Day after political journalist Thomas Friedman slams Israel for authorizing east Jerusalem building, economic newspaper sides with Israel, criticizes Obama's foreign policy: 'When it comes to Israel, no trouble raising pitch'
Ynet

US newspapers also go head-to-head regarding the crisis between the US and Israel over the cabinet's approval of 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem during US Vice President Joe Biden's visit. Leading political journalists in the US fall on opposite sides of the fence in their opinions of the affair.

The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed Monday scathingly criticizing well-known New York Times' journalist Thomas Friedman's assault on Israel published Sunday.

Friedman wrote that upon receiving notice of the east Jerusalem construction, Biden "should have snapped his notebook shut, gotten right back on Air Force Two, flown home and left the following scribbled note behind: 'Message from America to the Israeli government: Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And right now, you’re driving drunk. You think you can embarrass your only true ally in the world, to satisfy some domestic political need, with no consequences? You have lost total contact with reality. Call us when you’re serious.'"

"Israel needs a wake-up call. Continuing to build settlements in the West Bank, and even housing in disputed east Jerusalem, is sheer madness… Israel’s planned housing expansion now raises questions about whether Israel will ever be willing to concede a Palestinian capital in Arab neighborhoods of East Jerusalem — a big problem," wrote Friedman.

Our friends are being disrespected

In response, the Wall Street Journal op-ed wrote that the Obama administration "has endorsed 'healthy relations' between Iran and Syria, mildly rebuked Syrian President Bashar Assad for accusing the US of 'colonialism,' and publicly apologized to Muammar Gadhafi for treating him with less than appropriate deference after the Libyan called for 'a jihad' against Switzerland."

However, when it comes to Israel, "the administration has no trouble rising to a high pitch of public indignation," wrote the article entitled "Obama's Turn Against Israel."

"Repeated apologies from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prevented Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—at what White House sources ostentatiously said was the personal direction of President Obama—from calling the announcement 'an insult to the United States,'" stated the opinion piece.

"Since nobody is defending the Israeli announcement, least of all an obviously embarrassed Israeli government, it's difficult to see why the Administration has chosen this occasion to spark a full-blown diplomatic crisis with its most reliable Middle Eastern ally… If Israel senses that the Administration is looking for any pretext to blow up relations, it will care much less how the US might react to a military strike on Iran.'

The financial newspaper took an opposite stance on West Bank settlements than that adopted by the Obama administration: "As for the West Bank settlements, it is increasingly difficult to argue that their existence is the key obstacle to a peace deal with the Palestinians. Israel withdrew all of its settlements from Gaza in 2005, only to see the Strip transform itself into a Hamas statelet and a base for continuous rocket fire against Israeli civilians."

"This episode does fit Mr. Obama's foreign policy pattern to date: Our enemies get courted; our friends get the squeeze. It has happened to Poland, the Czech Republic, Honduras and Colombia. Now it's Israel's turn," quipped the Wall Street Journal.

The Strategic Affairs Ministry never ceases to bring us peace of mind. How
nice to know that someone in Israel is monitoring Palestinian incitement,
ensuring they "create an environment of peace" and striving "to push them
toward a culture of peace". After all, what do we care about construction in
Jerusalem, Efrat or Ramat Shlomo, or about checkpoints, arrests, home
demolitions, the army's "neighbor policy," bone breaking, land appropriation
or the blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza?

All of these are minor issues compared with naming a square near Ramallah
after Dalal Mughrabi, a Palestinian woman who took part in a bloody terror
attack three decades ago, calling for confronting the occupation or
referring to suicide bombers as martyrs. These are the real threats to
peace. After all, according to the road map, the Palestinians are
responsible for ending incitement. After we have meticulously fulfilled
everything the road map required of us and completely frozen settlement
construction, it's now their turn.

Yossi Kuperwasser, the deputy director of the Strategic Affairs Ministry and
a generally bright man who once headed the Military Intelligence research
department, explains that there are several categories of incitement. These
include encouraging others to commit terrorist acts, demonizing Israel and
creating an atmosphere of hostility toward it. The fact that the occupation
persists in the Palestinian territories, and that any nation under
occupation will do virtually anything to rid itself of this arrangement, is
apparently missing from his consciousness.

In his view, when Palestinians get up in the morning they begin cursing
Israel and plotting its erasure from the map and school textbooks through
the noble acts of their martyrs. The members of the team tasked with
monitoring incitement disingenuously assert that there is no difference
between scrutinizing this kind of incitement and monitoring anti-Israel
rhetoric emanating from Europe or the United States. The difference,
however, is profound: Israel hasn't occupied France or Cleveland, or
destroyed a single home there.

This is just one more piece of evidence how out of touch the left is.

These leftist idiots have forgotten that we are at war with the Palestinians and this thinking has infected everything in Israel. The government, the IDF have all forgotten that we are at war with the Palestinians.

1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:

"We look at this morning's newspapers and read all kinds of comments and
analyses. First of all, I suggest that we not get carried away - and that we
calm down. We know how to deal with these situations - with equanimity,
responsibly and seriously. There was a regrettable incident, that was done
in all innocence and was hurtful, and which certainly should not have
occurred. We appointed a team of directors-general to examine the chain of
events and to ensure procedures that will prevent such occurrences in the
future. Beyond this, I think we should suffice with the foregoing.

I also asked the ministers to do so at this time. And I do not think that
there is any reason to add any more. But it is of utmost importance to
understand that the State of Israel and the US have common interests and we
will act according to the vital interests of the State of Israel. These
interests also obligate us to decide on changing the situation within the
country."

2. Pursuant to Article 23 of the 1959 State Service Law (Appointments), the
Cabinet approved the appointment of Hagai Tannenbaum-Erez as defense
establishment comptroller, effective 1 April 2010, in place of Yosef
Beinhoren, who is concluding his duties.

3. The Cabinet approved the draft 2010 Planning and Construction Law, which
had been approved by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Thursday,
11 March 2010, decided to submit to the Knesset tomorrow (Monday), 15 March
2010.

Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser: The reform will shorten
the wearying bureaucratic process that Israelis and contractors must
currently undergo and will constitute an internal lever for economic growth.

4. The Cabinet instructed the Defense Ministry to build, maintain and
operate a barrier along Israel's international border with Egypt as a means
that has proven its effectiveness in preventing terrorist activity; the
smuggling of ordnance, people and drugs; and infiltration. The construction
of the barrier will conclude by mid-2013.

Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser:

The Cabinet approved the plan for constructing a barrier along Israel's
southwestern border, including the budgetary allocation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that, "There is broad agreement that
we need to protect the State of Israel and its future as a Jewish and
democratic state. We cannot allow the current situation to continue. The
quantity of infiltrators will only increase, also given the economic
attractiveness of the State of Israel. This has security and demographic
consequences vis-à-vis illegal entry into the labor market, drug
trafficking, human trafficking, etc. Building a fence is a great and
important national necessity, as we look forward toward the future of the
State of Israel."

The plan is designed to prevent hostile terrorist activity, drug smuggling,
the smuggling of goods, illegal infiltrations and human trafficking.

It has been agreed that the barrier will consist of a fence and other means,
including warning measures. It will be built in accordance with the outline
of the ground in the various sectors. After it is completed, consideration
will be given to the possibility of building fences along other sections of
the barrier and even along the entire 240-kilometer length of the border
(from Kerem Shalom to Eilat). NIS 1.35 billion will be allocated to the
construction of the barrier in 2010-2013. Financing will be allocated
equally from the Defense Ministry budget and a supplementary budget to be
provided by the Finance Ministry.

5. In continuation of Article 11 of its 25 January 2009 decision and Article
2 of its 18 October 2009 decision, the Cabinet approved a plan to "bring
minds to Israel."

Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser:

The Cabinet approved a national plan to bring back Israeli scientists and
technicians who live abroad. The plan will create a center for excellence
that will emphasize the bringing in of outstanding researchers from abroad.
The Government views the bringing in from overseas of outstanding Israeli
and Jewish scientists and technicians as an important policy tool in raising
the level of excellence at institutions of higher learning and in
strengthening the supply of skilled workers in the economy. This is - inter
alia - in order to increase the State of Israel's potential for lasting
growth.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that, "We have an opportunity to
bring in scientists and technicians due to the relatively good situation of
the State of Israel and the less beneficial situation in other places. This
is an important core of know-how for growth and advancement in Israel and we
are working together with Education Minister Gideon Saar, Finance Minister
Yuval Steinitz, and Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver. I think that
this is a very important plan - to bring Israelis back to the country."

6. The Cabinet discussed formulation of a national plan to reduce the
emission of greenhouse gases in Israel.

7. The Cabinet discussed the continued development of the community of
Harish.

8. The Cabinet decided to continue financial support for administration and
maintenance of temporary housing sites for Gaza Strip and northern Samaria
evacuees in 2010.

Rachel Corrie was injured as a result of her prohibited action, for which
she is solely responsible, due to her considerable negligence and lack of
caution. She took part in hostile and violent illegal activity, and
intentionally and willingly put herself at risk, while she was present in
the Gaza Strip in general, and along the Philadelphi Corridor, in
particular, which were combat zones at the time and had been declared a
'closed military zone'.

STATEMENT REGARDING CIVIL SUIT IN THE MATTER OF RACHEL CORRIE
(Communicated by the State Prosecutor's Office, Tel Aviv District)

Proceedings regarding the suit submitted by the parents of Rachel Corrie -
an activist affiliated with the pro-Palestinian extremist International
Solidarity Movement (ISM), who was killed on 16.3.03, by an IDF bulldozer
along the Philadelphi Corridor - against the Defense Ministry began
yesterday (Wednesday), 10.3.10, in the Haifa District Court.

The State Prosecutor's Office (Tel Aviv District) is representing the
Defense Ministry.

In the defense statement submitted by the State Prosecutor's Office (Tel
Aviv District) to the Haifa District Court, the state requests that the suit
be dismissed outright. The driver of the bulldozer and his commander had a
very limited field of vision, such that they had no possibility of seeing
Ms. Corrie. Due to the dangerous nature of the Philadelphi Corridor and the
acts of terrorism that were being perpetrated on a daily basis against IDF
soldiers, there was a complete ban on leaving armored vehicles and,
therefore, there was no direction from outside the bulldozer.

It should be pointed out that the IDF thoroughly investigated the incident,
including a Military Police investigation, in the framework of which
considerable evidence was collected. The bulldozer driver and commander
were investigated by the Military Police and the unequivocal conclusion was
reached that they did not see - and could not have seen - Ms. Corrie due to
the bulldozer's limited field of vision. They were tested by polygraph and
found to be telling the truth.

The state further claims that the action described in the suit was "a
military action in the course of war" according to all criteria and that the
state is, therefore, exempt from responsibility for it. The security forces
were compelled to carry out 'leveling' work against explosive devices that
posed a tangible danger to life and limb, while exercising maximum caution
and sagacity and without the ability to foresee harming anyone.

Rachel Corrie was injured as a result of her prohibited action, for which
she is solely responsible, due to her considerable negligence and lack of
caution. She took part in hostile and violent illegal activity, and
intentionally and willingly put herself at risk, while she was present in
the Gaza Strip in general, and along the Philadelphi Corridor, in
particular, which were combat zones at the time and had been declared a
'closed military zone'.

Background

In light of then recurrent terrorist attacks along the Philadelphi Corridor,
in the framework of counter-terrorist operations, IDF D9R-class bulldozers
were active in leveling the ground in order to expose terrorists' potential
hiding places adjacent to the Corridor and to hit terrorist organizations'
ability to plant bombs.

On 16.3.03, at 14:00, the bulldozers began operations in the Rafah area.
Approximately one hour later, ISM activists arrived and began to disrupt the
IDF's work. The IDF tried to disperse the demonstration with loudspeakers
and demonstration dispersal measures such as: Stun grenades, tear gas and
even firing warning shots near the demonstrators. IDF attempts to disperse
the demonstration were unsuccessful and did not lead to the dispersal of the
demonstrators; work continued despite repeated and recurrent disruptions.
The decision to continue the work, despite the presence of civilians on
site, was made due to the vital nature of the mission and given the tangible
and future danger to soldiers' lives in the sector due to snipers if the
leveling work had been interrupted.

At around 17:00, Rachel Corrie began to move toward one of the two
bulldozers that were active in the area. The bulldozer, which was operating
according to procedure, moved forward and piled up construction waste and
dirt with its blade. When the bulldozer was approximately 20 meters away
from her, Ms. Corrie sat down on the ground in the belief or assessment that
the bulldozer would stop when it reached close to her. The bulldozer
continued to move forward and piled up dirt in front of it. When the dirt
pile reached the spot where she was sitting, Ms. Corrie began to climb up
the pile, apparently found it difficult to keep her balance and decided to
climb back down. Her leg caught on something and she fell and lay at the
foot of the pile. At the same time, the bulldozer continued to move very
slowly, directed from inside (according to procedure) in the direction of
the pile, which began to cover Ms. Corrie. Her activist colleagues reached
the bulldozer and began to gesture and shout to those operating the
bulldozer to stop. The operator of the bulldozer and his commander stopped
immediately upon seeing the young people, raised the blade and backed up.
After the bulldozer had backed up, Ms. Corrie was uncovered. She was lying
on the ground, still alive. She spoke to her colleagues and was evacuated
to hospital a few minutes later.

For further details, please contact Irit Kalman, at the State Prosecutor's
Office (Tel Aviv District), at iritka@justice.gov.il.

Security forces arrest Maher Odeh, a Hamas official in Ramallah in charge of cell that carried out terror attacks at Zerifin junction hitchhikers' station, Café Hillel in Jerusalem. In total, military wing under Odeh's command responsible for death of 70 Israelis during second intifada

Hanan Greenberg
Published: 03.14.10, 08:24 / Israel News

A joint force of IDF, Shin Beit and police officers arrested Saturday night Maher Odeh, a Hamas operative who headed a West Bank cell that was responsible for a number of deadly terror attacks including the Café Hillel bombing in Jerusalem and the suicide attack at the Zerifin junction hitchhikers' station in 2003.

Odeh has been wanted by Israel since the 1990s, and is considered one of the commanders of Hamas' military wing in Ramallah – an organization that killed 70 Israelis during the second intifada.

The 47-year-old father of four, who was born in Ein-Yabrud, northeast of Ramallah, is one of the founders of the Hamas movement in the West Bank city. He began operating in the early 1990s, when he formed the Hamas cell in his village, which was responsible for kidnapping and interrogating Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel, and seeking weapons to use in terror attacks.

In 1998, he was questioned by the Palestinians security forces and spent several months in a Palestinian prison. After his release he became one of the organization's most wanted men.

During the al-Aqsa Intifada, intelligence was obtained on Odeh revealing that he commanded and funded the Hamas cell in the West Bank village of Beit Liqya, which was responsible for the death of 10 Israelis. The cell was behind the bombing at the old bus station in Tel Aviv.

His arrest was made possible following precise intelligence obtained by the Shin Beit, and constitutes the final stage in efforts against the Hamas cell that operated in Ramallah during the second intifada and carried out several attacks leaving dozens of Israelis dead.

Since Israel refuses to give the death penalty to terrorist, I have mixed emotions.

But the way the chair bound commandos in the IDF prosecutors office are running around throwing Israeli soldiers in jail. It is better we just arrested Odeh as part of the IDF catch and release program.

You can listen to the show by going to the MERF web page
http://www.middleeastradioforum.org/

Israeli POW Nissim Salem: Red Cross told me not to complain about torture
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 11 March 2010

In a live telephone interview this evening on Channel 2 news, Nissim Salem,
who had been captured in Bhamdoun on 4 September 1982 (Peace for Galilee
War), by the PFLP, said that when he told Red Cross officials that he was
being tortured the officials warned him not to complain. The Red Cross
officials explained that if they reported back his complaint that he was
tortured that they would never be able to visit him again.

Nissim Salem was released on 20 May 1985, as part of an exchange referred
to as the "Jibril Deal".

UN humanitarian chief warns of impending disaster if Egypt succeeds in blocking Gaza smuggling tunnels, says blockade is not helping Israel's security or weakening Hamas

Associated Press
Published: 03.12.10, 07:59 / Israel News

The UN humanitarian chief warned Thursday of an impending humanitarian disaster if Egypt succeeds in blocking the tunnels that pass under it's border into the Gaza Strip.

John Holmes said that as bad as the hundreds of tunnels that bypass the Israeli blockade are, Gaza would have difficult surviving if Egypt succeeds in blocking them because they are a conduit for badly-needed food, medicine and commercial goods.

He repeated calls for Israel to end its blockade of the Palestinian territory.

"If those tunnels were blocked, however undesirable they may be, and however undesirable the effect they're having on the Gazan society and Gazan economy, the situation without the tunnels would be completely unsustainable," said Holmes, who visited the region for four days earlier this month.

The tunnels are also widely believed to be used for smuggling cash and weapons to Hamas, which wrested control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007 and refuses to recognize Israel. The Israeli government has repeatedly tried to shut the tunnels down.

What an idiot.

He has proven he is on the side of the terrorist and anti Israel.

Indictment charges Givati soldiers who fought in Operation Cast Lead with overstepping authority, conduct unbecoming on suspicion they asked nine-year old Palestinian to open bags thought to contain explosives
Hanan Greenberg

A second indictment has been filed against soldiers who fought in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, this time accusing two Givati Brigade troops of asking a nine-year old Palestinian boy to open bags suspected to contain explosives.

The indictment is the first to make accusations regarding conduct having to do with combat. The previous indictment charged two soldiers, also from Givati, with looting of a credit card.

But an army official told Ynet Thursday that these indictments were only the first two in a series of charges regarding infractions committed during Cast Lead. "Soon additional, more serious indictments will be filed," he said.

The two staff sergeants are being charged with overstepping authority and conduct unbecoming, and are set to stand trial at the Southern Command's military court. The charges are considered light and do not carry a criminal record. The maximum penalty for overstepping authority is one year in prison.

Military police began investigating the incident in June of 2009, before the Goldstone Report was published. Officials say the investigation, like a number of others, is still ongoing.

More than 30 probes have been launched against soldiers since the Gaza offensive ended in the beginning of 2009. Half of the cases have been closed by the military prosecution, while the other half are nearing their termination and await a decision on whether indictments will be filed.

A special team led by Lieutenant-Colonel Gil Maoz, who heads the military police's southern district, is conducting investigations into claims regarding unlawful fire, injuring and endangering of innocent civilians, and disobeying orders.

Dozens of officers and soldiers have been summoned to give testimony or receive warning at the military police's headquarters in recent months, some of them already having been discharged from the IDF.

A military official said the testimonies had revealed other infractions, some committed by commanders. "In places where the incident exceeds the boundaries of reason we will file indictments," he said.

"But we can clearly state that we are talking about a number of specific incidents, some of them serious and others not, and not about lawlessness in relation to war crimes and the like."

The official added that he understood the complaints of many soldiers who said they felt humiliated by the interrogations and the fact that their commanders did not provide support, but that the probes had to be carried out.

Dozens of Palestinians were also summoned to the Erez crossing, where they provided testimonies as well.

'No justification for trial'

Colonel (Res) Ilan Katz, former deputy judge advocate general, criticized the IDF for the accumulating indictments against soldiers. "There is nothing in a mistake of judgment committed by these two soldiers that justifies placing them on trial, especially not a criminal trial that carries a criminal record. This is not a case of abuse or looting," he said.

"What occurred in Gaza was a real war and no less. Though no tanks or smart devices were used against us the soldiers were still in mortal danger."

Katz believes the Goldstone report is to blame for the sudden peak in charges, which he claims harm soldiers' ability to fight. He also accused the army of poor public relations.

"I believe the army failed to represent a correct picture of most of the incidents in which civilians were injured because it did not lead a public relations campaign to show that in these incidents soldiers were in danger of losing their lives," he said.

"Now, in order to satisfy those who condemn the operation and its outcomes they have found scapegoats in the forms of two soldiers in obligatory service who at best used mistaken judgment, even if the results could have been serious."

Last year Ynet revealed that two soldiers who fought in Gaza were arrested on suspicion of looting. The investigation revealed that the troops had stolen a Palestinian man's credit card and used it to purchase goods worth around $400.

Now for the two soldiers that looted throw the book at them.

Military court rules former Kfir Brigade deputy commander sufficiently punished during detention, decides not to demote or imprison him for beating Palestinians
Hanan Greenberg

Lieutenant Adam Malul, former deputy company commander of the Kfir Brigade, who was convicted of assaulting a number of Palestinian detainees, will not be demoted or imprisoned for a further period.

The military court ruled that the 64 days Malul had been in detention and the 32 days under house arrest were sufficient punishment. His mother, Ruthi, burst into tears upon hearing the ruling.

The judges noted that though Malul's behavior was unacceptable, and despite the breakdown of command, the fact that the violence was not extreme should be taken into account. It should also be remembered, they said, that he had contributed five years of his life to the IDF.

Upon leaving his trial, Malul said, "I feel today is a small victory after a difficult year. The judges understood I had no intention of hurting innocent people, but was acting with the objective of achieving an operational goal."

This is great news the only crime committed was what the IDF did to this fine officer.

I am very happy that Adam will do no more jail time.

Even as protestors outside the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel decried the guest of honor – Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi – donors pledged six-figure sums, topping $20 million by the end of the night. Inside a glittering ballroom, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces staged a theatrical show that tugged on the heartstrings – and purse strings – of the nearly 1,400 in attendance.

On the heels of a trip to Washington, where he met with top US officials, Ashkenazi emphasized the threat of Iran’s nuclear program and called on the international community to stop the Islamic regime.

“All options should remain on the table,” he said.

But outside, a coalition of left-leaning groups led hundreds of protestors in a single-file march around the perimeter of the hotel. Clad in black, they hoisted signs emblazoned with the words, “War crime,” “End the siege on Gaza” and “Israeli war criminals feast at the Waldorf.”

“Everyone feels that Operation Cast Lead was an outrage,” said Dorothy Zellner, of Jews Say No!, which mobilized early. “As a Jew, I can’t tolerate that the country that did this claims it is doing it for me.”

But inside, Ashkenazi played up the humanity and moral compass of Israeli soldiers. He highlighted IDF success stories of the past year: its interception of the Francop, a ship carrying 650 tons of weapons and explosives, as well as Israel’s response to the earthquake in Haiti.

“But our soldiers do much more,” he said. “They demonstrate respect for human dignity and value human life, regardless of the enemy’s cruelty.”

Despite the relative calm of the past year, stemming from “deterrence” attained during Cast Lead and the second Lebanon war, he said, Israel faces complex threats.

“As commander of our soldiers, I tell you upon this stage: We will [overcome] those who seek our destruction,” he said. “We will win thanks to our soldiers’ courage and because of their moral compass.”

The rich program, which also featured an Ethopian-born soldier and a doctor who served in the Israeli field hospital in Haiti, struck a carefully orchestrated tone and stayed on message. In a video message, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Iran threatens Israel openly and called for “sanctions with teeth.” Following Ashkenazi, 25-year-old Tal Shabbat, a soldier gravely injured three years ago, took the stage and said he fought to recover because “you live once.”

Via satellite from Israel, Navy officers explained their dangerous Francop mission. And many were moved to tears when Guy Banai, the deaf father of a fallen IDF soldier, addressed the audience through an interpreter, telling them that his son had been his connection to the outside world, his “right hand.” Exempt from combat duty, Liron Banai chose to serve in combat and died after his jeep was hit by a roadside bomb in Gaza. His father struggled to convey the “darkness” of the past two years without his son.

“I’m proud of Liron, I’m proud of our soldiers, I’m proud of our army and I’m proud of our country,” he said.

As dinner plates were cleared, speeches gave way to a main event: spirited, public pledges, earmarked for education, recreational facilities and other projects.

The first donor to step up offered $200,000. A cascade of dizzying sums followed: $500,000 from Iranian Jews in New York, $270,000 from a donor in honor of his 15 children and grandchildren, $1m. for education and $3.5m. from a fellowship of Evangelical Christians.

The crowd whooped when designer Elie Tahari donated $100,000, and people jumped to their feet to fete a US marine who made the relatively small donation of $1,000.

“I realize how important it is to defend a country and take care of your own,” the marine, Todd Bowers, said, donating his savings in memory of Liron Banai.

Still, critics outside the dinner were not happy about where the money was going.

“The idea that there’s a 501c3 non-profit that raises money for a foreign army seems a little odd,” said Nancy Kricorian, coordinator of CODEPINK in New York, who said “there was something about Cast Lead that was a turning point for us.”

Amid a strong police presence – including uniformed officers and canine patrol – a smaller counter-protest gathered across the street from the Waldorf. They carried their own signs, such as “Israel exists and we are here to stay” and “Free Gilad.”

“I do feel sorry for the innocent civilians,” said Rachel Shorr, a sophomore at Yeshiva University who wrapped herself in an Israeli flag. But she indicated the need for Israel to defend itself, and pointed out that civilians in Sderot are assaulted by rocket attacks.

“It’s important to show my presence and support Israel any way I can,” she said.

IDF Spokesperson 10 March 2010 , 13:15
Jonathan Urich

On Tuesday evening, the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi,
during his visit to the United States, spoke at the annual dinner hosted by
the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). "I am telling you from this
stage: We will triumph over those who seek to destroy us. We will win thanks
to the courage of our soldiers and their moral compass," said Chief of the
General Staff in his speech, at an event held at New York's Waldorf Astoria
Hotel.

In his speech, Lt. Gen Gabi Ashkenazi emphasized that "Iran was the main
threat to world peace, and gradually attempting to harvest regional
instability through its proxies: Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist
organizations. Therefore the international community must stop the Iranian
nuclear program for its own sake.
"All options should remain on the table. We are developing advanced weapons
and technologies and increasing the number of military exercises and
training, while raising reserve troops' readiness for war. We are doing this
to be ready for any threat - from near and far," he added.

Close cooperation between the IDF and the U.S.

On Tuesday morning (Mar. 9), the Chief of the General Staff attended several
short work meetings in Washington, during which he met with senior officials
at the White House, Senate and Pentagon including a meeting with National
Security Advisor Jim Jones. In addition, he met with U.S. Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, who recently visited Israel.
The meeting lasted about an hour and a half, and focused on the Iranian
threat.

During his speech at the FIDF dinner in New York, Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi
referred to the close cooperation between the IDF and the U.S. army and
noted that one
example of our successful cooperation was the Juniper Cobra 10 - an exercise
which tested the missile defense system collaboration. He continued by
stating that "these steps reflect significant progress in expanding the
dialogue, cooperation and readiness of the two armies."

The IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, has authorized
a United Nations sapper unit to enter the Gaza Strip tomorrow, March 10th,
2010, in order to neutralize unexploded ordinance that remained following
Operation Cast Lead.

The team will enter the Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing under the
Coordination and authorization of the Coordinator of Government Activities
in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot.

The activity's main goal is to prevent harm to Gaza's residents. It is
scheduled to last a few months, during which explosions may be heard in the
area of the Gaza Strip.

Decision to construct 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem liable to undermine negotiations, destroy US efforts to renew talks, PA presidential spokesman says

Ali Waked
Published: 03.09.10, 20:10 / Israel News

Palestinian Presidential Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina said Tuesday evening that the District Committee for Planning and Construction's decision to approve construction of 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood torpedoes negotiations.

In a special notice, Abu Rudeina said, "The decision to build 1,600 units – settlement units in occupied Jerusalem – is a dangerous decision, liable to torpedo negotiations and make US efforts (to renew talks) fail before they have even started."

Nablus - Ma'an - Israel has agreed to remove 77 former Palestinian fighters
from its list of "wanted" men, as a continuation of its amnesty program,
Palestinian sources said.

Officials in the Palestinian Authority were handed a list on Monday night,
naming the men who received a pardon, nearly all of them former fighters in
the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Brigades in the West Bank.

All of the men on the list are "wanted" by Israel. At some point in the past
five years they signed a pledge renouncing the use of violence and turned in
their weapons. At that point the men signed themselves into PA police
custody and lived for the most part in a Nablus-area jail until their
amnesty agreements were finalized by Israel.

Without the deal, the men feared for their own and their families' safety;
they were the target of night raids and incursions. The three men executed
by Israeli forces in Nablus on 26 December were also former Fatah fighters,
but had been granted amnesty by Israel three to six months before their
homes were invaded and they were shot point-blank range in front of family
members.

Only ten of the 77 men received a total pardon, allowing them to live at
home and travel freely throughout the West Bank and outside of the country.
Nineteen were given a minimal pardon, allowed to move freely in the West
Bank during the day but required to sleep in the prison. Forty-six were
granted a partial pardon, and will be able to move freely in the West Bank,
but not pass its borders, are permitted to sleep at home, but will be
required to check in at the detention center periodically.

Their names are as follows:

Totally pardoned:

1. Muhammad Al-Khalili - Nablus
2. Thafer Eran - Nablus
3. Bassam Abu Shallal - Nablus
4. Ragheb Al-Qaddoumi - Nablus
5. Karim Abu Issa - Nablus
6. Nidal Ahmed - Ramallah
7. Rebhi Al-Asmar - Ramallah
8. Jamal Shaniatah - Bethlehem
9. Ali Ibrahim Sabah - Tulkarem
10. Ahmad Nazzal - Jenin

Minimal pardon:

11. Ramzi Marqa - Nablus
12. Ashraf Zureiq - Nablus
13. Ammar Ahmad Akob - Nablus
14. Hani Adel Ahmad Mahmud - Nablus
15. Thiab Samih Hajja - Nablus
16. Said Shaker Masha - Nablus
17. Amjad Anabtawi - Nablus
18. Thaer Nadeem - Nablus
19. Khalid Hantash - Ramallah
20. Fadi Jawabra - Ramallah
21. Tareq Abu Wazna - Ramallah
22. Ibrahim Abu Thahir - Ramallah
23. Ahmed Obaid - Ramallah
24. Luay Ghosheh - Ramallah
25. Mahmud Abu Labdeh - Qalqiliya
26. Tahseen Swedan - Qalqiliya
27. Mahdi Abdul-Rahman Mansour - Kafr Qallil (Nablus)
28. Ammar Abu Al-Hayyat - Nablus
29. Mo'taz At-Taryaqi - Nablus
30. Mohammad Melhem - Far'a (Nablus)

Partial pardon

31. Jabri Al-Kurdi - Nablus
32. Yousef Hajjaj - Nablus
33. Wazir Issa - Nablus
34. Sanad Mansour - Nablus
35. Mahdi Abu As-S'oud - Nablus
36. Yacoub Shaqqura - Nablus
37. Kayed Al-Masri - Nablus
38. Abbas Al-Azizi - Nablus
39. Akram Abu Leil - Nablus
40. Azmi At-Taqtouq - Nablus
41. Dia At-Titi - Nablus
42. Mohammad An-Nadi - Nablus
43. Mu'tasim Abdel-Gawad - Nablus
44. Khalid Darwish - Nablus
45. Tareq Adas - Tulkarem
46. Samer Al-Ashqar - Tulkarem
47. Osama Abu Seif - Qalqiliya
48. Ahmad Awad - Nablus
49. Taha Ahmad Faraj - Jenin
50. Rabi As'os - Jenin
51. Mahmud Tzaza'ah - Jenin
52. Fuad Atiq - Jenin
53. Khalid Njas - Ramallah
54. Suleiman Howari - Ramallah
55. Walid Ali Dar Abed - Al-Bireh
56. Bilal Al-Ahmar - Bethlehem
57. Shadi Abu Jeries - Bethlehem
58. Ahmad Al-Mansi - Bethlehem
59. Mahmud Jibran - Bethlehem
60. Mahmud Al-Halabi - Ramallah
61. Nasser Radwan - Qalqiliya
62. Khalid Mater - Qalandiya
63. Anas Qarayrah - Ramallah
64. Zaher Sabeh - Bethlehem
65. Mohammad Hamdan - Jericho
66. Monis Ar-Rimawi - Ramallah
67. Mohamad Salem - Bethlehem
68. Mohammad Groof - Jericho
69. Bashar Ghanem - Tulkarem
70. Jehad Suleiman - Qalqiliya
71. Odeh Mubarak - Tulkarem
72. Mahmud Metwally - Qalqiliya
73. Mohammad Asos - Jenin
74. Samir Tubasi - Jenin
75. Ibrahim Shqiran - Jenin
76. Samer Farhat - Jenin
77. Ramzi Abid - Kafr Than (Nablus)

Tough guy only in his fantasy.