Boim said a partial building freeze ordered recently applied only to settlements in the West Bank and not Jerusalem.

"We are building all over Jerusalem within its municipal borders. What people call delays are in fact final stages of coordination with City Hall," Boim told Israel Radio.

He said plans were under way to build 370 homes in Har Homa and 750 apartments in Pisgat Zeev, two Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem.

Israel disclosed a similar plan in December to build some 300 homes in Har Homa, days after resuming peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a U.S.-hosted summit in Annapolis, Md. That plan drew U.S. criticism and stalled the talks for weeks.

At the Annapolis summit, Olmert and Abbas set a December 2008 target for reaching a final peace accord. On Tuesday, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the latest construction threatens chances of meeting that goal.

"We condemn these Israeli declarations, and once again we ask the Israeli government to give peace a chance by stopping all settlement activity," he said.

In Washington, the State Department said it would seek clarification from the Israelis about the announcement, which it called a "potential irritant" to the peace process along with continued rocket attacks into Israel from Gaza.

"Our people are going to go in and seek clarification and find out exactly what this is," spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters. "If there is anything further to say about it at that point, we will."

During a visit to Germany, Olmert did not comment directly on the uproar, but said talks on Jerusalem would be put off to the end of the negotiating process.

"We try to move on forward through those issues which can be resolved, perhaps, faster than the others," he said. "Some other issues are on the agenda, but they will be discussed later, including the issue of Jerusalem."

East Jerusalem is home to 208,000 Palestinians, according to a recent Palestinian census. The Palestinians hope to establish an independent state that includes the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as their capital. Israel captured all three areas in the 1967 war, but withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

Olmert has signaled a readiness to relinquish most of the West Bank and some Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem as part of a final peace deal.

His flexibility on Jerusalem has prompted criticism from hard-line political opponents, as well as some members of his fragile coalition government.

Shas, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish party, has threatened to pull out of the government if Olmert begins talks on Jerusalem. Such a move would rob Olmert of his parliamentary majority, possibly toppling the government and forcing elections.

As a result, the Israeli leader has been maintaining a balancing act — trying to avoid provocative moves that anger the Palestinians while keeping his coalition intact. Further complicating the situation, opinion polls say most Israelis oppose a compromise on Jerusalem.

More than two months after peace talks resumed, negotiations appear to have made little progress. Talks also have been marred by Palestinian militants firing rocket barrages at Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip and Israeli reprisals aimed at halting the fire.

Israel has warned it will not carry out any peace agreement until Abbas regains control of Gaza, which was overrun last June by the Islamic militants of the Hamas movement.

Earlier this week, Israel's defense minister threatened to topple Gaza's Hamas government if rocket fire continues. Fearing assassination, top Hamas leaders have gone into hiding.

One of those leaders, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, issued a statement Tuesday saying that "threats are not going to scare us or terrify our people."

Also Tuesday, Israel said it broke up a militant funding ring in the West Bank. Israeli troops raided 14 money-changing offices, confiscating nearly $850,000 and arresting five Palestinians on suspicion funds were transferred from abroad for militant groups, the army said.

Israel to build more in east Jerusalem

[Shammu]

Embassies ordered to raise alert
Yaakov Katz, Gil Hoffman
THE JERUSALEM POST
Feb. 13, 2008

Despite Israel's swift denial of involvement in Tuesday's assassination of top Hizbullah terrorist Imad Mughniyeh, in Damascus, the defense establishment on Wednesday ordered embassies and Israeli institutions abroad to slightly raise their level of alert, out of fear that Hizbullah might attempt to retaliate the killing.

Defense officials said it was possible Hizbullah would retaliate, although it was unlikely that the group would do so across Israel's northern border, but instead use its infrastructure overseas.

One senior intelligence officer told The Jerusalem Post Hizbullah is believed to have terrorist infrastructure in over 40 countries abroad, particularly in Africa and South America.

"After events like this, we need to sharpen our senses in preparation," an official said, adding however, that "security personnel were not being beefed up at this stage."

Earlier, in a first official Israeli reaction to the killing of Mughniyeh, the Prime Minister's Office rejected Hizbullah's claims that Israel had assassinated the arch-terrorist and insisted that the government's sole source of information on the incident was the media.

"Israel is sifting through the reports from Lebanon and Syria regarding the death of the high-ranking Hizbullah official and is studying, for the first time, the details emanating from their portrayal in the media in the past hours," the PMO statement read. "Israel rejects the attempt of terrorist elements to pin any involvement in this incident on it. Beyond that, there is nothing to add."

Mughniyeh was killed in a car bombing in Damascus late Tuesday night, Hizbullah's Al-Manar television reported Wednesday.

The US welcomed the Hizbullah terror chief's death.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that "the world is a better place without this man in it," adding that "one way or the other he was brought to justice."

He said that the United States had no independent information on the reports that Mughniyeh was killed in a car bombing in Syria.

The United States blames Mughniyeh for numerous terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of Americans including attacks on the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Lebanon in the 1980s. He was on an FBI wanted list with a $25 million bounty on his head.

Earlier Wednesday, Environment Minister Gideon Ezra called Mughniyeh the "Lebanese Carlos."

"He was implicated in plane hijackings; he was implicated in abducting our three soldiers at Har Dov," Ezra said. "According to sources that I am privy to, he was also involved in the kidnapping of our soldiers [Eldad] Regev and [Ehud] Goldwasser. He was also amongst those involved in the terror attacks in Argentina."

"Mughniyeh was one of the most dangerous and cruel terrorists," Former Mossad head and Labor MK Danny Yatom said. "This is a huge achievement in the war against terror."

"When bastards like Mughniyeh, whose hands are covered in the blood of Israelis, Argentinian Jews and Americans, go on to a 'better place', our world also becomes a better place," former chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud), said.

"Mughniyeh was living on borrowed time," Likud MK Silvan Shalom said. "He is responsible for many deaths and his passing is a contribution to the international community's war against terror."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is in Turkey, would not answer reporters' questions on the subject of the assassination on Wednesday.

Embassies ordered to raise alert

[Barbara]

On The Temple Mt., Jews Not Allowed to Move their Lips in Prayer

by Gary Stearman


We have all seen Jews vigorously praying at the Western Wall. Their voices and bodily motions are a study in focused intensity, on top of the Temple Mount, where they are now allowed to go in limited numbers. However, should they succeed in ascending to this hallowed territory, Israeli authority demands that they not so much as move their lips in prayer!

Thoses who support the biblical view of Israel and the Holy City often think of Psalm 122:6, which urges prayer, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee." A proper understanding of prophecy often brings these words to mind, since the Bible promises great things for the Holy City. One day the Lord, Himself, will build the Millennial Third Temple there, bringing His reign to the whole Earth.

Contrast that with the legions of militant contenders who desire to possess Jerusalem for their own political purposes. In this present setting, the faithful long for the peace of Jerusalem. They are prompted to pray for its promised restoration, just as it is prophesied in the Bible.

Particularly in Israel, public prayer is a long-respected expression of religious faith. Religious Jews pray vocally and with exaggerated bodily motions at the Western Wall, praying that the Lord will come to this place and establish His Kingdom.

Their enemies must regard such prayer as effective. They are doing anything they can to stop it, carrying the point to ridiculous extremes. And now, even Israeli leaders are bowing to their demands. One of their own government ministers has commanded them to stop moving their lips while praying on the Temple Mount!

In the Name of Security

This command came in the form of a public security ruling, explicitly designed to appease the Arab Waqf - the trust that now controls the Temple Mount. Writing in the January 2nd World Net Daily, Aaron Klein detailed the recent government dictate:

"Jews are not allowed to pray on the Temple Mount in any way whatsoever, even if they only move their lips or demonstrate other 'signs' of prayer on Judaism's holiest site, ruled Avi Dichter, Israel's public security minister.

"Dichter was responding to a recent decision by two Knesset members who said they would ascend the Temple Mount quietly - without informing the media or making any protest - and attempt to pray on the holy site.

"The lawmakers, Uri Ariel and Aryeh Eldad from Israel's National Union Party, said Muslim prayer services take place throughout the day and in many mosques and Islamic religious schools situated on the holy site, and Jews should be able to pray as individuals on the Mount."

I've got more of this article, I'm just not sure if this was already posted - if not I thought if it would be of interest.

[nChrist]

Hello Sister Barbara,

I read a lot of news about Israel, and I've read this one somewhere. I just don't remember if it was here or not.

I did find this fascinating since like things are happening in this part of the world. We are making public accommodations with taxpayer dollars for Muslims to pray, but Christians are being kicked out in a so-called Christian nation. Many things going on around the world are insane, and that definitely includes this part of the world.

However, the developments in and around Israel are absolutely fascinating. This doesn't hint that I like bad news, but I've studied Bible Prophecy for many years. I also enjoy reading about discoveries that prove the BIBLE. More and more, I see the HOLY BIBLE as unquestioned facts from cover to cover. This is a fascinating time to live in, even though it will eventually lead to absolute horror and the worst times in human history by far. I'm sad that most of the world will die in their sins, but I also know that ALMIGHTY GOD has already shown the ultimate Love and Patience.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

[Barbara]

Hi again, brother Tom,

You're so right - the same thing is happening here, I didn't think of that comparison. Thanks for pointing that out!

I love prophecy too. I just never imagined I'd be living and able to watch the fulfillment of those prophetic events. I know the Lord Jesus will be back so soon, and also want to tell everyone I meet. I know they just can't use their 'spiritual eyes' yet. We, along with the Jewish people, are becoming the enemy - it is amazing to see. The devil knows he doesn't have much time left.

I'm also sad to see the horror that's already begun. All the slaughter of Christians in Africa and around the world. There has been a very definate change in the past few years. I have a friend that said only a week ago, that since we met (about 7 years ago), the world has changed so drastically. That is so true. We lived in NY when the events of 9-11 unfolded. I can tell you we got a horrible but small taste of things to come upon this world. I know that many will come to faith because of the events of the end times, and I pray for the safety of all that have to witness the horror of the last war.... but then the coming of the Lord will eclipse every event of history!

These are amazing times, and events are coming to pass so quickly. Most in the world don't even want to talk about it - they think things will improve and the world will go on as usual. They just can't see past their own lives and situations I guess. But I know He will open many, many eyes. He is Wonderful!

[Soldier4Christ]

International troops headed for Gaza?
Olmert weighs allowing NATO to protect Israel


JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government is debating asking the international community or NATO to send troops to the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli defense officials speaking to WND.

The officials said Olmert is considering allowing the Israel Defense Forces to launch a large-scale ground operation in Gaza to counter the Hamas terrorist group's advanced military infrastructure in the territory and to halt the regular onslaught of rockets from Gaza fired at nearby Jewish communities.

According to the defense officials, after a prolonged ground operation, Olmert would threaten that Israeli troops would remain in Gaza unless the international community deploys forces to serve as a buffer between Israel and Gaza-based militants and to assist Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah forces, which would re-enter Gaza.

U.S. and Israeli policy considers Fatah moderate. Fatah's declared military wing, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, is the most active West Bank Palestinian terror group and is classified by the State Department as a terrorist organization. Hamas forces last summer overran all U.S.-backed Fatah security compounds in Gaza and took over the territory, reportedly seizing large stockpiles of Fatah weapons.

Olmert has been under pressure from IDF leaders to approve a ground onslaught in Gaza, where terrorists have been firing rockets into Israel at an exponentially increasing rate. Military sources also warn Hamas has transported mass quantities of weapons into Gaza and built army units with some commanders trained by Iran.

Yesterday, one civilian was killed and several were wounded after more than 30 rockets slammed in and near Sderot, a town of 25,000 residents about three miles from the Gaza border.

Residents of Sderot and surrounding communities have been protesting against Olmert in recent weeks, setting up camp and leading marches outside the Knesset, Olmert's Jerusalem residence and at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Defense officials speaking to WND said most senior IDF officials strongly oppose the idea of NATO or international troop deployment in Gaza. They said they fear international forces would not be motivated to protect Israel and would impede any further necessary Israeli ground operations in Gaza.

"Can you imagine if Israel needs to take out a terror crew firing rockets into Sderot and mistakenly bombs a German or French tank?" asked one defense official.

"Does anyone believe France or Belgium would protect Israel?" the official asked sarcastically.

The official pointed to international troops deployed in south Lebanon following Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah there. According to reports, Hezbollah rearmed, regrouped and transferred rockets and anti-tank missiles to the area the international forces were supposed to maintain as an arms-free zone.

According to the defense officials speaking to WND, Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni support the deployment of international forces in Gaza while Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF officials have voiced reservations.

In December at a speech in Brussels before NATO officials, Livni hinted at allowing international troops to be stationed in Gaza, setting of a firestorm of opposition from many Knesset members.

"We are now in a process that is expected to strengthen the capabilities of the Palestinian Authority – so they would fight terror instead of Israel. However, one cannot exclude the possibility that we will need to discuss what can be the role of NATO in supporting the need for a change, a real change, on the ground," Livni said.

Some world leaders in recent months spoke openly about joining a force in the Palestinian territories. In December, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the media he would be supportive of the "deployment, when the time and conditions are right, of an international force to assist the Palestinian security services."

In an interview in December with the Jerusalem Post, European Union Middle East envoy Marc Otte said he heard from Israeli and Palestinian leaders there was "definitely more interest than in the past" for the deployment of international forces.

"After the [Second] Lebanon War, the sides see the merit in an international security presence," he said.

[Shammu]

'Jewish Front' Activists Arrested on Way to Destroy Terror Tent
 
by Hillel Fendel and Hana Levi Julian

(IsraelNN.com) Six members of the "Jewish Front" were arrested Sunday and held for questioning after they began to march toward the mourning tent for the terrorist who massacred eight Merkaz HaRav students.

Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben-Gvir, who led the march, said they would try themselves to dismantle the tent that was erected by the family in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber to honor 25-year-old Ala Abu Dheim. Both men were arrested by Jerusalem District Police, along with four others.

The Arab neighborhood which is home to the family is just east of the Jewish neighborhood of Talpiyot Mizrach in the capital.  The police have allowed the tent to stand, saying there is no law against. Officials from the municipality did order Abu Dheim's father to take down the Hamas and Hizbullah flags adorning the tent. The elder Abu Dheim, known in the past to be a member of the Hamas terrorist organization, complied with the order.

"Only in Israel could there be a situation where terrorist family members erect a tent to praise and glorify a murderer who perpetrated a massacre against the Jewish Nation," said activist Itamar Ben-Gvir.  "Even in Jordan, they didn't allow such a tent. If the police don't do it, then we ourselves will lift the law up from the floor."

Likud Knesset member Gilad Erdan announced Sunday morning he will propose a ban on any form of public mourning for a terrorist, saying that the State of Israel is "more like a suicidal democracy than a democracy that is defending itself."

Abu Dheim's family in Jordan was forbidden by Amman to erect a mourning tent or publicly mourn him with an open house, saying public mourning would not be allowed for someone who promoted violence against civilians.

A relative who lived elsewhere in the Hashemite Kingdom noted with irony that the Israeli government did not stop his immediate family from doing so in Jerusalem.

'Jewish Front' Activists Arrested on Way to Destroy Terror Tent

[Shammu]

Who in their right mind would mourn a mass murderer anyways? On yeah...wrong minds......

Every relative of those murdered boys should march on-mass to this tent; not just a handful of people....