An only-in-Israel moment

Nov. 19, 2008

It was one of those things that only happens in Israel. I would've had a story for you today about the Palestinian economy, but the guest speaker, a Palestinian businessman, couldn't make it: He was detained at the checkpoint by Israeli soldiers and was delayed by more than an hour. In the end we did a phone interview on someone's mobile on speaker in a room with about 20 reporters. But the point was lost. The real story was his absense.

This was a public relations nightmare for Israel, by Israel. Here were 20 reporters from the foreign press: NY Times, BBC, La Stampa (viva Italia!) and others (like me), waiting for an update on the state of the Palestinian economy, and here the speaker was detained by a 19-year-old Israeli soldier at a checkpoint. Samir Hulileh is the CEO of Palestinian Development and Investment Ltd. and has a "VIP pass" that should get him through Jerusalem checkpoints without a problem. But of course, not today.

Instead, reporters already heavily sympathtic toward the Palestinians, got a different story, one that supports the views of "Goliath Israel vs. the underdog David Palestinian."

The checkpoints are there ostensibly to catch suicide bombers or others with terroristic intents. Today, it stopped a man on a quest to improve the quality of life for his people. Only in Israel.

Lawyer: Rape Israeli women

Nov. 19 2008

An Egyptian lawyer, who happens to be female, says that sexual harassment and even rape against Israeli women is warranted since Israelis are "raping the land." It's a new form of resistane, she says. Thanks to MEMRI for translating and posting this video. (I can't seem to embed it here)

Of course this begs the question, WHAT Israeli women in Arab lands? Israelis are not allowed into most Arab countries. Israelis in Egypt, beware!

Good thing America voted with the world...

Excerpt from a Times Online interview by Richard Beeston, Foreign Editor, with President Shimon Peres of Israel ahead of his visit to London on Nov. 17, 2008:

Times: How might Barack Obama's election change the situation?

Peres: This is the beginning of the end of racism. A black man reaching the top position is the strongest answer to Hitler. It is the political equivalent of the black runner (Jesse Owens) who won the gold medal in 1936. No one looked at the colour of his leg or the colour of the sportsman, they measured his speed. The capacity of America to renew itself is a welcome surprise. Obama was elected by the American people, but he was chosen by the world.

Me: Speechless. Well, mostly. Even Peres believes this guy is the Messiah!

UN gets stern with Israel while rockets still fly over the border

Picks on Israel for closing crossings; doesn't criticize Hamas for breaking cease-fire
Nov. 19

While rockets are flying overhead and Israeli tanks on are standby to head into Gaza, a war of words is flying back and forth between United Nations and Israeli officials.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay accused Israel of "forcibly depriving" 1.5 million Palestinians of "basic human rights for months." She called for Israel to end air strikes and incursions into Gaza, and for Palestinians to stop firing rockets, urged Israel to allow the flow of aid to resume, and to restore electricity and water service in the Hamas-controlled territory.

Israel's Foreign Ministry fired back with a furious press release:

It is shocking to read the High Commissioner's utterly shortsighted press release regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Most disturbing is the way she casually refers to Palestinian aggression in the last sentence of her statement, as almost an afterthought. Unfortunately, Israel does not have the option of being so casual in its response to rocket and mortar attacks on its civilians, attacks which violate the most fundamental right of all, the right to life.

Overall responsibility for the situation in the Gaza Strip lies with Hamas, which invests all of its resources in arms and terrorism instead of providing for the civilians that it brutally controls.

Electricity and water continue to flow from Israel to Gaza, and 33 trucks laden with supplies arrived in Gaza yesterday, with more waiting to enter as soon as Hamas ends its violent attacks. It is disappointing to see the high commissioner fall victim to Hamas' cynical manipulation of the media.

Rather than engaging in the political game being promoted by the Palestinians, Israel expects the High Commissioner to investigate the facts before issuing one-sided statements about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and to begin by forcefully condemn the perpetrators of terror

In the last 10 days, Hamas has fired more than 170 rockets and mortars at Israel.

Writing in Ynet, Robert D. Onley pleads for Israel to wake up and reassert her sovereignty regardless of UN and international criticism:

Indeed, where in the UN Charter does it say that if a nation is subject to terror attacks, then that nation can be blamed for causing them? And who among Israel’s political elite is actually convinced that some form of negotiated agreement, imposed or otherwise, will permanently end hostilities with Hamas and appease its leadership? Surely the failure of the current ceasefire should serve as a stark warning for any future permanent "ceasefire."

...Leaders in Jerusalem must realize that one day soon, Israel will ultimately be alone in the world. Which world power legitimately can and will defend Israel once the United States packs up from Iraq and goes home to lick its wounds? Will Barack Obama supernaturally appear in the sky to save "God’s Chosen People?" Perhaps the Europeans will reluctantly pick up their guns to protect the same people they practically annihilated a mere 63 years ago?

...History demands that Israel wake up, stop its internal bickering and incessant dithering, recognize its extraordinary past and patently defend the land it rightly possesses. If Israel does not do so, one day soon there will be more than just a few Arab nations calling for a 'final solution' to the Middle East conflict.

Decisions must be made today to defend against that future. Indeed, a nation that lacks the will to safeguard its sovereignty will one day simply fail to exist. Israel cannot fail at this crucial juncture; may history guide and protect her footsteps in these perilous times. Alas, no one else is willing.

Land-for-peace leads to war

Former army chief of staff admits land-for-peace policy is a mistake
Nov. 19, 2008

Moshe Ya'alon, a former army Chief of Staff, backtracked today on his previous support of "land for peace," a policy that has been proven to lead instead to war, he said.

In an interview with Voice of Israel government radio, Ya'alon said he has learned over the past 15 years that giving up land "deteriorates our security." Ya'alon once stated that Israel could defend itself without the Golan Heights.

He said today that the expulsion and the withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 left Israel exposed to Hizballah attacks from the North (as in the Second Lebanon war in 2006) and with rocket attacks in the South since Jewish settlements and the army were completely withdrawn from Gaza in 2005.

Ya'alon is joining Benjamin Netanyahu on the Likud ticket. Elections are set for February.