War, Unity, and Criticism

War is a time for unity. On the other hand, the leaders whose policy of appeasement and withdrawals brought about this war are planning to continue their folly. Are we allowed to criticize them? Rabbi Eliezer Melamed deals with this question. The following is my translation of part of Rabbi Melamed’s article in last week’s issue of BeSheva:

During these days, when we are all concerned about and praying for the well being of our brothers, the civilians and the soldiers, we are obligated to mention that there are those who are to blame for this terrible situation, in which a small organization of terrorists kidnap soldiers, shoot thousands of rockets at population centers, silence the entire North of the country and plant death-traps for our soldiers. Those guilty are the diplomats that preferred to mortgage our future for the sake of the present, and the army officers that remained silent and did not warn. Those that were cruel to the inhabitants of Gush Katif and Northern Samaria acted in a feeble manner against cruel enemies, and we all see the results. It is impossible not to think that there would have been less military malfunctions, if for the past two years the army brass invested most of its energy in preparations for war against our enemies, and not in the expulsion and destruction of Gush Katif and the outposts.

Now our precious soldiers have to repair, at the price of their lives, what others perverted. It is incumbent for us to speak about this now, for if we do not speak, the lesson will not be learned. The same people who brought about this terrible situation will celebrate like heroes, and in addition afterwards they will desire to uproot more settlements, in order to additionally endanger the residents of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the lowlands.

To our great dismay, the representatives of the nationalist opposition, instead of criticizing and sounding the alarm, are abundantly praising the Prime Minister's and Defense Minister's so called leadership. We are still far from the end of the battle. We need to honor the soldiers, for not because of the faith that they have in the politicians or in the army brass they are fighting valiantly, rather in spite of the leader's failure's they are willing to fight for Israel. If the leadership will learn the proper lessons, if those to blame will admit their guilt, and they will start a real process of policy repair, then it will be possible to praise them. Before this - it is forbidden. Praises are liable to strengthen them in their foolishness and the price we will all pay.

The Lives Of Our Soldiers Are More Important Than The Enemy's Civilians

That's something that is pretty simple and obvious to most. A country should not risk the lives of its own soldiers in order to protect the enemy's civilians. Unfortunately, Israel has often endagered its own soldiers in war for the fear that using superior firepower may cause civilian deaths among those who indiscriminately kill our civilians without batting an eyelid. Bloggers Chardal, Joe Settler and My Right Word have complained about this bizarre IDF practice. That's not surprising in that as religious Jews they are repelled by such a policy that is not only against Judaism but also against common sense.

The good news is that this feeling is apparently making its way into other circles as well. Here's something from Rafi Ginat Yedioth Ahronoth's editor in chief:

When fighting against a terror organization that along with its patrons declares again and again that its goal is to destroy us, is it illogical or illegitimate that we make some moral compromises? Should we not consciously decide to lower our moral standards in order to strike an enemy that has the moral capacity of horse thieves and drug dealers?

I have no problem considering myself less moral if it will save the life of one Golani soldier. For him I am ready to wash the Hizbullah terrorists with fire. I am ready to do the same to their helpers, their collaborators, the ones who turn a blind eye, and all those in contact with Hizbullah. May their innocents die instead of ours.

Following the Bint Jbeil disaster we cannot allow ourselves the moral luxury of chirurgical military operations that end in Rambam hospital chirurgic department. We are in the middle of a war, and this war must be won while crushing Hizbullah and all that it represents. We need to strike hard - and we should be allowed to feel good about it.

Although Ginat is still confused about what is moral and what is not, as least he understands that he must be "less moral" in the present situation.

I have no pleasure when truly innocent enemy civilians are killed, but we are in a war and war is not a picnic. I can only repeat what Ginat stated so eloquently: "May their innocents die instead of ours."

Days of Destruction

As rockets fall in the north and in the south, causing death and destruction, the anniversary of the destruction of the Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria approaches. Given the security situation, it is not suprising that this anniversary is going almost unnoticed, even though it can be argued that this foolish act of the previous government is one of the main causes for the current flareup.

This week's issue of Besheva has some good articles concerning the expulsion and its aftermath. Warning: It's in Hebrew!

Definitely Worth Reading

My Friend Is Gone Forever

The Fallen are My Neighbors

AFP's fractured history lesson

Why did the soldiers have to die?

UN: Prediction Coming True?

ISRAEL @ WAR: Appeasement Inc.

Let the IDF Win

The Morality Card

A TRUE CONFESSION FROM HAIFA, and the WORDS OF A TORAH-SAGE

Beware the "Tel-Aviv Rose"

Olmert's Shamefull Performance

Why the UN Post was Bombed

A Keen Observation

I must admit that I am not exactly a Shmuley Boteach fan. It's not that I have anything against him, it's just a matter of style. That being said, let's give credit to the man where it is due. He wrote a great article in jpost today, with a keen observaton:

To make this point emphatically clear, let us reiterate that if there is one lesson that has been learned in five decades of Israeli concessions, it is that there is absolutely nothing that Israel can do to bring peace. Zero. Efes. Gornisht. Israel faces an implacable enemy that seeks not coexistence, but Israel's destruction. And through every Israeli concession, its hostility increases rather than declines.

Which leads to the following, self-evident conclusion. The only thing for Israel to do vis-a-vis‚ the Arabs, aside from militarily defending itself, is nothing.

Israel must hunker down and stall. It's the Arabs that have to change, not Israel. They have to democratize, fight their terrorists, curb state-sponsored anti-Semitism and cease teaching their children implacable hatred of the Jews.

That is the only thing that will bring peace.

Ehud Olmert, are you listening?

This is Really Good

I just came across a great article on the Arutz 7 web site, "Without a Doctorate in Expertise" by Shalom Pollack. He expresses exactly what I have been feeling for the past 20 or so years:

These are very hectic and thought-provoking days. In times like these, the media is full of experts. It seems their numbers grow from crisis to crisis. Well, I am not an official expert, but then again, my gut feeling was not wrong about what was right for the country and where events would lead; so, I feel I have as much right as any of the many authorities telling us yet again why we are in a mess and how things will turn out.

I am not a prophet, and not even an expert, but I am an avid observer and I do posses a normal memory. I remember the joy and how Prime Minister Ehud Barak beamed with self-satisfaction at the great coup he pulled off six years ago. Imagine the sweet sense of victory as the Israeli army fled Lebanon in the middle of the night, leaving mounds of equipment and personal effects behind for the enemy to plunder. Now, that certainly sent the Lebanese, and all our neighbors, a strong message, didn't it? Our south Lebanese allies were left in the dust. Yet, we were assured that if Hizbullah dared to cross that border, or shoot just one bullet, then we would respond with all our might. And all the experts assured us that this was cause for celebration.

Read the rest. It really is good.

Israel Bombs Lebanese Banks Holding Hizbullah Money

The war against terrorism is also a war against their financial infrastructure. NBC News did some great investigative journalism exposing how Arab banks fund terrorism. Ynetnews reports:

NBC television reported Tuesday that the IDF has bombed Lebanese banks holding Hizbullah money, this in the framework of Israel’s attempt to destroy the terror group’s financial infrastructure.

According to the report, in the past few days Israel has intentionally targeted financial institutions in Beirut and other cities throughout Lebanon, among them Tyre, Sidon and Nabatiyeh.

Israeli intelligence sources told NBC that at least 12 financial institutions that supported Hizbullah were attacked, adding that the organization, which secretly managed its funds, is now short on cash due to the bombings.

Some of the banks that held Hizbullah accounts were completely destroyed, while others were purposely damaged but not completely demolished.

NBC said that in one incident the Israeli Air Force bombed the home of a bank manager as a warning to other Lebanese bankers not to deal with Hizbullah.

Counter-Terror Bureau Director Dani Balilti told NBC that the message to all banks in Lebanon was that aid to Hizbullah is aid to a terror organization.

He said Israel knew they needed money and were desperate for cash, but that they didn't have it.

The Israeli Air Force targeted, among others, eight offices named Bet El Mal used by Hizbullah to store the organization's money. Two other banks in Lebanon were hit – Al Baraka and Fransa Bank, used by Hizbullah to transfer money around the world.

Now here is the best part of the article where NBC catches the Arabs lying red-handed:

The NBC network turned to the Baraka bank, which confirmed that one of its branches had been bombed, and that nearby bank branches were also bombed.

It was also reported Israel warned a third bank, the Middle East and Africa Bank (MEAB), that it too was in the crosshairs.

All banks denied any ties to Hizbullah. The director-general of the Fransa-Bank said that his bank had no ties to Hizbullah or any other political party.

The manager of the MEAB said that someone had tried to open a suspicious account at the bank, but that it refused to accept the money and fired a worker who was involved in the attempted deposit.

Despite the denials however, it turns out that the Lebanese bank was after all tied to terror.

Last week Hizbullah's television station al-Manar held a fund raising campaign, and in advertisements a MEAB account was given.

An Arabic-speaking producer of NBC called the bank in Beirut and asked to transfer a donation to Hizbullah. He was told he could transfer the money via any American bank branch, but that it was best he not say the money was destined for Hizbullah.

The MEAB held ties with American bank Wachovia. Following questions by NBC, the American bank immediately notified its cutting of all connections with the Arab bank.

NBC called the number displayed on the al-Manar advertisement. This time they were transferred to another bank, the Lebanese-French bank.

This bank has two connections with large banks in New York: Citibank and the Bank of New York. Representatives of the banks said they are blocking the transfer of all money meant for Hizbullah.

These guys at NBC deserve an award!

Ephraim Sneh Tries To Shirk Responsibility

The war goes on, the death toll rises, and the results of Israel's fleeing withdrawal from Lebanon become more and more apparent.

This morning an op-ed from MK Ephraim Sneh caught my eye, in particular the following:

"And on a personal note: In 2000 I warned against a unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon, because of the vacuum that would be created by an IDF pullout. I said that Hizbullah would take over the area in all its force, and would deploy opposite our settlements in the north."

Who exactly did he warn, his wife? I don't remember Ephraim Sneh coming out against the withdrawal from Lebanon. Not only that, it turns out that Sneh was the Deputy Minister of Defense in May 2000, the time of the pullout! That is to say that Mr. Sneh has (deputy) ministerial responsibility for the withdrawal and its results.

Perhaps Sneh warned against the pullout in closed meetings with Ehud Barak and other members of that government. Even so, if he really felt that the unilateral withdrawal was a mistake, he should have said so publicly, nay he should have resigned from his position as Deputy Minister of Defense!

I mentioned to a friend the other day that in Hebrew there is no word for "accountability." A quick look at the members of Israel's present government and members of Knesset shows that not only do we lack a word to express the concept, but that the concept does not exist in practice. Sneh continues in his article:

"This is exactly what happened. Now, the IDF is correcting the mistake. I warned that the message we would be sending to the Arab world would be that it is more worthwhile to draw Israeli blood than to negotiate with us. This also came to pass."

"Four months after the pullout from Lebanon the second intifada broke out. We lost more than 1,000. I hope we have learned the bitter lesson."

We can only hope that Ephraim Sneh has learned his lesson, and that he will not continue to support unilateral withdrawals, even if it means losing his seat in the Knesset.

Abomination Pride Parade In Jerusalem Cancelled!

Hat tip: Rabbi Yaakov Menkin.

Thank God!

I think that Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak's "Modesty March" at the Teddy Stadium will take place as planned, however.

Nasrallah: Arab Children Murdered By Hizbullah Are Shahids

Arutz 7 reports:

Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah has issued an apology to the Nazareth Arab family whose two children, Rabiya and Mahmou Talouzi, were killed by a Katyusha missile.

"I ask this family for forgiveness, he told Al-Jazeera. "I know apologies are insufficient and I take full responsibility. It was not intentional and the dead in Nazareth are considered martyrs like those in Lebanon, Palestine and the resistance."

If Nasrallah accepts full responsibility does that mean that he will turn himself in to the police in order to stand trial for murder?

Meanwhile another Muslim cleric proves that he is totally divorced from reality:

Sheik Abu El-Walid Ghazalain stood amid dozens of mourners Thursday and held up photographs of the two Arab-Israeli brothers, ages 3 and 7, who were killed by a Hezbollah rocket while playing soccer.

"Israel has killed these two," the white-bearded sheik said as he stood next to the boys' shell-shocked father. "Not Hezbollah."

The article also contains the following:

The dead boys' aunt, Wafiqa, who has three sons who were nearly killed by the rocket, said Hezbollah "did not mean to hit us."

"I would sacrifice my life for (Hezbollah leader) Hassan Nasrallah. I hope victory will come to the Arab nations," she said.

Do I smell a fifth column here? Don't say that you weren't warned.

Aluf Benn Still Doesn't Get It

Aluf Benn published what may be one of the most embarrasing opinion articles ever. Just a few days before Hezbollah's attack on our soldiers and subsequent kidnapping, Benn published an article titled "We need a Nasrallah". The article is still available on the Haaretz web site, or alternatively on the IMRA web site. Among other things Benn wrote the following:

It is enough to see what is happening in Lebanon. The moment Hezbollah took control over the south of the country and armed itself with thousands of Katyushas and other rockets, a stable balance of deterrence was created on both sides of the border. The withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from Lebanon in 2000 was made possible not only because of the daring of then prime minister Ehud Barak, but also thanks to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who conducts a policy of "one law and one weapon" on the other side.

Nasrallah hates Israel and Zionism no less than do the Hamas leaders, Shalit's kidnappers and the Qassam squads. But as opposed to them - he has authority and responsibility, and therefore his behavior is rational and reasonably predictable. Under the present conditions, that's the best possible situation. Hezbollah is doing a better job of maintaining quiet in the Galilee than did the pro-Israeli South Lebanese Army.

In today's Ha'aretz an obviously blushing Benn wrote an article entitled "How I erred". There he tries to explain how he goofed:

Two weeks ago, I wrote here that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah hates Israel but behaves responsibly, and that since he took control of south Lebanon, a stable balance of deterrence has been created on both sides of the border. "His behavior is rational and reasonably predictable. Under the present conditions, that's the best there is. Hezbollah is preserving quiet in the Galilee better than did the pro-Israeli South Lebanese Army," I wrote. But Nasrallah hastened to prove that his behavior is not predictable, when he gave instructions to attack an Israel Defense Forces patrol near Moshav Zarit and kill and kidnap its soldiers.

The mistake in my assessment stemmed, as always, from the idee fixe that what was is what will be. I believed that if Israel and Hezbollah had learned to live according to the "rules of the game" that had developed along their common border, they would be interested in maintaining the balance of power rather than violating it. The IDF, the intelligence services and the government, who have at at their disposal much better sources of information than mine, thought the same. Fact: They lowered the alert level in the north a few days before the attack in Zarit; that means that they expected quiet. But although I was in good company, the responsibility for the mistake is entirely mine.

I beg to disagree with Mr. Benn. His mistake is not "from the idee fixe that what was is what will be" but rather from his misunderstanding of Islam, which in turn caused him to misunderstand our enemy. It is this misunderstanding that causes him to call Barak's foolish withdrawal from Lebanon "daring". The withdrawal from Lebanon was a dishonorable act that gave a backwind to the global jihad. The withdrawal from Lebanon was a stab in the back to our allies there, who will probably never forgive us or want to be our allies again. In spite of this mistake, Aluf Benn is an interesting commentator, even if I often disagree with him, and am apparently on the opposite side of Israel's political map. Better luck next time, Aluf.

Nasrallah's Rogues Murder Muslim Children in Nazareth

Hezbollah, Lebanon's "Enemies of God" political party and terrorist organization, had a real fashla yesterday. The katusha rockets that they fired into Israel in order to murder the Jewish infidels killed two Muslim children:

Two brothers, aged nine and three, were killed Wednesday in the northern city of Nazareth as Katyusha rockets fell in the downtown and suburban areas of the city.

The deaths mark the first time since the recent violence has begun that that the victims have been Israeli Arabs. It was the third Israeli-Arab population center to be hit by Katyusha rockets during this conflict, though, after Madjal-Krum and Tubas Zangarit.

Nazareth residents reported hearing blasts at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening as two rockets fell, one immediately after the other. The brothers, Muhammad and Rabiya Taluzi, were playing in the Bilaal neighborhood - located in the middle of a narrow steep road, with three-story buildings on either side - when a Katyusha fell, exploding next to them. They were killed immediately.

Eyewitnesses descried horrific scenes saying it was impossible to identify the bodies of the two children. Holes caused by metal pellets packed into the Katyusha dotted the wall of the adjacent buildings and the rocket left a crater in the road.

Ynetnews brings the words of Matans Taluzi, the brother of the murdered children:

“They were walking faster than me, running down the street. Suddenly I heard a blast and that’s it, they were dead. And then I was hurt a bit too and they took me to the hospital,” Matans told Ynet. Matans tried to hold back his tears. “My little brothers are shahids. That means they’re little kids who haven’t seen anything yet, so their place is in heaven,” he said.

It seems to me that Matans has a novel interpretation of the word "Shahid", which seems to be different than the way the term is described in Wikipedia.

Shahids or not, these children are dead, murdered by the hands of their co-religionists.

Update: Perhaps these comments from Nazareth residents explain why Matan Taluzi called his brothers shahids:

Some friend and relatives gathering to mourn the Taluzi boys said that even though the brothers were killed by a Hezbollah rocket, they should be added to the list of Lebanese casualties.

"The Israeli government is to blame for the incident," said a Nazareth resident near the house of mourning. "The Israeli aggression must stop."

What Are They Thinking in Tel Aviv?

Arutz 7 has an interesting photo essay on what the man-on-the-street in Tel Aviv thinks about the missile threat and whether their politics have shifted as a result. Check it out. Tel Avivians are very different from Jerusalemites. It's truly amazing how many people still support additional withdrawals, in spite of everything that has happened. But then again, the Torah says that we are a stiff-necked people.

A Phone Conversation Cut Short

Yesterday I called a relative of mine that lives in a kibbutz near Haifa. I asked her how everything was going. I mentioned that it is usually the Jerusalemites who are most threatened by the Arab terrorists, but today we are relatively safe and now the Haifa area is being bombarded. My relative, who is a holocaust survivor, told me that wherever terror hits, whether it is in the South or in the North, we all feel it. After we talked a little about family matters she told that a siren just went off. We ended the conversation so that she could take shelter.

The Party Of God Or The Enemies Of God?

Is Hizballah the party of God, as the Arabic meaning of its name suggests, or are they the enemies of God? The answer can be found in this week's Torah portion with Rashi's commentary:

(Numbers Chapter 31) 1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites; afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.' 3 And Moses spoke unto the people, saying: 'Arm ye men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD'S vengeance on Midian.

Rashi explains why Moshe said "the LORD's vengeance," rather than "Israel's vengeance":

For, when anyone stands against Israel, it is as if he stands against the Holy One, Blessed is He.

Maybe they should change the name of their organizaton.

The Lebanese Blogosphere Is Full Of Islamofascists

My stats told me that I'm getting a lot of hits from The Truth Laid Bear's "Crisis in the Middle East: Local Bloggers Report" page. There he provides links to posts from Israeli, Lebanese and "Palestinian" bloggers. Thanks Mr. Bear for all of the hits.

I checked out some Lebanese blogs and I was disappointed. Ya Islamofascists, why did you attack Israel? Did you have fun shouting "Udrub, udrub" and "Atbah Al Yahud"? Did you pass around candy in order to teach your children to be Islamofascists as well? Then they cry to the UN when we dare to fight back. A pathetic bunch indeed. Treppenwitz has their number.

An even more pathetic bunch are some of the Israelis that comment on such blogs, seeking a "dialogue". These guys don't know the difference between taqiyya and teqilla. They are ecstatic when the holy Arab agrees to answer them, even if the answer is the cliche, "I don't hate Jews, I hate Zionists." Bwa ha ha!

Yes Orna, You Are To Blame

Orna Shimoni of the "Four Mothers" movement objects to those who blame the "Four Mothers" for the Al-Aksa Intifada and the present situation. You can read her article in Hebrew here, and be sure to see the talkbacks of outraged Israelis. You can read her article in English here.

The "Four Mothers" movement, which enjoyed the help of the Israeli MSM, undoubtedly helped to create the present situation. They pressured the Israeli government to withdraw from Lebanon, thus enabling the Hizbullah to move their rocket launchers and army right up to the border. One just has to take a look at their web site, to see the role that the Four Mothers played in sowing weakness in the hearts of the soldiers and the public with regards to the war against the Hizballah, Hamas, and Fatah terrorists. And here are a few quotes from Orna herself:

Mothers! We ourselves shall replace our sons and become the hostages of the Syrians and the Government of Israel in the outposts of Lebanon!

Mothers! There is no time left. Tomorrow another one will die(emphasis is mine - CX). I call out to the mothers whose sons have been called up during the latest tri-annual round of service in the Lebanon: support this message and join the action. We would like to take the place of our sons in the Lebanese outposts.

Our sons, who are defending only themselves (i.e., according to Orna, the security zone did not protect Northern Israel. - CX), are struck down in the trenches and in the strongpoints, just waiting for an agreement. We are no worse than they in defending ourselves in a trench or in an outpost, and much better than they as hostages of the Syrians and the Government of Israel, until they reach an agreement.

People like Orna Shimoni, apparently do not understand that we are dealing with an implacable enemy, an enemy that receives only encouragement from our restraint. Israel has become a country where Jewish communities are uprooted because they "hard to defend", where the civilians serve as cannon fodder to protect the soldiers, thanks to people like Orna Shimoni and her friends in the Israeli MSM.

The withdrawal from Lebanon is an everlasting stain on the state of Israel, in that it was a display of weakness in the face of our enemies, and and act of treachery in the face of our allies. Does anyone remember the South Lebanese Army that we betrayed so shamefully? Yes Orna, you are to blame, but you are not alone.

Update: Read this article by Moshe Arens, They Fell Asleep at the Wheel.

News Flash: Nasrallah Wants Gay Pride March To Be Moved From Jerusalem To Beirut

(YallahOnline.com) Somewhere in Beirut - Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah proposed that the International Gay Pride Parade be moved from Jerusalem to Beirut. "I want to show the world that we Muslims are peace-loving and tolerant", said the Moslem cleric. Nasrallah added,"I'm sure the Israeli High Court will order the Israeli Air Force to stop bombing us. Freedom of expression is a very important value for them."

War Update

The war continues. Rockets fall in the North and in the South. Refugees flee Northern Israel, and some of them take refuge in The Muqata. The IDF strikes in Lebanon. The IDF continues to bomb empty buildings in Gaza.

Update: One soldier was killed and six others injured in an overnight bombing attack on IDF forces operating in Shechem.

Another update for those of us with a short memory: Historical Survey of Israeli Leaders: Will Rockets Fall?

Update: Terrorist Attack Foiled in Jerusalem:

A terror attack was foiled in Jerusalem at the last minute Monday morning after a would-be suicide bomber was discovered near the Old City.

Police stopped a suspicious-looking young Palestinian Authority Arab in IDF Square (Kikar Tzhal) who was carrying a large bag containing a bomb.

Update: We told you so by Shlomo Engel. An excerpt:

We told you that peace treaties are made with friends and war is made with enemies, but you stubbornly insisted that peace is made with enemies and war is made on settlers.

We told you that the Arab problem has nothing to do with a Palestinian state (or lack thereof), but rather with the existence of Israel. But you continued to heap scorn and to blame our troubles on the occupation.

You turned Yitzhak Shamir's famous saying, "The Arabs are the same Arabs, the sea is the same sea" into a shameful slogan, because you wanted to believe the Arabs wanted compromise and a normal life. Therefore, you argued, we must give them more and more and more – without receiving anything in return, of course.

And now for a song:

Ya Nasrallah, Ya Kalb,
Stinky little punk,
Yo mama must have been a skunk,
I'd like to write a song for you but nothing rhymes with Nasrallah.

Ya Nasrallah, Na'al Abuk,
Rotten fish in the Suk,
You really make me puke,
I'd like to write a song for you but nothing rhymes with Nasrallah.

Update: New stanza inspired by Yitz:

Ya Nasrallah, Ya Nasrallah,
A dirty terrorist hated by Allah,
Soon to be six feet under inshallah,
With the rest of the scum of Hizballah.

Is Lebanon Being Held Hostage By Hezbollah?

Some Lebanese definitely oppose Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah is an official political party in Lebanon, and they hold twenty-three seats in 128-member Lebanese Parliament. What's more, Hezbollah has two ministers in the government, and a third is endorsed by the group.

The Lebanese government cannot hide behind the Hezbollah and claim that they are not responsible for Hezbollah's actions since Hezbollah is part of the government!

Peace Now - Pay Later

The title to this piece is an old joke about the "Peace Now" movement. How unfortunate is it that the time of payment has come. We are now paying a dear price for the illusions that were behind the Oslo agreements in the early 1990s and Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in the year 2000. How ironic it is that many of the politicians that were responsible for these two (literally) fatal mistakes are serving in the present government and Knesset: Shimon Peres, Chaim Ramon, and Amir Peretz, just to name a few. The lack of accountability here is amazing!

The time has come to pay the bills.

Pray For The Welfare Of Our Soldiers

He who blessed our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, may He bless the soldiers of Israel who stand guard on our country and the cities of our God. From Lebanon until the deserts of Egypt, from the Mediterranean Sea until the Plains of Jordan - on dry land, in the air and sea. May God afflict the enemies that rise against them before them. The Holy One, Blessed is He, should protect and save our soldiers from any misfortune or calamity, and from any sickenss or disease. May he send blessing and success in all their handiwork, destroy their enemies below them, and crown them with the crown of redemption and the crown of victory. And the verse "For God walks among you, to wage war for you with your enemies, to save you" should be fulfilled, and let us say, Amen.

Israeli Civil Rights Activist Placed In Administrative Detention

Arutz 7:

Staunch supporter of the Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria Baruch Marzel today calling the attention of his political opposites to the ramifications of the arrest of Honenu organization head Ariel Gruner.

Baruch, don't hold your breath waiting!

That's The Way The Kadima Crumbles

We may be witnessing the beginning of the end of the Kadima Party. The party, which was never more than a collection of opportunists, held together by their common desire for power, is starting to show signs of deterioration as Kadima member Sheetrit opposes Olmert's unilateral withdrawal plan:

Housing and Construction Minister Meir Sheetrit (Kadima) came out publicly on Monday to oppose Prime Minister and party Chairman Ehud Olmert’s unilateral withdrawal plan.

Sheetrit said, “The current chances of implementing the realignment plan are very slim; there are many reservations, including my own. I do not believe in another unilateral disengagement.”

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Ramon still hasn't woken up from his intellectual coma:

According to Ramon, “The realignment and the disengagement were borne out of the understanding that Israel has no partner on the other side. The events of the past few days just prove this. Since Israel can’t be held hostage by Hamas and Qassam rockets, it must act according to its interests.”

Who and where is the doctor that will cure this man?

Ehud Olmert's Latest Book

As a Dog That Returneth to His Vomit...

...so is a fool that repeateth his folly (Proverbs 26:11).

Does Olmert also know how to say woof?

Yitzchak Rabin: There Will Be No Katyushas from Gaza

Arutz 7 has made available a recording of the late Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin ridiculing (in Hebrew) those who warned that rockets would be fired from Gaza. A blast from the past (no pun intended):

"The scare-stories of the Likud are well-known," Rabin said in 1995 in the above recording. "Why, they also promised us Katyushas from Gaza. It's already a year that the Gaza Strip is mostly under the control of the Palestinian Authority - and there wasn't a Katyusha and there won't be any..."

We are now paying the price of the Israeli Left's stupidity and hubris.

British Crimes in the Holy Land Remembered

British war hero Roy Farran, the apparent murderer of 16 year old Alexander Rubovitch, has finally kicked the bucket.

For more information, see the following:

Eretz Yisrael Forever

Arutz 7

My Right Word

Photo Feature: Parting with a Son - The Asheris Mourn Eliyahu

Here's another article worth reading. I met Yitro Asheri about twenty years ago in Machon Meir. Yitro, my heart goes out to you and your family.

For Some The Disengagement From Reality Continues

This article deserves some serious fisking.

Now The Truth Can Be Told

Be sure to read this one from Ynetnews: Yaalon: Sharon planned pullout out of personal distress. Bogie just says what many of us here in Israel have said all along. Among his gems:

"There is no doubt that the disengagement failed. This failure emanates from the fact that the disengagement was essentially based on a doomed idea. It was not the result of thorough strategic analysis but the result of a political distress of his who was prime minister then, Ariel Sharon."

And this:

"The process created an illusionary hope that was not planned strategically and practically. The disengagement was mainly a media spin. Those who initiated it and lead it lacked the strategic, security, political and historical background. They were image counselor. They were spin doctors. These people put Israel in a virtual spin that is disconnected from reality using a media spin campaign which is imploding before our eyes."

Again, be sure to read the whole thing.

Disengagement Repentance

I think that recent current events have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the Gaza Strip and the withdrawl of the Israeli Army from that part of the land of Israel was a terrible mistake.

How is it that Seargent Cosmic X knew that the "disengagement" was certain to fail, and big name Israeli politicians and army officers did not? Cosmic X immediately recognized the plan for what it was, a modern version of the "sin of the spies". The spies, for all kinds of reasons, did not want to fulfill the Divine commandment of conquering and settling the land. They caused our nation much suffering, as is well known. The rejection of the land of Israel is a sure recipe for disaster.

I am taking this opportunity to emplore all those that supported the expulsion, took part in it, or sat on the sidelines quietly to consider doing teshuvah, that is to say , repent.


It is well known that there are four steps in repenting:

1) Ceasing to do the particular sin
2) Confession (to God)
3) Regret
4) Accepting upon oneself not to do that particular sin again.

The power of teshuvah is great (see Rambam Laws of Repentance 7:6). Don't miss it.

Will The Homosexuals Defile Jerusalem?

Tensions are rising in the holy city. Yesterday the Knesset held a meeting about the planned international homosexual parade scheduled for next month in Jerusalem. A survey was presented which in my humble opinion accurately reflects the attitude of the public:

MK Yitzchak Levy (National Union/NRP) presented a survey showing that a large majority of the public - including a full 63% of the secular public - is against holding the gay pride parade in Jerusalem.

Among the public defining itself as traditional, the number was 81%, and among the religious, 99-100%.

"Don't force yourselves upon a city that clearly doesn't want you," Levy said.

I can only second MK Levy's request. Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has come out strongly against the parade, and so has Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv.

I do not know if homosexuality is a physical malady, a mental disease, or a genetic defect. Whatever it is it is certainly nothing to be proud of.