Showing posts with label Israel.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Israel.. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Palestinian Authority minister Ziad Abu Ain dies after clashes with IDF in West Bank


Palestinian Authority minister Ziad Abu Ain dies after clashes with IDF in West Bank.(JPost).

The Minister died shortly after being hit and shoved by IDF soldiers during a protest on Wednesday in the West Bank, a Reuters photographer who witnessed the incident and a medic said.

Ziad Abu Ein, a PA minister without portfolio, was rushed by ambulance from the scene, in the village of Turmusiya, but died en route to the nearby city of Ramallah.

According to Palestinian officials, the Fatah official sustained critical injuries after an IDF soldier struck him with a helmet in the chest and from the inhalation of tear gas fired in the area, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.

Ziad Abu Ein, who heads the PA organization that fights against the security barrier and settlements, was involved in a scuffle with Israeli troops near Turmosiya, south of the Shiloh settlement in the northern West Bank, during which he inhaled tear gas and was hit by a soldier’s helmet or rifle butt.

ZAbu Ein collapsed at the site and was evacuated for medical care, but he died before he reached the hospital. Abu Ein was not in good health, Ynet reported.

Reut Mor, spokeswoman for Israeli human rights group Yesh Din, told The Times of Israel that Palestinian and Israeli activists were involved in a peaceful demonstration just outside Turmosiya, and IDF soldiers escalated the situation by firing tear gas and stun grenades. She said protesters and security forces faced each other in two lines, but she did not witness the scuffle in which Abu Ein was hurt.

Abu Ein, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, was extradited from the US to Israel for a 1979 terrorist bombing that killed two Israeli teens. He was released during a 1985 prisoners swap that saw three IDF soldiers captured in Lebanon set free. Hmmm....Another 'Pallywood' production making the minister a 'Martyr' on the 'battlefield'? Read the full story here, more here.

Update:








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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Experts: Iranian military stuck in the past .


Experts: Iranian military stuck in the past.(Ynet).If war breaks out with Iran, the Islamic Republic would prefer fighting on foreign soil due to its outdated equipment, claim Israeli experts who believe Iran's nuclear program is a cover for its limited military capabilities. "Their most advanced aircraft is still the phantom, which we used in the Yom Kippur War 40 years ago," says Dr. Soli Shahvar of the Haifa University.
On Wednesday, the New York Times exposed a Pentagon intelligence report which suggested that in 2008, the Iranian military was so wary of an Israeli attack it fired on its own aircraft. Iran's leaders may not miss a chance to threaten Israel but its ability to realize those threats is almost non existent, experts claim. "As far as conventional technological capabilities, Iran is behind 30 years," Dr. Shahvar explains. "Aware of this handicap, Iran has been smart enough to develop a-symmetric warfare methods and this is a successful strategy indeed. Iran operates elements such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad and goes unpunished." What it lacks in military capabilities, Iran makes up in satellite and nuclear energy development based on collaboration with North Korea. "Iran is technologically advanced, but that doesn't win wars on the battlefield," Dr. Shahvar says.
But the ayatollahs are good at playing the game. Iran frequently releases images from military parades, missile tests and large-scale air and navy maneuvers. "It's mainly a game of deterrence," says Dr. Emily Landau of the National Security Studies Institute (INSS). "Iran has a tendency to constantly report about its military advancements but its de facto capabilities are unimpressive. Conversely, it is very advanced as far as missile technology." Landau claims that for these reasons, Iran uses its missile technology to create deterrence but at the same time tries to avoid missile warfare on its soil knowing it will not be able to respond. "Based on its conduct in the past decade, Iran is signaling that it has no interest in a war on its own soil," she says. "Iran's use of Hezbollah and Hamas coupled with its nuclear program proves it is ready for battle, but on foreign territory. " Landau estimates that Iran will not risk any escalation on its soil knowing that the US is far superior in terms of military capabilities. "If a country obtains a nuclear weapon, it should not be so concerned over its military capabilities." Meir Javedanfar of the Interdisciplinary Center believes that even if Iran meets its nuclear goals it would still not be strong enough to confront the West. Javedanfar claims that Tehran puts up a front mainly due to domestic reasons. "The regime has to show the people how strong it is, particularly after the 2009 coup attempt. They also need to show their Shiite allies in Iraq, Lebanon and in Hezbollah that they're a superpower. In reality, Iran is years behind in a military sense."Read the full story here.
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Sunday, September 16, 2012

Rosh Hashannah - Days of Awe Begin Sunday Evening with the New Year Holiday

                                                             Happy Rosh Hashannah.

Rosh Hashannah - Days of Awe Begin Sunday Evening with the New Year Holiday.(INN).The Jewish People begin the High Holydays, or Days of Awe, on Sunday evening, on the first of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, ushering in the year 5773 with nearly a month of special days: Two days of Rosh Hashannah on Monday and Tuesday, the Fast of Gedaliah on Wednesday and then Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath of Repentance. Rosh Hashannah is also the start of the Ten Days of Repentance which culminate with the solemn Fast of Yom Kippur on the tenth day of Tishrei. Special verses about repentance are added to the silent Amidah prayer said three times daily during these ten days. Sukkoth, or Tabernacles, the holiday of joy, follows five days later. The preceding month of Elul has been dedicated to effecting change and approaching G-d. The shofar was sounded each morning after services, and Psalm 27 alluding to all three holidays was recited daily (and is continued till the end of Sukkot). Selichot, throughout the month in the Sephardi community and for the past week in the Ashkenazi community, were said at dawn.

Teshuvah, Repentance
This is Judaism's time for introspection, when Jews look back and examine their actions in the year that has just ended, seeking to improve their observance of the Torah’s commandments directed towards G-d and towards their fellow man. They are expected to ask forgiveness from those they may have offended or hurt during the past year, a stipulation for Heavenly forgiveness for sins towards one's fellow man.
Repentance includes several steps: recognition of the sin, confessing the sin, and resolving not to repeat it in the future. Many books and articles have been written on how to do teshuva, repentance, with the basic text being Maimonides' "Hilkhot Teshuva" [The Laws of Teshuva, ed.]. Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik's "Al Hateshuva", based on Maimonides' work, has become a classic text. Both works, and many others, are available in English.
Rabbi Chaim Druckman, venerable head of Or Etzion Yeshiva, formerly MK, head of all the hesder yeshivas and the Conversion Authority, said Monday at a study day about the Days of Awe that repentance, or teshuva, is a return to a person's source.
Fast of Gedaliah and Shabbt Shuvah
The Fast of Gedaliah commemorates the end of Jewish rule in the Land of Israel following the destruction of the First Holy Temple some 2,500 years ago, prompting the sages to say that the death of a righteous man is equivalent to the destruction of the Temple.
On the Sabbath of Repentance this coming Saturday, a special chapter is read from the book of the prophet Hosea, calling the Jewish people to repent and return to G-d. Rabbis traditionally deliver a sermon, drasha, on repentance, in the afternoon.
Observing The New Year Holiday
The Jewish New Year has several names, among them the Day of Remembrance and the Day of Judgment. It is a time for careful stock-taking of one's relationship with G-d, and the longer Rosh Hashannah morning prayers filled with emotion, responsive readings and songs, are therefore intense and inspirational – usually led by a carefully chosen cantor or member of the congregation - concentrating on G-d's Kingship, eternal presence and His judgment of all creatures.
“Repentance, prayer and charity avert the evil decree” is a central line from the Machzor, the special holiday prayer book, listing the course of action that it is hoped will lead to meriting a good year.
Upon returning home after the evening prayers, symbolic foods – simanim - are served, whose names in Hebrew allow a play on words. They include pomegranates (for our merits to be numerous) , beets and carrots (for our enemies to be destroyed) that we lead rather than follow (fish head).
There are especially sweet ones, such as apples dipped in honey, to symbolize a sweet year. In Israel, many Ashkenazim have adopted the more varied simanim of their Sephardi neighbors, adding to their traditional fish head, carrots, pomegranates, beets and apples, the more exotic ruvia, kara, and more. Booklets are available with the lists and special sayings for each food.
Fruits that require a special Shehecheyanu blessing, said for something new, because they are being eaten for the first time since the previous season, are served on the second night. Pomegranates are often used for this purpose. Traditionally, children - adults too -wear a new garment for the first time the second night which calls for saying the blessing. Candles are lit both nights, but it is forbidden to light a match on the holiday, so an existing flame is used to kindle them and the Shehecheyanu blessing said while lighting on the second night, somewhat questionable as this is one long holiday and not a new one, is intended to also cover the new fruit and clothes.
Another name for the holiday is Day of Sounding the Shofar. Based on the commandment in Numbers 29:1, 100 shofar blasts are dramatically sounded throughout the prayers, "awakening" us to improve our ways. The congregation refrains from speech from the first shofar blasts until the last ones at the end of the service..
The Tashlikh prayer is recited on the first afternoon, preferably near a live stream of water in which we ask G-d to "throw away" our sins.
In Israel
Many religious Israeli youth spend the holiday at secular kibbutzim to lead the services, volunteer to lead services in the IDF and in hospitals.The IDF is prepared with tons of honey and apples, has received Rosh Hashannah cards from hundreds of kindergarteners, but is also on careful guard to keep synagogues and residents secure on the holiday.
Breslover Hassidim and others continue a custom of going to Uman, Ukraine, to pray at the gravesite synagogues of their spiritual leader, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, who passed away in Tishrei of 1810. Prominent rabbis, however, oppose the idea of leaving the Holy Land to spend Rosh Hashanah in the Diaspora.
On the Fast of Yom Kippur, the most solemn day of the Jewish year, the Kol Nidrei prayer ushers in the holiday at night and a shofar blast signals its end the next night. It is customary to begin building the sukkah for the seven (or nine in the Diaspora) days of that happy festival, right after the fast, so as to perform a mitzvah as soon as possible.
Arutz Sheva and MFS - The Other News  (Will) -  wishes all its readers and the entire Jewish people a sweet and good new year. May we be inscribed in the Book of Life for health and happiness, love of the Land of Israel and true peace.
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Monday, September 12, 2011

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan: Israel's Attack on the Mavi Marmara Constitutes a Casus Belli; There Will Be More and More Turkish Warships in the Eastern Mediterranean



From now on, Turkeys' relations with Israel will be at the level of second secretary, and even this level will not be permanent.

Second, we have frozen our commercial ties pertaining to military industries. Israel is not honest in this regard. It does not conform to proper commercial values. We have purchase and sale agreements, which include the maintenance of unmanned aircrafts by Israel. The agreement requires Israel to do this, but because of the problems between us, Israel has not handed these aircrafts over to us.

Third, from now on, we will be seeing Turkish ships in the international waters of the eastern Mediterranean. We will be seeing them more and more. I am referring to Turkish military ships. The world will see more and more warships, especially in maritime areas in which we have economic interests. From now on, Israel will not be able to impose its influence in these regions however it likes. It must realize this.

There is another important measure. Based upon its relations with us and our goodwill, Israel conducted joint military operations with us. Of course, a year ago, we stopped maneuvers of this kind. We cancelled them, and from now on, there will be no military cooperation or joint military maneuvers. This is impossible. We will not do this anymore.

The fifth issue pertains to our slain brothers – the victims aboard the Marmara, in particular. We will defend their rights. We will give them the greatest support, and we will continue to defend their rights, and we will pursue their case in the Hague court to the end.

As you know, Israel has begun to declare its control over areas of economic influence, as it sees fit, and has declared them areas in which it has interests. It will see that it has no authority in these areas.

Turkey has economic interests in these regions, especially in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Turkey is a guarantor state in Cyprus, and its position is well known there. Therefore, Turkey must display its resolve there, and guarantee freedom of navigation in international waters at all times.

With regard to the ships sailing to Gaza, [Turkey] will not hesitate to take measures. We will give all possible support to the transfer of humanitarian aid, and will provide the necessary arrangements.
The main mission of Turkish military ships is to protect Turkish vessels. This is their duty. We will send humanitarian aid to [Gaza], and this aid will not be subject to any attack like the one on the Mavi Marmara. If they are attacked, the attackers will meet an appropriate response.Hmmmm.....Since Erdogan and Obama have weekly phone calls one can only conclude he has Obama's backing on this.Source here.

Turkey is a member of NATO. Article One of the NATO charter reads as follows:

The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.
Turkey’s warlike threats obviously contradict the NATO charter.
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