The Smoking Gun

A joint Joe-Jameel post

We discussed previously that on January 28th a group of Arab terrorists assaulted a (Jewish) pedestrian. The pedestrian tried to get away, but the Palestinian terrorists were determined to kill him.

The pedestrian shot one of the Palestinian terrorists in self-defense and escaped, as can be seen clearly in the following video.



The only thing the police know is that the pedestrian used a Glock pistol to defend himself.

We've discussed a few other incidents like this where Jewish citizens have been under life-threatening attacks and have been forced to defend themselves.

Since that date the police have trampled the law in a stampede attempt to find and arrest the pedestrian who clearly acted in self-defense.

To do that, the police have compiled a list of licensed Glock semi-automatic pistol owners in the Shomron, and have systematically been arresting them one at a time, despite being legally licensed gun owners. To date they all the gun owners have been released after their false arrested in this fishing expedition.

This morning the an entire troop of police entered the town of Itamar to arrest Moshe Ronsky.

Moshe Ronsky is an IDF reserve officer in a special forces unit.

Moshe Ronsky is also the son of the former IDF Chief Rabbi General Avi Ronsky (who also served in a special forces before becoming a Rabbi).

Moshe Ronsky is also unfortunately a legal owner of a licensed Glock handgun (probably the most popular handgun in Israel).

When the police gang arrived at his door to arrest him, Moshe immediately notified his father who quickly arrived to intervene.

The conclusion of the event and the negotiations was that unlike other licensed Glock owners, Moshe Ronsky would not be arrested from his house, but rather, he would come down to the police station later in the day today to present his licensed weapon for ballistic analysis.

This raises a number of questions.

1) Why do the police need to arrest innocent people in the middle of the night, when they can politely ask these law abiding citizens to present their licensed weapon for ballistic testing?

2) Why does it repeatedly require the intervention of a powerful/influential figures to force the police to comply with the law and respect the civil rights of Israeli citizens?

3) What is the average citizen, without such protectzia, supposed to do to protect himself from this basic abuse of his civil rights by a police force that has no interest in following the law?

4) Why are the police investing all this manpower to find someone who clearly acted in self-defense as can unquestionably be seen on the video?

Have all the other serious crimes in the country been solved? If the police were already out in Itamar, you need to ask if the murderers of the Fogel family of Itamar have finally been captured, because why else would they be spending resources there?

Police behavior in this country is very disturbing. The problem starts at the top and trickles down like a waterfall.

(Oh, and by the way, dear police, Jameel owns a Glock).

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Netanyahu's Security Personnel's Guns Stolen from US flight

4 Glock handguns were stolen from a suitcase that belonged to the Shin Bet security detail traveling to the USA with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The suitcases were located in LA...

WASHINGTON - American Airlines security personnel lost the luggage of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bodyguards as they traveled to Washington from John F. Kennedy airport in New York, according to NBC network reports on Wednesday night.

The lost luggage was eventually located in Los Angeles, but four Glock pistols had disappeared. Local police believe they had been stolen. The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment.

The case containing the pistols was to have gone to Washington where Israeli guards had been sent to guard the prime minister's entourage during his visit to the White House. The airport authorities in New York said police were investigating whether the pistols had been stolen there or in Los Angeles.

A source at the airport said the luggage had been screened by security personnel and cleared for flight. A spokesman for American Airlines said in matters linked to security, they allow law enforcement agencies to deal with the case and don't intervene.

The Shin Bet confirmed the report and said the case is being investigated by Israeli security and local authorities in the US. (ynetnews)

I wonder if the suitcase contained the following notice:


Some advice for the security detail: in the future, try to make the suitcase with the handguns in it less conspicuous.

Over 300,000 trees burned down in Israel on June 29...

Help JNF replant these forests!

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What's in a (Jewish) Handshake?

I've been meaning to post this for a while, and Mirty's posting was the final push to write it. However, she stopped blogging for the summer, and took down all her links so I can't even link to her post about it. Instead, here's a link to AskShifra's posting on not being judgmental. You'll need it before reading this post.

My kids and I have discussed the idea of the handshake and how important it is to provide a firm, solid handshake. It broadcasts self-confidence, assurance, and confidence -- and a good handshake leaves the recipient with a sense of security and a positive image of you.

When shul is over on Friday night, I routinely experience a wide range of handshakes -- and some of them are downright pathetic.


The worst of all...is the yeshivish "dead fish" handshake. You extend your hand to give a good, firm shake of the hand, and their hand is limp. This is the worst possible handshake to receive. I don't know if this dead fish handshake is intended for people "less frum" than the dead fish handshake provider...but the impression you get as a recipient of this handshake is one of revulsion. Like, What did I do to deserve this? If someone could PLEASE explain the rationale behind this, I would greatly appreciate it. (And you all know exactly what I'm talking about). These people need the Handshaking for Dummies Frummies Handbook.


We have a certain friend in our yishuv who carries enough ammunition on him to take on a small army. In addition to his wicked looking M16, Glock, survival knife, walkie-talkie, beeper, cellphone, 30-bullet magazines for his Glock pistol -- this guy is built like a truck. There's only one word for his handshake: The Bone Crusher. He always smiles and makes eye contact when he gives you the handshake...but it's always just a tad too painful...as you hear the crunch of the small bones in your hand when he gives you the grip of death. He should leave the weaponry at home, his bare hands are more than enough.

The "never-let-me-go" handshakers definitely have their issues. Their grip is usually decent, and has lots of potential. You usually notice about a second too late that their hand may be a bit clammy...but it's already too late. They keep shaking your hand, pumping it up and down, and DON'T. LET. GO. Three to four seconds is plenty of time...yet they don't get the hint and just keep on going. Think "Energizer-Bunny." It ends up feeling like an eternity and you just wish their hand would fall off so you can run away. These people usually don't know how to tell a joke, overstay their welcome, and have a poor sense of timing (perhaps saying inappropriate statements at the wrong time).

Who can forget the "Running for President of the Shul" double-handed handshake? It starts out with a regular handshake, and then the person's other hand sandwiches-in your own, leaving you totally at their mercy as they ask you about your wife, kids, shidduch prospects, business, school studies, all the while saying, "great, that's great." Before you know it, they've dropped your hand and are off in search of their next potential voter at the kiddush. (hat-tip: Mike's the Man)

And then...there's the whole issue surrounding shaking hands with women. In my business environment I have to shake hands with women all the time, though it's not something I grew up with. A Yeshiva Background and being Shomer Negiya make it difficult to make the transition from no contact at all, to shaking hands in the business environment.

Usually women have 2 types of handshakes -- a decent grip, which is fine.

The other is a spin-off from the dead-fish, but can be written-off as a girly-girl excuse of a handshake.

It's sort of like girls who don't know how to throw a baseball.

Some know how to just fine...and some just "throw like a girl."

(I'm sure someone's gonna kill me for these pics...but they were too good not to post)

However, here in Israel I have yet another issue to deal with. If growing up in a RWMO/LWY house in the USA meant feeling a bit funny about shaking hands with women, here I have to deal with "kiss on both cheeks" relatives. And not only from women...but from men as well. Not trying to sound homophobic, but it's totally foreign to me that after a good, solid handshake the guy opposite you goes in for a kiss on either cheek. Yow! That's just something I'll never get used to...

Of course, there's also the super-secret-Muqata handshake, but we can't discuss that here on this blog.

Somethings are just best kept...secret.

Post-thought: I just found this important handshake trivia tidbit that's worth noting as well from Wiki (these are the sort of important factoids one can also find at Jack's blog)

A study found that handshakes are a greater source of germs than: week-old coffee mugs, public laundromats, bottoms of a shoe, money, urine on a toilet seat, sweaty gym benches, hotel bed linens, dogs, poorly washed restaurant tables, communion chalices, public food groped by others (such as pretzels), public swimming pools, fish tanks, convience store coffee areas, public pay phones, public restrooms, kitchen sponges, public bathroom urinal handles and faucets and doorknobs, home-canned food, water fountains, and public baby-changing stations.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael

Israel's Settlers Going Green for the Environment

Its not easy being a "settler" in Israel. Since the Oslo Accords and the inception of the catchphrase that settlers are an "obstacle to peace", we've had a tough time. Starting September 2000, Palestinian Policemen (in addition to your run-of-the-mill Palestinian terrorists) decided to use their CIA-training and Israel-provided rifles to shoot at us on the roads, in addition to their usual rock throwing, firebombing and terrorist infiltrations into our communities.

Even when we try to "do the right thing" when it comes to the environment, we still get a bum rap since the vast majority of Earth's ecowarriors are of the Left-leaning persuasion and are therefore unfortunately, anti-settler.

We're undeterred.

The proud Jewish settlement communities in the Judea and Samaria/West Bank are among the forefront of organic farms for eggs, goats milk and cheese, and organically grown wheat. Our organic wineries are award winning.

Solar and Wind Power for generating electricity is high on our agenda, as we explore different ways to harness the environment to produce clean energy. My settlement had a group (myself included) which is actively exploring the option of installing solar panels on our rooftops.

Almost every home in our settlement has had for years a passive solar powered hot water heater -- the "dud shemesh", as do many homes around Israel.

(photo credit to Yuval)

We recycle paper, cardboard, and glass bottles. Plastic is a bit more challenging, but I was thrilled that upon announcing to my kids that from now on, all plastic bottles and containers would be placed in bags in the kitchen and I would bring them for recycling at work -- within a day, the "switch" was done. The kids complied without hardly any fuss at all, and about twice a week all our plastic is recycled in Jerusalem.

Water recycling is a huge issue, and we're now looking at options for gray water usage to keep our lawn green during Israel's water shortage.

Last but not least, security.

Its no secret that our neck of the woods has its security challenges and many carry handguns "just in case." Just 2 weeks ago, a terrorist was killed during an attack in a settlement by a passerby with a handgun, thereby saving lives.

Just because we carry weapons doesn't mean the environment isn't important to us.

And that's why I swapped out all my Glock 19c's semi automatic's ammunition for "clean" bullets.

Winchester's "WinClean" ammunition is perfect for those who require additional security but also care about the environment.

WinClean bullets are "Brass Enclosed" -- thereby eliminating lead vaporization from the bullet's base and keeping my gun's barrel safe from "leading." Less lead in the environment is a serious issue, and we all do our part.

If only Israel's green activists looked beyond the political borders and understood that the environment is an issue that concerns all of us, on both sides of the green line, our country, and planet would be a much better place.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

Interview with a Hero

The Jerusalem Report has published an interview with one of the IDF commandos who killed 6 of the flotilla terrorists. “S” was the last commando to land on the ship.

Upon landing he saw the following situation:

Looking to his side, he saw three of his commanders lying wounded – one with a gunshot wound to the stomach and another with a gunshot wound to the knee. A third was lying unconscious; his skull was fractured by a devastating blow with a metal bar.

Immediately he took command:

He pushed the wounded soldiers up against the wall of the upper deck and created a perimeter of soldiers around them to begin treating their wounds, he said. He then arranged his men to form a second perimeter, and pulled out his 9 mm. Glock pistol to stave off the charging attackers and to protect his wounded comrades.


“S” singlehandedly killed six men. His colleagues killed another three.

Now here comes the kicker, from the ship’s own captain.

The Turkish captain of the ship later told the IDF that the “mercenaries” threw their weapons overboard after the commandos took control of the vessel.

This was confirmed by Israeli forensic experts who examined the ship found casings belonging to a weapon that was not used by the commandos.

It’s well worth to read the entire article in the Jerusalem Post.


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Learn To Shoot

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Like most Rapid Response Teams in the Judea region (not to mention other special security forces), I’ve done some training at the Caliber 3 shooting range.

Let me tell you, compared to most IDF training bases, this place is heaven. Soda machines, bathrooms, running water, concrete floors, and ceiling netting (for shade). You couldn’t ask for a nicer outdoor range. (And if you’ve only shot in an indoor range, you’re in for a surprise, it’s a completely different experience).

Anyway, the owners of the Caliber 3 Shooting Range have opened up their training services to the general public.

They are offering a special 2 hour package for tourists visiting Israel (or you wanna-be settlers in Beit Shemesh).

The package includes explanations of the security situations Israelis face, examples of different anti-Terrorist techniques, and of course the fun part - Shooting pistols and machine guns.

The program is open to individuals, groups, and families. You can see from the photos on their site that everyone is having a great time.

Of course they’re having a great time. They shooting M-16s and Glock pistols.

Why do you think half the people on the RRTs join up in the first place?

So head on over to their website and learn first hand what it is like to protect a settlement and fight a terrorist.

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד