Reminder: 11 AM Siren Drill throughout Israel as part of the "Turning Point 4" nationwide emergency response exercise.
Or what it really sounds like during an emergency:
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Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Emmanuel Treifs Up at Israeli Taxpayers' Expense
Hat-tip: A7 via TrueSlant via The Purple Parrot:Let him go home to America already. Who needs him.Upon arrival in Israel Friday, the Emanuels headed for Eilat, where they dined on seafood at a restaurant. After the (unkosher) meal, which included cheviche (citrus marinaded seafood), calamari (fried squid), various fish, salads and hamburgers, the bill was handed over to a Ministry of Tourism representative who accompanied the Emanuels.
Michael Ben-Ari fired off a letter to the Attorney General in which he said: “I was amazed to hear that following the sumptuous meal at the ‘Boston’ restaurant Emanuel handed the bill to a Ministry of Tourism representative who was present. In my humble legal opinion there is no possibility of making the State of Israel pay for such a meal, as part of a private visit by the White House Chief of Staff and his family.”
“The public coffers are not up for grabs and the fact that the gentleman [Emanuel] sponsors anti-Semitic policies in the White House is certainly no justification for digging into the public coffer at the expense of the old lady in the corridor of the hospital.” [...]
“I ask you, sir, to immediately cancel the debiting of the Ministry of Tourism’s account and to promptly send the bill directly to Mr. Emanuel’s private home,” he added.
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Some Additional Pix and Video from the Parade
Kudos to the Mohammed Bear with the Israeli Flag and SouthPark scarf.
Not only are we getting tired of the Neturay Karta, but they are apparently getting tired of themselves.
hat-tip: Lurker. (who found a hundred dollar bill at the parade hundreds of years ago :)
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Monday, May 24, 2010
Everyone Loves a Parade: Salute to Israel 2010
Everyone loves a NY parade -- and the Salute to Israel Day Parade of 2010 is no exception.
Jacob Richman sent me a link to over 100 of them -- see them here, by Steven Posner.
Here's a bunch that I liked.
And of course, the JBlogosphere Floats for 2010...
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Jacob Richman sent me a link to over 100 of them -- see them here, by Steven Posner.
Here's a bunch that I liked.
And of course, the JBlogosphere Floats for 2010...
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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Hamas's Representative in the Knesset
It was funny. I was thinking of how Obama's John Brennan wants the US regime to talk to "moderate" elements in Hizbollah, apparently believing that the political wing of a terrorist organization are moderates. But that's a separate discussion.
As I was thinking about it, it was pointed out to me that terrorists have their own political representation in our Knesset.
At least one Arab MK is wanted for spying for Hizbollah. Other Arab MKs have again been visiting enemy countries, and MK Ahmed Tibi didn't get the moniker as Arafat's adviser for nothing.
But apparently Arab MK Ahmed Tibi has switched sides - no he hasn't become a Zionist. He's seems to have switched allegiances from Fatah to Hamas.
The Knesset is working on passing the Shalit Law. As long as Gilad Shalit is a prisoner, and certainly as long as we have no information on him, terrorists in Israeli jails will lose perks such as visitation, TVs, DVDs, telephones, and more.
Now keep in mind. We in Israel have no idea as to Gilad Shalit's condition in Arab captivity. He may be tortured every day. He may sit in a dark room all tied up. He may be starved. We have no idea. So when Hamas threatens to worsen his conditions in return, we don't even know what that means. We have no idea how he is being treated, so threats to worsen his condition are essentially meaningless.
Now this proposed law has upset Hamas, this proposed law has upset Hamas prisoners, and this proposed law has upset Hamas's representative in the Knesset, Ahmed Tibi.
Why did I say that Tibi has switched side?
Because in an interview yesterday on IBA (around 21 minutes in), he was so distraught and upset with the proposed Shalit Law that he slipped and made it quite clear who he represents in the Knesset.
You can listen to it yourself here, and here is the text of what he said.
Now I'm sure, someone will try to take his statement out of context and say he was speaking rhetorically, as if he was Hamas, and not their advocate, but that wouldn't really fit with all his earlier statements in the interview where he wants all the terrorists freed from prison, or his familiar behavior as Arafat's adviser.
Can you imagine for a minute if Arab MKs went to the Knesset to fight for the needs of their Israeli-Arab constituency instead of constantly trying to undermine or even destroy the State of Israel?
Because the only alternative to consider is that they really are fighting for the desires of their Arab constituency.
Jameel Adds:
The JPost reported today how the proposed bill to reduce prisoner perks is being coldly received by the UN Human Rights council.
A senior source at the UN Human Rights council commented, "we are hearing worrisome news coming from Jerusalem," according to Army Radio. The source continued, "Israel can expect questions about the bill when it appears before a committee hearing in July."
Questions? These are perks for heavens's sake. They don't even need visitation rights from the International Red Cross, because they see their families ALL THE TIME!
What other country gives convicted terrorists, "perks" in the form of free college educational degrees, generous family visitations, TV viewing, books, radio reception?! And limiting these perks is cause for the Arabs (including Israeli Arabs) to go berserk, stating this will cause a new intifada?
It's about time this bill was proposed.
Unlike Ahmed Tibi, if you want to help Israel, click on the link below:
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As I was thinking about it, it was pointed out to me that terrorists have their own political representation in our Knesset.
At least one Arab MK is wanted for spying for Hizbollah. Other Arab MKs have again been visiting enemy countries, and MK Ahmed Tibi didn't get the moniker as Arafat's adviser for nothing.
But apparently Arab MK Ahmed Tibi has switched sides - no he hasn't become a Zionist. He's seems to have switched allegiances from Fatah to Hamas.
The Knesset is working on passing the Shalit Law. As long as Gilad Shalit is a prisoner, and certainly as long as we have no information on him, terrorists in Israeli jails will lose perks such as visitation, TVs, DVDs, telephones, and more.
Now keep in mind. We in Israel have no idea as to Gilad Shalit's condition in Arab captivity. He may be tortured every day. He may sit in a dark room all tied up. He may be starved. We have no idea. So when Hamas threatens to worsen his conditions in return, we don't even know what that means. We have no idea how he is being treated, so threats to worsen his condition are essentially meaningless.
Now this proposed law has upset Hamas, this proposed law has upset Hamas prisoners, and this proposed law has upset Hamas's representative in the Knesset, Ahmed Tibi.
Why did I say that Tibi has switched side?
Because in an interview yesterday on IBA (around 21 minutes in), he was so distraught and upset with the proposed Shalit Law that he slipped and made it quite clear who he represents in the Knesset.
You can listen to it yourself here, and here is the text of what he said.
"What is this for? What is this provocation for?...
Just like you're putting pressure on prisoners in jail, WE'LL put pressure on Gilad Shalit. You'll bring on this response.
Now I'm sure, someone will try to take his statement out of context and say he was speaking rhetorically, as if he was Hamas, and not their advocate, but that wouldn't really fit with all his earlier statements in the interview where he wants all the terrorists freed from prison, or his familiar behavior as Arafat's adviser.
Can you imagine for a minute if Arab MKs went to the Knesset to fight for the needs of their Israeli-Arab constituency instead of constantly trying to undermine or even destroy the State of Israel?
Because the only alternative to consider is that they really are fighting for the desires of their Arab constituency.
Jameel Adds:
The JPost reported today how the proposed bill to reduce prisoner perks is being coldly received by the UN Human Rights council.
A senior source at the UN Human Rights council commented, "we are hearing worrisome news coming from Jerusalem," according to Army Radio. The source continued, "Israel can expect questions about the bill when it appears before a committee hearing in July."
Questions? These are perks for heavens's sake. They don't even need visitation rights from the International Red Cross, because they see their families ALL THE TIME!
What other country gives convicted terrorists, "perks" in the form of free college educational degrees, generous family visitations, TV viewing, books, radio reception?! And limiting these perks is cause for the Arabs (including Israeli Arabs) to go berserk, stating this will cause a new intifada?
It's about time this bill was proposed.
Unlike Ahmed Tibi, if you want to help Israel, click on the link below:
One-Click Pro-Israel Activism!
It takes just 1 Click to help Israel!
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
Video: Anarchist-Peace Flotilla en-route to Gaza
The MV Rachel Corrie
Peace-Anarchists announce that their luxury liner, the MV Rachel Corrie, (a 1200-ton cargo ship), is part of the eight-vessel "Freedom Flotilla" on its way from Ireland to Gaza.
In the past week, reports from Israel have indicated that the Israeli authorities will not allow the Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza with its cargo of much-needed reconstruction material, medical equipment, and school supplies. According to Israeli news sources, clear orders have been issued to prevent the ships from reaching Gaza, even if this necessitates military violence.Who are these peace anarchists on their way to visit? Watch this video...
The Free Gaza Movement, which has launched eight other sea missions to Gaza, confirms that Israel has tried these kinds of threats and intimidation tactics before in order to try to stop the missions before they start. “They have not deterred us before and will not deter us now,” said one of the organizers.
Ship to Gaza -- Sweden, a Freedom Flotilla coalition partner, together with parliamentarian Mehmet Kaplan (Green Party) yesterday asked for an audience with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Carl Bildt, to discuss what measures the Swedish government and the European Union will take to protect the Freedom Flotilla’s peaceful, humanitarian voyage. Earlier this week during a meeting with the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza – another coalition partner, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyib Erdogan expressed his support for “breaking the oppressive siege on the Gaza Strip...which is at the top of Turkey’s list of priorities.“
The question is: Will the Peace Anarchists have a pancake breakfast with Hamas leadership?
Read more about the Flotilla of Fools at the Elder of Zion.
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Sunday, May 23, 2010
IDF Spokesman: Nationwide Drill is Defensive
6:15 PM - Breaking News Update.
I was asked to join a conference call, organized by the IDF Spokesman's office, amidst international concern regarding the IDF nationwide exercise "Turning Point 4".
YNET even reported minutes ago:
"Today we have started a national civil defense drill, "Turning Point 4" which is a lesson/conclusion from the Second Lebanon war to help prepare the population for a missile attack and any emergency situation.
This is the 4rth year we are conducting a nation-wide drill.
Israel's entire civilian population will be asked to practice, this coming Wednesday at 11 AM, going to their bomb shelters upon hearing air-raid sirens, to practice the amount of time needed to get to shelter.
For example; In Haifa, residents have 1 minute from the time they hear the siren till they reach a shelter. Tel Aviv, 2 minutes, and Jerusalem 3 minutes.
On Monday and Tuesday; government ministries will be participating with local municipalities.
Scenarios to be drilled include: missile attacks, a train crash, HAZMAT events, mass casualty attacks, etc.
On Thursday, we will continue field exercises with all of Israel's emergency organizations; Emergency Medical Services, IDF Homefront troops, the Fire Brigade, police troops and more.
Q from Sascha blogger: This drill seems to only simulate attacks from the North? Aren't their threats from the South as well?
A: The missile attacks simulate attacks from anywhere -- it doesn't matter where the rockets are launched from: Gaza or the North.
Q from Jewlicious: How do you know where your closest bomb shelter is?
A: Its mandatory for all homes built after 1992 to have a private shelter (also known as a mamad). One of the conclusions after the first gulf war was to have personal shelters in all homes.
35% of the buildings in Israel have personal protective shelters. About 30% are close to a public shelter in or near their building.
25%-30% do not have a shelter -- and we are educating those residents how to find the best solution. If they live in a top floor in a building, they need to go to the stairwell, one floor down and that will help protect them.
Jameel's Question: Why are Lebanon, Syria and Hizbollah so scared of our civil defense drill?
Answer: I dont have a good answer for you, since everything is civil defense. We won't be using any tanks, or anything offensive. The only vehicles will be ambulances and fire trucks. Most countries prepare their populations for disasters like and earthquakes, natural disasters. Not only we we have to worry about natural disasters which we train for, but also threats from Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.
Why are Hizbolla and Syria "scared" of the drill? You should probably be asking them...
I was asked to join a conference call, organized by the IDF Spokesman's office, amidst international concern regarding the IDF nationwide exercise "Turning Point 4".
YNET even reported minutes ago:
Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday called on the Western world to act against Israel, on the backdrop of a wide-scale home front drill launched by the Jewish state. "It's unthinkable that the West keeps silence in light of the Israeli aggression," he said.The Director of Population Control in the IDF Homefront Command: Colonel Dr. Yechiel "Hilik" Soffer spoke at the IDF's New Media/Blogger press conference:
Assad made the remarks during a meeting with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Damascus. According to official news agency SANA, the Syrian president noted that if the West is interested in security and stability in the Middle East, it must "start filling an active role in order to restrain Israel and its radical and dangerous tendencies towards security and peace in the region."
"Today we have started a national civil defense drill, "Turning Point 4" which is a lesson/conclusion from the Second Lebanon war to help prepare the population for a missile attack and any emergency situation.
This is the 4rth year we are conducting a nation-wide drill.
Israel's entire civilian population will be asked to practice, this coming Wednesday at 11 AM, going to their bomb shelters upon hearing air-raid sirens, to practice the amount of time needed to get to shelter.
For example; In Haifa, residents have 1 minute from the time they hear the siren till they reach a shelter. Tel Aviv, 2 minutes, and Jerusalem 3 minutes.
On Monday and Tuesday; government ministries will be participating with local municipalities.
Scenarios to be drilled include: missile attacks, a train crash, HAZMAT events, mass casualty attacks, etc.
On Thursday, we will continue field exercises with all of Israel's emergency organizations; Emergency Medical Services, IDF Homefront troops, the Fire Brigade, police troops and more.
Q from Sascha blogger: This drill seems to only simulate attacks from the North? Aren't their threats from the South as well?
A: The missile attacks simulate attacks from anywhere -- it doesn't matter where the rockets are launched from: Gaza or the North.
Q from Jewlicious: How do you know where your closest bomb shelter is?
A: Its mandatory for all homes built after 1992 to have a private shelter (also known as a mamad). One of the conclusions after the first gulf war was to have personal shelters in all homes.
35% of the buildings in Israel have personal protective shelters. About 30% are close to a public shelter in or near their building.
25%-30% do not have a shelter -- and we are educating those residents how to find the best solution. If they live in a top floor in a building, they need to go to the stairwell, one floor down and that will help protect them.
Jameel's Question: Why are Lebanon, Syria and Hizbollah so scared of our civil defense drill?
Answer: I dont have a good answer for you, since everything is civil defense. We won't be using any tanks, or anything offensive. The only vehicles will be ambulances and fire trucks. Most countries prepare their populations for disasters like and earthquakes, natural disasters. Not only we we have to worry about natural disasters which we train for, but also threats from Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.
Why are Hizbolla and Syria "scared" of the drill? You should probably be asking them...
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Samaritan Mystery Holiday?
Got the following from a reader, DC:
Hi, Jameel.
Hi, Jameel.
Could this caption be correct?
If the Samaritans just celebrated Pesach less than a month ago, how did they get to Shavuot so quickly?
Well, D.C. is 100% correct. There's no way the Samaritans could have celebrated Shavuot so quickly!
A quick Google check revealed that not only did Haaretz incorrectly caption the AP photo as part of an alleged 2010 Samaritan Shavuot celebration, but so did many other news sites as well; for example, here, here, and here.
Reuters even has a whole slide show devoted to the [alleged] Samaritan Shavuot Celebration on May 5, 2010!
"Members of the Samaritan sect wait atop Mount Gerizim at the beginning of their traditional pilgrimage ceremony marking the holiday of Shavuot early May 5, 2010. The Samaritans, who trace their roots to the biblical Kingdom of Israel (in what is now the northern occupied West Bank), observe religious practices similar to those of Judaism. Credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias"
So why was May 5th definitely NOT the Samaritan Shavuot?
A few reasons:
1. The Samaritans always celebrate Shavuot on the Sunday that occurs 49 days after the Saturday following their Passover ceremony. This is in accordance with the Samaritan understanding of Vayikra/Leviticus 23:15, which says:
A quick Google check revealed that not only did Haaretz incorrectly caption the AP photo as part of an alleged 2010 Samaritan Shavuot celebration, but so did many other news sites as well; for example, here, here, and here.
Reuters even has a whole slide show devoted to the [alleged] Samaritan Shavuot Celebration on May 5, 2010!
"Members of the Samaritan sect wait atop Mount Gerizim at the beginning of their traditional pilgrimage ceremony marking the holiday of Shavuot early May 5, 2010. The Samaritans, who trace their roots to the biblical Kingdom of Israel (in what is now the northern occupied West Bank), observe religious practices similar to those of Judaism. Credit: REUTERS/Nir Elias"
So why was May 5th definitely NOT the Samaritan Shavuot?
A few reasons:
1. The Samaritans always celebrate Shavuot on the Sunday that occurs 49 days after the Saturday following their Passover ceremony. This is in accordance with the Samaritan understanding of Vayikra/Leviticus 23:15, which says:
וספרתם לכם ממחרת השבת, מיום הביאכם את עמר התנופה, שבע שבתות תמימת תהיינה.And you shall count for you from the morrow of the day of rest, from the day that you brought the omer of the waving, they shall be seven complete weeks.
The Samaritan religion counts 7 weeks following the "day of rest", which they (like the Sadducees and the Karaites) interpret as Shabbat -- so their Shavuot will always be celebrated on a Sunday. (In Judaism, we understand the "day of rest" as a reference to the first day of Passover, and therefore we begin counting the 7 weeks on the second day of the holiday.)
The problem with all the reports above...is that May 5th 2010 was a Wednesday.
2. As we reported extensively on the Muqata blog, the Samaritan Passover was celebrated on Thursday April 28, 2010. The Saturday after April 28th is May 1rst. Counting 7 complete weeks 49 days, brings us to Sunday, June 20th -- which hasn't even arrived yet.
3. If there is any doubt left: The Samaritans' official website states:
The problem with all the reports above...is that May 5th 2010 was a Wednesday.
2. As we reported extensively on the Muqata blog, the Samaritan Passover was celebrated on Thursday April 28, 2010. The Saturday after April 28th is May 1rst. Counting 7 complete weeks 49 days, brings us to Sunday, June 20th -- which hasn't even arrived yet.
3. If there is any doubt left: The Samaritans' official website states:
Shavuot - Sunday, June 20, 2010. Pilgrimage: 3AM - 8AMSo what are all these stories and photographs of?
I placed a call to one of the Samaritan priests, Yefet Cohen, who lives in the Samaritan community on Mount (Har) Gereizim and asked him about this mystery holiday.
He stated unequivocally that the Samaritan Shavuot holiday was coming up in 28 more days; June 20th. So what could that "photo-op" on May 5th have been? It took a few times for us to understand each other.
May 5th was the last day of the Samaritan Passover holiday, and they celebrate by going up to the top of Mount Gereizim. They went up with their Torah, and celebrated the last day of the holiday -- (Jews also celebrate the last day of Passover with additional prayer services).
Apparently, word got out that there was going to be a "photo op" of some Samaritan service, so AP, Reuters and others came for the show. Since May 5th was only a week before the Jewish Shavuot festival, the no so careful fact checkers (Haaretz included) decided that it made sense for this holiday to coincide (roughly) with the Jewish one.
Don't let facts get in the way of a good photo op!
The blame also goes to the photographers who submitted these factually incorrect bylines with their photos: Nir Elias (Reuters), Alaa Badarneh (EPA), Oliver Weiken (EPA) and others.
Post Script: Yefet invited me to the newly Samaritan rededicated museum (see photos and explanations in Hebrew here).
Regards,
Jameel
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Demanding Rights for Palestinians
From the Daily Star...in Lebanon. The Muqata fully endorses this march.
Two years ago we wrote about the educational summer camps in Gaza.
BEIRUT: A full-day march will be organized throughout the country next month to protest against all Lebanese laws discriminating against Palestinians. The Palestinian Civil and Socio-Economic Network said participants would gather in Sidon, Tripoli, the Bekaa, Mount Lebanon and Beirut on Sunday, June 27 and to march toward the Parliament building in Beirut, where a delegation of MPs will be waiting. They will deliver a petition to the concerned authorities, demanding the amendment of laws that discriminate against Palestinians and violate the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Those interested in participating may contact Ammar Youzbashy at 03 123153 or Sahar al-Bashir at 70 996918. – The Daily StarAnd while some demand rights of Palestinians in Lebanon, others are ensuring that Gazan kids won't enjoy summer camp this year.
Gaza, May 23, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - About forty unknown armed people attacked Sunday one of the largest camps set up by the UNRWA on the shores of Gaza Strip, local sources reported.Other Arab news sites stated that the camp guards were given 4 bullets with a message expressing dissatisfaction with the camps, and death threats to those who would work there this summer. One website in Hebrew noted disappointment with the low standards of morality taught at the camp.
Adnan Abu Hasna, the spokesman for UNRWA, said that the attack on the camp took place in Sheikh Al-Ajlan area in eastern Gaza, media sources reported.
"The destroyed camp was among camps that organize 'summer games' for Palestinian school children," he added.
He noted that the UNRWA camps also offer educational programs and physical education activities.
Two years ago we wrote about the educational summer camps in Gaza.
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It takes just 1 Click to help Israel!
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