Preachers: Ramadan prayers caused US deaths in Iraq

Palestinian preachers, terrorists call record casualties 'gift from Allah,' emboldened by calls for withdrawal

Aaron Klein, WND
Published: 10.31.06, 21:47

With October becoming the most deadly month for US troops in Iraq in nearly two years, Palestinian preachers in several major mosques in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are celebrating the anti-American violence as a gift from Allah bestowed upon Muslims through prayer during the holy month of Ramadan, according to congregants.

Terror leaders told WND the insurgency in Iraq exposed US weakness and will soon force an American withdrawal, citing as proof the "many" people in the US who are comparing the war in Iraq to Vietnam.

Holy War
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Abu Ayman, a leader of the Islamic Jihad terror group in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, told WND, "We saw in Iraq this month how Allah helped the mujahedeen fighters to mark a great victory, a victory that brought the Americans to speak for the first time seriously and sincerely that Iraq is becoming a new Vietnam and that they should fix a schedule for their withdrawal from Iraq."

Continued the terror leader: "During Ramadan (which ended last week), it is known that the motivation of the Muslims and of the mujahedeen in particular is higher than in any other period of the year. The good acts of the Muslims and the mujahedeen are better paid in this month in which the gates of paradise are open and those of hell are closed."

One preacher in the West Bank city of Hebron told WND the death of American troops is "promised by Allah in the holy Quran."

"It is the realization of the verse of El Phil (the elephant) where Allah hit the Prophet's enemies with special and very warm Sejeel stones. The rockets and mortars of the Mujahedeen in Iraq are the Sejeel stones of our days."

The preacher was referring to the Quranic story of "unbelievers" advancing on an elephant to kill Muhammad. According to the Quran, birds from heaven lobbed "Sejeel stones" at the elephant, scaring the animal away and thwarting the attack.

Also in Hebron this past weekend, Hizb A-Tahrir, a popular Palestinian Islamist political party, distributed a pamphlet stating the holiness of Ramadan, which ended last week, was responsible for the large number of American casualties in Iraq.

The pamphlet went on to claim the popular Muslim phrase "Allah Hu Akbar" (Allah is the greatest) has "huge significance in the world."

"The Arab traitor leaders think that America is the Akbar, is the greatest, but the deaths in Iraq this month proves what we knew all along that Allah is the greatest and no power is stronger than Allah. May Allah keep cooling our hearts and souls with more and more American soldiers killed," stated the pamphlet.

'Timetable for withdrawal means defeat'

In several Internet chat rooms associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, which is partially funded by the US, users this weekend spoke of an American withdrawal from Iraq as imminent.

One user hailed the "good and divine news that comes from Iraq," referring to the high number of deaths. The user wrote it is "only a question of time" before the US withdraws from the country.

With the announcement Saturday of the death of a US marine, October became the deadliest month for American soldiers in Iraq in nearly twenty-two months, bringing the number of US forces killed so far this month to 98, the highest since January 2005 when 107 died in action.

President George Bush last Wednesday said he was unsatisfied with elements of the war but that the US was ultimately winning and must stay the course in Iraq.

"I know many Americans are not satisfied with the situation in Iraq," said Bush at a press conference. "I'm not satisfied either."

"The events of the past month have been a serious concern to me and a serious concern to the American people," the president said. Bush said the US is changing tactics to deal with circumstances in Iraq but shouldn't change the overall direction of the war.

"Absolutely we're winning," the president asserted.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:17 PM | Permalink

PA Offensive Capabilities Increasing, With US Help 17:58 Oct 31, '06 / 9 Cheshvan 5767 by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

Fatah terrorists are receiving US arms and training, while Hamas terrorists are preparing missile and anti-tank divisions.

Speaking before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday, the IDF Southern Command chief warned that the Palestinian Authority's ruling Hamas organization is planning to establish missile and anti-tank units. The new units were decided upon in light of the lessons Hamas learned from the Hizbullah's successes against Israel during the recent war in Lebanon, the IDF commander explained.

"Hamas is establishing an organized division with a capability against tanks and with missiles that could reach threatening distances," Major General Yoav Galant told the Knesset committee.

Anti-tank missiles caused about a third of the IDF casualties in Lebanon during the recent campaign against the Hizbullah. Military analysts, as well as Hamas propagandists and strategists, have noted that long-range missiles of the type used by Hizbullah deployed in Judea, Samaria and Gaza would place many Israeli strategic facilities in danger.

In an initiative presented as an effort to counter the growing strength and influence of Hamas, the United States has been arming and training a militia affiliated with the Fatah terrorist group, headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The premise for the American support is that Fatah and Hamas are headed for a violent civil war, and the US prefers a Fatah victory.

According to security analyst Aluf Benn, American security coordinator General Keith Dayton appeared before representatives of the Quartet in London last week, presenting them with a program for training the PA's presidential guard - Force 17, controlled by Abbas - using Egyptian, British and Jordanian instructors. PA sources say the training by Americans started more than a month ago, at a compound near the Intercontinental Hotel in Jericho.

In the past, official PA militias were found to have used weapons provided by the US and Israel in terrorist attacks on Jewish targets.

Earlier this month, in an interview with WorldNetDaily's Aaron Klein, a Force 17 terrorist implied that weapons supplied to Fatah from the United States would be transferred to the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades, which is recognized as a terrorist organization under US law.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:09 PM | Permalink

Over 300 injured by Qassams in 2 years

Data from Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon indicate that during 2005, 87 people were rushed to hospital compared to 202 in 2006 so far. Emergency room istill not protected

New details gathered from Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon indicate that since January 2005, about 300 people were hurt by Qassam rocket attacks in the city of Sderot and the communities of the western Negev.

Surprisingly, the hospital which absorbs most of the wounded from Qassam attacks is not adequately protected from them.

The numbers indicate that during the first nine and a half months of 2006, 202 people were hurt by Qassams, more than double of the 87 from last year.

The most active month in that aspect was July of 2006 during the war in the north with 85 people. Before that, when the Gilad Shalit was kidnapped 27 people were hurt.

During August of 2005, the time of the disengagement from Gaza, there were virtually no rocket attacks from Gaza, and only one person was evacuated to the emergency room of the hospital.

Meital Yasur-Beit Or
Published: 10.30.06, 21:05

We are G-D's people living in the Land that G-D gave us and it is time we start acting like it!

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 03:47 PM | Permalink

Despite failures: Division commanders won't be dismissed

General Staff decides to allow four commanders of divisions that took part in Lebanon war to remain in their positions or be appointed to other roles in army; decision represents vote of confidence on army chief's part

The four commanders of the military divisions that took part in the recent war in Lebanon will not be dismissed from their positions, despite the findings of inquiries conducted after the ceasefire went into force that revealed failures in their conduct.

Some of the generals will continue to serve in their roles, while others will be appointed to administrative posts after completing serving their term in office.

During a prolonged debate held throughout the afternoon at the office of IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and attended by army generals, it has been decided that the commander of the Galilee Division, Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch, will complete his term in office and afterwards be appointed head of the Strategy Unit at the IDF's Planning Directorate.

Hirsch will be replaced by Brigadier-General Imad Fares, who currently serves as commander of the Edom Division. Commander of the Givati Brigade, Colonel Yoel Streek will take Fares' place and be appointed head of the Edom Division.

Commander of the 162 Division, Brigadier-General Guy Zur will be appointed head of the Tze'elim base and replaced by Brigadier-General Uzi Moskovitz.

The two other division commanders, Brigadier-General Eyal Eisenberg (commander of the Paratrooper Division) and Brigadier-General Erez Zuckerman (commander of the Reserve Division at the Northern Command), will remain in their positions.

Vote of confidence
It appears that the officers whose names became linked to a series of deficiencies during the war can be satisfied with the decision not to reprimand them too heavily, and to allow them the possibility to continue moving up in the ranks.

The decision to leave Brig.-Gen. Eisenberg and Brig.-Gen. Zuckerman in their roles represents a vote of confidence on the part of the army chief, as well as a desire to prevent more turbulence among the ranks following the war.

The General Staff has recently been presented with the interim reports on nine inquiries into the war. In the meetings, the heads of the investigations presented the directions and issues regarding the war with Hizbullah and the performance of the General Staff and the army's primary Commands during the fighting.

All the reports reveal numerous failures in the military's functioning during the battles and throughout the war itself.

Hanan Greenberg
Published: 10.30.06, 21:23

I would love to see all leaders from Olmert down pay the price for the failures of the war but we must face facts that it will never happen.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 03:36 PM | Permalink

Military official: Gaza operation to be expanded soon

Army chief, defense minister okay plans for several operations in different areas in Strip. IDF official explains: 'We can't ignore what's happening in Gaza, we have to act at least until we see internal change there'

Pressure rises: Less than a week after leaving the Khan Younis area following an operation to apprehend wanted suspects and locate tunnels used for the smuggling of weapons, the IDF is planning another, broader operation in the Gaza Strip, to be launched in the coming days.

"We can't hold on to areas in the Strip for an extended period of time, but we must act all the more forcefully against the terror infrastructures," army officials told Ynet, adding that "an expansion of the operation in Gaza is expected soon."

Hanan Greenberg
Published: 10.31.06, 00:47

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 03:28 PM | Permalink

Oct. 29, 2006 17:50 | Updated Oct. 29, 2006 23:07
5 terror suspects caught in Wadi Ara
By REBECCA ANNA STOIL
A suspected terror plot was foiled on Sunday when police and security forces arrested five suspected terrorists who had infiltrated the Wadi Ara region, and the high alert, which had been declared earlier in the day, was lowered.

Police discovered a car laden with explosives and sappers safely detonated the device.

Isreal Radio reported that four of those arrested were Palestinians and the other was an Israeli Arab.

In the early afternoon, security forces received concrete information that a would-be terrorist had arrived in the sensitive Wadi Ara area en route to carrying out a terror attack.

Wadi Ara, a narrow valley through which a main east-west road runs, is an area mostly compromised of Israeli Arab towns, and backs on to the Menahse region of Samaria. Its proximity to the West Bank and demographic make-up create a situation in which it is relatively easy for a terrorist to infiltrate and disappear into the surroundings.

Immediately after receiving the warning, police beefed up their forces all along the northern reaches of the Green Line, setting up checkpoints and even "hermetically" closing off key roadways.

Route 65 - the Wadi Ara road - was closed at one point in both directions, across a dozens-of-kilometer-long stretch between Caesarea and Megiddo Junctions.

Hours later, police re-opened the eastbound lanes, but maintained a full closure on the westbound lanes, also closing the approaches to the Cross-Israel Highway which intersects the route just east of Hadera.

Northern District Cmdr. Dan Ronen opened a temporary operations control center based in the Iron Police Station, a former British Taggart fortress overlooking the sensitive highway. Umm el-Fahm, the largest of the cities in the Wadi Ara area was sealed off at all of its entrances and exits.

Security sources said that the initial alert was unclear as to whether the man entered Israel with a bomb or whether he was meant to be given a bomb immediately before carrying out the attack.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:41 PM | Permalink

Oct. 29, 2006 11:38 | Updated Oct. 29, 2006 22:07
Israeli Arab charged in foiled attack
By DAN IZENBERG

The state has charged a 20-year-old Arab Israeli woman with membership in a terrorist organization, aiding the enemy in a time of war, contact with a foreign agent, illegally carrying weapons and membership in a terrorist organization.

The defendant, Varud Kassem, will be tried in Tel Aviv District Court.

According to the indictment released Sunday, Kassem joined Fatah's Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades in May during a visit to a Palestinian member of an Aksa cell living in Bala. During that visit, she fired a pistol.

The following month, Kassem returned to Bala. The terrorist asked her if she would help smuggle weapons between Israel and the West Bank, and Kassem agreed. She also agreed to suggest places within the Green Line to plant bombs.

In July, the terrorist acquired a seven kilogram bomb activated by two mobile phones. He asked Kassem and another cell member to meet him at Hawara south of Nablus, where he tried to persuade her to smuggle the bomb into Israel. She refused, saying she might be searched.

Kassem than told the terrorist she would ask her cousin Muhammad Boubli to help transport the bomb to the Spaghettim restaurant in Ra'anana, where he worked. It was to be detonated there, but it never crossed the Green Line.

On another occasion, Kassem met the Aksa Brigades' Ramallah head and was photographed wearing a Koran and a kerchief bearing nationalist slogans.

Earlier this month, police reported a similar instance in which an Israeli Arab from Kafr Kasim confessed to knowingly driving a suicide bomber and his accomplice to a 2002 bombing that killed one woman and wounded dozens.

Islam Badir, 27, said that in March 2002, he drove a man across the Green Line who later blew himself up at the My Coffee Shop Cafe at the corner of Rehov Bialik and Rehov Allenby in Tel Aviv.

Like Kassem, Badir took advantage of his yellow, Israeli license plates to avoid suspicion, this time to escort a bomber across the Green Line and into Petah Tikvah.

Police have frequently emphasized the connection between Palestinian working illegally in Israel and terrorist attacks. Badir became acquainted with the suicide bomber through connections made while the latter worked illegally in Israel. Similarly, Kassem helped make a connection between the terrorist group and her cousin, who was working in the restaurant illegally.

Police said terrorists monitor the ways illegal workers make their way from the West Bank, and use the same methods - including cars with Israeli license plates - to cross the Green Line and carry out attacks.

Israeli Jews have also been arrested in the past year for aiding terrorists.

Rebecca Anna Stoil contributed to this report.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:39 PM | Permalink

Qassams in Negev, hundreds protest

Sderots residents sick of Qassam rockets falling on their city nearly every day. Hundreds of town's residents protest in front of Defense Minister Amir Peretz's Sderot residence. In meantime, Qassams fired at western Negev

Shmulik Hadad
Published: 10.28.06, 23:37

While hundreds of Sderot residents demonstrated outside Defense Minister Amir Peretz's house against the unending firing of Qassam rockets at the city, Palestinian gunmen fired two rockets at the western Negev. One of the rockets landed in the town of Nativ Ha'asara, and the other in Palestinian territory. There has been no report of injuries or damage.

The residents of Sderot are sick of hearing the Red Dawn alert system go off nearly every day warning them of an incoming attack, and after it, an explosion. Hundreds of protestors carried torches and signs on which were written, "Shame on you, Government. You left us at war."

The demonstration was organized by Alon Davidi, head of Sderot’s protest committee, Batya Katar, head of the Parent-Teachers' Association in the city, and Rina Mor-Yosef, a resident of the city. In the past, the three have gone on a hunger strike outside the defense minister's house in a protest tent they set up. The tent was dismantled only after promises made them. However, they are now considering setting up the tent again.

This week, a few thousand manifestos were distributed to residents' houses, which called the government to act decisively against the Qassams. Attached were the telephone numbers of the cabinet members along with a request to call after every Qassam is fired at Sderot.

'Sderot becoming a ghost town'
According to Davidi, the protestors carried torches in order "to light up the government's path through the dark. We are prepared to be the light for this struggle." According to the protestors, Sderot is becoming a ghost town and this requires government attention.

Davidi, who spoke at the rally, said, "We charge the cabinet members, who are meeting this week, to instruct the IDF to embark on a large operation in Beit Hanoun in order to clean the territory of terrorists and Qassams and to return quiet to Sderot.

It is forbidden to continue only with targeted operations, which have proven unsuccessful in stopping the Qassams."

The protestors asked Israel Our Home Chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman, expected to be appointed minister of strategic affairs, to keep his promise to the residents of the city when he visited their protest tent.

Lieberman said then that Hamas leaders must be asked to leave their houses in Gaza so that the IDF could flatten them in response to the Qassam fire.

The IDF should flatten the houses of the leadership of the Palestinians with the leadership inside of the homes including the house of Abbas.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 06:55 PM | Permalink

Israel snubs EU delegation due to far-Right MP

Foreign Ministry says will not welcome delegation of EU parliamentarians due to inclusion of Marine Le Pen of France. FM spokesperson: Le Pen member of racist party that denies Holocaust

Reuters
Published: 10.27.06, 21:47

Israel said on Friday it would not welcome a delegation of European Union parliamentarians planning to visit the country this week if it included a far-right French member.

The Foreign Ministry said Israel objected to the inclusion of Marine Le Pen, daughter of far-right French leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, in the delegation.

"The delegation contained a senior member (Marine Le Pen) of a political party which, unfortunately, is both racist and a Holocaust denier," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.

"For that reason we said that if such a delegation with such a composition would come to Israel they would not receive official meetings," he added.

The delegation was scheduled to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories between October 28 and November 4. It was expected to meet Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"We wanted to receive delegations from the European parliament, but the composition of the delegation made that impossible," Regev said.

A spokeswoman for the European Parliament said it was "a postponement due to technical problems that could affect the success of the mission", but a parliamentary source confirmed it was due to Israel's refusal to accept Le Pen.

Jean-Marie Le Pen said Israel's refusal to meet his daughter ran "contrary to diplomatic traditions" and "basic democracy".

Le Pen, who caused an upset in France's 2002 presidential election when he finished second, was convicted and fined in 1990 for inciting racial hatred and for saying in 1996 that the gas chambers used by the Nazis were "merely a detail in the history of the Second World War".

Marine Le Pen, who is seen as the most likely successor to her 78-year-old father, told Reuters last week that her planned trip to Israel would be an opportunity to "clear up a certain number of misunderstandings".

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 02:06 PM | Permalink

Peres tells Solana: Israel will not ease pressure on Hamas
By Aluf Benn

Vice Premier Shimon Peres had an angry exchange with visiting European Union foreign policy coordinator Javier Solana yesterday, after Solana demanded to know why Israel is keeping the Gaza Strip's border crossings closed.

Solana argued that this causes hunger and frustration, which ultimately encourage anti-Israel violence.
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But Peres snapped back that "Israel is first and foremost obliged to provide security for its citizens." Therefore, he said, as long as missiles are fired at Israeli communities and terrorist activity continues, the crossings will not be opened.

Peres also blamed Hamas for the Palestinians' difficulties and rejected Solana's request that Israel transfer the taxes and customs duties it collects on the Palestinians' behalf. "The European Union must look at the reality and understand that as long as Hamas continues with its policy of extremism, the Palestinian people will continue to suffer and there can be no progress toward a peace deal, which could have been signed some time ago," he said.

Peres also charged that Syria's peace feelers were meant solely to ease American pressure and did not indicate serious intent to reach a deal with Israel.

In separate talks with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Solana called for the evacuation of illegal settlement outposts.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz also met the visiting EU envoy and expressed Israel's concern over the Iranian nuclear program, describing it as "an international problem that should concern the entire free world."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:45 AM | Permalink

3 Gunmen Killed in Counter-Terror Operations
08:48 Oct 27, '06 / 5 Cheshvan 5767

(IsraelNN.com) PA (Palestinian Authority) officials are now reporting that three gunmen were killed by IDF gunfire. In el-Yamoun near Jenin, one was killed and two wounded. Nearby, in el-Fhara, two other gunmen were killed.

IDF officials report soldiers detected a number of terrorists approaching them in el-Fhara armed with handguns and hatchets.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:42 AM | Permalink

More Developments in the Olmert Corruption Cases
10:44 Oct 27, '06 / 5 Cheshvan 5767
by Hillel Fendel

Rapid developments in the various investigations of corruption against PM Olmert: The Supreme Court asks Atty.-Gen. why the "pens" case was closed, the Comptroller implies wrongdoing, and more.

The Supreme Court ordered Attorney General Menachem Mazuz (pictured) to explain within 30 days why he closed the investigation against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert regarding expensive gifts he received as gifts. It had been reported that Olmert, a known pen collector, was given pens by dozens of people over the course of the years when he served as Mayor of Jerusalem and Minister of Trade, among other positions.

The pens are worth between 1,500 and 25,000 shekels each, for a total of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and some of them were received from people who had dealings with Olmert in his governmental capacities. NFC.co.il investigative reporter Yoav Yitzchak, who first reported on the story, also wrote that Olmert was suspected of obstructing justice by removing 240 expensive fountain pens from his house when the investigation began.

The police investigated the matter and informed Mazuz that there was not sufficient evidence to indict Olmert. The Attorney General then ordered the case closed - but the Ometz organization appealed to the High Court, which has now reopened the case to some degree by ordering Mazuz to explain his decision.

Olmert is also under investigation in a case known as the Bank Leumi privatization sale, and State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss has submitted a letter to Mazuz implying that Olmert is suspected of criminal activity in that regard. This, in keeping with the law requiring the Comptroller to notify the Attorney General whenever he finds evidence of suspected criminal activity.

Olmert's representatives said that the entire set of accusations is merely a "blood libel" against the Prime Minister.

The Comptroller's Office has amassed evidence indicating that Olmert, who was Minister of Industry and Trade when Bank Leumi was being sold in 2005, should clearly have disqualified himself when dealing with two prospective buyers. One of them was a client of his father-in-law's law firm, and the other had sold Olmert an expensive house for just over half-price.

In yet another development in the above case, representatives of Olmert said that all of his actions in the Trade Ministry were taken under the supervision of the ministry's Legal Counsel - none other than Mazuz's sister, Yamima Mazuz. However, NFC reports, Ms. Mazuz was never informed of Olmert's likely conflict of interest, nor did Olmert consult with her as to whether he should disqualify himself.

Arutz-7 asked NFC's Yoav Yitzchak about his ongoing investigations into the Prime Minister's activities. Yitzchak said, "My goal is simply to uncover all the corruption of Prime Minister Olmert. I write about others as well, but of course the Prime Minister is the most interesting... Though this is not my stated goal, I am well aware that if the Prime Minister is forced to resign because of corruption, this will lead to far-reaching changes in the entire governmental structure."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:41 AM | Permalink

Torah Dedicated in Memory of Shalhevet Techiya Pass 16:15 Oct 26, '06 / 4 Cheshvan 5767

(IsraelNN.com) A Torah scroll was dedicated in Hevron in memory of 10-month-old terror victim Shalhevet Techiya Pass, who was murdered in March 2001.

Baby Shalhevet was shot dead by an Arab sniper while being held in her mother’s arms in front of their Hevron home. Also moderately wounded in the attack was her father Yitzchak.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 04:12 PM | Permalink

Olmert's Wife Implicated in Latest Scandal
16:44 Oct 26, '06 / 4 Cheshvan 5767
by Hillel Fendel

Aliza Olmert, Prime Minister Olmert's wife, received a "salary" of 240,000 shekels in the year 2004 - though employees don't remember her, and the job doesn't appear on her resume.

The information was publicized by the Hebrew website NFC, whose frequent scoops regarding allegations of corruption by Ehud Olmert has earned it a hate-Olmert reputation.

In 2004, the year in which his wife received the pay, Ehud Olmert served as Minister of Industry, Trade and Employment, as well as Head of the Israel Lands Authority, and held the Communications portfolio. NFC reports that his wife Aliza received, over the course of 11 months, approximately 22,000 shekels each month from a private company owned by Avi Naor.

A frequent donor to public causes such as the Green Light anti-traffic accidents organization, Naor has frequent contact with government officials, NFC reports, and often requests budgetary allocations.

Aliza said that the money paid her was for services rendered, beginning shortly after Naor and others planned a public-social project set to cost two billion shekels. The project was designed to save children at risk currently living in poverty. A very small part of the project was ultimately carried out, in Afula and Kiryat Gat.

As Minister of Industry and Trade, Ehud Olmert was to be one of the central figures in the establishment of the project - including raising money. Senior ministry figures appeared at various committee sessions to promote the project, named Yaniv.

It was precisely at this time that Aliza Olmert was hired by Naor's company - though NFC says its investigation showed that people who worked there at the time did not know her and did not encounter her work. Moreover, the website of the Prime Minister's Office, which details Aliza Olmert's accomplishments, does not include her work at Naor's company.

Aliza's spokesman responded to the report as follows: "Mrs. Olmert, a social worker, worked in the RAMGA company as a full-time employee. She was hired by Avi Naor to be a partner in the establishment of the Yaniv Organization, and was responsible for the national service for treatment of young children at risk. She received a salary proportionate to her work."

Mrs. Olmert's job, according to her superior at RAMGA, was to study and then to prepare a comprehensive treatment program for young children at risk. "She studied the existing programs in Israel and around the world, and formulate a [new one]," he said. He said he did not have any of her papers, and Mrs. Olmert did not respond to NFC's request to supply a copy of one.

It must be nice to be the wife of one of the oligarchy that rules Israel, I wonder if she gave any of this money to charity to feed hungry Jewish children in Israel?

The problem is the lack of alternatives for the voters, it is the same old corrupt people being recycled through the Knesset, help us provide an alternative.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 04:04 PM | Permalink

Jewish Couple Nearly Lynched While Soldiers Stood By
18:06 Oct 26, '06 / 4 Cheshvan 5767
by Ezra HaLevi

Arabs nearly lynched two Jews north of Jerusalem on Wednesday, while IDF soldiers at a nearby lookout watched and took no action. A Jewish man was shot and wounded by terrorists near Kiryat Arba.

Yehuda Karpelis and his wife Suzy, the victims of the near-lynching, say soldiers manning a nearby lookout admitted doing nothing beyond reporting the incident on their radio, while a group of Arabs attacked them mercilessly. Arutz-7 asked the IDF for its response and is still awaiting a reply.

Yehuda and Suzy left their home in the Binyamin region town of Beit El at around 3 PM Tuesday. They drove down the main Highway 60 toward the capital, taking the Atarot road that connects to Route 443, the Jerusalem-Modiin highway which is the fastest route to Ben Gurion Airport and Tel Aviv.

As Yehuda approached the Kalandia Crossing, just before a traffic circle with a tall IDF lookout post in the middle, very close to a large checkpoint staffed by dozens of soldiers and police, the couple was attacked.

“We stopped at the circle, behind eight Arab vehicles, and others pulled up behind us," Karpelis told Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine. “Three Arabs, about 17-years-old, saw that I was a Jew because of the kippa [yarmulke] on my head. One of them suddenly opened my door, grabbed my arm roughly and yelled in Arabic ‘inzil!’ [Get out! –ed.] He tried to drag me out of the car but I struggled with him. He then began hitting me with a large stone. As I fought him I beeped the horn. We weren’t able to escape because we were blocked in by Arab cars on all sides. One of [the Arabs] grabbed my cell phone and smashed the hands-free microphone installed in the car in the process. Another Arab reached in toward where my wife Suzy was sitting and grabbed her purse from her hands. They also stole my briefcase and my daughter’s backpack from the trunk.”

Chaos erupted at the scene, Karpelis recalled, when finally a middle-aged Arab man interceded on their behalf, yelling at the attackers to cease and grabbing one of them. Yehuda continued:

“The attacker freed himself, ran away a bit and grabbed a large stone which he hurled at my window. G-d saved me a second time when the shatter-proof windows did not give way. They also tried on my wife’s side.

“To my astonishment, the assailant, who was some distance from the vehicle at that point, began to run toward us again like a maniac, trying to kick in the window with his feet like a ninja. It was clear to me that they wanted to kidnap or lynch us. We felt like only G-d was protecting us.

“The attacker tried once again and managed to get his hand through the window, where he grabbed all the papers he could from the door pocket. At that point they decided to run away, with our bags, my wife’s purse, daughter’s knapsack and my cell phone.”

"Soldiers Didn't Lift a Finger"
When the cars in front of Karpelis finally moved, they pulled up to the guard booth at the checkpoint. “We drove past the crossing," Yehuda said, "and got to the armored guard booth. It was clear to me that the soldiers at the booth did not hear any of the riot, the beeping or the screams. When they heard the story, they alerted additional forces, and army and Border Police officers quickly arrived at the scene.”

Karpelis said that one of the border policemen was flabbergasted at the fact that the whole incident took place so close to a lookout post with nobody intervening on behalf of the endangered civilians. “He radioed the soldiers manning the lookout up in the pillbox,” Karpelis recounted. “The lookout confirmed that he had seen a number of Arabs fleeing the area with our bags. He asked the person at the lookout if he had seen what happened to us and if so why he didn’t do anything about it. The lookout answered that he reported what was occurring on his radio, but received no response. The border policeman asked why the lookout did not at least throw a shock grenade [which produces a frightening sound, but no shrapnel, and may have frightened away the attackers –ed.] or do something to help. The lookout had no answer.”

Karpelis believes that the men in the lookout simply did not want to complicate their lives with the investigations and legal problems that result from making a tough decision to intervene in such a crisis. “They saw everything that was happening to us and didn’t lift a finger.”

Yehuda and Suzy filed a complaint with Jerusalem's Neve Yaakov police department, which is in charge of the Kalandia Crossing. The local police confirmed to Arutz-7 that such a complaint was filed.

Karpelis stressed that the police officers who debriefed them and took their complaint were polite and courteous. He said that regional police commander Yaakov Cohen, joined them and said he realized the serious nature of the incident, promising it would be fully investigated.

“My goal in publicizing the incident,” Karpelis says, “is to prevent a situation where a soldier who sees a Jew in trouble will refrain from shooting because he is afraid that afterwards he will be investigated and face disciplinary action. I also wanted to publicize the fact that we were saved by G-d.”

"Trying to Make us Give Up the Road"
The IDF has tried to close the road to Jews in the past, but the move was deemed illegal. “The IDF is not interested in Jews using the road because they say it is extra work for them to secure it,” explains Daniella Chaouat of Beit El, who frequently uses the route. “This is illegal. The only entity that can change the status of such a road, built by the State of Israel and essential for the freedom of movement of Israelis living in the region, is the Knesset.”

The road was closed for a long while as construction on the new sophisticated crossing was completed and the partition wall built in the region. Once construction was over, Jews began to use the road regularly again.

Chaouat fears that certain elements in the police and security establishment are seeking to use other means to deter Jews from using the road. “I am not surprised by the report that the Karpelis family was not rescued from the attempted lynch,” she says. “They are trying to make it so we ourselves give up this road. This is illegal and it is not going to happen.”

Defense Minister Amir Peretz can be faxed at 02-649-6545, or by dialing your international access code + 972-2649-6545.

In another incident, Palestinian terrorists attacked a Jewish driver near Kiryat Arba on Wednesday afternoon from point-blank range. The driver managed to smack the gun away, but suffered bullet wounds to his hand and arm.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 04:02 PM | Permalink

Arab Shepherds Shoot Jewish Motorist, PA Police Shoot Reservist
19:36 Oct 26, '06 / 4 Cheshvan 5767
by Ezra HaLevi

A Jewish man was shot by Arab shepherds who blocked the road and ambushed his vehicle Thursday.

The shepherds blocked Highway 35 near the Jewish community of Telem, forcing the motorist to slow down. One of the terrorists approached the vehicle and pulled out a gun, which he held to the man’s head.

The motorist pushed the gun away from his head but was shot in the arm in the process.

The driver sped off and called the emergency center in Kiryat Arba, which sent an ambulance to meet the vehicle at the junction with the main Highway 60. MDA ambulance driver Benny Teneh said that it was unclear exactly where the incident took place from the frantic emergency call they received, so two ambulances were dispatched to different possible locations.

The man was treated and transported to Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital’s trauma ward.

The IDF launched a manhunt for the terrorist shepherds, but have not yet located them.

PA Police Engage IDF
One IDF soldier was wounded in southern Gaza when Palestinian Authority police, armed by the Israeli government under the Oslo Accords, opened fire on IDF troops. The soldier, a reservist, is in moderate condition at Be’er Sheva’s Soroka Hospital.

The IDF returned fire and killed the PA policemen. The operation is taking place in the town of Khan Younis, which borders the demolished Gush Katif town of N’vei Dekalim.

Elsewhere, PA Arabs fired two anti-tank rockets at IDF soldiers operating in Gaza.

Counter-Terror Operations
IDF soldiers taking part in counter-terror operations in Judea and Samaria overnight arrested 21 wanted terrorists from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah.

The arrests took place in Shechem, where a large cache of weapons was discovered in one of the homes; in Tul Karem; in Ramallah and in Bir Zeit, the village known for its militant PA university.

Attacks Thwarted
Several pounds of weapons-grade TNT were intercepted by the Shabak (General Security Service) Sunday. The explosives were being smuggled out of Gaza with the aim of manufacturing Kassam rockets from the material in Tul Karem.

On Thursday, IDF soldiers identified a suspicious object buried in the ground in the Jenin region. The bomb squad was called in and a 66-pound bomb attached to a propane tank was diffused.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 04:00 PM | Permalink

Expert: Prepare for war

Middle East experts give their forecasts for the coming months in the region, warn of 'terrible deterioration' on Israel's northern border

Yaakov Lappin
Published: 10.25.06, 18:28

The coming months will present Israel with strategic threats from three different directions, Dr. Boaz Ganor, founder of the Institute for Counter-Terrorism told Ynetnews.

The first threat, stemming from the Shiite alliance of Iran and Hizbullah, will result in "terrible deterioration" on Israel's northern border, according to Ganor.

"The year 2007 is going to be a critical year, as the international arena will do its utmost to narrow down the nuclear capabilities of Iran. It could be done by using more affirmative sanctions, or even a military campaign," Ganor said. "And the ramification of such an attempt, even if it's only sanctions, will cause a terrible deterioration of the situation on the northern border, where Iran will use its proxy Hizbullah to retaliate against Israel, and make clear that Israel has to pay for any activities against Iran," Ganor added.

Turning to the Palestinian arena, Ganor said that "the Palestinians are now at the stage of shaping their self-identities," a process he described as ultimately "positive." They are torn between "terrorism and violence against Israel, definitely the concept used by Yasser Arafat under the Oslo accords," as well as today's "Islamic radical terrorist organizations," and the "alternative option, which is actually being represented by (PA President Mahmoud Abbas) Abu Mazen," based on the idea that "terrorism and violence will never fulfill the Palestinian national interest."

"The problem is that this is not a smooth process. It involves battles within the Palestinian arena. And I think in the coming months this may spill over into Israel," Ganor said.

Ganor then pointed out the "third process, which I have to admit that many Israelis, including decision makers and security services in Israel underestimate, is the threat of global jihadists against Israel," posed by al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

"In my view, in the coming months, global jihadists will try to launch what we call a major attack against Israel. Zawahiri (deputy leader of al-Qaeda) has announced that. I tend to believe him. The activities of al-Qaeda and global jihadist movements are surrounding Israel, from Sinai, Amman, Jordan, some involvement in Lebanon, and ongoing and growing involvement in Gaza Strip. And it's only a matter of time before they infiltrate Israel soon. So this is in my view a very negative process and I have to admit that… we are under-prepared," Ganor added.

'Very little time until next war'

In a document made available to Ynetnews by Professor Moshe Sharon, an expert on Islamic history at the Hebrew University, Sharon declared that the next war Israel would have to fight was almost here.

"Today it is clear to everyone who is prepared to confront unadorned reality, and they are the majority of people in Israeli society with the wish to live, that we have to take advantage of the short period of time left to us to prepare the army for the inevitable next war. It is already on the way," Sharon wrote.

He added: "Hizbullah is the immediate enemy. No one will disarm it because it has no intention of disarming and there is no one to coerce it to do so. The UN is collaborating with Hizbullah and none of its member nations has any interest in dealing with it."

"The Shiite of Hizbullah has taken control of Lebanon with the generous help of Iran and Syria and it will not relinquish it even if this means bringing about its total destruction. Lebanon will gradually be emptied of its remaining Christian population and zealous Islam will have achieved an important objective: One of the only two non-Muslim countries in the Middle East will just disappear," Sharon said.

"Islam came into being as a fighting religion. Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, imposed his authority, first and foremost, by means of his military strength. He understood that even when speaking in the name of Allah, this must be accompanied by tens of thousands of fighters with drawn swords," the professor added.

"The Muslims consider the State of Israel to be an advance position of the "House of War" established on Islamic territory conquered from Islam. Israel, therefore, must first disappear. All paths to that end are legitimate," Sharon said.

Describing peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan as tactical breaks in their war against Israel, Sharon declared: "The Egyptian authorities turn a blind eye, or worse, allow the unimpeded flow of arms, above and below ground, to terrorist organizations in Gaza. Is it necessary to ask, to fight against whom did Egypt create an army of close to a million soldiers?"

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 12:40 PM | Permalink

Peretz: Israel didn't fire at German ship

Defense Minister Amir Peretz denies report that two IAF jets fired shots towards German vessel off shores of Lebanon. Peretz speaks with his German counterpart, guarantees him Israel will not attack country's ships

Defense Minister Amir Peretz stated Wednesday that that reports that IAF jets had fired shots at a German ship were completely untrue.

According to a report by the Defense Ministry in Berlin, two Israeli warplanes and a German navy vessel have clashed off the Lebanese coast.

Germany daily Der Tagesspiegel earlier on Wednesday quoted a junior German Defense Ministry official as telling a parliamentary committee that two Israeli F-16 fighters flew low over the German ship and fired two shots.

The minister did not say when the incident happened or what had caused it, the paper said.

"I can confirm that there was an incident," a ministry spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday. An investigation was underway and he therefore was unable to provide further information, he added.

Germany assumed command of a United Nations naval force off the coast of Lebanon 10 days ago and has sent a force of eight ships and 1,000 service personnel to join the international peace operation in the region.

The naval force is charged with preventing weapons smuggling and helping maintain a ceasefire between Israel and radical Lebanese-based Islamic group Hizbullah.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 12:38 PM | Permalink

Oct. 25, 2006 11:23 | Updated Oct. 25, 2006 17:03
Report: Syria ups military alert level
By JPOST.COM STAFF

The Syrian Defense Minister has raised the army's alert level following IDF training exercises in the Golan Heights on Monday.

According to a report published on Wednesday in the Qatari newspaper, Al-Watan, Damascus became worried after IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz visited the area as part of a surprise inspection.

# What was behind Halutz's surprise visit to the Golan?

The report also stated that the Syrians were concerned about the addition of the right-wing Israel Beiteinu party to the government coalition.

Halutz made a surprise visit to the 36th Division in the Golan Heights Monday morning as part of a comprehensive inspection to be conducted throughout the week.

Some 60 officers and military staff members who accompanied Halutz will be evaluating the level of readiness and fitness in the division and its units.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 12:37 PM | Permalink

More Investigations Against Olmert
16:47 Oct 24, '06 / 2 Cheshvan 5767
by Hillel Fendel

AG Menachem Mazuz is investigating new criminal allegations against PM Ehud Olmert. The PM is is suspected of accepting bribes in the state's sale of Bank Leumi and illegal political appointments.

The Bank Leumi deal is the fifth in a series of criminal investigations against Olmert which NFC, the website of investigative journalist Yoav Yitzchak, has led in researching and reporting.

The latest case involves suspicions that in 2005, when Olmert served as Acting Finance Minister, he advanced the interests of two wealthy men who wished to purchase controlling interest in Bank Leumi. One of them had contributed large sums to Olmert's campaign for Mayor of Jerusalem, and the other one is a client of Olmert's father-in-law's law firm.

NFC reports that the investigation is being waged secretly, "despite Olmert's status, and despite the importance of publicizing this information at this time when Olmert is seeking the Knesset's support in expanding his government."

At this stage of the Bank Leumi investigation, a comprehensive review is underway by two senior State Prosecution attorneys, under the auspices of Deputy State Prosecutor Shuki Lemberger. They are investigating evidence of bribery, and the next stage, NFC reports, is the "near-certain public announcement of a full criminal investigation."

The financial department of the police detective department will run the investigation. Headed by Yoav Segelovitz, the top detective in the President Katzav case, the department will designate its top men to investigate the Olmert-Leumi case within the coming days, when the Katzav investigation is completed.

NFC quotes a "senior Justice Ministry source" as saying that activities are underway that cannot be revealed, both because of their great sensitivity and because of the danger that certain aspects of the investigation would be put at risk.

In response to a query from Arutz-7, the Justice Ministry's spokesman responded:
"A number of weeks ago, the State Comptroller's Office submitted to the Attorney General materials regarding the tender for the sale of the controlling interest in Bank Leumi. The Attorney General submitted these materials, as is customary, to the State Prosecutor for Prosecution review and the preparation of an opinion as to how to proceed with them. At this stage, no decisions have yet been made, no criminal proceeding is underway on the issue, and the police are not involved in the matter."

Political Appointments, Too
In a separate development, an official in the State Comptroller's Office told the Knesset Control Committee Tuesday about material linking Olmert with political appointments in the Small Business Authority. Former police official Yaakov Borovsky, who oversees a campaign against government corruption, says the findings raise suspicions of criminal acts.

Knesset Control Committee Chairperson MK Esterina Tartman (Yisrael Beiteinu) strongly censured Prime Minister Olmert for not showing up to the session. She said that the timing of the session was specifically coordinated in advance with Olmert's office, and that a few days ago he said he could not appear because of an important security meeting. She said that such security meetings are usually held on Sundays, and that Olmert's behavior was "disgraceful" and a "mockery of the Knesset, the Committee, and the nation."

After it was reported that evidence against Olmert regarding his political appointments had been submitted to the Attorney General, MK Avshalom Vilan (Meretz) said to Tartman, "Now you understand why he didn't show up today."

Yoav Yitzchak has reported in the past on investigations by the State Comptroller and/or Attorney General against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Among them are the German Colony building sale, currently under investigation by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss; the Kaf-Tet B'November Street house sale; and the "expensive pens" gifts. NFC notes that other Israeli media have been ignoring most of the allegations against the Prime Minister, "thus not fulfilling their public mission."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:10 AM | Permalink

Iran's Ayatollah: Israel's Defeat is a 'New Chapter' 19:00 Oct 24, '06 / 2 Cheshvan 5767 by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz & Ezra HaLevi

Iran's Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenaei said on Tuesday that the recent Israeli war in Lebanon opened a "new chapter" in the Middle East.

Khamenaei, referred to as the "Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution" by Iran's official English-language news web site, was quoted as saying that "victory in Lebanon and Israel's defeat in the war fronts opened a new chapter in history of the Middle East."

Addressing worshipers in a sermon after the Eid El-Fitr holiday prayers at Tehran's Mossalla Prayer Grounds, the Ayatollah said, "The policy the US wished to implement in the Middle East has failed. ...Nations of Lebanon, Iran, Palestine, other Arab states of the region, of Iraq and of other Muslim nations should be watchful not to take any move to help the treacherous plans of the US and Zionists. Whatever is regarded as a success for the US and the Israeli regime is harmful to all Muslim states. Whatever pleases the aggressors and plunderers in the region, would make all regional nations unhappy and depressed."

In another message from the Iranian leadership to the Persian nation, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called on Muslims to create a baby boom to double his country's population. He said birth control policies should be scrapped, and that women should work less so they can spend more time on the "main mission" of raising children.

Ahmadinejad said, "I am against saying two children are enough. Our country has a lot of capacity. It has the capacity for many children to grow in it. It even has the capacity for 120 million people. Westerners have problems. Because their population growth is negative they are worried and fear that if our population increases, we will triumph over them."

Regarding Iran, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz stated that the nation's nuclear program represents an existential threat to Israel. "We must be prepared," Halutz told an industrial forum on Friday, because Tehran is capable of using a nuclear weapon against the Jewish State.

Meanwhile, Knesset Member Muhammad Barakeh of the Arab-Communist Hadash party declared that the government vote this week to bring Avigdor Lieberman's nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party into the coalition is a "declaration of war against Iran." Lieberman will be appointed to the newly created position of minister for coordinating Israel's strategic response, a role developed with an eye towards countering the Iranian nuclear threat.

Help us build towards bringing strong leadership to the Jewish people, so that w can save our people from a horror filled future and as we save ourselves we will also save the world.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:00 AM | Permalink

2 Qassams hit Sderot; no injuries

Rockets land in open fields; no injuries reported. Army estimates Palestinians responding to Beit Hanoun incident

Shmulik Hadad
Published: 10.23.06, 22:07

Two Qassam rockets fired from north Gaza toward Sderot Monday evening landed in open areas in the western Negev city.

No injuries were reported but the Sderot Municipality said several residents suffered from shock. Damage was caused to two vehicles.

The Color Red alert system was activated just before 9:30 p.m., and loud explosions were heard a short time later. The alert level in Sderot has been heightened due to the IDF’s activity in Gaza, and it was estimated that the Palestinians will attempt to respond to the operation in Beit Hanoun, in which seven locals were killed and 30 others were wounded.

Lt. Col. Guy Biton, commander of the Givati battalion that operated in the Strip, said, "We only hit gunmen who were firing at our forces. If we didn't, those gunmen would be launching Qassam rockets on Sderot tomorrow."

The Palestinians, however, claimed that six of those killed were family members of Atta Shanbari, a commander at the Salah al-Din Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees' military wing.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing, describing the incident as a "heinous massacre." Abbas urged the international community to intervene in order to prevent a further escalation in the situation. He called on Israel and Palestinian armed groups to halt the fighting.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:37 PM | Permalink

Poll: One-Third of PA Arabs Blame U.S. for Problems 20:10 Oct 22, '06 / 30 Tishrei 5767

(IsraelNN.com) One-third of Arabs in Judea, Samaria and Gaza blame United States foreign policy for the political problems in the Palestinian Authority (PA), according to a new poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion.

Slightly less than 28 percent said that Hamas's unwillingness to change its positions is to blame for the political crisis, while 13.9 percent blamed PA president Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Fatah faction.

More than half of the respondents oppose Hamas's refusal to accept the Quartet's conditions for receiving foreign aid, but almost one-third rate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who is PA prime minister, as the most credible personality to be charged with forming a national unity government.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 06:46 PM | Permalink

Lebanese Muslim Leader, Nasrallah Accuse U.S. of ´Sowing Strife´ 21:36 Oct 22, '06 / 30 Tishrei 5767

(IsraelNN.com) Lebanon's senior Muslim cleric and Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah have accused the United States of trying "to sow strife among Muslims in more than one region of the Islamic world." Nasrallah met with Mohamed Fadlallah, who said in his weekly sermon that Lebanon is being put under "direct international tutelage" and is becoming an international protectorate.

Nasrallah reiterated claims that Hizbullah won the war against Israel this summer, and the two leaders accused the United Nations of not doing anything to stop what they called Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 06:44 PM | Permalink

Olmert: IDF preparing for Iranian threat

After sending firm messages to Iran following Moscow visit, on Sunday prime minister tells Kadima activists IDF troops already training to face new threats

Prime Minster Ehud Olmert spoke with a group of 100 Kadima activists at his home in Jerusalem on Sunday and referred to the readiness of the Israel Defense Forces in light of the new dangers faced by Israel, saying that the troops will be trained to face any such threat.

"Our soldiers will be trained to deal with any of the dangers Israel is facing, including the Iranian threat, and we have already begun the work," he said.
at "there will leave no stone unturned, and no warehouse unchecked."

During the past week Olmert expressed his opinion several times regarding the Iranian threat. During his visit to Moscow last week, Olmert told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Israel will not accept a nuclear Iran.

“I made it clear to President Putin that the Iranian issue is at the head of Israel’s concern. We don’t have the privilege of allowing a situation that gives a country like Iran unconventional abilities,” Olmert said. "For us, when a leader of another country says he wants to destroy us, it does not sound like a haphazard statement. This is an issue we must be prepared for and prevent in any way possible."

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 06:41 PM | Permalink

Rockets Strike Western Negev Over Sabbath
21:07 Oct 21, '06 / 29 Tishrei 5767
by Ezra HaLevi

Rockets fired from Gaza struck towns and communities in the western Negev Friday and Saturday, injuring residents and disrupting life in the region. IDF anti-tunnel operations continue.

Four Kassam rockets were fired from northern Gaza toward areas in the western Negev and in the direction of the city of Ashkelon Saturday.

Friday night, as residents gathered in synagogues in the town of Sderot, two rockets struck, one of them landing in a family’s backyard, wounding one person in the chest with shrapnel. The other lightly injured two people. Others were treated for shock.

Five other rockets were fired Friday morning. One more was fired in the afternoon, landing near Ashkelon’s chemical and power facilities.

IDF Continues Anti-Tunnel Operations
The IDF continues to make its way systematically across the Philadelphi Corridor, between the Egyptian and Gazan sides of the smuggling capital of Rafiah. Additional tunnels were discovered, including one that led inside a private home. During the night, the IDF carried out an aerial attack on the building after warning residents to leave structures containing such tunnels and weapons storage facilities.

An anti-tank rocket was fired at IDF soldiers taking part in the tunnel-locating operation.

Several tunnels have also been discovered leading from Gaza toward the western Negev region surrounding the PA-controlled area that Israel withdrew from during last year’s Disengagement Plan. The tunnels were near completion, leading IDF officials to believe additional attacks are in the works.

In June, terrorists used such a tunnel to sneak into Israel and attack an IDF position near the community of Kerem Shalom from behind, killing two soldiers and capturing Corporal Gilad Shalit, who remains in Hamas hands.

Egypt Intercepts Arms Shipment
Egyptian police, under fire for inaction in preventing the large-scale smuggling on their side of the border, announced Friday that they had intercepted a large arms shipment that was on its way to Gaza.

The Egyptians arrested three Bedouins with 200 crates of assault rifles and ammunition early Friday in the village of Ballouza, 100 km from the border. They said the men confessed to planning to use underground tunnels to smuggle the weapons into Rafiah.

Counter-Terror Arrests
IDF soldiers involved in counter-terrorism operations throughout Judea and Samaria during the night arrested four wanted terrorists in Ramallah and Hevron.

In Shechem, soldiers were targeted by terrorist gunfire. There were no reports of injuries to soldiers, however.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 07:23 PM | Permalink

On the Palestinians: ‘In the end they’ll find consensus – us’

The IDF chief also addressed the threats and missions Israel and the army are faced with.

Regarding the Palestinian arena, he noted: “The solution to the Palestinian issue seems distant. The Palestinian system is in a situation of anarchy, especially in Gaza, as opposed to in Judea and Samara, where we are physically present. In Gaza there is anarchy.

There is not ‘king’ to take the law into his hands and make order.

"There are internal wars that find an escape route through us. In the end, they won’t fight a civil war but will settle on a consensus – and that is us,” he warned.

Halutz reiterated warnings that the Palestinians were smuggling large quantities of weapons into Gaza. He said Palestinians were linked to a smuggling chain that goes from Damascus and Tehran all the way to the Gaza Strip.

As for Syria, Halutz said he considered Syrian President Bashar Assad as having his “right foot in the hot water of a war and his left foot is in the cold water of peace.”

“We need to be alert to the fact that the capabilities Syria is building are a bad dream compared to what we saw with Hizbullah. They have rockets systems that could hit the home front, if there is a confrontation. They have an army which we tend to belittle, but I suggest to take it seriously. The Syrians understand and harbor part of the terror operating against Israel – they stand behind Hizbullah, Hamas and the Jihad.”

Halutz also addressed the Iranian threat and the danger ambushing Israel. In Iran there exists “the combination of fanatic ideology and the strong will to attain nuclear weapons. And their flag is the desire to destroy Israel. We can’t remain indifferent; we need to look at things from a temporal perspective. We need to be ready for this insane possibility. This is a real, unequivocal threat, and they’ve already declared their intentions.”

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 10:26 AM | Permalink

Haniyeh escapes convoy attack

Palestinian security officials: Disgruntled relatives of Fatah activist killed in recent internecine fighting with Hamas fire at Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's motorcade as it drives through Gaza, but Hamas leader's armored Mercedes car not hit, no injuries reported

Palestinian security officials said disgruntled relatives of a Fatah activist killed in recent internecine fighting with Hamas fired at Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's motorcade as it drove through Gaza on Friday, but the Hamas leader's armored Mercedes car was not hit and nobody was injured.

Officials in Haniyeh's office said the attack did not appear to be an assassination attempt, but it comes at a time of growing tensions between rival Palestinian factions that have sparked fears of civil war.

"The prime minister is alright and he is out of the area which witnessed the gunfire. His car was not attacked," one official in Haniyeh's office said.

Officials said gunfire hit vehicles of a Hamas-led police force that was behind cars carrying Haniyeh, who had just finished a speech at a mosque. One of the vehicles was torched. Hamas security officials returned fire, officials said.

During his speech, Haniyeh said he would reject any moves by President Mahmoud Abbas to oust his government.

Abbas has hinted he might fire the Hamas government after efforts to form a unity cabinet foundered over the Islamist movement's refusal to soften its stance toward Israel.

The incident occurred less than 12 hours after the rival factions reached an agreement through the mediation of Egypt’s permanent security delegation to Gaza which calls for an immediate cessation of violence and an end to incitement and mudslinging on Palestinian media outlets.

5. General Haniyeh

This could have been a tragedy, this man has given so much to the world with his knowledge and education, his thoughtfulness and vision for the future for his people, the jobs he has created, the advancements in science and technology and humanity, his gift of peace to his people and a brighter future, a true visionary, this man who surely will win a nobel prize one day, ................thank goodness he was not harmed, we may have taken a giant leap backward if he was hurt.......
ahamed ahabal , gaza (10.20.06)

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 10:20 AM | Permalink

Al-Zahar: Israel an abscess on Middle East

During Hamas rally in Khan Younis, Palestinian foreign minister says Israel has no historical, religious or cultural justification, and Hamas will never recognize Zionist state

Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar said Friday that Israel was “an abscess” on the Middle East, and that Hamas would never recognize it.

Al-Zahar made the comments to a rally of Hamas supporters in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.

According to al-Zahar, “Israel is an abscess supplanted onto our lands. It has no historical, religious or cultural justification, and we will never have relations with this ‘abscess’. We will never recognize Israel, and that is a final decision and is not up for negotiation.”

Al-Zahar’s comments join a series of remarks against Israel made recently by Hamas leaders. About one month ago, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh made a speech to demonstrators in Gaza in which he declared that he did not intend to accept the conditions set by the Quartet to recognize Israel, accept previous agreements and disarm.

Hamas’ refusal to recognize Israel in effect brought about thefailure of negotiations to establish a unity government between Fatah and Hamas. Fatah members asserted that Hamas must understand that the conditions set by the international community require the group to chance its tactics. Fatah blamed Hamas’ belligerent comments on Israel for torpedoing efforts towards a unity government.

In light of the tense situation in the PA, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in Ramallah with members of the Central Election Committee. Abbas discussed the possibility of early elections with the committee.

In the past few days Hamas members have continued to threaten that if Abbas dismantles the parliament, negating the results of democratic elections, would be considered a coup against the government .

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 10:19 AM | Permalink

Twenty Handed Administrative Orders Without Trial 19:03 Oct 19, '06 / 27 Tishrei 5767 by Hillel Fendel

A protest will be held Sunday outside the IDF Central District Commander's home, against the detention orders given to 20 Yesha residents - including one who has no place to go and has been jailed.

Over the past few weeks and months, 20 activist Jews from various outpost neighborhoods in Judea and Samaria have received orders keeping them out of the entire region. The orders are for between three and six months. Some of the men have families with up to five children, and some have no relatives outside Yesha.

The expelled residents and many of their neighbors feel that the government is merely trying to pave the way for the destruction of the outposts and neighborhoods in which they live.

(See below for details of the demonstration.)

Among the 20 is Elad Keller, aged 19, who lives in Maon with his parents. He was violently arrested this week - receiving bruises on his neck and above his eye - after he refused to adhere to the orders throwing him out of his home.

As Elad explained in court today, "A group of policemen came into my house one morning suddenly, telling me I have to leave Yesha. I asked why, and they said, 'Because.'"

"Two days ago," Elad continued, "I was in court, and I heard the judge give the decision that can be released if I deposit 2,500 shekels. But I have no place to go! I did not even try to raise the money, because my family lives in Yesha and I have no place outside Yesha to live! If the other alternative is for me to sit in jail, then I'll sit in jail."

Keller added, "I would like someone to explain to me why I'm considered dangerous... Is this a democratic state?" The Jerusalem Magistrates Court judge said he had no choice but to send Elad back to jail. He will be brought before a judge again on Sunday.

The Honenu Civil Rights organization has represented him in court until now, but Elad said, "It's no longer a judicial issue; all the points have been made," and says he will speak on his own behalf from now on. Honenu representatives continue to accompany him to court, encouraging and advising him.

Among the others who have been served with unexplained administrative orders keeping them out of their homes are fathers of five children, and more. The following list is based on one that is currently making the rounds of the internet and email, but with necessary corrections:

Distanced for a full year from Judea and Samaria, four months ago:
* Boaz Albert, married + 5, a resident of Hilltop 725 in Yitzhar. With his family living in Yitzhar, he has not yet found a permanent solution.
* Yehoyariv Meguri, married + 1, a resident of the young Ronen neighborhood in Brachah. Currently living in the north.

Distanced for a half year from Judea and Samaria: * Neriah Ofan, married + 5, a resident of the Lehavah outpost (where live ten families) in Yitzhar. Currently in Jerusalem.
* Eran Schwartz , married + 1, a resident of the Lehava outpost in Yitzhar. Currently in Jerusalem.
* Noam Mordechai, a student at Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai. He has no place to go, as his parents live in the Yesha town of Beit El. Recently became engaged.
* Elyashiv Gelbard, single, a student at Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai. He is under house arrest in Elon Moreh.
* Meir Brettler, married + 1, living in Havat Yishuv HaDaat, also known as the Bayit HaAdom (Red House).
* Baruch Sariel, 20, from Elon Moreh. In a contradictory situation: He is restricted to Elon Moreh in the Shomron, and is also distanced from Judea and Samaria.
* Yehudah Meir, single, a student at Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai, became engaged two days ago to Baruch Marzel's daughter.
* Uriah Cohen, single, a student at Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai. He has no place to go, as his parents live in the Yesha town of Karnei Shomron.
* Raz Hen, single, a student at Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai.
* Hillel Shalom, single, a student of Yeshivat Od Yosef Chai. He has no place to go, as his parents live in the Yesha town of Elon Moreh.
* Yehudah Goldberg, 18, of Tapuah. The police tried to arrest him on Tuesday in Tapuah.
* Chanan Herbst, a newlywed from Yitzhar, currently in Jerusalem.
* Ariel Gruner, married + 1, under house arrest in the Jordan Valley community of Rotem for another six weeks.

Distanced for three months from Judea and Samaria - they returned home this week:
* Shlomo Meir, married + 1, a resident of the Ronen hilltop in Brachah
* Idan Melul, single, a student in the Od Yosef Chai yeshivah

In addition, Hanokh Albert, married + 3, a resident of Ahiyah near Shilo, was under extended house arrest at the home of his wife’s parents. He returned home this week.

Honenu chairman Shmuel Medad said that three men were arrested on Sunday on charges of having set fire to an army officer's car after the Amona violence - and were released three days later without any restrictions. "This means that they were arrested without any evidence, just for nothing," Medad said bitterly. The three are a father of five and two newlyweds.

Medad said that the public can have a major say in having these orders revoked:

"If everyone would send a fax to Gen. Naveh, simply asking him to revoke the orders he signed, this could be very effective. In addition, certainly Prime Minister Olmert and Defense Minister Peretz are also involved in the decision. If people would also like to fax us a copy for publication - please specify whether you wish your name to be used - this could be of great help as well."

Fax numbers:
Gen. Naveh: 08-8680240; from abroad, the number is country code 972, followed by 8868-0240
Defense Minister Peretz: 02-649-6545, or 972-2649-6545
Prime Minister Olmert: 02-670-5475, or 972-2670-5475
The Honenu fax number is 0508-966-047, or 972-508-966-047 from abroad.

The protest on Sunday will be held at 6 PM, on Rabbi Yehudah Halevi Street in Givat Shmuel (near Bar Ilan University), opposite the home of Gen. Ya'ir Naveh, who signed the orders. The rally is being organized by many groups, including the Land of Israel Loyalists, Land of Israel Youth, Komemiyut, Mateh HaTzafon, Women in Green, Meginei Eretz, Gamla Will Not Fall Again - and the families of the expelled citizens.

Another young man arrested in connection with the events at Amona is Aryeh Tessler, 18, from Jerusalem. A student at the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva, he is currently in the Shikmah Prison in Ashkelon. Friends say he would appreciate letters of support. Aryeh's current address:
Aryeh Tessler
Shikmah Prison
P.O.B. 17
Ezor Taasiyah Tzfoni, Ashkelon.

In an effort to please the puppet masters in Washington D.C. the cowards, scum and traitors that run Israel are once again arresting and placing in jail Jews without charges.

Why are our leader’s cowards, because they no longer have the courage to fight to keep Israel strong?

Since they are corrupt and abuse their offices, to push themselves sexually on Jewish women in their offices such as the former Justice Minister and the President and since 10% of the Knesset is under investigation for corruption according to Fox News and that they have done nothing to keep more and more Israeli's from sliding into poverty they are scum.

Lastly for 2,000 of have prayed to return to our land, the Land of the Bible, Hevron, Bet lhem, Schem, Shilo and the current leaders in Israel either have giving these lands to our enemy or will do so in the future.

Where is the leadership that speaks of victory over our enemies?

Is it Bibi, no he gave up Hevron?

Where are the leaders that have faith in G-D and are willing to stand tall?

Not in the Knesset that is for sure.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:32 AM | Permalink

Gaza: 13 tunnels unearthed

IDF discovers 13 tunnels in southern Gaza in 300 meter stretch. Local commander warns: Dozens of tunnels are in the area used to smuggle weapons to Palestinians

Since Tuesday, IDF forces have uncovered 13 tunnels under the Philadelphi Route used to smuggle weapons into Gaza from Egypt in a major operation aimed at foiling the illegal arming of terrorist forces in Gaza.

The tunnels were all discovered under a 300 meter stretch of the border route separating Gaza and Egypt, and are all similar to the tunnels the IDF has seen when Israel was still in control of the border.

Lt. Colonel Yossi Drory of the Givati infantry brigade said that most of the tunnels are operational and are designed to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Gaza.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 11:28 AM | Permalink

Congresswoman: Safeguard US aid to Abbas

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., chairwoman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East, says America must make sure weapons, financial aid reportedly being given to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Force 17 personal security detail do not wind up in possession of Palestinian terror groups

The United States must provide safeguards to ensure American weapons and financial aid reportedly being given to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Force 17 personal security detail do not wind up in the possession of Palestinian terror groups, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., chairwoman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East, told WND.

Ros-Lehtinen was responding to a WND exclusive interview last week in which Abu Yousuf, a Force 17 officer, said weapons and aid the US may provide to his group could be shared with the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror organization, the declared "military wing" of Fatah.

Abu Yousuf, who also serves in the Al Aqsa Brigades, hinted previous American assault rifles sent by the US to Force 17 in May were used in a spate of shooting attacks against Israeli civilians.

"We cannot be blinded to the fact that in this case, there is a propensity that US assistance could, whether deliberately or inadvertently, find its way to extremist groups," said Ros-Lehtinen.

"With the representation within the ranks of Abbas' Fatah party of militants with ties to the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, there is a potential that our own weapons could later be used against our ally, Israel and potentially against US priorities in the region.

"As such, I am committed to working with my colleagues to ensure that, if such assistance is provided, proper safeguards and monitoring are in place to avoid diversion of weapons and resources into the hands of Islamist jihadists operating in the Palestinian territories or working with Hamas and other entities classified by the US as foreign terrorist organizations," Ros-Lehtinen said

While I would like to thank the Congresswoman for a job well done I can’t, she is just not informed enough to understand who and what Force 17 is. The information I will post below was information I obtained by doing a Google search on Force 17 and not from any Israeli sources that may or may not be classified.

In other words the information below is all open source information that is available for every one to see if they will to learn who and what Force 17 is.

Force 17 Terrorist Mohand Said Muniyer Diriya
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
March 5, 2002

On Tuesday evening (March 5) in Ramallah, the IDF targeted Force 17
terrorist Mohand Said Muniyer Diriya. Diriyah, 22, was from Akraba
(Bekaot), and was a member of Force 17 in Ramallah and Tanzim leader
Marwan Barghouti's operations officer. Another cell member, Fawzi
Hamdi Mustafa Maher, 27, from Ramallah, was killed along with
Diriyah, as was Oman Kaidan, another Force 17 member.

Diriya became involved in terrorist activity at the end of October
2000. He was a member of a Ramallah-based terrorist cell along with
other Force 17 members. The cell was active since September 2000 and
perpetrated a number of murderous terrorist attacks against Israeli
citizens in Jerusalem, the Ramallah area and the northern West Bank.
Diriya personally took part in the following terror attacks, many
along with Fawzi Maher:

1. 30.10.2000 - A shooting attack in the branch of the National
Insurance building in eastern Jerusalem. A security guard,
Eish-Kodesh Gilmore, 25, from Mevoh Modi'in was killed, and another
guard was wounded.

2. 13.11.2000 - A shooting attack from a passing car on a bus of
soldiers near the community of Ofra. In the attack, Elad Wallenstein,
18 from Ashkelon and Amit Zaneh, 19 from Netanya were killed and
other soldiers were wounded. Immediately afterwards, there was a
shooting attack from a passing car near the community of Ofra in
which Sarah Leisha from Neve Tzuf was killed.

3. 24.11.2000 - A shooting attack in an ambush on Tapuah Junction. In
the attack, Ariel Jeraffi, 42 from Petah Tikva was killed.

4. 1.12.2000 - A shooting attack on a bus on its way to Shilo at the
French Hill junction.

5. 12.12.2000 - A shooting attack on an Israeli vehicle at Bekaot
junction; one person was wounded lightly in the head.

6. 17.12.2000 - A shooting attack on an Israeli vehicle at Yabed
junction, one person was wounded lightly in the head and hand.

7. 21.12.2000 - A shooting attack on route 433 Modi'in-Jerusalem
road, in which Eliahu Cohen, 30 from Modi'in, was killed.

8. 24.12.2000 - A shooting attack on an Israeli vehicle traveling on
the Atarot bypass road from the direction of Givat Ze'ev.

9. 31.12.2000 - A shooting attack on the Ramallah bypass road south
of Ofra. In the attack, Talia and Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane were killed.

10. 27.2.2001 - A shooting attack on the Givat Ze'ev-Atarot route. In
the attack, an Israeli girl was seriously wounded and two others were
wounded lightly.

11. March 2001 - Diriya placed a roadside bomb adjacent to the Surda
junction. The bomb was activated at an IDF patrol.

12. 12.6.2001 - Diriya dispatched the cell that carried out the
attack on the Ma'aleh Adumim road in which a Greek-Orthodox monk was
killed.

Following these incidents, Diriya continued in his terrorist
activities, and was promoted to become Marwan Barghouti's operations
officer. In this capacity, he directed and initiated the following
terrorist operations, in which Fawzi Maher also participated:

1. The murder of an Israeli citizen on the Atarot-Givat Ze'ev road in
January 2002.

2. The dispatching of a female suicide bomber near the Maccabim
checkpoint on February 27, 2002.

The following information is from Wikipedia:

Force 17 is an elite VIP protection unit of the Palestinian Fatah movement and later of the Office of the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority. It is also known to be a terrorist organization.

Force 17 was formed in the early 1970s by senior Fatah militant Ali Hassan Salameh (Abu Hassan)

Unlike various units formed within Fatah previously the premise of Force 17 was assasinating Israeli political figures. The importance of such a unit was made clear by the humiliating losses suffered by the PLO leadership in Operation Spring of Youth (1973). Force 17 was used by Fatah to protect PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, his top lieutenants, as well as diplomats of the organization. They accompanied Arafat during his 1974 address to the United Nations in New York City.

As we can now see Force 17 was started with the idea of assassinating Israeli political leaders and that as noted above are still in the business of terrorism. So why is America giving these people weapons when we know the last time America gave Force 17 weapons within weeks these weapons were used to murder innocent Israeli civilians.

Lastly the man behind the bombing of the Marines in Beirut and the hijacking of a TWA aircraft that resulted in the death of an U.S. Navy sailor who is on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorist, one Immad Mugniyeh. Started out with Force 17 before he switched over to Hizbullah to continue his reign of terror.

Posted by Yoni Tidi at 01:19 PM | Permalink