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1. Hamas Moving HQ from Syria to Egypt, Warns Netanyahu
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hamas is moving its headquarters from Damascus to Egypt, and the terror group is strengthening itself in the Sinai, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Monday.
He also noted that the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Hamas sprung, also has become a more powerful force in Egypt since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. The Prime Minister stated his concern about the inability of the provisional military regime in Egypt to exercise sovereignty in the Sinai, which borders Israel and from where Bedouin and Hamas terrorists smuggle weapons from Iran, Sudan, Syria and elsewhere into Gaza.
Al-Qaeda also has brought 400 terrorists into the area, according to an Egyptian official quoted by an Arab news agency,
The Prime Minister confirmed previous reports that Hamas supreme leader Khaled Mashaal has pulled out of Damascus, where his presence and welcome by Syrian President Bashar Assad is an additional worry for him in the face of the continuing uprising.
The vacuum of power in the Sinai has been illustrated by “the two gas explosions that occurred there” this year, Prime Minister Netanyahu told the Knesset committee. “Global terrorist organizations are interfering, there and their presence is increasing because of the geographic connection between Sinai and Gaza."
The Sharon government agreed to pull out of Gaza following the 2005 expulsion of nearly 10,000 Jews in the area. Agreements with Egypt on security in the Sinai began falling apart after Hamas ousted Fatah from Gaza four years ago.
Following the Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, Israel relied on American and European guarantees to monitor the transfer of goods and merchandise from the Sinai to Gaza, but these also have eroded. The opening of the Rafiah crossing this past Saturday has further harmed security.
The de facto dominance of Bedouin tribes and allied terrorists in the Sinai has set the stage for further stockpiling of advanced arms by Hamas and for plotting terrorist attacks at tourist and holy sites in Egypt.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hamas is moving its headquarters from Damascus to Egypt, and the terror group is strengthening itself in the Sinai, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee Monday.
He also noted that the Muslim Brotherhood, from which Hamas sprung, also has become a more powerful force in Egypt since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. The Prime Minister stated his concern about the inability of the provisional military regime in Egypt to exercise sovereignty in the Sinai, which borders Israel and from where Bedouin and Hamas terrorists smuggle weapons from Iran, Sudan, Syria and elsewhere into Gaza.
Al-Qaeda also has brought 400 terrorists into the area, according to an Egyptian official quoted by an Arab news agency,
The Prime Minister confirmed previous reports that Hamas supreme leader Khaled Mashaal has pulled out of Damascus, where his presence and welcome by Syrian President Bashar Assad is an additional worry for him in the face of the continuing uprising.
The vacuum of power in the Sinai has been illustrated by “the two gas explosions that occurred there” this year, Prime Minister Netanyahu told the Knesset committee. “Global terrorist organizations are interfering, there and their presence is increasing because of the geographic connection between Sinai and Gaza."
The Sharon government agreed to pull out of Gaza following the 2005 expulsion of nearly 10,000 Jews in the area. Agreements with Egypt on security in the Sinai began falling apart after Hamas ousted Fatah from Gaza four years ago.
Following the Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, Israel relied on American and European guarantees to monitor the transfer of goods and merchandise from the Sinai to Gaza, but these also have eroded. The opening of the Rafiah crossing this past Saturday has further harmed security.
The de facto dominance of Bedouin tribes and allied terrorists in the Sinai has set the stage for further stockpiling of advanced arms by Hamas and for plotting terrorist attacks at tourist and holy sites in Egypt.
Comment on this story
2. Jerusalem Day in 80 Cities Around the Country
by Hillel Fendel
Jerusalem Reunification Day - the day marking Israel’s return to the Temple Mount, the Old City , Mt. of Olives, and the areas that became Ramat Eshkol, Gilo and more during the Six Day War in 1967 – is increasingly being celebrated not only in Jerusalem. In fact, over 80 cities around the country will mark the occasion with marches and otherwise, this Tuesday night and Wednesday.
These nationwide commemorations - the first time, in most cities - are being organized and coordinated by the Merimim et HaDegel (Raising the Flag) movement, in a campaign named, “We are All Jerusalem: Celebrating Jerusalem Throughout the Country.”
Until recently, the few schools around the country that remembered Jerusalem Day would send some of their students to Jerusalem for the day, having them take part in some of the celebrations and learn about the modern and ancient history of the holy city. The capital's main event, for some years now, has been the Rikudgalim Flag-Dance, in which tens of thousands of religious-Zionist youth march and dance down the city’s main streets and into the Old City.
This year, thanks to the logistics help and sponsorship of the Merimim organization, cities such as Ramat Gan, Sderot, Ashkelon, Nazareth Illit, Be’er Sheva, Jaffa and many more will be holding special events in Jerusalem’s honor.
In Ashkelon, a march will set out from Pioneers Park towards the local Yeshivat Hesder, with the participation of Mayor Benny Vaknin, families of Ethiopian immigrants, and the students of local schools and Tzviyah Girls High School. Participants will be given blue and white shirts and balloons. A memorial will be held at its end for those Ethiopian Jews who died on the dangerous and difficult trek to Israel.
In Sderot, the “We’re All Jerusalem” celebrations will include a march with the participation of the town’s synagogues and the IDF Golani Brigade. It will end with a ceremony featuring IDF Chief Rabbi Rafi Peretz, Mayor David Buskila, Rabbi Elisha Vishlitzky and the Golani Commander.
In Be’er Sheva, the city’s mayor will take part in the Jerusalem Day festivities, together with leading musicians. In Modiin, the synagogues of the city have stepped forward to organize a Jerusalem Day march.
Comment on this story
by Hillel Fendel
Jerusalem Reunification Day - the day marking Israel’s return to the Temple Mount, the Old City , Mt. of Olives, and the areas that became Ramat Eshkol, Gilo and more during the Six Day War in 1967 – is increasingly being celebrated not only in Jerusalem. In fact, over 80 cities around the country will mark the occasion with marches and otherwise, this Tuesday night and Wednesday.
These nationwide commemorations - the first time, in most cities - are being organized and coordinated by the Merimim et HaDegel (Raising the Flag) movement, in a campaign named, “We are All Jerusalem: Celebrating Jerusalem Throughout the Country.”
Until recently, the few schools around the country that remembered Jerusalem Day would send some of their students to Jerusalem for the day, having them take part in some of the celebrations and learn about the modern and ancient history of the holy city. The capital's main event, for some years now, has been the Rikudgalim Flag-Dance, in which tens of thousands of religious-Zionist youth march and dance down the city’s main streets and into the Old City.
This year, thanks to the logistics help and sponsorship of the Merimim organization, cities such as Ramat Gan, Sderot, Ashkelon, Nazareth Illit, Be’er Sheva, Jaffa and many more will be holding special events in Jerusalem’s honor.
In Ashkelon, a march will set out from Pioneers Park towards the local Yeshivat Hesder, with the participation of Mayor Benny Vaknin, families of Ethiopian immigrants, and the students of local schools and Tzviyah Girls High School. Participants will be given blue and white shirts and balloons. A memorial will be held at its end for those Ethiopian Jews who died on the dangerous and difficult trek to Israel.
In Sderot, the “We’re All Jerusalem” celebrations will include a march with the participation of the town’s synagogues and the IDF Golani Brigade. It will end with a ceremony featuring IDF Chief Rabbi Rafi Peretz, Mayor David Buskila, Rabbi Elisha Vishlitzky and the Golani Commander.
In Be’er Sheva, the city’s mayor will take part in the Jerusalem Day festivities, together with leading musicians. In Modiin, the synagogues of the city have stepped forward to organize a Jerusalem Day march.
Comment on this story
3. Turkey Mediates Fatah-Hamas Unity
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Turkey is hosting Hamas and Fatah leaders who are trying to reach a final unity pact by June 6, while Iran attempts to undermine the pact it sees as part of a plot to meet "aspirations of the U.S. and Zionist regime."
Fatah and Hamas leaders have met in Turkey as well as Gaza to hammer out a final unity agreement, including a prisoner exchange, by June 6, but Iran is trying to undermine the proposal.
Nabil Sha’ath, senior aide to Palestinian Authority PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, met in Gaza City on Sunday with de facto Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, one day after other officials of the rival Hamas and Fatah movements held discussions in Turkey.
Sha’ath said that the new proposed unity government will include “independent” members to be approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council for a period of one year. The Council has been defunct since the Hamas military coup that swiped power from Fatah in Gaza four years ago.
The meeting in Gaza was held at Hamas regional headquarters, the first time Fatah leaders have agreed to meet there instead of at Haniyeh's home.
The discussions at Ankara included delegates of left-wing Arab factions and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group.
While Sha’ath is aiming for a June 6 agreement, senior Hamas leader Younus al-Astal, quoted by the Iranian government’s Fars News Agency, charged that “the Fatah movement has opted for deception and intrigues after signing the national reconciliation agreement and seeks to bypass the Constitution."
“Astal cautioned that the Fatah movement has hatched a plot to materialize the wishes and aspirations of the U.S. and the Zionist regime, and said they seek to persuade us to desist from resistance and recognize the Zionist regime, but this is a wish which will never come true,” according to the semi-official news agency.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Turkey is hosting Hamas and Fatah leaders who are trying to reach a final unity pact by June 6, while Iran attempts to undermine the pact it sees as part of a plot to meet "aspirations of the U.S. and Zionist regime."
Fatah and Hamas leaders have met in Turkey as well as Gaza to hammer out a final unity agreement, including a prisoner exchange, by June 6, but Iran is trying to undermine the proposal.
Nabil Sha’ath, senior aide to Palestinian Authority PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, met in Gaza City on Sunday with de facto Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, one day after other officials of the rival Hamas and Fatah movements held discussions in Turkey.
Sha’ath said that the new proposed unity government will include “independent” members to be approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council for a period of one year. The Council has been defunct since the Hamas military coup that swiped power from Fatah in Gaza four years ago.
The meeting in Gaza was held at Hamas regional headquarters, the first time Fatah leaders have agreed to meet there instead of at Haniyeh's home.
The discussions at Ankara included delegates of left-wing Arab factions and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group.
While Sha’ath is aiming for a June 6 agreement, senior Hamas leader Younus al-Astal, quoted by the Iranian government’s Fars News Agency, charged that “the Fatah movement has opted for deception and intrigues after signing the national reconciliation agreement and seeks to bypass the Constitution."
“Astal cautioned that the Fatah movement has hatched a plot to materialize the wishes and aspirations of the U.S. and the Zionist regime, and said they seek to persuade us to desist from resistance and recognize the Zionist regime, but this is a wish which will never come true,” according to the semi-official news agency.
Comment on this story
4. Free Gaza Movement Response to UN: Flotilla On As Planned
by Elad Benari
The Free Gaza movement welcomed on Sunday a call from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging Israel to end its blockade on Gaza, but responded to his call on world nations to stop the Gaza aid flotillas by insisting the mission would go ahead as planned.
“We are not engaged in illegal activity in the in the Mediterranean; it is Israel’s blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians that is illegal,” the group said in a statement which was quoted by the Palestinian Authority-based Ma’an news agency.
On Friday, Ban called through his spokesperson “on all governments” in the region to use to their influence to push against the new flotilla of ships expected to try to break Israel’s continued blockade on Gaza, meant to prevent heavy arms from reaching terrorists who have rained missiles on southern Israel since the IDF left Gaza unilaterally in 2005.
Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky was quoted by Ma’an as having said the secretary general was “following with concern media reports of potential flotillas to Gaza.”
The lawyer for the Free Gaza Movement responded to Ban’s concerns by saying that “as head of the United Nations, [Ban] knows that the UN High Commission for Human Rights produced a report that identified the blockade of Gaza as collective punishment and a war crime. We would remind the Secretary-General that the flotilla violates no international laws or laws of the sea and so an outright ban on our sailing to Gaza is essentially a statement against the rights of the Palestinian people to control their own ports, and lives.” Israel has the legal right to intercept the ships.
Huwaida Arraf, chair of the Free Gaza Movement was quoted by Ma’an as saying, “We do not sail just to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Palestinians don’t want humanitarian aid, they want the right to trade and have open borders and come in and out of their territory without walls and gunboats and snipers shooting at them” He did not mention that the Gazans elected a terrorist group, Hamas, or the missiles raining on Israeli children, one of which killed a 16 year old boy on a schoolbus just weeks ago.
Free Gaza Movement was founded by four activists of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which studies have shown is an organization which supports terrorism.
The movement promotes flotillas to Gaza and has done so since 2008. It was a main participant in the 2010 IHH flotilla which attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade on Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. It now plans on participating in the Freedom Flotilla 2, set to sail in June.
The comments by the heads of the Free Gaza Movement are in line with comments made on Sunday by IHH head Bülent Yıldırım, who clarified that despite the fact that Egypt had opened its border crossing with Gaza, an act which constitutes the end of the so-called siege on Gaza, as well as the beginning of the opportunity to transfer arms to the Gaza strip, his group would go ahead as planned with the new flotilla.
Several weeks ago, the IDF intercepted a Malaysian ship allegedly also carrying “aid for Palestine” as it attempted to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza. The aid is unnecessary, Israel claims, and the flotilla goals are for publicity, not humanitarian aid. Photos of overflowing stalls in markets and opulent malls in Gaza seem to bear this out.
IDF soldiers attempted to persuade the activists on the vessel, sent by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF), to return to Egypt where the boat had been docked, but when the vessel disregarded their efforts, IDF soldiers fired warning shots to underscore the message. At that point, the vessel changed course, returning to Egypt. There were no injuries.
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
The Free Gaza movement welcomed on Sunday a call from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urging Israel to end its blockade on Gaza, but responded to his call on world nations to stop the Gaza aid flotillas by insisting the mission would go ahead as planned.
“We are not engaged in illegal activity in the in the Mediterranean; it is Israel’s blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians that is illegal,” the group said in a statement which was quoted by the Palestinian Authority-based Ma’an news agency.
On Friday, Ban called through his spokesperson “on all governments” in the region to use to their influence to push against the new flotilla of ships expected to try to break Israel’s continued blockade on Gaza, meant to prevent heavy arms from reaching terrorists who have rained missiles on southern Israel since the IDF left Gaza unilaterally in 2005.
Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky was quoted by Ma’an as having said the secretary general was “following with concern media reports of potential flotillas to Gaza.”
The lawyer for the Free Gaza Movement responded to Ban’s concerns by saying that “as head of the United Nations, [Ban] knows that the UN High Commission for Human Rights produced a report that identified the blockade of Gaza as collective punishment and a war crime. We would remind the Secretary-General that the flotilla violates no international laws or laws of the sea and so an outright ban on our sailing to Gaza is essentially a statement against the rights of the Palestinian people to control their own ports, and lives.” Israel has the legal right to intercept the ships.
Huwaida Arraf, chair of the Free Gaza Movement was quoted by Ma’an as saying, “We do not sail just to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Palestinians don’t want humanitarian aid, they want the right to trade and have open borders and come in and out of their territory without walls and gunboats and snipers shooting at them” He did not mention that the Gazans elected a terrorist group, Hamas, or the missiles raining on Israeli children, one of which killed a 16 year old boy on a schoolbus just weeks ago.
Free Gaza Movement was founded by four activists of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which studies have shown is an organization which supports terrorism.
The movement promotes flotillas to Gaza and has done so since 2008. It was a main participant in the 2010 IHH flotilla which attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade on Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. It now plans on participating in the Freedom Flotilla 2, set to sail in June.
The comments by the heads of the Free Gaza Movement are in line with comments made on Sunday by IHH head Bülent Yıldırım, who clarified that despite the fact that Egypt had opened its border crossing with Gaza, an act which constitutes the end of the so-called siege on Gaza, as well as the beginning of the opportunity to transfer arms to the Gaza strip, his group would go ahead as planned with the new flotilla.
Several weeks ago, the IDF intercepted a Malaysian ship allegedly also carrying “aid for Palestine” as it attempted to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza. The aid is unnecessary, Israel claims, and the flotilla goals are for publicity, not humanitarian aid. Photos of overflowing stalls in markets and opulent malls in Gaza seem to bear this out.
IDF soldiers attempted to persuade the activists on the vessel, sent by the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF), to return to Egypt where the boat had been docked, but when the vessel disregarded their efforts, IDF soldiers fired warning shots to underscore the message. At that point, the vessel changed course, returning to Egypt. There were no injuries.
Comment on this story
5. IDF: Joseph's Tomb Shooting was Intentional
by Maayana Miskin
Palestinian Authority officers who opened fire on Jewish worshipers at Josephs' Tomb last month, killing one and wounding five, carried out the attack intentionally, IDF investigators told Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz on Sunday.
“Although the inquiry finds that the firing at the worshipers was not coordinated in advance, it was concluded that the officers fired deliberately and with intention to harm the worshipers who arrived at Joseph's Tomb,” military officials said. Gantz accepted their findings.
The Chief of Staff called on soldiers to prevent Israelis from entering Joseph's Tomb (Kever Yosef) or any other PA-controlled area if the visit was not coordinated with the IDF beforehand.
Israel recently recognized the man killed in the April shooting, Ben Yosef Livnat, as a victim of terrorism. The move involved recognizing the PA police as a de facto hostile organization.
Gantz was also given the findings of an investigation into the savage murder of five members of the Fogel family in Itamar earlier this year. Rabbi Udi Fogel, his wife Ruth and three of their six children were murdered by knife-wielding terrorists in March.
Gantz denounced the attack as “atrocious and inhumane.” He concluded that the IDF bore some blame for the attackers' success, saying that the Central Command had recognized the general danger of an attack in Itamar but had failed to fully use all possible means of defense to keep terrorists from infiltrating the town.
He ordered the immediate implementation of findings regarding IDF failures, in order to improve security in the region. Gantz also expressed appreciation of the security forces that worked to apprehend the murderers.
Comment on this story
by Maayana Miskin
Palestinian Authority officers who opened fire on Jewish worshipers at Josephs' Tomb last month, killing one and wounding five, carried out the attack intentionally, IDF investigators told Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz on Sunday.
“Although the inquiry finds that the firing at the worshipers was not coordinated in advance, it was concluded that the officers fired deliberately and with intention to harm the worshipers who arrived at Joseph's Tomb,” military officials said. Gantz accepted their findings.
The Chief of Staff called on soldiers to prevent Israelis from entering Joseph's Tomb (Kever Yosef) or any other PA-controlled area if the visit was not coordinated with the IDF beforehand.
Israel recently recognized the man killed in the April shooting, Ben Yosef Livnat, as a victim of terrorism. The move involved recognizing the PA police as a de facto hostile organization.
Gantz was also given the findings of an investigation into the savage murder of five members of the Fogel family in Itamar earlier this year. Rabbi Udi Fogel, his wife Ruth and three of their six children were murdered by knife-wielding terrorists in March.
Gantz denounced the attack as “atrocious and inhumane.” He concluded that the IDF bore some blame for the attackers' success, saying that the Central Command had recognized the general danger of an attack in Itamar but had failed to fully use all possible means of defense to keep terrorists from infiltrating the town.
He ordered the immediate implementation of findings regarding IDF failures, in order to improve security in the region. Gantz also expressed appreciation of the security forces that worked to apprehend the murderers.
Comment on this story
6. Rabbi Chanan Porat: 1967 Was a War of Redemption
by Elad Benari
On Wednesday, Israel will mark Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), the 44th anniversary of Israel’s liberation of the Holy City during the 1967 Six Day War.
During a special interview with Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew website on Sunday, Rabbi and former MK Chanan Porat, who participated in the liberation of Jerusalem, recalled the time period and explained why he joyfully celebrates Yom Yerushalayim.
How do you celebrate this day?
“First and foremost, I celebrate! I don’t listen to those who say that maybe it was some kind of temporary episode. The redemption of Jerusalem is a complete redemption, even if it has its ups and downs.
“Weaknesses could lead to things being unrecognized by us, but the truth is that Jerusalem is eternal. Anyone with eyes in his head should be unbelievably joyful. And if there are Jews who think this truth has had its day – it has not – and Jerusalem is eternal.”
What do you remember from the 1967 period of Jerusalem’s liberation?
“We did not know that Jerusalem is about to be facing salvation and is about to redeem herself. It was a war of survival against the arrogant Egyptian President, who spoke about a war of annihilation and Jihad.”
Rabbi Porat recalled that his unit was actually headed towards the Sinai Peninsula. “The same morning that we were supposed to land on the outskirts of El-Arish to prevent the Egyptian army from carrying out its plan to reach Tel Aviv, it was announced that [Jordanian King] Hussein had joined the war and began to bomb Jerusalem. It was decided to change all the plans and go up to Jerusalem. It was no longer a war to defend our existence but a war over Jerusalem, a war of redemption.
“We rode in the dusty buses in roundabout ways to avoid meeting with the enemy. Suddenly we felt as if we’re going back to Jerusalem and in hoarse voices we started singing ‘Jerusalem of Gold.’ This feeling, this recognition that there is a switch happening, that the struggle for existence is becoming a war of redemption, gave us renewed strength.
“We went up to Mount Scopus and then to the Mount of Olives, with the intent of reaching the Temple Mount. On the way to Mount Scopus the company commander Giora Ashkenazi, who was near me, took a bullet in the head and fell bleeding. At first I was stunned, and then the deputy company commander shouted at me: ‘Chanan, you cannot stop! We must continue!’ I continued to run. So we continued with one eye crying and one eye laughing. We went to the Temple Mount and felt as though a light shone upon us; it was redemption uplifting us alongside the terrible pain over the loss of Giora and loved ones like him who were dear to us.
“This was the great message of the Six Day War - the redemption of Jerusalem, for which we prayed while we were at the Western Wall.”
What was the feeling when you entered the Temple Mount?
“Truthfully, on the one hand we had the great privilege of getting to the Temple Mount, but on the other hand we were not yet ready to understand the significance of regaining the Temple Mount.
“At one time, [noted Israeli independence fighter and philosopher] Israel Eldad told me: ‘I have some criticism of you. You stood on the Temple Mount and asked where the Western Wall was. You made a historic shortcut. Instead of staying on the Temple Mount where our Temple stood, you asked where the Western Wall was [the remnant of the wall around the Temple Mount, ed].
“It was a very fair question and very difficult test,” admitted Rabbi Porat, “I told him: ‘You're right, but in fact this was not a shortcut, we were simply not prepared for the spiritual level of the Temple Mount, for the possibilities that had opened up, we did not yet recognize that we need to stand on the Temple Mount and take steps to rebuilding the Temple.
Rabbi Porat concluded by saying: “Although we have not yet reached the inside of the holy mountain, we’re on the right track. We must educate about the city’s holiness and this is not simple, but I am happy that there is a precious public with a strong desire and love for Jerusalem, even if they cannot build it in practice.
“Our hearts are filled with joy and may we have the privilege to see the Levites standing in the Temple hall and singing a special song for Yom Yerushalayim.”
Rabbi Chanan Porat is the beloved ideological icon of the Gush Emunim settlement movement, whose faith led a generation of young lovers of the Land of Israel to settle Judea and Samaria after the Six Day War.
He is also a popular lecturer, teacher, and prolific writer of Torah insights which appeared weekly in a flier called “M’at Mind Ha’or” (a bit of light, ed.), and have since been published in book form.
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
On Wednesday, Israel will mark Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), the 44th anniversary of Israel’s liberation of the Holy City during the 1967 Six Day War.
During a special interview with Arutz Sheva’s Hebrew website on Sunday, Rabbi and former MK Chanan Porat, who participated in the liberation of Jerusalem, recalled the time period and explained why he joyfully celebrates Yom Yerushalayim.
How do you celebrate this day?
“First and foremost, I celebrate! I don’t listen to those who say that maybe it was some kind of temporary episode. The redemption of Jerusalem is a complete redemption, even if it has its ups and downs.
“Weaknesses could lead to things being unrecognized by us, but the truth is that Jerusalem is eternal. Anyone with eyes in his head should be unbelievably joyful. And if there are Jews who think this truth has had its day – it has not – and Jerusalem is eternal.”
What do you remember from the 1967 period of Jerusalem’s liberation?
“We did not know that Jerusalem is about to be facing salvation and is about to redeem herself. It was a war of survival against the arrogant Egyptian President, who spoke about a war of annihilation and Jihad.”
Rabbi Porat recalled that his unit was actually headed towards the Sinai Peninsula. “The same morning that we were supposed to land on the outskirts of El-Arish to prevent the Egyptian army from carrying out its plan to reach Tel Aviv, it was announced that [Jordanian King] Hussein had joined the war and began to bomb Jerusalem. It was decided to change all the plans and go up to Jerusalem. It was no longer a war to defend our existence but a war over Jerusalem, a war of redemption.
“We rode in the dusty buses in roundabout ways to avoid meeting with the enemy. Suddenly we felt as if we’re going back to Jerusalem and in hoarse voices we started singing ‘Jerusalem of Gold.’ This feeling, this recognition that there is a switch happening, that the struggle for existence is becoming a war of redemption, gave us renewed strength.
“We went up to Mount Scopus and then to the Mount of Olives, with the intent of reaching the Temple Mount. On the way to Mount Scopus the company commander Giora Ashkenazi, who was near me, took a bullet in the head and fell bleeding. At first I was stunned, and then the deputy company commander shouted at me: ‘Chanan, you cannot stop! We must continue!’ I continued to run. So we continued with one eye crying and one eye laughing. We went to the Temple Mount and felt as though a light shone upon us; it was redemption uplifting us alongside the terrible pain over the loss of Giora and loved ones like him who were dear to us.
“This was the great message of the Six Day War - the redemption of Jerusalem, for which we prayed while we were at the Western Wall.”
What was the feeling when you entered the Temple Mount?
“Truthfully, on the one hand we had the great privilege of getting to the Temple Mount, but on the other hand we were not yet ready to understand the significance of regaining the Temple Mount.
“At one time, [noted Israeli independence fighter and philosopher] Israel Eldad told me: ‘I have some criticism of you. You stood on the Temple Mount and asked where the Western Wall was. You made a historic shortcut. Instead of staying on the Temple Mount where our Temple stood, you asked where the Western Wall was [the remnant of the wall around the Temple Mount, ed].
“It was a very fair question and very difficult test,” admitted Rabbi Porat, “I told him: ‘You're right, but in fact this was not a shortcut, we were simply not prepared for the spiritual level of the Temple Mount, for the possibilities that had opened up, we did not yet recognize that we need to stand on the Temple Mount and take steps to rebuilding the Temple.
Rabbi Porat concluded by saying: “Although we have not yet reached the inside of the holy mountain, we’re on the right track. We must educate about the city’s holiness and this is not simple, but I am happy that there is a precious public with a strong desire and love for Jerusalem, even if they cannot build it in practice.
“Our hearts are filled with joy and may we have the privilege to see the Levites standing in the Temple hall and singing a special song for Yom Yerushalayim.”
Rabbi Chanan Porat is the beloved ideological icon of the Gush Emunim settlement movement, whose faith led a generation of young lovers of the Land of Israel to settle Judea and Samaria after the Six Day War.
He is also a popular lecturer, teacher, and prolific writer of Torah insights which appeared weekly in a flier called “M’at Mind Ha’or” (a bit of light, ed.), and have since been published in book form.
Comment on this story
7. Israel Taking Steps to Snuff Out Public Smoking
by Hana Levi Julian, MSW, LCSW-R
Israel is moving ahead to protect the public against the dangers of secondary smoke, and hoping to persuade others not to even start smoking in the first place.
The Cabinet approved at its regular weekly meeting Sunday the establishment of a new Health Ministry unit that will work on ways to improve public protection against coerced exposure to cigarette smoke.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, one of the measures to be implemented will be an amendment to the current law against smoking in public places.
The advertising and marketing of tobacco products will also be restricted, the PMO said.
Among the new restrictions will be a ban on tobacco sales in automated vending machines, which are accessible to teens who are more likely to experiment with cigarettes without understanding the consequences to their health.
Other restrictions include the inclusion of graphic warnings on tobacco products, and a requirement to report tobacco product ingredients.
A number of ministers also have some homework ahead of them as well.
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is to reconsider tax rates on tobacco products and submit his recommendations to the Cabinet within 90 days, according to the PMO.
Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar has been assigned to decide on an experimental plan for smoke-free schools at several educational institutions.
Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan will also be busy – he will chair a special team to formulate a plan to reduce environmental damage caused by cigarette butts.
Smoking is a known cause of lung cancer, and of emphysema, a slow but deadly disease that has no cure once the process gets underway. The inhalation of secondary smoke -- that is, smoke inhaled from standing next to someone else who is smoking -- has been proven to be as deadly to the human body as smoke inhaled by the smoker.
Comment on this story
by Hana Levi Julian, MSW, LCSW-R
Israel is moving ahead to protect the public against the dangers of secondary smoke, and hoping to persuade others not to even start smoking in the first place.
The Cabinet approved at its regular weekly meeting Sunday the establishment of a new Health Ministry unit that will work on ways to improve public protection against coerced exposure to cigarette smoke.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, one of the measures to be implemented will be an amendment to the current law against smoking in public places.
The advertising and marketing of tobacco products will also be restricted, the PMO said.
Among the new restrictions will be a ban on tobacco sales in automated vending machines, which are accessible to teens who are more likely to experiment with cigarettes without understanding the consequences to their health.
Other restrictions include the inclusion of graphic warnings on tobacco products, and a requirement to report tobacco product ingredients.
A number of ministers also have some homework ahead of them as well.
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is to reconsider tax rates on tobacco products and submit his recommendations to the Cabinet within 90 days, according to the PMO.
Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar has been assigned to decide on an experimental plan for smoke-free schools at several educational institutions.
Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan will also be busy – he will chair a special team to formulate a plan to reduce environmental damage caused by cigarette butts.
Smoking is a known cause of lung cancer, and of emphysema, a slow but deadly disease that has no cure once the process gets underway. The inhalation of secondary smoke -- that is, smoke inhaled from standing next to someone else who is smoking -- has been proven to be as deadly to the human body as smoke inhaled by the smoker.
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8. Lawyers to Ban: Declaring a Palestinian State is Illegal
by Elad Benari
Israeli lawyers and international law experts have contacted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, demanding that he prevent the Palestinian Authority’s resolution asking for recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1949 armistice lines from being raised at the UN General Assembly in September.
The lawyers say that UN recognition of such a state would be “in contrary to international law, UN resolutions and existing agreements.”
The signatories on the letter include Dr. Alan Baker, former legal adviser for the Foreign Ministry and Israeli Ambassador to Canada, as well as Dr. Meir Rosenne, former legal adviser for the Foreign Ministry, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. and one of the authors of the peace agreement with Egypt. Also signed are law Professors Talia Einhorn and Eliav Shochetman, as well as dozens of other experts in international law and lawyers.
In the letter, the lawyers ask Secretary-General Ban to appeal to the General Assembly members to prevent the adoption of the Palestinian state resolution, since such a decision would stand in outright opposition to any agreements which were signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as well as to Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
The lawyers bring up the decision of The Council of the League of Nations dated July 24, 1922. The decision, which was adopted unanimously, calls for the establishment of a Jewish national home, including the right to increase Jewish settlement in all the historical territory of Israel, including Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. This decision was approved by both houses of the U.S. Congress on June 30, 1922.
Furthermore, state the lawyers, Article 80 of the UN Charter stipulates that the UN recognizes all decisions made by The Council of the League of Nations which preceded it and therefore, the 650,000 Jews currently living in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem are living there legally.
The lawyers further argue that the commonly used term ‘1967 borders’ is invalid since it refers to the 1949 armistice lines and it was expressly stated in those agreements that the armistice lines would not be interpreted in any way as an international border. They note that according to Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, the parties are committed to conduct negotiations to bring about peace in the Middle East, within secure and recognized borders and with a just solution for all refugees, Jews and Arabs alike.
They determine that a proposal by the PA for a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state will be a fundamental breach of Article 31 of the Oslo Accords which were signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 1995, and in which it was determined that the PA would not initiate or take any steps that will change the status of Judea and Samaria until the end of negotiations, and that the issue of the borders will be determined only through negotiations. When the Palestinian Authority signed on these commitments, hundreds of thousands of Jews had already lived in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem and the PA recognized that the status of these areas will not change until the negotiations end.
“Although the Interim Agreement was signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority,” write the lawyers, “the U.S., EU, Russia, Norway, Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations signed it as witnesses and will not be able to take part in the violation of the agreement by the Palestinians.”
The lawyers therefore end the letter by calling on Ban Ki-moon to stop the PA attempt to circumvent the negotiation process that was decided upon by the UN Security Council and the agreements signed between the parties.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has constantly reiterated he would seek the unilateral declaration of a PA state by the United Nations if a peace deal is not reached with Israel come September.
At the same time, he has flatly refused to come to the negotiating table and has manufactured preconditions when pressure has been brought to bear on the PA by the Quartet, especially the United States, for the PA to restart peace talks with Israel.
Meanwhile, it was reported on Sunday that the IDF is purchasing non-lethal riot control gear to deal with large-scale Palestinian Authority violence expected in September, when PA Arabs are expected to attempt various violent provocations after the discussion in the United Nations.
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by Elad Benari
Israeli lawyers and international law experts have contacted UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, demanding that he prevent the Palestinian Authority’s resolution asking for recognition of a Palestinian state within the 1949 armistice lines from being raised at the UN General Assembly in September.
The lawyers say that UN recognition of such a state would be “in contrary to international law, UN resolutions and existing agreements.”
The signatories on the letter include Dr. Alan Baker, former legal adviser for the Foreign Ministry and Israeli Ambassador to Canada, as well as Dr. Meir Rosenne, former legal adviser for the Foreign Ministry, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. and one of the authors of the peace agreement with Egypt. Also signed are law Professors Talia Einhorn and Eliav Shochetman, as well as dozens of other experts in international law and lawyers.
In the letter, the lawyers ask Secretary-General Ban to appeal to the General Assembly members to prevent the adoption of the Palestinian state resolution, since such a decision would stand in outright opposition to any agreements which were signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as well as to Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).
The lawyers bring up the decision of The Council of the League of Nations dated July 24, 1922. The decision, which was adopted unanimously, calls for the establishment of a Jewish national home, including the right to increase Jewish settlement in all the historical territory of Israel, including Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. This decision was approved by both houses of the U.S. Congress on June 30, 1922.
Furthermore, state the lawyers, Article 80 of the UN Charter stipulates that the UN recognizes all decisions made by The Council of the League of Nations which preceded it and therefore, the 650,000 Jews currently living in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem are living there legally.
The lawyers further argue that the commonly used term ‘1967 borders’ is invalid since it refers to the 1949 armistice lines and it was expressly stated in those agreements that the armistice lines would not be interpreted in any way as an international border. They note that according to Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, the parties are committed to conduct negotiations to bring about peace in the Middle East, within secure and recognized borders and with a just solution for all refugees, Jews and Arabs alike.
They determine that a proposal by the PA for a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state will be a fundamental breach of Article 31 of the Oslo Accords which were signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 1995, and in which it was determined that the PA would not initiate or take any steps that will change the status of Judea and Samaria until the end of negotiations, and that the issue of the borders will be determined only through negotiations. When the Palestinian Authority signed on these commitments, hundreds of thousands of Jews had already lived in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem and the PA recognized that the status of these areas will not change until the negotiations end.
“Although the Interim Agreement was signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority,” write the lawyers, “the U.S., EU, Russia, Norway, Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations signed it as witnesses and will not be able to take part in the violation of the agreement by the Palestinians.”
The lawyers therefore end the letter by calling on Ban Ki-moon to stop the PA attempt to circumvent the negotiation process that was decided upon by the UN Security Council and the agreements signed between the parties.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has constantly reiterated he would seek the unilateral declaration of a PA state by the United Nations if a peace deal is not reached with Israel come September.
At the same time, he has flatly refused to come to the negotiating table and has manufactured preconditions when pressure has been brought to bear on the PA by the Quartet, especially the United States, for the PA to restart peace talks with Israel.
Meanwhile, it was reported on Sunday that the IDF is purchasing non-lethal riot control gear to deal with large-scale Palestinian Authority violence expected in September, when PA Arabs are expected to attempt various violent provocations after the discussion in the United Nations.
Comment on this story
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